iridescentjemz's reviews
65 reviews

Really enjoyed listening to this, with Paul Gallagher (and his Ma Peggy) telling his story and the story of Noel and Liam in his own words. It felt like you were just at the pub having the craic. I liked how nobody escapes being impersonated by Paul, he does impressions of his mam, dad, brothers, Alan McGee, Terry Christian and many others as he goes. All three of the brothers seem to share this cheeky charm.

It’s interesting to hear some of the famous Oasis and Gallagher brother moments, often overblown by the tabloids, being talked about from Paul’s point of view. It does make you wonder how much of the feuds (Oasis v Blur, Noel v Liam) were riled up specifically by the press. Similar to how the press invented a feud between the Beatles and the Stones when in fact there was no rivalry, but to them it was just a bit of a laugh. 

There is some real heartbreaking moments in the Gallagher family past, mostly due to their violent father. The quote from Noel about how his father “beat the talent into him” always made me feel sad and it seems particularly cruel that Paul had to deal with the worst of their father (alongside Noel) but then when their father spoke to the press he only spoke about wanting a relationship with Noel and Liam (after they were already famous) never mentioning Paul. 

I was going to say that this needs a post-1996 update but Paul is featured in the documentaries Supersonic and As It Was, so this probably doesn’t need an update. Very interesting whether you’re a fan of the band or not. 

A great collection of short stories, all related in some way to stone circles (as you would imagine). 

Some stories were unputdownable but a couple dragged a bit, hence I gave it an average of four stars. 

Great fun especially if you enjoy folklore and folk horror. 

So perfect for this time of year and so cosy (considering the plot). I would definitely have spent more time with the characters. I liked Annie Lane and if she’s a b!tch it’s because she had to be, everyone (alive) around her was awful to her.

I thought I had it all figured out but the twist really got me. It’s giving grown up Goosebumps with a dash of Beetlejuice and I love the vibe. I’d love it if it could be a series somehow, with Annie and the gang solving crimes on Halloween.

It’s a fangtastic debut from Codie Crowley and if you don’t follow her on TikTok you should. Can’t wait to see what’s next from Codie. 

Get this on the spooky season TBR straight away. I’ll definitely be re-reading soon.

 really loved this story. I don’t think I read this as a child (even though I had a copy) but I think it’s delightful. I remember seeing the start of the film and turning it over because I couldn’t stand Mary but I’m so glad I stuck with it. 

Essentially it’s about two lonely and unloved children finding their way in the world together through the beauty of nature with the help of a straight talking old gardener, a sweet Dr Doolittle type boy and various other characters. 

There’s also an undercurrent of overcoming grief in the form of Colin’s father although we don’t touch on his story much until the end.

Mrs Sowerby’s quote about the world being an orange qnd no one man can own more than his own piece is particularly relevant at the moment. 

Listened on Audrey which was wonderful with great guide notes.

Enjoyable and fun read. Packed with magic and fantastical creatures and characters. 

Jacob discovers a mirrorworld in his father’s mirror, through which his father disappeared, and he must save his brother before he loses him to the mirrorworld as well. 

The audiobook was very enjoyable, the narrator does a great job of giving each character their own voice and personality.

I love Isabella Hammad’s writing in this so naturally I now need to read everything she’s written. This is one is those books that I didn’t want to end and could probably read a series about Mariam, who I think might be my favourite character.

Sonia is a British Palestinian who returns to her ancestral home of Haifa to visit her sister Haneen who is a lecturer at an Israeli university. Through Haneen Sonia meets Mariam who is a director who wants to direct a performance of Hamlet in the West Bank. Through their stories we explore the machinations of ‘48, the West Bank and the diaspora and what it means to be a Palestinian depending on where you were born, what passport you hold and what area you live in. You don’t often get stories from a Palestinian on the ‘inside’ (or perhaps you do but I’m yet to read them) which is an interesting dynamic.

At it’s heart I think this is about those different dynamics, family politics, what it means to be a woman, what it means to be in the diaspora and what it means to be human ultimately especially under such difficult circumstances that Palestinian’s are forced to live under. 

Apologies this will be full of spoilers, so avoid if you don’t want to get spoiled. 

I’ve read two Orwell retellings recently, one had brought the premise up to date brilliantly and was a well rounded satire on the current state of UK politics. That was Beasts of England and was one of my favourite reads of the year, you could really tell that Adam Biles understood the original story and built on it from there.

This was disappointing. It promised a modern feminist retelling of 1984 from Julia’s point of view. If this was a standalone story, totally separate from Orwell, it would have been great. But other than the names and references to events in 1984 this feels like a totally different world and not in a good way. Winston’s world in 1984 was a hell, you were constantly monitored, you even had to control your facial expression to keep from being considered a criminal. In this Julia comes and goes as she pleases, regularly visits proles, buys black market items, without a care or worry that she’ll be caught. Apart from a few mentions when it’s relevant nobody is concerned about the telescreens, even though we know that’s how the inner party monitor the party and the proles.

Yes Julia is a more rounded character but I don’t know if that’s a good thing because she isn’t remotely likeable. I also don’t understand what’s feminist about it, yes she’s well rounded, yes she owns her sexuality but for what purpose. She uses her sexuality to collude with a totalitarian regime, where she sleeps with party members so the inner party can spy on them. Why? It ruins the original story for me. Why have Parsons not being dobbed in by his vile H*tler Youth esque children but committing sex crime with Julia. And the same for Ampleforth, him being a criminal just because he couldn’t find a rhyme for rod in newspeak and had to use god shows how petty and trivial thoughtcrime can be. And I guess we should feel bad when it turns round to bite her and she ends up tortured and left as an unperson anyway? Even though it’s obvious that’s what would happen. Also it made no logical sense that Julia would still be pregnant at the end of the book after everything she went through. 

And worst of all the fact that Big Brother is not only real but a senile old man. This makes no sense. The reason that Big Brother is so impactful is because he is this figurehead of the party that actually no one has seen and probably isn’t real. 

Sandra has taken the subtle and nuanced horror of Orwell’s world and overblown and overexplained parts of the story that didn’t need explained. Less is more and you don’t need every gruesome detail thrown in your face to feel how horrific a situation is, it loses its impact. 

I probably wouldn’t have finished this if I hadn’t been listening to the audiobook, if I had a physical copy of the book I’d have DNFed it. It might work for some, but it didn’t work for me. Which is unfortunate because I can tell Sandra Newman is a good writer and I had wanted to like this, but just can’t. 1984 and Animal Farm are two of my favourite books, and I know them cover to cover, inside out and upside down so maybe that clouds my opinion. 

Mr N is an intriguing read from Najwa Barakat. I enjoyed the writing and was engrossed in Mr N’s unreliable narrations. Although at times I did feel confused and did struggle a bit with the book, hence four stars. 

I thought I had the twist figured out and I did for the most part but then was surprised by the epilogue which kind of turns the rest of the book on its head. I might need to reread to see how I feel now, from a different pov. 

I like the fact you don’t know what’s real and what’s not, definitely leaves some of the story up to interpretation. 

I’m not sure how likeable the characters are but I don’t think they need to be, it makes them all the more real. Not everything is black and white in life, a lot of it is grey. The despair of the characters is palpable.

I think it might be a bit of a marmite book, but I liked it.