This is my first novel by Carys Davies, and I loved her spare, almost stark, yet lyrical writing. Her descriptions are so vivid that you're completelyThis is my first novel by Carys Davies, and I loved her spare, almost stark, yet lyrical writing. Her descriptions are so vivid that you're completely transported to Scotland in 1843. I knew nothing about the Scottish Clearances or the Disruption of the Church of Scotland and thought the author did a brilliant job in sharing all the facts about these events without making it feel like an information dump.
This atmospheric, quiet story reminded me a little bit of The Banshees of Inisherin....more
This will be one of 2024's big books. The writing was beautiful and unique, and I loved how well we get to know each of these unforgettable charactersThis will be one of 2024's big books. The writing was beautiful and unique, and I loved how well we get to know each of these unforgettable characters. And although the mystery element of the story is very well done, this story is so much bigger than that. I was swept away by Patch and Saints complex connection from the first paragraph and even though the story is drenched in sadness, it is also filled with beauty and love. I think what I enjoyed most of all was that I never knew where the story was going from one moment to the next.
I would group this novel with Where the Crawdads Sing and All the Ugly and Wonderful Things ,not because of the plot but more because of the setting and the feel.
The Story: Late one summer, the town of Monta Clare is shattered by the abduction of teenager Joseph 'Patch' Macauley. Nobody more so than Saint Brown, who will risk everything to find her best friend. But when she does: it will break her heart....more
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood will always be one of my favourite memoirs. Fi, the author's latest release reminds me why thDon't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood will always be one of my favourite memoirs. Fi, the author's latest release reminds me why this is. Alexandra Fuller's writing is raw, intense, poetic, brave and unexpectedly funny even when dealing with the unexpected death of her twenty-one-year-old son. I don't think I've read another biography where the author is so brutally honest about who they are - showing the good, the bad and the ugly.
"...to accept the death of a loved one is to arrive at the knowledge that love itself cannot die or change or end."
3.5 stars. I'm happy to say that Abigail Dean has now been added to my automatic read authors list, as her sophomore novel was another enjoyable read.3.5 stars. I'm happy to say that Abigail Dean has now been added to my automatic read authors list, as her sophomore novel was another enjoyable read. I really like how she takes a story we're very familiar with - child abuse, a school shooting - and tells it in a different way. Both her books are more of an exploration of the thoughts and feelings of the cast of characters involved and less on the actual event. It's always nice to find a mystery author with his/her own unique way of telling a story.
The Story: A gripping examination of a community devastated by a school shooting and the “truthers” who deny it ever happened....more
3.5 stars. If you're a fan of either John Marrs or Blake Crouch you will definitely enjoy Baby X. In this speculative thriller set in the very near fu3.5 stars. If you're a fan of either John Marrs or Blake Crouch you will definitely enjoy Baby X. In this speculative thriller set in the very near future any biological matter from any two people can be used to create life and then the "best" embryo is selected based on future traits and health concerns.
Using different POV's the author investigates how this selection process will influence the "chosen" babies, but also the possibility of people stealing desired DNA from famous/talented people to create the "perfect" baby.
I really enjoyed this fun, interesting and fast-paced story....more
This is my first book by Rebecca Makkai and really enjoyed her immersive writing style - within a few sentences the book disappears and you are part oThis is my first book by Rebecca Makkai and really enjoyed her immersive writing style - within a few sentences the book disappears and you are part of the story. I was still very young when the AIDS epidemic broke out, so really didn't know much about it at all. I think the first time I was really exposed to how absolutely devastating the illness was, was when I watched Philadelphia - still one of my favourite films.
Another talent of the author is creating a cast of very diverse characters with complex relationships and past histories. Because of this we are able to see the scope of the devastation caused by AIDS if you were part of the gay community and not just someone reading news papers. Not only were you grieving your friends (dead and diagnosed) and/or waiting for your test results or first symptoms, you also had to deal with the prejudice from everyone (including your family) and the issues this caused with your healthcare. So yes, this book was incredibly sad, but it was also filled with love and achingly tender moments.
And even though Fiona and Nora's stories were well written and interesting, I actually just wanted to spend more time with Yale....more
This is my first book by Percival Everett and I thought it was very well-written, thought provoking, fast-paced with some funny and some heartbreakingThis is my first book by Percival Everett and I thought it was very well-written, thought provoking, fast-paced with some funny and some heartbreaking moments. As I've not read Huckleberry Finn I can't compare this reimagining to the original, but I can say that you can definitely read this without having read the classic.
There were many things that I admired about James and I think it will be one of the most noteworthy books of 2024.
(view spoiler)[ Although I understand that the author wanted to make a distinction between "slave-speech" (when speaking to any master) and contemporary, almost literary speech (when talking to another slave) to show us that being a slave did not mean that you were stupid, but that you had to make sure that everyone else thought that it did. I absolutely agree with this belief, I'm just not sure where they would have learned this dialect as all the white people basically also use "slave-speech" when communicating in this novel. (hide spoiler)] Even though this bugged me enough to deduct a star, I still highly recommend that you read this book....more
I adored this exquisitely written grief memoir which is a deeply personal study on the author's loss following the suicide of her best friend. This acI adored this exquisitely written grief memoir which is a deeply personal study on the author's loss following the suicide of her best friend. This account is split into 5 main chapters, with each section mirroring a classified stage of grief: denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and afterward (instead of acceptance).
What makes this book so impressive is the author's brutal honesty in exploring her intimate feelings, and her ability to be simultaneously poignant and incredibly witty. Grief is for People is filled with sentences that will break your heart and have you laughing at the same time.
Anything by Marian Keyes is always going to be a treat. I especially enjoy listening to her narration on the audio versions. As always this story (andAnything by Marian Keyes is always going to be a treat. I especially enjoy listening to her narration on the audio versions. As always this story (and especially the interaction between all members of the Walsh Family) had me laughing out loud. But there were also many deeper moments delving into the characters history and their previous traumas. It's really special seeing characters aging alongside you and dealing with similar issues. Can't wait for the next instalment in this series!...more
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. I really enjoyed the beautiful writing in this mash up of historical fiction, fantasy, mythology and mystery genres. It tak3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. I really enjoyed the beautiful writing in this mash up of historical fiction, fantasy, mythology and mystery genres. It takes place in 1908 throughout northern China and Japan and slowly weaves two stories together. In alternating chapters we meet Snow, a fox spirit, who is on a quest to revenge the death of her daughter and Boa, a private detective who is trying to uncover the identity of a young woman found frozen outside a restaurant.
The beginning and the end was brilliant, but the pacing on the middle was a bit slow. Looking forward to reading her other books though....more
3.5 stars. This is why I love the GR choice awards. Every year I see an Elin Hilderbrand title in the fiction category, so this year I finally decided3.5 stars. This is why I love the GR choice awards. Every year I see an Elin Hilderbrand title in the fiction category, so this year I finally decided to give one of her novels a try, and I'm so glad I did. I love reading "lighter" books in between more literary ones. This normally means grabbing a whodunit or sometimes a romance, but what I enjoyed most about The Five-Star Weekend is that it may have some elements of these genres, but mostly it was an entertaining, uplifting story about 6 women and their backstories.
The Story: The Five-Star Weekend is a lighthearted, engaging tale that takes you into the life of Hollis Shaw, a middle-aged successful food blogger who, after returning to her hometown of Nantucket, invites four friends, one from each stage of her life, to spend a weekend at her home on the island to help her come to grips with the recent loss of her husband and the strained relationship with her daughter she’s struggling to repair....more
As always I did not read the blurb before starting this book, so was rather surprised when A Room of One’s Own turned out to be an essay on women and As always I did not read the blurb before starting this book, so was rather surprised when A Room of One’s Own turned out to be an essay on women and literature rather than a novel. But actually I’m quite glad this happened as I’m not sure I would have chosen to read this if I knew that it wasn’t fiction.
I thoroughly enjoyed this well thought out, beautifully written and passionate thoughts on what women need in order to become writers -money and privacy. The fact that this progressive essay was published in 1929 is really impressive, and it reminded me how tough life was for our great-grandmothers and grandmothers. I adored her beautiful, imaginative, thought-provoking and extremely witty writing style and will be reading one of her novels very soon.
“It is much more important to be oneself than anything else. Do not dream of influencing other people...Think of things in themselves.”
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. I loved the uniqueness of this story about a Londoner’s journey home to Georgia to search for his missing father and brothe3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. I loved the uniqueness of this story about a Londoner’s journey home to Georgia to search for his missing father and brother. This debut novel was inspired by Hansel and Gretel and we follow Saba on a “breadcrumb trail” where clues come in the form of graffiti referencing fairy tales and a play written by his father.
I loved learning more about Tbilisi's history, but the real magic in this book is the love and longing you can feel in the author's exquisite descriptions of the author's birthplace and its people. Nodar, Saba's hard-drinking, rough-around-the-edges taxi driver is one of the best side-kicks I've "read" in a while. His laugh out loud one-liners and his genuine humanity reminded me of Prabakar in Shantaram.
I highly recommend this interesting book - at times melancholy, but also filled with off-beat humour and moments of magical realism, this will be unlike anything else you've read recently.
The Story: It’s been two decades since Irakli fled his war-torn homeland with two young sons, now grown men. Two decades since he saw their mother, who stayed so they could escape. At long last, Tbilisi has lured him home. But when Irakli’s phone calls stop, a mystery begins......more
I almost never give higher than 3 star ratings to mysteries/thrillers, but Nightwatching had me holding my breath for the entire book. The claustrophoI almost never give higher than 3 star ratings to mysteries/thrillers, but Nightwatching had me holding my breath for the entire book. The claustrophobic, isolated, on-edge atmosphere the author creates made me so anxious, I actually developed a tummy ache. I know that doesn't sound like much of a recommendation, but one of the things I value most in a novel is if it makes me feel something. The only other time I had such a visceral reaction to a suspense novel was withBroken Harbour by Tana French.
I also enjoyed the writing and the author's descriptions of marriage and motherhood. I'm sure this will be one of my favourite debut novels for 2024....more
3.5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this Sally Hepworth, so much so, that The Mother-in-Law is now my second favourite book of hers after The Good Sister.3.5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this Sally Hepworth, so much so, that The Mother-in-Law is now my second favourite book of hers after The Good Sister. I was hooked from the first page, and finished this in two sittings. The characters (especially Diana) were all interesting, and I really never had any idea of where we were going, or even what would happen on the next few pages. Very unusual for me.
The Story: Exquisitely polite and friendly, Lucy's mother-in-law Diana has nonetheless always kept her at arm's length. Now, Diana is suddenly dead, a suicide note found near her body claiming a cancer that the autopsy report says doesn't exist, and Lucy finds herself in the center of a murder investigation....more
4.5 stars. I can't believe that I would have missed out on this compulsively readable fantasy if my best friend didn't recommend it to me. There defin4.5 stars. I can't believe that I would have missed out on this compulsively readable fantasy if my best friend didn't recommend it to me. There definitely should be a bigger hype about this title. Yes, yes - I enjoy a well-written romantasy, but it was so refreshing to read a fantasy book with only one POV, a male protagonist, no romance and amazing friendship arcs. I was hooked from page one and I'm really hoping that book 2 releases this year still. If you enjoyed the early Red Rising books, I highly recommend that you get hold of The Will of the Many soonest.
The Story: The book takes place in a fictional world with similarities to the Roman Empire, where the lower classes, called Octavii, must cede a portion of their Will (their mental and physical energy) to the classes above them. The story follows the fugitive orphan Vis Telimus as he is recruited for the prestigious Catenan Academy, where he must uncover the secrets behind a tragic accident at the Academy, contend with the other students to join the ranks of the elite, and grapple with the questions and responsibilities of his own shadowed past....more
I adored this book – it’s like nothing I’ve read before. It’s very easy to read and filled with many hilarious moments and quirky characters, yet it aI adored this book – it’s like nothing I’ve read before. It’s very easy to read and filled with many hilarious moments and quirky characters, yet it also has real depth and sentences so beautiful I want to memorise them. I enjoyed how Rufi Thorpe plays with POV throughout the book and her observation on who we actually connect with when reading a book – the characters or the author -was interesting to ponder.
The Story: A bold, laugh-out-loud funny, and heartwarming story about one young woman's attempt to navigate adulthood, new motherhood, and her meager bank account in our increasingly online world. ...more
This author is a solid 4-star author for me, and I love the fact that she has no formula when writing. All of the books I’ve read by her (and I've reaThis author is a solid 4-star author for me, and I love the fact that she has no formula when writing. All of the books I’ve read by her (and I've read them all), are original and very different from each other, except for the fact that they are all well-written, intelligent and filled with flawed but intriguing and nuanced characters.
The God of the Woods is a beautifully written and complex literary mystery-thriller with a well-developed plot set in multiple timelines and told through various points of view. I think this story could easily have become convoluted if done by another author, but somehow Liz Moore makes the various stories and plotlines very easy to follow and the short chapters kept me turning the pages until way too late at night. I will read anything she writes.
The Story: When a precocious teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, her disappearance stirs family secrets and reopens a decade old crime. An intricately plotted page-turner that explores social disparities and emotional abuse....more
I can't remember when last I enjoyed reading a book this much! I loved the writing - it's not literary in the sense that you constantly notice it (a bI can't remember when last I enjoyed reading a book this much! I loved the writing - it's not literary in the sense that you constantly notice it (a beautiful sentence or turn of phrase), it actually makes you forget that you're reading and transports you into the story. While reading The Frozen River I was lost to my family and when I wasn't reading I was wishing I was reading.
The author also does an amazing job describing the daily lives and struggles of people living in a small village in 1789. Martha (a real-life midwife) is one of the most likeable characters I've read in a long time and I will miss spending time with her. ...more
I saw a review on Lit Hub that said if your preferred genre is literary fiction, but you're wanting to read a fun book then you should try The Rachel I saw a review on Lit Hub that said if your preferred genre is literary fiction, but you're wanting to read a fun book then you should try The Rachel Incident. I did, and I 100% agree with this sentiment. It very much felt like I was reading a very well written, intimate Friends episode set in Ireland.
I really enjoyed the complex characters, but think James Carey may have been my favourite - even though he has a much smaller part than some of the other characters, he deeply charmed me with his special brand of unconventionality. The nostalgia, unexpected storylines and wry humour made this such an enjoyable read, and I will definitely read whatever this author publishes next.
The Story: A touching, witty coming-of-age story, which focuses on the hothouse atmosphere of intense friendship when two young people click and fall into a kind of platonic love....more
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