sarahrwray

Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to Happiness – Bill Bailey – 05.12.21

This is a nice happy little book. I really like Bill Bailey’s quirky observational humour and he seems like a likeable person who finds joy in the little things and this book brought me joy – in fact I laughed out loud several times while reading it. Nothing ground breaking, just a look at someContinue reading “Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to Happiness – Bill Bailey – 05.12.21”

Persuasion – Jane Austen – (BOOKGROUP) – 02.12.21

This was my bookgroup read for December, and to honest, I found it quite a slog to get through. I know that Jane Austen was quite radically feminist for her era, and yet the book does seem to be all about who is marrying whom, which I found a bit tedious. I’m aware that atContinue reading “Persuasion – Jane Austen – (BOOKGROUP) – 02.12.21”

The Sandman: Act II – Neil Gaiman (AUDIOBOOK) – 29.11.21

The main arc of this audiobook is that the keys of hell have been given to Morpheus and he must decide what to do with them. Many interested parties descend on him to threaten, promise, cajole or bribe him to try to get the keys for themselves. Also, the one love of Morpheus’s existence hasContinue reading “The Sandman: Act II – Neil Gaiman (AUDIOBOOK) – 29.11.21”

A Narrow Door – Joanne Harris – 24.11.21

This is the fourth book set in the fictional town of Malbry and the third set at St Oswald’s, proceeded by Gentlemen and Players, Blueeyedboy and Different Class. I’ve read and enjoyed all the books in the series, in fact, it was the shocking denouement in Gentlemen and Players that inspired the plot of myContinue reading “A Narrow Door – Joanne Harris – 24.11.21”

The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Neil Gaiman – 18.11.21

I love Neil Gaiman’s books and this is one of my (many) favourites. I felt like reading something I love after a few duds and even though I’ve read this at least once before, my memory is so bad that I almost get the experience of reading it for the first time again! This isContinue reading “The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Neil Gaiman – 18.11.21”

The Secret Chapter (The Invisible Library series book 6) – Genevieve Cogman – 13.11.21

Each of the Invisible Library books seem to take on a different genre and this one was like a heist movie. The librarian and her dragon companion had to team up with a band of criminals to steal from a big bad guy. They all had their own motivations which aligned enough for them toContinue reading “The Secret Chapter (The Invisible Library series book 6) – Genevieve Cogman – 13.11.21”

The Glass Hotel – Emily St. John Mandel – 30.10.21

I think I was expecting a different kind of book when I started reading this – something more magical realismy but this book is much more grounded in reality than that. Following brother and sister characters and jumping through their chronology with life’s difficulties and challenges we get to know them and piece together theirContinue reading “The Glass Hotel – Emily St. John Mandel – 30.10.21”

Rubbernecker – Belinda Bauer – 24.10.21

This is an interesting, thought provoking and readable murder mystery novel. The story is told from three points of view. One character is a man in a coma in hospital who is aware of much of what is going on around him but not able to communicate, who sees someone in a bed near himContinue reading “Rubbernecker – Belinda Bauer – 24.10.21”

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown – Holly Black – 21.10.21

I loved the beginning of this book. Set in an America after there had been a big vampire explosion and when society was set up to deal with further threat – entire cities are kept as quarantine centres for people infected with vampirism (and others who were either trapped there or chose to live thereContinue reading “The Coldest Girl in Coldtown – Holly Black – 21.10.21”