“From the Palace of Dariush,” said the caption underneath, “Older than the Roman Colosseum!” Some solace in history, perhaps, knowing other civilizations had also destroyed themselves. In fact, the record seemed to suggest such destruction was inevitable, the endpoint of every people.”
pickAnother example of don‘t judge a book by its cover. It didn‘t appeal to me because the cover looked so serious but I had read all of the other BOM book of the year finalists so got this one free! History, love, hardship and friendship. Really enjoyed it!
Dawn rose over Clew Bay and the small Irish village of Ballinacroagh.
#FirstlineFridays
@ShyBookOwl
pickThis was riveting coming-of-age story about an unnamed girl set in 17th century Persia. The historical and cultural aspects were fascinating. I appreciated how folktales were woven into the story and how the plot somewhat mirrored the style of those folktales. The descriptions of Persian carpets were so beautiful; they made the art come to life.
This pairs well with the nonfiction book I'm reading about Iran's history.
pickWhat an intense and different novel, exploring art, the world, love and the life death continuum.
I found it tough at times in it's bleak honesty but alongside that, such gorgeous writing.
Will remain with me.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Because of how his mother died, Cyrus becomes obsessed with the concept of dying a meaningful death. Or perhaps, with living a meaningful life. A clever and introspective study of grief. Full circle creativity, and flawless execution, lead to its much-deserved critical acclaim. Wholly unique. I loved it!
#LitsyToB25 Martyr! is our winner today. Only Tracy, Holly and Theresa voted for Rejection. Short stories and the tournament aren‘t always a good match.
And we do agree with the #ToB25 judgment today so in both tournaments we‘ll see Martyr! continue.
Book(er) of the Month time! 😹 It‘s a minor miracle I was able to stage this, haha. I wasn‘t super excited about these when I ordered, but now that they‘ve arrived I‘m looking forward to them. #BookerCat #botm
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A meditation on the randomness of the wheel of fortune, a portrait of the lasting impacts of female friendship, a lion‘s roar for women‘s rights amidst political turmoil. The enticing Iranian food descriptions also really brought the story to life as a sensory experience. Immersive and illuminating! 🎧
