The Write Reads Ultimate Blog Tour: Takeout Sushi by Christopher Green

When my passion for short stories meets my love for Japan, the result is a couple of full hours spent reading. I am trying to feature on the blog as much as possible short stories, particularly with a contemporary touch, therefore Takeout Sushi by Christopher Green was a great choice for the week. 

The book, to be publish soon by Neem Tree Press, an edition house I had the chance to feature before on my blog, is illustrated by Rebecca Purton. I am a big admirer of smart and beautiful covers, and in this case, only looking at the cover without knowing too much about the content of the book, it may be enough to purchase it.

Green is based in Japan and also writes children stories, and Takeout Sushi is his adult writing debut. A collection of 17 stories, the topics are taken from the everyday life, inspired by his own experience abroad, and reflecting unique stanzas. There is a diversity of topics covered, but also quite different writing touches, maybe the stories were written at different moments of the author´s literary journey. 

With humour, nostalgy and heartwarming approach, Green put into motion characters and situations that you may rather ignore in the everyday life. There are stories that makes you both cry and laugh, strange encounters of a lifetime. Robots replacing humans, foreigners in a foreign city, humans longing for belonging. I really loved the diversity of topics and angles in these stories and at the end was definitely longing for much more. 

Rating: 4 stars

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

The Write Reads Ultimate Blog Tour: Guns&Almond Milk by Mustafa Marwan

´There are two types of humanitarians, I realized early in this job: those who run away from something, and those who are running toward something´.

I often cover literary events or movies featuring the war in Yemen, but unfortunately there is way too less information, in any other way about the unfolding tragedy happening there. Even less are novels set there, and Guns&Almond Milk by Egyptian-born Mustafa Marwan makes a difference for more than one reason. 

Set in the world of humanitarian aid workers, it is set during the most dramatic stages of the confrontations in Yemen. Luke Archer, an Egyptian-born aid worker is part of a mission aimed at offering medical support on the ground, and get caught into a hospital siege set by Western mercenaries. As in the case of any war thriller, the characters, especially Archer, may have lots of things to hide, and the dramatic circumstances he is in, may put him in exactly those situations he was expecting to run away from when he took the assignment in Yemen.

Unique for this book is the humour, dark humour to be more precise, reflected through both the game of words - ´Yemen got Guns´ - but also the situations and the circumstances as such, which at first may make you forget that the reporting is made in the midst of a humanitarian catastrophe. But life is never black and white, and those who really went through such situations they know that on the ground, humour is what saves humanity from its enemies. Marwan himself has an extensive experience in this respect, hence the authenticity of the character voices and the depiction of the ambiance. The different settings of the book are rich in details which gives a good foundation to the story while allowing the plot to develop.

I enjoy reading Guns&Almond Milk for the fast-pace and the story itself. As it is only his debut novel, I would be curious to read Marwan´s next novel(s) as well.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

Palamedes PR: Bloggers are instrumental in the success of books

Book bloggers are no longer considered ‘fringe media’ but important vehicles to promote new titles, authors and publishers. Unlike mainstream news and feature outlets, which reach a wide but less targeted audience, blogs like WILDWRITINGWORLD are the go-to destination of choice for engaged consumers who return time and time again for expert reviews and advice.

According to Palamedes PR, the UK’s market-leading book marketing agency, bloggers can be instrumental in shaping the overall success of a new release and are an indispensable force in the public relations industry. As a long-time PR executive myself, I can only appreciate this switch of perception, as for a long time, bloggers, particularly in the bookish field, were rather considered as purely hobby writers, without getting the praise and appreciation that any written word made public usually deserves.

Here, we speak to one of its publicists, Anthony Harvison, to find out why book blogs are reshaping the literary marketing and sales landscape, and how they are an increasingly important advocate for underrepresented voices and genres. (material provided by Palamedes PR, the intertitles are mine - WWW)

´...a powerful force in book marketing´

Q: How has the landscape of book marketing evolved with the rise of book blogging, and what role does it play in promoting books?

Book blogging has become a powerful force in book marketing, offering a dynamic platform for readers to share their thoughts and recommendations. It plays a crucial role in creating buzz around books, reaching niche audiences, and influencing purchasing decisions.

Q: In what ways do book bloggers contribute to building a book's online presence and visibility?

Book bloggers contribute significantly to a book's online presence by writing reviews, hosting blog tours, and participating in social media discussions. Their authentic and personal recommendations can enhance a book's visibility and attract a diverse readership.

How to get in touch with bloggers

Q: How do book publicists identify and collaborate with book bloggers to promote specific titles?

Book publicists often research and reach out to book bloggers whose content aligns with the target audience and genre of a particular book. Collaboration may involve sending review copies, organizing blog tours, or facilitating author interviews to generate interest among the blogger's followers.

Q: Can you share examples of successful book marketing campaigns that heavily leveraged book blogging?

Successful campaigns often involve strategic partnerships with influential book bloggers. For instance, organizing blog tours with well-established bloggers, hosting giveaways, or encouraging book discussions on popular platforms can generate substantial online buzz and drive book sales.

´...unique ability to champion diverse voices´

Q: How do book bloggers contribute to the diversity and inclusivity of book promotion, particularly in highlighting underrepresented voices or genres?

Book bloggers have a unique ability to champion diverse voices and genres that might be overlooked in mainstream media. They can bring attention to underrepresented authors and stories, fostering a more inclusive literary landscape and broadening the range of books available to readers.

Q: With the prevalence of social media, how do book bloggers use platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube to enhance their book reviews and recommendations?

Many book bloggers utilize social media platforms to share visually appealing book recommendations, snippets of reviews, and engage in real-time conversations with their followers. Platforms like Instagram and YouTube, in particular, provide a multimedia approach to book promotion, enhancing the overall impact of their reviews.

´Building genuine relationships is key´

Q: How can book publicists and authors effectively engage with book bloggers to ensure a mutually beneficial collaboration?

Building genuine relationships is key. Publicists and authors can engage with book bloggers by offering personalized pitches, providing relevant content, respecting their schedules, and acknowledging their contributions. It's essential to approach collaborations as a partnership that benefits both parties and their audiences.

Q: Looking forward, do you see any emerging trends or changes in the relationship between book blogging and book marketing?

As technology evolves, immersive experiences like virtual book clubs, interactive content, and multimedia reviews may gain prominence in book blogging. The relationship between book bloggers and marketing may deepen as influencers continue to shape literary conversations and bridge the gap between authors, publishers, and readers.

For more information about Palamedes PR and its book marketing services, go to www.palamedes.co.uk or call 0208 1036883

Rachel´s Random Resources: The Upper Crush by Evie Alexander

 

Country girl meet city boy in this enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy by Evie Alexander. Usually, when I am really overwhelmed by daily schedule and way too much work, this genre always helps me to overcome the overcrowded to-do-list. The Upper Crush is hilarious and hot romantic, therefore, guarantees a happy ending to a busy day.

James Hunter-Savage, the worse enemy of the twin brother of Lady Estelle Foxbrooke loves the buzz of London and its attractions. Lady Estelle is rather the introvert type, but in any case, she does not have too much time anyway, as she is busy to save her family estate. James just had a dramatic business failure and retiring to his parents far away from London may save not only this honor, but also the high cost of a life it seems he cannot afford any more. Lady Estelle would love to keep the estate, too long neglected by her messy parents, but the only solution may be to work together with James. Would they be adult enough to be able to follow their business objective?

I loved how the relationship between the two evolves - spoiler: not straightforward - and this part kept me very focused until the very end. The upper class kind of setting sounds genuine and creates that world that enables the interactions and relationship between the characters.

If you are looking for an entertaining romantic comedy, The Upper Crush is a recommended to start the week with. It promises a lot of noble entertainment in a very special social and ambiental surrounding.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

Rachel´s Random Resources Blog Tour: Invitation to Italy by Victoria Springfield

As I am working hard towards my New Year´s Resolution of improving some of my old languages - Italian and Spanish, as well as Portuguese - I am getting tons of reading opportunities featuring Italy, and although my summer plans are far from being set, practising some Italian dialects sounds too good to not keep dreaming.

My latest book review, Invitation to Italy by Victoria Springfield, just fuels further my Italian aspirations. It is set on the island of Procida, in the bay of Naples - a lot of details of Italian geography here - and although it has highly detailed atmospheric layers, this book is not at all a travel account about Italy. Far from it, but some places may be more encouraging for adventures than the other (for example, how many beautiful romance books are set during the winter months in Germany, asking for a friend...)

Worried to stay too far away of her daughter, who is about to spend a long vacation in Italy with her ex- and his gorgeous crush, Abi is accepting the invitation of spending some time at a hotel run by Loretta, a complex character, conflicted between her current duties and her unshared past stories. Abi is going through her difficult moments as well, trying to find her place in the recent story of being a single mother and anxieties. And there are also two gentlemen who are distributed in the story, whose role is to challenge the ladies´ narratives about themselves.

I personally loved the many details of the story, and how it follow the duality between Abi and Loretta, their destinies and their life challenges. It made me curious as a reader to understand their decisions and their personalities as we were approaching towards the end of the story.

This was my first encounter with Springfield´s works, but as I´ve seen that she has another novel also set in Italy, I may definitely interested in continuing my, (as for now) virtual journey through Italy.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: A Sicilian Affair by Susan Lewis

Leaving behind a broken marriage and a sensible family situation, Catie is looking to enjoy herself while spending time in Sicily. Her short vacation in Taormina is meant to cure her heartbreak and prepare her for a new easier life.

However, when she expected less, the handsome Giancarlo appears into her life and is interested in spending quality time with her. It may be a blessing, unless you have a heavy secret past that weights way too much to leave you time to enjoy the present or think about the future.

As in other books by Susan Lewis that I had the chance to review, A Sicilian Affair is exploring the role of secrecy into one´s life, particularly it´s dangerous influences, but this time there is an unique aspect of the story which stands alone: the game of emotions.

The book is following a double timeline, as the story is switching from present into the past, both episodes important for revealing details of a story who is developing into a constant crescendo. It is one of the most emotional thrillers I´ve read lately, but it is that kind of emotion that does suit the events of the story, without creating tensions for the sake of the creative impulse. The narrative is well paced and made of pieces that come together, aiming at revealing events and facts useful for understanding the story.

Last but not least, although I haven´t been to Taormina and Sicily in general yet, Lewis is able to convene a special ambiance of the place, which adds a layer of authenticity to the story.

A recommended read if you are looking for a different kind of thriller, with an interesting take on old secrets and the ways in which past may alter the future, no matter how decided one is to completely forget it.

Rating: 4 stars

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

Blog Tour: Reinventing Democracy by David Kauders

There is no secret that many old traditional democracies, particularly in Europe, are going through a process of re-consideration and re-evaluation. ´Huge economic disparities, the increasing disatisfaction of a large category of population with social and economic policies, corruption and lack of efficiency of institutions and political authorities, as well as their representatives are topics frequently discussed, no matter the system of government and the democratic age of the political system.

Particularly in the UK, the political establishment is often criticized for incoherent policies and weak politicians, The public, the voters are more and more disappointed and such attitudes are in general dangerous for democracies in general. 

Based on carefully crafted financial and economic assessments, David Kauders is suggesting a dramatic but much awaited change of the British system. Reinventing Democracy. Improving British Political Governance is an analysis, a manifesto and a generous invitation to dialogue about burning questions such as the need of changing deeply the government system and the structure of the state as such. He suggests, among others, the switch to a written Constitution, as well as a re-organisation of the territory based on the federal system and devolution principles.

Definitely, each theoretical suggestion always needs a serious nationwide discussion, but the ideas are here and deserve a larger analysis. The reinvention of democracy is a long process, but the final result needs to consider the diversity of opinions and regional requirements.

I consider the book a good contribution to this debate and I can only hope to hear more about this project. 

Rating: 4 stars

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

Calling Ukraine by Johannes Lichtman

Mourning his late father, in the afterwards of a long-term relationship, a failed journalist, John accepts without second thoughts the offer of an old acquaintances to re-train a group of call center employees based in the Western part of Ukraine. With a good salary, one year contract and a native command of English, he is ready to help the team improve their innate knowledge and pronunciation of the English language.

John is an overthinker, with a penchant for self-deprectiation. However, as he (apparently) kills an abusive husband whose wife he was in love with, except some nightmares that may stop after a while, there are no terrible negative effects.

I was very curious about the book, covering 2018-2019, including the moment when the current Ukrainian president, Zelenskyy, was elected. The book is categorized under the sub-genre of ´Americans abroad´, and it does include some usual stereotypes associated with such endeavours. There are some interesting observations about language - the one we speak, we use, we learn as a second language, mispronounce and mistreat, as well as some nonfictional details about the recent history of Ukraine. There are also one or two twists that may have the effect on the reader of waking you up from a deep sleep when nothing really noteworthy happens in terms of plot.

But except those small details, I was left after around three hours of reading largely disappointed. I would have expect a lot of developments and a story, that is just killed due to an apparent lack of plot directions. I wanted to like it and I was almost tempted to do it due to the intelligent remarks on language, but I simply couldn´t.

Rating: 2 stars

Random Things Tours: Clickbait by L.C.North

´Living with the Lancasters has something for everyone. You´re going to love us, and if you don´t, then you´re going to love hating us´.

Since the cover reveal for Clickbait, I couldn´t wait to have the chance to read and review this book. If you are following my reviews, you may notice that I am fascinated about stories that relate to social media episodes, either through the characters interactions or as a main setting or both.

The Lancasters aim at being the British Kardashians. Every Sunday, at 7 pm, there is a new episode on YouTube, revealing daily episodes from their glamorous life: parties, launch of new product lines, daily interactions. But there are cracks in Paradise and once a disappeared teenager appears in one of their videos from 20 years ago, the family is overexposed for all the wrong reasons and there is a tragic chain put into motion.

The story is created through various reports of social media interactions which gives you the impression of being part of a reality show as well. It made me think a lot about way too many glamorous families and couples on screen, struggling in fact against the odds of very miserable private lives. It is sad, indeed, and teaches us to never try to compare our lives with the projections of happiness we see on screen. Comparing in general is toxic, but pushing ourselves under pressure to replicate empty lives is very dangerous for our mental health as well and the reality shows - reality, indeed, but still shows - do deliver us an attractive reality.

The story enfolds like a puzzle game during which the reader should stay alert for not missing any single detail of the story. As you advance from one episode of the story to another, there is a growing feeling that there is something more serious and dramatic about to happen and this expectations are largely met. As for the end, it is very unexpected - at least for me - one last twist after many surprising turnes of the story.

I really enjoyed Clickbait for its engaging plot and the psychological insights into a world we are all writing off, one social media or YouTube like or comment at a time. A fully relatable story of our busy times.

Rating: 4 stars

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

Rachel´s Random Resources: Summer at the Santorini Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin

Suddenly unemployed, Evie is accepting a call from her grandmother to come help her maintain the bookshop she managed for years on the sunny island of Santorini. But her grandmother´s problems are more than simple management issues, as she is about to lose her beautiful bookish place, due to misunderstandings with the local Greek landlord. And as the situation seems to become hopeless by the day, a charming idea seems to take shape: what about if Evie is set on a fake date with the handsome landlord´s grandson, the equally charming Georgios?

In full honesty, I´ve read this book in a day, in just few pleasant hours spent in the company of those witty characters - among which, Floretta, the grandmother is lovely and the kind of person you need into your life, and the relationship between her and Evie is beautiful and inspiring. The ambiance plays a good role in creating the story, and even if you never been to Santorini, you can feel and breath the place from the pages of the book.

Summer at the Santorini Bookshop is an invitation to believe in love, even if it may start with a fake date for a very noble cause. The kind of book one would love to have with on vacation, on a Greek island or not. 

Rating: 5 stars

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

Rachel´s Random Resources: A Kiss in Kashmir by Monica Saigal

I am honoured to consider Monica Saigal a close friend, and I feel always priviledged to be part of her literary success, sometimes by getting early access to her beautiful writings. She has an unlimited capacity to reinvent herself, by trying different genres, from poetry, short stories to fiction, cookbooks and personal accounts. No matter the genre she is experiencing with, the result is always eye-opening as it opens up to new worlds and ideas, leaving the reader richer and bolder to explore beyond the comfort zone of the everyday imagination.

Her latest book, A Kiss in Kashmir is a romance of second chances. Sharmila, a talented artist, is back to Kashmir after many years of absence, following dramatic political events that lead to the disappearance of the love of her life. While busy preparing the wedding of her daughter, Alina, she gets to know George, a retired art historian, slowly recovering following the death if his beloved wife.

Two broken hearts who lost their soulmates. Would they be given a second chance? Are there second chances, second soulmates? After all, love is just love. Love in itself is a chance to live, no matter when it happens or how many times in life it happens. 

What I really loved about this book is that it covers so many separate aspects - local Kashmir history, art history, love and romance - while creating a coherent beautiful story. This is how one recognizes a great storyteller and Monica Saigal is definitely one of them. Only if she will share with the world more of her beautiful stories.

A recommended read to anyone looking for an emotional story of love, with relatable characters set in an unique surrounding. It leaves the reader with a soothing feeling that love is such a simple, rare and genuine feeling, we must always cheerish, every time it really happens. 

Rating: 5 stars

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

The Last Exiles by Ann Shin

 

Book set in North Korea or with a North-Korean inspiration are rare those days. The secretive repressive nature of the regime that turned the country into a prison hard to escape from deter some people from finding freedom. Those who did, probably are rather interested in sharing their stories as nonfiction, in memoirs or movies. 

Hence, my high interest in reading The Last Exiles, by movie maker and author Ann Shin. A love story set on the background of an unlikely couple caught in the everyday life absurdities of the repressive system, it resonates with every other stories of people growing up in dictatorships. The repressive system controlling the lives and content of the cupboards of the citizens is nurtured by abuse and corruption that will stay for a long time in the soul of the people, independenlty of their will.

Jin and Suja met at the university where they are studying together journalism. He is on a scholarship from people with modest background, she is the only daughter of a powerful media owner, close to the establishment. While on vacation visiting his parents, there is a raid taking place, during which the food rations of his parents are stolen. Jin will try to make justice on his own, but no one is on his own in a totalitarian regime. He ends up in a penitentiary colony but he will escape to China. 

Driven by love, Suja will escape using a complicated network of smugglers only to end up as a victim of human trafficking. After many unhappy adventures, the two of them will meet again and will leave behind China and North Korea, hoping to start a new life abroad.

Inspired by true events, The Last Exiles is an emotional story of random human cruelty but also of empathy and hope. Although I felt that som, e moments that I expected to be highly tensed as the escape through the river of both of the main characters were treated too fast - personally I was really curious how they did it, being fed many stories of escaping dictatorships by the way of swimming as well - the book is well and empathically written.

I would be curious to read more - also in nonfiction - about the human trafficking stories at the border with China, but first and foremost, would love to hear more stories about everyday life in North Korea and the escape stories. The Last Exiles just arose my curiosity to discover more, although it is not always easy for me to carry to weight of all those broken destinies only because born in the wrong moment, under the worse political regime.

Rating: 4 stars

Random Things Tours: The Rabbits by A.A.Milne

As promised, I am back with a new review of a book by A.A.Milne, the iconic author of the equally famous children book Winnie the Pooh and his friends. Milne was a prolific author who tried his hand of different genres and his short stories are intelligent sketches of various human characters and their stories.

The Rabbits - the self-given name for a group of friends in pre-war Britain - has the same deep sociological and psychological appeal, but it´s also witty and easygoing when it comes to the passions of the youth. The interactions, the game of language and the adventures of the group reflects at a certain level - middle class level, anyway - the society of the time, living carelessly in the shadows of a war in the making.

This book is matching the long trend of British literature of the early 20th, late 19th century, focused on fine and smart observations about society and it´s middle class representatives, therefore, The Rabbits can be also read as a sociological testimony as well as a literary episode of a long list of British authors.

The book reads easily but has a charm that will definitely keep you interested for the long run and at a certain literary level connected with the characters. They may stay with you for a while and keep you buy trying to figure out their motivations and behavior. 

A recommended read and a welcomed initiative to bring back to the literary life such an intelligent writer. 

Rating: 4 stars

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

Orenda Books Tour: The Kitchen by Simone Buchholz translated by Rachel Ward

 

It is my great pleasure and honor to have been given again the chance of reviewing the newest book by Simone Buchholz, translated into English from German by Rachel Ward, published by the one and only Orenda Books. 

Hamburg State Prosecutor Chastity Riley is back with a very delicate and complicated case, trying to trace down the murderer(s) of men with history of abusive behavior towards women. A story with an unexpected end, it is marked by the tension between the law and justice: should one make justice trying to prevent further abuse, or just follow the letter of the law and judge accordingly?

I personally love books based on such presumptions, particularly crime books, as they reveal important mechanisms of decision making within the act of justice and therefore are throwing more light into the human behavior as such.

German crime writing - Krimi, as it is called here - is a largely underrated category of crime novels nowadays as it is usually available to the outside world only through translations. Authors like Buchholz are really worth getting to know and I wish the list of talented German crime writers is much longer.

What I particularly love about the Chastity Riley series as well is the atmospheric descriptions of Hamburg, one of my favorite cities in Germany and in Europe in general. 

The Kitchen is a really challenging novel, with an important contemporary touch dealing with violence against women while raising relevant moral and ethical questions. This read is a feast for any serious crime novels lover.

Rating: 4.5 stars

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

Der Hausmann by Wlada Kolosowa, illustrated by Raúl Soria

 

An illustrated novel of a contemporary couple - and a hard working German learning refugee from Ukraine - Der Hausmann (the masculine version of the Hausfrau) by Wlada Kolosowa is an ironic view on an unlikely couple. Enmeshed in accidental neighbouring relationships, the characters are entertaining and very much relatable, at least for the Berlin crowd.

My main attraction for reading the book was the mixture between story, illustrations - by Berlin-based Spanish graphic artist Raúl Soria - and some social media fragments - as some of the characters do engage in social media activities. Given the contemporaneity of the topic, it was a happy choice and the different narrative layers only made the reading diverse and entertaining.

In some respects, the book reads as a comic book. Thea and Tim do challenge the patriarchy: she is from a rich family living in Dahlem, working hard in a start-up, he is the son of a single cleaning lady, whom he often accompanied to JobCenter meetings in-between jobs. He is an artist - working hard to finish a graphic novel with an ecological topic - and when the inspiration left him, taking care of the household. Does this story have a happy ending? Or/Oder...?

I enjoyed the irony of the book and it has some funny turns of phrase that makes it a recommended read for students trying to improve their contemporary German knowledge - B1 to B2 level. Although I felt sometimes that the story has too many creative turns - of the kind that just add more and more text to the story without necessarily flowing into the story, I´ve found the story entertaining and worth reading it.

Der Hausmann recommended read if you are looking for some easy weekend read with a rich German vocabulary.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Rachel´s Random Resources: How to Start a Riot in a Brothelin Thailand...by Simon Yeats

An adventurous traveller, Simon Yeats is ready to share his out of ordinary experience of traveling the world. How to Start a Riot in a Brothel in Thailand by Ordering a Beer and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips promises to be the first book in a series of travel books aimed to inspire and prepare the reader for an adventure.

As a traveller myself, with some unique adventures on my sleeves, I really enjoyed the unique experiences. No matter how seasoned traveller one may be, there is always a personal angle and a personal experience that always matter. Therefore, there is no way to ever get bored by travel memories: even your own or the ones shared in writing by other experienced world adventurers.

Yeats´ book is such an example, as it shows how far one can go beyond the comfort zone. One may never need some of the tips in real life, but reading about them, in the humorous style that accompany some of the experiences, may give the reader an idea about the blessings of a journey off the beaten path.

If you are looking for some extraordinary travel inspiration this season, this book can be helpful. Otherwise, you can read it too if you are only interested in an armchair weekend travel. Personally, I cannot wait to read the continuation of those travels as it promises a lot of fun.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: The Doctor of Hiroshima by Dr. Michihiko Hachiya

First published in the US in 1955, The Doctor of Hiroshima, translated and edited by Warner Wells M.D., himself a surgeon dispatched on the front during the war, is the diary of following the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Dr. Michihiko Hachiya was at the time the director of the Hiroshima Communications Hospital, situated less than a mile from the center of the atomic bomb.

From 6th of August onwards, he will document, through daily entries that were not originally intended to be published, the circumstances of the event, but also the medical follow-up of the symptms and overall medical effects of the tragic events. In a way, it may operate as a self-defence mechanism: in the face of the human tragedy, looking for patterns and logical/scientific explanations is part of the tremendous efforts to bring order and logic into this floating world.

Therefore, the book may be used both by historians of the WWII and anyone interested in medical histories, especially visible medical effects of exposure to nuclear incidents. 

The diary belongs to the so-called hibakusha genre, which refers to the testimonies of people who survived the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. The style is dense and very descriptive, with reference to stories of individuals he may have known or got to know only as victims of the attacks. The fact that those writings were never aimed to be published, give a certain genuine taste to the writing in general.

The Doctor of Hiroshima is an important memorialistic contribution to war narratives about nuclear power and the effects of nuclear bombing on the life of everyday people. The cover, both the picture chosen to illustrate it, and the colour range, do add visual information to this terrific memorialistic account.

Rating: 4.5 stars

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

Das Paradies Meines Nachbarn by Nava Ebrahimi

My first encounter with Nava Ebrahimi´s writing took place almost three years ago and I was charmed by her storytelling. I was pleased to continue my journey through her world, with the much shortter Das Paradies Meines Nachbarn (My Neighbour´s Paradise, in my free personal translation).

From certain respects, the story is more focused clear, but it also has a sense of unfinished ending which is unsatisfactory. 

The main inspiration of the story is the fate of children soldiers used by Iran during the decade-long war with Iraq. Ali Najjar is a successful architect and designer who just took over a fancy architecture studio in München. An aggressive businessman, he arrived in Germany at the age of 14, one of those self-made men whose stories we are happy to read and be inspired by. But his professional trajectory was the result of an accident of circumstances. A letter wroten by his mother time after her death may shed some light and emotion into an incomplete destiny. 

Ali Najjar is a very clear and strong character. However, another Persian character, Sina, who works in the same company, at a lower level - both professionally and motivationally - is less articulated and in any case the weak chain of the story, including in relation with his Persian identity.

I really enjoyed the story and the intersection between (geo)political and personal considerations, although I was expecting a little bit more from the story itself and the ending, for sure, didn´t satisfy my expectations. Tehran-born, Austria-based Nava Ebrahimi remains nevertheless a great storytelling voice of Iranian immigration in the German-speaking realm. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck

 

Every year, I am doing my best to follow various longlists, particularly International Booker Prize and the German-speaking equivalent, but obviously, I always succeed few titles a year. I usually keep the TBR for the next years, with more and more titles added on every year.

For this year longlist, I succeeded to acquire at least half of it, and although not all of them will make it into the short list to be announced on the 9th of April. However, my one of only until now, was a book by a German author, Jenny Erpenbeck - Kairos, that Í´ve listened to read by the author herself, in the original German language version.

Set on the changing political and social landscape of the end of the German Democratic Republic, Kairos is a story told through the voice of Katharina. At 19, she met a relatively famous writer in his 50s, Hans, and for years they secretly date. There are ups and downs, social pressure and psychoanalitical dependencies in a world in turmoil.

I noticed lately a certain temptation outside Germany to love and appreciate exactly such novels, with a strange love story and some rich German-German history details. Especially when one may be new to such encounters - historical ones, I mean - such a plot may make the love story tensed and mysterious. However, although the historical details were interesting, but the love story horizontally developed and very much mundane, uninteresting - I could not find any literary attraction in the story. 

Kairos is for me one of those novels that I may like the writing and the voice - and its echoes - of the characters, nevertheless I´ve found the story itself completely unappealing. Definitely not my kind of love story as well.

I hope until the 9th of April to have the chance to read at least another book from the longlist and hopefully my feelings about this exquisite literary event will also change.

Rating: 3 stars

All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Matthews

Set during Obama years, with its mixture of cultural optimism and economic struggles, All This Could be Different, the debut novel by Sarah Thankam Mathews is a book about friendship and queer love, but also an intelligent discourse about the discontents of capitalism during our times.

Sneha arrived from India with her parents as a child, but her family´s American dream ended terribly and she is the only who remained in the US. In her early 20s, despite the looming crisis, she got a mid-level corporate job in Milwaukee. Enjoying the corporate perks and the lavish restaurants, saving while still sending money back home, getting into conflict with bizarre abusive landlords, she forgot to really track what is going on within her company. She was hoping that ´All This Could be Different´. But in a turn of fate, she is not paid the salary due to some money discontinuity within the company then suddenly fired, evicted from her apartment and sleeping over the couch of her lover, Marina.

Getting a job in Washington DC, when she was one step before getting completely lost, she is returning to check on a project she supported suggested by her friend Tig: a community housing that may offer an alternative to the everyday trouble young people encounter when looking for an apartment to rent. It is an alternative to capitalistic apartment ownership: investing not only for yourself, but the the sake of the community.

I waited a long time to read this book from my online library and although I really enjoyed reading it - there are some smart linguistic twists and the characters are humorously dysfunctional - it took me an even longer time to finish it. I felt contemporary with the worries and concerns of the characters and the fine capitalist critic - and subsequently, of the American dream - is intelligent and realistic. Far from being boring. But somehow, the pace of the story slowed down in a difuse narrative that was enjoying the luxury of time with no limit. It is like someone who keeps telling a story day after day after day.

However, I really enjoyed the read and gave me a lot of hope about intelligent stories set in the immediat reality, going beyond the familiar ideological screams. It does not turn into a lecture against - whatever it is fancy to be against - but offers some real life stories of young people devoured by the surrounding realities. ´All This Could Be Different´, indeed. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Rachel´s Random Resources: The Mistress by Valerie Keogh

 

A crime novel built around a strong character, Hannah Parker, The Mistress by Valerie Keogh, an author I had the chance to feature before more than once, is a story of greed and ambition at any price.

The many lies of Hannah´s life ended up his otherwise happy marriage. But she needs a new aim, a new target, a new man. Call it fate, but as she randomly sees the photo of an old crush, Max Shepherd, her interest in him is lit. Hence, her determination to get him, ignoring some simple detail that he may be married in between with Susan, the complete opposite of Hannah.

Hannah is a fascinating character, displaying a maniacal motivation. I didn´t like her particularly, but she is one of a kind and following her steps was an interesting experience, although would not be so keen to meet someone like her in real life.

The plot is bold, playing mind games with us, helping us to gasp for light and truth out of the web of lies and deceit. 

I´ve read this book in one sitting, as the other books by Keogh. On one side, I was dying to see what happened in the end, on the other side was curious about the characters themselves: how far they can get and at what price.

The Mistress is a recommended psychological thriller to anyone looking for some unique human insights and inspiration. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: The Complete Short Stories of A.A.Milne

The brilliance of a writer is often displayed when he or she is writing short stories and/or children books. Both genres do require exquisite skills of concision and require special attention for detail and clear yet eventful plot.

A.A.Milne - Alan Alexander - is worldwide famous for creating the iconic character Winnie-the-Pooh and his lovely friends. But it is less known that until his death, in 1956, he was a prolific writer of journalistic articles, short stories and theatre. 

His first collection of The Complete Short Stories by A.A.Milne reveal not only his fine art of writing, but also his constant interest in observing feelings and situations. The topics cover a wide range of topics and contexts, from family interactions and love, to everyday life interactions. As in some insightful episodes from Winnie-the-Pooh, the plot ends up always in displaying samples of deep human longing, friendship and bonding. The scenes are word sketches of life and 

The complete collection of short stories do justice to the talent of A.A.Milne and his literary achievements. It is an act of literary restitution that delights the readers with beautiful stories.

Rating: 5 stars

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

Rachel´s Random Resources: Dying to Bake by Helen Golden

 

I am more and more interested in exploring mystery books with a taste of...everything, therefore I was very curious about Dying to Bake by Helen Golden. 

A tasty mystery, with a touch of royal gossips, it shares an intricated story built around the sudden death of a popular judge of a baking show Bake Off, stabbed at heart. As the top suspect is the king´s royl girlfriend, smart Lady Beatrice turns into an amateur sleuth, trying to save the honor of the family. Meanwhile, she may also develop a love interest into a handsome DCI. 

We are dealing with a crime, and I may assure that solving it is approached with the highest seriosity, which does not exclude adding a lot of good humour into the cozyness of the story. The story has a right balance between action - alert and taking mysterious turns - and the characters, interesting and not always what you seem they are. 

Overall, the inquiry takes place in a delicious background, where dying to bake is really taken literally. At least by the main culprit. I liked particularly the combination between mystery and humor, as it helps to make the investigation more bearable and less tensed. 

As for the cover, it is simply deliciously iconic, with the high exposure of deliciously decorated cakes. Good for my diet that they are so far away, and just pictures.

A recommended read, especially for the coming long weekend and holidys days. It will make the reader both hungry and curious to follow up the story.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: Hotel Arcadia by Sunny Singh

 

Sam, a talented journalist, famous for her outstanding pictures of dead people, is checking in a luxury hotel for spending some relaxing time. The manager of the hotel, Abhi, is a young man who struggled hard to comply to his parents expectations. The peace and relaxation of the five-star hotel is broken by a terrorist attack, that will challenge everyone to act differently. During those terrible times, Sam together with Abhi, will bond with a third person, a small boy, found alive under a heap of corpses, including his parents´.

Hotel Arcadia by journalist and author Sunny Singh touches upon a terrible topic of our times: human solidarity in the eve of horrible events. Placed in an unnamed city, the events, as horrible as they are, serve as background for forging human bonds and solidarity, reconsidering questions without answers about human condition and humanity in general.

Terrorism is an ubiquous reality of our modern times. Almost every society may have at least within one generation the memory of a terrorist attack. But humans can go beyond the inhumanity of some. They can raise questions and help each other, work together to bring more sense to a world that some want to annihilate. 

Hotel Arcadia is a sad lesson of humanity and resilience, bringing meaning and hope for the future. A book that will for sure think about for a long time in the next days and weeks.

Rating: 4 stars

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

Random Things Tours: Assimilation by Sophie Buchaillard

An intertwinned story of longing for bigger worlds and finding comfort and escape through travel, Assimilation by Sophie Buchaillard is a novel of our times, with complex unforgettable women characters.

We are daily overwhelmed by information about migration, many of them superficial negative evaluation warning about the risks and dangers of the phenomenon. But what really means to be part of this process, what implications do have migration for someone life, and what are the reasons for it?

In a modern empathic key, Assimilation is gathering in the virtual realm of the book, characters faced for different reasons with the desire to run away from their past, to start anew. Marianne a mother whose daughter Charlotte left France for Wales. Marianne is hiding terrible secretsfrom her old times while trying to comform to the norms of the French middle class. And there is Wilson, a young Nigerian man who dreams about embarking on an academic career in the USA but ends up being trapped in France, the victim of an unfair immigration system.

Assimilation gathers multiple stories, coming together on the canvas of modern world. It breaths the wind of change but realistically portrays the traps of a perfect world that may be made possible by the openness of travel and free flow of people. Thoughts very well reflected by the very inspired cover.

The women characters do play an important role in giving the pace to the story. Absent from the daily narrative on such topics, the novel has also the merit of offering them a voice and a place within the narrative.

Assimilation is an important contribution to women literature in English, and inspires us to think about the roots of our identity and its many influences in a world on the move.

Rating: 5 stars

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

Rachel´s Random Resources: Kookaburas, Cuppas&Kangaroos by S. Bavey

There are so many ways to honor the memory of a parent. Remembering them through their life adventures and praising their courageous spirit is one of them. 

Kookaburras, Cuppas&Kangaroos. Adventures of a Yorkshire Lass Down Under in the 1960s by S. Bavey is an example in this respect. Bavey, a British living in the US with her family since the beginning of 2000s wrote the story of her late mother travels through letters, diary entry and other travel notes. Those materials were re-written in her mother´s voice, creating a coherent enticing collage that is both informative in terms of everyday life in Australia and travel inspiration, but also rememorates important personal moments from her lifetime.

Based on an immigration scheme in the 1960s, used by the Australian government to attract qualified workforce, Elizabeth Mary Rogers, in her 20s at the time, embarked on a three-week voyage that also included Cairo and Aden, going on a temporary work visa for two years.

The book is tracing her story finding herself, a handsome husband and getting to discover this part of the world - there is also a part of the memoir dedicated to her journey to New Zealand. Black-and-white photographs are adding more atmospheric details to the stories.

I´ve also found interesting the memorialistic style and special art of focusing on recreating the original voice through a variety of documents, as well as the writer´s own familiarity with the subject of the memoir. The style is very lively, witty while keeping the right graps on the informative part.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

La Filla Estrangera by Najat El Hachmi

La Filla Estrangera - The Estranged Daughter, in my own translator, I´ve had access to the German version of the book, translated from Catalan by Michael Ebmeyer - speaks on a strong feminine voice, the voice of women estranged from traditional pressures, yet liberated by the weight of the social encumbrances.

The first person she-narrator of the story is a young woman, born in Morocco and living in Spain with her mother since her childhood years. One of those kids whose successes in school may turn them into examples of integration and success among people with migration background - her outstanding high-school graduation grades were featured on TV.

But then follows the normal journey of a woman belonging to a traditional society: finding a husband - in her case, a cousin that relocates to Spain, who unable to work yet, spends his time cracking sunflower seeds bought with her money in the living room where her mother is cleaning - adopting a certain modest way of dressing, covering her hair, doing menial jobs just for survival, no time to invest in her hobbies and passions - like writing. 

We are following her throughthe estrangement process, step by step are we shared the details of her private encounters, the questioning, the refusal to comply, the struggle to maintain a no-go area, her private realm. It is the story of rebelious girls and women, who see themselves caught between her family and their own emancipation. 

What I´ve personally found outstanding in this story is the unique feeling of time passing that one has while reading this book. You can seize the moments of each episode, through descriptions of moments delineating past and present, immediate past and instantaneous present.

Najat El Hachmi is definitely my latest discovery in terms of talented women writers and I am looking forward to discover more of her writings, hopefully in Catalan as well.

Rating: 5 stars

The Write Reads Ultimate Blog Tour: The Swift Return by Fiona Barker, illustrated by Howard Gray

 

A beautiful picture book written by Fiona Barker and equally beautifully illustrated by Howard Gray, A Swift Return is a story of friendship and love for nature and its creatures. 

Aria, a young little girl with her head in the clouds and the heart keen for stories, made the friendship of Yusuf, a young boy in her neighbourhood as he was trying to help a wounded swift. The sweet story of the two little kids extends its wings towards the nature and the ways in which we, as humans, we can peacefully co-exist with nature and its elements.

I was delighted by the pastels as well as by the story, that has such an important ecologically-oriented message, transmitted in a very genuine way.

Last but not least, the book also includes translation into Arabic, which makes the book a recommended read to bilingual children and their parents, as well as a helpful tool for anyone trying to learn or improve her or his Arabic skills.

A Swift Return is a recommended book for preschool children, learners of English and/or Arabic, as well as children educational institutions, such as kindergarten, aimed at offering good stories about nature and friendship.  

A beautiful book with a beautiful message.

Rating: 5 stars

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