Author Archives: sarahrwray

Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses – (AUDIOBOOK) – Kristen O’Neal – 23.05.21

I LOVED this audiobook. It’s narrated by a promising medical student, Priya, who has to drop out of college after getting a really bad case of Lyme Disease which leaves her so weak and fatigued that she’s unable to function normally. She joins an online support group for people suffering from chronic illness, and oneContinue reading “Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses – (AUDIOBOOK) – Kristen O’Neal – 23.05.21”

Tomorrow – Damian Dibben – (AUDIOBOOK) – 09.05.21

I really wanted to like this book – I thought it would be like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (which I loved!) with a fun twist of being narrated by a dog. Well, in a sense it was, like Addie LaRue, the dog narrator (named Tomorrow) was immortal – not from making a pactContinue reading “Tomorrow – Damian Dibben – (AUDIOBOOK) – 09.05.21”

The Diet Compass – Bas Kast – 01.05.21

When a slim fit 40 year old collapsed with chest pains, he realised that he could no longer get away with his unhealthy junk food diet, and went all out researching the science behind what constitutes a truly healthy diet. I don’t read many non fiction books, less still ‘self-help’ type books because I’m annoyedContinue reading “The Diet Compass – Bas Kast – 01.05.21”

Another Time, Another Place (Chronicles of St. Mary’s Book 12) – Jodi Taylor – 29.04.21

Although I love Jodi Taylor’s books, somehow this one didn’t excite me as much as most – I just felt a little bored by the premise and not so invested as I usually feel in her stories. I thought the twist was kind of obvious, and I missed some of the regular characters who wereContinue reading “Another Time, Another Place (Chronicles of St. Mary’s Book 12) – Jodi Taylor – 29.04.21”

The Unconsoled – Kazuo Ishiguro – 26.04.21

Man, this book was a real slog to read. My first thought, when I finally finished it, was ‘thank goodness that’s over’ and my second thought was that I wanted to go online and read up other people’s interpretations of it because it was still swirling through my mind. Spoiler alert – I’m going toContinue reading “The Unconsoled – Kazuo Ishiguro – 26.04.21”

Everyday Magic: The Adventures of Alfie Blackstack – Jess Kidd and Beatriz Castro – 9.04.21

I think Jess Kidd is a fabulous writer and I have loved everything I have read/listened to by her so far. Her other books (that I am aware of) have been for adults, all with some supernatural or magical realism element (my fav!) and written with dark wit but also real human feeling and depthContinue reading “Everyday Magic: The Adventures of Alfie Blackstack – Jess Kidd and Beatriz Castro – 9.04.21”

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V.E. Schwab – (AUDIOBOOK) – 25.04.21

I very much enjoyed listening to this audiobook. As always I listened mostly on my pre-work morning runs, and I have really enjoyed my runs of late due in no small part to my pleasure at this story. Adeline Larue was born in France in the 18th century, and was not satisfied to accept theContinue reading “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V.E. Schwab – (AUDIOBOOK) – 25.04.21”

The Other Half of Augusta Hope – Joanna Glen – 08.04.21

I read the second half of this book in one sitting when I couldn’t sleep one night, and I was totally gripped by it. I remember lying in bed thinking gushing adjectives about how incandescent, perfect, heart wrenching and beautiful it was. The book tells parallel stories, in alternate chapters, of Augusta, a twin inContinue reading “The Other Half of Augusta Hope – Joanna Glen – 08.04.21”

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World – Elif Shafak – 04.04.21

According to this book (I don’t know if it’s true or not), scientists have shown that brain activity can continue for up to 10 minutes 38 seconds after clinical death, and that is the premise for the first half of the novel, as we share the thoughts of Leila, a sex worker in Istanbul forContinue reading “10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World – Elif Shafak – 04.04.21”