onerightword
Online Publications
Thursday, 23 June 2022
Portable Magic: A History of Books and their Readers - Emma Smith
Monday, 28 March 2022
Into the Sideways World - Ross Welford
Gist:
Gilly and Manny are friends who discover the pathway to another world, a perfect universe with no complications of their own world. Things seem odd but perfect here and soon Willa and Manny will have a make a tough decision. There is also war going on in their world and they must race against time to find a way back and to convince the elders of what they have seen before it gets too late.
My review:
- The characters of Willa and Manny are well etched. Welford has captured their voices well and I see children relating to them as they accompany them on their adventuers.
- Reading about World War Three felt topical considering Russain Ukraine war is dominating the news.
- I loved how the plot is injected with realism. Instead of delivering a straight forward story, the writer makes the reader think. The story also gets a bit technical in places, which may wear the patience of the young reader. However, if they persist, they will be rewarded. Welford shows how life is not all about tying up loose ends especially in the later half of the story, but often a complicated arrangement at times. I really liked that element in the story.
Friday, 18 March 2022
A Killing in November - Simon Mason
- What instantly struck me about the book is the sense of place. I love reading stories set in Oxford and Inspector Morse is a firm favourite. Yet this one is markedly different in terms of its approach and the way the detective duo is portrayed. Seeing as it has the potential to be a series, it offers a great starting point with loads of potential.
- Ryan and Ray are brilliantly plotted characters who add a whole new dimension to the story. Mason weaves their stories alongside case developments so seamlessly that it feels like we are reading two different threads at once. It makes for a very strong plot and a layered reading experience for the reader.
- Yet another thing that really worked for me was how it reflected the contemporary society by incorporating funding, refugee crisis in the plot. It felt topical and a sign of the times and that for me enhanced the reading experience.
- The writing is fast paced and full of action such that it feels like the reader is on a roller coaster as events quickly move towards the resolution.
Friday, 11 February 2022
The Midnight Library - Matt Haig
Matt Haig's latest novel is a heartwarming read about second chances and opportunities in a well packaged narrative.
Gist:
Nora is unhappy, she sees her life as a big dump of poor choices and one day she chooses to end it all. Interestingly that is when her life actually begins. She finds herself in a library where she picks up the book of Regrets and gets the chance to revisit her choices and to do things differently. The result is a startling revelation about the concept of a perfect life.
My review:
- I absolutely loved the book. Nora Seed's character is endearing, her misery and unhappiness is relatable. Matt tells her story by counting down the hours to the point when she decides to end her life, a great way of revealing her present and the circumstances that lead to it. I was hooked from the beginning.
- This could have easily been a preachy, self help kind of a narrative but the concept of examining regrets and exploring outcomes is very beautifully packaged in a story. The framework of a library, the idea of sifting through options is done very well. I couldn't wait to see how Nora fared in each of those lives and what she would choose.
- It was a pleasant surprise to see how the story steered to the resolution, did not see that coming at all. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil it but the real reason why I liked it is that I often think back to what ifs and this spoke to me in many ways.
One of the best life affirming reads I have read in a while.
Thursday, 3 February 2022
Aarti and the Blue Gods - Jasbinder Bilan
Gist:
Aarti has always lived with her temperamental aunt on this island for as long as she can remember. They live off the land alone and Aarti has never known anything different. However, she keeps getting these flashback images about a living a different life lived elsewhere. One day when she gets into a locked room, and stumbles on certain things that make her question her present and delve into her past.
My review:
- Bilan's forte is magic realism and this story brims with it.
- The amalgamation of cultures into her story - in this case Indian and the Druid cultures - makes for an interesting reading experience.
- Her stories now are beginning to have a set pattern and it is easier to predict how the story is going to flow. Although the familiarity feels great, perhaps a bit more exploration in terms of style and themes will sustain that "wow" factor that drew the reader to the first two books.
- Bilan is good at handling senstive subjects like grief, acceptance in her stories for the young reader. It is for this reason alone, that I am confident about gifting a Bilan book to a young reader, knowing well that she will be in good hands.
Thursday, 20 January 2022
Djinn Patrol On the Purple Line - Deepa Anappara
A Heartwrenching Story
- I enjoyed reading about Jai and his friends. The character of Jai with his street smartness and humourous one liners made me smile.
- I also enjoyed the world building. Jai does not live in the best of circumstances and yet his family is not stereotypical, there is happiness in his life that I found refreshing.
- The setting really works. Whether it is the government school where the main attraction is the midday meal, or the basti life it feels authentic and is done with sensitivity that really appeals to the reader.
- The story turns a bit grim as a feeling of dread builds as the story picks up pace. The emotions are real and relatable especially it is based on newsreports that are full of similar news of children going missing.
- The fact that the story evokes emotions in the reader is a major plus, a nod to the writer's skills.
The Girl Before - J P Delaney
- The story starts off with a bang in a voice that reels you in. Loved how the author has captured two distinct voices. Even though it is easy to detect the pattern, you can tell which character is narrating the story. Very smoothly done.
- The two women are mirrored quite well and yet their circumstances are so different. It was interesting to see how the two narratives would blend. The pacing is great as reader races through the story to get to the end.
- The story is not only fast paced but also has a heart. It operates as a racy story on one level but then it has themes and motives that are carefully embedded into the story, taking the reader by surprise. A cracking read.