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#WPF25
review
squirrelbrain
Dream Count | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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Pickpick

Another one from the #wpf25 longlist that I was halfway through when the shortlist was announced. After reading the second half, this has slid way down my own longlist.

It‘s a pick but only just and it‘s certainly no Americanah. Billed as a novel about 4 women, it‘s more like 4 separate stories, with the women being only tangentially linked. Upon finishing, I could only remember 3 of the women - I‘d completely forgotten the 4th and her story.

BarbaraBB No Americanah… That‘s a pity because I wanted it to be just like that! 1h
ImperfectCJ I agree with @BarbaraBB that it's a disappointment it doesn't measure up to Americanah. I guess I did the right thing waiting for the library hold instead of purchasing. 1h
quietlycuriouskate Oh god, I am currently*40th* in line for this at the library and was really hoping it would be worth the wait 😕 38m
squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ImperfectCJ @quietlycuriouskate - hopefully you will all like it better than me. The first half was promising, but then it just didn‘t go anywhere. 3 of the 4 were rich b**ches complaining about their exes. There was one storyline I appreciated reading but it didn‘t fit with the others. Definitely a #borrownotbuy so stick with those library holds! 28m
27 likes4 comments
review
squirrelbrain
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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Pickpick

I was halfway through this on audio when the #wpf25 shortlist was announced. It wasn‘t on my shortlist and I haven‘t changed my mind since.

I actually quite enjoyed it on audio - mainly vacuous rich people being obnoxious - but I don‘t understand why it was on the list. There was no ‘important message‘ and I didn‘t learn anything and, as is the trend these days, the book just ended with no resolution for most of the characters.

ChaoticMissAdventures I thought there were too many POVs. I mostly only cared about Elizabeth and Bita. 3h
TrishB I have it on the pile but won‘t be racing to read! 2h
BarbaraBB You liked it better than I did! 1h
See All 8 Comments
quietlycuriouskate What's with the list this year? I've read hardly any so far but, from the reviews I've seen, the vibe I'm getting is "meh" ? 34m
squirrelbrain Yep, that‘s exactly the vibe @quietlycuriouskate - very disappointing. 🤷‍♀️ 27m
squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures - those two were the best storylines, I agree. 26m
squirrelbrain @trishb - no, not your thing, I don‘t think. 26m
ChaoticMissAdventures @quietlycuriouskate & @squirrelbrain I think I am so disappointed because there were so many amazing choices they could have picked. I read this one thinking it would make it and was blown away much more than I liked any of the ones that made the list 20m
25 likes8 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
Women's Prize For Fiction | Women\'s Prize For Fiction
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Here we go…! My #wpf25 list in order. I‘ve *nearly* finished all the books - see comments below. ⬇️

Overall it‘s a distinctly average list this year, IMO. The Safekeep made my favourites list of 2024 - only books 2 and 3 could possibly make the 2025 favourites.

On the flip side, I didn‘t absolutely hate any of them - damning with faint praise there! ☺️

The Artist came higher up the list as it was so unexpected - I read it before the ⬇️

squirrelbrain longlist announcement and it was a lovely surprise. Conversely I expected Nesting to be my fave but I think I over-hyped it in my mind. 5d
squirrelbrain I‘ve read around half of Dream Count (and educated myself around the author‘s inflammatory comments) and, whilst I‘m really liking it, I feel that less well-known authors should be on the list. I‘ve also listened to 50% of the Persians (I‘ll listen to another couple of hours tomorrow) and around 15% of Somewhere Else - both are ‘fine‘ but that‘s all. 5d
AnneCecilie I‘ve hardly read anyone. The Safekeep when it was on the Booker list last year, and The Ministry of Time. I find it interesting that one of my favorites, is also one of yours. Ministry has faded a little for me, and I see that‘s far down on your list. I‘ve just started Nesting. I didn‘t get all the fuzz around Americanah, so I‘m in no rush to read this. (edited) 5d
See All 16 Comments
ChaoticMissAdventures Our lists are going to be fairly similar. I agree, it was fine, but not a great list compared to other years. 5d
quietlycuriouskate I've only read Safekeep (from the Booker list) and Ministry of Time. I have several more reserved from the library but I was never intending to read the whole list, and am certainly not going to oblige myself to do so now. 5d
BarbaraBB Thanks for sharing this! I‘ll check out The Artist. I didn‘t like Nesting as much as you did. I am reading and enjoying Somewhere Else much more than I thought I would. Dream Count I have on audio but not started yet. (edited) 5d
charl08 Wow, impressive as ever. I've not got half as far as you but Ministry of Time was always going to be hard to beat for me. 5d
Gissy I am beginning with the list because I‘m still in the process of waiting for the books. I guess I will read them eventually🤷🏽‍♀️I liked Safekeep because of the twist and writing style but I think it was repetitive in those intimacy scenes🙄I also think that is a dysfunctional relationship. But you never know what the judges are looking for...I think I am looking for a story like Brotherless Night for next winner 😂I need to move on🤣 4d
squirrelbrain Interesting that you‘ve both read the same 2 books!☺️ @quietlycuriouskate @AnneCecilie 4d
squirrelbrain There‘s nothing to compare to Brotherless Night this year @Gissy 🤷‍♀️ That was my favourite last year too. 4d
squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB -I think you‘ll really like The Artist - @TrishB loved it too. 4d
squirrelbrain Thanks! @charl08 ☺️ Ministry of Time just didn‘t work for me though. 😬 4d
BarbaraBB That‘s good to know. If it makes the shortlist I‘ll read that one. And the Adichie which is for free on Spotify! 4d
Hooked_on_books For the shortlist, they appear to have picked from all over your list. And I‘m deeply annoyed they‘ve put AF on the shortlist. This year‘s judging panel doesn‘t have much credibility for me. 3d
squirrelbrain I‘m so disappointed @Hooked_on_books - no idea what rationale the judges used - for either the longlist or the shortlist. 3d
sarahbarnes Good to know your ranking! I‘m still looking forward to a couple of books from the longlist - Nesting and The Artist. 3d
50 likes16 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Nesting | Roisn O'Donnell
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Pickpick

#wpf25 Book 13

This was one of those books that leaves you breathless - that you don‘t want to look away from, but you really want to run away from. I never look at the end of a book, but had to in this case, just to know.

It was rather similar to Manguso‘s Liars, both in subject matter and the way it made me feel, and there was a bit more heart in this one.

For me, certainly in the top half of the (slightly disappointing) longlist.

BarbaraBB You liked it much more than I did! Glad you did. I‘d prefer Liars to this one. (edited) 6d
julieclair Great review! 6d
Hooked_on_books Wow, 13 done! You‘re a champion! 6d
See All 7 Comments
sarahbarnes Just got this from the library. Great review. I‘m curious what I‘ll think of it. 6d
Caroline2 I‘ve just got this in from BorrowBox. Bit nervous as I‘m just done with tragedy porn and Evil men doing Evil deeds! 😒 (I‘ve just finished listening to John Boyne‘s Water….Brilliant but hard going) 5d
squirrelbrain Yeah, it is definitely of the ‘Evil Men‘ genre but give it a go -you‘ll soon know! 5d
Caroline2 I‘ve returned it to the library. 😂 I‘m bailing before I‘ve even started!! I need a break from bleak books for a while. 👍 4d
68 likes1 stack add7 comments
review
squirrelbrain
The Dream Hotel | Laila Lalami
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Pickpick

Book 9 #wpf25

This was a scarily prescient read, particularly in the current political climate. Sara is pulled aside on her way through LAX and ‘detained‘ in a facility (not imprisoned!) due to her dreams indicating she *might* commit a crime in the future.

I liked the interactions and the menace in that facility - where the inmates can‘t do anything right so their retentions get extended. I felt that more could have been made of ⬇️

squirrelbrain Eisley and her role in Sara‘s story - it felt like a bit of an add-on. I also thought the ending could have been a bit stronger after all the building-up. But still 4 ⭐️ and a strong contender for my shortlist. 2w
ChaoticMissAdventures It really creeped me out. I kept thinking of those brain implants Elon keeps trying to get people to have. No thank you. I am so paranoid right now I am taking a burner phone through TSA. 2w
TrishB Great review 👍🏻 and definitely full of scary stuff that‘s not a million years away. 2w
See All 10 Comments
Suet624 After reading a very depressing Women‘s Prize longlister I‘ve decided to return this book to the library. I can‘t read yet another book right now that will bring a potential reality into sharp focus. It will do me in. 2w
squirrelbrain @Suet624 - it‘s nothing like as depressing as Crooked Seeds but it‘s really very sinister and too close to home. 2w
AmyG Good review. Thanks! 2w
Jas16 Great review. Totally agree about Eisley‘s story. (edited) 2w
BarbaraBB Great review. I just started this too. 2w
charl08 I don't read a lot of dystopia but finding this book terrifying. 1w
squirrelbrain It‘s because it‘s so close to the truth, I think @charl08 😬 1w
82 likes1 stack add10 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Mehso-so

Book 8 #wpf25

I didn‘t expect to love this, after all the comments by Littens I respect, when it made the WP #longlist.

I actually didn‘t mind the first half but then it grew just a bit silly and repetitive, around the introduction of the ‘strange machine‘.

I found I didn‘t care for any of the characters and just wanted it to finish. #listcompletist 🙄

ChaoticMissAdventures I agree. I was shocked to see it in the list, having already read it and felt meh about it 2w
TrishB No reviews have made me want to read this! I‘m reassured by yours that I still don‘t want to read it. 2w
julesG @TrishB you're definitely not missing out. 2w
See All 7 Comments
BarbaraBB I decided to skip this one as well 2w
CarolynM Doesn‘t appeal to me, either. Thanks for confirming my lack of interest😆 2w
TheKidUpstairs I tried this one as an ARC a while ago and couldn't get into it. Reviews like yours make me even more confident in my decision! It's interesting to see it get so much award love, when most readers I've spoken to (or seen on here) are so lukewarm in their opinions. 1w
squirrelbrain Yes, it‘s odd @TheKidUpstairs - makes me wonder if the judges read it before including it. 😬 1w
78 likes7 comments
review
squirrelbrain
A Little Trickerie | Rosanna Pike
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Pickpick

Catching up with reviews so apologies in advance! 🤪

Book 7 #wpf25

I loved this, having not expected to, not being a huge fan of ‘Tudor‘ HF. That‘s all down to the MC, Tibb, who is innocent but wise and has the pottiest mouth.

This deceptively simple story covers all sorts of areas - queer love, religion, prejudice, grief and found family.

Definitely on my shortlist!

Ruthiella This is the book from the long list along with The Safekeep that I‘m definitely going to seek out and read. 2w
ChaoticMissAdventures Reading this now! I have struggled a bit to get into it but still have high hopes. 2w
TrishB I like the look of this one 👍🏻 have dropped big Mother‘s Day hints. I was waiting for all your reviews 😁 2w
See All 13 Comments
squirrelbrain I think you‘ll like it @TrishB @ruthiella (edited) 2w
squirrelbrain I hope it starts to fall into place for you Shawna @ChaoticMissAdventures 2w
BarbaraBB Lots of love for this one. I‘ll read it if it makes the shortlist. I have so many longlisted books to read first 😅 2w
CarolynM Now this one does appeal. Stacked🙂 2w
squirrelbrain It‘s really rather unusual @CarolynM - in a good way! 2w
Leniverse I'm reading it now. I had a sinking feeling when I opened the book and saw 1500, but it's so much better than the Scottish one from last year. But maybe that one was 1600s? Don't really care for either century, normally! 1w
squirrelbrain Which was the Scottish one Leni? @leniverse The Maiden? If so, this is much more quirky - that one was rather plain in comparison. 1w
sarahbarnes I‘m intrigued by this one based on your review! 1w
squirrelbrain I think you‘d really like it @sarahbarnes 1w
Leniverse Yes, the Maiden. That one was so over-hyped. 1w
70 likes4 stack adds13 comments
review
Jas16
Crooked Seeds: A Novel | Karen Jennings
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Pickpick

An entirely unlikable main character and a completely grim story- is it any surprise that I really did not enjoy listening to this audiobook? And yet there is something about it. I couldn‘t look away and I know it is not a book that will fade away until I can‘t really recall the details in a month or two. Is that enough to make it a pick? My answer today is I think so. Tomorrow I might think differently
#wpf25

Suet624 Love this review. I just got this from the library and I‘m even more interested in reading it after this review. 😊 3w
squirrelbrain Perfect review! 3w
54 likes2 comments
review
Hooked_on_books
Tell Me Everything | Elizabeth Strout
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Panpan

For the first 40% of this book, I enjoyed it but didn‘t love it. Then I stalled out and almost bailed (I should have). I forced myself to finish because of the Women‘s Prize, which this has no business being on, so much treacle! Between this and the loathed (by me) All Fours, I‘m seriously side-eyeing this longlist. #WPF25

TrishB Love your review. I‘ve read 2 Strout and didn‘t like them so not bothering with anymore. I also hated All Fours 👍🏻 3w
ChaoticMissAdventures I didn't mind All Fours, I like that it is creating so much discussion. But I hate when they pick books in a series. I read one of Strouts earlier books and found it quite boring. I was going to try this on audio if I have time but I am not eager for it. 3w
kspenmoll I hated All Fours & bailed…thanks for your review! 3w
BarbaraBB This is not her best but I love Strout ( and All 4s 🙃). Still I think it shouldn‘t have been on the longlist as past of a series 3w
BkClubCare I am with @BarbaraBB in that I absolutely adore the Lucy/Olive series but they work best (only?) with the series. Why nominate one for a single prize?, doesn‘t make sense to me. 3w
51 likes5 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Crooked Seeds: A Novel | Karen Jennings
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Pickpick

This #wpf25 book is one of those where it‘s difficult to recommend to anyone - I listened to it with a ‘bad smell‘ look on my face throughout. The MC, a white South African amputee, is completely obnoxious and we learn all about her bodily functions as she liberally uses the f-word.

Having said that, I did appreciate this book and can see why it‘s on the list - it‘s challenging and I learnt something new about South African history.

LeeRHarry I‘m in the middle of this one atm and yes it‘s pretty raw but is holding my attention. 3w
squirrelbrain It certainly held my attention! @LeeRHarry 3w
Jas16 I so agree. I cannot imagine recommending this one to anyone. 3w
sarahbarnes Great review. 🙃 2w
63 likes4 comments