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Reading isn’t a race, but when Goodreads invites me to set myself a target, and offers to monitor my progress, I’m happy to join in. For the past few years, I’ve aimed for 100 books, smugly confident I’ll sail across the finishing line before the trees shed their leaves. But not this year. Based on my stats so far, I’ll be lucky to reach my centenary by Christmas.
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It doesn’t matter, although I wonder why it is. I’m not slowing down in other ways and I still get a thrill from discovering a fantastic read. Yes, I’ve been busier launching my own novel, but that hasn’t impacted much before. Maybe, as someone with no pre-pandemic social life, it’s all these evening webinars eating up my time.
Fortunately, because I’m buying more books rather than getting them from publishers, I’m relieved the pressure to read for a time-sensitive review. And, although I still enjoy sharing my detailed thoughts on most books, I’ve granted myself the freedom to write micro reviews of others. It’s not necessarily the case that I didn’t appreciate these books as much, as I hope you’ll see from the six below. I invite you to admire how I have managed to fiddle with the cold so that the cover images appear on alternate sides of the page. (Well, I was impressed!)
Fortunately, because I’m buying more books rather than getting them from publishers, I’m relieved the pressure to read for a time-sensitive review. And, although I still enjoy sharing my detailed thoughts on most books, I’ve granted myself the freedom to write micro reviews of others. It’s not necessarily the case that I didn’t appreciate these books as much, as I hope you’ll see from the six below. I invite you to admire how I have managed to fiddle with the cold so that the cover images appear on alternate sides of the page. (Well, I was impressed!)
Hamnet by Maggie O'FarrellMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A moving reimagining of the life and death of William Shakespeare’s son as the genesis of his famous play, Hamlet. Winner of the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction. I found the ending particularly engaging and poignant.
ABUSED TO DEATH 1: Eight children ... murdered by those who should have protected them by Jessica JacksonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
These tragic stories are related with great empathy and skill. The topic is harrowing, but never sensationalised, thereby honouring these abused children's truncated lives. The fictionalised accounts read beautifully, and I was impressed with the variety of points of view and style, all of which nevertheless put the children at the heart of the story. These are well balanced with factual information on each individual case. An important book which urges us to be ever vigilant. This could be happening next door!
Independence Square by A.D. MillerMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
The Orange Revolution in Ukraine through the eyes of a British diplomat who prevents a massacre but loses all he holds dear. By the author of The Faithful Couple.
Our Souls at Night by Kent HarufMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this quiet late-life love story as much on the second reading on publication in 2015. In the intervening years, I’d managed to forget the tragic ending when the couple succumbs to bigotry.
Beloved by Toni MorrisonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
In mid-19th-century Cincinnati, a woman is haunted by the daughter she murdered to save her from a living death. A lyrical magic-realism novel about motherhood, trauma and the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade. Beautiful writing, but I couldn’t get into it until Beloved appeared sixty pages in.
Brotherhood by Mohamed Mbougar SarrMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
A doctor and his friends publish an underground newspaper in a fictional city under occupation by the brutal Islamic fundamentalist Brotherhood. Although this debut has won several prizes, I found the story one-dimensional and the writing flat. Translated from the French by Alexia Trigo, I received my proof copy from Europa editions.
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