Books read in 2022: 1. The Prisoner of Heaven - Carlos Ruiz Zafón
The third entry in the series follows up the 1st, provides a new perspective on the 2nd and ties up loose ends from both but feels more like a short stepping stone to the finale than its own story. Good fun though
The third entry in the series follows up the 1st, provides a new perspective on the 2nd and ties up loose ends from both but feels more like a short stepping stone to the finale than its own story. Good fun though
That doesn’t really explain what the book’s actually about... it’s a Gothic historical drama/mystery about nationalism, identity, love, madness and generational trauma after the Spanish Civil War, with a sinister melancholy atmosphere and flashes of humour
2. No One is Talking About This - Patricia Lockwood
Part 1: LOLs of embarrassed recognition at the 1st accurate depiction of the internet in print & how it’s messed up our sense of humour and connection.
Part 2: An emotional event intrudes, everyone struggles to cope. Very moving
Part 1: LOLs of embarrassed recognition at the 1st accurate depiction of the internet in print & how it’s messed up our sense of humour and connection.
Part 2: An emotional event intrudes, everyone struggles to cope. Very moving
3. Empireland - Sathnam Sanghera
An accessible, enlightening and uncomfortable guide to the British empire, its impact, the shameful details which have been glossed over or forgotten, and the lasting effects it’s had on the way us Brits think about and teach our complex history.
An accessible, enlightening and uncomfortable guide to the British empire, its impact, the shameful details which have been glossed over or forgotten, and the lasting effects it’s had on the way us Brits think about and teach our complex history.
4. Lost in a Good Game: Why We Play Video Games and What They Can Do For Us - Pete Etchells
A psychologist’s insight into the complex, conflicting research that led to moral panics about games being aggressive/addictive, plus a personal story of how they helped him process grief.
A psychologist’s insight into the complex, conflicting research that led to moral panics about games being aggressive/addictive, plus a personal story of how they helped him process grief.
5. The Man Who Died Twice - Richard Osman
Builds on book one’s brilliance with higher stakes & cleverer twists. Osman clearly loves his characters & enjoys exploring their day-to-day lives, posing fiendish mysteries for them to solve and mixing great gags with poignant moments.
Builds on book one’s brilliance with higher stakes & cleverer twists. Osman clearly loves his characters & enjoys exploring their day-to-day lives, posing fiendish mysteries for them to solve and mixing great gags with poignant moments.
6. Brighton Rock - Graham Greene
A chilling page-turner follows 17-yr-old gangster Pinkie getting rid of loose ends after a killing and a woman who met the victim trying to prove whodunnit.
The boy’s inner struggle & the seaside seediness of 1930s Brighton are vividly portrayed.
A chilling page-turner follows 17-yr-old gangster Pinkie getting rid of loose ends after a killing and a woman who met the victim trying to prove whodunnit.
The boy’s inner struggle & the seaside seediness of 1930s Brighton are vividly portrayed.
7. Factfulness - Hans, Ola and Anna Rosling
An expert’s final work reveals how we base our assumptions of the world on old data, why this causes big decision-making mistakes & that things are improving more than we think, then guides us on how to think clearly about big issues.
An expert’s final work reveals how we base our assumptions of the world on old data, why this causes big decision-making mistakes & that things are improving more than we think, then guides us on how to think clearly about big issues.
8. Interesting Times - Terry Pratchett
Always a delight to return to Discworld, this time with cowardly wizard Rincewind being mistaken for a revolutionary leader while elderly barbarians learn a civilised way to take over an ‘Auriental’ empire.
Funny, smart, wise & daft, as ever
Always a delight to return to Discworld, this time with cowardly wizard Rincewind being mistaken for a revolutionary leader while elderly barbarians learn a civilised way to take over an ‘Auriental’ empire.
Funny, smart, wise & daft, as ever
9. Wonder Boys - Michael Chabon
A comic farce about an over-the-hill writer’s life falling apart in one chaotic weekend while he delays finishing his epic novel. It slowly won me over & I found it hard to put down. Chabon crafts a clever, funny tale full of memorable characters.
A comic farce about an over-the-hill writer’s life falling apart in one chaotic weekend while he delays finishing his epic novel. It slowly won me over & I found it hard to put down. Chabon crafts a clever, funny tale full of memorable characters.
10. Piranesi - Susanna Clarke
A strange, perplexing tale of a man living in a vast & flooded House.
His exploration of this fantastical setting is wonderfully immersive, and the beguiling mystery of why he’s there unfolds at a perfect pace. It will linger in my mind for some time
A strange, perplexing tale of a man living in a vast & flooded House.
His exploration of this fantastical setting is wonderfully immersive, and the beguiling mystery of why he’s there unfolds at a perfect pace. It will linger in my mind for some time
11. The Death of Francis Bacon - Max Porter
A poetic and visceral stream-of-consciousness peek into the deteriorating mind of the famous painter as he lays dying and imagines a few final artworks.
Intrigued and confused me enough to want to see some of Bacon’s paintings in person
A poetic and visceral stream-of-consciousness peek into the deteriorating mind of the famous painter as he lays dying and imagines a few final artworks.
Intrigued and confused me enough to want to see some of Bacon’s paintings in person
12. Transcendent Kingdom - Yaa Gyasi
The daughter of African parents who move to America tries to find solace & meaning in religion & science after tragedy strikes.
A moving meditation on addiction & grief which tackles big, heavy ideas while still being an accessible pageturner.
The daughter of African parents who move to America tries to find solace & meaning in religion & science after tragedy strikes.
A moving meditation on addiction & grief which tackles big, heavy ideas while still being an accessible pageturner.
13. Fall: The Mystery of Robert Maxwell - John Preston
A stranger-than-fiction, well-researched story of a lucky liar who used bravado to become all-powerful while hiding millions of £s of debt. His rise/fall/death is full of bizarre details & critical of those whose enabled him.
A stranger-than-fiction, well-researched story of a lucky liar who used bravado to become all-powerful while hiding millions of £s of debt. His rise/fall/death is full of bizarre details & critical of those whose enabled him.
14. Wanda The Scarlet Witch and Vision - Kyle Higgins et al
(#DoctorStrange preparation)
Modern takes on the heroes’ origin stories, an old two-parter about Wanda’s fake children, & a huge back issue mixing the couple’s eventful wedding with the confusing finale of a Mantis story
(#DoctorStrange preparation)
Modern takes on the heroes’ origin stories, an old two-parter about Wanda’s fake children, & a huge back issue mixing the couple’s eventful wedding with the confusing finale of a Mantis story
15. Who They Was - Gabriel Krauze
The inner monologue of a London teen who became entangled in gang culture, robbing and stabbing people between uni lectures. A shocking, relentlessly-paced sort-of-autobiographical tale written in Top Boy-ish slang with moments of lyrical beauty.
The inner monologue of a London teen who became entangled in gang culture, robbing and stabbing people between uni lectures. A shocking, relentlessly-paced sort-of-autobiographical tale written in Top Boy-ish slang with moments of lyrical beauty.
16. The Passenger - Ulrich Boschwitz
A gripping, angry thriller written in 1938 which follows a Jewish German’s nerve-wracking attempt to flee to safety while his homeland becomes hostile. Vividly depicts the anxious & paranoid mindset of a man on the run as his life falls apart.
A gripping, angry thriller written in 1938 which follows a Jewish German’s nerve-wracking attempt to flee to safety while his homeland becomes hostile. Vividly depicts the anxious & paranoid mindset of a man on the run as his life falls apart.
17. The Comfort Book - Matt Haig
A mixed bag of anecdotes, advice and hard-earned wisdom from one of my favourite authors, who put this together to help others find solace.
Some passages were thought-provoking & comforting, others felt a little trite & simplistic. Worth having.
A mixed bag of anecdotes, advice and hard-earned wisdom from one of my favourite authors, who put this together to help others find solace.
Some passages were thought-provoking & comforting, others felt a little trite & simplistic. Worth having.
18. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood - Quentin Tarantino
An expansive, over-indulgent adaptation of the film adds entertaining new scenes and neat peeks inside the minds of Rick, Cliff and Sharon - but far too many pages are spent detailing dull TV and film trivia.
An expansive, over-indulgent adaptation of the film adds entertaining new scenes and neat peeks inside the minds of Rick, Cliff and Sharon - but far too many pages are spent detailing dull TV and film trivia.
19. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse - Charlie Mackesy
A beautiful picture book with deceptively simple inked & painted illustrations showing an unlikely group of friends’ trip through nature.
A quick read but well worth pausing to appreciate its many details & kind words
A beautiful picture book with deceptively simple inked & painted illustrations showing an unlikely group of friends’ trip through nature.
A quick read but well worth pausing to appreciate its many details & kind words
20. The Largesse of the Sea Maiden - Denis Johnson
As ever, his short stories seem to be effortlessly improvised when in fact each word & line is precisely chosen for maximum emotional impact - shock, laughter, sorrow, thoughtfulness.
Impressive, intriguing, insightful, original.
As ever, his short stories seem to be effortlessly improvised when in fact each word & line is precisely chosen for maximum emotional impact - shock, laughter, sorrow, thoughtfulness.
Impressive, intriguing, insightful, original.
21. Zone One - Colson Whitehead
The Pulitzer Prize winner’s take on a zombie story builds a convincing picture of how society fell, with darkly funny satirical jabs at pre-apocalyptic life, bursts of intense action & a rather bleak outlook on humanity’s overall chance of survival
The Pulitzer Prize winner’s take on a zombie story builds a convincing picture of how society fell, with darkly funny satirical jabs at pre-apocalyptic life, bursts of intense action & a rather bleak outlook on humanity’s overall chance of survival
22. Doctor Strange: The Way of The Weird - Jason Aaron & Chris Bachalo
Creative, colourful and chaotic panels fill this imaginative reintroduction of the Sorcerer Supreme as he learns of a major new threat while treating minor disturbances in our reality.
Creative, colourful and chaotic panels fill this imaginative reintroduction of the Sorcerer Supreme as he learns of a major new threat while treating minor disturbances in our reality.
23. The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett
Twin sisters lead very different lives & their daughters’ fates intertwine in this epic family drama which deftly hops between different time periods.
An emotional, unputdownable tale about lies, longing, changing identities, class, and race.
Twin sisters lead very different lives & their daughters’ fates intertwine in this epic family drama which deftly hops between different time periods.
An emotional, unputdownable tale about lies, longing, changing identities, class, and race.
24. We Are Bellingcat - Eliot Higgins
A fascinating, gripping, inspiring account of how - with dedication, teamwork & an ethical, factual approach - ordinary people used freely-available online info to dispel disinformation & catch war criminals, then taught others how to do it.
A fascinating, gripping, inspiring account of how - with dedication, teamwork & an ethical, factual approach - ordinary people used freely-available online info to dispel disinformation & catch war criminals, then taught others how to do it.
25. Hocus Pocus - Kurt Vonnegut
Been a while since I read one of his but the dark wit, inventive satire & skewed view of humanity is so reassuringly familiar.
The absurd plot is relayed through fragmented musings on war, class, & greed which seem random but tie together perfectly
Been a while since I read one of his but the dark wit, inventive satire & skewed view of humanity is so reassuringly familiar.
The absurd plot is relayed through fragmented musings on war, class, & greed which seem random but tie together perfectly
26. The Transgender Issue - Shon Faye
A clear, accessible, well-researched & compassionate account of the fight for trans rights, the moral panics & injustices trans people face, and the ways all aspects of society can and should change to help them & other marginalised groups.
A clear, accessible, well-researched & compassionate account of the fight for trans rights, the moral panics & injustices trans people face, and the ways all aspects of society can and should change to help them & other marginalised groups.
27. Maskerade- Terry Pratchett
The witches look for a new recruit, but the best candidate has run off to be a singer in Discworld’s version of opera - and there’s a phantom lurking…
An enjoyable comic farce full of daft wit, great characters, and compassion for the downtrodden.
The witches look for a new recruit, but the best candidate has run off to be a singer in Discworld’s version of opera - and there’s a phantom lurking…
An enjoyable comic farce full of daft wit, great characters, and compassion for the downtrodden.
28. To The Lighthouse - Virginia Woolf
A short classic, to be read carefully, as long, winding sentences capture how/why small changes of thought & feeling happen in its characters’ minds.
Stunning prose details a family gathering, a house decaying, and a much-delayed day out.
A short classic, to be read carefully, as long, winding sentences capture how/why small changes of thought & feeling happen in its characters’ minds.
Stunning prose details a family gathering, a house decaying, and a much-delayed day out.
29. House of Names - Colm Toibin
An intense, brutal retelling of a Greek tragedy follows a family’s breakdown as the mum takes revenge on her husband for sacrificing their daughter to the gods.
Starts brilliantly, dips when the son takes centre stage, then rebounds for the ending
An intense, brutal retelling of a Greek tragedy follows a family’s breakdown as the mum takes revenge on her husband for sacrificing their daughter to the gods.
Starts brilliantly, dips when the son takes centre stage, then rebounds for the ending
30. Death and the Penguin - Andrey Kurkov
This dark comedy provides a bleak & immersive snapshot of ‘90s Ukraine, but rarely prompted more than the odd chuckle.
It follows an obituary writer who becomes trapped in a murky criminal conspiracy while looking after his pet penguin.
This dark comedy provides a bleak & immersive snapshot of ‘90s Ukraine, but rarely prompted more than the odd chuckle.
It follows an obituary writer who becomes trapped in a murky criminal conspiracy while looking after his pet penguin.
31. First Person Singular - Haruki Murakami
Imaginative little stories mix the mundane & mysterious - surreal encounters, lost loves, childhood memories, a talking monkey…
In each unpredictable, oddly profound tale, the narrators seem as confused about their meaning as I am.
Imaginative little stories mix the mundane & mysterious - surreal encounters, lost loves, childhood memories, a talking monkey…
In each unpredictable, oddly profound tale, the narrators seem as confused about their meaning as I am.
32. The War of the Poor - Eric Vuillard
This short, searing sermon against inequality & greed brings to vivid life the true tale of a 1500s preacher who stirred up a mass revolt against the rich & powerful rulers that pretend to care about the impoverished.
A rather timely read.
This short, searing sermon against inequality & greed brings to vivid life the true tale of a 1500s preacher who stirred up a mass revolt against the rich & powerful rulers that pretend to care about the impoverished.
A rather timely read.
33. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
This thought-provoking coming-of-age tale of teens at a posh school has an undercurrent of unease which bubbles up as the pages turn. The characters feel real & the wider world is sketched out with sparse hints until the bleak, inevitable end.
This thought-provoking coming-of-age tale of teens at a posh school has an undercurrent of unease which bubbles up as the pages turn. The characters feel real & the wider world is sketched out with sparse hints until the bleak, inevitable end.
34. Revival - Stephen King
At once a gripping page-turner & unsettling slow-burn, this skilfully-told tale follows the linked lives of a young musician battling addiction & a charismatic pastor obsessed with electricity.
Mostly a slice-of-life drama - until its terrifying finale.
At once a gripping page-turner & unsettling slow-burn, this skilfully-told tale follows the linked lives of a young musician battling addiction & a charismatic pastor obsessed with electricity.
Mostly a slice-of-life drama - until its terrifying finale.
35. Treacle Walker - Alan Garner
This playful, strange story of a boy who meets a mystical rag and bone man feels like a modern folktale suffused with childlike wonder and subtle grandeur.
Cryptic, sparse details spark the imagination & hint at a world beyond our comprehension.
This playful, strange story of a boy who meets a mystical rag and bone man feels like a modern folktale suffused with childlike wonder and subtle grandeur.
Cryptic, sparse details spark the imagination & hint at a world beyond our comprehension.
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