Weekender Books - March 2019

                          Weekender Books - From My Writing Community

This weekender books blog is a special one because I present books by authors I met through my writing communities on social media. We always hear about how important it is to show agents and publishers that we have a great number of followers to be relevant. However, when I come across tweets where writers invite me to follow them back because they want to reach their target, I hardly ever do, because I don't want to be just a numbers collector.

Yes, I get it that it is important to be out there and be seen. But time (I'm sure everyone who landed on this page will agree) is precious and I only want to interact with other writers in a way that is meaningful. If someone just adds me in the hope I follow back to boost their numbers -- they really shouldn't. I follow people on twitter that I find interesting.

As 'Freddy Iryss' I'm still a newby on Twitter and Instagram. I have only recently joined #AusWrites and the #WritingCommunity on Twitter but have already 'met' some wonderfully inspiring writers. We chat, we play writerly games and I even won in a fun book-give away! Yay! (Shout out to S.J. Morgan!).

In any case, I'm getting more and more interested in what everyone's written and so I started reading. And the book pile is growing faster than I can read, because you guys are putting out so many great stories! I might have to come back and do another post with the next lot of books that's caught my eye!

Here is my scoop:

Heaven Sent by S.J. Morgan 

Tarin of the Mammoths - Cave Bear Mountain (book 3) by Jo Sandhu 

Swallows Dance by Wendy Orr

 Heaven Sent 

 by S.J.Morgan (Midnightsunpublishing, 2018)
 YA Contemporary Fiction

This is one of my favourite debut YA novels I have read this year. Fifteen, almost sixteen year-old Evie lives in less fortunate circumstances. There are her mother's poor boyfriend choice, which puts Evie in the perilous environment of drug dealers; then there is her father who is more of a vague idea than real to her; and her own physical limitations brought on by a brace she needs to wear for her her adult scoliosis, all of which make life rather hard for Evie. 

The sudden appearance of mysterious Gabe, who comes literally crashing through her bedroom wall, claiming 'he's been sent to save her', has Evie puzzled but hopeful. I, too, was still wondering all the way through how he's possibly going to manage that. Sure he is cute and older than her, but incredibly unpredictable and unreliable. He just as suddenly disappears as he seems to appear. Is he even real? A boy or an angel? 

However, things turn out so completely different than I imagined, with unexpected twists and turns that make this a suspenseful read. And the end --oh boy! I have to say, I did not see it coming! 

Physical and mental illness are cleverly written in and weave their way through the narrative almost like minor characters in their own right, which struck me as different. 

💪💪✊😳😎

Recommendation: A must read when in-need-of-a-bigger-picture-than-my-own-life's misery-pick-me-up. Thought provoking and suspenseful.

Tarin of the Mammoths - Cave Bear Mountain 

by Jo Sandhu (Puffin, 2018)
Young Readers - Fantasy

I know, it is not a good idea to start with book 3 of a trilogy. Unfortunately, the other two books were out at my local library, which I guess is a good thing because someone else is reading them, too. Besides, in this case it wasn't difficult to catch on, because any holes were filled along the way. 

Tarin, the hero of this story, has news of his clan and is eager to find them after months of separation. But when his friends and travel companions, Kaija and Luuka, unexpectedly find their mother and the wolf cubs get kidnapped to fight for their lives against a bear in the Bear Festival, he can't just leave them and they all understand soon that the ties of friendship are sometimes stronger than blood ties. 

The pre-historic setting of the story, its characters and landscapes draw the reader into another time and space, one that's full of danger, hardship and fear. I appreciated also the historical elements and felt for the fierce and courageous clan composed of three children, an owl and two wolf cubs. I found the action and descriptions vivid and solid research shine through. I read Jo Sandhu, the author even travelled to Finland (always nice to see the authors to go the 'extra mile' for authenticity 😊😊). I find this award-winning novel delightful, probably in part because I am a trained anthropologist and find all cultures, past and present, fascinating. I can't wait to read the other two in the series!


💪💪😧😧😎

Recommendation: When you want to have an adventure and expand your knowledge of cultures, customs and lore that are lesser known.

Swallows Dance 

by Wendy Orr (Allen & Unwin 2018)
Historical Fiction

Leira, the heroine of this story, is about to be initiated into the priestess class, when the volcano on their island erupts. The devastation that follows, leaves Leira's mother with serious physically and psychologically wounds. Leira and her family flee on ship and find refuge in Crete. But only hostility, prejudice and starvation awaits them.  The older woman, her grandmother in all but name, cannot carry the burden of their survival on the unfamiliar island of Crete. And so it's up to Leira to forget about being high-born and privileged and enter the workforce of the hardest working, lowliest labourers. 

This is a contemporary story told in the ancient setting of the Bronze Age, a concept to which I'm particularly partial. My husband is a Bronze Age archaeologist and Greece has been my second home since I was a teenager.  Swallow's Dance spoke to me on several levels: its prose, interspersed with free verse, flows beautifully - it is Leira's song. That her name carries the same word origin as lyra (or in English: lyre), a string instrument used in the recital of lyrical poetry, is emphasising her role as a barde even more. 

Swallow's Dance is a beautifully crafted story about the hardship that comes with having to flee one's homeland. I read it as an ode to ancient Greece but also as a timely reminder of those seeking asylum, those who are being rejected on grounds of prejudice, while having to come to grips with their own displacement, dislocation, loss and grief. But it is also a story about hope, change, resilience and the powers of re-inventing oneself if necessary. We know that books can evoke empathy. This book will raise questions in readers, we all should ask.


💪😟😔💪💪

Recommendation: When you need to read a strong female character's story. Not an entirely quick or light-hearted read, but illuminating and rewarding, nonetheless.

That's it for now. I hope these morsels have made you curious and you'll pick a copy of these stunning books. If you have read any of these books, I'd like to hear from you. If you haven't, what are you waiting for?