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ClareR (5864 KP) rated Walking to Aldebaran in Books
Jul 19, 2019
Walking to Aldebaran is an absolute corker of a novella. I loved it - if you enjoy science fiction, it’s a no-brainer, but this story is more than that. It’s about the slow (or fast! Err, you need to read it) descent into insanity of a man stranded alone inside a planet/ wormhole/ crypt! The main character, Gary Rendell, gets separated from his fellow crew members when they disembark from their ship to explore a strange planet-sized ‘rock’. It’s creepy, startling and SO WELL WRITTEN! You can’t help but like Gary - whether you should or not is another matter entirely!
How Adrian Tchaikovsky manages to cram so much in to 140 pages will be why he’s the writer that I want to read (and why I’m not the writer 🤷🏼♀️). Oh, and I did like what was done with the names - Gary’s name will become clearer nearer the end of the story!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this fab book!
How Adrian Tchaikovsky manages to cram so much in to 140 pages will be why he’s the writer that I want to read (and why I’m not the writer 🤷🏼♀️). Oh, and I did like what was done with the names - Gary’s name will become clearer nearer the end of the story!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this fab book!
Merissa (12788 KP) rated The Hawk's Shadow (Black Earth, Prequel) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
The idea of bridging one book to a new trilogy via a novella was, well, brilliant and 'novel' if you pardon the pun. I am not usually a big fan of novellas as I prefer to have more detail which is usually denied me due to the length. However, being as this dealt with characters from "Raven's Heart" so you have already been introduced to them and their lives and struggles. This story continues on perfectly with two of them - Hawkwing and his brother, The White Demon/Collin.
For such a short book there is a lot of detail which was fantastic to read. There is a reference (to Hawkwing and his health) which is a reference to Raven's Heart but this in no ways mars the general flow of the story.
Well paced, good characters, in-depth story told and a wonderful way to start a new trilogy. Really enjoyed this one.
For such a short book there is a lot of detail which was fantastic to read. There is a reference (to Hawkwing and his health) which is a reference to Raven's Heart but this in no ways mars the general flow of the story.
Well paced, good characters, in-depth story told and a wonderful way to start a new trilogy. Really enjoyed this one.
Deborah (162 KP) rated A Body in Berkeley Square in Books
Dec 21, 2018
This is actually the fifth book in the series (with a novella making an additional story) of mysteries featuring Captain Lacey - and a thoroughly enjoyable series it has been too! The books are well written with myserties that you can follow but are full of twists and turns and red herrings. There is also a great cast of recurring characters in support. The mysteries are set in Regency England, mainly in London. If you enjoyed any of CS Harris' Sebastian St Cyr books I think you will also enjoy the Captain Lacey mysteries.
My only regret is that I've read my way through the series so far and that the next book is not yet available in a Kindle edition, as it promises to tie up some of the issues in Gabriel's personal life that have come to light over the series! Anyone looking to download these books onto their Kindle is also getting a bargain as the price is fantastic!
My only regret is that I've read my way through the series so far and that the next book is not yet available in a Kindle edition, as it promises to tie up some of the issues in Gabriel's personal life that have come to light over the series! Anyone looking to download these books onto their Kindle is also getting a bargain as the price is fantastic!
Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated Herland, the Yellow Wall-Paper, and Selected Writings in Books
Jul 2, 2019
This was both fun and grim
This was an interesting book and for all you feminists out there, quite amusing. The author covered a range of issues which are still relevant today such as, the way food is grown, cultivated and harvested, the values of being kind to the earth. It covered the way that children are educated. There is an excellent piece on religion which I personally found amusing, being an atheist. Considering the time period in which the novella was written, this book is like a mirror on society, especially a patriarchal society.
The sentence structure is clunky, annoyingly long but typical of late Victorian work. The ending is frustrating as it is left wide open without answers. Yet putting that aside, I really liked it. It is not my ideal female utopia, but I am sure for Perkins, in an oppressive male dominated society, it was.
The sentence structure is clunky, annoyingly long but typical of late Victorian work. The ending is frustrating as it is left wide open without answers. Yet putting that aside, I really liked it. It is not my ideal female utopia, but I am sure for Perkins, in an oppressive male dominated society, it was.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Bongo Fury (Bongy Fury #1) in Books
Nov 8, 2019
Do you want to read a humorous thriller novella set in Northern Ireland? Of course you would, who wouldn't?
Bongo fury introduces Jimmy, a man who just wants to run his music shop in peace. But when a friend asks for his help he ends up plunged into a world of gangsters, organised crime and drug deals. He has to use all of his considerable wits to escape from this unscathed.
This story turns on the character of Jimmy, and fortunately he's a terrific narrator, regarding events with a world-weary black humour even when they turn very much against him. The plot is fairly slight but runs at a fast pace so that really doesn't matter very much. What matters is how much fun this book is to read, and it's a lot of fun. Even better is that there is a Bongo Fury 2 which carries the story on.
Note: Lots of bad language and some violence
Bongo fury introduces Jimmy, a man who just wants to run his music shop in peace. But when a friend asks for his help he ends up plunged into a world of gangsters, organised crime and drug deals. He has to use all of his considerable wits to escape from this unscathed.
This story turns on the character of Jimmy, and fortunately he's a terrific narrator, regarding events with a world-weary black humour even when they turn very much against him. The plot is fairly slight but runs at a fast pace so that really doesn't matter very much. What matters is how much fun this book is to read, and it's a lot of fun. Even better is that there is a Bongo Fury 2 which carries the story on.
Note: Lots of bad language and some violence
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