pickThis book is a look at Fagan‘s brutal childhood in the foster care system in Scotland, filled with every horror that can be wreaked upon a child. This makes it a difficult read, of course, but it‘s very well done and vital for exposing the deep inadequacies in care systems and mental health care. A worthy presence on the #WPNF25 longlist.
pickLast but one from the #wpnf25 longlist. (Half of Tracker to go)
This started off well, but became quite repetitive. I also don‘t feel that the author achieved what she set out to do. At the start she said that newly discovered papers have refuted the negative review of Gauguin, but didn‘t really demonstrate that to me.
I didn‘t know much about him prior to this - other than that I understood that he was a colonialist who liked young girls. ⬇️
so-soI was so excited when I saw this on the #WPNF25 longlist because Vikings, but I ended up being a little disappointed. It focuses on grave goods and exploring the culture through them but never quite pulled me in.
pick"... the personal, intimate parts of people's lives matter every bit as much as the famous, dramatic, narrative defining ones."
Another wonderful selection from the #wpnf25 long list. An interesting, engaging history of the Viking Age told through everyday objects and everyday people. Barraclough's narration is excellent, I highly recommend the audio!
pickI loved Dalton‘s memoir of her time with a hare. I loved her respect for the wild creature and her earnest determination to both accommodate the hare in her home but keep herself at a distance in order to build trust. I loved the relationship between wild creature and human—something that‘s been written about often in memoirs at the present (Me and Alfie, etc). I‘m not sure this will win the Women‘s Prize (NF), but I wouldn‘t be sad if it did.
pick#wpnf25
#52bookclub25 #audiobookhasmultiplenarrators
I can see why this is on the shortlist, but it wasn't particularly outstanding for me.
so-soI was looking forward to this one and am a little disappointed by it. It tells the story of a series of murders but the organization isn‘t great, making it disjointed. It also tells it to some degree from a social justice lens, which I loved, but I think it would have been better if that was the focus and the murders and attitudes around them were illustrative. #WPNF25
pickI‘m a sucker for a memoir so this #wpnf25 long listed title (as of today, a short listed title!) was definitely going to be something I‘d read. And while I did like this, I‘m confused about what makes it stand out among other memoirs to make the list. Last year‘s How to Say Babylon was evident in its exceptionality. Maybe one of the judges is a huge fan…? Speaking of the short list I‘ve got 2 more to read: Agent Zo and Wild Sea.
pickThis was a really thorough biography of Paul Gauguin with his beautiful paintings printed throughout. Written almost without sentiment but not dry. I found it really immersive. In some ways he was ahead of his times in terms of the way he viewed certain things. The chapter on Gauguin and Van Gogh was interesting and the ones on his early life too - how it wasn‘t until a bit later in life he became interested in painting. #wpnf25
bailed
