The Letters | Review

I have recently been asked to review a new book by the author Ella Drayton. The Letters is a very fast-paced novel about Brodie Barrett, a widowed single mother of a 10 year old girl and a homicide detective for the Birmingham Police Department. Everything seems fine in her world until her ex-fiance, Keaton Maddox, walks back into her life; finding herself caught between the demands of her job, devotion to her daughter, the desire for romance to once again be an essential part of her life.

She is ready to start a new life with Keaton but he's also got a pregnant girlfriend working at his restaurant. Things at work start heating up for Brodie when someone decides to send her love letters at work. These aren't your ordinary love letters. These letters leave clues for Brodie to find bodies of her admirer's victims.

The book was chilling, but a the same time relatable and hilarious. Despite a lot of typos and missing words, I enjoyed the book- even though it’s not one I would normally pick up in store. The book clearly needs a re-edit, but the story, nevertheless, remains amusing throughout.

Readers will appreciate that the story remains focused on the clues, the characters have their individual strengths and weaknesses and the regional dialog is authentic throughout, best of all- the delightful sarcasm. As often happens when the truth is hidden in plain sight, the identity of the killer came as a surprise, without spoiling, it was very clever. All in all this was an enjoyable read, even though it’s not a genre I dabble in often.

The Letters on Amazon

The Letters on Goodreads

Ella Drayton

Top 20 Books | The Countdown

This week I am going to commence something I’ve wanted to start for a withstanding amount of time. I love to read books, anyone who knows me will know that’s fact; as I often walk around reading (to the annoyance of my friends). However sometimes I find it hard to find books with plots that catch my eye, as I am fond of so many different genres. Subsequently, I spend a lot of time on sites such as goodreads.com and amazon; looking for suggestions.

So, as a guide to all of you - like me - scouring the internet for best reads and recommendations, I am going to compress my whole collection into a countdown of my top 20 books, as a judgement on the text. Critically acclaimed books always draw me in because they must be well reviewed for a reason, on the other hand, there may be books popping up which are not so well known and agreed on. 

If you have similar favourites, further interest or outright disapproval of my choices leave a comment and I’ll be happy to respond. I hope this advice will compel to immerse readers into some of my personally best beloved books. Stay tuned.

Brave New World | Review

Brave New World is a classic - a dystopian novel similar in theme to George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. As Nineteen Eighty-Four is my favourite book of all time I decided to look further into the genre and explore different texts similar. 
I was not disappointed. 

Far in the future, the World Controllers have created the ideal society. Through clever use of genetic engineering, brainwashing and recreational sex and drugs, all its members are happy consumers. Bernard Marx seems alone harbouring an ill-defined longing to break free. A visit to one of the few remaining Savage Reservations, where the old, imperfect life still continues, may be the cure for his 

distress…

Brave New World revolves around the idea of totalitarianism and is set in a futuristic world where a combination of science and pleasure form a rather feudalistic society. This idea of totalitarianism is achieved through test tube babies, and hypnotism, resulting in a pre-ordained caste system consisting of intelligent humans suited to the highest positions and conversely, serf-like beings genetically programmed to carry out menial works.

In this world of Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas and the unfortunate Epsilons, exists drug-induced happiness, caused by what is known as soma. Here, "everyone belongs to everyone else" emphasising the system of forced promiscuity, brainwashed into the people from the moment of birth. At the core of this book is the horrific idea of eugenics and despite being written several decades ago, its message remains valid for our generation.

The sheer idea of the book is enough to call it a classic: brilliant notions,well thought-out perceptions on society- amazing. However, the characters aren’t as well developed as I expected from a modern classic. Although some characters are interesting, mostly John, who Remembering Shakespeare, says: "You got rid of them. Yes, that's just like you. Getting rid of everything unpleasant instead of learning to put up with it. Whether 'tis better in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them... But you don't do either.”

Subsequently, addressing the point: getting rid of all of the most unpleasant things, the society also rid itself of many of the true pleasures in life. There's no real passion.

Far From The Madding Crowd | Review

With the upcoming adaption of ‘Far from the madding crowd’ coming up I thought I would review the book. The novel is Thomas Hardy’s fourth book, published in 1874; the first I have delved into. With it being extremely critically acclaimed I thought I would have to read one sooner or later and this was the plot that drew my attention like a moth to a flame. 

It is based around the love life of the female protagonist ‘Bathsheba Everdene', a proud beauty who has a fair share of suitors. Three to name. Gabriel Oak is the first of these in which we meet, he is a young Shepard who owns a sheep farm with frugal savings and a loan. He comes to meet the heroine whilst she is living with her aunt, Mrs Hurst. From there he falls madly in love with her. Bathsheba comes to like Gabriel well enough, and even saves his life once, but when he makes her an unadorned offer of marriage, she refuses; she values her independence too much and him too little. Gabriel's blunt protestations only serve to drive her to haughtiness. After a few days, she moves to Weatherbury, a village some miles off.

Then we meet the next of three, the lonely and ageing, William Boldwood. His obsession with Bathsheba starts with glances and a joking valentine. Featuring the words ‘marry me’, Bathsheba sends it, Boldwood, not realising it is a jest valentine becomes bewitched by her and too proposes marriage. She toys with the idea as he is a known eligible bachelor and would give her a good reputation but doesn't confirm. At this point Bathsheba’s sheep are falling and she calls for Gabriel to help, as he is the only one who knows how.

Little after Gabriel comes to Weatherbury him and Bathsheba become good friends. Then the third of the three admirers arises. Troy. Sargent Troy turns up to the village and meets Bathsheba, upon arrival Bathsheba thinks little of him, but this dislike turns into infatuation and she is drawn to his swordsmanship and masculinity. 

Even though I, personally, am not a great lover of ‘love novels’ this is one, I would take great pleasure in reading again. As my first Hardy book, I was impressed with my choice, as it didn't fail to keep me going back to read more and more. Hooked. The main characters involved offered an array of differentiation, bringing courage, jealousy and greed as some of many different features. However, I don't think the character 'Bathsheba' offers enough credibility. This notion arises because she is seen as a strong, independent woman; the way that at the beginning of the novel, she is penniless, but she quickly inherits and learns to run a farm in Weatherbury, where most of the novel takes place- is one of the reasons for this labelling . Although she is perceived to be tenacious in mind she also has a flaw of vanity. This is a direct opposite of the strengthening quality she claims to have. This defect can be most noted when she falls for Troy, over the kinder Gabriel and the more substantial William. In a way she could be related to the more modern ‘Katniss Everdene’, who possesses the same last name, share of suitors and a strong level head.

Aside from the characters created, the sheer plot line and interlocking of events (which I won't reveal for fear of spoiling) enable this novel to surpass many others like it. I would advise lovers of Victorian novels, or people who are skeptical and thinking of reading some of this genre, to indulge in the fictional haven that is 'Far from the madding crowd'. 

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The Spy Who Came In From The Cold | Review

The spy who came in from the cold was written by John Le Carré and published in 1963. The book falls into the genre of a thriller of the spy persuasion, I would say.  All the same it is interesting to read for historical purposes, as it addresses both sides of the cold war, giving insight into spy morality and cynicism.

I first picked up this book because I was interested by the author; being a former worker for MI6 and MI5 himself, it would be a truthful representation of the world of espionage. This was my first spy novel to date, and certainly not my last. I enjoyed the ever-changing plot and the human conscience it addresses. 

One of the things most noteworthy about this book is the detailed plot; which is the basis of any good book. It follows a washed up British spy ‘Alec Lemas’, who is called in and asked to falsely defect in order to frame the infamous ‘Mundt’. However he falls in love with a naive Communist and suspects he is in a bigger double cross in the spy world. Although the plot is quite confusing, so if you aren’t an avid reader, I wouldn't recommend.

Mundt, himself is one of the most complex and paramount characters, as he is one of the ‘big men’ in the Albteilung- one of Germany’s intelligence agencies. His ultimate assignment is to protect the Communist East Germany, from the West. The fact that he is an ex-nazi makes his ambitions clear and unwavering throughout- creating a head to be reckoned with.

Lemas, the main character works for ‘The Circus’, which is a fictional representation of MI6. He is prideful, and apart from society- in the way he acts towards people. Furthermore he is also self-destructive and isolated, as he is seen as a drunk and ‘washout’ by his colleagues.

Control - the head of the circus - calls in Alec tell him about the other spies who have been brutally murdered by Mundt. From there they come to think of a plan of action, this consists of supplying Fiedler, Mundt's deputy and an intelligent advocate of Communism, with evidence that Mundt is a double agent, actually working for the British Intelligence in order for Alec to ‘come back in from the cold’.

As the plan unravels the clear morals of the spies are uncovered, as not seem to have a sense of right and wrong- as a spy should. 

I won’t tell anymore, or spoil it in anyway, but I will say that I highly recommend it. The book offers more clarity and closure than most books I’ve read, as the end really is the end, as horrifying and abrupt it is. In conclusion I would rate this book 9/10, for the sublime plot and lack of ‘goodies and baddies’; making it a more interesting and well thought out book. The work - I would say - definitely makes it into my top 50 and I suggest picking it up as well.

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