Katheryn Thompson's Blog, page 2

December 13, 2023

2024 Books

What books are you most looking forward to in 2024? Here are the books I've read and loved so far. (I've marked my favourites with a heart, and you can read my reviews by clicking on the titles below):

January
Here in the Dark by Alexis Soloski (18 January): a slow-burn thriller about a theatre critic who starts to lose her grip on what is real and what is merely performance.

Come and Get It by Kiley Reid (30 January): a compulsively-readable campus novel that asks some uncomfortable questions about power dynamics and privilege.

February
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin (1 February): a very funny and relatable read about living with anxiety, and coping with life. It has all of the strengths of Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead, and none of its weaknesses. ❤️

The Murder After the Night Before by Katy Brent (1 February): a laugh-out-loud read that tackles some pressing contemporary issues head-on.

The Fetishist by Katherine Min (28 February): a slim and beautifully-written book centred around three fascinating characters linked by one woman's desire for revenge.

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder by C. L. Miller (29 February): it's cosy crime with a twist, and I can't wait for the sequel.

March
Small Hours by Bobby Palmer (14 March): a magical read about a man whose carefully-built life has started falling apart. I wasn't convinced this one would be able to live up to Palmer's debut, Isaac and the Egg, but I am delighted that it does. ❤️

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin (26 March): a highly engaging and enjoyable read about trying to solve the murder of a woman who spent most of her living believing everybody was out to kill her. ❤️

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton (28 March): a mind-bending murder mystery, recommended for fans of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

Tell by Jonathan Buckley (28 March): unfolding through a series of interview transcripts, this fascinating read feels like it could be based on a true story.

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Days by Eve Kellman (28 March): a solid addition to a fun new genre, featuring women who take justice into their own hands.

April
A Lesson in Cruelty by Harriet Tyce (11 April): a dark and twisty legal thriller that doesn't shy away from the failings of the British prison system.

Dark Island by Daniel Aubrey (25 April): a gripping thriller set against the beautiful and threatening backdrop of the Orkney Islands, and centred around a neurodivergent protagonist.

May
You Don't Have to Be Mad to Work Here: a Psychiatrist's Life by Dr Benji Waterhouse (16 May): a very funny account of day-to-day life as an NHS psychiatrist that I cannot recommend highly enough. ❤️

If you’re looking for more bookish content, you can find me on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky at Katheryn97T.
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Published on December 13, 2023 00:47

November 30, 2023

November Wrap Up

What did you read in November?

I read 13 books in November, and you can check out my reviews by clicking on the titles below:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin (out 26 March)
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin (out 1 February)
White Holes, written by Carlo Rovelli and translated by Simon Carnell
Small Hours by Bobby Palmer (out 14 March)

⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth
The Killer's Christmas List by Chris Frost
Boy Actors in Early Modern England: Skill and Stagecraft in the Theatre by Harry McCarthy
Tell by Jonathan Buckley (out 28 March)
Arden of Faversham: a Critical Reader, edited by Peter Kirwan and Duncan Salkeld
A Lesson in Cruelty by Harriet Tyce (out 11 April)
Come and Get It by Kiley Reid (out 30 January)
How to Kill a Guy in Ten Ways by Eve Kellman (out 28 March)

⭐⭐⭐
A History of Women in 101 Objects, written by Annabelle Hirsch and translated by Eleanor Updegraff

If you want more bookish content, you can find me @Katheryn97T on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky!
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Published on November 30, 2023 15:06

November 1, 2023

October Wrap Up

I read 9 books in October, including The Bee Sting, which means that I've finally finished this year's Booker longlist. I also got my hands on Emily Wilson's translation of The Iliad, and an advance copy of Stuart Turton's latest mind-bending murder mystery. You can read all my reviews by clicking the links below:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
The Iliad, translated by Emily Wilson

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ornamentalism: The Art of Renaissance Accessories, edited by Bella Mirabella
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan (out 14 November)
Here in the Dark by Alexis Soloski (out 18 January)
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton (out 28 March)
The Murder After the Night Before by Katy Brent (out 1 Feb)

What did you read in October?
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Published on November 01, 2023 01:12

September 30, 2023

September Wrap Up

I read 11 books in September, which is apparently the month that Christmas books start to be published. I read 2: my first Peter Swanson, and the latest Hercule Poirot from Sophie Hannah, which I was delighted to receive an advance copy of. September is also the month that the Booker shortlist is announced, and I continued to read my way through the longlist*, starting the final book just before the end of the month. I also read the latest J.D. Robb, the much-hyped Kala, and a book that isn't out until next year but is already generating a lot of buzz: The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder.

⭐⭐⭐ = I liked it
⭐⭐⭐⭐ = I really liked it
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = I loved it

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In Ascension by Martin MacInnes*
Daddy's Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark (reread)
Payback in Death by J.D. Robb (In Death #57)

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hercule Poirot's Silent Night by Sophie Hannah (out 26 October)
This Other Eden by Paul Harding*
All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow*
The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder by C. L. Miller (out 29 February)
Kala by Colin Walsh
The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

⭐⭐⭐
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch*
Shakespeare's Binding Language by John Kerrigan

What did you read in September?
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Published on September 30, 2023 07:52

August 31, 2023

August Wrap Up

I read 16 books in August, including 8 from this year's Booker Prize longlist*. You can read my reviews by clicking on the titles below, except for The Fetishist, whose review I've been asked not to publish yet, and Dark Island, which doesn't have a Goodreads page yet. Please note that the books are ordered chronologically within each star rating, not in order of preference.

3 stars = I liked it
4 stars = I really liked it
5 stars = I loved it

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Western Lane by Chetna Maroo*
The Island by Catherine Cooper (out 12 October)
Pearl by Siân Hughes*
The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng*

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen
Old God's Time by Sebastian Barry*
If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery*
The Escape by Ruth Kelly (out 23 November)
A Spell of Good Things by Ayòbámi Adébáyò*
The Fetishist by Katherine Min (out 28 February)
Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein*
In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan
Dark Island by Daniel Aubrey (out 25 April)

⭐⭐⭐
The Lodger: Shakespeare on Silver Street by Charles Nicholl
The List by Yomi Adegoke
How to Build a Boat by Elaine Feeney*

What did you read in August?
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Published on August 31, 2023 15:58

July 31, 2023

July Wrap Up

I read 16 books in July, and I'm pretty pleased with my choices.

3 stars = I liked it
4 stars = I really liked it
5 stars = I loved it

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Wolf Hunt, written by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen and translated by Sondra Silverston (out 31 August)
Sleepless, written by Marie Darrieussecq and translated by Penny Hueston (out 16 August)

⭐⭐⭐⭐
You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming (Bond #12)
The It Girl by Ruth Ware
A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women by Emma Southon (out 7 September)
Fictions of Consent: Slavery, Servitude, and Free Service in Early Modern England by Urvashi Chakravarty
Drowning by T.J. Newman
Shakespeare's Letters by Alan Stewart
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Lost on Me, written by Veronica Raimo and translated by Leah Janeczko (out 3 August)
Exit Management by Naomi Booth
On the Threshold: Hospitality in Shakespeare's Drama by Sophie E. Battell

⭐⭐⭐
I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel
Sisters by Daisy Johnson
Hangman by Maya Binyam (out 3 August)
No One Dies Yet by Kobby Ben Ben (out 31 August)

What did you read in July?
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Published on July 31, 2023 15:17

June 22, 2023

The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor

I was so excited to receive a proof of Brandon Taylor's The Late Americans that I read and reviewed it pretty much immediately, but I'm posting my review again to celebrate the fact that it is now out in the UK. Enjoy!

"Iowa was a kind of cultural winter - they had all come to this speck of a city in the middle of a middle state in order to study art, to hone themselves, and their ideas like perfect, terrifying weapons, and in the monastic kind of deprivation they found here, they turned to one another."

description

The Late Americans moves between a loose circle of friends, lovers, and acquaintances in Iowa City, as the academic year turns full circle, and the future beckons. While the book is narrated in the third person, each chapter focuses on particular characters. This allows us to see both sides of an argument, and different sides to a character. It also means that we come to recognise characters who crop up in multiple chapters, and that we get to learn more about characters who we have already met in passing. Although I had a little difficulty keeping track of some of the characters, especially the ones with shared interests and friendship circles, I really loved the way the paths of these characters kept overlapping. To finish one chapter and see that the next started with a character I wanted to know more about made this book very difficult to put down. I also loved the way the shifting perspectives undermined the certainty of some of the characters' opinions.

There is so much going on in the lives of these characters, but I particularly liked the way Taylor writes about relationships (the phone calls between Fyodor and his mother, the aspect to his father that perplexes Noah), money (the way the other dance students see Fatima's work as a barista, Timo's realisation that what feels secure to him is not what feels secure to everyone), and poetry (Seamus' musings on his poetry seminar, Oliver's comments on Seamus' poem). The Late Americans is just the most beautifully written book, and one that I can't stop thinking about. I'm already looking forward to reading it again.
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Published on June 22, 2023 02:16

April 1, 2023

March Wrap Up

I read 7 books in March, which is fewer than usual because I spent over a week on a lengthy non-fiction book. It was time well spent, but my book of the month is The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak.

The first book I read in March was Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi, who I wanted to read more from after enjoying You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty.

description

Freshwater is a surreal book that follows Ada, a young Nigerian girl, as she comes of age while contending with multiple personalities and prolonged trauma. Unfortunately the way this story is told just didn't work for me. I found it a fragmented and frustrating read, which never really held my attention. The way the narrators constantly allude to past and future events, without ever really getting the actual story going, just didn't appeal to this particular reader.

⭐⭐⭐

I continued to slowly make my way through the Bond series in March, with Goldfinger by Ian Fleming.

description

In the seventh book in the series (which I would definitely recommend reading in order), Bond finds himself wishing for a spot of luxury, after a particularly nasty case, and soon regretting it when he gets his wish in the form of Auric Goldfinger, the richest man in the world. Short enough and certainly page-turning enough to be read in one sitting, these books are the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I particularly love the realism of the books, sometimes missing from the films. But the persistently offensive asides stop them from being five-star reads for me.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I am always trying to read more classics, so my next pick was A Room with a View, my third E.M. Forster.

description

A Room with a View opens in Florence, where Lucy finds her middle-class life thrown off balance by her experiences in Italy, and the unconventional people she meets there. This is a book that belongs to the time in which it was written, but that also still speaks to the reader today. The pace is unhurried, but the characters are brilliant, the writing insightful and amusing, and the story compelling.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the season of literary prizes, I couldn't resist the premise for Lost for Words by Edward St. Aubyn.

description

Lost for Words is a satirical novel that follows the judges of the Elysian Prize on their journey to choosing the latest literary winner, as well as some of the authors hoping to be chosen. This was a fun and easy read, peopled with entertaining characters, and packed with witty observations. Short chapters move between the different storylines, several of which include snippets of literary parodies, towards a satisfying conclusion.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

My next pick was The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak, who I wanted to read more from after enjoying The Island of Missing Trees.

description

The Bastard of Istanbul is the story of four generations of women living together in Istanbul. When Asya's Armenian-American cousin comes to stay, long hidden family secrets connected with Turkey's turbulent past begin to emerge. Elif Shafak writes so beautifully, but I particularly savoured her descriptions of Istanbul. Shafak's passion for the city's culture shines through her writing, but she doesn't shy away from its complications and contradictions. I loved what this book has to say about family, belonging, and dealing with uncomfortable truths about the past.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the mood for a thriller, I turned to The Ashes of London by Andrew Taylor.

description

The Ashes of London alternates between James Marwood and Cat Lovett (who will become the main characters of this series), as the Great Fire of London rages, and a killer is on the loose. I loved the unique setting of this one, which immerses you in the history and politics of the time, and I loved the variety of characters this setting allows for. I enjoyed following Marwood's investigation (although I didn't care so much for Cat), and I enjoyed seeing the different plots come together.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The last book I read in March was The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century by Alex Ross, a subject Thomas Mann left me wanting to know more about.

description

The Rest is Noise offers a whistle-stop tour of “classical” music through the 20th century, moving mostly in chronological order, and focusing on different composers and sub-genres in each chapter. This is an ambitious topic, but Ross does a remarkable job of balancing breadth with depth, creating an accessible and entertaining book, although it does peter out somewhat towards the end (of the century and the book). For anyone else looking to learn more about the kind of music Mann writes about, this is definitely the book for you.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

What did you read in March?
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Published on April 01, 2023 03:18

March 1, 2023

February Wrap Up

What did you read in February?

The first book that I read in February was Devil-Land: England Under Siege, 1588-1688 by Clare Jackson, which I couldn't resist buying when I saw it reduced at Fox Lane Books.

description

Devil-Land walks the reader through a tumultuous period of English history, starting with the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots and ending with the ascension of William III and Mary II. What really makes this book worth reading, for someone already familiar with this period of time, is the focus on non-English perspectives. I would say that it’s a book that requires concentration, but I also found it a gripping read. My only caveat is that, although Jackson makes a convincing case for why this book focuses on what it does, the idea of England as “Devil-Land” never seemed to me to be comprehensively argued.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I read my third Muriel Spark in February, after discovering this gorgeous centenary edition of A Far Cry from Kensington in a charity shop.

description

A Far Cry from Kensington starts out as an interesting but anecdotal read, as the narrator reminisces on how far she has come from when she was a young war widow, working in publishing, and living in a boarding house in Kensington. Gradually, the purpose and plot of the book begins to reveal itself. Muriel Spark's writing is a delight to read, even if a few of her comments make for uncomfortable reading. I found this book a little slow but compulsively readable, especially as the mystery at the heart of the book begins to reveal itself. Definitely an author I intend to explore further.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

After reading two books in a row that I'd only recently bought, I picked my next two books from my to-read shelf, starting with Snowflake by Louise Nealon.

description

Snowflake has a fairly basic plot at its heart, as a girl who has grown up on a farm in Kildare tries to fit in at Trinity College. But there is a lot going on in this one, including an unexpectedly fantasy-esque storyline which I don't think was explored as fully as it could have been. I found this coming-of-age novel an enjoyable read, which deals with issues of mental health in important and nuanced ways. But I also found it a little messy, with quite a disjointed structure and multiple storylines, not all of which I felt to be adequately resolved.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the mood for a thriller, I returned to an author I used to love: I've Got You Under My Skin by Mary Higgins Clark.

description

I've Got You Under My Skin opens with a man killing Laurie’s husband, and promising to kill Laurie and her son next. That threat is still hanging over her years later, when Laurie produces a TV programme that gathers together the suspects in an unsolved murder, in an attempt to finally reveal the truth. There are some predictable elements to this one, but the pages seemed to turn themselves. I especially enjoyed the chapters featuring the cold-case suspects, who all have something to hide.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'd been wanting to read more Thomas Mann ever since I finished Buddenbrooks, so in February I plucked up the courage to give Doctor Faustus a go.

description

Doctor Faustus purports to be a biography of a genius, a German composer whose life story is a reworking of the Faust legend (a man who sells his soul to the Devil), written by his friend towards the end of WWII. This is an incredible book, so rich in meaning, with so much to say, and I'm sure there is so much that I missed. I found it a challenging read which requires patience (it gets better the more you read), but it has left me wanting to read more Thomas Mann, and more about the kind of music he writes about.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

After such a challenging read, the latest book in my favourite series, Encore in Death by J.D. Robb, was exactly what I needed next.

description

Encore in Death sees Eve Dallas, a Homicide lieutenant in a futuristic New York city, solving the murder of an actor seemingly beloved by everyone. This one is an interesting and twisty case, and I enjoyed the change of pace away from the usual action-filled endings. There are a few cringe-worthy lines, as we follow the lives of Dallas and those closest to her alongside the main plot, but the familiarity and sentimentality of this series are part of what make it so irresistible. That and the fact that the pages seem to turn themselves.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

After reading quite a few long books in February, my next pick was a novella: The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark.

description

The Girls of Slender Means focuses on the lives of the residents of a hostel for unmarried women (girls of slender means), in 1945 London. It’s an interesting, anecdotal book, full of colourful characters, which gradually reveals that there’s more to the story than first meets the eye. More a novella than a novel, this one manages to feel suggestive but not incomplete.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The last book that I read in February was The Pisces by Melissa Broder, which had a cover and a premise too good to refuse.

description

The Pisces is set in LA, where Lucy is dog-sitting for her sister and trying to work through her personal and professional struggles. This story feels familiar in a lot of ways, especially in the glaring privilege of its protagonist, but it’s written in an interesting way, and makes for compulsive reading. Lucy's failing PhD thesis on Sappho was of particular interest to me, especially the way her thoughts on fragmentation and myth permeated the story, but this book has a lot of different interests, which it manages to weave together nicely.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Published on March 01, 2023 03:41

February 1, 2023

January Wrap Up

January might feel like the longest month, but that means plenty of time for reading! I read 13 books last month: 2 5⭐ reads (which means that I loved them), 9 4⭐ reads (which means that I really liked them), and 2 3⭐ reads (which means that I liked them). My book of the month was the one that I read first:

The first book that I read in 2023 was God: An Anatomy by Francesca Stavrakopoulou, which I read over Christmas and the New Year.

description

God: An Anatomy is a long book, but it never overstayed its welcome. Francesca Stavrakopoulou picks out references in the Bible to God’s body, dealing with different aspects of His body in turn, and places them in their historical context to present God as He was originally envisioned by ancient worshippers. With clear, engaging, and interesting writing, Stavrakopoulou tracks how the Western idea of God developed. God: An Anatomy is one of the best written, and most thought-provoking books I have read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Up next was the New-Year-themed It Ends at Midnight, the only book I hadn't yet read by Harriet Tyce.

description

It Ends at Midnight is Harriet Tyce’s latest legal thriller, and I devoured it in one sitting. As Sylvie presides over a difficult case, she is forced to confront a secret from her past that she would rather stay hidden. I loved the way Tyce kept the reader guessing, across multiple storylines, without resorting to an overly complicated plot. And I loved the fact that the courtroom drama focused on a judge rather than a barrister. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I continued to #beatthebacklog in January, with The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman.

description

The Man Who Died Twice is the second book in this cosy crime series set in a luxury retirement home, and focused on four of its members, as well as their various friends and family, who belong to the Thursday Murder Club. When an old acquaintance of Elizabeth gets in touch, the Club find themselves embroiled in a case involving stolen diamonds, spies, and the mafia. I found the characters irresistible, the story gripping, and the writing laugh-out-loud funny. An enjoyable break from reality.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My next pick was the brilliantly-titled Not Exactly What I Had in Mind, by Kate Brook, which I'd had my eye on for some time.

description

Not Exactly What I Had in Mind starts with two roommates who sleep together, then immediately wonder if that was a bad idea. The story spirals out over quite a long stretch of time, to include not only the will-they-won’t-they romantic plot involving the two roommates, but also a plot focused on the sister of one of the roommates, who is trying to conceive a baby. This book is such an easy and engaging read, but it manages to cover so many important topics in interesting ways. I really enjoyed this one, and could quite happily have read it in one sitting.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

January was the month that I finally read A Tidy Ending, the latest book by Joanna Cannon.

description

A Tidy Ending is an offbeat murder mystery about a serial killer targeting a suburban housing estate. Told from the somewhat unconventional perspective of Linda, one of the estate’s residents, this one will keep you guessing until the very end. I found A Tidy Ending a little difficult to get into, but after a slow start, I was soon hooked. This one might take a while to get going, but it’s worth the wait.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Up next was another one with an eye-catching title: We Had to Remove This Post, written by Hanna Bervoets and translated by Emma Rault.

description

We Had to Remove This Post offers a thought-provoking glimpse into the world of social media moderators. I loved the premise, and the way Hanna Bervoets plays with the difference between what’s allowed and what’s right, and explores the effect working as a moderator has on the characters. I liked that this book is short enough to read in one sitting, but I was a little thrown by the abruptness of the ending.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'd only heard good things about You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi, but I didn't find time to read it last year.

description

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty is a page-turning romance that packs an emotional punch. As Feyi tries to move on from her past, you’re never quite sure where this story is going to land. I loved the friendship between Feyi and Joy, and the balance between reality and fantasy. This is a story you can escape into, but the plot isn’t what you expect. I loved Emezi’s attention to detail, and I am very tempted to add The Death of Vivek Oji to my TBR.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I continued to catch up with 2022 releases with One Day I Shall Astonish the World, the latest book from Nina Stibbe.

description

One Day I Shall Astonish the World charts the friendship of Susan and Norma over more than two decades. This is a mostly light-hearted book, peopled with quirky characters, and written with wry humour. Three stars rather than four because I didn’t always find the story as engaging as I would have liked, I found some of the contemporary references a little earnest, and as much as I enjoyed the characters, I sometimes found them a little unconvincing.

⭐⭐⭐

Up next was a new release that I couldn't resist: Nobody But Us by Laure Van Rensburg.

description

Nobody But Us opens with a crime scene, then jumps back in time to the start of the romantic trip that ended in bloodshed. This page-turning thriller is set over only a few days, but with the help of flashbacks the truth is slowly revealed. This one only ended up being a three-star read for me, because I found it a little long, and more than a little clichéd. But I enjoyed the plot’s twists and turns, and I think Laure Van Rensburg does an excellent job of inhabiting the mind of an abuser.

⭐⭐⭐

I returned to the James Bond series next, with From Russia With Love by Ian Fleming.

description

From Russia with Love is a gripping thriller, whose plot is surprisingly similar to the film adaptation, but which also makes brief references to the previous books. When 007 is marked for death by SMERSH, the Soviet counter-intelligence agency, he is drawn into a web of lies and danger. I had forgotten how much I loved Ian Fleming's cinematic writing style, which gives us a much more human Bond than the films, and which has a wonderful eye for detail. But I could have done without the sexism.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Since From Russia with Love ended on a cliffhanger, I continued with the next book in the series: Dr. No by Ian Fleming.

description

Dr No is another gripping thriller with the same basic plot as the film adaptation, but Fleming gives us much more detail. When M sends Bond to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of the station chief, he expects a mission that doubles as a vacation, for the agent still recovering from the events of the previous book. But Dr No has other ideas in mind. Fleming's writing is a joy to read - appalling language aside - and I devoured this book in a day.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wanting a change in tone, I turned to another book from the backlog (with a cover I couldn't resist): The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw.

description

The Secret Life of Church Ladies is a beautiful collection of short stories, many of which explore a forbidden love. The writing is exquisite, and the stories fit nicely alongside one another but each story is different from the next. The characters feel real, and the lives they live certainly could be. I'm excited to see what Deesha Philyaw writes next.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I finally caught up with one of my favourite series at the end of January, just before the next book is published, and read Forced Confessions by John Fairfax.

description

Forced Confessions sees William Benson, a criminal barrister with a murder conviction, try to defend a married couple with something to hide, even as his own past catches up with him. The courtroom scenes are particularly gripping, as Benson sees things in a way no-one else does. The writing is engaging and the plot kept me guessing until the very end. It was both satisfying and a little disappointing to finally find out the truth about Benson's past, so I look forward to seeing where the series goes next.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

What did you read in January?
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Published on February 01, 2023 01:16