Latest Entries
Crap Taxidermy, Kat Su
Science

Crap Taxidermy, Kat Su

Is there anything lovelier than a friend opening their bag and saying “I saw this book and thought of you.”?  And is there anything quite like the alarm and confusion you feel when the book they cheerfully withdraw is called “Crap Taxidermy”? Actually, there is something exactly like that sense of alarm and confusion.  It … Continue reading

In defence of Mrs Dalloway
Fiction

In defence of Mrs Dalloway

I recently wrote a review of Mrs Dalloway that was far from flattering.  A number of people strongly disagreed with my view that it is a totally boring book.  Indeed, some felt so strongly that the article prompted the first nasty comment on bloggingaroundmybookcase! One of the things I most love about the book blogging world is the … Continue reading

Gaia, James Lovelock
Science

Gaia, James Lovelock

Well, that was an intriguing read, and much more nuanced than I was expecting it to be.  This book is a relic from E’s days studying geology, when they had to engage with this as a possible theory of the world.  Lovelock’s premise (which will be the title of my next album) is that instead … Continue reading

Bloglift
Uncategorized

Bloglift

Regular readers will notice that my little blog has a brand new look and I wondered what you, dear reader, thought about it. I changed it because it was quite hard for people to find my old reviews on the old layout, unless they wanted to scroll and scroll and scroll.  But, on the other … Continue reading

Sisters in Arms, Nicola Tyrer
History

Sisters in Arms, Nicola Tyrer

Sisters in Arms tells the story of women who joined the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in the Second World War. Generally known as ‘QAs’ these women were selected from the higher ranks of society, considered part of the military, held officer rank and nursed on the front line Europe, Africa, the Far East, … Continue reading

Marching Onwards
Uncategorized

Marching Onwards

Well, that was March.  We have smashed through the 50 books barrier and are a happy 5th of the way through the reading list for this year.  It was a pretty quiet month reading-wise with only 14 books read through but I am hopeful to reinvigorate my efforts in April, particularly by making the most … Continue reading

Kraken, China Mieville
Fantasy

Kraken, China Mieville

Billy Harrow is an ordinary squidologist working in the Natural History Museum in London when their giant squid vanishes.  Before he knows what is happening Billy is being hunted through London by a whole range of cults, people with magical powers and some of the most evil assassins known to humanity who all believe, erroneously, that … Continue reading

A World Book Day Conundrum
Uncategorized

A World Book Day Conundrum

Happy World Book Day, everyone!  Today in schools around the world children will be going in dressed as their favourite characters from their favourite books and celebrating the joy of reading.  I am afraid that my workplace is not enlightened enough to encourage such joyously gratuitous fancy-dress, but I can’t help pondering which of my … Continue reading