Random book plan from a book club friend.
I don't think I liked it! The writing was clear yet sparse but the characters were not likeable and I felt quite miserable throughout!

Much more readable than Gilead, maybe the female narrator? I liked her relationship with her family and felt such sympathy for her but also for Jack. Such a sorrowful character and in such hard times.
I have the next one ready to go...

Interesting way of portraying her life and her close death experiences. She writes in an appealing manner, drawing the tale along. Some parts were quite sad to read, others amusing. I found the final chapter the most provoking.

Brilliant book, thrilled to have found this in a second hand shop. It's a great tale and full of description of the interior of the USA in the 1800s. Her writing is sublime.

Brilliant in style, content and importance.
James is wise and clever yet forced into submission of slavery. His account of fleeing is full of terror, absolute uncertainty and fear in everything yet bravery and courage shine through.

Beautiful narrative of grief and meditation and faith. How we live on this earth and spend our lives. Unsettling undercurrent which sits perfectly with the surface.

I resolved to read the four books in this series and finished this today. It's been a bit of a slog, if I'm honest. Whilst the writing flows and reads well, there is much repetition and the theological elements are rather deep.
I liked the local community outlook and the way of telling not just a personal history but that of place.

The second novel I've read by Hadley and again, I'm left unsure! Set post WW2 in Bristol, I appreciated the local setting and the sister relationship. It's a very short novel, just a few days in their week. They attend a party, leading to another party and we learn about their home life and aspirations.

A slim novel, set around family wedding and the emotions and relationships that come into play.
Not her best but I still devoured it!
She's careful in her descriptions, only uses necessary detail yet we form an impression easily of person and place.

Historic tale which I was naive about, therefore very interesting whilst retaining a personal element and so rich with female friendship and family bonds.
I loved the ways the divers supported each other. The female friendship reminded me of My Brilliant Friend, oddly.
Some of the content was incredibly harrowing and harsh reminder of war atrocities that continue today.

Wonderful book, exploring the Northern Soul scene whilst offering characters with their flaws and normality. Descriptive yet simple. He's great at what he does!

Gosh, what a unique read and of such layering.
I adored the metaphor and imagery of water and movement, and the vastness of the ocean against the confinement of the submarine.
I felt Miri could have done more maybe? I'm unsure!
I'm definitely going to find her latest book.

Well, what to say... Intriguing and cringey as you watch her choices and decisions that she justifies so easily.
Interesting perspective on race and class, economics and society and what we each perceive as entitlement. Very different in approach and extremely readable!

I watched the adaptation of this and really enjoyed the suspense and second guessing. I'm reading it for a book club and a bit hesitant as I know the plot.
However, very good writing! The whole unreliability of the characters is great, and the snippets of information we gain from secondary people is gossipy but insightful. And the screen adaptation was different enough to make this a good read :)

I'm not sure I've linked the correct book as I couldn't find Maurice and Maralyn on here...
Anyway, listened on Book of the Week and thoroughly enjoyed it! Enough thinking and positivity to keep their selves intact, thanks to Maralyn, and a good tale of shipwreck and the natural world. Plus a rescue!

Gotta say, I've wanted to read this for months and I almost bailed... The grown up part of me was shocked by the transient and neglectful lives, the use of drugs and apathy to do much. But remembering the era and the youth made me re consider. I particularly liked the last 50 pages or so as it felt she was accepting herself and her friends.

What an interesting book, a memoir and tribute to her heritage. I loved the brutal honesty around their relationship and how she tried to atone it. I also appreciated the desperation to reunited her memories through family and visits.

You know what, it's tricky. I liked the writing and the timeline of a long weekend, a family wedding and that it was from the father of the bride perspective.
But... What a ghastly man... His lecherous thoughts and behaviour were cringy and so out of keeping with normality. And I don't feel her got his comeuppance!

Gosh, stunning writing and imagery against the harsh winter and realistic marriage portrayals. Both couples are subject to their turmoil and uncertainty. Eric is not a Good Bloke!
Female friendship is nicely demonstrated and the nuances of social circles.
I'm still in awe of his powers of description.

Wow, a blind secret Santa swap and I picked a good 'un! This tells a fictional biography of an Australian woman in the twentieth century who has a bohemian life, searching for belonging and warmth.
It was so interesting to read some Australian history of Sydney and also the war years.
Plenty of detail and gorgeous natural description. Finished it just as I'm off to bed. New book incoming!

Gosh, very different to my expectations and very insightful into menopause and mid life and families. I think it's well written and the plot, as such, is inclusive of necessary backstory.
Nicely done!

Beautiful. Stark yet bursting with imagery.
A rare treat, a brand new book. I e been lusting after either of her previous novels and then this sat on a shelf in a little indie bookshop and I picked it. And read, devoured, it.
Adored it. I keep mulling over the story and the island.

A kindle bargain and so I had to try it!
I liked the concept though it became easier once I understood the timing and century spanning.
The main character was well done, though she wasn't great with her family at times. I liked the ongoing dolphin packages and the finale of that.
I thought the climate bit from her granddaughter was a little bandwagon esque...

Playing catch up here as I got a new phone and can't download the Litsy app, thus using the desktop site!
Very keen to read this but it took a bit of perseverance. The characters all seemed self involved and critical of each other, hardly friendly... But I did stick with it and enjoyed the overall story.

Little charity shop number. Inspired by a podcast I'm obsessed with and having never seen the film, thought I'd give it a go.
Liked the teenage girl narrator, very nicely done, and how her relationships evolved.

Well. I wanted to read this after listening to Books Unbound, my favourite podcast. But it's only available in Canada. I'd asked a Canadian friend to purchase it but she wasn't able to get a second hand copy. Brilliant husband got it for my Christmas present 📦. Thrilled!
Odd story but so readable. I loved the gentle humour throughout and the way it's a novel about writing and effort and rewriting.

The only one I hadn't read and the husband found a charity shop copy :)
I have to say, it's my least favourite. I didn't feel much for the characters and the plot wasn't as developed as her usual perfection.
Now I need to ascertain if any of them are in her latest!

Such lovely childhood nostalgia as I adored this and had a beautiful copy.
I still appreciate the writing, obviously dated but such wisdom about life and nature.

Of a similar time setting to Steinbeck's classics which was interesting, and the same societal outlook on poverty, the social underclass and immigrants.
Really cleverly plotted with so many perspectives and relationship details. Best to read in chunks!
I was truly invested in Dodo and his future. Definitely a recommendation!

He's a great writer, this is the third by him I've read this year.
His weaving of narrators, love, science and culture is superb, and the msrine focus is of such importance.
It spanned a good length of time and has such truths.

Another let down for me, though it may be my state of mind. This was highly recommended after I'd read a Sarah Moss book with a similar feel. But this fell short. I got confused with the 1912 dual chapters, then the last few chapters were too much. I guess indicative of the character minds but felt mixed up fir me.

I have been searching fir this book for 2 years after reading Joy School. I found it in a charity shop:)
But it's a bit twee, a bit break up trope and cringy... I'm jot sure I'll seek any of her others...

Cringily out dated but readable and actually touching in places. I do love Gale's writing.

Beautiful writing and a bleak island life. Whilst a little predictable in the romance element, still held its worth. I liked the portrayal of young life and the natural and harsh world. Also a good time of the year to read it.

Adored the first half of this tale. The themes of apples, seasons, women and motherhood. But then it got odd. Then silly and ridiculous. I almost bailed but stuck it out.
Usually I can cope with her cute magicalism but this seemed a bit much.

Oh I love her writing, her characters, Maine description and the weaving of all those residents back into this tale of life and love, love is love.
I feel a yearning to re read all her others.
And I truly hope she writes more about these characters and Maine.
I devoured it during the stirms over the weekend and now feel bereft:(

Bit late with a spooky read but still did it!
So unlike the popular tropes of Frankenstein and included swathes of nature descption and landscape.
I'd not read it before so feel it was needed.

Not a book i'd have chosen but good old book club made me, then Libby delivered!
And it flowed well. Took me a few starts as I didn't anticipate the leap in years, then I was fully invested in Duchess and Robin, their rocky path and the people they were with. I liked the different senses of community and loyalty. I wasn't as bothered by the crime parts, although that was nice and twisty.
Not predictable. Emotive but not ridiculous.

Extremely emotive in its portrayal of young black men in London. Huge swathes of beautiful prose and repeated themes and phrases. I keep recalling the ideas of being seen yet nit seen, heard yet not listened to. And the love and hedonism of summer London Town.

Not what the blurb suggests, or is much more nuanced anyway.
Whilst àn account of her relationship with Kajji, it's also her own journey of self awareness, misogyny and culture and how women fall into that. Her developing friendships which blossom through shared occasions.
Too long in places but a very good and worthy read.

Oh my, that was brilliant!
Forecast one twist but not others. I read it as a recommendation after Yellowface and it didn't disappoint.
Now need to read The Sequel.

I like her books and how she writes about women in Chinese history.
This didn't disappoint. It was interesting and detailed, I liked that she had facts alongside more frivolity such as decor and dresses. Obviously not very nice at times but well done.

I like her books and how she writes about women in Chinese history.
This didn't disappoint. It was interesting and detailed, I liked that she had facts alongside more frivolity such as decor and dresses. Obviously not very nice at times but well done.

An unusual book in terms of plot and characters.
At times it is a love story then a family background. Then almost mysterious. I'm still contemplating if there was actually an ending.

Absolutely brilliant book.
His writing is poetic and conjures upsuch vivid images.
The two men are intricately portrayed, as is their relationship with each other and the world.
It'll stay with me a while...

Wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this as it could have been twee. I've read one other of hers, a YA, but wanted to see how she does grown up books.
And not disappointed! Unlike my usual choices but thoroughly comforting and positive.

Obviously a bit tear provoking but such good sentiments and reminders to us of what matters in life.

Gosh, lots to read but all so softly written. Constance goes to fight instead of Bartholomew. She is strong yet deeply hurt. This story tells of her background, her own mother and those she encounters. His writing is so good.

A slow burner to start and I wondered if I'd end up bailing. But goodness, it suddenly came alive and the plot intensified and whilst still a little slow at times, a good read.

Black History Month and this retelling of Othello is ser in 70s Washington, a group of 11 year old at school when a new student arrives.
Cleverly done, effective in making the reader consider how outsiders can be treated.