Future North: The Changing Arctic Landscapes
Janike Kampevold Larsen and Peter Hemmersam
Book
What is the future for northern landscapes? How will they look? What will it be like to live there?...
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Constant Rabbit in Books
Aug 20, 2020
In The Constant Rabbit, Fforde has taken the topic of racism and put it in a different setting. Due to an unexplained event, a number of animals were anthropomorphised, including a few rabbits, foxes, bears and elephants. True to their nature, that small population of rabbits has exploded and they now represent a large proportion of the population. Britain being what it is, there is a lot of ill-feeling toward these rabbits and this has made it's way into politics and societal changes. The government themselves are the UK Anti Rabbit Party, and there are a great number of restrictions on the rabbits' freedom of movement.
The book serves as a great analogy for historic racism and xenophobia that still remains in the UK and the western world as a whole.
The story itself only reveals itself gradually, it takes a long time to be set up and generally just unfolds. There is no real underlying plot from the off, it is the unfolding of a scenario.
To that end, I felt this book was a little more about the idea, and the effort put in to fleshing that out, and the story itself has suffered slightly. There are long sections of exposition throughout the book, and at times it does get a little boring.
Far from Fforde at his best, it is still a great funny book and a wonderful thought experiment and demonstration of the ludicrousness of xenophobia.
ClareR (5674 KP) rated The Fool’s Folly in Books
Jun 9, 2020
This story is set at Sandal Castle, the seat of John de la Pole, King Richard’s heir (and now it becomes clear why Henry VIII wanted to get rid of the de la Pole family!). De la Pole’s jester is murdered, and the newly appointed judge, Sir Giles Beaton, is asked to get to the bottom of the mystery. What starts out as a seemingly open and shut case, ends up being the start of a killing spree. Giles has to wonder if the deaths are connected, and whether this has something to do with a plot against the King and his heir.
It’s a bit gruesome at points - I liked this, I will admit. Medieval postmortems wouldn’t have been for the more sensitive observer (or reader!), I’m sure. I do have a bit of a thing for historical fiction, and a newly developed respect for crime and mysteries. I appreciate the attention to detail, and the research that must have occurred in writing this book, it feels very authentic.
I haven’t read the first book in this series, but it didn’t affect my reading enjoyment at all. In fact it has made me want to read the first in the series as well!
Many thanks to Sapere Books for sending me a copy of this book to read and review!
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Curator in Books
May 31, 2020
Why have I not read any of this series before? Where have I been living to have missed them? I must have been walking around with my eyes closed given this is the 3rd instalment!! I have probably missed the development of the main characters and their backstories but it certainly didn't take anything away from my enjoyment of this book so can safely say it can be read as a standalone.
I won't go into the plot as it's all in the blurb but what I will say is that despite it being complex, the writing is such that it isn't a hard read and although it's a dark and gritty story, the sarcasm and wit lightens it somewhat especially as it feels natural and not forced. The pace is perfect and the setting is spot on ... not that I'm biased or anything given that I live in Cumbria.
The characters are believable and just brilliant. Washington is a breath of fresh air, he is a bit grumpy but likeable nonetheless and someone you definitely want to be on your side. I absolutely adore Tilly - I need her in my life and would love her to spend just one day in my office - oh the carnage! I will never eat a bar nut again!!
Well you've probably already guessed that I enjoyed this book but just in case I haven't been clear ... it is absolutely brilliant and is one of those books that you tell people to read because it's that good.
My thanks must go to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review. I am so grateful I was one of the chosen ones and I await the next instalment with impatience.
Words of Radiance: Book Two of The Stormlight Archive
9.0
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, Words of Radiance, Book Two of the...
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Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, and Justice
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What Melania wants, Melania gets. The former director of special events at Vogue and producer of...
Penelope & Prince Charming (Nvengaria, #1)
6.0
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Welcome to Nvengaria, a land where magic happens, shape-shifters are real, and fairy tales come...
Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them
8.0
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Normal? Who's normal? Not you, that's for sure! No one you've ever met, either. None of us are...
Sarah (7798 KP) Aug 20, 2020
Kevin Phillipson (10017 KP) Aug 20, 2020