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David McK (3843 KP) rated Me Bandy, You Cissie (The Bandy Papers, #4) in Books

Jan 30, 2019

The fourth book in Donald Jack's Bandy series of novels, following a Canadian aviator through the early parts of the 20th century.

This is the first novel not set in (or related to) The First World War, as it is set in the 1920s, and follows the trials and tribulations of its titular character upon his escape from Russia and return to America: events that see him join (and then get fired from) the postal service, and eventually become an unwitting early Hollywood star.

While it's still fitfully amusing, I have to say I didn't find this as funny as the earlier books: maybe because it is set in America, and relates to events and characters that we (in the West) are not as familiar with as our American or Canadian counter-parts.

Kudos

David McK (3843 KP) rated Hal Spacejock 2: Second Course in Books

Jan 30, 2019

Earlier this year, I picked up a novel (re)named '[b:Hal Spacejock 1: A robot named Clunk|12381591|Hal Spacejock 1 A robot named Clunk|Simon Haynes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1524681176s/12381591.jpg|1083521].

I enjoyed it, but thought it was nothing special.

Recently, I saw an advert on Facebook (I think), for the first three of the Hal Spacejock (yes, that's the real name of one of the characters!) novels and a bonus short story for 99pence. As I'd been reading a lot of heavier fare recently, and as it was only 99p, I thought I would pick it up.

And, I have to say, I enjoyed this one (the second in that collection) more than I remember enjoying the first, complete with a few actually laughed-out-loud moments!

Kudos

David McK (3843 KP) rated The Gladiator (Eagle, #9) in Books

Jan 30, 2019

Took me a while to get in to, as it follows on (loosely) from the end of Scarrows previous Roman Legion novel, [b:Centurion|1852646|Centurion (Eagle, #8)|Simon Scarrow|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1387711939s/1852646.jpg|1853169]

Once I remembered who was who, and where certain characters had originated from, moved on quite nicely. It probably helps to have read the previous novels before this one (I have), as this refers back to events even further than his usual of one book ago (although it is possible to read this on its own). Also unusually for Scarrow, this has an ending that is undoubtedly leading in to a direct sequel.

(edit in 2018: that would be [b:The Legion|9356279|The Legion (Eagle, #10)|Simon Scarrow|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328650595s/9356279.jpg|14239688])

Kudos

James Koppert (2698 KP) rated Where the World Ends in Books

Nov 3, 2019 (Updated Nov 3, 2019)

Where the World Ends

Geraldine McCaughrean | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Thriller

5.7

(3 Ratings)

Book Rating

McCaughrean does an incredible job here. She heard a true story of a group of boys and men in the 1800s who go to a 'stack' to farm birds. The stack is a juttering jagged rock rising from the cold Scottish seas, a nasty place to be, so they plan to stay for a few days and then they hope to be collected. Although they weren't. McCaughrean then tried to imagine what happened to them next and what we get is an incredible well imagined narrative of hardship and survival filled with hope and love and triumph and turmoil. One of those novels which gives you a piece of history which was unknown and hard to imagine and at the same time makes you ask yourself what you would do in the same situation.

Kudos

Erika (17789 KP) rated Star Wars: Force Collector (Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker) in Books

Dec 19, 2019

So, this was the last novel of the 'Journey to Rise of Skywalker' series... At least the writing was a little better than the other novels in the series.
The novel featured two forgettable teen characters, one of whom had some force powers, and the other was the daughter of a First Order dude. Pretty unremarkable, because I don't even remember their names. They go on some rando adventures to find some Jedi artefacts, because the kid can touch things and see the past. A different sort of force power, which I believe was the entire point. At one point, they do visit Bantuu, which connects it to Galaxy's Edge.
I think this novel was written to illustrate different sorts of force powers that will come into play in the film.