Tag: Historical Fiction

Book Review | On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

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Hey Everyone,

How are you?

Life has gotten a bit complicated. As I may have mentioned before that I work in the Post Office, in recent events my Manager has left the company. Leaving us all in the dark about who will take over and when we’ll start work again. As of this post, we are still in the dark. Hopefully, it will happen soon because I just want to get back to work and not sit at home doing nothing.

Anyway, on to the book review…

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On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

It is July 1962. Edward and Florence, young innocents married that morning, arrive at a hotel on the Dorset coast. At dinner in their rooms they struggle to suppress their private fears of the wedding night to come and, unbeknownst t them both, the events of the evening will haunt them for the rest of their lives.

Published: April 2007
Published Edition: May 2018
Publishers: Vintage
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction

Pages: 176

Format of Reading: Paperback

Goodreads Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟

Review

I was first interested in this book mainly because of the movie. My first impression of the book and movie was that it was about a relationship between the two main characters and for the duration of the impending nuptials one of them was unsure of the relationship which left with a change of heart. It’s not what I thought it was but it was close.

I found the book to be hard to get into at the beginning, you start with them already married and on their way to the hotel and once your there, you learn more about Edward and Florence.

The book unfolds the awkward and insecurities between the characters on their consummation. Both are afraid of what the other one thinks and also afraid to open up about what they really feel. It comes down to the saying “you can never forget your first love” your first love is everything everyone goes through. You remember how they feel, how they talk and walk. You follow both of these characters before they meet each other and you do see how they both felt for one another.

But it is also about their first time which is something that both of these characters are unsure of. They both want to do it but one is even more afraid of leading it the wrong way. It’s on the scale of “I want to do it” or “can I do it?”. I honestly felt that the book should have opened the door a bit more of the relationship, I am a person that likes to see a relationship unfold.

It’s a good book but just not for me.

What do you think? Have you read this book? Seen the movie? Let me know.

Book Review | A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge

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Hey Everyone,

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A Skinful of Shadows by France Hardinge

We See Ghosts. And They Are Drawn To Us.

Sometimes when a person dies, their spirit goes looking for somewhere to hide. Some people have space within them, perfect for hiding.

Makepeace has learned to defend herself from the ghosts that try to possess her in the night, desperate for refuge – but one day a dreadful event causes her to drop her guard.

Now she has a spirit inside her. The spirit is wild, angry and strong, and it may be her only defence when she is sent to live with her father’s cruel and powerful ancestors. But as she plans her escape to a country torn apart by civil war, Makepeace must decide which is worse: possession – or death.

Published: Sept 2017
Published Edition: May 2018
Publishers: Pan Macmillian
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Pages: 448

Format of Reading: Paperback

Goodreads Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Review

I had my doubts with this book, it was recommended by an employee by Waterstones and sometimes whenever an employee from the store I visit, they would recommend a book and I would just leave it on my TBR pile until I decide to give up on the book.

I have heard about one of her other book, The Lie Tree last year but I didn’t put two and two together. After reading this book, I definitely am purchasing the rest of her work because I was completely transfixed in this book and I couldn’t let it down.

But this book really surprised me, the writing was spectacular I felt that I was in that world with Makepeace, I love the young and innocent Makepeace, and I loved the character growth throughout the book. She became a stronger version of herself.

I loved the magical realism in this book, the interactions between Makepeace and the ghosts but also the family members being possessed with their ancestors, the description of the ghosts coming out of the body like a slithering snake. Oh my goodness, I loved it.

And to top it off with a cherry, I got an opportunity to meet France Hardinge. In my hometown with a collaboration with Waterstones and Timezone Tours, there was an offer of a Ghost Tour around my hometown and I learnt a lot about my hometown. And I got my book signed by the author. EEEPPP! And she even asked if I would like a goose, which I obviously said yes.

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Book Review|Sepulchre by Kate Mosse

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Hey Everyone,

How are you this week?

I have a couple of days off from work soon and I have no idea on how to spend those days, mostly reading but I have been feeling in the mood to go out of town and do something different. Has anyone felt like this? You have your daily routine and suddenly you have some time off and you want to do something different, something you’ve always wanted to do. I guess I am in the mood for a new scenery.

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Sepulchre by Kate Mosse

1891

Seventeen-year-old Leonie Vernier and her brother abandon Pariss for the sanctuary of their aunt’s isolated country house near Carcassonne, the Domaine de la Cade. But Leonie stumbles across a ruined sepulchre – and a timeless mystery whose traces are written in blood.

2007

Meridith Martin arrives at the Domaine de la Cade to research a biography. But Meredith is also seeking the key to her own complex legacy and becomes immersed in the story of a tragic love, a missing girl, a unique deck of tarot cards and the strange events of one cataclysmic night a century ago…

Published: October 2007
Published Edition: October 2015
Publishers: Orion
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Pages: 784

Format of Reading: Paperback

Goodreads Star Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Review

I had already read the first book in the trilogy last year and I really enjoyed it. I did do a book review of the book on my old blog but I have already closed the account, so I can’t link to the actual blog post but you can still find it on Bloglovin’ (link here) if you are interested in reading it.

I have to say there is a little connection between the first book and this one but it’s not a continuation of Labyrinth. One of the things about this book that is similar to the first was the connection of both female characters, you are following both characters discovering the secrets of the House in the mountains and the connection with Tarot cards, their significance and also the creation of them. This book also has a bit of a fantasy element in this book as it does involve ghosts.

Some of the reviews on Goodreads are quite mixed and honestly, after reading them I do agree on some points. This book has so much detail in the story and it doesn’t give much room to get connected with the characters, I found myself sometimes trying to skip parts (which I try not doing because I do it so often) because I wanted to know what Leonie or Meredith was thinking.

Much like how I felt from reading the first book, it’s quite slow to get into. You get to know Leonie first and at times I just wanted to get to Meredith’s introduction. The first couple of chapters were very confusing, which I still don’t understand why it started like that. It took a while for me to get into the book and I am looking forward to picking up the final book in the trilogy.

I hope you have a lovely day xx

Book Review | Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Manicalco

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Hey Everyone,

How are you?

I hope you are enjoyed your Easter Holiday. I did, too much chocolate yet I will always find room for more. I have been a bit too busy to blog, work has been a little hectic and I felt like focusing on reading last week which by the way I have finally caught up my reading goal on Goodreads. I will do a catch up wrap up because I read quite a few after this book.

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Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

He murdered women in cold blood. He terrorized an entire city. He taunted those of us who hunted him down.

But despite all these horrors, in the end, I could not deny it…

I was the girl who loved THE RIPPER.

Published: Sept 2017
Publishers: James Patterson
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Pages: 352

Format of Reading: Paperback

Goodreads Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Review

I cannot remember where or when I first heard about the book but I was attracted to the synopsis of the story.

This book follows Audrey Rose, she is the niece of a physician who teaches a class on opening up bodies. She has always been fascinated with her Uncle’s work and assists him in many of his autopsies. It does sound strange that a seventeen-year-old girl gets very excited about opening up people’s bodies. A new case lands on her Uncle’s desk and Audrey is intrigued as to who the killer is.

I know pretty much what everyone else knows about Jack the Ripper and I found this book to give a really good sense of the mystery of Jack The Ripper. I found the book to be a bit predictable especially towards the end but overall it was a good book. The romantic relationship between Audrey and Thomas to very predictable, personally I think that they should be together later on in the series make their relationship frustratingly annoying for the reader to WANT THEM TOGETHER. It felt a bit rushed especially towards the end. I liked the mystery duo when they are both investigating the connection to the killer at the beginning half of the book and it just went a little messy and rushed towards the end.

I do have the second book in the series and I am going to get the third book as well. My hope for the next one to be more mysterious and focus less on the romantic relationship.

If you have read the book already, What did you think? Any thoughts let me know xx

Book Review | The Witchfinder’s Sister by Beth Underdown

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Hey Everyone,

How are you?

I have another book review for you today, I also have my Stars Hollow Monthly Subscription box to do soon but I wanted to do this review while it is still fresh in my mind which is the troubling thing for me when it comes to writing reviews, I always do it on my day off and sometimes I would’ve finished the book about a week before. But this time I finished the book two days ago, so I am glad that I had a day off from work.

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The Witchfinder’s Sister by Beth Underdown

When Alice Hopkins’ husband dies in a tragic accident, she returns to the small Essex town of Manningtree, where her brother Matthew still lives.

But home is no longer a place of safety. Matthew has changed, and there are rumours spreading through the town: whispers of witchcraft, and of a great book, in which he is gathering women’s names.

To what lengths will Matthew’s obsession drive him?
And what choice will Alice make, when she finds herself at the very heart of his plan?

Published: March 2017
Published Edition: December 2017
Publishers: Penguin Books
Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: Paperback

Goodreads Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review

I found this book while browsing in the bookshop and the title itself caught my eye. It took me a while to figure out that Matthew Hopkins and the Witch trials happened in the mid-1600s in Essex. The only witch trials that I was aware of were in Salem, USA.

This book is very mysterious with a dark twist, the truth of the event that left Matthew very scarred as a young child really is the prominent event that gets mentions through the book while Alice still believes what she has always know what happened from people telling her she is doubted until she discovers the reason as to what happened to Matthew. I found that it was interesting to see the dynamic of the siblings while also for Alice to be horrified to know the truth about Matthew and what he has become.

I found the book at the beginning to be very slow paced, it took a while for me to establish the estranged relationship between the Hopkins siblings, you can see from reading the book that they have a difference of opinion when it comes to Christianity. The book does get better once you’ve established Matthew’s methods in finding witches and how Matthew is determined to see through his intentions. I found Alice very eager in wanting to prevent any harm to Bridget and Rebecca while trying to do it without her brother’s knowledge.

Beth Underdown is a very compelling writer especially for a debut novelist, she has captured t and I am excited about her next book, if it is anything dark and mysterious like this book then I am there.

I hope you are having a lovely day xx