Sarah Pittaway

@drsarah.bsky.social 🦋 • Joined about 2 months ago

Director of Library & Learning Resources @ BCU. Likely to post about libraries, HE, feminism, shoes, and cats. Not necessarily in that order. She/her.

Library

Reviews

Mexican Gothicby Silvia Moreno-Garcia(3 ⭐)

Another enjoyable 'is something spooky or something psychological happening here?' book, though it does get a little silly towards the end. Still kept me reading, though the focus on the main character's clothing was a bit much for me

All the White Spacesby Ally Wilkes(4 ⭐)

3.5 stars. Really enjoyed the supernatural ghost story element, though found it slow to get going. The main character being trans wasn't really germane to the story itself in my view, and certainly wasn't explored. It seemed to be the case that simply cutting his hair short and hiding the lack of an adam's apple was enough.

Shrines of Gaietyby Kate Atkinson(4 ⭐)

Haven't decided how to rate this yet- really loved the story but the ending felt like it came quite abruptly, tying up every single plot end in quick succession

Lock Me Inby Kate Simants(4 ⭐)

definitely a page turner as all thrillers should be and not marred by the fact that I kinda guessed the plot

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeidaby Shehan Karunatilaka(3 ⭐)

The last 100 pages really got my interest but it was something of a slog before that, relying on more knowledge of Sri Lankan recent history than I have. Reminiscent of, but not as good as, Lincoln in the bardo, or 10 minutes, 38 seconds in this strange world, both of which I loved.

Blackoutby Erin Flanagan(3 ⭐)

Man, I keep picking up books recently where I spend the first half rolling my eyes at the main character. In this case, Maris, academic, alcoholic, and all-round numpty. Still, once the plot got going I enjoyed it, just don't look too hard at the science.

Daughter of the Moon Goddessby Sue Lynn Tan(2 ⭐)

This reads like YA fiction. The main character made me repeatedly eyeroll so hard, I swear I saw the inside of my own skull. She's brilliantly amazing at everything and everyone falls in love with her (because of course they do) and is totally oblivious to her own feelings about everyone. The first 300 pages are mostly set-up for the final 200 pages -this bit does at least rattle along apace but I nearly gave up before getting there.

Ariadneby Jennifer Saint(4 ⭐)

I enjoyed this retelling of Ariadne though I think calling it a feminist retelling is a stretch. She makes one decision and spends most of the novel reacting/being driven by the desires of men. It's still a fairly engrossing version of the story though.

The Strange Adventures of Hby Sarah Burton(3 ⭐)

This is the second book I've read recently set in this time period in London and bith can be summarised as Prostitutes, Playhouses, Pox and Plague. In the case of H, add Poor Decisions to that list. H makes for quite an annoying protagonist and I'm glad to see the back of her! Quite readable despite that though.

This Mournable Bodyby Tsitsi Dangarembga(2 ⭐)

Struggled with this one - I wonder if it would have been better if I'd read the first 2 books in the trilogy? It's not that it didn't make sense but I wasn't invested in the main character at all. The recent history of Zimbabwe is very much a background to the plot, rather than being explored here.

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange Worldby Elif Shafak(5 ⭐)

This is the second book I've read by this author, the Architect's Apprentice being the other one, and enjoyed this books so much more. A really unusual idea, with the first section of the book being the flashbacks of Tequila Leila's life in the 10 minutes and 38 seconds after her murder. All the characters are OTT and yet it works beautifully

Piranesiby Susanna Clarke(5 ⭐)

Read this in one sitting - I don't think I'd have enjoyed it so much had I dipped in and out. It definitely takes a little while to acclimatise yourself to the world of the book and understand the confines of what 'Piranesi' is experiencing. Very strange, very satisfying.

The Red Hillby David Penny(3 ⭐)

I enjoyed the Andalusian setting, but definitely a murder mystery where I was less than convinced by the ending. Don't think I'll be seeking out the rest of the series

Death in Damascusby Karen Baugh Menuhin(5 ⭐)

I thoroughly enjoy these books - they're a great little homage to the traditional 1920s murder mystery. Nice and light hearted with a memorable cast of characters, particularly Greggs the butler and Mr Fogg and Mr Tubbs (dog and cat respectively....)

The Monks Hood Murdersby Karen Baugh Menuhin(4 ⭐)

Sarah Pittaway At some point Lennox will learn to stop handling evidence. It is not in this book :D The sub-plot of Greggs' love life a particular highligh

The Devil and the Dark Waterby Stuart Turton(4 ⭐)

Really enjoyed this even though I half guessed whodunnit. Loses a star for the ending though - it wasn't convincing at all.

Tomblandby C.J. Sansom(3 ⭐)

Not as good as previous Shardlake books. It couldn't quite decide whether to be a murder mystery or a historical novel about Kett's rebellion.

Clovenhoofby Heide Goody(4 ⭐)

No great literature, but this tickled my funny bone, particularly as a native Brummie

Monsters: A Bestiary of the Bizarreby Christopher Dell(4 ⭐)

Absolutely beautiful illustrations, though fairly light on actual text

The Thirteenth Taleby Diane Setterfield(3 ⭐)

Probably a 3.5 rating for me. This was definitely a page-turner once it got going, but I confess to being annoyed by the trope of the narrator being a bookish, shy, isolated type, but that's ok 'cos she grew up in a bookshop and loves reading. Plus I partly guessed the ending which is unusual for me.

I Am Scrooge: A Zombie Story for Christmasby Adam Roberts(1 ⭐)

This is unspeakably awful. I was going to write a review but I found someone else who already summarised what I think of it https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/287528506?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1

Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watsonby Lyndsay Faye(4 ⭐)

I enjoyed this. It cracks along nicely and the author obviously knows her Holmes. If I can hear Holmes' dialogue in the voice of Jeremy Brett (THE Sherlock Holmes imo) then something is right.

Only Ever Yoursby Louise O'Neill(3 ⭐)

Think The Handmaid's Tale meets Mean Girls and you've pretty much got Only Ever Yours. I've recommended it to Eldest Niece.

A Dry White Seasonby André Brink(3 ⭐)

As an account of apartheid era South Africa , this is brutal and damning - small wonder it was banned in SA after its publication. <br/><br/>A shame then that the author is so focused on the female characters' boobs. Seriously. If you've ever seen the hashtag #breastedboobily you'll know exactly the kind of writing I mean. I feel like there was a description of the boobs of every single female character, alive or dead. I'm not joking about the dead boob description either. Pointless and off putting, and sadly probably the main thing I'm going to remember about this book as it annoyed me so much.

A Little Lifeby Hanya Yanagihara(5 ⭐)

I loved this. Bleak, beautiful and has left me with a terrible book hangover.

The Insultby Rupert Thomson(2 ⭐)

One of Bowie's top 100 books apparently. Not one of mine.