There are two types of dystopian futures, the far fetched where people compete against each other in hungry games and then there are those where the pThere are two types of dystopian futures, the far fetched where people compete against each other in hungry games and then there are those where the present has been slightly tweaked and it is this second future that is far scarier because you are constantly wondering if you will have to experience it. In Stannard’s vision the management of a university is out of control, the teachers have been made less than human, if you don’t conform to an image or if a member of senior management wants a new butt plug or parrot you’ll find yourself relegated to stocking shelves in the post Brexit supermarkets. Bizarre aubergine religions are taking over and lanyards seem to be one of the most important items in society. It is an utterly bleak vision of what’s to come.
This book is classed as satire and it is very funny but not once did I laugh, any smile quickly turned into a worried grimace…might be because I work in a school haha. The writing is fantastic, not a dull moment and the cast of characters is immense, it took me a while to get my head around who was who but I think I mastered them in the end and some of the ideas that Stannard produces are very clever. The villains of the piece were the best part, their machinations on gaining bigger pay and more power were full of plot twists, sexual acts and murder…it almost felt Dickensian at times. This book takes all the bad parts of society somehow makes them a whole lot worse.
This was a good read, plenty of fun, lots to worry about (unless you are a Trump fanatic then you’ll probably love this prediction) and for the dog lovers out there it has a dog with luminous poop, what more could a reader ask for?
Mission accomplished for 2024, I set out to read all four seasons within their relevant seasons and I have managed to do it without getting distractedMission accomplished for 2024, I set out to read all four seasons within their relevant seasons and I have managed to do it without getting distracted by other books. This series has been great fun and very informative, I have learnt a huge amount and discovered all kinds of little creatures, in Autumn there is a beetle that squeaks when you pick it up, how did I not know of that before?
Autumn was the final book for me, this is one of those fun seasons, piles of leaves to kick through, fungi popping up everywhere and those long walks in the cold/wet weather with the end result of being wrapped up warm with a hot chocolate at home, nothing like that horrible Summer where it is too hot to do much. When I think of Autumn it conjures up so many memories from my childhood and if I was asked what defines Autumn for me it would keep changing as I remembered something else, Louise Baker has written a small piece for this book and I think that it captures perfectly what autumn means, a list of beautiful descriptions that had me nodding in agreement the whole time, a perfect piece of writing.
As in the previous books Harrison has put together a stunning collection of prose and poetry that captures the essence of this wonderful season. I think out of the four books this one contained more authors that I recognised and I was able to look all smug when I recognised Amy Liptrot’s writing before looking up the author. My favourite thing about this book has to be all the pieces on the wee bugs, I’m a big fan of bug hunting and it was great to see so many people out there who love this dangerous sport just as much.
I highly recommend this series of books and also suggest you do as I did and read the whole collection throughout a single year.
Schroeder is quite the lovable character, he has an amusing morning routine that makes you chuckle, he has this day-dreamy outlook on life, spotting tSchroeder is quite the lovable character, he has an amusing morning routine that makes you chuckle, he has this day-dreamy outlook on life, spotting the sort of every day things we all miss whilst being absorbed in our own lives, he is a nerdy comic book loving guy straight out of the big bang theory and all he wants is everybody to be nice to each other. He is the sort of guy you could really get behind and cheer on…it’s a shame he is on a brutal killing spree.
The writing is very strong from Cassidy, the way Schroeder thinks works well, long poetic sentences kept making me smile and when the next bit of violence started I was surprised I had forgotten all about the previous one, what with me being caught up in Schroeder’s thoughts. The events that Schroeder witnesses on his last day, angry drivers, rude and selfish people are all things we have witnessed ourselves, but when he witnesses an act of kindness you can sense just how happy that moment made him, he really lights up the page. My favourite part was when Schroeder lists the little things that make him happy, so many of these were spot on, best one was putting on a brand new pair of socks…feet at maximum comfort levels. Luckily nobody at home spotted me smiling so much and hen having to explain that the book is about a violent killer.
Now for the killing, it was so graphic, so much gore and such a calm killer, American Psycho has nothing on this guy. I won’t go into detail here but it was not what I was expecting. The whole time that events are playing out, the reader is left clueless as to the reasons…you do get certain vibes from the victims and not once did I have any empathy towards them. The book ends with a big 30-page reveal that makes for some of the most heart-breaking, all too real shouts for help I have ever read. 100% drained of emotion after this ride.
Bravo to Cassidy here for writing one hell of book for Schroeder.
Ever since reading Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads by Paul Theroux I realised what was missing from a good travel book was the return trip, goiEver since reading Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads by Paul Theroux I realised what was missing from a good travel book was the return trip, going back to see what had changed. So when I saw this book and that it featured three trips in Russia I grabbed a copy and moved it right to the top of my reading list.
This book's main focus is not the travelling, it is about the people Lisa meets and how they have changed over 20 years. Either Russia is full of amazing people or Lisa was lucky with who she met. Lisa's writing is superb, she very quickly draws you in so that you seem to have known the people for years, I found myself eagerly looking forward to her next visit to see how their lives had changed and what highs and lows they had been through. It wasn't just the people, the places Lisa visited had changed in a big way over the years, some were remote and with each visit the places got bigger.
Even though Lisa had been to Russia a few times before she still travelled in 2015 full of the fears that were spread by the media in the west, she feared for her safety in a country full of anti-Americanism....and streets full of wild bears :-)
There are plenty of photos throughout the book, which was nice touch, not only did you get to read about how the people had changed you also got the see the changes. One of the coolest things in the book was to do with the first trip in 1995, the Internet was just kicking off and Lisa created a web travel blog and her partner on the trip carried a huge prototype digital camera and they spent hours uploading photos, pure genius.
I loved this book and I really really really hope in 2025 Lisa goes back to Russia for a 4th time and we get another book out of this.
Merged review:
Ever since reading Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads by Paul Theroux I realised what was missing from a good travel book was the return trip, going back to see what had changed. So when I saw this book and that it featured three trips in Russia I grabbed a copy and moved it right to the top of my reading list.
This book's main focus is not the travelling, it is about the people Lisa meets and how they have changed over 20 years. Either Russia is full of amazing people or Lisa was lucky with who she met. Lisa's writing is superb, she very quickly draws you in so that you seem to have known the people for years, I found myself eagerly looking forward to her next visit to see how their lives had changed and what highs and lows they had been through. It wasn't just the people, the places Lisa visited had changed in a big way over the years, some were remote and with each visit the places got bigger.
Even though Lisa had been to Russia a few times before she still travelled in 2015 full of the fears that were spread by the media in the west, she feared for her safety in a country full of anti-Americanism....and streets full of wild bears :-)
There are plenty of photos throughout the book, which was nice touch, not only did you get to read about how the people had changed you also got the see the changes. One of the coolest things in the book was to do with the first trip in 1995, the Internet was just kicking off and Lisa created a web travel blog and her partner on the trip carried a huge prototype digital camera and they spent hours uploading photos, pure genius.
I loved this book and I really really really hope in 2025 Lisa goes back to Russia for a 4th time and we get another book out of this....more
This book is epic, it feels like I have read a whole lifetime. I have deliberately taken my time reading this and it really helps you to get a grip onThis book is epic, it feels like I have read a whole lifetime. I have deliberately taken my time reading this and it really helps you to get a grip on time passing and how Sam changes from the little dick he was in the beginning to a less annoying dick at the end of the book. I think reading this too fast will ruin the effect, you really need to savour it like I am with this bottle of red wine I found.
At the beginning I thought this was going to be a bit like catcher in the rye (do we have a new book for assassins to read I was thinking) Sam Hay was as annoying and arrogant as Holden Caulfield, but as time goes on you grow to almost-love him... then you find he hates Jack Kerouac and you hate him all over again but then you grow to almost-love him again.... and then he slags of your favourite band.... it goes on like that.
My two favourite parts in this book are:
1. Taking mushrooms in Karpis, this had me laughing big time, I ended up reading it in one sitting it was so good, Karpis had been mentioned a few times already in the story and it is well worth the wait. In fact it's so funny it gets a LMAO from me.
2. By far the standout point in the book for me is how the minor characters are treated, so often in books they get left in the background and you forget in time that they exist. But here they each get their big speech, you get to see them change over time, even Hammish who had hardly been in the book, you realise when he gets his big part that even he has grown. I think each character will stay with me for a long time.
AND as for the ending, it was an absolute shocker.
PS> I can't wait for the movie to come out so I can see all my favourite Donna scenes.
Blog post is here>
Merged review:
This book is epic, it feels like I have read a whole lifetime. I have deliberately taken my time reading this and it really helps you to get a grip on time passing and how Sam changes from the little dick he was in the beginning to a less annoying dick at the end of the book. I think reading this too fast will ruin the effect, you really need to savour it like I am with this bottle of red wine I found.
At the beginning I thought this was going to be a bit like catcher in the rye (do we have a new book for assassins to read I was thinking) Sam Hay was as annoying and arrogant as Holden Caulfield, but as time goes on you grow to almost-love him... then you find he hates Jack Kerouac and you hate him all over again but then you grow to almost-love him again.... and then he slags of your favourite band.... it goes on like that.
My two favourite parts in this book are:
1. Taking mushrooms in Karpis, this had me laughing big time, I ended up reading it in one sitting it was so good, Karpis had been mentioned a few times already in the story and it is well worth the wait. In fact it's so funny it gets a LMAO from me.
2. By far the standout point in the book for me is how the minor characters are treated, so often in books they get left in the background and you forget in time that they exist. But here they each get their big speech, you get to see them change over time, even Hammish who had hardly been in the book, you realise when he gets his big part that even he has grown. I think each character will stay with me for a long time.
AND as for the ending, it was an absolute shocker.
PS> I can't wait for the movie to come out so I can see all my favourite Donna scenes.
A train journey is one of those marmite situations, if you are commuting or trying to get somewhere on time (that isn’t in Switzerland) then it can beA train journey is one of those marmite situations, if you are commuting or trying to get somewhere on time (that isn’t in Switzerland) then it can be the worst thing on this planet, if you are doing it for leisure then it can be one of the best things on this planet. So far I have only used trains for attempting to get somewhere for an event, but I’d love to be like Chesshyre and to hit the tracks for fun, leaving everything up to Destiny to see where you end up, exploring the highlands via train would be top of me list.
I recently read Chesshyre’s book on slow trains around Spain and enjoyed it, I started this one wondering if I would enjoy it as much, surely it is just more of the same, right? Totally wrong is what I was. The trip is very different, crossing many different countries you get to witness different cultures, different ways the railway operates and far different vistas than was witnessed in Spain. The midnight border crossings with passport checks had a real surreal moment to them, Chesshyre has such an easy going nature to him that he managed to briefly bond with other tired passengers even in that sleepy situation. And this time he had a companion with him for some of the trip, Danny provides a comic element to situations, a protective hat to ward off the many suspicious teens loitering around got me every time and how much enjoyment he got out of a lot of new experiences had me craving for the same.
The trip focuses on the route the Orient Express used to take, Chesshyre shares plenty of history about the origin of the idea, those who travelled, the places they stopped and the scantily clad ladies who came along on certain parts of the journeys. He goes into detail about how the interrail ticket works, (amazing idea in my opinion and not something I had ever heard of), he does a brief bit of sightseeing at each stop, in which the info shared with us is what he learns at the location. He shares tips, things he finds worked for him and those that fell flat, just one of the many reasons for giving this book a go. Chesshyre has such an easy way with words that within a few pages you have been pulled in and are there with him for the whole journey.
Another stunner from this very talented train traveller, Slow Trains to Venice has moved to the top of my wishlist, I need more travel adventures.
A nice easy going book…but one that makes this reader very jealous, I love to go out looking for birds but struggle to identify much, I’ll identify soA nice easy going book…but one that makes this reader very jealous, I love to go out looking for birds but struggle to identify much, I’ll identify something but next time I see it that knowledge is gone, bird song too, and as for looking at a flock of birds and being able to say “oh yes there are at least 1000 shelducks in the group� that is never gonna happen, how do you even develop that skill?
The book is a joy to read, Stephen Moss’s love of birds almost screams out of the pages, especially when he sees a bird for the first time. His descriptions of what he sees is spot on, I spent so much time looking up birds on the google and every single time what I pictured from his words is what I saw in the results…forget what I moaned about in the first paragraph, this capturing a bird in words is a skill I want. I learnt a huge amount from this, facts about birds I know well, new birds, areas to go in my neck of the woods and most important of all two great named ducks I’d love to spot, the Scoter and the Scaup.
I think my favourite part of this book was being convinced you can see so much around you, no need to go great distances in the off chance of seeing a rare purple heron, instead go for a slow walk nearby and see what you can spot. My home is pigeon and magpie territory but at work I am very lucky, pheasant, buzzard, jay, rook, pigeon, robin, unknown geese, starling and the world’s angriest wren is what I spotted today on my lunchtime walk.
Thoroughly enjoyed this, Moss is a fantastic writer what knows how to keep his audience entertained, a book you ain’t gonna go wrong with.
If there is one thing that Bullets in the Briar proves it is that Kimber Silver isn’t a one hit wonder, what she has in Rhodes is a skilfully crafted If there is one thing that Bullets in the Briar proves it is that Kimber Silver isn’t a one hit wonder, what she has in Rhodes is a skilfully crafted world full of interesting characters and a very flat and remote landscape that just feels stunning. New characters are introduced (somehow there are two characters based on me, the Sherriff and the sexy biker), old favourite characters are back and new areas of Rhodes are revealed, the reader can now almost start to build a map of the town and it’s surrounding area.
The book starts off with the discovery of a gruesome murder scene, a mess of a corpse and a sheriff left scratching his head. Before the story gets going proper we get a recap of the time that has passed since the first book, there have been break ups and weddings planned and an election on the way. The plot is tight, it flows along slowly, gradually giving you hints, the odd sighting of something in the background that makes you stroke your beard in a detectivey way. Suspects are thrown at you to consider but nothing quite fit for me until an offhand comment from the sheriff’s son that had me solving the case, as the clues are revealed at the end there was still plenty I hadn’t put together.
Favourite parts were the introduction of the dog, the fact that Kinsley is still a strong character (I was half expecting her to take a back seat seeing as most of her story was covered in book 1) and that Sheriff Lincoln is still as cool as a cucumber. There was one little issue I had with the story, Lincoln was up for re-election and his opponent wasn’t a good guy, I would have liked to have seen more of him in the book, he was the sort of character that could really get under your skin and I don’t think he had his chance to experience my full hatred.
A fun book, lots of enjoyment trying to figure out who done it, will there be a 3rd book? There blooming better be, don’t make me go all Annie Wilkes on you Kimber!
A nice blend of genres here, a bit of dystopian mixed with sci-fi and a massive helping of detective noir flung on top, proper entertaining stuff…evenA nice blend of genres here, a bit of dystopian mixed with sci-fi and a massive helping of detective noir flung on top, proper entertaining stuff…even if I was clueless for a lot of the book. Ya know how 1984 was a future where those in charge pummelled the resistance out of a person, with this book those in charge are smiling and telling you it will be ok as they are giving you a right good thrashing.
Our main character is Billy, he seems well out of his depth, very flaky and not the sort of character you’d expect to be cheering along but in this short story he grows on you mighty fast, some very good character development from Stitch. The subject matter feels very real in today’s world, a future where books are outlawed, where one big company is controlling everything, the method of travel seems to be ran on this forbidden literature and everybody is addicted to their tablet, normal literature seems to be text speak�.nasty stuff�.reminds me a lot of that big company beginning with A and the rise of A.I. Be warned Guillermo Stitch is a prophet and the outlook looks bleak.
A very good book, well written and I found myself easily enthralled, so much so that I read this during lunch at work…and instead of going back to work here I am putting down my random thoughts since finishing this book. Highly recommended.
I highly recommend this collection of poems, some really good poets are included. If you've never heard of the likes of JJ Campbell and Ben John SmithI highly recommend this collection of poems, some really good poets are included. If you've never heard of the likes of JJ Campbell and Ben John Smith then check it out.
I did have an amazing review but goodreads broke that. yay!
Merged review:
I highly recommend this collection of poems, some really good poets are included. If you've never heard of the likes of JJ Campbell and Ben John Smith then check it out.
I did have an amazing review but goodreads broke that. yay!...more
Horatio’s third outing and we really get to see that he is too much of a teenager to keep up this killing spree, there is no planning, there is no selHoratio’s third outing and we really get to see that he is too much of a teenager to keep up this killing spree, there is no planning, there is no self control, he is after that instant gratification that kids always seem to want these days, how long will it be before he falls? It doesn’t help that he is going to a school full of bullies and idiots who are just begging for a good murdering.
Horatio is back home from Antigua and hating his life, family members and pupils at school are annoying him, he is struggling to keep his cool and things start to unravel further when Rat, best friend of Horatio’s first victim, makes an appearance. It is all going on in this book, violent attacks, gang warfare, court cases and a major discovery about his father, all of this is blended nicely with Portman’s dark sense of humour.
I think out of the three books this is my favourite, we see the true killer in Horatio, that intense appetite he has for death, given half the chance I reckon he would kill the world. Portman has done something unique here, he has taken us on the journey with one killer and transitioned from father to son perfectly. It is always fun reading these books, the trick is not devouring them too quickly.
A good read as always which inevitably leads to me craving more when it is over.
This has to be the worst book I have ever read. It has got to have been written by asking A.I. a series of questions and pasting in the answers to makThis has to be the worst book I have ever read. It has got to have been written by asking A.I. a series of questions and pasting in the answers to make a book.
It covers types of beards, how to look after your beard, the tools you require, famous people with beards and even animals with beards. This last section was the lowest point of the book, animals included were the bearded dragon, a catfish and a lion (due to running out of things to say we get told that male lions are hard nuts and don't live as long as female lions).
Littered throughout the pages are "jokes", I am a dad and am rather good with dad jokes but these were so cringy I would never be caught repeating them, not even for this review.
If you see this book in a shop, run for your life whilst pulling out any facial hair you have just in case the book tracks you down as a gift.
An informative book that has been written with a huge amount of care, it could be so easy for the author to get caught up in the emotions of this collAn informative book that has been written with a huge amount of care, it could be so easy for the author to get caught up in the emotions of this collection of militant countries but Rogerson does a great job of being impartial…with a couple of deserving swipes at President Bush and his war with Iraq, I could almost sense the raised eyebrow as he commented on the reasoning behind that war. You may think this is a heavy book, the subject matter is huge and Rogerson admits in the acknowledgements that he initially went over by a quarter of a million words, but with a mix of a great teacher and a pupil with barely any knowledge I was entranced with this epic history.
The first part of the book starts with a lesson about the Prophet Muhammad, how he rose to prominence and the fallout of his death, just understanding this moment gave me a much better understanding of the Middle East. Rogerson then starts to focus on each country, how it was formed, it’s changing alliances and enemies, it’s leaders and what they achieved, how the US/Russia/Britain manipulated and destroyed, concluding with the current tensions the countries are facing.
There is a lot to shock the reader if you were not aware of the history, so many brutal deaths and yet now and then a leader rises that only wants the best for his people and for a while there is a brief moment of hope. As the book progressed there were things I knew about…or at least I thought I knew, you only get so much of the story from the news, it is well worth reading this just to fill in those blanks.
This was one of the most comprehensive history books I’ve read and also one of the most accessible, the perfect balance…I just wish I was able to retain more information, so many names here that deserve to be remembered. A super important book that needs to be read by the masses to give them a better understanding of the world.
I have read a lot of Joel Lane’s short stories and enjoyed them a lot, one thing I always wonder is how would his stories come across if he did a fullI have read a lot of Joel Lane’s short stories and enjoyed them a lot, one thing I always wonder is how would his stories come across if he did a full length novel? with The Blue Mask he answers that question. Blue Mask follows a student called Neil who is doing his thesis at Birmingham Uni, he is in a relationship which has it’s rough moments, after a falling out Neil goes off with a stranger and gets his face badly damaged, needing a lot of surgery to start looking like himself again. Whilst the physical wounds start to heal it is the damage to his psyche that takes a lot longer to heal if it ever will. Neil’s spiral is one of the darkest journey’s I’ve ever read and I hated every moment and every decision Neil made, I so wanted him to take a different path to heal but Lane was adamant that this is how things will play out…and just like with his short stories you put yourself at his mercy and go with the flow.
I have enjoyed the book, and it is a very strong piece of writing but it does have it’s faults…I usually give a book 50 pages to grab my attention and this one failed, but I decided to try a bit more and by page 53 I was hooked, that is how Lane writes, he seems to know your limits and takes you beyond. I also felt that a couple of side stories were left unfinished, particularly Anne, she has her own battles and I felt it was left hanging a bit.
The strong parts of his short stuff were all present and they seemed to tower out of the pages, the desolation of the city, the empty factories and the canal at night were so vivid. The sex was more graphic and violent and the characters larger than life, that maybe why Anne’s story felt unfinished, she was only a bit character but dominated her scenes. The supernatural elements were the only thing missing from this story, I think if Lane had included that the book could have become a mess and that’s why the focus was on the break down of Neil’s psyche.
Whilst it’s not a fun family read it is still a fantastic book by one of the best writers I have ever found. If you are starting on your own Joel Lane adventure, don’t start here, pick up a short story collection and work your way to this one, it is well worth the effort.
DNF. Gave it 50 pages and not getting into this one. I do like absurd stories but can't see how this can be classed as this. The way it is written is DNF. Gave it 50 pages and not getting into this one. I do like absurd stories but can't see how this can be classed as this. The way it is written is a mess, long paragraphs where the perspective changes between characters without you realising and you've plodded along wondering why it makes no sense.
The only bit I can understand from this book is that it is based in the future, the world has ended and only Trump supporters are left.
First time I've been let down by Dead Ink...or I've let down Dead Ink. Sorry guys, this one is no good....more
You get certain books that you can’t put down, The Dark Side of Skin is one of those books you HAVE to put down, you need to take a step back before yYou get certain books that you can’t put down, The Dark Side of Skin is one of those books you HAVE to put down, you need to take a step back before you become overwhelmed by the emotion blasting out of the pages, after you’ve composed yourself you’re ready to jump back, so technically this was unputdownable. Tenório shares with the reader life in Brazil having skin that is a certain colour, growing up and realising what the colour of your skin means for your future, love, parenthood and grief.
The book is narrated by Pedro who is coming to terms with the murder of his father and because his parents never really shared their history with him, he has put together this narrative to help him come to terms with the loss of a parent. It is a very in-depth look into his parents life, he looks at both the good and bad elements of their personalities, he forgives them for their selfishness and he shares how their choices have created the man he is. There were some shocking revelations, when a child first learns that because of their skin colour they have to tread carefully through life if they are to survive, that “becoming aware� moment is something I had never considered before. Then there are the constant police stop and search moments and the raw emotions of the victim shared by Tenório was heart-breaking.
My first thought at the beginning was who could be the murderer, as each page turned it soon became apparent that there was only going to be one killer and the build up to that inevitable conclusion filled this reader with rage…it is an occurrence that has happened 1000s of times and tragically it will continue like that. This was translated by Bruna Dantas Lobato who did a fantastic job, none of the emotion or the shocks have been watered down and they supplied some shocking statistics in their notes at the end.
A real harrowing read and an incredibly important book, my daughter has been reading noughts and crosses at school and has said it was boring, this book is a far better example of what our children should be reading, let Pedro’s father continue to teach.
This was one of those books where I wasn’t sure if it was going to be for me, a journey of self discovery, after splitting up with her boyfriend, CoffThis was one of those books where I wasn’t sure if it was going to be for me, a journey of self discovery, after splitting up with her boyfriend, Coffey travels to the Mediterranean to try and get her emotions under control, this is not my usual taste in books but the rest of the blurb sounded more like me thing so I gave it a go…turns out the bit of the book I was unsure about became what hooked me big time. Such an emotional book that mercilessly pulls you in, wonderful writing.
There are 3 parts to this book, the first is the real life stuff, dealing with her Dad’s illness and being unable to see him because of COVID restrictions, the second part is a travelogue, exploring the islands, it’s people, culture and history and finally the third part that ties it all together…an exploration of Homer’s Odyssey. The first part was soooo hard to read, chapter 10 was incredibly well done, glimpses of such an emotional time felt almost like poetry itself, and having been through this myself it was almost too much, her words opened up grief I didn’t know I had. The exploration of the islands was quite a unique experience seeing as it happened during COVID times, everywhere she visited was much quieter than normal and it does have an effect on how it is all written up, whilst keeping her distance Coffey was able to get closer to the locals than she probably could have in a normal world. The Odyssey is a book I have actually read in the past, which is a rarity for these sorts of books, I found it interesting hearing somebody else’s interpretations of the story and how Coffey went about trying to locate the islands the book was based on.
This is one hell of an emotional read and a fantastic homage to her father, so glad I gave it a go and it is highly recommend to everybody.
Seeing as it is summer I thought it best to read a summer issue from HSTQ, I am way behind schedule as always so have cracked open 2023. Getting us stSeeing as it is summer I thought it best to read a summer issue from HSTQ, I am way behind schedule as always so have cracked open 2023. Getting us started is Daniel S. Irwin, he gives us a good laugh about his first ever book and how much money he made from it. Next up was the insanely long title "The Human Condition According to Cardinale Lotario de� Conti di Segni, Pope Innocent III (1198-1216)" by Tony Dawson, loved this one, nice bit of rhyming too. This book was off to the great start.
The hits kept coming...God on High by Willie Smith, a classy bit of beat poetry, Johnny Scarlotti the gratest wordsmith there ever was, shares with us his first book signing experience, guns and moist books are included, Scarlotti never disappoints and I'm usually grinning away by the end of the first line.
A fine collection of the most depraved and outrageous poetry so far released by HSTQ...This is the 24th book I've read from this series and still not bored...keep 'em coming....more
The apocalyptic novel has been done so many times, some are very good and some are just plain awful, hanging on the coat-tails of a successful novel, The apocalyptic novel has been done so many times, some are very good and some are just plain awful, hanging on the coat-tails of a successful novel, to stand out in this packed genre you need something special, epic plot, great characters and something for the reader to root for�.Elizabeth Anne Martins achieves this and then some. Dry lands has to be one of the greatest stories of survival I’ve had the pleasure to experience.
The world has gone to hell in a handbasket, a shift in the plates has raised sea levels, and huge amounts of land and people are now gone. Our story follows Liv and her 3yr old son Milo as they travel to a safe haven, Liv is a weak woman, very unsure of herself and her place in the world, I had no idea how she was expected to survive and keep Milo alive in this new world filled with dangerous men. But as the story progressed so did her skills and instincts and I soon found myself proud of her as she passed each challenge. There is one scene in a shop which is where she peaks, she was almost glowing with power and it is one of the most iconic scenes ever, absolutely incredible. What makes this book so great is Milo, his questions and antics is what gives this story it’s edge, you see this child experiencing things he shouldn’t and yet he still keeps going, so much is put on his small shoulders. An awesome little hero. The side characters they meet along the way were also very strong, somebody makes a small appearance and I found myself loving them just as much as Liv and Milo and then mourning their death with Liv.
This book is no happy walk in the park, there are so many heart-breaking scenes, so much loss of life and this is balanced perfectly with the scenery, those moments when Liv stops and takes a breath are some of Martins best writing…again and again she captures the moment perfectly. Usually with these sorts of books I demand that Netflix pick it up and make a series but not this time, I find myself rather protective over the book and feel they could not do it justice. I think this is easily going to be my book of the year…insert many clapping hand emojis here�
Loading...
