Martin Chevreau's Blog, page 7
June 3, 2023
The Reading List, by Sara Nisha Adams
The Reading List by Sara Nisha AdamsMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
As a west Londoner who rarely reads "books-about-books", this one felt both unique and familiar all at once. I very much like how the author both introduces fictional characters in Wembley and captures the zeitgeist of the area. Although "books" is the obvious theme, what stuck with me was the fine line between letting your life pass you by and taking ownership of it. For this last reason, I give this 5*.
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Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins ReidMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have to say that the “sex-on-the-beach cocktail of a book” description on the front cover gave me second thoughts about reading this, but really, I couldn’t put the book down once I started it. At the end of the day, a great book is built around memorable characters, and I like to think that I will still be thinking fondly of the Riva kids in a year’s time. Sure, the second part of the book introduces a lot of characters which distract from the main storyline, but I suppose this introduces some comical moments, and it’s fitting that the reconciliation should happen amidst the chaos in the background. Still, for the characters alone, I stick with 5*.
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The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz ZafónMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Shadow of the Wind is the most gripping book I have read this year. Ruiz Zafón’s poetic prose weaves together two interconnected storylines beautifully, catching the zeitgeist of Barcelona at the close of the civil war (mid to late 1930s) up until the 1960s. The story expands as the protagonist investigates the past further, closing in a way that is neither too unpredictable nor too unrealistic. I recommend reading this novel in the autumn or winter to replicate its rather magical setting. 5* (and beyond!)
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Rules of Civility, By Amor Towles
Rules of Civility by Amor TowlesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Indulging in Rules of Civility - by the way, rarely has a book been so aptly named - is evading to New York's High (and Low) Societies of the interwar period; a world far-removed and yet so familiar when experienced by the pen of Amor Towles (at least to a city-dweller in his twenties!). Through a mix of larger-than-life characters and others that only serve to flirt with the pages, I fled my day-to-day life and entered the protagonist's, a likeable character named Katey who makes a point of taking ownership of her life, to the extent that that is possible anyways. Through Katey's eyes, I couldn't help but to reflect, and to take careful note of some of the passages imbued in both humour and wisdom. No doubt, this book, its characters, and the lessons that they offer will stay with me for some time. I recommend reading this before The Lincoln Highway as it makes sense chronologically, although this isn't an imperative. I still enjoyed it the other way around. Something tells me that 2023 will be marked by this author! 5*.
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