The Five by Robert McCammon

The Five follows the eponymous rock band and their manager as they complete what looks likely to be their final tour together. The group unwittingly attract the attention of a war veteran - Jeremy Pett - who left the Iraq war physically unscathed but mentally disturbed; offended by The Five’s portrayal of American soldiers in one of their music videos, Jeremy endeavours to put his sniping skills to good use by bringing an end to the rock group for good, one band member at a time, with the encouragement of his imaginary pal, Gunny.

This unusual premise for a horror novel immediately sparked my interest, especially since I had heard great things about McCammon’s older works such as Swan Song and Boy’s Life. However I did not enjoy The Five very much and was left dissatisfied by it for various reasons.

First of all, the characters are really lacklustre and flat. The male members of the band do not have very distinct personalities and are more or less very stereotypical rockers, and there is little else that defines them. By contrast the two female members - Berke and Ariel - are polar opposites and are portrayed as a cliché angry butch lesbian and sweet, dreamy, hippy-type respectively. These bland, cookie cutter personalities dominate the book, and as the characters did not feel very real I didn’t much care what happened to them and I found it difficult to become involved in their plight.

In addition to the main sniper plot, there is a spiritual element to The Five that might interest some readers. This aspect begins when the band meet a weird girl at a well giving out water to blackberry pickers, and afterwards they feel compelled to write a group song and then it all develops from there, but it was not fully fleshed out, fell flat and wasn’t very well executed. What it built up to made it seem as though the author was perhaps trying to make his novel deep and philosophical, but it didn’t quite work and I could have done without this part - it felt as though the author couldn’t decide whether he wanted to write a realistic story or a supernatural one so it ended up being an odd mixture of the two which didn’t quite work for me.

On top of these negative points, my main issue with The Five is its length. My hardback copy is 520 pages, which is way too long in comparison with what actually happens in the story and at times it was a struggle for me to get through. McCammon clearly loves music, which in itself is certainly a positive thing, but he quite regularly writes long paragraphs just listing bands or describing every last tiny little detail of a particular keyboard which only true music fans might find interesting, but even then it is overdone. I suppose this aspect of the novel fits with the rock ‘n’ roll theme of the book, but it isn’t necessary to have it dominate the narrative as it takes the reader away from the story. Furthermore, at the end of the novel after the main story has concluded there are 50 pages or so of unnecessarily lengthy ‘after-story’. McCammon works hard throughout to give his characters some life by every now and then going off on long tangents about each person’s back-story - the problem is that they have no bearing on the plot and fail to add any substance to the band members; these digressions feel like padding and only exacerbate the already slow pace of the novel.

Despite my grumbles, there are some positives to The Five. Firstly, McCammon can write really well and I am looking forward to reading some of his older novels because of his obvious talent as a writer. Secondly, McCammon does a terrific job of highlighting the devastating effects fighting a war can have on a person and explores the extreme psychological consequences of this. He is very sensitive to the feelings of war veterans in his execution of the story, and I found it quite touching as well as an interesting and unusual topic to tackle in a horror-thriller novel. In addition, the novel is very much about the extent that you follow your dream job (in this case, a successful rock band) before you abandon it for stable and secure work - something I’m sure many people in the arts will be able to relate to.

I had been eager to read this novel for some time, but the pace was slow and the plot was drawn out, it featured a weak supernatural element and bland stereotyped characters - all of which led The Five to be a disappointing venture for me. Some good editing would probably have boosted my enjoyment, and although it is by no means a bad book and I can appreciate its appeal, it was deeply dissatisfying and was not for me personally. However if you enjoy thrillers with a supernatural touch, love rock ‘n’ roll or music in general and don’t mind plots that progress slowly then you may enjoy The Five.

Rating: 5/10

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

I Capture the Castle is a collection of the funny but poignant diary entries of aspiring writer 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain as she hones her writing skills by attempting to ‘capture’ her life in her ramshackle old castle in the middle of the English countryside. Within the castle reside her impoverished family: her beautiful, shallow and discontented older sister Rose, her eccentric (to put it kindly) father who is suffering from financially crippling writer’s block, her stepmother Topaz, her little brother Thomas, and finally Stephen - the son of one of the Mortmains’ now deceased maid - who is enamoured with Cassandra in spite of his love being wholly unrequited.

The novel begins by documenting the day to day lives of the Mortmain family as they struggle to earn enough money to live; it is incredibly endearing and sad how much Cassandra values something as simple as bread with butter and honey:

“I shouldn’t even think millionaires could eat anything nicer than new bread and real butter and honey for tea.”

The main story begins when the two American heirs - Simon and Neil Cotton - to the estate of which the castle is a part turn up, and the Mortmain family have their lives changed dramatically in the 6 months that Cassandra’s diary spans.

I Capture the Castle is a mesmerising and utterly charming tale. In many ways it reminds me of a more modern version of Little Women, but at the same time I found it to be quite a depressing read because of the characters’ circumstances, and Cassandra’s ignorance of the gravity of her family’s troubles.

The narrative is beautiful - Cassandra’s voice is engaging and honest; she is a character who is difficult to dislike. She peppers her diary with references to literature, particularly the Brontë sisters and Austen:

“‘How I wish I lived in a Jane Austen novel!’ 

I said I’d rather be in a Charlotte Brontë. 

‘Which would be nicest - Jane with a touch of Charlotte, or Charlotte with a touch of Jane?’” - Rose and Cassandra
 

Although I Capture the Castle is set in the 1930’s, the issues and feelings that Cassandra is forced to tackle - growing up, falling in love, financial strain, loneliness and family strife - are timeless and make her a very relatable character, especially with readers who are of a similar age.

The ending was quite unusual and not all the loose ends were tied up. Nonetheless I felt happy with how Smith concluded the novel as it fit with the journal format that she had chosen to write the story - this meant I didn’t feel annoyed by the slight open endedness of the tale as I have done with other books.

Though I Capture the Castle is often classed as a young adult novel, it is definitely relevant to older readers and can be readily enjoyed by practically any age group. Going into the book, I thought it would be quite a juvenile story and I dislike diary style books as a general rule (however, it reads very much like a novel rather than a diary - there are chapters and no childish ‘Dear diary...’) but I found I Capture the Castle to be a delightful, if depressing, read. It is a very real, heartwarming story and it deals with issues that people face every day; it is alarmingly relevant nowadays considering its publication date. I Capture the Castle is a charming and compelling novel, but at the same time it is a very sad tale and has left me not really knowing how I truly feel about what happened between its pages, but one thing I do know is that it will stay with me for a very long time.

Rating: 8/10

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

Daphne du Maurier was inspired to write Jamaica Inn by a tavern of the same name on Bodmin moor, and is a gothic tale comparable to her own Rebecca as well as the Brontës’ Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, from whom du Maurier took inspiration in her writing. It is set in 19^th century Cornwall and shares the mystery-thriller genre of the first two but is also shot with an element of romance.

On a dreary November day, a coach rattles along the Cornish coast towards Jamaica Inn - a forbidding tavern owned by the vicious Joss Merlyn, a place where the locals fear to tread - bearing the newly orphaned Mary Yellan who is coming to live with her Aunt Patience. The unsuspecting Mary arrives to find that at the hands of her brutish husband, the landlord of Jamaica Inn, her Aunt has been transformed from the beautiful, carefree woman she remembered to a gaunt, terrified wreck. The Inn stands dark and forbidding on Bodmin Moor, and reeks of violence, fear and drink. Naturally Mary endeavours to rescue her Aunt from the Inn and her villainous husband, but in the process unwittingly becomes hopelessly ensnared in the plots of Joss and his accomplices. Her situation only becomes more grave when she feels herself falling for Jem, Joss’ younger brother, whom she dare not trust...

Once again, I was enthralled with du Maurier’s amazing writing skill; from the first sentence I was enraptured, and her descriptions of the creepy old inn, the rainswept Cornish coast and the chilly winter moors are gorgeous and paint a vivid picture. Added to this is a foreboding, dark atmosphere that looms over you as you read, creating a combination which means the narrative is never boring.  

The characters are vibrant and richly described and bear a great contrast to one another. The arch-villain, Joss Merlyn, is a formidable and terrifying foe - almost as scary as Mrs. Danvers from Rebecca - and capitalises on the dark and dangerous atmosphere of the novel. He is a vile man, but I enjoyed reading about him nonetheless; he is unpredictable and savage so I was afraid of what he might do next, and his treatment of others - particularly poor Aunt Patience - is a bit hard to swallow. Jem Merlyn on the other hand is a loveable scoundrel, and although Mary is initially put off by his less-than-noble profession - a horse thief - she feels herself falling for his roguish charms, but she dare not trust him considering his kin. As a reader, I felt myself liking him and wanting Mary to trust him, but at the same time not being sure if she should, and like her hoping throughout that he wouldn’t end up being wrapped up in Joss’ schemes! It is this total immersion in the plot and with the characters that makes Jamaica Inn such a great read, and is a testament to du Maurier’s pure skill as a writer and storyteller. Finally there is Mary Yellan, our heroine in this gothic Cornish tale, is not your average 19^th century woman of literature - whose greatest cares usually revolve around finding an ideal husband:

“Mary had no illusions about romance. Falling in love was just a pretty name for it, that was all.”

Thanks to Mary Yellan’s tomboyish personality the romantic element of the book is not overbearing and is of a playful nature rather than sentimental and sickly - so even the most romance loathing readers should not be put off by this aspect of the novel.

Jamaica Inn is a concise, mysterious, scary story which is written beautifully and boasts a rich cast of imaginative characters. The pace is quick and it never meanders needlessly, the story itself is very atmospheric and full of suspense, mystery, horror and a sense of urgency due to the imminent danger. I really enjoyed it - in fact I like it almost as much as Rebecca - and I think this would be an easy novel for anyone to love.

Rating: 9/10

My other Daphne du Maurier reviews:
The Scapegoat

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

Do not be fooled by the title - Geek Love is not a story about high school nerds finding love against all odds, the ‘geek’ in this brilliantly original and thought-provoking tale is Lillian Binewski. Lil used to make her living by biting the heads off live chickens at her husband’s family carnival. After the carnival suffers a lapse in popularity, Lil and her husband Al cook up a money making scheme to keep themselves in business - they decide to breed their own freak show. Throughout her pregnancies Lily experiments with prescription and illicit drugs, insecticides and radioisotopes to ensure that each child born is more grotesque and mutated than the last. The couple's plan produces a unique and disturbing cast of characters: firstly there is Arturo the Aqua Boy, a hairless child with fins in place of arms and legs, accompanied by a dangerous lust for power; next comes Iphigenia and Electra, beautiful Siamese twins with a talent for music and who are literally ‘joined at the hip’; then we have Olympia, who is a bald, hunchbacked albino dwarf; and lastly the youngest Binewski child, Fortunato or ‘Chick’, who was nearly abandoned at birth by his twisted parents due to his misleading ‘normal’ appearance. In reality though Lily and Al had created their most dangerous and wonderful child-masterpiece to date...

Geek Love is narrated by the dwarf Olympia, or ‘Oly’. The story begins in the present day, with Oly in her 30’s, and then rotates back and forth from there to her former life at the Binewski Fabulon approximately 20 years previously; the narrative is dominated by the story of Oly’s past rather than the account of her present, with the account of her current situation acting as a framework to the main bulk of the novel.

This book is the most captivating, distinct and imaginative story I have read in a long time. As I’m sure you can imagine after reading the premise above, the tale of the Binewski family is rife with implicit shock value, and throughout subverts preconceptions of typical family values. The philosophies of the Binewski family are very disturbing; the children see nothing wrong with their parents having created them as ‘freaks’ and instead they see themselves as the elite and feel sorry for those they call ‘norms’; turning contemporary social conventions on their head:

“What greater gift could you offer your children than an inherent ability to earn a living just by being themselves?”

“The only way you people can tell each other apart is by your clothes.”

The novel offers a lot of food for thought, and questions what should be considered normal, and the extent that the average person fears normalcy and simply blending in with the background, amounting to nothing important:

“I get glimpses of the horror of normalcy. Each of these innocents on the street is engulfed by a terror of their own ordinariness. They would do anything to be unique.”

Geek Love has an exemplary writing style, incorporating a real carny-hobo feel into its narrative. Dunn is wholly devoted to capturing Oly’s voice instead of trying to use ill-fitting long words like some authors might, and this makes the whole story feel so much more poignant as it renders the individuals true to life.

The characters in this novel are incredibly vivid and realistic, making them easy to love or hate. Arturo ‘Arty’ is a manipulative, power hungry megalomaniac, who will stop at nothing to be the best and is quite despicable. The twins’ personalities are vibrant enough that they feel like very separate people in spite of their conjoined bodies. Oly is harder to figure out; she is the one who feels the most useless - she doesn’t have her own act like her older siblings, and her loyalty is often divided. Chick is a loveable, innocent character who allows himself to be manipulated and led astray and evokes sympathy in the reader.

Despite the abundance of brilliance this novel exudes, one issue I had with Geek Love was the rushed climax of Oly’s ‘past’; it felt incredibly slapdash in comparison with the rest of the novel, which at times meandered lazily along and was slightly more drawn out than necessary. Only about a page of writing detailed this shocking dénouement, whereas events of much less significance and importance were given many more.

In conclusion, Geek Love is truly one of a kind; I have never read a novel like it before and I doubt I will again. It is a powerful piece that inspires deep reflection, and by its very nature has the ability to shock and disturb, yet without being overtly grotesque. Due to the thought-provoking nature of the text, it would make for great reading and discussion in a literature class so I’d highly recommend this one if you’re part of a book group. The premise might be difficult for some people to swallow, but if you can stomach the initial concept it is a rewarding read that will stay with you for some time afterwards.

Rating: 10/10

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Hound of the Baskervilles is the third of four detective novels starring the infamous Sherlock Holmes and was originally published as a serial in ‘The Strand Magazine’ from August 1901 - April 1902.

Sir Charles Baskerville has been found murdered in the Baskerville family home in Devon, and the prime suspect behind his grisly death is a legendary spectral hell-hound that supposedly haunts the moors surrounding the Baskerville residence after an ancient curse was put on the family. Fully occupied with a different case in London, full time sceptic and arch-rationalist Sherlock Holmes sends Dr. John Watson down to the spooky moors of Devon in his stead to puzzle out the real culprit behind Charles’ murder before his heir - Henry Baskerville - meets the same gruesome fate.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is told through the eyes of Watson rather than Holmes, and focuses on his thought processes more so than the detective’s; since Hound is my first Holmes novel, I was not expecting this perspective, but it worked very well. The characterisation is strong; Holmes in particular is a very compelling and entertaining character - he is highly charismatic, brilliantly intelligent and eccentric as well harbouring numerous flaws. Holmes’ character is a good contrast to the subdued and ordinary - though certainly capable and brave - character of Watson.  

What struck me the most upon reading Hound was Doyle’s immense skill in creating a spooky atmosphere; his writing drew me in and I could really imagine the misty English moors and the terrifying Great Grimpen Mire which claims the lives of those who venture too deep into it. The sense of isolation, mystery, bewilderment and fear were intense and made for an exciting, absorbing tale.

The Hound itself capitalises on the creepy atmosphere of the novel; drafted from the ghostly black barghest of British folklore, it bears similarities to ‘the Grim’ in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, although it is a much more foreboding enemy in this supernatural-horror mystery.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is a classic, and for good reason. The characters are fabulously constructed, the writing is beautiful and absorbing, the setting is ominous with its misty, dark moors containing a ghostly giant black dog and mysterious figures silhouetted in the foggy moonlight, the threat of danger is constantly looming and it maintains a quick pace which keeps the story eventful and exciting. It might be a little predictable, but that’s about the only complaint I can make, and it was a very enjoyable short read.  

Rating: 8/10

Film: Brave by Mark Andrews

Set in the wild, mysterious highlands of ancient Scotland, Brave is Pixar’s first film to feature a female heroine. Princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald) is the complete opposite of her mother Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). While the one is strong willed, tomboyish and a skilled archer, the other is prim and polite, and yearns for her daughter to learn to act like a proper princess. The pair have thus far managed to live with their stark differences, but when Elinor announces that Merida must soon choose a son from one of their rival clans to wed, the rebellious teenaged princess decides that enough is enough. She flees the castle on her trusty steed Angus, and led by ethereal woodland sprites - the will-o’-the-wisps - she stumbles upon the cottage of an old eccentric witch (Julie Walters) from whom she seeks a spell to change her mother’s mind about her fate...

This film has a lot of heart and explores the heavily tested bond between mother and daughter which a lot of women will be able to relate to, as Elinor and Merida learn that they can benefit from being a little like one another, and come to terms with their differences. Much of the plot is rooted in Celtic folklore - such as the will-o’-the-wisps, which in legend are supposed to lead people to their fate, as well as magic and an ancient curse. However I did think that Merida’s fate would hang on something more life altering and interesting than who she marries; I was under the impression that the fate of the realm would rest on her shoulders. It was here where the plot disappointed me and conformed to more traditional Disney princess tales, which in turn makes Brave Pixar’s most unambitious film so far in terms of story.

Aside from the more serious and sentimental side to the plot, the film is very funny, with slapstick humour as well as more adult remarks. Merida’s young brothers are very mischievous, constantly causing chaos throughout the castle, and they brought a smile to my face. The kids in the cinema were howling with laughter, but the older members of the audience were laughing at multiple moments as well, so this is a film most age groups will be able to enjoy.

The characters are well drawn and entertaining. Merida is refreshing as the princess who despises her life as a royal and yearns for adventure and to shoot arrows all day long.

Queen Elinor is a great example of the typical stern mother, constantly bossing Merida about and rolling her eyes at her daughter, her three naughty sons and her jolly husband. Fergus (Billy Connolly), the vengeful King who lost his leg to the vicious bear Mordu, is a laugh riot, and understands his daughter much better than Elinor does.

Brave is visually stunning. All Pixar films look beautiful, but I think this one is my favourite. The film crew toured round Scotland in order to get the scenery just right, and the extra time and effort they put in really shows; the shots of the Scottish highlands are breathtaking, atmospheric and realistic. Another feature of the visuals I loved was Merida’s wild mane of fiery red curls - the attention to detail put into her tresses is amazing and reflects her untamed character.

In conclusion, Brave is not your average princess movie - Merida is a fiery tomboy who hates being forced to act like a lady and longs to roam the wilds of Scotland with her bow and loyal stallion. At its core it is a heartfelt study of the mother / daughter relationship, but with plenty of humour thrown in, as well as magic and tidbits from Celtic legend, it is a film that most people will find endearing and enjoyable.

Rating: 7/10

Fluffs by Daniel I. Russell

Fluffs is an odd short story of around 50 pages long, and is about a drug abuser named Shaun who thinks that multi-coloured things he calls ‘fluffs’ are trying to kill him. The doctors are convinced it’s his drug-muddled mind that is causing hallucinations of the cuddly creatures, but as the carnage escalates Shaun is arrested on suspicion of murder - can he convince the officials that the ‘fluffs’ exist and are the culprits behind the violence before it’s too late?

Admittedly the premise sounds a little silly - live fluffy things of all colours of the rainbow with piranha style teeth trying to eat people (and animals) - but it’s executed very well, is beautifully written and succeeds in being quite scary, as well as having an element of dark humour. It reminds me a little of some of Stephen King’s earlier short stories, and this writer certainly shows promise in his writing style and imagination. The interesting and unusual premise is carried out in such a way that it makes for an intriguing and quirky read rather than a weird and stupid one, which could easily have happened considering the author's peculiar choice of villain.

Although Fluffs is an odd mélange of silliness and horror, the gore factor should be considered by the squeamish or those who are unaccustomed to the horror genre, particularly by animal lovers. The level of bloodshed means that this short story will not be for everyone, but its brilliant writing, unusual premise, extremely quick pace and good level of horror means that I highly recommended it for those who can endure a bit of blood.

Rating: 8/10

Film: The Dark Knight Rises by Christopher Nolan

I love Christopher Nolan’s work, particularly Batman Begins and The Dark Knight; I have been excited for the finale to this amazing trilogy for about two years, when it was first announced. The day finally came when I could watch it and I was so impressed that I paid to see it again later that same day. The question that was at the forefront of my mind was whether Nolan would manage to top The Dark Knight, which is generally agreed to be one of the greatest superhero movies of all time. Unfortunately The Dark Knight Rises doesn’t quite manage to trump the exceedingly high standards set by its predecessor, but it comes oh so tantalisingly close.

Set eight years on from The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne has become a recluse and even walks with a stick, claiming to have retired from Batman. When the formidable villain Bane threatens Gotham with his brutish terrorism however, Bruce decides to face the world and resume the role of Batman once more.

Bane (Tom Hardy) is a great villain, and I’m glad that Nolan chose such a different type of foe from the Joker. Bane is not interested in chaos like the Joker was - he has a plan, and what’s more he is giant, extremely built and proves to be more than a match for Batman physically - as a distinct contrast to Batman’s match of wits with the Joker, in Rises Batman faces a match of strength. Tom Hardy is undoubtedly a phenomenal actor - he does so much with his eyes alone due to the limitations of his mask. Hardy succeeds in portraying Bane as a terrifying terrorist and the character has immense presence in every scene he appears in.

Like most Batman fans, I was initially sceptical about Nolan’s choice of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, considering her previous girly roles. She was brilliant however; she was serious and sultry, portraying Selina Kyle as someone with more depth than I have seen previously, and I think she’s the best Catwoman yet. I really like the distinct variation from the traditional ‘Catwoman’ image that was projected in Rises; there are no cats, no cheesy Michelle Pfeiffer style ‘miaow’, and she is always called Selina, never ‘Catwoman’. Even her ‘costume’ is not overtly feline either - Selina Kyle is a cat burglar, not a superhero, and she dresses as such. Her burglars goggles cleverly sit upon her head to resemble cat ears, and her suit befits what a stealthy thief would wear - all in all her costume design was very imaginatively thought up. These changes to Catwoman/Selina Kyle suit the more realistic trend that runs through the Dark Knight trilogy and makes the distinction between reality and the comic book world which older Batman movies have adhered to much more closely than Nolan.

Despite the film being close to 3 hours in length, it really does not feel that long at all; the pace was quick and there was constant action to keep things moving. The plot also required a little suspension of disbelief, as all of the events were not as grounded in realism as the first two films. As in the Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, the music was sensational. There is a scene that completely lacked music and it was really effective and demonstrates Nolan’s brilliant creativity.

The plot is good and involves a few twists, although if you know the comics at all you might be able to predict them easily enough. The last 10-15 minutes took me on such a rollercoaster of emotions that I felt drained afterwards; the ending was very intense and emotional and I defy anyone not to be on the edge of their seat!

In conclusion, although The Dark Knight Rises doesn’t quite have the same ‘wow’ factor as The Dark Knight, it’s an amazing film and is so close to being perfect. Bane is not as exciting a villain as the Joker, but I don’t think any villain could have topped the sheer charisma of the Joker, so I think this slight inferiority was to be expected - plus the sheer contrast between the two gives each film a very different feel which is a positive thing. The acting is great, the music is great and the story is great. An excellent film and I am already eagerly awaiting Nolan’s next project.

Rating: 9/10