29 December 2018
Stacking the Shelves (86)
26 December 2018
ARC Review: The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
The Hunting Partyby Lucy Foley
Published by Harper Collins
Mystery, thriller, fiction
All of them are friends. One of them is a killer.
During the languid days of the Christmas break, a group of thirtysomething friends from Oxford meet to welcome in the New Year together, a tradition they began as students ten years ago. For this vacation, they've chosen an idyllic and isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands - the perfect place to get away and unwind by themselves.
They arrive on December 30th, just before a historic blizzard seals the lodge off from the outside world.
Two days later, on New Year's Day, one of them is dead.
The trip began innocently enough: admiring the stunning if foreboding scenery, champagne in front of a crackling fire, and reminiscences about the past. But after a decade, the weight of secret resentments has grown too heavy for the group's tenuous nostalgia to bear. Amid the boisterous revelry of New Year's Eve, the cord holding them together snaps.
Now one of them is dead... and another of them did it.
Keep your friends close, the old adage goes. But just how close is too close?
The synopsis got me like no other: the Scottish Highlands, a group of people, and one killer. I've always been fascinated by closed doors murder mysteries, therefore I had high hopes for The Hunting Party, especially since early reviews raved about how amazing the book is. Unfortunately, the story was a little bit miss for me, for a few reasons.
The Hunting Party features nine friends, who gather together to celebrate the new year, and two employees of the place they stay at. There's five different point of views: Heather (caretaker), Doug (groundskeeper), Emma, Katie and Miranda. Honestly, it felt too much and the author made a strange decision, as all the female point of views were written in first person and Doug's in third person. Not only that, the three friends sounded so similar that it was difficult to keep up. The identity of both victim and killer narrowed down pretty quickly, because half of the nine friends got a lot more attention than the rest. These kind of structural choices ate some of the mystery.
Another thing was the character chemistry and their bonds. It became quickly clear that the group of friends weren't really close. They had secrets and resentment, and I ended up asking, why are they even friends? They barely liked each other and especially Miranda seemed to delight in bullying others. They were all pretty much unlikable characters, few of them were alright but then again, they were the ones left in the background. I did find Heather and Doug's chapters more enjoyable and interesting, because they weren't snobby and felt more likable characters.
There were redeeming qualities in The Hunting Party; it's fast paced and easy to devour, and the setting of the remote Scottish Highlands was stunning. I read it in three days and it kept me relatively captivated, but I think it could have been so much better if the point of views had been limited or structured differently, and the characters hadn't been such unlikable.
Overall, The Hunting Party was a meh read for me. I'd recommend something else, mainly And Then There Were None, for closed doors murder mystery, because this one doesn't have that much mystery or heart-pounding thrill, and is a bit predictable.
3 of 5 stars
18 December 2018
Top Ten Tuesday: Winter TBR
These are actually re-reads, I started with Captive Prince last month and hope to pick up Prince's Gambit next!
16 December 2018
Review: Where the World Ends by Geraldine McCaughrean
Where the World Endsby Geraldine McCaughrean
Published by Usborne Publishing
YA, historical
Every summer Quill and his friends are put ashore on a remote sea stac to hunt birds. But this summer, no one arrives to take them home.
Surely nothing but the end of the world can explain why they've been abandoned - cold, starving and clinging to life, in the grip of a murderous ocean. How will they survive?
Where the World Ends got me very excited when I picked it up from a lovely Fort William bookshop. I want to read more books set in Scotland, and what's better than historical novel set in the outskirts of civilisation, the furthermost island of Kilda? I couldn't think anything, so I was pretty much burning to tackle this story. However, it didn't turn out to be what I had expected.
Where the World Ends is based on a true story, when a group of boys and three men got abandoned in isolated sea stac. They were there to collect birds, to spend summer harvesting them and then to get back to Kilda in autumn. But no one came back for them, and Quill and his friends are left there to wonder what happened. Sounds chilling, which describes the book very well; chilling and story about isolation and what it can do to a person. The atmosphere of the novel was right there, remote sea stac, cruel and unforgiving nature, and people who already lived in the extreme. Not many could survive nine months stranded on a stac, but then again the islanders were survivors and used to the unforgiving nature and might of the sea.
That's where my admiration ended. The book is not badly written, although I needed a moment to get used to the writing style. However, the first half of the book was dragging and it was quite boring. The pace was off, and the mystery of why they were abandoned there is not really enough to carry through three hundred pages. First half is basically full of religious analogies and two zealous characters convincing everyone that the world has ended and God has abandoned them. If you know me, you know I tend to avoid religious themes, especially anything to do with zealousness. This was almost too much, especially as it took over the story, but I pushed through because I wanted answers. It does get better, and the last third of the story is better paced and quite enjoyable.
In the sense of isolation and seeing what it can do to a mind of young boys and few adults, this reminded me a little bit of Lord of the Flies. Not nearly as gruesome and violent, but there's the same tone - what can happen, when survival is the only thing left. That's the most interesting part of the story, and if you're intrigued by it (and don't mind overly religious ranting), then I'd recommend Where the World Ends. The setting is also unique, and I definitely want to read about the history of Kilda now, but the book itself didn't meet my expectations. Especially since the characters were not easy to identify with - I could cheer for Quill and hope he'd make it, but otherwise the author failed to make me care for the characters.
All in all, it wasn't terrible, but the last third didn't quite make up for the boring beginning.
3 of 5 stars
15 December 2018
Stacking the Shelves (85)
14 December 2018
Review: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, #1)by John Flanagan
Published by Corgi Yearling
Middle Grade, adventure, fantasy
The Rangers, with their shadowy ways, have always made him nervous. And now fifteen-year-old Will has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice.
But what he doesn't yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of warfare and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And now there is serious trouble brewing.
The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time he will not be denied...
The Ruins of Gorlan is adventure in medieval fantasy type of setting, which is something I enjoy a lot. There's plenty of races against time and Will, the Ranger's apprentice, learning the tricks of the trade. Will's great main character; he's small for his age and thus refused by the Battleschool so he can't become a knight like he wanted to. Instead mysterious Halt, a Ranger, takes Will as apprentice, because Halt sees a talent in him. Will's brave and quick to learn, good with a bow and the honest type. Halt's more mysterious, he's tight lipped about his past and anything that has nothing to do about teaching Will how to be a Ranger.
I enjoyed The Ruins of Gorlan for it is funny and full of adventures, and I like to read about people learning and training instead of skipping all of that. Flanagan's writing style is easy to read and fast paced, although some things made me cringe a little bit - Flanagan has a habit of referring all the peasants as simple while praising the lords and guilds. It is just a few comments here and there, but they are bit annoying as the comments are for nothing; it is mostly just to establish that the peasants gossip.
It is a quick and fun read. I do think I'd devoured it when I was younger, instead of just enjoying it for what it is. So, if you're looking for a middle grade adventure fantasy, then you should try The Ruins of Gorlan, and I think younger readers would enjoy it a lot.
3 of 5 stars
8 December 2018
Review: Fox 8 by George Saunders
Fox 8by George Saunders
Published by Bloomsbury
Fable, short story
An enchanting and darkly comic fable of human greed and nature, from the Man Booker Prize-winning author of Lincoln in the Bardo, exquisitely illustrated by Chelsea Cardinal
Fox 8 has always been curious, and a bit of a daydreamer. And, by hiding outside houses at dusk and listening to children's bedtime stories, he has learned to speak 'Yuman'.
The power of words and the stories built from them is intoxicating for a fox with a poetic soul, but there is 'danjur' on the horizon: a new shopping mall is being built, cutting off his pack's food supply. To save himself and his fellow foxes, Fox 8 will have to set out on a harrowing quest from the wilds of nature deep into the dark heart of suburbia.
Fox 8 is cleverly written short story: the narrator is a fox called Fox 8, who lives in a forest nearby construction side where a mall is being build. He's a dreamer fox, who likes to listen humans tell goodnight stories to their children - that's how he learned to speak 'Yuman' as he calls it. His spelling is not the best, and that what makes the story more real, more heart-warming.
A tragedy strikes when the construction of mall destroys Fox 8 and his pack's food supply. They're starving, and the pack is scared to move or approach the humans for food until Fox 8 and his friend venture to the mall, to the food court, in search of food.
Fox 8 is a dark fable about human greed, heartbreak, and how one event can drastically change everything. Fox 8 learns the hard way that not all humans are kind and giving, and rarely care for wild life. Saunders does splendid job weaving such profound tale delicately. I went in without much expectations, and Fox 8 certainly exceeded any expectations I could have had. It is a story, which everyone should sacrifice a little time to read and absorb, and maybe people would learn from it. I definitely recommend this to everyone.
5 of 5 stars
7 December 2018
Review: Fantastic Beasts and the Crimes of Grindelwald by J.K. Rowling
Fantastic Beasts and the Crimes of Grindelwald Original Screenplayby J.K. Rowling
Published by Little Brown
Screenplay, fantasy
At the end of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald was captured in New York with the help of Newt Scamander. But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escapes custody and sets about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore enlists Newt, his former Hogwarts student, who agrees to help once again, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.
Once again the illustrations and the cover are absolutely gorgeous! I spend way too much time just staring at them.
The Crimes of Grindelwald was fast paced with dramatic action scenes, and I loved to once again be back at this world and meet the characters, old and new. The best parts were definitely the moments back in Hogwarts, both present day and flashbacks. I also liked every scene where Dumbledore was, which was a bit surprising for me. Dumbledore has never been one of my favourite characters, but I found him intriguing here and I wish he'll have bigger role in the upcoming movies. And more Grindelwald, because he's nothing if not deadly charming. Naturally, Newt continued to be one of my favourites, he's just so adorable!
I still want a Niffler of my own, definitely the best creature ever.
I already saw the movie, right after I finished reading the screenplay, and I enjoyed it immensely. Being back at Hogwarts, however briefly, was the best feeling. I can't wait for the next one!
5 of 5 stars
5 December 2018
#Mythothon Wrap Up
November was time for Mythothon readathon, which was so much fun! If you missed my sign up and TBR post with all the details, you can find it here. Although, truthfully, I totally detoured from the partial TBR I set - I only ended up reading two from that. However, I read total of 12 books and thus completed 12 prompts - and managed to get bingo twice!
I tweeted about my updates on Twitter, so here's link if you want to have a look.
Anyway, here's picture of all the books I read (ebooks have only cover represented).
During the month, I read total of 2,620 pages, which is kind of awesome!
Here's the bingo card I completed, and then which prompts I filled.
MYTHOTHON PROMPTS
Wrapping the Month: November
What's greater way to start new month than taking a look at previous one?
November was a hit and miss; I read more than I thought possible, but I didn't really blog. Mostly I spent any free time I had reading, and I didn't have a lot of that, especially after the halfway through the month. Uni got hectic with assignments, including turning in a chapter from my dissertation and I had more shifts at work, because retail goes crazy in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Thus, I was often exhausted and just got sleep in or read rather than spend time blogging. Anyway, that's what my November was. I did participate to the Mythothon, which was plenty of fun (and I'll have a wrap up up soon).
I feel like working at a bookstore is bad for trying to manage my book buying. And also, there's so many anticipated reads coming out at the end of the year.
November's reviews:
A Hymn in the Silence (5 stars)
Devil in the Details (5 stars)
Rabi and Matthew (4 stars)
What If It's Us (DNF)
Jason and Medea (4 stars)
The Dolphins, the Whales and the Gudgeon (4 stars)
The Fall of Icarus (2 stars)
A Hymn in the Silence (5 stars)
Devil in the Details (5 stars)
Rabi and Matthew (4 stars)
What If It's Us (DNF)
Jason and Medea (4 stars)
The Dolphins, the Whales and the Gudgeon (4 stars)
The Fall of Icarus (2 stars)
I have never read as many books as in November. I surpassed everything I thought I was able - especially while working and finishing giant assignments. That's seven novels and five shorter stories, total of twelve books read. I'm also middle to two books which I started in November.
December has started busy and I do have exam weeks on the way, and of course, weeks before Christmas is very hectic in retail. Still, I should have plenty of time to read and blog once I'm done with the semester assignments.
Henna
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