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Rozz.ie

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Posted on March 27, 2021March 27, 2021

A Crooked Tree by Una Mannion. I have always admired Una's short fiction so I


A Crooked Tree by Una Mannion. I have always admired Una's short fiction so I was excited to get my hands on her debut novel. It doesn't disappoint though it's a slow, slow start and it remains slow but by the time you get to end, you will enjoy that relaxed pace as it suits the story and the characters. Libby is out for a drive at night with her siblings. Her mother is driving. We feel the tension but when Ellen, Libby's younger sister frustrates her frazzled mum, her mum basically dumps Ellen on the roadside and speeds off. The story rocks on from this one awful decision and we learn about Libby and her connection with her father who has passed away. This novel, set in an 80s rural Philadelphia, has all the feels of a Goonies movie or an episode of Stranger Things. Una's writing never falters but I found the descriptions of nature and trees a little bit lengthy at times. It's clear she revels in writing about nature. Overal, I found it to be a mesmerising read. Una's writing is carefully placed throughout and her plotting is excellent.

Posted on March 9, 2021March 9, 2021

Shuggie Bain is a debut novel by Douglas Stuart and it is surely an outstanding


Shuggie Bain is a debut novel by Douglas Stuart and it is surely an outstanding book. Its writing, its characters and its plot are basically perfect. The opening scene of the main character, Shuggie Bain and the supermarket chicken deli he works in captured me straight into the depraved world of the Bain family. Poor ten year old Shuggie has a hard life, he lives in  the city of Glasgow in the1980s during the Thatcher era with his two siblings and mother, Agnes Bain in complete poverty and misfortune. This is what happens when society forgets about people and children.  Agnes Bain has a particularly hard life. Agnes is an alcoholic and this story is hers and Shuggie’s. There are so many touching and caring scenes between the two with Shuggie caring for her all the way that it can be hard to forgive Agnes for her failings as a parent. But, none the less Shuggie Bain is a tragic love story and we all know what happens in a good tragedy. I found this book heartwrenching to the point I was afraid to pick up the book as I wasn’t sure how much more pain and hardship I could take. There are some humorous moments scattered but otherwise this book is not to be described as uplifting. I never shy away from sad books that deal with suffering and the ending does give us a glimmer of hope for poor Shuggie.  I also don’t think books should be happy and fix the reader’s emotions. Reading a book like Shuggie Bain and the experiences of a family that live in utter poverty and depravity give the reader hope and gratefulness for their own lives. Well, it did for me anyway. It might for you too. The writing in this book is so good, so good that if you are a writer, it might just make you want to throw your efforts away and go back to the day job. But don’t, the way Douglas Stuart writes setting and character in every line, every paragraph, every page will make you catch your breath, writer or non-writer. There is so much to learn from Shuggie, whether it is the atmosphere it paints or the strong emotions and connection for the characters.

Posted on February 13, 2021February 13, 2021

The Art of Falling by Danielle Mc Laughlin-REVIEW I read a review of this novel


The Art of Falling by Danielle Mc Laughlin-REVIEW I read a review of this novel last weekend. The reviewer shared a quote that says a reviewer should never review a book on what it should or could be but only on what it is. I may have the quote slightly wrong but it does pay to keep this in mind when reviewing Danielle Mc Laughlin's debut novel. Danielle is a supreme and natural short story writer and I, and many people, were very excited about this novel. It does not let down in many aspects. The plot is pacey. Plots should be pacey, shouldn't they? Lots of stuff happens to the characters in the novel and that's always a good thing. I find the floating around and discussion, thinking heavy type of novel less generous for me. The ideas and the drama are interesting too. It's set in Cork, the setting is described beautifully and I couldn't think of a better way to escape in a pandemic. All the settings in this novel are fresh and alive. Setting is done extremely well here. It's tells the story of Nessa. Nessa is a strange fish. She comes across as cold and unthinking but plausibly so for the reader. Nessa is in a right mess. She's about to display a statue from a very famous artist in her art gallery and a woman from his past comes forward to claim it as her work. Nessa also has a mixed up and naughty past as does her marriage. I'll say no more about the plot! I read this extremely quickly. That's a brilliant sign. Though I said at the beginning that I should not compare this work with Danielle's short fiction working, I struggled not to but I am rewarded throughout with many, many fine instances of beautiful prose and the last chapter won it for me. The atmosphere and essence that is conveyed in these few pages alone are beautiful and I'm left happy and satisfied as a reader.

Posted on February 7, 2021February 8, 2021

Luster by Raven Leilani This novel is about Edie, an black office worker in New


Luster by Raven Leilani This novel is about Edie, an black office worker in New York. She is twenty three and sleeps with many men in her office, looking and searching for a connection. She meets a married guy, twice her age and this story is about how she gets to know him, his wife and their adopted black 12 year old daughter. None of the characters are especially likeable but I definitely hold a sympathy for the female characters. I was fascinated by the characters, they were all developed wonderfully and presented as they way they were. I loved seeing Edie and the wife connect and then disconnect, that for me was the love story.  I read this book pretty quickly but it slows down towards the end. After reading it I felt I had read something very raw, very fresh but not “hilarious” as some of the reviews would have you believe. I found it to be depressing if this is the life of our twenty years old now though I know this is only one person’s experience but it still got me down. There is nothing uplifting in this novel,very little hope for Edie apart from the art she creates, which we hope might save her! Even the places Edie inhibits are all grey when I imagine the story being played back.  However, I have to say I did enjoy reading this, the writing is careful in most parts, witty and fresh and I remained engaged for nearly all of the book. If you like Sally Rooney or Naoise Dolan, you will dig this one!  The story of Edie and the homes she lives in have stayed with me, repeating on me and how she made her choices and the odd scenarios she is in. However it left me feeling as empty as Edie feels at the end. It would make an interesting, lively book club read. Love the cover too!

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My Goodreads

Rozz's books

Tender
3 of 5 stars
Tender
by Belinda McKeon
Davy Byrnes Stories 2014
4 of 5 stars
Davy Byrnes Stories 2014
by Sara Baume
Foster
5 of 5 stars
Foster
by Claire Keegan
Superb, perfect short story telling from the genius of the form.
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
4 of 5 stars
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
by Wells Tower
hilarious and dark and funked up!
The Good House
1 of 5 stars
The Good House
by Ann Leary

goodreads.com

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My Goodreads

Rozz’s books

Tender
3 of 5 stars
Tender
by Belinda McKeon

Davy Byrnes Stories 2014
4 of 5 stars
Davy Byrnes Stories 2014
by Sara Baume

Foster
5 of 5 stars
Foster
by Claire Keegan
Superb, perfect short story telling from the genius of the form.

Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
4 of 5 stars
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
by Wells Tower
hilarious and dark and funked up!

The Good House
1 of 5 stars
The Good House
by Ann Leary




goodreads.com

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