Jack Heath's "Hangman"

 

You can find this book here.

'Hangman' is a thriller where Timothy 'Tim' Blake looks for a kidnapped adolescent. One of the twists is that as a consultant to the FBI; whilst he is a genius, he is also a dangerous criminal that shouldn't be trusted. But, if need be, you call the genius in to solve the hardest puzzles and cases there are. And to the protagonist, this one turns out to be one he can't solve so easily. 

As a protagonist; you may not like Tim Blake. Or maybe he will grow on you. He is an anti-hero. But he is engaging and a fresh perspective on a genre you may have read a lot of. The background, education, life and choices of the character are also interesting and add more depth to Blake. I think it is helped that the setting for the novel is Texas somehow; like all the bad things anybody has ever mentioned about Texas has been included, and so the characters seem to fit into their setting. Of course, this could make it more unrealistic and believable to other readers. The choice is yours.

The pace is quick and easy; you will finish it quickly. It is a darker novel, with a lot of gritty elements; so it might not be for you if you prefer a lighter crime or thriller fiction novel. Heath is also an Australian author; if this matters to you, but may also then turn you off reading it if you think he can't possibly hold the setting truly. 

From the acknowledgements, Heath seems to have done some serious research to make the novel, and especially the characters, believable. Give it a go and see if you like it. 

And then you can read the rest we have in the series:

Hunter

Hideout  (this book is not out yet; but you can reserve it)

Links for you

Heath in the Library:

Shockave

(a Junior Fiction choose-your-own adventure story)

Cut out

(a Young Adult novel - part of a series)

Read-a-likes in the Library:

Silent wife

Karin Slaughter

In this novel, a lot of the themes are the same in terms of death row and kidnapping. The genre is also the same, as well as the level of violence.

Dexter: an omnibus

Jeffry P. Lindsay

Whilst the characters are different in background; the way they work to stop crime and the level of violence is similar. However; Dexter, as a character, is probably not as flawed.

Hannibal rising

Thomas Harris

The characters are similarly twisted and dark within this novel and Heath's.

Eva Nour's "Stray cats of Homs"

 

You can find this book here. The book was originally titled De hemlösa katterna i Homs as it was written in Stockholm. The English translation read by me was made by Agnes Broomé.

This book is in the Library's general fiction section; however, it contains some biographical events of 'Sami' (not their real name for safety reasons) during the Syrian Civil War that began in 2011 and is at this point still ongoing; though it could possibly be classified as an escalated war that is more than just within Syria.

If you would like fact-based progression of the war, Britannica has created a timeline for viewing here.  

Don't get me wrong, there are facts within this book that relate to the timeline and progressions of history. However; this book focusses on the experiences, relationships and life during this time of the protagonist Sami. When Syria goes to war with itself, normal is no longer what Sami remembers or lives through (particularly regarding to the reader if they have not lived through Civil War). Whilst there are horrors and devastation in Sami's life, the novel does focus on the concepts of hope and home with Sami. These themes are interwoven throughout the text and really help shape the reader's understanding of the concepts, as well as war and trying to live with it. 

Let's face it, when the blurb on the back claims: 

              Tender, wild and unbearably raw, it is a novel which will stay with you for ever

It means it.

The protagonist is well rounded, the descriptions are full. You feel part of the scene, even if you are rather distanced by possibly not having the knowledge or understanding of this kind of experience. There is a lot of emotion in this book; and if you are not comfortable with some things that happen during wartime, this may be a little too detailed for you, as again, some descriptions are rather vivid (for example, what changes occur through vitamin deficiencies).

This means that it adds depth and heartbreak to events readers may only know through the distance of media. The writing is detailed and full and shows the effects of war on individuals trying to escape it, and those who remain. 

At the end of the novel, you also receive extra information, notes and photographs from 'Sami' and used within the novel that helps understand why Sami told his story and why Eva (not her real name) wrote it. 

This book is a powerful read.

Links for you

The books in this list found within our Library may have different focusses, characters, and writing styles. However; their themes are similar if you would like more perspectives and information on the Syrian Civil War.

Nujeen

Nujeen Mustafa

Syria's secret library

Mike Thomson

We crossed a bridge and it trembled

Wendy Pearlman

Last sanctuary in Aleppo

Alaa Aljaleel

Books for Christmas

 

Christmas is a time for family, friends and togetherness. Sometimes (though not necessarily here in Australia) it is about snow, fireplaces, love and ... unicorns.

people who enjoy Christmas, get excited over the season, or want ideas for the holidays can prepare with resources from the library! There are all kinds of books that can be borrowed to show and share that holiday cheer and spirit that comes around every December 25. 

Picture books:

Timothy Knapman's and Ada Grey's picture book is the magical unicorn version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. There is counting, humour and Christmas wishes everywhere!

You can find this book here.

This is an interesting Aussie tale (or should I say tail) about a sugar glider competing against other bush animals to help pull a sleigh. Alexa Moses and Anil Tortop write a book filled with Christmas magic; that centres around Australian animals. The best of both worlds for Christmas!

You can find this book here.

Adult fiction:

"For as long as Christmas has been celebrated, poets and writers have sought to explore every aspect of it, whether the story of the nativity, gatherings with family and friends, or the festive traditions that have grown over the centuries. And such works have forever changed the way we think about the holiday. A Literary Christmas is a seasonal anthology collecting poems, short stories and prose extracts by some of the greatest poets and writers in the English language. Like Charles Dickens's Ghosts of Christmas past and present, these texts represent times old and new ..." cover insert. 

Compiled by the British Library; it contains many of the best classic Christmas moments from English poetry and literature. The cover just screams English Christmas too, doesn't it?

 You can find this book here.

This book has two short stories in it by Debbie Macomber: Christmas wishes and Rainy Day Kisses (though the second is possibly far less Christmassy than the first). Full of romance and light-heartedness, these stories may just make you feel all warm all over as love stories around Christmas create joy, longing and a special kind of romance for the season. 

You can find this book here. 

And, seemingly Macomber loves Christmas just as much as others! She has written multiple romance fiction novels around Christmas, if you would like to have a peek here.

Stop! Grammar time.

 

Time for two more punctuation marks: semicolons and colons.

The resource can be found here. It is "Good grammar for students" by Howard Jackson.

Semicolons ( ; )

The semicolon is a stronger pause than the comma in a sentence. It is used mostly to separate clauses (smaller sentences) that are not as related to each other as they would be if you used a comma. The example in Howard's (2005) book is:

(p. 118)

While the paragraph is technically about the same topic, the two clauses are not as connected as they change from having a human subject to an environmental one. Also, be aware that if you have a semicolon there, a joining word (or conjunction) like "and" will not (the semicolon replaces it).

Semicolons can also be used to separate lists. For example, if the list is rather detailed (almost like sentences themselves); then a semicolon can be used:

We visited Thailand and Singapore in spring; Germany, France, and Italy in summer; and Argentina in autumn.

You can also use semicolons for words that join two clauses together. These particular words are called conjunctive adverbs and include: moreover, nevertheless, however, otherwise, therefore, then, finally, likewise, and consequently:

The shop was open Monday; however, every day after that it was closed for refurbishment.

Colons ( : )

Colons also separate sentences; however, it might not be a whole sentence, but just one word! It is all about the impact when it comes to a colon to make a strong point. For example:

We have two options: stay and fight, or run like wild horses.

The research is conclusive: climate change is a reality.

And then I had a single thought: stop!

Colons can also introduce lists or quotes (which are important for assignments so you do not plagiarise). 

And that are two more punctuation marks! They can be tricky if you are not used to them; but, they can be fun for writing with more impact. They also make the sentences stronger when you read them. They are also good for faces:

A smile:  :) 

or a wink:   ;)

    

Essie Fox's "Somnambulist"

 

You can find this book here.

First, let's learn some things!

A somnambulist is a sleepwalker; or, someone who walks in their sleep. 

If you want to know a little bit about the actual painting in the story (and shown next to the title page); here is the auction page that shows a catalogue of the item and hands it has been through. There is also a rough guide on the painter here at a general art history site. Both sites I would use for interest only (just in case). 

Now, for the novel ...

The novel is set in the late 1800s (which matches the time of the painting by Millais). It centres around Phoebe Turner a young girl who lives with her strictly religious mother Maud and her aunt Cissy who lives for performing on stage. One night, Phoebe is able to sneak out of her house to watch her aunt perform. There, she is drawn to a strange man, Nathaniel Samuels, who impacts all their lives when he hires her to be the companion to his reclusive wife.

This plot seems straightforward. But I have missed a lot of what is happening within this novel: the main theme of secrets. This is a big deal. And, obviously, if the members of these families communicated at all properly with anyone, there wouldn't be such haunting horrors and tensions between characters. 

Horrors, though, might be too strong a word. It is a gothic novel, which leads to the idea of horror elements; but don't expect gore or monsters. It is more a slow with tensions you possibly see coming. Maybe this is where the horror lies, because characters cannot see what their choices, or lack thereof, have led to. 

I found the settings to be strong and the feel of places in England for the time to be fitting. The atmosphere also was very full. The characters may go either way for you: you may find Phoebe more passive and frustrating, you may not. This could be how youth related historically, it may not. Perhaps read it and decide for yourself. Probably more for an historical fiction reader than a horror reader though. 

Links for you

Author read-a-likes:

Wuthering heights

Emily Bronte

The gothic elements and characters' emotional pulls are stronger here; but the setting, time period, genre are similar.

Picture book

Jo Baker

The time period is different; but the focus on historical fiction and secrets is similar.