Simon Gray

I’m hoping that the 2nd book will have to do less heavy lifting in terms of character / setting (and I get it is cultural scene setting on top of character). It gets good reviews, I went in with too high expectations I guess

Kong Sorrow sounds like an entirely different kind of book…really enjoyed this - just a great story with characters having room to breathe and plenty to do

Mosque rising in the distance in Damascus

Figure drawn in orange in the fetal position with the face scrubbed over with black lines

Eyes of a girl looking out behind a garden bird scene

Back to work. Last week I read “Damascus Station”-ok but won’t leap to the sequel. “Cleaner” which was a nice story of falling into things when not knowing what to do. Last night I started “The naming of the birds” which has just built in the intro nicely with good characters - looking forward to it

white circle in a blue background and the words "It's Monday! What are you reading?" in the circle

It's Monday again and today I'm reading "Saints” by Amy Jeffs

What book(s) are you reading this week?

💙📚 #BookSky #AmReading #MondayReads #TBR

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Done all the shopping for the recipe ✅
Prepped ingredients ✅
Fully read the recipe and started at the right time ❌
Oh well - I suppose I’ll be having my curry at half time in the football and I’ll console myself with a desert for a starter

Long day driving to meetings and back, got home to discover this delivered. I have no idea when I purchased or heard of it (I’m guess 6Music) but I like it a lot. Whimsical, folksy I suppose…but very relaxing

Wandering round the park with Sherlock before the rain came down

I fully accept I am not much good at this photography thing, but it gives me something to focus on and a reason to go for more walks. I need to find where the slow, lethargic birds hang out to get more photos

Discover simonantonygray’s listening stats for Last.week Check out simonantonygray’s week in music on Last.fm

Last week I got lost listening to Promenade by the Divine Comedy, another John Martyn album arrived courtesy of ⁦‪@normanrecords‬⁩ and I was in an Elliott Smith kind of mood

Check out my report for Last.week at www.last.fm/user/simonan....

I always struggle with a new series when you have a new cast to get used to… but it got me there halfway and then I really enjoyed. Come to think of it, it did a better of job of establishing itself than the the blade itself…but then he is a few books down the line now

I really enjoyed this one so hope you enjoy. Establishes a whole new perspective on a familiar tale very quickly

Love the cover on that - I’d definitely pick it up in a book shop

I think I agree, it’s after a couple of books when the world started to take shape and I really wanted to know what was happening to Glokta & Nine Fingers and the rest. I have read them all though and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend (including the new one “the devils”).

Suited figure in black with a flake instead of a head in a green background. “Jonathan Coe” in black text, book title “ the proof of my innocence” in black / off white text

Picture of a mosque tower (probably in Damascus)

Had a change of plan last week as decided to watch Tehran Season 2 on Apple (very good) didn’t read Damascus Station so that’s this week. I read “the proof of my innocence” by Jonathan Coe - it was perfectly fine. Not really funny as it is billed but interesting how it was set to real events

curious as to whether it is a D&D manual or an actual guide to throwing dice to make your way through a year…

A white circle on a blue background and in the centre of the circle are the words "It's Monday! What are you reading!"

It’s Monday once more and I’m still reading the Dungeon Master’s Guide 2024

What book(s) are you reading this week?

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I hesitate to recommend the stronger words weekly email as it is directly responsible for me purchasing too many books…but if you like books www.strong-words.co.uk (the magazine is good as well). This weeks purchase “everyone loves our dollars” by Oliver Bullough (turns out I already bought 2)

Sunday morning wandering

Must be pheasant season as a lot of people out hunting today. Hopefully this bunch stayed out of the way. Sherlock disgraced himself rolling in unmentionable stuff

Thanks for taking the time to reply…I feel a new distraction coming on while the dog invariably loses & re-finds his ball

And a David Batty booking / clattering inside 10 minutes to set the tone

Ok already…I have bought it (it now goes on the TBR pile)

I did read that bit about South America so I was pretty confident I was in fantasy land as well. I’ll take a buzzard though…still looked cool to me

I do like playing with these apps - but know practically zero about bird spotting. I was just annoyed at the time I didn’t have the internet

East Yorkshire, on the Drewton Estate (somewhere between Beverley & Goole). You are going to burst my bubble aren’t you? Currently googling cameras so I don’t get such a rubbish shot next time…

I took this photo at the weekend (yes I know it’s terrible) I had no internet at the time but Picture Bird assures me it is a Black Hawk-eagle which I’ve decided to believe…

Excellent conclusion - read safe in the knowledge all the threads will be connected…hope you enjoy

I still have this in my TBR pile - must get there

I read that, really enjoyed so hope you do as well. Much like the escape artist - impeccably researched but a good storytelling approach

That cover is amazing