sarahrwray

Fated – Alex Verus Novel 1 – Benedict Jacka – 21.05.22

Cursed – Alex Verus Novel 2 – Benedict Jacka – 25.06.22 Amazon was always suggesting Benedict Jacka books to me, I guess because I read Ben Aaronovitch and Sarah Painter, so when books one and two in this series were going cheep, I gave them a go. Well, I like the series so far, theContinue reading “Fated – Alex Verus Novel 1 – Benedict Jacka – 21.05.22“

The Last Smile in Sunder City: Fetch Phillips Book 1

– Luke Arnold – 10.05.22 I liked this magical noir novel – full of affectionate homage to the well worn tropes of ‘rough around the edges but with a heart of gold’ grumbling, alcoholic, down on his luck but sticking up for the little guy, private detective, with the twist being that his clientele areContinue reading “The Last Smile in Sunder City: Fetch Phillips Book 1“

The Cruel Prince – Holly Black (AUDIOBOOK) – 16.05.22

The Wicked King – Holly Black (AUDIOBOOK) – 20.05.22 The Queen of Nothing: The Folk of the Air, Book 3 – Holly Black, Caitlin Kelly, et al. (AUDIOBOOK) -23.05.22 I think I bought the second audiobook in this series on sale for not much money, and started listening not realising it was the second inContinue reading “The Cruel Prince – Holly Black (AUDIOBOOK) – 16.05.22“

God Bless You, Mr Rosewater – Kurt Vonnegut (AUDIOBOOK) – 06. 05.22

I do love Kurt Vonnegut even thought his books are often very strange, which this one definitely was. Full of satire, social commentary and dark, antiestablishment humour, the book had me laughing out loud, as well as feeling sad and moved and sometimes just bemused. Although first published in 1965 (I think) the book isContinue reading “God Bless You, Mr Rosewater – Kurt Vonnegut (AUDIOBOOK) – 06. 05.22“

Sea Of Tranquillity – Emily St. John Mandel (AUDIOBOOK) – 04.04.22

I love Emily St. John Mandel’s writing, especially Station Eleven, and read this book soon after watching and loving the TV adaptation of Station Eleven. I had been less sure about loving The Glass Hotel, but for me, this book is a return to form for the writer. It is a time travel/parallel universe/is everythingContinue reading “Sea Of Tranquillity – Emily St. John Mandel (AUDIOBOOK) – 04.04.22“

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous – Ocean Vuong – 03.05.22

This book is written with such beauty and poetry even though it touches on tough issues. It is a series of letters written by a son to his illiterate mother. Raised by his mother and grandmother, immigrants to America from Vietnam, ‘Little Dog’ remembers moments of joy and also fear. The Women both suffer fromContinue reading “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous – Ocean Vuong – 03.05.22”

A Catalogue of Catastrophe: Chronicles of St Mary’s, Book 13

– Jodi Taylor (AUDIOBOOK) – 03.05.22 I have tried a couple of other time travel books recently, which have only gone to remind me that nobody does it as well as Jodi Taylor! Max jumping through time to stop the bad guys and save the world – with humour and irreverent fun. What more doContinue reading “A Catalogue of Catastrophe: Chronicles of St Mary’s, Book 13“

The Mermaid of Black Conch Bay – Monique Roffey – 01.05.22 (BOOKGROUP)

This was my book group read for May, and Sheila (our leader) had just completed a course at Queen’s University on Women Writers, which covered this book so she was able to share some nuggets of inspiration about the many layers of meaning to this magical realism fable. Set on a Caribbean Island, the storyContinue reading “The Mermaid of Black Conch Bay – Monique Roffey – 01.05.22 (BOOKGROUP)”

The Comfort Book – Matt Haig –(AUDIOBOOK) – 25.04.22

I love Matt Haig, so much that I actually read his self-help type books even thought I hate self-help books usually. I listened to this on the way to my second physiotherapy appointment for my back pain. Since my Covid confinement, I’ve had a really bad back, which my GP thinks is due to aContinue reading “The Comfort Book – Matt Haig –(AUDIOBOOK) – 25.04.22”

Amongst Our Weapons (Rivers of London Book ) – Ben Aaronovitch – (AUDIOBOOK) – 24.04.22

I really enjoyed this new instalment of the Rivers of London series – lots of fondly humorous nods to classic fantasy like Tolkien and Harry Potter with magic rings of power and WWII ghosts and the excitement of Peter’s partner Bev’s pregnancy and the birth of the twins. Can’t wait for the next one!