Although I set new year’s resolutions and intentions every year, I rarely have ever stuck to it. In addition to the usual “drink more water”/”eat more vegetables” goals, this year I decided to set myself a Goodreads book goal, after having read no books at all last year. It’s reignited my passion for reading and fiction, and with the weather being so dreary lately, I’ve had the perfect excuse to curl up with a book in the evenings.ย
Here are a few of the books I’ve enjoyed this year so far …
Project Hail Mary
ANDY WEIR
Sci-Fi Thriller; page-turner;ย unlikely friendship that tugs at the heart strings
From the author of The Martian, Project Hail Mary is a high stakes, scientifically-sound, sci-fi page turner. Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship, but doesn’t know who he is, where he is and what his mission is. The book switches between Ryland’s current predicament and his returning memories, slowly revealing the cataclysmic nature of what he’s facing.
It’s difficult to review this book without giving much away, but I was blown away by the science in this book, and it’s clear Weir has done extensive research. The prose and characterisation is hardly literary, but the interesting premise pushes my rating to 4 stars.
Guards! Guards!
TERRY PRATCHETT
Fantasy; British Humour; a crush-worthy, down-in-the-dumps Detective
This is my first forray into Discworld, and I started my journey with the first book in the City Watch sub-series, Guards! Guards!. Set in the urban metropolis of Ankh Morpork, the book follows the useless, bumbling night watchmen, headed by the cynical anti-hero Captain Vimes, which faces a bit of a shake-up with the arrival of a 6ft adopted dwarf called Carrot.
The story unfolds like a police procedural with a fantasy flavour, featuring secret societies, power struggles and dragons. The writing style, British humour and character observation is reminiscent of Douglas Adams at times. Pratchett manages to skilfully balance the world-building with the character development, and I can see why he is considered one of the most iconic fantasy writers.
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
STUART TURTON
Locked room mystery, Gosford Park but with a sci-fi twist
Evelyn Hardcastle is killed at a ball that is being hosted in her honour, at Blackheath Manor. Aiden, who is a guest at the party, is stuck in a time loop and must relive the day over and over, unless he finds the murderer. Everytime the day starts over, he wakes up in the body of another guest and he must solve the murder before a mysterious killer hunts him too.
I really enjoyed this book; clues and secrets are unveiled slowly and dramatically in this elaborate locked room murder mystery. The book is intricately crafted, with inter-weaving character storylines and often seeing events from different points of views as the novel progresses. Each character had believable motives and in the end, I stopped trying to figure it out and let the book sweep me along in the journey.
Babel
REBECCA F. KUANG
Historical Fiction, dark academia for linguistics nerds
Babel starts in 1828 and follows Robin Swift, who is orphaned by cholera and is taken from Canton by the mysterious Professor Lovell. He is trained in Latin, Ancient Greek and Mandarin, so that one day he can enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious institute of translation, called Babel. In this alternative world, silver bars are enchanted with magic by manifesting the power of translated words and this has given Britain its power that drives the Empire. Robin must grapple with his race, colonisation and his role in upholding the ideals of the British Empire.
Using a fantasy lens, we are taken into an almost academic exploration of race, language and colonisation, with an introduction to the Opium Wars between Britain and China. The reflections on linguistics, etymology and translation will be so relatable to anyone who speaks more than one language. Kuang’s academic background shines through in this well researched novel and I can’t wait to read her next novel “Yellowface” that will be released later this year.
Peter Pan and Wendy
J.M.BARRIE
Fairytale; dark but whimsical, with a dash of good old-fashioned racism
This book needs no introduction. I grew up watching the live-action Peter Pan film and adored the whimsical tale of the boy who never grew up. However the source material is surprisingly dark, and that’s not just because of the racist portrayal of the Native American characters. Peter Pan is a much more sinister character than his film incarnation. The dark undertones and the complex layers of the story makes this a true children’s classic, following in the footsteps of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm.
Book Eaters
SUNYI DEAN
Fairytale; dark but whimsical, with a dash of good old-fashioned racism
Book Eaters follows Devon Fairweather, a mother who would do anything to protect her monster of a child. Devon comes from one of six Bookeater families who live in hiding across the UK and belong to a race of people that must eat books for sustenance. This novel is a dark, gothic , anti-fairytale with family politics and examines the destructive power of love.
I feel the synopsis of this book is misleading, because despite the fantasy setting, the novel deals with patriachal family structures and the governing of women’s bodies. The Atwoodian themes coupled with Devon’s destructive journey to protect her monstrous son, pushes this novel into grimdark territory for me.
Rebecca
DAPHNE DU MAURIER
Classic literature; gothic house that may or may not be haunted; the other woman
I regret not reading Rebecca sooner. This novel follows our unnamed heroine who marries the mysterious Max De Winter after a whirlwind romance in France and is dogged by the memory of his dead first wife Rebecca.
The gothic setting of Manderley creates an unsettling tone and the setting almost becomes a character in itself. The characters and scenes are so vivid, and the novel is written beautifully. The themes of youth and the lack of identity are so relevant and really struck a chord with me.
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