The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

 

From Goodreads

A vulnerable young girl wins a dream assignment on a big-time New York fashion magazine and finds herself plunged into a nightmare. An autobiographical account of Sylvia Plath's own mental breakdown and suicide attempt, The Bell Jar is more than a confessional novel, it is a comic but painful statement of what happens to a woman's aspirations in a society that refuses to take them seriously... a society that expects electroshock to cure the despair of a sensitive, questioning young artist whose search for identity becomes a terrifying descent toward madness.

"A fine novel, as bitter and remorseless as her last poems -- the kind of book Salinger's Fanny might have written about herself ten years later, if she had spent those ten years in Hell." -- Robert Scholes, The New York Times Book Review.

"By turns funny, harrowing, crude, ardent and artless. Its most notable quality is an astonishing immediacy, like a series of snapshots taken at high noon." -- Time.

"A special poignance... a special force, a humbling power, because it shows the vulnerability of people of hope and good will." -- Newsweek.

My thoughts

This was a recent read of my local Library Reading group.  To be honest it's not a book that ever jumped out at me and if it had not been on the list of books to read, then I doubt I would ever have read it.  Saying that though in some ways I am glad that I read it.

The book is semi autobiographical in nature and outlines the struggles that people had in the past trying to get treatment and understanding to help with mental illness.  Many people in the past were mistreated and it was thought that electric shock treatment would help, in my opinion this probably worsened problems that people were suffering with,  

I could relate to the main character to some extent as in the past I have had some issue with depression due to  various causes (which I won't bore you with).  I was prescribed medication, bit  in my case these made things worse and I managed to work through my issues.

Most of my book group didn't rate it and I found it an above average read.     

A Gift for the District Nurses (District Nurses #4) by Annie Groves

From Goodreads

Heartwarming and nostalgic fiction from the best selling author of The District Nurses of Victory Walk.
It’s 1943 and the district nurses have two new recruits…

As the country ramps up for D-Day, the new nurses getting to know their patients on their patch in London’s East End.

Lily is quite sure of herself and doesn’t believe she has anything new to learn. She’ll find out the hard way that anyone can be made a fool of when she meets a man who promises her everything.

Ruby thinks that nursing might not be for her – is she as hopeless as she thinks, or will tough times bring out the best in her?

As the war takes on a new urgency, everything is at stake ─ can the nurses do what is right for the country and for themselves?

My thoughts

This was a recent NetGalley read of mine.  My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  It has sat on my TBR pile for some time and I actually listed it as a Reading Challenge for November 2021, but sadly never got round to reading it.

This is the fourth book in the District Nurses series, but it can be read as a standalone book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story set during the second world war.  Whilst the story featured more on the lives of the people suffering the fallout of the war at home, rather than actual frontline drama.

Focusing on the District Nurses based at Victory Walk, this story tells us about the lives of Lily and Ruby two new editions to the local area.  Both young women have their own issues to deal with, as well as the situations that they find themselves in as they aim to carry out their day to day work.

This is the first book that I have read by this Author and should I come across her again, I will have no hesitation in grabbing one and settling down to immerse myself in the lives and the world that the characters she creates live in.

My Hummingbird Father (Extract for Blog Tour) by Pascale Petit

From Goodreads

A beautifully lyrical debut novel from the Ondaatje and Laurel Prize-winning author (Salt Modern Fiction)

When artist Dominique receives a letter from her dying father, a reckoning with repressed memories and a pull for romantic and familial love sends shock waves through her life, as she journeys to Paris to face the places and events of her early years. Balanced with visits to the Venezuelan Amazon, where Dominique explores a spiritual and loving longing (meeting a young guide, Juan), a raw and tender unfolding of this love story is a parallel to the uncovering of the shocking truth of Dominique's birth, and her parents' relationship.

'I am in love with this book! Haunting, grotesque, lush and strangely tender. A stunning debut novel, afraid of nothing and deeply poetic.' – Warsan Shire

'My Hummingbird Father shatters and heals, distils redemption out of a history of pain and abuse, and is one of the most affecting books you will read this year.' – Nilanjana Roy

My thoughts

Thanks to Helen Richardson for the chance to take part in the blog tour of this book.  

This is the debut novel by Pascale Petit, who has previously written poems and published books of the poems that she has written.  I had never heard of her until I was asked to take part in the blog tour of this book.

An extract from page 54.

'They reach their first camp–Guayaraca–where Juan pitches her tent under one of the two thatched roofs. Dominique throws herself on to her sleeping mat to recover but when she gets up Juan has vanished. She boils water for tea and bathes in the stream nearby, washes her wet clothes and lays them out to dry in the sun, wondering where he’s gone and if he’ll return. She eats alone. When she goes to the bushes to pee there’s a grunting sound and for a moment she’s terrified it’s a jaguar or a peccary. But a hummingbird appears–the grunting is the sound its wings make. It whirrs up to her and hovers just in front of her face, its black eyes shining into hers, bill aimed straight at her.

Twilight is brief and with it the rains start again–a wall of sound around the unwalled roof. She’s grateful for the ditch dug around the shelter and so are the frogs with their peeps and rings like doorbell chimes. She checks her tent for the puri puris whose bites are itchier than mosquitoes, then drifts off to sleep, only to be repeatedly woken by thunder. 

She wakes at 4:30, startled by Juan’s footsteps. He tells her he spent the night with a group of Pemón in a shack further up the trail and has already had breakfast, so she boils some porridge and tea, and as the water boils, tells him about the hummingbird. He listens intently as she describes its glittering eyes and how it looked fearlessly at her as the wings made their peculiar grunting hum.'

Sadly,  I haven't had time to read all the story and I have chosen to post my stop on the blog tour as an extract post.  What I have read of the book so far has been very engaging and I can't wait to get back to reading the story then I can post my review of the story in due course.

The writing is very engaging, lyrical and helps the reader imagine the scenes in their head as they read along to find out what is happening in the lives of Dominique and her estranged dying father, through the past and present.  

I look forward to reading more by this author.  I will be looking out to read some of her poetry in due course.

A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart

From Goodreads

A Boy Made of Blocks is a funny, heartwarming story of family and love inspired by the author's own experiences with his son, the perfect latest obsession for fans of The Rosie Project, David Nicholls and Jojo Moyes.

A father who rediscovers love

Alex loves his wife Jody, but has forgotten how to show it. He loves his son Sam, but doesn't understand him. He needs a reason to grab his future with both hands.

A son who shows him how to live

Meet eight-year-old Sam: beautiful, surprising - and different. To him the world is a frightening mystery. But as his imagination comes to life, his family will be changed . . . for good.

My thoughts

My thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book to review in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, this book sat on my NetGalley to be read pile for some years.  I have no idea why it got left for so long at all.

What a joy to read this has been.   I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Alex, Jody and Sam.  I an only imagine how hard it was for them to ensure that their son Sam has a normal childhood despite his disability that can can cause various levels of learning and behavioural issues.

Sam was a great likeable character who coped the best he could to deal with his condition.

 This sentence resonated with me and it makes you think. ' 'Words aren't more important than shapes, words are just shapes too.' '  The words are true, as words can form pictures in the minds of people and how we envision that picture will be different than someone else.  This is one of the reasons that I enjoy reading as it allows my mind to form pictures in it as I read.  .

This will be in my Top 10 books of the year.  I can thoroughly recommend it, as it will have you smiling at times, a little teary at others, but most of all glued to the pages as I was keen to find what happened in Sam's world and his world of blocks.

Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty

From Goodreads

A retired couple, Gerry and Stella Gilmore, fly to Amsterdam for a midwinter break. A holiday to refresh the senses, to see the sights and to generally take stock of what remains of their lives. But amongst the wintry streets and icy canals we see their relationship fracturing beneath the surface. And when memories re-emerge of a troubled time in their native Ireland things begin to fall apart. As their midwinter break comes to an end, we understand how far apart they are – and can only watch as they struggle to save themselves.

My thoughts

This was a recent read at my local Library reading group.  It was met with mixed views, I was on the enjoyed it side of the fence.  It's not a book that I would have chosen to read if I had seen it on the shelf in the Library, but I am glad that it is one that was on the list of books for the Reading Group.

I loved the fact that this story was based on the relationship of a retired married couple that had been together for many years, as I myself am part of a married couple that have been together for 30 plus years and I can relate to some of what was being portrayed in this story about their relationship.  Being with someone for so long takes a lot of give and take on both sides and life doesn't always go the way that either of you wants it too.  I can understand how they drifted apart as a couple and it's only the couple in that situation who are able to save themselves.  Life is never easy and we can only make the most of any given situation that we find ourselves in.  This is what Gerry and Stella appeared to be trying to do as they tired to save their marriage and relationship.

I will look out for more books by this author.

ETA.

I learned a handy tip: Apparently margarine will help remove gloss paint from your skin.  All I need to do is remember this next time I do any painting. 

20 Books of Summer 2024 Reading Challenge roundup

Well as the 20 Books of Summer 2024 Reading Challenge draws to a close.  I missed reading the 20 books that I planned to read, life gets in the way at times and we just have to go with the flow.  

Below is a list of the 10 books that I finally read, I have several others on the go but I missed finishing them 

Thanks to Cathy Brown @cathy746books on Twitter or X as we are supposed to call it now for hosting the challenge again.

1.  The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.

2.  Leave no Trace (Kat & Lock #2) by Jo Callaghan.

3.  Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait by Gyles Brandreth,

4.  The Impossible Truths of Love by Hannah Beckerman.

5.  Lights Out by Louise Swanson (not a planned read).

6.  The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier. 

7.  Normal Rules Don't Apply by Kate Atkinson.

8.  The Push by Ashley Audrain.

9.   Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty (not a planned read).

10.  A Gift for the District Nurses (District Nurses #4) by Anne Groves.

And there we have it.  My books that I read as the reading challenge this Summer.   

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier

 

From Goodreads

The stunning new novel from the bestselling author of Girl with a Pearl Earring. Honor Bright is a sheltered Quaker who has rarely ventured out of 1850s Dorset when she impulsively emigrates to America. Opposed to the slavery that defines and divides the country, she finds her principles tested to the limit when a runaway slave appears at the farm of her new family. In this tough, unsentimental place, where whisky bottles sit alongside quilts, Honor befriends two spirited women who will teach her how to turn ideas into actions.

My thoughts

This was a recent local Library Reading group read.  I thought that I had read other books by this author in the past, but I can't see any reviews on Goodreads or my blog.  Perhaps I have read them before I started keeping track of the books read in this way, who knows!

Telling the story of Honor a young Quaker, who has been brought up in Dorset, England.  She emigrates to America in search of bigger and better things.  However, what she encumbers on arrival in America soon becomes an eye opener to her in more ways than one.  It's not long before the things that she was brought up believing in are tested.  How will she cope as her principals are tested?  

This was an interesting read that dealt with religion, bigotry, slavery, community, relationships and America in the 1800's.  I enjoyed the story, but it didn't meet with quite as much a reaction with some of the group.   

 As I was reading this story, it reminded me quite a bit of Little House on the Prairie that I enjoyed watching back in the day.