georgiefay's reviews
169 reviews

Perhaps a bit over romantic but the descriptions of nature and the main character’s connections with her home in the marshlands of North Carolina are beautiful. It made me desperately want to visit and travel again. Easy to read and lots of moving bits, it was also positive to know that some things have changed for the better since the 1950s.

This is the best poetry anthology ever! I turn to it all the time and it helps me process my emotions and my way though life and understandingly the world - it is truly special!

I cannot rave about this anthology any more - it is the best (well close second after ‘Staying Alive - Real Poems for Unreal Times’) Ella Risbridger charms and entices you into exploring and reading and rereading these amazingly and thoughtfully selected poems. She makes a perfect case for the importance of poetry and is honest about how many dead white men poets there are and makes a concerted effort to have many other voices but not it a tokenistic way! I highly recommend it for people who love or hate poetry.

I love Murakami’s writing but I’ve never tried his short stories. I find short stories quite hard they are too long for poetry dipping in and out but not long enough to really delve into the characters and plot, but I did really enjoy some of these ones. I started well, got bit distracted and lost in the middle and then really enjoyed the final 3 - 4 stories. I find Murakami’s author voice comes through his writing so much, even if the main protagonist was a woman there is a real sense of failed middle aged man throughout the stories and although I can understand this perspective, it can get a bit depressing after a while. Having said that, the really sad stories in this anthology were the ones I loved the most!

If you need a break from a heavy read and want to add a book quickly to your goodreads list - I highly recommend this clever, zaney and heartfelt. Cleverly examines human traits and personalities, turning them into superhero powers.

Well it has taken me a long time to finish this book, not because it isn’t absolutely beautiful and excellently written but the content is biographical and documents so dark times in European history. I couldn’t have put it better than the blurb which states ‘ But gradually, as Sebald’s precise, almost dreamlike prose begins to work its magic, the four narrations merge into one overwhelming evocation of exile and loss.’ A truly powerful read and full of magical sentences which express those feelings you sometimes just can’t pinpoint.

Once you get into this book, you just have to finish it. I really enjoyed its pace, the characters and the clever twists.

This is the most special book and everyone in the world should read it and look at the beautiful pictures, I love words but this book makes me realise how important stories through pictures are and to celebrate drawing and ink.

Another children’s book ticked off my list, I read this in the shop at Dundee Contemporary Art gallery and loved it so much, it made me want to start painting dots. Another great book for kids (and adults!)

Reading this book and series was one of my New Year’s Resolutions and it was worth it. I felt so swept up in this Neapolitan world and drawn in to all of the characters. I relished the small details of every moment told and was left longing for more and some Italian sunshine.