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bekakins

bekakins

Joined January 2017

review
bekakins
Remote Sympathy | Catherine Chidgey
Pickpick

Absolutely beautiful book for my first December #roll100 definitely not one for feeling festive but a really interesting and important tale of nazi Germany. Fantastic character development and really interesting plot.

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 1d
10 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo
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Pickpick

#bookspin done! Enjoyed the start of this second series set in the grishaverse - looking forward to reading the sequel!

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2w
TheAromaofBooks I've had the original trilogy on my TBR forever!! 2w
12 likes2 comments
review
bekakins
Anatomy: A Love Story | Dana Schwartz
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Pickpick

Gorgeous cover, pretty good story, and a soft pick from me!

#roll100

PuddleJumper Lonely cover 4w
9 likes1 comment
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bekakins
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Pickpick

#roll100 really enjoyed this poetic novel set in 1984/2018 - interesting story of friendship, family & identity

PuddleJumper 🙌 🙌 1mo
16 likes1 comment
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bekakins
Cruel Sacrifice | Aphrodite Jones
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Pickpick

Totally heartbreaking. Really brutal true crime.

review
bekakins
Bunny: A Novel | Mona Awad
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Pickpick

#roll100 well this book was batshit crazy. And I thoroughly enjoyed it! Loved trying to unpick all the metaphor vs reality, a wild ride.

PuddleJumper Batahit can be good! 🤣 1mo
10 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
Going Postal | Terry Pratchett
Pickpick

#doublespin for Nov and my new favourite Discworld book! I‘m a bit sad that I‘m nearing the end of this series, it‘s so funny & clever. This one I found particularly good, really enjoyed the character of Moist 😆

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1mo
8 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
Sistersong | Lucy Holland
Pickpick

It‘s late but read my final #roll100 pick for October. Really enjoyed this retelling of an old Briton myth, I enjoyed the different perspectives, and although the plot wasn‘t a surprise it all kept me entertained!

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 1mo
10 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
The Diamond Age | Neal Stephenson
Pickpick

#bookspin for November and this was WILD. I really enjoyed the story of Nell & how the primer helped to shape her - some interesting concepts here

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo
8 likes1 comment
blurb
bekakins
Halloweenland | Al Sarrantonio
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I haven‘t been as active as I would have liked during #hauntedshelf because… life! But I‘ve enjoyed it regardless and finishing on 500 pts total for #skeletoncrew 🎃👻 happy Halloween!!!

AnnCrystal Happy Halloween 🥳🎃💃💝 2mo
Seabreeze_Reader Well done! 🎃🎉💀 2mo
11 likes2 comments
review
bekakins
Homegoing: A novel | Yaa Gyasi
Pickpick
PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 2mo
Emilymdxn Love this book SO much 2mo
11 likes2 comments
review
bekakins
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Pickpick

A reread for October‘s #doublespin & second time round I still loved it. Properly cosy sci-fi, I really enjoyed the exploration of different gender/sexuality/parenthood etc across different alien species

#hauntedshelf #skeletoncrew

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2mo
Emilymdxn I love this book so much I really need to do a reread! 2mo
16 likes2 comments
review
bekakins
Pickpick

Another book ticked off for #roll100 #hauntedshelf #skeletoncrew this was really unsettling, very sparse, but really built tension. Enjoyed it!

Emilymdxn I loved this book so much! 2mo
14 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
The Salt Path | Raynor Winn
Pickpick

#bookspin for October - LOVED this! So sad, yet uplifting, really makes me want to walk the south west coast path one day!

#hauntedshelf #skeletoncrew

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo
12 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
Hello Beautiful | Ann Napolitano
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Pickpick

Book club read - I enjoyed this! Always like a small town American novel that really focus in on familial relationships. Behind on collating #hauntedshelf points as been laid up with some horrible cold/flu, but it has let me do a lot of reading, so every cloud!!

AnnCrystal 🙏📚💝. 2mo
11 likes1 comment
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bekakins
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

Unsurprisingly, given the authors previous book, this was absolutely heartbreaking. So well written, there were a couple of moments where I had to have a little break because it‘s SO. HEAVY. But absolutely beautiful.

And #bookspin #doublespin for October! Looking forward to ticking some off for #hauntedshelf 😁

Emilymdxn I don‘t know if I could take this one after shuggie Bain! 3mo
AnnCrystal .💕🐶🐾💝. (edited) 3mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 3mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 3mo
14 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
bekakins
For the Wolf | Hannah Whitten
Mehso-so

Another #roll100 read and this was… ok. Like other readers I found the backstory slightly confused and didn‘t really understood what the Wilderwood was or exactly what the point of the Kings was. Probably won‘t read the sequel.

PuddleJumper Ah well, it is off your list now! 3mo
12 likes1 comment
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bekakins
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Pickpick

Another non fiction #bookspin and I absolutely loved this! Really entertaining, funny and also super interesting to learn more about a weird little river creature (water voles)!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3mo
13 likes1 comment
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bekakins
The Hydrogen Sonata | Iain M. Banks
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Pickpick

A bittersweet moment as I finally finish the culture series for September‘s #doublspin
Not my favourite in the series, but still enjoyable! I particularly liked the idea of the elevenstring

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3mo
12 likes1 comment
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bekakins
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Pickpick

Not my favourite Greek retelling, but pretty good, and final #roll100 read for Aug. Like others, I was expecting more from Elektra‘s POV, but actually got a lot of Clytemnestra & Cassandra too (I would like more Cassandra tbh!)

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉🎉 4mo
13 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
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Pickpick

Catching up on the weekends reading- this was my #doublespin for Aug and I found it absolutely riveting! Probably not for everyone but I found it genuinely suspenseful & also enjoyed the extracts from various diaries of those on the original Endurance expedition!

TheAromaofBooks Ooooo I am definitely going to get a copy of this for my husband! He and my dad and my brothers and my grandpa literally all took turns reading Endurance last year and they all were so into it that I didn't even bother reading it myself because every time I saw any of them they started telling me more about it 😂 4mo
bekakins @TheAromaofBooks amazing! He will definitely enjoy it if he was interested by the original expedition story! 3mo
12 likes2 comments
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bekakins
Seven Lies | Elizabeth Kay
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Mehso-so

#roll100 read - This was ok. I guessed some of the twists along the way and wasn‘t quite as gripping as some of the reviews make out

review
bekakins
Surface Detail | Iain M. Banks
Pickpick

#bookspin - and my favourite novel in the Culture series to date (and there‘s only one left!) Brilliant characters, some great twists and turns in the broader, political story, and very entertaining Minds & Ships as always!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4mo
9 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
Mehso-so

A so-so apocalyptic novel for #roll100 - it was quite a good premise but it just didn‘t really grip me..

PuddleJumper Meh, well it's off your list! 5mo
13 likes1 comment
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bekakins
Girl in Snow: A Novel | Danya Kukafka
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Pickpick

Final #roll100 read for July and enjoyed this one. Quite slow paced and atmospheric, but I enjoyed the different perspectives and enjoyed it being a bit meandering. And #bookspin #doublespin list done for August!

PuddleJumper Cute dog! 🐕🐕 5mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 5mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 5mo
14 likes3 comments
review
bekakins
The Bean Trees | Barbara Kingsolver
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Pickpick

Scored a line in #bookspinbingo for the first time in months with this one! Really enjoyed it, great character development, and managed to be uplifting even though the subject matter at times was super dark

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fantastic progress!! 5mo
10 likes1 comment
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bekakins
Imaginary Friend | Stephen Chbosky
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Pickpick

A soft pick for this #roll100 read (I was really torn between pick & so-so) - I was really into it at first, very reminiscent of NOS4R2 / IT / Stranger Things - but I felt like the author was pushing his agenda a bit too much and also really needed a better edit as there was far too much repetition.

PuddleJumper 🥳🥳 5mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 5mo
11 likes2 comments
review
bekakins
A Hat Full of Sky | Terry Pratchett
Pickpick

#doublespin LOVED this! I think the Tiffany Aching books might be my new favourites in Discworld. Granny Weatherwax is an utter legend and the Nac Mac Feegle are blooming hilarious

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 5mo
10 likes1 comment
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bekakins
Mehso-so

#roll100 - not David Nicholls strongest, but quite sweet

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 5mo
11 likes1 comment
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bekakins
Widowland | C J Carey
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed my #bookspin pick for July - seems to have gotten mixed reviews but I liked this alternate history with a feminist slant, imagining if Britain & Nazi Germany became an alliance. Loved the literary references scattered throughout. It‘s definitely derivative as others have mentioned but still a pick from me!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 5mo
12 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
The Hunger | Alma Katsu
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Pickpick

Final #roll100 read for June and I really enjoyed this slightly-supernatural reimagining of the Donner Party - something I knew nothing about prior and found extremely interesting! A slow burn but that helped ratchet up the tension - really enjoyed it!

PuddleJumper 🥳🥳 6mo
10 likes1 comment
blurb
bekakins
Spinning Away | Jake Maddox
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#bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo

Excited for both picks this month 🤩

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! Enjoy!!! 6mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 6mo
11 likes2 comments
review
bekakins
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Mehso-so

Slow, and quite difficult in parts to follow, but some really interesting sections, this fictionalised account of an African dictator makes me feel as if I need to learn more about actual modern African history. #roll100

review
bekakins
Surfacing | Kathleen Jamie
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Pickpick

A really beautiful collection of essays for #doublespin this month - some super short, some extended, all thoughtful and interesting.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 6mo
10 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
The Amber Fury | Natalie Haynes
Pickpick

#roll100 I always enjoy a book that references Greek tragedy so this was good, but not great. I was expecting some sort of twist or reveal which didn‘t come but good nonetheless!

PuddleJumper 🌟🌟 6mo
8 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
So Lucky | Dawn OPorter
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Mehso-so

#bookspin for June - didn‘t really get all the hype with this one - it was ok ands quite funny in parts but felt a bit too try-hard for me..

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 6mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 6mo
9 likes2 comments
review
bekakins
Suitable Boy | Vikram Seth
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Pickpick

Thanks so much Lindy for hosting this #buddyread - as others have said, slowing down really enriched this read for me, I read Les Mis last year by doing a chapter a day (pleasingly, it‘s 365 chapters) but I enjoyed even more doing this in step with other readers and getting to share thoughts and opinions!

I was disappointed not to get a last minute twist in the main storyline but nevertheless really enjoyed this one!

Lindy Beka, it‘s been a true pleasure reading this book together with lovely people like you. 🤗 6mo
squirrelbrain I did think it fizzled out slightly at the end, but maybe leaving it open for the sequel, that never happened? 6mo
11 likes2 comments
review
bekakins
Story of O: A Novel | Pauline Reage
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Mehso-so

Final #roll100 read from the May list. I feel like this would have been really shocking when it first came out but there‘s so much erotica around these days I didn‘t really think it was anything special. Onto the next one!

review
bekakins
Matter | Iain M Banks
Pickpick

Finally finished my #doublespin pick for May! This was epic, I really really like the culture series, especially the ones which have a less developed civilisation like this one… almost done with the series!!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 6mo
6 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
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Pickpick

Love a retelling of Greek myth! I really enjoyed this interpretation of the Iliad (and a bit before/after) primarily from the POV of Briseis. I‘m not sure how I felt about a book positioned as giving women a voice having some chapters from Achilles POV though. A good #roll100 choice though!

review
bekakins
Lasher | Anne Rice
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Pickpick

Enjoyed this re-read for #bookspin but had forgotten how bloody long it is! Not quite as good as the witching hour, but good to get more of Lasher‘s history, and also hear more from Julian, whom I LOVE

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 7mo
10 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
The Satsuma Complex | Bob Mortimer
Pickpick

#roll100 a quirky crime story from comedy legend Bob Mortimer. I enjoyed the ramblings of Gary‘s brain as definitely reminded me of some of Bob‘s stories in ‘would I lie to you‘ not the greatest novel I‘ve ever read but by no means the worst!

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 8mo
12 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
When Women Were Dragons | Kelly Barnhill
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Pickpick

Another soft pick for my final match #roll100 read. Really reminded me of The Power in style(with the academic excerpts littered throughout the book). The whole metaphor was a bit heavy handed, I enjoyed the back third or so a lot more than the rest. And my #bookspin #doublespjn #bookspinbingo list for May!

PuddleJumper ❤️❤️ 8mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 8mo
17 likes2 comments
review
bekakins
Darkly Dreaming Dexter | Jeffry P. Lindsay
Mehso-so

#doublespin this was a re-read for me & I stand by my original conclusion that this is a rare case of the tv show being better than the book. But, it was ok, and I will continue with the series!

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 8mo
6 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
The Sisters Grimm | Menna van Praag
Pickpick

A soft pick for my next #roll100 read. I enjoyed the characterisation of the 4 very different sisters, ands this was really different to what I was expecting (in a good way!) Not sure if I will continue the series but this was worth a read.

review
bekakins
Ruin and Rising | Leigh Bardugo
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Pickpick

Trilogy complete for #bookspin ! I enjoyed this one, I liked the twists we got at the end, and I thought it was a pretty satisfying conclusion.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 8mo
12 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
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Mehso-so

#roll100 first book done. This was ultra violent and lots of twists and turns. It was ok but not amazing, a fair bit of exposition, and also some rampant sexism 🙄

PuddleJumper ❤️❤️ 9mo
11 likes1 comment
blurb
bekakins
April Showers | George Shannon
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#bookspin #doublespin for April! Only 4 new books on the list as have also been balancing 2 book club reads, and also doing #roll100 - getting to read lots of interesting stuff though! Although my TBR is still not getting any smaller 🙈

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 9mo
10 likes1 comment
review
bekakins
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Panpan

Maybe I‘m missing something but I thought this was dreadful. Rubbish pacing, completely ridiculous plot, and I didn‘t really develop any feelings for any of the characters. The one redeeming feature is its short chapters so quick to rattle through but could be at least 100 pages shorter.

review
bekakins
Black Sun | Rebecca Roanhorse
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Pickpick

Final #roll100 read for March and what a brilliant book this was. Excellent world building and character development, little to no exposition, just really really good fantasy. Keen to read the rest of the series now!

PuddleJumper It's such a great book! 9mo
12 likes1 comment