Woman Reads Books - OctoberHello! Thank you so much for stumbling onto my little blog.
I love reading - and spend far too much money on books every month (or week to be honest). I thought it might be nice to share my thoughts on some of the books that I've read. I hope you enjoy having a look at my reviews and ramblings - please feel free to contact me using the form provided.
Happy reading!2024-03-29T11:58:32+00:00urn:md5:2870f953650165bc3e5a172d738388c0DotclearThe Good Sisters - Helen Phifer (pub. Carina)urn:md5:584160d627db5a1e64881829dce2598c2016-11-11T14:48:00+00:002016-11-11T14:56:27+00:00ireneannOctober<p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.tgs_s.png" alt="tgs.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="tgs.png, Nov 2016" /></p>
<p><strong>1931, Mother Superior Agnes offers sanctuary to a desperate young woman fleeing for her life. Only to wake in the morning to discover a terrible fate has befallen one of the Sisters – in a room locked from the inside. Agnes can’t help but fear that she has allowed a great evil to enter the convent, but she has no idea how far reaching the consequences of that one fateful night will be…</strong></p>
<p><strong>Over 80 years later, Kate Parker, divorced, alcoholic, and broke, moves into the dilapidated old convent she dreams of turning into a bed and breakfast, whilst changing her life. Although the locals refuse to go near the place at night, Kate is determined to stay while the renovations take place. But when she starts to hear strange noises at night, and the crucifixes she had removed reappear on the walls, Kate starts to suspect she is not entirely alone in her new home.</strong></p> <p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.logo4_t.png" alt="logo4.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="logo4.png, May 2016" /></p>
<p>I enjoyed the essence of <em>The Good Sisters</em>, which surprised me as once it got underway I was inwardly despairing, due to my dislike for a certain genre of fiction rather than anything else. But actually once that got out of the way I was able to compartmentalise it and read the book as a pure horror/ghost story. Just to add to the mix I thought reading it around the time of Halloween would add an extra 'je ne sais quoi' to the experience!</p>
<p>The characters themselves are interesting and likeable enough, from Sister Agnes to the present house-owner Kate and her builder Ollie. Even Ollie's building buddies Jack and Ethan had me cheering them on and smiling at their antics. The ending too, whilst predictable, was also a good apt drawing up of the story.</p>
<p>But, and here it comes, I often wished I could have given up on it. Actually maybe that is a little unfair, I wanted to put it down at the beginning (and perhaps I would have done had I not requested it for review), but whilst it irritated me throughout, by halfway through I wanted to see it through to the end.</p>
<p>My problem was the writing, I just didn't like it. It felt like Helen Phifer just didn't have hold of the story at all at times. There was an uneven timeline (which is one of my major bugbears), and repetition of the phrasing <strong>"to a woman of all people"</strong>. I mean, would it have been better the house being sold to a man? And then why keep repeating it? It was not needed and just made the writing feel shoddy and undeveloped.</p>
<p>The whole romantic attractions between Kate and Ollie was equally annoying, with the initial development of it sounding clumsy and erratic. This, coupled with the general lack of control and naïve writing style, was what made it hard for me to want to continue reading it. The style did improve slightly but in reality it was the characters which held it together for me throughout. I don't think that is a bad thing though!</p>
<p>Like all good ghost/horror stories, they seem to be better if the spirits/entities are unseen for as long as possible; the sightings of them often spoiling the "woo" factor which serves to unnerve us. My feeling is that probably holds true here too. I was just disappointed by the reality of it, but then I'm much more scared by the horrors my mind can conjure than any presented spectre on page or screen.</p>
<p>So for me this was a bit of a flop I'm afraid. The essence was good but the delivery of it more than failed to hit the mark I'm afraid to say.</p>http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?post/2016/11/11/The-Good-Sisters-Helen-Phifer-%28pub.-Carina%29#comment-formhttp://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?feed/atom/comments/91Rattle - Fiona Cummins (pub. Pan Macmillan)urn:md5:a2967fd4c6e7a169229b5b05bddc40cc2016-10-28T15:49:00+01:002016-10-28T15:49:00+01:00ireneannOctober<p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.r_s.png" alt="r.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="r.png, Oct 2016" /></p>
<p><strong>A serial killer to chill your bones A psychopath more frightening than Hannibal Lecter. He has planned well. He leads two lives. In one he's just like anyone else. But in the other he is the caretaker of his family's macabre museum. Now the time has come to add to his collection. He is ready to feed his obsession, and he is on the hunt.</strong></p>
<p><strong> Jakey Frith and Clara Foyle have something in common. They have what he needs. What begins is a terrifying cat-and-mouse game between the sinister collector, Jakey's father and Etta Fitzroy, a troubled detective investigating a spate of abductions.</strong></p> <p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.logo4_t.png" alt="logo4.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="logo4.png, May 2016" /></p>
<p>Honestly you need to buy this book now, <strong>NOW</strong>! Seriously what a book - it is amazing.</p>
<p>It's hard to believe that this is Fiona Cummins' debut novel; she writes with such an assured and developed voice which from the opening sentence drew me in and kept me writhing in her hand throughout. There was none of that working myself into it, the clarity of the characters meant that they were there as fully formed images at the onset of the story. And I know I use the cliché of being on the edge of my seat in a few reviews, but this is just something more, it had that rare knack of giving me that churning feeling in the pit of my stomach. The sense of impending doom prevailing my mood at several points in my reading.</p>
<p>The unravelling lives of the families of the missing children is all too evident, and the anguish which they go through is clearly portrayed. Indeed the anguish of the kidnapped children is pitifully sad and told through a child's voice rather than an adult's one. I gave a rare little smile to myself when young Clara spoke of her mother's answer to her having a tummy ache, having said that to my own daughter at regular occurrences.</p>
<p><em>Rattle</em>, I hope, is only the introduction to DS Etta Fitzroy, one of the main officers investigating the kidnapping. We're given a background (obviously troubled, but then name a good detective that isn't) which colours her behaviour in the story; but needless to say she's definitely a feisty, sometimes irresponsible, but always brave detective. She certainly goes through the mill here, and quite how she manages to keep picking herself up is impressive to say the least.</p>
<p>And then we have the ever-apparent, evil figure looming over everyone and everything. Given the name "Ol' Bloody Bones" by Jakey, he is like a Death-Eater sucking the light out of all the goodness. He's truly creepy, even in those light, loving moments he shared with his wife he still managed to have a malevolence jumping to the surface. He's obviously deranged but the totally lack of empathy is chilling, and he certainly is reminiscent of the Hannibal Lecter character that's for sure.</p>
<p>Aside from all of this, what I loved about <em>Rattle</em> is that it relied on no clichéd twists and turns, it's just a rollicking tension-filled read. I'm sure you've managed to deduce by now that I ADORED this book, there is not one thing that I could even start to, or want to, criticise.</p>
<p>Fiona Cummins is almost definitely a bright new shining voice onto the thriller scene. I am firmly placing this on the best-seller list for 2017, and making it into one of my top ten reads of this year.</p>
<p>A magnificent book, I <ins>cannot</ins> wait for the next one!</p>
<p><strong><em>Rattle</em> is out on 26/01/2017 - pre-order it NOW.</strong></p>http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?post/2016/10/28/Rattle-Fiona-Cummins-%28pub.-Pan-Macmillan%29#comment-formhttp://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?feed/atom/comments/90Infected - Gregg Luke (pub. Covenant Communications)urn:md5:6f7d663987a0a92e6b7ff9bfc63adfdd2016-10-28T15:23:00+01:002016-10-28T15:23:00+01:00ireneannOctober<p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.i_s.png" alt="i.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="i.png, Oct 2016" /></p>
<p><strong>Deep in the jungles of Venezuela, mycologist Dr. Julia Fatheringham is engrossed in her study of native fungi. But what begins as a standard research trip quickly spirals into chaos when her associate’s erratic behaviour results in his horrifying death. Soon, Julia makes a startling discovery: her partner was contaminated by an organism found only in insects. It alters the victim’s mind in alarming ways, with an invariably deadly outcome. Julia is baffled by her discovery—this organism has never appeared in humans.</strong></p>
<p><strong>It shouldn’t be possible</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>There is only one terrifying conclusion: The infection has jumped species.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Now, in this remote corner of the world, a contagion of unparalleled horror rests in Julia’s hands. But even as she works to contain the organism that could spell devastation of apocalyptic proportions, there are others with a different agenda. They’ve learned of her discovery and will go to any lengths to acquire a sample—there is good money to be had in eco-terrorism.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Armed only with her strength of mind and what courage she can gather, Julia prepares to battle the devastating scourge—and the terrorists determined to unleash it on humanity.</strong></p> <p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.logo4_t.png" alt="logo4.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="logo4.png, May 2016" /></p>
<p>I think this had the foundations to be an excellent book, but for whatever reason, it just missed the mark for me. It was a good read don't get me wrong, it just wasn't as good as it could have been.</p>
<p>In a way there are two stories ticking alongside each other, and I'm sure that was my problem. I was getting into the 'infection' storyline when the sabotage element kicked in, and I then spent the next hour wanting the infection to take control.</p>
<p>Julia, as the main lynchpin in the novel, was a strong, likeable character who manages to balance this strength with a natural vulnerability considering the circumstances she is suddenly plunged into. But again she misses out and sometimes I though she lost her way a little.</p>
<p>And that is the same trouble that plagues the book; by trying to weave these two storylines together it loses its way. I don't know where the last third of the book went though as I was absorbed within the pages, and when the action gets underway it does so with strength. The introduction of Noely helps with the absorption as I couldn't help but root for her and her brother. I just wish that I cared as much for the rest of them. It tried so hard to wrap it all up that I lost hope for the ending, so that helped to leave me with a sense of deflation.</p>
<p>It's good, but it could have been so much more.</p>http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?post/2016/10/28/Infected-Gregg-Luke-%28pub.-Covenant%29#comment-formhttp://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?feed/atom/comments/89And Then There Was Me - Sadeqa Johnson (pub. St. Martins Press)urn:md5:25f9ce7a704aef743c9fa068b5291c472016-10-28T15:03:00+01:002016-10-28T15:03:00+01:00ireneannOctober<p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.attwm_s.png" alt="attwm.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="attwm.png, Oct 2016" /></p>
<p><strong>On Memorial Day weekend in posh Spring Lake, NJ, Bea is vacationing with her husband Lonnie and their two children. A surrogate, she is hot, bothered, and very pregnant with Lonnie’s cousin Mena’s baby. But Bea is also secretly bulimic. No one knows her secret, especially not Lonnie.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Controlling husband Lonnie has recently plopped them into the middle to upper class suburb of Evergreen, New Jersey, which lacks the diversity that Bea, half African-American and half Dominican, craves. The demands of motherhood and fitting in to this new environment, while pretending not to know that her husband is cheating on her, again, is more than she can handle.</strong></p> <p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.logo4_t.png" alt="logo4.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="logo4.png, May 2016" /></p>
<p>Well this was a beautiful little book dealing with love, friendship, loyalty and loss.</p>
<p>Bea as the main character is beautiful, her goodness just shines through. I could happily have slapped Lonnie for not treasuring her and for treating her so disrespectfully. He, of course, comes across as handsome and a good provider, but essentially as a man who needed to grow up and behave himself. The rest of the characters are portrayed as well as Bea and Lonnie, I got a real sense of them all so clear are they in my mind.</p>
<p>The day-to-day running of the household was realistically portrayed and totally identifiable to me, from the rush-around-madness of the morning, to the seemingly judgemental mothers in the playground. Though I was quite envious of the valet service which meant you didn't need to get out of the car at drop off! And whilst I'm on the subject, I loved Bea's children, Alan and Chico - they were so cute and such typical kids that they often had me smiling to myself.</p>
<p>The dark cloud of bulimia managed to pervade the story without over-whelming it I thought. I saw the battle that Bea had to keep it at bay, but also completely understood when and why that cloud took hold of her. It was so disappointing when she had to give in to the need to purge, and I was willing her to fight it. Though how she managed to with the storm of deceit that Lonnie bought with him was testament to her will to get well. I tell you though, I would have loved to be invited round for supper, some of the meals that Bea made sounded yummy!</p>
<p><em>And Then There Was Me</em> is a story about love and also about betrayal, and whilst not wanting to give anything away, I think Lonnie got what was coming to him. I'm not condoning it, but I couldn't help but feel a bit of satisfaction!</p>
<p>It really is a beautiful read though, it's totally engaging and actually quite uplifting. It manages to show a strong yet vulnerable woman, who deals with her life with a grace and power that often goes unnoticed in women.</p>
<p>I so enjoyed this, please give it a read - it's fab.</p>http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?post/2016/10/28/And-Then-There-Was-Me-Sadeqa-Johnson-%28pub.-Thomas-Dunne-Books%29#comment-formhttp://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?feed/atom/comments/88Local Poet - Paul Trembling (pub. Lion Fiction)urn:md5:efd438faee238e038da25e1c81b930632016-10-25T16:03:00+01:002016-10-28T13:44:11+01:00ireneannOctober<p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.lp_s.png" alt="lp.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="lp.png, Oct 2016" /></p>
<p><strong>Rob Seaton Killed a Woman.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Rob doesn't know Laney Grey. But when she steps out in front of his van and dies on impact, his life will never be the same. He has to know who she was, why she chose to die, and why he had to be part of her death.</strong></p>
<p><strong>To understand her, he must learn to read her poetry. To know her, he must unravel the mysteries of her past. As Laney's dark secret starts to come to light, and authorities get involved, Rob must learn the full truth and quickly.</strong></p>
<p><strong>But truth comes at a cost and someone must pay...will Rob be the one?</strong></p> <p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.logo4_t.png" alt="logo4.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="logo4.png, May 2016" /></p>
<p>This was an interesting book. Where I'd expect a detective I got just an ordinary civilian in the shape of Rob Seaton, and I must admit at intervals in my reading I had to keep reminding myself of this. It was such a break from the norm.</p>
<p>It wasn't that it was out of place at all, I guess we just get used to certain roles and this was so different to that. Rob himself is a likeable character, and I did get the sense of his guilt and understood his need to find out all that he could about local poet Laney Grey. The only thing I have to say is that he certainly seemed a quick learner - and that will become more apparent as you read the book; which I hope you will.</p>
<p>It is jam-packed with tension and action, which at times will have you on the edge of your seat. I did occasionally wonder how he got out of certain situations towards the end of the story, and pondered as to whether his information was realistically given; but I have to say that none of these musings hindered my enjoyment of the novel. PC June Henshaw again is an interesting character, and I'm pleased to see in the little bit of the sneak preview of Book Two that I glanced over, that she makes another appearance. She definitely has great potential to become a serial-book character. Indeed the same could be said of quite a few of the characters we're introduced to in <em>Local Poet</em>, as the sometimes fleeting appearances left me awaiting their next outing.</p>
<p>This is a rather pleasant twist on a detective thriller underpinned by an intriguing plot. I think this is certainly worthy of a day curled up on the sofa, and in fact is a cracking read actually.</p>http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?post/2016/10/25/Local-Poet-Paul-Trembling-%28pub.-Lion-Fiction%29#comment-formhttp://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?feed/atom/comments/87Swimming Lessons - Claire Fuller (Penguin, Fig Tree)urn:md5:0b4393c61816ded57fae1ef610108deb2016-10-25T15:27:00+01:002016-10-25T15:27:00+01:00ireneannOctober<p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.sl_s.png" alt="sl.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="sl.png, Oct 2016" /></p>
<p><strong>'Gil Coleman looked down from the window and saw his dead wife standing on the pavement below.'</strong></p>
<p><strong>Gil's wife, Ingrid has been missing, presumed drowned, for twelve years.</strong></p>
<p><strong>A possible sighting brings their children, Nan and Flora, home. Together they begin to confront the mystery of their mother. Is Ingrid dead? Or did she leave?</strong></p>
<p><strong>And do the letters hidden within Gil's books hold the answer to the truth behind his marriage, a truth hidden from everyone including his own children?</strong></p> <p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.logo4_t.png" alt="logo4.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="logo4.png, May 2016" /></p>
<p>This was such an enjoyable read that I would have been happy to turn back to the beginning and start again. The writing style just immersed me fully into both of the worlds in the story, such was its power.</p>
<p>The mystery of the missing mother, Ingrid, underlies the whole of the book, and the way the reasons for her disappearance unfold through the letters is totally intriguing and gut-wrenchingly plausible. The all-too familiar choices that Gil makes in their relationship manages to be turned into a somewhat romantic, poetical yet banal lifestyle. The epistolary entries that Ingrid leaves in novels reflecting their contents, have such fluency that I had such a clear picture of both her and her life, which at times was so heartbreakingly sad. I couldn't help but feel that she was short-changed by Gil; she certainly deserved far more happiness than she got.</p>
<p>Then we have the present-day story of Gil and his daughters Flora and Nan. Again written by Claire Fuller with a tone that blended pathos, drama, joy and tragedy. The effects that their mother's disappearance have on not only their lives but on the moulding of their personalities, is blindingly apparent. And the question of whether it is better to know the truth rather than live in hope or fear is an interesting one to ponder.</p>
<p>Swimming Lessons is my introduction to the books of Claire Fuller and I'm so glad it caught my eye and imagination. It's just so exquisitely written, it takes your hand and leads you through these characters' lives; the ups and downs of their experiences, and the beautiful moments of the mundane in Ingrid's world. <br />
I loved it.</p>http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?post/2016/10/25/Swimming-Lessons-Claire-Fuller-%28Penguin%2C-Fig-Tree%29#comment-formhttp://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?feed/atom/comments/86The Secret - Katerina Diamond (pub. Avon)urn:md5:ac87ecc71c4ab554e29c083017e008032016-10-13T14:10:00+01:002016-10-13T14:10:00+01:00ireneannOctober<p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.ts_s.png" alt="ts.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="ts.png, Oct 2016" /></p>
<p><strong>EVERYTHING YOU THINK YOU KNOW IS A LIE…</strong></p>
<p><strong>When Bridget Reid wakes up in a locked room, terrifying memories come flooding back – of blood, pain, and desperate fear. Her captor knows things she’s never told anyone. How can she escape someone who knows all of her secrets?</strong></p>
<p><strong>As DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles search for Bridget, they uncover a horrifying web of abuse, betrayal and murder right under their noses in Exeter.</strong></p>
<p><strong>And as the past comes back to haunt her, Grey must confront her own demons. Because she knows that it can be those closest to us who hurt us the most…</strong></p> <p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.logo4_t.png" alt="logo4.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="logo4.png, May 2016" /></p>
<p>Why did this have to end where it did!? Honestly if this doesn't leave you wanting more, then there is something seriously wrong. It's a terrific ending.</p>
<p>Oh I've just thought; that is a really bizarre statement to start a review with. But I'm sure once you read it, you'll forgive me!</p>
<p>So, <em>The Secret</em> - a very enjoyable read. I shall admit to being a tad confused at times, as this novel switches between timeframes. I'm not sure why I found it difficult to get my head around it, normally I'm on board straightaway. I do think though that it was more down to my own lack of concentration rather than anything to do with the writing, but as always I need to be honest.</p>
<p>As a result though, my thoughts on some of the characters got a bit mixed-up in the process - I wasn't sure who was on what side. But as it happens that didn't seem to be a problem at all by the end! I'm going to limit my thoughts on them though to just a couple: DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles - what a great team. I liked the way they bounced off each other. The history of Imogen Grey partly told by these time-shifts, makes her a very interesting character - and the way both Grey and Miles's private lives invade their careers adds an extra dimension. I'd be more than happy to read more and more of these two. And then there's Dean Kincaid - I feel myself blushing even writing his name - well, I'm not going to spoil it other than to say, that he's definitely a mix between naughty and oh so very nice! In all seriousness though, there are some very enthralling characters, though, and I don't mean this in any way negatively, I do look forward to some of them being developed in future books. There are certainly more than enough hidden depths that we're only just starting to read about.</p>
<p>The book is full of twists and turns, but not in a "just throw one in for the sake of it" way that lesser writing leans towards. No, everything is a legitimate, natural plot development. It certainly moves at a pace that managed to unsettle me, even the slow sedate scenes with Bridget left me a little breathless at times. There is a lot going on throughout the book, and like the characters, it feels like the peeling away of the layers has only just begun by the time the book has finished.</p>
<p>Which very neatly brings me round full-circle to my initial warbling. Katerina Diamond has very successfully left me feeling very satisfied by reading <em>The Secret</em>, but equally desperate to want to read the next chapter in the stories of these characters. So, no pressure, but please get writing!</p>
<p>A hugely enjoyable read.</p>http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?post/2016/10/13/The-Secret-Katerina-Diamond-%28pub.-Avon%29#comment-formhttp://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?feed/atom/comments/85The Handsworth Times - Sharon Duggall (pub. Bluemoose)urn:md5:56107c910ea59ca852f0a60e479d4def2016-10-13T13:48:00+01:002016-10-13T13:48:00+01:00ireneannOctober<p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/tht.jpg" alt="tht.jpg" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="tht.jpg, Oct 2016" /></p>
<p><strong>Mukesh Agarwal sits alone in the Black Eagle pub, unaware that a riot is brewing or that Billy, his youngest son, is still out on his bike...A mile away, at home in Church Street, Anila, one of the three Agarwal girls, is reading Smash Hits and listening to Radio One as she sprawls across the bottom bunk, oblivious to the monumental tragedy that is about to hit her family.</strong></p>
<p><strong>It is 1981 and Handsworth is teetering on the brink of collapse. Factories are closing, unemployment is high, the National Front are marching and the neglected inner cities are ablaze as riots breakout across Thatcher's fractured Britain. The Agarwals are facing their own nightmares but family, pop music, protest, unexpected friendships and a community that refuses to disappear all contribute to easing their personal pain, and that of Handsworth itself.</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>The Handsworth Times</em> is a story of loss and transition, and pulling together because ultimately, there is such a thing as society.</strong></p> <p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.logo4_t.png" alt="logo4.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="logo4.png, May 2016" /></p>
<p>The relationships entwined within this gem of a book are so delicately beautiful that <em>The Handsworth Times</em> becomes a truly sublime read. First there are the obvious relationships between the family members, but in a way the genuinely lovely bond that Usha and her neighbour Brenda share throughout the book is probably what shines through for me.</p>
<p>Set eponymously in Handsworth in 1981, the unrest of the country as a whole is juxtaposed with the chaos that descends in the Agarwal household. The results of the riot are brought into the Agarwal home and the devastation it creates is achingly poignant. The way the family learns to cope and deal with this is of course different for each person, but then each coping mechanism has its own knock-on effect.</p>
<p>I don't want to gloss over the history running through the book, but neither can I claim to be any sort of expert in the political history of Britain. The knowledge I do possess I'm sure has all been learnt as I've gotten (rapidly!) older, considering I wasn't quite into double figures yet, and I was probably more concerned with how many sweets I could buy with my 10p pocket money and playing outside on my bike. As a result I found the whole social history aspect really interesting to read, and I loved the musical references scattered throughout.</p>
<p>However it was, as I initially touched upon, the relationships that made this book for me. It's not the differences between the community of Handsworth that stand out, instead it's the similarities that unite them all. It's hard to say too much without spoiling the plot, but the inner battles each of the Agarwal's faces are realistic and at times heartbreaking. This isn't a book of sadness though, there are very painful moments yes, but there is also a heap of happiness and laughter too.</p>
<p>I so enjoyed reading this book, the writing is as joyous as the story itself. Totally recommended.</p>http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?post/2016/10/13/The-Handsworth-Times-Sharon-Duggall-%28pub.-Bluemoose%29#comment-formhttp://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?feed/atom/comments/84The Easy Way Out - Steven Amsterdam (pub. Riverrun, Quercus Books)urn:md5:fd3537aa2399f7b9509a62421915403e2016-09-12T13:55:00+01:002016-11-02T17:44:19+00:00ireneannOctober<p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.tewo_s.png" alt="tewo.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="tewo.png, Sep 2016" /></p>
<p><strong>Evan is a nurse, a suicide assistant. His job is legal – just. He’s the one at the hospital who hands out the last drink to those who ask for it. Evan’s friends don’t know what he does during the day. His mother, Viv, doesn’t know what he’s up to at night. And his supervisor suspects there may be trouble ahead</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>As he helps one patient after another die, Evan pushes against the limits of the law – and his own morality. And with Viv increasingly unwell, his love life complicated, to say the least, Evan begins to wonder who might be there for him, when the time comes . . .</strong></p>
<p>From an award-winning author, The Easy Way Out is a brilliantly funny and exquisitely sad novel that gets to the heart of one of the most difficult questions each of us may face: would you help someone die?</p> <p><img src="http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/public/.logo4_t.png" alt="logo4.png" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="logo4.png, May 2016" />
<strong>WARNING - THIS POST CONTAINS SWEARING!</strong></p>
<p>I'm going to be completely honest (as always) and tell you that I was in two minds whether to request this book for review after reading the blurb; it sounded intriguing and something different from the norm, but also a bit of a touchy subject. Touchy seems such an inadequate word there, though I'm not sure that 'delicate' which is the only other one springing to mind, is even better. See I guess, that part of my problem, and I'm sure for many others, is that death is such a, well, "touchy" subject. Anyway, where I'm going with this is I'm very pleased I did actually take the plunge and I'm grateful (thank you to Quercus and Netgalley for the copy!) I have had the chance to review it.</p>
<p>Not that it was an immediately smooth ride, the beginning had me smiling, but then by the dénouement of the first assisted suicide, the tears were well and truly flowing. Not even polite tears running down the face, no I'm talking full-on proper crying. I'll admit that I did then have a little internal battle with myself as to whether I could actually do this, and by 'this' I mean continue reading the book rather than any struggle with what was happening. But I steeled myself and journeyed on.</p>
<p>I have absolutely no moral dilemma with what was happening at Mercy Hospital, the lives and decisions are clearly the patients' own, they, on the whole, had the support of those around them, so who am I to stand by and judge? Who know what we would do until we're in that situation. We can hypothesise and imagine,, but, well you know, "Never judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins".</p>
<p>If you haven't been unfortunate (now that IS a totally inadequate word) enough to lose someone close, and dare I say it, see the fucking disease that is cancer, as Amsterdam puts it go "through him like drain cleaner", then you are, very, very blessed. This truly horrendous disease seems to be everywhere. I honestly don't think I know anyone who hasn't be affected by it somewhere in their lives, be it friends or family. And I think this was my initial struggle with the book, and I hope I'm not spoiling it here, but the first scene is of a man, Teddy, who has been ravaged by cancer. Maybe if it had been another disease I could have acclimatised myself to it first - though even as I'm writing this I know that is pretty much baloney. I guess at least this way I was facing my demons pretty much head-on. And I shan't go into it here, not because I'm ashamed or embarrassed in any way sharing it, or because I would not be able to see the page amidst my tears, but because it is private, in that repressed English way. I shall say that I (forgive me) fucking hate cancer with every ounce of my being, and every day, every single day I miss my Dad.
Anyway, (wiping eyes furiously) this isn't just a book about cancer, no there are lots more horrendous diseases to familiarise yourself with!</p>
<p>And, actually, whilst I'm still thinking about it, I don't know if <em>The Easy Way Out</em>, is the right title. I can see the way in which it's meant but I think it takes fecking courage to opt for this ending. Yes being able to choose the time and manner of your death empowers you, yes you get a pain-free exit, but oh the courage, or the desperation it must take.</p>
<p>Anyway, now, however many words in we are, I realise that I've told you practically nothing about the book and what is probably more than acceptable (or wanted) of the workings of my erratic brain. Aside of, or perhaps because of, the rollercoaster of emotions experienced, I did enjoy this book. Evan, as the protagonist, is a likeable character, caring for his mother Viv, trying to find a way to help patients in one way or another, and seemingly shying away from lovers/friends, Lon and Simon. I couldn't help but think that perhaps he might have benefitted from a little does of therapy or something that would have helped his apparent inability to be loved. Anyway there I go again, I apologise.</p>
<p>Is it a book about trying to get the most out of life? A book about love and what it is to be loved? It's probably both those things and more. Yes at times it's very sad (though perhaps worth noting here that my eyes are I think hot-wired to leak at every opportunity), but it is also funny, and a little bit raunchy at times. It certainly gives you lots to talk and think about, in case you hadn't guess that already!</p>
<p>Please, read this, I think armed with tissues you'll get a lot more out of it, than just the great read it is.</p>http://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?post/2016/09/12/The-Easy-Way-Out-Steven-Amsterdam-%28pub.-Riverrun%2C-Quercus-Books%29#comment-formhttp://www.womanreadsbooks.com/index.php?feed/atom/comments/78