Showing posts with label magic realism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label magic realism. Show all posts

Saturday 11 June 2016

Review Time! (Woop!) - Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Landline

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Genre: Contemporary, Chick Lit, Magic Realism, Romance* (*ish)

Amazon: UK - USA





A few starting notes:


I saw a copy of this at the library... and it had a pink cover. Like, a bright pink cover.

So yours truly obviously had to borrow it. Because I'm that easily distracted. True story.

Also, I'd reviewed Carry On (UK - US) previously, and enjoyed it a lot.

(And Rainbow Rowell liked one of my tweets of that review, and I nearly fell off the sofa in shock.)

So I figured that I'd try another book by Rowell, and see how it went.





Premise:


Georgie McCool's marriage is in trouble. Sure, she knows that.

But her husband's just gone home for Christmas.

He hasn't left her.

Yes, Neal took the kids. No, he hasn't answered any of her calls... but he hasn't left her...right?

But then there's the phone. Ah, yes, the phone.

As time-machines go, it's pretty useless - all she can do is call 1998-Neal. It's 2013-Neal she needs to deal with, right?

So why does she keep calling?





Best bits:


I love Rainbow Rowell's wit and quirkiness - she can make normal conversations hilarious. And that's a talent worth having.

(Believe me. Everyone could do with that talent at some point in their lives...)

This book is incredibly readable - light-hearted and fun, it's one you just sort of... keep reading.

(And then you're like - I had stuff to do book! You win this round!)













I love Heather, Georgie's sister, she's great. She rocks in the 'sarcastic, but will defend her sister to her last breath,' kind of way.

Oh, and the name Georgie McCool? Dude, it's just fab. :)

The main crowning glory of this book though is that IT SOMEHOW MANAGES TO AVOID THE AWKWARD CLICHES!

Seriously, it could've gotten so cringey, but Rowell manages to side-step most of that and plump instead for realism and originality - and I always love me some originality. ;)





Not so great bits:


I guess I was maybe expecting a little more drama here than there ended up being.

This is probably my fault - I'm far too used to violent deaths and supernatural creatures in my books, and this doesn't have that.

I found the kids, Noomi and Alice, annoying. But that's mainly because Naomi was pet-named Noomi, and also because kids often bug me.













I also wasn't sure I wanted Neal and Georgie to work things out. I kind of felt at various points that she'd be better off with Seth.

But then, Georgie isn't sure whether she wants to work things out with Neal - so maybe it's just the tone reflecting the character's indecision.

Oh, and there's swearing here - which I found pretty hilarious in its usage, but I will warn you about as part of my blogger-ly duty (*salutes smartly*).






Verdict:


Despite the Christmas time-frame, this is equally suited to a hot summer's day, maybe even the beach.

It's light, it's fun, and it will definitely keep you reading.










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Saturday 28 May 2016

Month in Review(s) - May 2016

And so another month is well on its way to faffing off into the sunset.









I actually haven't reviewed any graphic novels this month (I know - who am, and what have I done with Cee?)

I'm probably making up for last month, which had graphic novels falling from the ever-loving rafters.

I've been on a bit of a contemporary YA binge lately - which led to me reviewing 3 contemporary YA titles this month.

'The Art of Being Normal' was beautiful, 'One' was unique, and 'Boy Meets Boy' was your favourite rom-com in book form.






My stand-out book this month, though? 'Swan Boy.' Wow. Just wow.





Kids




Swan Boy by Nikki Sheehan - Contemporary, Magic Realism








Young Adult



The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson - Contemporary, LGBTQ+
One by Sarah Crossan - Contemporary, Poetry* (*novel in verse)
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan - Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance (M/M)









Adult




alt. sherlock. holmes - Anthology, Novellas/Short Stories, Crime, Contemporary*, Historical Fiction*, LGBTQ+* M/M* (*one or more stories.)







Non-fiction




Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig





Saturday 14 May 2016

Review Time! - Swan Boy by Nikki Sheehan

Title: Swan Boy

Author: Nikki Sheehan

Genre: Kids, Contemporary, Magic Realism

Amazon: UK - USA




A few starting notes:

I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher, Rock the Boat, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was offered an ARC of Swan Boy by the publishers (who are pretty nice people, all in all, but I'm not going to let that affect my review.)

It sounded interesting, so I decided to take them up on the offer.

uifhngionriondfkgnrnhtlg - I AM SO GLAD I AGREED TO READ AND REVIEW THIS BOOK!



Premise:

Johnny's dealing with a lot right now: new house, new school, looking after little brother Mojo, and trying to get over the death of his father.
So what Johnny doesn't need is a bully to contend with.
He also doesn't need all this stuff with swans to deal with right now.
But... swans... there's something about them... more specifically, there's something about them and Johnny. Together.
Things are going to get interesting.




Best bits:

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK!

Where do I start? Where do I even start?

Basically, I loved this book. It is excellent. The characters were fantastic and the plot was interesting (as well as pretty bizarre in places - and I like me some bizarre-ness.)

Little Mojo, Johnny's brother, damn near broke my heart at various points.

Somehow, Sheehan perfectly shows us this hurt and confused little boy, in the heart-wrenching way of a 5-year-old who's lost his father.

The magical aspects are beautiful. The weaving into the story of the swans and the music and the dancing worked so well.





But the main strength of this book? The writing.

Sheehan's writing is beautiful. Worthy of comparison to The Book Thief (UK - US,) in its lyricality, its beauty, and the strength of its sparse prose.

If you read this blog a lot you may have noticed me mention sparse prose.

If you don't have a clue what I'm on about, let me explain: some writers are capable of using the words they don't say without over-burdening the words that they do.

Simple sentences that carry the world in the white spaces. That's what I mean by 'sparse prose.'

Not many people can carry it off: Markus Zusak does it, Joe Hill does it, and, weirdly, James Franco does it (although in verse not prose.)

Turns out, Nikki Sheehan can do it too.




Not so great bits:

Bad points about this book...

Umm...

Well, there are some issues which could upset people: bullying, isolation, bereavement, and a dash of violence.

The swan poo bit on the first page kind of grossed me out.

Some people may disagree with the way Johnny deals with the bullying, I suppose.

Other than that? I honestly can't think of anything else. I actually wish that I could so that I could pad this section out a bit more...




Verdict:

READ THE BOOK.

(Really, what else is there to say? It was that good.)

It's probably appropriate for ages 11+










Monday 25 April 2016

Review Time! - Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

Salem Falls Jodi PicoultTitle: Salem Falls

Author: Jodi Picoult

Genre: Contemporary, Crime*, Witches*, Magic Realism* (*ish)


Amazon: UK - USA




A few starting notes:

I figured of all Jodi Picoult novels, this was the one I'd be most likely to enjoy.

It has witch-y elements and secrets and atmosphere, and all that sort of stuff. Cool, huh?
So when I saw it in the library I figured I'd pick it up and give it a try.

And there is a lot to talk about here - buckle up guys!




Premise:

Jack St Bride is a man looking for a fresh start and a town where no-one knows him. What he finds is Salem Falls.
Addie Peabody is the owner of Salem Falls' local diner. She's clinging onto a painful past when Jack St Bride walks in one day, looking for work...
Gillian Duncan and her coven are hiding what they are from their town and their families.
One night can change everything.
Salem Falls may be a small town, but it has a lot of secrets - what really happened in the woods that night?




Best bits:

I loved that this book had so many layers. It's one that really gives you a lot to think about. 
Even the title can be interpreted in as many metaphorical ways as you can shake an English teacher at. (Please don't shake your English teacher - they don't appreciate it.)
All the different aspects and themes going on in this novel make up an uber-intricate piece of fiction.
cherry blossomAnd it's good for books to make us think occasionally - to challenge our perceptions and ideas. Salem Falls certainly does that.
This is a book that is just full of feels. I mean it - the intensity is like: argh!
And every time you think we're headed somewhere something else happens!
You're like: dude, are you even serious right now?!?!?!


Jack's already dealing with the thing and the other thing and you're going to stick THIS on his plate as well?!
LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!!!!

The writing is serviceable and draws you on... and by the end, you SO want to know what happens that you WILL finish this book!

I liked the atmosphere and all the intricacies, and the fact that nothing here is quite what it seems to be.

I also liked the references to Arthur Miller's The Crucible (UK - US) (note to self: want to read or find on audiobook,) and Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter (UK - US) (which I listened to on audiobook in the LA Theater Works version (UK - US,) and loved.)




Not so great bits:

It can't be avoided that the mean theme of this book is rape and sexual assault, mainly involving underage girls.
There is a lot about the subject in this book - and if it's an issue that affects or distresses you then I strongly advise that you do not read this book.


There's also some swearing and violence.
While you can tell that Picoult has made an effort to balance-up the portrayals of sexual assault, and its victims, in this book, I still felt like it didn't make clear enough that teenage girls are rarely the seducer in these cases, and that false allegations of rape are extremely rare.
trees
Girls are also rarely quite as manipulative as I felt some of them came across here; some of this may even be seen as victim-blaming. I personally think it stops short of that, but others may not see it that way.
It did also get a little over-dramatic for my tastes (I could practically hear the Eastenders cliff-hanger music in places,) but it keeps your attention I suppose.

I didn't find the denouement (me and all my posh and fancy words ;P) to be all that convincing, given what happened before.

I can't really go into too much detail about that, given the spoilerific possibilities, but I just wasn't quite sold on the resolution here.

I hated Jack's mother - she was just so holier-than-thou but she didn't seem to give two sh**s about Jack.

Jack himself I have mixed feelings on - again, can't go into too much details due to spoilers, but one of his flashback scenes changed the way I looked at the character and how he treats women.

While the writing was largely fine, I occasionally got the feeling that the writer was mentally high-fiving herself for being so smart. Not often, true, but it annoyed me.



Verdict:

Not entirely sure how much I liked this one. I did like it, and I didn't like it: does that make sense?

Still, the amount of thought-provoking moments and happenings make this well worth the read.

And if you like books with lots of intensity, lots of stuff going on, and a deep level of atmosphere, then this is one for you.