Andrew Adam
Simply tremendous, even better than its predecessor. I think it benefits from a tighter focus - with the hospital tent as a hub for all the key characters, rather than the more chaotic and coincidence-dependent interactions of Ilmar. And because so much of the world-building was done in City of Last Chances, there's more space to explore certain elements in more depth (don't, under any circumstances, read this without reading CoLC first, or you'll be baffled).
There's a dark reflection of Discworld here, with Jack as the Rincewind of a universe whose stories tend towards the tragic rather than the comic. The scene where three characters flee a palace is pure Pratchett, right up to the moment where it isn't, and the immortal wizard in his tower is a superb cameo.
I won the third book in this series in a sweepstake, so should probably declare an interest, but I'm very glad that gave me the nudge to read the first two!
Simply tremendous, even better than its predecessor. I think it benefits from a tighter focus - with the hospital tent as a hub for all the key characters, rather than the more chaotic and coincidence-dependent interactions of Ilmar. And because so much of the world-building was done in City of Last Chances, there's more space to explore certain elements in more depth (don't, under any circumstances, read this without reading CoLC first, or you'll be baffled).
There's a dark reflection of Discworld here, with Jack as the Rincewind of a universe whose stories tend towards the tragic rather than the comic. The scene where three characters flee a palace is pure Pratchett, right up to the moment where it isn't, and the immortal wizard in his tower is a superb cameo.
I won the third book in this series in a sweepstake, so should probably declare an interest, but I'm very glad that gave me the nudge to read the first two!
It's an absolute classic, not much more to be said. Beyond the fact that this is the first of many re-readings in which I've actually understood the meaning of "Every vessel in the town was filled with water" - previously I had thought it very odd that they would swamp all of the boats that they'd surely need were Esgaroth to be burned down. Oh, and I finally looked up what a mattock is.
It's an absolute classic, not much more to be said. Beyond the fact that this is the first of many re-readings in which I've actually understood the meaning of "Every vessel in the town was filled with water" - previously I had thought it very odd that they would swamp all of the boats that they'd surely need were Esgaroth to be burned down. Oh, and I finally looked up what a mattock is.
What a week to finish reading this (EHRC guidance released and it's baaad). Travis is so clever that I sometimes struggled to keep up, but what a book. An incredible set of insights and reflections on living outside the gender binary, and the restrictions placed on our self-expression by a society that is all the poorer for it.
For those who've read it - I'm a bit of a Steve, but plan to finally get round to piercing my ears and finding more fun clothes to wear. Life is for us, not for them.
What a week to finish reading this (EHRC guidance released and it's baaad). Travis is so clever that I sometimes struggled to keep up, but what a book. An incredible set of insights and reflections on living outside the gender binary, and the restrictions placed on our self-expression by a society that is all the poorer for it.
For those who've read it - I'm a bit of a Steve, but plan to finally get round to piercing my ears and finding more fun clothes to wear. Life is for us, not for them.
It was fine, I thought it slotted well into the timeline following P&P. A very talking-heavy finale, and it felt a little strange to switch to viewpoints other than Elizabeth's. I'm not a hardcore Austen fan (though I hope to read more), so don't share the strength of opinion held by some reviewers!
It was fine, I thought it slotted well into the timeline following P&P. A very talking-heavy finale, and it felt a little strange to switch to viewpoints other than Elizabeth's. I'm not a hardcore Austen fan (though I hope to read more), so don't share the strength of opinion held by some reviewers!
Having finally watched (and delighted in) the 90s TV adaptation, I thought it was time to revisit a book I'd previously not appreciated in my teens. And gosh, it is good! I picked up on the nuances of tone much better having been primed to watch for them, and Mr & Mrs Bennet's lines benefitted greatly from this. Looking forward to following up with Death Comes to Pemberley, and possibly The Other Bennet Sister.
My inner socialist rebelled at the insights into the economy and society of the period, but I'm not going to let that get in the way of a good time.
Having finally watched (and delighted in) the 90s TV adaptation, I thought it was time to revisit a book I'd previously not appreciated in my teens. And gosh, it is good! I picked up on the nuances of tone much better having been primed to watch for them, and Mr & Mrs Bennet's lines benefitted greatly from this. Looking forward to following up with Death Comes to Pemberley, and possibly The Other Bennet Sister.
My inner socialist rebelled at the insights into the economy and society of the period, but I'm not going to let that get in the way of a good time.
Stuck the landing of the trilogy, which was no mean feat! Rather a lot of unnecessary and foolish secret-keeping by various protagonists, and felt a bit virtue signalling at times. But there's no law mandating subtlety, and it's very readable!
Stuck the landing of the trilogy, which was no mean feat! Rather a lot of unnecessary and foolish secret-keeping by various protagonists, and felt a bit virtue signalling at times. But there's no law mandating subtlety, and it's very readable!
Like its predecessor, warm, reflective, and hopeful. I sense this will be a source of comfort and inspiration via many re-reads in the years to come.
Like its predecessor, warm, reflective, and hopeful. I sense this will be a source of comfort and inspiration via many re-reads in the years to come.
I enjoyed it! The comic beats were particularly strong in the first section - I was impressed by the rhythm of punchlines at the end of pages marrying with the continuous narrative. Bleakly relatable commentary on career setbacks and comparing oneself with others, and predictions of the next inevitable steps of surveillance capitalism.
I enjoyed it! The comic beats were particularly strong in the first section - I was impressed by the rhythm of punchlines at the end of pages marrying with the continuous narrative. Bleakly relatable commentary on career setbacks and comparing oneself with others, and predictions of the next inevitable steps of surveillance capitalism.
A mixed bag - a lot of interesting ideas, but some of them are quite dated (as, in fairness, you might expect from a centenary collection). Others maybe required a bit more reflection or analysis than I was willing/able to give!
A mixed bag - a lot of interesting ideas, but some of them are quite dated (as, in fairness, you might expect from a centenary collection). Others maybe required a bit more reflection or analysis than I was willing/able to give!
Beautifully drawn, engaging, but also left me very confused - a few disparate threads that didn't lead anywhere, a lot of (presumably deliberate) uncertainty over what's the truth and what's real. I probably would have benefitted from reading it in one sitting rather than two.
Beautifully drawn, engaging, but also left me very confused - a few disparate threads that didn't lead anywhere, a lot of (presumably deliberate) uncertainty over what's the truth and what's real. I probably would have benefitted from reading it in one sitting rather than two.
A good choice for book club, lots to chew over! Paints a vivid picture of life in 70s Northern Ireland, and the compromises and challenges facing those trying to cross community divides, whether through marriage, business, or illicit love affair. I felt things were tied up a bit too neatly/coincidentally towards the end, and struggled to quite understand the reasons for/ speed with which the protagonist fell for her love interest, but it was an engaging read.
A good choice for book club, lots to chew over! Paints a vivid picture of life in 70s Northern Ireland, and the compromises and challenges facing those trying to cross community divides, whether through marriage, business, or illicit love affair. I felt things were tied up a bit too neatly/coincidentally towards the end, and struggled to quite understand the reasons for/ speed with which the protagonist fell for her love interest, but it was an engaging read.
Added to listOwnedwith 8 books.
Maybe I'm being over-generous in my rating - it doesn't quite follow the premise set out in the blurb, but the author does several things excellently:
- he runs through millenea of British history in an accessible manner - making it a useful primer, especially for those of us who (thank goodness) weren't made to learn English monarchs by rote
- he maintains a healthy scepticism throughout, reminding us of the bias of the sources he references, and skewering many falsehoods that we take for granted
- throughout, he reinforces the point that "British" is not a static concept - we've been invaded, conquered, assimilated and generally mixed up so many times over the centuries, that genetically and culturally, we are European
- importantly (much to the chagrin of another reviewer), he doesn't shy away from the fact that *we are not the good guys* throughout much of history - pointing out the atrocities inflicted by European powers on each other and on societies across five other continents (and pithily describing the conflict between the Dutch and British East India Companies as "baddie versus baddie")
- and I can't not mention his class awareness, which is evident throughout. The arrogance and entitlement of monarchs, despots, and ruling classes are on full display.
The author clearly deplores the delusion behind British exceptionalism, and I wholeheartedly agree with him.
Maybe I'm being over-generous in my rating - it doesn't quite follow the premise set out in the blurb, but the author does several things excellently:
- he runs through millenea of British history in an accessible manner - making it a useful primer, especially for those of us who (thank goodness) weren't made to learn English monarchs by rote
- he maintains a healthy scepticism throughout, reminding us of the bias of the sources he references, and skewering many falsehoods that we take for granted
- throughout, he reinforces the point that "British" is not a static concept - we've been invaded, conquered, assimilated and generally mixed up so many times over the centuries, that genetically and culturally, we are European
- importantly (much to the chagrin of another reviewer), he doesn't shy away from the fact that *we are not the good guys* throughout much of history - pointing out the atrocities inflicted by European powers on each other and on societies across five other continents (and pithily describing the conflict between the Dutch and British East India Companies as "baddie versus baddie")
- and I can't not mention his class awareness, which is evident throughout. The arrogance and entitlement of monarchs, despots, and ruling classes are on full display.
The author clearly deplores the delusion behind British exceptionalism, and I wholeheartedly agree with him.
I can't count how many times I've read this before (my father's battered old cloth-bound copy, once left out in the rain and missing its final page), and despite having no talent for sailing whatsoever, I've always loved it. It's telling that the modern film adaptation felt the need to liven it up with German spies, and make the kids so much less likeable - the book very slow, but with Titty (yes, I hear the sniggers) as its beating heart, it shows the power of imagination and adventure. Thoroughly wholesome, albeit through the lens of Empire.
I can't count how many times I've read this before (my father's battered old cloth-bound copy, once left out in the rain and missing its final page), and despite having no talent for sailing whatsoever, I've always loved it. It's telling that the modern film adaptation felt the need to liven it up with German spies, and make the kids so much less likeable - the book very slow, but with Titty (yes, I hear the sniggers) as its beating heart, it shows the power of imagination and adventure. Thoroughly wholesome, albeit through the lens of Empire.
