An enjoyable , cosy paranormal mystery. This is a fun, light read with interesting characters and plot. Lily, a witch in training, snorts when she lauAn enjoyable , cosy paranormal mystery. This is a fun, light read with interesting characters and plot. Lily, a witch in training, snorts when she laughs and finds it hard to keep her thoughts from the hot guys around her, but has a unique special witch power which comes in handy when working for the Paranormal investigation bureau. This is the second book in the series and there’s an overarching mystery concerning her missing parents.
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An enjoyable , cosy paranormal mystery. This is a fun, light read with interesting characters and plot. Lily, a witch in training, snorts when she laughs and finds it hard to keep her thoughts from the hot guys around her, but has a unique special witch power which comes in handy when working for the Paranormal investigation bureau. This is the second book in the series and there’s an overarching mystery concerning her missing parents....more
This was a great read! It’s a historical spy thriller novel told in two timelines, the first during WWII and the second in the 70s. Ruth is a young siThis was a great read! It’s a historical spy thriller novel told in two timelines, the first during WWII and the second in the 70s. Ruth is a young single mother and English language teacher. She is surprised when her mother tells her that her real name is Eva Delectorskaya and she worked for British intelligence during the war. So it’s about secrets and what do you really know about other people. It’s a plot that was easy to get involved particularly Eva’s story and this section is rounded up really well. Ruth’s story is more open ended but her relationship with her mother is the most explored part of her life. I haven’t read William Boyd before and I’m not sure why but I’ll definitely read more. Well written and well constructed novel that kept me reading. ...more
Classic 50s scifi that I hadn’t read before. What comes after Homo sapiens? Will it be an amalgamation of psychic and other abilities in a combined foClassic 50s scifi that I hadn’t read before. What comes after Homo sapiens? Will it be an amalgamation of psychic and other abilities in a combined form? This book written in an unusual style(the story jumps around a bit explaining the various characters so can be confusing) is about a coming together of outsiders, freaks, and loners, I guess is an attempt to answer this. I was wondering where it was going but the final section brings it to a satisfying ending. ...more
This is a sweet and charming book about being human, about love and seeing beauty in music, art, poetry , sunsets, dogs...etc. The basic story is an aThis is a sweet and charming book about being human, about love and seeing beauty in music, art, poetry , sunsets, dogs...etc. The basic story is an alien takes the form of a maths professor who has proven a theorem which the alien culture thinks would be too much for us to handle. The alien thinks humans are just greedy and violent but inhabiting the human body he discovers he likes humans, we aren’t all bad and there’s value in being mortal, and pain and making mistakes. There’s a few really good humorous lines poking fun at life, the universe and everything(yes the opening paragraph made me think of hitchikers’). Mental illness is treated sensitively. There were bits I really liked, I mean my favourite song finishes the book, there’s a quote from J.G. Ballard. But I had problems with it too. The ending drags. I could’ve done without the 100 point list of advice for humans. While the alien sees the good in humans he meets enough awful humans (the professor he’s impersonating was clearly a jerk) that I can’t see why he’d choose (view spoiler)[to give up his immortality. (hide spoiler)] Maybe I’m just too old and cynical! So a pleasant read with some sweet moments. ...more
I’m finding it hard to rate this novel. It’s written in an ethereal, dreamy style which I quite liked especially early on as I was reading. The story I’m finding it hard to rate this novel. It’s written in an ethereal, dreamy style which I quite liked especially early on as I was reading. The story is essentially two timelines. Firstly Emily and Edward who meet and marry around 1899. He’s an explorer and is about to head off on a return expedition to the Arctic and she’s a young woman not really suited to her time. The second couple is Simon and Julia, current day. Julia is Edwards great, great niece. I would’ve enjoyed this book more if it was Just about Emily and Edward. We learn about his expedition from the log book and his diary and also Emily’s letters that were never sent. The modern story didn’t match this earlier more dramatic plot line and I found Julia to be an insipid character. She didn’t seem very realistic to me ( although I’m sure people like her exist!). Maybe it’s a timing thing, if I’d read this book in one go rather than broken up with Christmas and family etc I’d’ve enjoyed it more. Still it’s beautifully written and an interesting insight into polar exploration and the plight of partners left behind....more
I enjoyed this short novel about a loveless marriage. The title of the novel suggests it’s about Bebe, a young woman married to Francois Donge. Her siI enjoyed this short novel about a loveless marriage. The title of the novel suggests it’s about Bebe, a young woman married to Francois Donge. Her sister, Jeanne is married to Francois’s brother, Felix. But after (view spoiler)[Bebe poisons Francois at a family lunch (hide spoiler)] the book basically follows Francois’s realisation that he’d treated her with complete indifference and hadn’t recognised her needs. I probably would’ve liked this more if we’d had more insight into Bebe herself instead of indirectly through Francois and his reflections. ...more
A wonderful read that I couldn’t put down. Cleverly written and constructed, It’s the story of a little boy, Lanny, who’s a bit different. He sings toA wonderful read that I couldn’t put down. Cleverly written and constructed, It’s the story of a little boy, Lanny, who’s a bit different. He sings to himself, says strange things and seems particularly close to nature. It’s set in an English village but in commuter distance of London (his father works there). The structure of the book is unusual, it’s mostly thoughts or bits of conversations of characters (both known and unknown, from Lanny’s parents to Pete, an old artist who gives the boy art lessons, and other diverse villagers) plus a big mythological element in the character of Dead Papa Toothwort, a sort of Green Man who listens to the village and especially Lanny. There’s a lot of beauty as well as the ugliness of society, from basic pettiness to bullying and worse and (view spoiler)[when Lanny goes missing (hide spoiler)] the story becomes almost stream of consciousness but very readable....more
Well that was weird! I have so many unanswered questions. This is a strangely compelling read about fate and chance encounters, loneliness, truth, truWell that was weird! I have so many unanswered questions. This is a strangely compelling read about fate and chance encounters, loneliness, truth, trust, hard physical work, eccentricity but I want to know more. What did happen to Jack? Why were Flower and Stone so evil? The ending does seem inevitable, there’s a sense of foreboding the whole way through. ...more
This book was hard to put down. The attention to detail was impressive and made all the scenarios seem very authentic. The main character is a French This book was hard to put down. The attention to detail was impressive and made all the scenarios seem very authentic. The main character is a French spy and he’s married with a family. He maintains various identities that he uses in various missions and there’s all the spy stuff you’d expect, dead drops, avoiding tails, using burner phones etc . There’s plenty of tension and I didn’t really guess the plot twists. The characters apart from the main guy aren’t really developed, the story is driven by action and mystery. After an initial operation in Palermo is compromised there is a possibility of a mole and there’s a lot of suspense and paranoia wondering who the traitor is. The author is described as a former French intelligence operative which makes it all the more believable. An excellent spy thriller that I really enjoyed. In my house we’ve been working our way through the 10 seasons of Spooks so this fitted right in!...more
I really enjoyed this follow up to Scrublands. The opening chapter is great and drew me into this fast paced murder mystery. The events in this book oI really enjoyed this follow up to Scrublands. The opening chapter is great and drew me into this fast paced murder mystery. The events in this book occur over 8 days; and 6 weeks after the end of the previous book. Martin scarsden is moving to Port Silver to be with his girlfriend Mandy and her baby son. The major coincidence of Mandy inheriting a house that just happens to be in Martin’s hometown was something I rolled my eyes at but the book is so readable I can forgive it. The location is almost the opposite of scrublands but the heat is still there. The town of Port Silver is fictional but is located somewhere on the NSW north coast, somewhere near Byron Bay and the depiction of this sort of beach town is well done, hippies, backpackers, tourists, and rich people on the cliffs with great views. Real estate, drugs, and all sorts of other details crop up in the investigation, and also background of Martin and his family. An excellent read, I’m looking forward to Trust now!...more
Very impressive short stories. Zweig writes deceptively, the stories seem to start in a quite ordinary way and before I knew it I was drawn into them,Very impressive short stories. Zweig writes deceptively, the stories seem to start in a quite ordinary way and before I knew it I was drawn into them, compulsively reading to find out what was going on in his character’s heads. Each story has at its heart an extreme emotion, from the monomania of the man who learnt chess by memorising games from a book while a prisoner in “The Royal Game”, to the young woman’s adoring, obsessive love for her writer neighbour in “Letter from an Unknown Woman”. Fear, passion , jealousy, angst, deception all feature in them in various ways. These are short stories but the characters are fleshed out, and there is depth to them. Although the stories are clearly of an older time they read very modern to me. The other stories in this collection ; “Amok” is about an isolated doctor in a colonial setting returning to Europe, “Fear” is the story of an unfaithful rich wife and “The Burning Secret”, a 12yo boy on the edge of the adult world looking in and not understanding adult motivation. An excellent read....more
Interesting far future, cyberpunk elements with some very confronting themes in this coming of age novel. The planet Toussaint is colonised by Carib pInteresting far future, cyberpunk elements with some very confronting themes in this coming of age novel. The planet Toussaint is colonised by Carib people and the story is told in dialect that flows musically once you get used it....more
Set in Switzerland in 1905 when Einstein worked in a patent office. This book of short vignettes represent Einsteins dreams as he’s contemplating his Set in Switzerland in 1905 when Einstein worked in a patent office. This book of short vignettes represent Einsteins dreams as he’s contemplating his theory of time. In each dream time is different oe experienced differently by the people in them. In one they live forever , in another they have no memory, one world people get one vision of their future, or people live high on mountains because time moves slower etc etc. I found it pleasant and thoughtful to start with and then , even though it’s a short book I got bored. I wanted more, something more challenging. ...more
The fourth island is a novella set in the Aran Islands. The story takes place on Inis Mor and the fictional Inis Caillte (lost island in Gaelic). The The fourth island is a novella set in the Aran Islands. The story takes place on Inis Mor and the fictional Inis Caillte (lost island in Gaelic). The island is lost and the people on it are also lost. There’s magic here, people can understand each other even if they speak different languages, the deaf can hear. It reads like a folk tale and I really enjoyed most of the book but the latter section is disappointing and doesn’t have the magic and charm of the earlier parts....more
Ghostwritten is a novel of nine interconnected stories, the connections become more overt as the novel goes on. I enjoyed the whole book but the latteGhostwritten is a novel of nine interconnected stories, the connections become more overt as the novel goes on. I enjoyed the whole book but the latter chapters are compelling. One of the chapters is about a guy who is a ghostwriter, there’s a kinda ghost or an untethered spirit in the tea house and Mongolia chapters. One of the stories is about a woman who’s a quantum physicist working on AI control (Quancog, quantum cognition maybe), the “quantum mechanics of sentience”. It’s about life, is it choice or chance, or is everything fate? And humans, how we like destroying our world and what’s an AI to do watching it all. This is David Mitchell’s first novel and its amazingly good. It has references to stuff that would be built on in Cloud atlas. There’s comets mentioned, one of the characters has a comet shaped birthmark, some minor characters are in the later book. I’m sure I’m probably missing stuff. There’s so much in it, I’m glad I’ve read it at last!...more
Really enjoyed this 70s Ballard novel about Robert Maitland, an architect who finds himself isolated with seemingly no escape on a traffic island afteReally enjoyed this 70s Ballard novel about Robert Maitland, an architect who finds himself isolated with seemingly no escape on a traffic island after a car accident (it is possible that it was deliberate, he was driving too fast returning to his wife after spending time with his mistress). Isolation, alienation, although surrounded by civilisation(there’s lots of traffic speeding by), does he want to leave? Of course in true Crusoe form he discovers he’s not alone on the island, there’s a young woman and a disabled man. It has absurdist moments, Proctor doing acrobatics badly; surreal moments, Maitland feverishly wonders if it’s all a dream. Another Ballard novel that will stick in my brain!...more
This is the first book of Zola’s Rougon-Macquart series which follows the lives of a few generations of this family during the period of the French seThis is the first book of Zola’s Rougon-Macquart series which follows the lives of a few generations of this family during the period of the French second empire (1851-1870). It’s an origin story for the series, the various branches of the family are descended from Adelaide Fouque and her three children. Her legitimate son Pierre Rougon is one of the main characters in this novel and the period leading up to the coup in late 1851 is the main timeframe although there’s a second timeline that follows Adelaide and her children’s lives up to that point. It’s set in the fictional town of Plassans (based on Aix-en-Provence) in southern France. I really enjoyed this novel, as the themes for the series are laid out. Zola’s aim was to show all aspects of french society and also how madness and alcoholism run in families. This one suffers a little from being the first and therefore has a multitude of characters and ideas but I though it read well with drama, politics, comedy and a sweet romance....more
Michel Faber is brilliant. I was drawn into this short book from the arresting opening paragraph, the location, and the interesting storyline. The mainMichel Faber is brilliant. I was drawn into this short book from the arresting opening paragraph, the location, and the interesting storyline. The main character Sian, is an archaeologist working on a dig at Whitby Abbey in Yorkshire. She has a tragic complicated backstory and when she meets Magnus and his dog Hadrian their relationship isn’t going to be straight forward. Magnus has an old document in a bottle which Sian agrees to open and find out what it says. The book is a slow reveal, both Sian herself and the story from the document. I think I have to add Faber to my favourite authors, Ive enjoyed everything I’ve read by him!...more
I enjoyed this mystery kinda spy thriller set in London during the blitz. Arthur Rowe has a sad past at the beginning of the novel and becomes an acciI enjoyed this mystery kinda spy thriller set in London during the blitz. Arthur Rowe has a sad past at the beginning of the novel and becomes an accidental hero as the novel plays out. There’s nostalgia for childhood, and a prewar England. The feeling of oppression from the nightly bomb raids is captured in great imagery by Greene. The plot itself is a bit confusing as Rowe doesn’t know what’s happening and it takes a while for it to be resolved yet the writing is so good that I kept reading easily. In some ways the story is a bit simplistic or maybe slapstick (view spoiler)[ would spies really hide microfilm in a cake at a fete? (hide spoiler)] but it’s entertaining with dark undertones....more
Wow, this novella is so impressive, so much packed into just 120pages . I read it in one go! First published in 1929, it’s about race and racism, classWow, this novella is so impressive, so much packed into just 120pages . I read it in one go! First published in 1929, it’s about race and racism, class, kinship, friendship, belonging, family, betrayal...there were a couple of moments where I gasped, and the ending is almost heartstopping. A powerful read....more
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