Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:40:14 +0100WeeblySun, 11 Aug 2024 15:31:39 GMThttps://lucysloftlibrary.weebly.com/my-reviews/black-days-by-jackson-ellisJackson Ellis’ deeply strange and utterly original novel tells the story of Daniel Fassett, who, upon waking from a coma after a near-fatal car accident, finds himself lonely and with a much smaller pension than he had anticipated. His time in hospital inspires him to partake in a experiment with a local doctor, in attempt to hibernate throughout the winter. Ellis’ writing style has an unsettling quality reminiscent of Shirley Jackson.

That Daniel’s partner in this experiment was a Dr Butcher certainly seemed fitting; although he never physically “butchers” anyone, his motivations are much less compassionate than Daniel’s. From the start, it is more than a little ridiculous how fast a seemingly sensible doctor is convinced to create an artificial hibernation process, and then, having done this, open up this procedure to others. While Daniel wants to select candidates based on who he thinks would benefit the most, Dr Butcher quite clearly sees the process as an experiment, and chooses the next patients so that he can test on a wide range of demographics. This is exemplified by the horrifying moments in which he sedates Rebecka Pollard, and performs a cheaper version of the procedure on Joe Gooley.

‘Black Days’ deals with various uncomfortable themes. Daniel’s situation can be seen as a criticism of the treatment of workers by their employers, as he is completely taken advantage of and then loses a large chunk of his pension through no fault of his own. This novel also questions the role of the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated in our society; Daniel pities Joe Gooley, believing he has been punished enough, whereas to Dr Butcher, criminals should repay their debts to society through methods very different to a typical prison sentence.
I would like to mention how grateful I am to have been given the opportunity to read ‘Black Days’ early — I feel very lucky to have had a head start on this fascinating yet chilling story. ‘Black Days’ will be formally published on the 22nd of October this year, and will become available as an ebook in early 2025.
]]>Mon, 05 Aug 2024 19:38:33 GMThttps://lucysloftlibrary.weebly.com/my-reviews/our-hideous-progeny-by-c-e-mcgillFor my eighteenth birthday, a good friend gave me the Penguin Classics clothbound edition of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’. I remember hiding away in the darkest corner of a coffee shop, during a heatwave — so different to the freezing conditions that Captain Walton is experiencing during the novel, yet I was completely absorbed by his tale. Although I started ‘Our Hideous Progeny’ in a heatwave, rather more suitably for the gothic genre I did read significant portions of it during heavy thunderstorms.

Far from a straightforward reimagining, ‘Our Hideous Progeny’ exists in the same literary universe as Shelley’s original Frankenstein; our protagonist, Mary, is the great-niece of Doctor Victor Frankenstein, and his story inspires her own scientific pursuits.

We do see, though, a few notable changes from the original ‘Frankenstein’. Victor Frankenstein abhors his creation, while Mary loves ‘her Creature’; Victor is pursued by his monster, but Mary must find hers after it is stolen by Clarke. Perhaps we are to believe that her Creature will return to her after the end of the novel, like Victor’s creation.

Overall, McGill’s novel doesn’t disappoint as a follow-up to its predecessor, or as a work of historical and science fiction. I can’t wait to see where they go next in their writing career; it’s sure to be exciting.
​]]>Mon, 29 Jul 2024 09:57:47 GMThttps://lucysloftlibrary.weebly.com/my-reviews/the-instrumentalist-by-harriet-constable‘The Instrumentalist’ takes us to early 1700s Venice, to follow the life of a young orphan girl who is to become Antonio Vivaldi’s prodigy. Anna Maria della Pietà is surrendered to the Ospedale della Pietà as a baby, where she is raised by nuns and trained as a musician and composer by Antonio Vivaldi.

I applaud the author’s meticulous research and dedication to illuminating the life of this extremely talented yet unknown woman. I would highly recommend this novel to any and all fans of historical fiction, but especially those who appreciate a feminist stance within the genre. The rich prose creates such a vivd retelling of Anna Maria’s world.

My book club were generously given advanced reader copies of Harriet Constable’s brilliant debut by Bloomsbury Publishing (in partnership with The Reading Agency). From what I understand, Bloomsbury also owns the publishing rights to her second novel, which is currently in the editing stage.
]]>Sat, 29 Jun 2024 15:19:29 GMThttps://lucysloftlibrary.weebly.com/my-reviews/the-thing-about-my-uncle-by-peter-j-stavrosIn our world today, with the growing prevalence of various social issues in young people’s lives, the coming-of-age novel is perhaps more important than ever. Reminiscent of Louis Sachar’s ‘Holes’ and Paul Zindel’s ‘The Pigman’, this is a genuine and heartfelt story about understanding ourselves, each other, and the world around us.

‘The Thing About My Uncle’ tells the story of fourteen-year-old Rhett Littlefield being sent to live with his reclusive and introverted uncle in rural Kentucky after a misunderstanding sees him expelled from school in Louisville. Unlike Stanley Yelnats, we get the impression that Rhett was a troublemaker back home; however, he is portrayed very much as a good kid in a bad situation, and we see him develop into a much more confident and thoughtful person throughout the book.

I will admit that at times the writing felt repetitive. Possibly this was a stylistic choice, but for me it fell a little flat. I also struggled with the inconsistency of Rhett’s first person narrative voice — sometimes he seemed highly eloquent, whereas at other points the language was very informal.

All in all I definitely commend Stavros on his first full-length novel, and I hope that in the future I get the opportunity to read more of his work. ‘The Thing About My Uncle’ deserves recognition as a touching young adult novel, and I will definitely be recommending it once it’s released in August.
]]>Wed, 19 Jun 2024 19:14:59 GMThttps://lucysloftlibrary.weebly.com/my-reviews/the-tusk-that-did-the-damage-by-tania-jamesSo much myth surrounds our view of elephants, from the legend of the elephant graveyard to the idea that “an elephant never forgets”. The elephant is, supposedly, the only species besides the human that buries their dead. In ‘The Tusk That Did the Damage’, James presents us with an elephant society quite similar to our own — the Gravedigger burying the bodies of those he kills demonstrates a capacity for mourning and respect for the dead. It is significant that the first body he buries is Mahadevan (also known as Old Man) the only human he has ever liked, which suggests an emotional response to what he has done.

For me, some of Emma’s narrative comes across a little weak. In comparison with Manu’s story and the omniscient narration of the Gravedigger and Old Man, the focus on Emma’s relationships with Ravi and Teddy seems quite jarring. However, this is perhaps more fitting; she is an outsider looking in, who cannot fully understand the complex landscape of poaching, conservation and the aftermath of the British raj in Kerala. This also highlights the often exploitative nature of documentary making. Teddy’s disastrous film about the anorexic Shelly Blake is in many ways the same as Emma’s method of capturing Ravi’s sanctuary.

‘The Tusk That Did the Damage’ can refer to several elements of the story. In Old Man’s story, the boy tells his stepmother that “it was the tusk that did the damage”, meaning that stealing the tusk from the graveyard is what curses him to turn into an elephant. The title also reflects the cyclical nature of the Gravedigger’s revenge. It is the elephant’s tusk that the poacher seeks, yet it is in return the tusk that the Gravedigger uses to kill poachers. In this way, the tusk makes the elephant both vulnerable and dangerous.

All in all, ‘The Tusk That Did the Damage’ is a fascinating yet devastating novel about revenge, conservation, and the toll that the British colonisation has had on India, the effects of which we still see today. It is unlike anything else I have ever read, and I would recommend it anyone; I also plan to read more of James’ work.
]]>Sat, 15 Jun 2024 10:28:24 GMThttps://lucysloftlibrary.weebly.com/my-reviews/ultramarine-by-lucy-weldon‘Ultramarine’ was a special read for me; I bought a copy of it from Lucy Weldon herself at an event several months ago. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her speak about her work, including non-fiction that she has published in the past, and her creative processes in creating this collection of award-winning short stories. Several others also expressed their admiration for her down-to-earth nature and willingness to engage with others about her book.

The opening story, ‘A Thousand Paper Cranes’, establishes the themes that run throughout the collection; our opening scene is a dinner party, with guests from various parts of the world. The entire book is, in a way, a conversation between different cultures, told through small moments in the lives of a few individuals.

‘Dear Mr President’ stands out to me as particularly moving, exploring a former war photographer’s return to his home while he suffers with PTSD, as an interaction with a local child inspire him to take action against the violence he has captured during his career. I also loved ‘Omma’s Piano’, about a man balancing his music, his family, and the complex guilt associated with having an extramarital affair. Each story has a unique and poignant ending, with our protagonists often finding themselves at a crossroads in their lives; for me, this is what really creates the sense of unity and connection between the stories, as we get the sense that all around the world, despite our differences, we are all driven ultimately by the desire to be content and to do the right thing.

Weldon’s is a collection of beautiful stories about people all around the world, and what brings us together. I look forward to her future work, in whatever form it may take.
]]>Sat, 15 Jun 2024 10:24:25 GMThttps://lucysloftlibrary.weebly.com/my-reviews/big-brother-by-lionel-shriverCentred on the mild-mannered entrepreneur Pandora, ‘Big Brother’ explores sibling relationships and their development into adulthood. Pandora’s reunion with jazz musician Edison finds him obese, self-obsessed and overall nearly a different person to the brother she knows and loves. His constant presence during a two month stay takes a heavy toll on her relationships with her husband and stepchildren. Ultimately, she must choose between blood family and her new life; she cannot maintain relationships with her brother and her husband simultaneously.

It is therefore difficult to avoid discussing the symbolism of the name Pandora. Once the mythical Pandora has released the evils from the box given to her by Zeus, they can never be contained again; similarly, Pandora Halfdanarson will be unable to give up on Edison after she begins trying to help him lose weight. The retrospectively unreliable narration takes us through her year of cohabiting with Edison in order to act as his personal weight loss coach. This project is a full-time commitment for her, involving leaving behind her family and permanently damaging her relationships with her husband and stepchildren. It will also take a toll on her psychologically, as if she takes on the task of helping him, she doesn't know at what point she can stop.

We, as the reader, must decide whether this is the right thing to do. Should she sacrifice her own lifestyle and happiness to save her brother's? I personally would say that she should not. We are also presented with the question of whether Edison is to blame for his own weight. His food habits are far from normal, and we see this in the scene in which he consumes several entire jars of sauces from Pandora’s kitchen. Do we see this as a choice, or a compulsion beyond his control? If it is a decision that he makes, it is hard to argue that Pandora ought to uproot her life to change this. However, if we take the more sympathetic view that his eating is more like an addiction, I would feel much more supportive of an attempt to help him recover.

Probably best known for the iconic ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’, Lionel Shriver has focused her work on the ugly side of everyday American life throughout her career. This novel does not fail to highlight a contemporary issue: upon its publication in 2013, over a quarter of adults in the USA were considered medically obese. ‘Big Brother’ invites us to consider the Edisons in our own lives — and what our responsibilities are to them.
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