Michael Collins: The Man and the Revolution by Anne Dolan and William Murphy
There was recently a plaque but above a very bougie furniture shop in my neighbourhood, noting it as the site where Michael Collins was inducted into the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1909. For those who didn’t come up through the Irish education system, Michael Collins may not be a familiar figure to you but he looms large in the national imagination. A key figure in the Irish fight for independence from Britain, Collins was a solider, a spymaster, a politician and a negotiator prior to his assassination at the age of 31 in the midst of the Irish Civil War. Seeing this little green sign pop up brought years of school history lessons rushing back and I was inspired to seek out a biography of the man, rather than just the myth and the legend. Dolan and Murphy’s comprehensive biography explicitly tries to address the power of Collins’ persona and brings together contemporary accounts of friends and enemies of Collins to demystify the character and qualities of the man he really was, rather than who he wanted to be perceived as. Eschewing a typical biographical approach, the book is arranged thematically rather than chronologically, with chapters focusing on Collins’ attitudes to work, war, politics and celebrity itself. If you’re looking for a good starting point to learn more about the Irish War of Independence and the Civil War, this book will likely be too advanced for you as it assumes a lot of existing knowledge of Irish history. However, if you’re already familiar with these topics and looking to dive deeper, this is a great book to pick up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK for this ARC. Old Soul is a supremely creepy and unsettling gothic novel which begs the question of how far someone might go to live forever. When Jake and Mariko both miss their flight in Osaka airport, they go for a drink and discover they have something very disturbing in common. Both of them have loved ones who died suddenly and in uncanny and eerily similar ways. In the days before their deaths, they seemed to be going mad and autopsies later revealed that all of their organs had flipped to the opposite side of their bodies. Even more strangely, in the days before their deaths both became close with a mysterious and alluring photographer who completely disappeared in the aftermath of their demises. Surely this can’t be a coincidence? Who is this woman and how is she connected to these deaths? This is what drives Jake to go down a rabbit hole of rumour and legend to unfurl a story that spans across continents and has been centuries in the making. This novel is twisty, spooky and has an absolutely mind-melting ending – a perfect read as the nights get longer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK for this ARC. The final book in Pat Barker’s spectacular Women of Troy series, The Voyage Home blends together the myths of Cassandra and Clytemnestra to tell a compelling story of the way that war and trauma echo throughout the lives of everyone it touches for years after the last spear has been laid down. Cassandra is a Trojan princess, cursed to see the future but never be believed. She is being brought back to Greece as a concubine for Agamemnon, a Greek general and the architect of all of her family’s despair. She is carrying his child and her only solace is her visions of Agamemnon’s imminent death. The fact that her death seems to be inextricably linked to his feels like a small price to pay to avenge her people. Meanwhile Agamemnon’s wife, Clytemnestra, waits in Mycenae, still nursing her rage after Agamemnon sacrificed their daughter to the gods for a fair wind to get them to Troy. After ten years of plotting her revenge, she’s ready to give Agamemnon exactly the homecoming he deserves. Barker has grounded these ancient myths in gritty, earthy and psychologically realistic narration, making these women feel alive and real and breathing new life into this ancient but still poignant story.
Julia May Jonas definitely wins the award for wildest opening paragraph I’ve read this year and it definitely sets the tone for the story to come. Vladimir is, at its heart, an exploration of power, desire and consent told through the eyes of a respected albeit frustrated (in multiple senses of the word) English professor. Our narrator’s husband is currently under investigation by the small college where they both work for having multiple affairs with his students and although she has long been aware of and condoned her husband’s infidelity, this new scrutiny is forcing her to reckon her perceptions of her own life and relationship. Also forcing her to look at things from a new perspective is the arrival of Vladimir, a young, attractive and talented new hire in the English faculty. Although he’s married, he becomes an object of obsession and lust for our narrator and as her life spirals increasingly outside of her control, her actions towards Vladimir become increasingly and dangerously unhinged. Vladimir is a propulsive, darkly funny and intelligent novel that I have no doubt will prompt discussions at many a book club.
One thing about me is that I will never get sick of reading about the Tudors in forensic detail, so imagine my delight when I stumbled upon this absolute doorstop of a book about the marriage of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, which famously tore apart the Catholic church before ending in accusations of witchcraft and a brutal beheading. As much as I love all the courtly intrigue and soapy drama of the Tudor court, I loved how Guy and Fox went out of their way to situate Henry and Anne’s relationship in the context of the politics of sixteenth century Europe. The focus on Anne’s early female role models was really refreshing and the acknowledgement of her agency in both her rise and her downfall casts a new light on a frequently misunderstood and oversimplified historical figure. If you’re a fellow Tudor obsessive, don’t be intimidated by the size of this one – although it is weighty it is worth it!
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Let it never be said that I’m not an optimist. Although I have never been able to hop aboard the Sarah J. Maas hype train I had managed to convince myself that maybe this time it would be different, I’d finally see what everyone else sees and would fall in love with these books. It was not to be. I wish I was the kind of person that could not take everything so seriously but every time I read one of her books I get so frustrated by the shallow world-building. My brain is like a toddler constantly asking ‘why?’ and none of the answers that are given are ever really satisfying. The book is definitely readable but I just can’t invest in a seven book series where the world of the story doesn’t at least feel partly fleshed out by the end of the first book.
Tunnel Vision by Kevin Breathnach
Somewhere between a memoir and critical essays on film, Tunnel Vision is an intimate and lyrically written account of a chaotic extended adolescence punctuated with crises of masculinity. While the writing itself is good I feel like you probably need to be a film connoisseur to really get the most out of it as the memoir sections weren’t really strong enough to stand on their own and often veered more closely to the self-indulgent than the incisive. This is one of those books where I know someone out there is going to be absolutely obsessed with it but that person is unfortunately not me.
One thing that’s wild about reading Dracula for the first time in year of our Lord 2024 is thinking about how shook the people of the 1890s must have been by the big twist that Count Dracula is a vampire. So much of this story has woven itself into the public consciousness and popular mythology around vampires that it can be easy to forget how groundbreaking and mind-bending this book must have been when it first came out. A classic of the gothic horror genre, Dracula is a slow-burning and spectacularly spooky epistolary novel that is a must read for fans of the uncanny. Separately, Mina ‘I am the train fiend’ Harker has absolutely rocketed herself into the upper echelons of my list of favourite fictional characters and now I’m in desperate need of a film adaption that does her justice. If anyone has recommendations for any other books in which a woman defeats an unspeakable evil with the power of a proper filing system and encyclopaedic knowledge of train timetables, please let me know immediately.
In Mercy, Rain by Seanan McGuire
This is a bit of a deep cut for fans of Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series, which centres around the trauma and difficulty that children have in readjusting to mundane reality after having gone on magical adventures in other worlds. Jack Wolcott is a much-loved character in the main series whose hobbies of reanimating the dead and battling with her twin sister to keep her horror-inspired adopted homeland of the Moors (relatively) safe forms a key part of the plot of the main series. This novella is for those who want even more of Jack but also feel that she has suffered entirely enough and want to see her having a bit of a nice time. This is a brief but sweet flashback to the beginnings of Jack’s relationship with Alexis, a girl she encountered for the first time as she used the power of lightning to bring her back from the dead. Not essential for those who are fans of the series but a very pleasant bonus.
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
This book was a total whirlwind. In a town where there are no women and all of the men are constantly able to hear each others’ thoughts, Todd is the only child left and he is desperate to become a man like the others. But everything changes when he finds something mysterious in the woods; a girl whose thoughts are completely hidden from him. This discovery sets off a chain of events which tears Todd’s world apart and challenges everything that he believes to be true. But with a horde of hostile men after them, Todd, the girl and Todd’s loyal dog Manchee don’t have much time to stop and think as they confront a world as alien and unexpected to them as it is to the readers. The Knife of Never Letting Go manages to blend engaging sci-fi world-building with heart-pounding action and real emotional heft. Though this book is targeted at younger readers (and I think would make a great gift for any young lovers of action movies who you’re trying to persuade of the benefits of reading), I think that this has plenty of resonance for readers of all ages. Having said that, I found all of the relentless danger honestly a bit too stressful for me as a reader and so I’m not yet sure that I’ll pursue the series but don’t let my fragile nerves stop you from picking this up if you’re made of stronger stuff!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Watkins Publishing for this ARC. The Book of Forgotten Witches is a gorgeously illustrated compendium of of witchy and eerie tales from across the world with tales of curse-bringers, shapeshifters and fate-turners all bound together with explanations of the Major Arcana of the tarot and alchemy. Each chapter also features original stories which interrogate and examine different aspects of what it means to be a witch and how society views outsiders. If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for the witchy person in your life, this book is one that will enlighten and delight.
Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch
London’s premiere magical copper is back and this time he’s being forced to go south of the river. When the suicide of a town planner starts to look as if it has a touch of the uncanny about it, PC Peter Grant is pulled inexorably towards a mysterious housing estate in Elephant and Castle which seems to have been built with magic in mind. Accompanied by Nightingale, Leslie and, of course, Toby the magic-sniffing dog, Peter must get to the bottom of what’s going on at this estate and what it has to do with the Faceless Man, who has been wreaking magical havoc through London. Sometimes a series like this can become repetitive as the good guys chase down endless baddies and find themselves in predictable scrapes but this is not a trap that Rivers of London is in any danger of falling into. The final twists left me gasping and it’s clear that Aaronovitch’s vision for this series is expansive and beautifully constructed. As ever, Aaronovitch’s love for London also shines through every word on the page as he imbues the city with with just enough grimy sparkle to bring its inherent magic to life for a fantasy audience. If you haven’t already started this series, I don’t know what more to tell you, just go read it. You won’t be disappointed.
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Enemies to allies to friends to lovers necromatic space lesbians. I don’t know what else to tell you. For those of you for whom that is somehow not enough of an incentive to pick up this book, 1.) Why are we even friends? 2.) Fine, I’ll write a proper review. In Gideon the Ninth Tamsyn Muir has crafted a world which feels truly unique. Set in a galactic empire overseen by the Necrolord Prime and his immortal Lyctors, the magic of the dead is the currency of power. Each of the nine planets has its own special brand of death magic and a corresponding ruling House. The Houses are constantly competing for advantage and political power, so when the Emperor announces that he is in need of more Lyctors and invites the heirs of each House to compete for the chance to ascend, everyone is prepared to bring their A-game. Except that is, for the oft-forgotten and little understood Ninth House, a gloomy death cult on the edge of the galaxy that specialises in bone magic. For although their heir, Harrowhark Nonagesimus, is a prodigious necromancer, she cannot ascend without a cavalier, a sworn sword, to accompany and fight for her as a champion. After a tragic incident which annihilated much of the Ninth House’s young, their only real choice of cavalier is Gideon Nav, a foul-mouthed, snarky but gifted swordswoman who is indentured to the Ninth House, has serious problems with authority and absolutely despises Harrowhark Nonagesimus (don’t worry, the feeling is mutual). With the fate of the Ninth House at stake, Harrowhark offers Gideon her freedom in exchange for her help in becoming a Lyctor but neither woman has any idea of the magnitude of the challenges they will be facing down. This story is part locked room mystery, part logic puzzle, part Lovecraftian gothic horrorshow, part meme and all two tortured souls coming together through acts of radical forgiveness and love. Cannot recommend enough.
I, along with every other woman who likes books between the ages of 25 and 45, was very excited to get my hands on Intermezzo, the latest novel by the literary sensation that is Sally Rooney. As with her previous work, Intermezzo centres around complex relationships between a set of sad Irish people, in this case Peter and Ivan, two brothers who are mourning the death of their father, and the women in their lives. On the one hand we have Peter, a successful lawyer in his thirties caught between two very different women, Sylvia, his first love and best friend with whom he is unable to have a physical relationship, and Naomi, an acerbic college student who awakens his protective and providing instincts. Meanwhile Ivan is an awkward professional chess player in his early twenties who finds himself smitten with an older recent divorcee, Margaret. However, as much time is spent unravelling the complex social dynamics and expectations of the various romantic relationships in this novel, the real core is the relationship between the two brothers, the difficulties of the sibling relationship and the agonies of expectation that can get in the way of reaching out and building human connection with someone you love. I’ve since spoken to a few people who found the book disappointing, finding it hard to digest and saying it wasn’t as good as Normal People. I have a tip for this but I’m afraid it’s not necessarily the most practical. I had the delight of reading this book on holiday and I think Intermezzo really benefits from long periods of uninterrupted reading, letting you sink into the minds, worlds and loves of Peter and Ivan. This isn’t always the easiest thing to do in a world where all too often moments for reading have to be snatched on commutes or in the moments before your eyes drift shut at bedtime but if you can set the time aside, you’ll be well rewarded.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
On the surface, The Ministry of Time can sound like a bit of a silly book. I mean, a young civil servant falling in love with a Victorian naval commander after she’s assigned to work on a top secret time travel project does feel like an inherently unserious sort of scenario. Don’t worry if that’s your kind of thing by the way because there is plenty of comedy and cuteness to be found as Commander Gore adjusts to the twenty-first century and comes to terms with novel concepts such as indoor plumbing, Spotify and the collapse of the British Empire. However, as the true implications of the Ministry’s project come to light, this book does take an altogether more interesting and complex turn, asking questions about colonialism, free will and what we owe to the future and the past. Kaliane Bradley has managed to construct an original and highly readable sci-fi romance while compromising on none of the best qualities of either genre. Come for the quirky romance, stay for the brain-melting navigation of the ethics of time travel.
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Have you been hearing everyone talking about how The Stormlight Archive is a modern classic within the fantasy genre and is as close to the platonic ideal of an epic saga as it is possible to achieve but for some reason you still haven’t read it? Please let me have the honour of being the one to push you to finally take the plunge. Everything they say is true and then some. If this is the first you’re hearing of The Stormlight Archive , lucky you! Get reading now. Yes I know it’s a thousand pages long. Yes I know the world-building is complicated. Yes I know a new fantasy series feels like such a big commitment. Grow the fuck up and read the goddamn book. Do you think good things just happen to people? Of course not, you have to work for them. Read the goddamn book. Epic in scope and scale, The Way of Kings is the first of a quintet of books which takes place in the land of Roshar, a world rocked by devastating storms where powerful warriors wield weapons that give them near godlike abilities. Our story focuses on three very different people: Dalinar Kholin, an infamous general troubled by strange visions of the distant past, Kaladin Stormblessed, an apprentice surgeon turned soldier turned slave fighting seemingly impossible odds to protect those he loves, and Shallan Davar, a ferociously intelligent young woman determined to save her fractured family from ruin by any means necessary. Although it may appear that these three have nothing in common, something more powerful than they can imagine will draw them together and kickstart a saga that will change their world as they know it. Trust me, read it and remember: life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination.
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo
By any objective metric, Stephanie Foo is a success. A popular and well-liked award-winning radio producer with a loving boyfriend to boot, you’d assume that she’s on top of the world. But every day behind closed doors Foo was dealing with the ramifications of a profoundly abusive childhood that left her scarred mentally and physically. When she is eventually diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (or CPTSD), she’s at first terrified by the lack of literature and resources available for people like her. But rather than surrendering, she does what any great journalist would do: She asks questions. Interviewing scientists and former teachers, trying innovative new therapies and reading widely about the impact of trauma over generations and in immigrant communities, Foo has pulled together the resource that she herself probably needed at the outset of her diagnosis. What My Bones Know is a harrowing but ultimately hopeful story of one woman’s struggle to confront and come to terms with her trauma and whether you have CPTSD or not you will walk away from this book wiser.
Kindled Spirits 
Wow Molly. Quite a list! (as usual). I’ve been telling myself to read outside my usual genres as I always learn a lot (from a craft perspective) and it’s simply refreshing for the brain. So you had me at Ministry of Time, and now I feel like if I don’t dive into The Way of Kings you’ll never forgive me 🙂 I also took a class recently that included a very close reading from Normal People, which made me appreciate the genius of Rooney’s writing all the more, and pushes me toward Intermezzo. Chop, chop, I guess I better get reading faster than ever!
How are you??? I hope you and James are well. xoxo Kathy
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