Zizzle Literary magazine - Review

If the first issue has set the bar, the second one meets it head on.

Wow, Zizzle is here," is how my daughter reacted when she saw this issue. Upon being asked what appealed to her, a quick answer shot through. "It has children in it".

A girl of strong opinions, this 8-year-old reader loves to ponder over stories she has read and articulate her thoughts about it.

The Magazine:

Zizzle is a literary magazine that targets confident readers and grown up minds, still young at heart. The stories are clever  - the messages are subtle, without being preachy or obvious.The stories are clearly marked so that the reader is aware of its readability. We found it very convenient especially when my daughter was making her choices.

What works:

• My daughter and I enjoyed reading the stories. However, we found that going through the inspiration before reading the actual story made it an enjoyable experience. It was fascinating to see how the writer's idea blooms out to form a complete piece. A great tool to illustrate the mechanics of creative writing or just to understand good stories better.

• The quotes that shine in between the pages are a great device. My favourite line is: 

Between the pages of a book is a wonderful place to be. 

The anonymous quote truly encapsulated my passion for reading.

• The first story Child of the first spark portrays the pressures of being a today's child and what a child wants. The Gift of Everness and Nuclear Missiles are Coming Our Way are also well written stories with a strong underlining message. It was an absolute pleasure picking these miniature delights to read at bedtime.

• My daughter however has her own favourites. It was hands down No-school day. Her reason? She could see herself as the girl in the story and "the girl uses her imagination even if there was no school."

• Janita Peperkamp's illustrations are beautifully done and they enhance the stories. It breathes life into the book. Her piece on how she approaches a painting offers great insight into her working style. 

Who will like them more:

My daughter loved most of the stories. But I could see that older readers who can understand metaphor and inference will enjoy it even more. These stories have depth and layers - a nod to the high writing quality and the standard of the writers.

In a Nutshell:

I can easily visualise zizzle in a book club discussion. Stories short enough to be read out and then students or a group of friends sharing their views about the story.

A masterclass on what makes good stories. A great collection that shows how they are done.

Recommended.

Behind Her Eyes - Sarah Pinborough

An edge of the seat thriller.

The succes of Gone Girl and Girl on the train seems to have unleashed torrent of domestic noir into the reading world. Pinborough came highly recommended to my by my librarian and I can see why.

I have read some domestic novels and though they all sound good they really fall short somewhere along the way. It is usually an atmospheric experience that ends up being a dampner. However, glad to say, not with this one.

Gist:

David a handsome doctor ends up unknowingly having a date with a woman. He realises the next day at his new workplace - that is his secretary.

Louise, the secretary who realises the next day what a big mistake it was. She meets the doctors' wife and later and finds a friend in her.

Adele, the fragile beauty who has no friends. She seems lonely and yet so perfect. Her soft persona and self deprecating wit endears her to Louise.

The handsome doctor, the perfect wife - why was the doctor at the bar then? wonders Louise. Are they really who they seem they are?

What works:

• Pinborough has an arresting way of telling a story. Her first chapter starts right in the middle. It took me a couple of readings to find my feet. From then on it was a roll.

• A quick read, with a racy plot and a complex narrative. Fits well with a twisty thriller.

• I loved the quirky style. The way the chapters are divided into character's version is a favourite with me.

• There are only characters and therefore 3 versions of a story. it is amazing how these versions pull the story forward,

What doesn't:

• It requires a certain investment from the reader. For the casual reader who cannot be bothered to adhere to the story's demands, it can be a put off.