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.  

Hamnet - Maggie O' Farrell

What is it about Shakespeare that draws us to his work? His works have been called overrated, or heavily "inspired" by other contemporaries and yet anything connected to the playwright is always lapped up with interest.  

His personal life has been the topic of much discussion too. All you need is a trip to the Shakespeare Museum in Stafford to see it on display. But Maggie O'Farrell does a great job of directing the spotlight on a lesser known character and does well in choosing a title that makes an instant connection with the playwright.

Right at the beginning of the book,  there is a historical fact at the outset which outlines what the book is about yet when the story unravels, it feels like the reader is lead on a fascinating journey with no idea of what will happen next.  

Gist:

The story is about Agnes who realises she is different from other girls at an young age. She falls in love with brothers' tutor, marriage to him seems like an escape her stepmother. She soon realises her husband is a man of words and she a child of nature. Unaware of the consequences, she urges her husband to go London, unknowingly pushing him towards  the arclights. 

Although they have nothing in common, they are bound together by a tragedy. They drift apart and deal with grief in their own way, until Agnes learns how their private grief has been made public in a way that only her husband can.

What works:

• The narrative is amazing, it draws you in and keeps you going as you follow the story in the past and the present, the narratives complement one another.  

• I enjoyed the fact that the story centres around Agnes, and O'Farrell has chosen to weave a tale around the much neglected wife of the playwright, a voice that deserves its due.

• There is a strong sense of place as O'Farrell describes Agnes' life in 15th century society with its lush green forests and way of life.

• It was commendable how she does not use Shakespeare's name even once. It shows a  brilliant display of her craft and her ability to be able to pull it off so competently.

• The sense of loss and the grief comes across strongly and you feel for the family as they all deal with it in their own way. 

What doesn't:

If you are the purist kind that prefers to stick to historical facts and is averse to fictional interpretation then perhaps this is not for you.

 

But if you like me, enjoy narratives that blend history into interesting stories then you will love this. 

The Dilemma - B A Paris

I had never read B A Paris before although had heard a lot about her "Behind Closed Doors" which was a major hit among book lovers. Her latest has been winning rave reviews on book twitter and I was thrilled to get started with it.

Gist:

Livia is looking forward to her 40th party, something that she has been waiting for it for years, especially she never had a proper wedding day. This was supposed to be a perfect day with all her family around her. However, her daughter studying abroad is not able to make it back on time. She needs to tell her husband something but decides to wait until after the party. Her husband Adam, on the other hand  is pulling out all stops to make it the day she had always dreamt of. However, he fears that he knows something that it might spoil the day Livia has been waiting for.

It is a big day for the family, but a day that will change it forever as well. 

What works:

• The story gets right into the middle of things and then spirals out to give us the backstory. 

• The characters are great, the reader gets into their heads easily, their situations and their close network is nicely laid out which makes it an interesting read.

• The backstory that supports the characters is plausible, ties in well with their actions, shows the amount of work that has gone into creating them.

• There is a gamut of emotions and I could feel myself on a rollercoaster ride, identifying with the character's emotions throughout the story.

What doesn't:

You can see the how and why behind the character's behaviour. Sometimes, wringing out the emotions a bit too much.

However, that occurs only in patches. Overall, it is compelling, believeable and a great read.

The End of Her - Shari Lapena

Shari Lapena's books are pacy, there is no room for slow burn, things happen fast, often within the blink of an eye. Each chapter moves up the plot with no room for mindless monologues or detailed description. However, once you get used to the style, it is like visiting an old friend. Her latest feels like that and I enjoyed this one better than her previous one.

Gist:
Stepanie and Patrick are parents to newborn twins and they are struggling with it. Sleep deprived Stephanie is getting forgetful and Patrick is unable to concentrate at work. In the amidst of it all, comes Erica, a blast from the past who claims Patrick's first wife was killed and not an accidental death as it was claimed.

Is she telling the truth? Is Patrick hiding something? Does Stephanie get to the truth before it becomes the end of her?


What works:

• Lapena's character are well etched and are easily drawn within a few lines. It is amazing how she does that.

• The first chapter is a killer and gets one hooked easily. Love the way Lapena lays out the plot.

• The writing is pacy, the narrative races through taking the reader through various twists and turns.

What doesn't:

• Sometimes it feels like the twists are too many, almost like an overkill.

Overall a great read. Much better than her last one. Lapena has experimented with the genre a bit. It works. Recommended.
  

The Sound Mirror - Heidi James

A compelling read.

My interest in the book stemmed from the fact that it was a story about an  Englishwoman sailing from Inda to England. I was thrilled to receive this copy for review, only to realise it was that and much more.

Gist:
The book is the story of Tamara, Clare and Ada. When the story opens they are on the threshold of a life defining journey.

What works:

• It felt a bit demanding at first as the narrative switched between characters and the different periods but James rewards the reader well. The plot unravels beautifully once the reader settles in with the characters as they  navigate through trying circumstances, with far reaching consequences.

• The characters are stark but empthatetic. I felt for the young Ada's disappointment as she sees England after spending a childhood in India, cringing when Tamara is told off by her husband and feel frustrated for Clare when she finds grammer school slipping through her fingers. It was also interesting to spot how common threads ran through their distinct lives, binding these women together.

• The scenes are vivid, packed with layers. Like the instance where employee Ada asked to quit because she is an extremely efficient woman worker. The social undercurrent of the setting when Claire meets Den's family for the first time and the scene were toddler Tamara is wandering around the house looking for her absent mum is loaded with backstory. 

• James writes with sensitivity. She unwraps truth through carefully chosen words and hints. It is heartbreaking in places but the compelling writing style forces the reader to keep going, consumed by the need to know more.

• The three separate stories converge very well at one point. The unexpected turn nicely braids the threads into one narrative catching the reader unawares.

• Also the references to the Sound Mirror and the hibiscus are done well. It was easy to imagine myself in a Kali Temple in Calcutta or strolling through the beach where little Tamara discovers Sound mirrors. James ensures the reader is well travelled just like her characters .     

A layered read that works on many levels. The Sound Mirror is published by Bluemoose books.

Flash Fiction Day 2020

What a busy weekend it has been! Time well spent participating in the Flash fiction day celebrations, thanks to the amazing team who put it all together.

June 6 was the National Flash Fiction Day (NFFD) and the festivities started early with Flash flood. It was indeed a flood with pieces being released every 10 minutes throughout the day, from talents from different parts of the world.

The afternoon was claimed by the stimulating session by Jude Higgins "Dreams into fiction." Her session was all about turning a fragment of a dream and exploring different angles to generate flash. We had to write for few minutes and move to smaller groups to discuss our experience. I really enjoyed chatting with like minded people: there was warmth and encouragement all round.

On Sunday the NFFD Write In went live where writers were invited to write pieces from the 25 prompts on the blog.

I went for the prompt Storm at Sea and was chuffed to see that it was published within hours!

https://thewrite-in.blogspot.com/2020/06/new-year-celebrations-at-sea-by-asha.html

And just as I was about to sign off this post...I just noticed another one has been accepted! This was a tricky one where the story had to be written in reverse and I spent a good part of Sunday afternoon struggling over it. I did not have much hope, it felt it still needed a lot of work. But thrilled to see it up there!

https://thewrite-in.blogspot.com/2020/06/there-was-nothing-dreamlike-about-this.html

The Far Field - Madhuri Vijay

photo courtesy:goodreads.com

A debut that richly deserves the acclaim it received.

One of the reviews said this was about Kashmir that goes beyond the picturesque beauty that camouflages its grim reality.  That is what drew me to it. The novel cleverly highlights political issues against the backdrop of a sort of coming of age novel. I couldn't get a hard copy and had to make do with an ecopy...not a great thing for an old school hard copy fan. I had failed with e-versions before not this time. The story had me from the start and I found myself finishing its 400-odd pages in a couple of days.

Gist:

Shalini travels to Bangalore after her learns of her mother's death. As she drifts through life coping with the loss, she finds something tucked away in her mother's wardrobe that triggers childhood memories. She decides to leave the comforts of Bangalore and travels to Kashmir in search of that childhood connection.

What works:

• Right from the first page, we find the narrator in a confesssional mode and settle in to learn what is it all about.

• It is apparent in the first chapter that there is something odd about this modern Indian family. As the father and daughter deal with the loss of the mother - the persona of an unconventional Indian woman floats to surface. It has just the right level of unease and curiosity to urge the reader to keep going.

• This sense of disquiet is a constant throughout the novel. I revisted the first chapter and it made more sense now that I knew that the narrator was hinting about.  

• Life in Kashmir is very different from the shikaras and the beautiful views that we associate with it and Vijay's novel touches upon it well. Also the portrayal of the army presence and what it means for the residents opens questions that go beyond the popular patriotic version circulated in the rest of the country.

• Plus I was interested by the family on the whole. This setup of the modern nuclear Indian family with no baggage of the extended family is a departure from stereotypes. I remember reading an interview where Vijay said the story was set it in the 90s, an era of liberalisation and the Indian nuclear families. It also offers a better foundation for the story, the privacy and the loneliness that comes with that setup.

• This is not a feel good novel with the ends neatly tied in, Vijay's craft is evident in the way she creates some loaded scenes, such as the dinner party. 

• It brought to mind a conversation I had with a friend. The friend was upset about the fact that her son was tracing a map of India quite different to what she had known as a child - a whole of chunk of Kashmir was missing. She was in favour of the revoking of article 370 and what it meant for India. I could understand her sentiment and yet it felt somehow selfish. As mentioned earlier, reading this novel gave me perspective about asserting our authority as Indians outside the state while it is a completely different scenario for the Kashmiri residents out there.

This is definitely a novel that gets you thinking about Kashmir and about journeys of self discovery. Vijay is a writer who layers her story on many levels. It would be interesting to see what she comes up with next.

Snegurochka - Judith Heneghan

This one will be always be a memorable one. My first lockdown read.

Since March, this bookworm who zipped through titles found it hard to read a page. I had not anticipated this when I was scrambling to stock up library books (before they closed) with the same urgency as I had stocked my kitchen cupboards. 

But with lockdown, I found it hard to to get through few pages of a novel. It was comforting to hear from the online reading community that they had it too. But for a stay-at-home mum who sought liberation in school hours, homeschooling and a lack of routine hit hard. It led to a restlessness that refused to shift.

This copy with its arresting cover came as a hopeful, welcome recourse. However, reading about a mother stuck with a baby in the city of Kiev did not seem like a great idea at the time. The sense of claustrophia felt unusually familiar. It will be like seeing myself on the pages, was the fear. I was wrong. It snapped me out of the slump.

Gist:

This is Kiev in the 90s and Rachel a young mother has joined her journalist husband with her baby, Ivan. She struggles to cope with her situation, in a foreign city where everything from language to way of life feels different. She socialises with her husband's work colleagues, but they are not her friends. And then a much needed gift turns up. But it doesn't feel right and brings consequences with it. Rachel turns to unlikely acquaintances for help. She questions whether this is the right while oscillating between the present and the past...

What I liked:

• The title creates instant interest, injecting an element of the exotic. Despite being armed with google info, I was curious to find out how it fitted with the story. The connection blends beautifully with the narrative.   

• The eye catching jacket matches the compelling narrative. The sense of unease, the city with its poverty stricken, wrecked buildings transported me to a different place (a boon at the moment).

• I found myself accompaning Rachel as she explored the city by road and on foot, something that could be only dreamed of at the moment. Her irrational quirks make sense and the characters feel real and relatable.

• As Rachel made choices, I found myself reading on furiously, swept along by the narrative.

• Loved the intricatly weaved personal and the historical strands in the story and how the city has a solid presence throughout the book. Its shortlisting for the Edward Standford travel writing award is richly deserved.

  

Go for it. Reading it is like stepping out of your doorstep into another world altogether.  

  

Paragraph Planet

The pandemic changed my life too like it has for many others in the country and the world. Writing had gone for a toss as routines upturned and home became school/afterclubs/campsites/craft workshops. Days seemed to blend into one another, one looking exactly like the one gone by. 

Just when I was debating if the the writer in me had disappeared into oblivion, this publication by Paragraph Planet came as a validation of sorts where the idea was to write a 75 word story including the title.

Thanks Paragraph Planet, for reaffirming my faith in myself when I really needed it.

Asha and the spirit Bird

photo courtesy:amazon.co.uk

Magic, mysticism packaged into a cracking read.

Of late, I have developed a keen interest in children's literature after realising the potential at Onjali Rauf's talk at the Crossroads festival in leicester in autumn last year.

So when I looked for other diverse titles, Costa children's book of the year was announced. Bilan's book Asha and the Spirit Bird came into the spotlight. I enjoye reading it how Bilan's book worked at so many levels. I passed it on to my daughter to see if she was as excited as I was.

She gave back the nearly 300-page book within two days of bedtime reading. I was secretly glad. I was reared on Enid Blytons that offered a mirror to the idyllic English life. I was happy my daughter could read something that will give a glimpse into her own cultural background.

The gist:

Asha lives in the foot of the Himalayas wtih her mother while her father is working out of town. However, they havent heard from their father for a while and her mother is struggling to pay the bills. One day when the menacing debt collector makes an appearance, Asha decides to get on the journey with her trusted friend Jeevan.

What I liked:

• The opening lines gets straight down to action. The opening scene of the novel where Asha has to make a tough decision decides the course of the book.

• It has the element of exotic with its Indian setting, food and hint of magic realism and yet it is balanced by reason.  

• The story is realistic. Children getting caught into child labour is a reality. Harsh living conditions is a fact.

• Asha is bound by traditions yet she is not blinded by it. For me, that element really worked. It shows how religion can be a good thing rather than all the mumbo jumbo usually associated with it.

This is a story that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. I loved how the different themes layer the story and look forward to more by Bilan!

Good read. Recommended.

The Almost Mothers - Laura Basley

Celebrating motherhood in its myriad hues.

I first came across Laura Besley's words through a six word challenge called the shortstorysept on Twitter. During the week-long competition, I found myself looking forward to her tweets. I loved how she could make even an "Oh" work in her favour.

When I got down to reviewing this collection, her comfortable grip on the craft quickly came to fore.  As title suggests, The Almost Mothers is a compilation of her pieces on the wonderous, maddening journey called motherhood.  The collection explores its complexity, coloured in emotions and filled with perspective.

Biography: 

Laura Besley writes short (and very short) fiction in the precious moments that her children are asleep. Her fiction has appeared online (Fictive Dream, Spelk, Ellipsis Zine) as well as in print (Flash:The International Short Story magazine) and in various anthologies (Adverbally Challenged, Another Hongkong, Story Cities). The Almost Mothers is her first collection. 

What works:

The Killer First Piece : 
The last line of the very first piece "Mothers Anonymous" felt like being hit in the face and I found myself enjoying it. For me, it set the tone for rest of the collection with punchy pieces clothed in great writing.

Packed with emotion: 
The piece that gave the book its title, "The Almost Mothers" is heartbreaking about a mother's thoughts about her son. "Breaking the Seal" on the hand, tilts the view from the other side. Pain cuts through the cleverly crafted pieces of "That Face" and "The Unmothers" and yet the humour in "Super Mum" and "Hooked" show off Besley's versatility.

Unusual structures:
I also loved how different formats (recipes/contracts/reports) in  "How to Grow Your Baby", "Motherhood Contract", "Down to Earth" were effectively used.
 
Title extends the life of the story: 
Besley's titles offer as much insight as the pieces themselves. The titles "Mothers Anonymous" "Near and Far" "All the Children" take on a whole new meaning once you get to the end. I found myself going back to the beginning after making the connection, enjoying them even more.

In a Nutshell:

All pieces are centred around the theme and yet each piece can be seen as a standalone. An enjoyable collection indeed.

You can easily dip in and out but.... it is hard. The lingering aftereffect forces you to go back for more.

(Disclaimer: I received a copy in return for an honest review)

 

Cure for a Crime - Roopa Farooki

goodreads.com

A  compelling read for parents and kids alike.

I remember watching Roopa Farooki deliver the keynote address at the short story festival to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Asianwriter way back in 2017. I loved her speech so much that a printout is now pinned to my board, a ready reckoner when the writerly confidence hits a nosedive.

Out of her six literary novels, I have read "Flying man" and enjoyed it, only realising later that it was a true story that had been crafted into literary fiction.

I have been following her articles and admire them for her candour and style. And now writing literary novels published in twenty countries, instead staying put in her comfort zone, she went to a medical school and recently emerged as a qualified junior doctor. What an awe inspiring achievement considering she managed this with four children. If that was not enough, her new children's book was announced early this year, a product of her scribblings during rotations. This woman never stops, I thought.

The Gist:

Tulip and Ali live with their medic mother. But life changed ever since their mother's boyfriend Brian Sturgeon moved in. She is now tired all the time and they suspect Brian of drugging her. They are determined to find out what he is up to and find allies in their grandmother Nan-Nan and school friends, Zac and Jay.

What I liked:

• The story gets into action straightaway. There is no preamble about setting and laying out the story. Farooki is aware of her readers and their short attention spans.

• Yet another plus is the acknowledgement in the beginning of the book. My "nearly-10"-year-old daughter read it and was intrigued enough to read the first chapter. She was immediately hooked.

• The twins are familiar with the hospital environnment, medical basics thanks to their mother. I liked the way it works at various levels. On one hand there is a cracking good story that keeps its readers guessing on the other hand there is a bit of education about simple, basic first aid and also scrubbing in (somethign that is in vogue now!). Mini Medix blog is a novel technique without sounding preachy.  

• The voice of the children is brilliant. That was one of the reasons, my daughter got hooked right away. The story also reflects contemporary life in its entirety - children of working mothers and dealing with cancer as a child. I felt it was very nicely handled.

• Plot is paced well, there are twists and turns and although young children are good at inferring (as I learnt from my 10-year-old) Farooki is good at staying one step ahead them.

Overall, a very good read. I enjoyed and passed it on to my daughter wondering if she was old enough to enjoy it. She gave me the book back within few days of bedtime reading.  I now know the reason for her grogginess in the morning.

I wished I had something like this growing up. My daughter and I will be looking forward to more about their twins and their adventures!

Foray into Flash fiction

In June 2019, I got the chance to attend a flash fiction festival in Bristol. Since I was part of the middleway mentoring project, this festival was recommended by my course coordinator.

I was intrigued by the concept - writing 250 or 500 words story. I was amazed to see how many practictioners of flash fiction had turned up. The workshops were amazing, they were well suited to novices like me and also to well versed practitioners who were very subtle about their successes.

Ad hoc fiction also has an ebook where a longlist is published each week and a public vote decides the winner.
Each week there is a prompt word and all pieces must contain the word to be considered. I did a piece on the word "Chill". I was very happy to be included in the longlist for the week of September 25.

https://adhocfiction.com/read/#FlashEbook

A piece that I am really proud and that which won me the first prize in a writing contest.

The task was to write a story based on a painting and this came out naturally without much thinking. I had a great time writing this.

Thanks

https://www.tell-a-tale.com/11409-2/