Book #1

Reviewer: Inspirationalreads

So I want to start out by saying that I am going to be deliberately vague about the finer points of this novel.  Like others on this list, I have avoided any kind of advance knowledge about the plot of this book because I wanted to go in and come out again having experienced the book as a whole, not tainted by any pre-conceived ideas about it.  And I am so thankful that did this.  All I knew was that it has been classified as a British Science Fiction novel about three people who grew up in a private boarding school establishment who grow to be more aware of their significance and contribution to the world they live in.   From this point onwards  as said earlier, I will be vague but still will give more specific details so if you want to go into this book like I did, which by the way I recommend, then STOP READING NOW!

Kathy is a thirty-one year old carer, of which she has been for the past eleven years. When a patient learns that Kathy is from the esteemed and now defunct school Hailsham, he asks Kathy to let him know all of her memories and experiences.  With this, it sets Kathy to reminiscing, about her time at Hailsham, in particular her relationship with two of her school mates Tommy and Ruth and how the path for their life was laid out .

Despite shielding myself from any spoilers, I did go into this novel with high expectations, and these were easily exceeded.  Having seen it described as “a tale of deceptive simplicity” it is hard to find anything more apt to describe it myself.  Kathy’s tale slowly unfolds, one memory leading to another in an almost conversational recollection.  This never becomes confusing, rather the reader is taken along, snippets revealed here and there.  There is no complex weaving of multiple narratives, the timeline despite being a recollection moves in a linear manner, the language is clear and straight forward.  But this simplicity is deceptive, because this story is full and layered.  There is a analogy here, about what we as humans do for the supposed greater good.  Does the end always justify the means?  Also the question of destiny, if the destination is known does it matter what we do on the path towards it?  Does that journey matter at all?

I currently have the movie waiting beside my player, all ready for me to watch.  Much is made of the love story on the DVD cover that has already made me so wary to watch it and so if you have seen the movie but not yet read the book I implore you to rush give it a read as it will be well worth your time.  As is generally the case of any movie (or TV show ) adapted from a novel.

Ishiguro is truly a masterful storyteller, entwining these questions, these comments on destiny and purpose, into a story that is enthralling as much as it gives the reader much to mull over.  The simplicity is the way it is told, the deception is in what is being told. I can see this story not letting me go for quite a while yet.

One more thing – yay for number one being done and dusted!

Book #254

Reviewer: Inspirationalreads

Two years after I killed Blyth I murdered my young brother Paul, for quite different and more fundamental reasons than I’d disposed of Blyth, and then a year later I did for my young cousin Esmeralda, more or less on a whim.That’s my score to date. Three. I haven’t killed anybody for years, and don’t intend to ever again.It was just a stage I was going through.

Let me introduce Frank Cauldhame; sixteen years old and living a reclusive lifestyle in rural Scotland with his father.The typical adolescent though, Frank is not.  If it is not obvious from the above quote, Frank is a sociopath; although he has limited his murder of humans to three, he continues to torture and murder animals, using them in rituals to help predict the course of events in his life.  Told from Frank’s perspective, the story opens with news that Frank’s older brother Eric has escaped from a psychiatric holding facility.  Oh yes blog follower, not one but two mentally deranged individuals in one family.   With Eric arrival imminent, Frank’s story unfolds switching between current events and Frank’s memories including the abandonment of his mother, a savage attack on him by the family dog which maimed and physically altered Frank, and the three horrific acts of detached, calculated murder.

Which leads me to that regular old disclaimer from me; if you are at all easily offended or squeamish and wish not to purposefully introduce dark, disturbing reading material into your life, then avoid this novel. I like to think I am providing at least some small kind of service to those who wish to avoid such books.  Don’t all rush to thank me.

This is a masterful novel, the first outing for Banks.  This is the first of SIX of his books on the list and is a quick read, but by no means easy.  The prose is straight forward but the subject matter is hard hitting.  Frank’s internal monologue is far from a rambling mass of delusional diatribes.  He is clear, methodical and applies his own brand of morality on everything he does.  There is a genuine quality in Frank, a madness that is not in any part an affectation and it is this, the characterisation of someone abhorrent and yet deserving of our sympathies and in some way, affection, that Banks genius is clearly evident.  For example, when Eric and Frank get a chance to talk Frank becomes horrified that Eric could possibly have a dog with him, setting dogs alight being one of the key indicators of Eric’s deepening instability.  Yet, earlier that same day, Frank kills one rabbit with his bare hands and then blows up a warren, delighting in his victory.  Frank is self-aware, he knows just what kind of monster he is and is often repentant, but is unwilling or unable to change.

The story itself moves along at a great pace, never feeling sluggish.  This is aided by its short length, but also in the way that the past and the present being are revealed at the same time.  All leading to Eric arriving back at the family home, bringing revelations that changes Frank’s world and the readers perspective of it.

I feel like I am doing a disservice to those who will avoid this book because of some content.  It really is a great story, with one of the most interesting characters I have read in a long time.  The elements of ick can be viewed as sensationalist or can be viewed as necessary to Frank, his inner dialogue, his idea of himself and therefore necessary to the story.  I would like to therefore take back my advice and just add a little cautionary message because this book is worth reading and I feel like it is a great introduction to a wonderful author.  Highly recommended.

Book #248

Reviewer: Inspirationalreads

Aaaaaahhhhh.  That is the sound of me settling into one of my favourite genres, a first for my reads for this blog.  Fantasy, my first and if I am honest,  favourite, reading love.  I was pleasantly surprised to see this book on the list.  I expected Tolkien, but more modern epic fantasy was not and therefore became an easy one for me to tick off the list.  And for all my fantasy adoration, the Drenai Saga, of which this book is the first of thirteen, is not a Gemmell I had read before.  So what more of a push did I need?

The legend of this story is Druss; Deathwalker, Captain of the Axe, a battle scared living legend who is the most beloved of all the heroes in Drenai.  Well into his sixties, Druss is long time widowed and all but retired from the art of war. When he receives a plea from a his close friend, the Earl of Delnoch, to help defend his fort against the invading Nadir tribes, he finds the invitation hard to turn down and journeys to the fort to prepare for what is widely known as a hopeless cause.  The Nadir were once a scattered group of fighting tribes, now united under the brilliant Ulric, creating a seemingly unstoppable juggernaut of ambition and hunger for more power and domain.  The weight of the Drenai survival weighs heavily on Fort Delnoch, as it is the last obstacle in the Nadir’s bid to annihilate and then

As is typical of many fantasy novels, there is a large supporting cast of characters.  Joining Druss in this supposedly doomed campaign is Rek, running in the opposite direction of the fighting due to his crippling fear.  Then fate steps in and Rek not only finds himself joining the battle, but also leading it.  Our mystical element is provided by the albino Serbitar; he and his monk-like group known as The Thirty join the battle physically and metaphysically, reading futures, foretelling betrayals and fighting off psychic attacks.  A beautiful serial killer, farm hands who rise to the challenge, pampered officials, all come together in a battle that appears to have been lost before it is even fought.

As I said in the opening, I am truly a fan of fantasy writing and so much of Legend contained a lot of what I enjoy about the genre.  For starters, it is just plain old fun.  The characters are larger than life – they are braver, stronger, more noble.  This may not be to everybody’s tastes, as this does not leave much room for complexity or depth.  There are surprise developments for a couple of the characters, but not too much of a stretch.  In our legendary hero, we have a rousing, inspirational man who is deserving of every bit of praise and hero-worship heaped upon him.  Even in his old age he is near-indestructible and the target of all Nadir.  He is the one that could turn it around for the Drenai, by inspiring with his reputation, his actions and by his words;

Get rid of your doubts. Yesterday is dead.  Past mistakes are like smoke in the breeze.  What counts is tomorrow, and every tomorrow until Woundweaver gets here with reinforcements.  Make no mistake, Orrin. When we survive and the songs are sung, you will be worth your place in them and no one will sneer.  Not a soul. Believe it!

Where Legend is successful, is in the pacing.  There are 13 novels in the Drenai saga, but many can stand alone for they are not one continuous narrative as many other fantasy series.  What this allows for is a fast pace with no need for padding with long speeches or descriptions of surroundings. The second half of the book is all battle and it makes for thrilling reading.  These are not minor skirmishes, but a battle in the truest, grandest sense with the relevant death toll.  The glimpses we get of Ulric and his Nadir help to raise the suspense and anticipation of what could possibly come next.

This is a great introduction to fantasy for those who have yet to try it but always wanted to.  When putting my mind to why this was chosen as the selection above others such as Feist, Jordan or Eddings my opinions is that it succinctly defines much of what the genre has to offer in one book that can stand alone or be a  gateway to more books in the series.  It is not overly complicated, as some of the plots and sub-plots can be in long series (I’m looking at you Mr. Martin; nothing but frustrated adoration for you from me though).  I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be passing it on to my son who has already devoured another of Gemmell’s works and is eager for more.  Highly recommended.