The Turn Of The Screw, The Midnight Library, Skyward, Fables, Release, American Vampire, The Girls I've Been

Its been a very good week for reading. I've been on a good roll with very few disappointing reads. Feeling very blessed.

The Turn Of The Screw by Henry James

(Gothic Horror)

I'll be honest I rarely find horror fiction scary and this is no exception. However I do absolutely love this genre of storytelling . I find non-fiction or books that resemble reality far more chilling because the events within those can actually happen whereas, as much as I love reading about them I don't feel the same threat with ghosts or vampires and other such creations. 

The scariest thing about The Turn Of The Screw for me is not the apparitions but the children. They are the creepy thing that and the governesses decent into a madness trying to understand what the hell is happening. Its one of those stories where your not actually sure who or what your meant to fear and that's what makes it what it is. Its a thriller and a paranormal mystery all rolled into one but no real resolution comes and your still left pondering different unanswered questions.

5/5

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

(Science fiction/ Fantasy)

If I could recommend a book to someone suffering with thier Mental Health this would be it. This book is almost like a therapy session in of itself (still get therapy if you need it). As someone who has and does suffer with mental illness I'm so glad I read this book.

Lately the theory of Quantum realms keeps coming up in things I've been reading and I'm a big believer in Serendipity especially when it comes to books and I think this book is needed now more that ever. Especially now that we are living in such uncertainty with so many suffering with situational depression and anxiety because of the pandemic. I don't think any of us forsaw this time last year just what was going to happen and how long it would be going on. While many have adapted, many more are struggling and it's very understandable to be honest.

Nora Seed has had a hard time of it. Her father died when she was young, she decides to turn down a music career because of panic attacks, then her mother dies. Fast forward to the day she tries to end it all she has a really tough run of things and decides enough is enough but as she hangs between life and death she enters the midnight library and gets the chance to look at her Book of Regrets and slip into alternative realities where she became a successful musician, moved to Australia, didn't give up swimming etc.....

This book has many good lessons within it and I definitely came out of it better off. Our lives are full of potential and with the right perspective and some hope who knows what kind of possible future we might have.

5/5

 

Skyward Volume 1

( Graphic Novel)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like living with a lot less gravity? If the answer is Yes, well then Skyward is probably for you.

One day, gravity on Earth suddenly became a fraction of what it is now. Chaos insued and many people died including Willa Flowers mother. Twenty years after G-day Willas father is agoraphobic from the trauma of what is now known as G-day. Willa however thrives in this new world and as she doesn't remember anything different she thinks it's pretty awesome. She can fly through the air and that's fairly cool to be honest. There are downsides like you can also die if you jump too high but Willa figures it's as simple as just not jumping too high. Her Dad unbeknownst to her has a secret plan to bring gravity back to the world but it is risky as thier are many people profiting from the consequences of G-day.

I absolutely loved everything about this graphic. The concept is well thought out and the whole story is well executed. I can't wait to read more.

5/5

Release by Patrick Ness

(Contemporary)

Yet another amazing book by Patrick Ness. He is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. 

This book follows the story of Adam Thorn a ministers son whos very existence is plagued by homomisia. This was a hard one to read. Your family are ment to love you no matter what but sadly for many in the LGBTQ+ Community that just isn't the case. 

Families can and do try to put conditions on love and for all the talk about sin from people who use the Bible as a reason for thier vile attitudes and belief systems it sure feels to me like the real sin should be the hatred and ugliness of thier holier than thou unwarranted disgust. 

Is it any wonder many LGTBQ+ people leave thier blood relations behind and forge a new more tolerant and accepting family of thier own in adulthood. This book also tackles the important topics of sexual assault and victim blaming.

There was also a supernatural/ magical realism aspect equally woven throughout the book that involves the murder of a young woman and her spirit seeking vengeance for what has happened to her.

5/5

Fables Legends In Exile

(Graphic Novel)

For those of you who don't know me that well I absolutely love Folklore, Mythology and Fairytales. My ideal profession would be a Professor Of Folklore and Occult Studies. Maybe someday who knows. 

I had high hopes for Fables as I had heard good things and know it's beloved by many but I sadly just wasn't feeling it. So unfortunately it earned let down of the week status. I really wanted to love it but instead I found it a bit boring.

3/5

American Vampire Volume 1

(Graphic Novel)

Probably one of the best vampire stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It was clever, intriguing, fairly gorey and visually stunning.

The book is set partly in 1920s and partly in America's Wild West. One aspect follows Pearl, a young woman living in Los Angeles working three jobs including one in the film industry. She is brutally tortured and abused by a gang of powerful European vampires and then unbeknownst to them turned into a vampire by an enemy vampire called Skinner Sweet. Pearl sets out on a path of righteous revenge against these monsters who treated her so horrifically.

In the other aspect of the story we get Skinner Sweets origin story which is just wow. Let's just say this guy is no kitten. 

5/5

The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe

(YA)

I came across this one on Instagram and just couldn't help myself. 

Nora O'Malley is not your typical teenage girl. She was raised by a Con Artist for a mother and has lived as many different people.

When her mother falls for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulls the ultimate con and manages to escape with the help of her older sister. 

For five years Nora has been going to therapy and trying to live a normal existence. The morning after a charity fundraiser Nora, her ex boyfriend and her new girlfriend go to deposit the money at a bank only to accidentally get caught up in a heist.

Nora has to revisit all the girls she's been before in order to have any chance of survival.

I learned some exciting news about this wonderful book and I'm absolutely thrilled to say that The Girls I've Been is in pre-production to be adapted into a movie starring the wonderful Millie Bobbie Brown. I don't think they could have picked anyone better to be Nora and I'm really looking forward to it.

4/5