Chris's Updates en-US Thu, 05 Jun 2025 16:58:35 -0700 60 Chris's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7631064188 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 16:58:35 -0700 <![CDATA[Chris added 'The Light of Day: The first man to come out at the dawn of gay liberation']]> /review/show/7631064188 The Light of Day by Christopher Stephens Chris gave 4 stars to The Light of Day: The first man to come out at the dawn of gay liberation (Kindle Edition) by Christopher Stephens
'The Light of Day' puts Roger Butler into his proper place as a gay rights pioneer and advocate. Butler came out in the British press when so many gay men were afraid of the repercussions. Christopher Stephens and Louise Radnofsky have created a hybrid work: part biography of Butler and part memoir of Stephens' relationship with Butler. Stephens grew close to an older Butler, and he connects his life to what he learned from Butler. I found 'The Light of Day' a fascinating and engrossing read. It is maddening though that so much of gay history has been kept from us. Everyone should know about Roger Butler, and this is a wonderful way of introducing Roger Butler to readers. ]]> GiveawayRequest719720650 Mon, 02 Jun 2025 22:07:01 -0700 <![CDATA[<a href="/user/show/57791414-chris-l">Chris L.</a> entered a giveaway]]> /giveaway/show/412332-palaver Palaver by Bryan Washington ]]> Review7610033202 Thu, 29 May 2025 10:09:41 -0700 <![CDATA[Chris added 'The Mourning Necklace']]> /review/show/7610033202 The Mourning Necklace by Kate Foster Chris gave 4 stars to The Mourning Necklace (Kindle Edition) by Kate Foster
Kate Foster has done it again. After the success of 'Maiden' and 'The King's Witches', Foster writes about Margaret Dickson who is hanged in 18th century Scotland for murdering her baby. Once again, Foster uses real-life events and people as the basis for her fiction, and she creates an engrossing portrait of a woman trapped by her circumstances. Foster is an expert at writing stories about desperate women who have few if any options. Foster was longlisted for the women's prize for her first novel, 'Maiden' and 'The Mourning Necklace' equals that novel in its brilliant storytelling. 'The Mourning Necklace' is a definite recommendation. ]]> Review7610000223 Thu, 29 May 2025 09:55:08 -0700 <![CDATA[Chris added 'A Queer Case']]> /review/show/7610000223 A Queer Case by Robert Holtom Chris gave 4 stars to A Queer Case (The Selby Bigge Mysteries, #1) by Robert Holtom
Robert Holtom's "A Queer Case" is a wonderful new gay murder series. The novel takes place in 1920's London. This setting is important because the novel is about a gay man who has to manage his sexuality during a time of repression and possible imprisonment. Selby witnesses a murder, and he sets out to identify the culprit. Holtom's writing is quite witty and engaging and I was interested in Selby as a character, This is a wonderful first start to a new murder mystery series. It's especially fun for readers of LGBT list and/or of British history. ]]> Review7574166748 Fri, 16 May 2025 10:21:01 -0700 <![CDATA[Chris added 'The Book of Guilt']]> /review/show/7574166748 The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey Chris gave 4 stars to The Book of Guilt (Hardcover) by Catherine Chidgey
Acclaimed writer Catherine Chidgey returns with a chilling novel about reworking the past to understand the present. She describes a reimagined 1970s England, and how three triplets and a young girl are eking out an existence. The backdrop is the Captain Scott Home for Boys, where the male triplets live, and the novel highlights what happens when they start to question their identities. The novel is frightening and sadly relevant in today's world. Chidgey is a phenomenal writer of mood and uneasiness. She captures the unsettling nature of identities shaped by outside influences (trying to be vague so as not to spoil anything). I can see this being a contender for the Booker Prize in 2025. This is another winner from John Murray Press. ]]> Review7548788109 Tue, 06 May 2025 15:58:39 -0700 <![CDATA[Chris added 'My Name Is Emilia del Valle']]> /review/show/7548788109 My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende Chris gave 4 stars to My Name Is Emilia del Valle (Hardcover) by Isabel Allende
bookshelves: to-read
The wonderful Isabel Allende is back with another work of historical fiction. "My Name is Emilia del Valle" takes place at the end of the nineteenth century when Chile is in the middle of a civil war. Emilia goes to report on the war as well as find out information about her father--a man she never knew. Allende once again combines real-life events with a strong heroine. Allende and her translator Frances Riddle give gorgeous descriptions of the Chilean landscape, but they also make the prose quite moving when Emilia reflects on what it's like to grow up without a father in a time when there are Chileans who worry about losing the Chile they have always known. It's a first-rate work from one of the most dependable and talented writers we have. ]]> Review7527145357 Mon, 28 Apr 2025 18:05:07 -0700 <![CDATA[Chris added 'A Leopard-Skin Hat']]> /review/show/7527145357 A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre Chris gave 4 stars to A Leopard-Skin Hat (Paperback) by Anne Serre
]]> Review7519107574 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 18:55:24 -0700 <![CDATA[Chris added 'Under the Eye of the Big Bird']]> /review/show/7519107574 Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami Chris gave 3 stars to Under the Eye of the Big Bird (Hardcover) by Hiromi Kawakami
]]> Review7518817950 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 16:25:22 -0700 <![CDATA[Chris added 'Heart Lamp: Selected Stories']]> /review/show/7518817950 Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq Chris gave 3 stars to Heart Lamp: Selected Stories (Paperback) by Banu Mushtaq
]]> Review7497414829 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 19:20:40 -0700 <![CDATA[Chris added 'Room on the sea']]> /review/show/7497414829 Room on the sea by André Aciman Chris gave 4 stars to Room on the sea (Paperback) by André Aciman
Best known for ‘Call Me By Your Nameâ€�, AndrĂ© Aciman returns with a short novella. ‘Room on the Seaâ€� is the romantic story of Paul and Catherine and those quick but meaningful moments that mean so much when you connect deeply with another person. It was also a nice treat to see characters who were adults because we're often just fed teenage protagonists. Aciman has a way with those small details that reveal a character's true emotions, and how they feel about the other person. A book to enjoy with a nice cup of tea on a warm Sunday afternoon. ]]>