Scan barcode
kizzia's reviews
1139 reviews
In the Garden Essays on Nature and Growing by Niellah Arboine
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Gorgeous collection of essays that all offer different and fascinating perspectives.
A Song of Sixpence: The Story of Elizabeth of York and Perkin Warbeck by Judith Arnopp
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think I would have enjoyed this more if I’d read it before the author’s Margaret Beaufort trilogy (which they wrote after this book) as there were huge contradictions between the two, only some of which could be explained away by the different perspectives of the characters. Still a well written and interesting story and I did like this version of Elizabeth of York very much.
Walking the Great North Line: Up England Another Way by Robert Twigger
Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.
This is the first thing I’ve attempted to read by Robert Twigger and I suspect it will be the last as I am clearly not the right reader for his work. I gave it seven chapters, two and a half hours of my life, before deciding I was not willing to give it any more.
On the face of it this book is so far up my street its shoes are on the mat and it’s on the sofa with a cup of tea. Unfortunately the elements that attracted me a lacking I should have taken note of the phrase “living like a homeless bum” used in the blurb as a clue to the tone of the work. The experience for me was like being talked at in a pub by a public school toff who can only relate to things when they affect him personally. Everything was either made light of, made fun of, or given far more weight that it felt it deserved.
On the face of it this book is so far up my street its shoes are on the mat and it’s on the sofa with a cup of tea. Unfortunately the elements that attracted me a lacking I should have taken note of the phrase “living like a homeless bum” used in the blurb as a clue to the tone of the work. The experience for me was like being talked at in a pub by a public school toff who can only relate to things when they affect him personally. Everything was either made light of, made fun of, or given far more weight that it felt it deserved.
The King's Mother: Book Three of The Beaufort Chronicle by Judith Arnopp
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The Beaufort Woman by Judith Arnopp
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The Beaufort Bride: The Life of Margaret Beaufort by Judith Arnopp
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett
5.0
The eleventh discworld book is, if you are reading them in character groupings, also the second book in the DEATH series. It’s certainly my favourite of the books where DEATH takes the lead.
There are the usual clever puns and some inspired creativity around out of town shopping malls and industrialisation but this is a book about endings, about dying, and about living, that offers such a deep dive into what it means to be human and, more importantly, to be a compassionate human, that it takes my breath away and makes me cry every single time I read it.
“WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN?”
It is also the first book that makes mention what us fans have come to call the Dark Morris, and just for that alone it has a special place in Discworld history.
There are the usual clever puns and some inspired creativity around out of town shopping malls and industrialisation but this is a book about endings, about dying, and about living, that offers such a deep dive into what it means to be human and, more importantly, to be a compassionate human, that it takes my breath away and makes me cry every single time I read it.
“WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN?”
It is also the first book that makes mention what us fans have come to call the Dark Morris, and just for that alone it has a special place in Discworld history.
The King's Mother by Annie Garthwaite
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sometimes a follow up book can be a disappointment but I’m happy to report that this is absolutely not the case here. Taking us up to Cecily’s death this book is just as gripping, well written and compulsive as the first. Not only does it create a believable narrative around some of the murkier rumours that circulated during and after Edward IV’s reign, it offers a wonderful interpretation of Margaret Beaufort that I have to say is possibly my favourite characterisation of her to date.
You do absolutely need to have read Cecily before you read this since so much of who she is in this book is informed by what happened in the first that her characterisation might be difficult to understand without it. However that’s not a problem because these are both truly excellent books that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone, historical fiction fan or not.
You do absolutely need to have read Cecily before you read this since so much of who she is in this book is informed by what happened in the first that her characterisation might be difficult to understand without it. However that’s not a problem because these are both truly excellent books that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone, historical fiction fan or not.
The Lost Paths by Jack Cornish
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
There is so much in this book that I don’t quite know what to talk about. I’ve learned so much about so many different things - how paths are designated, bits of history (including social and cultural), folklore, nature, and architectural information - that I often had to go back over a chapter again just to make notes. As well as being excellently written is has a narrative flow that allows for subtle linkages to become noticeable as well as making you want to read on long after you’d told yourself you’d stop after another minute.
It left me feeling hopeful, content and stirred up, all at the same time and I have promised myself that once I’ve got settled in Northumberland I will become one of the volunteers who map and preserve the pathways that we all have right to roam on.
I listened to this book via Audible, ably narrated by Jack himself.
It left me feeling hopeful, content and stirred up, all at the same time and I have promised myself that once I’ve got settled in Northumberland I will become one of the volunteers who map and preserve the pathways that we all have right to roam on.
I listened to this book via Audible, ably narrated by Jack himself.
Cecily by Annie Garthwaite
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the best historical novel I’ve read in a long time. I inhaled it in a matter of days, the pauses in reading coming only when emotions got the better of me. When you already know what’s going to happen the plot becomes secondary to the standard of the writing and in this book Annie Garthwaite gives a master class in how to do it right.
I was transported into the 1400’s, found myself rooting for people I’d previously blamed for much of what happened (if you’d told me I’d find myself wishing for a different outcome for Cecily’s husband before I picked this up I’d have laughed at you), saw aspects of the past from a perspective I’d not considered before and was completely swept up in the moment.
It was so good that the minute I finished reading I went to see if could get hold of the second book in the duology and started it the second I got my hands on it.
I was transported into the 1400’s, found myself rooting for people I’d previously blamed for much of what happened (if you’d told me I’d find myself wishing for a different outcome for Cecily’s husband before I picked this up I’d have laughed at you), saw aspects of the past from a perspective I’d not considered before and was completely swept up in the moment.
It was so good that the minute I finished reading I went to see if could get hold of the second book in the duology and started it the second I got my hands on it.