Annabookbel

Reading in bed with Ginny @lesfugitivespress.bsky.social

Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise – blogtour A timely blogtour post for the beginning of 12th Reading Ireland month, hosted by Cathy at 746 Books. Although Hurtubise is American, she has lived in Ireland for 25 years, and her second novel is …

On my blog today, my review of Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise. I enjoyed it very much annabookbel.net/saoirse-by-c...

Reading Independent Publishers Month 2026 This page is to collect together all of the reviews of books published by Independent Publishers during #readindies month 2026! Please do let me know about your posts in the comments below and I wi…

February and Reading Independent Publishers Month #ReadIndies are over, but we should be reading and supporting independent presses all year round. If you want some ideas of what to read next, check out my page with a massive amount of links! kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/reading-inde...

I am inordinately excited! #bookpost from @picadorbooks.bsky.social books - it's only the new Gwendoline Riley novel, The Palm House. Thank you so much.

Two shorter reviews – The Names by Florence Knapp & Venice Requiem by Khalid LyamLahy Two shorter reviews for you today – a page-turning sliding doors type novel that was much hyped – and loved – last year, and an eloquent hymn to a immigrant in Venice. The Names b…

On my blog today: My thoughts on The Names by Florence Knapp, and Venice Requiem by Khalid Lyamlahy transl.
Ros Schwartz @hoperoadpublish.bsky.social annabookbel.net/two-shorter-...

An excellent memoir and a DNF novel – Dyer & Fruttero/Lucentini A review of my first non-fiction read of the year, an excellent memoir and my first DNF of a novel I so wanted to love…. Homework by Geoff Dyer Dyer is one of those eclectic authors who turns…

On my blog today, my review of the superb memoir Homework by Geoff Dyer @canongate.co.uk plus an Italian mystery DNF annabookbel.net/an-excellent...

I was wondering if anyone else had read her before.

Kindred by Octavia Butler – Galley Beggar Critical Reading Class #2 It was our second session at the Galley Beggars Critical Reading Class moving from contemporary Belfast in Wendy Erskine’s The Benefactors to a modern classic of timeslip fiction, Kindred by …

On my blog, my thoughts on Kindred by Octavia Butler and the 2nd @galleybeggars.bsky.social Critical Reading Class session on it, chaired by @samjordison.bsky.social annabookbel.net/kindred-by-o...

Reading in bed with Harry (and Ginny sitting hopeful for a cuddle in the top left). Sycorax by Nydia Hetherington
@quercusbooks.bsky.social

David Bowie: The Artist, The Albums, The Music by Philippe Margotin Translated by Claire Alejo Being ten years since David Bowie died, his legacy lives on, and given the anniversary a number of new books about the man and his music have been published. Philippe Mar…

On my blog today, my review of David Bowie: The Artist, The Albums, The Music by Philippe Margotin,
@aurorametro.bsky.social annabookbel.net/david-bowie-...

Everything the Light Touches by Janice Pariat – Reviewer’s choice Review by Peter Reason Four people, their lives widely separated by time and geography, set out on journeys away from home, journeys that might well be seen as secular pilgrimages. Their four

Shiny Tuesday: @peterreason.bsky.social review a recent read he enjoyed - Everything the Light Touches by Janice Pariat. shinynewbooks.co.uk/everything-t...

I read the Park last year and really enjoyed it.

What I was reading 10 years ago – in February 2016 This is the first in a new series of archive posts in which I look back at my reading lists to pick a few highlights from a particular time. Links lead to my original posts as appropriate. February…

I thought I'd scheduled this post for Monday - but it's out there now! A new archive series - a look back at What I read 10 years ago. annabookbel.net/what-i-was-r...

Mega-irritating! The two events I most would want to see at the Oxford Literary Festival are at the same time!

Six Degrees of Separation: Flashlight by Susan Choi It’s time for the super monthly tag Six Degrees of Separation, which is hosted by Kate at Booksaremyfavouriteandbest, Six Degrees of Separation #6degrees picks a starting book for pa…

First Saturday of the month, and time for the bookish #6 degrees - here's my chain: annabookbel.net/six-degrees-...

Reading in bed with Harry @orendabooks.bsky.social @ohneklippo.bsky.social

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce Review by Rebecca Foster If, like me, you’ve been following Rachel Joyce’s career ever since her 2012 debut, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, I have good news to impart: The Homemade

It's been a wet Shiny Tuesday, cheer yourself up with @bookishbeck.bsky.social reviewing Rachel Joyce's latest, now in paperback. shinynewbooks.co.uk/the-homemade...

Reading in bed with Harry...

Who are you calling a goat! 😀

Blood Orange by Harriet ‘Faithful’ Tyce The latest ‘civilian’ series of Traitors on the BBC ended on Friday with a good win for the two remaining Traitors, who were loyal to their pact back at the beginning. Stephen could hav…

I read-along-a-Traitors! Here's my thoughts on Harriet 'Faithful' Tyce's first novel @headlinebooks.bsky.social annabookbel.net/blood-orange...

Me too.

Reading in bed with Harry..

On my blog today, my review of the benefactors by Wendy Erskine and my first critical reading session with @galleybeggars.bsky.social and @samjordison.bsky.social to discuss it. Https://annabookbel.net/the-benefactors-by-wendy-erskine-galley-beggar-critical-reading-class-1/

Review Catch-up: Austen, Dabos, Simenon & Steeds Shorter reviews today so I can close out my pile of books read in 2025 finally! Persuasion by Jane Austen This was our bookgroup’s Christmas Classic read – our celebration of Austen&#82…

On my blog today, 4 shorter reviews closing out my 2025 books read pile: Austen, Dabos, Simenon & Steeds. annabookbel.net/review-catch...

Heaven by Mieko Kawakami Translated by Sam Bett and David Boyd As Tony, the host of ‘January in Japan’ says in his review of this superb novella, ‘despite its title, this is a book where the main characte…

It's #JanuaryinJapan and here's my first Japanese read of the year - Heaven by Meiko Kawakami - superb. annabookbel.net/heaven-by-mi...

Review catch-up In an effort to clear the review pile, here are three shorter reviews of some of my outstanding pile! The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson I read relatively little historical fiction, but oc…

3 shorter reviews for you today on my blog to help clear the 2025 pile. annabookbel.net/review-catch...

Review of the Year #3, 2025 – Books of the Year! It’s finally time for me to share my favourite books of the year with you. It’s always a difficult and enjoyable decision to make! I read 1?? books this year, of which I awarded 10/10 to 22 titles …

It's my books of the year - the baker's dozen of my favourites (plus a few runners up and extras) - but which was my top read? annabookbel.net/review-of-th...

Review of the Year #1 – 2025, A Year of Reading and Blogging As always, I’m saving my books of the year for the 31st, and you’ll get my book stats (my favourite post) on the 29th, but today as in previous years I’m sharing my blogging highlights, including a…

It's the first of my Review of the Year posts on a year of bookblogging highlights (and some low lights) annabookbel.net/review-of-th...

Two Reids: Novels by Taylor Jenkins and Ava! That’s right, it’s ‘Reid’ not ‘Two Reeds’ as any Only Connect fans will giggle at, and they’re authors of very different novels. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenki…

annabookbel.net/two-reids-no...

Non-Fiction Review Catch-up I am sooo behind in my reviews at the moment, so you’ll see a couple of catch-up posts before I get onto my traditional year-end fare. Today it’s non-fiction, with 4 memoirs. Without fu…

4 fine memoirs reviewed. annabookbel.net/non-fiction-...