Just can't get enough of this world! Three novellas covering three characters from Wonder; the first story is narrated by Justin and is a masterclass Just can't get enough of this world! Three novellas covering three characters from Wonder; the first story is narrated by Justin and is a masterclass in first person thoughts and narration of a bully. It's not too harsh, and neither is it apologetic, it just provides a very well thought out rationale and background to why Justin had so much issue with Auggie; there's also some WONDER-ful scenes with one of his relatives. 9.5 out of 12, Four Star read. [image] The second story Pluto follows Christopher, Auggies lifelong friend who's now moved away, in the past and in the present - not as great as the other tales, but alone in having the main focus of the story be very far from Auggie and more just about Christopher. 8.5 out of 12. The final story wraps up the book as we follow Charlotte's own story during the period covered by Wonder - more boss storytelling, heart-warming, kindness promotion entails. 9.5 out of 12, Four Star read. [image] I've been really thinking what makes Palacio's writing so special, and i think it's because it focuses on kindness and doing good, about our individual responsibility to not do harm, and even more so to be kind, do good. Also, unlike virtually every other creator I've read/consumed, she absolutely nails the syntax, styles, tones, characterisations and relationships of middle-school aged kids. Another superb visit to the world of WONDER! 9 out of 12, Four Star read. [image] 2020 read...more
Seventeen year-old basketball talent Samuel 'Sooley' Sooleyman is on the early steps to securing his and his family's future as he ticks all the rightSeventeen year-old basketball talent Samuel 'Sooley' Sooleyman is on the early steps to securing his and his family's future as he ticks all the right boxes and passes the right hurdles to be considered as part of a group of Somalian talent that will have a chance to show of their schools on the America college circuit. This book is about Sooley's attempt to at some time in the future reach the NBA, the focus, the practice, the determination, the acclimatisation and more in such a hugely competitive filed globally. Alongside his story, is the story of his family left in Somalia where society is breaking down. Interesting choice of Grisham and yet further proof of empath and humanity that I had no idea Grisham had 'til I started reading his work. This was my nineteenth Grisham read this year! It's shame that the competitive basketball journey felt far more better researched than the plight in Somalia, that felt almost like an afterthought. A 6 out of 12, Three Star read. [image] 2024 read...more
A seemingly short tempered intolerant, isolated, in perpetual mourning retiree, Ove, spends his days enforcing block association and general societal A seemingly short tempered intolerant, isolated, in perpetual mourning retiree, Ove, spends his days enforcing block association and general societal rules when he's not visiting his not so long departed wife's grave, has finally given up on life, however he's incessant need to correct wrongs suspends his suicidal plans, when an immigrant family that appears to have few qualms about casually invading personal space or indeed fully adhering to Ove's ideas of block or societal rules, move into the neighbourhood. [image] Talk about loading it on! The writer appears to use every trick in their armoury in this their first published novel to elicit sympathy and empathy for Ove. On top of that he rolls out a sympathetic cast of supporting characters from the earnest fresh-faced immigrant family with super sweet kids to an outlier in-the-closet teenager. It all feels forced and within a 100 pages a vague idea of how this book would proceed could be easily determined. I only continued to read it, because so many others had raved about it. A just-about 5 out of 12, Two Stars read for me, and that feels generous, and a rare popular read outlier review from me :) [image] 2025 read...more
Struggling June Hayward is alone with best selling global whirlwind writer Athena Liu when an accident sees Liu die; and sitting on Athena's desk is aStruggling June Hayward is alone with best selling global whirlwind writer Athena Liu when an accident sees Liu die; and sitting on Athena's desk is an unpublished book manuscript. A dark comedy about plagiarism, 'yellowfacing', diversity, racism, trial by social media and cultural appropriation. This is done with a totally immersive first person narration. Pitch perfect but not innovative enough for me, everyone's actions are all kind of predictable; the book felt to me just as unsympathetic to the people (rightly) calling out cultural appropriation. Still a gripping 8 out of 12 Four Star read. 'cos I spent the whole book on the edge of my seat to see if June 'Juniper Song' Hayward gets caught. :) [image] All the in-fighting amongst writers never points at the real problem - 'book factories' like James Patterson (published over 400 books!) and other best selling 2-3 books a year writers are the reason why it's so hard for other writers to get published. White writers are not pushed out by writers of colour who fill an unfulfilled gap... just like when YA exploded onto the scene, the YA writers didn't takeaway any other writers places, they fulfilled an unfulfilled gap in the market. SO to me it's just one big fallacy that writers of colour are replacing or prevent the publication of white writers; and I wish a creator would write that truth. [image] 2024 read...more
Three generations live in the same Essex (county in England) town. There's Rochelle a martial art champion seriously considering being the first persoThree generations live in the same Essex (county in England) town. There's Rochelle a martial art champion seriously considering being the first person in her family to go to university; and seriously not considering coming out of the closet as a lesbian. There's her mum, Delphine, still thinking of the love of her life Sol's murder that left her pregnant with Roche, when she was 22; still not thinking that her family's dislike of her current partner cab driver Itsy, is justified. There's Delph's estranged mum, Moon, who has taken in Rochelle who left home because of Itsy; who has not taken any booze or drugs to escape her past for at least a day [image] Another Eve Verde master class in contemporary writing. A book that solely focuses on the three women, their lives and above all how they have to manage themselves and internalise rage to survive in the male dominated reality of everyday life. All three main characters have hidden pain and when Rochelle digs into granny Moon's past it sets the ball rolling for all three of them to face their pasts and change their futures so that one day they will be in bloom. This is an expertly and realistically written deep character led work that had me smiling at the end. A 9 out of 12 Four Star book. [image] 2024 read Another strongly recommended read by Eva Verde: Lives Like Mine...more
Hashtag Black Love London-born couple Ola and Michael are a month away from their over-the-top Ghanaian and Nigerian themed wedding when The List is sHashtag Black Love London-born couple Ola and Michael are a month away from their over-the-top Ghanaian and Nigerian themed wedding when The List is shared online; a list of toxic men and their crimes in the entertainment industry in London; Michael’s name is on the list with a summary of his deeds! Ola has built a career in calling out toxic masculinity, what will she do now? [image] This was a compelling read, just for the sake of really wanting to know what happens next as soon as possible. It did feel like a lot of the story was pushed in specific directions by the writer, in that it didn’t feel organic. Overall, a conflicting read that probably needs rereading to get the most of. I liked the writer pointing out how so many toxic Black men pull out the race card to counterattack their accusers. In a way the book replicates the reality where male pain is seemingly more important and relevant than female pain. Still the most essential reason why this is a very good read is because it got me taking a deeper look at my rationales, thoughts and views on male toxicity and abused woman’s lack of reporting pathways. A solid 8 out of 12 Four Star read, thank you so much Yomi. [image] 2024 read...more
I wish I read this before I read Normal People, this is a superb debut, now I get the hype around this writer. This is an exceptional well told story I wish I read this before I read Normal People, this is a superb debut, now I get the hype around this writer. This is an exceptional well told story looking at the new modern Eire through the eyes of a vulnerable women transitioning from student to young adult, post lesbian relationship, and trying to eke out some kind of living from her art (poetry) whilst navigating friendships. But it’s the writing, story construction and characterisation of the female lead that is peerless; is that what is called a character study? It took a while to get into this deeply, but when I did, I really did! An exceptional debut 9 out of 12, Four Star read. [image] 2024 read...more
The story of five colleague-friends working at Microsoft in the l1990s, five struggling and directionless people, who live in the insular world of digThe story of five colleague-friends working at Microsoft in the l1990s, five struggling and directionless people, who live in the insular world of digital tech. Told in the short snappy digital diary entries of one of the group Daniel. This book feels like it was Douglas Coupland's idea of capturing the lives and times of a group of people that already spent a decade in tech; but note that it is set in the pre Windows 95 climate. A typically well researched and innovative read but it felt quite tech heavy even for someone like me that works in the digital arena. Just 5 out of 12 Two Stars for this fictional look at pop culture. [image] 2024 read...more
Council (local authority) employee Roger finds himself mesmerised by the behaviour of the disenfranchised, especially those with ASBO orders (local auCouncil (local authority) employee Roger finds himself mesmerised by the behaviour of the disenfranchised, especially those with ASBO orders (local authority restraining order from specific areas or people!), and realises that their 'look at me' attention seeking yet mostly self-obsessed behaviour makes interesting viewing. A clever and thought provoking satire built around the concept of designating anti-social behaviour and how the rest of us respond to it. A 7 out 12 Three Star read, a read that raises real questions and got me thinking :) [image] 2024 read...more
In between the spaces of the urban monoliths spread across America lie thousands of rural communities, many of which were the first to feel the bites In between the spaces of the urban monoliths spread across America lie thousands of rural communities, many of which were the first to feel the bites of recession and depression and the last to come out the other end. Set not so long after the Second World in rural Arkansas, this book follows one long summer in the life of seven year old Luke Chandler whose parents and grand parents run a cotton farm that just barely covers their cost of living. Like most recent years a group of Mexican farm labourers and a family of 'Hillbillies' come to work picking cotton over the Summer, a summer in which the harsh realities of the real world are railroaded into Luke's life. [image] Well this one came out of nowhere! Original published in serial form this is sparely written by deeply riveting read of groups of people at different levels of poverty existing (or not) together. My only criticism is that this smashing coming-of-age drama feels eschewed because of the very young age of Luke, and I can see why the Hallmark Movie of this book made him 1tem, which works so much better. Got to holler aa trigger warning for some of the man vs man violence but other wise it's a wonderful coming-of-age read, one of the best I've read in years; it's also my fave Grisham! A well deserved 9 out of 12, Four Star read. [image] 2024 rad...more
So far from the male gaze dream of a women tennis champion, Carrie dominated the women's game for over a decade to the disdain of her detractors, whicSo far from the male gaze dream of a women tennis champion, Carrie dominated the women's game for over a decade to the disdain of her detractors, which saw her globally recognised nickname become 'the Bitch'(!). Carrie Soto seeing her Grand Slam wins record under threat shocks the sporting and wider world by announcing a comeback aged 37, six years after her last professional game! She was the world's greatest player (of either gender), but surely this is impossible, or can Carrie serve it up? [image] This wonder of a book that throughout explores the relationships between grief, distraction and goals; between prodigy daughter and coach father; between Carrie and Bowe ; between the cost of greatness and living a life. I am probably underselling the beauty of this book, so many truly (yes that word again) beautiful conversations, nuances and actions. There are no idealised characters in this book, each one is carefully multifaceted and this works superbly, it's a smash! [image] There are just so many <> moments, yet none of them are schmaltzy, from the immigrant father making a better life in the States, to the Black woman agent who backs and believes Carrie like a sister, and the delicate and realistic handling of romance in elite sports belies the immense researching skill of Taylor Jenkins Reid. This is just one big slice of the nature and meaning of greatness, a meaningful slice, that is unstoppable as baseline pass. [image] By the second or third page I knew this was a Five Star read, reading it I knew it, and at the end it was confirmed. I stretched this book out as long as I possibly could to stay in Carrie, Javier, Bowe, Gwen and Nicki Chan's world as long as I could - 10 out of 12, Five Star read. A second Five Star Jenkins Reid book for me after Daisy Jones and The Six. [image] Now Where My Five Stars At? [image] 2023 read...more
If you haven't read this book please don't click on the spoiler tags as that information is only revealed slowly in this story Jane and her five year oIf you haven't read this book please don't click on the spoiler tags as that information is only revealed slowly in this story Jane and her five year old Ziggy have always been roamers and found themselves in the idyllic coastal town Pirriee (In Australia), which is so affluent even most of the domestic staff are White. At the start of an open-day for his soon-to-be Kindergarten Ziggy is accused of an act of violence by another five year-old girl soon-to-be classmate. The reactions and actions of the time of the parents and teachers present, sees two sides form around the accused and accuser's mothers. At the end of each chapter there's a number of single paragraphs by the (named in bold) supporting cast member looking back at the events of each chapter with hindsight, whilst often referring to the horrific events of Trivia Night. The Kindergarten open-day incident occurs six months before Trivia Night and each chapter covers an event or experience of one of the main cast that has bearing on Trivia Night. Got it? [image] After read the first few chapters I just loved this story. Are you ready? This is the greatest book ever written on female rivalry, female friendship and (view spoiler)[domestic abuse (hide spoiler)]. It's just perfectly weighted - the entire book teasing Trivia Night; the lifelong pain of your partner walking out on you; the fear and confusion of your child being a bully or bullied; but most of all such a beautifully and multifaceted look at female relationships with the added power of their well crafted inner voices. The writing above everything else, was easily accessible and allowed for Lianne's great story to be to told in the most effective way. Because with sexual abuse and (view spoiler)[domestic abuse (hide spoiler)] being major themes in this book alongside fragile and toxic masculinity, Lianne managed to give so many highs as well as lows and the Trivia Night scene ties the entire story together with a masterstroke of genius scene setting and storytelling [image] Lianne's story has dozens of secondary key themes such as parent abuse of teachers and schools, cliques, stereotyping, self righteousness, the impact of supposedly 'perfect' wives on other women, the list goes on. Yet I wanted more and more. What Lianne has done with serious themes and a compelling collection of character led plots is create and populate one of the best 21st century contemporary realities I've read and been completely absorbed into when reading. I dare you not to like this one! 10 out of 12, fantastic Five Star read. [image] 2023 read Five Stars, I said... Five Stars! Did someone say Fivestar? [image]...more
Alice and Lucy were one-time inseparable roommates when a tragic event drew a schism between them. Years later un-happily married in Tangier and strugAlice and Lucy were one-time inseparable roommates when a tragic event drew a schism between them. Years later un-happily married in Tangier and struggling to make friends or have any kind of social life, Alice has a visitor out of the blue... Lucy! Within hours her life and mental wellbeing begin to improve only for them to take a familiar downward spiral like when they were roommates; is Lucy a destructive force in Alice's life or is it all in Alice's head? [image] Set in Tangiers to the backdrop of the fight for independence in the 1950s, the operative word is backdrop. With blurb and book title pointing to an obsessive relationship dual time thriller set in the 1950s heat of an Africa flexing its muscle against colonialism what we get is a story narrated by both Alice and Lucy, with little real intrigue or mystery and the closest we begin to getting a sense of 1950s Tangiers are the odd paragraphs referencing the revolutionary actions of the native population. Just about a Two Star 4 out of 12 read for me... also not sure how this can be considered literary with the 'prose' it has. Do I think others will like this, most definitely, as the dual storytelling by possible manipulator and possible woman loosing her mind is an interesting read. [image] 2023 read...more
Bus-driver, gold jeep driver and serial non-monogamist Cyril Pennington has the inspiration to get all five of his kids from four different woman to mBus-driver, gold jeep driver and serial non-monogamist Cyril Pennington has the inspiration to get all five of his kids from four different woman to meet for the first time, so that they can know each other and avoid the chance of sleeping with one another in the future! Ewwwwww! [image] The siblings don't meet again until years later as adults, when wannabe social media influencer, with a toxic boyfriend, Dimple, calls her half-sibling, when the worse thing in the world happens to her, in her own kitchen! (Hint: violence and blood is involved). Her half-sibling Nikisha, not knowing how dire the circumstances are, calls the other three siblings to join them at the scene, and thus follows not only a wonderful all UK Black cast dark comedy, but a superb set-up of initially racial stereotypes of Black characters being turned on its head, as deeper characterisations are brought forth, as they strive to extricate Dimple from a life changing (in a bad way) predicament! [image] This is a modern family power play, a truly beautifully weighted tale that not only gives us five leading multi-facetted Black characters, but also questions the idea that non-conventional families are any less than conventional nuclear ones, whilst having an absorbing plot that sees a group of Black people manoeuvre around a deadly threat to Dimple, knowing that at heart, they can't trust the authorities to deal with it. A heartbreakingly, funny and eye-opening look at the Black urban experience in the UK in the 21st century. A firm 8 out of 12, Four Star read, and a startling good follow-up after Queenie. To top if off it quantifies what sort of person a 'people person' really is. [image] 2023 read...more
Middle class British-Indian-Muslim junior-doctor Yasmin Ghorami (with conservative parents and a college drop-out brother) is engaged to doctor Joe SaMiddle class British-Indian-Muslim junior-doctor Yasmin Ghorami (with conservative parents and a college drop-out brother) is engaged to doctor Joe Sangster, sole child of an outwardly loving, but intrusive, feminist icon and intellectual 'Harry' Harriet. As the two families get closer together long-held secrets, lies, truths and self realisations come to boil that could change every member of both families for ever. Another wondrous Ali read, one that in which not only the journey is entertaining, emotional, profound and a work of modern art but the sum of the whole is just as worthy of adulation. A book, a read, that will have you laugh-crying throughout. [image] A deep (as credited in the acknowledgements) research of doctoring in the UK, sees Ali bring to life the trials of a (British Muslim woman) junior-doctor working in a geriatric ward. One of the patients in the ward was probably my favourite supporting character, a 96 year-old five times married Russian Jewish woman :) And this is what I find with the best non-Western descendent writers like Ali, they are often better at not only capturing the nuances of people from multiple Western, Eastern, African, mixed etc. backgrounds, they also manage to artfully overlay their characters with the effects and impact of their experiences and lives; maybe it's just easier to conceptualise 'others', when you yourself grew up as an 'other'. [image] Two more things I need to share, I like that this is a story with a main cast that inludes five British Muslims but their religion isn't the biggest character in the story (yay!); and most of all, I love what I saw as the core theme of the dangers of deciding people are who we personally see them, as, opposed to whom they actually are. This momentous read is as good as, if not better than Brick Lane; a Four Star, 9 out of 12 read. [image] 2023 read...more
It's October 1966, still wet behind the ears embalmer William Lavery, and his date Gloria, are at his first real adult event, a black tie dinner of emIt's October 1966, still wet behind the ears embalmer William Lavery, and his date Gloria, are at his first real adult event, a black tie dinner of embalmers when they get the call; it's the night of the Aberfan Disaster where the village, primarily the junior school is engulfed by a man-made fatal mud and slurry slide. Despite his lack of experience William feels he must to help, hoping that he can aid, what turns out to be over 100 children and over 25 adults, have some dignity in death. [image] Volunteering at such a horrendous disaster changes William and Gloria's lives, but in a bad, or good way? The book shares the highs and the many lows of mostly William's and some of Gloria's pasts. The Disaster leads to retrospection and re-analysis of past choices and climatic events. Trigger warning for the details of an embalmer's work at the Disaster site. This is a pretty sober read with a like affirming message at its heart. although I felt too many, if not all, of the supporting cast were one-dimensional cut-outs created to fill the plot. A well written read though it must be said. A 5 out of 12, Two Star somewhat historical read that deals with the Aberfan Disaster, the impact of life changing moments, 1960s attitudes to homosexuality, pregnancy out of marriage, loving from afar and of course the life and times of an embalmer. [image] 2023 read...more
Husband and father Shepherd 'Shep' Knacker has saved his entire life for 'Afterlife' his idea of an idyllic affordable later life existence in most liHusband and father Shepherd 'Shep' Knacker has saved his entire life for 'Afterlife' his idea of an idyllic affordable later life existence in most likely a developing country, when his wife, Glynis, is diagnosed with cancer; his best friend Jackson married to Carol, with healthy daughter Heather, and his youngest daughter with multiple health issues that hugely impact on their lives and will 100% drastically shorten her life span. In almost a conglomeration of opinion-ed rans al our characters bemoan their situations whilst their monies and lives are steadily eroded by the healthcare dependent needs of their family member. Add to this the trials and tribulations of Shep's father and sister, what starts off as a sort of satire descends into a repetitive bore fest. [image] I skipped whole chapters, just reading the first and last paragraphs, so I presume I liked the book enough to care how it proceeded and ended but not al the stuff in between? It did make me smile that this anti-woke, anti anything 'Liberal' provocateur's work is at face value a social-media speechifying oratory fest which is completely overpowered by the horror that is American healthcare. 4 out of 12, Two Star read. [image] 2023 read...more
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