Book Review: The Infernal World of Branwell Brontë by: Daphne du Maurier

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Author, Biography, Book, Book Review, Branwell Bronte, Daphne du Maurier, English Literature, non-fiction, review, The Bronte sisters, the Brontes, The Infernal World of Branwell Bronte

He belonged, by blood and by temperament, to the first freckles group from across the water which might beckon him; to the eloquent unpublished poets of many a Dublin side-street, to the painters with canvases untouched […] He belonged to the great company of gifted, wasted Irishmen who, in their mother country, are content to fail and dream, but, transplanted into another, break body and soul” – The Infernal World of Branwell Brontë, Daphne du Maurier

Initial Thoughts: The Infernal World of Branwell Brontë… doesn’t this title send delicious shivers up your spine? It does for me.  It took me a few months to get my hands on a copy of this book. For the most part it is out of print. I was lucky to have found an old battered copy at my library.

Summary

In 1960, Daphne du Maurier (author of Rebecca, The Birds, and Jamaica Inn) published The Infernal World of Branwell Brontë, the story of the forgotten Bronte sibling. Branwell Brontë was the brother of Charlotte Brontë (author of Jane Eyre, Villette, Shirley, and The Professor), Emily Brontë (author of Wuthering Heights), and Anne Brontë (author of Agnes Grey, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall). Although Branwell showed signs of promise from a young age, he quickly spiraled down an infernal path to self destruction. Daphne du Maurier’s biography of Branwell tells the story of a man with infinite potential who couldn’t overcome the demons haunting his own mind.

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Book Review: The Hyde by: Hideto Takarai (寶井 秀人)

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Autobiography, Biography, Book Review, Hideto Takarai, Hyde, japan, Japanese, Japanese Rock, Jrock, L'Arc~en~Ciel, music, Musician, Nonfiction, Rock, The Hyde, VAMPS, 寶井 秀人

First Impressions: For the past few years, I have been an ardent fan of the Japanese rock musician Hyde, vocalist of the bands L’Arc~en~Ciel and VAMPS. The Hyde is his autobiography, his way of removing the veil of secrecy from his life in his tell-all autobiography. Even though I couldn’t read it in its original language, I decided to order a copy anyway and find unofficial English and Spanish translations online.

Summary

Hideto Takarai known as Hyde, is one of Japan’s most famous singers. Born in Wakayama in 1969, in the early nineties Hyde rose to fame as the vocalist of the band L’Arc~en~Ciel. L’Arc~en~Ciel continues to be one of Japan’s most famous bands, garnering a worldwide fanbase. In 2012, L’Arc~en~Ciel was the first Japanese band to headline Madison Square Garden in New York. This unique autobiography, The Hyde, explores Hyde’s life from A-Z, including his childhood memories, the indie days of L’Arc~en~Ciel, and his evolution as a person and artist.

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Book Review: Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by: Ransom Riggs

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Book, Book Review, Fantasy, Miss Peregrine, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, novel, Novel Review, Ransom Riggs, Young adult, Young adult fiction

I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was” –Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs

Initial Thoughts: When this book was first released in 2011, the cover image of the miserable looking girl apparently floating in midair was featured everywhere. Critics couldn’t stop raving about this book. And so, sometime in 2011 to 2012, I had checked it out at the library. The title Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children reminded me a lot of the television show I used to watch when I was a kid Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. Anyway, upon reading the first ten pages, I gave up and I ended up returning the book a few days later. Recently, I decided to give this book another chance after watching the movie adaptation.

Plot Summary

Ever since he was a little boy, Jacob has been told fantastical stories by his grandfather about a mysterious island off the coast of England inhabited by strange children with peculiar gifts. When Jacob’s grandfather dies under mysterious circumstances, Jacob decides to investigate by venturing to the mysterious island.

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Book Review: The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by: Thomas King

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Book Review, Canadian Literature, History, Indigenous, Indigenous literature, Native American, non-fiction, North America, review, The Inconvenient Indian, The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America, Thomas King

But most Canadians, like most Americans, have a shockingly poor grasp of their own history. Dates, people, the large and small nuances of events have all been reduced to the form and content of Classic Comics. This isn’t a complaint. It’s an acknowledgment that people are busy with other things and generally glance at the past only on holidays” – The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America, Thomas King

Initial thoughts: When I was assigned this non-fiction account of Indigenous people in North America, all I could think was… oh great. I usually don’t read  many non-fiction books . I know I should, but generally, my heart gravitates towards fiction. This book really surprised me in many ways.

Summary

Thomas King’s The Inconvenient Indian provides a portrait on the treatment of Indigenous people in the past and present. King’s book touches on all aspects of how Indigenous people are viewed by society such as in the media, popular culture, the government, and in Indigenous communities.

Book Review: Acide Sulfurique (Sulphuric Acid) by: Amélie Nothomb

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Acide Sulfurique, Amelie Nothomb, Book, Book Review, Dystopia, Dystopian, French literature, Horror, novel, Reality Television, review, Sulphuric Acid

The time came when the suffering of others was not enough for them; they needed the spectacle of it too” –Acide Sulfurique (Sulphuric Acid) – Amélie Nothomb

Initial thoughts: Isn’t it exciting to dive into a novel of which you know nothing about save for its title, author and cover image? When I picked up Acide Sulfurique (translated: Sulphuric Acid) from the sparsely filled shelves of the French section of my local library, I was struck by the cover image (which you can view here). The cover image features a butterfly which flew into a glass and broke its wing. I cannot say why I am so intrigued by this cover image. Perhaps it is because it is unusual and unlikely, almost surreal. There is something unsettling about this image. And yet, in such a calamity, a disturbing image can become beautiful.

Plot Summary

One day, out of nowhere, the lovely Pannonique is pulled of the streets at random and lands a role as a participant on a new reality television show called “Concentration.” In this camp, participants are prisoners subjected to torture, dehumanization and even… death at random, all in the name of entertainment. Pannonique is stripped of her identity, including her name, and she is reborn as CKZ 114. One of the guards of “Concentration,” Zdena, is desperate to uncover CKZ 114’s name, and discover the thoughts behind her expressionless demeanour. Meanwhile, spectators are disgusted by this new television show. But… they can’t stop watching.