Author: Greig

Professional Librarian from Fife who likes books and music.

taps?

Posted on by Greig

Record Play Pause

Stephen Morris

This is a very good rock autobiography.
Morris recounts his wayward childhood, his burgeoning interest in alternative culture, drugs and particularly music.
He becomes a member of Warsaw who eventually rename themselves Joy Division.
He talks in frequently humourous detail about the trials and tribulations of being a band on the rise in the late 1970s.
The book concludes with singer Ian Curtis committing suicide and the remaining members deciding to carry on under the name New Order.
I’ve already bought the follow up to this where he covers the New Order years and I’ll be reading it next.
Very much recommended for anyone with an interest in Joy Division.

Rating: A-

psongstress?

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Grave Reservations

Cherie Priest

First book in a new series from the very talented Priest.
This one features a Seattle based travel agent with psychic gifts helping a homicide detective with an investigation.
It’s a very charming read. I’ve heard there will be a sequel and I’m looking forward to reading that when it comes out.

Rating: B+

TWENTY YEARS?

Posted on by Greig

This blog is now TWENTY YEARS OLD.
What?

In the past twenty years:
I have written 809 reviews
I have read 695 separate titles (I like to re-read)
My most read author is Terry Pratchett with 46 reads
I have read 420 titles by male authors and 387 by female authors (and two co-writes by one male and one female author)
My top genres are: Fantasy (250 reads), Romance (226) and Science Fiction (139)
The year I read the most was 2014 with 171 books
The year I read the least was 2002 with 11 books

Using simple arithmetic I have read on average just shy of 40.5 books per year since I began the blog

2021 Books

Posted on by Greig

This was a decent year for reading admittedly boosted by re-reads of low quality romances and fantasies.
My favourite book of the year was Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie but that was an audiobook.
Of the books I physically read I would say it was A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik.

  1. The World of Critical Role by Liz Marsham, rated B+
  2. Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel, rated B+
  3. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn, rated B+
  4. Calculated Risks by Seanan McGuire, rated A-
  5. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, rated B+
  6. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, rated B+
  7. Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo, rated B+
  8. Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots, rated A-
  9. The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie, rated B
  10. The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi, rated B+
  11. The Last Emperox by John Scalzi, rated B+
  12. Love To Hate You by Anna Premoli, rated B-
  13. Until Love Do Us Part by Anna Premoli, rated C+
  14. You Drive Me Crazy by Anna Premoli, rated C+
  15. Mad About You by Anna Premoli, rated C-
  16. A Killing Frost by Seanan McGuire, rated A-
  17. When Sorrows Come by Seanan McGuire, rated A-
  18. The Accidental Footballer by Pat Nevin, rated B
  19. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, rated A-
  20. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings, rated C+
  21. Queen Of Sorcery by David Eddings, rated C+
  22. Magician’s Gambit by David Eddings, rated C+
  23. Castle Of Wizardry by David Eddings, rated C+
  24. Enchanter’s End Game by David Eddings, rated C+
  25. The Diamond Throne by David Eddings, rated C+
  26. The Ruby Knight by David Eddings, rated C+
  27. The Sapphire Rose by David Eddings, rated C+
  28. The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik, rated A-
  29. The Truth of the Divine by Lindsay Ellis, rated A-
  30. Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie, rated A-

2021 Audiobooks

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It was another strong year for listening to audiobooks thanks to my commitment to getting out for a walk every day.
Ancillary Justice was my favourite book of the year and the performance by Adjoa Andoh was extraordinary.

  1. Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor by Steven Moffat, read by Nicholas Briggs
  2. The Truth by Terry Pratchett read by Stephen Briggs
  3. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, read by Rebecca Lowman
  4. What I Did For Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, read by Julia Gibson
  5. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, read by Gabrielle Kruger
  6. Gateway by Frederik Pohl, read by Oliver Wyman
  7. Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie, read by Sandra Burr
  8. Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie, read by Deanna Hurst
  9. Welcome To Temptation by Jennifer Crusie, read by Aasne Vigasaa
  10. Faking It by Jennifer Crusie, read by Aasne Vigasaa
  11. Carrying The Fire by Michael Collins read by David Colacci
  12. Isaac Steele and The Forever Man by Daniel Rigby, read by Daniel Rigby
  13. The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi, read by Wil Wheaton
  14. The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi, read by Wil Wheaton
  15. The Last Emperox by John Scalzi, read by Wil Wheaton
  16. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, read by Lauren Fortgang
  17. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, read by Anisha Dadia
  18. The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik, read by Anisha Dadia
  19. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, read by Adjoa Andoh
  20. Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett, read by Nigel Planer
  21. Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie, read by Adjoa Andoh

system?

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Ancillary Mercy

Ann Leckie

A well written and enjoyable novel.
For all that it was a tiny bit of a disappointing end.
I was listening to the (excellent) audiobooks of this series and got so drawn in that that I needed the speed of reading it myself.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes science fiction. The first book in particular is of the highest calibre and the other two still very good.

Rating: A-

phyle?

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The Truth of the Divine

Lindsay Ellis

This is the sequel to Axiom’s End.
It’s an even better book than the first but by god is this one bleak.
I’m interested to see where the series goes from here. I hope there’s some uplift at some point though.

Rating: A-

graduation?

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The Last Graduate

Naomi Novik

El is no longer an outcast at the Scholomance school of magic.
She has an alliance and – even better – friends.
After the events of last year everyone is enjoying a breather from attacks by the Mals.
Everyone except El!
This is a very good second installment of this series. I really hope she sticks the landing in the last book.

Rating: A-