BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Friday Bookshop - Sawako Natori (Author), Yui Kajita (Translator)

When college student Fumiya visits The Friday Bookshop as a last-ditch effort to find a book for his ill father, he is disappointed in its ordinary appearance despite whispers of its peculiar charm. But he soon discovers that it not only includes a cafe where the food menu changes daily on the chef's whim but also a vast underground vault lined with bookshelves, lovingly converted from an old abandoned subway platform. The bookshop, run by a quirky trio who have been close friends since high school, quickly becomes Fumiya's favourite place - so much so that he begins to work there part-time. Fumiya, who was never really a reader, learns to embrace the joy of reading, and that books can be a means to connect with other people and navigate the twists and turns of life. Through colourful interactions with the zany shop owners and their visitors, as well as mouth-watering dishes inspired by the books they recommend, it's impossible not to fall in love with the seemingly ordinary yet enchanting little bookstore in the subway station in Kanto.

 

What did I think?

I always get excited when I see a book about books and I love translated fiction so The Friday Bookshop was a must-read for me; I wouldn't have missed it for the world and it's an absolute delight to read.

There are 239 pages in the book and only four chapters, so if (like me) you can't put a book down in the middle of a chapter then it won't take you long to read it.  What I loved most about the chapters is that they are almost their own self-contained story with a main character who finds their way to The Friday Bookshop but they are all linked together through the overarching storyline.

The bookshop is so vividly described that I felt as if I was there and I would have been lost forever if I ever managed to get into the underground vault that is rather unusually located in an abandoned subway platform.  Sawako Natori's writing is exquisite and Yui Kajita's translation is so sublime that I could almost smell the books!

Unexpectedly amusing, often poignant and always bookish, The Friday Bookshop is a book that will sit proudly on my to-read-again shelf and I expect to find myself picking it up again when I need to escape to this wonderful bookshop in Japan.  A highly recommended read and an unmissable book for bibliophiles.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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When The Cranes Fly South - Lisa Ridzén (Author), Alice Menzies (Translator)

Bo is determined to live his own life in his own way. But his son has other ideas...

Bo lives a quiet existence in his small rural village in the north of Sweden. He is elderly and his days are punctuated by visits from his care team and his son. Fortunately, he still has his rich memories, phone calls with his best friend, and his beloved dog Sixten for company.

Only now his son is insisting the dog must be taken away. The very same son that Bo is wanting to mend his relationship with before his time is up. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotions and makes Bo determined to resist and find his voice...

 

What did I think?

I wasn't sure what to expect from When The Cranes Fly South from its title and cover but what a beautiful, heartfelt and emotional story it is.  I was feeling quite proud of myself for not crying at the end but I hadn't gotten away with it that easily.  When I glanced at the front cover on closing the book and saw Bo's hand on Sixten's head my resolve wavered and the floodgates opened.

Bo lives a solitary life with just his dog and his memories for company in between visits from his carers and, less frequently, his son.  As the days pass, the reader is privy to flashbacks from Bo's life and updates from his care file and I really enjoyed finding out more about the young Bo and the eventful life he had.

Beautifully written by Lisa Ridzén and impeccably translated by Alice Menzies, if it didn't have a Scandi feel about it I think it would be virtually impossible to tell that it was originally written in Swedish.  It is filled with emotion and perceptive observations of the difficulties we may face in later life.  The famous phrase about getting old is very true: "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" as we are all young at heart and it's frustrating when you can't do things you used to do.

Both devastatingly poignant and incredibly uplifting, When The Cranes Fly South is a book that works its way into your heart and refuses to leave but I consider it a great honour to carry a piece of Bo in my heart for the rest of my days.  An unforgettable and unmissable novel - an easy five stars.

I received a gifted paperback for the Insta Book Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Erased - Miha Mazzini

She Doesn't Exist.

Neither Does Her Baby.

Now What?

When a “software error” erases Zala from the system, she discovers that officially, she and her newborn don’t exist.

As Zala fights desperately to prove her existence, and save her child from adoption, she uncovers the Kafkaesque reality of Slovenia’s system — one that erased 25,671 citizens on February 26, 1992.

A chilling thriller about bureaucracy as violence, and one mother’s battle against the state. 

What did I think?

Oh my word, Erased by Miha Mazzini is an emotional and heartrending book that is astonishingly based on real events.  It just blew my mind that this could happen but also reminded me how easy it is to press the delete button on a keyboard.  I thought identity theft was scary but deletion of identity is even worse!  This isn't an imaginative dystopian novel; this deletion actually happened in Slovenia in 1992. Wow!

Zala is about to give birth to her first child so she attends her local hospital, only to be told that she doesn't exist on the computer system.  She is accused of being an illegal immigrant and presented with a bill for her hospital stay, oh and the hospital is keeping her baby.  I can only imagine what Zala felt like and I had feelings of shock, outrage and devastation as I followed every step of her journey as she fights for her baby and her identity.

It's an incredibly emotional read as I really felt for Zala as she is on her own.  She is a very strong character though and there's nothing more powerful than a mother fighting for her child.  Miha Mazzini's evocative writing brings Zala to life so the reader can't help but take her to their heart.  I actually forgot that it was a translated novel when I was reading it so I have to give a shout out to the impeccable translation by Gregor Timothy Čeh.

Shocking, disturbing and harrowing, Erased is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that really makes you think about your own electronic identity and how easily it could be erased.  I would highly recommend this outstanding book to readers of all genres.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Fly on the Wall Press (use code BOOKMAGNET10 for 10% off)

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Strange Buildings - Uketsu

The addictive mystery taking the world by storm, from the author of Strange Pictures

Eleven strange buildings. One terrible secret.

A lonely hut in the woods.

A hidden chamber.

A mysterious shrine.

A home in flames.

A nightmarish prison...

Each of the buildings in this book tells a chilling story. Each one is part of a puzzle.

Look closely... and you'll see that everything is connected.

All leading to a revelation so horrifying you won't want to believe it.

Millions of readers have become addicted to solving Uketsu's dark mysteries.

Strange Buildings is the strangest, and darkest, so far.

 

What did I think?

I had noticed a lot of excitement online about Uketsu's books so I chose to read Strange Buildings.  I wasn't really sure what to expect but I didn't expect it to be THIS good.  I simply couldn't put it down!

The books may look linked but I don't think they are and you don't have to read Strange Pictures or Strange Houses before reading Strange Buildings.  Strange Buildings is the first one I have read but I definitely want to read the others now.

It reads like a podcast or true crime show as the author shares 11 files relating to mysterious buildings.  Just like a real case file, there are floor plans and diagrams to really make the reader feel like they're part of the investigation.  As you read each one you start to see little links appearing, which makes the book even harder to put down as I was busy gathering all of the clues.

Prepare to meet your new addiction; Strange Buildings is one of the most bingeworthy books I have read in a long time.  It's a fantastic and addictive mystery novel that hooked me from the start and made me crave more of Uketsu's books.  An easy five stars and it's a book I will be recommending for a long time.

I received a gifted paperback from the publisher and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Scars of Silence - Johana Gustawsson, translated by David Warriner

When two teenagers are found brutally murdered on the island of Lidingö, dressed in white tunics and wearing crowns of candles, former French police officer Maïa Rehn joins local Commissioner Aleksander Storm to unravel a mystery with a shockingly dark heart. The highly anticipated sequel to the international bestselling gothic mystery, Yule Island.

___________

Twenty-three years ago, a young woman was murdered on the Swedish island of Lidingö.

The island has kept its silence.

Until now…

As autumn deepens into darkness in Lidingö, on the Stockholm archipelago, the island is plunged into chaos: in the space of a week, two teenaged boys are murdered. Their bodies are left deep in the forest, dressed in white tunics with crowns of candles on their heads, like offerings to Saint Lucia.

Maïa Rehn has fled Paris for Lidingö after a family tragedy. But when the murders shake the island community, the former police commissioner is drawn into the heart of the investigation, joining Commissioner Aleksander Storm to unravel a mystery as chilling as the Nordic winter.

As they dig deeper, it becomes clear that a wind of vengeance is blowing through the archipelago, unearthing secrets that are as scandalous as they are inhuman.

But what if the victims weren't who they seemed? What if those long silenced have finally found a way to strike back?

How far would they go to make their tormentors pay?

And you – how far would you go? 

What did I think?

Scars of Silence is the second book in the Lidingö Mysteries series, however, it can definitely be read as a standalone as I haven't read Yule Island but I was completely blown away by this breathtaking book.

What starts out as a murder mystery turns into something much darker and devastating.  I don't think I have made a note of so many quotes when reading a book.  Johana Gustawsson's eloquent words have been beautifully translated by David Warriner to stun and provoke the reader as the shocks and reveals just keep on coming.

I was completely mesmerised by the writing and hooked by the plot but I am pleased that I read Scars of Silence as part of a readalong as it gave me a chance to devour and digest the words I had read each day.  I even flicked back to revisit a few pages that were particularly affecting and memorable for me.  So, thank you to Orenda Books for inviting me to take part.

Both main characters have a lot going on in their personal life in addition to investigating a recent spate of murders that seem to be mirroring a convicted crime from the past.  My heart was breaking for Maïa as her tragic story was revealed and I didn't realise how much I had come to care about Aleksander until he experiences a devastating event in his own life.

Powerful, haunting and oh so very thought-provoking, Scars of Silence is an outstanding book that hooked me from the start and kept packing the punches in, leaving me completely devastated and stunned at the end.  I will definitely be adding Yule Island to my TBR and more than likely every other book that Johana Gustawsson has written.  

A very highly recommended read that is absolutely unmissable and completely unforgettable. 

I received a gifted paperback for the Orenda Books Readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Orenda Books

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Darker Days - Thomas Olde Heuvelt

When the darker days fall, the debt must be paid, . . . get ready for the chilling new folk horror from the Hugo Award-winning, bestselling author of HEX - from the publisher of The Exorcist and perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson and Stephen King.

In Lock Haven, a quiet little town in Washington State, there is a very special street.

Bird Street. The residents of Bird Street are all successful, wealthy, healthy and happy. And their children are all well-mannered and smart and high achievers.

At least they are for eleven months of the year.

In November, however, the ‘Darker Days’ begin. For November’s the month when things take a turn for the worse: accidents, bad luck, familial conflict and illness take hold. And it is in November that a stranger comes to Bird Street to collect the debt owed by the residents.

Because, you see, there is a price that must be paid for all the happiness and good fortune they enjoy for the other eleven months of year. And that price is one human life. Every November. Without fail.

And so it has been for over a hundred years. To ease their guilt, the residents of Bird Street seek out individuals – usually the elderly or the terminally ill – who wish to die with dignity and are content to be helped on their way.

But this year, things don’t go to plan. This year events take a terrifying turn . . .

Propulsive and haunting, Darker Days is a devastating modern take on the Faustian pact, and begs the question: how far would you go for your own happiness?

 

What did I think?

Darker Days is the perfect book for spooky season; it is dark by name and dark by nature so it's not a book for the faint-hearted and does contain some upsetting scenes of assisted suicide.  

The residents of Bird Street have all made a deal with the devil, who they refer to as 'The Accountant', and he turns up every year during the 'Darker Days' to take repayment in the form of a human life.  The residents don't just kill people at random; they seek out people who are ready to die and help them to commit suicide.  It sounds like a simple plan, until the sacrifice changes their mind...

My heart was pounding as I was reading Darker Days and I'm not sure whether I was rooting for the victims to change their minds or the residents to finally pay their debt as time started to run out.  It is very creepy when The Accountant turns up and the death scenes are incredibly upsetting and disturbing.  I was shocked and devastated on occasion, which just goes to show the strength of the writing and Thomas Olde Heuvelt's amazing ability to paint haunting pictures in the reader's mind with his vivid words. 

Dark (as the title suggests), disturbing and chilling, Darker Days is a fantastic horror novel that will stay with me long after I turned the final page.  It left me wondering what I would do if I was in any of the characters' positions and I honestly can't answer that.  Wrap up warm when you read Darker Days as it will chill you to the bone.  Highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Soyangri Book Kitchen - Kim Jee Hye, translated by Shanna Tan

 

In a peaceful village in the countryside, far from the bustling heart of Seoul, lies a book lovers’ paradise. With its wafts of delicious food and book-filled shelves, Soyangri Book Kitchen is managed by its plucky proprietor Yoojin. Her aim? To create a sanctuary for weary souls like herself.

But the book kitchen is more than just a place to eat or read – it’s a place which offers its guests a true escape, not just inside the pages of its many books, but in the warm embrace of an overnight bookstay.

Over one year, seven people at a crossroads in their lives find their way to Yoojin’s book kitchen. Among them are Da-in, a singer grappling with an identity crisis, Sohee, a promising lawyer confronted with a daunting medical diagnosis, and Soohyuk, a young musical director whose dreams have been stifled.

As they arrive in Soyangri, each of them will find their life subtly transformed by the magic of its books and the kindness of its people.

What did I think?

I love reading books about books and I really enjoyed my virtual visit to the Soyangri Book Kitchen.  With references to various classic books, it is clear that Kim Jee Hye is a book lover and her beautiful story is flawlessly translated by Shanna Tan.

There are a number of characters who find their way to the book kitchen and they each have a chapter dedicated to them.  I really enjoyed reading each story and finding out what drew them to Yoojin's unusual book kitchen.

The location is idyllic and the scenery is so beautifully described that I felt as if I was there; I could almost smell the cherry blossoms.  I don't often include excerpts from books but I wanted to share a sublime quote that I think will resonate with many readers:

"Whenever I find myself getting upset or angry, I reach for a book that allows me to immerse fully in another world - maybe like a crime or fantasy novel. They're my painkillers. In those moments I'm absorbed in a book, I can forget the pain of reality."

Soyangri Book Kitchen is a quick and charming read that makes me wish I had the magical ability to step inside a book and visit the beautiful book kitchen myself.  This is an unmissable book for book lovers and readers of translated fiction.

I received a gifted hardback to read and review for the bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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Three Bags Full - Leonie Swann

On a hillside near the quaint Irish village of Glennkill, the flock gathers around the dead body of their shepherd, George, who lies pinned to the ground with a spade. George cared deeply for the sheep, reading to them daily, and as a result they are far smarter than your average flock.

Led by Miss Maple, the sharpest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world), they set out to find George's killer. With an assortment of woolly investigators on the case, there are furtive missions into the village and a collection of two-legged suspects to chew over.

Dazzingly original, Three Bags Full introduces a band of detectives who are a breed apart.

What did I think?

As soon as I heard that Hugh Jackman was starring in Three Bags Full, a movie about sheep detectives, I just had to read the book that the film is based on and it is every bit as fun and unique as I thought it would be.

I do love a cast of characters in a book and Three Bags Full starts with a 'dramatis oves' to introduce the reader to all of the sheep characters in the book.  I loved this - it adds an element of fun to the book but also reminds us that animals have their own quirks and characteristics too.

The flock love George their shepherd, who reads to them every night and has promised them a trip to Europe, so they are completely distraught to find him dead one day.  There are lots of clues for them to follow to identify the murderer, starting with the spade that has been stuck in him and the hoofprint on his chest.  When the villagers gather round, they don't realise that the sheep are listening...

Oh I did enjoy this book, it is so much fun and I loved all of the sheep characters.  The sheep don't think like humans so I did sometimes struggle with what on earth they were talking about and I still don't know what 'the thing' is but I've had fun trying to work it out.  The mystery of George's death is very well plotted and I would never have worked it out in a million years, so well played Leonie Swann, well played indeed.

Highly original and impossible to predict, Three Bags Full is an unusual, fun and surprising murder mystery.  If you love cosy mysteries and you're looking for something different to read then I would highly recommend Three Bags Full.  I can't wait to see the movie now, even though I know whodunnit.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Read the book before you see the film and buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

CHASE: The Complete Trilogy - Thomas Dellenbusch (Author), Richard Urmston (Translator), Geoffrey Quarterman (Translator)

"Chase", the famous detective agency in Hamburg, is faced with three extremely tricky cases. Solving the intricate mysteries is one thing, the dangers involved are another. Chief investigator Rique Allmers and his team are always up against powerful and unscrupulous opponents.

In "The Hunt for the Mute Poetess", they set out to uncover the family secret of a deaf-mute author, which is closely guarded by the Hamburg mafia.

In "The Hunt for a King", the two Chase agents Jérome and Chen Lu travel to Scotland to solve the murder of a history professor. Without knowing it, they fight to preserve one of the greatest legends of mankind.

In "The Hunt for the Tsar's Treasure", Andree, Chase's IT specialist, after his girlfriend is kidnapped, suddenly finds himself in a race to find what is probably the most valuable lost treasure in the world.

 

What did I think?

The Chase trilogy contains three novellas and so much action is packed into each one of them that they read almost like full length novels.  It was originally written in German but you really can't tell that it didn't start out in English as the translation is flawless.

I love how each story is separate but almost follows on from one another as the characters progress through the whole book.  I expected all the stories to be set in Germany, which two of them are, but Scotland serves as the meat in this very appealing sandwich.  

The pacing is fast and each plot is incredibly intriguing with hints of Jack Bauer (24), Robert Langdon (The Da Vinci Code) and Indiana Jones with chases, races against time and puzzles to solve along the way.

The writing is incredibly visually descriptive and it is like having your very own cinema inside your mind as the scenes play out in amazing colour and crisp detail.  I couldn't wait to read the next story each time I finished one and my only disappointment was when the book came to an end as I could have kept reading about the adventures of this eclectic detective agency.

I really can't recommend Chase highly enough; it contains all of the ingredients required to make an intriguing, gripping and fast-paced feast for the mind and I absolutely devoured it.  An easy five stars.

Many thanks to the author for sending me an ARC; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

The Rabbit Factor (Rabbit Factor Trilogy Book 1) - Antti Tuomainen (Author), David Hackston (Translator)

Just one spreadsheet away from chaos…

What makes life perfect? Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen knows the answer because he calculates everything down to the very last decimal.

And then, for the first time, Henri is faced with the incalculable. After suddenly losing his job, Henri inherits an adventure park from his brother – its peculiar employees and troubling financial problems included. The worst of the financial issues appear to originate from big loans taken from criminal quarters … and some dangerous men are very keen to get their money back.

But what Henri really can't compute is love. In the adventure park, Henri crosses paths with Laura, an artist with a chequered past, and a joie de vivre and erratic lifestyle that bewilders him. As the criminals go to extreme lengths to collect their debts and as Henri's relationship with Laura deepens, he finds himself faced with situations and emotions that simply cannot be pinned down on his spreadsheets…

Warmly funny, rich with quirky characters and absurd situations, The Rabbit Factor is a triumph of a dark thriller, its tension matched only by its ability to make us rejoice in the beauty and random nature of life.

 

What did I think?

I've had my eye on The Rabbit Factor for a while and now that it is being made into a movie, I wanted to make sure that I read the book first.  This is going to be one heck of a movie if it's even half as good as the book.

I loved Henri, he's Mr Logic and relies on mathematical calculations to solve all of his problems.  When he inherits a run down adventure park (not an amusement park as he's fond of telling people) he also inherits his brother's debts.  The criminals who want their money back with interest think Henri will be a pushover but they have seriously miscalculated.

The whole setting in the adventure park is fantastic and I could totally picture it in my head, thanks to the big rabbit on the front of the book of course.  There's a strange bunch of people employed there and Henri finds himself drawn to one of them as the find they have a shared interest in art.  Henri's relationship with Laura was so lovely to read as Henri is so naïve when it comes to the opposite sex.

The Rabbit Factor is a delightfully quirky comedy crime caper with the most unlikely and endearing protagonist.  I will definitely be picking up the other books in the series to continue Henri's adventure.

I chose to read a digital ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

The Therapist - Helene Flood (Author), Alison McCullough (Translator)

 

At first it's the lie that hurts.

A voicemail from her husband tells Sara he's arrived at the holiday cabin. Then a call from his friend confirms he never did.

She tries to carry on as normal, teasing out her clients' deepest fears, but as the hours stretch out, her own begin to surface. And when the police finally take an interest, they want to know why Sara deleted that voicemail.

To get to the root of Sigurd's disappearance, Sara must question everything she knows about her relationship.

Could the truth about what happened be inside her head?

Translated from the Norwegian by Alison McCullough

What did I think?

Helene Flood's debut adult novel starts with such a great hook that it kept me riveted from start to finish.  I love the drama of secrets and lies and there are a lot of buried secrets to unearth in The Therapist.  I have to say that the translation by Alison McCullough is so flawless that it's easy to forget the book was originally written in Norwegian.

The main character of Sara is a bit of a strange one; she doesn't seem to like people that much despite having to deal with them in her role as a therapist.  Sara is always tired and lethargic making me wonder whether there is an underlying reason for her lack of energy or whether she is just plain lazy.  Sara's marriage to Sigurd certainly seems to have sucked the life out of her and she's very quick to believe his friends (who she clearly doesn't like) rather than his voicemail when Sigurd disappears.  That speaks volumes!

With her strange actions, little inconsistencies and even questioning herself sometimes, Sara turns out to be a very unreliable narrator.  I loved the intriguing little glimpses into Sara's past and found myself almost creating a virtual painting of Sara's character, adding layer upon layer as more is revealed.  There are a number of suspects in the book and I was delighted to find that I was completely blindsided and had pinned my colours to the wrong mast!  I think I need to read it again to see how I was misdirected.

So very atmospheric and tense, The Therapist is an enthralling mystery and one that had me questioning everything I read.  It's definitely more of a slow burner but very well written and I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another Helene Flood book.

I received a gifted copy to participate in the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Fresh Water for Flowers - Valérie Perrin, translated by Hildegarde Serle

 

Violette Toussaint is the caretaker at a cemetery in a small town in Bourgogne. Her daily life is lived to the rhythms of the hilarious and touching confidences of random visitors and her colleagues—three gravediggers, three groundskeepers, and a priest. 

Violette’s routine is disrupted one day by the arrival of police chief Julien Seul, wishing to deposit his mother’s ashes on the gravesite of a complete stranger.  Julien is not the only one to guard a painful secret: his mother’s story of clandestine love breaks through Violette’s carefully constructed defences to reveal the tragic loss of her daughter, and her steely determination to find out who is responsible.  

An unforgettable story of love and loss told through the life of a woman who believes obstinately in happiness. Touching on the deepest aspects of human life, Fresh Water for Flowers brings out the exceptional and the poetic in the ordinary and reminds us of the life affirming value of kindness. 

What did I think?

I don't think I would have picked up this book from its title alone and that would have been a terrible tragedy as it's an absolutely stunning novel.  The title may be a bit odd but then so is the setting of the book: a cemetery in a small town in France.  I've certainly never read a book set in a cemetery before!

I loved this book from the very first page as Valérie Perrin transports the reader to the Brancion-en-Chalon cemetery and we are introduced to its cemetery keeper Violette Toussaint.  Of course you naturally wonder how Violette came to be a cemetery keeper and why she seems so content in this strange location.  The unravelling of Violette's personal story is so beautifully done as it interweaves  between daily life in the cemetery and anecdotes of past funerals.  It may sound morbid but it's actually incredibly moving and I love how Violette makes notes of each funeral showing how varied people can be in their grief.

Violette gets a strange visitor one day in the form of Julien Seul who is honouring his mother's wishes of having her ashes placed in a particular tomb.  This may sound like a standard request, however, the tomb's current occupant is a stranger to Julien.  The secret to this mystery lies within his mother's journals which Julien shares with Violette.  It's not so much the content of the journals but the sharing of the story that draws the pair together and Julien's appearance in Violette's life feels like fate.

The chapters are quite short (there are 94 chapters over 474 pages) and Violette's story is so engaging that I found myself racing through the book.  I loved the unusual quotes at the start of each chapter, it's not explained what they are but I made the assumption that they are plaques on the various gravestones in the cemetery.  I think the majority of them are fictional quotes written by the author although I recognised the 'Do not stand at my grave and weep' poem.  It was a lovely touch though and I enjoyed reading the moving and often wise words.

As well as the chapter quotes there are some outstanding nuggets of wisdom in the prose.  I don't often share quotes from books but this one really resonated with me so I had to share it to remind myself of its brilliance.

'As soon as your thoughts are turning dark, take your pruning shears and cut back those troubles.'

So beautifully written, this heartfelt and poignant novel will stay with me long after I turned the final page.  Hildegarde Serle's translation is impeccable and you could be forgiven for forgetting that this novel was originally written in French.  I am so glad that I have discovered this very unusual and poignant hidden gem of a book and I definitely want to read it again.  I loved it and wholeheartedly recommend it.

I can't thank Midas PR enough for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and sending me an ARC to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Valérie Perrin is a photographer and screenwriter who works with (and is married to) Claude Lelouch.  Her first novel, Les Oubliés du Dimanche, has won numerous prizes, including the 2016 Lire Élire and Poulet-Malassis prizes. Fresh Water for Flowers is her first novel to be translated into English and an international sensation.

About the translator:

Hildegarde Serle graduated in French from Oxford University. After working as a newspaper subeditor in London for many years, she obtained the Chartered Institute of Linguists Diploma in Translation. She is the translator of A Winter’s Promise and The Missing of Clairdelune, atmospheric, absorbing tale.

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How's the Pain? - Pascal Garnier

Death is Simon’s business. And now the ageing vermin exterminator is preparing to die. But he still has one last job down on the coast, and he needs a driver. 

Bernard is twenty-one. He can drive and he’s never seen the sea. He can’t pass up the chance to chauffeur for Simon, whatever his mother may say. As the unlikely pair set off on their journey, Bernard soon finds that Simon’s definition of vermin is broader than he’d expected … 

Veering from the hilarious to the horrific, this offbeat story from master stylist Pascal Garnier is at heart an affecting study of human frailty. 

What did I think?

Pascal Garnier is certainly what I would consider one of my great finds of 2020 and I was so looking forward to reading more of his books after I'd read and enjoyed A Long Way Off.  I picked up How's the Pain? and I was hooked from the first shocking chapter, unable to put the book down until I had greedily devoured every single perfect word, flawlessly translated once again by Emily Boyce.

At 171 pages, How's the Pain? is a short book but my goodness, there's lots going on in it.  I found myself laughing out loud on many occasions as, although it's considered to be in the noir genre, it's very funny.  By carefully choosing his words, Pascal Garnier creates such well developed characters that the reader really gets to know over the course of the book.  Even though he has a dubious career, I really liked Simon and I loved the interaction between him and his new acquaintance Bernard.

The writing is sublime and the narrative is sharp and witty, making the story flow beautifully and it's easy to read in one short sitting (I think it took me about 90 minutes to read).  It's definitely a book I'll read again, as I'm sure I'll have missed some things at the rate I was reading, and I've no doubt that I'll still find the same parts hilarious.

Filled with dark humour and quirky characters, How's the Pain? is completely magnifique!

Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for me to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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SOCIAL MEDIA TOUR: The Revolt - Clara Dupont-Monod

 

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.

What did I think?

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.

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