iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

freezer cash' as if she'd suddenly become British for half a sentence!]

bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

scenarios, characters (and even sentences) shouldn't work - but somehow they did. Yes I knew what was likely to happen next, but I still wanted to read it and keep turning the pages. Another success. [Did notice that in Chapter 16, Maya/Lara thought about her $10,000 'I'd used a thousand pounds of

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Chapter 36's 'He either knows nothing or saw something' for 'knows something' and Chapter 38's 'You've shown me the opendoor, Eloise' for 'open door'. I'm still a pedant at heart.]

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Read Nadine Matheson's "Shadow Carver". As grippingly page-turningly readable as its three predecessors. Took me a moment to recall the home situations/back stories of the detectives from two years ago (occupational hazard when you read 100s of these things), but once I did I remembered just how

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

I've sat and digested it for a while. A fascinating look at one possible future with plenty of think about. Also now needs to check out Michael Wellend's "Sand: The Never-Ending Story".

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

connection), it became increasingly moving and brought tears to my eyes. The circularity of the end of Section 4 recalled aspects of Emily St John Mandel's "Sea of Tranquility". I gulped it down pleasurably in a single sitting, and definitely want to return to it more slowly in a few months after

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

should be written! Tardigrade's 'tun' state and 'barchan' dunes were new words for me. I loved the way conversations were re-encountered from different points of view to more closely link the narrative strands. As increasingly large amounts of time passed (I'd never have made the Virginia Woolf

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Read @debolinunferth.bsky.social's "Earth 7". I used to read a lot of post-apocalyptic fiction, but kicked the habit as the news headlines depressingly caught up. Made an exception for this one after loving her appearance on @acrossthepondbooks.bsky.social. This is exactly how those sort of books

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

thought the fights, villains, chimpanzeelike henchman and the ending scenes were all particularly well done. Looks forward to reading the next one.

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

cold in Aqaba' etc. Did wonder whether Nick Cornwell was a possible le Carré/Harkaway reference, and if some of Koenig's speech signs of dementia was deliberately reminiscent of a certain octogenarian billionaire... Was not expecting white lions or a pregnant 13 year old! Overall I enjoyed it a lot,

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

described as 'something of a stationery slut'. I loved the Easter Eggs/nods to continuity like re-using the identity David Somerset from "From Russia With Love" or the reference to 'some people foolishly believe that we have all the time in the world'. Loved the many inventive allusions like 'ice

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Read Charlie Higson's "King Zero". Having (re)read the original Flemings (and watched the films) earlier this year, this continuation meshes perfectly. Generally the descriptions, actions and attitudes read as if Fleming were writing today (although I wasn't 100% convinced about Moneypenny being

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

boys. I kept desperately wanting to correct cesarean to caesarean, but the shop names and fictional TV shows were amazing. I had a lot of fun reading it and will await her next book with interest.

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

an example of a coincidence fit for Tibet's forum searches, I note that there is a character called yourstruly, someone spits in a cup at a group meeting, spongy mold which may or may not poison the bloodstream is found on a back wall and there are even three girls to mirror the three Incandenza

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Read Madeline Cash's "Lost Lambs". From the moment 'extermignate' appeared on the first page and the gnats took over the gnarrative, I was hooked. Very funny, and oodles of plot. Enjoyed it greatly, although I did murmur 'oh come on' to myself at the contents of the icecube in Abigail's drink. As

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

52 I was resting 'my head back against the seat, trying to wrap my sore brain around how quickly events have escalated'. The 'vintage Stephen King' comparisons were apt, but it is still very much its own book - a masterpiece of the genre. A sheer delight from cover to cover.

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Read @cjtudor.bsky.social's "Serenity Falls". In a word 'unputdownable'. Has enjoyed all her books since "The Chalk Man" came out, but this was was positively on another level. The creepy unsettling horror was perfectly balanced by the complex (but perfectly followable) plot. Like Dan, by Chapter

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

new problems; I'll definitely read it! Twice characters referred to johns when they meant pimps rather than punters, something that puzzled me until I discovered @lynneguist.bsky.social's amazing blog (which I'll be backreading for ages). separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2008/03/john...

separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com

johns, punters and ponces

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

villain and found it mildly convenient that every one of Idris' enemies happened to be taking medications that he could abuse. But the sheer joy of the story and resourceful inventiveness of the takedowns more than made up for it. Hopefully there will be a third novel to deal with the outstanding/

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Read A A Dhand's. "Kingpin" Although I never got into the Harry Virdee books, "The Chemist" was a page-turner that slipped down very quickly and I couldn't wait for the sequel. After the obligatory recap, this raced along with the same verve. Groaned slightly at the identity/background of the new

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

in her messages to her sons! But I know people speak differently to different audiences). Laughed at things like Barry misinterpreting Lucas' references to tea and baddie. Is proud of myself for catching the key clues, and can't wait for the next novel (although I doubt I'll ever manage it again!)

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

using Fran's sleeping bag, and all the stuff on ship/in Barbados) this is the first of her great books in which I untangled every facet of the crime(s)/motivations! The multiple document style still feels fresh, and the individual voices are so distinctive. (Is still troubled to see Joyce swearing

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

character(!) That is entirely on me. Once I did, I realized that in the intervening 5 years I've met people like her and am now intimately familiar with the journaling/e-mail style. Limerence was a new word to me. I think that (apart from Amelia's leg which I'd put down to mistaken identity for

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Read Gwendoline Riley's "My Phantoms". Had enjoyed "The Palm House" so much earlier this year that I read it again, it is already clear that I'll also be re-reading this one in a couple of months. So much going on behind the scenes. She really is an incredible writer, I can't see how she does it.

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

have used the Australian phrase 'sausage sizzle'. The cliff-hanger hooks at the ends of many of the chapters were masterful. Based on the reviews, I'll skip "Ludmilla's Broken English" and jump straight to "Lights Out in Wonderland".

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Read DBC Pierre's "Vernon God Little". For some reason I didn't fancy the sound of this when it came out, even though I'm not sure I ever fully knew what it was about(!) It was very funny. I enjoyed Vernon's idiolect (learning, cream pies etc). Is not entirely convinced that a Texan in 2003 would

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Read Robert Douglas-Fairhurst's "Look Closer". Enjoyed this. As expected it made me want to both re-read many works mentioned that I've already read, and read some of the ones I haven't. Wasn't entirely convinced by every single interpretation, but it was still thought provoking.

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

for been, eave for leave and 1961 for 1951 as the last word before the epilogue!). It really was an exciting and thrilling adventure story, engrossing from beginning to end, and I loved the publishing conceit. Will check out his "Kolymsky Heights" next.

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

horses) was pretty shocking, as was the fate of Little Daughter and (after the humorous description of the 74 year old 17th incarnation's carnal appetites exhausting the poor abbot) reading that he began with the 18th when she was 13... A surprising number of misprints (Singling for Ringling, teen

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Read Lionel Davidson's "The Rose of Tibet". That was hugely enjoyable! Initially it made me think of "Kim" and "Lost Horizon", but it was very much its own novel. Learnt words like tsampas, cruse, rat-hares etc. Nanga Parbat made me think of the Arrowverse. The descriptions of injuries (to men and

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

frowned, then looked at his watch.' should presumably say Mr Lloyd (or at least Arthur). But these are minor points of pedantry. I loved Boatman's cryptic clues, learning words and the believable way the lexicographers used and thought in words they had once worked on. Hopes there will be a third.

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Although Josh is probably an appropriate adult, I was surprised Caldwell didn't make a bigger deal about taking statements from fifteen year olds, and I am certain that 'the best criminal solicitor in Oxford' would have made Theo give a 'no comment' interview. In Chapter 35 the sentence "Lloyd

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

rhyming slang jockey. Although I didn't predict the revelation in the final chapters, I was suspicious of the main villain from the moment they appeared. (This isn't a criticism of the novel, merely a consequence of a limited pool of suspects and the sheer number of these kind of novels I've read!)

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I not only finished it, but enjoyed it. Hadn't encountered betwitterment since "Guilty By Definition"'s betwittering. I loved the uncommon words (bumbleshoot, cover-slut, tmesis etc) and etymologies. Hadn't come across Mickey Bliss, but despite regularly using 'on his tod' I never knew about the

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Read @susiedentwords.bsky.social's "Death Write Large". This (long awaited) sequel, was just as enjoyable as its predecessor. In recent years I haven't been a huge fan 'cosy crime' novels or the trope of amateurs assisting police this closely. So it is a testament to the strength of the writing that

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Somehow David Kynaston's Tales of a New Jerusalem project must have passed me by, but after reading about this and looking up the earlier ones I'm definitely going to start with "Austerity Britain 1945-51" it sounds like it might be my sort of thing. www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...

theguardian.com

Deep into the Sixties: Britain 1965-66 by David Kynaston review – a tour de force of popular history

From the Beatles and the World Cup to racism and homophobia, the latest instalment in Kynaston’s series captures a society in the throes of change

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

urgent issues of our time. Various strands had their necessary payoffs, and the revelations/pacing of the final sections was exquisitely judged. An absolute delight (if a scary one).

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

of thinking barry, coupon, peeve etc. I'll be talking like Luke and his friends about tea, bussing and cropdusting. The Frederico scene and its aftermath will stay with me for a long time. This perfectly plotted contemporary novel somehow seemed to say all the right things about some of the most

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Read @irvinewelsh.bsky.social's "Can Nothing Save Us". This was absolutely masterly. Gulped it down in about 4 and a half hour long 100 page chunks. Just like the Entertainer and Home Secretary in "Men in Love", the brief appearances of the President added to the (scary) verisimilitude. Now instead

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

and con tricks were engrossing, and the pace thrilling. Knew Julian couldn't be let get very far threatening Eddie's family. Can't wait for the next one.

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Read Steve Cavanagh's "One of Us is Guilty". Just like the author, I can't believe this is already the 10th Eddie Flynn. Just as wonderful as its predecessors. Predicted one of the major twists, but not all of them. As always the different voices were pitch perfect, both the depictions of trials

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Book", but it is certainly a ripping yarn that was far more of a delight to read than many 'worthier' books. Is definitely looking forward to Michael Dirda's "The Great Age of Storytelling" and finding more titles like this! theamericanscholar.org/armchair-adv...

theamericanscholar.org

Armchair Adventures - The American Scholar

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Read Edgar Rice Burrough's "Tarzan of the Apes". Had put off reading this, as I assumed it wasn't very good. It might not always have been well written, but it was absolutely gripping pure escapism. I'd only seen the 1932 movie, so was repeatedly surprised by the plot. It's not exactly "The Jungle

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Read Graham Swift's "Ever After", remembers being puzzled by "Last Orders" a long time ago, but loving "Waterland" both times I read it. This one was really really good, full of poetry and Shakespeare. I'm always a sucker for first person narratives. The deaths and the grief were incredibly moving.

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Embarrassingly it took me up until Chapter 48 (!) to realize that Coleridge's 'Genevieve' shared Amanda's first name! A wonderful book, fully justifying its length. Hard work for us non-Scots dialect speakers, but more than worth while.

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

depiction of Marisa and Alex, and its perfect last line '𝑁𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑖 𝑑𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑖' would have made an ideal short story. I didn't think anything could top it until we got onto the hilarious arrival of Maria and Begbie in 'Resisting Temptation'. I enjoyed the different voices and points of view.

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

more impenetrable (to me) Franco and Spud sections. I thought this was brilliant. It managed to be funny, moving and terrifying all at the same time. I'm sure it says something horrible about me, that (at times) I admired Sick Boy's attitude to life. Chapter 35 'Not Where You Eat' with its horrific

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Read @irvinewelsh.bsky.social's "Men In Love". I smiled early on when Renton was reading "The Canterbury Tales" and thought 'Yuv goat tae read it oot loud tae get it; we're just no used tae seeing words oan a page like thon.' Although I didn't read them out loud, that was perfect advice for the

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Olaf Peterson. I am very good in bed.' It was a very very enjoyable romp that not only passed the time pleasurably, but also brought back many many happy memories.

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bookluvvr.bsky.social @bookluvvr.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

carrying an anvil' amongst many others. Ushanka and yottabyte were new words to me as was Periboia as I've never read Rick Riordan, but I also enjoyed numerous new coinages like Elevector etc. All the characters were exactly like I remembered them (although we did see a new side to 'My name is

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