As I think I mentioned when I reviewed Ron Howard’s brilliant Rush, I’m a fair weather Formula One fan. I enjoy the races, I have drivers that I like and I know a little bit about the politics of the paddock but I’m not a fanatic. I’ve never been to a race…
Lucy
Imagine that there’s a way to open up all of your brain’s capacity. What would happen? Would you become a researcher into some of the most hideous diseases that afflict the world? Or become a high-powered politician – able to influence the lives of everyone around you?
Gone Girl
If you’ve read my book review of Gone Girl you’ll know that I was absolutely sold on the book until the finale. The conclusion let me down so much that the wind was taken out of my sails. I was thoroughly disappointed and felt let down by Gillian Flynn…
How to be Brave
A couple of years ago I went to a storytelling evening on Orkney. I persuaded others to come along with promises of a dram by a peat fire, squishy leather chairs and some magnificent Orcadian folklore. I have never been so wrong about anything in my life…
The Defenceless
When I put together my mid-year top ten books I included Kati Hiekkapelto’s debut novel, The Hummingbird – a fabulous Finnish crime novel with great new heroine Detective Anna Fekete as its lead character. When Orenda Books asked me to participate in the Blog Tour…
Pride
I used to work with a man who has a mission to uncover hidden LGBT history in the UK. He has told me stories that are little known about gay men and lesbians across Britain – it’s vitally important that these stories are heard. They form part of our social and cultural history…
The Good Neighbour
I found out a couple of days ago that one of our lovely neighbours has put their house up for rent. I’m sorry that they are leaving because they are nice people but it’s worse than that – we’re now stuck in the hellish situation of not knowing who our new neighbours are going to be…
Book Giveaway: The Defenceless
As I’m focusing this month on the brilliant Orenda Books, an independent British publisher I’m delighted to be hosting a giveaway of one of their current releases, the brilliant The Defenceless by Kati Hiekkapelto…
Paperback Summer Round-Up
At the end of May I decided to take part in the #PaperbackSummer challenge being run by Suze and Sophie. I had great plans to read about a dozen paperbacks while also reading digital review books and doing my best to keep my spiralling To-Be-Read pile under control…