Second in this exceedingly meta murder mystery series. I was unsure about the first one, in that the cleverness and self consciousness, deliberately tSecond in this exceedingly meta murder mystery series. I was unsure about the first one, in that the cleverness and self consciousness, deliberately telling you it's a puzzle playing by genre rules and so on, veered between interesting, amusing, and too clever by half.
Having read this one, I remain unsure about the above. Plus the plot hinges on a rape (that's not a giveaway, he tells you so early on) and tbh, I can enjoy a good murder without any moral qualms but I don't feel nearly as comfortable with rape as plot engine for witty meta shenanigans. I am not claiming this is logically or ethically consistent, but all the same it just didn't land for me in the end. ...more
This purports to be a memoir, with alll names and details changed, of the author's encounters with powerful people as a ... it's not clear to me what This purports to be a memoir, with alll names and details changed, of the author's encounters with powerful people as a ... it's not clear to me what he is, something involving being a lawyer with a 'programme' for Africa to make everything better. The pursuit of this programme means that he goes round the world meeting rich/influential people and discovering they suck.
Obviously I am bang alongside that in principle. However, in practice, what the book presents us with is a narrative whereby an obvious grifter arranges a meeting for our do-good hero with a clearly corrupt official. This generally involves no due diligence at all: he just leaps on a flight to the other side of the world or books an expensive restaurant. The official then bullshits or blusters until our hero takes him down with some cutting sarcasm or a heartfelt speech condemning his immorality, which has no effect on the bad person's invincible badness. Repeat every chapter.
By the point I DNF'd, about 70%, it was still unclear who's paying for all these jollies or what the hero's programme had actually achieved. I bailed out at the point where he talks to a massively corrupt and clearly mad Chinese official and decides, "well, on the one hand this guy has a Rhodes-like plan for literal one-man colonial expansion in Africa but on the other hand he might invest in my programme for making Africa independent" and decides to work with him (having fully condemned collaborations with companies trying economic colonialism previously). Make it make sense.
I have no idea what's going on in this book tbh. The pitch perfect recall of the conversations and descriptions suggests it's basically fiction; if the author does have any resemblance to the narrator, I would call this a massive self own because wow does he not come across well. I hope he's actually a brilliantly high achieving guy doing lots of good, but I only have this memoir to go on, so.
A bizarre and dislikeable experience which I was fully expecting to enjoy, and with more than a whiff of racism throughout. ...more
Therese Beharrie is my happy place. This is a very sweet romance with a bit of angst and a lot of kindness, between a man who runs a bunch of peoples'Therese Beharrie is my happy place. This is a very sweet romance with a bit of angst and a lot of kindness, between a man who runs a bunch of peoples' lives, and a woman who's sick of men running her life. This works out very nicely, as she clearly tells him she doesn't want taking charge of, and his efforts not to take charge are both sincere and revelatory to him that actually he's doing a lot of work that he shouldn't be. They're both quite hurt, but this author writes people unpicking their feelings brilliantly, and getting into the right place to make things work long term. Soothing to the soul.
Merged review:
Therese Beharrie is my happy place. This is a very sweet romance with a bit of angst and a lot of kindness, between a man who runs a bunch of peoples' lives, and a woman who's sick of men running her life. This works out very nicely, as she clearly tells him she doesn't want taking charge of, and his efforts not to take charge are both sincere and revelatory to him that actually he's doing a lot of work that he shouldn't be. They're both quite hurt, but this author writes people unpicking their feelings brilliantly, and getting into the right place to make things work long term. Soothing to the soul....more
A discursive read about Mr Ali a retired guy who opens a marriage bureau in an unnamed Indian city, with minor plotlines about his semi estranged son A discursive read about Mr Ali a retired guy who opens a marriage bureau in an unnamed Indian city, with minor plotlines about his semi estranged son and his assistant.
One one level it's a highly readable and pleasant story that focuses on the importance of love and family and mutual tolerance. Mr Ali is a Muslim running the bureau mostly for Hindus and there's no inter religious issues. There's a lot about reuniting divided families, as well as on solidarity, the pernicious effects of corruption, the importance of standing up for the poor and for women. It lacks a main driving plotline but the meandering sequence of events draws a vivid picture of the setting and characters. The writing is a bit naive, but in an enjoyably brightly coloured way.
On another level, I couldn't work out if Mr Ali is meant to be the world's hypocrite. He is full of wise marital advice but repeatedly bargains down desperately poor people for a couple of rupees, has a touching metaphor about how his lovely white cat had mongrel kittens because she didn't care for the 'perfect' mate and then casually says he dumped those kittens in a market. He tuts about the condemnation of divorced women and the effects of caste and demands for dowry, but nods happily along with colourism. The book presents all this without comment and I can't work out if it's the author's blind spots, Mr Ali's blind spots, or simply a magnificent exercise in letting the reader make up their own mind. ...more
A good factual overview of SOE operations, notably less sensationalist than many more recent ones, and very well written: it crams in a lot of facts aA good factual overview of SOE operations, notably less sensationalist than many more recent ones, and very well written: it crams in a lot of facts and names but remains highly readable.
Foot, of course, was an intelligence officer who actively served with the French Resistance, and his own feelings come across in moments when he refers to the "pornographers" who dwell on extensive descriptions of Gestapo tortures, or casually notes in an otherwise academic paragraph that the concentration camp guards were "the scum of the earth". ...more
Enormously detailed account of the publishing and literary world that existed in Shakespeare's time. Hugely researched and as such, significantly too Enormously detailed account of the publishing and literary world that existed in Shakespeare's time. Hugely researched and as such, significantly too detailed for me as a general-interest reader. ...more
Briers and Miles (and Millie) are back! I loved Eleventh Hour, a late 20s John Buchan styled spy romp with hard bitten spy Briers meeting pint sized cBriers and Miles (and Millie) are back! I loved Eleventh Hour, a late 20s John Buchan styled spy romp with hard bitten spy Briers meeting pint sized cipher clerk Miles, cross dressing as Millie for work and, once he lets go, personal satisfaction.
In this instalment we're a few years on. Miles's diplomat father is in Eastern Europe, his mother has discovered some important secret information, and Miles must accompany her on a flight home. Needless to say things don't go to plan, leading to explosions, a terrific car chase, disguises, escapes, more explosions, a fantastic valet, the Orient Express, jazz pianists and Hollywood stars, multiple bits of Europe whizzed through at speed, grand hotels, somebody called ffoulkes, and all the fun of the 1930s fair.
It's also a lovely deeply felt romance. We see how much Miles and Briers have come to mean to one another, and the depth of unspoken feeling. I also really like the way Miles's cross dressing is very much his gender identity, not a kink--Briers is turned on by him in women's clothing; Miles knows that and still declines to play because it's not right for him; Briers respects that. (While in no way being a 2019 transplant: Miles has to call him out for his old fashioned attitudes more than once.)
The joy of this is definitely in the characters (a large and well drawn cast): the spy plot is fairly loose and more of a structure on which to hang the interactions. Luckily, those are brilliant. The writing is lovely, assured, often funny and very moving in the love scenes. It did need a proofread, a statement I have to make about far too many books from publishers.
Merged review:
Briers and Miles (and Millie) are back! I loved Eleventh Hour, a late 20s John Buchan styled spy romp with hard bitten spy Briers meeting pint sized cipher clerk Miles, cross dressing as Millie for work and, once he lets go, personal satisfaction.
In this instalment we're a few years on. Miles's diplomat father is in Eastern Europe, his mother has discovered some important secret information, and Miles must accompany her on a flight home. Needless to say things don't go to plan, leading to explosions, a terrific car chase, disguises, escapes, more explosions, a fantastic valet, the Orient Express, jazz pianists and Hollywood stars, multiple bits of Europe whizzed through at speed, grand hotels, somebody called ffoulkes, and all the fun of the 1930s fair.
It's also a lovely deeply felt romance. We see how much Miles and Briers have come to mean to one another, and the depth of unspoken feeling. I also really like the way Miles's cross dressing is very much his gender identity, not a kink--Briers is turned on by him in women's clothing; Miles knows that and still declines to play because it's not right for him; Briers respects that. (While in no way being a 2019 transplant: Miles has to call him out for his old fashioned attitudes more than once.)
The joy of this is definitely in the characters (a large and well drawn cast): the spy plot is fairly loose and more of a structure on which to hang the interactions. Luckily, those are brilliant. The writing is lovely, assured, often funny and very moving in the love scenes. It did need a proofread, a statement I have to make about far too many books from publishers....more
Victorian set romance although I'd have called the feeling more Regency. Henrietta is a mixed race heiress who has been brought up by Stunning cover.
Victorian set romance although I'd have called the feeling more Regency. Henrietta is a mixed race heiress who has been brought up by her marquess uncle. We're told that her race has the potential to be a problem to jerks, but that otherwise goes unaddressed in the book: she has 99 problems but racism isn't one. (Let us recall that historical romances with white protags constantly decide to ignore all sorts of 'realistic' issues in pursuit of the love story and nobody ever objects to that.)
Her actual problem initially is that her cousin is blackmailing her for being illegitimate and demands he marry her. She decides that her uncle the marquess would be socially ruined by this discovery (?) so despite seeing no proof whatsoever of it (??) she doesn't ask anyone for help, gets engaged to the creep, and is rescued at the last minute by Finn, a Scots duke who's always been in love with her and who marries her knowing she's being blackmailed but doesn't ask about what, and is then astonished to learn the problem is quite bad and hasn't gone away because they're married. Ah, romance protagonists, never change.
The plot around the blackmail is flimsy (which is IMO on the publisher, because the ingredients are all there, and a decent structural edit could have nailed the issues down very easily) but if you let that pass, Henrietta is a very relatable heroine who finds a spine, Finn is lovely (except when he goes into Dickish Romance Hero mode obv), and the long sequence of them falling in marital love is absolutely delightful, plus there's a great extended grovel. There's marvellous gowns, quality pining, intermittent villainy, and lots of the right kind of histrom feels, and I enjoyed the love story a lot. It deserved a better edit, and I'll look forward to the author's next.
Merged review:
Stunning cover.
Victorian set romance although I'd have called the feeling more Regency. Henrietta is a mixed race heiress who has been brought up by her marquess uncle. We're told that her race has the potential to be a problem to jerks, but that otherwise goes unaddressed in the book: she has 99 problems but racism isn't one. (Let us recall that historical romances with white protags constantly decide to ignore all sorts of 'realistic' issues in pursuit of the love story and nobody ever objects to that.)
Her actual problem initially is that her cousin is blackmailing her for being illegitimate and demands he marry her. She decides that her uncle the marquess would be socially ruined by this discovery (?) so despite seeing no proof whatsoever of it (??) she doesn't ask anyone for help, gets engaged to the creep, and is rescued at the last minute by Finn, a Scots duke who's always been in love with her and who marries her knowing she's being blackmailed but doesn't ask about what, and is then astonished to learn the problem is quite bad and hasn't gone away because they're married. Ah, romance protagonists, never change.
The plot around the blackmail is flimsy (which is IMO on the publisher, because the ingredients are all there, and a decent structural edit could have nailed the issues down very easily) but if you let that pass, Henrietta is a very relatable heroine who finds a spine, Finn is lovely (except when he goes into Dickish Romance Hero mode obv), and the long sequence of them falling in marital love is absolutely delightful, plus there's a great extended grovel. There's marvellous gowns, quality pining, intermittent villainy, and lots of the right kind of histrom feels, and I enjoyed the love story a lot. It deserved a better edit, and I'll look forward to the author's next....more
I am a big fan of this series, set in early 20th century America. Piper Huguley is a really gifted historical writer, and her detail and settings are I am a big fan of this series, set in early 20th century America. Piper Huguley is a really gifted historical writer, and her detail and settings are always fascinating. I loved Jay, the numbers man, running an illegal gambling game (view spoiler)[that serves as an unofficial bank for the black community, so he's not that bad (hide spoiler)]. I loved his superstition and resentment and his competence and hidden kindness, and his sharp angle to a rejecting, brutal world. I also loved that this sleazy no-good gets paired with an ultra-religious evangelist. /high fives author for perfect conflict set-up/
I also really liked the way the heroines and heroes of the first books become the antagonists here. We've seen Ruby and Mags through so much, we know what loving, caring people they are--but they are no more free of their cultural world view than anyone else (view spoiler)[ in thinking Nettie shouldn't marry because she can't have children (hide spoiler)]. It would have been very easy to put this antagonist role on another family member, and a lesser writer would have because we don't come out of this loving Ruby and Mags. But that's the point: that even the best people, even heroines, can hold blinkered, reductive, unchallenged, hurtful views that lessen other people. Like Ruby, like Mags, like you, like me.
This is an inspirational series, which may not be everyone's cuppa, and this is a particularly religion-heavy book. It's not usually my thing but it's a different and fascinating perspective for me.
I will say, this is a bit less well edited/proofed than I would expect from Samhain, with a fair few errors, and I hope they sort that out. The cover is glorious.
Merged review:
I am a big fan of this series, set in early 20th century America. Piper Huguley is a really gifted historical writer, and her detail and settings are always fascinating. I loved Jay, the numbers man, running an illegal gambling game (view spoiler)[that serves as an unofficial bank for the black community, so he's not that bad (hide spoiler)]. I loved his superstition and resentment and his competence and hidden kindness, and his sharp angle to a rejecting, brutal world. I also loved that this sleazy no-good gets paired with an ultra-religious evangelist. /high fives author for perfect conflict set-up/
I also really liked the way the heroines and heroes of the first books become the antagonists here. We've seen Ruby and Mags through so much, we know what loving, caring people they are--but they are no more free of their cultural world view than anyone else (view spoiler)[ in thinking Nettie shouldn't marry because she can't have children (hide spoiler)]. It would have been very easy to put this antagonist role on another family member, and a lesser writer would have because we don't come out of this loving Ruby and Mags. But that's the point: that even the best people, even heroines, can hold blinkered, reductive, unchallenged, hurtful views that lessen other people. Like Ruby, like Mags, like you, like me.
This is an inspirational series, which may not be everyone's cuppa, and this is a particularly religion-heavy book. It's not usually my thing but it's a different and fascinating perspective for me.
I will say, this is a bit less well edited/proofed than I would expect from Samhain, with a fair few errors, and I hope they sort that out. The cover is glorious....more
Entertaining, written in a highly personal manner which I found endearing because I like David Mitchell. Don't think I learned anything very new but hEntertaining, written in a highly personal manner which I found endearing because I like David Mitchell. Don't think I learned anything very new but he's good at contextualising and it's funny and readable. ...more
Extremely loosely structured and poetically written book covering some aspects of Japanese histpry, a bit of a travelogue of Tokyo, and some thoughts Extremely loosely structured and poetically written book covering some aspects of Japanese histpry, a bit of a travelogue of Tokyo, and some thoughts about time. It hangs, very roughly, off trips to see old Edo's various bells that were used to makr the time, but that isn't really an organising principle. There's a lot about a coffee shop for no discernable reason.
I'll be honest, I got annoyed. Which isn't really fair as the subtitle says meditations, and that's what you get. If you like books with 'meditations' in the title, you will doubtless find this much more to your taste....more
A painstaking account of a true crime, in which a dodgy little shit eventually murders his wife. It's interesting with lots of factual underpinning, bA painstaking account of a true crime, in which a dodgy little shit eventually murders his wife. It's interesting with lots of factual underpinning, but--as a non-true-crime reader--I started to be unsure why I needed to know about this particular little shit and his victims. I think that's entirely a me issue.
Does that thing prevalent in non fiction where far too many paragraphs end in ellipses for no reason......more
Conclusion of this epic fantasy naval series, Patrick O'Brian with dragons. As with the first two parts, it teeters right on the edge of unbearably blConclusion of this epic fantasy naval series, Patrick O'Brian with dragons. As with the first two parts, it teeters right on the edge of unbearably bleak for long stretches, but there is enough hope and defiance and solidarity to keep you going, and the finale is triumphant in just the right way. Hugely recommended trilogy....more
A collection of memoirs by a wide range of queer Arab writers, touching on a lot of issues from within and outside their communities. As with all anthA collection of memoirs by a wide range of queer Arab writers, touching on a lot of issues from within and outside their communities. As with all anthologies a couple of pieces didn't land for me but there's a lot of heartfelt, honest, important writing here with some really powerful reflections on intersectionality, bigotry, shame, and pride. ...more
A rather odd, deeply atmospheric novel of a South Pacific island (now Vanuatu) and the experiences of an american missionary and his Venezuelan wife. A rather odd, deeply atmospheric novel of a South Pacific island (now Vanuatu) and the experiences of an american missionary and his Venezuelan wife. No holds barred as to the misery and discomfort of life in the rainy season especially for people who have no idea how to function in this climate and terrain, plus the awfulness of socialising with the few other expats, and the profoundly warped combination of local beliefs and imported Christianity leading to a nightmarish stew.
It is distinctly low on plot, which started to get a bit frustrating and the subplot about Vietnamese workers didn't really feel tied in, but the stifling atmosphere, squelchy setting, choking feelings and rising Gothic tension are all very well conveyed, and for the most part carry the book along. ...more
Another terrific supernatural read. I really love Henry's scientific spiritualism, it's wonderful fun, and the horror is gloriously sinister. *subsideAnother terrific supernatural read. I really love Henry's scientific spiritualism, it's wonderful fun, and the horror is gloriously sinister. *subsides happily into Jordan's storytelling forever*
Merged review:
Another terrific supernatural read. I really love Henry's scientific spiritualism, it's wonderful fun, and the horror is gloriously sinister. *subsides happily into Jordan's storytelling forever*...more
Loading...
