Rated The Eighth of March 3: Strange Chemistry 8/10
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Rated The Cutting Room 8/10
<div>A really solid Glasgow mystery that isn't cop-centric, though the subject matter is definitely not for the squeamish. Since this is from 2003, there are some terms regarding trans people that do not hold up 20 years later, and we definitely didn't need an epigraph for every chapter, but otherwise I liked this.</div>
Rated Doctor Who: The Crawling Terror 8/10
(More of a 3.5, but...) This was stronger than the previous Twelfth Doctor novels I read, mostly because I think Mike Tucker had actually viewed some of the new episodes before writing it. While the voice/attitude of the Doctor was not <i>quite</i> right, it felt a lot closer than the previous novel-efforts. Fuller review forthcoming.
Rated The Davros Mission 8/10
All of these Davros stories were really solid. Glad I gave them a listen.
Rated The Detour 8/10
What an impressive, thought-provoking novel this is. Set in 1938 Germany and Italy, <i>The Detour</i> presents a man who must weigh his love against his duty, all while existing in the broader picture of pre-WWII. We know what is ahead, and this purgatorial state stirs up all sorts of questions about idealism, loss, connection, art, and the perils of authoritarian states. I hadn't heard of any Andromeda Romano-Lax's work before receiving this book, so this was a fantastic surprise.<br><br>My full review can be found on <a href="http://glorifiedloveletters.blogspot.com/2012/01/detour-by-andromeda-romano-lax.html">Glorified Love Letters</a>.
Rated The Eighth of March, Vol. 1 8/10
I was a little less into the Paternoster Gang story compared to the other three stories (though it had many good moments!), but overall, I'm really glad to have listened to this. There are a lot of great women in the Doctor Who/Big Finish universe, and it's great to have a whole release where some of them get to do their own thing and have it all be written by women.
Rated Doctor Who: The First Doctor Adventures, Volume 1 9/10
<div> I didn't know these new* First Doctor audios were so good, but I finally listened and really loved it. David Bradley is a great First Doctor, which I knew, but these two stories are also really solid, even though one is a straight up historical, which aren't always my favorite.<br><br><br>*2017 can still be new. Hush.</div>
Wants to read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Rated The Invisible Library 7/10
<div>Pleasantly surprised by this one, as it was suggested to me by someone I don't really know, but we are in the same Bluesky book group. It's fun. Sort of reminds me of a Doctor Who audio adventure I heard once (which now I can't remember the title, sorry. Vibe-based memory), but is an interesting premise in its own right. I'll probably read the next in the series. </div>
Wants to read The Journals of John Cheever
Rated The Literature Book 8/10
A nearly well rounded look at the history of literature. Coverage of Australia is a little light, and Africa is hardly mentioned until 3/4ths into the book, but this is definitely not only focused on Western lit. Good reference book, or good for those of us who are under read in the classics.<br><br>Could have used some talk about David Mitchell though.
Rated The Manhattan Projects Volume 2 TP by Jonathan Hickman (2-May-2013) Paperback 8/10
Fucked up, but interesting.