Translated from the French by Nick Caistor I don’t read much war fiction, and tend to shy away in general from more modern military stuff (unless it’s part of a spy novel etc.). But there was something about Olivier Norek’s new novel that caught my attention. Having read more Nordic fiction including quite a few Read More| AnnaBookBel
Translated by Quentin Bates It’s always a delight to read the new titles from Corylus Books, and, using their own tag line ‘to discover new voices’. Icelander, Guðrún Guðlaugsdóttir is not, however, a new author. She’s a journalist with a prodigious output including plenty of interviews and biographies as well as a series of novels Read More| AnnaBookBel
Sometimes a book cover calls to you – as this one did – gorgeous colours with the lighthouse’s blazing beacon, silver foam in the waves crashing against the rocks, with the added temptations of pink sprayed edges, lovely endpapers and signed by the author to boot. Nor did this book disappoint; indeed I’d go so Read More| AnnaBookBel
Still trying to reduce my books to be reviewed pile, here are two more shorter reviews for you. All that Remains by Virginie Grimaldi, translated by Hildegarde Serle Knowing that I’ve enjoyed Valérie Perrin’s novels (see here and here), I was delighted to receive a copy of another French bestseller, also translated by Hildegarde Serle, Read More| AnnaBookBel
You know what it’s like. You read some wonderful 10/10 type books, but don’t feel inspired when it comes to writing about them! I have two such in the review queue – but they’re not for today. Instead here are capsule reviews of other good reads that I really enjoyed that are also in that Read More| AnnaBookBel
Apologies for typing in the wrong date – and posting on Friday instead of the first Saturday of the month. However, it’s time for the super monthly tag Six Degrees of Separation, which is hosted by Kate at Booksaremyfavouriteandbest, Six Degrees of Separation #6degrees picks a starting book for participants to go wherever it takes them in six Read More| AnnaBookBel
As before, Emma has created a questionnaire for us to help share our experience of this summer challenge. You can find the link HERE. The August linky oost will stay open for another full week so you can add any late reviews. Find that HERE. Now for the questionnaire – here are my answers:| AnnaBookBel
Some shorter reviews to help reduce the height of the pile of books I’ve read but haven’t written up yet. First my latest read for WITMonth which is also my 20th of my 20 Books of Summer. Challenge done! The Time of Cherries by Montserrat Roig, translated by Julia Sanches The Time of Cherries was Read More| AnnaBookBel
Something I’ve wanted to do for ages is an evening class in critical reading. The Oxford Uni Lifelong Learning course ‘Contemporary Critish Fiction’ sounds wonderful based on novels by McEwan, Mantel, Ishiguro and Zadie Smith, but at 10 hrs a week study over 10 weeks it’s more time than I can commit to while working Read More| AnnaBookBel
I’ve never done one of the ‘Top Ten Tuesday’ prompts hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl but having seen some blogger friends joining in this week, couldn’t resist – but I’m a day late. Last year, I had a bit of a rant about the time that chunksters take to read, which means that quantity of Read More| AnnaBookBel
Noli domo egredi, nisi librum habes – Never leave home without a book.| AnnaBookBel
June started the 2025 20 Books campaign off brilliantly with tons of you linking, commenting and tweeting etc giving Emma and I, and you, of course, loads of wonderful reviews to explore.…| AnnaBookBel
Thank you, thank you all for your fantastic responses to Emma and I keeping 20 books going. The number of sign-ups and comments on the planning post is just brilliant. If you still need to pick up …| AnnaBookBel
When Cathy of 746 books announced last year that she would not host 20 Books of Summer this year after ten successful years, Emma of Words and Peace and I both volunteered to take it on. Summer rea…| AnnaBookBel