When I first loaded this book on a sunny afternoon in my garden with my eReader, I was intrigued. 50 pages in and I wasn't sure what I thought. I coulWhen I first loaded this book on a sunny afternoon in my garden with my eReader, I was intrigued. 50 pages in and I wasn't sure what I thought. I couldn't find a great deal in the characters that I wanted to read about and I struggled with Lawrence's style. Rather than a story, I felt like I was tackling an academic essay on sex with a particular focus on whether women and men regard sex differently and, if so, why? Not that it wasn't without it's entertainments...I like this particular quote by a "gentleman":
"We're free to talk to anybody; so why shouldn't we be free to make love to any woman who inclines us that way?...I can't see I do a woman any more harm by sleeping with her than I do by dancing with her...or even talking to her about the weather"
Ah, the romance...warms your heart, doesn't it? The first 50 or so pages are jam-packed with such gems. Ladies, guard your chastity and beware men wanting to talk about the weather, apparently...
We are introduced very early on to the two main characters: Connie and Clifford Chatterley. Connie is a vibrant and intellectual young woman brought up if not to challenge men, certainly to be opinionated and passionate. Clifford is a damaged man in many ways - after returning from the First World War "more or less in bits", Clifford is paralysed from the waist down and labouring under the weight of a persistent fear.
As I am now beginning to learn, at the halfway point, this book's characters are complex and fascinating. At first, Connie appeared to me to be shallow and almost unsupportive. Once you 'meet' her sister, however, you see how she is being broken by the weight of her position. Which is where the controversy comes in. Connie feels isolated by her life and stifled. The longer she lives without a physical relationship, the greyer she becomes. Fidelity, if you will, is killing her. The progression from liveliness to emptiness is strangely moving and her approach to love and life is unique, particularly for the time in which she is portrayed. In short, Connie is one fascinating woman to read about!
The reason I love this book, and the same reason for which it was supressed for so many years, is its tackling of one simple human issue: yes, you guessed it - sex. How important is it to our "connexion" (as Lawrence calls it) with our romantic partners? Can we love and be close without it? Can sex be separated from love or are they variations on a theme? Somehow without approaching the essay tone of the first part of the book.
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I rolled into the second half of the book admiring Lady Chatterley in a strange way for having the character to go against social conventions and take her husband's gamekeeper as her lover. My admiration was rapidly sapped by the second half of the book. As Lady Chatterley falls more in love with Mellors, she loses the spark and sense of independence that I had so respected and becomes rather feable. I admit that by the end I had come back around slightly towards respect, it was far away from how I felt in the first half. Perhaps I'm more of a feminist than I realised but I was frustrated by Lady Chatterley doggedly pursuing freedom from Clifford only to lose her sense of self and individuality in her love of Mellors.
I also found that the portrayals of sex became more...odd. I appreciate that the effect that might have been being pursued was one of unity and of the characters merging together but the excessive references to waves and colours became a bit much for me. Don't judge me for preferring the earlier sensory descriptions to the later metaphorical ones!
Clifford remained as vain and uncharismatic as he was early on. More so, I suppose, as he begins to fear Connie's independence.
I think the most interesting character of the second part of the book is Mrs. Bolton, a carer taken on by Connie to free herself from the role. Mrs. Bolton highlights the disparity between the classes brilliantly. She is intrigued by her upper class employers and is eager to learn more about their lies but at the same time despises Clifford as the owner of the mines that killed her husband. The relationship between the two is extremely complex and I found it kind of disturbing. She treats him as a child, and he is happy to let her, becoming increasingly dependant on her. I'm sure Freud would have had a field day...
Again, I find myself writing about the characers but I've been left with an impression that they were the novel. The plot felt almost incidental to how they developed and interacted and were affected by external forces.
Overall: I'm definitely glad I read this book - it does raise some interesting points on social class, love and sex and social history. There isn't so much in the way of plot but the characters are interesting enough that it doesn't seem to matter. I think it would perhaps benefit from being read quickly, as I found that my dawdling through the second half just allowed me more time to become annoyed by Lady Chatterley.
The writing style is strong and direct and it's worth reading if just to experience Lawrence's unique voice. I would read other books by Lawrence so I suppose that's as good an indication of my impression as any!...more
"There are three realisations mankind can experience that might give them cause for change. First, remorse for what is gone but might have been in the"There are three realisations mankind can experience that might give them cause for change. First, remorse for what is gone but might have been in the past. Second, a shocking awareness of where they are in the present. Finally, fear for what will be in the future, should their paths not change. These three missions make up our cause"
It's hard for a lot of us to imagine Christmas without some iteration of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, be it re-reading the novella itself or singing along to the jaunty Muppet adaptation. Any author readying themselves to stand alongside Dickens has to be brave. Fortunately, Bennett also happens to be up to the job and proves it in this re-telling of the old favourite.
The whole book is infused with the same sense of magic and mystery that haunts its predecessor. Bennett adopts a style that is similar to Dickens' tale but without feeling like a sham. The writing was so fluid that it often felt like reading poetry. At first, I was highlighting the passages that I loved and wanted to remember. Then I realised that I was doing it so often that it was becoming ridiculous. It didn't take long for me to grasp that the everything was going to be noteworthy.
This is a story that feels familiar and follows the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Futrue but still manages to offer something new, filling in the blanks for those that always wondered what Jacob T. Marley was up to in the years between his death and the night he loomed before Scrooge with his face in the door knocker, why it was that he was the one to try to redeem Ebenezer's soul and how close he came to losing the battle.
Obviously we can't know what Dickens was imagining but, because this is so well done, I'd like to think that this is it. As you can imagine, the book is filled with scenes and quotes that at any other time of the year would seem trite. Read at Christmas, however, against a backdrop of tinsel and well-wishing and they are just bewitching. I 'closed' the eBook wanting to call everybody I loved and make sure that they knew it, make a concerted effort to sprinkle Christmas spirit everywhere and be better. And isn't that really what Christmas is about?
5 out of 5 stars, for finally making me feel festive!
"And to this day, when we find ourselves in the right place at the right time to assist a poor wayfarer on the path of life, a moment's pause may recall the story of good old Scrooge and good old Marley, and our hearts may be softened, we may stop to listen, and we may even offer a hand of kindness to the one who just happens, by some circumstances, to cross our path"...more
This is an alright steampunk novel which, while not always desperately unique, is quite fun and has decent characters. Sir Maurice Newbury is a quinteThis is an alright steampunk novel which, while not always desperately unique, is quite fun and has decent characters. Sir Maurice Newbury is a quintessential English gent with a secret interest in the occult and he is quite charming to read about. Veronica Hobbs is a strong feminist by Victorian standards and spends a lot of her time endeavouring to prove that women can do more than flounce and swoon. I did like both of them, although Veronica was my favourite for her general pluckiness.
The pace goes in fits and starts and there were times when I just couldn't put it down. There were also times when I wasn't overly concerned about picking it up. There was something innately sedate about Sir Maurice that seeped into the rest of the story. He could be passionate at times and there were spurts of action that were great. Part of it, I suppose, comes from Mann's attempts to juggle a whole host of plotlines in one book. Almost as though he had had a number of ideas for books but decided to include them in one. Sub-plots include: flesh-eating zombie-type people roaming the backstreets of London; a ghostly figure of a policeman killing Londoners, the airship crash mentioned in the synopsis, wacky, malfunctioning (and seemingly violent) automatons and a sister that can apparently see the future. Too much? Probably...
When I've seen this book on my shelf, though, the first thing that comes to mind is my slight irritation at the ending. The inevitable side effect of having so many plots running side by side? They all have to be wrapped up. While some of the mysteries were revealed during Sir Maurice and Veronica's race around London in the few final chapters, some are left over. I had assumed that some were being "saved" for the next series and, while I was a little disgruntled, I was kind of resigned. But then came a slightly strange final chapter (or so...it was a while ago, remember) where any loose ends left drifting were tidied up through a very stilted conversation between a couple of characters that went along the lines of:
Character A: "Oh, and wasn't is strange that...happened. I wonder what came of...". Character B: "Funny you should mention that. I spoke to [Character C] and they explained..." Character A: "That makes sense. How nice that's settled"
So yes, don't read this if you don't like your endings a little manufactured.
I've read the synopsis of the next in the series (The Osiris Ritual) and it looks as though it might be more of the same; Sir Maurice and Veronica engaged in seemingly separate investigations but eventually realising that their cases have more in common than they thought. I might pick it up one day if I see a copy in a charity shop or something but I'm not exactly clawing at Waterstones' door to get it. ...more
Ah, young solicitors sent to great huge mansions by your apparently benevolent bosses, when will you learn? Thankfully for the literary world, never. Ah, young solicitors sent to great huge mansions by your apparently benevolent bosses, when will you learn? Thankfully for the literary world, never.
Arthur Kipps is an ambitious but worryingly naive solicitor, plodding his way through dull cases and hoping to catch the eye of his superior and be offered something more fulfilling so that he and his fiancé can buy a little house and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, Kipps' blind hope leads him to gallivant off to the moors to wrap up Mrs Drablow's estate despite an abundance of warnings that he's running into more than he knows. As starts to novels go, it's a classic. But hey, it works. There's something disarming about being 'introduced' to a fresh-faced, eager man when you just know that it's all about to change.
As a proper gothic ghost story should be, though, this is less about the characters and more about the setting and what they experience. Kipps, however, is as good a narrator as you could ask for. The unravelling of his objective, legally-trained mind is well-paced and realistic. I think one of my favourite things about the book was how well Hill blended those touches of realism with the paranormal. Who hasn't had the occasional moment in the night where something sets you on edge and, even though you know it will more likely than not be something perfectly normal in the morning, at the time, everything seems sinister? Just me? Ok...Regardless, the way Kipp tried to hold on to his version of reality in the daylight hours was a nice touch and he was just how I like my narrators. No running around flapping and panicking but equally no getting all gung-ho and toting exorcism equipment about the place. Just good old-fashioned rational thought and a scared man's attempts to take charge over the situation.
The beauty of The Woman in Black lies in its simplicity. There are no superfluous details or incidental conversations detracting from the incisively unnerving descriptions. Believe me, they're enough. This is a book that is as much about what you don't see as what you do; the inexplicable noises behind the locked door, a glimpse of a face at the window in an empty house, distant screams in the fog. The atmosphere is really well balanced and I often felt as though I could see the mist descending over Eel Marsh House as much as I could feel the corresponding increase in tension.
While I really liked Kipps, I couldn't say the same for many of the other characters. I suppose that's unfair seeing as they aren't really characters as much as plot devices but I find all the foreshadowing a touch too much - we already have a tormented future version of the main character and a fidgety boss who's clearly hiding something. I'm not sure that everybody Kipps then met needed to warn him about the bad things that were coming his way if he carried on. It's a small gripe, I know. I'm clutching at straws to try and be balanced! Forgive me...
It's impossible to write a review of this without mentioning how downright brilliant the ending is but, at the same time, I don't want to say anything that would spoil that ending for you. Suffice to say that I would have recommended this book as an exquisitely chilling ghost story without it. With it? Devastatingly good and a story that will follow you around long after you've put it down and shaken off the last of the shivers.
Overall: Last year I read The Small Hand and was was neither charmed, intrigued nor unsettled. The Woman in Black is everything The Small Hand wasn't and then some; a perfect example of everything that makes ghost stories great. ...more
Sherlock Holmes is one of those iconic characters that even people who have never read in their life have heard of. After a couple of positive brushesSherlock Holmes is one of those iconic characters that even people who have never read in their life have heard of. After a couple of positive brushes with detective fiction last year, I decided that it was about time that I read some Sherlock Holmes stories and acquaint myself properly with the character as he was originally written. While I know that it is entirely unnecessary to read them in the order they were written/published, I did want to at least start with the first so that I could read how Conan Doyle originally revealed him and how he met Dr Watson.
A Study in Scarlet was Holmes' introduction to the world and published in 1897 in Beeton's Christmas Annual. What I encountered in Part I of the story was broadly what I had expected: Holmes is an eccentric and socially awkward man who has an uncanny ability to make accurate deductions from a seemingly minor array of facts. Reading about Holmes' thought processes was just as charming as I hoped it would be. Even without the glitzy effects of more modern adaptations, he is astounding. One thing I learned that I hadn't fully appreciated from adaptations is just how cantankerous and condescending he was intended be. A side effect of having such a unique type of intelligence, perhaps?
Part II, however, wasn't even remotely close to what I was expecting. The story is rocketing along with Holmes patronising all of the local constabulary and revealing his insights in what is now a familiar manner. The mystery is all but solved, there's plenty of action, I was excited about how Holmes' Big Reveal would go down and then...the narrative stopped.
Instead of having Holmes/the murderer explain their motive, Conan Doyle apparently decided that it would be better for the reader to go back in time and see the motive develop. Cue a visit to Utah in 1847 (the main parts of the narrative are set in 1881) and a few chapters of adventures in the desert with a group of mormons.
At first, I thought that I'd made a mistake with my eReader while turning the page and had somehow skipped to the next book. I did more than one confused flits back and forth between the book's contents and the page before ploughing on, so disconnected does the second part seem. On one hand, it was much more involving to travel in the murderer's footsteps and come to understand just how they had wound up in their current position and I became more than a little sympathetic to their cause. On the other, I was really looking forward to a great huge monologue through which I could revel in Holmes' peculiar type of genius and kick myself for missing the clues that were there all along.
Overall: I really loved being properly introduced to Sherlock Holmes, will definitely be reading more of Conan Doyle's stories. I genuinely would recommend reading them to any murder-mystery fan because it really is remarkably accessible considering the time it was written. Just remember that it might not be quite what you expect!
I guess my somewhat luke warm reaction to this one is less the fault of Conan Doyle's unique slant on revealing a murderer and more attributable to the inaccuracies of modern portrayals. Now that I'm prepared for that, I think my Complete Sherlock Holmes book and I will get along famously :)
Random and (mildly) interesting fact about A Study in Scarlet: It was allegedly the first work of fiction to incorporate the magnifying glass as an investigative tool....more
Without question, this book is the strangest book that I have ever read. And not in a good, unpredicatable kind of way. More of a "What the...?" kind Without question, this book is the strangest book that I have ever read. And not in a good, unpredicatable kind of way. More of a "What the...?" kind of way. Everything was so surreal and seemingly unconnected and unexplained that I became weary. I just wanted something, anything, to be explained so that I could latch back onto the story. I guess that in that way Jeter does a good job of letting readers experience George's confusion and does keep the promise of answers hovering in the distance but, for me, it was a bit too much.
The characters are, on the whole, extremely unlikeable. I did feel for George, spending every day of his life on a trade that he has neither chosen nor is any good at and living constantly in his father's shadow. As a result, he comes across as rather wet and defeated. No matter what opportunities present themselves, however, and no matter how strange things get, he plods. Even after apparently having been kicked into action by a theft, George is reluctant and always a victim. Early on, I wanted to shake him. Later on, I'd lost the will to even do that. The unfortunately named 'Brown Leather Man' (and yes, that is because that's George's perception of his appearance...) is sufficiently intriguing but not particularly pleasant. He also happens to meet a pair of hustlers that use jarringly futuristic. The male half of the pair is only mildly irritating. The female half appears to think that the solution to every situation is seducing George...and she's supposed to be liberated...
Whether or not you enjoy this book will most probably come down to one thing: whether or not you are happy with retrospective enjoyment. Once I'd finished the book and all of its secrets had been revealed, I could appreciate that it really was quite clever and was quirky in a reasonably good way. While I was reading it, however, I came close to putting it to one side plenty of times because I didn't have a single clue what on earth was going on, never mind why. Unfortunately, me and retrospective enjoyment aren't great friends; call me crazy but I actually want to enjoy something while I'm reading it, not after.
The problem with being hailed as the forefather of a popular sub-genre is that people go into it expecting it to be the finest example of that genre, rather than a seed of an idea. This is to steampunk what Bram Stoker's Dracula is to modern vampire/paranormal fiction; the same elements are there, just not in the way readers have come to expect. Where Dracula and Infernal Devices certainly differ is that the former is a fantastic example of a genre that has been distilled over time while the latter is a mediocre example of a genre that has been enhanced over time.
Overall: If you're already a well-inducted steampunk fan, this book is interesting and the edition I read has a brilliant introduction by the author written some 20 years after this was published and after 'steampunk' had really taken off. If you're thinking of reading steampunk and are looking around for where to start, don't start here. You'll come away feeling perturbed and I can't imagine you would be eager to try anything else.
Alternative reads: Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series; Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series....more
Looking back, I find myself thinking of this book in two distinct halves: one that had me rueing the day I ever met the friend that recommended the seLooking back, I find myself thinking of this book in two distinct halves: one that had me rueing the day I ever met the friend that recommended the series to me and one that had me wanting to have her come and live with me.
In the year that we worked together, we shared books constantly and prattled on and on about them. One series that had her practically kicking the poor Waterstones staff was this one, mainly because of how long it seemed to be taking for the release of the fourth (and final) instalment. Back then, I wouldn't start the series because I was still honouring my ban on not starting fantasy series until they were completed and so I ignored her pleas and didn't pick this up.
Having read it, I'm both surprised and not that she ever made it through this story (not being known for her patience...). The start of the story is promising, with Eragon finding the dragon egg and realising how much danger that puts him and his family in, characters not quite being what they seem and some mortal peril and dragon-related shenanigans. I whipped through the first 100 or so pages grateful, as ever, for the recommendation.
And then began the walking.
When I was younger, I struggled with Lord of the Rings because of the amount of time spent walking between places. My experience was much the same with Eragon. I loved the parts where Eragon and Brom were in towns, encountering ambushes or learning more about Saphira. I found the parts where Eragon and Brom were wandering around and where Brom was dumping information on Eragon and, consequently, me quite tedious. For me, the writing wasn't quite strong enough to sustain the lack of action and the descriptions and dialogue were a little bit lacking.
The legends and history surrounding dragons and their Riders is great background for a series but it was introduced rather heavily by Brom at various points while he is in lecture mode. Despite not relishing the delivery, the substance did suggest that there are great things to come in the remainder of the series. I hope, in a way, that I've got the learning part of the series out of the way and that the remainder of the books are snappier and develop more naturally.
It took me six hours worth of travelling by train to break through the more sedate half of the story into one that had me hooked. It was almost as though Paolini thought I was now adequately briefed in the finer points of history and magic and that it was time to move on and shake things up with some fighting. There was a noticeable shift in pace and I finally started to really enjoy the book. There are elves, magic, cryptic advice from a werecat, a mysterious fortune-telling witch, a city underground and huge roving bands of freaky orc-type baddies. Plus a huge great battle for a finale, which again reminded me of Lord of the Rings, this time favourably, though.
Eragon himself is a tolerable lead but can be a touch self-pitying from time to time. Although maybe being on a quest to avenge your dead family will do that to a person...His relationship with Saphira is endearing but on the sickly-sweet side at times. For a person who is extremely (maybe even overly sensitive), I am very much not an animal person. Something about the human-dragon bond was lost on me, I think, but I did enjoy Saphira's stubbornness and loyalty. She is a kick-a*s female, dragon or not!
Overall: I'd recommend this to more patient readers at the older end of the YA spectrum. There's a lot of waiting around (or, more accurately, walking around) and the story takes quite a while to get going. I will probably read the next in the series (Eldest) but I'm not in any great rush and will only stretch to borrowing it from my local library. That is, unless someone can promise me that the next one is more action, less trekking...? ...more
I haven't ever read anything by Agatha Christie before because I had always associated her books with Miss Marple. I strongly disliked the TV adaptatiI haven't ever read anything by Agatha Christie before because I had always associated her books with Miss Marple. I strongly disliked the TV adaptations of this interfering non-detective and, I'm sorry to say, tarred all of Christie's many books with the same brush. I came across this when I was looking on my local library's eBook site for something quick and light to read on a blustery day. What compelled me to actually download it was the haunting nursery rhyme from which the book used to take its name ("Ten Little N**gers/Indians", depending upon the decade):
"Ten little Indian boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little Indian boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight..."
And so on. I'm one of those people that finds kids (particularly those that hum creepy tunes) in scary films extremely creepy so this was a hook that worked for me...
So here we have ten people travel to an island expecting a whole host of different things only to realise that they are part of a mysterious stranger's scheme to expose an indiscretion from their past. Soon, they realise that the stranger is looking for more than just an opportunity to watch them squirm and members of the group start dying in odd circumstances.
The first couple of chapters are full of snippets of information and background on each of the ten characters which I worried would detract from the development of the story but that settled down quickly and I didn't look back.
One reason I guess this story is so unique is because there isn't a detective pointing out clues for you and musing on alternative theories. All you have are snatches of random characters' thoughts and accounts of their occasional 'meetings' where they bandy about some ideas in an effort to stop themselves going bonkers. Contrary to what you might expect, getting a glimpse into characters' heads from time to time is actually more confusing; sometimes I didn't know who was thinking a particularly incriminating thought or something ambiguous would come from someone that I'd started to think might be wrongly caught up in things and I'd be right back to square one. It was brilliant.
Despite not spending much time on anything but the characters' backgrounds/thoughts and, obviously, the action, the story has a brilliant atmosphere in a classic trapped-in-a-huge-mansion-in-a-storm kind of way. On top of that, as the characters become more suspicious of their remaining companions and more nervous (sleep deprivation and a sense of impending death is no good for a happy group dynamic), the tension becomes almost palpable and is hard to escape from. I barely put the book down and pretty much read it in two sittings. That is extremely rare for me and a testament to how completely sucked in to the story I was.
There isn't much more I can say without giving too much away. At only 172 ePages/224 pages in paperback, this is an extremely quick read that is packed full on suspense, intrigue, murder and secrets. If it's gloomy and you have a couple of hours to kill, read this - it's perfect autumn fodder!
Overall: The beauty of this book lies in never knowing what is going to happen next or, more specifically, when something is going to happen. It's a brilliant thriller with a twist every couple of chapters and an ending that I genuinely never saw coming which, I suppose, is all you can really ask for from a mystery!...more
In 2008, Boyfriend and I went to Krakow (and the photos scattered around this review are ones that I took while there). I was continuously surprised bIn 2008, Boyfriend and I went to Krakow (and the photos scattered around this review are ones that I took while there). I was continuously surprised by the city. It was architecturally beautiful, because World War II was over before it could be invaded and destroyed (unlike, say, Warsaw). It was kooky and fun with adorable boutique-style restaurants and bars (we spent one evening drinking in a bar where all the tables were renovated Singer sewing machines, for example). We had already decided that we would visit Auschwitz Birkenau and I thought that would be at least one part of the trip where I knew what to expect. I knew it would be an emotional day and I knew it would be humbling and would put all of our "problems" into perspective; I just didn't know how emotional and humbling it would turn out to be.
The scale of the site and the associated horror was for me almost incomprehensible; almost as though it is simply too much to process. The part that had the biggest impact on me (and that made me cry) was a corridor filled with framed photographs. Each photograph was a simply shot picture of a woman/man/child in a blue-and-white outfit looking straight at the camera. To this day, recalling the haunted/terrified/devastated looks in the hundreds of sets of eyes can bring me to tears.
This book is the literary equivalent of those photographs.
It's a snapshot of a tragedy that allows you to forget the statistics and remember that those catastrophic numbers were made out of individuals and families who had their own worries, their own battles and their own hopes. Daniel's story is a tiny part of a huge attrocity. I think that too often authors attempt to convey the magnitude of the Holocaust and try to impress their readers with the horrifying numbers. In the end, though, most of us can't really imagine it or understand it. Or at least, I can't. What we can understand, however, is Daniel's sense of loss and hope, his physical and emotional torment and his daily fight to survive.
The story is told very simply, as you would expect for a book narrated by a prisoner in a concentration camp. Daniel is a wonderful character and I'm sure there's something in him for most readers to identify with, which I took to be part of the point. And in case you were concerned that this would be too introspective, his fictional endeavours are painted against a backdrop of fact. Indeed, on one of the first pages of the book is the statement:
"Author's Note: The documents at the beginnings of the chapters are authentic"
These excerpts are extremely well chosen and timed and the balance of Daniel's emotional narrative with terrifyingly clinical documents is perfect. Because of this elements, I think that it would be nigh impossible to read this book without having at least one moment where you flinch/look away/sneak away to guiltily remind yourself how lucky you are - I know that I did and it was part of what made the book such a powerful one for me.
In a way, because of the strengths of the book, I was disappointed by the ending. I know that sounds strange given the subject matter so I won't say any more than that. I wouldn't want to ruin it for anybody that wants to pick this up and it could well just be me. Don't let it put you off and do let me know if you read this and have any particular thoughts on the matter.
Overall: There isn't much more to say; only that, despite the vocabulary and sentence structure being relatively basic, this book is obviously not an "easy read". It is a short book that I think will stick with me for a long time and one I would certainly recommend. ...more
One thing should already be clear to you from the synopsis of this book. It's about assassins; there will be death. Not all of it will be pretty. I woOne thing should already be clear to you from the synopsis of this book. It's about assassins; there will be death. Not all of it will be pretty. I won't insult your intelligence by warning you about violence, then.
Azoth grows up among thieves and pimps making a 'living' from what might best be described as petty crime. This is, however, life on the streets of the kind not typically seen in your average TV adaption of Oliver. It's harsh and it's barbaric. Despite having found myself flinching on the odd occasion, it seemed to me that the cruelty was necessary, particularly in developing Azoth. Had Azoth 'only' been homeless and hungry, the story wouldn't be half as strong as it is. Kylar is the product of a lifetime of physical abuse and sympathy is hard to avoid.
All that said, I eventually found myself a bit frustrated with Kylar. His background is incomprehensible to those of us tucked up writing on laptops and the seduction of the anonymity and control in becoming an assassin is understandable. When Kylar first starts to allow himself the luxury of musing on morality, his thoughts become a touch repetitive. Having written that, I realise how stupid it sounds and as though I prefer my assassins to be mindless (and as though I have a preference at all…). Given how he has come to the lifestyle, it's no surprise that he questions himself later but I was willing him to either reconcile himself with his role in the Cenarian underworld or find a way to live that he was happy with. I'm fairly sure that this won't be too long in the offing…
My only other problem with the cast of The Way of Shadows was just how charming Durzo Blint is. I know he kills people for a living but with all of the cloak swishing, sword play and mystery, I was helpless. So there's a tip: don't read this if you think you'll feel guilty about fancying an assassin!
There is a lot of character development in this book, both of Azoth/Kylar and Durzo and of those around them, and a lot of politics and history that I know will pay off in the future books. If you aren't used to reading longer fantasy trilogies/series (this one is by itself 672 pages in paperback) , trust me on that much and bear with it.
Some of the time, I found it a teensy bit hard to hold onto who was who and who's side they were on but I personally don't think that is uncommon in great fantasy series. I usually only worry about that if I've got to the end of the first book and still don't know. The advantage of the depth and gradual weaving together of the various groups/plots was that when the story picked up speed and the twists and turns came thick and fast, I was so mired in the Cenarian underworld that I struggled to come up for air.
Overall: A gritty start to what I know will be a trilogy that I can't wait to carry on with! There are a lot of characters I'm looking forward to seeing more of, magics and Talents that have only been touched on but that sound brilliant and, hopefully, a whole lot more cloak swishing, shadow skulking and sword clashing! I already have Shadow's Edge lined up on my eReader ready…...more
If you have read and enjoyed either Ms Snyder's Study series or Glass series, you'll love this. It is that simple. Go buy it now; you are dismissed (aIf you have read and enjoyed either Ms Snyder's Study series or Glass series, you'll love this. It is that simple. Go buy it now; you are dismissed (although I'd rather you stayed, of course...).
If you haven't read either, let me convince you.
The story starts with Avry on the run. As one of the last healers, she is forced to hide from those who believe her responsible for the spreading of the plague that has decimated the population of each Territory. When I say "the story starts", I really do mean it. Within the first few pages, Avry has risked her life to heal a dying child and faces execution as a result. There's a sense of urgency that starts on the first page and is sustained for the entire book and that made it nearly impossible to put down. So absorbed in this book was I that I grabbed at it whenever I could, often with embarrassing consequences (nearly bursting into tears on the bus being one...).
It seems that Ms Snyder has a great way with creating strong female characters. The main reason I loved her earlier work so much was that both series focus upon a girl/woman who are intelligent and powerful in their own right. Avry of Kazan is no exception. I adored her for caring enough to still fight to heal people in spite of their fear and hatred, for continuously standing up for herself against people that wanted to control and manipulate her and for her honesty. YA fiction could do with a lot more female characters like her.
The characters that surround her are no less well created. Kerrick, Belen, Quain, Vinn and Flea are the band of men that feature the most and are great additions. Belen, in particular, was a favourite of mine in his role as 'friendly giant'. Kerrick is as charming as someone who smacks you in the face can be, which is of course not very much. I did really enjoy watching his character develop, though. Quain, Vinn and Flea are very much like little brother figures (I imagine - seeing as I have a younger sister, I can't say for definite). Their capering and banter provides some much-needed light relief along the way and really helped the dynamic of the group and the pitch of the book as a whole. Kudos also to Avry for being able to banter with the boys! I loved the intrigue that surrounded the plague, based in part on the Black Death. Where did it come from? Why can't it be healed? How does it spread? Obviously in many ways it differs from the Black Death as that would be decidedly light on the intrigue, being fact and history and all...
Oh, the BAD guys! There are plenty of nasties to create some danger and plights for the plucky healer, ranging from man-eating plants to other magicians to...other things that I won't spoil for you. Suffice to say, this book is not light on action and some of it is unexpected and creepy.
You probably won't be surprised to know that there is a touch of romance. However, you might be surprised to know that it is sufficiently subtle that it doesn't detract from the main plot and that Avry manages to keep a level head, act with dignity and stay true to herself. I know, an independent woman that can be in love and act like rational human being all at the same time; who'd have thought it?
The only (very minor) downside in this book for me was the occasional use of an usual narrative technique more usually used in plays. I am referring to the us of an 'aside' comment where the audience are addressed by a character in the play, while other characters remain oblivious. I regrettably didn't highlight the "worst" example on my eReader and now can't find it but something scary and unpleasant was going on and Avry interrupted the narration by saying something like "I know, scary right?" as though she was talking to the reader, rather than for their benefit. It was so strange and out of the blue that it did kill the moment a little for me. Since part of what makes this book great is how engaging Avry is, I can't complain too much but I did found that it jarred occasionally and the more pedantic among you should be warned. Also, if you don't like the word "guys", be warned - it's used in abundance. It grew on me after a while because it fits the characters and the story but it did annoy me slightly at first. (I must have been feeling ultra picky this week, sorry!)
Overall: I couldn't get enough of this book - there is enough detail for it to be a fantastic and well-rounded story but enough secrets for me to end the book desperate to get the next one and find out what happens next. Despite much frantic searching of the internet, I have only managed to come across the title of the second (Scent of Magic) and a hint that it might be released in 2012. (Hence my previous rule not to start series that aren't finished...I am impatient...). It can't come soon enough....more
Ordinarily, when I finish a book, I post in my usual 'review' format. But how do you review a book that is not only extremely well known but extremelyOrdinarily, when I finish a book, I post in my usual 'review' format. But how do you review a book that is not only extremely well known but extremely popular? I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that this book is worthy of your time - that much should by now be a given.
I loved this book as much as I had hoped I would and happily add my small voice to the cacophony of recommendations.
Since having finished the book, I learned that the version read today is different to that originally published - Wilde was criticised for the 'homoerotic overtones' of his work and apparently plugged in an extra six chapters in an effort not to shroud the overtones but make them relevant. "Provide background" is, I think, how it was referred to. I agree with Wilde's preface though:
"Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault...
There is no such thing as a moral or immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all"
A wonderful riposte.
The Story
As I am sure you know, Basil Hallward paints the work of his life in a portrait of the achingly beautiful Dorian Gray. In an almost petulant moment, Dorian, having realised just how good-looking he really is, wishes that he could retain his youth and beauty forever. But, as it turns out, eternal allure is not all it's cracked up to be...
As Dorian becomes more and more under the sway of the irritatingly verbose Lord Henry, he also comes to the realisation that his "wish" has been granted and the portrait displayed in his home is bearing the brunt of his abuse of his soul. The difference between the eager and naive Dorian who falls utterly in love with an equally naive and charming actress and the bitter Dorian who blackmails an old friend into destroying the corpse of an older friend is striking but not as ludicrous as it sounds. The evil seeps in gradually and Dorian's fall is slow and painful to 'watch'. Like when you set off walking up a hill, look round and realise just how high you've climbed...
Some thoughts...
An unusual aspect for me was how readily Dorian gives up his grip on morality. Is the only reason people don't roam around drug dens, brothels and indulge in the odd murder that we're concerened our visages will reflect our soul? I'd like to think not...
Regardless, I was fascinated by Dorian's ruminations on the nature of the soul throughout his journey and by his progressing anger at Basil for "cursing" him with a face that won't reflect his depravity. Almost as though he feels like he should be dark, just because he can. Driven by Lord Henry Wotton's influence, Dorian endlessly pursues sensual gratification with a wanton disregard of the destruction he leaves in his wake. The duplicity is, of course, disturbing but somewhat deliciously so. One constant is Dorian's immaturity - possibly because he never has the need to think through his actions. So long as he doesn't get caught out, he can be as base as he wants and swan elegently back through high society.
The writing and tone is flawless. Dorian is a wonderfully developed character and I couldn't get enough of Wilde's portrayal of such a unique man. The ending is superb and the edge of insanity is as subtly and woven into the tale as everything else. I found this not only to be quite thought-provoking but a wonderfully sinister story with just a few glimmers of light and nobility.
Dorian Gray in film...
I must also admit that I have seen the recent film adaptation. It reflects Dorian's seedy descent well but largely focuses on his 'pleasures' with a hasty recognition of his decreasing mental stability tagged on at the point where Basil tries to intervene. Rather than the novel's grim conclusion, the film diverts off and adds an utterly unnecessary 'romance'. As always, I recommend reading the novel first - it provides a psychological background to the otherwise superficial film and I can imagine that the film would be fairly hollow without.
Overall: This is one of those classics that is classic for a reason - it's brilliantly corrupt and devilishly gothic and...well, just read it!...more
My mum bought this book and read it first. We often share books and in the vast majority of cases her thoughts on how much I'll enjoy it are spot on. My mum bought this book and read it first. We often share books and in the vast majority of cases her thoughts on how much I'll enjoy it are spot on. So when she handed me Trespass and said, "I'll be interested to see what you think...", I was intrigued. Usually, it's something along the lines of "Read this, you'll love it!" or "The story in this is superb". So I kind of felt like I was being experimented on before I even started...
I've obviously heard of Tremain before, if only because I've noticed a sizeable line of her books in a book shop every now and then. I knew about the volume of work but I couldn't have told you anything about the subject matter. Onto that subject matter...
Audrun and Aramon Lunel are brother and sister that are destroying each other. Perhaps even have already succeeded. They live almost in utter isolation at the Mas Lunel and their proximity torments each of them daily. I really felt for Audrun as a woman struggling with an unimaginable burden but was slightly repelled by her twisted focus. Equally, Aramon is a sorry man drinking himself into oblivion but, again, I found his history abhorrent and almost couldn't bear to read about his sordid view of the world.
Anthony Verey is struggling in obscurity; running an antique shop with very few customers and a shadow of the former famous man he once was. He no longer connects with people and identifies only with the objects under his care: his "beloveds", as he calls them. In his youth, Anthony was a respected valuer and noted expert - in his own mind, he is still the Anthony Verey. Needless to say, he is tormented and all but broken and looks to his older sister to save him.
Veronica Verey lives in France and has an overly-maternal attitude towards Anthony. Her partner, Kitty, is somewhat less enthused. The problem I had with 'V' is an almost complete disregard for anyone other than the Verey family. She claims to love Kitty but when Anthony arrives and starts taking over their lives, V turns her back on Kitty with an utter disregard for the pain she is causing. That said, I couldn't find it in myself to feel too bad for Kitty because her hatred for Anthony seems solely borne out of jealousy and she has such a lack of personal identity that I found myself just willing her to stand up for herself!
As you can see, this is a book that is all about its characters, these five predominantly. I believe that one of my texts to my mum when I was about half way through read "What is up with the people in this book?!" Unusually, I managed to enjoy the book despite not identifying with any of the characters or even liking any of them! I wouldn't want to know any of them and I certainly wouldn't want to intrude on their painful world but they are disturbingly captivating.
The story, equally, isn't an easy one to read. The subject matter can be tough and the relationships are destructive and harrowing. My A-Level English Literature teacher loved a bit of pathetic fallacy and I suppose it's ingrained in my psyche somewhere that I should be looking out for it. This book has it in spades. As the heat builds in the story, so it builds in the Mas Lunel and the surrounding area. It was that that kept me reading. It might not always be pleasant but it is certainly compelling.
I'm not exactly clamouring to read more of Tremain's writing straight away - I'm pretty sure my perception of humanity has been damaged enough for this month! However, I'm not completely put off and would possibly pick up another in the future. A mixed reaction, I suppose.
Overall: This is a strange book with some tough subject matter but the tension is engineered brilliantly and the story is a blend of heartache, memories and, of course, trespass. - this is a good read for a hot summer's day and will stay with you for a while after you finish it. ...more
As usual with Early Reviewer books, I didn't know what to expect from 'Evil Genius' and, as usual, I found myself reading something that I probably woAs usual with Early Reviewer books, I didn't know what to expect from 'Evil Genius' and, as usual, I found myself reading something that I probably wouldn't have picked out for myself but that I'm mostly glad I have tried.
The narrative from the start is smart and witty and the characters largely likeable. Searching for relief from her hectic family life, she is working in the virtual world as a 'virtual assistant' and hiding out in a basement apartment. Right from the moment her solitude is interrupted by the arrival of her younger half sister Elizabeth Georgiana ('EG') and half brother Nick, she slips back into her maternal role and has to fight to protect her family. The relationships between the siblings were dynamic and soon became my favourite thing about the book.
On the whole, this story is centred around Ana: her search for a solid home and family life; her efforts to overcome her aversion to society; her unusual relationship with the disembodied voice of "the spider" in the attic and her crime-solving exploits. As a means of telling the story, it works well and the reader really does get inside her head, so to speak. By the end, though, I wasn't sure that was where I wanted to be! Ana is clearly damaged by her relationship with her mother and forms a frankly unhealthy relationship with a man who she has never met in person but is quite happy to share a house with (!). The odd sexual references seemed unsettlingly out of place and even I, with very limited knowledge of the subject, felt myself analysing her like an abstract psychology study! I understand that the author was probably going for vulnerable/troubled but it became a bit muddled. Ana went from dungaree-wearing wallflower to a tottering stiletto-booted bombshell and back again just a few too many times for me.
So what of the 'mystery'? Despite some great characters, at times I felt that the plot wasn't as coherent as I like in a mystery. I like not quite knowing what is coming up and being thrown off course by an unexpected twist. I less enjoy feeling confused and as though I've missed a step that was apparently obvious to the narrator. There were a lot of elements to the gradually merging mysteries and a lot of minor characters. Towards the end, I actually found that I was more interested in what was happening to the main characters and less bothered about the conclusion of the mystery element...even after I had just finished the novel, I couldn't have explained the plot to someone even if I had wanted to.
Overall: This isn't a book to be taken too seriously - it's as feisty as its female lead and the narrative is smart and entertaining. I would recommend it to older YA readers (although that seems contradictory!). The characters and tone felt a little too young for me to want to recommend it to more 'serious' fans of the mystery genre and a little too much political intrigue for me to think a teen would enjoy it.
If nothing else, there's a lot going on and a range of characters to keep you entertained - just make sure you keep your wits about you so you don't get lost in the tangle!...more
I came away from this book feeling rather positive and remember it as being a fair read but in response to the acid test of "Who would I recommend it I came away from this book feeling rather positive and remember it as being a fair read but in response to the acid test of "Who would I recommend it to?" that often helps me gauge my reaction, I drew a blank. So a mixed one really...
One thing I really liked about this book was the use of elements; the idea that everything is made up of a certain balance of fire, water, earth and air and certain beings are more in tune with certain elements. There was a touch of New Age philosophy about it but it was integrated into the story well and was a nice slant on magic. The imagery is bold and fills the story with colour that matches the nature theme perfectly.
The idea for the plot is quite good but, for me, it ended up feeling a bit repetitive. I'm inclined to think that's largely as a result of the characters - I never thought I'd be annoyed by somebody whose entire family has been killed but Jenni and Rothly both manage to be somewhat...irritating. Jenni has mourning guilt while Rothly has vengeful anger. I sympathised, sure, but was also wishing they'd at least try to move forward. It does get better but in a 'chick flick' fashion rather than in a gritty, emotional way.
And a couple of last thoughts: the tone of this book is hard to pinpoint - at times, I felt like I was reading a YA/children's book (brownie housekeepers and travelling through trees etc...) but then at others, there were some characters getting their raunch on. Makes it a difficult one to recommend to any specific point on the age spectrum, all in all.
Finally, there are, you will be pleased to know, some 'bad guys' to provide mild peril and thwarting opportunities (although for some reason they smell like "old bubble gum" - whoever would have guessed?). Again linking to the above-mentioned tone, these bad guys do have a taste for some pretty grim violence involving some spillage of blood - if you're of a very queasy disposition or are thinking of passing this to young kids, probably something that you'll want to bear in mind!
Overall: This was a sweet story with some cutesy magic going for it - I wouldn't necessarily be rushing out to grab other books by this author but I enjoyed this one and didn't have a problem finishing it. It's bright and colourful and made me wish for summer (possibly the beach scenes...) so it's a nice one to cheer up a dim day. ...more
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