Category: Book Review

Book Review

Gone Girl

This book review is from my other blog, however due to the book’s recent release, I thought it best to post it on here too.

This book has been on my book wish list for some time now and I have eventually got round to reading it. At first I thought that someone had spoilt the book for me by explaining the narrative structure. How wrong I was. If anything it made me a lot more open to the actual plot itself which in return had me hooked. For anyone that is unsure what it is about, Nick’s wife, Amy, goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary. Accusations are made against Nick and the police begin to suspect him of Amy’s disappearance, however Nick swears it isn’t true. Gillian Flynn seems to have created this plot in so much depth that it will have you questioning Amy’s disappearance until the very end. To me this book is all about the discovery of the incident as well as the characters. When you begin to suspect something, take a step back and think again because this thriller will have you on the edge of your seat. I truly hope that someone thinks about reading this novel as I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed. If anyone has read this then please feel free to tell me what you thought of the book, although please consider anyone who may wish to read it. So no spoilers please!
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Book Review

The Shock of the Fall Book review

Thoughtfully written and a pleasure to read. The Shock of the Fall, by Nathan Filer has won the Costa Coffee Book awards 2013 and it could not have been more deserved. Matthew Holmes retells the story of his childhood and his battles with his illness. Matthew’s story focuses on the loss of his brother Simon and the way in which he grieves. The innocence of Matthew shines through the novel, which in return, makes his character’s childhood more relatable.IMG_1800

The novel is written in a variety of formats, making Nathan Filer’s first novel seem truly original. If you prefer reading diary entries or letters within a book then this book will have you hooked. Filer’s novel can read like a diary whilst the layout maintains the structure of a novel. Although the main structure is novel-like; paragraphs and chapters use various formats such as font sizes and styles, repetition and drawings to help describe Matthew’s story. Here is a small piece of The Shock of the Fall in which the Daily Telegraph describes as ‘bittersweet and wonderfully etched.’

‘I’ll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce you to my brother. His name’s Simon. I think you’re going to like him. I really do. But in IMG_1801a couple of pages he’ll be dead. And he was never the same after that.’

Although Matthew’s illness and grief are significant elements in this novel, it is Matthew’s actions that truly make this novel so moving. 

I personally feel that it is a must read, however if you wish to have a look at the Daily Telegraph’s review then please feel free to here.