Book of the Week: April 1 to 7

 In Defence of the Act, by Effie Black

This week I devoured the following books:

• The Knife and the Serpent, by Tim Pratt
• The Ballad of Mary Paulson and Other Sonnets, by TS S. Fulk
• How to Cook and Eat the Rich, by Sunyi Dean
• Little Free Library, by Naomi Kritzer
• In Defence of the Act, Effie Black
• Pippi Longstocking, by Astrid Lindgren
• Lady Susan, by Jane Austen

 

Pippi Longstocking is always a pleasure to read and never fails to bring a smile to my lips and How to Cook and Eat the Rich was an absolute delight (and made me fall in love with Sunyi Dean’s writing), but the title of Book of the Week has to go to In Defence of the Act, by Effie Black.

This is without a doubt one of the best books I've ever read. The subject matter (suic*de) is an incredibly difficult topic to address in any shape or form, but Effie Black manages to talk about it beautifully, with tact, facts, kindness and even humour. It's got to be the saddest funniest book I've read. Or is it the funniest saddest book? The story is captivating (and it includes a lesbian love story) and the writing is simply perfect. It's so light and pleasant that you end up easily reading through a lot more pages in one sitting than you were expecting. It's also the best informal speech I've ever read.

I cannot recommend this book enough!

Book of the Week: March 18 to 24

 The Salt Grows Heavy, by Cassandra Khaw

This week I've devoured the following books:

• The Cybernetic Tea Shop, by Meredith Katz
• Only Human, by Meredith Katz
  
• Smoke Signals, by Meredith Katz
• Flowers for Dead Girls, by Abigail Collins
• The Salt Grows Heavy, by Cassandra Khaw
• The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James
• A Dark and Endless Sea, by Blaine Daigle

Last week was definitely a Meredith Katz week but, out of all of these, The Salt Grows Heavy, by Cassandra Khaw was my favourite (although The Cybernetic Tea Shop, by Meredith Katz was a close second: a charming, light and simple story but full of sentiment; a little cozy novella for those who'd like to read something pleasant and refreshing). 

The Salt Grows Heavy, by Cassandra Khaw is a beautifully eerie, haunting tale. I wish I had the same level of vocabulary as the author to describe just how beautiful her writing is. I know some reviewers have complained about the diversity of words used and how it makes it hard to understand the story. To me, at least, it made me see the portraits painted by her words more clearly. It allowed me to immerse myself in the story and in a sea of poetic descriptions. The story itself is a lot like a tale, which I suppose makes sense since the whole book is based (slightly) on the concept of "The Little Mermaid" and often refers back to it. The story is as solid as the sea from where the mermaids come: not really a conventional story, more a flow of moments that build a picture.

However, a word of warning: it's a very dark tale. There's a lot of violence, gore and general unpleasantness. It's not a kid's tale or a lullaby. It's a manifesto of rage and fury, of passion and devotion, or love and hate. It's a cry against the men who have stolen our voices and ripped out our teeth, as arrogant as they are afraid (and they really are afraid of us). It's a siren song for the daughters, the mothers and the sisters of the world. There is both anger and love in this story. There's a harshness and a sweetness to it.

I really liked this book.

Book of the week March 11th to 17th

 Mammoths at the Gates, by Nghi Vo

 

 

The books I devoured this week:

•  Into the Riverlands, by Nghi Vo
• A Room With a View, by E.M.Forster 
• Mammoths at the Gates, by Nghi Vo
• Caesar: The Life Story of a Panda-Leopard, by Patrick O’Brian
• Automata, by E.T.A. Hoffmann
• The River Knows my Name, by Mortada Gzar

Out of all these books, my favourite was, by far, Mammoths at the Gates, by Nghi Vo, the latest book in the Singing Hills Cycle. We start the book with Cleric Chih returning home to the Singing Hills Abbey, after being away for four years. However, they are shocked to discover that there are war mammoths standing at the gates of the Abbey. What is going on? Will they bring down the walls and flatten everything under their massive round feet? And why are all the neixing acting strange?

It’s an incredibly touching story about loss, mourning, friendship and the stories that make up our lives, the stories that make us “us”. And it makes you wonder: what stories will you be made of when you die? What stories will keep your loved ones company? What tales will come together to form your ghost? 

I cannot recommend this book enough! Even if you don’t read any of the other books in the series, which you don’t have to, they are all independent stories (although you should, because they are all great books!), please read this one. You won’t regret it.

Oh, and for the fans of the series: you’ll learn a lot more about neixins. And will get to enjoy Almost Brilliant's remarks again. Who can resist that?