Fellside by M R Carey
Fellside is my second Carey novel and coming on the heels of the very well received The Girl with All the Gifts I can say I had very high expectations. Not always easy to follow up such a successful book but I think Carey manages to deliver a completely different style of book, a unique story and a compelling read, well written and powerful.
This is a difficult book to review because of the desire to not give away spoilers. Similar to TGWatG really! So, what I can go with is what we’ve already been given on the synopsis.
We know the story is set in Fellside, a high security prison and we know that Jess is one of the inmates. Therefore probably safe to assume that Jess Moulson is a convict and given that the synopsis states that Jess could be spending the rest of her life in Fellside presumably she’s somebody with a serious crime behind her. Now, Jess certainly has a story to tell and Carey tells that story in an addictive way that takes on the spirit of a ghost story with a difference.
Jess is in prison for the murder of a young boy called Alex Beech and it seems that Alex is now visiting Jess. He has his own agenda and in engaging Jess and seeking her help he has given her a new purpose.
That is all. I’m not going to go into the plot any further for this particular book. Which isn’t to say I can’t discuss other things of course.
I have to say immediately that Carey is an excellent writer. This is quite a grim story without a doubt and you could be forgiven for thinking that might start to wear on you after a while but instead the author has this way of dropping ever so subtle hints, little crumbs of something different to come and it in fact becomes absolutely fascinating and compelling.
The setting is really well drawn. Not difficult to imagine a prison setting I suppose but this is a violent corrupt place with characters that you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark street never mind share a cell or a very confined space with. All these characters are tough cookies, they all know the prison hierarchy, even the guards know their place and the threats, blackmail and outright violence and the sense of menace and fear are very well depicted.
In terms of characters. Well, there’s nobody soft and fluffy to hold onto here. There is a deal of sadness and even a feeling that not all is completely fair in the world. We have the hardened criminals and you probably won’t like the majority of them (which isn’t a surprise in some respects I suppose) but then the staff and medical team are also real pieces of work who in most cases I disliked even more than the inmates. Jess herself has led a troubled past and one that doesn’t make for light reading and it takes a little while to start to develop a feel for her but as the story progresses you can’t help but become attached to her which in turn makes you fear for her as she becomes more and more involved in the darker aspects of prison life.
Criticisms. Nothing really major although I have to admit that I found certain aspects relating to prison life a little difficult to get into at first. The details around Grace for example – one of the inmates and the ‘boss’ of G block – we learnt quite a bit about her set up and drug running which felt a bit of a struggle at certain points but in the end I think it was necessary to the overall story. To be fair I would say that the second half of the book has a much more ‘edge of the seat’ type feel. Everything comes together and I really felt scared at that point for Jess who seemed to be in such a lot of danger.
Overall I thought this was an excellent read, gripping, tense and surprising. Also surprising in terms of the ghost story element itself which isn’t quite what it originally seems – a real twist in the tale in that respect. On top of this there are some really great court scenes where I couldn’t put the book down!
If you go into this expecting a ghost story that is less a haunting and more a mystery to be solved you can’t really go far wrong. A tense story that had me pretty much glued to the page. Did I enjoy this as much as TGWatG – I don’t think that is really a question that I can answer as the two stories are so completely different. I can say this was a very good read that certainly reinforces for me the need to pick up more work by this author. A story of sadness, guilt and possible redemption.
I received a copy of Fellside courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
This review first appeared at The Speculative Herald.
Waiting on Wednesday: Winter of the Gods by Jordanna Max Brodsky
6 April 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Breaking the Spine, Jordanna Max Brodsky, Waiting on Wednesday, Winter of the Gods
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. Every Wednesday we get to highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week I’m highlighting: Winter of the Gods by Jordanna Max Brodsky. I loved the first book – The Immortals. My review is here.
Myth and reality collide in this sequel to The Immortals that sets Greek Gods against a modern Manhattan backdrop.
Manhattan has many secrets. Some are older than the city itself.
Winter in New York: snow falls, lights twinkle, and a very disgruntled Selene DiSilva prowls the streets looking for prey.
But when a dead body is discovered sprawled atop Wall Street’s iconic Charging Bull statue, it’s clear the NYPD can’t solve the murder without help. The murder isn’t just the work of another homicidal cult — this time, someone’s sacrificing the gods themselves.
While raising fundamental questions about the very existence of the gods, Selene must hunt down the perpetrators, tracking a conspiracy that will test the bonds of loyalty and love.
These are the blogs you’re looking for…
Every Tuesday over at the The Broke and Bookish we all get to look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) examples to demonstrate that particular topic. The topic this week is:
‘Ten Bookish People You Should Follow On…’
Far be it from me to tell you who to follow but I figured I would use the force anyway and compel you all! Here are ten blogs that, for different reasons, may capture your attention:
- The Classics Club – I know that I don’t need to explain this one – get thee over there and read some Dickens (or Austen). Culture darling. Culture!
- Rinnreads – who runs a sci fi event every year that is great fun and helps me to read more sci fi which is slightly out of my comfort zone. Who doesn’t want to be uncomfortable (ahem, challenged!)
- Over the Effing Rainbow – because – the Lovely Lisa (it’s an official title) is always organising lots of readalongs that are great to get involved in and they’re all easy to follow on Goodreads so simple to get involved with. Easy peasy.
- Fantasy Faction– because, all the interesting and cool things.
- SF Signal – because, ditto the above!
- Little Red Reviewer – like the Jedi Master of finding books for me to want to read. Managed to avoid the dark side (just). ‘These are the books you’re looking for!’ Plus Vintage Sci fi : so the whole getting out of your comfort zone again.
- Books by Proxy – Friday Face Off. If you love book covers this gives a great opportunity to focus on some covers. Book tart over here!
- Breaking the Spine – Waiting on Wednesday – great weekly meme where we all get to rave about the books we’re looking forward to. And. I. Do. Mean. Rave. Let loose people. Let loose.
- The Speculative Herald – yes, this is a great new blog with all the latest and most uptodate book news (and the fact that I occasionally contribute has got nothing to do with my mentioning it here, no sirree, no self-serving nonsense, not from me, nope…okay, you got me, maybe a tad)
- Leaving this blank for you all to fill in! Suggestions??
And, because this is a very sort of dry, in terms of colour and pics, TTT I thought we should have a silly picture (which reflects all of us and what good buds we are) so:
Eleanor by Jason Gurley
Well, I’ve just finished reading Eleanor and can safely say that in terms of pulling on the heartstrings this book is in a masterclass of it’s own. Let me be clear, this is a story with heartbreak, mental illness, depression and grieving over a loved one and whilst that may sound like I’m trying to put you off from reading Eleanor that’s the furthest thing from the truth. Yes, this book undoubtedly deals with a lot of emotional issues but it’s so well written and so powerful. I want to call it beautiful but I’m not sure it’s really the right way to go, maybe evocative. It’s certainly a book that I would highly recommend and I know for a fact that I will continue to think about this for days to come.
The premise of the story. Well we start off with a young mother named Eleanor. Eleanor clearly has issues in terms of depression particularly revolving around her own feelings of lost identify, missed opportunity and an overwhelming feeling of being trapped (possibly she’s suffering from post natal depression?) Unfortunately Eleanor’s own mental state of mind result in her leaving her home early one morning and striding into the sea never to be seen again. Fast forward now to Agnes. Agnes is Eleanor’s daughter and now with twins of her own named Eleanor and Esmerelda. Again, tragedy strikes the family with a terrible car accident in which Esmerelda dies. Now jump forward again to a teenage Eleanor (the surviving twin). Eleanor’s life has been devastated by the loss of her twin sister. The guilt, blame, anger and reprisals have completely wrecked what was formerly a happy home. Divorced, Agnes now witnesses the world through the bottom of a bottle, her husband has retreated into his barely there existence and Eleanor is left trying to pick up the pieces. Then out of the blue Eleanor walks through a doorway in school to find herself going through a portal into a totally strange realm.
I just found this story fascinating, compelling and overwhelming. The writing is excellent and will punch you in the gut! Sorry, but it will. Lassie and Dobbie didn’t make me cry but this book came close! I started off thinking this would be a coming of age type of novel. Eleanor was about the right age and when she started having her strange experiences I thought these were going to be more akin to episodes that she was perhaps conjuring herself or even flights of fancy but in that respect I was completely wrong. What happens to Eleanor impacts on those closest to her in terms of her disappearing and then reappearing at a later stage, usually with various injuries which don’t really cast the other members of her family or friends in a good light. In fact, although Eleanor suffers trauma during these episodes, so do those surrounding her as she goes through these strange ordeals than nobody can understand or explain.
In terms of criticisms for the book. Well, I thought that the fantasy elements maybe got a little bit more fantastical than I liked, particularly given the very ‘real’ feel of everything else going on in the story. I was expecting a fantasy element but maybe something a bit more gentle somehow. Eleanor enters a sort of dream world – I’m going to be honest and say that dreams and dream worlds are not my favourite element of fantasy. That being said I think the author does a good job but I just felt it became a little bit too heavy for me personally at certain points. Not a major criticism and probably just my own personal whim.
On the whole though, I thought this was a really good story. The author can certainly pull the heartstrings and far from being a coming of age tale this is a story told by three generations of women. Mothers and daughters and their relationships and the impact this has on the family. It’s also a book that really looks at grief and the different way that can affect a family. On top of this, just to sweeten the deal, this is a book of hope. I seriously hope that I haven’t made this sound grim. There is tragedy and sadness but this is so much more than a grim read.
I received a copy of this courtesy of the publisher through netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Classics Club: revised list suggestions please!!
3 April 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Suggestions for classic reads?, The Classics Club
Well, I was about to say a couple of years ago but that would have been a fib so I’ll come clean, three years ago I joined in with the Classics Club. This is a great site that encourages you to pick up some old favourites and share with others. I used to read a lot of classics but this was mainly because I read what was available around me and those being my dad’s books the majority were classics.
Obviously I moved on from there to my own books and tastes but I still like to include the odd classic into my reading These days my tastes run more to speculative fiction with a little murder/mystery/horror/historical thrown into the mix for good measure. Truthfully, I’m not doing as well as I’d hoped so I’ve decided to revise my list and I’m looking for some suggestions. I’m not going to try and go through all the classic books I’ve read because it would be silly! But, for example, I recently read The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde – which was great. I would definitely like to read more along those lines. I like books with a magical fairytale feel and also was thinking of Agatha Christie or other similar murder/mystery books – also, anything a little bit creepy would be good. If you have any suggestions please let me know. Obviously any fantasy classics that you can think of feel free to chuck in here too.
Thanks!
