Smashbomb

Search

Search results

All (1423)

Content

Sassy Brit (97 KP) rated Our Kind of Cruelty: A Novel in Books

Jun 5, 2019

Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall is a domestic thriller and courtroom drama like no other! I’ve never read one quite like it. Not only do we have a male narrator named Mike, and see things from his point of view, we’re also dealing with other issues of autism and passionate obsessions, too. Until recently, Mike and his girlfriend Verity ( V as he likes to call her) have played a dangerous, sexual game called ‘Crave’, for years. But when they break up obsessed Mike still believes V is playing the game and will come back to him, despite V telling him she’s getting married to someone else and inviting him to the wedding. Nothing deters single-minded, Mike from his expected outcome.

The book begins like any other but it wasn’t long before I felt sorry for Mike, even though I knew he was a nasty piece of work. Why? I found the reason I sympathised with him was in the details. The way the author, Araminta Hall, portrayed Mike’s years as he talked about life as a kid; the things he refused to do, or accept, because his thinking was always logical and he didn’t understand why no one else could see things the way he did. Why say sorry when you don’t mean it? Why say you could kill someone and not do it?

As an adult Mike’s learnt to fit in with the world and act as society expects. To a certain degree. But it doesn’t mean he has to like it, or find it easy to do. He’s also one for keeping himself in check with routines of which he thrives on. Clearly, when you get to the end you’ll realise Mike’s attitude plays a massive part of the final twist.

I really enjoyed this book and its flawed characters. Although it’s not particularly fast-paced to start with, the journey fascinated me. Our Kind of Cruelty is about obsessive love, unhealthy relationships, and the psychology of the human mind. Details. It’s all in the details.
#WhatsYourVerdict? My verdict would give the whole twist away… This would translate well to film.

Kudos

Hannah May (3 KP) rated Spitfire Girl in Books

Mar 8, 2018

What I liked most about this novel is the characterisation. Each character, whether they be good or horrid, was entertaining and inspiring in their own way. I thorough enjoyed reading the story from Susan's perceptive and reading through her struggles and her triumphs. I liked the characters of Tony and Roz in particular. Tony has that tender loving air about him that readers like me enjoy and I was very happy to learn he survived. I had my doubts throughout; thinking it would end sadly. Roz was an interesting character. She is the polar opposite to Susan. She is passionate and opinionated, and she always knows what and who she wants. Qualities like that should always be admired. I was let down slightly by the lack of flying or any mention of flying until page 300+. And despite her desperate desire to fly, Susan seemed quite adamant to stay on the ground and play servant with everyone she meets. I expected her to put up more of a fight, if I'm honest. Much of the actions happens near the end of the novel. While it was good to read, it felt a bit rushed and there wasn't much detailed description about any of the aircraft Susan flew, which I really would have liked to seen and read. Another thing I disliked about this story was the fact that, despite Susan's good intentions, she always always got punished for it. She safely lands a plane, saving both her life and Elspeth's. She's deemed a security risk and is sacked. She rescues Charlie from being put to sleep. She tries to expose Dudley for the creep that he is. Mrs Kemp kicks her out. She's forced out of Daves home, because some cranky old woman doesn't approve of her or her dog. She loses her jobs and her homes over stupid, little things. That just doesn't happen nowadays. You get warnings. You learn from your mistakes. Employers move on. I understand it is under very different and difficult circumstances, being during WWII, but still. Slightly dramatised I think. Overall, a good read but would have benefited by more mention of spitfires!