Source: Review copy from Orenda Books for the Random Things blog tour – thank you! Translated by Larissa Kyzer Katrín Júlíusdóttir’s first novel Dead Sweet was published in translation in 2023. It introduced us to detective in training Sigurdís and her younger brother Einar, who had a troubled start to life. We discovered part of Read More
Month: June 2026
A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
This was the last book in my six session Galley Beggar Critical Reading class led by chief Galley Beggar Sam Jordison. The others were: Before I get into discussing the book, I’ll just say that it’s been a rewarding six months. The two hour sessions give much more time for discussion of the books and also Read More
SCAMMER ALERT!!!
Sadly, I’ve had to add the following to my ‘About’ page… IMPORTANT: Please be aware that beginning May/June 2026 someone has been impersonating me to approach authors. They are calling themselves Anna BookBel with a space and are using the email address: anna.book.bel2@gmail.com and have scraped my gravatar image. As I’m not the target of the scam, there’s Read More
20 Books of Summer #20BOS26 – Buddy Read – Yesteryear
It struck me, as I toured the planning posts that many of you have done, showcasing your picks for #20BOS26, that there was one book that cropped up on so many lists… Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke I’ve been definitely planning to include it in my reading this summer too. So how about we make Read More
Six Degrees of Separation: The Post Office Girl by Stefan Zweig
It’s time for the super monthly tag Six Degrees of Separation, which is hosted by Kate at Booksaremyfavouriteandbest, Six Degrees of Separation #6degrees picks a starting book for participants to go wherever it takes them in six more steps. Links to my reviews are in the titles of the books chosen. The starter book this month is: The Read More
The Expansion Project by Ben Pester – #20BOS26 No 2
My second review of books read for 20 Books of Summer will probably, like the building described within, evolve when I revise it for Shiny New Books, as I will see the author next week, in conversation with M John Harrison at Blackwell’s for the latter’s new novel, The End of Everything. Tom Crowley works Read More
Book Group Report – Ice Station Zebra by Alastair MacLean
At Book Group, we finally brought our A-Z of Flora & Fauna to a close last night with our discussion of a classic thriller. Going forwards, we’re taking a pause from themed reads to go with nominating ‘a book you’d like to read’ until we get the urge to get themed up again! I read Read More
The Wrong Son: A Memoir, by Neil Griffiths, blogtour
Source: Review copy from the publisher, for the Random Things tour – Thank you! Back in the very early days of this blog, I reviewed Griffiths’ second novel, Saving Caravaggio – a thriller with depth about an art cop on the trail of a missing Caravaggio – it was one of my first 10/10s on Read More
Adrift: The Curious Tale of the Lego Lost at Sea by Tracey Williams #20BOS26 No 1
I was about to put this book into a pile to sell/dispose of, thinking I didn’t want to read it, but something made me open it up and I started reading – and basically didn’t put it down until I’d finished it (OK – I fell asleep with my thumb in the spine, but finished Read More
20 Books of Summer #20BOS26 – 1st Month
Dear all, welcome to the home page for the first month of the 20 Books of Summer challenge 2026. I been overwhelmed by the number of you joining in – thank you! I’ve tried to get around all of your posts, but forgive me if I’ve missed yours. If you still need to pick up Read More
