Review: Mrs Porter Calling – AJ Pearce

Mrs Porter Calling is the third book in AJ Pearce’s glorious series The Emmy Lake Chronicles. Readers of this blog may know of my regard for this series, which is set in the Second World War and features Emmy Lake and her friend Bunty, young girls trying to make their way through the war. Dear… Continue reading Review: Mrs Porter Calling – AJ Pearce

Review: Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah

Rootless is Appiah’s debut novel and it’s an accomplished rollercoaster of emotions. I had been in a review rut – nothing I’d chosen on Netgalley had really done it for me recently and I always feel a bit guilty when this happens as I do try to give positive feedback when I can. Thank goodness,… Continue reading Review: Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah

February reading round up

February. Like January but shorter and with more people trying so very hard to call it spring and blithely ignoring the Arctic windchill factor. Fools. Bring on March. I’ve read a lot this month! Here’s the rundown: Hotel Milano – Tim Parks I always look at Tim Parks books thinking I like them and then… Continue reading February reading round up

Reading challenges – love ’em or hate ’em?

Happy New Year! New year, same old complaints about reading challenges. Even the Guardian published a piece this year telling people not to worry about reading more, but reading better. Well yes. I confess I do wonder why people take reading challenges so seriously. The things we choose to care about. I mean, if you’re… Continue reading Reading challenges – love ’em or hate ’em?

December reading round up

I hope this festive period is treating you well. This post is always an odd one to send out after the annual reading round up, and especially odd this year as I’ve really struggled getting through books this month. But here we are: A Town Called Solace – Mary Lawson A Town Called Solace! Ooh-ooh-ooh-yeah!… Continue reading December reading round up

Books of the year: 2022 reading round up

How has 2022 been for you? I have read a lot of books, and even starting writing things again, which feels like an exciting step. However, in prepping this post, I did get a suspicion that the reading hasn’t been great this year. Let’s look at the numbers: As ever, they vary depending on which… Continue reading Books of the year: 2022 reading round up