Episode 138…
Aha! The Big Drop has begun! The TBR has fallen by an astonishing 2 this week to 216 – see? Totally under control! I don’t know why you ever doubted me…
You’re still judging me, aren’t you?
Here’s the next lot that will move to the Read shelf soon…
Factual
All my Russian reading has led me to think that I really ought to get to know Rasputin better – he sounds like such a fun guy! And this biography is being hailed as pretty much the definitive one…
The Blurb says: A hundred years after his murder, Rasputin continues to excite the popular imagination as the personification of evil. Numerous biographies, novels, and films recount his mysterious rise to power as Nicholas and Alexandra’s confidant and the guardian of the sickly heir to the Russian throne. His debauchery and sinister political influence are the stuff of legend, and the downfall of the Romanov dynasty was laid at his feet.
But as the prizewinning historian Douglas Smith shows, the true story of Rasputin’s life and death has remained shrouded in myth. A major new work that combines probing scholarship and powerful storytelling, Rasputin separates fact from fiction to reveal the real life of one of history’s most alluring figures. Drawing on a wealth of forgotten documents from archives in seven countries, Smith presents Rasputin in all his complexity–man of God, voice of peace, loyal subject, adulterer, drunkard. Rasputin is not just a definitive biography of an extraordinary and legendary man but a fascinating portrait of the twilight of imperial Russia as it lurched toward catastrophe.
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Thriller
Courtesy of NetGalley. As if the British Library wasn’t doing enough damage to my TBR with its Crime Classics series, now it appears to be doing a series of Classic Thrillers too…aarghhh!!!
The Blurb says: Leo Selver, a middle-aged antiques dealer, is stunned when the beautiful and desirable Judy Latimer shows an interest in him. Soon they are lying in each other’s arms, unaware that this embrace will be their last.
Popular opinion suggests that Leo murdered the girl, a theory Leo’s wife – well aware of her husband’s infidelities – refuses to accept. Ed Buchanan, a former policeman who has known the Selvers since childhood, agrees to clear Leo’s name. Selver and his fellow antique dealers had uncovered a secret and it is up to Ed to find the person willing to kill in order to protect it.
This exhilarating and innovative thriller was first published in 1976.
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Sci-Fi
Courtesy of NetGalley. From the guy who wrote the fabulous The Martian – need I say more?
The Blurb says: Jazz Bashara is a criminal.
Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you’re not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you’ve got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent.
Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible is just the start of Jazz’s problems, as she learns that she’s stepped square into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself – and that now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit even more unlikely than the first.
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Audible Original Drama
Courtesy of Audible via MidasPR. Audible are spoiling me rotten at the moment with these dramatisations of some of my favourite novels – how could I possibly resist this one? It’s due out on 1st November…
The Blurb says: What begins as a routine journey on the luxurious Orient Express soon unfurls into Agatha Christie’s most famous murder mystery. Onboard is the famous detective Hercule Poirot and one man who come morning will be found dead, his compartment locked from the inside.
This Audible Original dramatisation follows the train as it is stopped dead in its tracks at midnight. The train’s stranded passengers soon become suspects as the race to uncover the murderer begins before he or she strikes again.
This all-star production features lead performances from Tom Conti (The Dark Knight Rises, Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence) as Hercule Poirot, Sophie Okonedo (After Earth, Hotel Rwanda and Ace Ventura) and Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes, V for Vendetta and Hancock) plus a full supporting cast and even sound effects recorded on the Orient Express itself.
Full cast of narrators includes Walles Hamonde, Paterson Joseph, Rula Lenska and Art Malik.
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NB All blurbs taken from Goodreads or Audible UK.
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So…what do you think? Do any of these tempt you?
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Argh, no! Why do you have to point out that British Library Thriller series! Shame on you! 😉
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Hahaha – I know! I’m truly sorry! (That’s how I felt when I saw them too – oh no! It’s like they’re trying to drive me over the edge… 😉 )
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Your list might be minus two, but mine is now plus one (Rasputin).
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I think the Rasputin looks excellent – I’ve seen some pretty glowing reviews of it… 😀
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The Andy Weir book has been on my list for a while. I also like the look of Rasputin – though I am now singing the Bony M. song in my head!
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I’ve seen mixed reviews of the Andy Weir book, but I’m really looking forward to it – I think it’s going to be very different to The Martian, and that’s probably a good thing! Haha – I’ve had that song in my head most of this year because of all this Russian reading – that and the Volga Boat Song… 😉
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Other than the Barsoom books, I don’t think I’ve seen sci fi on your blog before!
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I know – I used to read a fair amount of sci-fi, but I’ve lost touch with it almost completely these days. I keep meaning to read more…
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You are so incredible, dropping the TBR like that, FictionFan! You deserve a piece of cake for that! It’s good to see that you’ve got that great Christie coming up. Her stories are really effective in the audible format, aren’t they? I hope you’ll enjoy it. And your other reads look interesting, too.
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Thank you – I’m glad you’re impressed by my phenomenal achievement! 😉 The Christie sounds fab – Audible are doing more and more of these dramatisations and they’re getting such good casts. It adds a whole new dimension to books we all know so well. 😀
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Good job dropping two books!
Artemis and Murder on the Orient Express tempt me, though I’ve read the Christie book before. I’d love to hear what that cast has done with it.
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Impressive, isn’t it? 😉
I’m looking forward to Artemis and am glad he seems to have gone for something different rather than trying to reproduce The Martian in some way. And these fab dramatisations are really breathing new life into some of my favourite books – hurrah! 😀
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I will certainly be getting a copy of the Christie. I’ve become a real audio fan this year.
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I’ve been getting more and more into audiobooks this year too, and some of these dramatisations are fab – I love that they’re picking such well known books and breathing new life into them… 😀
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Funnily enough, I just looked at the Weir book yesterday, and will probably buy it. Congrats on the HUGE drop in the TBR! 🙂
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Haha – thank you! I’m glad you’re impressed! 😉 The Weir book sounds very different to The Martian, and I think that’s a good thing – it never really works when an author tries to repeat a successful formula. Fingers crossed!
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Ok I feel like I should really know more about Rasputin, all I know is that song that was written about him…
Are you going to see the movie based on the Murder of the Orient Express? I certainly am, and I’d love to do a partner blog post with you where we can compare our opinions on it-I’m so excited!!!!
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Ha – me too! It was only when I started all this Russian reading that I realised I know nothing about him. But I do know all the lyrics of the song… 😉
Oh, that sounds like loads of fun and just the push I need to actually go and see it rather than just thinking about it! Yes, let’s do it! 😀 😀 😀 It comes out on 3rd Nov over here – when is it released over there?
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It looks like…November 10? Although I may not be able to see it that exact date, can we regroup once November rolls around and make more concrete plans?
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Oops! Somehow or another, I seem to have deleted your last comment – sorry! But yes, sounds good to get together in Nov and decide how to go about it. Should be fun! 😀
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no worries, sounds like a plan!
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Slowly but surely you are nudging me back into audible. Several of your mentions have had me tempted and this morning I found myself on the site… just browsing of course; I quickly (ahem) moved on. Those you mention keep on sounding so good – and that’s before I’ve actually listened to them. If you get my drift… (S drifts off, glass in hand, to find a soothing cat to stroke…)
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I must admit Audible are coming up with some fantastic stuff now – great narrators, and these dramatisations are wonderful. I just wish they weren’t so expensive – I’m so lucky to be getting access to them for review, but I’d have to think twice… or even three times!… if I had to pay full price. But I’m loving them… (FF drifts off to find a glass… 😉 )
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I’ve not yet listened to an Agatha Christie book on audio, can you believe it? I really should rectify that! Congrats on the drop in numbers, keep up the good work! And have an extra piece of chocolate!
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Haha – the drop in numbers may have been reversed over the last couple of days, but don’t tell anyone! 😉 Oh, you must! There are some great narrations out there… I’ll just keep nagging till you do, you know… 😀
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When do I ever judge you 😉 that British Library thriller by George Sims looks great – I’m very tempted indeed!
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Haha – you recognised yourself in that GIF then? I’m terrified about these thrillers – I hope that either I hate them or that at least the BL don’t bring out too many too quickly… *faints*
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Ooh, the Christie sounds delightful! Of course, I love that story but have never heard it — might be a good time to do so. And yes, I’m impressed at the drop in your TBR. Would that the shrinkage would spread across the pond!
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The cast list for the Christie sounds great again – Audible are really bringing in some top people for these. Haha – honesty compels me to admit that the drop may not have lasted long… 😉
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Loved Artemis, and I’m a big Agatha Christie fan. That one sounds good.
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Oh that’s good to hear about Artemis – I’ve only seen a few reviews and they’ve been a bit mixed. I’m looking forward to it though… and the Christie! 😀
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I don’t know how anybody can doubt your extraordinary willpower and what rapid inroads you are making into your TBR… but then, who am I to be sarcastic?
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Haha – I’m so glad you appreciate my astonishing achievements! Sometimes I feel they don’t get enough recognition… I put it down to jealousy… 😉
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I think the Rasputin book would be a hoot! I remember reading how hard he was to kill. I’m sure he was a maniac but it couldn’t all have been his fault.😂
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Ha – yes, I remember one of the history books going through all the various things they tried, but I felt anyone who inspired the Boney M song probably deserved it… 😉
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I finished Artemis last week!
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Oh, I’ll look out for your review – I hope you enjoyed it! I’m looking forward to reading it soonish… 😀
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After also loving The Martian, I am very tempted by Artemis and, as you predicted, I am even more tempted by your audiobook choice this week!
p.s. HAHA – ‘I really ought to get to know Rasputin better – he sounds like such a fun guy’ 😀
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Hahaha – I don’t know how to say this, but WAIT till you see next week’s audiobook… 😉 I’m looking forward to Artemis – it looks very different to The Martian, which I suspect will be a good thing…
Haha – but he sounds like a real party animal… 😉
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STOP making me wait!!
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🤣 But it’s so much fun!
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For you maybe … 😛
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🤣😇😜
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Rasputin was a favourite read of mine in high school history, so looks interesting -and the audio book has a great cast…. almost tempted 😀
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I don’t know anything about Rasputin except what I’ve picked up as I’ve been reading about the Revolution, but he does look interesting. These audio dramatisations that Audible are doing at the moment are fab – they’re getting great actors! 😀
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The audio dramatisations – I haven’t come across anything like it -yet-but hope too. Hope you find Rasputin interesting 😀
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Husband Matthew read the copy of Artemis I won for him on NG (I’m sure that’s not allowed but when I mentioned I’d seen it there, he kind of begged me for it). He enjoyed it with reservations. So I’ll look forward to hearing what you think of that one.
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I’ve seen mixed reviews, but some of the more negative ones seem to be from people who were hoping he’d do a kind of repeat of The Martian. I’m kinda glad he’s gone for something different – fingers crossed!
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That wasn’t exactly his problem with it – well, the review’s up on NetGalley under my name if anyone wants to look. But he did enjoy it.
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Ha! I popped over, but whadya know? NG only appear to be ‘featuring’ 5-star reviews…
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[…] iron willpower may not match that of the legendary Fiction Fan, but I have tried to limit my spending on books, since I realised that my income is now a stable […]
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Rasputin, the only temptation here, but the gif is a thing of splendour.
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Haha – isn’t it? She can say so much with that marvellous face…
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