I almost bailed but by skipping a part of the middle and then parts of the end I was able to persevere. Dull, dreary, endless waffle. This book has nothing going for it, none of the characters are engaging or interesting and despite desperately trying to say something relevant it fails abysmally. Do yourself a favour and avoid this book.

Promising start but I felt like it lost momentum and really lacked originality. I can‘t see how this is on the Booker short list? I was glad it was short

#bookershortlist #audition

Woah, what a book. I know this one is going to stay with me. It‘s got a lot to say about masculinity and the negative impacts of this on men, the lack of tenderness. I highly recommend reading it, I‘m going to read it again. I devoured this in 2 sittings. Has anyone else read this? What were your thoughts?

#davidszalay #bookerlonglist

The theme of literal translation/interpretation is wonderfully interwoven with a myriad of ways that we misinterpret. The novel moves from tense to calm but with an underlying sense of fear and dislocation. There is also movement between dreams/nightmares and a dislocation from reality, that leaves you wondering what is actually happening. An impressive first novel and it‘s highly engaging/unputdownable.
#firstnovel #translation #bookerprize

As a die hard Murakami fan I had to fight my way through this book. It pains me to admit that it‘s extremely dull and it was hard work persisting. I have no idea how it was published because nothing about it is engaging. A huge disappointment #murakami

A great book, including love and grief, our family ties and memories of times past. Some profound insights mixed with sandwich fillings

#catherinenewman #menopause

I think everyone knows this a retelling of Huckelberry Finn, from the perspective of James/Jim who was a slave. Instantly engrossing and engaging. It‘s a hard story to handle but there‘s also much to appreciate. The intelligence, and nuance of James who was such a well depicted character, I felt like I knew him and I enjoyed his company very much. A must read for everyone

#james #percivaleverett #abolition

New stack after a rare trip to a book shop. I usually pick up books from the street library or get them as gifts. As a result I often find it impossible to choose. I started James, only about 10 pages in but it‘s immediately engaging #percivaleverett #mirandajuly #charlottewood

Bloody brilliant, magic, whimsical. He has a powerful and unique voice, will definitely reread because it has so much content and subtle beauty, existential questions and more. Anyone else read this? Would love to hear your thoughts #martyr #kavehakbar #brilliantbook

An unprepossessing book that I absolutely loved. All the storyline‘s and social commentary were outstanding. A must read #brilliantbook

5 stars, a razor sharp tale of First Nations American Indians. Filled with pathos and aching sadness. The language is like a target that shoots you into the story so that you feel it like you‘re there

Enjoyable but nowhere near as magic as her other books. Still some of the language and imagery was pretty and the whimsical otherworldly vibe of Japan shone through

On the TBR by poet laureate

It started well but it was unevenly paced and too long. Why are books not edited better these days?
The chapter devoted to describing Marion‘s descent into mental illness was way too much and too long again.
I feel that if it had been tidied up and condensed with a thorough editing it could have shone. But for me it just dragged on and by the end I was skipping pages. Glad it‘s over tbh.
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#franzen #crossroads #modernliterature

Has anyone read this? I‘m not a keen short story person but this sounds something special #nudibranch #shortstories #bookish #africanfiction

The characters are so well drawn and I‘m totally hooked. Has anyone else loved this? Feels like a real return to form. #franzen #crossroads #booklover

I‘ve looked at this book a few times. Today I worked at my daughter‘s school fair where books were $1 each and I got this stack! I have read a few of them. Crossing to Safety is brilliance. Shuggie is too. I eagerly anticipate Cloud Cuckoo Land

Reading this excellent book with my new specs
#specs #readingglasses #booknerd #otsuka

This one is getting great advance reviews

Off to an engaging start!
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#booknerd #pinkhair #librarynerd #librarylover

Saturday afternoon mini read #emilyitami #japanesefiction #booknerd

High expectations after Shuggie Bain. I felt Young Mungo was in many ways too similar to Shuggie in terms of plot. But it didn‘t share the incredible language and potent imagery. Young Mungo was too unrelentingly brutal for me and the hurtling head on train wreck of the characters lives was very hard for me to bear witness.

Frothing over my latest library haul. I think I‘ll start with Fault Lines once I finish Young Mungo #librarynerd

Can‘t wait for this one. Japanese fiction is sone of my favourite writing

Anyone for thoughts on this one?

Reading this highly anticipated (by me) book at my favourite local cafe #douglasstuart #winterreading

This book started with such bright promise. It devolved into endless and repetitive passages of prose that needed a harsh editing. The ending was cheesy and disappointing. Such a shame.

Defo want to read this one, winner of 2022 Miles Franklin award

Found this brand new copy in the street community library! Been wanting to read it too

Heard this author on a podcast and sounds like an outstanding read, she also won the Kirkus Prize

This one sounds excellent and the author has a love of brutalist architecture which I love

Anyone read this? I‘m keeping my eye out for it

Can‘t wait for this read

Bought it today, I can‘t wait but also girding my loins

I think I‘ve read this but saw it at Vinnies today for $4

One of my favourite books ever. Anyone else #gabrielgarciamarqez

Reread this recently and defo got a whole different experience. One of the genius modern day writers that‘s for sure. Anyone else with me on the reread? Or just the first read?

I‘m watching Don‘t Leave Me, a crime drama set in Venice (It‘s excellent) and it reminded me of this fascinating story about Venice and the rebuild of La Fenice. Thinking of a reread. Any other fans of this book or show? #venice #lafenice

Sounds promising! I‘m also mildly obsessed by The Beverly Hills hotel from a design and pattern perspective

Started with aplomb and drizzled out to being unmemorable and forgettable. Pretty disappointing and I felt bad for the author

Will Self‘s intelligence shines through in this wonderfully offbeat take on us ‘great apes”. I loved this book

Wonderfully nuanced and incisive observation of people, relationships and how much hair can matter. Pure brilliance

Wonderful characters and Mr Towle‘s writing is a box of chocolates, so many different flavours and textures, the history, the tragedy, along with complex and beautiful relationships

Excited anticipation for this most marvellous author‘s second novel. He is born to write

Totally gripping and with the most powerful imagery. A painful and heart breaking story of a family overwhelmed by inter generational trauma and dysfunctional coping mechanisms. But despite this I cared so much for Shuggie (rhymes with buggy) and his mum Agnes, whose characters are drawn so finely, with their humanity shining through despite their flaws (well despite Agnes‘ flaws). A one of kind story, I will never forget it.

Just starting this bad boy

Incredible! It took a bit to get through the first part because the format is unusual and I couldn‘t find my POV. Then I did and it‘s filled with so many aha moments, all the crazy funny things I think about and I thought it was just me being a weirdo. Has anyone else read this? How did you find it? Can you relate?

Another one to anticipate 😍

Added to the growing list tbr