Lion

Book Review: Lion by Saroo Brierley

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you would know the story of Saroo Brierley. At around the age of 6, Saroo accidentally boarded a train and ended up in Calcutta. From living on the streets there, he was eventually adopted out to parents in Australia. However, his memories of his childhood continued to haunt him and as an adult, he set out to find his hometown and family. 

In Australia his story was especially well known after a 60 Minutes piece before this memoir, originally titled A Long Way Home, became a best seller. Since, of course, Hollywood have taken his story to the world with the Oscar nominated Lion.

I made both my kids watch Lion, just to show them that me not going through Maccas drive-thru on the way home from school or the internet dropping out aren’t the worst things that could happen to them. As middle class white Australians, they have no concept of what real poverty is and whilst reading this book I acknowledged again the incredible hardships people in some other countries face every day. 

In this respect, I think the book is terribly important and powerful and a must-read, especially for young adults. Purely from a literary point of view, however, I found the book quite underwhelming.

To me the writing was pedestrian and quite often boring. I didn’t skim but some sections dragged which, given its short length, was not a good sign. I was shocked to learn afterwards that Brierley used a ghost writer. I’m not sure what he was doing, as apart from the real lack of depth in the prose, I was also a little confused and frustrated with the sequence of the story.

My overall feelings of the book reminded me a lot of my opinion of The Tattooist of Auschwitz. I believe there’s an important message in the book but the execution of the actual writing is lacking.

I would actually recommend anyone interested in the story to just watch the movie. The combination of brilliant cinematography, direction and acting of that production evokes poignancy and sadness in ways the book just doesn’t.

There also is no new or additional information in the book version that makes it vitally important to recommend it over the movie. 

5 out of 5 for the movie; 3 out of 5 for this book 

84, Charing Cross Road

Book Review:  84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

I’ve never listened to an audio book before but, as I live in a semi-rural area, meaning a lot of drive time, I thought I might as well try one out. The idea confuses me though. Do I class this as a ‘read’? I certainly wouldn’t say I had read a book if I’d only seen the movie version… Such a dilemma!

Anyway, back on track, I chose 84, Charing Cross Road as my trial freebie purely because this book, even though well known and popular, isn’t available in ebook format (grrrr) and is an extremely rare find in print in Aus. (Perhaps — plot twist — I should write to some little book shop in America for a copy!)

I love the idea of an epistolary novel and this one has the added intrigue of being a true story. Now that I know Hanff’s opinions of fiction and diaries, its style seems only fitting.

Hanff’s letters are full of brash New York abruptness. In contrast, her main correspondent’s, Frank, letters have the stiff and always polite and correct tone that is stereo-typically English. I found their back and forth contrasting styles almost becomes a comedy act.

There is not only humour in the book though. There are some poignant moments, of course, as well as some interesting historical lessons.

There wasn’t, however, as much romance as I expected.  (It’s been a long time, but I’m sure the movie version romanticised it all.)

I was also surprised by its brevity. I wish the audiobook version had included the book’s sequel as I finished listening after only a couple of days in the car, despite the plodding speed at which it was read. Yes, this was probably my biggest beef with the audio version. The narrators, actors I have enjoyed on screen in the past, seemed to read everything so slowly that it caused a lot of the jokes to fall flat. (It was read by Juliet Stevenson and John Nettles.)  I assume it was to ensure every word was enunciated correctly, but it was slightly annoying.

So I’m still a little unsure about the whole audio thing but the good news is I didn’t have any car accidents while listening.

5 out of 5 for the book’s content and perhaps a 3 out of 5 for the reading.  I still intend to find the print version one day and truly read it.  (If your opinion is that this will be read it for the second time, Hanff  would be proud anyway.)

The Light Between Oceans

Book Review:  The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman

You know those books. Everyone posts 5/5 reviews for it, it becomes known as the ‘buzz’ book, it becomes a favourite for bookclubs, it wins literary awards, and soon Hollywood snaps it up to bring it to life on the big screen. But you arrive late (as usual) and wonder if you’re going to be scratching your head about the fuss. The Light Between Oceans is one of those books. And after reading it I can assure all other latecomers it’s worthy of every piece of praise that’s been placed upon its brilliant pages.

I think probably everyone has heard the plot’s basic premise. After the trauma of WW1, Tom isolates himself from society by working as a lighthouse keeper. He meets and marries Isabel, and together they go to live on an island off Western Australia. One day a boat washes up with a baby on board. Due to various reasons, they tell no one about this. No secret can be safe forever, however, and the consequences of their actions with the baby on the island soon come crashing down around them.

I think the last part is the bit I enjoyed the most. It’s quite obvious as you’re reading that they will be found out, but I guess I never really thought through just how horrific that reality would become, meaning I found the final part of the book tension ridden. I had heard tissues would be needed near the end, so I was literally on the edge of my seat. And yes, tissues were needed.

Stedman’s writing is beautiful. Again, it is difficult to fathom that this is her debut novel. Each sentence seems to be chosen with care and I didn’t feel like I was bogged down in boring detail or superfluous passages. In fact, although the book is clearly literature, it felt like a speedy short read. (I did have a giggle at some of the reviews that were confused over the Aussie slang.)

The setting was not only important to the storyline, it also offered a delightful window into the history of lighthouses and Australia in general. (I am astounded at the casting of non-Australians in the three major roles for the film version. Grrrr. I keep having to repeat to myself that Australian actors steal major roles in the UK & US all the time to remain calm!)

Even though the book is set post-WW1, that war plays an enormously important role in the novel. Without a doubt, none of the characters would have acted the way they did if the shadow of the Great War wasn’t darkening their lives.

The same can be said of the setting. This isn’t quite Lord of the Flies, but the separation from the mainland and its sensibilities does escalate the illogical decisions made by all the involved characters.

I don’t want to give any further spoilers, so I’ll just say read the thing.

5 out of 5, adding to my favourites.

The Girl on the Train

Book Review:  The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Yes, I’m one of those annoying people who have jumped on board because this book has been made into a movie.

But, let’s face it, we all like to read the book before seeing the movie, and afterwards, over coffee, discuss what did and didn’t work in the adaptation.

Luckily, given the movie release is out this week (that means it will subsequently become much harder to avoid spoilers), the book is a speedy read. The writing is concise and without pretension; the chapters short and the plot suspenseful enough that you want to keep turning pages.

The Emily Blunt character is called Rachel. Rachel is a bit of a mess, frankly. She’s divorced from Tom, who has remarried Anna and had a child. Rachel is having trouble accepting that reality, and she constantly calls, emails, and visits Tom, especially whilst drunk.

A major running theme of Rachel’s character is her battle with alcoholism. That’s why she’s the Girl on the train. She gets on the train each morning and afternoon, keeping up the pretense of commuting to a job she lost due to her drinking.

The train passes right by Tom and Anna’s house, and to avoid the ‘happy family’ view of her ex and his new wife, Rachel instead focuses on the equally perfect couple in the [almost identical] house a few doors down.

From Rachel’s viewpoint, they are a golden couple, with everything going for them. She weaves fantasies about their perfect life until one day she witnesses something unexpected in their yard. Shortly afterwards she learns that one half of that couple, Megan, has disappeared.

Rachel thinks that what she saw from the train must have something to do with Megan’s disappearance, and that’s when Rachel’s life gets even more complicated. No one believes a drunk whose memory is less than reliable, after all, and she makes several unwise moves to get people to listen.

Rachel, to me, was a sympathetic character. I know there are some reviews out there that whine and say they didn’t really care what happened to her (or any of the other main characters, in fact). I found I really liked her though. The book is mainly written from her first point of view. There are some chapters where Anna and Megan take over as the narrator, and in my opinion, those two characters were less likeable. I was always eager to get back to Rachel’s voice.

I will add each section is date stamped and there isn’t any huge time jumps that could cause confusion.
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I think, in general, people will either just love or hate the book. I’m one of the former. I found it entertaining, very sad in parts, and obviously, suspenseful.

If you’re snobbish about such things, I wouldn’t say it’s always literature, but being written in the first person point of view rather limits the author in this respect.

I found it intriguing that this is Hawkins’s debut and hope that she can live up to the hype when releasing her second book. (There’s a catch 22 for all authors: Being so successful everyone is going to pick over book number two!!!)

The ending had a twist, yes, but I wouldn’t say it’s shocking. I know there’s comparisons to Gone Girl’s ending, but that one was literally shocking (and not in a good way).

I mean, all thrillers usually have a twist; it’s not a new thing in the thriller arena. Actually, this book was a twist that, for me, was a relief in some ways.

Enjoy it as escapism and don’t try and analyse every word.

5 out of 5

 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Book Review:  Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I’ve had this book on my ereader for quite a while but when I heard it had been made into a movie, I thought I’d finally read it before it premiered. I’m now torn whether that was a good idea or not.  Not because I hated the book.  No, because I’m now worried the filmed version won’t do it justice.

I loved, loved, loved this book.  

I must say, despite its popularity and the upcoming movie, I had little idea of what Me Before You was actually about.  I always thought it was a lighthearted piece of romantic chick lit.  The movie snippets make it look like a rom com. And I suppose at times it does fit nicely into that genre.  But, it’s so much more.  

Lou Clark is our heroine.  And what a heroine she is.  For me, she’s up there with such greats as Jo March and Harriet Vane for brilliant female book characters.  Everything about Lou is perfect.  She’s so strong on the page.  From her working class English background to her quirky fashion sense — she works for me.  

Our hero could be classed as rather unconventional.  Will Traynor is a quadriplegic.  Prior to the accident that placed him in the wheelchair, he was an adrenaline junkie, enjoying the high life with his career, his romantic relationships, and his wildly adventurous trips to exotic locations.  Now, needing frequent hospitalisation and relying on carers and nurses constantly, he’s understandably depressed and bitter.

The book opens with Lou’s circumstances reaching such a crisis point that she has little choice but to accept the Traynors’ offer of employment and become Will’s day time carer.

If you’ve read that and assume Will softens and Lou sees beyond his disability and it’s funny and sweet and hearts and rainbows and unicorns, then…   Well, you’re halfway there.  Me Before You, however, is not so simplistic.  

Moyes has done her homework on quadriplegia.  Even without the depressing medical side effects of his injury, such as being susceptible to pneumonia etc, the physical limitations Will faces from being in a wheelchair are frustrating and saddening in such a modern society. The clever way Moyes weaves the everyday issues and challenges someone in a wheelchair has to overcome into the book’s plot is extremely clever.    If you’re a relatively healthy able bodied person, you can count on this book to make you pause and be thankful, if nothing else.

Will thinks along the same lines when it comes to Lou.  He starts to encourage her to not waste a minute.  And slowly she starts to open up to him and we learn why she’s made some of her life’s choices and set such boundaries with her career and personal relationships.

This part, for me, was the most poignant scene I’ve read in a book for a long while.  It was quite short.  Just a few paragraphs, but it was realistic and rang true and (unlike some books) explained most of Lou’s choices (including her career, her boyfriend and her fashion sense).

I hope, hope, hope, they don’t water down this part in the movie.  I also hope they don’t soften Will’s choices in the movie. (I did notice that Moyes herself wrote the script, so this gives me some optimism.)

5/5 stars, instant favourite, highly rec.

 

Girl gone and read, but will I then go to watch… Maybe…

Book Review:  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I’m late for the party.  I bought this book ages ago and realise that everyone but me has probably already read it.  However, I’m one of those annoying ‘read the book before watching the movie’ types, so I decided it was time I jumped on the trendy bandwagon and read the thing before seeing it in the cinemas (or too much is revealed by movie previews or friends who go to see it).

And now that I’ve read, I believe reading it quickly was a good idea.  I would really recommend not talking to anyone who has read or watched because, as River Song would say, ‘spoilers!’   I’m talking Sixth Sense type of thing here.

I tried to keep that in mind when I wrote this review, as it would be a shame to reveal too much of the plot.

I would think, however, we all know the general premise — a girl is gone. Is she dead? If she is dead, did her husband kill her? And if he didn’t, where is she?

It’s all rather usual thriller fare when you put it like that.

The thing that elevates it to another level, I believe, is Flynn’s style of presenting the plot. The story is told via first person, with chapters alternating between the hubby’s (Nick) and wife’s (Amy) point of view.  (FYI this doesn’t give us any hints to Amy’s whereabouts as her chapters come in the form of diary entries.)

The reader has no idea who out of the two is the reliable narrator and on this score, I found Flynn played me like a fiddle, with my loyalties switching from Nick to Amy and back again more than once.

The book’s settings are wonderfully written and as just as unsettling as the presumed crime.

There is also an appealing array of minor characters including Nick’s twin sister, the police officers investigating, and Nick’s horribly repulsive father (who, like those dismal settings, is probably a little too real for anyone’s liking).

Many times whilst reading I found myself questioning human nature, my beliefs, and how people would react to certain events. Therefore, I think the book would encourage much discussion and would be the perfect read for a book club.

It’s a quick read too.  Flynn adds cliffhanger after cliffhanger to the chapters, ensuring the reader is eager to read on to discover the truth. (I am actually pleased I’ve finished the book so I can go to bed at a reasonable hour!)

Many people talk of the ‘twist’ with this book (even I did with the Sixth Sense comment!), and I will admit to being a little confused (and feeling dumb!) as to which twist they’re actually referring to. There is a major twist which is revealed when you start part 2 of the book (around the halfway mark) but I didn’t find it very surprising. So, I’m more inclined to believe the ‘twist’ is the ending.

So this is where I also have to confess I’m one of those people who hated the ending. I would call it more twisted than a twist.  I can see it’s clever, but…  No.

I actually was ready to give this book 5/5 until I reached that ending. It made me feel completely dissatisfied, and even a little cheated, at the tone the book finished on.

I’d still highly recommend the book. After all, you might enjoy the ending! (I’m sure many have!)

And yes, I think I’ll go and see the movie. I’ll be interested in seeing how they adapt it and how they handle the ending!  I wouldn’t recommend it for a first date, however.  Nor even recommend watching it with your spouse.  Actually, I’m not sure if I will go and see it…  I might be too freaked out…   Maybe a happy rom-com…  

Rating: 4/5