Pegasus

The Anatomy Lesson by Nina Siegal

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18077844For those of you that love historical fiction, this may be a book for you. I’m personally not a huge historical fiction fan, and I generally hold everything up to a few favourites I’ve read in the past. Not fair? You’re right, it isn’t but unfortunately I can’t help it!
The Anatomy Lesson is set in Holland in the 1600’s. It follows several characters around the time in which Rembrandt was commissioned to paint one of his most famous pieces: The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulpe. Each of the characters in the story all have something to do with, or influence the events around this painting. The general premise of this book is interesting and it would have made a really good novel. However, in my opinion, there were too many flaws that didn’t allow me to enjoy it as much as I should have.
First, let’s talk about the structure. The story is initially divided into two narratives. One set in 17th century Holland, and the in modern day Holland. The latter narrative revolves around an art historian who is examining the painting and trying to repair it back to its former glory. To me, this narrative really wasn’t necessary. It did not add anything to the plot.
The other thing that bothered me (and it might not bother others), was the constant change of tense and personal narrative. One minute someone is speaking in 1st person and the next 3rd person. I’m sure there was a literary/personal reason for this, but it just grated on me.
This is a short review, because as you can probably tell, I didn’t really enjoy it. However, if you enjoy historical fiction, and want something different than the usual 16th century royal family sagas, then give this one a go, and form your own opinion. There is definitely potential…

~ Pegasus.

The Anatomy Lesson: A Novel

Joint Review of “The Shock of The Fall” by Nathan Filer

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shockof the fallUrania: **This book is marketed under the name “Where The Moon Isn’t” in the United States**….I read the UK edition and think the UK title is much better suited for the novel….

Pegasus: Yes, I agree, the US title should have remained the same as the UK title. There are a couple of references throughout the novel that allows the US title to make sense, but really, the UK title is more suited in more ways than one.

Urania: Okay, we’ve all read books that were kinda sad….No big deal, right?

Pegasus: Call me what you will, but I actually consider it a challenge to find a “sad” book that won’t have my eyes rolling.

Urania: *Snort* I would have never thought eye rolling and Pegasus ever went together….just saying….

Urania: Well, this was a book that killed you slowly. You’re halfway through with it and put it down and shake your head….you suddenly feel like a heavy cloud is over your head…it was a slow build up of sadness….there are times you are laughing out loud…and whilst you’re reading it, you don’t really feel like it’s terribly sad… but Filer has a true gift of laying very thin layers of sadness upon you until finally you’re completely bogged down under an extremely heavy blanket of depression. By the time I got to 2/3rds of this book, I found it difficult to read more than a dozen pages at a time before having to lay the book down….the weight of it was so great….

Pegasus: I also felt the paradoxical mix of comedy and melancholy; Filer presents his story in an ultra-realistic way, and so the reader gets to experience the true form of emotions – the wave- the crest, the trough, and the in between. I read this book in one sitting, and it definitely felt that someone had sucked all the air and energy out from you, but at the same time, it wasn’t just a 1 dimensional feeling of depression – you (or at least I did) felt layers of emotion that peel away slowly as you digest what you just read.

Urania: When I started this book, I wasn’t at all sure about it. It was the Costa Book of The Year and it wasn’t that famous of a book. I wanted to read it before it became totally famous. I wanted to be one of the first to read it before it just took off and all the talk biased me against it.

Pegasus: I read about this book in an article, and was drawn to it as it got a lot of praise. I immediately purchased it and began to read. Then, what I like to call, the Million Little Pieces effect, came through. For those of you that remember, A Million Little Pieces was published around 10 years ago. It was touted as a genuine and raw memoir of addiction. It turned out to be not as genuine as it was let on to be. I felt cheated and it put me off reading memoirs or stories about addiction, mental illness etc… Anyway, I returned the book. A few weeks later, Urania told me that she picked up this book and wanted to do a joint review. So I decided to give it another chance, before it became a huge hit. Best decision of my life.

Urania: See….you should listen to me more often….no really….you should….I keep telling you this, Pegasus….

Urania: As I started this book, I found it a difficult book to get into. It’s written in the main character’s voice. It’s difficult to follow at first because the main character, Matt, is mentally ill. He starts his story at the age of 9. His current age is 19. The book mainly focuses on flashbacks to, of course, 9, when a family tragedy occurs. Most of the other story takes place when he is 17-18. It’s hard to follow because….well…..Matt is slowly spiraling down the staircase of mental illness.

Pegasus: A good adverb to describe the reading of this novel is exhausting. I use this word in a good way. When reading, we, like Matt, are all over the place, and the pace, and indeed sometimes the font, reflects this. There was no real transition points – in one page you’ll be reading about a memory he had when he was 9 and the next he’ll be waking up from a drug induced sleep ten years later. It’s hard to discern what truth is, what is clear and what we should believe… Much like how Matt feels. Again though, this is a true credit to Filer’s writing.

Urania: When the writing finally *clicked* for me, well…that’s when I realised that I was enveloped in this massive cloud of sadness. But it wasn’t just depression. It wasn’t all doom and gloom…..it was so depressing because Matt is so utterly, heartbreaking beautiful. His love is so pure. Even though he can’t express everything he is feeling….well, his actions and what he does say….well, it just fucking broke my heart.

Pegasus: That’s the thing – Matt wasn’t just this crazy schizophrenic that many stories portray, nor was he totally unaware of his actions and what effect they have on people. Throughout, Matt constantly struggles with what is expected of him, what he thinks he is to do, and what other people interpret his actions as. Don’t get me wrong, Matt certainly has issues and he would not be an easy person to live with – in fact, some of the things he does are downright horrible, but where there is hell, there is beauty.

Urania: This….this is a book that just moved me. I loved it. I loved Matt. I felt his hopelessness but, at the same time, I felt nothing but hope. I understood his frustration. I understood his reasoning. Even though we all know that the things he came to believe…well, they are impossible….but damn it all…..who doesn’t want to believe in something such as that? I understood why he both loved and hated his illness. I understand why he fought it…and why he didn’t. This book carved a chunk of my heart out. I like to think that Filer replaced the missing chunk with hope and understanding….but I’m just not sure….I’m just not sure that I’m a better person now that I finished this book….I just hope I am….

Pegasus: I really don’t think there was a flat character in this story. They were ordinary, yes, but certainly no “filler” characters. I think that’s what I loved most about this novel – its ordinariness. It is so ordinary, that it feels real, and you can definitely imagine it happening somewhere near you. Just the little details, like the ritual watching of Eastenders (I even remember the story line that he references) is completely familiar to me, that it made the situation more acceptable, and actually more scary because it was transcending the boundaries that so many of us familiar with.
This book really does take a lot out of you, but perhaps that is a good thing. Maybe we need to go back to basics and understand that mental illness can and does happen to anyone, no matter how “ordinary” you are. I think that Filer has left us with hope. I used the wave analogy earlier on, but it is true when they say you have to get worse in order to get better. Life is wave, we have to go down in order to go up, and vice versa.

Urania: I am so glad I read this one….I hope our readers will too…..

Pegasus: Really cannot recommend this enough… 5 Stars.

Urania: Thanks for doing a joint review with me, Pegasus….next time I might even let you pick out the book…xxx
Pegasus: It wasn’t too painful I suppose! I get to pick next time? This could be fun!

Until next time…..

Pegasus and Urania

Buy it now Where the Moon Isn’t/The Shock of The Fall

Review – Indecent Proposal by Jack Engelhard

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indecent proposalRaise your hands those of you that remember seeing the 1993 (20 years ago!) angst fest that was Indecent Proposal. Was you Team Woody or Team Robert? Well, treasure those beloved memories because the original story is far different from the wildly popular film adaptation. This book explores so many emotional, historical, societal, and contemporary issues, that it makes the film look positively flat.

We all know the story – apparently happily married couple try their luck in Atlantic City, get propositioned by a billionaire, and deal with the repercussions. However, the novel explores the still relevant issue of Arab vs Israeli conflicts. Joshua is Jewish and has had harrowing experiences of WWII, and Ibrahim (the billionaire) is Arab and has his own views. Although this may sound a strange aspect to write about, it actually adds to the morality tale. It isn’t just simply a question of “would you spend a night with anther person for $1,000,000?” – the different cultural and historical layers all play a part, especially in the aftermath of dealing with fall out from decisions made.

The character development in the book is really strong. Joan and Josh are not two naive high school sweethearts – they’ve been around the block a few times. Throughout, you will (or at least I did) love and hate these characters with equal measure. No one is perfect, and no one is correct all of the time.

This is not a comfortable read by any stretch of the imagination. At times it feels so authentic that you feel like you are a fly on the wall. The discomfort is what really makes this novel; the rawness, emotion, morality, faith, lack of faith, missed opportunities, that you witness when reading this novel, is what sets it apart from most other morality tales. Just like real morality and real humans, this tale will take you all kinds of directions – some expected and many not.

At only $4.95, go and treat yourself to a different kind of novel that will question everything you have ever believed.

Enjoy!

Pegasus.

Indecent Proposal

Review – The Good German by Joseph Kanon

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147326There have been thousands of books written about WWII, but not as many focus on the immediate aftermath, let alone set in immediate post-war Berlin. In The Good German, Joseph Kanon explores the many different facets of war, the intricacies of motive, and the ethical dilemmas one can be faced with when carrying out actions in the name of love and war.

The plot follows Jake, an American reporter that is on his way to Berlin to write an article on the post-war efforts to re-build the city. Once in Berlin, Jake stumbles upon the body of an American soldier and finds evidence that all may not be what it seems. Along the way, Jake encounters a host of characters that he will later reunite with further in the story. The plot essentially is split up between a love story and a mystery; Jake has a secondary reason for going to Berlin, which is to seek out his former Girlfriend, Lena, who he had met on a previous trip. Rest assured though, there are many plot twists and diversions in order to save it from becoming a two dimensional experience.

What I loved most about this book, apart from the entertaining plot, was that it really made you question your already strongly held morals. It presents both sides of an argument and doesn’t necessarily side with either argument. What you once thought hypocritical, might actually make sense. What you once found acceptable might now be unacceptable. What you once found abhorrent might now be not so abhorrent. There is no right or wrong answer set in stone. If you want a book that will question and challenge your views/morals and not a cozy mystery that will sit you around a camp fire, with you signing kumbyah, and present you with a box of answers with a nice bow tie on it (I don’t knock any that type of book – sometimes we need that!), then do yourself a favour and pick up The Good German.
Hope to see you next week for another review!
~ Pegasus.
The Good German

Review — The Fall of Saints by Wanjiku Wa Ngugi

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18144135Wanjiku Wa Ngugi’s debut novel entices the reader with an interesting premise that has the potential to be different, and yet remain in the comfort zone of the “don’t trust your spouse” sub-genre that has dominated 2013/2014. In reality however, it falls a little short.
As an expat myself, I am always interested in stories told from the point of view of a person who is not on home turf. That element, added to the fact that it had potential to explore modern African culture, is what initially attracted me. The novel has all of these aforementioned elements, but the exploration of each one is rather lackluster. It is almost like an imposter, a fake, trying to emulate these experiences, has written the story, and that is really disappointing. Disappointment is the main feeling I experienced when reading this novel.
The suspense element was fine; it wasn’t particularly nail-biting, but it kept you on your toes for a few chapters. However, some of the dialogue and the situations that the characters faced, felt very trite and forced, resulting in a lot of eye rolling and mutters of “really?”.
However, in amongst the negative points, there were a few positive aspects. The scenes in Kenya were interesting and descriptive. They felt organic and genuine for the majority of the time. Also, as previously stated, the main protagonist, Magure, did have some potential moments that manage to escape from the disappointing moments.
It really wasn’t a bad read, but I think I set myself up to expect a lot more than I received. I definitely recommend you try it; after all, there are far worse books out there, and the author will hopefully produce a stronger novel in the future.

Pegasus.
(ARC provided for an honest review)

The Fall of Saints: A Novel

Review – Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein.

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11925514My fellow muses are probably going to banish me to the stables for this, but I have to begin this review by stating that YA fiction is not a genre that I read or enjoy…. Yes, I can feel the death stares permeating through my skin as I type! However, I like a challenge, and so I decided to read a YA, yes you read correctly, a YA novel called Code Name Verity. Actually, truth be told, I listened to it on audio, rather than read, but same difference!
Frustratingly, this is one of those novels where you can’t give too much of a synopsis due to spoilers, so this will be brief: WWII, two young women, one of whom is captured in Nazi occupied France. The novel begins with “Verity” writing a confession in a prison cell, and thus begins the tale. Through this epistolary novel, Verity tells a story of Queenie and her friend, Maddie, and their experiences being stationed together during the war. The story is split between 1st person narrations (Verity’s experience in the prison), 3rd person narration (the story of Queenie and Maddie’s friendship) and the narration is primarily shared between Verity and Maddie.
Listening on audio, you get the added advantage of hearing different voices for different characters. This helped a lot, and was appropriate due to the style in which the novel is written. As I mentioned above, I don’t usually read YA, but this one was so different. It had the usual components of a YA novel – very little swearing, not really any sexual situations, and no gratuitous violence. However, this one presented certain situations in an extremely frank and honest manner, without sensationalising and gratuitousness: E.G., the interrogation scenes were very frightening and horrific, but they were honest, and didn’t feel like they were exploiting it. It’s hard to explain, but I felt like it read as an adult book, but at the same time, it would still be appropriate for an older teenager.
If you do decide to pick this story up, which I highly recommend that you do, be prepared to find yourself laughing, possibly crying, gasping, cringing, and recoiling. It will hit on most of your emotions and it will leave you asking yourself what if? What if you were captured by an enemy agent? Would you divulge crucial secrets? Would you do anything to survive? Would you break? Elizabeth Wein has written a fresh, unique and interesting WWII story that is brutal, honest, emotive, and effective. Do yourself a favour and read this gem of a novel before some big film studio ‘effs it up and makes a piss poor adaptation.
Enjoy ~ Pegasus
Code Name Verity (Edgar Allen Poe Awards. Best Young Adult (Awards))

Review – The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell

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15818333In 2013, the age of Instant Messaging, texting, face-iThingy, etc…, how many of us really know or speak to our neighbours anymore? Would you notice if two teenage girls were living with abusive and irresponsible parents? Would you notice if those parents were to disappear? Well, luckily for you, Lisa O’Donnell explores this conundrum in her debut novel, The Death of Bees. Set in present day Glasgow, O’Donnell presents the reader with Nelly and Marnie – two teenage girls growing up in some of the worse conditions imaginable. Their situation gets exponentially more precarious when their parents die, and they are suddenly left to fend for themselves. Don’t worry, I didn’t just give away a spoiler – you know this happens right from the get go. Marnie and Nelly’s quest for survival from both death, and the social services is the main focus of the story and along the way, we meet a host of interesting characters that intersect with Marnie and Nelly.
O’Donnell’s narrative is split between 3 people, and each one provides a different view point of events. At first it was a little jarring to read through the eyes of Nelly, as she has a very particular way of speaking. However, you soon get used to it and it really provides character. The amount of time spent on each narrative is perfect; you never once feel like you’ve been spending too long reading as one character. The language used by the characters is not pretty – but then life isn’t always pretty – it is honest, sparse, and real.
If you’re looking for your next unique read, I would highly recommend this one. It runs the gauntlet of emotions (it will even make you feel physically sick at one point!) and does not let up, but at the same time, it isn’t depressing for the sake of being depressing. There is light amongst these characters and it shines just as often as it is put out. It is a relatively short read, so if you can read it in one sitting, or even two, then that would be the way to do it so that you don’t lose the rhythm of the narration.
You can get this fresh, unique and honest story here – The Death of Bees: A Novel

~ Pegasus.

Announcing the Giveaway Winners! Muses’ Favorite Books of 2013

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20131220-173052.jpg
Drum Roll Please….. The winners for our Best Books of 2013 Giveaway are:

Alice G for A Hundred Summers
Faith McLaughlin for Left Drowning
Sprite for I am Malala
Kimberlyn for N0S4A2
Jennifer for Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Krista Irvin for Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Congratulations!

Winners, please send us your email address here on the blog, randommusesblog@gmail.com, or via private message on the Random Book Muses Facebook page.

This weekend we will send the winners their Kindle books.

Thanks for entering! Watch for more giveaways on the blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Review: Eleven Kinds of Loneliness by Richard Yates.

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114475I’m not a fan of short stories. Not a fan at all. I generally think that they can always include more, and I’m never satisfied with the outcome. I held this opinion upon opening up the first pages of Eleven Kinds of Loneliness, but was soon proved that this collection would defy my firmly held stances on the genre of short stories.
This collection by Richard Yates (perhaps most famous for his debut novel Revolutionary Road) contains 11 stories that each deal with the theme of loneliness and the different ways in which it manifests. Yates is an author that really understands the intricacies of human nature. He has the ability to write a story in which the circumstances you may never have experienced in your life, but somehow, you completely understand where the character is coming from, and you can actually feel what they are feeling. In a lesser author’s hand, these stories could easily be turned into sentimental sob stories that possess a real “I’m a victim” type attitude. However, Yates understands that no one is perfect, and that human emotion is raw and gritty.
The only other author that I can think of that even comes to close to representing the complexities of human behaviour, is Jody Picoult. Imagine Picoult’s style of realism, but take away the occasional romance and sentimentality, and you have Yates. The controversial elements of Picoult’s stories are also present in the stories of Yates. However, Yates was writing in the 1960’s, not 2013 where we have the benefit of contemporary psychological analysis and the freedom to write what we want. This is why the reader can really connect with Yates’ stories; the true definition of a timeless author.
If you really like stories that reflect real life, stories that you can connect to, and you don’t mind being depressed for the next few hours, then give Yates a go. If you are looking for escapism and feel good stories, then Yates is most definitely for you! ~ Pegasus.

You can buy this collection here (along with his famous debut novel): Revolutionary Road, The Easter Parade, Eleven Kinds of Loneliness (Everyman’s Library (Cloth))

Muses’ Favorite Books of 2013

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The six of us chose our favorite books reviewed by Random Book Muses this year. And we want to give away copies to YOU!

***Comment on this post (Facebook, blog or twitter) with the title you want to win, and the name of YOUR favorite book of 2013 and you’ll be entered into the giveaway.***

Contest ends December 20.

Melpomene: Left Drowning by Jessica Park
20131210-215516.jpg I fell in love with Jessica Park’s writing when I read Flat-Out Love. I knew I’d read whatever she wrote afterwards. But I wasn’t nearly prepared for the devastation I felt when reading Left Drowning. This story is about loss and love and learning to move on from both. The characters were so real, that I felt like I was sitting right with them, laughing when they laughed and crying when they cried. And when their hearts broke, mine did as well. I may never get over this book. This book totally killed me and I hope it kills you too.
You can read the full review here.

Thalia: My Name is Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb
20131210-215528.jpg What a challenge, to pick just ONE favorite book from this past year. How in the world am I supposed to do that? Almost every book I’ve read has been a favorite in some way. Otherwise I wouldn’t have finished it. That being said…the book that has touched me the most and still resonates with me is “My Name is Malala.” When I first heard about this young lady and the tragedy that befell her, I was shocked like most other people were. But I couldn’t truly comprehend exactly what she went through up to the point when she was shot. Her book received a lot of publicity before it was released, and I was excited to read it. I don’t often buy books the day that they come out but this one was an exception. I have even more respect for Malala and her entire family after reading her story. What strength and courage it takes to stand up for what you believe in under the pressure of such danger. This family,and Malala in particular, is truly an inspiration!
You can read the full review here.

Pegasus: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach
20131211-230709.jpg As you can see from many of my reviews, comedy isn’t a genre that I read a lot of.  With that in mind, I was a bit skeptical when I first picked up the book.  How wrong was I?!   A story with elements of comedy, mixed up with drama, family dynamics, cultural clashes, and prejudices that are dispelled as freely as they are assumed, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a refreshing, hilarious, poignant, and stark look on our lives and how we choose to live them.
You can read the full review here.

Urania: NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
20131210-215537.jpgWith 2013 coming to an end, as I look back at all of my reads of the year, I realize just how lucky I am! There were so many great books! It’s almost impossible to pick my very favorite, so instead, I shall pick out the one that surprised me the most….This book is NOS4A2. This is a book that I went into not expecting very much. I put it off for months. I believed that Joe was published and popular because of his famous father. Wow! While it may be true that the apple does not fall very far from the tree…I suddenly know that sometimes, the old apple tree is surpassed by the fruit it has born…After reading this long novel that had a writing style that made it feel fast and quick, I look forward to reading many more by JH…and I think in the years to come he might be every bit as famous as his father….and not because of his father…but because he absolutely deserves it!
You can read the full review here.

Clio: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
20131211-230656.jpg Picking my favorite book out of the ones I’ve reviewed for the blog was difficult. So I chose the one that surprised me the most. The Coldest Girl in Cold Town surprised me in so many ways – and all of them are good! This was a 5 star book from start to finish. The world is dark, creepy and complex. The complexity is woven into the hopelessness, the technology, and even into the romance that this amazingly well written novel contains. Loved every bit of it!
You can read the full review here.

Calliope: A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams
20131211-230722.jpg I love all the reading I’ve done this year, but I loved reading A Hundred Summers best. Beatriz Williams wrote my favroite genre – romance – into literary fiction with such substance and chutzpah, I was astonished at every turn. My shoulders are tensing just thinking about it. And even though I have hundreds of unread books waiting for me, A Hundred Summers compels me to re-read it. I know I’ll hear myself gasp, laugh, and blush all over again on the beach with Nick, Budgie, Graham and Lily. 
You can read the full review here.