A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil by Christopher Brookmyre

A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil
Christopher Brookmyre


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A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil tells the story of a double murder. The main suspect 'Noodsy' begs Martin to come back from his life in London to try to prove his innocence. Martin bumps into people he hasn't seen in years. Cue flashbacks from when they were children, thoughout their school years. But who was murdered, and why?

Christopher Brookmyre is a funny author, who writes about unfunny things; like murder. But despite the harsh topic, his characters are genuine and provide many laughs throughout the novel. You get to grow up with Martin in a rubbish Glasgow area in rubbish Glasgow schools.

But can he prove Noodsy's innocence. Is Noodsy innocent? You'll have to read to find out!


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The Wee Librocubicularist

A Respectable Trade by Philippa Gregory

A Respectable Trade
Philippa Gregory 


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A Respectable Trade tells the story of Mehuru, a man captured and brought to England to be a slave. He is bought by a business man whose wife is to take on the responsibility of teaching them English and how to behave, in order to make them 'fit for purchase' by the wealthy. The family he lives with begin to go through some financial difficulty. Behind it all there is some forbidden love as Mehuru and Frances slowly fall in love with each other.


I found the story quite predictable, and figured out more or less what was going to happen within the first 40 pages. Nevertheless it's an amazing story and very enjoyable.

I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Mehuru and Frances developing. It was a forbidden love because Frances is a white woman, and Mehuru a black slave. In a world full of prejudice it's nice to see two people who don't care about that, but still care for one another deeply.

I'd never read anything by Philippa Gregory before, and I'm certainly not disappointed by this novel.  I have a few other novels so I'm looking forward to reading them.



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The Wee Librocubicularist

Discworld 13: Small Gods by Terry Pratchett

Discworld 13: Small Gods
Terry Pratchett


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God Om finds himself on the Discworld trapped in the body of a tortoise, rather than a great horned beast most know him as. The 'Chosen One' Brutha, a gardener, is the only person who can hear him. It's now up to Brutha to listen to the Great God Om, find out what he wants and help him.


This wasn't a particular favourite of mine, probably because it wasn't about a particular set of characters I like, namely the witches, Death or the wizards of Unseen University. While I still found it an enjoyable read, the story didn't grip me quite like I'm used to with the other Discworld novels.

I'm not going to say it was a rubbish book, because it wasn't. It's just not Terry Pratchett's best.

 

 

 

Terry Pratchett

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Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist