What a start to 2024 it has been reading wise. I have a varied and delightful array of books to share with you. I've included my star ratings and a few of my January reading highlights.
The year started with the January BCW Book club pick: The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell.
"The Bone Clocks" by David Mitchell is a novel that weaves together multiple interconnected narratives spanning decades and genres. At its core, the story follows the life of Holly Sykes, whose ordinary existence becomes entangled with a mysterious war between two immortal factions. Mitchell masterfully blends elements of fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction to create a rich and intricate tapestry that explores themes of mortality, power, and the enduring connections between individuals.
I can honestly say this is a book unlike anything I've read before. It's a chunky monkey and you need to concentrate to follow the story as it slips between different characters, times, locations and sometimes realities.
Personally, I preferred the more 'real' parts of the book, particularly the first couple of hundred pages when Holly is young. But the fantastical parts of it were neatly woven and added an air of mystery and intrigue.
This is my first of David Mitchell's books, but it won't be my last. That is what I love about the book club: I read more widely and discover books I wouldn't usually pick up. 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Prophet song: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Milk and Honey 🌟🌟🌟
“i am hopelessly a lover and a dreamer and that will be the death of me” Kaur
The Serial Killer's Daughter: 🌟🌟🌟
Foster: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
'Foster confirms Claire Keegan's talent. She creates luminous effects with spare material, so every line seems to be a lesson in the perfect deployment of both style and emotion' - Hilary Mantel
Chasing the Dragon is a novella in flash. This is something I am currently trying to write myself. Kathy has explored themes such as family, war and grief. Her use of white space was of particularly interest to me allowing the reader to explore the impact of the flash sections.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Julia was an absolute masterpiece in my humble opinion. 1984 has always been my favourite book. The excitement when I saw someone had written a feminist retelling of it was immense and I was not disappointed.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Honour was a fabulous read. Shafak writes in both Turkish and English and is known for her diverse literary works that often explore themes of identity, culture, politics, and the human experience. Her writing is characterised by a rich blend of storytelling, cultural exploration, and a deep understanding of human relationships. This is my third read of hers and I'm looking forward to the rest of her works.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Shiver: 🌟🌟🌟
A typical locked-in style mystery. But, for me, the real highlight of this book was the expertise of the author when she described the life as a competitive snowboarder.
“We read to know we're not alone.”
― William Nicholson
As we close this chapter on January, let's carry the magic of storytelling with us, letting it inspire our days and ignite our imaginations. Thank you for being part of this literary adventure. Until the February chapter unfolds, happy reading!
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