Piranesi - Susanna Clarke

What is it about: Piranesi lives in the House. Perhaps he always has.
In his notebooks, day after day, he makes a clear and careful record of its wonders: the labyrinth of halls, the thousands upon thousands of statues, the tides that thunder up staircases, the clouds that move in slow procession through the upper halls.
On Tuesdays and Fridays Piranesi sees his friend, the Other. At other times he brings tributes of food and waterlilies to the Dead. But mostly, he is alone.
Messages begin to appear, scratched out in chalk on the pavements. There is someone new in the House. But who are they and what do they want? Are they a friend or do they bring destruction and madness as the Other claims?
Lost texts must be found; secrets must be uncovered. The world that Piranesi thought he knew is becoming strange and dangerous.
The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.

My Thoughts: Oh how much I loved this book!
I've buddy-read this which made it even more of a magical experience.
We were both lost for the first 20 pages, and were trying to figure out what the heck was going on. But once inside the story, I could not put it down. I was scribbling down notes whilst reading as kept having random thoughts and I hoped to give myself some answers before the book gave them to me. Boy I was wrong every single time. 

Piranesi is such a wonderful character and I just felt so sad for him. 
I was scared that it would be one of these books with an open ending, but I was glad to see it came to a conclusion - although I would have liked to see a different ending, more tragic.
But if you haven't read it yet, please do. It will take you through a strange but wonderful journey

In the Mirror, a Peacock Danced - Justine Bothwick

What is it about: Set against the lush backdrop of early 20th-century India, In the Mirror, a Peacock Danced – the debut novel from Justine Bothwick – is the moving story of one woman’s journey back to herself.

Agra, 1938: Eighteen-year-old Florence Hunt has grown up riding horses past the Taj Mahal and chasing peacocks through her backyard under the critical gaze of her father. Increasingly enamoured with his work on the booming railway, Florence yearns to know more, but finds herself brushed away, encouraged only to perform the more ladylike hobbies of singing and entertaining guests. So when a dazzling young engineer walks into her life, she finds herself not only gripped by secret lessons in physics but swept entirely off her feet.

Portsmouth, 1953: Fifteen years later, Florence finds herself pregnant and alone in post-war England – a far cry from her sun-drenched existence in India. Struggling to cope with the bleakness of everyday life in a male-dominated world, Florence is desperate to find the woman she used to be. But when someone from her past reaches out, Florence might just have a chance to start over.

Soaring from the shimmering heights of the big top to the depths of heartbreak, can Florence find the happiness, independence, and passion she once had in order to start living again?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book!
Florence is such an amazing character. You can see that she tries to fit in the norms of a young woman living during the Second World War but she is definitely conflicted and wants to get out of those standards. Loved the journey of self-discovery she went through and how it ended.
The writing was flowing and it was easy to read - only part I struggled with is when the author was going into too many details about trains and engines - which was one of Florence's passions, new for a woman in those years.

Whilst reading this, I was also reading 'Mythos' by Stephen Fry and noticed that the peacock is one of the symbols of Hera, goddess of marriage. Florence always sees and talks about peacocks when talking of/with Jay and I like to think there is a connection there (maybe it's just in my head, but I like to think there's Greek mythology everywhere).

I honestly really liked the background also. It was interesting to see India and the process it went through for independence from England, and how it was seen by both Brits and Indians - even though this is not the main topic of the book, I would have liked to see even more of it.

Love the cover of it as well, I hope there will be a version with sprayed edges! - Publication date, 24th June.

Thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books for the opportunity of reading this advance copy.

Exciting Times - Naoise Dolan

What is it about: When you leave Ireland to spend your parent's money, it's called a gap year. When Ava leaves Ireland to make her own money, she's not sure what to call it, but it involves:

• A badly paid job in Hong Kong, teaching grammar to rich children

• Julian, who likes to spend money on Ava and lets her move into his guest room

• Edith, who Ava meets while Julian is out of town and actually listens to her when she talks

• Money, love, cynicism, unspoken feelings and unlikely connections

Exciting times ensue.

My Thoughts: I wanted to like this book, but I couldn't. It'll be such an unpopular opinion, but it dragged for me. I couldn't get into it. All the characters were unlikable.
Ava is moving to a new country and all she does is spending her time with a man she barely knows who just controls her because he can. Even Ava herself refers to Julian as "her owner" at some point. How sad.
She leaves home for a new adventure, for something exciting, like the title would suggest, but she ends up in this relationship that's not even a relationship.

Then she meets Edith and once again, she is constantly seeking her approval. She has a crush on her and she doesn't know how to deal with it, she starts questioning her sexuality. Probably the Edith's chapters are the most likeable part of this book. Ava becomes a little more human and relatable. Although I still don't like her, she's another person with Edith.

When Julian comes back from London, the old Ava appears again and now she has to choose between Julian and Edith. Needless to say she made a mess out of it.
All of them were such annoying characters.
The writing was flowing at least.
But I'm really sorry to say, this book did not bring me joy.

The 24-Hour Cafe - Libby Page

First book finished in April 😊
Once again, it left me a bit torn.
I did enjoy it, and I enjoyed the concept behind it, but I thought it would be slightly different.
The story is set in Stella's cafe, which is open 24-hours, where the early workers and the night owls go.
Hannah and Mona work at the cafe, they are best friends and have a much bigger dream than working at a cafe.
The book tells the story of some of the clients at the cafe, mostly new clients, as well as Hannah's and Mona's.
I have to admit, I much preferred the stories of all the other people but not Hannah's and Mona's, I felt they were a bit dull and predictable.
I wish there was more of other people's stories.
What I liked, though is that there was a proper ending to the book, so you get to see what happens to everyone at the end. Writing was very fluid and easy to read.
Overall not a bad book, but not in my top 10 either. I have not read The Lido yet, and I have read it was good, so I might still give it a go.

Transcendent Kingdom - Yaa Gyasi

Firstly, I have to admit I bought this book just for the cover. I hadn't read the synopsis. I bought it because it looked pretty and I kept seeing it everywhere.
My thoughts on this book are torn. I enjoyed it but I struggled finishing it. Even though it was only 250 pages - usually a breeze for me! - I had to force myself to read it.
The topics written here are not easy, it's not one of those books you can read just before bed time with all your lights switched off but one. You have to pay attention, to focus, to have all your lights on.
I wouldn't have read it if it wasn't for the cover.
It talks about spirituality, drug addiction, depression and dealing with loss. Some heavy stuff.
I didn't enjoy the type of writing to be honest. It keeps passing from one thing to the other without warning and it is a bit unnerving.
I'm glad I read it, though because I finally read something different.

The Authenticity Project - Clare Pooley

Title: The Authenticity Project

Author: Clare Pooley

Pages: 352

First Published: 2020

My Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Such an uplifting novel that forces 6 strangers to face their own truth. And in doing so, it forces you to do that also. There were parts of the book that were obvious, and other that you didn't see coming.
I only gave 4⭐ simply because there was so much hype around it and I was expecting something even bigger and better. I suppose that's the risk in reading popular books.
Said so, I loved it and I would highly recommend it to everyone.

The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman

Title: The Thursday Murder Club

Author: Richard Osman

Pages: 377

First Published: 2020

What is it about: In a retirement village in Kent, four pensioners love solving murders. They have founded a "Thursday Murder Club" so they can meet and discuss old cases. How do they get hold of them? Don't ask. Their routine is about to change when someone gets killed near them. Someone who has something to do with their peaceful retirement village. They have to solve the murder. With or without the help of the police. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim use all the resources at their disposal in order to find the killer, uncovering many more secrets on the way.

My Thoughts: This was most certainly the best book I could have chosen to start 2021. I enjoyed it thoroughly and I cannot wait for the second one to come out. The writing was clear and concise, went straight to the point, with the first murder only a few pages in. All characters have such a witty sense of humour that made me chuckle all the way through. 

Chapters are short but full of content, which I loved as it gave me time to pause for a second to get my facts straight. I hate when chapters go on and on for pages as I tend to get lost and forget where the chapter actually started in the first place.

Like any modern woman, I am any number of things,
as and when the need arises.
We have to be chameleons, don't we?

This was the first book in a very long time, in which I could not predict the ending. I had my suspicions along the way, some were right in part, some were completely wrong, but I most certainly did not expect to end the way it did.

All of the characters have a background story, so no one was just put there by chance, they all had a purpose in the storyline, something that is not always expected in a book. 

I only knew Richard Osman from telly - even though I don't think I actually ever watched an entire episode of his program, but I do really like him as a writer and cannot wait to read his next book.

Ciao Ciao ♥

V.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman

Title: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Author: Gail Honeyman
Pages: 390
First Published: 2018
What is it about: Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend.
Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled existence. Except, sometimes, everything...

My Thoughts: I am a bit behind time with this book. When everyone was reading it when it first came out, I did not understand what the fuss was all about. So, when I saw a copy of the book in a charity shop, I decided to pick it up.
I have to admit, when I started it, it was so strange that I almost put it down. I powered through a few more pages and I was hooked!

Eleanor is a very strange woman. She has no clue how to interact with other people, resulting in extremely embarrassing and extremely funny at the same time.

Something has happened in her past and she doesn't talk about it. She has locked it far away in her mind, but this is affecting her reality.
She experience love for the first time and it's like watching teenagers with their first crush.

"Well, there was a man that I took a bit of a liking to, a little

crush, you might say, and I got slightly carried away, and then I

realised that, actually, I'd been a bit silly. We weren't going to be

together. And he - well, it turned out that he wasn't even right 

for me anyway. He wasn't the man I thought he was. I felt sad

about that, and I felt extremely stupid for getting it all so wrong. 

That's all it was..."

- - - - - SPOILER ALERT beyond this line - - - - -

But the book is more than this. There is a story of abuse and murder. Eleanor is this way because of her mother. She is very much conditioned to what she thinks of her, even after all this time. Reading the book, I found myself thinking, well, why don't you just stop talking to her; she's not good for you, you can clearly do better. And yet, Eleanor, never missed her weekly call with "Mommy", as she calls her.
I definitely don't want to spoil the whole book here; but this story is funny and it makes you think at the same time. For how much a person thinks their strong on their own, we all need help, we all need love.
I am guilty of this myself. I always think that I am a strong independent woman, that I don't need anyone in my life but myself. And for how much I still believe this, there are moments in which a simple phone call or a text from my family means more than anything in the world.
I am blessed to have such amazing family and friends that I can count on for anything. Good and bad things.
This book makes you think.
This book made me think.
If anyone needs help, I invite them to seek it. Whether in a family member, in a friend or in a stranger - sometimes it's easier - but do not bottle up your feelings.
Life is beautiful and everyone deserves to live it in full.

Ciao Ciao,
V.