JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

The Making of Christina by Meredith Jaffe

Interior designer Christina Clemente is caught off guard by an intense affair with her charismatic client. Jackson Plummer quickly becomes the cure to Christina’s loneliness and a surrogate father to her young daughter Bianca.

When Jackson suggests moving to a run-down farm in the mountains, Christina is uncertain about uprooting their lives in the city. She soon forgets her hesitation, absorbing herself in restoring the rambling century-old house, Bartholomews Run, and becoming obsessed with solving its mysterious history.

But while living on the isolated farm, her once effervescent child transforms into a quiet sullen teenager and Christina increasingly struggles to connect with her. Because Bianca has a secret. And the monstrous truth threatens to destroy them all.

The Making of Christina is an emotionally charged exploration of family abuse. Told from a mother’s perspective, this novel switches between past and present and centres around the relationship between Christina and Jackson Plummer.

The first chapter of the book positions Jackson Plummer as an untrustworthy character. It is one month before Christmas, and we meet our protagonist Christina. She is visited by a woman named Sarah Plummer, who reveals she is dying. She’s come to talk to Christina following Jackson’s trial and how Christina should learn to forgive herself for what happened to Bianca. Sarah is Jackson’s ex-wife, who Jackson cheated on when he first met Christina. We later learn that Christina and Jackson were engaging in an affair for years before he left Sarah and their three children.

‘My children have taken this thing with their father very badly. Ashleigh’s out of control,’ Sarah begins.
‘Simon, well he’s cut from the same cloth as his father.’
Christina glares over the paddocks.
‘Oh I didn’t mean like that.’ Sarah’s hands flutter. ‘I meant hard, uncompromising, well, you know.’ Her smile is grim.

We soon start to piece the pictures together. Particularly when Sarah talks about how Jackson did the same thing to her son Josh:

Sarah continues, ‘Anyway, the point is, I assumed it had to be Ash because she was always daddy’s little girl. Because she was highly strung and unpredictable. She fitted the stereotype…all the time it was Josh….I didn’t realise until after the trial when he tried to hang himself.’

This is not a spoiler, and in fact we find all of this out within the first 6 pages of the book. It’s very clever of Meredith Jaffe. It means there’s no shocking twist or cliff-hanger later in the book. In fact, it’s one of those plots where we know more than what the protagonist does and we can see things from a different perspective.

The Making of Christina navigates between past and present. In the present, Jackson has been sentenced to prison for what he did to Bianca, and Christina is trying to move on with her life and rebuild her relationship with her daughter. Christmas is fast approaching and Christina is hoping Bianca will honour her promise to come home for the holidays.

In the past, we find out all about the relationship between Christina and Jackson Plummer. We go right back to the beginning when Christina first meets Jackson. Christina has a young daughter – Bianca – and has split from Bianca’s father. Jackson seems charming and a perfect gentleman. The two begin a heated affair, and in total are together for 13 years. But as the years pass by, we learn that things aren’t always what they seem. As Bianca hits her teenage years, they move to a rural property called Bartholomews Run. There, the family are isolated and Bianca’s life seems to deteriorate. She’s withdrawn and she’s not sleeping. Christina tries to understand what is wrong, but she can’t seem to see the signs.

“Thoughts jostled inside her head. Was it just her? Every time she tried to interact with her daughter, Bianca ran like a scalded cat. Christina had no basis of comparison, no way of knowing if this was a normal relationship to have with a teenage girl or whether she was a terrible mother.”

It is a little frustrating that Christina seems too distracted or too trusting and completely misses what I believe are major clues to what’s going on between Jackson and Bianca. But I guess that’s the point, isn’t it? This happens all the time in real life and yet family members have absolutely no idea. This book is an exploration of family abuse, but also family relations and blind love.

Meredith Jaffe is a really talented writer. The characters are constructed so well that you feel like you know everything about them, and the plot is well-paced and suspenseful. I really loved reading this book, and I thought the author has written something really marvellous.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Making of Christina
Meredith Jaffe
August 2017
Pan Macmillan

Team Hero 1: Battle for the Shadow Sword by Adam Blade

Welcome to Hero Academy! Join Jack and your other new classmates at this secret school, where the lessons are more exciting than Maths and PE. But when a portal from the evil underground realm of Noxx is discovered beneath the school, Team Hero needs your powers. The next invasion is upon us!

Surprisingly, I had a lot of fun reading this and I’m about twenty years older than the intended audience!

Jack Beacon is a school kid with scaly hands that he keeps hidden in gloves. His classmates tease him, until he manages to stop a moving car simply with his hands. Before he has time to work out what’s happening, a woman named Miss Steel finds Jack and brings him to Hero Academy. He joins other classmates who all have different types of powers. Here, they train and learn how to defeat the evil underground realm Noxx.

“With low mutterings, the students edged forward. Jack gasped as he saw what lay within the wall. It wasn’t a pool at all but a pit. At its base were horribly life-like statues, moss-covered and flaking. There were skeletons wielding swords and things like giant bats, wings speed as if about to fly away.”

Team Hero is actually really fun. Adam sure knows how to end each chapter with suspense and intrigue! The book is filled with illustrations, making it easy for kids to read. The chapters aren’t too long and the words aren’t too difficult. I’d say this book is perfect for kids who have just started learning to read chapter books, so age 6+

This book, with its comic-strip type illustrations, actually reminded me of a lot of animated kids shows I watched as a kid. The combination of superpowers and an academy would no doubt really draw a young reader in.

“Then Jack felt it too, through the soles of his feet — a tremor, then a rumble. Within the low stone wall, the statues began to tremble. Jack set the bike down quickly.”

Battle for the Shadow Sword is the first book in the Team Hero series. There are eight books coming out in total.

I recommend this to parents who are looking for something adventurous for their young child to read. Given that I loved reading it and I’m an adult, at least a parent would enjoy reading it to their child (after all, it’s always good if the parent actually likes the book as well as their kid).

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Team Hero 1: Battle for the Shadow Sword
Adam Blade
July 2017
Hachette Book Publishers

Six Tudor Queens: Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir

ANNE BOLEYN: A KING’S OBSESSION is the second captivating novel in the Six Tudor Queens series. An unforgettable portrait of the ambitious woman whose fate we know all too well, but whose true motivations may surprise you.

The young woman who changed the course of history. Fresh from the palaces of Burgundy and France, Anne draws attention at the English court, embracing the play of courtly love. But when the King commands, nothing is ever a game.

Anne has a spirit worthy of a crown – and the crown is what she seeks. At any price. History tells us why she died. This novel shows her as she lived.

This book was such a refreshing read. It almost feels like fiction, with well-constructed characters and quick pacing and plenty of surprises and unexpected events.

For those of you who are familiar with Anne Boleyn’s story, you’ll know the major moments in her life and will therefore be aware of what’s coming. But what you don’t know is that Alison has added in so many extra details. This book doesn’t just feel like some historical document about someone’s life, it feels like we actually have the opportunity to know Anne Boleyn. To find out things about her that are hard to find in other books.

I don’t know about other readers, but every time I’ve read something on Anne Boleyn it really just talked about the events that took place — her relationship with Henry, her marriage, her daughter, her relationship with her sister, and her unfortunate death. But what I always feel like I’m missing is any sense of who she is. But in this book, the reader comes to understand Anne’s doubts and her fears, her reservations and her triumphs.

You have to go into this book knowing that Alison has had to join some dots along the way (particularly with the dialogue). As she says in her author’s notes, Anne Boleyn is “unknowable”. Yes, Alison had access to letters, documents and testimonials from the time, but how do you use that to capture someone’s personality? Well, on some level, you have to come up with that yourself based on Anne’s circumstances.

Alison has managed to bring Anne Boleyn to life in a plausible and enjoyable way. I loved reading about her life and although there are some things about Anne that might not have been true (she is really quite flawed in Alison’s book) the factual timeline of Anne’s life is true. And her death, of course, is true. But that’s something most people know already. What we don’t know is about her life and her time as King Henry’s wife.

We meet Anne when she’s a young teenager and Alison documents her life until her execution at age 36. She’s determined, courageous but at times also naive and ignorant. She challenges the King when she probably shouldn’t, and she no doubt lets her fears get the best of her. She’s so worried about producing a male heir that she acts horribly towards Katherine of Aragon and her daughter Mary.

At times, I grew frustrated with Anne and my sympathy for her lacked. Whilst it is admirable that she was bold enough to speak up for herself and use her intelligence and confidence to try and manipulate the court, sometimes she was not clever about it. She was brazen and quick, when perhaps she should’ve deliberated for a while before enacting any plans. The politics of the court were dense and at times hard to follow, but Alison shows the reader how involved Anne was and how often she swayed Henry’s thoughts and actions. At times, Anne really was quite cunning.

There were a few aspects of the novel where I felt that Alison was clutching at straws. For example, she writes George Boleyn (Anne’s brother) as a rapist even though there is no real historical evidence to suggest that he was. She also writes that for the six years when Henry was trying to divorce Katherine to marry Anne, he not only didn’t sleep with Anne, he didn’t sleep with anyone. I find this hard to believe, given all the historical evidence that Henry was a womaniser who would not have been able to remain celibate for six whole years.

What is accurate in the book as it happened in real life was the gossip and unfavourable attitude from the population. There is no doubt that Anne Boleyn was not a popular Queen. In fact, all of the slanders and libels in the book came from contemporary authentic records — the people hated Anne and many believed that Katherine was still the True Queen.

“Within the city walls, the crowds had turned out in their thousands, but as before they were largely silent and their welcome was cold…Remembering what happened at Durham House, Anne prayed fervently that the citizens would confine their hatred to verbal abuse. She felt horribly exposed in her open litter, a sitting target for anyone who might make an attempt on her life.”

As someone who loves historical fiction and has always been fascinated by Henry VIII and his wives, I really loved reading this book and am looking forward to the rest of the series (Alison Weir is writing a book on each of King Henry’s wives).

This is a three dimensional portrait of a woman that none of us will every really know. At times, the book felt a little long and particularly in the middle I think things could’ve been sped up for the sake of the reader’s attention, but otherwise it’s a fascinating read.

I’m going to leave you with something that Alison wrote in her Author’s Note at the end of the book. This is something I NEVER KNEW and am both astounded and horrified to learn:

“There is discussion about the survival of consciousness after decapitation. In 1983, a medical study found that no matter how efficient the method of execution, at least two to three seconds of intense pain cannot be avoided…Anne Boleyn did possibly experience a few dreadful moments in which she was aware of what was happening.”

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Six Tudor Queens: Anne Boleyn – A King’s Obsession
Alison Weir
May 2017
Hachette Book Publishers

I’ll Eat When I’m Dead by Barbara Bourland

When stylish Hillary Whitney dies alone in a locked, windowless conference room at the offices of high-concept magazine RAGE Fashion Book, her death is initially ruled an unfortunate side effect of the unrelenting pressure to be thin.

But two months later, a cryptic note in her handwriting ends up in the office of the NYPD and the case is reopened, leading Det. Mark Hutton straight into the glamorous life of hardworking RAGE editor Catherine Ono, who insists on joining the investigation.

Surrounded by a supporting cast of party girls, Type A narcissists and half-dead socialites, Cat and her colleague Bess Bonner are determined to solve the case and achieve sartorial perfection. But their amateur detective work has disastrous results, and the two ingenues are caught in a web of drugs, sex, lies and moisturiser that changes their lives forever.

I’ll Eat When I’m Dead is The Devil Wears Prada meets Sex and the City meets an episode of Criminal Minds. With a murderous twist and mysterious clues abundant throughout the book, it’s hard not to get sucked into this story and these characters.

The book is really interesting for anyone who doesn’t work in the fashion industry (like me!). I’m sure there are lots of things about this book that are factually inaccurate but at the same time, we read it feeling like we’re gaining an insight into the glamorous world of elite fashion magazines. I imagine Calista Flockhart in the role of Catherine Ono — strong, determined, intelligent, but also gorgeous.

At 11:00am the editors of RAGE Fashion Book filed in and took their places around Margot’s office, each unfolding one of the custom camp stools that were stacked next to the door.
“We are losing our edge.”

I really love love loved this book — the murder mystery was intriguing enough to pull me in, but I stayed for the world that Barbara built. The glamour and the clothes and the characters were amazing and I absolutely devoured this book. Additionally, some parts of the novel are a rampant satire of the fashion industry. Detective Mark Hutton, an outsider, makes generalised comments about the RAGE work environment because of what he thinks it would be like, and he assumes Hillary Whitney died from anorexia when really there are clues to suggest that anorexia was not the cause of death.

“Every weekday morning, as the sun rose above Sixth Avenue, a peerless crop of women —frames poised, behaviour polished, networks connected, and bodies generally buffed to a high sheen — were herded by the cattle prod of their now ambition to on particular building.”

On some level, I think you have to have a particularly keen interest in fashion in order to enjoy this book as much as I did. I don’t work in the fashion industry, nor would I want to. I am also not a model. But there’s something about luxurious fashion magazines that I just love — the editorial layout, the women, the clothes and the feel of the whole thing. I become completely absorbed in that whole world. So for me, I loved reading I’ll Eat When I’m Dead because of my keen interest in where the book is set and all the glamorous women that drive the plot.

Cat is incredibly flawed but also incredibly beautiful (inside and out). She’s bold and brave but also intelligent and driven and passionate and as a reader I admired her.

“Cat’s makeup was indeed literally flawless, her face a perfect mask shellacked to require no photoshop. It was flawless every day now; Cooper sent hair and makeup artists any time she would be expected int eh office or at an event.”

Amongst other things, this book also highlights the reach of social media and how it is affecting print publications. RAGE isn’t doing as well because of their competitors, who happen to be run on an online platform by much younger people.

The murder of Hillary Whitney is the focal point of the novel, and we see this through the POV of Detective Mark Hutton. He’s cute and single, and instantly takes a liking to Catherine Ono. At the beginning, it’s clear that he’s out of his depth. He doesn’t understand the fashion world and he doesn’t understand the cryptic clues that seem to suggest that Hillary Whitney was murdered and didn’t die of her own accord.

“After helping Cat into her building, Hutton caught the train back to Manhattan…Her big brown eyes, both kind and sharp. He’d never met someone so…studied, who was also smart.”

Slowly, he learns to trust Catherine and let her help him solve the case because after all, she’s the one who is already inside that environment. She knows the comings and goings of RAGE and would be able to discover something ‘unusual’ far sooner than Mark could.

I’ll Eat When I’m Dead is about a murder, but it’s also about the fashion industry. It’s entertaining, fun, smart and sexy. I highly highly recommend it.

As Kirkus Reviews put it, death by beauty was never so much fun.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll Eat When I’m Dead
Barbara Bourland
May 2017
Hachette Book Publishers

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Winning will make you famous.
Losing means certain death.

The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, is a country that consists of a wealthy Capitol region surrounded by 12 poorer districts. Early in its history, a rebellion led by a 13th district against the Capitol resulted in its destruction and the creation of an annual televised event known as the Hunger Games. In punishment, and as a reminder of the power and grace of the Capitol, each district must yield one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 through a lottery system to participate in the games. The ‘tributes’ are chosen during the annual Reaping and are forced to fight to the death, leaving only one survivor to claim victory.

When 16-year-old Katniss’s young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12’s female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives. , she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

Ah, The Hunger Games! A cult classic and a Hollywood movie franchise. How have I not reviewed this on the blog before? I recently reread the entire series and have found myself swept back up in the Panem world, fighting for Katniss and feeling empowered by the development of the series (even though I know everything that happens).

The Hunger Games is a post-apocalyptic YA series set in futuristic North America. At the centre of the series we have Katniss Everdeen — she is strong, resilient, smart and a fighter. She must use her wits to survive in the games, where the last person standing wins. You either win or you die, and Katniss is determined to live. She hates the Capitol more than anyone.

When I was younger, I scared my mother to death, the things I would blurt out about District 12, about the people who rule our country, Panem, from the far-off city called the Capitol. Eventually I understood this would only lead us to more trouble.

The Hunger Games is rather violent for a YA book series, but I think that’s one of the reasons readers love it so much. After all, you can’t have the main character entering a fight-to-the-death tournament and not have gruesome fights featured in the book.

The high action plot is what I really loved about this book. I was desperate to keep reading to find out how Katniss was going to survive, but also how our other favourites were going to do in the games. Suzanne Collins was able to build most of the book around what happens in those games, drawing out power play and alliances but also showing us how the Capitol manipulates the games to make it entertaining for those in the Districts who are watching.

To confuse my enemies, I start a fire with plenty of green wood. Even if they think it’s a ruse, I hope they’ll decide I’m hidden somewhere near it. While in reality, I’ll be tracking Peeta.

One of the strengths of this book are the friendships and the side characters. Haymitch and Effie bring hilarity to an otherwise solemn and melancholic plot line. Katniss’ friendship with Rue in the games allows us to see an endearing side to Katniss, who at times can come across a little plain. And of course, Katniss’ friendship with Peeta is one of the things driving the book. Their budding friendship is the focal point of the second half of the book and we learn so much about their characters through their actions when they’re in the games.

“Where is Haymitch, anyway? Isn’t he supposed to protect us from this sort of thing?” says Peeta.
“With all that alcohol in him, it’s probably not advisable to have him around an open flame,” I say.
And suddenly we’re both laughing.

There’s a lot of hints about what’s the come in the series, particularly with the surprise ending. Collins does well to explain the world to us as we need to know things, so we don’t feel like there’s an info dump and we also don’t feel like there’s too much information we’re not privy to.

The Hunger Games heavily relies on its first person narration, with Katniss being extremely honest with the reader and providing as much backstory as possible but also divulging her feelings and her doubts to the reader. At times, she can be a little overwhelming for the reader. I often found myself skimming paragraphs that were really just her reflective thoughts. I was mostly there for the plot and yet the book felt so heavy on character development that I felt myself getting a little tired by Katniss towards the end. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a fantastic protagonist. She’s just a little much in this first book.

If you haven’t yet read The Hunger Games, this book is really for everyone. The characters are fantastic and the plot is addictive. And I also encourage people to read this if all they’ve seen are the movies. Suzanne Collins provides so much information and backstory that needed to be cut from the films so there’s a lot you can pick up from the books if you haven’t yet read them.

The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
September 2008
Scholastic Press

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