Hellooo!!

Well pending two pieces of paper work I may finally be moving in two weeks! As per usual this coincides with some work deadlines so I expect the next three weeks will be busy but I intend to keep some blogs going (I have lovely books ins tore for you) In the meantime I have started packing and let’s just say there are a few boxes of books to review once in the new burrow.

Subjective Chaos – 2019 Edition

So, you may notice a new section in the blog. Yes, I’m once again taking part in Subjective Chaos (Kind of Awards). To explain what my fellow judges and I are doing have a read of this and its my great pleasure to announce the nominees for round 1  are now finalised (ta-daaaa).

Award lists can be fun but for me the pleasure is to talk about and discover new books.  This is why I set up the blog in the first place (well that and I like to book tempt!). Over the next few months this new section of the blog will tackle each entrant and while I will also  within the book review talk about what does and does not work in terms of making my final votes. Feel free to take part!

Anathem update

Still on page 100! Perhaps I need a week without decent wi-fi and all my books in boxes?  OOOH

What I read this week

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – reviewed here  – A very surprising read as I mentioned last week but completely deserving classic status.  I think next month we will skip 50 years and see what a young Dr Jekyll does.

Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield - reviewed here – Was completely entranced by this Victorian mystery of a young girl who returns from the dead and creates a mystery as to who she is.  A swirling set of characters interact with one another revealing their secrets. The supernatural element is light but powerful but it’s a gorgeous skilful read.

The Winter Road by Adrian Selby – Review to come – Delayed by house stuff I’m immensely impressed by what this book does in terms of ramping up tension, worldbuilding and making you feel a character on the very edge of their limits push harder. Fair to say I’m hopeful this will be one of my early 2019 favourite reads!

Creatures – The Legacy of Frankenstein edited by David Thomas Moore – my anthology for the next few weeks see Emma Newman, Paul Melloy, Tade Thompson, Kaaron Warren and Rose Biggin tell tales inspired by Shelley’s work (yes it is almost like I plan my reading sometimes).

Other Media

Television –

Voltron – No nearly halfway through season 7 and the first half of the season sees Paladins wander through space t earth and it offers a wide range of stories focused on the personal rather than the epic with stories set in weird game shows to grim betrayals. I am very impressed that after what appeared a main arc ending in season 6 that the writers allowed the show to breathe and find a new direction…. or have we….

Otherwise not much else bar watching Brexit on News (perhaps file under non-fiction panto or tragedy?)..But fear not Star Trek Discovery season 1 needs completion as Season 2 and the Trek Shorts are here!!0

Films – nope (cries)

Podcasts –

Desert Island Discs – so close the end of 2017!!

A lot of political podcasts from Guardian and New Statesman about the country sliding into chaos and embarrassment as MPs all decide that doing something stupid is fine…I would really like to avoid an economic catastrophe please.

What I want to read next

-          The Darksoul by Anna Stephens – the sequel to another one of my favourite debuts Godblind

-          Shelter by David Hutchinson – a future UK where a disaster has turned back the clock

-          The Bastard Legion: War Criminals – an intriguing space mercenary series unveils its latest instalment

-          American Monsters Part 1 edited by Margret Helgadottir – the latest entrant in this brilliant Fox Spirit series with writers telling tales of their cultures.

A couple of blog ideas on the horizon too but suspect they will appear next month plus I have a few Goodreads tales for The Lady Vaults readalongs to catch up on.