BOOK REVIEW: The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed...
On an autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives at a grand house in Amsterdam to begin her new life as the wife of wealthy merchant Johannes Brandt. Though curiously distant, he presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. It is to be furnished by an elusive miniaturist, whose tiny creations ring eerily true.
As Nella uncovers the secrets of her new household she realises the escalating dangers they face. The miniaturist seems to hold their fate in her hands- but does she plan to save or destroy them? 

Publisher: Picador

Pages: 432

I had already read and enjoyed Jessie Burton's second book, The Muse before this but I think The Miniaturist is definitely my favourite- I haven't wanted it to end.
Nella Oortman begins a new life in Amsterdam, she is only eighteen and her family have married her to a successful and wealthy merchant called Johannes Brandt. Nell enters his grand house full of apprehension and naivety and is surprised when her new husband presents her with an ornate wedding gift; an exact replica of their home. Nella sets about furnishing the house by employing a miniaturist but she soon becomes disturbed when the miniaturist begins sending her items that Nella did not request or items with personal details that they could not possibly know about. Nella tries to contact the miniaturist but has no luck, she wants to know if these items are a warning, a prediction of Nella's future?
The Miniaturist is beautifully written by Jessie Burton, her attention to detail is just exquisite. The book is rich in imagery which makes it so much easier for the reader to picture the characters and surroundings.
I loved the mystery surrounding the miniaturist and the objects she sends to Nella. However, my favourite part of the book was Nella herself. She has to face so much during the story and it is wonderful to watch her change from a naive young girl to a woman who has to take charge of the whole household.
Jessie Burton explored so much more than I expected within this book, feminism, race, sexuality, class, loyalty and prejudice. There were so many different areas being examined yet Burton tied it all together effortlessly.
I know I am super late to the party but if you've not read The Miniaturist yet then I can highly recommend it.

BOOK REVIEW: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

Lib Wright, a young English nurse, arrives in an impoverished Irish village on a strange mission. Eleven-year-old Anna O'Donnell is said to have eaten nothing for months but appears to be thriving miraculously. Lib's job role is simple: to watch the girl and uncover the truth.
An educated sceptic, Lib expects to expose the fast as a hoax right away. But as she gets to know the girl she becomes more and more unsure: is Anna a fraud, or a 'living wonder?' or is something more sinister unfolding right before Lib's eyes? Written with all the propulsive tension that transported readers of Room, The Wonder asks what length we would go to for the love of a child. 

Publisher: Picador

Pages: 347

It's taken me ages to sit down and write this review as I'm still not too sure what I think! I was blown away by Emma Donoghue's book Room so I had very high expectations for this one. I am not saying that they weren't met but The Wonder is just so different. It's almost like it's not the same author. But then I've been thinking about this and I think Room was so well received because it was such a different, stand-out idea for a book so realistically the author was not going to be able to write something of a similar nature. Sorry for rambling but I'm just trying to explain why I've found it so hard to write my review.
The Wonder has a very beautiful, Gothic feel to it which I really enjoyed. The rural Irish setting brings an almost 'other world' feel to the book, Lib enters an entirely different world to her own, she is very much an alien in this setting, she has little understanding of the culture, religion and daily struggles faced by Anna's family. Her job is purely to observe Anna, an eleven year-old-girl who can apparently live without eating any food. Lib is sceptical from the very beginning and she struggles to merely observe without passing judgement or developing emotions about her young charge. Lib's job as a nurse is to care and make her patient's health her priority so she finds being in Anna's presence extremely frustrating. The girl is deteriorating in front of her and Lib feels powerless to prevent the inevitable. 
Emma Donoghue raises many questions about religion in this book. The pressures placed on people by religion and the huge amount of guilt often involved. The people around Anna want to believe that she is a miracle but their actions are selfish, it is as though they have lost sight of the fact that she is a child and therefore their responsibility. I felt that the author highlighted how many religious texts are open to many different interpretations, this is explored by Anna and Lib's numerous discussions as to what God would want and how he would want Lib to behave.
Emma Donoghue's writing is superb, in some ways not a huge amount happens in the book but I still couldn't put it down, there is a definite element of suspense running throughout. Like with Room, the author creates a very intense situation in which to explore human nature and behaviour. Lib and Anna spend long periods of time together in a small room, there is no where for either of them to hide. The Wonder was quite a surprising read and I really enjoyed it. I had to dismiss my previous experience of this author. Having had time to think about it, I think this book is moving, dramatic and thought-provoking. I'm going to give it a re-read in the future as I know there is probably even more that I could have taken from it.

BOOK REVIEW: The Muse by Jessie Burton

A picture hides a thousand words...
On a hot July day in 1967, Odelle Bastien climbs the stone steps of the Skelton gallery in London, knowing that her life is about to change forever. Having struggled to find her place in the city scene since she arrived from Trinidad five years ago, she has been offered a job as a typist under the tutelage of the glamorous and enigmatic Marjorie Quick. But though Quick takes Odelle into her confidence, and unlocks a potential she didn't know she had, she remains a mystery- no more so than when a lost masterpiece with a secret history is delivered to the gallery.
The truth about the painting lies in 1936 and a large house in rural Spain, where Olive Schloss, the daughter of a renowned art dealer, is harbouring ambitions of her own. Into this fragile paradise comes artist and revolutionary Isaac Robles and his half-sister Teresa, who immediately insinuate themselves into the Schloss family, with explosive and devastating consequences...

Publisher: Picador

Pages: 441

Jessie Burton received high acclaim for her first book, The Miniaturist which sadly I have not had chance to read yet. I loved the sound of The Muse though and I'm so glad I had it as a Christmas present as I loved it.
Odelle Bastien begins working at The Skelton gallery in London; she is very excited as this is the best job she has found since arriving in London from Trinidad. Her boss is Marjorie Quick, a slightly mysterious and enigmatic character. Marjorie takes Odelle under her wing; Odelle is flattered and slightly in awe of this woman; she has no idea that Quick will alter the path of her future and ultimately who she becomes. Odelle meets a man, Lawrie at a party and he says he was left a painting from his mother which he'd like to know more about. He brings it to the Skelton and Pandora's Box is thrown wide open. Lawrie's painting takes the story back to 1936 and rural Spain where the Schloss family are living. Olive is the daughter of a very famous art dealer but he has no idea that Olive paints and is actually hugely talented. Isaac and Teresa Robles come into their lives and very quickly turn their world upside down. Jessie Burton flits between these two time periods, weaving her story; answering some questions but raising others.
The Muse is beautifully written, Burton creates an air of mystery and suspense from the first page; I was immediately captivated by the characters and the worlds she created.
It was interesting that the majority of lead characters were female, all excelling in their own ways in times when that was rarely heard of. The relationship between Odelle and Majorie Quick was intense and I knew that something special would come of it. Olive Schloss is quite a tragic character; hiding her talent from her own family as she knows that her father would not approve. The relationships she has with those around her are either strained or false.
The book is very concerned with deception and the different areas of life it can infiltrate. Every character in this book is hiding something, some things I worked out along the way but Jessie Burton saves a few surprises for the very end.
I cannot recommend this book enough, it felt like a real treat with beautiful writing, complex characters and a plot full of suspense and intrigue.

BOOK REVIEW: Invincible Summer by Alice Adams

Inseparable throughout university, four friends graduate into an exhilarating world on the brink of a shiny new millennium. Eva, keen to shrug off the gruff socialist politics of her childhood, gets a job at a city investment bank, while Sylvie plans to become an artist. Physicist Benedict, meanwhile is devoting his life to chasing elusive particles. Things are less changing for Sylvie's mercurial brother Lucien, he simply intends to continue going to parties and sleeping around.
Invincible Summer follows them as they navigate two decades of furtive sex and thwarted dreams, lost jobs and broken hearts, buffeted all the while by forces of economics and history that shape our lives.

Publisher: Picador

Pages: 308

This  book is delightful and I could not put it down. I read it in just over a day and  I was so sad to say goodbye to the fantastic characters created by Alice Adams.
Eva is the main character and she meets Sylvie, Lucien and Benedict while at university. This story follows the four friends each summer after they have graduated. It is fascinating to see the different directions they all take yet they have a strong tie that inevitably brings them back together.
Invincible Summer deals with so much; growing up, getting a job, love, friendship, loyalty and so much more. Alice Adams makes you truly care for these characters; they all have their flaws but they feel extremely real and you quickly want the best for them.
Benedict was my favourite character; he is definitely the most gentle and unassuming which in turn leads him to miss out on several things. The other friends can easily overlook him at times and there were moments where I felt frustrated that they had this lovely man as their friend but they did not appreciate him.
By showing the characters year by year, it was easy to see who had changed and who had got stuck or a bit lost. I remember feeling so daunted when I left university; I had no idea what I wanted to do or how I wanted to move forward and I think that Alice Adams captures these feelings brilliantly.
For some reason the book felt very British and comforting. If a film was made of it then I think it would be in a very similar vein to Four Weddings and a Funeral or Notting Hill. Alice Adams' writing is extremely witty but she does not shy away from emotive subjects and difficult situations.
I really, really loved this book, I don't keep that many (as my husband would divorce me!) but I will be finding this one a place on the shelf so that I can enjoy it again in the future.

Many thanks to Helen Mockridge for sending me a review copy of this book, it is out now! 

BOOK REVIEW: Invincible Summer by Alice Adams

Inseparable throughout university, four friends graduate into an exhilarating world on the brink of a shiny new millennium. Eva, keen to shrug off the gruff socialist politics of her childhood, gets a job at a city investment bank, while Sylvie plans to become an artist. Physicist Benedict, meanwhile is devoting his life to chasing elusive particles. Things are less changing for Sylvie's mercurial brother Lucien, he simply intends to continue going to parties and sleeping around.
Invincible Summer follows them as they navigate two decades of furtive sex and thwarted dreams, lost jobs and broken hearts, buffeted all the while by forces of economics and history that shape our lives.

Publisher: Picador

Pages: 308

This  book is delightful and I could not put it down. I read it in just over a day and  I was so sad to say goodbye to the fantastic characters created by Alice Adams.
Eva is the main character and she meets Sylvie, Lucien and Benedict while at university. This story follows the four friends each summer after they have graduated. It is fascinating to see the different directions they all take yet they have a strong tie that inevitably brings them back together.
Invincible Summer deals with so much; growing up, getting a job, love, friendship, loyalty and so much more. Alice Adams makes you truly care for these characters; they all have their flaws but they feel extremely real and you quickly want the best for them.
Benedict was my favourite character; he is definitely the most gentle and unassuming which in turn leads him to miss out on several things. The other friends can easily overlook him at times and there were moments where I felt frustrated that they had this lovely man as their friend but they did not appreciate him.
By showing the characters year by year, it was easy to see who had changed and who had got stuck or a bit lost. I remember feeling so daunted when I left university; I had no idea what I wanted to do or how I wanted to move forward and I think that Alice Adams captures these feelings brilliantly.
For some reason the book felt very British and comforting. If a film was made of it then I think it would be in a very similar vein to Four Weddings and a Funeral or Notting Hill. Alice Adams' writing is extremely witty but she does not shy away from emotive subjects and difficult situations.
I really, really loved this book, I don't keep that many (as my husband would divorce me!) but I will be finding this one a place on the shelf so that I can enjoy it again in the future.

Many thanks to Helen Mockridge for sending me a review copy of this book, it is out now! 

BOOK REVIEW: Room by Emma Donoghue

Jack is five.
He lives in a single, locked room with his Ma. 

Publisher: Picador

Pages: 401

I didn't read this book when it was first published as I was a little put off by all the hype surrounding it. When I saw that a film had been made then I thought that I would give it a go and I can say unreservedly that it deserved all the hype and I feel a bit silly for not having read it at the time!
Emma Donoghue tells us the story of Jack, he is five and was born in a single, locked room where he has lived his whole life with his Ma. There have been quite a few cases in the news recently about women who have been kidnapped and lived for years in a single locked, sometimes also bearing children.
The book is told from five year old Jack's perspective and I think that the author gets language and attitude of a child just right. Jack's view of the world is limited to one, tiny room and his mother, everything he has and does it precious, he knows no other way of life.
Room gave me so much to think about, I obviously considered the terror and devastation of being held prisoner but it also made me think about the role of the parent. When children are very young we effectively decide for them what they experience and what they don't. The story made me think about the huge responsibility of that  and also how lucky I am that I can give my child many different experiences and opportunities where as many are not as fortunate.
The pace of the book is excellent, I devoured it in just one day as I didn't want to leave Jack and his mother in that room. I have no idea what the film will be like but I urge you to read this book if you haven't already. It has given me so much to think  about and will stay with me for a long time. 

BOOK REVIEW: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mendel

DAY ONE
The Georgia Flu explodes over the surface of the earth like a neutron bomb.
News reports put the fatality rate at 99%
WEEK TWO
Civilization has crumbled.
YEAR TWENTY
A band of actors and musicians called The Travelling Symphony move through their territories performing concerts and Shakespeare to the settlements that have grown up there. Twenty years after the pandemic, life feels pretty safe.
But now, a new danger looms, and he threatens the hopeful world every survivor has tried to rebuild.
Moving backwards and forwards ín time, from the glittering years just before the collapse to the strange and altered world that exists twenty years after, Station Eleven charts the unexpected twists of fate that connect six people: famous actor Arthur Leander; Jeevan- warned about the flu just in time; Arthur's first wife Miranda; Arthur's oldest friend Clark; Kirsten, a young actress with the Travelling Symphony and the mysterious and self-proclaimed 'prophet'.
Thrilling, unique and deeply moving, this is a beautiful novel that asks questions about art and fame and about the relationships that sustain us through anything- even the end of the world.

Publisher: Picador

Publication Date: 10th September, 2014

This post-apocalyptic novel was quite a different read for me but one that I've very much enjoyed and it left me with a lot to think about.
Station Eleven goes back and forth, before the Georgia Flu has wiped out much of the world and then the aftermath where we follow some of the survivors. In the past we get to know famous actor Arthur Leander and he is the character that links all of the others, past and present. Arthur died the night that the Georgia Flu hit yet he still exists in the current world, through some character's memories plus celebrity memorabilia that has survived.
In the present, the author mainly focuses on Kirsten, she was a child actress who worked with Arthur and now she is part of the Travelling Symphony. One one of the symphony's caravans is the quote: 'survival is insufficient.' and that really is the issue that the author is exploring. All of the characters in the present have had to learn to survive but is that enough? Should they not still enjoy the beauty of their surroundings, can they not pass some time watching Shakespeare being performed?
Station Eleven is not just the title of the book but also the title of a comic series written by  Arthur's ex-wife. Two copies are in circulation and St. John Mendel looks at how differently they (and art in general) can be interpreted. Something borne from someone's
imagination is shown to have far reaching consequences.
Station Eleven very much makes you think, certain parts of it gave me goosebumps as it is all so realistic. We only have to look at the issue of Ebola in the news to understand that this is a situation that could arise and Emily St. John Mendel's description of The Georgia Flu and how it spread are terrifyingly believable.
At the start of the book I was willing certain characters to avoid the flu and survive but as we spend time with the survivors we begin to question whether they really are the lucky ones?
Emily St. John's writing has a real literary feel to it, I love how she subtly poses questions for the reader to mull over, sometimes providing answers and other times, leaving them open. Station Eleven is an interesting read that I think a lot of people will be talking about.

Many thanks to Picador for allowing me to download a review copy from Netgalley.