Book Reviews Blog

This page only shows books that have a review. By default in date order of reading with newest at top

Monday 25th September 2023

2021

Lily

A tale of revenge

Author : Rose Tremain

Summary :
London 1860s-70s. ...
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Reviewed by Roger CO, on 25 Sep 2023

A Bright Penny in a Muddy Puddle.

Excellent writing and read on holiday in Ireland. Convincing plot and characters and milieu in 18th century London. If we assume the technical details of life in London and England at that time are accurate then it has an internal logic that convinces. Lily as a child and a young adult is well drawn and her actions are consistent with being a bright penny in a puddle of mud



Tuesday 19th September 2023

Death's Own Door

Lydmouth 6

Author : Andrew Taylor

Reviewed by Roger CO, on 19 Sep 2023

Getting Better

As they go on the Lydmouth series seems to be getting better. Whilst still firmly in the crime genre this one starts to show flashes of wider interest. Some minor anachronisms I thought (but can't now remember exactly what - more in the way the characters think than in technical details. 



Saturday 16th September 2023

2020

Original Language: French mins

The Anomaly

Author : Hervé Le Tellier

Summary :
Multiple universes - or just a simulation?
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Reviewed by rogerco, on 16 Sep 2023

Doppelgangers Unleashed

Using the simulation hypothesis as a hook (see also Emily St.John Michael's Sea of Tranquility) this keeps away from the sci-fi future stuff to explain what's going one but plays around with the consequences in our own time-line.

The question remains though as to whether it really would be that bad to discover we are in a simulation - would people really react that badly. The ending is arbitary - why would destroying the replication that was created by the anaomaly cause the simulation to shut down (if that is what happened?).

Overall a good read and engrossing with the multiple story lines for dopplganger characters.



Tuesday 22nd August 2023

2022

Demon Copperhead

Author : Barbara Kingsolver

Summary :
Growing up in Tennessee mountain fly-over country
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Reviewed by rogerco, on 22 Aug 2023

Review Summary :
Compelling first person narrative painting a believable picture of back-country life in small town redneck country

Outstanding

Probably the best novel of the year and the decade at least. Only on reading the authours thankk-you's at the end did I realise what she had based the story of DC on. (Because I've never read the earlier DC)

The first person past continuous account of his life and the community he lives in is very believable, interesting, engrossing. Even things that you have no experience of are understandable - the logic of the situation is impeccable.

The larger context - the illegal drug and prescription opiod pandemic in rural communities is highly topical. Ecological and political elements are there in the background as context but not in your face - the focus is totally on Demon's experience and story.

A sympathetic view of a world which we only know as the butt of jokes and cliches.



Tuesday 25th July 2023

2020

The Glass Hotel

Author : Emily St.John Mandel

Summary :
Brother and sister from late teens to 30's - one dies, the other doesn't
Book Tags

Reviewed by rogerco, on 25 Jul 2023

Review Summary :
A really good read, modern and topical covering the period 1998 to 2018. Well written with good characters

A well written good read. Contemporary.

Alkaitis' ponzi scheme is based on the Madoff scandal of the 2008 crash



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