NetGalley

[Alwynne]

Nigeyb wrote: "Susan wrote:



Available for request:

She's Always Hungry



I know she has fans in the group.

From the author of Penance and Boy Part..."

Me too! Love her so much.

[Alwynne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Do report back, Nigeyb... while I gnash my teeth at Faber for hating me!"

I don't get the logic sometimes, I got turned down for a book about Agnes Varda, seen all her films more than once plus several docs about her, I'd be ideal!

[Roman Clodia]

Honestly can't think of any reason, hadn't written any stinking reviews, usually love Faber books anyway, and am pretty up to date on reading - it's a complete mystery to me.

[Roman Clodia]

Booker longlisted Held by Anne Michaels is on NG.

[Alwynne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Booker longlisted Held by Anne Michaels is on NG."

Are you going to risk it? I've never tried anything of hers but somehow was turned off by the marketing of Fugitive Pieces

[Roman Clodia]

I read Fugitive Pieces years ago and liked it but also found it a bit of a slog. But yes, I'm going to give this a try.

[Alwynne]

I'm looking forward to seeing an ARC of this reissue surface Theory & Practice anything with a Woolf storyline! Plus loved The Lost Dog just the right mix of gossipy literary Aussie lifestyles and lit theories.

I think I'll view you as a test subject where the Michaels is concerned!

[Roman Clodia]

Sounds interesting - like you, yes to anything Woolf! I haven't read Kretser but both those sound enticing.

[Nigeyb]

Turns out the ARC of....


She's Always Hungry

Is just one very short, short story


Wot a swizz

[Roman Clodia]

Ah, that makes me feel marginally better. Is it a good story?

[Susan]

At least you didn't pay for it, I guess?

[Nigeyb]

Very intriguing - lots of online reviews for a bizarre sounding Chinese/Pizza hybrid takeaway. I suspect it must link to other stories in the book as it makes little sense as a standalone.

[SueLucie]

Great excitement here. I’ve just been approved for a new Anne Tyler .

[Susan]

That's good, SueLucie. I try to only have one or two now, as otherwise it is too overwhelming, so I have to use restraint!

[SueLucie]

Susan wrote: "That's good, SueLucie. I try to only have one or two now, as otherwise it is too overwhelming, so I have to use restraint!"

Me too, though just lately several of my favourites have new books coming out and I’m so tempted.

[Roman Clodia]

Susan wrote: "That's good, SueLucie. I try to only have one or two now, as otherwise it is too overwhelming, so I have to use restraint!"

I'm doing that too. I went for months without taking anything from NG but then felt I'd missed out. This seems like a good compromise. I currently have three books, but we're coming up to the peak time for new fiction so that's sort of expected.

[Alwynne]

Anyone else planning to try The Eights? After The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story and reading the latest on the Gisele Pelicot case - which underlines a number of Tokarczuk's points about the all-pervasiveness of misogyny rather too well. I thought I'd go for a women-centred, easy read, this one is set at Oxford in the 1920s and follows a group of women students,. It apparently features Vera Brittain and Winifred Holtby as characters, and comes with notes and a bibliography that suggest a decent level of background research went into it.

[Susan_MG]

I am not much for horror but The Eights intrigues.

[Nigeyb]

Sounds very intriguing Alwynne. Looking forward to your reaction

[Tania]

Alwynne wrote: "Anyone else planning to try The Eights? After The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story and reading the latest on the Gisele Pelicot case - which underlines a num..."

I have requested this one as well. I like the idea of the subject matter so we'll see.

[Roman Clodia]

Yes, looking forward to your verdict, Alwynne - the subject sounds enticing (I recognized the Vera Brittain character from the blurb) but I'm increasingly wary of unknown authors where the execution might not match the ambition - I do wish NG offered sample extracts so we could get a feel for the writing before requesting.

[Alwynne]

Vera only has a cameo part so far, as this is set at St. Hugh's. And finding this one impossible to put down, like a girls' school story for grownups crossed with a 1920s version of The Group blended with an authentic VMC title from the time but allowed to mention stuff like menstruation. Some stock aspects but well-researched, and at the mid-point still rattling along. She consulted a range of sources inc time at the Bodleian researching accounts by students from the era. There's a slight mystery I think I've worked out, and a plot twist I didn't see coming and now very worried about how that's going to affect a character. Also great that she's thought about what they're reading, from Mansfield to being desperate for a copy of The Mysterious Affair at Styles Very convincing on the impact of war for particular communities of women too. Basically an intelligent/literary page-turner.

[Roman Clodia]

Ooh, you've persuaded me, thanks!

[Roman Clodia]

On Netgalley, I loved This Immaculate Body by Emma van Straaten.

[Alwynne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "On Netgalley, I loved This Immaculate Body by Emma van Straaten."

I clocked your review of that one, so will check it out. And agree about the writing sample, the most useful thing about Amazon is being able to read a sample if there's a Kindle edition. If the writing's too pedestrian/disjointed the story's immaterial.

[Roman Clodia]

The new Han Kang, We Do Not Part: From the International Booker Prize-winning author of The Vegetarian, is on NG now.

[Nigeyb]

Tempting. Thanks


The Vegetarian is a splendid novel

[Roman Clodia]

It is. I was less sure about her Greek Lessons.

[Roman Clodia]

Ooh, the new translation of Guadalupe Nettel's The Accidentals is on NG - very excited to get this.

[Alwynne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Ooh, the new translation of Guadalupe Nettel's The Accidentals is on NG - very excited to get this."

I'm looking forward to that too, I'm auto-approved for Fitzcarraldo so planning to read it in the near future.

[Roman Clodia]

Well done you on getting auto-approved by Fitzcarraldo - I'm not, but they have approved my request for this.

I've got so many books I'm looking forward to reading at the moment (Sister Deborah, Elevator in Saigon, the Han Kang) with so little time :((

[Alwynne]

Anyone else planning to try The Book Game? I'm intrigued partly because Frances Wise is a pseudonym for two Eng Lit professors, Adam Smyth at Oxford and Chloe Houston at Reading. I'm hoping that means lots of interesting references, commentary on books/writing. Although fascinated to know how they managed to pull off writing together/find the time. They don't appear to be a couple like Nicci French.

[Roman Clodia]

Alwynne wrote: "Anyone else planning to try The Book Game? I'm intrigued partly because Frances Wise is a pseudonym for two Eng Lit professors, Adam Smyth at Oxford and Chloe Houston at Reading. I..."

I know Adam! And have met Chloe at conferences. They certainly weren't a couple as pretty sure Adam is married. I'd looked at that book and will definitely try it now - fingers crossed it's good and I can give a glowing review.

Yes, where did they find the time? I haven't got to Adam's last book yet: The Book-Makers: A History of the Book in Eighteen Lives.

[Alwynne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "Anyone else planning to try The Book Game? I'm intrigued partly because Frances Wise is a pseudonym for two Eng Lit professors, Adam Smyth at Oxford and Chloe Houst..."

The publishers seem to be being a bit coy about it, at least in the initial marketing, it's not even listed on their website. But this confirms it:

https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/...

[Roman Clodia]

Great detective work, Alwynne! Hope I don't hate the book - but that's what the avatar is for 😉

[Alwynne]

I've requested an ARC of this one by Megan Hunter Days of Light the house is based on Charleston and the family on Vanessa Bell's so thought it might be worth a look.

[Susan]

Did anyone else get some nice Christmas presents via NetGalley today? I had the new Stig Abell land in my inbox from Harper Collins and Picador sent me links to their new 2025 fiction, including the new Sarah Moss and Emma Donaghue. All I need is some uninterrupted reading time now...

[Roman Clodia]

Susan wrote: "Did anyone else get some nice Christmas presents via NetGalley today?"

No, I never get gifted books from publishers☹️

Is the Moss My Good Bright Wolf: A Memoir? If so, I've read it and absolutely loved it.

[Susan]

No, Ripeness. I just got an email from Little, Brown too. I have hardly reviewed anything from NetGalley this year, so I was surprised.

[Roman Clodia]

Susan wrote: "No, Ripeness. I just got an email from Little, Brown too. I have hardly reviewed anything from NetGalley this year, so I was surprised."

Ooh, lucky you!

[Susan]

I know, I think I have only read one or two NetGalley books all year. I haven't downloaded any yet, other than the Stig Abell as I have read his first two.

[Susan]

Ripeness is showing on NetGalley for request if you are interested, RC?

[Alwynne]

I got that email too, downloaded the Emma Donoghue so far. I'm a bit behind on reading, been quite busy plus got caught up in a Hitchcock retrospective - finally get 'Vertigo' - and revisiting favourite vintage screwball. Just finished my annual Christmas playlist: Meet me in St. Louis, The Man who Came to dinner, Tom and Jerry's The Night Before Christmas, and A Charlie Brown Christmas, so good to go! Plus the friend I was supposed to be visiting has a daughter who's been throwing up all night and looks like Noro - which I've managed to dodge so far - so some unexpected reading time.

[Roman Clodia]

Why am I left out from this Netgalley giftfest?! 🤨 (As if I don't have too much to read!)

[Alwynne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Why am I left out from this Netgalley giftfest?! 🤨 (As if I don't have too much to read!)"

Seems weird, my email was from Picador though not Little Brown in general and I have reviewed a number of their titles pretty favourably - their list often coincides with my taste/interests. But I thought you'd reviewed a lot of theirs too.

[Roman Clodia]

Oooh, the new Horowitz is on NG: Marble Hall Murders - and I'm auto-approved! :))

[Susan]

Good news! I have to re-read the second yet! Behind in January and SO behind already...

[Roman Clodia]

I know, I wanted to reread Moonflower first but so tempted to dive into the new book! I watched the TV adaptation so do remember how it ended.

[Susan]

Clown Town appeared on NetGalley yesterday as wish only. I doubt very much I will be approved, but worth a try! Everyone get their wishes in...

[Roman Clodia]

Ooh thanks - very much wished for!