I'm heart broken.And I may just have read my most favourite and best book for 2018.Sally Rooney has written a gut-wrenching, painfully poignant love story about two young damaged souls that will stay with me for a very long time. In Normal People she has captured perfectly all the angst, insecurity and missteps that dog … Continue reading Normal People by Sally Rooney
For the very first time, I've actually read my latest #IMreadalong book during the month selected by Liz @Adventures in Reading. The September read was The Nice and the Good first published in 1968 (a very good year, I might add) which makes it 50 years old.It was an odd mix of murder mystery, rom-com … Continue reading The Nice and the Good by Iris Murdoch
I finally got around to reading The Green Road thanks to Cathy's #ReadIreland Month. It has been sitting on my TBR pile since 2016.Over my years of blogging, I've come to realise that writing a rave review about a book I really enjoyed, if not loved and adored, is actually harder to do, than writing … Continue reading The Green Road by Anne Enright
Patrick DeWitt is a Canadian author who now lives in Oregon, USA. The Sisters Brothers won the 75th Canadian Governor General's Literary Awards and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, the 2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize and the 2012 Walter Scott Prize.The Man Booker shortlist synopsis states that,this dazzlingly original novel is a darkly funny, offbeat western about … Continue reading The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
Home Fire was longlisted for this year's Man Booker and I so wish it had got the nod for the shortlist. It was a stronger, more consistently interesting story than 4 3 2 1, but perhaps the judging committee felt they had ticked the refugee/migrant experience by including Exit West?Either way it's a shame, because … Continue reading Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
I am truly delighted that George Saunders has won an award for his fabulous book, Lincoln in the Bardo. I loved it from start to finish and it deserves to be inundated with accolades and prizes.But I also loved Kamila Shamsie's Home Fire just as much, but for very different reasons (review still to come). … Continue reading Just Saying…
I love a good epigraph.A well-chosen, thoughtful epigraph can establish the tone for the book journey you're about to embark on. However many authors spend a lot of time and effort on finding the perfect epigraph only for it to be skimmed over by most readers.For the reader who does consider the epigraph, its true … Continue reading Epigraph Philosophy – Smith Vs Shamsie
I was feeling a little cautious about reading Lincoln in the Bardo. Anytime I had heard someone talk about the book, they would mention the ghosts, the many, many voices and the grief. It sounded like it might be hard work or a bit too clever for its own good.Fortunately, though, a reading copy recently … Continue reading Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
I haven't been paying as much attention as usual to the various literary awards and their shortlists this year. Partly because I have wanted to read more classics this year and partly because I've dropped the ball in quite a few areas lately!However, I have just started reading one of the shortlisted Miles Franklin books … Continue reading The Long & Short of it.
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid has divided many readers and reviewers. (For an interesting cross section of responses try My Booking Great Read, Michael @Knowledge Lost, Rachel @Pace Amore, Libri, and Kate @Books are my Favourite and Best). I was therefore prepared for the pared back, deceptively simple writing style that has kept many reviewers at an emotional distance. … Continue reading Exit West | Mohsin Hamid
My Name is Lucy Barton might seem like just another simple mother/daughter story, but like all of Elizabeth Strout's stories there is much more going on under the surface than first meets the eye. Lucy Barton is in hospital for an extended medical procedure. Her husband, busy with his work and their two young girls, arranges … Continue reading My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
This year's Booker has been awarded to satire - again! I was dreading The Sellout winning the Booker because I really don't want to tackle another satire. No matter how worthy it may be.Satire is used to highlight the foolishness or vices within a society of group. It can be categorised further into irony, sarcasm, exaggeration, ridicule … Continue reading Brona’s Salon: Satire
I am proud to say that I managed to read half of this year's Booker shortlist before the winner was announced.Do Not Say We Have Nothing was an epic multi-generational family saga, His Bloody Project was a psychological historical fiction crime story, but Hot Milk was...?Two days later, I'm still not sure what it was.Hot Milk was definitely … Continue reading Hot Milk by Deborah Levy
His Bloody Project has been shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize. It was a surprise inclusion to my mind. Historical crime fiction?But, as it turned out, I loved it.It's a psychological thriller as opposed to a detective story. The crime - victims and perpetrator - are presented straight up. The unfolding story reveals the how … Continue reading His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet
Brona's Salon is a new meme which aims to gather a group of like-minded bookish people 'under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine the taste and increase the knowledge of the participants through conversation.'(wikipedia)I will provide a few prompts to inspire our conversation.However please feel free … Continue reading Brona’s Salon
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