The Miniaturist

Next on my holiday reading list was "The Miniaturist", Jessie Burton's debut novel. This was a very unique and intriguing novel, and reading it straight after "Sister Noon" highlighted just how good it was. Like Fowler's novel, this one focuses on a vulnerable female protagonist trying to find her way in the world, and it uses the entirely alien to me yet intriguing setting of 17th Century Amsterdam. Unlike "Sister Noon", this is actually very effective, and plot developments, twists and turns throughout the novel give the it a sense of unpredictability and can deliver genuine shocks and drama.

The premise is this. 18 year old Nella Oortman is recently married to 37 year old Johannes Brandt, but the household seems very strange and mysterious. A wedding gift, a miniature version of the house she is now living in, is furnished by a mysterious miniaturist, who uses their models to slowly reveal secrets about the house and the lives of the people in it. It initially feels like there will be a massive twist at the end, yet this is not the case. Instead, there are shocks and surprises woven throughout the narrative, leaving the ending for real, harsh consequences of what's been revealed. This, unlike some novels, is not neatly tied up by the end, yet the ending feels very fitting indeed, as Nella's development as a character is shown to have been the main focus of the novel.

 

Another pleasant surprise was the subject matter the book deals with. Without giving anything away, I will say that it ventures to surprising topics given its setting and time period. This means that occasionally some dialogue seems out of place or unrealistic, but on the whole this is not the case. Burton's research for the novel was obviously very thorough, with lashings of beautiful historically accurate description and detail. There were times when I was so taken in by the setting and the such high inequality and capitalist drives of the city as well as the oppression by rulers that, had this setting not existed in the past, I could have believed it to have been a dystopian commentary on modern society. Burton doesn't miss a trick here, interweaving multiple threads and secrets and building to one of the best and most unexpected (yet not "twisty") endings I could have hoped for. I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

9/10

Sister Noon

After very much enjoying "We are All Completely Beside Ourselves", I leapt at the chance to pick this up from the Waterstones "Buy one, get one half price" display. The epigram, "Words were invented so that lies could be told" seemed intriguing and potentially very clever, with the setting of 1890s San Francisco as a new one for me, adding to the intrigue. I was hoping for something similar to "Beside Ourselves", however I was utterly disappointed.

This novel is, at its heart, just gossip, that's the main point of it. It's based solely on what some characters think of others and what may or may not be true about them. This could be interesting if there were any secrets, but the gossip just sort of fizzles out with no conclusion. The reader is left utterly clueless. It might be fair to say "the reader has to decide for themselves what is true", but is it really worth it? Is there no shock twist? Nothing revealed at all? No. There is absolutely nothing. What this novel lacks is a plot. The characters, in part, are largely based on real people, especially Mary Ellen Pleasant, the most mysterious character in the novel. Fowler does in fairness describe the setting beautifully and there are moments when I felt some empathy for Lizzie, the protagonist. However, aside from a very small development in Lizzie's life happening towards the end of the novel (one which the title basically gives away anyway, and which isn't worth 250 odd pages of build up) nothing of any significance happens. There are one or two moments of plot, but when you're remembering a page on which a protagonist gets lost briefly in a corridor as one of the most eventful moments in the novel, well, lets just say the novel is hardly riveting.

 

The novel did strike a chord initially, as on page 12 Ms Pleasant comes out as a "Coloured Woman", and it was interesting to see how people perceived race differently, especially in light of Rachel Dolezal's recent statements in the media. This, however, like every other potentially good idea in the book amounts to absolutely nothing. Characters come and go like they have no importance, and with whatever tiny plot there was being side-lined for everything that simply wasn't interesting, "Sister Noon" quickly became a drag. I wouldn't recommend it, unless you want to read something purely for the interest of another setting. Afterwards I used it to squash two moths.

 

3/10

The Bees

Let me just give you a bit of context. And by that, I mean context of me sitting here typing exactly what you are now reading - not context of this novel.

I've been sitting here for a full five minutes and I still can't work out what I feel like about this book. I finished it yesterday, and gave myself a night to sleep on it in the hope that an opinion might form itself in that time. Alas, nothing. And yet, this novel HAS made an impact on me. It's just the consequences of said impact that confuse me.

Paull's debut novel follows the life of a sanitation bee, Flora 717. Paull very cleverly creates a world the likes of which haven't been seen in an novel to date. She takes some liberties with actual bee lifestyle to create a world which feels, as it is meant to, alien, confusing and strange. The problem with this, however, is that this setting is so absorbing that the reader isn't really sure which morals are supposed to be "Ok", and therefore when something supposedly corrupt or moving happens (initially) it can be hard to tell whether or not we should feel anything about it. This is perhaps due, in part, to the lack of insight into Flora's thoughts. For a long time, we feel like we have no idea what she is thinking. I've read reviews of this book which describe her merely as a "plot-device", which I feel is quite accurate for about 2/3 of this book. For the first very large proportion, lots of things just happen to Flora in very quick succession. Because of this, the narrative comes across as quite disjointed and bitty, with nothing to hold the reader's attention happening until Flora begins to become a bit more independent and interesting. This, of course, may be purposeful, as we are supposed to believe that Flora is part of the "Hive-mind" and therefore should not be pursuing autonomous thought and behaviour, however this makes the novel very difficult in places.

And this is a shame, because where the novel excels, it really excels. This is a fantastic example of a novel which, for the most part, has a strong female protagonist who at no point is dependant on a male. It also asks some profound questions about faith and society as well as class discrimination. I would have no problems writing countless essays on Marxist and Feminist readings of this novel, which showcases how this novel is of a very high quality. This might explain why this book seems to be getting a lot of attention. Towards the end of the novel, the previous "bitty" plot strands begin to subtly come together to make some kind of sense in relation to the novel as a whole. As well as this, there are certain moments that are so exciting, shocking and moving that you will actually be hooked. And the conclusion of the novel was one of the most unpredictable and beautiful things I've read in a while.

So to summarise, Paull has successfully created a very profound novel set in a very clever world, which perhaps she is too keen to show off through the use of lots of events rather than through development, leading to a disappointingly disjointed novel which is often frustrating and confusing, but always thought provoking.

7/10

Elizabeth Is Missing

From the cover, blurb and reviews, this novel seemed initially like a murder mystery with a twist - something I found very appealing. From what I gathered, an old lady with deteriorating memory (perhaps dementia) is the only person who can remember that her friend is missing, but she is struggling to remember why and how. Now, there's nothing wrong with this at all. It seems very interesting. The novel itself, however, is very different.

The primary focus is on Maud's life as her condition worsens. It seems the real mystery is one from her past that remains unsolved - something which readers are taken to via flashbacks to post war Britain as events unfold. For Maud, these flashbacks become increasingly confused with reality until she, against all odds, finds the answers.

This is another one of those books where the preface is rather confusing and out of context, making not much sense. However as soon as chapter one begins, so does the narrative journey. After the conclusion, reread the preface and you will notice just how expertly the threads are woven together by the end.

Some people have called this novel frustrating. They've been asking why someone didn't just TELL Maud where  Elizabeth went. But that's the really sad thing - they do, all the time, but Maud can't remember and so the reader doesn't know. The concept here, while extremely sad, is incredibly well carried out. We'll be thrown into and out of moments and conversations to reflect what Maud can and can't remember. We feel her confusion with her and Healey expertly creates the same sense of frustration that Maud is feeling for the reader. What's especially remarkable here is, as Maud deteriorates, an already immersive sense of emotion grows along with the sense of expectation, creating an incredibly powerful and emotional climax.

This is an absolutely fantastic and gripping read in ways in which you might not first expect. This novel deserves to stand among some of the great and well known works of late, more so than its run-of-the-mill cover and misleading blurb give it credit for. That said, there really is no way to properly summarise this novel or indeed its genre or type. It covers all bases to form something that is undoubtedly a book which you, ironically, will never forget.

9.5/10

Next I'll be reading "The Bees" by Laline Paull

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

This isn't the sort of book I'd normally look at in a bookshop and then choose to buy, but I was told I simply had to read it. And I'm glad about that, because it opened my eyes to a new type of novel and a new writer.

I wish I could talk about the details of the plot here, but something happens around 70 pages in, something key to the plot, that would be spoiled if I were to do so. Instead I will say this - essentially this is a novel about a girl, Rosemary, and her relationship with her family and friends, but especially her sister, Fern.

I would say that this novel and I didn't get off to the best of starts. It takes a while to get into and the narrative isn't chronological. The reasons for this, however, become clear as we realise Fowler has been withholding some vital information from us in order to play with our expectations. As the end of the novel approaches, the themes presented throughout come together really nicely, and the novel's initially confusing beginning suddenly has a lot of symbolic significance. When I'd finished the book, then, I had no complaints about the beginning. There were clear reasons for it and the rest of the novel accounted for and made up for my initial confusion. I suppose that's one downside, though - aside from intrigue, the novel has no overt hook. However, once the concept unfolds 70 pages in, you'll get a chance to see just how original and brilliant the story is.

The characters are extremely well developed, even the minor ones. Fowler uses her narrator extremely effectively so that we really do see through Rosemary's eyes. Her voice gives us a sometimes funny, sometimes tragic but always very (and cleverly) human perception of the world. Fowler's way of writing is one that I think will last - not only to give her story a timeless feel but also so that readers can appreciate the novel in new ways upon each rereading. So much beautiful attention to detail is no mean feat, especially in a novel where detail is highly subjective and withheld.

As I say, I wish I could talk more about it, but you'll have to find out for yourself why this book is becoming so popular. Suffice to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks again to "Agent Leo" for the lend.

9/10

Next I'll be reading Emma Healey's debut novel, "Elizabeth is Missing"

The Theory of Everything

This film has been very highly acclaimed from the very beginning, and so when going to see it, it's natural that anyone would have high expectations. I can safely say that The Theory of Everything surpassed all expectations, even with all the hype.

I went expecting a biopic about Stephen Hawking, and was sort of wrong. The film focuses on Stephen and Jane's relationship but of course also shows Hawking's life, theories and the development of his Motor Neurone Disease. But I wouldn't say that was a disappointment at all. It works incredibly well, even for people who don't like the "love story" side of cinema so much (me).

Eddie Redmayne, after having irritated me in "Les Miserables", gave an exceptional performance. And I really mean that. I could even say that it is the best performance by anyone that I have ever seen in any film. I know. Bold statement. But seriously. He grasps Hawking's personality so perfectly as well as not only understanding the stages of the disease intricately but how they affected Hawking specifically. He absolutely nails it, giving an emotional, clever and Oscar worthy performance.

But it wasn't just about him. Felicity Jones was also exceptional for all the same reasons. Together with incredible scripting which brought all of the relevant themes forward at all the right times as well as showing the lives of Stephen and Jane in a gripping, heart-warming way, the humanity of the film is created. The direction was beautifully done, with a simple yet effective soundtrack to add to the reality of the film as well as to its poetic nature.

The Theory of Everything has to be one of the best films I've ever seen for so many reasons. Quick, go and see it before its run ends!

10/10

The Crash of Hennington

Patrick Ness' debut novel is hefty like the rhinos which feature within it. That was my very first impression. And my next impression was "gosh, this typeface along with the slightly yellow pages in this brand new book make it seem really old." And then "Gosh, this is a bit inappropriate". And then "What's actually supposed to be happening here?". And eventually "wow."

It turns out that it wasn't just the typeface and the pages that made this story seem old. The whole thing was strangely allegorical of something. It was an odd set up. A subversive society (much like our own) where rhinos walk the streets because they always have done. And that's literally all that starts this story. The rest just happens at a natural pace. A frighteningly realistic pace, actually. That's the thing about this book. Despite the rhinos and the brothel golf clubs and the strange drug habits and traditions, Hennington is all too familiar. And it's quite powerful.

As the novel begins, we see the lives of a whole host of different characters. Some are connected, some aren't. And then the novel quite honestly snowballs. One things leads to the next, and everything gradually comes together, speeds up and gets all the more powerful. The characters are so perfectly realised and the ideas are truly imaginative.

By the end, you realise that there's plenty that could be analysed. One thing I'm still working on is why no speech marks are used. That was a bit annoying. But perhaps there's a reason. Maybe it shows how people's external voices just seem like a list (hence the dashes before people speak) of internal voices all happening at the same time. That might be the case, and you do get into it after a while. It does make some sections quite hard to read, though.

That said, this novel was so different to Ness' other books, but equally as inventive, thought provoking and gripping. There's so much going on to keep your attention through the multitude of pages, with realistic, hateable and likeable characters. It's basically like the original "The Casual Vacancy" but better. And with rhinos.

9/10

Thanks to Agent Leo for the book as a birthday present. I will soon be reading "Topics About Which I Know Nothing", the only Patrick Ness book I haven't read so far.