Literary Brooding

Neverland Margot McGovern 336 pages, Paperback, First published 1 April 2018 Kit is an emotional mess, having self-harmed at boarding school, she is returned to her island home. The return for Kit is both welcomed and dreaded. She has friends there, Gypsy and Alistair and it is home. Neverland, where the fantasy keeps the reality at bay and a place that is her refuge. Her Uncle runs an educational facility for young people on the island, who are suffering mental health issues and Kit knows returning means under going treatment. Kit is determined to have a great time with Gypsy and Alistair, drinking, taking illict drugs, pushing the adults away and living by her own rules. She does not want to revisit the night her parents died and is willing to do anything to avoid going back. Yet, new resident Rohan, makes Kit question not just that night but all her choices. Kit, is a complex character, who is struggling to find herself after a traumatic event in her past. Her memories of the event ...

  Never a Hero  (Monsters #2) Vanessa Len 478 pages, Paperback, Published 29 August 2023 by Allen & Unwin The sequel starts off mere months after Only a Monster with Joan struggling to understand the ramifications of what her actions have done. Joan is back at school, some things are familiar but there is much that has changed. People she knew are no longer there and those who have died are back but altered. One of those who is back is Nick but he no longer knows Joan and this a both a curse and blessing. Joan has resigned herself to this new world until the threats of the past throw her and Nick together. She soon realises that someone is trying to manipulate the time line and she must find a way to stop it. I enjoyed Only a Monster and found the world that Len created rich in detail and intriguing. Coming to the sequel I was looking forward to seeing how Len would develop the world and the characters. Joan is central and if you are vibing with her, the book will be a d...

Holding the Line: Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike of 1983 Barbara Kingsolver 213 pages, Paperback, First published January 1, 1989 In 1983 a group of miners went on strike for eighteen months in the small mining towns of Arizona. This is not the story of the men but of the women, who were both workers at the mine and supporters because of family connections. Kingsolver allows the women to tell their story, their struggle, and their commitment to seeking justice. Not only did they endure an 18 month long strike but they had to overcome and rebuild after a flood devastated the area. Phelps Dodge Copper Corporation in 1983 and the union clashed over the negotiation of a new contract. Not being able to resolve the matter to their satisfaction Phelps resorted to a series of tactics that included bringing in ‘scab’ workforce and intimidation of the strikers. The strikers remained steadfast, despite a natural disaster that destroys the community and harassment by the National Guard and...

The Handmaid's Tale  Margaret Atwood 479 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1985 You know there has been a myriad of reviews, dissections, discussion, and ruminations on a novel that was written in 1985 and still (unfortunately) relevant in 2024. There remains, the same tensions as to the rights of a woman to participate in the workforce and make decisions about her own future. Apart from the themes what always strikes me is Atwood’s writing. How she ever so cleverly engages you into the story. How as you are exposed to the characters you learn more about their history and motivations. I have not wanted to read this book for the longest time because I knew the content. I am glad I finally took the plunge and further appreciated the magnificence of Atwood’s writing. For there is a masterclass in writing here. The way in which Atwood slowly brings out the reality of the world and the contradictions that are the heart of it all. It is a deeply unsettling read, and it is why y...