Tag: book-review

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Shelby Van Pelt – Remarkably Bright Creatures #bookreviews #positiveonly #5*

MY VERDICT? I was a bit hesitant about reading a book narrated by an octopus in case it came off a bit gimmicky but I found Remarkably Bright Creatures a really delightful read. I enjoyed the chapters from Marcellus’s perspective and I found his portrayal extremely moving and it definitely made me despair at the cruelty of keeping sentient creatures in captivity.

The Blurb:

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night cleaner shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Ever since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat over thirty years ago keeping busy has helped her cope. One night she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium who sees everything, but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors – until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late…

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Good Mourning- Imogen Carn and Sally Douglas #bookreviews #positiveonly #5*

MY VERDICT? Having lost my mum this year, I was looking for something to help me navigate through the pain of bereavement. Of course nothing makes it better, but I tried quite a few of the practical tips in here and they did help to make things more manageable. The setting aside a time to grieve was particularly useful to avoid feeling so ambushed by the big emotions. Not a book anyone wants to need to read, but recommended.

The Blurb: Good Mourning is a compassionate survival guide for anyone dealing with grief – the kind of book Sal and Im wish they’d had to help them through the dark times. Here they shine a light on the many ways grief can impact our lives (hello ugly crying, exhaustion and ‘grief brain’). Along with expert advice from clinical psychologist Tamara Cavenett and warm words and insights from hundreds of others who’ve experienced grief, the authors offer practical tips on coping with isolation and loneliness, navigating grief at work, managing milestones and so much more.

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Iain Pears- An Instance of the Fingerpost #bookreviews #positiveonly #5*

MY VERDICT? The Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears is a gripping historical novel set in 17th-century England. Written from four different perspectives, it combines political intrigue, mystery and plenty of interesting historical facts about the origins of modern medicine. Although I found it quite an intense read in parts, I loved the twists and historical detail and the ending blew me away.

The Blurb:

The novel is centred on a suspicious death, that of Robert Grove, fellow of New College. We hear about it from four witnesses, a Venetian Catholic intent on claiming credit for the invention of blood transfusion; the son of a supposed traitor to the Royalist cause, determined to vindicate his father; John Wallis, chief cryptographer to both Cromwell and Charles II, a mathematician, theologian and master spy; and Anthony Wood, the famous Oxford antiquary. Each of the first three witnesses is unreliable – they seem convincing, but the conclusions are contradictory – and only Wood, in the final volume, reveals the truth. 

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Katriona O’Sullivan – Poor #bookreviews #positiveonly #5*

MY VERDICT? Katriona O’Sullivan’s Poor is a brutally honest memoir that recounts a traumatic childhood, filled with abuse and hardship. Her writing is raw and compelling, but what struck me is not just the pain she endured, but how she transformed her life. While I can’t help feeling anger for what she went through, my main takeaway is admiration for the tremendous strength and resilience she shows. Poor is heartbreaking but ultimately triumphant.

The Blurb:

Like young girls everywhere Katriona O’Sullivan grew up bright, enthusiastic, curious. But she was also surrounded by abject poverty and chaos, and after she became pregnant and homeless at 15, what followed was five years of barely surviving. Yet today Katriona is an award-winning academic whose work explores barriers to education for girls like her.

What set Katriona on this unexpected path were the mentors and supporters who truly saw her. The teachers who showed her how to wash in the school toilets or turned up at her door to convince her to sit at least one GCSE. The community worker who encouraged her to apply for training schemes. The friend who introduced Katriona to Trinity College’s access program while she was a cleaner. Simple acts that would help her turn her life around.

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Marian Keyes- Again, Rachel #bookreviews #positiveonly #5*

MY VERDICT? I love all Marian Keyes’ books and really enjoyed Again, Rachel which brings us up to date with Rachel and Luke’s story. The sections about Yara are sad, moving but handled with real sensitivity. It’s a brilliant follow-up to Rachel’s Holiday. Loved it!

The Blurb:

Rachel Walsh is a survivor: she survived rehab and the loss of her greatest love.

These days everything in her life is good – good job, good dog, very good boyfriend. Then Luke – her ex of six years – shows up.

Suddenly she’s fragile and falling.

They ended badly and neither can speak of the secret hurt which drove them apart.

But is it fear of what happened? Or what might happen next?

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Gabrielle Zevin – Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow #bookreviews #positiveonly #5*

MY VERDICT? Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin took me by surprise. It’s not the kind of book I would typically go for as I’m not really into gaming or tech. But this novel is so much more than that. At its core, it’s a deep dive into the relationships between a group of friends, each carrying their own burdens and traumas. The way these connections are portrayed is so moving that I was in tears. Zevin’s ability to weave together the world of gaming with such raw and heartfelt emotion makes this book a standout – as does the beautiful cover.

The Blurb:

This is the story of Sam and Sadie. It’s not a romance, but it is about love. When Sam catches sight of Sadie at a crowded train station one morning he is catapulted straight back to childhood, and the hours they spent immersed in playing games. Their spark is instantly reignited and sets off a creative collaboration that will make them superstars. It is the 90s, and anything is possible. What comes next is a decades-long tale of friendship and rivalry, fame and art, betrayal and tragedy, perfect worlds and imperfect ones. And, above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love.

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Liz Nugent – Strange Sally Diamond #bookreviews #positiveonly #5*

MY VERDICT? The protagonist, the Sally of the title, reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant with her unique perspective on the world and the gradual unfolding of her past trauma. The author interweaves two main narratives, set in Ireland and New Zealand. Switching back and forth between these stories kept me hooked and I found myself racing through the pages. If you’re looking for a novel that is both thought-provoking and a cracking read, Strange Sally Diamond is the one.

The Blurb:

Sally Diamond cannot understand why what she did was so strange. She was only doing what her father told her to do, to put him out with the rubbish when he died.

Now Sally is the centre of attention, not only from the hungry media and police detectives, but also a sinister voice from a past she cannot remember. As she begins to discover the horrors of her childhood, Sally steps into the world for the first time, making new friends and big decisions, and learning that people don’t always mean what they say.

But who is the man observing Sally from the other side of the world? And why does her neighbour seem to be obsessed with her? Sally’s trust issues are about to be severely challenged . . .

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Mike Gayle – A Song of Me and You #bookreviews #positiveonly #5*

MY VERDICT? If you’re looking for a can’t put down summer read A Song of You and I by Mike Gayle is perfect. The story follows Ben and Helen, two old friends who reconnect after years apart and the ups and downs as they navigate their complicated past and present. Gayle’s characters feel so real and relatable, and his writing is touching and heartbreaking. I loved it, even though it made me cry. 5*

The Blurb:

Helen and Ben parted as heartbroken 18-year-olds and went their very separate ways. Twenty years later, mother-of-two-teenagers Helen is still in Manchester, a part-time primary teacher, stunned by the behaviour of her love-rat husband. In an old T shirt and scruffy jeans, she feels at the lowest point in her life. And suddenly, impossibly, Ben is standing on her doorstep. Tired maybe, lonely even, but clearly still the world-famous, LA-based multi-millionaire rockstar he has become.Can you ever go back? For Helen and Ben, so much has happened in the years between. But just to sit in the kitchen for a while and talk – that would be nice. Before the world comes crashing in. Friendship, love, heartache and hope collide in this unforgettable emotional journey, from the author of Half A World Away.