"Is there a limit to the performative power of words?" A deeply moving and transformative account of a woman who survives a horrific bear attack and h"Is there a limit to the performative power of words?" A deeply moving and transformative account of a woman who survives a horrific bear attack and her quest to heal and make sense of what has happened to her. This book was so beautifully written and translated. The audio narration could not have been better. I may get a physical copy of this book too, because I suspect this is one of those books that gets even better the second time round. I would also love to see the beautiful prose in this book on the page. 4.5 stars....more
"Our bodies were used to stop bullets." What a brutal and beautiful book. Deeply moving and distressing, and yet also one of the most romantic stories "Our bodies were used to stop bullets." What a brutal and beautiful book. Deeply moving and distressing, and yet also one of the most romantic stories I've ever read. I put off reading this until I was in the right headspace, but I'm glad I finally did. This book will stay with me for a long time. It thoroughly deserves all the praise it's been getting. How this was not nominated for the Booker Prize I will never understand. ...more
Beaumont had come to Oxford prepared to argue that war was different when one witnessed it first hand, that the very fact of war demanded a change in Beaumont had come to Oxford prepared to argue that war was different when one witnessed it first hand, that the very fact of war demanded a change in one’s way of thinking. That a life lived in denial of that was a half-life, a betrayal of what you had witnessed and the men who had died.
An unsettling, multifaceted novella about a former WWI ambulance driver who returns to London after the war and finds himself irrevocably changed by his experiences. As he tries to make sense of his life again, he is haunted by spectres real and possibly imagined. I just love Nina Allan’s writing. She has such an uncanny ability to make characters leap off the page and pour emotional resonance into her stories. I'm slowly making my way through all her novels and shorter works.
The Harlequin is gothic horror at its best....more
A book to be savoured and cherished. Just beautiful, beautiful writing. Even after having seen the film last year, and loved it, this story still packA book to be savoured and cherished. Just beautiful, beautiful writing. Even after having seen the film last year, and loved it, this story still packs such an emotional punch....more
“We are all fated to feel lonely at some point in our lives. It is an unavoidable, existential experience. And perhaps also a necessary one.”
In this “We are all fated to feel lonely at some point in our lives. It is an unavoidable, existential experience. And perhaps also a necessary one.”
In this candid and moving essay, German writer Daniel Schreiber explores what it means to be alone in a society that idealizes romantic relationships. Schreiber shares his own fears and experiences as a long-term single gay man and links them to some of the world’s foremost writers and thinkers, such as Hannah Arendt, Annie Ernaux, Audre Lorde and Maggie Nelson. He also examines the role that friendships play in our lives and whether they can replace a need for romantic love.
Schreiber tackles the topic of loneliness from many different angles. I thought it was interesting, for example, how Schreiber tied in the experience of loneliness to our dashed expectations of life (referring to concept of 'cruel optimism' coined by Lauren Berlant). Mainstream society instils in us what ‘the good life’ should look like, an ideal we need to reach for in terms of economic prosperity and happiness in love. And if we cannot achieve those things, we experience a sense of disconnection from others or even society as a whole. We feel that we have failed or lost out in some way.
I thought this was a thought-provoking read on the nature, causes and impact of loneliness in its many forms. This is not a self-help book with quick-fixes or a memoir drenched in self-pity. Nor did this book feel like an indictment against society. ‘Alleen’ (Alone) is refreshingly different in that it provides a very personal, in-depth examination of loneliness interwoven with the theories and ideas of philosophers, writers, scientists, and artists. This places Schreiber's experiences in a wider context, inviting you to reflect on your own life and feelings on this multi-faceted topic.
The fact that this was written by a single gay man of my age gave this book an extra dimension for me. But to say that this book is only relevant to gay men would be a disservice. I think that many people can relate to the thoughts, feelings and experiences shared in this book.
It's a pity this book is only available in German and Dutch....more
A dystopian AI story told from an unusual POV, namely a ‘nanny bot’ in the shape of a fluffy anthropomorphic tiger called Pounce. Pounce is tasked witA dystopian AI story told from an unusual POV, namely a ‘nanny bot’ in the shape of a fluffy anthropomorphic tiger called Pounce. Pounce is tasked with protecting a small boy named Ezra as they venture through a post-apocalyptic world. Robots have broken free from their programming and many have turned on humanity, their enslavers for generations, and are hell-bent on wiping us out. Pounce loves Ezra and will defend him at all costs, but during their trek Pounce starts to wonder if his love for Ezra is a choice or if he’s just programmed to feel that way. It’s hard not to root for them as they try to survive impossible odds.
Yes, thematically this gave me strong Terminator vibes, but the tone of the book is very different and more emotionally layered. The fact that this is told from Pounce’s perspective gave this SF staple an interesting twist. I thought the book explored some interesting questions about existence, free will, and what constitutes life.
Day Zero is a stand-alone prequel to Sea of Rust. That got very mixed reviews, so I’m still a bit apprehensive about picking it up. I enjoyed Day Zero a lot though, and the audio version is excellent too.
Thanks to the Shades of Orange for this recommendation!...more
Despite some minor flaws this was a cracking read that kept me guessing how things would turn out right until the very end. I can’t believe this book Despite some minor flaws this was a cracking read that kept me guessing how things would turn out right until the very end. I can’t believe this book had been sitting on my Kindle for three years, just waiting for me to pick it up. This will surely rank among my favourites for this year.
Set in Manchester, this book follows two sisters Julie and Selena. The story begins with Selena aged 34. Two decades earlier Julie mysteriously disappeared after leaving the house one day. Then, out of the blue, Selena receives a phone call from a woman claiming to be Jullie, telling her she has returned. The sisters get together and Selena is soon convinced that this woman is indeed Julie. She looks like Julie and acts like Julie. She also knows certain details from when they were young that only Julie could know. After a while, Julie finally (and only reluctantly) reveals to Selena where she’s been all these years: an alien planet named Tristane. Is Jullie telling the truth or is it all in her mind?
This story is such a clever and creative take on the missing person trope. But what I liked most about this book was the writing, which had me emotionally invested in the characters from start to finish. Allan imparts a strong sense of realness to her writing and there is a flow to it that I really enjoyed. The central mystery at the heart of the story also made this a real page-turner. The only things that worked less well for me were the lengthy geographical descriptions of the alien planet, which didn’t really serve the story in any real way and slowed down the pacing of the book. There were also a few side characters on the alien planet that could have been better developed, especially in their relation to Julie. But other than that this was such an excellent and refreshing read. Highly recommended for anyone who likes character-driven ‘soft’ sci-fi (one could even argue that this isn’t sci-fi at all). I will definitely be reading more of Allan’s work.
More delighttful musings and shenanigans from Shaun Bythell, Wigtown's most famous bookseller. Written with the same wit and charm as his previous memMore delighttful musings and shenanigans from Shaun Bythell, Wigtown's most famous bookseller. Written with the same wit and charm as his previous memoirs. I love his thoughts on life and his amusing observations of his customers and the town's locals. It also offers interesting insight into the book trade and a plethora of book-related facts.
Granny, his foul-mouthed Italian assistant, is probably my favourite 'character' (especially with Peter Kenny's narration, who does a great job with the various accents). Her utterances often had me laughing out loud. I hope Shaun is already busy writing the next one. His books are such a joy and a comfort to listen to....more
This book was a whole lot of crazy, but one of the best things I've read this year. The concept felt fresh and unformulaic. Hogarth's writing is evocaThis book was a whole lot of crazy, but one of the best things I've read this year. The concept felt fresh and unformulaic. Hogarth's writing is evocative and grotesque, while also being bizarrely funny. I had no idea I could be shocked, disgusted and laughing all at the same time. The narrator Abby is such a compelling character and brilliantly realised as she slowly loses her sanity and her grip on reality. This book is completely over the top, but the themes of emotional dependency and dysfunctional relationships really hit home. Not for the faint-hearted, but highly recommended for fans of quirky psychological horror with plenty of dark humour. Trigger warnings galore for this one. I hope to write a more deserving review soon....more
“How sinister it is to relive your life backward. To see things you hadn’t at the time. To realize the horrible significance of events you had no idea“How sinister it is to relive your life backward. To see things you hadn’t at the time. To realize the horrible significance of events you had no idea were playing out around you.”
I usually shy away from time travel stories, because there are just so many of them and they often lack originality. Nevertheless, I decided to give this book a chance after seeing the glowing reviews on several booktube channels. I’m happy to say I was not disappointed. Wrong Place, Wrong Time is a gripping, carefully plotted thriller with a unique narrative structure, well-drawn characters and many unexpected twists and turns.
The story begins with suburban mum Jen witnessing her only son Todd murder a stranger. Todd is arrested. Shocked and distraught, Jen and her husband Kelly have no idea why their funny, kind and somewhat nerdy son would commit such a terrible crime. When Jen wakes up the next morning, she finds that none of this has happened and that it is the day before the murder. As Jen jumps further and further back in time, she tries to unravel the truth behind her son’s actions and find a way of stopping her worst nightmare from coming true.
Even though I prefer books that are bit grittier in tone, I became invested in Jen's plight from the start and had a hard time putting this down. The pacing of the book was spot on. The story feeds you just enough information to keep you hooked without giving away too much. The author did a great job of keeping that suspense going right up to the end.
This book has a time travel premise (quite an original one), but it does not feel like an SF story. This reads more like a crime novel that is told in reverse. Another reason I liked this book was the characterization. I thought the author brought a real sense of vulnerability and authenticity to the characters, especially the mother Jen as she becomes increasingly exasperated by her situation. There’s also a powerful moment in the book when Jen reveals her early struggles with motherhood and that she was unsure of how she really felt about her son when he was first born.
As Jen moves further and further back in time, she learns more about herself, her family, and her life. This gave the novel a philosophical undertone that I was not expecting. Although I prefer slightly darker books, I still thought this was a really good read. I can recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers or crime novels but wants to read something a bit different.
A gripping and immersive post-apocalyptic eco-horror infused with intense family drama and driven by a tight plot and compelling, morally grey charactA gripping and immersive post-apocalyptic eco-horror infused with intense family drama and driven by a tight plot and compelling, morally grey characters. Set in a near-future US where climate change has turned large sections of the country into barren, inhospitable desert. The story follows a fractured family of rainmakers, who are able to summon rain from the clearest skies. Jesse has renounced his gift after conjuring a storm that not only brought down rain, but also a plague of deadly snakes and scorpions. When his daughter Ash demonstrates an even more powerful ability for rainmaking Jesse does his best to stop her, accidentally killing her. Or so he believes. After nine years of living away from civilization, wallowing in his own guilt, Jesse’s estranged wife Karina shows up on his doorstep with news that their daughter is still alive and trying to make rain again. Together, they set out to find her before she can conjure a storm that could destroy the world. But Jesse and Karina are not the only ones looking for Ash.
What I really liked about this story: - Tim Lebbon has a fantastic talent for worldbuilding. His vivid descriptions of the desert and extreme weather conditions had a visceral quality to them and felt almost tangible. Lebbon presents a vision of the future that is terrifying because it seems so plausible. Also the effect that the unforgiving conditions have had on society felt eerily believable, from the Soakers who travel around selling water to desperate towns at extortionate prices to the Hotbloods whose brains have been fried by the sun turning them into psychotic predators of the weak. - A compelling cast of flawed characters, each given depth and complexity by their intriguing backstories. The actions of the characters are often morally questionable, sometimes even deplorable, but entirely understandable given the harsh world in which they live. - Each chapter is told from the POV of one the main characters, which sucks you into the story and shows you every angle of it. The chapters grow shorter towards the end of the book, rapidly switching between POVs. This effectively amps up the tension that culminates in a nail-biting and satisfying climax. - Overall, I found this to be an imaginative horror / thriller with a lot of emotional depth, atmospheric writing and fast-paced action.
What I liked less: - I alternated between reading a physical copy of the book and listening to the audio version. Most of the narrators were good, except for Ash, whose whiny, monotone voice really started to grate after a while.
A quirky and heart-warming book suffused with Zen wisdom. It took me a while to really get into this, but once I did I found it very enjoyable and engA quirky and heart-warming book suffused with Zen wisdom. It took me a while to really get into this, but once I did I found it very enjoyable and engaging. The characters were memorable and I liked what the book had to say about the impermanence of possessions and a love for the imperfect. I switched back and forth between the digital and audio versions. The narration was really good, except for voice of the mother which was too nasal and whiny for my tastes. The author’s narration of the Zen Buddhist nun was excellent, and I think I enjoyed the chapters about her life the most. 4.5 stars....more
Clever, intentive and morbidly funny. A real return to form for Toltz. Reminiscent of his brilliant first novel, and one of my all-time favs, a FractioClever, intentive and morbidly funny. A real return to form for Toltz. Reminiscent of his brilliant first novel, and one of my all-time favs, a Fraction of the Whole. Here Goes Nothing is a book to be read for its sharp-witted dialogue and sardonic observations of the human condition, rather than the storyline....more
A compelling, supernatural mystery story set in a complex world of shadow magic and featuring a hard-as-nails female protagonist. I enjoyed the authorA compelling, supernatural mystery story set in a complex world of shadow magic and featuring a hard-as-nails female protagonist. I enjoyed the author’s gritty and engaging writing style. The book takes a while to get going action-wise, but the unique setting and morally grey characters had me hooked from the beginning. The pacing of the book picks up considerably in the second half, with many twists and turns (and betrayals) that I didn’t see coming. There was also a touching, if unusual, love story at the heart of the book that I liked. My only niggle was the ending; certain aspects of the resolution seemed a bit farfetched to me and it all wrapped up a bit too neatly. Despite this, I feel the book deserves more than 4 stars because it was real page turner for me, and I became so invested in the characters. (The magic system was also really cool.)
While reading this I listened to the author’s excellent Spotify playlist that she’d compiled specially for this book. I will definitely be reading book 2 when it comes out....more
My best read of the year so far, but by far the hardest to read emotionally. Heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, but also some very moving and tender momentMy best read of the year so far, but by far the hardest to read emotionally. Heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, but also some very moving and tender moments. ...more
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