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.

Tome Travel

Something's Brewing

Are there places where the past co-exists with the present, where you get the feeling that if you just peered hard enough you would be able to see through the curtain of time?

Glastonbury, in the Somerset county of England, is one such place. Known also as the Isle of Avalon, it is reputed to be the burial place of the mythical King Arthur and his Queen Guinevere. Legends swirl in the air about the ruined Glastonbury Abbey, supposedly founded by none other than Joseph of Arimathea, and destroyed by a great fire in the 1100s. It is also home to that most mysterious of mounds, the Glastonbury Tor. Geological or man-made, just a hill or a gateway to the Underworld? Debates and discussion continue among the believers and the skeptics. Why would anyone not want to read a novel set in such a place?! A place shrouded in ancient magic and purported to be a portal to other worlds.

Glastonbury Abbey (Image Source: Wikipedia)

Not always, though often enough, am drawn to read certain novels purely because of their setting. The place makes all the difference. And, if perchance a gifted author has written a book in a desired setting then surely that is a dream come true for most bibliophiles. Recently, I came across a book set in Glastonbury which is the seventh in the Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series. While I cannot claim to have read the series, I can most definitely say if the books are anything like ‘A Finer End’ then this crime-fiction series deserves its popularity.

Jack Montfort, an architect, residing in his ancestral home in Glastonbury, finds himself writing messages being conveyed to him by a dead medieval monk Edward. For Jack, a practical man and not the list bit prone to being fanciful, his involvement in automatic writing is something completely out of the blue.

Although Jack, like generations of his family, had grown up in the Tor’s shadow, he’s never given any credence to all the mystical rubbish associated with it- nor to the myths that described Glastonbury as some sort of cosmic mother lode.

Glastonbury Tor (Image Source: Wikipedia)

Needless to say, this sudden bout of automatic writing worries him and spurs him to inquire about the monk’s life. Seeking help from those who may have answers leads to the formation of an informal study group with diverse participants ranging from an Anglican female priest Winnie, to Faith, an unwed pregnant young girl, a Church Scholar Simon Fitzstephen, student and part-time bookshop assistant Nick Carlisle, and Garnet Todd, one of the followers of the Old Gods. The participants in the group come together to try and decipher Edward’s messages which are increasingly becoming urgent and hint at dangerous days to come. What terrible things happened in the Abbey all those years ago? What is it that Edward wants found? Why does he connect only with Jack?

Dion, the old calico cat who ruled the rest of the brood with regal disdain, uncurled herself from the flower pot and came to rub against Garnet’s ankles. “You sense it, too, don’t you, old girl?” Garnet said softly, bending to stroke her. “Something’s brewing.”

Once, long ago, she had caught that scent in the air, once before she had felt that prickle of foreboding, and the memory of the outcome filled her with dread.

Glastonbury had always been a place of power, a pivot in the ancient battle between the light and the dark. If that delicate balance were disturbed, Garnet knew, not even the Goddess could foresee the consequences.

The Lady Chapel, Glastonbury Abbey (Image Source: Wikipedia)

Before long, things take a serious turn with an attempted murder followed by an actual murder. Jack calls his cousin Duncan, a detective with Scotland Yard, and pleads for his assistance. The call for help finds Duncan and his girlfriend Gemma spending the weekend in Glastonbury trying to unravel this complicated knot that tangles supernatural darkness with the darkness of the human heart. Why is someone killing members of the circle? Who, among these seemingly benign group of people, is performing these dark deeds?

A mysterious chant, a surprising connection between myth and practice, a lineage which goes farther back in history than Jack or Duncan could have imagined, and relentless suspense kept me so thoroughly engrossed that I only looked up from the pages of the book when I reached the end. A sumptuous and completely satisfying single-sitting read!

My enjoyment of this book was, in no small part, due to Deborah Crombie’s strong storytelling skills and her enviable talent to bring historical places to life.

The sky was a perfect robin’s-egg blue, the emerald grass sparkled with moisture from the night’s rain, and the stone walls of the Abbey ruins shone golden in the morning sun.

She has a unique way of blending the eerie with the ordinary, the past with the present, and the supernatural with normal everyday life such that not only do different elements of the story seamlessly join together to weave an interconnected whole but they do so without losing out on any of the atmosphere that such stories demand.

There was the sharpness to the air that matched the clarity of the magenta sky above the Tor, and from somewhere she could have sworn she heard the faint thread of pipes. She felt again the temporal dislocation that Glastonbury sometimes engendered, as if the centuries had eased their boundaries and bled into one another.

Not one jarring note anywhere, not one stumble when we move from a dead monk’s imploring on one hand to police procedurals on the other. You would think it wouldn’t be easy to write a narrative that unites pagan rituals, religious beliefs, and Grail myths with good old practical crime solving by the police. But Crombie does this with a flair born out of exceptional writing prowess and certainly makes it seem easy and natural; as if that’s how stories are told. Aren’t they? Well, Ms. Crombie, that’s how they should be told but not everyone writes the way you do!

Definitely recommended to those who enjoy highly atmospheric rich multi-layered mysteries embedded with interesting bits of historical events and populated with mostly likable characters who may just prove all your assumptions wrong!

The Adventure Continues.....

Katherine Woodfine’s 'The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth' embroils the fabulous foursome in their second adventure and builds a stronger relationship between the four friends who are now willing to risk their safety for each other. Like the first book in the series which I reviewed in my previous post, this too has a beautiful cover: a silver-embossed one this time! The story is sprinkled with more of the winsome illustrations that adorned the first book and peppered with quaint etiquette excerpts. 

http://katherinewoodfine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/9781405276184_LoRes3_crop.jpg

The action takes place in the East End of London where young Mei resides in China Town. She has grown up listening to her grandfather’s stories about the English rogue who stole the Moonbeam Diamond from an ancient temple in China. Her family are the guardians of the Diamond and her grandfather regrets not being able to restore the diamond to its rightful place in the temple. Meanwhile, a lot of debutantes are visiting Sinclair’s and among them is Veronica Whiteley, an heiress to nothing less than a diamond mine!  She hires Lilian and Sophie to find a stolen broach, the Jewelled Moth, gifted to her by an ardent admirer. 

Illustration from The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth by Julia Sarda

http://katherinewoodfine.co.uk/mystery-jewelled-moth/

When Mei, her brother Song, and our quartet of Lilian, Sophie, Billy, and Joe cross paths, they resolve to find the missing broach only to find the Baron behind it all. The Baron retains his anonymity all through and while the second book does bring to light some astonishing connections between him and Sophie, we are yet to discover his true identity. How is the Baron connected to Sophie? Who is he? Will we ever find out? Not till late in the series, am guessing.

Braveheart Sophie with her grace reminds me of a much-loved character Sara Crewe from ‘A Little Princess’ who dealt with difficult circumstances in a similar spirit. Lilian with her derring-do attitude is often a catalyst that plunges the friends right in the thick of action. Aspiring detective Billy with his knowledge of ciphers, code-breaking, and detection practices provides the voice of reason. Joe has had the toughest time of all and yet struggles honorably to rise above his fears and prove his commitment to his friends.  

This new series- warm, humorous, and engrossing- with two dauntless Lady Detectives at the helm ably supported by their clever and brave male companions in all they do, is truly a very pleasurable trip down memory lane! Those long summer days spent embroiled in enthralling adventures and intriguing mysteries. I so need to know who the Baron is! Can’t wait for Sophie and Lil’s next adventure which promises to be out in early 2017. 

Fabulous Friends and Frightful Foes

Every once in a while I feel a strong urge to read the kind of books I enjoyed as a child. Put it down to feeling burdened by adulthood sometimes or the cosy nostalgia they arouse, I happily reach out for these books knowing they can wield magic and instantly take me back to those carefree childhood days with just the flip of a page. Those days of devouring Nancy Drew mysteries and a multitude of Enid Blyton’s series with adventure, picnics, and boarding schools blended into a captivating whole: the Famous Five, Secret Seven, and suchlike. 

When I heard of a new children’s author who promised a roller-coaster ride into the world of steadfast friends out to solve perplexing mysteries, I couldn’t resist humoring the inner child in me. And, I was not the least bit disappointed! Katherine Woodfine’s debut novel ‘The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow’ is a delightful romp through Edwardian London of the early 1900s and places the fabulous foursome (in this case) in the middle of exciting adventures with the Sinclair’s Department Store as their common meeting ground. While fighting dastardly villains, breaking codes, and relishing iced buns, the four friends try to do ‘the right thing’.

In addition, the book has a beautiful cover: a gold-embossed one dressed with quirky illustrations that infuse a lot of fun and invite you to step inside an enchanting world. Just look at this adorable cover! Would you not want to hold the book in your hands and trace the illustrations with your fingers? 

Welcome to the Sinclair’s Department Store! Located in Piccadilly and London’s largest shopping destination with over 100 departments, this is a ‘unique modern emporium open to the world’. Explore 8 floors of shopping goodies that can fulfil the desires of every mortal. Go beyond shopping and lose yourself in the experience of unparalleled luxury, gourmet dining, and exclusive lounges. After reading about this dream of a store, I couldn't help but wish for a Sinclair's where I live.

It is in this soon-to-be-opened haunt of London’s elite that recently orphaned Sophie applies for a job and starts to work for the Millinery department. Having lived a life in many ways similar to what her customers enjoy, Sophie bravely adjusts to the change in fortune and with remarkable resilience resolves to do her best as a shop girl. While working at Sinclair’s she befriends mannequin (fashion model in today’s times) Lilian Rose and porter Billy. She is also kind to vagrant Joe who is on the run from a dangerous gang 'Baron’s Boys' and is later provided shelter by Billy.

But soon things turn topsy-turvy when Sinclair’s is burgled of precious jewellery and a unique gem-studded clockwork sparrow. Sophie is placed under suspicion having entered the premises after closing time and is soon fired. Sophie’s misfortune propels her friends to prove her innocence and thus is born the fabulous foursome! Sophie, Lilian, Billy, and Joe unite to use their detective prowess and are soon chasing clues which lead them to none other than the Baron. But who is the Baron? No one has seen him and no one knows his real name. Will the four friends be able to prove Sophie's innocence?

I thoroughly enjoyed joining Sophie and her friends as they navigated their way to the truth while learning to be responsible and astute, and much admired their loyalty to each other. I have the second book lying in wait on my bedside table and am totally ready to embark on the next adventure in this light-hearted series, so adroitly laced with humor and lovingly wrapped in kinship.

My Rights as a Reader!

“You can’t make someone read. Just like you can’t make them fall in love, or dream.”

Books about books are my favorite type of books! You will know this if you go here and here. I have just finished Daniel Pennac’s delightful book ‘The Rights of the Reader’ and am so mad at myself for letting it remain in my TBR pile for years. A gift for having won a book blog contest hosted by a friend some six years ago, it has lain quietly on my bedside table waiting its turn.
I thank ‘whatever’ it was that made me finally pick it up as my lament for lost time will now be confined to these six years.

In a friendly and warm conversational tone, Pennac invites us to explore our love for reading and why for some of us it dies an early death. First and foremost, reading is a choice. While some of us regard it as sustenance for the soul, there are many who can do without reading and not feel they are missing a thing. I may fall into the former category but I have plenty of very special friends who fall in the latter and their being non-readers doesn’t make me like them any less. Just as finding me with my nose in a book, almost all the time, doesn’t make me any less acceptable to them.

In his absolutely adorable book, Pennac defends the simple act of reading for pleasure. Reading not because we have to, but because we want to. Each chapter rings a bell and I recognised so many truths that we bury as we grow up and start reading more for a purpose than for the sheer joy of it. Interspersed with quirky and fun illustrations by Quentin Blake, flipping the pages of this book is unadulterated enjoyment and at the same time evokes meaningful introspection.

And, let’s not forget Pennac’s greatest gift of all- The Rights of The Reader.

Source: Pinterest

 https://www.pinterest.com/donnamiller44/fun-posters/

http://readingculture.wikispaces.com/Background+Information

Here are My Rights as a Reader:

1.       The Right Not to Read

Reading doesn’t have to become a daily habit. If I don’t feel like reading on a particular day, well I won’t. In fact, I have often swung between 24 hour reading marathons and absolute abstinence from books for at least 3 days. I read when I want and if I want.

2.       The Right to Skip

Just want to follow choice characters and not go through pages on pages of descriptions about places, food, weather, and clothes? Go ahead. No one is insisting that we read every page. I used to feel guilty about doing this when I was younger but with age my preferences have found their groove and if I find some bits of a novel boring I just jump to the part that excites me. Of course if I found large bits of a novel boring I would just dump it which brings me to my next right.

3.       The Right Not to Read a Book

At times I start a book with great anticipation and interest but as I go further into the story I just feel burdened. The connection I thought would be built seems to have fizzled out even before it can truly form. It’s time then to admit that the book was a mistake. However, I never regret these mistakes for it is only by exploring many many authors, and genres, and writing styles that I have been able to identify my preferences. Now that I know my taste, the chances of DNFing a book have also lessened.

4.       The Right to Read it Again

Loved a book? Want to read it again? Well, why not? Reading a favorite as many times as I want is a sure thing with me. For that matter, I couldn’t tell you how many times I have read Pride and Prejudice even if I wanted. I have simply lost count!

5.        The Right to Read Anything

You like reading purely escapist thrillers but would rather say you prefer literary fiction. Why pretend? There are many in this world who loved the ‘Twilight’ trilogy and devoured the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ trilogy even if you didn’t. They have the right to read what they want. The good part is so do you! While there are good novels and bad novels, forcing yourself to stay away from the bad novels is just going to lure you to the forbidden fruit. Alongside the burger, I take time to enjoy the Chef’s special. In time, I hope, I may just find myself completely off junk food. If not, I do like burgers quite a bit.

6.       The Right to Mistake a Book for Real Life

At times, I have over-identified with certain characters and their circumstances and felt a book was totally written for me. With passing years, this excitement of being swept away completely by a book has mellowed down and I look back with amused fondness at my infatuation for some book which I would not touch today with a barge pole. But reading it was fun then, and remembering those days is fun now.

7.       The Right to Read Anywhere

I read while commuting to work, in airport lounges, in flights, in trains, in cabs, while standing, while sitting, and at times when I lay down for a while. I can even remember finishing a Stephen King novel while climbing the stairs! I read wherever I want and whenever I want.

8.       The Right to Dip In

I enjoy picking up books randomly from my bookshelf and letting them open on any page. I may then read a sentence, or a paragraph or sometimes the entire page. Often enough, I have flipped pages only to whimsically stop at a certain page and just read what it says. If I am in the middle of a breathing-down-my-neck project deadline and do not have the time to drink a novel, I just sip on short stories or excerpts.

9.       The Right to Read Out Loud

As a child, I used to often read out loud and vary my tone taking on the voice of different characters as the story progressed. As an adult, I do not do this. Haven’t really wondered why or when I stopped. But I do appreciate that I have the right to feel the emotions the words convey and speak the words out loud as if the world of the book had come alive for me.

10.    The Right to Be Quiet

For some books that I read I find myself unable to or do not wish to explain, review, discuss, or opine. A story may affect me too strongly and while I may ‘feel’ the meaning I may not really ‘know’ the meaning of what I read. For example, I always feel the need to be quiet after I read any of Khalid Hosseini’s novels. And I have every right to keep my reasons for reading a book, and my feelings about the book to myself if I so wish.

 Have you exercised all your rights?

Nobody Quite Like The Book People

A.J. Fikry, the persnickety bookseller, in one of the most charming books I have read recently, remarks on how difficult it is to write about things we love. Which is why you will find this review going all over the place and still not fully convey much of what I felt, inhaled, appreciated while reading Gabrielle Zevin’s The Collected Works of A.J. Fikry.

We are not quite novels……. We are not quite short stories…… In the end we are collected works…..He has read enough to know there are no collections where each story is perfect. Some hits. Some misses.

Books can take us wherever we want to go. There are those that take us to exotic and amazing places on this planet and beyond: where we meet adventure, excitement, and danger. And, then there are some that bring us home. No matter where I go seeking thrills, it is home where my soul nestles in belongingness. Reading ‘The Collected Works of A.J. Fikry’ is like coming home. Betwixt its pages, booklovers will share the lives of characters they can identify with, hear their thoughts, and spend time with those who will soon become their book best-friends. Also, books that talk about books and reading, or have anything to do with both, have a coveted place on my reading list.

A.J. Fikry is the central character and owner of a Victorian purple cottage over which hangs the sign:

Island Books

                                            No Man is an Island. Every Book is a World.

Contrary to the signature statement of his bookstore, A.J. has become an island after losing his wife in a road accident and isolating himself from his friends, relatives, and the community. Into the life of this lonely man in his late-thirties, steps in 2 year old Maya, a baby girl abandoned in his bookstore. She comes with a note addressed to the bookstore owner that shares the mother’s wish for her daughter to grow up ‘in a place with books and among people who care about those kind of things’. Before he knows it A. J. has become a ‘Daddy’!

He gets by with a little help from his friends: the soft-hearted tough cop Lambiase, writer Daniel Price, his sister-in-law and Daniel’s wife Ismay, and Amelia, the sales rep of a publishing company and later his lady love. How will life turn out for this eclectic bunch? Will they discover the truth behind Maya's abandonment? Will A.J. and Maya find happiness together? How well do we really know those whom we profess to know?

A.J.  is quite an oddball who grows on you with time. I started with a slightly indifferent attitude towards him and wasn’t very invested in his future or his 'Fikrisms' ; then slowly, unknowingly, without any conscious effort on my part, I found myself looking forward to what he had to say next.

“….my latter-day reaction speaks to the necessity of encountering stories at precisely the right time in our lives. Remember, Maya: the things we respond to at twenty are not necessarily the same things we will respond to at forty and vice versa. This is true in books and also in life.”

“If something is good and universally acknowledged to be so, this is not reason enough to dislike it.”

It didn’t take me long to want him to come out of his shell and grab his chance of happiness with Amelia. His idiosyncrasies only added to my slow-in-building but sure fondness for him.  He favours short stories, has decided preferences in reading which govern what he stocks at Island Books, and strongly dislikes apocalyptic settings, post mortem narrators, magic realism, genre mash-ups, YA, and all things vampire! (I think it was the dislike for vampires which touched a chord: can't stand books with vampires either, excepting Dracula)

While I adored Maya, and learned to like A.J, it was Lambiase, the cop and host of Chief’s Choice book club, who won my heart with his concern for and acceptance of others. Amelia, who wears nail paint in accordance with her mood and always reads the whimsical names that the nail paint bottles carry for each shade, was a perfect partner for A.J. I was sad for Ismay at having to go through the pain of infidelity but wanted her to take a stronger stand in defining her life and make better choices. In this, she disappointed me for the majority of the book. Daniel Price was a classic narcissist and I felt nothing but disgust for his weak will, self-centredness, and womanizing ways. For a sedate tale, this book arouses surprisingly strong emotions!

Populated with engaging characters, a quirky bookstore, and a warm community, this book blends humor, philosophy, fate, and the unpredictability of life into a delicious hot chocolate that slides down lovingly to reach your soul while warming your heart, and leaves a lasting aftertaste.

In the tradition of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and 84 Charing Cross Road (two of my all-time favorites), the book grips us not because of the plot (nothing twisty, or chilling, or thrilling, or scary happens) or the pace (which chugs along at best) but for that coveted element of genuine connection with other humans, the inclusion of which makes a story special and memorable. The lyrical language and literary references to books and writers adds greatly to its appeal and those with a love of reading will find much to treasure in this touching tale that shares complex conundrums disguised in simple words. 

Before I end the post, worded by none other than my favorite cop Lambiose, here’s a toast to the book people!

“I’ve seen movie people on vacation and I’ve seen music people and news people, too. There isn’t nobody in the world like book people. It’s a business of gentlemen and gentlewomen.”

The Detective Duo is Back!

In my previous post, I had shared my thoughts on a new series I had started which pairs an Englishman with a Scot to solve highly unusual crimes.

To my utter delight, this detective duo birthed in the mind of author Oscar de Muriel is back in action with the second book in the series: A Fever of the Blood. I liked the first book 'Strings of Murder' so much that I had to start the next book immediately!

   

The second book adds a layer of complexity to the otherwise successful partnership between Frey and McGray. With an inmate of the lunatic asylum on the run after poisoning a nurse, the case is too close to home for McGray and this worries Frey who does not favor his involvement in pursuing the killer. The killer was last seen in conversation with a mute girl who hasn’t spoken in almost a decade and this shocking development affects McGray, strongly and personally. In the room of the killer are found traces of witchcraft. Soon, the duo find themselves in Lancashire, infamous for the witch trials of the 1600s, on the trail of a supposed mad man who is tracking women rumoured to be witches, with unmatched brilliance.

Lancaster Castle which also served as a prison. 
Image Source: Wikipedia

Obsessed with following the killer, McGray’s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic till Frey is left wondering whether he has been bewitched. Frey finds himself in the unenviable position of wondering how far and to what extent he can support McGray and where he should draw the line. For it seems that McGray is lost to all reason.

How can a lunatic be so cold and rational in his persecution of the women he thinks are witches? Why is he pursuing them? What has a centuries old witch trial and a curse which was to last 13 generations have to do with this case? Has McGray fallen under a spell? Will this case cost McGray his mind or maybe even his life?

Two books down the lane, the tenuous relationship between the Englishman and the Scot has firmed into a grudging respect for each other. While I did wish for Frey to leave aside all practicalities and follow McGray headlong into the witches’ lair at Cobden Hall on Pendle Hill, I could not help but see the sense in his holding himself back. Being a good friend is not about jumping to death together. Rather it takes more courage to withdraw support and try to dissuade a person from taking foolhardy decisions.

The supporting characters are all back in the second book, some of them in full force. Lady Glass and Caroline too have their story and it comes to the fore in Fever of the Blood. Dr. Clouston gains more of our respect as we see his struggle to be fair to his patients irrespective of their family backgrounds. 

Two Women accused of being Pendle Witches
Image Source: Wikipedia

I sneaked in an author interview, sometime between the two books, and happily know that with plans to have atleast nine books for Nine-Nails McGray the chances of this emotionally tortured and impulsive man taking his life anytime soon are quite remote. Whether he retains his sanity, though, remains to be seen. On the other hand, I do long for Frey to do something impulsive that would require thinking from the heart and not the mind. Though, maybe as Caroline Ardglass tells him you need to love someone beyond reason to be able to do so.

They approached me, ready to put their plan into action, and I howled: 'Wait a bloody second! Am I the only person in this room who believes murder and torture ought to be punished?'

Caroline looked at me with the most turbulent eyes. I had seen that expression before, and it made me feel an awkwardness that was disturbingly familiar.

'No,' she said, 'but you are the only person here who doesn't love someone.' 

Never in my life, had anybody's words wounded me so deeply, so swiftly.

In which case all I need to do is wait for him to fall truly, madly, deeply in love.

If you are in the mood for crime-fiction with a distinct edge, you will not go wrong in giving the McGrey and Frey series a try! 

The Devil and The Detectives

A new swoon-worthy detective duo is in town!

Awesome in solving crime and crazily adept at egging each other on with witty retorts, McGray and Frey, the delightful creations of Oscar de Muriel’s rich imagination keep the reader easily glued to their side as they race across locations trying to outsmart some fiendishly clever villains.

I have been wanting to start a new series or two this year and the McGray and Frey novels were already on my series wish-list. Pairing an Englishman with a Scot in the late 1800s, this exciting new series promises a rollicking time for whodunit aficionados.

The pretty and pernickety Frey, unwillingly and grudgingly, teams up with the unkempt and eccentric McGray to solve cases assigned to the ‘Commission for the Elucidation of Unsolved Cases Presumable Related to the Odd and Ghostly’. Warning: Do not be taken in by the silly name of their subdivision for their cases are anything but that. Frey did take it lightly and lived to regret the day. Their division's forte: solving mind-whirling crimes that expose human cruelty (or would inhuman cruelty be more apt?) and may or may not involve elements of the occult, black magic, witchcraft, and other paranormal phenomena.

The first book in the series, The Strings of Murder, introduces the detectives to each other and lays the foundation of a partnership that hints at growing stronger but also increasingly complex over time. Jilted by his fiancée and nearly out of a job, Frey is forced to move to Scotland in a last bid to get back into the good books of the London CID. He arrives in Edinburgh looking for ‘Nine-Nails’ McGray with whom he is not just required to partner but also stay with till alternative accommodation can be arranged.

'My name is Ian Frey. I am looking for Inspector Adolphus McGray.'
'Oh, Mr. Frey from London! O'course! We didnae expect ye so early, sir. I'm afraid Mr. McGray isn't at home now.'
'I suppose I can find him at City Chambers?'
The man shook his head. 'No, no, I'm afraid. Mr. McGray must be at the lunatic asylum as we speak.'
I lifted my eyebrows in surprise. 'Oh! Well, I really cannot say it surprises me. Do you know whether he is receiving proper care?'
Now I thank Heaven the butler's eyes were not daggers. 'Mr. McGray doesn't go as a patient! He's visiting someone.'

Soon, Frey and McGray find themselves knee-deep in a spine-chilling murder case where the killer is targeting violin virtuosos and tearing apart their guts, supposedly using them to make violin strings. At the heart of the gruesome killings is an old and infamous instrument, the Amati 1626, rumoured to be cursed because the Devil himself had used it to play his music.

Tartini's Dream in which the Devil played the violin. 
Image Source:Wikipedia.

Owned at various times in history by some of the most renowned music maestros, Paginni, Tartini, and finally Stradivari, it was on the Amati 1626 that the terrifyingly eerie ‘Devil’s Trill Sonata’ had been composed. 

One string quivered like the broken voice of a terrified soul, while the other provided a low, anguished accompaniment that brought to mind Mrs Caroli's desperate wails. Altogether, the strings produced unimaginable echoes and harmonics- had I not seen it with my naked eyes, I would have sworn we were listening to an entire string quartet brought from Hell.

The soft voice of an old woman came to my memory: 

'It was horrible music....like poking knives...fear itself must sound like that...'

And, all those killed had played this very violin.

Is the violin really cursed? Is a dangerously deranged human killer behind these gory deaths or has the Devil come to collect more souls? Will one of Frey’s dearest family members have to pay the price of this investigation?

With plenty of unexpected twists, amusing repartee, and quite a bit of interesting trivia on violins and music composers, the story relentlessly races towards a gripping finale which left me thoroughly satisfied but deeply saddened at the same time. More surprising and unbelievable than anything else is the cruelty humans often show against each other.

While Frey has his own charms, I have a slightly skewed preference for McGray. Maybe it’s his tragic past or his loud unapologetic and strong sense of self or his eccentricities that leave me with admiration for this hardiest of souls who has seen too much in his young life and yet survived to challenge fate.

Earliest Depiction of the Violin (1535)
Image Source: Wikipedia

Supporting characters such as the irascible Lady Ardglass (nicknamed Lady Glass due to her fondness for drinking) with her match-making attempts (Frey with her grand-daughter Caroline), the nice Dr. Clouston with his empathetic approach, and irreverent servants Joan and George with their crude conversations play an indispensable role in including a lighter vein to what would have otherwise been a deeply dark and disturbing novel.

Recommended to fans of brilliantly plotted detective novels that leave you itching to know what happens next; the McGray and Frey series has confidently established its place in the highly competitive world of crime fiction.

My First Love

I bought my first Kindle about 5 years ago. It was insta-love and I lost my heart as soon as I held that most glorious of all devices in my hands. I had acquired not just another gadget but a dangerously addictive power: to possess any book I desired instantaneously with a mere one-click buy. In the years that we have spent together, my Kindle and I, my fervent passion for it has mellowed down to a deep affection. I still carry it on my daily commute, when I am travelling, and even use it for my everyday reading. In an interesting preference reversal, though, lately I have found myself gravitating toward buying more of print books.

In some ways, I have gone back to the reading habits of my pre-Kindle days. Don’t get me wrong, I am crazy about the convenience my Kindle offers: all my books wherever I go. It’s just that I have realized I cannot forgo the experience of reading a Hardcover/Paperback. I need books. The old-fashioned kind. Ones with a spine, and a cover that you can open, and pages you can turn.

The other day, I  met up with another bookaholic friend for lunch. She has recently bought a Kindle and as she talked about her reading experience with stars in her eyes, I was reminded of who I used to be. And I found myself explaining, as much for my sake as hers, why e-books will always be second best for me.

So, here’s my unpoetic but heartfelt ode to print books:

1.       Charmed by the Cover

It is not for nothing that so much money and effort is invested in coming up with just the right cover for a book. How many times have I picked up a book ‘cos it had a gorgeous cover? Too many times to count. No e-inked black-grey cover can come anywhere near the vibrant colors and the intimate feel of a cover on a print book. The cover is the gateway to the magical experience of losing ourselves in the story. It is the cover that says 'Open Sesame' and leads us in. I have often been mesmerized by book covers and longingly traced my fingers over the photograph/illustration/artwork on it as if the very act of connecting would let me enter ‘The Forgotten Garden’ or ‘The Lake House’ or ‘The Chamber of Secrets’.

2.       Fascinated by the Feel

I like flipping pages, being able to move to previous pages without losing my current place! There is certainly something to be said for a format if you can exercise the flexibility of being in two places at the same time easily without having to type in a location(s). I often do this: flip to earlier pages when the murderer is announced in a mystery novel to identify the red herrings that misled me or the clues I missed. And, I do this while staying on the page I have reached. No ‘flip-the-page’ effect on an app or e-reader can provide the feel of turning a page over and moving to the next.

There are also those pop-up books I adored as a child. Open the book and out pops the castle, ready for you to step in and wield the magic wand! 

Let’s also not forget books which promise an immersive experience such as ‘S’ by J.J. Abrams. Would you really want to read 'S' on an e-reader?

3.       Seduced by the Size

In my college years, I had a soft corner for big fat books. The more the pages, the more desirable the book. Of course, this was selectively true. It held ground only for fiction and not those boring tomes on Economics or Accountancy. Even though I may not have much time to read lengthy novels these days, they still hold a powerful attraction for me: those huge convoluted family/business sagas where betrayals and loyalty came from unexpected corners. There is no fun in reading fat books on e-readers. Each book looks and feels the same. One size fits all.

Lest you think am not enthusiastic about my Kindle, let me reiterate that I am very fond of it and take it everywhere. However, print books have something e-books cannot have. Individuality! They come in different shapes and sizes, use different fonts and varied covers, and their pages can be snow-white or ivory-cream or golden-beige. Each book has a unique identity. It is special.

Last but not the least, what they say about not being able to forget your first love ever is true. My first love was an Enid Blyton Hardcover with a colourful cover illustration, a friendly font, and charming characters.