> IT by Stephen King
> Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite. This is a library book
> Promise (Soul Savers 1) by Kristie Cook (e book)
BOOK REVIEW: INSOMNIA BY STEPHEN KING
GENERAL INFORMATION
TITLE: INSOMNIA
AUTHOR: STEPHEN KING
PAGES: 760
PUBLISHER: NEW ENGLISH LIBRARY
YEAR: 1994
GENRE: HORROR FICTION
COVER TYPE: PAPER BACK
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insomnia_(novel)
BLURB FROM THE COVER
You’ll lose a lot of sleep.
Ralph does. At first he starts waking up earlier and earlier. Then the hallucinations start – the colours, shapes and strange auras. Not to mention the bald doctors who always turn up at the scene of a death.
That’s when Ralph begins to lose a lot more than sleep. When he begins to understand why his hitherto, mild-mannered friend, Ed, is getting out of control – dangerously so. And why his hometown is about to become the new Armageddon.
An evil of unimaginable proportions has found a way in and Ralph has only one chance to beat it. The stakes are high – they always are when you’re playing for human souls. With a joker in the pack – a bald one with a rusty scalpel.
THE OPENING LINE
No one – least of all Dr Litchfield – came right out and told Ralph Roberts that his wife was going to die, but there came a time when Ralph understood without needing to be told.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Insomnia is one of my favourite King novels. The copy I have is coming apart at the seams. Insomnia is one of King’s novels that show off the impressive depth of his imagination in a way that ‘tame’ novels like Gerald’s Game simply can’t. Insomnia is one of the reasons why King became and remains one of my favourite writers.
REVIEW
In Insomnia, King offers us his version of Greek mythology. Well one part of it anyway. The bald doctors Ralph and later Lois start to see everywhere are Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos, clearly inspired by the three sisters of fate or the Moirai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moirai). This is one of my favourite things about Insomnia. I’m a huge fan of Greek mythology. I love the God of War videogames solely because they’re based around these myths. I’ve written my own stories involving the sister of fate. I like the way King interprets the myth in Insomnia.
Insomnia is set in Derry, Maine. This is a fictional town King uses several times in his fiction, most notably in IT. Derry is my favourite fictional place. One of my favourite things about Insomnia is that it’s set in Derry. It was like talking a walk down the streets of a place I love with an old, dear friend. Derry felt so real I was almost there.
Many of King’s novels are linked to The Dark Tower series. Insomnia is one of the ones with the clearest links. Ralph’s friend Ed has fallen under the influence of The Crimson King who plays a major role in The Dark Tower. Ralph and Lois are able to see different planes of reality thanks to the hallucinations brought on by insomnia and are able to sense the dark tower and the different levels of reality. Ed intends to be a kamikaze pilot and crash a plane into the civic centre to kill abortionist Susan Day. However, The Crimson King wants him to do this to kill a young boy called Patrick Danville, the artist who features prominently in the final Dark Tower novel. I love it when King does this.
King’s characterisation and writing style is spot on in Insomnia. He ticks all the boxes.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I love Insomnia. It’s an amazing book that combines Greek mythology and King’s Dark Tower world to create something quite stunning and unique. Oh and it’s set in Derry, a place where bad shit happens. What’s not to love?
RATING
EBOOK REVIEW: BESIDE THE ROSE PETAL BEACH BY DOROTHY KOOMSON
GENERAL INFORMATION
TITLE: BESIDE THE ROSE PETAL BEACH
AUTHOR: DOROTHY KOOMSON
PAGES: 50
PUBLISHER: WWW.KOBO.COM
YEAR: 2012
GENRE: CRIME FICTION
COVER TYPE: E BOOK
This was downloaded as a free e-book via the second link above.
BLURB FROM THE COVER
Beside The Rose Petal Beach is an ebook accompaniment to Dorothy Koomson’s bestselling novel The Rose Petal Beach, which has been shortlisted for a National Book Award 2012. In The Rose Petal Beach Tami Challey’s husband, Scott, is arrested for a terrible crime in front of her and their two children. When Tami finds out whom Scott’s accuser is, we can only watch as her whole life starts to fall apart. We see many of the events of The Rose Petal Beach through Tami’s eyes, but Beside The Rose Petal Beach will give you another perspective on the story. You’ll see how one of the minor – but important – characters in the book experiences some of the key scenes… And how he is slowly being changed by spending time with the Tami and the others. You don’t need to have already read The Rose Petal Beach to enjoy Beside The Rose Petal Beach, but if you have, it’ll hopefully add another dimension to your understanding of the book.
THE OPENING LINE
‘What are you doing here?’ he asks, leading the way down the narrow, carpeted corridor to the kitchen.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Beside The Rose Petal Beach is an ebook accompaniment to Koomson’s novel The Rose Petal Beach I recently read and reviewed. I downloaded the ebook a while ago and decided it would be a good time to read it since I’d recently read The Rose Petal Beach. Koomson’s gives us some chat about creating the ebook because she wanted to explore one of the secondary characters more fully, a 17 page story featuring this character and the first two chapters of The Rose Petal Beach.
REVIEW
I like it when author’s give little insights into their work, the writing process and their inspiration. I find it fascinating. I love On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King for this reason. I like the first few pages when Koomson discusses writing and publishing The Rose Petal Beach and her reasons for writing Beside The Rose Petal Beach.
Beside The Rose Petal Beach itself was a bit of a disappointment. It’s only 17 pages long and features Wade, one of the police officers from The Rose Petal Beach who arrests Scott in the opening chapter and is involved in the subsequent murder investigation. Wade reveals to his sister that he’s fallen in love with Tamia. This could easily have been a chapter from The Rose Petal Beach. I don’t quite think Koomson really gives us the perspective of a secondary character or a different slant on the novel. I expected something with a bit more weight.
Koomson includes the first two chapters of The Rose Petal Beach. This is sort of wasted because I recently read the full novel. It would have been better if Wade’s story had been a bit longer.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Beside The Rose Petal Beach feels like a bit of a con and the advertising implies the reader is getting a lot more. A free ebook accompaniment sounds a bit weightier than an additional chapter and a free sample of The Rose Petal Beach. On a plus side it was free.
RATING
E-BOOK REVIEW: THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN BY MARK TWAIN
GENERAL INFORMATION
TITLE: THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN
AUTHOR: MARK TWAIN
PAGES: 336
PUBLISHER: WWW.KOBO.COM
YEAR: 1884
GENRE: GENERAL FICTION
COVER TYPE: E BOOK
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventures_of_Huckleberry_Finn
www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Adventures-Of-Huckleberry-Finn/book-p-waEufm4UeGlbnIa7VU-A/page1.html
This was downloaded as a free e-book via the second link above.
BLURB FROM THE COVER
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel by Mark Twain, first published in England in December 1884 and in the United States in February 1885. Commonly named among the Great American Novels, the work is among the first in major American literature to be written in the vernacular, characterized by local colour regionalism. It is told in the first person by Huckleberry “Huck” Finn, a friend of Tom Sawyer and narrator of two other Twain novels (Tom Sawyer Abroad and Tom Sawyer, Detective). It is a direct sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
THE OPENING LINE
You don’t know about me without you have read a book by the name THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER, but that ain’t no matter.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
I enjoyed The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I’ve read better but I’ve read a lot worse. It’s one of those classics it’s sort of an obligation to read. I wouldn’t rush out and pay for a copy but it’s acceptable to download a free one from www.kobo.com. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been adapted for the screen many times. I’m fairly certain I’ve seen at least one version.
REVIEW
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is written in the first person and narrated by Huckleberry ‘Huck’ Finn. Twain uses vernacular English throughout the novel. I’m not usually a fan of this style of writing but Twain makes it work. I felt the use of vernacular English did a great job of creating Huck’s characterisation. I also think it gave The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn an authentic, period feel and help to create a sense of place as well. I didn’t have an issue with Twain’s use of vernacular English. I understood every word.
I was enchanted by the first section of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, set in Missouri. Huck is living under the care of two elderly women called Widow Douglas and her sister Miss Watson who are attempting to civilise him and teach him religion. He’s about fourteen and a bit simple-minded. A lot of chapters in this section made me laugh particularly when Huck joins up with Tom Sawyer and his gang of robbers. Their plans to kidnap someone and hold them to ransom were hilarious. I felt sorry for Huck when his shitless father turns up. I cheered when Huck ‘fakes’ his death and goes on the run.
I thought the characterisation was very good in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Huck is very real throughout the novel. Part of this is because he’s the first person narrator and part of it Twain pulls off with his use of vernacular English. The other main character is Jim, a black slave Huck escapes his father and goes on the run. Jim’s characterisation comes through Huck’s eyes and I think Twain pulls it off.
I’ve read a lot of criticism online of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn citing Twain’s use of the word ‘nigger’ and Jim being characterised as a sort of cartoon buffoon. I can’t agree with the criticism. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is written in 1884 and set sometime between 1835 and 1845. The use of the word ‘nigger’ to describe slaves like Jim is probably quite realistic. Huck is no great thinker and is a bit of simpleton. His impression of Jim is realistic.
Jim and Huck set off on a raft and head for Cairo in Illinois, a free state where Jim intends to buy his enslaved family’s freedom. They meet two con men on their travels who try to pass themselves off as a duke and a king. This leads to much hilarity.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel of its time. Twin does a good job exploring the themes of racism and identity. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a satirical look at 19th century social climate. I think it’s worth a read if only to get a glimpse of a past that no longer exists.
RATING
CURRENT READING LIST
> Insomnia by Stephen King
> Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite. This is a library book
> The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (e book)
BOOK REVIEW: WHY BE HAPPY WHEN YOU COULD BE NORMAL? BY JEANETTE WINTERSON
GENERAL INFORMATION
TITLE: WHY BE HAPPY WHEN YOU COULD BE NORMAL?
AUTHOR: JEANETTE WINTERSON
PAGES: 230
PUBLISHER: VINTAGE BOOKS
YEAR: 2011
GENRE: MEMOIR
COVER TYPE: PAPER BACK
www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Happy-When-Could-Normal/dp/009955609X
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson is my book group read this month.
BLURB FROM THE COVER
In 1985 Jeanette Winterson’s first novel, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit was published. It was Jeanette’s version of the story of a terraced house in Accrington, an adopted child, and the thwarted giantess Mrs Winterson. It was a cover story, a painful past written over and repainted. It was a story of survival.
This book is that story’s silent twin. It is full of hurt and humour and a fierce love of life. It is about the pursuit of happiness, about lessons in love, the search for a mother and a journey into madness and out again. It is generous, honest and true.
THE OPENING LINE
WHEN MY MOTHER WAS ANGRY with me, which was often, she said, ‘The Devil led us to the wrong crib.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
I thought Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? was great. It was sad, beautiful, moving and touching in equal amounts. Winterson reduced me to tears several times. Her difficult life as the adopted child of the formidable Mrs Winterson is the polar opposite of my own experiences so my heart bled for her.
REVIEW
I really like the way Winterson structures Why Be Normal When You Could Be Happy? The memoir doesn’t have a linear or very chronological structure. Each chapter deals with the past and present effortlessly. I usually hate non-linear narratives. I think it works well because Why Be Normal When You Could Be Happy? is a memoir and the structure sort of echoes the way we remember our past. When we think of the past we don’t think A happened then B happened then C happened. Our memories tend to loop back and forth and wrap around themselves.
Winterson is a good writer. I read her first novel, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit years ago and really enjoyed it. Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit is the fictional version of Why Be Normal When You Could Be Happy?. I’ve not read anything else by Winterson. I liked her style. I like the way she says things. She brought the events of her past in Why Be Normal When You Could Be Happy? to memorable life. I have a friend who’s a big reader as well and loathes Winterson. I haven’t read any of her normal fiction but I might have to give her other work a shot. There’s something I really liked about the way she told her story in Why Be Normal When You Could Be Happy?
I felt I could relate to some of what Winterson went through in Why Be Normal When You Could Be Happy? Her struggles with her sexuality when she was a teenager, the pain of realising she was a lesbian and her struggles to let herself be happy, fall in love and make a relationship work. I have experienced all of these things myself. At times I felt Winterson was telling part of my own story and this reduced me to tears. It’s hard not to enjoy something you’re reading when you see echoes of your own life and experiences within the pages.
The saddest part of Why Be Normal When You Could Be Happy? is when Winterson tracks down her birth mother. Winterson goes into great detail about how frustrating and painful this process was. They meet. Her birth mother implies she want to welcome Winterson into her family. Winterson doesn’t want this. She’s glad she was wanted and her birth mother is safe but feels no biological connection to her. There is now wow moment (wow, this is my mother). They end up arguing about Mrs Winterson. Her birth mother makes some nasty remarks about her and Winterson becomes defensive. In her words ‘she was a monster but she was my monster’. This broke my heart a little. I’ve seen reunions between biological parents and children and TV and they always seemed to be joyous. I expected Winterson to experience something similar. I felt really sad when I read these chapters.
Mrs Winterson is a nasty person. She reminded me a little of Carrie White’s mother in Carrie by Stephen King. I mean that as a complement. Her Pentecostal religion bordered on mania. She never raised a hand to Winterson but instructed Mr Winterson how and when to beat her. Winterson details how Mrs Winterson used to lock her in the coal bunker as a punishment and lock her out of the house. Winterson is fifteen when she has a physical relationship with another girl called Helen. Mrs Winterson forces the local priest to perform an exorcism on her because she has demons inside her. At one point the priest has an erection and almost rapes her, telling her it will be better than a girl. This horrified me.
I think the title is great. Why Be Normal When You Could Be Happy? is perfect. Mrs Winterson actually says this at one point when Winterson discusses her relationship with Helen. She tells Mrs Winterson Helena makes her happy. Mrs Winterson says ‘why be happy when you could be normal?’ to her.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Why Be Normal When You Could Be Happy? is great. Winterson had a terrible childhood and youth at the hands of the abusive and slightly fanatical Mrs Winterson. This led to her having issues with her sexuality and struggling to make a relationship work. I was very moved by Why Be Normal When You Could Be Happy?
RATING
CURRENT READING LIST
> Insomnia by Stephen King
> Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite. This is a library book
> Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson. This is my book club read this month
> The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (e book)
