The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar 3.75/5 Awards: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Historical Fiction and for Debut Author (2018) Version française: La carte du souvenir et de l’espoir Synopsis It is the summer of 2011, and Nour has just lost her father to cancer. Her mother, a cartographer, decides to move Nour and her sisters from New York City back to Syria to be closer to their family. But the country Nour's mother once knew is changing, and it isn't long before protests and shelling threaten their quiet Homs neighbourhood. More than eight hundred years earlier, Rawiya, sixteen and a widow’s daughter, knows she must do something to help her impoverished mother. Disguising herself as a boy named Rami, she becomes an apprentice to al-Idrisi, who has been commissioned by King Roger II of Sicily to create a map of the world. My thoughts The Map of Salt and Stars is ambitious. Joukhadar’s book weaves together the 21st century and 12th century Middle East, two drastically different environments united mostly by geography, but divided by systems of thought, technology and mores. However, some facts remain unchanged: warfare, loss, friendship and, most importantly, migration. Jouhkhadar’s great victory was her subtle commentary on immigration across the Middle East. Despite migrants facing challenges, most of which have only rebranded themselves through the eras, migration is a tradition as early as the dawn of time. Warfare might have replaced a giant, human-hunting magical bird, but the process of people being displaced by war or by a quest for knowledge is a fundamental part of Mediterranean life since Antiquity. Even if the book still lacked a ‘wow’ factor and a distinctively original approach, TMSS remains a relative success for a debut novel.
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The Cemetery of Forgotten Books #3 The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (tr. Lucia Graves) 3.75/5 Award: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Historical Fiction (2012) Version française: Le prisonnier du ciel Synopsis Barcelona, 1957. It is Christmas, and Daniel Sempere and his wife Bea have much to celebrate. They have a beautiful new baby son named Julian, and their close friend Fermín Romero de Torres is about to be wed. But their joy is eclipsed when a mysterious stranger visits the Sempere bookshop and threatens to divulge a terrible secret that has been buried for two decades in the city's dark past. His appearance plunges Fermín and Daniel into a dangerous adventure that will take them back to the 1940s and the dark early days of Franco's dictatorship. The terrifying events of that time launch them on a journey fraught with jealousy, suspicion, vengeance, and lies, a search for the truth that will put into peril everything they love and ultimately transform their lives. My thoughts It makes me profoundly sad to think that Carlos Ruiz Zafón will never publish another book. Indeed, Zafón passed away this summer of cancer. Since I read Marina a lifetime ago, I have marvelled over his writing style and the worlds he created. He remains to this day one of my favourite authors. Reading The Prisoner of Heaven after the news was an odd feeling. To know that I now have only a few books left to read by one of my favourite authors definitely made me appreciate the reading experience more. That being said, TPoH is by far the least complex thus far of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. It is also much shorter. If you compare the book to, for example, The Shadow of the Wind, you will most likely be disappointed. There are fewer plot twists and less character growth. However, it is still nail-bitingly suspenseful. Zafón cleverness as he constructs plots never ceases to amaze me. While TPoH has fewer details than its predecessors, it is still effective and precise. Reading one of Zafón’s books always feels like those scenes in shows where n obsessed detective is tying red ropes over a map on his bulletin board, with yellow post-its and black and white photographs pinned. You never see the full picture until the end and, even then, it takes a few more moments to bring all the information together. While TPoH lacks some of the intricacies Zafón has accustomed us to, it remains a beautifully written (and translated) piece of historical fiction/murder mystery/badass story. I will not bother you with another introduction explaining how hard 2020 was. Dear reader, I am pretty sure you already know all of that well enough. If there was, however, one silver lining, I had much more time to read books. I managed to read 50 of them, a number I haven't reached since I was in high school. So, here is the best of them. Hopefully they can provide you with an escape from the ordinary world.
A kind reminder that my ranking system is a bit odd. Indeed, it is not because I gave five stars to a book on Goodreads that it will end up here. If a book has faded from my memory since I read it (despite its high quality), it did not stand the test of time and, therefore, deserves no place here. On the other hand, a book that I gave four stars to might end up on the list because of its long-lasting impact. In a way, this list is more about my most memorable reads of the year. I also included for the first time a non-fiction section because I spend so much time reading books for school. I wanted my struggle to serve a purpose (other than obtaining a university degree, of course). (If you want a full summary and review of the books mentioned in this article, click on the title where you will find either a link to my review on the blog or to the Goodreads page as I do not review every book I read.) In no specific order, here are my top reads of the year. The Handmaid’s Tale #2 The Testaments by Margaret Atwood 3.5/5 Awards: Booker Prize (2019), Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction (2019), Scotiabank Giller Prize Nominee (2019), Locus Award Nominee for Best Science Fiction Novel (2020), Audie Award Nominee for Audiobook of the Year (2020), Prometheus Award Nominee for Best Novel (2020) Version française: Les Testaments Summary When the van door slammed on Offred's future at the end of The Handmaid's Tale, readers had no way of telling what lay ahead for her--freedom, prison or death. With The Testaments, the wait is over. Margaret Atwood's sequel picks up the story more than fifteen years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead. My thoughts In the wise words of Tatianna, as a writer, I make choices. One such choice was to not write a review for The Handmaid’s Tale when I read it in January 2020. In all honesty, the world did not need another rave review for how amazing the book is; the subject has been covered. Now, when Atwood announced that she was writing a sequel more than thirty years after the original, I was skeptic. Indeed, we see how well that went for Harper Lee. However, as I've said many times before, my mother buys everything Atwood writes, so why not give it a try (if I don't have to pay for it). My expectations were not high, and I am glad because The Testaments pales in comparison to the original. Albeit, The Testaments had the impossible task of living up to the legacy of Handmaid’s Tale. In many ways, if you read both books without knowing the author’s name, it would be hard to guess they are written by the same individual. It remains an entertaining novel, but cannot be compared with some of Atwood’s much better works. Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck (tr. Susan Bernofsky) 5/5 Awards: German Book Prize Nominee for Shortlist (2015), Premio Strega Europeo (2017), Warwick Prize for Women in Translation Nominee for Shortlist (2018), International Booker Prize Nominee for Longlist (2018) Version française: Aucune version française n’a été annoncée. *Read the English translation from the original German (Gehen, Ging, Gegangen). *Read for Women in Translation Month! (I know, it’s in August and this isn’t going up until November, but I have to write these reviews and that takes time!) Summary Richard has spent his life as a university professor, immersed in the world of books and ideas, but now he is retired, his books remain in their packing boxes and he steps into the streets of his city, Berlin. Here, on Alexanderplatz, he discovers a new community -- a tent city, established by African asylum seekers. Hesitantly, getting to know the new arrivals, Richard finds his life changing, as he begins to question his own sense of belonging in a city that once divided its citizens into them and us. My thoughts It seems the universe has consolidated its forces to bring me two perfect books in a row. While Vengeful and Go, Went, Gone could not be more different, they are both extraordinary works. Go, Went, Gone is a masterpiece of the 21st century. It tackles one of the most contentious subjects of our era: immigration. While this concern is nothing new, the beauty and insight that Erpenbeck infused in her book make it one of the best novels I've ever read. Go, Went, Gone is first and foremost a story about people. Every character lives on a spectrum from more to less aware of the issues encountered by migrants. On the one hand, there are the asylum seekers themselves. On the other, some of Richard's oblivious but kind friends, and others who are actively spreading racist stereotypes and ignorance. Richard stands in the middle, acting out as a diplomat between two worlds. Part of why this book is mammoth is because the entirety of Western society is reflected. Some will identify with the migrants and others with Richard's friends. However, very few will truly understand Richard. The rarity of his type is what makes him such a fascinating character. He begins with the story as most people do, blissfully ignorant of the plight of asylum seekers. However, unlike most, he develops an interest in trying to understand their situation; he pushes beyond his own discomfort and tries to relate to these Africans on a deep interpersonal level. Erpenbeck does not turn Robert into a hero. She manages to perfectly capture the essence of a man fighting his own prejudices and trying to fight an uphill battle to defend his new friends. Villains #2 Vengeful by V.E. Schwab 4.5/5 Award: Goodreads Choice Award for Science Fiction (2018) Version française: Vengeful (tr. Sarah Dali, Lumen éditions) *Minor spoilers from the first novel included! Summary Sydney once had Serena—beloved sister, betrayed enemy, powerful ally. But now she is alone, except for her thrice-dead dog, Dol, and then there's Victor, who thinks Sydney doesn't know about his most recent act of vengeance. Victor himself is under the radar these days—being buried and re-animated can strike concern even if one has superhuman powers. But despite his own worries, his anger remains. And Eli Ever still has yet to pay for the evil he has done. My thoughts What an improvement! For a book that was not supposed to happen, Vengeful is so much better than the first installment. Initially, Vicious was to be a standalone, but I am so glad that following its success Schwab changed her mind. In this second book, we keep in touch with our favourite characters Eli, Victor and the gang, but we get introduced to two new main figures: Marcella and June. Eli remains the twisted, God-fearing character we love to hate (and he remains my personal favourite). Victor continues his Robin Hood path, except instead of stealing the rich to give to the poor, he kills those who might betray him to save the greater number of ExtraOrdinaries (EOs). I was never truly into Dominic, Sydney or Mitch, because their relevance in the story is truly dependent on Victor’s existence. However, they remain good characters that serve the same purpose as Neville Longbottom: mostly decorative until they kill a big snake. We cannot talk of Vengeful, however, without mentioning Marcella. Marcella, Marcella, Marcella. She carried this whole story on her back. On this blog, we love a gender-discriminated morally devious underdog with powers of inhalation. Marcella is the smartest character in this novel, and I guarantee that you will root for her. What was perhaps the most fun was that we got to see her entire origin story: from pre-trauma to her EO transformation and subsequent domination. Like Victor, she finds two sidekicks, June and Jonathan. Jonathan is highly forgettable. June is another good character. She is probably the more 'traditional' one – angsty, misunderstood assassin/living voodoo doll (admittedly one of the cooler EO powers thus far). Schwab loves her strong female characters. In Vicious, Serena was powerful, but mostly a mouthpiece for Eli. In Vengeful, the combination of Marcella, June and Sydney is the perfect powder keg and makes for an explosive, weirdly empowering novel considering they mostly deal in the business of killing people. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo 3.75/5 Awards: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Historical Fiction (2019), Audie Award Nominee for Literary Fiction & Classics (2020) Version française: Il n’y a pas de version française pour le moment, par contre étant donné que le livre a été publié assez récemment, il n’est pas impossible d'envisager une traduction dans les prochaines années. À suivre. Summary When 11-year-old Ren's master dies, he makes one last request of his Chinese houseboy: that Ren find his severed finger, lost years ago in an accident, and reunite it with his body. Ren has 49 days, or else his master's soul will roam the earth, unable to rest in peace. Ji Lin always wanted to be a doctor, but as a girl in 1930s Malaysia, apprentice dressmaker is a more suitable occupation. Secretly, though, Ji Lin also moonlights as a dancehall girl to help pay off her beloved mother's Mahjong debts. One night, Ji Lin's dance partner leaves her with a gruesome souvenir: a severed finger. Convinced the finger is bad luck, Ji Lin enlists the help of her erstwhile stepbrother to return it to its rightful owner. As the 49 days tick down, and a prowling tiger wreaks havoc on the town, Ji Lin and Ren's lives intertwine in ways they could never have imagined. Propulsive and lushly written, The Night Tiger explores colonialism and independence, ancient superstition and modern ambition, sibling rivalry and first love. Braided through with Chinese folklore and a tantalizing mystery, this novel is a page-turner of the highest order. My thoughts Chinese mythology? Colonial Malaysia? A quest to find a missing finger? Sign me up! Upon seeing the description of this book, I just knew it was written for me. I had sky-high expectations going into this one for no other reason than that the subject matter was so fascinating for me. I cannot say that I was let down as the setting was everything I had hoped for, but, unfortunately, there was a big disappointment when it came to the romance. The strength of The Night Tiger definitely lies within Choo’s ability to transport us to 1930s Malaysia. This setting in itself is an absolutely fascinating period as the British are in total domination over the area. Malaysian, Chinese and British cultures have all meshed together to create a new universe where colonial doctors believe in weretigers and Malaysian girls dance the Lindy Hop. We have all seen photos of colonial mansions throughout the world, but Choo’s research allows us to vividly picture the life of the middle and lower native classes at the service of whites. Everything from available public transportation methods to a household’s interior design to the dancehall atmosphere has been meticulously investigated. Perhaps it is because I knew so little about this specific era in Malaysia, but The Night Tiger is one of the best historical fiction books I've ever read in terms of world-building. It really begs the question of why there are not more books featuring South East Asia! A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum 5/5 Awards: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fiction (2019), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Debut Novel (2019) Version française: Le silence d’Isra Synopsis In Brooklyn, eighteen-year-old Deya is starting to meet with suitors. Though she doesn’t want to get married, her grandparents give her no choice. History is repeating itself: Deya’s mother, Isra, also had no choice when she left Palestine as a teenager to marry Adam. Though Deya was raised to believe her parents died in a car accident, a secret note from a mysterious, yet familiar-looking woman makes Deya question everything she was told about her past. As the narrative alternates between the lives of Deya and Isra, she begins to understand the dark, complex secrets behind her community. My thoughts Reviews for mind-blowingly good books are always the hardest to write. Most times, there is little to say other than "Go! Go experience this marvellous piece of art!" Alas, that does not make for very pertinent content. A Woman is No Man is one of those indescribable novels. The power of the themes of feminism, immigrant integration and religion brought up shine a light on issues often hyper-politicized by the media. Sometimes it is easy to forget the people behind the movements, the people whose lives are fundamentally affected by politician's decisions, societal stereotypes and religious customs. AWNM is a much-needed reminder of the humans behind the debates. Now, I should also make clear that this book can the potential to trigger many individuals with scenes of assault and abuse. The book also has the potential to be misinterpreted. Rum herself feared that this book would further stereotypes against Palestinian and, more broadly, Muslim migrants particularly when it comes to women’s rights. However, as I believe Rum does wonderfully, the mistreatments of Isra and Deya are not inherently due to Islam itself, but rather the deeply ingrained gender hierarchy imposed by men to keep control over their wives and daughters. To judge an entire religion based on the interpretation of texts by some politically motivated individuals would not only be wrong, but also hypocritical considering that the Western Judeo-Christian society puts similar pressures on young women. Hence, when AWNM and this review discusses religion, it is important to note that both are not a critique of Islam, but rather of the nefarious use of its principles which have created a toxic environment for the characters. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys 3.5/5 Awards: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction (2013), Carnegie Medal Nominee (2014), Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award for Honor Book (2014), South Carolina Book Award Nominee for Young Adult (2015), Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award Nominee for Young Adults (2015), Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee (2015), Lincoln Award Nominee (2015), Missouri Gateway Readers Award Nominee (2016) Version française: Big Easy Synopsis It's 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. My thoughts I have been eyeing Out of the Easy since I was around 14. But, you know how it is, new exciting arrivals appear, and suddenly older books fall off the radar. Luckily, Sepetys’ fame over the years has only grown, therefore, serving as a constant reminder of the existence of OotE. After reading (and loving) her two most critically acclaimed novels Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Grey, I chose to make my way through her body of work. Unfortunately, OotE does not compare to the aforementioned novels. It was by far my least favourite, despite a promising storyline and unique setting. OotE was full of clichés which might have passed when the novel was first published in 2013, but aged badly. The characters were filled with YA tropes that made the book generic and forgettable. First, the love triangle. The classic, unforgiving and downright annoying love triangle. Granted some authors made some successful attempts at recreating the awkward drama of a teenage love triangle (notably, Tahereh Mafi), but Sepetys failed to create a convincing tension between the love interests. Indeed, both boys were strange and unlikable. Patrick is your run-of-the-mill nerd who works with her at his father’s bookstore. Jesse is the popular guy who repairs cars. Both have no real individuality and were not necessary to the basic plot. Second, we get infamous "girl-without-a-dad-seeks-to-replace-him-with-every-male-figure-that-is-remotely-nice-to-her" coupled with an absent mother. Both could have been fine, however, the constant reminders and lack of subtlety (Josie mentions several times how she wishes this random shopper would be her father) just made the situation cringeworthy. All the characters were one-note and, even if you are rooting for Josie, it is not because she is likable, but merely since wanting to see someone succeed is human instinct. City of Thieves by David Benioff 3.75/5 Awards: ALA Alex Award (2009), LovelyBooks Leserpreis Nominee for Allgemeine Literatur (2009) Version française: La Ville des voleurs Synopsis During the Nazis’ brutal siege of Leningrad, Lev Beniov is arrested for looting and thrown into the same cell as a handsome deserter named Kolya. Instead of being executed, Lev and Kolya are given a shot at saving their own lives by complying with an outrageous directive: secure a dozen eggs for a powerful Soviet colonel to use in his daughter’s wedding cake. In a city cut off from all supplies and suffering unbelievable deprivation, Lev and Kolya embark on a hunt through the dire lawlessness of Leningrad and behind enemy lines to find the impossible. My thoughts The synopsis of City of Thieves almost guarantees that it was going to be a fun read. It did not disappoint in that regard. The novel was a fantastic little distraction, especially if like me, you were looking to get out of a reading slump. While CoT had many lacunas, it is an entertaining, unpretentious read. Kolya and Lev were enjoyable characters, but nothing more. They are fun, quirky and resourceful, but they were not moving protagonists. They lacked an emotional depth which I thought was strange considering that the novel was based on Benioff’s grandfather’s life in Leningrad during WWII. Personally, when I think of WWII pieces (The Book Thief, All the Light We Cannot See…), I am reminded of characters that opened my rib cage, ripped by heart out and left me bleeding. I think Benioff tried to give an emotional appeal to his characters, but fell short. This does not mean that there are no powerful moments, however, I was never able to truly connect with either of them. The setting itself was lovely and full of details. As a historical fiction (who particularly enjoys everything about WWII and Imperial Russia), I definitely felt satisfied and learned a lot as well! The author was lucky in having access to trustworthy first-hand information from his grandfather, he also clearly complimented it with some heavy research. Some parts, while historically accurate, were a bit sensationalist. Indeed, while there was cannibalism during that time, it was an odd choice to include as a plot point when it was truly only a few individuals. However, gory details were to be expected from Benioff who wrote for Game of Thrones and Wolverine. |
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