Review: The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters

The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters by Nadiya Hussain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Quite obviously, Hussain didn't write the actual words of this book. It's far too competently written for that. It's clearly the work of an experienced writer (the inside pages notes "with Ayisha Malik").

But, that said, I do accept she came up with the characters and the plot. Hussain isn't the type to put her name to something without having any creative involvement. Plus, kudos to her for being open about having a ghostwriter (not all celeb authors are so honest).

Regardless of who did exactly what, together, Hussain and Malik have come up with an endearing tale about siblings - about however much they annoy you at times, you will always be part of each other's lives. They have also added sufficient drama so that the book isn't overly sentimental.

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Review: Wyrd Sisters

Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pratchett's revisionist take on MacBeth (and, according to Wikipedia, Hamlet as well) is very well done - with digs at everything from the political elite to the acting world. Granny Weatherwax is as brilliant as she was in Equal Rites (the first "Witches" book). But, Wyrd Sisters has lots of other great characters to enjoy as well: the other two wyrd sisters (Nanny Ogg and Magrat), the Fool who keeps inadvertently showing he's actually quite bright, and Hwel the Dwarf, who constantly seems to be channelling Shakespeare.

I can see why people love Pratchett and Discworld so much. I don't think have the patience to read every single Discworld novel but I may continue to read the Witches stories.

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Review: The Cut Out Girl: A Story of War and Family, Lost and Found: The Costa Book of the Year 2018

The Cut Out Girl: A Story of War and Family, Lost and Found: The Costa Book of the Year 2018 by Bart van Es
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On the surface, you'd think Lien was one of the "lucky ones" - rather than hiding away in an attic like Anne Frank or being sent to one of the camps, she spent the war living with foster families. But, the truth is more complex. Yes, she survived relatively unscathed but she had to deal with the trauma of losing most of her family, never being able to tell anyone who she was (i.e. Jewish), and being at the mercy of those who were supposed to be protecting her. Unsurprising, the war cast a long shadow on the rest of her life.

I have read several books about the Holocaust and I never stop being shocked at its horrors. This book, for example, highlights how Holland's Jewish population were almost completely wiped out. I assumed that to be the case with the German Jewish population but I just didn't realise that was the case with the occupied countries as well.

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Review: The Binding

The Binding by Bridget Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A beautiful book for anyone who loves physical books. The descriptions of book binding are lovely. But, of course, there's more to it than that. It's about memory and how memories are important to keep hold of even if they're bad ones.

I think it would probably be looking into things too deep to say Collins is saying memories are the same as identity. But The Binding does make you realise that no one has the right to try to understand your memories (or you) without your permission.

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