Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt

Set in Sowell Bay, Washington, we begin our story with a diary-like entry from Marcellus, who just so happens to be an octopus. Marcellus has been living as an exhibit in the Sowell Bay Aquarium since his capture, and he's not exactly happy about it. A little way in though, during one of his 'adventures', he meets elderly cleaning lady, Tova, and the two form a sort of friendship.

Tova tragically lost her son over 30 years ago, and more recently lost her husband to cancer. She cleans the Aquarium to keep busy, but she is still haunted by the unanswered what-ifs surrounding the death of her son. Marcellus puts two and two together and tries desperately to communicate the truth to Tova, and we meet a new face in town also looking for some truths of his own. 

This is a cosy armchair mystery (without a great deal of mystery) that is easy to read and an easy narrative to keep up with. If you're feeling burned out lately, this may be the escapism read for you! I love the unique relationship between Tova and Marcellus, and the crochety voice Marcellus is given throughout the tale. The plot is quite predictable but it's a heartwarming read, with little quirks to the characters throughout. I think I would have loved more of Marcellus (or possibly even all Marcellus!) as he's such a unique voice and perfectly written as an octopus.

The ending doesn't quite tie up all the loose ends, which I actually really like in a story - a little ambiguity keeps the mind ticking! Although I liked the arc of the story I felt some of the details were quite random and unnecessary, and sometimes brought me out of the world of Sowell Bay while I tried to figure out why it was important to know the details of cleaning day when we're in the middle of an argument. The plot itself was quite clichéd - losing phones to give an excuse for an argument, an imminent move to create urgency, a disgruntled teenage son sabotaging his mother's date etc... But on the whole an enjoyable read, and a chance to escape into another world for a little while. A definite 'beach read'! 

- Emma

@emma.greenwood

Hardback, £14.99.

Click to order!

Illuminations, by Alan Moore

 Since announcing his retirement from writing comic books, Alan Moore has been hard at work concentrating solely on the written work, with short-story compendium Illuminations being the first offering of his new image-less era.

As is always the case when it comes to Moore, however, nothing is as it seems. Of the nine instalments in this book, one of them – What We Can Know About Thunderman – takes up half the volume. But more on that later.

Not all of them are new works – the first five tales were included in previous anthologies, with opening story ‘A Hypothetical Lizard’, described by Moore as “my first serious attempt at short prose fiction”, penned back in 1987. While its quintessentially sci-fi tale of a mysterious cult that hones its members’ specialist skills is evocative enough, it’s clearly the hallmark of a creative talent dipping his toes into another medium.

‘Location, Location, Location’ has a similarly intriguing gimmick, taking the Benjamin Button story trope of living life backwards and making it literal. ‘Not Even Legend’, about a seemingly eventless UFO discussion group, isn’t as memorable, but the craftsmanship and shock factor Moore is known for is clearly present. ‘Cold Reading’, meanwhile is arguably the pick of the existing stories, a haunting tale of a fraudulent psychic who gets more than she bargained for. The ending will be pondered on long after reading. Finally, ‘The Improbably Complex High-Energy State’ is harder to pin down: abstract, and with more than a bit of old-fashioned Lovecraftian dread about it. 

Onto the newbies! Title track ‘Illuminations’ bucks the trend by appearing to tell a story we can instantly relate to: revisiting childhood. This is attempted by a recent divorcee who visits the old caravan park he regularly frequented in his childhood. He isn’t sure what he’s expecting to find, but doesn’t expect to find what he does. To say any more would be to spoil a truly haunting story.

By far the longest story here, the 200+ pages of ‘What We Can Know About Thunderman’ serves as a chronicling of the comic-book industry that birthed the titular fictional character and subsequently grew around it as the character’s popularity exploded.

Of course, it’s a paper mint-thin parody of a certain caped superbeing, and Moore makes no attempt to disguise this. Whether he’s looking at the chaotic private lives of the character’s creators, ranking his favourite in-universe movies (just switch ‘Thunder’ for ‘Super’) or slamming the lack of credit the creatives received for their efforts (it’s impossible not to read this as a comment on the author’s own perceived treatment at the hands of various comics companies) or critiquing the state of the industry today, it’s clear that while Moore may be finished (for now) with writing comics, he sure as hell isn’t done writing about them.

After such a marathon, the remaining stories struggle to match up. ‘American Light - An Appreciation’ spins a publishing industry yarn that simply doesn’t grab the attention in the same way that the rest of the anthology does, and ‘And, At the Last, Just to Be Done with Silence’ feels hard to judge on its own, feeling more like a summary of what has come before.

As you’ve probably gathered, “Illuminations” is piecemeal by its very nature, and as such is invariably hit-and-miss. But it also showcases one of the greatest creative talents working today doing whatever the hell he wants. On balance, that has to be seen as a good thing.

- Stephen

Stephen reviewed the proof edition of "Illuminations."

Publication day is 11th October 2022. Hardback, £20. Pre-order with us now!

The Hollow Sea, by Annie Kirby

The Hollow Sea is an enchanting, winding tale, following Scottie and her personal discoveries on the archipelago St Hia. After deciding against another round of IVF, Scottie travels to the North Atlantic Ocean, hoping for a glimpse of where she truly came from. The seamless blend of contemporary fiction and mythology cement Kirby’s work as a must-read for anyone looking to add a touch of fantasy into the modern world. 

The Hollow Sea’s particular strength comes in its narrative style, beautifully encapsulating the vivid, if isolated, islands of St Hia. The setting is so intricately mapped, that the reader is unwilling to leave the islands, disappointed, even, when the plot returns them to a more familiar setting. Likewise, the narrative captures the character of Scottie fully, carefully, but honestly handling her trauma. Her mourning for the children she never had, and exhaustion at the fertility treatments she undergoes are heart-wrenching and layered. She grows bitter towards her friends who have children, yet remains kind and considerate towards children themselves. Scottie is never reduced to the stereotype of a childless, cold woman, only following her own self-interest in her rejection of her ‘biological role’. The issues surrounding infertility are complicated and, at times, conflicting, yet this experience is handled with care and consideration and, even among the fantastical elements of this tale, it feels overwhelmingly real.

The structure of this work is, as far as I can tell, quite unique. Chapters following Scottie in the present are interweaved with chapters on her childhood, and chapters on the characters Thordis and Susan. Scottie’s past is gradually revealed, developing her character slowly, unravelling small parts of her at a time, adding to the air of mystery Kirby creates. What makes this work unique, however, is the chapters following Thordis and Susan, which work backwards through Thordis’ life. By learning of what happened to her in this manner, the reader is subject to misconceptions and misunderstandings, grasping at a few known pieces of information in the same manner that Scottie is. Kirby brilliantly maintains the mystery right up until the two plotlines coincide towards the end, successfully keeping her reader in the dark just enough to create the magic of the various reveals. 

I believe the conclusion of The Hollow Sea may be a divisive one. By never confirming that the more fantastical, mythological, parts of St Hia are real or imagined, Kirby opens herself to acceptance (or otherwise) of the ending, based on which side the reader fell on. While the conclusion of Scottie’s arc feels fitting if the fantastical aspects are taken as purely metaphorical, this is not the case if they are taken verbatim. In this case, the mythological is lost in the conclusion, which is somewhat underwhelming. The ending of The Hollow Sea is a sudden one, and does feel somewhat rushed which may help explain its underwhelming arc. Spending longer on the final act of the novel may have perfected Scottie’s development and offer better justification of her final choices. 

On the whole, this is a fantastic read set in a beautiful and mysterious corner of the world and interwoven with just the right amount of fantasy. This intriguing take on mythology sets it alongside recent works such as When Women Were Dragons, blending the contemporary and magical worlds in order to uncover the realities of the female experience. 

I highly recommend The Hollow Sea by Annie Kirby and hope it will receive the praise it deserves. 

Abi’s rating: 4.5/5

- Abi

Instagram: @abbie.bessant / Twitter: @abiwritesbadly

Abi reviewed a proof copy of "The Hollow Sea."

It is now out in hardback! £18.99. Click to order!

Sun Damage, by Sabine Durrant

 Nine guests arrive at a remote villa in the South of France.

They know each other well. Or think they do.

At least one of them has plenty to hide and nowhere to run...

Sun Damage is quite a difficult book to explain without revealing any spoilers. What I can say is that we meet a couple of con artists at the beginning, who thrive on travelling the world and tricking people out of their money. Whilst on a job in France, a scam goes wrong and one of them flees, assuming the identity of another person. But they know the old partner will undoubtedly come after them one day.

The person who flees finds honest work as a live-in chef for a family staying at a remote villa in the south of France. But with family and friends coming to stay, can their identity be kept hidden? Especially when one of the guests seems to know them. 

The south of France is a great location to set a novel, the beauty, sights, sounds, and scents, all became part of the narrative.

The build-up of this story was very slow; the beginning was, in my opinion, far too long - I even questioned if the synopsis was right! But the tension was ever-present. I felt the torment of our main protagonist, longing for their old life, under the guise of their new identity; a supposed perfect escape.

I didn’t find Sun Damage to be one of Sabine Durrant’s best books. I loved all her previous novels! It is one that no doubt many people will enjoy. It’s a story that keeps you guessing, full of suspense and twists. Definitely an ideal summer holiday read, in a fabulous setting.

- Milly

Milly read the proof edition of "Sun Damage."

It's OUT NOW in Hardback, £16.99. Click to order!

"The Three Books that Kept Me Going through Lockdown" - Olivia Lawton

Escaping into a good book has perhaps never been quite as needed as during the past two years. The Evening Standard reported that sales of fiction grew by 16% in 2020 due to the Covid lockdowns. And sales of physical books are continuing to rise. 

I don’t know about anyone else, but I have read more than ever since the pandemic hit. 

For many of us, the habit of reading is one that falls by the wayside once we enter the world of work, and in recent years people have found themselves more and more drawn to smartphones and screens instead of reading books. Social media has replaced the go-to distraction of a book when standing in line for coffee, taking a journey, or waiting for your train to pull into the station.   

But then we entered lockdown. We suddenly had spare time to turn to books – the perfect form of indoor entertainment. We stayed at home to be safe. And living in such uncertain times had many of us feeling a little anxious or discombobulated. 

As an avid reader already, my suggestion to friends and family during this unpredictable time was to turn to books. Especially fiction. Many of us love to read fiction but find it difficult to put time into this valuable and relaxing activity. Reading can deepen your emotional intelligence and empathy and allow your mind to rest. It can also be a wonderful form of escapism. 

As you can imagine, I read my way through lots of great titles during the lockdowns, but there were several books that really stood out to me during this time:

The Giver of Stars, by JoJo Moyes (Historical Fiction)

Inspired by a true story, The Giver of Stars is an incredibly moving historical fiction novel. Did you know Eleanor Roosevelt started a traveling library program, and many women answered the call to become traveling librarians? These women travelled on horseback to bring books to those living in rural areas, which was especially important for women and children unable to get to a library or without access to books otherwise. 

The story centres mainly around Alice and Margery. Alice is an English woman who is quite restless and not understood by her family, so she impulsively jumps at the chance of marrying an American man, hoping this will give her the opportunity for new adventures. Sadly, Alice’s marriage is not what she hoped it to be, and she soon finds herself feeling very unhappy. When Alice begins volunteering to help with the travelling library, run by Margery, she relishes in the freedom it brings her. I particularly enjoyed how the author explored Alice’s love of nature, as she and the other women deliver books packed in saddle bags, in all kinds of weather, winding their way through dark forests and along remote mountain trails. 

Despite their various backgrounds and issues at home, the women become a family providing encouragement and support, not only to one another but also to every household they visit to share books and they share the joy of reading with so many different people.  

I knew very little of the WPA library but love that I learned more about it from reading this novel. The strength and fortitude these ladies showed is incredible, and the main characters in the book reflect this with their hard work, strength of character, and loyalty to one another.

Humankind: A Hopeful History, by Rutger Bregman (Non-Fiction)

It’s a belief that unites the left and right, psychologists and philosophers, writers and historians. It drives the headlines that surround us and the laws that touch our lives. From Machiavelli to Hobbes, Freud to Dawkins, the roots of this belief have sunk deep into Western thought. Human beings, we’re taught, are by nature selfish, and governed by self-interest.

Humankind makes a new argument: that it is realistic, as well as revolutionary, to assume that people are good. The instinct to cooperate rather than compete, trust rather than distrust, has an evolutionary basis that goes right back to the beginning of our species. Thinking the worst of others not only affects how we regard other people, but our politics and economics too.

Bergman challenges our often-cynical view of humanity. To back up his theory, he re-examines some very well-known events in history and suggests that the key facts may have been altered to fit a narrative which shows humans in a very negative light. 

This was such a timely read for me during the first lockdown, in times when we so importantly needed to unite and work together. It is an extraordinary, uplifting history of human capacity for kindness. 

Humankind really is a wonderful read - accessible and full of great stories. In a world of cynicism, a little positivity goes a long way!

The Priory of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (Fantasy)

The Priory of The Orange Tree is a stand-alone high fantasy epic, led by an impressive cast of memorable female characters. I was truly blown away with how the author so effortlessly built a fantasy world that has a vast history of politics and religious clashes. The book is an engrossing fantasy set in a world that is both like and unlike our own. 

With a length of over 800 pages, this novel might seem a little daunting to many readers, but the story pacing is fantastic and there’s never a dull moment. From the very start I was gripped by the writing and desperate to see where the next chapter would lead. It was a joy to escape into this fantasy world and leave all thoughts of the pandemic behind for a while. 

The sheer scope of the story is out of this world - brimming with detail and ideas, and bursting with various characters types, languages, and perspectives. Although this is a single novel, it really feels like several books stitched together. It’s an addictive read, and I loved all the elements of feminism featured throughout the book. 

The Priory of The Orange Tree absolutely works on its own, but I was sad to reach the end. Fortunately, there is more to come! Samantha Shannon has now revealed there is a new sequel on the way.  A Day of Fallen Night will return readers to the world of The Priory of the Orange Tree in January 2023. I can’t wait!

It’s been wonderful to see so many people rediscovering their love of reading – a sentiment which I know is shared by the lovely booksellers at Westbourne. The family-owned independent bookshop is a must-visit anytime I find myself in the area, whether it’s to buy, browse, or simply just to pop in for a chat. I’ll often get some really wonderful recommendations or share thoughts on a current read with whoever is behind the till!

I have chosen to feature only these select few titles from my Quarantine reading because the complete list would be far too long to include here! Perhaps you can have a think about what your reading highlights of the pandemic have been…maybe you’ll share my difficulty in trying to narrow down to just one or two? In times of difficulty and lockdown boredom, I’m so pleased I was able to find solace from reality in the pages of fiction. I hope many of you feel the same. 

 

Just a quick note about me - My name is Olivia, and I am a self-confessed book addict. Through social media, I share my love of literature and enjoy reviewing, promoting, and of course reading as many books as possible! If you use Instagram, I’d love you to drop in and say hello on my account @BookramblingsbyOlivia, or alternatively you can find me at www.bookramblingsbyolivia.com. I’m excited to be teaming up with Westbourne bookshop who have kindly invited me to contribute this article for their website. Thanks so much for reading.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin

I just about had a HEART ATTACK when I saw this book under "New for July" with our wholesaler. Gabrielle Zevin has written two other notable (for me) books. The first, "Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac:" my first YA, and a total overhaul of my ideas of what love meant, and the importance of personal identity. The second, "Elsewhere:" a story of a sixteen-year-old girl in the afterlife. She completely re-established what kind of stories I wanted to read, and later, write.

Well, she just went and snuck up on me with this new title, "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow." Frankly, I wouldn't have given a damn what this book was about: I simply had to read it!

Sam and Sadie meet as children in a hospital ward: Sam is there after a near-fatal accident, and Sadie is visiting her sister, who is going through cancer treatment. They immediately bond over the videogames in the rec room, and they are each other's first friend. They lose touch, and later meet again by chance in Boston, and set out on a real-life quest: to design and produce a videogame of their own.

With Sam's roommate, Marx as their producer, things escalate quickly. It's the late 90s, and they have talent beyond what the technology of their time can offer. When their first game goes live, their lives change forever. Including the relationships between these three creatives.

Frankly, I wish I'd written this book. Its style is incredible, with techniques and forms that I've never even considered before! It's exciting, it's lyrical, it's playful, and it's daring. At times, you, the reader are the protagonist. At times, we are in a video game ourselves. At times, the timeline is a stunning mess! Somehow, the book reads like you're playing a game. There are resets, and there's tactics, and there's tragedy that leads to greater quests down the line. It's so moving, and it makes me wonder how Gabrielle Zevin wrote something so akin to a videogame narrative, without actually being a game designer herself?!

This story spans at least two decades, and the protagonists grow a lot during that time. We face grief, heartbreak, rejection, failure, declining health, and a whole lot more. It's a brutal life for these characters. There is that frightening - and inevitable - sense of time running away from you, not knowing how or when things changed. There is the frustration of habits rather than choices making those changes happen. For something so completely plot-driven, the characters' development is a joy and a nostalgic pain to watch. 

Essentially, this is a fantastic book. One of my favourites for quite some time. It's pacey and exciting, but relaxing and simply, human. An outstanding addition to Gabrielle's list of works, and another to be added to my list of reasons to adore this author. Her mind is nothing short of shocking and brilliant. I highly recommend.

- Sian

Hardback, £16.99. Find it in the YA section!

Or order online.

Nightcrawling, by Leila Mottley

Nightcrawling is Leila Mottley’s debut novel and it’s an eye-opening read. She took inspiration from a high-profile case that took place in Oakland, California, which involved the sexual exploitation of many young girls by various members of the police department.

It tells the story of 17-year-old Kiara, who lives with her brother Marcus. Her brother Marcus is unemployed, trying and failing at making it big in the music industry. But with the risk of eviction from the ironically named Regal-Hi looming over their heads, Kiara is forced to take it upon herself to find work. From there, she stumbles into sex work. We learn about the hardships and abuse that she and her family go through in the impoverished part of Oakland.

This is an extremely difficult read due to the details of sexual abuse throughout. Leila’s extremely descriptive and almost poetic writing style imprints these images of abuse on your mind. However, the prose also helps to soften the extremely dark story. I didn’t personally enjoy the writing style but understand that it comes from Leila’s roots of writing poetry.

Leila does a great job developing the complex relationships that Kiara has with her best friend, brother, parents, and even her neighbours’ ten-year-old son, which is particularly heart-warming. She takes him in when he’s abandoned by his mother and cares for him so deeply - it’s very touching. But these relationships are strained as we see how Kiara is forced to take difficult decisions that ultimately lead to her abuse. It’s very bittersweet at times.

This novel helped me learn more about the struggles that many people in sex work go through, both in Oakland and in other communities, and I appreciate the way Leila tells the story without sugar-coating it. It was an extremely raw but refreshing approach.

In summary, this was a very difficult read but also gave an incredible insight into the daily battles that people in poverty and in sex work face. I would avoid reading it if you do have triggers with regards to sexual abuse and exploitation. It was well written, especially considering that Leila started writing the novel when she was only seventeen years old! Leila is an amazing young talent, and I can’t wait to read more of her work in the future.

Rating: 3/5

-Maisie

Hardback, £16.99.

Order it now!