Wow, time flies when you're reading books. I can't believe that it's already the end of March and I'm writing another wrap up post. All in all, it's been a pretty good month for my reading goals. I've read six books in total including one non-fiction audiobook, two novels, one memoir, one novella and a graphic novel so I've had a nice variety of styles and subject matter and I've read some cracking books which I'm looking forward to telling you about. So, without further ado, here is my wrap up of March's reading!
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. When her train stops at a signal she gets a glimpse into the cosy suburban lives of one couple, who breakfast on the deck in their back garden every day. To Rachel, their lives are perfect. But then she sees something and now, everything has changed. As events start to spiral out of Rachel's control, she becomes more entwined in the lives she has glimpsed from the window and becomes much more than just the girl on the train. Despite the many comparisons made with 'Gone Girl' (a book I really didn't enjoy) and the major hype machine surrounding it, I was really looking forward to reading this debut thriller. The premise sounded unique and I'd heard good things about the story. Sadly, for me, 'The Girl on the Train' promised a bit more than it delivered. Whilst I enjoyed the characterisation - especially that of Rachel, who is wonderfully unreliable as a main narrator - I found the story to be rather predictable and, if I'm being honest, rather unrealistic. To say too much would be to give the story away so lets just say that I found some of the connections and incidents a little too coincidental for me to fully believe in them. I was also a bit disappointed that the premise of the train journey becomes little more than incidental as the story progresses. That said, it was a nice quick, pacy read - an ideal holiday or 'binge read' book. It's not going to make me a convert to the genre but I'm sure that psychological thriller fans will find a great deal to enjoy.
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
This AMAZING memoir was probably my book of the month. A brutally honest portrayal of writer and novelist Haig's battle with depression and anxiety, you can read my full review here.
This was my book group read for the month. As with last month's choice, 'The Age of Innocence', it's probably not something that I would have picked up myself but, unlike 'The Age if Innocence', I actually really enjoyed this book. Written in the 1930s, the book examines the conduct of senior army staff during the First World War via the career of the titular General, Curzon. Curzon is very much a man of his time and the book examines how the social and moral attitudes of Curzon - and others like him - defined the conduct and decision-making process of the war. As a result the book feels more like a character study than a novel at times with the plot, such as it is, being secondary to the examination of Curzon's actions and decisions. Even the major battles of the First World War are covered only in so much as they give opportunities for Curzon's character development. Considering that Cuzon is not always an agreeable character, this could well have made this a difficult read but I felt that Forester did an excellent job of making the reader care about what happens. Whilst many of the tactics that he promotes result in what we would now consider needless loss of life, Curzon remains just the right side of likeable and, through him, Forester does a good job of showing why the senior officers within the British Army thought and fought in the way that they did. All in all, a thought-provoking and interesting novel - I probably won't read it again but I'm glad that I picked it up.
Address Unknown by Katherine Kressman Taylor
An extremely short novella (only 64 pages in the paperback), this re-discovered classic was recommended in the latest issue of newbooks magazine. The story takes the form of a series of fictional letters written between a Jewish art dealer living in San Francisco and his German business partner, who has returned to Germany shortly before the rise of the Nazi party. Beginning with seemingly trivial descriptions of daily life, the letters soon take a more sinister turn as political events in Germany gather pace. To say any more would be to spoil the book, which relies on a series of twists, but I'd urge you to read it. For something that can be read in one sitting, it's a powerfully haunting tale that lingers long after you've read the final page. Definitely a novella that deserves a wider readership.
Persepolis I: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
This graphic memoir is an account of Marjane Satrapi's life growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Told in starkly powerful black and white images, Marjane entwines her personal history with the history of her country very effectively. By viewing events through her child's eye-view, she manages to discuss very complex issues (such as the causes leading up to the overthrow of the Shah and the Islamic Revolution) in a simple and engaging way. The book also highlights the differences between private life for ordinary Iranians and the public image of Iranian life that was portrayed by the regime, which I found to be fascinating as I had previously encountered the history of the Iranian Revolution only through non-fiction sources which tend to focus on key events rather than the lives of ordinary people. This is the first graphic novel that I have ever read and, initially, I wasn't sure whether I would engage with the combination of text and pictures in the same way that I would an ordinary novel or memoir. Having finished 'Persepolis' however, I definitely have a better idea of how graphic novels work. The text remains important but is aided and enhanced by the images. Marjane's use of the stark black and white images really enhances the more thought-provoking aspects of the book, adding to the sense of repression and confusion that she, as a growing young woman, was feeling at the time. By the end of the book, I'd almost forgotten that I was reading a graphic novel at all and was simply engaged by Marjane's story. I would encourage anyone interested in memoir - even graphic novel newbies like me - to pick this up and I am looking forward to following Marjane on her journey in 'Persepolis II: The Story of a Return'.
Forensics: The Anatomy of Crime by Val McDermid (narrated by Sarah Barron)
A fascinating and insightful look at the diligent, and often unrecognised, work of forensics investigation. McDermid uses her knowledge as a crime writer to tell the stories behind various forensic disciplines such as CSIs, fire investigators, toxicologists, criminal pathologists and data analysts. Interspersing technical information and the history of the discipline with case studies and the testimony of professionals working in each field, she provides a comprehensive overview of each area. The inclusion of the case studies, which often compare a well-known historical crime with a modern counterpart, do an excellent job of getting across the technical information without bombarding the reader and really help to contextualise the information provided. McDermid also makes a point of distinguishing between the pain-staking detail of 'real' forensic investigation and the swift results and fancy laboratories increasingly beloved in TV shows and fiction - she is clearly in awe of the people who dedicate their professional lives to these disciplines and her enthusiasm results in a very engaging narrative. I listened to the audiobook version of this, excellently narrated by Sarah Barron whose voice has a pleasant Scottish lilt and a nice pace, which is easy to listen to and digest - although sometimes at odds with the macabre nature of the subject matter she is narrating! As someone who finds forensic investigation fascinating (I once considered a career as a criminal psychologist), I thought this book was a real insight into the hard truths behind some of our favourite crime fiction tropes. General readers might find some of the subject matter a little disturbing - it might not be a book to read before dinner - but anyone with a passing interest in crime fiction, and avid watchers of CSI, should really enjoy this book.
So that was March- a real mixed bag of genre and subject matter. I hope that some of the books I have read sound of interest. If you have read - or decide to read - any of them, please leave me a comment below and let me know your thoughts. As for April's reading, I'm about halfway through Kazuo Ishiguro's new novel 'The Buried Giant' which I'm finding enjoyable, albeit very slow and reflective in the telling. I'm also reading my first ever Haruki Murakami novel, 'The Wind Up Bird Chronicle' for book group - at the moment, I'm finding it rather surreal but I'm only about 100 pages in (out of 600!) so maybe it will make more sense as I progress. Beyond that, I'm hoping to finally get onto 'The Subtle Knife' this month and my best friend recently recommended that I read Jon Ronson's latest piece of investigative non-fiction 'So You've Been Publicly Shamed' so I'd like to read that to if I get the chance. So, with all that to do, I'd better get started!
Until next time folks, Happy Reading!
x
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