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Today's #libraryhaul is all ready for August.

A book that I didn‘t particularly enjoy whilst reading; I found the prose a tricky style and it took me an age to settle into it and read it with any sort of flow. However once I got past that it was a lovely, moving love story, with some unexpected drama in the final third that really upped the pace. I‘ve realised I don‘t tend to enjoy books with anything mythical or magical, here I didn‘t feel those elements worked yet didn‘t intrude too much.

This was really good, the only real weakness was how the female characters were written.
Mycroft journeys with his friend Douglas to Trinidad, trying to figure out the mystery of where his fiancé went and how to help Douglas protect his family and friends in Trinidad.
4/5 read for a different understanding of the Holmes brothers and to learn a lot of interesting historical information about Trinidad

I listened to this one via audiobook,
I enjoyed it,

Read for reading challenges.

4/5

This is the picture book version of Floella‘s biography, illustrated by Diane Ewen (not the linked version).

As a child in Trinidad, Floella‘s father was invited to move to Britain. Her mother and younger siblings followed later, with Floella and her older siblings travelling a year or so later again. England (and the welcome) was not necessarily what she‘d expected, but she learnt to love the place. And yes the ending made me cry.

This is an exceptional exploration of one man‘s fight for independence in the face of constant hardship. V.S. Naipaul vividly depicts the struggles of Mr. Biswas as he strives to escape the control of his in-laws and carve out a space of his own, with the house serving as a symbol of personal achievement. The novel‘s blend of humor, pathos, and rich detail makes it a moving and insightful reflection on the human desire for dignity and belonging.

#verbal #poetrymatters @TheSpineView

Not forgettable! I‘m very surprised this held my attention given it revolves around the mermaid myth, but it did. The narration was terrific and I‘m sure made all the difference. 🧜🏾‍♀️

It could have used less sex and more plot so I‘d say it‘s a slight pick. Definitely evocative of the islands & culture.

This caught my attention because the Europa edition cover is beautiful IMO. That is not what I have here. But I am so interested in the mermaid myths that turn up in various cultures across the world. This one is lovely. And an audiobook read with a Caribbean accent? Yes, please!

I read this book with my local reading group. I really didn‘t like it - I don‘t like books containing child or animal abuse. It seemed far too padded out at times and I absolutely hated the ending. I‘m so pleased I‘ve finally finished it so I get on and read something more pleasant!