January book review
Deeply fascinating. A month exploring the tribulations of the NYC charm through the decades of iconic names and emotive biographies.
The first month of the year and one of my favourites, January - a month of motivation, prosperous and hopeful and a month of productivity. Although I use reading as an escape, arguably a form of procrastination from my academia, I feel a sense of suceess and happiness through reading and the books I learn from. In order to sustain this sense of motivation and fresh productivity I have aimed to work through my phsyical TBR, fousing on the novels that feel ‘hard’ - mentally and in presence.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood - 4.5/5
As promised to myself, I started the year succeeding my challenge to tackle my physical tbr before it gets too out of hand. For a while Margaret Atwood’s classic ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ has been on my list, forcing its way to the top in light of topical politics across the world.
An eerily powerful classic foreboding the dawning future of our political landscape(?), set in the dystopian turn of the US in the 2000s as authoritarian rule (Gilead) have overpowered the government. Atwood sends a warning with this novel to the threat of totalitrianism and state maniupaltion, the use of fear as a tool of oppression is an emphasised reflection of current-goings across the world. Women’s bodily autonomy is stripped away, meerly categorising each female into issues groups represented by their ‘usage’. The structures of Gilead are chilling, mysoginstic ruling and sickening promotion of SA/R*pe as forms of conception and punishment between the handmaid’s. The ambigious ending left me in both hunger and disbelief, a clever ending that denotes the uncertainty of our own futures, whilst allowing readers to decide on freedom or failure.
I felt incredibly moved and disturbed by Margaret Atwood’s feminist classic a cautionary tale of cult-like behaviours and the power of manipulation. This is one of those classics that will get better with every re-read, as the characters settle into your mind quickly and the rules become second-nature, I can imagine this novel eventually becoming a 5 star read for me.
Down the Drain by Julia Fox - 4/5
Julia Fox, the woman you are what an ICONIC memoir perfectly designed to emulate the purposeful glamorisation of NYC and Fox’s life to the present day. The heart-breaking masking of tradegy amongst the shocking tribulations constantly unwinding over 30ish years of Julia Fox. I knew little about actress and model, Julia fox prior to reading her memoir and I have since left in awe of her power and strength. Her wit exudes across the page, her nonchalent no-f*cks nature provides a barrier between her soul and society - and I get it. I have seen that some readers are sceptical of the over-romanticising of drug abuse and shocking youth, however I believe that it is in every right of Julia’s to present her life the way in which she pleases. This is a memoir not a self-help book and as much as you may expect a sense of regret or self-awareness, I would argue that this is an unfair way of reviewing the piece. Although only 34 years old, Fox has already been on a journey of life, incredibly interesting, heart-shattering and in parts hilarious - incredible memoir.
I would also highly reccommend listening to this as an audiobook as it all relays so much better in Fox’s voice herself.
Just Kids by Patti Smith - 3.75/5
Sticking with the rock ‘n’ roll NYC memoirs, I dived straight into singer-song writer and poet, Patti Smith’s emotive memoir documenting the honest and impactful relationship with artist and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Just Kids is a profoundly moving and heartbreaking literary piece that sweeps you through the exhilaration of newfound love, culminating in a hauntingly beautiful poetic elegy. I feel incredibly conflicted by the rating and review of this book, there are aspects of the piece that are poignant, not only captivating for your mind but also your body as you feel the sting of Patti’s words in your heart.
“What will happen to us?” I asked “There will always be us” he answered. - Patti Smith,
The exposure to such a tender story feels like a priviledge to experience such glimmers yet I felt as though much of this beauty and emotion was often shrouded by the overembellishment of names and lost storylines. In a documentation devoted to a love so strong it withstands all boundaries, it felt like a shame to break apart the emotive flow with unnecessary details that dulled the overall prose. I will admit that going into this book my expectations were considerably high with so many people reccomending it to me, it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting and therefore I was neither disappointed nor blown away (overall).