Heat Wave - Kate Riordan

Suspenseful and a scorching read for a cold evening 

Thrillers are my favourite simply because of the possibilities of the genre. A simple story about mothers and daughters can have an edge if you add the thriller element to it. I really enjoyed how Riordan has managed to shape such a suspense story on a premise that could have been a domestic, contemporary story.

Gist:

Slyvie is back at their family home in France with her daughter Emma. However there is a deep sense of unease. It is hot in the French countryside but that is not all, there are some bad memories, something has driven them away from the place and now they are back revisiting the past with some devastating consequences.

What works:

•  Superb sense of foreboding that kicks off from page 1.

• A mother-daughter story that everyone can relate to yet you can sense straight away that something is off. It is believable and yet the reader would be aware that there is something seriously dysfunctional here. 

• Riordan builds the story so well and then turns deftly around on its head, such that the reader never sees it coming.

• Couldn't help feeling it had a Rebeccasque quality to it. The brooding presence of an absent character in the house and the protagnist's memories of her is so powerful and is so beautifully done. 

• Superbly atmospheric, I felt like I was in the hot climes of France, could feel the heat and the thunderstorms against the palpating tension in the house. 

 

How We Met: A Memoir of Love and Other Misadventures

As the title suggests, this memoir is about Qureshi met her husband. But it is also about so much more.

As she states earlier on, it is not a tale of drama and oppression but more of a coming-of-age story.  She reflects on an upbringing where the houses were always full of guests, tables full of food and the mindset that girls who do not have a vocational career must marry young.

One may cringe at the way she puts herself through the matchmaking process. But we have all been in situations which in retrospect we would have handled differently. It takes courage to relive them again with transparency and that is where Qureshi wins hearts. 

Although marriage plays a pivotal part, the memoir also reflects on the personal trauma of losing a loved one – her father - around the time she was starting a new job at a newspaper office. Her experiences resonate as she battles grief and workplace bias at the same time, such that the reader feels triumphant when Qureshi finally begins to feel at peace with herself.  

The latter half of the memoir reflects on how she meets her now-husband and their efforts to convince the family. However, there is reference but no in-depth analysis about the cultural conflict. Perhaps that is where the appeal is. It is an upfront account of a woman relating her experiences and, in doing so, highlights societal stereotypes and pre-conceived notions. 

It is a feel-good story after all, and we know how it ends. The facts are neatly lined up like a well-planned fictional story, but the authenticity and the voice remind one that it is a memoir, and an engaging one at that.

Ten things about Writing - Joanne Harris

 When Joanne Harris’ name appears on a book about the craft, it is bound to attract attention. So, how is it better or any different than the ones already out there? 

Ten Things About Writing is clearly designed for the tech-savvy contemporary learner attracted to the luxury of a well-laid-out website. The book is moulded in a similar fashion, offering writing advice in a very palatable format with its crisp short sentences. 

It is divided into ten sections, each section containing ten short chapters. Each chapter is further laid out in ten bullet points. It is so easy to dip in and out that you whizz easily through the pages and marvel at how much has been packed into those short chapters. 

Right from getting into the zone to constructing a nuanced narrative, the book covers a wide range of topics. It offers tips on basic skills of “show not tell” and foreshadowing with equal ease, making it a comprehensive writing toolkit for the novice as well as the advanced practitioner. 

Harris’s experience as a contemporary author shines through when she discusses commercial issues like readings and requests. There is a section that addresses all sort of random queries from publishing trends to handling frustration. The questions are random and yet relevant for the writer navigating their way round the writing world.

The book ends with section, “Welcome to the dark side” and this is the best part where the stern, but warm voice inspires the reader and urges them to take pride in leading the life of a writer.

For someone keen to understand the concepts, this is a great book; for someone looking to sustain the joy of writing, this is invaluable. 

Three Hours - Rosamund Lupton

 A brilliantly plotted thriller. 

Three hours is topical and a great reflection of how a writer's sensibilities is reflected in their work. I liked the message of the book and how it holds a mirror to contemporary attitudes.

Gist:

 What starts as a normal school day turns sinister as the morning wears on. All within a span of three hours. However that is the time when a headteacher's belief and his life hangs in balance, a group of school kids are shut in a pottery room and a set of older kids are trapped in the school theatre. All wait with bated breath as they hear shots and then footsteps wondering if they are going to make it alive.

What works:

A great premise and gosh what a first chapter. It starts right in the middle of action and frankly it felt a bit disorientating. But then it shifts into focus and then races through to the end.

Loved the voices and characters. Lupton is great at creating her character personas. Loved Beth and the way Lupton gives us access to her thoughts and peels layers over the story simultaneously.

What doesn't:

The style is not conventional. I got the sense of an experiment here with the narrative but once I got the hang of it, it felt great - a thoroughly brilliant reading experience.

A superb read. A fantastic thriller with a heart.

The Silent Patient - Alex Michealidas

 A slow burning, satisfying read.

The first page of the book is full of reviews endorsed by top names and you know this has to be good. But even then, I was really surprised by how true that was!  I am partial to psychological thrillers but of late have been tiring of the genre considering how the term is getting broader than ever. However, this one is a pacy, commerical read and delivers what it says on the cover.

Gist:

A woman is in jail for shooting her husband. She does not say anything in her defence and goes mute. The court orders her to be put away in a centre.  

One fine day, a therapist walks in and decides to take on her case.

What works:

• The trouble is it has an eye catching title, a premise that is even more intriguing. It sets the high standard and the reader expects to be whisked off straight away. That doesn't happen. It takes some time to set pace and then it picks up pace and gosh, leaves you breathless by the end of it.

• The characters are beautifully drawn. The second half is where the pace picks up and gosh the what a psychological roller coaster ride it is indeed!

What doesn't:

• The scene setting takes a while, it takes sometime to catch pace and that can put off some readers.

Overall a fabulous read. This what a psychological thriller is all about. No wonder there are talks about turning it into screen adaptation. I for one, will be looking forward to it. 

Fragile Monsters - Catherine Menon

Family secrets, strong characters against a historical backdrop characterise this well assured debut  

I first came across Catherine's work in the 2017 Leicesterwrites anthology where her short story "Aunty" won the prize. It was described by judges as subtle, seamless, almost perfect. And indeed it was. Reading her short story collection "Subjunctive moods" was like entering a miniature universe with so many worlds encapsulated in the form. 

So when I picked up the proof, it was with a curiosity to see if her debut novel had the same magic of her short stories.

Gist:

Durga has come to visit her grandmother Mary in Pahang. After spending a decade in Canada, she has found a job at a University in Kuala Lumpur and has returned to her hometown for a visit. But things have not been smooth between her and her grandmother. The death of Francesca, her mother and Mary's daughter is a murky swamp that keeps them apart. 

And now that Durga is back, the ghosts of the past are rising out of the swamp seeking answers.  

What works:

• Loved the opening chapter that starts on a wet Diwali night. Just like Goddess Lakshmi who visits her devotees at their houses once in a year, so Durga (one of the names of the goddess) enters her hometown in Pahang on a wet night, that is spilling with all sorts of secrets.

• A strong sense of place pervades the story. Descriptive paragraphs breath life into the tropical country. I could imagine the verandah surrounded by swaying coconut trees and the sound of squelchy, muddy paths on rainy days. 

•  I have never been to Malaysia before. But reading about Mary's life, her immigrant parents and the events of the time acquainted me with the historical fabric of the country.  

• But what stood out for me is the power of storytelling. There are different versions of truth depending upon who is telling it. For me that was one of the important features of the novel. The way the narrative twists and turns on itself, casting a doubt on the narrator and yet not deviating from the story. Menon manages it beautifully. 

Disclaimer: I received this ARC in return for an honest review. Fragile Monsters is published by Penguin Viking and is out now. 

Should We Fall Behind - Sharon Duggal

A beautifully written novel that shows up a mirror to life in the city. 

This is my second read from BlueMoose books and must say that I am beginning to have a soft corner for their titles. Should We Fall Behind by Sharon Duggal is an injection of hope and compassion into hard lives when both seem to be in short supply.

Disclaimer: I got this proof from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Gist:

Homeless Jimmy is on a lookout for his lost friend Betwa, and takes shelter in an abandoned, neglected car on a patch of disused land in Shifnal Road. His arrival affects the residents living on Shifnal road in different ways. Ebele is convinced he is about to kidnap her daughter Tuli, while Rayya sees him as a lost soul in need of nourishment.  

Is he out to create trouble or is he the catalyst that will make the residents examine their own lives?

What works:

• Shifnal Road could be any place in any urban landscape and yet Duggal makes the setting unique with her diverse cast of characters. 

• Every chapter is introduced through a character and in doing so the reader gets to know them well and their place in the plot -  the thread that pulls them all together. 

• Duggal paints a very realistic picture of life on the streets. It is cringeworthy, real yet evokes sympathy. She does a very good job of striking a fine balance between their harsh circumstances and the compassion that they deserve.

• This is definitely a character-led story and I felt deeply invested in them, especially as their backstory explained their actions.

• What stood out for me was the diverse background of the characters.  My favourite part of the novel is the conversation between Jimmy and Daban when they meet for the first time, sizing up each other through their origins and accents. That scene formed the crux of the novel - that origins didn't matter as long as you made peace with your identity.

What doesn't work:

This is a stark story about people who often tend to fall through the cracks. It is uncomfortable at times and yet Duggal gives her characters hope and optimism, instead of letting them disappear into the quicksand of bad luck and poverty.

Beautifully written and an eyeopening read.

The title is published by Bluemoosebooks and comes out on 22nd October 2020.