Picture Perfect - Jodi Picoult

SPOILERS BELOW!

After another lull in my usual heavy reading routine I've gone back to my comfortable favorite, Jodi Picoult, who has yet to write a story i didn't want to finish. 

Picture Perfect is the story of Cassandra Barrett-Rivers who wakes up in a graveyard with amnesia and is discovered by Will Flying Horse, an LAPD officer who is half Lakota and is avoiding his past. Cassie is claimed by her husband, Hollywood's biggest actor Alex Rivers and for a week or so Cassie tries to fit back into her "picture perfect" life, her career as an anthropologist and as Alex's wife, but as her memories seep back in she slowly realizes her life is not as it appears to be and the Alex who came to claim her is merely playing the part of the perfect husband.

Cassie's character is very well layered, her work as an anthropologist, carefully piecing skeletons back together mirrors the fractures of her relationship and her own body. Her obsessive love and need of Alex and his of her despite the violent abuse. It was interesting to read the back story of their relationship, explore the reasons behind Alex's behavior and Cassie's decisions to both stay and eventually leave, twice.

When Cassie leaves with Will its such a big cheering moment, I kind of wanted the book to end right there, with them riding off into the sunset together, but its never that easy with Picoult and unfortunately, Cassie and Will both have demons to face. 

I liked and disliked this book in perfect symmetry, Picoults portrayal of a woman who both loves and fears her abusive husband is well written, even when Cassie leaves to protect her unborn son she still knows she will eventually return, the end in which Cassie realizes that to truly break free she would have to irrevocably break her and Alex was brilliant and I really hoped that beyond the pages Cassie makes things work with Will. Will was a frustrating character though his feelings for Cassie were clear his inability to stand up and take real action on them was annoying, but I suppose the true romance was that he let her go knowing that she would come back to him. Alex did not translate to page however as the desirable, spellbinding movie star I feel he was supposed to, though the reader is obviously aware of his abusive side I think we were also supposed to gain an understanding of why Cassie loves and stays with him and for me, I just didn't get it. Neither did I understand the point of the worlds worst best friend Ophelia. Its a three out of five for me, a strong novel, with some slight annoyances but as always, one i wanted to finish.

Practical Magic - Alice Hoffman

Spoilers below! Skip to the end for star rating.

I ordered this purely because i discovered the film was based on a novel and i love the film. Unfortunately, the novel really was just basic source material and the characters, storytelling, settings etc are very, very different.

Sally and Gillian Owens are sisters who couldn't be more different, raised by their aunts after the death of their parents the girls are hounded relentlessly as children because the Owens family are considered different, they are believed to be witches, they wash with black soap, black cats follow them around and when storms destroy their town, the Owens house remains standing. Eventually Sally and Gillian go their separate ways, Sally settles down and has two children, Antonia and Kylie, but when her husband dies she leaves her hometown to build a life where nobody knows her name. Gillian meanwhile drifts from town to town, man to man, job to job, eventually arriving back at Sally's door years later, dead body in tow. 

Here is where the film differs majorly. Gillian believes she had killed James (Jimmy) who is a southern cowboy not the second coming of Dracula. Gillian has short blonde hair. They bury James in the garden and continue on living, James appears in the garden to Kylie (Antonia in the film) but he doesn't possess them. Officer Gary Hallett does come looking, but he leaves pretty swiftly, though he does fall for Sally and eventually returns for her. Sally and Gillian do not have the same bond as they do in the film, in fact they borderline hate each other, the aunts appear only at the beginning and the end. Gillian meets and falls in love with someone else and here's the big disappointing kicker; there is no curse on the Owens women, their husbands do not all die. 

I think that had i read this first and watched the film secondly there is a chance i may feel differently but i think the film took some good source material and churned out a better story (much like The Notebook). They made the right decision keeping the films events at the home of the Aunts, the obvious use of magic, the curse and Sally's wish for Gary would have been brilliant in the book. 

What i will say for Alice Hoffman is that she is a beautiful writer, this book contains some truly stunning quotes and i can see why it was chosen to be turned into a film. I intend to read more of her work in future.

"“The moon is always jealous of the heat of the day, just as the sun always longs for something dark and deep"

Its a 3 out of 5. I loved her writing style and the basic story, but i think the film did it a little better. 

The Second Wife - Elizabeth Buchan

Minty stole her best friend’s life, she stole her husband, her job, her house and now Minty is realizing that life as “The Second Wife” isn't quite what she imagined. This is the first book from Elizabeth Buchan that I have read and never in my life have I wanted to punch every single character in the face more than I do those she has created. Buchan has perfectly crafted a group of ignorant, self-involved idiots.

Lead character Minty is selfish beyond words, half way through, after her husband drops dead in his ex-wife’s house Minty realizes that she didn’t love him, not really, not the way his first wife did. She prattles on and on about how hard her life as wife number two is, it becomes quite clear that most of the problem lies with Minty, not the people around her. She is at times, a reluctant mother to her sons. Minty’s only saving grace actually is that she attempts to be a reasonably good mate to best friend Paige. Paige is another person who needs a punch (then a slap and a kick) having forced her husband to have children he never desired she then decides she doesn't need him anymore and boots him out, citing that, she has no time for a husband on top of her children (you can practically hear the whooshing of her helicopter parenting as you turn the pages). Mintys husband Nathan is drab, boring, clearly exhausted and his death comes as quite a relief because it’s quite clear the man needed a good long rest, it’s just a shame he dropped of his own accord and that Minty didn’t get the chance to beat him to the grave with his secret ridiculous diary. His daughter Poppy barely tries to disguise her hatred of Minty, she’s a grade A bitch from start to finish, I wanted to beat her the most I think, it’s hard to decide.

Then comes Rose, the foreboding “First wife” as Minty repeats, over and over. Rose is just too perfect, too well put together, from her clothes, to her personality, even when her emotions bubble just over Rose is careful to pull them back with a sweetness that makes you want to vomit.

However, I wanted to finish this book, I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know how it would end and though I hoped that would be with all the characters falling off a cliff, the actual abrupt close of the novel felt more appropriate, the growth between the characters was evident and the parallels from the beginning were fitting.

Three out of five. I had a love/hate relationship with the novel but Buchan kept me reading until the final page. 

Top Secret Twenty One - Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is the world’s worst bounty hunter but she always gets her man and usually solves a crime in the process. Twenty one novels in I was wondering whether author Janet Evanovich could squeeze much more out of her most popular creation but apparently she can. Top Secret Twenty One is the latest installment and it has everything you come to expect from the world of Plum.

Cars blow up, Grandma does something hilarious, Lula says something sassy, Vinnie is still running his bail bonds office, Connie is still scary, Stephanie still can’t pick a man, Bob eats something he shouldn't, Stephanie ends up in grave danger, her mum cooks dinner, and her dad eats it. The world of Plum is locked into a never-ending circle of reliving most of the same events over and over just with different criminals. It's Evanovichs proven method and she shows no sign of changing it.

This time Stephanie is stuck between two cases, bodies are piling up and Stephanie is trying to find her fugitive and solve the crime but Ranger needs Stephanie’s help when someone makes an attempt on his life. The highlight of this novel is quite easily Grandma Mazurs final appearance of the novel, it’s a literal laugh out loud moment and she supplies plenty more of those in-between when she faces off with Spooky Grandma Bella.

I have at this point, given up on Evanovich ever having Stephanie decide between her two men. Clearly Evanovich herself can’t choose between them. Ranger is smooth as ever although once again Stephanie manages to break his outer shell slightly, whilst Morelli once again proves himself as the world’s best boyfriend and Stephanie treads all over him.

Lula lacked a little of her usual sparkle in this novel. Hopefully installment 22 will see Lula back on form.

If you are a Plum fan, it’s a must read, but if you are just delving into the world of Evanovich, don’t start here, it’s not her best work.  3 out of 5 stars (purely because I’m a fan and Mazur is a hoot)

Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn

The mind of Gillian Flynn must be a darkly fascinating place, I’ve read all three novels now and I’d say Gone Girl was actually the least disturbing of the bunch. Sharp Objects is an incredible read, the kind that leaves you with a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach, the kind of abject horror that you can’t not read, yet you aren't even sure if you want to.

Camille is a mediocre reporter for a mediocre newspaper, editor Curry thinks she has potential and even more than that, that his paper does, so he sends Camille back to her hometown to break the story about a potential serial killer targeting children before any other paper can.

Camille reluctantly returns and immediately, is drawn back into the insidiousness of her mother’s life. A well groomed and presented woman with a dark heart. She also gets the chance to know half sister Amme, a seriously disturbed 13 year old with the kind of promiscuity that makes you want to lock your children up forever and step-dad Alan, who is literally,  the creepiest man alive without even speaking.

Camille’s life is troubled. She is a borderline alcoholic who uses self-harm to escape, her method is to carve words into her skin. She is in recovery but that’s not without its urges. She isn't just a mediocre journalist but a reluctant one and her attempts to report on the murder of two young girls (who had their teeth removed post mortem) are lackluster. She doesn't have the passion or the drive for the job and she knows it.

Her mother Adora is the evilest woman ever. I won’t ruin the story, but her behavior is on the line on being incestuous, she’s very disturbed and incredibly cruel. Amma is more outrageous than most 18 year olds and she is supposed to be just thirteen. You want to punch Alan in the face. Local police chief Vickerery is an idiot and Kansas detective Richard is annoyingly ambiguous.

If you think reading about the murder of two little girls would be the worst part of the novel you’ll be horrified to discover there are many, many occasions where other things happen that come pretty close. When the killer is finally revealed it doesn't even bring the usual satisfaction at finally having some justice, if just leaves you with an uncomfortable feeling that lingers long after the last page.

4/5. Gillian Flynn is easily cementing herself as a major player for the crime/genre.

Chocolate Cake with Hitler - Emma Craigie

SOME SPOILERS! 

(Although its based on fact so...)

Much like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas which came four years before Chocolate Cake with Hitler reading about the horrors of the Nazi regime through the innocence of a child's prose brings new levels of darkness to the history. Though the book is fiction it is based closely on fact, Helga Goebbels was murdered, presumably by her Mother, in Hitlers underground bunker in Berlin, after arriving there just 10 days earlier. Their final days were spent hearing echos of the bombs on the streets above, spending time with "Uncle" Hitler and "Auntie" Eva and their dogs. As well as their own Mother and Father. The facts indicate that when the bodies of the children were recovered, Helga Goebbels bore bruises on her face, a sign that she knew what was happening to her and tried to fight before being forcibly fed cyanide. This is where i believe, Emma Craigie seems to take Helga's suspicious  narrative from, Helga explains her life from Hitlers rise to power until she is sent to the bunker with her family in flashbacks. The holocaust is referred to briefly, mentions of her being forced to watch anti-Jewish propaganda and remarks from those around her. Mainly Helga's narrative guides you through her final ten days in the bunker, how afraid she was and even more afraid to openly display her fears, her disgust at "Uncle Adi" and her awe of "Auntie Eva". Her only joy having come from Hitlers dog Blondis puppies and playing with her younger siblings, the lack of time she spent with her parents, overhearing the noise of the Hitlers wedding and eventual death and not understanding fully what was happening. Helga's narrative is confused, but with a undertone of understanding, from page one until the end Helga knows deep down, the war isn't going to end in favor of Germany. 

The novel is, like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, a difficult read, understanding the Nazi regime and the consequences that fell upon the innocent children forced to be involved is dark and troubling. But of course, it should be.

If Helga Goebbels could have written a memoir of her final days i do believe it would have read a lot like this, the confusion, the fear, the charade from the adults that surrounded her, all seem to be a direct line into the past. The one thing i kept in mind whilst reading the novel was that, the youngest child who was kept in that bunker and murdered there was Helga's sister Heidi, she was four years old.

Its a five star book, i would absolutely recommend it, it falls just short of 200 pages, its a "quick" read but not an easy one. I am definitely going to pick up Emma Craigies next release. 

Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green & David Leuithan

SOME SPOILERS BELOW!

So i literally just finished this book and i'm wordless, i have no idea how to review it. Was it a story? I mean really very little happens, there is a fabulous musical, some concerts, some teenage angst and some hilariously funny moments but there's no big oh my god moments. Its like spending a few hours talking to your overly camp and very depressed friends.

The two Wills are polar opposites, whilst Will 1, non gay Will is fairly ordinary and boring to read, Will 2 is interesting, clearly broken, intriguing to read. Tiny Cooper is like Elton John on Red Bull and MDMA, there's a lot of life in him, he lights the whole novel. Jane is mildly interesting, a fairly good match for Will 1. 

The narration flips between the two Wills but for Will 1's chapters Tiny is casting the bigger shadow (literally) you can clearly tell its John Green writing Will 1, its akin to The Fault in our Stars, minus the awful tragedy, obviously, whereas David Leuithan is a new writer for me so his prose, was refreshing, dark and funny at the same time. 

The story is definitely strange, like i said there isn't much that really happens when you think about it but whilst your reading it and its happening you kind of get dragged along the roller-coaster with them all.

My biggest praise for this one is the end, it was genuinely lovely, Tiny though exerting over the top confidence in himself throughout was clearly struggling with self esteem issues so to see him be accepted at the end, in the most amazing way, was brilliant. 

Its a three star for me! I liked it, i didn't love it but i loved parts of it.