Another brilliant collection from Brian Bilston, this about pets in all their forms. My favourite is "a leisurely walk", a poem about a pet sloth. LauAnother brilliant collection from Brian Bilston, this about pets in all their forms. My favourite is "a leisurely walk", a poem about a pet sloth. Laugh out loud funny, and coming from a dog and cat owner, also full of truisms! Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC...more
Oh my goodness, what a stunning book this is. I was totally engaged with the characters, especially Dave, Avril and Esme. This story spans a man's lifOh my goodness, what a stunning book this is. I was totally engaged with the characters, especially Dave, Avril and Esme. This story spans a man's life, from school through to old age. He is half Burmese, illegitimate and gay so suffers bullying and prejudice his whole life. I was really sad to finish this and in fact feel it could almost have been extended to more than one book - I wanted to read more about Dave's youth and also more about his later, happier life with Richard. Outstanding writing from this brilliant author. Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC...more
I hadn't read any Roddy Doyle before this book, so I hadn't met Paula and her family. However, this reads well as a standalone novel - there is enoughI hadn't read any Roddy Doyle before this book, so I hadn't met Paula and her family. However, this reads well as a standalone novel - there is enough of a backstory given, that explains the reasons why Paula is like she is. I loved the dialogue, particularly between Paula and her best friend Mary. The relationship between Paula and her daughter Nicola is very complex and so brilliantly conveyed. I will definitely go back and read his previous novels. An easy 5* Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC...more
This is one of those books where when you finish reading, you want to hug the book! Benjamin Myers has written a banger once again, this time with theThis is one of those books where when you finish reading, you want to hug the book! Benjamin Myers has written a banger once again, this time with the theme of love, loss and redemption, all set around the Northern soul scene. I loved the characters and of course the writing is sublime....more
Sometimes over hyped books are a disappointment... In this case, the hype is real. What a joy of a book! The Irish vernacular in ancient Syracuse shouSometimes over hyped books are a disappointment... In this case, the hype is real. What a joy of a book! The Irish vernacular in ancient Syracuse shouldn't work, but actually REALLY does. Dialogue flows and at times is laugh out loud, but ultimately this is a Greek tragedy of brutal proportions. This has been my favourite book of 2024 and I really hope the author doesn't take 7 years to write their next! Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC...more
I really enjoyed this book and raced through it in a couple of days. It was just the right mix of fantasy and realism for me and the gorgeous descriptI really enjoyed this book and raced through it in a couple of days. It was just the right mix of fantasy and realism for me and the gorgeous descriptions of Ibiza was surprising.. I have never felt the urge to visit, but would like to now. A lovely story of love, forgiveness and environmental activism. Thank you #Netgalleyfor this ARC...more
**spoiler alert** A really well written short novel - sometimes an uncomfortable read as it is written in the first person and Marianne is often irrit**spoiler alert** A really well written short novel - sometimes an uncomfortable read as it is written in the first person and Marianne is often irritating and unlikeable... She is unloved and dismissed by her parents, has few friends and so she throws all her love onto Simon, who after failing his exams is shipped off to France. Marianne's life is dominated by this unrequited love, and despite marrying a lovely man who adores her, can't let Simon go. However, by the end of the novel, her inner strength starts to show and like her family, I started to like her... Really enjoyed this book, will definitely recommend!...more
This book seemed right up my street from the description... Japanese historical fiction..Yes please! I was really disappointed though - this was a tedThis book seemed right up my street from the description... Japanese historical fiction..Yes please! I was really disappointed though - this was a tedious read and I only persevered because of its short length. Some errors in translation stuck out for me. For example, "what sounded the tocsin for me".. Tocsin comes from late 16th century where this novel is set in the 15th century. Dull and I wouldn't recommend it....more
This is a story of two women living in an apartment block in Paris, but decades apart. Their lives are linked by psychoanalysis, desire, fluid sexualiThis is a story of two women living in an apartment block in Paris, but decades apart. Their lives are linked by psychoanalysis, desire, fluid sexuality and differing feelings towards their partners and motherhood. I enjoyed the first third of the book but the sudden departure into the 1970s felt disjointed despite the similarities between the stories. I also felt pretty bogged down by the psychoanalysis detail - at times it read like a textbook and I did skim over a fair chunk of all the Lacan and Freud... For me it detracted, not added to the story and reduced my enjoyment of the book. Thank you#Netgalley for the ARC...more
This interesting, quiet novel is a study of the dynamics of love, marriage and fidelity in the different eras of Japanese history. Riko is a modern daThis interesting, quiet novel is a study of the dynamics of love, marriage and fidelity in the different eras of Japanese history. Riko is a modern day Japanese woman, struggling to balance her love for her husband and child, with the frustration of his numerous affairs. She finds solace in a childhood friend who teaches her the way to dream herself into different lives. In this way, she lives first as an oiran, a courtesan in the 18th century and then as a lady in waiting in the Heian period, between the 1st and 2nd centuries. Although fairly repetitive at times, I enjoyed the ebb and flow of characters in the different time periods and found the insight into women's lives past and present, fascinating. Although not one is my favourite books by this author, still an enjoyable read.
MRS C J FIELDS
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