Review: Ten Thousand Doors of January – Alix E. Harrow

Okay. So. Let me introduce you to my favourite book of summer. This is not something I’d normally pick up (apart from the beautiful cover, that would draw me in) but this book was assigned as our monthly book-club read at work. And I am honestly so ridiculously glad it was, because this book is amazing. Incredible. Game-changing. Genre-changing (for me at least). SFF (Sci-Fi Fantasy) is not normally a genre I enjoy, but this book really changed that for me. Maybe I’ll read hundreds more SFF books now? Maybe I’ll be forever converted to SFF? Or maybe this is just a one-off, but whatever magic Harrow created, I was hooked.

The book follows January, a unique child growing up in early twentieth century America. She is being raised by a rich elderly man in his large mansion full of hidden treasures. Her absent father is off travelling the world and all January wants is to be with him, and follow in his footsteps. January finally gets her wish when she discovers a magical world behind a dilapidated doorway. This sets off a chain of events that unravel a story of magical worlds, allow January to discover who she is, and where she belongs.

The story is told in two different ways. Through January’s own first person narration, and through sections of the book that she is reading – telling the story of a courageous female explorer who makes her way through multiple doors into different universes.

This story is about growing up, discovering who you are, friendship and family. It’s a love story and an adventure novel all in one. And I can’t recommend it enough. It is wonderfully created and beautifully written. It is published on the 10th September, and if you buy any book this year … make sure it’s this one.

My rating: 9/10!!!!!

**always out of 10 because 5 is too restricting!

Review: Normal People – Sally Rooney

Well, I think it’s safe to say I was VERY late to the hype with this book. Obviously being a fan of books it has been on my radar for the longest time, and on my bookshelf waiting to be read for a while too. I finally picked it up last weekend to read on the train journey back to the midlands … and here is what I thought.

This is not a bad review, because I agree with people that this is a good book. But do I think it is worth the hype, all the awards? No, I’m not sure I do. To me it was just a good book, with a few bizarre aspects, and some deep meaningful messages. When I first started the book I managed to fly through it, before I realised it I was on page 80. That to me shows just how readable this book is, you fly through it because Rooney is incredibly skilled at writing, her style seems effortless and easy. But by page 80 I was confused as to why everyone loved this book so much. It was readable, interesting, and the characters were well-created … but nothing was really happening, I wasn’t emotionally invested.

Rooney has created a book that follows the protagonists though three years of their life, she describes what happens to them, how their relationship changes and adjusts … but to me the characters always felt distant. I didn’t feel any emotional connection to their plights, and by the end I just got a bit frustrated at how they were acting.

Rooney’s book has got a lot of praise for the comments it makes on class, and I think this praise is well-deserved. The discussions of class within the University environment is very important, especially the discussion about some students having to work part time just to afford to survive living independently during their studies.

I think one of the reasons why this book is so popular is because it is realistic, it does not have unrealistic romantic goals (which I love) and it doesn’t have big romantic gestures or unbelievable disasters. It is simply about people growing up, discovering what it means to love someone and attend university. Maybe this is what people love so much about it, because people can see their own lives in the story. But I love a story that can take me away, I like unrealistic romance and dramatic catastrophe’s that lead to a huge resolution. I like things that aren’t realistic because the real world can be so daunting and horrible.

Maybe that’s why this book just did not live up to the hype for me!

My rating: 5/10!!

**always out of 10 because 5 is too restricting!