All you need is love

Source: http://tinyurl.com/h73qjzr]

Literature is full of romance. There is hardly a fiction book without a dose of love in it. And who could not possibly like it? Especially when the love of the characters is too good to be true.

Due to St. Valentine's Day that is coming shortly, we asked readers to tell us about their favourite romance and here is what they suggested (the order is random):

• Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.

An old-time classic, set in England in the beginning of the 19th century, it narrates the story of Mr & Mrs Bennet's five unmarried daughters and especially Elizabeth after two rich and eligible bachelors, Mr Charles Bingley and his friend, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy move in the neighbourhood. Elizabeth and Darcy form the main protagonists of the novel. Circumstances force them to frequent each other often, learn more about their character and their differences. Love does not come easy to them; Elizabeth needs to overcome her misjudgements that are based more on prejudice rather than evidence and Darcy has to set aside his pride and status-consciousness to accept Elizabeth as she is. However, they cannot avoid falling in love and becoming one of the most memorable couples in literature. We just wish Mr Darcy were true.

• Thelma, by Marie Corelli

A Victorian love story about a breathtakingly beautiful girl called Thelma, who grows up in Norway and is taken away from her country by an English gentleman. She gets to know treachery and adventure whilst she is deeply loved in secret. Her father's man sacrifices his life for her and her husband's friend never shows his feelings. Thelma gives birth to a daughter, who ends up marrying one of these men. It is a sweet and tender story of love and passion, a good, old-fashioned romance that never stops to fascinate.

• Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon

Mixing historical fiction, adventure, fantasy and romance, the series narrates the story of Claire Randall, a 20th century nurse, who travels back in 18th century Scotland and finds love in the eyes of Jamie Fraser. It is difficult to explain who she is and how she came there, and it is hard to make herself accepted among the Scottish who loathe anything English. She has found romance, though, and this makes her extremely unwilling to go back to modern times when she gets the chance. A thrilling, enchanting romance full of adventure that will make you read for hours and wish you could be in the 1700s yourself.

• Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer

The love story between a teenager, Bella Swan, and a 104-year-old vampire named Edward Cullen in the cloudy and rainy little town of Forks, Washington, US. The narrator is Bella, who meets Edward when she moves to Forks to live with her dad after her mother marries for a second time. She is instantly attracted to him and although things do not seem to work out for them in the beginning, they end up living a strong romance that goes beyond nature, society and dangers. "I will love you forever", literally.

• Wuthering heights, by Emily Brontë

Heathcliff and Catherine, perhaps the most powerful literary example of how destructive love can be. Heathcliff, an orphan, is brought home by Catherine's father after being found wandering the streets of Liverpool and he and the girl connect immediately. They grow close and speak of love and living together. However, circumstances develop and Catherine accepts the proposal of Edgar Linton, a man of high social status, and this decision has disastrous consequences for all the main characters. Catherine finally dies giving birth to a daughter. Heathcliff is a man of strong, cruel and violent nature, especially to those he does not care about. He is deeply hurt by this marriage and makes his life's purpose to get revenge from the man that took away his love. A powerful novel, full of strong emotions that are expressed in some of the most unforgettable dialogues in the English literature. A love that not even death can destroy.

• The Time Traveller's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger

Both a romance and a fantasy novel, it is the story of Henry and Clare. Henry suffers from a rare genetic disorder that makes him travel through time against his will. He travels to Clare's childhood for the fist time when she is a six-year-old girl and he keeps visiting her at intervals until she is eighteen. They develop a relationship over time until they finally meet "in the present" and get married. As the whole novel develops among the past, the present and the future, it talks about a love that transcends time and shows how people can change through it.

• The fault in our stars, by John Green

They say that the first love is the one we never forget. What if this first love is the last one, too? Hazel and Augustus are two teenagers who suffer from cancer. They both attend a support group and feel immediate attraction for one another. They read each other's favourite books and they try to find out how one of these books end from its author. After they visit him in Amsterdam, Augustus' health deteriorates and soon afterwards he dies. It's a sweet, tender and heartbreaking love story that will stay in your mind and heart long after you finish the book.

• Brokeback Mountain, by Annie Proulx

Better known as a film, this short story focuses on the intense emotional and sexual affair of two young men, who are hired to look after the sheep at the grazing range on the Brokeback Mountain. They separate when the season is over, but they cannot forget each other. They keep their relationship though brief encounters for the next two decades beside their lives as husbands and fathers. 

This list covers only a few of all the wonderful stories of love and passion. Which is your favourite one? 

[written by FK for Walkley Library]

Book review: An astronaut's guide to life on earth

How many of us had been asked when we were kids about what we wanted to be when we grew up and answered "astronauts"? And how many of us actually became one?

Well, Chris Hadfield was nine years old when he watched the first human walking on the Moon on TV and his mind was made up: being an astronaut was the only thing he wanted. He set this as a life goal, and his actions and thoughts were always aimed towards this achievement. 

In this partially autobiographical book, Hadfield goes through his career from the first steps as a fighter and test pilot to how he managed to enter the Canadian Space Agency and begin his exciting path to fulfilling this childhood dream. 

He narrates his story with wit and humour and all the excitement is there for the reader to feel chapter after chapter. What it means to become part of a Space Agency, what training is all about, what astronauts do to be suitable for a space mission, what they do when they are on Earth and what they do when they are in Space. The parts of his space travels are so vivid and interesting that one feels being with Hadfield right there on the Soyuz taking off, on the International Space Station and the Cupola, on his way back into Earth. Most people hear about space exploration, but do not realise what all this involves and how much preparation and risks are on the menu. From this point of view, Hadfield's book is really revealing.

Nevertheless, this is a book full of life lessons as the author himself experienced them through events that changed his life and his perspective over people and situations. Through its pages he shows that being humble, determined, focused and hardworking always pays back the right way. Space is a hostile environment for humans where good teamwork, leadership and personal integrity are elements that save lives. Did you know that most astronauts who train never fly in space? This may seem disappointing, however Hadfield suggests that the joy is not to be found only in the end, that an astronaut should try to find satisfaction and pleasure in the other things which form part of their life, e.g. training, assisting missions from Earth, talking and promoting public awareness about everything being done in space. This applies to all of us who are stuck here on this planet as well. 

So, this is a book about how people should find happiness in whatever they do: how to work hard, be focused, do not lose hope, work with others and for others, be humble, enjoy little things and be prepared for the worse. The author shows ways to be successful and his message is that we should always learn, always strive to become better humans. 

Once, on Q&A sessions on Reddit, Hadfield had said:

Decide in your heart of hearts what really excites and challenges you, and start moving your life in that direction. Every decision you make, from what you eat to what you do with your time tonight, turns you into who you are tomorrow, and the day after that. Look at who you want to be, and start sculpting yourself into that person. You may not get exactly where you thought you’d be, but you will be doing things that suit you in a profession you believe in. Don’t let life randomly kick you into the adult you don’t want to become.

It is an encouraging and inspirational text.

Worth reading even if you have already achieved going to Space.

+ perfect for space enthusiasts, motivating, enjoyable, insightful, informative
- a bit repetitive

Have you read this book? Feel free to leave us a comment.

[written by FK for Walkley Library]

What to read for Halloween?

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If you are among those people who wait impatiently for Halloween 364 days per year, you are in the spirit of it already.

For the rest of us, the perfect book(s) that will give us a little "push" to feel it in our skin is the right trick.

Here is a list with some of our favourite stories for the season:

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving 

A truly gothic story around the headless horseman who is looking for his head and terrorises the quiet hamlet of Tarry Town, New York in 1790. The story was written while Irving was living in Birmingham and it was first published in 1820. 

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

A love story filled with suspense about a teenager and the vampire she falls in love with. As Bella puts it: “About three things I was absolutely sure,” she says. “First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him – and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be – that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.” 

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Four people come together in a haunted house to investigate the supernatural phenomena that occur in it. An unsettling ghost story that will make you look suspiciously at every dark corner or jump at every strange sound you hear.

Prince Lestat by Anne Rice

Are you afraid of vampires? No? Well, you may be after you read the story of the perfectly evil blood-sucker hero of Rice's series of The Vampire Chronicles. From our part, we've done our duty and warned you.

The woman in black by Susan Hill

Another gothic story, placed in the 19th century England. The papers of a deceased (and creepy) lady need to be examined and the lucky guy finds himself in a mansion haunted by the ghost of a woman dressed in black. The description of the moors that surround the place is so vivid that you'll be dragged inside the story either you want it or not.

Pet sematary by Stephen King

Could a Halloween list not include at least one work of Mr King? This is for all those who think that they can't go on living without their pets. For those who wish their pets could live forever. Well, think twice, folks...

Dracula by Bram Stoker

The original Count Dracula. Not for the devoted fans of Twilight, but if you want to be counted as a real vampire fan, you just should read this. We love its gothicness, the desperation of the victims and the elegance of the Lord of the Night.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman  

A boy living in a graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts. And gets involved in a lot of magical and terrifying adventures. 

The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde and other stories by Robert Louis Stevenson

A classic book about the dark forces that hide within each one of us. Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde - two different personalities brought into one after a chemical mixture is developed in the lab. Apart from being a very good thriller, it offers a look into the Victorian morality and an insight into human psychology.

Dead until dark by Charlaine Harris

The beginning of the adventures of Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress in a small town in Louisiana, US. Sookie has been "in trouble" since the day she was born as she has the ability to read other people's mind and learn their innermost secrets. Now her problems get more and bigger when a tall, dark and handsome vampire comes to town. The story is not the spooky kind of thing, but it is light and entertaining in its own way.

The exorcist by William Peter Blatty  

Who is Regan's friend in the basement? How can logic accept the paranormal? If you need a raw reading experience this Halloween then try what, perhaps, is the most terrifying novel written about evil and demonic possessions so far. Horror at its best.










Do you have a favourite book for Halloween? Please share it with us by leaving a comment.




[written by FK for Walkley Library]

Book review: All the light we cannot see

"Open your eyes and see what you can with them before they close forever."

Marie-Laure is a young girl living in Paris. She loves to explore the world around her, learn about snails and fossils and read Jules Verne's books. Her father is working as a locksmith in the Museum of Natural History and takes her with him every day. Due to a rare disease, Marie-Laure lost her eyesight when she was little and in order to help her learn how to walk to and from the museum, her father builds a detailed miniature model of their neighbourhood. In it every street, corner and house is exactly as the original ones and Marie-Laure soon becomes able to orientate herself in the vastness of Paris. When the Second Wold War breaks out, her father takes her to Saint-Malo, where his uncle has a house. And he builds another miniature model of the town so that his daughter has no problem to find her way easily. 

Hundred kilometres away, another story runs parallel to Marie-Laure's. A young boy, Werner Pfennig and his sister grow up in an orphanage in Nazi Germany. They are both fascinated by science and Werner is very capable making and repairing things with his hand, especially radios. Werner dreams of a future that will allow him to learn more about maths and physics, yet his talents lead him to a Hitler Youth Academy, which is his only chance to escape working in the mines of his town and dying like his father. When the war starts, he is sent to the front to track down the enemy's radio stations. 

The story moves back and forth in time - before, during and after the war - between the main characters. It navigates from the ugliness of life to its beauty, from the morality of the one's actions to their sensitivity, hopes and dreams. The stories seem to have nothing in common as they run parallel to one another; towards the end the lines meet and all the pieces come together. 

Doerr has a magical way to write. It is a prose that uses words so beautifully that the lines flow beneath the reader's eyes and lead him more and more into the story and the lives narrated. The movements of the body, the feel of something touched, the words spoken, the feelings endured; the reader is in there, too. 

There is a lack of dialogues, but this acts in favour of the story; in this case the descriptive writing captivates all the senses and helps the author to invite us into the atmosphere of that time. What I, personally, did not like that much is the attempt to put something of a mystery novel within a historical one; the story also involves the quest of a mythical precious stone, which is said to have magical powers for who possesses it. The fantasy may give something original to the rest of the setting, but it does not bind that well.

Nevertheless, it is book so well written that you will not regret the time spent on it.

+ beautiful prose, engaging story

- the attempt to mix two types of novels in one

Anthony Doerr speaks about what inspired him to write this novel in this video.

(written by FK for Walkley Library)

Have you read this book? We would love to hear your opinion on it.

Book review: God help the child

When Lula Ann is born, her mother can hardly stand to look at her. Being coloured herself but with a fair complexion, she cannot believe how a daughter of hers could be born with such a dark skin. Her husband, convinced that the baby is not his, decides to leave and lead his life away from them.

The revulsion the mother feels towards her baby's colour will determine her whole behaviour towards the child and the way she will bring her up. Lula Ann is a deeply unloved kid, desperate to get her mom's attention and affection. She even lies in court and her testimony has an innocent woman sent to prison only to have her mother touch her and feel close to her. 

As Lula Ann grows, her blue black complexion becomes her biggest advantage. She leaves home, becomes successful running her own cosmetic line and dresses only in white to give her appearance a striking effect. She even changes her name to Bride. No one has the option not to notice and admire her.

Yet, the unloving relationship she had with her mother still remains a crucial factor in her life, something that does not let her live a satisfied, fulfilled life. And then, when the woman she had accused at court is released and her boyfriend abandons her, Bride makes a decision. Will she be able to get over what happened in the past and gets her share of happiness?

The new novel by Toni Morrison is inspiring, daring and thought provoking. It shows how our childhood experiences can form our adult life, how bad decisions and memories can haunt us and how human will can overcome them and move forward. It is very well written and structured, with chapters that connect perfectly with one another. The only disadvantage is that it could be a bit longer so that the issues it deals with - self acceptance, emotional scarring, child abuse, race and colour - could be explored further.



+very good structure, well written, provoking
- short



(written by FK for Walkley Library)



Have you read this book? Feel free to leave us a comment.

Book review: Dark places

"I was not a lovable child, and I'd grown into a deeply unlovable adult. Draw a picture of my soul, and it'd be a scribble with fangs."

Libby Day was the only member of her family who survived when the rest were massacred and strangled in 1985. She was the only witness, too and based on her testimony, her brother Ben was the one accused of the murders. Decades later and after a difficult upbringing, Libby is a "broken", hardly normal adult; she still tries to forget this traumatic incident and to avoid going back to those "dark places" in her mind.

However, the money people had donated to her all these years are about to run out and she does not want to begin a conventional life to earn her living. The Kill Club approach her; its members have an obsession with famous crimes and a group of people are fascinated by the slaughter of Libby's mother and sisters. They, also, believe that Ben was not the one who killed his family. They agree to pay Libby to visit the people who played a role in the story in order to find out what really happened.

The story alternates between the present and 1985, and among three characters; Ben, Libby and their mother offer their perspective of the accounts that led to the crime. The end of the story and the answer to "who did it" could not be more surprising. Gillian Flynn offers an exquisite thriller with the ability to keep the reader till the final page and very well developed characters. All of them have issues, all do horrible, unforgivable things. The story touches issues like drugs, underage sex, Satanic worship, bullying; but it is full of suspense, well-paced, beautifully wrought.

It is a fantastic, freaking, gripping, Southern gothic, twisted, fascinatingly insane novel. Get yourself hooked.

+ well written, gripping, well developed/realistic characters

- violence, language, disturbing

(written by FK for Walkley Library)

Have you read the book? Give us your opinion in the comment section.

Book review: The girl on the train

Have you ever been commuting and wondering what the lives of the people were in the houses you looked at out the window? Making up stories about them? Rachel does exactly this. 

The train she takes every day to London stops at a red signal on the tracks, just opposite the house "Jason" & "Jess" live. She does not know these people, she has given them names herself and she imagines the perfect loving life they have together. Until something different happens one day and it completely changes her view. The next day the woman disappears and Rachel feels she is connected to this event, but she cannot remember how. You see, she is an alcoholic, still attached to her ex-husband, who lives with this new wife and baby girl in a couple of houses down "Jason's" and "Jess'" place. 

Rachel is desperate to find something to keep her out of the unhappiness, loneliness and misery she lives in. She pretends to know something about the disappearance and is pulled into the other characters' lives with unexpected results towards the final twist of the story.

The book is unputdownable. It keeps the reader's interest and curiosity until the last page, a psychological thriller that is well planned, well written and gripping. The three narrators of the story, who give their own perspective, are all unreliable and horrible in their own way; but the development of their characters is very strong and the readers find themselves engaged with what is happening. However, one should not expect to actually like these characters; all with their secrets and dark past in their life. Frustration, anger, pity, disgust....one may feel all these over a few pages. You will either love or hate it. Totally recommended.

+ good plot, well developed characters

- disturbing

(written by FK for Walkley Library)

Have you read this book? Would you like to share your thoughts about it? Leave us a comment.

Book review: The Lowland

Subhash and Udayan are two brothers growing up in the years after the Indian Independence. They are very close to each other, but they end up taking different paths. The '60s is a turbulent decade for India and Udayan opts to join the Communist Party while Subhash continues his studies in the USA.

The years go by and practically the two brothers have very little contact, just a few letters sent by Udayan with news about India, their family and his marriage to a girl that their parents did not approve of. One day Subhash is called back home by his parents; his brother was killed due to his illegal activities.

Subhash goes to India in a house filled with memories. He meets his sister-in-law, who is pregnant to Udayan's baby and decides to relieve her from a life in a house she is not wanted. He marries her and she follows him to Rhode Island, where he completes his PhD research. Will Subhash and Gauri be able to forget the past and carry on? Will there be a happy ending for them?

The story itself is quite interesting, although the pattern of family sagas has been used by authors so many times. Lahiri's writing is quite good and the sentences flow easily. However, there are some major drawbacks.

The style is very descriptive, there are hardly any dialogues between the characters and this does not allow them to come closer to the readers. There is, also, a strong focus on the Indian history; the narrative informs on the events that took place in the country during the '60s and the '70s, trying to incorporate the story into them instead of the opposite. One feels the characters come second and some parts are more like an essay than a work of fiction. As a consequence, the storytelling becomes stiff, impersonal and dull. Moreover, the characters' lives span for around five decades and one expects that during this period their personalities, thoughts and feelings evolve and change. Yet, in this book the characters remain static; the same feelings around immigration, longing, grief, bitterness, love and sadness are found until the end. They do not grow, do not express themselves, they are not explored.

Personal opinion: unless you are into modern Indian social/political history or eager to get informed about it, try something else.




+ good writing, focus on the modern socio-political history of India
- too descriptive and stiff storytelling, characters lack of depth




(written by FK for Walkley Library)



Have you read this book? If you feel like sharing your thoughts about it, please leave a comment.

Tidbits of literary wisdom (2)

(written by FK for Walkley Library)

Are there any quotes you would like to share with us? Leave a comment!

Book review: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

"Life was very different when you walked through it."

Harold Fry is a retired middle-class old man living a conventional life with his wife, Maureen. He has never done anything unexpected; every day is the same for him. Until one morning when he receives a letter from an old friend and work colleague, who is dying of cancer and wishes to say goodbye to him. He decides to reply and leaves home to post the letter, however he realises that a letter would not be enough and he makes the decision to walk all the way from Kingsbridge to Berwick Upton Tweed to save this woman’s life.

He walks 600 miles wearing the same shoes he had on when he left home, buying some new clothes on the way, passing through villages and towns, meeting people and listening to their stories, reflecting on his life, his marriage, his past and his future. 

It is an unlikely journey. Some people encourage him to go on and sympathise with his cause. Others are negative about it and try to persuade him to give up. Indeed, there are times Harold Fry has doubts and is on the verge of returning home. Yet, something inside him urges him to continue and soon he and his “pilgrimage” become widely known and many decide to follow him. Will Harold succeed in reaching his friend on time and save her in spite of the hardships and difficulties he faces during his journey?

From one point of view, this is an extraordinary book. It refers to not only a physical but, also, a mental journey and it shows that the destination is what counts in the end. How someone finds himself through the mere act of walking, turning into his self, going through memories, emotions, regrets and the ghosts that have been haunting him all his life. Alone on this quest, Harold has the chance to face all these, and redefine the way he lives his future. He is an ordinary hero, with a sweetness and a sadness that will make you remember him long after you finish the book.

+ touching, thought-provoking story

-  a slow, bit repetitive narrative 




(written by FK for Walkley Library)




Have you read this book? What did you like/not like in it? Leave us a comment.