Callum McLaughlin's Blog, page 53

Women in Fiction | Lara Croft

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Lara Croft

Lara Croft is arguably the most recognisable character – male or female – to emerge from the world of gaming, having cemented her place as a true pop culture icon over the last two decades.

Though she was immediately hailed as a fantastic antithesis to the overwhelming number of male leads in video games and a fine action star in her own right, there was always some debate as to her status as a feminist figure, given the overt sexualisation of the character’s image in spite of her obvious physical and intellectual prowess. A few years ago however, the series was rebooted, essentially scrapping the previous continuity and going back to basics, re-imagining Lara’s story for a new generation.

This ‘new’ Lara is a far more rounded character, beginning the series as a wide-eyed young woman eager to find adventure on her first expedition, only to survive a shipwrecking. Washed up and stranded on a remote island, she is forced to quickly adapt to her extreme surroundings and learn new, invaluable skills that she will need to evolve into the hardened warrior and adventurer she is destined to become. With a much bigger emphasis on Lara’s emotional drive and motivations, a clearer developmental arc, and a much grittier, more realistic and no longer sexualised image, her position at the forefront of pro-feminist gaming is now secure.

Brave, smart, strong, determined and compassionate, the new and improved Miss Croft is a force to be reckoned with; only one we can now all relate to on a far more human level.

If You Liked This… | Book Tag

Inspired by the tag created on Youtube by the fabulous Jen Campbell, today’s post aims to recommend books based on a like for like basis; where I suggest two books that complement each other in terms of style, content or feel, so that if you enjoyed one, you’ll likely enjoy the other as well. Let’s get started!

Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy and Black Sheep by Susan Hill

Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Black Sheep

A quote on the back of Hill’s Black Sheep actually describes it as very ‘Hardyesque’ and I completely agree. The sense of slow building dread, the tone of melancholy, and the unflinching look at the trappings of rural working class life in historic Britain really called to mind the struggles of Hardy’s Tess.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce and Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Elizabeth is Missing

These books both feature elderly protagonists, a fact which helps them to stand out in itself. One is the story of a man who sets out to reach an old friend when he hears about her impending death, whilst the other is about a woman suffering from dementia who is convinced her friend has disappeared. Both are poignant, feature memory and confronting the past as major themes, and will warm and break your heart in equal measure.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio and My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher

Wonder and My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece

I think these books work well together as they are both written from the perspective of very believable child narrators who are dealing with difficult situations. Wonder is about a young boy with a facial disfigurement trying to find acceptance, whilst My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece centres around a boy whose sister has been killed in a terrorist attack, and the ways his family cope.

Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller and Foxlowe by Eleanor Wasserberg

Our Endless Numbered Days and Foxlowe

Both of these books have a dark, almost menacing edge to them. The former follows a young woman returning to civilisation after years of living in enforced solitude with her father, whilst the latter centres around a remote commune with a possible cult-like mentality. Both feature child protagonists who grow into adulthood during the story and explore themes of manipulation and abuse.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James and Pharos by Alice Thompson

The Turn of the Screw and Pharos

Even though Pharos is a modern book, it had a timeless feel that made it read almost like a classic to me, and in particular called back vibes of The Turn of the Screw. Both are ghost stories with a creepy atmosphere and a secluded setting that feature unreliable narrators, meaning we’re never entirely sure how much we can trust what they are telling us, leaving doubts as to what is real and what isn’t.

The Book Collector by Alice Thompson and Bodies of Water by V.H. Leslie

The Book Collector and Bodies of Water

The second of Thompson’s books I’ve featured here, The Book Collector is a very gothic feeling story about madness, murder and the treatment of women. Leslie’s Bodies of Water felt very reminiscent of it in tone, as it also explores historical approaches to women’s mental health and has a dark, twisted edge.

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Thanks for reading! If you’d like to get involved, consider yourself tagged, or simply recommend me pairs of books in the comments.

Beachbody

No bodies on the beach today, no poster boys to cry for, but put your cheek to the sand and feel how it trembles with the heat of gunpowder. Caress it with your tongue and taste the salt of tears, the metallic tang of bloodshed. It was carried here in warning, so listen to the sombre song that drifts upon the waves. It speaks of death in the far and distant lands of Other; an unbreakable brand a slave to birth alone.

Bookish Christmas Gift Guide

I love the festive season and I love all things bookish, so putting together a bookish Christmas gift guide seemed like the natural thing to do. I’ve included book recommendations to pass along to Santa for the young people in your life, pretty books for all ages that make great gifts, and some non-book suggestions that I think readers will love. So whether you’re looking for ideas for other people, things to add to your own wish list or you just want to treat yourself (‘tis the season after all), then take a look.

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Books for children at Christmas.

Once Upon a Northern Night by Jean E. Pendziwol is a charming lullaby, beautifully illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. The wonderful winter vibe and magical, heart-warming feel make it an ideal read for the festive season.

A Sky Full of Kindness by Rob Ryan is the story of two birds embarking on the greatest adventure of all: parenthood. It’s produced using stunning paper cut-outs, making it as appealing visually as it is plot wise.

The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher is one that’s on my own TBR for this month. It’s a children’s novel about a little boy named William, who embarks on some festive frolics with a dinosaur. Yep, a dinosaur. It looks lots of fun and from what I’ve heard, it’s as great a pick for those of us who are big kids at heart as it is for actual youngsters.

BOOKS FOR EVERYONE

Books for any age at Christmas.

Wild Animals of the North by Dieter Braun is perfect for lovers of nature, art or just pretty books in general. Braun has produced a series of wonderful geometric depictions of animals native to the northern hemisphere, accompanying each with some interesting facts about the species. I could happily frame every page from this book and hang it on my wall.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (illustrated edition) by J.K. Rowling has astoundingly beautiful art throughout by Jim Kay. The second book in the series was also released recently, and they are ideal for introducing the next generation to the magical wizarding world, as well as the perfect excuse for existing fans to delve back in with a whole new perspective.

The Fairy-Tale Princess by Wendy Jones and Su Blackwell is a series of retellings of classic fairy tales we all know and love. The real stars of the show however are the incredible paper sculptures crafted by Blackwell that illustrate the stories.

NON-BOOK IDEAS

A Persephone subscription could make a great gift for the people in your life who already seem to have all the books! A great way to avoid gifting them a duplicate copy of something they already own and helping them find lesser-known titles that even the most avid bookworms aren’t likely to have encountered, Persephone are a London based publisher and bookshop who carry forgotten classics that had gone out of print, mostly by female authors. Their books are all published with a simple yet stylish grey cover with printed endpapers in a unique pattern that come with a matching bookmark. Their most popular titles are also available with full-colour artwork on the covers.

With a subscription, you can choose either 6 or 12 books to be delivered to the recipient, one each month. Alternatively, you can buy book tokens, valid for 1-3 books, so that they can choose the titles themselves, or one of 10 different gift boxes, which include 6 carefully curated titles each.

Persephone

A Rialto subscription is a suggestion along the same vein as the previous one, only this time for the poetry lovers in your life. The Rialto is a tri-annual poetry magazine that includes work from respected and up-and-coming poets alike. As such, a subscription would entitle the recipient to their next 3 releases, sent out to them as and when they are published.

A few particularly beautiful editions of The Rialto which I own myself.

Bookish candles are great to burn whilst reading, or to simply display as fun keepsakes. There are loads out there, including scented ones that actually have that new book smell! As for me, I have a vanilla scented Alice in Wonderland one that I was given last year.

My Alice in Wonderland candle, which features the original John Tenniel illustrations.

Bookish jewellery / trinkets can be found pretty easily online. You can get general bookish things, like earrings in the shape of books or pendants with quotes on them, but I like to find something that ties in with a person’s favourite book to give it that extra, personal touch. For example, last year I gifted my mum a necklace in the shape of a birdcage that comes mounted on a card with a relevant quote from Jane Eyre on it. (It’s still available here if you are interested.)

“I am no bird…”

Bookish album artwork is a cool gift for people who love both books and music. There’s a brilliant Etsy shop that takes iconic albums and displays their track listings in the form of vintage Penguin books. For example, I have one that lists the tracks from Björk’s Debut, which is framed and displayed on my wall.

Björk’s Debut in bookish form.

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There we have it. Hopefully you’ve picked up an idea or two that you think the bookworms in your life might enjoy. Here’s to a lovely festive season for us all!

November Wrap Up

All the books I read in November.

The festive season is now upon us but before I set out on some Christmassy reads, it’s time for another wrap up. Throughout November I finished 13 books (4 novels, a novella, 3 non-fiction books, 2 graphic novels, a short story collection, a poetry anthology and a play). I was predominantly in the mood for shorter reads for most of the month, hence the decent number I got through, and this brought my yearly total up to 126.

The highlight amongst them was in fact my most recent read, Spyglass by Hélène Deschamps. It’s the autobiography of a young woman who served as an undercover agent for the French Resistance and the American OSS during WWII, surviving against extreme odds time and time again, and completing dangerous missions despite her fears out of duty and honour to resist Hitler’s Nazi regime. Her life was truly incredible and has a ‘stranger than fiction’ feel, though what I respected most of all was the humanity she instilled within it, never afraid to admit her doubts, fears and regrets.

I also loved The Country Set by Hannah Dale, a collection of gorgeous paintings of animals native to the British countryside, accompanied by some interesting information about each species. Sweet Home by Carys Bray and Dolly by Susan Hill also stand out, the former being a collection of stories that focus on the struggles of family life and the latter a creepy novella that gets under your skin.

Undoubtedly one of the most unique reads however was Nutshell by Ian McEwan, a re-telling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet about betrayal and murder, narrated from the perspective of an unborn child. Yes, really.

All-in-all it was a very successful and enjoyable reading month and I look forward to seeing what December will bring.

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What was your favourite read in November?

Let’s Recommend | Historical Fiction

Let’s recommend some historical fiction books.

This time I’ve decided to recommend some of my favourite historical fiction books. For those unfamiliar with the genre, it simply refers to books written in the modern day but set in the past. Without further ado, I’ll just start talking about the books, but as always, I invite you to share your own recommendations in the comments below.

Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry

With Church of Marvels, Parry has created a gorgeous tapestry of storytelling that follows a diverse group of characters that seem at first to be entirely unrelated, but whose paths move towards each other in stunning revelations and heart-breaking twists. The immersive settings include the gritty streets of 19th century New York, a brutal women’s asylum and an enchanting sideshow.

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

In Hannah Kent’s Burial Rites, we follow a fictionalised account of the last execution to take place in Iceland, during which a young woman accused of murder is sent to live with a family as she awaits trial and seemingly inevitable death. This is not an action packed read, but one full of quiet beauty where the power of the dramatic Icelandic setting becomes a character in its own right, adding rich atmosphere to this melancholy tale.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

This is in essence a placeholder for both the Sepetys books I’ve read thus far, the other being Salt to the Sea, as both handle lesser known aspects of wartime history with expert care and a heavy dose of emotional impact. Though approachable for a YA audience, I felt they both successfully avoided the distracting angst that often overpowers such books. Between Shades of Gray itself follows a Lithuanian girl and her family as they are seized by Soviets and sent on a perilous journey to an even more deadly work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

All the Light We Cannot See follows the dual perspectives of a blind French girl who is forced to flee her home with her father, and a boy recruited to the Nazi regime, and the haunting story that sees their lives gradually converge. Above all, I found it to be a wonderful portrayal of the inherent goodness that lies within us, and the human desire to show it, even in our darkest moments.

Black Sheep by Susan Hill

Very ‘Hardyesque’ in feel, Susan Hill perfectly captures the struggles of rural working life, as a family of mine workers each long for freedom in their own ways – or flat-out reject it even as a possibility. Their attempts to escape the vice-like grip of poverty and uphold a societally acceptable image have devastating consequences in a bleak yet powerful tale of hardship and social order.

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What are some of your favourite historical fiction books?

Women in Fiction | Hermione Granger

Hermione Granger

Of course the incomparable Hermione Granger had to be featured in my series designed to highlight and celebrate positive depictions of women in fiction.

As I’m sure you all know, Hermione first appeared in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, and was portrayed by Emma Watson in the subsequent film adaptations. Most recently, the role was taken on by Noma Dumezweni in The Cursed Child stage production.

From the moment readers were introduced to Hermione, she became the unofficial poster girl for bookworms and feminists alike. Fiercely intelligent, she point-blank refuses to dumb herself down to appease others, even her closest friends, and though she has her moments of delightfully lacklustre social skills, she systematically broke down the stereotypes that told us people like Hermione couldn’t be popular. Always giving priority to her brains rather than her appearance, she taught a generation of schoolgirls (and boys) that it’s okay not to strive to be ‘the pretty one’.

Essentially, Hermione did what was at one point likely considered impossible and actually made it cool to be a bit of a nerd. Far from one dimensional however, throughout the series she also displays countless examples of her bravery, going above and beyond to help those she loves in their times of need and fight for what she believes in, as well as compassion, through her campaigning for elfish welfare, and more than her fair share of badassery – who can forget the satisfying slap (or the even more epic punch in the film version) that she landed right on Draco’s smug face? Perhaps best of all however is the fact that Rowling was not afraid to give Hermione her flaws – notably her stubbornness and intense fear of failure – which only serve to make her even more relatable and human.

Thank you for everything you stand for, Miss Granger. 50 points to Gryffindor.

Horns

Horns trump to herald darker days ahead,

crows calling from above shoulders slumped in shame,

anxious to bathe their wings in blood and pick clean foreign bones

until they shine white enough that the feaster may bask in his own reflection.

A Tick On My Bookshop Bucket List

A while ago, I posted a bookish bucket list, talking about the bookshops around the world that I most wanted to try and visit at some point during my lifetime. It’s actually one of the most popular posts I’ve ever shared here on my blog, proving that I’m not the only bookworm with a healthy dose of wanderlust.

Thankfully, it took less time than expected for me to be able to tick one of the shops off my list when I tracked down Mál og Menning during my recent return to Reykjavik, Iceland.

It’s spread across several floors, has a huge collection of books – in both Icelandic and English – and even has its own onsite café. It lived up to all my bookish dreams and of course, I picked up a few good books whilst I was there.

Mál og Menning

Mál og Menning

Mál og Menning

Mál og Menning

Here’s hoping it won’t be too long before I can tick another shop off the list, and perhaps you can suggest a few of your own favourites that I can add to it.

October Wrap Up

All the books I read in October.

Somewhat belatedly due to my recent holiday, I’m here today to share my October wrap up. During the previous month, I finished a total of 10 books (4 novels, a novella, a short story collection, a graphic novel, two non-fiction books and a poetry magazine).

The real highlight amongst them was Skim, a graphic novel by cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki. It explores big themes such as self-discovery, grief, friendship and first love without ever feeling angsty or melodramatic, as is often the case with such stories. I loved how understated and quietly affecting it was.

It was a strong reading month overall however, with other great reads including Bodies of Water by V.H. Leslie, a gothic, ghostly tale; Black Sheep by Susan Hill, a dark exploration of the vice-like grip that ensnares the lower classes despite their longing for escape; One by Sarah Crossan, a novel written in verse about conjoined twins; and Someone Like You, a collection of unsettling short stories for adults by Roald Dahl that feel a world away from his more famous children’s tales.

I also enjoyed reading my first edition of The Rialto, a tri-annual poetry anthology that publishes work from much loved and new poets alike, and found Animals as Teachers and Healers – real-life testimonies about the spiritual link between man and animal – very interesting (thanks for the recommendation, Gina).

I look forward to seeing what November has in store for me in terms of books.

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What was your favourite read in October?