An interlude in September's tale but just as richly told as the rest of the series. Looking good forward to the final book to see how thr author ties it all up.

Was introduced to this book owing to the excellent podcast by the author. It is hopeful yet sad, funny yet thoughtful. The author weaves his life through the essays about different items which he gives a rating to. Glad I finally got to this book.
#roll100

This is my wheelhouse. A cosy murder with some depth in terms of characters. This had twists and spins and also had a warmth from the characters. One quibble - It did have a little bit too many characters in it and (especially towards the end) I had to try and recollect who someone was.
Read for #bookspin

Was looking forward to pick this up as I had heard about it about 2 years ago. A short classic that is worth the read to understand the push and pull of passing as white.
#roll100
#1929
#192025

What a romp!
Read for #bookspin and #authorborninafrica #booked2022

Celie's adventures continue with the griffins and the wizards. I liked that the parents (especially the queen) were given a bit more airtime in this book.

When I realised that this was Julia Child's editor I was intrigued as I have just finished watching the TV series 'Julia'. However, this is a very slim memoir with a third of it dedicated to recipes. As such, it just skims the surface of her life. I would have appreciated a more in depth memoir of what seems to be a very interesting life.
A soft pick.
#booked2022 #includesarecipe #roll100

A very frank and passionate diary by Dara (fifteen years old at the point of writing and autistic). It documents the uprooting of his home and how he relates to nature and his increasing prominence as an environmental activist. His descriptions of his encounters with the nature around him were evocative and lyrical. The way that he talks about his autism was enlightening.
#roll100

I now understand why this book is so beloved. ❤️
Enjoyed it thoroughly.

Had never heard about this King Arthur story but it is an interesting one which centers around Gawain.
FYI - The cover is misleading. 😅😅 I expected there to be more dragon based on it.
Also my #doublespin for June.

Slim book which weaves in mystery and magical realism. I was absolutely drawn into the story when the labyrinths were introduced. However, I found my interest lagging slightly as we approached the halfway point of the book. It seemed to drag a little. The end really pivoted - I definitely did not think it was heading that way.
A soft pick for me (partially due to all the hype as well I think).

Enjoyed the general premise and the dry wit. I also enjoyed the little diversions that gave us a glimpse into Skelton's life as a lawyer. However, the ending left me a bit....hmmmmm....
A pick but I guess depending on my mood it could be a soft pick.

Between a pick and a so-so. A small oddish book about an odd man. I did learn some about Reginald Farrer but I am on the fence about how I feel about this unlikely ungrateful man... is this enough or did I want him a little more fleshed out?

Written in conjuction with a BBC TV series, Alistair cooke was a commentator I used to listen to in university. This book is an overview of America from the time when Columbus "discovered" it to about the 1970s or so.

A little slow in spots but I am definitely intrigued by the world building and the political intrigue in the plot. Will be picking up book 2 when I am able.
This is also my #bookspin read for May.

Was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel in verse. About 2 sisters - one in New York and the other in the #dominicanrepublic ,who find out about each other when their father dies in a plane crash.
Emotional and impactful in audio as well as on paper.

A novel that charts some historical events in the #Philippines - from the Spanish occupation to the American one. Theme is strongly about nationalism and imperialism. I had planned to read this last year for #readingasia2021 but #bookspin has helped me tick it off my TBR. 🎉🎉

Gives a good overview of how the British via Robert Fortune managed to obtain the valuable tea seedlings from the wuyi mountains in China to improve on the tea plantations in their other territories and therefore eat into the Chinese monopoly on good tea.

A quick audiobook with some good points to help one stop overthinking.

I generally don't read the synopsis of a book when I pick it up and go in quite blind. Got through about one third of this. It was dark ( I could deal- ish... ), the language was lyrical (great), but then there was that graphic animal cruelty scene and I don't think this book will be for me - what with me being on the fence about "dark".
Was hoping to read this as a nautical book for #booked2022. Will have to pick another.

A collection on essays from journalists based in the #middleeast . They were grouped into similar themes but it was a good intro into some translated journalism and different view points.
A #bookspin read as well as #booked2022 #writtenbyajournalist

In the vein of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. This book is about a group of ladies in chilbury who like other women around the country supported their country during world war 2. Surprising little twists here and there in the plot kept me engaged. Loved the humour in the journals and letters written.
Read for one of my #roll100

Lyrically written book about love lost and found.
Read for my March #bookspin.

The author decides to try and find the ancient road that leads from the vietnamese coast to Angkor. He was not successful in trekking according to the road but he managed to make it from point to point through some pretty overgrown jungle areas.
Read for #roll100 and realised that this can be used for #booked2022 #involvesanexploration .
Overall - an interesting but not the most riveting read.

A little draggy in parts but overall a pleasant read.
I loved joining the author on this book of the overlooked Bennet sister.
Read for #pemberlittens but also considering this for #aboutsisters for #booked2022

Started off promising but veered off a little into predictable and perhaps a bit too much swooning from the hero. 😂😂
Read for #roll100

A simple book about the healing qualities of a dog that comes into the life of a lonely child.

I did not expect this book to be as humorous as it was.
Read for #booked2022 #titlerepeatsitself
@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

A soft pick for me as I enjoyed the originality - it definitely catches you in the beginning. However, it tried a little too much to be clever for me and I felt at times that I was being "lectured" to. However, there were definitely twists on top of twists.
Read for #amurdermystery for #booked2022
@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

Part of the Castle Glower series. A griffin is born in the tower and the castle unveils the secrets it has been holding for so long.
This one ends on a cliffhanger, so it's a good thing I have the next book on hand.
#booked2022
#aboutarealorfictionalroyal

Another book in the Peculiar Crimes Unit. These books also delve into aspects of London which I am not familiar with - in this case the lost rivers which are now underground. A little meandering at times but the dry wit does help me through.

A little disorienting at first, but overall an enjoyable read about the narrator's family life in #iran and #france. I loved the way the stories flowed and intertwined, weaving towards what the narrator dubs as THE EVENT.
Realised that I could use this for #acomingoutstory for #booked2022
@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

The rating on this is not so much the book but basically my relationship to short stories.
Read for #roll100

Told from the point of view of Ariadne and her sister, Phaedra, this retelling helped to ground some of these stories for me and to give more emphasis to the women in the stories.
Read for #booked2022 #thinkgreek #greece
@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

Love the IG comics. So had to pick this up when I saw it at the bookshop.😁

Enjoyable read as usual. I have a deep love for this Amelia Peabody series. Especially love the narrator for this series as well.

One woman's journey to finding something more to believe in. Tackled with alot of humour as she works her way through laughing yoga, burning man, shamans, soul cycle etc.
If you are looking for something serious, this is not it - but it definitely suited my mood and entertained me.
Read for #aboutacultorreligion for #booked2022 as well as #bookspin
@Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

It has taken me a while to get to (and through) Volume 2 of this family saga. I do enjoy the goings on of this privileged Chinese family when I do get stuck in but sometimes other more fast paced books do take precedence.
Finally finished this for #setinchina for #booked2022
In this volume the unraveling of the family's finances are hinted of.
@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

Something a little lighter to balance out my heavier reads this year. Definitely hit that spot.
Also part of the #roll100 for this month.

A surprisingly raw book. I have not watched the movie but from what I read that has more romance than the book portrayed.
#mentalhealth #mentalillness
Picked this book up because of #bookspin

This was a hard book to get through because of the subject matter - I see aging in myself and those I love around me. But it is a very important book to read regarding the subject matter.
A definite pick for me.

Not my favourite Discworld book but it definitely still had a ton of humour. It was just a little too choppy for me. Maybe if I had read Faust I would have appreciated this more?
1st book off the list for #roll100 @PuddleJumper 😁

I enjoyed this second book in the series more than the first. The numerous nomes have seemed to grow on me. 😂
Read this as my #doublespin for January!
@thearomaofbooks

I enjoyed the first 2 books more. 😞
Valente does have a flowery writing style which carries on to this book. As usual she draws from classic children books but the plot in this was a bit convoluted and September seemed to lack some agency in her choices.

Thank you @erzascarletbookgasm for this #jolabokaflodswap 🤗🤗
Love the chocolate choice too!
Thank you @MaleficentBookDragon for organising this swap.

The story follows the life of two siblings after the partition of #Bangladesh - the repercussions of the war as well as the rise of radical Islamisation.
Read for #readingasia2021 and also my December #bookspin

@thearomaofbooks

An short odd one. The story is of a friendship that blossoms into something real. But I did not get a handle on Jennifer's motivations for acting the way she did.

Another witty book by the author. Lord Peter Wimsey is just so droll. 😁
The mystery itself was not the most riveting but the humour made up for it.

Churchill's thoughts on painting as a hobby. Picked this up after reading a biography on him earlier this year.
Read for #doublespin for December @TheAromaofBooks

I was not sure what I was getting into with this book. The story took a while to gel together and at times I kept wanting it to move along a little bit faster. But all in all a fairly enjoyable read.
Read for #bookspin for November.
@TheAromaofBooks