Four books – 25% kicking myself for waiting so long to read it, 25% better than I thought, 25% muh and 25% nope.

The Nope one was The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane, the language is best described as poetic and I can see how that would appeal to some people (so this would be perfect for them, for ’tis full of it) but my brain just doesn’t work like that and I get frustrated with trying to picture what he is talking about. Recommended for poets but donated to the charity shop by me.

The Muh one was The Hoarder by Jess Kidd. This starts well, intriguing and amusing, and I did make it to the end but it drags a little. The supernatural aspect didn’t do much for me and although the plot was reasonable it seemed to take quite a while to get there. I am glad I read it and I recommend it as non-thinky reading, but this one is being donated too.

The one that was better than I thought was In Pieces, Sally Field‘s autobiography. I wish I could remember where I read the recommendation for this one, because I would go back and see what else they promote. I waited quite a while for this to come out in paperback so I have forgotten who pointed me in this direction. This autobiography is very readable, traumatic and as reasonably flattering as a good biography should be. I was left feeling sympathy and admiration for her and it took a few days for the realisation that her life is and never was anything like mine to sink in (as it should with a good biography). I would have liked more about her later life in it, but she’s still got time to write another one so maybe I’ll get my wish. Still gonna donate it, but glad I read it.

The one I am kicking myself for waiting so long to read is The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. I have an inbuilt adversion to hype and this book has proven that sometimes that does me no favours. I had avoided starting this series of books because so many other people kept banging on about how great they are…what a prat I am. I enjoyed this from page one. I even enjoyed the slow and undramatic reveals of information. The characters are well rounded with natural and realistic motivations. Any social commentary/justice/activism mentioned in this is subtle and in no way in your face, which I appreciate at the same time as wanting to read about. This is a keeper and the next two in this series are on the shopping list. Highly recommended science fiction…if you like that sort of thing…I’m not hyping it up or anything…y’know…take it or leave it…