Amalia Gkavea

A beautiful book that is so much more than an illustrated guide to one of the greatest cities in the world, New York.Through lovely illustrations and unpretentious language, this becomes a hymn not just to the city itself but to the people who are the heart of it, to multiculturalism,tolerance,honesty.A lesson as to how we can all live together and create wonders...

Having previously read Winter's Tales and Girls,Goddesses and Giants by Lari Don, I was led to Maggie Pearson's collections of haunting tales from all over the world.I chose The House of the Cats and Ghosts and Goblins. The latter was my first choice,a collection of 25 tales from the four corners of our planet,with things that go bump in the night as their protagonists.

“The Moddey-dhoo”:Coming from the haunting Isle of Man,a tale derived from the myth of the Hell hound.
“The Bride who Waited” :A heart-wrenching Native American tale.One of my favourites.
“The Vampire of Croylin Grange” :A story from England,with a few well-placed references to Wuthering Heights.
“Hold Him,Tubbs” :A tale from the South of the United States,with a very particular spook.
“The Grateful Dead” : A moving,haunting gypsy tale about the importance of kindness and honour in this world and the next.
“The Man of her Dreams” :A Nigerian story about a beautiful,spoiled girl and a mischievous spirit.
“Little Olle and the Troll” :A tale from Sweden in which we meet a cute,little,kind-hearted troll.
“Wungala” :The story of a brave mother and a rather ominous presence,coming from Australia.
“The Dauntless Girl” :A scary tale from Ireland,about a girl who played tricks with something she shouldn't have upset.
“The Ghost's Peso” :A funny story from Colombia in which a clever young woman tries to deal with her husband's ill choices.
“Jean-Loup” :When we combine chess,an old mill and wolves,what do we get? This lovely story from Canada.
“The Forest People” : A tale from New Zealand,about creatures who steal shadows.
“The Goblin Pong” :This tale from Brittany proves that we should all listen to grandma...
“The Haunting” :Now this story was CHILLING! I mean I got goose bumps when I finished it.It comes from the British Isles.
“Jacob and the Duppy” :The sixth sense of a donkey in a story coming from beautiful Jamaica.
“The Selkie's Revenge” :A haunting,sad tale from Scotland.
“As Cold as Clay” : A beautiful,tragic story of two lovers.From the United States of America.
“The Ghost on the Library” :A Chinese tale of a ghost who gets easily offended.
“Goldenhair” : From the beautiful,sunny island of Corsica, a story of a girl with golden hair and an evil suitor.
“The Werewolf's Bride” :From Spain, a story of dark secrets and evil intentions.
“The Hidden Hand” :A well-known Halloween urban legend from the USA.
“The River of Death” : A djinni tale from Morocco.
“The Cold Lady” : An eerie story with typical Japanese Horror elements.
“The Brownie Under the Bridge” :A Scottish tale of creatures lurking.
“A Room Full of Spirits” :A tale of troubled souls from Korea.

This is a wonderful collection of ghostly tales that are haunting,funny,tragic,full of premonitions and dark presences.Maggie Pearson succeeds in creating an ominous atmosphere in every tale before the reader reaches the great twist in the end.Highly recommended for all of us readers who enjoy being spooked by short yet powerful scary stories.Now,on to The House of the Cats !

There is something deeply mysterious in the air of London.Am I biased? Quite possibly yes, but I've had the blessing to find myself walking in its streets many times and what I felt there I haven't felt in any other city.The shadows that are cast over its buildings during the Blue Hour,the mist that arises from the water of Father Thames.When darkness falls,the visitor expects to hear the sound of carriages upon cobblestoned streets,mysterious passengers heading on shady endeavors, men in top hats and the butterflies of the night standing under the flickering light of the lamp posts. Yes,too much Dickens and Tom Hardy's Taboo can have that effect,but anyway...

What is really special and interesting with this book is that there aren't only urban legends of our recent times but also tales that would have been considered urban legends in the 16th century and onwards,most of them based on actual events that had a significant impact on the London society.Sculptures that are considered cursed and buildings of misfortune whose creators ended their lives with their own hand,inns and public houses with mysterious passages,hidden alleys that lead nowhere,water that runs through the walls of the city.Urban tales about Alexander McQueen,about the Beatles,the Who, about bars of ill repute and the songs that were inspired by them.

What frightened me most were the stories about incidents and weird phenomena connected to the Underground.Since the Tube is my way of commuting to work daily,I admit,I had an odd feeling standing on the platform of the Underground in Athens.I've always had the notion that many strange things may be taking place once the lights of the Tube go out and its gates are locked.I am weird anyway,so don't mind me...

A lovely book for all of us who love London and urban legends.And one more great addition to all those recent books about this magnificent,hauntingly beautiful capital.

• Disclaimer-The fact that Lars is one of my friends in Goodreads has nothing to do with my opinion of the book. I was interested in The Somnambulist's Dreams before Lars' invitation. Every opinion and comment is entirely my own.*
  
  ''There was no denying it was lonesome.''
  
  Few situations in life are lonelier than living in a lighthouse. How quiet it must be when the only thing you hear is the sound of the waves. How dark and frightening when a storm is raging and the human being is but an insignificant dot amidst the fighting elements. All these constitute the perfect environment for the birth of dreams, visions and hallucinations.
  
  The current lighthouse keeper on the coast of New England finds a collection of his predecessor's disjointed, weird writings. The man, whose name is Enoch Soule, claims to be a somnambulist, one who engages in sleepwalking (‘‘somnia'' means ‘‘dreams'' in Latin) and Enoch states that these writings are the dreams he's having night after night. The letters are addressed to his wife. This is the premise of this highly unusual and fascinating book.
  
  There are so many questions that arise from the first pages of the novel. Are Enoch's dream actual dreams or are they hallucinations? And, taking it to the extreme, is he shape-shifting or even teleporting? Hard to make any assumptions and that is what I really enjoyed in Lars' book. There are symbols and cryptic elements that force your mind to work in great speed as you read to try and uncover anything similar to an answer.
  
  The central symbol is the lighthouse. It rules over absolute darkness, it provides light in the midst of danger upon the troubled waves, it protects sailors by shielding them from certain death. For me, the lighthouse keepers stand there like the guardians of life, of safety and, perhaps, of a different knowledge and perception of the world. Then, comes the raven. The raven is the heart of the story, it provides the major element of magical realism, even surrealism, and acts like a crossover between Poe's Nevermore and Odin's Huginn and Muninn. Thus, the raven keeps all the answers to life and observes everything. Yet, it discloses nothing.
  
  The dreams create striking images as Enoch finds himself in Kenya, in Antarctica, in a cemetery full of Victorian Gothic features, in Space, in a cell, in a well. The story of the Taxidermist is my favourite. It is a haunting, nightmarish vision where the word ‘‘ghosts'' is mentioned for the first time. This dream echoes Poe's dark tales directly.
  
  The language is beautiful, communicating difficult questions in a powerful simplicity, working through dualities. Black and white, Darkness and Light, Death and Life. This antithesis is wonderfully depicted in the striking cover by Kyle Louis Fletcher. The current lighthouse keeper is -in my opinion- the most enigmatic presence in the book. We see Enoch's inner thoughts, strange as they are, but not once do we enter the mind of his successor who counts the silent minutes in his domain, and I found this particularly puzzling and fascinating. Edgar Allan Poe's presence is thoroughly felt during the narration and I also sensed an echo of Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco's plays.
  
  This is not an easy book, it won't give you answers, but will cause you to think and transport your mind into an apocalyptic world where nothing is as it seems...
  
  ''There is no winning or losing, only the eternal plasticity of the game itself.''

Up until the 5th season, I was an avid watcher of ‘‘Supernatural''. From then on, it went downhill and became too boring for me. Now I only watch a few episodes here and there. Still, this book will appeal to fans of the TV series and to those of us who are interested in the subject. It offers interesting information about the lore of the angels and the demons, about obscure deities of forgotten religions and the way they have been used during the progression of Dean and Sam's fight to retain the balance of the world. My favourite parts were the ones concerning the Fall of the Angels who sided with Lucifer and the stages of the Apocalypse. Why, then, did I rate this with 3 stars, you may ask. Well, there were some issues that hindered my 4-star rating and it would be dishonest on my part to overlook them.

My major problem came with the writer's constant use of the word ‘‘mythology'' to refer to the various religions. In my opinion, there are other words that can be used instead, such as ‘‘tradition'' and ‘‘belief''. This has nothing to do with political correctness or anything like that. It is just something that bothered me personally. I don't know what the writer's views on religion are, nor do I care to find out, but to call the beliefs of the followers of any kind of religion in our world ‘‘myths'' sounds quite rude to my ears.

Then, the writer criticises what he considers to be the spreading of ‘‘inaccurate'' information by the fans of the series. However, his research isn't that immaculate. He presents Freyja as Baldr's mother and wife to Odin, and states that she is sometimes called ‘‘Frigga''. Excuse me? There are certain theories that comment on the common Germanic roots of the deities, but in no way, is this the canon version of the story. I'd like to think that my knowledge of the Norse pantheon is quite adequate, and this was something that made me roll my eyes to the high heavens (failed pun intended...) Also, moving on to the Christian religion, he presents as a verified belief the theory that Mary Magdalene was Lazarus' sister and that John the Evangelist isn't the same John who wrote the Apocalypse. Just stop! There are arguments that support one or the other theory, but he speaks of them as if they are canon and verified beyond all doubt. And furthermore, his description of Plato's parable about the imprisoned men in the cave is widely inaccurate and I know it well, because in Greece, we are taught this myth since our first years in primary school.

I'm sure that most readers will be able to put these things aside and enjoy the book. However, being a picky person by nature, it would be a lie to say that I wasn't bothered or even offended. Otherwise, it is a book that offers much. What I cannot verify after the things I have read, is how much of the information he presents is valid and well-researched...

''The dead are like cats, Mahony. You of all people should know that. They don't always come when they're called.''

I added Jess Kidd's book when I first saw its deliciously creepy front cover and the striking title. It had all the right ingredients: Ireland during the 70s, magical realism, dry humour, gothic hints. When the lovely Goodreads Ireland group members chose it for our quarterly read, it was a perfect opportunity for me to start reading. Plus, it came highly recommended by my good friend Maria ní Chnoic so what more could I ask? And I can tell you it has been a wonderful trip with an exciting book!

''Here is a handsome stranger.''

Mahony arrives in Mulderrig in 1976, searching for answers about his parentage, about the disappearance of his mother, seeking justice from the members of the community. He is clever, extremely charismatic, attractive, aloof and a torchured soul himself. (...and can you tell I fell in love with him immediately?) However,he has some demons of his own to fight and, at the same time, a number of significant allies. It was the nature of these allies that made me think I was reading a unique kind of book.

''For the dead are drawn to those with shattered souls.''

Mahony is a shuttered soul, no matter how hard he tries to hide it, Orla was a shuttered soul, Shauna is troubled too. There is this large majority of the people in Mulderring whose lives have been plagued by secrets, sins, hatred and dogmatism. The dead demand justice for crimes committed by people with shady lives and motives. At the heart of this story lies an institution that is supposed to provide comfort and shelter to those in trouble: the Church.

The ominous figure of the village priest is a recurring theme in British and Irish Fiction. The priest gives sermons about the dangers of superstitions and speaks against ‘‘the wind of change coming from the cities.'' It is merely the favourite hobby of many members of the clergy who fear progress and the traditions of the ‘‘pagan'' past alike. He considers Theatre a pagan notion of corruption and disruption and tries to build up his defenses when he understands that Orla has returned for retribution in the face of Mahony.

The characters in Himself jump right from the page, both the ‘‘good'' and the ‘‘bad''. They are realistic depictions of a closely knit society who punishes those who wish to break free from suffocating beliefs and stereotypes. Mahony is easily one of the most fascinating characters I've ‘‘met'' recently (I confess I am totally and absolutely biased and I regret nothing. The fact that Kidd's description of him reminds me slightly of my boyfriend doesn't help...) but for me, the real ‘‘star'' of the story is Mrs. Cauley. My God, I loved her! She is a wonderful character, saucy and sassy and unashamed to put everyone in their place. I liked Shauna too. She is a calm, level-headed, tender soul. On the other hand, I hated Róisín, she disgusted me to no end...

There is a great danger of revealing spoilers with this novel. It is a book that flows. Short chapters and interactions pass by like a flash and make the story move so quickly, you need to pay your fullest attention in order to absorb everything that is going on. The language is simple, but beautiful, it makes you search under the layers to look for motives and answers. There are elements of black humour that are able to make you laugh out loud in a story that blends Crime Fiction and Paranormal Mystery in a brilliant way. Kidd has created some memorable scenes throughout the narration. The introduction of Ida and a nightly storm that brought the Ten Biblical Plagues in mind are particularly powerful moments.

I loved this book. I loved it as an example of Historical Fiction, of Mystery, of Crime, you name it. It is unique, beautiful and one more addition to all those fascinating books that we have the pleasure to read nowadays.

''The night is clear from mountain to sea as Mahony climbs the dark ribbon of road. Ahead of him the starlit forest slumbers. Behind him the moonlight skims and breaks over the mild-skinned water of the bay, which is as still as milk tonight. For the wind is lying low, curled into the strong back of the deep-sleeping velvet mountain.''
If that isn't Ireland in a paragraph, I don't know what is....

Always in the hunt for anything that belongs to the Nordic Fiction genre, I was led to The Ice Lands, a thriller set in Iceland. I hadn't read the reviews and I was immediately sold when I read the blurb.Plus,the Icelandic setting is more than enough to attract my attention.Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to make me like this book.

The story isn't something we've never seen before.Two young couples start a road trip to observe the glaciers and the Icelandic nature in general.They lose their way and find themselves in a house, in the middle of nowhere, an old couple being the only residents in the area.So far, this is not innovative at all, but it sure sounds intriguing.What promised to make it special was the setting.And it did, initially.There was a foreboding feeling during the first stages of the narration, a claustrophobic aura emanating from the house and the owners as opposed to the vastness of the landscape which his its own secrets.However, the writer seemed uncertain of the direction the story was about to take and the construction collapsed soon.

Bragi tries to touch on a lot of subjects, all of them relevant to our world as we know it.There are references to the political upheaval and the financial collapse of Iceland, the moral decay of the upper classes, the frequent use of drugs and alcohol as a way to overcome the distress caused by bankruptcy.There are also references to the Icelandic traditions about elves, trolls, fairies, etc. The Icelanders retain a deep belief in the supernatural. They respect its presence and, as a result, they manage to preserve their natural environment as much as possible, which is more than can be said for the majority of the countries of our planet.

Sadly, Bragi doesn't succeed in bringing all these issues to focus in a satisfying way.The writing is repetitive, devoid of soul, the dialogue is wooden, awkward, unrealistic.It seemed hard for me to believe that friends and couples would interact with each other in such a manner, no matter the cultural differences between cultures and codes of behaviour.These people were so rude to each other, I couldn't take them seriously after a while.Perhaps, it was a matter of translation, it often happens with Icelandic novels.In my opinion, it wasn't that. The writer tries too hard to create a kind of a mysterious, atmospheric language, but the result made me bored and disinterested in the story.As for the end? Well, having an open-ended story is one thing, having a conclusion that makes no sense at all is completely different.

My main problem was what I considered to be the wrong focus of the story.There was a kind of obsession with sex and the sexual lives of the characters. It was unnecessary, overdone and performed in a vulgar way.I am not interested whether these characters have special talents in the bedroom. I thought I was reading a thriller, not a cheap, trashy novel.I am not interested in a couple's troubled erotic life, I'm here for the mystery.Nor do I care about the different kinds of websites with sexual content.If your aim is to shock the reader, do so with your story, not with references to sick, twisted perversions involving minors.It was at this point when I seriously thought to abandon the book altogether.More than once.

The characters are all problematic, a typical feature in Nordic Fiction, but even this turns redundant in the hands of the writer.They consume drugs, they smoke and drink alcohol non-stop.This would be the perfect premise for the “unreliable narrator” trope but no, another failure.Vigdís is the only character that is decently written and developed.The male characters are hedious creatures and Anne is an irritating fool who tries to appear smart, when the only thing that she succeeds in is being manipulated by her disgusting boyfriend.

There was much potential to the story, in the hands of any capable writer it would have been a blast.Here, the execution is choppy, the characters try too hard to come across as troubled and torchured, and the focus on sex made the book a trashy read, something that I just couldn't take seriously.It lacked any basic element of a good book,the haunting,distinctive aura that makes the Nordic Mystery such a fascinating genre. I am sorry to say that this is one of its poorest examples.

''There was an enormous crack in the world.''

What constitutes a successful union between two people who love each other? The ability to have the courage to mend the cracks that appear in an alarming speed as the years go by. Now, in the marriage of Lotto and Mathilde, the cracks are there from the beginning. Especially in Lotto and all they have to do is to ignore them and move on. But Groff's novel is completely devoid of cracks or any other fault for that matter. In fact, it is plain and simple, one of the most interesting, daring and honest books I've ever had the pleasure to read.

I chose to read this novel, guided by the raving reviews of many beloved friends here, in Goodreads, and attracted by the claim that Groff had been inspired by Ancient Greek Tragedy. I was surprised to see that this is not just a very well-written love story, but also an immensely beautiful trip down the historical changes that New York and its society underwent from the early 90s all the way through our troubled present. To do so through the eyes of a squad of artists, in all their vanity and sensitivity, was satisfying and, frankly, hugely entertaining.

Groff touches upon so many subjects, one wouldn't know where to begin. The way I see it, the main themes are love and aspirations. We witness a relationship that starts in a rather unorthodox way. Lotto and Mathilde get married out of the blue and then, they have to learn how to live together, how to fight the daily problems, how to know each other and come to understand themselves in the process. Their relationship is presented in such a beautiful way that even a sworn enemy of marriage (such as myself) has to take a step back and contemplate for a while.

However, in my opinion, the notion that lies at the heart of the story is the way our aspirations influence our course in life once they are fulfilled or-worse- once we realise that they have become dreams of a past that is slowly fading away...Groff's writing took me back to the time when I was studying, when me and my friends thought that we would be able to change the world once we graduate from university. Instead, we slowly found out that the world actually changed us. Worries about our families, our work, our financial status, our relationships with our loved ones, all those things that make you feel you have entered the universe of the adults and their responsibilities.

Lotto, in particular, changes route and tries to fulfill his ambitions from a different starting point. And he succeeds. Mathilde? She remains the steady rock that binds him to the present and holds their life together. There comes my only problem with the novel. Mathilde makes the decision to stop working after Lotto's success -which took a long time to take place- and becomes the wife who cleans, cooks, etc. Perhaps, she didn't want to follow her dreams, after all. Perhaps,she found fulfillment through the role of the lady of the house, perhaps she needed to cast away her own demons of the past. I don't know and I don't judge her. I respect it, but I don't understand it, and it was at that time when I felt that the book was too centered to Lotto and his actions. This was too harsh of me, but I couldn't have foreseen the great bomb that exploded and shuttered everything to pieces...

What can I say about Groff's writing? I'm going to resort to clichés, but I cannot help it. The language she uses is so powerful, so immediate, so creative. The style is unique, a third-person narration, with some slight but intricately woven hints of stream of consciousness. The dialogue is sharp, without unnecessary words, the pace leaves you breathless in a story that spans over twenty years, centered on two people. I enjoyed the New York colloquialisms and the fact that I could see and feel the changing city over the years, changes that were depicted in the characters and their interactions.

What is the most fascinating element in this novel? For me, it is the title. Fates and Furies... Why Fates? Why Furies? It had me wondering. The notion of Fate lies at the centre of the Greek tragedies, the three women who controlled and, eventually, cut the thread of all mortals' lives, the Moirai : Clotho, Atropos and Lachesis. The Furies, the Erinyes, were wild, winged female deities. Alecto, Megaera and Tisiphone. They hunted and haunted the wrongdoers without mercy, for the rest of their lives. Orestes is the well-known example, punished for the murder of his mother, Clytemnestra. So, Fates and Furies are our daily escorts, from the moment we are born until the day we depart from this world. They are the two sides of the same coin and Groff uses them in such a successful way that would make Euripides, Sophocles and Aeschylus proud...

I was reading this book while I was commuting to work and back. There were instances when it almost slipped off my hands out of sheer shock, others because of my anger caused by certain stupid decisions of the couple. I don't know how can anyone read this novel and feel absolutely nothing. I think it's impossible. One cannot remain indifferent in front of life and Lauren Groff takes life's notions, twists them and awakes every bit and every kind of emotion to the reader. It is a book that speaks with a voice of anger, despair and hope, and we feel compelled to listen...Carefully...

''Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the universe.''
Albert Einstein

A hilarious, highly entertaining (and informative) read. And guaranteed to put a smile on our face and make us thank our good fortune that we aren't as stupid as the -many- people whose actions were so dumb that became book-material.

Naturally, honourable mention to the stupidities uttered by politicians. To tell the truth, if writers ever attempt to record every single idiotic thing those people have said throughout the ages, they'll create a series longer than any existing franchise...

Strange as it may seem, I hadn't watched the film version of ''The Exorcist'' until last summer. I know, shame on me, but you see, I thought I wouldn't be able to take it seriously. I don't believe in possessions or devils or any of these things, although I love to read about them. Of course, I knew of Blatty's novel and I was aware of the cutie little green Pazuzu-face of young Regan, but since I don't believe in the main theme of the story, I knew I wouldn't be able to appreciate the film, right? Wrong! I admit I should have watched it sooner. I wasn't scared, however, only a little bit disgusted, but it was unsettling and full of interesting underlying information about psychology and the mentality behind the cases where exorcisms sounded as the best solution. Not to mention Max Von Sydow's formidable presence. Therefore, I eagerly searched for the novel and stared reading to appreciate the story under a new light.

So, just as I believed, the novel is very, very good. Better than the film, its impact was felt immediately, and I must confess that I avoided reading it when I was alone in my house. I don't know why, but it made me nervous in a way the movie never did. To watch Regan's trip down to Hell, to anticipate the beginning of the child's ordeal was trully, trully agonizing. Naturally, this was possible due to the power of the author's writing. Blatty uses short sentences and everyday speech and the narration becomes much more immediate and the images more powerful. Certain infamous scenes of the film are a lot more graphic and highly disturbing in the book.

As in the film, my favourite character was Father Karras. I have a soft spot for him- partly due to him being Greek- but I feel that he represents the heart of the story. The struggle to seek the answers to his questions, the doubts over his faith and the agony to help in the name of God, the insecurity and lack of faith to himself and his abilities as a priest and as a doctor, are issues that are daily relevant to a significant number of people. On the other hand, I never warmed to the character of Chris, Regan's mother. I admired the fact that she was down to earth and close to her daughter as much as possible, given her demanding profession, but for some reason, I consider her rather naive and a bit stupid, to be honest. Perhaps I am a little harsher than I should, but her interactions with Regan's doctors and with Karras didn't exactly make her look like the sharpest knife in the drawer.

So, a great book that would have been a success even if the film had never come to pass. A loud applause to the producers who allowed Blatty to handle his own book and transfer it to the big screen, and the results are obvious in a well-made film that opened new paths to the Horror genre, Of course, on a personal note, it still can't hold a candle to ''The Omen''. Oh, and that sceneYes, the spider-walk...It's in the book, obviously, and may I say, it is even creepier than in the film. I had nightmares with this...

I once read that the moment science is able to decode everything that goes on in the mind and soul of children, mankind will have revealed all its secrets. Those of us who work closely with them know that they are little angels -most of the times- but they are also capable of immense cruelty and malice towards each other, their parents and their teachers. This collection of essays deals with the subject of children that aren't just momentarily cruel, but evil to the core, mostly because of factors that are impossible to defeat by human intervention.

Written in a clear language, the essays present a wide range of depictions of problematic children in books and films. Possessed children, changelings, children that have been turned into vampires, even the urban legend of the Black Eyed Kids makes an appearence. We meet Damien from ''The Omen'', Regan from ''The Exorcist'', Claudia from ''Interview With A Vampire'', Eli from ''Let the Right One In'', the fairy children of Ireland and the demonic ones from India. The chapter dedicated to ghostly children and the myths associated to them from all over the world is particularly chilling.

This is not an easy read in the sense that the theme it chooses to present is disturbing. But for those who like to delve into the myths and legends that are dark in their core, or even for those who ‘‘enjoy'' thrillers and good horror films and books, this collection is an essential read. Thanks to this, I discovered a 2012 film called ‘‘Sinister'' with Ethan Hawke, one of the finest, most unsettling horror movies out there.

That's it! I admit defeat! I never thought I'd abandon a book with this subject matter, but there is a distinctive line between a well-researched historical novel and one that is full of words without meaning, less-than- zero action, flat characters and dialogues that repeat the same things over and over again. I've been struggling with this for about a month, each time I attempted to continue with my reading I felt as if I was preparing to climb Mount Everest. At least, that would have been rewarding...This doesn't even deserve a star...

So, as Private Reiben said...http://www.getyarn.io/yarn-clip/e851e646-a1e8-44dd-a2d7-6498cbf4ccf5/gif

''I once thought to kill myself so that I would no longer wander through a fog such as this. How could it be any greater crime than that which I have already faced, committed, failed to undo? Yet I am a coward.''I had included To the Bright Edge of the World on my list, long before I know of Ivey's [b:The Snow Child 11250053 The Snow Child Eowyn Ivey https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327098624l/11250053.SY75.jpg 16176521]- a book that touched me deeply. My interest was picked for two reasons: First, I have a deep love for the region of Alaska, and second, the book synopsis brought to my mind a beautiful film called ''The Snow Walker with the brilliant Barry Pepper. In the film, a Canadian pilot is stranded in the arctic tundra, in Canada's Northwest region and comes to terms with the true meanings of life through the eyes of a young Innuit woman. If you haven't seen the film, please do. You'll thank me later:)Now, there are so many things to love in this book. Ivey's writing shines through beautiful sentences and well-composed dialogue and inner monologues. She ties the worlds of the past and the present by using elements of myth and folklore of the indigenous people of Alaska and, at the same time, she presents the first steps of the art of Photography to describe the beginning of a new era and the newly-found life of our heroine, Sophie.''When expectation fails to ruins, what is there left for love?''I have an immense admiration for ravens and wolves, I find them to be fascinating, full of mystery, darkness and questionable intentions. Therefore, I will devour every book with references to either of these creatures (or both, as is the case here.) So, Ivey uses symbolism and sets of contrasts to tell the parallel lives of Allen and Sophie as he is in a deadly expedition and she remains behind to wait for him and for the child she's carrying. The raven, here, is an ominous symbol of death that must be exorcised, witnessed by Sophie and by Allen who come to believe that the black bird has been following their steps all along.Another contrast takes place between Sophie and the young indigenous woman who follows the expedition. While the latter is free to choose her own husband and roam wherever she wants, Sophie is stuck in the outrageous patriarchal restrictions of the past. The majority of the men consider her to be a frail, vain woman when she is the complete opposite. The narrow-mindness of the woman of her social circle comes through as they have been brought up with such notions as ‘‘propriety'' and ‘‘female behaviour''. They constantly try to infect Sophie with their views and she is as trapped with them as Allen is trapped in the ferocious Wolverine river.The use of birds links the couple in a diverse way. Sophie loves the fluttering sound of hummingbirds and their presence is a source of happiness and tranquility for her. For Allen, however, the geese he often sees appear frightening as monsters and unreal like hallucinations.The couple compliment each other in every way, not unlike Jack and Mabel of [b:The Snow Child 11250053 The Snow Child Eowyn Ivey https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327098624l/11250053.SY75.jpg 16176521]. For me, though, they are not as interesting as the elder couple. I enjoyed Allen's parts, I was waiting for the continuation of his expedition eagerly. The parts of Sophie, however, didn't attract my attention as much as I thought they would. There were some I liked and quite a few that tempted me to scan and skim.The character of Sophie is one I am on the fence about. I found her too docile to the insulting and hateful company of Mrs Connors and the ‘‘ladies'' of the ‘‘polite'' society. I admired her determination, and courage, her persistance and bravery, but I don't consider her a particularly memorable character. Allen is more interesting, probably, because his adventure is fascinating, mystical and unpredictable and this is an advantageous ark for the development of a character. He is brave, rational and not easily susceptible to fear and prejudice. However, he isn't a hero we haven't seen before nor one we won't see in other stories. Like Sophie, he is well-developed, but I won't remember him in detail after some time has passed.This is a slow burn. As the narration is largely supported in diary entries and correspondence, there is not much dialogue. Newspaper clippings and some beautiful photographs and sketches create a unique combination. I admit, though, that the letters between Josh and Walt were a torchure. I understand that this was a way to connect the past to the present, but I found them tedious, repetitive, soap-operish. They slowed the narration even more. In my opinion, they didn't offer anything interesting to the story and the writing in them was too mellow for my liking.I can't say I connected to the story and the characters the way I did in [b:The Snow Child 11250053 The Snow Child Eowyn Ivey https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327098624l/11250053.SY75.jpg 16176521], but this is a vastly different book. The beauty of Ivey's writing is present along with elements of magical realism and folklore that she uses in a convincing way. She doesn't repeat herself, prefering one book over the other is purely subjective. So, this may not have worked that well for me- mainly because I found Sophie too blunt- but both books are unique and Eowyn Ivey is a writer that is certain to offer us many more great stories, full of beauty, magic and hope. God knows how much we need all three in this time of ours...

''Even the forest grows new oaks.''When I see a book by Edward Rutherfurd, the effects are the same as when I see a creation by Ken Follett. I believe that most die-hard lovers of Historical Fiction have placed these two writers on a high pedestal. Rutherfurd's books aren't heavy on the romance element like Follett's and this is a significant plus for me. So, it was with great enthusiasm that I started reading The Forest and I was not disappointed.But why did Rutherfurd choose to write about the Forest? Well, The New Forest in the county of Hampshire is a place steeped in history and folklore. It is the largest ancient forest in England and therefore, it stands as an everlasting witness to many crucial moments in British History. Prince Richard and William II, the sons of William the Conqueror, died in the Forest and the legend goes that they died as a punishment for their father's faults. A mix of folktales and apocryphas covers the area making it one of the most fascinating and mystical places to visit in England. A version of King Arthur's legend claims that there is a hidden lake said to have been the birthplace of Excalibur and the domain of the Lady of the Lake. On July 31 in 1940, the English witches gathered in the New Forest and raised a powerful cone to stop the advances of Hitler's forces. Many stories of ghosts and weird, unexplained sightings grace the place and the village of Beaulieu is particularly high in the list of strange activity.It goes without saying that all these elements are present in Rutherfurd's book and dealt with in a unique, beautiful way. The history of the forest is told in nine stories, through the eyes of two opposing families (Rutherfurd's favourite technique) and their course over the ages and the generations. Each story centers around two powerful themes, the struggle for power and the worries over the preservation of the forest. We see that the machinations people use to climb up the ladder of society and the effects of greed over the natural environment are similar through time in an eerie, discomforting way.For me, the stories that really stand out in The Forest are ‘‘The Hunt'', ‘‘Beaulieu'', ‘‘Alice'' and ‘‘The Albion Park'', although each story is a necessary piece of the beautiful puzzle the writer has created. In ‘‘The Hunt'' , set in the era of William the Conqueror, we meet a wonderful allusion of Man Vs Nature in the form of the agony of a young doe to protect her newly-born fawn during the continuous huntings of the nobles in the sacred forest. Like the beautiful doe, Adela -the heroine of the story- is trying to break free from the patriarchal society, being in the unfortunate position of having a noble name but no dowry.''Beaulieu'' is set in the era of Edward I, the well-known Longshanks. Here, we see the games the Church uses to gain control of the Forest over the noblemen. At the heart of the story is a beautiful relationship between two people who are separated by the Law of God and the laws of men alike. Brother Adam is an extremely well-written character and I would surely read a novel with him as the central hero.''Alice'' is derived from a well-documented trial case, during the Restoration era. Rutherfurd focuses on a woman's fight to protect herself and her children from the follies of her husband, in the midst of a mad civil war about Religion and Power. Yes, the story is obviously set in the terrifying years of Cromwell's revolution and its aftermath.In ‘‘Albion Park'', the longest story in the book set in 1794, he has created characters that are possible to anger you to the high heavens.Mrs Grockleton, a hybrid of Mrs Bennet and Catherine De Bourgh, Adelaide Albion, the unmarried aunt who has remained stuck in the feuds of the past and wants to control everything and everyone, Louise who strongly resembles the empty-headed, gold-digging girls in Jane Austen's books and Fanny, the main heroine, who is very intelligent but so docile and devoted to her family that she needs a rather big shock in order to face reality. I could notice some elements from Austen's Emma in Fanny's character, but without the sharpness of spirit and liveness of character that characterize our favourite matchmaker.The last part of the book ties the past and the present in a brilliant way. I don't have much to say about Rutherfurd's writing, I am not able to. His descriptions take you right into the heart of the mystical forest, you can feel the wind, see the leaves change, the huts, the running deer, the chirping of the birds. He manages to use the right form of language for every era he depicts, and it is simply astonishing. You'd think that ‘‘Albion Park'' has been written by Jane Austen, his interactions are so faithful, his research shows the traces of a great Historical Fiction writer, equal to Ken Follett and much better than Bernard Cornwell. His books are a source of knowledge and a jewell for every bookcase.So, on to the next one. Will it be [b:London 92160 London Edward Rutherfurd https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320450619l/92160.SY75.jpg 3139753] or [b:Russka: The Novel of Russia 92162 Russka The Novel of Russia Edward Rutherfurd https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320541880l/92162.SY75.jpg 1269162]?Decisions....

This is a book that had been waiting patiently in my TBR list and I had been waiting for the right moment to start reading. I wanted to be focused, my mind concentrated, because the concept of the book- a combination of feelings and daily problems and the way they are depicted in various novels- was so interesting and unique. However, when that moment came, I discovered that this was a self-help book (or an attempt to create one) and an overall disappointing read.

What I liked was the snippets of advice and tips on how to improve various ‘reading' problems, such as lack of space, having trouble to locate one of your books or keeping a steady reading pace. These are scattered among the entries and I really enjoyed them. They offered a few interesting information and solutions.

Unfortunately, the list of the things I liked ends here. There were many issues I had problems with and the common denominator was the writing. The way the book is written is less than adequate for such a difficult, demanding concept.

First of all, it's not very wise to provide a summary of each book along with its ending. I mean, if we come to think of it, it's almost idiotic. The authors make suggestions to us as to which book we should read and the conclusion of the majority of the novels is made clear. Now, I'm not one to get panicked by spoilers. Far from it. I have been spoiled quite a few times and yet my interest remained undiminished, but here, with this book and the aim it tries to accomplish, it doesn't seem like a successful choice.

The way the entries are organised is rather messed-up. For example, there are entries with no book suggestions, leading you back to a similar ‘‘ailment''. The writing itself is not satisfying at all. The way the authors summarize a number of books is below average, as if they're writing for teenagers who are just starting their way in the world of Literature. Their summary for Graves' I, Claudius is cringe-worthy. Not to mention the phrase ''Literature is fond of its lunatics''. and their rather insulting comments about poverty and choice in the entry of The Great Gatsby. In my opinion, the writers' attempt to sound humorous and smart failed. They succeeded in appearing rude, condescending and full of self-centered pats on their own shoulders.

The writers' advice is rather tasteless and tactless. Not good. I found them to be void, irrelevant, as if they come from one of those women's magazines. This is not the language of a book which wants to be taken seriously. Yet again, it may be that this was not the writers'purpose.

The premise was interesting and imaginative, but apart from a tiny few good moments, the execution left a lot to be desired and the writing was so average. It quickly became a ‘‘self-help'' book and this is a genre I loathe. What confuses me is that I can't really tell what the writers aimed for. However, I know that I didn't enjoy it, only proceeded through the pages like a chore and this is never a good sign. For me, this is probably the worst book-about-books I've read and the first to make me think that there are too many letters in the alphabet...

This is a wonderful little collection of stories that are chilling and, at times, rather funny. A blend of urban legends and folk tales of ghosts and other creatures of the night and a series of sketches that are as ‘‘scary'' as the stories they accompany create a result that is perfect for Halloween, for a cold winter's night or a stormy summer evening.

I know now who my ever- faithful companions for life are. Meet Mister Social Anxiety and Mister Over-Thinking while Mister Crippling Lack of Self-Confidence appears in many Oscar-worthy cameos. And these gentlemen are gloriously presented by the pen of the magnificent and ridiculously talented Sarah Andersen.

I feel so connected to the wonderful character Andersen has created. The introverted, procrastinating, awkward me was constantly nodding in agreement over every sketch. It is a glorious feeling when you close a cute, little book and you discover you have a big smile on your face. And let me tell you, the world of antithesis between introverts and extroverts that Sarah has created is a very pretty, amusing, and comforting place...
.....and a little terrifying, but I have my shock-blanket just to be on the safe side...

This book cannot even justify the one-star rating. I read it as fast as I could like a personal mental exercise. I wanted to test my irritation limits, how much nonsence I could handle before I said ‘‘ok, that's enough.'' I dont know how I managed to finish it, but I did. Now, I want to forget everything about it.

Consider yourselves warned...A rant of epic proportions is about to begin...

When I saw the title, I thought ‘‘Oh, this is going to be great!''. When I saw the imposing Ellen Terry front cover, with the goddess of Theatre in Lady Macbeth's famous beetlewing dress, I said ‘‘come to me, you beautiful book, you.'' I dived right into Shakespeare's world, trying to learn more about the development of female roles over the course of his work. Sadly, what I found was a huge pile of problems and a stinking ego.

The first blow came early, when the writer referred to ‘‘The Taming of the Shrew''. In my opinion, she has completely misunderstood the meaning of the ending. I believe that Kate decides to answer in irony, hidden in docile words, in order to show to Petruchio that he will never win completely. In my mind, she wants him to understand that he can never be certain whether she is sincerely tamed or not. And there lies the beauty of the play. I think Shakespeare has concluded it in such a way so that the readers can view it openly and interpret either way. Many acclaimed critics have stated this as a possibility, but Packer never states a doubt. The expression in my opinion is totally absent. She promotes her own prejudiced views as being ‘‘canon'', in a pseudo-revolutionary, highly pretentious manner.Her dogmatic tone bothered me deeply and made me doubtful as to what was coming next.

And next, she took the theme of male friendship, which is so important to Shakespeare's plays (a concept that the Bard borrowed from Ancient Greece) and drew a comparison to the Paul Newman and Robert Redford films(!) I mean...SERIOUSLY? Show some respect...Her way to refer to Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine was to mention the actors who portrayed them in the film adaptation of The Lion in Winter, the famous play by James Goldman. As if there is no chance in the world that the readers will recognise these legendary historical figures, who shaped a large part of the European History, unless they have watched a film. We're talking about the parents of Richard the Lionheart, call me an idealist but I'd like to entertain myself by thinking that the readers who are interested in essays about Shakespearean characters do know a thing or two about History. History, people, not Hollywood...

The writer is so opinionated (in a negative way, of course), so boisterous that it becomes tedious, irritating, infuriating. She seems to have convinced herself that she knows what went on in Shakespeare's mind as he was writing the plays (!) She is so certain her view is correct because ''I have read thousands of books on Shakespeare, I have played in and directed all Shakespeare's plays, I founded Shakespeare & Company in Massachusetts...'' There are so many ‘‘I''s and ‘‘Me''s that I had the feeling I was reading about her, not about Shakespeare. Well, you're not Laurence Olivier, you know. Not even he had ever the nerve to claim that he was aware of Shakespeare's thought. I mean, who are you? The Doctor Who of the Mind? For instance, she says she liked to think that Joan of Arc was the first woman he wrote about, because...no reason. Just like that!

This has been a rant, it has been a long rant, but I had the need to vent after witnessing Shakespeare being abused in the hands of the writer. I was ready to toss it aside after 50 pages, but I didn't. I was hooked by her -fascinatingly- poor writing and lack of objectivity. I considered it a hunt in order to spot the following outrageous claims.And I stayed up all night to finish it. Well, it was entertaining, I can tell you that. After all, I managed to find the worst book about Shakespeare after 14 years of devouring everything that has to do with the Bard's life and work. And I thought that ''Shakespeare In Love was an ugly, poorly-written (not to mention acted, since she adores Hollywood so much) nightmare...This book deserves no stars, it deserves minus stars, actually. If only I had a raven to cry ‘‘Hold, hold!'' when I started reading it...

''Nothing beats a haunted moonlit night on All Hallows'Eve...And on this fatal night, at this witching time, the starless sky laments black and unmoving. The somber hues of an ominous, dark forest are suddenly illuminated under the emerging force of the full moon.''
- Kim Elizabeth

I consider myself a rather sceptic person when it comes to the Paranormal and the Supernatural, but I'm an avid reader of every book that deals with the subject. From time to time, I even watch these funny ‘‘ghost'' shows, if only just to see to what extent the researchers will go either to prove the spirits' existence or to disprove it. In any case, regardless whether you are a believer or not, this is a very entertaining and informative book.

Here, we find some well-known ghost stories (and plenty more obscure ones), references to haunted graveyards and urban legends, but what I enjoyed immensely was the fact that the writer didn't limit herself to the supernatural element. She also included strange -bizarre, indeed- facts of deaths, disasters and other fateful cases that have been recorded as actual events. For instance, the section devoted to starnge -and mostly lethal- coincidences is particularly chilling. It makes you contemplate on that weird and incoherent thing we call ‘‘fate''.

The writing style is relaxed but well-composed, clear and to the point. There are snipets of information, but they are enough to attract the readers' interest and make them search for more references. Like a paranormal treasure hunt, one event leads to another. Dark quotes by well-known historical and intellectual figures are also included, dealing with the human nature.

....Human nature...perhaps, the most bizarre thing of all....

A quick read, but not satisfactory at all. I don't know what the author was trying to do, actually. The premise looked interesting, but all the facts she claims to be myths are presented in a heavily vague manner, and without stating any proper evidence (and by that, I mean sources and quotes) that could verify that this was a myth and that was the truth. Amateur attempt and many suspicious hints of propaganda.

Each one of us has a bizarre, absolutely adorable weird and incredibly interesting side, so why should our countries be any different? This is a beautiful little book about the bizarre characteristics of England.

Did you know that Queen Elizabeth uses her handbag to send messages to the stuff when in a royal visit? How important roses are to the English culture? Did you know that there is a museum in Norfolk dedicated to mustard and one in Lancashire dedicated to lawnmowers? There are anecdotes about theatres, colleges and schools, about inventions and members of the Parliamen, about criminals, executions, kings, queens, animals and athletes. A wonderfully funny and informative book, written with gusto and wit.

And I should definitely visit the Witchcraft museum in Cornwall...

I've come to believe that there is a special category that includes books whose plot is well-known, whose end may be known too or clear enough for everyone to understand. And yet, they manage not only to attract your interest, but to make you really anxious, because you just want to go on reading and real life gets in the way. For some, these books may be predictable, devoid of any interest. For me, they provide meaning to the adage ‘‘It's not about the destination, but about the journey''. Room by Emma Donoghue is one of these books.

The plot is well-known to everyone, so there's no point to bore you with that. Donoghue is one of the those writers that I follow religiously, she can hardly do a story wrong as far as I am concerned. I haven't watched the film version of the novel, nor I intend to. There have been very few movies that were equally interesting to the original material and they were all made long before I was born, so there's no point wasting time on that.

This is a book that I couldn't wait to pick up every day and continue reading. And I had been spoiled as to the plot and the ending. It didn't matter. In my opinion, this is one of the most significant achievements of a gifted writer. To make you care and feel, even though there's nothing to wait for. It happened with Hannah Kent's Burial Rites and it is repeated with Room. In the end, it all comes down to the writing and the characters.

One could say that not much happen throughout the book and they would be right. However, that is exactly the biggest impact of the novel. What is important is the way every single development is described and communicated and this is done in a shuttering manner. There is an intense feeling of claustrophobia in the 2/3 of the novel, I guarantee you that you will feel your heart pounding, even though you may suspect what's coming next.

What makes Room so unique is the way Donoghue chooses to speak to the reader. Our eyes in this story are Jack's, a five year old boy. Here we have a brilliant rendition of the boy's language inside his head. Is it absolutely realistic? No, of course not, but it would be less realistic for a reader to expect a completely truthful re-enactment of the way little children talk. Every question, fear and hope of Jack is easily met on childen all over the world. Every laughter, cry and hope of his mother is shared by mothers all over the world. What could be more realistic than that?

Jack is one of the most unique narrators and his mother is the seams that hold the story tightly bound. Her character is possibly one of the best descriptions of motherhood in literature. There are not many secondary characters, but the ones that move in the periphery of the narration are incredubly well-written and fleshed out.

What made me all the more satisfied with Room was Donoghue's decision to describe the events that followed their escape. She shows that their life couldn't become normal just like that, she paints a rather difficult, unsettling account of their struggle to come to terms with a life that, thankfully, most of us consider a given. She doesn't create a fairy-tale, she shows life as it is. If sensitive subjects are not your ideal reading, don't try this. It has quite a few themes that will make you incomfortable.

Each book by Donoghue offers something different. She never repeats herself,it is as if she becomes a different writer every time, and I don't see this often in recent Literature. Arguably, for me, she belongs to the top-ten team of the best writers of our millenium.

Room is a fine example of the way a novel can move you and make you nervous, frightened, frustrated and hopeful- all at the same time, mind you- without forcing your feelings with clichés and hysterics. Yes, The Light Between Oceans, I am still not over what a great bluff you proved to be...

''Day comes and the legends fade like mist in the sun, yet the wise know it is best to honour the Silent Ones''.

Continuing the journey to the folk tales of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, I found myself in beautiful Oxfordshire, a county that has played such an important part in the history of the realm, a place full of myths and legends and well-known historical figures. Was this journey as satisfying as the previous ones in London, Dublin and North Yorkshire? Well, yes and no.

What do we meet in Oxfordshire? Many fascinating creatures, places and people. The White Horse of Uffington, stories of dragons and ravens, enchanted caves hiding treasure and sleeping kings, sacred stones, spectres and headless terrors. The history of Mercia and Wessex provides plenty of material, we meet up with legendary kings, such as Alfred the Great and his victory over the Great Heathen Army, and Henry II with his passion over beautiful maidens. We learn the story of Geoffrey of Monmouth and the inspiration that created the Historia Regum Britanniae and witness some more of the Devil's shenanigans. It seems he loves roaming the UK counties and create havoc...

Despite all the beautiful myths and the interesting touch of the writer's personal thoughts at the end of each tale, his attempt to recreate the story of Saint George, the patron saint of England, and the Dragon wasn't funny or spirited. It was silly and, to my eyes, it was disrespectful. It may be entertaining to others, but not to me. I don't care whether the writer wanted to project his New Age theories or anything similar, I have zero tolerance for writers who ridicule what others may consider sacred, regardless of a particular religion. Not to mention the fact that he got the whole geographical aspect of the story completely wrong...So, three stars down for this.

Most of the tales are creations of Manwaring's imagination, based on the lore and traditions of the region and, unfortunately, it shows. He just doesn't seem to have the ‘‘pen'' of the storyteller and the majority of the tales are devoid of feeling and this special haunting quality associated with myths and legends. I believe that in the hands of a better writer, we would have a much more attractive result. Having said that, the thirty-eighth story ''The Angel of the Thames'' is a deeply moving text. Father Thames, the bearer of monarchs and criminals alike, is given a voice and narrates his story and his agony over the ill-doings of the humans who wound him deeply as time goes by. This is a beautiful piece and a solemn cry for the destruction of the environment.

And thus, the journey to the lore and myths of the Isles, will commence again soon...

This is a comprehensive account of the gladiators from the very beginning of their era until the time of their decline. The amphitheatres, the emperors who sealed the fate of the Games and the Roman Empire (Nero, Caligula, Commodus, Tiberius, Claudius pay us a visit), the variety of the spectacles, the mechanisms and the sheer, unthinkable cruelty of this ‘‘institution'', the holy martyrs who became prey to the beasts because of the strength of their faith.

However, despite the enganging and simple language Baker uses, he commits a mistake that I have come to found more and more often in History books of late. He interrupts his narration by inserting his personal comments and opinions and passes judgement without presenting any concrete evidence to support them, other than a ‘‘recent historians believe such-and-such...'''. I am sorry, but you are writing neither a book of speculative fiction, nor a thesis to support your standing. You are writing to inform. You're supposed to write a History book not the script of ‘‘Gladiator'' or ‘‘Rome''. Since I have read quite a lot of books about the Roman times, this one falls terribly short in comparison. This is a major fault.

It may be an average starting point for the readers who wish to familiarize themselves with the subject, but for the Roman-era aficionado it is terribly lacking.

The stories in this collection aren't simply Gothic. They are full of darkness without any source of light. Full of dark, ominous sexuality and murderous impulses. The set is primarily a tapestry of Japanese lore and urban wanderings, vindictive geishas lurking in the lantern-lit backstreets of Tokyo. Tribal, animalistic, shamanic rituals from the heart of Africa, androgynous enchantresses hidden in moonlit caves, women seeking their lovers of the past in the East, tales of incest upon the villages of the German mountains, dark actions and betrayals within a terrorist group in the heart of London in the 70s.

If you choose to read ‘‘Fireworks'', do it with a clear and open mind. Don't focus on the sexual premise of the stories, look beyond it, within the darkness of the human soul and let the beauty of Carter's language carry you away. Not for the faint of heart...