"Loot" by Tania James

This spellbinding historical novel weaves a story around the automata Tipu’s Tiger, and some of the people whose lives it touched. I’ve seen Tipu’s Tiger at the V&A Museum in London, so it was fascinating to read a fictionalised account of it’s creation, and how it ended up in the collection of the East India Company (from where it was ultimately passed to the V&A).

The story revolves around a number of people who are displaced, away from home, or amongst strangers. The main character, Abbas, an apprentice carver who worked on the Tiger, is displaced for most of the story: taken from his home to work in Tipu’s Summer Palace; then an Indian amongst Europeans at a turbulent time in Indian history. His character is sensitively written, with a depth of emotion, ambition and uncertainty that I found really engaging.

The plot takes Abbas from India to Europe, as he follows his ambition of completing his training in order to create automata of the quality of those made by his mentor in India. I was carried along with his fate, and that of the ward of his mentor, Jehanne De Leze. I enjoyed following them through hardships and attempts to build a life for themselves.

Historical novels aren’t my usual genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Thank you #NetGalley and Random House UK Vintage for the free review copy of #Loot in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★★★

NetGalley Review

"Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas" by Adam Kay

Short but excellent set of stories from Adam Kay’s time as a junior doctor. This selection from his time doing Christmas shifts.

I read the first third of this book and listened to the audiobook for the remainder, narrated by Adam Kay himself. While it’s nice to hear the voice of the author, his comedy timing doesn’t do justice to the material, so I’d actually recommend reading the book.

Nice short read for the festive season!

My rating: ★★★★☆

"The Second Chance Year" by Melissa Wiesner

This is a joyful, lighthearted exploration of the main character, Sadie, getting an opportunity to redo a year of her life and make all of the “right” decisions. It touches on friendship, duty, a little bit of misogyny and sexual harassment, a good amount of romance, but mostly it’s about self image, self esteem, and identity.

The question of whether the “right” decisions turn out to be the best thing for Sadie in the long run drives the narrative - and it’s unsurprising that the answer isn’t a resounding yes.

I enjoyed all of the characters. Sadie has the most complexity, as see tries to navigate the consequences of making different choices during her repeated year. The supporting characters (Jacob, Owen, Zoe…) are more two dimensional, but likeable and engaging.

There weren’t that many surprises in the plot, which ultimately turned out largely as I expected it to… but I’m a sucker for an upbeat story so that was absolutely fine with me!

Thank you #NetGalley and Headline Eternal for the free review copy of #TheSecondChanceYear in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★★☆

NetGalley Review

"The Murder at the Vicarage" by Agatha Christie

This was my first Agatha Christie, but not my first Cozy Mystery (I had previous read Richard Osman’s first book and enjoyed it). Unfortunately, I found it incredibly heavy going. In chapter after chapter nothing much happens except the slow and inexorable revelation of another tidbit of information that either contradicts something previously uncovered, or doesn’t seem to relate to anything. And while I appreciate that many people may find this intriguing and enjoyable, I found it frustrating.

I very much liked the main character of Len Clement. To me he felt authentic and I enjoyed his forebearing weariness. The other characters felt much more two-dimensional, though - and I found the smug, supercilious false modest of Miss Marple to be quite annoying.

This was almost a ‘did not finish’ for me, but I trudged on to the end, mainly so that I could write an honest review. So here it is. Not for me, I’m afraid.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

"First Lie Wins" by Ashley Elston

This twisty-turny cat-and-mouse thriller totally drew me in. The world of subterfuge and secret identities that Evie Porter lives in is cleverly woven. Each direction the plot takes, and each new revelation, is satisfying and nicely unpredictable. I don’t do well with stories that have too many characters, hidden identities, or overly complex plots - and this book managed to hit a perfect balance: intriguing puzzles, a good cast of characters, and an imaginative storyline, but without losing the reader in complexity.

The story kept me turning the pages as each plot point unfolded. The main character, Evie Porter, and the small group of friends and confidantes are very likeable despite the shady business they’re involved in, and I really wanted good outcomes for all of them.

I found the drawing together of the loose ends towards the end of the book immensely satisfying - any details that would have spoiled the plot earlier in the book were so subtly written that I didn’t spot many of them until their importance became obvious as the plot was revealed.

Highly recommended. I’m also very glad to see that there’s a TV adaptation in the works!

Thank you #NetGalley and Headline for the free review copy of #FirstLieWins in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★★★

NetGalley Review

"Dogboy v Catfish" by Luke Gracias

This is a moderately engaging police procedural.

The blurb is so concise that I’ll repeat it here:

“The police investigation into Dogboy's disappearance leads them into the dark world of counterfeit designer goods, money laundering, and drug smuggling. With Dogboy's assets frozen and the mob protecting their interests, the missing persons case escalates to homicide. Catfish is in a race against time to get hold of Dogboy's assets before the police get hold of her. One question remains - is Dogboy dead or alive?”

Yes. That’s exactly what happens. Nothing more. Nothing less.

The plot holds together, but there are no real surprises, and each chapter just felt like turning the handle to move one step further towards the end. The perfunctory writing style added to this same of trudging through the book - often seeming like a checklist of activities that each character needed to be doing. Some randomly spurious details thrown in from time to time: “Sabina had her Canon DSLR with the 400 mm zoom pointed across the street” (the only relevance here being that it was a camera) - perhaps this was the author’s attempt to inject more realism, but it just felt like padding to me. The characters were distinct, but lacking depth.

So… engaging enough for me to get to the end - that’s all.

Thank you #NetGalley and the author for the free review copy of #Dogboyvcatfish in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

My rating: ★★★☆☆

NetGalley Review

"Call for the Dead" (George Smiley Book 1) by John le Carré

This is my first spy novel, so I thought I’d start with something by a master of spy fiction. John le Carré doesn’t disappoint: the characters and settings are very evocative of their time, and a very unglamorous world of espionage is well portrayed.

I was only vaguely aware of the Smiley stories, so had no expectations. The character of George Smiley, as an aging intelligence officer no longer in his operational prime, is sympathetic and engaging - and I cared what happened to him.

This isn’t an action story: the plot has some pleasing twists and turns, with the expected deception and misdirection from some of the characters, but it’s a slow burn rather than a page turner.

I was a bit conflicted about rating this book. It’s almost certainly a good example of the genre (despite my lack of experience), hence the 4 star review. But it’s a genre that I don’t think I’ll engage with. This was one of the reasons I wanted to start with a classic - so that I’d have a good example to decide whether or not I want to read more spy novels. It turns out that I don’t.

My rating: ★★★★☆

"Isaac and the Egg" by Bobby Palmer

I cried. This tale of love, loss, and companionship will stay with me for a long time.

My rating: ★★★★★

"Calico" by Lee Goldberg

What an excellent read! I’m not familiar with Lee Goldberg’s books, so I came to this with no expectations. This is a well paced police, investigative, procedural, mystery in and around Calico in modern day California, inextricably linked to events over 100 years earlier in the same location.

The plot kicks along at a nice pace, with elements of the story and the mystery being revealed throughout - with lots of surprises along the way. I found the central character, Beth McDade, interesting and likeable. She has a chequered past, with some aspects of her character that still get her into degrees of trouble - but she is competent, determined and loyal, giving her the doggedness to get to the bottom of the complex events she’s investigating.

The parallel story in 1880’s Calico paints a vivid picture of life in a small mining community, which felt real and alive to me, with a good mix of supporting characters.

The story kept me on my toes the whole way through. The uncovering and resolving of each layer of mystery was satisfying without being predictable, and I was intrigued by how all the threads would be resolved right to the end.

My only minor gripe is that the central theme of the book is left unmentioned for the first 7 chapters, despite being (to me) very obvious, which I found quite frustrating. Although perhaps that’s just me, as it’s also not mentioned in the blurb, so I won’t reveal it here. It certainly didn’t distract from a 5-star review for an incredibly engaging and interesting read.

Thank you #NetGalley and Severn House for the free review copy of #CalicoBook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★★★

NetGalley Review

"The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Arthur Conan Doyle

Having seen the excellent TV series ‘Sherlock’ and other adaptations of these stories, I was very curious to read at least one of the original books. Unfortunately, it’s not really for me. The character of Holmes is unlikeable, and the condescending way he treats Watson is annoying. It seems that we should find some attractive mystery in the inscrutable nature of Holmes, but for me it had the opposite effect - I just found him arrogant and supercilious.

The character of Watson is likeable enough, but the remainder of the characters seemed quite 2-dimensional. The story was a bit ponderous, with various dead ends and red herrings - which always make me wonder why I just wasted 10+ pages of reading on something that has no bearing on the plot. Perhaps mystery novels just aren’t for me.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

"The Future" by Naomi Alderman

This was an absolute page-turner for me. It is a compelling story, full of action and rich characterisation, set in a familiar world of polution, climate crisis, and personal and corporate greed. The setting is close to the bone, and the book has a lot to say about our place in this world. This didn’t make it a difficult read - rather it gave the plot and characters’ motivations a poignancy.

The plot moved at a good pace, with plenty of twists and reveals that kept me on my toes. The cast of characters is nicely varied, with each character having a unique and well drawn personality. They all have an emotional presence and authenticity that made the book a joy to read - and I was genuinely engaged with the overall plot and the outcomes for the main characters.

The book has a satisfying, unexpected, and thought-provoking ending. The characters, technology, and overall spirit of the story left me wanting more - I would love to see these characters or settings appear in a future work by the author.

Thank you #NetGalley and 4th Estate for the free review copy of The Future in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★★★

NetGalley Review

"Sea of Tranquility" by Emily St. John Mandel

A short and very satisfying story about time travel. It was never Gaspery-Jacques Roberts’ plan to work for the Time Institute, but through a casual combination of circumstances, that’s exactly what he finds himself doing - investigating an anomaly that spans centuries and touches several people’s lives.

What I liked most about this book is the delicate and thoughtful writing of the characters. Emily St. John Mandel has such a light touch with her characters, that each seems to have an authentic emotional presence. I especially liked Olive Llewellyn, whose presence was a gentle foundation for some of the plot.

The plot was intriguing, and well supported by the structure of the book, which pivots around the central chapter, making the second half of the book into a satisfying and drawn out resolution of the first half.

This is a short book that touches on a number of ideas - and for me that left a few things that needed a little more explanation or exploration. And for stalwarts of the time-travel subgenre of science fiction, the reveal at the end won’t come as a particular surprise. These are the only things that prevented me giving a 5-star review. This is the first Emily St. John Mandel book that I’ve read, and I will certainly be putting her others on my to-be-read list.

My rating: ★★★★☆

"Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller

Deeply moving. Unrelentingly hopeless.

My rating: ★★★★★

"Doppelganger" by Naomi Klein

For me, this is a difficult book to review. The author has some important, insightful and well researched observations about the behaviour of significant sections of the population that I have previously found bewildering and difficult to comprehend: conspiracy theorists, deniers of various kinds, and those that would liken minor lifestyle inconveniences with the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis. However, the book felt in places like a disjointed ragbag of ideas that were loosely (sometimes very loosely) tied together by the Doppelgänger theme - a theme that often felt slightly forced, or crowbarred in to justify talking about a particular topic in the context of the book.

Given the disjoint nature of the book, I was also left unsatisfied regarding any overall conclusion. The suggestion that we should work together, rather than as individuals, to address many of the problems we are currently facing seems shallow and weak - especially compared to the depth and strength of some of the issues covered, and the detail with which they have clearly been researched.

After reading this book, I do feel like I have more insight behind what might be driving some mass behaviours that I otherwise found incomprehensible - but I don’t know where that leaves me. I certainly don’t feel any better equipped, nor more hopeful - so I feel I may have missed something.

Thank you #NetGalley and Penguin Press UK for the free review copy of #Doppelganger in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

NetGalley Review

"This is How You Lose the Time War" by Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. And with a reveal near the end that absolutely floored me. Still numb from the emotional aftermath of finishing it.

My rating: ★★★★★

"The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway

I hadn’t read any Hemingway before so I didn’t know what to expect. This is essentially a book about a man who catches a fish. However, the richness of the character and the descriptions are absolutely captivating. The battle of wills between an old fisherman past his prime, and a large and noble fish is deeply engaging. The experience and emotions felt real and authentic. This is not the kind of book I wouldn’t normally gravitate to, but I read it as part of s desire to read more classic literature, and I’m glad that I did.

My rating: ★★★★☆

"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame

This is a difficult book to review. I didn’t find the story at all engaging, and had difficulty finishing the book - I just didn’t want to pick it up again. I found the character of Toad infuriating, and his continued vacillation between bad behaviour and being contrite didn’t appear to convey any kind of meaningful message. The characters of Mole, Rat and Badger were amiable but shallow. I’m not sure why it is a classic.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

"The Thick and The Lean" by Chana Porter

The Thick and the Lean is, in part, a veneration of food and cooking. Set in a world where eating is taboo, the core characters engage in a surreptitious love of the pleasures and sensations of eating well cooked food. It is also a study in deceit and power.

The plot tracks the progress of the two main characters as they navigate their love of food through a society where there is an extreme disparity between the richest and the poorest, and where there is a burgeoning climate crisis. The parallels with current events is clear, but not at all heavy-handed. For me, the story ended up with too many loose ends, but this is a personal preference and does not detract from the power of the story.

The two main characters have depth and complexity, and felt very real. I found myself drawn to them, and wanting good outcomes - albeit in very different ways for each. The supporting cast was also diverse, although with few being especially memorable.

There are themes that some people may find difficult: disordered eating and relationship with food; a free and relaxed attitude to sex, both in public and outside marriage; and the deceitful conduct of one of the main characters. To me, however, these were all justified, and contribute to the colour and depth of the dystopian world in which the author so successfully explores ideas of exclusion, class disparity, and social power.

Thank you #NetGalley and Titan Books for the free review copy of #TheThickandtheLean in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★★☆

NetGalley Review

"Red Dust, White Snow" by Pan Huiting

I was drawn to this book for the intriguing concept, with the promise of an overlap of reality and fantasy. For me, though, it didn’t deliver on the promise. Ultimately, the encroachment of fantasy on reality turned out to be quite pedestrian, albeit in a light fantasy/sci-fi context. The reveal that happens about three quarters of the way through the book is underwhelming and, while it had philosophical consequences, I didn’t find them engaging.

The style of the writing in many places got in the way of the story-telling: use of language was unnecessarily elaborate in places, and the brief explanations of the meanings (and mythical background) of some of the supporting characters and spirits was unnecessary and jarring. Overall I was left with the impression that the author was showing off with use of language and myth, which I found a little alienating rather than impressive.

The plot was split across two worlds - the reality and the fantasy - although very little actually happened in either world. There seemed little purpose to much of the plot, with rarely any conflict or jeopardy. The main protagonist had some interesting characteristics - notably the deliberate distancing from friends and colleagues. These characteristics supported her willingness to engage wholeheartedly in the fantasy world, but ultimately they were under-explored and unresolved, and I found her difficult to relate to.

An interesting concept, but the book was not for me.

Thank you #NetGalley and Fairlight Books for the free review copy of #RedDustWhiteSnow in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

NetGalley Review

"Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" by James Nestor

I was hoping for much more science-based, actionable information in this book. Use of the word ‘science’ in the title is misleading if you’re hoping for that. The author was part of a scientific study, and he shares his experience with that, but that’s where any notion of the scientific method ends.

Certainly a large take-away from this book is “breath through your nose” (albeit with only anecdotal support), but I already do, so that was of passing interest only to me. The rest of the book was superficial and anecdotal stories of a variety of breathing techniques and exercises - which, while interesting, lack the depth and background to be life-changing. Perhaps this is unsurprising, given the author is a journalist rather than a medical practitioner.

Overall, a disappointment.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

"Pundamentalist: 1,000 jokes you (probably) haven't heard before" by Gary Delaney

I laughed out loud a lot reading this. But then, Gary Delaney writes exactly the kinds of jokes I enjoy the most. Loved it.

My rating: ★★★★★

"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi

This is a lightweight romp with a well paced plot, some interesting ideas, and some good (if not great) characters. The premise that the main character, Charlie, gets sucked into a world of high concept (and quite polite) villainy after the death of his uncle is an excellent set-up for this fish-out-of-water tale.

Charlie is new to the world of villainy, but he has some moments of clarity as he navigates through the potential pitfalls, aided by a small cast of supporting characters. I particularly liked his closest “colleague”, Matilda Morrison - whose pithy and slightly aloof take on a lot of the activity is a nice contrast to some of the more stylised thugs in Charlie’s new circle of acquaintances. If you’re looking for depth and emotion in the characters, then you won’t really find it here - but that’s not what this book is about. The plot unfolds nicely, and comes to a conclusion with all of the loose-ends tied up in ways that you wouldn’t necessarily expect - but I personally would have liked a slightly different outcome.

For me, the talking cats and dolphins were a nice addition (I particularly enjoyed the dolphins) - but other reviewers have mixed opinions about this.

Overall, this was a page-turner for me, with the plot and the enjoyable set-up pulling me forwards through the story.

Thank you #NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the free review copy of #StarterVillain in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★★☆

NetGalley Review

"Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

I’m afraid I was unmoved and a little bored by this. I thought that the time travel was clumsy and lazy, and the experiences with the Tralfamadorians were shallow and clichéd. Perhaps it’s because I read a lot of science fiction and these types of plot mechanic have been done with more depth and nuance countless times since Slaughterhouse Five was written. Perhaps it’s just showing it’s age. I also didn't connect with any of the characters - Billy Pilgrim was just a little too glib for me to relate to. The observations about war are still pertinent, and still have impact. So the book still has something to say. It just wasn’t for me.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

"Metronome" by Tom Watson

Wow. This was an absolute page-turner for me, and I completed it within 24 hours. This is a book about hope, forebearance, obedience, and defiance. There is much about the dystopian setting that is unexplained or ambiguous, but there is enough of a framework to support the narrative, and the details aren’t required - in fact, I found some of the amibiguity all the more intriguing.

The characters of Aina and Whitney are incredibly well drawn. As their opinions about how to react to their situations start to diverge, all of their actions and reactions are authentic to the deep and real personalities that the author has created. The believability of these people grounds the story, and gives shape to the bleak world they inhabit.

As their situation begins to unravel, the plot moves along at a satisfying rate - and I was constantly eager to follow their fate through the difficult choices that they make, their actions and consequences.

I can understand how the lack of complete explanations of much of their situation might not be to everyone’s taste - but, for me, it fuelled my imagination and made the story all the more compelling. This is one of the most enjoyable books I have read this year.

Mr rating: ★★★★★

"The Brill Pill" by Akemi C. Brodsky

This book explores the issue “just because you can doesn’t mean you should” through the eyes, and internal monologue, of a deeply flawed character who, nevertheless, has the scientific knowledge to change the lives of thousands of people.

The core idea is interesting - of a world in which lives can be changed by brain regeneration, but many of the recipients are never quite the same. And the internal struggles of someone who can influence the science or act covertly to subvert it, should have been interesting and engaging.

Unfortunately for me, the balance of narrative concentrated far too much on the the internal monologue of the main character, Will. I would have preferred more depth in some of the other characters, and a slightly faster pace in the plot. There are plot elements that should have had excitement, suspense, or jeopardy, but that fell too flat for my liking. Many of these were told through the experience of Will, who was often simply finding ways to procrastinate, avoid issues, or agonise over which course of action to take.

A fascinating premise and an interesting story, though.

Thank you #NetGalley and She Writes Press for the free review copy of #TheBrillPill in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

NetGalley Review

"The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman

This book is a spellbinding tale from a child’s point of view but written for adults. It spans worlds of fantasy and reality, giving a tantalising glimpse of the lives and existence of characters that are older than imagination, from the perspective of a young boy who finds himself drawn into an adventure within which he has very little power or control. The setting is a small country lane, but the scope is vast, with hints of worlds beyond our own.

The narrative is all 1st person - from the perspective of the 7 year old boy. The perspective of a 7 year old boy ought to be childish and unsophisticated, and I would normally avoid tales from a child’s point of view for this reason. But there is a depth and richness to the writing which is very satisfying. There is a maturity to the storytelling which makes it easy to read, while not undermining the image of a youthful and immature narrator.

The fantasy elements aren’t fully explained, and this is consistent with the point of view of the narrator, but the many small insights into the Hempstock family and the world from which they came are rewarding and enjoyable and left me wanting to know more. The story was engaging and the plot moved with a pace that kept drawing me on. I would love to read further stories from this world!

My rating: ★★★★★

"The Illusionist Brain: The Neuroscience of Magic" by Jordi Camí, Luis M. Martínez

For me, this book was a book of two halves, and a missed opportunity. About half of the book is about how the brain works, covering various aspects of cognition and memory; and about half the book is about magic. Sadly for me, the link between the two wasn't especially strong, and tended to be discussed in generalities, lacking details in specific examples. I also found the presentation quite dry, and the language unnecessarily verbose in many places (although this could have been due to the translation).

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

"A Second Chance for Yesterday" by R.A. Sinn

The story in A Second Chance for Yesterday is woven around an intriguing and novel twist on time travel. When Nev finds herself going back through time, one day at a time, she has to enlist the help of an old hacker acquaintance from her past to work out what is going on and how to fix it.

The small cast of characters are very well written, with Nev and Airin having a depth and real emotional presence. Their relationship is beautifully told, with the nuances and difficulties caused by the time travel handled in an satisfying and believable way. I was very invested in their relationship, and cried at one poingant point towards the end of the book. The minor characters of Maddy, Jared, Christina, and Kusuma are nicely distinct, and help support the plot - with some very gratifying moments of clarity for Nev in these relationship as she sees them develop in reverse.

I would have liked a little more detail around the parts that Kusuma and Jim Bone played in the background of why the time travel glitch happened, as these were left frustratingly vague - although this is a minor point, and the plot was richly described and had a good pace. The ending left room for a sequel (please?), and I would definitely enjoy learning more about this background if a sequel is written.

Thank you #NetGalley and Solaris for the free review copy of #ASecondChanceforYesterday in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★★☆

NetGalley Review

"Hag-Seed: the Tempest Retold" by Margaret Atwood

Hag-Seed is a retelling of The Tempest, as part of the Random House “Hogarth Shakespeare” series. Although I knew it was a retelling of The Tempest when I bought it, I’m not familiar with The Tempest, and I had hoped that it would stand up as a novel in its own right. I had high hopes from an author of the calibre of Margaret Atwood.

The quality of the writing and the characterisation are excellent. The main character, Felix, has complexity and depth in the portrayal of his emotions around the production of the play, and for his daughter. The supporting women - Anne-Marie and Estelle - also feel alive and distinct, and I enjoyed all of their interactions. The supporting cast of in-mates was solid, but lacked a little variation - possibly due to the need to include so many characters due to the source material.

However, I found the plot a little slow moving and uninspired (which is ironic, given the inspiration). A lot of time is taken in the middle of the book around the development of the play which seems somewhat repetitive and slow moving, and the resolution of the main plot seems hurried, with the ultimate outcome slightly difficult to believe.

I suspect that my dissatisfaction with the plot was due to the author’s desire to echo elements of The Tempest in the plot (although I’m not sure about this, due to my unfamiliarity with The Tempest). And while this may have drawn knowing appreciation from those familiar with the source material, any in-jokes and clever parallels were lost on me.

So overall, engaging and interesting characters, but a disappointing plot.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

"The Call of the Wild" by Jack London

This is a beautifully written book from the perspective of a dog, Buck, who is stolen from a comfortable home environment, and made to work on sleds in the cold north of Yukon, Canada, during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush. Buck passes through a series of different owners, who treat him with a range of care and neglect - each resulting in Buck learning harsh lessons of the wild world in which he finds himself.

The story plots Buck’s slow and inexorable transition towards his instinctive wild side. The writing is poetic but also succinct, bringing the environments alive, and giving a real sense of place and emotion. This is a short book, but very powerful, with a strong sense of engagement with Buck, bringing the reader along as each layer of civilisation is stripped away, with an ending that was both satisfying and approriate.

My rating: ★★★★☆

"Because I Don't Know What You Mean and What You Don't" by Josie Long

This is an engaging and complex set of short stories, all from a first person perspective. Each story is from the point of view of a character whose distinct flaws or insecurities are explored through the interactions with other characters and their own internal monologue. There is a ‘stream of consciousness’ style to many of the stories (somewhat reminiscent of Max Porter’s books) which allowed me to feel like I was inhabiting that character - travelling along inside their head for a short time.

I sometimes had a little difficulty with the first person perspective - it wasn’t always clear the gender of the narrator, and the lack of third-person exposition meant that sometimes relationships between people weren’t clear to me. Also, this is not an uplifting book - some of the themes are a little dark, and many of the stories deal with insecurity at some level. However, these minor issues aside, I found the character explorations very satisfying, and enjoyed each one.

The story “Poets Rise Again” stood out as the most enjoyable for me. I would love to see the ideas and characters in this story expanded into a novel in their own right - I was fascinated by what their back-story was, and would have enjoyed a longer, more satisfying narrative arc than the short story form allows.

Thank you #NetGalley and Canongate Books for the free review copy of #BecauseIdontknow in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★★☆

NetGalley Review

"Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin

This book is about enduring friendship, and it weaves this around loss, belonging and identity. The story is set amongst video games development, but is not about games development. It's refreshing for a story to be set in a technical world without getting bogged or becoming alienated by the technology.

The characters are sensitvely drawn, with Sam, Sadie and Marx all feeling distinct and real. I felt an emotional connection to the ebb and flow of the relationships between these main characters, with the final outcome feeling honest and appropriate. It was a shame to leave these characters when I'd finished the book, and look forward to meeting them again if/when (hopefully) a film adaptation comes out.

My rating: ★★★★★

"Man Who Tasted Words" by Guy Leschziner

This is a fascinating insight into the senses and how their operation can go wrong. Not only does the author explain the medical details of how the senses work, and fail, but also discusses the impact such failures can have on the quality of life of those affected. The case studies are always fascinating and sometimes moving, where the impact on some of the patients’ lives has been intolerable. Throughout the book the author presents a sensitive balance between medical detail and the heartfelt human interest.

My rating: ★★★★★

"The Moonday Letters" by Emmi Itäranta

This is a beautiful and lyrical book. The plot is that of a sci-fi eco mystery thriller - but I was captivated by the poetic use of language and the journey of Lumi as a healer. I am surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did: I would normally be put off by such lyrical use of language, or by time spent on description rather than character or plot. But in the The Monday Letters, I was transported by the descriptive quality of the writing, and the poetic style gave the book a serenity and pace that allowed me to immerse myself deeply into the world.

The main narrative vehicle - Lumi writing in notebooks for Sol on the assumption that he will one day read them - is interspersed with other first person perspective and flashbacks. Other reviewers have criticised this inconsistency, but I found the switch between perspectives to be natural and helpful - and provided some variation where I think a complete reliance on the “notebook” form may have become contrived or tiring.

The plot is intriguing, and ultimately satisfying, although the continued absence of Sol felt contrived once or twice - but this is nit-picking. The development of Lumi as a healer shows a glimpse into a spiritual world that could easily be the basis of other books (other books I would be interested in reading) - and it is this aspect of the book that I was most drawn to and found most rewarding.

I now have that bitter sweet feeling of loss that I get at the end of a particularly immersive book - knowing that I can’t continue to explore the world that Emmi Itäranta has created.

My rating: ★★★★★

"Myriad" by Joshua David Bellin

I always find stories involving time travel an enjoyable challenge. It is always interesting to see how the author handles the potential for paradoxes, as characters travel back and potentially change the course of history. Myriad doesn’t disappoint in this regard, with the rules and consequences of time travel slowly revealed as the plot progresses.

This is a plot driven book, and the action keeps up at a good pace, while the central mystery of who is pulling the strings remains a compelling thread throughout the story.

The title character, Myriad, is likeable enough, but I didn’t find the characterisation particularly deep or moving - which is a shame, given the importance of the relationship with her brother and mother.

And, while this is a book about time travel, I found some of the rules and consequences of time travel inadequately explored or explained - and this was a shame, as the book has an interesting perspective on some of the rules and consequences of time travel that I hadn’t previously come across.

While these issues prevented me from giving a higher rating, they did not stop Myriad from being an enjoyable read, and the final reveal and conclusion I found satisfying.

Thank you #NetGalley and Angry Robot for the free review copy of #Myriad in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

NetGalley Review

"When the Dust Settles: Stories of Love, Loss and Hope from an Expert in Disaster" by Lucy Easthope

This book is absolutely compelling, and I finished it within 24 hours. Lucy Easthope writes with such warmth and humanity, while tackling death and loss in high profile disasters that I was already familiar with. The importance of expertise such that Lucy has in disaster recovery is so clearly communicated - and is something I hadn't previously considered. I suppose it's unsurprising that I hadn't considered this before, given the uphill struggle that Lucy describes in the book time and time again, as she tries to put processes and procedures in place in government, and other official contexts, that will ease the lives of victims friends, families and communities for years to come. It is heartbreaking towards the end of the book to see that some of the progress that Lucy made earlier in her career has been eroded by cuts from successive governments - but Lucy's warmth and hope shine through, throughout the book. Thoroughly recommended.

My rating: ★★★★★

"Shy" by Max Porter

Max Porter's books defy easy description. This book is beatiful. It is poetic. It is an evocative word picture, painted with strokes that are sometimes broad and sometimes detailed. It moves effortlessly from general to specific, from abstract to concrete and precise. The richly detailed world of the disturbed boy, Shy, emerges from the page, and slowly coalesces into something real and unforgettable. It is moving and deeply poignant.

As with Max Porter's other work, it really needs to be read in a single sitting. And the unconventional style means that this book probably isn't for everyone. But I loved it.

My rating: ★★★★★

"Red Team Blues" (Martin Hench #1) by Cory Doctorow

Red Team Blues is a plot-driven detective story told in Cory Doctorow’s distinctive style of high tech internet sub-culture.

The main character of Marty Hench is engaging, and the plot clips along at a good pace, with a good supporting cast of characters. I genuinely wanted to know how everything turned out, and cared about the fate of Hench and his friends.

Doctorow manages to keep the writing accessible and engaging, while also talking about some quite complex technology (in this case cryptocurrency and blockchain). This is done in a way that effectively illustrates how immersed the characters are in this high tech world, without spoon feeding the reader with explanations and exposition that might get in the way of that momentum of the plot - there is just enough explanation to support the narrative and the important aspects of the plot.

While the plot does carry you along, I couldn’t help feeling there was a lack of depth in both the main arc of the plot, and some of the characters. For me, many of the supporting characters were a little too similar, and their personalities not explored or differentiated enough. This didn’t spoil what was a fun and engaging read, but did prevent me from giving a higher rating.

Thank you #NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the free review copy of #RedTeamBlues in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

NetGalley Review

"A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove is about loss and powerlessness. It is told through the eyes of a man who has the characteristics of an outsider, but is also at the heart of a small closely knit community revolving around the street where he lives.

Ove is superficially not a likeable man - and this makes it difficult to initially engage with him as a character. Some of the early chapters came across as a caricature of a grumpy old man - although this was probably the point (I was reminded of the children’s book character Mr Gum).

But soon the experiences and situations that have shaped his life, and how those mesh with his uniquely precise and determined personality, start to add colour and sympathy, and I slowly came to care more deeply about Ove throughout the story.

One of the messages of the book seems to be that we may all know someone who appears grumpy and intransigent, but that looking beneath the surface might reveal someone with love and integrity. And this was well achieved.

I’m not sure that I fully understood the love that Ove’s wife undoubtedly had for him. Nor did I find the cat especially believable. But these are minor points, and didn’t undermine my enjoyment of what was a very warm and engaging read.

My rating: ★★★★☆

"Bibliomaniac: An Obsessive's Tour Of The Bookshops Of Britain" by Robin Ince

An amiable book about an amiable book tour. It carried me along for the ride nicely, and made me want to see Robin Ince again next time he’s touring.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

"Quite" by Claudia Winkleman

I like Claudia Winkleman, and was hoping for some depth… for I’m sure she has some. And while the chapter on art was passionate, and the chapter on Strictly was heartfelt, the rest (what I managed to read) felt shallow and lazy, and with disappointingly little insight.

I really must break my habit of hoping for the best with celebrity autobiographies and the like.

My rating: ★☆☆☆☆

"Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus

I loved this book, but I had a little trouble tuning into it for the first 80 pages or so. The writing style is generally light hearted, even whimsical in places, but there are many dark moments, and some quite serious themes.

The author does a marvellous job of bringing us along for the ride, as Elizabeth navigates her love and expertise in science around a male dominated world. Elizabeth herself is difficult to relate to, and her emotional life isn’t very well explored (or portrayed) in the book, but she is surrounded by characters that reflect her character in their own emotional reactions - from Harriet Sloane to the wonderfully drawn Six-Thirty.

I genuinely found myself fist-pumping for her successes and crying for her failures.

The reveal/wrap-up at the end feels hurried, but I can forgive that in what was otherwise an enjoyable page-turner.

My rating: ★★★★★

"This Much is True" by Miriam Margolyes

I always start celebrity autobiographies with such hope. And Miriam Margolyes appears to be such an interesting and quirky character when you see her in TV and film that I was looking forward to finding out about her life. And while the course she has taken through life does have its interesting turns and diversions, this is ultimately a list of achievements and anecdotes from someone who is relatively privileged. And while there is nothing wrong with that, it doesn’t make for an especially engaging read.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

"The Cat Who Saved Books" by Sōsuke Natsukawa

I have several issues with this book that prevented me from fully enjoying it, and I don’t know whether to put them down to the translation. I found the style slightly jarring in places - occasionally skipping between somewhat formal language and then something incongruously idiomatic. I also found the anti-book-lover in each episode to be quite clumsily drawn, and the conversations that convinced them of their wrongdoing to be shallow. As I say, it’s not clear whether this is a problem with the original or with the translation, but for me it missed the mark.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

"The Secret Language of Cats" by Susanne Schötz

I had high hopes that this book would provide some insight into cat communication, and perhaps some additional understanding of cat behaviour. I was disappointed that the book is focussed on the analysis of cat vocalisations - precisely what they sound like - with much less insight about what they mean. The research seems to be anecdotal based on a small number of cats that the author is familiar with, rather than based on broad studies. Overall I was disappointed and skimmed most of the book.

My rating: ★☆☆☆☆

"In Your Defence: Stories of Life and Law" by Sarah Langford

I found the insight that this book provides on the role of the barrister, and the real and profound impact a barrister can have on the lives of those they represent, fascinating and moving. Sarah Langford’s compassion comes through in every story, and my only regret is that she is no longer a barrister.

My rating: ★★★★★