“Hope was now a dying lamp, and hers only had a little more oil.” “I am a wine-makers’ child – I will not waste the fruits of my labour by tipping them on to the ground.” The Bone Season was my introduction to Samantha Shannon well over a decade ago. While I still love theContinue reading “AMONG THE BURNING FLOWERS – Samantha Shannon”
Tag Archives: Book reviews
THE REST OF OUR LIVES – Ben Markovits
THE REST OF OUR LIVES: Ben MarkovitsSummit Books : 13 January 2026 (US)Faber & Faber : 27 March 2025 (UK) (I’m using the UK edition)Page Count: 239 First line: When our son was twelve years old, my wife had an affair with a guy called Zach Zirsky, whom she knew from synagogue. Blurbed by: Lucy CaldwellContinue reading “THE REST OF OUR LIVES – Ben Markovits”
THE LAND IN WINTER – Andrew Miller
Booker 101 Quick & Dirty Monday! THE LAND IN WINTER: Andrew MillerEuropa Editions: 4 November 2025 (US)Sceptre: 24 October 2024 (UK) (I’m using the UK edition)Page Count: 371 First line: He was lying on a varnished wooden board, the top of a boxed-in radiator. Blurbed by: Hilary Mantel – (Nominated for the Booker four times, she’sContinue reading “THE LAND IN WINTER – Andrew Miller”
ONE BOAT – Jonathan Buckley
Booker 101 Quick & Dirty Monday! ONE BOAT : Jonathan BuckleyW.W. Norton: 4 November 2025 (US)Fitzcarrldo Editions: 13 March 2025 (UK) (I’m using the UK Kindle version)Page Count: 168 First line: “The first time the intention was simply to find a place that was quiet, but not somnolent” Blurbed by: I could find no blurbs forContinue reading “ONE BOAT – Jonathan Buckley”
SEASCRAPER – Benjamin Wood
Booker 101 Quick & Dirty Monday! SEASCRAPER : Benjamin WoodScribner: 4 November 2025 (US)Penguin Books Ltd.: 17 July 2025 (UK) (I’m using the UK version)Page Count: 163 First line: Thomas Flett relies upon the ebb tide for a living, but he knows the end is near. Blurbed by: Hilary Mantel – (Nominated for the BookerContinue reading “SEASCRAPER – Benjamin Wood”
UNIVERSALITY – Natasha Brown
UNIVERSALITY: Natasha BrownRandom House: 4 March 2025 (US) (unless otherwise noted, I’m reading the US edition)Faber & Faber: 13 March 2025 (UK)Page Count: 152 First line: A gold bar is deceptively heavy. Blurbed by: Tess Gunty – (Numerous awards. No Booker nominations.) Raven Leilani – (Numerous awards. No Booker nominations.) Andrew O’Hagan – (Nominated forContinue reading “UNIVERSALITY – Natasha Brown”
ENDLING – Maria Reva
Booker 101 Quick & Dirty Monday! ENDLING: Maria RevaKnopf Doubleday Publishing Group.: 3 June 2025 (US) (unless otherwise noted, I’m reading the US edition)Little, Brown Book Group / Virago Books: 3 July 2025 (UK)Page Count: 338 First line: In the cities, buildings still stood whole. Blurbed by: Ann Patchett – (Numerous awards. No Booker nominations.)Continue reading “ENDLING – Maria Reva”
WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH – Lisa Ridzén
“A window opens, and I hear the cranes gathering to fly south.” “At dinner one day, I snapped and asked what the hell the point of life was if I was too old for a dog.” If you’ve ever had to say goodbye when death is not a thief but a friend who comes inContinue reading “WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH – Lisa Ridzén”
THE SOUTH – Tash Aw
Booker 101 Quick & Dirty Monday! THE SOUTH: Tash AwFarrar, Straus and Giroux : 27 May 2025 (US) (unless otherwise noted, I’m reading the US edition)4th Estate (Harper Imprint): 13 February 2025 (UK)Page Count: 280 First line: Two boys walk through the scant shade of an orchard, far from the house where they are staying.Continue reading “THE SOUTH – Tash Aw”
MISINTERPRETATION – Ledia Xhoga
Booker 101 Quick & Dirty Monday! MISINTERPRETATION: Ledia XhogaTin House : 3 September 2024 (US) (unless otherwise noted, I’m reading the US edition)Daunt Books: 6 May 2025 (UK)Page Count: 287 First line: I was fifteen minutes late and his phone number was out of service. Blurbed by: Jennifer Croft – (With the author Olga Tokarczuk,Continue reading “MISINTERPRETATION – Ledia Xhoga”
A Girl Named Tommi 