book reviews

The Invisible Mile

14/1/2018

David Coventry

Victoria University Press

[eBook]

This is a wild and beautiful fictionalised account of a New Zealand and Australian team that rode the 1928 Tour de France. At times the prose are quite stunning and left pictures that I struggled to dislodge from my thinking. There are a lot of drugs, anger and grief in the story and this often left me feeling lost and tripping. A well written book, the end is maybe a little disappointing, but well worth the read.

4/5

Anne of the Island

7/1/2018

L.M. Montgomery

Xist Classics

[eBook]

Fun book, I kind of started to like the town of Kingsport. I also enjoyed Anne's trips home and her interactions with Davy.

3/5

Anne of Avonlea

7/1/2018

L.M. Montgomery

Xist Classics

[eBook]

Much to girly and boring for me, however I did love and grieve Mathew.

2/5

Anne of Green Gables

7/1/2018

L.M. Montgomery

Xist Classics

[eBook]

This was a lovely book, I really delighted in the character of Anne. I am not sure how realistic Anne's orphaned child personality is displayed, but still a lovely book.

3/5

Fleshmarket Close

4/12/2017

(Inspector Rebus #15)

Ian Rankin

Orion

[Secondhand paperback]

This is the best Rankin book that I have read. It followed the theme of illegal immigration and lead us through quite a realistic scenario. All the usual characters were there and at their best.

Excellent book.

A Very Expensive Poison: The Definitive Story of the Murder of Litvinenko and Russia's War with the West

4/12/2017

Luke Harding

Guardian Faber Publishing

[eBook]

Ummm, this was a fascinating insight in to the life and death of Litvinenko, it was also an eye-opening look in to the Kremlin and Russian politics. The book was well written and well presented, but with a fee spelling mistakes. At times it was a little hard to understand where the book was going, however overall it is still a very good book and one that I highly recommend.

Crucible of Fire: The Church Confronts Apartheid

2/12/2017

by Jim Wallis (Editor), Joyce Hollyday (Editor), Michael Curry (Editor)

Orbis Books

[Secondhand paperback]

Fantastic and inspirational book embracing the intersection of South African apartheid and the liberation force of the Christian Church. The text’s various sermons and interviews spark freedom in to the yet (at the time) to be fulfilled dream of parity for the people of South Africa.

An encouraging read in hindsight and a must read for people still struggling within the grips of tyranny.

A Question of Blood

1/6/2017

(Inspector Rebus #14)

Ian Rankin

McArthur

[Secondhand paperback]

I enjoyed this read more than many of his others. It was a compelling story and just squeaks in at four stars.

4/5

Strength to Love

1/6/2017

Martin Luther King Jr.

Augsburg Fortress Publishing

[Secondhand paperback]

Excellent, inspirational book of sermons. Martin Luther King's use of the word is both radical and logical.

4/5

Doors Open

7/4/2017

Ian Rankin

Orion

[Gifted Hardback]

I enjoyed this book, it was quite a different take for a Rankin book. It was a tiny bit predictable. All in all a good read.

3/4