English Passengers

This narrative is truly a historical adventure. The reader can feel the salt of the sea wind throughout the whole story along the humorous and dramatic moments lived by an expedition full of colourful characters.

It is the year 1857 and a voyage is leaving to Tasmania as it is believed to be heaven on earth (literally). One of the leaders is Reverend Geoffrey Wilson, who is hoping to find the true site of the Garden of Eden. Through letters and journals, he communicates his feelings and ideas as he faces the perils of the journey and the increasing discontent among the crew.

An antagonist of the reverend is the racial-theorist Dr Potter, whose logical thinking and scientific beliefs show the reader the ideas of the time regarding the aboriginal people and the exotic flora and fauna he is wishing to encounter.

Through the story, the reader is presented with the retellings of the experiences of different characters, like the captain of the ship, Captain Illiam Quillian Kewly, who keeps a secret from everybody: his ship is fleeing British Customs as it is a smuggling vessel. Another interesting point of view is Peevay's, an aboriginal young boy, member of a Tasmanian tribe unsuccessfully fighting the colonisers, their religious influences and the social customes they are trying to enforce in the local inhabitans.

Matthew Kneale uses irony and sarcasm to deal with the less likeable characters and moments. The explotation of the natural resources and the cruelty used with the aborigines are portrayed as the consequence of the stupidity of those who believed they were doing their best to bring civilisation to the corners of the world.

Nowadays, we are aware of the atrocities committed in the name of progress; however, surprises are waiting ahead for those who deserve being punished for their actions.

Ana Ovejero

mail: ana.ovejero@gmail.com

instagram:ananbooks

The Invention of Wings

This is a story of powerful women. Women who fight against the restrains of their gender, the colour of their skin and the social customs of their time, and become free in their own terms.

One of them is Sarah Grimke (based on a real-life person), who despite her family's ideas, from a very young age, becomes a determined abolitionist. Witnessing the cruelty of the masters's treatment to the slaves, she leaves her family in the south and moves to the North, giving  a series of lecture and becoming an advocate for the civil rights' movement.

The other one is the slave Sarah is given as a present in her 11th birthday. Her name is Hetty 'Handful' Grimke,  having that nickname as consequence of her unbreakable spirit. Being intelligent and sensible, she becomes a friend with Sarah and together dream of a world in which they would be equal to men.

'The Invention of Wings' makes reference to a quilt Handful makes with her mother Charlotte as the latter tells her how their ancestors used to have wings, portraying them with beautiful images in this piece of cloth essential to keep Handful's dreams of freedom alive when the hard times come.

A page-turner, Sur Monk Kidd has created another story ( she is the author of 'The Secret Life of Bees') in which females support each other in contrast to a world that diminishes them, finding in themselves the strenght to become their own masters.

Ana Ovejero

mail: ana.ovejero@gmail.com

instagram:ananbooks

A tale for the time being (Ruth Oseki)

What can I say about  this wonderful story??!!
Great characters in a superb plot, full of beautiful vivid settings and deep insight.
In a remote island in the Pacific northwest, Ruth is fighting with her writer's block as her husband, a super-understanding naturalist is having his own struggle with the climate change.
One day, a hello kitty lunchbox washes upon the shore with the diary of a Japanese girl named Nao. She find herself absorbed by being bullied at school ( cruelest parts ever) and by her family coming apart: her mother disappears behind her new job and her unemployed father wanders through the city at night.
However, the magic moments happen when Nao's 104-year-old grandmother comes into scene: she is a Buddhist priest living in a mountainside place, full of trees and the sound of the ocean. Nao decides to retell her grandmother's history before ending her own life.
As you can see, this narrative containes a lot of dramatic elements. However, the author's tone displays humour to soften the blows that are waiting for the reader.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy an interesting plot with well-crafted characters struggling with the issues our nowadays society entails.

Ana Ovejero

mail: ana.ovejero@gmail.com

instagram:ananbooks