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Tag: whatimreading

Posted on July 27, 2022February 16, 2023

Sea State by Tabitha Lasley. This is a memoir about a former journalist, who after


Sea State by Tabitha Lasley.
This is a memoir about a former journalist, who after having her laptop (and her novel in progress) stolen and a suffering a bad breakup, decides to leave her job writing for a magazine to write that book.
She wants to write a book about oil rig workers in the North Sea and heads to Aberdeen to interview hundreds of those workers. Her initial question is what happens to men when women are not around? She interviews 103 different men in all types of bars, clubs and settings and it gets rough and ready.
The first man she interviews is a guy called Caden. He's married and they start an affair.
Her writing is pitch perfect and it's a unique voice we have here. She evokes the city of Aberdeen so well, a place where it seems to rain or snow all the time.
Caden becomes a study of what it means to really be an oil rig worker, its uber and toxic masculinity is clear.
This started off quick then went very slow but once I started to see the signs of Caden and how they the reveal of the plot and indeed the overarching theme of the book, I could not put the book down!

The concept is fresh as is the writing and it does answer the initial question of what happens to men when there are no women around?

The whole subject of oil rigs and the oil corporations was unknown to me. That exploration in itself is brilliant reading.

I just hope Caden( not real name) reads the book. I'll say no more.

I've been quite obsessed with Tabitha Lasley since then. Googling photos of her and then trying to see if I could get one of her and Caden for though she writes him well, I'd still love to see what he looks like.

I hope Tabitha is happy or happier and that she has met someone who will realise what a gem she is and what a talented writer she is. 

I'd really recommend this book if you fancy something different but extremely readable. It will leave you thinking, for sure.

***** review

Posted on January 5, 2021February 16, 2023

Where the crawdads sing by Delia Owems. I just finished reading this. I sometimes find


Where the crawdads sing by Delia Owems.
I just finished reading this. I sometimes find bestsellers hard to read as other people's opinions and thoughts weight heavily on my own. It's not that I allow other reader's thoughts intrude on mine, it's just that I don't want to offend a fellow reader's book taste.
This is a taste thing. I feel grumpy after reading this book. I appreciate the author's writing of the landscape and nature. I appreciate the different idea of a girl living in a marsh in seclusion. I appreciate how the girl's isolation is depicted. All these elements work well.
What didn't work for me as a reader was the mish mash of genres. Is this book a Mills and boons as it certainly verges into that that at times. Is it a crime thriller? Kinda but the court scenes where the main character is set before a jury are so weak, boring and the dialogue needs reworking. Is it a film script? Oh yes, it is and that's the main problem for me. I know that when we write that images are conjured up can be film like but this story or novel really feels like it was written or rewritten with a silver screen on mind. Especially the ending which I was not one bit surprised by.
Apparently Daisy Edgar Jones is being mentioned to play Kya, the main character. Let's hope Daisy can make Kya somewhat appealing or fun to be with. I couldn't understand why anyone would want to spend time with Kya as she was portrayed as being joyless.
Gosh this is harsh and now it's awkward but I have to ask what did you think of the best selling novel/film that is the Crawdads?

Posted on January 5, 2021May 22, 2022

Where the crawdads sing by Delia Owems. I just finished reading this. I sometimes find


Where the crawdads sing by Delia Owems.
I just finished reading this. I sometimes find bestsellers hard to read as other people's opinions and thoughts weight heavily on my own. It's not that I allow other reader's thoughts intrude on mine, it's just that I don't want to offend a fellow reader's book taste.
This is a taste thing. I feel grumpy after reading this book. I appreciate the author's writing of the landscape and nature. I appreciate the different idea of a girl living in a marsh in seclusion. I appreciate how the girl's isolation is depicted. All these elements work well.
What didn't work for me as a reader was the mish mash of genres. Is this book a Mills and boons as it certainly verges into that that at times. Is it a crime thriller? Kinda but the court scenes where the main character is set before a jury are so weak, boring and the dialogue needs reworking. Is it a film script? Oh yes, it is and that's the main problem for me. I know that when we write that images are conjured up can be film like but this story or novel really feels like it was written or rewritten with a silver screen on mind. Especially the ending which I was not one bit surprised by.
Apparently Daisy Edgar Jones is being mentioned to play Kya, the main character. Let's hope Daisy can make Kya somewhat appealing or fun to be with. I couldn't understand why anyone would want to spend time with Kya as she was portrayed as being joyless.
Gosh this is harsh and now it's awkward but I have to ask what did you think of the best selling novel/film that is the Crawdads?

Posted on December 21, 2020February 16, 2023

I've been meaning to read this for ages and a friend of mine reminded me


I've been meaning to read this for ages and a friend of mine reminded me of it!
It's set in the summer of 1956 and the main character us a butler called Stephens.
He decides to go on a motoring trip through the West Country. The scenery and characters he meet are just delicious!
The six-day excursion unfolds his past through being a butler throughout two world wars, and a love affair that never came to fruition between him and his housekeeper.
It's a heartbreaking and fascinating short enough read. I loved the slow pace of the narration and how infuriated I was by the character of Stevens yet liking him and his sense of duty immensely.
A classic, love that Anthony Hopkins plays Stevens in the v film version. Perfect casting.

Posted on December 21, 2020May 22, 2022

I've been meaning to read this for ages and a friend of mine reminded me


I've been meaning to read this for ages and a friend of mine reminded me of it!
It's set in the summer of 1956 and the main character us a butler called Stephens.
He decides to go on a motoring trip through the West Country. The scenery and characters he meet are just delicious!
The six-day excursion unfolds his past through being a butler throughout two world wars, and a love affair that never came to fruition between him and his housekeeper.
It's a heartbreaking and fascinating short enough read. I loved the slow pace of the narration and how infuriated I was by the character of Stevens yet liking him and his sense of duty immensely.
A classic, love that Anthony Hopkins plays Stevens in the v film version. Perfect casting.

Posted on September 25, 2020February 16, 2023

I really enjoyed Sarah Hall's Short Story collection, the beautiful indifference many moons ago but


I really enjoyed Sarah Hall's Short Story collection, the beautiful indifference many moons ago but am getting stuck into this right now.
Lovely to be back to my short stories. It's a good life.

Posted on September 25, 2020May 22, 2022

I really enjoyed Sarah Hall's Short Story collection, the beautiful indifference many moons ago but


I really enjoyed Sarah Hall's Short Story collection, the beautiful indifference many moons ago but am getting stuck into this right now.
Lovely to be back to my short stories. It's a good life.

Posted on June 25, 2020February 16, 2023

The Tortilla Curtain by T. C. Boyle. Current read. Devouring but let's wait till the


The Tortilla Curtain by T. C. Boyle. Current read. Devouring but let's wait till the end till I make up my mind. No sense in making a snap judgement now...

Posted on May 16, 2020May 22, 2022

American Dirt. This is a good book. She writes well. If it's a drama, plot


American Dirt.
This is a good book. She writes well. If it's a drama, plot based book you want, you might like this. I'm not sure if it really got to the surface of migration though.

Posted on May 16, 2020February 16, 2023

American Dirt. This is a good book. She writes well. If it's a drama, plot


American Dirt.
This is a good book. She writes well. If it's a drama, plot based book you want, you might like this. I'm not sure if it really got to the surface of migration though.

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My Goodreads

Rozz's books

Tender
3 of 5 stars
Tender
by Belinda McKeon
Davy Byrnes Stories 2014
4 of 5 stars
Davy Byrnes Stories 2014
by Sara Baume
Foster
5 of 5 stars
Foster
by Claire Keegan
Superb, perfect short story telling from the genius of the form.
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
4 of 5 stars
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
by Wells Tower
hilarious and dark and funked up!
The Good House
1 of 5 stars
The Good House
by Ann Leary

goodreads.com

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My Goodreads

Rozz’s books

Tender
3 of 5 stars
Tender
by Belinda McKeon

Davy Byrnes Stories 2014
4 of 5 stars
Davy Byrnes Stories 2014
by Sara Baume

Foster
5 of 5 stars
Foster
by Claire Keegan
Superb, perfect short story telling from the genius of the form.

Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
4 of 5 stars
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
by Wells Tower
hilarious and dark and funked up!

The Good House
1 of 5 stars
The Good House
by Ann Leary




goodreads.com

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