Quick thoughts on recent reads

Pictures at an Exhibition by Camilla Macpherson

Each chapter of this story begins with a painting. There are two strands to the narrative; one in the present day featuring Claire, and one in the past which is told via letters written by Daisy Milton to her cousin Elizabeth, letters that have been found now by Claire. She is trying to come to terms with a very sad loss in her life and these letters, to her partner Rob's grandmother, open up a past world to her. I found this an enjoyable, engaging debut novel, which was innovative in including QR codes for each of the paintings that are a key part of the story. Reading this novel left me with a desire to visit the National Gallery and view at least some, if not all, of the paintings included in the novel, which I have since done, and it was wonderful coming face to face with the works that are featured in the novel, thinking about the part they played and getting my own perspective on them too. 

Published by Arrow

Author links: twitter @CamillaMacphers | website

Views of other bloggers: Jaffa Reads Too |

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The Last Family in England by Matt Haig

I bought this book many moons ago and it has been sitting on my bookshelf ever since, waiting patiently, and every so often I would think about reading it and then think, not now, maybe soon. I finally picked it up to read on holiday and I'm very glad I did. It tells of Prince, a young dog who strives to fulfill the Labrador Pact, taking care of his human family, but despite his efforts things begin to go wrong, and he must look again at his behaviour. I loved that Prince was the first person narrator of this story! This is a marvellous, clever and very readable yet layered story, a perceptive, memorable novel that was this author's debut. I can't believe I haven't actually read a book by Matt Haig until now; I admire, and have found helpful, many of the thoughts he has shared via social media, in particular with regard to writing and on depression. I've also got The Radleys and The Humans waiting to be read now and I intend to get to them much more quickly than I did this one.

Published by Vintage
Author links: twitter @matthaig1 | website

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Frost Hollow Hall by Emma Carroll

It's 1881 and Tilly is skating somewhere she shouldn't; on the frozen lake at Frost Hollow Hall. No one is meant to go there anymore. We learn as the novel opens that ten years before, Kit Barrington tragically died there. When the ice cracks and Tilly slips beneath into the freezing water, she sees a beautiful boy. Who can he be, is he real, what does he want with her? After hearing so many good things about this debut childrens/young adult novel this year, I couldn't resist buying it whilst I was on holiday recently. It sounded like a lovely, classic read to curl up and enjoy, and indeed it was a very enjoyable book; an enchanting story, an atmospheric setting and with a lovely character and great first person narrator in Tilly. I eagerly raced through it and would certainly recommend it. An engaging, mysterious and ghostly read for Winter.

Published by Faber & Faber
Author links: twitter @emmac2603 | website
Other blog reviews: Serendipity Reviews | 

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Sad Monsters by Frank Lesser

(illustrated by Willie Real)

This is a fun, humourous book, with a really eye-catching and frankly very cute monster on the cover. It takes as it subjects many of the monsters that we think we know well from literature and popular culture, and shows them in a different light; as unhappy, or lonely, or misunderstood; they are actually 'growling on the outside, crying on the inside'. The stories take different forms, from letters, diary entries, and even a will, with three or four pages concentrated on each monster. It features, amongst others, Godzilla, Bigfoot, and Medusa. One of my favourites was a letter from 'The Roommate of Dorian Gray'. 

Publisher - Souvenir Press

Thoughts of other bloggers - Curiosity Killed the Bookworm  |

Journey into the Past - Stefan Zweig

Translated from the German by Anthea Bell

‘Ah, the dark, endless years between then and now, a grey sea between shore and shore, between heart and heart!’

This novella by Stefan Zweig is so beautifully written and even in a short work such as this, there were so many sentences and passages I found myself marking to return to and enjoy again.

The story is of a man born into poverty, working for little money as a private tutor, who takes up a position offered to him by a famous industrialist which enables him to raise up from his humble beginnings, and whilst employed he meets and falls deeply in love with the wife of his employer. He is given a great career opportunity, which involves relocating overseas for two years, to Mexico. Despite his love, he goes, and the two keep in touch by letter, focused on meeting once again once the two years have passed. However, the onset of World War I then serves to keep the two separate for many years longer.

Eventually they meet again, and the novella begins with them taking a train journey together again after all the years apart. As they travel, the recollections begin to flow and the reader learns how they met as he embarks on the journey into the past.

‘And while the rattling wheels invisible below them rolled onward, into a future that each of them imagined differently, the thoughts of both returned in reverie to the past.’

At times the feelings expressed and the behaviour are so deeply romantic; I was struck by the lengths he goes to in order to keep her letters safe and dry and close by him all the time whilst he is in Mexico. Zweig uses language so effectively to capture and convey human emotions and passions. The translation reads very well throughout.

Journey into the Past took hold of my heart and drew me into the intensity of feeling that once existed between this man and woman; it made me curious as to whether all that remained between them now was nostalgia or whether any of that once deep connection remained. I find the author’s words captivating and his understanding of human relationships and human nature so true and believable.

I have previously read The Post Office Girl, and Journeys, by Stefan Zweig, and next on my list of his works to read is Chess. 

Published by Pushkin Press

I bought my copy of this novella.


Read as part of the 2013 Translation Challenge 

The Girl You Left Behind - Jojo Moyes

‘And always, somewhere underneath, the sense that she is missing something; secrets that float just out of sight.’

This is a dual time frame novel and the new book from the author of the hugely successful ‘Me Before You.’

I really enjoyed curling up and getting lost in this very romantic and engaging story. Most of all I loved the historical storyline, learning about Sophie’s life with Edouard prior to World War I, and her daily life during the war, struggling to keep herself, her sister and her sister’s children safe and well during the German occupation of their town in France, whilst her beloved Edouard is fighting at the Front.

A talented artist, Edouard painted a portrait of Sophie which catches the eye of the new Kommandant of the occupying forces in their town. Once a successful, thriving hotel in the town, Sophie’s home and place of work is now being used to replenish the strength of the enemy soldiers, under the Kommandant’s instructions. As he spends more time there, Sophie begins to wonder if his interest in her may offer her a way to see Edouard again, but she takes an enormous risk.

Liv is a bereaved widow still enduring the heartbreak of losing her talented archictect husband at a young age and after only a few years of marriage. Prior to his death, her husband had given the beautiful portrait of Sophie to Liv as a gift almost a hundred years after the events affecting Sophie occurred. Liv is struggling to make things work and despite a chance encounter that hints at potential new love at last, events involving the portrait may scupper this almost as soon as it has begun.

Both storylines held my attention, but I felt very drawn into the historical element, and would love to see the author return to this sort of period again. The ending was very satisfying and heartwarming. I understand the wide appeal of this author and appreciated her very readable style, and I liked this novel even more than Me Before You. I found this a captivating story, complete with much intrigue, secrets, tension and romance.

Published by Penguin

Reviewed by Lindsay Healy

Reviewed for lovereading.com, netgalley and goodreads first reads.