THE YELLOW WALLPAPER | Book Review

Title: The Yellow Wallpaper
Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Originally Published: 1890
Page Count: 21 pages (on kindle)

As a history student it is rare that I get assigned fictional books to read, so when my module for American History (1865-1989) had this as seminar reading I was so excited to finally be able to fully engross myself in the seminar work for once in my life. Even though I study history I do often respond more to fiction. It gives a sense of author's perspective but more poetically and metaphorically, it gives a sense of time, a sense of emotions, and I think a lot of history professors/lecturers overlook that. 

Back to the book - this is a short classic novel documenting one woman's entrapment in a rented-out house's nursery. The character is kept in the room to help her rest and relax, but the story has increasingly creepy elements to it. 

There's only so much one can say in a short metaphorical piece of literature and Gilman seems to do it effortlessly; she offers a stream of consciousness that not only can be seen as one woman's descent into madness or depression but also as a metaphor for feminism. The character is repressed, none more so by her husband, John, a physician. The character begins to see things in the ugly wallpaper, she believes there's a code to it, and suddenly she cracks it and is desperate to break the chains and bars that hold her in place.

The whole metaphor of entrapment and emancipation is documented in its final sentence, an ambiguous yet fitting end. 

I've seen a lot of people wanting to read many 'bigger' books this year, people wanting to read a certain amount of books, and yet my aim is also to read more of these shorter books, especially if they're classics. I want to be able to immerse myself more in 19th and early 20th century literature and appreciate them because it's something I've rarely done before.

And because of that and the story's fantastic writing, there is only one rating I can award it, and that's: ★★★★★

Friday Reads | 10th January 2014

So the last Friday reads post that I wrote up was a complete fail. I remain on page 300 of 'The Lost Hero' by Rick Riordan due to my attention wavering and action lacking. 

However, I haven't been that bad this week, having read 'Sharp Objects' by Gillian Flynn and 'Giovanni's Room' by James Baldwin - both excellent novels!

But this Friday I shall be reading: 

'Never Coming Back' (David Raker #4) by Tim Weaver is the fourth in a series of crime novels, following David Raker who deals with finding missing people and bringing them back into the light.

I haven't actually read any of the other novels in the series but I'm hoping that I can find my place easily with it. So far it hints at a past to the characters, one I'm not sure was explored in the earlier books but I'm guessing it was so. I'm keeping up, though.

This novel follows Raker after a woman called Emily Kane comes to him after the disappearance of her sister and her family. It becomes evident that there's something more sinister at play here, and it's up to Raker to find out what. 

It has an interesting premise, i'm on page 46 at the moment and so far it's had a great start. Hopefully I'll stick to this read. 

Thanks for reading and i'll talk soon, 

Robert.

SHARP OBJECTS | Book Review

Title: Sharp Objects
Author: Gillian Flynn
Genre: Crime / Thriller 
Published by: Phoenix
Originally Published: 2006
Page Count: 321

If you've read my blog or watched my youtube, it's definitely clear that my love for Gillian Flynn's books is a strong one. She writes in such a gritty and macabre fashion that you can't help turning the page till you reach the intense finale the novel has to offer. 

This novel follows Camille Preaker, who after escaping her sad childhood has moved to Chicago to write as a reporter. Whilst there, her boss informs her of a shocking story that has tongues wagging in Camille's hometown; the death of a child who was found strangled and with her teeth pulled out. Now another child is missing, and Camille returns home to uncover the truth and astound her readers. 

The novel works from this basic premise, we've seen it before, I'm sure. Yet something feels entirely different. Camille hints at a darker past; her sister died when she was young and the novel's title 'Sharp Objects' takes on a meaning that becomes incredibly compelling and interesting. 

Flynn's writing style is one to be desired as always, she shocks the reader but it doesn't always feel like she's writing it for that purpose; it's to gain a sense of character. I've said it before and I'll say it again, she definitely understands her characters. From the protagonist, who is oddly likeable in comparison to Flynn's other protagonists, to the over-sensitive mother, right down to the brother of the murdered child. Everyone has a certain psyche that as a reader you want to explore. 

The plot itself is astounding. There's some tried and tested plot points like the sexy cop, the bitchy popular girl, and the whole idea of a woman returning to her hometown to uncover secrets of her past is incredibly generic. Yet, it all accumulates to present an intense finale.

The mystery itself is by no means unsolvable, but that's not the point. The point is the story, the arc of the characters. The psychology of the murderer, of Camille, of the whole bitch-infested town. Yes, every woman in the town seems like they know everyone else's business and try to exploit it in such a way. Some may say a tired cliché, but it's one that definitely adds to the novel, and once you reach the conclusion to Flynn's debut novel everything becomes clear and sickening.

The novel is, to use a cliché for thrillers, gripping. The final few chapters were very tense, something that after reading Flynn's later novels is something she's established very well as an author. I don't think this is Flynn's best work. Dark Places and Gone Girl show an author developing her ideas and putting lessons into practice. Sharp Objects is not the best novel I've read, but the themes and sickening characters make you want to return to Flynn for more. Sadly, I've read all Flynn's published thrillers and I have to wait for more books to be published or for the Hollywood adaptations that are coming away in the next year. GONE GIRL HAS A DATE IN OCTOBER! 

Overall, an astounding debut novel for Flynn with the final Epilogue being the best ending to a Flynn thriller I've read yet. It was emotional and poignant, and has overall made me very unnerved. Fantastic!  - ★★★★★ -