Have to say I'm relieved to have finished this book. The synopsis was just what appealed but I found much of the story quite dreary and struggled to keep motivated. I liked some of the characters driven sections but overall it didn't entice.

I've saved this as I was so keen to read it! Nothing like I thought... this keeps happening!
The first year, 2019, I couldn't gel with at all. But 2020 and 21 were much more enticing. His prose is precise yet detailed, there's a lot of imagery that is clear to imagine. I'm jot sure any of the characters were likeable really, and thus not sure they needed to be...

Picked this as I've stayed in that area numerous times, visiting my good friends.
Whilst the idea of this was great, I couldn't gel with this book and skimmed it...

Finished the last two pages as I went to bed. I've hear her speak about her ASD and life, in general, a few times and was therefore interested in this. I kind of fell in love with her mannerisms and blunt assessments on herself and her surroundings. Much of it rang true, a huge amount dug up reminders and memory about my youngest as they were growing up. An important read, and one to mull over.

Hmm. Really unusual. Such an unhappy story yet wonderfully written.
The individual perspectives are all bleak and the ending is uncertain... May be researching!

Beautiful, meditative and thought provoking.
I worried it would be too twee and cosy but I was wrong!

So I started this and loved it! The dual narration in different eras was great, and I enjoyed reading about the 50s.
But... the last few chapters seemed rushed, like it was all tying together far too neatly. I'm still deciding my overall thoughts... but I would read more of hers.

Book club choice after we'd enjoyed West With Giraffes.
The style is supposed to he a 13 year old narrator which didn't feel consistent and had a few cringy bits in it. I liked the historical perspective and that it covered important topics but it felt contrived.
Simple read and flew through it.

This was a good read! I've chosen it for our book club and had a worry that I'd picked without researching. However, I think they'll all like either the overall story, or the way n which the theme of Fortune and wealth is represented. The three narrative styles and perspectives work well to unfold the family history.

Lovely and whimsical yet the underlying issue of expectations of women in family and society. Also the idea of doing things that make you happy, finding those things and those people.
Nice autumnal read.

I've not really read any YA before. This kept flashing into my peripheral so I gave it a go. Sweet teenage love, the yuckiness of school, siblings and parents. And the despicable step father, the sad mother and poor Eleanor.
I liked the way Rowell keeps it real, not letting it become sickly sweet at all. Good ending:)

So. Four chapters, four perspectives: the writer, the editor, the critics and the reader (getting Breakfast Club vibes!) I didn't really get it until some pages into The Editor. Then I was gobsmacked. This is seriously brilliant. The writing journey start to finish. The role if The Novel in readership. I've actually underlined sections... I never do that. I keep reading aloud to anyone who listens!!!

A mixture of genres and books in August. I also DNFed two which is completely unlike me, but haven't listed those.

I was really enthusiastic about starting this as I've read a few of his others.
But no. I'm not sure what's missing... limited atmosphere or tension maybe? It felt a bit done before, Woman in Black, Turn of the Screw esque novels. And I guessed both twists/reveals well before... unlike me!

Gosh, a roller-coaster of a book, detailing his journey as a nine year old across Central America to reunite with his parents.
It really shows the love from some people, their instinct to protect whilst also showing the flip side of the smugglers.

An unexpected story, not what I'd anticipated and much much better than I'd assumed.
Liked the style of writing and also the way she told some of the backstory.
I'm keen to watch it too...

Soooo good, I've lost sleep time by staying up too late!
Such a well told story, in all three characters, and nicely brought together. Excellent.

Oh I loved it! Just what I needed to feel good and remember female friendship.
I wish it had been longer :)

I think this was a Litsy recommendation last year. Cool cover and premis.
I have to say, it took effort to get past the first 50 or so pages as there seemed to be loads of characters and their names changed depending on who was with them. But reading larger chunks helped somewhat. Then I discovered the cute family tree at the back...
It was a truly heartfelt story, influenced by the author's family, and I became invested in the relationships.

Well, not what I expected and again, very different to her other books.
Interesting style, and uncertainty of present or past. I thought it was Covid but maybe not?

Okay, I liked this book overall. I liked the chopping and changing between Jess and Mal, and how it biased whom I had empathy or sympathy with. But the subplots were odd. I'm not sure they were really necessary?
Good ending too.

Inspired by The Vulnerables, I found this one. Gotta admit ialmostbailed in the first 100 pages. But... I ploughed on and really glad I did. The story flicks around, and even the narrative switches. It's the writing style that gets me; she is clever, she almost comments on her own writing decisions. I'm impressed!

Slightly belated July roundup. The top book was The Vulnerables, absolutely brilliant. Unexpected good read was Four Letters of Love.

A year of beach walking and observing, with detailed information on the findings. Some of it historical and some of it anecdotal. Lots of natural history and marine biology centred writing which was new to me.

Brilliant! I've never read her books and now need to seek them out. A balsnce of musings, recollection and fact, the author narrates her lovkdown experiences and her literary world.
Plus, how matchy is my new bookmark 🔖

Nicely transcribed account using his memories, journals and rediscovered diaries, and detailing his travels in pre WW2 Germany and Austria regions. Obviously of the era, thus slightly cringy at times, but such a seemingly gentle and innocent time, so much trust in oneself and others. Yet a few years later, atrocity.

Unpleasant. That's all I'll say.
I liked the anthropology involved and the science around the island but not the relationships formed.

Clever memoir style with incredible detail and footnote! Very impressive but just not what I'd wanted to read about.

I don't think I'm clever enough for her writing! I like how she writes, and adored George's story, although it flipped about, but struggled with the 14th century half :/

She's great, not just at singing/making music but also as a writer, a chronicler and making sense of stuff.
I was a late comer to EBTG in the 90s so this was good to understand her, and their, beginnings and journey.

Interesting kind of love story that is about love in different guises, romance and teenage infatuation, familial love and care, denied love and all!
I couldn't determine the era, maybe as it was such a remote setting.
I'd be inclined to read some more of his books.

I picked this up from a charity box as I always try books published by these guys (they are based in Bath and independent through Mr B's Bookshop). And I'm always uncertain if I'll like them yet I always do!
I couldn't read two pages of this as it was so brutal but very necessarily told.
An interesting account of women in society, perspective and expectations that are placed on them by men, families and themselves. And female solidarity.

Less than a hundred pages and crammed with urlew facts, spottings and demise... yet told through the last few countries to have tracked or sighted one.
The detrimental impact of human and so called progress on the natural world 🗺 :(

She's a good writer, a long book but didn't feel so.
Rachel is tasked with wolf reintroduction and thus follows the tale, the relationships she encounters and her own journey in all of this. I like how it all works together, her career path kind of exists with the borders of her family life and the friends she makes within this world. Lots of metaphorical links here, really made me appreciate her thoroughness.

Oh what a perfectly timed book to read.
I have a real soft spot for this kind of book, japanese setting, a truly magical quality and an underlying message.
This actually spoke to me in a deeper sense, some emotions I'm trying to work through, and came at an unexpected time.

Nice and nostalgic but with some abject realism about rural farming and extreme weather... plus the highs and lows of marriage, divorce, family and community.

I'm becoming quite a fan of this chap.
He boards an ice breaker to follow a few days of their work, along the Finnish coast.
Comments on climate change and politics are important, and the history included with Russia and Sweden rulings was very new to me.

Gosh. I'm at a loss... so very detailed and engrossing but hurt my brain and my thoughts so very much.
In awe of his capacity to write such am epic story which has deep truths.
On Saturday I'm attending the March for Nature rally. It feels timely.

A book club read which I probably wouldn't have chosen but very pleased to have been pushed to read it! At times quite tough content but nicely written with a different family member writing each chapter over about 50 years. The story of displacement and not feeling belonging in your place. Poignant to read against thr current Middle East war.

Lovely heartwarming book, five characters each seeking new direction and the Librarian who points them into soul searching in a subtle manner.

Very clever and superb prose. I'm not sure I understood some of the interwoven dialogue...
I liked his relationship with his mother, and the backwsrd glimpses of early life.

She always writes a good tale, her historical perspective is varied and I learn a great deal of American history through her novels.
This Vietnam story has taught me about women nurses, trauma and the American angle on Vietnam and its tragedies.

What an unusual and well presented novel. The top layer of storyline was good enough in itself but to then have an underlying uncertainty made it truly thoughtful and i questioned what would happen a lot.
I've no idea who recommended it but I'm seeking out her others!

Flippin heck, what a book.
I feel despondent and sad but also in awe that she's conjured up such a terrifyingly possibility which should be prevalent in our minds and actions at all times.

Much better than I'd expected and clever weaving of Stories.
I liked her referencing to climate emergency and human interference in the natural world.
Her notes were important to read.

Book club pick, easy to read and no unexpected plot twists. I found it simple to predict and it included a vast amount. Possibly tried too much.
Nice descriptions of natural world and of the farmer community. I was interested to note that in the first section, all the female characters were broken in some way, and the men were all, save two, of a similar upbringing, employment and shared casual racism and sexism. Maybe of the era or locality.

Definitely one of my top books this year.
Great writing, obviously, and a tale of the almost now in political uncertainty, climate emergency and lack of positive action. The father son relationship is touching and the science parts blew my (unknowing) mind.
Brilliant book.

Gosh, what an interesting and unique style of novel.
I don't feel I can say much without giving details away.
But not at all what I expected and very cleverly done. I'm still mulling it over...

The third novel I've read by her and I didn't find it as flowing as her other two.
I liked the idea but found it too disjointed in content and thus unbelievable.

Brilliant book.
Nature and people, a patch if park and lonely characters.
Really gentle.

Cor, I liked this book.
I judged the author very wrongly at first but realised how wrong I was.
I learnt so much from his travels, about African nations, immigration and perspective. I was fascinated by the nature he wrote about, not just swallows. And I adored the unexpected romance! ❤️
One that will stay with me ☺️🙂