Book review: Stella Duffy “Calendar Girl”

 SamSkyborne_Review  No Responses »
Mar 042018
 


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I’ve been meaning to read this book for ages, and now thankfully, I’ve finally got round to it. It is a shame there is such a glut of new books and fiction out there as some of the older classics get snowed under by the noise of “new talent”.

Calendar Girl is definitely one of those titles worth uncovering again. It has a great plot with a very elegant twist that is very well written. Duffy creates a fine balance between surprising twist and sinister foreshadowing that makes the ending a satisfying conclusion to the gripping ride. This, first novel in the series, is a great introduction to the private investigator Saz Martin and her adventures.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series and getting to know Saz better.

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Book review: Naomi Alderman “The Power”

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Feb 092018
 

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I really enjoyed this book. I like fiction that makes one think and takes one to new places, offering up new territory in thought experiments. “The Power” offered an exciting narrative landscape and held a lot of potential.

I think the author’s choice of characters through whom to tell the story was interesting, presenting perspectives from most of the main archetypal seats of power and illuminating how they are affected and affect the story.

I enjoyed the ironic Mother Eve twist in the end – reminding us that sometimes one can inadvertently fuel the fire rather than blow it out.

Although the common sentiment that “absolute power corrupts absolutely” permeates this story, it would have been nice if the author had allowed at least one character to triumph and thereby offer up a more constructive, perhaps slightly more proactive, alternative of how “absolute power” can be or should be managed more responsibly.

If you are looking for a science fiction story that does what science fiction should do best, cast new light on life in the real world, then read this book!

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Book review: Elle Spencer “Casting Lacey”

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Jan 312018
 

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This title hit Amazon by storm. It was published in December 2017 and has catapulted its way to the #1 Best Seller in “Lesbian” and “Lesbian Fiction” categories over the course of January.

The plot concept, though not completely original, is a definite favourite fantasy: Down-and-out jobbing actor, Lacey, meets A-list star, Quinn, because (and this is where there is a delicious little lesbian twist) A-list star hires jobbing actor to be her fake girlfriend.

In this novel, perhaps true to Hollywood, beauty starts out skin deep since Lacey is ostensibly chosen on the strength of her looks alone, initially. But, luckily, it does not take long for us to get acquainted with Quinn and Lacey’s unique voices, true depth of character and substance.

The plot thickens when the potentially shallow business arrangement is complicated by unforeseen events that place pressure on both Lace and Quinn separately and together. This forces them to drop their barriers and soon they are thundering along a roller-coaster of joy, love, betrayal and despair. But what does this ultimately mean for them contractually, professionally, and privately behind closed doors?

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