The Book Thread 2023

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason

This is a masterpiece. The Washington Post described it as 'a time-spanning, genre-blurring work of storytelling magic', and I can only agree. Wonderful!

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason

An earlier novel from this author, which I didn't enjoy as much, although it had some pleasing touches.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières

I get the sense that the author wasn't quite sure what he wanted to do here, but nonetheless, this is very readable.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières

The second in the trilogy, and another very engaging piece of storytelling.

And another thing, where is everyone else?

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières

The final instalment of the trilogy. Engaging and undemanding, which suits me right now.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières

I get the sense that the author was feeling somewhat cynical when he wrote this, although of course I could be wrong; anyway, I didn't enjoy it as much as his other work.

[NamelessFaceless]

1. The Bridge of San Luis Rey - Thornton Wilder
2. Basil - Wilkie Collins
3. The Eyes Have It and Other Stories - Philip K. Dick (audiobook)
4. The Colonel’s Dream - Charles W. Chestnutt (audiobook)
5. Black No More - George S. Schuyler (audiobook)
6. The Trees - Percival Everett
7. Lady Chatterley’s Lover - D.H. Lawrence- (audiobook) (previously read)
8. My People the Sioux - Luther Standing Bear (audiobook)
9. Poirot Investigates - Agatha Christie (audiobook)
10. The Life of Josiah Henson - Josiah Henson (audiobook)
11. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - Anita Loos (audiobook)
12. To the Lighthouse - Virginia Woolf (audiobook)
13. The Blacker the Berry - Wallace Thurman (audiobook)
14. Infants of the Spring - Wallace Thurman (audiobook)
15. Zora Neale Hurston: Collected Early Works - Zora Neale Hurston (audiobook)
16. Rachel:A Play in Three Acts - Angelina Weld Grimke (audiobook)
17. The True Story of Ah Q - Lu Xun (audiobook)
18. The Pale Blue Eye - Louis Bayard
19. Tropic Death - Eric Walrond (audiobook)
20. The Homesteader - Oscar Micheaux (audiobook)
21. Deliverance - James Dickey
22. Life Among the Paiutes: Their Wrongs and Claims - Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins (audiobook)
23. Autobiography of Ma-Ka-Tai-Me-She-Kia-Kiak, or Blackhawk: Dictated by Himself - Blackhawk and J. Gerald Kennedy (audiobook)
24. Wynema: A Child of the Forest - Sophia Alice Callahan (audiobook)
25. The Man From the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery - Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James
26. The Home and the World - Rabindranath Tagore (audiobook)
27. The Soul of the Indian - Charles Alexander Eastman (audiobook)
28. Women Talking - Miriam Toews
29. Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown, Written by Himself - Henry Box Brown (audiobook)
30. Flight - Walter Francis White (audiobook)
31. The World’s Religions - Huston Smith
32. Journey to the Center of the Earth - Jules Verne (audiobook)
33. The Life of John Thompson, A Fugitive Slave - John Thompson (audiobook)
34. The Dean's December - Saul Bellow
35. Clotel: or, The President’s Daughter - William Wells Brown (audiobook)
36. Quicksand - Nella Larsen (audiobook)
37. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI - David Grann
38. The Influencer - Joyce Maynard (audiobook)
39. Southern Horrors &The Red Record - Ida B. Wells (audiobook)
40. Passing - Nella Larsen (audiobook)
41. All My Puny Sorrows - Miriam Toews
42. America is in the Heart - Carlos Bulosan (audiobook)
43. The Squatter and the Don - Maria Ampara Ruiz de Burton (audiobook)
44. The Girls - Emma Cline
45. Hangsaman - Shirley Jackson
46. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - Dee Brown
47. The Lost City of Z - David Grann
48. Fight Night - Miriam Toews
49. Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys
50. The Summer I Turned Pretty - Jenny Han
51. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African - Olaudah Equiano (Audiobook)
52. Obsession Collection (1. Murder at the Royal Ruby, 2. The Mosquito, 3. People Like Them, 4. The Heart of a Mother, 5. Slot Machine Fever Dreams, 6. Just a Girl) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
53. We Could Be Heroes Collection (1. Pigeon Tony's Last Stand, 2. Unknown Caller, 3. Trouble, 4. These Cold Strangers, 5. Kill Night) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
54. Creature Feature Collection (1. The Pram, 2. Ankle Snatcher, 3. It Waits in the Woods, 4. In Bloom, 5. Best of Luck, 6. Big Bad) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
55. The Well Beloved - Thomas Hardy
56. The Far Reaches Collection (1. How It Unfolds, 2. Void, 3. Falling Bodies, 4. The Long Game, 5. Just Out of Jupiter's Reach, 6. Slow Time Between the Stars) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
57. The White Album - Joan Didion
58. Amazon Stories (1. A Show of Faith, 2. Golden Hills, 3. Calypso's Guest, 4. The Scenic Route, 5. Black Vault, 6. Movie Star, 7. A Welcome Reunion) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
59. Good Intentions Collection (1. The Magician, 2. Poppy's Story, 3. Deluge, 4. The Road Home, 5. Mother Country, 6. The Days Before Us, 7. A Planned Occasion) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
60. It's Not Summer Without You - Jenny Han
61. The Broken Doll Collection (1. The Pain Hunter, 2. Dodge, 3. Execution Day, 4. Sixty-One Seconds) - Jeffrey Deaver (Audiobook)
62. Amazon Stories (1. Resting Scrooge Face, 2. The Bookstore Sisters, 3. I Choose Darkness, 4. The Wehrwolf, 5. Signal Moon) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
63. Into Shadows Collection (1. The Garden, 2. Persephone, 3. The Six Deaths of the Saint, 4. What the Dead Know, 5. Undercover, 6. The Candles are Burning, 7. Out of the Mirror, Darkness) - Various Authors (Audiobook)

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan

Oops. This is a children's book ; I read it anyway.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
68. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai

Early work by the author of The Inheritance of Loss.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
68. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai
69. Life Class by Pat Barker

An art student, rejected on health grounds for military service in the First World War, volunteers to tend casualties in Belgium. His girlfriend, a fellow student, stays in London and mixes with the arty set. My word, this is powerful, but it's not an easy read.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
68. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai
69. Life Class by Pat Barker
70. Toby's Room by Pat Barker

The second in the Life Class trilogy, also excellent, also not an easy read.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
68. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai
69. Life Class by Pat Barker
70. Toby's Room by Pat Barker
71. Noonday by Pat Barker

And the third. In my opinion, not as good as the first two, but then they set a high bar.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
68. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai
69. Life Class by Pat Barker
70. Toby's Room by Pat Barker
71. Noonday by Pat Barker
72. We The Animals by Justin Torres

I found this tale of the youngest son in a violent dysfunctional family quite harrowing.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
68. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai
69. Life Class by Pat Barker
70. Toby's Room by Pat Barker
71. Noonday by Pat Barker
72. We The Animals by Justin Torres
73. Something Like Happy by John Burnside

A collection of short stories from an apparently renowned poet. The prose is good; the title of the collection is surely ironic.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
68. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai
69. Life Class by Pat Barker
70. Toby's Room by Pat Barker
71. Noonday by Pat Barker
72. We The Animals by Justin Torres
73. Something Like Happy by John Burnside
74. The Crow Eaters by Bapsi Sidhwa

Great storytelling, of course, and such cynicism - realism - about human nature...

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
68. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai
69. Life Class by Pat Barker
70. Toby's Room by Pat Barker
71. Noonday by Pat Barker
72. We The Animals by Justin Torres
73. Something Like Happy by John Burnside
74. The Crow Eaters by Bapsi Sidhwa
75. Sins of Silence by Sadie Gordon Richmond

A writer whom I know!

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
68. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai
69. Life Class by Pat Barker
70. Toby's Room by Pat Barker
71. Noonday by Pat Barker
72. We The Animals by Justin Torres
73. Something Like Happy by John Burnside
74. The Crow Eaters by Bapsi Sidhwa
75. Sins of Silence by Sadie Gordon Richmond
76. The Trackers by Charles Frazier

This masterful writer doesn't disappoint with this, his latest offering. Gripping.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
68. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai
69. Life Class by Pat Barker
70. Toby's Room by Pat Barker
71. Noonday by Pat Barker
72. We The Animals by Justin Torres
73. Something Like Happy by John Burnside
74. The Crow Eaters by Bapsi Sidhwa
75. Sins of Silence by Sadie Gordon Richmond
76. The Trackers by Charles Frazier
77. Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett

Vignettes of daily life in a rented cottage. Not my cup of tea.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
68. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai
69. Life Class by Pat Barker
70. Toby's Room by Pat Barker
71. Noonday by Pat Barker
72. We The Animals by Justin Torres
73. Something Like Happy by John Burnside
74. The Crow Eaters by Bapsi Sidhwa
75. Sins of Silence by Sadie Gordon Richmond
76. The Trackers by Charles Frazier
77. Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett
78. The Coiled Serpent by Camilla Grudova

A collection of short stories featuring squalor, bodily secretions (various) and exploitation. It was all a bit much for me, to be honest, but it's been well reviewed so others may love it.

[Blip]

First fifty here.

51. Pearl by Siân Hughes
52. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
53. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
54. All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
55. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
56. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
57. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
58. The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
59. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
60. The Fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne
61. North Woods by Daniel Mason
62. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
63. The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières
64. So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
65. The Autumn of the Ace by Louis de Bernières
66. A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernières
67. The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
68. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai
69. Life Class by Pat Barker
70. Toby's Room by Pat Barker
71. Noonday by Pat Barker
72. We The Animals by Justin Torres
73. Something Like Happy by John Burnside
74. The Crow Eaters by Bapsi Sidhwa
75. Sins of Silence by Sadie Gordon Richmond
76. The Trackers by Charles Frazier
77. Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett
78. The Coiled Serpent by Camilla Grudova
79. The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright

If angsty women in doomed relationships are your thing, this is for you. For me, not so much.