This is a terrifically fast read. Van Camp‘s writing is direct and uncomplicated but rich all at the same time. These stories range from those that feel highly personal to others that should be optioned by Netflix if they aren‘t already. Needless to say with this type of range there is really something for everyone, and hardly just to be regulated to the YA category.

This a simple story that is stuffed full of Faulknerism which is not necessarily every person‘s cup of tea. Written in a stream of consciousness style with circular imagery, opaque idiomatic references, and a profound understanding of a bygone South and people, this book somehow positions the reader as the intruder and leaves us in the dust. Thoroughly enjoyable if you are OK with bowing to Faulkner‘s world.

I felt like I‘d read this book before… but it is a love story through and through, and I‘m a sucker for those. It is a story of the love of lovers, a love of adventure and belonging as well as the love that drives some to believe in something bigger even if bigger swallows you and crushes you, and finally love for family, especially that of a mother and son.

Meh… 2 1/2 stars for this trope laden over produced and over played who-done-it. I do like the old radio play type of feel though. That was worth it if you could get beyond the ham acting.

Bit of a meander through times spent with the album. More impressionistic than fact based, which was a pleasant surprise. The writing actually mimics the source material of Wowee Zowee in its free form feel and at times stream of consciousness construction. Good for fans, not so for the novice.

My friend wrote this book so this review is full of bias- sorry. There‘s suspense and suspicion at every turn as a scorcher of a tale unfolds. While there are evident tropes, Abagail is a heroine worth a thousand men, and Penning takes nothing away from her. He is also generous with the “creepy”! There are moments where you‘re saying he wouldn‘t, then you say “he can‘t!?!”- but then he does! And Penning does horror very nicely.

There is a lot going for this story; a foundation in the effects of colonialism, the abuses of privilege, and micro aggressions give the story its driving force and make it worth the read. Unfortunately, there is a nagging feeling that Kuang had a historical novel researched, a handful of YA characters hanging about, which she decided to drive around using a literary vehicle powered by magical silver. Question: why not let reality take the wheel?

Inhabiting the same realm as “Never let me Go”, tensions are created through the interpretation of events and world by what amounts to being an unreliable narrator. Ishiguro surprises at every turn; adhering faithfully to the naive thinking of the main character. My only criticism is that the background world is too sketched; Ishiguro forgets we are visitors and, unlike his characters, not born to the events of the setting. Still, a fine👇🏻

Multiple Miss Marples with updated twists- nothing too heavy and having some excellent “social justice throw away lines” without being preoccupied by this- keeping pace and murder at the forefront like any good mystery should.

Truly Carey‘s masterpiece, even years later reading it for the second time. A world where nothing is real, every character and every event is a deception, a misdirection, a hoax and/or a joke, a beautiful world of words with deadly consequences. This has a modern resonance, though it was written before fake news and liars as politicos were really a thing, it‘s still relevant as a testament to truth. Carey makes you believe that words matter.

Ooooo this is villainous through and through! Loved how Catton used the points of view to create the tragic misunderstandings and devil-in-the-details confusion, both of which allowed for psychotic manipulation and more innocent yet misguided motivations of character which made this so fun to read!

Ah-ha! The villain amongst us!

Everything from the atmospheric color palette to the figuration to the truly bizarre final days of Stalin are so masterfully crafted here. Love the absurdity that reality delivers- just wish something like this would befall the current leadership… shouldn‘t be too much to ask- peace!

It‘s not as tightly considered as some of her other novels, but the loose driving searching journey across America mixed with magic and witchcraft is most definitely enjoyable!

This is really good; hypnotizing me with a laconic anticipation that inevitable tragedy seems less believable but more imminent with every turned page. I‘d read more by Patchett, and recommend this without reservation.

Read this years ago- still love it with this most recent reading. Peter Carey at his true best.

I liked the wildness of this- the twist of fancy like a wedge of lemon could be sour at the times Michaels transitions between realism and surrealism, but mostly fantastic because Michaels can certainly write. If this hasn‘t been optioned for a Netflix series sign me up. This could be a gold mine if we‘re lucky. 🍀

A solid collection of stories, some better than others, yet all have something to offer. I particularly enjoyed those with a future bent to them.

This is a jump into historical science fiction with the grand sweep of empires ending hanging as a backdrop to a chase that might have been better 100 pages shorter. Still engaging with some of the Claire North stylings that will have me seek her out again and again- kinda like her shadow.

A seamless continuation of the first book. However, things start to become more serious as the universe starts to weigh more heavily on the Bobs‘ shoulders.

Just to say I will read more by Wertz. This is very “Indie”. Maybe sometimes too indie for my tastes, but with sufficient reading time without the world knocking let me relax in the Wertz World.

Must for the Beatles fan I am. Loved the detail and the context provided, would love to hear others by the same author and reader. Restful and relaxing.

Another great story with some exquisite writing. Not quite as good as her later novels, but beautifully circular with story bits coming together in a wonderful heartbreak.

Atmospheric is a good description of the writing here, but also romantic and downright good stuff though it took a while to take. I was wondering at the 1/2 way point of the book if I cared, because there is an odd dislocation to Pulley‘s story, but I was brought back and repeatedly hooked by the description of setting and original turning of events.

I liked this book far less than Hidden Life… mostly because this is less wondrous and awe inspiring. Wohlleben is angry at the forestry industry and with the reasons he gives we all should be as they chip away at that which should, could, will save us if we let it. I want to buy land and let nature do the rest.

Certainly has respect: Lord of the Flies meets Logan‘s Run with Orwellian splashes and Joseph Conrad detailing. JG writes some very wicked bits.

It‘s really great to have a good hero. I‘m hoping this isn‘t the last we‘ve seen of Tony as Dispatcher. Fun listen as are the other previous two!

Just what the TBR pile ordered. I was floundering in hopes of a good book that would be beyond straight forward narrative. After a few false starts, I fell into this hallucinatory gem that chugged along like the fastest train. A shame to try to explain this Giller Prize winner because of all the different bits and bobs- but way more than a Sleepy Car Porter!

A fantastic read and fine fitting third book of the Stranger family saga. Vermette uses the different voices to quilt a story that remains true to the characters she has created and the colonized world they live in. Here ideas of family can help heal but also be twisted to exact and justify heartbreaking revenge. A beautifully realized story.

Who doesn‘t like coffee? Or tea? Or at least being fascinated with caffeine? This book, in Pollan style, gives his personal take on the subject, unfortunately the taste is almost too brief, much like my caffeine high.

This is light and bright Atwood. I saw some reviews express disappointment and confusion claiming this to not be up to Atwood‘s standard, but I disagree. I feel this story reflects the humorous, human, and effective writer Atwood is.

Best and fitting end(?) to the trilogy. Threads are knotted, loose ends are ended and yet this eerie oddly contemporary sideways drama could continue. Side note to this good read- Gibson really understands his brands. Could be the fictional companion to Naomi Klein‘s No Logo.

Bit of a mixed bag with the cohesive second part really showing the makings of what Chabon has become as a writer, intimate and relatable being strengths, while the ambiguity and awkward mysteriousness of the first part, deserves the three stars.

Great read as the saga continues! So happy to hear that the third book of this trilogy (?) is out. Yeah!

Some great essays and then some not so great ones. Feels kinda cozy when it‘s good, but Chabon sometimes seems to be pitching pearls from a lofty ivory tower and these are the “gimme a break” moments in the read.

After reading a short story by this author, I wanted to see more. What I got hit the spot with a gumshoe and weirdness and not too heavy. My type of thing when the brain needs a break. Recommend.

Quite obviously this is not a read for everyone, but as someone who is in the situation I found many interesting attitudes and approaches that will be helpful now and as my father declines.

This is another great YAL book- geared more for an older set- in the vein of Robinson and Demaline. There is some serious creep factor and a tear or two to be shed; a terrific read.

A tightly conceived story tackling issues of now projected into a wild speculative future! Very original.

This puts the romp in space romp with that signature Firefly western bent. What I expected and not half bad for the pulp and spin-off that it is!

This is a big thick brick and at times, between the shoot outs, blood gore and subterfuge, there are yawn moments. However, you have to know what you‘re getting into. If you‘re looking for tough talk and fist to cuffs with an intriguing and intricate conspiracy, Ellroy is hard to beat.

An old fashioned rollicking space adventure with twists that have been rehashed both before and after this plot line. Classic Sci-fi feels fragile like bakelite, is rife with no-dos and wince material, but there was enough fun here to warrant the listen.

I listened to this… blood blood blood blood blood blood blood blood blood blood a border blood blood blood and more blood. Tough listen but here we are. Did I like it? Blood blood blood blood another border blood blood blood blood…

This man can write of this there is little doubt. A tiny story really that leads you on but reduces down to the essential, the intimate and the real. 3 generations living with their Weltschmerz in “Castle Despair” might not sound like a page turner, but Auster makes it so.

This was so good, not holding any punches. It‘s fault is that, as one reviewer said, it feels like a sketch for something bigger. If Okorafor doesn‘t develop this into something truly badass, because it has that potential, I‘d sink it to a 2 star rating; the ending is too mysterious to warrant more!

A contemplative read about finding your place and offering a way to be that, in light of the world today, seems to make a lot of sense. This read was in stark contrast to Blood Meridian that I am reading also. These two books couldn‘t be further apart- this full of love kindness and respect- McCarthy‘s book a stream of blood, betrayal and depravity. This is a read that fixes.

Listening to this as an audiobook. Super narrator. Incredibly bloody.

Flip and Twist. The alternative inverted world works super well with Adichie‘s attention to detail and subtlety. Truly enjoyed the read. Good story setting the bar for the rest of the series.

I really enjoyed this installment of this Blue Ant series. A good weave of various characters working within the world of cloak and dagger. Agreed that it can be frustrating not knowing what is going on but it‘s rewarding in the end. Nice read and nobody dies!

A pleasant imagining and plausible logic make this a fascinating read. Love the twists of awareness that the AI has, and how Scalzi plays with our human centric point of view.