Rosie’s book review team (#RBRT) has now been successfully running for just over ten years. During that time we have had quite a lot hundreds of books submitted to us for review. As this year comes to an end we’re looking back at some of the books from 2024 and beyond.
Today Frank talks about his reading year.
Most memorable book from the 2024 books submitted to #RBRT
Of the books obtained via Rosie’s service in 2024 there are several that stand out but The Architect of Grayland by Evelyn Arvey is the best of these. Here is a snippet from Frank’s review: ‘As someone interested in history, I often wonder what it would be like to transport a person from the middle ages and observe their reaction to a 21st century environment. It couldn’t happen, of course, because we don’t yet have the technology to carry it out. But just suppose that several centuries from now humanity does develop the technology and takes a small group of people from our time in order to observe their behaviour in an artificial environment, how might that pan out?
That is the basic premise of Ms Arvey’s novel.’
An author whose books you always agree to review from the #RBRT list
I always look forward to works by Emily Gallo and have reviewed several of her novels over the years.
3 authors that you were pleased to discover from your whole time as a #RBRT team member.
Having already mention Arvey and Gallo, another author I have reviewed more than once and am eager to do so again is Anne Goodwin. Her trilogy about a woman incarcerated in a mental institution for the crime of becoming pregnant whilst not yet married was surely the best series I’ve read in a long time. That alone has made being a member of #RBRT worthwhile.
A book from a genre that you don’t often read, but you tried it for #RBRT
Possible futures, is a genre I have not chosen to read since my youth, apart from the book already mentioned above (The Architect Of Grayland), I also enjoyed. The Means Of Keeping by Rich Marcello It is a profound exploration of grief, friendship, and the indelible impact of climate change on personal and global scales. Set in a near-future America.
How long have you been reviewing for #RBRT?
I took a quick peep into the past and discovered that I’ve been doing it for almost five years!
What do you enjoy about being part of #RBRT?
It’s a great way of getting to read a variety of books free of charge in return for an honest review. But one of the best things about reviewing for #RBRT is the opportunity to discover new talents and to offer encouragement to them through my reviews.
3 Authors that you hope to see submit a new book for review in 2025
I’ve already mentioned them all once, but I’d like to see more books from Gallo, Goodwin and Arvey.
Top books (5 or less) that you reviewed for #RBRT in 2024
There are a few more books from this year that deserve a mention. One Tuesday, Early by Annalisa Crawford (Mystery). Takes More Than Love by Jenna Winters (Memoir) and Reconstruction Quest by John F. Gerrard (Men’s mental health memoir).
Thank you Frank, it is always interesting to see which books are chosen each month for review.
