The Thing About Prague: Review

Author: Rachael Weiss

Genre: Travel, non-fiction

Pages: 377

Originally published in: 2014

Prague. A popular European party capital, a thing of beauty in the heart of Europe, a city based between the east and the west, boasting stunning architecture and rich history. Whatever you think of Prague, you probably wouldn’t mind reading a bit more into it, would you now?

As a person that loves reading about travelling, about people who change their lives forever by moving to a completely different country (hell, I did exactly that when I decided to leave it all and study abroad!), I thought The Thing About Prague would be the perfect pre-summer read for me. Yes, I did enjoy it and I read it quite quickly. No, it is not the best piece of travel writing and I did end up giving it only two stars on Goodreads (this still means “it was okay” so it’s not like it was that bad). Anyway, here is what I liked and what I didn’t about The Thing About Prague.

First of all, the book is written by Rachael Weiss (not to be mistaken with the actress) – an Australian mid-level administrator, who one day decided to leave her job and her home and move to Prague to write. However, the expectations that come with this initial plot summary are not entirely met. For instance, this is not the story of a woman who suddenly leaves it all to go somewhere completely anew: she actually has some Czech blood in her veins and when she makes the move to Prague, she conveniently has her father’s old flat to stay in, lounging around it for a few months. Prague is not exactly unknown to her either since Rachael has already spent some time there earlier and wrote a book on it, too – Me, Myself and Prague.

Without being too picky, in the long run this plot setup should not be such an issue – after all we cannot have it all, and there are plenty of other book that are about people who move into completely new places that are not connected to their family tree. So, let’s get to the good parts.

Rachael’s writing is funny and engaging. I always find it interesting to read those kind of books because they are telling genuine everyday stories – nothing too dramatic, yet immensely entertaining. Let’s blame our love for gossiping on this one – overhearing someone else's conversation if you will. And some of her stories are pretty good and easy to relay to, especially if you are coming from or have lived in Eastern Europe! That is to say, her book reminded me how alike we are over there: from the old socialist buildings, to the way people are so laid back about their work they would need a whole week to do something that should only take them a day. Personally, I caught myself smiling when Rachael was saying how the workers that had to fix the pipes in the bathroom said they will only take a day or two. Coming from Eastern Europe, I can assure you: it is never a day or two. Always add a few days on top. Always.

Also if you are someone who lives abroad, you might find this book pretty enjoyable (regardless of the country you reside in). Sentences such as “when you are an expat, you have no choice but to defend your country” certainly point at what we all have in common. By the way, you will notice how Rachael and her friends always refer to themselves as expats and never as immigrants. Fancy. (N.B expat, short for an expatriated person: = a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country; immigrant = a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence).

Although I enjoyed reading The Thing About Prague, it did leave me feel a bit disappointed. I picked it up mainly because I wanted to read about Prague – you know, the city that is in the title of the book. To my disappointment, there was not much about the actual Prague – in terms of its aforementioned beautiful architecture and rich history, in terms of descriptions of places the locals go to eat/drink/party/shop/hang-around/anything. Instead, the book is mainly about Rachael trying to find a flat to buy (yes, to buy – not to rent) and to find a job, which, surprise, surprise!, is pretty hard for a person who only speaks English – not even a bit of Czech. A little mundane especially since she spends most of the time laying around in her dad’s flat – nothing wrong with this story, but not much of a travel writing? Also, she is very surprised to find out how expensive the nice flats by the river are … just because it is Central Europe does not mean that apartments are cheap as chips, you know?

And finally, what really got on my nerves and I just have to talk about it: her ignorance when it comes to European regulations. Sounds like a weird thing to get annoyed about? Bare with me, I will explain! I do realise that she is Australian and very far away from European issues and politics, but she is being well too self-centred when it comes to things that exist for a reason. For instance, she keeps complaining about the European Union making her life very hard – the poor expat that has to do all this paperwork and get all those documents in order to live in the Czech Republic legally. How dare they change their visa regulations? How dare they have any regulations? Don’t they know she is just a woman who can’t be bothered to deal with passports? And then she even goes on to express her annoyance at the Czech joining Schengen because it means more regulations and paperwork for her – are you kidding me? No, seriously, has she not made her research? All this time she spend in Prague and she did not get to know any of the politics and the international relations going on in Europe? Yes, I am sure they wanted to be a part of the EU and Schengen just to f*ck up the poor expat and that is that. (It’s annoying because she never acknowledges that there just might be some reason for the Czech joining all those unions…)

I can say a lot more about my issues with this but I will stop here. Forgetting my rant for a moment, The Thing About Prague is not such a bad book and it does provide some good insight into an immigrant’s life in the Czech Republic. A chapter during the end that involves a scary fellow expat who sounds like a cannibal is especially good and helps make the book worth it. Take Rachael Weiss’ words with a pinch of salt – it is not a boring book but it does not say that much about actual Prague as one might wish. 

Would you be interested in reading The Thing About Prague? What good travel books have you read lately?

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Indiscretion: Review

Author: Hannah Fielding

Genre: Romance, fiction

Pages: 489

Originally published in: 2015

Who doesn’t love a bit of historical romance set in sunny Spain in the 1950s? I am definitely up for a bit of that, especially since I am going to Spain again later this summer… So, let’s get to it!

Indiscretion is the story of a young girl – Alexandra de Falla. Half-English, half-Spanish, Alexandra has spent the first 20 years of her life between London and Kent, living with her aunt. Even though it is the 50s and a woman is expected to be focused on marrying well and settling down, Alexandra is quite modern – she is a successful young writer, with a book or two behind her back, and she has also recently rejected a marriage proposal. However, there is something missing from her life and when her father finally comes to visit her in England and invites her to see her estranged Spanish family, she immediately jumps on the offer. Alexandra yearns to learn more about her Spanish roots, hoping to learn more about herself and to find a sense of belonging in the hot country, but what she discovers there is very different from what she expected. A big family, controlled by a strong mother figure and contrived by an even stronger sense of tradition, a spiteful stepmother, a jealous stepsister, and one notoriously handsome cousin, prove to be more than a handful. Is Alexandra ready to live in a country where the heat of the weather is almost as strong as the heat of the people?

This was a vibrant, passionate land: the heat, the colours, the flamboyance of the people, the wild and mythical feel of the mountainous scenery, even the spectacular rise and setting of the sun.

The book is an easy read and a page turner. If you love your romantic novel, you are definitely in for a treat – Indiscretion provides this mix of forbidden love, complications, beautiful people and heated arguments that no such book is full without. As most of the story is based in hot Spain, Indiscretion also makes for the perfect summer read that is bound to put you in the holiday mood (personally, it definitely made me look forward to my time in Madrid even more). There are also a lot of long descriptive paragraphs that really set the mood and create a good sense of the region, setting each scene quite nicely. 

Bright purple bougainvillea cascaded down walls and honey-scented jasmine spilled out of windowboxes, their aroma mingling with the distinctive salty tang of the sea, invading Alexandra’s senses.

It is probably important to point out that the story is dominated by quite a lot of superstition, gypsy curses, and foreshadowing, but this is Spain in the middle of the century after all! It is here where the colourful history of the country shines through – a lot of the characters give some nice insight into the history of the region, peppered with a few local legends that are definitely quite interesting. Anyway, the "superstitious part" of the book was my least favourite as it did not make a lot of sense to me...

On to the characters, Alexandra is definitely written as this young, well-educated, sophisticated, intelligent, beautiful and modern woman (she is basically perfect?). Coming from the nicest parts of London, with a suitcase full of tailored Yves Saint Laurent pieces, she is this independent girl that might be fascinated with Spanish traditions, but is not completely prepared for living within their rule. I have to say I did have a few issues with her character. Even though she is constantly referred to as being highly intelligent and very forward-thinking and independent, she did not really come across as such as the book progressed. Granted it is only the 1950s, but this woman bursts out crying on so many occasions at some point in the second half of the book she started crying every time Salvador (the love interest) confronted her! This definitely got on my nerves *a lot* – she was almost this damsel in distress that constantly needed saving. Not to mention she was really unprepared for the real world, something that might be due to her sheltered upper-class upbringing, but still… Leading on a man, who was obviously pretty violent is not a smart move, Alexandra! Yes, she was supposed to be quite naïve, but this is not an excuse for some of her actions. Frankly, she was acting as an immature teenage girl obsessed with the hot guy at school (I cannot put it more plainly).

And what about the main stallion? Salvador might have been a character that appealed to me when I was a teenager – tall, dark stranger with strong arms, beautiful eyes, and sun-kissed tan… just an all-round sexy Spanish man. However, this man was acting so ridiculously with his crazy superstitions that even his hotness could not save him in my eyes! Not only this, but he was quite frankly leading our heroine on and she was falling for him with such an ease that it was almost pitiful. Yes, he is this mysterious, sexy man that a lot of women dream about – but is it a good idea to fall in love with him? Not so much. Frankly, I think if Alexandra was this smart, strong woman she believed to be, she should have just slept with him once or twice, and then went on with her life (okay, it is the 50s, so maybe she could have just flirted a little and left it to that – mind you, even that would be considered brave and careless at the time, so I might be asking a bit too much from her). My point is, Katy Perry sang Hot and Cold for a man like Salvador! Jumping all over you with passionate kisses and embraces at one moment, ignoring you and sleeping with other women (but never with you) in the next. (Alexandra thinks this means that he loves her but he is scared because of those aforementioned superstitions and curses – because apparently a man cannot just feel attracted to you without being deeply in love?). Next, please!

Basically, I did enjoy reading Indiscretion – it is a nice, long romantic novel full of passion and intrigues, and this is definitely something I like reading about. It is very girly and admittedly a bit clichéd, but it is quite entertaining as well and the well-researched region compensates for the flaws of the plot. Granted the main heroine annoyed me and I could not quite connect with her due to her dubious decisions and drama-queen attitude, but the story as a whole was still quite addicting and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a bit of historical romance. The richness of the descriptions successfully sends the reader on a journey through sunny, passionate Spain, and makes him want to learn more about this heated culture.  But for god's sake, girls, do not fall for the guy who keeps awakening your emotions and then leaves you with nothing but a hot paella and a cold bed!

Thanks to the lovely Hannah Fielding for sending me a copy of her book in an exchange of an honest review! I enjoyed reading it enormously and could not put it down until I finished it!

Now tell me, would you be interested in reading Indiscretion?

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Dead Money Run: Review (and a Look at the Series)

Author: J. Frank James

Genre: Crime Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

Pages: 293

Originally published in: 2013

A fast-paced thriller packed with action, Dead Money Run follows Lou Malloy as he has just been released after spending 15 years in prison for stealing $15 million from an Indian casino. However, even after so many years, the money he stole still remain hidden somewhere – and only he knows where, making him a target for a plethora of shady characters. Not only does Lou need to keep his money (and his wellbeing), but also he strives to find the people responsible for his sister’s death. On this dangerous journey of a man who is both a chaser and a chased one, Lou strikes an unlikely ally in the face of young Hilary Kelly – herself an enigma with a few secrets up her sleeve, she joins Lou from early on in his mission to vengeance.

The writing is easy to follow as all the actions are described from Lou’s point of view, making the whole story pretty straight-forward. However, this also means that all the events are perceived through his prism only and this is exactly what the reader gets from the story. Put in this context, it is no surprising that this is not a complicated thriller full of twists, grand philosophical statements, or complex characters. This does work when you consider that everything is perceived through Malloy’s eyes and through his eyes only. So, you can hardly expect him to spend time thinking or paying attention of anything else but his current situation – which is dealing with mobsters and coming to terms with his sister’s death (the circumstances of which remain unclear for quite a while). Considering this, the novel has to be written in plain language – the language of Lou Malloy as he has just left prison and is spending his newly found freedom on the run.

The author, J. Frank James has an extensive background in law which undoubtedly helps in his writing ventures – and it is obvious when reading Dead Money Run that he knows what he is talking about (as it often happens, it is in the details). The authentic nature of the book is what makes it come to life – while going through the pages, it is easy for the reader to plainly see every action described as if it were before his eyes. Ultimately, it has the feeling of an action-packed crime movie – strongly reminding me of Noise, which had a similar structure.

I was kindly send the prequel to the book, too, which at only 52 pages, gives a good origins story to the character of Lou Malloy, so I recommend if you decide on reading Dead Money Run, you do familiarize yourself with Lou Malloy: The Run Begins, too. Truth is, this is just a part of a series, dedicated to Lou Malloy’s adventures, also consisting of Only Two Cats, Blue Cat in Paradise, Rainbow Games, Two Birds to Kill, Last Flamingo, and Finders, Keepers.

As for The Run Begins, it gives Lou a good introduction as it sees him as a young 18-year-old boy, with ambition in his eyes, but wrong decisions in his mind. How did Lou end up in prison for 15 years? In 52 pages, James manages to explain his motifs and what drove him to commit a crime that would mark his life forever.

If you want to find out more about J. Frank James, you can visit his website or follow him on Goodreads.

I was kindly sent Dead Money Run and The Run Begins in an exchange of my honest review from the lovely Kelsey from Book Publicity Services.

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The Book Thief: Review

Author: Markus Zusak

Genre: Fiction, historical fiction, young adult

Pages: 560

Originally published in: 2005

By now the majority of us have heard about The Book Thief and a big chunk of people have already reviewed it, too.  An instant bestseller, followed up by the usual adaptation for the big screen, The Book Thief is still enjoying a massive worldwide following…

He stood a few metres from the step and spoke with great conviction, great joy.

‘Alles is Scheisse,’ he announced. All is shit.*

First of all, I will have to start with the fact that the book is narrated by Death. But of course you already know that as this is the first thing every review on The Book Thief starts up with. Also, the book is centred on a young German girl – Liesel Meminger – who is being separated from her mother and sent to a foster family in Molching, Germany. The year is 1939 and Europe is at war, while Liesel gets used to living with the Hubermanns, consisting of Rosa Hubermann, whose main characteristic is that her favourite two words are Saumensch and Saukerl (they literary stand for the German words for female pig and male pig, but are basically curse words, so you catch the drift); and of Hans Hubermann, the loving accordionist. Anything else you need to know plotwise? As Death conveniently points out at the beginning of the book: “Death will visit the book thief three times.” To be honest, considering these are war times, you could be surprised s/he did not visit her more (dark humour, I apologise).

All in all, The Book Thief follows how Liesel settles in her new home in Molching during the Second World War, but it also reflects on the way people were living during that dark period in human history. So, apart from the usual adventures in which young adult heroes get involved in (such as Liesel and her best friend Rudy Steiner stealing apples), there are also scenes including fanatical Germans and hiding Jews. Of course, a main point to the book is how Liesel turns into a book thief and why she turns into one.

Usually I am not into young adult literature. Maybe because I do not like my books to come with an age-specific sticker on them, but mostly due to the fact that YA doesn’t have the same appeal to me any longer (I mean, when you can dive deep into Dostoevsky, why wasting time with vampires and confused teenagers?). However, The Book Thief is one of those books that do not really carry that same “age-specific” feeling to them and can be enjoyed without thinking of it as a YA.

“In years to come, he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer – proof again of the contradictory human being. So much good, so much evil. Just add water.”

Anyway, on to the specifics.  There are quite a lot of things that make The Book Thief a good novel and it is easy to see why it became a bestseller. Personally, I think its main advantage is that it paints a fuller picture of the life of the Germans in Nazi Germany. Do not get me wrong, it is not a historical piece that gives you all the proper details of Germans’ daily lives. As a fictional piece it has definitely benefited from Zusak’s imagination. What I am trying to say is that it is nice to read about well-known events from a different perspective.

Usually WWII novels focus on the more obvious victims – the Jews on the run, the occupied French, the soldiers in Stalingrad, the separated love-birds, etc. As a result, the other victims – those who are largely seen as the oppressors – only get to be the bad guys, save for a few characters here and there who happen to be hiding people on the run. In The Book Thief the main characters are German – breathing, living Germans whose lives were not made easy just because they were living in the Fuhrer’s state. The book manages to illustrate what an important decision people were making by joining the NSDAP – looking at it from afar we are used to seeing everything back then in black and white. As the book shows all the consequences that come by not supporting the party, it becomes clear that whatever people decided for themselves, it was a very conscious decision indeed.

This is mostly in the adult world of The Book Thief but the little thief group Liesel and Rudy join makes up for a good case study on the German nation back in the day, too. As the group needs a new leader to follow, once the old one has left, and no one, as an individual, has what it takes to take the place of a leader, it becomes clear that they are a microcosm of the state: “They liked to be told, and Victor Chemmel liked to be the teller.” Victor on the other hand possesses of the charisma a leader needs, much like the infamous leader of Germany: “…he also possessed a certain charisma, a kind of ‘follow me.’” Looking at those children, it feels like one is looking at their parents and at their choices. After all, this is a well summed up description of how the collective mind tends to work.

Finally, the books. This is where my disappointment came and slapped me in the face. I do not want to spoil anything for you but Liesel does not end up stealing an awful lot of books! Given the fact that this is the title of the novel, I expected more – I was looking forward to finding out what kinds of books she was stealing, what she was learning from them, and of course finding out if I have read any of the mentioned books. I was looking forward to the adventure, to the tons of books The Thief was stealing, the appetite he had for them – I was expecting a book after a book after a book. Instead I got a Liesel that kept rereading the same three books over and over again (and no, I haven’t read The Grave Diggers Handbook, thank you very much).

I loved Markus Zusak’s writing style and I loved the story. The characters I loved also. What I did not love is how Death had to go around, hitting me with massive spoilers in the face. Yes, I get it, I know this is a narrative tool and it is nothing new under the sun. But come on, what happened to the good old surprise ending? Having a narrator who likes to tell you or foreshadow everything way in advance, is not exactly my cup of tea, and I think if Zusak stayed away from this, The Book Thief’s ending would have had an even greater impact on its readers.  Having said that, I did enjoy the book immensely and I read it quite fast as I found it pretty addicting. Lovely read, will recommend. 

Have you read The Book Thief yourself? Hope you enjoyed my review, I tried to change it up a bit so it is different from every other review on the book, by focusing on a few key points. Let me know what you think!

*You did not expect this quote, did you?

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Rodin: Book Review

When I visited Musée Rodin on a warm spring day last year, I instantly fell in love. I knew that would be the kind of place I would like, but I did not know it was going to turn into one of my favourite museums in Paris (and as we know, there is quite a big competition in this artful city). Truth is, Hôtel Biron is simply stunning, surrounded by gorgeous gardens perfect for strolls in the sun while admiring one man’s undisputable genius.

Although it is undisputable today, Rodin’s genius was not always recognised – on the contrary, some of his work, including his Monument to Victor Hugo raised quite a lot of eyebrows and proved to be among the more controversial sculptures of the time. Indeed, there is a lot more to his work than the eternal embrace in The Kiss.

“Instinct and personal genius were what conducted to the originality which placed his work above and outside its time.”

Author: Bernard Champigneulle

Genre: Art, Non-fiction, Biography

Pages: 288

Originally published in: 1999

Bernard Champigneulle’s Rodin is a well-written and very informative book on the sculptor – it studies his life from early childhood to his final days, reflecting on his relationships with women, family, friends, and other influential figures of the time. From who commissioned some of his most famous works to who hated them and criticized them, this is a great read for anyone who wants to learn more about Rodin.

Make no mistake, Champigneulle’s book is not a novel, or a dramatized retelling of a famous person’s story. This is non-fiction, part of the World of Art series of illustrated books on art and therefore it provides quite a lot of detail into the sculptor’s life – both in the atelier and outside of it, as everything played some part in his working process (isn’t that true for all creators?). However, this does not mean that Rodin is a dry textbook that cannot be enjoyed by anyone who is not after an art degree. It is a great book as long as you are someone interested in sculpture, art in general, influential figures of the 19^th-20^th century, artists who used to work in Paris, European artists, and so on, you get the idea.

The book is set out in chronological order so it follows Rodin’s rising without making needless time jumps and getting ahead of itself and of its readers – something that is quite helpful for a first time reader of anything on Rodin. Furthermore, this is the time to point out that Champigneulle’s book makes for a perfect first read on the sculptor – it provides enough insight into his life to be enough on its own, but it also manages to put a good start to the conversation: it gets the subject out there and invites you to read more into it, to further your knowledge. The book covers some intriguing episodes of Rodin's public life that are full of drama and competition, but it is his love life that probably intrigues most people - indeed, there is time for the great love of his life in this one, too.

As Bernard Champigneulle was the vice president of the Association de Critiques d’Art, it feels like he is just the right person to start you on a journey in art history. He does comment quite a lot on the subjects he discusses and is not afraid to express his opinion on various characters who made an appearance in Rodin’s life – this might feel out of place in other art books, but not in this one as his opinions are not forced but rather feel like gentle remarks and suggestions.

Anyway, apart from the author’s comments, descriptions and retellings, the book is also full of illustrations and pictures of Rodin’s work as well as some of his correspondence – I have always found a biography is not full without a peek into the subject’s letters. After all, how can you get a proper idea of that person otherwise? Isn’t it in their letters where we often find something about them? In the way they refer to others, in the way they talk about what they love, in Rodin’s case – in the way they talk about their creations?

“It needs to be said, and said loudly. This work, which people have laughed at and tried to make fun of because they cannot destroy it, is the end product of my entire life and the very hub of my aesthetic. I was a changed man from the day I first conceived it. I developed along radical lines, forging links between the great traditions of the past and my own time – links which grow stronger with every passing day.”

…As we walked out of Musée Rodin and into its gift shop, I was still haunted by Rodin’s world – its gentle simplicity found in a lovers’ kiss and its quiet genius lingering in every small detail of each and every bust. Oh joy, there is at least one book that has an English Edition sticker on it! I am still working on my French, until then I walk away with this translated copy of Rodin, into the freshly washed by the rain streets of Paris, and with a heart full of happiness that I am bringing a part of this eternal peace with me.

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Twisted: Book Review

Author: Lola Smirnova

Genre: Fiction, dark, drama.

Pages: 314

Originally published in: 2014

A dramatic, dark story about sex work in Europe, Twisted had all the potential to be one of those depressing books that show some of the ugliest aspects of life, following truly disturbing events. Yet, it fails in this mission. Unlike other similar novels inspired by true events that can make your whole day miserable, Lola Smirnova’s Twisted is written with an effortless sense of humour, making the whole reading process an easy ride.

The story is centred on three young Ukrainian sisters – Natalia, Lena and Julia. Each of them completely different from the other two, what they all have in common is lack of opportunities within post-Soviet Ukraine. Dreaming of a better life and a job that can bring them quick money, the sisters set off to Western Europe, where they join the growing sex industry of Luxembourg.

The narrator here is the youngest sister – Julia – and she tells the whole story of how they decided to join the sex trade and what that life brought to them, from her perspective. Needless to say, Julia is not the most reliable of narrators, as she is just a naïve, teenage girl, quick to jump to conclusions. Her likeability is also questionable. I have to say I found it really hard to like her since most of her decisions were rather poor and her character pretty tough to connect with. Some might put this down to her young age, but this is certainly not an excuse of the way she treats other people, even her sisters. Anyway, I am not someone who needs to like the protagonist in order to enjoy the book, so this did not bother me at all.

Now, for the sex work and all the details. Twisted is very (very!) graphic – so, be warned! Smirnova definitely does not shy away from sharing with the reader sexually explicit images, and some of those images are going to be hard to wipe out, believe me! The way she describes the many sex scenes is very natural, making the scenes so alive that you can easily see them in front of you, even if you have never been in a similar position yourself (pun unintended). The descriptions come to live, the characters (the many clients that the girls see) – even more so. You might even get a little scared of visiting Luxembourg in case you run into one of those shady men (but then again, don’t forget that this is a beautiful, little European country!).

However, the strongest point to this novel is its humour. As Julia takes us on this ride, she speaks of all the things that happen to her (some of them truly atrocious) with such an easy-going tone and even self-irony, that she makes you feel as if she is telling you the whole story over a cup of coffee. The humour is what makes the book believable. After all, even in the darkest of times, the human mind manages to find some light. Maybe not immediately, but in time – definitely, by the time he or she, is ready to tell their story.

Finally, Twisted is a very interesting, fast paced book. Personally, I do not think it took me more than a couple of days to finish it – the story is too gripping to be put down. I wanted to keep reading and reading, and see what is going to happen to the girls; where is this life going to take them. Thanks to the easy language and the lightness of the prose, this was an easy task. As long as you know what you are getting into, and you do not mind some quite explicit content, you are probably going to enjoy it. And better make your mind up fast for Smirnova is preparing to turn this one into the first title of a trilogy!

I was kindly sent this book by Kelsey from Book Publicity Services & all opinions are mine. For more information on Twisted go here.

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Noise: Book Review

Author: Brett Garcia Rose

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 197

Originally published in: 2014

“The world is an ugly place, and I can tell you now, I fit in just fine.”

Lily is the only person Leon has ever loved. The perfect big sister, she has always been nice to him ever since he first set foot in America, and in her home. Ten years after she disappeared, only leaving behind her a suicide note, Leon receives a postcard in her hand-writing. A postcard that takes him into cold, noisy New York, looking for his long-lost sister, hoping she is still alive.

However, what Leon finds there is so unsettling that it can turn even the nicest person into a cold-blooded murderer. Leon is not that nice anyway. He is also pretty experienced with fighting as he had to defend himself on the streets of Nigeria since a very early age. One more thing: this vengeful, frightening man, is also deaf.

Firstly, the story is pretty dark and some very heavy themes are concerned. So, if you cannot stomach subjects such as rape, human trafficking, and cold-blooded murders – this is not the book for you. For the rest, however, this is a pretty exciting, fast-paced thriller that tells a story of loss and vengeance.

A great thing about the book is that it reads like an action movie, told by the main character. Leon describes all his moves, thoughts and feelings in real-time as they happen – as action unravels before his eyes, it unravels for the reader as well. So, the New York we see is a cold, heartless, ruthless one, filled with empty souls and desperation, it is “desolate, grey and quite” and its people “nudged around like house pets.” Not only is this not the glamourous city-that-never-sleeps we are used to hearing about, but it is also the symbol of everything that is wrong with Western society:

“Humanity in constant battle, all its inhabitants rushing toward some invisible exit, never tiring of the trap. Cities are hell, and New York is the Grand Dame of them all.”

To Leon, who grew up on the street of Nigeria, urban life has nothing particularly tempting to offer him – on the contrary, a place full of people, it proposes him only coldness, distance and inhumanity instead of warmth and closeness: “everyone hurrying somewhere, merging with one another on the cold wet streets. Merging, and dismissing, as only urbanites can.”

Although this might not be a terribly new concept, there is something else about it – the fact that Leon is deaf. So, what Brett Garcia Rose does is selecting the familiar concept of the big city as an emotionless, empty place, and taking it to the next level by adding a deficit to his character – the type of deficit that puts a whole new filter on the city. This is why to Leon, and subsequently to the reader, New York is quite. Leon tries to feel the noise, the noise that he can very much see, but as much as he tries that is something he could never do: “New York City, dead of winter, everyone feeling punished by lives of their own making. I try to see the noise.” Making Leon, this full of rage young man, deaf is a brilliant decision in this context – he is not disabled in the true sense of the word as he is strong, fast, skilful, and knows not only how to defend himself, but above all how to attack. The brilliance is not in this. It is in the great juxtaposition that derives from this fact – a deaf man on a killing spree in one of the noisiest places on the planet. The uproar of the city is completely muted, and instead there is silence through which you can see New York for what it is. With the cloth of silence spreading above it, it is nothing more than a graveyard of empty souls.

As I said, the novel reads like an action thriller. That is, it has a bit of a “film script” feeling to it – Leon describes everything he does in a pretty straight-forward manner making it extremely easy not only to imagine, but to actually see the whole scene. To make myself even clearer, here is an example: “Just as he’s entering the outer door to the building, I plow into his midsection and push him face-first against a concrete wall, hard enough to daze him. I yank his arm behind him and pull until he stops struggling.”

To sum up, Noise makes for a very enjoyable read even though it touches on quite dark matters. But if you do not mind getting your hands a bit dirty, you should not have a problem with the explicit content. Very fast paced, never dragging for too long, yet offering a good character development, this is a thriller that is going to keep you interested. As for the rest of its plot, you will have to read the book to find out as I do not want to spoil anything else. 

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The Miniaturist: Review

Author: Jessie Burton

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Adult Fiction

Pages: 424

Originally published in: 2014

“True love was a flower in the gut, its petals unfurling inside out. You would risk all for love – blissful, never without its drops of dismay.”

It is mid-October, 1686, when eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin her new life as the wife of wealthy merchant Johannes Brandt. However, instead of an exciting fresh start next to a loving husband, she is presented with a big, dark house in the middle of the city – her husband absent, and his sister acting as the already established lady of the house. As she gets as a wedding gift from Johannes a cabinet-sized replica of their home, Nella begins feeling more and more as a child and less as the woman, she was ready to become. Her only hope for a change in her lonely days is to focus on decorating her new cabinet. So, she gets in touch with a mysterious miniaturist, paying him to make her just a few tiny figures. However, soon Nella realises she is going to get a lot more than she originally bargained for, and as the miniatures keep coming, so do the surprises from her new family.

The Miniaturist is a brilliant debut novel from Jessie Burton and sets the standards really high for her upcoming work. Beautifully written and with an exquisite attention to detail, this is a book that has the power to haunt you until you get to its end. The characters are very well-written and excellently developed throughout the novel, and as the narrative unravels, so do the character’s deep secrets.

As far as historical fictions go, this is one of the better ones. With the ease of an experienced novelist, Burton takes you from your modern daily life and quickly shoves you in the middle of 17^th century Amsterdam. Her descriptions are so detailed, yet effortless, that you can easily keep up with the story without feeling the burden of an old-fashioned or confusing language. She sets the mood from the start, each description utterly understandable, making you feel as if this old Amsterdam is part of your world, and you can almost smell the freshly baked olie-koecken, almost feel the chilliness of the cold Dutch wind.

What sets apart The Miniaturist from other books of the genre, are the rich comparisons that definitely have the potential to turn into a trademark of Burton’s style in the future. Here are just a few examples: “A few drops fall from the spout, spreading in the cloth like Virgin Islands on a map.” “The waters are gold and crisped to perfection and the rosewater mingles with the warming ginger.” “The sky is a deep river of indigo, the stars pricked like lights in its flowing stream.”

There is some very traditional feeling to the whole novel that derives from the approach taken with the writing. Truth is, a lot of traditional symbolism can be found in The Miniaturist. For instance, the long-established opposition of darkness and light in classical literature has found its rightful place on the pages of this novel, too. When Nella and Cornelia go to the maid’s old orphanage, its building is in a narrow, dark alley, away from the busy, lively street immediately setting the tone of her sad, lonely childhood. This is then, put in an opposition to the liveliness and noisiness of the streets of Amsterdam, where “light” represents happiness and easy life: “the noise of the shoppers in the Kalverstraat is now muffed by the tight walls of the passage,” “but the maid is already walking back up the passage, towards life and light and noise.”

Further in the book, when Nella is disappointed by Johannes’ lack of interest in her and his coldness, she longs for the light outside: “Night has fallen fully. She looks at the lights of the smaller boats, and feels completely alone.” Here, the fall of the night, and with that of darkness, coincides with the “night” in Nella’s own marriage. She is in one of the bigger, more luxurious boats. However, the small light from those smaller boats speak of liveliness, of warmth, and of love. None of which is present where Nella is, resulting in a complete sense of loneliness.

An important theme to historical fiction based at the same time period is usually sexual repression. Indeed, in The Miniaturist this is an issue that has an impact on all its characters. From the very beginning of the book there is some unmistakable, though indescribable as well, sexual tension. Ultimately, unfulfilled desires reign over all characters. Even though that might not be the main focus to the book, it is there through the whole novel, behind every little accidental noise, or escaped gaze. In the end, it is definitely what has its effects on the whole story.

“Madame says love is best a phantom than reality, better in the chase than caught.”

The Miniaturist is about all the difficulties that come with life in a country as religious as the Netherlands in the 17^th century. About the lives of the rich merchants, about selling sugar, and about the mysterious miniatures that suspiciously resemble real people with the greatest of details. However, apart from being a brilliant mystery, The Miniaturist is also about love. Nella comes to Amsterdam ready to love her husband and be loved in return. She often questions herself about the meaning of being a woman, and how much of it is connected to being loved or inlove.  With the progress of the story, it turns out she was not the only character longing for love, but she is the safest one. For the rest of them are quite ready to go great distances for love.

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Hercule Poirot: From Start to Finish

As an avid reader of Agatha Christie, I just had to pick up one of her most famous novels The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Then later on, my boyfriend got me Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case – a book I have deliberately skipped as I wanted to postpone reading *his* last book for as long as I could. However, sooner or later I had to face it, and I preferred to know how it all ends, anyway.

I thought it would be best to write a post dedicated to both of those books as they make up a whole circle, starting with Christie’s first novel starring the little Belgian detective, and going all the way to his last case.

“Everything must be taken into account. If the fact will not fit the theory---let the theory go.”

The Mysterious Affair at Styles is a masterpiece – great writing combined with a superb twist, this is Agatha still at her beginning. In her very first novel, Agatha Christie introduces some of her most infamous characters: Hercule Poirot, Hastings and Inspector Japp. A dynamic trio that will go on to solve a lot more mysteries together (Poirot will do most of the solving of course, and Hastings will do most of the confusion). Here, Agatha Christie also presents another element that often occurs in her stories – strychnine poisoning.

 As for the Affair at Styles in particular, the mystery is around Emily Inglethorp’s murder. Everyone’s main suspect is her younger husband, Alfred, but of course her household is full of people, so naturally deep down everyone could be suspicious of everyone. There are her two stepsons, John and Lawrence Cavendish, John’s wife Mary, young Cynthia Murdoch, and Emily’s companion Evelyn Howard. At the time of the murder, Hastings also stays in the Styles manor as a guest to his old friend John, while Hercule Poirot enters the scene as Belgian refugee (the book is set during World War I).

The story grabs you from the very first page as usually with a Christie novel – the clues keep coming and Hastings keeps getting excited after each one of them. Of course, Poirot is always a step ahead everyone else. Keep reading, the murderer might surprise you.

“Everyone is a potential murderer-in everyone there arises from time to time the wish to kill-though not the will to kill.”

In my opinion, Curtain is even better. By this time, Christie is already a very well-known author, her writing is more confident and her style has turned into an epitome of her name. A signature murder mystery, this one raises a lot of questions about the mind of a murderer, grips the reader, and makes him question everything he has read so far. Every chapter brings new possibilities, for every person, indeed, could be a murderer.  

In his last ever case, Hercule Poirot is back at Styles. So is Hastings. And to both of them the house is full of memories – not just memories of a murder, but memories of their younger years and with that of their younger selves. If there is one strong feeling about this book it is that of nostalgia, and nothing strikes the reader quite as hard as Hastings’ very last description of his old friend that starts like this: “Nothing is so sad, in my opinion, as the devastation wrought by age. My poor friend. I have described him many times. Now to convey to you the difference….”

The guests staying at Styles are, yet again, quite a versatile bunch. This time round we have Norton, Mr Allerton, Miss Cole, Doctor Franklin and his wife Barbara, Nurse Craven, Colonel Luttrell and his wife Daisy, Boyd-Carrington, and to top it off even Hasting’s daughter, Judith. But what brought us to Styles one more time? Poirot called on Hastings as he believes that one of the people staying in the house is an experienced, five-time murderer. What we do not know is which one, and as the murders start, the question needs to get its answer fast.

As I previously said, Curtain gets pretty nostalgic as Hastings reminiscences his live, his times with Poirot, and their old cases. Soon the nostalgia and melancholy grow into a generally sad feeling. Poirot’s last case is among the saddest Agatha Christie books – especially if you have grown to be quite attached to her Belgian detective. Quite honestly, Curtain is simply heart breaking…

I do recommend reading both of those books but make sure you read Curtain after you have read quite some number of Poirot’s other cases as it is better to have some general idea of his character and his previous work. After all, you have to meet Hercule first before you ever get the chance to say goodbye to him. 

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The Husband's Secret: Review

Author: Liane Moriarty

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit

Originally Published in: 2013

Pages: 406

"People thought that tragedy made you wise, that it automatically elevated you to a higher, spiritual level, but it seemed to Rachel that just the opposite was true. Tragedy made you petty and spiteful. it didn't give you any great knowledge or insight. She didn't understand a damned thing about life except that it was arbitrary and cruel, and some people got away with murder, while others made one tiny careless mistake and paid a terrible price."

Based in Australia, The Husband’s Secret tells the story of three quite different women, whose fates are bound to meet due to one significant event.

Cecilia might be seen as the typical housewife – mother of three, heavily involved in the school’s committee, busy taking care of the whole household, popular among the whole community. One night, however, she finds an old envelope in her husband’s writing, which reads “to be open only in the event of my death.” Of course the problem is her husband is still very much alive. So, Cecilia begins to wonder what could be in that letter and should she open it anyway?

Tess is happily married to Will, has a cute little boy, and her own company with her husband, and cousin Felicity. That is, until one night Will and Felicity admit that they are in love with each other. Ouch.

Rachel is the oldest out of the three and the least happy one. She has lost her daughter when she was brutally killed at the tender age of 17, she has lost her husband a few years later, and now her only happiness in life comes from her little grandson Jacob...Until one night her son and his wife, present her with the news that they are all moving to New York.

Yes, all these women’s lives completely change due to events that happen on the same night, but what is going to bring them together eventually is the husband’s secret. John-Paul’s secret is so great it has the power to impact a lot of people’s lives. So, when Cecilia opens the letter she has to make the greatest decision of her life – to stick to her principles, or to save her family.

The plot of the book is quite intriguing. However, “the husband’s secret” is not that hard to guess once you are a few pages in the book. So, the novel turns out to be quite predictable although there are a few surprises here and there.

A book and a dessert for breakfast!

What the book lacks, however, is a great literary style. Moriarty is not a bad writer but there is definitely space to improve. There is some repetitiveness and the style as a whole needs some polishing. It is not great literature by any means, but for a chick lit – it is still one of the better ones as it is quite funny, yet sad and compelling. A common theme that goes through the whole novel is also the fall of the Berlin wall. It might sound a bit strange and as if it does not make any sense but it somehow works as often different people's lives can be marked by the grand event of the days. Even if they do not realise it at the time.

I have to admit it is quite catchy and despite its flaws, I could not put it down and read it pretty fast. So, although it is predictable, the story manages to also be quite engaging, mostly due to its characters. A lot of readers might not find them exactly likeable but this does not prevent a book from being enjoyable. Personally, I thought they all had their good sides and eventually found myself caring for them. Plus, the book reflects on some quite dark matters such as loss and murder – the way its characters deal with them is the novel’s biggest strength, and where its humanity lays. The choices some of this characters make can be sometimes questionable and yet they feel very much real and believable. Especially when dealing with any kind of loss, there is rarely a right or wrong way to deal with it, which makes some of these people's mistakes easier to comprehend, if not to excuse.

Ultimately, The Husband’s Secret is a good read as it offers some interesting ideas on life and marriage. Even though it lacks in some departments, it is still a book that you can easily enjoy in your leisure time.

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