The Silence by Tim Lebbon - analysis and review

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale, but this does not affect the price of the items, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

The Silence is a horror novel that draws half its horror from the ways people can fall apart during times of crisis. Each chapter opens with fictional social media or internet quotations, spaces we all know can be a place of panic and fear at the best of times. This is a great device used by the author to explore this theme of how people hold up, or not, in adverse times.

Deep in an unexplored cave system, blind creatures unknown to humanity hunt in darkness. They hunt without sight, exploiting sound to catch prey. But, when the caves are opened and people come, these creatures are unleashed onto a world that might just be forever changed by their emergence.

With Ally, deaf for many years and used to a world of silence, and her family, we follow this story of survival in a world made unrecognisable.

The central theme of the book that particularly caught my interest was that of human reactions to tragic events. By embracing the theme of social media and the internet, as tools for communication and disseminating information, Lebbon did a good job of exploring the ways in which people can respond to fearful times. Indeed, a great deal of the horror in this novel is not in the behaviour of monstrous creatures, but in the monstrous and desperate things that people can do to each other. The book is at its best in those parts, casting an eye on how people will justify to themselves committing horrible acts.

I don't know what inspired Lebbon in his creation of these creatures, blind cave dwellers that hunt by sound, but they are solidly scary. We are an awfully noisy animal, us humans, with our music, our cars, our need to perform on some virtual platform, and, sometimes, our desire to just stand up and shout. In The Silence, in this world where people are forced into quiet, it is a stripped back world. A world where much is given up, but also a world where connections are brought back to those with whom we are closest.

This is a decent horror novel, with themes worthy of exploration.

You can purchase a copy of The Silence by Tim Lebbon here.

Thank you for reading. If you can, please consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me turning the pages!

Thank you to every reader and supporter!

5 memorable dogs from literature

 

Monsta

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the price of the items, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

In 2019, just before Christmas, Monsta, my dog, my best friend, got sick. At first, I wasn't too concerned. She was still interested in her food and still had a light in her eyes. However, after a couple of days, and little change, we made a visit to the vets.

Over the course of days, she got worse. That light in her eyes dimmed. She stopped eating, and she was tired all the time. She didn't want to leave the bed or the sofa. I had to resort to carrying her about, and more vet visits followed.

As I write this, I feel the sadness blooming in my chest, wanting to burst behind my eyes.

Two years and two months later, I still miss the light in her eyes. I miss the strange sounds she'd make, like the high-pitched keening noise when she was anxiously excited by some silly thing. I miss the click of her claws behind me as she would follow me from one room to another. I miss the softness just behind her ears. I miss how she would look up at me when she walked beside me . . . I miss it all.

With Monsta in mind, I write this little list of memorable literary dogs, because they add a little something to the books in which they can be found, as they do our lives . . .

1. Bullseye, from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist has asked for more!

When he flees the workhouse, Oliver Twist finds himself taken under the wing of the Artful Dodger and falls in with a group of pickpockets in London.

Bullseye is the long-suffering companion of the cruel criminal, Bill Sykes, who mistreats his poor dog. The image of Bill Sykes and Bullseye, stalking dismal Victorian London, amongst the criminals and the wretched, is one that remains with the reader.

You can purchase a copy of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens here.

2. Montmorency, from Three Men in a Boat (to Say Nothing of the Dog!) by Jerome K. Jerome

Three hypochondriacs, believing they are suffering from almost any malady you could care to mention, decide upon a restful holiday on the Thames, with Montmorency, the fox terrier, as companion.

This humorous novel depicts probably the worst holiday in literature, still providing laughs today, over one-hundred-and-thirty years after its original publication.

Montmorency shares the spotlight with the three men, and there are some comedic passages about the mischievous little fox terrier to be found within.

You can purchase Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome here.

3. Charley, from Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck

In 1960, there was an itch in Steinbeck's feet that he couldn't ignore. Travelling America, through woods and forests, dirt tracks and highways, cities and wildernesses, he witnessed America and Americans with a humorous and sometimes sceptical eye. There is warning and prophecy in these pages, from one of the greats of twentieth-century literature.

And Charley, Steinbeck's French poodle, accompanied the great writer on his travels across America.

Actually his name is Charles le Chien. He was born in Bercy on the outskirts of Paris and trained in France, and while he knows a little poodle-English, he responds quickly only to commands in French. Otherwise he has to translate, and that slows him down.

You can purchase Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck here.

4. Toto, from The Wizard of Oz by  Frank L. Baum

Follow the yellow brick road . . .

Dorothy seems lost when a tornado picks up her and her little dog, Toto, from Kansas, and drops them in the wonderful world of Oz. Along the yellow brick road, she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion. 

Toto is another loyal and goodly companion, a dog that has found his way firmly into literary history.

You can purchase The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum here.

5. Cujo, from Cujo by Stephen King

Once upon a time, not so long ago, a monster came to the small town of Castle Rock, Maine . . .

Cujo is a two-hundred-pound Saint Bernard, and the best friend that Brett Camber has ever had. After Cujo is bitten by rabid bats, he becomes a horrifying vortex, drawing in all the people around him, and is one of King's most memorable creations.

You can purchase Cujo by Stephen King here.

Thank you for reading. Just before you go, can I ask that you please consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the support really is a great boost!

If you can, please consider supporting, and, dog dads and mums, give your dog a hug. They aren't here long enough, and they are a gift.

I still bloody love you, Puppy Dog!

5 banned books from my bookshelves

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the price of the items, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

I find it hard to believe that we still live in a world where books are banned (www.theguardian.com) and burned (www.theguardian.com). There is something sinister about a crowd cheering on as books are piled up and incinerated. Scenes like that are weighted by haunting images from ninety years ago. But, even without comparisons like that, it is a dumb, threatening, and violent act. It does nothing to challenge the ideas expressed in the works, it just obliterates them, in a way that can only be taken as intimidating and aggressive.

Of course, there are writings out there that are harmful, there are those that seek to incite hatred. There are those that have written in ignorance and, in their ignorance, potentially justify harmful ideology in the minds of others. What do we do about that, assuming that they ever get past editors and are published? Do we tear them from their platforms? 

You might hope that the ignorant writer never sees their work published or that, when they are challenged, they respond and a healthy debate is developed. One that exposes harmful and ignorant ideas for what they are, and leaves only truth. Alas, I'm afraid that sometimes the ignorant are turned in to martyrs when they are challenged and dethroned. Even fools need a king or queen to glory under, a banner to fly.

Whatever. I weep for the world sometimes, and I yearn for one in which pastors don't burn young adult fantasy fiction in the name of Jesus Christ. Personally, I think the sight of a crowd jeering and throwing books onto an inferno is a greater advertisement for a life without Christianity than anything in those books!

In todays post, I am going to take five books from my shelves which have been banned in the past, and consider them, their contents, and how they caused offense . . .

1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

"We said there warn't no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don't. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft."

Huck escapes from his alcoholic father by faking his own death, and so begins his journey through the Deep South, seeking his own way, and his freedom. This novel takes in themes of prejudice, bravery, and hope, and is considered a great American novel.

This book came to be controversial because of its coarse language, including the use of racial slurs and the way in which Jim, a runaway slave and key character in the novel, was portrayed. However, there is much in Twain's story that shows he strove to humanise the character of Jim, though this might fall short in the eyes of modern readers. Language in the book, especially the racial slurs, have inspired conversation about how to teach literature, and issues found within, in classrooms. 

You can purchase The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain here.

2. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence

"She had come to the real bed-rock of her nature, and was essentially shameless."

Constance Chatterley feels trapped in her sexless marriage to Sir Clifford. She is attracted to Mellors, her husband's gamekeeper, and she embarks upon a passionate affair with this man, an affair that brings new life to her stifled existence. This is considered one of the most controversial novels in English literature, it is an erotically charged exploration of adult relationships and class division.

How sex, language, and class are explored in this novel has shocked readers since its publication. When Penguin published a full unexpurgated edition in 1960, this novel was the focus of an obscenity trial in Britain. When a verdict of "not guilty" was returned, on 2 November 1960, it led to greater freedoms in publishing.

You can purchase Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence here.

3. Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs

"Look down at my filthy trousers, haven't been changed in months . . . The days glide by strung on a syringe with a long thread of blood . . . I am forgetting sex and all sharp pleasures of the body - a grey, junk-bound ghost. The Spanish boys call me El Hombre Invisible - The Invisible Man . . . "

J. G. Ballard called this a "rollercoaster ride through hell", and as we follow the protagonist, William Lee, in this loosely connected series of vignettes, violent portraits of a junkie existence, it certainly feels that way. With raw and vivid use of imagery to convey the world in which this character lives, we are drawn into the surreal life of the addict.

There is much going on here in this novel from Burroughs. It takes in themes and images of violence, sex, and drug use; more than enough get a work banned! But, Burroughs was no shock writer - his life was a controversial one, containing within it much of its own drug use and violence.

You can purchase Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs here.

4. Wild Swans by Jung Chang

Unlike the other entries on this list, this is not a work of fiction but a history, recounting the lives of three generations of women. The author, Jung Chang, writes the biographies of her grandmother and her mother, and the book concludes with her own autobiography. In the telling, she takes in what it has meant to be a woman in China throughout the last century, the country's political landscape, and how violence and torture have been used there.

This is history as it has touched upon the author's family; epic and sweeping.

It is banned in mainland China. Obviously.

You can purchase Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang here.

5. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

We're all mad here.

When you fall in to Wonderland, you meet some unforgettable characters: the White Rabbit; the Mad Hatter; the Duchess; Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee; and the grinning, mad Cheshire Cat, amongst others.

So, why and where was this book banned? Well, in China's Hunan province, in 1931, the book was banned because the censor general was offended by how the animals were depicted. Maddened by how the animals had been allowed the use of human language, how they had generally been raised to the level of human beings, the book was banned.

You can purchase Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, with illustrations by John Tenniel here.

Thank you for reading. Just before you go, can I ask you to consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me reading all those controversial books!

If you can, please do support this blog, with all my writerly ambitions, it really is a great boost. And I thank every reader and supporter, because you keep me going!

Do you know the difference between romance in novels and romance in real life?

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the price of the items sold, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

Love and the desire to be loved are powerful feelings, and romantic love has been a theme in all sorts of art since ancient times. Unfortunately, I fear, these works can become something of a model for our ideas of love, and how it should be in our real lives. But, just remember, tales about healthy and stable relationships would make awfully dull novels; these are not guides, but entertainment.

There are many books on romantic love which are worth the reader's time. Out of Love (pictured above) is waiting for my attention, on my never-diminishing "to-be-read" pile, and I anticipate an interesting and worthwhile read. But, I think the author of romantic fiction must write well and consider the topic intelligently. However, some will hang their love stories on a formulaic framework and depend on age-old tropes to carry their work. Some might get away with this, but many are just hacks.

The romance novel, like any genre, can find itself relying on a few old tropes. Horror infamously has its own set of well-known and cringe-worthy tropes. 

A lazy romance writer can find themselves following a formula many have used before them. Same old story, different characters. The protagonist meets the love interest; the love interest is clouded in mystery; the protagonist breaks through a little; but, then, the love interest pulls away; the protagonist wins them back, proving their feelings are genuine; but, gosh, then they face another disaster, one which seems insurmountable; however, in a mad dash to, oh, I don't know, the airport let's say, the protagonist wins over, or is won by, the love interest; and so, we leave them, as they stroll off to wherever, we assume happily ever after. The end.

But that isn't real life. In real life, the relationship has to continue after that big moment at the airport. Or wherever. And, as we swoon over romantic heroes and heroines from our favourite novels, it might be worth remembering that, and not making too much of the  romances which exist between the pages. I mean, for a start, how much drama is going on between the love interests!? Jeez! In real life, don't we call some of those those "red flags"?

I do wonder, sometimes, whether the excitement we see in books, films, and on TV gives some of us these ideas that romance ought to be really exciting, and that we look for that too much in potential partners. The spark! The chemistry! The excitement!

You know what I have learned? Compatibility trumps chemistry every time!

In the real world, if you can find somebody with whom you are compatible, you can experience excitement together from a much more solid place. If you try to build something on chemistry and excitement, you're trying to build something on a volatile and unstable foundation.

Idealising the romantic figures of literature is nothing new. I'm sure it's been going on ever since the first lovelorn writer used their despair as inspiration. But we ought not to make too much of them, these dashing and dramatic figures of literature. In the real world, they would probably ruin our lives with all of their bullshit!

I don't know if anyone out there is really building their ideas of romantic love on the stories they've read (I hope not), but I do know there are people out there who focus on chemistry rather than compatibility. Now, chemistry does make for a good story, but it doesn't get you far in real life. That's not to say some passion isn't important, of course it is, but it isn't everything. The chemistry won't help you navigate the choices and dilemmas you face with each other, especially if you're seeking something long-term. It'll be the deeper connections that you have that see you through.

Seek out great romances, in books and in real life. Just remember that whilst all the drama might make for an exciting read, it is bloomin' exhausting in real life!

Thank you for reading. Before you go, can I ask you to consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me reading romances, and crying over the lack of real romance in my life!

Monsta Reader is affiliated with booksellers, but this space is much more about generating conversation than it is about generating sales, so I resist ad space here as much as possible. However, with writerly ambitions, and the research, writing, proofreading, editing . . . which goes into every post, it would be unrealistic to seek no remuneration whatsoever.

So, I ask that, if you can, you consider a small donation, the price of a coffee, and support this blog on ko-fi.com. I thank every reader and supporter wholeheartedly!

 

Discover how to get your hands on books without breaking the bank!

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the retail price, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

Every reader knows the struggle. The fact of the matter is, books are addictive. Nobody who has ever read a book and loved it has ever stopped at just one. But, I don't have a problem! You have the problem! Leave me alone!

Personally, I have become a friend of secondhand books and charity shops. I know that some booklovers want to have their shelves filled with brand new books, all matching, so that their shelves are social media ready, but I am much more interested in the contents of the books. So, I am not too bothered by having odd, mismatched, dog-eared, notated books on my shelves. As long as I can access the words that have made their way, through time and space, to my eyeballs, I am happy.

But, of course, the problem here is that, instead of saving money, buying the same number of books as you would if you bought them brand new, you might just end up spending the same amount of money and buying more books. This leads to another problem that book lovers face - the finite bookshelf space conflicting with your unending desire for more books!

But, let's deal with one problem at a time, shall we . . .

There is a little twinge of guilt that goes with buying secondhand books; knowing that the authors very rarely earn royalties from the sales.

It seems that authors and writers are earning less and less as time goes on. Almost gone are the days when a writer could earn enough to live on from their work as a writer alone, instead they must supplement their income with other jobs.

Authors do, however, earn a modest payment each time one of their books is borrowed from a public library. The Public Lending Right (PLR) provides writers with up to £6,600 a year from library book borrows. It's not an awful lot, but it's another good reason to visit the local library.

If you want my advice, make friends with libraries and secondhand books. I know the purse strings can pinch. But, as you make friends with these invaluable resources, bear in mind how little authors and writers are being paid. And, when you see a campaign to gain writers a percentage from the sale of secondhand books, consider putting your name to that campaign. And, go pay a visit to your local library. Show them they're still needed, and wanted.

Thank you for reading. Before you go, can I ask you to consider supporting this blog with a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me considering all the ways I can get my hands on books, books, books!

I resist ad space as much as possible - I would rather generate conversation than sales! However, with writerly ambitions and desires, it would be unrealistic to seek no remuneration whatsoever, so I kindly ask readers to consider a small donation through ko-fi.com. And I thank every reader and supporter wholeheartedly!

How to weather the storm - a book lovers' guide!

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the retail price, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

Storm Eunice is hitting the UK today (Fri 18 February), with gusts of 90mph being predicted in places, and many are being told to stay at home, to make sure all their doors and windows are firmly shut up, and only to travel if they really need to do so. 

So, with that in mind, make sure you're safe and secure, and think about how you might weather the storm; literally and figuratively. In today's post, let's take a little look at how the book lover can be kind to themselves when there's a storm battering the windows . . .

1. Comfy clothing

There's not much point in settling down with a good book if you're uncomfortable - discomfort is a distraction that will keep pulling you out of the story. So, take out your most comfy clothing. Who cares if it's full of holes? You're stuck at home. You do you, baby!

With the risk of power being lost to some during intense storms, having comfortable and warm clothing, at least at arms length, might be a necessity for those who lose any heating.

Above all, stay safe.

2. Comfort reading?

To weather a storm is to see yourself through a bad time without taking too much harm or damage. So, be good yourself. Maybe that book full of symbolism, complex themes, and a dark subject matter can wait. Maybe today's a good day to return to an old favourite. Or something light and breezy.

Personally, I like a bit of Agatha Christie. But maybe your comfort reads look completely different. Maybe you're comfort reads are those long and complex novels!

You weirdo . . .

3. Consider the scene . . .

Some of us are lucky enough to have our own little space, a little library or study, where we can take ourselves to with our current read.

Oh, to have a room of one's own! Somewhere that is your own little reading space, a cosy little corner of the world that's your very own. With your favourite pictures on the walls, and the shelves are arranged just as you like. Something that you've created for yourself.

You lucky sod!

Go somewhere that, when you look up from the page, having just finished a pleasing passage, chapter, or entire book, a wistful smile on your lips, but satisfied, you aren't jarred by harsh reality. Go somewhere where you can land softly.

4. Candles and pleasing aromas

Make your world as much of a warm embrace as you can, and the storm can rage outside all it wants.

If you've got some scented candles, dig them out. Can I recommend orange, spice, and chestnut scents? I can't help but associate those particular aromas with wintery but cosy evenings, those festive days at the end of a year. And that's exactly the aura I want when clouds are rolling overhead.

If you find yourself in the dark, and you reach for the candles for their more practical purpose, do be careful.

5. Blankets, blankets and, just in case, more blankets!

Well, this one is just self-explanatory really. Wrap yourself in blankets, and forget the world for a while; you're a human cocoon now!

6. Coffee and cakes? Bottle of water? Glass of wine?

Go on, indulge. If nothing else, it's important to stay hydrated when you're between the covers of a book. Who knows when you'll reenter the real world!?

To see yourself through a storm, you've got to be good to yourself. Maybe that means a bottle of water with a squeeze of lemon. Maybe it means a coffee you've brewed carefully and patiently. Or, maybe that means a little something stronger.

Look after yourself.

7. The 3B's

Book. Bath. Bed.

At the end of the day, take your book, run yourself a hot bath - unless you're lucky enough to have someone that will run it for you - and immerse yourself into the story as you immerse yourself into the water.

When you emerge, and take yourself to bed, hopefully, any storms in your sky will be passing, and things will look better in the morning.

Thank you for reading. Just before you go, please consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me cosy as I turn the pages.

Although Monsta Reader is affiliated with booksellers, I resist ad space as much as possible, wanting the passion and joy books to be the focus for this space - I would prefer to generate conversation, rather than sales!

So, I ask readers, if they can, to consider supporting the blog with a small donation through ko-fi.com - it really does make a difference.

Thank you again for reading and, before everything else, stay safe.

Go from bupkis to bibliophile with these resources!

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase from these retailers through links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the price of the item, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

In today's post, we are going to take a look at five online resources for book lovers. If any of these look interesting to you, you might want to bookmark this post, so that you can come back to it easily!

Okay, without further ado . . .

1. What Should I Read Next? (whatshouldireadnext.com)

When you find yourself scratching your head, not quite sure which book to read next, this site is for you!

Simply click on the link above, enter the title of a book you loved, into the space provided, and using data from other readers, the site will provide a list of recommendations. You can also sign up and receive recommendations, based on your preferences, delivered to your inbox every week.

Not only that, you can search for quotations from favourite authors too!

2. Library Thing (librarything.com)

A favourite for booklovers, you can create a profile here and catalog your personal library, discover new and interesting books, discover other bibliophiles with similar tastes, discuss books, and much more.

If you're a book lover who likes to exchange thoughts and feelings about your reads, this might just be the place for you!

3. Goodreads (goodreads.com)

Goodreads is another cataloging website, a subsidiary of Amazon, it allows the user to search its database of books, annotations, quotations, and reviews. 

For those that want to access this platform on the go, you can also download the Goodreads app onto your phone.

4. Etsy (etsy.com)

If you're looking for a uniquely literary gift, or just a little treat for yourself, you can find plenty on Etsy.

Personally, I would recommend Team Asthers, from whom I have bought in the past; they have a great selection of literary themed items for sale. Check it out!

5. Audible (audible.com)

For those that prefer listening to their books, or for anyone that likes listening to a book on their commute, or maybe just something to stick on when you're in the bath . . .

You can sign up for a three-month free trial now, so, if you love being read to, with the great selection on offer here, why not click on the link above and get started?

Thank you for reading this post today. Before you go, I would just like to ask that you consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me collating resources for fellow book lovers!

Though this blog is affiliated with booksellers, the focus here is very much on the passion for books and bookish things. And so, I have resisted ad space here as much as possible.

Instead, I ask that readers who are able to do so consider a coffee from ko-fi.com. And, I thank every single reader and supporter! Thank you!

Want to come behind the scenes of my rather bookish blog?

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the retail price of any items, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

Behind the curtain . . .

This blog is just over two years old. It's two years and three weeks old, to be precise.

When I published my first post, I had no idea what I was doing. But, I was putting myself out there because I wanted to write, and find readers, and blogging was an another avenue to explore in trying to reach that goal.

But, like I said, I had no idea what I was doing . . .

I didn't know how to promote the blog, or play the game that you're supposed to play for the algorithms and whatnot. I just wanted to write. And, preferably, to be a writer good enough that people would want to read what I wrote.

The readership has grown, but I am not playing with the "big boys". My readership is minuscule compared to what some bloggers see in their analysis figures. Part of that is to do with my still, two years later, not knowing what I am doing. But only partly, because it's also because I still don't want to play the game with the algorithms, and all that nonsense.

You know what I want to do?

I want to write about a subject, a subject about which I feel passionate, and I want it to generate conversation. However large or small that conversation might be. I want a reader to nod their head in recognition of a thought, a feeling, a situation. I don't want to generate sales. I don't want to spend my time poring over the analysis figures, trying to see what performed well, and how many people followed what link. That's nothing to do with writing, and it has nothing to do with books.

"So, why are you blogging? And, why are you telling us about this?"

Good questions. You should come here more often!

Well, as I said, I blog because it provides me with a space to write. I can research a subject, write about it, proofread, and edit the piece, and have it in front of readers' eyes the same day. I don't have to go through a magazine editor, I don't have to navigate a publisher's budget, and all those things. I can present my piece to readers and get feedback from those readers almost immediately.

It's a joy. It really is.

The problem is that it's not very lucrative . . . It pays nothing. Especially if you're a small fry in a pond of big fish. The one's for whom it's all about generating income, feeding the algorithms, and playing the game.

But, I'm not going anywhere. 

Even if only twenty people read this post, and none of those people generate any remuneration, I will still be back at my keyboard, tapping away about books I've read and loved. If two people like this post when I have shared it across the social media platforms I allow into my world - why the hell would I sign up to all of them? Who has time for that? - I will share my words with those people again.

I want connections. So, if you read this, or any other post here, and there's somebody that you think will get it, share that post with them. If you think this is all nonsense - and, this is a bit of a ramble - then don't bother. It's all good. But, whatever you do, do it because it feels right, because you care. Or whatever.

There's so much bland shit out here, the crap that we just scroll past, and sometimes the good stuff just gets caught up in that, and we lose it too. I'm not saying this space here is like that, part of the good stuff that's being unfairly lost in the stream of banality, but I am saying I'm striving to be a better writer and produce good work on a subject about which I feel passionate. Chasing the algorithms will always come second to that. So, maybe I will lose out. I dunno.

If you made it down here - jeez, have you nothing better to do!? - thank you. I guess it's for you that I am writing. Maybe that means something. Maybe it doesn't. I don't know. But, you take care. And maybe come back soon.

Seriously, thank you. If you enjoyed this post, please consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me writing, and maybe it'll wake me up one day to chasing the algorithms, and embracing the fact we're all just lost in the Zuckerverse anyways . . .

Thank you, every reader and supporter!

A blustering book list - my "TBR" pile . . .

 Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does affect the retail price, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

In today's post, we're going to take a little run through upcoming books on my "to be read" pile. It's just an easy little jaunt through some of books. So, get cosy, grab a coffee, chill, and let's begin . . .

Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge

A girl emerges from the woods, closer to death than life, with a terrible and tear-inducing story to tell. 

Only days later, a similar scenario - a pattern is emerging. 

Pairs of victims are being abducted, and forced to either kill or be killed.

Detective Inspector Helen Grace leads the investigation to find the monster in the shadows, and put an end to the deaths . . .

You can purchase a copy of Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge here.

A Room With A View by E. M. Forster

From eerie matters of life and death, to a classic novel that explores love, sex, and social expectation.

Lucy visits Italy with her prim and proper cousin Charlotte, and she is on the verge of an experience that will throw her neatly ordered life off balance.

Forster explores the theme of how matters of the heart can conflict with societal expectation masterfully, and I cannot wait to get between the covers of this book!

You can purchase a copy of A Room With A View by E. M. Forster here.

Out of Love by Hazel Hayes

Instantly, we are back to matters of the heart, this time exploring love and loss.

A young woman packs her ex-boyfriend's belongings, about to see him for the last time, and wonders where it all went wrong, or whether it was ever right to begin with. 

This is a bittersweet take on the romance novel, told from the end of a relationship, when love is over. In this, Hazel Hayes' debut novel, the author sifts through the relationship, the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, the moments of majesty and the moments of pain, considering love and its loss with a tender but honest eye.

You can purchase Out of Love by Hazel Hayes here.

The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths

Opening with the death of a ninety-year-old woman, we are brought into an investigation run by DS Harbinder Kaur. And, it turns out Peggy, the dead woman, had been sure someone was following her . . .

Peggy Smith had been a 'murder consultant' who helped authors plot deaths in their novels, and she knew a great deal about murder . . .

After her death, Peggy's carer comes to clear out the decedent's flat, only to find herself held at gunpoint by a masked figure . . .

DS Kaur investigates.

You can purchase a copy of The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths here.

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quể Mai

Winner of the BookBrowse Best Debut Award 2020

Two generations of women and the shell shock world of war . . .

Hà Nội, 1972. For Hương's grandmother, the experience of war is terribly familiar. And, as Hương comes of age, she must learn the lessons her grandmother has already learned, in a nation rocked by conflict.

This novel is the multi-generational tale of the Trẩn family that is epic in its telling.

You can purchase a copy of The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quể Mai here.

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie 

One of the greatest crime and murder mystery writers of all time, I fell for Christie's books when I was a teenager, and I can still plunge happily into her world today.

In this mystery, we join one of crime fiction's perfect creations, Hercule Poirot, as he once again must exercise his little grey cells, navigating red herrings, and deaths that are not what they seem.

You can purchase a copy of Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie here.

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

Do you love police procedurals? 

Do you love magic? 

Do you dream of novels that bring together these two loves?

Let me introduce you to PC Peter Grant and the Rivers of London novels by Ben Aaronovitch.

Come, see London as you've never seen it before.

You can purchase a copy of Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch here.

The Bridge by Iain Banks

A man lies in a coma after a near-fatal accident. Who is he? Is he closer to death than life? 

Immerse yourself into the surreal and fantastical world of the bridge.

You can purchase a copy of The Bridge by Iain Banks here.

The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories by Carson McCullers

Carson McCullers' writing is unique. Dame Edith Sewell called her a "transcendental writer".

With poetry in her prose, McCullers here explored loneliness and the need for human connection, and understanding.

Along with her novella, The Ballad of the Sad Café, is a collection of her short stories.

You can purchase a copy of The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories by Carson McCullers here.

Thank you for reading. Just before you go, I ask that you please consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me awake and working my way through that pile!

Thank you to every reader and supporter - as long as you read, I will write!

Asking my-eighteen-year-old bookish-self a few questions . . .

 

Disclaimer: this blog is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones and, if you make any purchases through links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the price of the product, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

Half a life time ago, I was an eighteen-year-old young man, his life ahead of him, and I had little idea what I was going to do with that life. As I have a little sit down with my younger self, to ask myself a few questions about my bookish habits back then, it might be wise I don't let it slip I still don't know what I am doing with my life - let him have some hope!

Me: Hello there, eighteen-year-old me. How are you?

Eighteen-year-old me: Hi. Fine.

Me: Cool. So, I would just like to ask you a few questions about what you're reading, if that's okay?

Eighteen-year-old me: Yeah, that's fine.

Me: Okay. Well, I suppose I will start with, what do you like to read?

Eighteen-year-old me: Um. I read a few different sorts of books. I've read some of the James Bond novels . . . I read On The Road by Jack Kerouac. And crime novels. And I read Clockwork Orange not too long ago.

Me: Which crime novels do you like to read?

Eighteen-year-old me: I like Agatha Christie's books. And I like the Rebus novels, the ones I have read. And Ruth Rendell too. I just started reading her books.

Me: What drew you to the Bond novels?

Eighteen-year-old: I liked the films. I grew up with them, so when I found the books, where it started, I wanted to read them. Though they're a bit different from the films.

Me: How so?

Eighteen-year-old me: The films are a bit lighter. The books heavier. Which makes sense. I mean, the character's basically a government licensed assassin - that's going to be a brutal life.

Me: What are some of the central themes to the Bond novels?

Eighteen-year-old: Well, a lot of it is just adventure and spy story . . . But, there is heavier stuff in there. I mean, people think of Bond as just being a spy who shags, drinks, and kills people with a cool line. But, in the books anyway, he falls in love, he experiences loss, there is some character development. Jeez, in one of the books, he sits in a park and considers the flowers in one chapter!

Me: You Only Live Twice, I think.

Eighteen-year-old me: Yeah. The one after the novel in which his wife is murdered . . .

Me: Okay. So, you mentioned On The Road as well. What did you think of that? Why do you think Kerouac wrote that book?

Eighteen-year-old me: I liked it. From what I understand, the book is based on his own experiences. I liked it, yeah. I feel a bit restless myself sometimes. I'd quite like to take off on an adventure like that, experience things a bit.

Me: Me too . . .

Eighteen-year-old me: Huh?

Me: Oh, nothing. Doesn't matter. You like crime too then? Why do you like crime?

Eighteen-year-old me: Hmm. Not sure. They can be dark. But I like Christie's books too, and they're not quite so dark. I like the suspense, how each chapter can answer questions but also throw up new ones. And then there's the big reveal at the end! But, you have to have good characters, and a good story. Not interested in crime by numbers. Not interested in blood, gore, and swearing either, not if it's just there to try and seem edgy.

Good crime novels are just really good stories. They're fun, but they can also touch on themes that are deeper . . .

Me: I like crime too. 

Eighteen-year-old me: You're me though, right, so . . . ?

Me: Yes. But, some things change, some things fall away . . .

Eighteen-year-old me: Oh. Yeah . . .

Me: Ahem. You mentioned Clockwork Orange too. Did you like that? What drew you to that?

Eighteen-year-old me: Honestly? I kind of just wanted to read something dangerous. I was surprised when I found it in the school library. I was in there during lunch one time, and somebody came in, someone I knew, and they made fun of me for spending my lunch break reading - they had no idea what was going on in the pages of that book!

I liked it. It was shocking, yeah, with the violence and everything. But, I think it went deeper than that. In one of my classes once, we talked about how the state is violent. Like, threats of violence is how the state keeps peace and order. If you know what I mean. Well, this book explores that.

Me: I know what you mean. Thanks for talking with me. I'll let you go. It was good to see you. Look after yourself, and, you know, don't let your fears get in the way of your hopes.

Eighteen-year-old me: Uh, yeah. You too. See ya.

Thank you for reading. Before you go, can I ask that you consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me reminiscing!

I avoid ad space here as much as I can. I would prefer that this blog generate conversation rather than sales!

I write here because of my passion for books, and I want that to shine through. But, as I invest time in researching, writing, proofreading, editing . . . each post, I ask readers, if they can, to consider a small donation to keep the blog going. If you can, please do visit ko-fi.com, and I will see you again soon. Thank you for reading!

Whenever I want to shake things up, I reach for a THRILLER!

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the seller. But this does not affect the price of the item, and it does not influence the content of the blog.

In this post, I am pulling four great thrillers from my bookshelves for a little closer inspection. And, we start with . . .

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

An industrialist, a journalist, and the girl with the dragon tattoo.

Somebody wants the past to remain buried at any cost.

This novel introduced the world to Lisbeth Salander, the mysterious and dangerous security specialist, who finds herself involved in an investigation that might just dig up that buried past. 

You can purchase The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson here.

2. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Ten strangers. 

Ten becomes nine.

Nine becomes eight.

Eight becomes seven . . .

You can purchase And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie here.

3. Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson

Memories define us.

But what if every time you went to sleep you forgot your name, your identity, your past, and the people in your life?

That is exactly what Christine has to face every day when she wakes up.

You can purchase Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson here.

4. Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith

Highsmith hit the ground running with this, her first novel.

So! What if two strangers enter a pact to commit a murder for each other? That is the premise in this perfectly crafted thriller! So, what could go wrong?

You can purchase Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith here.

Thank you for reading. Before you go, I would like to ask you to consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - enough caffeine and I don't need a thriller to give me the shivers and shakes!

I write here because I am passionate about books, and I avoid ad space as much as possible. So, to keep the blog going, I must ask that readers consider a donation, if they are able to do so.

Thank you, to every reader and supporter - you keep me going!

Can you relate to that final page sadness?

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the seller. But that does not affect the price of the items, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

Do you ever read the last word, of the last sentence, on the last page of a book and feel a little sad? A little loss?

If you're an avid book reader, the chances are that you have experienced, with at least one book, what has been colloquially called a "book hangover". It's that slight sadness that the story is over, the characters are gone, and you can never discover them for the first time again. It's gone forever.

There's something about a good book, a good story. It requires your time and your attention. A really good story might just change your mind about a few things, or at least challenge some preconceived notions. But, then again, it might just hold you tight in its embrace, and reassure you of the goodness of you and life. Whatever the story and its message, if you've found something between the covers that has captured you, it is understandable that, when you reach that last page, you could be left a little shaken.

Often it is works of fiction that have this effect. When the reader goes on a journey with the characters, and the journey comes to an end, and the reader has to go on beyond the book. Has to sort through the feelings the work has left them with.

Good art is supposed to have an emotional impact, or challenge ideas. It is not absurd that you should leave a book feeling a little shaken, or otherwise effected. 

Kazuo Ishiguro, Aldous Huxley, and Jonas Jonasson have all gifted me - and probably some of you too - with books that I didn't want to end. As have many other wonderful writers.

I am currently reading Oscar Wilde by Richard Ellman, a Pulitzer Prize winning biography of the famous Victorian poet, author and playwright. I have read it before, but it is well worth reading again.

I tell you this because some of the books that have most effected me, as I have closed the books' cover on the final page, have been biographies. Almost feeling as though I had lived the life of the subject right along with them - I can only imagine how the biographers themselves must feel! - and that feeling of loss at the last page is keener, for me, because it was real. The people in the pages had lived real lives. Especially when the ending is somewhat tragic, as we know it was for Wilde.

When I was younger I was a little obsessed with Marilyn Monroe for a time, and I read a number of biographies about her. They made me wish that there was a heaven, or that time travel could be possible. I had similar feelings when I read a biography of Bill Hicks, the American comedian, later on. The books left me wishing that I could have met them, or at least see them perform. But then, perhaps that's one of the marks of a good biography.

What about you? Which books have left you feeling a sense of loss? With the joy of having read the book, but a sadness for having reached the end?

Drop some titles in the comments!

Thank you for reading. Before you go, can I please ask you to consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine gets me through those book hangovers, and returning to the keyboard!

Though this blog is affiliated with a couple of booksellers, I have resisted putting ad space in these blog posts as much as possible. I write about books because I have a passion for books - as simple as that. I would prefer that that shines through, rather than this being a space geared towards selling a product to consumers. I'd rather generate discussion that sales.

But it would be unrealistic of me, trying as I am to pursue writing work, if I didn't seek some remuneration for the research, writing, proofreading, etc. that goes into every piece of content. So, if you can, you can support this blog on ko-fi.com - thank you to every reader and supporter! Thank you!

A Time For Violence: Stories With An Edge, An Anthology, Edited by Andy Rausch & Chris Roy - analysis and review

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org, and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sellers, but this does not affect the cost to the consumer. And it does not influence the content of this blog.

In this anthology collection, the theme of violence connects each short story. Sometimes the story is a straightforward tale, a crime or suspense thriller short story, but sometimes the tales are more subtle, or even surreal. 

I was sent this anthology via Twitter, and asked to take a look. I made my way through it slowly and, I have to admit, sometimes unenthusiastically. However, this might have had something to do with my dislike of reading my books on a screen. But, I found myself fully engaged with some of the short stories in this collection, with scenes and characters still inside my head after I finished reading.

Though you might be put off by a collection of stories exploring the theme of violence, rest assured there is a diversity of tales within. This is not just a collection of explicit slashing and gore stories. You will find some well thought out tales within. Though, it might be worth warning you, there is slashing and gore in there too. 

The collection opens with Blood Brothers by Richard Chizmar, a fairly straightforward "story with a twist" about a pair of brothers, one a family man and the other on the wrong side of the law. And from there, the collection undulates, from one story to another, some better than others. Though, as I say, there is enough diversity in there that you can probably find a story that you will find enjoyable.

I found Santa At The Café by Joe R. Lansdale, and Ladies Day At The Olympia Car Wash by Andrew Nette to be fairly entertaining tales, but perhaps your tastes are different.

To be honest, this is an anthology that I dipped in and out of, and it wasn't a collection that I felt a need to read from beginning to end once I had started. There were some stories that I found myself wanting to end sooner than they did, and there were some that I found myself entertained by more than I had expected. I suppose that that's the nature of a collection featuring different authors.

You can find A Time For Violence: Stories With An Edge on Amazon.

Before you go, I would like to thank you for reading. And, I would like to ask that you consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps my eyes open as I turn pages, and then tap away at my keyboard!

Though I am affiliated with a couple of booksellers, I have resisted adding space for adverts to this blog. I started writing here because I have a love for books and a desire to write; I want that to shine through, not to turn this into a space for selling products.

But, as I research, write, proofread, edit, rewrite . . . for these posts, and as I pursue my passion for writing, it would be unrealistic, and self destructive, if I didn't seek some remuneration for my efforts. So, I do ask, if you are able to do so, could you give a little support to keep these posts coming.

If you can, head on over to ko-fi.com, send a coffee, and I'll get back to the books! Thank you to every reader and supporter - you keep me writing!

All of my most recent reads!

 Disclaimer: MonstaReader is affiliated with bookshop.org, and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the seller. However, this does not impact the cost to the consumer, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

A day in the life of your friendly little MonstaReader is spent pretty much like anyone else's. I wake up in the morning and sigh because my body didn't metamorphose into something less flabby and more muscular while I slept; I check my diary for the day, considering where and when I can fit in some reading time; I make myself a coffee, watching the birdfeeders whilst it brews . . .

Pretty standard stuff, you know.

But, if you're here, it's probably the books that you're interested in. So, in today's post, I thought I would do a little round-up of all my most recent reads. Three books that I was reading simultaneously, and books that I will dive into much more deeply in future posts.

Native Son by Richard Wright

We start with Native Son by Richard Wright (my copy pictured above), a novel written as protest, in which we follow Bigger Thomas, a young black man trapped in poverty and Chicago slums. Published in 1940, this was a novel that shocked readers at the time, and which still has power in its pages today. 

The reader is immersed into a world of anger and fear, a world where something has to break, because a world into which you are born Black is a world in which you are not free. There is not even the illusion of freedom.

Much has changed since this novel was written but, one fears, much has stayed almost exactly the same. This is a novel written as a protest, and though some criticisms have been levelled at the novel - James Baldwin did so in his writings on protest novels - the author, Wright, explained in an introduction to the novel that the world he created in the book was a reflection of the world in which he lived.

This is a book well worth reading, a landmark novel, that went on to make Richard Wright the first bestselling Black writer in America.

You can purchase Native Son by Richard Wright here.

The Silence by Tim Lebbon

Next, we move on to something quite different . . .

In an underground cave system, sightless creatures use sound to hunt their prey. When humans move in and disturb these inhabitants, the predatory creatures are loosed from the caves, and they swarm from the darkness. 

Ally, deaf in the years since a terrible accident, knows how to live in silence. Ally and her family leave their home, and make their way towards a remote haven, where they hope to escape these creatures, which are drawn to sound. But is the world forever changed?

Horror novels have been looked upon with a lack of respect in the past, and it's true that a bad horror novel can be pretty torturous - horrific in all the wrong ways - but a good horror novel can explore important themes, just as much as any other genre. Indeed, is well placed to explore themes other genres would find difficult to include.

The Silence explores how people react to extraordinary events. Each chapter opens with an extract from a fictional news report, a briefing , or social media commentary. With the fantastic events of the novel juxtaposed with the familiar human commentary that we are all used to by now on these platforms, the world in this horror feels that much more real. Indeed, half the horror and suspense in the book comes from how the human beings can treat each other when they are scared, and can't make sense of the world any more.

You can purchase The Silence by Tim Lebbon here.

Oscar Wilde by Richard Ellman

This one is a Pulizer Prize winning biography I have read before, and now I am reading it again.

We follow Wilde's ascent and, sadly and inevitably, his downfall in Victorian society, in this, Richard Ellman's definitive Wilde biography.

Wilde was a kind, brilliant and, at times, self-destructive man. And he almost made the work of the biographers easy for them, having lived a life so ideal for biography. 

This is a book that you can tell has been written with care, a desire to do justice to the subject, the subject being a brilliant man torn down, and that care and attention elevates this biography.

Unfortunately, I cannot find a link to this book with my affiliates, but it is out there. It was published by Penguin and, if you can seek it out or you stumble across it, I urge you to make the purchase! Or, perhaps your local library has a copy!

Thank you for reading. Before you go, can I ask that you consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps my eyes open as I turn pages or tap away at my keyboard.

Writing these posts is driven by my passion for books, which I hope shines through, and, though I am affiliated with two booksellers, I have resisted placing ad space in my posts. The affiliate links are there, but I am much more interested in writing about the books than I am in trying to sell them to you as a product. I discuss the books, and then the choice is yours.

But my passion for the written word has extended beyond bibliophilia, and I find myself engaged in endeavours to write. And unfortunately, one needs money to pursue their ambitions and passions.

Every reader and supporter is much appreciated - ko-fi.com - and I thank you for reading! Thank you!

Discovering sex in literature!

 Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org, and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I may earn a small commission from the seller. However, this does not affect the cost to the consumer, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

Sex scenes in literature and erotic fiction can be cringe worthy. In fact, the Literary Review's Bad Sex in Fiction Award has selected a work each year since 1993 to "honour" for, well, bad sex in fiction.

But, sex can also be used as a device to challenge ideas, and open up discussions about social mores and sensibilities.

In this post, we are going to take a little look at five books that feature sex, and sexuality, because we all have a relationship with sex, and it is as worthy a subject or theme to explore in literature as any other!

1. Crash by J. G. Ballard

Originally published in 1973, this is a classic of underground literature.

'In a sense, pornography is the most political form of fiction, dealing with how we use and exploit each other, in the most urgent and ruthless way.

'Needless to say, the ultimate goal of Crash is cautionary, a warning against that brutal, erotic and overlit realm that beckons more and more persuasively to us from the margins of the technological landscape.'

- J. G. Ballard, from a 1995 introduction to the novel

You can purchase Crash by J. G. Ballard here.

2. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence

Constance Chatterley feels trapped in a sexless marriage to Sir Clifford. She is attracted to Mellors, her husband's gamekeeper, and she embarks upon a passionate affair with him that sparks new life in her stifled world. The novel itself sparked tremendous controversy on publication, and is still an erotically charged and powerful novel today.

You can purchase Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence here.

3. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Humbert Humbert - a doomed monster, scholar, and the unreliable narrator of this tale - has fallen hopelessly in love - or a delusional lust - with Dolores Haze, or Lolita as he calls her, his landlady's twelve-year-old daughter. This novel is all about obsession, delusion, lust, and objectification.

You can purchase Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov here.

4. Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Unlike previous entries, this is not a novel, but the author's recounting of her experience hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. However, there are scenes in the book where Strayed writes candidly about her sexuality.

In the wake of personal loss, the author uses sex as a means to self-destruct, and distance herself from her marriage. But we find that sex can also be healing, and a means of connection to something profoundly beautiful.

We find here that sex can be an empty act, but it can also be empowering.

You can purchase Wild by Cheryl Strayed here.

5. The Story of My Life by Giacomo Casanova

Casanova, whose very name is synonymous with sexual conquest, was also a swashbuckler, a poet, a storyteller, and many other things in his adventurous life. This collection of his memoirs (unfinished at the time of his death in 1798) highlights his youth in Venice, his dabbling in the occult, encounters with great literary figures, and, of course, many amorous encounters. 

His was an adventurous life.

You can purchase The Story of My Life by Giacomo Casanova here.

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this piece, I ask that you please consider supporting this blog with a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me collating steamy reads, so you don't have to! Thank you to all readers and supporters!