Category: Books

And the Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I have finally joined the local library. In fact, it was listening to the author Jan Carson that convinced me that I had to make use of my library, and so I did.

And the first book I took out: a YA graphic novel, one that had been on my wishlist quite some time – ‘And the Ocean Was Our Sky’ by Patrick Ness.

This book is absolutely stunning; the illustrations are truly beautiful and so clever. They are sybmbolic as well as supporting the story, and you are left with some of them to use your imagination to add more to the moment. They are, in every way, just enough to bring the story to life for the reader.

I guess I should talk about the story. Inspired by ‘Moby Dick’ (which I have not read, despite Mr Bookwormandtheatremouse insisting that I should), it is the story of the whales as the hunters of man, rather than the other way round. And what a powerful story it is. Patrick Ness has really flipped the tables on the classic, in such a sophisticated and meaningful way. This is not a gimmick of a story, but one that really makes you think about the impact of whale hunting on those beautiful mammals of the sea – and Patrick Ness really brings them to life for the reader.

However, this is not a tale that preaches to its readership; it makes the reader think. You will consider how not everybody that hunts supports what is happening, but there is also that survival instinct kicking in. It is fundamental to all to want to survive, even sometimes when the things that are needed for that to happen may not always sit comfortably with our ideology. So, on the pages of this book, we have quite a study of human and animal nature.

If you like a thought-provoking and powerful read, then this is a book I would suggest you pick up, I would love to know how other readers respond to this graphic novel. And always remember: YA books are not just for younger readers.

An Unwanted Inheritance by Imogen Clark

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I was due to read ‘An Unwanted Inheritance’ back in December, when I was kindly gifted a copy by Tandem Collective UK – however, it never made it. I had give up hope and just thought it was one of those things that was just not meant to be – however, out of the blue it appeared on my doormat, so I had my little readalong on my own.

‘An Unwanted Inheritance’ is an excellent study of human relationships, especially within the family unit. When three siblings are left with a suitcase full of cash after the sudden death of their father, everything that they thought they knew is brought under the microscope. We follow the three siblings as they try to make decisions about what the right thing to do with their ‘unwanted inheritance’ is (well, it is more unwanted by some than others) but, also, as they try to solve the mystery of where exactly the money came from or who exactly their father was.

What keeps you reading, however, is the character study. I enjoyed seeing how each character reacted to the situation, or at least the situation as they saw it. How, sometimes, people can not see what is right under their nose, or accept what is in front of them. And how money can really impact people in so many ways, some often being very negative.

So, if you are a fan of a book that is character led (although, do not expect to like all the characters, because I certainly did not) and a plot that is guided more by the characters, then this is the book for you. It may even make you reflect on your own character at times.

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I have recently seen a lot of love for the writing of Matt Cain, and when I saw a sneaky opportunity to snap up a bargain-price copy of ‘The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle’ – I just knew I had to.

This book did not disappoint me at all; in fact, I may go as far as saying that this could well be one of my books of the year – if not my book of the year. I absolutely adored every single thing about this book. It is a true hug in a book, which really should be a genre.

Albert Entwistle has never really revealed who he really is. He has spent his life as a postman, following a routine every day, and keeping people at a distance. However, when he finds out that his retirement is on the horizon and starts to open his eyes a little more to the community around him, he starts to make some changes to his life. And, maybe, he will finally address the past that has held him back for so many years – having the courage to find the man he had lost so many years before, and who he has never forgotten.

This is almost a coming of age story for the older gentleman, and a story of acceptance. Nobody should ever be scared to reveal their real self.

I think Albert Entwistle is one of my favourite characters that I have ever discovered in a book. You just want him to find his happy ending and see all the love and acceptance that is around him, and that he no longers needs to hide in plain sight. And I would like to thank Matt Cain for bringing Albert to life for us all.

So, if you have not read this book, I really recommend you pick it up, as it is a story that will stay with you forever – a truly heartwarming read.

The Fire Starters by Jan Carson

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

In January the Tasting Notes Book Club pick was ‘The Fire Starters’ by Jan Carson. As you all know, I do not read any blurb, so I did not really have the faintest idea what to think about this book.

As I started the book, I have to admit I was not really sure what was happening; there seemed to be two completely unrelated stories taking place – only connected by being set in Belfast. However, as the stories continue of two main characters, Sammy and Jonathan, you realise that they in fact have quite a lot in common, and a similar story to tell. These men are both dealing with their relationships with their children; they are both men who love their children but are also troubled by them, almost in fear of them because of who they have become – or who they may become.

Sammy is a man who fears that his past character has become that of his sons. Sammy was a man who was actively involved in the violence on the streets of Belfast during the height of the Troubles (which we must acknowledge have not ended), and he is worried that this has led his son to become involved in a new wave of incidents in Belfast. Is he really responsible for the decisions his son has made? And is he the only one who can stop him?

Jonathan’s new daughter is magical or cursed, depending on Jonathan’s feelings on any given day. But can he do something that many would think is unthinkable to protect people from his daughter?

As I reached the end of the book, I understood a lot more about how these two apparently individual stories were similar, and how they brought a richness to the novel I may have missed when I first started reading. This is a book that I may not have chosen to read, but I am glad that I have discovered the beautiful writing of Jan Carson. And I do have my eye on reading ‘The Raptures’, as that is another book that sounds incredibly intriguing.

No Shame by Tom Allen

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I am finding so many treats as I shop my shelves that it is making me wonder why (like all bookworms – and Nemo’s good friend Dory) I can be distracted by new shiny books when there are some absolute gems on my shelves that I have ignored for some time.

I am a fan of Tom Allen, and his dry and unique sense of humour. I have heard him speak a few times about his memoirs/autobiography and, now that the second has been released, I thought it was probably about time that I read the first. Although, in my defence, this has only been on my shelves since the end of November, so it has been picked up pretty quickly.

I adored this book. It is full of charm and wit, as you would expect from Tom Allen. But it is also very honest, and Allen really invites you to see some of the struggles that he faced growing up as a gay man in surburban Bromley. I enjoy that this is not just a chronicle of his life, but that he selects the stories he wants us to hear about his journey through life from boy to young man – and award-winning comedian.

You will laugh out loud as you read this book (quite a choice for me to have read on a train journey to London), and it will break your heart at times as the young Tom Allen struggles a little with his place in the world. But, also, for the clear love that there is between him and his parents, showing unconditional love for their son, even if he did not always realise that everything would be okay after all.

As my first piece of non-fiction of the year, I feel that it was a great choice, as I have been blessed with another well-written and engaging read that I was looking forward to picking up at each opportunity that I had to read. And, as Tom Allen is a contemporary of mine, it was nice to share some of the same nostalgia for Sony Discmans and swimming pools getting their wave machines, and that seeming like the most exciting thing ever. I would definitely like to read Tom Allen’s second book – but first I must continue my quest to get the to-be-read pile down.

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

‘Five Survive’ has been one of my most anticipated reads, so when I spotted that I could grab a copy in the Waterstones post-Christmas sale, I could not turn it down. I mean, it has sprayed edges, so what more persuading did I need?

This book brings together a teenage road trip with a thriller. As a group of friends get stranded off the beaten track on their way to their break, they discover that maybe it was not as much of accident as they orginally thought. In fact, was this ‘breakdown’ all a set-up – but by who and, more importantly, why?

This is a fantastic read: absolutely thrilling, and you are on the edge of your seat at points as the drama intensifies. Told hour by hour in ‘real time’, you live through every event the characters do, feeling their panic and fear intensify as the time passes. And you are desperate to find out, as they are, exactly why it is happening.

For me, this really reminded me of a modern ‘Lord of the Flies’. How the relationships break down and change with no ‘adults’, and various people attempting to take different roles. Especially because, as more and more is revealed about the characters, the more the relationships and roles change and develop.

I was absolutely hooked. Holly Jackson has created a thriller that moves her writing on well from the ‘Good Girl’ crime fiction trilogy – and I am keen to see where else her writing takes us in the future.

The No-Show by Beth O’Leary

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

2023 is the year that I shop my shelves. I am on a book-buying ban and I will be successful (fingers crossed), and I am determined that I get through some of those titles read on my tbr pile, shelf, trolley and the various other places where I have piles of books.

So, I have kicked the year off by grabbing ‘The No-Show’ from my shelf because, to be honest, it has been sat there for far too long, and it was time that I read it. (I mean, it has been there since ‘The Book Taster Live’ event, so really quite some time). It was also my first choice for ‘The Unread Shelf Project 2023’, as I hoped it would tick the box of a ‘Comfort’ read.

And it was a great way to kick off 2023.

‘The No-Show’ was a return, for me, to everything I love about Beth O’Leary: great characters, a clever plot and a feeling of a joy as you reach the end of the book – but not afraid to tackle some tough subjects. I am absolutely not going to spoil it for anyone, because this is a book that I think you have to read to understand what a well-crafted storyline it is. I did work elements of it out as I read the book, but that actually added to the enjoyment, as I was seeing if I was proved correct as I went.

This is a book that is quite difficult to review, as I want to share everything that I think about the book, but I just know I need to allow others to read it for themselves and make their own decisions. In fact, I would love to know if anybody has read ‘The No-Show’, and what they thought about it, because it is potentially on par with my favourite, ‘The Switch’.

So, shopping my shelves has started well; will the year of reading continue this successfully?

The Time Machine by H G Wells

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

So, I am probably as surprised as you that I am a H G Wells fan. However, ever since I read ‘War of the Worlds‘, I have continued to enjoy his books.

The book that helped me to the end of 2022, and to reach my reading goal (with mere hours to spare), was ‘The Time Machine’. Another fantastic novella that was ahead of its time.

The unnamed narrator takes us on his journey into the future, where he discovers what appears to be a peaceful and idyllic world. However, he soon discovers that deep below the surface is a race that is ready to destroy such a world.

For a book that was published in 1895, it was clearly very ahead of its time. However, I think it is probably more startling that, in some ways, the warnings in this book are just as important now as they were over 100 years ago.

There is so much to unpick here; the desire for mankind to have the ability to act almost God-like as they develop their understanding of science, for one. But, also, how easy it might be for the divide between the light and the dark to become so extreme that it will become even more dangerous than we all already know it is.

I am definitely going to continue to read the books of H G Wells, because I just find them fascinating, especially as they all seem to be so relevant today, despite their age.

Have you ever been surprised by any of the classics?

The Christie Affair by Nina De Gramont

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I am a huge Agatha Christie fan, which – if you have been reading my blog for a while – you will not be surprised by. And, having just watched the Lucy Worsley documentary about the Queen of Crime, I thought I would finally give ‘The Christie Affair’ a go.

This is a fictional version of the events when Agatha Christie disappeared in December 1926. Now, I am pretty sure we will never really know what happened in those eleven days 97 years ago, but it is definitely something that has fascinated all her fans over the years. Especially as it was immediately after she had found out about her husband’s infidelity. Nina De Gramont is clearly one of those fans.

I did find this story very readable, and I was keen to see where the story would take us. I also liked that it had an element of being a story similar to those that we love from the Queen of Crime, a murder mystery woven into the events. It was also interesting that it tackled that ever-present dark cloud of the homes for mothers that used to be found in Ireland, and the controversy that we all know surrounds those places.

To be honest, for me this book was a fascinating tale, but I think I would have preferred it if it had just been about some completely fictional characters. I am sure that nobody would finish reading this book thinking that it must be based completely on true events but, in some ways, it does not sit well with me that predictions are made about the actions of people who can not reveal the truth. This is an issue I often have with some books about real events or real people: is there a risk of confusing fiction with fact? I am sure that would not be the case with ‘The Christie Affair’, as it does seem fairly obvious that it is fiction, but it is always a niggle I have about some books I read based on real events.

However, I would still recommend this book to fans of crime fiction, because it is a page-turner if you like a good story.

Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

The last ‘Big Classic Book Buddy Read’ was ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’. Now, I am going to be honest, I was certainly willing to pick this up for our buddy read – however, it took such an event to make me pick it up. I have been told by several readers ‘not to do it’ and ‘it is so depressing’ – so, I had probably avoided it for quite some time. I was also intimidated by the fact that it is by Thomas Hardy; he seems, a little like Dickens, as one of those authors that everyone holds in high esteem.

However, a bit like not judging a book by its cover, maybe you should not judge a book by the opinions of others or its author (or at least its author before you have really read much). I really enjoyed this book and I think it may be one of my favourite classics, although when you think about how sad this book is, it seems odd to associate positive adjectives with the reading experience. And it triggers so many brilliant discussions as you go, which makes it a fantastic book to buddy-read.

Tess’ story is one of great tragedy but none of which is her own making; it is all created at the hands of others and, sadly, the attitude of society of the time. (Which, as we agreed as a reading group, is not quite as different from modern society in so many ways). Tess’ future is dictated to her by her parents and their desire to be better placed in the world, and the men who believe that they can control her, and the tragic consequences of finally being unable to take any more. If you do not know the full plotline, I do not wish to spoil it for anyone, but it is fair to say I think Alec d’Urberville is one of the most villianous characters I have ever encountered, hiding it in charm and redemption, which makes it all the worse.

Hardy’s writing style is fantastic, which I do not think I have ever really appreciated before. His books are very readable and have a modern feel despite their age. (I have read one Hardy before, Desperate Remedies, which was a Victorian Sensation novel, so I assumed that it would be different in style to his other work). I would not now turn down the chance to read more of his books, as I think it is safe to say I am a fan.

So thank you again to my fellow book buddies for another great read of a classic – I can not wait to see what we read next.