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This is the second article covering some more amazing reviews from the book social world, if you have a review and want to contribute to a future edition? Get in touch.
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Book Reviews
The Walls that build
https://geni.us/SBWallsWeB
The Wall we Build - Jules Hayes
Synopsis
Reverberating through three generations and nine decades, and set against the stunning backdrop of Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s country home, comes a tragic story of misguided honour, thwarted love and redemption.
Growing up around Churchill’s estate, Frank, Florence and Hilda are inseparable, but as WW2 casts its menacing shadow their friendships become more complex and strained. Following Frank’s death in 2002, Florence writes to his grandson, Richard, hinting at a dark past.
On investigation, disturbing secrets come to light that have not only haunted his grandfather’s life but will now impact on his too. When a pivotal encounter between Frank and Churchill is revealed and a mystery relative in a psychiatric hospital discovered, just how much more does Florence dare disclose, and is Richard ready to hear?
Review by Being Ann Book Bookblogger
Romance, injustice, slowly uncovered family secrets, a vividly-drawn wartime backdrop, the strongest and most well-drawn characters, a sweeping and all-consuming story filled with twists and surprises, a perfectly balanced present day story that draws on all those echoes from the past, and the very finest of story-telling – what more can you possibly ask of a book? Ok, a little bit of Churchill too – and not as a simple cameo, but central to the story line and the way it unfolds? The research that must have gone into this book is seriously impressive – historical, social and in its settings, all used exceptionally well to give the story depth, context and authenticity.
This book grabbed me from the opening pages, and its grip never lessened for an instant. One of its real strengths is in its characterisation, as you become involved and invested in the lives of Florence, Frank and Hilda. Frank is both complex and sympathetic, and the twists and turns of his life rather drive the story, with the emotional content perfectly judged: but Florence is perhaps the story’s primary anchor, moving sometimes into the background, but at other times at centre stage, also providing that all-important link through to the present day.
And while the story that takes you through wartime and beyond is a page-turner in itself, I really did love that present day story too – with a mystery at its centre, some real tension and some clever echoes from the earlier story. It gives the book another dimension, has a strength of its own, and brings the whole to a really satisfying conclusion. Dual time threads can be troublesome when they’re not equally strong, when you’d prefer to remain with one rather than the other – there are no such issues here, all the links and transitions so very smoothly handled.
While the story-telling is wonderful throughout, there are some set pieces that will long stay in the memory – particularly, but certainly not only, that “pivotal” wartime encounter with Churchill, with its vividly drawn setting and context.
And I really must commend the author for the book’s perfect conclusion – when I set the book aside with a tear in my eye and reflected on how very much I’d enjoyed it. No, not just enjoyed it, I unreservedly loved it – one of my books of the year.
Anne’s rating - 5 STARS
GoodReads rating - 4.47 STARS
The Revolt
https://geni.us/SBubbleRevolt
The Revolt - Clara Dupont-Monod
Synopsis
It is with a soft voice, full of menace, that our mother commands us to overthrow our father . .
Richard Lionheart tells the story of his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. In 1173, she and three of her sons instigate a rebellion to overthrow the English king, her husband Henry Plantagenet. What prompts this revolt? How does a great queen persuade her children to rise up against their father? And how does a son cope with this crushing conflict of loyalties?
Replete with poetry and cruelty, this story takes us to the heart of the relationship between a mother and her favourite son - two individuals sustained by literature, unspoken love, honour and terrible violence.
Review by The Book Magnet Bookblogger
I don’t know a great deal about Plantagenet history but we’ve all heard of Richard the Lionheart and perhaps also his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Both of these historical figures are brought to life by Clara Dupont-Monod in The Revolt. The Revolt is an absolutely stunning piece of historical fiction; it’s so good that I read it in one sitting, being unable to put it down until I had greedily devoured every single word.
Never have historical figures spoken so clearly and vividly from within the pages of a book. It’s highly commendable that Clara Dupont-Monod has managed to breathe so much life into these 12th century figures, making them so multi-dimensional that it’s quite remarkable. Of course, the author has used her artistic license to create such amazing characters whilst still maintaining as much historical accuracy as possible. I did google a few things that intrigued me and found them to have a basis in fact.
Written in the voice of both Richard and Eleanor, with a few guest chapters from notable characters, I learnt so much more about this period of history than I have ever managed to absorb from a history book. I’ve always found Eleanor of Aquitaine to be a fascinating historical figure but I’ve struggled to find a book about her that held my interest for more than a few chapters. The Revolt is precisely the book I have been searching for; it didn’t just hold my interest, it completely gripped and captivated me from start to finish.
Often lyrical and poetic in its prose, The Revolt is exceptionally well written by Clara Dupont-Monod and impeccably translated from French by Ruth Diver. It’s a fascinating and captivating account of one of the most powerful and influential women in English history. I didn’t have to think twice before awarding 5 stars to this stunning novel. A very highly recommended read.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
3.78 STARS (French Version)
The Night Circus
https://geni.us/SBNightCircus
The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
Synopsis
The circus arrives without warning. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.
Against the grey sky the towering tents are striped black and white. A sign hanging upon iron gates reads:
Opens at Nightfall Closes at Dawn
As dusk shifts to twilight, tiny lights begin to flicker all over the tents, as though the whole circus is covered in fireflies. When the tents are aglow, sparkling against the night sky, the sign lights up:
Le Cirque des Rêves The Circus of Dreams
The gates shudder and unlock, seemingly by their own volition. They swing outward, inviting the crowd inside.
Now the circus is open. Now you may enter.
Review by Phoebe at thebookreviewer Bookstagram
Summary: One day the circus is there, one day it isn’t. A challenge has been set and the circus is the playing ground. The book goes between different years and different places, but the challenge is always at the heart of the story.
Review: At first, I didn’t enjoy this book, I didn’t really understand it. I couldn’t get used to the years changing on nearly every chapter and my mind would not remember the characters name and what they did.
After about 50ish pages my head got used to it and I fell in love with the book and the not knowing of it. I also fell in love with the circus and definitely wanted to be a part of it. The way Morgenstern describes the illusions and acts performed at the circus was incredible, the picture was very clear in my mind.
The storyline is great! You’re left waiting until the last few pages to see what’s going to happen (I am being vague so as to not spoil it) and the ending does not disappoint.
Overall, this book is magic (haha) and I would highly recommend it, just remember to pay attention to the dates at the start of each chapter as they are important.
Special shoutout to Bailey in the book as he was a gem and my fave character for sure!
Has anyone read this one and what did they think of it?
Phoebe’s rating - 4 STARS
GoodReads rating - 4.04 STARS
The Clown in the Cornfield
https://geni.us/SBClowninCF
Clown in the Cornfield - Adam Cesare
The Clown in the Cornfield Booktube Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpFlz_mKg_M&t
Synopsis
Quinn Maybrook just wants to make it until graduation. She might not make it to morning.
Quinn and her father moved to tiny, boring Kettle Springs to find a fresh start. But ever since the Baypen Corn Syrup Factory shut down, Kettle Springs has cracked in half. On one side are the adults, who are desperate to make Kettle Springs great again, and on the other are the kids, who want to have fun, make prank videos, and get out of Kettle Springs as quick as they can.
Kettle Springs is caught in a battle between old and new, tradition and progress. It’s a fight that looks like it will destroy the town. Until Frendo, the Baypen mascot, a creepy clown in a pork-pie hat, goes homicidal and decides that the only way for Kettle Springs to grow back is to cull the rotten crop of kids who live there now
