Review of 'The Little Shop of Happy Ever After' by Jenny Colgan

I've been saving this book as the ultimate comfort read for a LONG time. It was given to me by my Auntie a few years ago with a little inscription saying the book made her think of me (honestly one of the loveliest things anyone can do?!), and I've been waiting for a good time to read it since then. Earlier this year I had an intense bout of the flu and this was a perfect sick bed read.

The book follows the story of Nina, a self-proclaimed bookworm and librarian who's soon to be out of a job. As a result of government cuts, her library's being axed, and Nina is forced to face an uncertain future. After saving a whole load of the books from the bin, Nina considers her life-long dream: to open a little book shop.

Nina sets off to Scotland to buy a van that's perfect for selling her books out of. But she has two problems: 1.) she's fallen head over heels for Scotland, and 2.) her home city of Birmingham won't let her sell books from the van there. Nina's forced to make the toughest decision of her life, and moves to Scotland to follow her dreams. But life in the highlands isn't too friendly for a single thirty-something who finds herself an outsider.

I absolutely blitzed through this - it was such a relaxing, easy to get through read. I've since tried to get my hands on all of Jenny Colgan's books because sometimes when life is tough we really need a read that isn't filled with massive peaks and troughs of tension. Having said that, it still was a page turner and there were some twists in the tale, but it read more like Enid Blyton for adults than some kind of nail-biting thriller. 

For a chick flick, the book doesn't focus entirely on romance either, which I love. Nina's friendships are a massive part of the book, overshadowing the romance, which I feel is more true of real life.

I'm giving this four stars - there were a few moments that didn't quite grip me, but I've already bought another of Colgan's books to read when I'm feeling down so it definitely wasn't all bad!

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Review of 'I am Malala' by Malala Yousafzai

I've always known Malala as 'the girl that got shot in the head by the taliban'; this book is all about delving beyond that and looking into Malala: the girl who fights for girls' education. It's so easy to get swept up by little titbit's about a person's character and label them as one thing, and I think it's so important for books, especially autobiographies like this one, to remind us that this is not the case.

This was actually my first read of the year, and something that I've been on the lookout for for a LONG time. I rarely (if ever) buy brand new books and reading this as part of my work book club group gave me the nudge I needed to depop myself a copy.

I am Malala starts off looking into Malala's life up to her attack. She describes what it was like to live in the absolute beauty spot that is Swat Valley (honestly - google pictures of this because wow the media has never shown me this side of Pakistan??). She describes the changes that were made as the Taliban took over this tourist destination, how they were helped by American forces (an absolute eye-opener) and how everything got a lot more dangerous.

Malala's father is a massive source of inspiration in her life. As someone with a lot of teaching experience, he founded his own school in their village. It was a co-ed, so taught both boys and girls. As the Taliban became more powerful and restricted the education rights of girls, this became more and more difficult for him. Malala and him attended conferences together on education where she began to speak out about why girls need to be educated as well as boys. Between this and her decision to not wear a hijab as she was instructed to, Malala became a target.

The book details her attack and recovery. On her way home from school one day Malala was shot in the head and underwent a whole lot of medical procedures to bring her back to the health she feels today. But, in order to receive the treatment, Malala was brought to the UK alone. A terrifying experience, it was still a tough adjustment when her parents came to join her. 

One of the most poignant and important aspects of the book in my opinion is this last part where Malala speaks about what it's like to live in the UK. Her life is in danger if she ever returns to Pakistan and so she doesn't have a choice about being here, and was flown whilst unable to make a decision about moving. She speaks out about how horrible it is to come to a new country that is utterly different to yours, and how heart-breaking she finds the idea of not being able to return to live in Swat Valley.

In the UK there's a whole wave of people that think refugees should be grateful that they're 'allowed' to live here, and that they're somehow less worthy if they miss home or admit that the UK isn't some paradise. I think so much work needs to be done to confront and tear down this narrative, and that Malala does this in a way that is easy to empathise with in her book.

The other thing that is very important to remember when reading this is that Malala was a child when she wrote this. We laud her up as a perfect Nobel peace prize winning symbol of bravery, but she was a child and some of her narrative reads like that. She speaks about how annoying her brother is and sometimes the text can seem a little juvenile. But, I do think it's important that this is the case, as it forces us as readers to remember that Malala is just a girl. An important and very brave girl, but still a girl.

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Review of 'The Tattooist of Auschwitz' by Heather Morris

The Tattooist of Auschwitz almost became a full on trend of reading earlier this year (not quite at Eleanor Oliphant levels, but it seemed to be everywhere I looked). I'm so glad I read this slightly before the hype because I had no expectations from the book, and I do really think it's better to go in to reading like that.

The book is based on a true story, one that Lale Sokolov told as an elderly man to the author. I have been informed by the Auschwitz society that the tale depicted in the book about what Auschwitz was like is not very accurate, but I don't think this detracts from the fact that it is still a beautiful story.

A Slovakian Jew, our protagonist Lale Sokolov, was imprisoned in Auschwitz-Birkenau in the Second World War. The struggles he faces almost lead to his death, until it's noticed that he can speak several languages. Instead of being confined to the pile of bodies Lale witnesses every day, he becomes the Tattoowierer; the man who must tattoo the men, women and children entering the camps.

The book tells the story of Lale's love for Gita, a woman he meets when tattooing her arm. Using his privileged position to secure extra food, money and even jewels, Lale is determined to keep Gita safe in the monstrous environment they are imprisoned in. Every day could be their last.

This was one of my favourite books I read right at the end of 2018 (I know, I'm upsettingly behind on reviews). It's the first adult novel I've read about the Second World War that really delves into the emotive side of the atrocities people faced rather than looking at stats and figures. In a world that seems to be more and more filled with hate by the day, I don't think we can stress enough the importance of a book that helps you to empathise with minorities. 

I can't think of another book that I've read about concentration camps that discusses life after them. As I've mentioned that this is Lale's story, there's not really a need for a spoiler alert that he survived the war. A fair chunk of the novel is him trying to find Gita again, and learning how to live a life outside of the camps. This kind of trauma isn't something I've considered enough, and I think it's so important that Morris included it.

I've given this 5 stars, and I'd recommend it to everyone interested in historical novels as well as general adult fiction.

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Review of 'A History of Loneliness' by John Boyne

I grew up in a strictly Catholic household, descended from an Irish grandfather who himself would have uttered the words in the picture above. My Catholic roots are something that I question time and time again - do I still believe in any of it? Do I miss the community? Am I going to hell for turning my back on (most of) the teachings I grew up with? 

The one thing I rarely question is the idea of abuse in the church. Since the wave of stories coming out in the news about abusive priests living under the Pope's watch, any mention of this religious background now comes with a disturbing and insensitive 'did you get touched by a priest?'. The answer is no, but that's not the case for everyone, and it honestly wounds me so much that this is the case.

I promise this lil life story is relevant to the book. 

A History of Loneliness is told by Father Odran, a priest living in Ireland in the wake of the big reveal that the Church had been concealing abusers. Odran himself is not an abusive man; he takes care of the library at a Catholic boys' school, and offers advice if the boys come to him. He keeps himself to himself and that's the way he likes it. Until the Dean moves him to a parish his old seminary training pal used to be at.

Odran is forced to question his own upbringing, and the abuse and trauma he faced as a child. He's forced to question whether he really had a calling at all, or whether the celibacy of priesthood was a way to keep himself safe. Most importantly, he's forced to question the integrity of the institution he believed in, and those with any power working within it.

John Boyne is an author that I love more and more every time I read one of his books. This is the third one I've got stuck into (after The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and The House of Special Purpose). Each one has made me cry. 

This book forced me to face some very uncomfortable truths. Growing up in a Catholic environment, the idea of sexual abuse from the institution wasn't something I ever really came across, and it's not something I've looked into in great detail. It hurt more than I expected to start to understand the manipulation and the evil within a place that is supposed to be wholly good. But sometimes we need to be forced to squirm and to understand things we don't want to listen to because it's easier not to. This was such an important read, and I would highly recommend it.

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Review of 'Harry Potter and the Cursed child playscript' by John Tiffany and Jack Thorne

I spent the longest time deliberating over whether I actually wanted to read this if I'm honest. There was the moral dilemma of reading something that undoubtedly gives money to J K Rowling (it's not written by her, no matter how large the publishers write her name on the cover to dupe people into thinking it is), as well as all the warnings I'd had about the fact that it ruins your childhood memories of the books. 

Thankfully I find a charity shop copy (ticking off point one), and I re-read the books about a year ago and realised how actually not-so-great Ron and Dumbledore are (ticking off point two).

'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' takes place where the epilogue for HP and the Deathly Hallows leaves off, i.e. with Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, their pals and Draco all saying goodbye to their children as they board the Hogwarts Express. 

Albus, Harry's son, is sorted into Slytherin when he arrives, becoming the first Potter to do so, and soon becomes unlikely friends with Scorpius (Malfoy's son). Harry's scar starts to hurt and, fearing that Voldemort is back, insists that the boys are kept apart. Albus and his relationship is on the rocks, and when Albus hears Amos Diggory (Cedrig's dad) asking Harry to use the Ministry's Time Turner to save his child, Albus decides fixing this is the way into everyone's good books.

Albus and Scorpius decide to go back to the Triwizard tournament challenges to ensure that Cedric does not touch the portkey trophy, but everything goes horrifyingly wrong. Scorpius in launched back into a world where Voldemort never died, meaning that Albus wasn't born. The pair end up back further in time under threat by 'Delphi Diggory' who turns out to be someone they never thought existed. It's down to them to make sure that the events at Godric Hollow follow the same route as they did way back when Harry was a baby.

I genuinely really enjoyed this, despite all of the warnings I was given. It was a chance to explore the magical world of Harry Potter further, and I'd love to have the opportunity to see the stage show one day. Having said that, I didn't like all of the characters' trajectories from when they left Hogwarts (although there's always going to be some of us that don't like whatever gets put out). I would have LOVED to see a relationship between Albus and Scorpius, and I can see why so many people have shipped them as being a sort of couple in the book. I'm waiting for the day when J K Rowling comes out and says that they are definitely 100% gay because at least it'll be more believable than Dumbledore *sips tea*.

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Review of 'Mrs Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf

I've been meaning to read some Virginia Woolf for the longest time, and whilst a number of her books line my shelves I've always been way too intimidated (and kinda scared of disappointment) to pick one up until now. 

Much like Ian McEwan's Saturday, (though a LOT better in my opinion), Mrs Dalloway takes place over the course of a singular day. Clarissa Dalloway, our main character, is planning a house party and wanders around preparing things for it, reminiscing over her youth. She considers her choice to wed the 'safe option' rather than pursue a relationship with the slightly wild (and more sexy) Peter Walsh. The novel culminates in the party, at which a friend's suicide is announced, and Clarissa wonders if he made a better decision than the one she took to stay alive.

Laying out the plot like that, it all seems a little dull, but for a novel of its time (published in 1925, the same year as The Great Gatsby), it really is something. One of the most shocking bits for me was the hint at Clarissa's bisexuality. As well as mentioning that Peter Walsh was an option to her, she looks back fondly on a kiss with Sally Seton, who she declared as being obviously not an option. The kiss was the happiest moment in her life. I've tried to rack my brains and I can't think of another book that I've come across older than this where a more-than-friends relationship between women is mentioned without it being used in a 'God will smite you' manner. 

The other issue discussed is shell shock and the PTSD surrounding that. Not only is this explored in some depth, but it's done in a caring way. It actually shed a whole lot of light for me on the impact of 'shell shock' and what those words actually mean. The book discusses how hard it is to integrate with society post-war.

I really can see why a lot of people love Woolf and I feel like reading this might just be the start of a full on love affair with her work. If you've got a favourite novel of hers please pass on recommendations!

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Review of 'Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl' by Tracy Quan

Today is a day for endless cups of tea because wow the need for caffeine is real. But, I'm here and still catching up on 2018 reads, edging closer and closer to finally being able to review things straight after I finish them (the idea at this point seems absolutely unattainable, but it'll happen). 

The life of a call girl in literature is, in my opinion, explored in a way that's both not very thorough and also, probably not very accurate. Call girls tend to be used as a foil to highlight certain aspects of someone else's character (e.g. making us realise a guy is a cheat on his wife), or they turn up as a murder victim. But there aren't many occasions where the main character in a book is a call girl, or at least, I haven't come across it very often.

Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl is written by Tracy Quan, an ex-call girl turned novelist, who uses her experiences to really tackle stereotypes around sex work. The main character of the book, Nancy Chan, is a prostitute who largely has sex with older gentlemen. She's reached a stage in her career where things are a little easier money-wise, but as she's getting older she's starting to face the idea of a future away from sex work. There's one other driving force for this: her fiancee Matt who has no idea what her real job is.

I found it pretty hard to engage with this book, and from the reviews I've read of it, it seems as though a lot of other people feel the same. The language is quite cold and distant, where it would work so well as a book filled with emotion. The stories she tells offer an interesting insight into life as a call girl, but don't delve into her feelings about it. 

A good portion of the book is based around her lying to her fiancee about what she does, and it's not told in a way that's justified: the protagonist knows that what she's doing is wrong, but she's stringing this poor guy along leading a double life. The ending is also very abrupt: we never find out what happens with her deciding whether or not to tell him, and it all just tails off randomly.

I'm giving this three stars because it did offer an interesting insight into life as a call girl, told by someone who knows what she's talking about, but the whole idea of a plot or any kind of narrative flow seems to have been a bit lost along the way.

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