Neuromancer
William Gibson
Wanted to love it but it was too dense and prose-heavy. Still didn't really understand what was happening even though I kinda knew. Love the mood but that is…
Reviews
Short reviews of books I've finished, newest first.
Books
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Robin Sloan
I was really enjoying this but it kinda fizzled out and how it unfolded was a let-down. Could have been brilliant. The inclusion of Google so heavily was kinda…
The Black Dahlia
James Ellroy
Can see why this is referenced so much as it is the perfect noir and so many films in particular have referenced it. Great twists and atmosphere. Really…
Piranesi
Susanna Clarke
I thought it was going to be similar in plot to what happened but more literal/real world and less interpretation possible. I enjoyed it regardless but still…
The Night Circus
Erin Morgenstern
Gripping, interesting and great storytelling. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Struggled a bit keeping track of the characters at points but that’s on me. Look forward…
Klara and the Sun
Kazuo Ishiguro
Really enjoyed the idea, thinking, writing and general direction of the book. Easy to read and wanted to read more each day.
Annihilation
Jeff VanderMeer
Excellent short story about experts on a mysterious mission. Enjoyed it - think it is part of a series so might continue if so.
Palaver
Bryan Washington
Decent family story. Mother and son relationship was good and I could picture the locations etc. Would have been nice if more had happened but I enjoyed it…
Nobber
Oisín Fagan
Started off great - engaging and funny. Too many characters and too much jumping about. Normally I like that but it was hard to follow. Also the ending made me…
Milkman
Anna Burns
Loved the language and odd names for things. Really liked the concept but found it too stream of consciousness, hard to read and too much time on less…
A Visit From the Goon Squad
Jennifer Egan
Really enjoyable interrelated stories. Reads like it would make a good film. Interesting characters and shifting time.
Blood Meridian
Cormac McCarthy
Tough going. Utterly brutal. Language is amazing. Scene and setting vivid too. Struggling to finish it. Returned to it months later. Last third much easier to…
North Woods
Daniel Mason
Amazing concept, language choices and winding stories. Loved the different styles and time periods. Would love to read again in a few years. Definitely a book…
11.22.63
Stephen King
Long old read - in some places it was too verbose and characters getting hurt etc seemed to make it drag/was it needed. Felt like a clever ending was missing…
Running the Light
Sam Tallent
Loved this - brilliant Bukowski-ish writing - emotional and built to a great end. Looking forward to his next book.
Rabbit Is Rich
John Updike
Interesting approach to descriptions and characters - bit ploddy at times and no real arc/ending felt forced but his language is very creative. Also shows age…
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Gabrielle Zevin
Was good but a bit middling in terms of the overall direction and ending not that impressive. Still, as a gamer of old, I enjoyed it enough.
The Bee Sting
Paul Murray
I was hoping for some major twist but it didn’t come. Good character building at least with Dickie but a terrible ending for me. It started to build up to a…