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Book Review Year 5 No 7
Aug. 5th, 2019 04:55 pmWith the winner of the James Tait Black book prize due to be announced in the next week I thought I'd post my next book review so I couldn't be influenced by the result. Other than that I've been reading various 'next books in the series'.
MurMur by Will Eaves
Based on part of the life of Alan Turing, although written as though a different character by the name of Alec Pryor. It's an odd book, tied up with the idea of reflections, and dreams. Pryor, like Turing, undergoes chemical castration, and the novel shows his thoughts on life and his past history, as this happens. I found it a struggle at times to understand what was going on. I didn't dislike the book, just found it rather confusing.
Cutwork by Monica Ferris
Definitely a change from the above! An enjoyable whodunit which I happily read through.
Heads of the Colored People by Nafisa Thompson-Spires
The last of the James Tait Black short list, which, like MurMur, was unavailable at the library, so I bought a copy. It's a collection of short stories about middle class colored people who are in the minority in situations where the predominant culture is white. Unlike the other three books this is American. Sometimes the colour of the person's skin seemed much less relevant than at other times. It's a really interesting collection of stories, some of which are very funny, others are extremely thought-provoking. It's a book I would recommend reading for the content. It's not what I'd describe as a 'literary' read.
The Truth by Terry Pratchett
The second in the Industrial Revolution series. This time set in the newspaper industry, but definitely a critique on all news vendors, whether in print, online or on screen. Funny and extremely thought provoking. Lots of my favourite characters, like Sam Vimes, DEATH, and Lord Vetenari.
Aunt Dimity Goes West by Nancy Atherton
I prefer the stories which stay in the village, but this was an interesting setting. Another cozy whodunit.
Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh
As part of my summer break I'd decided to wallow in the whodunit section rather than more series novels. Inspector Alleyn solves the case with an interesting collection of characters.
Having read all four of the James Tait Black short list books, here is my choice of winner:
4) Crudo; 3) MurMur; 2) Heads of the Colored People; 1) Sight. I rather doubt the judges will agree with me. Interestingly, I had no difficulty in deciding on the order.
I'm always happy to send on most of the books I've bought within the UK (postage overseas would be more than I paid for the book generally) but in the case of the two James Tait Black books I bought (which were new) I'd be happy to send them overseas if anyone was interested.
MurMur by Will Eaves
Based on part of the life of Alan Turing, although written as though a different character by the name of Alec Pryor. It's an odd book, tied up with the idea of reflections, and dreams. Pryor, like Turing, undergoes chemical castration, and the novel shows his thoughts on life and his past history, as this happens. I found it a struggle at times to understand what was going on. I didn't dislike the book, just found it rather confusing.
Cutwork by Monica Ferris
Definitely a change from the above! An enjoyable whodunit which I happily read through.
Heads of the Colored People by Nafisa Thompson-Spires
The last of the James Tait Black short list, which, like MurMur, was unavailable at the library, so I bought a copy. It's a collection of short stories about middle class colored people who are in the minority in situations where the predominant culture is white. Unlike the other three books this is American. Sometimes the colour of the person's skin seemed much less relevant than at other times. It's a really interesting collection of stories, some of which are very funny, others are extremely thought-provoking. It's a book I would recommend reading for the content. It's not what I'd describe as a 'literary' read.
The Truth by Terry Pratchett
The second in the Industrial Revolution series. This time set in the newspaper industry, but definitely a critique on all news vendors, whether in print, online or on screen. Funny and extremely thought provoking. Lots of my favourite characters, like Sam Vimes, DEATH, and Lord Vetenari.
Aunt Dimity Goes West by Nancy Atherton
I prefer the stories which stay in the village, but this was an interesting setting. Another cozy whodunit.
Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh
As part of my summer break I'd decided to wallow in the whodunit section rather than more series novels. Inspector Alleyn solves the case with an interesting collection of characters.
Having read all four of the James Tait Black short list books, here is my choice of winner:
4) Crudo; 3) MurMur; 2) Heads of the Colored People; 1) Sight. I rather doubt the judges will agree with me. Interestingly, I had no difficulty in deciding on the order.
I'm always happy to send on most of the books I've bought within the UK (postage overseas would be more than I paid for the book generally) but in the case of the two James Tait Black books I bought (which were new) I'd be happy to send them overseas if anyone was interested.
