Lucy
Classic Jack. A simple case, clean, no fluff, just old school Army Reacher sorting shit out. Loved the protagonists too.
The best of the 3 colab Reachers, this one felt like the old Jack, punching his way across middle America.
Very cleverly crafted but I didn't feel a connection to the characters. I don't think Japanese magical realism is for me.
A strange and beguiling short novel of two sisters with an unbreakable childhood bond. Superbly crafted.
A little long winded for me, but well written and intriguing. 3.5 stars rounded down.
I don't pretend to know much about the nuances of poetry but these poems were informative and intimate and made stark points about our world.
A sad and horrifying story of a woman trapped by her past, unable to move on. Perfectly weighted and cleverly plotted.
3/4 of this book was odd and then it got really freaking weird. I did not understand it at all, atleast, I don't think I did. Maybe I did but it didn't make sense atleast to me.
A slightly clinical book about a bird I've never seen and doesn't live in my country. No stories of personal connection with the birds as I like in natural history book, rather, an overview of the owl's life and death and how humans impact their survival. Enjoyable though.
A solid, personal and beautiful story of a community who rally to build a traditional Irish currach for a young man Jamie. About parallel and intersection lives.
A mixed bag of stories loosely connected through relationships, Tokyo and a cat. Some stories were clever and well constructed but too many were not. 2.5 rounded up because cats are cool.
A gentle and enjoyable read about Charlotte Lucas, the friend of Lizzy Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. While large chunks of the book felt true to the original, a significant portion seemed so out of character for Charlotte, and jarred with how a woman of her stature and position would have acted that it coloured my opinion of the book, even though it was very sweet. Overall a diverting read, but not one true fans of Austen will necessarily appreciate.
It would be hard to find a novel that more fits the “Aeroplane read” tag more than this one. It's hardly unique or exciting, but it's not terrible and would get you through a long haul flight without too much effort. And then you'd forget you'd ever read it and leave it in the seat pocket. Shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as I am Pilgrim.
Nothing Robert Ludlum hasn't written already, and better. 2.5 stars.
3.5 rounded down as the narrator was off-putting. I can't stand hearing narrators swallowing! I enjoyed the book and the variety of content over all.
Perfectly illustrated, eerie and atmospheric, a story of friendship in the face of evil.
A fascinating glimpse into the life and customs of pre-colonial Māori iwi. Really intrigued to see where the story goes next.
Funny, serious, clever, unexpected, slowly revelatory. Best book of 2023 calling it now.
Undoubtedly a book that will stay with me for a long time. Her essays on yoga, eating disorders and her sister in law's suicide were paticularly poignant.
