April /May reads-Mini book reviews

Since my university semester has ended and i have finally finished second year in Oxford and moved home to my small town in Gloucestershire, i have been able to reignite my ongoing love affair with reading. yes, i study English literature but assigned reading isn't always enjoyable (Im looking at you, David Eggers). It's meant i have been on a real reading roller coaster devouring as many books as i physically can before my dissertation comes knocking on my door in a few months time.  Here are a few short reviews of some of the books i have been reading recently.

I've only been fortunate enough to read a small handful of Kings 60 novel legacy, all of which i have tremendously enjoyed, this is an exception. I really admire the combination of crime thriller and low fantasy King has concocted in this text as well as others in his extensive body of work such as 'Pet Semetary'  but, in this case it disrupted the novels tone spinning me into a realm of disinterest and his text into one of implausibility. Although, with this being said i do have to admit that i admire King's trademark style of avoiding dense literary descriptions and instead choosing always to advance right to the action. Irrespective of this, his novels still manage to reach new records in thickness. Have you seen the size of 'It'? I'm convinced you could make a skyscraper out his published works. This book showed a lot of promise hence why i picked it up. Its the tale of a young boy who is brutally murdered in a highly grotesque way in a small, fictional town. The police make it clear there is only one real suspect but there is a singular issue with this, the suspect has an air tight alibi not to mention a quaint family, an unscathed reputation and no prior convictions whatsoever. Sounds interesting right? Well the book definitely demonstrates promise for the first few hundred pages in which it does an excellent job of building tension, mystique and endearment But King's twist introducing a merging genre of fantasy made me lose so much interest in both the plot and the characters. It has  all the building blocks to make a great thriller but takes a wrong turn in narrative somewhere around page 400 that the text is simply incapable of recovering from. I feel a sense of injustice as a reader and as King fan. I cant say i recommend this particular novel but hey, he's got about 59 others out there you could try. 

It is rare to find a book that makes you feel genuine sadness when you put it down. I haven't felt that for several years until i picked up this gripping masterpiece of a novel by Turton. The characters, the premise, the twists, the suspense. This book literally has everything that makes a text interesting and Turton executes it all so well. None of the 500 page book is irrelevant and, arguably for the literary critique inside us all, Turton maintains a strong and wonderfully well written writing style throughout. I am already gagging for more novels from him. This book follows the murder mystery of Evelyn Hardcastle through our ever changing protagonists eyes, he has 8 'hosts' or lives to solve the intricate mystery of her murder or else. On top of this impossible never solved before task, our protagonist Bishop is also tasked with avoiding the footman in all of his hosts, a mortal enemy who is set out to kill all his hosts and thus chances of solving the mystery and escaping Blackheath house. This is truly a book you will need to fight yourself to make put down.I devoured it in 72 hours whilst in the company of my long term boyfriend i hadn't seen in almost a month. If that doesn't persuade to go on the thrilling adventure of serving a posh lady's murder then i dont know what will. This is the book of the year for me. I only regret not reading it sooner. Turton, please bless your readers with more books like this. Alternatively, if you have read this novel and like me, had some serious reading withdrawal from it then check out the film 'Murder mystery' starring Jenifer Anniston  in on netflix to help fill the Turton sized hole in your soul. Even if crime of mystery books are not your literary cup of tea i can assure you, this one will still please your taste buds. A perfect summer read. 

This is by no means a short, easy or a quick read but boy is it worth the commitment. This is a modern classic in my eyes. It is a poignant story following the life of a young boy Theo who loses his mother in a horrific yet socially and culturally relevant way and tells the tale of how he deals with his grief as a thirteen year old boy with no family and, later we follow him into adulthood and monitor the long term consequences of what Theo experienced the day he lost his mother. This a dark and honest narrative which doesn't shy away from or, equally as importantly, romanticize the themes of grief, loss, adolescence and unhealthy friend and family relationships. Tartt successfully captures the raw feelings and natural angst of a young teenage boy despite being a female herself and, elevates this by adding Theo's grief into his tone and actions. It is beautifully crafted by her talent. There are many neat little references making the narrative nothing short of admirable. This is definitely one to read, re-read and treasure for years. Theo, you will never be leaving my bookshelf for as long as i live.