I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Transcription by Kate Atkinson on September 25, 2018
Pages: 352
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Audible
Goodreads
Also by this author: Life After Life
In 1940, eighteen-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past forever. Ten years later, now a radio producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence. Transcription is a work of rare depth and texture, a bravura modern novel of extraordinary power, wit and empathy. It is a triumphant work of fiction from one of the best writers of our time.
DNF @ 5%
I tried reading this in print twice. I even tried listening on audio thinking I’d have better luck. I never got past 5% on either occasion. I could very well blame it on my mood reading tendencies or even my impatience, however, it’s simple: this book never managed to hook me. WWII, mid-century London, espionage… this really should’ve worked for me but I think I was anticipating much more action than what was being delivered and it ended up being a similar case like Sweet Tooth. Life After Life was stunning yet A God in Ruins was another DNF. Atkinson is an incredible writer but alas, I’m not sure her stories are the best fit for me.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton Published by Atria Books on October 9, 2018
Pages: 485
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Audible
Goodreads
Also by this author: The Secret Keeper, The House at Riverton
My real name, no one remembers. The truth about that summer, no one else knows.
In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe’s life is in ruins.
Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist’s sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.
Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?
DNF @ 15%
My track record with Kate Morton isn’t great, The Secret Keeper-5 stars, The House at Riverton-3 stars, The Lake House-DNF, and now another DNF. I’m drawn to her stories because I’m a huge fan of the dual timelines, the English settings she favors, and this one apparently included a ghostie mystery! Unfortunately, I hadn’t even gotten to 10% before I was bored and confused because I think I had counted 5 different timelines and I was having to bust out my post-its to keep notes on who’s who. I’d still love to revisit Morton’s earlier works that everyone highly recommends (The Forgotten Garden and The Distant Hours) and hope that it comes close to the entertainment I found in The Secret Keeper.
I received this book free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
99 Percent Mine: A Novel by Sally Thorne Published by William Morrow Paperbacks on January 29, 2019
Pages: 368
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Audible
Goodreads
Also by this author: The Hating Game: A Novel
Crush: a strong and often short-lived infatuation, particularly for someone beyond your reach…
Darcy Barrett has undertaken a global survey of men. She’s travelled the world, and can categorically say that no one measures up to Tom Valeska, whose only flaw is that Darcy’s twin brother Jamie saw him first and claimed him forever as his best friend. Despite Darcy’s best efforts, Tom’s off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. That’s the problem with finding her dream man at age eight and peaking in her photography career at age twenty—ever since, she’s had to learn to settle for good enough.
When Darcy and Jamie inherit a tumble-down cottage from their grandmother, they’re left with strict instructions to bring it back to its former glory and sell the property. Darcy plans to be in an aisle seat halfway across the ocean as soon as the renovations start, but before she can cut and run, she finds a familiar face on her porch: house-flipper extraordinaire Tom’s arrived, he’s bearing power tools, and he’s single for the first time in almost a decade.
Suddenly Darcy’s considering sticking around to make sure her twin doesn’t ruin the cottage’s inherent magic with his penchant for grey and chrome. She’s definitely not staying because of her new business partner’s tight t-shirts, or that perfect face that's inspiring her to pick up her camera again. Soon sparks are flying—and it’s not the faulty wiring. It turns out one percent of Tom’s heart might not be enough for Darcy anymore. This time around, she’s switching things up. She’s going to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers.
DNF @ 49%
I was one of the many that adored The Hating Game so admittedly, my expectations were through the roof. But unfortunately, this reads like her actual debut, and if this was the first Sally Thorne I picked up I’d be hard-pressed to pick up anything else of hers. It worked for me at first and I came close to finishing but clearly didn’t make it.
Darcy Barrett read like my kind of girl, at first. Badass bartender, take no shit from anyone, does anything and everything she wants… I don’t know, that’s some shit to aspire to. Enter the love interest that she’s apparently been in love with since she was eight. Yes, eight years old. Everything went downhill from there. She started acting excessively weird and was damn near intolerable and her obsession with the love interest is nothing more than just that and there was never any real rhyme or reason to it. Sure, she was attracted to him, she found him to be the most perfect human being, but there was never any real clarification why. Yes, I need at least some reasoning behind “the spark”. I’m not a romantic, you say? Yeah, so sue me. Between her ripping actual cabinets off the hinges mid-conversation (yes, they were in the middle of a remodel but still) and her actual purring when he touches her in a pretty platonic way, the weird behavior was just too much for me in the end.
“I know my eyes probably go black and crazy, but I press back into his palm and exhale a weird purr. His reaction is instant. I’m bumped away and my skin goes cold. He looks shocked, like I’ve just coughed up a furball.”
Kate @ booksaremyfavouriteandbest
I will get to Transcription (on the basis that I loved Life and God).
I broke up with Kate Morton years ago – I feel like she writes to a formula and you can see what will happen from chapter one.
I’m trying to be better at abandoning books this year. So far, only one has been a DNF however it may be nominated for an Australian writing prize, and I usually read the whole longlist, so I may have to revisit it (hope not!).
Kate @ booksaremyfavouriteandbest recently posted…Show-off holiday post: Germany (Part One)
Bonnie
Yeah, I think Morton and I need to break up as well for the same reason.
I’m also trying to be better. Transcription and Clockmaker’s sat on my TBR still for months after I had already tried them. I kept convincing myself that I’d try them again but sometimes you just gotta call it quits and just move on. Easier said than done though, I know. 🙂
Bonnie recently posted…Life’s Too Short – Transcription, The Clockmaker’s Daughter, 99 Percent Mine
Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy
I have read all of Kate Atkinson’s early books and loved them all. I think she’s really changed her subject matter, plus all her recent books are so dang long! Not sure I would even attempt Transcription😐
Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy recently posted…LAKE SILENCE by Anne Bishop – Review
Bonnie
I never got around to reading her earlier books but I think her Jackson Brodie series is the most appealing to me. Transcription is actually quite short shockingly enough but that didn’t help it any haha
Bonnie recently posted…Life’s Too Short – Transcription, The Clockmaker’s Daughter, 99 Percent Mine
Dani
You bailed at the right spot in 99 Percent Mine. I *am* a romantic, and even I had problems with the permalove.
Dani recently posted…Cover Reveal: Handle with Care by Helena Hunting
Bonnie
I’m very Kevin Sorbo disappointed.
Bonnie recently posted…Life’s Too Short – Transcription, The Clockmaker’s Daughter, 99 Percent Mine
Heidi
I am so sad to see the negative reviews for the Thorne book, I was so looking forward to it. I trudged through the Morton book and it was okay. I hated all the view points and time line it got to be too much. Probably a good thing you abandoned it. Totally agree, life is too short to read bad books.
Heidi recently posted…Audiobook Review: The Elizas: A Novel by Sara Shepard, Jayme Mattler (Narrator)
Bonnie
I had the same struggles with Lake House… none of the storylines really grabbed me and it was taking me forever to get through so I bailed on that one too. I think it’s time Morton and I broke up.
Bonnie recently posted…Life’s Too Short – Transcription, The Clockmaker’s Daughter, 99 Percent Mine
Rory
Morton is tough for me. I adored her very first novel the Forgotten Garden, and have never even come close to recapturing that feeling. But I still keep reading in the hopes I’ll get there.
Bonnie
I keep thinking I might go back to her earlier works. Maybe someday. 🙂
Bonnie recently posted…Life’s Too Short – Transcription, The Clockmaker’s Daughter, 99 Percent Mine
Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies
Life’s too short for sure! I have 3 or 4 Kate Morton books on my shelves, and haven’t read a single one. This one sounds like a pass for me. I barely tolerated The Hating Game, and now that I’ve seen your comments on her new book, I think I can safely remove it from my TBR list. 🙂
Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies recently posted…Take A Peek Book Review: Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World, #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse
Bonnie
ha, yep I had 3 Kate Morton books on my shelves but I moved and did a purge and they didn’t make the cut so that should tell me something right there.
Bonnie recently posted…Life’s Too Short – Transcription, The Clockmaker’s Daughter, 99 Percent Mine
Lindsi
I’m sorry these didn’t work for you! I wasn’t a fan of The Hating Game, so I wasn’t planning on reading 99 Percent Mine, but it’s a bummer the two were similar reads. The Clockmakers Daughter has been on my TBR for awhile, but I haven’t thought about it in forever!
Psst! I do a post at the end of every month called DNF&Y! I would love it if you’d link this post to mine. I think it’s important for reviewers to review the books they didn’t finish, so other readers know why it didn’t work for someone. What you didn’t like might be something I love!
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
Lindsi recently posted…State of the ARC [8]
Bonnie
That sounds great, I’ll do that, thanks for the heads up! 🙂
Bonnie recently posted…Life’s Too Short – Transcription, The Clockmaker’s Daughter, 99 Percent Mine
Lindsi
Yay! Happy to have you! I do it the last day of every month, if you want to participate in the future. 😉
Lindsi recently posted…State of the ARC [8]