Re-read via Audible (have I mentioned I adore Grover Gardner now?)
'Grown up' Miles now becomes 'Miles in love'. Of course, LMB adds a conflict or a hRe-read via Audible (have I mentioned I adore Grover Gardner now?)
'Grown up' Miles now becomes 'Miles in love'. Of course, LMB adds a conflict or a hundred to ensure there's a bit more to it than that. Getting Ekaterin's POV is wonderful. Not only do we get her thoughts about Miles, we also get her inner thoughts about her husband which explains non-physical domestic abuse so well.
Re-read. A lot of people recommend starting the Vorkosigan Saga with this book and I can see that it's the start of 'mature/adult' Miles. I can only mRe-read. A lot of people recommend starting the Vorkosigan Saga with this book and I can see that it's the start of 'mature/adult' Miles. I can only marvel at LMB's perfect mix of thriller/mystery, romance, family drama and scifi.
If anything, I liked this book even more than the first in the series.
The setting is fabulous - all aboard the Ghan. For thosHow fun are these books!
If anything, I liked this book even more than the first in the series.
The setting is fabulous - all aboard the Ghan. For those who aren’t Aussies, this is a luxury tourist train which goes through the outback, from Darwin to Adelaide (about 2900 kms). You might say, an Aussie Orient Express.
The Ghan effectively offers us the locked in trope (my favourite). As the title suggests, all the suspects, and potential victims, are on the train.
Most of these said suspects and victims are writers. Ernest is on the train for a crime writers’ festival. Thus, after the first death on the train (no, that isn’t much of a spoiler; as Ernest even notes in the book, these types of books always feature more than one death/murder), all the writers, hilariously, consider themselves amateur sleuths and basically get into a competition to be the first one to solve the mystery.
Other than that, I don’t think I should say too much about the plot. I would recommend everyone avoid spoilers. All I will say is I guessed a couple of things but missed much.
My favourite thing about the book is, though, its humour. I laughed right through. Although it might be difficult with a lot of the funny moments being Ernest’s thoughts, I would just love to see this adapted. (I would especially love to see Andy, Ernest’s bumbling uncle, on screen. His casting could be pure gold - Sam Neill? Hugh Jackman? Russell Crowe?) If you loved Knives Out, you’ll love this.
On the back of my copy of Happiness for Beginners, there’s a quote saying Center is the ‘reigning queen of comfort reads’. I can’t comment on Center’sOn the back of my copy of Happiness for Beginners, there’s a quote saying Center is the ‘reigning queen of comfort reads’. I can’t comment on Center’s other books (yet), but I feel like that just about hits the nail on the head if I had to describe this book. I didn’t realise I needed a comfort read until I started it and realised how good it made me feel. I just know this book is one I’m going to re-read when I need a bit of a pick-me-up.
Helen is a 32 year old divorcee who signs up for a course-cum-holiday, hiking through the Wyoming wilderness. She’s hoping to find some like-minded fellow hikers to join her on this ‘spiritual journey’. Instead she finds the average age of the other hikers is 19 who entertain themselves with games of truth-and-dare. Among them is Jake, her younger brother Duncan's best friend, who she has largely ignored since meeting him six years ago as she quickly pigeon holed him as a party-loving loser like her brother.
I’m pretty sure everyone will instantly adore Jake. He must easily be one of the sweetest romantic leading men ever written. I understand, however, if readers don’t have as much instant love for Helen. She’s judgmental, rude and bad tempered at times. Her behaviour towards Duncan especially will probably not win her any fans. Yet, under it all, she’s awkward and scarred and, by the end, I loved her a lot.
With the scarred thing - Helen and Duncan’s back story is great. I sometimes roll my eyes at book characters’ sad back stories but this one really was sad. I think the heartache of this book is really what makes it special.
One of my favourite reads of the year - 5 out of 5
I did watch the Netflix movie -- it’s a bit meh and normy. It changes too much up and cuts too much out for it to have the impact of the book. I'm not 100% sold on the casting either.
Jacqueline Kirby is working as a librarian in a Nebraskan university when she decides to go on a holiday to New York and, whilst there, attend a romanJacqueline Kirby is working as a librarian in a Nebraskan university when she decides to go on a holiday to New York and, whilst there, attend a romance writers’ convention. Obviously, as these things go, she gets tangled up with a group of writers, their agent, their fan club members, protestors opposed to their books’ content, and a columnist who is determined to dig up some dirt. Soon enough, as these things go, there’s a death which Jacqueline is sure is murder and she’s on the case, along with her on-again off-again boyfriend and a local detective.
The humour in the book is fabulous. Jacqueline is witty and sarcastic and I love her taking the mickey out of historical romance novels whilst avidly reading them and deciding to write one. (The fact that one publisher had decided to include a new romance line set in prehistoric times cracked me up completely.)
There's a strong theme of feminism as well as one of the danger of judging people on their looks alone.
There’s also enough mystery and tension, not to mention romance between the characters, to keep readers entertained. This was written in the early eighties so, of course, some parts feel dated but I wouldn’t say it’s aged in an inappropriate manner.
It’s a quick fun read and I wish Peters had written lots more Jacqueline Kirby. 5 out of 5
I know it’s only early days, but I think The Wakes could be my favourite read for the year.
Told from multiple POVs, the plot involves characters meetI know it’s only early days, but I think The Wakes could be my favourite read for the year.
Told from multiple POVs, the plot involves characters meeting and interacting with each other over the course of four funerals.
The Wakes was funny, sad, poignant, romantic, and received bonus points for food porn. Obviously there's a focus on coping with death but there were many other thought provoking themes such as infertility, jealousy, and forgiveness.
The main characters were all likeable (and older! yay!) and I couldn’t help but cheer them on, especially the lovely Clare and Louisa, who gain independence and find a renewed purpose in their lives after they establish a funeral catering business.
I can’t believe this is a debut novel. I don’t think it’s too much of a bold prediction from me if I say Dianne Yarwood will soon be as well known as Liane Moriarty. She’s already following in Moriarty’s footsteps with The Wakes being picked up to be adapted into a TV series by the same people who made Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers. I now just have to cross my fingers they do it justice.
5 stars!
*Thank you BetterReadingAU and Hachette Australia for my preview copy ...more
This is my fifth Center novel and, on the face of it, this is the most simplistic when it comes to their plots. In fact, it could be considered a littThis is my fifth Center novel and, on the face of it, this is the most simplistic when it comes to their plots. In fact, it could be considered a little cliche and corny, and yet, it works.
Our heroine, Libby, and her two children go to live with her aunt on a goat farm. There, in a small town (which I assume is fictional) in Texas, she meets some eccentric characters and strives to find herself, following the loss of her husband.
The romance is, as usual for Center, closed door but, boy, the chemistry between Libby and her love interest just sizzles. (And who can blame Libby for being attracted to him -- all I have to say is a very eloquent, ‘guh’.)
Also as usual with Center, she made me tear up again. The sad back stories of each of the characters are genuinely sad and, importantly too, believable. The book, though, is completely heartwarming and I can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking for a comfort read this weekend.
I just now need to find where I can stream the movie adaptation in Australia now.
I was a little worried that my love for the Thursday Murder Club might have started to wane with book three but, if anything, I enjoyed this installmeI was a little worried that my love for the Thursday Murder Club might have started to wane with book three but, if anything, I enjoyed this installment more than the other two.
I think the zany humour escalated with The Bullet That Missed and that was what won me over. I just love the Englishness of the humour and how seamlessly the jokes are weaved through the narrative and dialogue.
The characters feel so real and so easily imagined. Ron and Joyce are my favourites but Osman manages to give each character their own moment to shine. I also really enjoyed the minor characters of Connie Johnston and Pauline. I hope Osman uses them again (I'm sure he will).
If you're worried about the plot, it involves an ex-KGB operative, crypto currency, game shows, Polish movies and snooker. There is also a murder or two though, along with a kidnapping and money laundering to keep you guessing.
Obviously I'm going to highly recommend this. Actually, I recommend you start with book one for context.
5 out of 5 and looking forward to book four. ...more
I read 76 books in total this year. (I am about to finish another couple and expect to finish them today, so should be 78.) I was probably on track toI read 76 books in total this year. (I am about to finish another couple and expect to finish them today, so should be 78.) I was probably on track to read more but my work became extremely busy towards the end of the year and I never read during my lunch break as I usually do (as I never had a lunch break grrr...) and often came home feeling too mentally exhausted to do too much but stare aimlessly at the tv.
Luckily, in the end, I read 16 books which I considered 5 star reads. I've listed them below in order of my preference. AA = Australian author and you'll see most of them are Australian authors! This is books I've read this year not books necessarily released this year.
1. Shatter - Michael Robotham AA 2. Bleed for Me - Michael Robotham AA 3. The Rules of Backyard Cricket - Jock Serong AA 4. The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman 5. The Husband's Secret - Liane Moriarty AA 6. The Good Sister - Sally Hepworth AA 7. Say You're Sorry - Michael Robotham AA 8. After Darkness - Christine Piper AA 9. The Maid - Nita Prose 10. This Rough Magic - Mary Stewart 11. This Has Been Absolutely Lovely - Jessica Dettmann AA 12. The Paris Affair - Pip Drysdale AA 13. Greenlight - Benjamin Stevenson AA 14. Freckles - Cecila Ahern 15. The Dictionary of Lost Words - Pip Williams AA 16. Plum - Brendan Cowell AA
There were another 10 books which I almost gave 5 stars to; that is, these are 4 1/2 star reads:
17. Still - Matt Nable AA 18. Airs Above the Ground - Mary Stewart 19. Unforgiven - Sarah Barrie AA 20. The Road Trip - Beth O'Leary 21. Two Steps Forward - Graeme Simsion and Annie Buist AA 22. The End of Men - Christina Sweeney-Baird 23. When You Are Mine - Michael Robotham AA 24. The Perfect Lie - Jo Spain 25. Before the Crown - Flora Harding 26. The Kind Worth Killing - Peter Swanson 27. In the Clearing - JP Pomare AA/NZ
Obviously my most read author would be Michael Robotham. I actually stopped reading his Joe O'Loughlin series so I had some to read next year. (In the words of Bill Adama, I don't want them to end!)
On the opposite end of the scale, I rated 13 books 2 or below stars. I've listed these ones below as they were the most popular amongst my lower rankings. As in, these are my 'I'm still baffled that some people actually like these books' awards:
Dracula - Bram Stoker - 1 star The Seven Sisters - Lucina Riley - 1 star The Duke and I - Julia Quinn - 1 1/2 stars The Escape Room - Megan Goldin - 1 1/2 stars The Surgeon - Tess Gerritsen - 1 1/2 stars
It looks like 2022 will be another year with Covid but hopefully there will be some good reads for everyone....more
The Rules of Backyard Cricket is a difficult book to describe but one word I would use is brilliant. There was a lot of buzz about this book when it wThe Rules of Backyard Cricket is a difficult book to describe but one word I would use is brilliant. There was a lot of buzz about this book when it was released, so I was expecting it to be good but, boy, I did not expect it to be as good as it was.
The book is very Australian. Obviously, given the title, there is a lot of talk about cricket. The lead character and first person narrator, Darren, and his brother, Wally, both play the game obsessively in their backyard as kids and, eventually, play professionally. I must admit there may be some parts, especially talk of the field positions and technical aspects of the game, that probably only a cricketing country could follow and fully understand but, on the whole, I think those readers would still understand the sentiment. That is, the pressures and temptations facing professional athletes and just how so many of them end up in downward spirals.
Yes, Darren’s life is one we’ve all read in the tabloids before -- a potent mixture of too much talent, money, women, alcohol and drugs. Serong starts the story with Darren locked in the boot of a car, a bullet hole in his kneecap, gaffer tape over his mouth, and his wrists and ankles cable tied together. There’s the mystery of just who put him there. There’s the thrilling tension of just how he will get out. And then there’s the family drama, comedy and tragedy of his journey from childhood to this climactic scenario.
Serong’s writing is sublime. This is definitely a piece of literature. There’s many themes covered throughout the book: drug addiction, sibling rivalry, poverty, classism, single parenting, dementia, PTSD, alcoholism, gambling. His characterisation was ridiculously good, his descriptive passages unique, and after I finished the book, I realised just how well thought out and complicated the plot really was. The entire ending of the book is breathtaking. After I recovered from the shock of it, I realised that Serong had planned every line, paragraph and chapter of the book meticulously.
Despite his flaws, I adored Darren and as I read the book, I couldn’t help but hope he sorted himself out even though this seemed unlikely, considering his boot predicament in the beginning. There were several parts of the book that seriously made me cry like a baby. I can’t go into details without spoiling but those tragedies, along with the ending, will have me thinking about this book for a long time.
I listened via audio and have to give a shout out to the narrator, Rupert Degas. His timing, voice choices and accents were spot on. Not only will I look out for more books written by Serong, I will also look out for more audio titles featuring Degas.
This has become one of my top 5 reads for the year. 5 out of 5, obviously. ...more
After enjoying Shatter so much, I picked up the next Joe O’Loughlin series book, Bleed For Me, immediately. I’m happy to report that Robotham has contAfter enjoying Shatter so much, I picked up the next Joe O’Loughlin series book, Bleed For Me, immediately. I’m happy to report that Robotham has continued with the fenetic pace he set in Shatter and Bleed For Me is another winner.
Although, on reflection, I will admit that pace nearly shattered me in Shatter, so perhaps I might have appreciated a breather. Another one who wanted a breather is Julieanne, Joe's wife. The sore point in their marriage is that Joe becomes too involved in his cases, and boy, is he guilty as charged in Bleed For Me.
Yes, without actively pursuing it, psychologist Joe gets extremely personally tangled up with a case once again. It starts with his teenage daughter’s best friend, Sienna, arriving at their cottage, covered in blood. Soon the police find her father’s body and Joe is forced to investigate to ensure Sienna does not go to gaol or get committed to a psychiatric hospital for the crime.
Other than Sienna’s dad’s homicide, there is a lot of action with bombings, white supremists, paedaphilia, prostituion rings, jury tampering, self harm, stabbings, blackmail, poisioning… Yes, there are a lot of threads to the mystery plot but Robotham ties them all together and shows how they’re all linked in the end to give the reader a true resolution and satisfying conclusion.
I didn’t think the antagonist could get worse than the one Robotham gave us in Shatter but Bleed For Me’s main one is up there when it comes to disturbing characters. (I know these things go on in the world, but I would prefer to live in my little bubble sometimes.)
Although there is supposed to be two years passed, the book really seemed to follow on closely to Shatter. My favourite copper sidekick ever, Vincent Ruiz, is front and centre again (I laugh so hard at his lines). Other police characters introduced in Shatter also feature again including Veronica Cray. And, as I mentioned, Joe and Julieanne’s marital problems are still a major plot point.
Again Robotham sets Joe up for a fall and again, Joe obliges -- spectacularly. I still adore Joe and I continue to cheer him on even when he’s not making the right choices. The poor guy does get tortured relentlessly by Robotham (there’s one part where I admit to blubbering like a baby and calling Robotham all sorts of names for the distress he puts Joe, and the reader, through.)
Easily a 5 out of 5 star read and highly recommended (but, as I’ve mentioned, definitely do not start the series with this book; it’s one I truly don’t see as standalone)....more
After the events of Suspect, our series hero, Joe O’Loughlin, who has Parkinson's disease, has retired from practising pyschology and has now taken upAfter the events of Suspect, our series hero, Joe O’Loughlin, who has Parkinson's disease, has retired from practising pyschology and has now taken up a supposedly safe position lecturing at a university. He and his family have also escaped London and settled in a quiet Somerset village. Joe's peace is shattered, however, when he is called in to talk a woman down off a bridge and he suspects she is not actually suicidal but a victim of an elaborate murder.
The first part of the book so obviously sets Joe up for a fall. He becomes so involved in the investigation and the victim’s family so quickly. At the same time, he is dealing with the steady progression of his Parkinson’s and his jealousy of his wife’s, Julieanne, blossoming career and his suspicision she is having an affair with one of her co-workers.
As Joe continued with the investigation, I knew something bad would happen and I thought I was prepared. But I wasn’t. Forget Joe, Robotham almost shattered me. The tension of the last third of this book was off the charts. My heart was pounding constantly and I was practically screaming out loud as I read some of the climactic scenes. As I said, I thought I knew what would happen and I was pretty much proved correct, but I didn't completely cope with all the emotions Robotham evoked. The thrills are very creepy and upsetting and, oh my, so unrelenting. Total heart in your mouth stuff.
Joe is wonderful. I’d forgotten how much I love him. I like Robotham’s new character Cyrus but he’s nowhere near as perfect as Joe. Vincent Ruiz, Joe’s detective mate and the star of the second book, Lost, returns for Shatter. I also adore him. His banter with Joe made me continually laugh out loud. Robotham introduces a new police detective, Veronica Cray, and she’s okay but nothing as great as Ruiz.
I would recommend you read Suspect and Lost before you tackle Shatter. Even if you can follow it without the background of the characters, the books are too good to skip and I continue to be in awe of Robotham’s writing. I read Shatter at the same time as Jane Harper’s Force of Nature and I have to wonder if the latter seemed a little less impressive because I was unwittingly comparing the two and especially their scenes towards the end.
I cannot recommend this series enough. I’m an absolute fangirl. Easily 5 out of 5 and my favourite read of the year so far. ...more
I often say I don’t know how to review a book but, this time, I mean I *really* don’t know how to review Klara and the Sun.
Let me start by saying, I I often say I don’t know how to review a book but, this time, I mean I *really* don’t know how to review Klara and the Sun.
Let me start by saying, I loved it. Klara and the Sun is one of the best books I’ve ever read. But…
It’s so difficult to review. There is so much to think about and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. And, even though I want to find someone who loved it like me and discuss things with them, I also feel hesitant to actually talk about it.
Klara is an AF - an artificial friend. AF’s are bought to be companions to children. Klara is the narrator of the book and everything is told from her (often naive and child-like) point of view. Obviously, at times, she doesn’t understand exactly what is going on and, subsequently, I don’t think I grasped every nuance of Ishiguro’s plot either. That is, obviously his intelligence greatly outstrips mine, so I’m sure I missed some details. Yet, I don’t think my nerves would handle a second reading to pick up things I missed.
Yes, for a book which could be described as quiet and beautiful and gentle, it was also filled with tension and I literally got goosebumps from a couple of reveals.
There are a zillion themes included - environmental awareness, PTSD and grief management, social isolation, loneliness, religious faith, and classism, to name a few. The focus, however, is the age-old question of what it means to be human.
I know, I know, I say ‘age-old’ because Ishiguro is not the first scifi writer to pose this question. Hell, it’s not even the first Ishiguro book to pose it (that would be Never Let Me Go). But he still had me writing an entire thesis about it in my mind whilst reading.
I also want to write a thesis on Ishiguro’s vision of the future. Or maybe I don’t want to think about it at all. It was eerily realistic and, without a doubt, made me feel a little too uncomfortable.
I highly recommend this for book clubs. Obviously 5 out of 5
This is my 5th Mary Stewart read and I’m still utterly in love with her.
Okay, my cynical heart will admit she sticks to a strict formula. But she doesThis is my 5th Mary Stewart read and I’m still utterly in love with her.
Okay, my cynical heart will admit she sticks to a strict formula. But she does it so well, I don’t care.
Our heroine this time is Lucy, a theatre actress who finally got the lead in a play only to have it be a dud. Licking her wounds, she escapes London to travel to Corfu, where her wealthy sister resides. Expecting peace and tranquility, Lucy instead gets wrapped up in murder.
Stewart’s descriptive passages are, as usual, sublime. If you can’t picture the crystal clear water off the coast of the island, its ancient ruins, the smaller villages of helpful but poor locals, the flowers and lushly landscaped surrounds of the luxury Villas where these rich Brits live, or even the underground caves and wine cellars beneath them, well… Well, that can't happen. Stewart prose makes the reader picture them as easily as a photograph.
Stewart’s action scenes also are so easy to follow and imagine. From scuffles with guns to a tussle on board a boat, the reader never has to pause and just wonder what is going on.
Another thing she can do better than most is suspense and tension. There’s always a subtlety to the suspense at first (the leading ladies always think perhaps they are imagining danger when there might be none), then, Stewart ramps things up until your heart is thumping. And Stewart can make the most mundine moments, like an unanswered telephone call, become sinister.
Talking of tension, Stewart can do sexual tension also like no other. The chemistry between Lucy and her love interest crackles off the page. So often I read a modern romance and whinge that the leading couple has zero chemistry. I don’t imagine I’d ever have that complaint about a Stewart book. I definitely didn’t with This Rough Magic! I was, as they say, shipping it hard!
Out of the rest of the supporting characters, Lucy's sister's neighbour, the world famous actor Sir Julian Gale, is an absolute stand out. He’s hilarious and tragic at the same time and I really can’t understand why this novel was never adapted into a movie somewhere along the line because Sir Julian would have been so much fun on screen and whoever played him would have been instantly up for a supporting actor award. (I love all the Goodreads reviews where the readers/reviewers have ‘cast’ the book. I will admit that I instantly cast Sir Patrick Stewart as Sir Julian.)
And, of course, Corfu is another character. It’s not really a location I was familiar with before the book but it certainly made me fall in love with it. I also learnt a lot about Albania. I am rather ignorant about its political history and ended up on the internet after finishing This Rough Magic, reading up on the country and, in particular, being fascinated by the length of time it remained isolated due to communism.
Obviously I recommend This Rough Magic and I’m still keen to read some more Stewart titles. My head tells me that the book might be a little dated which should result in a less than perfect rating but my heart says it’s in charge today, so 5 out of 5....more
I saw Osman interviewed on the Graham Norton show not long back so I know he’s very well known in the UK as a tv presenter (as an Aussie, I was clueleI saw Osman interviewed on the Graham Norton show not long back so I know he’s very well known in the UK as a tv presenter (as an Aussie, I was clueless) but I hope he’s getting enough recognition as a writer there also as this, his debut, was such a great read.
The Thursday Murder Club comprises of four residents of a retirement village in Kent who get together every Thursday to go over police cold cases, hoping to one day notice something the police have missed. Then, the retirement village’s builder is found dead and the club suddenly have a real time murder to solve.
This book was hilarious. Most chapters I lost it from just laughing and laughing. Osman did a fantastic job of making you laugh without mocking the oldies. Well, not too much anyway. And the times he did, he allowed them to keep their dignity. In fact, the bulk of the jokes come about because the oldies continually manage to one-up the younger characters, especially the two police officers they [basically recruit] to assist them in their hunt for the killer.
Other than the fact they’re all extremely intelligent, all four members of the murder club have very different personalities. I loved all four and would find it difficult to determine who was my favourite. They each get their moment to shine.
The murder mystery plot line was pretty good. I did guess one or two things but, by the end, there are so many threads you’d have to tie together to solve everything, so I imagine most readers should be satisfied.
If I had a complaint it would be the number of times Osman had a character find something out which they didn’t share with the reader. You know, the phone call where someone tells them something, or where they read something, and they go ‘oh! Now that is interesting’ and… cut, end of chapter. Grrr. It’s not my favourite thing authors do. It’s only a minor whine though.
I listened to the audible version, narrated by one of my favourite actresses Lesley Manville. She never let me down and her accents and choices for the characters were all excellent.
I am so pleased there will be a sequel. I will definitely be rushing out to read it. Easily a 5 out of 5...more
Most people I know who have read the Vorkosigan Saga consider this to be their favourite of the series so I had high expectations. The last book, KomaMost people I know who have read the Vorkosigan Saga consider this to be their favourite of the series so I had high expectations. The last book, Komarr, was basically a ‘meet cute’ between our series hero, Miles, and his new ladylove, Ekaterin. I was expecting A Civil Campaign to be a romance between the two with some sort of misunderstanding/conflict, maybe a touch of mystery for Miles to solve somewhere along the line before he wins the girl over completely. Well… It is this story but quite a bit more.
LMB dedicates the book to an impressive list - Jane, Charlotte, Georgette, and Dorothy. I can draw some fascinating comparisons between A Civil Campaign and their works (well, the ones I’m most familiar with -- I admit to having never read Heyer). Actually, the fact that Miles and Ekaterin’s storyline is pretty much just a homage to Sayers’s Lord Peter and Harriet Vane (who are probably my favourite book couple evah) was probably the biggest reason I was swooning over this book, and Ekaterin and Miles’s scenes in particular. I feel like I need to write a thesis to explain how a couple in a scifi book, set on another planet and in the future, are almost exactly the same as a couple who solve mysteries in a series of novels set in England in the 1920s.
To keep it more brief though - Both Miles and Peter are considered less attractive than the women they’ve fallen for, leaving all and sundry to assume they’ve somehow used their peerage to trick their respective leading ladies into a relationship; Ekaterin and Harriet are both victims of domestic abuse where their past partners have not hit them but belittled them constantly; Miles and Peter are both mindful of the abuse and are incredibly honorable in wanting to fiercely protect Ekaterin and Harriet from slander and character assassination; instead of the typical alpha male protection though, Miles/Peter [perhaps unknowingly] give the girls a chance to recognise their inner strength and ability to fight misogyny and injustice in their own dignified and intelligent way; Miles/Peter’s wit and intelligence are what attracts these (outwardly seemingly) more attractive women; and, in the end, whilst Miles and Peter are plotting, it’s Ekaterin and Harriet who end up rescuing their beaus.
I can also see the similarities to Austen’s books. For starters, there’s a heavy focus on family and siblings. Besides Miles’s rocky relationship with his clone brother, Mark, the familial plots feature Ekaterin’s brother and brother-in-law’s ‘helpful’ response to her association to Miles (very Sense and Sensibility-like), the four Koudelka sisters (the daughters of the second novel Barrayar’s Kou and Drou acting very Bennet and/or Dashwood sisters-like) , and Miles’s pseudo brothers Ivan and Gregor.
She also, like Jane and Dorothy etc, added a healthy helping of hidden feminism. There is no weak Koudelka sister, physically or mentally. Strong independent women each one, a credit to their parents, which becomes the great irony of the plot as Kou, after raising these superwomen, forgets the independence he and his wife have nurtured for so long by attempting to stifle it. One of the best scenes in the book is my beloved Cordelia pointing out the error in his judgement when it comes to Mark’s relationship with one of his girl’s (Kareen). Kou’s cry that Cordelia isn’t fighting fair with the addition of an old couch is all sorts of hilarious for those who’ve read Barrayar .
Seriously, LMB was on point with her humour throughout this book. There’s a whole wedding proposal going awry plot point which plays out during a dinner party which, without doubt, is probably the funniest thing I’ve ever read. I am not exaggerating when I say I laughed out loud and almost had tears streaming down my face at one stage. The book is worth reading for this scene alone. (And let me just mention - slight (view spoiler)[ - that the reason Ekaterin rejects Miles’s wedding proposal is almost identical to the reason Harriet rejects Peter in Sayers’s books.) (hide spoiler)]
Besides the dinner party and couch scene, I felt like Cordelia and Aral need to be added to the great comedy duos of all time -- all their scenes are hilarious but I especially laughed at their reflections on meeting Ekaterin for the first time. There’s also Gregor’s straight faced delivery of one-liners, mostly in response to something Miles, Ivan, or Ekaterin’s son might have done. And there’s Ivan - full stop - hilarious - one of his closing scenes made me whoop with laughter (besides me yelling ‘I knew it!’).
And I haven’t started on the butter bugs… (They’re difficult to explain, just read the thing. Or maybe a couple of the books prior to this one first. I don’t think this is one you can just pick up and understand all the humour etc without reading some of the others in the series.)
Highly recommended obviously. Definitely a favourite. 5 out of 5...more
I’ve read this was not a favourite book in this series for a lot of readers; they consider it a filler or a transition book which essentially only exiI’ve read this was not a favourite book in this series for a lot of readers; they consider it a filler or a transition book which essentially only exists to establish Miles’s new career and introduce his potential new girlfriend. I do get their point with the transition tag-I think most of the book is showing us that Miles has grown up-but, overall, Komarr has got a lot of hidden depth which they’ve failed to mention.
I’ve said all along that I’ve preferred the planetside mysteries with a touch of political intrigue to the space action/adventure books of the series, so Miles’s new career as an Imperial Auditor suits me just fine. I can’t quite think of an equivalent of the auditor role in real life at the moment, but I guess it’s best described as a detective with unlimited authority and resources.
This book shows us the prejudice and bias Miles faces whilst settling into this new role. The job traditionally carries an air of respect and awe about it and auditors are automatically obeyed but, in Miles’s case, there’s the constant question of whether or not he was appointed simply due to his exalted surname. Most of his previous experience is classified and therefore, he can't reveal any details in his defence. Nevertheless, I think Young!Miles would have shown off to all and sundry without any forethought and this new mature Miles is a nice contrast, picking and choosing his moments which results in a much more effective result. (I also love how often LMB makes Miles’s past adventures amusing - his quip about being an expert when it comes to drainage and pipes, for example -- never gets old!)
The setting for the book’s investigation is the planet Komarr of the title which also comes with an extra set of prejudices for Miles to face. His father is known to the locals as the infamous ‘butcher of Komarr’, the man they mistakenly think ordered a massacre of their peoples when the Barrayarans conquered the planet. There’re actually some really great poignant moments and brilliant quotes from Miles when he is forced to speak on behalf of his father. All in all, Miles’s behaviour in Komarr shows without doubt that he has finally become the man we all thought he’d be.
The second point of the book is, as I said, to introduce readers to Miles’s new love interest. I was surprised that LMB actually gave us Ekaterin’s point of view (in alternate chapters with Miles’s pov). The only other time LMB has used another’s POV was in Mirror Dance (and that was Mark’s, Miles’s clone twin, whilst Miles was indisposed), so I don’t think it’s any type of spoiler to say that LMB was setting up Ekaterin as the romantic heroine for readers to cheer on. In true LMB fashion, she doesn’t make this a conventional romantic meet-cute or Ekaterin the typical female lead.
Ekaterin is married, for starters, to a Vor administrator stationed in Komarr. She is also the niece of one of Miles’s fellow auditors and therefore, invites Miles and her uncle into her home when they come to the planet to investigate a ship’s crash, which might be an accident or might be a prelude to a terrorist act. (If you’re not such a sappy romantic as me, I promise you there’s plenty technical scifi mystery plot to keep you happy.)
At face value, Ekaterin comes across as naive, ignorant and old fashioned, believing she must follow quite a few Vor traditions that have been left behind by most Barrayans. I was at first confused by this attitude until I realised that LMB was presenting us with a woman who is a victim of domestic abuse. No, her husband does not hit her (there’s a fabulous section featuring this thought) but she has been systematically abused by her husband for almost their entire marriage. Strong female characters are LMB’s speciality and Ekaterin’s personal journey to discovering her relationship is not normal and moving to free herself from it is wonderful.
Miles has fallen in love several times during this series but LMB makes it pretty clear that Ekaterin is the real deal. Giving us Ekaterin’s inner thoughts, we get to learn just what she thinks of Miles and his appearance, and it’s so real and true, I just couldn’t help but fall in love with her just from that alone.
At a risk of repeating myself, this is my favourite Miles book thus far.
I have discovered that, despite preferring space opera over the other subgenreAt a risk of repeating myself, this is my favourite Miles book thus far.
I have discovered that, despite preferring space opera over the other subgenres of scifi, I rather the Vorkosigan books full of political intrigue and set on Barrayar than the action adventure/space setting installments. I also prefer Lord Vorkosigan over Admiral Naismith, and Memory is truly the first book that focuses on the Vor Lord instead of the admiral for quite a while. The opening chapters show the medical side effects and debilitating seizures Miles has been enduring following his ‘death’. His ill health, and his concealment of it, forces Miles to yield his command of the Dendarii fleet and return to Barrayar.
Soon after Miles's arrival planetside, his Impsec boss, Simon Illyan, has a memory chip (which was implanted in his brain years ago) go haywire. Illyan’s mental and physical health declines at such a rapid rate that he needs to resign his commission, leaving Miles without any chance of reinstatement when Illyan’s successor does not appreciate Miles’s... unique qualities. Miles does not, of course, let that stop him and the book's mystery plot is that of Miles investigating whether or not Illyan’s chip was sabotaged deliberately.
Although I always enjoy Miles solving a mystery, I found a lot of this book incredibly sad. Both Illyan and Miles have to discover what type of men they will be without their military personas. Somehow LMB makes all this introspective reflection and searching for identity far from boring. As LMB showed in Mirror Dance, Illyan and Miles have a lovely pseudo father/son relationship, and she raised the poignancy level in Memory again by showing us the respect and love they share. *sniff* I also loved how the situation evoked memories for Miles of his grandfather. *sniff* It’s not just the Miles and Illyan show, my other favs Ivan, Gregor, Galeni and Taura get some quality scenes and we even get a couple featuring Cordelia and Aral (happy sigh).
Amongst the tears, LMB includes her trademark humour, a lot coming from a hilarious new character, Miles’s stand in driver-cum-butler Martin. Ivan is, of course, still the brunt of several jokes and I pretty much laughed out loud at Miles offering him a cat and his reaction to one of the romantic subplots (might I just add, this romance was the cutest!).
Memory was another of the longer books in the series but again, like Mirror Dance, I flew through it, probably ignoring real life far too much to find out Miles’s fate (for now). And of course I'm now sucked in to starting Komarr immediately.
Re-read by listening via Audible. (Most of this series is included in the free Audible library, so bonus!) I still loved it. I'd forgotten how much I Re-read by listening via Audible. (Most of this series is included in the free Audible library, so bonus!) I still loved it. I'd forgotten how much I love the relationship between Miles and Ivan.
5 out of 5
*****
Mirror Dance is number nine of the full length novels of the Vorkosigan Saga, and the third to win a Hugo award. I can see why. This is easily the best book to feature Miles and one of the my favourites of the series overall.
This time, the book is told not only from Miles’s point of view but also from Mark’s, his clone brother who was introduced in the previous book, Brothers In Arms. Mark was created (for want of a better term) to assassinate Miles and then take his place in Barrayar society; the final plan being to take over the Barrayar imperium. As such, pretty much all characters are distrustful of Mark and his motives, and a lot of the plot centres upon him finding his own sense of identity and worth, all the while attempting to gain the trust and respect of the Barrayarans. Meanwhile, Miles also spends a long time in the book studying himself [in the proverbial mirror] and his bond with Barrayar, his family, and his tricky sexual relationships (there’s a fantastic line in the book where he notes he picks up lots of women but never puts them down).
Actually both Miles and Mark have to face some difficult realities about their sexual and/or romantic inclinations overall. LMB has a knack of including different types of genders and/or sexual orientations in such an organic way that makes the reader accept them all as normal without any qualms. She was ahead of her time (probably like all scifi writers) with regards to a lot of these still very topical debates.
She also focuses on PTSD in this book and, as per usual, she makes the reader understand more about this and other psychological issues quicker and easier than a hundred theses would achieve. She also touches on mortality and ageing, feminism and the rights of women to make their own decisions regarding childbirth, and genetic research.
Mirror Dance managed to have me chewing my fingernails with tension more than any of the other books thus far. Even though I know Miles is a continuing character in the series, I was genuinely scared for his fate. There are other moments too, when I was fretting over Aral and Mark.
It’s probably more dark than the other books too, with scenes of implied rape and torture that are heartbreaking and shocking.
A lot of readers claim that Miles's characterisation develops quite a bit in this book. I suppose this is true but what I found was that I realised how much I truly loved Miles after reading this book. Until this book I suppose I liked him but it wasn’t until he was [almost] absent for long periods and I was seeing his influence from other characters’ point of views that I realised I loved him. It also made me love a lot of the other characters more; some of the most heartbreaking scenes in the book were those featuring the effect of Miles’s disappearance on his family and closest friends. Not that LMB ever overdoes anything. It’s probably the way she pulls on your heartstrings with such a soft touch that makes everything sadder. (Scenes featuring Illyan and Ivan, in particular, caused me to become quite teary.)
Not that it’s a depressing book. LMB’s trademark humour was still evident and she even threw in the start of a sweet romance.
At almost 600 pages, this was a long book compared to a lot of the other Vorkosigan ones. I was, however, surprised by how quickly I finished it. This is a testament to how LMB is when it comes to pacing and how effortlessly she keeps everything moving forward.
Lee at ReadWriteWish
>
Books:
favourites
(87)
Loading...
