The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom

About the book: Israel Armstrong is a passionate soul, lured to Ireland by the promise of an exciting new career. Alas, the job that awaits him is not quite what he has in mind. Still, Israel is not one to dwell on disappointment, as he prepares to drive a mobile library around a small, damp Irish town. After all, the scenery is lovely, the people are charming–but where are the books? The rolling library’s 15,000 volumes have mysteriously gone missing, and it’s up to Israel to discover who would steal them…and why. And perhaps, after that, he will tackle other bizarre and perplexing local mysteries–like, where does one go to find a proper cappuccino and a decent newspaper? 

One thing is certain, I love books but I wouldn’t want to be Israel Armstrong, not when it seems that everyone and everything is set to show you that you do not belong- and worst of all fifteen thousand books are missing and no one wants to say what they know about it.

There is something about Israel, that he comes off as passive-as a pushover, and I could not empathize with him or find myself rooting for him.
His encounters with the locals was fun to read. I cringed at some and cherished a few towards the end, but all in all, this was a much needed break from a busy morning work schedule.

“It’s definitely easier said than done, finding fifteen thousand missing library books, by yourself, in a place you don’t know, among people you don’t trust and who don’t trust you, and in clothes that are not your own…”

Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson

This is the first book I’ve read written by Mr. Azumah Nelson and I apologize in advance for the structure of my review. I’ll go with what moved me in reading this book and shy away from the grammar, tone and style of writing which all but left me feeling nostalgic and reminded of the dreams that die when you are far from home, in a land that’s not your own, trying to see another sunrise and hoping you get to enjoy a couple of sunsets.

Stephen loves, lives and breathes music and his family and friends know this, and when he gets to join the university and go for Business, somewhere along the lines of playing it safe, he finds himself going back to his first love which is music and from there- it’s a collective downpour, a shattering of ambition, control, expectations from everywhere.
Even though, he’s born in London to Ghanian immigrant parents, the culture, customs of his parents and their expectations surround him. From the very beginning, the brothers-Ray and Stephen, have a strained relationship with their Father, and throughout the book this strain and how it unravels when Stephen decides to stand firm in his choices, their connection was memorable.

I enjoy listening to music and while reading this book I was taken by how even the writing weaves notes and beats into the way the characters interact.

I wanted to read this book and got to do so courtesy of an approval from the Publisher and Netgalley and would recommend it to a specific reader who knows what it feels like to burn so bright that the light almost consumes you.

This book will be published on 18 July 2023.

2023 Reading Goals and all the stuff that may never happen

It’s the first day of the year 2023 and instead of stuffing my face with food and indulging friends and family, I find myself sitting here thinking of all the things I intend to achieve and all the books I would love to read.

So, here’s my outlook and wish for this year:

1. To read more books off my Netgalley Shelf. I am loving Netgalley more and more especially the books on literary fiction and non-fiction and I hope to explore more of those this year.
2. I read 75 of 34 books for my Goodreads Challenge last year. I chose 34 books as my target because I turned 34 last year and this year, I am looking to read more, though as I type this I haven’t settled on just how many.
3. I intend to write and publish one book this year.

Here’s the backlog of books awaiting my undying attention on Netgalley.