@daja57.bsky.social
Obsessive reader: reviews on https://davesbookblog-daja.blogspot.com/
Writer of Motherdarling, The Kids of God and Bally and Bro.
@daja57.bsky.social@renardpress.com I've just finished 'Flagey in Spring' by Simon Mundy, the third in the series. Much of the action transfers to Rome for political shenanigans.
Great fun.
My review: tinyurl.com/5n6pcv5j
@daja57.bsky.socialIago says "Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand?" in Othello (2.1). Leontes uses "paddling palms" in his fit of jealousy in The Winter's Tale (1.2) Which just goes to show that Shakespeare wasn’t above using a good image twice, especially since both plays are about jealousy.
@daja57.bsky.socialI've just completed 'heart, be at peace', Donal Ryan's sequel to his debut, 'The Spinning Heart'. The portrait of a small Irish town community built up, collage style, through the voices of some of its inhabitants. Brilliant.
My full review: tinyurl.com/2vp5ajbm
@daja57.bsky.social'Sunrise' by Tea Obreht has a nested story structure like that in 'Cloud Atlas' by David Mitchell.
My review of the former: tinyurl.com/2e5muvsf
@daja57.bsky.socialSlim first. Need to build up a head of steam.
@daja57.bsky.socialI know what you mean. Those movie biopics which show just the inspirational part rather than the sweat. Not this one. He attends life drawing classes, learns how to draw profiles really quickly, learns about priming and stretching canvasses ... The Parade, and The Every. One slim and one faaaaaat.
@daja57.bsky.socialI've just finished this superb little novel by Dave Eggers. It's about the life of an artist and is beautifully told. I'm going to the library now to find another by this writer.
'Contrapposto' by Dave Eggers. My full review: tinyurl.com/46bhpwys
@daja57.bsky.socialAfter 12 years, I've re-read, and re-evaluated, du Maurier's Frenchman's Creek.
My new review: tinyurl.com/mp4p9zc4
@daja57.bsky.socialIs it good or is it bad when you ask google a question and the top (AI generated) response references a blogpost you wrote?
@daja57.bsky.socialPloughed my way to the end of 'House of Leaves' - a typographical tour de force - by Mark Z Danielewski. Wow! Have I decrypted the arcana and solved the mystery?
My review: tinyurl.com/y6vaau5t
@daja57.bsky.socialWeird post-apocalyptic novel 'The End of Everything' by M John Harrison is now on the Booker shortlist!
My review: tinyurl.com/47ht5dyj
@daja57.bsky.socialThe brilliant 'Black Bag' by Luke Kennard is shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
Congratulations @lukekennard.bsky.social
My review: tinyurl.com/yhwzxm8w
@daja57.bsky.social😊
@daja57.bsky.social@serpents-tail.bsky.social
Wow! What a thought-provoking book. First thoughts on 'The End of Everything' by M John Harrison: tinyurl.com/47ht5dyj
@daja57.bsky.social@maxpuffins.bsky.social Thank you for recommending 'The End of Everything' by M John Harrison (though I would have read him anyway, being a fan of his work). I think I enjoyed it; I was certainly impressed. Well weird!
My full review: tinyurl.com/47ht5dyj
@daja57.bsky.social@renardpress.com
Just finished this clever autofiction (with some metafiction) about an author writing her own life in the guise of a character who is an author writing her own life disguised.
My full review: tinyurl.com/2p9uzmfs
@daja57.bsky.socialRomantic historical fiction at its most Victorian classic: Lorna Doone by R D Blackmore.
My review: tinyurl.com/5329e77t
@daja57.bsky.socialThank you. Our library has Excellent Women so I'll try that for starters.
@daja57.bsky.socialI've never tried Barbara Pym. Is 'A Few Green Leaves' a good place to start?
@maxpuffins.bsky.socialReposted by @daja57.bsky.socialLots of hype around Switzy, long listed for the Booker Prize, just released in September. Tough subject matter - mental decay, the loss of identity and death - but still a surprisingly enjoyable read.
Review 👇