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Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

“Although it’s good to try new things & to keep an open mind, it’s also extremely important to stay true to who you really are”

Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine poignantly follows the life of female protagonist Eleanor, who leads a recluse life & couldn’t be more content … so it seems. She’s been living the same life, living in the same home & working the same job for the past nine or so years. Used to a life of routine & order, Eleanor doesn’t realise that she could be squeezing more out of her life, until she meets individuals like Raymond, who give her insight into how to better one’s quality of life. It is a book that explores the ins & outs of one seemingly ordinary lady’s life & is sure to tug at everyone’s heartstrings & awaken anyone’s introspection.

It begins as a laugh-out-loud read as the reader is introduced to Eleanor’s very matter of fact demeanour. I do find, though, that this novel would be particularly appreciated by those with a fairly dark sense of humour, as I (sometimes) find myself having … only sometimes.

The novel touches upon family as a theme; how therein lies both strength & weakness. Eleanor’s family is represented as her Achilles heel as she can’t seem to part with it, though, at times, it is her source of great pain.

I fell in love with Honeyman’s style of writing: every page turned with ease & I found myself to be enthralled by Eleanor’s world with great speed. The plot twist didn’t unravel until the penultimate page, which reveals just how compelling this story is!

I also fell in love with Eleanor’s character. She’s quirky & her mannerisms are so lovable. Whether it’s having to be brutally honest or overly compassionate, Eleanor is an individual who I found relatable because she represented a rare disposition leading an otherwise banal life. Her character development lends itself to illustrating the importance of striking a balance between being an adventurous free spirit whilst staying true to oneself.

This particular edition was very kindly gifted to me & is signed: a sure, very loved & very cherished favourite on my bookshelf for the ages!

Sincerely,

Sheeza

✒︎

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A Silent Voice #7

“The motivation will present itself when the time’s right”

Yoshitoki Oima’s final instalment of A Silent Voice provides a bittersweet end to Shoya & Shoko’s story. About to graduate, Shoya & his friends prepare to face the real world, after experiencing so much in their own circle. Uncertainty amongst the friends looms as massive decisions regarding the future are on the horizon.

My favourite part about manga is the fact that one can learn ample lessons from it, from the importance of following one’s heart to understanding that life is a journey.

People-pleasing This coming-of age novel touches on the fact that, as a youngster (or maybe even as an adult), putting other’s needs before one’s own is a common occurrence. Being confronted with this reality in the book helps the reader to avoid this as best they can in their own lives.

Following dreams The importance of pursuing a passion is demonstrated through each character who strives to find their vocation, no matter how unbelievable.

Change A concept that is heavily focused on throughout the book, with the male protagonist, Shoya, feeling the fear & anxiety that comes with such a process … relatable!

Compromise The book reminds one never to compromise, neither on one’s present nor one’s future.

Reality The realness behind picking one’s vocation is mirrored in the adolescent characters; it is motivational to see them striving towards the end goal of being happy in the profession that they choose.

Whatever you do, do it well A lesson passed down to me by my own parents, the book teaches to put 100% into whatever one embarks on.

Friendship Centred around a group of friends, the seventh A Silent Voice takes the reader through the ups & downs of the cherished bond shared between individuals, ultimately allowing the reader to see how vital a beloved friendship can be.

It’ll work out, eventually Whether it’s fixing an old friendship or deciding what to do with oneself, life has a way of working out, as is demonstrated in this story, with Shoya’s friends discovering their true selves & Shoko her voice.

It is for the powerful & unique style that is manga that I urge readers to pick one up that sounds most tempting & appealing & to give it a go. I myself may have been fairly late on the bandwagon, but I’m not planning on getting off anytime soon!

Sincerely,

Sheeza

✒︎

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Sister

“And imagine acquiring a new language and only learning the words to describe a wonderful world, refusing to know the words for a bleak one & in doing so linguistically shaping the world that you inhabit”

Rosamund Lupton’s Sister concentrates on the bond shared between two sisters & reminds me of my own older sister & I’s. When her younger sister, Tess, goes missing in the middle of London, Beatrice rushes to book the earliest flight home. Refusing to believe that Tess has disappeared of her own accord, she risks leaving her safe & steady life in New York- with her dependable fiancé, Todd- to find out the truth behind whatever happened to her beloved sister.

Judgement Tess is an art student; as such, her actions are judged accordingly. The skewed opinions extend to reasons behind her disappearance, as the police is willing to believe that her going missing is neither suspicious & thus nor a cause for concern. Indeed, if she has gone missing, many reassure themselves that her free spirit lends itself to making brash decisions like going off the grid.

Family Relationships The book touches on the fact that even the closest of pairs have secrets that neither know. Though Beatrice reminds everyone around her that Tess wouldn’t dare make a move without updating her, Tess’s lifestyle suggests otherwise. It is when Beatrice comes back to London that she discovers Tess living what could be classed as a double life, of course unbeknownst to her older sister.

The State As someone living in London, I found learning about the judicial system & medical faculty fascinating. Lupton exposes how minute details can & are overlooked by hospitals & the police, causing major potentially irreparable- not to mention irrevocable- holes in an investigation.

Poignant & an absolute page-turner, Lupton knows how to keep a reader as enthralled nearing the end of the novel as they would be turning over its first page. It is a must-read for fans of realistic crime fiction. I can say with certainty that this won’t be the sole novel by Rosamund Lupton within my collection.

Sincerely,

Sheeza

✒︎

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A Silent Voice #6

“Everyone has their faults! So hold your head up high!”

I find it terribly easy to read Yoshitoki Oima’s A Silent Voice series; her writing is addictive & delectably moreish. Six volumes on & I feel no different.

In this tome, one sees history creep up on both Shoya & Shoya, no matter how fast they try to run away from it, to escape from it. Though Shoya views life as granting him a second opportunity, old skeletons refuse to budge. The previous volume saw Shoya confront his friends who for a long time partnered with him to belittle classmate Shoko, who has a hearing impairment & it is her disability that many, including Shoya, have in the past taken advantage of. Hoping for a clean slate, however, Shoya is determined to leave the past exactly there, triggering the collision with his otherwise loyal friends. Witnessing the dispute is too much for Shoko to handle as she holds herself accountable. Deciding to take her own life, Shoya risks all to save her, causing himself to be admitted into hospital, yet to regain consciousness. It is at this point in the series that all comes to a boil, as some point the finger at Shoko for Shoya’s rather critical state. Others are more mindful, reassuring her that it is Shoya’s dedicated and committed nature that has led to his plight, rather than Shoko’s own actions. The volume lends itself to an abundance of questions, leaving the reader itching to read #7.

Self-acceptance This novel heavily focuses on the theme of accepting oneself, which Shoko has struggled with as a result of constant bullying ever since she was a little girl. With supporting characters like Tomohiro, though, Shoko begins to grow proud of who she is, despite being criticised & trodden on.

Character development This is what I love most about Oima’s writing style. The reader is taken on a journey for numerous volumes, seeing several characters partake in enthralling introspection & retrospection. Characters who I initially despised somehow win me over because of their ability to recognise where they may have slipped up. It is their determination to make amends that can soften any reader’s heart, I’d like to think.

Packed full of suspense, cliffhangers & drama, the sixth instalment of A Silent Voice has followed its predecessors in winning my heart over & I await the seventh book – as it arrives by post – with bated breath!

Sincerely,

Sheeza

✒︎

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Two By Two

“If it comes, let it come. If it stays, let it stay. If it goes, let it go”



Nicholas Spark’s Two By Two details the story of Russell Green, who appears to have what most people would deem the epitome of a ‘perfect’ life, with a doting family, flourishing profession & home to match. However, when he decides to turn his back on the career of a lifetime for an uncertain but excitingly tempting future, all else around him falls. His marriage, career & the roof over his head all hang in the balance.

Sparks succeeds in providing a realistic take on finding love after heartbreak; how rocky, even stagnant, in fact, it can be, as old skeletons are welcomed back into today. Though I’m not yet married, I feel as though I’ve learnt so much regarding love, loss, the necessity of focusing on oneself when the going gets tough & the sheer force of unconditional love, be that of a father & his daughter or within the family as a whole.

If there was one drawback, it would have to be the way in which Sparks weaves the death of a cherished character into the story, a literary device prevalent in every one of his books that I have read thus far. When I discovered who it would be in this novel, I found it to be rather predictable. Perhaps it is because he is my favourite author that I found it to be more foreseeable than someone who is not so accustomed to Sparks’s writing style.

Grief is explored in a sensitive and realistic way; Russ leads the way to advocating how necessary it is to have the determination to move on & overcome but how difficult it can be not to dwell on what has befallen.

Character development throughout the novel is worth high praise; as I turned over the final page of the novel, what resonated loud & clear was the message that: it all does & will make sense in the end. Any trial or tribulation is & will be answered with a blessing, even in disguise.

I’d recommend this book to those who feel like their luck has run out, for this book reminds us that a second chance comes when we least expect it, but when we are most in need of it.

Sincerely,

Sheeza

✒︎

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Phantom Limbs

“My dreams were of beginnings without endings”

Paula Garner’s Phantom Limbs centres around Otis and Meg, two teenagers torn apart by the tragic passing of Otis’s toddler brother, Mason. With him gone, their once parallel lives could not be more different, as Otis busies himself in escaping from his sorrow by losing himself in the world of swimming and Meg embarks on the very bumpy road of self-discovery, in another town far away from her former childhood kindred spirit.

Introducing Dara : a swimmer hopeful. She had dreams of competing in the Olympics, until an accident resulted in her losing one of her arms. Since the incident, she trains Otis, striving to ensure that he will pick up the baton and do her coaching him a whole lot of good and justice.

All is as it has been for three years, until Meg re-enters Otis’s life in the form of one fateful e-mail, detailing her possible desire to move back. She has the ability to shake Otis up in more ways than one : his friendships, potential career and mourning for baby brother Mason. He begins to question his feelings and decisions concerning his life after Meg’s departure from it.

This novel explores lost love, discusses the act of grieving on an intimate level and begs the reader to contemplate the concept of time and how it has next to no importance when it comes to getting over a grave loss. It is a raw account that displays just how necessary it is to search for a silver lining, no matter how faint. The realism within this book reminds the reader that grief comes about due to losses of many kinds ; if there is one binding element between us human beings, it is the inevitable experience of loss, which is as heart-wrenching as it is reassuring.

Sincerely,

✍︎ Sheeza

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Stalking Jack the Ripper

“Roses have both petals and thorns, my dark flower. You needn’t believe something weak because it appears delicate. Show the world your bravery.”

Without sounding too crazed and curious, the stories behind serial killers never fail to grip my mind. Just this weekend, I found myself watching not one, but two shows centred around the very mysterious fiends; it has been an interesting couple of days, to say the least …

Kerri Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper recounts the very renowned tale of the – yet to be identified – murderer, Jack the Ripper, who ran rampant during the late nineteenth century. Far too many women, namely night-walkers, fell victim to his blade. So much about him is unknown: his identity, casualty count, not to mention his intention.

His favoured spot to patrol was the district of Whitechapel, which I found to be enthralling because my university is situated not too far from some of his prized places to visit – and often target.

The female protagonist, Audrey Rose, studies anatomy, unbeknownst to her father who is adamant that someone of her standing and gender should indulge herself in matters of etiquette rather than extraction, manners rather than biological material and tea parties rather than tampering with a cadaver.

All in all, this novel gives to the reader charm that never ceases to age and that invites the reader to become well-acquainted with each character, evil and otherwise.

A work of art that is a must-read for those fascinated with gaining insight into the psychology behind individuals whom we ourselves would never dream of becoming.

Sincerely,

✍︎ Sheeza

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The Dark Between Stars

“You weren’t given wings to see the world from a tree…”

Receiving Atticus’s written word as a gift could not have made me happier, especially after having been left in total awe from Love Her Wild. 

Atticus does very well to subtly intertwine events in our lives that can & do render us ecstatic or otherwise feeling a little less than okay. However, unlike other works of poetry, he does not compartmentalise his words into those that evoke happiness or sadness. Unlike poetry that I have read in recent times, his words left me comforted rather than alone or upset as I reflected upon any past tribulations. In fact, one gentle page turn takes the reader from feelings of uncertainty to hope; from regret to mindful retrospect & from wishing to doing.

Atticus forces the reader to come face-to-face with difficult possibilities: having something of value taken away; having to go on a journey- physically, mentally & emotionally- alone, or considering that some painful memories could have or should have been prevented.

He boldly reminds the reader that nobody is alone. Everybody has, at the very least, an internal form of struggle behind their very strong exterior. Life would not be half as invigorating, thrilling, jaw-dropping, a privilege & a blessing were it not for the sunny days & stormy nights; the laughter & tears; the certainty & angst.

Atticus has a remarkable gift, for his words elicit a feeling within any reader, no matter their ‘walk of life’. Though I do not live in Paris, for instance, his affinity with cafés reminded me of my own love for passing time, with a cuppa & comforting company, in independent coffee shops in London.

His ability to speak to many on a universal scale makes this book far too tempting not to grab & enjoy with feet up, a blanket & a tissue box nearby, just in case.

Sincerely,

𝒮𝒽ℯℯ𝓏𝒶

✍︎

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Milk and Honey

“accept yourself as you were designed”


Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey talks the reader through falling, feeling, hurting and subsequently healing. Four chapters focus on each stage individually, deeply and unavoidably.

The poet’s universality derives from the way in which anyone who is in the process of loving, losing, grieving, recuperating and overcoming can and will, with ease, take some solace in between her lines.

Poetry has always had a heavy impact on my heart, as it is both freeing but almost too real to read without coming up for air every so often. I am reduced to philosophising with my loved ones, who are left with no choice but to join- for which I am grateful beyond compare!

I found myself to be racing through her words, as this book was read in one rapid (albeit relaxing) sitting. However, I did encounter a fair few moments whereby I would put it down and literally step away- passing the time pacing or conversing with the outside world a little- in order to wholeheartedly feel, embrace and be struck by the raw energy of Rupi’s discoveries.

Reading this literary style is an immersive experience that certainly takes its toll. Thankfully, I have come to the conclusion that it is a bumpy yet insightful and thus inviting road and one that I will be travelling down on another occasion before long.

Despite being shaken to the core by her explicit- and all the more empowering- language, having never before read work like Rupi’s, the book’s machinations left my heart feeling comforted. I was fortunate enough to take a quick gander at life’s blessings and tribulations.

What better way to face a predicament than face to face?

Sincerely,

𝒮𝒽ℯℯ𝓏𝒶

✍︎

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The Forty Rules of Love

“Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead let life live through you. And do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?”

Elif Shafak’s The Forty Rules of Love lists the many rather simple ways in which one may be able to obtain what is deemed a content life. Unlike popular belief, this delightful accumulation of words is not so much an instruction manual on the romantic type of love! It rather focuses on how to first grow fond of oneself, before bestowing upon somebody else the blessed gift of love.

Ella Rubenstein plays the very eye-opening role of a woman who seems to ‘have it all’ but still feels as though she is lacking. She has a spouse, children, a roof over her head and a well-paid occupation to boot. As the story goes on, however, the reader begins to see the cracks in what would appear to be- to any outsider- an otherwise ideal lifestyle. With a dishonest husband and a daughter who wishes to be wed prematurely, Ella finds herself desiring an adventure outside of her carefully crafted bubble.

Her life in the present day is juxtaposed with that of thirteenth-century poet Rumi, as well as Shams of Tabriz, his most trusted companion. After coming into contact with the writer of a manuscript detailing the poet’s life, Ella’s story truly commences.

Shams’s ‘forty rules of life and love’ causes Ella to have an existential crisis, for lack of a better expression, as she starts to see all that is leaving her a lot to be desired. This book is one for lovers of history as the reader is transported back in time to the ancient city of Konya, Turkey.

One is left inspired by the book’s message that it is never too late to do whatever it is that the heart truly desires. What makes this book so utterly rewarding is its emphasis on material possessions not equating to pure and wholesome happiness.

I am thankful to have gone on this journey that allowed myself to better know my all-time favourite poet, spiritually and personally.

I attribute my smile to a generous friend who gifted my mind with this wonderful work of literature. A special thank you to you!

Sincerely,

𝒮𝒽ℯℯ𝓏𝒶

✍︎