Well it is official, I have been a complete slacker with blogging and reviewing. The little book worm in me has not gone anywhere though! It is just time for a few changes. Firstly, I have started a new job so I can no longer get access to charity books. I did start this nearly 4 months ago now (see how I fooled you all that time?!) so it just didn't feel right any longer to go with this blog title, despite how much I loved it! But I didn't want to throw in the towel completely so here is the slight revamp! It looks a bit naff at the moment, but I don't have much time to tweak it completely, so for now, here is Antony Reviews Anything! I shall review a whole load of crap, from TV series to YouTube channels, from my travels to my own personal life, and I shall still continue with the books! See how much I extra I shall be giving you now! So enjoy as I delve into uncharted terriorty for me, and please bear with me during the more personal moments (life can be SHIT- mostly due to my own actions). Let's see if it helps!
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Ciao
Sunday 23 November 2014
Sunday 14 September 2014
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
I didn't really know how to approach this book. I have read one of Mitchell's previous novels, probably his most famous, Cloud Atlas (amazing what a film with Tom Hanks in can do sometimes), and I am still indecisive about it. Did I enjoy it? Did I even get it. More importantly, was there anything to get or was it just a story that stretched across time with a series of links? Who knows. Maybe my English degree didn't rub of on me as much as I thought it had.
So I got a copy of his new novel (yes I know, more charity books are due soon...) and left it for awhile, not knowing when to break it out. I mean the sheer size of the novel put me off for awhile, it is massive! I have read longer books but still, it was huge and when eventually I did decide to put it in my bag ready for the morning commute, And boy did it weigh a ton. So if you are looking for a light read, don't bother reading any further.
The Bone Clocks follows the character of Holly across her life, from her naive teenage runaway self right until the dystopian future that Mitchell writes her into. In a style, which to me was extremely similar to Cloud Atlas, where we hop across time, meeting the same characters along the way, Mitchell sure does have some imagination. At first for me as well, The Bone Clocks was a lot easier to read than any other of Mitchell's novels, he wrote the mind of a teenage Holly perfectly, all of the naivety, all of the insecurities and all of those rebellious feelings. It is in a state of anger that in the first part of the novel that will go onto effect the rest of Holly's life. In a talk with a wry stranger in rural Kent when Holly has decided to leave her home, something is implanted into Holly's mind from this beginning. And this is where the novel faltered for me.
I am not a huge fan of fantasy novels, and it is in the middle of the novel, where we encounter many different characters of those who either live off of other peoples' souls or cross into those of people who are dying and need saving. They then go onto to live on as this person until the inevitable happens, and they enter another body. This middle part of the novel, taking up much of the middle of the 6 parts that Mitchell has written. were particularly weak but that is probably because I don't enjoy this genre. I'm not about to start explaining the battle that ensues in the novel between two different groups, not because I didn't understand it, but mostly because to me, it really doesn't matter. It all seemed a bit superfluous. I was lulled into a false sense of security with the first chapter, one narrated by Holly, but he manages to save it at the end.
After a somewhat colourful life, which has seen Holly working in a bar in a ski resort, married to a war journalist and then becoming a best selling writer for the tackier end of literacy (the angels, the mind, all of the crap), she has now settled in rural Ireland. In a world that is running out of oil, things are going backwards. The ways of which society has been trying to stop have all returned. People are having to grow all of their own food again, are having to rely on selling things at markets and exchanging their possessions in order to survive. Mitchell has bought to the forefront an issue that he really should have focused on more. What does happen if we run of natural resources? What if it happens sooner than we think it will?
Of course, in the final chapter there is a sign of Holly's past where one of the souls comes back to save her grandchildren, but everything that I read before, apart from in the first part of the novel, seemed pointless. Mitchell should have focused on one or the other. It didn't work for me. That is not to take away from Mitchell's talents as a writer. His imagination is beyond belief, I can't think of anyone who comes close. The way he writes draws you in, there is just enough detail that is doesn't get confusing, it all makes sense. In a way it does work, but it was my enjoyment that let it down. I have to enjoy every part of a novel to consider it a success, but I cannot say this. I would be lying. And that wouldn't be fair now would it?!
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell is published by Sceptre, an imprint of Hodder & Stoughton, in the UK.
So I got a copy of his new novel (yes I know, more charity books are due soon...) and left it for awhile, not knowing when to break it out. I mean the sheer size of the novel put me off for awhile, it is massive! I have read longer books but still, it was huge and when eventually I did decide to put it in my bag ready for the morning commute, And boy did it weigh a ton. So if you are looking for a light read, don't bother reading any further.
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| A gorgeous cover for Mitchell's latest offering |
The Bone Clocks follows the character of Holly across her life, from her naive teenage runaway self right until the dystopian future that Mitchell writes her into. In a style, which to me was extremely similar to Cloud Atlas, where we hop across time, meeting the same characters along the way, Mitchell sure does have some imagination. At first for me as well, The Bone Clocks was a lot easier to read than any other of Mitchell's novels, he wrote the mind of a teenage Holly perfectly, all of the naivety, all of the insecurities and all of those rebellious feelings. It is in a state of anger that in the first part of the novel that will go onto effect the rest of Holly's life. In a talk with a wry stranger in rural Kent when Holly has decided to leave her home, something is implanted into Holly's mind from this beginning. And this is where the novel faltered for me.
I am not a huge fan of fantasy novels, and it is in the middle of the novel, where we encounter many different characters of those who either live off of other peoples' souls or cross into those of people who are dying and need saving. They then go onto to live on as this person until the inevitable happens, and they enter another body. This middle part of the novel, taking up much of the middle of the 6 parts that Mitchell has written. were particularly weak but that is probably because I don't enjoy this genre. I'm not about to start explaining the battle that ensues in the novel between two different groups, not because I didn't understand it, but mostly because to me, it really doesn't matter. It all seemed a bit superfluous. I was lulled into a false sense of security with the first chapter, one narrated by Holly, but he manages to save it at the end.
After a somewhat colourful life, which has seen Holly working in a bar in a ski resort, married to a war journalist and then becoming a best selling writer for the tackier end of literacy (the angels, the mind, all of the crap), she has now settled in rural Ireland. In a world that is running out of oil, things are going backwards. The ways of which society has been trying to stop have all returned. People are having to grow all of their own food again, are having to rely on selling things at markets and exchanging their possessions in order to survive. Mitchell has bought to the forefront an issue that he really should have focused on more. What does happen if we run of natural resources? What if it happens sooner than we think it will?
Of course, in the final chapter there is a sign of Holly's past where one of the souls comes back to save her grandchildren, but everything that I read before, apart from in the first part of the novel, seemed pointless. Mitchell should have focused on one or the other. It didn't work for me. That is not to take away from Mitchell's talents as a writer. His imagination is beyond belief, I can't think of anyone who comes close. The way he writes draws you in, there is just enough detail that is doesn't get confusing, it all makes sense. In a way it does work, but it was my enjoyment that let it down. I have to enjoy every part of a novel to consider it a success, but I cannot say this. I would be lying. And that wouldn't be fair now would it?!
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell is published by Sceptre, an imprint of Hodder & Stoughton, in the UK.
Sunday 31 August 2014
Something a bit different...
Here we are again. Here I go again apologising for not posting quite so frequently as I first thought I would. To be fair to myself though, I have read 3 novels in the past month that have had more than 500 pages. And I am 100 pages into another long one as well. So instead of writing three individual blogs, here I am throwing three of them at you in one go. And here comes another sorry. They aren't books that I pulled from the charity box, that's right you heard, books that have been out been out recently or in the past year. Look how I am treating you! Back to normal, charitable me soon though...
Round one goes to...
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
I always forget that I have a Kindle. I'm not the biggest fan of them, I really prefer the physicality of a book but I still have one. So when I was given the chance to read Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch for free (no it is not illegal don't worry), I jumped at the chance and thought why the hell not. The book has received huge attention recently, having picked up multiple awards, including the coveted Pulitzer Prize, as well as having the film rights for it purchased. So things are looking pretty good for Tartt at the moment.
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| Donna Tartt's impeccable third novel |
I didn't really know too much about the novel when I first downloaded it. Tartt's third novel follows Theo Decker, a man who at the start we can already tell is an extremely troubled young man. The first 50 pages follow him as he is in Amsterdam scouring newspapers and the news for names he recognises. Then Tartt takes us right to the start of Theo's difficult childhood, where he loses his mother in a bomb blast in New York's Metropolitan museum, a blast he also gets caught up in and survives. Tartt injects an eerie emptiness in Theo from the outset, from the stumbling little boy lost in a wrecked museum, to walking through a room full of the dead (the living have been evacuated), there is a sense of something not being right in him from the outset. There is so much tradegy to come for young Theo including not having anyone to rely on except a school friend who he lost touch with.
Words cannot really do this book justice in my opinion, only the ones that Tartt has written so masterfully. There are so many brilliant and original characters, including my favourite Boris, whom Theo befriends when he eventually ends up living in Las Vegas' barren outskirts with his father. It is quite sad to read the lives of two boys who have been abandoned to grow up without any guidance. As they both head towards delinquency, there are flashes of things they are far to young to understand, including taking drugs, selling drugs and drinking copious amounts of vodka. These go onto affect them into there older years, where Tartt pulls them apart before throwing back together once they are older. But in typical Boris and Theo style, they manage to get themselves into more trouble.
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| Stunning painting, stunning novel. |
The whole book also surrounds this image of The Goldfinch, an exquisite painting by Carel Fabritius, which Theo inadvertently takes from the scene of the explosion. It haunts him his whole life, and acts as a constant reminder of the tragedy of his youth and all that was taken from him. The enthralling climax to the book, taking place as it started in Amsterdam, will not disappoint. I won;t spoil it for you, but the painting, this thing that Theo doesn't let himself looks at and is constantly searched for by the art world, plays a central role to the entire ending. The last chapter was some of the best writing I have had the pleasure of reading all year. Please read this book, I couldn't put it down, well the Kindle down.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is published by Little, Brown in the UK.
The Secret Place by Tana French
Round two today goes to Tana French's new novel The Secret Place. There has been much hype surrounding the release of the novel, including a brilliant campaign from Hodder and Stougton, carrying the slogan of the entire novel and what kicks off the action 'I know who killed him'. Set in a boarding school where not all the girls stay and no one stays at the weekends, a message posted on 'The Secret Place', basically a glorified pin board, re- ignites an old murder case. A boy was found on the grounds of the girls school, brutally murdered with a garden hoe but no culprit was ever found. A year on, a message is posted on The Secret Place with his photo and the slogan. Doesn't it sound like every school girls dream to have an outlet to put all of your and others secrets? A place to pin up all the gossip? I mean it is a bit Mean Girls, but I'm hardly complaining about that!
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| The Secret Place- basically a bitchy pinboar |
The two detectives who are put onto the investigation, one from cold cases who has an attachment to the girl who brings him the evidence, and the other a tough bitch who is the new girl from the murder investigation team. They are a slightly cliched, even acting out the whole bad cop, good cop stereotype. But French makes it work, giving the teenage girls someone to stand up to and someone to feel like they have power over. I mean it bloody works in the novel... the girls can't stop dropping new information that was never revealed a year ago.
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| A bit too Mean Girls? |
The main culprits for the murder come down to two sets of girls, all of whom are supposed best friends, and they totally hate each other. French has that bitchy girl tone down to a t, I can't help but think she probably has or has had a teenage girl at some point in her life. But the naivety of the girls actions shines through, their reliance on boys and their appearances never falters. French has written such believable characters all of whom have traits that make them all different from each other. Sometimes it is hard to see differences in girls nowadays, but French brings them all to the forefront.
I have to say, it was very difficult to put this book down. The story takes place over the course of one day and in that day we learn about the entire case, new evidence not previously known and by the 10pm, we even know who did it. I didn't care for the detectives much, but the setting is perfect, there is always a sense that the detectives are being watched, whether it be distant parents, prying teenage girls or the stern mistress. Well done Tana French, well done for making me interested in crime fiction again.
The Secret Place by Tana French is published by Hodder and Stoughton in the UK.
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (a.k.a. J.K Rowling)
The third and final round today goes to The Cuckoo's Calling. Now this book hardly gained any attention until it was revealed that it was actually written by J.K Rowling. I find that quite sad really. But hey that is the world we live in. When it eventually came out, sales figures rose by a massive 500%, and it confused me as to why she bothered. I know she wants to change direction and not get pigeon holed as that woman who wrote Harry Potter, but I think that's a badge she can never lose. Stick to your name love, it clearly sells better.
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| A.K.A J.K Rowling |
The Cuckoo's Calling marks yet another departure for Rowling as she moves on from young adult fiction from Harry Potter, to contemporary drama with The Casual Vacancy, to crime drama in her latest offerings (she has written a second after this one called The Silkworm). Set at a failing detective agency, the novel opens with new temp Robin starting a new job, fulfilling a childhood dream. With a weeks' work with Coromon Strike, the ex- military man turned private detective, Robin goes into her new job rather looking forward to it. She hardly has her expectations met when her boss, a man who sleeps in his office and receives constant death threats, is the private detective at hand.
The case that makes up the plot for Rowling's first venture into crime surrounds that of the apparent suicide of a supermodel called Luna. Coromon is hired by her step brother John Bristow to re- investigate, as he thinks a murder has taken place. Everything points to suicide, that is until Coromon begins to dig deeper and deeper, going over everything again and interviewing everyone involved. It can become quite tiresome reading endless question and answer, and Rowling slips into this repetitive structure every now and then. She has is obssessed with racial stereotypes it seems. I said the same about The Casual Vacancy. It just feels awkward J.K.
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| Better luck next time for crime writing? |
I can't quite put my finger on what I didn't really enjoy about this novel. But I really didn't. I was trying to give it the benefit of the doubt but there is just far too many cliches in it for me. From the gay fashioner designer, to the supermodel who likes to party and has a loser boyfriend or the poor black birth mother who lives in Hackney, there is something that doesn't read write about it. I get it is her first stab at a crime novel, and of course there s plenty of dramatic and entertaining moments, but I found all of the characters annoying and much of the structure the same. If you like your crime fiction, then it is perfect for you. It has everything you need. It has murder. Lies. Red herrings. Dead endings, Christ it even has the cliched ending of the big reveal, and even the overdone meeting between murderer and detective to the end the whole thing. I get what you are trying to do Robert or J.K or whoever the hell you are, and it was a nice first try. But it just didn't do much for me. Maybe it's just me, but I wasn't a fan. I'll give The Silkworm a go at some point to see if the writing has improved, but for now, thank you J.K, thank you for making me lose interest in crime. Again.
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith is published by Sphere, an imprint of Little, Brown in the UK.
So there you go. Three very different books, but all brilliant in their own ways. For me I would pick The Goldfinch as the stand out book, I was still thinking about it for days after. But then the two crime novels also have their own methods of entertainment. The Secret Place is pure entertainment but not stupid and over the top murder, just plain, simple girl power becoming too much.
Sunday 27 July 2014
The Puppet Boy Of Warsaw by Eva Weaver
I really don't like to read books that involve the Holocaust and the second world war, mostly because of their depressing nature, but also because I always think just how many more ways are there looking at it? Are there any other ways that highlight the devastation that was caused? With everything that is happening in Gaza at the moment as well, where the Israeli military and government are continuing to bomb Gaza and Hamas, war is slowly coming to the forefront of every news channel and newspaper.
So for taking all this into consideration, I think this is what attracted me to read this book. To remind myself of the devastation that the Jewish population suffered in WW2, and to try and see if the novel made me look at the war at yet another angle. The book is split into two different time periods where the protagonist is Mika, a Jewish boy in the war in the 1940s and a grandfather telling his story to his now grandson in 2009. If you are educated in all of the facts of the war, then you always feel that impending sense of terror that is beckoning on the Jewish population of Warsaw. And it is not long until Weaver throws us straight into the terror of the Warsaw ghettos, when the Jews were all placed into one area of Warsaw, a space that was far too cramped for the amount of people forced to live there. Weaver cleverly purveys this sense of cramped conditions by letting a lot of the action spill out onto the streets, where all the evil is happening, where all the killing is occurring and where everyone is slowly starving.
Mika soon inherits his grandfathers coat that has a complex pattern of inner pockets allowing him to hide things inside them. This includes his grandfathers puppets and Mika soon becomes enthralled by them, making his own puppets and then slowly his own shows. More people are forced to move into his and his mothers flat, meaning he now rarely has time to himself. We follow Mika putting on shows for chilrdens hopsitals, orphanages as well as birthday parties. Soon his shows attract Nazi attention and he is made to put on shows, forced to down pints of beer and become part of the rough and manly culture. He soon befriends a soldier called Max, but there is such an air of tension between the two that Weaver subtly writes into it that is makes you always feel a sense of danger for Mika, a sense that Max is always just doing what he is told by his Nazi superiors.
The rest of Mika's journey during the war is much as would expect, full of death, full of loss and full of a fight that you never really think they will win. But of course, eventually the allies do win, he is given the chance for freedom, we already know at the start of the book he has made it to the USA. He is one of the lucky ones. There are some truly heart wrenching moments in the book with Mika, especially for me when the Nazis are making a film about life in the ghetto and they make Mika perform one of his shows. To pretend that life is all dandy in the ghettos, when really all the weak ones are being killed off before all the strong ones are shipped off to concentration camps. I got so mad reading it, why did no one help the Jewish people at the time? And then reading the current news straight after, how can a mainly Jewish population in Israel not understand what they are currently doing? I just don't get it.
One side of the book that really worked for me was when the book looks at life after the war for Max, the German soldier. Sent off to a prison in Siberia, we follow his complex journey and inner thought processes. Why are the German soldiers taking all the punishments when they were just following orders from people who have gotten away with it? It is an extremely debatable and hard to determine subject that it is almost too hard to call. Should the soldiers have been so severely punished for merely carrying out orders? When you read everything Mika saw and heard, it is hard to reason with Max and his comrades. But his journey for me was all the more fascinating as I have never really thought about what German soldiers went through after the war. All the lies they were fed for no reason, for no purpose. Truly devastating on any sole.
I apologise for the somber tone to this review. It's just the subject matter at hand. And the topical nature of war at the moment across the world doesn't help. I realise that WW2 and the Gaza/Israeli bombings are two totally different situations, but can people not learn from past situations? From situations that didn't even happen that long ago? From situations that people who are alive today were alive back then? The sheer ignorance of those in power will sometimes never cease to amaze me.
The Puppet Boy Of Warsaw by Eva Waver is published by Phoenix, an imprint of Orion books, in the UK.
So for taking all this into consideration, I think this is what attracted me to read this book. To remind myself of the devastation that the Jewish population suffered in WW2, and to try and see if the novel made me look at the war at yet another angle. The book is split into two different time periods where the protagonist is Mika, a Jewish boy in the war in the 1940s and a grandfather telling his story to his now grandson in 2009. If you are educated in all of the facts of the war, then you always feel that impending sense of terror that is beckoning on the Jewish population of Warsaw. And it is not long until Weaver throws us straight into the terror of the Warsaw ghettos, when the Jews were all placed into one area of Warsaw, a space that was far too cramped for the amount of people forced to live there. Weaver cleverly purveys this sense of cramped conditions by letting a lot of the action spill out onto the streets, where all the evil is happening, where all the killing is occurring and where everyone is slowly starving.
Mika soon inherits his grandfathers coat that has a complex pattern of inner pockets allowing him to hide things inside them. This includes his grandfathers puppets and Mika soon becomes enthralled by them, making his own puppets and then slowly his own shows. More people are forced to move into his and his mothers flat, meaning he now rarely has time to himself. We follow Mika putting on shows for chilrdens hopsitals, orphanages as well as birthday parties. Soon his shows attract Nazi attention and he is made to put on shows, forced to down pints of beer and become part of the rough and manly culture. He soon befriends a soldier called Max, but there is such an air of tension between the two that Weaver subtly writes into it that is makes you always feel a sense of danger for Mika, a sense that Max is always just doing what he is told by his Nazi superiors.
The rest of Mika's journey during the war is much as would expect, full of death, full of loss and full of a fight that you never really think they will win. But of course, eventually the allies do win, he is given the chance for freedom, we already know at the start of the book he has made it to the USA. He is one of the lucky ones. There are some truly heart wrenching moments in the book with Mika, especially for me when the Nazis are making a film about life in the ghetto and they make Mika perform one of his shows. To pretend that life is all dandy in the ghettos, when really all the weak ones are being killed off before all the strong ones are shipped off to concentration camps. I got so mad reading it, why did no one help the Jewish people at the time? And then reading the current news straight after, how can a mainly Jewish population in Israel not understand what they are currently doing? I just don't get it.
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| Images from the Warsaw ghetto |
One side of the book that really worked for me was when the book looks at life after the war for Max, the German soldier. Sent off to a prison in Siberia, we follow his complex journey and inner thought processes. Why are the German soldiers taking all the punishments when they were just following orders from people who have gotten away with it? It is an extremely debatable and hard to determine subject that it is almost too hard to call. Should the soldiers have been so severely punished for merely carrying out orders? When you read everything Mika saw and heard, it is hard to reason with Max and his comrades. But his journey for me was all the more fascinating as I have never really thought about what German soldiers went through after the war. All the lies they were fed for no reason, for no purpose. Truly devastating on any sole.
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| Just some of the three million German POWs in USSR |
I apologise for the somber tone to this review. It's just the subject matter at hand. And the topical nature of war at the moment across the world doesn't help. I realise that WW2 and the Gaza/Israeli bombings are two totally different situations, but can people not learn from past situations? From situations that didn't even happen that long ago? From situations that people who are alive today were alive back then? The sheer ignorance of those in power will sometimes never cease to amaze me.
The Puppet Boy Of Warsaw by Eva Waver is published by Phoenix, an imprint of Orion books, in the UK.
Tuesday 22 July 2014
The Casual Vacancy by J.K Rowling
Well I am just disgusted in myself and how long it has been since I have decided to sit down and write one of these things. Can I just defend myself before you hit that big red cross in the top right- hand corner? I HAVE BEEN ON HOLIDAY. As well as being particularly busy with fascinating things including recovering from tonsilitus, spending some much needed time in the sun and getting a new phone. Riveting right? Now in the past 6 weeks, I don't want you to think that my self proclaimed title of official book worm has been lost. Oh no. Train journeys have still be filled with the written word. So brace yourself people. Reviews will be coming at you thick and fast from now on. Whilst I may try and do some catching up on ones I have finished, I may just start from now... I'm still fickle, I'll let you know.
SO in my own style of writing things late, why not give you a review for a book that has been out for quite sometime now? In it's own streak of luck however, J.K Rowling has recently been back in the spotlight, what with her new crime novel being published, as well as finding time to squeeze out a Harry Potter short story. I have not read this, sorry J.K but you must be JOKING if I am signing up to Pottermore just to read it. So this review will focus on her first, well lets say probably first published attempt at an adult novel, The Casual Vacancy.
Now if you are as ignorant as I am, you may think that this is a book about either casual sex or a empty hotel room somewhere in the depths of England. However, you will soon learn, and I mean literally in the first ten or so pages, so this doesn't spoil it, that it for a seat on a local council that has become available after the death of Barry Fairbrother. The town of Pagford soon descends into a state of shock, and we are presented with a multitude of characters immediately, giving the book a soap opera sense of direction. And this does not relent. Rowling does exceed fantastically at chopping and changing scenes in the local town and its surrounding area. We all already knew she had a knack for telling a story, it was just the way she went about it that was sometimes troublesome and at times extremely immature. But this has greatly improved. Gone are the unnecessary adverbs and adjectives, and visible is a sense of a writer who feels much more in her stride.
Now this isn't perfect. There are times where, to me, it felt like she was trying a little to hard to reach her mature audience. Some mentions of words like vulva and her sometimes graphic sexual thoughts were misplaced and misjudged. There are times also I feel stereotypes are coming into play slightly, whether it be the troubled teenager Krystal Weedon who is so clichéd it is cringe-worthy, or the pushy Asian parents who bully their children for underachieving, Rowling sometimes slips into boring and unimaginative territory.
But she manages to save it with the other characters. She mixes so well the lives of the people in the small town and displays brilliantly each of the characters internal and family catastrophes. They may all seem like small problems, but if someone thinks it is a problem, then that's all that should matter. Characters including the married cougar Samantha who prays on young schoolboys and boyband members and Maureen who runs a local deli and café with the head of the council Miles, who may or may not have had part of his anatomy somewhere it shouldn't have been, all kept my unrivaled interest, even when a good looking man was standing in front of me on the train. The best character for me was the troubled father and headteacher Colin Wall, who was petrified of even brushing up against his students for fear he would enjoy it too much (if you get me). The sheer panic Rowling has instilled into him almost drips off the page.
All of these domestic issues rotate around the election for the seat, as two sides battle it out to save the Fields, a council estate area that sits on the border. Some want it out of the borderline and some want to keep it. It even starts effecting the teenagers of the local area, as parents run for the seat and they become terrified of what could happen, even meddling with the council website to stop people getting in. What Rowling does so well is to explore each issue in a way that it effects not just one person but everyone around them, truly evident in the run up to the end of the novel where I could simply not put the book down. I wont ruin it for you, but it sure does put many things in perspective for Pagford's residents and Rowling ends it on an extremely bittersweet note.
Now I was extremely cautious about this book. I mean I enjoyed the Potter books as much as the next kid in my generation, but I wasn't the biggest fan. But Rowling surpassed my expectations. Whilst it wasn't perfect and there were a few try hard moments, she writes with an authenticity that has captured modern life in rural towns where urban life is starting to infiltrate, whether it is elder people using the internet, council estates on your doorstep or a multi- cultural community, you get the feeling that things are changing and life for the residents can simply not go on as it has done in the past. A TV series has already been commissioned for the book and I can't help but feel that simply because of the author who penned it, this is why it is going into production. I just don't see it working on screen, it will be far to soap opera-esque. It may prove me wrong, at the end of the day I'm just a poor boy from a poor... Oh wait that's wrong. But you know what I mean.
The Casual Vacancy by J.K Rowling is published by Little, Brown in the UK.
SO in my own style of writing things late, why not give you a review for a book that has been out for quite sometime now? In it's own streak of luck however, J.K Rowling has recently been back in the spotlight, what with her new crime novel being published, as well as finding time to squeeze out a Harry Potter short story. I have not read this, sorry J.K but you must be JOKING if I am signing up to Pottermore just to read it. So this review will focus on her first, well lets say probably first published attempt at an adult novel, The Casual Vacancy.
Now if you are as ignorant as I am, you may think that this is a book about either casual sex or a empty hotel room somewhere in the depths of England. However, you will soon learn, and I mean literally in the first ten or so pages, so this doesn't spoil it, that it for a seat on a local council that has become available after the death of Barry Fairbrother. The town of Pagford soon descends into a state of shock, and we are presented with a multitude of characters immediately, giving the book a soap opera sense of direction. And this does not relent. Rowling does exceed fantastically at chopping and changing scenes in the local town and its surrounding area. We all already knew she had a knack for telling a story, it was just the way she went about it that was sometimes troublesome and at times extremely immature. But this has greatly improved. Gone are the unnecessary adverbs and adjectives, and visible is a sense of a writer who feels much more in her stride.
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| Do you even need a picture? |
Now this isn't perfect. There are times where, to me, it felt like she was trying a little to hard to reach her mature audience. Some mentions of words like vulva and her sometimes graphic sexual thoughts were misplaced and misjudged. There are times also I feel stereotypes are coming into play slightly, whether it be the troubled teenager Krystal Weedon who is so clichéd it is cringe-worthy, or the pushy Asian parents who bully their children for underachieving, Rowling sometimes slips into boring and unimaginative territory.
But she manages to save it with the other characters. She mixes so well the lives of the people in the small town and displays brilliantly each of the characters internal and family catastrophes. They may all seem like small problems, but if someone thinks it is a problem, then that's all that should matter. Characters including the married cougar Samantha who prays on young schoolboys and boyband members and Maureen who runs a local deli and café with the head of the council Miles, who may or may not have had part of his anatomy somewhere it shouldn't have been, all kept my unrivaled interest, even when a good looking man was standing in front of me on the train. The best character for me was the troubled father and headteacher Colin Wall, who was petrified of even brushing up against his students for fear he would enjoy it too much (if you get me). The sheer panic Rowling has instilled into him almost drips off the page.
All of these domestic issues rotate around the election for the seat, as two sides battle it out to save the Fields, a council estate area that sits on the border. Some want it out of the borderline and some want to keep it. It even starts effecting the teenagers of the local area, as parents run for the seat and they become terrified of what could happen, even meddling with the council website to stop people getting in. What Rowling does so well is to explore each issue in a way that it effects not just one person but everyone around them, truly evident in the run up to the end of the novel where I could simply not put the book down. I wont ruin it for you, but it sure does put many things in perspective for Pagford's residents and Rowling ends it on an extremely bittersweet note.
Now I was extremely cautious about this book. I mean I enjoyed the Potter books as much as the next kid in my generation, but I wasn't the biggest fan. But Rowling surpassed my expectations. Whilst it wasn't perfect and there were a few try hard moments, she writes with an authenticity that has captured modern life in rural towns where urban life is starting to infiltrate, whether it is elder people using the internet, council estates on your doorstep or a multi- cultural community, you get the feeling that things are changing and life for the residents can simply not go on as it has done in the past. A TV series has already been commissioned for the book and I can't help but feel that simply because of the author who penned it, this is why it is going into production. I just don't see it working on screen, it will be far to soap opera-esque. It may prove me wrong, at the end of the day I'm just a poor boy from a poor... Oh wait that's wrong. But you know what I mean.
The Casual Vacancy by J.K Rowling is published by Little, Brown in the UK.
Sunday 1 June 2014
When Mr Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan
TWO BOOKS REVIEWS IN ONE DAY I HEAR YOU SCREAM?! WELL KEEP SCREAMING BECAUSE YES, IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
I only write in these over the top capital letters to reflect the brilliant book When Mr Dog Bites. Set in a- I hate to say it- special school, we follow Dylan Mint, a 16-year-old boy suffering from Tourette's syndrome. Tourette's symdorme is one of the those conditions that has become some what of a laughing stock in society, mainly down to misinformed television programmes that instead of looking at things from their point, tend to focus on the reactions of other people as they walk past. I'm looking at you BBC3. So it is fantastic to see the condition used in a different way and in another medium where instead of hearing the person shouting and swearing, you have to picture it yourself. It has quite a different effect, you'd be surprised. It makes you feel for Dylan, not feel sorry for them, just want better for him. I never sniggered once. It must be terrible.
We come into Dylan's life at a difficult time, when his ticks are out of control, he is getting into fights at school and his mother is acting strange. Dylan receives some, what he thinks, is bad news at the doctors where he convinces himself that he is due to die in March. To me, I always got the sense that he wasn't going to die, especially because his mother seems more concerned about herself. So it is quite sad to see Dylan planning his final few months, even writing his bucket list, or as he calls it "Cool Things To Do Before I Cack It". I think everyone should call it this from now on.
There are of course times when you are reading the book that you feel uncomfortable when he is shouting racist and rude things, but at the end of the day you know he can't help it. There are some heart warming moments too, like when he is writing letters to his absentee father, who he believes is at war fighting terrorists. But you always get the sense his mother is hiding something from him about where is really is. And this is confirmed later.
Conaghan gives such a realistic insight into the world of those with conditions such as Tourette's that you find yourself not feeling sorry for them. You just realise that they are normal 16 -year-old boys. Boys who at time can be very crude, sexist and stubborn. They just all seem like normal kids. That's what Conaghan does so cleverly, making you notice that whilst they may be at a special school, they all go through the same things at school that people at other schools go through. This includes bullying, where he meets two other boys from the supposed 'normal' school in the park. That chapter will soon make you realise, who really is the considered the 'freaks' in society? Ignorant arseholes. Sorry.
I sometimes don't know how far young adult novels can go with their realness but with things like Tourette's and addressing something they may misunderstand from other representations in the media is important. And something else that he does so well is to not focus the entire story on how he copes with Tourette's but giving him other stories such as his relationship with Amir, his best friend and his eventual finding out about what his father is really like. There is a beautiful letter at the end where Dylan expresses himself in the most honest way I have had the pleasure of reading.
So when you get used to the times when 'Mr Dog Bites' or basically where Dylan Tourette's shines through, you see a completely normal 16-year-old boy. A boy who constantly thinks about women, football and his father. You can't but help see that no matter what people say in society, what is normal? And who is anyone to say what is normal?
When Mr Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan is publishing by Bloomsbuty in the UK.
The Sorrows Of An American by Siri Hustvedt
Well it has been quite awhile since I sat down and wrote one of these. Life has been rather busy and not overly fantastic in the past couple of weeks. But the sun is out and it's time to review again. I can hear you all cheering in the stands. Please, please I am not worthy. I have realised how this blog can sometimes be a mix of me telling you about my life as well as reviewing books. I'm thinking maybe I'll change the description a bit, so as not to lure you book fans into a false sense of security... SO on with the review.
I am going to put this out there from the outset, I think this book goes into my top five favourite books of all time. I couldn't put it down and I truly loved it. I have always been a massive fan of American literature, especially the classics like In Cold Blood and Tender Is The Night. Even though this was released in the 2000s, it felt like it was written in that 1900s era, minus the use of aeroplanes and mobiles phones of course.
The Sorrows Of An American follows Erik Davidsen, a psychiatrist who is struggling to cope with lonliness, his new tenant as well as his complex family. Having recently divorced from his wife, Erik struggles to deal with being lonely, slipping into the typical male mind set of fantasising about women. It is quite hard to describe this plot and do it justice, but reading it is a completely different story. Hustvedt writes with such ease and beauty that demonstrates the weaknesses of the human mind set, that the plot fades into the background as we become enamored with the thought processes in all of Erik situations, be it the family side, his relationships or his relationship with his new flatmate Miranda.
There are some great moments to do with his job too, when we get an insight into his patients and how they end up effecting him at a low point for Erik. But it the issues with his family that eventually take precedence, as him and his sister discover a letter from their recently deceased father and they go on the trail for discovering the lady at the centre of the content of the letter. It goes onto effect their relationship with their mother, each other and even other relationships. There is so much plot that I can't even go into detail about with confusing you, but Hustvedt handles it with such care and attention, you are never confused and always wanting more.
Considering that it is written by a female author, Siri Hustvedt sure does know how to get into the male psyche. She has for sure written in some of her own life into the book, crossing over the Norwegian family living in America, so bringing a real authenticity to the book. The images of their father during the war through his diary entries is also truly touching. It is not often I am moved by a book, but I couldn't help be by this beautiful book. I think even just writing this review has moved it up into my second favourite book of all time. There I said it. I apologise for the brief review, but I just don't think I can do it proper justice. The beauty is in the words.
The Sorrows Of An American by Siri Hustvedt is published by Sceptre, an imprint of Hodder and Stoughton in the UK.
I am going to put this out there from the outset, I think this book goes into my top five favourite books of all time. I couldn't put it down and I truly loved it. I have always been a massive fan of American literature, especially the classics like In Cold Blood and Tender Is The Night. Even though this was released in the 2000s, it felt like it was written in that 1900s era, minus the use of aeroplanes and mobiles phones of course.
The Sorrows Of An American follows Erik Davidsen, a psychiatrist who is struggling to cope with lonliness, his new tenant as well as his complex family. Having recently divorced from his wife, Erik struggles to deal with being lonely, slipping into the typical male mind set of fantasising about women. It is quite hard to describe this plot and do it justice, but reading it is a completely different story. Hustvedt writes with such ease and beauty that demonstrates the weaknesses of the human mind set, that the plot fades into the background as we become enamored with the thought processes in all of Erik situations, be it the family side, his relationships or his relationship with his new flatmate Miranda.
There are some great moments to do with his job too, when we get an insight into his patients and how they end up effecting him at a low point for Erik. But it the issues with his family that eventually take precedence, as him and his sister discover a letter from their recently deceased father and they go on the trail for discovering the lady at the centre of the content of the letter. It goes onto effect their relationship with their mother, each other and even other relationships. There is so much plot that I can't even go into detail about with confusing you, but Hustvedt handles it with such care and attention, you are never confused and always wanting more.
Considering that it is written by a female author, Siri Hustvedt sure does know how to get into the male psyche. She has for sure written in some of her own life into the book, crossing over the Norwegian family living in America, so bringing a real authenticity to the book. The images of their father during the war through his diary entries is also truly touching. It is not often I am moved by a book, but I couldn't help be by this beautiful book. I think even just writing this review has moved it up into my second favourite book of all time. There I said it. I apologise for the brief review, but I just don't think I can do it proper justice. The beauty is in the words.
The Sorrows Of An American by Siri Hustvedt is published by Sceptre, an imprint of Hodder and Stoughton in the UK.
Wednesday 14 May 2014
Season To Taste...Or How To Eat Your Husband by Natalie Young
Well my oh my hasn't this month just flown by! Already two weeks into May and I don't know where the time has gone. I have been super busy as well just to add to the chaos that is work, so apologies for the delay for the latest review. This has not been helped by reading two novels that have been pretty darn rubbish to say the least. So I shall plough forward with one that has meant my blogging standard. Also the one I am reading at the moment has been potentially one of my favourite books of all time so watch this space...
Today's review looks at Season To Taste or How To Eat Your Husband. The brutal reality of the title of the novel hits you straight in the face on the first page as we learn that Lizzie, our female protagonist, has murdered her husband. No messing about, Natalie Young gives us the story right away. In a way, you may think this may ruin the rest of the story, but it is learning about her past and the unique way she begins to dispose of his body, that is the true story here. That was for me what made it so unique, having the main event so early on and seeing the reasons why after it has happened.
Now Lizzie goes on to chop her husband up into bits and store him in the freezer. There is something so methodical to her practice, and her total disregard for the seriousness of what she is doing seems extremely robotic. She fits into the typical domestic housewife role, even creating a step- by- step list littered throughout the novel, but just with an extremely dark twist. I must warn you that there are some graphic moments during the cooking and consuming of her husband. The worst bit for me, which surprisingly was not his cock and balls, but when she eats his hand. I found myself looking down at my own hand on the train and feeling rather nauseous. People must have thought I was a right freak looking at my hand like that. I just kept picturing a chicken wing.
To be fair to Lizzie, she cooks the parts of him in possibly the tastiest ways you could maybe think of, just the only problem being its human flesh she is using. But this just adds to her methodical ways. But this endless consumption methaphor, which Young uses to highlight how Lizzie's pre- murder life was consumed by her lazy husband and dead end marriage. It is very clever, if not sometimes vomit inducing.
The housewife role is added to more in a familiar setting, well familiar for me anywhere. Set in a remote cottage in leafy Surrey, where I happen to reside, I could feel myself in the places where she speaks of. This, for me, added an extra isolated dimension, just as to how much goes on behind closed doors, especially in supposedly sleepy towns. There is an mention of my home town too, holler out to Weybridge on page 49!
So if you enjoy your complicated female led books, then I highly recommend this book. Young's clever style of writing, including the brilliant how to guide, will get you in the mood for some very dark moments. Just ensure you have a strong stomach, some parts are pretty hard to read through. Just do what I did, picture a Nando's and not your own chubby, hairy hand.
Season To Taste... Or How To Eat Your Husband by Natalie Young is published by Headline books in the UK.
Today's review looks at Season To Taste or How To Eat Your Husband. The brutal reality of the title of the novel hits you straight in the face on the first page as we learn that Lizzie, our female protagonist, has murdered her husband. No messing about, Natalie Young gives us the story right away. In a way, you may think this may ruin the rest of the story, but it is learning about her past and the unique way she begins to dispose of his body, that is the true story here. That was for me what made it so unique, having the main event so early on and seeing the reasons why after it has happened.
Now Lizzie goes on to chop her husband up into bits and store him in the freezer. There is something so methodical to her practice, and her total disregard for the seriousness of what she is doing seems extremely robotic. She fits into the typical domestic housewife role, even creating a step- by- step list littered throughout the novel, but just with an extremely dark twist. I must warn you that there are some graphic moments during the cooking and consuming of her husband. The worst bit for me, which surprisingly was not his cock and balls, but when she eats his hand. I found myself looking down at my own hand on the train and feeling rather nauseous. People must have thought I was a right freak looking at my hand like that. I just kept picturing a chicken wing.
To be fair to Lizzie, she cooks the parts of him in possibly the tastiest ways you could maybe think of, just the only problem being its human flesh she is using. But this just adds to her methodical ways. But this endless consumption methaphor, which Young uses to highlight how Lizzie's pre- murder life was consumed by her lazy husband and dead end marriage. It is very clever, if not sometimes vomit inducing.
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| Another famous literary cannibal |
So if you enjoy your complicated female led books, then I highly recommend this book. Young's clever style of writing, including the brilliant how to guide, will get you in the mood for some very dark moments. Just ensure you have a strong stomach, some parts are pretty hard to read through. Just do what I did, picture a Nando's and not your own chubby, hairy hand.
Season To Taste... Or How To Eat Your Husband by Natalie Young is published by Headline books in the UK.
Tuesday 29 April 2014
Sorta Like A Rockstar by Matthew Quick
I think I'm going to have to start reading longer books, because I am just rattling through them at the moment. So here I am, already breaking my rule about doing one book a week, but only because I've got a really good book this time!
Matthew Quick's name first caught my attention from the critical acclaim that surrounded the hit film Silver Linings Playbook based on his novel of the same name. I have yet to be lucky enough to get hold of this (please charity box Gods let me find it!) but have read on of his other novels, Forgive Me Leonard Peacock. All about a boy who does that American horror and kills in his own high school. So along with depression in amongst his other novels (such delightful topics), it comes as no surprise to find in Sorta Like A Rockstar many issues including homelessness, abuse and death. Why are young adult novels always so damn depressing? I guess you only realise this as you get older. But then, they must learn.
Set around the character of Amber, we follow her story, right from the outset where she is living in the school bus that her mother drives for a living. We immediately can connote facts about her past of course; abandonment, not knowing her father and her mother having boyfriend after boyfriend all feature. But there is something incredibly different about Amber that you don't get in these usually cliched stories. She is full of hope. And always keeps herself busy. Whether it be having debates at on old peoples' home, visiting a war veteran who writes haiku's endlessly, teaching the Vietnamese 'diva' choir by seeing diva classics or cooking tequila omelettes (sound delicious), there seems something so pure about Amber's character. And something else Quick does well to eradicate is the teenage girl chase for a boy, or a boy coming along and saving the day. There is no mention of relationships or her desire for one. It is something we need to see more of, and it is so important for girls to know relationships at such a young age is not the be all and end all.
There are some lovely moments throughout the novel, especially the relationship between Amber and her eventual adoptive mother Donna. Donna is the woman that she, in my opinion, should aspire to be. Quick sure does know how to great a fantastic and strong mother figure, someone that Amber never really has in her life. And their relationship feels so real, never forced. I guess that because Quick used to teach, he knows how to write in teenage talk (God I feel old writing that, and yes I'm only 21). You forget after awhile it isn't a teenager writing the book. He does it is so seemlessly.
Another poignant moment in the book is where tragedy strikes with Amber's mother. The book literally falls apart in the middle as Amber's life does. Quick gives us mere sentences as chapters, intercut with Amber's talks with the local Vietnamese church priest where she contemplates life as anyone would in the situation. And this is where the book begins to lose some of its momentum. Her friends try to rally around her but she just rejects those who try to help. It gets extremely difficult after sometime to understand she this after awhile, and I think Quick drags this out slightly. Also the constant haiku's eventually, for me, were moments to skim read. I hate poetry (sorry guys, awful English graduate right?). But Quick manages to pull it together at the end, with a fantastic ending. We can only hope that every teenager who goes through hardship has people like Amber does to pull around her in times of need. But deep down I know that's not true. Truly heartbreaking for me.
So in a story that is full of a variety of characters, most of them old but let's face it, aren't they the ones who have the most to talk about? But Quick does something quite special with Amber by matching her to these people. The interaction between the old and the young never feels false and you always get a sense reality from Amber. Whilst the tiresome references to religion and JC get old very quickly (typical atheist me), there is plenty to keep you entertained. Yes it might be for the young adult market, but come on, the issues are so serious that we adults will have no problem enjoying a book as great as this. There are rumours of a film for this too. Cross those fingers. And them toes too.
Sorta Like A Rockstar by Matthew Quick is published by Headline books in the UK.
Matthew Quick's name first caught my attention from the critical acclaim that surrounded the hit film Silver Linings Playbook based on his novel of the same name. I have yet to be lucky enough to get hold of this (please charity box Gods let me find it!) but have read on of his other novels, Forgive Me Leonard Peacock. All about a boy who does that American horror and kills in his own high school. So along with depression in amongst his other novels (such delightful topics), it comes as no surprise to find in Sorta Like A Rockstar many issues including homelessness, abuse and death. Why are young adult novels always so damn depressing? I guess you only realise this as you get older. But then, they must learn.
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| Quick is responsible for Silver Linings Playbook. |
Set around the character of Amber, we follow her story, right from the outset where she is living in the school bus that her mother drives for a living. We immediately can connote facts about her past of course; abandonment, not knowing her father and her mother having boyfriend after boyfriend all feature. But there is something incredibly different about Amber that you don't get in these usually cliched stories. She is full of hope. And always keeps herself busy. Whether it be having debates at on old peoples' home, visiting a war veteran who writes haiku's endlessly, teaching the Vietnamese 'diva' choir by seeing diva classics or cooking tequila omelettes (sound delicious), there seems something so pure about Amber's character. And something else Quick does well to eradicate is the teenage girl chase for a boy, or a boy coming along and saving the day. There is no mention of relationships or her desire for one. It is something we need to see more of, and it is so important for girls to know relationships at such a young age is not the be all and end all.
There are some lovely moments throughout the novel, especially the relationship between Amber and her eventual adoptive mother Donna. Donna is the woman that she, in my opinion, should aspire to be. Quick sure does know how to great a fantastic and strong mother figure, someone that Amber never really has in her life. And their relationship feels so real, never forced. I guess that because Quick used to teach, he knows how to write in teenage talk (God I feel old writing that, and yes I'm only 21). You forget after awhile it isn't a teenager writing the book. He does it is so seemlessly.
 |
| Sorta Like A Rockstar |
Another poignant moment in the book is where tragedy strikes with Amber's mother. The book literally falls apart in the middle as Amber's life does. Quick gives us mere sentences as chapters, intercut with Amber's talks with the local Vietnamese church priest where she contemplates life as anyone would in the situation. And this is where the book begins to lose some of its momentum. Her friends try to rally around her but she just rejects those who try to help. It gets extremely difficult after sometime to understand she this after awhile, and I think Quick drags this out slightly. Also the constant haiku's eventually, for me, were moments to skim read. I hate poetry (sorry guys, awful English graduate right?). But Quick manages to pull it together at the end, with a fantastic ending. We can only hope that every teenager who goes through hardship has people like Amber does to pull around her in times of need. But deep down I know that's not true. Truly heartbreaking for me.
So in a story that is full of a variety of characters, most of them old but let's face it, aren't they the ones who have the most to talk about? But Quick does something quite special with Amber by matching her to these people. The interaction between the old and the young never feels false and you always get a sense reality from Amber. Whilst the tiresome references to religion and JC get old very quickly (typical atheist me), there is plenty to keep you entertained. Yes it might be for the young adult market, but come on, the issues are so serious that we adults will have no problem enjoying a book as great as this. There are rumours of a film for this too. Cross those fingers. And them toes too.
Sorta Like A Rockstar by Matthew Quick is published by Headline books in the UK.
Sunday 27 April 2014
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
I'm beginning to think that Sunday evening might just become my weekly review post. I just get so tired during the week that I don't want to write a rubbish post and you not enjoy it (or get anything from it). But then I read so many good books I don't to get lag behind and forget. So maybe I'll just go against what I said anyway. What the hell. What are rules for! So anyway hello and welcome to today's review...
Got quite a different book for you this week compared to last weeks lovely, gory and sexually violent book, Stardust. Written by Neil Gaiman, a man who has been receiving a lot of attention for his latest novel The Ocean At The End Of The Lane- watch this space, that book is currently residing in my pile of books to be read- so before I get to that to see what all the fuss is about, I decided to read another one of his older novels. Wow that was a long sentence.
I have seen the film adaptation that was released nearly 7 years ago now- where the hell is time going?! I really enjoyed the film, mainly down to the adult fairytale feeling that the film gave across. And of course I never miss a chance to watch a film starring the only woman I would ever consider, Michelle Pfeiffer. I was immediately thrown into a completely different universe, but one that I couldn't help but think was slightly familiar. Set in sunny (always is in fairytales) England, there was an extremely picturesque feeling to the whole story, especially in the village of Wall. Gaiman certainly does have a way with words.
I always enjoy a fairytale, mainly down to the themes that it deals with, that can often been of quite a violent or adult nature, but they are dressed in such a way you simply don't think of them as such. Stardust follows the character of Tristian, as he sets off into the other world that Wall sits next to. He is in search of a fallen star that he wants to get in order to get a hand in marriage. Being a demanding woman, she wants the star. In what I think is such a lovely image, the star is not an object, or a ball of gas, but is actually a woman whom has fallen out the sky. She was hit by a gem that 2 brothers, Primus and Septimus, the last two alive lords of the land, who must find the stone in order to become King. There is some great scenes involving them, mainly down to their ghostly brothers who always appear behind them in the film, and this detail is carried on the preceding novel, something Gaiman uses to a great comic advantage. This is also true of the witch who is after the star, and there are some great scenes where she forces an inn keeper to pretend they are married in order to entice the star into staying. There is something so sinister about reading the witch doing everything she can to relax the star, when we know she really wants to cut her heart right out of her.
Now, being 21, you may think my memory may be very sharp, but alas you would be mistaken. But I have to say I was quite impressed in noticing differences between the book and novel, something that alas (I love that word) always must occur. But I think the book wins out on all the alternatives that the film presented. This is more than evident in the witch's final scene, where an old witch, who is also after the star in order to recapture her youth, lets the star go when she eventually gives her heart to Tristian. This means her heart, which needs to be cut out before something like this occurs in order for it to give her the youth back, wouldn't work Gaiman's version is so much better and so less the stereotypical Hollywood ending where the evil is stamped out by the goodies. She simply just leaves them to live their lives in the novel, something so different it was a joy to read.
Another book vs film difference, where the book wins out, is seeing Tristian and his starry bride getting to travel and see the world that they will eventually reign first hand before taking over from Tristian's mother as rulers. They just seemed so down to earth, as much as a fallen star can be, that we can only hope for leaders like them in this world. And for people who actually know and have seen what the hell they are talking about.
Gaiman is truly a master of words, he truly drew me into his faitytale world, but not letting the picturesque setting take away from the fascinating characters or the adult tones that burst through. A truly adult fairytale, that anyone will enjoy, Gaiman puts to the forefront a world that anyone would want to be part of. Don't let the film put you off, there are moments that work so much better, are so less cliched, all in the end making a great little read. And the book is quite thin, slip it in your bag for your holidays! I look forward to reading more of his books, as well as the TV adaptation of his novel American Gods.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman is published by Headline in the UK.
Got quite a different book for you this week compared to last weeks lovely, gory and sexually violent book, Stardust. Written by Neil Gaiman, a man who has been receiving a lot of attention for his latest novel The Ocean At The End Of The Lane- watch this space, that book is currently residing in my pile of books to be read- so before I get to that to see what all the fuss is about, I decided to read another one of his older novels. Wow that was a long sentence.
I have seen the film adaptation that was released nearly 7 years ago now- where the hell is time going?! I really enjoyed the film, mainly down to the adult fairytale feeling that the film gave across. And of course I never miss a chance to watch a film starring the only woman I would ever consider, Michelle Pfeiffer. I was immediately thrown into a completely different universe, but one that I couldn't help but think was slightly familiar. Set in sunny (always is in fairytales) England, there was an extremely picturesque feeling to the whole story, especially in the village of Wall. Gaiman certainly does have a way with words.
I always enjoy a fairytale, mainly down to the themes that it deals with, that can often been of quite a violent or adult nature, but they are dressed in such a way you simply don't think of them as such. Stardust follows the character of Tristian, as he sets off into the other world that Wall sits next to. He is in search of a fallen star that he wants to get in order to get a hand in marriage. Being a demanding woman, she wants the star. In what I think is such a lovely image, the star is not an object, or a ball of gas, but is actually a woman whom has fallen out the sky. She was hit by a gem that 2 brothers, Primus and Septimus, the last two alive lords of the land, who must find the stone in order to become King. There is some great scenes involving them, mainly down to their ghostly brothers who always appear behind them in the film, and this detail is carried on the preceding novel, something Gaiman uses to a great comic advantage. This is also true of the witch who is after the star, and there are some great scenes where she forces an inn keeper to pretend they are married in order to entice the star into staying. There is something so sinister about reading the witch doing everything she can to relax the star, when we know she really wants to cut her heart right out of her.
Now, being 21, you may think my memory may be very sharp, but alas you would be mistaken. But I have to say I was quite impressed in noticing differences between the book and novel, something that alas (I love that word) always must occur. But I think the book wins out on all the alternatives that the film presented. This is more than evident in the witch's final scene, where an old witch, who is also after the star in order to recapture her youth, lets the star go when she eventually gives her heart to Tristian. This means her heart, which needs to be cut out before something like this occurs in order for it to give her the youth back, wouldn't work Gaiman's version is so much better and so less the stereotypical Hollywood ending where the evil is stamped out by the goodies. She simply just leaves them to live their lives in the novel, something so different it was a joy to read.
.jpg) |
| Does the film of 2007 film adaptation fair better? |
Another book vs film difference, where the book wins out, is seeing Tristian and his starry bride getting to travel and see the world that they will eventually reign first hand before taking over from Tristian's mother as rulers. They just seemed so down to earth, as much as a fallen star can be, that we can only hope for leaders like them in this world. And for people who actually know and have seen what the hell they are talking about.
Gaiman is truly a master of words, he truly drew me into his faitytale world, but not letting the picturesque setting take away from the fascinating characters or the adult tones that burst through. A truly adult fairytale, that anyone will enjoy, Gaiman puts to the forefront a world that anyone would want to be part of. Don't let the film put you off, there are moments that work so much better, are so less cliched, all in the end making a great little read. And the book is quite thin, slip it in your bag for your holidays! I look forward to reading more of his books, as well as the TV adaptation of his novel American Gods.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman is published by Headline in the UK.
Monday 21 April 2014
Ten Storey Love Song by Richard Milward
I can only apologise for the lack of book reviews for the past week. You may think that I haven't read any books recently but you would be wrong. I've read two more.... so that only means that I have been lazy. But do forgive me. I have been too busy down the church paying for Jesus.... Oh hang what the fuck am I talking about! Of course I've just been eating chocolate. So anyway, creepy chocolate covered Jesus images aside, let's plough on with one of the books I have recently devoured (sorry mid-devouring-chocolate as I type this).
Ten Storey Love Song is set in Middlesbrough in a tower block called Peach House. Full of characters that are both complex, hilarious and scarily violent all at the same time, the book is written in continuous prose. Expect no gaps or breaks in the texts, not even a chapter in sight. Usually I am a fiend for stopping at the start of a new chapter in a book, but trains suddenly arriving at their destination has snapped me out of this habit. So I didn't struggle with this at all. And if anything it reflected real life. Life's continuous journey, never stopping for a break, especially in a tower block where someone is always passing doors or heading out to work.
Now Richard Milward's not only a genius in this continuous flowing form of writing, but the content is absolutely brilliant. Focusing on two misfiring relationships between Bobby the Artist and Georgie as well as Ellen and Johnnie, they both encapsulate the benefit nation, often found out drinking, cheating the system and generally being delinquents. But there is hope for them all in some way, whether it be Bobby's talent attracting attention in London for painting masterpieces whilst under the influence of a multitude of drugs (including sniffing Lynx) or Georgie's job at BHS. Their relationship is full of complex moments, and also some heart warming ones, including Bobby thinking drugs no longer effect him even though he doesn't know Georgie has swapped his drugs for her addiction, sweets. Although you sometimes feel so angry at just how many bad mistakes they make and how much money is wasted, in the end your heart goes out for this couple, something Milward handles to well.
Johnnie and Ellen's relationship on the other hand is less hard to understand. I just want to warn you now, this novel is extremely graphic in its description, but whether you see it as graphic or realistic is up to you. But there are some fantastic descriptions and I loved the way Milward gives voices to inanimate objects whilst Bobby is on drugs including a VCR- yes its an older book- it's just hilarious. But yes I digress. Ellen and Johnnie's relationship always feels a bit doomed, especially when Ellen cheats on him and Johnnie loses his temper and nearly kills Angelo, the man she cheats with. Again, the graphic description here just adds to the intensity and your toes will curl, I guarantee you. I found it hard to like either of these characters, but again I think it is Milward's way of writing, that despite the good moments, there will always be disaster around the block.
There are other characters that Milward is so successful with that are worth a mention, all bringing their own complications and issues to the story. Lewis, the art dealer from London that Bobby thinks is so posh, is if you really look into his character, is just like everyone else. There is also Alan The Blunt Cunt (to give him his full name used throughout) whom is shown to be a pervert during the course of the story, that is right until the end when we learn about his real character. And you start to feel sorry for him.
In a story that is both graphic, realistic, tragic and heart warming, I couldn't help but smile when I finished the book. Milward did something I really respect of authors, taking characters that you should hate and detest for the choices that they make, but it is simply impossible. In a world that I know very little about, people taking drugs and delinquents on benefits, I saw a vein of positivity running from start to finish. Added to all this, one of the funniest books I have read in a long, long while. Go read now!
Ten Story Love Sony by Richard Milward is published by Faber and Faber in the UK.
Ten Storey Love Song is set in Middlesbrough in a tower block called Peach House. Full of characters that are both complex, hilarious and scarily violent all at the same time, the book is written in continuous prose. Expect no gaps or breaks in the texts, not even a chapter in sight. Usually I am a fiend for stopping at the start of a new chapter in a book, but trains suddenly arriving at their destination has snapped me out of this habit. So I didn't struggle with this at all. And if anything it reflected real life. Life's continuous journey, never stopping for a break, especially in a tower block where someone is always passing doors or heading out to work.
Now Richard Milward's not only a genius in this continuous flowing form of writing, but the content is absolutely brilliant. Focusing on two misfiring relationships between Bobby the Artist and Georgie as well as Ellen and Johnnie, they both encapsulate the benefit nation, often found out drinking, cheating the system and generally being delinquents. But there is hope for them all in some way, whether it be Bobby's talent attracting attention in London for painting masterpieces whilst under the influence of a multitude of drugs (including sniffing Lynx) or Georgie's job at BHS. Their relationship is full of complex moments, and also some heart warming ones, including Bobby thinking drugs no longer effect him even though he doesn't know Georgie has swapped his drugs for her addiction, sweets. Although you sometimes feel so angry at just how many bad mistakes they make and how much money is wasted, in the end your heart goes out for this couple, something Milward handles to well.
Johnnie and Ellen's relationship on the other hand is less hard to understand. I just want to warn you now, this novel is extremely graphic in its description, but whether you see it as graphic or realistic is up to you. But there are some fantastic descriptions and I loved the way Milward gives voices to inanimate objects whilst Bobby is on drugs including a VCR- yes its an older book- it's just hilarious. But yes I digress. Ellen and Johnnie's relationship always feels a bit doomed, especially when Ellen cheats on him and Johnnie loses his temper and nearly kills Angelo, the man she cheats with. Again, the graphic description here just adds to the intensity and your toes will curl, I guarantee you. I found it hard to like either of these characters, but again I think it is Milward's way of writing, that despite the good moments, there will always be disaster around the block.
There are other characters that Milward is so successful with that are worth a mention, all bringing their own complications and issues to the story. Lewis, the art dealer from London that Bobby thinks is so posh, is if you really look into his character, is just like everyone else. There is also Alan The Blunt Cunt (to give him his full name used throughout) whom is shown to be a pervert during the course of the story, that is right until the end when we learn about his real character. And you start to feel sorry for him.
In a story that is both graphic, realistic, tragic and heart warming, I couldn't help but smile when I finished the book. Milward did something I really respect of authors, taking characters that you should hate and detest for the choices that they make, but it is simply impossible. In a world that I know very little about, people taking drugs and delinquents on benefits, I saw a vein of positivity running from start to finish. Added to all this, one of the funniest books I have read in a long, long while. Go read now!
Ten Story Love Sony by Richard Milward is published by Faber and Faber in the UK.
Sunday 13 April 2014
The Other Half Of Me by Morgan McCarthy
Now I don't really have a particularly dramatic or close family, but I do love a good story about a the traditional family, and how behind closed doors, things are not as simple as they look. And this is exactly what I have in store for you this week fellow readers: a dramatic family tale. And before you say anything, yes I did read this book mostly based on the fact that the family surname is Anthony (basically my name) and the main characters' name is Jonathan (my middle name). Fairly selfish reason I'm sure you will agree...
Set in rural Wales, The Other Half Of Me focuses on the not-troubled-for-money Anthony family. The story is told from Jonathan Anthony's point of view, as we criss-cross different times in his life, with details about the plot slowly being revealed as we go. McCarthy achieves this with such grace and elegance, it's hard not to admire the way she manages to reveal everything throughout so many different time periods. From the outset, we can tell that whilst they may have no money worries, they have plenty else to deal with.
Jonathan's younger sister Theo (yes that confused me for a very long time, boy or girl?) is an intriguing character even at such a young innocent age, asking strange questions and following Jonathan about like a lost puppy. This continues into the latter stages of their lives, when they have both moved to London and Theo is completely dependent on Jonathan. But their relationship is told so well, you almost start to feel sorry for Theo, and the fact she can never hold down a job and gets bored very easily. Reading the parts about her, I struggled to not agree, yes work can get boring, why not just not turn up sometimes? But unfortunately, as reading is an escape from the real world, this idea soon fades.
There are many other family characters who continue to intrigue and fascinate throughout as well, including Theo and Jonathan's mother Alicia, who is never referred to as Mum or Mother and only ever Alicia. This little detail highlights to us just how distant she is from her children, and they constantly rely on each other for entertainment, or the multiple staff that work in their huge country house. Along with the mother is their estranged father, whom either child knows about, and are both told died in Australia. This absentee father bases the majority of the story, as Theo always until her tragic demise, wants to find out about and know what happens to him. This continues to haunt Jonathan throughout his adult life until he gets some truth (I won't ruin it for you) and you will be satisfied with the ending.
The character that clinched my interest the most was their grandmother Eve. A former US government worker, there are many names dropped throughout, including Nixon and JFK himself. Now a international hotel owner, Eve plays a somewhat impermanent fixture in Jonathan's life, and she is the character I enjoyed the most. She is the one who carries the family secrets to her death bed, telling Jonathan almost everything just before she passes towards the end of the novel. She was such an complex character, with plenty of history, that I was always a little saddened when she disappeared again and again from the novel. Maybe this is one downside; not enough Eve.
This is not to say that Jonathan doesn't tell a good story. He kept my attention at all times, as he described his long lust for their almost neighbour Maria, but it does get a bit creepy after awhile at just how many years he thinks about her and just how many relationships he lets it effect. But all in all, I found this book hugely enjoyable read, not to complex, not graphic but plenty of mystery, plenty of fantastic characters and PLENTY of family dirt. A must read.
The Other Half Of Me by Morgan McCarthy is published by Headline books in the UK.
Set in rural Wales, The Other Half Of Me focuses on the not-troubled-for-money Anthony family. The story is told from Jonathan Anthony's point of view, as we criss-cross different times in his life, with details about the plot slowly being revealed as we go. McCarthy achieves this with such grace and elegance, it's hard not to admire the way she manages to reveal everything throughout so many different time periods. From the outset, we can tell that whilst they may have no money worries, they have plenty else to deal with.
 |
| Morgan's novel |
Jonathan's younger sister Theo (yes that confused me for a very long time, boy or girl?) is an intriguing character even at such a young innocent age, asking strange questions and following Jonathan about like a lost puppy. This continues into the latter stages of their lives, when they have both moved to London and Theo is completely dependent on Jonathan. But their relationship is told so well, you almost start to feel sorry for Theo, and the fact she can never hold down a job and gets bored very easily. Reading the parts about her, I struggled to not agree, yes work can get boring, why not just not turn up sometimes? But unfortunately, as reading is an escape from the real world, this idea soon fades.
There are many other family characters who continue to intrigue and fascinate throughout as well, including Theo and Jonathan's mother Alicia, who is never referred to as Mum or Mother and only ever Alicia. This little detail highlights to us just how distant she is from her children, and they constantly rely on each other for entertainment, or the multiple staff that work in their huge country house. Along with the mother is their estranged father, whom either child knows about, and are both told died in Australia. This absentee father bases the majority of the story, as Theo always until her tragic demise, wants to find out about and know what happens to him. This continues to haunt Jonathan throughout his adult life until he gets some truth (I won't ruin it for you) and you will be satisfied with the ending.
The character that clinched my interest the most was their grandmother Eve. A former US government worker, there are many names dropped throughout, including Nixon and JFK himself. Now a international hotel owner, Eve plays a somewhat impermanent fixture in Jonathan's life, and she is the character I enjoyed the most. She is the one who carries the family secrets to her death bed, telling Jonathan almost everything just before she passes towards the end of the novel. She was such an complex character, with plenty of history, that I was always a little saddened when she disappeared again and again from the novel. Maybe this is one downside; not enough Eve.
This is not to say that Jonathan doesn't tell a good story. He kept my attention at all times, as he described his long lust for their almost neighbour Maria, but it does get a bit creepy after awhile at just how many years he thinks about her and just how many relationships he lets it effect. But all in all, I found this book hugely enjoyable read, not to complex, not graphic but plenty of mystery, plenty of fantastic characters and PLENTY of family dirt. A must read.
The Other Half Of Me by Morgan McCarthy is published by Headline books in the UK.
Sunday 6 April 2014
The Fields by Kevin Mahar
The Fields opens in Dublin during the 80s and we find Jim Finnegan as our protagonist. He is only 13-years-old and we are immediately thrown into his innocent world, joining him and his best mate on cycle trips. There is an instant enthusiasm from Jim as learn about his family, including 5 sisters, his distant father and typically Irish, gossipy (is that a word?) mother. They are an extremely varied bunch, all with their own traits, but slowly fade into the background as we explore Jim's character more and more.
We soon begin to learn that Jim isn't as straight forward as we first think. The innocence still remains in his voice throughout the novel, but his actions start to become more and more erratic. This all escalates in him eventually stealing someone's girlfriend, whose name is so Irish I'm not even going to attempt to type it let alone say it. There are some very uncomfortable scenes with her, as learn about them passionately kissing, bearing in mind he is only 14 by this time. Kissing very soon leads to more (I'm not going to spell this out for you), and for me the uncomfortable feeling just continued here. The way that Mahar has told it through Jim's childish voice just doesn't make it sound right, and maybe that was what he was trying to get at. But for me, the feeling of complete gross out never left me in these scenes.
Now the front cover of the novel promised a heart warming and laugh out loud story. I'm not sure these are quite the words to describe this novel, especially when Jim becomes an altar boy and a priest starts to take an unhealthy, and very illegal interest in him. These scenes of rape, again told through Jim's innocent eyes really put me on edge. I've always been funny with the power of religion, and the fact that the priest continues to blame Jim for what the rape he is committing, just adds to the tension that I felt reading it. I was so on edge, people on the train must have thought I was feeling a tad ill. But it is important to hear these stories, as well know to well the stories of abuse that come out of the church.
Jim's relationship continues during this time, and there are so many opportunities for him to tell someone, it almost starts to become annoying. But then we must remember he is only a child, but the sheer honesty and naivety of the story telling makes it the more real, and we soon realise he is powerless to tell anyone. Who would believe him over the highly regarded local priest?
The story soon moves onto London where Jim and his girlfriend have traveled in order for her to have an abortion. It made me extremely sad to see the lengths they had to go to in order to abort the foetus; Ireland has never exactly been tolerant of it. And it is when the story moves to London that the hit and miss novel really falls apart for me. It just seemed a bit ridiculous, whether it was the 15 year old Jim working in a bar with a lot of gay men (who by the way beat up the priest when he visits Jim in London- creepy- and you can't help but smile), or the spiritual classes he attends where they teach people to heal, it doesn't ever feel right for me.
So for a novel that I was expecting to laugh out loud to (I refuse to put that abbreviation here), I was highly disappointed. There are some lovely moments between Jim and his family, but these are heavily taken away from when there is too much focus on the spiritual healing, and the details that just seem too far fetched, and doesn't seem realistic enough. This is such a shame for a book that deals with hugely modern issues such as the abuse that children suffer and the poor sex education they are giving. But Mahar does achieve one thing; finding a suitable voice to innocently present these issues and make them seem to much worse because of it.
The Fields is published by Abacus, an imprint of Little, Brown books in the UK.
We soon begin to learn that Jim isn't as straight forward as we first think. The innocence still remains in his voice throughout the novel, but his actions start to become more and more erratic. This all escalates in him eventually stealing someone's girlfriend, whose name is so Irish I'm not even going to attempt to type it let alone say it. There are some very uncomfortable scenes with her, as learn about them passionately kissing, bearing in mind he is only 14 by this time. Kissing very soon leads to more (I'm not going to spell this out for you), and for me the uncomfortable feeling just continued here. The way that Mahar has told it through Jim's childish voice just doesn't make it sound right, and maybe that was what he was trying to get at. But for me, the feeling of complete gross out never left me in these scenes.
Now the front cover of the novel promised a heart warming and laugh out loud story. I'm not sure these are quite the words to describe this novel, especially when Jim becomes an altar boy and a priest starts to take an unhealthy, and very illegal interest in him. These scenes of rape, again told through Jim's innocent eyes really put me on edge. I've always been funny with the power of religion, and the fact that the priest continues to blame Jim for what the rape he is committing, just adds to the tension that I felt reading it. I was so on edge, people on the train must have thought I was feeling a tad ill. But it is important to hear these stories, as well know to well the stories of abuse that come out of the church.
Jim's relationship continues during this time, and there are so many opportunities for him to tell someone, it almost starts to become annoying. But then we must remember he is only a child, but the sheer honesty and naivety of the story telling makes it the more real, and we soon realise he is powerless to tell anyone. Who would believe him over the highly regarded local priest?
The story soon moves onto London where Jim and his girlfriend have traveled in order for her to have an abortion. It made me extremely sad to see the lengths they had to go to in order to abort the foetus; Ireland has never exactly been tolerant of it. And it is when the story moves to London that the hit and miss novel really falls apart for me. It just seemed a bit ridiculous, whether it was the 15 year old Jim working in a bar with a lot of gay men (who by the way beat up the priest when he visits Jim in London- creepy- and you can't help but smile), or the spiritual classes he attends where they teach people to heal, it doesn't ever feel right for me.
So for a novel that I was expecting to laugh out loud to (I refuse to put that abbreviation here), I was highly disappointed. There are some lovely moments between Jim and his family, but these are heavily taken away from when there is too much focus on the spiritual healing, and the details that just seem too far fetched, and doesn't seem realistic enough. This is such a shame for a book that deals with hugely modern issues such as the abuse that children suffer and the poor sex education they are giving. But Mahar does achieve one thing; finding a suitable voice to innocently present these issues and make them seem to much worse because of it.
The Fields is published by Abacus, an imprint of Little, Brown books in the UK.
Monday 31 March 2014
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John Le Carré
I write this latest blog post feeling all (hate to say it) fresh after a day off, having a good old clear out of my room and the weather finally starting to feel a little less icy. And to go with this cozy, warm feeling, I've got another classic novel for you in today's review, John Le Carré's infamous novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I already know the story having watched the film a few years ago. I remember this vividly, mostly because the person who I saw it with fell asleep halfway through, and I must admit, I wasn't far off myself. It certainly wasn't a film to see in the cinema, but having watched it back, it is rather a good watch.
As I have said before, I'm not one of those people to write off a book if the film/TV adaptation is a load of rubbish. So I thought I would give it a try, having read a few others of his in the past including The Constant Gardener, a book I must admit I struggled with, but did read when I was only 16 or 17, hardly the target audience of the book.
The novel in question focuses on Le Carré's particularly famous character of George Smiley, who appears in one previous novel prior to TTSS (if you don't get the abbreviation, SERIOUSLY) and features in many later novels. We find Smiley has been shunted out of the Circus, a Government intelligence and spy group, after a disastrous exposure of a Czech mission goes seriously wrong. Le Carré certainly seems to know what he is writing about. The novel is littered with so many references to spying, and sometimes it comes across as extremely complicated. But all I tried to remember whenever Smiiley is talking to someone is think, right a spy has had his cover blown. I found that helped a lot.
We open as Jim Prideaux, ex- Circus who got himself shot during the Czech disaster So with Smiley out of action, and with the order at the Circus completely changed, it soon comes to light that there a mole within the Circus who is leaking information to the Russians. Le Carré weaves an extremely intricate plot which I am not about to explain, and if you get easily confused with names and people telling constant anecdotes, then I really wouldn't advise reading this novel.
Whislt I did really enjoy this novel, it was hard going sometimes, especially when I was probably reading at the worst times, first thing in the morning and on the train home after a long day at work. You really need to concentrate for this one. I'm sorry I'm not saying much about the book, I think I would start to just confuse myself as well as yourselves if I went too deeply into the novel.... So if you enjoy an extremely clever spy thriller, look no further than this intricate classic. Look out for some great characters too, mostly who I remember from the film too, including Kathy Burke's Connie Sachs, Mark Strong's Jim Prideaux, and of course Gary Oldman Smiley.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is published by Sceptre, an imprint of Hodder and Stoughton, in the UK.
As I have said before, I'm not one of those people to write off a book if the film/TV adaptation is a load of rubbish. So I thought I would give it a try, having read a few others of his in the past including The Constant Gardener, a book I must admit I struggled with, but did read when I was only 16 or 17, hardly the target audience of the book.
The novel in question focuses on Le Carré's particularly famous character of George Smiley, who appears in one previous novel prior to TTSS (if you don't get the abbreviation, SERIOUSLY) and features in many later novels. We find Smiley has been shunted out of the Circus, a Government intelligence and spy group, after a disastrous exposure of a Czech mission goes seriously wrong. Le Carré certainly seems to know what he is writing about. The novel is littered with so many references to spying, and sometimes it comes across as extremely complicated. But all I tried to remember whenever Smiiley is talking to someone is think, right a spy has had his cover blown. I found that helped a lot.
We open as Jim Prideaux, ex- Circus who got himself shot during the Czech disaster So with Smiley out of action, and with the order at the Circus completely changed, it soon comes to light that there a mole within the Circus who is leaking information to the Russians. Le Carré weaves an extremely intricate plot which I am not about to explain, and if you get easily confused with names and people telling constant anecdotes, then I really wouldn't advise reading this novel.
 |
| Kathy Burke as Connie Sachs |
Whislt I did really enjoy this novel, it was hard going sometimes, especially when I was probably reading at the worst times, first thing in the morning and on the train home after a long day at work. You really need to concentrate for this one. I'm sorry I'm not saying much about the book, I think I would start to just confuse myself as well as yourselves if I went too deeply into the novel.... So if you enjoy an extremely clever spy thriller, look no further than this intricate classic. Look out for some great characters too, mostly who I remember from the film too, including Kathy Burke's Connie Sachs, Mark Strong's Jim Prideaux, and of course Gary Oldman Smiley.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is published by Sceptre, an imprint of Hodder and Stoughton, in the UK.
Tuesday 25 March 2014
Dear Lucy by Julia Sarkissian and If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch
A real treat for you this week as I will be reviewing the latest two books I've read together. Yes a double whammy of books to read! Too much I hear you scream? Well fear not. I have not just lumped any random two books together. Both of these books I'm about to talk about deal with very similar issues. Whilst they are aimed at different audiences, they are both harrowing stories involving the plights of young girls and women, both with hugely varying effects...
Sometimes I just can't plan these things. But I happened to put these books next to each other without really knowing the real issues that both of the books dealt with. Oh well worked out well for me! I feel a little bit like I am back at university comparing two novels, but do not worry, there will be not a Harvard reference insight.
Dear Lucy, the first of our two female led novels, is told from the perspective of three different women, all at various stages of their life. The main character revolves around Lucy, or Dear Lucy as her mother so affectionately calls her. It is clear from the outset that Lucy has a psychological condition. She seems to hear and see things that others don't, as well as being extremely aggressive towards people when they do not help her. This has led to her being thrown into living with the mysterious Mister and Missus, the latter of who makes up our second perspective, with the third being from Samantha, a girl who is also living with them. It is clear none of them are related. From the very start, the book put me on edge. It was very hard to like any of the characters, and being such strong females, I found it uneasy to relate to any of them. There is a constant sense that everything will be explained, and in dribs and drabs it slowly begins to form. But this takes time. An awfully long time.
The whole idea for the story is extremely unique, with the idea of Mister and Missus running some sort of halfway house for troublesome female children. Missus, whom we later find out can't have children so instead has adopted before, remains until the end far too unexplained and complex. With her back story of the death of her previous adopted child, along with her soon-to-be child courtesy of pregnant teenager Samantha, there is a deep sense of tragedy, but Sarkissian misses the mark with her. As for the other characters, Lucy's parts must be read slowly in order to follow her warped sense of being and thinking, and Samantha's typical tearaway teenager attitude, soon becomes tiresome. There are also some quite unbelievable and forced parts, especially the parts where Lucy roams around on her own talking to the chicken egg foetus (yes you read that right) she carries around in her pocket called Jennifer. Sarkissian, for me, doesn't quite make it sympathetic enough, instead giving Jennifer an annoying quality.
If You Find Me also features some strong female leads, except at a much younger age. At the time of reading it, I didn't even realise that the audience for the book is the young adult market. It was written with such a maturity, and dealt with such serious issues that I didn't even cotton onto the intended audience. The book is told from the viewpoint of Carey, a 15-year- old girl who, at the start of the novel, is fond living in a camper van in the middle of an American National Park with her younger sister. Abandoned by their drug addicted mother for sporadic periods of time, the mother has finally written to the social services who go, along with Carey's father, to discover them in squalid conditions.
At first, Carey is very distrusting of the outsiders, as anyone of her young age would. This is added to even more once we begin to learn details of just exactly her and her half- sister have been through. Having been taken away before she could remember many things, Carey has been raised in a life full of her mothers' lies. Murdoch so well captures this innocence of a teenage girl, as well as her mute half- sister Jenessa. Murdoch plays with dangerous territory when she almost slips into a high school novel when the two girls start school, but manages to keep the serious tone when Carey finally admits to a tragic, yet necessary crime that has been haunting her.
There are so many poignant moments in the book that made my heartache. Having to read the passages about Carey's being used so disgustingly by her mother made me wince, and it is no wonder why her little sister is so scarred she hardly talks. But the story develops into something we all want. Hope. Family. Comfort. It may have been interesting to eventually hear from the mother again, but she is never seen in the present throughout the novels. But this is one very small flaw in Murdoch's brilliant novel.
Whilst I may not have been the target audience for either novel, I found myself looking at both extremely differently. Both deal with terrible situations, as well as coming from almost completely female voices, but even though they are for different audiences, the writing of both is so complex and subtly interwoven into all the tenses, that I eventually enjoyed both. I did struggle with Dear Lucy for awhile, but I didn't put it down, meaning deep, deep down I liked it enough to finish it. The characters are extremely intriguing. As for If You Find Me, I truly sympathised with Carey and Jenessa throughout. Whilst sometimes Murdoch may drag out the transition period for the two girls, it is only realistic that it takes so much time for them to even start to feel comfortable in a normal family environment. I felt guilty, I felt sad, I felt hope. I highly recommend both books if you enjoy books with strong, female roles, dealing with moments in their life that none of them will want to look back on.
Dear Lucy by Julie Sarkissian is published by Hodder and Stoughton in the UK.
If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch is published by Indigo, an imprint of Orion Books in the UK.
Sometimes I just can't plan these things. But I happened to put these books next to each other without really knowing the real issues that both of the books dealt with. Oh well worked out well for me! I feel a little bit like I am back at university comparing two novels, but do not worry, there will be not a Harvard reference insight.
Dear Lucy, the first of our two female led novels, is told from the perspective of three different women, all at various stages of their life. The main character revolves around Lucy, or Dear Lucy as her mother so affectionately calls her. It is clear from the outset that Lucy has a psychological condition. She seems to hear and see things that others don't, as well as being extremely aggressive towards people when they do not help her. This has led to her being thrown into living with the mysterious Mister and Missus, the latter of who makes up our second perspective, with the third being from Samantha, a girl who is also living with them. It is clear none of them are related. From the very start, the book put me on edge. It was very hard to like any of the characters, and being such strong females, I found it uneasy to relate to any of them. There is a constant sense that everything will be explained, and in dribs and drabs it slowly begins to form. But this takes time. An awfully long time.The whole idea for the story is extremely unique, with the idea of Mister and Missus running some sort of halfway house for troublesome female children. Missus, whom we later find out can't have children so instead has adopted before, remains until the end far too unexplained and complex. With her back story of the death of her previous adopted child, along with her soon-to-be child courtesy of pregnant teenager Samantha, there is a deep sense of tragedy, but Sarkissian misses the mark with her. As for the other characters, Lucy's parts must be read slowly in order to follow her warped sense of being and thinking, and Samantha's typical tearaway teenager attitude, soon becomes tiresome. There are also some quite unbelievable and forced parts, especially the parts where Lucy roams around on her own talking to the chicken egg foetus (yes you read that right) she carries around in her pocket called Jennifer. Sarkissian, for me, doesn't quite make it sympathetic enough, instead giving Jennifer an annoying quality.
If You Find Me also features some strong female leads, except at a much younger age. At the time of reading it, I didn't even realise that the audience for the book is the young adult market. It was written with such a maturity, and dealt with such serious issues that I didn't even cotton onto the intended audience. The book is told from the viewpoint of Carey, a 15-year- old girl who, at the start of the novel, is fond living in a camper van in the middle of an American National Park with her younger sister. Abandoned by their drug addicted mother for sporadic periods of time, the mother has finally written to the social services who go, along with Carey's father, to discover them in squalid conditions.At first, Carey is very distrusting of the outsiders, as anyone of her young age would. This is added to even more once we begin to learn details of just exactly her and her half- sister have been through. Having been taken away before she could remember many things, Carey has been raised in a life full of her mothers' lies. Murdoch so well captures this innocence of a teenage girl, as well as her mute half- sister Jenessa. Murdoch plays with dangerous territory when she almost slips into a high school novel when the two girls start school, but manages to keep the serious tone when Carey finally admits to a tragic, yet necessary crime that has been haunting her.
There are so many poignant moments in the book that made my heartache. Having to read the passages about Carey's being used so disgustingly by her mother made me wince, and it is no wonder why her little sister is so scarred she hardly talks. But the story develops into something we all want. Hope. Family. Comfort. It may have been interesting to eventually hear from the mother again, but she is never seen in the present throughout the novels. But this is one very small flaw in Murdoch's brilliant novel.
Whilst I may not have been the target audience for either novel, I found myself looking at both extremely differently. Both deal with terrible situations, as well as coming from almost completely female voices, but even though they are for different audiences, the writing of both is so complex and subtly interwoven into all the tenses, that I eventually enjoyed both. I did struggle with Dear Lucy for awhile, but I didn't put it down, meaning deep, deep down I liked it enough to finish it. The characters are extremely intriguing. As for If You Find Me, I truly sympathised with Carey and Jenessa throughout. Whilst sometimes Murdoch may drag out the transition period for the two girls, it is only realistic that it takes so much time for them to even start to feel comfortable in a normal family environment. I felt guilty, I felt sad, I felt hope. I highly recommend both books if you enjoy books with strong, female roles, dealing with moments in their life that none of them will want to look back on.
Dear Lucy by Julie Sarkissian is published by Hodder and Stoughton in the UK.
If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch is published by Indigo, an imprint of Orion Books in the UK.
Sunday 16 March 2014
When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket
Lemony Snicket is one of those authors who just screams childhood to me. When I was in my younger years, and everyday that is getting further and further away, Snicket was my favourite author. Forget J.K Rowling, Snicket's books were much more my thing. I think I preferred the realism and the sarcasm that he wrote with. I saved up every year to by the latest book in his A Series Of Unfortunate Events series and enjoyed every one of them. Except the last one. What a terrible book that was. It completely ruined the entire series for me, as well as feigning my interest in Snicket. But I will always be thankful for him. He made my interest in reading continue as a young adult, and was the best transition to have from young adult books to the adult world.
So due to my feigning interest as I put it, I stopped following him completely. Imagine my delight then to see when I traipsing through another charity box to find a book by him. Seeing his name made me instantly think about laying in bed late (when I should have been asleep) delving into the latest in his prior series. I mean of course I realise I am an adult now, but after reading such a depressing series of books, I decided a bit of nostalgia was highly necessary this week.
Now due the nature of the charity box, I often get stuck reading the second in a series of books, waiting and waiting to get my hands on the first in the series (if I ever get the chance). This is the case here I am afraid, but if I ever get the chance, I shall review book 1 in his brand new series of novels, All The Wrong Questions. Today's blog will look at the second in the series entitled When Did You See Her Last?. A bit of research to get some context due the lacking first novel, I was delighted to discover that Snicket's new series is a prequel to A Series Of Unfortunate Events.
Reading the first page immediately bought back memories of Snicket's style. The wit was there from the first page. The second novel in the series sees us following Snicket himself in a dying seaside town called Stain'd-by-the-Sea. His brilliance with using names was still there, already giving me a grim impression of this almost abandoned town. Snicket is an apprentice to a police detective investigating the disappearance of a local rich girl. His teacher thinks the case is easily solved, but as expected, Snicket is on the case to show there is so much more to the story. Playing someone of younger age, the characters in the new series do for me what the Baudelaire triplets did in A Series Of Unfortunate Events. They taught me to be intuitive, bright, confident and know that adults aren't always right as they grow up.
Now I don't want to give too much plot away here, but it is typical Snicket. Full of twists and turns, as well as the moments where you think everything is finally going to plan for a spanner to be thrown in the words. It is so comforting to know that there is still a lot of intelligent and witty fiction out there for children, and not just sticker books with One Direction's face on. There were a few parts I didn't quite understand, such as what age Snicket is supposed to be in the novel, but I'm sure all would become clear with the first book. as many of the characters are children in the book, as an adult it was easy to see their innocence and disillusion. But as is typical for Snicket, he gives children a chance to fight for change, even in his sometimes surreal world.
So even if you think you are too old to read him now, don't knock it until you've tried it. There are still plenty of adult themes within the novel, including murder, kidnapping and deception. I couldn't help but feel that it is all building up to an exciting conclusion. Buy this book, even if not for your child or a child you know, buy it for yourself. Snicket hasn't lost it. It may even rouse a child's interest in his previous fiction, something I think was so very important! And to keep my interest as an adult? Well my version of an adult, is something pretty special.
When Did You See Her Last? (book 2 in the All The Wrong Questions series) is published by Little, Brown in the UK.
.jpg) |
| A Series Of Unfortunate Events...my childhood in a picture |
So due to my feigning interest as I put it, I stopped following him completely. Imagine my delight then to see when I traipsing through another charity box to find a book by him. Seeing his name made me instantly think about laying in bed late (when I should have been asleep) delving into the latest in his prior series. I mean of course I realise I am an adult now, but after reading such a depressing series of books, I decided a bit of nostalgia was highly necessary this week.
Now due the nature of the charity box, I often get stuck reading the second in a series of books, waiting and waiting to get my hands on the first in the series (if I ever get the chance). This is the case here I am afraid, but if I ever get the chance, I shall review book 1 in his brand new series of novels, All The Wrong Questions. Today's blog will look at the second in the series entitled When Did You See Her Last?. A bit of research to get some context due the lacking first novel, I was delighted to discover that Snicket's new series is a prequel to A Series Of Unfortunate Events.
 |
| Lemony's latest offering |
Reading the first page immediately bought back memories of Snicket's style. The wit was there from the first page. The second novel in the series sees us following Snicket himself in a dying seaside town called Stain'd-by-the-Sea. His brilliance with using names was still there, already giving me a grim impression of this almost abandoned town. Snicket is an apprentice to a police detective investigating the disappearance of a local rich girl. His teacher thinks the case is easily solved, but as expected, Snicket is on the case to show there is so much more to the story. Playing someone of younger age, the characters in the new series do for me what the Baudelaire triplets did in A Series Of Unfortunate Events. They taught me to be intuitive, bright, confident and know that adults aren't always right as they grow up.
Now I don't want to give too much plot away here, but it is typical Snicket. Full of twists and turns, as well as the moments where you think everything is finally going to plan for a spanner to be thrown in the words. It is so comforting to know that there is still a lot of intelligent and witty fiction out there for children, and not just sticker books with One Direction's face on. There were a few parts I didn't quite understand, such as what age Snicket is supposed to be in the novel, but I'm sure all would become clear with the first book. as many of the characters are children in the book, as an adult it was easy to see their innocence and disillusion. But as is typical for Snicket, he gives children a chance to fight for change, even in his sometimes surreal world.
So even if you think you are too old to read him now, don't knock it until you've tried it. There are still plenty of adult themes within the novel, including murder, kidnapping and deception. I couldn't help but feel that it is all building up to an exciting conclusion. Buy this book, even if not for your child or a child you know, buy it for yourself. Snicket hasn't lost it. It may even rouse a child's interest in his previous fiction, something I think was so very important! And to keep my interest as an adult? Well my version of an adult, is something pretty special.
When Did You See Her Last? (book 2 in the All The Wrong Questions series) is published by Little, Brown in the UK.
Tuesday 11 March 2014
Death In August & Death In Florence by Marco Vichi
So not am only am I treating you all to your third review in as many days, but today's review features TWO BOOKS. Yes two whole books for you to potentially enjoy should you by any slim chance, agree or disagree with my ramblings. So here goes...
I have always been quite a fan of the crime genre, not the crap out there by writers such as Martina Cole, Lisa Gardner and Karen Rose, but quality stuff from the likes of Stieg Larsson and Gillian Flynn. But I have gone off it recently, so after reading quite a different variety of books, I thought I would slip back into some crime novels. Searching through the charity books, I discovered two books by Marco Vichi. Both of the titles had 'Death' in the title so that heavily denoted crime. Not only this, but flicking through the blurbs, they are both set in Florence, Italy. One of my favourite cities. The Italian in me (only half a person mind) added them to the bottom of the pile.
Both of these books are from a series of novels featuring the veteran war hero turned policeman Inspector Bordelli. The first novel in the series, Death In August, is our first look at the character of Inspector Bordelli. An extremely complex character, he is the stereotypical Italian man. Can't keep a woman, eats far too much and smokes even more. He is rather unlikable which made the first book extremely difficult to read. The plot centres around the mysterious death of a local rich lady. It is classic Agatha Christie, with plenty of red herrings and a seemingly obvious explanation for everything in the end. There is even the classic big reveal at the end. But Vichi doesn't quite pull it off. It all feels rather rushed and awkward. Perhaps it was just a bad translation. It was the first book in awhile that I nearly didn't bother finishing, the last being one of Martina Cole's latest tripe.
Putting a book distance between the first novel and one of the later books in the series Death In Florence, I was quite reluctant to read it after my previous read. I decided to give it a go and was pleasantly surprised. Being a much longer book, it felt like Vichi had given it more time to play out and not feel as speedy. Centreing on the death of a young boy who is found buried in the woods, there is a much greater sense of plot throughout. There is a passage later in the book that is quite uncomfortable to read, where we learn about the death of a boy, involving a sex game with a group of old Fascists that has been going on for years. But then if no-one wrote about stuff like this, we wouldn't know it happens.
One thing that Vichi does extremely well is surrounding the unlikable Inspector Bordelli with intriguing characters. Many of them are ex- convicts that he has let off, or even an old prostitute he has a close friendship with. It helps to add much more depth to the plot, as well as Bordelli himself, learning about his character through how he interacts with them.
Death In Florence is a much easier read, with many of the Christie cliches stripped away. It almost loses it in the middle of the book when Florence floods and the investigation takes a back seat. Whilst this may be realistic, it only hinders in the storytelling and becomes slightly mundane after awhile. I did read this in the midst of the flooding in Surrey near my house so maybe I was just sick of high tides.
So if you a fan of crime, I would certainly give them a go. The first book is so short that it is almost worth reading just to be introduced the characters, so as to go on and be able to enjoy later books in the series. But did they make me fall in love with crime fiction again? That would have to be a no.
Both of these novels are published by Hodder and Stoughton in the UK.
I have always been quite a fan of the crime genre, not the crap out there by writers such as Martina Cole, Lisa Gardner and Karen Rose, but quality stuff from the likes of Stieg Larsson and Gillian Flynn. But I have gone off it recently, so after reading quite a different variety of books, I thought I would slip back into some crime novels. Searching through the charity books, I discovered two books by Marco Vichi. Both of the titles had 'Death' in the title so that heavily denoted crime. Not only this, but flicking through the blurbs, they are both set in Florence, Italy. One of my favourite cities. The Italian in me (only half a person mind) added them to the bottom of the pile.
Both of these books are from a series of novels featuring the veteran war hero turned policeman Inspector Bordelli. The first novel in the series, Death In August, is our first look at the character of Inspector Bordelli. An extremely complex character, he is the stereotypical Italian man. Can't keep a woman, eats far too much and smokes even more. He is rather unlikable which made the first book extremely difficult to read. The plot centres around the mysterious death of a local rich lady. It is classic Agatha Christie, with plenty of red herrings and a seemingly obvious explanation for everything in the end. There is even the classic big reveal at the end. But Vichi doesn't quite pull it off. It all feels rather rushed and awkward. Perhaps it was just a bad translation. It was the first book in awhile that I nearly didn't bother finishing, the last being one of Martina Cole's latest tripe.
Putting a book distance between the first novel and one of the later books in the series Death In Florence, I was quite reluctant to read it after my previous read. I decided to give it a go and was pleasantly surprised. Being a much longer book, it felt like Vichi had given it more time to play out and not feel as speedy. Centreing on the death of a young boy who is found buried in the woods, there is a much greater sense of plot throughout. There is a passage later in the book that is quite uncomfortable to read, where we learn about the death of a boy, involving a sex game with a group of old Fascists that has been going on for years. But then if no-one wrote about stuff like this, we wouldn't know it happens.
One thing that Vichi does extremely well is surrounding the unlikable Inspector Bordelli with intriguing characters. Many of them are ex- convicts that he has let off, or even an old prostitute he has a close friendship with. It helps to add much more depth to the plot, as well as Bordelli himself, learning about his character through how he interacts with them.
Death In Florence is a much easier read, with many of the Christie cliches stripped away. It almost loses it in the middle of the book when Florence floods and the investigation takes a back seat. Whilst this may be realistic, it only hinders in the storytelling and becomes slightly mundane after awhile. I did read this in the midst of the flooding in Surrey near my house so maybe I was just sick of high tides.
 |
| The height of the Florence 1966 floods depicted in Death In Florence |
So if you a fan of crime, I would certainly give them a go. The first book is so short that it is almost worth reading just to be introduced the characters, so as to go on and be able to enjoy later books in the series. But did they make me fall in love with crime fiction again? That would have to be a no.
Both of these novels are published by Hodder and Stoughton in the UK.
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