Tag: #reading

Sweet Fury

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Sarah Bischoff

I REALLY enjoyed this book. It was the soap-operatic suspenseful novel I needed to get me out of a minor reading slump. Told from various points of view, the reader soon realizes they cannot trust any narrator.

Lila Crayne is beautiful and brilliant. She is THE most sought-after actress of the moment. She has everything she could have ever wished for: beauty, fame, a handsome famous actor as a fiance and now the role of a lifetime. Lila and her husband are producing a feminist version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Tender is the Night” (a rendition I would love to read in real life). For Lila to fully envelope her character, she seeks therapy under the care of Johna Gabriel, who coincidentally has an infatuation with F. Scott Fitzgerald. The story is told in the third person narrative with chapters in first person under the guise of Jonah’s private patient notes on Lila and Lila’s journal. Soon, forbidden attractions occur, secrets are revealed, and half-truths are believed, culminating in a shocking act of violence. 

I enjoyed this novel’s pace, plot, and finding very few characters with redeeming characteristics. Now, I want to go out and read Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the free copy

For She is Wrath

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by Emily Varga

Full disclosure: I both read and listened to this novel. The audiobook’s narrator is AMAZING, making it worth downloading.
I really liked this book. But then again, I always like books with strong female protagonists, especially ones that can be viewed as resilient, courageous heroines. For She is Wrath is a wonderful retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo, but this time as a Pakistani romantic fantasy. Loving the classic, I couldn’t help but be enamoured of this tale.
As with the Count of Monte Cristo, our tale begins with a daring prison break. Fast-paced and immediately engaging, we follow Dania, a strong-willed and determined young woman, on her bloody and daring journey from prison to the man who betrayed her…the man she loved.
This plot-driven novel is what young adults most often gravitate to first. It reads like a movie and would be an excellent addition to a classroom library and an engaging read-aloud.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the free copy.

My Darling Dreadful Thing

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by Johanna Van Veen

What a wonderfully gothic tragic love story! I may have found a new favourite author to add to my list. Johanna Van Veen is a master at creating atmosphere. Creepy, sad and at times ominous. Our protagonist, Roos, has had a tragic life. Roos has been made to participate in her abusive mother’s seances since she was a child and showed a connection to the spirit world. She would have likely continued this life if it hadn’t been for a beautiful young widow, Agnes, who participated in a seance one evening. Agnes and Roos quickly find a connection to each other because they share one extraordinary thing in common…they both possess spirit companions. Agnes invites Roos to come and live with her in the decrepit, haunting estate left to her by her husband. Shortly after her arrival,  Roos realized there is more to the estate than first meets the eye. Her spirit companion can feel it too, and soon, strange noises and smells make Roos curious to find what or who else lurks in the hallways of her new home. What she finds is more than disturbing to both her and us, the reader.

The Puzzle Box

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by Danielle Trussoni

The first Trussoni book I read was Angelology…if you haven’t read it, you should. Since then, Trussoni has written a number of books, one of which was The Puzzle Master, where our protagonist is Mike Brink, a fascinating character with ‘acquired savant syndrome. You see since Mike suffered a traumatic brain injury whilst playing football, he’s been able to create and solve intricate puzzles. He sees and, at times, feels patterns and solutions to the most complex and compelling puzzles. In the novel The Puzzle Box, Mike is challenged by Japan’s Imperial Family to open the infamous Dragon Box. But solving this puzzle is more than problematic. It’s deadly. Scores of individuals have died attempting. 

This novel is great fun. I find the character of Mike Brink fascinating; he is brilliant, socially awkward, and silently lonely, and it is hard for someone to understand him and his gift. The premise and plot of this book are highly engaging, and you will have read it in its entirety in a day.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the free copy.

I Who Have Never Known Men

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by Jacqueline Harpman

I Who Have Never Known Men is an apocalyptic novel about the end of man and womankind.
The unnamed narrator only knows one world: a prison with 39 other women hidden in an underground cave. She is the only child in the group and has no recollection of what the world was like before their imprisonment. We never know why these women are in prison; we only know that a political event led to the imprisonment of all women with men as guards.   If you liked the series Wool by Hugh Howey or have an attachment to Plato’s Republic, you will appreciate this story.
Something happens (we never know what) where the women are suddenly and surprisingly released and are faced with freedom.
This novel made me feel overwhelmingly sad. I thought it was all about loneliness and isolation. But then I thought about it and talked about it, and I came to realize that it really is a story of survival and resilience. Our narrator lived a life of agency and made decisions truly on her own.
This novel would make a solid addition to a High School reading list as it lends itself to wonderful discussion on theme and author choice.

Where I End

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by Sophie White

Did it like this book? It was enthralling, highly atmospheric and deeply, deeply disturbing. 
I like books that jar me out of complacency.
This novel is rife with trigger warnings. While I’m not particularly fond of body horror, its inclusion in this book was not gratuitous. Instead, the descriptions served to enhance the theme, atmosphere, and characterization.
So, what is this gothic horror novel about?
Aoileann is a teenage girl who is trapped. She’s trapped on a remote island with her catatonic mother and her abusive grandmother. Aoileann’s entire life centres around the care of her mother, and this obligation has turned to hatred (often referring to her mother as “the bed thing”. 
The hatred is caused, in part, by a family secret…what caused her mother’s state? Both her father and her grandmother refuse to give answers.
Desperate for love, familial or otherwise, Aoileann is drawn to a newcomer, Rachel, a young mother who has arrived as an artist in residence. Aoileann’s desperation for love and companionship drives her to do almost anything for attention. Soon, she begins to resent the time and attention Rachrel has towards her newborn. 
Written in the first person, the reader is privy to an uncensored reading of Aoileann’s true thoughts, making her a very creepy, unsympathetic character. 
This is in no way a happy book. I needed to go hug a puppy after reading it. 
The author, in her forward, shares her inspiration for this story. 
So, did I like this book? I have been thinking about it on and off since I read it, a sure sign that I found it impactful. 
This novel lends itself to high school discussion on genre, theme, definitely atmosphere and the impact of first person point of view.
Thank you to Erewhon Books and Netgalley for the copy.

The Poppy War

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by R.F Kuang

I love the Poppy War. It is intense. It is heavy. It is magical. It is heartbreaking. I thought about the characters and their choices long after I read it. 

When I first encountered Kuang’s work in Babel, I was struck by her distinctive writing style. It’s a style that I envy, one that I wish I could emulate. Her sentences are not just words on a page, but lyrical, concise, impactful expressions that brim with imagery and emotion. 

When you start reading The Poppy War, you’ll want to gulp the plot down as quickly as possible, but you will choke on its intensity and detail. No. You have to sip. There is SO much information regarding plot character and world building in each and every sentence.

Rin, our tragic hero, is a war orphan fostered in the Rooster province. She’s faced with a future dictated by her fate, one that she refuses to accept. Instead, she sets her sights on a different path, one that leads to the Kejee, the Empire-wide exam . Passing this exam would grant her entry into the most prestigious military school in the Empire, a chance to shape her own destiny. 

While at school, Rin uncovers her heritage, a revelation that sheds light on her unusually powerful gifts. This aspect of the story not only adds depth to Rin’s character but also enriches the world-building, as it reveals a hidden layer of the book’s supernatural realm.

Having yet to graduate, Rin and the rest of her fellow schoolmates are thrown into a war where they have to put to use the skills and strategies they have learned in real-life and death battles.

The Poppy War is not just a novel, it’s a rich tapestry of themes. It delves into the ethics of war, exploring concepts like genocide and the means justifying the end. It grapples with identity, power, and responsibility. And it celebrates the bonds of friendship. These themes are not just surface-level musings, but wonderfully complex and beautifully developed, with more to come in the second and third books of the trilogy. 

The world-building is enthralling. The political systems, cultures, supernatural realm, military, and educational systems are beautifully detailed, and all contribute successfully to the progression of the plot, the development of characters, and the strengthening of themes. 

The Poppy War has become one of my favourite books of the year. I am in the process of reading the second book the in the trilogy, and it’s starting off as just as wonderful as the first.

The Foxglove King and the Hemlock Queen

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books 1 and 2 of the Nightshade Crown by Hannah Witten

The Foxglove King

Who doesn’t like a novel about a young woman who has escaped from a cult using only her wits and her ability to wield Death Magic. Unfortunately her wits and her ability aren’t enough for her to escape her entrapment by the Presque Mort (yay for Warrior Monks). Lore is forced by the Presque Mort to work for the king, using her gift to find out what is behind the death of entire villages in the realm (these deaths are being blamed on an enemy country thus causing political tension). What a fabulous premise for great action. 

During this time, Lore becomes entangled in two complicated relationships; one to Gabrial, himself a warrior monk (so yes I’m partial to Gabrial) and the other to Prince Basitan the “pot stirring” heir to the throne.

The Foxglove King is an easy, enjoyable read with a likable heroine and a plot sprinkled with politics, the supernatural and glimmers of romance that is bound to develop in subsequent books.

A perfect series to start this summer!

The Hemlock Queen

So I had to take the time to read the first of Nightshade Crown Series before I could start The Hemlock Queen. Maybe I needed a palate cleanser of a different genre before I read the second in this series because I found the plot a bit plodding and therefore didn’t enjoy it as much as the first.

One of my favourite characters from the series is Gabriel but we didn’t see him as much and therefore was only mildly involved in the plot and in Lore’s character development.

Although I was bored at times, I still enjoyed being immersed in the world building and I still love Lore as our heroine so I will more than likely continue to visit the Sainted King’s Court.

Pretty Ugly

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David Sederis and Ian Falconer

This picture book is fantastic in so many ways. First, it’s funny and a wee bit gross. Second, it has a multitude of universal themes, so it doesn’t matter how old you are when you read it; you GET it. This book would be an amazing text to use when introducing Socratic discussion of the subjectivity of “beauty.” Fourthly (yes, FOURTHLY!!!), it makes THE most effective text to teach writing in any grade.

In his picture book “Pretty Ugly”, David Sedaris shows us that looks are irrelevant to the depth of familial love. When Anna made ugly faces so often that one permanently stuck, she tried everything, including visiting a doctor to change her appearance to what it was before, but to no avail. Her family tries to assure her that “beauty is on the inside” and that they love her very much. Pondering her family’s words, she reaches inside and turns herself inside out, ultimately making herself more beautiful than before.

This book is concise and perfect for teaching how to summarize. It also lends itself nicely to personal and persuasive writing.  For example, an introductory paragraph for a persuasive essay for junior high could be:

“Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder” is a phrase we have heard so often it has become trite. How can we internalize the authenticity of this statement? Why picture books, of course. In the picture book “Pretty Ugly”, David Sedaris shows us that familial love renders looks irrelevant.

So, if you’re looking for an exemplar to teach summarizing, paragraph writing, or persuasive writing, this book is perfect.

Or, if you want to read a picture book that will make you think while you giggle, “Pretty Ugly” is perfect.

….oh, I just realized you could also use the title to teach oxymorons.

Thank you Netgalley and Astra Books for the free digital copy.

Ninth House and Hell Bent

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by Leigh Bardugo

I’m not usually a rereader, but I bought Hell Bent a year ago, the second in the Alex Stern trilogy (I believe there is a third book coming) by Leigh Bardugo. When I read it, I soon realized I needed to remember details from the first book, Ninth House, to appreciate it properly. I remember absolutely LOVING Ninth House. One of my favourite genres is dark academia. Who doesn’t love old libraries, secret societies, symbols, rites, and history?
Our main character is Galaxy (Alex) Stern, a young woman who experiences a horrific event that places her in the hospital. There, she meets Dean Sandow, head of Lethe House, a secret society at Yale. Dean Sandow offers her a full scholarship in exchange for one thing: she uses her “gift” to help Lethe House or the Ninth House that helps regulate the other Eight. Alex’s gift, you see, is that she can see ghosts or “greys”, and sometimes greys can interfere with certain rituals.
In her new environment, Alex encounters a diverse group of individuals; some are ‘interesting’ members of the various Houses, possessing knowledge in the mystical arts, while others are ‘normal’ people like her roommates. Balancing these two drastically different lives proves to be a challenge, but Alex begins to form a family of sorts and grows incredibly close to a handsome man named Daniel Arlington or ‘Darlington’ The plot, filled with suspense and mystery, is fast-paced, a little gory, and incredibly imaginative, with sprinkles of humour. Ninth House concludes with a thrilling twist, as Alex and her companions embark on a perilous journey to hell to rescue one of their own.
Now, I’ll tread carefully with my opinion of Hell Bent, as I don’t want to spoil anything. I found Hell Bent just as captivating as Ninth House. In this second novel, we delve deeper into our characters’ lives and the origins of the various Houses at Yale. We witness Alex’s journey of self-discovery and see her grow more confident in her own history and identity. She becomes brave enough to forge authentic relationships with those who share the realities of her life, a development that is both heartwarming and relatable.
I can only dream of having an imagination like Leigh Bardugo. I haven’t read anything else of hers…she has a new novel out this month called The Familiar that seems to be calling my name. I LOVED BOTH of these books.

The Pole

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by J. M Coetzee


It’s taken me a while to write a review for this novel. How do I write an objective review about a story I so significantly identify? The Pole is a love story but not a love story. It is a story about friendship, but not much of a friendship. In this novel, Coetzee does what Coetzee does best, with razor-sharp precision; he concisely writes what we all have felt and, in this case, what a middle-aged woman feels when she meets someone who tells her: “She gives him peace. She gives him joy”. (pg. 32)

Beatriz is nearing 50 and is a mother and a wife. She is content in life, “an intelligent person but not reflective [however] a portion of her intelligence consists of an awareness that excess reflection can paralyze the will.” (pg 4).
Witold Walczykiezicz is a 70-year-old Polish pianist known for interpreting Chopin’s works. When he arrives in Barcelona to perform, he meets Beatriz, a socialite who seems forced to be a hostess during his visit. Witold immediately falls in love with Beatriz, claiming that she is Beatrice to his Dante.
But Beatriz is anything but attracted to Witold. In fact, she has “emerged from her explorations with no great respect for men and their appetites, no wish to have a wave of male passion splash over her” (pg 27).
But something about Witold compels Beatriz to join this strange musician’s world, but will it be as a friend or a lover?

This novel, with its unique structure that resembles a narrative poem, is a captivating read. I was initially provided a free digital copy from Netgally and the publisher, but I was so enthralled that I ended up purchasing a hard copy. I am certain to revisit it, or at least reread portions of it, in the future.

While the main characters of this novel may be middle-aged and elderly, their experiences and responses are deeply human, making them relatable to readers of all ages. The beauty of the prose and the depth of the sentences serve as expert examples of author craft, inviting readers to delve into the intricacies of the narrative.

2 New Mystery Novels

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The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill

I enjoyed Gentill’s novel The Woman in the Library, so I was excited to get my hands on this one. Although I wouldn’t say I liked it as much, I still enjoyed it. I liked The brother-sister dynamic between Theo and Gus, Horse (no spoilers), and plot elements (who doesn’t love conspiracy theories, the crazy lives of authors, and murder?).

I didn’t love the pace (too slow for me) and Theo’s stupid choices. I mean, I know she’s only 22, but COME ON!

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It’s a suitable quick read with a somewhat intriguing mystery. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the copy.

The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene

f you love true crime podcasts, unsolved murders, and a protagonist with a ton of baggage (none of it her doing), then you’ll love this novel.

Lindsey Fadley was only 10 years old when her sister Jessica disappeared, and she’s always felt guilty; she WAS the last person to see her. And now, years later, human remains have been found in Doll’s Eye Lake, the same lake where her sister was last seen. Lindsey’s past has literally come back to haunt her in the form of reporters harassing her for information, an old boyfriend that may have ulterior motives and memories that seem nothing but unreliable.

At first, I found this novel VERY predictable. I figured out a guilty party within the first 30 pages. However, there was a twist that made the plot redeemable and, in fact, quite intriguing. I did find Lindesy gullible to the point of annoying; however, the other aspects of Greene’s writing keep me engaged. Overall, it is an engaging mystery. I will be reading more of Greene’s writing.

This novel will be available to purchase in November 2024

Thank you to Crooked Lane and Netgalley for the free copy.

Bear

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Julia Phillips

This is a beautifully written novel about expectations, broken dreams, heartache, and everything else associated with sisters. This is my first foray into Julia Phillips’s works, and I am now a true fan of her craft. In this novel, Phillips weaves myth into reality by merely introducing a bear into the lives of two sisters struggling to find their place in the small, claustrophobic world in which they live.
Honestly, it took me a while to get immersed in this story because I couldn’t seem to attach myself to any one character, but the beauty of the setting kept me intrigued enough by the plot that I continued reading.
This novel will make an effective mentor text in English classrooms to discuss myth in a modern setting, themes of sisterhood, identity, guilt, acceptance, fear, and the majesty and violence of nature. The author’s description of the setting is truly noteworthy.
The ending broke me.


Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the free copy.