Review: Doctor Who: The Day She Saved the Doctor: Four Stories from the TARDIS

Doctor Who: The Day She Saved the Doctor: Four Stories from the TARDIS by Susan Calman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fun little book for Doctor Who fans, looking at the times when the Doctor's companions have saved the day. Does make you realise how good it is that we now have a female Doctor Who. There is a sense of "making do" with the sidekicks being the heroes for once because the top job is out of reach.

I was a bit disappointed with Calman's entry. She isn't an experienced writer and it shows - her version of Clara was fine but wasn't one that was in tune with the TV series. Jenny T Colgan, who uses the "T" in her name when writing Sci-Fi novels, is an established writer of Doctor Who novels and did a much better job with her Rose story. In fairness to Calman, though, Clara (in terms of the TV series) is probably the least interesting companion of the four - so she didn't have much to work with.

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Review: Circe

Circe by Madeline Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I surprised by how much I liked this (I only bought it because there was an Amazon deal) - I didn't really like Miller's previous novel Song of Achilles, which won the then Orange in 2012, as I found it too soppy for want of a better word.

This, however, is both unsentimental and compelling. Circe's slow acceptance of herself as someone who does not fit in with the her kin (the Gods) or fit in with those she has a natural sympathy with (the mortals) is beautifully done. The only thing I would say is that the ending is a little a bit too neat - I liked it but I think a braver option would have been to leave things a little less wrapped up.

While you don't need to know the story of Circe to read this (I didn't), you may need to have your phone on hand so you look up certain Greek Gods and Heroes to keep up with who's who. Things gets very confusing when, later in the book, there's two characters with similar names (that to be fair, is explained).

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Review: Cheer Up Love: Adventures in depression with the Crab of Hate

Cheer Up Love: Adventures in depression with the Crab of Hate by Susan Calman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mostly read this on Audible, which - being read by Calman herself - made it more personal.

At times both poignant & funny, her memoir gives a good insight into depression & anxiety. She doesn't claim to have the answers but does provide practical useful advice for coping with depression/anxiety.

What I thought was particularly brave & honest was to highlight how having mental health issues can make you self involved.
That sometimes, you need to recognise that people aren't talking about you or judging you on that thing you said because - well - you're just not that important to them. They've got their own stuff to deal with. Calman even sites the time her wife called her out for being selfish & never asking about how she's feeling. Calman is not suggesting having depressiom means you're selfish, more to be careful to avoid getting so caught up in how awful you feel that you become oblivious to the needs & feelings of those you love.

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Review: Ace and Proud: An Asexual Anthology

Ace and Proud: An Asexual Anthology by A.K. Andrews
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Was a bit gobsmacked to discover this book in a local charity shop in my area of East London - I thought I was the proverbial only Ace in the village (probably I'm to be fair; it's yummy mummy central). Thus, I had to buy it given the absolute dearth of Ace-related stuff available.

Bit disappointed with this collection. I didn't mind the fact that the essays weren't that well written as few of the contributors claim to professional writers. But, it was frustrating that so many of them were teenagers or in their early 20s. I would prefer to read more stories about older Aces - particularly as I am 38 and have only just discovered "asexuality" was even a thing in the last couple of years. I think many older Aces might similarly be new to realising their identity because they never flipping realised it existed.

I might investigate if Purple Cake press, the publishers, have any more anthologies that feature older people.

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Review: Excellent Women

Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alexander McCall Smith writes in the introduction that Excellent Women is a book that "on one level, is about very little" but is actually "a great book about a great deal". That is absolutely true. Nothing much happens - the events would probably make for one episode of Corrie, if that - but Pym's observations about people are spot on. The narrator, Mildred Lathbury, immediately recognises that a supposedly kindly, sweet hearted woman is actually a conniving little madam, realises that a man is a bit of a cad despite (to her embarrassment) developing a crush on him, and regularly reflects on her own limitations and failings.

A wonderful book for "excellent" women (or men) - those who have a tendency to be on the side lines being useful to others but are never themselves the star attraction. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is that the lack of plot does make things drag now and then.

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Review: The Gender Games: The Problem with Men and Women, from Someone Who Has Been Both

The Gender Games: The Problem with Men and Women, from Someone Who Has Been Both by Juno Dawson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A thought-provoking part memoir/part review of what it is to be a "woman" vs. what it is to be a "man" - with a strong, well-reasoned, argument that the whole concept of gender is essentially nonsense and sticking to rigid ideas about male and female gender doesn't benefit anyone (least of all those who don't feel they fit into any binary category).

I don't think this book is going to change any minds to be honest. If you think a man's a man and that's it, then you'll probably always think that (though you're highly unlikely to pick up this book in the first place). But if you want to understand more about why people transition (or question their gender), this provides an valuable insight.

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Review: Home Fire

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A modern day retelling of Antigone (a Greek play which, before I read this, I'd never head of to be honest) that provides a powerful insight into how Muslim youths - or any youth for that matter - can become radicalised (and how they can realised, too late, that they've been misled). It also shows the impact of having a "Jihadi" in the family; there is a real sense of damned if you do and damned if you don't. Do you support them? Or do you abandon them to their choice in a bid to protect the rest of the family?

The only thing I didn't like about is the central love story. I found the character of Eammon a little annoying. His actions are naive to say the least and comes across a teenager even though he's meant to be about 24.

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