Review: The Mermaid's Child by Jo Baker

Title:  The Mermaid’s Child

Author: Jo Baker

Publisher: 17^th March 2015 by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

Pages: 350 pages

How I Read It: ARC ebook

Genre: fantasy, historical fiction, adult

My Rating:  two cups

Synopsis:

In this fantastical novel, the acclaimed author of Longbourn brings us the magical story of a young girl in search of her mother...who just might be a mermaid. Malin has always been different, and when her father dies, leaving her alone, her choice is clear: stay, and remain an outsider forever, or leave in search of the mythical inheritance she is certain awaits her. Apprenticed to a series of strange and wonderful characters, Malin embarks on a gruelling journey that crosses oceans and continents—from the high seas to desert plains—and leads to a discovery that she could never have expected. Beautifully written and hauntingly strange, The Mermaid’s Child is a remarkable piece of storytelling, and an utterly unique work of fantasy from literary star Jo Baker.

My thoughts

From the blurb, my italics:

“Apprenticed to a series of strange and wonderful characters (Strange? Most certainly. Wonderful? Not according to my interpretation), Malin embarks on a gruelling journey (repeatedly defying death to the point of surreal ridiculousness) that crosses oceans and continents—from the high seas to desert plains (both of which she was left for dead – but of course survived)—and leads to a discovery that she could never have expected. (she’s right back where she started! Go figure!)”

Sorry to be so trite. But to say I struggled with this book would be an understatement. I excitedly took the opportunity to read Jo Baker’s novel after receiving so much enjoyment from her ‘Longbourn” tale.  Firstly, as you can read above, I have issues with the blurb – um, it’s misleading.  The description leads you to believe that it will be a fantasy tale, inclusively of mermaids somewhere throughout. This could not be further from the truth. Let me state right now, there is no fantasy and not a hint of magical realism. The reality of the situation is that this is a very dark, cruel story, a gruesome historical drama. So if you like that kind of genre, with a lot of emphasis on ‘doom and gloom’ then this may be the book for you. It was not the book for me, sorry to say.

If you are able to overcome the repeated horrible and torturous situations the lead character finds herself in, (for it most certain is cyclical  - I think I counted eight settings where Malin would find herself abused in some form or other) you would still be hard pressed to try and accept the long list of near-death scenarios that she finds herself in, that it becomes ridiculous – unbelievable. Maybe there is fantasy after all.  For Malin does pass as a pregnant boy after all! For me, however, the constant repetition of violent encounters just starts to numb the reader, to the point that you become blasé. Here we go again. It just became too much for me and most definitely was not my cup of tea at all.

“Rest: just a moment’s rest. I sank down to my knees, fumbled in my bad and drew out the canteen. I tugged at the stopper, brought the bottleneck to my lips. The water slid across my tongue and was gone”.

Why give it two stars? Jo Baker can write! Her prose is very good, powerful and picturesque. She really immerses her reader in time and place. So whilst I loved ‘Longbourn’, I would steer clear of  ‘The Mermaid’s Child’ unless you are comfortable with a dark and cruel read.

“What was the point of struggling, of dragging yourself on for another day, another mile, when all that you were stumbling on towards all the time was death”.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Above Us Only Sky by Michele Young-Stone

Title: Above Us Only Sky
Author: Michele Young-Stone
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster (March 3, 2015)
ISBN: 9781451657678

Pages: 256 pages

How I Read It: eARC

Genre: fiction, fantasy, historical fiction
My Rating: 2.5 cups 

Synopsis:

From the author of The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors, which Library Journal called, “ripe for Oprah or fans of Elizabeth Berg or Anne Tyler,” comes a magical novel about a family of women separated by oceans, generations, and war, but connected by something much greater—the gift of wings.

On March 29, 1973, Prudence Eleanor Vilkas was born with a pair of wings molded to her back. Considered a birth defect, her wings were surgically removed, leaving only the ghost of them behind.

At fifteen years old, confused and unmoored, Prudence meets her long-estranged Lithuanian grandfather and discovers a miraculous lineage beating and pulsing with past Lithuanian bird-women, storytellers with wings dragging the dirt, survivors perched on radio towers, lovers lit up like fireworks, and heroes disguised as everyday men and women. Prudence sets forth on a quest to discover her ancestors, to grapple with wings that only one other person can see, and ultimately, to find out where she belongs.

Above Us Only Sky spans the 1863 January Uprising against Russian Tsarist rule in Eastern Europe to the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Lithuania gaining its independence in 1991. It is a story of mutual understanding between the old and young; it is a love story; a story of survival, and most importantly a story about where we belong in the world. This “is a raw, beautiful, unforgettable book” (Lydia Netzer, bestselling author of Shine, Shine, Shine).

My Thoughts:

In an effort to catch up on my reviews, I’m going to keep this fairly brief. I didn’t love this book. I didn’t hate it either, but I must admit it turned out to be quite different from what I expected. On reading the description of “a family of women connected by the gift of wings” I presumed this to be a rather magical or paranormal tale, but it isn’t particularly. While the wings are certainly a part of the story and there are some hints at magical elements, these aspects almost feel extraneous – tacked on and, for the most part, unnecessary. At its heart, this is a story about family more than anything else, and the familial link between these women seems more than enough to carry the tale across generations without the added detail of wings.

The wings do bring about the introduction of some interesting side characters, but therein lies another issue I had with this novel. It isn’t a terribly long book, but it is told from many different viewpoints and perspectives. There are just so many characters and facets here that it becomes frustrating to follow. We barely get comfortable with one story and POV before it switches to the next. The writing is also somewhat disjointed, jumping backward and forward between time periods, sometimes abruptly and in the middle of a section, causing reader confusion. More than once I was forced to backtrack or reread in order to determine where I was in the overall timeline of the narrative, or to clarify a particular character.

Despite these issues, there are some appealing themes explored here – family ties, love of country, the search for belonging, love and loss, regret and resilience – and the history of Lithuania, particularly the wartime perspective, is interesting and well-conveyed. I found the sections chronicling the history of the Old Man, Ingeburg, and Daina the most compelling but was engaged enough overall to keep reading to the end. The novel as a whole felt jumbled, however, and was not as cohesive as I would have liked, leaving me disappointed. I do love the cover though - I only wish I would have loved the book just as much!

“Life speeds by until forty-eight years seems like one bar in a song, like one scene in one act in one opera. Like one stroke of paint on the Mona Lisa.”

 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Ivy Lane: Complete story by Cathy Bramley

Title:  Ivy Lane: Complete story

Author: Cathy Bramley

Publisher: 26^th February 2015 by Random House UK, Transworld Publishers

ISBN: 9780552171236

Pages: 416 pages

How I Read It: ARC ebook

Genre: romance, women’s fiction, chick lit

My Rating:  four cups

Synopsis:

Tilly Parker needs a fresh start, fresh air and a fresh attitude if she is ever to leave the past behind and move on with her life. As she seeks out peace and quiet in a new town, taking on a plot at Ivy Lane allotments seems like the perfect solution.

But the friendly Ivy Lane community has other ideas and gradually draw Tilly in to their cosy, comforting world of planting seedlings, organizing bake sales and planning seasonal parties.

As the seasons pass, will Tilly learn to stop hiding amongst the sweet peas and let people back into her life – and her heart?

My thoughts:

Ivy Lane is a first person narrative from the main character, Tilly. However, that doesn’t stop you from getting to know the other characters well and there are so many to meet. In fact, I really enjoyed the secondary characters and found myself just as much invested in their development throughout the book as with the main characters. So many of them were easy to relate and become attached to – on more than one occasion I found myself wishing that I was jumping on my bike and peddling down to share with the folk at Ivy Lane.

“Despite my attempts to remain aloof I felt as if this tight little community was pulling me in”.

As one might expect from a book centred around life on a shared garden allotment, this is not an action packed, fast paced read. Instead you are presented with a sweet chick lit stroll that unfolds at a gentle pace with a satisfying journey to complete.  And it’s funny! There are some great humorous moments sprinkled throughout this tale:

“I glanced round, hoping that someone else would need the loo soon. Where were all the weak bladders when you needed them?”

I have to admit to having a real affinity to Tilly. I just loved her teacher tales (being a teacher myself) and the fact she was a ‘home body’ (also like myself) had me nodding my head in empathetic agreement.

“Unfortunately, as soon as I pushed open the door I knew I’d made a mistake. The pub was packed, noisy and for a stay-at-home girl like me, totally intimidating”.

I did have a few issues with certain parts of the story. Tilly’s past was dragged out just a tad too much for my liking.  I confess to some ‘eye rolling’ when Tilly would tear up (again!) or be found running from the room (again!).  And the romantic aspect which later developed was also a bit predictable but I was willing to overlook that – it is chick lit after all!

“”I blinked rapidly as unbidden tears popped into my eyes. Here we go again”.

Overall, however, this story offers a guaranteed happily ever after.  It’s great escapism and the perfect read to curl up with for a restful retreat.  It’s a tale of friendship, love, trust and understanding when the time is right to move on. You will be glad you took the trip to Ivy Lane; in fact, you will find it hard to leave. I have heard a whisper that the author is writing another story based on a minor character – sign me up now! I would love to venture back into this garden!

“It was really happening, plot 16B was coming back to life. And as I returned Gemma’s hug, it occurred to me that perhaps I was too … we could do it, me and my plot. We might be battered and damaged, but we could start again and hopefully come back stronger”.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott

Title: A Touch of Stardust
Author: Kate Alcott
Publisher:  Doubleday (February 17, 2015)
ISBN: 9780385539043

Pages: 304 pages

How I Read It: eARC

Genre: historical fiction
My Rating: 3 cups 

Synopsis:

When Julie Crawford leaves Fort Wayne, Indiana for Hollywood, she never imagines she'll cross paths with Carole Lombard, the dazzling actress from Julie's provincial Midwestern hometown. Although the young woman has dreams of becoming a screenwriter, the only job Julie's able to find is one in the studio publicity office of the notoriously demanding producer David O. Selznick —who is busy burning through directors, writers and money as he begins filming Gone with the Wind.    

Although tensions run high on the set, Julie finds she can step onto the back lot, take in the smell of smoky gunpowder and the soft rustle of hoop skirts, and feel the magical world of Gone with the Wind come to life. Julie's access to real-life magic comes when Carole Lombard hires her as an assistant and invites her into the glamorous world Carole shares with Clark Gable—who is about to move into movie history as the dashing Rhett Butler.

Carole Lombard, happily profane and uninhibited, makes no secret of her relationship with Gable, which poses something of a problem for the studio as Gable is technically still married—and the last thing the film needs is more negative publicity. Julie is there to fend off the overly curious reporters, hoping to prevent details about the affair from slipping out. But she can barely keep up with her blonde employer, let alone control what comes out of Carole's mouth, and--as their friendship grows - soon finds she doesn't want to. Carole, both wise and funny, becomes Julie's model for breaking free of the past.

In the ever-widening scope of this story, Julie is given a front-row seat to not one but two of the greatest love affairs of all time: the undeniable on-screen chemistry between Scarlett and Rhett, and off screen, the deepening love between Carole and Clark. Yet beneath the shiny façade, things in Hollywood are never quite what they seem, and Julie must learn to balance career aspirations and her own budding romance with outsized personalities and the overheated drama on set.

My Thoughts:

“Each morning, she pulled herself from bed and joined the cleaning ladies and the plumbers and other sleepy travelers on the 5:00 a.m. bus to get to the studio early. That way, she could step onto the back lot alone and be in the old South and feel the magical world of Gone with the Wind come to life….It didn’t matter that she walked in a landscape of glued plasterboard, a place of fake structures held together by little more than Selznick’s frenzied dreams. It was vividly real.”

Any fan of Gone with the Wind cannot help but be intrigued by the blurb for this book – an imagining of the behind-the-scenes goings on of one of the most beloved and iconic movies of all time – irresistible! And while some aspects of this novel bring that prospect vividly to life, others, sadly, fall woefully short.

From the very outset of this book certain occurrences seem rather unbelievable and contrived.  Julie’s initial encounter and subsequent hiring by Carole Lombard, for instance, while setting the stage for the entire book, is a little too convenient and does not feel entirely plausible.  There is also a fair amount of superfluous storytelling and inconsequential detail that becomes a distraction rather than an enhancement to the story. So many topics are addressed in this work – movie making, screenwriting, the difficulties of prospective actors, women’s struggles, racial issues, antisemitism, the burgeoning threat of WWII – that it seems the author gets a bit lost amongst all the various threads and fails to do any of them full justice. All are worthy ideas, but it seems a more focused approach may have yielded a more cohesive narrative and a better book overall.

That said, however, the passages detailing the effort involved in making such a groundbreaking motion picture – the casting, elaborate sets, wardrobe, challenges faced by the actors, Selznick’s obsessive attention to detail – are compelling and provide a fascinating window into Old Hollywood and movie making. Another huge highlight is Carole Lombard. While neither the main character nor an actress in GWTW, there is a reason her photo is on the cover of this book. SHE is the real star of this tale. While protagonist Julie is a bit flat and underwhelming, Lombard, on the other hand, virtually leaps off the page in vibrant and dynamic detail. Her vivacious spirit, frank honesty, and wise insight add to the story enormously, and her presence is sorely missed during sections she is not at the forefront. So much so, in fact, that I rushed to Google to learn more about the remarkable woman behind the Hollywood glamor, and I would love to read more about her in the future.

This is not a bad book, but I must admit to being somewhat disappointed because, especially given the subject matter, it had the potential to be so much more. Still, a worthy read for GWTW fans, if only for a glimpse into the magic behind that most legendary film.

“Nothing could soar, could become magical, without sweat and a touch of stardust.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: A Vintage Wedding by Katie Fford

Title:  A Vintage Wedding

Author: Katie Fford

Publisher: 12 ^th February 2015 by Random House UK, Cornerstone Digital

ISBN: 9781448136971

Pages: 466 pages

How I Read It: ARC ebook

Genre: romance, women’s fiction, chick lit

My Rating:  three and a half cups

Synopsis:

In a small Cotswold country town, Beth, Lindy and Rachel are looking for new beginnings. So they set up in business, organising stylish and perfectly affordable vintage weddings. Soon they are busy arranging other people's Big Days. What none of them know is that their own romances lie waiting, just around the corner ....

My thoughts:

You know that feeling, you are just longing for a book that will uplift and refresh, entertain and make you feel good. Not too strenuous on the brain, just a nice easy read. Katie Fford’s, ‘Vintage Weddings’ will fulfil that desire. With such a relaxed writing style, it is not a tale filled with dramas and high tension but delightful, witty romance. At times, some may consider it, a little too convenient – however, I am prepared to overlook that because this really is an example of chick lit at its finest. I found it refreshing that there were three leading ladies who gelled together and you were able to watch their relationships and business ventures grow. Do not fear! It’s not all sunshine and flowers, there are the everyday problems in life – difficult relationships, family demands – but not so serious, just ‘normal’ every day stuff. Makes for a nice change and an all round winner:

“The best kind of sweet shop, when everything is really tempting, and you don’t have to have just a few but a whole box, or bucket, or whatever”.

 It’s full of likeable characters, realistic everyday occurrences, with a few little twists thrown in for good measure. My favourite character was Rachel, as I could relate just a little to her OCD (*giggle*) and how Raff – what a sweetie - slowly took down her walls of defence. The dialogue was entertaining and pure, that made escaping into this tale a breath of fresh air.

Fford’s writing comes with a message of optimism, inviting the reader to take that step in your life that could make all the difference. Look around you, look ahead and seize those opportunities that could very well change your life. In this circumstance, Beth, Lindy and Rachel move forward with their lives, instead of only working with the cards dealt them; they took an idea and ran with it.  Vintage Weddings truly was the missing piece in their life puzzles and you will smile at their novel approach and friendship. I liked how everyone banded together and worked as a team. I can only hope that Fford may revisit this little village some time down the track.

“However we met them….we’re all very lucky. And even without our blokes, Vintage Weddings is still amazing”.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.