Gayle > Recent Status Updates

Already invested through the comparison of the clean lines of cars of the past vs the bubble like nature of new cars!

6/13 2026 Booker longlist

In case of reading emergency - break glass.
(That time is now after my last book choice!)

Well it gets better after part 1. Making me think about Knausgaard writing that “said” is always best, and I know she has read that too, somewhere. How many times can we say “said”?? I’ve read dialogue that has stunned me, in many styles, but this just tried way too hard to be clever - and failed. The following part came like a breath of air, without all the talk, but still not without its problems.

At the end of part 1, I’m certainly hoping better get less boring and glib. So far we have two people talking about one’s job and how he’s leaving/left it. I don’t like this kind of talk in real life, and I certainly don’t like it in a book. Let’s hope part two has a little more substance.

5/13 Booker longlist

I’m really liking the voice and the writing style of this one. Seeing parallels in regard to memory and place in all the Booker Prize books I’ve read thus far. This is only the 4th, so it will be interesting to see going forward if this continues as a theme.
I have another Aridjis book sitting unread on my shelf: ‘Asunder’ I will absolutely read it in the near future.

4/13 Booker longlist 2026

Attempting to read the Booker longlist before the winner is announced this year. Book 3/13

I don’t want to waste my current excellent reading experience in noisy play centres and the like during these school holidays, so appreciating this fun read for this purpose so far - definitely one that can stand up to interruptions and much noise without me getting grumpy!

Beautiful writing that is a joy to read.

Going in with some trepidation - I’ve owned this book since the 90s and I am only getting around to reading it now.
As an aside, I had absolutely no idea Margaret Drabble is her sister until yesterday.

One terrible story. Some men should never write women. I looked up the author and unsurprised to see he hasn’t published anything else.
Overall this has been an excellent collection however.

My first Han Kang. I don’t really know what I was expecting, but this is not at all what I was expecting!

Disappointing, very interested in the story, not so interested in the overwritten nature of it.

There’s a lot of good short stories in here. The most disappointing thing is when you look up an author of a story you love, only to find there’s no more!

This book is making me emotional, it’s so incredibly sad. Strout really is a master of words.

This is a surprising book. To me at least, as it’s not my typical style, but definitely feels that it is. Dystopian, but also the story of a relationship and also family. Hard to pigeonhole. Still manages to feel very Australian, very clever, funny at times, sad, topical and well written.

Revisiting this collection of short stories before I read her debut long form novel. Starting with ‘The Drydown’. A favourite.
Wilson has a way of managing to build a picture of her characters and engender huge emotion in a few pages that many writers don’t manage in 400. Can’t wait to read her book!!

Just what I needed - a tautly written book.

So. Many. Wasted. Words.

Anything would find it hard to live up to what I just read, so it’s time for something I have low expectations of but am intrigued to read!!

Quiet and atmospheric with so many undercurrents. Perfect choice for a weekend of wind and rain with all the Hebridean weather making me long for my birthplace. It definitely gave me a pang when it was mentioned by name, even if it was in relation to prostitutes 😆

Writing is stunning as expected. Love the island and weather descriptions and the dialogue is perfectly executed. How the Gaelic is written as English is perfectly done. Makes me birthplace wistful. Harris Tweed as the story weaves. Brilliant 🌟

Ok, it’s a long weekend. I’m taking a break now to read something else.

Sometimes I think I read way too critically for my own good.

A really quite unsettling story by Allee Richard’s made me look her up on here. Turns out I have one of her books on my shelf, yet to read.

Now for a book from the Womens Prize shortlist. Admittedly going in trepidatiously as I’m not sure it going to be for me, but looking forward to finding out nonetheless.