2014 marks one hundred years since the outbreak of the First World War, making this Remembrance Sunday all the more poignant. But while much of the world's attention is focused on that first conflict, Keira Andrews' latest book, Semper Fi, takes the Second World War as its source and setting, particularly the conflict between America and Japan. Splitting the action between the hellish experience faced by marines Cal and Jim and their post-war reconciliation in 1948, this friends-to-lovers story expertly explores both hope and despair, and a love born from terrible circumstances.
by Hayley Charlesworth
2014 marks one hundred years since the outbreak of the First World War, making this Remembrance Sunday all the more poignant. But while much of the world's attention is focused on that first conflict, Keira Andrews' latest book, Semper Fi, takes the Second World War as its source and setting, particularly the conflict between America and Japan. Splitting the action between the hellish experience faced by marines Cal and Jim and their post-war reconciliation in 1948, this friends-to-lovers story expertly explores both hope and despair, and a love born from terrible circumstances. by Hayley Charlesworth Pat Barker is one of the masters of wartime fiction. Her award-winning Regeneration Trilogy revolutionised the genre and was an epic and devastating examination of post-traumatic stress disorder against the backdrop of trench warfare. Her 2013 release Toby's Room is a companion novel to her earlier book Life Class, though both books can be read independently of each other. Again using the First World War as its subject, this book's primary focus is on the relationship between war and art. by Hayley Charlesworth Scandinavia has been the place on everybody’s lips in terms of culture in the past decade. Film, television and literature have been flooded with their typically cold, atmospheric thrillers, from the Millenium Trilogy books and films, through to TV shows like Borgen and The Killing. One of the big Scandinavian hits was Let the Right One In, a vampire novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist and later adapted for cinema by Tomas Alfredson (who brought a very Scandinavian flair to the English-speaking world with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.) While the film was an absolute triumph, spawning a lesser American remake in Let Me In, the book remains one of the great vampire novels of recent times. by Hayley Charlesworth On my 17th birthday, I was gifted a book by a friend that was quite unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Over the years, I have returned to that book numerous times, and each time have found something new to enjoy. As a 17 year old, it was the gore and horror, in my early 20s, it was the darkly erotic atmosphere. Now, I simply recognise it as a well-crafted, disturbing yet oddly sexy horror novel. The book is Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z Brite. Note: Poppy Z Brite now goes by the name Billy Martin and identifies as male. As such, while we will be using the name Brite in this review, we will also be using male pronouns. by Hayley Charlesworth A very disturbing article appeared in The Guardian quite recently, detailing the experience of the author Kathleen Hale and a one-star review on Goodreads. Said review led Hale down a path of paranoia, obsession and stalking, until she undoubtedly crossed a line that no author should in terms of interacting with their fans. As writers, authors are constantly subjected to criticism, even if some of it is perhaps unwarranted (for example, giving a one-star review to a book you haven’t read, which is a sadly common practice on Goodreads.) As reviewers, we are open to backlash from authors and fans of said authors. But where does one draw the line? By Hayley Charlesworth Anne Rice fans rejoice! Returning from his grave once again is none other than the legendary vampire Lestat, made famous in The Vampire Chronicles and by a wonderfully unhinged performance by Tom Cruise in Interview With The Vampire. In these exclusive clips, we get our first look at the upcoming novel, Prince Lestat. So what can we expect? by Hayley Charlesworth Before this year’s Oscar-winning adaptation of Solomon Northup’s memoirs, Twelve Years a Slave wasn’t a huge work in the public consciousness. Sure, those with a vested interest in African-American history were aware of Northup’s story, but it wasn’t the account of slavery on everybody’s lips until a faithful and devastating adaptation from Steve McQueen. Luckily, Twelve Years a Slave is now in the spotlight as one of the most important, affecting, and accurate accounts of the darkest part of America’s history. by Hayley Charlesworth There are works of literature, and especially memoirs, that are so influential and so affecting that a straightforward review will never do them justice. The memoirs of Maya Angelou, and in particular her first volume, are such books. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which details the early life of one of the most remarkable people in the fight for civil rights, is a triumph, able to connect with all readers on a deep, emotional level. With Angelou’s passing earlier in 2014, it seems like an especially poignant time to explore her story. by Hayley Charlesworth If you’re like me, then you quite rightly love Jeff Bridges. If, like me, you’ve also read a number of star autobiographies, you may expect Bridges’ release to be concerned with the chronological tale of his life and career. But The Dude and the Zen Master defies all these expectations. Written alongside Buddhist practitioner Bernie Glassman, it is a reflection on Zen, on life, and on Lebowski. And it is fascinating. by Hayley Charlesworth It can often be difficult to separate a book from its adaptation, and even more so when both are released at roughly the same time. Such was the case for The 100, the first book in Kass Morgan’s young adult series which is now making a splash on television with the CW series (airing on E4 in the UK.) As a viewer of the TV series, it is difficult to judge the book without making reference to the TV show, considering the improvements the adaptation made along with what it neglected to include. As a separate entity, the book of The 100 is an easy, engaging, if not particularly remarkable read. In a comparison to the TV show, it’s one of those rare cases where the adaptation wins out. |
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