there will obviously be comparisons to aspects of "The Secret History", it was a great original novel. Will definitely read his others (and more long books that take 2 days rather than an afternoon). It really was exceptionally well done. 7/7
Robin 'He's not a man in a dress, Allie, she's a woman in a man's body,' possibly felt more 2020s than what someone from her age and background would have thought in 1995. But it was definitely within the bounds of possibility, especially from people supportive of Llewellyn's illness. Whilst 6/7
translation will stay with me. The research was clearly top notch. Every political, TV, music or film reference was temporally accurate. Whenever I looked up something for seeming too early (like the founding of America Online) I was always wrong. Did think that the reaction to first seeing 5/7
with Arthur about library cards and Gwen about internet scrolling. John Norman's Gor books were new to me (and should perhaps stay that way!) Colin's description (in 2006) of 'an Elon' as 'a South African emerald mine that dates hot models and has far too many opinions' and Arthur's speech about 4/7
followed.' Also spotted plenty of Tolkien easter eggs of the 'neither a nasty, dirty, wet hole nor a dry, bare, sandy hole' variety. Loved the repeated troll farm joke and lines like 'Boggarts can't be choosers'. Liked learning about things like the Philip experiment and Elder Futhark. Agrees 3/7
engrossed in this well written tale. Liked the Stephen King references that I spotted, ranging from "The Dead Zone"'s Greg Stillson, to Gwen saying 'full dark, no stars' or the allusion to the opening line of "The Gunslinger" in 'The dark man fled across the cold desert and Arthur Oakes 2/7
Read @joe-hill.bsky.social's "King Sorrow". I'd read (and enjoyed) the short stories in "Strange Weather", but never gotten around to any of the novels. The blurbs for this one by the likes of @nickharkaway.com etc. convinced me. It was excellent. Has really enjoyed spending a couple of days 1/7
about the unprovability of Fermat's Last Theorem, but it did come out pre-Andrew Wiles. Is now looking forward to his "The Blue Afternoon". 2/2
Read William Boyd's "Brazzaville Beach". The tale of Hope Clearwater and the Chimpanzee Wars was marvellously entertaining. Whilst it did not perhaps reach the heights of "The New Confessions", everything about it was expertly paced and written. It was mildly amusing to read some of the passages 1/2
internet rabbit holes about things like the Olympic-Wallowa Lineament (OWL). There were so many poetical turns of phrase/references, that despite the grim subject matter it was a thoroughly enjoyable read and one I will highly recommend to many people I know. 3/3
of Violence", so I found the speculations about the possible links between the lead smelting causing 'the aroma of Tacoma' and the proliferation of Pacific North West serial killers deeply engrossing. (Was also fascinated by the link to South/West Yorkshire in the UK). Unsurprisingly I went down 2/3
Read @calfraser.bsky.social's "Murderland". Goodness me this was gorgeously written! Does not normally have much of an interest in True Crime, so the descriptions of what Ted Bundy et al 'may or may not' have done were almost too much for me, but I was a huge fan of Adrian Raine's "The Anatomy 1/3
multiple scientific things like the age first memories are formed. 3/3
having done a punishing workout while also learning rudimentary Japanese' sounded like a similar thought process to Olivia's later 'Charlotte has the glow of someone who rises at 4.15 a.m., meditates, exercises...' etc. Enjoyed both the book and going down the internet rabbit hole of looking up 2/3
Read Matthew Blake's "A Murder in Paris". Enjoyed this from the gripping Prologue to the Audenesque last line. Quickly guessed the mystery with Tom, but the majority of the other twists/revelations passed me by. Myles' description of 'his boss sounding like he's already on his second espresso 1/3
school castle scene. Did notice that in the chess game 'white, moved his bishop back from F4 to E2, to protect his king' is not a legal move, + some of the others didn't quite make sense. Apart from that, I loved it & can't wait for the next one. 2/2
Read Simon Mason's The Dangerous Stranger". This read-in-one-sitting novel definitely helped drag me out of a recent reading slump! The homelife/backstories of the heroes didn't distract from the mysteries of the case but added to the enjoyment. Will admit to having tears in my eyes at the final 1/2
Read Andrew Crumey's "Mobius Dick". This was intriguing and gripping. Certainly made me think about synchronicity etc. Will definitely read some of his other novels.
'me-machine' for smart phone. Enjoyed being reminded about the 2011 era internet. Found some of the religious/historical passages less interesting, but overall I enjoyed it and will go on to read his debut. 3/3
volume of Knausgaard's "My Struggle"; and the combination of a double and Israel made me think of Roth's "Operation Shylock". But this was funnier than both. The early curmudgeonly passages about Googling and emoticons recalled passages in Howard Jacobson. Particularly liked the phrase 2/3
Read Joshua Ferris' "To Rise Again at a Decent Hour". The passage on the opening page 'In the end, the heart stops, the cells die, the neurons go dark, bacteria consumes the pancreas, flies lay their eggs...' etc reminded me of a slightly breezier version of the famous opening of the first 1/3
Thinking about F. Scott Fitzgerald's line about holding 2 opposed ideas in mind as I desperately try to be delighted about Gwendoline Riley's wonderful & deserved reward while remaining angry about the prize's treatment of the (equally great) Helen DeWitt...
paperpools.blogspot.com/2026/04/we-l...
My fortnightly preparation for these excellent episodes is to read the text, read Weisenburger, listen to the audiobook, read @oedipaskvass.bsky.social's substack, listen to the relevant Slow Learners and Pynchon in Public podcast episodes, then keep rereading it. Still learns new things from them!
Had a similar teenage horror reading arc, so this was pleasantly nostalgic.
As always, this Substack is a great source for finding out about upcoming/recent books that had somehow passed me by and now need to be acquired instantly!
Read Jack Quaid's "Escape From Slaughter Beach". Definitely weaker than the previous two Final Girl novels, but readable because they already exist. (Had it been a standalone, I'd have given up - but the characters already had two books worth of depth which helped). Will move on to another slasher.
Read Reginald Hill's "A Very Good Hater". For most of this short novel I was probably the least gripped I'd been by Hill so far, but the final 25% or so really turned things around. Was far more invested by the end than I thought I'd be.
Read Will Dean's "Adrift". This page turner slipped down really easily. Was expecting a big twist/reveal, but the straight forward ending was perfectly satisfying. Is not sure why Samson's teacher allowed him to get away with saying Boron is element number fourteen!
similar manner to my reaction to passages in Franzen. But the literary references and general curmudgeonness more than made up for it. 2/2
Read Howard Jacobson's "Who's Sorry Now?" This was incredibly funny in places, and I'm really not sure why I stopped reading him. Is ready to move onto "The Making of Henry" almost immediately. There were a few times when the sexual content made my shake my head and mutter 'Jacobson!' in a 1/2
Re-read Gordon Burn's "Alma Cogan". In my memory the Myra Hindley/Moors Murderers section(s) took up more of the book than they did. Enjoyed it just as much as the first time, and is more determined than ever to read more of his novel.