My Book Reviews

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't... scared, per se. Creeped out, yes.

I must admit that I expected for there to be a twist at the end. I suspected that things were not as they seemed as I was reading it. When you have two siblings who can see ghosts of the previous governess and driver (whom they are well aware of are dead); and whom don't really seem to mind at all, things sound fishy.

Also when they are described as very pretty/handsome, full of charm, and seem to be of close to no trouble at all, you know that something isn't quite right (because let's face it, kids are not that well behaved; even back then). My original guess (from reading the synopsis at the back of the book) was that perhaps the ghosts and the kids are plotting something over the new governess. I won't say if I'm right or wrong; I'll let you read it and see. ;)

The ending seemed to be open-ended. I have quite a few questions regarding the ending, namely: (highlight for spoilers!)

1) What happened to Flora & Mrs Grose?
2) Did they just up and left and never came back to Bly?
3) WTF HAPPENED TO MILES?? Why the heck did he just drop dead?!
4) What became of the other workers there?


Other than that, seeing as it was only 143 pages long, it was a nice, light read.


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*WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS, WHICH I WILL HIGHLIGHT OFF* 

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Firstly, let me just say: what's a Mitch Albom book if it doesn't make you cry, eh? And I can proudly say that I now own ALL of Mitch Albom's books! *throws confetti*

Ahem. Ok, now for the review.

Let me just say that I applaud Mitch for the depth of the subject in which he writes about. All his books tackle different topics, and he tells it as if he's a master of them. Because come on, if someone like me who isn't too familiar with music, composers, chords and whatnot, tell me you did not look up at least one of the pieces mentioned in this book. I dare you.

The story begins and is told by Music, at Frankie's funeral. Actual artistes also give their 'rendition' of how they knew Frankie Presto, compiling the story of his life. Since the beginning, you can't help feeling sorry for Frankie. He has to overcome obstacles all his life, and just when things seem to be looking up, something happens that turns him into ruins again. And all that since he was a baby, mind. All he seemed to know was heartache and pain, and yet, he was hopeful. However, as he grew up, he grew less and less optimistic. I think that very clearly explains how different a kid and an adult's perspectives are.

I admired his persistence to find Aurora. I admired her for staying with him too, despite everything. At first, I couldn't stand that she kept disappearing when she's had enough of him, yet appear again a few years later, only to do the same thing numerous times. I was frustrated that she still came back so many times.
But then I realized: she must have loved him that much. She left for a few years, hoping that he'd get his shit together before coming back to him. So I must applaud her for even coming back, after all he had put her through.

The most beautiful part, in my opinion, is at the end when everything comes together. All the missing pieces are put in place, and it ends on such a beautiful but sad note.

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*WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS, WHICH I WILL HIGHLIGHT OFF*


The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is my first review with spoilers, because there are things I find confusing. So here goes....

Judging by the ratings, a lot of people seem to love this book. Me, on the other hand; I have a love-hate relationship with it, I think.

It took me a while to get used to it due to the way it’s written. There are very little conversation-openers, and the entire thing constantly shifts from ‘the now’ to ‘before’, that I had a bit of trouble at first determining which was what.

What I still can’t understand though, is how the thing all is. Offred describes having classes with the other handmaids, taught by the Marthas (or rather, Aunt Lydia in particular). But then again, in other scenes, she’s described as being the only handmaid in the household, apart from Rita & Cora who works in the kitchen, and Nick who’s the Commander’s driver. There is no mention of Offred going to another household or building for the ‘classes’, as the classes are very clearly described to be with the other handmaids as well.

Then when they have their ‘afternoon nap’, it is described (such as in the beginning of the story) that they do it in an old university gym. I originally thought that perhaps there were other handmaids living under the same roof, but then when there is a Birth Day, Offred is the only one to go from her household, to the one whose handmaid is having the Birth. That confused me.

Apart from that, it was overall okay. Maybe just not exactly my kind of thing.
Don’t get me wrong; the story overall did get interesting about halfway through. Just that I don’t really understand what all the hype was about.

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