Certain Dark Things

This was an AMAZING book. I say, if you loved "Interview with the Vampire" by Anne Rice, you will absolutely adore this! Full of vampiric gang violence and dark, wicked rivalry - this book is the answer to what Vampire books are supposed to sound like. 

I found this book on a Vampire reading list on GoodReads. It was brilliant and also NEW VAMPIRE CHRONICLES BOOK ON NOVEMBER 29TH! 

Characters:

Ana was my favourite character. She's a cop who finds dead corpses and winds up in the middle of lots and lots of vampire violence. Alt was also great because - you know - vampire. Blood thirsty vampire. THEY WERE AWESOME! 

Themes:

My favourite theme was violence. Vampires are violent, not "Twilight" sparkly-shite. "Interview with the Vampire" is violent, "Certain Dark Things" is violent...Vampires are violent. It was brilliantly romantic in the way it was written and I loved it! The writing style was just so flamboyant and the violence was made to make you question whether it was really that beautiful, or was it horrific. 

Storyline:

This storyline has soooooooooo much potential to be a complete series! I loved the whole premise of it - it was awesome and brilliant and poetic and amazing! I completely loved the whole experience of it. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9. 

100% for characters: I really loved Ana. She's a cop and she's in the whole vampire violence stuff, amazing!

100% for themes: The violence was so raw and believable - even though they're vampires. 

100% for storyline: I loved the experience of the book - it was my favourite part about reading it. 

The Looking Glass Wars

A dark and twisted "Alice in Wonderland" fantasy novel brings to life everything that was slightly uncomfortable about the much-loved children's book. I found this book amazing when I was younger, and I recently re-read it - it was just as amazing :) 

My brother had a copy of this, I just remember taking his copy and reading it - god knows where we got it from. 

Characters:

My favourite character was Alice. In this novel she's like Holden Caulfield's just been thrown into a war-zone. It was a good change to a classic character - I loved it. The darkness of her was brilliant. (Laughs in evil).

Themes:

My favourite theme was war. Everyone was involved in a blood-bath. If you read my last review, you'll know that war is not always my favourite theme - but in this case because it's "Alice in Wonderland" it's okay. 

Storyline:

I loved the beginning, rolling heads. ROLLING HEADS. Executions and bloodied sword fights. The entire storyline was great, that being said. I was particularly intrigued with the changes made to the characters as well. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9 

100% for characters: Alice was a refreshing change to the normal character. I quite enjoyed it

100% for themes: Of course, it has the likeness of "Alice in Wonderland" but the bloody battles and scare of a Stephen King novel. 

100% for storyline: Executions. :)

Billy Lynn's Long Half-Time Walk

At first, I thought this novel was pretty boring - but as it progresses - I think you really get a feel for the whole social criticism thing that's going on. It's hyper-realistic tensions that deal with romances in the modern day to PTSD and what being a hero actually means. This novel not only raises questions about the Iraq War, but also insights terror and fright by doing so. All in all, it was pretty good. 

I found this book whilst browsing for something I could read on modern history - I came across this and it was written in 2012 - so it's pretty modern. But, it's not very historical - I didn't mind though.

Characters:

Well my favourite character was Billy Lynn. He was like a toned-down cross between Alex DeLarge and something out of a William Faulkner novel. A realistic, yet haunting character that seeks the cultured ideal of heroism, but only succeeds in becoming a subversive construct of it. 

Themes:

My favourite theme was war. Normally, war is not my favourite theme - especially the Iraq war as it deals with too much politics for my mind to handle. But, this novel did not really deal with politics, but rather the emotions surrounding the entirety of it. The emotions I feel, are overlooked typically and author's get caught up in exposing secrets - this novel retains that emotional charge throughout. 

Storyline:

Good characters, good themes, okay storyline. The storyline was not as compelling as I thought it was going to get. There were a few instances of me thinking to myself "do I really want to read this?" But then something pretty good happened so I just continued reading. I would say the book tends to waver between being really interesting and pretty dull. 

Verdict:

I give this book 6/9

2/3 for characters: I thought the characters were done well - just not something that would be very memorable to me. 

2/3 for themes: I was pretty surprised that war was my favourite theme - but I think it needed to do more for the dystopian society it was trying to achieve.

2/3 for storyline: Purely for the wavering between good and bad. 

Salem's Lot

In the spirit of Halloween coming up, I've decided to review one of my favourite horror novels of all time: "Salem's Lot" by Stephen King. This book, unfortunately I read when I was only 13 years old and it scared the absolute crap out of me. I find it particularly good to review today - seeing as we're in the spirits of it all. Hahaha, the 'spirits'! Did you get it? (I tell bad jokes)

The premise of this book lies in the Marsten House - which is apparently Ben Mears' favourite place in the entire world...and Vampires. Lots of Vampires. Not the Romantic kind, the bloody and scary and Anne Rice-esque kind. Oh no. 

Characters: 

My favourite character is Kurt Barlow because he's infected with the vampiric disease and literally catalyses all the shit. He seems to be the root cause of it all and he doesn't give a shit. He has the typical allergy to the cross - but is about 100x more terrifying than most characters in the novel. 

Themes:

My favourite theme was probably religion. I love how King interweaves religion into his stories - but doesn't overuse it for scare. I believe that King has an equal balance between what is real and what is religion - it works on so many different levels and he is a great writer because of it. 

Storyline:

My favourite part of the story is when Mark's parents die. Good burial or infected burial? Good burial, or infected burial? Good burial. Infected burial? We cannot decide (obviously it is decided in the book). I think this is the place (apart from the cross thing) where religion is more at play than in the rest of the novel. 

Verdict:

100% for characters: Kurt and Ben were my favourite characters

100% for themes: Religion, fact and truthfulness are the best themes in this novel. 

100% for storyline: And if you don't like Stephen King books, you can piss right off. 

The Boy Who Could See Death

Now, you all know by now that I love a good novel with dark secrets. This book really wet that appetite well - it is a phenomenal novel with great characters, themes and a storyline that is both chilling and evocative. If you read any secretive novel this year - make sure it's this one. 

I found this book whilst browsing on the net for good books to read. There's a funny story behind this one because I just kept seeing it everywhere. In January, I saw it on a reading list and simply noted it down to read after my university reading was finished - in June I saw it again with an attached Amazon link. In September I saw it on GoodReads and yesterday morning, I found it on my kindle. What an eerie following. It won't be the first time that's happened and I'm pretty sure it probably isn't the last either. 

Characters:

My favourite character was Eli. You can probably guess what his secret is from the title - but it's important that to Eli, this is a secret, a gift, a curse - kind of like a sixth sense thing going on. Eli's character is strange and manipulative to curious and child-like to social and happy to his hope being depressed. These ranges of emotions not only make Eli a great character to read about - but also make him terrifyingly human a la Capote. 

Themes:

My favourite theme in a book of secrecy will always be secrets. I love how secrets are kept and the logistics of who you should and shouldn't tell - how people find out and uncover the secrets like a Dan Brown novel. This is about how Eli values his own secret - seeing as he is a child, he must value it more than most adults do. It is interesting exactly how seriously Eli takes his secret. 

Storyline:

I love it when it goes into the stories of other people. My favourite being that woman who seems to be a kleptomaniac and keeps that secret hidden. It only adds to how Eli should keep his own secret and how human he actually is - everyone has a secret worth keeping in this novel. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9. 

100% for characters: Eli is a brilliant character - and so are all the others. This was so well executed that I can only sit there and want to re-read it sometime soon. 

100% for themes: Secrecy and relation are both excellent themes for their precision and intricacy within each other. Stories are not mutually exclusive - but they are interlinked and this is the best thing about them.

100% for storyline: As I was saying, the stories are all interlinked, this makes for a great collision of characters.  

A Kind of Eden

This was a truly compelling book with a great storyline. The themes were well executed with escapism and detachment at its core and love, hatred, paradise etc. circulating around it like veins of an anatomy. I loved the characters as they became the heroes and villains of each other; they became closer and then estranged themselves again. It is a truly poetic experience reading this and having that feeling you get when you read "Paradise Lost" by Milton for the first time. 

I found this book on GoodReads somewhere, and then it just stuck. I don't know why it did - it was just an instant connection. Like love at first sight. 

Characters:

My favourite character was Martin because of his lack of true self-centred ability. He tries to get his own way and tries his hardest to make himself loved by the ones around him yet is completely unaware that his migration is detrimental to the very fabric of those relationships. He goes to chase the dream of living in the Caribbean he's had for so long - it is truly a man manipulated by his own mind. 

Themes:

Escapism is the best theme here. Not only does Martin want to escape but so do some of the other characters being discontented with things such as the weather and they start to mirror that self-manipulation that they knew Martin once had. 

Storyline:

My favourite part was exactly that. When the other characters mirror the behaviour of Martin before he left for the Caribbean. He finds there a new life - but hates to break it to his wife and now is caught up in a love triangle. His daughter then mirrors this behaviour and the poor wife is left to try and talk her out of herself. It is very psychologically complex. 

Verdict:

I give this book 8/9

100% for characters: I really liked the exploration of various characters and I tended to concentrate on how each of them develops as a result of another's actions 

2/3 for themes: I wanted more senses of parallels, kind of like the social awkwardness of "Girl, Interrupted" or something. It would've created a little more drama. 

100% for storyline: I could've read that over and over again :) It was brilliant and clever with a stunning and complex narrative of incomplete individuals

Foucault's Pendulum

This is a brilliant book by the late Umberto Eco. His death may have shocked the hell out of me, having lost Harper Lee only a day before, but also it made his literature hold greater meaning in our literary-verse. I love "Foucault's Pendulum" and think that it's a very clever idea. Before I read it, there's a little story I want to tell you. 

My brother and I had the very idea of this novel - to create a conspiracy theory and see how long we can make it last. It didn't take off, but it was a well-planned idea. I thought that this book was just that - create the theory and watch the world go insane. 

I found this book because I'd heard of Eco before his death as the author of "The Name of the Rose" (which was brilliant too) - but I hadn't yet read this one. I enjoyed it so much that I may give it another read in the near future.

Characters:

My favourite character was Belbo. Why? Well, he's a very clever guy for coming up with this conspiracy theory game that ultimately gets the knight's templar involved. I think it was a very well-executed character and Eco must've done a shit load of research to be able to portray him convincingly. 

Themes:

Secrecy was the greatest of all themes. In history, we know there has been many a secret - but now we are discovering what that looks like through the spectrum of the manipulator and thus, we get a better insight into how these secrets are created and dispersed. A very well done theme, not unusual of Eco. 

Storyline:

Eco has a hand for historical storylines that evoke feelings of curiosity and terror. This was just that - it's not conventional modern scares - but the scare of anonymity. Humans are scared of other humans. This is exactly what he does when he gets the other societies of Belbo's case. If he's just like them then why is he scared of them? This is brilliant. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9

100% for characters: Belbo and Casaubon were the best characters by far. 

100% for themes: I loved the theme of secrecy - it is a stronghold for Eco. 

100% for storyline: The king of secret history :)

The Wilde Passions of Dorian Gray

So, this was a recommendation after my favourite book being "The Picture of Dorian Gray". This was approached with a certain amount of trepidation but I was quite looking forward to this spin-off read to my favourite novel. I was looking forward to imitated themes and a supposed elaborate storyline. 

I found this book from recommendations and have read it on my kindle. I would like to say there is a certain amount of regret in there - but there is also a certain amount of liking towards the whole intention of the novel. 

Characters:

My favourite character is - and will always be - Dorian Gray. This is not only because of the book "The Picture of Dorian Gray" but because the whole character of Dorian was re-interpreted and all aspects have been well-researched in the follow up to this novel. Trust me, I can tell. 

Themes:

I liked the theme of hedonism. I thought it was a lovely add-on. I also believe that it has only really been explored in film, but not so much in spin-off fiction. I was pretty impressed, but I have to say at first I was a little grossed out. 

Storyline:

There was the beginning when he wakes up and climbs out of the grave - this was an awesomely done image. Execute brilliantly, with not too much concentration, but just enough that we really got a feel that yes, this is a gothic novel - get used to it. So much romantic sass. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9. 

100% for characters: Dorian was executed brilliantly and I think the reflections back on characters like Basil, Henry, Sybil and James were also done really well. 

100% for themes: Having being grossed out at first - I think the theme of hedonism was developed with character reflection in mind. I believe that is what set this theme apart. 

100% for storyline: If Oscar Wilde was alive today and had to write a sequel to "The Picture of Dorian Gray" - it would be this. 

The Historian (explicit)

I found this book as amazing as it sounded - absolutely fucking brilliant. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! I mean, who doesn't love a Dracula investigation that leads one into a world that looks like the movie "As Above, So Below" ?

Of course, I found this whilst browsing for greatly disturbing books - not really scary, just brilliantly written and thrilling to read. 

Characters:

I loved the daughter - most of the book comes from her perspective. She seems like the very quiet character who never really speaks out but we hear he thoughts. She is never named but is on a trail and interwoven into a strange investigation into Vlad the Impaler. Oh my God, best 16 year old ever!

Themes:

Well, the best theme was history - guess why? 

The main theme being Russian history means that we not only get a great horror insight - but we also get a massive historical investigation: archives, dead bodies, evidence of strange happenings etc. A very well maintained theme that balances the fiction with the fact. :)

Storyline:

I loved the section of the story that makes us believe that there is some fact in the fiction. I'm not gonna say what that particular event is because there are no spoilers here. But when you realise it, you will totally see it - also the part set in Amsterdam was absolutely brilliant. The entire build up to all of these grand investigations was the best thing about this fact/fiction blur. 

Verdict:

I give this book 8/9

2/3 for characters: I feel like there should've been more perspectives rather than just mainly one character. I felt like we were limited in judgement and somewhat disconnected from some characters because of the narration. 

100% for themes: I loved the historical factual and fictitious themes - they were amazing and I'm sure you'll find them amazing too. 

100% for storyline: A great narrative with settings in archives, investigations etc. There's a certain quality of doing things a la Stevenson. 

Legion (Explicit)

Okay, well this was the definite nope novel. Nope, nope, nope, all that nope and more nope. "Legion" AKA The Night Terror is a brilliantly written novel with some excellent themes and one hell of a storyline. If you really want to be frightened/shocked to death - then this is the book for you. I don't think I've ever read anything scarier than this right here - and I've read an awful lot of Stephen King.... IT is just a new level of frightening though. We're excluding that one for the point of this post. 

I found this book whilst browsing the internet for new scary books I could read. I wanted something to truly terrify me - not many books have done that and no films have. I'm a horror junkie - yes. I will go out of my way to look for frightening and disturbing things because I find it fun. So now you know - except for people who know me already. 

Characters:

My favourite character is Kinderman. He seems like the Sherlock Holmes guy of the whole situation - a book that centres of finding out about one of the most infamous killers of the new age seeks to create a character that is his direct opposite. Kinderman is this character. An immensely intelligent man who seeks not only to prove, but to understand what the fuck is happening. It's crazy...

Themes:

So my favourite theme was religion. As the proclaimed sequel to "The Exorcist" - what do you think would be more prominent than using religion as a tool to invoke terror. It doesn't really work on me - but the graphic descriptions were enough to gross me out completely. That's why I say this book is the thing that nightmares are made on. (A variation on Prospero) (laughs hysterically at own joke)

Storyline:

Well, I think the opening scene was enough to make me want to read it until the end. A 12 year old boy is found dead - not just dead but crucified. Wow. If the opening image to a book is a crucifixion and you "don't" want to read on - you have something wrong with you. It was truly exciting - even though the book was actually nope island. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9

100% for characters: This was done much better than its predecessor. This time we got an intelligent man seeking understanding rather than a drunk priest who complained about his mother until she died. 

100% for themes: I really love the theme of religion as a scare in horror - I'm interested to see how it's used. Not to say I'm not religious - I just... I'm gonna moonwalk out of this one*

100% for storyline: Holy shit - crucifixion - Gemini killer? Yep. 


*In no way do I endorse any anti-religious beliefs and I do not seek to offend anyone - I have been picked up on my slight offences before and that is why I seek to keep my religious values to myself. I apologise for any offence I may have caused. 

A Brief History of Seven Killings

So this novel I found as interesting and really strong. Brace yourselves for a good review because I thoroughly enjoyed this novel - the characters, themes and storyline are all brilliantly executed and have thorough amounts of explanation. They all play an amazing role in the text and fit together in a really cool way. Especially with all the music references and Bob Marley stuff. 

I found this book in the Waterstones. No I don't live there. No I don't spend every day there. I went there a few times and came out with an empty bank account. Don't leave me, money and bookstore alone. It won't go down well. 

Characters: 

My favourite character was Marley. The character of Marley is intriguing as this central character has all the action happening around him - finding himself in confusions with gangs, race, identity and Jamaican culture - he seeks his own independence in a world that is violently reacting to new movements through its own music and words that redeem it. 

Themes:

My favourite theme was violence. There are so many different types of violence in the novel - first and foremost there's gang violence - the physical kind. This was portrayed so brilliantly by the words in the novel, but then there was emotional violence. The emotional violence was probably my favourite. It was a brilliant reality that wasn't noticed by the majority of people. 

Storyline:

My favourite part of the story is the beginning of it. It starts with beautiful descriptions of Jamaica and the new era. The new music, and anti-generic and anti-exoticised view of a people who are constantly condemned for their skin colour. The time where skin is meant to be appreciated (post-apartheid) is now being fought in and out of its own circles. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9

100% for characters: Yes, Marley is Bob Marley and it does centre around the attempted assassination of him - it was a brilliant depiction of counter-cultural appropriation :)

100% for themes: They were the most flamboyant and yet the most beautiful things about the novel. 

100% for storyline: Do I have to explain why a book with Bob Marley has a great storyline?

Mrs. Dalloway

I was not a huge fan of this Woolf novel - I thought it was quite overrated and really overstudied. There was something about it that seemed really dull - compared to "Jacob's Room", this book is not quite there. "Jacob's Room" being about the psyche and mortality and love - this does not really come in the same range as that one. 

I have read this book many times. Each time, doesn't get any better. Sorry Woolf fans. 

Characters:

My favourite character was Mrs. Dalloway - even though she is dull, boring and buying flowers, I think it's safe to say that she is the only character we get the conscience of. Which can be really good - or not great at all. Personally, she was only my favourite character because most of the action revolved around her. For what little action there was. 

Themes:

My favourite theme was realism. If I had a dime for every time I said my favourite theme was realism when it wasn't - I'd be a millionaire. But, in this case - it's exactly the same. There's very little to say about it in terms of themes - it just felt quite empty and that's why I thought it was hyper-realistic. 

Storyline:

The ending was the best because that's when we knew the book is over. No, but the best part was the ending - the ending sort of jigsawed all of this realism together and fit it into a bigger picture. 

Verdict:

I give this book 3/9

1/3 for characters: Nope. Can't say I liked them. 

1/3 for themes: So very little of them. 

1/3 for storyline: I can't say it was terribly engaging. 

Arthur and George

This book, I found was one of the better Julian Barnes' novels - I found it pretty compelling to begin with but, it also seemed to be missing something. In Pulse there was a certain air about the whole thing that left it with a violent and bloodied undertone. But, in this novel, I think the undertone was missing - so that's what brought it down for me. On the other hand, the themes were the most well-established thing about it and I want to stress how well Scottish culture is explored in the novel. 

I found this book whilst browsing... you know the story. 

Characters:

My favourite character was Arthur. Most os the time, Arthur is composed - stressed - but composed. There's one thing about him that remains ambiguous and you are slow to discover fine details about his character. I think Barnes is really good at fine detail and that's what really makes the character so good to read. 

Themes:

Yes, the theme of culture was my favourite. There is a brilliant view of pure Scottish culture in a very realistic sense. I loved how every other theme was then branched of the theme of culture. It's like the people inside the culture perpetuate all the other themes a la chaos theory. 

Storyline:

Yes, I wasn't really impressed with the story - even though the themes were enough to redeem it. I say it is one of the better Barnes novels because of its themes. The constant mystery wasn't there - but that was probably because of themes such as race and identity. The storyline - I think was not bad, but it was missing something vital. It just felt a little empty after I finished it. 

Verdict:

I give this book 8/9

100% for characters: I really got into the characters of Arthur and George. They were brilliant. 

100% for themes: I was well intrigued by themes of Scottish culture, it is not what I'm used to reading. 

2/3 for storyline: Again, it was just missing a slight something. I don't know what - maybe a classic Barnes undertone or two - but it was missing something. 

Human Acts

This is a book by author of "The Vegetarian", Han Kang. At first - I was expecting it to be not nearly as good as its predecessor, but after getting into it, I found that it was probably almost just as good. The premise of "Human Acts" is murder, massacre, guilt, betrayal and suspicion in a world of censorship and a population so inquisitive and volatile that you get this hyper-realistic and almost three dimensional view of all emotion encountered. 

I found this book, yes again whilst browsing in a Waterstones. I think it was Han Kang's name that made me pick it up - I found "The Vegetarian" so well written and so exciting that I had to read his other books. I was quite happy I found this. 

Characters:

My favourite character is Dong-Ho's mother. She seems like the one most struck with emotion - of course, her son has been killed. You will find that this book takes a massive leap from emotion to state and surrounding and then back again - and especially with Dong-Ho's mother, these incoherencies is what is shaping her grief and making the memory of her son almost indelible. It's a classic lamentation with a modernist suave that brings about questions of suspicion and sympathy. 

Themes:

The best theme in the entire book, by far, was voice. It is Dong-Ho's murder that gets the ball rolling, but we encounter many people - journalists, prisoners, Dong-Ho's friends etc. that seem to be at a loss, some of which don't even know Dong-Ho. These brutal voices are battered by their own self-conscious struggles and seem to always be combatting something. The language use is poetic, but not romanticised - which I like. Something about romanticising pain seems a little overdone in the modern era, a cliché, it seems that Han Kang is very good at avoiding. 

Storyline:

I'm sorry for having gone on forever, but I did really enjoy this book. However, the storyline is a point of question seeing as the very beginning of the book is the most captivating of all. Once you get into the main premise of the novel, you begin to wonder what actually perpetuated this mass consciousness of combat - you start to wonder if this is representative of a mass population rather than just the populous of the book. I'm saying "however" because sometimes, it can lose the flow with all those events. A lot of things take place in what is just over 200 pages and I think that even though it was required - the book could've been longer as to cater to that populous. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9

100% for characters: I think that Dong-Ho's mother, friends and all the other characters are a direct representation of a modernist society in search for answers to everything. Even things that don't need answering. A population of curiosity and psychedelic panic - one of Han Kang's great traits. 

100% for themes: The voices that are contained within the novel are beautiful - an entire populous of people - a kind of struggle ladder in which the ones at the very bottom are probably the better off as the ones at the top keep dying. These changing voices reflect age, gender, wisdom, class, job etc and Han Kang gets it just right.

100% for storyline: There is something always there in Han Kang's writing that deals with the strange and the psychotic. I believe that this mass concentration on the psyche makes the novel more disturbing without being graphic and I also believe that Han Kang has now become one of my favourite modern authors. 

______________________________________________________

Note
If you made it this far, I thank you. 
Sorry that this review was a little long,
I had a lot to say. 

5ft 2 xxx

Black-Eyed Susans

Crime is not normally my kind of read as I prefer a some larger descriptions - I have to say that this book did impress me and contained all the description in all the right places. I say this is a crime novel, but I think it is meant to be more of a thriller. Seems to me like this book was just the read I wanted to find since I was coping with some anxiety issues at the time. Needed something perpetually engaging to get my mind off it. 

I found this book whilst browsing at the Waterstones at the Birmingham Literature Festival and literally just picked it up off the shelf. I have this thing called "one random read a week" which is where I pick up a book I've never heard of or never seen before and I read it and review it. Like this:


Characters:

My favourite character was Tessa. She was obviously deemed the "Black-Eyed Susan" as she was the only one survivor left from a massacre-like attack by a serial killer. The way in which she is portrayed is not as lucky as that description sounded. She's portrayed as more of a reclusive and reluctant personality with some sort of depression/PTSD and guilt that hangs over her like a black cloud. Truly enticing. 

Themes:

My favourite theme was mystery. I love a mystery now and again, but things just lost their shit when the flowers started growing after the years of the serial killer being behind bars. She couldn't ignore it for long though - they were multiplying and she saw this as a hint that could only mean that she's being hunted. Wow. 

Storyline: 

I did like that the storyline for this thriller wasn't trying to copy James Patterson, or be too clever for itself like the brilliant and beautiful "Fight Club" and it wasn't trying to be a grotesque image of culture destruction a la "Clockwork Orange". It was a very original story with an amazing tone to it - like a voice that was tinged with perpetual misery. Very good usage indeed. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9

100% for characters: Tessa is a very believable character. She seems very realistic - the person writing this book has obviously done their research 

100% for themes: The main theme being mystery and the symbol of a flower - I really like the Victorian resonance in the modern day. An old idea being brought forward without the need for heavy description and archaic language. But rather a modern look on the whole thing. 

100% for storyline: I think I've fallen in love with Crime/Thriller novels again. 

The Garden of Evening Mists

So, this is from my "global reading list" again - and now we're on Malaysia. 

This is a weird book because I didn't think I'd get into it since it had a strong romantic element (that I don't really enjoy unless everybody involved dies a horrible and unneeded death, as we all know). But, despite that - I found this book quite interesting and with some sort of fetishism with gardens, I can definitely say that this book boggled my mind. 

I found this book, obviously on my reading list - but I couldn't find it anywhere - so I just wanted you to know how hard it was to find the book at all. 

Characters:

Yun Ling was my favourite character. The book is narrated by her and pays a good amount of focus on her gloved hands. Yes, she gained a finger injury and from self-consciousness, she wears gloves to conceal it. She quite a strong character - but I could do without the long romantic descriptions of how she fell in love with the guy that had the crappy garden. 

Themes:

My favourite theme was nature. Since this book takes a symbol of gardens as like a life sustenance - I can say that nature is very important here. The description of Aritomo's garden is quite vast and extremely romanticised. I did love the descriptions themselves - but it's more about what the garden represents. 

Storyline:

I really do love it in the story when Yun Ling talks about her sister. We get some introspection that is not normally acquired (even when she talks about Aritomo) - we also get a sense of lamentation that we don't get from anywhere else. This lamentation is not as romanticised as the crappy garden - but seems to be perpetually depressed and feels guilty throughout nearly all of the book. 

Verdict:

I give this book 7/9

2/3 for characters: I say I liked Yun Ling - but I wasn't sure about Aritomo. I could do without their relationship as redemption. 

100% for themes: Garden symbols are always a plus. 

2/3 for storyline: I wanted more of that restless lamentation that put some real power behind Yun Ling. 

Absalom, Absalom!

This is probably William Faulkner's best novel (IMHO) as it is an amazing effort at the sheer quality of the Southern Gothic era. It represents all the ideas that were later used in books like "The Lonely Londoners" and also in "The Thorn Birds" - truly one of the best novels I've read in my time and a timeless piece of writing. Identity, struggle, redemption and false hope are all working to make the core of this novel that centres itself on an individual who becomes alienated from other characters in a way that you cannot imagine until you read it. 

I found this book as I had read "As I Lay Dying" (another great Faulkner read!) when I was around 15 years old. I read "Absalom, Absalom!" recently and just completely fell in love with the captivating realism of it all (not to mention the hints at PTSD).

Characters:

My favourite character is the protagonist, Thomas Sutpen. I loved the way his identity shaped through the novel and how experiences such as Henry going to university and the impact of the war tainted his lens on life and he became detached from those around him. 

Themes:

As I've kept going on about it: the shift in identity and perception. Ultimately, I kind of felt sorry for Thomas as he couldn't have wished this on himself. He was born into a poor family and went through such realistic downfalls that his immoral actions are almost justified. It's funny how empathy works in the novel. 

Storyline:

The ending. If I could go back and re-read it just to feel the same way I did at the end of the book, I would. It was a tragic, beautiful and shocking end to such as well-written novel. I'm not gonna say what happens at the end but I will say one thing: if you're looking for an American Novel - look to "Absalom, Absalom!" for your next read. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9

100% for characters: When we look at the character's actions - especially those of Thomas - we see that there is a requirement for empathy and we end up believe that it is our emotion that is keeping him alive. What a trick of the writer! Well played, Faulkner. Well played. 

100% for themes: I don't think I have ever read a more raw and emotional novel that deals with identity, power struggle, class, time and place. (Applauds).

100% for storyline: Again, I will probably re-read this book - when I feel like I'm forgetting what happened in it. Just so I can recreate those emotions and that cycle of empathy.

The Castle of Otranto (explicit)

First of all, HOLY SHIT! This was amazing. I didn't appreciate it as much when I was younger - but now - definitely showing the appreciation. So, here we go with one of my favourite gothic stories of all time. 

Christ - this was good and I'm sure that in the time it was written it was an absolute hit! 

Well, the premise revolves around an "unknown" and obviously sparks the whole gothic revival era we get somewhere in the midst of Romanticism.

I'll try to keep it short seeing as the book itself is the opposite. 

I found this book a few years back and there was something about the cover I got that kind of drew me in - I remember it being old and having some sort of shadow on the front of it. Strange and confusing - I just picked it up randomly and now here we are. 

Characters: 

My favourite character is Manfred. This guy is twisted as shit. He wants to end his marriage to his wife and marry the younger Isabella and this is only after his son dies after shattering his skull. Very odd. But probably the best and most diverse character in the whole thing. I also quite enjoyed his wife Hippolita. 

Themes:

My favourite theme is the unknown. Conrad and Isabella are both involved in this and in some ways, so is Manfred. I do enjoy how Manfred finds himself "between" his wife and Isabella. There's a certain disgust that impales you to the story - the constant want for information and clarity. More of a hope for satisfaction. 

Storyline: 

The best part of the story is when Manfred starts to give away his distortion towards his wife. I really quite liked the way in which his love slowly regresses and you get to know his true antagonism. Very, very twisted. Quite scary. Oh my god, such a good gothic. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9

100% for characters: I really enjoyed Manfred, Isabella, Hippolita, Conrad etc. 

100% for themes: The whole unknown alongside the books of Anne Radcliffe and Mary Shelley, Lord Byron and ST Coleridge. What a brilliant theme that was devised and used in this era to created that sense of dread in the darkness. 

100% for storyline: The whole story is brilliant - I can't just pick one. Read it, it's brilliant. 

Invisible Cities

This book was pretty short but consisted of so much poetic narrative that I really did find it intriguing. I love writing that is in prose poetry and is done well - it's difficult but it can be done. 

I found this book after reading "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler" and found it in the Waterstones outside the Birmingham Literature Festival Venue. To be honest, I liked the bookshop more than the festival (that's because I got a discount!)

Also, remember to check out the Vlog Promo guys. It's very important to me - and I really do hope you enjoy my scrub-ups in 2017 :)


Characters:

My favourite character was Polo. He was a very strange sort of traveler - and I've noticed this oddity with (now more than one) fiction by Italo Calvino. His characters always seem very socially detached and don't seem to be romanticised in any way. As if they are so human that even the author can't understand why they think they're so important. I loved Polo's relaying of the cities though - so very linguistically perfect!

Themes:

My favourite theme is conversation and communication. As you may already know - the book is a conversation between Kubla Khan and Marco Polo. It has intense amounts of conversation in it - but the relaying of the invisible cities is probably the most important part of the whole book - all down to the communication process of intentionally creating spaces to be positive or negative. It's all very beautiful. 

Storyline:

So, the best part of the storyline has to be every time Marco Polo and Kubla Khan deal with the human existence. As you can imagine, with all that traveling it gets very hypothetically existential and contains that essence of sublimity that the romantics used to heighten the individual - but seems to be used for the exact opposite here. I really, really like it. 

Verdict:

I give this book 7/9

2/3 for characters: It's 2/3 and not 100% because I felt there was not enough character exploration - it was all very surface layer. Something I'm not very much used to. 

100% for themes: Traveling, sensation, discovery and anti-romanticism - Italo Calvino does this reaction to reflection in the most convincing conversation ever written. 

2/3 for storyline: Just a bit short for me. It was like it just ended. Nothing. Not much satisfaction gained. 

Childe Harold's Pilgrimage

Okay, so I'm gonna tell you about one of my favourite narrative poems of all time. Just wait and see how lyrically perfect, seductive and absolutely awesome the power of this poem is - and if you're not moved by it - I'm sorry, you probably read it wrong. The travels of the continent, the Byronic heroism and the sheer nature of being and remaining unsatisfied are the true compulsions of this epic poem by the "mad, bad and dangerous to know", Lord Byron. 

I fell in love with Byron when I was merely 12 or 13 years old after reading a passage or two of Don Juan. This poem however, filled me with utter emotion and purged me cathartically throughout the course of the narrative. A brilliant piece of timeless poetry that will remain as long as his legend does.

Characters:

My favourite character was Childe Harold. Obviously, he is the main character but also - he is the first instance where Byron used his unsatisfied hero to lament the discoveries of the world in a microcosm of love, torture, depression and anger. It was amazing to read a character that was heroic yet had these self-inflicted emotional scars that ultimately led him to other places. 

Themes:

My favourite theme was travelling. Travelling is certainly a big deal in the poem and has a lot to do with the satisfaction of the hero. Now, most of my degree is based on Byron (especially in Creative Writing) and I try to include him wherever I can. Purely because he deals with topics that enchant me: the first and foremost being "satisfaction, disappointment and the reader-satisfying tragedy". As Dante investigated the "poetics of chaos and harmony", Byron uses this as a character fault rather than a structural sense of setting. It truly is a brilliant theme and it comes through the most when Childe Harold travels and is left unsatisfied for sensation. 

Storyline:

Again, regarding the travelling - it was my favourite part of the piece. The search for new sensation to fulfil the hedonistic lifestyle of a Romantic Rockstar. This lamenting, tragic and sensational hero is the image that we most commonly associate with the Romantic Hero today - and it is because of Lord Byron that we do this.

Verdict:

I give this book 9

100% for character: I don't think one can get more Byronic than the Childe Harold. It was Byron's first sense of showcasing his hero after his own travels on the continent after university. 

100% for themes: Travelling, as you will find in Byron's epic poems, is a big theme - as is sensation. Both are linked in the most fascinating ways. 

100% for storyline: Byron has enchanting storylines at all times and truly does capture the senses of satisfaction and disappointment in the all three sections discussed. The storyline being the strongest of these. 

Crime and Punishment

I loved this book when I first read it back in Year 10. I was about 14 or 15 when I discovered this great Russian Novel and have continued to read Russian Fiction ever since. 

Obviously, when I was younger - I went to my school library where luckily, they kept a copy of this wonderful book. 

Characters:

I loved Rodion. A tortured and indecisive character with a three dimensional perspective on morality. A great poetic character who is hopeless in his attempts to separate what is "good" and what is "bad". I could go on forever - but since it's supposed to be short, I won't.

Themes:

The theme of morality is always best explored in Russian Fiction. It's so dystopian and twisted. Having great charisma it was an amazing theme and so well done by the author. I pretty much loved the themes of all Russian Novels. 

Storyline:

I really enjoyed the parts of the story that thoroughly discussed the inner-workings of dystopian morality. Also, the parts that concerned this in context of character were the most evolved. Kind of like a Franz Kafka-Nikolai Gogol thing going on there. 

Verdict:

I give this book 8/9

100% for characters: I did like them - all of those who discussed morality - the misanthropic Russian characters are the best though. #FamilyIssues

100% for themes: Morality is always a big Russian Novel type. 

2/3 for storyline: It can get a bit heavy at times. 

ANNOUNCEMENT!

Vlog Update:

A word from your host:

I told you about the vlog, didn't I?

Well, I'm sorry for not revealing very much information.

I've finally found my feet with where it's going - I hope you're as excited for 2017 as I am!

Just in time for my birthday as well...

Have a nice day, folks... 

Hope you like the promo too :)


Click here to view the VLOG PROMO


Of course, I'll still be posting blogs everyday and things are gonna get a little hot under the collar - but that's okay. 


Remember, if you have any requests, questions etc. 

Twitter: @3ftMonster

Youtube: 5ft2 Talks 

Gmail: iamthereal5ft2@gmail.com

Thanks for being a great platform for my book obsession. I love that we share a love of books and that you love them just as much as I do. For those of you who want to stick to the page - see you tomorrow. But, for those of you who want to anticipate the vlog, see you in 2017. 

5ft2 xxx

The Palace of Illusions

I found this book intriguing as it is not only by a fellow Indian - but it is also a version of events very similar to that of one of our many holy books. Even though I don't consider myself extremely religious in that sense, the way the story is told still beguiles my mind and captures my interest. This novel does the same. It captures and stirs the interest until the very end. 

I found this book as it is one of my reads on my Global reading list - this is something we haven't visited in a long time. 

Also - about the vlog - I'm trying, it's getting there. 

Remember to head over to 5ft2booksale.blogspot.com in order to grab my copies of "IT" by Stephen King and "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman. Yes, books are being sold at discount prices. But, I need a nice home for them - so we're a playing a game. You and I. 

On with the review. 

Characters: 

My favourite character is the narrator - Panchaali. I think that's how you spell it. Anyways, this woman lives in a stereotypical patriarchal Indian household and world. She is contained yet fierce and perseveres in various styles. Slowly finding out troubling truths - she sets on to marriage from 5 brothers, but none can contain the wild beast within her. She is truly scary - a woman not to be messed with if you don't want your butt kicked. 

Themes:

My favourite theme is secrecy. I loved the whole secret around love - and then the secret about her mysterious friend. There are various secrets involving marriage and children and the past - it's beautifully written and all intertwine. 

Storyline:

My favourite part of the story is when she's getting married. There is a certain 'knowing' in the reader that this is not the end for her - but a new beginning in which she will get her way if it kills her. It's a brilliant narrative told through her own eyes and this first person reveals just how much of a fierce creature she is. 

Verdict:

I give this book 8/9

100% for characters: I loved the characters. They were all so real and I could really find a relation in there somewhere even though I'm probably too young to remember what life was like for us back then. 

100% for themes: The theme of secrecy is always a favourite amongst Asian Literature - more so in Indian and Japanese fiction I think. It was brilliant done and so very poetic. 

2/3 for storyline: I wish it was longer. It is a very short read. 

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler

This book by Italo Calvino is one of the most delightful books I've ever read. It's a lot of fun for those who don't like reading one genre over and over again. It is also a lot of fun for those who liked to be included in the story. It is written in first person - with references to second person, and has a number of great themes in it that, from which, I am going to have to pick just one to write about. 

I found this book whilst browsing in the Waterstones on Brum High Street - I also saw that it was Calvino's birthday on that day and I was looking directly at this book. Almost like fate. 

Characters:

My favourite character was the narrator. The journey through romance, detective fiction, adventure etc. that we go through with the narrator is unbelievably descriptive and always has a different main running theme in it. I liked it a lot. 

Themes:

My favourite theme was reading. There are a number of references made to reading, to the reader and to reader relations (especially at the end). I really liked it - of course, as I like reading. I also like it when the book knows that I'm reading it. It's like if Robert Fischer were to discover they were actually performing inception on him the whole time. 

Storyline:

The end of the book was the best for me. The very final chapter was amazing - very witty and quite satisfying. I'm not going to tell you what the ending is - but when you read the whole book, the ending is very, very satisfying. Kind of like popping bubblewrap. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9 

100% for characters: I loved the narrator - sometimes it can come across as aggressive if you use first person too often - but it was done just right here. 

100% for themes: I loved the various themes that linked to different genres -but my favourite theme was reading and reader-relations

100% for storyline: That ending was one of the most satisfying endings in the world. 

Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders

As you know, you can head over to 5ft2booksale.blogspot.com and find a great deal on "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman for £4.00 provided the questions are answered - that's cheaper than Amazon by around a few quid. :)

But this isn't an advert - it's a review. So here we go...

I really liked this addition to the Oscar Wilde Murder Mystery series. I love a good mystery - Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, James Patterson and even Stephen King. But, I have to say if you're looking for YA appropriate mystery (which there isn't a lot of) - this set of books is really, really key. 

I found this book whilst browsing in Waterstones - but again, I bought it after I'd read the other three just so I don't look like a crazy kid that has no life....as if I'd want to look like that any day (to which I want sarcasm to look good on typeface, but it doesn't). 

Characters:

Oscar Wilde was the best character. Again. And again. And again. Since it was his birthday I only feel it is appropriate - but it is also correct because he is the most explored character in the whole novel. As we find more out about the villain - we also find more out about Oscar Wilde. 

Themes:

I think the best theme was belief and trust. Obviously we have Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde who trust each other - but in this book trusting one's own instinct is much more prominent. I think that this was probably the most explored theme in the book (it just depends how you read it).

Storyline:

Epic ending. The conclusion to this book was amazing - I really found it quite emotional. There was something very Sherlock Holmes about it. It was brilliant...

Verdict:

I give this book 9.

100% for characters: Oscar and Arthur were both great characters. :)

100% for themes: Belief and trust, mystery, crime and many more made the experience of this novel. 

100% for storyline: Kinda upset that it's over. 

The Rotters Club

Okay, so I'm really ill at the moment so forgive me if my posts are incoherent. I've been taking medicine and well - it's 4am and I'm still up from generally being ill. 

This book was really good, had some great characters and themes - the storyline was okay. I feel like some of the storyline got lost sometimes, but it was still there - it wasn't bad.

I found this book again, in Waterstones. So, no surprises there. :) Let's crack on then...

Characters:

I really liked Ben. I know he was the main character - but he just seemed to be the eyes and ears for the entirety of the British 70s for the reader. He experiences things and we experience them too. Ben just seemed like the most incomplete person in the whole book as well - constantly searching for belonging. 

Themes:

My favourite theme was uncertainty. I don't know if anyone else saw it but there was a constant sense of "I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow" that comes from the characters. I really liked this because it made the 70s look very carpe diem and also, it made the characters look almost like so much was going on in their lives that maybe they couldn't care what happened next.

Storyline:

My favourite part of the story is when you realise that the British 70s that these kids are experiencing IS SET IN BIRMINGHAM. HAHAHA my hometown. That was an awesome realisation because I'd been thinking about reading this book for a long time without any prior knowledge about it (I thought the cover was cool). 

Verdict:

I give this book 9

100% for characters: I really enjoyed reading about Ben and his friends

100% for themes: There were many great themes in this book - I mentioned one of them

100% for storyline: I said the storyline was okay. The fact it was set in my Brum bunked the marks up. :)