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squirrelbrain

squirrelbrain

Joined June 2017

Speed-reader who's trying to slow down...
review
squirrelbrain
How to Sleep at Night | Elizabeth Harris
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Pickpick

#netgalley #arc 16th Jan in the UK

Ethan & Gabe are married with a young daughter. Gabe is a Democrat and Ethan suddenly announces he‘s going to run for Congress as a Republican. Ethan‘s sister Kate is a political reporter who can‘t report on the campaign due to her brother running, and whose messy fling Nicole from 20 years ago (now married to a man) reappears.

I was really engrossed by this, and it became very tense as the vote grew ⬇️

squirrelbrain …nearer and everyone‘s lives started to unravel. My only quibble is that, in the story, there is no Trump, or Trumpish character, which just doesn‘t work in this day and age and made it slightly unrealistic. But maybe someone who is more au fait with US politics than I am would have a better view on this. 4d
JenReadsAlot This sounds good! 4d
TrishB Definitely sounds good 👍🏻 4d
See All 6 Comments
Deblovestoread Great review! Stacked. Maybe I can pretend we live in that world rather than the one we have 😂 4d
BarbaraBB Sounds good. Stacking! 4d
Suet624 I‘ll keep my eyes open for it! 3h
73 likes4 stack adds6 comments
review
squirrelbrain
How We Named the Stars | Andr�s N. Ordorica
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Pickpick

One of my favourites (so far!) from the #ToB longlist. Daniel is a scholarship student at an elite East Coast university. His roommate, Sam, is the opposite - a popular, good-looking guy whose father also attended the college. Against first impressions the two become best friends and then something more, but can their relationship go the distance?

Be warned - it‘s a sad one. 😢

sarahbarnes Good to know you liked this one! 4d
BarbaraBB A favorite among all those good ones? That means I must stack! (edited) 4d
squirrelbrain It would definitely make my shortlist @BarbaraBB 4d
BarbaraBB Okay. You sold it. And I bought it. 3d
80 likes5 stack adds5 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Help Wanted | Adelle Waldman
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Pickpick

I didn‘t read the blurb properly on this #ToB longlister and was expecting a wacky, unrealistic, maybe horror-based, attempt by a logistics team at Town Square (aka Walmart)to get their disliked manager promoted away from them.

Instead, the author plays it ‘straight‘, which is a good thing - I really felt I got to know and care for the characters and you really see the impact of corporate decisions on the economically disadvantaged.

sarahbarnes The blurb from Elif Batuman makes me want to read this one! 4d
Deblovestoread Your reviews are helping take the guess work out of the long list 🥰 4d
BarbaraBB I just got a copy of this one too! 4d
squirrelbrain I think you‘ll both really like it! @sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB 4d
squirrelbrain Oh, the pressure! 🤪 @Deblovestoread (edited) 4d
74 likes6 stack adds5 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Cuckoo | Gretchen Felker-Martin
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Pickpick

Another one from the #ToBlonglist. I didn‘t enjoy Manhunt at all, but thought I‘d give this a go anyway and it was much better.

I actually don‘t mind the body horror - it doesn‘t gross me out at all but this was still rather OTT and overwrought for me. It‘s just one thing after another and all a bit much. Bury Your Gays from the longlist did a similar thing but in a subtler way, but maybe that‘s the whole point of this book?!

sarahbarnes Oof. I may skip this one. I like dark fiction but I am a little squeamish about body horror. 😬 1w
BarbaraBB I‘m with @sarahbarnes Glad you read this one for the team Helen 😉 I will read Bury Your Gays though, thanks to your review of that one. 1w
63 likes2 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Belle Greene | Alexandra Lapierre
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this and it didn‘t matter that I‘d already read The Personal Librarian previously - yes, I knew the general outline but the books are quite different stylistically, and complement each other.

This one felt a little bit more NF (even though the author doesn‘t claim that it is) and I thought Belle herself came across a bit more mercenary and unlikeable in this version.

Thanks @jlhammar for being a great host! #europacollective

Tamra Yes, I was left with the impression I might not like Belle personally. 1w
tpixie @squirrelbrain 😝 yes, our reviews are very similar! 1w
Hooked_on_books Oh cool! Now I look forward to it even more. 😊 1w
GatheringBooks Haven‘t read the other book yet but very interesting that you found her to be mercenary; it didn‘t strike me that way. I found her to be strategic (cunning, even). I admired how she followed her own path with aplomb knowing how the elite society was like in the early 1900s. She was fierce, formidable, possibly hypnotic in her charisma.She struck me as unbelievably vibrant with the edgy sense that everything can be taken away from her in an instant 1d
squirrelbrain @GatheringBooks - I can completely see that she was hypnotic, to nearly everyone she met. I would say calculating as well, which is a very similar to your comment of cunning. 🤔 I definitely admired her, although I would have found her rather scary in real life. 1d
66 likes5 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Clean | Alia Trabucco Zer�n
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating listen as we hear a story from Estela, a maid to a middle-class family, as we know straight away a child has died and that Estela is telling her story from a locked room.

I thought some of the impact was lost at the end, with the introduction of the wider political unrest in Chile, but I wish I knew more about this background and its relationship to the socio-economic structures of the country before listening,

Cathythoughts Great review. I thought it was a strange upsetting book. I read on , but I felt pretty freaked out by it. I didn‘t really like it. But maybe there‘s more to it than I understood. 1w
sarahbarnes I have this one on my list but haven‘t felt compelled to get to it yet. Great review. 1w
Caroline2 Argh I‘ve had the hardback of this on my shelf for agesss but wished I‘d known it was about a child dying. 🤦‍♀️ (I hate anything about kids dying or parental grief). (edited) 4d
See All 7 Comments
squirrelbrain It‘s not *really* about the child @Caroline2 but there is a part that you‘d really struggle with. (And also it‘s not just a child that dies) 4d
Caroline2 😟 Can I have a spoiler please? Just wondering whether I should read it or give it away? (edited) 3d
squirrelbrain @Caroline2 - there‘s a dog as well. 😢 Which, for me, was sadder as it‘s ‘on the page‘ so to speak. I think it sounds to me like you should give it away. 3d
Caroline2 @squirrelbrain Noooo!! Not a poor doggy! Ok, yep, thanks for the heads up, I‘m shipping it off outta here! 😉 👍 2d
62 likes7 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
All Fours | Miranda July
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https://amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/24/this-book-is-my-bible-the-w...

Interesting read! A couple of comments here that made me 🤔 - eg ‘the author is older and cooler than me so that makes non-monogamy more legitimate.‘🤷‍♀️

What do you all think?!

CatMS I'm on the fence about reading this book, when I read books that have gotten rave reviews I am less than thrilled. May have to wait till the hype dies down. What is everyone thinking about this book now? 1w
Ruthiella So interesting the way it has struck a chord with so many readers. I think on the whole, the reaction underscores how women are often asked to sublimate their needs in the Western traditional family setup. 1w
squirrelbrain @CatMS - we buddy-read this on Litsy in the summer and it was very polarising - most Littens either loved it or hated it. I‘d give it a go, just don‘t expect it to be fabulous and you won‘t be disappointed - maybe even pleasantly surprised! 1w
See All 17 Comments
squirrelbrain @Ruthiella - the woman who said that her husband expected his needs to be put first definitely needed to read this book! 1w
TheBookHippie I still stand by my loathing of this book 🤣🤣🤣😅😬🫠😝 1w
Flaneurette I appreciated this book for the inclusion of menopause and women‘s roles more than I enjoyed it- I don‘t really understand ppl who center their lives w sex- just not my thing. Thought Sandwich was a much better book on similar themes 1w
squirrelbrain @Flaneurette - I completely agree about Sandwich and, in fact, thought of it to recommend to @CatMS just before you posted! 1w
Cathythoughts I‘m shying away from this book. Even though I have no idea what it‘s really about. Not drawn to it though. 1w
Tamra I‘m with @Cathythoughts. I am though intrigued by Sandwich. @Flaneurette 1w
sarahbarnes I‘ll admit that I‘m a shameless fan of Miranda July - her writing and her films. She also puts a lot of really interesting artistic content on social media. I loved this book. 1w
BarbaraBB I loved this too and wasn‘t a fan of Sandwich. It didn‘t change my personal ideas on monogamy though, I didn‘t relate to the narrator personally but I loved what July did and caused among people all over the world! 1w
CarolynM I read this article the other day. I guess I can understand that menopause really messes with some women, and I should be grateful I wasn‘t one of them, but I just couldn‘t stand how utterly narcissistic she was. @Maggie4483 described July as a “self indulgent exhibitionist” in her review and I think that description is perfect for the MC of the book. 1w
Hooked_on_books I hated this book so much that I really don‘t want to read about women who blew up their lives because of it. Some lives need to be blown up, so if that was the case for them, that‘s great. If not, I‘d rather not know. 1w
squirrelbrain @CarolynM @Hooked_on_books - I agree with you Carolyn with how narcissistic she was, which is what worries me that women have used this book as an excuse to/ reason to blow up their lives. We don‘t all have her financial (and emotional) capability to not give a shit. Yes, if you need to change something, you need to do it, but not based on this self-obsessed version of real life. 1w
tpixie @squirrelbrain this conversation thread has me intrigued! 4d
squirrelbrain I thought this must have been where you saw Sandwich @tpixie but clearly not. 🤓 All Fours is much more OTT than Sandwich and people either loved it or hated it - I‘ll be interested to hear your thoughts if / when you get to it. 4d
tpixie @squirrelbrain I‘ll keep you posted if I get to it! 4d
50 likes17 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Long Island Compromise: A Novel | Taffy Brodesser-Akner
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Pickpick

Another #ToBlonglist book ticked off, although I‘ve been meaning to read this for some time.

If you like dysfunctional family stories where all of the characters are pretty awful, then this one‘s for you! Like many ‘family sagas‘, it worked well for me on audio as I think it may have been a touch too long / wordy in print and I would have been tempted to start skim-reading.

Whilst I liked Fleishman as well, this was better.

sarahbarnes I‘m on the hold list for this one! Glad to see you liked it. 2w
Hooked_on_books This is one I‘m skipping. I liked but didn‘t love her first book though I could never really put my finger on why I liked it. And this one just didn‘t interest me, so I‘m ok passing it up. Glad it worked for you! 1w
61 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
Untitled | Untitled
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Thank you to my lovely friends Barbara and Meg for these wonderful Christmas gifts! Henry was fascinated as you can see - but luckily he was waiting for the wrapping paper, not the books.

Meg - 2 books I hadn‘t heard of before but both sound wonderful!

Barbara - I‘m so excited to read these 2 from the #ToBlonglist and I‘m delighted you sent me Book Censor as I can‘t get it here. Thanks for the chocs also - Jolabokaflod time now!

JamieArc I love that gorgeous shiny black coat! 2w
AmyG Happy Birthday 🎂 2w
BarbaraBB Happy holidays Helen & Henry 😀 2w
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BarbaraBB And J of course but he‘s not in the photo! 2w
sarahbarnes Fun stack and adorable doggo! Happy holidays!! 🩵🎄 2w
Megabooks Yay!!! Merry Christmas to you, J, and Henry!! 💜🎄 2w
Hooked_on_books Book Censor‘s is my favorite fiction book of the year. I thought it was marvelous. And thank you for including me in the donation to books for kids! What a lovely thing to do! Merry Christmas Helen! 2w
squirrelbrain Merry Christmas Holly @Hooked_on_books - when you get there! 🤪 It‘s 7.45 am here on Christmas morning but you‘ll still have a little way to go yet! 2w
squirrelbrain Merry Christmas to both of you! 😘 @BarbaraBB @Megabooks 2w
BkClubCare Lovely! Merry Christmas 2w
61 likes10 comments
review
squirrelbrain
The Coin: A Novel | Yasmin Zaher
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Mehso-so

I‘m not really sure I understood this at all. 🤷‍♀️ A wealthy young Palestinian woman arrives in NYC to teach, and slowly starts to unravel, teaching in a very unconventional manner and getting involved in a Birkin bag scam.

She also has a cleaning obsession, and hang-ups with her body, and the final 25% gets *really* weird.

I‘m sure there metaphors / allegories aplenty, but I couldn‘t grasp any of them to make much sense of it.

#ToBlonglist

julieclair Well, this one sounds interesting, to say the least! Great review. 2w
Ruthiella Often I am drawn to these kinds of narratives in that they can demonstrate the impossible standards that can be placed on women… but it‘s sounds like maybe this one didn‘t have that aim or arc. 2w
TrishB I love the way you still finished and gave it a so-so. Great review. 2w
See All 9 Comments
squirrelbrain @julieclair - other reviewers have compared the book to Ossfegh and Broder, if you like those authors. I haven‘t read either author (yet!), so couldn‘t comment. 2w
squirrelbrain I think it did have that arc in there, but muddled up with others - too many messages I think. @Ruthiella 2w
squirrelbrain You know me @TrishB - still learning how to bail! And it‘s ON A LIST (ToB) so even more reason to finish and tick a box. 🤪 2w
Oryx Another one I was considering but will give a miss..I have to say, you are providing a very useful service here 💜😂 2w
squirrelbrain I‘m not usually the one *stopping* people from reading books - usually the opposite! 🤪 @Oryx 2w
Oryx @squirrelbrain on balance, I've definitely read more on your recommendation than the other way. 2w
63 likes1 stack add9 comments
review
squirrelbrain
And He Shall Appear | Kate van der Borgh
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Pickpick

I was drawn to this on #netgalley as it was blurbed to be a campus, dark academia novel. Perhaps I should have read that blurb better, as it‘s also about magic, which I‘m not a fan of.

It‘s the same-old story of a student from a poor background trying to fit in with the rich kids at Cambridge.

It would have been a so-so but the ending lifted it to a light pick.

Published 16th Jan in the UK.

BarbaraBB Same old story. That doesn‘t sound too encouraging. I think I‘ll skip it 😊 2w
Oryx I was tempted by this one, but I'll give it a miss I think. 2w
65 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
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#top24of24

Here are my favourites of this year - probably quite similar to a lot of other Littens‘ lists! 🤪 There‘s a fair few from prize lists and, of course, many recommended (or even gifted) by Litsy friends.

I think the top 17/18 were easy but there were a few vying for those last few spots. Those that just missed out included Lula Dean, The Wedding People, Wolf at the Table, The Collected Regrets of Clover and Notes on an Execution.

kspenmoll So many for me to read! Thanks! 2w
ChaoticMissAdventures Greta and Margo are real stand outs this year! I loved them both. I am reading Martyr! now and cannot make myself make a best of list yet. What if I read my favorite book ever this week? 😂 2w
AmyG Love your list! It showed me all the books I still need to read! 🤣😳 2w
See All 17 Comments
AmyG @ChaoticMissAdventures Ha! That is SO true. Last year I read North Woods at the very end of the year and waited until 1/1 to finish it. It was one of may most favorite books of 2024 but I didn‘t want to screw up my 2023 picks. 🤣 2w
ChaoticMissAdventures @AmyG this is so relatable!! 2w
squirrelbrain I was a bit worried about that @ChaoticMissAdventures but, although I‘m enjoying the 4 😳 books I‘m reading now, none of them are ‘best of‘ material. However, I‘ll bear your trick in mind @AmyG 🤪 2w
TrishB We have 6 the same currently! Off to look at some and some where on my list last year 😁 2w
BarbaraBB Such an incredible list! I didn‘t realize we had SUCH a similar taste. I must read the ones I haven‘t yet! 💝 2w
squirrelbrain 6 the same isn‘t bad going! @TrishB 2w
squirrelbrain I think we have very similar taste @BarbaraBB - and we learn off each other about the best books all the time! 2w
TrishB I‘ve put another 5 on my to buy list! I have a big list for after Christmas 😁 always good to have one ready. 2w
Caroline2 A great looking list. Plenty on here for my tbr list. 👍 2w
Centique Wonderful list! And im so glad to see someone else loving Greta and Valdin. 💕 2w
youneverarrived Fab list 🤍 a few of these will be on my list too. And quite a few are on the tbr. 2w
Megabooks Fantastic list!! 1w
sarahbarnes This is such a good list! Many similarities for sure. And Stone Yard Devotional and The Echoes are high on my TBR! 1w
Suet624 Still trying to find The Echoes. A number of the books on your list would be on my list too if I ever pulled it together to make a list. 3h
65 likes17 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Liars: A Novel | Sarah Manguso
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Pickpick

Whew, this is one ANGRY 😡 book!

It chronicles the end of an abusive marriage (not physical, verbal) from the POV of Jane, a wife and mother. It‘s told in a stream of consciousness style and I found myself breathless with fury while reading it (why did she even get together with him in the first place?!) but I couldn‘t put it down.

It‘s supposedly semi-autobiographical and I hope the ex-husband has read it.

This is a play-in book for #ToB.

BarbaraBB Another one I have on my shelves waiting patiently 😉 3w
CarolynM Sounds interesting! 3w
Cathythoughts Stacking 👍🏻 3w
74 likes4 stack adds3 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
Untitled | Untitled
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Look what those lovely folks at #panmacmillan #picador sent me for Christmas - a veritable feast of #netgalley digital ARCs all coming out next year between February and August.

I already had Fair Play on NG, although not read it yet, and I‘ve seen Thirst Trap on at least one ‘2025 books‘ list, but the others are all new to me.

I also recently got Tilt and Audition on NG too, from a 2025 list posted by a Litten (I can‘t recall who!).

AmyG OOOOOOO look forward to your reviews! 3w
TrishB Fabulous! Excited for a new Sarah Moss! 3w
Deblovestoread Looks like fantastic reading ahead. 3w
See All 9 Comments
Cathythoughts Exciting ❤️ 3w
Suet624 Yowzer!!! So fun! 3w
BarbaraBB Great new releases! 3w
TheKidUpstairs What a great surprise! Other than the Donoghue, I've only heard of The Boy from the Sea, which sounds excellent. I'll have to look up these others! Happy Reading! 3w
youneverarrived Ohh a new Sarah Moss 🤍 thirst trap and Days of Light covers would draw me in - intrigued to see what they‘re about. 3w
sarahbarnes A new Sarah Moss!!! 1w
58 likes9 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Wolf at the Table | Adam Rapp
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Pickpick

Another book from the #toblonglist that I like better than many / most that made the short-list. 🤷‍♀️

It follows 2 out of a family of 5 siblings from childhood to adulthood, and one of their children too. It was a fascinating look at the nature / nurture question and how things we do or things that happen to us as children can reverberate throughout our lives.

It‘s long, but worked well for me on audio.

TheBookHippie I read this as an ARC for the publisher and I agree!!! 3w
Bookwormjillk I can't wait to read this. The cover looks so menacing somehow. I am intrigued. 3w
TrishB Sounds good 👍🏻 3w
See All 14 Comments
TrishB This is only Qb.99 on kindle- but (d3 hardback. I may have brought it. 3w
CarolynM This one sounds very interesting! It‘s expensive here even as a kindle book, but I‘ll keep a look out. 3w
squirrelbrain Glad you agree with me! @TheBookHippie - it doesn‘t get any good reviews on here apart from me and you! 3w
squirrelbrain Of course you did! 🤣 @TrishB I think you‘ll really like it! 3w
squirrelbrain @Bookwormjillk - it‘s a very appropriate cover! 🤔 3w
squirrelbrain @CarolynM - that‘s a shame - hopefully it will come down in price sometime soon. 3w
TheBookHippie It freaked me out but it is very well done and written! 3w
TheBookHippie @TrishB I think you‘ll like it! 3w
TrishB @TheBookHippie I‘ll look forward to giving it a go! 3w
youneverarrived Stacking. Always interested in books with that sort of theme. 3w
66 likes3 stack adds14 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Lazarus Man: A Novel | Richard Price
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Pickpick

It took me a while to get into this, from the #ToBlonglist. I hadn‘t read the blurb and assumed that the book was about the titular Lazarus Man, pulled out of the rubble of a collapsed NYC building after several days.

It turns out it‘s also about 3 other characters indirectly involved in the incident as well and, once I realised this, the narrative became less disjointed and I started to enjoy it.

It wouldn‘t make my shortlist though.

BarbaraBB Great review. 3w
60 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
squirrelbrain
Great Expectations | Vinson Cunningham
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Pickpick

This has had mixed reviews but I liked it. It follows a young Black man as he works on the political campaign of a Black nominee.

I did have a couple of issues though - it was too obviously based on Obama‘s campaign which detracted from the MC‘s own story. Also, there was too much talk about religion and I lost interest / lost my way in those parts.

I‘m still glad I read it though.

#ToBlonglist

BarbaraBB Glad you liked it. It‘s still not high on my priority list… 3w
youneverarrived Thank you for the Christmas card Helen ♥️ 3w
Hooked_on_books I just started this one today. I usually prefer UK to US covers, but definitely not for this one! The UK cover is awful. 3w
squirrelbrain You‘re welcome Katie! @youneverarrived Have a lovely Christmas! 🎄 3w
squirrelbrain It‘s not very attractive at all, is it?! @Hooked_on_books 3w
56 likes5 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Poor Deer: A Novel | Claire Oshetsky
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Pickpick

I loved this, and it‘s another perfect example of why I love the #ToBlonglist so much.

Yes, it‘s a bit weird, but in a good way. And it‘s so beautifully but sparsely written - about motherhood, grief, regret, love, loss and forgiveness.

It has a bit of a feel of Catherine Chidgey‘s ‘Pet‘ but with added magical realism, so if you liked that - read this!

And I‘m not a fan of magical realism at all but it totally works here.

BkClubCare And her first book is even weirder! 🦉 4w
TrishB Interesting! I have her first book on the tbr 😁 4w
Cathythoughts A bit of a feel of ‘Pet‘ …. Stacked ! 4w
See All 14 Comments
Caroline2 Interesting 🧐 esp with that cover ❤️ 4w
squirrelbrain Yes, I‘d really like to read Chouette now! @BkClubCare @TrishB 4w
squirrelbrain I think you‘ll like it too @Cathythoughts 4w
squirrelbrain It‘s a great cover, I think! @Caroline2 4w
BarbaraBB Great review. I will read it soon. The comparison to Pet is very tempting! 4w
squirrelbrain I hope you don‘t think I‘m talking rubbish with that comparison @BarbaraBB when you read it. It was the neglectful mother side of things, and the unreliability of a child‘s recollection….. 4w
BarbaraBB You‘re mostly spot-on with such comparisons 🤍 4w
sarahbarnes Great review, I‘m very excited for this one! It‘s in my library book stack. 4w
Suet624 I perked up with the Pet reference too. Stacked! 3w
Hooked_on_books I started this one last night. The writing is so engaging! I wasn‘t sure I‘d like it, but so far so good. 2w
squirrelbrain Yes, I wasn‘t sure if it would be my ‘thing‘ but ended up really liking it. @Hooked_on_books 2w
68 likes5 stack adds14 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Bury Your Gays | Chuck Tingle
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Pickpick

Now *this* is why I love #ToB so much!

This is a book / author I‘d never heard of and wouldn‘t have thought of reading. I wasn‘t sure at the start - the dialogue felt stilted and the storyline a bit simplistic but I soon became completely engrossed.

A Hollywood screenwriter refuses to kills off his gay characters, and weird s*** starts to happen. There‘s body horror / psychological horror but also a warm heart to the story.

BarbaraBB Sounds like a must read! Stacking of course! 1mo
Caroline2 Ohhhh this does sound good! Stacked. 👍 1mo
BkClubCare OoooOooooo! I see Poor Deer 🦌 on the stack 🤩 4w
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squirrelbrain Just finished that one @BkClubCare - I‘ll be posting a review later….. 4w
Cathythoughts Stacking 4w
gradcat Hello Helen! I just wanted to pop in & say Merry Christmas to you. Hope you‘re okay and yours (especially the doggie) are well. I‘m going to try to be on more often now. I‘ve had a big move and other issues—not a good reason for “ghosting” everyone at Litsy—but I offer it up only as a lame explanation. 4w
squirrelbrain Hi Minette @gradcat - how lovely to hear from you! We‘re all fine here. Hope you‘re doing OK and looking forward to seeing you on Litsy more! 🥰 4w
gradcat Thank you, pal! 😘 4w
Oryx This was a fun read. I read it while in LA, which made it all the better. I've ordered one of his other books, Camp Damascus. 3w
squirrelbrain Yes, I heard that Camp Damascus is just as good @Oryx 3w
57 likes5 stack adds10 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
Memory Piece | Lisa Ko
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#ToB books picked up from the library yesterday. Two are on the shortlist - I‘m not overly enthused about the Link as I bailed on the only other one of hers that I tried ( and it‘s a chunkster) but it‘s a library book so 🤷‍♀️.

The tagged didn‘t make it onto the shortlist but it was waving at me 👋 from the new books shelf and I do like the sound of it, so couldn‘t really say no.

youneverarrived The tagged sounds really good. Look forward to your review 1mo
sarahbarnes I‘m reading the Link right now and liking it, but I did enjoy the short story collections of hers I‘ve read. A fun stack! 😃 1mo
squirrelbrain That‘s good to know, thank you @sarahbarnes 1mo
53 likes3 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I had to buy this when I saw it a few months ago - a book about languages, and also about NYC?! ❤️

This is a fascinating account of 6 speakers of little-known, almost extinct, languages who all live and work in NYC, all well as a history of immigration to that city and diversity within it. It looks at grammar and language structure, alongside cultural histories.

Of course, I had to pair the book with my Strand bookmark!

LeahBergen That sounds super interesting! 1mo
LeeRHarry I picked this up the other day after hearing about it from you Helen - good to hear that you enjoyed it! - I love books about languages too. 1mo
squirrelbrain @leahbergen @LeeRHarry - it was fascinating! 1mo
58 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Small Rain: A Novel | Garth Greenwell
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Pickpick

I loved this. The MC, a poet, ends up in the ICU after a sudden, devastating, medical episode.

The medical bits were a tough read, and quite upsetting at times but still weirdly beautiful. The rest of the book was also full of beauty, as the MC reflected on music, art, love, poetry and dogs. ❤️

I highly recommend this, from the #toblonglist - it should have made the shortlist.

BarbaraBB Thanks to you I placed another order 🤦🏻‍♀️🩷 1mo
Hooked_on_books I loved this, too, and the feeling it gave me stuck with me. Greenwell is so good. 1mo
squirrelbrain I haven‘t read any other Greenwell @Hooked_on_books - any you would recommend? 1mo
Hooked_on_books I liked his debut, What Belongs to You. Though I think Small Rain is probably his best. 1mo
squirrelbrain Thanks Holly @Hooked_on_books - I‘ll put it on the (never-ending) TBR list! 1mo
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squirrelbrain
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Mehso-so

Well, this was weird…. A group of translators gather together to translate Irena Rey‘s latest work. They only refer to each other by their languages - this book is written by Spanish but translated by English and I struggled to follow who was narrating. The MC, whoever she was, was also incredibly immature and whingey, or was that as a result of English not liking Spanish?! And the ending? 🤯🤨

I‘m kind of glad I read it though.

#tobshortlist

Jas16 I think I will be skipping this one. 1mo
BarbaraBB I felt the same. I gave it a pan though, not sure why. 1mo
Hooked_on_books I didn‘t know what to think of this one. It irritated and entertained me equally. I do like its uniqueness. 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes @Hooked_on_books - it was irritatingly compelling. (Or maybe compellingly irritating!) 1mo
BkClubCare #whingey ! 😂 There was just so much going on. And I barely kept up. 4w
61 likes5 comments
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I loved this collection of short stories from the #ToBlonglist.

I‘m not usually a fan of the genre but I appreciated that these were all beautifully written with proper endings. They‘re also linked to each other in some way, even by just a small object, which was lovely.

The whole book felt like a lively warm bath (even though 1 or 2 of the stories were sad / upsetting)

Definitely on my shortlist.

Tamra I loved it as well! 💙 Beautiful 1mo
TheBookHippie I love short stories. This was so very good. 1mo
squirrelbrain I didn‘t know you‘d read it already! @TheBookHippie - I remembered it as being the *one* book you were interested in from the #ToB list. 1mo
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TheBookHippie @squirrelbrain yesterday 😂😂😂😂 1mo
TheBookHippie @squirrelbrain my friend had a copy and dropped it off with muffins! 1mo
BarbaraBB Your shortlist? Another one I must get to then. So many good books this year! 1mo
squirrelbrain What a lovely thought! @TheBookHippie - glad you enjoyed the book (and the muffins!) 1mo
TheBookHippie @BarbaraBB I liked it too if that helps push you 😅😂 1mo
Suet624 @BarbaraBB I loved this one. Read it a while back. And short stories aren‘t really my thing. Its the book I‘m giving to friends for Christmas. 1mo
BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie It does, and your recommendation too @Suet624 , in fact I already ordered a copy 🤦🏻‍♀️ (edited) 1mo
TheBookHippie @BarbaraBB 😂😂😂😅♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️😘 1mo
AnneCecilie This makes me want to read it even more 1mo
squirrelbrain We‘re all so naughty aren‘t we, encouraging each other to buy books?! @BarbaraBB 1mo
BarbaraBB It‘s so contagious 😀 1mo
Hooked_on_books Oh nice! I have the ebook of this from the library and hope to get to it next week. I could stare at the cover all day. 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes, it‘s a gorgeous cover isn‘t it?! @Hooked_on_books 1mo
Megabooks I‘m so excited about this one. Great review!! 1mo
sarahbarnes Just started this and I love it. 2w
squirrelbrain I loved it right from the start @sarahbarnes and it stays wonderful all the way through. 2w
sarahbarnes Yay!! 😃 2w
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squirrelbrain
Someone Like Us | Dinaw Mengestu
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Pickpick

Beautiful writing in this book from the #TobLonglist but a very confusing timeline. It was very difficult to work out if you were in the past, present or future, and who was alive and who wasn‘t.

I guess that‘s the whole point and I gave up trying to figure it out and just went with it, but it still made for a rather confusing read. (As did the MC‘s wife being called Helen in the blurb, but Hannah throughout the book 🤔)

A light pick.

TrishB The fire is here 😁 1mo
Cathythoughts Sounds interesting though 😁 stacked. 1mo
BarbaraBB 🤨 I‘ll wait a bit. Lovely photo though 🥰 1mo
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LeahBergen Your fire looks so cozy! 1mo
Megabooks Confusing timelines drive me nuts! Thanks for the helpful review. 💙💙 1mo
squirrelbrain You‘re welcome! @Megabooks 1mo
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squirrelbrain
Tournament | David Crouch
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The books that I bought from the #ToBlonglist all arrived over the past few days. 😊 Plus, today, I got both books that I applied for on NetGalley, Lazarus Man and Model Home so I‘m thrilled about that!

Just need to find some time to read now - too much work as usual. Even audio isn‘t working - over 2 hours of driving a day but colleagues seem to think it‘s acceptable to ring for a ‘chat‘, as if I don‘t have 15 books to get through! 🙄

squirrelbrain See, Holly @Hooked_on_books - we‘re both as bad as each other! 🤪 1mo
AnneCecilie Looking forward to your thoughts on The History of Sound. Read somewhere that it‘s being turned into a movie featuring Paul Mescal and that piqued my interest 1mo
Hooked_on_books I love it! I managed to pick up Poor Deer and History of Sound as ebooks from the library. I also bought Lesser Ruins (and Short War), and they‘re on the way. And Bury Your Dead is on hold for me in print from the library. I‘ve read Yr Dead. I‘ll be interested to see what you think. I thought it was an interesting idea but it didn‘t completely work for me. 1mo
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squirrelbrain I think @BarbaraBB felt the same way as you about Yr Dead, @Hooked_on_books - I bought a used copy for Qd or Qe as I didn‘t have particularly high expectations. Same with The Material, although they both look almost new. 1mo
squirrelbrain @AnneCecilie - I saw that too, somewhere! And there was a pretty good review of the book in the UK press this past weekend. (After I‘d already ordered it, so I was relieved! ) 1mo
vlwelser Colleagues are problematic. I had to take a con call on the train yesterday. They should know that's reading time 1mo
AnneCecilie That‘s even better. I‘ve seen any reviews. Norwegian press doesn‘t do reviews until a book is translated into Norwegian, if even then. After reading some very spoilery reviews online, I don‘t read them anymore 1mo
BarbaraBB Great haul! I bought 7 while I still have many of them sitting on my shelves too, so no way ‘ll finish them before the shortlist will he announced - which is always way too soon! I‘ll share my purchases too! 1mo
squirrelbrain @vlwelser - I shouldn‘t have complained - just got stuck in a traffic queue for an hour and a half on the way home…. 🙄 Listened to plenty of my book though…. 1mo
squirrelbrain @AnneCecilie - I‘ll let you know how it is when (if!) I get to it. 1mo
squirrelbrain Looking forward to seeing your haul @BarbaraBB - I didn‘t order 2 more books yesterday, definitely not! 🤪 1mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Which ones did you definitely not order 😉?! 1mo
squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB - definitely not Liars, or The Book Censor‘s Library! 🤪 1mo
BarbaraBB Good choice not to order them 😂. I read Book Censor, it‘s very good, and Liars is patiently waiting on my shelves! 1mo
squirrelbrain Can you believe bookshop.org cancelled my order for Book Censor today?! @BarbaraBB I think there must be a problem here in the UK as it‘s not even available on Amazon. 🤷‍♀️ 1mo
BarbaraBB I bought it in a Dutch online store and had a look but they are no longer selling in it either. Maybe it‘s been banned 😉 1mo
Suet624 @AnneCecilie it‘s the first story in the book that‘s being turned into the movie. The book overall is fantastic. 1mo
Megabooks Cuckoo is really strange. Finished this morning and still thinking about it. 1mo
Megabooks That‘s a lovely stack too!! 1mo
squirrelbrain I‘m kind of looking forward to it, Meg, as I‘m sure it will be way out of my comfort zone. I did eventually bail on Manhunt though, when it was on the list. 😬 1mo
64 likes20 comments
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squirrelbrain
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Thank you for the gift link @Chelsea.Poole - I love a list, although it‘s not good for my TBR!

Lots of the non-fiction I‘d never even heard of…. 🤔

And I‘m only part-way through two of these, Someone Like Us from the #ToBlonglist and Language City.

Chelsea.Poole We‘ve read several of the same books! 1mo
AlaMich What do you think of Language City? It sounds like it‘s right up my language nerd alley. 🤓 1mo
squirrelbrain @AlaMich - I‘m loving it so far, and you will too if you‘re a language nerd. I‘m about 3/4 of the way through and I‘ve paused it for a bit, but only because the #ToBlonglist is distracting me! 1mo
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Caroline2 What did you think of The Empusium?? I‘ve paused it at about 100 pages. I‘m just bored and haven‘t picked it up for weeks now. Does it get better?? 🤔 1mo
squirrelbrain @Caroline2 - I didn‘t love it, and it‘s the same all the way through apart from something more interesting in the last few pages. 😬 4w
Caroline2 Meh!! Soooo disappointing! Such a great premise! It promised so much but it‘s very slow isn‘t it. 🙄 4w
squirrelbrain Yes, and there‘s not much of a horror story either! @Caroline2 4w
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squirrelbrain
Service Model | Adrian Tchaikovsky
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Bailedbailed

#ToBlonglist

Not for me. Charles, a robot, inexplicably murders his owner and sets off to find out why. I thought it might be an interesting comparison with Annie Bot but, after 3 hours of the 12.5 hour audiobook absolutely nothing has happened. It‘s very repetitive too, feeling like a child‘s story.

I get the idea that most humans have disappeared so maybe there are some interesting insights later but I‘m not hanging around to find out.

Bookwormjillk The list is long and time is short! 1mo
BarbaraBB What @Bookwormjillk says 😀. I‘ll take a pass unless it makes the shortlist of course! 1mo
sarahbarnes Good to know! 1mo
Hooked_on_books This one didn‘t really work for me, so you‘re not missing much. 1mo
Megabooks Good to know! 1mo
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squirrelbrain
Real Americans | Rachel Khong
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Pickpick

I liked the first two parts of this story, Lily and her son Nick, although it felt similar to a lot of other books.

Once it moved on to Mei and the science-fictiony/ gene therapy bit I started to lose interest. I don‘t think it went into enough depth to have any kind of impact on the story and the 3 sections felt very disjointed, as the 3 MCs plus Nick‘s Dad weren‘t communicating with each other.

Still a pick though.

#ToBlonglist

AmyG I just finished part one and enjoyed it. We shall see. 😬 1mo
BarbaraBB I feel like I can skip this one for now. Unless it makes the shortlist of course. 1mo
squirrelbrain I liked it @AmyG @BarbaraBB just didn‘t love it. It felt like there was something missing…. 1mo
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Hooked_on_books I just finished this one and feel similarly. I think if it had been tightened up more in editing, it could have been dynamite. The pacing was a little off. 1mo
Centique Its interesting - i quite liked this when i read it but it has really gone out of my mind now. While Memory Piece which i found a bit jarring is still in my mind! 1mo
squirrelbrain I‘m looking forward to Memory Piece @Centique - I‘ve nearly borrowed it from the library a few times but now I have a good excuse! 1mo
Megabooks Yeah, that SciFi stuff came out of nowhere for me!! 1mo
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squirrelbrain
Tournament | David Crouch
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Give me a list and I go a little crazy…. 🤪

These are the books from the ToB longlist that I want to read and can hold of. I bought 8 😳 and the rest are through various library systems, digital or physical.

I also really want to read Colored Television but it‘s not cheap here, plus I‘ve put in requests on NetGalley for Model Home and Lazarus Man.

Send help….. 🤓🤪😳

Leniverse Ooh, I haven't looked at that list yet. Not sure I should 😅 2mo
Leniverse Ok, I looked. 🙈 Several were already on my radar, but I've added three that I hadn't heard of before to my tbr. The Book Censor's Library, The Invisible Hotel, and Lesser Ruins. In total I have read 11, have 5 more, and would like to read another 8-16 😅 2mo
sarahbarnes So many of these are on my want to read list, too! I just threw together a quick list on my phone…20 books. 😆 I‘ll see which ones I can get from the library and go from there! 2mo
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BarbaraBB I think I have my Christmas gift for you, if you want it! 2mo
BarbaraBB And you are incredible! All those books! Love it! One day you‘ll be a longlist completist 🙌🏽 2mo
Megabooks I almost made a spreadsheet, and it made me think of you! 💙💙 I hope you get approved for Model Home because I really enjoyed it! 2mo
Cathythoughts Great list. Thanks Helen. 2mo
squirrelbrain I bought Lesser Ruins and can get Invisible Hotel from the library, so I‘ll let you know… @Leniverse 2mo
squirrelbrain Aw, thank you! @BarbaraBB 🥰 2mo
squirrelbrain The only problem with making a spreadsheet Meg @Megabooks is you end up buying too many books! 2mo
Deblovestoread All your TOB posts are fantastic! 💜 2mo
Chelsea.Poole These lists always make me abandon all reading plans and pick up unexpected books. Which almost always helps me discover something I wouldn‘t have otherwise, so I use that as my excuse! 🤓 2mo
Ruthiella I‘m afraid you are beyond help! 😜 Here‘s hoping you get your hands on a reasonably priced copy of 2mo
squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole - I love this list because the books are not mainstream (most of them) and they‘re often much more diverse than the heavily promoted books. Yes, there are some duds on occasion, but more often we find some gems. 2mo
Avanders 🤩🤩 1mo
sarahbarnes I‘m on a long library hold list for Colored Television. This is a fun list! The joys of the TOB long list - such a treasure trove. 📚 1mo
squirrelbrain It‘s the best list, I think! @sarahbarnes 1mo
Suet624 @Chelsea.Poole The TOB has consistently had me reading fantastic books I‘d never have known about otherwise. 🥳 1mo
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squirrelbrain
Tournament | David Crouch
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This is going to have to be two posts…. Too many books to fit on one picture. 😬

These are the books on the ToB list that I already own and want to read.

Next, the rather extensive list of the other books from the longlist that I want to read.

Bookwormjillk I love the cover of Wolf At The Table 2mo
Ruthiella I‘ve only read the Khong title and it didn‘t work for me, but I‘m definitely an outlier. I will for sure pick up Extinction of Irena Rey, even if it doesn‘t make the shortlist. I‘m super intrigued. (edited) 2mo
squirrelbrain I‘m reading the Khong now @Ruthiella - part one was fairly standard fare but I‘ve just moved onto the part with Nick and it seems to be developing in a different direction…. 🤔 2mo
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squirrelbrain @Bookwormjillk - I do too! That one was rumoured for the Booker so I got it on audio then. 2mo
Caroline2 Oh I have Husbands, Extinction and Wedding too 😃 👍 looking forward to hearing what ya think. 1mo
squirrelbrain @Caroline2 - I finished The Wedding People last week and loved it - in fact I nearly bought it for your birthday! Irena Rey is meh, with about 10 minutes to go on audio. 1mo
Caroline2 Oh good to know. I read You are here last week and loved it. I‘ll wait for Irene then 😂 1mo
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squirrelbrain
Tournament | David Crouch
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Taking my cue from @BarbaraBB these are the ToB longlisted books that I‘ve read, in some kind of order of favourites first.

I also bailed on Glorious Exploits and hibernated Intermezzo as it wasn‘t working on audio. I‘m not going to buy it and I‘m currently on a VERY long waiting list at the library so not sure when I‘ll get to finish it.

Next I‘ll post the books that I want to read…

Sorry if I‘ve forgotten to tag anyone!

BkClubCare I am using #ToB2025_LongList but as I type that I wonder if I have the right year… ugh. Will fix if not right? (Maybe just #ToB_LongList or even w/o the hard to find underscore space 🙄 #ToBLongList ?) Tagging is always a challenge 🏷️ 2mo
squirrelbrain @BkClubCare - they definitely call it 2025 so you‘re OK there! But #ToBlonglist is just fine I think - the shorter the better! 2mo
squirrelbrain @sarahbarnes - forgot to tag you - sorry! 😔 2mo
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sarahbarnes Thank you! I‘m interested in a few on your finished list that I‘m in line at the library for, too. 😊 2mo
Megabooks Man, I looked yesterday, and it wasn‘t there! I‘ll have to look through it today. Great graphic, Helen! 2mo
Megabooks Can you drop the link here? I can‘t find it. 2mo
BkClubCare @squirrelbrain - yep, adding to my posts… 😊 2mo
Megabooks @BkClubCare Thank you! I eventually got on my laptop and found it. 2mo
Ruthiella I am most interested in your number one 2mo
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squirrelbrain
From Here to the Great Unknown: A Memoir | Lisa Marie Presley, Riley Keough
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Pickpick

Audio-puzzling with a view!

I don‘t have a huge interest in Elvis or his life, but this was well-reviewed on here and was available on audio on BorrowBox so I thought I‘d give it a go, and I‘m so glad I did.

It‘s an unusual format, but really worked to tell Lisa Marie‘s (and Riley‘s) story. I learned so much about their lives, most of it heartbreakingly sad, but Riley took care to tell how great a mother Lisa Marie was.

TheSpineView Beautiful 2mo
AmyG Well, that is lovely! 2mo
Kimzey That‘s my ideal vacation set up! Audiobook, jigsaw puzzle, and ocean view! 2mo
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Deblovestoread Great review and a lovely view. 💜 2mo
BarbaraBB Great set up! I used to love Elvis when I was a kid, and keep hearing this is so good on audio… 🤨 2mo
youneverarrived How nice ❤️ 1mo
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I struggled to get into this at the start, the art world seemed rather impenetrable, filled with obnoxious, entitled people, mainly men. But then I realised that this is the whole point of the book and I ended up loving it almost* as much as I did Olga Dies Dreaming.

Anita is a rising star in the art world in 1985 when she is found dead. Raquel, a student of colour, feels out of her depth at Brown, until she meets an older very privileged ⬇️

squirrelbrain …male student and gets drawn into his life. I can see how this would make for great discussions as part of ToB. *My only niggle is the introduction of Santeria, Puerto Rican black magic. I can see how it was needed as a device to move the story along but it didn‘t work for me. 2mo
BarbaraBB Sounds like a ToB book indeed! I keep checking their website. “Mid November” is almost over! 2mo
squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB - I just read on a GR thread that the ToB organiser‘s wife had an emergency ruptured appendix so the longlist will be ‘soonish‘. @bookwormjillk @BkClubCare 2mo
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Bookwormjillk @squirrelbrain yikes! Thanks for the update! 2mo
BarbaraBB Thanks. That is good to know! 2mo
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

Book 21 in the Kim Stone series, not in the database yet, out in the UK on 10th December.

Yes, it‘s as good as all the rest! If you love Kim you‘ll love this one and, if you‘ve never read any before, then you‘ve got a gripping, fabulous long series to start!

This time, someone is leaving cryptic clues for the team to follow, otherwise something terrible will happen…. And can the team actually work alongside Frost?!

TrishB Excited 😁 have on pre-order! 2mo
BarbaraBB I‘ve read a few but wasn‘t really invested. Trish and you assured me it would be worth continuing but I didn‘t. Too many books etc. Now I‘m on the fence again! 2mo
squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB - it took until book 8/9 for me to get REALLY invested…. But you don‘t HAVE to read them if they‘re not for you. 😊 2mo
BarbaraBB Lol I know but every time I read your or Trish‘s reviews I want to 😂 2mo
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squirrelbrain
Mina's Matchbox | Yoko Ogawa
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Pickpick

Quite different to the other Ogawa books I‘ve read, this was very sweet and whimsical and not very ‘challenging‘ or complicated at all.

Tomoko, aged 12, is sent to live in her Uncle‘s opulent mansion, where she makes friends with her cousin Mina who is one year younger and in delicate health.

It did read like a children‘s book at times and I loved it whilst reading it, but it‘s immediately gone out of my mind since I finished it.

squirrelbrain Have you read this one yet, Barbara? @BarbaraBB (edited) 2mo
sarahbarnes This is on my list - I‘m intrigued even though it does sound so different from her others. 2mo
BarbaraBB I haven‘t! I bought a copy in Manchester but haven‘t gotten to it yet. Curious about it after your review! 2mo
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squirrelbrain I think you‘ll both like it, even though it‘s rather different! @sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB 2mo
willaful Is there “Secret Garden“ inspiration? 2mo
squirrelbrain No, I don‘t think there is @willaful - no-one is cantankerous and, although Mina is ill, Tomoko doesn‘t ‘rescue‘ her. 2mo
Megabooks I‘m surprised this didn‘t make the longlist! 2mo
squirrelbrain I‘m not that surprised having read it @Megabooks - it wasn‘t ‘out there‘ enough for the list, I don‘t think. 2mo
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squirrelbrain
Wild Ground: A Novel | Emily Usher
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Pickpick

I picked this up at the Amnesty Bookshop in York, on tour with @MicheleinPhilly ☺️

Set in Yorkshire it follows Neef and Danny as they meet as teens, then grow up together. Neef has never had a dad and her Mum can barely look after herself. Danny‘s Mum died and his Dad (a Black man) is perceived as a trouble-maker, so you can imagine how their lives furl out.

It‘s a tough read and *isn‘t* like Normal People, as claimed on the blurb.

TrishB Sounds interesting 👍🏻 and great pic. 2mo
MicheleinPhilly I want to go to there. 😍 2mo
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squirrelbrain
Annie Bot | Sierra Greer
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Pickpick

A rather disturbing read for me, but one that really made me think. Annie is a ‘cuddle bunny‘ AI robot living with Doug, a 34 year old man who has issues with Annie becoming auto-didactic and therefore more human like.

The juxtaposition of the sex scenes and Doug‘s abuse of Annie was really uncomfortable and the book raised questions about what it is to be human and what constitutes abuse.

BarbaraBB That is a good question indeed. I felt less uncomfortable reading it but I‘ve had the same question after finishing it. 2mo
Suet624 Hmmm… I‘ve been avoiding this one. Your review explains why. 2mo
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I got the ARC of this ages ago but never got round to it so thank you @BarbaraBB for bumping it up my TBR.

I loved it (read it in 2 hours) but it was totally not as expected from the blurb. That suggests it‘s a ghost story with a recently-deceased Max watching his girlfriend Hannah, but that‘s only a very minor part of this utterly fascinating novel.

It‘s quite a tough read though, covering past trauma and abuse amongst other difficult topics.

BarbaraBB Great review and you‘re right about the blurb. I expected a totally different book too. 2mo
Megabooks Well, if you two both loved it, I'm sold. @barbarabb 2mo
squirrelbrain You‘ll really like it @Megabooks I‘m sure! 2mo
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BarbaraBB Don‘t buy it @Megabooks 😉🎄 2mo
Megabooks @BarbaraBB yayayay!! 🎅🏼 2mo
Cathythoughts Stacked 👍🏻❤️ 2mo
youneverarrived I‘m almost finished and my review would be very similar to yours. 1mo
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I‘m so glad I picked this at Gladstone‘s during Blind Date With A Book - thanks Jess! @jhod

This is an autobiographical novel - the author herself was in and out of prison for sex work and other petty crimes and died aged just 29 in 1967.

It‘s definitely a French novel, with that curious dispassionate, distant, style that is so common but I felt sad for the MC in her emotionless, grubby world and I want to read the author‘s other (2) novels.

BarbaraBB I saw the photo and thought where do I know that cover from? Gladstone‘s of course. Seems a long time ago already! 2mo
TrishB Great review 👍🏻 2mo
squirrelbrain It does seem like a long time ago doesn‘t it? @BarbaraBB Only a month ago though! 🤷‍♀️ 2mo
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Susanita Same! 2mo
sarahbarnes Great description of French writing. 2mo
jhod Ah that's great! So pleased it was a good'n! 2mo
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squirrelbrain
Playground | Richard Powers
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Pickpick

I started this on audio and struggled to connect so switched to physical. However, whilst I really enjoyed the book overall, I think the lack of human connection might have been the issue rather than audio.

Neither of the two male MCs was very relatable and there was too much distance between all of the stories - they sort of came together at the end but I didn‘t feel emotionally connected.

It would still have made my #booker shortlist.

BarbaraBB I have this one waiting on my shelves 2mo
quietlycuriouskate I loved it but, yes, there was an emotional coolness to it. 2mo
Hooked_on_books I‘m glad you finally got to read it! I liked both storylines but I didn‘t really want them in the same book. 2mo
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squirrelbrain
Catalina | Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
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Pickpick

Playing catch-up with reviews….

I really liked this novel, which did feel rather like a memoir at times, and it feels even more relevant now after the events of last week, being about undocumented migrants.

At times it was a little bit too ‘stream of consciousness‘ for me and I struggled to understand the relevance or tangent of Catalina‘s thoughts but, overall, a hard-hitting worthwhile read.

Thank you for gifting it to me @MicheleinPhilly 😘

TrishB I thought you‘d read all these today! 2mo
squirrelbrain No, not today @TrishB ! I have just had an hour or two of reading though, instead of working! 👏 2mo
TrishB Good for you! I have the lurgy- cough/cold (not covid) so haven‘t been able to do any work due to feeling so ill! 2mo
squirrelbrain Oh no! @TrishB Hope you feel better soon. 2mo
MicheleinPhilly I‘m glad you enjoyed it. 😘 2mo
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squirrelbrain
Untitled | Unknown
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Leaving this here for those who need it this week….

From today‘s Guardian newspaper in the UK, literary comfort novels that tell us ‘despite everything, it‘s going to be OK‘

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/nov/09/it-will-renew-your-faith-in-humani...

Traci1 Thank you for sharing this. ❤️ 2mo
seibelsays Oh this was needed. Thanks for sharing! 2mo
CarolynM Some interesting selections there. I was pleasantly surprised to see The Millstone included. I agree with what she says about it, it‘s an old favourite. 2mo
BarbaraBB 🩷🩷🩷 2mo
squirrelbrain That‘s one of the books on the list that I hadn‘t read @CarolynM - in fact, I‘ve never even heard of it. 😳 I shall keep an eye out for it. 2mo
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squirrelbrain
The Postcard | Anne Berest
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Any American Littens from our #europacollective (or anyone who loved this book!) feel like cheering themselves up with a trip out to see Anne Berest speak?

Actually, just noticed that 3 of the 4 are in NY, so not really much of a tour, but still…..

Great to see there‘s a new book coming out too.

BarbaraBB Such good news about the new book! 2mo
tpixie lol 😝 I just posted this also!!! I‘m sitting here thinking she‘s going be in Ohio tomorrow- Should I fly out? Or maybe I should take a quick trip to New York City next weekend. Too bad flights are so expensive. If I‘m going to spend money on a flight, I need to spend more time at the destination than just a quick weekend fly and fly out! 2mo
squirrelbrain You should totally do it! @tpixie - plan a whole bookshop tour of NYC to make it worth your while! 🤪 2mo
tpixie @squirrelbrain wouldn‘t that be fun!! 2mo
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squirrelbrain
The New Rooster | Rilla Alexander
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#ToBwaiting

Great idea @BarbaraBB to post our thoughts on what might be on the ToB longlist, but very difficult to choose just 6!

I haven‘t read any of these but either own them or have access to them on a platform such as Everand (my library apps are not ‘weird‘ enough for the ToB! 🤪)

I‘ll also tag two below that I think should be on the list but probably too UK-based to be included.

squirrelbrain I‘m listening to this one at the moment and LOVING it. 2mo
squirrelbrain I haven‘t read this yet, but have it on audio. 2mo
Ruthiella Ooh! I definitely want to read The Extinction of Irina Rey! I didn‘t think of the Hari Kunzru title, AND I OWN IT! 😂 2mo
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squirrelbrain @ruthiella - I‘ve had Irena Rey on my Women‘s Prize and Booker prediction lists as well - I‘ve got to be right some time, haven‘t I?! 2mo
BarbaraBB Oh wow these are so obscure I haven‘t heard of most of them! I have read Irena Rey but that‘s about it. So exciting! 2mo
sarahbarnes Fun list! More for my TBR! 2mo
Bookwormjillk I Cheerfully Refuse was on my summer list but I never got to it. Must do that soon. 2mo
BkClubCare @BarbaraBB - actually this collection is more familiar to me, tho I haven‘t read any. It‘s so interesting what/when titles wiggle into the brain 🧠, huh? 🤔 NOT ENOUGH TIME 2mo
BarbaraBB @BkClubCare It is, and how we end up liking such similar books! (edited) 2mo
Megabooks Great choices, Helen! I‘m getting the Greenwell for Christmas and am very excited. I think it being about the US health system will hit hard. 😬😬 2mo
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squirrelbrain
Entitlement | Rumaan Alam
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Pickpick

I was a bit disappointed with this, because I loved Leave The World Behind. Brooke starts working for a billionaire who wants to give away all his money before he dies, but she starts to become more greedy for herself.

Brooke, and her mother, were both awful people but I quite like books with terrible characters and the book certainly made me think.

What nearly turned it into a so-so for me was the nothing ending - it just fizzled out.

sarahbarnes I hate those kinds of endings. 2mo
AmyG Uh oh. I loved Leave the World Behind. 2mo
BarbaraBB That‘s too bad. I didn‘t love Leave the world behind that much so will probably take a pass on this one 2mo
Cathythoughts I loved Leave the World Behind too. I‘ll give this one a go 🤞🏻 2mo
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squirrelbrain
Behind You Is the Sea: A Novel | Susan Muaddi Darraj
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Pickpick

Loved this collection of interlinked short stories about Palestinian families and their descendants, living in the US.

I agree @arlenefinnigan - it was sometimes difficult to follow the familial links between the stories on audio but it didn‘t detract from my overall appreciation of the book.

arlenefinnigan Ah, really glad you enjoyed it! 2mo
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squirrelbrain
Here One Moment | Liane Moriarty
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I finished this a couple of weeks ago, but only just realised I forgot to post a review. 🤦‍♀️

On a delayed Australian flight, an unremarkable lady stands up and starts telling all of the passengers how and when they‘re going to die.

I really couldn‘t see how Moriarty would bring this to a satisfactory conclusion but it ended up being far more than just satisfactory - fabulous if rather worrying in places!

Thank you for this gift, Holly! 😘

LeeRHarry Well that‘s interesting, I‘d given up after not really liking Nine Perfect Strangers. (edited) 3mo
Hooked_on_books You‘re welcome! I‘m so glad you liked it. And @LeeRHarry this is so different from NPS that it‘s like a different person wrote it. 3mo
AmyG @LeeRHarry Same but I picked it up because so many loved it. Still have to see for myself. 3mo
squirrelbrain Yes, I completely agree @hooked_on_books - it‘s completely different from all of her other stuff @LeeRHarry @amyg - there‘s much more depth for a start. 3mo
Cathythoughts Great review! I‘m reading it at the moment. It‘s really good 👍🏻 3mo
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I got the ARC of this from #netgalley, long before it was published in August, but it had mixed reviews so I wasn‘t really tempted. It‘s recently been announced as being one of the BBC Between The Covers books so I picked it up, and absolutely loved it.

It‘s really devastating though so be warned, with some CW. Following 3 different people in different timescales, all linked by water, I loved how it all came together in the end.

BarbaraBB Oh wow I wasn‘t really tempted either but I am now! 3mo
nanuska_153 I love Elif Shafak! And the covers of her books are always pretty, which I appreciate 😅 3mo
Caroline2 Oh yay! Glad this one was better than Glorious 😂 3mo
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squirrelbrain Yes, I think you‘d like it @BarbaraBB - have you read any other books by this author? 3mo
squirrelbrain Well, i finished it, so that‘s definitely better than Glorious! @caroline2 3mo
youneverarrived Stacking! I really liked this one by her 3mo
sarahbarnes I‘m intrigued by this one! Like @youneverarrived I liked 3mo
squirrelbrain I think you‘ll both like this then @youneverarrived @sarahbarnes if you liked Island of Missing Trees. I‘m not sure which I liked best out of the two - I can‘t make my mind up. 3mo
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I tried a few different books on my commute over the past few weeks that I just couldn‘t get on with on audio (Playground, Intermezzo etc) so I thought I‘d go with an ‘easier‘ listen.

This was going to be a so-so all of the way through because all of the twists were heavily signposted. But then they weren‘t. 😳 I didn‘t see THAT coming!

The female MC was so stupid though, and made terrible decisions, it drove me crackers. 🤪

BarbaraBB So a pick for you! I am curious now but I hate it when mc‘s make stupid decisions. It always feels to me as if the author has been lazy. 3mo
squirrelbrain I don‘t know if it was lazy @BarbaraBB or the author deliberately trying to throw the reader off the scent…. Either way it drove me crackers! 3mo
BkClubCare @squirrelbrain “drove me crackers” 😂 2mo
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