In the past
five weeks since my
last reading update, I’ve managed to finish six books. I’m not sure why
this has become a pattern, but I seem to be picking up more non-fiction as of
late. I’m really loving reading about and getting to know a whole new cast of
characters. I’ve read books about friends, about death, about life, and about how
to make the most of everything. Although one of my least favourite books has emerged
this reading round, I’ve had a pretty good month of reading overall.
Everything I Know About Love – Dolly Alderton – 4 Stars
This book is so
heart-warming. I’ve read a lot of reviews about this book complaining that it’s
about one woman’s messy adventures through alcohol and dating, but those people
have utterly missed the point. Throughout the stories of ups and downs and
sideways of Alderton’s life as a growing adult, there is a thread of what kept
her going despite it all. That thread is her friends. We all come to realise
that no matter what happens in life, it is our friends that will be the ones
there, holding your hand and making sure you’re okay.
What I loved
about this book is the humanity in it. Alderton does not put on any airs about
who she is as a person. She does not gloss over the nitty-gritty,
self-deprecating, self-esteem draining moments we all go through in life. She
tells each story as it happened (or to the best of her ability), and I
appreciate this about the writing so much. I think this a great book for anyone
who appreciates their friends and may have a bit of a wild-child tendency.
Uncommon Relations – Rosalind Minett – 3 stars
This book is riddled with
sadness. From his mundane job to his closed off wife, Terry's missing the fire
and passion from when he was younger. I think the reader is easily attached to
Terry's feelings and therefore has some kind of compassion for him. The writing makes it clear that
he is frustrated and fed up with how his life has turned out. He seeks
belonging in some way. The underlying tension between him and his wife is
palpable with every conversation they have. There is definitely something that
his wife is keeping to herself and that is clearly linked to her artwork - she
cannot fully reveal who she is and therefore cannot make meaning of her own
art. This is a slow burn kind of novel that focuses on how desperate Terry is
to find some kind of joy in his life. While he finds his twin in the beginning
of the book, it takes a long time to establish the rest of Terry's life around
this discovery.
I think the synopsis is
misleading. This isn't the action packed, twists and turns kind of thriller I
was expecting. All of the action happens in the last 50 pages, so I found
myself shutting off a lot. The ending was also highly unsatisfying. Despite
these negatives, I may find myself looking for Part 2 because I feel so
attached to Terry and his life and I want to see where the established story
ends up going.
This novel is driven by the
subtleties of mundane living. Although the long explanations of Terry's (often
frustrating) decisions were time consuming, I believe they were necessary to
build up the story of his life. This book calls into question how different
people react to big revelations and how we relate to the world around us based
on the way we grew up. There are themes of parenting, belonging, jealousy, and
the hope for something better. It is a relatively easy read and I would suggest
it for people interested in characters and their psychology.
*Thanks to Reedsy for a copy of the book in
exchange for a review.
When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi
– 4 Stars
This
book left me in floods of tears at the end. It is about Kalanithi’s journey
through a love of literature that leads to becoming a brain surgeon and then
his own diagnosis of terminal cancer. He reflects on the steps he took
throughout his life and how each decision he made led to the success he has at
the time of writing the book. His death at the end is not a surprise because
we’re told that he dies before finishing the book, but it is still heart
wrenching.
The writing is
incredible. Kalanithi has a talent for writing. He was interested and inspiring
by the brain itself and how different brains relate to the world through
literature. His voice is so unique and
heartwarming. I loved reading every moment of this book. There is so much love
and passion in his life – that is clear to see. I do not see this as a sad
book. Kalanithi focuses more on fulfilling a life worth living – no matter how
long that life is. I suggest this book for anyone that loves literature and an interest in doctors.
The Terrible: A Storyteller’s
Memoir – Yrsa Daley-Ward – 4.5 Stars
I
ended up rating this a 5 on Goodreads. I have never come across a memoir as
unique and wonderful as this. The mixture between prose and poetry creates a voice
that exceeds all expectations of a memoir. The subtleties are skillfully
crafted, and although the story of Daley-Ward’s may be one that is familiar, the
ways it is told is what makes it stand out from the rest.
I
could not put this book down. I finished it in about two days because I was
utterly encapsulated in the writing. I’m normally someone who gets attached to the
characters, but this for me was about the way the story was structured. I
highly suggest this book for any lovers of poetry and how poets make meaning of their life.
The North Child – Edith Pattou –
2 Stars
I
did not enjoy this book one bit. I found the writing clunky and the switch of
narrative perspective confusing. I can see that it adds certain layers of dramatic
irony, but I always felt like once we got into someone’s plotline, there was a
switch to someone else and I lost track of what everyone was doing. There were
simply too many characters to follow along with. I also got distracted by the
occasional shift into informal language. Once in a while, there was a jarring moment
where colloquialisms popped up. I’m still not sure if that was intentional or
not.
This
book is simply crafted. There is nothing complicated or interesting about the way
it is written. There is also a lot of other languages involved that didn’t
really seem to have a place. I can see that we're meant to feel the language barrier, but maybe only do that once? The ending is so frustrating because it feels like
we all went through a whole journey and then undid all of that. It made no
sense, particularly because the scene lasted only a handful of pages.
What
I would say to Pattou’s merits is that the actual storyline was interesting. The
mystical themes and spiritual elements were fascinating and kept me hooked in enough
to finish the story. I would suggest this book for anyone who likes a good
story but won’t analyse the style of writing in too much detail.
Heart Berries – Terese Marie
Mailhot – 4 Stars
I
read this book in two sittings. It is an incredible deep dive into generational
trauma of Native people mixed with Mailhot’s battle with her own mental health.
It is so clear to see the long lasting effects of family, of government, and of
self-made restrictions. The stream of consciousness style of writing can be
difficult to follow along with, but readers start to see how much Mailhot’s recognises
her own power and identity through this style. It is a clear example of a character
arc.
I
love how raw and real the writing is. Mailhot’s own heart is poured out onto the
page. Writing is a way for her to process events and people of her past as well
as heal from those emotional and mental scars. It is poetic and plays with
memory as if it were a tangible toy, easily broken. It is so rare to be fully
immersed in something so personal. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I would suggest
it to anyone with an appreciation for prose and stylistic writing.
As
normal, let me know if you’ve read any of these books and share your thoughts
below! As well, if you have any suggestions for more books for me to read, tag
me in a picture of it on Instagram!
-
Daniella
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