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rockpools

rockpools

Joined April 2016

If anyone‘s daft enough to sponsor me, I‘m doing a 5K (3mile) run in June: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/rachel-runs-race-for-life-2023
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed this absurd but affectionate novel set amongst the night-time streets and characters of Lviv. As someone who spends way too much time on seagull-related matters, I laughed a lot.

However, if you were to ask me what this book is about, I‘m not sure I could tell you. The storylines were a little disjointed, yet the conclusion didn‘t feel surprising or original – I guess I just wanted more. I

rockpools am really happy to have been introduced to Andrey Kurkov‘s work through this book, though, and will eagerly be seeking out his other titles, even if the plot of Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv didn‘t grab me as I‘d hoped.

Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for providing an E-ARC for review.
6d
53 likes1 comment
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

This is such an unusual mix of topics, and I‘m so glad this book exists.

When Harriet Shawcross was 13, she stopped speaking at school. Years later, as she prepares to say I Do at her wedding, she revisits this time, and explores ‘not speaking‘ in a huge range of contexts.

She looks at selective mutism, taboos around women‘s bodies, domestic violence, the setting up of the Samaritans, talking therapies (or not) and their

rockpools cultural context, responses to trauma, silence in religion and religious orders… And through it all is her own very personal story.

It‘s a very odd mix, but, for me, it works and covered a host of things I‘d never considered before. I liked this a lot.
6d
51 likes3 stack adds1 comment
blurb
rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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OK @AllDebooks , I‘m in.

Given how I am with any kind of challenge, buddy read or organised reading right now, this should go well! 😬

Just one goal - start August with 68% NG rating (I‘m on 60 now, and confess I‘ve never actually reached the heady heights of 80%).

This would mean reviewing 7 books. I‘ve already read 3 of those, so it‘s theoretically possible. Providing I continue to resist the new Kate Mosse… even if it does have pirates.

julesG Bring Mosse to Gladstone's. You will only need to carry one book. 😁 7d
rockpools @julesG 😂😂 But I‘d still need a second suitcase… And it‘s on NG now! I‘m just going to quietly look the other way. Cos that ALWAYS works! 7d
julesG 😂😂 7d
AllDebooks Great goal, I have faith in you 🙌 Pirates!!! Now I need to ignore this info, too 🫣 7d
rockpools Stretch goal: Finish 6 ARCs! 5d
34 likes5 comments
blurb
rockpools
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Current audiobook. The story of a servant and educated former slave accused of killing her mistress. It flicks between the trial, her life growing up on the plantation, helping her ‘master‘ with his ‘experiments‘,
and her life in London.

It‘s got a lot going for it, an interesting perspective, and is a very stark reminder of the impact of colonialism, and how it‘s fed into ongoing racism.

However, it‘s also really quite slow…

TrishB 😂 made me laugh. 2w
61 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
rockpools
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My current non-fiction read is one of those mixtures of memoir and social history that I seem to be drawn to. This one looks at ‘not talking‘, whether through #selectivemutism or the impact of McCarthyism, knowing the dangers speaking will bring.

It‘s quite an unusual mix of topics, and I‘m not sure where it‘ll go next - I think (eventually) into the realms of silence as power. But I‘ve found the first part hugely affecting so far.

squirrelbrain Sounds fascinating! 2w
58 likes3 stack adds1 comment
blurb
rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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Afternoon Litsy! I‘ve been a bit of a disaster with reviews recently, so I‘m admitting defeat on everything I‘ve not updated over the last few months. (Although the NetGalley ones will put in an appearance at some point). Also quietly disappearing all the books that I have ‘in progress‘ but are actually in hibernation (ie started but never to be seen again).

Nice blank page, let‘s start again with the books I‘m actually reading!

julesG Blank slate! 🥳 Good luck! 2w
rockpools @julesG 😁 Thank you! Shame NG won‘t let me do the same! 2w
julesG 😂😂😂 Same! There are some ARCs I wish I could just not review but that would play havoc on my review-ratio. (what was I thinking when I requested them?!) 2w
See All 10 Comments
squirrelbrain Ooh, nice blank slate! I‘m jealous! 🤣 2w
TrishB Like starting a new job and having no emails 😁 2w
rockpools @TrishB Top tip. Don‘t move within the same organisation 😬 - they find you! 2w
TrishB I‘ve literally only worked in 2 universities! 😁 2w
rockpools @TrishB That is VERY impressive! And I may well be a flibbertigibbert with no staying power. (*”may” 🤥. That new job, no emails thing is very nice though…) 2w
rockpools @squirrelbrain Don‘t worry, it‘ll be a right pickle again in roughly 3 minutes 🙃 2w
AllDebooks Sometimes all you can do is clear the decks, start afresh x 1w
63 likes10 comments
blurb
rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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Librarian action figure, anyone? She comes with her own book trolley!

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2023/05/council-workers-assemble-everyday...

TrishB Cool 😁 2w
squirrelbrain Amazing! ❤️ 2w
Cinfhen Fabulous 🙌🏻💜 2w
51 likes3 comments
blurb
rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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Afraid this post is lacking books today. Sorry!

In a moment of mid-life-crisis, I signed up for Race for Life a couple of weeks back. 5K run to raise funds for Cancer Research. If anyone wants to sponsor this daft endeavour, thank you! https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/rachel-runs-race-for-life-2023

I have the BEST place for ‘training‘ (walking a bit, despairing of the fact this will take forever, walking a bit more, bit of a run…)

rockpools And yes, that is a rabbit chilling out by the lido. Playlist has (of course) been Island Vibes! Alternated with the audiobook of the Confession of Frannie Langton, which is great but not quite as fast and enthusiastic as I need. And Big Nate Goes for Broke, which probably is! 2w
squirrelbrain Good luck! 😬 You‘re very brave! 2w
rockpools @squirrelbrain Thank you so much Helen! I‘m not sure brave is the word 🫤. I think I‘ll be bumbling along at the back! 2w
See All 23 Comments
TrishB Good luck ♥️ 2w
julesG Good luck! 2w
Cinfhen Way to go!! And I love that your listening to some #IslandVibes to keep you moving 🙌🏻 2w
rockpools @TrishB Thank you Trish 😘 2w
rockpools @julesG Thanks Jules! I‘ve hit the ‘well that was a silly idea‘ point now! 2w
rockpools @Cinfhen ? It‘s a fantastic list! Just when you‘re starting to flag… Beyoncé! ??‍♀️ 2w
julesG You can do it! We're here to cheer you on, and give music and audiobook advice. 😉 2w
CarolynM Good luck🍀 I‘ll donate to a local cancer charity in support🙂 2w
rockpools @julesG I need audiobook advice!! 2w
rockpools @CarolynM Aw, thank you Carolyn! I‘ll let you know how I get on. 2w
julesG I've enjoyed Sanderson's Tress of the Emerald Sea recently. 2w
julesG The Bandit Queens were good on audio, too. 2w
julesG Or are you looking for books about running? 2w
rockpools @julesG Thank you. Tress is reserved (tho the queue is LONG). I feel like I‘ve only just heard of Sanderson and now he‘s EVERYWHERE! No, not looking for books about running - more ‘up‘/fast-paced books to let me pretend that‘s absolutely not what I‘m doing, and stop me grinding to a halt! 2w
julesG Have you read The Invisible Library yet? It's fast-paced. I'm about to do an audiobook reread since my daughter wants to get into the series. 2w
julesG Re: Sanderson. Yepp, I thought so too. His books pop up everywhere I look it seems. 2w
julesG Another good audiobook was 2w
rockpools @julesG There we go! Nabbed Counterfeit! Thank you 😊. I‘d thought that looked good when it came out, so I‘ll give that a go for starters. And Invisible Library sounds FUN! Stacking that for possibly next. 2w
Knitmaths So glad you did decide to go for it! 1w
rockpools @Knitmaths 😁 Tomorrow I attempt Park Run, as ‘practice‘. Gaah! 1w
50 likes23 comments
review
rockpools
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Bailedbailed

A parent‘s ‘warts & all‘ experience of having a child with PDA and the resulting challenges. It may be helpful if you‘re in that situation, looking to hear the experience of others who have struggled- but it felt very much like a chronicle of everything Mollie had ever done wrong, and could maybe have benefited from a little distance. Not what I was looking for.

On the bright side, 7 years later a Mollie Sherwin illustrated the tagged book.

Magpiegem I have a little boy with PDA (amongst many things- the psychiatrists keep telling me he‘s the most complex child they‘ve ever met. I‘ll be honest that doesn‘t make me feel great). In my experience Sometimes it can be such an incredibly lonely experience having a child like mine that I can understand people wanting to read something they can relate to and feel less alone. We certainly can‘t do that with “normal” parent chat. Thanks for the tag! 4w
Magpiegem Also I follow the author of the tagged book on FB. So will definitely pick this one up for my kiddo! 4w
rockpools @Magpiegem Oh my goodness, that does sound exhausting. I can see how something like this could be helpful in that situation. I hope you and small get on with the tagged book - I found it helpful to ‘get it‘ a little, so potential useful for friends/family. 3w
44 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

Brilliant. In a challenging, uncomfortable kind of way.

Written by an autistic PDA adult and the parent of a daughter with PDA (pathological demand avoidance), this story takes you inside the head of Ariana, a PDA child/teen, showing just how scary a place the world can be.

Illustrations by Mollie Sherwin.

A really engaging little book.

review
rockpools
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Pickpick

As we all know, the first rule of book club… And the second rule… Oh well - let‘s break all of them!

A thoroughly entertaining tale of misogyny and murder, full of dark humour, great characters and the daily expectations of being a woman in India. I went in with low expectations, but I really liked this.

I‘m so pleased it‘s up for Camp Litsy next month as well. Obviously the Women‘s Prize judges were wrong! (Not that I‘ve read any of the others)

TrishB Great review 👍🏻 1mo
CarolynM Great review! Looking forward to reading this and discussing it at Camp🙂 1mo
squirrelbrain This should be great to discuss at camp! And I agree with you about the Women‘s Prize judges…. Bad judges! 🤣 1mo
63 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

Well worth a read if you find yourself needing to learn about #selectivemutism. Geared towards professionals and parents, this book walks a wiggly line between academic and parent-focused in style, as it summarises the research on SM and gives numerous case studies from both professional and individual viewpoints. It‘s positive and inspiring, if a little all over the place, and gives confidence that children can successfully move through SM.

rockpools This is a UK-based book, focusing heavily on the work of SMIRA (Selective Mutism Information & Research Association) and was published in 2015. As such, it‘s a little dated - we need a post-pandemic update - but it‘s positive and accessible.

Topics covered include current understanding, support networks, related conditions, and interventions from around the world, plus teaching teenagers confidence and testimonials.
1mo
45 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
rockpools
Burnt Island | Kate Rhodes
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Pickpick

That was tense. And woah - twist!

I‘m really enjoying this series, each book set on a different island on Scilly. This time St Agnes, the most remote of the inhabited islands. A body is found as the annual fireworks display begins. All signs point to an islander with a grudge against incomers… but who?

It‘s played very straight - little let-up from ‘all a bit

rockpools grim‘ - but fab sense of place, oodles of suspects (I had a bit of a time keeping track tbh), and minimal gore. We‘re getting to know the main characters that bit better now (although thankfully little of Kitto‘s private life in this one.) And Stephen Perring‘s narration is perfectly moody.

I guess that‘s my book for #Islandvibes #titlesandtunes then! Loving the playlist 🎶 @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB
1mo
Cinfhen Series sounds FAB!!! 1mo
Cinfhen Can‘t wait to see your #GuiltyPleasure for June 1mo
rockpools @Cinfhen I‘ve picked my author for #guiltypleasure, and have had an ear worm song in my head for the last week, so I‘ll probably be joining! Love this challenge 😁 (edited) 1mo
Cinfhen Yay! Nothing like a good 👂🏼 🐛 to get you going 😁 1mo
52 likes2 stack adds5 comments
blurb
rockpools
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Huh. It‘s going to be like *that* is it? And the first page was going so well…

rockpools @RaeLovesToRead I‘m kind of hoping his character turns around and tells him where to get off. But it was written in 1891, so that might not happen. 1mo
RaeLovesToRead Looking forward to the bit where she lands a right hook in his face in a blast of maiden-fury 🤣🤣👊🏻💥 1mo
See All 8 Comments
rockpools @RaeLovesToRead perfect! I may need to do some creative rewriting if he keeps this up! 1mo
rockpools …although she has just been lectured by a pompous grandfather clock, so it might not be all bad. ?. 1mo
Centique Oh dear oh dear …. how did we even navigate from one side of the house to the other with such undeveloped brains! 1mo
rockpools @Centique Now choosing to believe that this is deliberate & tongue in cheek. The vacuous girl who lacks all power of thought or reason has just nipped out to rescue two feckless Londoners from certain drowning, with the help of ‘the boy‘ (a white-haired old man). I‘m not sure if it‘s intentional, but it‘s quite funny! The patriarchal nonsense is SO over the top, he can‘t be serious! (If you know otherwise, please don‘t tell me til I finish!) 1mo
Centique @rockpools I love it! Nothing like showing the ridiculousness of a stereotype by exaggerating it 😂 1mo
37 likes8 comments
blurb
rockpools
Burnt Island | Kate Rhodes
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I‘m loving seeing all of these #TitlesAndTunes suggestions! Put your warmest raincoat on though - I‘m afraid my #IslandVibes never get as far as the tropics.

Armorel of Lyonesse is a late c19th romance (maybe) novel set on the Isles of Scilly (26 miles off the SW of England), which I‘ve meant to read forever… But I seem to have started Burnt Island, book 3 of Kate Rhodes‘moody crime series also set on Scilly. A body

rockpools is found burning at the start of the annual firework celebrations. I‘ll finish one or the other (or maybe both!)

And if we‘re going for cold-weather islands, for the music let‘s head to the other end of the UK, with a couple of Shetland fiddle players. Shetland Reels by Ross and Ryan Couper, just in case you need a bit of a dance to warm up.
1mo
TrishB Cool picks 👍🏻 1mo
Velvetfur Oohh I'll look up that music and hopefully have a dance around my room later! Thanks 😁 1mo
Cinfhen Fantastic 🎻🎶🤩 1mo
BarbaraBB Such cool choices 💯 ❤️‍🔥 1mo
47 likes5 comments
blurb
rockpools
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Guess who just accidentally permanently deleted all of her work-related emails from 6 years of (now ended) self-employment? 🤦🏻‍♀️ Hope there was nothing vital in there. Guess I‘ll find out. Probably when HMRC come querying something.

For some reason I‘m not finding this pretty minimal white screen as calming as I maybe could. 🙀

I‘d quite like my ‘home‘ mailbox to look like this tho…

AmyG Yikes 😬 1mo
BarbaraBB Ooh that‘s scary. A real fresh start though 😅 1mo
batsy Oh no! 1mo
See All 12 Comments
RaeLovesToRead Is there a recycle bin you can retrieve them from? If not, just bask in the clean inbox. Nothing you can do about it now 🧘🏼‍♀️ 1mo
SamAnne Oh, I‘ve done this. Life went on! It was like a fresh start. 1mo
TrishB Oh dear 😯 sh** happens!! Fresh start indeed! 1mo
squirrelbrain Oopsy. 😬 1mo
julesG Whoopsidaisy! 😬 1mo
dabbe #fingerscrossed 🤞🏻 1mo
BookwormM Arrggghhh 1mo
LeahBergen Eek! 1mo
Hooked_on_books Oooohhhhh 😧 1mo
45 likes12 comments
blurb
rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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Happy Saturday Litsy!

I‘ve just had a week off work, but am still RIDICULOUSLY happy for a 3-day-weekend. Also, I will get back into writing reviews… one day.

#BookReport This week has been a delightful jumble of STUFF. I accidentally subscribed to a second month of Scribd, so I‘m cramming audiobooks (next up Fire Rush), plus ‘homework‘ on PDA, Bandit Queens is a delight, and London is taking ages simply because print isn‘t happening right now.

squirrelbrain I bet Fire Rush will be fab on audio! 🔥 1mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain That‘s what I‘ve heard! Think I need to sneak it in this month. 1mo
Cinfhen Fire Rush WAS EXCELLENT on audio ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥enjoy!! I love Scribd although some months are more generous than others - do you know what I mean @squirrelbrain @rockpools ?!???!! 1mo
See All 8 Comments
rockpools @Cinfhen You mean… you gear up to listen to something and IT‘S DISAPPEARED?! It was there yesterday. Now it‘s gone. I don‘t have huge amounts of luck with Scribd! What do you reckon? Buy or borrow Fire Rush on audio? 1mo
Cinfhen Yesssss! And sometimes by the third day of the new monthly cycle I can not even OPEN the new release options! SO FRUSTRATING (edited) 1mo
Cinfhen However, as much as I loved Fire Rush on audio I‘d still say #BorrowNotBuy - I used an Audible credit but I know I‘ll never listen to the book again…although there are very few books that I would ever revisit #SoManyBooksSoLittleTime 1mo
squirrelbrain I‘ve never had anything disappear on me (yet) Rachel, and I don‘t think I use it as much as you do @Cinfhen but I often find that books ‘aren‘t available in your region‘. 1mo
Cinfhen I definitely get my money‘s worth , despite the disappearing audios because for some reason I‘m able to acquire both US and Uk publications most of the time @squirrelbrain ☺️ 1mo
47 likes8 comments
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

A decent-if-basic introduction to pathological demand avoidance, partly told from the perspective of an 11-yr old with the syndrome. The second part gives lots of suggestions and hints on how to work with a child with PDA.

If your child has recently been diagnosed, you‘ll want something more in depth. However, for friends/family or those just trying to figure out strategies/what‘s ado, this is a useful, practical and quick intro to the topic.

47 likes2 stack adds
blurb
rockpools
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Today‘s train reading, brought to you by ‘I am never using this train company again‘. Ugh!

Afraid I‘m starting early on next month‘s #NaturalLitsy selection on audio, alternating with Bandit Queens for #Gladstonerds on Kobo.

Loving Bandit Queens, undecided on Butterflies yet, but the proportion of annoying people on this train-that-thinks-it‘s-a-plane (and not in a good way) mean audio is a necessity. But at least I have coffee.

TrishB Ah noisy trains 😞 1mo
rockpools @TrishB I should be home by now. I only left London 10 minutes ago… 🥺 1mo
TrishB Even worse! Late trains. 1mo
52 likes3 comments
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

Todays train reading- really quite fun. When her father dies, Johanna, feisty independent granddaughter of Marco Polo, needs to get away from a wicked stepmother - and she‘s always dreamed of going West to the edge of the world, travelling on horseback with her uncle‘s caravan along the silk routes.

It did feel like there was a lot of set-up for the rest of the series, but I‘m up for the next one. Completely different to Stabenow‘s crime series!

54 likes1 stack add
blurb
rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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I‘ve given it WAY too much thought, and come up with this for my #booketlist @RaeLovesToRead

It‘s a mixture of books that have been on my shelves FOREVER, but I haven‘t read because I‘m saving them for best (!?), some non-fiction that I‘ve always wanted to read, but had to go out and buy first (thank you 🙃) a couple (or 4) that i‘d started/loved, but disappeared into my overwhelm and disorganisation, and Armorel of Lyonesse because why not?

RaeLovesToRead Aww, lovely! I also keep saving books "for best" ? I'm going to try and just read them ? 2mo
rockpools @RaeLovesToRead It seems to be a very unhelpful habit I‘ve fallen into over the years. If I can get all 10 done by next April, I‘ll be v happy! (edited) 2mo
RaeLovesToRead That's the beauty of the Booket list! Makes you think about which books you truly want to read! 🥰🥰 2mo
45 likes3 comments
blurb
rockpools
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It‘s real then! I‘d heard the rumours. A Penguin vending machine in the main foyer of the station, between the ticket machines and Starbucks.

What I didn‘t know was that profits are shared with the local indie bookshop, which is great!

https://amp.theguardian.com/books/2023/mar/27/train-tomes-exeter-st-davids-stati...

jhod Did you succumb?! 2mo
rockpools @jhod I‘m hoping for a trip to Portobello Bookshop, and maybe Toppings this week, so I‘m saving my pennies! 📚📚📚 2mo
See All 10 Comments
Tamra 🙀🙀 How brilliant! I wish they were in my town! 2mo
Larkken 😍😍😍 2mo
Larkken This would be as addictive as my compulsion to peruse (and judge? Nah, never) all airport bookshops I pass 👀 2mo
LeahBergen I love this! 🐧 2mo
Ruthiella I‘d totally buy one just for the novelty of it! 😃 2mo
LoverOfLearning Perfection. 2mo
66 likes10 comments
review
rockpools
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Mehso-so

Obvious statement of the day: I am NOT the target audience. But Adam Blade seems to be The Author(s) amongst some of our younger readers (next up:Daisy Meadows 🤨), so I needed to know. I still need to go back & read a couple of BeastQuest (there are 100s of the things!)

So let‘s focus on the fun bits
- The space stallion is fab fun🤠 (Howdy pardner!)
- Nice friendship between Harry & Ava
- Cool gadgety stuff
- Mad monsters - 3-headed droid dog

rockpools - highly exciting (for which read quite exhausting!)

I did listen on audio - from the Amazon reviews, I‘ll be moving to print for BeastQuest. If anyone or their smaller people can convince me that Adam Blade is the Best Thing Ever, I really need to summon up some enthusiasm for these before our Summer Reading Challenge. All help gratefully received!
2mo
43 likes1 comment
blurb
rockpools
Untitled | Untitled
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Evening!

For the first (& possibly last) time EVER, I‘ve read all of the books on the #InternationalBookerPrize2023 shortlist. I have, however, been spectacularly rubbish at leaving reviews here recently, so here are my short thoughts.

Gospel: By Maryse Condé, but I really didn‘t get it at all. Probable winner, then.
Standing Heavy: The most enjoyable. The inner lives of immigrant security guards in Paris. Fab.
Boulder: Readable but…

rockpools I stopped caring half-way through.
Whale: Some ride!
Still Born: Memorable and hard-hitting. Well worth a spot on the list.
Time Shelter: Big Ideas. Not really my thing (too much timeywimeyness), but it won me round. I think this‘ll be really popular.

I may catch up with reviews here eventually. In the meantime you can see reviews for all the longlist on @BookwormM s blog at
https://thereadersroom.org
2mo
RaeLovesToRead I'm thinking about getting Whale, and Time Shelter... I love the idea of, "I didn't get it, so it'll probably win" ?? 2mo
rockpools @RaeLovesToRead Not that I‘m encouraging you to buy more books, Rae, but I think you‘ll like Time Shelter. And Whale is straight-up out-there. (I don‘t know who to recommend it to! It‘s epic and OTT.) 2mo
See All 31 Comments
rockpools @RaeLovesToRead And with the exception of last year (which was an AMAZING list and a BRILLIANT winner), my experience of the International Booker is largely ‘Eh??!‘ I don‘t know how I‘ve ended up so committed to it. 2mo
JamieArc @rockpools That‘s exactly how I feel about the Booker Prize! And since I can‘t afford to spend two different seasons reading books I get so ambivalent about, I don‘t follow the Int‘l Booker Prize 😂 2mo
JamieArc Standing Heavy sounds really good though. I‘ll probably check that one out. We had to read Conde for grad school, so I am guessing I wouldn‘t actually enjoy reading it for fun 😂 2mo
rockpools @JamieArc 😂I don‘t follow the ‘big‘ Booker for that same reason! One month of this is enough! But I do always find some gems I‘d never have read on my own, amongst the ickety stuff.And Standing Heavy is done with a really light touch. I loved it. 2mo
JamieArc @rockpools I agree - I‘ve also found some gems, which is why I can‘t give it up! 2mo
BarbaraBB How impressive you read them all already! You must miss @Simona during this time! Thanks for the short notes. I will be trying to read the shortlist the upcoming months. I‘m pretty pleased with it I guess! 2mo
rockpools @BarbaraBB I do miss @Simona - we had loads of fun with this last year. Hope you enjoy the list - it‘s a pretty good selection, and there are a couple on here I‘d love to get your take on. 2mo
batsy That's great that you've read it all. I was super disappointed that Is Mother Dead (the only one I read) didn't make the shortlist. Barring Standing Heavy, all the books I was especially interested in didn't make the shortlist 😬 2mo
BookwormM I only managed 2 from the shortlist arrrggghhh another heavy reading month and non of my library requests are showing any hint of arriving. Is it bad that I can‘t remember last years list at all 🤣🤣 2mo
rockpools @BookwormM Oh no! I was so impressed at how many your library had - mine had precisely zero. Maybe they‘re just more up front about things! Scribd had Gospel and Boulder if you can do that - I know it‘s not great on the eyes tho. 2mo
rockpools @BookwormM And you MUST remember last year! Elena, (loved) Tomb of Sand (loved) Jacob (an experience!), plus other stuff that I can‘t remember. Do you do audio ever? 2mo
rockpools @batsy I still have to read Mother - couldn‘t get hold of an affordable copy. I didn‘t get to Birthday Party or the one with the name I don‘t remember- A Something of Blinding Significance? - either. Which were you hoping to see on there? 2mo
batsy @rockpools Bummed about Mother and also Pyre (was psyched to see Tamil literature in translation represented and wanted it to go far!) Also The Birthday Party just sounds so good. I've been meaning to give Conde a try but I'm worried that this might not be my cup of tea (it sounds like it could veer a bit twee?) 2mo
rockpools @batsy Pyre was on my shortlist- surprised it didn‘t make it. Really good. I wouldn‘t describe the Condé as twee exactly- more… nothing. I just didn‘t get what it was doing. So yes, I think starting with another of hers might be a good idea! 2mo
BookwormM @batsy Birthday Party did not live up to the description 🤣🤣 2mo
BookwormM @rockpools omg 😱 how did I forget Elena was a BI book . And yes since the eye operations I have fallen in love with audio books (edited) 2mo
batsy @BookwormM 😅 2mo
Centique Legendary! 🙌 1mo
rockpools @Centique 😂😂 Hi Paula, how are things? 1mo
rockpools @BookwormM If ever you need to buy any (rather than waiting for nonexistent library copies) take a look at xigxag. It‘s UK-only, so of limited interest to the rest of the translated-fiction audiobook-listening crowd (!) but they‘re all Qf.99 (which is as good as it gets for audio, I think), Cornwall-based, no subscription and have just done a deal with Fitzcarraldo so are getting lots of those. 1mo
BookwormM Great info thanks. Kobo have launched a subscription service and they have ebooks of all the ones I need to read 1mo
rockpools @BookwormM oh that‘s interesting- I‘d missed that. Would much prefer to read on Kobo than Scribd (which ends up being my phone…) Will take a look for future. 1mo
Centique @rockpools all good thank you Rachel! Thanks for whittling down the list for me, I have picked two to go on my TBR from your short list 👍 1mo
Centique @rockpools Still Born and Time Shelter 1mo
rockpools @Centique perfect! At this point in time I‘d like Still Born to win. And I think you‘ll like time Shelter. 1mo
BookwormM It popped up on my Kobo over the weekend 1mo
BookwormM I was wrong Kobo doesn‘t have Gospel and my library hold is still not moving arrgghh 1mo
BookwormM In other news all my library holds for the longlist that didnt make the shortlist are on the way 🤦‍♀️ 1mo
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rockpools
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1. Gaaaah! (Actually it might be fine. There should be at least one picture book I can return. Don‘t ask.)
2. What have you done to me? I don‘t read fantasy, I don‘t read chunksters, and I‘m rubbish at series. And yet here we are. And it‘s not even May. I hold you all entirely responsible for this peculiar behaviour.
3. How many hours? Bit scared to look….

squirrelbrain Ha! One day I‘ll try Robin Hobb too, but I *definitely* don‘t do fantasy! 2mo
RaeLovesToRead Yes! This trilogy!!!! 🥰🥰 (I'm currently on Tawny Man) 2mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain It kind of lulled me into a false sense of ‘really very little fantasy‘ at the start of the first book, and by the time it went full weird, I was hooked! 2mo
rockpools @RaeLovesToRead Yup! You still enjoying them? ‘m deliberately not going to ask what I read after this one, cos I need a few months reading something else! 2mo
Centique I loved this series, must jump into the next one soon! 1mo
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rockpools
A Stitch in Time | Monica Ferris
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Mehso-so

I‘m a rubbish reader of series. Triple that for cosy mysteries.

There‘s a lot to like about this, not least the setting (a needlecraft shop in Minnesota) & the mystery itself, which was a tad different.

But 3 is enough for me. More potential perpetrators would‘ve been good. And possibly the timing is off - it‘s old enough to feel dated (in technologies/attitudes) but not old enough to be charming.

So just ok. But I may yet come back for book 4

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London Lies Beneath | Stella Duffy
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Once upon a time, many years ago, we had our very first UK Litsy meet-up in London, met some amazing people, and received this in the swap.

These days Stella Duffy is one of the patrons of the library charity I work for, and falls into the awesome human being category.

No excuses for not reading this sooner, but this is my train reading for today, and I‘m loving it. Also - look! Sunshine!

Centique Wow! Sounds like Duffy is very cool 😍 I‘m sure I have a copy of this too, I‘ll look forward to your thoughts on it 2mo
julesG Enjoy your trip! 2mo
TrishB Books always find their time ♥️ 2mo
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paper.reveries How cool! Are your meet-ups yearly now? Hope you like it after all this time hahahaha 2mo
squirrelbrain Have a good trip! ❤️ 2mo
Deblovestoread Enjoy your trip and your book! Love “Books always find their time” 💜 @TrishB 2mo
Magslhalliday I absolutely loved this one: it caught something I was going through so well. And Stella is the most awesome person! 2mo
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Time Shelter | Georgi Gospodinov
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🤯

batsy Not sure if the emoji means this is mind-blowingly bad or good 😁 2mo
BarbaraBB I was wondering the same. Just bought this one 😇 2mo
rockpools @BarbaraBB @batsy I think I‘d recommend it to both of you. I didn‘t love it (I didn‘t much like it til near the end) but it‘s FULL of ideas on time, nostalgia, nationalism, Europe, loneliness etc etc. I‘d describe it as good AND mind-blowing rather than mind-blowingly good. 2mo
See All 7 Comments
rockpools @BarbaraBB @batsy Have either of you read the Maryse Conde yet? I am struggling! 2mo
batsy @rockpools Ooh, yes! Thank you. It does sound rather like my kind of thing 🙂 2mo
BarbaraBB I have the Conde lined up for next month. You make it sound hard. Thanks for the heads-up on this one! 2mo
rockpools @BarbaraBB It‘s not hard in a difficult kind of way. More in a ‘I don‘t get it‘ kind of way. I‘m sure you‘ll get along with it better! 2mo
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rockpools
The Body on the Doorstep | A. J. MacKenzie
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Pickpick

I really do like this series!

Historical crime, set on Romney Marsh in 1797, with smugglers, Customs, and the possibility of French invasion. When Rev. Hardcastle opens the rectory door one night, to find a man has just been shot, and is warned off from investigating by The Church, he (of course) needs to know more.

It‘s atmospheric, well-researched and full of smart, capable women. And smugglers. Plus a touch of economic history.? Loads of fun!

rockpools You‘re welcome.

Oh, and this is the first in the series. I read a ReadersFirst copy of book 3, Body in the Boat, a few years back and was equally happy!
2mo
TrishB Sounds fun 👍🏻 2mo
julesG Interesting. Will have to add it to the endless TBR 2mo
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rockpools
Heartstopper | Alice Oseman
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Pickpick

Oh, OK then. It is very, very sweet and charming. Despite being an old grump, I will be reading volume 2 (if I can catch it before it flies out of the door at work at any point).

It‘s the only book I‘ve had someone physically jumping up and down with excitement when it‘s been on the shelf for them.

thegirlwiththelibrarybag Aww - I love it when people are that excited to collect a book! Glad you enjoyed it - recommend reserving the lot! 2mo
rockpools @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I might just have to do that! 2mo
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rockpools
Wilding | Isabella Tree
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I am love love loving this book. It is FASCINATING. And also challenging a huge amount I studied at uni (OK, that was a while back).

Very much looking forward to the discussion on Saturday for #naturalitsy

LeeRHarry I have only read a couple of chapters but it is full of interesting stuff so far 😊 2mo
AllDebooks So thrilled you're enjoying it. It certainly makes you think 🤔 2mo
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rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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Morning all! How are things? Hope you‘re having a good weekend.

I‘m really not doing a good job of posting/reviewing atm, but here‘s what I‘m on this week. #bookreport

Wilding 🐦 : AWESOME. So that‘s good.
Ninth Building 🏢: My surprise of the IBP so far. Short-stories-memoiry stuff growing up thro the cultural revolution. But that cover??
A stitch in time 🪡: Monica Ferris -always reliable cozy on audio, if a little dated/middle class in places

rockpools Lviv: I mean, I‘m enjoying it a lot. But I have NO CLUE what I‘m reading!

So that‘s it. Have a lovely bookish weekend, all.
(edited) 2mo
Cinfhen That‘s a lot!! Thanks for sharing xx im curious about this one, but agree… that cover?!! Bleh 2mo
TrishB Some good stuff 👍🏻 2mo
rockpools @Cinfhen Urrmmm… I might be still reading 3 of them 🙃. I think you might appreciate Ninth Building though - obviously there‘s massively grim stuff, especially at the start, but it‘s quite an interesting perspective- a lot of it‘s young people being young people, playing music, gambling, teasing each other… and then something happens to show just what a bizarre traumatic time they‘re living through. 2mo
Cinfhen I meant you‘ve got a lot to share!!! And that makes for a good “report” 😉😘Ninth sounds like a #BorrowNotBuy for me because it‘s one of those “artsy” reads - not sure if I‘ll love it or hate it 😂 2mo
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Untitled | Unknown
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Happy Sunday!

I thought I‘d get some predictions in for the #InternationalBookerPrize2023. And then put them on a ridiculously cheerful springlike not-remotely-dark backdrop - because obviously that‘s what IBP books call for.

The longlist lands on Tuesday, when we‘ll discover
1. I‘m wildly wrong about everything
2. I‘ve read none
3. The list is way grimmer than mine
4. And has least 3 chunksters!

Anyone else attempting the longlist this year?

rockpools Disclaimer: it‘s entirely possible that a couple of these aren‘t even eligible. I *think* they‘re all in with a shot, but 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3mo
batsy Lol re: cheerful backdrop 😆 I will once again with great enthusiasm attempt the longlist (& probably only end up reading two or something, as per my personal tradition!) 3mo
TrishB We‘ll watch for your big reveal! 3mo
See All 23 Comments
Suet624 After attempting to read the tournament of books selections I usually find I want to read my TBR pile. One year I‘ll switch it up and read booker books instead. 3mo
squirrelbrain I agree with you @Suet624 - although I‘m reading the Women‘s Prize longlist now instead. 🤦‍♀️ 3mo
Suet624 @squirrelbrain haha. Great idea. That may actually be more to my liking. 3mo
MicheleinPhilly @batsy 💯% me when I take on any reading challenge. 3mo
BarbaraBB I don‘t know any of your predictions but I am looking forward to the longlist. I will definitely read some, but probably not all. I hope our friend @Simona will tune in to share her recommendations with us! 3mo
rockpools @Suet624 @squirrelbrain There are loads i fancy reading on the Women‘s Prize list this year - but I never get to them because the timing‘s so close to this one. I wish they‘d spread themselves out a little! And I think I‘m going to let you read all the Women‘s Prize list, Helen, then I‘ll read the ones you recommend 😊 3mo
rockpools @batsy Yay! To be fair, I don‘t think I ever get to half of them - but it‘s fun trying! 3mo
rockpools @TrishB It‘ll probably be a big ⁉️😵‍💫🤯 - that‘s how it usually works! 3mo
rockpools @MicheleinPhilly 😂 I think this is the only one I make decent inroads into. Everything else fizzles very early on 😕 3mo
rockpools @BarbaraBB In truth, I never do read all of them. But I‘m hoping for a head-start with some I‘ve already read this year (never going to happen). And yes, we miss you @Simona 😘 3mo
squirrelbrain If either of the Pereine books make the list, let me know as I have them and I can send them to you. Haven‘t read them of course! 🤣 3mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain 😂😂Thank you! I actually have Of Saints… Bet you can‘t guess whether *I‘ve* read it! Had great plans to get through all the possibles on my shelves before Tuesday - and got distracted by a swashbuckling historical murder-mystery with a healthy dose of economic history. As one does… 3mo
BookwormM Love the cheerful background so ironic 3mo
BookwormM Can you email me your list as my eyes can‘t read some in your photo. Back on steroid eye drops again 😪 3mo
rockpools @BookwormM Oh, I‘m so sorry! And actually there are a few horrible photos there. I‘ll email it over now. 3mo
rockpools Body Kintsugi by Senka Marić, tr. Celia Hawkesworth
Of Saints and Miracles by Manuel Astur tr. Claire Wadie
Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel, tr. Rosalind Harvey
The Private Lives of Trees by Alejandro Zambra tr. Megan McDowell
Tell Me About It by Sacha Naspini, tr. Clarissa Botsford
Whale by Cheon Myeong-Kwan, tr. Chi-Young Kim
3mo
rockpools Greek Lessons by Han Kang, tr. Deborah Smith and Emily Yae-Won
Is There Rush Hour in a Third World Country by Rogelio Braga, te. Kristine Ong Muslim
Call Me Cassandra by Marcial Gala, tr. Anna Kushner
Salt Crystals by Cristina Bendek, tr. Robin Myers
So Distant from My Life by Monique Ilboudo, tr. Yarri Kamara
Thread Ripper by Amalie Smith, tr. Jennifer Russell
Chinatown by Thuan, tr. Nguyen An Li
3mo
Centique I love hearing your reports back on the International Booker. You are a great source of reccs! Will be exciting to see if your early picks make it. 3mo
Suet624 Thanks for typing that list out. Screenshot it. 3mo
rockpools @Centique Aw, thank you Paula 😊. We‘re reviewing over on the https://thereadersroom.org/ if you want 3 times as many predictions (we only agreed on one, and I still have no idea how to review it! 🐳) Very much looking forward to tomorrow‘s longlist. I‘m the most prepared I‘ve ever been, so they‘re bound to be 12 books I‘ve never even heard of, plus maybe one I dislike 👎 intensely. 3mo
48 likes23 comments
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rockpools
You're Thinking about Doughnuts | Michael Rosen, Sarah Tisdall
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I mean…

Title ☑️
Cover ☑️
Author ☑️

RaeLovesToRead Can relate 3mo
rockpools @RaeLovesToRead Have since been spotting doughnuts everywhere all week. People just walking down the street eating doughnuts. THIS IS NOT NORMAL! 3mo
Centique I‘m always thinking about doughnuts tbh 😂 3mo
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Untitled | Unknown
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I really need to write some reviews! In the meantime, here‘s my beautifully coordinated #bookreport for this week.

I finished 3 whole books 🎉
If the River is Hidden: gorgeous nonfiction/poetry/travel/stuff, along Northern Ireland‘s River Bann
A Three Dog Problem: Yeah. Meh.
Whale: I really hope this makes the International Booker Prize longlist, simply because I want someone else‘s views on it. In the words of StoryGraph, It‘s

rockpools Complicated. Uncomfortable, fantastical, rambling and complicated.

Ongoing
Island to Island - a Somerset couple move to the Seychelles to run a nature reserve. Well-written and honest, but I don‘t love it yet.

Afraid I‘m not even going to attempt a #WeeklyForecast this week, but it could include The Whalebone Theatre (there‘s a theme!), something middle-grade, and some more IBP prep!
(edited) 3mo
squirrelbrain They all sound really interesting… apart from the dog one! 😁 3mo
Cathythoughts Lovely report ♥️ 3mo
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Cinfhen I‘m sooooo curious about Whale 🐳 off to see how expensive it is😉 3mo
rockpools @Cinfhen Eek! 😂😂. Disclaimer, I didn‘t actually recommend it. I just want someone else to read it! I am going to have so much trouble reviewing this one! 3mo
rockpools @Cathythoughts Thanks Cathy 😘 3mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain You might like the top two! And yes, Whale is interesting 🤔 3mo
Cinfhen Hahaha 🤣 that‘s hilarious!!!!! I‘m still SUPER CURIOUS about it!!!! 3mo
rockpools @Cinfhen Yeah. That pretty much translated as NO, CINDY, DON‘T HIT THE ONE-CLICK BUTTON! Though, to be fair, I‘m super-curious about it too, and I just finished it! 🙃 3mo
Cinfhen It‘s not available for me yet!!! So I have time to wait…im gonna go the #BorrowNotBuy route - thanks Rachel for saving me from myself!! I did preorder this one though @Cathythoughts - I couldn‘t resist!!!! 3mo
rockpools @Cinfhen You might find the US publication on NetGalley (but if you do, I deny everything 🫣!) Some reviewers have described it as magical realism, which I‘m not sure I‘d go with. Although technically, maybe. It‘s also described as satire, which may explain the problematic stuff. Or not. Who knows?! But it does have an elephant 🐘 and lots of bricks 🧱 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3mo
Cinfhen I actually dislike BOTH magical realism and satire but I do love elephants 🐘 so now I‘m more confused than curious 🤪 3mo
rockpools @Cinfhen This is an appropriate state of mind in which to approach this book! But Birman Wood sounds great - I‘m going to investigate that 😊 3mo
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rockpools
A Three Dog Problem | Sj Bennett
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Mehso-so

Hmm, I‘m not too sure.

On one hand, the Queen discretely solving murders, with the help of her young assistant private secretary, is still a lot of fun. The author loves (some of) her royals! And who doesn‘t like a bit of art crime?

On the other 😕lots of things. The plot got more than a little convoluted. A whole host of heavy themes were in here, not all of them managed well. And it needed more dogs!

I *may* or may not read the next one!

iread2much More dogs makes every story better 😊 3mo
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rockpools
If the River is Hidden | Cherry Smyth, Craig Jordan-Baker
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Gorgeous morning here. Worth the trip to the other side of the river for a GP appointment. Yes, that is the ferry I got home.

Then started The River is Hidden (not in database), which was in my Republic of Consciousness Prize sub - a poetry-prose walk along the length of the River Bann, Northern Ireland, written by two authors with complicated relationships with English/Irish/Northern Irish identities.

I wonder if I could walk *this* river 🤔

jlhammar Beautiful pic! The book sounds excellent. 3mo
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rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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In this week‘s #bookreport:
I finished
🧙‍♀️ A sweet witchy children‘s story, about a little witch who doesn‘t speak
🐰 Based on the author‘s story, a young Jewish girl leaves Germany just in time. So well done.
Still going with:
🐺Hobb. Going to have to switch to print now, but it‘s Fab.
👑 And enjoying being back at the palace with her majesty and her sleuthing. An entertaining read.

As for the #weeklyforecast

rockpools - it could be any of the 72 other books I‘m in the middle of, or (more likely) something completely different. Ho hum! 3mo
Cinfhen I love how eclectic your reading taste was this week😁 3mo
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rockpools
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Pickpick

In my ongoing hunt for pre-school appropriate books about #selectivemutism, I stumbled across this at work. An accepting story about a little witch whose words get stuck, making friends & saying what‘s important when she really needs to. A dragon is involved.

Things to note:
1. Written by a Speech & Language Therapist
2. Pictures are gorgeous
3. Wanda‘s ‘condition‘ is never named, so could cover many things
4. Nosy Crow are awesome publishers.

CarolynM I love that first sentence. I can relate😬🥴 3mo
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Libby ate my book. And I have to wait a whole month to get it back. I‘m feeling quite bereft. 🙁

peanutnine I hate when that happens 😔 3mo
rockpools @peanutnine Me too! I hope I can rustle up a print copy in the meantime! 3mo
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Untitled | Untitled
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Morning, Litsy. #BookReport

I wasn‘t crazy-keen on the books I was reading this week, so I switched things up a little with a jumble of children‘s lit and translated wotnots. MUCH better.

🎶 Tenement Kid. Bit of an effort tbh.
📚 Librarian. Fine, but not fab.
🐳 Whale. If I get through this I‘ll have lots to say. It could‘ve been brilliant. But instead, uck. Enough now.

rockpools 🐺 Hobb, enjoying, but more fantasy-fantasy than first book
🩲 Captain Underpants. Made my week. I actually finished this one 😁. New plan. More kids books in the diet!
🐰 Judith Kerr. Why have I never read this before?! She was a fabulous writer💔
🐮 Of Saints and Miracles. This could go any which way, but I‘m loving it so far.

Hope your weekend is amazing. Happy reading 😊
4mo
julesG Successful week! 4mo
BkClubCare 👏 (GREAT idea to read children‘s lit when in a reading slump…. 🤔) (edited) 4mo
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TrishB A good week, switching it around helped! 4mo
squirrelbrain A great week! I think I have Of Saints and Miracles on my physical TBR shelf, so I‘ll be interested to hear your thoughts. 4mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain It‘s very readable- but I‘m not sure I trust it! Will keep you posted. 4mo
rockpools @TrishB Definitely- I want to finish the first three, but can‘t honestly say I‘m enjoying them. Sometimes utter silliness helps! 4mo
rockpools @BkClubCare Absolutely! It‘s fun to see what else is out there. 4mo
rockpools @julesG of course I‘ve only actually finished one of them, but at least I‘m enjoying my jumble! 4mo
Cinfhen I LOVE this photo!!! Such delightful covers!!! 4mo
LeahBergen I‘ve always been meaning to read When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. 4mo
rockpools @Cinfhen Chaos as usual- but there are a few fun reads in here! 4mo
rockpools @LeahBergen Yep, me too. She‘s very good at keeping it child-friendly without avoiding the fact that the dark stuff is out there. 4mo
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rockpools
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Pickpick

I‘ve spent LOADS of time this week being told how funny Captain Underpants is, by enthusiastic young readers. Or ordering in different titles for children who have read everything Underpants we have. Or just hunting for Dav Pilkey books, cos they refuse to stay on the shelf.

So this evening I decided to actually read one… Turns out they are quite fun. And I did like the Flip-E-Rama section. I might even be up for reading more.

Tra-La-Laaa!

BookishMadHatter I've read all of these with my daughters as well as the Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club books ... several times each actually lol. We have loads of fun with them 4mo
TEArificbooks The Investigators and Agent Moose are similar book series for those kids that have read all Dog Man/Dav Pilkey books 4mo
Aimeesue I will confess to loving the lo-tech Flip-E-Ramas in Pilkey's books. I'm easily amused. 😂 4mo
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rockpools @BookishMadHatter Dog Man is on the TBR. I didn‘t know Cat Kid was a thing, but will see what we have. They‘re a lot more fun than I expected! 4mo
rockpools @TEArificbooks THANK YOU! As a recovering business librarian, I‘ve a lot of catching up to do with the children‘s literature- this is VALUABLE INFORMATION. I‘ll check them out 😊 4mo
rockpools @Aimeesue Same. 😂😂. I was reading on Kobo, and read the instructions SO carefully! 4mo
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rockpools
A Fortunate Woman | Polly Morland
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Another excellent read from @Mitch ‘s #AuldLangSpine list.

Morland finds a copy of Berger‘s A Fortunate Man, the life of a rural doctor and his patients - and discovers it‘s set in the valley in which she lives. She approaches the current GP, to see if she‘d be interested in working with her on a modern-day version… and here it is.

rockpools I don‘t tend to go for medically books, so I wouldn‘t have picked this up on my own, but I very much appreciated it. The patients‘ stories are told with compassion, the doctor‘s belief in knowing her patients, and above all giving them time, and the conflict with the modern health system, all shine through. And then we reach the pandemic…

This was a really interesting, different look at life as a GP, what we value and what we risk losing.
4mo
rockpools Using this for #NonFiction2023 Harper Valley PTA (because it‘s set in The Valley), and #UKRoadTrip #Gloucestershire - which really surprised me. I thought it was Cumbria or somewhere! @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @jenniferw88 4mo
Mitch Glad you liked it. It‘s the first book ‘pandemic‘ book I‘ve read and I was worried about that section. But the strength of hope and humanity just shines through. It caught me off guard and really touched my heart 4mo
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rockpools
Real Estate | Deborah Levy
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Pickpick

NOT what I was expecting. And all the better for it.

The author is 59. Her youngest daughter is leaving home, her banana tree is part of the family, & the chances of her acquiring the grand house she‘s always planned are receding. So what Real Estate does she have? Or Un-Real Estate, come to that?

A surprisingly funny, wise, relatable, comfort-ready memoir-of-a-year in-essays type-thing. I will read her novels.

Audio read by Julia Stevenson👍

Centique I love Julia Stevenson and want to get to this, so that‘s good to know! 4mo
rockpools @Centique It was a really good fit. Have you read others by Deborah Levy, Paula? 4mo
Centique @rockpools no I haven‘t, but I have Swimming Home sitting on my shelf and looking at me! Do you have a recc for where to start with Levy? 4mo
See All 7 Comments
rockpools @Centique Not a clue! I have to admit I‘d never been that enthusiastic- this was a completely random Libby find, while I was waiting for my next Robin Hobb to come in! And it‘s the final part of her memoir-of-sorts, so a wildly logical place to start 😜 But @batsy @Graywacke and @squirrelbrain have all recommended Hot Milk, so that‘ll probably be what I try next 4mo
squirrelbrain I really need to try these autobiographical ones, although I might start with the first one…! (Sensible, but boring, that‘s me! 🤣) 4mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain Nah, just less scatterbrained than some of us 🫣 - if I waited to read things in order, I‘d get through even less than I do now! I want to go back to the start now I know I enjoy her writing. 4mo
Graywacke I'm glad you enjoyed this. 4mo
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Of Saints and Miracles | Manuel Astur
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It‘s my day off. The books I‘m reading are not necessarily the books I want to be reading right now.

Obvious solution (I really wish this wasn‘t the obvious solution!) - start something else. This is the preface. Ok!

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Untitled | Untitled
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#BookReport #WeeklyForecast

Afternoon all! This is what my reading‘s looking like at the moment. I‘ll be honest - it‘s a slightly odd combination, and it really is all about the audio at the moment. I‘m being a bit grinchy, and a bit lurgy (AGAIN) so take everything I say with a large pinch of salt. Unless it relates to Robin Hobb. And I am SO far behind with reviews, this might just turn into an extended essay 🙁

rockpools 🔴 Real Estate. I‘ve never read Deborah Levy before. After this relatable, surprisingly funny comfort-read/essay/memoir/thing, I will be reading her novels. I actually finished this one…
🟠 Royal Assassin:…then dived straight back into the Farseer world on audio. What HAVE you done to me, Litsy? Loving it!
🟡 Bobby Gillespie‘s autobiog was a birthday present last year. We‘ll see how we go, but not a resounding rave-about book so far 🫤
(edited) 4mo
rockpools 🟢 The Whale. This was an ARC, due last month, translated from the Korean. On the one hand the storytelling‘s great. And how cool is that cover? On the other, WTF??! Much problematicness. Will attempt to finish as it has International Booker written all over it. But 🫣
🔵 The Librarian was in my Secret Santa- light and enjoyable if not always convincing.

Happy reading! Hi Cindy 😁 @Cinfhen
(edited) 4mo
TrishB I‘d just like to remind you that Fitz is my literary boyfriend 😁❤️ 4mo
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batsy The only thing I've read by Deborah Levy is Hot Milk and it was so good! 4mo
rockpools @TrishB Noted 😂 4mo
rockpools @batsy I‘ll read that first then. I must admit, the blurb didn‘t appeal at all when it came out, but I‘ve SO enjoyed this one… 4mo
rockpools @TrishB Although I thought that was Duke What‘s-He-Called (it was either William or Henry) from Eleanor of Aquitaine‘s time! 4mo
TrishB Well he was a real person, so he‘s sort of my historical boyfriend 😁 Definitely William. (They‘re all William or Henry aren‘t they!) 4mo
rockpools @TrishB Of course! 😂😂 4mo
squirrelbrain I love your wrap-ups and forecasts Rachel! Sorry you‘re lurgyish again. thought Hot Milk was amazing too! @batsy I haven‘t read any more of hers yet, but did just get the new one on #netgalley 4mo
Graywacke I love Deborah Levy. Well, I‘ve read two terrific novels by her and I‘m hoping to read more. Noting Real Estate. 4mo
Graywacke @rockpools seconding Hot Milk! ( @batsy ) Fun book. 4mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain Thanks Helen. Hot Milk it is then - I‘m trying hard not to look at NetGalley, until I have at least 2 more reviews under my belt! So I‘ll pretend I haven‘t seen that August Blue exists - at least until tomorrow.., 4mo
rockpools @Graywacke I think Real Estste is the 3rd bit of her autobiographyish thing, in case you need to read in order (I rarely do). What was the other Levy you read? Somehow I really wasn‘t expecting her to be fun! 4mo
Graywacke @rockpools i listened to The Man Who Saw Everything. Actually I listened twice because I couldn‘t make sense of it the first time (but still liked it). The second time I caught on. It‘s very playful in its own way. I loved it. 4mo
48 likes15 comments
blurb
rockpools
Frankly in Love | David Yoon
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On the hunt for a #QuietYA book for #Booked2023, I thought I‘d give this a go. Korean-American Frank falls for a white girl. His parents have already disowned his sister, for falling for a black guy. So he needs a plan…

It‘a titled as a predictable romance, but this isn‘t where it goes. It‘s much more about feeling you fall between worlds, working out your identity, friendships & getting to know your parents. Sad & funny. Narrator was excellent.

Cinfhen Sounds great!!! 4mo
42 likes1 comment
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

I loved loved loved this book.

A series of essays stemming from the North Sea coast of Denmark, where the author explores the environment, home, history, belonging, the city, art, the sea, the seafarers, and all sorts, with a dry humour.

With gorgeous illustrations by her friend Signe Parkins, this was a quite lovely read, and it may be time to renew my passport and get exploring again.

rockpools Thank you for introducing me to this @Mitch through #AuldLangSpine. I‘ve loved reading the books on your list, and have a few more to read throughout the year ☺️. And thank you for putting all of this together, with such great matches @monalyisha / I‘ve really enjoyed my January reading! 4mo
Mitch I had the exact same reaction. It‘s been nearly 10 years since I‘ve been to this region and the book soooooo made me want to return! 4mo
rockpools @Mitch In the early 2000s, me and a friend did a bunch of North Sea ‘mini-cruises‘ - which translates as packing a suitcase full of books and catching a seriously cheap ferry there-and-back. We did the Harwich-Esbjerg one she mentions in the book (it was as described!) and actually spent a few days in Esbjerg visiting Ribe, Fanø and Copenhagen. But now I‘m wondering if I‘m up for a bit of solo Euro travel- it‘s been AGES since I‘ve been away away! 4mo
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review
rockpools
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Pickpick

A complete surprise, combining a memoir of the author and his father, whose ‘together‘ activity was eel fishing, with a natural/social history of the eel, and what we don‘t know about them. I went in (honestly?) indifferent to eels, and came out with respect and fascination for these stubborn, elusive creatures. Great stuff!

Thanks for prompting this read #naturalitsy! #NonFiction2023 #RollingInTheDeep #NaturalitsyBingo #Water

jlhammar I agree! Great review. 4mo
AllDebooks Love this! Great review x 4mo
63 likes3 stack adds2 comments
blurb
rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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Happy Weekend, Litsy!

So this week I finished my first Robin Hobb, and was very tempted to dive straight into the next book. But at 29 hours, I‘d best go for a break in between times!

Lots of nonfiction, thanks to #AuldLangSpine and #NaturalLitsy. And why have I not read Dorthe Nors‘s fiction yet?

And started Frankly in Love as an attempt at QuietYA for #Booked2023. I had no idea about David and Nicola Yoon‘s story.

rockpools That‘s my #BookReport. I‘m declaring 1st of Feb the start of my new year, as Dec/Jan were a write-off and I have next week as leave - so for my #weeklyforecast, mainly the same, but also finishing as much half-read stuff that‘s lying about as humanly possible. What can possibly go wrong? 😂😂 4mo
TrishB Oh Rachel, I‘m so glad you loved the Hobb, you have wonderful treats ahead ♥️ (edited) 4mo
rockpools @TrishB I was slightly nervous in case I hated it 🤣 - I rattled through it in no time! 4mo
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TrishB That one is of course the shortest one 😁 4mo
Cathythoughts That‘s a great result ♥️ 4mo
Cinfhen That‘s a great endorsement for the Robin Hobb trilogy #MaybeOneDay 4mo
51 likes6 comments