Thank the goddesses I'd not planned much today.
I picked this up from the library Monday and finished it today. She's so sublimely brilliant at writing from the soul yet no saccharin or twee paragraphs to contend with.
Her use of characters and normal life is wonderful.
Close to tears throughout much of this novel.

Needed a lighter read and she never disappoints with female solidarity and relationship.
I liked the usual dual story and the Russian history included.

As a Plath afficianado in my youth, this appealed hugely and it was clever in delivery. She's used parts of poems to bulk out the fictional account of the final year of her life, alongside facts and biographical statement.
It did play with mental health a lot, as we read of Plath's emotional state and inner turmoil. I had to take breaks...

I liked it!
The style of reporting was suited and the introduction of philosophy and nature was interesting.
I'm glad it didn't become too Hollywood and that there's still intrigued in the world.

Being honest, I'm unsure how this became a Booker longlsit... Neither the writing nor the plot felt better than many books I've read this year. Nothing leapt out at me.

Amazing!
I didn't realise it was in verse and was intimidated but it's absolutely all absorbing and I couldn't put it down!
The story is one as women, we're familiar with. But her imagery and verse is so creative.

This is one that's always on my radar but never made it to TBR pile. Until book club picked it!
I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd anticipated. I wasn't keen on TH White biographies, I'd rather read about her life, and her late father's.
Her prise on landscape and country was beautiful.
I struggled with the taming of Mabel as it's not something I support and see it as cruel.

This was a true surprise, a good one.
I'd chanced it on a 99p kindle deal and thought it might be a bit light for me but was totally absorbed in the story of the sisters and William.
Excellent use of chapter and timeline, plus the multiple perspectives.

Taken a while to get round to reading this and a few re starts.
However, once id established first names and family names and nicknames, very readable though harrowing in content.
Gorgeous story of banned love, hidden male adoration and the acceptance of others.

Very interestingly written history of Algeria and France throughout the twentieth century, using his father as the focus.
At times shocking but not dwelling on the horrors of colonialism.

Whilst very slow moving, it plods along like his horse and his days. I liked the rhythm and the gentle language against the unforgiving weather and coast, and the beginning of friendship.

She writes perfectly.
This is the final one of hers I had and feel bereft now I've read it
It's atmospheric without preamble and detail, simple in prose and sparse yet complete.

My goodness, I feel honoured to have read this book. Full of beautiful writing and inner thoughts yet bursting with male friendships and family ties. I had to keep stopping and considering the current situations throughout the world, the tragedies that occur for countries and their individuals.
Wonderful writer.

Short and written in small paragraphs, reminiscent in style (but definitely not content) to Nobody is Talking About This.
It offers glimpses into her mind, her thoughts and musings, as she works through her divorce and cancer diagnosis.
I appreciated the lack of back filling, that it was only used as necessary. I also felt so warm towards her friendship. Really heartwarming.

Fed up with trying to add images on here as I have to use the desktop on my phone, android, the app isn't supported.
So anyway! Worth the wait and hype, excellent weaving of every myth, faith and philosophical thoughts I could name and so academically done. R F Kuang does what she does in a unique and enviable ease.
It's taken me down rabbit hole and text book, such a brilliant book.

A short book, no real plot but a period of time in The narrator's life as she contemplates a decision made 40 years ago and how her life is now.
I'm a bit ambivalent, no real opinion about either the plot, characters or writing.

Oooh, after a slow start, I couldn't get enough of this.
I've been down a long rabbit hole on secret religious texts and Venice churches... Excellent read.

I listened to this on radio 4 after a friend mentioned it.
So gut wrenching and so important that Persephone Books have republished.
I can't believe she wrote it before WW2. But also terrifying that it was so clear to her the outcomes.
We need so desperately to learn from history 😔

Cor, I loved this debut novel, full of ritual, customs and intrigue.
Her use of nature based descriptions was so evocative, and the way she used the weather to whip up emotional uncertainty.
Her portrayal of the Inions was subtle but it always felt sinister which contributed to the island's inward focus.
I'm tempted by her collection of essays...

Great memoir told through the streets of New York.
I like the multiple vignettes she writes,based on memory and utilising the city and its streets. Her gentle musings on relationship and the inhabitants of the places she walks.

I was so excited to read this and picked it for book club. I even bought a new copy 😂.
I'm not enamoured.
The sentences were so short they seemed to lack emotion and weight. The characters frustrated me hugely in indecisive ditherings and lack of respect for anyone else.
I reckon if he follows it with twenty years later, it'll still have them all pondering.

Somehow I got this brand new hardback edition in a charity shop! It's almost poetry really. Sublime prose, short chapters that brim with thoughts and subtly written detail. I've not read anything as beautiful in a long time. It's full of love, sadness and frustration yet understanding and acceptance. It illustrates the limited number of words needed.

I read this a few weeks ago but forgot to upload. She's a fantastic writer, she has a way of showing the characters in an objective way yet it's clear her intention. These four women, all from African countries, living in USA and interacting with each other. They tell back stories and truths about expectations of women, if marriage and maternal instinct. Very good.

No words. What can I type to give it enough?
It's the most cleverly written, harrowing and amusing tongue in cheek novel. Yet it's deeply disturbing. It's respectful whilst mocking. He is a master of words. He's an absolute necessity in drawing attention to the atrocities of black histories.

Hmm, I've not read All Fours and this is hailed as the male equivalent. It's not enticed me to read the latter either.
Just not a hugely likeable character, his portrayal of his family and friends isn't as you'd imagine being. He is indecisive and unreliable. Yes, his wife did the dirty but he's had years to consider this.
Not worthy of the Booker, IMO.

Terrible photo, excellent fantasy novel!
It did not disappoint. Yes, it's a bit repetitive, yes, it's obviously not believable but it is fun and has super vocabulary and descriptive language. Plus, you know, toxic lesbian vampires!!

How amazingly brilliantly epic was this?! I loved it, the deeper meanings, the gorgeous relationships and that terrifying instability of the world.

Oh my, I cannot put into words the power of this book.
I've read her other two, both excellent, especially Migration. This went up another level.
Told by the inhabitants of the island, the family plus the woman, the truth is partially and carefully revealed in stages.
But with vast emotions and pulls at heartstrings and reminds us of the fragility of the environment, biodiversity and human life.
And it pulls as far as it can. Brilliant.

Well, that was a new book and whilst some of it irritated me, I liked the overall theme of love, family and belonging.

Teeny novella which I purchased in Amsterdam, following holiday tradition.
Id be interested in reading others by Cather as this wasn't as I'd expected although nicely written.

Very slim memoir, her first of three, exploring women as writers in the patriarchal world.
Interesting account of her South African childhood and her subsequent years.

Not gonna lie, after reading very mixed reviews and seeing the length of both the entire book and each chapter, I almost bailed before I started.
But .. I'd adored Fleischman and dove in.
So worth it! No way I'd have seen all the plot, and such a brilliant tone of narration, slightly judging but also explaining.
Very impressive.

An unexpected treat of a novel. Told by five women, the plot unravels in an unhurried fashion but we're kept contemplating the choices made, the misogyny of business and how we judge people.
Very readable.

I thought this would be quite serious in tone and was so in parts. Other chapters were much less so.
I liked the way the story was told by the women and how we came to understand their dynamics and ancestry. It was interesting to read about different areas of USA in the last century and about Iran especially.

I didn't read much of the blurb around this and so went in almost blind.
I found the story line very readable, it kept me guessing and imagining all the way through. I liked how self punishing Isa could be, her determination to simply not have fun yet her curiosity about those that do.
The brothers are really rounded characters and I liked the small amount of background we learnt. Eva was awesome! The history was unknown to me and very sad.

This took a bit of effort to keep reading at first. It felt too worthy!
I enjoyed the Cairo aspect the most, and her relationship with Tom. Claudia is not a likeable character but you do get a sense of her frustration and her self awareness.
I'm glad I learned what moon tiger is!

The third Max Porter I've read and as unusual in form and style as the others!
I do adore him and his way of creating text and visual images.

Weird!
I was attracted to the premise of a pretend pregnancy to avoid the sexism at work but what unfolded was bizarre and I'm unsure if she fooled herself too.
Very readable and compelling though!

Apologies for the awful image!

I was absorbed in this, couldn't predict what would happen or to whom.
I didn't expect to enjoy it and was very pleasantly taken with the way the premise played out.

I've watched a few of her adaptations and read the Apples one but this was much better!

Well, this book says on my shelf for a few years, I'd tried to get into it twice but ditched it. Last week I picked it up again and finished it today!
It wasn't the easiest read; I think the sentences are quite short and thus feels clipped. Maybe the translation.
However, really appreciated the overall story and looking back, I can see the arc and how cleverly it all came together.

A speedy read yet crammed full of plot and character.
Two Violets with differing stories whose lives come together after WW2.
I liked the addition of poetry throughout, gave it a really flowing feel and almost another narrator.

Ah, a nice magical whimsical novel. The prequel to Choclat and just as enticing.
Warning... It's full of luscious descriptions of chocolate and sensual delight!! 😁😁😄

Forgive the angle 😂.
This is one of my books of the year. Sublime prose, full of lyrical words and flows. It's abundant in romance, friends and music, dancing and feeding, summer warmth. But also kinship and belonging.
His debut was fantastic also.

I read a similar themed book recently (the name of which eludes me) and felt it might be too close
But this had enough unexpected moments and decisions to keep it very pacey, the plot could have ended up predictable but she kept it close.
Can't wait to read her latest book.

Oh this was sweet.
I needed something light and whilst the subject matter seems full of sadness, it's actually really uplifting and has a sense of happiness and love.
A truly cute little story that offers a different perspective on death.

Completely undecided on this.
Very cleverly woven story which manages prehistoric lectures with current activism, told by an unreliable narrator who possibly doesn't remember her true self and identity.
I found it hard to keep track of characters at times, but did appreciate the overall story.

Oh I loved it!
Such inquisitive prose that allows you a glimpse of lives and suggestions of the place.
Lively conversation interspersed with inner thoughts and observations on others.
I liked his other two just as much but this is more modern in context.
Plus that cover 🥰

I was fascinated by the blurb and I've really got absorbed in reading it.
Great second person plural narrator which made it feel as though the whole town were observing.
I loved how the seasons turn and the years progressed yet everything pottered on.
I'll keep thinking about this one.
And hopefully he'll write more as this was a debut.

I loved The Plot and keen to read this.
Really liked the idea and the fact that Anna feels like a good woman, even though we know she's a liar and worse
I found the other characters equally flawed and set out to prrofit themselves and thus was rooting for her!
The last fifty pages kept me guessing.

A book club choice and a brilliant challenge of a book.
It ties in with some of my MA module and sat alongside the academic texts nicely!
Shocking corruption, as expected, and thoughtful description of family and village community.
I found parts really tough, which I appreciated, and was interested in the chapter narrators, the switching between first, second and third person.
And the final chapters... Seriously well thought out.