Book 9 of 2019 - "BLUE BIRD ,BLUE BIRD " ,by Attica Locke.This is also my read for the #ReadingWomanChallenge for the the prompt #mystery or #thrillerBook 9 of 2019 - "BLUE BIRD ,BLUE BIRD " ,by Attica Locke.This is also my read for the #ReadingWomanChallenge for the the prompt #mystery or #thriller by a #woc. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 I completed this yesterday night and I am speechless and at a loss of words on how to describe this wonderful crime novel.Or is it indeed a crime novel!!! The plot is straightforward -A coloured man's body is discovered in a bayou behind Geneva Sweet' s cafe in Lark,Texas .This is followed by the discovery of a white woman's body two days later .Texas Ranger Darren Mathews(who happens to be our hero) , begins to investigate the case and the rest of the plot is how he discovers the perpetrator . 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Attica Locke's writing is visceral and transports the reader to the American South ,specifically Texas.The murder mystery serves as a platform for a story that discusses so many things -Racism,prejudice and Family .The fact is that ,the heart of this book is about race and the equation between the coloured people and the Whites of the American south.An uncomfortable equation that is tough to decipher and understand.The story tries to answer the question of what happens when boundaries are crossed , during a war and people instinctively move towards each other ignoring the rules set by certain sections of society.There are innumerable questions raised in this book to which answers ,I guess will never be known.Don't read this if you are looking for a racy thriller or murder mystery .This book is in essence, a silent contemplation of racism ,its connection to how criminal justice is served in America and also a tribute to the spirit of the coloured people of Texas. A boldly written novel and I loved it . 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Do have a glass of cold lemonade and listen to any country blues album by #lighteninghopkins when you read this .You will understand what mean 😊...more
Book 7 of 2019- “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie ”,by Dame Muriel Spark .This will also be my read for the #ReadingWomanChallenge under prompt 9 #novellBook 7 of 2019- “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie ”,by Dame Muriel Spark .This will also be my read for the #ReadingWomanChallenge under prompt 9 #novella . First,I should tell you all ,that I regret having discovered Muriel Spark so late in my reading life.Second,I will not insult this book by saying this is a review .I would rather call this post ,a glorification of Muriel Spark😁 This novella packs such a powerful punch in just a few pages .We have a commentary on so many issues - politics at every level (especially the petty politics played between women),religion,fascism,education,the effects of idolising a teacher , groupism and the Scottish psychology .This is also a funny and tragic story of betrayal and the coming of age of a group of girls who are as diverse in character ,intellect and psyche as the views ,opinions and moods of the teacher they idolise ,the magnificent and ridiculous Miss.Brodie. Muriel Spark is that rare star in the universe - a writer with a remarkable intellect ,an excellent sense of prose and grammar and blessed with wicked humour which reflects in her writing.This book was witty and deliciously funny and I was smiling all the time I was reading it.Every sentence has a purpose .I also love the way she writes about sex and there is a lot of talk about sex in the book.Again ,only talk😁.The imaginary letter between Jean Brodie and her lover that the girls Sandy and Jenny orchestrate had me in splits and I will never forget it in my life time.😂.A good book to include for #femmemarch and yes,Dame Muriel Spark is now one of my #favfemalewriters ....more
"The Toss ofa Lemon " by Padma Vishwanathan . This was a gift by one of my favorites here,@inkless.sne .The book is a multigenerational story of a Tam"The Toss ofa Lemon " by Padma Vishwanathan . This was a gift by one of my favorites here,@inkless.sne .The book is a multigenerational story of a TamilBrahmin family from 1896 to 1956 that revolves around the family matriarch Sivakami who is widowed at the tender age of 18 and her children,grandchildren and great grand children .I could relate to this story so much being a TamBrahm myself and the bonus was that there was a character named Jaanaki in the book just like me .The book was even more special because @inkless.sne had attempted to draw a family tree on a piece of white paper which slipped out of the thick tome when I was reading it and suddenly I could see this story through her eyes.Naturally,I kept referring to that piece of paper throughout my read - The legacy from one reader to another 😊 This book will also be my entry for the #ReadingWomanChallenge under prompt 6 #multigenerationalfamily . In essence ,reading this book was like watching a family soap opera .The writer has captured the vibrance,peace and contentment , a life in a quiet village bestows on its inhabitants .Some relationships stand out -Sivakami and Vairam, Jaanaki and Bharathi,Jaanaki and Kamalam and of course Sivakami and Muchami.The conflicts between members of the same community when new traditions replace old and the confusion the the younger generation go through in choosing sides has been penned beautifully, together with the insecurity and pain the older generation go through .There is a lot of history between the pages and one gets a chance to see the Madras of those days .My only contention with the writer was the way she described Rukmani Arundale ,founder of Kalakshetra as flirting with Vairum.I personally feel as women we do not have the right to label fellow women in a way that chooses our fancy or a story plot .Another fact was that the climax was very incomplete and underwhelming .Maybe,I loved the characters so much that I wanted to know what happened to all of them 😊😊😊😊😊 In the end,however,I realised that I will never forget Sivakami ,just like Clara or Ursula❤️❤️...more
("We women are a sad lot, aren't we?" "What do you mean?" "Strong enough to take on the world with our bare hands, yet we permit ridiculous boys to make("We women are a sad lot, aren't we?" "What do you mean?" "Strong enough to take on the world with our bare hands, yet we permit ridiculous boys to make fools of us." "I am not a fool." "No, you're not. Not yet.") 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 A marvellous finish to a wonderful series ❤️❤️❤️❤️.I loved this duology so much that I am planning to buy the hardcovers for my library😻.In addition,I liked Renee's writing so much that I am planning to read her other fantasy duology, "Flame in the Mist ",too. She has done justice to all her secondary characters ,especially vivacious and saucy Despina😆.Her writing is beautiful and the world building exquisite . A wicked book that has to be destroyed ,magicians ,flying serpents and carpets😁😁,twists ,turns ,a solid love story and unforgettable characters .A series that has to be savored .Don't miss this if you are a fantasy lover and if you love "The Arabian Nights "...more
I have always been fascinated with the One thousand and One nights (Arabian Tales) and I just must have read it so many times during my teenage and chI have always been fascinated with the One thousand and One nights (Arabian Tales) and I just must have read it so many times during my teenage and childhood years .It is no surprise that I wanted to read Renee Ahdieh's duology and it has been on my list for a loooong time 🙄 .I am going to complete the first book "The Wrath and the Dawn" and I like it.The writing is lovely ,the word building is slow but well imagined and exquisite .I will not say much until I finish the second book in the series .The ending is a cliff hanger and she has me hooked enough to immediately read the second book😁😁😁...more
This book was my second disappointment this year.I picked it up because the synopsis had all the Latin American mythical elements which I generally loThis book was my second disappointment this year.I picked it up because the synopsis had all the Latin American mythical elements which I generally love and it suggested a supernatural mystery too. However,after a few chapters ,I just felt that the narration was long winded and repetitive. So ,I moved on😁😁😁 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 I also realised that I have a lot of good books on Kindle which I have ignored ,because I am more of a hard copy person. I love holding books in my hand than E- books.Still,this being the month ,Kindle was released ten years ago ,I have decided to read only E- books this whole month as a tribute .After all,Kindle does have it's plus points. E -books are way cheaper ,easier to carry and you can store as many books as you want👍😄....more
Easterine Kire was first recommended to me by when I asked a friend about books on north east literature.I looked her up and realised that she has a vEasterine Kire was first recommended to me by when I asked a friend about books on north east literature.I looked her up and realised that she has a very impressive biography and all her books are about the reality and experience of living in Nagaland.She has won "The Hindu Literary Prize ",twice and also the Governors medal for excellence in Naga literature in 2011.Even more impressive ,was the fact that her books have been translated into German,Croatian ,Uzbek and Nepali . *********** The story is about Visenuo and her daughter Atuonuo who live a harsh but peaceful life in the ancient village of Khija.The peace is shattered when Atuonuo falls in love with handsome Kevin without realising the truth of his identity .As the story unfolds ,mother and daughter attempt to save each other in order to get back what is lost. ************* This is essentially a tale of what can go wrong if a girl falls foolishly in love with the wrong person especially a beast disguised as a handsome man, because one has to admit there are many such men roaming around .Men, who are all cuddly and sweet at one moment and ready to unleash their anger the next because of rejection,insecurity and unnatural possessiveness. Easterine Kire's writing is lyrical and flows like the gentle waters of a stream with bubbles here and there.The description of the harvest season and the village community with gentle but overbearing elders was wonderful and one realises how difficult life really is for the farmers in the Highlands.In addition, Kire has blended a lot of old age wisdom in the story,making it a delightful read....more
"The Beast Player", by Nahoko Uehashi is a fantasy tale ,translated from the Japanese version with a very different kind of world building and storyli"The Beast Player", by Nahoko Uehashi is a fantasy tale ,translated from the Japanese version with a very different kind of world building and storyline also.The original was titled "Kimona No Soja " and published as four volumes from 2006 to 2009.The series was so popular that it has been adapted into a Manga version and also an anime series on Japanese Television Nahoko Uehashi ,is in fact a famous teen fiction writer in Japan and is also famous for the "Moriboto " series of books. This is a world where huge serpents called the Toda are trained for battle by the Aluhan who use them to defend the borders of the country ruled by the Yojeh (divine Goddess).The Yojeh are in turn protected by the huge magnificent ,golden royal beasts who can fly in the sky and whose natural prey are the Toda.It is a world where humans fight their wars using these fierce animals without realizing the harm caused to the animals.Erin,the heroine is orphaned at a very young age and she has a heart filled with compassion for these animals .She is the only one who can communicate with the beasts and this gift makes her get caught in the murky waters of state politics. This is a very beautiful book with writing that just flows like a smooth stream,peaceful and calm.The natural descriptions were really wonderful including two or three chapters on bees.I loved the heroine Erin who is exceptionally quiet and looks at the world with different eyes.She is innately curious and wants to know everything about the animals she comes across.There is a lot of discussion about using creatures who are meant to be in the wild for their own selfish reasons. The only thing I did not like was the abrupt ending.It was as though the story was left hanging Midway . Recommended for all fantasy lovers who are looking for something different🤩...more
This book is precious.This is a story of a little girl who grows up in poverty in postwar Finland.She lives with two brothers who are already hardenedThis book is precious.This is a story of a little girl who grows up in poverty in postwar Finland.She lives with two brothers who are already hardened smokers at ages six and seven,a father who is suffering from PTSD after returning from a lost war with a shrapnel in his leg, a mother who has been silenced by a bitter marriage to an uncompromising man and a grandmother who hates her only son .The second half chronicles the family's migration to Sweden ,a country which has never seen war in a hundred years and how will they ever understand the Finns? Arja Kajermo is a cartoonist of Finnish origin who lives in Ireland and this is her debut novel.The writing is deceptively simple and yet packs powerful emotions in simple sentences .Sample this : "'Father was always telling mother to shut up. He had married her for her good looks and plucky attitude. Then he set to trying his damnedest to destroy both the looks and the attitude". The book talks about the trauma of being poor,of feeling alien in another country and the humiliations faced in trying to fit in,the power of language and the trauma of living with a damaged father.The girl becomes invincible towards the end and drowns in her world of imagination which offers her a shelter from the real world .Her mother tries to offer excuses for her husband's behavior: "It’s the war” [her mother] said father’s nerves are shot. It was from all the bad things he had seen and been through". This is a very powerful story told with reference to Finnish fables and myths ,beautifully illustrated💗 (every image in the cover is significant to the story)and narrated in the simple and innocent voice of a young girl. Thanks to @tramppress,independent publishers for bringing out a gem like this....more
Writing and story telling are two different talents and although many authors write,very few are master storytellers.A master story teller will fill tWriting and story telling are two different talents and although many authors write,very few are master storytellers.A master story teller will fill the stage with his presence and will keep his audience hooked from beginning to the end ,so much so that, they will not have the slightest inclination to leave their seats until they reach the end of the tale and get to know what happens to the various characters in the story.Gabo proves he is the "Master " ,with this small but brilliantly written novella of 122 pages, filled with out -of -this-world characters,that indeed outlines in a journalistic fashion , the various events that take place on the unfortunate day when Santiago Nassar dies at the hands of the Vicario brothers.The storyteller returns to the town after twenty seven years and tries to piece together what really happened on that fateful day. Angela Vicario gets married to an outsider Bayardo San Ramon ,who finds out that she is not a virgin on the wedding night and sends her back to her mother's house.On questioning ,she names Santiago Nassar as the culprit and her twin brothers seek revenge.The irony of the tale is that by morning everyone in the town ,except Santiago know that the brothers are waiting to kill him and still no one warns him for different reasons known only to each one of them .By the end of the story we are aware of the fact that Santiago is not the real culprit and is actually a scapegoat and the greatest mystery of the novel is "who did Angela really lose her virginity to?"Typical Gabo and brilliant story telling 😊...more
This book is the second exceptional book that I enjoyed reading this year.Most of Srilankan fiction talks about the atrocities of the civil war and I This book is the second exceptional book that I enjoyed reading this year.Most of Srilankan fiction talks about the atrocities of the civil war and I wanted to read something different that would also lay bare the soul and spirit of the island nation . ******************* Snehan Karunatilaka actually does that by giving us a telescopic view of Srilanka through the eyes of cricket fanatic,aged and retired sports journalist and dying alcoholic Mr.W.G Karunasena ,lovingly called Gamini by his wife Sheila and best friend Ari Byrd.Once ,he realises he has only a few days on planet Earth ,he decides to spend his remaining days writing a book on elusive cricketeer Pradeep Matthews ,who he feels is the best spinner the world has ever produced ,an unsung hero whose records have been vengefully erased and who has disappeared from public life since 1995 .His search for Matthews is the backbone for the entire story and it is ironic because in the process Gamini tries to search for his heart and spirit which he lost to alcohol many years ago.I love the fact that the author effortlessly has interweaved a friendship between two old men that has lasted over decades ,a rivalry between two old men,a marriage that still has a lot of love in it inspite of a lot of wear and tear over the years in the form of dead hopes and unfulfilled expectations and Srilankan cricket history into the story.We also have a midget,cricketing syndicates,caste differences, bombings ,cricketing anecdotes and the LTTE all thrown into the story.He cleverly shows the reader the quirks and behavior of Srilankan society at various levels. The writing is philosophical,humorous and cheeky in many places and we realise halfway through that the writer loves his cricket and his country.One can sense the writer's sadness when Gamini says that whatever the difference between the Tamilians and Sinhalese ,it is not so big that they have to shoot bullets at each other or burn down libraries or his disappointment when another character Johnny says that this is a beautiful country but you are going to destroy it. This book is a celebration of cricket and Srilanka as a nation .Don't miss it if you are a die hard cricket fan...more
I have been to the holy shrine of Chottanikara twice. Once, because I heard so much about the strange magic , tales of exorcism , extraordinarily inteI have been to the holy shrine of Chottanikara twice. Once, because I heard so much about the strange magic , tales of exorcism , extraordinarily interesting tales surrounding the place and the mysterious origin and and history of the temple. The second time was because I felt that I just had to go back again.So, I was excited to pick up this book by S.V.Sujatha.Fantastic first attempt by this writer.Loved it and completed it on one sitting.We should encourage more Indian writers to write a story like this which is closely based on native myths and beliefs. However, this will strictly work only for those who are already familiar with the legends associated with the Chottanikara temple and who also love listening to grandmother's late night tales. I hope this author writes more stories in the future ....more
I wanted to do the Book Riots Read Harder Challenge this year and the first prompt was any book published posthumously . I chose 2666 because I read tI wanted to do the Book Riots Read Harder Challenge this year and the first prompt was any book published posthumously . I chose 2666 because I read the reviews and I wanted to do a challenging and different read this year. I started this on Feb 6 th this year and well, this book just transported me into a totally whole new world.A few pages into the book and I realized it required my total attention. This is not a book , a reader can easily forget , or read casually together with other pieces of fiction.The narration demands the total attention of the reader from beginning to end and it is definitely , not everyone's cup of tea.I completed it today morning and I wanted to get the review done today itself just so that I can move on to other things and get back to my reading schedule.
The book by itself is a daunting 898 pages and is divided into 5 sections . Part 1 tells the story of four academicians who are experts in a the work of Benno Von Archimboldi , a reclusive and elusive writer of German fiction .It talks about their inter relationships and their fruitless search for Archimboldi which ends in the city of Santa Teresa.Part 2 talks about the ravings of a Chilean Professor , Oscar Amalfitano who works in the Santa Teresa University and the progressive way in which he is slowly losing his mind .Part 3 is a the story of colored reporter Oscar Fate's unexpected tryst to the city of Santa Teresa and his experiences there.Part 4 is a description of the horrific murders of women in Santa Teresa and a summary of the investigations that take place and an introduction to many faces in the Judicial ,Political and Police force of Santa Teresa.This is essentially the core or vortex of this novel and everything else (all the characters, situations ,stories, sub stories in this tome of a book ) revolve around this vortex or ultimately end up here.Part 5 is the history and life of Archimboldi who we really get to know finally and who is also on his way to Santa Teresa at the end.All the parts are interconnected by different characters and who randomly appear and disappear but still provide a continuum and also by common experiences or situations that the characters experiences . First of all , I feel it is really unfair if I review this book.This novel is a literary experience, adventure and a journey. Bolano has put his heart and all his life experiences into this novel and I can imagine him writing feverishly page after page and pouring his soul into his words and characters.The novel is a mirage of the 21st century and all the horrors and pleasures it contains.But, mostly horrors.He has written way ahead of his time and there is no magic realism, fantasy or even hope in these pages .The prose is also not fancy or lyrical with beautiful words.Reading Bolano is like watching a documentary film on the horrors of war, the politics of politicians, people hurting each other for no reason, the massacre of Jews , corruption,the murder and rape of women, the sad fate of men and the ultimate power of destiny which according to his writing is harsh and cruel most of the time.The writing is melancholic , sentimental in tiny parts but mostly it hits the nail straight to the heart.We also realise that Bolano is also a prolific reader and after finishing the first few 100 pages , we realise that this guy must have read nearly every book under the sun and he knows his vocabulary to the T. Can you imagine there are two pages simply devoted to the different kind of phobias in the world and this is included in a discussion between a police man and a director of a mental asylum and the best part is that the reader does not get bored at all with the discussion.Something makes the reader continue till the end to find out where it all goes.There is so much of philosophy hidden and I guess this is his ode to all the greatest writers before him , who are never taken seriously until after their death. There are multiple plots and subplots through out the novel and he connects them all seamlessly. Bolano is also a master in characterization. Barry Seaman, a character who come for just eight pages becomes memorable just because he delivers an unforgettable sermon in church about the important things required in life which ends with the advice that reading is never a waste of time.We have male chauvinistic police officers joking about women in a cafe and immediately he introduces us to Azucena Esquivel Plata , PRI congresswoman , one of the most kickass women I have recently read about in fiction and yet she stays with us only for a few pages before Bolano jumps on to other things.Another unforgettable part is the way Bolano narrates experiences.It is also not a surprise that Bolano was a vagabond or a traveler of the world because although the vortex is essentially Mexican , he traverses the whole of Europe in this book. I guess the best way to put it is beside Bolano ,Gabriel Garcia Marquez ,another master of Latin American fiction seems like a mischievous child creating childish tales of fantasy and magic realism. 2666 is a literary classic ,way ahead of its time.Read it if you have a strong stomach and you don't mind going on a time consuming apocalyptic literary adventure . As for me , my next Bolano will be "The Savage Detectives ", next year :) ...more
The story is set in Ipoh in Malaysia and it follows the domestic drama that unfolds in the family of Lawyer Rajasekharan who live in the Big House locThe story is set in Ipoh in Malaysia and it follows the domestic drama that unfolds in the family of Lawyer Rajasekharan who live in the Big House located on Kingfisher Lane.The lawyer lives with his wife Vasanthi,his mother, children -Uma,Suresh and Asha and a maid Chellam who is the same age as Uma.The story begins a week after Uma has left to the US and the family is in the process of kicking Chellam out of the house.And thus begins the narrative that goes backwards to tell the reader what happened within the four wall of the big house that leads to the Exodus of Chellam. Preeta's Samarasan prose is descriptive and beautiful. The narrative is intimate and after the first few pages , we are part and parcel of the Rajasekharan family. This is essentially a story about family and the mean little games the members play with one another because I think most of us know that poisonous feelings in a family generally don't disappear overnight .They may be camouflaged with flattery,unexpected good deeds and false words of kindness with an inner urgency not to spoil family functions.But these poisonous unspoken vibes sit quietly in a corner like a tiny snake feeding on every unkind word ,action ,and jealousy ,where it grows and grows into a huge serpent unable to lie quietly in the corner which strikes and brings down victims usually the innocent ones who don't know how the game is played . Preeta Samarasan has done justice to all the characters and you can feel Pati's shrewdness ,Vasanthi's helplessness and Uma's disappointment and anger .All embittered women as correctly declared by Asha.Oh, but Asha 's yearning for love and a mother replacement is the saddest because she actually suffers for no fault of hers and she has no route to escape like Uma.The way Preeta has discussed the Malaysian riots in 1969 and integrated it with the story is exceptional and she brings out the cultural disparities and differences in Malaysia ,a country that is a pot of different ethnicities blended together in striking fashion.Don't miss this if you love good writing ,a domestic drama and a story set in Malaysia....more
I began reading this with no judgement at all and just an open mind because even though I had heard a lot of praise and commendations for Rachel JoyceI began reading this with no judgement at all and just an open mind because even though I had heard a lot of praise and commendations for Rachel Joyce's style of writing , this was my first Rachel Joyce novel and I chose it because I found the title intriguing. Sixty five year old Harold Joyce , leads a tedious , monotonous life in a small English village with his wife Maureen who is overtly critical of his every action.Husband and wife live together yet separated in each of their own isolated spaces and memory fragments.All this changes when Harold receives a letter stating that one of his old friends Queenie Hennessy is suffering from cancer and is hospitalised in Berkwick- Upon -Tweed.Harold writes a short note and walks to the nearest post box to post the note and on the way something changes his mind and he decides he will walk all the way to Berkwick -Upon- Tweed which is 627 miles away to meet Queenie directly instead of posting the letter and thus begins the pilgrimage of Harold Fry. The plot is all about Harold's reminiscences , inner feelings, emotions during this pilgrimage and also how Harold faces his physical and monetary limitations with the help of strangers who help him , encourage him and who also idolize him along the way. I loved the way Rachel Joyce has blended emotions and faith in the novel and also how well she has demonstrated both the fragility and strength of humanity through Harold's character in the novel.In the beginning , a waitress tells Harold that , " If you have faith you can do anything", and I just stopped reading and had to wholeheartedly agree with her. We are already shown in the beginning that Harold's soul is fractured , and the reason for the fracture is slowly and steadily brought out while Harold walks and as partners in his journey , we end up walking along with him and rooting to cheer him.The fact that marriage is also a glass house that has can never be taken for granted and children play a very great role and are also a part of the glass house is well brought out and my heart swelled with happiness at the end of the book ,just as the swelling waves in the beach which Harold and Maureen watch clasping hands after forgiving each other and reconciling their differences to start afresh.Finally , the definition of a pilgrimage is " a long journey undertaken either to a religious destination or to pay homage as a redemption", and that is what Harold's journey is all about.So, does Harold meet Queenie and does he complete his pilgrimage successfully and finally why does Harold really undertake his journey to meet Queenie ? ...more
Loved this duology!! It has been quite a long time since I read YA fantasy, my last book being " Uprooted ", by Noami Novak. "I will have you without aLoved this duology!! It has been quite a long time since I read YA fantasy, my last book being " Uprooted ", by Noami Novak. "I will have you without armour ,Kaz Brekker .Or I will not have you at all"- Inez Ghaja in the "Six of Crows".So many layers of meaning lie beneath such a simple sentence and that is how I feel about both the books in this series. Six teenagers ,each hurt ,lost or damaged in some way get together to pull of an impossible heist in a fantasy world created by Bardugo ,the Grishaverse, which by now is very famous among fantasy readers since it forms the setting for most of her novels .Each character is complex and the world they live with and deal with is also very complex and the story is a rollercoaster ride of adventure and emotions.Leigh Bardugo's prose is not exceptional ,lyrical or poetic ,but she is exceptional in creating unforgettable characters and a master in weaving strong emotions ,feelings and thoughts into a plot and one has to admit a really good storyteller .And her women are all lovely❤️.Bardugo's women are strong,sensible ,brave and all heart ❤️.You should read this series at least for them. And the ending? why did she have to end it like this?Why did you have to kill him ,Leigh , when you made everyone else live to find some kind of happiness ? Kudos to the writer for creating these unforgettable characters Kaz,Inej,Nina,Matthias ,Jesper,Wayne and even the bad guys -Van Eck and Pekka Rollins.I did not want this to end and a special appreciation to Leigh Bardugo for showing the world that there is more to love than sex and intimacy is how we look at it. I was having my doubts about her “Wonder Woman ” ,but now I have the confidence to definitely pick it up....more
I have wanted to read this for a long time because I liked the goodreads synopsis and the title was mysterious and slippery. I have to grudgingly admiI have wanted to read this for a long time because I liked the goodreads synopsis and the title was mysterious and slippery. I have to grudgingly admit that it was a wonderful read. Cora Seaborne an amateur naturalist is newly and luckily widowed from an abusive marriage .She has an only son Francis who displays eccentric behaviour patterns ad who has isolated himself from his mother's emotions and feelings.Mother and son are under the care of Martha , a fierce woman with socialist leanings ever since Francis is born and the two women have become friends over the years.Luke and Spencer are doctors who are in love with Cora and Martha respectively and who are biding their time to gain approval from the ladies. Meanwhile , there are reports of the sighting of a leviathan creature from the middle ages called the Essex serpent which is terrorizing the little parish village of Essex.So, Cora who needs a change badly goes to Essex with Francis and Martha, to search for the creature where she meets William Ransome , the vicar and his family.They both have different ideologies but are drawn towards each other . The prose is deliciously intelligent and articulate.For example , Cora describes her mourning state as ,"It was a kind of draining sensation ,as if a vital organ had been shared with the man who died and was atrophying slowly from misuse ". Perry has a way with words and she uses them wisely .She is also very successful in bringing the sights and smells of Victorian London and rural England to the readers.You can imagine your feet in the deep , dark Essex mud and feel the cold stinking breeze from the blackwater estuary and taste the salt on your lips by the time you finish the novel. The best part however is the way she has built her characters , their emotions, their feelings for each other and their interactions.All of them are strong with particular likes and dislikes and you begin to know how they think and you are drawn into the story.I found myself disapproving of Francis and trying to find a reason for his behavior, pitying Luke Garrett in so many instances, praying that Martha will somehow see the kindness in Spencer's heart and shaking my head in anguish and wondering why ,or why is Stella not fighting for her husband at all?Is is to so easy to give up or is she so confident of him ? This is a wonderfully told Victorian Gothic tale with so many complex layers in the story and in the end you realise that the serpent is also a metaphor for all the secret and forbidden desires the characters have in their hearts which lead to tragedy and pain. To summarize ,Stunning,intelligent and articulate prose,well developed strong and ferocious characters,a narrative that brings the sights and smells of Victorian London and the countryside to the reader,a wholly independent and unapologetic female protagonist and a search for a mythical creature all make this a wonderful read .A four star read for me and the reason why I did not give five stars although it is wonderfully written ,is that forgive me if I sound prudish ,but I was not very comfortable with William and Cora getting together especially when his wife was so ill,even though it was a marriage of two like intellects with different ideologies ....more
Loading...
