May featured some wonderful, interesting stories, but I still don't feel up to writing about them in any length. I would like to acknowledge Cathy @746 Books and her glorious review of Claire Keegan's novella, Small Things Like These, last year that was the impetus for me picking up this book as soon as it … Continue reading May Mini Reviews
Tag: Scotland
Mayflies | Andrew O’Hagan #GBRfiction
Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan appears to be one of those books especially designed for that subset of people born in the 1960's - the babies of the baby boomers and the very first Gen X-er's. Those people too young to get caught up in the whole 60's music scene, but by dint of being born … Continue reading Mayflies | Andrew O’Hagan #GBRfiction
Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Miller
Historical fiction is my favourite of all genres. It's probably also why I love classic books so much. Even if they were contemporary stories when written a hundred years ago, they are now historical fiction to me.I'm not sure why I love being immersed in a time so far removed from our own, except I … Continue reading Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Miller
Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty
I picked Midwinter Break from my TBR pile to read for Cathy @746Books #ReadIreland18 month. It is a staff pick at work thanks to one of my colleagues, so I was looking forward to it. But I failed to engage.There was lots to like about the story. I enjoyed the time that Stella and Gerry had wandering … Continue reading Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty
His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet
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
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
Death of a Gossip: A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery by M C Beaton
Until a few weeks ago I never knew that the BBC TV series from the late 90's that I loved and adored, Hamish Macbeth, was actually loosely based on a series of books by the Scottish crime writer M.C. Beaton.Hamish was played by the very lovely, very Scottish actor Robert Carlyle. He played the laid-back, … Continue reading Death of a Gossip: A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery by M C Beaton