A few months ago I plunged into Ink, the first in a soon-to-be trilogy by Alice Broadway. As soon as I finished it, I downloaded Spark to my kindle because THE ENDING. I needed to find out what happened asap.
Monday 28 January 2019
Sunday 27 January 2019
Review of 'The One We Fell in Love With' by Paige Toon
I've said it before, but I'll say it again now, chick lit is my guilty pleasure. It was something that I gave up reading entirely when I was studying English at uni because wow the judgement would have been extreme, but as soon as I finished my degree it's all I read for months.
Now it's something that I love to dip in and out of. There's something so comforting about the format of it, where you know things will (99% of the time) end up right in the end, and sometimes I really need that rose-tinted look into the world.
The One we fell in love with is Angus, the classic boy-next-door who moves in to the house next to three identical 17-year-old triplets. Who are stereotypically beautiful: slim, blonde haired, and green-eyed. What a day for him!
However, although the triplets may look the same, they're all so very different, and problems really start for their hormone-filled teen years when all three of them fall in love with him. The book starts when Phoebe (the most conventionally attractive of the three, personality-wise) is about to get married to Angus. She saw him first, and that was that.
The book explores how loving the same person changes the relationships between the sisters, and what happens when the adult sisters find each others' diaries ...
I really didn't like the whole premise of the book if I'm honest, and I think it feels fairly clear to the reader that the author is churning out a book every year. The idea that three sisters with very different personalities could all fall in love with the same guy just completely turned me off from the book because 1.) would that really ever happen? and 2.) you wouldn't just allow the first one he met to have 'dibs' on him. The whole book is based around this idea that Angus met Phoebe first and ended up with her (when they weren't the best match) and not one of the other two because of that, and I just? Is that really how things happen? Did no one step in to tell him he had the wrong girl?
I will say that the writing was good and the novel got better as it went along, and there were some parts I genuinely enjoyed. It was also a nice quick read, so it's not something I regret reading, and I'll be trying another one of the author's books to see if this just had a bit of a strange premise, as it's what really put me off!
Monday 21 January 2019
Review of 'Everything I Never Told You'
Do you ever read a book that makes you think you'll want to come back to it later in life? I think that's kind of what good literature is about. Everything I Never Told You makes me feel like this. It's something that if I revisited in five years, or ten years, or as a mother, or just after losing someone dear me to, I'd read in a whole new light.
Everything I Never Told You tells the tragic tale of Lydia Lee, a Chinese-American teen living in 1970s Ohio. That is, until she turns up dead in the lake near the house. The police are leaning to ruling it as a suicide, but being an A grade student with a healthy home life and a group of friends around her, Lydia's parents quite can't believe this.
As the book progresses, the story is told from all five members of the household: Lydia's parents, Marilyn and James, her brother Nate, younger sister and Lydia herself. We begin to see that maybe Lydia's life isn't as perfect as first thought, but no one in the family thinks that she'd end her life. Even Nate, who knows all about their troubled childhood (he lived it after all), the lies she's been telling about having friends, and her hanging out with the troublesome boy living down the road, doesn't believe it.
The book shines a harsh light on racism, exploring how it can be internalised and passed down from parent to child. It discusses mental health issues in teens, and how they can be concealed even from those closest to you. These topics are SO important, especially as I don't find myself coming across them in adult fiction as much as I do with YA. I'd recommend this to anyone as it's an incredible piece of general adult fiction with strong writing, and an even stronger message. This does come with a trigger warning that there is discussion of suicide.
Sunday 20 January 2019
Review of "Apple Tree Yard" by Louise Doughty
I went through a tough spate of reading not-so-great books in Autumn, and upsettingly this falls into that bracket. I'd not come across Apple Tree Yard before it was next in line for my book club read, and I had to pick it up. There's a BBC series on it that I'm pretty sure I won't watch, *but* I have heard good things about.
Apple Tree Yard is a hybrid between a crime fiction novel and general adult fiction. Yvonne Carmichael, our protagonist, has a love-filled but uneventful marriage. Her kids are grown up and she's never quite reached the peaks that she imagines in her career as a scientific researcher. Everything plods along until she meets a stranger, and begins an affair with him. Yvonne doesn't know who he is: she doesn't even know his name, but she suspects that he may be covert for a secret (government agency) reason.
As the novel progresses, Yvonne's life is split in two: her peaceful home life, and the one she's really interested in. When her two worlds collide in a tragic way at a party for scientific researchers, Yvonne's life becomes harder and harder to control. All along, we know that the present Yvonne is on trial in the docks, but the author keeps you guessing right up until the end to show you what for.
This novel comes with a big trigger warning for rape/sexual assault. The scene that contains it is very graphic, and the aftermath of the character deciding whether or not to report the rape can also be triggering.
The novel started off, and continued, very slowly. I'm not sure if it was a lot shorter originally, and had been padded out as the author made edits, but it really did drag in my opinion. However, all the layers of description and backstory probably made it a pretty good choice for a TV series.
The rape and aftermath were probably the strongest part of the book. It really looked into why someone might not report a rape, what kind of things you might bring into question surrounding it, and how hard it is to recover from sexual assault. Although it would have been less upsetting if the scene had been described less viscerally, it does highlight how horrifying it can be, and strips away the suggestion that it's always a woman's fault.
I really wanted to enjoy this, and there were parts that made it an interesting book. I'll be giving it 3 stars because it was thought-provoking, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it.
Saturday 19 January 2019
Review of 'Complete Ghost Stories' by Charles Dickens
I'm a big Dickens fan - there's something about his work that just soothes me. I'm not sure if it's sinking back into another era, or the masses of adjectives, or the fact that once I start one of his books I'm in it for the long haul. Maybe a combination of all of these reasons. Back around Halloween (yep, still super behind on these reviews), I plunged into this to see what Dickens' ghost stories were like, especially A Christmas Carol.
I won't lie, I was left a little disappointed. Although the content was fab because duh Dickens, the way it was put together was less so. I expected to be reading a collection of standalone short stories, but maybe the word 'complete' should have warned me: about two thirds of the collection were extracts from full on novels. Which made for some very confused reading. I think it's hard enough to keep up with the vast numbers of characters he includes in his writing, but then taking little chunks out of the book made it just impossible to keep up with because you were bombarded with them in such a short space of time. It just really didn't work for me.
However, this is something that would be useful if you're looking into Victorian ghost stories and monsters. It's something that I'd personally love to learn more about (I so want to read some penny dreadfuls), but I'd be happy to not have them all crammed into a volume like this.
The one real saving grace was A Christmas Carol. The Muppet's version is one of my favourite Christmas films, and it was great to see how they'd stayed so close to the book and completely strayed from it in other parts. And the biggest shocker? There's only one Marley! If you don't know the tale of A Christmas Carol, it tells us of a grumpy old man called Ebenezer Scrooge who hates Christmas, until four ghosts visit him in the night determined to change his mind.
I honestly couldn't give this anything above 2 stars, and I just wish I'd read A Christmas Carol as a standalone book!
Wednesday 16 January 2019
Review of 'The Trial' by Franz Kafka
Kafka is an author I really struggle with, but I think that's part of the aura of his works (right?). I first came across his work when I had to read The Metamorphosis in my first year at uni. It was nightmarish and pretty horrifying, BUT, has stuck in my mind so well that I can still imagine a cockroach-esque man chilling (fretting) in his bedroom.
The Trial wasn't any more comforting, or easy to get through. But, it was a true modernist novel, and it was something that I imagine could have been written today, or any other time in history. The fact that it almost sat outside of my own concept of time made it simultaneously excellent and even more confusing.
The Trial commences with Josef K. being arrested on his thirtieth birthday, despite having done nothing wrong. The book then follows his case both in and outside of the courthouse, exploring how the justice system works (or doesn't). As the book goes on and Josef panics more, it gets more convoluted until we are in a nightmarish state of reality, trapped in maze-like buildings and plot lines that trail off into oblivion. The prosecutor for the case is inaccessible both to the reader and Josef, creating an omniscient power that can't be touched.
Although I found it tough to get through, I am glad I read this. I've been making my (slow) way through a number of European classic novels over the past few months, and it's interesting to see how things progressed to a place where Kafka can write something like this. He absolutely nailed writing as though you're in a nightmare: you know the ones where you're in a building you open a door and wow all of a sudden you're walking into a meadow where a living room should have been? Those kind of twisted, vivid dreams are kind of what the book feels most like for me.
Looking back over the book, one thing that really stands out is that this could describe a modern trial, where the prosecutor has almost become an overpowering and invisible figure through the media. Big trials invade every aspect of the defendant's life, and every single act is scrutinised by hundreds of people before the defendant is anywhere near a court.
If you've read and enjoyed any of Kafka's short stories, or any of James Joyce's works, then I would definitely recommend reading this as a foundational work.
Monday 7 January 2019
Review of 'Shiver' by Maggie Stiefvater
It's no secret that I love YA fiction, and fantasy makes up such a decent amount of the YA fiction I love to read. I saw a few tweets the other day about how YA shouldn't be classed as a genre in itself because it's so diverse, and I really think that's right: there's such a wealth of great young adult fiction out there, and it ought to be respected.
Anyway, I bought Shiver because the cover was beautiful and it reminded me of a book I'd read as a teen with a similar cover. I'm a sucker for good cover marketing, especially now that I work in publishing and know how much effort and thought can go in to them.
Grace lives in a small American town, which is pretty normal if you ignore the wolves skirting around the edges of it hidden in the forest. When Grace was a child she was dragged into the forest by a pack of wolves and almost killed, but rather than fearing them, she feels a deep affinity to one wolf in particular who saved her.
Each year she spends her time looking out for 'her' wolf, and spies him watching her back from between the trees. Grace is fully obsessed with the wolves, and she'd do anything to (safely) reach out to them. But when a boy is attacked, and another one goes missing, Grace is forced to face the fact that there might be something more sinister than she ever thought going on with the pack ...
This is the first in a trilogy that I'm determined to make my way through. Although the writing was a little simplistic, I really enjoyed the plot of the book, and I want to see where it goes next. This was such a great read for October when things are getting a little spooky, and I might save the next one in the set until that time this year to fully embrace the season!
This is a great YA read for those interested in fantasy and people that enjoyed the Twilight series.
Review of 'A River in Darkness' by Masaji Ishikawa
It's rare that I'd suggest that everyone needs to read a particular book, but I'm doing it with this one, because it is just SO important.
In 2018 I made my reading much more diverse, not only in terms of genre and the age of the book, but also in terms of authors from diverse backgrounds (working class/female/LGBT/non-English nationalities and races, as well as your 'typical' cis-white male author). It's something that I feel very passionately about (you need to put your money where your mouth is to encourage diverse publishing), and that I'm hoping to expand upon in 2019.
A River in Darkness is so important because the author completely put his life at risk by publishing the book, which is his tale of escape from North Korea. Masaji Ishikawa was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Korean father. Growing up in the last 1940s and early 1950s, Ishikawa and his family (his three sisters and parents) were treated as lower class citizens because of their dual race. With an unhappy home life, Masaji's father believes the propaganda being spread by Kim Il-Sun (the leader of North Korea at that time), that returning to (North) Korea would mark a return to paradise.
Having been promised that they will be treated as a higher class of citizen, the family are shocked when they arrive to a muddy, old-fashioned village. Ishikawa's mother is treated as the lowest citizen, and is not allowed to speak Japanese. His father is forced to become a manual labourer, and Ishikawa is bullied at school for his race. Forced to learn Korean rapidly, the family struggle to fit in.
The story goes on to talk of Ishikawa's hardships that lead well into his adulthood in North Korea, and of the extreme state that the country was in at the time. Ultimately he successfully escapes, risking everything in a time of desperation. The book is a cry for help to change the state of the country, and for Masaji to be reunited with his children, and I hope that one day he'll get his wish.
Sunday 6 January 2019
Review of 'Cranford' by Elizabeth Gaskell
I didn't realise we had another classic coming so soon, but I really went through a ~phase~ in September/October (and yes, I am still this behind on reviews even after cramming so many in over the past week or two!). Elizabeth Gaskell is an author I came across whilst studying at uni and I'm so glad I did because her books are incredible, and Cranford was no different.
Published in novel form in 1853, the book is set in the fictional village of Cranford. The twist is that it's a matriarchy, poking fun at all the elements of the restrictive patriarchy of Gaskell's contemporary world. The book was initially published in serial form, and it's clear as each chapter is almost a short story of its own within the context of the town.
Marriage is bemoaned, and any woman that wants to marry, or worse, gets married, is left out of the loop of social gatherings. The women of Cranford never want men, or more men, to live within the walls of the town, and feel genuine horror at the thought of a woman being 'lost' to marriage.
A satire in nature, the book is an incredible insight into what Victorian English society was like, and what some women thought of it. Victorian fiction is absolutely my favourite epoch (the Bronte sisters give me life) and I just loved every refreshing moment of this. If you're a fan of Victorian fiction, or want a humorous look into society at the time, then I'd definitely recommend this!
Friday 4 January 2019
Review of 'The Couple Next Door' by Shari Lapena
We're moving away from classics for the moment and on to one of the very few thrillers I read in 2018. I went through a big crime thriller phase a couple of years ago, but I feel as though that's ebbed off a little into the realm of an occasional thriller that never leads me to a full blown obsession. Perhaps 2019 will hold more, but I'm not so sure.
Anyway.
Anne and Marco head to their neighbour's house for dinner one evening. With their babysitter cancelling at the last moment, they have no choice but to leave their six month old daughter back in her crib next door, as their neighbours have made it very clear that it's an 'adults only' affair. The parents head back alternatively every half an hour to make sure Cora's still safely sleeping, and keep a baby monitor on them. But, when they head home just after midnight (with a pretty upset Anne due to the flirting between Marco and the woman next door), they notice the front door is ajar, and all of their worst nightmares come true: their baby is gone.
As the police bring in the cadavar dogs, no one is exempt from suspicion, and no one knows whether Cora is safe or not. With wealthy parents behind Anne, the couple put up a £3 million reward for the safe return of their daughter. The issue is, that either the baby-snatcher was a very lucky opportunist, or he's someone close to the couple who knew their whereabouts. Were the grandparents looking for an opportunity to finally show Anne that lower class Marco isn't to be trusted? Were the neighbours so angry about the new (loud) baby next door that they'd do something unforgiveable? Could Anne and Marco fake their grief and snatch her themselves?
I can 100% understand why this book was as hyped up as it is. I loved every minute of it. The whole premise reminded me a little of the Maddie McCann story, and it was interesting to see how everyone really does come under suspicion, and how invasive the media are.
The book had me suspecting all of the main characters at some point, and a lot of them more than once! The twists in it were epic, but so believable, and I came out of it trusting no one and utterly shocked. I've heard mixed reviews of The Stranger in the House, Lapena's second novel, but even if it's half as good it'll be worth reading!
Thursday 3 January 2019
Review of 'Hunger' by Knut Hamsen
If ever an author nailed the whole plot of a book in the first sentence, this is it: 'it was during the time I wandered about and starved'. Yes, this isn't the most exciting premise for a book, but the storytelling is incredible, and I can see why it's regarded as a must-read classic European novel. Hamsen is said to have inspired a whole collection of modern authors, including Kafka and James Joyce. Having read books by the three authors now, the influence is clear both in the style and writing of the novels.
Hunger follows the story of a writer living in extreme poverty. We follow him in his wanderings around the city as he becomes more and more starved, and increasingly unhinged. There are times of hope, when food or a potential job is found, but each instance of this is ruined either by circumstance or the writer's own self-destructive ways.
I won't lie, I didn't expect to be too enamoured with this. It looked dry, and sometimes I really struggle to get into classic European novels. However, the writing in this was so emotive and well done that I couldn't not enjoy it. As the book progressed and the protagonist grew more confused, it came across the page, and you almost felt your mind wandering with his.
The story was one that I do feel is so important, about the ravaging impact of poverty on both your mind and body. It explores the extreme state one gets into when one cannot afford to eat, as well as the vicious cycle of poverty (not having enough resources to secure opportunities around in a loop).
I would definitely recommend this to anyone studying modern literature, as a pre-cursor to this epoch, as well as those studying the European novel. It's also a fab read for anyone interested in a reading a pretty short classic that will grab you in.
Wednesday 2 January 2019
Review of 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell
Aaand here's the next classic in this little string of ones that I ended up reading all in a row. I'm pretty proud of getting my act together and posting my sixth review in short succession on my big catch up stream. What's Twixtmas for if not to get up to date on everything you've been ignoring for months?
Nineteen Eighty-Four has been on my to-read list since, well, when I started my English lit course and everyone was horrified I hadn't picked it up. 6 years on from then, I finally got around to it, and I'm so glad I didn't put it off any longer. I LOVED this book, and I can finally see why it's a must-read, so basically if you haven't picked it up yet, then go go go.
The story is told by Winston Smith, a citizen living in Britain, which is now part of Oceania, one of three major international powers (the other two being Eastasia and Eurasia). He doesn't remember a great deal of what came before the state of the world that he lives in, only that it wasn't always how it is now. Separated from his parents, Winston as an adult lives alone in a small apartment. He is woken up for work every morning by an oversized TV screen that watches his every move. Orders are barked at him through the screen, and he must always be diligent to avoid being seen as an opposition to Big Brother and the party.
Big Brother is a person that no one ever sees, but he controls every part of every day. Anyone might be a spy, so one can never speak out against the ruling party. Winston is (somewhat) lucky to not be a member of the proles - the poorer people cast out of the hub of the city and neglected - but he's curious to find out more about the memories he's lost.
You see, Winston's job is to be one of the many people who go back through old media records and update them in accordance to the party's current legislation. If they decide to be at war with Eurasia, then they must always have been at war with Eurasia, and Winston has to amend any newspaper clippings, pamphlets or books that suggest otherwise. This leads him to realise that no one's memory can be relied upon, and that there is no real historical 'truth' in their world.
Winston manages to keep his budding concerns at bay until he meets Julia. Together they start to question the party, and what's worse, outright defy it. Soon there's no going back for Winston, and everything he's ever held true comes under fire.
This book was so incredible, and yet so terrifying. It's a dystopia that's almost become true. Our electronic devices do listen in on us (have you ever spoken about something out loud only for it to pop up as an AD on Instagram??), and we are manipulated by the media to think what others want us to think. It speaks about the rhetoric we're faced with every day being pushed to the extreme, and it made me consider how scary it is that so many people tune into a show called Big Brother.
Everything about this book was powerful, and so thought-provoking. From the revolutionary 'manual' at the centre, to the writing style, to the absolute shocker of an ending, this is firmly one of my favourite books of the year and one that I know I'll re-read in the future to get even more out of it.
Tuesday 1 January 2019
Review of 'Madame Bovary' by Gustave Flaubert
I've got a little bunch of classics heading your way next - these all seemed to come together for me. As the days got shorter and nights got longer, I felt like delving into something a little more intense (we're caught up to September now - help!).
The debut novel of Gustave Flaubert, this book was first published in a novel form in 1857, after the author was acquitted from an obscenity trial it caused. Madame Bovary follows the story, at first, of Charles Bovary, a poor teenager who is ridiculed at school and goes on to be a doctor. He marries the man that his mother chooses for him, but falls in love with a local educated girl named Emma. When his wife passes away, he begins to court Emma in earnest, and they marry.
At this point, the narrative switches to focus on Emma, who is now Madame Bovary. Bored by Charles' dull appearance and habits, and finding motherhood not what she thought, she seeks an affair with a man named Rodolphe.
The book is a work of literary realism, telling the story of the passions of both man and woman, and the trouble these can create. Although I wouldn't go so far as to say it was an enjoyable read, it was a powerful book. The story-telling seemed almost beyond its time, and it is well worth reading if you want to engage more with classic European novels.
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