August in Books
The first book I read in August was The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton.
A murder on the high seas. A remarkable detective duo. A demon who may or may not exist.
I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but I was intrigued by the premise of The Devil and the Dark Water. The claustrophobic setting of a ship at sea appealed to me, and I wasn't disappointed. There was distrust simmering between and among the passengers and crew even before the first signs of trouble, and the tension slowly builds as the violence onboard escalates. Stuart Turton also capitalises on his choice of setting in vivid descriptions, which enable the reader not only to picture the ship, but also to hear, smell, and feel it. We are utterly immersed in the world he has created.
The Devil and the Dark Water is a well-plotted book with a satisfying conclusion, which held my attention throughout. I love the characters Turton has created, and even as he borrows from the Sherlock Holmes archetype, his writing feels fresh and interesting. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is definitely going on my to-read list.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next up was The Pier Falls, a collection of short stories by Mark Haddon, which I chose after reading the short story 'The Pier Falls' in The Penguin Book of the Contemporary British Short Story.
It turns out that I really like Mark Haddon's style of writing, especially his attention to detail and his matter-of-fact way of describing everyday life. I definitely want to read more from him. I also enjoyed how dark the stories in this collection are. Although none of the short stories supplanted 'The Pier Falls' as my favourite, there were a few which I think will prove as memorable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I followed this one with another short story, Something Special by Iris Murdoch, one of my favourite authors.
This one wasn't at all what I was expecting; I've grown to expect certain things from Murdoch's books, and Something Special was very different. There is much more dialogue, much less philosophising, and only hints at the usual themes Murdoch writes about - partly because Something Special is so short. The characters are interesting, especially the main character who reminds me of Murdoch's usual protagonists, and I enjoyed the fact that the story is set in Dublin, which is unusual for Murdoch but which she captures really well.
Murdoch manages to pack a lot into such a slim book, and Something Special has a lot to offer, but without more to go on, I felt I could only give this book three stars.
⭐⭐⭐
My next pick was Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, which I thought it was finally time I read.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is such a well-known story that you think you'll have heard it all before, until you actually start reading and discover that the protagonist is a man called Mr Utterson. I can see how this book might disappoint some readers, but the way Robert Louis Stevenson tells his story does have its advantages - especially to a reader who is already aware of the big reveal. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a delightfully atmospheric read from the beginning, and although I was most interested in the information revealed in the conclusion, I did enjoy the way Stevenson teases the reader with the monstrous truth.
This edition also includes Stevenson's short story 'The Bottle Imp', which is an interesting read, and an short essay by John Sutherland, which is thought-provoking if a little outdated.
⭐⭐⭐
I followed this one with the even creepier The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.
A delightfully evocative Gothic novel, which follows the expected format while offering plenty of the unexpected. This tale unfurls slowly, but tension simmers throughout. The reader is never quite sure where they are with The Turn of the Screw, which is what I enjoyed most about this atmospheric and ambiguous ghost story.
The Turn of the Screw lived up to its reputation, and has piqued my interest in its author.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
After enjoying The Devil and the Dark Water so much, I chose The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Stuart Turton's debut, as my next read.
This is an incredibly creative book, and it was only when I tried to explain the plot to someone that I realised how well Stuart Turton handles such a sprawling and complicated story. For anyone worried about repetitions, it's worth knowing that although Evelyn Hardcastle is destined to die over and again, our protagonist is the man trying to solve her murder, and he wakes up each morning in the body of a different guest. The characters are fascinating, and I love the way Turton describes our protagonist inhabiting their bodies, fighting with their personalities.
With such an original premise and such a complicated plot, there were bound to be questions left unanswered and moments that don't quite add up. That's why I have given The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle four stars instead of five. But I really enjoyed this fresh take on (what can be) a tired genre, and I look forward to whatever Turton writes next.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
My next read was Intimacies by Katie Kitamura, which came highly recommended and with a cover I couldn't resist.
I read Intimacies in one sitting. Katie Kitamura's clear-cut prose sucked me in from the first line, and the deceptively simple storyline held me spellbound until the last.
I loved the level of detail Kitamura pays to the protagonist's work as a translator; one of many ways this story explores the idea of intimacy. It's a brilliant idea to take one concept and pick it apart in this way, and I think our awareness of the book's title adds new layers of meaning to the protagonist's encounters. I loved the way Kitamura describes the protagonist's uncomfortable encounters with men, which I'm sure will ring true for many female readers, and the way she shows an awareness of her own female gaze through a reference to art. I also loved the way Kitamura talks about the International Court, where the protagonist works; the way she describes the people involved in the trials, and the way she refuses to accept a simple version of morality.
I think my favourite aspect, however, was the question of home, which is only brought up explicitly near the end of the book, but in a way that makes the reader realise so much of the story has been about that question. I have always been drawn to books that explore the concept of home, and Intimacies does so in one of the simplest and most poignant ways I've encountered. I definitely want to read more from this author.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next up was Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, another favourite author of mine.
I love that Jane Austen's books are always in her recognisable style, while all delivering something a little bit different. In the case of Northanger Abbey, the protagonist is not the typical Austen heroine, and I did at times wish her to be the witty and intelligent young woman I know Austen capable of writing, but there is wit aplenty in her love interest, and her naivety only adds to the misunderstandings I so love in Austen's writing. It is also unusual that Northanger Abbey includes an element of the gothic, and I love Austen's good-natured mockery of that genre as well as her wonderful evocation of it. I also love the way Austen defends the frivolous reading of novels!
Jane Austen is an author I can always rely on to write entertaining, satisfying, and rereadable books, which never fail to make me laugh. Northanger Abbey is no exception.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I followed this with Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi, which was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize and longlisted for the 2021 Women's Prize for Fiction.
Burnt Sugar is the perfect title for this twisted story of a toxic mother-daughter relationship. I loved the attention to detail with which Avni Doshi writes; the way she brings places and people to life. It also made a pleasant change to read a story set in contemporary India. I particularly loved the way Burnt Sugar explores the malleability of memory, and plays with the reader's perspective of the protagonist and her reliability. By the end of the book, I felt almost overpowered by the protagonist's emotions.
However, not everything about this book worked for me. There was a lot that I couldn't relate to, and I found the book's format disjointed and without purpose. Hence three stars rather than four.
⭐⭐⭐
I finally got round to reading Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid next, which was longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize and had been on my to-read list for too long.
This is a really easy and engaging read, which explores some interesting and important issues. I particularly liked the way Such a Fun Age starts with an explicitly racist incident and devolves into microagressions. I love the way Kiley Reid leans into the uncomfortableness of transactional relationships, especially when they're split along racial lines, and the way she delves into white privilege and allyship. I love the way she explores the notion of "adulting", and I think the way Reid highlights the financial burdens of being an adult in America brings something new to the discussion.
Such a Fun Age feels like a novel formed from years of observation, and there are some wonderful moments of characterisation. I particularly loved Briar. On the other hand, I sometimes felt like Emira's personality got a little lost in the strong personalities of those around her, and in her role as the novel's protagonist.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
After this came At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop, which won the 2021 International Booker Prize.
At Night All Blood is Black is a striking novel, both in terms of style and content, but it's not for me. I thought it had some really interesting points to make about the temporary madness of soldiers. I loved the way David Diop played on the words "humanity" and "humane", and I also loved the way he talked about the supposed savagery of the so-called "Chocolat" soldiers. But this isn't a book I really enjoyed reading. I found the prose clunky, and I wasn't sure what point was being made by the repetitious, stylised oral effect.
At Night All Blood is Black just didn't come together for me in the end, although it wouldn't surprise me if it would benefit from a reread.
⭐⭐⭐
My next pick was Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily R. Austin, which I'd wanted to read ever since I heard that title.
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead is a charming and very funny book about a young woman with severe anxiety. I really enjoyed inhabiting the perspective of the book's narrator, who I found supremely lovable and surprisingly relatable. The characters are all believable and vividly brought to life, and the situations they find themselves in are entertaining without pushing the bounds of plausibility. Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead has a lot of great points to make, and I particularly liked the way it talks about mental health. My only complaint is that the way the book moves around in time felt a bit random, and made the main plotline a little difficult to follow (although I enjoyed every flashback and aside).
Come for the great title, stay for the even better story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The last book I read in August was White Teeth by Zadie Smith, whom I'd been meaning to read more from ever since I read (and loved) On Beauty back in 2017.
Maybe it's the prolonged anticipation, or maybe my tastes have changed more than I've realised, but I found White Teeth a little disappointing. I loved the eclectic cast of characters, and I loved the humour with which Smith tells this story. There are some brilliant lines, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. I liked the story, and the different (and sometimes difficult) themes it deals with. But the scope of the story is huge, and I did find White Teeth a little too long and a little too messy.
White Teeth is unlikely to become one of my favourite books, but I did enjoy reading it, and I hope I get round to my next Zadie Smith before another 4 years has passed!
⭐⭐⭐
A murder on the high seas. A remarkable detective duo. A demon who may or may not exist.
I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but I was intrigued by the premise of The Devil and the Dark Water. The claustrophobic setting of a ship at sea appealed to me, and I wasn't disappointed. There was distrust simmering between and among the passengers and crew even before the first signs of trouble, and the tension slowly builds as the violence onboard escalates. Stuart Turton also capitalises on his choice of setting in vivid descriptions, which enable the reader not only to picture the ship, but also to hear, smell, and feel it. We are utterly immersed in the world he has created.
The Devil and the Dark Water is a well-plotted book with a satisfying conclusion, which held my attention throughout. I love the characters Turton has created, and even as he borrows from the Sherlock Holmes archetype, his writing feels fresh and interesting. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is definitely going on my to-read list.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next up was The Pier Falls, a collection of short stories by Mark Haddon, which I chose after reading the short story 'The Pier Falls' in The Penguin Book of the Contemporary British Short Story.
It turns out that I really like Mark Haddon's style of writing, especially his attention to detail and his matter-of-fact way of describing everyday life. I definitely want to read more from him. I also enjoyed how dark the stories in this collection are. Although none of the short stories supplanted 'The Pier Falls' as my favourite, there were a few which I think will prove as memorable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I followed this one with another short story, Something Special by Iris Murdoch, one of my favourite authors.
This one wasn't at all what I was expecting; I've grown to expect certain things from Murdoch's books, and Something Special was very different. There is much more dialogue, much less philosophising, and only hints at the usual themes Murdoch writes about - partly because Something Special is so short. The characters are interesting, especially the main character who reminds me of Murdoch's usual protagonists, and I enjoyed the fact that the story is set in Dublin, which is unusual for Murdoch but which she captures really well.
Murdoch manages to pack a lot into such a slim book, and Something Special has a lot to offer, but without more to go on, I felt I could only give this book three stars.
⭐⭐⭐
My next pick was Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, which I thought it was finally time I read.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is such a well-known story that you think you'll have heard it all before, until you actually start reading and discover that the protagonist is a man called Mr Utterson. I can see how this book might disappoint some readers, but the way Robert Louis Stevenson tells his story does have its advantages - especially to a reader who is already aware of the big reveal. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a delightfully atmospheric read from the beginning, and although I was most interested in the information revealed in the conclusion, I did enjoy the way Stevenson teases the reader with the monstrous truth.
This edition also includes Stevenson's short story 'The Bottle Imp', which is an interesting read, and an short essay by John Sutherland, which is thought-provoking if a little outdated.
⭐⭐⭐
I followed this one with the even creepier The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.
A delightfully evocative Gothic novel, which follows the expected format while offering plenty of the unexpected. This tale unfurls slowly, but tension simmers throughout. The reader is never quite sure where they are with The Turn of the Screw, which is what I enjoyed most about this atmospheric and ambiguous ghost story.
The Turn of the Screw lived up to its reputation, and has piqued my interest in its author.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
After enjoying The Devil and the Dark Water so much, I chose The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Stuart Turton's debut, as my next read.
This is an incredibly creative book, and it was only when I tried to explain the plot to someone that I realised how well Stuart Turton handles such a sprawling and complicated story. For anyone worried about repetitions, it's worth knowing that although Evelyn Hardcastle is destined to die over and again, our protagonist is the man trying to solve her murder, and he wakes up each morning in the body of a different guest. The characters are fascinating, and I love the way Turton describes our protagonist inhabiting their bodies, fighting with their personalities.
With such an original premise and such a complicated plot, there were bound to be questions left unanswered and moments that don't quite add up. That's why I have given The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle four stars instead of five. But I really enjoyed this fresh take on (what can be) a tired genre, and I look forward to whatever Turton writes next.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
My next read was Intimacies by Katie Kitamura, which came highly recommended and with a cover I couldn't resist.
I read Intimacies in one sitting. Katie Kitamura's clear-cut prose sucked me in from the first line, and the deceptively simple storyline held me spellbound until the last.
I loved the level of detail Kitamura pays to the protagonist's work as a translator; one of many ways this story explores the idea of intimacy. It's a brilliant idea to take one concept and pick it apart in this way, and I think our awareness of the book's title adds new layers of meaning to the protagonist's encounters. I loved the way Kitamura describes the protagonist's uncomfortable encounters with men, which I'm sure will ring true for many female readers, and the way she shows an awareness of her own female gaze through a reference to art. I also loved the way Kitamura talks about the International Court, where the protagonist works; the way she describes the people involved in the trials, and the way she refuses to accept a simple version of morality.
I think my favourite aspect, however, was the question of home, which is only brought up explicitly near the end of the book, but in a way that makes the reader realise so much of the story has been about that question. I have always been drawn to books that explore the concept of home, and Intimacies does so in one of the simplest and most poignant ways I've encountered. I definitely want to read more from this author.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next up was Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, another favourite author of mine.
I love that Jane Austen's books are always in her recognisable style, while all delivering something a little bit different. In the case of Northanger Abbey, the protagonist is not the typical Austen heroine, and I did at times wish her to be the witty and intelligent young woman I know Austen capable of writing, but there is wit aplenty in her love interest, and her naivety only adds to the misunderstandings I so love in Austen's writing. It is also unusual that Northanger Abbey includes an element of the gothic, and I love Austen's good-natured mockery of that genre as well as her wonderful evocation of it. I also love the way Austen defends the frivolous reading of novels!
Jane Austen is an author I can always rely on to write entertaining, satisfying, and rereadable books, which never fail to make me laugh. Northanger Abbey is no exception.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I followed this with Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi, which was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize and longlisted for the 2021 Women's Prize for Fiction.
Burnt Sugar is the perfect title for this twisted story of a toxic mother-daughter relationship. I loved the attention to detail with which Avni Doshi writes; the way she brings places and people to life. It also made a pleasant change to read a story set in contemporary India. I particularly loved the way Burnt Sugar explores the malleability of memory, and plays with the reader's perspective of the protagonist and her reliability. By the end of the book, I felt almost overpowered by the protagonist's emotions.
However, not everything about this book worked for me. There was a lot that I couldn't relate to, and I found the book's format disjointed and without purpose. Hence three stars rather than four.
⭐⭐⭐
I finally got round to reading Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid next, which was longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize and had been on my to-read list for too long.
This is a really easy and engaging read, which explores some interesting and important issues. I particularly liked the way Such a Fun Age starts with an explicitly racist incident and devolves into microagressions. I love the way Kiley Reid leans into the uncomfortableness of transactional relationships, especially when they're split along racial lines, and the way she delves into white privilege and allyship. I love the way she explores the notion of "adulting", and I think the way Reid highlights the financial burdens of being an adult in America brings something new to the discussion.
Such a Fun Age feels like a novel formed from years of observation, and there are some wonderful moments of characterisation. I particularly loved Briar. On the other hand, I sometimes felt like Emira's personality got a little lost in the strong personalities of those around her, and in her role as the novel's protagonist.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
After this came At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop, which won the 2021 International Booker Prize.
At Night All Blood is Black is a striking novel, both in terms of style and content, but it's not for me. I thought it had some really interesting points to make about the temporary madness of soldiers. I loved the way David Diop played on the words "humanity" and "humane", and I also loved the way he talked about the supposed savagery of the so-called "Chocolat" soldiers. But this isn't a book I really enjoyed reading. I found the prose clunky, and I wasn't sure what point was being made by the repetitious, stylised oral effect.
At Night All Blood is Black just didn't come together for me in the end, although it wouldn't surprise me if it would benefit from a reread.
⭐⭐⭐
My next pick was Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily R. Austin, which I'd wanted to read ever since I heard that title.
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead is a charming and very funny book about a young woman with severe anxiety. I really enjoyed inhabiting the perspective of the book's narrator, who I found supremely lovable and surprisingly relatable. The characters are all believable and vividly brought to life, and the situations they find themselves in are entertaining without pushing the bounds of plausibility. Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead has a lot of great points to make, and I particularly liked the way it talks about mental health. My only complaint is that the way the book moves around in time felt a bit random, and made the main plotline a little difficult to follow (although I enjoyed every flashback and aside).
Come for the great title, stay for the even better story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The last book I read in August was White Teeth by Zadie Smith, whom I'd been meaning to read more from ever since I read (and loved) On Beauty back in 2017.
Maybe it's the prolonged anticipation, or maybe my tastes have changed more than I've realised, but I found White Teeth a little disappointing. I loved the eclectic cast of characters, and I loved the humour with which Smith tells this story. There are some brilliant lines, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. I liked the story, and the different (and sometimes difficult) themes it deals with. But the scope of the story is huge, and I did find White Teeth a little too long and a little too messy.
White Teeth is unlikely to become one of my favourite books, but I did enjoy reading it, and I hope I get round to my next Zadie Smith before another 4 years has passed!
⭐⭐⭐
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