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#12BooksOf2025
December: Gliff by Ali Smith

@TheEllieMo

This book totally hit the spot for me. It's tragic and terrifying on a global scale while at the same time fiercely personal and quiet. I love how the story unfolds and the feeling of hope that accompanies the fear and uncertainty. The way I feel reading this one reminds me of how I felt reading Smith's There But For The, which isn't really anything like this one in plot or structure. #tob26 longlist

I technically finished, but I tried to listen to this today while cleaning and prepping food for a party and my mind kept wondering.
I think maybe I am just not smart enough for Ali Smith. The choppy sentence structure was difficult for me, and while I see her bigger argument I got very lost in the weeds.

This is no reflection on the book itself. Obviously she is a very popular and respected author. For sure a case of it's not you it's me.

I‘m not a huge fan of Smith (I‘ve tried the seasonal quartet and just didn‘t get it) but this is on the #ToBlonglist and was on audio at the library and it‘s short! 😜

It‘s set in a very near dystopian future as two siblings try to find their way. I ended up quite liking it - not sure what was going on at some points but I appreciated the wordplay and plays on words.

I liked it enough to try the companion book when it comes out next year.

You either love or hate Ali Smith. I love her. This was a delight to read, I flew through this short dystopia novel about 2 siblings navigating the world on their own. 4 🌟

Love this section of the book and brings me back the wonder I had upon being introduced to the library as a kid.
“Books everywhere.
So many books, more books than I'd ever seen all in one place. The backs of books, in rows that reached up to the ceiling, books and books and books, at every level, high and low, piles of them, shelf after shelf of them.
Wherever my eye went, books.
Oh! I said.“

Saturday morning reading

A dystopian novel that‘s light on details but heavy on word play.

This might be a wonderful book, but the audio is crap. The reader uses a monotone which doesn‘t even vary for characters speaking. I made it just over halfway through before I‘d had enough.

Good dystopian book and I‘m curious about book #2. Lots of connections, innuendos, and main characters were believable and engaging. Good twists and turns, some felt overdone. Overall, good quick read.

I am all for dystopian, even in times like these, but I‘m not even sure if this book is dystopian or post apocalyptic- in fact I didn‘t get it at all.
Two sisters, a horse, left by themselves. But why and what happened and what‘s going on?
Beautiful dialogue between the sisters but again I am clueless about the world they‘re living in. If they‘re still alive. There‘ll be a sequel but not for me.

📷 Las Lagunas, Tenerife

Book 14📚 2.5⭐️

I‘m not really sure I “got” this one😂🤷🏼‍♀️

Almost DNF but I stuck it out!

I saw this framed photo while I was travelling recently and thought immediately of the horse in Gliff.

Doesn't the sticker mark make you want to weep? Monsters.

Two children are left by themselves in a house with no furniture and enough hermetic for some days. Their mum‘s boyfriend promises to return. As the days go by he only doesn‘t return, but as readers we realize that the world Smith has created is a little different from ours, and her world scars me. I hope we never end up living in that world.

I can‘t wait to read the second book in this duology when it‘s published in May

#DoubleSpin January

A Taylor Swift reference in an Ali Smith novel. Never thought this would happen

In my latest video, I share my 2024 reading stats + six stunning books! #booktube
https://youtu.be/Lj6iS4FdYqs

A wonderful book mail surprise Gliff by Ali Smith.Really dark day this brought joy ,thanks Pantheon books📕