My Goodreads reviews

author: Antony Beevor
name: Kim
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/04
date added: 2024/04/04
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review:
The forgotten war that rendered the revolution a myth

Anthony Beevor at his best, the detail he gets across is astonishing, although in this book there is little to be known about the people and the soldiers who suffered through what must surely be one of the most horrible ‘civil’ wars in all of history. 12 million dead and so many more in the famine and devastation of the aftermath.

author: Upton Sinclair
name: Kim
average rating: 4.33
book published: 1947
rating: 0
read at: 2024/04/04
date added: 2024/04/04
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author: Jane Harrison
name: Kim
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/27
date added: 2024/03/27
shelves:
review:
Beautiful, poignant, devastating

The elders of Gadigal Country meets to decided to welcome or repel the mobs arriving on eleven alien ships in1788. They debate for a day, and the rest is history. It’s a very well told tale, it feels authentic, the characters believable and the story both funny and sad. Great imagination by the author. If only…

author: Jill Valentine
name: Kim
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/03/20
date added: 2024/03/20
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A story rarely told from an insightful author

A glowing review in the Financial Review made me buy it, as there are not many books written about contemporary business life. It was a struggle at first, but I persevered because I wanted to know how the story would go. Realistically told in a style that suited the narrative, but also at times excruciatingly repetitive and boring descriptions of what the characters were wearing and where they were sitting, standing or eating. Some poor editing jarred at times, but overall an enjoyable read.

author: Ari Gautier
name: Kim
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/02/25
date added: 2024/02/25
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review:
Lovely writing, confusing story

Tempted by the many glowing reviews, I set out on what was a strange reading journey. Some beautiful writing, the rendering of the neighbourhood where the story is set is delightful, the characters wonderfully strange. But the story remained an unsatisfying mystery to me…

author: Angela Saini
name: Kim
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/21
date added: 2024/02/21
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The long and convoluted history of the patriarchy

Many interesting insights into different cultures and the history of why and how men came to rule, albeit not as often as we think. Educational and thought provoking. I learnt a lot.

author: Upton Sinclair
name: Kim
average rating: 5.00
book published: 1962
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/09
date added: 2024/02/09
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Fascinating insights into an extraordinary man

I generally prefer biographies to autobiographies, the latter risk being self serving and boring. There is nothing boring about Upton Sinclair’s life, and although he was, of course, rather fond of himself, he was also undoubtedly an interesting man with a vast network and that gift of keen observation (and retention) that all good writers have. A big fan of the Lanny Budd series, it was great to get insights into how and from whom he got so much insight into everything from art to music to people and spies. A most enjoyable read.

author: Upton Sinclair
name: Kim
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1905
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/12
date added: 2024/01/12
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A classic still as relevant today as it was in 1906

The conditions of the meat works are no doubt better, the workers there have more protections, thee are social services in place, minimum wage stipulations, hospitals and half decent policing. But the fundamental struggle, the inherent inequalities and oppression is still there to be fought. It remains to this day a book well worth reading, and not just for Sinclair’s unerring eloquence.

author: Ken Follett
name: Kim
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/04
date added: 2024/01/04
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author: Jonas Jonasson
name: Kim
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/05
date added: 2023/11/05
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review:
A hilarious story well told

Those who have ever read any of the Flashman series will be familiar with the parts of this book which deals with the main character’s life through world events. The other parts are equally enjoyable. Unfortunately, when the two parts come together at the end, the author can’t resist tying up all the loose ends, quite unnecessarily so.

author: Upton Sinclair
name: Kim
average rating: 4.36
book published: 1946
rating: 0
read at: 2023/10/14
date added: 2023/10/14
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author: Freya Berry
name: Kim
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/09/10
date added: 2023/09/10
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An intriguing mystery well told

I loved The Dictators Wife, but this is very different, and equally enjoyable. A multi-layered mystery across years and intersecting family drama and tragedy. It kept me guessing and kept surprising with many twists and turns, some plausible, and some not. Didn’t matter, I read the last third of the book in one evening, just had to know what happened. Only disappointment, like so many mystery authors, Freya felt she needed to tie up all the loose ends, would have been better to leave a bit to our own imagination…

author: Captivating History
name: Kim
average rating: 3.89
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2023/08/29
date added: 2023/08/29
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An incomplete history of Portugal

After a promising start, very disappointing in the end. Portugal’s formation and history through the Middle Ages and beyond were interesting enough, but the last few chapters, covering the last two hundred years, was a huge disappointment. It felt like the author either ran out of puff, interest or knowledge. The 20th century was sparse on detail and lacked context. The Salazar years are given half a page, his atrocities completely overlooked.

author: Sally Young
name: Kim
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/08/13
date added: 2023/08/13
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review:
As most comprehensive history of post-war media machinations in Australia

I enjoyed Sally Young’s “Paper Emperors,” but this sequel is even better. It covers the post WW2 history of not just Australian media and its almighty proprietors, but how they impacted directly and indirectly on politics and the country at large, culminating in the election of Gough Whitlam, which is where – sadly – the book ends. Throughly researched and meticulously presented, with obvious academic rigour, it is still an easy read. Sally knows her subject material very well, and writes with the confidence of knowledge, and without falling into the trap of showing the disdain that many of the power-hungry men who dominate much of the story, deserve. She wisely leaves that judgement to the reader.

author: Pascal Mercier
name: Kim
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2004
rating: 0
read at: 2023/07/22
date added: 2023/07/22
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author: John Irving
name: Kim
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2023/02/26
date added: 2023/02/26
shelves:
review:
Same old themes, nothing new

About 50 pages in, and I’m bored, miffed by poor editing and much repetition. Sorry to hear it’s his last long form novel, but life is too short for the next 850 pages that he’s done before, but so much better.

author: Freya Berry
name: Kim
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2023/02/24
date added: 2023/02/24
shelves:
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Much more than a mystery – beautifully written

The opening paragraphs had me hooked. Freya Berry’s writing is captivating, alluring and full of the unsaid. The story keeps you guessing, wondering and emphasising with both the narrator and the wicked protagonist without really understanding why. As good an insight into the nature of evil as I have ever read. Or is it? Not for the faint hearted, but highly recommended.

author: Ian McEwan
name: Kim
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/11/26
date added: 2022/11/26
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