Tag: Book review

Book Review, Uncategorized

The Bear and the Nightingale

‘The snow fell thrice, deep and solid, after midwinter, and after the last snowfall came a great blue frost, when men felt their breath stop in their nostrils and weak things grew apt to die in the night.’

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The Bear and the Nightingale By Katherine Arden invites its readers to be entranced by Russian fairytales and traditional folklore. The Bear and the Nightingale is about a young girl called Vasilisa and her journey to adulthood. Vasilisa however is bound for greatness, something in which her stepmother, Anna wants for her own daughter. Once Vasilisa’s father remarries, incidents begin to occur that threatens her village and her home. It is best described as a coming of age novel that is encased in fairy tales.

screen-shot-2016-09-13-at-15-43-27The language that Arden has used is descriptive when it needs to be and lyrical, throughout. The lyrical prose blends itself well to the voice of Vasilisa as it expresses a sense of naivety and purity. The description in the novel appears very similar to that of Jessie Burton’s The Miniaturist. Both texts describe with their senses and it was rather refreshing to read about the winter-king in the peak of summer. Arden’s language also demonstrates her extensive research into Russian fairytales and traditional folklore. It is for this reason that this piece could be described as authentic. Each page oozes droplets of Russian culture whilst allowing the reader to breeze through the novel.

The plot itself mirrors the structure of sheet music. Every scene, discussion and description is needed to carry the reader deep into the novel. Arden’s novel is fluid and grips the reader from the very start. The Bear and the Nightingale is a great book to read for escapism and provides its readers with a warm log fire to cosy up to, even in the summer!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and have found it an honour in reading it as a proof copy. I believe that this book is for anyone and can be read whatever the time of year. I would urge anyone to buy or pre-order this book  here as I feel that your money would definitely not be wasted. A great read and a great gift to give.

Book Review, Uncategorized

The Help

The Help by Kathryn Stockett, 2010, paperback, ISBN: 0399155341, £7.99.

I was a little hesitant at reading this book as I thought the subject matter may have been a difficult read. However The Help discusses how black maids are trusted within a household with some form of lightness. The Help is about a woman called Miss Skeeter, who wishes to give black maids a voice. All of the main characters are strong women that have potential to be strong within society. Stockett’s novel is well written and also touches upon community as well as a controversial subject, from an angle that makes it easy to discuss. I laughed and cried with this book and felt like no matter what part I put the book down on, I would always be excited to read it again. For this reason I believe it to be a timeless piece and in my eyes, a classic.
Stockett’s writing style is extremely fluent and oozes her characters personalities. The writing also highlights the character’s voices: without making it difficult to read, this  adds a sense of authenticity. The character’s stride past the author in this book and put their mark on what the reader sees. The descriptions of Jackson, Mississippi add to the originality of this book as the location sometimes can feel like a character in itself. At times I felt as if I could almost feel the warm Mississippi air on my face.

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So quick summary– If anyone is looking for a quality read with strong main characters and is interested in American history or post-colonialism, then this type of book would be a great read. Lighter than post-colonialism, it is a fun read that seems guaranteed to be enjoyed. The book follows Minny and Aibileen on their journey of living as the Help within a white household. Miss Skeeter longs for her old maid Constantine and sees the help differently than her other friends do. The Help follows Minny, Aibileen and Skeeter on their relationship with each other and their freedom. A journey not to be missed.

Book Review, Uncategorized

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith, 2010, paperback, £6.99

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This novel had me on the fence from time to time, however that may have been because I was unsure what I was getting myself into. The novel is about a woman called Mma Ramotswe, who is asked to find out who is being a traitor to their football team. Whilst Mma Ramotswe is investigating, he assistant Mma Makutsi is also having troubles with a man-stealing Violet Sepotho. Although this novel was good for escapism as it is set in Botswana, Africa, I cannot help but think that this novel was dated. I understand that  it is just a story, but to highlight that women don’t like football and cook their husbands meals for them after work, I believe is a step too far. I persisted with the book because I was unsure if it was just a cultural difference. The novel itself was strongly led by the narrator, although sometimes I felt that the narrator needed to take a step back. It sometimes felt that the book strayed away from the subject matter and then refocused itself.

I enjoyed the plot, as it was fun and light, something in which I was looking for in a book at the time. However I feel that the language was too wordy and could potentially have been halved. This would have given the novel a bit more action and potentially made it a lot more gripping. Although I enjoyed the first book in this series, I will not be reading the collection anymore as I believe the other novels will follow a similar style. At least I am now more aware of which writing styles I like and dislike. If you want to find escapism in the blazing sun and like a descriptive, narrative style, then this series just may be for you.

Book Review, Uncategorized

Elizabeth is Missing

Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey, 2014, paperback, £7.99.

‘How do you solve a mystery when you can’t remember the clues?’

Maud is trying to seek Elizabeth, her friend, however there is a slight problem. Maud has dementia. This novel invites its readers to experience the struggles that dementia-sufferers have on a daily basis. With this in mind, the novel can sometimes feel like a difficult read. Scenarios can sometimes repeat itself and the past and present can easily be blurred. I will admit that because of this, I did at times find the novel quite slow. Having said that I was so pleased I continued with it as the more I read, the more gripping the plot became. As far as being a mystery/crime novel, it does not disappoint. It is gripping and at times quite dark, yet turn another page and you will discover Maud wanting to make toast again. It truly is a novel that is a paradox; it is humorous yet serious, light yet dark. Unexpected turns are taken when you least expect it, so much so that you may still be questioning the novel once you have finished. However I will add that there is closure towards the end of the novel, so please do not let that put you off reading such an intriguing piece.IMG_0761

The writing in this novel has been carefully selected for its main character Maud and demonstrates a thorough understanding of dementia. I applaud Emma Healey for crafting such a literary piece that has proven to capture such a diverse audience. The writing has a strong sense of the past and portrays a passionate woman in both the past and present of this book. Personality oozes between the pages, as Maud reminds the readers of the stories the elderly tell their children and grandchildren. My advice is to read this book with an open mind because along Maud’s journey, who’ll know what you will find!

Book Review, Uncategorized

The Miniaturist

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton, 2007, Hardback edition £9.99

Awarded as book of the year 2014, this haunting tale has captured its readers from beginning to end. The Miniaturist is about a young girl, Nella, who marries a man in order to leave her small town. She decides to take up residence with her husband in Amsterdam. With him keeping his distance he feels like a mystery to her. However it is not long before she learns about the miniaturist. Having fun with the miniaturist’s creations, it can sometimes get out of hand. With Nella having to grow up quickly, will she be able to gain control once again or succumb to the miniaturist? Expect the unexpected as nothing is what it seems. Be prepared to get lost into a novel that is written beautifully. The description tantalises the senses and gives your eyes vivid scenes to match. It really is difficult not to appreciate such a well-written piece.IMG_0737

It is quite a difficult piece to compare to other books as it is so unique. The only novel that is slightly similar is Jane Eyre. The reason being that Nella begins similar to a ‘plain Jane’ however, throughout the novel she blossoms into a woman. She lives in a house with grandure and finds the owner of the house a mystery at first, similar with Jane Eyre. The Miniaturist is also completely different to Jane Eyre, as the style of writing is completely different with added drama. I would recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in an unpredictable mystery, with brilliant description. So much so, that it even made me like marzipan. I’m not lying when I said that the description in the novel was powerful!

Book Review

The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, 2007, Hardback edition £12.99

When Death tells a story, you really have to listen…

‘Here is a small fact. You are going to die.’ Not the nicest subject to think about. Then again Death does claim that there is nothing nice about him.

The Book Thief is narrated by Death as he tells the story of Liesel Merminger, aka The Book Thief, during World War 2 Germany. Liesel begins life with her foster parents in Molching, as an illiterate child. As her reading and writing progresses, her words move people in ways she would never have imagined. Since the book is set in WW2 Germany, it could be perceived as a dark and grim read. However with the innocence of Liesel and the morale of humanity still beating strong, light is shown in the darkest of places. The innocence of this book is what makes The Book Thief truly moving. Although the book is descriptive, Death and Liesel describe using colours, reaching a large vocabulary between them. With the exaggerations and traumatic descriptions being expressed through colour, hope is captured through the life of Liesel Merminger in WW2 Germany.

I do not want to giveaway any spoilers as this book needs to be on everyone’s TBR list. If you enjoyed books such as Goodnight Mister Tom and The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas then this book is for you. Although The Book Thief has a film adaptation, I strongly urge you to read the book. Not because books are better than film adaptations, but there is a lot of characters left out and because of this, particular fact are incorrect. If you have however watched the film, then try reading the book. I can guarantee you will notice a tremendous difference.IMG_2623

Book Review

The Little Book of Clarity

The Little Book of Clarity by Jamie Smart

Capstone £9.99, USA $16.00, CAN $19.00

‘Imagine what you could achieve if you had a clear head.’

It is amazing how a very simple sentence can instantly get your mind running over the possibilities. Less stress, quicker results and better results for that matter. After reading this sentence on the blurb, I was instantly intrigued. I originally stumbled upon this book by accident at Waterstones. Although The Little Book of Clarity is considered as a self-help book, Jamie Smart explains how his book is different to other self-help books. ‘Most business and personal development books aim at giving you the things to think, change and do so you “act” in a certain way to get the results you want.’ Smart explains this concept to having a cold appose to acting like you have one. Acting like you have a cold is hard and at times, unconvincing.  However, ‘when you catch a cold, the symptoms emerge effortlessly because they’re real. This book is designed so that you can “catch” an understanding that results in the “symptoms” of increasing clarity, resilience and peace of mind.’ Therefore because everyone already has clarity, the results of the book will come naturally.

At first I was a little skeptical too. How can this book know my way of thinking? After reflecting onIMG_2543 my university grades, commenting that I lacked clarity, I decided to give it a go. I can honestly say that this was one of the best decisions I had made. As I read the book I could feel the ‘a-ha’ moments appearing more regularly. After reading the first part of the book I decided to edit some of my essays for university. When I looked back at them I was confused. How had I wrote such rubbish! I could not believe that I could not understand my previous trail of thought. The changes however didn’t stop there. I started to realise that I didn’t comfort eat anymore. I learnt the difference between association happiness with an object, in this circumstance, food.

Each chapter contains a thought exercise or experiment for the reader to partake in. This really helps with understanding the process of this book and I would recommend doing these exercises, before pursuing with the next chapter. Although The Little Book of Clarity, is as it suggests, little, it does not scrape on content. Each chapter also has a web link for additional material incase the reader may want a deeper understanding. Furthermore the book is also available as an e-book. It truly is as handy as it suggests. This is the first time that I have reviewed a non-fiction book and a self-help book at that, which suggests how useful I found this book. So to any students that may have been in my situation, or to anyone who wants to get better results and peace of mind. I urge you to read this book. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Book Review

The Passion By Jeanette Winterson

Jeanette Winterson is commonly known for her novel Oranges are not the only Fruits, however I plead with the people to not just read this book. I will admit, this book was on my reading list at university; I had not even heard of it until then. Alongside Angela Carter’s Nights at the Circus, Winterson’s The Passion is also one of the novels that I greatly appreciate my university, of introducing me to.

The Passion is about a man named Henri who decides to leave his quiet village in France, to help win the war. During the war he encounters Villanelle, a venetian who wishes to return to her hometown. Although this novel is short, it does not lack emotion. This novel is intense, gripping and as its title suggests, it’s full of passion. The Passion is divided into four parts, similar to volumes, however it has no chapters. The first part ‘The Emperor’ reflects Henri’s thoughts about being in the war and his experiences that follow. The second part , ‘The Queen of Spades,’ reveals Villanelle’s background through her job at a casino in Venice.  Both of these parts in the novel lead the characters to ‘The Zero Winter.’  When their paths cross in the third part, they learn how to quickly adapt to change and what the true meaning of perseverance means. I can guarantee that you will not want to put the book down; the closer you are to the end, the more intense this novel becomes.This novel falls under several genres such as romance and adventure.

Jeanette Winterson has written The Passion so eloquently that each description should be saIMG_2235voured as they are all rich in detail. Forbidden love has been written in such a way that no one is to blame. For example, this is no Romeo & Juliet , as it was their families to blame for their suicide. With a love triangle cast, it is difficult to break as it is questionable as to whether the characters believe that they are in one. When the reader has acknowledged this, I have no qualms saying that you will feel like yelling at the book, hoping that the characters can hear you. With all of this mention of love and romance, I must insist that this novel is not all about love. Winterson’s website describes The Passion as a novel about, ‘survival and broken-heartedness, and cruelty and madness.’ The Passion questions risks as it finds the truth to what you value. Thus there is a dominant theme of gambling. Although this may seem subtle at first, it gradually appears throughout the separate parts. The Passion uses the theme of gambling to bring people closer together, by the understanding of what people want to risk, in order to get what they want. Is it possible to risk your sanity to love and to still remain in tact? So if anyone has a heart, I dare you to risk yours and read this novel. You may even find your passion within it.

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.