What’s Sera Reading? Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Seraphim with Tenbury’s copy of Little Fires Everywhere (hardback)
by Celeste Ng (author)

Celeste Ng is a New York times best seller author her previous novel “Everything I Never Told You” was in the top 10 for three weeks running . This novel “Little Fires Everywhere” was released May 2018 and hit the news for some controversial depictions of the dangers of American’s smug liberalism.

Combining a deeply observant story about race, community and motherhood. A story of a carefully ordered Cleveland community that is shaken by a family home being destroyed. At first it looks like the youngest child of the Richardson’s is responsible but nothing is ever as it seems.  Mia and Pearl enter into this place with all they have in one car. They become more than just tenants and we discover Mia has more history than just her single motherhood story and her creative photography is more than just a hobby. All of the Richardson children find Pearl wonderful and intriguing, and Mia a breath of fresh maternal input. However, when a Richardson family friend attempts to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town. we get an explosion of points of view from the different characters involved. Here we find out the weight of secrets. It puts Mia and Elena [Mrs Richardson] on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia’s past. But there at an unexpected and devastating cost.

Celeste Ng and the paperback cover of “Little Fires Everywhere”

It has the pace and fervour of a psychological thriller, Little Fires Everywhere is a truly remarkable novel of American suburbia’s dark undercurrents. Personally I really enjoyed the exploration of art and identity in human nature. [I’m an artist] and the undeniable weight, pains and pulls of motherhood.

Yes, I recommend it. Plus, men would enjoy the story too.

What’s Sera Reading? Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This is the story of Kya, (her name shortened from Catherine Danielle Clark) set in the 30’s through to the 70’s the “Mash Girl” haunts Barkley Cove and is suspected of murder. Always observant of the creatures and life in the marsh Kya grows up differently to the expected norms. She is seen as wild and improper. Actually a victim? She has been badly treated and then abandoned but there is hope, a choice.

Delia Owens is an excellent naturalist and ecologist the book’s interesting environment of the swamp and its wildlife is a perfect match for the poetic prose. This story has grown a following thanks to it’s brilliant observations on American North Carolina marshland society, on relationships, love, prejudice, racism and sexism. The narratives issues and that of its protagonist are intermingled with a fast paced and gripping murder mystery which takes us on an emotional back journey.

However, a disappointing ending for me, did she do it? Kya talks a lot about mating in nature and how savage it can be. So, was she in disguise on the bus back?

What is Sera Reading? The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Sera with the Tenbury Library copy of “The Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss.
Image of Patrick Rothfuss. An illustration from the book.

The book is part 1 of The King Killer Chronicle. The two parts have been hailed as one of the best high fantasy stories in print this decade. It has great ratings on amazon and Goodreads.

So, is it worth the fuss Sera?

This is a story that is exciting and engaging. Despite the fact “The Name of the Wind” encompassed only Day One of Kvothe’s [Main Protagonist] storytelling and little else. Kvothe, the man of many names tells the story of his life to the Chronicler, who will write Kvothe’s entire chronicle starting from his childhood up to his present life as an innkeeper in Waystone Inn. Rothfuss has a skill with prose that is worthy of high praise. from the start the world building is excellent the unique magic system called Sympathy felt so real and the ease of the characters grasp on it is believable to me.

It is the character driven narrative that makes this book so wonderfully effect. Without the amazing well thought out cast, this book would be flatter than a pancake. Kvothe is an extremely memorable character, and his narrative is wonderfully compelling to read. The writing makes use of his age at the different stages as well as how he interacts with other cast persons and creatures. As a reader you are constantly seeking the clues in his past that make the man.

Part Two to come….

Sera with book two

Part 2 : The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

Deep, rich, perfectly paced prose and a super high fantasy story that has not stopped amazing me. The quest of Kvothe’s [Main Protagonist] life to become the “King Killer” moving from one elaborate setting to another, cohesively strung together. Intermissions though interrupt us are not without purpose, as we silently root out who Kvothe truly is. I feeling like the magic Rothfuss created could actually be real for those willing to work hard enough to master it. one massive down side…. its not finished.

In part 2 we are gifted the story of Kvothe’s trip to the fairy realm, of the end of his childhood as he becomes a man who is versed in womankind and the fighting skills we were waiting for have been seeded in his being. Yet….

That’s right we are still not at the end! Not even close. To make matters worse we are more aware of the conspiratorial bard, friend and scribe. Why do they want our hero’s story? and Just what do they have planned for our hero?

What is Oliver reading? Hercule Poirot Over 50 Stories by Agatha Christie.

I am Oliver and I am currently doing my work experience at Tenbury Library.

I began reading Hercule Poirot after being introduced to the character of Mrs Marple by my father. I have so far enjoyed reading Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot. It is a classic who’s convoluted plots and intriguing characters still hold up today. The titular Hercule Poirot is the world’s most famous detective (and the world’s greatest if you ask him), his egg shaped head and finely waxed mustache are iconic features making him recognizable even in the crowded world of ‘great’ detectives. However Poirot’s flaws are as pronounced as his moustache primarily his colossal ego which is often shown when he criticizes his most well known companion, Captain Hastings’, ideas.

Despite there being Fifty-two stories in the volume it rarely feels repetitive as Christie constantly throws in twists and rarely lets it turn out the way it first seems. This keeps every story different and unique with one of the few constant factors being that Poirot always seems to figure it out. The crimes range from scamming to save a failing business to murder to keep a secret hidden. The culprits are just as varied: an old man who has nothing left to live for, a dutiful maid that keeps their head down and a wealthy and respected father trying to kill his own children. Every story has a unique way that they accomplished this task from hiding a ruby in a Christmas pudding to killing the person before they last heard alive. These stories truly are ‘Masterpieces in Miniature’.