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