Katy Wheatley > Recent Status Updates

I thought this was rather charming. I follow Brian Bilston on Twitter and love his poems. This frames them in diary form. It’s gently amusing and rather sweet.

I got given a copy of this by Netgalley in exchange for my review. It was absolutely fascinating. Very, very frank and there is a lot of sexual detail here, so if you don't want to know what goes on in the darkest recesses of gay clubs, this book is not for you. The author, Rasmussen is fascinating on gender politics, inclusion and what it means to be gay in today's world. They are eloquent witty & sometimes tragic.

It took me a while to get into this but once I’d settled into the characters I loved it. I really enjoyed the balance of macabre events and the dark humour Atkinson uses to write about them. Looking forward to reading the rest

Rhyming books are not my favourite, but having worked in school libraries for a few years I know how much children love them. This little book about big emotions is destined to be a classic. It’s wise and thoughtful and the seriousness of its message is delivered with humour and tenderness.

I got this from Netgalley. I’ve always meant to read one of Setterfield’s books but never quite got round to it. I’m glad I finally did. This was thoroughly absorbing story telling. Lots of twists and turns. Great characters and kept me hooked to the end.

This book surprised me. I always enjoyed Gill’s journalism but it was usually rather cynical, played for laughs, or furious. This is melancholy, lyrical and extremely thoughtful. Addiction hovers round every page but it is a lens through which we see other facets of his life. His writing about art is incredible and his reminiscences of his family extremely sensitive and touching.

I love David Sedaris. Someone reviewed this book describing him as America’s Alan Bennett and I can go with that. Astute, curious, funny and sometimes sad in the best way.

Meg Rosoff is such a surprising writer. I love the fact that I never know what to expect with her novels, except that they will be brilliant. This is the first book of hers that I’d class as for adults rather than teens and it’s excellent. Funny, sharp, clever and with lots of surreal twists.

I got sent an advance copy of this for review by Netgalley. How lucky I am. Almond is one of the best writers around. Powerful, lyrical prose makes this short volume about what it means to be at war, and peace, leap off the page. Beautifully illustrated, this is perfect.

I absolutely loved this. As a child, growing up in the seventies and eighties, All Creatures Great and Small was a staple of our family viewing. Decades later, reading this book made me realise what a huge impression those programmes made on me. As I read I am reminded vividly of how it was televised. Incredibly nostalgic. Funny and beautifully written

I haven’t read Vanity Fair in years so it’s difficult for me to remember which bits made the cut in this modern retelling. It’s sharp and funny and beautifully lampoons modern society and its obsession with celebrity culture. I thought it was very clever

I absolutely loved this. Brilliantly twisty. Gripping and clever. I wish Atkinson would write about the war forever

I got this as a review copy from Netgalley. I first read this book as a child, over 35 years ago. I loved it then and returned to it time and again. I was curious to see how it had fared in the intervening years. I have to say my love for it has dimmed somewhat. The style is a little more pedestrian, the characters snobbery and priggishness is tough to read at times but it still has charm

I got this through Netgalley. I started it last night, finished it this morning. I couldn’t put it down. Perfect holiday read. Loved everything about it.