Killing Eve: Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings

Rating:

3 Stars

Themes:

Crime, Thriller, Espionage, Female Led

Thoughts:

Vilanelle is an interesting character. She is no doubt a psychopath (using Hare's checklist) but reading the ways in which she sees the world through manipulation and transactions makes her interestingly complex in a way most of us aren't used to.

Eve, on the other hand, is supposed to represent a normal (non-psychopathic) person to us. But, we can already see her starting to slip into an obsession with Vilanelle herself.

This book has very long chapters and in some ways feels like a build up story, leading to something bigger in the next instalment. I struggled through this book, finding it dry and over-descriptive in some areas but I persevered hoping the rest of the series will be better after all the groundwork has been laid in this one.

Favourite Quote:

"We see the world for what it is. A place where there's only one law: survival."

Comments

Vincent: A Graphic Biography by Simon Elliott

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Comic, Non-Fiction, Biography Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great little book on Vincent van Gogh. It is very detailed containing pieces of his life such as changing careers and failed love interests that are often not considered when we think of van Gogh, instead favouring his art and mental health. The illustrations were really well done and at times helped to bring levity to the story which isn’t often the happiest of lives.

The War of Sober by Edward Rand

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Addiction, Psychology Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great book not just for addicts trying to establish and maintain their sobriety but also psychologists, counsellors and the people working with them. It approaches the experience of addiction from the perspective of going to war and may help those who can’t get along with the 12 steps, contingency management or other forms of therapy traditionally used. It’s also helpful to have Edward detail his own experiences and approaches throughout so it feels less clinical and shows he does know what he’s talking about when he mentions the difficulties so it comes across less patronising than some self-help addiction books. Favourite Quote: "It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. Win or lose, if we are still alive, we must decide to be different today and then make the correct choices today, because friends, ...

Broken Glass by Sarah Kay

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Poetry Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This collection is mixed for me, some of the poems were really good and all were definitely emotive but I think so many poems on the Hamas attack and subsequent war which is highly politically charged a little difficult to tackle. Favourite Quote: "What good is it to open my heart when in the end, you will stab it in the back?"

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