Review: The Tattooist of Auschwitz

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A harrowing tale of survival. Similar to the graphic novel Maus, The Tattooist of Auschwitz highlights that surviving the death camps was a combination of luck and determination. While Lale does things - things he's not always proud of - to survive, he is also "lucky" that he has skills useful to the guards. You do wonder how many resourceful "Lales" there were, equally determined to survive, but persished because they didn't have anything the guards required.

Any book about the Holocaust is disturbing but what I found particularly disturbing is the implication that the guards knew what they were doing was wrong but didn't care. Not that's a huge surprise - it's just brings it home that the SS weren't necessarily people with warped ideology; they were people who enjoyed inflicting misery on others,

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Review: The Little House on the Prairie

The Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having loved the TV series as a child, I thought this would make for a nice comfort read. But, I was wrong - there's nothing comforting about this book. It's not really explained why "Pa" decides to uproot his family to go West - other than he's got fed up with how busy it is where they were currently living - so the move did come across as reckless, especially considering the numerous dangers the face trying to make a new home for themselves. In fairness to Pa though, he's certainly a handy chap to have around. There doesn't seem to be much he can't build or make himself.

There is a fair bit of blatant racism towards Native Americans - "Ma" comes out with some eye-wateringly shocking things at times. That said, Pa acknowledges that Native Americans have a right to hate the "white man" because they, effectively, keep being pushed from their lands.

I am not inclined to read any the other books from the series but I would be interested in reading a book about these times from an adult perspective - particularly one that considers that the Native American voice.



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Review: The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House by Kate Summerscale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The most compelling thing about this real-life "whodunit" is not who committed the gruesome murder of a small child - it's clear who the main suspect is early on in the book - but how, without the benefit of forensics, Whicher is going to prove his suspicions. I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say that he was not able to (The GoodReads blurbs hints as much); although inspired in his deductions, he is simply unable to offer sufficient evidence to support this theories. Police bungling, snobbery, and Victorian attitudes all conspire against him.

The events takes place when the concept of a detective was in its infancy and it's amazing to think how much changed since then. But, there's an awful lot that hasn't changed - the media deciding who is guilty prior to a trial, making someone a scapegoat, and generally everyone having their own theory.






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Review: Stone Mattress: Nine Wicked Tales

Stone Mattress: Nine Wicked Tales by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I didn't enjoy reading this book, I don't think it's fair to blame Atwood. I am just not a fan of dystopian stories or ones that focus on humanity's worst characteristics - two themes that feature predominantly in Atwood's work. It would be, after all, a tad odd to complain about not liking cheese on toast if you are lactose intolerant (which I am as it happens).

For her superb, flawless writing, Atwood deserves five stars. Therefore, the only reason I am giving it three stars is to indicate that it wasn't for me.

I read this book for my book club. If you're London based and are interested in attending, please see: http://www.zone1bookgroup.com/ for details.

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Review: How to Stop Time

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This well-written story ponders the question of immortality and how you would cope if you knew you would outlive anyone you loved (and whether or not you should dare to love at all). It's certainly compelling and I'd feel bad about giving it anything less than four stars but I sometimes struggle to like it. I am not quite sure why to be honest.

Firstly, and this isn't Haig's fault, I am bit fed up of reading a male voice. Most of the books I've read so far this year have been by men and/or had male protagonists so I am now a bit desperate for a female voice. Plus, again this isn't Haigh's fault, I've seen the book described as "literary fiction" in some places. There's no way it would be described as that if the author had been female. I think Haig the other day was saying something on Twitter about literary fiction being a meaningless term - which is a fair point - but it's annoying that a book gets a bit more respect because the author happens to be male.

Finally, and this is Haig's doing, I feel a tad manipulated. That the book has been crafted to tick certain boxes about what makes a good book - likeable protagonist you can identify with, interesting idea, and a few profound insights into life. The result is that while I can admire it and can't find anything to criticise, I am not able to say I love it or be that eager to recommend it to someone else.


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