Greta&Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly

From all the novels with a strong multicultural, diverse and not necessarily topic-oriented books I´ve read this year, Greta&Valdin by New Zealand Maori author Rebecca K. Reilly was by far the most fascinating read. 

An alternate exchange of stories between two queer brothers, it is as intense as a Tower of Babel in the informational sense could be. You may need an overactive brain to go through the billions of references that are as diverse as mentions about Moldavian ice hockey and sea fungus. There is no need to check ChatGPT, there is a flow of information that surrounds and adorns every single word in this book. 

Somehow, Reilly has the inspiration to balance the waterfall of ideas and words with a story that although not necessarily impressive, at least builds up pathways through the maze. That´s what helps you to not completely feel overwhelmed and mentally blocked by too much information. 

While reading, I felt like being part of an experiment, as all those references were instantly exciting my brain, who wanted more of it. More information, more diversity, more constructions. The premises are not fully realistic and not everyone exhibits such a diverse background in all the possible respects, but it sounded normal to be exposed to all of it.

Greta&Valdin is entertaining, thoughtful, mindblowing and joyful, all at the same time. The author played the card of global diversity in an unheard way. In many respects, it sums up perfectly both my interests and my concerns, and would definitely think about this book for many days to come.

Rating: 3 stars

Book Tour: The Legendary Mo Seto by A.Y.Chan

 

The 12-yo Mo Seto is learning about her own limits and the world´s in this funny yet meaningful coming-of-age debut novel by A.Y.Chan. Although I am not obvious the target of this book, at least I can resonate with the importance of practising martial arts - our brave girl is a Taekwondo expert - for increasing self esteem and discipline, two life saving super powers. I´ve started my own martial arts adventure - pushed by my parents - at almost the same age and I am grateful for the lifelong insights and experiences I gathered at the time.

The Legendary Mo Seto has all the qualities aimed at inspiring young girls starting to cope with the incertainties of the age. It has a well paced action, a charismatic main character, dynamic dialogues and some lessons learned exposed in the smartest possible way - through example and choices. She will learn to believe in herself first by breaking the rules that other people set for her. It´s a hard bet but sometimes it´s exactly what we need to experience a healthy growth as humans.

What I also particularly loved in the case of this book is the smooth ways in which Mo Seto is experiencing her identity. As Chinese-American, her heritage is part of her way of being, without the need to display any of it ostensibly. It´s how she is and she loves herself being like that, with no further ado.

Since publishing The Legendary Mo Seto, there is another book from the series published and I cannot wait to check her adventures. Indeed, I am well past her age but there is so much to learn from characters like her, especially our sons.

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them by Elif Batuman

 

The advantage of a relatively slow down of daily working chores is that I can spend more quality time reading on topics that are currently relatively out of my area of interest, but used to be once. Also, to keep discovering authors whose works were an occasion for pleasant intellectual delights. Like Elif Batuman, whose The Idiot was a very unexpected rendition of the homonymous novel by Dostoevsky. 

The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People who Read Them is, as the title suggests, a book about Russian books, with a reference to another book by the same Russian author. Autobiographical stanzas aiming to add some layers of literary criticism to personal encounters, especially during her PhD time at Stanford, the articles included bring humorous takes on serious literary considerations. Also - one of my favorite parts - share very original and interesting insights about Uzbek language and literature, based on the author´s experience learning and practising the language in Samarkand.

The takes are very original, mostly based on personal human encounters projected into complex literary analysis, but although the projection of personal experiences into a theoretical, professional realm may bring life and reality into the theory, a too fast back and forth from a register to another and all the way back may be confusing. Also, some ideas seem to be lost on the way to putting together different arguments. But the unique humour may actually save and excuse some of the partial achievements. And, again, I haven´t ever read until now about Uzbek literature and someone who actually learned the language with dedication and interest.

If you are looking for some good humour while wandering through the maze inspired by Russian literature and those who are possessed-like to read it - although I promise you it is more to it than Dostoevsky and Tolstoy and Pushkin, but it´s a matter of taste after all - this is a good book for the end of the year/month. 

Rating: 3 stars 

Rachel´s Random Resources: The Lotus House by Ann Bennett

Although the horrors of WWII are still alive in our daily historical memories, mostly the focus is on the European realm. In fiction or historical reports, the temptation is to rather cover geographical areas relatively familiar instead of exploring unknown territories.

I´ve read in the last years various accounts about the war fought and the horrors commited by the Japanese Army during WWII in the territories occupied in Asia, but there are not too many books of historical fiction covering the Philippines. Thus, my interestfor The Lotus House by British author of historical fiction Ann Bennett. 

With a timeline going back and forth from the 1960s to the 1940s - the moment of the attack on Pearl Harbor - the story is built around the figure of Nancy, an American nurse who shortly after he fiancé was killed in the Pacific, decided to relocate to the Philippines to help the local war efforts. 

A story of love and betrayal, it outlines the deep human connections that can be built during moments of deep human crisis, and the women´s solidarity that may come with it. The alternance between dialogues and the story structure creates a story that´s hard to leave until the very end. I also loved how the nature descriptions in various moments of the narrative resonate with the characters and the turns of the story. 

The Lotus House is an insightful novel, recommended to any lover of contemporary historical fiction. A plus if you are interested in untold stories of the WWII. Personally, I am very much interested to read more by Ann Bennett, as I loved her writing style and the approach to very sensitive unique historical facts.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Days of Wonder by Caroline Leavitt

As Ella is early released after being sentenced for attempted murder, she is trying to reconnect with her life, after spending her late teenage years in prison. While trying to figure out the details of a night whose details were completely obliterated from her over-exhausted mind, she is also longing for her old love, Jude - whose father she supposedly attempted to murder - and is trying to trace her daughter, born at the beginning of her sentence prison, who was given for adoption. Meanwhile, her mother, who was forced to leave her Orthodox Jewish community due to her pregnancy, is also able to finally make place for love in her life, until then, only focused on her daughter.

Days of Wonder by Caroline Leavitt is inspired from a real story, that the author tried to anonymise. I had access to the book in audiobook format but this is one of the few times when I did not fully enjoyed the audio experience, as some of the voices, particularly Ella´s mother, were deeply annoying. 

The story goes in different directions: an impossible love story, personal trauma, a bit of mystery and crime, a lot of psychology. But although all those directions are skillfully balanced by the author, the characters themselves are extremely disturbing. Ella has a habit of stalking and her love for Jude is obsessive. Her mother is lonely, lacking social skills and confused, Jude´s father is abusive and Jude himself is a confused young man. This outpour of hybris is highly disturbing at times. 

But there are also moments of tension and twists - especially regarding the possibility of the crime - which are highly enjoyable, and so are the message of forgiveness that may give place to wonder. 

Days of Wonder was recently longlisted for the 2025 Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize  in the company of authors whose works I was lucky enough to get to know this year as well. 

Rating: 3 stars

Random Things Tours: Oaklore by Jules Acton

Nature is my therapy. It really is. The most beautiful, carefree moments of my life, especially as a child are intrinsically connected with nature. Forests, to be more specific, as places of refuge, timeless experiences of being connected with a stronger realm, a different life challenging my everyday limitations.

I don´t have too much time lately to wander days in a row through forests and get to know trees, but as usual, my other lifesaving refuge is hidden in the pages of a book. Reading about nature is just preparing me for the moment when I can start my nature adventures in real life.

Former journalist Jules Acton had the advantage of living close to Sherwood Forest. Her book Oaklore. Adventures in a World of Extraordinary Trees is a global and well researched outlook into the ways in which we are connected every day with nature, from the trees to the birds nesting on their tops. It reveals those ways we forgot they exist, which do play though such an important role in the ecosystem, but equally in the history and cultural myths of a country. 

Acton writes with the emphasis of a scientist and the empathy of a human who got to know nature from close by, empathically. It is a book recommended to anyone looking to better understand the secret life of trees, particularly oak trees, but also as an example of quality nature writing. 

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Book Tour: Paperback edition of Dead Sweet by Katrín Júlíusdóttir translated by Quentin Bates

I do not usually return to a book twice, but good thriller stories, especially, from the Icelandic Noir category, always deserve an exception. Dead Sweet by Katrín Júlíusdóttir translated fron Icelandic by Quentin Bates and published by Orenda Books, is published in paperback format therefore, it was my pleasure to return to the book for few hours.

Published in Icelanding in 2020, Dead Sweet is Katrín Júlíusdóttir´s debut novel. A former MP between 2003 and 2016, she gathered a lot of real-life inspiration for her setting, characters building and encounters. If you think that being a politician is totally useless, you only have to think that there are many of them who are gifted and their stories are a blessing to the world, especially the thriller reading category.

The death of a popular politician who did not get it into his birthday party, Óttar Karlsson, may reveal very dark secrets of local politics and of himself as the character of his own story. The smart investigator Sígurdis is tasked to figure out the culprit(s) in this case, an investigation leading to very troubling truths. Despite his physical absence, Karlsson is the main character of the book, whose life and (mis)deeds reflect to the ways in which Icelandic society operate, from its smallest details. 

Both the story construction - with a very surprising ending as well as the meticulous character building are hard to resist, and one may need to turn again to this book - as I recently did - for an insightful reflection on politics and politicians. 

Dead Sweet is a recommended read for those passionate about politics, with all its shortcomings and dark sides. I guess politicians too, particularly in Iceland, may need to include this book on their reading list, as it may inspire them how to stay away of dangerous situations. Bad people do make good thrillers, but maybe not all of them want to be characters in a book. 

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Building the Beast. How (Not) to Build an Overland Camper by Jacqueline Lambert

´I´ve had enough of Britain - let´s go to Mongolia´.

I always share a secret admiration for people who make it successfully into camping. Real camping, I mean, of people able to spend time on the road in their well tailored camper, able to prepare at length a trip around the world, with all the practicalities that such a project may involve. Although I give myself a lot of credit for a wide range of adventurous temptations, I am not sure will ever be able to do something like this. But as knowledge is power, I am trying to figure out the practical details from experts. And as usual in such cases, let´s give (again and again) credit to the books teaching me the best in life.

After four years on the road with Pawsome 4 - some adventures included in a book I featured many months ago - Jackie and Mark  are ready for a new adventure: converting a huge truck (Volvo N10) into a camper and starting another adventure on the road to Mongolia. But the timing couldn´t have been worse: Brexit bomb detonated which meant, among others, restrictions in terms of freedom of movement, especially within the Schengen area, and Covid pandemic started. 

With a contagious humour - in some parts I just couldn´t stop from laughing out loud -, Jackie is sharing the hilarious yet annoying adventures navigating various lockdowns, the bureaucratic system and repairmen with a too Bohemian mindset. But the book also has very relevant technical details about how to practically build such a special camper, in terms of technical details and materials. If you plan some serious overland-camper trip, add this book to your to read list.

Building the Beast. How (Not) to Build an Overland Camper is the first in a series dedicated to this project, and I cannot wait to see what happened next, particularly the trip part, as Mongolia is one of the places high on my travel lists for ages. Hopefully, to be continued...

Rating: 3.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the author in exchange for an honest review

Tanz zwischen Zwei Welten by Mariam T. Azimi

There is a subject on the list of the oral topics to be prepared for the B1 Goethe Institut test of German knowledge requiring the participants to explain how does it feel to live ´between cultures´.  The subject of German perception of life while belonging to one or more cultures requires more than a blog post but nevertheless I am more happy when I read novels inspired by this topic. The feeling and questions are real, but are better said in the literary format.

Kabul-born Mariam T. Azimi moved to Germany when she was six years old. Her book Tanz zwischen Zwei Welten - Dancing between two worlds, in my own translation - is a well elaborated story of Wana, who also moved to Germany with her family from Afghanistan at the beginning of the war, trying to find out her own voice and relationship with her culture and in the end, with herself.

Told at the third person, it is a story who flows beautifully because before proving a point, it cares for the literary qualities of the story. Thus, it created characters, with their inner contradictions and intentions, as well as inner changes. Wana´s voice itself changes, and I appreciated how her 6yo voice is corresponding to this age range. 

As the main character of the story is Wana, there may be less development in the case of the others. Personally, I would have been curious to find out more about her mother and father history, whose details are more vague that I expected. 

Towards the end of the novel, Wana is asking herself what would she have been if she have stayed in Kabul. It´s such a simple and heartwarming question anyone who left his or her comfort zone at least once considered. 

There are not too many women of Afghan origins highly profiled in Germany, and this book is an important reminder of this cultural heritage. I loved very much the tone of the novel as well as the topic, and I can only wait for more writing by Mariam T. Azimi.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Blowing My Cover. My Life as a CIA Spy by Lindsay Moran

It is that time of the year when the time has come to plan some few weeks of work and then get some rest with a book or two. The perks of a freelancer work is that there could be some reward of working almost without a break weeks and months in a row: offering yourself some free reading time. 

And when my mind is too busy to keep following fictional events, my only choice is to delve into the world of nonfiction. Memoirs do me good, spy memoirs, even better, as it suits my interest for crime and political thrillers. 

Blowing  My Cover. My Life as a CIA Spy by Lindsay Moran is a story of falling out of professional love. A teacher of English in Bulgaria, she wanted to do something ´good´ for her country she expected the CIA to be the ideal place to do it. 

Chronologically, the book goes through the difficult recruitment part, the even more challenging training and the ways in which this patriotic decision influenced her family and personal relationships. The ´I work for the government stamp´ may deter and destroy friendships, although from outside it can be an enviable job description. But the memoir is not at all pesimistic or dramatic, and has so  many funny and rebelious moments demonstrating that being a spy may be also fun.

Based in Skopje in the nowadays North Macedonia, a new country confronted with an armed conflict, while struggling to create a network of informers she experienced the loneliness for not receiving enough professional feedback and support. The quantity - the more informer the better - versus quality ratio was shockingly put into question by 9/11 and the following events, including in N. Macedonia. 

My first trip overseas was shortly after 9/11, was in N. Macedonia, part of an OSCE field mission for journalists, and I remember the Bible ladies she mentions in the book. The world changed without a warning and the intelligence agencies, mostly CIA, failed to get the right memo. In the craziness that followed, those ladies were really the announcers of the end of an era. It will continue with the war in Iraq, that Moran did not support, bringing her one step further from leaving the Agency for good, which eventually happened.

Tenderly, she is sparkling her story with personal details, regrets and love stories broken for a cause, but also about a happy personal ending, as she was still able to have her own family and build a life outside the CIA. 

Expectedly, this memoir may have go through a careful facts and figures check by the Agency but nevertheless it does maintain a strong layer of credibility and relevance.

Blowing My Cover. My Life as a CIA Spy is a recommended read if you are interested in real spy stories, but also in some before and after 9/11 US intelligence tracks. The humour spices up the story good enough to guarantee also some amusement and pure reading pleasure.

Rating: 3.5 stars 

Random Things Tours: The Wild Ones by Antonio Ramos Revillas translated by Claire Storey

We are used to associate Mexico either with street violence or with charming beaches with neverending parties. But either as tourists or as consumer of news, we rarely grasp the extent of the daily life of normal people in such places. Especially the ways in which their destinies are made of.

The Wild Ones by Mexican author Antonio Ramos Revillas, translated by Claire Storey - who also translated from Spanish Never Tell Anyone Your Name by Federico Ivaner - is a heartbreaking story of a family living in the hillsides of Monterrey, Mexico. One of the country´s largest agglomerations, with museums, restaurants and shopping malls, it is also home to disadvantaged families, marked only by their address. 

As their mother is arrested for a supposed theft, 15-year old Efrain and his two younger siblings are left alone, helpless. The help comes though from the most unexpected place, the local gang members, but it has a price tag.

Although placed in Mexico, with an obvious local feature, the story of this family resonates with unpriviledged families from all over the world. Without being pathetic or trying to switch to social activism, Revillas, admirably translated by Storey, gives voice to those unheard, but often criticized and stigmatised. A world of violence and drug traffic perpetuated by default, in an environment growing up in the absence of any solid support or a healthy social network. 

I appreciated the frank and open way in which the story is told, avoiding any romanticism or over-emotional compassionate tone. Thus, it allows the individual voices of the characters to be told, telling their story, as it is, not what some may expect to hear.

I will recommend this book to young adults and their parents, as it offers a side of life that explains behaviors and daily realities. A recommended read that I hope to have the chance one day to read in the original Spanish version.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Random Things Tours: Flowers from the Black Sea by A.B.Decker

 

I love good international thrillers, because it is where two of my passions (besides reading and writing) meets: international politics and travel. On the road there are so many chances that something spectacular happens: either spies are chasing each other or transborder crime is about to endanger the world peace. And some places are more prone to such encounters than the others. Like Turkey, or the region around the Black Sea, for instance. Culturally, the meeting of cultures and traditions is a blessing. For the police enforcement though, it is a curse, as this diversity may permeate the daily life in many challenging ways.

Flowers from the Black Sea, the second novel by A.B.Decker inspired those thoughts. As private investigator Matt Quillan is requested to do a friendly favour and localize some person in Turkey, he is trusted a flash drive by a stranger, shortly before being arrested by police officers. Thus, unwillingly, he found himself in the middle of a global situation that is about to get completely out of control. What can Quillan do in order to dismantle the net of dangers?

This fast paced thriller creates a world in itself, genuine in its dangerous settings and international imbroglio. Curious by nature, I couldn´t give up until the end of the story, and afterwards, took some time to think about some of the sequences of the book. Also, the local ambiance is recreated taking into account many individual details, which gives even more authenticity to the story.

Flowers from the Black Sea is a recommended read if you love the taste of a fast forward international intrigue. It just opened up my taste for even more such novels and hopefully by the end of the year I can dedicate even more time to such brain challenging lectures.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Blog Tour: The Island of Lies by O.Huldumann translated by Chris Ould

I have a fascination for mysterious writers, whose works only magnify the interest towards their private life, which is privately guarded from public eyes. Thomas Pynchon is my favorite example, of a writer about whom we hardly know anything - except that he once wrote a newsletter for the aviation industry. 

O.Huldumann is the Nordic and less prolific - based on the current information about his writings - equivalent. 

The above photo is probably the only one we may have of him. His writings do appear once in a while, hidden in remote troves. But it is hard to really explain what inspired him, how his life was like and his writing motivation. 

From the point of the literary history, he may have been the first to whom the exciting label of Nordic Noir applies. A literary pioneer too, it seems.

Recently translated by Chris Ould, The Island of Lies is the latest big book attributed to Huldumann, featuring citizen detective Arne Blöm. The first book published by Huldumann has him as the main character as well, but The Island of Lies can be easily read as a stand alone. Everything I´ve read about this author though only opened up my appetite for getting to know his writing more so most probably will read this first book as well.

Arne Blöm is sent to an island that may look serene and peaceful, but where horrible crimes are happening. It is the common idea of hidden intentions and the versatility of human character that if smartly explored can create the best thrillers. Huldumann is tracing intentions and duplicity, social games and deceit.

The Island of Lies is an exploration of the deep darkness of humans, a sickening take of humanity whose dramatism only diminished by the dark humour of the author. I´ve read the book fascinated about the timeless take and the plot turns.

If you are a lover of Nordic Noir, O. Huldumann is an author to add to the top of the list.

Noteworthy is also the special cover of this edition, a symbolic rendition of the terrible events accounted in the novel.

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

The Lawyer by A.A.Chaudhuri

´Everyone had a dark side. Everyone was capable of murder´.

There is no secret that I am a devout reader of everything A.A.Chaudhuri writes, and my regular reviews are a proof that I am telling the truth. Since 2022, I cannot wait her new thrillers, and I am never disappointed. This time, I was lucky enough to read two of her books within a very short timespam and, again, I felt only gratitude for the chance. 

Her latest, The Lawyer, follows a different writing pattern and plot construction upgrading the story at a different level. I´ve read it during the weekend almost abandoning any other activity delved deeply into the story. As usual, her books invite the reader to be part of the investigation but although I was halfway through giving the right answer, was far away from understanding the motives.

When a young promising woman is murdered at the offices of the company where she worked hard to promote, the Kramer/Craver detective team fears she is not the only one. And they are right, as more corpses are adding up to the investigation. Shockingly, all of the ladies did had a longer or shorter relationship with a professor with a temper, that is about to be considered the main suspect. Or maybe it was his wife, who was humiliated for so many years by his adventures? 

Until the end of the story, that will keep the reader in full suspense mood, even after the culprit(s) are identified, it is hard to estimate the reasons of the terrible murders. But a bit of human psyhology may warn us to always think about the consequence of our deeds. You never know how that person that you verbally or physically abused once will turn against you.

I loved the thrill and the many riddles that I was so close to solve at the same time with the detectives. I just added The Lawyer to one of my favorite thrillers of the year and I cannot wait A.A.Chaudhuri´s next book. I bet will never disappoint in terms of smart intrigues, fine legal framework and deep psychological insights.

Rating: 5 stars 

Turbulence by David Szalay

 

A circular collection of intertwined short stories taking place on a background of moving landscapes, Turbulence by David Szalay is one of the most pleasurable books I´ve read in the last months. 

If you are one of those persons, like me, who were blessed with so many travels in their life, you may know already the feeling of being privy of a different human exposure. All those communication with strangers in airplanes or waiting to commute from a place to another! The feeling of feeling at home in the world, although without a real home! Illusion or not, the feeling is real and travel exposes us to a different worldview.

The short stories from Turbulence are using this background for revealing short snaphots of life. The complete strangers we meet during our travels may leave a trace in our lives, may change us, may teach us a lesson. Each chapter has a title of an airport description, following characters from London to Qatar and Budapest. Wide world still small, as we may meet the male character from the first story at the end of the volume. 

Besides the philosophical reflection on humanity, the stories seize with a delicate touch very deep human feelings and expressions, such as fear, love, worry. When well written, like in the case of Turbulence, the short stories can be so powerful. I will not trade them to any 500+ novel, to be honest.

This book is a reminder that I need to read even more short stories. They have such an uplifting effect on my life and psyché. Also, I added Szalay on my list of writers whose books and stories I had to add to my list of favorite authors.

Rating: 5 stars

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

From all the books by Ottessa Moshfegh I´ve read until now, only Lapvona was missing. I am not sure if I´ve carefully read the book description but in general I am always careful when it comes to fantasy, any kind of it. I had it as a loan for a very long time and had to return it, thus my determination to finish it. 

It was a very difficult read. Not because of the complex ideas expressed, but because the plot is getting so busy with so many side stories that are just surviving autonomously, with no connection to a main story. Instead of ´difficult´ I may rather have to say, exhausting, but the wrong case of it.

Set in a far away land - some critiques suggested it may be Eastern Europe because people are wild and unable to control their feelings and affects and misplace basic feelings like maternity ? Have you heard about visigoths, by the way - called Lapvona, with inhabitants having children out of wedlocks, the book follows mostly the random turns of chance of Marek, a marked little boy, after killing his best friend out of envy during a walk in the mountains. Tip: the crime will actually promote him from the modest companion of an aggressive herdman to the substitute son of a pleasure-driven king.

Although the geography is doubtful, the pace and the characters may be remnants of Middle Ages tales, but upgraded at a very grotesque level. Sexual debauchery or various out-of-this world experiments with dreams and blindness healing (my favorite one is how Ina replaced her eyes with horse´s eyes, just like that, and she was able to see better, by the way).

The writing is not disappointing though, and this was the only ray of light guiding my difficult reading of this book for one full month. I am glad I´ve read it but I wished it was a different story. I am suppose that in this case I am just one of those nagging readers that are hard to be satisfied but I promise that I will be, even when reading fiction, if the story will really click. In this case, it just didn´t work out, no matter how much I´ve tried.

Rating: 2.5 stars

Théo et l'Enigme des Diamants by Didier Leterq

 

I haven´t reached yet the terrible teenage years, but it´s just around the corner. Books may help me prepare for the big adventure, but beyond that, I also like to enjoy the pleasure of reading books for an obviously different audience. When the book is written in French, the pleasure is even greater.

A relatively short novel built around a secret code that may lead to stolen diamonds Théo et l'enigme des diamants - Theo and the mystery of the diamonds, in my free translation; the book is part of a series featuring Théo, but as far as I know any of the books from the series were translated into English - is entertaining, adventurous and full of surprises.

Tracing some stolen diamonds, the teenager teams up with his grandfather, once involved in the anti-German cryptology enterprise from Bletchey Park. They are discovering mysterious letters placed in the most unexpected places, that they are able to decipher using a large variety of analogies, from mathematics to astronomy and Greek drama. An incentive for the young reader to focus more on learning, at least for the sake of solving riddles.

There are also other aspects touched upon, such as tensions with parents, school relationships and friendships. 

Although the ending is a big too ´soft´ for my taste, the book has its own charm and it´s definitely worth reading, including for the youngsters trying to improve their French level - A2 to B1 level.

The author has a professional background as scientist, but the Théo series launched him as a writer for the young audiences.

I am not sure I will continue with the series soon, but most probably will do it as soon as will have some time one day.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Le Vieil Incendie by Elisa Shua Dusapin

Elisa Shua Dusapin is one of the authors I love to read when I am trying to see the world differently, in a more deep, considerate way. The French-Korean author, currently based in Switzerland, has an unique direct way to explain feelings and situations in the most deep way. I´ve read her books both in the original French language, as well as in English translation and this feeling of dealing of a soul reader persisted.

My latest book by her, Le Vieil Incendie - The Old Blaze, in my own free translation - read in the original French version is written as a series of diary entry for one week in November. Agatha, who left her small helmet of Sarlat in France, is back after 15 years to settle the childhood house following the death of her father. There, her estranged aphasic sister Véra is waiting for her, and the two of them bond, superficially and for a very short time, during those times. 

Although they are supposed to leave the house for good, they will rebuild the old pigeon house destroyed long ago by a fire. 

The ties may be broken and each built up their own life and realities, but the days spent together is like a moment out of time. It´s exactly as may happen sometimes when we are back to places from the past, empty from the people that made them alive. Not everyone is having a blast from the past that may change he or she for ever. It is a honest yet very human journey.

Meanwhile, I am about to start another book by her soon - the only she published and haven´t read it yet -, and I am very curious where it will lead. Hope to be able to review it soon.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Lies&Weddings by Kevin Kwan

´Rich, entitled and clueless - it´s a lethal combination´.

The advantage of fighting hard a nasty flu that stayed with me way too long was spending more time reading big books that were waiting for too long my kind attention. Funily enough, my mind was not too much able to focus on literature but was rather keen to absorb a lot of nonfictional facts. Thus, I am feeling less guilty to ignore my academic pursues. 

One of my achievements during those sick days was finishing Kevin Kwan´s latest: Lies&Weddings. Kwan is an author I religiously followed in the last years, as I always find his hilarious explorations of class, money and power within Asian families inspiring for a certain social dynamic which is not always so transparent to outsiders but worth understanding for a better image of the social mobility within the Asian families on the continent and abroad.

The characters in Lies&Weddings are not always easy to cope with. They are either the poster of a despicable parvenue - like Lady Arabella who married into a noble family, unaware that her excesses bankrupted his family. And there is Thomas Tong ´a great doctor, and an even greater keeper of secrets´. All of them are running fast in a race of accumulating wealth, paying debts and keeping their secrets.

Arabella´s attempts to marry her children into European noble families, are faced by the realities of those families, carrying titles with no value and most importantly, no assets. This lady is a despicable character in her hunger to completely obliterate her modest origins and in her ridiculous matchmaking efforts. After bullying her neighbour Esther, who was living in the cottage nearby with her father, a friend of her husband, she completely changed her mind when it proved that Esther may be of a higher social status.

Lies&Weddings can be read in many ways - including as a financial advice, and some fashion tips as well, but honestly I had to search out some brand names - but besides the network of circumstances, there is also a good story ongoing, even though the change of situation may look and feel unlikely, But not everyone is privy to rich people habits, so maybe it really happens like this, It has a very international cast - always introduced by their education track record - and entertains, but sometimes you may just feel overwhelmed - and outraged - by the luxury and financial debacle.

I am not ashamed to confess that I really spend some time reading about royalties and other gossips about rich people, so this book is a literary rendition of such hobbies. If you are like me, you may enjoy this book as well.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Random Things Tours: The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux by M.J. Robotham

 

After nine decades of intensive life, both as a writer and as a woman, Ruby Devereaux may be done with writing, but the publishing industry is still expecting her to honour her contractual obligations. When it comes to making money from someone else´s talent, there is no limit of greediness. With 20 years of experience in the field, Marina knows how to deal with complicated authors and demanding publishers, thus she will convince Ruby to write one more work; a story of her scandalous life in 12 relationships.

From New York to London, Saigon or Budapest, Ruby won many hearts and spent unique moments, navigating fame and men, more or less suited for her. But while she is coming at terms with her romantic past, Ruby is able to have a last say on the stories. She is the one who is setting the tone and sharing the content. A full life comes at end.

The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux by M.J. Robotham is a slow paced insightful account of a life. The romantic tales, interrupted only by some current day intermezzos, are sometimes ironic, even hilarious, which make the voice of Ruby unique in the general setting of the story. I personally liked even more Marina, the smart publisher, for her trained mind for coping with any kind of challenges.

If you are looking for a book that will display in the front of your mind a long story of loves extended during almost a century, this book may offer you some good ideas with some insights into the unique life of a woman writer, a character in herself.

Rating: 3 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own 

Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli

Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli is a book I needed a long time to read and even longer time to think about it. It is also a book of many books into one: a chronicle of a marriage ending - as the own author´s - a book of loneliness, a book about catching memories, a book of the voiceless. The book was nominated for the Booker Prize 2019 and was the winner off the Dublin Literary Award in 2021.

A Mexican-American author based in the US currently, Luiselli herself is involved on behalf of children immigrants. Children of various ages, sent alone from Mexico, with a phone number sewed in their clothes hem, a number to be called upon arrival, upon survival. My son is much older than some of the children mentioned in the book, how would my sweet boy survive such an ordeal? It is a terrible thought, as terrible as the children from the Lord of the Flies, a book the protagonists may read to their children on their way to filling their working assignments. 

There are two main storytellers: the mother, working on a soundscape project, and the older son, who plans an escape with his half-sister on their own, up in the mountains, aimed at getting in touch with some of the lost children their mother is so much invested into that she is mostly not present when around her own children. 

Past and stories are what keep memories alive, and through sound, a sound archive, there are the emotional, contextual memories who are maintained. The wording of the book is beautiful, prose split in different small enchanting chapter, although not always necessarily part of the worded narrative.

´I suppose an archive gives you a kind of valley in which your thoughts can bounce back to you, transformed´.

´Stories are a way of substracting the future from the past, the only way of finding clarity in hindsight´.

There are many parts that at a close scrutiny weren´t maybe so enchanting, critically speaking. Although the story stops long before the separation took part, the fact is announced as a certitude and more than once it annoyed me, because sometimes, especially for few hundred pages novels, I don´t like predictable outcome. Also, the voice of the boy - recently 10 - was hardly recognizable from his mother´s, which was also not a pleasant experience.

What I also appreciates is the multimedia inserts, with photos, but only at the end of the book, although was feeling like it could have been used more boldly and extensively.

Lost Children Archive is an important book of our times and may open pathways to inspiration to keep exploring the topic, maybe also in a less personal key as part of a story of marital alienation. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Corylus Books Tour: Black Storms by Teresa Solana translated by Peter Bush

Since their launch, only few years ago, Corylus Books maintained a very interesting line of authors whose works meet thriller investigations on the background of complex political contexts. Their latest, Black Storms, by catalan author Teresa Solana, translated by Peter Bush continue this trend, with a surprising story about wounds of events that happened almost one century ago.

When a sick, retired professor is killed, no one may have figure out exactly the reason of the crime. Tasked with solving the case, detective Norma Forester is challenged to focus her super power - and activate her family background references as well. Thus, she will be able to trace the roots of the crime to the Spanish Civil War, where her grandfather belonged to the International Brigades.

Short yet atmospheric and with characters of deep personal and sociological complexity, Black Storms was a fascinating read. I am passionate about how politics and history may alter our everyday lives therefore, the reading inspired me a lot to think about those fine borders when our lives may be shaped by other people´s decisions and histories. I particularly loved Norma, a complex character with a family story bigger than herself. 

For anyone interested about Spanish history, particularly the Civil War, Black Storms is a good introduction, adding that human layer of knowledge that we may miss when we are reading just cold historical facts and figure.

A recommended read if you love a good thriller written in a very smart political key. I am definitely interested in reading more by Solana.

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Rachel´s Random Resources: In Italy for Love by Leonie Mack

Broken-hearted and financially broken as well, Julia is just consumed by her Italian dream. As she arrived from Australia few years ago, and fell in love with Luca, she did not expect such a dramatic ending. She even bought together with him a B&B that right now is just another display of her failure. Having enough of still living with her ex, without any financial perspective in sight and very reluctant to ask for the help of her parents - she is 27, after all - she heads to an olive farm to start working and recover her self esteem. And, as expected, she is about to meet love again and perhaps start a new beginning.

In Italy for Love by Leonie Mack is as predictable as life can be. It is possible to meet love when you expected less as it is also predictable to head up for a change when everything you tried before proved wrong. Therefore, we are delighted with a relatable and emotional story, set in a delightful place on Earth.

Don´t take me wrong. There may be love stories leaving you completely destroyed and afraid to start anything anew. But for the average of people, life may just go on and on and being open for a new life is just the mindset that maybe, hopefully, will attract the right people around you. That´s the spirit of In Italy for Love and a reason why I am happy to recommend it to anyone looking to a soothing weekend read. 

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Random Things Tours: The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S.Berry

The end of the Cold War challenges not only the geopolitical balance of power, but also dramatically changes the literary spy thriller narratives. Decades after, the world, the literary one too, still tries to recover after the shock, but personally I see here a lot of positive influences.

The struggle between ´Bad Guys´ and ´Good Guys´ turned many of the thrillers into very predictable stories, although seasoned sometimes with some spectacular changes of perspective and defections. What the ´New World´ allows now, is a narrative beyond those stereotypical matrix which makes the reading so relatable and the creativity in so much demand. Also, very important, it focuses on geographical areas and countries that before were just used as an arena or pretext for loudly displaying the bipolar confrontations. 

And who else may know better those new perspectives than a CIA operative? I.S.Berry, the author of the stellar spy debut that I had the pleasure to be offered to read and review was, among others, in charge with clandestine service operations throughout the Middle East and South Asia. The Peacock and the Sparrow - a parabole which is explained in the book for those curious to grab the book and start reading it right now, you will not regret it - is a complex narrative, where spy life is revealed in its multi-faceted ways. 

Set in Bahrain, during the latest times of political unrest, it features Shane Collins, a CIA-case officer caught in the net of intrigues, bureaucratic opportunism and professional habits that may shape his personality so strongly that even when he is dreaming of love, is thinking about the object of his love in terms of ´target´. 

The Peacock and the Sparrow is a spy thriller that although priviledges the action and spy challenges, allows a generous space to psychological introspection and the myseries - without a ´t´ - of secret agents. There are no heroes or villains, rather doing a job sometimes bigger than life.

This is a recommended book for anyone looking for a well-paced, extremely insightful thriller set in Bahrain, eye-opening in a very different literary way.

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usuall, my own

The Apartment on Calle Uruguay by Zachary Lazar

A - relatively short - novel about love, acceptance and reinventing yourself in exil circumstances, The Apartment on Calle Uruguay by Zachary Lazar is beautifully written. It is not easy to define what really means a beautiful prose, as the tastes may differ from one person to another, but for sure one knows how to recognize it. In my case, beautiful writing means a story that reminds us about the importance of humanity in us all, particularly kindness.

Christopher Bell, the narrator, is a painter fighting creative block, self-refugiated in a house near the forest, meets Anna, a journalist who fled Venezuela occasionally in the US, looking for some job opportunities. As she will return to Mexico, where her family took refuge, they realize, both of them, that they can give a chance to their story. 

It is a love story that grows slowly, but who was not meant to be exactly a love story. It is one of those random encounters that are able to be born only when both participants do give love a chance. Stories that in normal circumstances may sound impossible, they are happening under specific conditions. Exile, for instance, make as feel different. From outside, as a reader, you feel as you are the companion of the characters for a short amount of time, being left behind as soon as the story advances and eventually ends.

Both Christopher and Anna do try to accept their new identities, or are already familiar with the change of them. Christopher, for instance, is born in Israel and childood memories do return in his present life, he is but not one in ´the right way´ (whatever it may mean): ´I wouldn´t be alive if there wasn´t such a thing as Israel (...) But I´m not Israeli in a way anyone there would even recognize´. 

As he decides to follow Anna in Mexico, starting anew without necessarily a plan, he is facing his own choices, trying to find way to organise the past while distantly making sense of his new realities: ´Sometimes my life in Mexico didn´t feel real, just as mypast life in the US seldom felt real anymore´.

It was my first literary encounter with this writer, and I am sure not the only one. The Apartment on Calle Uruguay is a very fine kind of writing, kind and elegantly emotional. I wish I can write more such books.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Orenda Books Tour: Dark as Night by Lilja Sigurðardóttir translated by Lorenza Garcia

 

Lilja Sigurðardóttir is an author I had the chance to get to know via the fantastic book tours for Orenda Books and the series are just getting better and better. The continuation of Cold As Hell, Red as Blood and White as Snow, Dark as Night translated by Lorenza Garcia features again characters like detectives Áróra and Daniel, but the story takes a very unexpected turn.

Detective Áróra is still looking to find out what happened to her sister Isafold, while trying to have an active life which includes some bodybuilding side activities as well. But out of nowhere, a child claims being her sister´s incarnation. Daniel, on his side, is finding out that his neighbour may need to leave the country in a hurry, but as a professional, he simply cannot accept that it is not something more hiding in the lines of the intempestive departure.

Told from four perspectives, the story is unexpected and delving deep into the darkness of human life and brain. Well-paced, it allows the reader to get used with the characters and the many details of the story, through short chapters and a clear story line.

From arm deals to reincarnation and drag queens, there is hardly something that really escape the careful construction of the story. Personally, I felt fascinated about the narrative, and very curious to see where and especially how it ends. The characters are very relatable, with the mixture between good and evil that characterizes every one of us, but the measure of their difference is how they react in real life, especially in very difficult situations.

I don´t know if the series will continue, but I wish it will, because after reading the books from the series, you may really feel invested into the characters. 

Dark as Night is another extraordinary example of the strength of Sigurðardóttir´s writing. 

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own.

Rachel´s Random Resources: The Honeymoon by Gemma Rogers

Planning your honeymoon after a much awaited wedding day, makes you think about a world of dreams and fairy tales. Ignorance is a bliss, until your world is shattered into pieces, in a fraction of a second. 

The storyteller of The Honeymoon by Gemma Rogers is catching her soon-to-be-husband busy with his best friend´s wife. She may run away, on that much awaited honeymoon, trying to start again, while enjoying the beautiful Creta. But how she was thinking everything will go as planned? As her ´husband´ arrives, it is not only the denial of everything that happened that shocked her, but the revelation that he may have much more to hide.

Given my previous reading experience with Gemma Rogers´ books I don´t hesitate any single moment when she publishes a new title. The Honeymoon takes the reader to unexpected places, highly emotional and thrilling. As expected, it builds an ambiance of fear and mistrust, with some very surprising twists.

I loved this book and refused to do anything until I reached the end of the story. I liked especially how it explores the issue of trust and accountability, but also how complicate it is sometimes to spot sociopaths and why it is risky for your mental and even pyhsical integrity to do so.

A recommended book to anyone looking to explore a very human topic in a very eventful thrilling story setting.

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Mother for Dinner by Shalom Auslander

´I´ll never understand the fascination we humans have with tradition (...)´.

Some books are meant to be controversial and I love controversy. But some controversies are more controversial than the other. And so are my thoughts.

I´ve read other books by Shalom Auslander - most of them, actually - and his humour is of a completely other level. And so is his writing, which I enjoy, no matter how far his insurection against norms and how far the limits of his writing reality are pushed. What I always appreciate is the way in which he translates a serious, normative discourse into a very ridiculous context.

Seventh Seltzer, the seventh son of a prestigious Cannibal-American - Can-Am - family, faced with the challenge of following an old tradition - or rejecting it: eating your close relatives upon death. As his mother, Mudd. dies from overdose with Whoppers, together with his brothers - from 1 onwards, minus Sixth deceased -  and sister - Zero, as she does not count - he may need to confront the ancient tradition. Or rather to follow it, despite his alienation and emancipation as a successful editor, with a wife and a daughter that do not have any idea about his secret Cannibal identity.

This book is a perfect grotesque satire about identity at any price, tradition and most political correct vagueness. It is a short novel, but the story is very consistent using every single bit to operate the deconstruction of almost any fancy concept. 

Auslander really enjoys writing it and there are so many subtle references of many Jewish law complex interpretations - Auslander grew up in the traditional environment of the conservative Jewish neighbourhood of Monsey in NYC, but broke up with religion. All those particularities are however switched to refer to any traditional mindset.

So far so good, but the downside of everything is the graphic description of cannibalistic feast on Mudd, consumed by her own children - condition to receive $100,000 short from $500,000, each. A mater of taste, after all. A serious incentive to maintain tradition from one generation to another.

I would love to read Auslander´s latest, a memoir published this year, which maybe will explain this temptation to extreme grotesque.

Rating: 2.5 stars

 

Random Things Tours: An Irishman in Northern Mesopotamia by Nicholas Mackey

 

Travel has an extraordinary power of changing souls and minds. Some may be ironic about all those tourists invading places, and some may even doubt that the fast travel will ever change someone fundamentally, but I have a mind of my own. I believe that even we may not clearly identify the immediate changes, on the long term, it opens the minds and hearts towards the world.

A multi-disciplinary personality, a Trinity College natural science graduate, poet and photographer among others, Nicholas Mackey is exploring South-East Türkiye, a place of millenary memory and culture. His journey through the layers of history and civilisation is beautifully shared as a diary, illustrated with pictures that may complete and share the experience. 

Images and words create a bridge alongside the reader him or herself is invited to cross, opening up to new worlds, raising curiosity and questions. It is an admirable testimony of a curious mind.

If you are looking for a different way to look at travel writing, An Irishman in Northern Mesopotamia is a recommended book. It may also inspire aspiring travel writers and photographers, both in terms of inspiration but also as a call to go explore the world in the most unexpected places.

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Orenda Books Tour: The Burning Stones by Antti Tuomainen translated by David Hackston

It´s no secret my admiration for everything Orenda Books publishes, but some authors are more equal that the others on my reading cards. Like Antti Tuomainen, whose Rabbit Trilogy always bring smile on my face, every time I remember about the characters and the dark humour. 

And...surprise, Tuomainen is back, with a fresh thriller set in a sauna with an inspiring name: Steam Devil. The Burning Stones, translated from Finnish by David Hackston, is smart, with hilarious yet very complex and thoughtful character and a sauna to die for. Sauna, a national treasure in Finland, which explain its vital role in the story. 

As the new boss of a new sauna company is literally burned to death because someone turned up the temperature - what a genius premise for a crime novel - the police is trying to figure out who the culprit is. And, especially, what motivated him or her to such a dramatic decision. And for the police, and not only, a name sounds like a possible solution: an employee of the company, Anni Korpinen. As the list o suspects may dangerously lead to her name, Anni is forced to find out soonner than the police who and why is actually behind the crime.

It´s a delightful intelligence story which is very atmospheric, as it creates the right Finnish ambiance allowing the reader to fully immerse in the environment. And, as usual in Tuomainen books, there is more to the story than the dark humour, but through this hilarious door there is so much to discover about human nature and its motivation.

A recommended read to any smart reader of crime stories.

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own