Read Around the World: Oman
In May our world reading tour took us to Oman, so what books did we read and what have we learnt about our latest travel destination.
Posts by imabookwormy
May 17
4 Comments
No One Home by Tim Weaver
No One Home by Tim Weaver
Published in: 2019
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]
This ARC was provided by Penguin UK (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis from Goodreads: On Halloween night, four households gather for a party in the tiny Yorkshire village of Black Gale. Three hours in, they head outside, onto the darkened moors, to play a drunken game of hide and seek. None of them return. There’s no trail, no evidence and no answers. An entire village has just vanished.
With the police investigation dead in the water, the families of the disappeared ask missing persons investigator David Raker to find out what happened. But nothing can prepare him for the truth.
Book Worm’s Thoughts: Having read the description I was excited to see how these mystery disappearances turned out. I loved the premise of the book the 9 villagers all disappearing at the same time on Halloween never to be heard from again and no trace of them discovered in 2.5 years. Was this a planned disappearance and if they had planned it what was the reason behind it or was this something far more sinister. Enter Raker to discover the truth.
There is not a lot more I can say without spoilers other than that I enjoyed seeing all the dead ends the police and Raker find and the resolution as to why nothing was discovered until Raker stepped in.
As a disclaimer I will say I felt this could have been a shorter book and that the story did get rather convoluted.
This is book 10 in a series and there are references back to events from previous books however if you don’t mind not reading a whole series this pretty much stands alone.
Who would like this? I would recommend this to fans of the Raker series and those looking for a mystery with a difference.
We want to hear from you! Have you read this book? What did you think?
May 6
The Farm by Joanne Ramos
The Farm by Joanne Ramos
Published in: 2019
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★★]
This ARC was provided by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
Baby boom or baby bust?
Tangle’s Game by Stewart Hotston
Tangle’s Game by Stewart Hotston
Published in: 2019
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]
This ARC was provided by Rebellion Publishing (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
May 2
The Furies by Katie Lowe
The Furies by Katie Lowe
Published in: 2019
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
Published in: 2019
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]
Little Darlings by Melanie Golding
Little Darlings by Melanie Golding
Published in: 2019
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★★]
Apr 28
The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal
The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal
Published in: 2019
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]
This ARC was provided by Pan Macmillan (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
Apr 26
Read Around the World: Lithuania
Our reading destination for April was Lithuania who joined us on this leg of our world tour and how did you choose to visit Lithuania?
MBI 2019 The Official Shortlist
The shortlist is now official so what books made it and how did we do with our predictions?
The official shortlist:
The Shape of the Ruins
The Years
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
The Remainder
The Pine Islands
Celestial Bodies
Our Predictions – correct predictions are coloured in red
Starting with our ratings predictions:
Love in the New Millennium 18/20
The Remainder 17.3/20
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead 16.5/20
The Faculty of Dreams 14.5/20
Mouthful of Birds 14.5/20
Celestial Bodies 14/20 or Four Soldiers 14/20
Score 3/6
Bookworm’s Predictions: I impressed myself this year with my best ever prediction score 4 out of 6. I am happy with the short list and pleased that Drive Your Plow made it. I have also read all of the short list books which is a bonus.
Shape of the Ruins (longest book on the longlist and I loved it)
Love in the New Millennium (haven’t read this one but think it will make it)
The Remainder (one of my favourites, unusual and quirky)
The Pine Islands (intriguing and quirky)
The Years (anything about women is topical right now)
The Death of Murat Idrissi (women and culture clashes)
Score 4/6
Emily’s Predictions: The shortlist this year is such a mix I think it’s surprised everybody across the board! For me personally, I’ve got my two favourite books off the longlist (Drive Your Plough and The Remainder), so I’m very happy with that. I’m hoping for The Remainder to win, as I don’t think them giving it to the same author two years in a row is very worth hoping for. It’s a pity – I much prefer this year’s entry to Flights and would much rather she’d won for this book than the year before. Quibbling about which of her books I prefer aside, though, I’m very hopeful for The Remainder! It’d be lovely to see & Other Stories win, they’re probably my favourite indie press around right now. Celestial Bodies was one I really enjoyed and I think it’s absolutely worthy of a place on the shortlist, but it’s not one of my absolute favourites. Not a disappointment though.
The Shape of the Ruins was, frankly, one of the most disappointing books I’ve read in years and I’m mystified anybody got anything out of it. I have a terrible sinking feeling that it’s going to win because the books that baffle me the most often do well, but I’ll pretty much be rooting for anything else. I’m a bit offended on behalf of The Faculty of Dreams that anybody preferred this one.
The other two are mysteries to me as I didn’t get around to them on the longlist. After my next payday I’ll dive in!
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
The Remainder
The Faculty Of Dreams
Mouthful of Birds
The Years
Celestial Bodies
Score 4/6
Tracy’s Predictions: Well, I did a terrible job of predicting the shortlist- I got two.
I’m happy with the choices, for the most part- there were some good books this year, and more easily accessible in the US, so I’ve read five of the books.
Prediction for the win: I’m hoping for The Remainder. But I think The Shape Of the Ruins will win.
Love in the New Millennium
The Remainder
Shape of the Ruins
The Faculty Of Dreams
Mouthful of Birds
At Dusk (just because I really disliked it)
Score 2/6
jenp27
Nicole Del Sesto
The Reader's Room 