Books read in May 2018

[nou]

As per last month, by default I’m just stating whether I’d recommend the book (yes/maybe/no), whether I decided not to finish it (DNF), whether it’s a re-read, and whether I can remember there being any content that needs to be warned for (cw). I’m happy to expand on the reasons for my opinions if anyone is interested though — just comment and ask.

Recommend:

• Provenance, Ann Leckie (re-read)

Maybe recommend:

• Rosewater, Tade Thompson (DNF) (cw: body horror, other horror, violence)
• The Golem and the Djinni, Helene Wecker
• A Winter Away, Elizabeth Fair
• The Hydrogen Sonata, Iain M Banks (re-read) (cn: violence)
• The Black Tides of Heaven and The Red Threads of Fortune, JY Yang (cn: child death, violence)
• Updraft, Fran Wilde (DNF) (cn: monsters appearing out of thin air, which I Really Do Not Like and is the reason I didn’t get past the end of the Kindle sample)
• Phoresis, Greg Egan

Wouldn’t recommend:

• Witches of New York, Ami McKay
• Blackfish City, Sam J Miller (cn: violence, involuntary institutionalisation)
• Sarum, Edward Rutherford (DNF)
• Chameleon Moon, RoAna Sylver (DNF)

What have you recently read and enjoyed? (Feel free to point towards posts on your own journal.)

Comments

[miss_newham]

I would like to know why you maybe recommend 'The Golem and the Djinni', as I have been wondering whether to read it!

I think the only book I read in May (apart from some not-very-good YA fiction) was 'Lark Rise to Candleford' by Flora Thompson, and I thought it was great.

[nou]

I would like to know why you maybe recommend 'The Golem and the Djinni', as I have been wondering whether to read it!

I loved the worldbuilding, but the plot wasn’t hugely to my taste. I think I sort of wanted there to not be an antagonist, if that makes sense? I’m not a big fan of conflict. Having said that, apparently there’s going to be a sequel, and I’ll certainly give that a go.

I think the only book I read in May (apart from some not-very-good YA fiction) was 'Lark Rise to Candleford' by Flora Thompson, and I thought it was great.

Oooh, I’ve been meaning to read that for ages, and you have prompted me to finally get it on my Kindle in order to make that more likely — thank you! (I was going to get a sample, but it was only £1.89 so I just bought it.)