Toby's Room - will the truth out?

Toby's Room, by Pat Barker opens in 1912, with Elinor, an aspiring artist studying at the Slade School of Fine Art, having gone back home for a visit. After being badgered for details about her exotic life in London, and the men she must be meeting, she blurts out the name of the first man she can think of - Kit Neville - a man who makes an impression wherever he goes, although rarely a positive one! Her brother Toby, who she has always been extremely close to, seems to feel threatened by this news of a potential beau, and his later reaction almost destroys their relationship. They strive to bury what happened between them, and life goes on, with Elinor eventually becoming involved with Paul Tarrant, another artist at The Slade. At the outbreak of the First World War however, all the young men in her life enlist, including Toby, who serves as a Medical Officer. When the family receive news that Toby is "Missing, Believed Killed" Elinor refuses to accept this. She retreats to her family home once again, and paints all of Toby's favourite places, and sleeps in Toby's room to feel closer to him. In her quest to find out the truth, she then seeks the help of Paul, who is back home with a leg injury. Together, they track down Kit Neville, who served with Toby and is also back home after suffering a horrific facial injury. Kit is saying very little, which only adds to the conviction that the real story is being hidden from her. Elinor finds a new role in helping the medical staff at The Queen's Hospital, Sidcup, where she provides anatomical sketches before, during and after the pioneering operations taking place on the soldiers by Harold Gillies (a real life figure, thought to be the father of plastic surgery). As the surgeons try to rebuild shattered faces, Elinor tries to rebuild her life ... will she find what she is looking for? Pat Barker has worked an intimate family story into the broad fabric of the First World War. Mixing fact and fiction she has created a novel that is disturbing and visceral, but also quiet and thoughtful. The horrors of war, both immediate, and long lived, are laid out for all to see. I found this book (which I read in print) unsettling at times, both in the themes and the detailed descriptions. Not all the characters are sympathetic ones, but then that is much more true to life. A book to make you think. A book that warns of the dangers of secrets. A book that anyone who thinks that war is a glorious thing should be made to read.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 264 print pages.
Price I paid: Free, borrowed from my husband.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio CD; unabridged audio download; ebook.

Divergent - totally gripping!

What was I thinking ... I've only been and gone and started another trilogy when I still haven't finished a whole host of series that I'm already in the throes of. I was just having a mooch within the ebook section of my local library, and Divergent, by Veronica Roth popped up. I had heard good things about this and I just couldn't resist ... and for once, I am really pleased that I was so weak-willed! I was gripped from pretty much the first few paragraphs. This story has parallels with The Hunger Games in that we are in a dystopian world, and our central character is a young girl. In Divergent, the population is divided into factions which display particular human leanings - Erudite (clever), Amity (peaceful), Candor (honest), Abnegation (selflessness) and Dauntless (brave). The factions don't really mix and each have their place in society. However, what was originally set up to prevent catastrophic wars has slowly fermented into discord and resentment. Enter Beatrice Prior, raised within the Abnegation faction, she has now reached a critical point in her life ... aged 16, she must chose the faction she will spend the rest of her life in. To her own surprise, she chooses Dauntless and begins her life as "Tris". She begins her training and soon displays an amazing aptitude for many of the tasks laid out before her. She is obviously so much more than either "Dauntless" or "Abnegation" ... she has skills across many factions and we discover that she is, in fact, Divergent! This is a dangerous thing to be as you can think and act for yourself ... and in doing so, you might just disrupt the status quo. Her trainer, Four, recognises her for what she is, but tries to help her duck under the radar ... otherwise, the powers that be will find some way to make her disappear. Together, they discover a plot to use the Dauntless faction to batter the ruling faction into submission. Can Tris and Four work together to find a way to stop the bloodshed ...? This book is really enjoyable and is so action-packed that you hardly dare put it down in case it throws itself off the bedside table and carries on the story without you. It may not be literature in its highest form, but boy oh boy, this author really knows how to keep you turning those pages. There are so many themes to keep you engaged ... politics, jealousy, danger, romance, family, loyalty, and the pains of growing up too. Highly recommended for anyone who likes their books to race along at 100 miles an hour with barely time to take in the view. Looking forward to part two ...

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 496 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed as an ebook from my local library.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio CD; unabridged audio download; ebook.

The Buried Giant - Erm!

To say I am a bit befuddled as a result of reading The Buried Giant, by Kazuo Ishiguro is putting it mildly. I have spent a couple of days pondering its content, but am still finding it hard to put my finger on what this book is actually trying to say. Set in a mythical Anglo-Saxon time after the reign of King Arthur, it seems, at first, to be the story of an elderly couple (Axl and Beatrice), who have fallen out of favour with the rest of their community. They decide to head off to find their son who lives in a village several days walk away. Events and memories are, however, a bit hazy, which you might expect from an elderly couple, but it soon becomes apparent that no one can keep a firm picture of anything, even from the very recent past. The couple are aware that they, and everyone else, has forgotten the majority of their lives, but the two things that they are sure of is, firstly, that they love each other profoundly, and secondly, that their son is eagerly awaiting their arrival. So, off they go, and thus begins a bit of a quest. As they travel, they meet strange people and hear frightening tales of a boatman who promises to take couples over to an island, but always leaves one behind. Taking shelter in a village Beatrice has some memories of, they come across Wistan, a warrior, who has just rescued Edwin, one of the village boys from some marauding ogres. The four find themselves on the road together, and bump into Sir Gawain and his trusty steed, Horace. They have been on their own quest for many years, which involves the local dragon. Memories start to be stirred, and some of the party are sure that they have met before. They team up, but is everyone on the same quest? If the dragon is killed, will their memories be restored, and how will that change the relationship between Axl and Beatrice, let alone the Saxons and the Britons who have been living harmoniously for many years, but of late, tensions have emerged out of the "mist" that covers the land? I want to say that I can't say any more without ruining the end ... but I'm not sure I would. I found this book frustrating and unsatisfying. Is it about shared memory? Is it about the danger of digging up the past? Is it about the kindness of strangers? Is it about moving past old grievances? Or is it about enduring love and how to let go? Maybe it is all of those things, or maybe it is none of them. Maybe this ambiguity (or at least, that is my perception) is the point of the book ... its meaning is what each individual reader needs/wants it to be. Maybe that is its genius! I just don't know. I often read this book with a puzzled look on my face, but at the same time, I never got the urge to give up on it. I really wanted to find out how the quest would finish. Despite my misgivings, however, The Buried Giant is staying with me and I'm still pondering ... and there aren't many books you can say that about!

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length:384 print pages.
Price I paid: Free, borrowed as an e-book from my local library.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; e-book.

The Ask and The Answer - Come on feel the NOISE!

Patrick Ness could teach many a wrestler a thing or too about securing someone in a firm headlock and not letting them go until you are good and ready! In The Ask and The Answer, the second book in the Chaos Walking trilogy, we are thrust back into the confusing and frightening world of Todd and Viola. After their breakneck flight to find the safety of Haven, the two youngsters find that it has all been for nothing. Haven is no haven at all, and has become New Prentisstown, and is being run by their archenemy, Mayor Prentiss, the mad and dangerous despot who now calls himself "President". Without knowing whether Viola is alive or dead, Todd is forced to join the new regime. She, meanwhile, is kept separate with all the other women, and slowly recovers from her injuries. Both are brought under the influence of powerful individuals who try to manipulate and forge them into images of themselves. For Todd, this means becoming the Major's second son, and for Viola, this means training to become a healer initially, and then a freedom fighter for the collective known as The Answer, led by the ruthless Mistress Coyle. Todd finds himself doing unspeakable things, and is haunted by his actions, particularly where the Spackles are concerned. In despair, he tries to stop himself feeling anything at all, which has the side effect of controlling his NOISE (the disease affecting men only, which causes all their thoughts to be broadcast). This almost works ... that is, until Viola reappears. Can Todd and Viola be reconciled and work together to bring peace to the New World in time for the arrival of the rest of the new settlers, or will civil war bring about the end of everything? Oh, and watch out for the return of the Spackles!

I cannot recommend these books highly enough - particularly the audio edition narrated by the splendiferous Humphrey Bower. This is a dystopian world, full of violence and unrest, but also full of good, good people and humour too. On the surface, there are two opposing sides, and whilst their stated intentions sound fairly reasonable, it soon becomes apparent how much power can corrupt the soul, and how good people can be lead down bad paths before they become aware that the "cause" they are fighting for is every bit as damaging as the other. Not only a great adventure story, but a warning to all those who might think about taking up arms to fight for what they believe in ... don't believe everything you hear! This book will have you on the edge of the seat, rooting for Todd and Viola and hoping against hope that there will be a happy ending ... it's just not yet ... as this book, like the first, ends on an almighty cliff hanger! Bring on part III!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 576 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.92.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.

A Memory of Light - The Wheel of Time turns for the last time

Ring the bells! Roast the fatted calf! Finally, oh joy of joy, I have reached the end of the epic fantasy marathon that is The Wheel of Time series. A Memory of Light, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson brings the conclusion of the story of Rand, Matt, Perrin, Elayne, Egwene and Nynaeve all together in one humongous, complex and emotionally draining tome. The world is on the brink of disaster. Evil, in the form of The Dark One, is seeping into every corner. It seems that no one can escape its grip. The Final Battle between good and evil is about to start, and the outcome teeters on the balance to the bitter end. Our main characters lead the charge, whether they want to or not. Through political wrangling, charm, gambling and a touch of bullying, they unite pretty much the whole of humanity together, alongside Ogiers and wolves. Old enmities are left to one side as they struggle against overwhelming odds to defeat The Dark One and his hordes of trollocs, fades, darkfriends, shadowspawn ... the list goes on! Rand is embroiled in a one-on-one battle with the shadow, whilst everyone else keeps the hordes busy on several fronts and try to watch his back. As usual with these books, there are countless characters, and it can be almost impossible at times to keep track of who is who, where they fit into the story and which side they are on! You definitely have to keep your wits about you as the action moves swiftly between the different battle fronts and the various realities that the characters jump in and out of. There are brutal scenes of warfare and destruction, and I experienced genuine surprise and shock when some of the main characters do not make it to the end of the last page. The body count is horrific! This is the 14th book in the series and I have to say it is probably one of the best. I am really pleased that I didn't give up on this series during it's flaccid phase (around books 7-10), and the shot in the arm that Brandon Sanderson has given to the last few titles has made it all worthwhile. Maybe, just maybe, when Game of Thrones comes to an end, someone might take up the challenge of trying to bring The Wheel of Time onto the small screen too ... I wonder if anyone is brave enough?

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 1007 print pages, yes, that does say 1007!
Price I paid: Free, borrowed from local library.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; unabridged audio CD; ebook.