Books

Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner – Book Review

March 21, 2023yggdrasille

This razor-sharp, shrewdly observed novel about marriage, divorce and middle-age malaise provoked a whole range of reactions in me. I was engrossed at first, then a tad frustrated, and finally appreciative when I realised what a clever Trojan horse of a story it really was.

While the Light Lasts by Agatha Christie – Book Review

February 7, 2023yggdrasille

A collection of early short stories that I suspect would only be of interest to diehard Christie devotees and completists.

The Fifth Head of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe – Book Review

February 2, 2023yggdrasille

It took me a couple of reads to wrap my head around this haunting, disorienting and imaginative trio of sci-fi novellas that take the reader into a labyrinth full of mirrors and puzzles.

The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie – Book Review

January 10, 2023yggdrasille

One of my New Year resolutions is to finally wrap up the Agatha Christie re-readathon I started back in 2018, so onward we go with this Tommy and Tuppence spy adventure published almost exactly a century ago.

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin – Book Review

January 5, 2023yggdrasille

I’ve now read three sci-fi novels by Le Guin, and this thoughtful, intelligent exploration of anarchism vs capitalism, and the impossible dream of a truly free society, might be my favourite so far.

My Real Children by Jo Walton – Book Review

November 15, 2022yggdrasille

I picked up this book based on its intriguing premise of an old woman remembering living two distinct lives. I got a feeling early on that the novel wasn’t going to live up to its promising beginning, and sadly my instincts were proven correct.

The Hound of Death by Agatha Christie – Book Review

November 1, 2022November 1, 2022yggdrasille

Halloween was the perfect time to check out this curious collection from the Queen of Crime: twelve short stories tinged with the fantastical and supernatural.

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty – Book Review

October 20, 2022yggdrasille

The latest domestic noir from the queen of Sydney suburbia is an indulgent but hugely enjoyable page-turner, exploring family dynamics in the wake of a disappearance.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – Book Review

October 13, 2022yggdrasille

This exquisitely written novel re-imagines Homer’s epic tale as a touching love story between two childhood friends against the backdrop of the Trojan War.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Read on Holiday

October 11, 2022yggdrasille

Another great topic from That Artsy Reader Girl that combines reading and travel.

Though I will readily admit the practical advantages of Kindle, I remain old-fashioned and always prefer to take a physical book with me, even if it occupies valuable luggage space. Quite a lot of space at times: looking at the list, I really tend to go for massive door stoppers when it comes to a long overseas holiday.