Reviews 

Heard Amis interviewed on the radio and thought ‘Time to try him again’. I had read this years ago, but thought it was pretty dreadful...

A library book of Paddy’s. She liked it, I didn’t much, although one would have expected the opposite, given that I am more into rock and...

Although I think regarded as a classic of 19th century Russian literature, I thought this had dated badly and didn’t really enjoy it. My...

Quite a long read, but have been very busy with work; maybe a summer holiday beach book. Quite a difficult read, very funny in places but...

Maybe optimistic to pick a difficult late James after enjoying 593, but you can see the logic I hope. And I read the Ambassadors...

I have never read this before and perhaps because I am not in a very receptive phase didn’t enjoy it, although struggled to understand...

This is the 3rd time I have read this (463 & 517), having recommended him to a friend and wanting to remind myself/confirm (!) that they...

Tried to read this, I think 5 years ago at Stuart’s in Spain, but gave up. These 19th century novels are incredibly long, but I got to...

Went for another Mick Herron, despite the above. These books do improve all the time. I didn’t fully understand the plot here – which of...

Originally read this (463) in January, as all his books were well reviewed, inter alia, by Ann Cleeves in the Radio Times. There are a...

I gave up on this before even discovering what Tennyson’s Gift was. A tedious reconstruction of a (possible or actual, I never got that...

I hate this but after about 160 pages I gave up on this. It was all unmitigated hard work. So I didn’t progress any further. Very...

Not quite sure why I bought this, although it did win the Booker prize and is good, if a little ponderous for me. I found it difficult to...

Undoubtedly the worst and stupidest book I have read for a long time. The plot, if it has one, is about an incredibly cross Frenchman,...