What I'm reading...
I picked up Of Bees and Mist when I was scouring for something new to read. The story is a straightforward tale of young woman in a small village who finds love and marries into a difficult family. The story centres around her relationship with her husband and the strains of his family on their relationship. This basic storyline is enhanced by a magical realism that is always present. Enjoying this one immensely!
What I've been listening to...
I was at a Godspeed you Black Emperor gig a couple of weeks ago and had a great time listening to the support band Xylouris White. This duo consist of a lute player and a prog-rock drummer, give them a listen.
What I'm reading... The Mime Order
The Mime Order is the second book from Samantha Shannon, author of The Bone Season. I was recommended The Bone Season by a friend after I finished the Goldfinch and The Luminaries in quick succession. I needed a light, easy page turner. The books are aimed at a young adult audience but I was hooked! Shannon has created a world in the future that vaguely resembles Britain today but has the addition of the human race being separated into those who have mind controlling powers and those who don't. As would be expected the human race do not tolerate those who have powers and work tirelessly trying to find ways to wipe out their existence. The voyants also have conflict within their own kind and this story is told in the first novel. The Mime Order follows on from The Bone Season and continues to tell the story of Paige Mahoney and her development into an independent adult. The most interesting parts of the novel for me are when we are introduced to non-human characters and of course the detailed battle scenes. There were small sections two thirds of the way trough the novel that could have been shorter and more refined but this is Shannon's first published works so there are bound to be points for development and it will be interesting to see where she goes with book number three.
In short if you're looking for an easy but interesting read then go for it!
What i'm listening to... The Julie Ruin
I spent my youth listening to Bikini Girl and Le Tigre so naturally I was gutted when Kathleen Hanna seemed to disappear from the music scene never to be heard of again. In the film, The Punk Singer, Hanna describes her battle with illness and it becomes clear why she was no longer able to continue writing and performing. The Julie Ruin is Hanna's new band and although it shows a more mature style there is still the punk element that makes e feel completely nostalgic. Young women need Kathleen Hanna around!
What i've been reading...
Michel Faber's 2002 bestseller, The Crimson Petal and the White, is a beast of a book, The story centralises around the lives of a middle class family versus that of prostitutes living in Victorian London. The story is straightforward and stories like this have been told many times, however Faber's writing style is what saves this novel from being just another period drama. Faber describes scenes in incredible detail to the point where I felt I learned a lot about everyday life during the Victorian period. The novel also takes time to allow the reader to understand the different restrictions placed on women during this period despite class, For example the main character's young wife didn't understand she was pregnant because she simply hadn't been educated in understanding the workings of her own body. There are slower points in the novel but it is well worth persevering through these lulls because overall it's definitely worth spending time on.
What I'm listening to...
I first listened to doom cellist, Helen Money, a few years ago when I was at All Tomorrow's Parties in London. She was playing in a small area next to all of the merchandise to a tiny group of people who happened to catch her when they were wandering around the venue in between main acts. If you haven't heard of her before, imagine a Cellist playing Metal. It sounds like a weird combo but it's pretty amazing!
