Shutter Island

Shutter Island

Dennis Lehane

“Maybe there are some things we were put on this earth not to know.” 

I can honestly say that this book was brilliant: the story line is one of the best that I have ever read. 

It is set in they year 1954, and is centered on Teddy Daniels, a recently widowed US Marshall who is called to investigate the disappearance of a potentially dangerous female patient named Rachel Solando, (convicted for murdering her three children) who escaped from Shutter Island - an island that cares for the criminally insane. Said patient's disappearance is particularly unnerving, since she managed to somehow escape not only the asylum, but also the actual island itself, despite having been kept under constant supervision in a locked cell. 

Teddy's partner on the case is another Marshall, Chuck Aule, who like Teddy also served in the army and helped to liberate a number of concentration camps in Germany towards the end of World War Two. However, it seems that Teddy is in some ways unable to recover from not only the traumas of the war, but also the tragic death of his wife in what he thought to be an act of arson by a patient whom he later learns  is actually a resident on the island... 

Throughout the course of the story, he finds codes, uncovers secrets, makes enemies and comes nail-bitingly close to what he thinks is the truth, but it is when Chuck mysteriously disappears, that he comes to question who he can trust, and whether he can even trust himself. 

It is difficult to discuss the plot of the story without giving away the ending, but to condense it, I would say that the underlying question, is can he contain his own personal emotions and compunctions without unknowingly insinuating them into the case? Well, I found that the more I read on, the more unlikely it seemed, and through Lehane's intense descriptions and imagery of Teddy's actions, emotions, fears, dreams and hallucinations, it becomes apparent that he may in fact never leave the island, because someone is actually trying to drive him insane. 

I would thoroughly recommend this book to everyone - there is no shortage of tension, drama, secrecy, mind games and paranoia, and it will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. There are some adult themes present and some frequent swearing, so if you feel uncomfortable about this, then you can watch the recent film version, which is a lot milder, but  just as good at conveying the plot. If you read anything, let it be this book, since the ending is one that you will not see coming, and will have you shocked for days.

I would rate this book 5/5 stars.

The Wall

The Wall

William Sutcliffe

The Wall is a new book that hasn't yet been published, but is due to be this April, and I along with a group of other people are sort of like the test audience. As far as themes and topics go, I would consider this book to be a political thriller, as it describes life in a segregated community through the eyes of a teenage boy.

This story is set in the town of Amarias, (a fictional town) that is encased by a large stone wall that the people are forbidden to cross, unless through the checkpoint that is  manned by the military. This wall acts as a barrier: its primary function is to separate two towns that may only be miles apart, but are in fact worlds away from each other in culture, values and morals. The town that we spend the most time in, is Amarias - the home of the protagonist, Joshua. Joshua is a fourteen year old boy, who unlike most others in his community, is unaccustomed to the rules and history of the wall. Although just a teenager, he is mature in his ways of thinking, and frequently comes to question the idea of segregation, and the twisted ideology that a simple stone wall can ensure a life of safety and comfort to the privileged of Amarias, who despite this are still unforgiving and paranoid. Though many of these Amarian civilians have never crossed the wall, they have grown up with a natural hatred for the other side and its inhabitants, spawn from generations of lies and myths. This is why I think that Joshua's story is so important, as it highlights the importance of the conscience, and how it is hugely influential in deciding and changing the opinion of an individual, which can go on to decide and influence the fate of others. The very fact that the character is sensitive to his conscience, is what Sutcliffe uses as a driving force to power the rising action and climax of the story, which is that after a moment of hunger of intrigue and adventure, Joshua ends up on the other side of the wall (unknowedly posed as a great threat to himself and others) and is saved by a young girl named Leila. Despite nearly not making back to the other side alive, Joshua feels in debt to her for her kindness, and swears to return with the one thing that he knows her and  her family desperately need. However, little does he know that by returning, he will damage his already unstable relationship with his mother and step-father, but will more importantly  learn the true meaning of self-sacrifice, fear, pain, love, hatred and sadness.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as although being emotionally charged and poignant at times, it has also many cryptic and hidden meanings and symbolism, which add depth to the characters and story. Through Sutcliffe's intense description, I have come to understand what life is like for children, adults and parents on both halves of a social divide, and I feel lucky that I was able to learn so much from this story, as it has helped me to empathise with the hundreds of thousands of people who live in this way across the world. 

Great Expectations

                                                      Great Expectations

Charles Dickens

Great Expectations is Charles Dickens' thirteenth novel, and written in 1860, it focuses on the main theme of social criticism. It is set in Kent in the early 1800's, and is told in the first person in form of narration by young Philip Pirrip (or Pip for short). I think that this story can be described as an example of bildungsroman, as it denotes the growth and development of the protagonist over a period of time, and how their outlook on life is shaped and altered by the events and experiences in their past. I really enjoyed reading this story, and I would definitely regard it as a timeless classic.

The story starts in the moors of Kent, where we are introduced to a young orphan named Pip, who lives with his older sister (by many years) and her husband Joe Gargery, a blacksmith. One evening, he was walking back from the cemetery (where he was visiting his parents' grave) when he was stopped by an escaped convict by the name of Abel Magwitch.  The convict threatens Pip for a metal file to break open his shackles, and forces Pip to swear to secrecy that he will not tell a single soul about this encounter. Scared and confused, Pip runs home and steals a file from the forge, but he also cuts a hearty slice of meat pie from the kitchen without his sister's knowing. Surprised and grateful for this kind gesture, Magwitch (who probably hasn't eaten for days) is overcome and eats the pie which most likely saved him from starvation. When Pip leaves the marshes, he is with the mindset that he will never see this man again, but little does he know that Magwitch never forgets his boyhood kindness, and will return in the future with a reward...

My favourite character in this story is Miss Havisham, as I think that she is so beyond the point of evil that it creates interest throughout the course of the novel. For those who don't know, when she was younger, Miss Havisham was left by her fiancee on her wedding day. She has never recovered from this, and although she is an elderly woman now, she is just merely the shell of  a woman, who is filled with bitterness, regret, and most of all a grudge against all men. I think that if something like that happened to a person, then the best thing to do would be to move on and start again, but it is strange and quite scary that she chooses to literally 'live in it' by always wearing her wedding dress (which is now torn and discoloured) and the way she chooses to leave the wedding table full of food and cake, which is now covered in cobwebs and consumed by rodents.  But the saddest thing is that she is so set in her ways, that she chose to corrupt the mind of her adopted daughter or her 'prize' Estella, by leading her to believe that all men are selfish and deceptive, and deserve to have their hearts broken. This is particularly angering, as Estella later becomes a love interest for Pip who doesn't deserve to have his heart broken, especially in the way in which it is.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, as it is just an amazing story with many unforgettable characters. Although it is quite long, it is full of new and interesting vocabulary, and there are certain parts that will certainly have you reduced to tears. With reference to target audience, I would say anyone over the age of 12, but even if yiu are not interested in the book, then there are many other ways of experiencing the story, like through the television series, or the recent movie that has just come out in cinemas. 

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

'For never was a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo'.

Over the half term, I read Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. I first came across this particular play whilst looking for one to use as inspiration for my art homework, and I already had a vague idea about the basic plot,so was interested to find out in more detail what the real story was about. For me, this was quite a change in my usual reading style, as I don't normally tend to read plays.

 This is just one of Shakespeare's most renowned pieces of work, and almost everybody is familiar with the story. Even those who haven't read it, describe this play as a tragedy, in particular the end when both young lovers take their lives. Personally, (although quite pessimistically) I think that the tragic tone of this story starts at the very beginning, when we learn that two households who are 'both alike in dignity' hold an ancient grudge against each other for an unapparent reason. We are also told at the beginning during the prologue that '...Doth with their death bury their parent's strife' which strongly suggests that both Montague and Capulet are so set in their ways that they would allow for their own family members to die, rather than break with tradition. 

Some might say that Romeo and Juliet were foolish; falling in love and marrying despite being from two of the biggest and longest rival families in Verona, which at the time would have been seen as a heinous crime. I have an opposing view to this, as I feel that they were brave to do what they did (marrying in secret), and were actually the only sensible people in their families, in that they were only young, but still didn't allow the ancient grudge of what their families may have been like centuries before to cloud their judgments of who they are now. I think that they are truly respectable, as they didn't just marry who their parent's wanted, but they were actually able to find good in who they were brought up to think was their enemy. It is frustrating and leaves quite a bitter lump in your throat when you learn that both lovers take their lives when they learn that they can no longer live without the other. Shakespeare calls this an 'untimely death' and rightly so, however it is in some ways a happy ending, as death never really parted them, but brought them together in happiness and love, rather than the judgement and hatred that would have awaited them had they lived.

Although this play was written around the year 1589-1595, it is still a timeless classic and can be read by anybody in the present day and still have the same amount of emotion and impact as was intended when it was first written. I would thoroughly recommend this to everybody, as when you finish the play, whether you are bubbling with anger or brimming with tears, this is a story that will remain with you forever. Most think that the title: The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet says everything, but after all 'What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.'   

Trailer: Romeo+Juliet (1996)

The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi

The Icarus Girl

Helen Oyeyemi

I chose to read The Icarus Girl, as I was looking for a challenging read, that was different to my habitual reading style. Throughout the book, I found that it was captivating on both an emotional level, as well as an interest one, as it was eerie and compelling, focusing mainly on the theme of twins, doubles and ghosts.

     The story is told in the third person, and is focused from the point of view of the protagonist, eight year old Jessamy Harrison. Despite being a playful, whimsical child with an extraordinary imagination, Jessamy is an extremely sensetive person, and by being half Nigerian and half English, her schoolmates feel that she dosen't belong. Her extreme sensetivity means that when situations become too tough, she can only cover her ears and scream and scream. Unaware of how to help their daughter, Jessamy's parents Sarah and Daniel decide to take her to her mother's family compound in Nigeria. Here, she meets all of her mother's family for the first time, as well as a little girl her own age, called TillyTilly. Although there is something odd about her, Jess befriends TillyTilly, as she is someone innocent and playful like herself, but more importantly - someone who understands her. As time goes on and the bond between the two girls grows stronger, Jess, now powerless, watches as the people around her begin to get hurt, and starts to question the innocence of Tilly, why nobody else can see her, and just what she is seeking in return for friendship....

    I found this book to be a thoroughly entertaining read; one that was phsycological, and slightly disturbing. I would gladly recommend it to anybody looking for a story to grip them from beginning to end.

I would rate this book 4/5 stars.

The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones

By Alice Sebold

'These were the lovely bones that had grown around my absence : the connections-sometimes tenuous, sometimes made at great cost, but often magnificent- that happened after I was gone'.

This book is set in the suburbs of America in the 1970's , and is a thought-provoking story, about the death of a young teenager, Susie Salmon. However the interesting thing about this story, is that Susie's death is just a small part at the beginning; it's mainly about the aftermath of her murder, and how her family, friends, neighbours and her killer are dealing with her absence.

The book opens with this short epilogue: 'My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973. My murderer was a man from our neighbourhood. My mother liked his border flowers, and my father talked to him once about fertilizer.'

When we are introduced to Susie's character, she comes across as a lively, chatty and creative teenager; a young person who is keen to explore and live life to the full. Her story starts when her life ends, on December 6, on her way home from school. It was late and getting dark, as her parents and two younger siblings were beginning to wonder where she was. They had no idea that she had been taken underground and killed in the saddest way by a strange and peculiar man, yet more importantly, a chary neighbour of theirs - Mr Harvey.
Susie narrates the story, and informs the readers of her life before her death, and her family's life after her death. She is now in 'the inbetween', a place between Heaven and Earth. It seems like a paradise, however it is still full of her loneliness and anger, as she watches her family grow up, especially her sister Lindsay, as she experiences things that she herself will never be able to experience. It provokes sympathy from the audience towards Susie, as she expresses the sad truth that she is literally frozen as a person, unable to move forward or grow old.
Although she watches her family intently, and misses them dearly, she fails to understand that they can never fully move on until she fully moves on. For me, the most poignant part of the story, was when Susie finally 'leaves' her family, and goes on into Heaven. Here she meets those whom she had loved and lost years before, aswell as those poor young girls who had lost their lives under the hand of the phsycotic Mr Harvey. Here she is finally free.
I enjoyed reading this book, as it was something different to the genres that I usually read. It was a poignant and moving read, and I would recommend it to those looking for an emotionally-gripping and heart-rending story. Also, if anyone has seen the filmic version of this story, I would thoroughly recommend this book, as it gives you a much deeper understanding of the emotional journey that the characters go through whilst dealing with stress and grief , however if you are quite a sensetive reader, youmight not enjoy this book.

Star rating: 4/5 stars

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (continued)

Rebecca (continued)

Daphne du Maurier

Where I am in the story so far, speaks of Max describing the garden in his home. Although this may seem quite lacklustre, the author uses vivid description of the senses to make the reader feel as though they are being taken on a journey to Manderley. An example of this, is '...from the terrace you could hear the ripple of the coming tide washing in the little bay'. However, the main focus of his recollection, is to inform us of his pride and joy; his flowers. There are numerous types, including: hydrangeas, syringa, crocuses, and daffodils - '...stirring in the evening breeze, golden heads cupped upon lean stalks.' As a reader, you immediately believe that he has a passion for agriculture, but also you feel a pang of sympathy, as you dwell on the possibility that the flowers might be filling the place of his 'beloved' Rebecca. 

As I continue to read Rebecca, I find that I am learning new words and phrases within the formal language used by the author, that are helping to extend my vocabulary. I have since learnt two new words: 'raucous' and 'blowzy', both of which are used to describe the roses at Manderley, the home of Max de Winter. I find this rather unusual, as the words are supposed to mean harsh-sounding and course-looking; all of which could suggest unconventional beauty, perhaps reflecting the loneliness of Max.