JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

She will discover the best of herself in the worst of times . . .

Texas, 1934. Elsa Martinelli had finally found the life she’d yearned for. A family, a home and a livelihood on a farm on the Great Plains. But when drought threatens all she and her community hold dear, Elsa’s world is shattered to the winds.

Fearful of the future, when Elsa wakes to find her husband has fled, she is forced to make the most agonizing decision of her life. Fight for the land she loves or take her beloved children, Loreda and Ant, west to California in search of a better life. Will it be the land of milk and honey? Or will their experience challenge every ounce of strength they possess?

Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds is one of my highly anticipated releases for 2021. I absolutely adored her previous novel, The Great Alone, and have been holding out for this new one for months now.

The Four Winds is impeccable — a sweeping, masterful historical fiction feat. It’s emotional and moving, inspiring and just absolutely heartbreaking at times. This is the perfect adult novel, I can’t fault it.

The novel brings to fruition the early 1930s Great Depression and Dust Bowl migration, laying bare the challenges and struggles that American families faced trying to feed their children. Many husbands fled their responsibilities, leaving young women to care for children alone. It was a time of great suffering and prejudice.

“The next morning, Elsa woke well before dawn and found Rafe’s side of the bed empty. He’d slept in the barn again. Lately he preferred it to being with her. With a sigh, she got dressed and left her room.”

Set in Texas, when Elsa and Rafe sleep together outside of wedlock and Elsa falls pregnant, they’re forced to get married. Rafe’s plans to go to college are pulverised, and Elsa is abandoned by her parents — her disgrace has hurt them beyond repair. Elsa and Rafe move in with Rafe’s parents and years pass. Another child is born.

The drought has considerable affect on the family’s farm. Everyone works all day to keep the family afloat, but it’s impossible without any rain. And then one morning, Rafe abandons them and Elsa is forced to make unbelievable sacrifices to keep her children alive.

The Four Winds explores a mother’s sacrifice and determination to provide for her children, but it also explores love and family, friendship and loyalty. In the end, Rafe’s parents end up being more of a family for Elsa than her cold, harsh parents ever were.

“She saw how red his cheeks were from the cold, saw the plumes of his breath and the weight loss that had sunken his face and eyes. For a man who had two religions — God and the land — he was dying a little each day, disappointed by them both.”

Written in third person, Kristin Hannah has crafted emotionally rich characters, people you want to cheer for and people who make you keep turning the pages because you’re desperate to discover more about them. Her books are set in some of the worst conditions, and they show us how resilient and determined people can be when they have something to live for — to fight for.

An underlying theme in the book is that of dreams — wanting a better life. When the harsh and unrelenting Dust Bowl hits, many nearby farmers abandon their homes and travel West in search of a better life. But conditions there aren’t necessarily any better, and people are judged and ostracised for where they’ve come from. There’s little work, even smaller wages to be earned, and the conditions in which they must live are inhumane. And still, Elsa perseveres.

“Another scorcher of a day, and not even ten in the morning. So far, September had offered no respite from the heat. Elsa knelt on the linoleum kitchen floor, scrubbing hard. She had already been up for hours. It was best to do chores in the relative cool of dawn and dusk.”

Gritty and beautiful, highly recommended. I couldn’t fault this even if I tried.

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

The Four Winds
Kristin Hannah
February 2021
Pan Macmillan Publishers

Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales

When Ollie meets Will over the summer break, he thinks he’s found his Happily Ever After. But once summer’s ended, Will stops texting him back, and Ollie finds himself short of his fairy-tale ending.

A family emergency sees Ollie uprooted and enrolled at a new school across the country – Will’s school – and Ollie finds that the sweet, affectionate and comfortably queer guy he knew from summer isn’t the same one attending Collinswood High. This Will is a class clown, a basketball jock and, well, a bit of a jerk.

The last time Ollie gave Will his heart, Will handed it back to him trampled and battered. Ollie would be a fool to trust him with it again. Right?

Heartfelt and uplifting, Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales has been a surprise favourite for me these Christmas holidays. While I catch up on all the 2020 releases I’ve been meaning to read, I stumbled upon this YA romance novel and completely fell in love with it. Absorbed in the characters and the setting, I read this entire story in one day.

Ollie meets the gorgeous Will over summer break and the two fall in love. But then the holiday ends and Will won’t respond to Ollie’s texts. When Ollie’s family moves across the country to North Carolina and suddenly, the two boys are attending high school together, their secret summer fling is the least of their concerns. A modern day retelling of Grease, and just as charming.

“A familiar voice to my right made me start. Will. Of course it was. I couldn’t have five minutes’ reprieve from this absolute bad joke of a day, huh? He must be near the front door, from the sound of his voice. I couldn’t let him see me here alone. No way.”

A coming-of-age gay romance for the masses, strengths include the dialogue — snappy, witty and really quite hilarious. This is a novel that will attract and hold all audiences, not just teen readers. The characters are diverse and inclusive, and will appeal to LGBTQI+ audiences. Whilst set in the United States, all readers will recognise the high school environment and the complications that arise when love is involved.

The supporting cast of characters are just as rich and three-dimensional as Will and Ollie. The three girls that Ollie befriends, in particular, are a welcome addition to the story and are incredibly relatable. Ollie’s unwell Aunt also adds layers to the story — her place in Ollie’s life makes for an emotional read.

Heartfelt scenes between Will and Ollie will force readers to empathise with their plight. Ollie has already come out to family and friends, whereas Will has not. The novel is as much about their own journeys as gay men, as it is about their future as a couple.

“The conversation went on around me. I didn’t join in. It wasn’t super unusual for me to be quiet at lunch, and there was no way I felt comfortable enough to speak up with this audience. The weird thing was that Will didn’t speak, either.”

Only Mostly Devastated shows us what it’s like to live unapologetically, to follow your heart and chase what makes you happy. But the novel also illustrates the importance of only accepting what you deserve — Will struggles to come out about his sexuality, and his anxiety and inner torment means he doesn’t always treat Ollie respectfully, and it’s refreshing to see Ollie’s reaction to that. I’m sure many readers will find comfort in how their relationship changes and develops over the course of the novel.

“If it had come from someone else I might’ve been offended by that, but this girl had a way of half-smiling that made me feel like I was in on a joke with her. I decided I liked her.”

Highly recommended.

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

Only Mostly Devastated
Sophie Gonzales
March 2020
Hachette Book Publishers

The Ickabog by J.K Rowling

The Ickabog is coming… A mythical monster, a kingdom in peril, an adventure that will test two children’s bravery to the limit. Discover a brilliantly original fairy tale about the power of hope and friendship to triumph against all odds, from one of the world’s best storytellers.

The kingdom of Cornucopia was once the happiest in the world. It had plenty of gold, a king with the finest moustaches you could possibly imagine, and butchers, bakers and cheesemongers whose exquisite foods made a person dance with delight when they ate them.

Everything was perfect – except for the misty Marshlands to the north which, according to legend, were home to the monstrous Ickabog. Anyone sensible knew that the Ickabog was just a myth, to scare children into behaving. But the funny thing about myths is that sometimes they take on a life of their own.

Could a myth unseat a beloved king? Could a myth bring a once happy country to its knees? Could a myth thrust two children into an adventure they didn’t ask for and never expected?

If you’re feeling brave, step into the pages of this book to find out…

An instant classic, J.K Rowling’s The Ickabog is a magical fairytale that will seduce young readers and keep them entertained this holiday period. The book is packaged beautifully — a gorgeous dust jacket hardcover and gold embossing, with vibrant, vivid illustrations and thick sleek paper inside. This is a cherished item for all readers’ bookshelves.

Admittedly, the story does delve into dark themes and plot points. It may start off light and easy — a foolish king, a mythical and fearsome creature that is rumoured to eat humans — but soon there’s betrayal, evil plots, countless murders and imprisonment. This shouldn’t deter young readers though. The story is fun and witty, enticing. The characters are all unique and readers young and old will be curious to follow the journey.

“Nobody would ever again say that he was selfish, vain, and cruel! For the sake of a smelly, simple old shepherd and his worthless old mongrel, he, King Fred the Fearless, was going to hunt the Ickabog!”

It wouldn’t be a children’s novel without some important messages woven into the story — lies can spiral out of control and are not worth the pain they inflict, lost loved ones are never truly gone and will always hold a place in your heart, and it’s important to trust your own instincts. It’s also a story about the importance of standing up against cruelty, greed and dictatorship, an conquering your fears.

Stylistically, J.K Rowling employs a couple of techniques to really invite the reader into the story. Firstly, she trickles in foresight about the future — she gives us an indication into whether the current events will have disastrous consequences, or perhaps fate is on a character’s side and things are about to improve.

Secondly, she breaks the fourth wall at times and talks directly to the reader, taking us on a tangent storyline but letting us know she’ll return to the original plot in a mere moment. These techniques make the reader feel like they’ve been let in on a secret — they’ve been welcomed into this world.

“We now return to Chouxville, where some important things are about to happen…What Bert didn’t realise was that the arrival of that mail coach was going to have some very important consequences, which would send him on a dangerous adventure. Let’s allow Bert to walk on without us for a moment or two, so I can tell you about the coach.”

A rather sweet and unique addition to the book, J.K Rowling has selected drawings from children all over the world and included them intermittently throughout the novel to add a bit more light to the story.

One slight flaw I had with the book – there are a lot of characters, especially within the first few chapters. I found myself getting quite confused with who they all were, and perhaps children might? Some re-reading may be necessary to initially grasp the story and the setting.

“When King Fred woke next morning and was informed that his Chief Advisor had retired at this critical moment in the country’s history, he was furious. It came as a great relief to know that Lord Spittleworth would be taking over, because Fred knew that Spittleworth understood the grave danger facing the kingdom.”

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

The Ickabog
J.K Rowling
November 2020
Hachette Book Publishers

Note to Self: The Secrets of Calm by Rebekah Ballagh

An inspirational personal development book including helpful tips and cute illustrations to aid with anxiety, overthinking and depression.

This book is jam-packed with handy tips, bite-sized wisdoms & thoughtful illustrations to help you navigate through feelings like anxiety, stress, worry, guilt & sadness.

Within these pages you will find practical tools & insights to help you tackle your day-to-day tricky emotions.

Glorious and visually delectable, Note to Self is a gorgeous illustrated companion book about how to manage your anxiety and stress. Author, illustrator and trained counsellor Rebekah Ballagh has crafted a really beautiful book that now sits proudly on my bookshelf.

The book is scattered with tips, advice, exercises and sometimes just really soothing illustrations that communicate how you might feel at a certain point in your day.

The words and the illustrations feel like they carry equal weight in relaxing the reader. Rebekah’s advice is calming and welcome to the reader but her vibrant, hand-drawn illustrations accompany each page and allow for an enjoyable and engaging reading experience.

Whilst the book is small and short, each page packs a punch.

Buy this book, read it, and then pop it next to a plant on your bookshelf. A beautiful addition to any bookshelf, and a fantastic gift for a loved one as we head into the Christmas season.

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

Note to Self: The Secrets of Calm
Rebekah Ballagh
November 2020
Allen & Unwin Book Publishers

Either Side of Midnight by Benjamin Stevenson

At 9.01 pm, TV presenter Sam Midford delivers the monologue for his popular current affairs show Midnight Tonight. He seems nervous and the crew are convinced he’s about to propose to his girlfriend live on air.

Instead, he pulls out a gun and shoots himself in the head.

Sam’s grief-stricken twin Harry is convinced his brother was murdered. But how can that be, when one million viewers witnessed Sam pull the trigger? Only Jack Quick, a disgraced television producer in the last days of a prison sentence, is desperate enough to take Harry’s money to investigate.

But as Jack starts digging, he finds a mystery more complex than he first assumed. And if he’s not careful, he’ll find out first-hand that there’s more than one way to kill someone . . .

Australian author Benjamin Stevenson publishes his second crime novel Either Side of Midnight, and it’s another page-turning, fast-paced, high-tension masterpiece. Either Side of Midnight wraps its claws around the reader, drawing them closer with each passing chapter. Readers will have no choice but the ride the rollercoaster of this novel.

Fans of Benjamin’s previous novel, Greenlight, will recognise disgraced TV documentarian Jack Quick as the protagonist. He’s been serving a prison sentence after the events in Greenlight, and when he’s released, he accepts the paid opportunity investigating news anchor Sam Midford’s suicide. Jack is thrust back into the world he’d left behind — another suspicious death, more deceitful suspects, and plenty more complex and complicated truths.

Either Side of Midnight explores the power of technology, and how easily words can influence others. Services aren’t yet equipped to handle criminal cases where technology is used as a weapon.

“Jack hadn’t been prepared enough to come back here. The whole building was triggering. The epileptic rotation of adverts. The rustle of the ground floor. Any of the bathrooms where, sometimes, at ten in the morning, Jack on his knees and a man snorting a line off the basin would lock eyes conspiratorially.”

Once again, we’re thrust back into Jack’s world, quickly remembering what made us like him so much the first time around. He’s flawed, but likeable. Relatable. He’s calculated and intelligent — quick to join the dots in the case. Dialogue is quick and blunt, Benjamin only using as many words as necessary to keep the pacing consistent, to keep the story moving forward.

Chapters end with revelations and unveilings, drawing the reader in and forcing them to keep reading. Benjamin is incredibly talented at dropping hints and clues without the reader feeling like they can guess the ending.

“Harry didn’t know if he slept. The night blurred past, timeless. Some moments he was counting the seconds, and others he seemed to zone out and when he zoned back… was the moon in a different spot? Time must have passed.”

Set in Sydney, an underlying theme is familial loyalty, and processing feelings of regret. Jack is still dealing with an accident from his childhood that left his brother in a permanent vegetive state and entirely reliant on care. Jack’s father has been forced to take on the burden of his son’s care while Jack has been in prison, and Jack feels deep regret.

There isn’t much I can fault with this novel. The cast of characters are three-dimensional and engrossing, the plot feels original and incredibly inviting, and Benjamin has incredible skill crafting scrumptious crime/thriller novels.

“It’s a cliche in film and television to present recent widows as brittle, frail. To have the make-up team use pale foundation, ghost-like, and smear dark circles under their eyes. Every time a widow opens a door in a film, they’ve just finished crying. The message being that, without their husband, they are barely keeping it together.”

Recommended for fans of crime and thriller. Readers don’t need to read Greenlight to understand or follow the events in this new novel — Either Side of Midnight functions as a standalone.

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

Either Side of Midnight
Benjamin Stevenson
September 2020
Penguin Book Publishers Australia