Amalia Gkavea

‘'I am not dead.''

Goodness me! How can I write a coherent (and non-spoilery) review on a book that has stayed with me, haunting me (no pun intended) ever since I started reading? A novel that has definitely made it to my personal Top-10? A story that is haunting and ghostly, tragic, raw, darkly beautiful? The Silent Companions was everything I thought it would be and more. So much more than a ghost story, so much more than Historical Fiction. It is made from the finest blend of the two genres, it is perfect. In my opinion, at least.

Elsie, a young widow, travels to her late husband's family estate in the 1860s. With her husband's cousin, Sarah, as her sole companion, she finds an almost dilapidated dwelling, with stern, soulless servants that reflect the coldness of the entire village. As if that wasn't enough, Elsie is expecting her first child and the nursery is the most mysterious room of the house compared only to the garrett that must remain locked. Sarah finds a diary that transports us to the 1630s, a turbulent era when the terror of rebellion equalled the terror of Witchcraft. The prejudices against gypsies, against the invalids, against women who have a special understanding of Nature. Witches, ghosts, curses and troubled minds. A tapestry directed and supervised by the Silent Companions. But what exactly are these creepy wooden figures?

The Silent Companions or, Dummy Boards, originated in the early 17th century and were popular until the end of the 19th century. They were oil-painted wooden figures that gave the impression of three-dimensional carvings. The reasons of their creation are still unclear, as they usually resembled the occupants of the particular estate. The main explanation is that these figures made an empty house looked as if it was still inhabited so potential burglars and looters were discouraged. Within the context of Purcell's book, the wooden figures become one of the most disturbing presences in Gothic Fiction.

‘'No one was truly alone. Not ever, not in this house.''

As should be the case in every ghost story that respects itself, the house becomes a character and the setting of a frightening battle. Purcell communicates the atmosphere in such a magnificent way...The description of Elsie's journey to the estate in the second chapter is so beautiful, haunting, mysterious. It sets the stage for the drama that is to follow and creates images in the reader's mind that speak of darkness and death. The word ‘death' is repeated quite a few times. What could be more foreboding? There are whispers of strange deaths and the people of the village are frightening, unwilling to work for Elsie. And all of a sudden, everything darkens and darkens. The blood toil is unstoppable once it begins and its roots lie in the tragedy of an unfortunate family.

An exciting story needs equally exciting characters and The Silent Companions has them in abundance. Elsie and Anna are the main focus, two brave women whose fate is strangely sealed by unknown forces. I loved Elsie. She absolutely rules. She tells it like it is to everyone who fail to know their proper place, like the awful Mabel and the disgusting Mrs Holt. I also felt for Anna. For me, she was the most tragic character of the novel. Hetta, Josiah, Sarah, Jolyon...There's not a single character that may be considered a filler or unnecessary.

‘'I need to feel the flames.''

Purcell took many tropes of Gothic Fiction and wove them into a masterpiece. There are no insubstantial spirits, but hauntings made of wood, as alive as you and me. What should be innocent and kind becomes a demon, an instrument of utter evil. There is no ‘'in-your-face'' horror that would seem unrealistic but an underlying mixture of uneasiness, an eerie, foreboding, claustrophobic feeling that escalates as the story progresses. There were certain scenes I will never forget. These are only a few of the things that make The Silent Companions such a unique, outstanding novel. And the end....well, it is perfect. I mean, it reaches the levels of perfection of Oliver Bierhoff and Ante Rebić. (If you don't know them, Google them. Thank me later:) )

‘'You have written of these ‘'companions'' as you call them. You say you were afraid of them. But do you know what really scares us? It is not things that go bump - or even hiss- in the night. Our fears are much closer than that. We are afraid of the things inside us.''

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

‘'Love as the night-haunter, the blood-hunter, the body's rack, antagonist of conscience. Love as the space between utility and despair. Love as the enemy of ease.''

The Vintage Minis series is a wonderful new project by Penguin. Taken from some of the greatest writers ever, short extracts from novels, stories and essays compose a slim volume dedicated to the themes that turn Literature into a magnificent universe, that drive stories forth, reflecting our lives and feelings. Freedom, Death, Liberty, Despair, Race, Desire, Love, Motherhood...Out of 30 volumes that contain small treasures of wisdom on the experiences that make us humans, I chose to start with Love by Jeanette Winterson. I don't think any other writer understands and communicates this feeling with such complexity, spirituality and clarity like Winterson.

I came face-to-face with a major surprise here. I thought this was going to be a collection of extracts on the themes of Love taken from Winterson's most acclaimed works. Instead, I found myself on an even more wonderful journey as she communicates her thoughts behind her choice of themes in the books included, as she opens up on her life and experiences that shaped each work. How I loved her guidance towards passages of raw, unafraid beauty. Her rejection of all the silly labels we love to stick on writers based on their sexes, their sexuality, their race, their political and religious backgrounds. She writes about love towards our own selves, love between lovers (free of traditional gender restrictions), love (or the lack of it) between a mother and a child. The abundance of love, the lack of it. Our hope to be loved, our fear of loving in return. The death-like numbness when love is lost and hearts are broken. Love in our technological-savvy, cold era when feelings and human beings are suddenly turned into statistics on a mobile device. Love within the boundaries of the past, Love as a myth, a blessing and a curse...

‘‘'What to say? That the end of love is a haunting. A haunting of dreams. A haunting of silence. Haunted by ghosts, it is easy to become a ghost. [...] A dead body feels no pain.''

I fell in love with Winterson when we read Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit for our Gender Studies class in university. Here, she talks about transgressive love but her focus is on how literary works are perceived by the readers on this ground. In a beautiful paragraph, Winterson says that ‘'Literature is an engagement with our deepest selves.'' Why the need for labels? Why the need to reject something that doesn't look tailor made on our image of what love should be? These were my thoughts....
In The Passion, there is a tangled web of identities, sexual desire, secrets and the beautiful setting of Venice in the Napoleonic era. Winterson connects Love to Truth and lying.
In Sexing the Cherry, a giantess is longing to be loved but fear doesn't let that happen. So, loneliness and revenge are juxtaposed to her love for Jordan, her adopted son. On a side note, I need to read this novel, I don't know why I haven't yet...
In Art and Lies, three historical figures, Hendel, Picasso and Sappho, each one with a distinctive relationship with Love, all allowing the public to form an arbitrary image of them. What would Art be without Love? How much can we claim to know about an artist's feelings of love and desire?
The Powerbook is about Love in a digitalized era. About obligations and demands, about sadness and the excitement of a love that is forbidden and should remain a secret.
Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal? is a so-called memoir that centers on adoption. Here, Winterson talks about the search for her biological mother. She says that if we come to think of our lives as stories, we will find the strength to write our own end, our own changes. I find this an encouraging, lovely thought...
Do you know the feeling of loving a book so much that your heart is about to burst as you are reading? Christmas Days, a collection of monumentally beautiful stories set around Christmas time, is one of those books which remind me why reading is the greatest pleasure in life. For me, at least. After all, what is Christmas if not Love?

I could talk about Jeanette Winterson for hours and I must have tired you already. I am not a veteran on sentimental Love, we two don't quite fit together for many reasons, but Winterson (like every gifted writer) has the power to create such strong feelings with a mere sentence. I leave you with one of the most beautiful paragraphs I've ever read, taken from The Powerbook.

‘‘'Loving is like lifting a heavy stone. It would be easier not to do it and I'm not sure why I am doing it. It takes all my strength and all my determination and I said I wouldn't love someone again like this. Is there any sence in loving someone you can only wake up to by chance?''

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

‘'Must I from day to day sit chained to this chair, prisoner within these four bare walls, while these glorious summer suns are burning in heaven and the year is revolving in its richest glow and declaring at the close of every summer day it will never come again?'' Charlottë Brontë


This exquisite little book came to me by chance (thanks to the amazing Hannah Groves from Endeavour Media) when I reviewed Murder In Friday Street and what a lovely coincidence it proved to be! I fell in love with it from the moment I saw the beautiful photo of the Brontë house in Haworth, one of the many beautiful sketches and photos included in the biography. I admit I felt slightly apprehensive. I always proceed with caution when it comes to biographies because authors often project their own assumptions through the text, sometimes in an almost vulgar manner. Thankfully, this was not the case here. After reading the Author's Notes, I was confident I was in good hands.

‘'In life and death, a chainless soul,With courage to endure.'' The Old Stoic by Emily Brontë

Centered around the three Brontë sisters, the writer paints the portrait of the entire family. The influence of Branwell and Patrick is evident in the life and work of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. Although Charlotte takes the lion's share in the biography (and understandably so), Kenyon clearly shows why each work was born by each sister. We can understand the tenderness of Charlotte, the wild spirit, freedom, and passion of Emily, the sweetness and quickness of Anne. I appreciated the fact that Kenyon focuses on the details that are relevant to the literary life of the sisters, avoiding any unnecessary comments and gossips. I found the chapter about Charlotte and Emily's visit to Brussels very interesting in terms of the different attitudes of the two sisters regarding teaching, love, and society.

This is the kind of biography that creates various feelings in the soul of the reader. I never trust biographies and non-fiction books that leave me indifferent, as if I was reading an academic textbook. With this book, I felt a deep sadness reading about Branwell's troubled, tortured demeanor and the ways he possibly inspired and influenced crucial moments in his sisters' works. And a tense anger was always present due to the disgusting notion of the past, primarily adopted by men who wanted women to appear as creatures incapable of any thoughts whatsoever.

‘'Riches I hold in light esteemAnd Love I laugh to scorn;And lust of fame was but a dreamThat vanished with the morn.'' The Old Stoic by Emily Brontë

Obviously, the parts I was more interested in were dedicated to Emily who ‘'seemed a match for all wild creatures.'' Kenyon approaches her with utmost respect and understanding. I was terrified to read the chronicle of Emily's death. I realised that I had tears in my eyes. I think that this is the most undisputed proof of the success of this biography. The most shuttering description of all was Charlotte's pain and despair in facing her beloved sister's death.

‘'The death-defying love of Catherine and Heathcliff was like a torrent of nature.''

It's always interesting to see that the Victorian critics who wrote about the ‘'faults'' in Wuthering Heights echo complaints similar to a few readers' of our times. In my opinion, it is always worthy to notice that narrow-mindedness never dies throughout the ages. I think these have always been people who hate the fact that the main characters do not fit with the sugary image of love, just because they don't behave according to a preconceived notion of how we should experience passion and devotion. And obsession, why not? Well, news flash! Wuthering Heights will be read and adored as long as there is a mankind able enough to read. All of us are only straws in the wind, these works are eternal. Once, someone in Goodreads wrote that the ones who like Wuthering Heights should visit a psychiatrist. Kiddo, a) better not come near me, b) better stay away from all of us for we come in legions...

...This was a rant and I am not sorry...Some people just need to learn to use the expression ‘'in my opinion''.

If you are still here after my expressing some long-brewing anger over the particular aforementioned ‘'reader'', I thank you from the bottom of my furious heart:) This is a comprehensive biography of the Brontë family that focuses on the facts that really matter, avoiding any gossiping. It is written with utter respect, warmth and love for the invaluable treasures created by the hands of the most exceptional and intriguing sisters the literary world will ever see. It is a short but meaningful and memorable journey in the Yorkshire Moors whose wild, unrestrained landscape brought forth two of the greatest masterpieces of Literature.

The last word belongs to Karen Kenyon who writes about Emily's masterpiece:

‘'Her genius and the harsh and powerful grandeur of her novel were not understood at the time.''

Many thanks to Hannah Groves and Endeavour Media for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

‘'Only one cemetery for so many. Everywhere, in scores of places, lie the others. The white wooden crosses of the French, the black ones of the Germans.''

With All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque did the unthinkable. He made millions of readers understand and sympathise with a soldier of the Enemy, an enemy that brought Europe to its knees and caused bloodshed and chaos. The First World War was an unconceived nightmare, a notion beyond any comprehension. Remarque- a fervent fighter against Fascism- created Paul Bäumer, a character that embodies all the despair, the disillusion and, ultimately, the apathy in front of the inevitable outcome of a war that is the very definition of bedlam. Bäumer became a symbol for the despairing soldier who has no idea what he's fighting for anymore and All Quiet on the Western Front became the pioneer of the anti-war novel, the cry of agony over a world that has gone utterly and irreversibly mad. This collection of eight stories inspired by the futility and madness of war and centered around the people's perception of the conflict is a masterpiece on its own.

‘'And for the first time I understood that it was against men I was fighting.''
The Enemy: A German soldier realises that he fights over falsehoods, against fellow human beings who are no different than him and his fallen comrades...

‘'It is the silence. The dreadful silence of Verdun. The silence after the battle. A silence without parallel in the world.''
Silence: The eerie, haunting description of the silence over the battlefield, where young men have sacrificed their lives over ashes and terror.

‘'But they have left out one thing: Never again. That is missing.''
Where Karl Had Fought: Sergeant Broeger returns to the battlefield, 10 years after the war has ended. Memories of the deaths of his comrades, of the town that is no longer there haunt him still...

‘'...children, as yet they do not know anything...''
Josef's Wife:The wife of a soldier who suffers from PTSD struggles to support her family and help her husband see the end of the darkness in his mind. A moving, beautiful story, my favourite in the collection.

‘'Bring me something pretty from Paris!''
Annette's Love Story: The story of a woman who realises the depth of her feelings when it's too late. Here you will read one of the most tragically poetic passages about the life of the ones who have stayed behind, waiting...

‘'When the warden told them they were free, they did not believe it at first.''
The Strange Fate of Johann Bartok: A fortunate (if one can use this word in such a context...) soldier passes through Hell only to be betrayed by the people closest to him. I felt an indescribable sadness as I was reading this story...

‘'Those were wonderful nights. The air was warm, with a strong scent of flowers, much stronger than by day.''
On The Road: Two former soldiers become vagabonds, trying to find a new meaning in an empty life.

‘'In October, when the leaves were falling, the dying started.''
I Dreamt Last Night: A devastating moment in a war hospital. A story difficult to classify, immensely beautiful, albeit tragic.

These stories are a tender, melancholic ode to the humanity that can be born in the midst and the aftermath of a terrible war. To the ones who fight without knowing why, who struggle to form a new life out of ruins and death. To those who stay behind, waiting for the loved ones in an agonizing maelstrom of their own. Yet, hope is present. Perseverance and the unbeatable instinct of survival guide the way, along with regret and guilt over the victims of a meaningless fight, over the ultimate demise of all that is humane and hopeful and kind. When you are dictated to kill a fellow human being because a tyrant chases his nightmarish moment of glory. A mournful cry over the history that will repeat itself a few years later...Can anything remotely human survive the blackest pages in the course of mankind? Through these stories, Remarque answers ‘'yes''.

‘'I knew once more that beyond and above war and destruction there was something else, and that it would return again.''

Many thanks to New York University Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

‘'My mother, I said. My father. They will come shortly. To collect me''

Death is a cruel, cynical visitor. Sometimes invited, others unexpected, many more anticipated. Death is blind to age, race, religion, kindness or evilness. He does not discriminate, he takes everyone. He is the one certain thing in the life of every living creature. An unavoidable, unquestionable snatcher. However, don't we all desire to know what happens next? Perhaps, this is what makes us so afraid, the fear of being lost forever. Whatever it may await, I hope it will be better than the Bardo. A state where souls that haven't been set free linger, awaiting the next spirit to join their nightmarish Chorus. The Limbo, devoid of everything. A place visited by no God, no Devil. A battlefield, a community whose agony and frustration mirrors the society of the living.

This is where Willie, Abraham Lincoln's son, finds himself shortly after he dies of a visceral fever. It is said that the great President would visit his child for many days, holding him and thus chaining him to a state where Willie cannot move on, keeping his soul in captivity. Saunders creates this monumental, extraordinary work around this incident and through Lincoln's devastation, Willie's uncertainty and confusion and the despair of all the trapped souls that become our guides in this horrifying journey, he weaves a tale of death, love and remembrance. I won't comment on this experimental style, the theatrical format and the extraordinary ability to create a unique language for each narrator. For me, these elements aren't important. What is important is the wealth of themes and issues that make the novel one of the most bizarre and fascinating experiences in the life of the reader.

‘'Many guests especially recalled the beautiful moon that shone that evening.''

If I had to choose the one thing that made this novel so powerful, it would have to be the crystal clear way in which Saunders depicts the human soul in its kindest and worst aspects. This was obvious in the various views on Abraham Lincoln expressed by the spirits and by the extracts of the press in the era of the Civil War. Demons who desired to keep people chained because they had a different skin colour regarded him as a murderer who dragged their precious sons to war. But they said nothing of the dead sons of their ‘'property'', the raped women, the absolute loss of any trace of human dignity they inflicted on others in their bloody plantations. As we travel through the Bardo, in the chapters that describe the various stages of Willie's wandering, we see a nation divided by conflicting aspirations and expectations. We see the souls of criminals, prostitutes, noble born people who have come to realize that Death isn't particularly dazzled by wealth and status. Their pain, despair and struggle for acceptance echo the universe of the living. The two realms are hardly different and while the pitiful ghosts battle with themselves to retain some sort of human identity, they also battle with each other because old habits die hard, if at all. In most of the characters, the difference to their breathing counterparts is little, they hardly regret their faults, all too eager to put the blame on someone else and lure Willie into their cold company.

Saunders writes a sublime elegy of the tremendous, frightening impact of a child's death on the surviving family. It is a tragedy beyond words, a catastrophe that we don't even dare to picture in our minds. The grief of good President Abraham is devastating to read, the pain of Mrs Lincoln tears through the soul. Girls that didn't have the chance to live their love, young men who died on the battlefield, a priest who tried to fulfill his mission as best as he could, a young woman who was raped repeatedly by her master. There is so much pain and yet, the message never becomes dark or pessimistic. Even in the most brutal moments, a glimpse of hope shines through to remind us that, perhaps, if we really try to come together, to respect each other, a better world might become possible. This was Lincoln's vision, a vision that has been viciously massacred by the majority of the presidents who have occupied the White House in recent History....Not to mention the state the world has found itself today...

Many things have been said about Lincoln In The Bardo. Some may consider it verbose, pretentious, illogical. That is understandable. Not every book is for every reader. For me, this is one of the very finest moments in Literature. Not because it won the Man Booker Prize. Many winners have come and gone and I found them mediocre, forgettable. Not because of the experimental style. Many books have served this technique well, many more will do so in the future. Technicalities don't matter. It is a masterpiece because it pays homage to the struggles and seemingly futile causes that helped made this Creation a more tolerable place to inhabit. It is a masterpiece because it is written by an author who dived deep into the human soul, found the finest and the worst in all of us and created a tale that is ferocious, sad, haunting, generous, hopeful, tender and fragile. It's not an easy read but who wants an easy read, anyway?

‘'If I could confer with him, I know he would approve; would tell me it is right that I should go, and come back no more. He was such a noble spirit. His heart loved goodness most.''

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

‘'A buon intenditore poche parole.''(‘'Few words are needed when speaking to a good listener.'')

This review is bound to be one of the most personal I've ever had the pleasure to write. You see, my late grandmother was Italian, from Naples. She is the main culprit to blame for my obsession with books and Opera. My parents are dedicated readers but when I was a child and mum and dad were at work, I was placed under my Nonna's care. She filled my hands with books and my mind with stories from her childhood, her homeland, her life with my grandpa whom I didn't have the fortune to meet. She loved History and stories of ghosts and fairies. Even during the school holidays, I would wake up early, sit on the comfy sofa made from Italian velvet, listen to the morning news on the radio, smelling the wonderful aroma of espresso loudly brewing in the background. When I became an adult, there was always a cup waiting for me when I returned from the classes. When I started working, the double espresso would warm my heart before another demanding day. Now, I live in her house. I talk to her as I'm cooking some of her favourite Italian dishes. I know she's here, smiling, probably remembering my fervent declarations of refusing to learn how to cook because ‘'I'm a career woman.'' Fahrun's book brought all these memories back from the very first pages.

In this beautiful, lovingly written creation, we learn about traditions from Italy that touch on every part of the daily life. Food, work, love, marriage and children. Remedies to heal the Evil Eye and the negative spells. Proverbs, superstitions, home medicine and witchcraft. The way Fahrun describes her personal memories is direct, friendly, soft. Like a chat over two freshly brewed cups of fine espresso. There were so many moments that made me love this book. The writer's affinity for crows and ravens, the care for saint altars in the kitchen. The respect over frogs and geckos. Me and my mother have a small gecko living somewhere in the balcony. We call him Leo and always look out for him each time we water the flowers. Malocchio (the Evil Eye) is still something we're quite cautious of. I don't believe in it, to be honest, but there have been a dozen of occasions that have tempted me to change my mind.

So, whether one believes in the magic and the rituals born from the very essence of the Italian nature, heart and soul is irrelevant. Everyone will find something to love in this lovely book. It is a treasure of Folklore and tradition. For me, it was a moving journey to my childhood and to the everlasting memory of someone who influenced my life in the best way possible. My grandmother to whom this review is dedicated.

‘'Buon principio fa buon fine.''(‘'A good beginning makes a good ending.'')

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

‘'Found, sixth carriage from the front, 14:42 train from London Bridge to Brighton. Deceased unknown. God bless and rest in peace.''

My relationship with this book has been a bit weird from the start. For almost a year, its beautiful cover with the peaceful cobalt blue background and the quiet pink beauty of its flowers has been calling my name from the shelf of my favourite bookshop. And every time, I would take it in my hands, read the blurb, scam and skim through a few paragraphs and return it to its place. When the wonderful Traveling Sisters group decided to have it as our nest read, I thought the time had finally come.

The story is quite interesting and humane. Anthony, an elderly writer who has experienced a serious loss, has a strange habit. He finds lost items, discarded in the streets, in trains, in parks. He collects them, meticulously describes the time and place of discovery and then imagines the circumstances that surround the loss of these objects. As a result, the lost things aren't just bracelets, hairpins, gloves...They become symbols for lives lost and gained. Anthony's journey is shared by Laura who tries to leave a miserable life behind with the aid of Sunshine, a young woman who is special, unique and the most beautiful character of the novel.

There are many things to appreciate in this story but there are also quite a lot of problems, in my opinion. I found the subplot of Eunice and Bomber interesting and although not closely related to the main story, it added a certain carefree attitude of a past era without wasting our time. The issues of diversity, acceptance and sexual identity were well-handled and approached with respect and tenderness. The stories of the objects collected by Anthony were outstanding. Some were nostalgic, melancholic. Others were sad, bitter. And then, there were stories of courage, perseverance and hope. The stories saved the book from becoming too melodramatic and void. I also appreciated the reference to ‘'Philadelphia'', the film that gave Tom Hanks his first Academy Award.

And now, the issues I had with the novel. I couldn't stand Laura's endless musings on love and sex. I wasn't a fan of the romantic relationship and thankfully, it wasn't a main feature in the story. I was much more interested in Anthony and Theresa and I was disappointed with the treatment of their relationship. I didn't like the magical realism element, the subplot concerning Theresa. I thought it was a gimmick, it dragged, it seemed out of place and made Laura appear even more idiotic than before. I felt it was included just for the sake of it and was done in a sloppy, almost naive way. The dialogue could use some improvement as well. Especially Laura's line came off as hysteric, copied from a bad movie. They did no favour to her already mediocre, passable character. Furthermore, the comments on a character's wife were unnecessarily cruel, offending and condescending. They were racist, plain and simple. And just how many times can I read about ‘'the lovely cup of tea'' and remain sane?

The characters of Anthony, Sunshine, Eunice and Bomber were very interesting. Anthony and Sunshine provided an aura of mystery, melancholy and quirkiness in the story. Laura did very little to make me appreciate her. Yes, she had the courage to walk away from a cruel life but again, she wanted a man to define herself. Her self-pity and romantic troubles with the entirely indifferent, average Freddy made me cringe. Portia ended up being a caricature. You can't have clown characters if you want your book to be taken seriously, I'm sorry to say.

So, in my opinion, this is a novel where the driving force is the story and the characters are given a supporting role. In this sense, one may consider it successful. It won't find a place among my memorable reads but it retained a fairly nice balance between being light-hearted and quirky and meaningful. I know it would have been much better if it had been graced with a well-written main character.

This was a Traveling Sister read and my first review as a member of this amazing fellowship of magnificent ladies with a deep love for books. Discussing the novel with them was pure joy.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/

‘'Because ye old gods are not dead. They walk among us still, with their pagan ideas and habits, waiting for reanimation. They are lonely. They are bored. And very, very pissed off.''

Well, this is a difficult task, writing a review about such an outstanding book that integrates all the best elements of a number of genres. Urban Fantasy, Folklore, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, you name it. If you enjoy any of these genres, if you are keen on world traditions and religions, if Gaiman's American Gods is one of your absolute, most favourite books, if you love New York or if you simply want to read one of the best novels of the year, then Miss Subways was written for you.

The story follows Emer, a young woman who commutes daily to her work. Emer is a teacher in the second grade class of a private Catholic school whose principle is a snazzy, sassy, absolutely wonderful priest. She is in a relationship with a rather aloof man who goes by the name Con. Now, for reasons beyond her understanding, Emer and Con cannot be together. The powers that be (wherever they are) want them apart and Emer accepts. However, Fate has other plans and our heroine finds herself in a vortex of rules, teachings and strange otherworldly figures, all gathered in the endlessly mesmerizing setting of New York.

Now, I feel that the paragraph above must be the worst synopsis of a book ever written but truly, it is impossible to summarize Miss Subways in a cohesive paragraph. It is so rich and complex and one must read it to fully comprehend its essence. First of all, the influence of American Gods is evident. However, Duchovny uses this inspiration to create a plot with its very own character and substance and not for a moment did I think I was reading a copycat, The major difference is that Duchovny's focus is placed on the humans and not on the deities and the mythical figures, The story at the heart of this novel is the relationship between Emer and Con, inspired by a well known Irish myth of the Union of Emer and Cú Chulainn, the greatest hero in Irish Mythology. In our contemporary version, it is Emer who has to pass the trials to defend her love and the odds of our era are always stranger and much more complex than any mythical ordeal.

The writing is beautiful. Approachable and literary, poetic and sharp. The saltry, urban scenery of New York provides the best background for a story where gods and myths need to be lost among the mortals and their mundane lives. The descriptions of the city, whether we're reading morning or nightly scenes, are hypnotic. There is one of the most beautiful descriptions of Central Park I've ever read and mystifying Chinatown jumps right out of the page. Papa Legba, Sidhe, Anansi. The myths of the Aboriginals, the teaching of Chinese philosophy, the wealth of Celtic tradition. There are references to the Witches of Macbeth. Deities from different cultures retain all the characteristics of their homelands, antagonizing and cooperating with each other according to their purposes. There is a wonderful passage where Sidhe describes the behavior of the gods in the myths we love. He talks of an age when feelings were experienced to the fullest by deities and mortals alike.

Emer is someone I immediately loved. She is a teacher who lives and breaths for her profession, she has a close relationship with her father and her only best friend is an adorable, edgy lunatic. She remains firmly nailed to her principles and doesn't let her heart rule her mind. She's courageous with a deep sense of never giving up. Duchovny writes with respect about a teacher's feelings of love and hope. The satisfaction when the little ones start reading for the first time was movingly portrayed. It's rare for a writer to pay such an homage to the teaching profession and I was truly moved. I could relate to each and very feeling and every classroom scene described by Emer and this made me fall in love with the novel.

Take away the folklore and the mythical influences of the story and you'll still have a beautiful and touching exploration of aspirations, fears and insecurities. A quirky, moving, clever and complex love story and above all, a story about the obstacles a woman has to surpass in every stage of her life. Duchovny writes excellent female characters and Miss Subways definitely deserves all the praise it receives.

‘'The very next morning, Emer was back on the train. What did it mean that she spent so much of her life underground? Regardless of whether or not she'd ever be crowned, Emer felt in her bones that she was and always will be Miss Subways.''

Many thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

'I am Medea, the sorceress, if you all will have it so. The wild woman, the foreigner. You shall not belittle me.''

I've always declared-to the dismay of many- that if I ever had a daughter, I would name her Medea. My fascination with this larger-than-life woman has been undiminished ever since I started learning about the ancient, endless, eternal myths of my country from a relatively young age. Call me ‘'weird'' but dark, controversial figures have accompanied me for the most part of my reading life. It also helped that my mother had the knowledge and the patience to explain to me how myths were made in a society of men, by men and for men. World Culture is loaded with mythical women who have been vilified as an excuse for the stupidity, disloyalty and absolute lack of courage on men's part. Eve, Medea, Helen of Troy, Pandora, Circe, Phaedra, Jocasta...The list goes on and on....A woman can either be a whore or a saint. Too bad for the ‘'willing'' ones because the first team makes for the best of stories. In this extraordinary moment in European Literature, Christa Wolf reimagines Medea's story, focusing on her last days in Corinth and culminating with the death of her sons. The result is a haunting, raw elegy of broken promises and thwarted dreams....

'They've made what they need out of each of us. Out of you, the Hero, and out of me, the Wicked Witch. They've driven us apart like that.''

People create myths to explain passions, hopes, wishes and inclinations. They need the heroes, the ones who battle against gods and men, as they need the scapegoats responsible when the hero goes astray. What happens when the Hero succeeds only after the Scapegoat has provided the necessary help? Well, noone cares about this tiny detail, all that matters is that the job is done. However, when everything crumbles because of disloyalty and ambition, it's time for the Scapegoat to be driven out. Medea is either a healer or a bringer of curse. This is what the mob, the ever-changing, witless crowd believes. She is the Other, the Foreigner, the one who threatens the established order with her powers and invocations. Jason is blaming his obsession and lust to Medea, always unwilling to admit what a phony ‘'hero'' he is. He doesn't care anymore, the glory is his and it's time to find a younger, docile wife who would worship him without questions and thoughts of her own...

‘'Is it a comfort to think that people everywhere fall short of the agreements they have made?''

I feel that this quote expresses the essence of our times extremely accurately. In the outstanding introduction, Margaret Atwood refers to the political and social background and the status quo that shaped Wolf's work. Coming from the troubled land of former East Germany, it is clear that her political and social views influenced her writing. How could it have been otherwise? Medea was written in 1996, six years after the reunification of Germany, and while reading, one can feel a deep sense of bitterness and intense distrust towards the institution of the state and the authorities. Knowing the political context, Medea becomes much more than a retelling of an ancient legend.

The writing and the characterization are unique. The portrait of Medea is moving, sad, haunting...There are quite a few exceptional descriptions of the city of Corinth and the nightly scenes are eerie, foreboding. Don't expect any infanticides, gore, violence or sex and the end will surprise you. I will not compare Wolf's work to Euripides or Seneca. Each one is a different beast, all masterpieces in their own right. However, I know which one I prefer. Wolf's esoteric, haunting, solemn cry for the truth and for a world that turned out quite different than promised. For the innocent victims of the frustrations of the mighty, the demonization of the weakest links.

‘'Up there in the dark, night-blue sky, like a slightly tilted silver of peel, the crescent moon was still swimming, though on the wane, reminding me of my waning years, my Colchian moon, endowed with the power to pull the sun up over the edge of the earth every morning.''

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

‘'Friday Street likes to keep itself to itself.''

I find that the beginning of summer is always an appropriate time to read a British Cozy Mystery. Now, my relationship with cozy mysteries has been stormier than the European affairs during the last few years. Once they became ‘'fashionable'', they lost all credibility in my book. They became worse than the worst soap - opera and I intended to stay away from them once and for all. However, I saw this one on NetGalley and I was attracted by the cover and the title. Friday has some quite negative connotations in Britain and when I read the blurb, I was sold. I'm now happy to report that it was a successful choice.

Georgia and Peter, her father, occupy themselves with cold cases. Peter is a retired policeman and Georgia writes books based on their experiences in the field. A murder of a successful musician that took place 40 years ago is linked to a recent death, both of them connected to a haunting tune that is heard in the village when an injustice seeks resolution. Swinging ‘60s? Check! A father-daughter duo? Check! A village community with terrible secrets and legends along with its very own haunted tune? Check! What could go wrong? Fortunately, nothing went wrong and Murder in Friday Street managed to revive my comatose interest in British Cozy.

This is the 2nd book in the series but I didn't notice it at all. What I did notice was how successfully depicted the atmosphere of the village was. A village that fights desperately to hide its secrets. ‘'We don't talk about it, so it doesn't exist.'' That's the logic. However, there is a piece of music that screams of malice and impending death and the very essence of this place is full of superstitions and mystery. Friday was the day when the convicted would start their journey to the execution, the way of the Gallows. In addition, Friday is considered unlucky and laden with misfortune and sadness. Take Good Friday for example. Therefore, despite the quaint scenery, there is something that still haunts the residents. A hideous crime and secrets that beg to come to surface.

Peter and Georgia are very sympathetic characters, I loved Georgia and I especially enjoyed the structure of her character. She doesn't come across as a know-it-all, even though she has some moment of utter stubbornness. She does have her own secrets and wounds as does her father and this makes them all the more realistic and approachable. The mystery itself is very interesting and despite the significant number of suspects, each character is well developed. I never felt ‘'lost in the mystery''.

I have a strange rule. I never grant more than 3 stars to a Cozy Mystery. This one was good enough to make me break my rule, so I guess this counts for something. I enjoyed it so much and I will definitely try to continue with the series. Amy Myers has done a wonderful job.

Many thanks to Endeavour Media and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

‘'...and the real curse of Eve was having to put up with the nonsense of Adam, who as soon as there was any trouble, blamed it all on her.''

Grace is a murderess. She collaborated with her coworker to kill their master and his mistress. So the people say. So the people want to believe. Because, let's face it, where's the fascination in a murder committed only by a man? There's no sensation, nothing to stir the crowds. Whereas a woman who took a life? Well, there's the spectacle! Never mind that she may be innocent. This is a perfect chance to humiliate women, to place the blame on them and continue the tradition that started at the beginning of time...But Grace knows the truth. Or does she?

Margaret Atwood takes the story of one of the most famous female prisoners of the 19th century and weaves a masterpiece of a novel. Set in the 1840s in Canada and spanning almost 30 years, this is a confession and a fascinating journey to the mind and the life of a woman who has much to say and even more to hide. Is she a criminal? An innocent bystander? A cold-blooded killer? Is she a victim of her weak will? A small animal captured in a man's well-constructed trap? And does anyone want to actually listen to her? When a young psychiatrist decides to dive into the darkest part of Grace's mind, everything will change.

This is a novel that I consider perfect on every level. I've always believed that the finest writers can give us the conclusion at the beginning of the story and we'll still be interested and invested in the development of the action. This is exactly what happens here. While Atwood doesn't reveal everything at once, we have all the proper materials to ‘'guess'' the end and there is still much space for suspense, agony and, speaking strictly for me, anger. Anger was the feeling that became my loyal companion while I was reading. Anger because of the double-standards of the time, the conviction that a woman is guilty by definition when accused, the habit of regarding women as objects for the men's pleasure, ripe for the taking...And if we come to think of it, these notions are still alive today, in our so-called advanced era when many believe that gender equality is all done and dealt with and achieved. No, when I feel frightened each time I walk down a darkly-lit alley, each time a man sideglances at me, gender equality doesn't exist. Forgive me if I digress but fury comes swiftly when I think that in many parts of our planet tyranny and violence against women are considered the norm, they are alive and kicking and they will never stop. And where do most of these false notions come from? Prejudice, superstition, religious fundamentalism.

‘'...and the people there love to fall down in fits, and talk in tongues and be saved once a summer, or more if available...''

Jeremiah, one of the most enigmatic characters of the story, provides an excellent and extremely accurate description of the absurd religious panic that inflicts people of every race and every religion. The pious, God-fearing citizens look upon men to save them and are all too willing to believe in the condemnation of women. What I enjoyed in the way this theme is delivered in Alias Grace is that Atwood inserts the influence of such stereotypes in the field of Science as well. Educated men aren't immune to prejudice and they attempt to research Grace's case with preconceived notions in their heads. Enter Simon, the young psychiatrist who tries a different approach to understand the incidents and the tribulations inside Grace's soul. In the process, he finds much more than he expected. I loved the way Atwood uses the newly-born ideas of Mesmerism and Magnetism and the rising of Spiritualism that became in vogue a few years later. In addition, she addresses the issue of Hysteria, the common belief that all women were prone to uncontrollable, violent fits of rage, another token of a society that refused to believe that women are actual human beings with the right to seek sexual pleasure and fulfillment. God forbid, these are principles solely belonging to men....

It's hard not to get political when it comes to Atwood's brilliant novels. Grace's background is a highly troubled one. She comes from Ulster, an extremely tormented area, and becomes an immigrant to escape a country that is dying from famine and oppression. Furthermore, Canada is still shaking from the 1837 uprising and the aristocracy has become even more intolerant and cruel to those that are considered ‘'low'' and ‘'uneducated heathens''. In this historical and political context, we can understand how crucial are the themes Atwood addresses and how relevant they are, especially now. The gap between the wealthy and the poor, the discriminations against women, the blind faith.

Grace is a complex, intriguing character. In my opinion, she retains characteristics of the Unreliable Narrator because are we actually certain that her views on events and people are accurate? She comes across as a very sympathetic, level-headed, brave, considerate, dignified woman. She's not afraid to express mistrust or uncertainty and has the self-discipline to keep her most ‘'controversial'' thoughts secret until the opportune moment. Atwood takes us into Grace's mind before she speaks and succeeds in creating a complete picture of our heroine. However, there is still an aura of mystery surrounding her and a strange, underlying sensuality and dark innocence.

Apart from Grace, we have two male characters that are equally interesting and mysterious. Simon and Jeremiah. Simon is very complex, in my opinion. Very real and perplexing. He is not free from his own demons, he has some fairly obscure ideas about sexual pleasure but he desires progress and knowledge. He has travelled extensively and believes he has all the necessary means to tackle Grace's strange case. However, he isn't prepared enough for what is about to come. Simon gave me much trouble as I was trying to understand him and realise his motives. He is mysterious and there is definitely a darkness inside him so he is an excellent counterpart of Grace. Jeremiah is a walking riddle. A man of the world, a magnetic presence, an enigma.

This review may come across as passionate or even politically incorrect but when books make you feel so many powerful emotions after reading a few chapters, you know they have succeeded. When the author is Margaret Atwood you know you are in the safest hands possible. This is a classic, a novel that should definitely be included in the finest of the 20th century. Oh, and certain misogynists/trolls/pseudo-scholars that have been lurking on GR lately, better stay away from Atwood's novels, like The Handmaid's Tale or Alias Grace. They will prove bad for you sensitive moral values and blood pressure....

“What is believed in society is not always the equivalent of what is true; but as regards to a woman's reputation, it amounts to the same thing.”

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

''...under the stone, two dragons are curled up, fast asleep. All day, they sleep, but at night they wake, and then they fight. Their battle destroys your tower each night.''

Wales, lovely, mysterious, mythical Wales... A land of heroes and gods, a place where myth and history walk hand-in-hand only to be lost in times unrecorded, misty and shadowy. This beautiful little book is dedicated to the Northern part of Cymru, home to the legendary area of Snowdonia and Ynys Môn and to three World Heritage sites.

Known once as the Kingdom of Gwynedd, North Wales has an endless wealth of traditions and folklore. We will meet a giant and a giantess who fight over a hammer. A clever boy named Gareth (...Wales seems to have an abundance of handsome, talented men called Gareth....) with a lovely companion. A princess who wants nothing else but to look after the ones in need. A marriage between the Eagle and the Owl. A maiden who attempts to soothe a monster with her haunting songs. Fairies, wizards, dwarves and mythical kings, queens, and heroes. The Once And Future King, Arthur and his Knights, the legendary Branwen and Ceridwen. All these figures are hiding in this marvelously-written book waiting for us to discover them. Don't worry, we're all children at heart, especially when we're presented with beautiful fairytales of heroic deeds and otherworldly creatures.

The brightest spot of the collection rightfully belongs to a wizard who changed the course of World Literature and Art, in general. And don't tell me he never existed because you'll be horribly wrong...In the story Two Dragons, young Merlin and King Vortigern meet for the first time to solve the problem of a tower that would crumble to pieces every night. A well-known story of Merlin's genius and of how the majestic Red Dragon of Wales was born. Not to mention that the Welsh flag is possibly the best ever...

''Stand near woodland in early spring, after night has fallen and when the air is still, and if you're lucky, you'll hear the thrilling, trilling song of the nightingale.''

Few things can be more relaxing and soothing than the nightingales' song in the twilight. Those of us who live in the big cities where every sound of nature is drawn in a cacophony of cars and humans rarely get the chance to enjoy the chirping of Nature's greatest singers. Birds have always fascinated us. They embody tranquility and stealth and have attained something the human always seeks. The flight. So, there is no wondering why the majority of the collective nouns in the English Language refers to birds.

This little treasure of a book is a comprehensive guide to the collective nouns, tracing their origins back to scarcely recorded times and shows how historical and sociopolitical issues has always influenced our languages and our way of thinking. My favourites have always been ‘‘A Murder of Crows'' and ‘‘A Parliament of Owls.'' I mean, obviously....Nouns about people, professions, domestic and exotic animals in a book written in an effective, engaging and informative style without becoming boring like a textbook. This is perfect for teachers and students and for all of us who enjoy exploring the origins and influences of this magical thing we call ‘‘Language''.

”He reminded himself that he was in Australia: Australia, where anything might happen. In England everything had been done before: quite often by one's own ancestors, over and over again.”

Two years ago, I watched a film based on the book by Joan Lindsay. A month ago, I watched a marvelous TV series adaptation of the same novel. Both versions were eerie, dark, atmospheric. I've always wanted to read Picnic at Hanging Rock and the opportunity came with the Movie Night discussion in Zuky's wonderful group ”The BookBum Club”. Unfortunately, the result left me disappointed...

Mrs. Appleyard is the formidable headmistress of a school for girls of the upper classes in Australia. They are taught how to behave and how NOT to think in order to become good wives. This should be their only aspiration in life. During a picnic on St.Valentine's day, three senior students, Miranda, Irma, and Marion are lost. So is one of the teachers. They disappear in the area of the Hanging Rock, a place where mystery and wild beauty co-exist. What happened to the girls? What is happening in the school? Why such severity and absolute lack of compassion? What secrets does Mrs. Appleyard hide?

There are moments of breathtaking beauty in this novel. The descriptions of the natural environment, the nightly scenes dedicated to the characters' actions are absolutely fascinating. However, the dialogue leaves a lot to be desired, in my opinion. My main complaint is the lack of development of any kind. There was no development in the characters which is a pity since most of them surely hide quite a lot of secrets. From the teachers to the students, the claustrophobic environment that exists side by side with the beautiful, threatening, unruly nature provided a unique setting that I felt was wasted in endless descriptions of the life of the two young men of the story that were completely useless. No wonder that I enjoyed the film and TV versions so much more than the novel...

It's such a pity, really...There was so much potential and at times, the writing was remarkable. Like a mist and a storm...However, upon reading the last page, I was underwhelmed and disappointed...

''You see, some people are born with a piece of night inside, and that hollow place can never be filled- not with all the good food or sunshine in the world.''

Leigh Bardugo is a writer that doesn't need introductions. I haven't read the Crows Duology but I enjoyed the Grisha Trilogy immensely and I knew that a short stories collection inspired by the Grisha universe would be as dark and complex as the Darkling's fascinating world. I wasn't disappointed. There are four original stories and two retellings of famous and beloved fairytales. Dark forests, sorrow, magic, ambition, love, and death. Witches, haunted towns, mermaids, mighty elements of Nature join in a dance macabre perfect for those of us who want our fairytales dark and twisted. Russian Folklore provides endless inspiration and Bardugo is a writer who knows how to make excellent use of it.

Ayama and the Thorn Wood: Two sisters, Ayama and Kima, and a misshapen boy, the son of a king. Terrible events start plaguing the citizens, results of a terrible injustice done to the child and it falls to Ayama to appease the wrath of the wronged prince. A beautiful tale that makes use of the traditional theme of the maiden who must soften the beast's heart with her stories and her kindness.

The Too-Clever Fox: A very clever fox and a mysterious girl in a haunting forest. A tale inspired by the mystical, and often violent, Russsian myths. This story will terrify you and show you the twisted, treacherous nature we all hide inside.

''There was a time when the woods near Duva ate girls.''
The Witch of Duva: If we think of dark, haunting and menacing forests, our mind should immediately wander off to the Russian landscape and the steppes with their vicious, otherworldly beauty. This is the setting of my favourite story in the collection. A dark, violent tale where the characters are far more different than they appear. A story that is worthy of five stars and a proper tale for the darkest winter nights.

''It is dangerous to travel the northern road with a heavy heart.''
Little Knife: Dark woods, sad, and an abandoned city. A girl of supernatural beauty and her suitors. An all-powerful river and a good-for-nothing boy. A tale of Ravka that echoes the traditional Russian stories of the beautiful maiden and the impossible tasks a man would accomplish to win her hand. But be careful. There is an outstanding twist that few will be able to imagine. This was my second favourite story in the collection.

''Are you mine?''
The Soldier Prince: A haunting, menacing version of The Nutcracker. A beautiful, twisted journey to a favourite tale of our childhood. Reading this story felt like Christmas...

''Kneeling there, you hear the ice moan. The wind scrapes away at you, a razor on the stop. Even so. Be still and listen. Think of it as part of the bargain.''
When Water Sang Fire: A retelling of Andersen's The Little Mermaid. Ulla and Signy. One grey and strange, the other beautiful and shallow. Ulla is a mermaid whose voice can gather storms, her temperament equally powerful. Signy is the vulnerable one, the girl who dreams of love and wealth. This version is darker and much more sensual than the original and I loved it.

Sara Kipin's illustrations are beyond beautiful. The style, the colours....they embody the essence of each story in a unique way. Enough with my boring rumblings. This collection is unique and you need it in your life.

“This is the problem with even lesser demons. They come to your doorstep in velvet coats and polished shoes. They tip their hats and smile and demonstrate good table manners. They never show you their tails.”

My reviews can also be found on:https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

Oh, my dear God, no!! This was so bad...Horrible writing, horrible characters. An awful, inaccurate, offensive representation of Asperger syndrome. A disgusting depiction of police officers, an infuriating image of a woman who tries to balance career and family. A weird obsession with sex perversion that is horribly portrayed and an unengaging mystery.

You know me, when it comes to controversial issues and twisted characters, I am game. I mean, take my money and give me the book. But this one? It ticked every box that makes me say ‘‘this novel is definitely not one I would recommend.'' I won't write a full review. The time I wasted on it was more than enough.

Also, I suggest the writer takes a few hours to read about Asperger. In fact, I suggest she takes a few days to read anything. Perhaps, her sentences will improve...

Perhaps....

Many thanks to RedDoor Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

One of the best moments of being a teacher is witnessing the various ways in which children develop their personalities, their own mechanisms of responding to problems and perplexing thoughts. However, there is always the dark side of following the trends. Everything that is deemed as ”fashionable” or that particular sparkly item a friend bought...Once a girl of ten showed me her new trainers. There were pretty but I knew that she didn't like green. So I asked her and she told me that two of her best friends had the exact pair. She felt left out. You see where this is going? Why should all of us follow a fashion that deep down we find appealing? Why should we behave in a certain way expected by our familial and social environment? Why should we even choose a career path that doesn't meet our personal needs? These are the question that I asked myself while reading Renèe Paule's new children's book Hat.

Our sweet hero leads a beautiful, quiet life. He is happy, his hat is part of himself. It makes him who he is. One day, Bertie decides to try a different hat, and then another, and another. With each hat, he acquires a different personality but nothing really suits him. And this is exactly what children should be taught from an early age. They should experiment and make mistakes until they find what is right for them and their aspirations. Noone must force a child to obey an other's ambitions. This is -and I use the word on purpose- an obsession that I've often witnessed in parents in my eleven years of teaching in quite a few ugly forms. Books like Hat will help our little ones understand that they should not be afraid of making mistakes nor should they follow what their friends do because they want to be acceptable or fashionable. After all, many times books can influence children in a way that no adult can.

What can I say about Renèe's writing and creativity that hasn't be said? The short texts, the beautiful, vivid illustrations, the lovely game at the end of the book make Hat a perfect little treasure for our young readers. And let's stop and think for a moment, especially the ones who have dedicated their lives to the wonderful world of the Book. What kind of books do we want to offer our children? Abominations full of spoilt characters that respect nothing and no one, gore, and promises of a future of idleness with illustrations that look as if a drunk artist tried to create a surrealistic anime or books that are suitable for young ages that have a message to communicate to the future generations? I know which ones I use for my classes. It's the only way for teachers in their effort to prevent this society from going down the drain...

An immense ”thank you” to Renèe and Godfrey for giving me the opportunity to discover one more addition to the list of ideal books for the children of our time.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

‘'Your life story is really about how the hands of history caught you up, played with you, and you with them. History plays for keeps; individuals play for time.''

Prepare for a journey in the mystical land of Russia in the era of the Tsars. A land of fairy tales and magical creatures. A land of mortifying antitheses, where wealth and poverty walk hand in hand. This is a journey through the vastness of a country unlike any other in the world, through the misty forests to the opulent courts of Saint Petersburg. Our guides are two unique girls and none other than Baba Yaga herself.

''That's all that poor people own; the truth.''

Elena is a peasant girl in Miersk. She decides to go to the capital and ask a favour from the Tsar. To return her brother to her and her grievously ill mother. One day, a locomotive arrives and Elena meets Ekaterina, the daughter of an aristocratic family. After a strange game of Fate, the girls find themselves in opposite sides as Elena is heading to St. Petersburg and Cat meets Baba Yaga. Noone can predict the end of this peculiar adventure as the girls need to fight their way through deceit, secrets, injustice, poor choices with the myths of their homeland as their source of wisdom.

''...all birds cast shadows on bright days. Except for one. The Firebird, bright soul of all the Russias, casts no shadow.''

Maguire weaves the story of the two girls with the myths of the Russian culture, one of the richest in the world. The focus is on the matryoshka doll and the Firebird, the symbol of light and life, the everlasting hope and wealth, the symbol of a mythical world that is so different from the bleak reality experienced by people like Elena. Baba Yaga tries to explain that the Firebird is so much more than a mythical figure carved on a fancy Fabergé egg. It is the soul and essence of the nation and ‘‘the soul of Russia is sickly,'' as she says because she can see that soon the result of starvation, toil and oppression will lead to chaos, blood and another form of tyranny. The Firebird will not be able to fly anymore. The bullets of madmen and the wrath of people forced into a life of humiliation will destroy its wings.

''It is unseemly for a young woman to express opinions.''

What may be read as a fairytale hides much deeper themes and implications in its pages. A young woman should be educated and be paraded like an exotic bird in front of her wealthy suitors. God forbid if she has opinions. God forbid twice if she has the nerve to express them. In this sense, Ekaterina is as poor as Elena. Hardly interesting to her own parents, she is abandoned in a school that will prepare her to be a well-mannered lady of the upper society but her mind seeks so much more. Not fully able to escape the prejudices of her upbringing, she is a captive of her class as much as Elena. They both need to look at the world through the eyes of the Other in order to understand it and to understand their abilities as individuals.

Maguire's writing is as good as the characters he created. The novel is rich in beautiful descriptions of the impossibly wealthy Russian court along with images of the Russian nature. We witness the life in the palace in contrast to the life in the village and the commentary on social and historical issues from the magnificent character of Baba Yaga, the jewel and the driving force of the novel. Maguire has the chance to include interesting anachronisms though Baba Yaga and the narration becomes much more exciting. You never know the aces and the quotes this lovely old lady has up her sleeve. Through humor, Baba Yaga (and Maguire) focuses on the saddest of observations which become even more solemn and poignant. If the reader is well aware of the history of the county, the suffering described strikes you immediately. Maguire avoids any stereotypes or propaganda. He writes in an honest, kind, objective manner, fully respecting the cultural heritage of Russia.

You know me, I don't place age labels on the books I read. Egg and Spoon is a marvelous book whether you are 15, 25, 45 or 105. A good book means exactly that, a book that will entertain you and carry you away no matter your age and this novel will appeal to those of us who know a lot about Russian myths and history and to the ones who would like to get a taste of one of the richest traditions of our world.

''In the black waters of the Neva River, she could still see the flotilla of liberated matryoshka dolls. Among them, paying little mind, paddled the severe vessel of Dumb Doma, carrying Miss Yaga into some private Russia, a Russia of secret coordinates, Away from those distresses.''

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

‘'I'm a man in Purgatory, blind to the sins that chased me here.''

What would it be like if one day we found ourselves in an another body? What if this happened on a daily basis? Us changing the vessel but retaining most of the traits that make us who we are? What if by changing identities we could turn back the time and prevent an injustice, a horrible crime? This is the wonderful premise of this exquisite novel by Stuart Turton, one of the most unique books of the year.

A man has the opportunity to stop the murder of a young woman, Evelyn Hardcastle. In full Groundhog Day mood, he is given eight days and eight identities in which he must find the one responsible for the crime, otherwise everything will become irreversible. So, during a gathering that commemorates a tragic incident in the Hardcastle estate, justice must prevail. However, the wrongs that must be made right reach beyond a single murder...

‘'Nothing like a mask to reveal somebody's true nature.''

The story is set in Britain, around the late 20s, early 30s from what I could gather and the thing that fascinated me most in this novel isn't the mystery itself or the unusual background- although they are both brilliant- but the focus on human nature and its various and interminable implications. I can't even imagine the Herculean task of creating eight different characters to become the vessels of one person, all with their own characteristics and mannerisms and resulting in such a successful and marvelously written story. I admit I was a little bit cautious prior to reading Turton's book. I thought it would be too confusing or wordy but I couldn't be more wrong. Obviously, I cannot write a single sentence about the plot but I swear a most solemn vow to you that you will find yourselves with your mouth open in shock for about 60% of the story. That's how perfect this book is. So many twists, so many different, complicated, tiny pieces of an exciting puzzle. I promise you you won't be bored or confused. And if you do get confused, it will be in the best way possible.

‘'Now you see them as I do,'' says the Plague Doctor, in a low voice. ‘'Actors in a play, doing the same thing night after night''.

There is seldom such a rich array of characters who are all interesting, secretive, twisted, kind, intelligent, manipulative. Think of any adjective in any language and it will apply perfectly to this perfect cast. As Aidan discovers clues -only to be left in the darkness soon after- so do we. As he meets the guests, as he gets the chance to live inside some of the characters, he gives us the opportunity to collect more evidence. We know nothing before he does and we obtain a much clearer picture of every person involved in the story. How many times can we claim this happens in a mystery? Not even in some of Christie's finest creations, in my opinion. Personally speaking, the figure of the Plague Doctor was the king of the story. Such a creepy, intimidating, cryptic character that elevated the novel into a whole new level. He embodies the concept of the Mask perfectly since nothing is as it first appears. Everyone undergoes a major transformation and every expectation and belief is turned upside down right until the spectacular ending.

I would love to tell you so much more- good, old, blabby me- but I can't. You absolutely, utterly (...again with the adverbs, I know...) NEED to read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. It is a reading experience unlike anything we've seen and read before. I would like to end this text with a question taken from the Reading Group Guide, included in the book, which I feel captures the psychological weight and the very essence of the entire story.

‘'If you know someone you loved had a devastating secret, would you choose to find out what it was or love them for who they've become? If you knew you did something terrible, would you want to remember or live with that shadow for the rest of your life?''

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

About two years ago, I watched a documentary about the tremendous ordeal of the Donner Party, a group of American Pioneers on their way to California in a wagon train. A number of the group had to resort to the act of cannibalism in order to survive when disaster stroke. I am always attracted to stories that involve controversial issues and what better genre to narrate such a story than Historical Fiction. So, this book proved to be an interesting, well-constructed example of Historical Fiction. Nothing out of the ordinary but well-written and satisfying enough for me to consider it a successful read.

We follow Jessie and Daniel, the main characters, in a journey full of hardships and obstacles that are created not only by nature but by the ones around them. It is always the same story in every era, isn't it? The prejudice, the stereotypes, the way one can damage your reputation and mark you for the rest of your life. In this case, the theme of Munn's novel is quite modern and universal. This becomes much more evident when it comes to the position of women in society. Jessie has to behave in a certain manner. She has to marry. She has to avoid making decisions of her own. She must be prevented from thinking for herself, she must be discouraged from obtaining land that belongs to her and only to her. She must be stopped from loving the man she wants to love. It doesn't get more suffocating than that and the way Munn composes the story is satisfying and atmospheric. The depiction of the Antebellum era, the daily life, the convictions were brilliantly portrayed. The dialogues were vivid, although there was too much repetition at certain points. Still, the interactions were faithful to the era and I didn't notice any anachronistic phrases that would make me cringe.

The two main characters are excellent. Both Jessie and Daniel are powerful, opinionated individuals with Daniel being a bit more complex and with a much more interesting background. They are realistic and their choices echoed the restrictions and dangers of their era. I admired Jessie for her courage and her determination to defy traditions and I could certainly see Daniel as an ambiguous, protective, tormented figure. And on a girly note, any woman would fall in love with him, so please...

Don't be fooled by the hideous cover. The book had been published in the '90s with a much better cover that suited the essence of the story. This is not a Romance. This is a very well-written Historical Fiction novel that happens to include a man and a woman that fall in love with each other. This is one aspect of the story not the whole plot. It is tastefully written and the prose has an almost nostalgic era, sounding dated but in a positive way. This is the reason why I wasn't bothered by the sentimental part of the story. I wasn't focused on it. My attention was on the depiction of the era and the social and moral prejudices inflicted on women. I read this book as an example of Historical Fiction and this is exactly what I found.

‘'When I was small, going home past the forest at the end of the summer evening, I used to see shining people between the trees.''

My first experience with Michelle De Kretser's work was her atmospheric, tender historical novelThe Rose Grower . Therefore, I knew I was in good hands when I came across her novella Springtime characterized as a ghost story. It is indeed short and exquisite. And the most important thing of all is that it will make you think and decide as to the outcome. For there are no clear answers...

‘'...in Sydney the streets ran everywhere like something spilled''

The story follows Frances in her new life in Sydney along with Charlie who has a son from his first marriage. As she tries to adopt to these new surroundings with the sole support of her dog, Rod, she comes across a woman in a garden, dressed in period clothes. Who is she? A ghost? A trick of France's mind? So, she goes on with her life and the apparition never leaves her mind. It is there, in the back of her head, as a strained relationship begins to unfold and the shadow of another woman, much too real and tangible, haunts France's life.

I will keep this review short because you really need to read Springtime to fully appreciate it. There are so many themes for discussion and consideration. The doubt over a relationship that may not last, a new environment, a new house, people you have to interact with although they're absolutely appalling to you. Above all, the fight to convince yourself that everything will work out in the end. There is a lovely period touch since Frances is a writer specializing in 18th century gardens, something that gives her an aura of mystery. The same quality permeates the writing as a whole. A ghost story may refer to a number of things. We don't have to necessarily be certain that what we saw was an actual apparition. Sometimes, the spectre at the feast is much more troubling and frightening. The inner fear of potential failure, of not being enough, of not knowing what we really want. The prose reminded me of Susan Hill's beautiful, ambiguous short stories that stand upon the border between reality and a world beyond our own. A hazy, hypnotic atmosphere with seemingly disjointed passages and a main character who is marvelously developed and mysterious enough to raise more questions as we read.

If you find Springtime, don't let it slip away. Don't be dissuaded by the unjustly negative reviews. Read it and decide for yourselves...

My review can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

I never thought that I would find finishing a book set in New Orleans, with a story that includes witches and voodoo traditions and everything such a chore...And yet, it happened. I prompted myself to finish it, I even bribed me with chocolate and ice cream and it was painful. And sad. And it lasted for about two months and a half. And not even watching Clayne Crawford in ‘‘Lethal Weapon'' could make me feel better...

I won't occupy your time with long paragraphs. All the problems I faced with this novel have been described in wonderful reviews. The issues started fairly early and everything went downhill from the sixth, seventh chapter. There was little to no development. The characters were utterly ludicrous with the exception of Alice that was drowned in the sea of indifference. The dialogue was mediocre, at best, and I felt as if I was watching a teen TV series with witches and vampires. Since I don't watch those, the book was not for me. I thought I would love it because I love New Orleans and witches but this novel had very little to give me. Almost nothing apart from a handful of beautiful New Orleans descriptions.

I know many readers enjoyed this one. Many others didn't and it is sad to say that I fall into the second category...

Many thanks to 47North and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

''There are things out there that will hurt you.''

Even though thrillers aren't among my favourite reads, this one had all the right ingredients. A mix of Dystopian Fiction with a healthy dose of Paranormal and two extremely interesting main characters. It was creepy and fascinating.

News of a series of completely abnormal action begin to reach the USA. In a contemporary world, violent deaths start from an area in Russia and escalate, spreading everywhere. What is it that makes these deaths horrifying? They take place without a reason. Everyday people, citizens of quiet towns, people like us start attacking others and kill them in terrifying ways. They attack family and friends. They know no boundaries and then they kill themselves. And the explanation can be found in a source that is even more terrifying than the deaths. Something they saw turned ordinary people into vicious murderers. What is it? Nobody knows. Are they creatures? Is it a virus? No matter the cause, the result is a world that is now empty, devoid of life and time. Everything we've ever known falls into darkness because to open your eyes means death.

''The world, the outdoors, is being shut down.''

The story itself is the main reason I enjoyed Bird Box so much. Malorie, the main charcater, is a young mother of two unnamed children. They're just called Boy and Girl. They only know the house they were born into as their world. In this house, Malorie found a refuge four years ago, along with a few people who wanted to survive, each one having gone through a terrible loss. I don't know what kind of environment could be more claustrophobic and nerve-wrecking. Is there anything more valuable than our sight? Imagine a world where we are forbidden to look outside, to look at a fellow human being, our own family...In this house, the characters toy with their lives. Each day, each passing moment. It is a fight for everything. To bring water into the house, to make sure every possible opening is covered. There is fear and there are questions that can't be answered. And I couldn't help but anticipate danger from every person we met. When would madness strike?Who could possibly have the weakest composure to jeopardize everyone's survival?

One of the things that prevent me from appreciating thrillers is the lack of developed characters and the cliché  dialogue. This novel is different, in my opinion. Malorie is a really well-written character, one I could see as realistic and a leader, with her feet firmly on the ground. Her actions were fully justified. Everyone would have acted in the same way if we had been in her situation. I pray we never will....And Tom is a character I was interested in from his first appearance. Both the characters and the dialogue were really satisfying, in my opinion, and combined with the haunting prose they created an extremely memorable read.

I don't need to feel frightened in order to like a book. If the story is properly put together and the characters are interesting and as realistic as possible, I am satisfied. With Bird Box, I wasn't frightened per se but I felt anxious, nervous and, yes, there were a few moments when my blood froze a little. I found the concept creepy and the execution successful. You know there is danger out, in the open, but you don't know what it is. If you don't know what threatens you, how can you fight it? So, I don't think it can get scarier than that....

''And what scares you more? The creatures or yourself, as the memories of a million sights and colours come, flooding towards you? What scares you more?''

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

‘'There are three suns in the sky and it is the last day of autumn- perhaps for ever.''

Since Dystopian Fiction is one of my favourite genres, The Sunlight Pilgrims had been on my list for quite some time. When one has read a significant number of Dystopian novels, the risk to feel that what you read is one of the same is always present. Thankfully this is not the case with Jenni Fagan's brilliant novel. It is beautifully written, full of emotions and with brilliantly developed themes that center around human beings and their feelings within the context of a threatening environment as Nature takes her revenge on the ones who have been violating her mercilessly for decades and decades.

The year is 2020 and we are in Scotland, in a place called Clachan Fells that corresponds to the area of Campsie Fells, in central Scotland. The heaviest winter in the last 200 years has arrived and with it a terrible threat all over the world.An enormous iceberg is rapidly heading towards Britain and the casualties begin only to progress to unimaginable numbers. Three exquisite characters come together at this point. Constance, a bright young woman, feisty and brave. Stella, her daughter, who hides a shocking (to some) secret of her own. Dylan, a young man, full of doubts and despair. The relationship and the feelings of these characters are the focal point of the novel, making it as rich and fascinating as it is.

‘'It's old Mother Frost. She wants her wolves back.''

The story is beautiful and terrifying. The white of an endless winter, the dark of the longest night compose a striking canvas upon which the lives of our characters unfold. How can something so beautiful be so threatening? How did we come to this? Why do humans destroy everything they touch? Why do they vilify everything they don't understand? These are the questions Stella asks, reflecting on her own life and the danger she faces, not from Nature but from humans who are the greatest criminals, hypocrites, destroyers. It is recklessness and narrow mindedness that has brought everyone to point zero and the children still aren't taught to respects the others. Therefore, what kind of future can really exist?

Fagan's talent is more than evident. Without missing the importance of the setting she created, she finds the balance between a potentially apocalyptic world and the fact that emotions know no such boundaries. Love, hope, fear, regret still exist and bring us together if we let our own ice melt for a moment. She creates vivid dialogues with a poetic touch and an almost whimsical language, particularly in Stella's speech and thoughts. While Fagan describes the casualties, the riots, the havoc that has affected the citizens of the planet (...would that they had known better....), she creates images of the Bonfire Night, the fairy lights and the Christmas decorations, the snowflakes in all their quiet beauty. We have unique autumnal and wintry scenery descriptions and, possibly, the finest passage about sexual intercourse I've ever read. She deals with issues and themes, which would have appeared mundane or even gross in the hands of an incompetent writer, with grace and raw emotions where needed. This is how a good book is written.

A good book, friends, doesn't restrict itself into labels. Is it YA or not? I don't know. Is every novel that includes a teenage character a YA story? Who cares? Why is this important? What we should find attractive in The Sunlight Pilgrims is the fact that the themes of acceptance, tolerance and self-discovery within a world in danger are masterfully communicated. The rest are for argumentative reasons just because. This is not a post- apocalyptic universe. This is a very tangible reality that is closer than we think.

‘'...a woman who polishes the moon.''

I can't begin to describe my admiration for the character of Constance. A dreamer, an idealist and a pragmatist. A mother who goes above and beyond to create a safe haven for her child, both physically and psychologically. And this is what terrifies most of those who come in contact with her. This is why Dylan- a wonderful character- falls in love with her. Because, he is honest with himself and unafraid to face his demons.

‘'She is the fire and her daughter is wind.''

Stella must be one of the most unique, most complex and sympathetic characters ever written. Faced with a seemingly impossible choice, she is sure of herself and her needs and fights for her beliefs. A true child of her mother, she has the unfortunate fate to live in a world that doesn't understand. So, she makes it her mission to make them understand. Not only for herself but for the future of all those she loves.

If one wants to read a story where creatures like the White Walkers invade a frozen planet of where frozen zombies chase rugged-clothed survivors, then this book isn't a suitable read. You can watch Hollywood productions. If you want to read one of the most hauntingly poetic novels, then The Sunlight Pilgrims will not disappoint you.

“...the child of a wolf may not feel like she has fangs until she finds herself facing the moon, but they are still there the whole time regardless.”

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

‘'A seagull swept in over Fife through the silence and moonlight under a cloud-free night sky. Below, the river shone like silver. On the west of the river- like an immense fortress wall- a steep black mountain rose to the sky.''

Without any prologue and lengthy introductions, I must tell you that this book is a masterpiece. It has the status of a classic, the making of a novel that will defy time. Nesbø took the masterpiece by William Shakespeare and elevated it to new heights. If you follow my reviews, you know that I have two obsessions: Wuthering Heights and Macbeth. I never thought I'd say that another writer would come to rival the greatness of the Scottish Play but there you have it. Sacrilege verified.

Nesbø sets the action in Scotland, during the 70's and we are transported into the fickle, cruel world of casinos, the drug ‘'market'' and the universe of high crime. Everything is masterfully crafted to reflect Shakespeare's world. Macbeth is the head of the SWAT unit, Lady is the owner of a quality casino, Banquo is Macbeth's mentor. The Norse Riders gang is the main rival and Hecate is the mob boss who appears to move the strings and direct the characters' fate. See what Nesbø did there? I think you do and I tell you it is a marvelous stance. He shows how Fate arms Macbeth's hand and the sequence of events is immediate. The consequences unavoidable and irreversible.

‘'The king of hearts and the queen of spades. That evening they met under an evil moon.''

As in the original material, the finest scenes are the ones between Macbeth and Lady. Dare I say that their relationship in Nesbø's retelling is even more fleshed out and poignant? Well, I do because it's the truth. If you love this frighteningly alluring couple in the Bard's play, you will fall head-over-heels for them in this novel. Macbeth is perfectly drawn. He's slightly more malicious and ruthless than his Shakespearean counterpart but this is to be expected given the setting and the direction of the story. Because of Hecate's brew, Macbeth's visions start early and they are striking. The depiction of his guilt and the emotional toil of his actions, his steady descent into despair, his surrendering to his fate is a devastating process to read and knowing the outcome makes it even worse, it makes it even more powerful.

‘'I sleepwalk in the darkest night without hurting myself.''

Lovely Lady...She is brilliant, as fascinating and dangerous as the Queen of Scotland. And do you know what I enjoyed the most? The fact that in Nesbø's version, Lady is a powerful woman who has come into her own without taking orders and sh...from men. She is more experienced, more intelligent than Macbeth. Their relationship is balanced and loving yet, she doesn't need him to define her as a person. She is not ‘'his'' queen, she is a woman who has forged herself through fire and steel and takes responsibility of her own choices. And in this version, she is granted a number of redeeming qualities that are absolutely absent in the original play.

‘'Sleep no more. Macbeth is murdering sleep.''

I cannot say much because spoilers are lurking. Even though we all know the original story, Nesbø has created quite a few twists and turns that forbid me to say much. It's a joy to be able to recognise the exact scenes from the Bard's play, the monologues and the famous quotes within the context of Nesbø's story, to pinpoint the parallel lines between the two works. The bleak atmosphere of Scotland, the fact that most of the action takes place during the night, the frenetic 70's vibe mirror the spirit of Macbeth to perfection. I didn't expect such a successful adaptation of Shakespeare's quotes into contemporary language without sacrificing their beauty, their impact, their significance. So major congratulations to Don Bartlett for the translation from the original Norwegian. The interactions are as solemn and as natural as they can be and the prose is rich in a distinct, dark Nordic beauty.

Naturally, I knew of Nesbø but I've never read any of his novels. I didn't let my expectations rise too much prior to reading this but to say that I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. Nesbø took the Nordic heritage and the dark Scottish setting and remained faithful to the original source. Without presuming to be equal to the Bard, full of respect and obviously aware of the tremendous responsibility, he created a work that would make William Shakespeare proud. So, read it, dearest friends. This is the best retelling of Shakespeare's work that we will ever come to know in our time...

‘'I owe it hell on earth.''

Many thanks to Penguin Random House, Hogarth UK and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review,

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com