Atmosphere – Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

It might be something of a cliché to say that this book is ‘out of this world’ but it is, and literally in parts!

If a book can make you cry, does that make it a good book? 

Maybe space stories are becoming a ‘thing’ like novels about Greek mythology became and still are a ’thing’. After all a space story won the Booker prize and whilst I don’t think this story will reach those heights, I found it to be an extraordinarily good book. And I cried.

 

Not only is it a cracking good tale but it is rich with atmosphere and some profound speculations and philosophies regarding love, life, God and more. Thematically it looks at the place of women in a male dominated world, female empowerment, attitudes towards sexuality and the impact on life choices. 

 

I suppose it could be considered an historical novel given that it is set in the 1970’s/1980’s when space travel and NASA seemed to be solely the domain of men. We learn of what it takes to become an astronaut, which is fascinating, and we also find out what happens when a mission goes horribly wrong.

 

But the book is subtitled – A Love Story – and it is very much one. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll say no more about. But, reader, I cried. It could be argued that it errs on the side of sentimental but, regardless of that, it seems to work. I guess it’s also about love on several levels, romantic, sexual, familial, parental, love of one’s occupation and interests. 

 

The characters, Joan and Vanessa particularly, seem to be the antithesis of Taylor Jenkins Reid previous characters, I’m thinking perhaps of Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Eveyln Hugo, because they seem less flawed in a sense. Joan is almost perfect!!

 

I think this story really cemented in my mind the importance of structure in a novel. Not that I wasn’t aware of it before, but the arrangement of the timelines impacted greatly on my emotional response to the characters and the action. The story begins in 1984 during a crisis, but Reid takes us back several years to gives us the perspectives and backstories before returning, strategically, to the space drama. Each time we return there we know a little more about the characters which affords the reader a much more intense response to the event that is unfolding. It’s very powerful

 

I found it to be a compelling and absorbing story, and I defy anyone not to go looking at the night sky after they’ve read it. That is, if you didn’t already look at the night sky. 

Madame Matisse – Sophie Haydock

 

It seems that Sophie Haydock may be carving a little niche for herself as a champion of women in art. Specifically women as muses and soul mates to and of artists. Egon Schiele’s muses were the focus for The Flames and here, I think the title gives it away, the wife of Henri Matisse dominates much of the narrative, along with Lydia Delectorskaya and Marguerite, Matisse’s daughter from his first marriage. 

 

Each woman is given a voice in this latest imagining and Haydock skilfully guides us through the tangle of these women’s lives and their relationships to and with Matisse. 

And whilst Amelie and Henri are not quite Sharon and Ozzy it is apparent how large a part she played in his career. All the women have their own kind of strength palpably depicted by Sophie Haydock. I always think the mark of good historical fiction is where the reader goes scuttling off to research further because the story has piqued their interest. I became fascinated by these women, particularly Amelie and Lydia and was keen to read more about them, and after some googling to see photos too, which gave me another dimension.

 

But I would not have done that if Sophie Haydock’s story was not so beautifully written and so thoroughly researched. That period in art comes alive with all the vibrancy of Matisse’s palette and the reader is transported into the very fabric of their lives and becomes invested in all of them. She highlights their rivalries objectively and accurately one feels, the fusing of fact and fiction is seamless, immersive and completely believable. And the writing is as colourful as the paintings being described. 

One also gets a flavour of the life of an artist in 1930’s France and the context within which Matisse lived and worked. A most enjoyable read. 

 

 

July Round Up

 Fewer books this months compared to previous ones. I don’t know what the reason for that is. Maybe as I’m aging and slowing down even my reading is slowing down!

First up this month, Jacinda Arden’s, A Different Kind of Power. I bought this with my birthday money. I can remember during lockdown admiring how she dealt with the pandemic in her country. I know she’s since received some flack for it and that’s putting it mildly. But I did enjoy reading the book and seeing how she came to be Prime Minister of New Zealand. I read some suggestions that it was ghostwritten, but given that she appeared to have written a lot of her own speeches, I’m wondering if she did write it herself. I hope so.

My friend lent me this book. Susan Lewis, and The Girl Who Came Back. An easy, undemanding read. That may seem like a paradox with a psychological thriller, but I find them unexacting reads. Two different timelines, the past and the present. I enjoyed the book and read it quite quickly, although to an extent it was contrived and some of the situations posed some credibility challenges. 

After having read The Burial Plot last month, I realized there was one Elizabeth MacNeal book I hadn’t read, so I borrowed it from the library. The Circus of Wonders, which explores the Victorian obsession with freak shows. I enjoy Elizabeth MacNeal‘s writing, and this one was no exception. I found it thoroughly absorbing, and it seem to totally capture the ambience of that era.

My next book was also a library book. The wonderful Rebecca Wait’s Havoc. And havoc is what it is! It’s not often that you laugh out loud when reading a book but there were two or three occasions when I really did, the writing is so witty. There was a St. Trinians feel about the school as a mysterious illness threatens the well-being and survival of pupils, teachers and school. It’s not all sweetness and light, though there’s some tragedy amidst all the humor. But Wait’s excellent writing dominates, and I shall continue to read her books.

My final book this month is also a library book. Gytha Lodge’s stand-alone Dead to Me. I say standalone, because DCI Jonah Sheens doesn’t feature in it. I felt a twinge of disappointment at this, but I soon forgot all about it as I became immersed in the story. Set amongst the elite world of Cambridge academia, journalist Anna goes undercover to try and solve a suspicious death. Her ex who is a detective is the only person she can trust. I enjoyed the narrative which tells the story from the different perspectives of the characters. It’s twisty and turny. But as always with Gytha Lodge’s work, she strikes a fine balance with her narratives.

June Round Up

 First up this month is a charity shop find, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. For reasons unknown, even to me, I did confuse this title with Stuart Turton’s The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Perhaps it’s the seven, perhaps it’s the Evelyn. Anyway I’ve read them both now so I can leave my confusion behind. I enjoyed the book and its structure, each part dealing with a different husband. I thought it conjured a palpable picture of the Hollywood heydays.

I treated myself to a copy of this from my local, independent book shop. Historical fiction always appeals, especially this period in history, the Plantagenets and the Tudors, the mystery of the princes. What I loved about this was that in addition to the history the book had something to say about identity. I enjoyed how the character of John/Lambert/Edward developed.

I read The Salt Path several years ago and really enjoyed it. I went to see the film for my birthday treat this year. I enjoyed it. But it couldn’t hope to encompass the breadth of the book. I think it did a good job of showing the relationship between Raynor and Moth. It motivated me to read my copy of Landlines that I’ve had for months. More of the same I suppose. I did enjoy it, but not as much as the previous book.

The next book was a birthday present. Very unexpected but I was delighted because I enjoy Susie Dent’s input on social media. I’m a wordsmith, a word, lover, and so Guilty by Definitions was right up my street. I thought it was extremely clever and very well plotted. And anybody who’s into etymology and loves words I think would enjoy the book. It was one of those mysteries where I suspected everybody at some point.

My first library book this month was Elizabeth MacNeal's The Burial Plot. I loved MacNeal's debut novel The Doll Factory. I loved the atmosphere it created and the women in art theme that was in part continued in The Burial Plot albeit a different kind of creativity. Richly described and researched it leans towards the gothic. I've now reserved Circus of Wonders from the library, MacNeal's second book.

Local authors often choose a local book shop for their book launch. Fiona Cummins did just that. That's where I purchased my copy of Some of Us Are Liars and had it signed too! Fiona's books are unputdownables. Twisted, dark plots that have you second guessing, usually incorrectly! The character of Saul Anguish is fascinating. and if you've read all of Fiona's books including her recent Quick Reads offering A Boy Called Saul you will be acquainted with the nuances and contradictions of his life. The setting is local to me and that offers an additional dynamic to the pleasure of the read because you know the places being described. 

Another library book, Lucy Steed's The Artist, shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize this year. Having read it I can see why. A young art journalist  secures an audience with a renowned, reclusive painter who lives in Provence with his niece whom he dominates and denies her any true liberty. The novel explores families, love, art and secrecy. I thought it fell away towards the end and it felt a bit rushed but otherwise it was an engrossing read. 

I was lucky enough to win another Librarything giveaway. and what a gem thus turned out to be. I wrote about it on my blog. 

https://bookphace.blogspot.com/2025/06/degree-of-guilt-dan-cogan.html

The Planet Spins on its Axis, Regardless - Kavita A. Jindal - Blog Tour

 

An arresting collection of short stories across diverse locations. And whilst they seem, on the surface, to be separate from each other there is a convergent theme - the human condition, examined and observed from various perspectives.  Indian culture plays a big part but there are universal notions here to be considered. And ultimately I found it to be quite a philosophical collection. However there is a quirkiness throughout that prevents any kind of preaching or axe grinding. There is a balance between the light hearted and the serious. Something I loved was how the eccentricities are expressed as everyday, normal.

Like any collection I had my favourites; Shamans in Luburbia, possibly because I loved the concept of fusing London and surburbia into Luburbia. Genius! It's about the menopause too and I loved the interaction between the characters. These lines grabbed me, 'We are creating rituals for menopause as we couldn't find any. We will strengthen and release our inner shamanic forces.' Take that HRT!

I found When You Go You Leave a Farce quite moving as an unnamed character returns carry out her deceased father's wishes to scatter his ashes in a precise spot in what turns out to be a dried up river (sorry if that's a spoiler). However it allows her to reconnect with her family after eighteen years. 

Other stories offer much food for thought - pre-conception agreements, revenge, friendship but the final, titular story pulls the ultimate punch and it's barely a page long!

'It's out of your control. Realise this, and everything is easy. Also much more difficult. Because you'll put your efforts in, dial up to the max, then wait. Nothing may happen, something may happen. It's out of your control.'

Indeed it is. 

My thanks to Isobelle Kenyon at Fly on the Wall Press for a copy of the book and a place upon the blog tour.

Kavita A. Jindal is an award-winning fiction writer, poet and essayist. Her novel Manual For A Decent Life, published by Linen Press in the U.K., won the Eastern Eye Award for Literature (2020) and was shortlisted for the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize (2022). Her poetry publications include Raincheck Renewed and Patina. Her short stories and poems have appeared in anthologies and literary journals worldwide and been broadcast on BBC Radio 4, Zee TV UK and European radio stations. Selected poems have been translated into Arabic, German, Italian, Punjabi, Romanian, Spanish and Ukrainian. Reviewers have said of her writing: "witty and wry, with a steely heart" and of the novel "the book's boldness, beauty and courage are utterly seductive." Kavita previously served as Senior Editor at Asia Literary Review and is the co-founder of The Whole Kahani collective for British-Asian writers. She enjoys collaborating with other artists across a range of projects. www.kavitajindal.com

https://servinghousebooks.com/theplanetspins/

Degree of Guilt - Dan Cogan

 

Oh! Don’t you just love it when you are sent a book that you know nothing about, by an author you’ve never heard of, have zero expectations and you remember from past experiences in this situation that you can sometimes end up with four hundred pages of self-published tedium  - yet it turns out to be a real page turner? That is exactly what happened with Degree of Guilt and, joy of joys, it’s just the first in a series – Baby of the Bailey. And I can’t wait for the next book(s) in the series!

 

It's a mufti faceted plot that involves murder, a court case, family dynamics, mysterious pasts and a complex investigation and that’s for starters! The plot is convoluted and twisty. The court room sequences are intense, there is a lot of quite detailed and specific points of law which I did find a bit hard going, I would imagine the author has some kind of background in the legal world. But there is a good balance with the other aspects of the story. I found it to be a well-constructed story 

 

Emily du Lac is our ‘Baby of the Bailey’, an energetic law student, impetuous, enthusiastic, a tad juvenile at times, but with those instincts that send her sniffing out solutions like a dog trained to find truffles. Her exuberance is infectious and exasperating in equal measure! But I do think that some of her ‘activities’ would not necessarily ensure her a long, legal career! She is the standout character closely followed by her mentor and tutor Nigel. 

 

If the author does not have a legal background, then his research is impeccable. But there is also a lot of technical computer know how and medical knowledge too. 

 

There are plenty of red herrings but there were several aspects that I did figure out. However, the epilogue was a genius master stroke that I didn’t see coming and had me chuckling long after I put the book down. 

 

It’s one of those stories that if you were to sit back and consider it objectively and realistically you might conclude it was far fetched but Mr. Cogan is such a good storyteller that the reader is enveloped and invested totally in the story.

 

My thanks to Librarything and the author for a copy of this book – signed – oh yes! I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am looking forwards to more in the series.  

 

 

May Round Up

 

A charity shop find was the first read this month. Syd Moore’s Strange Sight, the second of the Rosie Strange books. Syd is a local author who I’ve met on a couple of occasions at my local bookshop. It's curious how connected you can feel to a) a local author and b) an author you’ve met. Syd’s novels are mystery thrillers inspired by the Essex countryside. 

 

During lockdown, several organisations would offer talks on Zoom by way of distraction for our closeted lives. I signed up for a few and one of them was about London’s Lost Department Stores. It was fascinating and I ended up buying the book. It’s called …. London’s Lost Department Stores! It’s written by Tessa Boase. It’s wonderfully nostalgic, particularly if you remember some of the department stores in London. And I am old enough to do so.

 

That rare thing – a book from a publisher! HQ Stories (Harper Collins) A creepy domestic thriller. I’ve blogged about it here.

https://bookphace.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-marriage-rule-helen-monks-takhar.html

 

And another! From the same publisher! I blogged about this book, too.

https://bookphace.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-chemist-aadhand.html

 

Like the proverbial buses that come along in threes I had a further book sent to me. In fact, they all arrived in the same post! Talk about feast or famine. This time it was one of the giveaways from Librarything.  I’ve blogged about it here.

https://bookphace.blogspot.com/2025/05/fools-errands-michael-smit-drury.html

 

This influx of books meant that I had to put my library books on hold. But I’ve returned to them full throttle so to speak. First up from the library this month was Butter by Asako Yusuki. A lot of social media hype on this one and I put in my reservation weeks, maybe months ago even. Did it live up to the hype? Not completely but I did enjoy it. I thought it was slow and drawn out, but as I am something of a foodie it had a lot of appeal. It’s less crime story than an exploration of misogyny and Japanese society. And I was interested enough to google the true crime from which the book took its inspiration. Excellent translation I felt too. 

 

The next two books are by the same author Anne Youngson. My yoga teacher got me into reading her books. And she’d recommended this book of short stories. I put in the request at my local library and while I was looking online, I found the other book which my yoga teacher wasn’t aware of so that was an exciting discovery.

The Six Who Came to Dinner is a collection of short stories and they are all quite dark tales. Unexpected having read the first two books. But I thoroughly enjoyed them. A look at the darker side of smaller communities.

A Complicated Matter, which is a full length novel, couldn’t be more different. It’s a story of love, class and belonging. Rose Dunbar is evacuated from Gibraltar during the war. The story details her journey both geographically, intellectually and emotionally. It’s a very moving book.

 

The Planet Spins on its Axis, Regardless by Kavita A. Jindal is for a blog tour in June. I have read but not reviewed yet, so I shall keep stumm for the time being but – watch this space because I will blog it. It’s a collection of short stories spanning several locations. 

 

Fiona Cummins is a local author who I have met. I’ve read all her books. And even though Quick Reads are aimed at less experienced readers than myself there was no way I WASN’T going to read it! I love the character of Saul Anguish, and I also love the fact that this story is set in my hometown and I can recognise the locations easily. Plus, it’s a cracking good story!