Update: I wrote this ages ago and never posted it, so… sorry!

First month of the year and I’ve already managed to write three blog posts, start writing TDO2, and also finish reading two books! What is life. I can’t remember the last time I was this productive… Although, January is notorious for starting off strong, and then quickly descending into much less productive states of mind – but I’m not going to speak that over myself. It’s actually been quite nice to read, and think about writing again. I think the couple months break from my dissertation was what I needed.

This month, I read two books: Where Sleeping Girls Lie and The Girl With The Pearl Earring. Both of these were finishes of books I’d started before the new year, but they still count, as the majority of them was read during January.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie was a book similar to what I usually pick out. A YA murder-mystery, thriller novel set in the prestigious halls of Alfred Nobel Academy, it follows a young woman, Sade, in her time at the school, hiding and uncovering secrets as she goes.

It isn’t the type of book I usually go for, forever loyal to fantasy, but seeing as my Master’s dissertation was of a very similar vibe, I wanted to give it a go. And the author, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, who also wrote Ace of Spades, is one I’ve seen around a lot. Her books have gained a lot of traction online for discussing topics that can be quite difficult (such as bullying, suicide and sexual assualt), and also centring around Black main characters. Which, quite frankly, is a welcome respite from the white-washed fantasy space, both in author and character.

I have lots of thoughts about WSGL, but I can’t seem to quite find the words for them. A long read (just under 600 pages) meant that it took me a while to get through, but also meant I had enough time to fully delve into and understand the characters.

Having had some time to think about it, I would say WSGL is a solid 3.5/5 stars, or a 7/10 if I’m feeling generous. I am always quite picky with my ratings and rarely give out 5 stars, so please do not think I hated this book.

For instance, I will always knock off a star for swearing on more than one occasion, as I am a firm believer that swearing can be an example of lazy writing. I can understand that for some characters, it is just the way they live, however I personally, don’t enjoy reading it. If you have to tell me a character is angry or upset by swearing, I would challenge you to think about how else you can tell me that.

WSGL was definitely full of intrigue from the very offset. Set with a prologue, and chapters that varied in length; raising questions as to why Sade was at the school, and what her mission there was; and random anagrammed notes throughout, I was constantly guessing as to what the clues the author was laying down were. However, I definitely did find that at some points, I was frustrated at the characters taking half a book to put two and two together.

In saying that though, I did find, especially at the beginning, that there was a very “Mean Girls”-esque, cliché introduction to the school. A mean matron who has it out for everyone, two outcasts who befriend the new girl, and the classic information dump of all the cliques in the school. I won’t lie, reading the beginning few chapters had me grinding my teeth and groaning in exasperation. I was hopeful that the whole book wasn’t going to be so cliché, and for the most part it wasn’t.

The author, like I mentioned, writes about some difficult topics. A content warning: this book does talk about sexual assault and consent quite openly. Though there are no explicit scenes, please do keep this in mind if this is a trigger for you.

I found that Faridah dealt with the topics with care and sensitivity. The honesty with which she wrote made the story and characters feel that much more alive, and I definitely could understand the grief, guilt, shame and frustration that was explored throughout the entire text in its different forms.

The reality of how some of these issues are dealt with was very prevalent, and my heart hurt by the actions of these characters: knowing full well that this happens at universities, work places, and schools all the time. There were a few viewpoints, and offhand comments made that I didn’t quite agree with, but I can understand that such trauma will definitely create a different outlook to those who have not had to experience it.

Overall, I enjoyed WSGL. I found myself reaching for it more often than not, and at one point, when I’d lost the book for a week, I was genuinly sad, and would think about it at least once a day. My housemates were pretty tired of me complaining about its loss.

TLDR;

Title: Where Sleeping Girls Lie

Author: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Themes: Grief, Loss, Guilt, Secrets, Tragedy, Trauma

Content Warnings: Sexual Assualt, Drinking, mention of drugs

“If it were a film” rating: 15

I will definitely have less to say about The Girl With The Pearl Earring. I found this book for just over a pound in a charity shop and having heard raving reviews about it for a while, I was happy to give it a go.

It’s a pretty light read, with just over 160 pages, however it did take me a while to get through. Set in Holland in the mid 17th century, we follow a young woman called Griet as she moves away from home to become a maid in a painter’s house.

The story hinted at there being a love interest, Jane-Eyre-type love triangle, which intrigued me, although I didn’t feel as though it was explored in as much as depth as it could have been. The story explored various themes of discovery and finding meaning when you are ripped from all you know; creating a new life without letting go of where you come from; raising the question of what sacrifices need to be made in order to survive.

I don’t have as much to say about TGWTPE, as it honestly isn’t my favourite genre. I don’t read short literature often, and the few that I have read, have disappointed me with their endings. Where TGWTPE is written over a period of years, the ending did feel more resolute and like it tied all the loose ends of the story together. I felt accomplished when I had finished it, and like I had left the characters and the world in a good spot, as though they would continue revolving in their new lives without me.

The author, Tracy Chevalier, writes well. It wasn’t riveting, but it was engaging. Again, it had me hooked enough to pick up when I’d had enough of doom scrolling. I did stay up late to finish this too, because I was invested in Griet and the family she worked for; the painter who didn’t allow himself to love her; Griet’s own inner turmoil as she tried to navigate family, work and respect for her own self.

This book didn’t astound me, and if I’m honest, I don’t quite see why it is so acclaimed. Maybe I need to do some more background research into it, read more actual literary reviews, as it could be that I have completely missed the point. But if someone asked if it was good, and they should read it, I would say ‘go for it.’

TLDR;

Title: The Girl With The Pearl Earring

Author: Tracy Chevalier

Rating: 3/5 stars – averagely enjoyable book

Themes: family, love, discovery, sacrifice, self-worth

Content warnings: vague mentions of sexual activity.

“If it were a film” rating: 12

Next up on the agenda…

I am definitely not expecting to read as much in February. I’m not quite sure what I want to go for, as I’ve got some sequels that are calling my name, but I’m not sure if I want to go to a non-fiction for a bit too… It will take some thinking. I am most definitely a mood reader, and I am a slower reader, so choosing my next book takes careful consideration, and often I will say to myself “it’s not the right time for you”, and I will wait for when the stars align, and the world is ready to be explored.