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The Pact
Title: The Pact
Author: Sharon Bolton
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Published: 2021
Obtained: Audible
Six friends spend the summer together before embarking on their bright futures. The six of them have a secret game, however, that is dangerously risky; while they lucked out the first 5 times, they aren’t so lucky on the 6th turn. Privileged, young and self-centered, they panic. Megan, one of the six, agrees to take the blame for the accident–with a catch. Her friends soon turn their backs on her, leaving her to rot in prison. Twenty years later, she is a free woman and is out to collect on their part of the deal…and revenge.
Let me start of by saying that Sharon Bolton is one of my favorite authors. And The Pact starts off in true Bolton fashion–tense and suspenseful. I loved the premise of the story and the building tension. Of course, I also love the twists and turns Bolton writes. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, so I found myself surprised that I was so quickly engrossed in the novel. I was disappointed, however, by a few things–including the ending.
The Pact is almost like a character study that looks at how people deal with trauma and guilt in vastly different ways. Each one of these characters has flaws and ugly habits/tendencies that stem from the horrible accident they caused; this leads to the various dysfunctional ways they dealt with the aftermath. The only person I was rooting for was Megan, and that was mostly on principle. I disliked the other characters so much I wanted her to destroy them in vengeance. I was disappointed when her plan was revealed, as it was anticlimatic.
Bolton is the absolute queen of twisty thrillers. I devoured this book for it’s mounting suspense and the idea that I wasn’t sure how it was going to end. I enjoyed watching the five friends squirm as Megan always seemed to be a step ahead of them. I liked the way Bolton revealed more depth to the history of the friends. But, some of the plot devices seemed out of left field–unbelievable and disappointing. While I typically enjoy the surprising endings to Bolton’s books, they always seem to work. When I reach the end of her novels, I can look back and be mindblown that there were clues all along that I just didn’t grasp or pick up on along the way. I didn’t guess the ending to The Pact. But, in all fairness, I don’t think it made any sense. It felt cheap; I felt blindsided and cheated. There were so many other directions the story could have taken, and I was left feeling let down. Not every story can be everyone’s cup of tea and I can totally see how some people loved this novel entirely.
I am giving The Pact 3 out of 5 stars. I liked the book, but I didn’t love it. Maybe because I’ve gobbled up so many of her other books and felt consistently mind blown by the twists—I was just expecting so much more from the ending! But, as I’ve said, I can see why some readers wouldn’t have my same complaints. I paired this book with a rosé prosecco. La Marca was fitting as it made me feel like I was sitting by Tal’s lavish pool…minus the reckless joyride! It’s a perfect bubbly beverage for reading—it’s dry and crisp with hints of peach and berries. Honestly, I think I’d take the zesty prosecco over this read any day! Happy reading (and sipping)!
Rating: 3/5
Wine Pairing: La Marca rosé prosecco
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Verity
Title: Verity
Author: Colleen Hoover
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Published: 2021
Obtained: Barnes & Noble
Lowen is a struggling writer who is hired to complete a famous, but incapacitated, author’s novel series. What she signs on for is more than she bargains for, however. She finds herself in a strange house, with a vacant and debilitated Verity, her husband, Jeremy, and their five year old son. As she begins to dive into the task of finishing the series, she discovers something far more sinister. It’s clear to Lowen that Verity never intended for anyone to read her autobiography, but the confessions are unsettling–particularly those about Verity’s children. Lowen must decide if showing the work to Jeremy, who she is falling for, is the right answer–while wondering if Verity is as harmless as she seems.
I had a hard time setting Verity down. I devoured it in 24 hours. I read somewhere that it was a modern day Rebecca and I definitely picked up on that vibe. But, this was far more disturbing. The tension runs rampant from the very first chapter–which was a huge plus in my book (pun intended). I love a novel that leaves you questioning everything right up until the very end, and Hoover accomplished that with Verity. I really enjoyed how she incorporated the written manuscript within the storyline and the way she made the narrator a little skeptical of what she was seeing since the secret autobiography was certainly taking a toll on her. My only complaints on this book are minor.
This book was intense! I love that about Hoover’s writing. The opening chapter sucked me in right away. And I liked that the pace didn’t stall too much; before I knew it, I felt like I was in the meaty part of the novel where Lowen is settled in that big creepy house haunted by a woman who is still alive. I appreciated that I didn’t know at first if Lowen was reliable or not, and I think there were still times throughout the whole book where you sort of question it as a reader. I had a really difficult time digesting the manuscript confessions. As a mother, it was so much more disturbing and upsetting than a lot of things I’ve read lately. I needed a strong drink to wash parts down.
The way the novel was set up was also super creative. I liked how the manuscript was woven into the rest of the story. At times I was annoyed to be going back to a chapter about Lowen when all I wanted to do was find out what this crazy Verity lady did next; but then, Hoover would reveal her next horrific confession and going back to Lowen and Jeremy was a welcomed breath of fresh air. The ending was done just right, in my opinion. It was ambiguous without leaving loose ends flying around. As a reader, I felt like I had all the necessary information, it was just a matter of deciding which version of events was the truth.
I rate this book a 4.5/5. I loved it, truly. The sex in the manuscript was an overkill–I understand that it was there to exemplify how unbalanced Verity was as a person, but I got really tired of reading about all the ways she could get her husband off. I also felt like the sleepwalking bit was underutilized; I understand that it set up an important scene, but it was underwhelming. Otherwise, I have no criticisms of this book. I suggest sipping on Conundrum, a red blend from California. It’s a strong wine at 14.6% ABV to get you through the disturbing thoughts and confessions of Verity. It’s also one of the better red wines I’ve had lately–full of flavor, potent and smooth. I’m really interested to hear opinions on Verity. Whatever you wind up believing in the end, I hope you enjoy the read!
Rating: 4.5/5
Wine Pairing: 2018 Conundrum, California red blend
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No Exit
Title: No Exit
Author: Taylor Adams
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Published: 2017
Obtained: Amazon
Darby is on her way home from college for the holiday when she becomes stranded at a rest area due to a Colorado blizzard. She finds herself waiting out the storm along with four strangers. As Darby is attempting to find some cell reception, she is shocked to find a child locked in the back of a van. Thus begins the longest night of her life—who is the child and which one of the strangers is responsible for her abduction?
Let me just channel my inner Janice Hosenstein and say…”OH MY GOD!” This book is intense—like nail-bitingly, jaw dropping, I need a strong drink kind of intense. I was a little skeptical going in because it had so much hype, and lately overly hyped books have been underwhelming for me. But this one did not disappoint! The main character, the tension, the twists…it all was pretty damn near perfect.
Darby is a fantastic narrator. I found her funny and intelligent. She is flawed, as is everybody, and totally believable as a character. I rooted for her throughout the story. I enjoyed the other characters, as well. It’s hard to go into too much detail without giving away spoilers, but I found them all to be written convincingly well. I was surprised that the villain is glaringly obvious from the start, and yet, I loved that not all the characters are what they initially seem to be.
The tension is deliciously stressful. I wanted to cover my eyes at so many parts, but they were glued to the words. Adams has a wonderful way of painting the scene with just enough gore and suspense to keep you engaged, but not too much to make you want to put the book down. A lot of the twists stem from mistakes the characters make, particularly Darby; however, this made it more believable, because at the end of the day, Darby is an ordinary young woman thrust into this terrible situation. Any bits that I managed to predict (or blatantly saw coming) didn’t deter me from devouring this book within two days.
Overall, I loved this read. It was fast paced, terrifying, a little gory, extremely intense and super vivid. If you love a good thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend it. I give No Exit a rating of 5 stars. I also recommend Tall Dark Stranger, a rich malbec from Argentina. It’s strong and smooth with a nice berry flavor, but not sweet—a full-bodied wine to sip with a rich, intense thriller. Enjoy!
Rating: 5/5
Wine Pairing: Tall Dark Stranger 2017 malbec
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The Devil All the Time
Title: The Devil All the Time
Author: Donald Ray Pollock
Genre: Fiction/Southern Gothic/Thriller
Published: 2011
Obtained: Barnes & Noble (soft cover) Audible (audio version)
The Devil All the Time follows several individuals post World War II from Ohio to West Virginia. The novel includes a troubled war veteran trying to impart his hard-learned lessons to his son, a few twisted preachers with questionable and disgusting ways and a married couple embarking on killing sprees as a form of vacation. This dark and gritty tale explores how far some will go to protect what’s important to them.
Wow. I’m still settling into my feelings after finishing this novel. Gritty seems to be the key word when trying to find a way to describe it. It’s a highly engaging story, although it’s not uplifting. I was completely drawn into the story with its real, complex and often disgusting characters. The writing itself is superb—the plot and the descriptions were detailed and impressive. The themes that run through the story are both relatable and, sometimes, off-putting. I didn’t want to put the book down at night, and yet, I was apprehensive to continue…I constantly felt it couldn’t get darker and I was repeatedly proven wrong.
If you’ve read my reviews before, you know characterization is critical for me as a reader. Let me tell you—these characters seemed so real as I read this book. I could visualize every single person. I didn’t like a majority of them, but I somehow still managed to feel something for them other than dislike—pity, understanding, sadness. Arvin Russell, the young son of the war veteran, is the only character I found myself rooting for; I wanted him to find some kind of hope or happiness at the end. His father did some pretty messed up things, but, I think anyone who has struggled with trauma and loss can see him with some understanding…even if his actions were appalling.
The preachers throughout the story are unsettling. The lengths they go to in order to convince others of their faith, like eating spiders, to using their position to take advantage of the young women and girls in town, are revolting. The married couple on a killing spree are written so well that you can smell their rancid body odors and sweat page after page. Pollock has created complex characters that are grounded in real and violent substance. They felt tangible and terrifying.
The way Pollock weaves these separate stories into one riveting and winding tale is awesome. His imagery is exceptionally vivid; the images of blood and dirt and grime are clear, as are the ripe smells of decay, whiskey and filth. The backwoods altar Arvin’s father makes near their house—a place for prayer and blood sacrifices—is intense. I felt claustrophobic in the stifled church with people packed elbow-to-elbow, watching some rough looking guys plucking guitar and ranting about sin. Pollock’s writing gave me the heebie jeebies, but I wanted more.
I can’t quite put my finger on what is at the core of this novel. There’s the notion that a person ought to protect the ones they love—and avenge them if need be. But, there’s something more than that. The characters in this book go to great lengths to preserve and protect what brings them pleasure—whether it’s their family, their faith, their joy in taking virginities, their joy in hunting and killing or their own greed. I think it’s uncomfortable because the reader doesn’t want to think they could ever do such awful, vile things. But, Arvin and his family (both those who died and those who take him in) are seemingly God-loving people who don’t start out trying to cause harm. But, one uncomfortable truth that is explored here is that just because you don’t go looking to get into trouble, doesn’t mean trouble doesn’t find you. And I think that’s why it was so troublesome as a reader—you don’t want to approve of the revolting things that happen, but you also want some kind of justice to be found.
The Devil All the Time is dark, captivating and riveting. The violence, both physical and emotional, is strewn about the pages as if it is the normal thing in the world. The images, characters and tension will stick with me. Netflix is soon releasing a film based upon this novel, and I am beyond excited. I give The Devil All the Time 5/5 stars. I started out with a white wine, but quickly gave way to a bottle of The Four Graces, a pinot noir; I needed something dark to go with this read. This wine is earthy, dry and gritty; it pairs really well with Pollock’s novel. I highly recommend The Devil All the Time read if you enjoy a good story consisting of complex characters and thrilling content.
Rating: 5/5
Wine Pairing: The Four Graces Pinot Noir 2018
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Where the Crawdads Sing
Title: Where the Crawdads Sing
Author: Delia Owens
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2018
Obtained: Unknown—gifted
*This post contains affiliate links. This means if you clink on the link and purchase, I will receive a commission at no cost to you. My opinions in this post are my own!*
My reading buddy keeping me company Kya, the Marsh Girl, is no stranger to darkness and rumors. She was abandoned alone in the marshlands near a small town in North Carolina; she grew up depending on herself and figuring out life, largely, on her own. She teaches herself about the land, sea, animals and plants. Though timid and shy, she allows in two young men into her life over time. With the presence of these two men, she also allows herself to dream of a life and love she has never known. Then, one day, the unimaginable happens. Will a town of people who judged and shunned Kya support her when the time comes or outcast her as they’ve always done?
I was super impressed by Where the Crawdads Sing. For starters, Delia Owens has created prose in this novel that reads like poetry. She tells a story that unfolds slowly; she writes with a charm that pulls you into Kya’s lonely and beautifully sad world. She has crafted characters that the reader can relate to and some that might disgust one to his/her core. I really enjoyed this novel.
The voice in Where the Crawdads Sing is amazing. Owens writes so beautifully, that at times I didn’t even care that the story was slowpaced; the words were so vivid I was easily swept into Kya’s home and surrounding marsh. I listened to a bit of the audio version of the book because it really does flow rhythmically to the ears. Kya, though uneducated in terms of schooling, is brilliant. She is observant and detailed in her descriptions. The voice matched the character extremely well.
Though the story flows like molasses initially, it eventually picks up steam. I couldn’t wait to pick it back up and dive back into Kya’s marsh and find out what happens next. The characters were well developed—Kya, her father, Tate, Jodie, Chase, Jumpin’, Mabel. I loved the complexity of her feelings towards her family—especially her father and mother; I think Owens captured the confusion and innocence of a child’s outlook on abandonment superbly. While I couldn’t relate directly to some of the hardships that Kya endured, I could relate to her outlook and see her point of view with much clarity.
The story itself is engaging. I loved the strength of the main character as she not only figures out life, but also creates success for herself. I enjoyed the graceful way the story develops and how it, somewhere, shifts to being more urgent and heavy. While the ending wasn’t necessarily shocking, it was suiting to the story. Not to mention, there was one detail I did not see coming that sort of made me go back and reread some scenes with the new perspective I found in the ending. Overall, it was a fantastic story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I give Where the Crawdads Sing a 4.5/5. The story was engaging and well written. My only complaint was how slow the momentum was at first. I recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good story—there wasn’t as much mystery as I was anticipating, but in the end, I didn’t care. I enjoyed Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc with the book. It was a zesty, citrusy, earthy white wine that mingled nicely with the nature and setting of the book. The flavors of the wine unfold as do the layers of Kya. A good read deserves a good glass of wine, I say!
Rating: 4.5/5
Wine Pairing: Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc 2018
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Girl, Wash Your Face
Author: Rachel Hollis
Genre: Self-Help/ Christian Literature
Published: 2018
Obtained: Target
Author and Founder/CEO of Chic Media, Rachel Hollis, uncovers the lies that women tell themselves—the lies that hold them back from their dreams and goals. With humor and honesty, she then spends each chapter sharing her personal story of how she once believed each lie and her personal strategies to overcome them.
I’m finally back! I struggled to finish books without falling asleep every five minutes during my pregnancy…and the exhaustion only grew after giving birth to my son. I have been sleep deprived and run down, but I am finally feeling myself again and ready to explore some new reads. Let me start by saying that this book is not of a genre that’s typically in my wheelhouse. However, I picked this read because I’ve heard good things about Rachel Hollis and I was genuinely curious about what nuggets of wisdom she had to offer; it also looked like a book that would be easy to pick up and set down—which was appealing as a new mom.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Girl, Wash Your Face. Often, when I have attempted self-help books or non-fiction books that read as advice, I get annoyed or bored when I sense that I can’t relate or if the author is preaching too aggressively. While I rolled my eyes here and there, I overall found the writing humorous and easy-paced. I felt that Hollis wrote with a good intention to be applicable and relatable to a variety of women. I don’t, however, think she managed to be quite as accessible as she attempted.
The book is set up so that each chapter is titled after a common lie that women tend to tell themselves; Hollis then spends that chapter debunking those myths and offering some simple advice on what helped her overcome those lies. I could relate to some idea or story in most chapters; Unfotunately, I also consistently found unrelatable aspects. I found comfort in the chapters related to parenting—being a new mom, I’ve found my life has turned into a sort of emotional rollercoaster that’s flying off the rails. Knowing that I am far from the first woman to experience these things is comforting. Hearing someone else say the words that I am often too overwhelmed to say aloud is refreshing and reassuring.
I enjoy hearing other people’s strategies to success. I like sponging up tidbits of how other people deal with and overcome hurdles. I appreciated Hollis’ way of offering insight to what worked for her without shoving it down the reader’s throat. While she was attempting to blend a concoction of understanding and encouragement, these words sometimes came off entitled and predictable.
Therefore, my criticism of this book lies in some of the cliché topics and the author’s occasional tone deaf tendencies. Some of the messages are common—for instance, the message that there’s no right way to be a mom and that it’s okay to stay home or work. And although this isn’t an original message, I didn’t necessarily hate hearing it again…it simply wasn’t anything super new or groundbreaking as a reader. Hollis borderlines on being tone deaf more than once. While I’m a big advocate of not comparing our problems, I did feel irritated with her “problems” and goals to which I just couldn’t relate. For instance, her goal to buy a designer bag—I can’t relate to dropping a grand on a hand bag and calling it the proudest moment of my life. I’m not trying to be judgmental because I can appreciate that everyone is motivated differently, but I had a hard time digesting some of what she was putting down. And, I think that irritation I felt is what holds this book back from being applicable to women everywhere; there is something to be respected in sharing one’s truth, but some of Hollis’s issues read as “first world” problems to which not everyone will relate.
I enjoyed some aspects of this book; even if overused, a range of the advice and words were inspirational. It takes courage to lay your truths on the table for anyone to read. My motivation to work on me, which had been lying dormant since my pregnancy, began to creep back towards the surface as I made my way through this book. I feel an urge to find that balance between my role as an individual and my role as a parent. Other aspects of the book, however, were out-of-touch and slightly trite. I give Girl, Wash Your Face a 2.5/5. It was an easy read and it passed the time with an upbeat feel; on the other hand, it wasn’t all it was hyped up to be.
I recommend Butter Chardonnay to sip on while you read this book. It’s flavorful, crisp and strong. Occasionally, Hollis said some things that I needed to hear and it was invigorating—much like the strong citrus and oak tones of the wine. But I also needed something potent to swallow down some of the more contradicting parts…like when she describes how poorly her husband treated her at first, but then later states they’ve been best friends since the start (friends don’t treat each other that way). I think a very specific type of reader will enjoy this book—but if you’re looking for some quick inspiration, you can probably find the same messages on a Pinterest board. I’m glad I branched out, but it wasn’t my favorite, in the end. The wine, however, is amazing and I highly recommend grabbing a bottle to enjoy chilled!
P.S. I definitely just ordered 3 bottles for my wine fridge.
Rating: 2.5/5
Wine Pairing: Butter Chardonnay 2018
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Dead Woman Walking
Title: Dead Woman Walking
Author: Sharon Bolton
Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller
Published: 2017
Obtained: Amazon
Thirteen people go up for a hot air balloon ride near the border of Scotland and witness a man commit a murder. Only one of the thirteen individuals comes back down. Unfortunately, the murderer and the female survivor have seen each other’s faces and thus the race for survival begins. Between the detectives on the case and the murderer hunting her, who will find the witness first?
Dead Woman Walking is the third Sharon Bolton novel that I have had the pleasure to read. It did not disappoint! Although this novel bounced around quite a bit between time frames and characters, it was engaging and suspenseful. The characters were well developed and multidimensional. The plot was climactic and full of tension that makes for a great read.
The opening of this book had me tense and on the edge of my sofa. It was a little more gory than the previous books I’ve read of hers, but not overly done. After the initial terror, the action settles and gives way to flashbacks and mounting tension. True to her style, everytime I thought I had the story figured out, Bolton threw one wrench after another into the mix. I can see how the shifting between time frames could be overwhelming to a reader, but I enjoy the way Bolton keeps me on my toes.
Bolton’s character development is by far one of my favorite elements of her writing. The protagonist, the villain, the detective and even the nuns were multidimensional and well-rounded. Bolton has a way of leading the reader to make assumptions about characters and then completely turning the theories upside down. I love this about her novels. She manages to make even the most evil of characters relatable on some level.
I highly recommend Dead Woman Walking to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful thriller with unpredictable twists and turns. I had a hard time putting this one down. This was the second to last book and wine pairing I was able to indulge in before my pregnancy. That being said, I suggest sipping on Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a dark, fruity wine that isn’t overly sweet. But, I suggest sipping slowly, as it has a 13.9% alcohol content and goes down smooth which can make it difficult to muddle through the details, flashbacks and shifts in time. I gave this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars; it was a fabulous read. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book and pour yourself a glass!
Rating: 4.5/5
Wine Pairing: Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
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The Hunting Party
Title: The Hunting Party
Author: Lucy Foley
Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller
Published: 2018
Obtained: Amazon
A group of friends meet for the new year, as they do every year since they graduated from school. This time, the location is at a remote lodge in the Scottish highlands. They become snowed in following a blizzard. As the snow builds up around them, so does the tension as old regrets and secrets come to light. One of the friends winds up dead and it’s obvious that it must be one of the individuals staying in the lodge. But who?
I was so looking forward to this read, after reading the short synopsis about it. The story takes place in the Scottish Highlands, involves a mysterious death among friends and had what was, overall, a super creepy premise. I was sorely disappointed, unfortunately. Lucy Foley has a way with words, her writing was strong. I felt unattached to the characters as they were lacking depth. I was disappointed that there was not more focus on the amazing setting and I found the mystery to be lacking of vitality.
Scotland is place near and dear to my heart. I’ve been twice having strong family ties to the country. From personal experience, I can sincerely state that the landscape is some of the most beautiful country I’ve ever seen—rich in colors, fog and mist and rolling hills in shades of green I didn’t even know existed until I saw them with my own eyes. Perhaps I hyped this all up in my own mind, but there was none of this really in the book. The characters were from London, so I guess I was expecting the highlands to be a major focal point. I honestly forgot about halfway through that the book was taking place in Scotland, as the writing didn’t transport me there.
The characters were relatively vapid. I felt no real connection to anyone—I didn’t root for anyone. Granted, there were all significantly flawed in regards to their history and personalities (nobody cares for perfect characters). But, I just didn’t feel any pull towards any of them, and sometimes got the men confused. As the mystery unfolded, I predicted a lot of the outcomes and wasn’t really blown away by anyone’s big secrets.
The plot was extremely similar to Ruth Ware’s In A Dark, Dark Wood. Several acquaintances hulled up in a remote location where a mysterious death occurs and everyone is suspect. It played out similarly, though not exact. But, the “big reveal” was flat and anti-climatic. I was on the edge of my seat for a while, but that didn’t last very long. I felt like I had read this story before, and when the ending was slightly different I was left feeling unsatisfied.
Lucy Foley can turn a phrase quite well. Her book consisted of really beautiful writing. Her mystery was pretty well crafted and didn’t have any major plot holes or gaps that I could spot. The problem for me was that the writing seemed to tell me most things instead of showing me or leaving some of it up to the imagination. There was a lot of potential for a really great story, it just lacked some luster overall in the build up of the mystery. Overall, I gave this book a 2 out of 5 stars. While I appreciated her writing and style, I was disappointed in the lack of character depth, overall setting and mystery. I recommend sipping something dark and dry to pair with the dry, and sometimes terrible, personalities of the characters and the mystery surrounding them. I enjoyed a malbec called Tall Dark Stranger, which I thought went well with the whodunnit-feel of this book. It contains a strong alcohol content of 12.5%, which helped me digest the unfavorable aspects of the book.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Wine: Tall Dark Stranger Malbec 2017
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The Lying Game
Title: The Lying Game
Author: Ruth Ware
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Published: 2017
Obtained: Barnes and Noble
When three women receive a mysterious message from their friend, Kate, they all rush to her side as they promised to do as girls. However, as told from the point of view of Isa, the women soon realize that not only did their childhood game have terrible consequences, but they are also missing pieces pertinent to a situation that occured years ago…a situation that they all agreed to keep secret. Now, it’s time for the friends to face their past head on—but will they all adhere to the old rules of the game when it comes to being truthful with one another?
Ruth Ware’s novels, that I have read, are full of beautiful prose and suspenseful plots. The Lying Game starts out strong; however, it loses its luster pretty early into the story. I love the premise of the novel focusing on four girlfriends and their mysterious history, but the plot unravels like molasses. While the narrator, Isa, is fairly well-developed, the other three girls are lacking in depth. Ware starts with such a sturdy premise—her opening chapter hooked me into the mysterious text message from Kate and had my mind reeling about what kind of trouble in which these four, seemingly normal, girlfriends could be involved. That enticed feeling was short lived.
Ware writes with such lovely phrasing and poetic justice. I felt this writing was perfectly suited for her novel The Death of Mrs. Westaway with it’s old-school, gothic feel; I did not, however, feel that it worked in the Lying Game. This book is one of four friends who attended a boarding school together in their youth, where they spent their time breaking rules and drinking. The lengthy, flowery writing (while very appreciated as a reader and writer) is distracting from the story itself. So many times I grew frustrated and just wanted the narrator to get to the point! Furthermore, I think what was so frustrating, as a reader, was that the elaborate prose was often in regards to details that either didn’t matter or had no real connection to the actual story.
Isa is a frustrating narrator. She is slow to expose the reader to important details about her past and her relationship with the three other girls. Isa’s character build wasn’t particularly interesting to me—while reading, I found her dull and, at times, obnoxious. Kate is slightly more developed, but still falls short. Fatima and Thea are incredibly weak characters, which is a shame because I was so curious about them at the start of the novel. A majority of the scenes with the women focus on them drinking and reminiscing, pieced together with flashbacks and memories from the narrator; however, it comes off choppy to me, as a reader, with very little meat and details that could help build up the mystery of the story. While a rule of their game is to never lie to each other, they are constantly lying to each other! Moreover, it still bothers me that they seem to lie to each other for no substantial reason. Again, the idea is there, but the story just doesn’t build or come together very well.
As beautiful as Ware’s writing is, the story unravels in a very tedious manner. The pace is slow and the story is full of subplots and scenes that just don’t really have much to do with crux of the novel. I was excited by the premise of the book and by the introduction, but the rest of the novel was underwhelming. There are scenes and phrases from The Woman in Cabin 10 and The Death of Mrs. Westaway that still stick out in my mind, but I don’t feel that same way about The Lying Game. It was a fun and easy read with, I reiterate again, beautiful writing; but, I think readers who are familiar with Ware will find that it falls short of her other novels. I gave The Lying Game a 2 out of 5 stars. I have one more of Ruth Ware’s books to read and I still have high hopes for it! As far as the wine pairing with The Lying Game, I recommend The Stag by St. Huberts, which is a Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a full bodied, smooth, dark red that has hints of berries, oak and spice. I picked this up due to liking a dark, flavorful red to go with a good mystery full of perplexing characters; admittedly, I will say that the flavors in this wine are more complex than the characters in The Lying Game (which was disappointing as a reader, but fantastic as a wine-drinker).
Rating: 2/5 stars
Wine Pairing: St. Huberts The Stag (Cabernet Sauvignon)
Snag your own copy of The Lying Game at Barnes and Noble or Amazon
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The Man in the High Castle
Photo is a screenshot from my Audible app
Title: The Man in the High Castle
Author: Philip K. Dick
Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian/Alternate Fiction
Published: 1962
Obtained: Audible
It’s the early 1960’s in the United States, which has been divided since the end of World War II; one half is under Nazi control, while the other is under Japanese rule. The only hope that really manifests for the individuals living under the German or Japanese rule is in the form of a novel called, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy—a banned book depicting a world in which the Axis Powers lose the war.
Photo is a screenshot from my Audible app
Let me start by stating that this review does contain some small spoilers; as hard as I tried to avoid spoiling anything too profound, it was incredibly difficult to discuss this book without exploiting some details. I have such a complicated view on this book which mirrors the complicated feelings I experienced while reading it. I selected this book after I started watching the series on Amazon Prime. The show is gripping despite it’s slow start. The television series has definitely taken some liberties from the novel, but the skeletal foundation is there. The Man in the High Castle takes place in a world where the Axis powers won World War II. It opens in the early 1960’s where half of the United States is under rule of Nazi Germany in the Greater Nazi Reich and the other half is under the influence of Imperial Japan in the Pacific States of America. The story opens with unsettling details through the eyes of a few primary characters—slavery is once again legal, individuals are persecuted based on race and those of Jewish descent are forced to live under new names to survive in secret. The author, Philip K. Dick, takes the reader on a journey through a parallel universe that depicts how our world might be if the U.S. had lost the war. The novel is both terrifying and ingenious. While Dick’s theories and ideas are both strong and dynamic, they tend to drown out the characters and the subplots in the book.
I am not typically drawn to science fiction or dystopian novels. As I mentioned, I picked this book up after I was sucked into the show. However, I was compelled by the exploration of race, alternate realities and destiny/fate. I think I was most struck to see how the world could be if World War II had a different outcome. What I find terrifying is the thought of how easily our world could slip into this type of intolerant, violent society as depicted in The Man in the High Castle. I found it interesting that so many characters in this novel utilize the I Ching to help guide them as they make decisions. The I Ching literally pops up in every plot and subplot of the novel; it is the connection between various characters. More incredibly, however, is the idea that the I Ching allows the reader glimpses into these alternate universes that some of the characters experience. The book gets even more mind blowing with the introduction of The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, which is a book within The Man in the High Castle; The Grasshopper Lies Heavy is a book written by a character named Hawthorne Abendsen. Abendsen’s novel is a refreshing piece of fiction for many of the characters in The Man in the High Castle because it depicts a world where the Axis powers lost World War II; though not quite the world as we know it now, many characters are drawn to the book because it offers a glimmer of hope. Now, here comes a spoiler (sorry!): Abendsen admits to using the I Ching to write The Grasshopper Lies Heavy—implying that there is a truth regarding the outcomes written in it. Because The Grasshopper Lies Heavy ends with some differences compared to our own history, the reader is left wondering if Dick is implying that our real world is also an alternate universe in a sea of possible worlds. If your brain hurts, welcome to the club!
A big glass of Fortress wine to help the brain pain!
As the reader, I did have my issues with the book. While the alternate universe and the connections of fate kept my mind reeling and invested, I felt very little connection to a majority of the characters. I’ve said this before in my reviews, but characterization is a big deal to me as a reader. I enjoyed some of the inner-monologues, like Frank’s or Childen’s, that offered some insight into their perspectives of that world and the shift in culture…but these instances were far and few between. Aside from the fascinating world Dick created, I felt lost and bored during many parts of the book. Perhaps I made the mistake of starting the show first; I was expecting more from the characters and much more action. The novel consists of a lot of “almosts” —there was almost an assassination and there was almost a horrible tragedy in store for an important character. However, a lot of these “almost” things don’t come to fruition. In fact, the ending of the novel, while establishing a profound and thought provoking possibility, is extremely anticlimactic in terms of action and closure.
All in all, The Man in the High Castle consisted of intriguing sub-plots that are introduced and then nicely woven together as the story progresses. The scary world that Dick has created offers a lot of opportunities for the reader to imagine how differently our lives could be…and, arguably, draw parallels to the events occuring in real time. The ideas of alternate realities and fate are well developed and are written philosophically and profoundly. Yet, Dick delivers an underwhelming novel. He fails to cultivate any real connection between the reader and the characters. The lack of action left me wanting more from the story; truthfully, some of the monologues and passages felt mind-numbing and had me itching to put down the book. While the initial glaring presence of exterminations, persecutions and violence were terrifying, the idea of American culture being destroyed and non-existent was incredibly unsettling. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. It is the most demanding book I’ve read—meaning, it required a lot of focus and mental effort to read it, understand it and appreciate/enjoy it. As a book-lover, it pains me to admit that I am enjoying the show far more than I enjoyed the novel (insert Septa Unella following me with her bell saying, “Shame! Shame!”). But, it’s true. I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys alternate universes, dystopian-type books and profound thoughts on truth and fate. I also recommend giving it a try if you are currently watching, or have interest in watching, the Amazon Prime series. And I highly suggest watching The Man in the High Castle—I have found that the writers and developers of the series have really expanded on the characters, giving them more depth and more meaning. As far as the wine pairing, I suggest anything that contains a high alcohol content, for your brain will surely thank you. Specifically, I recommend Fortress Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, which has a 14.5% alcohol content to help swallow down the atrocities of the Axis alliance. This wine provides a bold, dark and strong flavor that pairs well with the dark and, often, cryptic aspects of The Man in the High Castle. Enjoy!
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Wine Pairing: Fortress Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Snag your own copy: Audible or Amazon
Pick a book, pour a glass
