A Wolf in Hindelheim by Jenny Mayhew

Something was happening in this place where nothing happened.

So, it might be a cliché to say that a novel from the very first line entranced me, but I promise it is true in this case. A Wolf in Hindelheim is a perfect mix of great storytelling, beautiful writing, intriguing characters, and a touch of quirkiness. It is set in the fictional village of Hindelheim in southwest Germany in 1926. As the quote above suggests, it is a quiet uneventful place, still isolated, just, from the advances of modernity. The new road under construction means we are glimpsing the last days of this ‘old’ world.

There are many strands to the story but the central event is a missing baby. The Constable and his deputy are summoned to the Koenig household to take the report. Constable Theodore Hildebrandt is a troubled man; within the first few pages we find him telling his reflection that he is not afraid of it. This is a lie. He is troubled physically by the appalling injuries he suffered at war. His body is neither whole nor wholly his own. His mind rebels against his circumstances; petty rivalries with his superiors, power struggles within his own household, the futility of resistance. This case brings out the best and worst in the man.

From the initial report the story spins out. Theo makes enquiries about the case that are beyond his remit as a lowly constable. The tension and friction between him and those he works for and with is increased by the sensitive nature of this particular case. Theo is a man who has created his own morality, which fits imperfectly with his designated role. He thinks too much and too independently to be a reliable cog in the wheels of authority. His transgressions threaten not only his own position, but that of his son’s too. Klaus is son and deputy to Theo. With a wife and a baby on the way, Klaus wants to impress and progress. There is a clash between old and new ways of getting things done; by the book is the new way and Klaus can live with that.

The clash of cultures is a recurring theme. Progress bumps up against tradition in many ways. Backward looking superstition and forward thinking rationality battle it out too. Although whether believing in wolfmen is more odd than putting faith in eugenics is just one of the ways in which the ambiguities of progress are drawn out. Hysteria is whipped up by the media in ways that are both very modern and look back to the heyday of pamphleteering and chapbooks. The suspicions about the local shopkeeper Elias Frankel are both a product of historic fears and new politically-inspired ones. I loved the way the tension between the past and future was displayed.

This novel has so much contained within it, there’s even a tentative and touching love story (or stories), that it is hard to do it any justice in a review. It is beautifully written, held me in its grasp throughout, and left me the richer for reading it. It’s about individuals, and communities, and societies. It’s about folklore and politics, desires and convictions, right and wrong – and the often small steps in between them.

A Wolf in Hindelheim is available now in Hardback; thank you very much to the publisher for sending an advance copy to me.

Carnegie Award 2013 Shortlist: A Greyhound of a Girl

I'm sad to say I didn't much enjoy A Greyhound of a Girl. I liked the idea but was not so keen on the book as a whole. The story is about four generations of the same family and how they connect and find peace with their circumstances. On the back of the edition I read it tells us that one of the four is dead, and that for me was the first problem. What could have been a topic of uncertainty and suspense in the early stages of the novel is given away before you even start.

There were some things I thought were good, for example I enjoyed Tansey's story about her life. It was interesting to glimpse her time on the farm, and I wish there had been more of that. I also enjoyed the way the story changed perspective between the four characters. The opening chapter, consisting of just a few lines, is very effective I think; powerful in its brevity. But, I did not get on with several aspects of the book. I didn't especially like Mary, the youngest of the group. I don't think it is necessary to always like a character but I think the problem here is that she doesn't seem real. Some of the things she says and thinks didn't ring true for me, particularly parts about growing up. I also got incredibly frustrated by the repeated references to her mum, Scarlett, talking in exclamation marks all the time. As a final example of my not-so-great aspects of the book, I didn't think the ghost road trip worked very well either.

I hate to be so negative and I probably wouldn't normally have reviewed this if it hadn't been on the Carnegie list. I can't honestly say I would recommend A Greyhound of a Girl, which is a shame because I still think the central theme of the book is a good one.

Big Brother by Lionel Shriver

I was very excited about reading the latest novel by Lionel Shriver for a couple of reasons. Firstly because I thought We Need to Talk About Kevin was an excellent book. The structure is brilliant, it has a shocking twist, deals with controversial topics, and employs one of my favourite literary devices – the unreliable narrator. Secondly, Big Brother’s topic chimes very nicely with my own academic interests. I’m deeply interested in eating and not eating, how our choices are influenced by wider societal trends, and the ways in which narratives about such choices and behaviours are constructed. My own research is focused on the period 1600-1800, but my interest is all encompassing. A novel about obesity in contemporary society is hugely appealing.

Pandora grew up in a family dominated by her sit-com actor father and his need for public acclaim. Losing her mother in tragic circumstances threw her and brother Edison closer together, until he fled the family home for the bright lights of the New York jazz scene. Unlike her father or brother, Pandora has strived for anonymity. She nearly succeeded, but her most recent business venture has given her a modicum of fame. She still downplays her achievements and looks up to her big brother though. When she hears from one of Edison’s friends that he has hit a bit of a rut she is keen to help out. She invites Edison to stay with her and her family. It’ll be a complete change of scene for him, out in the quiet fields of Iowa.

Not recognising Edison at the airport is a massive shock. Her normally slim sexy brother is utterly transformed by the weight he has gained. Pandora struggles to find the face she knows and loves. He is more than twice the size he was when she last saw him. The change is obvious, but remains unvoiced for some time. There is a reluctance to address what has happened to cause such a major change in Edison’s life. Apart from his eating habits he is fundamentally the same opinionated braggart he always was, winding Pandora’s husband Fletcher up and causing chaos in their well-structured lives. After two months of pussyfooting around Edison and his predicament Pandora is forced to choose between her brother and her husband. Edison needs help but cannot remain living with them all; if Pandora wants to help him lose weight she’ll have to leave the family home too.

The second half of the book examines the dieting process, detailing the hunger, boredom and tedium of doing it for the long haul. Edison has a lot of weight to lose to get back to his ‘usual’ size. Pandora feels that she has gained a few too many pounds recently, and goes on a diet too. Fletcher being a complete health-freak-convert undoubtedly exacerbates her situation. Her husband doesn’t come out of the story too well at times. His brown rice and fanatical cycling is a bit holier-than-thou. Pandora cooks well, and rejecting her meals can’t help but seem a rejection of her. I don’t think he means it that way, but I wouldn’t want to live with such a puritan.

The book is about eating, dieting, and obesity but it seems to me to be at least equally as much about family, loyalty, and guilt. Pandora is torn between her two families. She can either be loyal to her brother, or to her husband and stepchildren. Neither family is a wholly comfortable place. Pandora and Edison bond other their self-centred father, but they both ignore their much younger sister. Fletcher never seems certain whether the kids are ‘his’ or ‘theirs’, and consequently the relationships are always slightly strained. Pandora plays piggy in the middle, a role she has adopted from a young age. The comparisons with the sit-com family, her father’s sole hit role, are nicely drawn throughout the novel.

There are lots of things I admired in the book, and I was drawn into the story quickly. Shriver has given the way we think about fat and fat bodies now much thought, and I think Big Brother adds to the discussion currently going on in fat studies. The confusion and revulsion it stirs in people, with associations of sloth and lack of hygiene, are all here. Unfortunately, in some ways, Edison as a character does little to challenge the stereotypes. He is a slob, stuffing his face constantly, making a mess, breaking stuff, and with questionable personal hygiene. There is absolutely no fat pride here.

Ultimately, it didn’t entirely work for me. There is a rather climactic and unexpected ending, which I hated. Up until the final section I was happy to go along with it, and it is beautifully written, as you would expect from Shriver. I still think it is well worth reading, but I am left a little deflated both from the resolution and from what I found a not critical enough dissection of the diet industry and the assumptions on which our ideas of health are based. I was hoping for something more radical, unfairly probably. It might strike odd, but I will read the book again to take a closer look at the ideas about weight. I’d also love to read it as a book club pick, the discussions would undoubtedly be very lively.

I read this book in a proof copy I was sent when I was still at Waterstones. It is available now from HaperCollins in Hardback.

Doll Bones by Holly Black

Be prepared to get scared!

This is a brilliant creepy story. I loved it so much that I read it all in one go, from start to finish without stopping once!

Zach, Poppy and Alice are best friends. They love playing together, inventing stories with their toys as the main characters. They adore using their imaginations to come up with different worlds full of pirates and mermaids, outlaws and queens. Well, one queen actually, played by the china-faced doll kept locked in Poppy's mum's glass cabinet. She's old and scary looking, perfect for reigning over their games. Unfortunately, Zach's dad thinks playing with dolls and stuff is a bit babyish; his decision to get rid of all Zach's figures has some very unintended consequences. Obviously, Zach is devastated at losing his toys and he feels that he may lose his friends as well. But, when the queen visits Poppy in a dream the three friends have to work together to solve the mystery. Poppy believes the doll was a real girl once, who now needs their help to be laid to rest.

The trio embark on a great adventure. As they try to work out what the doll wants from them, and whether Poppy is telling the truth, they encounter many obstacles in their way. There are interfering and odd adults, strange occurrences, and travel disruptions. The kids' need to use their initiative and trust in their friendship. They get themselves into some tricky situations, and there are some hair-rasing moments. For me, the combination of adventure story with a supernatural element was very exciting.

If I gave out star ratings this would be a definite 5 star book. I loved reading it now as an adult, and I would have loved it if I'd read it as a child too. So, if you dare, read this book and join in the adventure.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of Doll Bones, it was thoroughly appreciated. The book is out now in Hardback.

Carnegie Medal Shortlist 2013: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

I read Wonder last year when it first came out. I was absolutely blown away by the story; I adored Auggie and the book’s message about kindness. This is what I wrote about it then:

“This is an outstanding novel, truly beautiful and moving. August's facial deformity means that his life is characterized by the double-take as people register his unusual looks. He understands why they do this, but it's still awful to deal with every time he meets someone new. Attending school for the first time could be traumatic then. Being the new kid can be tough at the best of times, and Auggie does certainly go through it. He has an amazing family to help him out, and a wonderful Head Teacher whose maxim encouraging everyone to practice being a little kinder than necessary is such a lovely sentiment. How much better a place to live the world would be if we all followed his advice.

Auggie's first year at school is told from a variety of perspectives; his friends and family get a say as well as Auggie himself. I love the way this gives a more rounded story. It is a story about tolerance, hope and understanding. It is a teary read at times, but I finished it feeling uplifted, happier and very thankful for friends and family.”

I still feel the same way about Wonder; I think it is a wonderful book. Being reminded to be kind never goes amiss. I hope lots of people of all ages continue to read this story for many years to come.

Red Moon by Benjamin Percy

Really, all I want to write is ‘this book is so brilliantly written and the story is so great go and get a copy now’ but I’ll try to be a little more forthcoming. It’s not easy though, because I know that nothing I can say will match up to how much I enjoyed reading Red Moon. And not only that, but it addresses huge social and political issues in the guise of an all-action butt-kicking werewolf story. Yeah, take that, genre vs. literary fiction argument – I just read a book that talks about serious stuff and has lycans in it.

The lycans in Red Moon are not the supernatural kind, rather they are humans infected with a specific disease that crossed over from infected wolves centuries ago. It is the same class of disease as Mad Cow Disease; the medical details are carefully laid out in the novel, giving it an authenticity that I loved. Drugs have been developed to control the effects, pacifying and neutralising the wolf within. In the USA it is compulsory to take the medicine, lycans are forbidden from changing into their wolf-selves. Unsurprisingly not everyone is content with this state of affairs, and the book opens with a shocking act of terrorism. This announces the beginning of a renewed struggle against repression. It also stimulates the anti-lycan agenda.

America is already deeply mired in lycan politics, as the military presence in the Lycan Republic. This territory in the frozen landscape between Finland and Russia is supposed to be a homeland for those that want to be all of themselves, wolf included. The discovery of uranium in the region altered things, and the US military are the guardians of the area. Military intervention tied to economic gain is so overtly cynical here that a resistance movement feels inevitable. Bringing the fight to American soil raises the stakes, and the fall-out is not going to be pretty.

The main characters in the story come from all sides of the arguments. Claire wants nothing than more than to escape her parents and hometown for something more exciting. Caught up in the government clampdown post-terrorist attack she finds herself cut loose from everything she’s known; be careful what you wish for. Patrick has seen the fury of the resistance movement at first hand and has a father serving in the Republic, a prime candidate for the anti-lycan group active at his school. Miriam is trying to remain ex-resistance despite the aggressive persuasion of her nemesis Puck. Chase is a hale and hearty politician making his way to the White House with his outspoken policies. The Tall Man is a creepy presence, stalking Claire for her family connections. And there are more, shadowy players stirring the bubbling pot. Peel back the layers of paranoia and conspiracy and you’ll find something even worse than you originally thought.

There’s nothing simplistic about the way the story is constructed. Right and wrong are shades of grey here, and the ramifications of decisions play out across the whole book. It’s clever and marvellous, it’s violent, visceral, and unrelenting. I didn’t want it end and I had to know what was going to happen next. And the epilogue is a work of evil genius in its own right. I loved Red Moon with a passion far beyond my expectations. Read it now, before it gets made into an HBO series (someone please make that happen).

I had a proof copy of Red Moon from my Waterstones bookselling days, thank you lovely Hodder peeps. It is out now Hardback.

Seduction by M. J. Rose

I loved this story combining myth, history, and psychotherapy. I know – not the first combination you might think of! But, it worked brilliantly for me. I thought it was intriguing and exciting.

Part of the story takes place in the 1850s, on Jersey, where Victor Hugo spent part of his self-imposed exile. Hugo is still consumed with grief for his daughter Didine who drowned some years before. His emotional turmoil, and sensitive nature leave him open to the idea of trying a séance to contact his dearly departed. He gets more than he bargained for when an insistent voice calls to him, luring him with promises and offering a bargain.

In the present, Jac is also lured to Jersey with the promise of Celtic ruins and a hidden cave containing evidence of Druidism. Jac’s career hunting down the kernels of truth amongst world myths makes this an opportunity too good to pass up. Her long-term therapist Malachai does not think it wise however; the invitation comes from someone Jac used to be very close to a long time ago. Malachai is convinced she is in danger from the association, but his reluctance to explain fully along with Jac’s natural obstinacy mean he has no chance of stopping her.

And so the stage is set for secrets and mysteries to unfold across the ages. A third story emerges, from an ancient time on the island. There are also stories within stories, as Jac has a troubled past herself that she needs to make peace with. As does Theo, Jac’s companion from the therapy centre they both attended as teenagers and the man whose influence on her Malachai fears. The stories are all revealed slowly, but nothing is kept hidden just to create extra tension. The book flows very well, and the changes of viewpoint seem to come at natural points in the story.

The mythology is so interesting, as is the Jungian psychology and the past-life theory. Jac had suffered from hallucinations since childhood, which get worse at times of particular stress. Malachai believes that past-lives are a reality, and that Jac might be able to access hers – but she is utterly resistant to such an idea. Her approach to life is cynical and mistrustful; she doesn’t research mythology to make it real but to explode its mystical elements. On Jersey she may just have to rethink her approach.

There are some lovely supporting characters, especially Theo’s aunts who share a home with him. They are a direct link to the past, and to the history of their family. Coincidentally there is perfume-making in their family, as there is in Jac’s. Scent plays a vital role in the book, triggering, evoking and creating memories. Jac is incredibly sensitive to smell and can discern the individual ingredients that make up any perfume. The layers of scent add to the atmosphere of the story.

The only thing I do not like about this book is its title. It doesn’t adequately capture the essence of the book for me. There is seduction within in it: the seduction of the senses. But, it’s more than that, it is a battle between reason and the mythic, it’s about daring to open yourself to something beyond the rational, and having the strength to retain a grip on what’s real and right. But, title aside, Seduction is a very enjoyable and compulsive read.

Thank you very much to Atria Books for allowing me to read Seduction in advance of publication via NetGalley. The book is published 7 May 2013 in Hardback.