Category: Doreen

Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

I get the distinct feeling that Harper Lee only allowed this book to be published because a) she just didn’t care any more, and b) maybe it would stop people from pestering her about publishing (and honestly, shame on those people squeezing a profit out of this!) Go Set A Watchman is not a complete …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2015/10/14/go-set-a-watchman-by-harper-lee/

Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty’s debut novel is a remarkably accomplished, near-perfect exploration of family dynamics in contemporary Australia. Witty and wise, with excellent pacing and an inventive structure, it exemplifies the genre of contemporary women’s fiction. And after reading Three Wishes, I was impressed with how well she’s living up to her initial promise: her fifth and …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2015/10/11/three-wishes-by-liane-moriarty/

Hild by Nicola Griffith

For real, if I’d known this novel would be the first in a series, I wouldn’t have bothered reading it till the rest came out. As it is, the book ends well before the… oh jeez, how to explain without spoilers? I know this is all based on what might as well be ancient history, …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2015/10/09/hild-by-nicola-griffith/

Fates And Furies by Lauren Groff

Meh. I loved The Monsters Of Templeton and eagerly looked forward to meeting that same humanity and kindness displayed there again here in the pages of Fates And Furies, but instead all I got was a book about a naive dude and his bitchy wife with her unrelentingly poor choices. If anything, it reminded me …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2015/10/01/fates-and-furies-by-lauren-groff/

Whispers Underground by Ben Aaronovitch

It’s extraordinary how this series doesn’t flag at all, with each book feeling entirely self-contained even as the overarching narrative races towards what promises to be a breathtaking denouement (no pressure, Ben Aaronovitch!) With most urban fantasy, Book 3 (if you’re lucky) is where the stresses of carrying a series would begin to show, in …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2015/09/27/whispers-underground-by-ben-aaronovitch/

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch

It isn’t often that the second book in a series I like is even better than the first, but Ben Aaronovitch has managed to build on the cleverness of Midnight Riot to add pathos and depth to his magical universe with Moon Over Soho. Whereas the first book felt a little shaky in its grasp …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2015/09/26/moon-over-soho-by-ben-aaronovitch/

The Price Of Salt by Patricia Highsmith

I don’t think I understand Patricia Highsmith, but that could be due to the fact that I haven’t read any of her suspense novels, so haven’t yet enjoyed the sense of atmosphere most people ascribe to her writing. The Price Of Salt is more romance novel than any other genre, and I get that it …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2015/09/24/the-price-of-salt-by-patricia-highsmith/

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty

Ugh, Liane Moriarty, you genius. How did you know that my favorite Enid Blyton stories were the ones titled things like “A Bit Of Temper”? You’ve managed to write a novel both complex and heartening that still manages to satisfy that unsophisticated need in me for neatness in the universe. Your characters are whole and …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2015/09/22/the-husbands-secret-by-liane-moriarty/

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

This book was haunting in a different way than I usually use the word. In general, I’ve found that I use it when I mean poignant and memorable, but in this case, there’s an actual tinge of fear in my description. I’m not sure if that’s just an intensely personal reaction, but Ruth’s description of …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2015/09/19/housekeeping-by-marilynne-robinson/

Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch

A testament to how good I think this book is: not only do I want to binge-read the whole series, I’m also willing to shell out the full price on Book 2, as it’s the only one with an absurd wait list from the library. I am voting with my dollar here, people! Midnight Riot …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2015/09/14/midnight-riot-by-ben-aaronovitch/