Book Review: Atonement by Ian McEwan

Atonement - Ian McEwan

Synopsis:
It’s 1935, and at thirteen years of age, Briony Tallis has decided to move on from writing and illustrating short stories, instead choosing to create a play, The Trials of Arabella. She has high hopes that the play, which is a product of her overactive imagination, and which features her penchant for dramatics, will be performed for her brother Leon and his friend Paul Marshall, following their homecoming from college.
Her cousins, who are staying with the family for an undetermined amount of time while their parents go through a messy divorce, are delegated roles in the play, but Briony is disheartened by their poor attempts at acting and decides to call the play off. It is while she is staring out the window in a depression that she spots her older sister Cecilia in a moment’s interaction with the cleaner’s son Robbie Turner.
With her thoughts going into overdrive, Briony imagines the scenarios that have lead to what she has witnessed, and starts to plot a story far beyond what she knows.
These imaginings skew her perceptions of Cecilia and Robbie’s relationship, and when a crime is committed on the grounds, she immediately points the blame at Robbie, despite contrary evidence.
Briony’s distorted perceptions of the event, and the repercussions that follow, haunt each of the characters as they struggle to survive through World War II and through the difficult years that follow.

What I gained from reading this book:
This story gives as good a reminder as any that you shouldn’t judge someone without knowing all the important facts.
Briony lets her imagination dictate what is happening between Cecilia and Robbie, and this not only threatens to ruin the couple’s new relationship, but it destroys their families and aids a criminal in his escape from justice.
The fact that a thirteen-year-old middle-class girl is believed over a cleaner’s son is also reminiscent of the times when higher status in the community meant more than a person’s integrity. What is worse, even though Briony has her doubts later on, she is too afraid to renege on what she has said for fear of retribution, which only heightens the guilt that she ultimately feels.
This is an issue that affects many people in their day-to-day lives, where they feel the need to lie to save their own skins, despite knowing that they are wrongly incriminating somebody else. The author is able to highlight the remorse that Briony feels about Robbie during the war, but is also able to draw on her fear of being blamed for destroying so many lives. This theme could strike a chord with readers who have also found themselves in situations where they have faced avoidable guilt.

Positives:
Not only are the characters well developed, but readers will get drawn into the drama that comes from their personal stories and the wartime experiences they face- especially as they deal with the consequences of what happened in the summer of 1935.

Negatives:
Although the novel has won wide acclaim from critics, as well as several awards, it takes a while for readers to actually get into the story. The beginning is slow and sometimes it seems as though nothing exciting will ever happen, but if you persist with reading the first few chapters, you will find yourself drawn into wanting to know what happens next to the characters.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: War/ Relationships

Recommended for: People who have seen the film and would like to read the book.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler

Back When We Were Grownups - Anne Tyler

Synopsis:
From a young age, Rebecca is destined to marry her sweetheart Will Allenby, graduate from college and start a family.
But meeting Joe Davitch changes all of that. Thirteen years her senior, Joe already has three young daughters and becomes smitten with Rebecca after seeing her laugh at a friend’s engagement party, which is being held at his family’s house, The Open Arms.
Within weeks, any future with Will is forgotten as the new couple fall madly in love with one another and marry. It’s not long before Rebecca becomes a part of the Davitch clan, looking after the children and taking control of the festive parties that the Open Arms hosts every week.
However, everything takes a turn for the worse when Joe is involved in a car accident. Rebecca finds herself widowed, juggling the family business, looking after the children and assorted family members, and dealing with the chaos that is her life.
Although she loves her family dearly, she struggles to find her place, and by the age of fifty-three, begins to wonder what her life would have been like if she had never met Joe and instead stayed with Will.

What I gained from reading this book:
This is a novel that very much deals with the question of ‘what if?’
Rebecca, or Beck as she is called by the Davitch clan, wonders whether she would have gradually developed an outgoing persona after being shy for so much of her life, or whether she is only pretending to be so joyous because she knows that is what her family expects of her. She also wonders whether a life with Will would have been as rewarding as her current life or whether she would have fallen into a different kind of bliss. These are questions that many people ask themselves when they find themselves at a crossroad, or even when they are long past the moment and are re-evaluating their life and the place that they hold in it. The characters in this novel are very true to life, in that they too question what could have been, had their circumstances turned out differently.

Positives:
The characters’ arguments and grievances with one another are just as realistic as the harmony that they share. The author is able to portray a strong portrait of the dysfunctional family- one which many people will be able to relate to.

Negatives:
The storyline is a bit slow in some parts and sometimes it is difficult to keep track of who all the characters are, as there are just so many of them (and most are introduced at the same time).

Rating: 6 out of 10

Genre: Family/ Relationships

Recommended for: Fans of Anne Tyler’s novels.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Any Books You'd Like Me To Review?

Hello there!

Do you ever come across a book that you really want to read but you just don't have the time to read it?

Working at a bookshop, I see all the new releases and the above situation happens to me a lot!! I have to write down the title and add it to my long list of books to read- I call it The List.

But sometimes, depending on the title, someone I know is able to read a certain book before me and tell me whether it's worth moving up on The List..

If there's a particular book you'd like me to review so that you can decide whether to read it straight away or let it wait a while, please let me know and I'll do my best to cover it.

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions!!

Catherine

Book Review: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Synopsis:
Before the war in Afghanistan, Amir’s favourite pastimes include flying and running kites with his loyal friend, a lower-caste servant named Hassan, who has a talent for catching the last fallen kite- the coveted prize, and a trophy of sorts, during the winter kite-flying tournament. Throughout the rest of the year, the boys cause mischief by reflecting sunlight into people’s homes using mirrors, and shooting walnuts at the neighbour’s dog with a slingshot. Amir also reads adventure stories to the illiterate Hassan, and dreams that one day he will win the approval of his stern father.
One day, after a successful kite tournament, something happens that changes the relationship between Amir and Hassan forever, and alters their lives in ways previously unimaginable. Amir finds himself struggling to cope with his guilt, and in desperation, drives away the only friend he has ever really had.
As war starts to close in on the small country, Amir and his father flee to America, and it isn’t until decades later that Amir is forced to confront his demons and make the difficult journey back to Afghanistan and the life he left behind.

What I gained from reading this book:
For as long as I can remember, Afghanistan has been a country plagued with war, overruled by the Taliban, and destroyed by acts of terrorism. Even now, news reports tell of suicide bombers detonating their bombs and destroying various parts of the country. This book is an eye-opener because it not only covers aspects of the war as seen through Amir’s eyes, but it is also delves into his life as a young boy before war tore apart his native country. The author highlights the differences between the Afghanistan of Amir’s childhood and the Afghanistan of his adult years, and juxtaposes this with the events that helped to define Amir’s transition from an awkward and uncourageous child, to a man determined to turn a past wrong into a right.

Positives:
This highly acclaimed novel didn’t get rave reviews for nothing. The story is exceptionally written and evokes a sense of authenticity that many fictional novels lack. The details involved in the author’s writing make the reader believe that they are reading the memoirs of an Afghani refugee, rather than a fictional story drawn from some of the real-life events of asylum seekers from Afghanistan.

Negatives:
People who are unable stomach stories of war and violent abuse should probably steer clear of this novel, as the crux of the story centres around these themes.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Genre: Family/ Relationships

Recommended for: Anybody looking for a fictional novel that draws from real-life experiences that some Afghani refugees faced in their search for asylum.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: The Other Extreme by T.J. MacGregor

The Other Extreme - T.J. MacGregor

Synopsis:
Jay Hutchin is an esteemed judge and respected member of the community. But while he is looked upon as an authority of the judicial system, he is also leading a secret life away from the courts, by having an affair with an up-and-coming actress named Diane Jackson- a woman who is taking Hollywood by storm and also seeing other men on the side. When Jay kills Diane in a jealous rage, he has to try and do everything in his power to prevent the press from discovering his involvement. This is especially crucial after the President’s chief of staff contacts Jay to inform him he is on the shortlist for a possible appointment as attorney general. With the FBI delving into his life to determine his suitability for the position, Jay has everything to lose if his role in Diane’s death is made public.
Meanwhile, defence attorney Kit Parrish is hired to defend Diane’s boyfriend, who has been arrested for the murder. While she is collecting evidence for the defence, FBI agent Ben Webster enters her life, reopening a cold case which involves Kit’s brother Pete, who disappeared a decade before. If that’s not enough to contend with, Kit also has to deal with her son’s strange behaviour, which is triggered by voices only he can hear.
Kit faces many challenges in her efforts to save an innocent man from a life sentence, put the real culprit behind bars, and help her son uncover ghosts from memories that belong to someone else.

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel shows how jealousy and greed can change people’s lives, and how too much power can corrupt even those whose duty of care shouldn’t be compromised. Although Jay Hutchin is a figure of authority, he finds himself stooping to the level of the people he convicts in an effort to reign supreme and ‘beat’ the judicial system. He even goes so far as to plan the downfall of Diane’s boyfriend, who has been arrested for her murder despite his innocence. This shady portrayal of the judge helps to raise awareness that there are people out there who consider their interests before everyone else’s, and that this is not just a weakness held by people of little power.

Positives:
This story holds all the trademarks of a political thriller like you’d see on the big screen, with paranormal elements such as memory transfers also thrown into the mix. It’s difficult not to get drawn into the intertwining storylines.

Negatives:
The sub-plot involving Kit’s son Ryan and the memories he keeps on dredging up is interesting, but it is also very easy to determine whose memories they are. This predictability, despite the characters not piecing it together, can sometimes be infuriating for readers.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Paranormal Thriller

Recommended for: People who enjoy reading a good murder mystery, even if some of the characters seem to have abilities beyond the norm.

Book Review: Vittorio, The Vampire by Anne Rice

Vittorio, The Vampire - Anne Rice

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Vittorio di Raniari is part of a wealthy family who live in a Tuscan hilltop castle that is surrounded by warring fronts. Despite the conflicts that border the small village, the people are safe in the knowledge that their Lord, Vittorio’s father, has made strong alliances with Cosimo de Medici and his people in Florence.
But a more sinister threat than war approaches the village one day and it changes Vittorio’s life forever. Without warning, the homes on the outskirts of the village are empty, as people flee a dark force that looms in the forest and only appears in the dead of night. Vittorio’s family remain in the village, but find themselves victims of a bloody and bizarre massacre- one that leaves Vittorio orphaned, alone, and seeking revenge.
Vittorio’s path of vengeance leads him to the bloodthirsty and demonic creatures of the night, to a strange village that seems too perfect, and into the arms of young Ursula, a woman who played a part in his family’s deaths yet appears eternally ‘innocent’. This is the story of how Vittorio lost his innocence and became one of the creatures he despised.

What I gained from reading this book:
In this novel, Vittorio is faced with a nightmare situation, where he sees his brother and sister die in the most appalling way, and hears his family’s screams as they are slain. What’s worse, a young woman who he can’t help but feel attracted to is one of the perpetrators of the massacre, regardless of the fact that she does everything in her power to save him from a fate like that of his family. Thus, who can blame Vittorio for wanting to seek revenge for his loss? This novel is all about vengeance and its many forms, but it’s also a tale about courage, as Vittorio confronts his fears in the face of death and struggles to find justice in a world where humanity is fragile and demons are at the top of the food chain.

Positives:
Readers already know that Vittorio is a vampire, just from reading the title of the book, but what they may not realise at first glance is that this curse was bestowed by those he hated and wanted to destroy. The author is able to turn this tale of vengeance into one of a different kind of torment for her principle character as he struggles to come to terms with his past and his infinite future.

Negatives:
Despite being written in the late 1990’s, the author uses an old style of language to best represent Vittorio and his views, and because of this technique, some people may not enjoy the story as thoroughly.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Horror

Recommended for: Fans of Anne Rice’s gothic horror stories



Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Vamped by David Sosnowski

Vamped - David Sosnowski

Synopsis:
It’s been years since humans lived freely in a world now run and owned by vampires.
The act of hunting and killing humans is long since extinct, and blood production has become a commercial exercise, produced from stem-cells and packaged in juice boxes. In a world full of vampires, the only place one can find a real human is on black market farms that officially ‘don’t exist’, where vampires, for a large sum, can hunt humans au naturale.
So when suicidal vampire Martin Kowalski comes across a six-year-old girl- who presumably escaped from a human hunting reserve- he decides to take the recently orphaned and blood-spattered child home. While he initially plans on making her into a midnight snack, he finds himself charmed by the young girl, who goes by the bizarre name of Isuzu Trooper Cassidy- and allocates himself the role of unofficial guardian. Through the tumultuous years that follow, Marty embraces ‘fatherhood’ and strives to protect Isuzu from the rest of the world, who would tear her apart for a taste if they knew she existed.

What I gained from reading this book:
Despite the fact that most of the characters in this novel are vampires, the author is strangely able to make readers relate to them. This could be because he describes a world very similar to our own, only the characters function at nighttime rather than during the day. Marty holds a job writing memos for the Bureau of Blood Quality (BBQ), and before Isuzu came along, used to frequent bars where he’d watch topless dancers. His mundane life is what led him to almost crash his car and put an end to the boredom of living an eternal life. Isuzu’s appearance in his life brings a glimmer of hope to Marty, initially for the thrill of fresh blood and then for the challenges of parenthood. This novel shows that there is always something to live for, and to use the cliché, that sometimes the best things come in small packages.

Positives:
This novel is extremely entertaining and there are several reasons for this.
The author has managed to create humour in his portrayal of the eternally angry and emotional Screamers (vampires who may be hundreds of years old but are trapped in the young children’s bodies that they were vamped in- never able to look older than they are, and therefore never taken seriously).
As well as this, the character of Marty has a lot on his plate when it comes to dealing with Isuzu, and this helps readers to relate to his character. Marty’s role as a parent is varied, but in short, he has to protect her from other vampires, deal with her hormonal mood swings as she grows up, make sure he has enough human food (AKA pet food) for her while avoiding suspicion about the amount he buys (since he doesn’t own a pet), and generally adjust to having a female living with him who sleeps most of the night and has regular bodily functions that vampires no longer have. This is a story about co-habitation at its most extreme and most amusing.

Negatives:
The humour in this book may not appeal to everyone, but I think most people will appreciate the author’s rampant imagination.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Genre: Black Comedy

Recommended for: Anyone who has ever wondered what life would be like if everybody in the world was undead.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below: