3.5 Stars
Admittedly I have read the Hawthorne books out of order but I found The Sentence Is Death to be the better of the two. In this one there is so little of Hawthorne to grab on to that he is, literally, just words on a page. I know this is deliberate as it accurately reflects the narrator's exasperation at knowing so little about the subject he is now to write about; but it did make it hard going at times. This is especially because it is almost an ego-piece at times with the narrator taking control of every aspect and lamenting his difficulties in writing the book about the Cowper Murder whilst he knows so little about his hero. There were many times I wanted to heartily slap Tony and tell him to get his head from a certain orifice, but I couldn't because this is a fiction piece and whilst the Tony we read about has the exact same career trajectory and home life as the actual author (confused yet?) they are not one and the same person. It is this conceit that dangerously blurs the lines between fact and fiction but somehow the plotting is so bizarre (and rather outlandish at times) that the reader is never in any real danger of mixing reality and fiction in to an homogenous blob - at least I hope they aren't.
I did enjoy reading the book and before I started I had already promised myself that I would not try and figure out whodunnit as I knew it would be suitably obscured and every time something relevant was mentioned it would be immediately followed by a ton of obfuscation. I think if I had been trying to work out who the murderer was and what their motives were I would probably have just given up on the book. There is a certain wit and humour buried within the pages - but it is of a rather black and bleak sort (but that appeals to me).
As a final aside I am pretty sure that Mr Horowitz does not know any Funeral Directors personally. He pretty much does a disservice to the profession in this book, painting them as dour and rather humourless individuals. Trust me on this, we really aren't (my first job and still my best ever job was as a Funeral Director's Assistant), there is just a certain demeanour expected from us when "on the job". In reality we generally have overdeveloped senses of humour and a strong sense of the ridiculous.
Sunday, 25 November 2018
One Day In December by Josie Silver
This is a good mix of love story and a reflection on family and friendship. I did enjoy the book but it didn't really ignite that spark for me. Whether this was because of the characters or the situation I'm not really sure but somehow it all felt a little bit "style over substance" for me and I found that I couldn't really connect with the characters or their situations.
Laurie and Sarah are a strange mix for best friends, very much portrayed as complete opposites in more or less everything. Laurie is unlucky in love and is searching desperately for Bus Boy, her career is, to be polite, stalled and she appears to be close to her family. Sarah is ambitious and her career is starting to go places, she appears to make token visits to her family more for appearances sake than out of real affection and her love life is on the up and up; especially after she meets Jack. Jack I couldn't really get a handle on at all, he is a bit of a cipher despite being an intrinsic part of the story. Oliver is even more broadly drawn and he is all a little bit of a cliche.
I did like how to book is sectioned off in to years and then only certain dates and events are visited. This does keep your interest although it does make for a somewhat jumpy read at times. As in real life there are some things that seem to fall by the wayside and never get resolved and others that are blown out of all proportion. Although this sounds like a complaint it is actually a compliment as it does give it a nice ring of authenticity.
My real problem with the book is that none of the voices are distinct. Laurie, Sarah and Jack all sound very alike on the page and this reminds you constantly that you are reading. This prevents you from sinking in to the story in the way in which the author surely intended us too. Being that one step removed did spoil things for me somewhat and meant that after the opening chapter where Love Actually is referenced quite a lot I found myself looking for further references to it - sad to say I did find a few but mainly references to clothing rather than actual situations.
I did sort of enjoy this book but it just didn't grab me and refuse to let go. I can't really talk about the plotting as this gives the whole book away and spoilers really aren't my thing. There are some stand out moments, plotwise, but they mainly revolve around loss rather than the more joyous moments in life.
Laurie and Sarah are a strange mix for best friends, very much portrayed as complete opposites in more or less everything. Laurie is unlucky in love and is searching desperately for Bus Boy, her career is, to be polite, stalled and she appears to be close to her family. Sarah is ambitious and her career is starting to go places, she appears to make token visits to her family more for appearances sake than out of real affection and her love life is on the up and up; especially after she meets Jack. Jack I couldn't really get a handle on at all, he is a bit of a cipher despite being an intrinsic part of the story. Oliver is even more broadly drawn and he is all a little bit of a cliche.
I did like how to book is sectioned off in to years and then only certain dates and events are visited. This does keep your interest although it does make for a somewhat jumpy read at times. As in real life there are some things that seem to fall by the wayside and never get resolved and others that are blown out of all proportion. Although this sounds like a complaint it is actually a compliment as it does give it a nice ring of authenticity.
My real problem with the book is that none of the voices are distinct. Laurie, Sarah and Jack all sound very alike on the page and this reminds you constantly that you are reading. This prevents you from sinking in to the story in the way in which the author surely intended us too. Being that one step removed did spoil things for me somewhat and meant that after the opening chapter where Love Actually is referenced quite a lot I found myself looking for further references to it - sad to say I did find a few but mainly references to clothing rather than actual situations.
I did sort of enjoy this book but it just didn't grab me and refuse to let go. I can't really talk about the plotting as this gives the whole book away and spoilers really aren't my thing. There are some stand out moments, plotwise, but they mainly revolve around loss rather than the more joyous moments in life.
If We're Not Married By Thirty by Anna Bell
This was an okay read but nothing really spoke to me about the story if I'm being honest. There is a small dose of humour but, for me, that mostly centred around the whole social media thing rather than the people or the situations they find themselves in. Probably because whilst I acknowledge that for some people it is an important part of their lives I really don't understand why you would invite the world in to your privacy.
This is very much a book based on the now with all the references to social media accounts and how it influences us to feel like we are somehow living a life less than our contemporaries. However, I don't believe this will date it over much as there is enough meat to the base tale without that. I just wasn't very interested in the relationship between Lydia and Danny and how her career was going to pan out
Lydia's career in Events does provide some moments of humour. It also made me swear off work's Christmas parties for life!
It was a jolly enough read and I did get through it fairly quickly - probably because the writing is actually rather good and it propels you eagerly through the tale. No breathless moments where you can't wait to turn the page to find out what happens but engaging enough to keep you interested. There are the standard misunderstandings and hiccups along the way but they do all get resolved in the end, not necessarily satisfactorily or in a way that stands up to real life scrutiny but they do have a veneer of completion to them.
Not a bad book and very easy to follow, perfect for a snatched holiday read or a commute.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
This is very much a book based on the now with all the references to social media accounts and how it influences us to feel like we are somehow living a life less than our contemporaries. However, I don't believe this will date it over much as there is enough meat to the base tale without that. I just wasn't very interested in the relationship between Lydia and Danny and how her career was going to pan out
Lydia's career in Events does provide some moments of humour. It also made me swear off work's Christmas parties for life!
It was a jolly enough read and I did get through it fairly quickly - probably because the writing is actually rather good and it propels you eagerly through the tale. No breathless moments where you can't wait to turn the page to find out what happens but engaging enough to keep you interested. There are the standard misunderstandings and hiccups along the way but they do all get resolved in the end, not necessarily satisfactorily or in a way that stands up to real life scrutiny but they do have a veneer of completion to them.
Not a bad book and very easy to follow, perfect for a snatched holiday read or a commute.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Saturday, 24 November 2018
What Fresh Hell by Lucy Vine
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite not being able to relate to the main character in any way, shape or form. I have never attended a wedding since my own and have no great urge to do so and the thought of a hen do brings me out in hives - so much so I just plain didn't have one. From friends that have been on them and casual observance in a local seaside town I have to say that Lucy Vine has hit the nail on the head about the extravagance of them and the sheer inanity of them is well described with a humour that tickled my funny bone and did make me snort rather unattractively on more than one occasion. No mean feat as most supposedly humourous books leave me rather flat.
The intensity of Lilah's relationship with her friends and family is on point and makes it all feel somewhat relatable. The little asides for each wedding she went to, with their identical menus and sliding scale of presents as she plunges further and further in to debt are a joy. Sadly the numerous cultural references make this a book which will date rather rapidly and I probably caught this one at the right moment in time for it to feel fresh and fun rather than dated and hackneyed.
The story is told at a rather fast pace and you do have to race to keep up sometimes, but I suppose that speaks to they way most of us live our lives these days. Including the pre-ponderence of the use of Reply All to the frustrations of everyone concerned. Everything is all rather throwaway these days and ultimately this story is too but boy did it entertain me and put a genuine grin on my face - for that alone it deserves 5 Stars.
The characterisations are carefully wrought and bring the characters to life on the page. I think we all know a people pleaser like Lilah, or a Bridezilla like Lauren. Joely comes out of it all rather less well being self-centred and only seemingly concerned about superficialities but somehow it all works. Whether or not you like the characters is pretty much irrelevant and I found they all irritated the heck out of me most of the time but I still enjoyed every word on the page.
The intensity of Lilah's relationship with her friends and family is on point and makes it all feel somewhat relatable. The little asides for each wedding she went to, with their identical menus and sliding scale of presents as she plunges further and further in to debt are a joy. Sadly the numerous cultural references make this a book which will date rather rapidly and I probably caught this one at the right moment in time for it to feel fresh and fun rather than dated and hackneyed.
The story is told at a rather fast pace and you do have to race to keep up sometimes, but I suppose that speaks to they way most of us live our lives these days. Including the pre-ponderence of the use of Reply All to the frustrations of everyone concerned. Everything is all rather throwaway these days and ultimately this story is too but boy did it entertain me and put a genuine grin on my face - for that alone it deserves 5 Stars.
The characterisations are carefully wrought and bring the characters to life on the page. I think we all know a people pleaser like Lilah, or a Bridezilla like Lauren. Joely comes out of it all rather less well being self-centred and only seemingly concerned about superficialities but somehow it all works. Whether or not you like the characters is pretty much irrelevant and I found they all irritated the heck out of me most of the time but I still enjoyed every word on the page.
South by Frank Owen
I wasn't entirely sure whether this would be the book for me or not - I will admit to being swayed by one reviewer comparing it to The Stand - but I decided to give it a go. Sorry but The Stand it is NOT, it is very, very good though just not quite epic enough (The Stand is a 10 Star read when the maximum is 5) or the characters engrossing enough or the science anything other than fiction. The other thing that kind of bothered me was that there is no clear timeframe to hang your hat on - which period is this supposed to be set in, yes I am aware that this is an altered (as well as alternate) reality but it seems to spot about all over the place with cultural references.
However, what it boils down to is a tale that is well told and sucks you in to it. I did find that it was a read in bursts and then allow what I had read to digest before reading the next segment. That is a good thing because it meant I was really paying attention to the struggles of not just Vida and Dyce but to all who they encountered on their journey. You could feel their tension as even a visit to draw water meant being hypervigilant for changes in the weather and particularly that virus laden wind.
The use of The Callahans as Wild West Sheriffs was rather an odd choice of device. They morphed from being a couple of vigilantes chasing Garrett and Dyce for personal reasons in to suddenly becoming the overlords of the South with everybody mortally afraid of attracting their attention. Bit of a strange jump but I went with it. Mainly because as a plot device to force our characters to keep moving on and encountering the Ghost Colony and The Mouth it worked very well.
I would caution though that in order to derive the best enjoyment from the book you do need to remove any scientific knowledge from your mind - nothing fully makes sense here and does not bear close scrutiny. However, it is a very engaging story that does sweep you along with the characters and I did find myself mulling over the odd plot point or two when I should have been going to sleep - or paying attention in the office. Don't expect a scientifically sound tale but do expect to be thoroughly entertained.
I'm really looking forward to reading North now that I have finished this one.
However, what it boils down to is a tale that is well told and sucks you in to it. I did find that it was a read in bursts and then allow what I had read to digest before reading the next segment. That is a good thing because it meant I was really paying attention to the struggles of not just Vida and Dyce but to all who they encountered on their journey. You could feel their tension as even a visit to draw water meant being hypervigilant for changes in the weather and particularly that virus laden wind.
The use of The Callahans as Wild West Sheriffs was rather an odd choice of device. They morphed from being a couple of vigilantes chasing Garrett and Dyce for personal reasons in to suddenly becoming the overlords of the South with everybody mortally afraid of attracting their attention. Bit of a strange jump but I went with it. Mainly because as a plot device to force our characters to keep moving on and encountering the Ghost Colony and The Mouth it worked very well.
I would caution though that in order to derive the best enjoyment from the book you do need to remove any scientific knowledge from your mind - nothing fully makes sense here and does not bear close scrutiny. However, it is a very engaging story that does sweep you along with the characters and I did find myself mulling over the odd plot point or two when I should have been going to sleep - or paying attention in the office. Don't expect a scientifically sound tale but do expect to be thoroughly entertained.
I'm really looking forward to reading North now that I have finished this one.
A Ration Book Christmas by Jean Fullerton
3.5 Stars
This isn't my usual choice of reading matter and it is a genre that I generally give a fairly wide berth to; for some reason it has a tendency to make me feel a little uncomfortable. When written well there is a feeling that can only be likened to voyeurism about these books (for this reader anyway) - and this book has that feeling to it. Maybe this is because WWII is still in our collective consciousness or because I remember my grandparents stories of being in their late teens/early twenties during the conflict and how it impacted their lives. Somehow it all feels terribly close and undeniably scary and I readily admit this colours my judgements of the tale.
The story itself is actually pretty much as you would expect - the overarcing theme being the love between an Irish Catholic girl (Jo) and a ne'er do well East Londoner (Tommy) from a decidedly "dodgy" family. The characters are both told with empathy and you do find yourself interested in their lives - although I found Tommy's family, the Brogans, a little bit much - almost heavy handed portrayals of the mother's alcoholism and elder brother's villany.
The plus points for the book do outweigh those reservations though. It touches on how evacuation was not always the best thing for the people involved and how some of the people that took the evacuees in did so under duress and how whole communities could turn against these children just by virtue of them being from London. It also covers something pretty much glossed over - the looting of bombed out homes and how there was a thriving trade in stolen goods on the back of it, not so much a bombers moon as a thieves blackout.
The best best bits of the book are undeniably those that cover the actual bombing raids. You can feel the grit in the air, the smell of the smoke in your nostrils so evocative are the descriptions. Even more importantly there is real in depth knowledge of how the various Home Front Forces worked together to help people - the WVS, the ARP, the Heavy Lifting Teams - it is these sections that made the book enjoyable for me. Unfortunately, this meant that the plot and the characters were far less important to me and I did end up reading it more as a social history text than a tale about the families involved as I did find that the plotting was easy to predict throughout.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE.
This isn't my usual choice of reading matter and it is a genre that I generally give a fairly wide berth to; for some reason it has a tendency to make me feel a little uncomfortable. When written well there is a feeling that can only be likened to voyeurism about these books (for this reader anyway) - and this book has that feeling to it. Maybe this is because WWII is still in our collective consciousness or because I remember my grandparents stories of being in their late teens/early twenties during the conflict and how it impacted their lives. Somehow it all feels terribly close and undeniably scary and I readily admit this colours my judgements of the tale.
The story itself is actually pretty much as you would expect - the overarcing theme being the love between an Irish Catholic girl (Jo) and a ne'er do well East Londoner (Tommy) from a decidedly "dodgy" family. The characters are both told with empathy and you do find yourself interested in their lives - although I found Tommy's family, the Brogans, a little bit much - almost heavy handed portrayals of the mother's alcoholism and elder brother's villany.
The plus points for the book do outweigh those reservations though. It touches on how evacuation was not always the best thing for the people involved and how some of the people that took the evacuees in did so under duress and how whole communities could turn against these children just by virtue of them being from London. It also covers something pretty much glossed over - the looting of bombed out homes and how there was a thriving trade in stolen goods on the back of it, not so much a bombers moon as a thieves blackout.
The best best bits of the book are undeniably those that cover the actual bombing raids. You can feel the grit in the air, the smell of the smoke in your nostrils so evocative are the descriptions. Even more importantly there is real in depth knowledge of how the various Home Front Forces worked together to help people - the WVS, the ARP, the Heavy Lifting Teams - it is these sections that made the book enjoyable for me. Unfortunately, this meant that the plot and the characters were far less important to me and I did end up reading it more as a social history text than a tale about the families involved as I did find that the plotting was easy to predict throughout.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE.
Saturday, 17 November 2018
Perfect Death by Helen Fields
2.5 Stars
I was actually quite disappointed in this book. The first two DI Luc Callanch books are tautly written and suck you in to the depraved underbelly of Edinburgh quite nicely. There is a lot of dwelling on the attractiveness of the DI and his "past" but these seems to become almost voyeuristic in the third book and it did make me feel rather uncomfortable at times.
The book itself follows the tried and tested format of flashes from the protagonists point of view, but just enough so we can see he is selecting a new victim and a tiny glimpse of why. Then we flip back to the investigation, or maybe a glimpse of "life outside the job" which almost inevitable seems to involve copious amounts of alcohol and questionable personal choices. What I would give right now for a reasonably well balanced senior police officer.
The side thread of the possible corruption and suicide of a formed DCI just confuses things and leads to some of the most ridiculous scenarios imaginable. Honestly since Ava became a DCI I think her brain has deserted her, let alone a sense of self-preservation. Follow this up by Callanach and Lively dashing to Glasgow like a pair of idiots and the strangely comic book violence they meet up with there and it all rather falls apart.
The idea behind the main murder story in the book is a good one and should have been enough to carry the story on it's own. We really don't need all the extra bells and whistles - especially when so poorly executed.
I have the fourth book already so I really hope it is an improvement on this one.
I was actually quite disappointed in this book. The first two DI Luc Callanch books are tautly written and suck you in to the depraved underbelly of Edinburgh quite nicely. There is a lot of dwelling on the attractiveness of the DI and his "past" but these seems to become almost voyeuristic in the third book and it did make me feel rather uncomfortable at times.
The book itself follows the tried and tested format of flashes from the protagonists point of view, but just enough so we can see he is selecting a new victim and a tiny glimpse of why. Then we flip back to the investigation, or maybe a glimpse of "life outside the job" which almost inevitable seems to involve copious amounts of alcohol and questionable personal choices. What I would give right now for a reasonably well balanced senior police officer.
The side thread of the possible corruption and suicide of a formed DCI just confuses things and leads to some of the most ridiculous scenarios imaginable. Honestly since Ava became a DCI I think her brain has deserted her, let alone a sense of self-preservation. Follow this up by Callanach and Lively dashing to Glasgow like a pair of idiots and the strangely comic book violence they meet up with there and it all rather falls apart.
The idea behind the main murder story in the book is a good one and should have been enough to carry the story on it's own. We really don't need all the extra bells and whistles - especially when so poorly executed.
I have the fourth book already so I really hope it is an improvement on this one.
The Travelling Vet by Jonathan Cranston
You could have a nice little drinking or chocolate scoffing game in the early chapters of this book having one of your chosen "treats" every time the author mentions he has wanted to be a vet since he was 6 years old - You won't get to the second chapter if you do this however, fortunately the author then does step back on mentioning it quite significantly and I was beginning to dread it being mentioned every other page. As you can tell this did annoy me, probably more than is reasonable if I'm being honest.
Each tale in the book is about a different client of his - be they a sugar glider, a donkey or even a Giant Panda. There is not too much about normal domestic pets though so unless you have experience of a more unusual or exotic pet then there is nothing to compare the experiences of owner and vet to. The nearest we get is a brief foray in to the Theatrical Donkey, and Cattle. True, there is a chapter on Goats but this seems to be more about an unfortunate wetsuit incident then the animal.
I did enjoy the book but Jonathan Cranston is no James Herriott. He has a good turn of phrase and a certain wit that is necessary for this sort of tale but something is missing. I suspect this is the connect we manage to feel with not only the vet himself but colleagues within the practice and their range of patients in James Herriott's books; there is none of this within Mr Cranston's writing. The nearest we get to learning about any individual (other than the author) is Bjorn in the Wildlife Team in South Africa.
Each chapter ends with some basic information about the particular species in an easily digestible format. There are also links to various Wildlife Organisations relating to the particular animal. Whilst I can see the point of these sections they do break the stories up and it becomes a strange cross between a light reference book and a set of loosely linked short stories.
To be entirely honest if you want an emotional journey involving animals then plump for Gerald Durrell or James Herriott, you will likely find those far more satisfying. This isn't a bad book but you won't get sucked in to the characters and their situations in the same way as these trailblazers in the genre have done.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Each tale in the book is about a different client of his - be they a sugar glider, a donkey or even a Giant Panda. There is not too much about normal domestic pets though so unless you have experience of a more unusual or exotic pet then there is nothing to compare the experiences of owner and vet to. The nearest we get is a brief foray in to the Theatrical Donkey, and Cattle. True, there is a chapter on Goats but this seems to be more about an unfortunate wetsuit incident then the animal.
I did enjoy the book but Jonathan Cranston is no James Herriott. He has a good turn of phrase and a certain wit that is necessary for this sort of tale but something is missing. I suspect this is the connect we manage to feel with not only the vet himself but colleagues within the practice and their range of patients in James Herriott's books; there is none of this within Mr Cranston's writing. The nearest we get to learning about any individual (other than the author) is Bjorn in the Wildlife Team in South Africa.
Each chapter ends with some basic information about the particular species in an easily digestible format. There are also links to various Wildlife Organisations relating to the particular animal. Whilst I can see the point of these sections they do break the stories up and it becomes a strange cross between a light reference book and a set of loosely linked short stories.
To be entirely honest if you want an emotional journey involving animals then plump for Gerald Durrell or James Herriott, you will likely find those far more satisfying. This isn't a bad book but you won't get sucked in to the characters and their situations in the same way as these trailblazers in the genre have done.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Domini Mortum by Paul Holbrook
This is definitely not a book for the squeamish or the faint of heart, full of gruesome murders with a potential supernatural felon the gore is relentless and described in loving and vivid detail. If you found The Limehouse Golem or The Alienist too much then this is most definitely NOT the tale for you. If however, they spoke to your inner twistedness then you are going to love it. As you can probably tell, I am firmly in the latter camp.
The tale does swap about quite a bit from the past to the present with no real indication of which particular time you are in so you do need to pay attention otherwise it could easily become an exercise in confusion. Personally I felt this worked well within the confines of the tale as to reveal too much about our narrator, Samuel Weaver, too soon would lessen the impact of his actions. This is definitely opne book that would not be improved by telling in chronological order. The narrator's voice is very strong within the book and it is fortunate that the author is up to the task of creating a despicable character that somehow you find yourself caring about - no matter what he has, or will do.
The only downside for me was the mixing in of Norwegian folklore, it felt bolted on and not really of intrinsic benefit to the story. In my opinion it would have worked just as well without it - after all, this is a tale about the search for absolute power so the little tributary that runs off in to these tales is not really necessary.
The setting is also well realised. Be it the foggy slums of London, the eerie village or the upper echelon clubs and "other" establishments, each has a ring of authenticity that brings to life the time period in a wonderfully evocative way. Surprisingly there is a fair bit of attention to the costume of our characters and this helps to not only gel them in place but gives us, the reader, a real sense of their relative stations in life without it having to be explicitly explained to us.
In short a gore-filled romp full of dark humour and twisted characters where nobody is who they seem.
THIS IS AN HONEST REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE.
The tale does swap about quite a bit from the past to the present with no real indication of which particular time you are in so you do need to pay attention otherwise it could easily become an exercise in confusion. Personally I felt this worked well within the confines of the tale as to reveal too much about our narrator, Samuel Weaver, too soon would lessen the impact of his actions. This is definitely opne book that would not be improved by telling in chronological order. The narrator's voice is very strong within the book and it is fortunate that the author is up to the task of creating a despicable character that somehow you find yourself caring about - no matter what he has, or will do.
The only downside for me was the mixing in of Norwegian folklore, it felt bolted on and not really of intrinsic benefit to the story. In my opinion it would have worked just as well without it - after all, this is a tale about the search for absolute power so the little tributary that runs off in to these tales is not really necessary.
The setting is also well realised. Be it the foggy slums of London, the eerie village or the upper echelon clubs and "other" establishments, each has a ring of authenticity that brings to life the time period in a wonderfully evocative way. Surprisingly there is a fair bit of attention to the costume of our characters and this helps to not only gel them in place but gives us, the reader, a real sense of their relative stations in life without it having to be explicitly explained to us.
In short a gore-filled romp full of dark humour and twisted characters where nobody is who they seem.
THIS IS AN HONEST REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE.
Practice Makes Perfect by Penny Parkes
Whilst it was nice to be back in Larkford with a cast of characters that I have become familiar with, there was something missing in this second novel about Holly and her fellow GPs. Maybe it was the lack of Elsie because, make no mistake about it, Elsie is the humour in the book; the indomitable spirit that charges all around her to be better, to be selfish. She does appear but in muted form and we spend far more time with Holly and Julia and for a laugh-fest this does not make.
Both women are flawed, quite seriously flawed in all honesty and whilst I don't mind this it did all become a bit unrelentingly grim at times. From Julia's alcoholic mother making an appearance to Holly second guessing absolutely everything it all became a tiny bit depressing. This may have been less apparent if I hadn't re-read the first of the Larkford series prior to starting this second offering, but I did so it is what it is.
The author is good at getting under the skin of her characters so the different degrees of response to visiting Taffy's childhood home are well described. From the way Taffy responds to the family dynamic to Holly's more removed appraisal of the situation, it is one we can relate to if we have ever met our significant other's family. Unfortunately, this only 2 chapters or so of the whole book and yet they are probably the best (and most realistic) section of the whole book.
The main plot this time seems to centre firmly around The Practice and all the personal "stuff" takes second place to it. Maybe this is why I liked it less. The whole things around the model practice just takes up too much page space with the same brow beating from various characters as they come to terms with what this designation means. Frankly I got sick of hearing about it; almost as fed up as I was with the plotline centering around Julia and the TV crew. So much so I started skimming those bits rather than actually reading them.
Things are saved a little by the various daft bets Taffy and Dan set up and the glimpses of Elsie. Lizzie is very quiet in this book and she rarely makes an appearance, this is dealt with as she is struggling to "find herself" after quitting her Editorial job. Holly is worried she is being a bad friend to Lizzie and I have to say from my judgmental stool she is.
I was left feeling a little disappointed by this book, mainly because the stuff I loved so much from the original is in short supply here - the people.
Both women are flawed, quite seriously flawed in all honesty and whilst I don't mind this it did all become a bit unrelentingly grim at times. From Julia's alcoholic mother making an appearance to Holly second guessing absolutely everything it all became a tiny bit depressing. This may have been less apparent if I hadn't re-read the first of the Larkford series prior to starting this second offering, but I did so it is what it is.
The author is good at getting under the skin of her characters so the different degrees of response to visiting Taffy's childhood home are well described. From the way Taffy responds to the family dynamic to Holly's more removed appraisal of the situation, it is one we can relate to if we have ever met our significant other's family. Unfortunately, this only 2 chapters or so of the whole book and yet they are probably the best (and most realistic) section of the whole book.
The main plot this time seems to centre firmly around The Practice and all the personal "stuff" takes second place to it. Maybe this is why I liked it less. The whole things around the model practice just takes up too much page space with the same brow beating from various characters as they come to terms with what this designation means. Frankly I got sick of hearing about it; almost as fed up as I was with the plotline centering around Julia and the TV crew. So much so I started skimming those bits rather than actually reading them.
Things are saved a little by the various daft bets Taffy and Dan set up and the glimpses of Elsie. Lizzie is very quiet in this book and she rarely makes an appearance, this is dealt with as she is struggling to "find herself" after quitting her Editorial job. Holly is worried she is being a bad friend to Lizzie and I have to say from my judgmental stool she is.
I was left feeling a little disappointed by this book, mainly because the stuff I loved so much from the original is in short supply here - the people.
Saturday, 10 November 2018
The Sentence Is Death by Anthony Horowitz
This is my first Anthony Horowitz book and what a peculiar little tome it is. The perspective is skewed in a way that is fresh to this reader and I have to grudgingly admit I think it was this very quirkiness that appealed so much to me. The murder mystery itself is actually quite pedestrian and follows the usual tried and tested pathways of the genre - all very Agatha Christie and VERY Arthur Conan Doyle. The fact is that whilst this is ostensibly a book about a murder and the subsequent investigation, really it is a book about people and perceptions.
The quirkiness comes from the fact that the the author inserts himself in to the tale, not by virtue of writing (goodness knows there are a LOT of writers who do that) but actually a living and breathing character in the book. In fact, the narrator of the book is the author - well a semi-fictionalised version of the author; with enough knowing nods to his real life to make the lines between fact and fiction decidedly blurred. Somehow what should be an egotistical action works in Mr Horowitz's hands and sucks you right in to the tale. Although that may have more to do with the glorious Daniel Hawthorne than anything else.
I knew nothing of the author before setting out on this particular book and my first reaction was this was Holmes and Watson updated for the 21st Century, all it was missing was an opium addiction and a violin. To then find out that he has written 2 Sherlock Holmes novels and then for the similarity to be openly acknowledged several times in the text it made me feel like I was in "on the joke" from the beginning. Strangely there is a lot of humour to be found in this book, of a generally black and rather bleak nature but it is there.
I will admit to being captivated by this book and thoroughly enjoying every red herring - although I did call the reason behind the murder of the divorce lawyer I had not figured out whodunnit. In fact about halfway through I stopped trying to figure it all out and just enjoyed the book for what it is and gloried in the anti-social Hawthorne. So much so I bought the first book before I finished this one and have been desperate to start it but didn't want to get the storylines confused - the good news is I can start it as soon as I want now.
The murder mystery itself is well constructed and you can feel Tony's frustration throughout because he always feels at least two steps behind the erstwhile ex-Inspector. The cast of characters are quite varied and although we never really explore any particular character in depth there is a feeling that you know them warts and all. In short a thoroughly good old-fashioned tale that sweeps you up and keeps you turning the pages.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE
The quirkiness comes from the fact that the the author inserts himself in to the tale, not by virtue of writing (goodness knows there are a LOT of writers who do that) but actually a living and breathing character in the book. In fact, the narrator of the book is the author - well a semi-fictionalised version of the author; with enough knowing nods to his real life to make the lines between fact and fiction decidedly blurred. Somehow what should be an egotistical action works in Mr Horowitz's hands and sucks you right in to the tale. Although that may have more to do with the glorious Daniel Hawthorne than anything else.
I knew nothing of the author before setting out on this particular book and my first reaction was this was Holmes and Watson updated for the 21st Century, all it was missing was an opium addiction and a violin. To then find out that he has written 2 Sherlock Holmes novels and then for the similarity to be openly acknowledged several times in the text it made me feel like I was in "on the joke" from the beginning. Strangely there is a lot of humour to be found in this book, of a generally black and rather bleak nature but it is there.
I will admit to being captivated by this book and thoroughly enjoying every red herring - although I did call the reason behind the murder of the divorce lawyer I had not figured out whodunnit. In fact about halfway through I stopped trying to figure it all out and just enjoyed the book for what it is and gloried in the anti-social Hawthorne. So much so I bought the first book before I finished this one and have been desperate to start it but didn't want to get the storylines confused - the good news is I can start it as soon as I want now.
The murder mystery itself is well constructed and you can feel Tony's frustration throughout because he always feels at least two steps behind the erstwhile ex-Inspector. The cast of characters are quite varied and although we never really explore any particular character in depth there is a feeling that you know them warts and all. In short a thoroughly good old-fashioned tale that sweeps you up and keeps you turning the pages.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE
Out Of Practice by Penny Parkes
This is my second time reading this book and I enjoyed it just as much the second time around as I did the first. I figured that seeing as 2 more books have already been released in the series and a fourth one is on the way that it may make sense to refresh my memory on the one that started it all before jumping in on the others. I am glad that I did.
There is a lot to enjoy here, a wonderful rural setting in Larkford Village (that seems to have as many residents as a small town), a place that has a wonderful sense of community and is very accepting of outsiders settling there. Local characters that really live up to that description. Then you have the trials and tribulations of Holly Graham - Doctor and mum of twins who moves to Larkford to try and repair her marriage to the ghastly Milo, reconnect with her best friend Lizzie and basically "have it all".
There is a good dollop of real life in the book, without the author bashing the drum about how hard working mother's have it. Let's face it, it would have been all too easy to make Holly either a martyr or a superwoman. Instead she has the same rather bewildered attitude that many of us have to life and somehow just blunders on through it all, making mistakes along the way but just about holding it all together. She is not always entirely likeable, even if other people seem to regard with a strange sort of adoration, but her internal monologues and crises of confidence are well written and feel "real".
Despite giving this a 5 Star review there are things that bother me about the book. Milo is a classic narcissist and his role in the book is limited to that one dimension - there is no redeeming quality to the man and it made my blood boil that Holly stuck with him; from what we learn about Holly you really do doubt this relationship from the outset. The other character that is more of a caricature is Holly's friend Lizzie, another toxic person you couldn't really imagine Holly keeping around her.
There is such warmth in this book and a good dollop of humour (at times a tad black). The plot moves along at a nice, gentle pace and although it holds no surprises for the reader it is a lovely read for those cold winter evenings. To be honest you know from the early chapters more or less how things are going to end up but it is fun getting there!
There is a lot to enjoy here, a wonderful rural setting in Larkford Village (that seems to have as many residents as a small town), a place that has a wonderful sense of community and is very accepting of outsiders settling there. Local characters that really live up to that description. Then you have the trials and tribulations of Holly Graham - Doctor and mum of twins who moves to Larkford to try and repair her marriage to the ghastly Milo, reconnect with her best friend Lizzie and basically "have it all".
There is a good dollop of real life in the book, without the author bashing the drum about how hard working mother's have it. Let's face it, it would have been all too easy to make Holly either a martyr or a superwoman. Instead she has the same rather bewildered attitude that many of us have to life and somehow just blunders on through it all, making mistakes along the way but just about holding it all together. She is not always entirely likeable, even if other people seem to regard with a strange sort of adoration, but her internal monologues and crises of confidence are well written and feel "real".
Despite giving this a 5 Star review there are things that bother me about the book. Milo is a classic narcissist and his role in the book is limited to that one dimension - there is no redeeming quality to the man and it made my blood boil that Holly stuck with him; from what we learn about Holly you really do doubt this relationship from the outset. The other character that is more of a caricature is Holly's friend Lizzie, another toxic person you couldn't really imagine Holly keeping around her.
There is such warmth in this book and a good dollop of humour (at times a tad black). The plot moves along at a nice, gentle pace and although it holds no surprises for the reader it is a lovely read for those cold winter evenings. To be honest you know from the early chapters more or less how things are going to end up but it is fun getting there!
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
This novel actually evokes the grand tradition of the gothic novel rather nicely and it is suitably disturbing. Whilst it is clear from the outset that something not quite natural is going on and that we, the reader, are aware of just what that is it still manages to raise the prerequisite chill. I'm not sure that Ghost Story is the right description for this one, it reeks more of possession to me but whatever it is it is gloriously creepy.
Even better, not everybody who is who they first appear to be and there are dark depths to both Sarah and Elsie that match very well with The Bridge and it's former inhabitants. The house itself has everything you need from a country pile - semi-derelict village whose villagers give it a wide berth; rather peculiar staff and a locked room that seems to have a rat infestation judging by the noises heard coming from it. The one thing I did wonder about was why Ms Purcell seems to have a thing about incarcerated women - in both The Silent Companions and The Corset the main narrator is in, respectively, a mental asylum or a prison.
The diary entries of the first Mrs Bainbridge and the story of their social climbing sets the scene for what follows rather nicely. The fact the diary entries are interspersed with Elsie's recollections of what is happening in The Bridge make it quite compelling reading. You have the hints of Witchcraft, a rather strange Old Curiosity Shop in the town and a very disturbed (and disturbing) young child. Above all you have The Silent Companions themselves, just the thought of these life size wooden cutouts painted to resemble people gives me shudders. When you realise that they are apparently taking on the appearance of those who lived in the house it just gets worse.
I really enjoyed this book and it gave me goosebumps in the most delicious way.
Even better, not everybody who is who they first appear to be and there are dark depths to both Sarah and Elsie that match very well with The Bridge and it's former inhabitants. The house itself has everything you need from a country pile - semi-derelict village whose villagers give it a wide berth; rather peculiar staff and a locked room that seems to have a rat infestation judging by the noises heard coming from it. The one thing I did wonder about was why Ms Purcell seems to have a thing about incarcerated women - in both The Silent Companions and The Corset the main narrator is in, respectively, a mental asylum or a prison.
The diary entries of the first Mrs Bainbridge and the story of their social climbing sets the scene for what follows rather nicely. The fact the diary entries are interspersed with Elsie's recollections of what is happening in The Bridge make it quite compelling reading. You have the hints of Witchcraft, a rather strange Old Curiosity Shop in the town and a very disturbed (and disturbing) young child. Above all you have The Silent Companions themselves, just the thought of these life size wooden cutouts painted to resemble people gives me shudders. When you realise that they are apparently taking on the appearance of those who lived in the house it just gets worse.
I really enjoyed this book and it gave me goosebumps in the most delicious way.
Do You Remember The First Time by Jenny Colgan
3.5 Stars
When I started reading this book I hadn't read the publishers blurb (I rarely do - they are generally full of hyperbole and have been known to give unrealistic expectations) so when I realised this was, essentially, a bit of a time travel fantasy I was a touch reluctant. This isn't really something I expected from this particular author. However, it is still firmly within her usual niche - and for that I am grateful.
I found it a little confusing that only Flora went back in time to being 16. She didn't return to her original 16 year old life but only went back a few weeks so everyone else remained the same except for Flora, her mum and her dad. Strangely her Best Friend, her Boyfriend and one other all recognise that their 32 year old Flora is in the body of 16 year old Flora - very odd. In fact it is quite an odd tale all around.
What I did enjoy was the characters and they very definitely kept me reading. The voices within the book are lively and distinct and whether or not you particularly warm to the character you can at least acknowledge them as an individual. I couldn't really take to Flora as a 32 year old but I did empathise with the 16 year old. Can you imagine going back to that age again - horrific! I also enjoyed the difference between her 80s experience and her 00s experience; it seems that some things never change no matter the march of technology.
This was a fun, undemanding read that I genuinely enjoyed - once I got past the rather wonky Back To The Future thing going on.
When I started reading this book I hadn't read the publishers blurb (I rarely do - they are generally full of hyperbole and have been known to give unrealistic expectations) so when I realised this was, essentially, a bit of a time travel fantasy I was a touch reluctant. This isn't really something I expected from this particular author. However, it is still firmly within her usual niche - and for that I am grateful.
I found it a little confusing that only Flora went back in time to being 16. She didn't return to her original 16 year old life but only went back a few weeks so everyone else remained the same except for Flora, her mum and her dad. Strangely her Best Friend, her Boyfriend and one other all recognise that their 32 year old Flora is in the body of 16 year old Flora - very odd. In fact it is quite an odd tale all around.
What I did enjoy was the characters and they very definitely kept me reading. The voices within the book are lively and distinct and whether or not you particularly warm to the character you can at least acknowledge them as an individual. I couldn't really take to Flora as a 32 year old but I did empathise with the 16 year old. Can you imagine going back to that age again - horrific! I also enjoyed the difference between her 80s experience and her 00s experience; it seems that some things never change no matter the march of technology.
This was a fun, undemanding read that I genuinely enjoyed - once I got past the rather wonky Back To The Future thing going on.
Friday, 9 November 2018
Copycat by Alex Lake
Oh dear, this was a disaster of a book from start to finish. Sorry, but it was.
There was little in the way of suspense as it was pretty clear from the outset who the "stalker" was and all the angst and soul searching was never going to change that or divert the readers attention from what was so blatantly obvious. The whole premise was verging on the ridiculous - okay I could get behind the fake profile and how disturbing it would be to have someone else pretending to be you and documenting your life "as it happens" but that, by it's very nature severely limits the suspects. Once we got past that and started getting packages delivered from online retailers that had supposedly been bought by our heroine my internal eye rolling commenced in earnest. From there on it just gets worse and worse with the final reveal making me want to throw my eReader against the wall.
The plot is not helped by a series of unlikeable characters. We are supposed to empathise with Sarah but all I wanted to do was slap her - she is the very definition of weak. Her husband is well thinly characterised would be the best way of putting it; maybe the more honest way would be one dimensional. If you really thought your wife was losing the plot would you really stand so many paces back from it that you can barely see her?
Poorly realised plotline that is trying to cash in on people's inherent mistrust of social media and feeding in to that paranoia.
There was little in the way of suspense as it was pretty clear from the outset who the "stalker" was and all the angst and soul searching was never going to change that or divert the readers attention from what was so blatantly obvious. The whole premise was verging on the ridiculous - okay I could get behind the fake profile and how disturbing it would be to have someone else pretending to be you and documenting your life "as it happens" but that, by it's very nature severely limits the suspects. Once we got past that and started getting packages delivered from online retailers that had supposedly been bought by our heroine my internal eye rolling commenced in earnest. From there on it just gets worse and worse with the final reveal making me want to throw my eReader against the wall.
The plot is not helped by a series of unlikeable characters. We are supposed to empathise with Sarah but all I wanted to do was slap her - she is the very definition of weak. Her husband is well thinly characterised would be the best way of putting it; maybe the more honest way would be one dimensional. If you really thought your wife was losing the plot would you really stand so many paces back from it that you can barely see her?
Poorly realised plotline that is trying to cash in on people's inherent mistrust of social media and feeding in to that paranoia.
Blood's Revolution by Angus Donald
I tried, I really did. I keep picking the book up, reading a couple (or ten) pages and then putting it back down again. This has been going on since Halloween and I'm still not in triple figures page count wise.
Is it because I haven't read the first in the series?
No, I don't think so, never been a problem before I can usually figure it out and manage to get into a book even when it is a few deep in to an established series.
Is it the setting?
I like historical novels and I've read quite a few and even given some of them 5 star reviews so it can't be that.
Is it the writing?
The writing is actually quite good, the early battle scene was actually quite tense and you got a real sense of the musket fire and the cannon smoke and boom.
Is it the characterisation?
Could be, but then again they feel like fully rounded people on the page and normally that's all I need.
I am now officially giving up on it though - at page 81. I am usually never beaten by a book but this one feels like a chore every time I pick it up and after 10 days of persevering I've officially had it; I'm done.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Is it because I haven't read the first in the series?
No, I don't think so, never been a problem before I can usually figure it out and manage to get into a book even when it is a few deep in to an established series.
Is it the setting?
I like historical novels and I've read quite a few and even given some of them 5 star reviews so it can't be that.
Is it the writing?
The writing is actually quite good, the early battle scene was actually quite tense and you got a real sense of the musket fire and the cannon smoke and boom.
Is it the characterisation?
Could be, but then again they feel like fully rounded people on the page and normally that's all I need.
I am now officially giving up on it though - at page 81. I am usually never beaten by a book but this one feels like a chore every time I pick it up and after 10 days of persevering I've officially had it; I'm done.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Friday, 2 November 2018
Before I Find You by Ali Knight
2.5 Stars
This book started out really well, melding together Helene who thinks her husband has a mistress, Maggie the Private Detective who she hires to follow her husband and Alice Helene's step-daughter. Information about the 3 main characters is dealt out piece meal and in the format that we have now become so familiar with - start at the end with the cataclysmic result and then jump back in time for the first chapter proper. We all know how that works and this book follows that tried and tested route. The main difference being we get to see the tale from 3 different points of view, so the same scene will be described 3 ways. I presume this is in an attempt to obfuscate proceedings, it doesn't do that but initially it makes for very entertaining reading.
The characters are strongly written and they do each have an individual voice on the page. None of them are particularly likeable and are somewhat cliched - slightly neurotic second wife, stroppy teenage girl and psychologically damaged private detective. That I can forgive as they have enough about them to appear as human on the page and the mere fact that the one author can create such distinct voices has to be applauded (makes me feel a little bit guilty for giving this such a low rating).
Unfortunately after about halfway through the book I found my attention being to wane and I stopped caring about what was going on. In fact, I had actually figured out who Gabe's paramour was and when he fell to his death from Connaught Tower I lost all interest in the story. It then became more of a skim than a read to get to the end. What started off as quite a taut thriller that had multiple options and threads became, for this reader, rather farcical. The final denouement in the Blue and White office was really the icing on the cake as far as stretching credulity went.
This is a real shame as this book had all the hallmarks of being truly great but all sent of realism and subsequent tension dissipated steadily through the story until it became almost unfinishable.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE.
This book started out really well, melding together Helene who thinks her husband has a mistress, Maggie the Private Detective who she hires to follow her husband and Alice Helene's step-daughter. Information about the 3 main characters is dealt out piece meal and in the format that we have now become so familiar with - start at the end with the cataclysmic result and then jump back in time for the first chapter proper. We all know how that works and this book follows that tried and tested route. The main difference being we get to see the tale from 3 different points of view, so the same scene will be described 3 ways. I presume this is in an attempt to obfuscate proceedings, it doesn't do that but initially it makes for very entertaining reading.
The characters are strongly written and they do each have an individual voice on the page. None of them are particularly likeable and are somewhat cliched - slightly neurotic second wife, stroppy teenage girl and psychologically damaged private detective. That I can forgive as they have enough about them to appear as human on the page and the mere fact that the one author can create such distinct voices has to be applauded (makes me feel a little bit guilty for giving this such a low rating).
Unfortunately after about halfway through the book I found my attention being to wane and I stopped caring about what was going on. In fact, I had actually figured out who Gabe's paramour was and when he fell to his death from Connaught Tower I lost all interest in the story. It then became more of a skim than a read to get to the end. What started off as quite a taut thriller that had multiple options and threads became, for this reader, rather farcical. The final denouement in the Blue and White office was really the icing on the cake as far as stretching credulity went.
This is a real shame as this book had all the hallmarks of being truly great but all sent of realism and subsequent tension dissipated steadily through the story until it became almost unfinishable.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE.
A Spark Of Light by Jodi Picoult
This is a rather surprising topic for a novel and one that is particularly charged in certain Countries. Whether to be Pro-Choice or Pro-Life there is a miasma of belief in between the two states but this book deals, ultimately, with the extremes - the staunch Pro-Life protester who pickets at the Clinics and harasses the Health Care Providers and those who work in the clinics or need their services. What I found exceptional about the book is that it does not come down on one side or the other. Everybody referenced in the tale is a Human Being and treated as such, no matter what their belief. That said though, there is more empathy from the author for those performing the procedures and undergoing them than there is for those telling them they are murderers. What it did for me was allow me to see the protesters as people and to understand, a little, where they are coming from.
The hardest thing to get to grips with in this story is, strangely, not the subject matter. It is the time hopping that goes on. I understand working from the latter sections of the siege in the clinic and then working backwards. However, the author has chosen to jump from events minutes before the shooter enters the clinic, to halfway through the siege and then back to weeks before. It does make it difficult to build the timeline in your head properly and I did get turned around sometimes as to where in the timeline we actually where.
I liked the fact that the "products of conception" where not glossed over but the truth of the procedure was kept within the book - the medical truth that is devoid of emotion and religion. I also learnt a lot about attitudes in America towards the decision of a woman to terminate her pregnancy; both from the woman making the decision, those who support her through and those who condemn her. This does mean that I have taken my pre-conceived (pun NOT intended) notions in to this story and may have interpreted passages in a different way to those who bewlieve the polar opposite to me.
The biggest issue I had with the book is that we never find out what happens to Beth. She is perhaps the biggest loser in the whole book and as the siege draws to an end she is the one that stands to lose not only her liberty but her family as well. We presume that Bex survives, we presume that Dr Walsh survives, but we don't know. We don;t know how Izzy's situation resolves - does she stick with Parker (to be fair he does seem to genuinely care and not give a toss about their societal differences) or does she destroy the one good thing in her life after her job? Too many loose ends that I would have liked tieing up - maybe in the way they do at the end of films based on Real Life.
This is, in many ways, an ideal Book Club choice but be ready for arguments that will last long in to the night and will not all be to do with the book. That said I read this in stave format through The Pigeonhole where you have the opportunity to discuss the story as you go along with other readers. By the end of the first section I stepped away from this as I could see the potential for clashes. I found it to be an emotive read that made me question my own prejudices, I also found myself caring about the disparate characters in the book and their particular reasons for being in that place at that time.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A COPY OF THIS BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE.
The hardest thing to get to grips with in this story is, strangely, not the subject matter. It is the time hopping that goes on. I understand working from the latter sections of the siege in the clinic and then working backwards. However, the author has chosen to jump from events minutes before the shooter enters the clinic, to halfway through the siege and then back to weeks before. It does make it difficult to build the timeline in your head properly and I did get turned around sometimes as to where in the timeline we actually where.
I liked the fact that the "products of conception" where not glossed over but the truth of the procedure was kept within the book - the medical truth that is devoid of emotion and religion. I also learnt a lot about attitudes in America towards the decision of a woman to terminate her pregnancy; both from the woman making the decision, those who support her through and those who condemn her. This does mean that I have taken my pre-conceived (pun NOT intended) notions in to this story and may have interpreted passages in a different way to those who bewlieve the polar opposite to me.
The biggest issue I had with the book is that we never find out what happens to Beth. She is perhaps the biggest loser in the whole book and as the siege draws to an end she is the one that stands to lose not only her liberty but her family as well. We presume that Bex survives, we presume that Dr Walsh survives, but we don't know. We don;t know how Izzy's situation resolves - does she stick with Parker (to be fair he does seem to genuinely care and not give a toss about their societal differences) or does she destroy the one good thing in her life after her job? Too many loose ends that I would have liked tieing up - maybe in the way they do at the end of films based on Real Life.
This is, in many ways, an ideal Book Club choice but be ready for arguments that will last long in to the night and will not all be to do with the book. That said I read this in stave format through The Pigeonhole where you have the opportunity to discuss the story as you go along with other readers. By the end of the first section I stepped away from this as I could see the potential for clashes. I found it to be an emotive read that made me question my own prejudices, I also found myself caring about the disparate characters in the book and their particular reasons for being in that place at that time.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A COPY OF THIS BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE.
The Unlikely Heroics Of Sam Holloway by Rhys Thomas
2.5 Stars
On starting this book I was with it all the way. Sam likes all the right things (even if he is DC over Marvel), has great taste in films and manages to have a social life. He clearly has problems both personally and socially but the character starts out as fairly well balanced, apart from his over-eagerness to dress up as The Phantasm and dispense justice in his small town. Unfortunately, I found that Sam soon descended in to a caricature of himself. Once we had found out what the tragedy in his past was this became all he was about with interludes of mooning over a girl and messing up at work. I sort of get that this could be interpreted as a study in Depression but it just felt wrong somehow (and I cannot put my finger on why).
After initially enjoying the exploits of The Phantasm I soon became irritated with them popping up and disturbing the story. This is exactly what they did for me - disrupted the flow and interrupted the tale we were being told. Again, I understand the device being executed here but, for me, it just didn't work. I did read them all but after 5 or 6 I began to consider skipping them altogether but managed to refrain.
The end of the tale was kind of sweet without being cloying but I still couldn't generate any feelings for Sam. I was more relieved that it was all over than relieved at how things had worked out for him. Not one for me!
On starting this book I was with it all the way. Sam likes all the right things (even if he is DC over Marvel), has great taste in films and manages to have a social life. He clearly has problems both personally and socially but the character starts out as fairly well balanced, apart from his over-eagerness to dress up as The Phantasm and dispense justice in his small town. Unfortunately, I found that Sam soon descended in to a caricature of himself. Once we had found out what the tragedy in his past was this became all he was about with interludes of mooning over a girl and messing up at work. I sort of get that this could be interpreted as a study in Depression but it just felt wrong somehow (and I cannot put my finger on why).
After initially enjoying the exploits of The Phantasm I soon became irritated with them popping up and disturbing the story. This is exactly what they did for me - disrupted the flow and interrupted the tale we were being told. Again, I understand the device being executed here but, for me, it just didn't work. I did read them all but after 5 or 6 I began to consider skipping them altogether but managed to refrain.
The end of the tale was kind of sweet without being cloying but I still couldn't generate any feelings for Sam. I was more relieved that it was all over than relieved at how things had worked out for him. Not one for me!
The Paper Magician by Charlie N Holmberg
This is a book of anachronisms and I was slightly disappointed in it truth be told. I love a good fantasy tale and was really looking forward to this one - sadly I really couldn't settle in to the story or become particularly interested in any of the characters. Our heroine, Ceony, is an annoying brat on the whole who gave me the impression that she expected to get exactly what she wanted to the detriment of all others. I also found her feelings towards her Master, Emery Thane, to be rather uncomfortable and misplaced.
The Magical Systems devised for the novel do work well and this is the only reason I gave this book 3 Stars. I really liked the premise that a Magician could only have power over manmade objects and that they had to specialise in a particular material. Of course, there is the "dark side" to be considered where manipulation of humans is the only way but you have to have a foil for the good don't you? In the case of this particular book I really don't think you do - I can see how this was used as a device to tell us more than we ever needed to know about Mg. Thane (yes the constant abbreviation to Mg. throughout the book did annoy me) but I would have been more interested in the larger world being created.
There is much that doesn't marry up in this book, not least the sense of time and place. From the snippets of information given I am guessing this is supposedly Victorian London, or a version thereof but much of the dialogue is very Americanised - my pet peeve is the use of Mom, it would have been Mother or Ma. The geography doesn't stack up or the time it would take to travel between Solihull and London by carriage. For some reason the paper dog also irritated me - probably because the enchantment meant that he was very robust and seemed to scamper about quite well in exceedingly damp conditions.
I have books 2 and 3 in the series already and I am slightly regretting their hasty purchase. I will get around to reading them eventually but it is very definitely an eventually!
The Magical Systems devised for the novel do work well and this is the only reason I gave this book 3 Stars. I really liked the premise that a Magician could only have power over manmade objects and that they had to specialise in a particular material. Of course, there is the "dark side" to be considered where manipulation of humans is the only way but you have to have a foil for the good don't you? In the case of this particular book I really don't think you do - I can see how this was used as a device to tell us more than we ever needed to know about Mg. Thane (yes the constant abbreviation to Mg. throughout the book did annoy me) but I would have been more interested in the larger world being created.
There is much that doesn't marry up in this book, not least the sense of time and place. From the snippets of information given I am guessing this is supposedly Victorian London, or a version thereof but much of the dialogue is very Americanised - my pet peeve is the use of Mom, it would have been Mother or Ma. The geography doesn't stack up or the time it would take to travel between Solihull and London by carriage. For some reason the paper dog also irritated me - probably because the enchantment meant that he was very robust and seemed to scamper about quite well in exceedingly damp conditions.
I have books 2 and 3 in the series already and I am slightly regretting their hasty purchase. I will get around to reading them eventually but it is very definitely an eventually!
The Birthday by Carol Wyer
I have been really enjoying the DI Robyn Carter books and thought I would try out the author's new series focusing on another female police officer, this time Natalie Ward. Apart from the similarities of their jobs the two characters are poles apart which I wasn't really expecting. Somehow I was anticipating the two women to be mostly interchangeable and that these books were simply a chance to move the setting. This time our protagonist is a married mother who is struggling to deal with the complexities of her job whilst keeping a home going for her two teenage children and recently made redundant husband. For my money her character is drawn really well and the balance between the need to do your job well and to financially support your family without alienating them is realistic - being the only bread winner is not easy for anybody and having experienced that maybe I felt more kindly towards the character.
The investigation is realistically handled with a lot time spent seemingly going around in circles as no new evidence comes to light and what evidence they do have is limited. You can feel the team's frustration leaking off the page in places and even though you know it will all be resolved by the end of the book the sense of tension is built well. I will readily admit that Natalie and her team figured things out before I did as to the perpetrator which probably goes some way to my high rating on this book.
I did find the sections where the murderer has their say rather extraneous this time around as they didn't really give the reader any insight that the police didn't have. It also served to break any sympathy we may have had with the killer, they clearly had a neglectful upbringing where nobody saw how disturbed they were or even really cared about them but somehow no sympathy is generated for them.
I really enjoyed the book but the Robyn Carter series is, on the whole, better. I will try the next Natalie Ward book but I don't think I will stick with this one as much.
The investigation is realistically handled with a lot time spent seemingly going around in circles as no new evidence comes to light and what evidence they do have is limited. You can feel the team's frustration leaking off the page in places and even though you know it will all be resolved by the end of the book the sense of tension is built well. I will readily admit that Natalie and her team figured things out before I did as to the perpetrator which probably goes some way to my high rating on this book.
I did find the sections where the murderer has their say rather extraneous this time around as they didn't really give the reader any insight that the police didn't have. It also served to break any sympathy we may have had with the killer, they clearly had a neglectful upbringing where nobody saw how disturbed they were or even really cared about them but somehow no sympathy is generated for them.
I really enjoyed the book but the Robyn Carter series is, on the whole, better. I will try the next Natalie Ward book but I don't think I will stick with this one as much.
Its Not You, Its Them by Portia MacIntosh
I wasn't entirely convinced by the heroine of our book and her overweening desire to be adored by her fiances parents. I get that it's stressful meeting the other halves family for the first time but you aren't going to be spending the rest of your life with them - if you get on bonus if you don't just grit your teeth and get through the family functions. For some reason though she is almost pathological about them liking her. Obviously, as is the way with thios genre, this leads to a myriad of misunderstandings before all coming right in the end.
There is some humour to be found in the situation; sadly it comes at the expense of characters getting very, very drunk. Maybe I am just getting out of touch with the world but the scenarios depicted all seemed to go just that little bit too far to make them feel relatable to real life. The characters really don't have much character to them and are just names on a page - perhaps the best evidence of this is the fact I cannot remember a single character name a week after finishing the book.
That said I have marked this down as a 3 Star read in my notebook. Seems strange when you read what I have to say about it doesn't it. Simply put the writing is very strong and does keep you engaged even though you couldn't care less about the people or the situations they are in. Ms McIntosh can tell a tale and even if it's component parts aren't your bag the telling of it keeps your interest.
There is some humour to be found in the situation; sadly it comes at the expense of characters getting very, very drunk. Maybe I am just getting out of touch with the world but the scenarios depicted all seemed to go just that little bit too far to make them feel relatable to real life. The characters really don't have much character to them and are just names on a page - perhaps the best evidence of this is the fact I cannot remember a single character name a week after finishing the book.
That said I have marked this down as a 3 Star read in my notebook. Seems strange when you read what I have to say about it doesn't it. Simply put the writing is very strong and does keep you engaged even though you couldn't care less about the people or the situations they are in. Ms McIntosh can tell a tale and even if it's component parts aren't your bag the telling of it keeps your interest.
Thursday, 1 November 2018
Skin Deep by Liz Nugent
This book wasn't what I was expecting from either the blurb or the opening stanzas; it was far, far better than that. I am not so sure I would call it a thriller though, for me this was more of an expose of a damaged woman's inner emotion and her descent in to sociopathy (at best). Delia is very, very damaged and how much is just her nature and how much is due to the nurture of her father is up for debate and there is a lot here to endlessly debate.
Delia is eminently unlikeable, she is only interested in herself and she expects everyone to treat her with the Queenly deference that her father has brought her up to believe is her due. Somehow though, she is completely self aware and this made her eminently likeable. Delia has no compunction in describing her manipulations and her lack of love, or even interest, in her only child and this, somehow, got me on her side.
The infrequent asides from the people in her life describing what just occurred from their point of view give a much more rounded portrait of the events and suck you further in to the various worlds from Inishcrann to London to Nice to Monaco. Couple these with her Father's bedtime stories (which are Grimm Fairytales for grown ups) based on his love of their little Irish Island and you begin to see why Delia is the way she is. Ultimately all she wants is the adoration her father told her was her due and she will do anything to get it.
The story telling here is very good and Liz Nugent sucks you right in to the fictional world's she has created. Fictional worlds with just enough of reality to make you believe in the characters wholeheartedly and to eagerly turn the pages to find out just what will happen to them next. The ghosting of previous acquaintances when they no longer serve a purpose for Delia rang very true and others ghosting of her when she is unmasked felt just as valid.
So, why not 5 Stars? I did feel the ending was a little bit of a cop out and that it was slightly rushed towards. Whether this was an editorial decision or the looming of a deadline I don't know but after the care taken to describe all the major events in Delia's life it just felt somehow sloppy. I was also unconvinced by the surgery she had but you have to allow some artictic license in these things.
If you like your characters dark and twisted then this is definitely a book for you. Certainly not a standard thriller but absorbing and well crafted with a good understanding, by the author, of certain psychological traits.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE
Delia is eminently unlikeable, she is only interested in herself and she expects everyone to treat her with the Queenly deference that her father has brought her up to believe is her due. Somehow though, she is completely self aware and this made her eminently likeable. Delia has no compunction in describing her manipulations and her lack of love, or even interest, in her only child and this, somehow, got me on her side.
The infrequent asides from the people in her life describing what just occurred from their point of view give a much more rounded portrait of the events and suck you further in to the various worlds from Inishcrann to London to Nice to Monaco. Couple these with her Father's bedtime stories (which are Grimm Fairytales for grown ups) based on his love of their little Irish Island and you begin to see why Delia is the way she is. Ultimately all she wants is the adoration her father told her was her due and she will do anything to get it.
The story telling here is very good and Liz Nugent sucks you right in to the fictional world's she has created. Fictional worlds with just enough of reality to make you believe in the characters wholeheartedly and to eagerly turn the pages to find out just what will happen to them next. The ghosting of previous acquaintances when they no longer serve a purpose for Delia rang very true and others ghosting of her when she is unmasked felt just as valid.
So, why not 5 Stars? I did feel the ending was a little bit of a cop out and that it was slightly rushed towards. Whether this was an editorial decision or the looming of a deadline I don't know but after the care taken to describe all the major events in Delia's life it just felt somehow sloppy. I was also unconvinced by the surgery she had but you have to allow some artictic license in these things.
If you like your characters dark and twisted then this is definitely a book for you. Certainly not a standard thriller but absorbing and well crafted with a good understanding, by the author, of certain psychological traits.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE
Christmas At War by Caroline Taggart
I expected to find this book rather twee and for it to gloss over the deprivations suffered by many on the Home Front. However, I was pleasantly surprised that it is neither twee and nor does it shy away from the poverty many found themselves thrust in. It does mention how little food was available on almost every page but as these are the memories of those who actually lived through this cataclysmic period in our History you can forgive the author for over-beating the drum.
It is quite London centred. It does mention the bombing raids on other cities but the majority of the reminisces are from Londoners, whether this is because they were the only ones with easily accessible records to the author I do not know. What we do know is that housewives from around the country kept diaries which were submitted to the Government on a regular basis (watch the impeccable Housewife 49 by Victoria Wood) and it would have been nice to hear some of those voices.
The book actually gives a quite rounded picture of how celebrating Christmas changed throughout the period of 1939 - 1944. People's recollections of the paper bells and concertinaed paper decorations that some of the wealthier families had made me think of my own Grandparents who had those same decorations well in to the late 1970s. The children all seem to remember making paper chains to decorate their homes and air raid shelters and that invoked a nostalgia for my own 1970s childhood when my maternal Grandmother used to sit me down to make them with her.
There is no doubting that this is a nostalgic look at the war period and how people came together to make the best of things. It suffers not for that though, it is actually quite warming to read and makes you realise how much "things" have come to mean at this time rather than just the joy of being with your family, ideally playing parlour and card games instead of slumping in front of the TV. I don't think it will change anyones perspective on the season but it will put smiles on faces.
That said I do feel this is probably more of a "gift book" than one you would buy yourself. I can see it featuring quite heavily in the stockings and present piles for grandparents in particular (even though they will have no recollection of this period they are nearer to it than their Grandchildren).
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
It is quite London centred. It does mention the bombing raids on other cities but the majority of the reminisces are from Londoners, whether this is because they were the only ones with easily accessible records to the author I do not know. What we do know is that housewives from around the country kept diaries which were submitted to the Government on a regular basis (watch the impeccable Housewife 49 by Victoria Wood) and it would have been nice to hear some of those voices.
The book actually gives a quite rounded picture of how celebrating Christmas changed throughout the period of 1939 - 1944. People's recollections of the paper bells and concertinaed paper decorations that some of the wealthier families had made me think of my own Grandparents who had those same decorations well in to the late 1970s. The children all seem to remember making paper chains to decorate their homes and air raid shelters and that invoked a nostalgia for my own 1970s childhood when my maternal Grandmother used to sit me down to make them with her.
There is no doubting that this is a nostalgic look at the war period and how people came together to make the best of things. It suffers not for that though, it is actually quite warming to read and makes you realise how much "things" have come to mean at this time rather than just the joy of being with your family, ideally playing parlour and card games instead of slumping in front of the TV. I don't think it will change anyones perspective on the season but it will put smiles on faces.
That said I do feel this is probably more of a "gift book" than one you would buy yourself. I can see it featuring quite heavily in the stockings and present piles for grandparents in particular (even though they will have no recollection of this period they are nearer to it than their Grandchildren).
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
Flames by Robbie Arnott
3.5 Stars
I think the kindest way to describe this short tale is quirky; I could have said pretentious but that feels overly harsh and is very much down to personal taste in matters of expression. Although, sections of it did read in a very self-conscious manner as though the author was peaking through the lines saying "you see what I did here, you see how I am layering the metaphor, aren't I clever". Maybe that's just my take on it, maybe you will relish the "richness of prose".
The story itself seems to take a good third of the book to become cohesive, it certainly took me that long to figure out what each of these disparate characters and settings had to do with each other. Once the links are delineated I found myself quite enjoying the tale of the Old Gods of an Old Country still pushing through the changes that the "dark apes" and the "pale apes" (Robbie Arnott's descriptions not mine) were wreaking on their land, water courses and skies. Although, I am still not really sure why so much time was spent on the hunting of Oneblood Tuna - yes I am aware it is referenced at the end but even so.
Strangely the only character I really felt any sort of connection through the page was was the God of the South Esk. The people never really felt fully formed on the page and had just the one dimension to their characters and I could discern no real depth to them apart from their part in the tale. There was also the rather peculiar segue into the world of the Private Detective and their reliance on the self-medication of gin and strange relationship with The Last Graham.
As a fantasy novel it works quite well. The section on the wombat farm in Melaleuca was well described and the descent in to madness - or maybe possession - was evocative and absorbing. The history of Charlotte and Levi's parents also gripped me, even though I had figured out by now who daddy not-so-dear was.
I am not entirely sure that this is a book I could recommend though, I would certainly need to know the reader's tastes before I could do so. If you can struggle past the sometimes obscuring prose the tale itself is actually very good, it just depends if you feel it is worth the effort to power through. I did and, on the whole, I don't regret it but it is a very short book and only took me an afternoon so that did help.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
I think the kindest way to describe this short tale is quirky; I could have said pretentious but that feels overly harsh and is very much down to personal taste in matters of expression. Although, sections of it did read in a very self-conscious manner as though the author was peaking through the lines saying "you see what I did here, you see how I am layering the metaphor, aren't I clever". Maybe that's just my take on it, maybe you will relish the "richness of prose".
The story itself seems to take a good third of the book to become cohesive, it certainly took me that long to figure out what each of these disparate characters and settings had to do with each other. Once the links are delineated I found myself quite enjoying the tale of the Old Gods of an Old Country still pushing through the changes that the "dark apes" and the "pale apes" (Robbie Arnott's descriptions not mine) were wreaking on their land, water courses and skies. Although, I am still not really sure why so much time was spent on the hunting of Oneblood Tuna - yes I am aware it is referenced at the end but even so.
Strangely the only character I really felt any sort of connection through the page was was the God of the South Esk. The people never really felt fully formed on the page and had just the one dimension to their characters and I could discern no real depth to them apart from their part in the tale. There was also the rather peculiar segue into the world of the Private Detective and their reliance on the self-medication of gin and strange relationship with The Last Graham.
As a fantasy novel it works quite well. The section on the wombat farm in Melaleuca was well described and the descent in to madness - or maybe possession - was evocative and absorbing. The history of Charlotte and Levi's parents also gripped me, even though I had figured out by now who daddy not-so-dear was.
I am not entirely sure that this is a book I could recommend though, I would certainly need to know the reader's tastes before I could do so. If you can struggle past the sometimes obscuring prose the tale itself is actually very good, it just depends if you feel it is worth the effort to power through. I did and, on the whole, I don't regret it but it is a very short book and only took me an afternoon so that did help.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
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Lego Tony Stark's Sakaarian Iron Man 76194
I know nothing about the "What If" TV show but what I do know is that I absolutely LOVE Mechs and Lego always manage to put somet...
