It‘s been a long time since reading Never Let Me Go but there are strong reminders and I do like Ishiguro‘s sentimental sci-fi. Klara and the Sun hints at so many interesting issues (ethics, class, race, politics, environmentalism, etc) yet it completely shies away from exploring any of them with depth. It‘s an enjoyable story, I just felt there were too many plot holes and missed opportunities for it to be a great one. 5/10

I got a great sense of time and place reading Something to Answer For although I felt that the Suez crisis had little bearing on the core narrative. Townrow is on his way to Egypt following the death of his friend (?). As a very unreliable narrator, he slowly pieces together a past, present and future, the truth of which we are left to discern for ourselves. Engaging storytelling but ultimately tedious and felt a bit low stakes. 5/10

American Psycho has a certain level of cult status. I found it (intentionally) slow and repetitive in the first half and it perhaps could have made the same point in a shorter novel. It becomes a violent and seriously uncomfortable book, although I imagine more shocking on first publication than it is now in 2024. Nonetheless effective in capturing the ruthless, nihilistic persona of Patrick Bateman - time to watch the film! 6/10

I can understand why Crooked Plow has received such acclaim, the subject is important and painful. The story starts with a big impact as we follow the lives of Bibiana and Belonisia, two daughters of tenant farmers in Brazil. I felt some of the tension was lost through repetitive storytelling which slowed the pacing, but it was definitely worth reading. 6/10

A fun story about a man suddenly who finds himself a cheese salesman. Genuinely made me laugh! 7/10

The Vegetarian is very moving and intriguing. The narrative is told from 3 separate perspectives offering a complete exploration of trauma, emotional breakdown and mental strain. Is Yeong-hye mad or is her behaviour a logical conclusion of the society she‘s been subjected to? There are elements I didn‘t fully understand but it still left a powerful impression. 7/10

I was a bit disappointed with this novel, I expected a heartwarming tale of nerdy Oscar trying to find his place in life but it was mainly about sex, with some long tangential sections (and footnotes) thrown in. It reminded me of House of Spirits but its central characters are all crass, horny misogynists. Insight into the history of the Dominican Republic seems an important story to tell but it felt disjointed from the narrative. 5/10

Work on my yard will have to wait, I just couldn‘t put this down. Arresting and bleak, and much more emotionally intense than I had expected. The Road is, on the surface, a story of survival in the aftermath of an apocalyptic catastrophe, but it‘s also a story about love and the bonds between a father and son. 9/10

In order to avoid an awkward wedding invite, Arthur Less finds himself on a international adventure. A fun, light novel with some charming and humorous lines. This book doesn‘t take itself too seriously and I don‘t think we are supposed to, even if the Pulitzer implies something more literary or groundbreaking. 7/10

It‘s difficult to review this novel in light of the hype that has developed around Sally Rooney. As her first published novel, I think it reflects her experience - a campus/romance by and for young women. There is some great prose; the distinctive short, clipped sentences convey a real sense of personality. But I don‘t think it successfully tackles the issues raised, there‘s very little character development, and no tension or resolution. 5/10

I‘ve read many polarised reviews of this one and to some extent I agree with all of them. It‘s a big book - an epic. Where there was fast paced action and adventure I found it gripping, but I also found myself trudging through sections all too often to be able to call it a pick. I am intrigued to know the direction the rest of the trilogy takes us but might need a less gruesome palette cleanser first. 6/10

I don‘t know how many novels about grief I‘ve read, perhaps this is the only one. It‘s certainly the only one that captures it so clearly, gently and delicately. 9/10

Naked Lunch is very successful at inserting you into a paranoid, dysfunctional, disorientating and disturbing world of addiction whilst critiquing the society which enables it. However, it is a tough and brutal book to read in more ways than one. 6/10

Unknown language is a curious and engrossing sci-fi apocalypse/evolving dystopia informed by, and interspersed with, the texts of a 12th Century Abbess (now saint). Probably not for everyone but I thoroughly enjoyed it. 8/10

I wanted some light hearted escapism for my holiday and it‘s hard to imagine the destruction of life on earth could make for an absurdly fun tale - yet here we are! Let‘s hope the sea doesn‘t freeze over before the end of the journey…
8/10

A gripping short story that was hard to put down. Zweig uses a story within a story to frantically capture Dr.B‘s experience of a certain horror, using the chessboard to ramp up tension without distracting or slowing the pace. Well worth reading and interesting to continue the theme of obsession from the last book I read. 9/10

I can‘t say why, but had a lot of fun reading this. Y/N doesn‘t care for boy bands yet one day finds theirself deeply obsessed with K-Pop‘s latest young star. The novel shifts in lines from thought provoking and esoteric to satirical pretension then devolves into the absurd. It‘s difficult to define and somehow that‘s the point, right? Can you find the one you love without losing yourself, can you really know anyone and what is ‘self‘ anyway? 7/10

A curious premise and classic thriller. The tension ramps up effectively as Bruno‘s obsessive madness escalates but I found the pacing off in the second half. 6/10

I like the concept and shifting prose of Portrait, but ultimately didn‘t find the events interesting or the writing exhilarating enough to keep me engaged and it became a bit of a chore to finish. I enjoyed all the Dublin references to think of whilst I walk around the city. 6/10

An entertaining novella about the mysterious Miss Golightly. Fun and quick to read but unfortunately laced with overt racism and lazy homophobia. Perhaps time to finally watch the film. 6/10

Finally got round to reading Dorian Gray. I think it suffered by being such a well known story and even for all Wilde‘s humorous and often quoted quips, it couldn‘t meet my expectations. Still, its originality shines! 6/10

The compelling and intricate narrative gradually builds layer upon layer, giving different perspectives of overlapping events and gaining pace towards the climax at the end. I was impressed with how convincing each of the very different characters were and the use of second person was intriguing. But for all that, I‘m not sure if I enjoyed the actual story that much. 7/10

Aisling is a familiar old friend now and up to her usual tricks in the third instalment of this fun and endearing series (is it starting to get a bit repetitive?). Glad to see some necessary self reflection and mental health awareness this time but I thought poor Carol, business partner and bedrock of Ballygobrunch was a bit neglected. To be fair, Ais is overwhelmed with her bridesmaid duties, family, new man and a demanding client as it is. 6/10

Circe is a mesmerising novel, I loved hearing these familiar tales woven together and the exploration of her character throughout. At times it was a little disjointed but the writing was so engaging it was easy to overlook. 7/10

A short story told well, really well. I hadn‘t read anything by Hemingway before and was expecting something complex but quite the opposite - a succinct and impactful glimpse into a brief moment of one man‘s struggle. 8/10

Adventurous. I can‘t think of any other words to describe this amazing autobiographical story that transports you from tropical Togo to the endless night of Greenland. 7/10

What makes Persepolis a powerful book for me is not the incredible first-hand account but that Marji also had the ability to tell it in such an engaging way. It is a very personal history, I appreciate her honesty regarding her errors and failings and I‘m left wanting to learn more about Iran and those with a less fortunate and privileged experience than our narrator. 8/10

On the whole Sapiens is a fascinating and thought provoking perspective on our history as a species. I felt the writing had a condescending tone which continued even when the author made some wild assertions, leaving me skeptical as to how factual and well sourced the book actually is. Nonetheless it presents an interesting idea of our past in an enjoyable read. 6/10

Insightful account of 70s London that critiques class and racism through the lens of Karim as he finds his way through young adulthood. I caught a glimpse of the tv show as a kid and from those vague memories I thought I might enjoy the novel but I found the characters quite exasperating and it was a struggle in the end. 5/10

Dark and comedic, and at times disturbing. I loved how Welsh has managed to develop such complex characters and humanise them, whilst also embedding political and societal issues in this tapestry of vignettes. The code-switching and use of Scots added another layer of richness as well. Might not be for everyone but it‘s a brilliant novel. 8/10

How do you capture the entire gamut of social media in a novel that is only 200 pages long? In fact, try doing it in only half the novel. This was dizzy, funny, terrifying, and ultimately heart wrenching. Im still struggling to accept that some of the most beautiful prose I‘ve read is in a novel which is 30% cringy sex jokes.

Merteuil and Valmont weave increasingly elaborate schemes and affairs as they each compete for the others approval. The letters reveal so much personality but you never know if you can trust the authors‘ intentions as the stakes and consequences become increasingly severe. 8/10

An intriguing detective mystery and sets the tone for the next book on my reading list…
7/10

Another dark and evocative tale, it‘s clear why Poe is so renowned as a master of gothic fiction. I love how he can conjure up an incredibly precise setting in so few pages although I didn‘t enjoy this plot of this one as much as the others. 6/10

I read a few of Poe‘s short stories for Halloween and this was definitely my favourite. Poe manages to develop a lot of tension in a few short pages and a sense of mystery and foreboding. 8/10

A disorientating novel within a novel within a novel. As witty as it is confusing; flitting from ancient legend to modern myth as the narrator and characters soar across Dublin and Ireland. I expect there‘s much more depth to be revealed on second reading. 6/10

Funny, inventive and totally illogical. Perfect escapism on a rainy Sunday. 7/10

A small group of well-to-do gather to spend a summer at Crome. Each brief chapter could almost be read as its own short story, (one of which seems to have evolved into A Brave New World). I didn‘t find it particularly exciting or eventful but there were humorous moments as Huxley mocks and humiliates his cast of self-centred socialites. 5/10

Piranesi lives in an enigmatic and intriguing house, gradually revealed to us in the form of his journal entries. I wasn‘t sure at first but I quickly fell for his naive charm and the incredible world he inhabits, and in the end I didn‘t want to leave. 8/10

Such an impressive novel. Following generations of the Del Valle/Trueba family Allende weaves a tapestry of shifting politics, intergenerational trauma, and pivotal events in Chilean history. Humorous and hopeful, yet fraught with horror and tension. 8/10

A significant satirical commentary on society and the politics of 17th-19th century Ireland and Britain. It provides a glimpse into the prevailing behaviours and beliefs of the upper classes in respect of the poor. It should provoke further investigation and study of Irish history pre-independence and reflection on the social contract and purpose of government.

A very haunting, almost gothic account. The atmosphere depicted is so encompassing I really felt pulled into the author‘s despair. As a memoir, there is a struggle to reconcile with the vulnerability; a reluctance to impose thoughts on other characters and need to maintain their privacy. Occasionally the deflection into poetry seems pretentious or narcissistic, and lacks definitive conclusion. Nonetheless a beautiful and emotional book. 7/10

Another fun and lighthearted trip to enjoy the last of the summer. 6/10

Everyone knows Santiago is going to be murdered, yet nobody manages to prevent it from happening. An intriguing premise for a crime novel, and told from the perspective of a witness turned journalist. Márquez captured the by-stander effect decades before smartphones. 8/10

In a society where everyone is made to forget, how do we remember who we are? I loved the stillness and quiet suspense that hangs over this novel; and the secondary tale that is woven throughout adds an interesting parallel. 6/10

I found Close to Home a very familiar account of post-recession Belfast, the despondency and anger that followed the promise of growing up in the early millennium. The writing feels authentic and it‘s a quick one but I‘m curious how engaging it might be for readers from elsewhere? 6/10

I had a lot of fun with the pace, energy, chaos and surreal humour in The Master and Margarita. I felt I missed some of the allegory and references through my lack of knowledge of Bulgakov and his experience in the Soviet Union, but this depth also makes reading about the novel very rewarding. 7/10

A story of unlikely companions, Betty, her son, Solo, and Mr. Chetan, spanning over a decade as they each reconcile with their past and its impact on their ongoing relationships. Not my kind of novel at all, but I did appreciate the rich cultural insight into life in Trinidad. 4/10

I bought this edition for Turn of the Screw, a classic ghost story. A mysterious short novel with lots of moments to unpick in order to understand what may be going on. James‘ Victorian phrasing and extremely drawn out sequences of commas can be very suspenseful but it gets exhausting at points. The frame story adds authenticity whilst questioning the reliability of the narrator. Great book for a discussion group. 7/10 (Still to read Daisy Miller)

A classic Spanish novel written in the 16th century by an unknown author. Lazarillo recounts his resourcefulness in a struggle to escape poverty against the odds. Funny and sympathetic, Lazaro reveals the hypocrisy and vanity of those in positions of power at the time. 8/10