Feliz Navidad! (+ Updates!)
Tuesday, 27 December 2016 • 2016, 2017, Books, Christmas, Family, Ramblings
Christmas was a quiet one this year in the Kilford household. With my father passing away in April, it was just me and my mum, but we made sure to keep up the Christmas cheer.
I wanted to take the time to say that I hope you all had a splendid festive period regardless of whether you celebrate it or not, or whether you spent it alone or surrounded by loved ones. You all deserve a break to relax and be merry!
This is just a little post to let you know what exciting things will be happening on blog once the New Year commences as I've been a very busy bee towards the end of 2016. I also wanted to take the time to say thank you to everyone who has stuck with me and my blogging ventures despite the dry spell. The supportive messages from the book blogging community across social media have been lovely!
So what can you expect in early 2017?
- The Dry Blog Tour - Jane Harper's thriller is Little, Brown's lead debut for 2017 and I've been fortunate enough to receive a copy to review as part of the novel's blog tour. You can read my review on Monday 9th January.
- A Boy Made Of Blocks Blog Tour - Again, the team at Little, Brown were lovely enough to invite me to be a part of the blog tour for Keith Stuart's moving novel about autism. You can read my review on the Friday 20th January tour stop.
- Travel posts - Ah, yes, that old chestnut. Having tried my hand at travel posts before, I figured it's time I finally share the beautiful snaps that I took earlier in March of this year during my trip to the Philippines. Keep your eyes peeled for these posts... and maybe subscribe by adding your e-mail in the handy widget at the bottom of the blog. That way you'll never miss an update!
- 11.22.63 Review - I recently finished Stephen King's 11.22.63 (Hurrah!
About bloody time!). Without giving too much of the final review away, it was absolutely incredible. A full review should be up on the blog in a few weeks time once I've picked my jaw off the floor and can comprehend all the awesomeness.
January is already shaping up to be a packed month of posts! If you'd like me to participate in blog tours for novels that'll be published in 2017, please do make sure that the tour takes place after February.
I also want to remind everyone that Stephanie Garber's phenomenal novel Caraval is released on January 31st and that you should definitely pre-order it if you haven't already! Honestly, I'm not getting paid to say this, I just think it's seriously incredible and am such a fan! You can read my review of Caraval here.
Once again, I hope you had a fabulous and happy holidays filled of love, laughter and books! If you have any recommendations for books that you'd like to see me review in the New Year, then the comments, my inbox on GoodReads and my Twitter are always open to receiving suggestions!
All the best,
What I'm Reading This Christmas ('All I Want For Christmas' and 'A Christmas Cracker' Review)
Saturday, 24 December 2016 • A Christmas Cracker, Adult Fiction, All I Want For Christmas, Book Review, Books, Chick Lit, Christmas, Contemporary, Holidays, Jenny Hale, Romance, Trisha Ashley, What I'm Reading
Continuing with blog tradition, it's time for my annual 'What I'm Reading This Christmas' post and trust me when I say that I have gone all out this year as I have two festive themed reads that I've been indulging in over the past few weeks to share with you!
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS BY JENNY HALE
But there's a catch. Leah must split the house with a man called David Forester. Leah hasn't heard that name in a long time. Not since they were kids, when Davey was always there to catch her.
Now David is all grown up. He's gorgeous, successful, and certain of one thing: Leah should sell him her half of the house. They can’t agree, but as they share memories over wine by the log fire, Leah notices a fluttering in her stomach. And by the look in his eyes, he's starting to feel it too. Will it be Leah or David who must give up their dreams? Or, with a little bit of Christmas magic, will they finally understand Nan's advice to them both about living life without regrets... and take a chance on true love?
Things can't possibly get worse for Tabby. Framed for a crime she didn't commit, she suddenly finds herself without a job. Then to make matters worse, Tabby's boyfriend dumps her and gives her cat away to a shelter.
But rescue comes in the form of kindly Mercy. A master of saving waifs and strays, Mercy wants Tabby to breathe new flair into her ailing cracker business. Together, they'll save Marwood’s Magical Christmas Crackers.
But someone has other ideas. Mercy's nephew Randal thinks Tabby's a fraudster. Stubborn, difficult and very attractive, her future depends upon winning him round. But it's that time of the year when miracles really can happen. Standing under the mistletoe, Tabby's Christmas is set to be one that she will never forget.
Now, I tend to quite enjoy following the exploits of slightly arrogant characters if they're written in a humorous, cheeky and likeable manner. Heck, Christian Grey, as cold as he is, did display some hilarious banter in the phenomenon that was Fifty Shades of Grey. However, Randal is just a straight up twat. He's boring, uncharismatic and unnecessarily rude to the point where I wanted to smack him in the face. I just couldn't comprehend why Tabitha, who despised him just as much, was snogging him and agreeing to marry him within the space of a hundred pages. It made no sense!
Christmas comes once a year... But true love comes once in a lifetime.
Snowflakes are falling, there's carol singing on every corner, and Leah Evans is preparing for a family Christmas at her grandmother's majestic plantation house in Virginia. It won't be the same now that her beloved Nan is gone, but when Leah discovers she has inherited the mansion, she knows she can give her daughter Sadie the childhood of her dreams.
But there's a catch. Leah must split the house with a man called David Forester. Leah hasn't heard that name in a long time. Not since they were kids, when Davey was always there to catch her. Now David is all grown up. He's gorgeous, successful, and certain of one thing: Leah should sell him her half of the house. They can’t agree, but as they share memories over wine by the log fire, Leah notices a fluttering in her stomach. And by the look in his eyes, he's starting to feel it too. Will it be Leah or David who must give up their dreams? Or, with a little bit of Christmas magic, will they finally understand Nan's advice to them both about living life without regrets... and take a chance on true love?
"I'd like to buy you out."
While quite sappy, I found All I Want For Christmas to be a charming read and unlike the other Christmas novel that I'll talk about next, Hale's book really did do its job and put me in the festive mood.
It's a heartwarming tale that captures - what I believe to be - the true essence of Christmas and that is gathering together with friends and family and reminiscing on the good old days. There is plenty of that in this novel with Leah and David looking back at fond memories from their childhood. Thankfully, none of the romance between them felt forced or rushed which can be the case in some Christmas novels.
All I Want For Christmas is a tender, emotional story that is brought to life with Hale's vivid writing.
A CHRISTMAS CRACKER BY TRISHA ASHLEY
This Christmas is about to go off with a bang!
Things can't possibly get worse for Tabby. Framed for a crime she didn't commit, she suddenly finds herself without a job. Then to make matters worse, Tabby's boyfriend dumps her and gives her cat away to a shelter.
But rescue comes in the form of kindly Mercy. A master of saving waifs and strays, Mercy wants Tabby to breathe new flair into her ailing cracker business. Together, they'll save Marwood’s Magical Christmas Crackers.
But someone has other ideas. Mercy's nephew Randal thinks Tabby's a fraudster. Stubborn, difficult and very attractive, her future depends upon winning him round. But it's that time of the year when miracles really can happen. Standing under the mistletoe, Tabby's Christmas is set to be one that she will never forget.
"Knock knock. Who's there? Holly. Holly who? Holly-days are here again!"
I hate it when a book doesn't live up to expectations - especially at Christmas. I hate to say it, but A Christmas Cracker was an absolute disappointment from start to finish and I'm glad that it was only £2 from The Works' Christmas book sale because if I'd had to pay the full retail price of £7.99 for this, I would've been fuming.
This novel shouldn't have been marketed as a Christmas read at all, because it's not. There's very little festive spirit in this supposed 'Christmas novel' and any Christmas cheer that does occur is towards the end and very short-lived.
From the get-go I knew I would have problems with A Christmas Cracker. The instant I saw that there were changes in the point-of-view (something longtime blog readers will know is a pet peeve of mine) my heart sank. Both Tabitha and Randal's view points were quite dull, but Tabby takes the cake for having about four chapters revolving around her bloody cat.
If I ever have to read the name 'Pye' again, I think I might cry. A Christmas Cracker very nearly ended up in my 'Did Not Finish' pile, and while I did skip a lot of chunks of the book, I generally powered through for the sake of trying to understand the point and in foolish hope that the romance I had been promised would suddenly blossom. No such luck. It's insta-love with zero to no connection being formed between Tabby and Randal.
If I ever have to read the name 'Pye' again, I think I might cry. A Christmas Cracker very nearly ended up in my 'Did Not Finish' pile, and while I did skip a lot of chunks of the book, I generally powered through for the sake of trying to understand the point and in foolish hope that the romance I had been promised would suddenly blossom. No such luck. It's insta-love with zero to no connection being formed between Tabby and Randal.
Now, I tend to quite enjoy following the exploits of slightly arrogant characters if they're written in a humorous, cheeky and likeable manner. Heck, Christian Grey, as cold as he is, did display some hilarious banter in the phenomenon that was Fifty Shades of Grey. However, Randal is just a straight up twat. He's boring, uncharismatic and unnecessarily rude to the point where I wanted to smack him in the face. I just couldn't comprehend why Tabitha, who despised him just as much, was snogging him and agreeing to marry him within the space of a hundred pages. It made no sense!
Is this the most savage I've been towards a book I didn't like? Possibly, but it's not without reason. Neither the story itself nor the writing could compel and convince me which is normally something I accept because not everything I pick up is going to be my cup of tea. However, I'm a bit miffed that I was promised this 'cracking Christmas read' and it didn't deliver what was said on the tin...or rather blurb. Had it been marketed without any mentions of a big festive romance then I'd have steered clear.
I've never read anything else by Trisha Ashley, so I can't comment on whether this is typical of her novels or not. I also won't be rushing to be read anything else by Ashley as I found A Christmas Cracker to be the most lacklustre and entirely disappointing book I've read this year.
If you're looking for a book full of seasonal fun and Christmas spirit, you're better off giving this one a miss.
Happy Christmas and I'll see you for more book related talk in the New Year!
Until next time,
Until next time,
Samantha
Literary Loves: Favourite Classic Male Characters
Friday, 9 December 2016 • Books, Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, Jane Eyre, Les Miserables, Literary Loves, Movies, Pride and Prejudice, Ramblings, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, The Great Gatsby, War and Peace, Wuthering Heights
At the end of the day, there's one genre that I always come back to and that is romance. No matter how many intense psychological, action-packed thrillers I read, to me, nothing is quite as engrossing as the drama of love. A consumer of both classical novels and more modern literature, I'll be focusing on leading literary men from the olden times today. Fear not, a post with some up-to-date more recent literary 'lads' (as we'd call them nowadays) will follow in due course.
Swoon and sigh at the sauve and chivalrous sirs on this list and feel free to share your own favourite literary loves!
Swoon and sigh at the sauve and chivalrous sirs on this list and feel free to share your own favourite literary loves!
FITZWILLIAM DARCY
"You must know… surely, you must know it was all for you. You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night, and it has taught me to hope as I’d scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on."
"You must know… surely, you must know it was all for you. You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night, and it has taught me to hope as I’d scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on."
The leading man on this list and the leading man in my heart, Pride and Prejudice's Mr Darcy is the dream.
I am slightly biased because of my love for Colin Firth and that infamous wet shirt scene, but it's Darcy's enigmatic dark and brooding persona that has captured the hearts of Austen fans everywhere - including yours truly!
He is the epitome of the ideal romantic character with his gentleman-like behaviour and his willingness to go against the social pressures and tradition.
Hear me out! Though weak-willed and easily browbeaten by others, Pierre, who is very much the anti-hero of Tolstoy's War and Peace, is actually quite captivating.
PIERRE BEZUKHOV
"Pierre was the most dear, kind, intelligent, merry and magnanimous of eccentrics, absentminded and warm-hearted, a Russian squire of the old stamp. His purse was always empty, because it was open to everyone."
"Pierre was the most dear, kind, intelligent, merry and magnanimous of eccentrics, absentminded and warm-hearted, a Russian squire of the old stamp. His purse was always empty, because it was open to everyone."
Hear me out! Though weak-willed and easily browbeaten by others, Pierre, who is very much the anti-hero of Tolstoy's War and Peace, is actually quite captivating.
Perhaps it was Paul Dano's portrayal of the embarrassingly awkward illegitimate son of a wealthy Count that I fell in love with. However, the character himself is endearing with his overenthusiastic attitude towards politics and his good nature in going off to war and saving the lives of a French officer and a little girl.
Everyone loves an underdog and Pierre is certainly that. He does go on to win the heart of Natasha Rostova after all.
An outsider to the Russian upper classes, Pierre's emotional directness makes him increasingly likeable when compared with the artificiality of fakes like the Kuragins. The attendees at Anna Pavlovna's parties may think of Pierre as uncouth and awkward, but his generosity towards his friends and his intelligence has earned himself a place in my heart at least.
Heathcliff could teach the youth a thing or two about what it means to be emo, as he was the definition before the word had ever even existed.
Vengeful, tormented and passionate, his loyalty to Catherine is paramount and that certainly is admirable.
Much like a few others on list, Heathcliff is the embodiment of the literary Byronic hero. Mad, bad and dangerous - an illicit yet alluring and exciting combination.
I think Shmoop put it best when they summed him up as "lonerish and [a] little demonic... but he's definitely hawt".
Both envied and desired, F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jay Gatsby is considered the quintessential American icon.
Everyone loves an underdog and Pierre is certainly that. He does go on to win the heart of Natasha Rostova after all.
An outsider to the Russian upper classes, Pierre's emotional directness makes him increasingly likeable when compared with the artificiality of fakes like the Kuragins. The attendees at Anna Pavlovna's parties may think of Pierre as uncouth and awkward, but his generosity towards his friends and his intelligence has earned himself a place in my heart at least.
EDWARD ROCHESTER
"My bride is here, because my equal is here, and my likeness."
Here's to you, Mr Rochester.
Another dark and broody character, Rochester of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre ticks all the boxes of old school romance. Torn between a harrowing sense of responsibility to look after his crazy wife he locked in the attic (Those who haven't yet read Jane Eyre, it's not as terrible as it sounds!), custody of a young French girl who isn't even his biological child, having to uphold his name and Thornfield Hall, and an increasing love for his employee Jane, one can safely say that Rochester's got a lot on his plate.
Another dark and broody character, Rochester of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre ticks all the boxes of old school romance. Torn between a harrowing sense of responsibility to look after his crazy wife he locked in the attic (Those who haven't yet read Jane Eyre, it's not as terrible as it sounds!), custody of a young French girl who isn't even his biological child, having to uphold his name and Thornfield Hall, and an increasing love for his employee Jane, one can safely say that Rochester's got a lot on his plate.
His unconventional looks paired with his air of mystery and constant attempts to do the right thing, even though it risks his life, makes it hard for the reader to not fall in love with this tortured soul.
HEATHCLIFF
"If he loved with all the powers of his puny being, he couldn't love as much in eighty years, as I could in a day."
Heathcliff could teach the youth a thing or two about what it means to be emo, as he was the definition before the word had ever even existed.Vengeful, tormented and passionate, his loyalty to Catherine is paramount and that certainly is admirable.
Much like a few others on list, Heathcliff is the embodiment of the literary Byronic hero. Mad, bad and dangerous - an illicit yet alluring and exciting combination.
I think Shmoop put it best when they summed him up as "lonerish and [a] little demonic... but he's definitely hawt".
JAY GATSBY
"I keep it always full of interesting people, night and day. People who do interesting things. Celebrated people."
Both envied and desired, F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jay Gatsby is considered the quintessential American icon.
A self-made man living in the United States during the Jazz Age, Gatsby hopes that his new found wealth and power will win the heart of Daisy.
His neat dress sense paired with his alluring charm and excellent hosting skills make Jay the life of every party there is.
ROMEO MONTAGUE
I'm guessing this is going to be quite a controversial choice for the list, but never was a story of more woe than that of Juliet and her Romeo.
I could be here for days listing all my favourite literary crushes, but I figured I'd limit myself to seven otherwise this post would be length of War and Peace. Alas, do not fret, I will be sharing more 'Literary Loves' soon.
In the meantime, why not share some of your favourite dashing male characters from literature via the comments below or you can tweet them to me @samanthakilford.
Hope you have a great day! Happy reading!
Until next time,
"Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again."
You'd have be hiding under a rock not to know about the romance between Romeo and Juliet. It's one of the best known love stories of all time which is exactly why I'm including Romeo here.
Handsome, intelligent and sensitive, all this Montague cares about is love. And though he is impulsive and arguably immature, there's something quite likeable in his idealism and passion.
I went to watch Kenneth Branagh's production of the famous Shakespeare play at the Garrick in August. Big applause to Lily James and Freddie Fox, who was the last-minute Romeo replacement for Richard Madden, for doing such a brilliant job in making me really want to root for the young and besotted pair despite the fact we all know how it ends.
Although, I do love to complain about how rash and silly Romeo and Juliet are as characters and how Friar Lawrence shouldn't have given the damn letter to Friar John, who ends up getting delayed due to people thinking he has the plague and sticking him in quarantine, there was something quite magical about seeing it live. Shakespeare's play captures the essence of being youthful and in love and tragic love is almost always associated with Romeo and his Juliet.
Let's round this list off with the strong and swoon-some leader of the student revolution from Victor Hugo's Les Miserables.
ENJOLRAS
"He was Antinous, wild. You would have said, seeing the thoughtful reflection of his eye, that he had already, in some preceding existence, been through the revolutionary apocalypse. He knew its tradition like an eyewitness. He knew every little detail of that great thing.
A pontifical and warrior nature, strange in a youth. He was officiating and militant; from the immediate point of view, a soldier of democracy; above the movement of the time, a priest of the ideal."
Let's round this list off with the strong and swoon-some leader of the student revolution from Victor Hugo's Les Miserables.
Who needs Marius when you have the charismatic and passionate Enjolras? Just the mere mention of him is enough to get me to want to quit everything I'm doing and fight for France!
A man after my own heart, Enjolras is firm in his belief for democracy and equality that even the most cynical of those participating in the revolution describe him as "a greek god". I feel the same, cynical dudes.
Ever the admirable hero, he ends up as a martyr for the cause and we all weep. His conviction and fierce attitude will never be forgotten by me. Vive la France!
I could be here for days listing all my favourite literary crushes, but I figured I'd limit myself to seven otherwise this post would be length of War and Peace. Alas, do not fret, I will be sharing more 'Literary Loves' soon.
In the meantime, why not share some of your favourite dashing male characters from literature via the comments below or you can tweet them to me @samanthakilford.
Hope you have a great day! Happy reading!
Until next time,
Samantha
The Death Of My Father
Monday, 28 November 2016 • 2016, Family, Losing A Father, Ramblings
How do you sum up the entire existence of someone who meant so much to you in a simple blog post? It doesn't seem feasible. Summing up all the emotions that have come with the grieving process is one of the hardest things I've done and I've written college essays on an abundance of obscure topics.
Since April, I have started and deleted well over a hundred drafts of posts regarding the passing of my father. Most of them have been tribute posts, but I learnt very quickly that listing all your memories together and having to write the words 'goodbye' a lot will reduce you to tears in no time. Once your vision's all blurred up and you've run out of tissues to dry your eyes, abandoning the post can be the easiest thing to do.Writing is my therapy. Whether it be complaint e-mails where I get to vent to the supermarket for forgetting to include broccoli in my delivery or whether it be talking about the most exciting adventure I went on. Regardless of whether the work ends up sitting in my drafts never to be published, I express a lot of my emotions through writing.
During the time when I was mulling over ideas on what I could write, I did consider a Buzzfeed-esque 'What I've Learnt' post, but in all honesty, that would have been most bogus post I could put out there. I'm not over it. I will still randomly burst into tears every single day when I'm alone. Or when I see something that reminds me of him. Or when I encounter something really exciting or interesting for the first time and I want to see him and tell him all about it, but then I remember I can't.
I'm crying this very second while writing this post. So, for me to give advice just yet wouldn't be right. I have learnt things, but it's only been about seven months and I'm still trying to cope with it and figure out how to deal with the aftermath. Life goes on, and for someone whose whole world has changed in a matter of seconds, that can be a harsh reality. You half expect the world to stop, but it doesn't. Having to adjust to the event and slide into a new routine and return to society is tough.
I turned eighteen on 29th March, by April 26th my father was gone. Instead of preparing to sit my college exams, I was attending his funeral. In the span of four weeks, my entire life had turned upside down and I couldn't comprehend it. To some extent, I still can't comprehend it. We were celebrating me finally becoming a fully fledged adult with my family in Philippines, then less than two weeks after our return, that was it.
His cancer had come back unbeknownst to everyone - including him. My dad had been ill and in and out of hospital since I was little. Bowel cancer. He had a colostomy and then a reversal. He later developed a hernia and had to get that removed, but after overcoming all those things, we thought his diabetes was the only problem that was left. We were wrong.
Long story short, they found the cancer in his lungs, heart, liver, kidneys... you name it. It was the worst thing imaginable and I still can't understand how he managed to power through all that. Granted, he was unaware, but he must've been in excruciating pain. But my dad was my dad. He was stubborn, strong and prideful and he didn't like to admit something was wrong or seem weak.
This isn't meant in a 'Oh, look at me poor me!' way, I just wanted to express what I've been going through without having to sugarcoat it with a lie and pretend that I'm completely fine. The close friendship that I had with my father after all the hardships he'd seen me through meant that his death had, and still continues to have, a profound impact on me emotionally. Although, I'm sure that this will get easier to deal with over time, I think it's important just to say 'Hey, I'm not doing great, but I'm trying' and I feel like I owe my loyal readers this explanation. It's been a struggle. Especially as the online world and the bubble of social media makes us strive to paint our lives as perfect and '#goals', but they're really not.
Also, I've been mailed a lot of thriller and crime novels lately for reviewing which sometimes can be overbearing depending on the subject matter. So, if anyone has some light, romantic or even comedic reads, then please send them my way haha!
My dad's death is predominately the reason I have yet to share my holiday snaps of when we went to Philippines to celebrate my eighteenth birthday. It's just been too devastating and it's hard to cheerfully write about your travels when you still haven't addressed the heartbreak of having to look back through all the happy photographs and know that one person in them is no longer alive and breathing. Hopefully, now that I've talked about it and am slowly getting to used to talking about him in past tense, I will be able to compose posts about that vacation soon with minimal crying involved in the writing process.
I don't want to remember my dad with pallid green, cold skin lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life to no success. I want to remember him as the man who, along with my mother, fostered my love of books, reading and discussing. The man who used to sit me on his knee and tell me stories, inventing wacky tales of planets that inhabited crazy clowns and men with saucepan hats. The man who I would spent hours with debating about who was the better superhero, Iron Man or Captain America. He was for the former, I for the latter. Sadly, we didn't get the satisfaction of watching Captain America: Civil War together and settling that debate.
And that's what I want him to be remembered as. A kind, witty and loving man because he was.
The thing I want people to take away from reading this is not just that my dad died and I'm devastated about it, but that if you're fortunate to have someone who cares for you and loves you deeply then thank them! I know I never said 'I love you' enough times nor did I appreciate him enough. That sense of regret and 'I should've done this' or 'I should've told him this' ways down on me quite heavily. So, please take full advantage of what time you have with your loved ones and let them know that they're loved.
Dad, I promise to make you proud in everything I do and I love you and miss you so, so much!
Missing you,
Until next time,
Samantha
IN MEMORY OF GRAHAM EDWARD KILFORD
1948 - 2016
1948 - 2016
Book Review: Remember by Joan Carney
Saturday, 26 November 2016 • ARC, Book Review, Books, Christmas, Comedy, Drama, Holidays, Joan Carney, Remember, Romance
I received a copy of this book from Lola's Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.
But when a freak accident robs Gracie of her memory, the lines between fantasy and reality blur. There's only one thing Gracie wants for Christmas this year and the only man who can bring it is not Santa.
"The door to my past might have been lost, but my soul had found its mate. It was the best Christmas gift, ever."
Remember is undoubtedly the first of a few Christmas Reads that'll be featured on my blog in the run up to the most wonderful time of the year and I can promise you that it's a delightful little read.
It's a very short novella at around a hundred or so pages, but it was just what I needed to get into the Christmas reading spirit. Remember is a light and fun read that’ll charm you in an instant with its clever writing and endearing characters - except for Todd and Victoria. Those two can go to hell.
While I was
intrigued when I first read the premise when it found it's way into my inbox, I had my worries that it would it be a
little The Vow-esque and too lovey-dovey and eye-roll inducing.
However, the minute I began reading I knew I had nothing to worry about. Carney’s
little novella is so well-written and you can tell she put a lot of thought
into these characters and this storyline. Yes, there is some overbearing romantic cliches, but it's nothing too typical or too cringeworthy. In fact, it has got the right balance between plausible and dramatic.
We get thrown
right in the action with the incident that causes Gracie to lose her memory and
we follow her journey as she haphazardly attempts to put the puzzle pieces back
together.
I’m not usually a fan of alternating point-of-view style stories as I tend to think that if the author wanted to switch the POV that much then they should’ve written the book in third person, but I think something short and sweet as Remember pulls off the multiple point-of-views well as we didn’t have as much length nor time to develop the story in loads of chapters like in a full novel.
I’m not usually a fan of alternating point-of-view style stories as I tend to think that if the author wanted to switch the POV that much then they should’ve written the book in third person, but I think something short and sweet as Remember pulls off the multiple point-of-views well as we didn’t have as much length nor time to develop the story in loads of chapters like in a full novel.
That being said, it doesn’t mean any of the details and overall quality are compromised by the fact this is a short novella. We had a vast array of characters each of whom were excellently developed in terms of how they played a part in Remember and had a clear personality with establishing traits. I loved that there was a solid plot and Carney didn’t try and throw in too much. From mistaken identity, to genius comedic timing, to Gracie standing up to her abusive ex - which is a moment that’ll have you screaming ‘Yes! You go, girl!’- there was just the right amount of drama and comedy.
On a whole, Remember is the kind of fuzzy romance
read that is a perfect for curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea and a plate of biscuits and
you’ll likely finish reading it within the hour. You’re also likely to fall in love
with Jack – don’t say I didn’t I warn you!
Before anyone begins to wonder why I've opted to give it three stars despite saying how much I adored it, allow me to explain. I would've given it four stars, but it's just too short! I wanted more of Jack and Gracie. That's my only complaint.
I am, however, looking forward to reading Joan Carney's other novel Fated Memories which I believe is a lot longer and, sadly, a lot less Christmassy than Remember. It is a historical fiction, so any fellow history-buffs should stay tuned for that review which'll likely be up after the Christmas period.
Before anyone begins to wonder why I've opted to give it three stars despite saying how much I adored it, allow me to explain. I would've given it four stars, but it's just too short! I wanted more of Jack and Gracie. That's my only complaint.
I am, however, looking forward to reading Joan Carney's other novel Fated Memories which I believe is a lot longer and, sadly, a lot less Christmassy than Remember. It is a historical fiction, so any fellow history-buffs should stay tuned for that review which'll likely be up after the Christmas period.
Book Review: Death at the Seaside
Friday, 7 October 2016 • ARC, Blog Tour, Book Review, Books, Crime, Death at the Seaside, Death at the Seaside Blog Tour, Frances Brody, Historical Fiction, Murder Mystery, Mystery
Thank you to the team at Hachette/Little Brown Book Group for sending me a copy of Frances Brody's Death at the Seaside in exchange for a review and for inviting me to be a part of the Death at the Seaside Blog Tour.
Nothing ever happens in August, and tenacious sleuth Kate Shackleton deserves a break.
Heading off for a long-overdue holiday to Whitby, she visits her school friend Alma who works as a fortune teller there.
Kate had been looking forward to a relaxing seaside sojourn, but upon arrival discovers that Alma's daughter Felicity has disappeared, leaving her mother a note and the pawn ticket for their only asset: a watch-guard. What makes this more intriguing is the jeweller who advanced Felicity the thirty shillings is Jack Phillips, Alma's current gentleman friend.
Kate can't help but become involved, and goes to the jeweller's shop to get some answers. When she makes a horrifying discovery in the back room, it soon becomes clear that her services are needed.
Met by a wall of silence by town officials, keen to maintain Whitby's idyllic façade, it's up to Kate - ably assisted by Jim Sykes and Mrs Sugden - to discover the truth behind Felicity's disappearance.
And they say nothing happens in August...
With summer well and truly over, I was keen to get reading Death at the Seaside and explore the all the sun, sea and shenanigans that it had to offer.
I had never read any of the previous seven Kate Shackleton Mysteries prior to this, but I think I might just have to! It was incredibly easy to get stuck into the story with Brody feeding in some background information, but keeping the mystery very much shrouded and in suspense. This way, I reckon the novel works nicely as a standalone for those who are unfamiliar and just jumping into the world of Kate Shackleton, like myself.
The novel is set in a post-war 20s period which Brody has perfectly captured, but it was also rather nice to see Kate at the forefront challenging the ideals of the time by having her own detective agency. As a fan of Murder She Wrote and Miss Marple, I loved how it was reminiscent of the sort of female, determined, crime-solving badasses that we see in those works.
Death at the Seaside is not too strenuous and dark, but it keeps the element of whodunnit mystery well and truly alive with it's witty and endearing protagonist. You'll easily get drawn in by Brody's effortless writing and the intricate relationships between the residents of the small town.
It's a nice and cosy mystery, one that's perfect for curling up on the sofa with a warm blanket and a cup of tea (or coffee,it's your choice!)
While it's not the usual the type of crime fiction that I would read. I usually tend to go for the more psychological, horrifying murder kind. It was a refreshing change and one that I completely welcome. Overall, it made for a completely charming and fun read.
See what other bookworms thought of Death at the Seaside by visiting the other blogs on the tour!
Heading off for a long-overdue holiday to Whitby, she visits her school friend Alma who works as a fortune teller there.
Kate had been looking forward to a relaxing seaside sojourn, but upon arrival discovers that Alma's daughter Felicity has disappeared, leaving her mother a note and the pawn ticket for their only asset: a watch-guard. What makes this more intriguing is the jeweller who advanced Felicity the thirty shillings is Jack Phillips, Alma's current gentleman friend.
Kate can't help but become involved, and goes to the jeweller's shop to get some answers. When she makes a horrifying discovery in the back room, it soon becomes clear that her services are needed.
Met by a wall of silence by town officials, keen to maintain Whitby's idyllic façade, it's up to Kate - ably assisted by Jim Sykes and Mrs Sugden - to discover the truth behind Felicity's disappearance.
And they say nothing happens in August...
With summer well and truly over, I was keen to get reading Death at the Seaside and explore the all the sun, sea and shenanigans that it had to offer.
I had never read any of the previous seven Kate Shackleton Mysteries prior to this, but I think I might just have to! It was incredibly easy to get stuck into the story with Brody feeding in some background information, but keeping the mystery very much shrouded and in suspense. This way, I reckon the novel works nicely as a standalone for those who are unfamiliar and just jumping into the world of Kate Shackleton, like myself.
The novel is set in a post-war 20s period which Brody has perfectly captured, but it was also rather nice to see Kate at the forefront challenging the ideals of the time by having her own detective agency. As a fan of Murder She Wrote and Miss Marple, I loved how it was reminiscent of the sort of female, determined, crime-solving badasses that we see in those works.
Death at the Seaside is not too strenuous and dark, but it keeps the element of whodunnit mystery well and truly alive with it's witty and endearing protagonist. You'll easily get drawn in by Brody's effortless writing and the intricate relationships between the residents of the small town.It's a nice and cosy mystery, one that's perfect for curling up on the sofa with a warm blanket and a cup of tea (or coffee,it's your choice!)
While it's not the usual the type of crime fiction that I would read. I usually tend to go for the more psychological, horrifying murder kind. It was a refreshing change and one that I completely welcome. Overall, it made for a completely charming and fun read.
See what other bookworms thought of Death at the Seaside by visiting the other blogs on the tour!
Book Review: Caraval
Thursday, 22 September 2016 • ARC, Book Review, Books, Caraval, Caraval Series, Drama, Fantasy, Favourites, Five Star Reads, Magic, Romance, Stephanie Garber, Young Adult
No, your eyes are not mistaken. I have ventured out of my not-so-brief blogging hiatus and an explanation as to where I've been and why will soon follow in another post someday, but first, I must tell you all about one of the best books I've read this year (and possibly ever!).
Thank you to Jenni Leech and the team at Hodder Books for allowing me to read an ARC of Stephanie Garber's mesmerising new novel.
Before you enter the world of Caraval, you must remember that it's all a game...
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their ruthless father. Now Scarlett's father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the legendary, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.
Then, Scarlett's long-dreamt of invitation to Caraval finally arrives. So, Tella enlists a mysterious sailor's help to whisk Scarlett away to this year's show. But as soon as the trio arrives, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nonetheless soon becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with her sister, with Legend, and with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.
Thank you to Jenni Leech and the team at Hodder Books for allowing me to read an ARC of Stephanie Garber's mesmerising new novel.
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their ruthless father. Now Scarlett's father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the legendary, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.
Then, Scarlett's long-dreamt of invitation to Caraval finally arrives. So, Tella enlists a mysterious sailor's help to whisk Scarlett away to this year's show. But as soon as the trio arrives, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nonetheless soon becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with her sister, with Legend, and with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.
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"She remembered thinking falling for him would be like falling in love with darkness, but now she imagined he was more like a starry night: the constellations were always there, constant, magnificent guides against the ever-present black."
Words cannot begin to describe how incredible Caraval is.
You've probably heard it all already. Twitter-sphere, Instagram, GoodReads - the entire internet - has been buzzing with excitement for this novel and rightly so. It completely lives up to the hype. It is that good.
I can see why comparisons to Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus have been drawn and not having been fond of that book I was a little sceptical about reading this, but to me Caraval was everything I had wished The Night Circus was and more.
Caraval is still months away from publication so I have to be careful how much I do say - which is quite tricky to do as I have so many emotions that I just want to share!
What I can say is that this book is going to be unlike anything you've ever read before. The concept itself is so unique and intriguing, but it's Garber's fast-paced and lyrical writing that really make this book beautiful.
The descriptions of this enchanting world help to conjure up such vivid images that I found myself getting lost in the story. Just like Caraval and it's performers make the game's participants question what is real and what is false, Garber does the exact same with those of us who are reading it. As soon as you begin to trust a character or as soon as you think you've got this book sussed, another plot twist is pulled out of the bag and it will blow your mind. I'd be lying if I said I didn't gasp or sob out loud several times while reading it!
Caraval is so captivating. I could not put it down. It's intense, action-packed, heartbreaking, beautiful - you name it!
There is a romance in the novel. Our heroine Scarlett does fall in love (and who can blame her? He is a bit of a charmer!) but I won't say who she develops affections for just yet for the sake of spoilers! It's unbelievably hard for me to bite my tongue from spilling all the exciting details about this book as I loved it so much I just want to tell the world, but reading Caraval is such an exhilarating experience that I wouldn't want to take away the magic from those who have yet to read it. All I can say is that I'm sure you'll be rooting for (and possibly crying over) Scarlett and her man just like I was.
I feel so honoured to have had the opportunity to go on this spellbinding adventure and I'm a little gutted that it's over. Once Caraval hits bookstores, it's bound to be a massive success and I can't wait to see what's next from Garber. She's definitely gained a new fan!
As far recommendations go, I recommend Caraval to everyone. I don't know if anyone has seen The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, but that's the kind of vibe I got while reading this. It's such a fun and magical novel that'll bewilder, dazzle and trick you.
As we near 2017, I'll likely post a much longer and detailed review, but for now I'll join you in counting down the days until its publication. I can't wait get my hands on a physical copy so I can read it over and over again.
You've probably heard it all already. Twitter-sphere, Instagram, GoodReads - the entire internet - has been buzzing with excitement for this novel and rightly so. It completely lives up to the hype. It is that good.
I can see why comparisons to Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus have been drawn and not having been fond of that book I was a little sceptical about reading this, but to me Caraval was everything I had wished The Night Circus was and more.
Caraval is still months away from publication so I have to be careful how much I do say - which is quite tricky to do as I have so many emotions that I just want to share!
What I can say is that this book is going to be unlike anything you've ever read before. The concept itself is so unique and intriguing, but it's Garber's fast-paced and lyrical writing that really make this book beautiful.
The descriptions of this enchanting world help to conjure up such vivid images that I found myself getting lost in the story. Just like Caraval and it's performers make the game's participants question what is real and what is false, Garber does the exact same with those of us who are reading it. As soon as you begin to trust a character or as soon as you think you've got this book sussed, another plot twist is pulled out of the bag and it will blow your mind. I'd be lying if I said I didn't gasp or sob out loud several times while reading it!
Caraval is so captivating. I could not put it down. It's intense, action-packed, heartbreaking, beautiful - you name it!
There is a romance in the novel. Our heroine Scarlett does fall in love (and who can blame her? He is a bit of a charmer!) but I won't say who she develops affections for just yet for the sake of spoilers! It's unbelievably hard for me to bite my tongue from spilling all the exciting details about this book as I loved it so much I just want to tell the world, but reading Caraval is such an exhilarating experience that I wouldn't want to take away the magic from those who have yet to read it. All I can say is that I'm sure you'll be rooting for (and possibly crying over) Scarlett and her man just like I was.
I feel so honoured to have had the opportunity to go on this spellbinding adventure and I'm a little gutted that it's over. Once Caraval hits bookstores, it's bound to be a massive success and I can't wait to see what's next from Garber. She's definitely gained a new fan!
As far recommendations go, I recommend Caraval to everyone. I don't know if anyone has seen The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, but that's the kind of vibe I got while reading this. It's such a fun and magical novel that'll bewilder, dazzle and trick you.
As we near 2017, I'll likely post a much longer and detailed review, but for now I'll join you in counting down the days until its publication. I can't wait get my hands on a physical copy so I can read it over and over again.
(Let's be honest, I'd give it more than five stars if I could!)
Have a great day! Happy reading!
Until next time,
Until next time,
Samantha
Dandy Gilver Tour: Q&A with Catriona McPherson
Wednesday, 13 July 2016 • Blog Tour, Catriona McPherson, Crime, Dandy Gilver, Dandy Gilver Blog Tour, Q and A
Can you tell me about A Most Misleading Habit and what inspired this installment of the Dandy Gilver series?
I've wanted to write about nuns for a while: a household full of what were seriously radical women for that time and place and a culture so alien for Dandy that she would be completely out of her depth. And just the glamour of those swishing black habits themselves. It was exactly as much fun as I expected. I fell a little bit in love with all of the Sisters of St Ultan.
Of course there has to be a plot as well. I got a review from . . . I think it was The Independent . . . a while back that called a story "just this side of ludicrous". What a challenge, eh? I’ve been trying to see if there’s any more room "this side of ludicrous" ever since. So in this book, there’s been an outbreak of arson in the convent chapel, on Christmas Eve no less, and a break out of inmates from a nearby insane asylum, two of whom are still at large. And there’s a third strand of plot, but I can’t talk about it without spoilers. Dandy is engaged by the nuns and Alec has a friend in the asylum, still broken by shell shock after WWI. Add fifty orphans, three posh sisters who carry out good works, long-kept secrets . . . and we're off.
Did you need to do any specific research for this book regarding the nunneries? If so, did you discover any facts that surprised you?
Okay, I've got to admit I'm a big fan of making stuff up. If you make stuff up in enough detail and with enough gusto you save a lot of research time. But some things have to be right. I did a bit of reading about exactly how an independent order of nuns would function and I kept a print-out of daily devotions at my side while I was writing: from the first Angelus at five in the morning to the end of Compline at getting on for nine at night.
There's one bit of research I wish I hadn't done. I wanted to set a scene in the convent laundry and so I needed to know what the laundresses would be washing. Here's a tip: never google "nuns' underwear". I don't think those women were real nuns.
What inspired you to initially begin writing the Dandy Gilver series?
Ha! Yes, well, I had just written my first novel (after leaving a lecturing post in a university English department) and was at the stage of putting it in a drawer along with its forty rejections. I was sitting on a cold beach in Scotland taking stock of my foolishness (in thinking I could pack in my job and be a writer). My husband, Neil, was in pep-talk mode. "What do you love?" he asked me. "What do you want to read? What did you wish there was more of" And I came back with Dorothy L Sayers, Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, Michael Innes . . . "Write a golden-age-style story for fun then," said Neil. "As a palate cleanser, before your next serious project."
So we started talking about this woman and her house and her dog and her children (in that order, for Dandy) and her first case. And now it's eleven books later. Palate cleansed.
How did you get into writing? Any tips for aspiring novelists?
I've written and deleted three answers to this because I didn't want to sound bossy. But I do think this needs to be said. I got into writing by putting my bum in a chair and writing the best book I could write. Then putting that book in a drawer and writing another one, trying to make it better.
Nothing else means a thing until the book is written. Networking, taking classes, going to conferences, reading how-to manuals about writing, setting up a blog, buying your name as a website domain, tweeting #amwriting . . . there are so many ways to get a lovely feeling of writeriness without actually writing.
It worries me to hear beginning writers talk as if the actual bum in chair, hands on keyboard slog is some kind of technicality or afterthought. I got an email recently from a new writer saying they had written a synopsis, a covering letter and three chapters and wanted my advice about what to do next. Chapter four!
What are you reading right now?
Ah, good. An easy one. I'm reading Francis Brody's Death of An Avid Reader, because I'm chairing a panel at the Harrogate Crime Festival next week. It's Francis, Ann Granger, Ruth Ware, and . . . who's the other fellow? . . . oh yes, only Simon Brett OBE. We're charged with talking about the continuing influence of the Golden Age (but I'm plotting mischief.)
What's one book to movie adaptation that you really love? Would you ever like to see Dandy on the big screen?
I think Heidi Thomas did a fantastic job with Dodie Smith's I Capture The Castle. And she was responsible for the BBC Ballet Shoes from the Noel Streatfield novel and the BBC Cranford from Mrs Gaskell's novella, both of which were stellar. But the best ever for me is Emma Thompson’s Sense and Sensibility.
I don't see Dandy on the big screen, but I live in permanent state of corkscrewiness from keeping everything crossed for her on the small screen, STV has the option and is at work.
What's one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Oof. I'm such an unsurprising person. Oh wait – here's one. Dandy's Dalmatian, Bunty, has been a staple in the books since the start. Dandy loves her beyond all reason (see above) and readers seem to feel great affection for her too. But I'm a cat person.
If you were, for some reason, stranded on a desert island, what three books would you like to have with you and why?
Just three, eh? And I'm going to stick with Desert Island Discs rules and assume no collected works. I've never read any Charles Dickens. (Maybe that should have been the answer to the last question.) So I'd take his longest one. What's that? Bleak House? David Copperfield? And I'd take a copy of it in an exotic language too, and try to use the two texts to devise the grammar of the language I didn't know. That would keep me busy. And Pride and Prejudice.
Dandy Gilver and a Most Misleading Habit hits bookstores tomorrow, July 14th.
To learn more about Catriona visit her website.
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Win Megan Tayte's 'Ceruleans' Series
Wednesday, 8 June 2016 • Ceruleans Series, Darkly Deeply Beautiful, Death Wish, Devil and the Deep, Forget Me Not, Giveaway, Megan Tayte, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Wild Blue Yonder
You better start making some room on your bookshelf because Megan Tayte's Ceruleans series is finally available to purchase in paperback format and with all new covers!
I have been so lucky to have been given the chance to read and review these books by Megan over the past months. She's an exceptional writer and I could get lost in Scarlett's story for hours on end which is why I'm beyond thrilled that the series is something you can now psychically own and gaze adoringly at on your bookshelf.
For those unaware, the paranormal romance series follows seventeen-year-old Scarlett Blake who is left haunted by death after her sister, the carefree Sienna, supposedly commits suicide.
In a quest for the truth, Scarlett arrives at an isolated English cove where she eventually bumps into two boys who are determined to help her. There's Luke, the blue-eyed surfer who'll see the real Scarlett, challenge her and who'll save her. But there's also Jude, an elusive drifter with a knack for showing up just when Scarlett's in need.
As the story begins to unravel, so does Scarlett's grip on reality as she knows it. There's something strange going on in this little cove.
The Ceruleans: mere mortals infused with power over life and death. Five books, one question: If the might of the heavens were in your hands, would you be sinner or saint?
Like I said, I feel so very fortunate to have had Megan approach me about reviewing this series. Very few books have gripped me the way that the Ceruleans series does. You'll laugh, cry and fall in love with these amazing characters and their journey.
For those unaware, the paranormal romance series follows seventeen-year-old Scarlett Blake who is left haunted by death after her sister, the carefree Sienna, supposedly commits suicide.
In a quest for the truth, Scarlett arrives at an isolated English cove where she eventually bumps into two boys who are determined to help her. There's Luke, the blue-eyed surfer who'll see the real Scarlett, challenge her and who'll save her. But there's also Jude, an elusive drifter with a knack for showing up just when Scarlett's in need.
As the story begins to unravel, so does Scarlett's grip on reality as she knows it. There's something strange going on in this little cove.
The Ceruleans: mere mortals infused with power over life and death. Five books, one question: If the might of the heavens were in your hands, would you be sinner or saint?
Like I said, I feel so very fortunate to have had Megan approach me about reviewing this series. Very few books have gripped me the way that the Ceruleans series does. You'll laugh, cry and fall in love with these amazing characters and their journey.
I'm sure you've gotten the idea of how much I adore the Ceruleans series by now, so I'll just go ahead and give you all the important links.
To purchase the Ceruleans series (which I highly recommend you do) go here if you live in the UK and venture here if you live in the US. However, if you fancy trying your luck at a freebie first then the giveaway widget is below.
Be sure to follow Megan on GoodReads, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and for more information you can visit her website.
THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED
THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED
Let's Talk About Hollywood and Whitewashing
Tuesday, 19 April 2016 • Doctor Strange, Ghost in the Shell, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ramblings, Scarlett Johnasson, Tilda Swinton, Whitewashing
Hello!
I'm coming out of post-holiday hibernation to share with you an article that I wrote a few days ago in light of all the recent controversy that has sparked about Hollywood's issue with whitewashing person of colour originated roles.
I originally wrote the article for media/news website Talk Nerdy With Us that I sometimes contribute on, but it dawned on me that perhaps not a lot of you follow me and my pop culture writing ventures on that platform. So I decided that I would share it with you over here on my blog.
If you'd like to view the article in its original, probably fancier format on the Talk Nerdy With Us website then click here. Otherwise, let's talk about Hollywood and whitewashing.
Hollywood has a problem. Actually, it has a lot of problems. But there's one specific issue that can no longer be ignored.
Growing up, I’ve always seen far less ethnic minorities on screen as opposed to white actors and actresses. Part and parcel of why I used to want to act when I was a young girl was because I wanted to see more people like my little Asian self on screen. I wanted more representation, but at seven years old I didn't realize how unnecessarily hard the battle to get people of colour on screen is.
While attitudes have shifted over the years and we've become a more celebratory and acceptive society, the reluctance to give non-white actors their moment on screen is still an all too familiar fixture. For every step we take forward – For example, the diverse casting in Freeform's Shadowhunters – we take steps back. See The 100's notoriously poor treatment of characters of colour. Whitewashing, the practice of casting white actors in non-white roles, has unfortunately been a long-term tradition in Hollywood. Recent cases of whitewashing include Rooney Mara's casting as Native American Tiger Lily in the Box Office flop that was Pan, Emma Stone as a half-Chinese/half-Hawaiian woman in Aloha and Gods of Egypt's entire caucasian cast. Not to mention, all this happened in the past year alone.
A couple of days ago, the first image of Scarlett Johansson in the new movie Ghost in the Shell was released sparking a plethora of controversy. Why, you ask? Because the story is a live-action adaptation of Masamune Shirow's manga series of the same name and Johansson's character, Major Mokoto Kusanagi (simply shortened to Major for the movie), is not Danish-Polish but in fact Asian. Even when Johansson was cast there was an outcry asking why the studio couldn’t possibly have chosen an ethnically appropriate actress to play the lead role? Perhaps Lucy Liu and Maggie Q were busy.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D actress Ming-Na Wen took to Twitter to speak out against the casting.
However, Ghost in the Shell isn't the only offender this year. The ScarJo casting controversy comes just days after the trailer debut of Marvel's latest comic book to movie venture, Doctor Strange, which saw a bald Tilda Swinton channeling her inner Tibetan man. For those who aren't keen comic enthusiasts and may be confused, Swinton's character of the Ancient One is not only Asian, but originally an Asian male.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige told EW that their reason for casting Swinton as the Ancient One was to shy away from any stereotyping roles and that they also liked the idea of the Tibetan mystic being a woman.
While I’m all for girl power and making room for some kickass female characters, let's not pretend that in a movie with an origin story so heavily reliant on Asian themes there was no way they could not find an Asian actor or actress who could've done this part justice. Swinton has already established herself with roles in The Chronicles of Narnia and We Need to Talk About Kevin, Marvel could have cast an Asian newcomer. Even better, just cast Asians in this project instead of sticking to the Oriental backstory but making your cast largely white. You know how amazing and different that would have been?
I can give them points for gender-bending that character, but I’ll demerit all those points back for the blatant whitewashing.
The origins of Doctor Strange are steeped in Oriental stereotypes and Angry Asian Man blogger Phil Yu best summarised the situation here.
"…But putting a bald white lady in the role doesn’t fix much. It’s still whitewashing. Yes, it's a two-minute trailer that doesn’t reveal a whole lot, but it reveals enough. Plot summary: Bearded White Guy journeys to Asia, where a bald white lady teaches him Mystical Asian Stuff. White Guy masters said Mystical Asian Stuff. Then White Guy uses the Mystical Asian Stuff to fight bad guys. The end."
We already live in a world where Asian and dark-skinned actors are scarcely given the opportunity to play leads in a Hollywood movie. What's even more disheartening is that Hollywood itself won't even cast Asian actors to play characters in works where the characters are originally Asian. See another example of Nat Wolff in the upcoming adaptation of Death Note.
It's not as if the argument is that Swinton and Johansson were the only women qualified for the job as online comment boards and forums have thrown up tons of suggestions. Many backed Oscar nominee Rinko Kikuchi as someone who would make an ideal live-action Kusanagi for Ghost in the Shell, but Johansson has more star power and that's the sad reason why they allowed this role to be whitewashed.
Realistically, Hollywood is unwilling to churn out the next big A-List Asian movie star. Gone are the days of big Asian names like Jet Li and Jackie Chan, instead, say hello to Tilda Swinton and Scarlett Johansson.
@Hollywood – If you want to use our stories and our characters, please use our actors. Don't whitewash these characters for the sake of bringing in the big bucks. It's proven with Pan and Gods of Egypt that it doesn't work (even if the films themselves sucked in their entirety). I promise you that Asian actors are more than capable to tackle any role, even roles of actual Asian characters.
To finish; here's a tragically accurate Tumblr post.
To view other articles that I've written for Talk Nerdy With Us, you can view my page here.
Until next time,
I'm coming out of post-holiday hibernation to share with you an article that I wrote a few days ago in light of all the recent controversy that has sparked about Hollywood's issue with whitewashing person of colour originated roles.
I originally wrote the article for media/news website Talk Nerdy With Us that I sometimes contribute on, but it dawned on me that perhaps not a lot of you follow me and my pop culture writing ventures on that platform. So I decided that I would share it with you over here on my blog.
If you'd like to view the article in its original, probably fancier format on the Talk Nerdy With Us website then click here. Otherwise, let's talk about Hollywood and whitewashing.
Hollywood has a problem. Actually, it has a lot of problems. But there's one specific issue that can no longer be ignored.
Growing up, I’ve always seen far less ethnic minorities on screen as opposed to white actors and actresses. Part and parcel of why I used to want to act when I was a young girl was because I wanted to see more people like my little Asian self on screen. I wanted more representation, but at seven years old I didn't realize how unnecessarily hard the battle to get people of colour on screen is.
While attitudes have shifted over the years and we've become a more celebratory and acceptive society, the reluctance to give non-white actors their moment on screen is still an all too familiar fixture. For every step we take forward – For example, the diverse casting in Freeform's Shadowhunters – we take steps back. See The 100's notoriously poor treatment of characters of colour. Whitewashing, the practice of casting white actors in non-white roles, has unfortunately been a long-term tradition in Hollywood. Recent cases of whitewashing include Rooney Mara's casting as Native American Tiger Lily in the Box Office flop that was Pan, Emma Stone as a half-Chinese/half-Hawaiian woman in Aloha and Gods of Egypt's entire caucasian cast. Not to mention, all this happened in the past year alone.
A couple of days ago, the first image of Scarlett Johansson in the new movie Ghost in the Shell was released sparking a plethora of controversy. Why, you ask? Because the story is a live-action adaptation of Masamune Shirow's manga series of the same name and Johansson's character, Major Mokoto Kusanagi (simply shortened to Major for the movie), is not Danish-Polish but in fact Asian. Even when Johansson was cast there was an outcry asking why the studio couldn’t possibly have chosen an ethnically appropriate actress to play the lead role? Perhaps Lucy Liu and Maggie Q were busy.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D actress Ming-Na Wen took to Twitter to speak out against the casting.
It's even reported that producers allegedly attempted to fix the backlash the only way they know how: CGI. According to independent sources close to the project, Paramount and DreamWorks commissioned visual effects tests that would’ve altered Johansson in post-production to "shift her ethnicity" and make her appear more Asian. Though the tests were conducted and reviewed, an insider revealed to ScreenCrush that they were immediately shelved.Nothing against Scarlett Johansson. In fact, I'm a big fan. But everything against this Whitewashing of Asian role.😒 https://t.co/VS6r6iish9— Ming-Na Wen (@MingNa) April 14, 2016
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| Swinton (left) and Johansson (right) in their Asian roles |
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige told EW that their reason for casting Swinton as the Ancient One was to shy away from any stereotyping roles and that they also liked the idea of the Tibetan mystic being a woman.
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| The original comic book Ancient One that Swinton portrays in the movie |
I can give them points for gender-bending that character, but I’ll demerit all those points back for the blatant whitewashing.
The origins of Doctor Strange are steeped in Oriental stereotypes and Angry Asian Man blogger Phil Yu best summarised the situation here.
"…But putting a bald white lady in the role doesn’t fix much. It’s still whitewashing. Yes, it's a two-minute trailer that doesn’t reveal a whole lot, but it reveals enough. Plot summary: Bearded White Guy journeys to Asia, where a bald white lady teaches him Mystical Asian Stuff. White Guy masters said Mystical Asian Stuff. Then White Guy uses the Mystical Asian Stuff to fight bad guys. The end."
We already live in a world where Asian and dark-skinned actors are scarcely given the opportunity to play leads in a Hollywood movie. What's even more disheartening is that Hollywood itself won't even cast Asian actors to play characters in works where the characters are originally Asian. See another example of Nat Wolff in the upcoming adaptation of Death Note.
It's not as if the argument is that Swinton and Johansson were the only women qualified for the job as online comment boards and forums have thrown up tons of suggestions. Many backed Oscar nominee Rinko Kikuchi as someone who would make an ideal live-action Kusanagi for Ghost in the Shell, but Johansson has more star power and that's the sad reason why they allowed this role to be whitewashed.
Realistically, Hollywood is unwilling to churn out the next big A-List Asian movie star. Gone are the days of big Asian names like Jet Li and Jackie Chan, instead, say hello to Tilda Swinton and Scarlett Johansson.
@Hollywood – If you want to use our stories and our characters, please use our actors. Don't whitewash these characters for the sake of bringing in the big bucks. It's proven with Pan and Gods of Egypt that it doesn't work (even if the films themselves sucked in their entirety). I promise you that Asian actors are more than capable to tackle any role, even roles of actual Asian characters.
To finish; here's a tragically accurate Tumblr post.
To view other articles that I've written for Talk Nerdy With Us, you can view my page here.
Until next time,
Samantha
Cover Reveal: Strange the Dreamer
Thursday, 31 March 2016 • Books, Cover Reveal, Excerpt, Laini Taylor, Strange the Dreamer
I love discovering new books and it's always a pleasure to be allowed the opportunity to share news about new releases with my blog readers. While I love hearing about the different journeys each book has to offer, part of the fun is seeing what the book will psychically look like. Come on, even though we say we don't judge a book by it's cover, we do. Just a little bit.
This morning I received a lovely little e-mail from the folks at Hodder and I'm excited to share with you the US and UK cover jackets for Laini Taylor's new novel Strange the Dreamer along with the prologue.
Strange the Dreamer is about the aftermath of war between gods and men featuring a mysterious city stripped of its name, a mythic hero with blood on his hands, a young librarian with a singular dream, a girl every bit as precious as she is imperiled along with some alchemy, blood candy, nightmares, godspawn, moths, monsters, friendship, treachery and love. Phew! That's a lot of stuff.
You may know Laini as the author of fantasy novel Daughter of Smoke and Bone and you can't imagine how thrilled I am that I get to share news for her latest bookish venture.
Here's an exciting first look at the prologue for Strange the Dreamer;
Her skin was blue, her blood was red.
She broke over an iron gate, crimping it on impact, and there she hung, impossibly arched, graceful as a temple dancer swooning on a lover's arm. One slick finial anchored her in place. Its point, protruding from her sternum, glittered like a brooch. She fluttered briefly as her ghost shook loose, and then her hands relaxed, shedding fistfuls of freshly picked torch ginger buds.
Later, they would say these had been hummingbird hearts and not blossoms at all.
They would say she hadn't shed blood but wept it. That she was lewd, tonguing her teeth at them, upside down and dying, that she vomited a serpent that turned to smoke when it hit the ground. They would say a flock of moths had come, frantic, and tried to lift her away.
That was true. Only that.
They hadn't a prayer, though. The moths were no bigger than the startled mouths of children, and even dozens together could only pluck at the strands of her darkening hair until their wings sagged, sodden with her blood. They were purled away with the blossoms as a grit-choked gust came blasting down the street. The earth heaved underfoot. The sky spun on its axis. A queer brilliance lanced through billowing smoke, and the people of Weep had to squint against it. Blowing grit and hot light and the stink of saltpeter. There had been an explosion. They might have died, all and easily, but only this girl had, shaken from some pocket of the sky.
Her feet were bare, her mouth stained damson. Her pockets were all full of plums.
She was young and lovely and surprised and dead.
She was also blue. Blue as opals, pale blue. Blue as cornflowers, or dragonfly wings, or a spring—not summer—sky.
Someone screamed. The scream drew others. The others screamed, too, not because a girl was dead, but because the girl was blue, and this meant something in the city of Weep. Even after the sky stopped reeling, and the earth settled, and the last fume spluttered from the blast site and dispersed, the screams went on, feeding themselves from voice to voice, a virus of the air.
The blue girl's ghost gathered itself and perched, bereft, upon the spearpoint-tip of the projecting finial, just an inch above her own still chest. Gasping in shock, she tilted back her invisible head and gazed, mournfully, up. The screams went on and on. And across the city, atop a monolithic wedge of seamless, mirror-smooth metal, a statue stirred, as though awakened by the tumult, and slowly lifted its great horned head.
Here are the jackets for Strange the Dreamer;
Left to Right; UK Jacket and US Jacket
I'm going to admit that Strange the Dreamer has me intrigued. Visually stunning covers aside, that fully packed premise promises so much fictional fun and what will not no doubt be an gripping read.
Strange the Dreamer is slated to be released September 2016 and you can read more about what Laini has to say about the book on her website here.
Once again, thank you to the team at Hodder for reaching out to me about this book. I look forward to picking up a copy, now if only September would hurry up!
Have a great day! Happy reading!
Until next time,
Until next time,
Samantha
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