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This Evening and The Morning
This Evening and The Morning
Ken Follett | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Romance
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Loved it!
46 of 250
Book
The Evening and the Morning ( 0.5 kingsbridge prequel )
By Ken Follet

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

It is 997 CE, the end of the Dark Ages. England is facing attacks from the Welsh in the west and the Vikings in the east. Those in power bend justice according to their will, regardless of ordinary people and often in conflict with the king. Without a clear rule of law, chaos reigns.

In these turbulent times, three characters find their lives intertwined. A young boatbuilder's life is turned upside down when the only home he's ever known is raided by Vikings, forcing him and his family to move and start their lives anew in a small hamlet where he does not fit in. . . . A Norman noblewoman marries for love, following her husband across the sea to a new land, but the customs of her husband's homeland are shockingly different, and as she begins to realize that everyone around her is engaged in a constant, brutal battle for power, it becomes clear that a single misstep could be catastrophic. . . . A monk dreams of transforming his humble abbey into a center of learning that will be admired throughout Europe. And each in turn comes into dangerous conflict with a clever and ruthless bishop who will do anything to increase his wealth and power.



I absolutely loved it! After reading the other Kingsbridge books I knew I would enjoy this but not as much as I actually did! From the start I was sucked in I soon got wrapped up in the characters the places and stories! Ken Follet certainly knows how to keep you entertained I was annoyed every time real life dragged me away! Very good prequel!
  
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Cate Le Bon recommended Third/Sister Lovers by Big Star in Music (curated)

 
Third/Sister Lovers by Big Star
Third/Sister Lovers by Big Star
1978 | Rock
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I had always overlooked Big Star. I had never really liked them and then a year-and-a-half ago I moved to Los Angeles and it was a case of me and my partner starting our record collection again as we couldn't bring records over. He picked up this record really cheaply at a flea market or something and played it over and over at the apartment. I remember asking, ""Oh my god, what the hell is this?"" When I found out it was Big Star I had had absolutely no idea that's what they sounded like. I think I am right in saying that Third possibly wasn't very well received and the production on it, which for me is one of its charms, is reassuringly bad. Even so, it is my favourite of all of their records. There is a playfulness about the songs; 'Kangaroo' sounds like it has drums on it being played by someone else in a different room who is playing along to a different song. It was those elements that appealed to me when I initially heard the record. But then it has some of the most absolutely incredible songs, like 'Nightime' and 'Take Care' – which is one of my all-time favourite songs. It's one of those records that every single song that comes on that you just think ""this one's amazing"" and then, ""No, this one is even more amazing"" and, ""I want to do a cover of this"". I still think I am in the period of wanting to listen to it over and over and I have to stop myself so I don't get sick of it. It's been a wonderful record to – what's the word? Sorry, I'm thinking in Welsh today – dissect and really take in."

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The Last House on the Cliff [Audiobook]
The Last House on the Cliff [Audiobook]
Anne Wyn Clark | 2022 | Mystery, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a dark and creepy mystery/thriller that kept me engaged from the start.

Lowri hasn't had the happiest lives so far and when she returns to Anglesey on the death of her beloved aunt, Gwyn, she thinks this might be the start of a better life for her and her daughter, Ruby. Little does she know what nightmare awaits.

The location and setting of this story is genius; the author captures the small island village and the ever present dangerous cliffs together with the dark and creepy atmosphere of the house perfectly and I was transported there by her excellent and vivid descriptions.

There are quite a few characters and it did take me a while to get a grasp on them all but they are an interesting and eclectic bunch and not all of them are particularly likeable but all fit in and have their place in the story.

The story itself is a complex one of historical family trauma that spans generations. There is a pervading sense of the creepy and the unsettling from the start with some great twists culminating in a very satisfying ending that brought everything together.

The narrator was excellent; her voice was absolutely perfect for the story and I actually think I enjoyed it more because of her narration. Would I have enjoyed it had I read it rather than listened? I think so but I would definitely have had trouble with pronouncing the Welsh words!

Overall, a great audio book to keep you company whilst driving, cleaning or doing just about anything that doesn't need a lot of thought and many thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts on The Last House on the Cliff.