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David Scrimshaw Locked account

DScrimshaw@bookwyrm.world

Joined 2 years ago

An avid sci-fi and fantasy reader who sometimes does historical fiction or even mainstream.

You might notice that most of my reviews are 5 stars. That's because if I start reading a book that doesn't engage me, I stop reading it. Life is too short. I've realized that it's not fair to review a book I haven't read and nobody really needs to hear why I didn't get into a book especially when they might like it.

My goals with reviews are to be brief and give other potential readers an idea of why they might like the book. I leave it to the marketing people and other reviewers to describe the plots.

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reviewed The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman (The Invisible Library, #1)

Genevieve Cogman: The Invisible Library (Paperback, 2016, Roc)

ONE THING ANY LIBRARY WILL TELL YOU: THE TRUST IS MUCH STRANGER THAN FICTION...

…

Review of 'The Invisible Library' on 'Storygraph'

A fun fantasy read. Not too deep or challenging. Could have used a talking rodent assistant, but when you have vampires, evil fairies, dragons, Zeppelins and genius detectives in your story, it's probably hard to work everything in. Although when it comes to talking rodents, it should be easy.

reviewed The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library, #1) by Genevieve Cogman

Genevieve Cogman: The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library, #1) (Paperback, 2015, imusti, Pan)

ONE THING ANY LIBRARY WILL TELL YOU: THE TRUST IS MUCH STRANGER THAN FICTION...

…

Review of 'The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library, #1)' on 'Storygraph'

A fun fantasy read. Not too deep or challenging. Could have used a talking rodent assistant, but when you have vampires, evil fairies, dragons, Zeppelins and genius detectives in your story, it's probably hard to work everything in. Although when it comes to talking rodents, it should be easy.

reviewed The delirium brief by Charles Stross (The Laundry)

Charles Stross: The delirium brief (2017, A Tom Doherty Associates Books)

Someone is dead set to air the spy agency's dirty laundry in The Delirium Brief …

Review of 'The delirium brief' on 'Storygraph'

I'm not usually into the Cthulu-type monsters, but I love this series and this is a satisfying volume. Except it does leave me wondering what Stross is going to do next and it could be years before we find out.

reviewed The Delirium Brief by Charles Stross

Charles Stross: The Delirium Brief (EBook, Tor.com)

435 pages ; 23 cm

Review of 'The Delirium Brief' on 'Storygraph'

I'm not usually into the Cthulu-type monsters, but I love this series and this is a satisfying volume. Except it does leave me wondering what Stross is going to do next and it could be years before we find out.

reviewed The Wreckage by Michael Crummey

Michael Crummey: The Wreckage (Anchor Canada)

Review of 'The Wreckage' on 'Storygraph'

This book made me stay up past my bedtime two nights in a row.

It also made me feel devastated for the things that happened to the people in it.

Mr. Crummey is an awfully good writer. And he also allows his characters to do awful things and have awful things happen to them.

I usually try to avoid that, but I plan to read more of his books.

reviewed Everybody's Fool by Richard Russo

Richard Russo: Everybody's Fool (2016)

Review of "Everybody's Fool" on 'Storygraph'

I enjoyed reading this even more than [b:Nobody's Fool|659388|Nobody's Fool|Richard Russo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1463435569s/659388.jpg|645468]. I was very happy to learn the continuing story of many of the characters. And surprised by who also became a major character in this book and how likable he was.

Also, I might have liked this book more because it has more wackiness in it.

reviewed Everybody's Fool by Richard Russo

No cover

Richard Russo: Everybody's Fool (2017, Allen & Unwin)

Review of "Everybody's Fool" on 'Storygraph'

I enjoyed reading this even more than [b:Nobody's Fool|659388|Nobody's Fool|Richard Russo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1463435569s/659388.jpg|645468]. I was very happy to learn the continuing story of many of the characters. And surprised by who also became a major character in this book and how likable he was.

Also, I might have liked this book more because it has more wackiness in it.

reviewed The Magician King (The Magicians, #2) by Lev Grossman

Lev Grossman: The Magician King (The Magicians, #2)

Return to Fillory in the riveting sequel to the New York Times bestseller and literary …

Review of 'The Magician King (The Magicians, #2)' on 'Storygraph'

I read this for a second time because I've been enjoying the TV series.

The surprising thing to me is that I had completely forgotten huge parts of the story.

There are major differences from the TV series. These differences, to me, make it worthwhile to partake in both.

And there is a talking sloth. So that's a plus.

reviewed Nobody's fool by Richard Russo

Richard Russo: Nobody's fool (1994, Vintage Books)

Review of "Nobody's fool" on 'Storygraph'

This kept me reading even though the closest thing to a talking cat is doberman that's had a stroke.

I've requested [b:Everybody's Fool|27068575|Everybody's Fool (Sully, #2)|Richard Russo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1449609035s/27068575.jpg|47106939] because I want to know more about what happens to these people.

reviewed Mooncop by Tom Gauld

Tom Gauld: Mooncop (2016)

Review of 'Mooncop' on 'Storygraph'

I'm not usually into illustrated novels or comics, but I'm glad I read this even though it is kind of sad.

I'm a big fan of Tom Gauld's cartoons and recommend his tumbler, You're all just jealous of my jetpack

reviewed The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny

Louise Penny: The Beautiful Mystery (2013)

Review of 'The Beautiful Mystery' on 'Storygraph'

Fairly early on, I reached a point where I just wanted Gamache and Beauvoir to get out of the monastery.

But they didn't get out until the book ended and [spoiler alert] it's not pretty even if the murderer was revealed.

reviewed Walkaway by Cory Doctorow

Cory Doctorow: Walkaway (2017, Tor Books)

Walkaway is a 2017 science fiction novel by Cory Doctorow, published by Head of Zeus …

Review of 'Walkaway' on 'Storygraph'

You need to read Cory Doctorow's books about the future if you want to understand what is going on today.

No talking rodents in this novel, but there are Zeppelins.

reviewed Walkaway by Cory Doctorow

No cover

Cory Doctorow: Walkaway (EBook, 2017, Tom Doherty Associates)

Review of 'Walkaway' on 'Storygraph'

You need to read Cory Doctorow's books about the future if you want to understand what is going on today.

No talking rodents in this novel, but there are Zeppelins.