Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
#readersradar
review
squirrelbrain
Disobedient | Elizabeth Fremantle
post image
Pickpick

Thanks to @TrishB for putting this on my #readersradar as I don‘t think I would have picked it up otherwise.

Even so, I found it rather slow in the first couple of chapters and, as I‘m a bit fed up of ‘feminist retellings‘, I considered bailing.

Then I suddenly became engrossed and wanted to learn all about the life and art of Artemisia Gentileschi at the start of the seventeenth century in Italy - a wonderful book!

LeahBergen What a cosy setting! 😊 5mo
Caroline2 Oh I‘m glad you liked it! 👍 I‘m still stuck on my current read (birdsong) I‘ve had so little reading time lately, it‘s taking me agessssss! 5mo
TrishB I‘m so glad you stuck with it! 5mo
70 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Wellness | Nathan Hill
post image
Pickpick

I finished this two days before the ToB longlist was published and hoped it would be on there.

It‘s a difficult book to review as it‘s so intense ( but fabulous); we follow Jack and Elizabeth as they first meet, and then look back to different parts of their lives and their (dysfunctional) childhoods. You‘ll recognise yourself in areas of this book, as well as your own relationships.

I liked the detailed offshoots about culture, pyschology ⬇️

squirrelbrain …art and much more, apart from one that lost / bored me a little bit. (Algorithms!) Tagging all of the ToBers from @barbarabb‘s post yesterday. (edited) 5mo
See All 24 Comments
squirrelbrain And thanks to @megabooks for putting this on my #readersradar to enable me to request it from #netgalley, as it‘s not out in the UK until the end of January 5mo
JamieArc I just started this and am really enjoying it. 5mo
Ruthiella I hope this gets chosen for the shortlist because I need that kick in the pants. I really liked his debut and it sounds like this is more of the same-a big story with lots of moving pieces. 5mo
MicheleinPhilly Maybe I‘ll read this after Boat. 5mo
jlhammar Looking forward to this - loved The Nix! 5mo
sarahbarnes Ohh, happy to see your review. I was curious about this one when I saw it on the list. Stacking. 5mo
squirrelbrain Yes, that‘s just right @Ruthiella - a big story with lots of moving parts. I haven‘t read The Nix though, although I‘ve heard so many good things about it. @jlhammar 5mo
squirrelbrain I think you‘ll like this one @MicheleinPhilly 5mo
Hooked_on_books For a split second when I first saw your post I thought, dang, she‘s really dedicated to this list! But turns out you didn‘t crank out this long book in less than a day. 😂 I have the audio of this on hold from my library, so hopefully I like it as much as you did! 5mo
Flaneurette I am currently reading this and as a GenXer I really feel seen, and not always in a good way! The audiobook is really great and I struggle with audiobooks in general 5mo
MicheleinPhilly I really liked The Nix so I have high hopes for this. 5mo
Deblovestoread Like @Hooked_on_books I‘m waiting on my Libby hold. Your review makes me doubly glad I put in my hold in after reading @Megabooks earlier review. 💜 5mo
squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books - I might be a swot but I‘m not that bad! 🤣 I think you‘ll all love it when you get to it @Deblovestoread @sarahbarnes 5mo
squirrelbrain It is (embarrassingly) on point in many ways, isn‘t it? @Flaneurette 😬 5mo
BarbaraBB Wonderful review! I bought it after @Megabooks review but haven‘t read it yet. Will now soon! 5mo
Readerann Thanks for the tag! Now is when I pay close attention to the reviews on here to help me pick a few ToB longlisters to read. (I haven‘t read..a..single..one. 😔) 5mo
Suet624 Loved the Nix. Can‘t wait to get to this. 5mo
Jas16 I have it on hold at the library. It had a long wait and your review has made mw more impatient. 5mo
merelybookish Another great review! I was feeling resistant but @Leftcoastzen made me reconsider. Although @Flaneurette comment is giving me pause. 😆 5mo
youneverarrived Great review! I‘m looking forward to reading it when it comes out here. 5mo
Megabooks This was such a good, twisty book. I did like the algorithm part, but I find that really interesting. You‘re in for a treat with the audio narration @Hooked_on_books ! Just fantastic! 5mo
76 likes3 stack adds24 comments
blurb
Megabooks
Family Meal | Bryan Washington
post image

Still taking pictures of books! 😂 I was downtown at the river for an appointment and snapped some at the bridge.

Family Meal was great! 5⭐️ I didn‘t care for Memorial, but FM was a win! Got v attached to the characters.
Proulx is a master of capturing stark lives in the American West.
Black Sheep was 💯💯 campy horror fun!! 😈 #aardvark
I didn‘t enjoy The Road as much as I hoped. By the end I was just tired of it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

squirrelbrain Ooh, I quite liked Memorial so I might try Family Meal. It was published last week over here, but is still on NG so I‘ve just requested it. Thanks for putting it on my #readersradar! 😘 6mo
JenReadsAlot I didn't care for Memorial either, but might give that one a shot! 6mo
sarahbarnes Glad to hear you liked Family Meal - stacking. 6mo
See All 11 Comments
BarbaraBB Interesting! I am definitely in for Family Meal and I am surprised Proulx still writes! She belongs to another era imo 😉. And I was underwhelmed by The Road too, years ago. Great photos Meg 🩷🩷 6mo
peaKnit I have Family Meal up next! 6mo
Megabooks @BarbaraBB the Proulx is from another era…the library checked it into the collection in 2005 or 06. 😂😂 I just found it browsing! 👍🏻 and thanks! 💜 6mo
LeahBergen I could use some campy horror fun! 6mo
BarbaraBB Oh wow, it is indeed! I didn‘t read this one though, back then. 6mo
Larkken I love Washington. I used to live in Houston and he evokes the city so well, and yet from so far outside my own experience with it! Have you read the tagged book of interconnected short stories? 6mo
91 likes2 stack adds11 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
post image

Other than The Laughter, which was super compelling ( great rec @sarahbarnes ) nothing else really stood out 🤷🏼‍♀️I did enjoy Looker, Don‘t Forget and Marie Antoinette but I don‘t think they‘re gonna stay with me. Once again I‘m in this weird kind of funk… where it‘s difficult to find books that captivate me. Hoping for some better reads this coming week.

sarahbarnes I‘m glad you liked it! It‘s one of the better books I‘ve read so far this year! 7mo
Bookzombie I‘m sorry your funk hasn‘t passed. I‘m still struggling too. 7mo
TrishB Hope this week improves. 7mo
Cinfhen Thanks so much @TrishB I hope you at least enjoyed your week off @Bookzombie and I know the reading will return for both of us!!! 7mo
Cinfhen I‘m so glad you put Laughter on my #ReadersRadar @sarahbarnes I haven‘t really seen it mentioned too much 7mo
65 likes5 comments
review
Cinfhen
post image
Pickpick

BIG THANKS to @Jari-chan and @TrishB for putting this book on my #ReadersRadar - I absolutely loved it 🥰 Baxter is a young black man who works as a sleeping car porter in 1920‘s Canada, when train travel was an elegant mode of transportation . He‘s often treated poorly by the guests and management where he must hide his personal feelings and serve the needs of his compartment travelers in hopes of garnering a tip for his services. Lovely 🎧

Jari-chan Oh, it must be nice as an audiobook! So happy you enjoyed the book as well ❤️ 8mo
Cinfhen Audio was wonderful but I think the book had illustrations based on audio descriptions @Jari-chan The reader was so good though. He really brought Baxter to life. 8mo
See All 9 Comments
Jari-chan @Cinfhen I might need to try the audio version as well, I'm intrigued 🤭 8mo
TrishB Glad you enjoyed. He had a challenging life 😞 8mo
squirrelbrain I have this one borrowed from the library, and have had for a while. The Booker list is getting in the way at the moment. 😃 8mo
Cinfhen Yes, his story was sad @TrishB and I don‘t think things got much better for porters 50 years later 😢Read it soon @squirrelbrain I think you‘d like it. Audio was wonderful 8mo
TheKidUpstairs My absolute fave from last year. Totally deserved it's Giller Prize win. I imagine it would work really well on audio, the rhythm of the writing was so much a part of it. (There were no illustrations in the physical book) 8mo
Cinfhen Ohhh interesting @TheKidUpstairs because the audiobook describes posters and trains and it seemed like the descriptions were based from photographs or illustrations 8mo
77 likes5 stack adds9 comments
review
Cinfhen
post image
Pickpick

Thank you IG for putting this book on my #ReadersRadar 🤖I admit I was having HUGE bouts of #FOMO and on a whim started listening to the audio!!!!! RIVETING!!! This book was definitely written with audio in mind as the story unfolds as a podcast. Two women who share a birthday meet serendipitously at a pub. This random encounter leads to a twisted, tragic event. Really fun! Im already putting fourth Lisa Jewell as a nominee for #AAM 2024 😜

JamieArc Going to stack add this in Libby right now 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️ 8mo
Cinfhen Definitely go audio @JamieArc 🎧❣️🎧❣️ 8mo
Megabooks She‘s hit or miss for me but I agree always best on audio!! Great review! 8mo
82 likes3 stack adds3 comments
review
Cinfhen
My Husband: A Novel | Maud Ventura
post image
Pickpick

I‘m not sure I would have cared as much for this book in print, but as an audio- I loved it! I was completely gripped by the unhinged musings of our narrator who‘s CONSUMED with her husband and the privileges her marriage to him extends her. I had My Sister the Serial Killer mixed with My Lovely Wife vibes. Good fun!! Thanks to @Reviewsbylola for putting this on my #ReadersRadar

Cinfhen @BarbaraBB I DO think you‘d like this one!!! 8mo
BarbaraBB Thanks!! I‘ll look it up! 8mo
thegirlwiththelibrarybag Unhinged musings. Say no more! 8mo
See All 8 Comments
Cinfhen Ha!! Glad you can relate @thegirlwiththelibrarybag - if you have the option of audio, then highly recommended the audio!!! 8mo
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @Cinfhen, I‘ve added it to my audible wish list 🤩 8mo
Chelsea.Poole I‘ve had my eye on this and now I know I need this! 8mo
Megabooks Stacked!! 8mo
Cinfhen Yay!!! Share your thoughts after you get to My Husband @thegirlwiththelibrarybag @Chelsea.Poole @Megabooks it‘s a short listen - which I think worked really well! 8mo
76 likes2 stack adds8 comments
review
JillR
Devotion | HANNAH. KENT
post image
Pickpick

I loved this. Perfect slow-burn historical fiction. A Lutheran community leave their home in Prussia to travel to a new colony in Australia. The ship voyage alone takes 6-months. The sense of place as we travel with them, their fear in facing the unknown, was written so well. And the second half? Well, I was not expecting that, alllll the feelings. I‘ve got that sadness at leaving Hanne and Thea behind that you only get with a great book.

Cathythoughts Great review! Stacked. 9mo
Cinfhen Ohhhh! I‘ve been wanting to read this one ☝🏼 Thanks for putting it back on my #ReadersRadar 9mo
JillR You‘re welcome @cinfhen , hope you get to it and enjoy! 9mo
40 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
Cinfhen
Thirst for Salt | Madelaine Lucas
post image
Pickpick

Gorgeous debut - the writing is lush and evocative. 💯 for you @BarbaraBB @KarenUK ❣️❣️❣️ A young woman looks back on a summer love affair with an older man. It‘s a slow burn, very much character driven but absolutely stunning and vivid. I owe a HUGE thanks to @squirrelbrain who put this book on my #ReadersRadar 💗

LeeRHarry Had this one on my radar, and on my library holds list - mainly because it‘s a debut by an Australian author but also because it sounds really good - so therefore glad that you enjoyed it 😊 11mo
squirrelbrain Now I‘m DEFINITELY going to have to buy it, aren‘t I?! My #netgalley request hasn‘t come through yet. 😕 It did quite well on the #camplitsy voting, but not quite well enough. 11mo
Cinfhen I‘m really happy to send you my copy @squirrelbrain xx I‘m pretty sure I have your address saved on file xxx 11mo
See All 15 Comments
Cinfhen I loved the Australian setting @LeeRHarry I think you‘re gonna really like it 💘 11mo
BarbaraBB Great! I have pre-ordered the paperback edition, can‘t wait! 💕 11mo
Cinfhen It‘s SOOOO your type of book @BarbaraBB 11mo
JamieArc I‘m really looking forward to reading this one this summer! 11mo
Cinfhen I loved it @JamieArc but I can‘t really say why this book resonated so much🤷🏼‍♀️can‘t wait to hear your thoughts when u get around to reading it 11mo
sarahbarnes I just picked this one up from the library! Glad to see you liked it! 11mo
squirrelbrain That‘s so kind of you Cindy, ❤️but it‘s really not that expensive over here. Probably cheaper than the postage for you to send it to me. 😬 11mo
Cinfhen Ok @squirrelbrain but if you change your mind lmk xx BTW - it‘s available on Scribd 11mo
Cinfhen @sarahbarnes I‘ll be curious to hear your thoughts ♥️ 11mo
squirrelbrain Ooh well-spotted Cindy; it wasn‘t on there last time I looked. It‘s in both formats too… I wonder which would be best? 11mo
Cinfhen I have a feeling it would be great on audio too @squirrelbrain 11mo
KarenUK Not heard of this one… thanks for sharing! Sounds great…💕 11mo
80 likes5 stack adds15 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
post image

#BookMail #BuyBuyBookDepository 💚🙌🏻I had the good fortune of pre-ordering several books from BD before the #CampLitsy23 announcement 📣and two were selected! Excited for this one @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain and @KarenUK for putting Animals on my #ReadersRadar 💕💕💕

squirrelbrain I‘m really looking forward to this one too! 12mo
JamieArc Looking forward to this one as well! 12mo
Cinfhen I‘m so happy @squirrelbrain @JamieArc that I ordered both this one and 12mo
See All 9 Comments
JamieArc @Cinfhen I probably wouldn‘t have read Birnam Wood on my own. While I liked The Luminaries, I think a lot went over my head so I was afraid this one would be too smart for me too 😂 So really, it‘s the perfect book to be reading with others. 12mo
BarbaraBB I am happy you ordered the right ones! I read Birnam Wood and it‘s a great book to read and discuss together! @JamieArc 🤎 12mo
Cinfhen I TOTALLY agree @JamieArc I too was a bit intimidated to tackle Wood on my own😆 I‘m excited to read and discuss with the group @BarbaraBB I know you gave it 5 stars!!! 12mo
BarbaraBB It is not difficult, very engaging but also quite disturbing 12mo
TrishB I‘m really looking forward to this one too 👍🏻 12mo
KarenUK 😍😍😍 12mo
76 likes9 comments