2019 books, #31-35

Why we sleep, by Matthew Walker. Kindle edition.

This was a fascinating book; and also a somewhat depressing one. Walker is a sleep scientist, and also the voice of doom for those of us who struggle to get enough sleep, or work at times which are contrary to our natural circadian rhythms. He outlines the physical and mental health benefits of sleep, talks about the ways some creatures sleep (in the sea, on the wing, perched in branches), the different types of sleep and why each is important, and talks about a wide variety of studies.  I found the tone quite smug in places, and I'm not sure I'd have finished it if it hadn't been a book group book; but in the end I did find it definitely worth reading.

White bones, by Graham Masterton. Kindle edition.

I don't tend to review books I haven't finished, but am making an exception for this one.  It looks like an interesting set-up - Irish, female, senior police officer with corrupt businessman husband investigates a number of skeletons with ritual elements found buried at a local farm - but the extreme torture and violence in this one meant I couldn't read it. I am not a squeamish reader, as people who've been reading these reviews over the years will appreciate, but this seemed to slip over into violence-porn and I felt very uncomfortable reading it. These books come up in the £0.99 Kindle deals quite often; personally, I'll be avoiding them.

Good omens: the nice and accurate prophecies of Agnes Nutter, witch, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman [audiobook]. Read by Martin Jarvis. Audible edition.

In anticipation of the TV/Prime series starting on Friday, and of going to the Southbank Centre to see Neil Gaiman (and David Tennant! and Michael Sheen!) on May 29, I had another listen to this lovely reading of the book.  Jarvis, as the reader of the William stories, is perfect for this. For anyone who hasn't read this yet, please do. It's Just William meets the apocalypse; very funny, very British. Really looking forward to the series.

A rare book of cunning devices, by Ben Aaronovitch [audiobook]. Read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. Audible edition.

A Peter Grant (Rivers of London series) short story, set in the British Library; if both of those things make you happy, you'll love this.  It's only half an hour of audio, but it's a lovely little listen.

Pieces of her, by Karin Slaughter. Kindle edition.

Andy came home after various failed false starts in New York, to look after her mother during breast cancer treatment; three years later she's still here, at the age of 31, working as a police dispatcher. After a shocking violent incident at a diner, in which her mother (apparently calmly and professionally) kills a man shooting at them, and another at their home, Andy finds herself on the run. Not only does she not have a clue what's happening, but she's also really not sure any more who her mother is, or was, or whether anyone can be trusted.  This is tremendous. Miss-your-stop-on-the-Tube tremendous.