en-US Tue, 15 Apr 2025 02:53:22 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg ReadStatus9311010382 Tue, 15 Apr 2025 02:53:22 -0700 /review/show/7490052351 Ian wants to read The Walking Cure: Harness the life-changing power of landscape to heal, energise and inspire by Annabel Streets
]]> ReadStatus9297167954 Fri, 11 Apr 2025 10:18:59 -0700 /review/show/7480520251 Ian wants to read Lucky Night by Eliza Kennedy
]]> ReadStatus9297166589 Fri, 11 Apr 2025 10:18:31 -0700 /review/show/7480519349 Ian wants to read The Death of Us by Abigail Dean
]]> Review6985829326 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 10:00:44 -0700 /review/show/6985829326 Ian gave 2 stars to Retromania: Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past (Paperback) by Simon Reynolds
bookshelves: non-fiction
Retromania by Simon Reynolds argues that modern pop culture is increasingly obsessed with its own past, recycling styles and sounds in a way that risks stifling creativity and innovation.

And that is more or less that - although he manages to squeeze 440 pages out of this document. Dependent on the pleasure you get from reading slightly self indulgent music magazine criticism form the golden age of NME, Sounds and Melody Maker, will dictate whether you enjoy this or not.

In a slightly haphazard and very personal way, Reynolds jumps between topics (music, fashion, architecture, cinema) to tell his point which is essay style. To me, each essay tells the same story and could stand alone. Unlike other books of its ilk, I haven't come away with as much inspiration for things to investigate. But unklike Reynolds, I am not interested in Rave culture.

The sections on how we consume media these days hit home the best - yes, I too have spent hard earned money on an album that I had to force myself to love as it didnt initially land (Surfer Rosa by the Pixies, I am looking at you). Yes, I too have simultaneously downloaded more music than I could listen to in a year of my lifetime.

No doubting his knowledge or talent but did I really need to spend a week to learn that there are no new ideas in Pop Music? All written from a child of the sixties perspective, with the only other voices those of his children and babysitter. ]]> CommunityAnswer25834071 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:59:36 -0700 ReadStatus9280578802 Sun, 06 Apr 2025 23:27:36 -0700 /review/show/7469069444 Ian wants to read The Rest of Our Lives by Benjamin Markovits
]]> Review6972649152 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 02:46:38 -0700 /review/show/6972649152 Ian gave 3 stars to White City (Kindle Edition) by Dominic Nolan
bookshelves: crime, historical
An equal amount of things to like and dislike in this complex book, merging fact and fiction. Real people and made up characters.

Dislike - dialogue led and in the early pages, I thought I was reading Big Vern from the viz. An overuse of Cockney criminal patios. There is no central character - or indeed anyone you can really root for. We have at least three different families and I found it quite troublesome identifying with any or working out how they interacted with each other.

Like - 1950s London was especially well drawn, complete with the gangsters hardened by their war experiences. Something I hadn't really considered before. At times, the book is very engaging. At others, pages slip by in a blur. So I can only guess this is me not giving full 100% concentration. Which is hard when you do half of your reading on public transport. The real life characters (and original robbery) are fascinating. One of books you can use for inspiration to look into history. Lady Docker, previously unheard, will stick in the memory for a long time.

Also billed as a crime book. I would say this is false from the publishers (and Ian Rankin!). More historical fiction from where there is a crime.

So will I go back to Nolan. Tough one. Possibly. ]]> Review2636028166 Tue, 25 Mar 2025 05:07:24 -0700 /review/show/2636028166 Ian gave 4 stars to Serotonin (Kindle Edition) by Michel Houellebecq
bookshelves: lit-fict
Another superb little vignette for the modern day master of (western) misery.

Superficially, a man finds videos of his Japanese girlfriend engaged in acts that only Houellebecq would dare to put down on paper. This sparks a nostalgic trip across France, where he attempts to meet up with old friends and girlfriends.

Its the often hilarious observations on the modern western world that makes it stand out. 80 quotes and counting on these pages to give you a feel. The one line that made me laugh out loud was about his diesel G50 Merc wagon...... I was proud, in a way, to be doing my bit to bring about the end of the world.

Amazingly, this is the second time I have read this. I hadn't even noticed until coming to review. ]]> ReadStatus9217856452 Sat, 22 Mar 2025 10:40:57 -0700 /review/show/7425145081 Ian wants to read Flesh by David Szalay
]]> Review6850556380 Thu, 20 Mar 2025 05:04:43 -0700 /review/show/6850556380 Ian gave 3 stars to The Marriage Portrait (Hardcover) by Maggie O'Farrell
bookshelves: historical
OK - Not what I was expecting, having previously enjoyed the more contemporary "Instructions for a Heatwave". Still, nothing wrong with a writer mixing things up.

Took me a short while to get over this was a historical novel, presenting the marriage and death of Lucrezia de' Medici in C16th Italy.

Not a spoiler to show the death. This is detailed in the intro and the cover.

We then have lots of to'ing and fro'ing between the girl growing up and being taken to the countryside to meet her faith. Pay careful attention to the dates at the chapter beginning.

Have to admit, I struggled with the plodding pace. No doubt it is good writing, but there was too much good writing.

Things came together when I recognised the twist coming along. No spoilers here but the servant didnt get a lot of sympathy from the author or the character.

If this had been the first Maggie O'Farrell, I doubt I would come back. ]]>