KJK Reads

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The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Short Story, Fantasy Thoughts: This is a beautiful short but sweet story and as an introduction to Clarke I think it was a great one. It’s somewhat like a fairytale and definitely has that vibe with being set in the woods and the woods and the animals talking to Merowdis. She’s a very strong willed young girl and seems determined to get what she wants, but I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not with the baby she ended up with being less than perfect but then again being made a saint with the church windows means it did turn out well in the end even if it wasn’t the best outcome for her overall. Favourite Quote: “In winter, the wood is supposed to be asleep. That is what people say. But I don't think it's true. In spring and summer the trees and creatures are preoccupied. Everyone is busy. In winter there is silence. In winter the wood is listening. In winter you hear the wood speaking.”

Sawbones by Stuart MacBride

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Crime, Thriller, Short Story, Horror Thoughts: This is my first MacBride but I don’t think it’ll be the last, I was impressed with just how much story he managed to tell in such a short book. At the beginning I had no clue if the trio were supposed to be the good guys or the villains but as I made my way through the book I realised their road trip was more complicated than just good and evil. There’s a lot more morally grey in the story than I expected picking the book up and surprisingly little details on the murderer or any of his POV. There are some brutal scenes included and while MacBride doesn’t shy away from the details, there’s still some prolonged violence he fades to black for. Favourite Quote: “Never point a gun at someone you're not prepared to kill.”

The Lady in the Van by Alan Bennett

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Play, Humour Thoughts: This was quite an entertaining read, although reading a play can never give the same (intended) impact of watching it did have me laughing at a few points. I must admit I have already seen the film so I read Miss Shepherd in Maggie Smith’s delivery but I think that somewhat enhanced it since we’re told in the beginning she also played her in the opening of the play itself too. Having two Alan’s and him debating with himself was interesting as it shows us his reactions in the time the things happened and how he views it now when writing it with the benefit of hindsight to reflect. Miss Shepherd is an interesting character and although funny for us as readers and a film/play audience, I’m somewhat amazed by Alan’s patience with her as I don’t know if I’d be able to keep my calm with all her eccentricities. Favourite Quote: “It seems that both at the northern and southern gates of my life stands a deluded woman.”

The Auschwitz Violin by Maria Àngels Anglada

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Historical Fiction, Short Story, Holocaust Thoughts: This is an interesting little book infused with the hope that can come along with music alongside the horrors of the Holocaust. It was quite light on the intimate details of the horrors but Anglada does mention the punishments in the satellite camp and also provided some of the evidence at the beginning of most chapters that back it up. I enjoyed seeing the developing relationship between the luthier and the violinist and seeing the intense bonds that can be created in such extreme circumstances. I found the ending really sweet and hope filled. Overall, it was interesting to see a story from one of the Auschwitz satellite camps and was a good quick read. Favourite Quote: “It isn't true, is it, Daniel, that music can tame the beasts? Yet, in the end, a song lives”

Mushrooms by Susan Clark

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction, Nature Thoughts: This book is packed full of information despite being so small. The first part contains so many interesting facts about mushrooms, a few of which I’ve made a note of for future quiz questions. I liked the fact that Clark included a page on mushrooms and fairies as I’m sure we’ve all heard of fairy circles and seen fairies sitting on toadstools. The second part of the book covers many popular types of mushrooms with identifiers, a few facts and whether or not it’s edible which combined with the size means it could be a great foraging or just nature companion. I thought the illustrations throughout were also really pretty and I’d never thought of how pretty mushrooms can be but then again I had a pretty narrow consideration of mushrooms before reading this.

The Black Cup by Shawn Walrus

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Short Story Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a really short story and I’m unsure exactly how I feel about it. There are three cups, not just the black one, and the cups themselves are described in exact detail so I could imagine them in front of me. The impact of drinking them was extremely detailed too. However, the psychological descent we were promised felt a little forced to me, as Saul seemed to derail from 0 to 100 in an instant and I was quite looking forward to the unravelling more than the details on the setting and props. Favourite Quote: “A man can adapt himself to almost any suffering, provided he believes it might eventually end. Remove that belief, and suffering acquires roots.”