#readingandreviewing

[bibliobethblog]

What a whirlwind (or should that be hurricane?) this aptly named little book was! Translated by Sophie Hughes and definitely NOT for the faint-hearted, this incredible story seems to explore all the darkness and evil that lies within human nature. It starts with the discovery of a corpse, known as the Witch. After this, the story follows a number of individuals who were involved with the murder (either directly or indirectly) or who knew the perpetrators in some way. ⁣ ⁣ Hurricane Season is an ambitious and unforgiving exploration of almost every taboo known to man. It explores difficult and frightening subjects with unbelievable skill and artistry. It’s not an easy book to read at all but is certainly one in which you’ll feel the impact and the reverberations for a while after finishing it. And yet, I never found it gratuitous or overwhelming whilst reading. ⁣ ⁣ The author descends to horrific depths when exploring the life/death of the Witch and those around them. If you’re brave or curious enough to be taken along for the ride, I promise an intense reading experience that will be difficult to forget. ⁣ ⁣ Five perfect stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 ⁣ ⁣ #bookstagram #scottishbookstagrammer #readingandreviewing #hurricaneseason #fernandamelchor #sophiehughestranslator #fitzcarraldoeditions #booksintranslation #readingtranslatedliterature #memorablereads #unforgettablenovels #multipletriggerwarning https://www.instagram.com/p/ClWbpQtL6cf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bibliobethblog]

I haven’t accepted a book for review in quite some time but when @oneworldpublications got in touch to see if I’d be interested in reading and reviewing The Weight Of Loss, I read the synopsis and was won over instantly. Thank you to them for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.⁣ ⁣ This is a clever, lyrical and meandering story that explores the themes of mental health, loss, grief and rehabilitation in a very interesting way. Our protagonist Marianne begins to notice long, thick black hairs protruding from her spine and even though her doctor tells her it may be her body’s physical reaction to grief, she takes up the offer of a specialised wellness retreat to help her work through her issues. ⁣ ⁣ The book then follows Marianne at the clinic and delves into her past with her sister, Marie before climaxing into a completely unanticipated ending. It blends magical realism and literary fiction together with a sprinkling of the weird and wonderful. ⁣ ⁣ I’m torn on my feelings for this book. I loved the imagery of the black hairs along Marianne’s spine and what they represented and some of my favourite moments were the relationship between Marianne and Marie, the latter of whom made me want to hug then shake them in equal measure! I felt as if I was so invested in the first half but then it lost me a little near the end. ⁣ ⁣ However, it’s clear that Sally Oliver oozes talent and I’m excited to see what she comes out with next. ⁣ ⁣ 3.5 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 💫 #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #scottishbookstagrammer #readingandreviewing #theweightofloss #sallyoliver #upandcomingauthors #literaryfictionbooks #booksaboutgrief #oneworldpublications #storiesaboutsisters #thoughtprovokingreads #giftedbook https://www.instagram.com/p/ChsXknULtW0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=