Best Books of 2017

Here are my ‘Super Seven’ reads of the year:

Best Suspense/Thriller

The Fire Child- S.K. Tremayne

Best Gothic Fiction

Ever This Day- Helen Moorhouse

Best Crime Fiction

A High Mortality of Doves- Kate Ellis

Best Feel-Good Book

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine- Gail Honeyman

Best Reincarnation Fiction

Dreadful Sorry- Kathryn Reiss

Best Historical Fiction

Harappa: Curse of the Blood River- Vineet Bajpai

Best Non-Fiction

Walking Towards Ourselves- Catriona Mitchell

Lost in a Book

Girl Reading (1889), by Fritz von Uhde

Oil paint on canvas

Image Source: Wikipedia

Favorite Five (Book to Movie Adaptations)

It is always a pleasure to see a world come alive with characters jumping out of a book onto a screen. So, I thought sharing my favorite five book-to-movie adaptations would make a perfect post for this month. Without further ado, here they are:

1. Pride and Prejudice (BBC)

Jane Austen's well-loved novel about the prejudice that sprouts between the main characters and the pride they have to overcome to be together.

Stars: Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle, Susannah Harker and more

2. Sense and Sensibility

Another impressive adaptation of  Jane Austen's novel about the lives of two sisters, unalike in every way, and their journey to finding true love.

Stars: Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, James Fleet and more

3. Harry Potter

Hard to believe the boy-wizard is 20 this year! A coming-of-age story wonderfully told, Harry Potter and his friends at  Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry can provide endless hours of entertainment to everyone.

Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris and more

4. Dangerous Liaisons

Based on an epistolary novel of the same name, this movie centers around an older woman who along with her wicked ex-lover schemes to corrupt a young woman.

Stars: Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer and more

5. It

Last but not the least comes the tale of seven friends who band together to fight an ancient evil. Puts one off clowns forever! I think 'It' is the scariest of all Stephen King's books. 

Stars: Richard Thomas, Tim Reid, Annette O'Toole  and more

Image and Info Source: http://www.imdb.com

Wise Words

I love reading epistolary fiction. Because I read so much of it, I thought it was high time I shared favorite quotes from my best-loved epistolary novels.

Amazing Authors- Jean Webster

What Am I Reading Most?

Earlier this year, I had posted my reading wish-list here and here. So, I thought it would be interesting to analyse the books on the list and discover what I would be reading most of, from my favorite genres.

Here is what my reading palette looks like:

Books that Beckon (Contd.)

In my previous post I had listed the most awaited novels for the first quarter of 2017. Here are more books that beckon me, scheduled for release in the second quarter:

No less fascinating is a cover collage created from the covers of these most anticipated delicious releases:

Two novels have yet to publish their jackets and I can't wait to judge them by their cover!

Books that Beckon

Recently, I had posted on my favorite novels of 2016. So, I thought the next best thing would to anticipate what could be the fodder for a similar post to be made at the end of this year. Which brings me to my reading list for 2017.

Since I ended up with quite a few novels that I can't wait to read (no less that 18!) and all due for release in the first half of the year itself, I have decided to split this post into two parts. The first part will list most awaited fiction for the first quarter of the year and the next one will do the same for the second quarter. Also, the books have been listed based on the quarter in which they are scheduled for release.

As always, the novels that called out to me fall into my most-read genres. 

And, here's what a reading mosaic created out of the covers of these novels would look like:

Vivid, vibrant, colorful, and oh so enchanting! Hope the stories turn out to be so as well.

The Song of Souls

Our thoughts pull experiences, people, and even things into our lives. Or so say some. It seems only fitting then to have serendipitously stumbled on ‘The Memory Painter’ which explores my favourite themes of reincarnation, soulmates, and karmic entanglements.

I started this year with reading Gwedonlyn Womack’s stellar debut that spans centuries and continents to tell a tale of lovers who are destined to meet in every life only to separate. Within minutes I was completely engrossed in the story of Linz and Bryan. Linz is a neurogeneticist researching how the brain makes memories and Bryan is an artist with an unusual gift. Bryan’s painting are unique in that he paints memories of his past lives. Linz has been plagued by a nightmare ever since she was a little girl, a terrifying vision in which she sees a young woman being burned alive at the stake. When Linz and Bryan meet, it is a union (or rather a reunion) arranged by fate. They look into each other’s eyes and nothing is the same ever again. 

The novel progress through incidents that throw light on the previous lives of the central characters. A pattern of complex relationships that govern a group of souls emerges, slowly but surely. There is passion, betrayal, deceit, hatred, and murder!  Additionally, a sinister backdrop is provided by a group of scientists who discover a drug than can enable a remembrance of past lives only to die in an explosion before anything is revealed. How are these scientists connected to Bryan and Linz? What happened on the fateful day when they died?

In all their previous incarnations (a tad bit too many in this story) Bryan and Linz have remained true to each other. And in each life they have lost to a malevolent someone who stalks them across lifetimes, unrelenting in his animosity. They have been blessed with loyal supporters but their lives have always ended in tragedy. Will this life be any different? Can they break free from the pattern of the past?

The Memory Painter has an intricate and satisfying plot. It would have been easy to lose the reader in the maze of many lifetimes but Gwendolyn holds the tale together by expertly weaving all the lives into an understandable interconnected bigger whole. As the characters traverse a tumultuous course across lifetimes, their journey leaves us with some interesting realisations to ponder upon.

Just like Bryan, I found myself wondering if we are doomed to forever repeat our mistakes. How do we learn what went wrong? How do we stop?

“I am beginning to see a pattern and I find myself wondering if the laws of karma exist. Are souls destined to love or hate the same souls again and again? Or can we achieve some sort of resolution and enlightenment? If a tragedy is destined to be repeated, we need to figure out how to break the cycle.” 

While I have always felt a yearning to remember who I was in an earlier life, maybe some things are best left alone.

“In hindsight, I’ve realized that our minds shield us from memories that are meant to stay buried.”

And, if karma is truly a law of cause and effect then every person we meet is connected to us in some way though we may not understand the link between our lives.

“We found each other again for a reason. We remembered for a reason. The journey didn’t start with us or even with Michael and Diana. We’re locked in a cycle. We need to see beyond it.”

In lyrical but accessible language, the novel offers a bitter-sweet consolation to those who have ever lost a loved one.

“Our fates are intertwined. I will find you again and again until we build a bridge back to this life. Nothing is ever lost.”

While ‘The Memory Painter’ does invite some deep thoughts, it is not overly philosophical at any time. In fact, for those who like their thrills, there are quite a few unexpected twists and OMG moments to keep you glued to the pages till you arrive at the much awaited conclusion. 

My opinion: go get it! You can't go wrong with this one.

P.S.- On a lighter note, in my previous post I had promised myself I would roam the world through my reading. The Memory Painter took me to no less than 6 continents! 

My Reading Vows

Wordprints on My Heart

I thought I would begin this year by acknowledging the authors (and their novels) who left an indelible impression on my heart with the stories they told. Thanks to these exceptional wordsmiths, my reading journey in 2016 turned out to be exciting, memorable, and happy.

Over the years, I have noticed that most of the novels I read invariably end up getting placed in the following genres:

• Suspense/Thriller
• Gothic Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Fantasy

Not surprisingly, my favorite novels of 2016 also come from these genres. While I did like many others, I have deliberately chosen only one novel as the pinnacle of that genre. After all, it is a battle of the best. And, the way I look at things that can have only one winner.

So, here's to some wonderful writing!

Should you wish to know more about these fabulous novels, click the links below which take you to my reviews or reviews written by a friend who certainly knows her books or the goodreads page (time-crunch may have led to skipping a review but that does not in any way lessen my liking for these books):

The Ice Twins- S. K. Tremayne
Lost Among the Living- Simone St. James
A Curious Beginning- Deanna Raybourn
The Near Witch- Victoria Schwab

Happy Reading!

Absolutely Novelicious!

Strong & Sassy She

The damsel in distress may have been in fashion in the Arthurian lore we heard as bedtime stories but when I think of the times we grew up in, she was a figure to be laughed over and at best pitied if we were in a kinder mood. I don’t remember dreaming of a brave knight in shining armor on a white horse riding out to rescue me if I found myself in trouble. Ever. When it came to the dreaming we did, my friends and I, we rode the horse and we did the rescuing. While we did love folklore for its magic and mystery, the strange spells and curses, we were not like the weepy wimps in those tales, oh no, we were the brave ones. We were the warriors. And because that’s how we thought, we have a fondness for authors who can translate the way we see women into great stories. Mary Stewart is one such author.

The female lead (FL) in Stewart’s novels is fiery, passionate, and always game for adventure. She is courageous and has her head firmly on her shoulders. More often than not, when she jumps from the frying pan into the fire she does so with a fire extinguisher in hand.  Is it surprising then that I grew up on a staple diet of her novels?

For the past few weeks, I have been re-reading my Mary Stewart collection and I felt I really had to share my favorite Stewart heroines. So, here they are. We start with Nicola Ferris from The Moonspinners who takes the number one spot. She can enchant you with tales of naiads or water nymphs (these magical creatures spin the moon down out of the sky so we get enough hours of darkness and then wash their spindles in the sea where the moonlight unravels into long ripples and wounds back into the moon). She can dress your wounds, protect you from sharpshooters, and stay in the fight so you are not left alone with the villains of the piece.

Next, comes Linda Martin from Nine Coaches Waiting who can make delicious dark chocolate for you and whisk you out in the middle of your night if your life is in danger. She can keep you safe in a forest, plan an escape so well it outwits all the chasers, and protect you from your murderous family. All this with little or no rest till she delivers you to safety.

Last, we have Lucy Waring from This Rough Magic who has a special bond with animals, can communicate with dolphins and even step in front of bullets to save them. She spouts Shakespeare, knows the finer nuances of his plays, and can hold her own in any discussion on the origins of The Tempest. More importantly, she can think on her feet and find her way home from the middle of nowhere. This too, at that crucial moment when the police, the villains and the entire cast are all in one room so no time is lost in putting the villain behind bars. Know anyone who can beat this?

Each is so different and yet so very similar. Each has a heart that is brave, a head that is wise, and an indomitable spirit. Each is a strong, sassy she. 

Amazing Authors- Lucy Maud Montgomery

Ghastly Grandeur, Ghostly Games

Neil Gaiman has rightly said that 'Once upon a time' lives forever. There is something about fairy tales that stays with us long after childhood is over. I am always game for a fairy tale retelling and this year fuelled by a fellow book lover's  fantasy fiction fixation, I have been reading more of them than I would have otherwise. When I heard of a Bluebeard retelling set in pre-Civil war Mississippi, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. Unlike the Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast spin-offs which are splattered all over the publishing horizon, Goodreads has less than 20 books listed under Bluebeard retellings. Add to this, a morbid fascination for the creepiest wife-slayer of all times and I was sold on reading Jane Nickerson’s debut novel.

Image Source- Wikipedia

Once upon a time there was a dirty old man who had a fetish for red-headed girls. He kept marrying them and getting angry at them cos’ they wouldn’t be his pet zombies. Then one day, the wheels of justice turned. A whip of a girl with strands of bronze and gold, aided by ‘Sisters’, managed to drive him to his deserving fate. As he lay, shocked and wounded, his only thought was he should have left this one alone!

The plot of Strands of Bronze and Gold revolves around seventeen year old Sophie Petheram who loses her father and immediately gains an invitation from her Godfather Bernard Cressac to visit the magnificent Wyndriven Abbey. Behind the grandeur of Cressac's home, though, lurk dark secrets that threaten Sophie’s safety and maybe even her life. Will Sophie be able to look beyond the ornate decorations, the lavish furnishings, and the luxurious living at the danger that resides in the abbey? Will she able to rise above the influence of the much older and debonair Bernard? What secrets are buried in the desecrated chapel? What happened to all the previous wives of Cressac? Can Sophie unlock forbidden doors and dare to step inside to bring the truth to light?

Beautifully written, the story of Sophie’s stay at the ancient abbey enchanted me with its evocative descriptions of place, geography, and atmosphere. Having read the fairy tale of Bluebeard as a child, it was not suspense that kept me glued to the book but the language. The sentences sinuously glided into my imagination and easily conjured up the vivid characters, elusive phantoms, and historical setting. The writing style is perfectly suited to gothic tales with supernatural overtones and derives its strength from a lush but accessible prose. Having said that, the incredibly slow pace of the book does dispel the magic of the writing, to an extent, as the frustration of nothing much happening in more than half the book gnaws at the pleasure of losing yourself in the language.

Wyndriven Abbey is as much a character as the humans who inhabit it. Transplanted, stone by stone, from England to Mississippi, it is a 300 year old abbey with history breathing through its very walls.

“The magnificence of the building whooshed at me like a blast of icy wind. Wyndriven Abbey loomed in the center of spreading lawns and gardens and terraces as though it had stood in that spot for centuries. It was toothed with crenellations and spiky with pinnacles and spires and turrets, the setting sun rosily staining the stone and lighting fires in a myriad of mullioned windows.”

I longed to tour the abbey and discover the obscure fate of its former residents.

Sophie is quite a silly girl for most of the book but does redeem herself later with the courage, resolve, and fortitude she shows when she sets out to seek justice for Cressac’s wives. 

I see-sawed between feeling extreme annoyance at her dense ostrich-with-head-in-the-sand behaviour and forgiving her for her youth. I had to keep reminding myself she was a sheltered, wildly imaginative, spoilt seventeen year old and not yet an adult. Kudos to the author, however, for bringing a fresh, funny, and frank voice to life so successfully, the impact of which is much greater due to the first person narrative.

“In my imaginary meeting with M. de Cressac, I had worn a gown of emerald green silk with jet beads embroidered in the skirt that clicked as I walked. I could hear it. I could feel it- the weight of the beads. I looked down. Surprise! Still ugly black bombazine. Never had I imagined I would meet my guardian swathed in a fabric so dark and dull it swallowed the light of every room.”

“In spite of my long-held belief that I was destined for luxury, it was still hard to change the habits of a lifetime.”

Her curiosity is a welcome trait as we know early on that her survival lies in not just finding out the truth but also escaping in time to avoid a miserable future.

“I wished she hadn’t stopped. I loved knowing things.”

I found her impromptu 'imagining herself in love' with Cressac and making ready excuses for his much objectionable behavior quite irritating especially when she wears foreign outfits 'sparse of material' for him and also engages in talk of underdrawers justifying the conversation as one of worldly sophistication. Why would you want to accept lewd talk from a man old enough to be your father?! I wanted to shake her into realising she was making a fool of herself in her infatuation with Cressac and found myself completely agreeing with him when he berates her, towards the end, for her blinkered vision.

“You are a naïve little goose, you know. At first it was refreshing, but after a time it wearies.”

It’s not that odd things weren’t happening from the time she stepped into the abbey, it’s just that she stubbornly refused to see them!

 “Hints of this had nagged me through the months, but I had squelched them before they ever came to surface. How could any normal mind comprehend such evil?”

When I had finally given up on her, she rose like a phoenix from the ashes and won my respect for deciding to expose Cressac’s reality.

“If I were called upon to be a brave person, I would be a brave person.”

Bluebeard. Image Source- Wikipedia.

Bernard Cressac, unlike Sophie, has no redeeming qualities that could make me feel sorry for him at any point of time. You would think a person for whom marital co-existence (note that I stay away from using the word bliss here, it would be too far-fetched a state for someone like him) has always been an elusive state (married 4 times!), he would leave well alone and resign to a solitary life. But no, none of that stops him from looking for a yet another fifth wife! That he does so in his teenage ward, though, was enough to make me taste bile. His treatment of his former wives, and slaves on his plantation raised ickiness to a new level. Disgusting vile reptile. I was hoping for and anticipating a nasty end for him with inhuman relish. It was poetic justice that Sophie, whom he felt he was fated to be with, lead him to what he deserved.

‘Bernard liked to say that fate had brought us together, that I was “meant” to come to him. Perhaps, to this end, I was.’

Gordon Stone, a vicar, whom Sophie meets while walking in the woods surrounding Wyndriven Abbey and promptly falls in love with, is a largely absent character and I could not help but wish he had played a stronger role in helping Sophie escape Bernard’s clutches.

“How could I have not known what was going on? How could I have left you to fight alone?”

Exactly, Gordon! I needn’t say more.

Sophie’s family also left me wanting. As adult elder siblings they should have been able to protect her better, and not banked on her impending marriage to bail them out of their financial troubles. Sophie agreed to marry Cressac only to save her family from financial ruin and it wasn’t surprising to see her succumb to an emotional burden of this magnitude.

The story exposes, at a surface level, the harsh and cruel treatment meted out to slaves by plantation owners, their risky attempts to escape via the Underground Railroad, and the support accorded to them by those more feeling of their tormented existence. 

Recommended to all those who like mansion-dominated, gothic-flavored fantasy fiction, Strands of Bronze and Gold is a welcome addition to dark fairy tale retellings.