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What have you just read? Opinions, Recommendations, and Reviews, part 3
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
An entertaining middle-grade novel with a dog as the protagonist. If you have access to the audio version, do check this out on audio. Ethan Hawke has done an outstanding job bringing Johannes the dog to life.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Suspension Bridge by Anna Dowdall
A literary crime novel about varied bridges, both literal and metaphorical. Unusual!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Two graphic novels, one for kids and one for adults. Both amazing!1. Rise of the Halfling King by David Bowles
A retelling of a Mesoamerican myth, adapted from the author's nonfiction book on Mexican mythology. A great book for middle-graders.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2. The Library Mule of Cordoba by Wilfrid Lupano
Set in 976 AD and focussing on a librarian's attempts to save some books from being burnt. The approach is fun but the underlying issue is quite serious, and still relevant. This is for older teens and adults.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A light and entertaining cosy-murder mystery -
Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander ⭐⭐⭐.8 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have finally caught up with my reviews of 3 books, one I really liked and two I liked less.5 Stars
A Deadly Educationhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
3 stars
Just One Damned Thing After Another
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Ministry of Timehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of The Lost Jewels by Kirsty Manning
4 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I seem to have forgotten to post the last several reviews I wrote:The Shining by Stephen King - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The first three in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King:
The Gunslinger - reviewed -
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Drawing of the Three - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Waste Lands - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and also read Under the Breaking Sky: The Complete Apocalyptic Horror Series by Nick Clausen - review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read Normal People by Sally Rooney. I can see why it's so popular because the writing is very good. But, personally, I wasn't that invested in either the narrative or the characters.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
And another short read:Falling Down by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer
A historical Gothic mystery. Could have done better but not bad at all.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts by Alison Sherlock
4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A charming read
The Little Provence Book Shop by Gillian Harvey ⭐⭐⭐.6 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Merriest Misters by Timothy Janovsky
A bit like Tim Allen's The Santa Clause movies, but with a gay couple at the helm. Could have been memorable had the couple not been so whiny.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Aesop's Fables: A New Translation
Good, but repetitive after a point. Might work better if read at random, which I did not have the luxury of doing as it was an ARC.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mind Over Clutter: Cleaning Your Way to a Calm and Happy Home by Nicola LewisMy review 3⭐
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Rhino Keeper by Jillian Forsberg
90% readers have rated this 4 stars or more. I am in the immediate outlier range with my 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Highly Sensitive Parent: Be Brilliant in Your Role, Even When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N. AronMy review 3⭐
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My Year of Casual Acquaintances by Ruth F. Stevens
A contemporary drama with a middle-aged protagonist and an episodic writing style. Interesting!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib. Abdurraqib ricochets from one topic to another in an exhilarating display of lyrical prose. The book is not about basketball. Or, rather, not only about basketball. It is about a young man growing up in Columbus, Ohio, and what basketball and its players come to represent. It is about life.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
my review of His Amish Wife's Hidden Past by Mindy Steele
4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review catchup (reading quite a few horror books for Halloween):The Ritual by Adam L. G. Nevill - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
First two books in the Harvesting series by Melanie Karsak - The Harvesting and Midway - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and Stephen King's It - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Two middle-grade graphic novels. One based on a true story, one an adaptation of a full-length novel.1. Lost at Windy River: A True Story of Survival by Trina Rathgeber
Needed a bit of finetuning, but good to know an inspiring true story.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2. The Great Turkey Walk: A Graphic Novel Adaptation of the Classic Story of a Boy, His Dog and a Thousand Turkeys by Kathleen Karr
Very cute, but with some serious themes.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
Great cover, good concept, poor execution.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
⭐⭐⭐.5 for #3 in the Scottish Isle Mysteries series
Death at a Scottish Christmas by Lucy Connelly https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of The Winter Bride by Anne Gracie
3 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
An Astonishment of Stars: Stories by Kirti Bhadresa
A short story collection with BIPOC women in the lead. Interesting but a mood read.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman
This worked well for many readers, but I couldn't stand the contemporary timeline. The historical timeline saves the book.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid.Promoted as a retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth, this is so far removed from Shakespeare's play that it hardly qualifies as a retelling. It is replete with gothic and fantastical elements, including a man who transforms himself into a creature straight out of mythology.
This just wasn't for me.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Big catchup on reviews:read the rest of the Boy in the Iron Box series by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan:
Book 3 The Hunted reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book 4 - Risen - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book 5 - Siege - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book 6 - Encounter - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ryan Casey - Pandemic Z: The First Night: A Post Apocalyptic Zombie Thriller - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The House of the Witch by Clare Marchant - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fairy Tale by Stephen King - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of A Curious Incident by Vicki Delaney
4 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I liked The Plot but loved
The Sequel: The follow up to the New York Times Bestselling The Plot: 'Insanely readable.' Stephen King by Jean Hanff Korelitz ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2 for this multi-layered Aussie outback story
Out in Nowhere by Fleur McDonald https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not sure this book derserves quite all the hype it has received but then I am not the target market.Still I enjoyed it a lot - 4 stars
A Court of Thorns and Roseshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A lovely second chance romance with just a little spice
Outback Reunion by Rachael Johns ⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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A very moving portrayal of a life in exile as told through the voice of a Libyan who lives in fear and is unable to return to Gaddafi's Libya because of his political activism. It also depicts the intense bonding between Libyan friends who share a similar fate.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....