The Lessons - Love Hurts

In The Lessons by Naomi Alderman, we follow the life of James, who, from an early age, never seems to fit in anywhere but makes it to Oxford University where he thinks all will be well. But even here, he feels like an outsider and is on the point of leaving when he finds himself, almost by accident, among a circle of intense friends who live together in a house owned by fellow student - the immensely wealthy Mark Winters. Mark is a kind of puppet master, being incredibly generous, fun and loving one minute, but horrifically cruel and destructive the next. Mark moves into the house with his girlfriend Jess (far too good for him!) and becomes embroiled in the life and loves of Mark - helping to pick up the pieces when drink, drugs and dangerous sexual relations, primarily with men, threaten his benefactor's destruction. Life carries on, with more parties than studies, but graduation finally happens and the housemates break up and go their separate ways but not before Mark strings James along, awakening a desire in the latter that is instantly thwarted. But a tragedy pulls them back together, with James falling back under Mark's spell. But can James really help Mark without losing himself completely? This isn't an easy read and some of the characters are hard to like, and maybe unbelievable at times. But as a study of toxic love, it is a masterclass. You want to shout at James when you see how bad Mark is for him ... why oh why does he keep going back for more? But then, occasionally, you realise how damaged Mark is, and what may be lying underneath the self-centred chaos that emanates from every pore. With echoes of Brideshead Revisited, this is a more modern take on doomed relationships amid fabulous wealth! 

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 288 print pages.

Price I paid: £2.98.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; MP3 CD; ebook. 

The Testaments - great start to the year!

The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood was a hangover from last year's challenge in that it was a winner of the Man Booker Prize in 2019. It is set some 15 years after The Handmaid's Tale and features narratives from three characters - Agnes, who has grown up as the daughter of a Commander in Gilead; Jade who has grown up in Canada, and Aunt Lydia - a woman responsible for the training and placement of Handmaids in Gilead. We hear about their backgrounds and how the religious totalitarian state of Gilead has impacted on their lives. Most interesting to me was the Aunt Lydia thread, where we find out about how her life changed when she was trapped inside Gilead at the time of its formation, where she had to adapt to survive, and how she continually evolved to the extent where she now is plotting the downfall of the regime. OfFred, the protagonist of the first book is referenced, although we don't know exactly where she is, but her actions from 15 years ago are now having consequences for the characters in this book. I don't really want to say too much more about the plot as it will give away too much to anyone who might wish to read this book for themselves. What I will say is that the skill of the author is evident in bringing these disparate characters together and, that despite their vast differences, the fact that they can and do work towards a common cause is rendered believable. Even though the character of Jade was jarring at times - she is a rebellious teenager with a bit of a mouth on her, so that's no great surprise - you cannot help but root for her. Not always an easy read due to the disturbing treatment of women in particular (well, it is Gilead!), this is still a very welcome sequel and I was left a little bereft when I finished it!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 448 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed as an audio book from the library.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.

Welcome to 2023

Welcome to 2023, a brand new year that I really, REALLY hope will be an improvement on the last. I managed to read 26 books in total, 10 of which were Man Booker Shortlisted titles. I am still reading an 11th in audio (I always have an audio and either a print or ebook on the go at the same time), which I'll carry over into the new reading year. 

This year, as you may have seen from the blurb at the top of this blog, I am not getting distracted by another challenge than to get through the piles ... and I mean piles ... of books that have been patiently waiting their turn to be read. And to stop me picking and choosing and leaving all the larger tomes to last, I am introducing an element of chance. Each time I need a new book to read, the dice will decide! And with that in mind ....

I am pleased to announce that the first roll of the dice has been thrown in order to select the number one print book of this year ... and it turned out to be ... DOUBLE SIX! And what is the 6th book in pile number 6? It's The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt, which is a bit of a chunky beast, but I'm ready for it!

Rolling dice (credit: Clipart Library)

A Single Thread - quiet determination

A Single Thread, by Tracy Chevalier, is set in 1932 and features Violet Speedwell, who, like most people, is still feeling the effects of the incredible losses from the First World War in which she lost both her brother and her fiancee. She moves to Winchester to escape her bitter mother, with the intention of finding some kind of life for herself. But it's tougher than she thought, as her work as a typist doesn't pay much, and most of her earnings go on the room she rents in her boarding house. She is often hungry and cold. At her age, being a single woman, is frowned upon by society ... yet shouldn't be, as so many men were lost in the war. Almost by accident, she finds and joins a group of broderer who are embroidering new kneelers for the Cathedral. Here she finds friendship and purpose and is introduced to another groups supporting the Cathedral - the bellringers - and is drawn to one in particular, Arthur, who is 20 years her senior and whose wife has never recovered from the loss of their son, also during the war. The gentle action follows this "will they, won't they" relationship, against the backdrop of the local petty politics of the Cathedral volunteers, and the looming threat of the Nazi Party in Germany. The character of Violet could have become a bit insipid, but Chevalier instills her with a quiet determination that builds throughout the novel and slowly, but surely, she gets what she wants. Full of detail about embroidery, Winchester Cathedral and bell ringing, this feels like it was a labour of love for the author. Many of the characters are recognisable and fully formed, though not perhaps all. However, this doesn't detract from the story and I enjoyed it, though I wasn't always convinced by the actions of the two main characters. I could definitely recommend this for a holiday read for those who like a mix of romance and history.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 352 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from my sister.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.

Oh William! - fictional memoir

Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2022. This is the third outing for fictional author Lucy Barton, and is in the style of a memoir. Having not read the first two books, I thought this might be a problem, but it did not prove to be so. Indeed, Lucy quite often refers to previous events in her life, and, even though she says she's written about them before, she usually gives a  quick precis of that event anyway. So, I didn't feel like I was losing out on anything. In this book, we see Lucy navigating her life following the loss of her beloved second husband, during which she reconnects with her first husband, and father of her two grown up daughters, William. Increasingly, and possibly as a distraction to her own grief, she is sucked into William's latest crisis - his third wife has just left him, and then he discovers that he might have a sibling he was totally unaware of. Lucy supports him in various ways, despite his frequently sharp tongue - which serves as a reminder of why she left him in the first place and how much she misses her late husband. And yet, she keeps going back for more ... with the words "Oh William!" frequently on her lips, both in sympathy and exasperation! The author has an easy style of writing and you understand the characters very quickly. However, I found it hard to empathise with Lucy and William, who came across as a bit self-absorbed ... but then again, aren't we all!! Maybe I am being a bit unfair on that score. A very quick read and as light as a feather, I did enjoy this, but I don't think it is one that will stay with me for very long.  

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 256 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from the library.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing - completely joyous!

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing by Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse is an absolute "clonker" of a book. Having been friends for 30 years, these two comedians became ill with serious heart conditions within a short space of time of each other. Paul, a lifelong angler, persuaded Bob to go fishing with him to aid their recovery. This spawned a TV programme that follows the two friends as they go fishing in the glorious British countryside (and beyond!) and discuss life, food, health and anything that takes their fancy. So successful has the TV series been that it spawned this book, which is a great companion piece. Full of humour and bonhomie, the reader is treated to practical fishing information - fish species, rivers, equipment - as well as insights into the lives of Bob and Paul as they chat and philosophise by the riverbank, over food or even the odd pint. I chose to read the audio edition, which I would urge everyone to do - it's absolutely hilarious listening to Bob and Paul who tease and giggle their way through it, throwing in little asides that I'm pretty sure are not in the print edition! They make you feel like you could be their friend too, and I for one, am longing to go fishing with them and enjoy peace and tranquility in the middle of nature (except for when Bob falls over), all interspersed with heart-healthy conversation and pure silliness. It's a long time since I laughed out loud at a book, but this one got me quite a few times ... not very helpful when you often use an audio book to help you go to sleep! This isn't high literature, but that's not what's important here. I just know that when I need a pick-me-up in these dark times, I will revisit this audio book for a life-affirming experience, in fact, I'm having to stop myself from putting it on again as we speak. 

My STAR rating: FIVE (no surprise there!)

Length: 352 print pages.

Price I paid: £2.98.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.

Autumn - an unusual friendship

Autumn, by Ali Smith, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2017 and is the first of the Seasonal Quartets. Set in 2016, just after the UK Brexit referendum, this story reflects on what society has, and may well, become following this momentous event. Told through the eyes of Elizabeth, a 32-year-old arts lecturer, as she spends many hours sitting with her 101-year-old childhood neighbour, Daniel, who is in a deep sleep (the one that usually comes before death). We hear of the time when Elizabeth and her mother first became neighbours with Daniel, and how Elizabeth was drawn to this elderly gentleman who was surrounded by art and full of wisdom. He tells her about his life, his art and the artists he knew, and, in particular, one from the 1960s - Pauline Boty - a pop artist who died tragically young and who has been mostly forgotten. Elizabeth and Daniel may not have been the most obvious of friends, but he was crucial for her personal development and in broadening her horizons. In a world where division and an unwillingness to compromise, or even feel compassion for others seem rife, this novel sees hope in the changing of the seasons - humanity has seen so much, things come and things go in the big picture ... history teaches us that. Plus, it puts a spotlight on the importance of art and culture in our lives - whether it provides comfort or joy or just makes us think! There is a dreamlike quality to the writing which draws the reader in, and you suddenly find yourself learning things without really trying. Not a difficult read, but one which seeps into you and stays a while. 

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 272 print pages.

Price I paid: £2.98.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.