Sharp Objects

An exceptional debut novel. Dark, compelling, macabre, sad, and very well written. The story revolves around Camille, a ‘cub’ reporter who returns to her family home to cover the story of the murder of two children in the town. As she talks to various members of the local population she is also reliving her own childhood and finally begins to analyse and face its horrors. This is a story of mother and daughter relationships at there most destructive and the consequences through the generations.

Beneath the Skin

This ‘author’ is apparently a husband and wife team writing together. I’m not sure how they organize this, but for me, this book is not as successful as their other novels. The story is told in the first person by three women who are hunted down by a serial killer – how then is it possible for them to relate their stories?  This is meant to be a psychological thriller – I remained decidedly ‘unthrilled’ and was irritated by the plot and the way it was constructed. There was no opportunity to warm to any of the characters and the ending was, to my mind, unsatisfying. 

Testament of Youth

This is a long book that repays every effort that is put into reading it. Vera Brittain’s true story is bold, touching, tragic and extraordinary. The story pivots around her experiences in the First World War, contrasting the time before with what came after as she recounts lives that were lost and those, including her own, that were changed so profoundly forever. It is a love story, a political story, a passionate story, a story of loss and a story that needs to be retold to as many people as possible about the futility of conflict.

Back Again

This blog needs resurrecting and reviews should follow shortly!