Review: Surfacing by Margaret Atwood

Book Summary

Part detective novel, part psychological thriller, Surfacing is the story of a talented woman artist who goes in search of her missing father on a remote island in northern Quebec. Setting out with her lover and another young couple, she soon finds herself captivated by the isolated setting, where a marriage begins to fall apart, violence and death lurk just below the surface, and sex becomes a catalyst for conflict and dangerous choices. Surfacing is a work permeated with an aura of suspense. complex with layered meanings, and written in brilliant, diamond-sharp prose. Here is a rich mine of ideas from an extraordinary writer about contemporary life and nature, families and marriage, and about women fragmented...and becoming whole. 

Review

As a veteran Margaret Atwood fan, I entered into this novel, one of her earliest writings, with a multitude of extremely high expectations. There must be incredibly well-written portrayals of dysfunctional relationships, both familial and romantic. There must be disturbing and dark elements, fragmented identities, complex female characters, and at least one completely shocking revelation by the last chapter. I expected to close the last page, deeply haunted by some newly acquired knowledge of my own emotional landscape. Four years when I first discovered Atwood through her famous dystopian work, A Handmaid's Tale, her words challenged me and changed me. Every Atwood piece since then has held to the same standards. Surfacing did not disappoint. 

The cover of the novel says it all- the lower half of a woman breaks through the surface of what appears to be a lake, but as you look closer at the bottom, it begins to look like the sky. Atwood confronts the reader with a fragmented protagonist, recognizable and surprising, ostensibly sensible and ultimately surreal.Upon learning of her estranged father's disappearance, she returns to her old home with her new boyfriend and their married friends. Slowly remembering the past and piecing together the present, the narrator weaves a compelling tale of finding and losing identity and of surviving the continual process and performance of living in the world today.

Atwood takes her readers deep into the dark corners of the human psyche, fearlessly exploring and illuminating realities most author shrink from. She effortlessly navigates convoluted commentaries on the modern world, pointing out truths we never knew we already knew. Although penned over four decades ago, Atwood's words still ring clear and true to the world today. The violence smoldering underneath the surface of her isolated Canadian lakes resonate with concrete cities and suburban backyards alike. And perhaps most importantly, it resonates in the subconsciousness of anyone who's ever felt fragmented, scattered or broken and anyone who has ever found a way to heal again.  

Reviewed by Miranda Wojciechowski

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Publication date: 3/28/1998
Pages: 199

Review: Illusions Begin By N.L. Greene

Summary

Katherine Rebecca has always done exactly what was expected of her. Her prim and proper upbringing taught her the importance of family, sacrifice, and social stature. She has followed in her parents’ footsteps, being trained and groomed daily almost from birth, to take over the family law firm. It was never a question of IF she wanted to but WHEN she would take the reins of the company. She worked rigorously toward that predetermined goal her entire life. She gave up friends, boyfriends, and an exciting social life in order to propel herself through school and college. Katherine Rebecca strives to please her parents. More than anything, she basked in their praise and approval. But now, at 21 years old, she finds herself leading a life that is nothing like the life she imagined for herself.

Becky has always possessed a deep love of magic. Ever since she was a small child she has been fascinated with magicians, illusions, mystery, and the vague hope that there was some sort of real magic in the world. But this is a secret no one knows, or at least that’s what she thought. Until one day Becky finds a mysterious business card in her pocket that leads her to an equally mysterious man. He opens up a whole new world of possibilities to her, one with a tantalizing proposition that she never thought imaginable.

Could magic actually be real?

Review

Let’s begin with, I was not expecting the form of ‘magic’ in this book to be magician magic. I anticipating a more magical magic, although I had not seen the cover until I began to write this review. And if I had seen the cover before I read it, I would have anticipated a much more sexually based book as the cover is quite scandalous. Anyway, that is not to say that the form of magic made the book any less interesting. The concept: Becky is a smothered child and too afraid to speak up to her loving parents who expect only the best. She can’t find the words or time to tell her parents about her secret love, magic. Until a moment when she meets a mysterious man who wants to show her a whole different side of magic.

I wish the book moved a little faster. I felt that the pace went way too slow and there was an abundance of information that was necessarily thrown at us. For such a short book, it should have moved from event to event much quicker. That being said, the last chapter or so moved at a great pace and the story suddenly became more interesting because before this point, it was boring.

The book really focused on character development with most of the book centered around Becky’s family and personal life. It was different to get a detailed sense of a characters background by actually seeing the events occur and not just hearing about them. It allowed Becky to gain more sympathy from the audience, especially since she was living her life in a way that only pleased her parents.

Illusions Begin was extremely well written, and one of the reasons I continued reading through the slower portions. N.L. Greene clearly chooses each word with care and crafts a story that while slow, was unique and captivating. I wanted to read more.

After the last chapter, I was excited to hear that the story continued, but as short as this book was it was not short enough for me. I felt like it dragged on forever with unnecessary details. If you make it through this book to the end, the story does become more interesting because as I said, the story line is not the usual plot. It is a great introductory book to what I hope is a paranormal series, but I do think it could have easily been one chapter, not an entire book.

Review by Rachel Keane

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication date: 1/9/2014
Pages: 294

Review: Snow by Aine Greaney

“Snow” by Aine Greaney, is a complex look on the simple life of a woman forced to move back in with her ailing and bitter father. Throughout the story, Greaney’s Irish heritage is displayed through her solid grasp of dialect, which is delightful and fascinating. The story is structured with equal attention to present and past, and Greaney’s impressive control of pacing is highlighted through her subtle, yet important, flashbacks. 

The dialect in “Snow” is spot on, and used sparingly, but aptly. The reader gets a true sense of the “Irish way” without being overwhelmed by its foreignness. She also makes the reader interpret what the character means and say, which is an added challenge, but also a pleasure. Along with this, Greaney pares her dialect with minimalistic but powerful prose. Phrases like, “… a flash of pinkie ring, a jingle of pocket change,” add to the setting with a subtle, crafted charm. 

Some interesting points are brought up within the short story, like, letting one’s accent return for the comfort of others. Our narrator, Dolores, explains that it took no time in becoming re-acquainted with her Irish accent, her native expressions, because it was easier for the people she encounters. Also, the concept of actually leaving her life in New York is interesting—she mentions at one point, looking on her life in the city,  that it seems more and more like it is becoming someone else’s. Which is also brought up in terms of memory. She explains, “Even for those parts I do claim, half of them are borrowed or overheard or just imagined.” The idea of displacement is readily present.

Greaney’s take on such a deceptively simple concept is refreshing as well as admirable. She really shows her mastery of plot-pacing, because the short story feels much longer in the sense that the reader comes away knowing a good deal about the story, more so than is usual for a short story. Her characters are interested and well rendered. This is one of those rare stories that seem to have a life of its own, beyond the boundaries of its pages. 

Reviewed by M.B Sellers

Publisher: Pixel Hall Press
Publication date: 06/14/14
Pages: 14

Review: Perfect Kind of Trouble (Finding Fate Series #2) by Chelsea Fine

Book Summary

Sometimes when perfect falls apart, a little trouble fixes everything . . .

Twenty-one-year-old Kayla Turner has lost everything. After spending most of her life taking care of her ailing mother, she just wants to spot a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. So when her late father-a man she barely knew-leaves her an inheritance, she finally breathes a sigh of relief . . . until she learns the inheritance comes with strings. Strings in the form of handsome playboy Daren Ackwood, her father's protégé. To see any of her inheritance, she's forced to team up with him. From his expensive car to those sexy dimples, Kayla's seen his type before. But Daren isn't who he seems to be . . .

Struggling to make amends for his family's mistakes, Daren has a life more Oliver Twist than Richie Rich these days. He's beyond grateful that James Turner included him in his will, but working with Turner's princess of a daughter to fulfill his cryptic last wish is making Daren wonder if being broke is really so bad. Still, she's just as beautiful as she is stubborn, and the more time he spends with Kayla, the less it feels right being without her. Soon Daren and Kayla begin to wonder if maybe the best gift Kayla's dad could have left them . . . was each other.

Review

If you are a fan of Chelsea Fine, than you know from reading the first book of her Finding Fate Series, The Best Kind of Broken, the way she writes her books draws you in from the first page. Once you start reading, there is something about her writing style that engages you and lures you to the core of her characters creating a novel that leaves you craving more. Just like any book that begins the series, there is always that hesitation if the next book will be just as good. With a sign of relief, she didn't disappoint. 

Let me introduce you to Kayla and Darren. Just like her last book, what I really love about this series is that the book is told through the pov of the characters. I really loved the connection between them. As a reader, you feel so connected to them. All their insecurities, vulnerabilities and emotions seem so tangible to the reader in a way that makes them so irresistibly addictive. Darren has quite the reputation with women. Having been plagued by a family whose made choices that branded them the town gossip, he fought hard not be defined by his circumstances. Not having that close familial support, it was Kayla’s father who came into his life that gave him hope when there was none. Kayla is no stranger to hardships at home either. When her mother decided to leave her father and move away, that love that she received from her father one day just stopped. When tragedy strikes, Kayla is brought back home to the place where everything changed. Brought together by a twist in the plot, they are led down a path filled with questions answered, introspective redemption and mended broken spirits.

If you didn't read the Best Kind of Broken, it’s ok because this book could stand alone. If you did read it, there are tidbits of information that give a perspective of the events that happened in the first book that will enhance your perspective. I really felt it added to the depth of the character Darren because we see how an event in the first book impacted him in this one. The story was like a slow simmer was just the right pace not giving to little or too much. There is such a strong connection to these characters that you feel intimately close to them literally and figuratively. By the way, considering there is a romance in the book, the steamy scenes were hot and written maturely with respect to the reader who may be easily blush. Overall, I think the book was a great read and think that if you loved Best Kind of Broken, than you will love Perfect Kind of Trouble even more. 

Reviewed by Michelle Bowles

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication date: 2/3/2015
Series: Finding Fate Series , #2
Pages: 336

Review: A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan

Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Publication date: 2/4/2014
Series: Memoirs of Lady Trent Series , #1
Pages: 352

Book Summary

"All the world from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, knows Isabella, Lady of Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure that we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and yes, dragons defied the conventions of her day.

Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity, of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever."

Review

There are innumerable exciting tales featuring adventurous encounters with dragons. But never have I ever read one written in the style of a memoir. Told from the perspective of Lady Trent, a legendary natural biologist famous in her mythical world for her groundbreaking work on dragons, A Natural History of Dragons captivates the reader with its unique voice. 

Set in an imagined, medieval world fraught with rigid gender roles and mythical beasts, the novel follows the awkward and rebellious childhood of Lady Trent through her early marriage and first adventures in foreign lands. Filled with dragons, smugglers, and haunted ruins, the plot rarely pauses for breath, and even in rare moments of calm, the narrative's momentum is carried by the charming and self-deprecating tone of its protagonists' commentary.  

Although the retrospective inflection of the novel often interrupts the present action to hint at future accomplishments, the book proves to be less about 'scientific' discovery and more about self-discovery. Lady Trent, flawed, impulsive, and uncertain, often fumbles into mistakes and awkward situations, but as the novel progresses, she begins to learn from these situations and grows comfortable within her own story. By turns jaunty and serious, A Natural History of Dragons was an enjoyable and memorable read.  

Reviewed by Miranda Wojciechowski

Review: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Summary 

It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just  . . . disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list. 

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back? 

Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough. 

Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger? Um  . . .

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unpexcted), to check things off Sloane’s list. Who knows what she’ll find? 

Go skinny-dipping? Wait . . . what?

Review

Most of us are aware that sometimes friendships don’t last forever. Some friends just grow apart while others go up in a flame. But some just vanish without word or warning. Leaving you to wonder why? Is there a logical explanation to the lack of friend in your life or is there something deeper going on? Well, that is exactly the dilemma Emily is facing right now. 

Sloane is, or was . . . well let’s just say they are friends. They are the kind of friends who shared everything and were inseparable. Except for now, when Emily dials Sloane’s phone and drives by her house every day, trying to reach her best friend. Yet it is obviously clear that Sloane is gone. 

Then a beacon of hope appears. A list. One of Sloane’s list. And Emily gains the notion that if she completes Sloane’s list, it will lead her to Sloane. Although, some of the things on the list, like kiss a stranger, skinny-dipping, steal something . . . Emily isn’t so sure she can do. Yet Emily knows why Sloane put those things on the list, to get her out of her comfort zone and not be so stuck in her safety bubble. 

There are thirteen items on the list and for her first task, Emily decides to tackle #12: Apple Picking At Night. She’s figures it’s the abandoned apple orchard that they usually hang out but Emily is confused as to why Sloane would put that on the list. Of course Emily begins to understand why when she arrives and realizes she has no friends and has no one to talk to. 

She stays for a while but after an hour of looking as well as feeling pathetic and lonely, she decides to leave only to discover she has no gas in her car. But have no fear, the golden boy, goody two shoes class president Frank Porter is here to rescue her. 

Frank takes her to get some gas and Emily thinks this is where the interaction will end. Frank will go home and Emily will once again be alone, missing Sloane. That is until Frank asks her for a favor, to help him run. Emily thinks this is strange but agrees, since he did help her get gas. Little does Emily know, her life is about to become less lonely. 

Now Frank and her are somewhat running partners. She is also hanging out with Frank’s friend, Collins, who works with Frank at IndoorXtreme. He’s an acquired taste but she likes him all the same. She’s even spending more time with her little brother Beckett. Most importantly, she is getting things crossed off the list. 

So far, Emily has gone apple picking at night, hugged a Jamie, slept under the stars, used her fake ID and broken something. She has tried to steal something, shared more secrets than she thought possible and is discovering how strangely fond of Frank she is becoming. Though the list isn’t complete, Emily doesn’t feel so alone anymore. She has made new friends and had new experiences. Yet still no Sloane. 

Although Emily is coping better without Sloane, that still doesn’t mean she doesn’t want her best friend back. Sloane is still the person she wants to call first when something happens, like when she finally kisses a stranger. Sloane is still the person she wants to run and see whenever she has free time on her, though she doesn’t mind spending her time with Frank. Still, where is Sloane? Will this list bring her to Sloane? Or will Emily have to move on and possibly forget about Sloane? 

As I stated earlier, most of us know friendships do not last forever. But what about when your friend just disappears without even telling you goodbye? Were you two even friends if your friend can just up and leave without saying goodbye or is there more to the story? Since You’ve Been Gone is like a crasher course in friendship and understanding what it means to be a friend. This novel is about friendship and the depths one will go for that friendship. Never abandoning someone and learning to accept a person, warts and all, and still saying, “I am your friend.”  This book is also about discovering who you are and the person you could become. Learning that you don’t have to stay safe in a role but move and be whoever you want to be. And also that being you won’t affect the friendship. Most importantly it is like a guide to help those coping with the lost of a friend, those who are just missing a friend and about knowing that true friendship can withstand the test of time. 

Reviewed by Camia Rhodes

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date: 5/6/2014
Pages: 464