Mr.F rated Treacle Town: 4 stars
Treacle Town by Brian Conaghan
Con O’Neill is stuck in a world of brutal gang violence, sectarian vendettas and personal tragedy. The lack of opportunities …
DNF
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Mr.F rated Little Bang: 5 stars
Mr.F finished reading Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
Mr.F reviewed Phantom Limb by Chris Kohler
Underwhelming
3 stars
A nice book, but I expected it to build it more than it did. This was also the expectation of the main character for his life, so the emotional experience may be intended.
Mr.F reviewed Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Each decade, only the six most uniquely talented magicians are selected to earn a place …
Not worth reading.
1 star
A novel whose principal characters are the servants in Jane Austen's Pride and prejudice.
Sarah, …
A sweet story independent of source material.
4 stars
Jo Baker's 'Longbourn' takes the aristocratic ambitions of Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' and sets them aside, promoting to the foreground the Bennet's domestic servants. While the ladies upstairs are falling in love, Sarah the young housemaid is clearing out their chamber pots and fetching shoe-roses in the pouring rain. She dreams of a world beyond Longbourn, and a life lived for herself, rather than hanging on the whims of others.
When men from beyond the local village begin arriving at the Bennet household, that wider world comes a little bit closer. James, a quiet labourer with a mysterious past, joins the household surprisingly easily; and Ptolemy, a Bingley footman harbouring bigger dreams. Drama and romance unfold in the background of 'Pride and Prejudice', with familiar scenes and characters cast in a new light.
Readers should not go into this book expecting Austen's romantic view of the British upper class. Baker …
Jo Baker's 'Longbourn' takes the aristocratic ambitions of Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' and sets them aside, promoting to the foreground the Bennet's domestic servants. While the ladies upstairs are falling in love, Sarah the young housemaid is clearing out their chamber pots and fetching shoe-roses in the pouring rain. She dreams of a world beyond Longbourn, and a life lived for herself, rather than hanging on the whims of others.
When men from beyond the local village begin arriving at the Bennet household, that wider world comes a little bit closer. James, a quiet labourer with a mysterious past, joins the household surprisingly easily; and Ptolemy, a Bingley footman harbouring bigger dreams. Drama and romance unfold in the background of 'Pride and Prejudice', with familiar scenes and characters cast in a new light.
Readers should not go into this book expecting Austen's romantic view of the British upper class. Baker revels in the particulars of 19th century domestic labour, from blacking the fireplaces to seeing to the 'necessary house', she exposes details conveniently overlooked by the original work, but which are essential to maintaining the standard of living of Austen's characters.
'Longbourn' reaches beyond the story of 'Pride and Prejudice' and asserts itself as it's own story, worthy of telling on its own merits. Is it on par with Austen? Of course not. But readers who enjoy more grounded period dramas and a healthy splash of romance will find a lot to love in Jo Baker's carefully crafted companion.
Mr.F reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar
Two time-traveling agents from warring futures, working their way through the past, begin to exchange …
Cute romance with a disappointing sci-fi setting.
3 stars
Amal El-Mothar and Max Gladsonte's "This is How You Lose the Time War" follows two agents, Red and Blue, on opposite sides of a war that spans all of time and (some of?) space across multiple universes.
Each chapter starts with a snapshot of what each agent is doing to advance their side's cause, whether that's taking part in major historical events or planting the seeds for 'coincidences' in the future, and ends with the discovery of a letter from their counterpart. What begins as acknowledgements of respect, nods across the battlefield, gradually grow into something more.
Fans of science fiction may be disappointed by the lack of focus on the time-traveling, universe-hopping backdrop to this story of star-crossing lovers. Details are sparse, and little is disclosed about the factions or why they are at war other than hints and impressions throughout the book.
The gradual, tip-toeing romance between Red …
Amal El-Mothar and Max Gladsonte's "This is How You Lose the Time War" follows two agents, Red and Blue, on opposite sides of a war that spans all of time and (some of?) space across multiple universes.
Each chapter starts with a snapshot of what each agent is doing to advance their side's cause, whether that's taking part in major historical events or planting the seeds for 'coincidences' in the future, and ends with the discovery of a letter from their counterpart. What begins as acknowledgements of respect, nods across the battlefield, gradually grow into something more.
Fans of science fiction may be disappointed by the lack of focus on the time-traveling, universe-hopping backdrop to this story of star-crossing lovers. Details are sparse, and little is disclosed about the factions or why they are at war other than hints and impressions throughout the book.
The gradual, tip-toeing romance between Red and Blue via their elegantly composed letters is the strength of this book. There is a sweetness as the characters, hovering just beyond what one might call "human", discover that they are capable of such love, and for who should be their mortal enemy, no less. Readers who never tire of "Romeo and Juliette" will find much to love in "This is How You Lose the Time War".