Books Read: 9
Pages Read: 2748
Average Rating: 4/5
Six Stories – Matt Wesolowski 4/5
This is a unique mystery/thriller written as a podcast transcript. Scott King interviews several people who were connected with Tom Jeffries at the time of his murder, 20 years ago. Tom was 15 when he disappeared, and his body was discovered a year later. Through the interviews the circumstances surrounding the events come to light. It was an enjoyable read, as the story drew me in, yet some of the content was unpleasant.
Persepolis – Marjane Satrapi 4/5
Marjane grew up in Iran during wartime. In this graphic novel she retells her experiences of school, home and friends both in Iran and then as she travels overseas to escape the religious/political upheaval. It was fascinating. I think the format was really effective, as it was a personal and engaging way to learn about recent history which I knew nothing about. It makes you realise how devastating the effects of war are on one single person.
A Darker Shade of Magic – V. E. Schwab 5/5
I think this book came at exactly the right time for me. Schwab’s writing just drew me in straight away, and I got caught up in her fantasy world. It’s a world in which there are four London’s, all affected by magic in different ways. As an Antari (someone with magic), Kell is able to travel between them by creating doors. He meets Lila, and they end up in possession of a dangerous object which they are seeking to get rid of. I’m looking forward to seeing how the trilogy continues!
The Arrival – Shaun Tan 4/5
Ok, so does it even count as reading a book when it has no words? This is a silent graphic novel which tells the story of an immigrant. He leaves his wife and child to travel to a new land, where they later join him. Tan’s style has a touch of the fantastic to it which was unexpected, yet I rather enjoyed it. The illustrations feature imagined creatures and unrealistic landscapes. The book highlights the difficulty of starting somewhere new and the language and processes are unfamiliar. It’s the kind of book you could flip through again and again, always finding something new.
Nimona – Noelle Stevenson 3/5
My graphic novel kick continued with something more lighthearted. Nimona wants to be a supervillain, and attaches herself to Lord Ballister Blackheart, to be his evil sidekick. Nimona is a shapeshifter, which becomes the focus of the story as it develops. The illustrations were bright, and I loved the humour which Stevenson injected into the story. It was a fun read, but not one that had a lot of depth.
Every Heart a Doorway – Seanan McGuire 4/5
Eleanor runs a home for children who have been through portals to other worlds and then returned “home” only to miss the world they traveled to. Having been changed by her visit to an underworld, Nancy is sent to the Home for Wayward Children, and the reader learns how it operates as Nancy does. We meet various teenagers who are desperate to find another door to their world. The story contains a hint of fantasy, as well as an element of mystery. I really enjoyed the first in this series!
Down Among the Sticks and Bones – Seanan McGuire 4/5
This prequel to Every Heart a Doorway looks at Jack and Jill’s life before they entered the Home for Wayward Children. We learn of their family situation, and then their journey into The Moors. It is quite a dark story, which provides insight into why the twins are the way they are in the first book. I liked the narrative style of this book, and it makes you think about the roles we take on and how our choices shape us. A fascinating look into a portal world.
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss 5/5
What a wonderful fantasy. It lived up to my expectations. I’m happy. Kvothe is somewhat of a legend, and in the he book tells the beginning of his story to Chronicler. We learn of his family, exposure to magic and then life at University. We see his struggles and his successes. The writing in this novel is just beautiful, and I particularly love the role of music and the way it is spoken about. The book took me a little while to get through, but it was such an enjoyable read, and I’m excited to move onto book two (after taking a break with a few contemporary novels!).
When Dimple met Rishi – Sandhya Menon 3/5
This was a quick and enjoyable YA contemporary. Dimple and Rishi are 18-year-old Indian-Americans who meet at a coding program (though in part they are set up by their parents). The focus of the book was very much their developing relationship, and how this is balanced with their individual skills, aspirations and personalities. It was sweet and predictable, and that was all I needed it to be.
I had a good and varied reading month, and look forward to having more time for reading in December!
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