savage_book_review's Reviews (328)

I reverted back to the audio version for the third book in Stephen Fry's series on Greek mythology, and I think I was right to do so; there is just something about his narration that brings whatever he is reading to life in a totally unique way. 

As the name suggests, this instalment retells the story of the Trojan War; a subject I don't know much more than the basics about - aside from the obvious, the only real grounding I have is the book 'The Song of Achilles', so I was interested to understand more! As usual, the author starts at the very beginning, giving you all of the backstory you need to understand who the main players are, why they are important and how they fit together. As there are quite a few characters in this tale, this does take about a third of the book to get to grips with. While it is certainly interesting and worthy of study, it does feel a little bogged down with detail in a few places. 

The military manoeuvres are also a little too detailed for my tastes - in some places I felt like I was perhaps seeing more of a battle plan than a coherent narrative. Although I appreciate this is a huge part of the story of Troy, I would have preferred to learn more about the people involved in the war. Not that the author skimps on this either... I just want more!

I was surprised by the quite sudden ending, but I assume the aftermath will be laid out in his next book, 'Odyssey'. But I don't think that's out until next year...

It does surprise me that the only real action takes place in the last few weeks of the ninth year. There is a reference in this book to the fact that Troy is too big to lay siege to, and yet that seems to be what the first years are all about. Although the author does specifically give a couple of descriptions of moments within those years, just like in other books I've read set during this event, nine years are seemingly just glossed over. I know the story us taken from Homer's 'Iliad' and so it's not a criticism of this book specifically; its just something that confuses me!

The story of Helen is dealt with well; the author manages to walk a tightrope of accepting multiple points of view about whether she was kidnapped or went with Paris willingly; whether she loved him or loathed him etc. Again though, she doesn't feature quite as much as I would have expected - it does seem to me that the menfolk used her as a 'legitimate' excuse to go to war, but very quickly she was forgotten and it became all about glory and riches. But this brings me back to the sudden ending. We are yet to hear about the resolution of Helen's marriage to Menaleus... 

Overall, I'd say this one was better than 'Heroes', but 'Mythos' still rules Olympus for me.

I love reading about history generally, but there are certain places, people and times that will always draw me in. The last Tsar of Russia and his family are one such example. I can't remember what my first introduction to them was, but I'm always happy to discover more about them.

I'm sure I've owned this book before and passed it on without ever reading it, but I found this copy in a charity shop and determined that I would pick it up this time! The book guides you through the lives of Tsar Nicholas II's four daughters; Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. While there is of course context and consideration of the wider events, the focus is squarely on the individuals and their isolated family life.

I was struck by the realisation of just how separated the girls were from everything and everyone. I see pictures and newsreels of them in society and have always assumed that they only fully withdrew from society when forced to after the February Revolution. But this book shows that they didn't really ever seem to he able to spread their wings, which I find incredibly sad. The author does a great job at illustrating their development, while also making you understand that, until WWI at least, the girls were so sheltered as to be quite naive and immature. 

In my opinion, Tsaritsa Alexandra is actually more central to the book than the four girls; her constant fatigue and ill health (and that of the Tsarevich, the girls' brother Alexey) forces its way front and centre and leaves the girls quite adrift in the narrative. Much of the time they are glorified carers, or come across as young girls just glad to be outside or in the company of someone whose surname isn't Romanov. It is slightly frustrating when these four girls, full of life, are overshadowed by someone who comes across as a bit of an attention-seeking hypochondriac. She is definitely treated unfairly, but she doesn't exactly help herself either.

To some extent, I would say that the author does fall foul of her own assertion that, throughout their lives and after their deaths, the girls have been shunted into the background and identified as a single unit, OTMA. However, this does start to change with the advent of the First World War and the older girls training as nurses. Mother is of course still around, but you get to delve deeper into the girls' individual personalities. As the oldest, Olga is perhaps the most well developed in terms of description simply because she has the most life to cover. Tatiana is the beauty and a born nurse, and Anastasia is the clown and by far the most famous of the siblings. Sadly, Maria seems to be the most overlooked; apart from the fact that everyone seems to call her fat, she doesn't get much focus. 

The book only briefly covers their imprisonment in 'The House of Special Purpose', as the author has written a separate book on those last months. But it's still wrenching to read about their end, even if just in overview. 

This is definitely an interesting and illuminating read, but it's not quite what I was expecting.

The second in Stephen Fry's series retelling the Greek myths, this time focusing on the mortal heroes begot by the gods, including Perseus, Jason and Theseus, and their mad adventures.

As with 'Mythos', the tales are written in Stephen's unique style, with wit and wisdom shining through in every word. He's tried to make sense of the tangled web of the mythological timeline, but doesn't let the fact that it doesn't quite make sense bother him. Every character is brought vividly to life and every story feels so real, despite being totally ridiculous! 

I remember learning about the 12 Labours of Heracles at primary school. In particular, how our teacher would snap at us if we dared call the hero 'Hercules'. Weirdly, this made me enjoy reading this section of the book even more! I've never really remembered the details (nor have I ever actually gotten round to watching the Disney film!), but this was a great refresher. All of the stories have enough detail to make them engaging and readable, but (in most cases) he doesn't bog it down with back story upon back story. There are a couple of places where there are just a few too many characters in a small window which does getva bit confusing, but it's certainly no worse than reading books set in the Middle Ages where everyone only has one of about six names!

My only real criticism is that there is quite a bit of repetition in his comments and reiteration of who fairly well known characters are. Indeed, some of the footnotes are exact repeats. It's just a little frustrating. There are also a couple of copy editing errors, which I found quite jarring considering who the author is! 

I do wonder if the difference is because I read this one, rather than listening to it. Stephen Fry's voice does add an extra layer of joy to the story! 

Overall, I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as Mythos, but I think that's because I'm a little more familiar with the tales so I wasn't quite as intrigued.

'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' is the only book where I have ever had to sit there for half an hour afterwards just staring at the cover in stunned disbelief after finishing it. So when I found out a few months ago that a sequel was being released, it immediately went on my TBR list. 'All the Broken Places' follows Gretel, Bruno's big sister, both in the immediate aftermath of the war as she and her mother try to outrun the horrors perpetuated by her father at 'Out-With', and as a woman in her nineties faced with another nine year old boy whose life might just be in her hands.

The has a very similar vibe to a lot of other books I've read recently; 'Her Fearful Symmetry', 'The Alice Network' and 'All the Light We Cannot See' among them. It's not dark in itself, but it deals with uncomfortable themes and there are certainly dark moments therein. The author is giving us an unvarnished view of Gretel's life and asking the reader to judge her based on that. 

It's powerfully written; the narrative is very well put together, and although you have to navigate two intertwined timelines, this one is very easy to follow. The flow of the story isn't interrupted by the continual back and forth; indeed, it one of the best executed books I've read in this style. It was a quick read for me; I only picked it up from the library this morning! And, despite the heavy subject matter, it is surprisingly easy to read.

I would argue that there are elements of a redemption arc for Gretel, but it's not that straightforward either. She's not a sweet old lady, and yet there are moments of genuine tenderness between her and her nine year old downstairs neighbour. I can't say you end up cheering this girl on, but at the same time there is a sense of her actions being justified. This book definitely leads to complicated feelings!

The sad thing is that this book doesn't offer that same gut punching emotion as its predecessor. I think calling it a 'sequel' is probably misleading. It uses the same characters and develops them, but it's tangential. I'd say you're better off considering them a duology - a two part series, rather than a prequel and sequel. Subtle difference I know, but it may help temper expectations. It does still make you think, but I'm not sitting here now, dumbfounded.

If you did enjoy 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas', do consider giving this a go.

Mare is a Red blooded girl, destined for a life of conscription into never ending warfare at the behest of the Silver blooded ruling elite. But a chance meeting, and an even more chance discovery, take her right to the centre of the Silver court and she must decide where her loyalties lie. Should she act to maintain the safety of her family and friends, or risk showing her true colours?

I have developed a real love for dystopian YA fiction, and this is certainly a series I'm looking forward to exploring further. The premise is relatively simple, and the story is very well told. It appears to be a great introduction to the world, but leaves plenty of room to build on in the next books. The characters are all well drawn and an interesting mix of personalities, the setting is vivid and clearly visible on my mind's eye, and there's a nice amount of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

That being said, the writing does lack a little depth in my opinion, particularly in the inevitable romantic element. You can clearly see what the author is trying to achieve - the choice between two brothers, and there are definitely moments that make you favour each of the boys in turn. But I didn't feel the growth of the relationships as much as I would hope, particularly given the way the book leaves off. I think the ending would have had far more impact if this element had been more fully rounded. However, there is still room for development in the rest of the series, so I haven't lost all hope just yet!

There are of course the inevitable comparisons to make with the likes of 'Divergent' and 'The Hunger Games'. Perhaps it is just me, but one of the reasons I do like this particular genre is that there is so much similarity between the stories, so it really makes the bits that are new and different shine through! I don't think this is quite on a par with the first books in the aforementioned series, simply because there is actually very little 'original' content; a lot of things have been well recycled. But I stress the word 'well' - what has been lifted and reworked fits nicely and it doesn't feel like you are just reading a rip off.

I think I'll keep reading before I commit to buying the series; the next one is already on order at the library! But a definite recommendations for a book that's an easy reading escape.

I know I'm going to find this book hard to review. Up front, I'll say that I wasn't overly interested when this was chosen as the book club choice, firstly because it's just not something I'd usually be drawn to, and also because I have a well established history of not "getting" books that are literary prize winners. 

We are told the parallel stories of Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German orphan who has a gift with electronics; radios in particular. We watch them grow up in the late 1930s, and then see the impact of WW2 on their lives. There's a little bit of a treasure hunt and a little bit of mystery, but all the while you're waiting for their stories to actually come together. You reach a point where it becomes fairly obvious how it's going to happen, and yet the story still moves on around them for a while longer. I found the denouement sweet, but far too late and far too brief. And what follows thereafter is just quite disappointing - it feels like the author went "meh... done with their story now...", shrugged his shoulders and couldn't find the energy to properly draw their stories together or to a satisfying conclusion. 

The chapters are VERY short; most of them are only a page or two. Coupling this with the shifting perspectives (for the most part you get one chapter of Marie and one chapter of Werner) and the jumping backwards and forwards in time, I found it very difficult to invest in either of the main characters - there was no chance to get at them with any depth! Generally, I'd say this is the book's biggest issue; I was not drawn to keep reading, or lose myself in the story.

However, the further I got into the book, the easier I found it to keep tines and events more aligned in my head. But overall the writing style is just too busy for me. It almost feels like it needed to be a duology; one book telling Marie's story, and another telling Werner's, with the conclusions mirroring each other.

I also felt that the premise behind the book (effectively the 'treasure hunt' element) was very thin. Most of the events could have happened without that catalyst anyway and it's not really kept central to the story except indirectly to cause our characters to come together. 

All of that being said... there is just something about the story that is inexplicably beautiful. It's not a particularly hard read - it's one of the first literary winners that I've actually finished - and I find myself genuinely struggling with how to rate it. I'm didn't hate it, but nor am I overwhelmed. I'm disappointed, and yet I can't say that it's a bad book. So, based on my own standard rating system and all of these jumbled up feelings, I've plumped for slap bang in the middle.

Yes, it's another Beauty and the Beast retelling. I can't help myself - I love that story and there is so much that can be done with it to make an interesting tale. Unfortunately however, in this case there isn't actually all that much that's 'new' about it. There are a few changes to the narrative; the servants are invisible rather than inanimate objects, for example, and Beauty has sisters in tale, but generally speaking it really is a literal retelling of the classic story.

I will say that the author's use of language to paint beautiful pictures is amazing; there is so much description of the castle, Beauty's home and the surroundings, it's really easy to picture the setting and get lost in the world. But  this does seem to come at the expense of the actual plot. It takes until about half way through for Beauty to meet the Beast, and while there is a little development of their relationship in the pages, it's skimmed over at lightening pace, and before you know it you're at the 'happily ever after' without actually knowing when/how the change from friends to love actually took place. 

There are so many little snippets of things in here that could have been expanded upon to give much more depth and interest to the story; there's a whole element of magic that's just glossed over - the library has books FROM THE FUTURE in it. There's also less drama than the original, so there's so much less to keep you engaged.

I enjoyed it as a quick, light read before I head into another book that I think may be quite heavy, and I know this is the first of a trilogy so it might get better, but there are definitely better versions out there.

I was inspired to read this book after watching 'Hamilton' on Disney+, as this is the book that inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to write it in the first place. If you haven't seen it, you should; it's great! As you would expect, the show does take some dramatic and artistic licence with events, but that's why I wanted to read the book; to learn more about the man behind the musical. However, having the musical in my head really helped me keep track of what was what and who was who.

While this is a very chonky tome (did I mention? 800 pages!), overall it is written in a very accessible and clear way. For the most part, it's easy to follow, but there is a LOT of information to take in - it's almost like the author was channelling the subject with his copious amount of words! If you do pick it up, I would suggest you have caffeine handy - reading it a little at a time does make it a lot harder to follow. Also, with my very limited knowledge of the American War of Independence and the founding of the United States (read: none), I did find myself getting a bit lost in terminology and history that probably means a lot more to the US audience. I'm thinking perhaps some more general background reading might have helped me along with this.

As for the man himself, his story is fascinating; I'd say he's quite a good embodiment of the American Dream - an immigrant with a fairly tough childhood, who is sent to the US thanks to the kindness of various patrons. He works incredibly hard, climbs the ranks until he becomes one of the most respected (and reviled) men in the country. His brain worked at a million miles an hour and he seems to be a long way ahead of his time in many respects. The author does not hesitate to paint him as a devisive  figure and question some of his lapses in judgement, but at the same time it is clear the respect he has for his subject is boundless. My only concern is that this portrait does come across as quite partisan in places - Jefferson and Madison are both painted as pretty much outright villains. While this may be how Hamilton viewed them, I feel like there may have been a better way to contrast their viewpoints and provide a little more objectivity. 

It's also scary how much of what I read could have been about the last few years of US politics, rather that about events that took place over 200 years ago. An almost complete breakdown of the ability for the two parties to work together, the concern that one party of another would raise an army and inflict violence on the capital if a particular President wasn't elected... it made me question why we think politics has 'broken' recently - this book would lead me to believe that it's always been broken.

I'd say this was definitely worth reading, but it's not one I'll be rushing to reread without a lot more research. And as this isn't a period that particular 'speaks' to me, that probably isn't going to happen. 

To paraphrase my favourite review of this book; 'Good, but a lot less hip hop than I was expecting..."

I've been enjoying the Percy Jackson series and the various recent fictional reframings of the women from Greek myth, so I thought it might be an idea to actually brush up on the stories behind the stories. I'm not quite up to the Illiad and the Odyssey just yet (although I do want to attempt them at some point), so when I saw that the incomparable Stephen Fry has authored a series retelling the myths, I had to give it a try! And as he's so good to listen to when he narrates Harry Potter, I thought I'd like to hear what he's like when reading his own words, so I borrowed the audiobook from the library. 

This book covers the beginning of everything; the birth of the Gods, Titans and Olympians and the 'invention' of humans, through to some of the allegorical tales that explain the origins of beliefs,   the evolution of language and so on. Some you'll recognise - Pandora and her jar, or Persephone and her pomegranate seeds for example. Others will be new to you, but will open your eyes to the continued effect the Ancient Greeks have on the modern world. I was so surprised at just how much has its roots in these tales! 

All of the stories are relayed by the author in his own unique style. It's laced with his witty comments which will undoubtedly make you giggle, and listening to the book only highlights the comedic aspects through Fry's incredible narration. And yet it's not a parody; it comes across as a thoroughly researched piece of writing, with the author's love for and enjoyment of the subject matter coming through in every line. It's informative and intelligent, but not overly scholarly or alienating to a lay audience. It's a perfectly pitched piece! 

I honestly can't pick a favourite story from this collection; they were all fabulous! I suppose I do have a weak spot for Hades and Persephone... but then I also loved the Eros tale, and Echo and Narcissus too... 

Literally the only reason this hasn't got the full five stars is because, while I adored listening to it, where it is quite long (over 15 hours) trying to remember everything is a challenge, especially when listening in short bursts. I know I could have read the physbook more quickly, and had the option of annotating to help me keep the Gods and other immortals (and their relationships) straight in my head. And because Stephen Fry's voice is so distinctive, even in written form, I feel like I would have had his narration in my head while reading anyway! I certainly didn't get bored, but by the last few hours I was willing it to end simply so I knew I have time to read more books this month! 

This is definitely on my list to buy, and I can't wait to read the next one. Luckily, someone at work left that on our book swap shelf - thanks to whomever it was if you're out there! Cannot recommend highly enough! 

We've all heard about, read about and probably studied at some point the First World War and the hideous waste of life. We see 'The Glorious Dead' honoured every year at the Cenotaph. We even consider those who were injured and lost limbs in museum exhibits (I'll never forget walking through the museum at Ypres on a school trip and walking over a mocked up battlefield, complete with severed arms, legs and hands poking out of the mud). But, strangely, it has never really occurred to me that limbs aren't the only things that could be destroyed by a bullet or a bomb. This books sheds light on some of those stories; of those that lost their faces, and of their subsequent treatment under the care of one man, Dr Harold Gillies.

First and foremost, this is incredibly well written. It takes the stories of each of the patients and Dr Gillies and treats them with such sensitivity, while also ensuring the reader has the facts and bringing some of the Doctor's personality and even humour into the narrative. Details of injuries are (for the most part) given in layman's terms and well illustrated with her words, while not being too graphic. Likewise, the author doesn't get bogged down in the horrors of warfare; the stories of the Somme and other battles, of the field hospitals and the overwhelming difficulties faced by all are stark and reflect the truth of the matter, but are not overstated. There are a few small moments where she repeats herself, which make it feel like she might have been a couple of hundred words off of the requested word count of the book, but it's such a minor thing it can certainly be overlooked in this case!

I'll admit this is one of the few times I haven't skipped ahead to look at the pictures; I was nervous about what I'd find as I'm reading this of an evening and my brain has ways of keeping me up at night if I see something disturbing. However, as with the narrative, they are incredibly informative without being overtly shocking. I took them as a whole; the before, during and after images showing that patient's journey, and my takeaway wasn't about the debilitating injuries 'before', but rather a deep appreciation of the skill and genius of the surgeon that results in the 'after'. They really serve to bring home what the author is trying to convey.

Dr Gillies himself seems like a man way ahead of his time. The author doesn't hesitate to share the credit for discoveries with his contemporaries where appropriate, but his treatment of his patients, both medically and just on a human level, is incredible. You rejoice with him at his triumphs and lament with him at his losses, marvel at his thought processes and applaud his drive and hard work in the face of never-ending carnage. It's a real shame more people don't know his name!

This book is thought-provoking, insightful and brings to the fore an aspect of history that many more people should appreciate. The only reason I'm not going to rush out and buy it immediately is because it's more of a 'one and done' book, but I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone. It's absolutely worth your time.