I’ve been reading a lot lately. And by a lot i mean almost a book every two days (well there isn’t much else to do at the moment is there?) However nothing has really inspired me to write a review. Not until I read The Silent Patient that is. Suddenly my word rate had doubled and my heart rate with it., I sawed through this book in a matter of hours and finished breathless, exhilarated and strangely empty inside.
Most books you think are good have a good story. A natural and kind progression, something that the reader can be sympathetic, and something they enjoy. Most books that are considered an ‘enjoyable read’ will couple emotive and exciting writing with good story and make the reader happy to be reading that book. This book is a notable exception: it was very good but it absolutely did not make me happy.
What I thought would be a short and sweet fable here from Paulo Coelho, suggested to me for my monthly Book club, has actually hit rather closer to home than I expected. So much so in fact that after reading it once in less than a day, I read it again the day after, I then purchased the audiobook so that I could have Jeremy Irons growl it to me for another go over on my way into work.
Another month another book. That’s what I though at least when I first picked up ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’. Little did I know that what I had actually picked up was not another book, no, this was in fact 500 pages of sheer edge of my seat, heart in my mouth, sweat on my brow mindfuckery.
Just take a deep breath, and relax.
Let’s be honest, this review is going to be less of a book review and more of a Steven review. I made the intelligent decision to read this book and then to buy it on audiobook immediately after and I have to say, this is one of the few times in life where the audiobook far outstrips the written word.
This was an… interesting read. I’ve read a few reviews online since finishing this book, all gushingly positive (as I often am) and with rarely a bad word to say about it. Now I’m not saying that I hated the book or even didn’t like it I just felt it was very… middle of the road, not because it was badly written nor because it had any poor topics but in all honesty it felt slightly like it was a victim of itself. I’ll try and explain, if language allows.
Comedy writing is extremely difficult to achieve. It is hard to make someone laugh out lout in a public space simply from something they have read. Likewise, emotionally powerful writing is extremely difficult to achieve. It is hard to make someone burst into tears in a public space simply from something they have read. To be able to do both, on the same page, within the space of 30 seconds, whilst delivering an important and powerful message now that is a rare talent.
STAND BACK, HERE COMES THE INNER POWER NERD.
I know I know, it's an old book, it's been reviewed to death. There's movies made and everyone basically has an opinion of it already. To be honest it isn't even the first time I've read it. I've also read several other books this month but really... Come on... It's The Lord of the Rings! How could I not write about it?
This was an incredible story. I’d like to make a point of that as every other review I’ve read for Chimamanda’s star-crossed love epic seems to plough right in with the social commentary aspects of the story and though these are of course vital to the book and what gives it such clout when sitting on your bookshelf, none of that would mean a damn if the story wasn’t superb. And my word is it superb not just for me but for one of the widest ranging audiences I think a book could possibly have.
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