Book clubs in Bristol

One of the characters is a fig tree. It is based jointly in Cyprus and London. It is poetic and poignant and speaks of the experience of love and war and people who have moved country.

It juxtaposes the story of a contemporary Syrian girl and a girl in the 16th century. It has a positive and empowering ending. It contains poems

I love the world-building! The plot focuses more on the political side which gives it an edge from the other fantasy books that I've read. Each chapter keeps you thinking and on your toes. Having a female main character that's ambitious and dangerous, and not the usual damsel-in-distress is refreshing. You'll be surprised by how she improvises her plan along the way, builds connections and allies, cashes in favors, manipulates certain situations and executes her plans while keeping her family safe in the world of faerie. The development of enemies to lovers is just perfect and didn't feel rushed. I enjoyed their banters and how trust is developed on both sides. I don't think Holly Black receives much praise for how well-written this is, most especially for not letting the romance outshine the political side of the story. It's witty, refreshing and definitely a must-read!

Based on true story, the shocking treatment of women in saudi Arabia and the courage and strength they have.

I read the 'time passes' section every other week at this point

19th C group of Irish ne'er-do-wells travel to London to show off O'Brian - a giant

Durrell tells the same story thrice from three different perspectives before advancing the story in the final book of the quadrilogy, which makes for an interesting read in itself. What really makes the quartet however is the vividness of the characters and the atmosphere of mid-century Alexandria - it comes alive as a philosophy and culture since lost to modernity.

Scott Alexander is always great fun to read and this is no exception - like a nerdier version of Good Omens, his asides and allusions are always fun to read and spot. What sets this book apart however is the payoff at the end where he gives a real and sound answer to the theodicy problem that shadows the story - in truth his answer is a rich seam for considering philosophy, rare praise for a light webnovel.

Urgh. The perfect story. Strong protagonist, rags to riches, an incredibly suave mentor character… I love it so much.

It gives a perspective of WW2 that I'd never read before with incredibly moving prose that explore the mental turmoil that the soldiers faced on the Eastern front.

I love this author's ability to bring different eras of history to life through the depth and complexity of her characters.

This is a historical murder mystery set in Schongau, Bavaria, in the mid-1600s. Jakob is the village hangman, and his daughter, Magdalena, is headstrong and determined to control her own life. The book is clever, and the characters are believable, particularly as the hangman is based on the author's ancestor.

A very interesting world to get immersed in, and a great length to read over a couple of days.

Well written from multiple perspectives