Callum McLaughlin's Blog, page 59

Symmetry

When life deviates from my precious clear-cut lines

and the ripples in water distort its smooth veneer,

ice crystals settle on my lungs and frost my nervous breaths.

But as long as there is symmetry in snowflakes I will carry on

for better or for worse.

January Wrap Up

All the books I read in January.

We’re already a month into the year and that means it’s time for the first wrap up of 2016. I got things off to a good start by managing to get through 12 books in January (6 novels, a short story collection, a poetry collection, 2 graphic novels, one of the Penguin Little Black Classics and a non-fiction book).

With a view to my goals for the year, which are essentially to read 100 books in total, try more classics, read more non-fiction and read diversely, I’ve already made a decent start on all of them, so I’m really happy with that.

I had two definite standout reads this month. The first was Bird Box by Josh Malerman; a psychological thriller like nothing else I’ve read. We follow a world where something is outside, but no one knows what that something is, as one mere glimpse is enough to drive you instantly insane. We meet a woman who, after years of living in seclusion with her two young children and taking desperate measures to keep them alive, must blindfold them and set out in search of safety. The sensory deprivation, tension and power of the unsaid (or in this case unseen) are so effective, and the climax is one of the most intense, horrifying and powerful sequences I’ve read in a very long time.

The second was a rare re-read in which I revisited Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling for the first time in years. I read the new illustrated edition with stunning, immersive artwork by Jim Kay, who brought the world to life far more beautifully than I could ever have hoped. This wonderful new interpretation combined with the nostalgia factor made it such a fun, enchanting read.

I look forward to seeing what February has in store in terms of books. Happy reading, everyone!

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What was your favourite read in January? Did you make a good start on your bookish goals?

The Unstoppable

She is The Unstoppable;

the one who conjures fear

in the mere breath of her name,

the one with a league of empty shells left in her wake,

hiding herself like a black hole inside our heads

and eating up our dreams,

but now she’s come for you.

She swallows your voice and steals you away

one memory at a time,

light fading from your eyes day-by-day

like a succession of tears,

each one cradling

a laugh,

a love,

a woman,

taking you beyond our reach but not beyond our love.

Let’s Recommend | Unique Narrators

Let’s recommend some books with unique narrators

This time I’ve decided to recommend some books that have unique perspectives when it comes to the narration. As always, I would love this to be a collaborative series, so by all means recommend some of your own favourite books with interesting points-of-view in the comments.

The Tusk That Did the Damage by Tania James

The Tusk That Did the Damage surrounds an orphaned elephant known as The Gravedigger that has broken free from its captivity and become a fearsome menace, terrorising the countryside and becoming local legend, feared almost as though a God. This lyrical tale is told from three perspectives; a poacher, a journalist working on a documentary, and most uniquely, The Gravedigger itself.

George by Alex Gino

George is a middle grade novel suitable for adults and children alike. It’s a heart-warming story about a little girl born in the wrong body who simply wants to find a way to show the world who she truly is. I think it’s fantastic to see such an accessible book exploring transgender issues in a sensitive, honest way.

Room by Emma Donoghue

Room follows the perspective of a 5-year-old boy who has only ever known a single room; the room in which his mother has been held captive since before his birth. To protect him from this terrible reality, his mother has crafted the best life she can for him between the walls, letting him believe it encapsulates the entire world and personifying its few contents, until she sets in motion a plan to escape. The naïve, limited outlook of a child on such hard-hitting circumstances is what really hits home the power of this story.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The thriller element of The Girl on the Train wasn’t anything particularly new, and if you’re well versed in the genre the twists themselves may not exactly blow you away, but I did think it was an interesting read if only for the narration. Our protagonist is an alcoholic, constantly struggling to make sense of her situation because of blackouts and forgotten memories brought on as a result of her excessive drinking.

The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld

The Enchanted is written from the perspective of an inmate awaiting his execution on death row. He is omniscient, telling us in lyrical prose about events both inside and outside the prison, most notably those surrounding the woman whose job it is to investigate cases involving the inmates in an effort to get them off death row. Though we don’t know what they are, we know he is guilty of heinous crimes to which he admits he is guilty, juxtaposing his sensitive narration with his evidently dark past and making him a very unreliable narrator. Add to this the magical realism elements, in which he hears golden horses galloping within the walls, and this is a memorable, haunting read.

Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey

At its core, Elizabeth is Missing is a mystery novel, and whilst this element didn’t wow me as such, it was still a fascinating, hugely worthwhile read for its incredibly realistic portrayal of dementia. Our protagonist is a vulnerable elderly woman who, upon becoming convinced that her friend has gone missing, sets out to find out what happened to her, whilst calling back similar events from her own past. Her confusion and memory loss make piecing together the parts of the puzzle a difficult and stressful task, and it’s this in-depth exploration of her mental decline that is the memorable and often moving aspect of the novel.

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Have you read any books with interesting or unique narrators?

What’s in a Name?

Heart pounding

Pulse racing

Skin prickling

Palm tingling

Gut twisting

Fear.

Mind bending

Breath taking

Toe curling

Dream chasing

Sense stealing

Dread.

But some just call it love.

Poetry in Song

One of my favourite quotes

It’s just a quick, random little post today because I wanted to share a lovely bit of trivia.

I’ve long maintained that a good poem can feel incredibly lyrical and rhythmic, and that a well written song reads like a poem in its own right. I thusly found it really interesting to hear that in Japan, the word ‘uta’ can apparently be used to mean both ‘poetry’ and ‘song’.

I don’t think it can be a coincidence that the country often considered the hub of great poetry writing has noticed and embraced this obvious connection between the two forms.

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Do you have any fun or interesting language facts to share?

The Trees

The trees are crying their leaves,

a gift of mourning to the ground

that covers up our dead and eases the pain

if only for a little while,

bare branches outstretched

in search of comfort and compassion

mirrored in the openness of bleeding hearts.

The trees, the trees, they cry with us

for they too have known great sorrow –

if only we had seen the likeness before it was too late

and ‘sorrys’ were swallowed by the rattle of a gun,

not so different after all

from the dull thud of a cold axe swing

cutting down comrades from across the sea.

Let’s Recommend | Graphic Novels

Let’s recommend some graphic novels.

I decided a little while ago to start a series on my blog where I recommend books within a certain genre or theme and in turn ask you guys to recommend some of your own favourites from that area. Today, it’s graphic novels, which I really got into last year and hope to continue to explore in 2016.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

If you already read graphic novels you will most likely have heard of this series but I think it’s still worth mentioning for those of you who haven’t ventured into the form as yet. Volume 1 opens as a couple from warring factions go on the run following the birth of their child, with various parties putting a bounty on their head, triggering a crazy chase across the universe. There are all sorts of lovable characters and creatures in this bonkers, action-packed, funny, heartfelt story. The artwork is bold and colourful, with plenty of mature content.

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

A plucky, hot-headed, shapeshifting teenage girl arrives at the home of a notorious villain (who may not be as evil as people would like to believe), announcing herself as his new sidekick and in turn getting them into all sorts of trouble. The dynamic between the lead characters is great and overall this is a fun tale with a darker turn later on that adds to the characterisation and depth whilst maintaining its charm.

Maus by Art Spiegelman

If you want something a little different, Maus is a memoir in graphic novel form with a split narrative that switches seamlessly between Spiegelman’s father’s war-time retellings and their interactions in the present day, effectively displaying the long-lasting effects of Auschwitz as well as the struggle for the next generation to relate to their struggles. The artwork is done in a simple black and white sketch style with famous imagery in which the Jews are portrayed as mice and the Nazis as cats.

Above the Dreamless Dead by Chris Duffy

Another option for those looking for a different take on the graphic novel form, this is a series of classic war poems that have been fully illustrated with strong visuals that add a new layer to these well-known words. There’s a good mix of artists and poets included, with some pieces being light-hearted and humorous, and others harrowing and powerful.

Wytches by Scott Snyder

I haven’t heard too much buzz surrounding this one but I picked it up on a whim after coming across it in a bookshop and I’m glad I did. If you’re looking for something with a unique, immersive art style and a very dark, creepy story then this twisted tale about mysterious creatures tormenting a town from the shadows of the woods, then this is the graphic novel for you.

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Hopefully there’s something there that takes your fancy. In truth there are lots of graphic novels I love and this is just a small taster, so I’ll likely follow this up with a part two at some point. By all means recommend some of your own favourite or most interesting graphic novels in the comments – I’d love to hear about them.

Searching

image source

Don’t mind me,

I’m just chasing new realities

within the pages of a book,

searching for meaning

in the space between the words,

the best, as yet, unsaid.

A Reckoning

Beneath their skin masks

bubbles true malevolence;

it’s always been there.

Like skeletons in permafrost

haunting the earth,

embedded in bloodlines

and trickling through continents

this dormant lava flow

in the belly of the beast

threatens to unleash its hellfire,

but there’s a remedy to quell

the mounting tension,

another constant in the human tapestry.

It lives within the sparkle of a mother’s eye,

in the careless laughter of a joyous child,

in the unseen messages exchanged

when two palms join as one;

yarn like steel and bonds unbreakable

rising above the fear and

reborn as a reckoning.