books

Book Review – The Accident on the A35 by Graeme Macrae Burnet

books, reviews

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Between the publication of Graeme Macrae Burnet’s first Georges Gorski novel and the second, he had become a Booker-shortlisted author. The Disappearance of Adèle Bedeau didn’t get a great deal of attention when it was published. I’m not saying that the second book got loads but it certainly benefited from being the writer’s follow-up to His Bloody Project. I first read Adèle Bedeau last year and enjoyed it. When I stumbled across the audiobook of the sequel at the library, I decided it was time to get through book 2. There’s a third one on the way at some point, so at least it would leave me in a position to read that at some point.

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Book Review – The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

books, reviews

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

I’m pretty sure that I bought a copy of this on my first holiday after Covid. I picked it up on a whim when I was in Waterstones. Mostly so we could take advantage of their special offer. It wasn’t something that I knew a lot about before I walked into the shop. It was just one that they happened to be recommended. I don’t even think I properly looked at the cover before I bought it. I just went in blind. It’s definitely the kind of book that appeals to me though, so no doubt I would have picked it up anyway. As ever, it sat on my shelves for ages without being read. Somewhere along the way, I also bought an audiobook copy of it. No doubt it was part of an Audible daily deal or something. One of the many reasons that I’m glad I don’t have a subscription anymore. As I’m trying to reduce the number of unread books on my Audible account, I decided to listen to it last week. As the book is about a Roman brothel, it probably wasn’t the most appropriate choice for work but never mind.

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Sunday Rundown: That’s What She Read

books, films, rundown

Sunday Rundown

What have you been reading this week?

Well, after feeling like I’m finally getting back on track with my reading, I’ve had a bumpy week. My main read is non-fiction, which always takes me longer to get through. Then I’m not entirely engaged with the book I’ve been listening to at work. I think it has a lot of potential but it’s a slow burner. Too slow for what I’m looking for. I’ll definitely finish them both but it might take a bit of time. I guess it’s also been a pretty busy week which hasn’t helped. I’ve not really felt like reading on an evening and have just been super tired. I’ve got just two weeks until my next time off work, so I’m going to be counting down the days for a while.

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Book Review – A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

books, reviews

Rating: 3 out of 5.

2023 is turning out to be the year of Greek myths and their different retellings. I hadn’t meant for this to happen but I’ve just found myself in a bit of a cycle that I’m not intent on breaking. Thankfully there are so many recent books that I can read. Publishers are relishing the resurgence of mythology and it feels like every week we get a feminist rewriting of one of the most famous myths. Natalie Haynes is one of the most celebrated, so I felt that it was only fair that I give this book a chance. I guess it also helped that I’ve already refamiliarised myself with the events of the Trojan War thanks to Stephen Fry. Plus, it just happened to be available on my library app. Why not listen to it as I was working? Hearing the plight of all those women might make me feel better about my dull job.

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Book Review – The Ice by Laline Paull

books, reviews

Rating: 3 out of 5.

The Bees by Laline Paull was one of my favourite reads way back in 2015. It was a little rough around the edges but it was an unforgettable reading experience. I was so excited to read it that I rushed out to buy her follow-up novel as soon as it was released. Of course, it was published 6 years ago and I’ve only just got around to reading it. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering how I normally am. I’ve had books on my shelves for longer than that. This time, I did actually try to read it earlier. I think I opened it not long after I bought it but it just didn’t grip me. I couldn’t face pushing on with it, so forgot about it. Until a few years ago when I bought the audiobook to encourage me to finally read it. Although, my initial attempt left me worried. Until last week when I decided to just go for it. Listening to it at work might actually help me finish it. If it turned out badly, I could at least let it wash over me as I went about my normal working day.

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Sunday Rundown: That’s What She Read

books, films, rundown

Sunday Rundown

What have you been reading this week?

I feel like I’ve been ill for ages at this point. I started feeling sniffly on Monday and then woke up feeling like death on Wednesday. Add to that the issues with the weather and it’s been a long and tiring week. The kind of week that needed an extra long weekend to get over. Unfortunately, we’re almost back to Monday and another week of the same. Thankfully, I’ve managed to finish 2 books this week, so I do feel as though I’ve achieved something. I don’t know what’s happened but I’m feeling particularly inspired at the moment. Let’s hope I can keep it up for the rest of the year.

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Book Review – Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

books, reviews

Rating: 2 out of 5.

As if I wasn’t already feeling fairly old but I’ve just discovered that this book was the winner of the Goodreads Best Historical Fiction. It’s set in the early 90s.In my head, that only happened a few years ago. How can that be considered historical? The 90s is now officially vintage. Something to be viewed with a sense of nostalgia. I hope the 90s don’t replace the 80s as the top literary setting. I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with YA characters getting super excited about old Nickelodeon shows and floppy-haired boybands. Celebrating the discovery of a really cool retro album called Backstreet’s Back. I’m imagining Ready Player One but with much less cool references. I didn’t know that Carrie Soto is Back was set in the 90s. I’m not saying it would have stopped me reading it but it would at least have prepared me. Prepared me for hearing the words “my new favourite show: ER” spoken with utter sincerity. The 90s was a weird time.

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Book Review – The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

books, reviews

Rating: 1.5 out of 5.

Last week, a friend of mine asked for reading recommendations. I enjoy talking about books with people but I do find it stressful recommending them. Especially when the person doesn’t give me an idea of what they like to read. Especially as I like to read a variety of books. I don’t like to put myself in a box in terms of genre and tropes. Although, there are certain books that I do tend to avoid. I’ve never been a lover of romance books which makes me avoid them most of the time. I’m trying to embrace more genre fiction this year and that includes romance. There might be something out there that works for me. So, I’m open to suggestions. It’s the reason why I ended up listening to TikTok and buying this book. Normally, I would have just forgotten it existed and moved on.

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Sunday Rundown: That’s What She Read

books, films, rundown

Sunday Rundown

What have you been reading this week?

What a week. Not only I am going through a slight crisis because I’m turning 35 today but I feel as though I’ve been working for ages. It’s only March so Christmas was really only a few weeks ago. It doesn’t stop me from looking ahead to my next holiday. I’ve got a few days off over Easter and I intend to use them wisely. By that, I mean, doing nothing but reading and sleeping. Possibly eating chocolate eggs but we’ll see. I’m just a little bitter because I wanted to book a day off this week so I could have a long weekend for my birthday. Unfortunately, someone got there first. I wasn’t planning on doing anything but it would have given me one extra day. Still, today should be fun. We’re having a family get-together to celebrate the big day.

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Bookish Post – February 2023 Reading Wrap-Up

books, wrap-up
Teacup on top of vintage books.

Number of books read: 8
Number of rereads: 0
Number of physical books: 4
Number of ebooks: 0
Number of audiobooks: 4
Number of ARCS: 0

5* reviews: 0
4.5* reviews: 0
4* reviews: 2

February started slowly and I didn’t think I was going to get much read. It has just taken me so long to finish anything this month. I guess that’s mostly down to the book that I read. They didn’t end up being as good as I’d hoped. The kind of books that sound really good but just don’t deliver. On the plus side, I’ve knocked a few long-time members of my TBR off the list and have moved a few more audiobooks into my completed library and out of my not started library. So, what did I read in February?

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