Helen Dunmore was a prolific writer of both children's and adult fiction. She sadly passed away recently after a battle with cancer. Birdcage Walk was her last work of fiction. She states at the end of the book that even though she knew she was ill during the writing of the book, she didn't realise how ill. I think that once I knew this, I myself became aware of the many mentions of mortality, and how you are remembered after you die, and this may have affected my enjoyment of it. It was very dark and sombre - I can't say morbid, because that would infer I took no enjoyment out of it. I found the first half of the book slightly laborious; I was willing for something to happen. It wasn't until about the second half that I began to race through it a bit quicker.
The story is set in Bristol, while in France the French Revolution is under way. Lizzie's husband, Diner, is a builder and he is working on a terrace of upmarket houses overlooking the Avon Gorge. However, is business is bleak, and is set to become bleaker as the Revolution in France spreads its terror across Europe. Meanwhile, Lizzie's mother and stepfather take a keen interest in the actions of the revolutionaries, being careful not to speak out loud where their loyalties lie. With Diner spiralling into bankruptcy, depression and jealousy, how can Lizzie escape the inevitability of the crisis that is looming?
Please make sure you also read Helen Dunmore's 'Exposure'. It is a brilliant story of blackmail, lies and deception.
I hadn't read any Salman Rushdie books before I came to this one. I know it sounds absurd, but since The Satanic Verses and the threats on his life, I've had a slight fear over his novels. Would they be too political for me, too intelligent?
Well, in The Golden House, he certainly is the latter two things, but it didn't stop me enjoying the book immensely. He throws literary, historical, cinematic and mythological references into nearly every sentence, many of which I hadn't heard! He is certainly a well-educated man, and the book a huge literary feast. The utmost care has been taken over every sentence - no noun or adjective has been misused. Sure, I might've glazed over on some paragraphs because the descriptions were just too much for my brain to cope with on one go, but overall it is a beauty of a book.
Nero Golden arrives in America with his three sons during the period of the inauguration of Obama. They all refuse to say where they have come from and the reason they left. But they bring with them power, money and danger. The story of their downfall is told by one of their neighbours, Rene Unterlinden, who is trying to find an idea for a film - and he finds it in the Goldens. This is an epic tale of Indian and American history and politics - the appearance of presidential wannabes the Joker and Bat Girl will have you grinning and wincing at the same time.
It may be over 400 pages long, but this book will drag you in and under, and you won't come up for air until the last page.
A couple of light hearted facts for you - did you know that in his early career Salman Rushdie was a copywriter for an advertising agency, and he was the one who came up with 'irresistibubble' for Aero, 'naughty but nice' for cream cakes, and 'that'll do nicely' for American Express?
I like a good ghost story, and this definitely had the beginnings of one, but there was too much unnecessary stuff in there to wade through for it to become a good book for me.
Eleanor and Richard have moved into an old Victorian house in London, perfect for doing up and making their own. The previous owners wanted a quick sale, and Richard and Eleanor's offer was immediately accepted. They take on a lodger, Zoe, for their basement flat to help with the mortgage. But then Eleanor soon becomes aware that something is not right in the house, especially upstairs in one of the bedrooms. All the walls have the name 'Emily' scrawled all over them, the room feels airless, and a terrible smell of rot is permeating through the house. Soon Eleanor becomes sick with headaches, which only disappear when she leaves the house, and one their two small children starts acting strangely. Eleanor tries to find ways to convince Richard that something is not right, but will he listen before it's too late?
Now, if that had been the whole story, I would've enjoyed it more, but instead I had to wade through Zoe's personal background, her work, her relationships, all of which had absolutely nothing to do with the story apart from adding a bad vibe to the house. Richard is incredibly annoying, not only because he steadfastly refuses to accept Eleanor's complaints about the house, but he has a weird fetish for going into Zoe's room when she's not there, which I never understood. And would anyone actually buy a house which gives them the creeps, and had a room with a child's name scrawled over the walls, and scratches on the door? There was too much in this book that annoyed me for me to enjoy it.
First and foremost, a warning. This is an uncomfortable read - I found my toes curling and my gut and teeth clenching as I read some sections. But when there seemed to be hope in the story, I relaxed and prayed everything would be ok. Because the story is about abuse - sexual, mental and physical - of a 14 year old girl by her own father. But even though we know it's wrong and it's horrific, the daughter, Turtle, loves her father, Martin, so much that she accepts what is happening and doesn't try to escape. I think that part is so heartbreaking.
The two live in a large house on a huge piece of land, and the grandfather lives in a trailer in the orchard. When the mother was alive, the property was looked after, succulent fruits and vegetables growing in the garden, flowers abundant, the house clean and sparkling. But now everything has fallen into disrepair - weeds and brambles have taken over in the garden, grease rust and deadly spiders have taken over the house. With the loss of his wife, Martin's mind has also fallen into disrepair. He has brought his daughter up shunning attempts of friendship from others, and he teaches her how to shoot.
One day, Turtle bumps into two boys out trekking, they get lost and she helps them find the right path home. The arrival of these boys, Jacob and Brett, into the story inject humour, pathos, normality and hope into the story, and you wish it would carry on just being the three of them. But not all stories have happy endings - Martin doesn't want to share his daughter with anybody, and he will go to any lengths to stop that happening.
I think this title will be big because the storyline is so shocking and unbearable everyone will be talking about it. The author was brought up by two mothers, and I wonder whether his attitude towards fathers has any bearing on the character of Martin. Gabriel's love of nature shines through the whole book - how can the beauty of nature be described so acutely alongside the ugliness of such characters as Martin? The contrast is obvious and purposeful.
An unforgettable read.
I absolutely loved Lauren's first book 'Wolf Hollow', and this second book is almost as good, but for me hasn't quite pipped the post, but is still a joy to read. Lauren is such a beautiful writer - she is an award-winning poet, and this definitely comes through in her writing. You just have to savour every single sentence, because each word is chosen so carefully and fits so perfectly. The writing is magical and the storyline and characters are magical too. Crow is a young girl living on a tiny island with her guardian, Osh. As a baby, she was wrapped up and put in a tiny boat and sent off from one island and landed on Osh's, where he found her and has brought her up as his own. Now Crow is older, she starts wondering about the island she was cast adrift from - an old leper colony - and of her real parents. Will her curiosity spoil the wonderfully simple life she leads with Osh? Is danger lurking close by, threatening her, Osh and their close friend Maggie?
Lauren Wolk is a true talent and I very much look forward to her next book.
There aren't many books that I've enjoyed so much that I want to read them again, but this is definitely one of them. I think it's because it took me by surprise. I'd read an interview with the author where she'd spoken about the main character, Eleanor. I obviously wasn't paying attention because I came to the book with a completely different expectation. What I knew of Eleanor was that she lived alone, didn't go out much, and was really very lonely, and that the book would explain how she'd become how she was, and how she got through life. Well, all of that is true, but as soon as you start to read the book, you realise that Eleanor is not like everyone else. She may have a job, a flat, and enjoys doing cryptic crosswords, but she is hugely scarred mentally by her childhood. Something happened which has caused her to interact with colleagues in a very different manner. She needs bottles of vodka to get her through a weekend. She has a bullying and controlling mother, and the only contact Eleanor has with her is a weekly phone call, during which the mother usually berates and belittles her.
Eleanor decides she needs someone in her life to love her and be her companion. She becomes obsessed with a local musician and tries to organise a situation where they can meet. While this is happening, one of her work colleagues, Raymond, befriends her. She doesn't particularly like Raymond, but will she be able to see past looks and realise who may be better for her in her life?
This is an emotional and moving book about not fitting in and about mental health. It is Gail Honeyman's debut novel, but it has already been shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction prize while it was a work in progress, and it was chosen as one of the Observer's Debuts of the Year for 2017.
(Review by Megan, age 14)
The original story behind the Netflix show, 13 Reasons Why is a very raw and emotional story about a suicidal girl who has left behind casette tapes for her peers who are the 'reasons why'.
The book is different from the on-screen show, but is definitely still hard-hitting and certainly makes you think about the affect you make on other people's lives, that however small it may be, it can make a big difference. It might not be a story for everyone, but I think that everyone should read it, because unfortunately, it is based on countless true stories that are still happening around the world today.
Overall, a very touching, emotive and important tale, told in a realistic and heart-breaking way. I recommend this book to anyone aged 13+.
