‘Time’s convert’ by Deborah Harkness I like a good modern vampire story… they’re silly and cheesy and total escapism. They’re the perfect holiday reading when you brain is full of heavy college books (… gender performatism anyone?)… and your belly full of Christmas food. This was a lovely surprise present from my sister and I …
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan To the person who recommended this to me: THANK YOU. I had heard this was a good book and I’m very partial to American writers, but for one reason or another it never made it to the ‘I want to read this’ list. It’s basically about …
Everything Under by Daisy Johnson You have to understand that for me to stick to the ’48 books challenge’ has been extremely difficult. Rewarding and interesting… but difficult. That’s one thing, the other thing is that ‘rules are meant to be broken’, right? Not all the time and not all the rules… but a little …
A slipping down life (by Anne Tyler) Anne Tyler always gets to me. I read quite a few of her novels and at some point there’s always a line, a sentence that just cuts through you and plunges you into the book so that when you read the last page you feel dazed and confused …
The Passion of New Eve by Angela Carter. After what I said about the other book by Angela Carter I read a few weeks back, you might be surprised to see another one here.. this latest one was part of my college course reading list and seeing that my ‘quest’ has been partly derailed by …
The daughters of the house (by Michele Roberts) I had never heard of this book before starting college, it just so happened that it was on my reading list and had to be read for a seminar. Allow me a digression, my big module is ran in seminars, not lessons; we’re give a book/article/essay to …
First love, last rites by Ian McEwan This is the debut publication of Mr McEwan, a collection of ‘interesting’ short stories. Well, well, well… where should we start? Uncomfortable, that’s the first word that comes to mind, but then again his writing is never ‘cozy’ or feel good, but this was a very uncomfortable read. …
Reunion by Fred Uhlman What a gem of a book. More of a novella than a full length novel this was a delightful surprise. I’m struggling to chose books from the 70s… I was too young to have any recollection and the ones that do resonate I’ve already read. Anyway, in my search for something …
Hotel du Lac (Anita Brookner) I can’t believe that nobody had ever suggested this book to me before… why?? It is simply brilliant. Not in a shout out brilliant, but in a modest, subtle, elegant way brilliant. Yes, it’s an elegant book, that’s it. Edith writes romantic novels under a pseudonym but her life is …
American Gods by Neil Gaiman Gosh, where do I start with this one. Ok, first… I almost didn’t read it and it nearly end up in a charity bag a few times..Firstly because i don’t why I bought this it. Last year I had read another one of his, The Ocean at the end of …
while you're ahead... 