Silent Saturday

Review: The Eight by Katherine Neville

· Paperback: 624 pages
· Publisher: Ballantine Books (June 23, 1997)
· Language: English
· ISBN-10: 9780345419088
· ISBN-13: 978-0345419088
· Genre: adventure-fantasy-romance- thriller-historical fiction mix
· Target group: YA and adults


Synopsis:


Katherine Neville published her debut novel The Eight in 1988 and, as far as I know, gained a following almost instantly. After reading it I understand why. This complex historical fiction thriller still resonates with the audience after more than 20 years. Well, it resonated with me no problem as I love history, alchemy and any stories related to it. This book was a real feast, adding some chess tricks to the mix.

The plot consists of, basically, two main stories and many shorter interjections, told by different secondary characters. The first story is set in the 1972, when a New York City computer expert, Catherine Velis, is sent to Algeria on what appears to be a punishment job assignment. Catherine is the first woman employed by a very well-known financial audit company and she did the unimaginable – she dared not to listen to some informal suggestions of her superior who, most probably, took a bribe to influence her work. Bad, bad girl. Soon enough, Catherine is approached by a number of mysterious characters – a Russian chess grandmaster, a soothsayer and some of their friends - and is unwillingly caught up in a deadly game of chess, first as a pawn, then as a more important figure. Her job in Algeria turns into the adventure of her life, during which she finds her true love, plenty of occult knowledge about the beginning of human civilization and much much more.

The second story, set in 1790s (the French Revolution), is narrated from the point of view of a young French nun called Mireille. As her nunnery in Montglane is in grave danger Mireille along with her cousin Valentine are on a mission to scatter the many pieces of the famous Charlemagne chess set to prevent them from being found and assembled. The Montglane chess set, like Tolkien's "The One Ring", has mystical powers, and must be prevented, by an innocent, from falling into the hands of those who represent evil and anarchy. The person who manages to assemble the set will have an incredible power in his or her hand. Small wonder a number of prominent historical figures, including Robespierre, Napoleon, Katherine the Great and her son, prince Paul, strive to find as many figures as they can, no matter the cost. Mireille must additionally take care of her son, Charlot but she is one strong woman and she finds help in unexpected places.

What I liked:

Plenty. As I mentioned above, I find alchemy an incredible subject and here it was treated with respect, even if that respect was a bit superficial. Apart from that the book touched upon a lot of self-referential "strange loops", like the Fibbonacci series, Bach's music, the Moebius strip (the symbol for infinity and the number eight), to name a few. It's also extremely metaphorical in nature, borrowing from Lewis Carroll I suppose. The complexity of the plot is really on a high level but somehow the narration never loses the entertaining factor so you don’t feel like a complete idiot even if you don’t understand some terms or are not a chess player.

The quality of Katherine Neville's writing is impeccable. I found out that this author is well-known for travelling a lot, researching her stories to the tiniest detail, which is evident in the plot – unlike Dan Brown’s stories, this one can be treated almost like a travel guide. As for the characters, especially Catherine and Mireille, they are strong, independent women made of flesh and blood – I love such female characters and I get a kick out of it every time. The many secondary real-life characters ( Rousseau, Voltaire, Richelieu, Willam Blacke, Willam Wordsworth and Andre Philidor to quote just the most important ones) who appear in the novel are not simply thrown in to show that the author knew their names and their historical role. Instead, they all play an integral part in the story.

At the very core of The Eight, however, is chess. Anyone who plays chess will soon realize that the entire plot can be tracked on a chess board, as the characters are all pawns, playing under different colours. There are not a lot of people who will not have fun figuring out on whose sides Catherine and Mireille are - and who wins in the end.

What I didn’t like:

I had some small reservations.

The first: too many historical characters knew and coveted the chess set of Montglane throughout ages. How come nobody came and claimed it, even if it meant murdering the poor nuns? It simply didn’t sound realistic after a while.

The second: it seems that nobody today is NOT involved in the global intrigue associated with the Montglane Chess Set, from a simple manservant to a Minister. How come it is still a secret?

The third: some dialogues would need more editing.

The fourth and the last one: a convertible Rolls Royce Corniche driving 1000 miles across the desert? With a broken roof? No way!!! Just look at it!

Image via Wikipedia

Final verdict:

Even readers with no interest in alchemy and chess will be entertained by this fantasy-adventure. I am looking forward to reading its sequel, ‘The Fire’.

Friday Flash Fiction part six

Amy C at Romance Book Wyrm and Dottie atTink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate - you post your Fiction Flash  on Friday - 350 words, give or take. Below you can find the picture posted last Monday:

It didn't exactly fit my story - the archer is ok, it could be Neelya, but the unicorn...and the wolves...still I wrote the continuation - have fun and tell me what you think, leaving a comment below! If you want to find any of the previous parts, look for the 'friday flash fiction' label below, on the right. As usually my flash is a big longer than I planned but I really couldn't help it.

Neelya's story part six.

At the inn Neelya run to her room and slammed the doors so loudly the whole building shook. She was badly shaken as well but for different reasons. She threw herself on the bed and cried of grief, feeling humiliated, angry, distressed. She didn’t want to see either Zavi or Murq again. She didn’t want to see this strange place again. Ever. After she subdued her sobbing a bit she started to think. She knew her wishes wouldn’t come true until the next day. She had to calm down, wash, eat and sleep in order to be completely lucid before the Council. She didn’t even know the hour of her appointment. Drat – it meant asking Zavi. She decided to treat it as an exercise in self-control, an important thing for every archer or warrior. Another hurdle dividing her from her freedom. First she washed herself as well as she could in a shallow basin, then she went down to the dining room and asked for a meal and something to drink. A sympathetic woman brought her a plate of tasty soup and a cup of tea. She ate with gusto and finally she felt strong enough to face Zavi. She went upstairs but was so preoccupied with her anguish that she almost collided with him on the corridor. Both of them didn’t want to look into each other’s eyes. Zavi spoke first:

- How are you feeling? Would you mind a chat?

- Actually I would but still, as I must ask you the time of my tomorrow’s appointment …

- Noon.

‘Goodnes, so late’, thought Neelya, sighing. ‘ How am I going to survive till tomorrow noon?’

- Let’s go into your room and talk things over in peace, shall we? – suggested Zavi in an awkward way.

- Is there anything to talk over?

- You would be surprised how much.

- If you insist…

Neelya went, resigned, into her room and sat heavily on her bed, leaving Zavi no other option than the only chair – a lame and flimsy piece of furniture - which stood in the corner. The silence started ringing in her ears but she was determined not to make anything easier for him. No way. Not after all she’s been through because of an innocent dance. Finally Zavi decided to start the conversation.

- I would like to apologize, Neelya. I mean it. Our first meeting didn’t go well at all but you should understand, at least partially, why. Back then you was just a witness of magic, a woman soon to be eliminated…

- …killed. Let’s call the spade the spade.


- As you wish. Killed. Let me tell you something more. I am not a rapist, but I am a coward, I admit it. I said what I said because I just didn’t want to be left alone with that grim task. It  would be my first independent elimi…kill. I hoped I might persuade Murq to stay with me and help. He is quite ingenious at it and he likes women. He has invented a potion which…

- I don’t want to hear about it.

- Right. Wrong topic. As I said I didn’t mean you harm and believe me or not, I am your best friend in Nar. Tomorrow you are going to be registered as my apprentice but today I must beg you not to do anything rash. Don’t go out, don’t try to run away, don’t endanger your future. Right now you are very vulnerable and totally defenseless, an easy prey to any mage or even a more advanced…

- Your point being?

- It’s crucial you understand my reasons but if you want to hear my point here it is: you are in grave danger. Stay in your room, don’t talk with anybody unless I am present, don’t touch anybody or anything unusual.

- Why am I so endangered? What’s the problem?

- Listen, Neelya, listen very carefully. If you don’t become an apprentice you are nothing but a commodity here, a thing that might be sold and bought. It is done all the time in Nar. You are in a limbo – your old life finished, your new life not exactly started. Anybody more powerful than you can capture you and do as he or she pleases. Would you like to end up as a sex slave or worse? In such circumstances I would have hard time to prove you existed at all. I doubt Murq would be kind enough to testify on my behalf.

- Maybe Murq only wanted to help.

Zavi flared up instantly.

- That old cur. Like hell he did. Accosting and fondling you in the middle of the street, then trying to drive a wedge between us even before you are registered. Have you wondered why he spoke Thavosi even though he is hardly as fluent as you and me? He wanted to feed you an incomplete and skewed version of the events guessing that maybe I didn't have the time to present mine, that’s why. Very helpful indeed.

- I still don’t see it…why am I in such a danger? I am gifted, aren’t I? You and that Black Brother respected it.

- It is of no importance now. In fact it is your biggest weakness. Plenty of mages would love to get a gifted slave without soiling their reputation. On the other hand the fact that I discovered you obliges me to protect and teach you as well as I can. This is the magical law – your discovery, your responsibility. Others are free of such an obligation so they are your natural enemies, all of them, until you are registered; if they abduct you or somehow lure you into a trap they will be your owners and your chance will be lost.

- They can’t do such a thing! They won’t be allowed! It’s a crime! I am of noble birth, my uncle is the king of Thavos!

- Stupid girl, it only means you might fetch a higher price!

- It means my uncle will look for me and find me, you idiot! Rather sooner than later and with armed men!

- No, he won’t!

- Yes, he will!

- Not if he is told you are dead, you ninny!

Neelya blanched.

- What did you say?

Zavi covered his mouth with his hand for a moment, totally distressed; it became apparent the conversation went the wrong way. He was afraid of the girl’s reaction - she was being high-strung all day and could snap any moment now. He wished he knew any cheering charm; instead, he applied his best soothing voice and manners.

- It is a standard procedure with future mages, Neelya. It must be done. When we become apprentices we are officially declared dead to the rest of the world so our relatives and friends stop looking for us. They don’t know it but we are aware what it would mean and we do it to protect them. Usually it’s the new master who approaches the family of his or her apprentice and says what should be said. In your case, I think, an official message will be sent from our queen.

Neelya sat paralyzed by the thought.

- No.

- I am sorry.

- I don’t believe it. Are you saying that nothing can be done? No, it can’t be true. Please, I don’t want to be announced dead. I want to return to my life. Please. I promise I will forget what you said and done to me, I will forget it all. I will forgive you and pay as much as you wish. My family is rich. Please Zavi, think about it. You won’t have to work for the rest of your life. One small favour. I beg you…

- It is not a small favour, Neelya, it is an impossible task. No amount of money can defend me from mages– do you remember the Black Brother?

Neelya started to cry.

- I beg you…

- If you still think I am somehow deceiving you, not telling you all the truth, ask the Council tomorrow. Their decision will bind us all. If they say you might return home I will be more than happy to escort you to your marble palace or wherever you live. But keep in mind this : if you are not more careful you might not even get a chance to stand before the Council at all. There have been such incidents, prospective apprentices disappearing for good, nobody ever hearing of them again.

- I will be careful, I promise. I won’t go out of my room.

- Great. Now you are being sensible. If you are in want of something, here - he handed her a small silvery mirror in a wooden frame – just wipe this with your hand and say my name. I will attend to you immediately. Don’t go out, don’t even touch the door yourself, I am intending to secure the entrance against any intrusion. Rest and sleep.

He stood up, emotionally tired and eager to leave the room.

- Zavi…

- Yes?

- I would need a change of clothes.

- Of course. I’ll bring them to you tomorrow, first thing in the morning. You must be presentable.

- And…

- Anything else?

- I would love to take a bath. If necessary, in this room but still…

- I’ll talk to the innkeeper, I know her personally. If it is possible a maid will draw you a bath here and clean afterwards.

- Thank you.

- You are welcome. See you tomorrow Neelya. Don’t worry, everything will be fine.

Somehow she wasn’t even able to fake the palest goodbye smile. With tears hanging on her long eyelashes her unhappy mouth still ghostly white, she looked like despair incarnated. Zavi decided to run to the innkeeper, a middle-aged woman of motherly figure and manners called Ketino, and ask her for help immediately. Ketino promised to do what she could.

Mini review: Intoxication by Tim Kizer

Author: Tim Kizer
Title: Intoxication
Genre: suspense novelette
Form: e-book
Target audience: adults


Why I read it: I was contacted by the author some time ago; he was kind enough to send me a link to the excerpt of this short story, published on the Internet. After reading it I agreed to write an impartial review and then I was sent the full text for free.

Summary

A woman called Leslie thinks somebody tries to poison her at work. One of her female colleagues. Plenty of people, her boss among them, think she is mad. She is looking for the answer on her own, helped sometimes by her boyfriend. She finds what she wanted to find but not without paying a price for it.


What I liked:

• - the plot was planned well and fast paced enough to keep you interested
• - the main character, Leslie, was a kick-ass girl
• - the suspense factor kept me curious
• - the ending was original
• - reading it was a breeze

What I didn’t like:

• - the psychological background of main characters was not sufficiently exposed (in my very humble opinion of course, well, I guess the text was too short)
• - some dialogues I found rather stiff
• - if you like this game you can easily find some holes in the plot (well, I must admit I am one of these nerds)

Final verdict:

I don’t like novelettes, I prefer longer stories or series but this one surprised me very nicely. I think the author has growth potential. His ideas are fresh and his narration flows easily but I would like to see more psychology behind the madness (if possible).

You see? I can write short reviews too!

Review: House of Illusions by Pauline Gedge

Hardcover: 436 pages

Publisher: Moyer Bell and its subsidiaries; 1st edition (July 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1559212004
ISBN-13: 978-1559212007
Genre: historical fiction
Target group: adults

Warning

As it is the sequel of House of Dreams, reviewed by me not so long ago, the synopsis contains spoilers, especially concerning the first part's ending.

Synopsis:

The narration picks up 16 years after the catastrophic coup which almost cost Thu her life. She was lucky to be banished to her home village of Aswat, the place she had been so eager to escape. Now she lives in a hut next to the local temple of Wepwawep, a minor war god and also her personal totem. She serves the priests and cleans the temple, reduced to the lowest of low, a menial worker nobody wants to talk with. Thu is not a woman who would get depressed and reconcile with her fate, though. She thinks she stands a chance, however flimsy, of being pardonned. She must reach the old, ailing Pharaoh Ramses III and present her side of the story - everything she has personally written on papyrus scraps stolen from the temple. In order to do so she tires to get one of royal Heralds who visit the village from time to time to take her diary (not revealing its content) to the court. So far nobody has been foolish enough or sympathetic enough to agree. Finally she gets her chance.

Kamen, a young, sixteen-year-old soldier and the adopted son of a merchant, now on his way back from Nubia, spends the night in Aswat and is, like his predecessors, accosted by Thu. Of course she asks him to deliver an intricately bound package to the pharaoh. Kamen's companions dismiss the woman as mad, but he himself, impressed by her elegant accent and behaviour, agrees to take it. Back in the capital, he hands it over to his commanding general Paiis, and when Paiis realizes what the package contains he and his former co-conspirators decide to act quickly. Kamen is commanded to return to Aswat, allegedly to arrest and bring the woman to the city. Surprisingly he is accompanied by a silent Libu mercenary who happens to be a hired assassin. In Aswat, Kamen and Thu narrowly escape death. Thu decides to return to Pi-Ramses and seek a hearing before the Pharaoh on her own. Although Kamen is determined to help her it will be a dangerous enterprise, full of sudden twists, turns and intrigues.


What I liked:

This part, unlike the first one, has three narrators: Kamen, Kaha the scribe and Thu herself. I liked such a way of narrating better as we can see the same events from more than one perspective. The narration remains fast-paced, full of twists and turns but some of them were rather predictable. Gedge makes daily life in Egypt come alive – I enjoyed it as much as in the first novel.

Thu is still a tremendous character, full of zest for life and stubbornness despite her miserable condition. Although she remains a double murderess we see that she has changed; it is especially visible in the scene when Thu is asked by her former harem friend to prepare a poison and help her commit suicide. I liked that new incarnation of her a lot.

What I didn’t like:

In the first book, there was some plausibility in the story but in the sequel there was little left. In fact it is more a fairy tale than historical fiction.

The authoress decided to end the book with truly an unbelievable HEA, something which can be accepted only by hard-core Harlequin fans. Perhaps it was supposed to be sweet and romantic but I found it unbelievable. Thu was simply too successful in getting her revenge. I couldn’t believe for instance that, after letting her stay 17 years in exile, the old, bedridden Ramses not only remembered her and her coup so well but also took such an uncommon interest in compensating her every loss. If he loved her so much why he waited so long?

Finally I missed Hui and regretted the fact that we saw so little of him – after all, next to Thu, he was the most complex and the most interesting character of the first part. Here his role was limited – he seemed only a pale shadow of his former self. New characters, introduced in this part, couldn't equal him in any way.

Final verdict:

It's still a good book, and I enjoyed reading it despite the cheesy ending but not as much as the first part. Unfortunately it confirms the rule that sequels are usually worse.

Image via Wikipedia

Silent Saturday - magnolias in full bloom!

 

Friday Flash Fiction part five

Amy C at Romance Book Wyrm and Dottie atTink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate - you post your Fiction Flash  on Friday - 350 words, give or take. Below you can find the picture posted last Monday:

Incredible, isn't it? I was very happy to use it but I admit my story got a bit long...

Neelya's story (part five):

Neelya rode a smallish, underfed mule with Zavi in front, on a far more impressing mount. She preferred it that way – she could think her situation over without being constantly irritated by his smirks and twaddle. They were approaching Nar. These last days seemed just a bad dream. Information, imparted by her new master was unexpected, horrible and unjust, especially unjust! Master? It was a bad joke! He was of inferior birth and most probably her age, maybe even younger! He was obnoxious! Only half-Thavosi whereas she came from one of the oldest and most powerful families! What has she done to deserve this? She cast her mind back to the previous days, searching for a clue.

After the Black Brother left them, Zavi started his solemn lecture. He said that she’d been a very, very lucky girl – she was gifted and Zavi saved her life telling the assassin about it right in time. So far so good. Then he said that basically she was starting a new life and because of that she should forget her former social status, family, friends, king and Thavos. From now on she would be known as Neelya of Nar, his apprentice, and then, if everything goes as it should, an independent mage. She must be grateful, diligent, obedient and kind to him, it’s her duty now. She must learn to speak Narean as quickly as possible. She would start her magical training right after the registration. Neelya couldn’t protest loudly – her vocal cords were still muted – but she didn’t accept this new imposed future. Not even one bit of it. In her opinion magic was rubbish – a stuff from old crones’ or children’s stories, certainly not anything she would like to deal with! Nobody in Thavos knew or heard of a decently powerful mage! Mages were tricksters, con men, punks and other trash – it was known. What could be done? She would have escaped somehow but one thing made her stay with Zavi – the Black Brother or rather Black Brethren, as there were more of them. Zavi told her that it was their task to deal with any magical problems - witnesses of magic, apprentices, even, or maybe especially, unruly mages. They would find them and kill and the breach of secrecy was the most serious crime. If she tried to escape and hide among non-magical people now she would be found and elliminated along with those who had  contact with her. ‘Black Bethren are powerful and knowledgeable, they control the whole community’ continued Zavi. ‘As an apprentice, you are right under their jurisdiction so don’t get any foolish ideas’. Neelya believed his words. Zavi’s voice sounded right but she also saw the man and felt his power. No other proof was needed.

Lying in her bed that evening Neelya came to a conclusion that the best solution would be to go to Nar and explain everything before that High Council of mages. She couldn’t risk her life or the life of her relatives and friends. The mages must set her free. ‘Zavi is too young and too inexperienced to know about exceptions’, she mused with closed eyes. ‘Other mages, his superiors, will know what to do and they will do the right thing or the wrath of the king of Thavos will reach them pretty soon. I am his beloved and valuable niece; my abduction is going to be noticed (‘has already been noticed’, she corrected herself swiftly, ‘of course it has’) it will be treated as a slap across his royal face. Kings don’t like being slapped. Nar is small and insignificant, they have no army to speak of. Thavos is rich, king Numen is strong (‘my uncle, king Numen, my closest relative and beloved uncle who is fond of me and thinks very highly of my skills’, she corrected herself again), you stand no chance against him so, as I don’t wish to become a mage, you must let me return immediately home’. She rehearsed her speech over and over again. It was the only thing that could keep her relatively calm. Finally she fell asleep.

Her dream was very strange, even disturbing. She saw a young woman lying half-naked among silky, white sheets. She was sleeping outside on a kind of large, circular terrace under a swirling golden canopy of clouds. Neelya observed the woman for a moment, more and more shaken but without any apparent reason. She wanted to wake the woman up, she was determined to warn her as she sensed a grave danger approaching. It was very important the woman was wide awake and able to defend herself but Neelya found her body freezed, she couldn’t move one finger or say a word. In her horror she finally realized she was watching herself. She started screaming and she woke up with her mouth wide open, covered in sweat. She couldn't sleep for the rest of night.

Next day they set off to Nar and during the journey Zavi boasted of his magical experience and adventures until he became hoarse. Apparently he was overjoyed by the fact that he was having an audience. Sleepy Neelya didn’t listen to him, hating his handsome face and mellifluous voice more and more with every moment but pretending she had accepted him and her fate. She tried not to speak too much, remembering all the time what Zavi said to the Black Brother – as they are both gifted, he will recognize the falsehood in her voice. And vice versa. Oh great. At least she could think what she wanted. It was a kind of game and she loved games; let’s see who will win. It won’t last long.

At dusk they saw the first settlement where they rested and the next day they reached the main city, also called Nar. ‘Such a small country that it shares its name with the capital’ thought Neelya ironically and this fact made her more optimistic. Thavos is far greater and stronger, there will be no troubles with her release.

Zavi left her in an inn and told her to wait until he arranges the presentation before the Council. She smiled sweetly to calm him down but said nothing. She had enough of these inns and enough of master Zavi’s company. As soon as he disappeared Neelya went outside – it was time she finally ventured to do something on her own. Going sightseeing seemed to be as good an idea as anything, especially that she had never visited this place before.

Nar was full of low, stone buildings, very similar to each other, covered by strangely slanted, red roofs. People on the streets were few and far between. In the distance a medium-sized castle overlooked the city, surrounded by a vast ring of lush gardens. Neelya’s first impression was a sense of ordinariness, which permeated every single corner and stone. However, she noticed a strange, sleepy silence and also the fact that there were no beggars around. It made Neelya wonder what happened to them and she shuddered. Somehow she didn’t think they disappeared of their own free will. Shops were small and dark, mostly selling weaponry and leather accessories. Neelya walked slower and slower, strangely tired. She wanted to return to her inn but she found with surprise that she lost her sense of direction. Her strength was dwindling fast. She stopped in the middle of a street as exhausted as if she has been walking a full day. Before she decided what to do (her only options being sit down and sleep or lie down and sleep) she heard a voice calling her name. The sleepiness immediately left her – fully alert and strangely rested, she turned her head to see a tall man standing at the corner of a building, swilling beer and smiling.

- Young Neelya. Good to see you again. I’ve heard about your unusual luck. I don’t doubt Zavi is one happy mage too. – he said in imperfect but intelligible Thavosi.

- Have we met?

- Of course we have but I forgot - you were unconscious at that time, sorry. Let me introduce myself. My name is Murq and I am the former master and teacher of your Zavi.

- My Zavi?

- Well, now as you are his apprentice…

- It won’t last long. – she blurted out all of a sudden.

- How do you mean?

- I…never mind. I am looking for an inn…

- Zavi left you in an inn, all alone? How discourteously of him! Small wonder such a spirited girl got bored, went out and got lost. It's easy to get lost here. Don’t worry, I will show you the way and keep you company, making up for the uncouth behaviour of my former student…such a lovely, high-born lady…here dear, give my your hand.

Neelya at first was reluctant to accept the hand of a complete stranger but then she forced herself to do it. He knew her name so they must have met. Apart from that it was a perfect opportunity to make him talk and to find out more about other mages and the Council. He was older, he used to be Zavi’s master, he could help. As soon as she touched Murq, though, she felt something like a current running through her body. A pleasant, long shiver. She became excited but also oddly calm, definitely calmer than only a moment ago. Now she knew with maddening certainty that Murq was a trustworthy, kind mage, a man who would help her as long as she followed him whenever he wanted to for as long as he wanted to…it didn’t matter he came far too close now, smelling unpleasantly of cheap beer and sweat…he was looking, nah, leering at her cleavage…it didn’t matter he started to stroke her breast in the middle of an empty street, his other hand pressing the small of her back…it didn’t matter…

- I would like to remind you, Murq, that she is my apprentice.

Neelya jumped out of her trance. This obnoxiously pleasant voice. Zavi. She was furious but when Murq dropped her hand and walked away slowly to his corner her rage suddenly disappeared.

- Not so long ago you were rather anxious to share, dear boy.

- As far as I remember you declined the offer.

- Maybe I’ve changed my mind.

- So have I. By the way, sharing is one thing, stealing - quite another. Hands off, master Murq. Neelya, come here. Now.

Neelya hesitated, still feeling a bit befuddled, still yearning for the strangely exciting current that made her forget herself with a complete stranger in the middle of a street. Zavi came closer, took her hand in a very decisive manner and forced her to follow him in silence. Murq didn’t oppose. ‘He could have done or said something’, thought Neelya grudgingly turning her head towards Murq, the last remnants of that current circulating slowly in her body. Murq returned to his beer, just looking at her through his puffy half-closed eyelids.

- He spoke Thavosi...who did you want to share with him? – asked Neelya after a moment of quick walk.

Somehow this piece of information stuck in her head. Zavi rolled his eyes, evidently vexed. Trust a woman to pick the least useful and the most embarrassing words out of every conversation she hears.

- Never you mind.

- Tell me. Anybody I know?

- I told you, quit it and stay mum till we reach the inn; the buildings here not only have ears but also can repeat what they’ve heard. Do you want all Nar to gossip about your little adventures?

- You wanted to share me, didn't you? - asked the girl in a low voice, her mouth close to his ear.

 Zavi didn't have to answer as he turned bright red immediately. Neelya looked daggers at him but she didn't say anything else either.

Thoughtful Thursday, 21 April - fairy tales

Welcome to Thoughtful Thursday!

This week I would like to discuss fairy tales and their influence over children and adults. 

Have you read fairy tales as an adult? Why/why not? Did you enjoy them as a child? Which one were your favourites? Which one you hated? What do you remember about them? Whad did they teach you? Would you like to read them to your children? Do you like modern versions of fairy tales? Which ones?

 I would love to know your thoughts!

Now some quotes concerning this topic:

Image via Wikipedia

Every man's life is a fairy tale written by God's fingers.
Hans Christian Andersen

Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.
G. K. Chesterton

I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now.
John Lennon

The loveliest fairy in the world; and her name is Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby.
Charles Kingsley
The Water Babies.

If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.
Albert Einstein
Attributed, but unsourced.

The tooth fairy teaches children that they can sell body parts for money.
David Richerby

A woman is a female who is human,
Designed for pleasing man, the human male.
A human male is pleased by many women,
And all the rest you hear is fairy tale.
Oscar Hammerstein II

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the fairies, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.
Rachel Carson

Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?
Douglas Adams

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Review: The Bourne Identity (The Bourne Trilogy 01) by Robert Ludlum

Mass Market Paperback: 544 pages
Publisher: Bantam (February 1, 1984)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780553260113
ISBN-13: 978-0553260113
genre: thriller
target group: adults

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Synopsis:

An unknown man is shot and dumped into the sea in the middle of the Mediterranean. He is found barely alive by fishermen two days later and he ends up in the care of an alcoholic expat doctor from the UK, called Geoffrey Washburn, at Île de Port Noir, a small island on the coast of France. For three weeks he remains comatose while the doctor nurses him back to health. When his consciousness returns he finds himself amnesiac – a man without any memory of his past. The doctor tries to help him and they start to figure out who and what he is. Their findings are disturbing. There is evidence that very professional plastic surgery has altered his face to make him able to blend in with a crowd, and change his appearance with the addition of contact lenses, hair dye, or a bit of facial hair. French, English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese: in all of these he seems to be completely fluent. A thin strip of microfilm, implanted beneath his skin, leads the man to a bank in Zurich where a name of Jason Bourne is revealed, along with the sum of four million dollars. Is it really his true name, though? Who had paid him so much money and what for? Some nasty hit squads are attempting to end his life. Why?

Slowly, tantalizingly, remnants of Jason’s past are revealed. He has been recognised by someone who thought he was dead, who wants him dead. News of him reaches the ears of the CIA, and of a professional assassin named Carlos. Bourne finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place as he tries to understand his past, which comes back to him in flashes, triggered by a street, a building or a face. Bizarre memories of a secretive ops unit from the Vietnam War, known only as Medusa, begin to resurface as well, bringing out hidden emotions, feelings, and most importantly to Jason, names. In a desperate bid to escape his many pursuers, he kidnaps a woman named Marie St Jacques, a Canadian PhD and a financial whiz. Together they try to piece together his past, and keep each other alive. Who is he? Who does he work for? Whose side is he on?

What I liked:

If any reader expects "The Bourne Identity" to be just like the movie, he's in for a surprise. Up until the episode at the bank in Zurich, it's a bit similar. After that the book takes a wildly different path. The only things the book shares with the movie are the general concept (assassin with no memory hunted by some other assassins) and a few character names. That's about it.

Despite having seen the movie based on The Bourne Identity (and not enjoying it almost at all), I could recall very little of it. Reading the book I could relate to its main character, Jason Bourne: fragments, names, and faces coming back to me at irregular intervals, but with no context in which to place them. The film sets a different scenario, creating different characters, definitely more shallow and less interesting I must add. The biggest difference can be spotted in the case of Marie. In the book she is a very intelligent, mature woman, an economist with plenty of stamina and incredible analyzing skills, in other words a fully -fledged heroine with a voice of her own. The movie Marie is merely a pretty vagabond student, just another Bond…sorry, Bourne girl, an accessory, not a character. Her main asset is her dilapidated car. You barely remember her name.

Let’s return to the book. From cover to cover Robert Ludlum’s thriller does not let up on suspense, mystery, or pace. The plot is really intricate and be warned- cliffhangers are not solely confined to the end of a chapter. It is really a highly readable book that keeps you turning the pages. Thrillers seldom get as good as this.

What I didn’t like:

Even a good plot with some clever and intriguing bits couldn’t make up for the fact that Bourne's superhuman abilities grated after a while – for example he could get shot really a lot of times and somehow survive while he only needed to shoot the baddies once and they were so conveniently dead. It is my usual complaint when it comes to gung ho thrillers: if the hero is so good and brilliant and skilled, how come he is constantly in trouble? In normal life such people don’t exist but somehow thriller writers are immune to such a reasoning.

Apart from that the style of writing was a bit of a drag – I found the narration long-winded at times and stiff. Because of that the book was a bit too long. There’s really no need to repeat ad nauseam how confused and conflicted our hero is; most readers will keep that in mind after a while and you can save some trees reducing the number of unnecessary pages.

One last thing - the book was written and published before the era of mobile phones (1984) and somehow reading about a super-hero who must run from one phone booth to the other had strange effect on me - it was sometimes funny and sometimes simply ludicrous, making me grin in the middle of dead serious scenes! That's the problem with technology - it changes so fast, providing unintentional comic relief!


Final verdict

An entertaining and truly engaging read I can really recommend for those who have plenty of time to kill while e.g. traveling or sitting on a beach. Even if you saw the movie you will enjoy this one. I will read the rest of the series when I am less busy for sure!

Silent Saturday

Friday Flash Fiction part four

Amy C at Romance Book Wyrm and Dottie atTink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate - you post your Fiction Flash  on Friday - 350 words, give or take. Unfortunately I am pretty sure  the picture posted last Monday couldn't be included into my story in any way (you can see it below) .

 It features a very nice guy who is most probably an elf (if you enlarge the pic you will notice his pointy ears). Well, what a pity my narration doesn't feature elves. Neither them nor sweet deer, standing in the background. 

I had two choices - either start something new (and use the picture according to the rules) or continue my original story (and ignore the picture).  I chose the second option.  It's up to you to judge whether I was right or wrong. 

Here's the fourth part of the story of Neelya:

Zavi woke up. He was stiff and sore, lying face down on hard, wooden floor for undoubtedly longer than he would wish. When he tried to get up he found his hands and feet bound. Oh great. He remembered then. Being nice and polite to women is completely useless. If you know what's good for you you will treat them mean all the time. Murq often said it and he was right.

Neelya regained her consciousness the same night Murq left the inn. Zavi took care of her as he was taught to do with witnesses of magic, no matter what gender, skin colour or age. No unnecessary cruelty, kill them with your kindness, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, do as you would like to be done by, blah blah blah. He brought her food and water, sometimes chatted with her, even sent a maid to change her sheets, wash her and empty her chamber pot. His attention was very welcome - it earned him even a gracious ‘thank you’. He never touched or kissed her, behaving all the time like a perfect nobleman. Neelya always greeted him with a radiant smile - maybe because he was handsome, maybe because, being half- Thavosi, he spoke her mother tongue fluently. Zavi told her he had saved her life fighting bravely in her defence and many other nice falsehoods. It was a white lie, wasn't it? She kept smiling so he continued his made-up story in a gentle, quiet voice, a voice people compared so often to mulled wine or smooth silk or warm, spiced mead. Any story seemed probable and beautiful if somebody was telling it with such a voice. Neelya beamed, nodding all the time, but her eyes glittered dangerously. He should have known something was wrong.

When he knocked and entered her room the third day, with a tray laden with scrumptious breakfast ('her last breakfast' he thought, 'it must be extra good') , all of a sudden he felt blinding pain on the back of his head and then saw no more. He didn’t know how long he was out but when he became conscious again he found himself Neelya’s prisoner. Stupid, stupid girl – she wasn’t aware that her action couldn’t change anything. It could only make things worse. However, temporarily, she managed to make things worse for him. She started to shout. Typical.

She accused him of lying to her through his teeth, called him names he hasn’t heard from a very long time, gave him a whack or two with her own belt (a sturdy piece of leather) and then shouted some more. One sentence caught his attention: she said she was gifted, a gifted royal archer-guard or something like that, a high-born lady and the relative of the king so how he dared to abduct her and touch her at all with his filthy paws...

Gifted… that’s why she knew he had lied to him, unaffected by his charming voice…that’s why…

He couldn’t even start to explain the gravity of this piece of news, providing he would outshout her of course, when the door opened. A man in a long black cloak entered the room. Neelya, as surprised as Zavi, gaped at the newcomer in a most un-ladylike manner. The stranger’s eyes swept the room quickly, taking in the weird scene before him in a second and then he said :

- Untie him, girl. Right now.

His voice was raspy and strong. Neelya did as she was ordered without one word of protest. 'That’s the power of a black cloak and the ordering charm', thought Zavi, 'I must purchase the cloak as soon as…'

- Stand up, young man. Are you master Zaviroc of Nar, an independent mage ?

- Yes, sir, that’s me.

- Tell me is this young woman your witness of magic ?

- Yes but…

- Girl, move to the corner over there and stand still.

Neelya positioned herself as she was told in complete silence, like an automaton. A funny expression was frozen on her flushed face, something between surprise, abhorrence and stubbornness.

- Master Zaviroc come nearer me and grab my cloak.

- No, please, let me explain, sir, please, just a few words…

- No time for that young man. Do you think I have a whole hour to deal with you? Do as you are told or you can join the girl.

- No, please, the circumstances changed, you have to listen to me…

- How did they change?

Zaviroc gathered his thoughts and said quickly with more swagger, emulating Murq as well as he could:

- I’ve just found out that my witness is gifted. I couldn’t lie to her for starters – she was able to recognize the falsehood in my voice. She is a future mage. I claim her as my apprentice and I intend to present her before the High Council for registration as soon as possible. Your mission is thereby aborted.

- I see…incredible coincidence but it happens. What’s her name ?

- Neelya.

The cloaked man closed his eyes and concentrated hard. Then he said:

- Neelya, you are free.

Neelya returned to life with a horrible shriek, worth ten hags and twelve angry cats kept together in a very tight bag.

- YOU MONSTERS, YOU SCUM, LEAVE ME BE OR YOU’LL BE CURSING THE DAY YOU WERE BORN! HOW DARE YOU TO...

- Neelya, please…

- SHUT UP YOU LYING SON OF A MANGY DOG AND AN OVERSIZED BEDBUG, YOU FILTHY PIECE OF MOUSE DROPPINGS, YOU STINKY FISH MIXED WITH…

- Shut up, girl. – said the cloaked man almost lazily, seeing that Zavi was left speechless.

Neelya went quiet instantly although her eyes were still bulging and her mouth - moving. Zavi breathed with relief.

- Thank you, sir. I will be grateful if you'll let my apprentice stay this way for a quarter of an hour or so until I explain the most important facts and some basic rules to her.

The cloaked man smiled thinly.

- As you wish. Good luck, master Zaviroc. You will need it with such an apprentice. Travel well and get home soon.

- Thank you, sir. Travel well.

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Review: Covert Youth Agency – A Case of Tangled Love by Jason Ancona.

A digital copy of this book I got from the author free of charge – thank you very much!

Title: C.Y.A.: The Case of Tangled Love (A Covert Youth Agency Novel, Book 1)
Author: Jason Ancona
Format: Digital ebook
Page Count: 258 pages
Target group: YA (MG so ages 8-14 preferably)

Synopsis:

We are presented a bunch of teenagers (in their early teens) who try to cope with different problems (most often family and school-related) by creating the CYA (so the Covert Youth Agency from the title). The organization (or rather a club of three) is led by Pi (a.k.a. Peter Samuels) – a sophomore boy unlike most of his peers: thoughtful, funny and intelligent. He is helped by Delilah Lightman (a computer whiz and a freshman) and Ben ‘Tollhouse’ Gaw (who dreams to become an actor and could be called “Mr. Social Skills”). Together they attend Trenton High School which is neither better nor worse than an average American educational institution. Their current case is one of tangled love, where Vera, Pi’s secret crush, wants to know if her boyfriend Jack "JackO" Orton cheated on her at a party. After all an obnoxious (but well- endowed) girl, called Chloe, shows only too clear she wouldn’t mind knowing handsome JackO a bit closer. Will Pi and his friends find out about the truth? Will they be willing to share it with Vera?

What I liked:

A nice twist on the usual cliques in high schools and a way for the underdogs to take control WITHOUT any supernatural tricks and/or creatures - isn't it just amazing? No magic! No werewolves! Not even a hint of a vampire or a zombie! What a bliss!

The sense of humour was really a strong point of this book – all three main characters are really fun (but in an intelligent way); Tollhouse and Lightman are a typical quarelling couple - they bicker often and bring much of the humor to the book but I suppose they like each other (very deep down of course). Pi is a real hero, a young boy with some backbone – I loved to see him growing up so quickly while solving the case! The CYA spy techniques would put to shame several CIA agents and would make more than one parent think twice before they leave their kids alone at home for an extended period of time (say more than two hours).

What I didn’t like:

The dialogue was a bit on the heavy side and the narrative style – a bit too simplistic in my very humble opinion (but it is a MG read so maybe I am being a bit unfair here). The plot had some holes (how a bunch of teens get hold of so much alcohol during their parties? How come nobody dared to complain to their parents about Deek – one of the horrible teachers- and his hazing rituals?)

 Also some things were left unresolved (Deek once again) – I don’t like it but I suppose another installment has been published or is going to be published soon. One more thing: the use of pop culture (Twilight and Harry Potter references for example) will make the book understandable for kids now, but might limit and date it in the future.

Final verdict:

Covert Youth Agency is an easy and cute read with hints of deeper things. I don’t regret I asked for a copy but I suppose I would enjoy it more if I were younger… On the other hand if your child is a HP/Artemis Fowl fan he/she might really like it.

Reviewing a classic – The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë

                                                   fromWikipedia

I got this book courtesy of my friend The Red Witch - thank you very much once again!


About the author:

Anne Brontë (17 January 1820 – 28 May 1849) was the youngest member of the Brontë literary family. She is somewhat overshadowed now by her more famous sisters - Charlotte, the author of four novels including Jane Eyre; and Emily, the author of Wuthering Heights - but her novels used to be fairly popular as well.
Anne Brontë lived most of her life with her family at the parish of Haworth on the Yorkshire moors (her father was a clergyman). For a couple of years she went to a boarding school. At the age of nineteen, she left Haworth working as a governess between 1839 and 1845. After leaving her teaching position, she fulfilled her literary ambitions. She wrote a volume of poetry with her sisters (Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, 1846) and in short succession she wrote two novels. Agnes Grey, based upon her experiences as a governess, was published in 1847. Her second and last novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall appeared in 1848. It was a huge success with even a whiff of scandal about it. Anne's life was cut short with her death of pulmonary tuberculosis when she was only 29 years old.

Synopsis:

The novel is divided into three volumes. The first part is a narration of a young gentleman-farmer, Gilbert Markham, telling us about a mysterious woman, Mrs Graham, who arrived and settled in a nearby old mansion, Wildfell Hall. She instantly becomes a source of curiosity for the local community, especially as she is accompanied by her young son, Arthur, but not by a husband. Initially, Gilbert Markham casually courts Eliza Millward, despite his mother's belief that he can do better. His interest in Eliza wanes as he comes to know Mrs. Graham more closely. In retribution, Eliza spreads (and perhaps originates) scandalous rumours about Helen. With gossip flying, Gilbert is led to believe that his friend and the owner of Wildfell Hall, Mr. Lawrence, is courting Mrs. Graham. During a chance meeting in a road jealous Gilbert strikes Mr Lawrence a whip and he, injured, falls from his horse. Unaware of this, Helen refuses to marry Gilbert, but gives him her diaries to read.

Now starts the second volume, which describes Helen’s disastrous marriage to Arthur Huntingdon, a handsome, witty but very selfish man without any principles or backbone. Before the marriage Arthur has led a dissolute life and even while courting Helen he flirted with another girl, called Annabella – he used her to put some pressure on Helen and convince her to marry him. Helen finally becomes his wife but she is not as happy as she would like to be. Although she sees his vices, she is naïve enough to think she can reform Arthur with gentle persuasion and good example. Of course she fails. Her husband is bored of their country life and goes to London frequently to amuse himself. Upon the birth of their child, Huntingdon becomes increasingly jealous of their son (also named Arthur). Huntingdon's pack of dissolute friends encourage him to behave even worse, as they frequently visit him and engage in drunken revels at his family's home, Grassdale. Annabella, now married to one of Huntingdon’s friends, lord Lowborough, visits Arthur too and starts to cheat with him on her melancholy but devoted husband. Meanwhile Walter Hargrave, the brother of Helen's friend, Milicent Hargrave, vies for her affections. Walter tells Helen of Arthur's affair with Lady Lowborough. When Arthur’s friends depart he pines openly for his paramour and derides his wife. As a retaliation Helen doesn’t let Arthur in her bed.

The last straw for Helen is Arthur's corruption of their son — he and his friends try to encourage the child to drink alcohol and swear. Artur also employs a governess who is a rather doubtful sort of woman to say the least of it. Desperate Helen plans to flee to save young Arthur but her husband learns of her plans from her journal, and burns her artist's tools (by which she had hoped to support herself). Eventually, with help from her brother, Mr. Lawrence, Helen finds a secret refuge at Wildfell Hall – she lives there under the maiden name of her mother so her husband can’t find her.

Helen’s diaries are finished by her escape and we return to Gilbert and his present troubles, entering the last part of the novel. Helen bids Gilbert to leave her because, as he knows very well, she is not free to marry. He complies and soon learns that she returned to Grassdale upon learning that Arthur, who had drunk too much, is gravely ill. Helen tries to help him but Huntingdon dies still rejecting any responsibility for his actions. A year passes. Gilbert pursues a rumour of Helen's impending wedding, only to find that Mr. Lawrence, Helen’s brother, is marrying Esther Hargrave, her young friend. He goes to Grassdale, and discovers that Helen is now a wealthy widow and lives at her estate in Staningley. Gilbert becomes plagued by worries that she is now far above his station. By chance, he encounters Helen, her aunt, and young Arthur by the gates. The two lovers reconcile and marry.

What I liked:


If Jane Austen had allowed Fanny Price to marry Henry Crawford (two characters from her novel Mansfield Park, one of my all-time favourites) I suppose the effect could have been something like The Tenant of Wildfell Hall . Helen made me think of Fanny for more than one reason and her husband reminded me strongly of Henry – he was equally charming, and immoral. Of course there were differences too but somehow I couldn't help comparing those two books and heroines. I wonder whether Anne read Mansfield Park and enjoyed it. I would say 'yes' but it's nothing more than just guesswork.

I liked the lack of romantic mannerism and a dash of feminism, shown here. It was really refreshing to find that this book dared to challenge the prevailing morals of the Victorian era - I was really pleased when Helen slammed her bedroom door in the face of her impudent husband, overturning the sexual politics of the time.

The plot was interesting enough to keep me returning to this book but not especially fast or surprising. I enjoyed Helen’s diary the most, especially as it featured lady Annabella Lowborough, the main female antagonist. She was an adulteress and the source of devastating sorrow for poor Helen, unrepentant, malicious but as close to a real-life person as you would wish. A nice change from the angelic main character.

What I didn’t like:


The main character, Helen, was definitely too sweet and angelic - I liked her but not entirely so. Perhaps for her contemporaries she seemed a spirited, forthright woman, unafraid to speak up her mind, but I think for a modern reader she still remains too meek and too kind, especially when dealing with such a husband. I also didn’t like the fact that this book was a bit too ‘verbose’ – in other word people’s speeches were too long. Once again, it was perhaps considered a good writing style in the 19th century but now some soliloquies of Helen made me yawn after two sentences - I partially understood why her rakish husband used to run away to London and stay there for several months. His preaching wife could have talked anybody to death.

Final verdict:

Despite some weaknesses I did like this one - I think Anne was the most sensible Brontë sister. What a pity she died so early, managing to write only two novels. Now I am looking forward to reading Agnes Grey.

Review: Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

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Paperback: 311 pages
Publisher: Anchor; 1st Anchor Books edition (March 16, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 038549081X
ISBN-13: 978-0385490818
Target group: adults
Genre: dystopia



Synopsis:

Welcome to the near future. Protestant fundamentalists have taken over the US government and created the Republic of Gilead. The new Republic faces many problems but the most keenly felt issue concerns reproduction. Pollution and nuclear accidents have left many people sterile so men and women who can still conceive are the utter luxury. Eventually, the government declare all second marriages invalid and all fertile wives of these marriages are subject to deportation or to service as Handmaids. Handmaids are forced to couple (you can’t call that sex) once a month with aristocratic men with the aim of continuing the race and to give birth to as many children as possible. If they don’t conceive with their first “Commander” they change houses getting two other chances and then they are deported to Colonies where life is hard, environment polluted and nobody survives long. By the way women are no longer allowed to work, study, read or write. They must wear horrible uniform-like dresses, and cover their heads with veils.

Offred (not her real name – “of Fred”?), the narrator of this story, chooses to become a Handmaid. After a period of training at the “Red Center”, she is assigned to a series of households. She ends in the house of a high-ranking Commander, Fred. It is her last chance as it is her third man, she is already 31 and hasn’t conceived again since becoming a Handmaid. She can’t forget her former life, wondering whether her mother, husband and daughter are still alive. She misses many luxuries like nail polish, cigarettes, jeans, high heels, coffee. Now her world revolves around a number of different women, separated into distinct societal roles: Marthas (household workers), Wives (the mistresses), and Aunts (kind of morality guards cum teachers).

Once every month the Commander couples with Offred as his infertile wife sits behind her, holding her hands. Offred doesn’t have the slightest idea that the Commander cares about her situation. However, within a few months he invites her secretly in the middle of the night to his study, an offense punishable by death. They play Scrabble and the Commander brings Offred old books and magazines to read, another capital offense. Then he gives her even more valuable presents - a hand lotion and an old lipstick. Eventually he even takes her to an underground nightclub/brothel where officials can indulge their sinful whims and treat women as sexual beings. Meanwhile Offred, risking her life, learns a little about the resistance from another Handmaid of her acquaintance, Ofglen. The matters complicate when Commander's wife, Serena Joy, comes to the conclusion that her husband is probably sterile. Serena Joy wants a child so badly that she bribes Offred to have sex with her husband’s chauffeur Nick. It is a real affair for poor Offred and she becomes so caught up that she stops gleaning information from Fred for the resistance as she visits Nick definitely more often than she should.

Will Offred prove her worth to her superiors by becoming pregnant? Is there any other way out of her predicament? Will her tale, recorded on cassette tapes, change anything?

What I liked:

It was a feminist and very adult take on dystopia - an interesting and even momentarily entertaining read, although a bit scary. Despite the fact that we deal with a book from the early 1980's (Ronald Reagan was US President then!) it remains momentarily a very persuading vision. I must admit it is written very well – when you start it you must finish, no matter what. Fortunately it is not very long either.

The characters are well-rendered and original, especially Offred and other women she cooperates with. I started to feel for them very early on and then I just choked with anger reading about their lives and daily humiliation. I suppose only a woman author could know how to move you this way.

What I didn’t like:

To tell you the truth there were too many disturbing moments in this book – it is certainly not a light read. Apart from that the whole dystopian world was so horrible that it seemed overall just improbable after a while. I couldn’t believe there were not enough confident and capable women left – women who would oppose the fundamentalists earlier on and in a more decisive manner. Women usually are in the majority so how come they became so subdued? After all for several millennia there have been more female births than male births and men tend to have shorter life spans than women (wars, diseases, accidents, speeding, alcohol – you name it). Even the religion factor didn’t explain it sufficiently well (how come all these ladies were so religious all of a sudden?).

To sum up this novel seems today a bit dated (but believe me, you will be grateful for that) and misguided. It didn't age well.

Final verdict:

I changed this section three times - I am more conflicted than ever. It was an interesting read but I am not madly in love with it. However, I've always been a bit afraid of reading Atwood novels because of her disturbing, dark visions of the future. Perhaps after some time I will be tempted to try her other books but right now I am not sure.
 I other words I am STILL scared. Call me chicken.