Tag: Fiction

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

This is a book that, let’s be honest, has been everywhere in the book world in 2023. The cover is absolutely stunning, so it has definitely been hard to miss in the bookshops. I won a beautiful copy of the paperback over on Instagram and decided that I would select this book as the story for the October prompt of ‘The Unread Shelf Project 2023’ – Influence.

This novel is beautifully written; the characters are so well crafted that you are immersed in this world as a reader. I mean, computer games are not my first love, but reading this book you can see why they can mean so much to so many, and the passion that they can incite in people. This is a tale of love, but that love does not have to be romantic – it is the kind of love people find with those who have a passion and experience that bonds them in a way with which they may not be connected with anyone else.

This is a slow-burn story, following the lives of Sam and Sadie, thrown together and kept together, via some bumps in the road, by their love of computer games. There is some tragedy along the way – and moments that test their friendship and their love, but there always seems to be something that can draw them back together. Even when their lives seem to take completely different paths.

I am pleased I read this book and I can see why it is a favourite for so many. However, for me, it was a little long; when I had to take a little break from reading it I did not miss it, although I absolutely knew that I wanted to finish it. The ending was also perfection – the sort of ending that leaves you make some of your own choices about the future of the characters and allows you to create what you will from what you know.

Tell Me How This Ends by Jo Leevers

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

The October pick for ‘The Book Taster Online Book Club‘ is ‘Tell Me How This Ends’ by Jo Leevers. This was not a book I had heard of, but it has been a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick and the cover is beautiful, so I was intrigued to pick it up and get started.

I loved this book; I found it so difficult to put it down, and every evening I was desperate to settle down and carry on reading because I just had to know – well – how it was going to end. Henrietta and Annie are thrown together as Henrietta gets a job recording and writing people’s life stories, and she is given the task of helping Annie record her story. This experience blossoms into a friendship as they both (without realising it) support each other in coming to terms with their past, and some of the ghosts and mysteries that haunt them. Although the idea is that Henrietta is writing the stories of those who are aware that they are facing the end of their lives, this is not a sad story. In fact, it is a clear story of hope and friendship. Even in the toughest of times, there can be a light, as both characters are freed from those who have not allowed them to shine as they should.

I am not sure I can do this book justice without giving too much away. But I found it so engaging, and I was rooting for Annie and Henrietta throughout – just pleased that they had found friendship with each other. It is a friendship that crosses the generations and these are some of the best friendships in fiction. It reminded me a little of the friendship in ‘Lenny and Margot’, although the gap is not quite as large. And I considered the new friendship that was found again at the end of the book an absolute joy.

Please be aware that this book does tackle the subject of cancer and grief, but this is handled so beautifully and, throughout the book, you know that these characters have been able to bring so much to each others’ lives. But, if you are a fan of ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine‘ or ‘A Tidy Ending‘, I think you may enjoy this book, too.

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

This is a book that has all the hype – in fact, it has not just had all the hype, it also has a film.

I read this book with quite high expectations and I am still not entirely sure what I thought of it. I enjoyed the concept; it is brilliant to read such representation of the LGBTQ+ community in books. It is brilliant that this book does not just tackle boy meets boy, but also looks at some of those concerns and issues that follow those who are expected to behave a certain way due to their position and how isolating it can be for those who just want to be their true selves.

I enjoyed reading about these characters and I think it really had some thought-provoking moments, but there was something that just stopped it having real sparkle. Now, this could be a moment of ‘it is not you, it is me’ – I could just have been too tired to invest in this book the way it deserves. But I think for me it was just a little too long and my focus wandered occasionally, and I feel I probably skim-read some of it rather than really taking it in.

I understand why this book is so loved, and Casey McQuiston knows how to write a story that will make you really think about the world we live in. And she creates characters you would quite like to hang out with and have a catch-up (and discuss a little bit of politics or the state of the world, potentially). But, for me, it just missed the spot ever so slightly.

However, do not get me wrong, I will probably invest an evening on the film, as I would love to see how this book has gone from the page to the screen. Always happy to see if the hype is deserved.

The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

When I popped this book into Storygraph, I was surprised to see that one of the adjectives used to describe it was ‘funny’. However, as I read this novel, I realised that, actually, there is some humour in this book; a dark humour, but almost a satire of how ‘the other half’ live – all woven into a great crime story.

I was kindly sent this book by a Bookstagram buddy and, when I saw that it had been chosen as Waterstones’ thriller novel of the month for October, I knew that it was time to pick it up and give it a read. And I was hooked by the tagline on the front: ‘You know how they live. This is how they die.’

I really enjoyed this book. As with all thrillers it is quite hard to write blog posts, as you do not want to give away any of the twists or the thrills. However, what I enjoyed about this book was the slightly cynical look, that almost became a satire of the rich/poor divide. How it may appear that some of those with privilege can sometimes manipulate the situation in order to achieve what they want while never considering the consequences of their actions or some of the devastation that they leave behind them.

Detective Caius Beauchamp was a great character and is someone that I would like to read more about in other books. Especially as you feel that the story leaves you with a desire to find out a little more about this man. And our villian Rupert Beauchamp (no relation but, sadly, historically these families were linked – with Rupert’s as lords and masters and Caius’ as far less…) is a very well-created enemy of the peace, but is also almost a caricature of ‘the other half’ and how they live.

There are some uncomfortable topics in this book, so please consider this before you read it, but as a rule this is a great thriller, and I hope we will see more from the pen of Charlotte Vassell.

The Drift by C.J. Tudor

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

My lovely bookstagram buddy ‘Life in Two Worlds’ sent me ‘The Drift’, as I had spotted that she had been reading it. And I feel very lucky that she did – this is a fascinating read and such a clever concept for a book.

I absolutely cannot give any spoilers in this post. So, this is going to be a very difficult post to write as the twist in this book is just perfect, and I absolutely did not see it coming – and I am still thinking about it now. What an incredible author C.J. Tudor is to have been able to write such a book with such a twist, and keep it all so well structured, while never losing that thread.

This is a virus novel: there is an outbreak of a dangerous virus and we follow a number of different characters as they deal with their experiences in an isolated area of the world. The characters are all fighting for survival in some way or another, and experiencing the paranoia that is established between those who are thrown together, and just want to be able to survive at whatever cost. The sense of place is fantastically created, so you feel you are among them in their snow drift, or stuck in the cable car – and you feel the tension as the characters do.

However, this is all I can really say about this story’s plotline, because you truly need to read this to appreciate the skill that has gone into writing this book. Although it is a bit of a slow burn and probably needs quite some concentration, it is a book that I recommend if you like a well-written thriller that leaves you guessing until the very end.

And I must remember to read more of C.J. Tudor’s books.

The Night of the Flood by Zoe Somerville

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I am ashamed to say that ‘The Night of the Flood’ has been on my tbr pile for well over a year. This was a book I picked up after the 2022 ‘Tasting Notes Live’ event where I heard Zoe Somerville speak. I finally picked it up in August from ‘The Unread Shelf Project’ prompt of ‘Immerse’, as I felt this book would be a rather atmospheric read that would transport me back to the Norfolk of the early 1950s.

This book was inspired by the real floods which hit the Norfolk coastline in 1953 – and they become the setting for a fantastic slow-burn thriller. However, the thing that really drew me into this story was the backdrop of the Cold War. It was so interesting that this was a book about civilians (rather than a pure spy story) during the time and how much of an influence this unknown quantity of what was happening actually created such an atmosphere of fear and paranoia. It is always in the background of this story, haunting the characters and making Jack such an enigma of a character (I am still not sure if I warmed to him or not as I read this story). This is, of course, combined with the hangover from the Second World War – the idea that life is precious and can be sadly cut short – emphasised, again, by the tragedy of the floods.

There is also a great study of the taboos of British society at the time. And that some of these taboos, combined with the fear generated by the Cold War, were adding to the anxiety felt by many as they attempted to live their lives – the way they were expected to, even if it was not the way they truly wanted to.

I became truly hooked on this book once I was immersed amongst its pages. I found the characters and their experiences fascinating – against such a historic background. Zoe Somerville creates so much atmosphere with her writing that you can almost imagine being there and really witnessing what is taking place, which made it a perfect choice to the prompt of ‘Immerse’.

I will definitely be looking out for ‘The Marsh House’ and adding that to my tbr pile.

The Retreat by Sarah Pearse

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

The thriller fascination just seems to be carrying on this summer. I was lucky enough to be gifted ‘The Retreat’ as a birthday gift from a fantastic friend, so I picked it up pretty quick.

I had an interesting conversation with someone who suggested that the previous book, ‘The Sanitorium’, was a little far-fetched as a thriller, with some actions from the characters being questionable and probably thrown in to add more to the story. Now, I cannot comment as I have not read that book, but it was a surprise to me as I felt that this was not the case with ‘The Retreat’.

‘The Retreat’ reminded me of the classic crime stories of the locked room. A destination, rather claustrophobic, with a set number of characters, but murders are being committed (or very suspicious accidents). Sometimes, it seems that these crimes should be simple to solve but, of course, they always seem to be the most complex.

This is a very atmospheric novel – and the island is as much a character of this book as the people are. There is also a current and an historic crime that become part of the investigation, which adds another dimension to the story.

There may be a couple of actions by Elin Warner that some may consider questionable, but also I feel that they fit into the personality of the character that has been created. And do any of us know what someone may do in some situations.

I would be interested to read ‘The Sanitorium’, as the concept intrigues me and I wonder if the author’s writing has been honed – but, let us be honest, both books have been a big hit, so as we always say, one of the joys of books is that we all have different opinions and thoughts about them.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Do you read graphic novels? I often wish that I read more of them, as they are such a joy and there is such a range of them out there, it does seem a waste to not pick up more. Although one of my favourite reads was ‘When Stars are Scattered‘, also co-authored by Victoria Jamieson.

A very lovely bookstagram buddy gave me a copy of ‘Roller Girl’ and what an absolute beauty this book is. This is a book that so many should read who sometimes are not sure about their place in the world. (And I cannot promise you won’t want to consider donning your roller skates or roller blades after reading this).

Astrid is twelve years old and is used to doing everything with her best friend Nicole, even enduring her mum’s attempts to educate her and get her interested in culture. However, when she thinks she has found her thing in Roller Derby Camp, she assumes that Nicole will be willing to do exactly the same thing as she always seems to have done. Astrid has to learn to forge her own path and deal with the changing experience of growing up.

This is such a charming and heartwarming read and the illustrations are beautiful. I would love this to be on the shelves of so many young people as they navigate growing up and the path of self-discovery – there is something for everyone, as the story of Astrid and Nicole will be the story of so many.

Victoria Jamieson seems to know how to write stories that will support young people but also educate them in some of those tricky topics of the world. This is a book that I will be recommending, especially to some younger reluctant readers – I think this could be a gateway book to get them to read (along with ‘When Stars are Scattered’, of course).

Kill for Me Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I was lucky enough to hear Steve Cavanagh and Gillian McAllister talk about their latest books at my local Waterstones recently. So, of course, that means I have to start reading them (and pause for a moment on shopping my shelves).

‘Kill for Me Kill for You’ is a standalone novel from the pen of Steve Cavanagh (do not worry, Eddie Flynn is returning), inspired by the novel ‘Strangers on a Train’ (yes, I have ordered a copy of that book too). It is a page-turning thriller full of twists and turns, and quite some suspense. It is a study of what may lead someone to agree to kill another person – and if an agreement means that someone can actually go through the act.

It is always hard to review thrillers, as there are no spoilers here – however, this book is simply brilliant. I could not put it down; I read past my bedtime and chores were definitely left undone as I needed to know what was going to happen next. Especially each time something new was revealed that you may not have been expecting.

It is a very well-constructed narrative, with the clever use of timelines and characters’ narratives building all the thrilling tension.

Steve Cavanagh is a particularly talented thriller writer, and I cannot wait to read more of the Eddie Flynn books.

The Love of my Life by Rosie Walsh

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Honest post, I was not a huge fan of ‘The Man Who Didn’t Call’, which I know is a slightly unpopular opinion. But, as I always say, one of the great things about books is that we all like different things and form opinions that spark great discussions – and that is, of course, why book clubs are such a fantastic thing, too.

‘The Love of my Life’ has been picked as ‘The Book Taster’ book club pick for this month. And, to begin with, I was not sure if I would enjoy it based on the previous book; however, I was hooked from the moment I picked it up. This book was brilliant and very readable. I would consider it a mysterious and dramatic read, rather than a thriller (although some may see it is a domestic thriller) but, however you wish to categorise it, I could not stop reading it.

Emma and Leo appear to have a rather wonderful life; they have had some struggles (Emma’s ill health needs a bit of a TW here) but overall, things are good. Until Leo starts to realise that maybe he does not know as much about his wife Emma as he thinks. However, as Leo starts to jump to conclusions from his investigations, the truth is not quite what he expected.

There are a number of twists and turns along the way that make this story compusively readable. I am so glad that I did not judge this on the previous book, as for me this was so much better – a well-constructed drama from start to finish.