Book Reviews January-March 2023

Rebecca- Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the Gothic setting of Mandalay, sweeping countryside and tumultuous sea.
This is more suspense than horror. I never felt the scare-factor of a ghost or threat from Mrs Danvers. The haunting is more a sense of oppression and mystery which was tenable.
I stayed up until 1am on a work night as I couldn’t put this down.
The nameless main character can be rather a damp squib while Rebecca was a more modern forthright woman. However, I empathised with her and Maxim. Not sure what it says about me, but Rebecca came across as a sociopath.
The end was haunting.

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Firefly: The Ghost Machine-James Lovegrove

The Ghost Machine by James Lovegrove
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fun space cowboy adventure.
Though this story gets very dark and traumatic at times as we witness Mal and the crew at their best and worst.
Good to see another side to River who is hero here.
This series really capture the feeling/ essence of the tv shows.

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Poking Holes-Juan Valencia

Poking Holes by Juan Valencia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This collection on short stories is clever, sick and sensual (in a feeling the cold clammy hand of a month-dead corpse caress your skin type of way).

I felt simultaneously seduced by the delectable prose and violated at the level of depravity within the pages of this book.

While the gore is not explicit the themes are extremely transgressive in nature. If you have to consider any trigger warnings this isn’t for you!



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I’ve since picked up the illustrated edition of Poking Holes. The artwork is as beautiful and traumatising as the writing within.

I’d bet Juan is on some government list for his google research for this.

I recommend checking out his Youtube channel Plagued by Visions for insightful book reviews and discussion.

The Unlikely Thru-hiker-Derick Lugo

The Unlikely Thru-Hiker: An Appalachian Trail Journey by Derick Lugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This walk in the woods with Mr Fab was like coming along on the trail with him.
Short chapters made this an easy page-turner. I had planned to read along with the author’s Instagram group read, but had already finished it.
His accounts of shower and toilet visit fails made me cringe and laugh, giving me secondhand embarrassment.
There are lots of practical tips for through-hiking.
There are fun, scary and poignant moments as Derick gets to grips with life on the trail, dealing with nature’s foibles, encounters with wildlife , and meeting some fascinating people along the way.

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Walking the Invisible- Michael Stewart

Walking the Invisible by Michael Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An enjoyable walk in the Yorkshire moors, capturing the intriguing, rough around the edges places and people as we explore the history, works and myths of the Brontes and their home.
I loved that the author bought his dog along, and made quite a few visits to pubs too.
This is as much travel log as a guide book to the Brontes. A social commentary on both past and present. The author explores that contrasts and similarities between the Yorkshire of today and that of Bronte’s era.
Both a practical guidebook for today and an enchanting look into the past.

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Watching the show sparked my memory of loving this series. I’m glad I picked up the couple of volumes from my local library.

The Sandman Vol.3-Neil Gaiman

The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love the dark and mystical artwork of Sandman.
The stories are surreal yet pointedly hold essential truths of life and death.
A languorous trip into other worlds.
Each volume and each story stand alone, yet weave to tell a whole tale.
I do love brooding sometimes-sulking Morpheus.

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The Sandman Vol.4- Neil Gaiman

The Sandman Vol. 4: Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another delirious and dark journey into Dream’s realm, and Death here is often to be welcomed.
Sometimes real to life and sometimes surreal. This graphic novel series is rather like dreaming.

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