Callum McLaughlin's Blog, page 56

Chaleur Humaine

We’d hear the pleas for help

if it weren’t for all the bombs

but what use is logic

when it comes up against bullets?

Mes frères et mes sœurs,

not the first and not the last,

où est la chaleur humaine ?

We lost it in fire and brimstone,

in heartache and broken dreams.

Pourquoi ?

We are human

yet least humane of all

this sorry world has known.

Bookshop Bucket List

As a bookworm, the lure of a good bookshop is something I am powerless to resist. There are a few in particular that have really caught my attention; ones that I am especially keen to try and visit at some point in my lifetime.

Persephone – London

Persephone

Persephone is an independent publishing house and bookshop that carries beautifully produced forgotten classics, mostly by female authors, that are made onsite. I have a few of their books but have yet to visit their physical store. In a visit to London, a stop here would be at the top of my to do list.

Mál og Menning – Reykjavik

Mal og Menning

Icelanders are pretty obsessed with literature – yet another reason why I love the country so much. In fact, they have more bookshops per capita than anywhere else in the world, translate more books per capita than anywhere else, and used to have a blanket ban on TV broadcasts every Thursday to ensure people still had time to set aside for reading. I visited a few small bookshops during my visit to Reykjavik last year but hope to visit Mál og Menning when I return in October. It has multiple floors, carries both Icelandic and English books, and even has a café which has been decorated by local artists.

Shakespeare and Company – Paris

Shakespeare and Company

Shakespeare and Co. has a very interesting past that’s worth looking into if you have the time. It has since cemented its place within France’s literary scene and has welcomed many famous authors through its doors over the years. With a higgledy-piggledy layout and books stacked everywhere, people will tell you it’s easy to while away a day here and that sounds pretty good to me.

Foyles – London

Foyles

Foyles’ huge London based flagship store once held the record for being the largest in terms of shelf space and number of books displayed. Its eccentric past and business practices made it something of a local legend, fast becoming a tourist attraction in its own right. Having been thoroughly modernised since, it still draws in huge numbers of visitors from far and wide, only now for the impressive selection of books more than the spectacle of its management.

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What bookshops would you recommend I add to my list? Are there any you really hope to visit?

Indie Pride Day

Today is all about sharing the love with fellow underdogs within the book world and so I thought the most appropriate way to mark it was to essentially say a huge thank you for all the love I’ve received from the community myself, by showcasing some of the wonderful things that have been said by fellow authors about my most recent work, Seeking Solace.

Feeling the love on Indie Pride Day.

If you would like to pick up your own paperback or Kindle copy of Seeking Solace – or either of my novels – then simply click here if you are in the UK, or click here if you are in the US. You can also find me on Goodreads, if you want to add the books there or see what I’m reading.

Happy Indie Pride Day everyone, and most of all, happy reading!

June Wrap Up

All the books I read in June

As we come to the end of June, it’s time for another wrap up. Throughout the last month, I managed to finish a total of 10 books (5 novels, 2 non-fiction books, 2 graphic novels and a poetry collection), taking my total for the year so far up to 71. June was also the month of my birthday, meaning I acquired even more new books than usual, so I’m attempting to slow down the buying for a while… but let’s just say I’m not going to hold my breath.

While there might not have been an individual standout, it was a month full of good reads, with some favourites including Wild Animals of the North by Dieter Braun, a stunning illustrated look at the diverse range of species that live in the northern hemisphere of the world; The Sunlight Pilgrims by Jenni Fagan, a quietly beautiful story set during the cusp of another ice age, where a group of lost souls in a remote Scottish caravan park seek to understand their place in a world they no longer understand; High-Rise by J.G. Ballard, a brutal and fascinating look at how quickly humans can revert to animalistic behaviour; and The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, a long-awaited revisit of the classic.

Here’s hoping my reading in July can be as successful and enjoyable.

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What was your favourite read in June?

Jigsaw

Lately you talk of all the things you plan to cut from your life

and I can’t help but wonder when that list will extend to me.

I used to think we were like a jigsaw of the ocean

but it’s not enough to fit the pieces of a puzzle together

if you have to snap a tab off first –

to bend, twist and break it into submission.

So maybe we are a jigsaw after all,

only you’re the crash of a wave, the froth of the sea

and I’m the mere wisp of a cloud that watches over you

dreaming of drowning in your depths from afar.

Bookish Book Lover Tag

Let’s chat about books!

I saw this tag on whimsywriter3’s blog and instantly knew I wanted to take part. Let’s just get right into it. We’re encouraged to use the tag’s banner and share lots of book covers, so let’s get started.

What book are you currently reading?

I’m reading High-Rise by JG Ballard, because I liked the look of the recent movie adaptation but wanted to read the book first. It’s about a self-contained community that lives in a giant skyscraper filled with every possible amenity – a school, restaurants, swimming pools, etc. – which begins to degenerate into fierce rivalry between the floors due to a toxic hierarchy within the tower.

High-Rise by JG Ballard

What’s the last book you finished?

The fifth volume of Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. I’d been putting it off for ages because I didn’t like the idea of being fully caught up and having to wait for the next release but I couldn’t resist any longer.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Favourite book you read this year?

There have been a few gems but my heart was stolen by Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry. We follow an eclectic mix of characters as their lives weave together in increasingly intricate and heart-breaking ways.

Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry

What genre have you read most this year?

That’s tough because I read very broadly. Having a quick look through my Goodreads, I’d probably say something like literary fiction.

What genre have you read least this year?

Well I haven’t read any erotica, so does that count? If we’re talking about a genre I actually have read some of, I’d probably say high fantasy.

What genre do you want to read more of?

I’ve been getting back into thrillers again recently, which I’ve been enjoying. I have a goal of reading more non-fiction this year, as well as more classics, though the latter is arguably more to do with an era than an actual genre.

How many books have you read this year, and what’s your goal?

So far I’ve read 64 books towards a total of 100. I’m getting there!

What’s the last book you bought?

I buy so many it’s genuinely hard to keep track of what order I picked them up, but I know I recently acquired Human Acts by Han Kang, The Widow by Fiona Barton, Sunlight Pilgrims by Jenni Fagan and What is Not Yours is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi.

Human Acts, The Widow, The Sunlight Pilgrims and What is Not Yours is Not Yours

What book are you saving up to buy next?

If we’re talking literally then The Sculptor by Scott McCloud comes to mind. It’s a pretty mammoth graphic novel that can be quite pricey, so I haven’t picked it up yet.

The Sculptor by Scott McCloud

How many books did you check out last library visit?

Truth be told, I haven’t used the library in ages. I used it lots when I was young – my gran would take me each time I went to stay with my grandparents and I would pick a couple of books to read during my visit. Sadly, it’s not the best library in the world for adult readers though, being tiny and carrying a very limited selection. Given that I read so broadly – and often seek out lesser known, obscure titles – it’s just not practical. I am a big believer in the importance of libraries though, so I wish I could use it more.

What’s a book you can’t wait to read?

I can’t wait for the second illustrated Harry Potter to come out later in the year. Jim Kay’s interpretation of the world was incredible. As for a book I already own, I’m excited to try The Bone Clocks – my first David Mitchell. I keep putting it off because it’s so long, but that’s stupid and I hope I can push forward with it soon.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and The Bone Clocks

What’s a series you’d recommend to everyone?

Well, Harry Potter kind of goes without saying. Aside from that, I’d say The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness. It opens in a world where everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts in a chaotic mass known as Noise. When our protagonist stumbles upon an area of complete silence and exposes a secret that changes everything he thought he knew, he is forced to flee his home, sparking an epic, heart-wrenching and pulse-pounding adventure.

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

Who’s an author you’re hoping writes more?

Kirsty Logan. She’s written three books thus far, all of which I loved. Her work is heavily influenced by fairy tales and mythology, which is right up my street.

A few books your heart adores?

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden and Bird Box by Josh Malerman.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Gracekeepers, Memoirs of a Geisha and Bird Box

What series’ coming conclusion makes you sad?

I believe the Fairyland series by Catherynne M. Valente recently came to an end but thankfully I’ve only read two so far, so I still have a few to keep me going.

Book one in Valente’s Fairyland series

What books are on your wish-list?

I couldn’t list them all, we’d be here all day. A few of the recent additions to my ‘to read’ list include Spectacles by Sue Perkins, Victorian Fairy Tales by Michael Newton, The Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson and Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Spectacles, Victorian Fairy Tales, The Stone Gods and Between the World and Me

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There we have it! If you’d like to take part, consider yourself tagged.

May Wrap Up

All the books I read in May.

May was another good reading month, during which I managed to get through a total of 13 books (5 novels, a novella, a short story collection, a poetry collection, 2 non-fiction books, 2 graphic novels and a Penguin Little Black Classic). This took me up to a total of 61 books so far this year, surpassing the half-way point of my 100 book challenge.

There were lots of good reads amongst them, including Man V. Nature by Diane Cook, one of my favourite short story collections thus far, which explores the human need to survive. I also loved Pride of Baghdad, a poignant and provocative graphic novel based on true events, which follows four lions who escape from a zoo after a bombing during the Iraq war, and the second book in Catherynne M. Valente’s enchanting Fairyland series.

The stand-out read of the month however – and one of my new favourite books of all time – was Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry. Rich settings include a sideshow, a brutal women’s asylum and the gritty streets of New York, and we follow an eclectic cast of characters as their lives weave together in an intricate and heart-breaking story full of tragic pasts and dark secrets yet a whole lot of heart. Needless to say, I loved it.

An accurate reflection of how I feel about Church of Marvels.

Isn’t it lovely how you never know when you are going to discover a new favourite book? It just sort of creeps up on you and steals away a piece of your heart.

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What was your favourite read in May?

Let’s Recommend | Books About Books

Let’s recommend some books about books.

This time I’ve decided to get really meta and recommend books that are about, well, books. I’ve included both fiction and non-fiction, so there’s hopefully something for everyone. As always, let’s chat in the comments and share recommendations.

The Bookshop Book by Jen Campbell

Packed full of facts about the history of books and recommending some of the best and most unique bookshops throughout the world, Campbell has created something of a bucket list of places to visit worthy of every bookworm’s dreams.

The Book Collector by Alice Thompson

This short novel centres around a woman perplexed by her husband’s strange obsession with a book of fairy tales he keeps locked away in his office. With the air of a fairy tale in its own right, this dark tale explores madness, murder and the position of women in our favourite tales of yesteryear.

Jane, the Fox and Me by Isabelle Arsenault and Fanny Britt

This charming and beautifully illustrated graphic novel follows a young girl who just doesn’t fit in. Bullied by the other girls at school and struggling with her body image, her plight is one that many will be able to relate to. The Jane of the title refers to Jane Eyre, as our young protagonist takes refuge in her latest favourite book, her own story running parallel to that of her fictional heroine.

Gifted by anonymous

Subtitled ‘The Tale of 10 Mysterious Book Sculptures Gifted to the City of Words and Ideas’, this lovely little book is about the real life literary event that delighted Edinburgh a few years ago. Across several months, mysterious paper sculptures crafted from old books were left anonymously in various locations throughout the city, sparking something of a scavenger hunt to see who could find the next one. Each contained a small note and were left at venues the artist believed were of importance, such as libraries and theatres, in a bid to remind us all to appreciate the written word and the creative arts. The artist never came forward to reveal their identity but contributed anonymously to this book about the motivation behind the campaign and each sculpture.

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die by Peter Boxall

Given the nature of personal taste, it’s very unlikely that you’ll actually want to read all 1001 books contained in here, but it makes for an interesting coffee table book to dip in and out of nonetheless, a handy place to pick up recommendations both well-known and obscure, and a useful reference if you are keen to read what many consider the literary canon. It’s fun to leave this one out for people to flick through and enjoy the smug look on their faces when they come across a book they’ve actually read.

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What are some of your favourite books about books? Let’s chat about them.

A Cause Not Yet Lost

image source

They call us St Judes

as we blindly chase the stars –

we’ll have the last laugh

The Goodreads Book Tag

Let’s chat about books.

I saw this tag floating around the interwebs ages ago but never got round to actually doing it. I use Goodreads quite a lot, so do feel free to add me as a friend; I always like to see what people are reading. It’s the only way to keep track of the never ending stream of books I want to read. And so I thought this tag seemed fun, and I like that you could answer the same questions every now and then and get different answers each time. So, let’s just jump right in.

What was the last book you marked as ‘read’?

That was Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I really enjoyed the subtle approach it took to its thought-provoking themes and ideas. We follow a woman as she reminisces about her time at a strange boarding school and the relationships she forged there. If you think I’m being vague, I am. If you’ve read it, you’ll know why. I’m intrigued to try more of his work now.

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading The Time Machine by H.G. Wells as part of my ongoing goal to read more classics in 2016. It does have that ‘classic’ feel, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised as to how approachable the language is and it’s certainly interesting seeing where so much of modern sci-fi evolved from.

What was the last book you marked as ‘To Read’?

I’m constantly adding new books that I hear about but the most recent is Human Acts by Han Kang, a piece of translated fiction that’s really making waves at the moment. It centres around the long-lasting impact of a student uprising that ends in brutality.

What book do you plan to read next?

I’m hoping to read We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a non-fiction essay that’s also had a lot of buzz recently.

Do you use the star rating system?

I do rate everything I read, but I have issues with Goodreads’ particular system. Firstly, I’m one of the many who wish they would let us use half-stars to better differentiate between reads, and using their guidelines, the only negative rating is one star, which seems a little disproportionate to me and encourages harsh marking, I think. Essentially I tend to rate along these rough lines:

5* = I loved it

4* = I really liked it

3* = It was okay, or, I liked it but had some issues

2* = I didn’t enjoy it

1* = I hated it or couldn’t even finish it (I very rarely use this)

Are you doing a 2016 Reading Challenge?

I am! I’ve set my target at 100 books and have already passed the half-way mark, so I’m well on track, which is a nice feeling.

Do you have a wishlist?

Not officially, but essentially everything in my ‘to read’ list is something I’m excited to get hold of.

What book do you plan to buy next?

All the books. All the time… I am actually hoping to try and reduce my book buying a little, since I’ve been particularly indulgent in my spending recently and it’s my birthday next month, so should receive a few new books then. I am planning to buy myself some more Alice Thompson books soon however, having read and loved The Book Collector last month.

Do you have any favorite quotes, would you like to share a few?

I had a quick look through the quotes I’ve saved on Goodreads and chose a couple to share:

“A book… it’s a world all on its own too. A world made of words, where you live for a while.” – Patrick Ness, More Than This.

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” – Neil Gaiman, Coraline.

Who are your favorite authors?

There are many books I love and authors who I want to read more of, but those that already stand out and who I feel I’ve read enough of their work to consider them favourites are Kirsty Logan, Patrick Ness and J.K. Rowling.

Have you joined any groups?

I did join a couple when I first created a Goodreads account but truth be told I haven’t explored them much. It’s a feature I should probably try out more.

How many shelves do you have on Goodreads?

I currently have 11 bookshelves. I like to keep things fairly simple and general, with shelves for things like ‘poetry’, ‘short story collections’, ‘graphic novels’, ‘non-fiction’ and such like; nothing too specific and out there like some people prefer.

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There we have it. As I said, please feel free to add me on Goodreads to keep up with what I’m reading and so I can see what you’ve all been enjoying. If you’d like to do this tag, please consider yourself tagged.