A couple of months ago some of my friends were going to see Gone Girl at the cinema. For one reason or another I didn't make it and i'm actually glad I didn't. To be honest I didn't seek out the best seller book, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, I noticed it was on offer and decided to give it a try. The novel can be described as a crime thriller in it's basic form and follows the story of husband and wife who are in the middle of a media frenzy due to the wife's unexplained disappearance.
The Plot
Without giving too much away, the novel is a crime thriller and follows Nick Dunne's life in the midst of his wife, Amy, going missing on their anniversary. As with most crime dramas the automatic assumption is that the husband is responsible. As the story cleverly unfolds with twists and turns we begin to delve into the lives and personalities of both Nick and Amy Dunne which becomes more interesting than the 'who dunnit' story which Flynn initially introduces.
What did I Think?
I didn't expect to like this book but I actually ended up really engrossed. The crime story fades into the background and I ended up much more hooked on the character's thoughts and feelings on their lives and current situation. This is expertly completed through Flynn's use of diary entries for both characters so allows us to know more than we would if it had been told from a narrator's perspective. At some points I went from being sympathetic to completely shocked and apalled by both characters actions.
Is it Worth a Read?
Absolutely, it's a page turner. Don't expect it to change your life but it's definitely a good one for the commute to work.
The Rabbit Back Literature Society is the first novel by Finnish author Pasi Ilmari Jaaskelainen to be translated into English. This novel has been thoroughly discussed in the press and seems to be a current favourite of book clubs up and down the country.
What's the plot?
The town of Rabbit Back has the feel of a quaint village where the inhabitants are hiding a dark secret. Ella Milana is a school teacher whose life takes a new direction after discovering an unusual copy of the classic novel, Crime and Punishment, in the local library. Infectious books, ghost stories and secret societies are all part of the Rabbit Back way of life. The disappearance of local author, Laura White, creates panic in the town and gives Ella a research project for her literature course. What do you do when the research and reality becomes blurred and there's some paranormal beings at work?
What did I think?
I came across the Rabbit Back Literature Society during a lunch time trip to Waterstones book store. I liked the synopsis and thought i would give it a shot. For me, the novel wasn't everything i wanted it to be. This doesn't mean it wasn't good but it felt like it was more of a youth fiction novel. The 'Game' is something that all members of the society play where they 'spill' all of their innermost thoughts and desires. Although the Game is discussed as being something that drains the player to the point of exhaustion for days i never got the feeling from the author's description of the game that it would have had this effect. The game always seemed fairly ridiculous than something to be feared. The mythological undertones were brilliantly weaved throughout the novel and it was for these sections that were most enjoyable.
Is it worth a read?
Rabbit Back is definitely worth reading. Any flaws I felt in the book were only a result of the fact i had built up expectations for the novel. Hopefully we'll see some more works from this author in the near future.
If you want to give it a try check out Pushkin Press for more info
Margaret Atwood's MaddAddam (2013) is the third book in the trilogy that began with Oryx and Crake (2013), followed by The Year of the Flood (2009). At the most basic level the novels tell the story of a dystopian world and the people that inhabit it.
What's the plot?
MaddAddam focuses on the story of Zeb and Toby, characters introduced in the second book. The world they currently live in is described as an apocalyptic wasteland where resources are scarce. They reunite with other survivors and set up camp with the Crakers in an attempt to rebuild civilisation. Initially Toby and Ren rescue a fellow survivor from the horrific game called Painball. The Painballers are described as a subhuman species who seek pleasure in through torture and rape. Many do not survive an altercation with the Painballers and those that do are severely traumatised.
The character of Zeb is introduced as a continuing love interest for Toby and is also the brother of Adam One. Throughout the novel we learn of the brothers upbringing which includes fleeing their Reverend father who is the head of the church of Petroleum.
What did I think?
I haven't read a great deal of dystopian literature but Atwood's novel was gripping and ultimately very realistic. References to religion (through the church of Petroleum) in some respects are not very unlike the issues we have with religion today. This realism ensures the novel doesn't get to a point of being unable to follow the details of the individual communities or the overall story.
The characters have a great deal of depth and we root for their survival and relationships which, for me, turns a complex story into a page turner.
Is it worth a read?
I would definitely recommend this novel if you would like to dip your toe into this genre of literature. Each novel can be read in isolation because Atwood is very good at ensuring details of tribes are reinforced throughout the novel. However I would say that it is more beneficial to read the first two books in the trilogy to really invest in the story.
You can get a copy of the book here
Americanah is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's third novel and has been shortlisted for the Bailey's Women's Prize for Fiction 2014.
What's the plot?
Ifemelu and Obinze grew up together in Lagos but both dreamt of living more successful lives far away from Nigeria. Ifemelu goes to America and Obinze sets up life in England. The novel tracks both of their separate lives but it's clear from the first few chapters that Ifemelu and Obinze's relationship isn't over. From the outset, the issue of race in the modern world is tackled through the eyes of character's living in countries with very different attitudes- England, America and Nigeria. There is a sense of restlessness that unites all of the characters where they have longed for a life and when they have it its not how they imagined it would be. Ifemelu and Obinze needed to get away from their country of birth but feel incredibly guilty when they no longer feel connected to their culture. Adiche conveys cultural differences through the characters subtle observations and engagement with people in their lives whether it be family or their hairdresser. Essentially this is a love story between two high school sweethearts but it is the tensions around race that create the most interesting story.
What did I think?
I have some mixed feelings about this book, in one respect I really enjoyed the author's way of commenting on race which was by in large done through subtle descriptions, for example the description of the location of Ifemelu's hairdressing salon where it's noted that all salons who cater for African hair are in the worst areas of the city. I also enjoyed Ifemelu's feeling that she wanted to escape her life in Africa because in some ways it meant that she could have a career and more importantly freedom to do what she wanted. This was juxtaposed by her Auntie's situation in America where she found herself poorer and almost needing a husband to support her.
For at least two thirds of the novel I found myself gripped on the ups and downs of the characters lives but towards the end I felt it focused more on the love story of Ifemelu and Obinze which I personally found to be quite stereotypical of most romance novels or rom- com films.
Is it worth a read?
Definitely. Despite my personal reservations about the love story element, the other themes within this novel make it well worth your time. I'm actually quite looking forward to reading another of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novels in the future.
You can pick up a copy here.
" Were they really so stupid that they didn't understand that stupidity was race neutral?"
The Girl who Saved the King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson is one of my most recent reads. Nombeko Mayeki is a young, intelligent girl who's life is wasted working at a latrine facility in Soweto. Her race and gender ensure that she is forced to work in the most menial posts, managed by men who are stupid and greedy.
A road accident involving Nombeko and a drunken engineer changed her life. She was made to work for the engineer, who just happened to be running a project linked to South Africa's national security. As months turned into years, Nombeko proved herself useful enough to stay alive and gain information that might just save a national disaster.
She finds herself on the run with two resourceful Chinese sisters and twins who exist as one person. Oh and she may just be able to save the King of Sweden if the secret service don't catch her first.
On reflection I was fortunate enough to have read this novel before reading Jonasson's award wining tale The Hundred Year Old Man who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared. The problem with writing a highly acclaimed novel is that everything else is compared to it rather than being judged as a piece of work in isolation.
I enjoy the slight quirkiness of Jonasson's characters who border on being completely unrealistic yet the back stories given to the reader make their ridiculous lives seem completely plausible.
Despite having several different characters whose lives intertwine, I never felt at anytime that Jonasson remained with a particular story for too long- the novel had a good pace so that details weren't forgotten. Issues with gender and race are touched upon subtly but this wasn't the focus of the story. Despite the misfortune of the characters- the book was fun and light-hearted. The characters were all trying to carve out a normal life for themselves but circumstance was holding them back.
Although the novel was fun I didn't find it to be as 'laugh out loud' funny as previous reviews have suggested. It was more pleasant than hilarious for me.
Jonasson's writing style isn't what I would normally enjoy. I ordinarily engage with authors who write very detailed works but the characters stories were more than enough, too much detail would have drawn out the length of the novel and the enjoyment and quirkiness would have been lost.
So what's the verdict? if you enjoy novels filled with details of quirky characters and almost unbelievable tales then this is for you.
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