Book Review: Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

“The ease. Us, the children … I never realized how easily people could be trained to accept slavery.”




Title: Kindred 
Author: Octavia E. Butler
First Published: 1979
Language: English
Pages: 287

Summary:
Having just celebrated her 26th birthday in 1976 California, Dana, an African-American woman, is suddenly and inexplicably wrenched through time into antebellum Maryland. After saving a drowning white boy there, she finds herself staring into the barrel of a shotgun and is transported back to the present just in time to save her life. During numerous such time-defying episodes with the same young man, she realizes the challenge she’s been given: to protect this young slaveholder until he can father her own great-grandmother.



Review:
What a remarkable novel this was.

 I still, after reading and seeing so much about it, can’t wrap my head around slavery. How could anyone with a beating heart treat human beings as awfully as some white people used to treat black people. How could they not feel guilty after hurting them as badly as they did. Separating families by selling them to multiple buyers. I mean, selling other human beings? No. I cannot and will never be able to wrap my head around it.

 This book was certainly fascinating as I haven’t read anything like it. Even though it’s about time travel, the story felt as real as my own fingers typing this review right now. The protagonist of the book, Dana, experienced everything as a stranger because she is from the nineteenth century. However, being an African-American woman herself, people treated her as a slave when she went back in time. That makes it possible for the reader to grasp the idea of slavery in a way that it is very factual. Every night since I have started reading this book, I dreamed about it. That’s how much this story has affected me.

 From a teacher’s perspective, I believe pupils should be required to read this to get to know more about this issue. It’s written in such a way that it’s very accessible to many ages in my opinion. So, what I’m trying to say is, please read this book. You won’t regret it.

Rating:  ★★★★★


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BOOK REVIEW: Nineteen Eighty-Four BY George Orwell

“In the long run, a hierarchical society was only possible on a basis of poverty and ignorance”


 Title: Nineteen Eighty-Four 
Author: George Orwell
First Published: 1949
Language: English
Pages: 355

Summary:
Among the seminal texts of the 20th century, Nineteen Eighty-Four is a rare work that grows more haunting as its futuristic purgatory becomes more real. Published in 1949, the book offers political satirist George Orwell's nightmare vision of a totalitarian, bureaucratic world and one poor stiff's attempt to find individuality. The brilliance of the novel is Orwell's prescience of modern life--the ubiquity of television, the distortion of the language--and his ability to construct such a thorough version of hell. Required reading for students since it was published, it ranks among the most terrifying novels ever written.


Review:
I feel defeated.

 First off, I’d like to say that this book made me reflect about almost everything in my life. It made me realize that I take so much for granted. It made me want to scream because of the frustrations I have felt while reading.

 This was one hell of a scary ride, let me tell you.

 The world Orwell describes is so close yet very far away from the reality in my opinion. Many times, while reading, I had to stop myself to to put things into perspective. He wrote this book decades ago yet it’s still relevant today. The only reason why I felt that this world that Orwell describes could never be the reality is because of my faith. I have faith in God and know that that can’t be taken away from me.

 In general, it was definitely a fantastic read.

Rating:  ★★★★★


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Book Review: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Book Review
“What had human beings become? Did war make us evil or just activate an evil already lurking within us?”



Title: Salt to the Sea
Author: Ruta Sepetys
First Published: 2016
Language: English
Pages: 391

Summary:
It's early 1945 and a group of people trek across East Prussia, bound together by their desperation to reach the ship that can take them away from the war-ravaged land. Four young people, each haunted by their own dark secret, narrate their unforgettable stories. Fans of The Book Thief or Helen Dunmore's The Siege will be totally absorbed.
Review:
I stood in front of my bookshelves thinking “What do I feel like reading?”. I picked up Salt to the Sea and put it back down. 2 minutes later I picked it back up and plopped on the couch and started reading not knowing how this book would change a crucial part of my thoughts on history.

Man, this was intense. Where do I start? How do I put my feelings about this piece of art into words? Let me say one thing first, no matter who you are, where you are, what you enjoy reading, you WILL cherish this book upon finishing it. I believe it’s extremely important to acknowledge what happened in the past. What people had to endure. 

What grabbed my attention the most was how unknown this disaster had been to me. I am a history teacher who graduated a year ago and who enjoys spending a great amount of time researching the past and yet, I have never heard of the wilhelm gustloff ship and what had happened to it. This is hard to understand, how could I never have heard about it? It made me realize that there’s a great possibility that what we believe about the past, may not be the entire truth. That worries me. 

What else have I not heard of but is crucial to be known?

Rating:  ★★★★★


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Book Review: Schaduw van de nieuwe maan van Lynn Van Puyenbroeck

Book Review
'Ik vervloek je, met schaduwen en nacht. Met tanden en ketenen, met dood en ijs. Schaduwen zal je zien, en een schaduw zal je worden. Dat is de prijs voor het tarten van de Hoedster!' 

Dit boek werd door de auteur aan mij verstrekt. Mijn gedachten over het boek zijn hierdoor niet beïnvloed en mijn eigen.

Titel: Schaduw van de nieuwe maan
Auteur: Lynn Van Puyenbroeck
First Published: 2016
Taal: Nederlands
Pagina's: 744

Samenvatting:
Dit is het verhaal van Bojan, de jongste zoon die in een poging om zijn stervende ouders te bewijzen dat hij de troon waardig is de amulet van de Hoedster breekt. Zo roept hij de woede van de Hoedster op, die hem een gruwelijke vloek oplegt. Elke nacht opnieuw strijdt hij tegen haar schaduwen, terwijl hij overdag een wankel politiek evenwicht moet bewaren.

Dit is het verhaal van Suniyah, een dienstmeisje dat haar ware afkomst moet verbergen om aan vervolging te ontsnappen. Wanneer ze de gruwelijke waarheid ontdekt over haar familie komt alles waarin ze geloofde op de helling te staan.

Dit is het verhaal van Ban, de schimmenjager die zijn diensten aanbiedt om Jaromir te bevrijden van de nachters. Zijn eigen demonen zijn echter veel duisterder dan degenen die het land teisteren. Hij moet ze het hoofd bieden en beslissen waar zijn trouw ligt, of iedereen die hij liefheeft is voorgoed verloren.

Dit is een verhaal van moed en liefde, van onmogelijke offers, verraad en pijn. Maar boven alles is dit een verhaal van hoop en vergeving.


Review:
Schaduw van de nieuwe maan, geschreven door Lynn Van Puyenbroeck, was één van de eerste Nederlandstalige boeken die ik in jaren heb gelezen. Ik heb vaak getracht om Nederlandstalige boeken te lezen, maar ben er nooit in geslaagd om deze ook uit te lezen. Dit boek, dat 744 pagina’s bevat, heeft me in de ban genomen en er was geen ontsnappen aan. Wat een formidabele rit was dit! Van Puyenbroeck is erin geslaagd om een magnifiek boek naar voren te brengen.

Wat me het meest bijbleef waren de personages. De groei van Suniyah haar karakter was zonder twijfel prachtig behandeld. Als lezer apprecieer ik het enorm wanneer ik merk dat over elke stap is nagedacht. Dit was ook het geval in dit boek. Ook de relaties tussen de personages koesterde ik enorm. De relatie tussen Suniyah en Edi was ongetwijfeld zeer kostbaar. Ook tussen Ban en Suniyah zag ik de relatie groeien. Wat ik in een boek altijd op prijs stel is de langzame, maar krachtige groei tussen personages. In meeste boeken is dit niet het geval en vallen de personages op eerste zicht op elkaar. Dit was, gelukkig, niet het geval in dit boek.

De setting van het boek was meesterlijk geschreven. Ik wilde steeds meer leren over deze wereld vol met verassingen. Het voelde alsof ik, samen met Suniyah, Ban en Bojan deze rijke wereld verkende. De magie was dan ook ongetwijfeld op een aangrijpende manier beschreven. Na het uitlezen van het boek, dacht ik nog steeds aan dit merkwaardige universum.

Naast het positieve, waren er eveneens een aantal zaken die mij een beetje stoorden aan het boek. Deze zijn echter zeer miniem, maar wel waard om te vermelden naar mijn mening. Hoewel ik de relaties tussen de personages zeer goed vond uitgewerkt, was de relatie tussen Bojan en Brick een beetje geforceerd naar mijn mening. Het enige wat Brick de hele tijd deed was praten over zijn vriendin. Ik vond hem maar een irritant personage met enorm weinig karakter om eerlijk te zijn. Hiernaast leek me soms ook dat bepaalde gebeurtenissen te snel vorderden. Hoe Bojan zijn oom, Kauran, zo snel vertrouwde begreep ik ook niet. Of hoe Eras zijn plannen bekendmaakte aan Suniyah en Edi terwijl ze nog niet echt een band hadden leek mij ook enorm onnatuurlijk.

In het algemeen kan ik wel zeggen dat Schaduw van de nieuwe maan zeker een waardig begin is van een interessante fantasie-reeks en naar mijn mening zeker een aanrader voor iedere fantasie liefhebber.


Rating:  ★★★★☆


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Book Review: Unfiltered by Lily Collins

Book Review
"Storytelling is one of the most universal tools we can use to relate to one another. Through stories we convey emotions, communicate ideas, and connect with people all over the world." - Lily Collins


Title: Unfiltered
Author: Lily Collins
First Published: 2017
Language: English
Pages: 256

Summary:
In this groundbreaking debut essay collection, featuring never-before-seen photos, actress Lily Collins―star of Mortal Instruments and Rules Don’t Apply―is opening a poignant, honest conversation about the things young women struggle with: body image, self-confidence, relationships, family, dating and so much more.   
For the first time ever, Lily shares her life and her own deepest secrets, proving that every single one of us experiences pain and heartbreak. We all understand what it’s like to live in the light and in the dark. For Lily, it’s about making it through to the other side, where you love what you see in the mirror and where you embrace yourself just as you are. She's learned that all it takes is one person standing up and saying something for everyone else to realise they’re not alone.

Review:
When I saw that Lily Collins was publishing a book about her life, I was incredibly excited about it. Well, to be honest, I was excited because I thought we’d finally know what Jamie and Lily broke up. I know it’s her decision to share that part of her life or not, but honestly I admired them so much as a couple. All their amazing photos together and stuff… Then it suddenly stopped and we never knew why. Which was incredibly confusing. That’s why I hoped she’d write about that in her book.

Well, she didn’t. That’s totally fine though. Instead, I have learned more about this powerful woman. I never knew much about her aside from the fact that she enjoys art a lot. (Her Instagram is very interesting!) I never knew how driven she was/is about chasing her dreams. She showed me once more that people aren’t just born with the perfect lives. They work for it, even people in the acting business. 

If there’s one thing I can take from reading this book is that no matter what, you should love yourself. Never give up on yourself. That’s exactly what Lily is doing and I love her for it. 

I’d recommend this book to anyone. It’s also a very quick read as well! 

 Rating:  ★★★★☆
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Book Review: The Disgrace of Kitty Grey by Mary Hooper

Book Review
“... most of the vast space about us remained in darkness, with who-knew-what lurking in the depths of its murky corners. The stench of filth was indescribable, and a faint, cloying mist hung in the air.”



Title: The Disgrace of Kitty Grey
Author: Mary Hooper
First Published: 2013
Language: English
Pages: 282

Summary:
Kitty is living a happy, carefree life as a dairymaid in the countryside. The grand family she is employed by looks after her well, and she loves her trade, caring for the gentle cows and working in the cool, calm dairy. And then, of course, there is Will, the river man who she thinks is very fond of her, and indeed she is of him. Surely he will ask her to marry him soon? Then one day disaster strikes: Will disappears. Kitty is first worried and then furious. She fears that Will has only been leading her on all this time, and has now gone to London to make his fortune, forgetting about her completely. So, when Kitty is asked to go to London to pick up a copy of Pride and Prejudice, the latest novel by the very fashionable Jane Austen, Kitty leaps at the chance to track down Will. But Kitty has no idea how vast London is, and how careful she must be. It is barely a moment before eagle-eyed pickpockets have spotted the country-born-and-bred Kitty and relieved her of her money and belongings.

Review:
I didn’t expect much when I started reading this book. It certainly has a rather low rating on Goodreads and I hadn’t heard of it before either. I went in completely unaware of what was awaiting me. However, I must tell that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read even though I don’t get around to read those kinds of books as much as I would like. I’ve been studying about the era this story took place and know quite a lot about it, but I still learned new things. That shows how much research went into writing this book and that’s certainly something I appreciate. The best part of this book was the plot. It was so entertaining that I had trouble putting this book down. One of the themes dealt with within this novel was the famous “rich vs poor” theme. It was depicted in a great way in my opinion and was pivotal when discussing this era.

However, even though the plot was perfect, the book did lack certain things in my opinion. One of the things I missed was the emotional aspect of the story. Many issues took place, and being an easy crying, those things were certainly cry material, but I didn’t even get emotional when reading these parts, let alone tearing up. That’s why I believe that the story is not as moving as it could be. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s a page-turner though.

Another issue I found when reading the book is the language. Now, I believe this is rather a preference of mine, but when I read dialogues, I like it when it’s written in a way that that person is speaking. Kitty was a milkmaid but at times was speaking as if she were a lady of high class. I did sense that the writer was trying to depict the fact that she was a milkmaid, but it wasn’t quite there yet in my opinion.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction and romance.

Rating:  ★★★★☆


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Book Haul: December

Book Haul
The end of the year is near and I'd like to show you my last book haul of 2016. This month, I went to a book fair with a friend (Gina) and bought a whole lot of new books. 

This fair is called "De Boekenfestijn" and they sell new books for a really great price. What's even more amazing for me is that there is a wide variety of English books. Living in Belgium, I can't seem to find many books written in English. I usually buy books on the internet. 

















Book Review: Persuasion by Jane Austen

Book Review
“There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison.”
― Jane Austen

Title: Persuasion
Author: Jane Austen
First Published: 1818
Language: English
Pages: 320

Summary:
Eight years ago Anne Elliot bowed to pressure from her family and made the decision not to marry the man she loved, Captain Wentworth. Now circumstances have conspired to bring him back into her social circle and Anne finds her old feelings for him reignited. However, when they meet again Wentworth behaves as if they are strangers and seems more interested in her friend Louisa. In this, her final novel, Jane Austen tells the story of a love that endures the tests of time and society with humour, insight and tenderness.

Review:

I made it my duty to read more of Jane Austen after reading Pride and Prejudice. I always believed that I wouldn't enjoy Jane Austen because of the writing style but how wrong I was. In a way, it's because of her that I enjoy reading classics.

 At first it was a bit hard to get into, so it took me a while to get through the first 70 pages. However, not long after that, I was hooked. What captured my attention the most within this novel is the reflections Anne made. It made me get to know the values of a woman during the beginning of the 19th century and when comparing to our values, there are so many differences yet so many similarities at the same time.

 I've read many reviews complaining about the fact that we couldn't really get much information about the main character Captain Wentworth and how that is a pity. I do wish I knew more about his character but I believe it was intentionally written in a way that we would be left in the dark in order to be surprised at the end, if that makes sense. 

 This is definitely another masterpiece that I can add to my “favorites” pile. I can’t tell you how wonderful this little book was. I enjoyed it thoroughly, especially the last 100 pages glued me to the book. (Walked around reading it on the street, it’s only luck that I wasn’t in an accident.) Pride and Prejudice is definitely still my favorite book, but this one comes pretty close.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading classics.

Rating:  ★★★★★



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Book Review: Miracle Beach by Erin Celello

Book Review
“Then she closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and let the rain soak her straight through.”
― Erin Celello

 Title: Miracle Beach
Author: Erin Celello
First Published: 2011
Language: English
Pages: 326

Summary:
Macy Allen, an accomplished equestrienne, has relied on her horses and her husband, Nash, to pull her through. But after Nash dies in a tragic accident, Macy learns devastating secrets about his life that rock her belief in their marriage and herself. Nash's mother, Magda, blames Macy for her only son's death. When her husband, Jack, moves to Vancouver Island in a desperate attempt to feel closer to the son he's lost and never really knew, Magda's bitterness threatens to alienate the people she needs most. As this unlikely family questions how well they knew Nash and what love really means, still another surprise awaits them-an irrepressible child who will overturn all their expectations.

 Review:

This was an enjoyable read that discusses grief. The writing style was one of the few thing I actually enjoyed. The world building was very well done as well.

There were many issues I had with this book. In my opinion, the writer knew how to weave the story well, too well in if you ask me. Many events within the book are written in a way that seemed to me the writer wanted to make it easy to come to a conclusion, which I didn’t like at all. It didn’t make sense. Many times I sat there and thought “Of course this would happen."

Even though the book contains only 326 pages, it still felt too long. Many things I wanted to know were left unanswered, while unimportant stuff were being discussed on and on. I had a hard time to be attentive while reading it, so in my case, this book was rather dull.

I am however thankful for reading it. There were some perspectives within this book I hadn’t thought of before so I did definitely learn something new. However, I don’t see myself rereading it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading contemporary and doesn’t mind some dull moments within a book.

Rating:  ★★★☆☆



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