Dylan Palmer

Trollope was not on my list of things to read but on a visit to a relative who is quite the fan, I thought I may as well. However, it is hard to give this book a rating as my thoughts on it slid so drastically from the first page to the last. Funnily enough a different review said the first 50 pages were great, I could not stray further from that opinion. I found the first 50 to truly drag as I could not care for any of the characters or their problems (apart from Dr Bold) . However, as the tale progressed I could understand what Trollope was slowly achieving and the characters grew as with the story. Hence, although only given three and a half stars it could have changed at any time.

Thank you to the relative for the chance, but I am unsure when I'll be revisiting Trollope if I'm honest!

Poetic brilliance from a wonderful mind. Every line simmers with an enchanting joy and reels you in time after time.

It feels absolutely Welsh, and it is more beautiful for it. As a welsh person my self you could feel the locations and the smells and the people all folding into one to make this mad town feel real. Da iawn Dylan Thomas.

It felt like reading about open secrets, the things we know are true but refuse to either believe them or acknowledge.

Turgenev writes so eloquently here and his talent for bringing each character through the story is a great stand out. Thoroughly good reflection on the roles of relationships of all kinds, of being young and old, of thinking differently. I struggled with some of the aloofness of aristocratic life at times but the rest of the story worked well to adjust with it

Note- I listened to through an audiobook.

Brilliant analysis of Pantani and his life. At times it felt quite overwhelming with statistics and details of great scientific magnitude but Rendell does a good job of bringing you along year by year.

For those looking for Pantani to be absolved will sadly not find it, but that does not mean the figure of him is no less mystical but albeit, tragic.

By no means my favourite book of the year let alone favorite sci-fi book of the year, but a good reading experience. The themes were interesting and it did feel like a fresh spin on the genre, but I was longing for the book to finish towards the end. Maybe on reflection my opinion of this book will change, not necessarily for the better but alas, still interesting.

Something about this book that I can't put my finger on...

I, as I think many others probably realised, was lulled into a false sense of security when it came to the 'horror' aspect of this story. However,as the story furthered and progressed and the lines emerged you could feel this hidden pressure slowly emerging. It is not what anyone would expect but once it has come full circle the whole story shifts entirely onto a new track.

Tokarczuk is a master. My faith in her after 'drive your plow' and 'flights' was paid off here, even if it at times I was longing for a classic twist or a sudden fright. They didn't necessarily come as you'd expect, but to read this story and to expect a thing would be foolish now I look back.

Also, what a comment on pre-war Europe and it's slithering division, pride and isolation.

Great read.

A great book.

Part- Adam Curtis documentary, part- critique of western liberal democracy and part- enchanting dream, The Years is a riding adventure of a book through the mid to late 20th century. Each sentence flows into the next and begs the reader to continue to the next. It poses many questions but how we got to where we are and how we should look back at those things while never forcing you an answer. At times, it offers hidden confessions that make you feel slightly uncomfortable, is this what Ernaux feels or has she taken the temperature of a whole data point?

It's a beautiful piece of work that feels inspired from the first sentence to the heartbreaking last.

Mishima's writing here is the stalwart. He seems to write effortlessly as each page blends into the next and leads you further and further down a deeping chasm. At times uncomfortable, particularly in the second part but a reflection of Japan post-war and the changing state of society but most importantly, it seems Mishima himself.

I had great trouble thinking about what to say for this book. It is one of the most absurd, nonsensical, enjoyable and challenging novels I have yet read. However, it can easily be split up due to its parts. Part 1, I was at times at a complete loss for what on earth was going on and did think about giving up the battle. Part 2 however turned into this attack on the senses that turned into a coherent and wonderful tale that entirely changed my view of the whole story.

A book not for the faint hearted or for someone looking for an easy read. It will reward you however, if you keep invested in its rich story.

A lovely read but I really struggled to focus on the ins and outs as my mind drifted. Was it the fault of the book or some other reason, I'm not sure? Maybe that's why I didn't love it the way I thought I might of.

A rather hard read.

Murakami truly is something special. The stories are brilliantly put together, a true pleasure to read. Super-frog saves Tokyo was 💯