Entertaining, written in a highly personal manner which I found endearing because I like David Mitchell. Don't think I learned anything very new but hEntertaining, written in a highly personal manner which I found endearing because I like David Mitchell. Don't think I learned anything very new but he's good at contextualising and it's funny and readable. ...more
Absoutely hatstand noir novel featuring private eyes AZ Kimrean, who use/s they/them pronouns due to being extremely conjoined twins, as in they only Absoutely hatstand noir novel featuring private eyes AZ Kimrean, who use/s they/them pronouns due to being extremely conjoined twins, as in they only have one brain and body between them. Adrian is the logical one, and Zooey is the irrational hypersexual loon. They fight a lot. In their one body.
Everything about this book is entirely crackers from the first line, which is picking a well deserved fight with Elmore Leonard, and also the entire premise, plot, means of narration, relentless nuking of the fourth wall, and everything else. However, and somewhat remarkably, the solution of the mystery is a real and fair one which also makes an incredibly good point about murder mysteries and is a striking example of sonder in action.
Demented, wildly enjoyable, and I sincerely hope this author writes a lot more. ...more
Super-sour satirical romp that turns the Slumdog Millionaire trope upside down. It's pretty brutal about all its targets and everything is a target (ISuper-sour satirical romp that turns the Slumdog Millionaire trope upside down. It's pretty brutal about all its targets and everything is a target (Indian society at all levels, white tourists and saviours, the TV industry, geopolitics, accountants, snacks...) but there is actually quite a sweet heart buried very deep underneath. It is also extremely funny, with great vivid description and some absolutely epic one liners ("He was totally disarmed, like Pakistan after a war" oh my *god*). I didn't quite feel the ending was as tight as the rest of the book but overall a really strong, funny read, though not for the easily offended. ...more
Entertaining coffee table book with lots of good reproductions of bizarre medieval images. It's a comedy thing rather than informative but an amusing Entertaining coffee table book with lots of good reproductions of bizarre medieval images. It's a comedy thing rather than informative but an amusing sofa-coma Christmas read....more
Terrific, funny, sad story of a true believer. Kevin is a cryptid hunter convinced there is a yeti in Sutton. His marriage has collapsed and his son dTerrific, funny, sad story of a true believer. Kevin is a cryptid hunter convinced there is a yeti in Sutton. His marriage has collapsed and his son doesn't want to see him, but if he can just be the one to prove the survival of gigantopithecus he'll win it all back. Obviously he is wildly deluded and absurd, but the charm/tragedy of this book is how it makes you see what Kevin is really striving for, his longing for wonder and magic and a greater life amid the blah bleak suburban with its horribly limited horizons. Also, the mentality of the people who want to believe, and their heroic fight against cognitive dissonance. Really very good indeed, strong recommendation....more
A shedload better than the first one. This is basically a cosy spy thriller, which clearly suits Osman far better than the detective novel format. VerA shedload better than the first one. This is basically a cosy spy thriller, which clearly suits Osman far better than the detective novel format. Very funny, extremely likeable, well controlled plot and satisfying outcomes all round....more
Entertaining second chance romance / crime caper, with our MCs running around in pursuit of a McGuffin while falling back in love. Exuberantly implausEntertaining second chance romance / crime caper, with our MCs running around in pursuit of a McGuffin while falling back in love. Exuberantly implausible action and lots of left turns, plus a fun supporting cast. I do hope the sister gets a book....more
A debut novel selected for a 'funny unpublished books by women' prize. There's lots to like here: some very good lines, shrewd observations, and a cheA debut novel selected for a 'funny unpublished books by women' prize. There's lots to like here: some very good lines, shrewd observations, and a cheery absurdity in the premise, which blends a ludicrously suburban middle-class vibe with eschatology and a touch of horror, reminiscent of early Tom Holt (a good thing). It's likeable, and it has that elusive quality of readability: I wanted to know what happened. I hope the author writes more.
But it really needed editing. It reads like--well, a good self-published book that didn't go through a professional process, basically, and a thorough edit would have done wonders. One might have thought HarperCollins would do better for a prize-winner debut but here we are in publishing, 2023 style. :/ ...more
Another silly but very likeable Manning Coles ghost comedy, very much in the vein of Brief Candles. In this case it's a German Graf who's temporarily Another silly but very likeable Manning Coles ghost comedy, very much in the vein of Brief Candles. In this case it's a German Graf who's temporarily returned from the dead, rather sweetly demanding acknowledgement of his long ago secret wife, and incidentally appearing in a film. fun. ...more
A highly readable overview of conspiracy theories: how we create them, why we fall for them, how to spot them, why the internet has empowered them hidA highly readable overview of conspiracy theories: how we create them, why we fall for them, how to spot them, why the internet has empowered them hideously.
It's written in quite an internet way, lots of jokes and sarcasm, although those may really be the only weapons against conspiracy theorists: it's not like you can argue with them. As such it's very funny, but also profoundly depressing in that this is clearly an ugly, stupid and ineradicable part of human nature and we're stuck on a planet with these ghastly idiots.
Also, the idiots may be us. The authors are pretty generous in showing how previous rational people get sucked into this stuff, and what the appeal is in a profoundly unjust and disordered world, and indeed that there are actually real conspiracies going on around us. (They cite an older piece on conspiracy theories that accuses Black USians of being conspiracy-minded because they believed the police were more likely to treat them harshly or indeed kill them.)
It is very much worth reading this book. You might think you're immune to conspiracy thinking but you're not. Or you might believe that your particular theory is actually right (also nope, and this includes Cambridge Analytica). And it is extremely notable that conspiracy theory rabbit holes pretty much always lead to fascism so it's very much worth being more vividly aware of their lures. ...more
I really like Joe Lycett on TV but this book came across to me as incredibly unlikeable. Partly it's such a cut and paste job: it's about 40% his obnoI really like Joe Lycett on TV but this book came across to me as incredibly unlikeable. Partly it's such a cut and paste job: it's about 40% his obnoxious emails to people. Which I know is his thing, but they're presented in a very self-congratulatory way, most of them just aren't that funny, and some of them come across as pretty unpleasant. I love it when he takes on shitty exploitative people and hypocrites, but, eg vituperatively slagging off parking attendants as individuals because he's parking obnoxiously in a crowded city and doesn't like being fined for it? Yuck. Disappointing and not at all the vibe I expected/wanted....more
Delightful vaguely Wodehousian read with an amiable if not bright hero trying to handle his unexpected ward. Feels a bit like one of Heyer's more cheeDelightful vaguely Wodehousian read with an amiable if not bright hero trying to handle his unexpected ward. Feels a bit like one of Heyer's more cheery romances but set in the 1950s. Light reading of the best kind....more
A very enjoyable cosy mystery, in which an elderly Chinese widow living a rather lonely (but doggedly determined) life in the US finds a dead body in A very enjoyable cosy mystery, in which an elderly Chinese widow living a rather lonely (but doggedly determined) life in the US finds a dead body in her teahouse and decides to solve the mystery, mostly for something to do. In the process, she turns most of the suspects into a found family.
Very amusing caper, with some horrible and many difficult people, and sharp edges but a kind, open heart. I do like a murder where we don't have to regret the murderee's passing in the slightest. ...more
Basically a loo book (ie to be read in five minute bursts), but a very entertaining one. Heavy on the swears and written in an extremely internet stylBasically a loo book (ie to be read in five minute bursts), but a very entertaining one. Heavy on the swears and written in an extremely internet style; very funny in a gross and occasionally horrifying way. ...more
A fun collection of essays/musings with some excellent gags and a lot of serious stuff conveyed with a light touch. The style is very internet and selA fun collection of essays/musings with some excellent gags and a lot of serious stuff conveyed with a light touch. The style is very internet and self deprecating throughout, which is fine in itself but, as very often with essay collections, it starts to feel a bit one-note if you read through rather than dipping in and out. (So dip in and out.)...more
That was an experience. A sort of dreamlike ramble through a landscape of Nigerian folktales and mythology, told in a marvellously deadpan narrative vThat was an experience. A sort of dreamlike ramble through a landscape of Nigerian folktales and mythology, told in a marvellously deadpan narrative voice. I read the whole thing with bewildered fascination and came out the other side feeling slightly woozy in the head. ...more
I got a bit lost in the Chronicles of St Mary's, in the way of long running soap type series, but this author is usually highly enjoyable so a new serI got a bit lost in the Chronicles of St Mary's, in the way of long running soap type series, but this author is usually highly enjoyable so a new series starter seemed like a good idea. It's massive fun, with an obnoxious rich jerk, bullied mouse and traumatized genius weirdo forming a team in the Time Police to much sarcasm. Suffers a little bit at points with referring back to St Mary's characters and plotlines but nothing impossible to grasp.
I will say, Luke's intro is really grating and makes him seem an intolerable misogynist twat, which may put some readers off though he does improve. And there's a lengthy early sequence which really rubbed me the wrong way ("laugh at the fat poor people!") and jarred enormously with the overall feel of the book. It's a punching down sequence in a book that's otherwise got a lot to say about kindness and difference and not fitting, and it left a nasty taste tbh in what was otherwise a hugely enjoyable romp....more
Imagine a book like a Four Weddings-era Richard Curtis movie (and *not*, let me be clear, like the vomitous Love Actually), with the feelgood elementsImagine a book like a Four Weddings-era Richard Curtis movie (and *not*, let me be clear, like the vomitous Love Actually), with the feelgood elements and the genuine romance and the terrific cast (only more diverse than Curtis is capable of), and real pain and emotion grounding the hilarious banter. Sounds amazing? Well, here you go.
The joyfully queer British romcom escape book I desperately needed. It's absurdly funny--like proper laughing out loud--and swoonily romantic, with a sharp edge of wit and observation that keeps the story bounding along, bad actors that you can really dislike, a lovely supporting cast of friends and family, and two flawed but deeply likeable leads. An unbridled 'one-more-chapter-oh-no-it's-3am-oh-well' delight.
(Disclosure: I had an ARC from the publisher and share an agent with the author. Notwithstanding, I don't leave rave reviews if I don't mean them.)...more
OK, look, humour is subjective. You may think an entire book analysing a forgotten Gwyneth Paltrow/Mark Ruffalo vehicle about air stewardesses sounds OK, look, humour is subjective. You may think an entire book analysing a forgotten Gwyneth Paltrow/Mark Ruffalo vehicle about air stewardesses sounds pretty thin stuff. Whatever. I can only say that I have not laughed so much reading a book in some time. I laughed so much, my family made me sit in another room because I was annoying them with my howling. I actually cried laughing.
Very clever in its profound stupidity, a masterclass in irony, and just really really funny. You do not have to have seen the film under discussion and honestly, having read this book, it sounds like we'd all be better off not. An unclassifiable glory. ...more
A wildly entertaining beach-read romcom about a family with five daughters and their goings-on. Hugely enjoyable, very silly at points, with a surprisA wildly entertaining beach-read romcom about a family with five daughters and their goings-on. Hugely enjoyable, very silly at points, with a surprisingly savage subplot about corruption and murder going on to the side. Centres on one daughter's rather lovely romance with lots of pride and prejudice sloshing round, but there's multiple other stories and family relationships to enjoy. I found it a thoroughly escapist pleasure of a read. ...more
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