Tag: Fiction

The Humans by Matt Haig

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

As I have mentioned several times, so probably to repeat myself rather, I do not read the blurb on books. So, ‘The Humans’ has been on my shelf because I am a fan of Matt Haig’s books – so I was just as surprised as Mr Bookwormandtheatremouse when it turned out that I was reading a science fiction book by official genre. However, I like to think of it as contemporary science fiction – it was nothing too intense, there just happened to be an alien race as a central character.

However, I really enjoyed this book. This was less to do with science fiction than it was a study of humans – what makes us tick, how our relationships are formed, and what it really means to be human. It was a strangely page-turning read as you follow Professor Andrew Martin, or so you think, from the moment he is found naked wandering the streets of Cambridge to living his normal everyday life – or so those around him think. However, Professor Andrew Martin, that we know, is the form taken by a visiting alien who is trying to supress the knowledge that has been gained by the real Professor Andrew Martin. Yet, he becomes easily distracted as he studies what it is to be human and begins to develop empathy and possibly even love for those around him.

I hope I have not given too much away about this book, because it is one that I hope many people will read, even if science fiction is not their usual taste, because I found this a brilliant read. It did exactly what I admire about Matt Haig’s work: it creates fascinating characters and closely examines human nature. I found it a rather thought-provoking read, thinking about if I really understand those around me or if sometimes we just carry on with our lives without giving those around us a second thought – a rather selfish attitude that the modern world may have instilled in us, whether we realise it or not.

If you are a fan of Matt Haig, then you will be a fan of this book and his creative imagination. And something I really like about Matt Haig’s fiction is the creativity in the stories; although sometimes those who feel isolated are often the central characters, the creative situations he puts them in makes each reading experience a unique and enjoyable one.

Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I have had my eye on ‘Shy Creatures’ by Clare Chambers for quite some time, mainly because it had one of the most beautiful covers I had seen in 2024. As well as the fact that I had loved ‘Small Pleasures‘ when I had read it for book club.

‘Shy Creatures’ did not disappoint. I love that Clare Chambers finds a story from the past that intrigues her and she uses that to inspire her to write her beautiful stories. And this is a beautiful story, taking us back to the 1960s. We meet Helen, who is an art therapist at Westbury Park, a psychiatric hospital, who hopes that her art will help those who have to spend time in the institution. However, Helen has her own secret: that she is having an affair with the charismatic Gill, one of the doctors who works there. She thinks that this is all she wants but, as she encounters a new patient, William, his hidden past forces her to reflect on her life and her relationships – and, as William goes on a journey to heal, Helen finds herself on a similar journey. Are they both ready for a fresh start and to embark on the new life they deserve, and remove the barriers that have held them back?

I absolutely adored this book from the moment that I started reading. Helen is a wonderfully strong female lead character, and a woman ahead of her time in 1960s Croydon. It tackles ideas about the role of women, mental health and relationships of all kinds. William is a man that needs someone to understand, to see how what he has experienced has made him the man that he is – and maybe that those who thought that they were keeping him safe, stifled him instead.

I loved how the title of this book had so many different meanings: who really are the shy creatures in this book? The badgers that William and his childhood friend Francis spot one wonderful summer, or the boys themselves away at their boarding school, or the characters we meet in the book who have never quite shown all they are to the world?

This will be a book that I will be recommending to anyone who will listen – especially if they like a thoughtful, emotional and powerful read with characters that come to life from the page, right from the very first word.

The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne by Freya North

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I would normally wait to write about ‘The Book Taster‘ pick for book club because we have not reached book club week yet. This is because the chance to chat helps you keep thinking and evaluating the book, and what you have read. However, this time, I can’t wait that long to share my thoughts – because I absolutely adored this book, and ‘The Book Taster’ has spread its magic again in introducing me to a new author.

‘The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne’ has also been recommended by the fantastic Matt Cain, so it has actually been sitting on my shelf for some time, but, luckily, ‘The Book Taster’ gave me the boost I needed to pick it up. Because, let’s be honest, the curse of being a book lover, is that we may treat collecting books as a separate hobby to reading them, so they can be on those shelves for quite some time.

This is a beautifully written, thoughtful read. We meet Eadie Browne as she sets off on a road trip to a funeral in her home town. As she is on this trip with her husband, she is reflecting on what has got her to this moment. We go right back to her childhood, through her teenage years, to university, to the present day. And it is quite a journey we go on with Eadie as we learn more about her, her family, and her friendships and relationships. As we reach the conclusion of the tale and threads start to come together, we understand why exactly Eadie is so keen to be at this funeral, and the closure and support that it may give her and those around her.

I want this to be spoiler-free, but I will share that I think it is a clever technique in the tale that we do not know exactly who the funeral is for, for so much of the story – it is a twist that is quite a surprise. And it is a twist that for me was quite emotional to read and really made Eadie a beautiful character, as well as supporting the reader in really understanding her. This shows what skill Freya North demonstrates as an author, too – to bring so much emotion to a story that seems potentially so ordinary (a coming of age tale), but truly makes it her own and unique, feeling like you have not read something like this before.

Now, I am keen to read more books by Freya North, as this is my first and it has definitely whetted my appetite to read more. I do enjoy discovering an author who has a backlist for me to explore, because it opens you to a whole new world of reading adventures – and meeting more characters along the way.

Honeybee by Dawn O’Porter

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Another series of books – this is a New Year miracle, and we are only a few days into the year.

I was introduced to this series by Dawn O’Porter last year and very quickly read both ‘Paper Aeroplanes‘ and ‘Goose‘, so when I had the chance to read ‘Honeybee’, too, thanks to a fellow Dawn O’Porter fan, I jumped at the chance.

It was a delight to be reunited with Renee and Flo and find out how their lives were panning out in their early twenties. And, as we can imagine if we have read about their teenage years, things are not going quite as smoothly as they could be. There has been a slight pause in their friendship but they have both returned to Guernsey; Flo from London, where life seems to be going as well as her relationship with her mum, and Renee is returning from Spain, where bonding with her father and sister have not been quite as successful as she has hoped. This throws them back together – they are not just back on the same island but they are also living together and working together – and this brings all sorts of drama, mishaps and moments of true friendship.

I have to be honest that I do not think that this is my favourite of the trilogy, but it was an enjoyable read. However, interestingly, I have heard a few people recently talk about how difficult our twenties probably are (even if we do not realise it) and that maybe we are not our best versions of ourselves in that decade, and I think that is true of both Flo and Renee. This is certainly a coming of age tale and both of the women take some time to identify who they are and what they truly want to be, to be the best versions of themselves and that path is certainly not smooth and tests them both, sometimes to the limit.

Yet, this book is again a great representation of female friendship and a study of relationships. I did like the recognition of the importance of talking for all of our wellbeings. And Aunty Jo, as a slightly older character (not at all old, just more senior than our two central characters), bringing to attention the menopause, and the lack of understanding and openess that has often come with this life stage – although hopefully this is improving. Plus, of course, the life lesson that comes from the elderly neighbour: we should never disregard the wisdom of our elders, or disregard them at all just because of their age.

So, if you have enjoyed the adventures with Flo and Renee before, you will continue to enjoy their adventures in this book, and it is definitely a fitting conclusion to the trilogy of books.

The Hike by Lucy Clarke

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I am ahead of the game, already having finished the January pick for the Book and Pudding Club I attend. I guess that is the joy of only having your Kindle with you when you need to pick a new book, and ‘The Hike’ is sitting there ready for you to read. This was also the perfect book for the ‘Twixmas Days’ as it is a page-turning thriller, that has you just wanting to know what will happen next.

Four female friends set of on a hike, their annual trip to spend time together, although this year it is different as they do not usually go for something so adventurous, usually opting for some time on the beach. However, each of these women is carrying more baggage than their backpacks and as they spend more time on this hike, secrets are revealed and friendships are tested. All alongside them encountering the trip of their nightmares, rather than a lifetime. And, why do they feel haunted by Karin, a woman who went missing on the same hike a year before?

What I liked about this book is the way that the chapters were constructed. Each chapter is a different perspective, which is not unusual, but there are chapters from a character who works as a mountain rescue volunteer and these are cleverly placed throughout the book. These chapters are a clever way to feed information to the reader that may impact their reading experience. I found these chapters fascinating the more the story went on – and as I finished the book I did reflect on how these chapters had impacted my understanding or perspective of the story.

I have to be honest, I am not sure I was a complete fan of all of the friends. I am not sure I believed in them all as real people but I did understand their situations and some of their experiences which maybe explained some of their behaviour. Although, by the end there was a change in each of the characters.

This was a fast-paced read and a clear page-turner. You just had to know what was going to happen next – this was my second book by this author and I much preferred it to the first one I read on audiobook. I think I would have found this hard as an audiobook as you need to keep the thread and different perspectives need to be clear. So, I would read more of Lucy Clarke’s books but I think I would stick to physical copies rather than audiobooks.

I See You by Clare Mackintosh

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I clearly decided I wanted to end my 2024 reading year with a bang, even if I did not realise it, and picked ‘I See You’ by Clare Mackintosh. What a wild ride of a read, and one that I could not put down.

This is a true chilling thriller and that was what kept me hooked and picking it up at every moment that I could. It left me a little unerved, because it was one of those thrillers that you can actually imagine (potentially) happening, and that always makes it that little more chilling as you read.

Zoe spots a familiar photo in the classified ads of the London Gazette; in fact, it is a little too close to home, and she has no idea how it got there. However, she starts to notice that there is a connection between photos of women appearing in the classified ads and crimes that are being committed against women in the London area. I can not give away any more than that because this is a spoiler-free review – but what I can say is that this is an incredibly well-constructed thriller. You are left trusting nobody and you feel the fear that Zoe feels as the story progresses. There are twists and red herrings and a thrilling conclusion as we reach the end of the story – or is it really the end of the story?

I did not work out the full conclusion to this tale, which is something that makes a good thriller. On the final page, some of my suspicions were confirmed, but I had many before the final twist was revealed and they certainly had not all been correct.

I think that this could be my favourite of Clare Mackintosh’s books; I think I like it even more than ‘I Let You Go‘ and I know that is a particular favourite of many thriller fans. Clare writes excellent female characters and really draws you into the world of the central characters, which makes you feel like you are living the experiences with them. I really liked that, in this book, there was an insight into our perpetrator at points, and these left you pondering who exactly that may be. It is so skillfully done that you consider it to be so many characters. In fact, these sections were some of the most chilling to read, as you can imagine, and I think that the villain was one of the most unnerving that I have read in a recent thriller.

So, this is a book that any thriller fan should pick up if they are looking for a new read. It certainly made the end of my 2024 reading year a fantastic one, and I will be recommending this to everyone who asks for a thriller recommendation, as it was an absolutely brilliant read from the moment it started.

Happy Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I have not read a huge number of festive books this year. I think it is because I am such a mood reader, rather than a planner. And, this has definitely been my year for crime and thriller books, so when you can mix that with a festive read, it sounds like my kind of book.

I read this as a buddy read with a lovely fellow bookworm, and it is a great book to read along with someone else, as you can play armchair detective, but you can also share your own anecdotes about Christmas. I also finished it on Christmas Day, which seemed like perfect timing to me.

‘Happy Bloody Christmas’ starts with the discovery of a dead Father Christmas in the pantry (sounds like something out of Cluedo, which I think may have been a little of the inspiration for this book – especially as it gets a shout out in the book) and, from there, we follow Anna as she tries to not only solve the mystery of who stabbed Santa, while also keeping Christmas on track. But it is already Christmas Eve. This leads to a rather amusing series of events as Anna tries to juggle all that comes with an investigation and Christmas.

This is a cosy crime tale for the festive season with a note of light heartedness as it looks at family relationships and pressures at Christmas time. It makes for a rather easy but well-constructed story, that leads us in all sorts of different directions as to who may have chosen Santa as their victim – there are a few moments of misdirection, and that makes for a page-turner of a read.

As I always say, there are no spoilers here, so that makes for a slightly shorter post; however, I am excited to see that there is a second book out next year which I may well pop on my list of festive reads (which, I agree, sounds like rather a lot of planning for a mood reader).

Have you had any favourite festive reads this year?

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

As I have been lucky enought to visit Alaska, it is always a joy to find a book which is set in this wild and majestic part of the world. And, quite by chance, I have read two books this month set in this very place, and the author of ‘The Snow Child’, Eowyn Ivey, is a proud Alaskan which makes this book even more magical to me.

Now, I have to admit that this beautiful book had passed me by until it was selected as the December read of ‘The Book Taster Book Club’ and, to begin with, I was not entirely sure that this would be a book that I would traditionally choose to read (based on initial impressions – or as most of us call it, the cover). However, I would have missed an absolute treat if I had let that impression overtake me, because this book is an absolute treat.

This is a book that you have to savour; this is not a book that can be rushed. This book is inspired by ‘The Snow Girl’, a Russian folk tale, but is a magnificent story in its own right. We meet Jack and Mabel, as they are begining their new life on an Alaskan homestead; they are haunted by a tragedy from their past, but they are determined to make a success of their new life and the new opportunities that are promised to them in Alaska.

One evening, they meet Faina, the beautiful and mysterious young girl who seems to only appear when it snows and disappear as the new life comes with spring. We follow these characters over a number of years, and see how special Faina becomes to Jack and Mabel, and the magic that she brings to not just their lives but those of their closest friends in their new world. And, when you read the final page, you know that this book and its characters will stay with you for life – and that you will want to share them with as many other readers as possible.

There is also so much in this book that is left to the reader’s imagination, and that always makes for a read that becomes an interesting and fascinating one. There is also the mystery of Faina having no speech marks when she has dialogue with anyone in the book. Now, lack of speech marks is not being commented on, because it is something that bothers me, but it is clearly to serve a purpose in this book, and we had quite the conversation at book club as to what that purpose may be.

If you are looking for a magical winter read, then this is a book that I will forever recommend – in fact, since finishing it, I have realised that I love it even more than I thought I did, as I was reading it because it is so beautifully written, the characters are all lovely, and the atmosphere and sense of place within Alaska in the 1920s is stunningly created for the readers. This is a book that, despite being set somewhere remote and difficult to live in, makes you want to be there and experience it alongside the characters; in fact, you probably want to sit down with the characters and have a chat.

So, again, I have to thank ‘The Book Taster’ for bringing another brilliant author to my attention and more books to my tbr pile. Because I know would love to read anything written by Eowyn Ivey, and I am very excited for her new book inspired by ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I have immediately come on here to review ‘The Winter Garden’ by Kristin Hannah, and I am even doing it with some tears still in my eyes. ‘The Winter Garden’ was chosen by the Knowle Book and Pudding Club and I was very excited about it as, about this time last year, I read ‘The Four Winds’ and, when I finished, I knew I wanted to read more books by Kristin Hannah – I just did not think it would be about a year before I did it. And I am determined that I am going to read another one soon, and definitely before another year is out.

I did not know what the premise of this story was, other than the word ‘Leningrad’ on the front cover, but nothing prepared me for what an emotional rollercoaster this read was going to be. I cannot give away what this is about, because I want you all to experience this beautiful book for yourself. Although, my advice is that you should be prepared for some tears as you reach the conclusion of the story.

What I will say about this book is that Kristin Hannah is incredibly skilled at not only putting women at the centre of her stories, but placing them at the centre of history. A place that, sometimes, women miss out on, despite all the important parts they have played throughout our world history – often a little more behind the scenes, but still being essential as the story of the world unfolds.

Alongside this, Kristin writes beautifully about relationships. And, in both of the books that I have read, she has written excellent relationships between mothers and daughters: how these can be some of the most incredible bonds, but also some of the most challenging relationships that women can face. In ‘The Winter Garden’, this relationship is represented in so many different ways but, essentially, love is at the centre of them all, even if it is not always obvious to those who are there until the past is fully understood.

I am not sure if I am doing this book justice, because there is just so much wonderful storytelling throughout this story, and it will have you researching more about the historical events that are described in its pages. But the epilogue is one of the most beautiful I have read, and brought the story to an almost perfect conclusion – although I hoped that there was a further reunion as the book came to a close.

If you are a fan of Kristin Hannah’s books – which is your favourite? As I need to work out the best way to tackle her extensive backlist of titles – and I definitely need to do it sooner than in a year’s time.

All I Want for Christmas by Karen Swan

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I have finally done it, I have finally read a Karen Swan book. I am not sure what has taken me so long. However, a big thank you to one of my bookstagram buddies for agreeing to a buddy read with me, and encouraging me to pick this book up.

I think, if I judged this book by its cover, which is a bad habit I admit I have, I would have assumed that this was a cheesy romance story with a bit of a Christmas theme. (And I may have worked out that it was set in Copenhagen, haha). This book is so much more than its cover suggests – and, dare I say it, I may try to read some more books by Karen Swan.

I loved that this book had a wonderful mystery story woven into it, too, that, to me, made the romance element secondary, rather than the being the focus of the story. I absolutely loved that Darcy had to use her art historian skills to be a detective to find out the identity of the woman in the portrait that had been hidden behind another famous painting. This really sucked me in, as I wanted to know who it was just as much as Darcy did – and what it had to do with Max. I did work out a little of the connection, but not the full picture (pardon the pun), and I really enjoyed following Darcy as she worked it out.

I do not want to give too much of the plot away, as I like my posts to be spoiler-free. But there are some of the elements that you would expect from a classic romance novel: the apparently unavailable man and the series of unfortunate events (or fortunate events, depending on your point of view) that seem to keep throwing our central characters together.

It is also a book that makes a good buddy read, as you have so many moments where you want to share what you think, gossip about the secrets that have been revealed, and share your predictions about what is going to happen next. And they are definitely the best kind of buddy-read books.

If you have read a Karen Swan book, please let me know – as I would love to know which other ones are worth a read to spark that Christmas spirit this year.