Conversations with Friends: A Novel

Sally Rooney

I received an advanced reader copy of this novel for free from First to Read.

Rooney has written a short novel which focuses on interactions and relationships rather than events and character reactions to the events. In many ways, this style is the strength and weakness of the novel. At times, it feels as though the events are unfolding in a realistic manner. There are moments in the story that feel as though Rooney is accurately depicting the complex intertwined nature of human relationships as they are influenced by our strengths and shortcomings. Yet, this intimate writing style can fall short. Something about the book felt like watching a reality show, like a caricature version of reality.

I tried branching out with this novel. And, I do not feel like this novel is my cup of tea. I doubt I would have finished it, but for the fact it was short. I did not want to bail on trying something new when it would not take too long to complete.

I do know that my next book will be fantasy, sci-fi, or fiction with a hero or heroine to cheer on and empathise with. Stories like that just bring me so much more joy. And reading should be joy filled.

-A Bookish Girl

Return of the Elves (Books 1-3)

Bethany Adams

I won a Goodreads Giveaway last year or the year before and received Soulbound from the author. Then, I set the book on my bookshelf, bought a house, moved, forgot about it, picked it up, read ten other books, and finally picked it back up early last week. I devoured the first novel in an afternoon (waiting for my new job to start has allowed me binge reading days). That night I bought the second book and read it the next morning. That afternoon, I purchased the novella. (Note: Each book is able to stand alone, only hinting at previous events (typically retelling them without painful redundancy.) Thank goodness for Kindle and the ability to instantly satisfy that NEED to read a series.

Overall, I enjoy this series. I do not think the books are something every reader will enjoy, but they really were a lot of fun for me (and I look forward to her future books in this series). The are somewhat superficial, entertaining reads. Surprisingly, it doesn’t result in half-developed characters, interactions, descriptions, or plots. Adams has a romance-sprinkled, fantasy story that works without requiring much effort or time on the reader’s part.

Soulbound

(Disclaimer: Again, the copy I read of this novel was given to me free through a Goodreads giveaway.)

A female lead without crippling self-esteem issues, with courage, brains, and a bit of snark. A female lead who admires and works alongside other females. Adams has given us a unicorn, a likeable and believable female lead. Thank you, Mrs Adams!

Adams introduces soulbond. The soul bonded are two individuals are connected on such a level that their souls and their internal energy (which is connected to their magic) are in tune. The connection bonded individuals share includes emotions, thoughts, and physical experiences. It is this connection and this idea that drives the romance bit of the story. It also has an odd effect on the reader, which I believe is beautiful. Adams leaves the reader more empathetic, open, and understanding.

The way these connections and the elven society works relies strongly on respect and empathy, which tumbles out of the page and into the reader. It is easy to say each person is their own complete person. They have an entire world as deep as your own. If only for this reason, you should be friendly to strangers and kind to those you see every day. Yet, we often forget and allow our view of those around us to be narrower and shallower without noticing. Adams reminds us to open up, once more, and seek genuine connections which include those messy parts (and to accept and endure other’s messy parts). What better people we would be if we were to remember that throughout every interaction and day.

Sundered

The second of the series introduces a new cast with some familiar faces, which was a bit difficult for me at first. I really liked the lead characters of Soulbound and had to adjust to them being supporting characters. But Adams knows what she is doing. By the middle of the book, I liked the new leads a much as, if not more, than those I grew attached to previously.

The storyline was original and creative, which can be difficult in an episodic series. Again, Adams encourages people to be a bit nicer and more open with her storytelling. Although this novel includes soul bonds and their effect on the elves, this story focuses more on individual value and the dangers of measuring everyone with the same criteria. She leaves you encouraged and more encouraging.

Again, a sweet and entertaining story that resounds seemingly without intending to.

Exiled 

This short novella connects the second story and the book to be released very soon – fingers crossed. Again, the lead characters have shifted. Somehow, the story is entirely unique and engaging anyway. (Adams is a secretive mastermind?)

It was a short and sweet telling of a short adventure that will have intriguing consequences in the elven world Adams created. Even in a short tale, Adams gently reminds us to be better people. Encouraging us to challenge our mental models and prejudices because no one and nothing is quite as it seems.

-A Bookish Girl

Within the Sanctuary of Wings

Marie Brennan

The long-awaited finale of the Lady Trent memoirs was as wonderfully personal and charming as the previous four novels. Isabella Trent continues to feel like a close friend retelling the adventures that resulted in the successful career she has now. She inspires today’s female scientists, engineers, and mathematicians despite the small fact that she is not actually real. But, Sherlock Holmes is fictional as well and has undoubtedly shaped and inspired readers. Marie Brennan is an incredible author with the ability to build a world, society, and character that is both believable (given it feels like an alternative version of 19th Century England, the world building is not as impressive as the descriptions and character-building).

Marie Brennan is an incredible author with the ability to build a world, society, and character that is both believable (given it feels like an alternative version of 19th Century England, the world building is not as impressive as the descriptions and character-building). The practical-insanity that gets our heroine into and out of trouble is beyond relatable to anyone who has followed his or her curiosity to its inevitable end. The growth in the main character from the start to end of the series (and even in the time covered in a single book) is easy to identify with as struggles, accomplishments, and failures occur throughout her memoir. As with any mentor or inspiring figure, once you hear her story, you admire her more. Real or fictional.

After finishing the series, I began listening to the audiobooks. (Thankfully, my library has Hoopla, and they are available on Hoopla.) The narrator of the audiobooks resulted in me falling in love again with the series. I do love this series and shall read them, listen to them, and share them as often as possible with anyone who will listen to me.

-A Bookish Girl

Crewe Chase and the Jet Reapers

E. Sisco

I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Crewe Chase and the Jet Reapers would be better named Crewe Chase and the Anger Problem. Hailed as fantasy novel on the level of Harry Potter and the X-Men Origin comics, I was thrilled to read this novel. The adverts have greatly exaggerated what the reader will receive from this novel, which is disappointing because I would have loved to read a Harry Potter/X-men Origin/Engrossing Fiction novel.

The prologue is great, you have high hopes for a great, new magical series. That should be in a fantasy short story collection; it is intense, dark, and engaging.

But, that is just the prologue.

Sisco’s world-building is mediocre. Harry Potter and X-Men are greats because they swept you away into their world. Gringotts and Hogwarts were places that you stayed in far after the comics, books, movies, and trips to the filming sites / the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You loved the characters, the world, the story. You wanted to be magical or genetically evolved. You started a book and ended a relationship that you revisit often.

The tension in the story relies solely on ignorance (just pure lack of information given to the reader) and the drama between the main character and the women around him. (“Ooh, she hates me. I don’t know why; I am a good guy. She says she is taking care of me but she is crazy.” Seriously, this for 80% of the novel.)

This is a university – with a school nerd, a school dance, and other boarding school nonsense. Apparently, magical people take a bit longer to mature?

This book has very little to offer a female reader. The castle is given a paragraph of imagery. A castle. A HUGE CASTLE. One paragraph. The three female characters have a paragraph every time they enter the story. The tightness of the shirt worn, the cut of the shirt, the level of makeup used, how hot versus how crazy they are. Seriously, HUGE castle and I know there is a hall blackened by dragon fire and tall ceilings and a portal room. Three young women and I know what they look like, what they wear if they are Chase’s type or not and WHY not. The only thing I know about Crewe is that he is decent looking. His best friend is tall and gawky, no idea about the other two close friends he has but they are NEVER described. The role of the females in this novel is to be subjects of mystery or to be the victim to be saved. We also perpetuate the myth that if a nice guy likes you, it is your DUTY to entertain him. Not liking a guy is portrayed as tossing him aside, too stupid to see his strengths, shallow, or missing an opportunity. Obviously, girls have zero reasons to not like a guy that is your friend unless she is a shallow cow; but telling her off will change her mind. (I have decided to skip the very clear implications that women should have cookies baked or dinner cooked.)

It might have less to offer a male reader. You get some eye candy in the female characters. But, at no point do you get any depth. The mystery of a person’s intent is not depth. The main character is reactive. Despite being the most powerful wizard and one of the most intelligent students in the castle, which is at times humble and at times very egotistical about in a way that makes no sense, he reacts to situations with rage and violence. (Yes, like a steroid abuser.) A bully is attacking the victim girl? Threaten and violently react. Obviously. Someone is sabotaging you? Launch a bias and completely shallow investigation, assume a guilty party, and attack them out of anger because you didn’t get what you felt you deserved. The idea that males only have anger and impulse in their toolkit for handling situations is as bad as (if not, worse than) the myth a girl is a mystery or victim or a bitch.  The one male character with personality is obsessed with a girl and constantly knocked down for his personality. They guy needed better friends than Crewe.

The first 95% of the novel mentions the Jet Reapers only a couple times. A single chapter, less than 2% of the novel, reveals them to be a sect of fighters that are supremacist and extremists.

The author appears to be setting up a series about the dangers of prejudice from both the ruling class and of the minority. The cycle of war, hatred, and prejudice seems to be a clear theme. And, given the difficulties that lay ahead in our lifetimes, those are very important topics to discuss.

It would have been more effective if the character was fully developed. If anger and revenge were not the ONLY things he felt. People joining supremacist are more than angry, vengeful drones.

-A Bookish Girl

 

The Child Theif

Gerald Brom

I enjoy dark retellings of popularised sanguine Disney characters. These “dark fairy tales” seem to rekindle the spirit of the original fables, lore, and tales shared for generations before Disney’s adaptations. For these reasons, I picked up Brom’s story.

I received a suitably grim novel for those sharing my slightly twisted streak, Brom retells Peter Pan for the modern listener filled with wondrous depictions and incredible world building.

The three-dimensional characters are some of the most astounding characters written in fantasy today (rivalling Abercrombie and Martin). The depth of the characters ensures there are no good and no bad roles. No black and white. Merely people.

Once I finished the novel, I was delighted by the tale. I read it late into the night and dreamt of Avalon and Peter until society sucked me back into its tight grasp. When work threatened to overwhelm, the actual meaning of this story surfaced.

I stood up, walked out of the office, and went for a walk in the beautiful park downtown that I often comment on but rarely enjoy. I watched children play in the river next to the sign stating the rocks and water is NOT for swimming, I saw a dog running with an adolescent near a sign mounted demanding the reader to stay off the grass, and I felt the sun kiss my skin and release the need to play. The magical innocence of childhood rekindled, I returned to work, finished my working day, went home and romped with the two puppies waiting impatiently on my return. The world is filled with rules which take from the magic; we should fight to keep the magic alive.

-A Bookish Girl

Believe Me

Eddie Izzard

I received a digital advance reader edition of this book for free from firsttoread.com.

Eddie Izzard’s memoirs are enchanting. He has welcomed us into his mind, made us a cuppa, and asked us to stay a while. Izzard opens his life to us with a graceful honesty that makes you ruminate on the innocence of childhood, the tragedy of those teenage years, and the contradiction of absolute freedom and societal restriction that is young adulthood alongside him. When he describes a moment, he does so in a manner that you experience first-hand, but also with the wisdom of age and hindsight. He does this in a way that does not take from the memory, merely sprinkles a touch of self-awareness into the stories.

Izzard has given us a beautifully honest and entertaining glimpse into his life story. It is devoured easily in a single sitting and endlessly quotable. I hope you do spend a few hours of your life with this story and laugh, hurt, and grow alongside one of the best entertainers of our era.

-A Bookish Girl

Verdigris Deep

Frances Hardinge

If you have not yet read a Frances Hardinge book, please pick one up today. She is incredibly talented. You may be weary at first because her books are often referred to has children’s books. The only thing that makes these novels “children’s books” is the font-size and young main characters. The themes, prose, and storyline are so unique and beautiful in each of her novels.

Verdigris Deep is a story covering the nature of wishes, friendships, relationships, and the interconnectedness of the world. Hardinge has the ability to do this without disrupting the flow of the story or becoming condescending – which can happen when an adult is teaching life lessons of this nature and depth. Hardinge teaches lessons that are necessary to learn and be reminded of during any part of your life journey.

I hope that you will pick these books up to share with your family and the child that lives and imagines in all of us.

-A Bookish Girl

Glass Sword

Victoria Aveyard

Throughout the first novel, I hoped the series would show the growth of the main character and the few minor characters. The second novel made it clear the main character would not grow. The main character has three thoughts which are repeated to fill a book. (1) I loved Mavin, but he betrayed me. Maybe there was good in him. (2) I love Cal, but I don’t trust him. I will sleep with him but not trust him. (3) I must save newbloods.

Several new characters were introduced in this book. These characters are merely abilities that will useful in the eventual battle that may come at some point? Their personalities and stories are about as bland as the world the author half-built.

I wanted to stick with it. I wanted it to be a good series. But the lack of depth, insight, and growth made it impossible to overlook the lack of world building. Overall, this series is a disappointment.

-A Bookish Girl

How to Train Your Viking

Toothless the Dragon, translated from the Dragonese by Cressida Cowell

If you have not yet been introduced to the book series that How to Train Your Dragon, stop what you are doing now and begin the series today. Amazon suggests the reading age is eight to eleven-years-old, but they are liars and fools. These imaginative and fantastic novels tell a story about becoming a hero despite being ordinary in every way. Don’t we all want to be a little more heroic in our everyday lives?

This novella written from the point-of-view of Toothless is just as magical as the rest of the series. I urge every adult to read this series – if only to remember how to be swept away into a land of imagination for a little while. This short story is great to fill your lunch hour with a bit of magic so that you can return to work happy and smiling.

This series and this novella make for an enchanted time spent with your family or just with Cowell’s words.

-A Bookish Girl