Dart/Memorial by Alice Oswald

I found it hard at first to get into Dart, but then I stopped and went back to read the acknowledgement at the front. It explained the indications in the margins are to show the change in voice. Knowing this, I understood the poem better and started to enjoy it. Hearing the different point of views of those who work/live/enjoy the dart was interesting, and it made me appreciate the work and research Oswald did to write this poem. It makes me want to try something similar with St. Nectan’s Glen in Cornwall, my favourite place in the world.

            I was really excited about the subject/topic of Memorial, loving myths and fairy tales. However, I didn’t enjoy it as much as Dart. The idea was interesting, and learning about all the deaths was educational, but I personally found the repetition effect jarring. I realise it was meant to be an echo but I found myself skipping them, not wanting to reread the same lines again.

            Overall I do find the topics Oswald writes about interesting, but don’t always enjoy her writing style.

Complicity by Iain Banks

This book isn’t usually the genre type I read, a crime thriller, but I have to admit I was gripped all the way through.

            Cameron is an intriguing character. Even if he isn’t very likeable he is recognizable and even relatable.  The murderer’s scenes written in second person are really gripping and disturbing. I didn’t believe Cameron was ever the killer, mostly due to how much resources they had. For most of the book I thought it was William, but once he died it was clear it had to be Andy.

            I also love the ending. No one really wins and no one has a perfect happy ending. It really shows how certain situations in our life affects us, setting us on certain paths and causes. It also makes the murderer the happiest/most content person in a way. He accomplishes what he wanted and escapes so he can continue it, while Cameron is left dying of cancer, the woman he loves gone.

            This book was a great read, with great characterization and a very clever use of point of view.

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started