booksbythewindow's reviews
97 reviews

For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2023/03/22/stories-of-your-life-and-others/

 I found this a really fascinating collection with a couple of stories that really stood out to me, as well as themes that were interesting and thought-provoking. Chiang shows through all the stories in the collection that one of his real strengths is being able to write in such a diversity of styles and narrations, opening up interesting discussions of themes throughout his works. 

One of the stories which I found very engaging was ‘Understand’, which follows a patient in a drug trial whose intelligence suddenly becomes beyond human understanding. As his mind and body adjust to his new view of the world and language, he goes on the run from all of those who want to study and use his new intelligence. ‘Understand’ is written in first person present tense narration, a writing style that is very difficult to get right but which really allows the reader an insight into the urgency and speed of the protagonist’s mind.

The story which really stood out from this collection and was by far the strongest was ‘Story of Your Life’, written as a letter from mother to child, detailing the time she spent learning and translating an alien language. It is a fascinating work in which the connections between time and language are explored through the eyes of an engaging protagonist and narrator.

 Another interesting story from Stories of Your Life and Others is ‘Liking What You See: A Documentary’, a story which would definitely translate well into an adaptation. Told through a series of interviews and soundbites, this story follows a debate on Pembleton university campus about whether it should make ‘calliagnosia’ a requirement, meaning that no-one on the campus would have a reaction to physical attributes. It is a really interesting exploration of beauty, equality, and human connection, told through this fictional documentary of a student debate. 

I would definitely recommend this for anyone who has an interest in speculative short fiction.

For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2023/03/15/the-queens-of-innis-lear/

Summary:  The Queens of Innis Lear follows multiple perspectives throughout its narrative, with the main focus on being the five characters from the younger generation, coming into their inheritances imminently: Gaela, Regan, and Elia, the three daughters of the King of Innis Lear, and Ban and Rory, the sons of the Earl of Errigal. The narrative explores the fall out of the King’s decision to test his daughters in order to see which should be the new Queen of Innis Lear, leading to a cascade of political and familial tensions that threaten to destroy not only his family but the whole island of Innis Lear.

Overall Thoughts:  The Queens of Innis Lear is a book that I absolutely loved, from the characters, to the writing, to the plot. I was completely absorbed to the point that I found it hard to put down, and it is a narrative that has stuck in my mind since I finished.  I knew that I was going to enjoy The Queens of Innis Lear from the opening chapter, with Gratton’s writing immediately drawing me in. I enjoyed the atmospheric, dream-like tone of the writing, particularly when describing much of the magic in Innis Lear. However, it was the characters which had me unable to put this book down as, even with the characters I did not enjoy or like as much, I still felt incredibly invested in what would happen to them. I particularly enjoyed the nuanced and complicated relationships between the siblings in The Queens of Innis Lear, with the pain and hurt from many of those familial breakdowns bringing the strongest emotion out of me. 

For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2022/03/02/im-waiting-for-you/

Summary:  I’m Waiting For You is a short story collection consisting of two pairs of short stories set in two worlds. The eponymous story begins the collection, following an unnamed narrator writing letters to his fiancée as he is travelling through time and space to meet her on earth on their wedding day. The final story in the collection, ‘On My Way To You’, serves as a companion piece to ‘I’m Waiting For You’, showing the letters from the fiancée as she makes her own complicated journey to earth. In the middle of this pair of stories lie two stories set in a world made up of immortal beings who are able to split themselves and enter the human world for short periods of time.

Overall Thoughts:  I had a feeling that I would enjoy I’m Waiting For You, but I didn’t expect the impact that the title story and its companion piece would have on me. ‘I’m Waiting For You’ and ‘On My Way To You’ have definitely become two of my favourite science fiction works that I have read; the plight of this engaged couple, trying so hard to make their way to each other so that they can spend the rest of their life together, but finding themselves thwarted at every turn, was full of tension and emotion that had me completely absorbed. The use of letters as a narrative device places the reader firmly in the head of the narrators in both stories, allowing us to see not only their personality but their doubts and motivation to persevere.  The middle two stories, following Naban as he looks to save himself from corruption, were interesting and raised lots of questions about human life and purpose but were not as engaging to me as the narrative of the couple in the first and last stories. 

For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2022/03/09/harlem-shuffle/

Summary:  Harlem Shuffle follows the narrative of Ray Carney, a furniture salesman who prides himself on being honest, but in reality is accepting and moving stolen goods for his cousin, Freddie, and associates. Things become much more complicated when Freddie puts Carney’s name forward as the middleman for the armed robbery of a hotel where the rich of the community store valuable items. This unwanted referral triggers a series of events across Carney’s life which drag him deeper and deeper into a world that he never wanted. 

Overall Thoughts:  Overall, this was a really enjoyable read with characters that I felt very invested in as a reader. Ray Carney is a complex character: his desire to be a good husband and father is strong but there is something in him that keeps dragging him into the criminal world.  Although the novel deals with some heavy issues, the overall tone of it is relatively light-hearted, mostly as a result of the characters providing their perspectives. It is not a narrative that takes itself too seriously, even when it is describing serious events, and yet it never feels as though it is making light of Carney’s situation.  For those who enjoy literary fiction, this would be a good holiday read as, although it does touch on serious topics, it never feels heavy and has a lighter tone throughout the narrative. 

For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2022/03/16/a-summer-beyond-your-reach/

Summary and Overall Thoughts:  A Summer Beyond Your Reach is an incredible collection of short stories that are thought-provoking, intriguing, and absorbing. One aspect of Xia Jia’s writing that has always stood out to me is her ability to write engaging characters that ground all of the stories.  I would definitely recommend A Summer Beyond Your Reach for anyone who is interested in science-fiction and those who enjoy short fiction collections.       

One of my favourite story of the collection was the longest: ‘A Time Beyond Your Reach’ (translated by Carmen Yiling Yan). The narrative is from the perspective of Màn, a woman who has always been seen as a beat behind everyone else: reserved, careful, and always talking and moving more slowly than those around her. At the age of ten, she meets a boy who is her opposite: impulsive, chaotic, and always talking and moving more quickly than those around him.  I thought this story had a really interesting concept, with both these characters being out of step with the world in different ways, but it was the protagonist that really kept me engaged with the story. 

One of the most intriguing stories in the collection was ‘Eternal Summer Dream’ (translated by Carmen Yiling Yan), a story about a time traveller and an immortal being who keep meeting each other throughout time.  Whilst in the opening scene they are introduced as enemies, with him chasing her, conversations that she has with him throughout time seem to indicate differently and it is clear that he has met her future self.  I quite enjoy stories where the characters’ timelines are out of order with each other; there is something about the particular confusion and emotions of the biggest obstacle for characters being time itself that seems to appeal to me. I think ‘Eternal Summer Dream’ is a great example of this very specific genre, particularly as the reader is experiencing the story through the eyes of a Xia Di who is still working out what exactly her relationship is or will be with Jiang Lieshan. 

The third story that I want to highlight in this review is ‘Meeting Anna’ (translated by Emily Jin), a short, very character-driven story about two teenagers who are both famous in their society in different ways meeting and having a short conversation. The narration here is honest, realistic, and bittersweet, showing Xia Jia’s writing at her most haunting, taking a scenario that is not so far removed from our own world and pushing it in an uncomfortable direction. 

For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2022/03/23/maurice-or-the-fishers-cot/

Summary:  The edition of Maurice I read is divided into three sections: an Introduction by Claire Tomalin, explaining the verification of the manuscript and Shelley’s history with the Mason family; an edited version of Maurice; and a copy of the original text with Shelley’s notes and corrections. The Introduction is fascinating in itself as it first takes the reader through the process of Tomalin and other Shelley experts confirming that this was indeed the lost manuscript of Maurice.  The story of Maurice itself is also divided into three sections: Part 1 is a short exchange between a traveller to Torquay and an inn landlady about a young boy who lives in the town; Part 2 is from the perspective of the boy himself, Maurice, as he decides what to do now that the old couple he lived with have died; and Part 3 returns the reader to the traveller’s perspective as he sits down to tell his own story to Maurice.

Overall Thoughts: Maurice is a small story of dramatic personal coincidences that is told with great economy as the traveller gradually reveals his connection to Maurice. Shelley is very deliberate with what she reveals at different points in the story, allowing the reader a small glimpse into Maurice’s life in Part 1, filling out this history in Part 2, but then subverting this by the revelation that Maurice himself is not as aware of his own circumstances and history as the reader has been led to believe. It has to be said that the resolution of the story is convenient, but since this is a story for children it does not feel too out of place. It did not take long to read this very short story but I did enjoy it and I definitely did not see the twist coming as I read. 

For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2022/03/30/the-foundling/

Summary:  The Foundling follows the story of Bess Bright, a young fish seller in Georgian London who, unable to look after her daughter, takes her to a place called the Foundling Hospital. However, when she returns to collect Clara six years later, she discovers that someone else has already taken her using Bess’ name. Devastated, she risks everything to find her daughter, uncovering previously unknown information about Clara’s father as she does so.

Overall Thoughts:  This was a novel that I really enjoyed and was a nice step back into a world of more historical fiction, a genre that I haven’t read much of recently. One of the aspects of The Foundling that makes it such an absorbing read is also one of the things that makes it incredibly difficult to summarise in detail: the twists of the plot. Despite the fact that The Foundling is actually fairly slow-paced and character-driven, Halls somehow manages to make it feel much faster than it is and reading it in one sitting definitely enhanced that feeling for me as a reader. The other aspect that stood out to me from The Foundling was the characterisation. There are two main characters whose perspectives the reader follows the narrative from, and both feel so real and distinct from each other.  I would definitely recommend The Foundling to those with an interest in historical fiction with a focus on ordinary, flawed characters; it would also be a great novel for anyone looking for some escapism. 

For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2022/04/06/escape-routes/

Summary and Overall Thoughts: Escape Routes is a strong short story collection with some really interesting themes running throughout. I enjoyed reading it and found almost every story interesting and engaging, with characters that feel very distinctive. The story that I found the most interesting in the collection was ‘Accelerate!’, which follows a narrator called Evgeny who discovers that when he drinks coffee he develops an ability to speed up beyond normal human activity. After meeting and beginning a relationship with Annalise, someone who loves to live slowly and enjoy every moment, Evgeny’s increasing speed begins to drive a wedge between the two characters and their relationship starts to crumble. 

One of the shortest stories in the collection, and one of the least speculative, is ‘The Flat Roof’, which follows Annie as she grieves a loss, sitting outside on her roof.  Ishiguro portrays Annie’s emotions really clearly and especially her complicated feelings towards the birds that she comes to rely on for her happiness.

Running throughout the collection are three connected short stories, or one longer short story divided into three parts, entitled ‘The Rat Catcher’. This is probably one of the weirdest stories in the collection, but still compelling in the midst of the strangeness.

I would recommend Escape Routes particularly for those who enjoy speculative fiction and short stories, although it would likely appeal to more general fiction readers as well. 

For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2022/04/20/scenes-of-clerical-life/

Summary and Overall Thoughts: Scenes of Clerical Life is made up of three shorter works of Eliot's, all revolving around clergy members.  The first work included in Scenes of Clerical Life is ‘The Sad Fortunes of the Rev. Amos Barton’, Eliot’s first fiction work and probably the one that most closely resembles some of her later works. In fact, early on in the story Eliot’s unnamed narrator introduces the reader to one of the writing philosophies that would come to define Eliot’s work throughout her life, in defending the decision to focus on an ‘insignificant’ character: ‘is there not a pathos in their very insignificance – in our comparison of their dim and narrow existence with the glorious possibilities of that human nature which they share’ (p.37). 

Probably the most creative of the three works is ‘Mr Gilfil’s Love Story’, although this was probably the one I found least engaging of the three.  Eliot tells the story in an interesting way, flashing back to share information with the reader that the congregation who loved Mr Gilfil so much did not have access to. 

The final work, ‘Janet’s Repentance’ was unexpectedly the one which I most enjoyed. Again, taking place in a small, country town, it is ostensibly about the tensions across the town after the arrival of a curate who is teaching the gospel rather than the easy moralism the town prefers.     

I was not at all sure what to expect from Scenes of Clerical Life but I found myself pleasantly surprised by the stories included.  These three works are an interesting picture of Eliot’s start in fiction, with many elements that will later be expanded on in her later works. 

For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2022/05/04/the-last-man/

Summary:  Set in the 2080s and 2090s, The Last Man takes place in an England that has become a republic after the abdication of the king. The Last Man follows a tight-knit group of five characters: narrator Lionel Verney, who will become the eponymous last man; Verney’s wife Idris, the daughter of the last king; Idris’ brother Adrian, Verney’s closest friend who will become a leader in a time of crisis; Verney’s sister Perdita; and Perdita’s husband Raymond, who will be elected Lord Protector by the ruling elite. The narrative is divided into three volumes with the first concerned mostly with the politics and romantic entanglements of the five main characters. It is during the second volume that the first signs of the virus start to emerge, in the midst of a war that Raymond has entered into. By the third volume, the virus has taken hold all over the world, causing devastation everywhere.

Overall Thoughts:  I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started The Last Man, but it was an engaging, absorbing read that kept me engaged despite how unsettling the pandemic aspect of the narrative was. The first volume of The Last Man feels almost like reading an account of Shelley, Percy Shelley, Claire Claremont, and Byron; it is definitely hard not to see the parallels between the real life and relationships of Shelley and the narrative in Volume One.  One aspect of Shelley’s writing that stands out in Volumes Two and Three is the way in which she gradually builds up tension.  I am not sure that everyone would enjoy The Last Man as it is quite a slow-paced narrative, and the plague might make it a particularly difficult read at the moment, but I would definitely recommend it for those who are interested in Mary Shelley and her life, as well as those who want to read some classic apocalyptic literature.