This was so close to a DNF for me. I really felt that it needed better editing. I found the concept of the astrarium confusing & didn‘t feel that it was properly explained at any point. The pacing was way off and overall it could have been a good deal shorter.

The premise of this seemed really promising but just fell a bit flat for me. As other reviews have said, I think it was trying a bit too hard to tick off multiple ‘hot topics‘, so then didn‘t really succeed in an in depth view of any of them.
#roll100

#bookspinbingo I absolutely loved it! Really thought provoking alternate history…. I loved all the etymology discussion - language is amazing. Unflinching look at colonialism - recommended

My book club read for the month… a soft pick 3.5* not my usual read but I‘m off work this week and it was actually a nice cosy holiday/beach read. Always nice too when a book is written from the perspective of and focused on older women 🤘 The main character is not very likeable at first but she did grow on my e by the end (and it‘s definitely intentional!)

#roll100 I absolutely loved this! A really interesting take on the story of the Trojan War, from the perspectives of Clytemnestra & Helen. I liked that it was grounded in realism, with divine acts from the Iliad explained without it being due to the gods. Would definitely read more by this author.

#doublespin I enjoyed this more than the first instalment, better character development & and more interesting ‘mystery‘ - looking forward to reading the next in the series!

#roll100 what a mindfuck! Fast paced, a quick read, blew my mind a little bit 🤯

#bookspin Really interesting reading this book from the 1950s during the age of AI and the rise of the machine. Frighteningly plausible.

#roll100 another thriller set at St Oswalds… Straitley reminds me of some of my old classics professors 😆 enjoyed it! Looking forward to finishing off the series

#roll100 had high hopes for this one, and it starts wrong, very Annihilation-esque. It just fell a bit flat for me, a bit slow and no real explanation of events. I would have liked some flashbacks to explain how planet Earth had got to this point. I do think it would make a good film though!

#roll100 another absolutely beautiful novel from Elif Shafa - she has such a talent for description and drawing you into the lives of her characters. Heartbreaking that so much of this is based on true events.

#doublespin done - I LOVE these books! Another cosy, uplifting sci-fi book, interesting thoughts on history, community and tradition.

#bookspin for April done! Really compelling and thought-provoking read on the power of diversity, recommended.

#bookspin finished! At 1100 pages long that was a bit epic, but actually really enjoyed it! Some of the cryptology stuff was a bit too in-depth for me, but I enjoyed all the different threads running through, and some great characters!

Super interesting read, and a really interesting perspective, focusing on a woman who has been largely forgotten by history

Really enjoyed my second #roll100 read for March. Very, very weird, and at times hard to keep track of what was really, and what was a dream, a pretty wild ride!

#roll100 An interesting take on the well known tale of Penelope waiting for Odysseus to return from the Trojan War. Soft pick for me

Love Sam Vimes 😆 I wish someone would adapt City Watch into a TV series. This got #doublespin done early in March, which is good cos my #bookspin choice is 1100 pages long 🤯

Not my usual sort of read, but I thought this was great! Completely bonkers plot, very very funny, and some amazing characters! Will definitely be reading some more Hiaasen.

And 2 lines in #bookspinbingo which I think is a record for me!

Absolutely loved this. A years adventure in a 20kmx20km map centred around the authors home. Really made me think about exploring more of the area in which I live - something I did a lot during Covid but may resume once I‘m moving a bit more!

Also some really interesting thoughts around sustainability, right to roam, housing, and numerous other topics.

#ASingleMap

Final #roll100 read for Feb and also scored a line in #bookspinbingo recovering from surgery and not being able to do anything has its advantages as gives me lots of reading time!

Really enjoyed this, loved the prose, and there were a couple of twists that I did not see coming. Really interesting subject too.

#roll100 didn‘t love it, didn‘t hate it. It really felt like a book that I would enjoy, delving into the world of Fae, but it didn‘t quite grip me, and I didn‘t really feel invested in any of the characters.

A trip down memory lane for #doublespin enjoying my reread of my favourite series asked around 7-8. Love all the descriptions of the food they get to eat I remember being really jealous of all the weird picnics 🤣

Enjoyable when not feeling at my best!

#roll100 read - This was an easy read, fairly enjoyable, but the ending felt like a bit of a cop out to me

#bookspin this month was a reread - still loved this. It‘s really nice to read some wholesome, positive AI for a change!

And I should have a good month of reading ahead as I‘ve been in hospital again after what was left of my appendix got infected so have now had 2 appendectomy‘s 🤯

TJR is just the BEST. #roll100 read and this has me near tears by the end. Beautiful writing and a horrendous premise.

This was a reread, and sadly not as good as I remembered it (first read when I was about 15 so a lonnnng time ago!) Really not a fan of the pedophilia that was completely romanticised. Did get me a line in #bookspinbingo though for Jan!

And #bookspin list for Feb!

Terrifying. A must read for anyone using social media.

Absolutely bloody loved it! My book club read for the month and I DEVOURED this. I loved Marian, I really liked the time hopping and the detours into historical events along the way.

#bookspin for Jan was 3 more Sherlock Holmes stories… fairly enjoyable

Final #roll100 read for Jan. really picked itself up for me in the final chapter, but not quite enough to be a pick. Very very weird and disengaged - I would read something else by this author though after the ending!

#doublespin for Jan - the writing was beautiful, this just wasn‘t my cup of tea. Found it a bit of a slog.

Second #roll100 read, and I enjoyed this near-future dystopia, although it‘s was frighteningly plausible. Not sure about the bovine chorus, but I liked the intertwining stories and some interesting themes raised.

Getting the year started off right with a #roll100 read. Not TJR‘s best, can def see how she has matured as an author, but a sad, quick, enjoyable read.

Super interesting retelling of the period between the sack of Troy & the Greeks returning home… a part of the myth I don‘t believe I‘ve ever read about in this much detail. Loved it! Plus #bookspin lost for Jan (how on earth is it 2025 tomorrow?!?)

Final #roll100 read for 2024 - I got through 47 of these - excited to continue in 2025! This was ok sci-fi - clearly taking some inspiration from the Martian but didn‘t quite pack the same punch. Soft pick.

David Mitchell writes exactly how he speaks 🤣 really enjoyed this for #doublespin in Dec - going over well trod territory but adding his own spin - def recommended for anyone interested in history

A soft pick for #roll100 - reminiscent of Good Omens, but I think the idea could have been more fleshed out and also could have done with a good edit. The plot surprised me though and I would read something else by this author

Well it‘s been 8 years since I first posted about this book when it arrived in a mystery box and I‘ve finally gotten around to reading it! A bit more battered now after the dog got hold of it as a puppy 🙈 but quite enjoyable. A soft pick.

Absolutely beautiful book for my first December #roll100 definitely not one for feeling festive but a really interesting and important tale of nazi Germany. Fantastic character development and really interesting plot.

#bookspin done! Enjoyed the start of this second series set in the grishaverse - looking forward to reading the sequel!

Gorgeous cover, pretty good story, and a soft pick from me!

#roll100

#roll100 really enjoyed this poetic novel set in 1984/2018 - interesting story of friendship, family & identity

Totally heartbreaking. Really brutal true crime.

#roll100 well this book was batshit crazy. And I thoroughly enjoyed it! Loved trying to unpick all the metaphor vs reality, a wild ride.

#doublespin for Nov and my new favourite Discworld book! I‘m a bit sad that I‘m nearing the end of this series, it‘s so funny & clever. This one I found particularly good, really enjoyed the character of Moist 😆

It‘s late but read my final #roll100 pick for October. Really enjoyed this retelling of an old Briton myth, I enjoyed the different perspectives, and although the plot wasn‘t a surprise it all kept me entertained!

#bookspin for November and this was WILD. I really enjoyed the story of Nell & how the primer helped to shape her - some interesting concepts here

I haven‘t been as active as I would have liked during #hauntedshelf because… life! But I‘ve enjoyed it regardless and finishing on 500 pts total for #skeletoncrew 🎃👻 happy Halloween!!!

Just. Beautiful.
#roll100 #hauntedshelf #sleletoncrew