THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeanette Wells

A unique, vibrant and inspiring memoir, The Glass Castle is certainly one of the most outstanding books I’ve read this year. I adored Wells’ characterisation, particularly that of her father. He was such a flawed but intriguing and provokative character, I felt a great deal of sympathy for struggles on his behalf. Also, the plot. It was such an energetic and curious series of events that I could not stop reading. Every experience was so engaging, I loved almost every moment of it. [rating: 4.8/5]


THE SENSE OF AN ENDING by Julian Barnes

While I respect the story for its complexities and profound insights into the human condition, I personally could not find a comfortable connection to the novel as a whole. It sat somewhat awkwardly in my reading, with its narcissistic protagonist evoking very little empathy. The plot in and of itself was intriguing, as were a few of its minor characters, but I could not overcome these negatives to appreciate the novel to its full potential. Perhaps I am not within the target demographic, and this is the reason I did not enjoy it as others have, but either way, I was not entirely impressed by this novel. [rating: 2.5/5]


THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars is the kind of novel that reminds you just how wonderful the young adult genre can be. It was so lovely. Like a beautifully composed instrumental piece, it allowed you to read as much or as little into its absences as you desired. And I adored the way John Green brought you so close to a cliché, within inches of a cringeworthy teenage platitude, before cleverly whisking you away. His insights into life and loss, and ultimately living with the two, were profound and moving; poignant without robbing the story of its frequently light and humorous charm. [rating: 4/5]


THE HOURS by Michael Cunningham

Is it possible to give a book six stars? Because my gosh, this novel deserves it. I honestly cannot do justice to the beautiful fluidity and heartbreaking insight with which Michael Cunningham writes. He manages to create such brilliant, fascinating and endlessly profound characters, that I simply could have read their ramblings for an additional 300 pages without complaint. It was a novel based entirely upon a single day in the life of three women, and yet I felt it was infinite. It was truly wonderful. I can say no more. [rating 5/5]


THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky

I seem to be reading a lot of first person realistic fiction lately. And I’m not sure if that’s making me a little numb to the power of the style, or if I’m not just biased towards more fanciful genres of fiction. Because honestly, The Perks of Being a Wallflower was such an honest and relatable story, that I’m probably a unjustified in not to giving it five stars. There was just something missing in it for me, something that may have been entirely personal and actually have noting to do with the novel itself. 
But now I’m being ridiculous. Overall this was an entertaining, subtly philosophical and provoking read. And although the protagonist wasn’t altogether unconventional, his perspective was stimulating, and his experiences intriguing. I particularly enjoyed the epistolary frame of the novel, and the way Chobsky managed to weave debth and beautifully profound comment throughout. [rating: 3.3/5]


TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE by Mitch Albom

This was such a lovely and emotional novel. I read it in one night, literally unable to put it down. I felt as though Morrie was sitting before me, offering a profound and personalised lesson about life. And Mitch Ablom was the perfect vessel for the audience’s concerns. His questions so often mirrored my own, his beliefs legitimising my own. I honestly felt I was growing and learning along side him. 
Another beautiful part of this novel was its raw, unashamed presentation. The author did not attempt to hide the themes in metaphors and motifs, instead he celebrated death and life for what they truly are. I think this is what worked best about the story: it was not trying to disguise itself as something it wasn’t. It did not strive to hide the struggles or the uncomfortable truths. Rather, it brought them to your attention, allowing you to become familiar with them, and then demanding you move on. It was refreshing. [rating: 4.6/5]


JASPER JONES by Craig Silvey

I was recommended this novel by a friend of mine, and had pretty high expectations after hearing it likened to Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. This is partly why I haven’t given it five stars, I just felt it was a little cumbersome in parts and didn’t quite meet those expectations. 
I think there were elements of the novel that could have benefitted from a quicker pace, particularly around the first third of the story. This my have been due to the first person, present tense framework of the story, and the limitations that arise from that style of portrayal. The protagonist - Charlie Bucktin - while clever and eloquent, could sometimes become stagnant with his depiction of events, particularly his interaction with Eliza Wishart, his romantic interest.
That said, the themes of the novel, along with the overall spirit and intention of its characters, were touching. It was true and honest, and the subtle closure that every element received was very satisfying. Oh, and I must add that the character Jeffery Lu was phenomenal. I couldn’t help but smile with his every line of dialogue. [rating: 3.8/5]


THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Mark Haddon

I adored this novel. It was so endearingly direct and true, yet so full of paradoxes. I just loved how much circumstantial emotion could be portrayed through the autistic protagonist, and the way Christopher’s recount became the epitome of ‘show not tell’. This was beautifully ironic, as he was incapable of creative description in and of itself. [Rating: 4.3/5]