Hi everyone!
I hope that you are all doing well. A bit of a rambly post from me here. I know that I do post the occasional personal post here and there. I did in the past, speaking a bit about my anxiety. I thought for the new year, I would incorporate a bit more of that. So yes, what is new in your world? It is a new year, and usually every year, I come up with some resolutions. Even bookish resolutions. But this year, my main goal is to Digital Detox. For the month of January, the lovely folks at Penguin Random House Canada have been encouraging people to enjoy life "offline" - more details can be found here! You might be thinking how on earth can I manage that with an "online" blog, but I've been finding that all the time I've been spending offline has allowed 1) more time for reading and 2) more time for reading for pleasure and not simply school/work. And with all that, voila! I plan to bring you all much more interesting, thought-provoking blogging content. I've been feeling better physically and mentally and with that, I plan on extending this Digital Detox beyond the month of January. I want it to be my main goal for the entire year.
So what are some small things I've been up to during this Detox?
1. Breathing and Meditating
Breathing is a no brainer obviously. But I've been enjoying meditation so much month. I usually meditate before my morning begins, or even at my desk at work for about 5-15 minutes (depending on how much time I have). I use an app called Insight Timer - which has guided meditation, but also just a timer if you want to do it unguided. Sometimes, I find it can do it without a guide and just visual certain things. But most of the time, a guided one woks best for me. I like to think of it as a way to check in mentally with myself during stressful moments.
2. Eating Right & Cooking
Personally, I will admit that I've had my fair share of issues with food and eating in general. I've tried so many fad diets and I've always struggled with finding balance in what I eat. I would go on a specific diet for a couple months, obtain the results I want, and somehow that all goes out the window. I used to think that I just didn't have discipline and I entered into a big cycle of self-shaming and guilt. I've since then realized that the diets I was working with were not good for me in general. No wonder they didn't stick! I'm going to be moving in less than two months into my first home with my boyfriend. That is a massive step. It also means I won't be coming home to little special meals from my aunt occasionally. It will mean going to the grocery store myself a lot of the time, and cooking for myself. It will also mean living on a budget and not getting my meals out so often as I do now. This past month, I've gotten a new workspace at school with a kitchen and that has allowed me to experiment with cooking. I've made most of my meals at home this month and I haven't realized until now just how much I love cooking. I've been able to test out easy, fun and healthy recipes. I've been leaning more towards a vegetarian diet which has been great. And I've walked away from the restricted rigid structures of diets and I've just been doing what feels good. It is about becoming more aware of what we put into our bodies and making sure you are cooking something that you will not only enjoy eating and also making.
3. Taking Reading Breaks
I have a full course load this semester, so I have a ton of readings weekly. I also have "deadlines" for certain advanced readers copies that I receive. Basically, there is a lot to read weekly. It is so easy to get burnt out from reading so much because I suffer from book hangovers. It is quite hard for me to "step away" once I'm done a book. It lingers and it takes a while for it to leave my system so I can fully move onto a new text. You can also get into reading slumps like me, where it becomes like homework reading. Reading because you have to, not because you want to. I've recently decided to take Reading Breaks. If I'm not feeling up to reading some days, I simply don't. I'm usually burnt out by reading a lot of my theoretical readings for school, and honestly, it is ok to just "walk" away from reading. It removes the pressure and when you finally come back to read, you will actually enjoy it.
4. Ditching the Laptop
Since I started graduate studies, I made the shift from laptop notes to paper notes. I've been able to recall information so much better this way. I've started doing that with blogging as well. Usually, I read a book, sit down and write the entire review. I've started journalling. I journal for therapy and I've decided to do that for blogging. As I'm reading, I make some points/notes that I want to go back and revisit in my review. I also think journalling in general has been super helpful. It allows me to get all my emotions out if I'm having a bad day, and it is a lot more refreshing than ranting about it online on twitter. I used to be anti-diary/anti-journal because the thought of reading what I wrote before made me cringe. But I simply don't read what I wrote before. I simply turn to a fresh new page and go from there. It is super therapeutic! I highly recommend it.
5. Colouring! Drawing!
We all know how big adult colouring books has gotten. There are colouring books for specific fandoms now which is awesome! I have a Harry Potter, Doctor Who and Game of Thrones one! :D I've been taking some time to colour every now and then and it takes me about 15-20 minutes most days and I just find it really clears my mind and allows me to focus simply on colouring. I also recently picked up some drawing books, specifically anime and manga ones. I used to draw a lot when I was little, but it got harder with me being a perfectionist and not wanting to draw unless it was perfect. But recently, my sketchbook has been filling up and much like the journal, it is super therapeutic. :D
So yes, those are my "tips" or strategies of what I've been doing recently in terms of doing a Digital Detox. Let me know if you have any other tips for focusing more on life "offline" -- I would love to know!
Monday, 25 January 2016
Thursday, 21 January 2016
Blog Tour: Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn - Review and Author Q&A!
Publishing Date: January 5, 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 336 pages
Young Adult Contemporary
The Premise: [taken from the publisher] "Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time-the kind Mercedes never had herself. Keeping what goes on in her bedroom a secret has been easy - so far. Her mother isn't home nearly enough to know about Mercedes' extracurricular activities, and her uber-religious friend, Angela, won't even say the word "sex" until she gets married. But Mercedes doesn't bank on Angela's boyfriend finding out about her services and wanting a turn - or on Zach, who likes her for who she is instead of what she can do in bed. When Mercedes' perfect system falls apart, she has to find a way to salvage her own reputation - and figure out where her heart really belongs in the process. Funny, smart, and true-to-life, Firsts is a one-of-a-kind young adult novel about growing up" -- I thought it might be better to put the premise from the publisher this time because I tried to phrase the premise myself and I kept writing in spoilers! It is so hard to condense a book like this into a few sentences.
My overall review and thoughts: When I was first approached to participate in the blog tour, I immediately jumped on board when it was mentioned that the book was written in the same vein as Easy A. The premise sounded incredibly interesting but I was a bit apprehensive because when it comes to "firsts" in general, it is such a generic topic that is written about time and time again in young adult contemporary novels. First kiss, falling in love for the first time, having sex for the first time, etc, etc. I was super happy to see and read this refreshing take on things that Flynn offers the readers. To begin with, she speaks about sex quite explicitly in the book, which I find that a lot of YA novels tend to beat around the bush with. Sex is a taboo topic and including sex in a book may push the book more on the New Adult or romance side of things. I found that Flynn overs a very realistic depiction of what it can be like and does not "sugar-coat" things. She also speaks about consent which is incredibly important and that it isn't something that was simply assumed. Mercedes' "system" is definitely flawed, because in a manner of speaking, her sleeping with boys who have girlfriends already, could be considered cheating, but again, it is important to note that sex is an act between two consenting adults, so it gives you a look into the story from both parties. Mercedes also unfortunately has to deal with a few guys that really push boundaries and limits, and really take advantage of her. I'll be honest, I felt sick to my stomach reading some of those scenes and quite angry that I had to put the book down for a bit. But again, this ties into my point of Flynn not sugar-coating the scenarios at all. She offers a really realistic depiction and I think it is important not to "fluff" up first times in general for people. Because sometimes, first times aren't wonderful. It isn't always going to be a reflection of a movie rom-com. Sometimes, it is something completely different.
Although, there are problems with her system, the book's objective isn't to show Mercedes as a negative person, but rather to show and help explain, why she is the way she is. Her perfect "first" time didn't exist and it is more than just that experience that has shaped her character. Her relationship with her mother is also an important part of the book. I've been watching a lot of crime tv shows recently (tangent), and recently in one particular show, it mentioned that even though we try to distinguish ourselves from our parents, we are a product of our environments and our upbringing. Our parents will shape us in one way or another, even if we don't notice it right away. Mercedes calls Kim (her mother), by her first name because she feels that her mother hasn't earned the title of Mom, but towards the end of the text, she realizes she actually has a lot in common with her mother. My only criticism for the text would be that the relationship narrative between Mercedes and her mom wrapped up pretty quickly towards the end, and I would've liked to see more resolution there.
Besides talking about sex and consent in a very unique manner, I also enjoyed the characters that Laurie Flynn created for the readers. Mercedes is incredibly brave, confident, but also vulnerable. I really enjoyed seeing her academic side and that really resonated with me. I also loved Faye and Zach so much, they were wonderful friends and it was so nice to see their relationships blossom with Mercedes. I also really liked the character of Angela and seeing her growth as well. Overall, I think that this was a great YA read, tackling a popular topic of "firsts" but in a super unique way.
My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮✮ (5/5 stars)
Now available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo Books, Amazon and Book Depository (Free Worldwide Shipping)
Author Question and Answer
1. You take a very unique approach to the idea of "firsts" - The usual narrative is how one values their "first" experience or how the experience has shaped them in some way. What made you decide to approach it from a different perspective? I love reading books from the point of view of unlikely characters. It was important to me to tell the other side of the story from the perspective of that girl—the girl who may not get her own story otherwise. There is so much shaming pointed toward girls who have sex, and I wanted to dissect why that happens. With teen girls, there’s so much judgment surrounding not just the first time, but every time after. I wanted to tell a story from a girl who didn’t have a perfect first time, but wants to regain control by giving it to other virgins. I wanted to explore why she does what she does.
2. What is the one central message that you hope your readers walk away with when they finish the text? I hope readers consider that while it’s easy to judge a person, it’s harder to really know them. We all have secrets. Everyone has gone through trials and tribulations in life, and it’s impossible to know everything about someone else—especially someone you know by association or through rumours instead of fact. Mercedes doesn’t trust anyone to know her real self or what has happened in her past, so she only lets people know one particular version of herself. It’s so important to be kind to everyone, because you never know what someone is going through or has been through.
2. What is the one central message that you hope your readers walk away with when they finish the text? I hope readers consider that while it’s easy to judge a person, it’s harder to really know them. We all have secrets. Everyone has gone through trials and tribulations in life, and it’s impossible to know everything about someone else—especially someone you know by association or through rumours instead of fact. Mercedes doesn’t trust anyone to know her real self or what has happened in her past, so she only lets people know one particular version of herself. It’s so important to be kind to everyone, because you never know what someone is going through or has been through.
Be sure to check out the final stops on the blog tour tomorrow, and go back and check all the wonderful reviews from the previous stops :)
Disclaimer: An advanced reader's copy of the book was provided by Raincoast Books for participation in the book tour. All opinions of the book are my own.
Saturday, 2 January 2016
Review: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Publishing Date: May 12, 2015 (Paperback) | June 26, 2014 (Hardcover)
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Pages: 320 pages
Literary Fiction
The Premise: The story takes place in the 1970s in Ohio and follows the Chinese American family, the Lee family. Lydia is the daughter of Marilyn and James Lee. When Lydia passes away from a mysterious drowning, the perfect image of the Lee family starts to unravel as secrets are uncovered. The story follows from the perspective of Marilyn, James, and their other children, Nath and Hannah.
My overall thoughts and review: I've seen this book around for quite some time now and I'll be honest, I did buy it to fulfill a popsugar reading challenge last year. It was to read a book by an author with the same initials as me. I knew very little about the book and was a bit reluctant to pick it up immediately after purchase because I'm terrified of water myself, so a book about drowning? When is there every a good time to jump into that? One of my best friends had recently finished the book and loved it, and I was also rethinking my doctoral studies of wanting to incorporate more fiction with an Asian American focus, so I dove in.
I really did not know what to expect, but from the first chapter, I was immediately drawn in by Ng's beautiful writing. The passages read to the reader in such a way that is so welcoming! Ng offers the story of how Marilyn and James first met, and I found this part of the story particularly interesting because of how it parallels to my life as a doctoral student. The story also tackles the issue of racism and expectations during the time of the 1970s, and although, we would like to think today we have grown past all of that, expectations and what is "proper" and what "should" happen, unfortunately still linger. Ideas of who you "should be with" based on race, still linger. Some people are still very traditional in that sense, and I feel like a lot of the issues that James mentioned, I faced growing up as well. I enjoyed that Ng did not sugar-coat anything and that she pushed the boundaries of the readers comfort zone. She was able to make you love both Marilyn and James together, but also love them individually, especially when they didn't particular agree with each other. I also really enjoyed how she was able to flow from the narratives of Marilyn and James, and then to Lydia, Nath and Hannah. It was quite interesting that the main question of "What really happened to Lydia?" lingered throughout but wasn't the focal point. This book mainly tackles issues of family and relationships and most importantly, expectations that people have of us, and expectations we have of ourselves. This was truly a wonderful read and I'm so glad that this is my first read of 2016. What a way to start off the year. I would highly recommend this remarkable story to anyone!
My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮✮ (5/5 stars)
Now available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo Books, Amazon and Book Depository (Free Worldwide Shipping)
Tuesday, 29 December 2015
My Favorite Reads of 2015
Hi everyone! I've seen posts like this floating around and I really couldn't pin it down to a number. I've read many books this year and I decided to write a post of my favorite reads of 2015. Some books were published in 2015, but others I simply discovered in 2015! :D If I wrote a full-review on a particular book, I will link it!
1. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Review: Here!
2. You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost): A Memoir by Felicia Day
Review: Here!
3. Hear the Wind Sing and Pinball, 1973 - Two Novels by Haruki Murakami
Review: Here!
4. Armada by Ernest Cline
Review: Here!
5. The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi
Review: Here!
6. China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan
Review: Here!
7. In The Unlikely Event by Judy Blume
Review: Here!
8. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
Review: Here!
9. Free Days with George by Colin Campbell
Review: Here!
10. We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen
Review: Here!
11. The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy - A Handbook for Girl Geeks by Sam Maggs
Review: Here!
12. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Review: Here!
13. At The Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
Review: Here!
14. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Review: Here!
15. All The Rage by Courtney Summers
Review: Here!
16. Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin
Review: Here!
17. The Wild Oats Project: One Woman's Midlife Quest for Passion at Any Cost by Robin Rinaldi
Review: Here!
18. Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum
Review: Here!
19. Mosquitoland by David Arnold
Review: Here!
20. The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
Review: Here!
21. I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
Review: Here!
22. If I Fall, If I Die by Michael Christie
Review: Here!
23. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Review: Here!
24. The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood
Review: COMING SOON!
I loved this quirky book so much! I also got to meet Margaret earlier this year which was amazing!
25. Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
Review: COMING SOON!
This book was hilarious and everything I hoped for! As a big fan of Mindy, I was not disappointed!
26. The Lake House by Kate Morton
Review: COMING SOON!
I listened to this as an audiobook and I loved it a lot. What a truly wonderful story!
27. Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
Review: COMING SOON!
I also listened to this as an audiobook and it was hilarious!
28. Tokyo Ghoul #1 by Sui Ishida
Review: COMING SOON!
I started this manga series this year and it has seriously blown me away! Wonderful story!
29. Jessica Jones: Alias Vol #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos
Review: COMING SOON!
With the release of the Netflix series, I picked up the graphic novel. It was so good and I can't wait to read the rest in the series. The art is beautiful and I love learning more about Jessica.
And my favorite read of 2015 is...... *drum roll*
30. I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
Review: Here!
Well, I hope that you all enjoyed my huge list of favorite reads! If you have read any of the books that I've mentioned, please let me know in the comments below what you thought! Also if you could please let me know YOUR favorite book of 2015, I would love to add some new reads to my TBR pile! :D
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Bookish Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers!
Publishing Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Knopf Canada
Pages: 160 pages
Self-Help/Motivational/Inspirational
The Premise: From the NYT Best-Selling author of Wild comes a small collection of quotes picked from her previous works: Torch and Tiny Beautiful Things. Wild is also featured as well. This collection of quotes has more than 100 quotations that will inspire readers to be "brave" and to do better not only for others but for ourselves.
My overall thoughts and review: I've only read snippets of Strayed's work in the past but when I read the premise of this book, I was instantly intrigued. I'm really into collecting motivational/self-help books, especially ones that are small and pocket-sized that I can carry with me. I find that having a small book of quotations really helps me manage my anxiety when it gets a bit too much to handle. I've always been one to turn to quotations and song lyrics to help me understand and deconstruct my feelings and emotions. This book was incredibly insightful and offered a lot in terms of love and compassion, not only for others but one self. I really enjoyed this book and I have actually been carrying it around with me a lot recently. I find that you don't have to read it from start to finish, and you can easily turn to a page daily and embrace the quote before you. This would make a lovely stocking stuffer because it is small, but it definitely packs a punch! I think it is also a good segway for those interested in Cheryl Strayed and this is easily a great place to start!
My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮✮ (5/5 stars)
Now available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo Books, Amazon and Book Depository (Free Worldwide Shipping)
Publishing Date: November 10, 2015
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 336 pages
Biography/Memoir
The Premise: From the creator of Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away With Murder comes a lovely memoir about how saying YES for a year changed her life. Shonda Rhimes offers some insight into her life as a mother, a writer and an introvert.
My overall thoughts and review: When I heard that Shonda Rhimes was coming out with a book, I was instantly excited! I am a big fan of Shonda's shows and I know that at times.. with character deaths, I get a teensy bit emotional and yes, I tend to blame Shonda.. I'm a big fan of hers. I love the characters she created and the worlds she's been able to build. I literally devote my Thursday nights to her shows. I was so excited to learn more about the woman behind all of these shows. I also was super intrigued by the title and grinned like an idiot when I saw it. There is a shout out to Meredith Grey, Christina Yang and Olivia Pope all in the title! First off, I need to say that the way Shonda writes this book, it really feels like you are sitting down with her having a conversation but also as if you've also crept into her mind and you can see how all her thoughts flow. She writes in a stream of consciousness style which I really enjoyed. I loved learning more about Shonda and how she manages three big shows and also is a mother as well.
But the parts of the book that I really empathized with were the moments she talked about her being an introvert and how saying yes to things really changed her. I wouldn't consider myself a complete introvert because at times, if you met me for the first time, you wouldn't think so yourself. But when anxiety takes over, I feel "introverted" in the sense, where I would rather say no to things, in fear of the outcome and I'm beginning to learn how that often can result in missed opportunities. When Shonda says that the things she couldn't say, she got Christina Yang to say, it really helped me understand why I empathized with a character like Christina so much. Why when she left the show, I felt like a part of me left the show. (SPOILER ALERT - I'M SORRY. but if you didn't know, where have you been?!). Every Thursday night when I watched Christina battle and struggle and fight for what she wanted, I immediately felt inspired and I wanted to be Christina. Though when the show ended at 9:00pm, I would think to myself.. I couldn't do that. I'm not in the world of Seattle Grace, it isn't happening. But when Shonda explained how she was able to move beyond that world and say yes to scary things and conquer her fears, I felt so much better and my inspiration didn't simply stop when I finished the book. I don't know if this is making sense, because it seems like I'm rambling a bit. But I wanted to say that, hearing Shonda's journey truly inspired me. I say no quite too often and I end up in a cycle of self-hate and regret. I know things are scary but like Shonda, I'm going to take the risk more often and learn to be my own person. Thank you Shonda for demonstrating to your readers that you don't need a McDreamy or Fitz (though.. I really do love Fitz) to dance it out, stand in the sun and be your own person. You just have to take the plunge and do it yourself. I think this is a wonderful book and I would highly recommend it. Even if you aren't familiar with Shondaland, it is definitely worth reading if you want to step outside of your comfort zone!
My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮✮ (5/5 stars)
Now available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo Books, Amazon and Book Depository (Free Worldwide Shipping)
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from Simon and Schuster Canada for consideration/review. All opinions are my own.
Gratitude by Oliver Sacks
Publishing Date: November 24, 2015
Publisher: Knopf Canada
Pages: 64 pages
Biography/Memoir
My overall review and thoughts: I have been a fan of Oliver Sacks' writing for quite some time. When he passed away last year, I felt truly saddened by the news because his writing definitely inspired me and was one of the books that paved the way for my graduate school career. I remember falling in love with his text, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for A Hat in one of my undergraduate courses. His writing was poignant, but he was able to convey his ideas in such an eloquent way that stayed with the reader long after you closed the book. The last thing I read by him was On the Move, his autobiography which I really enjoyed and would recommend as well, but Gratitude, really sat with me on an entirely different level. Sacks tackles a fear that sits within us all, the fear of the end, the fear of death. He also speaks about how quickly time can pass and how sometimes, one spends their time in regret of "wasting time." I'm only twenty-five and I already feel these thoughts on a daily basis, but what Gratitude did for me was inspire me to look forward as opposed to looking back. To have Gratitude for what has been done and look forward for what's to come. I also felt significantly inspired to write more "essays" in this format in my own work because I often find that I have to have one-set narrative, but Sacks demonstrates time and time again with his writing, that multiple narratives can come from it. Having read a lot of Sacks already, I felt truly sad, but in a good way when I finished this book. It has made me look at my sadness for an author I truly admired in a different way. As opposed to lingering on how unfair it is, I will look forward to reading and re-reading Sacks writings and work to come to terms with fate and to embrace it. I think this is a lovely book for a friend or family member for the holiday season. It really illuminates what is important and what one should focus on.
My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮✮ (5/5 stars)
Now available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo Books, Amazon and Book Depository (Free Worldwide Shipping)
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Random House Canada for consideration/review. All opinions are my own.
I hope that you all enjoyed this first instalment of Bookish Gift Guides! I will have another one up shortly featuring some of my favorite books from this year! :D Please let me know in the comments what other books you'd recommend as stocking stuffers and if you plan to pick up any of these books that I've mentioned! Happy reading AND shopping :D
Thursday, 5 November 2015
#GLB2015 Blog Tour - Review: Martin John by Anakana Schofield
Publishing Date: September 15, 2015
Publisher: Biblioasis
Pages: 282 pages
Fiction/Literature
The Premise: Martin John's mam says that she is glad he is done with it. But is Martin John done with it? He says he wants it to stop, his mother wants it to stop, we all want it to stop. But is it really what Martin John wants? He had it in his mind to do it and he did it. Harm was done when he did it. Harm would continue to be done. Who will stop Martin John? Will you stop him? Should she stop him? [excerpt from Biblioasis] - I thought it might be better to have that excerpt from the publisher to kind of set the premise for the book. It follows Martin John, a character that is clearly troubled and his part in "it" -- which is never defined for the character. In this strange, mysterious and uncomfortable read, Schofield takes the reader into the mind of a man that might fear many.
My overall thoughts and review: To begin with, the design and structure of this book was what I found instantly intriguing. I was curious to see how the rest of the story would unfold and if there was a reason for having only a few sentences on a page, small bullet points and fragmented conversations. The reader is immediately introduced to Martin John, who has done it and essentially harm is done. It is never defined to the reader or said directly, but it becomes clear as you move forward in the book what Martin John has done and who he is exactly. For those unsure whether or not to take the plunge and want to know more about the book, Martin John is a sexual offender. The book takes us into the mind of this very disturbed man. Schofield is clearly writing from the perspective of not wanting the reader to have empathy or sympathy for Martin John, but rather to allow the reader to have an understanding of him and his motives. I'll be honest, the book definitely made me more uncomfortable as I read on and discovered that he was a sexual offender and there were scenes that really made me want to put the book down. I thought from the very beginning that it, had to do with murder, which definitely would be a bad thing as well. But I guess, I was a little surprised. It is definitely a taboo topic and Schofield works in such an interesting way that she does not offer the reader all the details, but rather the pieces of the puzzle to put together and simultaneously making the reader uncomfortable as if she offered all the details.
The text definitely made me uncomfortable because at times, you feel conflicted because you want to have a deeper understanding of the mechanics of this disturbed individual, but also because it shows the harsh reality of the mental health system. Sexual offenders are a taboo topic in literature and usually it is from the perspective of those who were affected by them. Furthermore, some believe that rehabilitation is simply not possible. The reader gets an inside look in some moments about how the psychiatric system handles individuals like Martin John and in a way, gets to see how the system can sometimes fail individuals like Martin John. I think that it was incredibly brave of Schofield to tackle such a dark topic and although the text certainly does not warrant any sympathy for the character of Martin John, I closed the book with a deeper understanding of all the nuts and bolts in the mind of Martin John. I also think the book encourages more discussion surrounding the topic of sexual offenders and the mental health system. The book definitely made me uncomfortable about 90% of the time, but like Patrick Dewitt said, I am in agreement that it is a "necessary" text to bring about further discussion.
The book is available for purchase at: Chapters/Indigo
Be sure to check out Jenn's post tomorrow on Arvida over at Lost in a Great Book!
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book for my participation in the #GLB2015 Blog Tour for consideration/review. All opinions are my own.
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