The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I first read ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ four years ago and can safely say that I wasn’t disappointed. I instantly felt a connection to the novel, I believe this was through the way Chbosky uses epistolary form to narrate Charlie’s story. I felt like this provided a more personal touch to the novel, allowing for a relationship to form between the reader and Charlie, the protagonist. Or at least, this was the case for me. It was almost as if I was the recipient of the letters and Charlie was writing directly to me.

The basic idea of the novel follows Charlie, an introverted wallflower, a nervous and shy adolescent boy who is terrified about his freshman year of high school. Charlie feels lost, he is completely different to his older brother and sister and his one and only true friend killed himself – leaving Charlie feeling completely lonely. Charlie dives into his reading, finding comfort and ultimately making a friend out of his English teacher, Bill. However, when Charlie overcomes his chronic shyness and approaches Patrick and step-sister Sam, the pair take Charlie under their wing and we see their friendship develop and Charlie’s character blossom. Charlie learns about drugs, sex, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, literature, friendship, love and ultimately himself. He encounters his first date, his first kiss, stands up to bullies, experiments with drinking, makes friends, loses them and gains them back. When a horrifying family secret that Charlie has been repressing for years surfaces, he has a severe mental break down and is hospitalised. In Charlie’s final letter there is a sense of hope and forgiveness: Charlie is being released from the hospital and has forgiven his aunt Helen for what she did to him. Charlie hopes to get out of his head into the real world, and wants to participate in life more, instead of using thought as an excuse not to.

Chbosky writes this novel beautifully and it is most definitely a modern classic. The narration is easy to get into, and although the plot of the novel is basic, the characters created are complex, particularly Charlie. His character is extremely relatable and I myself found I was experiencing emotions when Charlie was, his triumphs and downfalls became my own. I felt his joy, his happiness, his sadness, everything. I cried with him and I cried for him. I have never felt more connected to a literary character as I do with Charlie’s and that is the reason why I am so protective over this novel, the reason why it is my favourite novel. It is by no means a “feel good” novel, although there are “feel good” moments included, but when you read it you certainly get a lot out of it.

“Please believe things are good with me, and even when they’re not, they will be soon enough. And I will believe the same about you”

So the only thing I have left to say is: are you ready to do some soul searching of your own?

Reviewed by Brogan Wilson

Waterstones Eleven

This is the third year that The Waterstones Eleven project has been running. If you don't know about the project, the basic idea behind it is that eleven promising  fiction novels are selected and Waterstones promotes them throughout the year.

"The Waterstones Eleven puts new writing at the forefront of the literary calendar and it has quickly become a celebration our readers trust" - James Daunt, Waterstones Managing Director

So here are the eleven novels that have been selected for 2013.

January - Y by Marjorie Celona  
Marjorie Celona received her MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where she was an Iowa Arts fellow and the recipient of the John C. Schupes fellowship. In recent years, she has been the Olive B. O'connor fellow at Colgate University and writer-in-residence at Hawthornden Castle in Scotland. Her stories have appeared in The Best American Non-required Reading, Harvard Review, Glimmer Train, and Crazyhorse, amongst others.

February - The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence 
Gavin Extence was born in 1982 and grew up in the interestingly named village of Swineshead, Lincolnshire. From ages 5-11, he enjoyed a brief but illustrious career as a chess player, winning numerous national championships and travelling to Moscow and St Petersberg to pit his wits against the finest young minds in Russia. He only won one game.

March -  The Fields by Kevin Maher 
Kevin Maher was born and brought up in Dublin, moving to London in 1996 to begin a career in journalism. He wrote for the Guardian, the Observer and Time Out, and was the film editor of The Face until 2002, before joining The Times, where for the last eight years, he has been a feature writer, critic and columnist.

April - Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi 
Taiye Selasi was born in London and raised in Boston to parents of Ghanaian and Nigerian origin. She is a graduate of Yale and Oxford Universities. Her seminal essay 'Afropolitans' was published in the cult magazine LiP in 2005 before going viral and being used to define a new generation. Her story 'The Sex Lives of African Girls' was published in Granta in 2011.

May - Idiopathy by Sam Byers
Sam Byers was born in 1979. He is a graduate of the Ma in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. He has published fiction in Granta, Tank, and Blank Pages and regularly reviews books for the TLS. 

June - The Son by Michel Rostain 
Michel Rostain lives in Arles. Born in 1942, he works as an opera stage director, and direction the National Theatre of Quimper - Cornwall Theatre - from 1995 to 2008. The Son is his first novel and won the Prix Goncourt in 2011.

July - The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan 
Donal Ryan was born in a village of north Tipperary, a stroll from the shores of Lough Derg. Donal wrote his first draft of The Spinning Heart in the long summer evening of 2010, and has also completed a second novel.

August - Ballistics by DW Wilson
DW Wilson was born in raised in the small towns of Kootenay Valley, British Columbia. He is the recipient of the University of East Anglia's inaugural Man Booker Prize Scholarship - the most prestigious award available to students in the MA programme. He lives in Lonon. Once You Break a Knuckle, his debut story collection, was published by Bloomsbury in 2012. It was short-listed for the Dylan Thomas Prize.

September - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
Hannah Kent was born in Adelaide in 1985. As a teenager, she travelled to Iceland on a Rotary Exchange, where she first heard the story of Agnes Magnusdottir. Hannah is the co-founder and deputy editor of Australian literary journal Kill Your Darlings, and is completing her PhD at Flinders University. In 2011, she won the inaugural Writing Australia Unpublished Manuscript Award.

October - Marriage Material by Sathnam Sanghera
Sathnam Sanghera was born in 1976. He is a columnist and comment writer for The Times. His first book, The Boy with the Topknot: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton was short-listed for the 2005 Costa Biography Award and the 2009 PEN/Ackerley Prize and named 2009 Mind Book of the Year.

November - Pig's Foot by Carlos Acosta 
Carlos Acosta was born in Havana in 1973 and trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba. He was been principal at the English National Ballet, the Houston Ballet, The American Ballet Theatre and the Royal Ballet, and has danced as a guest artist all over the world, winning numerous international awards. He is also author of the autobiography No Way Home. 

So there you have it, the top eleven that have been chosen for this year. If you click HERE it will take you to the Waterstones page where all the information above is. Similarly, you can read or download a sample chapter of each book, meaning you can decide whether or not it something you might like to purchase once it has been published. I haven't personally read through them all, but I did have a look at the synopsis for May's choice, Idiopathy by Sam Byers and I think that I might have to try that, once available.

Brogan :)

An Abundance of Katherines: An Anagrammatic, Mathematical and Unparalleled Novel by John Green

An Abundance of Katherines revolves around Colin Singleton, serial Katherine-dater and child prodigy. After graduating high-school and being dumped by his nineteenth Katherine, or K XIX as she is mathematically and affectionately known, Colin sets out on a road trip with his quick minded but lazy hearted best friend, Hassan. On this road trip, Colin wants to prove himself a genius and get over the heartbreak of K-19.

Aside from Katherines, Colin’s loves also include: languages, anagrams, mathematics and strange facts. If you have an aversion to any of these affections, I would highly recommend that you steer clear of this book as they all play a vital role in the understanding of Colin Singleton.

Every road trip has a destination, and the stopping point of this particular road trip is Gutshot, Tennessee. There, our protagonist meets Lindsey Lee Wells, a charming young paramedic-in-training that is determined to live in her home town forever. After this chance encounter, Colin and Hassan both find themselves in the employment of Hollis Wells, recording the stories the people of Gutshot have to tell. In his hours of free time when he isn't anagramming or reading, Colin works on his Theorem that tries to predict the future of relationships, he believes that when he gets it right, he will have his 'Eureka' moment and become a true genius that will matter in the world.

The footnotes in this book are hard to get your head around at first; it’s up to you to find a technique that works. My personal method was darting my eyes to the bottom of the page as soon as I saw a little superscript number next to a word, but I think that’s because I grew fond of the wealth of translations and peculiar facts that could be found there.

After being highly recommended by a lot of friends, I decided I would read my first John Green novel. Katherines is widely known as the least favourite in his repertoire, so if I enjoyed this, I had to enjoy the rest. After finishing the book, with a huge smile on my face from the slightly predictable but satisfying ending, I am eager to read another book written by this illustrious and much loved author. If this is the bottom of his pile, then there is a lot of promise in his most acclaimed works.

I've decided to give this book A Facts Tin rating. If you’re wondering as to why, 1- read the book and 2- work out what a facts tin is an anagram for.

Happy reading!

Review by Lauren Goodfellow

The Bell Jar

‘The Bell Jar’ is a semi autobiographical novel written by Sylvia Plath. Plath originally published the novel under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas, because she worried about its literary credit. 'The Bell Jar' was Plath's only novel, as she is most famously known for her collections of poetry. Although parts of 'The Bell Jar' are fictionalized, the novel looks back at the summer and autumn of her junior year. 

Esther Greenwood, the novels protagonist, is a conscientious English student who travels to New York to work as a guest editor. Esther immediately becomes aware of her unhappiness, while the other girls she is with are having the time of their lives, Esther feels miserable. While in New York, Esther has an ongoing internal struggle about what to do with her life. She wonders whether she must conform to the traditional female way of living, becoming a wife and mother or pursue her dreams of focusing on writing.  Esther’s boyfriend, Buddy, seemingly appears to be the ideal man: he is intelligent, handsome and highly ambitious. In marrying Buddy, Esther understands that her ambition of writing poetry would have to be put to the side so Buddy could focus on his ambitions. Yet, their relationship turns sour when Buddy cheats on Esther and thus, she leaves him.

After leaving New York, Esther returns to Boston only to find out she has not be accepted to a writing class she had planned on taking. However, she begins to feel miserable again and becomes unable to read, write and sleep. Worried, her mother takes her to see a psychiatrist who provides electric shock therapy (EST) – this backfires and Esther becomes more unstable and as a result, tries to kill herself. After three failed attempts, she hides in a basement and overdoses. Esther survives this suicide attempt with no physical injuries, and is sent to a psychiatric hospital where she becomes more determined to kill herself. Esther is moved to a private hospital, as a famous novelist who sponsors her college scholarship pays for her to be transferred. In this hospital, Esther becomes more at ease and can trust her new psychiatrist, a female doctor, Dr Nolan. Dr Nolan introduces her to different forms of therapy and Esther tries a range, eventually, leading back up to EST.

Esther begins to improve and is allowed to leave the hospital from time to time. Eventually, Esther will leave the hospital to start the winter semester of college. She believes, for now, she has a grasp on reality and sanity, but knows that the bell jar, her madness, could return at any time.

‘The Bell Jar’ highlights the oppression that women in the 1950s faced. This novel has been perceived in many different ways, providing diverse reactions. Although I haven’t studied this on my Literature course yet, I know some people in my class absolutely hated this novel and thought Plath to be whiney and annoying. However, this novel is one of my favourites, I absolutely loved it and I think Plath’s novel is one that is pre-feminist. Plath herself had a debilitating mental illness which she reflects solely through Esther. I believe Esther to be an exact projection of Plath herself, and although, she doesn’t characterise her mental instability to the oppressive society, men, or herself but she does heavily pass judgement on all three.

I believe Plath was an extremely talented writer. If you haven’t read the novel, go and read it now. You’ll either love it or you’ll hate it – but you won’t know until you’ve tried.

Reviewed by Brogan Wilson

Charles Dickens: A Literary Legend

Charles John Huffam Dickens was born in 1812, on 7th February in Portsmouth. He lived until 9th June 1870. In his fifty eight years, Mr. Dickens wrote fifteen classic tales, most of which are still cherished and loved to this day.

These were:

The Pickwick Papers - 1836

Oliver Twist - 1837
Nicholas Nickleby - 1838
The Old Curiosity Shop - 1840
Barnaby Rudge - 1841
Martin Chuzzlewit - 1843
Dombey and Son - 1846
David Copperfield - 1849
Bleak House - 1852
Hard Times - 1854
Little Dorrit - 1855
A Tale of Two Cities - 1859
Great Expectations - 1860
Our Mutual Friend - 1864
The Mystery of Edwin Drood - 1870

On top of these novels, he also wrote five Christmas novels.

These were:

A Christmas Carol - 1843

The Chimes - 1844
The Cricket on the Hearth - 1845The Battle of Life - 1846The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain - 1848

Some Fun Facts about Charles Dickens:

· He Had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
He would spend hours combing his hair, looking at himself in the mirror and rearranging his furniture. He also had to sleep in a bed that was aligned north-south,

· He Gave His Children Odd NicknamesMuch like Pip in Great Expectations, his children were dubbed with strange nicknames such as: ‘Skittles’ and ‘Plorn’

· He Had A Fake BookcaseHis study featured a fake bookcase along with fake books. He came up with the witty titles for the books himself. One of the fake collections was a nine-piece set entitled ‘Cats Lives’

Some Quotations From Charles Dickens:

‘There are books of which the backs and the covers are by far the best parts.’ - Oliver Twist

‘No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of

‘Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.' -  Great Expectations

This is just a quick post, to keep the blog active. It's actually homework I've been given by my English teacher as we are currently studying Charles Dickens' classic Great Expectations at the moment for our Literature GCSE. I just thought I'd share with everyone what I've found about Mr. Dickens! I'm currently reading John Green's An Abundance of Katherines, so hopefully I'll finish that soon, and I'll be able to get a review up. I knew that as soon as I got back to school, I'd stop reading as much, but I'm going to keep this blog running, I promise! (In my defence, I have had English and Science exams to revise for.)

Anyway, I hope you're all having a fabulous start to 2013. 

Happy Reading! 

- Lauren

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ is a literary classic, one that is studied world-wide and is renowned for its canonicity. The novel focuses on slavery within Southern America and thus is set during the American Civil War. Interestingly, the novel was actually written two decades after the Civil War had ended, during the failure of reconstruction in the Southern States.

As the novel opens, we are introduced to Huck Finn, a poor boy with a drunken abusive father, who has been sent to live with a widow. Widow Douglas tries to improve Huck, educating him, sending him to church and making him more polite – much to the dismay of Huck. Pap, Huck’s father, has had help trying to reform his character (which ultimately fails), he kidnaps Huck and subjects him to constant abuse. Tired of the abuse, Huck fakes his death and escapes, and this is where he meets Jim, a runaway slave.

Together, they embark on a journey of freedom, hoping the Mississippi River will provide what they both so desperately hope for. The river symbolises literal freedom, in that Jim hopes he can escape to North America, to states where slavery has been abolished. Yet, the river also symbolises freedom in that both Huck and Jim are able to be themselves, without being ostracised from society. Jim risks his life to protect Huck, while Huck also risks his sense of self by helping Jim, an action that was completely unlawful. As the novel progresses, we as readers are able to see how Jim and Huck’s relationship is able to transcend racial differences, a concept that would have outraged readers in the nineteenth century.

Overall, Twain’s novel is an extraordinary, heart warming tale of friendship, love and self sacrifice. Yet, the novel has been subject to controversy, and is even banned in some Southern States because of its portrayal of slavery within the South. At times, Twain’s writing style can be difficult to “get into”, especially the stereotypical language and dialect he uses in reference to Jim, but it’s an amazing novel, one that is definitely worth a read.

Have you read this novel? What were your thoughts on it?

Reviewed by Brogan Wilson 

Reached by Ally Condie

Reached by Ally Condie - The Third and Final Instalment in the Matched Series

This novel, like its predecessors, is set at the heart ofdystopian revolution, gripping the reader into a world that is not toodissimilar to their own. Condie’s trilogy comes to a stimulating, moving andpenetrating finale that will leave you in a sense of awe by the time you turnthe final page.

In this third instalment, we see the story told from theperspective of the three main characters: Cassia, Ky and Xander. Cassia herselfhas been torn away from her two friends, working for the Rising from theSociety’s Central, sorting information routinely before happening upon a sortthat will indicate the beginning of the Rising. Ky, Cassia’s unlikely lover,finds himself flying air ships for the Rising, without passion or commitment,only the thought of reaching Cassia again coupled with his love for hisenthusiastic friend, Indie, keep him under regulation. Xander, the third pointin the unconventional love-triangle, is an important medical Official integrateddeep within the Society, giving secret immunisations to new born children toprotect their memories from the Society’s red tablet. These three characterseach have a story of their own, but they are entwined together, no matter howfar apart they may seem.

Our protagonists have to work together with each other, oldfriends and complete strangers to save everyone from a fatal mutated Plague. Asyou watch the story progress, you’ll be ravaged with a range of emotions: sheerjoy to utter despair, thought-provoking surprise to calming realisation. To anyonewho hasn’t read the series, go out, right now, and read them all! You’ll fallin love with Condie’s writing style and the depth of the characters that sheportrays so well. To those of you who have read the first two, you won’t bedisappointed by this exciting finale as it doesn’t leave any loose threads andall your questions will be answered.

I give it a Classic rating, as this tale of the rise andfall of society is reminiscent of the structure George Orwell highlights in hisdystopian cornerstone 1984.       

Buy the Paperback here or buy the Kindle version here

Review By Lauren Goodfellow

Hello, people of Earth!

My name's Lauren, I'm sixteen years old and I'm obsessed with reading, drinking tea and cats.
I've started up this blog in the hope of fulfilling one of my New Years Resolutions, which is to start writing my own book reviews.

Of course, I don't expect any page hits or anyone actually caring about this blog for a while but there's a time for everything. Hopefully, after I make it look pretty and make a a few more posts, I might get somewhere!

So, if you're reading this, thank you, and I do hope you come back!