vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
Took an earlier screenshot of this than planned as I was just checking my new USB-C to USB-C cable works with my Kindle + OpenMTP for data transfer. So much more convenient to have direct USB-C to USB-C than the provided USB-C to USB-A cable then needing a USB-A to USB-C dongle to plug it into my USB-C Mac laptop port ...

vivdunstan: Photo of little me in a red mac at Hawick (hawick)
Advance reading something, and passed the words "high heid yin". One of my all time favourite Scots expressions, especially when used in the plural, that I still say regularly, including just a week ago when talking to Martin about something in our kitchen. I've also deployed it when asking an audience question 20+ years ago at a history research seminar at Dundee University, though I then felt the need to translate it for the visiting Welsh prof! For non-Scots friends it means someone in authority, a leader.

Checking back here I have mentioned this expression in a friends-locked post before, but it's well worth repeating!
vivdunstan: The 15th Doc swirling round on the dance floor in his kilt (ncuti gatwa)
Just finished my 50th book of 2025, Liz Duffy Adams's Born With Teeth, the two-hander play featuring Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. I wish I'd seen the current RSC production with Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel. But reading the play script was great fun.

It does help enormously knowing both actors from past TV productions. So I can visualise them really well performing the roles. And as a two-hander it's also more approachable as a play script to read than a play with a much larger cast. Very readable anyway, and I enjoyed it immensely.
vivdunstan: Sidney Paget drawing of Holmes and Watson in a railway carriage (sherlock holmes)
Continuing my reread, and another one I couldn't remember, which is particularly surprising given a strong Dundee element within it!

spoilers )
vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
Just finished this, which I was reading on my Kindle, but had also nabbed a signed copy from my local bookshop. I've previously read the author's books Babel (adored) and Yellowface (enjoyed), and was very much looking forward to this dark academia journey into the Underworld.

Katabasis follows two PhD students at Cambridge University who join forces to journey to Hell to bring back their supervisor. As such it draws on many past writings about journeys to the Underworld, and is chock full of nods to these, while still being accessible to the general reader.

The portrayal of the British PhD process, even for a fictional subject like Analytic Magick, felt somewhat off for me, which jarred. Kuang herself is pursuing a PhD at Yale University in America, and it felt often as though she was muddling the longer and different American PhD process with the shorter British one, as well as having a lack of detailed understanding of the British approach. She did study taught postgraduate degrees at Oxford and Cambridge, but that's not the same as undertaking a PhD there. I did, however, buy into the idea of a graduate degree as a potential hellscape! Even if my own two PhD experiences (Computer Science, St Andrews, full-time, had to drop out after my neurological disease struck; and History, Dundee, part-time, completed) were hardly anything like that. PhDs are also extremely dependent on how you luck out with your supervisor(s), and it's fair to say, without being too spoilery, that Alice and Peter didn't have the best luck in this area.

I think what impressed me the most about the book is how well it works given how tiny the core cast is. The focus is primarily on PhD students Alice and Peter, as they travel through Hell, and for it to sustain my interest with that remit is pretty impressive writing. There are some other especially interesting characters encountered along the way, but it's very much Alice and Peter's story. It did sag for me about half way to two thirds through, but picked up nearer the end. Much of the story is told through back stories which are gradually revealed, and it's very twisty and turny, as new information the reader learns upends previous perceptions.

As well as the journey through Hell itself, and the idea of academia and PhD study as a hellscape, there is literal horror in this book. Extremely gruesome in places. I found one section particularly disturbing, but there was a narrative reason for it. Ultimately I was satisfied with where the book ended up.

I haven't read all of Kuang's books, but I really like how varied those I have read have been. Admittedly there are a lot of personal autobiographical elements in them. For example in this one Alice felt reminiscent of Kuang, and Peter (not least a back story that's uncovered for him) of Kuang's own husband Bennett. But each story is very different in tone, genre and setting, and I really appreciate that flexibility in approach.

I'm very glad that I read this book, and look forward to her next novel.
vivdunstan: Portion of a 1687 testament of ancestor James Greenfield in East Lothian (history)
Looking at an academic textbook I bought so I could access it quickly. "Yup, this will be useful!" And grateful for its fairly extensive index, which is much more detailed and useful than the index for a related 1970s textbook Martin borrowed for me from the uni library (I have staff borrowing rights too, but he was on the spot!). Which pretty much just indexes names. As an academic I'm expected to read textbooks as needed. Unfortunately it's a huge problem with my progressive neurological disease and has been for 25+ years now, inc during my history taught MPhil and PhD. So I'm extremely grateful for anything that can help narrow it down. Including a good index!
vivdunstan: Sidney Paget drawing of Holmes and Watson in a railway carriage (sherlock holmes)
Onto another one, and this is one I couldn't remember at all, though I've read through the entire canon five or so times.

spoilers )
vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
Another bunch of books finished since my last post.

    earlier books )
  1. The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi
  2. The Fiddle in Scottish Culture: Aspects of the Tradition by Katherine Campbell
  3. Voices of Scottish Librarians: The Evolution of a Profession and its Response to Changing Times edited by Ian MacDougall
  4. Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor: Volume 1: Terrorformer (graphic novel)
  5. Some of Us Just Fall: On Nature and Not Getting Better by Polly Atkin
  6. The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found by Jordan Lees


Of the newly finished ones, The Lantern of Lost Memories was a novel idea, and explored a serious subject, but was rather unbalanced in its few main sections, and frustratingly left some key questions unanswered. It did feel reminiscent of, though not as good as, the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series of books. It certainly fits into that genre of Japanese fiction.

The fiddle history book was clearly a repackaged PhD thesis, and full of interesting content, but often lacking sufficient analysis, or otherwise unbalanced. Somewhat frustrating to be honest. Though not so much as how unobtainable the book is today, having been originally printed in a very limited print run, and going out of print rapidly. I was lucky to be able to borrow it from my local library in Angus, sent over from their Forfar store.

More successful for me was the collection of working memories from librarians working through twentieth and early twenty-first century Scotland. I was most interested in their accounts of their working lives, revealing changes in library practice over time, but there were many other pages to wade through of earlier childhood experiences. I cherry picked the most relevant portions for me.

The Doctor Who graphic novel was a Twelfth Doctor and Clara one. But very disappointing. Too much tell and not show, and hefty info dumps mid way through each story, about things I couldn't bring myself to care about. It was also plagued by repeatedly splitting into multiple POVs, with muddy artwork not differentiating them clearly enough.

Polly Atkin's book was good, and overall I rated it 4/5. But it felt overlong to me, and often padded with lengthy digressions, which made it hard for this chronically ill person to keep reading and following. Though it was very interesting to hear her story, not least as the sister of a friend.

The first Whisperwicks novel was a children's book, telling the story of a child drawn into a mysterious steampunk-like world of magic and quests, and much danger. Felt very Harry Potter like, but original in its approach. I could certainly see me reading the sequel.
vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
Here's the screenshot from my Kindle, showing the main books I will be reading on there this month, with utterly gargantuan font etc. Some are already under way. Others like Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu are lined up for my book club later. My main novel read at the moment is Katabasis by RF Kuang, a dark academia book about a journey into Hell to rescue an academic advisor. Am really enjoying it. Last night I started my annual pre-Halloween reread of Roger Zelazny's A Night in the Lonesome October, which is a gothic horror delight. And I am going to try to read just a chapter a day this time! Liza Picard's Restoration London is a reread. Though she wasn't a formally trained historian I am in awe of her approach to the historical sources and questions. The Complete Kobold Guide to Game Design was a birthday present from Martin. Just getting into it now. And I continue my reread of the original Sherlock Holmes short stories, now well into the Return collection.

Screenshot of a Kindle Paperwhite, black and white / greyscale colour, showing two rows of three books. On the top are "Katabasis" by R.F. Kuang, "A Night in the Lonesome October" by Roger Zelazny, and "Restoration London: Everyday Life in London 1660-1670" by Liza Picard. On the row below are "The Complete Kobold Guide to Game Design", "Carmilla" by Sheridan Le Fanu, and a "Complete Sherlock Holmes" collection.
vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
Looking forward to my annual October reread of A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny. A gothic delight. It's designed to be read a chapter a day throughout October, though I usually guzzle it up more quickly. May try to pace myself better this year. Here is a good article about it.
vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
Catching up with another Edinburgh Book Festival event I bought a digital ticket for. This time it's RF Kuang, talking about Katabasis, which I'm reading at the moment. Streaming tickets are still available to buy on a pay what you want basis.
vivdunstan: Sidney Paget drawing of Holmes and Watson in a railway carriage (sherlock holmes)
Continuing my reread, and onto this story, one of the most memorable ones for me, even if I have a tendency to muddle it up with "The Copper Beeches".

spoilers )
vivdunstan: (bernice summerfield)
Finally got to this major story, and going to discuss with full spoilers. So beware if you go in. spoilers )

vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
A bumper crop of more books finished in the last month. Helped again by some library books.

    earlier books )
  1. Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
  2. City of Vengeance (Cesare Aldo book 1) by D.V. Bishop
  3. Beside the Ocean of Time by George Mackay Brown
  4. Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook by Jill Thompson
  5. The Haunted Trail: Classic Tales of the Rambling Weird by Weird Walk
  6. Manga Classics Sherlock Holmes volume 1 A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle, Crystal S. Chan and Julien Choy
  7. Glenshee: Glen of the Fairies by Antony Mackenzie Smith
  8. Insomniacs After School volume 7 (manga) by Makoto Ojiro
  9. Forgotten Churches: Exploring England's Hidden Treasures by Luke Sherlock
  10. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab


Of the newly finished ones, I enjoyed Arthur Conan Doyle's Memoirs collection of Sherlock Holmes stories yet again. The David Bishop book was a Renaissance Italy thriller, the first in an ongoing series, and very enjoyable. The George Mackay Brown novel (Saltire award winning and Booker shortlisted) was still magical, on a reread. I found the Sandman Little Endless graphic novel on a book clearout/rummage, so read it again quickly before passing it on to charity. The rambling "Tales of the Weird" book was interesting, but not a great run of stories for me. Enjoyed the manga Sherlock Holmes. Still really enjoying the Insomniacs After School manga series. Loved the church history book, and enjoyed with provisos the V.E. Schwab vampire book, newly published in June. That last one was read for my book club. I wouldn't have got to it so quickly otherwise.
vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
Just finished my 40th book of 2025, with Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab. A vampire tale, told across many centuries. 4/5 stars for me - some concerns about pacing, balance of multiple POVs, and difficulties with some settings as depicted. But overall enjoyed it a lot.
vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
I read this book recently, borrowed from Monifieth Library. It was published earlier this year, and is a manga version of the first Sherlock Holmes story A Study in Scarlet.

Generally I enjoyed it. The art is clear and distinctive, and full colour, with the characters well delineated. It's a fair retelling of a story which isn't one of my favourite Sherlock stories by a long way, though I really like the opening portion where Holmes and Watson meet and then move in together. But in many respects I find this a rather muddled Conan Doyle story, and the manga version reflects that. It was a very good idea for BBC's Sherlock to rework things quite a bit. I was a bit surprised to see the Mormon section included in the manga, which is good for faithfulness even if I'd personally rather see it excised as the BBC did! But, yes, a good read, and well done in manga form. The paper stock is also high quality. The book is noted as "volume 1" in the Sherlock Holmes stories, so hopefully they have more stories in development.

vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
Just finishing the book Forgotten Churches: Exploring England's Hidden Treasures by Luke Sherlock. A quite magical book, a mix of architecture, travel and history. Also exploration of place. With evocative illustrations throughout from Ioana Pioaru. Thoroughly recommended.

I mainly read it on my Kindle for disability reasons, but also had the hardback book, which is better for appreciating the gorgeous illustrations. It's a quite compact hardback book, not too large, but just right. I was just tormenting Martin over tea with questions about "Do you know X?" re X places in Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset! But also had fun showing him some of the fantastic pictures I enjoyed in the later sections of the book. He's a lapsed bellringer, and in his younger days rang bells in many churches in southwest England.

vivdunstan: Sidney Paget drawing of Holmes and Watson in a railway carriage (sherlock holmes)
Continuing my reread, and this is one that I could remember well from the past.

spoilers )

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vivdunstan: Part of own photo taken in local university botanic gardens. Tree trunks rise atmospherically, throwing shadows from the sun on the ground. (Default)
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