The BEAUTY IN BOOKS Tag!

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

This is the second time this weekend that I’ve heard about The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break! I think I must find this book. I so love Becky Chambers too. Bradbury’s opening is pretty incredible too. I think I, too, have had cathartic reactions to memoirs. Such interesting answers, Alex. Thank you for doing the tag!

[@alex_unabridged]

Thanks again for the tag, Pat - this one definitely made me think! Absolutely look for The Minotaur Takes A Cigarette Break - is a wonderful read, I don't think I've read anything else like it. Beautiful prose. I really hope you enjoy it if you grab yourself a copy ☺

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

@@alex_unabridged I will look for it, Alex. I just tagged you again today. But no pressure! 🥰

[@TheLinguistsLibrary]

I added Nights at the Circus and The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break to my wishlist, they both sound amazing. Thanks for taking the time to participate in the tag! xoxo

[@alex_unabridged]

Fabulous! I hope you enjoy them both 😀The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break is one that holds a special place for me because of the time in my life when I read it, and I'd be really interested in hearing what other folks make of it as it's not one that gets talked about much. Nights at the Circus is a genuine masterpiece in my eyes, I'm in awe of Carter's writing. Fantastic, thought-provoking tag - I loved doing it and have really enjoyed watching other folks' responses too. So thanks for coming up with it and getting us all thinking! 😊

[@mildrumpus]

Thanks for the tag! 😎📚👍

[@alex_unabridged]

You're welcome! Will look forward to seeing what you come up with for the prompts! 👍

[@RaynorReadsStuff]

Great responses to this. I’ve not read any of these I don’t think 😊

[@alex_unabridged]

Thanks, Debs ☺That's probably a first for me, to have found a whole bunch of books that you've not read - out of all of these I'd specifically recommend Nights At The Circus for you. I think you might really enjoy that 👍Carter's work is phenomenal all round, but that one is really something special in my opinion.

[@elliyo4286]

I loved hearing your answers to all these questions! You´re always so thoughtful. And the parts where you read out loud from the beginnings of books, such a treat ☺ To me, because I only finished it this month, ´The Women of Troy´ felt incomplete. I wish there was just a little bit more about how the characters life continued on. But we´ll see if the next book by the author will drop some small pieces of information. :)

[@alex_unabridged]

Thanks, Elli ☺Glad you enjoyed my reading! 'The Women of Troy' - do you mean the Pat Barker book? Fingers crossed you get some more bits of info on the characters in the next book to satisfy your curiosity about what happened to them!

[@elliyo4286]

@@alex_unabridged yes, exactly! :) thank you haha, especially with greek retellings there isn't a consensus about what happens to whom 😄

[@troytradup]

Look at you filling your prompts with science fiction and fantasy! Very cool. There's a newish minotaur novel out that I keep meaning to mention, although I don't think it's the same author. I will try to take a photo the next time I happen past it.

[@alex_unabridged]

I know, me talking about SF and Fantasy! Look how I've grown! 😂These sorts of tags are great for reminding me that I do actually read (and enjoy) a much wider range of genres than I think I do. Do you mean 'Once a Monster' by Robert Dinsdale? It's a magical retelling of the minotaur myth (apparently - I've not read it, but I have seen it when browsing bookshelves). The only other new minotaur-ish book I've come across is Dogs and Monsters by Mark Haddon, but that's a short story collection and so the minotaur is just one small part of it. Side note: when I was looking up the title of the Haddon book I spotted a listing for a new Josh Malerman horror novel, set on a farm and featuring a 'strangely malevolent pig' called Pearl. That's the title of the book too. Horror about an evil pig, you say? Sold. 🐖

[@troytradup]

@@alex_unabridged Once a Monster is indeed the one. Pretty cover here in the States. Edit: Just looked up Pearl. Looks like it came out here in 2022 with a very subdued cover. Wonder if they're rereleasing it with a bit more visual pizazz.

[@alex_unabridged]

@@troytradup Yeah, Once A Monster has a pretty cover here too. Pearl is listed as an Aug '24 release over here, though that's just for the paperback. Looks like the hardback came out in 2021. The hardback is definitely subdued, but can't say the new cover has a huge amount of pizazz. Less minimalist for sure, but still nothing special.