The English Bookshop in Lausanne
Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopia I’d been hearing about Octavia Butler for awhile, not least because a few years back there was a university course where students were coming into the bookshop to order her book Dawn, the first in her Xenogenesis series. Octavia E. Butler was one of the first female African-American science-fiction writers, and her work is highly acclaimed. Her work has received the Hugo and Nebula a...
This is a book that I read several months ago, and as it’s just come out in paperback, I figured it was time to get around to writing a review of it, as it has stuck with me. An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim is listed as a romance, and it is, sort of. I initially picked it up because of the time travel and deadly virus, however as the author says, it is really more about migration and displacement, and she is using time travel as an an...
Genres: Urban Fantasy Alright booklovers, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted what I’ve been reading, and it’s because I’ve gotten stuck into several different series! As mentioned in my last post, I’ve been reading Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series (Napoleonic wars fought with dragons) – and after finishing book 8 (which ended on a cliffhanger), I discovered that I had somehow neglected to order book 9, the final book! ...
… and a sale! <<< You may have heard rumours about a new space for second-hand books in the bookshop, and I’m happy to announce that as of today it is open! As part of our great reorganising, we have two bookcases full of select second-hand books that are on sale 3 for CHF 5. >>> In honour of our new space, we’re also extending the 3 for CHF 5 sale to all smaller A-format second...
We will be back open as usual from 9am Monday....
If Poldark gave you a yen to explore the Cornish coastline, your next read must be The Salt Path by Raynor Winn. A Sunday Times bestseller, shortlisted in 2018 for the Costa biography book award and the Wainright Golden Beer Book Prize, this account of Ray and Moth Winn’s 630-mile hike from Minhead to Poole along the South West Coast Path will make you dig out your walking shoes. The venture begins with sadness as, in the space of a w...
Genres: Fantasy, Alternate History If you’ve asked me for fantasy recommendations at the bookshop before, odds are I’ve suggested Uprooted by Naomi Novik at some point, as it is an excellent stand-alone fantasy novel. Her new book, Spinning Silver, is in the same vein as this one. Synopsis: Will dark magic claim their home? Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s too kind-hearted to co...
Genres: Non-Fiction – Memoir, Popular Science Well booklovers, you may recall that last year I decided to try and read more non-fiction, and it went… not great. I’m doing better this year, as I’ve already read multiple non-fiction books. The standout for me so far has been Educated, by Tara Westover – the day I started it, it kept me up reading late into the night until I finished it! I had been hearing about it...
Genres: Fiction/Mythology I finally got around to reading Circe by Madeline Miller the other week, and I couldn’t put it down. I blew through it in a day or two. It’s beautifully written, with vivid, poetic language – which I don’t always like in books, however it worked so well in this one. It tells the story of the mythological witch Circe, from her own perspective. Synopsis: In the house of Helios, god o...
Genres: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Children’s Okay booklovers, I’m a bit behind on this one, seeing as how we’re at the beginning of February! In my defence, it’s been quite busy at the bookshop, as a new semester starts and students come back for their next literature reads! I got a lot of reading done over the Christmas holidays, and one of the highlights for me was Red Sister by Mark Lawrence – I was hooked from the fi...
