Loved The Artist and reading it during this dusty heatwave echoed the feeling of Provence . I loved the way the book slowly unfolds and the multi sensory description. A perfect books for a book club lots of discussion points .
Just downloaded The Artist, looks great. Absolutely love Kedgeree, haven’t had it for ages, will be making it again soon I think! I’ve recently finished Long Time Coming by Robert Goddard. Just brilliant, and my husband was staying up reading very late at night because he was desperate to know the ending. A couple of others by the same author, completely different style, equally good: The Fine Art of Uncanny Prediction, and the follow-up The Fine Art of Invisible Detection, marvellous female protagonist
Love your recommendations. I’m currently reading John of John and really enjoying it. I too had a perfectly functional kindle that was years old but they announced this year that if they’re a certain model or was bought before 2012 (I think??) then you’ll no longer be able to download books to it. Unfortunately mine fell into this category and I was forced to get a new one 😐
The Correspondent is One of My Book Club books, Too - as is ‘Three Days in June’ by Anne Tyler. Controversially … I didn’t really enjoy, the Correspondent - It’s a clever story, and definitely thought-provoking, I just didn’t like the main character (which I’m not sure you’re meant to, anyway) So will be interested to know what you think of it. ‘Three Days in June’ I sort of need to Re-read, because I jumped to the end, to find out what happened (!) I have just started reading ‘Sandwich’, on your recommendation- and really Liking it so far, though !! (And will Definitely be buying ‘The Artist’ - And ‘John of John’ 👍) XX
How is your kindle 15 years old?! I'm onto my 4th in that time, they always die. The battery on my current one is waning....
Ooo these sound great, will add to the list. Wreck by Catherine Newman was great ( as was her last book). The latest Clare Chambers is also on the TBR pile, Shy Creatures.
I also LOVED John of John as Douglas Stuart has such incredible command of language (and having found the camping scene in particular in Young Mungo really stayed with me and not in a good way, it was a relief to read something where I could revel in his characters and not have that constant sense of sickening doom).
Ripeness is Sarah Moss’s best book I think. Also very good indeed is Ghost Wall.
Suspect you will really enjoy The Correspondent; I read it in a night. I’m just finishing a massive American novel called Fellowship Point - quite easy reading but very evocative of Maine and multi-generational family summers.
Yes, I don’t often feel that way but genuinely excited for what Lucy Steeds will do next. Correspondent is edging nearer to me on the reading pile and can’t wait!
I loved The Correspondent. The Artist is coming with me to Provence next week. Currently reading A Private Man which is great and listening to Lily by Rose Tremain (my modern day G.O.A.T - is that allowed?) which I am LOVING. It’s a little bit Douglas Stuart but set in the Foundling hospital London where my great great grandparents met so I have a personal interest. Have you read much Rose Tremain? Great writing paired with a rollicking good story. Absolutely & Forever was my first of hers and adored it.
Yes I have but can’t remember which and am now going to have to trawl through my historical records! In fact I think I have one on my current reading pile, will look when I’m home. Adding Lily to the list - as soon as my kindle fires up again I’m going to load it up for the holiday.
I’m really looking forward to reading The Artist. I’m probably late to the party but I loved Heart the Lover by Lily King and read it in two sittings. I was so captivated that I think my family had to make their own arrangements for dinner that night!
Picked up John of John for £1.99 on kindle yesterday and The Artist is only 99p at the moment! Will save it for my Provence trip in September. I loved The Correspondent, which was our Bookgroup book this month. Wild Dark Shore, which I think you recommended, was our book last month and pretty much universally loved. One of the best books I’ve read this year is non-fiction, London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, which is an extraordinary tale about the death of a young man in strange circumstances.
God, I love your reviews Ruth. I loved John of John and devoured The Artist. So pleased as I spent extra money to import an Australian copy because of the beautiful cover! Haven't read Ripeness yet, its on my Kindle, but will push up the tbr pile now.
Im not a paid subscriber anymore, sadly, as I had to make some budgeting harse discisions, so I'm not privy to which books didn't meet the mark.
I dont think you find a new paperwhite will astound you btw, I love mine, but it still just a way to read books, but I would be greatly peaked by a light emitting dint! X
The Artist by Lucy Steeds is sensational. ❤️ I genuinely felt as though I were wandering through 1920s France while reading it. She has an extraordinary gift for writing through the senses - the sights, sounds, scents and textures all felt so vivid and tangible that I was completely immersed in the world she created! Such an amazing book.
Loved The Artist and reading it during this dusty heatwave echoed the feeling of Provence . I loved the way the book slowly unfolds and the multi sensory description. A perfect books for a book club lots of discussion points .
Loved Land. And then read John of John immediately after, and loved that too! Both great books.
I love Sarah Moss. Criminally unknown.
Just downloaded The Artist, looks great. Absolutely love Kedgeree, haven’t had it for ages, will be making it again soon I think! I’ve recently finished Long Time Coming by Robert Goddard. Just brilliant, and my husband was staying up reading very late at night because he was desperate to know the ending. A couple of others by the same author, completely different style, equally good: The Fine Art of Uncanny Prediction, and the follow-up The Fine Art of Invisible Detection, marvellous female protagonist
Adding to list! I’ve got enough to get me to Christmas at this rate!
Love your recommendations. I’m currently reading John of John and really enjoying it. I too had a perfectly functional kindle that was years old but they announced this year that if they’re a certain model or was bought before 2012 (I think??) then you’ll no longer be able to download books to it. Unfortunately mine fell into this category and I was forced to get a new one 😐
Oh bloody hell, mine has just charged up enough to turn it on so will look now
The Correspondent is One of My Book Club books, Too - as is ‘Three Days in June’ by Anne Tyler. Controversially … I didn’t really enjoy, the Correspondent - It’s a clever story, and definitely thought-provoking, I just didn’t like the main character (which I’m not sure you’re meant to, anyway) So will be interested to know what you think of it. ‘Three Days in June’ I sort of need to Re-read, because I jumped to the end, to find out what happened (!) I have just started reading ‘Sandwich’, on your recommendation- and really Liking it so far, though !! (And will Definitely be buying ‘The Artist’ - And ‘John of John’ 👍) XX
Oooh ok, let’s see then, will be interesting!
How is your kindle 15 years old?! I'm onto my 4th in that time, they always die. The battery on my current one is waning....
Ooo these sound great, will add to the list. Wreck by Catherine Newman was great ( as was her last book). The latest Clare Chambers is also on the TBR pile, Shy Creatures.
I don’t know! Maybe they made it before enshittification began…
I also LOVED John of John as Douglas Stuart has such incredible command of language (and having found the camping scene in particular in Young Mungo really stayed with me and not in a good way, it was a relief to read something where I could revel in his characters and not have that constant sense of sickening doom).
Ripeness is Sarah Moss’s best book I think. Also very good indeed is Ghost Wall.
Suspect you will really enjoy The Correspondent; I read it in a night. I’m just finishing a massive American novel called Fellowship Point - quite easy reading but very evocative of Maine and multi-generational family summers.
Oh god the camping scene. It captured the vulnerable minor/predatory adult dynamic so horrifyingly well.
Adored both The Artist and The Correspondent. Such a thrill, reading two incredible debut novels and imagining what their authors might produce next.
Yes, I don’t often feel that way but genuinely excited for what Lucy Steeds will do next. Correspondent is edging nearer to me on the reading pile and can’t wait!
I loved The Correspondent. The Artist is coming with me to Provence next week. Currently reading A Private Man which is great and listening to Lily by Rose Tremain (my modern day G.O.A.T - is that allowed?) which I am LOVING. It’s a little bit Douglas Stuart but set in the Foundling hospital London where my great great grandparents met so I have a personal interest. Have you read much Rose Tremain? Great writing paired with a rollicking good story. Absolutely & Forever was my first of hers and adored it.
Yes I have but can’t remember which and am now going to have to trawl through my historical records! In fact I think I have one on my current reading pile, will look when I’m home. Adding Lily to the list - as soon as my kindle fires up again I’m going to load it up for the holiday.
I’m really looking forward to reading The Artist. I’m probably late to the party but I loved Heart the Lover by Lily King and read it in two sittings. I was so captivated that I think my family had to make their own arrangements for dinner that night!
Picked up John of John for £1.99 on kindle yesterday and The Artist is only 99p at the moment! Will save it for my Provence trip in September. I loved The Correspondent, which was our Bookgroup book this month. Wild Dark Shore, which I think you recommended, was our book last month and pretty much universally loved. One of the best books I’ve read this year is non-fiction, London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, which is an extraordinary tale about the death of a young man in strange circumstances.
I think someone else recommended wild shore in the comments on a post! I have it too, reading it next x
It’s really good, enjoy!
London Falling was incredible wasn’t it?? I’m now reading Empire of Pain by the same author, which is equally good.
Must add London Falling to the list!
I went straight on to Empire of Pain too! Now have Say Nothing, his book about the troubles, lined up.
Oh good call! I hadn’t heard of that one. On the list now!
There’s a PRK book on Kindle daily deal today btw
God, I love your reviews Ruth. I loved John of John and devoured The Artist. So pleased as I spent extra money to import an Australian copy because of the beautiful cover! Haven't read Ripeness yet, its on my Kindle, but will push up the tbr pile now.
Im not a paid subscriber anymore, sadly, as I had to make some budgeting harse discisions, so I'm not privy to which books didn't meet the mark.
I dont think you find a new paperwhite will astound you btw, I love mine, but it still just a way to read books, but I would be greatly peaked by a light emitting dint! X
Thank you Katherine! I’m trying to keep to a schedule of two posts a week so there should always be at least one review post to feast your eyes on! X
The Artist by Lucy Steeds is sensational. ❤️ I genuinely felt as though I were wandering through 1920s France while reading it. She has an extraordinary gift for writing through the senses - the sights, sounds, scents and textures all felt so vivid and tangible that I was completely immersed in the world she created! Such an amazing book.
The village with the food stalls! I just loved it all. The war hospital, the love affair, crikey. Imagine what her next book will be like!
I meant to add, another book I enjoyed recently was, Female Nude by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett.
I need her next book to come out IMMEDIATELY. 😭 If she can transport me like that in her debut, I can't even imagine what she'll do next.