Book Review: How to Be a Bawse

How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life

Lilly Singh
Release date: March 28, 2017

Rating 4/5

The First Line:

Like most rules, every rule in this book has an exception.

The Contents:

How to Be a Bawse is the self-help book for people who don’t read self-help books, written by YouTuber Lilly Singh (aka Superwoman). Styled as a guide to “conquer” life, Bawse offers advice to help you become a better person – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Lilly admits that it’s not possible to completely revamp your life after one reading, but it’s a good start and there are ways you can start to adjust your mindset.

The book’s packaging is also gorgeous – glossy pages, full colour, pull quotes that you’ll want to frame and fun photos of Lilly at the beginning of each chapter. If you’re not a fan of hers, you might not find the format quite as fun, but I appreciate all the little details that make this a very special book.

The Author:

I first came across Lilly Singh earlier this year when I stumbled upon her hilarious videos (seriously, the one of her mother’s morning routine is uncannily similar to my own mom’s routine). A brown girl from (just outside) Toronto living her dream?? Count me the heck in!! She might not be everyone’s cup of tea but I honestly find her so funny and reading the book only made me admire her more. Lilly previously suffered from depression (and still struggles with her mental health), and it’s amazing to see how she managed to work through it all and emerge as a successful YouTuber.

Plus maybe I just want to be her best friend. Also, I desperately need her “Bawse” coloured lipstick because if it looks good on her, it’s probably going to look decent on me, y’know?

The Writing:

As someone who’s watched a lot of Lilly’s videos (though there are literally hundreds more that I haven’t caught up with yet), I can clearly hear her voice while reading. A lot of reviews say that she’s not telling you anything new or ground-breaking – I suppose if you read a lot of self-help books you won’t feel like you’re learning anything new. But I’ve never read a self-help book before so I appreciated her gentle and down-to-earth approach to basic concepts like “Don’t Overthink” (guilty) and “Aim High” (I may be an introvert but I’m ambitious af).

I also find it interesting that some reviews complain about how she constantly references YouTube…like, y’all realize that’s what made her famous, right? Obviously Lilly’s experiences are not universal in that not everyone is a famous YouTuber, but she tries to make it relatable. Sure, I’ve never met Selena Gomez, but the moral of that particular anecdote –  about being unapologetically yourself – is something I can get behind.

The Bottom Line:

About twenty pages in, I paused in my reading and said to my sister “yo, Lilly is laying down some truths”, and it’s true. I’ve tried to apply some of her “rules” to my own life and it’s a slow process, but I think it’s going to make a difference in the long run – whether it’s something as small as limited my social media intake so that I have more time to do other things, or setting goals for myself with concrete deadlines.

The Soundtrack:

The day after I finished How to Be a Bawse, I saw Frank Turner live, and immediately determined that his song “Be More Kind” complemented Lilly’s main message: at the end of the day, she wants you to be more kind – to others and to yourself.

In a world that has decided
That it’s going to lose its mind
Be more kind, my friends, try to be more kind

Book Review: The Girl in the Locked Room

The Girl in the Locked Room

Mary Downing Hahn
Release date: September 4, 2018

Rating 3/5

The First Line:

The girl is alone in the locked room.

The Plot:

Jules and her family move in next door to an old house. Her dad is in charge of restoring the house to its former glory – but Jules is convinced there’s a ghost on the third floor. Over time, Jules and her new friend Maisie learn the tragic history of the former tenants and their little girl.

The Characters:

I just finished the book a couple of days ago and I already forgot any of the characters’ outstanding qualities. Jules was a typical twelve year old, frustrated at constantly having to move around, and genuinely concerned about the ghost in her house. I guess it was a little unrealistic that she was that accepting of a ghost, and she was surprisingly logical for someone so young.

The Writing:

There are two narrators: The Girl (in the room) and Jules. There also two perspectives: the girl’s is third person, while Jules tells her half of the story in first person. I guess the shift in perspective is supposed to make it easier for you to keep track of who’s who, but it didn’t seem to make a difference to my reading.

Mary Downing Hahn has been writing for many years and it shows. I don’t mean that in a mean way – I just mean that she has an old-fashioned style. It’s perfectly fine for creepy books to sound old-fashioned- in fact, it usually just ups the creepy factor – but it’s a little jarring when these characters who sound like they’re living in the seventies suddenly whip out an iPad.

There was also an unexpected plot twist that relayed too heavily on Diana Wynne Jones’ Chrestomanci series for it to really make an impact.

The Bottom Line:

It was a lightly scary novel, good for readers who are worried about being too scared. To be honest, it would have been stronger if we just saw Jules’ POV – having the chapters from “the girl” in between made it less scary because we were given a (somewhat) reasonable explanation for what Jules was experiencing.

The Soundtrack:

I went literal again with this soundtrack: Mallory Knox’s “Ghost in the Mirror”. The spine-tingling parts of the book were the ones where Jules would catch a glimpse of the girl out of the corner of her eye, usually in the window.

There’s a ghost in the mirror
And in the loneliest of nights, you can feel it coming closer
Should’ve known that the fear
Is gonna bury you beneath all the love that you held there

Book Review: City of Ghosts

City of Ghosts

Victoria Schwab
Release date: August 28, 2018

Rating 4/5

The First Line:

People think ghosts only come out at night, or on Halloween, when the world is dark and the walls are thin.

The Plot:

Cassidy Blake is a girl in between life and death. After almost drowning last year, she has the ability to cross the Veil into the spirit world – and her best friend Jacob happens to be a ghost. Cass’ parents are ghost-hunters with a bestselling series of books and the inability to see actual ghosts. When they’re sent to Edinburgh to start filming their new TV series, Cassidy finds herself in a city of actual ghosts. A trip to the Greyfriars Kirk results in Cass accidentally calling up the Raven in Red, a ghostly woman intent on taking Cass’ life.

The Characters:

Cassidy, our narrator, is a sassy twelve year old who likes to pretend she’s not scared even when she’s terrified. She’s a textbook Gryffindor: brave, impulsive, and smart. She sometimes make brash decisions and occasionally gets herself into sticky situations, but she’s resourceful. Cass doesn’t have a lot of friends, but she adores her ghostly bff, Jacob.

Jacob is one of the more insubstantial characters – in more ways than one. We don’t know too much about Jacob apart from the fact that he saved Cass from drowning, that he hasn’t been dead for very long, and that he knows a lot more about the after-life than he’s willing to admit. Jacob is more hot-tempered than Cass but he looks out for her, especially whenever they cross the Veil.

Cass’ parents are well-meaning if a little flighty. I’m just glad she had parents – so many middle grade/YA books have the “absent parent” thing going on – and they do love her. They just don’t really understand her and their inability to see Jacob means there’s an entire part of their daughter’s life that they don’t get.

There’s another character named Lara who I quite liked, but I don’t want to spoil anything by telling you more about her. I do hope she shows up in the sequel though!

The Writing:

Look, I’ll tell you right now: I love Victoria/V.E. Schwab. She’s one of my favourite authors and I refer to her as my Queen of Literature. I’ll also tell you that I love creepy middle grade (which I guess isn’t a real genre but that’s what I call it) so naturally once I found out about this book, I squealed.

Maybe it’s because I was just in Ediburgh this summer, but I could really visualize the setting based on the descriptions. In my opinion, Victoria Schwab had a lovely way of writing: it’s descriptive without being overbearing, complex without being confusing and all around enjoyable. And this was no exception.

My only qualm with the writing was that I felt like I didn’t have a really great grasp on the characters – I liked them, but I can’t tell you why they were special. I also felt like Cass read a little bit young for her age – closer to 9 than 12. And it wasn’t as scary as I thought it’d be, but it can be hard to find that mid-point between scaring your intended audience and traumatizing them.

I’ve also seen many reviews that complained about the amount of Harry Potter references – and while I’m all for dropping random HP allusions (I am a Ravenclaw, after all), it did seem like a bit much. I understand why, since Edinburgh as a city plays such a huge role in HP (both because it’s where J.K. Rowling started – and finished – writing the series and also because of the setting), but it was a tiny bit too much.

The Bottom Line:

It’s a fun start to a series and I’ll read anything V.E. Schwab writes, but as a fan of creepy middle grade in general, I can tell you it could have been stronger (I wasn’t nearly as frightened as I thought I’d be).

The Soundtrack:

I obvs had to pick a Scottish band to soundtrack this very Scottish book. Even though they’re from Glasgow (not Edinburgh), Twin Atlantic had the perfect song. “Whispers” – in addition to being a jam – is a song about dealing with death and grief and finding support in your hometown. The lyrics have a sad but hopeful feeling which I think is similar to how Cassidy feels when she crosses through the Veil.

If you think dying is the easy part
Leaving life behind is the thing that’s hard
All I hear are whispers

Book Review: Harriet the Spy

Harriet the Spy

Louise Fitzhugh
Release date: 1964

Rating 2/5

The First Line:

Harriet was trying to explain to Sport how to play Town.

The Plot:

Harriet is a precocious child who wanders around New York City “spying” on her neighbours. She makes copious notes and observations in a little notebook, including thoughts on her friends and school mates. One day, her notebook is stolen and her class reads out the not-very-nice things she’s written about them. They decide to teach her a lesson by stonewalling her, much to her annoyance.

The Characters:

Harriet is probably very lonely. Her parents don’t have a lot of time for her and even though she has a caregiver, Ole Golly, she’s soon abandoned as Ole Golly gets married and leaves New York. Harriet wants to be a writer and she believes that writing out all her thoughts and observations in a notebook will lead her to be a better writer. I felt bad for Harriet because she doesn’t have a lot going on for her, but she’s also a hard character to like. She’s brash and selfish; she talks back to her parents (as all 11 year olds do), and is never remorseful, no matter how much she hurts other people. Look, I’m all for unlikeable characters, and I usually don’t enjoy redemption arcs (if you’re gonna be a dick, you might as well stay a dick), but Harriet was straight up annoying. She was the worst type of kid – destructive and rude for no reason and didn’t even a little bit learn from her mistakes.

I didn’t get a great feeling for the other characters. Harriet’s parents were dismissive, Ole Golly was strict and didn’t seem very loving (that letter she sends Harriet at the end of the book?? COME ON). The other kids were just as terrible. If I really had to pick a favourite character, I’d say Harriet’s friend Sport (real name Simon) who is kind and responsible and lives with his flighty father who is working hard to become a famous author.

The Writing:

Since the book was written in 1964, it has that old fashioned feel to the writing which is fine, but it did seem to drag a bit (especially for a middle grade novel). There’s also a vaguely racist undertone that made me uncomfortable – maybe it was perfectly normal for the time, but the depiction of the Italian family and Harriet’s (most likely Black) cook was a little rough.

The Bottom Line:

I think this is the type of book that you have to read as a kid so that when you revisit it in adulthood, nostalgia makes you believe that it’s still a good story. Personally, reading this in my late 20’s just made me think that Harriet was a little brat. Not saying she got what she deserved, but she wasn’t my favourite character by any means.

The Soundtrack:

I decided to go with a song from the same year the book was written (1964), which ended up being The Beach Boys’ “I Get Around”. To give it more of a pop-punk flavour, I managed to find a cover by Skyway Avenue (I’ve never heard of them before, but I’m assuming they’re named after the We the Kings song and I appreciate that) which is really fun but stays true to the original. Lyric-wise, it fits with Harriet’s habit of wandering the city and “spying” on people.

I’m gettin’ bugged driving up and down the same old strip
I gotta find a new place where the kids are hip

Book Review: The Girl Who Could Not Dream

The Girl Who Could Not Dream

Sarah Beth Durst
Release date: November 3, 2015

Rating 4.5/5

The First Line:

Sophie had only ever stolen one dream.

The Plot:

Sophie’s parents are in the dream distilling business. They collect dreams from people using dream catchers and turn them into potions that can be sold to those willing to pay the price. Sophie herself cannot dream, but she’s able to bring things out of dreams – like her many-tentacled friend Monster who she brought into the world as a child. One day, Sophie’s parents (along with their dream-distilling machine) disappear, and so do two children who Sophie knows have intense nightmares. Sophie, Monster, and her new friend Ethan have to find out who they can trust as they search the city for the man who calls himself Mr. Nightmare.

The Characters:

Sophie, our protagonist, is pretty good as far as middle grade protagonists go. She’s a bit of an introvert and doesn’t have friends outside of Monster. But she tries so hard to connect with some of the other children, especially the ones who she knows have nightmares. She’s kindhearted and brave, and only becomes friends with Ethan because she’s so determined to help him deal with his nightmares.

Luckily, Ethan genuinely likes Sophie and is happy to be her new friend. Even when he learns about her unusual home life, he’s intrigued and eager to help her. Their friendship is really cute because Sophie doesn’t understand why someone as popular as Ethan would want to eat lunch with her, but Ethan doesn’t care what their peers think – he just wants to be her friend.

Monster, of course, steals the show. He’s like a cat with many tentacles who has been following Sophie around since her childhood and is always around to comfort her. Protective, sweet, and loyal, Monster is the type of friend that everyone needs in their life – tentacles are optional.

The Writing:

Usually, I’m the one who recommends books to my 12 year old niece, but she handed me this one and said “you should read this”, so I know for a fact that it appeals to actual middle grade readers. It’s a pretty easy read – charming characters (especially the loveable Monster), an interesting story line, and accessible prose. It moved pretty quickly and kept my attention, and it was surprisingly unpredictable which is always a delight. My only qualm was the use of dream catchers – there wasn’t any mention of their history/symbolism in many Indigenous cultures, so it was a little awkward. Otherwise it was a fun, quick read.

The Bottom Line:

Like I said, I know it appeals to middle grade readers, and I think adult readers will find something to like – especially the heartwrenching last couple of chapters.

The Soundtrack:

A big part of Sophie’s life includes finding people who have very intense nightmares, so I chose All Time Low’s “Nightmares” as a soundtrack. Sophie herself can’t quite experience the sensation of dreaming, but I think she’d appreciate the song which accurately captures the feelings of waking up terrified by something that’s happening in your head.

I gotta say it’s hard to be brave
When you’re alone in the dark
I told myself that I wouldn’t be scared
But I’m still having nightmares

Book Review: Kid Normal and the Rogue Heroes

Kid Normal and the Rogue Heroes

Greg James and Chris Smith & Erica Salcedo
Release date: March 22, 2018

Rating 4.5/5

The First Line:

Running a team of crime-fighting superheroes is a complicated business, especially when you’re not allowed to tell your mum.

The Plot:

Murph (aka Kid Normal) and his group of friends (aka the Super Zeroes) are back and ready to tackle even more villains! In this case, it’s one of the world’s worst villains, Magpie, an evil genius so horrible he’s kept in a remote high security fortress. Magpie hasn’t said anything out loud in nearly thirty years since he was captured, but suddenly he demands to see Kid Normal. Murph and his friends must find out what Magpie is up to – not to mention the secrets that some of the other adults at their school are keeping – AND still make it home in time for dinner (because their parents still don’t know about their alter egos).

The Characters:

Murph and the Super Zeroes are the type of kids I wish I was friends with (in a totally non-creepy way, of course). They’re bright and resourceful and extremely loyal – they look out for each other in an very sweet way.

The first book in the series (Kid Normal) spent some time establishing their relationships, but this one throws us right back in and it feels like you’re greeting old friends. Hilda is still my absolute favourite (she makes tiny horses appear!!), but I also adore the very quiet – but extremely surprising – Nellie. I also like that there’s a tiny hint of a crush between Murph and Mary. I don’t need romance in a middle grade (most of the time it’s unnecessary and a little icky to think about), but Murph’s crush is a normal, innocent thing and it’s handled in a subtle way.

Magpie, the villain, is very intriguing and is one of the reasons why the sequel feels darker than the first book (more on that in a sec). He’s not as funny as Necktar was, but you can start to see how Murph and his friends are given more responsibilities, even though most of their classmates still think they’re incapable of being true superheroes.

I also loved the side plot about Flora and Carl, but I can’t really say anything else without spoiling an important moment from the first book.

The Writing:

Earlier this year, I gushed about Kid Normal and how fantastically funny it was. This sequel offers the lolz, but it’s also a bit more serious as Murph and his friends tackle the devious Magpie. Once again, Greg James and Chris Smith bring heart and hilarity to a middle grade story about playing to your strengths and the power of friendship (and probably other morals, if you really think about it). There aren’t as many anecdotes in this one (though Alan Rabbit makes another appearance), nor are there that many instructions for how to properly read the book out loud (there are a couple of sound effects you’re encouraged to make), but it’s still a highly entertaining experience. And Erica Salcedo’s black and white illustrations are just as charming.

The Bottom Line:

I absolutely loved the first book and this one was just as delightful. Kid Normal will definitely go down as one of my favourite middle grade series in recent years.

The Soundtrack:

“All In” is about fully committing to something with your friends (in The Summer Set’s case, it was re-committing to their band, while in Kid Normal and the Rogue Heroes, it’s the Super Zeroes who are a team). It’s a little ironic because The Summer Set broke up about a year after they released the song, but I have a bit more faith in the Super Zeroes, especially since at least two other books are in the works and I’m looking forward to more of their adventures.

We never ever needed luck
‘Cause if we got our friends, then that’s enough
Wherever it goes I’m all in, all in

Book Review: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Jenny Han
Release date: April 15, 2015

Rating 3/5

The First Line:

I like to save things.

The Plot:

Whenever she needs to get over a crush, Lara Jean writes the boy in question a letter confessing her feelings…and then puts the letter in a box, never to be read by another human. But one day, her letters are sent out and suddenly, her life is upside down as all the boys start confronting her. Lara Jean isn’t sure what’s worse: that her first big love was Josh, her sister’s boyfriend; or that she somehow ends up in a fake relationship with her former childhood friend (and first kiss) Peter.

The Characters:

I have to say it straight up: I didn’t really like Lara Jean. Lots of reviews call her childish and naive and whatever and yes, that’s all true because girl is definitely flighty…but the problem was that she was super authentic. Normally I’d love having such a realistic character on the page, but she (unfortunately) reminded me of a former high school friend and I had a hard time empathizing with her because it brought back annoying memories. If anything, you could say that Jenny Han is almost too good at writing a realistic high schooler!

Lara Jean’s sisters, on the other hand, were a lot of fun to read. Older sister Margot is the long suffering sibling who is used to taking care of the others but is finally getting a chance to live her life (by going to university in Scotland). Younger sister Kitty is full of sass and mischief like any other nine year old and I could read about her antics all day long (petition to have Kitty star in a middle grade trilogy!!).

I guess I can’t properly review this book without mentioning at least some of the boys Lara Jean loves/loved, but I don’t want to give too much of the plot away. I didn’t really like Josh (and frankly found it icky that LJ was going after her sister’s boyfriend…) but I liked her fake relationship with Peter even if it was somewhat predictable.

The Writing:

As far as YA goes, the writing is pretty simple, but it’s engaging and keeps you moving at a fairly fast pace. I’m not sure I’m convinced that Lara Jean’s story needed three books to be complete (it really could have been resolved properly at the end of this one), but I get that trilogies are popular, especially in YA, and I’m sure she gets into all sorts of awkward situations on her road to true love. Props to Jenny Han for having a multi-ethnic protagonist though, and for making Lara Jean’s relationship with her sisters so believable (I would read a book solely based on the Song girls without any dudes).

The Bottom Line:

It’s cute and a little silly (seriously, why would she address the letters in the first place????) and I’m definitely in the minority when I say I didn’t love it, but it’s a good summery read.

The Soundtrack:

If there was ever a song version of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, it would 500% be Paradise Fears’ “Yours Truly”. The song is composed of a number of letters – all of them signed “yours truly” – addressed to a potential love: tomorrow, someday, never, and back to tomorrow. It’s equal parts hopeful and hopeless – just like Lara Jean’s quest to find true love – and has an ambiguous ending.

Dear My Someday
I’ll keep writing you nightly
And keep holding on tightly
To the words that you said

Book Review: The Boy, The Bird & The Coffin Maker

The Boy, the Bird & the Coffin Maker

Matilda Woods
Release date: May 15, 2018

Rating 5/5

The First Line:

The town of Allora was famous for two things.

The Plot:

Alberto the coffin maker lives all alone at the top of the hill in the town of Allora. He spends his days burying the dead townspeople and attending their funerals. One day, a young boy named Tito and his bird Fia stumble upon Alberto’s home while running away from someone. Alberto takes Tito and Fia into his home and teaches the boy how to build coffins until the day when Tito’s past catches up with him.

The Characters:

DISCLOSURE: This is a title I’m working on in my job as a publicist.

Alberto the coffin maker has had a tragic life. Thirty years ago, he had a wife and three kids but when a sickness swept across Allora, he was the only one who survived. He began making coffins in order to keep going and spends time “talking” to each body as it’s brought in so that they aren’t alone. Alberto is a recluse, but when he loves, he loves hard. After finding out that Tito and Fia don’t have a home, he’s more than willing to bring them into his home – and his heart.

Tito the boy has been on the run from his father for years. His mother had promised that Allora would keep them safe, but a year after moving there, she too dies and is buried by Alberto. Tito tries to survive on his own, but his fear of being found stops him from really experiencing Allora. Once Alberto takes him in, they form a sweet relationship with Tito finally filling the hole in Alberto’s heart.

Other townspeople like the gossiping Finestra sisters and the portly mayor make up the rest of Allora – while they aren’t as fully fleshed out as Tito and Alberto, they add to the small town experience and you can really picture them. And Fia the bird was a lovely addition – you could feel the love between her and Tito even though she didn’t say a word.

The Writing:

Matilda Woods has the type of lyrical, whimsical writing that takes ordinary middle grade and elevates it to a higher literary plane. There’s a fairy tale quality to Tito and Alberto’s story and it feels like it could have been written fifty years ago (in a good way). There’s just enough description that you can picture Allora but it doesn’t overwhelm the story. Tito and Alberto’s relationship is sweet and simple and if you’re not wiping away tears at some point, you probably aren’t reading it properly.

The Bottom Line:

I love whimsical middle grade novels, and I especially love them if they hit me in the heart. This one did and I highly recommend it.

The Soundtrack:

I couldn’t think of any songs that really represented the fairy tale feeling of The Boy, the Bird & the Coffin Maker, but Panic! at the Disco’s “From a Mountain in the Middle of the Cabins” had a similar quirkiness that I felt made sense. I also like to think that any references to birds and feathers could refer to Fia and her human-like emotions. Plus I just saw Panic! live yesterday and they’re all I can think about (which isn’t really that different from a normal day, to be honest).

Lying there
With a halo in her hair she cried
There are feathers everywhere
But it’s fine
You do this all the time

Book Review: The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle

The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle

Christina Uss
Release date: June 5, 2018

Rating 4.5/5

The First Line:

The front door to the Mostly Silent Monastery was missing.

The Plot:

Bicycle is a girl who grows up surrounded by Mostly Silent monks (they have Eight Sacred Words that they’re allowed to use) and Sister Wanda after being abandoned as a toddler (wearing a shirt with a bicycle on it). As a preteen, Bicycle wants to travel from Washington, DC to California to meet her cycling idol, but Sister Wanda insists she go to a friendship camp instead to learn how to socialize with other other people. Bicycle decides to take her fate into her own hands and takes off on a cross-country cycling adventure, meeting a variety of interesting people along the way.

The Characters:

Bicycle, our protagonist, isn’t really the sociable type. She’s content hanging out with the Mostly Silent Monks and Sister Wanda, and enjoys riding her bike around. The one thing that really brings Bicycle out of her shell is cycling and her idol, Zbig Sniewoski. Bicycle dreams of meeting Zbig and conversing in his native Polish and she’s determined to make that dream come true when she finds out he’s in America.

I really liked Bicycle. At 12 years old, she’s at a weird point in her life and she struggles to obey Sister Wanda (who took care of her her whole life) and chasing after her own dreams. She’s what you might call “precocious” but she’s persistent and people can’t help falling under her spell.

I also liked the supporting characters – the monks and Sister Wanda, of course, but also Griffin the ghost who haunts her bike, and the pie maker, and the cookie lady, and the soap guy. Bicycle meets a number of odd people on her trip across the country, but they all root for her and you’ll be cheering for her all the way to the end.

The Writing:

This almost felt like an “adult” book with a child protagonist because of how quirky and different it was. Christina Uss does a great job of describing Bicycle’s trip in a way that makes you feel like you’re cycling right alongside her.

The only thing that stopped it from being a full five stars was that it dragged a tiny bit in the middle (around the time when Bicycle was cycling through the middle of the US), otherwise it was a sweet little read.

The Bottom Line:

I really enjoyed getting to know Bicycle and rooting for her to fulfil her dreams and I think most people will find themselves cheering for her. Highly recommend.

The Soundtrack:

Because I like choosing literal songs, I went with The Brobecks’ “Le Velo Pour Deux”. While it’s actually a love song, I like the idea of it being about Bicycle and her bike, Clunk – all she wants to do is hang out with her bicycle and go on adventures.

Oh, it would be fine to spend my whole life
With you, on a bicycle built for two

Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Gail Honeyman
Release date: May 9, 2017

Rating 5/5

The First Line:

When people ask me what I do—taxi drivers, hairdressers—I tell them I work in an office.

The Plot:

Eleanor Oliphant is thirty years old. She works in an office and doesn’t have friends – she lives alone and has a conversation with Mummy every week. One night, Eleanor goes to a concert and finds herself falling for the charismatic lead singer. Determined to win his affections, Eleanor sets about trying to give herself a makeover. Around the same time, she meets Sammy, an elderly man who she helps after he collapses on the street, and Raymond, the new guy in the IT department who manages to get Eleanor to open up.

The Characters:

Eleanor Oliphant is perfectly normal, thank you very much. Never mind that she’s been in the same office job for nearly ten years, or that her one long-term relationship was with an abuser. Never mind that she grew up in the foster system because of some tragedy in her childhood that she purposely blocks out, and her weekly conversations with her birth mother end in tears. She’s fine. She has a routine and doesn’t like to deviate. She has a very literal understanding of the world and doesn’t like how inconsiderate people are (real talk though: why do I have to pour my own can of cider into a glass at a bar??) – but people don’t seem to appreciate her forthrightness.

Eleanor Oliphant is also broken. Her past is full of tragedy but she isn’t equipped to deal with it. Instead, she pushes it all to the back of her mind and when she has to talk about it, she’s very no-nonsense. It’s only when she slowly becomes friends with Raymond that she begins to work through her traumatic past.

Raymond is an IT guy with a heart of gold. I don’t want to talk about him too much because you really have to witness their relationship unfold for yourself, but he’s a good guy and he’s the type of friend Eleanor truly needed.

The Writing:

You can’t tell that this is a debut novel from the writing. Gail Honeyman really masters Eleanor’s voice so that you’re experiencing everything right along with her – the good, the bad, and everything in between. Even though you spend a lot of time in Eleanor’s head, she’s unreliable enough that you can’t always see what’s coming – there are some truly heartbreaking twists in the novel. I loved Eleanor’s relationships with Raymond and Sammy, and I could genuinely relate to her obsession with this singer. There’s a lot going on in this novel, but Honeyman deals with each topic with a deft touch.

The Bottom Line:

I don’t often read “adult” books, but this is one that worked its way into my heart. It was heartbreaking and hilarious and extremely well done.

The Soundtrack:

I picked a Biffy Clyro song for multiple reasons. 1) Like Eleanor, they are Scottish (in fact, there’s a throwaway reference to them in the last quarter of the book and I squealed). And 2) The lyrics of “Folding Stars” are directed at someone named Eleanor, and I feel like they could apply to Eleanor Oliphant.

Take a long hard look at yourself
How did you end up here
The blood drips like red inverted balloons
Tomorrow is a promise to no-one