Jodi Picoult: Picture Perfect
Fiction - Domestic violence/family saga
Published by Hodder & Stoughton 2010
Picture Perfect tells two stories that come to coincide and inter-link with each other. One is of a melancholic Indian man's plight, who is trying so hard to forget his past, wishing he could erase his roots, trying to confront the racist issues his faces, whilst living an ordinary life. It becomes apparent that Will Flying Horse has a big part to play, almost acting as a guardian angel and saviour for the abused Cassie. The main focus is on the seemingly perfect, storybook Hollywood marriage which, as the story develops, rather despairingly turns into a harsh reality of domestic violence as it is clear that not everything is as it first appeared. Despite Cassie's nightmarish life though, she is overcome with the gripping emotions of love, loyalty and care as she vouches to stay with her husband Alex. What makes their relationship so intense is Alex's propensity to perform as a modern-day Jekyll and Hyde.
Here, Picoult portrays hidden depths, showing the reality and complexity of human existence. Her complex characters are never exactly what they appear to be as the facade begins to crack with reality seeping through the hidden secrets, mysterious pasts and forgotten identities and ancestral histories.
Will Cassie finally escape or can the relationship return back to its initial fairy-tale beginning? Either way, something has to change as it is clear Cassie cannot survive much longer in her current predicament.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, October 25, 2010
The blindness of Matchmaking
Emma by Jane Austen
Out of Jane Austen's classic novels, it is Emma Woodhouse who is the most diverse heroine. Many critics have commented on her snobbish, almost disreputable and annoying qualities as a matchmaking busy-body. As the text moves forward, one finds they either stand firmly in her corner, fighting for her survival as the typical romantic Austen heroine, or they dismiss her character as an opinionated, egotistical woman who does not deserve the happy-ever-after ending she is bound to receive.
One infuriating aspect of Emma's character is that she is so obsessed with matching her acquaintances that she is blind to her own feelings and the fact that the person she loves has been right in front of her eyes throughout the entire novel.
Unlike Austen's other heroines, Emma is the most wealthy and while that allows her more freedom within her Hatfield society, it serves to influence her development into a rude and arrogant woman.
I initially viewed Austen's Emma as not being as great as some of her other novels (not featuring very high on my favourites list) but after writing on it for my undergraduate dissertation, it is now regarded as being one of my top favourite Austen books, alongside Pride and Prejudice (of course!)
Out of Jane Austen's classic novels, it is Emma Woodhouse who is the most diverse heroine. Many critics have commented on her snobbish, almost disreputable and annoying qualities as a matchmaking busy-body. As the text moves forward, one finds they either stand firmly in her corner, fighting for her survival as the typical romantic Austen heroine, or they dismiss her character as an opinionated, egotistical woman who does not deserve the happy-ever-after ending she is bound to receive.
One infuriating aspect of Emma's character is that she is so obsessed with matching her acquaintances that she is blind to her own feelings and the fact that the person she loves has been right in front of her eyes throughout the entire novel.
Unlike Austen's other heroines, Emma is the most wealthy and while that allows her more freedom within her Hatfield society, it serves to influence her development into a rude and arrogant woman.
I initially viewed Austen's Emma as not being as great as some of her other novels (not featuring very high on my favourites list) but after writing on it for my undergraduate dissertation, it is now regarded as being one of my top favourite Austen books, alongside Pride and Prejudice (of course!)
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Bedford, we have a problem!
H.G Wells: The First Men in the Moon
Fiction - Science Fiction
Published by Penguin Group 2005
Dangers of the unknown
In this narrative, Mr Bedford explains the discoveries he and the mad scientist Dr Cavor make, as they journey through space. Bound for the moon in a flying spherical contraption, the two newly acquainted men set out to uncover the mysteries of space, and what they find is nothing short of absurd and ridiculous. They encounter extraordinary moon beings, who have inhabited the moon for what seems like quite some time, and wild plants that grow on the surface of the moon during daytime and crinkle up, dying slowly in the night. Even though disaster befalls one of the men, the story continues until we have been safely returned back to Earth, the planet that is inhabited by humans with ordinary lives!
In the early twentieth century, when this was written, space travel was a thing of the future and little was known about the mysteries of the moon and outer space. Anything that was written, around and before this time, was a mixture of speculation and fiction, the stuff of imagination!
Fiction - Science Fiction
Published by Penguin Group 2005
Dangers of the unknown
In this narrative, Mr Bedford explains the discoveries he and the mad scientist Dr Cavor make, as they journey through space. Bound for the moon in a flying spherical contraption, the two newly acquainted men set out to uncover the mysteries of space, and what they find is nothing short of absurd and ridiculous. They encounter extraordinary moon beings, who have inhabited the moon for what seems like quite some time, and wild plants that grow on the surface of the moon during daytime and crinkle up, dying slowly in the night. Even though disaster befalls one of the men, the story continues until we have been safely returned back to Earth, the planet that is inhabited by humans with ordinary lives!
In the early twentieth century, when this was written, space travel was a thing of the future and little was known about the mysteries of the moon and outer space. Anything that was written, around and before this time, was a mixture of speculation and fiction, the stuff of imagination!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Innocent until proven guilty
Jodi Picoult: The Pact
Fiction - Crime/Detective
Published by Hodder & Stoughton 2008
Just like Picoult's other crime based novels, the reader finds oneself completely trusting the alleged criminal protagonist. Picoult presents these characters as utterly decent people, who show no sign that something evil may lurk beneath, but who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. In these novels, we take a leap of faith in order to trust human kind, to restore that which has long gone, the ability to believe in the innocent rather than to wrongly convict and judge them.
In The Pact, Chris has just seen his girlfriend die right in front of him and now the evidence is stacking up against him. Throughout the novel, Chris has the countenance of an innocent, decent man who is not capable of committing this horrendous crime but regrettably, the witness who could help him reveal the truth is gone forever. It is Chris' word against Emily's character!
Fiction - Crime/Detective
Published by Hodder & Stoughton 2008
Just like Picoult's other crime based novels, the reader finds oneself completely trusting the alleged criminal protagonist. Picoult presents these characters as utterly decent people, who show no sign that something evil may lurk beneath, but who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. In these novels, we take a leap of faith in order to trust human kind, to restore that which has long gone, the ability to believe in the innocent rather than to wrongly convict and judge them.
In The Pact, Chris has just seen his girlfriend die right in front of him and now the evidence is stacking up against him. Throughout the novel, Chris has the countenance of an innocent, decent man who is not capable of committing this horrendous crime but regrettably, the witness who could help him reveal the truth is gone forever. It is Chris' word against Emily's character!
Money Matters
Karen Quinn: The Ivy Chronicles
Fiction - Comedy Drama
Published by Pocket Books 2005
Set in the upper east side of New York City, this novel describes the extremes that many American parents will go to, to get their darling children into the best prep schools. When the life Ivy Ames knows begins to crumble around her, as she loses her job, her luxury apartment and discovers her husband is cheating on her, she decides to move on with her life. She begins afresh as a private school admissions adviser helping those parents get their children into the best schools. Ivy is able to gain access to the information the parents need in order to win round the school committee. We cannot help laughing at the extremes these mad parents will go to.
Although Ivy thinks she has her dream job, where she starts earning enough money to reinstate the luxury lifestyle that her and her daughters are used to, some of the parents take it too far and begin dealing in things Ivy no longer wants to be part of. As she battles with angry parents and her own conscience, Ivy begins to see what it is she truly wants and what is most important to her. She ditches her former shallow and materialist morals for more improved and rounded ones; the new Ivy is morally superior to the old Ivy.
Fiction - Comedy Drama
Published by Pocket Books 2005
Set in the upper east side of New York City, this novel describes the extremes that many American parents will go to, to get their darling children into the best prep schools. When the life Ivy Ames knows begins to crumble around her, as she loses her job, her luxury apartment and discovers her husband is cheating on her, she decides to move on with her life. She begins afresh as a private school admissions adviser helping those parents get their children into the best schools. Ivy is able to gain access to the information the parents need in order to win round the school committee. We cannot help laughing at the extremes these mad parents will go to.
Although Ivy thinks she has her dream job, where she starts earning enough money to reinstate the luxury lifestyle that her and her daughters are used to, some of the parents take it too far and begin dealing in things Ivy no longer wants to be part of. As she battles with angry parents and her own conscience, Ivy begins to see what it is she truly wants and what is most important to her. She ditches her former shallow and materialist morals for more improved and rounded ones; the new Ivy is morally superior to the old Ivy.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The suffocating stability of tradition
Joanna Trollope: Girl from the South
Fiction - Family Saga/Romance
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing 2002
All the way through this novel, we are constantly reminded that the protagonist, Gillon, sees herself as the disappointment in the family. Due to her discontent with the life she is leading, Gillon spends much of her time moving away and starting again, only to end up returning home. Therefore, Gillon's big break that takes her overseas to England, affords her time away from her family and the chance of making new acquaintances, one of which will have a huge impact on her future.
Miles away in London, Henry, Tilly and William are having problems of their own. Here lies a complex love triangle. Besides Henry's inability to commit to his girlfriend Tilly, the other characters do not seem to hesitate when it comes to decision making, in fact, in some instances decisions are made in a blink of an eye!
A chance meeting brings nationalities together, job opportunities, friendship, broken hearts and a chance to escape. This novel is quite fast paced as we journey between London, England and Charleston, America. At first glance this may seem like a novel solely about romance but it is much more than that. Trollope explores the importance of those relationships that form in life and the complicated concept that is love.
Fiction - Family Saga/Romance
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing 2002
All the way through this novel, we are constantly reminded that the protagonist, Gillon, sees herself as the disappointment in the family. Due to her discontent with the life she is leading, Gillon spends much of her time moving away and starting again, only to end up returning home. Therefore, Gillon's big break that takes her overseas to England, affords her time away from her family and the chance of making new acquaintances, one of which will have a huge impact on her future.
Miles away in London, Henry, Tilly and William are having problems of their own. Here lies a complex love triangle. Besides Henry's inability to commit to his girlfriend Tilly, the other characters do not seem to hesitate when it comes to decision making, in fact, in some instances decisions are made in a blink of an eye!
A chance meeting brings nationalities together, job opportunities, friendship, broken hearts and a chance to escape. This novel is quite fast paced as we journey between London, England and Charleston, America. At first glance this may seem like a novel solely about romance but it is much more than that. Trollope explores the importance of those relationships that form in life and the complicated concept that is love.
Friday, August 13, 2010
The high's and low's of being a pilot's wife
Anita Shreve: The Pilot's Wife
Fiction - Family Saga
Published by Abacus 2008
We are immediately cast into devastation that will surely haunt the protagonist forever. It is clear that one minute everything can seem fine but in a flash your world can come tumbling down. Shreve seems to have captured the absolute uncertainty of life in this heart wrenching, grief ridden novel. We are spell bound as we drift through the novel, captivated by its tale of deception, betrayals and forbidden love. It describes the drama and trauma of Kathryn's life, how her very existence is called into question when the life she knew begins to crack. As she begins to move through this life that she no longer understands, she searches for answers to those questions that begin to form in her mind.
Although at times it is difficult to follow, and some questions are left unanswered, it is a moving tale that depicts life's vulnerability.
Fiction - Family Saga
Published by Abacus 2008
We are immediately cast into devastation that will surely haunt the protagonist forever. It is clear that one minute everything can seem fine but in a flash your world can come tumbling down. Shreve seems to have captured the absolute uncertainty of life in this heart wrenching, grief ridden novel. We are spell bound as we drift through the novel, captivated by its tale of deception, betrayals and forbidden love. It describes the drama and trauma of Kathryn's life, how her very existence is called into question when the life she knew begins to crack. As she begins to move through this life that she no longer understands, she searches for answers to those questions that begin to form in her mind.
Although at times it is difficult to follow, and some questions are left unanswered, it is a moving tale that depicts life's vulnerability.
Fictional Justice
Jodi Picoult: Perfect Match
Fiction - Detective/Crime
Published by Hodder and Stoughton 2006
Although Picoult writes about very serious and delicate circumstances, her fiction is still well written. She has a true sense and understanding of the topics she writes about, effortlessly and accurately depicting the events and emotions that come with it. Her approach is one of care and propriety, resulting in a proper and sensible manner when touching on very distressing, real life topics. As we listen to the heart wrenching tale unfold through the eyes of Nina, we understand how real the story is as the narrator is not detached from the action.
Picoult's use of legal terminology gives the Perfect Match a balance of depth and understanding which results in this very real and sophisticated novel. The author describes an interesting turn of events which leaves us unsure as to what the outcome will be, especially as the situation relies heavily on the justice of the legal system. Everyone's future hangs in the balance!
Fiction - Detective/Crime
Published by Hodder and Stoughton 2006
Although Picoult writes about very serious and delicate circumstances, her fiction is still well written. She has a true sense and understanding of the topics she writes about, effortlessly and accurately depicting the events and emotions that come with it. Her approach is one of care and propriety, resulting in a proper and sensible manner when touching on very distressing, real life topics. As we listen to the heart wrenching tale unfold through the eyes of Nina, we understand how real the story is as the narrator is not detached from the action.
Picoult's use of legal terminology gives the Perfect Match a balance of depth and understanding which results in this very real and sophisticated novel. The author describes an interesting turn of events which leaves us unsure as to what the outcome will be, especially as the situation relies heavily on the justice of the legal system. Everyone's future hangs in the balance!
Magic is a tricky business
Jodi Picoult: Salem Falls
Fiction - Detective/Crime
Published by Hodder & Stoughton 2005
Initially I found it difficult to get into this novel due to Picoult's tendency to fluctuate between character's stories. She begins with one character and then just as she is about to divulge some interesting facts or insight into their lives, she swaps to someone else. She has an interesting array of characters; an agitated man who attempts to turn his life around after being convicted of a crime, a lonely woman wary of opening up her heart after major loses in her life, and regular school girls who dabble in dark magic. Salem Falls then is certainly not lacking in interesting characters.
Picoult's novel is packed full of exciting stories; it is a frame story because it has many stories within its main story. Once into this interesting novel, it becomes a book you cannot put down as we will on the protagonist, hoping it will all come out good in the end. Annoyingly though, there are some questions which remain unanswered.
Fiction - Detective/Crime
Published by Hodder & Stoughton 2005
Initially I found it difficult to get into this novel due to Picoult's tendency to fluctuate between character's stories. She begins with one character and then just as she is about to divulge some interesting facts or insight into their lives, she swaps to someone else. She has an interesting array of characters; an agitated man who attempts to turn his life around after being convicted of a crime, a lonely woman wary of opening up her heart after major loses in her life, and regular school girls who dabble in dark magic. Salem Falls then is certainly not lacking in interesting characters.
Picoult's novel is packed full of exciting stories; it is a frame story because it has many stories within its main story. Once into this interesting novel, it becomes a book you cannot put down as we will on the protagonist, hoping it will all come out good in the end. Annoyingly though, there are some questions which remain unanswered.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
A third year in the life of Jack Sheffield
Jack Sheffield: Dear Teacher
Fiction - Village Stories
Published by Bantam Press 2009
As school life moves on at Ragley School, with Jack Sheffield welcoming new students through its doors, parts of Jack's personal life remain perplexing. Jack is stuck in a tangled love triangle which honestly shows no signs of working itself out. One finds oneself empathising with Jack as we see him attempt to conquer his personal dilemmas whilst running Ragley School successfully. Fortunately, Jack remains professionally focused on his role as headteacher, not allowing his personal life to interfere. We end the novel none the wiser regarding Jack's complicated private life but hope, that Jack will eventually make those choices, to organise his life, which he is afraid of making at the moment. We wonder what Jack's fourth year will entail, and whether certain questions are answered or are just left hanging in the air.
Fiction - Village Stories
Published by Bantam Press 2009
As school life moves on at Ragley School, with Jack Sheffield welcoming new students through its doors, parts of Jack's personal life remain perplexing. Jack is stuck in a tangled love triangle which honestly shows no signs of working itself out. One finds oneself empathising with Jack as we see him attempt to conquer his personal dilemmas whilst running Ragley School successfully. Fortunately, Jack remains professionally focused on his role as headteacher, not allowing his personal life to interfere. We end the novel none the wiser regarding Jack's complicated private life but hope, that Jack will eventually make those choices, to organise his life, which he is afraid of making at the moment. We wonder what Jack's fourth year will entail, and whether certain questions are answered or are just left hanging in the air.
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