Review 565: The Wandering Season

The Wandering Season by Aimie K. Runyan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Interesting premise, but the writing lacked polish. There is a bit of magical realism in the book, but despite that there unexplained moments, such as understanding people speaking a different language. If it’s already magical there could have been just a short line explaining this.

The problems, unfortunately, did not end there. Too often, from the character’s POV, the reader is told something that the character would not know. Such as at a bakery in a city unknown to her she finds pastries that were made from recipes handed down through the generations. She does not know this, can only guess, but the wording in the book makes it seem she absolutely knew.

There were many instances where this type of thing occurred, and every time it pulled me out of the story. Also, many of the descriptions were not detailed, instead explained and used general words, such as modern and tasteful, well what exactly is that? It felt clunky and awkward whenever this occurred. Also, there was reliance on too many clichés, and way too many convenient coincidences.

Since this was an advance review copy I was reading, my hope is many of these things were fixed before publication.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 449: Knick Knack Paddy Whack (or) The Talk of the Town

Knick Knack Paddy Whack by Ardal O'Hanlon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Patrick Scully is not a likeable character. From the onset we are slapped around with cuss words and awful language, that somehow settles down as the book goes on. It’s the first year out of school and his friends have all gone to university while Patrick is feeling left behind, despite that they all share a flat in Dublin. His girlfriend Francesa doesn’t really like him too much, but he doesn’t know this, only she won’t go all the way, so he’s still a virgin. On the weekends he takes the bus back home to his village and spends the weekend with friends getting drunk at the pub or club, and maybe getting into a fight.

It's not a pretty book by any means. Interspersed with Patrick’s POV we get entries from Francesca’s diary that is detailed and erudite. This is how we learn she tolerates Patrick, maybe feels sorry for him, and has affection for his roommate Xavier whom they call Balls.

The timeline isn’t linear and we even have Patrick making up something that could have happened so the story is not clear. As the book goes on, it’s hard not to feel some sympathy for the lonely Scully. Still, I did not enjoy the journey.

The book was originally published with the title "The Talk of the Town" which I think fits better

Review 405: Factory Girls

Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book takes place in Ireland, the summer of 1994, during the time of the troubles. The Protestants and Catholics do not mix, instead they bomb each other.

Maeve and her two friends get a job for the summer at a shirt factory while awaiting their exam results. Getting good marks means they can leave this small town, go across the water to university.

The shirt factory is unusual as both groups work side by side. Maeve had never been around ‘Prods’ before and finds they are just like them. However, with so many killings between them, it’s hard to know how they can truly be desegregated.

Several times in the book we get Maeve’s memories, of her first riot, bombings she’s been near, or heard about nearby. It is something that is personal in everyone’s lives. Now, there are boyfriends, possibly, the manager of the factory, and saving money while waiting for those results. Yet, the job is the center of the book.

Maeve and Caroline get an apartment together, right across the way from the factory gates. The three’s friendships change during this summer, an end of an era for them.

Maeve is a brave, outspoken girl, she is a strong character born out of the bomb debris. The book feels a bit course at times, which fits the time, location and the character.

A strong book with a bit of humor to it as well.

Review 152: Migrations

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There is a bit of a mystery in this book, and it’s about our central character’s life, Franny Stone. What happened in her past? She is obsessed with birds and since nearly all are now gone, she has taken it upon herself to follow the Arctic Terns migration from the north to Antarctic.

Franny certainly has a penchant for swimming in icy cold oceans. In the first pages she jumps into the cold waters to rescue what looks to be a drowning man. And her luck is with her as he turns out to be a captain of the fishing boat she was looking to join.

The book is dark and bleak, with nearly the entirety of animals gone from this world. The story is told by going from present to past and various points in the past. I really loved the part where she and her husband meet and grow to know each other. Fanny is one who leaves, and gets that wandering from her family. Franny is never easy on herself, and it seems to come out even more during her sleep while sleepwalking she can do terrible things, or nearly.

Despite how difficult the book was to read at times I did enjoy it. The language had a feel of poetry and it drew me in right away. I wanted to know what happened with Franny, her past, her family, and slowly it was revealed. This is not a long book, but it is on that can stay with you long after reading.


Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.