“Hugh Glass isn’t afraid to die. He’s done it once already.”

Rating: 5/5

Expert tracker Hugh Glass is viciously attacked by a bear and appears to be on death’s door. The two men ordered to stay with him steal his belongings and abandon him in the wilderness. Soon a revived Glass is on a quest for revenge and he will not stop until he succeeds…

The Revenant is the book that inspired the Oscar-winning movie and finally earned Leonardo DiCaprio his well deserved Oscar for his powerful portrayal of Hugh Glass. It is not difficult to see why Leo was drawn to such a role. The character of Glass is one of strength, courage and determination. His character carries most of the film, much of it in silence.

Visually, the film is stunning and has become my favourite movie this year. With this in mind, I did wonder if I would enjoy the book as much, particularly as my sister didn’t really enjoy the novel and gave up early on. Notably, she hadn’t seen the film, so perhaps she might have been more inclined to continue reading if she had.

Normally I prefer to read a book before its film adaptation, but this time it actually enhanced my reading. I was able to recall the beautiful backdrop setting and visualise the different places along Glass’ difficult journey. I’m usually drawn to books with more dialogue, but I remained completely enthralled in Punke’s vivid descriptions of the scenery as well as Glass’ encounters and experiences. Punke’s writing immersed me into the story and I became awed at Glass’ tenacity through such extreme weather conditions, considering the seriousness of his injuries. Punke succeeds in highlighting the horror of Glass’ attack through brutal imagery, which is just as gory as depicted in its film adaptation. It is difficult not to flinch when reading some of the passages in this novel and it is astonishing to read just how strong the human spirit can be when necessary.

The Revenant may be a work of fiction, but the character of Hugh Glass is certainly true. However, some legend has filtered through the history of what happened to Glass. The film has some notable differences that add more dramatic depth to the story, but the novel is still rich in its storytelling. Some of the events in Glass’ life are truly remarkable and the phrase “truth is stranger than fiction” comes to mind.

“Revenant – n. one who has returned, as if from the dead.”

Glass is a resourceful and patient character who demonstrates just how much one can survive and endure when their life is at stake. I found myself thinking what I would do if I was in that situation and I’m sure I would give up! Not so Hugh Glass, who soldiers on in order to get his revenge. He proves that anything can be done when you put your mind to it and, when you are truly desperate, you will even resort to eating anything that you can get your hands on. Such sheer circumstances are a true test of what a human being can endure and Glass never gives up.

Although the book may be a harrowing tale, there are some light comedic moments, particularly the camaraderie between some of the characters. The book may be lacking in female characters, but it doesn’t detract from the novel and is simply a reflection of its period setting. The other memorable character is Fitzgerald, who abandons Glass after his attack. Fitzgerald is depicted by Tom Hardy in the film and the character in the novel is just as evil and appears to have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. He provides an excellent foil to Glass’ character and becomes the main motivation for Glass to keep on living, just to quench his thirst for revenge.

The history in the novel is enthralling and shows just how difficult life could be during such a simple period devoid of today’s comforts. The conflict with the Native Indians is not shied away from in the novel and some of the violence that occurs is horrifying. Despite the heavy source material, I found the novel to be an easy read and even though I may have known most of the story and its outcome, I was still gripped by Glass and his arduous journey of survival and revenge. Quite simply, The Revenant is a must read!

Have you read The Revenant? Have you seen the film? How do you feel they compare? Do you prefer to read the book first before a movie adaptation? Let me know what you think!

Rating: 4/5

I’ve been extremely excited to read this debut novel by Lisa McInerney, having known her briefly through one of my best friends during our student days in Cork City many moons ago. It is fantastic to see someone from home doing so well and Lisa has received rave reviews for her novel, which has recently won the Baileys Women’s Prize For Fiction 2016.

The Glorious Heresies is set in Cork City and revolves around a multitude of shady characters who interconnect through various dark circumstances. The opening of the novel sets the bleak tone of the story with the killing of a man by fifty nine year old Maureen, who arranges for her son Jimmy to sort out her unfortunate predicament. Being the most feared gangster in Cork City, Jimmy has no shortage of henchmen to do his dirty work for him. He quickly finds someone willing to clean up Maureen’s mess and this leads to a sequence of events that changes many of the characters’ lives forever.

Jimmy’s childhood friend Tony, father of six children and an alcoholic, comes to Jimmy’s assistance, being in desperate need of the money. Tony’s teenage son is already dipping his toes into the gangland world. Of course, things don’t always go to plan, especially when Georgie, the girlfriend of the dead man, starts to question why her boyfriend has vanished.

Admittedly, I wasn’t sure about this book on my initial reading. The novel is so dark and depressing and portrays a side of Cork City that I’m relieved to say I have never witnessed. However, I soon became immersed in the gritty underworld of gangland Cork and was intrigued to see where the story would take these characters. There is an inevitable feeling that nothing bodes well for any of these characters and many of their actions lead them down a dark path.

This is not a book for the fainthearted. Drugs, murder, prostitution, violence, sex and coarse language feature predominantly throughout the novel. However, this serves to accurately portray the harsh realism of the criminal underworld. While it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I became drawn to the people in the story and willed characters such as Ryan and Georgie to turn their lives around and move on from the sort of lifestyles that were dragging them down. The novel is realistic in the way it shows how difficult it is to break the cycle and escape from that sort of environment.

Despite the bleak tone of the novel, it has moments of witty humour and glimmers of hope for certain characters. It is certainly different from anything I’ve read before and I’m excited to see what Lisa McInerney does next. Long may her well deserved success continue.

Have you read The Glorious Heresies? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

 

 

“A picture hides a thousand words…”

Rating: 5/5

I recently had the pleasure of attending a book event celebrating the release of Jessie Burton’s second novel The Muse. This was organised by the local book shop in my area that runs the book club that I attend every month. Having loved The Miniaturist, I was excited to get my hands on a copy of Burton’s new book, which has the most stunning cover. The best part of the event was getting to meet Jessie herself and having my copy signed.

Burton did not disappoint during her book talk. She was charming, witty, self-deprecating and an exquisitely articulate speaker. Her years spent as an actress shone through during her readings of excerpts from her novel and enhanced the characters that she brought to life. It was interesting to hear Burton admit that it was a struggle to fit in writing The Muse along with the gruelling book tour that she undertook worldwide to capitalise on the astonishing success of her debut novel. Sometimes it is easy to imagine successful people living a life of luxury when the reality is that they continue to work hard in order to remain a success.

Like its predecessor, The Muse is another period drama and takes place over two timelines – London, 1967 and rural Spain, 1936. London introduces us to Odelle Bastien, a Trinidad immigrant who is offered a job as a typist for the mysterious Marjorie Quick. In 1936, Olive Schloss harbours secret ambitions, and soon becomes drawn to artist and revolutionary Isaac Robles and his half-sister Teresa. The pair quickly incorporate themselves into the Schloss family, a move that has life-changing consequences. What connects these two storylines together may lie in the discovery of a lost masterpiece…

The Muse is an intriguing tale that explores themes of identity and aspiration in a world of creativity and art. I raced through the novel in order to unlock the mystery that connected the two storylines. I was somewhat on the right track, but I still didn’t really guess the surprises that unfolded. This book has some great twists that I wouldn’t dream of spoiling.

The central female characters in each timeline mirror each other significantly. Odelle and Olive are both creative and ambitious yet hide their talents away, although there are hints of wishing for success that they both play down. Despite being decades apart storywise, the women are both of a time where female success was still a rarity and something that could still be oppressed. I could certainly relate to the character of Odelle in the way that she was afraid to put her writing out into the world. I can understand her fear of rejection all too well!

In contrast, the character of Marjorie Quick is a vibrant yet enigmatic figure. Creating a commanding presence as soon as she enters a room, Quick takes Odelle under her wing and encourages her to unleash her potential. Quick is a formidable character to be reckoned with and livens up Odelle’s world for the better.

The novel explores issues of race and politics in the different worlds of London and Spain. London is going through a period of change and becoming a more interracial, multicultural and progressive society yet hints of racism are scattered throughout the novel. Meanwhile, simmering tensions are played out to the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War as Olive becomes tangled up in Isaac’s ideologies and revolts. Burton creates a sensual atmosphere brought to life with surreal vivid imagery and colours through Olive’s paintings and the stunning Spanish scenery. The complicated Schloss family are full of mysteries and secrets and the reader can sense the explosion that is certain to be unleashed before the story ends.

“It had a new form of surreality Olive had never executed before. For all its grounded colours on the fields – ochres and grasshopper-greens, the folkloric tenderness of russet furrows and mustard browns – there was something other-worldly about the scene. The sky was a boon of promise. The fields were a cornucopia of cereal crops and apples, olives and oranges. The orchard was so lush you might call it a jungle, and the empty fountain had turned into a living spring, the satyr’s canton now gushing full of water. The finca rose up like a welcoming palace, her father’s house with many mansions, its windows huge and open to her gaze. The brush strokes were loose, and colour dominated technical accuracy.”

This book is so gloriously addictive that I almost felt sad that it had to end. I could easily go back and read it again. As I think about what kind of film this would make, Burton has just announced that The Miniaturist is being adapted for television by the BBC. I cannot wait! The Miniaturist was another beautiful and intriguing tale, which was chosen for our book club and succeeded in having the highest ever attendance that night, a testament to the success that Burton has achieved.

Burton has now come to the end of her two book deal, which she admitted at the book event has been quite a relief. She is now turning her hand to children’s books in conjunction with an illustrator. I look forward to seeing what she produces in this guise and I’m certain that she will be just as successful.

Have you read either of Jessie Burton’s books? Have you been lucky enough to meet her? Let me know!

 

Rating: 3/5

It’s impossible to review Dark Places without mentioning Gillian Flynn’s astonishingly successful novel Gone Girl. Who hasn’t heard of Gone Girl by now? It’s spawned a run of thrillers with a twist and the movie tie in that followed was a critical and commercial success.

With this in mind, it was difficult to start Dark Places without hoping for another Gone Girl. In retrospect, it doesn’t disappoint yet it doesn’t quite live up to what was perhaps my too high expectations.

Dark Places is one of Flynn’s novels that was published before Gone Girl and has recently come into the public eye again with the inevitable release of an accompanying movie. The film feels to me like a rush release to cash in on the success of its predecessor and perhaps this is why it has failed to live up to the hype. Then again, was there even any hype? Being a keen film buff, I wasn’t even aware of the movie being made and was surprised to find out about its theatrical release. The film appeared to come out to little press or media attention. Poor reviews followed and it seemed to disappear quietly after even poorer box office takings, despite an impressive cast that included Charlize Theron and Christina Hendricks. I have yet to see the film and I’m not sure I’ll be rushing to watch it now after reading the novel.

Home is where the lies are…

The story revolves around Libby Day, who is just seven years old when her family is brutally murdered. Her testimony puts her fifteen year old brother Ben in jail. The novel opens in the present day when Libby is contacted by a group who believe that Ben is innocent. The group persuade Libby to reinvestigate Ben’s case and the events surrounding her family’s deaths.

The title Dark Places is apt. Everything about this story is dark – the setting, the visual imagery, the themes and the characters. In fact, it’s hard to describe this novel as an enjoyable read, particularly because of some of the more violent aspects of the book. It’s difficult to mention too much without giving anything away, but murder and Satanic rituals are central aspects to the story. I’m not normally squeamish and I watch plenty of gory television shows and films, but some of the more disturbing scenes were described so vividly that it almost turned my stomach. This makes me question just how graphic the film might be and so I’m not rushing to see it just yet.

The novel unfolds as a mystery as two timelines run parallel with each other – the present day and the fateful day of the murders. Sometimes flashbacks and conflicting timelines can be confusing in novels, but here the timelines are straightforward and didn’t take me out of the story. The novel also explores other characters’ perspectives which tells us more about the mysteries within the story. The contrasting timelines actually worked really well together and offer a glimpse of how different things could have been for the characters if they had made other decisions and also provides an insight into the woman Libby has become in the present day. This highlights the central premise of how one action can alter the course of someone’s life and how you live with those consequences.

There is an element of sadness in the story as the characters’ circumstances are so devastating. Poverty and debt are huge issues raised in the novel and lead to many desperate acts. Could the matriarchal figure Patty Day be described as a victim of circumstances or just plain weak? There is a certain amount of despair for the Day family and the novel raises questions about just how far one might go to protect or even betray family as well as exploring issues of forgiveness.

I wouldn’t describe any of the characters in the novel as particularly likeable, but that’s what makes a character so compelling. Nice can be overrated. One of the most fascinating characters ever created is Hannibal Lecter and Anthony Hopkins’ Oscar winning cinematic portrayal was well deserved, although the less said about the risible sequel, the better. The character of Diondra in the novel is a vicious vile person, but such a strong character provides much of the conflict in the story.

Overall, Dark Places is an interesting read. I enjoyed the quirky Kill Club and reading about farming amidst the Kansas setting. If you don’t mind gory violence and coarse language and you like a good mystery, then Dark Places is worth reading.

If you’ve read the book, let me know what you think. Have you seen the film and how does it compare to Gone Girl? Have you read any of Flynn’s other novels? I’d love to hear your opinion. Get in touch!

Rating: 5/5

A Thousand Splendid Suns was chosen at my book club recently and although I was excited at such a good pick,  I came to the novel with a sense of trepidation as I adored Hosseini’s debut novel The Kite Runner. I wondered if it would live up to my high expectations.

Well, I needn’t have worried.

A Thousand Splendid Suns has been on my reading list for quite some time now, before I had ever read The Kite Runner. I have fond memories of the book as a friend was reading it a few years ago when a few of us went travelling around Thailand and Cambodia together. I can still remember how gripped she was by the story and how emotional she became during the course of the novel. I just knew I had to read this book. I can’t believe it has taken me this long to finally get around to actually reading it.

“Mariam was five years old the first time she heard the word harami.”

A Thousand Splendid Suns tells the story of two women in Afghanistan who have grown up in opposing circumstances. Mariam is an illegitimate child – a harami – a word we discover in the opening sentence and a word that will continue to be significant throughout the course of the novel.

“She understood then what Nana meant, that a harami was an unwanted thing; that she, Mariam, was an illegitimate person who would never have legitimate claim to the things other people had, things such as love, family, home, acceptance.”

Mariam grows up in a simple home and at fifteen she is forced to marry Rasheed, a significantly older man. It is nearly two decades later when her path crosses with Laila, a local teenager who has previously grown up in a more privileged lifestyle. Laila’s circumstances have led to her becoming Rasheed’s second wife, a source of consternation from Mariam.

Slowly the two female characters grow to forge a relationship that becomes as strong as mother and daughter. As they face the brutality unleashed by Rasheed, their lives are also left in fear when the Taliban take over.

This book proved a popular choice at book club and the general consensus was that although it was a harrowing read, the story was beautifully written and taught us all more than we could ever have known about such a world so far removed from our own free society. As I’ve discussed in my previous book review on The Year I Met You, a book that can teach us something is a joy to read.

The beauty of reading is that it can open us up to worlds that are outside of our realm and sometimes it can be the only way to raise awareness of issues, hence why many books have been banned in the past. Fear can be quite an instigator or motivator and perhaps it is the fear of an uprising in the past that led to certain books being banned from the public domain. This only serves to highlight the power of words and the impact they can make.

Hosseini wrote this novel as a reaction to the injustices towards women in Afghanistan. He himself was born in 1965 in Kabul before he and his family received political asylum in the United States in 1980. He is now a US goodwill envoy to the United Nations Refugee Agency. His passion for human rights is reflected in the novel, which highlights the oppression of women in Afghanistan and the horrors they are forced to experience. Some of the scenes in the book are horrific but necessary to the story. Having only a mild knowledge of Afghanistan from various media outlets, it was surprising to see how varied the culture could be in one country. Kabul was a world full of female doctors and teachers, a huge contrast to rural Afghanistan where women played a much more subservient role.

The book was first published in 2007, yet it echoes resoundly in today’s current climate with the Syrian refugee crisis and the brutal force of I.S. It is a stark reminder not to ignore the plight of people who are suffering. It might be easy to bury our heads in the sand, but how can change be possible if nothing is done? Even the events in the book are still parallel today with many parts of Afghanistan as well as other parts of the world.

However, the book is not completely despondent. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but there is a hint of hope at the end of the novel. While there is great sadness in the story, it is impossible not to be moved by the two female characters, particularly Mariam, a true heroine. The actions she and Laila take are motivated by love and emphasise the strength of the human spirit.

I could go on forever about how much I love this book. It explores so many themes, including love and loss, and deals with important issues. I strongly recommend you read this novel and also explore Hosseini’s other novels.

Is there a book that moved you? Have you read A Thousand Splendid Suns? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts and if there’s any books you’d recommend. Get in touch!

Rating: 3/5

So my first book review is The Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern. I should begin by saying that Cecelia Ahern is my favourite author and I’m not just saying that because she’s a fellow Irishwoman! Honestly though, I won’t be biased…much ha!

The Year I Met You revolves around Jasmine Butler, who has recently been fired. If only if were that simple. Jasmine has been placed on gardening leave for a year, which means she can’t work for anyone else for a whole year. Jasmine has built her entire life around her career and so her change in circumstances comes as quite a shock to the system. The only other focus in her life is her sister Heather and now Jasmine is forced to step outside of her comfort zone and open herself up to new possibilities. Her world soon begins to revolve around her house and garden, which has been sadly neglected, and her neighbours that begin to come in to her life.

Now while the idea of gardening leave might not be so appealing, the prospect didn’t sound that bad to me. If I was getting paid not to work for a whole year, I think I could live with that. I’m sure it would be frustrating not being able to work and being tied to a company, but at least you could take the time to really think about where your future lies. Or am I being too optimistic?

I hate to admit it, but this wouldn’t be one of my favourite Cecelia Ahern novels. I adored P.S. I Love You and her other books, but I’ve always preferred her stories that have a certain magical element to them. Her books based in worlds that are a little out of the ordinary are exactly the kind of stories that I like to read. Unfortunately, I found this book a little slow. Ahern herself describes the book as a gentler story that is quiet and reflective. I can appreciate where she is going with this and I liked the way the story unfolds over a year and the way the seasons are used to reflect the changes in Jasmine’s life. I also enjoyed the way her garden was used to parallel how Jasmine grows as a person.

At times Jasmine is a frustrating character who can be selfish, but ultimately Ahern creates a real and grounded character. We all have flaws and who wants to read about a perfect heroine who can do no wrong? I’d rather get to know a character who makes mistakes but is able to learn from them.

What I also enjoyed about the novel is that it’s not entirely predictable. I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll just say that the introduction of another main character may suggest the direction that the story is taking, but it actually leads us somewhere completely unexpected.

In all, I enjoyed The Year I Met You and the issues it explores. While sometimes the writing can seem preachy, it serves as educational, particularly with regards to Down’s Syndrome and I always appreciate a book that teaches me something. I could also relate to the character of Jasmine, having been unemployed myself in the past. I willed Jasmine to turn her life around, which ultimately is the aim of the writer. If you can’t invest in the characters that you’re reading about, then how can you expect to carry on with the story?

I’m now looking forward to Ahern’s latest paperback release of The Marble Collector. Have you read it? Are you a Cecelia Ahern fan? Did you enjoy The Year I Met You? I’d love to hear your thoughts and views!