Tag Archives: Contemporary

The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the secret science of magic book cover

Title: The Secret Science of Magic
Author: Melissa Keil
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Easy reading
Dates read: 27th June 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: Joseph gives me what I think is a sympathetic smile.

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Synopsis

Sophia

She’s smart, like genius-calculator-brain smart. But there are some things no amount of genius can prepare you for, and the messiness of real life is one of them. When everything she knows is falling apart, how can she crack the puzzle of what to do with her life?

Joshua

He spends his time honing magic tricks and planning how to win Sophia’s heart. But when your best trick is making schoolwork disappear, how do you possibly romance a genius?

Thoughts

Holy crap. I have been in a bit of a reading slump lately (relying mostly on short stories, rather than novels to keep me slightly interested). And then I picked up this book. Which was quite possibly a mistake, because now I have a brand new author to obsess over. It is the first book in a long time that I struggled to put down. And read cover to cover. It’s also the first book in months that I stayed up way past my bedtime to read a book because I JUST COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN.

Although I often become emotionally invested in the characters that I meet in the pages of a book, I don’t often literally shed a tear. Let alone lie in bed with tears streaming down my face. There was just this one moment in this book that almost felt like a punch to the solar plexus, and it made me weep. This was surrounded by moments of smiling and laughter, so overall the mood of this book was incredibly cheerful, even though I had a moment of tears.

Everyone thinks that they’re a bit of a misfit in high school, which is why I can see how this story would speak to the masses. I’m sure even the popular kids kind of feel a bit uncomfortable, especially at the very ending of high school when they’re about to spread their wings. I assume, I had friends, but I was more like Sophia than any other high school character I’ve ever read about. It was also amazing to have a dynamic like Joshua in the story. In school he is quiet and reserved, but he has a fun filled, happy and thriving social life out of school that reminds you we can all find the place where we fit best… it just took me a few years out of high school to realise that personally.

I may not be quite genius-level smart, but I do understand all of the pressures that Sophia experiences throughout this book. There seems to be this idea that because you are smart, you should know what you want to do with your future. Have everything planned out and a goal in mind. For me, that has never been the case. I’ve never really had a future plan or goals. I just have a huge sense of curiosity and a drive to learn more, although sometimes I want to know more about how to interact a little better with others.

 <- Life in Outer Space ReviewThe Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl Review ->
Image source: Melissa Keil

Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for legally blonde book cover

Title: Legally Blonde
Author: Amanda Brown
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Book to Film, Chic lit, Contemporary
Dates read: 7th – 8th June 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Sphere
Year: 2001
5th sentence, 74th page: Why might we not want a trial… uh, to start up that soon?

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Synopsis

This blonde is anything but dumb…

Elle Woods, University of Southern California socio-political jewellery design major, is blonde, spoiled and desperately in love with Warner Huntingdon III. But when Warner announces he’s dumping her to go off to Stanford, Elle decides that a little thing like law school won’t come between them. Anything Warner can do, she can do better.

Elle’s Stanford misadventures begin badly, and it seems the one place blondes definitely don’t have more fun is law school. But then Elle’s asked to defend one-time fitness queen Brooke Vandermark on a murder charge. Seizing the opportunity to prove her worth to Warner and her fellow classmates, she vindicates all who are blonde at heart with a tip any Cosmo girl should know.

Legally Blonde was made into the hugely successful 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon.

Thoughts

I only recently found out that this was a book. And man am I glad that I picked it up. Like the movie, the book is a fun, easy read. Very cutesy and, in many ways, completely unrelatable (I’m not exactly a “Legally Blonde” kind of girl). But it was fun. And easy. And I read it over the course of less than 24 hours. Like I said, it was just so damn cute and easy.

This is one of the few cases were I actually liked the movie a bit more than the book. Reese Witherspoon just does such a phenomenal job of bringing Elle Woods to life. And she’s impossible not to love. The Elle Woods who comes to life on the pages is completely lovable too. But she’s not quite as adorable, and a lot more superficial. Kind of annoyingly so at times. But her optimism and naivety kind of makes up for the stereotypical blonde image…

One of the biggest differences between the book and the film is that many of the characters have different names. Their personalities are also a little more two dimensional, but still relatable. But the law lessons are more intense. You can tell that Amanda Brown actually went to law school. Studied the monotony that is apparent on the page. And she obviously also enjoyed some parts of the law, since these are the bits that are much better explained. In some parts I actually wanted to go to law school myself! But only in some… I like my degree.

Legally Blonde is one of those books that I’ll pick up again and again. It’s the perfect balance of a good storyline, fun characters and accessible language that makes the words just fly by. And, since I’ve seen the movie so, so, so many times, I know what’s going to happen. So it’s perfect for those reading slumps or times of intense pressure where you just can’t quite seem to concentrate fully…

 <- Family Trust ReviewSchool of Fortune Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Only Joseph by Sophie Hannah

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Only Joseph
Author: Sophie Hannah
In: I Am Heathcliff (Kate Mosse)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Crime
Dates read: 16th May 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Borough Press
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: We usually refer to ‘the problem’ or ‘the issue’.

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Synopsis

She’s trying to find a new school for her troubled daughter. But when she comes across a conspiracy of murder and mayhem at a potential new place of education, things quickly spiral out of control.

Thoughts

Finishing off the I Am Heathcliff collection with this story worked surprisingly well. It took a modern take on Heathcliff’s stalkerish ways and also weaved in other themes of understanding, betrayal and appearances throughout the story.

The school setting made this an immediately relatable story. Alright, there was never a murder at my school (although there was an exorcism performed)… but the fact that a mother is searching for the best fit for her child and is constantly concerned that she’s not doing the right thing by her is touching. Not to mention a little frightening. I don’t have children, but now the idea of trusting my potential future children to possible murderers, and definitely people who don’t have the same concerns… it kind of gave me goosebumps…

 <- Heathcliff Is Not My Name ReviewI Am Heathcliff Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

Heathcliff Is Not My Name by Michael Stewart

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Heathcliff Is Not My Name
Author: Michael Stewart
In: I Am Heathcliff (Kate Mosse)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Retellings
Dates read: 16th May 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Borough Press
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: You hear a fox scream and an owl cry.

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Synopsis

A great, and different point of view to the story of Heathcliff and his unhealthy obsession with Cathy.

Thoughts

This is a bit of a ranty, ravy type of story. Just one block of text that recounts Heathcliff’s impressions of Cathy and her family as he grew up. That makes his tale a little more tragic. A little more relatable. Even if I still think he’s a douche.

There is a certain divorcing from the name Heathcliff throughout this story. A sense that the story we all know isn’t really the true story. That there is so much more beneath the layer of the tale. So much more to Heathcliff than such an overwhelming douche.

Alright, so this story might have made me soften a little towards Heathcliff. It gave him a little more personality and reason for his emotions than any other retelling of Wuthering Heights I’ve read so far. But it only made me soften, not completely thaw towards the capital douche.

 <- The Wildflowers ReviewOnly Joseph Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

The Wildflowers by Dorothy Koomson

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: The Wildflowers
Author: Dorothy Koomson
In: I Am Heathcliff (Kate Mosse)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Romance
Dates read: 6th May 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Borough Press
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: This time my body remembers how to move and takes a step back and lets in the woman holding a very large knife.

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Synopsis

She’s being taken at knifepoint by the love of her life’s mother. A series of flashbacks and ruminations will let her finally understand all that happened ten years ago. And what’s about to happen now with a modern day Heathcliff.

Thoughts

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this short story. Most of the stories in this collection have been really interesting and engaging. But not the type of story that I would generally consider “enjoyable”. Which meant that I was incredibly surprised when I enjoyed this so much. There was just a level of sweetness and romance to it that the rest of the short stories in this collection quite frankly don’t have.

I love the idea of a past love that was left, for a variety of reasons in this case. But, the sweet revenge and poetic justice of the grandfather’s “Heathcliff” revenge worked brilliantly. The complete turn around and the way in which a really horrible family was forced to (maybe) attempt to become better people worked brilliantly. And now I’m kind of sad that it’s over.

 <- How Things Disappear ReviewHeathcliff Is Not My Name Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

How Things Disappear by Anna James

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: How Things Disappear
Author: Anna James
In: I Am Heathcliff (Kate Mosse)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary
Dates read: 27th April 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Borough Press
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: By the time the answer was written, the rib was back, and she assumed she had been mistaken that it ever went away.

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Synopsis

When did you realise that you were slowly disappearing? When did part of you return? How do you make your heart beat in an empty chest again?

Thoughts

I’ve always believed that in almost every meaningful interaction we have with people, we give them a small part of ourselves. That, if they are able, they in turn give something back to us. But what happens when the people we surround ourselves with just take, take, take? What happens when parts of you begin to disappear as people refuse to return your gifts?

This story is incredibly disjointed, it hints at everything, but tells you nothing. And I think that this visceral reality that you just can’t quite grasp works perfectly. That maybe it’s the idea of giving and taking in turn that is really what indicates love. That maybe, just maybe, we are all slowly disappearing until we find someone to help us put ourselves back together again.

 <- Amulet and Feathers ReviewThe Wildflowers Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

I Am Heathcliff curated by Kate Mosse

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Overview

Title: I Am Heathcliff
Author: Kate Mosse, Louise Doughty, Grace McCleen, Nikesh Shukla, Erin Kelly, Joanna Cannon, Laurie Penny, Lisa McInerney, Juno Dawson, Hanan al-Shaykh, Alison Case, Louisa Young, Leila Aboulela, Anna James, Dorothy Koomson, Michael Stewart & Sophie Hannah
In: I Am Heathcliff (Kate Mosse)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
Bookshelves: Contemporary, Short story collections, Twisted romance
Dates read: 18th February – 16th May 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Borough Press
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: Any sound Ellis made was nurtured, grown somehow by the floorboards and the leaded-glass windows, until even the sound of her own breathing seemed to be carried away down the landing, and passed around from room to room.

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Synopsis

16 modern fiction superstars shine a startling light on the romance and pain of the infamous literary pair Heathcliff and Cathy.
Short stories to stir the heart and awaken vital conversation about love.

Sixteen stories inspired by Wuthering Heights.

In Terminus a young woman hides in an empty Brighton hotel; in Thicker Than Blood a man sits in a hot tub stalking his newly-married love on social media; and in A Bird Half-Eaten an amateur boxer prepares for a match.

A woman recalls the Heathcliffs I Have Known and the physical danger she has borne at their hands; in Anima a child and a fox are unified in one startling moment of violence; and in One Letter Different two teenagers walk the moors and face up to their respective buried secrets.

Curated by Kate Mosse and commissioned for Emily Brontë’s bicentenary year in 2018, these fresh, modern stories pulse with the raw beauty and pain of love and are as timely as they are illuminating.

Thoughts

I did enjoy this collection, but not as much as I had hoped. Probably because I bought this before reading Wuthering Heights. Which I then hated. So although this collection went a long way towards helping me to understand just why people love the classic so much. I still didn’t really love the obsessive, twisted romance that really features throughout all of these. The darkness that is completely overwhelming and more than a little difficult to understand.

Taking an incredibly rich classic, one that has stood the tests of time and creating different storylines and modern perspectives on it is an impressive feat. Collecting all of these stories together in one great collection was thoroughly enjoyable. It definitely gave me a whole new perspective on the classic. And made me want to give it a go for a second time… maybe in a year or two when I’m a little more mellow, and less likely to hate on Heathcliff and Cathy so passionately…

 <- Only Joseph ReviewTerminus Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

Tunnel Vision by Rachel Nussbaum

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of dieselpunk book cover

Title: Tunnel Vision
Author: Rachel Nussbaum
In: The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Dieselpunk
Dates read: 27th April 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: I stick it in the padlock and swing the doors open.

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Synopsis

The prospector has two leading ladies in his life – Alma and his drill, Jules. But when one of them is threatened he finds out what he is truly made of.

Thoughts

We all get tunnel vision sometimes. Decide that something is or isn’t going to happen and do anything that we can to ensure that it turns out the way that we want. But, I’ve never had tunnel vision in… well, a tunnel. Underground.

I thought at the beginning of this story that it would be a bit of a romance tale. After all, it starts out with a prospector visiting a woman that he clearly has feelings for. And one that seems to return those emotions. But then he goes to his second love, a giant drill, and things start to go a little skewy… he discovers illegal activity, is forced into giving up one of his most treasured possessions, and finds a way to triumph in the end.

Unlike some of the other Dieselpunk stories I’ve read so far, this is one that has a clear, happy ending. There isn’t anything in it that is ambiguous, and it is just incredibly sweet and fun.

<- Steel Dragons of a Luminous SkyThief of Hearts ->

Image source: Running Press

Kosher by Michael Gregorio

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of jack the ripper stories book cover

Title: Kosher
Author: Michael Gregorio
In: The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories (Maxim Jakubowski)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Crime, Historical fiction
Dates read: 26th April 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: The same girl, standing outside a different door, under a big sign that gives the game away.

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Synopsis

Three Kosher butchers stumble across Jack the Ripper late one night. Things don’t quite go as planned, but they definitely have something to celebrate at the end of the night.

Thoughts

The introduction to this story filled me with intrigue. Not because it was a great opening to a story, but it explained where the author’s origin to this story came from. Accompanied by a photo, it made this story seem all the more plausible. And one that I would almost like to imagine actually happened.

One of the suspects of the Jack the Ripper case was Jewish. Or at least, a Jewish man was suspected (even if they didn’t have a specific identity). So I kind of liked that this story featured three Jewish butchers. People who would have been suspect, and indeed, in the retelling, I wondered if they were the villains. After all, a butcher was also believed to be the culprit.

Without giving the ending of this story away, it was kind of fun. But also with a fair amount of commentary on the social and political unrest of the time. It nestled in perfectly with reality and the imaginations of an author.

 <- Ripper Familias ReviewBoiling Point Review ->
Image source: Amazon

The Cord by Alison Case

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: The Cord
Author: Alison Case
In: I Am Heathcliff (Kate Mosse)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Retellings
Dates read: 10th April 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Borough Press
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: You are me and I am you, she would say.

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Synopsis

Heathcliff can feel the cord tying him to Cathy, but when she decides that she wants to marry another man, he realises that it might just be time to cut the cord for good.

Thoughts

I still don’t like Wuthering Heights, but this short story did help me feel a little sympathy for Heathcliff. Or at least, sympathy for him when he was first hurt. There is no excuse for the actions of later… but I digress, this is about The Cord, not the entirety of Wuthering Heights.

I like the idea of being tied to another being by an invisible cord. To be honest, it’s kind of how I feel about my own partner, that there is something extra that ties us together. To be fair, my cord is one of romance, and this one is kind of sick and twisted. But it is a great piece of symbolism. The cord that ties two people together, but what happens when one person is tied more tightly than the other? What happens when one person decides to ignore it and move on to other things in their life? How can you break such a tie to a living being? Well, in this tale Heathcliff is just determined to find out.

 <- My Eye Is a Button On Your Dress ReviewHeathcliffs I Have Known Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers