Advent Books part 3 - and that's a wrap! Festive greetings to all our followers! The final days of Advent bring us more great recommendations. Christmas greetings to all our contributors and followers! Which have you re...

Here's the final batch of #AdventBooks. Hope you've enjoyed revisiting, and Christmas greetings to all our contributors and followers! Happy reading in 2025. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2024/12/adve... #greatreads #reviewsbywriters #Christmas #HappyChristmas

Our tribute to Helen Dunmore, poet and novelist, 1952-2017 "Helen Dunmore died much too young. But we have her books and they abide." Celia Rees: Helen Dunmore was one of those writers who could ...

We finish #AdventBooks with a writer and her many books: our joint tribute to the great #HelenDunmore. "A poet as well as a novelist - it showed in everything she wrote, the precision and sensuousness of her language, the seductiveness of her rhythms." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2017/06/our-...

Guest review by Paula Knight: THE OUTRUN by Amy Liptrot "The tug of love between urban and rural life is what stitched me into the core of this book."  Paula Knight  is an author, illust...

Nearing the end of #AdventBooks - THE OUTRUN by Amy Liptrot, chosen by @paulaknight.bsky.social: "The tug of love between urban and rural life is what stitched me into the core of this book." #Orkney #addiction #recovery #film #SaoirseRonan #Advent reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2018/04/gues...

Guest review by Hazel Gaynor: YELLOWFACE by Rebecca F Kuang "A clever, dark, witty, provocative story that I devoured in a couple of days ..." Photograph by Fran Veale Hazel Gaynor is an award-winn...

#AdventBooks day 21 - the deliciously witty, clever, provocative YELLOWFACE by #RebeccaFKuang, chosen by @hazelgaynor.bsky.social: 'Part murder mystery, part publishing industry satire ... I devoured it." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2023/05/gues...
#Advent #greatreads #publishing #writerslife

Guest review by Sara Collins: A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD by Jennifer Egan "That rare thing: a novel of breathtaking ambition that actually achieves its aims." Sara Collins is of Jamaican descent and wo...

Today's #AdventCalendar reveals A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD by Jennifer Egan, chosen by @saracollinsauthor.bsky.social: "held captive by that rare thing: a novel of breathtaking ambition that actually achieves its aims." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2019/06/gues... #AdventBooks #greatreads #Advent

RED SHIFT by Alan Garner, reviewed by Celia Rees "Challenging in the true sense, it makes demands on the reader and demands to be read and read again." In a Lecture given in 1975,...

Today brings us the timeless, multilayered RED SHIFT by #AlanGarner. Reviewer @celiarees.bsky.social wonders "if Red Shift would even be published now, for Young Adults anyway, or would it be seen as too 'difficult'?" reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2017/05/red-... #greatreads #YAfiction #AdventBooks

Guest review by Philip Womack: FRANCIS PLUG - WRITER IN RESIDENCE by Paul Ewen "There is something impish about Plug, a kind of naughty nature spirit thrust into the world of the mundane ..." Photograph: Tatiana von P...

For #AdventBooks #Day18 - plain cover but a deliciously funny book by Paul Ewen, @philipwomack.bsky.social's choice, set in the world of writing and publishing. A must for our author followers & anyone who enjoys clever comic fiction! reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2022/01/gues... #Advent

EIGHTH BIRTHDAY SPECIAL FEATURE: guest Simon Mason on THE BROKEN SHORE and TRUTH by Peter Temple "As rich, grim and sprawling as Dostoevsky, taking in multitudes, a swarming cast of characters, murder, politics, money and horror ..." Sim...

Day 17 of #AdventBooks features the crime writing of Australian writer Peter Temple, praised by Simon Mason: "a writer of thoroughly expert literary thrillers, stylish, intelligent, humorous & dark." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2024/07/eigh...

#crimefiction
#PeterTemple
#greatreads
#BlueskyBooks

Guest review by Jane Rogers: THE GREAT DERANGEMENT by Amitav Ghosh "This is the best book I’ve found in a year of seeking out fiction and non-fiction about climate change." Jane Rogers  has written ten n...

Advent Books Day 16 brings us THE GREAT DERANGEMENT by Amitav Ghosh, in which he asks why (at the time of writing) the climate emergency wasn't treated seriously in fiction other than in #scifi or #clifi. Why won't we engage with it? reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2021/01/gues... #AdventBooks

ADVENT BOOKS week 2 - revisiting some of our favourites from the last 8 years Which have you read? Tell us in the comments! Advent Books Week 2 brings more of our favourite books and reviews. Several of our regular con...

Here's a roundup of #AdventBooks week 2 - great recommendations here from our excellent reviewers! Which have you read? Tell us in the blog comments! reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2024/12/adve... #Advent #greatreads

Guest review by Cindy Jefferies: HOPE NOT FEAR by Hassan Akkad "A story that needed to be told." First published in 2001 for children, Cindy Jefferies found success with her Fame School series with Us...

Today's Advent Calendar door opens to reveal a topical choice: HOPE NOT FEAR by Hassan Akkad, reviewed by @cindyjefferies.bsky.social. 'A story that needed to be told ... harrowing, painful, moving, uplifting.' reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2021/11/gues...

#Syria
#AdventBooks
#Advent
#memoir

Guest review by Anne Cassidy: HAMNET by Maggie O'Farrell "While O’Farrell’s plot is convincing it’s the language she uses that sets her work above the ordinary." Anne Cassidy  writes cri...

On #AdventBooks Day 14, the door opens to reveal the wonderful HAMNET by Maggie O'Farrell, chosen by Anne Cassidy. "While O’Farrell’s plot is convincing it’s the language she uses that sets her work above the ordinary." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2020/05/gues...
#Advent
#greatreads
#BlueskyBooks

Guest review by Penny Dolan: LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus "A delight ... made me feel better and stronger for having read it and met such a heroine." Penny Do...

Today's #AdventCalendar door opens to reveal LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by #BonnieGarmus, chosen by Penny Dolan: "a delight - made me feel better and stronger for having read it and met such a heroine'. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2022/09/gues... #AdventBooks #Advent #BlueSkyBooks #❤️📚 #greatreads

Guest review by Cindy Jefferies: THE MASTER by Colm Tóibín "Henry James was such a consummate observer, and Tóibín gives us this in spades." First published in 2001 for children, Cindy Jefferies fou...

Advent Day 12 brings us THE MASTER by Colm Toibin, chosen by @cindyjefferies.bsky.social: "James was a man of the mind, and Tóibín inhabits that mind to stunning effect." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2022/08/gues...

#ColmToibin
#HenryJames
#greatreads
#AdventBooks
#AdventDay12
#BlueskyBooks

Guest review by Katherine Langrish: THE GOLDEN RULE by Amanda Craig "The novel is about relationships destructive and supportive, and learning to see people for what they truly are..." Photograph by Jo Cott...

On Day 11 of #AdventBooks, the door opens to reveal The Golden Rule by Amanda Craig, chosen by Katherine Langrish. 'This was a novel I really couldn't put down, and not only for the strong storytelling.' reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2020/08/gues... #Advent #AdventDay11

#BlueskyBooks
#greatreads

Guest review by Jon Appleton: THE DUTCH HOUSE by Ann Patchett " It’s perhaps her best book but quite likely only till the next one. She’s that kind of writer." Jon Appleton  is a freelance writ...

What's behind the #AdventBooks calender door today? It's The Dutch House by #AnnPatchett, chosen by Jon Appleton. "Her best book but quite likely only till the next one. She’s that kind of writer." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2020/06/gues...

#greatreads
#Advent
#AdventDay10
#BlueskyBooks
❤️📚

Guest review by Judith Allnatt: LILY by Rose Tremain "Tremain writes with all her usual subtlety and feeling, imbuing everyday objects with the emotional charge they hold for her characters s...

Day 9 of #AdventBooks brings us LILY, by Rose Tremain, chosen by Judith Allnatt. 'Tremain writes with all her usual subtlety and feeling ... moved me to tears. Heartrending, compassionate and brilliant.' reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2023/01/gues...

#Advent
#greatreads
#RoseTremain
#BlueskyBooks

ADVENT BOOKS Week 1: revisiting some of our favourites from the last 8 years Thank you, as ever, to our many contributors - we couldn't possibly do this without you! During the lead-up to Christmas, we're posting ...

Here's the round-up of our first week of #AdventBooks. Big thanks to all our contributors, all authors or booksellers! Follow us for a new recommendation each day throughout #Advent. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2024/12/adve... #greatreads #reviewsbywriters #readinggroups #bookbloggers

Guest review by Rachel Morris: OLD FILTH by Jane Gardam "Beautifully written, moves at pace, surges with a bitter poignancy and is laced with a very particular kind of magical realism. It is also...

Advent Books Day 8: Rachel Morris on #JaneGardam's OLD FILTH. "Beautifully written, moves at pace, surges with a bitter poignancy ... also strangely defiant and often very funny." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2020/08/gues...

#AdventBooks
#AdventDay8
#RachelMorris
#BlueskyBooks
#BskyBooks
❤️📚

Advent Books Day 7: Jamaica Inn by #DaphneduMaurier, chosen by Graeme Fife. "A story of sinister dealings, innocence betrayed, psychological contradiction" plus the conflicting power of love. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2022/10/gues... #AdventBooks #AdventDay7 #greatreads #Cornwall #Advent

Guest review by Yvonne Coppard: THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by Maggie O'Farrell (Audiobook narrated by Genevieve Gaunt) "Beautiful, lyrical writing in places, and always an absorbing story." Yvonne Coppard is a Writing Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund and wr...

Advent Books Day 6: Yvonne Coppard praises Maggie O'Farrell's absorbing tale of Italian Renaissance intrigue. 'Lyrical, beautiful, always intriguing'. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2023/07/gues... #AdventBooks #AdventDay6 #MaggieOFarrell #greatreads

@tracychevalier.bsky.social - Our attempt at recreating the cover of Remarkable Creatures this morning at Charmouth Beach! Sadly no ichthyosaurus, but Julia found a small ammonite. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2016/07/rema... @celiarees.bsky.social @juliajarman.bsky.social #AdventBooks #Advent

Guest review by Marcus Berkmann: THE UNCONSOLED by Kazuo Ishiguro "In my opinion, one of the greatest post-war novels of them all, far ahead of anything else that Kazuo has written and liable (if it so...

Advent Books Day 5, revisiting favourite posts: Marcus Berkmann relishes Kazuo Ishiguro's The Unconsoled - 'one of the greatest postwar novels.' reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2020/04/gues...

#AdventBooks
#Advent
#greatreads
#KazuoIshiguro
#MarcusBerkmann
#NobelLaureate
#BlueSkyBooks
#BSkyBooks
❤️📚

Guest review by Nick Manns: THE DARKER THE NIGHT, THE BRIGHTER THE STARS by Paul Broks "An exhilarating book ... open-minded, big-hearted and generous." Nick Manns taught English in comprehensive schools in south Lo...

Advent books day 4: Nick Manns explores Paul Brok's uncategorisable, fascinating book about experience, perception, psychology, grief & fantasy. Over #Advent we're revisiting favourite posts from the last 8 yrs. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2019/01/gues... #PaulBroks #AdventBooks #greatreads

Day three of my #bookadvent is Father Christmas and the Three Bears by Lou Peacock.
It's a fun and festive Christmas fairy-tale adventure. The children love pointing out the different characters. 📚💙
#Adventbooks
#booksky
#Children'sbooks
#kidlit
#picturebook

Follow @writersreview.bsky.social to get a great recommendation every day of Advent! We're revisiting some of our favourite posts from the last 8 years. ❤️📚 #Adventbooks

FOURTH ANNIVERSARY: a special Q&A with Celia Rees about her new novel, MISS GRAHAM'S COLD WAR COOKBOOK "There is a definite magic in that first moment when the ideas begin to swarm together ..." Celia Rees is a leading writer for Young Adults...

Advent Books Day 3! Here's our own Celia Rees talking about Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook - inspiration, research & more. structurereviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2020/07/fourth-birthday-...

#AdventBooks
#greatreads
#BlueSkyBooks
#BSkyBooks
❤️📚
#WritersReview
#AuthorQ&A

Day two of my #Adventbooks challenge is Helen Stephens's How to Hide a Lion at Christmas. More enchanting adventures with Iris and her lion 🦁
📚💙
#children'sbook
#picturebook
#kidlit
#schoollibrary

A TOWN CALLED SOLACE by Mary Lawson, reviewed by Adèle Geras "Although at first sight it’s a very simple story, its construction is enormously intricate and the words are put together with such fines...

Advent Books Day 2! We're revisiting favourite posts from the last 8 years. Adele Geras praises A TOWN CALLED SOLACE: 'how brilliantly each revelation is brought to your attention.' reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-to...

#AdventBooks
#Advent
#BlueSkyBooks
#Bskybooks #greatreads #MaryLawson

REMARKABLE CREATURES by Tracy Chevalier "Chevalier's ability to present historical events as if they're unfolding in front of us gives startling impact to the characters' baffl...

For advent we're revisiting a favourite post each day, starting with our very first review 8 years ago!
reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2016/07/rema...
#AdventBooks
#BlueSkyBooks
#BSkyBooks
#AdventDay1
#Advent
❤️📚
@tracychevalier.bsky.social
#MaryAnning
#greatwomen
#greatreads