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Thursday 28 February 2019
“It’s a mixed bag, but when it’s good, it’s very, very good” – You Know You Want This by Kristen Roupenian
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“It’s a mixed bag, but when it’s good, it’s very, very good” – You Know You Want This by Kristen Roupenian
"You’ve all read ‘Cat Person’, right? The New Yorker story that went viral a while back: it’s all about bad sex, age and gender power dynamics, the slippery nature of consent, and the way we construct versions of ourselves and one another and (ill-advisedly) act upon them. It popped up at the peak of the #MeToo movement, and annoyed a lot of insecure dudes on Twitter; rarely do we see a single piece of literary short fiction attract so much attention, so quickly. Plus, Roupenian was that rarity: a writer nobody’s ever heard of (a grad school student, no less), published by The New Yorker. The wheels have moved quickly since, and here’s her first collection (in hardback, natch) – a book that’s as eagerly awaited in some circles (well, probably the same circles) as a new series of Girls." - Valerie O'Riordan reviews You Know You Want This by Kristen Roupenian
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Charlie Pike - Jacob's Ladder - Prepare to be Born Anew - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books
This is another exciting YA book from a debut Irish author. In this case, the author is Charlie Pike and it was such a privilege to receive a copy of this book to review. Jacob's Ladder will hit the shops on the 1st April 2019 and has been published by The O'Brien Press in Ireland. It's a brilliantly written dark fantasy story that will hook you from the very first page. Set in the year 2203 (dystopian style vision) the earth is dying, birds are falling out of the sky and people are living in fear of what is to come.
The story is very brutal and hard-hitting with some scenes that would be more appropriate to late teen/adult fiction, in my opinion. It has an epic fantasy landscape which is incredibly well written. The imagination certainly draws the reader into the world of war, destruction, and chaos. The story takes you into a mission of salvation based on a series of mystery messages, which go like this...
We have heard your call
You no longer need to fear
You will receive five messages, of which this is the first.
The last message will inform you of the time and place of your salvation.
This sets up the story leading the reader into a tangible feeling of what might lie ahead. The main character Leon is to come of age in his warrior culture and sets out into an unknown world. The climatic adventure starts from here. However, it is impossible to predict what is going to happen in the story. You'll hurtle through the bizarre plot whilst being showered by a world of dark fantasy and violence. The main characters are devoid of empathy (almost brainwashed) which makes the plot very edgy and intriguing. Interestingly, the narrative changes the more that you travel into the complex world, as the character's perspectives change through the course of their dangerous adventures.
I really enjoyed this book due to the creativeness of the story and the complex feelings of the characters. Ulya is my favourite character as she is mysterious, resilient and very loyal. It's both heartbreaking and emotionally challenging for the reader to follow her. I was on tenterhooks hoping for a better outcome throughout the story as you are led into an immersive dystopian adventure that becomes a living nightmare. You will journey through a world of chaos and maggots in this action-packed thriller that you will not be able to tear yourself away from.
The ending was not the one I was hoping for. However, the story went in a new direction and the encounters with the worms made me run for cover. So, if you like chaotic dark Irish fiction with a big dollop of Sci-fi fantasy this is definitely a book for you. I loved every page of this book and would highly recommend it. Don't delay - make sure you find a copy to read and experience this thrilling adventure.
Synopsis: We have heard your call You no longer need to fear. You will receive five messages, of which this is the first. The last message will inform you of the time and place of your salvation. Two hundred years from now, the earth is dying, scorched by powerful flares from the sun. A series of messages from an alien civilization sent to humanity over two centuries promise rescue to those strong enough to survive on their planet. Initiate Leon is a member of the True Path warrior culture and preparing for his Rising. But when his test comes - to kill in cold blood - he cannot do it. To redeem himself, he must journey to find the earth's fifth and final message from the Saviours, with the help of his resourceful servant, Martha. Out in the wild, Leon discovers alarming changes in his body - he can drink water through his skin and has poison barbs buried deep in his flesh. Martha reveals to him the secret that the True Path has kept from him all this time: Jacob's Ladder, an adaptation for life on the alien planet, has lain dormant in his genes and is now being activated. He is part alien and part human, and he is in grave danger from those who wish to take what is in his body.
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March's Hottest New Releases
Looking for a new book? You can't go wrong with one of March's new releases, which include a highly anticipated domestic thriller from Harlan Coben and a novel about a 1970s rock band from the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Each month the Goodreads Editorial team takes a look at the books that are being published, how early reviewers are rating them, and how many of you are adding these books to your Want to Read shelf. We use the information to curate this list of books you can't wait to read.
Sex, drugs, and rock and roll dominate this tale of a 1970s band making it big, from the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Release date: March 5
Read our interview with Taylor Jenkins Reid here.
In this domestic thriller, a wealthy Manhattanite's daughter disappears into a world of drugs. In an effort to save her, he discovers family secrets he never suspected.
Release date: March 19
Read our interview with Harlan Coben here.
In this book full of magic, a gingerbread baker tells her daughter a long bedtime story about her lineage, from the author of Boy, Snow, Bird.
Release date: March 5
Read our interview with Helen Oyeyemi here.
If you had to pick five people to sum up your life, who would they be? In this debut, an elderly Irish man pulls up a stool at a hotel bar and raises a toast to the five people who have meant the most to him.
Release date: March 5
Read our interview with Anne Griffin here.
After a messy breakup with her longtime white boyfriend, a Jamaican British woman living in London seeks comfort in all of the wrong places.
Release date: March 19
Read our interview with Candice Carty-Williams here.
In this novel, two Korean girls in the 1930s join their village's all-female diving collective, beginning a life of excitement and danger.
Release date: March 5
A suburban wife with a history of psychological instability has fears about her new neighbor that could lead them both to murder.
Release date: March 5
This epic fantasy from the author of the Hugo Award-winning comic book series Ms. Marvel is set during the height of the Spanish Inquisition.
Release date: March 12
This YA fantasy is a gender-bending King Arthur retelling, as a young woman is revealed to be the reincarnation of the legendary leader.
Release date: March 26
In this follow-up to her bestselling book Girl, Wash Your Face, Hollis encourages women to stop talking themselves out of their dreams.
Release date: March 12
Anderson was inspired to write this lyrical memoir after hearing from fans of her 1999 novel, Speak, which gave voice to a young sexual-assault survivor.
Release date: March 12
Which new releases are you looking forward to reading? Let's talk books in the comments!
Check out more recent articles:
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves This Week
Goodreads Podcast: Elizabeth Talks with Author Marlon James
A Letter from Michelle Obama to Her Readers on Goodreads
posted by Cybil on February, 27
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Wednesday 27 February 2019
Asexual Representation in Mainstream Speculative Fiction
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On The Pile: February
With mini-heatwaves in February and Brexit looming, it's kind of surprising only some of us are reading dystopian fiction... Quick through to see exactly what's on the Bookmunch team's various bedside tables.
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THORNBOUND: Stephanie Burgis on Inspirations & Influences
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“An attack on our lives of comfort” – Letter to Survivors by Gébé
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New Children's & Young Adult Book Picks March 2019 - Post One - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books
David Almond (Author), Dave McKean (Illustrator) - Joe Quinn's Poltergeist - Published by Walker Books (7 Mar. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1406363197 - Hardback
A dark, powerful and moving short story from the internationally acclaimed author of Skellig.
Joe Quinn tells everyone about the poltergeist in his house, but no one believes him. No one that is, except for Davey. He’s felt the inexplicable presence in the rooms, he’s seen random objects fly through the air. And there’s something else … a memory of his beloved sister, and a feeling deep down that somehow it might be possible for ghosts to exist.
Sea-ing is Believing! (Nothing to see Here Hotel) - Published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK (21 Mar. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1471178733 - Paperback
Welcome to The Nothing to See Here Hotel! A hotel for magical creatures run by Frankie Banister and his parents.
Frankie Banister and his family are preparing to celebrate Grandad Abraham’s 175th birthday – an occasion that’s going to be even more HONKHUMPTIOUS now that Abe’s ghost has showed up!
When the unexpected spook reveals a secret UNDERWATER wing of the hotel that’s been hidden away for years, the Banister’s decide there’s only one thing for it … a whopping welcome home bash in the spectacular BRINY BALLROOM.
But memories aren’t the only things waiting at the bottom of the ocean. Secrets and sea monsters are lurking in the shadows, and is everything as it seems with Grandad Abraham’s ghost? Or is there something fishy going on?
Frankie Banister and his family are preparing to celebrate Grandad Abraham’s 175th birthday – an occasion that’s going to be even more HONKHUMPTIOUS now that Abe’s ghost has showed up!
When the unexpected spook reveals a secret UNDERWATER wing of the hotel that’s been hidden away for years, the Banister’s decide there’s only one thing for it … a whopping welcome home bash in the spectacular BRINY BALLROOM.
But memories aren’t the only things waiting at the bottom of the ocean. Secrets and sea monsters are lurking in the shadows, and is everything as it seems with Grandad Abraham’s ghost? Or is there something fishy going on?
The Edge Chronicles 13: The Descenders: Third Book of Cade - Published by Doubleday Children's (7 Mar. 2019) - Hardback
Cade Quarter has spent the last few years of his life running from an enemy he’s never even met – the ruthless and power-hungry High Professor of Flight, Quove Lentis. But Quove’s deadly agenda has finally caught up with Cade, and now he must leave his home and flee once more, this time to the legendary floating city of New Sanctaphrax. But even reuniting with his uncle, Nate Quarter, isn’t the end of Cade’s troubles – and now, more than ever, he must find the courage to defy his enemies, unite his friends, and unlock the secrets of descending.
The Descenders is the third and final book in the Cade trilogy - the fifth and final saga in Stewart and Riddell’s internationally bestselling series, The Edge Chronicles, which has featured on the Times and New York Times bestseller lists and sold more than 3 million copies. 2018 marks twenty years of the series, now complete with thirteen titles across five separate but interlinking sagas.
Fleur Hitchcock - The Boy Who Flew - Published by Nosy Crow Ltd (7 Mar. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1788004381 - Paperback - See Book Review Here
Fleur Hitchcock - The Boy Who Flew - Published by Nosy Crow Ltd (7 Mar. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1788004381 - Paperback - See Book Review Here
Athan Wilde dreams of flight. When his friend, Mr Chen, is murdered, Athan must rescue the flying machine they were building together and stop it falling into the wrong hands. But keeping the machine safe puts his family in terrible danger. What will Athan choose – flight or family?
From the acclaimed author of Murder In Midwinter, Fleur Hitchcock’s The Boy Who Flew is a thrilling, murderous tale set among the steep rooftops and slippery characters of Athan’s intricately imagined world. Perfect for fans of Philip Pullman, Peter Bunzl and Philip Reeve.
Here’s an exclusive early look inside the book: https://issuu.com/nosycrow/docs/repro_theboywhoflew_prelims_hi-resfrom Mr Ripleys Enchanted Books https://ift.tt/2Ua1Lvz
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“An attack on our lives of comfort” – Letter to Survivors by Gébé
"Written in the aftermath of France’s May 1968 riots, Letter to Survivors is the author sticking two fingers up at those responsible for that project’s ultimate failure – viz, everyone. But there’s no hand-wringing or chest-beating here. Through Gébé’s comic medium, and in particular his simply-drawn protagonist, the hazmat-suited postman whose eyes we never see, the author’s perspective is a fatalistic shrug..." - Tamim Sadikali reviews Letter to Survivors by Gébé
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Goodreads Podcast: Elizabeth Talks with Author Marlon James
Listen up, Season 2 is here! The podcast Books of Your Life with Elizabeth revs up with Goodreads Co-Founder Elizabeth Khuri Chandler chatting with man-of-the-moment, author Marlon James. He's the winner of the 2015 Man Booker Prize for A Brief History of Seven Killings, based on the attempted assassination of Bob Marley in 1976, as well as the author of two previous novels, John Crow’s Devil and The Book of Night Women.
James' latest book, Black Leopard, Red Wolf, is the first volume in the planned Dark Star Trilogy, a saga that pays homage to African history and mythology.
Chandler and James discussed his new book, as well as the books that changed his life: Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn, Shame by Salman Rushdie, and Sula by Toni Morrison.
Also look forward to more conversations with notables this spring including author Dave Eggers and founder of Girls Who Code, Reshma Saujani!
You can be part of the conversation, too. We’ve created a book club to accompany our podcast, where you can discuss each guest’s recommendations.
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to hear the latest interviews and to get great book recommendations from fascinating people.
You can listen to episodes of Books of Your Life with Elizabeth on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
posted by Cybil on February, 26
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The Best Romance Books of March
Do you know who you'll be falling in love with this month? We've got suggestions…
Every month, our team takes a look at the new romance books and how early readers are responding to them. We use this information to curate a list of soon-to-be-beloved favorites, from sizzling contemporary love stories to scandalous historical romances.
For March, we have happily-ever-afters waiting for you with a rugged rancher, a professional athlete, a Parisian heartthrob, and more! Add what looks good to your Want to Read shelf, and let us know what you're reading and recommending in the comments.
After getting ditched at the altar, Mackenzie embarks on a solo honeymoon to Mexico with dreams of a passionate one-night stand. Enter pro soccer player Slade.
Read our interview with Van Dyken here.
Release date: March 19
At home in the lab, graduate student Emily realizes her lifelong ambition for scientific discovery might conflict with her growing attraction to a colleague.
Release date: March 12
CJ trusts no one. Putting a congressional scandal behind her, she escapes to a small New England town and finds herself falling for the owner of a fishing boat company.
Release date: March 26
From a Colorado rancher defending his lady to stubborn Wyoming newlyweds, these are sultry stories of love on the range—or happily ever after, the Western way.
Release date: March 26
After a harrowing car accident leaves her husband badly injured, Allison turns to an unexpected source for inspiration and courage: letters from her husband's first wife.
Release date: March 26
Enzo carries his broken heart around Paris, suspicious of everyone else's happiness. Then a chance encounter brings his ex Florian back into his life.
Release date: March 18
Eryn wants nothing to do with West. But when her former fiancé temporarily shuts down her bistro, she has no choice but to accept his seductive offer of help.
Release date: March 26
Which new romance books are you most excited to read? Let us know in the comments!
Check out more recent articles:
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves This Week
How Books Earn Five-Star Ratings From Readers
Catch Up Now: These Big Series All Have Books Coming Out Next Month
posted by Hayley on February, 26
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Tuesday 26 February 2019
“He’s gone out on an absolute high” – The Border by Don Winslow
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“He’s gone out on an absolute high” – The Border by Don Winslow
"The Border is one of those books you want to list crazy adjectives alongside (rip-snorting etc) - which will give you a sense of what a page-turner this is - but will also do the book a disservice because this is a smart novel, a well-written novel, more than just a thrill-ride, it's busy engaging with the demented world in which we all find ourselves. This is Winslow at the absolute top of his game."
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“Unfurl your moth-collecting net” – Mothlight by Adam Scovelll
An odd thing happened as I was reading Mothlight, Adam Scovell’s memoir about his relationship with a renowned British lepidopterist named Phyllis Ewans. I became so ensnared in the narrator’s description of his encounters with this eccentric old woman that I forgot to remember what kind of text I was reading. About halfway into the […]
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Monday 25 February 2019
Over at Kirkus: WE SET THE DARK ON FIRE by Tehlor Kay Mejia
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“A considered, thoughtful, sweeping collation of work from a madly smart writer” – Feel Free by Zadie Smith
"Have you read Changing My Mind? Well, then, you know what you’re in for: Zadie Smith’s latest collection of non-fiction is as, if not more, extensive than her first; it showcases Smith’s academic and philosophical erudition alongside her pop-and-high-culture fan-girl enthusiasm, her book geekery, her love for rap and hip-hop, her keen eye for that very British obsession, class..." - Valerie O'Riordan reviews Feel Free by Zadie Smith
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“A considered, thoughtful, sweeping collation of work from a madly smart writer” – Feel Free by Zadie Smith
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Sunday 24 February 2019
“It does for the quick what Jim Crace’s Being Dead did for, well, the dead” – My Coney Island Baby by Billy O’Callaghan
"So what we’ve got is a meticulous examination of one day (a day spent mostly in bed), with every glance, every touch, every thought and utterance and fleeting memory recorded in exquisite detail, such that this single day serves to conjure two entire lives. It does for the quick what Jim Crace’s Being Dead did for, well, the dead..." - Valerie O'Riordan reviews My Coney Island Baby by Billy O’Callaghan
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“It does for the quick what Jim Crace’s Being Dead did for, well, the dead” – My Coney Island Baby by Billy O’Callaghan
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Saturday 23 February 2019
“An exuberant, full flavoured read” – The One Who Wrote Destiny by Nikesh Shukla
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“An exuberant, full flavoured read” – The One Who Wrote Destiny by Nikesh Shukla
"The stories within stories are presented lightly but with subtle depths. There are entrenched views on all sides, subjugation and resentments sitting alongside tolerance and acceptance. The immigrant’s desire for assimilation in the place they choose to make their home is, at times, at odds with retained aspects of their cultural history..." - Jackie Law reviews The One Who Wrote Destiny by Nikesh Shukla
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Friday 22 February 2019
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GIVEAWAY 🎉 How To Dance The Charleston With Jacqueline Wilson 'Dancing the Charleston' is a brand new Jacqueline Wilson novel, ful...
