en-US Fri, 18 Apr 2025 04:24:14 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 11550322 Visit from the Goon Squad captures the moment where lives interact, and where fortunes ebb and flow. Egan depicts with elegant prose and often heart-wrenching simplicity, the sad consequences for those who couldn't fake it during their wild youth - madness suicide or prison - in this captivating, wryly, humorous story of temptation and loss.]]> 351 Jennifer Egan 1780330960 Claire 0 currently-reading 3.65 2010
author: Jennifer Egan
name: Claire
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/18
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 54468020
Told entirely through clever and captivating Slack messages, this irresistible, relatable satire of both virtual work and contemporary life is The Office for a new world.

Gerald, a mid-level employee of a New York–based public relations firm has been uploaded into the company’s internal Slack channels—at least his consciousness has. His colleagues assume it’s an elaborate gag to exploit the new work-from home policy, but now that Gerald’s productivity is through the roof, his bosses are only too happy to let him work from . . . wherever he says he is.

Faced with the looming abyss of a disembodied life online, Gerald enlists his co-worker Pradeep to help him escape, and to find out what happened to his body. But the longer Gerald stays in the void, the more alluring and absurd his reality becomes.

Meanwhile, Gerald’s colleagues have PR catastrophes of their own to handle in the real world. Their biggest client, a high-end dog food company, is in the midst of recalling a bad batch of food that’s allegedly poisoning Pomeranians nationwide. And their CEO suspects someone is sabotaging his office furniture. And if Gerald gets to work from home all the time, why can’t everyone? Is true love possible between two people, when one is just a line of text in an app? And what in the hell does the :dusty-stick: emoji mean?

In a time when office paranoia and politics have followed us home, Calvin Kasulke is here to capture the surprising, absurd, and fully-relatable factors attacking our collective sanity…and give us hope that we can still find a human connection.]]> 256 Calvin Kasulke Claire 4 ebooks 3.63 2021
author: Calvin Kasulke
name: Claire
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/24
date added: 2025/03/26
shelves: ebooks
review:
A fairly quick and enjoyable read.
]]> 22016392
But Fitz will not wait. Driven by loss and bitter memories, he undertakes a quest: to kill Regal. The journey casts him into deep waters, as he discovers wild currents of magic within him--currents that will either drown him or make him something more than he was.]]> 838 Robin Hobb 0007562276 Claire 0 currently-reading 4.19 1997
author: Robin Hobb
name: Claire
average rating: 4.19
book published: 1997
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/26
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 6437768
Alternate cover for ISBN 9780006480105]]> 752 Robin Hobb Claire 0 4.23 1996
author: Robin Hobb
name: Claire
average rating: 4.23
book published: 1996
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/18
date added: 2025/03/26
shelves: audiobook, books-with-dogs-in, fantasy
review:

]]> 222259905
In a world where AI has enhanced some people and replaced others, the Indigents have no purpose and nothing to look forward to. Marianne accepts her fate. She is in all ways the last person one would expect to lead a revolution � until the Order of the Demolition involves an innocent in its schemes, and beliefs come tumbling down.

Sabine's uncle runs the Space Ladder Project. Her father is a prominent politician fitted with a brain chip. Her only friend is the governing AI � the Order of the Demolition’s main target.]]> 205 I.K. Stokbaek Claire 0 sci-fi 4.20
author: I.K. Stokbaek
name: Claire
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/05
date added: 2025/03/11
shelves: sci-fi
review:

]]> 214091957
Bori is psionic—and on the distant planet of Verdant, psionics are fervently sought. When the two planets are in conjunction, a shuttle journeys between
them, bringing needed resources to Sands and hoping to take gifted psionics back to lush Verdant in return.

The shuttle’s imminent arrival signifies opportunities for Oasis, but for the trio it instead evokes dread. For if Bori is chosen, he’d be taken from his dearest friends and the only home he’s ever known.

Bori would be broken without Tuther.
Tuther would be broken without Bori.
And Samna? All he can do is help make their remaining days together a little brighter.]]> 300 Utunu Claire 0 sci-fi 4.77
author: Utunu
name: Claire
average rating: 4.77
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/10
date added: 2025/03/11
shelves: sci-fi
review:

]]> 124464894
When the Department trained me to catch criminals, I never dreamed I’d become one.

Agent. Suspect. Intergalactic fugitive.

I was one of them until I shot my partner in self-defense. Even though the Department cleared me of wrongdoing, my co-workers didn’t agree. They turned their backs on me, so I turned my back on them. My partner’s actions never made sense. After ignoring my gut for a year, I asked my tech-genius best friend to dig into it.
Now Jarrett’s gone dark, and I soon discover he’d been brutally murdered. An officer finds me standing over the body, blaster in hand. Even I admit it looks bad.
There’s no way I can trust the Department to investigate further—not if I'm already the prime suspect. My only option is to run. Is it impulsive? Sure. Will having law enforcement dog me across the galaxy make life difficult? Most certainly. I’ll have to stay one step ahead of them if I want to solve Jarrett’s murder and clear my name.
Doing that will require every trick the Department taught me—and a few I learned on my own.
Grab it now to find out what mystery Jarrett uncovered and to what extreme Reliance will go to in order to bring her friend’s killer to justice.]]> 387 Heather Texle Claire 0 sci-fi 4.40
author: Heather Texle
name: Claire
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/10
date added: 2025/03/11
shelves: sci-fi
review:

]]> 207563274 In the pursuit of progress, how much of your soul are you willing to sacrifice?

In the shadow of a ruined Earth, the Republic and its church claim to offer safety and security while burning ideas and people alike. No moon or planet is free of flames and bloodshed, even as the rebel organization, the Vermilion Coalition, seeks to dismantle the Republic’s oppressive regime.

On a terraformed Mercury, Kaya al Vardan hopes to find the truth behind her mother’s murder; a difficult task when everyone insists it was a tragic accident. When Kaya’s adventurous spirit leads her into the forbidden Great Desert, she’s sent to the Republic’s capital on Mars to study under the watchful eye of the all-powerful church she despises. There she unravels mysteries about her mother’s life and faces a fall in line or risk everything to take up her mother’s mantle.

Silas Beckett, High Commander of the Pandora Fleet and hero of the Republic, can feel his time running out. Fighting terrorists has been his life’s mission, but his nemesis Hex—leader of the Vermilion Coalition—still eludes him. As his failures mount and his allies abandon him, he has few chances left to bring Hex to justice. Can Silas secure peace for his family and for the entire solar system?

Vermilion Flames is the first book in the Midnight War series, an action-filled epic set long after the destruction of Earth.]]> 362 Adam Fernandez Claire 0 sci-fi 4.46
author: Adam Fernandez
name: Claire
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/09
date added: 2025/03/09
shelves: sci-fi
review:

]]> 11918442 425 Robin Hobb 0007273800 Claire 4
The ending for this I found quite frustrating, it ends quite abruptly. It also didn't really feel like much had happened, either.

I agree with others that perhaps this mini series should have been combined into 2 books, rather than the 4+ it is going to be.

Still, it was definitely a good read - I shall eagerly await the next one to find out what happens next!]]> 4.05 2011
author: Robin Hobb
name: Claire
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2012/03/16
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves:
review:
This isn't actually due out until the 23rd April, but I received this on the 9th March - thank you Amazon!

The ending for this I found quite frustrating, it ends quite abruptly. It also didn't really feel like much had happened, either.

I agree with others that perhaps this mini series should have been combined into 2 books, rather than the 4+ it is going to be.

Still, it was definitely a good read - I shall eagerly await the next one to find out what happens next!
]]> 214331246 When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.]]> 387 Suzanne Collins 1546171460 Claire 0 to-read 4.62 2025
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Claire
average rating: 4.62
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 58340706
Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.

Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.]]> 399 Rachel Gillig 0316312487 Claire 0 to-read 4.25 2022
author: Rachel Gillig
name: Claire
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 63133205 The Woman in Me is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope.

In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.

Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.]]> 288 Britney Spears 1668009048 Claire 0 to-read 3.83 2023
author: Britney Spears
name: Claire
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 201626991
She wakes in a castle on the edge of a hellish chasm, in a kingdom on the brink of war. Home to dangerous monsters, scheming courtiers and her favourite fictional character: the Once and Forever Emperor. He’s impossibly alluring, as only fiction can be. And in this fantasy world, she discovers she's not the heroine, but the villainess in the Emperor's tale.

So be it. The wicked are better dressed, with better one-liners, even if they're doomed to bad ends. She assembles the wildly disparate villains of the story under her evil leadership, plotting to change their fate. But as the body count rises and the Emperor's fury increases, it seems Rae and her allies may not survive to see the final page.

This adult epic fantasy debut from Sarah Rees Brennan puts the reader in the villain's shoes, for an adventure that is both 'brilliant' (Holly Black) and 'supremely satisfying' (Leigh Bardugo). Expect a rogue's gallery of villains including an axe wielding maid, a shining knight with dark moods, a homicidal bodyguard, and a playboy spymaster with a golden heart and a filthy reputation.]]> 435 Sarah Rees Brennan 0316568716 Claire 0 to-read 3.87 2024
author: Sarah Rees Brennan
name: Claire
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 127280062 Torn apart by war. Reunited by love?

Two weeks have passed since Iris returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over.

Roman is missing, lost behind enemy lines, with no memory of his past, or Iris. Hoping his memories return, he begins to write again � but this time for the enemy.

When a strange letter arrives through his wardrobe door, he strikes up a correspondence with a penpal who seems at once mysterious� and strangely familiar.

As their connection deepens, the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.]]> 420 Rebecca Ross 1250857457 Claire 0 to-read 3.99 2023
author: Rebecca Ross
name: Claire
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 60784546 After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again�

All eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow wants to do is hold her family together. With a brother on the frontline forced to fight on behalf of the Gods now missing from the frontline and a mother drowning her sorrows, Iris’s best bet is winning the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

But when Iris’s letters to her brother fall into the wrong hands � that of the handsome but cold Roman Kitt, her rival at the paper � an unlikely magical connection forms.

Expelled into the middle of a mystical war, magical typewriters in tow, can their bond withstand the fight for the fate of mankind and, most importantly, love?

An epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.]]> 357 Rebecca Ross 1250857430 Claire 5 ebooks, lgbtq, library 4.14 2023
author: Rebecca Ross
name: Claire
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/12
date added: 2025/02/12
shelves: ebooks, lgbtq, library
review:

]]> 202950650
There have always been whispers. Legends. The warrior who cannot be killed. Who’s seen a thousand civilizations rise and fall. He has had many names: Unute, Child of Lightning, Death himself. These days, he’s known simply as “B.�

And he wants to be able to die.

In the present day, a U.S. black-ops group has promised him they can help with that. And all he needs to do is help them in return. But when an all-too-mortal soldier comes back to life, the impossible event ultimately points toward a force even more mysterious than B himself. One at least as strong. And one with a plan all its own.

A mind-blowing epic of ancient powers, modern war, and an outcast who cannot die. Combines Miéville’s singular style and creativity with Reeves’s haunting and soul-stirring narrative, unlike anything these two genre-bending pioneers have created before, inspired by the world of the BRZRKR comic books.]]> 352 Keanu Reeves 0593446593 Claire 0 did-not-finish 3.26 2024
author: Keanu Reeves
name: Claire
average rating: 3.26
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2025/02/05
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves: did-not-finish
review:
Sadly a DNF. I read 100 pages and just wasn't enjoying it. It reads too much like a film, characters are flat and uninteresting. But I'm sure I'll watch and enjoy the film once it is inevitably released (starring Keanu as Utunu of course).
]]> 77197
Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals - the old art known as the Wit - gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if used too often, is a perilous magic, and one abhorred by the nobility.

So when Fitz is finally adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin.]]> 435 Robin Hobb 055357339X Claire 4 audiobook, books-with-dogs-in 4.21 1995
author: Robin Hobb
name: Claire
average rating: 4.21
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/04
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves: audiobook, books-with-dogs-in
review:

]]> 404833 Boudica means Bringer of Victory (from the early Celtic word "boudeg"). She is the last defender of the Celtic culture in Britain; the only woman openly to lead her warriors into battle and to stand successfully against the might of Imperial Rome--and triumph.
It is 33 AD and eleven-year-old Breaca (later named Boudica), the red-haired daughter of one of the leaders of the Eceni tribe, is on the cusp between girl and womanhood. She longs to be a Dreamer, a mystical leader who can foretell the future, but having killed the man who has attacked and killed her mother, she has proven herself a warrior. Dreaming the Eagle is also the story of the two men Boudica loves most: Caradoc, outstanding warrior and inspirational leader; and Ban, her half-brother, who longs to be a warrior, though he is manifestly a Dreamer, possibly the finest in his tribe's history. Ban becomes the Druid whose eventual return to the Celts is Boudica's salvation.
Dreaming the Eagle is full of brilliantly realised, luminous scenes as the narrative sweeps effortlessly from the epic--where battle scenes are huge, bloody, and action-packed--to the intimate. Manda Scott plunges us into the unforgettable world of tribal Britain in the years before the Roman invasion: a world of druids and dreamers and the magic of the gods where the natural world is as much a character as any of the people who live within it, a world of warriors who fight for honour as much as victory, a world of passion, courage and spectacular heroism pitched against overwhelming odds.
Dreaming the Eagle stunningly recreates the roots of a story so powerful its impact has lasted through the ages. "From the Trade Paperback edition."]]> 720 Manda Scott 0553814060 Claire 0 to-read 4.00 2003
author: Manda Scott
name: Claire
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 58527403 423 Jessa Hastings 1737281198 Claire 2 kindle-unlimited I hated all of it. 3.68 2021
author: Jessa Hastings
name: Claire
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2025/01/21
date added: 2025/01/21
shelves: kindle-unlimited
review:
I hated all of it.
]]> 40604556 Librarian note: An older cover for this edition can be found here: 31-Jul-2007.

After a brutal battle with the underworld that nearly destroyed him, Locke Lamora and his trusted sidekick, Jean, fled the island city of their birth and landed on the exotic shores of Tal Verrar to nurse their wounds. But even at this westernmost edge of civilization, they can't rest for long---and they are soon back doing what they do best: stealing from the undeserving rich and pocketing the proceeds for themselves.

This time, however, they have targeted the grandest prize of all: the Sinspire, the most exclusive and heavily guarded gambling house in the world. Its nine floors attract the wealthiest clientele - and to rise to the top, one must impress with good credit, amusing behavior...and excruciatingly impeccable play. For there is one cardinal rule, enforced by Requin, the house's cold-blooded master: it is death to cheat at any game at the Sinspire.Brazenly undeterred, Locke and Jean have orchestrated an elaborate plan to lie, trick, and swindle their way up the nine floors...straight to Requin's teeming vault. Under the cloak of false identities, they meticulously make their climb - until they are closer to the spoils than ever.

But someone in Tal Verrar has uncovered the duo's secret. Someone from their past who has every intention of making the impudent criminals pay for their sins. Now it will take every ounce of cunning to save their mercenary souls. And even that may not be enough.]]> 578 Scott Lynch Claire 5 audiobook 4.26 2007
author: Scott Lynch
name: Claire
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/17
date added: 2025/01/17
shelves: audiobook
review:

]]> 199227966 FROM PULITZER-PRIZE FINALIST KELLY LINK

Laura, Daniel and Mo disappeared without trace a year ago. They have long been presumed dead. Which they were. But now they are not. And it is up to the resurrected teenagers to discover what happened to them. Revived by Mr Anabin - the man they knew as their high school music teacher - they are offered a chance to return to the mortal realm if they can solve solve the mystery of their deaths, learn how to use the magic they now possess, and identify the mysterious fourth soul that crossed back over with them. But their return has upset a delicate balance that has held - just - for millennia.]]> 640 Kelly Link 1804548456 Claire 4 lgbtq, library 3.76 2024
author: Kelly Link
name: Claire
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/10
date added: 2025/01/15
shelves: lgbtq, library
review:

]]> 12287209
Or you'll get what you wish for.]]> 56 Hugh Howey Claire 0 4.14 2012
author: Hugh Howey
name: Claire
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/09
shelves: 21-books-i-want-to-read-in-2021, dystopian-fiction, to-read, ebooks, popsugar-challenge-2021
review:

]]> 2890090
Magi political elections are imminent, and the factions are in need of a pawn. If Locke agrees to play the role, sorcery will be used to purge the venom from his body - though the process will be so excruciating he may well wish for death. Locke is opposed, but two factors cause his will to crumble: Jean's imploring - and the Bondsmage's mention of a woman from Locke's past: Sabetha. She is the love of his life, his equal in skill and wit, and now, his greatest rival.

Locke was smitten with Sabetha from his first glimpse of her as a young fellow orphan and thief-in-training. But after a tumultuous courtship, Sabetha broke away. Now they will reunite in yet another clash of wills. For faced with his one and only match in both love and trickery, Locke must choose whether to fight Sabetha - or to woo her. It is a decision on which both their lives may depend.

]]> 650 Scott Lynch 0553804693 Claire 4 audiobook 4.21 2013
author: Scott Lynch
name: Claire
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/24
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves: audiobook
review:
This is definitely a re-read (I must have read it in 2014 but didn't mark it on Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ). Accidentally read these out of order.
]]> 179956153
In a dystopian world dominated by genetic perfection and numbered gene pools, sixteen-year-old E820927, known as Seven, yearns for an identity beyond his assigned number.

To escape a life as a Nameless Exile, and become a citizen of the Realm, he must pass a loyalty test to prove his allegiance to the totalitarian AutokratĹŤr.

With the world's fate hanging in the balance, Seven's journey sparks rebellion, hope, and the reclamation of individuality.

But as the truth unfolds, Seven faces a difficult choice between revenge and love.]]> 334 Stuart White 1739595548 Claire 0 4.07
author: Stuart White
name: Claire
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/21
shelves: kindle-unlimited, sci-fi, currently-reading
review:

]]> 157184735 From the critically acclaimed author of Bunny comes a horror-tinted, gothic fairy tale about a lonely dress shop clerk whose mother’s unexpected death sends her down a treacherous path in pursuit of youth and beauty. Can she escape her mother’s fate—and find a connection that is more than skin deep?

For as long as she can remember, Belle has been insidiously obsessed with her skin and skincare videos. When her estranged mother Noelle mysteriously dies, Belle finds herself back in Southern California, dealing with her mother’s considerable debts and grappling with lingering questions about her death. The stakes escalate when a strange woman in red appears at the funeral, offering a tantalizing clue about her mother’s demise, followed by a cryptic video about a transformative spa experience. With the help of a pair of red shoes, Belle is lured into the barbed embrace of La Maison de Méduse, the same lavish, culty spa to which her mother was devoted. There, Belle discovers the frightening secret behind her (and her mother’s) obsession with the mirror—and the great shimmering depths (and demons) that lurk on the other side of the glass.

Snow White meets Eyes Wide Shut in this surreal descent into the dark side of beauty, envy, grief, and the complicated love between mothers and daughters. With black humor and seductive horror, Rouge explores the cult-like nature of the beauty industry—as well as the danger of internalizing its pitiless gaze. Brimming with California sunshine and blood-red rose petals, Rouge holds up a warped mirror to our relationship with mortality, our collective fixation with the surface, and the wondrous, deep longing that might lie beneath.]]> 383 Mona Awad Claire 0 3.54 2023
author: Mona Awad
name: Claire
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/13
shelves: library, retelling, currently-reading
review:

]]> 29588376 ASIN B000JMKNJ2 moved to the more recent edition

An orphan’s life is harsh—and often short—in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But young Locke Lamora dodges death and slavery, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentleman Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.]]> 752 Scott Lynch Claire 0 4.32 2006
author: Scott Lynch
name: Claire
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/11
shelves:
review:

]]> 127455 Ocean's Eleven, and entirely enthralling...

An orphan's life is harsh � and often short � in the island city of Camorr, built on the ruins of a mysterious alien race. But born with a quick wit and a gift for thieving, Locke Lamora has dodged both death and slavery, only to fall into the hands of an eyeless priest known as Chains � a man who is neither blind nor a priest.

A con artist of extraordinary talent, Chains passes his skills on to his carefully selected "family" of orphans � a group known as the Gentlemen Bastards. Under his tutelage, Locke grows to lead the Bastards, delightedly pulling off one outrageous confidence game after another. Soon he is infamous as the Thorn of Camorr, and no wealthy noble is safe from his sting.

Passing themselves off as petty thieves, the brilliant Locke and his tightly knit band of light-fingered brothers have fooled even the criminal underworld's most feared ruler, Capa Barsavi. But there is someone in the shadows more powerful � and more ambitious � than Locke has yet imagined.

Known as the Gray King, he is slowly killing Capa Barsavi's most trusted men � and using Locke as a pawn in his plot to take control of Camorr's underworld. With a bloody coup under way threatening to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the Gray King at his own brutal game � or die trying...

]]> 499 Scott Lynch 0553804677 Claire 5 ebooks, audiobook, fantasy
-

Oh wow I loved this! It's taken me a long time to finish it as I've just not had much time for reading lately (I try to read before bed but I fall asleep after 2-3 pages), but I loved every minute of it. I picked it up as a few friends recommended it, and after seeing Patrick Rothfuss also recommend it I just had to. I managed to get a cheap ebook copy from Amazon, and before finishing it I had already purchased the next 2 in the series as I knew I'd want to find out what happened next and I was already recommending it to people as a book to try!

The whole story is brilliantly written, I love all the characters, and I love all the different weaving stories and intrigue, as well as the little snippets of history and background information that's thrown in as well. Definitely one I would recommend to anyone, particularly if you enjoy Patrick Rothfuss's books as it has a similar feel.]]> 4.28 2006
author: Scott Lynch
name: Claire
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/10
date added: 2024/12/11
shelves: ebooks, audiobook, fantasy
review:
This was a re-read, listened on audiobook. I originally read this 10 years ago and loved it, it was an instant favourite. Maybe would give it 4.5 stars now rather than 5, but I still really enjoyed it and it definitely holds up. It is a bit fantastical but I do enjoy the twists and how the Gentlemen Bastards have all these schemes. They are all flawed characters which for me makes it readable and fun rather than ridiculous and annoying. The relationships between the Gentlemen Bastards are also great to read. I have the next book in the series on audio so I'm looking forward to it.

-

Oh wow I loved this! It's taken me a long time to finish it as I've just not had much time for reading lately (I try to read before bed but I fall asleep after 2-3 pages), but I loved every minute of it. I picked it up as a few friends recommended it, and after seeing Patrick Rothfuss also recommend it I just had to. I managed to get a cheap ebook copy from Amazon, and before finishing it I had already purchased the next 2 in the series as I knew I'd want to find out what happened next and I was already recommending it to people as a book to try!

The whole story is brilliantly written, I love all the characters, and I love all the different weaving stories and intrigue, as well as the little snippets of history and background information that's thrown in as well. Definitely one I would recommend to anyone, particularly if you enjoy Patrick Rothfuss's books as it has a similar feel.
]]> 60779716 It is said there is a price that every passenger must pay. A price beyond the cost of a ticket.

It is the end of the 19th Century and the world is awash with marvels. But there is nothing so marvellous as the Wastelands: a terrain of terrible miracles that lies between Beijing and Moscow.

Nothing touches this abandoned wilderness except the Great Trans-Siberian Express: an impenetrable train built to carry cargo across continents, but which now transports anyone who dares to cross the shadowy Wastelands.

On to the platform steps a curious cast of characters: a grieving woman with a borrowed name, a famous child born on the train and a disgraced naturalist, all heading for the Great Exhibition in Moscow.

But the old rules are changing, and there are whispers that the train isn't safe. As secrets and stories begin to unravel the passengers and crew must survive their journey through the Wastelands together, even as something uncontrollable seems to be breaking in . . .]]> 373 Sarah Brooks 1399607537 Claire 4 3.78 2024
author: Sarah Brooks
name: Claire
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/09
date added: 2024/12/09
shelves:
review:
I enjoyed this but I was left feeling unsatisfied, and can't quite put my finger on why. I think the writing was good and while it had a slower start, I felt really hooked in and invested by the characters and the premise, it gave lovely cozy train vibes. But the last 40% felt a bit predictable and rushed, and I was left feeling a bit disappointed.
]]> 165940202
Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.

Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.

Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.]]> 419 Danielle L. Jensen 0593599837 Claire 2 library 3.91 2024
author: Danielle L. Jensen
name: Claire
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2024/12/07
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: library
review:
I enjoyed the first 20 % but after that it just got cliche and repetitive. Same arguments over and over, and a main character making stupid choices. The plot was predictable. Disappointed!
]]> 199798179 A time travel romance, a spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingenious exploration of the nature of power and the potential for love to change it all: Welcome to The Ministry of Time, the exhilarating debut novel by Kaliane Bradley.

In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she’ll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering “expats� from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time.

She is tasked with working as a “bridge�: living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as �1847� or Commander Graham Gore. As far as history is concerned, Commander Gore died on Sir John Franklin’s doomed 1845 expedition to the Arctic, so he’s a little disoriented to be living with an unmarried woman who regularly shows her calves, surrounded by outlandish concepts such as “washing machines,� “Spotify,� and “the collapse of the British Empire.� But with an appetite for discovery, a seven-a-day cigarette habit, and the support of a charming and chaotic cast of fellow expats, he soon adjusts.

Over the next year, what the bridge initially thought would be, at best, a horrifically uncomfortable roommate dynamic, evolves into something much deeper. By the time the true shape of the Ministry’s project comes to light, the bridge has fallen haphazardly, fervently in love, with consequences she never could have imagined. Forced to confront the choices that brought them together, the bridge must finally reckon with how—and whether she believes—what she does next can change the future.

An exquisitely original and feverishly fun fusion of genres and ideas, The Ministry of Time asks: What does it mean to defy history, when history is living in your house? Kaliane Bradley’s answer is a blazing, unforgettable testament to what we owe each other in a changing world.]]> 339 Kaliane Bradley 1668045141 Claire 0 to-read 3.54 2024
author: Kaliane Bradley
name: Claire
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 195703882 Crying in H-Mart meets My Sister, the Serial Killer in this feminist psychological horror about the making of a female serial killer from a Korean-American perspective.

Ji-won’s life tumbles into disarray in the wake of her appa’s extramarital affair and subsequent departure. Her mother, distraught. Her younger sister, hurt and confused. Her college freshman grades, failing. Her dreams, horrifying� yet enticing.

In them, Ji-won walks through bloody rooms full of eyes. Succulent blue eyes. Salivatingly blue eyes. Eyes the same shape and shade as George’s, who is Umma’s obnoxious new boyfriend. George has already overstayed his welcome in her family’s claustrophobic apartment. He brags about his puffed-up consulting job, ogles Asian waitresses while dining out, and acts condescending toward Ji-won and her sister as if he deserves all of Umma’s fawning adoration. No, George doesn’t deserve anything from her family. Ji-won will make sure of that.

For no matter how many victims accumulate around her campus or how many people she must deceive and manipulate, Ji-won’s hunger and her rage deserve to be sated.

A brilliantly inventive, subversive novel about a young woman unraveling, Monika Kim’s The Eyes Are the Best Part is a story of a family falling apart and trying to find their way back to each other, marking a bold new voice in horror that will leave readers mesmerized and craving more.]]> 278 Monika Kim 1645661237 Claire 0 to-read 3.81 2024
author: Monika Kim
name: Claire
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 201242757 From legendary storyteller and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary new collection of twelve short stories, many never-before-published, and some of his best EVER.

“You like it darker? Fine, so do I,� writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,� and in You Like It Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again.

“Two Talented Bastids� explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,� a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny’s most catastrophically. In “Rattlesnakes,� a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance—with major strings attached. In “The Dreamers,� a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. “The Answer Man� asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful.

King’s ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it.]]> 512 Stephen King 1668037718 Claire 0 to-read 4.16 2024
author: Stephen King
name: Claire
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 127282939 From the acclaimed author of Parakeet, Marie-Helene Bertino’s Beautyland is a wise, tender novel about a woman who doesn't feel at home on Earth.

At the moment when Voyager 1 is launched into space carrying its famous golden record, a baby of unusual perception is born to a single mother in Philadelphia. Adina Giorno is tiny and jaundiced, but she reaches for warmth and light. As a child, she recognizes that she is different: She possesses knowledge of a faraway planet. The arrival of a fax machine enables her to contact her extraterrestrial relatives, beings who have sent her to report on the oddities of Earthlings.

For years, as she moves through the world and makes a life for herself among humans, she dispatches transmissions on the terrors and surprising joys of their existence. Then, at a precarious moment, a beloved friend urges Adina to share her messages with the world. Is there a chance she is not alone?

Marie-Helene Bertino’s Beautyland is a novel of startling originality about the fragility and resilience of life on our Earth and in our universe. It is a remarkable evocation of the feeling of being in exile at home, and it introduces a gentle, unforgettable alien for our times.]]> 327 Marie-Helene Bertino 0374109281 Claire 0 to-read 4.08 2024
author: Marie-Helene Bertino
name: Claire
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 201930181
Caught up in academic intrigue and affairs of the heart, Dafyd Alkhor is pleased just to be an assistant to a brilliant scientist and his celebrated research team. ĚýThen the Carryx ships descend, decimating the human population and taking the best and brightest of Anjiin society away to serve on the Carryx homeworld, and Dafyd is swept along with them. They are dropped in the middle of a struggle they barely understand, set in a competition against the other captive species with extinction as the price of failure.

Only Dafyd and a handful of his companions see past the Darwinian contest to the deeper game that they must play to learning to understand â€� and manipulate â€� the Carryx themselves. With a noble but suicidal human rebellion on one hand and strange and murderous enemies on the other, the team pays a terrible price to become the trusted servants of their new rulers. Dafyd Alkhor is a simple man swept up in events that are beyond his control and more vast than his imagination. ĚýHe will become the champion of humanity and its betrayer, the most hated man in history and the guardian of his people. This is where his story begins.]]> 422 James S.A. Corey 031652557X Claire 0 to-read 4.11 2024
author: James S.A. Corey
name: Claire
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 123136728
Contudo, mesmo tĂŁo distantes do mundo, os seis astronautas nĂŁo conseguem escapar Ă  sua constante influĂŞncia. Chegam notĂ­cias da morte de uma mĂŁe, trazendo pensamentos de regresso e de saudades de casa. A fragilidade da vida humana torna-se um tema central nas suas conversas, nos seus medos e nos seus sonhos.

Apesar de tão longe da Terra, nunca antes se haviam sentido tão protetores dela, tão parte dela. Começam a refletir: o que será a vida sem a Terra? O que será a Terra sem a humanidade?]]> 207 Samantha Harvey 0802161545 Claire 0 to-read 3.55 2023
author: Samantha Harvey
name: Claire
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 133286777 From the New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House, Hell Bent, and creator of the Grishaverse series comes a highly anticipated historical fantasy set during the Spanish Golden Age

In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family's social position.

What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain's king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England's heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king's favor.

Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition's wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.]]> 387 Leigh Bardugo 125088425X Claire 0 to-read 3.74 2024
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: Claire
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 199347538 Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the hugely anticipated sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, one of the best-loved and best-selling fantasy novels of the past decade. Featuring gorgeous orange sprayed edges!

A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.

He’s the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there.

Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. He is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department In Charge of Magical Youth. And there’s the island’s sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children.

But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.

And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name that Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they’re at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.

Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it.]]> 416 T.J. Klune 125088120X Claire 0 to-read 4.17 2024
author: T.J. Klune
name: Claire
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 157981739
When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven lands, they are both forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders. There they encounter the the fae court.

The fae haven’t been seen for a millennium. But now Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into their seductive world � torn between their loyalty to each other, their elven homeland, and their hearts. . .]]> 386 Saara El-Arifi 0593723007 Claire 0 to-read 3.53 2024
author: Saara El-Arifi
name: Claire
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 195430687 Three estranged siblings return to their family home in New York after their beloved sister's death in this unforgettable story of grief, identity, and the complexities of family.

The three Blue sisters are exceptional—and exceptionally different. Avery, the eldest and a recovering heroin addict turned strait-laced lawyer, lives with her wife in London; Bonnie, a former boxer, works as a bouncer in Los Angeles following a devastating defeat; and Lucky, the youngest, models in Paris while trying to outrun her hard-partying ways. They also had a fourth sister, Nicky, whose unexpected death left Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky reeling. A year later, as they each navigate grief, addiction, and ambition, they find they must return to New York to stop the sale of the apartment they were raised in.

But coming home is never as easy as it seems. As the sisters reckon with the disappointments of their childhood and the loss of the only person who held them together, they realize the greatest secrets they've been keeping might not have been from each other, but from themselves.]]> 342 Coco Mellors 0593723767 Claire 0 to-read 3.93 2024
author: Coco Mellors
name: Claire
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 32758901 "As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure."

In a corporate-dominated space-faring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. For their own safety, exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists is conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied �droid--a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.� Scornful of humans, Murderbot wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is, but when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and Murderbot to get to the truth.]]> 144 Martha Wells Claire 0 to-read 4.11 2017
author: Martha Wells
name: Claire
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 136276877
Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.

On the island: it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.

Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn't solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island—and everyone on it.

But the security system has also wiped everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer—and they don't even know it.

And the clock is ticking.

From the bestselling author of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water comes an inventive, high-concept murder mystery: an ingenious puzzle, an extraordinary backdrop, and an audacious solution.]]> 368 Stuart Turton Claire 3 library, post-apocalypse 3.63 2024
author: Stuart Turton
name: Claire
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/05
date added: 2024/12/05
shelves: library, post-apocalypse
review:

]]> 53457102 A journey to the kingdom of dragons, a star-crossed love, and a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world or break it...

Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined.

She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood.

The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next—threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love, Takkan. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win.]]> 482 Elizabeth Lim 1529356784 Claire 2 3.78 2022
author: Elizabeth Lim
name: Claire
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2024/11/20
date added: 2024/11/20
shelves: dragons, retelling, library, kobo
review:

]]> 51648276
A deeply satisfying thriller cum fairy tale, Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead is a provocative exploration of the murky borderland between sanity and madness, justice and tradition, autonomy and fate. Whom do we deem sane? it asks. Who is worthy of a voice?

Duration: 11 hours 39 minutes.]]> 274 Olga Tokarczuk Claire 5 library 3.93 2009
author: Olga Tokarczuk
name: Claire
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/09
date added: 2024/11/09
shelves: library
review:

]]> 716234 256 Neil Hancock 0446312134 Claire 0 to-read 3.48 1982
author: Neil Hancock
name: Claire
average rating: 3.48
book published: 1982
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 77146 352 Niel Hancock 0445085959 Claire 0 to-read 3.48 1977
author: Niel Hancock
name: Claire
average rating: 3.48
book published: 1977
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 9919092
The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbour, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they've brought a lot of sharpened metal with them.

Bremer dan Gorst, disgraced master swordsman, has sworn to reclaim his stolen honour on the battlefield. Obsessed with redemption and addicted to violence, he's far past caring how much blood gets spilled in the attempt. Even if it's his own.

Prince Calder isn't interested in honour, and still less in getting himself killed. All he wants is power, and he'll tell any lie, use any trick, and betray any friend to get it. Just as long as he doesn't have to fight for it himself.

Curnden Craw, the last honest man in the North, has gained nothing from a life of warfare but swollen knees and frayed nerves. He hardly even cares who wins any more, he just wants to do the right thing. But can he even tell what that is with the world burning down around him?

Over three bloody days of battle, the fate of the North will be decided. But with both sides riddled by intrigues, follies, feuds and petty jealousies, it is unlikely to be the noblest hearts, or even the strongest arms that prevail...

Three men. One battle. No Heroes.]]> 498 Joe Abercrombie 0575083832 Claire 5 audiobook, favorites, fantasy
Re-read thoughts: I had forgotten parts of the story in this one, but I loved it. One of the best.

I loved the development of our main characters - especially Bremer dan Gorst, Craw, Prince Calder.
His portrayal of the action and fighting is unmatched, I love the perspective changing throughout the battle. Even the anticipation and lead up to it is incredible - and his writing of the aftermath and the horrors of war is so good. I love the way that he writes about trauma and PTSD. I love the way that 'The Bloody Nine' is still a rumour that scares the Northmen.

I like that you end up caring about every single character, while knowing that it's about war - not all will come out of it alive or the same.

Fantastic book and one of my favourites by Abercrombie. Steven Pacey is also an amazing narrator and really does this justice!]]> 4.30 2011
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Claire
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2012/03/09
date added: 2024/11/07
shelves: audiobook, favorites, fantasy
review:
I love Joe Abercrombie's books, and this was no exception - lots of action, drama and twists to keep me interested. I love the characters and I loved revisiting some of them in this one.

Re-read thoughts: I had forgotten parts of the story in this one, but I loved it. One of the best.

I loved the development of our main characters - especially Bremer dan Gorst, Craw, Prince Calder.
His portrayal of the action and fighting is unmatched, I love the perspective changing throughout the battle. Even the anticipation and lead up to it is incredible - and his writing of the aftermath and the horrors of war is so good. I love the way that he writes about trauma and PTSD. I love the way that 'The Bloody Nine' is still a rumour that scares the Northmen.

I like that you end up caring about every single character, while knowing that it's about war - not all will come out of it alive or the same.

Fantastic book and one of my favourites by Abercrombie. Steven Pacey is also an amazing narrator and really does this justice!
]]> 9300768 581 Joe Abercrombie 0316123358 Claire 5 audiobook 4.34 2011
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Claire
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/05
date added: 2024/11/07
shelves: audiobook
review:

]]> 57028076
Shiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.

A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.

Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to forswear--no matter what the cost.

Weaving together elements of The Wild Swans, Cinderella, the legend of Chang E, and the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.]]> 464 Elizabeth Lim 1529356555 Claire 3
I enjoyed the first half of the book, but the second half and the 'wrap up' felt a little rushed.

Still, a great read and I am going to jump into the second book to continue the story.]]> 4.20 2021
author: Elizabeth Lim
name: Claire
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/04
date added: 2024/11/07
shelves: dragons, fantasy, library, retelling
review:
This was a fun, escapism read - I picked it up because of the beautiful cover and didn't regret it. I liked the fairytale elements too, it wasn't a story I am familiar with but felt familiar.

I enjoyed the first half of the book, but the second half and the 'wrap up' felt a little rushed.

Still, a great read and I am going to jump into the second book to continue the story.
]]> 52878453
While on her normal daily walk with her dog in the forest woods, our protagonist comes across a note, handwritten and carefully pinned to the ground with a frame of stones. "Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn't me. Here is her dead body". Our narrator is deeply shaken; she has no idea what to make of this. She is new to area, having moved her from her longtime home after the death of her husband, and she knows very few people. And she's a little shaky even on best days. Her brooding about this note quickly grows into a full-blown obsession, and she begins to devote herself to exploring the possibilities of her conjectures about who this woman was and how she met her fate. Her suppositions begin to find echoes in the real world, and with mounting excitement and dread, the fog of mystery starts to form into a concrete and menacing shape. But as we follow her in her investigation, strange dissonances start to accrue, and our faith in her grip on reality weakens, until finally, just as she seems be facing some of the darkness in her own past with her late husband, we are forced to face the prospect that there is either a more innocent explanation for all this or a much more sinister one - one that strikes closer to home.

A triumphant blend of horror, suspense, and pitch-black comedy, 'Death in Her Hands' asks us to consider how the stories we tell ourselves both guide us closer to the truth and keep us at bay from it. Once again, we are in the hands of a narrator whose unreliability is well earned, only this time the stakes have never been higher.]]> 259 Ottessa Moshfegh 1984879359 Claire 3 books-with-dogs-in, library
It was interesting to read a book that's from the perspective of a 72 year old woman. And interesting to learn more about her marriage as the book progresses.

Charlie is a good dog.

There's a lot of fat phobia and judgements of others in this book that was uncomfortable to read.

Overall I don't really know what to make of this. I think I'd give it a 3.5. But I think I would have liked a more concrete story and more concrete answers. And also Charlie's behaviour and subsequent death at the end was really sad.]]> 3.25 2020
author: Ottessa Moshfegh
name: Claire
average rating: 3.25
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/13
date added: 2024/10/13
shelves: books-with-dogs-in, library
review:
I enjoyed the writing, it's very beautifully written. It's quite strange and hard to know, is Vesta going crazy? Or is someone stalking her? But nothing is really confirmed at all.

It was interesting to read a book that's from the perspective of a 72 year old woman. And interesting to learn more about her marriage as the book progresses.

Charlie is a good dog.

There's a lot of fat phobia and judgements of others in this book that was uncomfortable to read.

Overall I don't really know what to make of this. I think I'd give it a 3.5. But I think I would have liked a more concrete story and more concrete answers. And also Charlie's behaviour and subsequent death at the end was really sad.
]]> 209311051
Peter is a Dublin lawyer in his thirties—successful, competent and apparently unassailable. But in the wake of their father’s death, he’s medicating himself to sleep and struggling to manage his relationships with two very different women—his enduring first love Sylvia, and Naomi, a college student for whom life is one long joke.

Ivan is a twenty-two-year-old competitive chess player. He has always seen himself as socially awkward, a loner, the antithesis of his glib elder brother. Now, in the early weeks of his bereavement, Ivan meets Margaret, an older woman emerging from her own turbulent past, and their lives become rapidly and intensely intertwined.

For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude—a period of desire, despair and possibility—a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.]]> 442 Sally Rooney 0571365469 Claire 0 to-read 4.03 2024
author: Sally Rooney
name: Claire
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 195177497 This cozy debut science fiction novel tells a story of misfits, rebels, found family—and a mystery that spans the stars.

Welcome to the Grand Abeona Hotel: home of the finest food, the sweetest service, and the very best views the galaxy has to offer. All year round it moves from planet to planet, system to system, pampering guests across the furthest reaches of the milky way. The last word in sub-orbital luxury—and an absolute magnet for intrigue. Intrigues such as: Why are there love poems in the lobby inbox? How many Imperial spies are currently on board? What is the true purpose of the Problem Solver's conference? And perhaps most pertinently�who is driving the ship?

Each guest has a secret, every member of staff a universe unto themselves. At the center of these interweaving lives and interlocking mysteries stands Carl, one time stowaway, longtime manager, devoted caretaker to the hotel. It's the love of his life and the only place he's ever called home. But as forces beyond Carl's comprehension converge on the Abeona, he has to face one final question: when is it time to let go?]]> 324 Grace Curtis 075641931X Claire 4 library, sci-fi 3.65 2024
author: Grace Curtis
name: Claire
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/11
date added: 2024/10/11
shelves: library, sci-fi
review:

]]> 196614815 A young couple find themselves haunted by a string of gruesome murders committed along an old deserted road in this terrifying new novel.

July 1995. April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn. They’re looking for the small resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to be a lone hitchhiker along the deserted road, they stop to help. But not long after the hitchhiker gets into their car, they see the blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down Atticus Line after them.

When the hitchhiker dies at the local hospital, April and Eddie find themselves in the crosshairs of the Coldlake Falls police. Unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Line for years and the cops finally have two witnesses who easily become their only suspects. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work, something that could not only tear the town and its dark secrets apart, but take April and Eddie down with it all.]]> 341 Simone St. James 0593200381 Claire 3 horror, library 3.67 2024
author: Simone St. James
name: Claire
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/06
date added: 2024/10/06
shelves: horror, library
review:

]]> 6592690 in love with Ely, and Ely loves Naomi, but prefers to be in love with boys. So they create their "No Kiss List" of people neither of them is allowed to kiss. And this works fine - until Bruce. Bruce is Naomi's boyfriend, so there's no reason to put him on the List. But Ely kissed Bruce even though he is boring. The a rift of universal proportions and the potential end of "Naomi and the institution." Can these best friends come back together again?


From the Hardcover edition.]]> 230 Rachel Cohn 0375890726 Claire 4 ebooks 3.44 2007
author: Rachel Cohn
name: Claire
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2010/01/24
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: ebooks
review:
This was a quick, light read. I liked the way that perspective changed, and sometimes it had comments that were quite insightful. I didn't like the way that Naomi uses characters instead of words though (I must be getting old because often I didn't know what it meant and it took a while to figure out, like those puzzles you had as a kid XD). I liked though that it has a gay couple, in novels (or even TV, really) that's quite rare, especially when it's portrayed as Normal and Loving. I thought it was really well written and handled.
]]> 49223788
Time for an adventure!

For more than five years, Aaron Hodges has journeyed the globe alone, visiting everywhere from Istanbul to Argentina. Honest and insightful, SOLO is packed with his personal travel tips and humorous stories. Learn about the ups and downs, the triumphs and the pitfalls of venturing off the beaten path. Follow his guidelines for exploring the world alone and be inspired to take the trip you’ve always dreamed of.

Discover the world of solo travel.

Go Solo!]]> 160 Aaron Hodges 0995129649 Claire 5
Solo: A Down to Earth Guide for Travelling the World Alone by Aaron Hodges is the perfect guide for anyone considering solo travel.

In 2014 after the end of a three year relationship, Aaron Hodges decided to quit his job and travel the world. While travelling, he published his first novel, Stormwielder, and has continued to write and travel ever since. In this short non-fiction book (it’s about 130 pages), Aaron shares the lessons he’s learned and his �must see� places to visit in Southeast Asia, Mexico and Central America, and South America.

At the start of the book, Aaron says that most people who are considering travelling around the world solo are single and have recently gone through a break up. I have to admit, this fits me perfectly! In August, my partner and I of six years broke up and I had to move out of our home. This has changed my life in many ways, and has made me think about my life and my future � in particular, I have been thinking about travelling!

My passport expired nine years ago and I haven’t renewed it since. I had originally planned to renew it this year and travel, but obviously, 2020 hasn’t made that possible. So I was very excited to read Aaron’s book for his tips and travel advice. I have had several holidays solo (including three weeks in California just before my passport expired), but actually travelling abroad alone with a backpack is a totally different experience.

I have read one of Aaron’s fantasy fiction books before, so it was great to learn more about him as a person. His writing style is very casual and relaxed, and made me feel like I was reading a letter from a friend.

Solo covers Aaron’s top tips for packing your bag and the essentials you should bring, as well as tips for while you are there, getting around and finding suitable hostels. While I want to travel, these are the sort of practical things that I worry about and Solo this has really helped to put my mind at ease.

Aaron also shares some of his favourite memories and lessons learned from his travels over the past five years. There are also accompanying photos of the places he talks about which really brings these memories to life and shows off the beauty of these places. His tips and advice on places to visit while in specific areas was really helpful! I think the only thing that seemed to be missing was a guide of �must sees� in Europe and Australia � Aaron’s guides cover Southeast Asia, Mexico and Central America, and South America.

Overall, Solo is a fantastic �quick start� guide for anyone who is currently considering travelling the world on their own. The combination of Aaron’s writing style and his personal experience makes this an incredibly enjoyable as well as an informative read. I will certainly be dipping back in and out of this when planning my trips, making sure I incorporate some of his helpful travel guides in my own journeys (hopefully in 2021!).

Merged review:

Thank you very much to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for sending me a free copy of Solo in return for an honest review.

Solo: A Down to Earth Guide for Travelling the World Alone by Aaron Hodges is the perfect guide for anyone considering solo travel.

In 2014 after the end of a three year relationship, Aaron Hodges decided to quit his job and travel the world. While travelling, he published his first novel, Stormwielder, and has continued to write and travel ever since. In this short non-fiction book (it’s about 130 pages), Aaron shares the lessons he’s learned and his �must see� places to visit in Southeast Asia, Mexico and Central America, and South America.

At the start of the book, Aaron says that most people who are considering travelling around the world solo are single and have recently gone through a break up. I have to admit, this fits me perfectly! In August, my partner and I of six years broke up and I had to move out of our home. This has changed my life in many ways, and has made me think about my life and my future � in particular, I have been thinking about travelling!

My passport expired nine years ago and I haven’t renewed it since. I had originally planned to renew it this year and travel, but obviously, 2020 hasn’t made that possible. So I was very excited to read Aaron’s book for his tips and travel advice. I have had several holidays solo (including three weeks in California just before my passport expired), but actually travelling abroad alone with a backpack is a totally different experience.

I have read one of Aaron’s fantasy fiction books before, so it was great to learn more about him as a person. His writing style is very casual and relaxed, and made me feel like I was reading a letter from a friend.

Solo covers Aaron’s top tips for packing your bag and the essentials you should bring, as well as tips for while you are there, getting around and finding suitable hostels. While I want to travel, these are the sort of practical things that I worry about and Solo this has really helped to put my mind at ease.

Aaron also shares some of his favourite memories and lessons learned from his travels over the past five years. There are also accompanying photos of the places he talks about which really brings these memories to life and shows off the beauty of these places. His tips and advice on places to visit while in specific areas was really helpful! I think the only thing that seemed to be missing was a guide of �must sees� in Europe and Australia � Aaron’s guides cover Southeast Asia, Mexico and Central America, and South America.

Overall, Solo is a fantastic �quick start� guide for anyone who is currently considering travelling the world on their own. The combination of Aaron’s writing style and his personal experience makes this an incredibly enjoyable as well as an informative read. I will certainly be dipping back in and out of this when planning my trips, making sure I incorporate some of his helpful travel guides in my own journeys (hopefully in 2021!).]]> 3.96
author: Aaron Hodges
name: Claire
average rating: 3.96
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2020/12/04
date added: 2024/09/24
shelves: ebooks, gift, non-fiction, autobiography
review:
Thank you very much to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for sending me a free copy of Solo in return for an honest review.

Solo: A Down to Earth Guide for Travelling the World Alone by Aaron Hodges is the perfect guide for anyone considering solo travel.

In 2014 after the end of a three year relationship, Aaron Hodges decided to quit his job and travel the world. While travelling, he published his first novel, Stormwielder, and has continued to write and travel ever since. In this short non-fiction book (it’s about 130 pages), Aaron shares the lessons he’s learned and his �must see� places to visit in Southeast Asia, Mexico and Central America, and South America.

At the start of the book, Aaron says that most people who are considering travelling around the world solo are single and have recently gone through a break up. I have to admit, this fits me perfectly! In August, my partner and I of six years broke up and I had to move out of our home. This has changed my life in many ways, and has made me think about my life and my future � in particular, I have been thinking about travelling!

My passport expired nine years ago and I haven’t renewed it since. I had originally planned to renew it this year and travel, but obviously, 2020 hasn’t made that possible. So I was very excited to read Aaron’s book for his tips and travel advice. I have had several holidays solo (including three weeks in California just before my passport expired), but actually travelling abroad alone with a backpack is a totally different experience.

I have read one of Aaron’s fantasy fiction books before, so it was great to learn more about him as a person. His writing style is very casual and relaxed, and made me feel like I was reading a letter from a friend.

Solo covers Aaron’s top tips for packing your bag and the essentials you should bring, as well as tips for while you are there, getting around and finding suitable hostels. While I want to travel, these are the sort of practical things that I worry about and Solo this has really helped to put my mind at ease.

Aaron also shares some of his favourite memories and lessons learned from his travels over the past five years. There are also accompanying photos of the places he talks about which really brings these memories to life and shows off the beauty of these places. His tips and advice on places to visit while in specific areas was really helpful! I think the only thing that seemed to be missing was a guide of �must sees� in Europe and Australia � Aaron’s guides cover Southeast Asia, Mexico and Central America, and South America.

Overall, Solo is a fantastic �quick start� guide for anyone who is currently considering travelling the world on their own. The combination of Aaron’s writing style and his personal experience makes this an incredibly enjoyable as well as an informative read. I will certainly be dipping back in and out of this when planning my trips, making sure I incorporate some of his helpful travel guides in my own journeys (hopefully in 2021!).

Merged review:

Thank you very much to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for sending me a free copy of Solo in return for an honest review.

Solo: A Down to Earth Guide for Travelling the World Alone by Aaron Hodges is the perfect guide for anyone considering solo travel.

In 2014 after the end of a three year relationship, Aaron Hodges decided to quit his job and travel the world. While travelling, he published his first novel, Stormwielder, and has continued to write and travel ever since. In this short non-fiction book (it’s about 130 pages), Aaron shares the lessons he’s learned and his �must see� places to visit in Southeast Asia, Mexico and Central America, and South America.

At the start of the book, Aaron says that most people who are considering travelling around the world solo are single and have recently gone through a break up. I have to admit, this fits me perfectly! In August, my partner and I of six years broke up and I had to move out of our home. This has changed my life in many ways, and has made me think about my life and my future � in particular, I have been thinking about travelling!

My passport expired nine years ago and I haven’t renewed it since. I had originally planned to renew it this year and travel, but obviously, 2020 hasn’t made that possible. So I was very excited to read Aaron’s book for his tips and travel advice. I have had several holidays solo (including three weeks in California just before my passport expired), but actually travelling abroad alone with a backpack is a totally different experience.

I have read one of Aaron’s fantasy fiction books before, so it was great to learn more about him as a person. His writing style is very casual and relaxed, and made me feel like I was reading a letter from a friend.

Solo covers Aaron’s top tips for packing your bag and the essentials you should bring, as well as tips for while you are there, getting around and finding suitable hostels. While I want to travel, these are the sort of practical things that I worry about and Solo this has really helped to put my mind at ease.

Aaron also shares some of his favourite memories and lessons learned from his travels over the past five years. There are also accompanying photos of the places he talks about which really brings these memories to life and shows off the beauty of these places. His tips and advice on places to visit while in specific areas was really helpful! I think the only thing that seemed to be missing was a guide of �must sees� in Europe and Australia � Aaron’s guides cover Southeast Asia, Mexico and Central America, and South America.

Overall, Solo is a fantastic �quick start� guide for anyone who is currently considering travelling the world on their own. The combination of Aaron’s writing style and his personal experience makes this an incredibly enjoyable as well as an informative read. I will certainly be dipping back in and out of this when planning my trips, making sure I incorporate some of his helpful travel guides in my own journeys (hopefully in 2021!).
]]> 16160667 The first novel in a masterful trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Scott Westerfeld that School Library Journal hailed is "sure to become a classic."

It is the cusp of World War I. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ genetically fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.

Aleksandar Ferdinand, a Clanker, and Deryn Sharp, a Darwinist, are on opposite sides of the war. But their paths cross in the most unexpected way, taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure�.One that will change both their lives forever.]]> 434 Scott Westerfeld 1416987061 Claire 5 ebooks
It seems there's going to be a second one (or at least I certainly hope so! The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger), so I definitely can't wait for that :)]]> 3.91 2009
author: Scott Westerfeld
name: Claire
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2010/01/16
date added: 2024/09/24
shelves: ebooks
review:
I really enjoyed this! I love steampunk anyway, but this was a really enjoyable take on it. I wasn't expecting much (I only really bought it because of the nice cover) so it was really a pleasant surprise. I found it very easy to get into and the storyline really gripping - I couldn't put it down! Some parts were a bit confusing at first, but the world was easy to get into and understand.

It seems there's going to be a second one (or at least I certainly hope so! The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger), so I definitely can't wait for that :)
]]> 13521459 They stole her brother and sister.
But vengeance is following.

Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she'll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she's not a woman to flinch from what needs doing. She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old step father Lamb for company. But it turns out Lamb's buried a bloody past of his own. And out in the lawless Far Country the past never stays buried.

Their journey will take them across the barren plains to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feud, duel and massacre, high into the unmapped mountains to a reckoning with the Ghosts. Even worse, it will force them into an alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, and his feckless lawyer Temple, two men no one should ever have to trust . . .
RED COUNTRY takes place in the same world as the First Law trilogy, Best Served Cold, and The Heroes. This novel also sees the return of one of Abercrombie's most beloved characters.]]> 469 Joe Abercrombie 0316214442 Claire 5 audiobook, fantasy, favorites 4.31 2012
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Claire
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2024/09/15
date added: 2024/09/18
shelves: audiobook, fantasy, favorites
review:

]]> 209439885
Vierrelyne du Talorr, the last living daughter of the tyrant king, waits locked in a tower cell for the prophesied apocalypse only she can prevent. An army of three brittle allegiances, united under a rival prince, aims for the throne and lays siege to the castle in search of the princess and the fabled weaponry of the empire.

With the aid of her mentor in music and swords, and a desperate cultist sent to find her before the mercenaries do, Vierrelyne steals that formidable ancient weapon from her family crypt: a holy suit of armor and a diadem infused with the soul of a demon prince—the Bringer of the Scourge. With it, Vierrelyne discovers an unstoppable power, but the demon within is corrosive, hungry, and dangerously persuasive.

Vierrelyne is haunted by what it means to tame this power bequeathed to her, and by what means she might conquer it. When that rival prince finds her, it will take all the strength she can muster, for if the prophecy she dreads is true, the very weapons she wields might destroy everything—and everyone—she holds dear.]]> 290 M. Daniel McDowell Claire 0 to-read 3.80 2023
author: M. Daniel McDowell
name: Claire
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 60668021
Violet Spence wants nothing more than to have a normal life. After witnessing her childhood best friend get abducted by monsters, that’s easier said than done. At twenty-three years old, Violet cannot seem to move past that fateful night ten years ago. Her only solace is Mages of Velmyra, a tabletop roleplaying game filled with goblins, fairies, and all-powerful magicians. But of course, that’s all fantasy.

Or, so she thought. As it turns out, the land of Velmyra is very real and the home of the monsters that took her best friend.

With the help of her friends (and the creator of the game itself), Violet must navigate the once-fictional creatures and powerful mages of Velmyra to retrieve a set of ancient relics—all in the hopes that the journey will lead her back to her friend. But for Violet, fighting monsters and magic workers doesn’t seem nearly as terrifying as confronting her own demons. And she’ll soon realize fighting the battle within herself can be just as tough as those fought against demigods.

Perception Check is the magical first installment of the Mages of Velmyra Saga, great for fans of Dungeons and Dragons, Critical Role, and The Magicians. With endearing and hilarious characters, an exploration of mental health and trauma, LGBTQ+ representation, gut-wrenching twists, and a whirlwind of an ending, you will never want to leave the world of Velmyra.

NOTE: Perception Check deals with the topics of mental health (specifically depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidality) with mentions of childhood sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and animal violence.]]> 514 Astrid Knight Claire 0 ebooks 4.46
author: Astrid Knight
name: Claire
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/06
date added: 2024/09/07
shelves: ebooks
review:

]]> 49552592 Black Mirror meets What If It’s Us in this gripping, romantic, and wildly surprising novel about two boys lost in space trying to find their way home—while falling in love—from the critically acclaimed author of We Are the Ants.

When Noa closes his eyes on Earth and wakes up on a spaceship called Qriosity just as it’s about to explode, he’s pretty sure things can’t get much weirder.

Boy is he wrong.

Trapped aboard Qriosity are also DJ and Jenny, neither of whom remember how they got onboard the ship. Together, the three face all the dangers of space, along with murder, aliens, a school dance, and one really, really bad day. But none of this can prepare Noa for the biggest challenge—falling in love. And as Noa’s feelings for DJ deepen, he has to contend not just with the challenges of the present, but also with his memories of the past.

However, nothing is what it seems on Qriosity, and the truth will upend all of their lives forever.

Love is complicated enough without also trying to stay alive.]]> 464 Shaun David Hutchinson Claire 3 sci-fi
It took me a little while to realise the MC was male? Maybe I'm just slow. He was super annoying and I really didn't see why DJ was so obsessed with him.

I found the ending frustrating though. I would have liked more answers.]]> 3.91 2021
author: Shaun David Hutchinson
name: Claire
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/05
date added: 2024/09/05
shelves: sci-fi
review:
A fairly easy, fun read. I loved the first 1/3, particularly when Noa arrives on the ship at the start. Really hooked me in.

It took me a little while to realise the MC was male? Maybe I'm just slow. He was super annoying and I really didn't see why DJ was so obsessed with him.

I found the ending frustrating though. I would have liked more answers.
]]> 54325038
The characters are flawed and visceral, from ghosts, daughters, mothers, wives, to taxi drivers, teachers, a frail widow and a mercenary shop assistant.

Combining astute observation with vivid imagination, Stained Glass Lives shows us stories unfolding in a multitude of colours. From coping with the mortality of beloved parents, to dealing with troubled children, to domestic abuse, to the surreal dreams and stifled hopes we all experience, Louise Worthington weaves wonderful images and engages all of the reader’s senses.
Debbi Voisey, writing tutor and mentor, and author of the forthcoming novella-in-flash, The 10:25, due to be published in 2021 by Flash: The International Short-Short Story Press.]]> 92 Louise Worthington 1789728622 Claire 5 gift
Here were some of my most favourite lines and stories:

- Jump Start. A story of a woman whose marriage has become loveless and stale in the last five years, and at 49 she has started getting chest pains.
"The diagnosis cannot convey the longing or the absence of awe, the absence of wonder, the chasm of a shapeless loss. The only thing living inside me is loneliness and a quiet anxiety about when the lovenessness will end � the charade of my marriage and the pain of what might have been. There is no love from David to feed my heart: this life, this slow turning off of a life support machine. I want to live."
- Role Reversal. This story tells of a daughter caring for her mother who has dementia, with a few lines about each day of the week and her slow decline. It's heartbreaking and beautifully written.
- It Smells Like Rain. The main character is being gaslit by their partner, who is lying repeatedly to them. There are no names or descriptions of their appearance, but in my head I could picture this sort of scene playing out so vividly.
"I am drenched with your words, by your tongue and the shake of your head that sends the wet drops flying at me, into me. Soaking me."
- Visitors. This story is told from the point of view of a woman who lives in a carehome, and her friend Mary and her visitor, Jay. It had a touching and heartbreaking twist at the end when you learn Jay's true identity.

Most of the stories also have a shock twist at the end, an ending that you wouldn't expect � all aspects of life are covered here, including loneliness, murder, heartbreak and divorce.

If you enjoy short stories and anthologies, then this is an absolute must-read. I was blown away but the high quality writing of each story � it was really difficult to choose just a few stories to highlight in my review!]]> 4.56 2021
author: Louise Worthington
name: Claire
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2020/07/29
date added: 2024/09/03
shelves: gift
review:
I loved Louise's writing inĚýDistorted Days so I was super excited to get my hands onĚýStained Glass Lives. This is an anthology that focuses on beautifully written stories which vary in length from just a paragraph to several pages. The writing is poetic and beautiful â€� I was totally swept away in her beautiful descriptions and imagery.

Here were some of my most favourite lines and stories:

- Jump Start. A story of a woman whose marriage has become loveless and stale in the last five years, and at 49 she has started getting chest pains.
"The diagnosis cannot convey the longing or the absence of awe, the absence of wonder, the chasm of a shapeless loss. The only thing living inside me is loneliness and a quiet anxiety about when the lovenessness will end � the charade of my marriage and the pain of what might have been. There is no love from David to feed my heart: this life, this slow turning off of a life support machine. I want to live."
- Role Reversal. This story tells of a daughter caring for her mother who has dementia, with a few lines about each day of the week and her slow decline. It's heartbreaking and beautifully written.
- It Smells Like Rain. The main character is being gaslit by their partner, who is lying repeatedly to them. There are no names or descriptions of their appearance, but in my head I could picture this sort of scene playing out so vividly.
"I am drenched with your words, by your tongue and the shake of your head that sends the wet drops flying at me, into me. Soaking me."
- Visitors. This story is told from the point of view of a woman who lives in a carehome, and her friend Mary and her visitor, Jay. It had a touching and heartbreaking twist at the end when you learn Jay's true identity.

Most of the stories also have a shock twist at the end, an ending that you wouldn't expect � all aspects of life are covered here, including loneliness, murder, heartbreak and divorce.

If you enjoy short stories and anthologies, then this is an absolute must-read. I was blown away but the high quality writing of each story � it was really difficult to choose just a few stories to highlight in my review!
]]> 8515251 276 Jules Verne 0007350945 Claire 5 classics 3.90 1872
author: Jules Verne
name: Claire
average rating: 3.90
book published: 1872
rating: 5
read at: 2010/06/28
date added: 2024/08/31
shelves: classics
review:
One of my favourites - I haven't read this in a long time, though. I love the way that Passepartout and Fix both get confused about each other's motives, it is quite fun to read. And I forgot what a strange character Phileas Fogg is, too (though I still dislike the ending, it is quite unrealistic, really). Lots of action, adventure and mild peril, with a twist ending - what more could anyone want? I do find all the minute description about where in the world the group are a bit too much, but that's mostly because my knowledge of geography is so poor that most of these place names mean nothing to me, I can't really envision where they are. Maybe this is something I need to work on next time (read with a map & Wikipedia?!)
]]> 6380015 The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas produced a sequel worthy in every respect of the original. In Twenty Years After the much beloved D'Artaganan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis reunite to fight the forces of evil. In the original novel they defeated Milady, a formidable foe; now they need to face her vengeful son Mordaunt, as well as countering the machinations of the sinister Cardinal Mazarin. Their adventures also take them to England, where Cromwell is about to topple Charles I. Meanwhile, they must overcome the obstacles which the passing of time has placed between them. Rediscovering strength in unity, they fight for Queen and country.

The Musketeer novels were a huge success in Dumas' own lifetime, and have lost none of their original appeal. Translated into many languages and adapted for cinema and television, they have helped to make Dumas arguably the most successful exporter of French culture to the wider world.]]> 686 Alexandre Dumas 1840221631 Claire 0 to-read 4.17 1845
author: Alexandre Dumas
name: Claire
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1845
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 922864 With illustrations by Edward Landseer, Daniel Maclise, Clarkson Stanfield, Frank Stone, Richard Doyle, John Leech and John Tenniel, and with a new Introduction by Cedric Watts, Research Professor of English, University of Sussex.

In these five long stories, written specifically for Christmas, Dickens combines his concern for social ills with the myths and memories of childhood and traditional seasonal lore.

A Christmas Carol, the first of the selection, has become a touchstone of English festive fiction and an enduring favourite internationally. Repeatedly adapted, parodied, staged and filmed, this richly influential tale is powerfully vivid and moving.

The other stories, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life and The Haunted Man, blend whimsy, sentiment, comedy, satire, the didactic and the fantastic, developing resourcefully the theme of individual and social regeneration.]]> 407 Charles Dickens 1853262684 Claire 0 to-read 3.59 1848
author: Charles Dickens
name: Claire
average rating: 3.59
book published: 1848
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 768889
The Seven Kingdoms are divided by revolt and blood feud. In the northern wastes, a horde of hungry, savage people steeped in the dark magic of the wilderness is poised to invade the Kingdom of the North where Robb Stark wears his new-forged crown. And Robb's defences are ranged against the South, the land of the cunning and cruel Lannisters, who have his young sisters in their power.

Throughout Westeros, the war for the Iron Throne rages more fiercely than ever, but if the wall is breached, no king will live to claim it.]]> 663 George R.R. Martin 0006479901 Claire 5 4.47 2000
author: George R.R. Martin
name: Claire
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2000
rating: 5
read at: 2012/04/22
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 13337715
Tyrion Lannister, having killed his father, and wrongfully accused of killing his nephew, King Joffrey, has escaped from King’s Landing with a price on his head.

To the north lies the great Wall of ice and stone � a structure only as strong as those guarding it. Eddard Stark's bastard son Jon Snow has been elected 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. But Jon has enemies both inside and beyond the Wall.

And in the east Daenerys Targaryen struggles to hold a city built on dreams and dust.]]> 690 George R.R. Martin Claire 5 4.33 2011
author: George R.R. Martin
name: Claire
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2012/05/20
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 61203462
'The literary love child of Kafka and Camus and Bradbury penning episodes of Black Mirror' Chang-Rae Lee

'Disturbing, alluring, dazzling and creepy, Out There is a riveting collection that keeps you enthralled with every page' Claire North

------------------------------------------------------------------------

A fleet of fake men called 'blots' is unleashed onto the dating apps of San Francisco, intent upon conning vulnerable women out of their data, in the exquisite title story Out There. Companion story Big Sur focuses on the reality of the blots' personal experiences.

A sculptor, trapped in a skyscraper restaurant when a violent coup erupts below, creates a perfect model of the town as it is destroyed, in A Scale Model of Gull Point

A ward for a mysterious bone-melting disorder is the scene of a perilous love triangle, in The Bone Ward
A house possesses gigantic human organs that consume the overworked graduate students renting its rooms, in The House's Beating Heart

A curtain of void obliterates the world at a steady pace, leaving one woman to decide whom she wants to spend eternity with, in The Void Wife

And many more that form Kate Folk's debut collection Out There deftly combines elements of science fiction, horror, and psychological realism to create implicitly political and feminist stories. A darkly comic exploration of our lives in the digital age, the collection depicts a landscape that is eminently of-the-moment, and Folk magnifies the ephemera of living with a healthy slice of absurdity.

The thematic pair - Out There and Big Sur - that bookend the collection have since been optioned as a TV series by Hulu, with Kate serving as executive producer and co-writer with Sharon Horgan ( Catastrophe ).

------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Kate Folk's stories inhabit otherworldly realms where exquisite language and beguiling characters excavate the very nature of love and existence' Adam Johnson

'A literary swordsmith of feline dexterity, very dark and very funny' Lisa Locascio

'The stories in this stunning debut are funny, fearless, and moving... Folk's imagination is uncanny and arresting' Alex McElroy]]> 240 Kate Folk 1529372631 Claire 3
My favourite two were based on 'blots' - robots that were originally designed to imitate people and work in hospices and care homes, but were too expensive, so were instead bought to farm people's data on the black market. The top and tail stories both focused on blots, from different perspectives. I thought they were so well written and such an interesting idea.

I also quite liked The Last Woman on Earth (who is then followed by the last man on Earth approx 50 years later). It was quite moving but I think I would have liked context on what happened to all the women? (it doesn't say.)

There were not really any stories that I disliked, most were fine with a lot of unusual or strange ideas. But these were the ones that really stood out to me. It didn't take too long to read - I read it in a couple of hours in one sitting.]]> 4.05 2022
author: Kate Folk
name: Claire
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/29
date added: 2024/08/01
shelves: anthology, library, tournament-of-books-2024
review:
Some of the stories I really liked.

My favourite two were based on 'blots' - robots that were originally designed to imitate people and work in hospices and care homes, but were too expensive, so were instead bought to farm people's data on the black market. The top and tail stories both focused on blots, from different perspectives. I thought they were so well written and such an interesting idea.

I also quite liked The Last Woman on Earth (who is then followed by the last man on Earth approx 50 years later). It was quite moving but I think I would have liked context on what happened to all the women? (it doesn't say.)

There were not really any stories that I disliked, most were fine with a lot of unusual or strange ideas. But these were the ones that really stood out to me. It didn't take too long to read - I read it in a couple of hours in one sitting.
]]> 57951419
But Father, Juichiro, is worried about the bomb. He writes letters to Krushev, trying to warn everyone he can of the terrible threat. After all, humans may be terribly flawed, but aren't they worth saving? He sends out a coded message in the newspaper to find other aliens. But there are other extra-terrestrials out there, ones who do not look so kindly on the flaws and foibles of humans. And a charming young man, who claims to be from Venus too, tempts the daughter Akiko away from the family...]]> 234 Yukio Mishima 0241545560 Claire 0 library, currently-reading 3.17 1962
author: Yukio Mishima
name: Claire
average rating: 3.17
book published: 1962
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/22
shelves: library, currently-reading
review:

]]> 62337585 656 Paul Murray 0241353955 Claire 4
There are lots of flashbacks but I liked the slow uncovering of the four different lives - all the secrets they are keeping, and how one person had changed all of them without the rest knowing, setting them all on this path. As well as how Frank's death changed them all too.

Cass hearing Willie speak and talk about his break up with her father without her knowing, was moving.

I felt most sorry for PJ, who definitely deserved better.

Most of this book's issues would be resolved if any of them ever talked about their problems.

Also - Imelda, what a pretty name!]]> 4.10 2023
author: Paul Murray
name: Claire
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/22
date added: 2024/07/22
shelves: library, tournament-of-books-2024
review:
Really loved all the distinctive character POVs and even that the grammar was different.

There are lots of flashbacks but I liked the slow uncovering of the four different lives - all the secrets they are keeping, and how one person had changed all of them without the rest knowing, setting them all on this path. As well as how Frank's death changed them all too.

Cass hearing Willie speak and talk about his break up with her father without her knowing, was moving.

I felt most sorry for PJ, who definitely deserved better.

Most of this book's issues would be resolved if any of them ever talked about their problems.

Also - Imelda, what a pretty name!
]]> 60596112
Hulda Larkin of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms has been trained in taming such structures in order to preserve their historical and magical significance. She understands the dangers of bespelled homes given to tantrums. She advises that it’s in Merritt’s best interest to make Whimbrel House their ally. To do that, she’ll need to move in, too.

Prepared as she is with augury, a set of magic tools, and a new staff trained in the uncanny, Hulda’s work still proves unexpectedly difficult. She and Merritt grow closer as the investigation progresses, but the house’s secrets run deeper than they anticipated. And the sentient walls aren’t their only concern—something outside is coming for the enchantments of Whimbrel House, and it could be more dangerous than what rattles within.]]> 347 Charlie N. Holmberg 1662500335 Claire 0 to-read 4.14 2022
author: Charlie N. Holmberg
name: Claire
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 6495110
The lies we tell ourselves and the lies we tell others—is the subject of this, Tove Jansson’s most unnerving and unpredictable novel. Here Jansson takes a darker look at the subjects that animate the best of her work, from her sensitive tale of island life, The Summer Book, to her famous Moomin stories: solitude and community, art and life, love and hate.
Ěý
Snow has been falling on the village all winter long. It covers windows and piles up in front of doors. The sun rises late and sets early, and even during the day there is little to do but trade tales. This year everybody’s talking about Katri Kling and Anna Aemelin. Katri is a yellow-eyed outcast who lives with her simpleminded brother and a dog she refuses to name. She has no use for the white lies that smooth social intercourse, and she can see straight to the core of any problem. Anna, an elderly children’s book illustrator, appears to be Katri’s opposite: a respected member of the village, if an aloof one. Anna lives in a large empty house, venturing out in the spring to paint exquisitely detailed forest scenes. But Anna has something Katri wants, and to get it Katri will take control of Anna’s life and livelihood. By the time spring arrives, the two women are caught in a conflict of ideals that threatens to strip them of their most cherished illusions.]]> 181 Tove Jansson 1590173295 Claire 3 library, translated
I didn't really understand how occasionally throwing things for the dog "ruined it's training" or why it ran away. Sad dog :(

Putting stuff you don't want out on the ice so when it Mrs in spring it sinks into the sea is wild.

Mostly I felt sorry for Anna, who seemed like a sweet old lady at the start. I felt bad for her that she realised people she thought were her friends (Sylvia) were not. I felt sorry for her when Katri started forcing things to change and forcing herself into her life, like writing letters for her. I understand that for rich people, money has always been there and has never been something to worry about. So I could see Katri's point of view and why she found this attitude so frustrating. But it was still her choice.

Overall this was a sad story of an older lady being manipulated by a younger woman (who seems almost psychopathic, she doesn't seem to care about anything). I found it hard to get through even though it's not very long.]]> 3.90 1982
author: Tove Jansson
name: Claire
average rating: 3.90
book published: 1982
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/20
date added: 2024/07/20
shelves: library, translated
review:
This is a very strange book. A lot of the time I felt like there might be something I was missing or a deeper meaning I couldn't see. It seemed a fairly straightforward story to me, without all the explanations when people would speak. Maybe too much "telling" vs "showing".

I didn't really understand how occasionally throwing things for the dog "ruined it's training" or why it ran away. Sad dog :(

Putting stuff you don't want out on the ice so when it Mrs in spring it sinks into the sea is wild.

Mostly I felt sorry for Anna, who seemed like a sweet old lady at the start. I felt bad for her that she realised people she thought were her friends (Sylvia) were not. I felt sorry for her when Katri started forcing things to change and forcing herself into her life, like writing letters for her. I understand that for rich people, money has always been there and has never been something to worry about. So I could see Katri's point of view and why she found this attitude so frustrating. But it was still her choice.

Overall this was a sad story of an older lady being manipulated by a younger woman (who seems almost psychopathic, she doesn't seem to care about anything). I found it hard to get through even though it's not very long.
]]> 54531926 336 Neil Blackmore 1786090996 Claire 4 3.45 2020
author: Neil Blackmore
name: Claire
average rating: 3.45
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/18
date added: 2024/07/18
shelves: 24-books-in-2024, library, historical-fiction, kindle, kobo, lgbtq
review:

]]> 2315892
There have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, behind the scenes bankers, priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.

War may be hell, but for Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, the most feared and famous mercenary in Duke Orso's employ, it's a damn good way of making money too. Her victories have made her popular - a shade too popular for her employer's taste. Betrayed, thrown down a mountain and left for dead, Murcatto's reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance. Whatever the cost, seven men must die.

Her allies include Styria's least reliable drunkard, Styria's most treacherous poisoner, a mass-murderer obsessed with numbers and a Barbarian who just wants to do the right thing. Her enemies number the better half of the nation. And that's all before the most dangerous man in the world is dispatched to hunt her down and finish the job Duke Orso started...

Springtime in Styria. And that means revenge.]]> 534 Joe Abercrombie 0575082453 Claire 5 This is probably my favourite of Joe Abercrombie's books (although I think that after every one I read).

From 8 August 2011:
I absolutely LOVE this series. They are exciting, excellently paced, a little gorey but not too much, the characters feel completely believeable and they aren't all likeable. Excellent books that I would recommend to almost anyone. I really can't put them down!]]> 4.24 2009
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Claire
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/16
date added: 2024/07/16
shelves: library, audiobook, fantasy, favorites
review:
From July 2024:
This is probably my favourite of Joe Abercrombie's books (although I think that after every one I read).

From 8 August 2011:
I absolutely LOVE this series. They are exciting, excellently paced, a little gorey but not too much, the characters feel completely believeable and they aren't all likeable. Excellent books that I would recommend to almost anyone. I really can't put them down!
]]> 63249715 The Nib, a hilarious trans-"final girl" horror graphic novel about a bachelor party gone very, very wrong.

Newly-out trans artist’s assistant Sammie is invited to an old friend’s bachelor weekend in El Campo, a hedonistic wonderland of a city floating in the Atlantic Ocean's international waters—think Las Vegas with even fewer rules. Though they have not identified as a man for over a year, Sammie’s college buddies haven't quite gotten the message—as evidenced byĚýtheir formerly closest friend Adam asking them to be his “best man.â€�

Arriving at the swanky hotel, Sammie immediately questions their decision to come. Bad enough that they have to suffer through a torrent of passive-aggressive comments from the groom's pals—all met with zero pushback from supposed "nice guy" Adam. But also, they seem to be the only one who's noticed the mysterious cult that's also staying at the hotel, and is ritually dismembering guests and demanding fealty to their bloodthirsty god.

Part satire, part horror, Boys Weekend explores what it’s like to exist as a transfemme person in a man’s world, the difficulty of maintaining friendships through transition, and the more cult-like effects of masculinity, “hustle� culture, and capitalism—all through the vibrant lens of a surreal, scary, and immensely imaginative romp.]]> 232 Mattie Lubchansky 0593316711 Claire 0 4.00 2023
author: Mattie Lubchansky
name: Claire
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/09
shelves: 24-books-in-2024, graphic-novel, tournament-of-books-2024, to-read
review:

]]> 65212043 From Alison Rumfitt, the author of Tell Me I’m Worthless � “a triumph of transgressive queer horror� (Publishers Weekly) � comes Brainwyrms, a searing body horror novel of obsession, violence and pleasure.

When a transphobic woman bombs Frankie’s workplace, she blows up Frankie’s life with it. As the media descends like vultures, Frankie tries to cope with the carnage: binge-drinking, fucking strangers, pushing away her friends. Then she meets Vanya. Mysterious, beautiful, terrifying Vanya.

The two hit it off immediately, but as their relationship intensifies, so too does Frankie’s feeling that Vanya is hiding something from her. When Vanya’s secrets threaten to tear them apart, Frankie starts digging, and unearths a sinister, depraved conspiracy, the roots of which go deeper than she ever imagined. Shocking, grotesque, and downright filthy, Brainwyrms confronts the creeping reality of political terrorism while exploring the depths of love, pain and identity.]]> 304 Alison Rumfitt 1250866251 Claire 0 3.66 2023
author: Alison Rumfitt
name: Claire
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/09
shelves: 24-books-in-2024, tournament-of-books-2024, to-read
review:

]]> 64004180
Declan dreams of becoming a writer. It's a dream that helps him escape the realities of his life - going through the motions at college and stacking supermarket shelves part-time, whilst fighting a battle with the ever-darkening thoughts in his head.

He has his pet Labrador for companionship and his best friend-turned-mentor, a pseudo-intellectual who works as a greenskeeper at the local municipal golf course, both of which help keep the worst of his anxieties at bay. But following a drunken row with local gangsters, Declan's worries threaten to spiral out of control.

James Cavani - Declan's idol and his hometown's claim to fame - is a renowned writer, director and actor. But despite his success, his past hasn't relinquished its hold of him, and through his younger sister's battle with drug addiction, he finds himself returning to a world he thought he had escaped.

At face value, their lives couldn't be more different, but perhaps fate has a way of bringing kindred spirits together - and perhaps each holds the other's redemption in their hands.]]> 400 Kevin Bridges 1472289072 Claire 0 3.35 2022
author: Kevin Bridges
name: Claire
average rating: 3.35
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: library, tournament-of-books-2024, to-read
review:

]]> 15750692
Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors under King Brenin’s rule, learning the art of war. He yearns to wield his sword and spear to protect his king’s realm. But that day will come all too soon. Only when he loses those he loves will he learn the true price of courage.

The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed shields in battle, the earth running dark with their heartsblood. Although the giant-clans were broken in ages past, their ruined fortresses still scar the land. But now giants stir anew, the very stones weep blood and there are sightings of giant wyrms. Those who can still read the signs see a threat far greater than the ancient wars. Sorrow will darken the world, as angels and demons make it their battlefield. Then there will be a war to end all wars.

High King Aquilus summons his fellow kings to council, seeking an alliance in this time of need. Some are skeptical, fighting their own border skirmishes against pirates and giants. But prophesy indicates darkness and light will demand two champions, the Black Sun and the Bright Star. They would be wise to seek out both, for if the Black Sun gains ascendancy, mankind’s hopes and dreams will fall to dust.]]> 672 John Gwynne 0230758452 Claire 0 4.15 2012
author: John Gwynne
name: Claire
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: 20-books-of-summer-2020, to-read, 24-books-in-2024
review:

]]> 63249718 New York Times bestselling author of The Daughter of Doctor Moreau and Mexican Gothic comes a fabulous meld of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism: a dark thriller about the curse that haunts a legendary lost film--and awakens one woman's hidden powers.

Montserrat has always been overlooked. She’s a talented sound editor, but she’s left out of the boys� club running the film industry in �90s Mexico City. And she’s all but invisible to her best friend, Tristán, a charming if faded soap opera star, though she’s been in love with him since childhood.

Then Tristán discovers his new neighbor is the cult horror director Abel Urueta, and the legendary auteur claims he can change their lives—even if his tale of a Nazi occultist imbuing magic into highly volatile silver nitrate stock sounds like sheer fantasy. The magic film was never finished, which is why, Urueta swears, his career vanished overnight. He is cursed.

Now the director wants Montserrat and Tristán to help him shoot the missing scene and lift the curse . . . but Montserrat soon notices a dark presence following her, and Tristán begins seeing the ghost of his ex-girlfriend.

As they work together to unravel the mystery of the film and the obscure occultist who once roamed their city, Montserrat and Tristán may find that sorcerers and magic are not only the stuff of movies.]]> 323 Silvia Moreno-Garcia 0593355369 Claire 0 to-read, 24-books-in-2024 3.56 2023
author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
name: Claire
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read, 24-books-in-2024
review:

]]> 51171377
It’s fall 2007. A well-timed leak has revealed that the US government might have engaged in first contact. Cora Sabino is doing everything she can to avoid the whole mess, since the force driving the controversy is her whistleblower father. Even though Cora hasn’t spoken to him in years, his celebrity has caught the attention of the press, the Internet, the paparazzi, and the government—and with him in hiding, that attention is on her. She neither knows nor cares whether her father’s leaks are a hoax, and wants nothing to do with him—until she learns just how deeply entrenched her family is in the cover-up, and that an extraterrestrial presence has been on Earth for decades.

Realizing the extent to which both she and the public have been lied to, she sets out to gather as much information as she can, and finds that the best way for her to uncover the truth is not as a whistleblower, but as an intermediary. The alien presence has been completely uncommunicative until she convinces one of them that she can act as their interpreter, becoming the first and only human vessel of communication. Their otherworldly connection will change everything she thought she knew about being human—and could unleash a force more sinister than she ever imagined.]]> 384 Lindsay Ellis 1250256739 Claire 0 to-read, 24-books-in-2024 3.68 2020
author: Lindsay Ellis
name: Claire
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read, 24-books-in-2024
review:

]]> 36620738 How can you defend a child-abuser you suspect to be guilty? What do you say to someone sentenced to ten years who you believe to be innocent? What is the law and why do we need it? And why do they wear wigs? From the criminals to the lawyers, the victims, witnesses and officers of the law, here is the best and worst of humanity, all struggling within a broken system which would never be off the front pages if the public knew what it was really like.

This is a first-hand account of the human cost of the criminal justice system, and a guide to how we got into this mess, The Secret Barrister shows you what it’s really like and why it really matters.]]> 385 The Secret Barrister 1509841156 Claire 0 to-read, 24-books-in-2024 3.89 2018
author: The Secret Barrister
name: Claire
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read, 24-books-in-2024
review:

]]> 55200663
After the first settler on Titan trips her distress signal, neither remaining country on Earth can afford to scramble a rescue of its own, and so two sworn enemies are installed in the same spaceship.

Ambrose wakes up on the Coordinated Endeavor, with no memory of a launch. There’s more that doesn’t add up: Evidence indicates strangers have been on board, the ship’s operating system is voiced by his mother, and his handsome, brooding shipmate has barricaded himself away. But nothing will stop Ambrose from making his mission succeed—not when he’s rescuing his own sister.

In order to survive the ship’s secrets, Ambrose and Kodiak will need to work together and learn to trust one another� especially once they discover what they are truly up against. Love might be the only way to survive.]]> 397 Eliot Schrefer 0062888285 Claire 0 to-read, 24-books-in-2024 4.31 2021
author: Eliot Schrefer
name: Claire
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read, 24-books-in-2024
review:

]]> 53435901 432 David Arnold 0593202228 Claire 0 to-read, 24-books-in-2024 3.85 2021
author: David Arnold
name: Claire
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read, 24-books-in-2024
review:

]]> 43587154 JADE CITY is a gripping Godfather-esque saga of intergenerational blood feuds, vicious politics, magic, and kungfu.

The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It's the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities.

The Green Bone clans of honorable jade-wearing warriors once protected the island from foreign invasion--but nowadays, in a bustling post-war metropolis full of fast cars and foreign money, Green Bone families like the Kauls are primarily involved in commerce, construction, and the everyday upkeep of the districts under their protection.

When the simmering tension between the Kauls and their greatest rivals erupts into open violence in the streets, the outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones and the future of Kekon itself.]]> 540 Fonda Lee 0316440884 Claire 0 4.06 2017
author: Fonda Lee
name: Claire
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read, 20-books-of-summer-2023, sci-fi, 24-books-in-2024
review:

]]> 53152636
Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.

And NoemĂ­, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.]]> 320 Silvia Moreno-Garcia 0525620788 Claire 2 3.66 2020
author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
name: Claire
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2020
rating: 2
read at: 2024/07/08
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: popsugar-challenge-2022, 24-books-in-2024, ebooks, horror, library
review:
The cover is gorgeous and I loved the sound of this. But it just didn't live up to my expectations. The story started off well but I lost interest once Noemi arrives at the house. Nothing much happened until the last 50 pages and the conclusion was very predictable. I struggled to finish it and had to force myself to finish it.
]]> 54785481
Atl needs to quickly escape the city, far from the rival narco-vampire clan relentlessly pursuing her. Her plan doesn't include Domingo, but little by little, Atl finds herself warming up to the scrappy young man and his undeniable charm. As the trail of corpses stretches behind her, local cops and crime bosses both start closing in.

Vampires, humans, cops, and criminals collide in the dark streets of Mexico City. Do Atl and Domingo even stand a chance of making it out alive? Or will the city devour them all?]]> 256 Silvia Moreno-Garcia 1250785588 Claire 0 to-read 3.73 2016
author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
name: Claire
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 61986136 A young woman pretends to be someone she isn't in this stunning novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Girls.

Summer is coming to a close on the East End of Long Island, and Alex is no longer welcome.

A misstep at a dinner party, and the older man she's been staying with dismisses her with a ride to the train station and a ticket back to the city.

With few resources and a waterlogged phone, but gifted with an ability to navigate the desires of others, Alex stays on Long Island and drifts like a ghost through the hedged lanes, gated driveways, and sun-blasted dunes of a rarified world that is, at first, closed to her. Propelled by desperation and a mutable sense of morality, she spends the week leading up to Labor Day moving from one place to the next, a cipher leaving destruction in her wake.

Taut, propulsive, and impossible to look away from, Emma Cline's The Guest is a spellbinding literary achievement.]]> 304 Emma Cline 0812998626 Claire 3
I would have liked a bit more backstory on Alex, what we got was very vague.

I liked the ending, personally! It was abrupt, but I thought it worked well.]]> 3.29 2023
author: Emma Cline
name: Claire
average rating: 3.29
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/01
date added: 2024/07/01
shelves: books-with-dogs-in, library, tournament-of-books-2024
review:
A gripping read with a dislikeable main character. Mostly it made me feel anxious. Reminded me a lot of Luster - she makes a lot of stupid decisions.

I would have liked a bit more backstory on Alex, what we got was very vague.

I liked the ending, personally! It was abrupt, but I thought it worked well.
]]> 38255342
Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable--and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable.

But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth's survival depends on managing Victor's dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness.]]> 304 Kiersten White 0525577947 Claire 0 to-read 3.90 2018
author: Kiersten White
name: Claire
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 63331415 Who is Mister Magic? Former child stars reunite to uncover the tragedy that ended their show—and discover the secret of its enigmatic host—in this dark supernatural thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide.

Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.

But with no surviving video of the show, no evidence of who directed or produced it, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former Circle of Friends has.

Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, they understand one another better than anyone has since.

After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?

Because magic never forgets the taste of your friendship. . . .]]> 295 Kiersten White 0593359267 Claire 3 horror, library
But the message felt heavy handed and the characters were one dimensional. For example Val is supposed to be a strong leader but she doesn't do much throughout the book and it just didn't seem realistic that she'd run off with strangers during her Dad's funeral. Each of the main characters were a bit of a stereotype (like one of the posts says - maybe this is deliberate?)

I was really disappointed as I was looking forward to reading this but it didn't grip me and was hard to get through. For a thriller, it felt very slow.]]> 3.55 2023
author: Kiersten White
name: Claire
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/01
date added: 2024/07/01
shelves: horror, library
review:
I liked the sections that were written as blog posts or reddit threads and the mystery of the Mister Magic TV series. I liked the whole mystery around kids TV shows and how our memories of them are so vague as adults - even though we watched them everyday when we were growing up.

But the message felt heavy handed and the characters were one dimensional. For example Val is supposed to be a strong leader but she doesn't do much throughout the book and it just didn't seem realistic that she'd run off with strangers during her Dad's funeral. Each of the main characters were a bit of a stereotype (like one of the posts says - maybe this is deliberate?)

I was really disappointed as I was looking forward to reading this but it didn't grip me and was hard to get through. For a thriller, it felt very slow.
]]> 62039417
Oxnard Matheson was twelve when his father taught him that Ox wasn’t worth anything and people would never understand him. Then his father left.

Ox was sixteen when the energetic Bennett family moved in next door, harboring a secret that would change him forever. The Bennetts are shapeshifters. They can transform into wolves at will. Drawn to their magic, loyalty, and enduring friendships, Ox feels a gulf between this extraordinary new world and the quiet life he’s known, but he finds an ally in Joe, the youngest Bennett boy.

Ox was twenty-three when murder came to town and tore a hole in his heart. Violence flared, tragedy split the pack, and Joe left town, leaving Ox behind. Three years later, the boy is back. Except now he’s a man � charming, handsome, but haunted � and Ox can no longer ignore the song that howls between them.

The beloved fantasy romance sensation by New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, about love, loyalty, betrayal, and family.

The Green Creek Series is for adult readers.

Now available from Tor Books.]]> 528 T.J. Klune 1250890314 Claire 0 currently-reading 4.04 2016
author: T.J. Klune
name: Claire
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/23
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 54493401
Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.

Or does he?]]> 476 Andy Weir 0593135202 Claire 4 audiobook, sci-fi 4.49 2021
author: Andy Weir
name: Claire
average rating: 4.49
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/20
date added: 2024/06/20
shelves: audiobook, sci-fi
review:

]]> 62587788
To see if this is a copycat or something more sinister, Ada must confront her father’s killer: the enigmatic Jazlin Switch. What she discovers will change the face of both the real world and the metaverse forever...]]> 262 Tim Hawken 0645579106 Claire 4 ebooks, spsfc3 3.94 2022
author: Tim Hawken
name: Claire
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/10
date added: 2024/06/20
shelves: ebooks, spsfc3
review:

]]> 175744569 A planet steeped in mystery...Jess Amiko is long past her days as a space marine, with all the glory of that time tarnished beyond repair by what came after. Trying to rebuild from the ashes, she's taken a job as a security guard on Kenai, a lonely world far from the Council systems. It's supposed to be easy duty - quiet and peaceful, on a docile world with no real threats, watching over an archeological dig at a site built by a race long vanished.Betrayed and attacked by forces unknown, and finding that nothing on Kenai makes sense, Jess is plunged into a desperate fight for survival that leads her deep into the mysteries of Kenai's past, and deep into the hardship and paradox the planet imposes on all who call it home.Content military-style violence.]]> 397 Dave Dobson Claire 4 4.12
author: Dave Dobson
name: Claire
average rating: 4.12
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/06
date added: 2024/06/06
shelves:
review:

]]> 197694719
The Aftermath of a stunning victory—especially an unexpected, complete, and final victory—should be high-fives all around, listening to politicians give boring congratulatory speeches, and a well-deserved rest for the Merry Band of Pirates. Yes, the galaxy is still a freakin' mess, but that is nothing new, and for a change, that can be someone else's problem.

Until, you know, something really bad happens, and only the Pirates can deal with the problem... Or not.

Expeditionary Force returns with book 16 in the series, Aftermath, from New York Times bestselling author Craig Alanson]]> 469 Craig Alanson Claire 3 audiobook
I like that Joe has been able to finally relax, start a family. The part about the printer I also found funny. Seeing old friends and what they have been up to was also great. I'm really pleased we're finally getting some explanation about the threat from outside the universe - well, not until the next book, at least. And R C Bray does an excellent job of narrating the audiobook, as usual!

I felt it could have gotten going a little faster, the start was slow. The comedy of his kids seeing him as incompetent wasn't all that funny to me (I just felt really sorry for him, after all his hard work). And I think a lot of the humour and arguments between Joe and Skippy has has gotten old. It also had the same formula, endless problems for Joe to fix, and the finale is cleared up all very quickly with Joe explaining after what happened - rather than us being in on the solution and "seeing" it with him.

I was also disappointed that, once again, this ends with a problem to set up the next book.]]> 4.37 2023
author: Craig Alanson
name: Claire
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/06
date added: 2024/06/06
shelves: audiobook
review:
This had good and bad parts.

I like that Joe has been able to finally relax, start a family. The part about the printer I also found funny. Seeing old friends and what they have been up to was also great. I'm really pleased we're finally getting some explanation about the threat from outside the universe - well, not until the next book, at least. And R C Bray does an excellent job of narrating the audiobook, as usual!

I felt it could have gotten going a little faster, the start was slow. The comedy of his kids seeing him as incompetent wasn't all that funny to me (I just felt really sorry for him, after all his hard work). And I think a lot of the humour and arguments between Joe and Skippy has has gotten old. It also had the same formula, endless problems for Joe to fix, and the finale is cleared up all very quickly with Joe explaining after what happened - rather than us being in on the solution and "seeing" it with him.

I was also disappointed that, once again, this ends with a problem to set up the next book.
]]> 62645180 From bestselling and award-winning author Patrick deWitt comes the story of Bob Comet, a man who has lived his life through and for literature, unaware that his own experience is a poignant and affecting narrative in itself.

Bob Comet is a retired librarian passing his solitary days surrounded by books and small comforts in a mint-colored house in Portland, Oregon. One morning on his daily walk he encounters a confused elderly woman lost in a market and returns her to the senior center that is her home. Hoping to fill the void he's known since retiring, he begins volunteering at the center. Here, as a community of strange peers gathers around Bob, and following a happenstance brush with a painful complication from his past, the events of his life and the details of his character are revealed.

Behind Bob Comet's straight-man facade is the story of an unhappy child's runaway adventure during the last days of the Second World War, of true love won and stolen away, of the purpose and pride found in the librarian's vocation, and of the pleasures of a life lived to the side of the masses. Bob's experiences are imbued with melancholy but also a bright, sustained comedy; he has a talent for locating bizarre and outsize players to welcome onto the stage of his life.

With his inimitable verve, skewed humor, and compassion for the outcast, Patrick deWitt has written a wide-ranging and ambitious document of the introvert's condition. The Librarianist celebrates the extraordinary in the so-called ordinary life, and depicts beautifully the turbulence that sometimes exists beneath a surface of serenity.]]> 352 Patrick deWitt 0063085127 Claire 3
My favourite section was the chapters set while he worked at the library and his relationships with Connie and Ethan. It was beautifully written and so heartbreaking to see it all unfold. I also liked that he got to meet Sam at the end, and learn what happened to Connie later, that she still thought of him. The chapters about him running away felt a little irrelevant though and probably were not necessary, as they were never referred to again and didn't seem to add anything or fit with the rest of the book.]]> 3.37 2023
author: Patrick deWitt
name: Claire
average rating: 3.37
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/31
date added: 2024/05/31
shelves: library, tournament-of-books-2024
review:
I really enjoyed this story and was totally sucked in, it's a well written slice of life story and I loved the characters. But the ending was so disappointing. It was so abrupt. Like the author just stopped writing mid-chapter?

My favourite section was the chapters set while he worked at the library and his relationships with Connie and Ethan. It was beautifully written and so heartbreaking to see it all unfold. I also liked that he got to meet Sam at the end, and learn what happened to Connie later, that she still thought of him. The chapters about him running away felt a little irrelevant though and probably were not necessary, as they were never referred to again and didn't seem to add anything or fit with the rest of the book.
]]> 62039259 A lonely, lovable, queer mountain lion narrates this star-making fever dream of a novel.

A queer and dangerously hungry mountain lion lives in the drought-devastated land under the Hollywood sign. Lonely and fascinated by humanity’s foibles, the lion spends their days protecting the welfare of a nearby homeless encampment, observing obnoxious hikers complain about their trauma, and, in quiet moments, grappling with the complexities of their gender identity, memories of a vicious father, and the indignities of sentience. “I have so much language in my brain,� our lion says, “and nowhere to put it.�

When a man-made fire engulfs the encampment, the lion is forced from the hills down into the city the hikers call “ellay.� As the lion confronts a carousel of temptations and threats, they take us on a tour that spans the cruel inequalities of Los Angeles and the toll of climate grief, while scrambling to avoid earthquakes, floods, and the noise of their own conflicted psyche. But even when salvation finally seems within reach, they are forced to face down the ultimate question: Do they want to eat a person, or become one?

In elegiac prose woven with humor, imagination, sensuality, and tragedy, Henry Hoke’s Open Throat is a marvel of storytelling, a universal journey through a wondrous and menacing world told by a lovable mountain lion. Both feral and vulnerable, profound and playful, Open Throat is a star-making novel that brings mythmaking to real life.]]> 160 Henry Hoke 037460987X Claire 3
I liked the writing style, that it's told from the perspective of a mountain lion who understands language but not properly. So it's told in a very stream of consciousness way, and words are interpreted incorrectly like "ellay" and "scarce city". I liked that a lot. It's almost like poetry, with lots of short one sentence paragraphs. I liked the snippets of phone calls the lion hears but doesn't understand.

I read this in one sitting, as it isn't long. It wasn't bad, but just didn't grab or fully convince me. How does a lion know about phones? He seems to understand a lot of things that you wouldn't expect a lion to.

I've certainly never read anything like this before, but not sure I could whole heartedly recommend this one.]]> 4.02 2023
author: Henry Hoke
name: Claire
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/27
date added: 2024/05/27
shelves: library, tournament-of-books-2024
review:
This was definitely something completely different.

I liked the writing style, that it's told from the perspective of a mountain lion who understands language but not properly. So it's told in a very stream of consciousness way, and words are interpreted incorrectly like "ellay" and "scarce city". I liked that a lot. It's almost like poetry, with lots of short one sentence paragraphs. I liked the snippets of phone calls the lion hears but doesn't understand.

I read this in one sitting, as it isn't long. It wasn't bad, but just didn't grab or fully convince me. How does a lion know about phones? He seems to understand a lot of things that you wouldn't expect a lion to.

I've certainly never read anything like this before, but not sure I could whole heartedly recommend this one.
]]> 23453099 So here we are. My name was Eileen Dunlop. Now you know me. I was twenty-four years old then, and had a job that paid fifty-seven dollars a week as a kind of secretary at a private juvenile correctional facility for teenage boys. I think of it now as what it really was for all intents and purposes—a prison for boys. I will call it Moorehead. Delvin Moorehead was a terrible landlord I had years later, and so to use his name for such a place feels appropriate. In a week, I would run away from home and never go back.

This is the story of how I disappeared.

The Christmas season offers little cheer for Eileen Dunlop, an unassuming yet disturbed young woman trapped between her role as her alcoholic father’s caretaker in a home whose squalor is the talk of the neighborhood and a day job as a secretary at the boys� prison, filled with its own quotidian horrors. Consumed by resentment and self-loathing, Eileen tempers her dreary days with perverse fantasies and dreams of escaping to the big city. In the meantime, she fills her nights and weekends with shoplifting, stalking a buff prison guard named Randy, and cleaning up her increasingly deranged father’s messes. When the bright, beautiful, and cheery Rebecca Saint John arrives on the scene as the new counselor at Moorehead, Eileen is enchanted and proves unable to resist what appears at first to be a miraculously budding friendship. In a Hitchcockian twist, her affection for Rebecca ultimately pulls her into complicity in a crime that surpasses her wildest imaginings.

Played out against the snowy landscape of coastal New England in the days leading up to Christmas, young Eileen’s story is told from the gimlet-eyed perspective of the now much older narrator. Creepy, mesmerizing, and sublimely funny, in the tradition of Shirley Jackson and early Vladimir Nabokov, this powerful debut novel enthralls and shocks, and introduces one of the most original new voices in contemporary literature. Ottessa Moshfegh is also the author of My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Homesick for Another World: Stories, and McGlue.]]> 260 Ottessa Moshfegh 1594206627 Claire 0 to-read 3.57 2015
author: Ottessa Moshfegh
name: Claire
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 58931903 In the third exhilarating novel in this dazzling epic fantasy series, a young outcast will fight against staggering odds to save her world.

On the planet Abeth, a narrow Corridor of green land is surrounded on all sides by ice plains where only the strong survive. Ice triber Yaz has completed a perilous journey and arrived at the Corridor, and it exceeds and overwhelms all of her expectations. Everything seems different but some constants remain: her old enemies are still two steps ahead, bent on her destruction. She makes her way to the Convent of Sweet Mercy, where nuns train young girls who show the old gifts, but like the Corridor itself the convent is packed with peril and opportunity. Yaz has much to learn from the nuns—if they don’t decide to execute her.

The fate of everyone squeezed between the Corridor’s vast walls, and ultimately the fate of those laboring to survive out on ice itself, hangs from the moon, and the battle to save the moon centers on the Ark of the Missing, buried beneath the emperor’s palace. Everyone wants Yaz to be the key that will open the Ark � the one the wise have sought for generations. But sometimes wanting isn’t enough.]]> 416 Mark Lawrence 198480605X Claire 0 to-read 4.14 2022
author: Mark Lawrence
name: Claire
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 33858905
This is a story of new motherhood in a terrifying setting: a familiar world made dangerous and unstable, its people forced to become refugees. Startlingly beautiful, Megan Hunter's The End We Start From is a gripping novel that paints an imagined future as realistic as it is frightening. And yet, though the country is falling apart around them, this family’s world � of new life and new hope � sings with love.]]> 160 Megan Hunter Claire 2 post-apocalypse, library
I finished this feeling confused and a little bored.]]> 3.41 2017
author: Megan Hunter
name: Claire
average rating: 3.41
book published: 2017
rating: 2
read at: 2024/05/27
date added: 2024/05/27
shelves: post-apocalypse, library
review:
I found this to be too vague and distant. It was hard to relate to the main character, who mostly thinks about her newborn baby and refers to everyone by their first initial. There were some poetic descriptions but I wanted more from this - It felt like I was reading diary entry excepts.

I finished this feeling confused and a little bored.
]]> 125565686
From a prize-winning German writer, this is the intimate and devastating story of the path of two lovers through the ruins of a relationship, set against the backdrop of a seismic period in European history.]]> 314 Jenny Erpenbeck 1783786140 Claire 0 to-read 3.35 2021
author: Jenny Erpenbeck
name: Claire
average rating: 3.35
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 58311985
One week into the COVID-19 shutdown, tenants of a Lower East Side apartment building in Manhattan have begun to gather on the rooftop and tell stories. With each passing night, more and more neighbours gather, bringing chairs and milk crates and overturned pails. Gradually the tenants - some of whom have barely spoken to each other - become real neighbours. In this Decameron-like serial novel, general editor Margaret Atwood, Authors Guild president Douglas Preston, and a star-studded list of contributors create a beautiful ode to the people who couldn't get away from the city when the pandemic hit. A dazzling, heartwarming and ultimately surprising narrative, Fourteen Days reveals how beneath the horrible loss and suffering, some communities managed to become stronger.

Includes writing from:
Margaret Atwood, Douglas Preston, Celeste Ng, Emma Donoghue, Dave Eggers, John Grisham, Diana Gabaldon, Ishmael Reed, Meg Wolitzer, Luis Alberto Urrea, James Shapiro, Sylvia Day, Mary Pope Osborne, Monique Truong, Hampton Sides, R. L. Stine, Scott Turow, Tommy Orange, and more!]]> 363 Margaret Atwood 0358616387 Claire 0 library, currently-reading 3.14 2024
author: Margaret Atwood
name: Claire
average rating: 3.14
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/20
shelves: library, currently-reading
review:

]]> 174399573 The charming international bestseller about books and the power of reading.

There's a book written for every one of us...

Carl may be 72 years old, but he's young at heart. Every night he goes door-to-door delivering books by hand to his loyal customers. He knows their every desire and preference, carefully selecting the perfect story for each person.

One evening as he makes his rounds, nine-year-old Schascha appears. Loud and precocious, she insists on accompanying him - and even tries to teach him a thing or two about books.

When Carl's job at the bookstore is threatened, will the old man and the girl in the yellow raincoat be able to restore Carl's way of life, and return the joy of reading to his little European town?

THE DOOR-TO-DOOR BOOKSTORE is a heart-warming tale of the value of friendship, the magic of reading, and the power of books to unite us all.]]> 256 Carsten Henn 1786583070 Claire 4 library, translated
The ending feels a little rushed and a bit too convenient. But loved the rest of the book - read in one sitting.]]> 3.99 2020
author: Carsten Henn
name: Claire
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/20
date added: 2024/05/20
shelves: library, translated
review:
This was a lovely, wholesome read about community and importance of books. I loved the friendship between Carl and Schascha, which feels very genuine. Schascha is a very colourful character and is very well written (harder to do with children, I think). There are some beautiful passages here too. The whole cast of characters are fleshed out, with whole personalities and feel lifelike. The cat is also brilliant!

The ending feels a little rushed and a bit too convenient. But loved the rest of the book - read in one sitting.
]]>