Fiction
The Outlander effect.
On the 1st of June 1991 , the first book of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon was published. The novel started an unexpected journey throughout ages. The phenomenon built a strong community of Outlander (and Scottish) fans around the world. It raised interest in Scottish history and tourism, which only doubled when the TV show premiered in 2014.
By Millie's Stories about a month ago in BookClub
Rachel Reviews: My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
I can see why this book was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2016. It is a quiet story but it has depth in terms of the subjects it examines through Lucy's story. It is also a curious book, which is my way of saying that I've not quite got a handle on it and it's left me thoughtful after reading it. I say this because I'm not sure whether I like it or not, whether I fully accessed it or not.
By Rachel Deemingabout a month ago in BookClub
Does Reading Actually Make You Smarter?
On the face of it, one could easily say that it does, which makes it rather sad that people are now reading less and less. It certainly makes you more aware and knowledgeable than the person who doesn’t read! However, reading makes you smarter only if you absorb what you read and then utilise it.
By Elaine Sihera about a month ago in BookClub
Rachel Reviews: The First Taste by Joseph Vogel
One of the things that I love about reading is that each novel takes you to a place apart from you but allows you to experience it comfortably, at your own pace. Sometimes, these stories have points of reference to which you can relate; other times, they are so far distant to anything you've ever known that reading them is like being a voyeur looking through the misty window into your neighbour's house.
By Rachel Deemingabout a month ago in BookClub
Rachel Reviews: The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry
If you've read my summary statement that accompanies my review, then you might be thinking that this is a book that doesn't really know what it is. Is it a detective book? Yes, it is. But it is also, within that, a journey into a world of misfits and threat and dreams, all tied together with the idea of carnival. And this is the difficulty of review writing in that I could explain all of this and make it sound a lot less surreal than it seems on first appearance but then that would take all of the magic away for you as a reader discovering it for yourself.
By Rachel Deemingabout a month ago in BookClub
The Haunting Adeline Panic Is Missing the Real Problem
Every few years the internet discovers a piece of media that apparently marks the beginning of society’s collapse. Video games were going to create murderers. Heavy metal was corrupting teenagers. Twilight was ruining women. Fifty Shades of Grey was supposedly destroying relationships.
By No One’s Daughterabout a month ago in BookClub
Rachel Reviews: I, Mona Lisa by Natasha Solomons
I've seen the Mona Lisa, even had her on my wall for a while (as a print - I am no art thief). I've never once wondered what she might be thinking although I think there is a famous song which intimates just this: what is behind her enigmatic smile?
By Rachel Deemingabout a month ago in BookClub
Rachel Reviews: Killing Lizards by William Boyd
Those of you who read my reviews regularly will know that William Boyd is one of my favourite all-time authors. His writing is literary and complex but easy to read, and whenever I pick up his books, I am suffused with a warmth that comes from a total reading immersion, knowing that I am being carried along in the stream of word flow and that this will be a satisfying experience from start to finish.
By Rachel Deemingabout a month ago in BookClub
The Thief of Always - A Book Review
I must start this review in utter awe and amazement. Where on earth does Clive Barker get his imagination, and can I buy a bottled version of it? The Thief of Always is absolutely chock-full of fierce creativity, whimsical dread, and masterful storytelling. While it is technically intended for a middle-grade audience—as a few imagery-heavy scenes might be a bit too spooky for elementary schoolers—it is a fable that can be thoroughly enjoyed by readers of any age. It is a slim, punchy book that you can easily devour in a single rainy afternoon, though its sharp imagery, captivating story and poetic- like prose will likely linger in your mind for much longer.
By C.L. Muileboom about a month ago in BookClub
Rachel Reviews: Lovestruck Maggot by Jarrett Brandon Early. Top Story - August 2026.
It's a distinctive title, Lovestruck Maggot, and entirely appropriate because this is a distinctive book with a style of its own. I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started reading it and I will admit that this is not the sort of book that I would normally choose but I'm glad I took a chance because I've ripped through it and it's been a great read from start to finish.
By Rachel Deemingabout a month ago in BookClub
Rachel Reviews: No Matter What by Kevin Coll (A Weston Parker and Isabella Middleton Story - Collide Series)
A train station. A parting. That's where this book starts with two characters who we're just meeting and getting to know who they are to each other. And it's a great opening to a novel, the atmosphere of the station conveyed through well-observed description, the couple static and composed in a sea of travellers, waiting for the moment where one of them departs. But before the separation inevitably happens, a promise is made to meet in the future in this place at a specific time and as the time draws near, in the countdown to the date is where the real action of the book begins.
By Rachel Deeming2 months ago in BookClub
