Review of 'The Girl on the Train' by Paula Hawkins. The book club choice for August.

Following it’s phenomenal success, I was very much looking forward to reading this book whilst on holiday.  On my flight, the lady beside me was reading it and she didn’t put it down once, which I thought was a great sign!
Now I understand why.   It is, in my opinion, a gripping read – a real page turner.

So, to the story first. We first meet Rachel as she is returning home from work (by train) on a Friday afternoon.  She is the narrator, and we are immediately drawn into her world of drinking and daydreaming.  She has four cans of pre-mixed gin and tonic on the train and that is just for starters.  So, as a narrator, we see that she is pretty unreliable from the off.  However she is also very likable with all her human flaws and I felt I could identify with some of her feelings early on.  Rachel’s journey takes her past the back of her old house, where she lived with her now ex-husband Tom.  We soon discover she is divorced, as a result of her drinking, which is partly as a result of her not being able to conceive a child.

She loves the train journey and she begins a fantasy about a couple she watches as she passes by on the train every day.  She calls them Jason and Jess.  The story unfolds as she is a caught up in the real lives of Jason and Jess, who are actually called Megan and Scott.  The story takes off when Rachel reads in the paper that Megan has vanished, and she decides to tip off the police. She is convinced that Scott, who is the prime suspect,  would never harm his beloved wife.
But due to Rachel’s drinking, which is causing blackouts, irrationality and drunk dialing, the police dismiss her as a time waster. She has also been persecuting her ex-husband Tom and his wife Anna, by bombarding them with offensive messages.  She is an extremely flawed character and her alcoholic lifestyle is tragic, and leads to much confusion, both for herself and others.

As the story develops, and Rachel continues to try and remember what happened on a particular night, her life is intertwined with that of Scott, her ex-husband Tom and his wife Anna.

My thoughts on the book: starting with the good – if you can suspend judgement and get past some very unrealistic facts, this is an engrossing page turner and a perfect holiday read.  The structure is clever, the narrator, although flawed is very human, and I was certainly on her side, although mightily frustrated by her as well.

The bad – I just couldn’t believe how Rachel was seemingly able to give up the drink so easily whenever it suited her, and go from a complete wreck to a competent intelligent woman, running around solving mysteries like a detective. COMING UP, SPOILER ALERT:

I also felt that Tom, as a character, was unrealistically portrayed.  Surely some of the evil side of his character would have been in evidence before the end of the story?  He was overly nice and thus a somewhat unrealistic character in my opinion.   In saying that, I didn’t see it coming, so the author did a good job,by throwing in a few curve balls along the way (such as the red headed guy who was definitely suspicious to me, because I am obviously a bit too gullible!!)

The ugly – I felt the book was over dramatized in places.  There was a lot of biting of lips and wailing and clenching of fists.  I would have preferred a more subtle approach at times, although I do appreciate that the author was building tension.

To summarize, I would recommend this book. If you are willing to suspend judgement on reality and enjoy it for what it is, a great page turner of a thriller.
I look forward to hearing your views.

My thoughts on 'Go Set a Watchman.' One of our book club choices for August

After all the hype and the many conflicting controversial reports on Harper Lee's novel, I prepared to read it on my holidays and decided to try and read it without any  prior  judgement. I ignored the critics and I am glad I did.

I may be one of the few, but I enjoyed this novel very much.  If, for one moment, we see it as independent of 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' I found it a very entertaining, humorous and thought provoking read.   If you don't wish to know what happens, I suggest you stop reading now!
Scout, or Jean-Louise as she is now known, is returning to Maycomb to see her father Atticus Finch, who is now a 70 year old man.  She also has a beau in Maycomb called Henry (Hank).  Jean-Louise goes home and not only discovers how Maycomb and the people there have changed, but she also reflects a lot on the past.  SPOILER ALERT.....

We find out that Jem died suddenly aged 22 and Dill is off travelling.  Jean-Louise reminisces about her childhood and there are some extremely funny stories during this stroll down memory lane.  One relating to a missing bra and the other about Dill dressing up as a ghost and falling into a pond. Jean-Louise clearly misses her brother terribly and she is happy to tell Hank all about her wonderful childhood in Maycomb.
She then discovers that Hank and Atticus are attending meetings which involve some less that moral men and/or subjects, namely the Klan.  Without finding out more, Jean-Louise jumps to the wrong conclusions, (as did the media in my opinion) and assumes that her father has become a racist bigot overnight.  To my mind, those who believe Atticus is a racist in this book, have missed the point of the book entirely.  He is finding out more about what's going on, so he can be prepared for any future trouble, as he tells Jean-Louise repeatedly.

This leads to my favourite part of the book, the moral ending where Jean-Louise and Atticus go at it hammer and tongs.  I felt it was well portrayed and strongly  argued by both characters.  Jean-Louise comes to see that Atticus is not a perfect human being, but he's not a racist either, and that he still maintains and holds all the values that make him so important to her.    I felt she was the flawed character in this book.  She had written Atticus off, without even giving him a chance to defend himself and I hated her for that.  However she did eventually give him a chance to say his piece, and it certainly gave both her and us plenty to think about.   Atticus's love for his daughter is unconditional but her love for him isn't.  She expects him to be the perfect person that she put on that pedestal all those years ago, and she has to realize that he is still a great man, but his opinions and convictions may have changed somewhat with the changing times.    The relationship between them is as dynamic and all encompassing as ever, and I loved that.

OK, so there are many inaccuracies in the book, if you set it alongside Mockingbird.  We are told that Calpurnia, the Finches’ maid, has “run off the place” after Jem’s death; but then a few pages later we actually hear that "she returned to the Quarters in honourable retirement”. The worst offence is when they discuss the trial of Tom Robinson, the guilty verdict has suddenly become an acquittal, which is definitely strange given the outcome of 'To Kill a Mockingbird.'

However, I didn't let that spoil my enjoyment, and as a novel in it's own right I thought it was well worth the read. I understand those who cannot see them as two separate novels, and for that reason they are highly critical of this book.  I do see their point.  In a perfect world 'Go Set a Watchman' would be a flawless sequel, but given the fact it was the original story and how it came to be published, that was highly unlikely.  However  I am glad it was published and I highly recommend it!

Review of 'To Kill a Mockingbird.'

As part of my holiday reading, I said I was going to read 'To Kill a Mockingbird' followed by 'Go Set a Watchman.'  Well, as I have just finished 'To Kill a Mockingbird' I thought I would share my thoughts. 

For those who don't know the story, it is told through the eyes of Scout, a young 8 year old girl who lives with her brother Jem and her father Atticus Finch, in the town of Maycomb in Alabama.   Atticus is a lawyer and a very upright, moral and caring man.  We don't know anything about their mother, other than that she is dead and Scout doesn't remember much about her at all.   Atticus is the lynchpin of the family and although strict, shows great affection and love to his two children.  Atticus is called on to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, who is accussed of raping a girl, Mayella Ewell.   Meanwhile Scout, Jem and their friend Dill, who visits during the summer, are obsessed with childish games and trying to see Boo Radley, the mysterious man who lives down their street, but never appears in public.  As the case of Tom Robinson goes to court, Scout, Jem and Dill are to find their innocence shattered forever and their lives caught up in the evil ways of certain people in their society.

Re-reading this book confirmed for me why Harper Lee is such a phenomenon and why this Pulitzer Prize winning novel is so popular.   The voice of Scout is perfectly pitched.  The novel is full of humour, acute observations about the human spirit and how sincere goodness in a person can have a profound impact on individuals in a society.

I adore the character of Atticus Finch.  A loving father and an upstanding member of society, he quotes some of the most memorable lines of the book such as:

"First of all," he said, "if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view […] until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

During the court case, Atticus shows up the deep racism that exists and how the judgement of a man because of the colour of his skin is entirely wrong.  He is calm, composed and articulate, but he is also realistic, and seems to me almost resigned to the racism that exists in this small town.   For me, Atticus is a hero.  He never falters and in a cynical world he is someone we can all have faith in. 

It was revelatory to read this wonderful novel again.  So many themes to consider, great characters and an engrossing story make this one of my favourite reads of the year.  To anyone who has never read it, I say, do yourself a favour and read it now.   It is a classic for a good reason.

Review of July's book club choice. 'The Storied Life of A.J.Fikry' by Gabrielle Zevin.

This book was recommended to me and having read it, I am delighted I listened and decided to make it a book club choice.  The story revolves around the life of a man, A.J. Fikry, who runs a book shop on an island near Hyannis in Massachusetts.  His bookshop is not doing particularly well and he is a bit of a literary snob, so he isn't great at catering for the masses or indeed making an effort to sell them what they might like. He is at an exceptionally low point in his life when we first meet him.  He is grieving the loss of his wife, who tragically died two years previously. He is drinking too much and he is pretty much one step away from a breakdown.  Only for the support and love of his sister in law, Ismay, he would be sunk.  Life goes from bad to worse, when the only valuable item he owns, a first edition copy of  Edgar Allen Poe's 'Tamerlane' is stolen one night when he is in a drunken stupor.   We forget about this during the telling of the rest of the story, but there is a twist which we are to discover later. We then meet the second main character of the story, Amelia, who is the sales rep for a book company.  When she first meets A.J, he is exceptionally rude to her and it seems they are doomed never to get along.  However as the story develops, so too does their relationship.  But it is when an abandoned baby called Maya is left in his bookstore that A.J.'s life really changes.  
There are moments of tragedy and joy throughout the story, as we follow the lives of A.J., Maya, Amelia and the people surrounding them, such as Daniel, the smug self satisfied writer who is married to A.J's sister-in-law, Ismay.  Their story is secondary to the story of A.J., Amelia and Maya, but is no less interesting for that.   
This book for me was a complete joy from start to finish.  The story is told with humour, warmth and a touching sincerity.  It's all about books, so if you are a bookworm, then it should definitely warm your heart.  I would describe this as the perfect holiday read.  It is lighthearted, takes next to no concentration to read, and leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling.    Zevin's gift is in her ability to make  you fall in love with the characters, and to feel empathy for A.J. and also Amelia.  You are plugging for them from the start (well I was anyway).   The author also introduces other interesting characters, such as Chief Lambiase, who again, is one of those people you just can't help but like.  The story portrays life on a small island as idyllic, with a close knit community who all know your business, but are there to support you.  At times for me, the story was a little 'too' perfect, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of it.   I particularly liked the book recommendations for Maya at the beginning of every chapter, and indeed made a note of a couple of the books to read myself!  
I would highly recommend this book as a lighthearted, warm, funny, ideal holiday read.   If you love books and bookshops, it may also just make you want to go and open one! 

Anticipation buliding ahead of Harper Lee book release

I read 'To Kill a Mockingbird' when I was about 15.  I think that is the case, although I honestly can't remember exactly what age I was.  What I do remember is how much I loved the book.  And I mean loved.    However I haven't ever re-read it, and I can't honestly explain why that is the case.  God knows, I have watched the film too many times to admit.   I think the book is better though, as books usually are.  I just have a thing for Gregory Peck! 
Anyway, I am counting the days until her new (!) book 'Go Set a Watchman,' is released and we don't have long to wait.  14th July!  
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.
I found all the controversy surrounding the release of the book slightly disconcerting.  I so hope the lady wasn't taken advantage of.  I like to think she retains some of the spirit I saw her character display in the film Capote.    Well, whatever the truth is, I hope she can at least raise a glass to how much the public loved her characters, and cannot wait to read more!   So on my holidays I will have a copy of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and 'Go Set a Watchman.'   I will be reading one after the other and enjoying every second of it.  I shall report back on my return.  I would love it, if you are a fan, if you read both and then we could compare notes!   The other book club choice for August is 'The Girl on The Train.' by Paula Hawkins which you can find out more about on The Monthly Book Club page.

The Monthly Book Club choice for August is
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

 
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Paula Hawkins was born and brought up in Zimbabwe.  She moved to London in 1989.  She worked as a journalist for 15 years before writing this, her first book.  A psychological thriller, it has become a bestseller and has been described in the following way:

"Really great suspense novel. Kept me up most of the night. The alcoholic narrator is dead perfect." (STEPHEN KING)
"A complex and increasingly chilling tale courtesy of a number of first-person narratives that will wrong-foot even the most experienced of crime fiction readers" (Irish Times).

Enjoy, and see my home page for additional information regarding August's book club (more book choices, as it is holiday month!).

Review of 'H is for Hawk' by Helen Macdonald. Book Club Choice for June.

Helen with her goshawk Mabel.
Photo courtesy of The New Yorker Magazine.

H is for Hawk is a memoir written by Helen Macdonald, a third year research fellow at Cambridge University. Her father dies suddenly of a heart attack. She was very close to her father and she used to go on outings with him, when he worked as a professional photographer.  Helen Macdonald had been interested in falconry from childhood, and by this point in her life she is a very experienced falconer. She has read (and written one) numerous books on the subject. Following her father’s death, she buys a goshawk for £800 and sets about trying to tame her.
This book is about her training the goshawk, who she calls Mabel, and coming to terms with the loss of her father. But in my opinion it is so much more than that.

I was attracted to this book by some deep instinct. Every time I went into the book shop I kept looking at the cover and I didn’t know why. When I picked it up, it sounded like the last book I would be interested in reading, and yet, it kept calling to me. So I made it the book club choice and here we are.
Well my instincts were right. For me personally, it was not an easy book to read, but from the start I found it riveting, mesmerizing and fascinating. I don’t think I have ever read such beautiful and raw descriptions of nature anywhere before. I found the writing almost hypnotic. I would stay awake reading it till two in the morning, which if you know me, never ever happens. In saying that, as I previously mentioned, I didn’t find it an easy read and at times it was actually difficult to read, but no less enjoyable for that. So what made is so captivating?

The language is complex, original and describes the countryside around England in a way that I have never heard before. Macdonald knows every tree, every hedge and every flower she passes. Nothing escapes her eye when she is out in nature. Her descriptions astounded me.

She describes the depths of her feelings with a refreshing bluntness and honesty that I loved. Her grief for her father is so palpable, and having gone through losing my own father, there were several parts of the book where I broke down and cried with empathy and understanding.
For example, on page 150, she writes:
 

‘On the way home, I felt a great and simple sadness, I missed my dad. I missed him very much.’
 

Well that was all I needed to read to set me off, and it fitted perfectly in context, as did every word in this book, in my opinion.

There is a parallel strand to the narrative as the author describes a book she is reading by a man called T. H. White who also trained a Hawk back in the 1930s. As the author trains her own goshawk she relives the life of White and his difficulties and obsession with his own hawk. Although I wasn’t as interested in this part of the book, it works, as she comes to understand her own complexities through his experiences and draws solace from his failures and successes.
 

I grew fascinated by the goshawk’s actions and training. I had absolutely no idea about hawks at the start of this memoir and the descriptions of Mabel killing her prey I found very hard to stomach. It was the only part of the book I didn’t like so much, but it was still described superbly.

Sometimes you come across a book that’s a bit of a challenge. In day’s past I wouldn’t have persevered, I would have just put it down. I didn’t have to persevere at all with this book, I loved it, but I can see how some might. I would beg you to stick with it though, if only for the incredible talent the author has for language. It is simply sublime. This book will take pride of place on my bookshelf and I have no doubt it is a book I will re-read in a couple of years.