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Book Review - The Snowman by Jo Nesbo (movie tie-in)

Title: The Snowman (Harry Hole Book 7) Author: Jo Nesbo Edition: Movie Tie-in Rating: 5 stars  'The Snowman' was the book that ...

Thursday 23 July 2015

Book Review - Bones In The Nest by Helen Cadbury

Title: Bones In The Nest
Author: Helen Cadbury
Release Date: 23rd July 2015
Rating: 4 stars

Thank you to the publisher who sent me an ARC of 'Bones In The Nest' in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Helen Cadbury novel, but it definitely won't be my last. A thrilling and fast paced crime story that has a very believable and likeable main character in Sean Denton. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and a few surprises along the way. The story moves along quickly and once started is very hard to put down until the final page has been turned.

This is the second book in the Sean Denton series, but can be read quite easily as a standalone novel. However, reading 'Bones In The Nest' has definitely made me want to learn more, so I shall be purchasing my copy of 'To Catch A Rabbit' (the first in the series) as soon as possible.

I hope Helen Cadbury has more Sean Denton books in the pipeline, as I will definitely be first in the queue to buy them if she does! Highly recommended.

A thrilling 4 stars.

Book Review - My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

Title: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Author: Fredrik Backman
Rating: 5 stars

Anything I can come up with to say in this review will not do this book justice. To say I loved it would be an understatement. 'My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry' by Fredrik Backman made me feel so many emotions I can't even begin to describe them. It's a book about Elsa, a seven year old girl who is different from most of those around her. It is also a book about her eccentric old granny and the magical fairy tales she shared with the granddaughter she adores. It's about family relationships and how each one is different but still as important in very unique ways. And superheroes. We should never forget the superheroes!

The book twists and turns and takes you places you never would have expected, with a cast of characters that are memorable and move you in so many different ways. It made me laugh out loud and it made me cry. Sometimes just gentle tears, but at others it made me cry so much it left me feeling emotionally drained. It is a story about love, loss, relationships and the fact that being different is something to embrace with every fibre of your being.

It resonated with me on a very personal level, as Elsa's relationship with her Granny made me think of the relationship I have with my own tiny grandchildren, and how being a grandparent can change and enrich your life more than you ever would have thought possible.

'My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry' is a beautifully written book that really does make you think. It tackles the subjects of love, loss and life in a heartbreakingly beautiful way, and shows how you can come to terms with the loss of a loved one without ever having to really say goodbye.

So in the immortal words of Elsa's Granny: "See you later!"

This is a book that will stay with me for a long time to come and is one that I highly recommend.

An indescribable 5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley who gave me an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Tuesday 21 July 2015

Cal's Blog: Book Review: Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

Cal's Blog: Book Review: Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee: Title: Go Set A Watchman Author: Harper Lee Release Date: 14th July 2015 Rating: 4.5 Stars I'll start by saying that it's very ...

Monday 20 July 2015

Book Review: Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

Title: Go Set A Watchman
Author: Harper Lee
Release Date: 14th July 2015
Rating: 4.5 Stars

I'll start by saying that it's very difficult to write an objective review of 'Go Set A Watchman' when you've loved 'To Kill A Mockingbird' for as many years as I have, but I'll try. I'll also do my best to keep this as spoiler free as possible, but will assume that anyone reading this will at least be familiar with 'To Kill A Mockingbird'.

I have to admit that I wasn't sold by the first chapter of this novel. If I hadn't already been familiar with the character of Jean Louise Finch I don't think the opening chapter of 'Go Set A Watchman' would have inspired me to want to know more. The first thing that hits you is the fact it's written in the third person, which already sets a very different tone to that of 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. You can tell that this is a raw and unedited draft of the book and it seems very long and meandering to begin with, and doesn't grab you like you'd hope it would.

However, when you get to Chapter 2 the story really does begin to take shape. It almost feels like coming home in a weird and wonderful way. The characters are as we know and remember them. Scout is still the Scout we're familiar with, although this more grown up version prefers to go by the name Jean Louise now. But she's still the feisty girl we remember from 'To Kill a Mockingbird' who will stand no nonsense from anyone. Atticus is there, and at this point in the story appears to be exactly the same as the Atticus we know and love, with all the qualities we would expect him to have, albeit older and more frail than the man we remember. Aunt Alexandra has now moved in with him and has a somewhat volatile relationship with Jean Louise. There's also a hint of romance in the air, as a new (to us) character called Henry "Hank" Clinton makes no secret of the fact he would like Scout to marry him.

The flashbacks to Scout's childhood and adolescent years are a pure delight, and these alone make 'Go Set A Watchman' a must read in my eyes. Some of these made me laugh out loud, while others brought a lump to my throat. It is these scenes that make it clear that what we are reading is the birth of the 'To Kill A Mockingbird' we know and love.

It is at around the half way mark that there's a surprising turn of events that take the story in a direction that those of us who loved 'To Kill a Mockingbird' would never have expected, and the sense of despair and betrayal Jean Louise feels is palpable, as we, too, feel the exact same emotions right along with her. But it is also here that it becomes clear that this is Jean Louise's story, and that she is a strong, decent woman who is trying to make sense of the world around her. Just as the character of Atticus Finch is synonymous with 'To Kill a Mockingbird', Jean Louise Finch is the standout literary character of 'Go Set a Watchman' and I'm so glad her story is finally ready to be told.

Unlike some, I don't believe that the character of Atticus Finch has been ruined by this book. I feel that the Atticus of 'Go Set A Watchman' is very much a product of his time, and that everything we loved about him in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is still very much a part of who he is. Only here we see a more flawed, human Atticus who is far from infallible. And just like Jean Louise, we see that the idealistic way we once saw the people (or characters) we love is not necessarily how they really are. It is as devastating to us as it is to her, but it's a 'coming of age' story we all must go through at some point in our lives.

It's shocking to think that even now all these years later, there are still people who hold views like those contained within the pages of 'Go Set A Watchman'. It's unpalatable to the majority of us, but that's what makes this book an important one. It is as relevant today as it would have been at the time it was written, only now, finally, the time is right for the adult Jean Louise to be given her voice. And I'm so glad that she has, as she is someone who deserves to be heard. A strong female character in her  own right, who is finally being given the freedom to step out from behind the shadow of her father.

It isn't an easy read by any means, and all of the characters have views that are appalling to the majority of us living in the 21st century.  But I also believe that a book written more than 60 years ago with a strong female character such as Jean Louise Finch would have been seen as a very bold move indeed, especially at that particular time in American history. Which, in my opinion, is most likely the reason why it was originally turned down for publication and Harper Lee was asked to rewrite it as the novel that was eventually to become 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.

'Go Set A Watchman' is a book that has taken me on an emotional journey back through time to when I first read 'To Kill a Mockingbird' as a child. It had such a profound effect on me back then that I was scared 'Go Set A Watchman' would tarnish that memory forever. But it hasn't. If anything it has enhanced how I feel about 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. It  not only works as a companion to the well loved classic, but is also an important piece of literature in its own right.

I sincerely hope that Harper Lee did give her informed consent for this book to be published, and that if she did, I'm so glad she decided to do so now. Jean Louise Finch has wings at last.

An impressive 4.5 stars.


Sunday 12 July 2015

'Go Set A Watchman' and Atticus Finch (contains spoilers)

WARNING: Contains spoilers for the soon to be released 'Go Set A Watchman' by Harper Lee.

I start this post by saying that Atticus Finch is my favourite literary character of all time. I first read 'To Kill A Mockingbird' at school many years ago and it had a profound effect on me. I still use quotes from it to this day, so to say that I've been incredibly nervous about this 'newly discovered' novel by Harper Lee would be an understatement. And from what I've been hearing over the last couple of days, it would appear that I have every reason to feel nervous.

However, I plan to reserve judgement until after I've read the whole book, not just little snippets here and there, or reviews from people who are focussing on the one undeniable fact that somewhere along the way Atticus Finch has become a racist.

As I said at the start of this post, Atticus Finch is my all time favourite literary character. That doesn't mean, however, that I think he is this perfect, flawless character that many people believe him to be. Like we all are, I expect him to be a flawed human being who I'm not always going to agree with. Am I shocked by this turn of events? Yes, I am. But will I allow this new information about a character I've loved for so many years sway me from reading 'Go Set A Watchman'? No, I won't.

I may decide after reading the book that I wish it had never been found and published, but I'm hoping that the woman who gave us 'To Kill A Mockingbird' will have written another thought-provoking novel that, even though it may not be the story (or the Atticus Finch) we hoped it would be, will still keep us talking for many years to come.

I have faith that the Jean Louise Finch of this book will be the forward thinking young woman we all hoped she would be from 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. She will be the voice of the future, while Atticus Finch may very well be a fading voice from the past, with attitudes that so many older people from that time possessed.

In 'To Kill A Mockingbird' we see Atticus through the eyes of a young child, whereas here we will see that the idealistic view Scout (and the reader) had of her father is not the man he really is. Instead, what we have is a flawed Atticus Finch. Yes, he still possesses many of the qualities we thought he did, but he also has thoughts and feelings about race and segregation that will shock us to our very core. And this is the dilemma the grownup Jean Louise Finch will have to face in this new novel. She will feel betrayed by Atticus and so will we, but I'm interested in seeing how the story unfolds and what effect this will have on both Scout and Atticus.

This will most likely not be the book I thought it would be, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be a bad book either. Just different. And at this moment in time...I think I'm okay with that. This time next week after I've read it? Well, that may be a completely different story. But I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.                

As an aside, I think it's important to remember that 'Go Set A Watchman' was actually written before 'To Kill A Mockingbird' and that Atticus Finch was apparently based on Harper Lee's father, who held extremely racist views (as did many white people of that time) for many years. The young Harper Lee fought against these attitudes, much like the Jean Louise Finch of the book. This led to them having a very volatile relationship, however, by the time 'To Kill A Mockingbird' was completed Harper's father had thankfully changed his long held beliefs and was much more like the Atticus we know and love from the book and movie. Make of that what you will.

'Go Set A Watchman' will be published on July 14th 2015.

Tuesday 7 July 2015

7/7: 10 Years On

Ten years ago today my husband and I were in our hotel in London when news of the first bomb reached us.  We were due to return home that morning, but within hours the whole of central London had come to a complete standstill.  The usually full of life Covent Garden was completely empty, and the city felt like a ghost town.  My family and friends were frantic with worry, but it was impossible to communicate with the outside world for quite a few hours as the phone lines were jammed, and the very little internet access our hotel had was constantly in use by people trying to contact their loved ones.

It was terrifying.  We didn't know if or when another attack would happen, so after briefly trying (and failing - we only got as far as Covent Garden which was completely deserted) to make our way across central London (what were we thinking?!), we decided to stay where we were until it was safe to travel across the city to where our car was parked, which unknown to us at the time was very close to where one of the bombs had gone off. There were police everywhere, and there was no way of knowing if there were going to be any more bomb blasts. But luckily, we managed to check back into our hotel (on Piccadilly Circus), so at least we had a place to stay. 

The part of Central London where we were staying came to a virtual standstill. There was no public transport, many of the shops and restaurants were closed and the entire West End shut down. But the way in which everyone coped with the situation was a true inspiration. Everyone pulled together and that indomitable spirit of the people of London was there for the world to see.

We finally managed to get out of Central London at midnight, eventually arriving home at around 3am. We could have stayed until morning, but all we wanted to do at that point was to go home.

I decided then that I would not let what had happened prevent me from visiting London again in the future, and true to my word I have been back as often as my personal circumstances would allow. 

I love London. It's such a vibrant city and so full of life. I refused then (and I refuse now) to let these people stop me from spending time in a city that I love. I refuse to let them win. When things like this happen I think of what our parents, grandparents and great grandparents went through during the war and the way in which they did not allow their spirits to be broken. And neither will we.

I will never forget how I felt on that day for as long as I live.

But we were the lucky ones.

Today we remember everyone who lost their lives on that devastating day in London. And our thoughts are also with those whose lives were changed forever by the horrifying events that took place on 7/7/05.

I leave you with the words of George Psaradakis, the driver of the No. 30 bus in Tavistock Square, which remain just as poignant today, especially in light of the recent devastating events in Tunisia:

"You will not defeat us. You will not break us."

Monday 6 July 2015

Poem: I Am Me by Cal Turner

I wrote this poem when my daughter was a little girl. She's 23 now and is a full time wheelchair user, but at the time she walked with the aid of callipers (leg braces) and a walker. It used to frustrate me so much when people used to stop and stare at her. I couldn't understand why they couldn't see the beautiful, determined little girl I could see. I was (and still am) so proud of my daughter.

I Am Me

Why do you stop to look and stare
When you see me standing there
Why can't you see that I am too
Just another child like you

My legs are weak, my will is strong
All I want is to belong
Callipers help me stand up tall
Without them I know I should fall

I laugh, I talk, I walk, I cry
My steps are slow but I get by
Life is as full as it can be
I am glad that I am me

So when you stop to look and stare
Don't pity me, just treat me fair
For I am just a child like you
A little girl who loves life too

By Cal Turner

(copyright Cal Turner 2015)