Book Reviews

Book Review by Fareshta Rezai

‘Reminders of Him’ by Colleen Hoover

Reminders of him is a novel by Colleen Hoover, one of New York’s bestselling authors. This novel follows the adventure of the main character, Kenna, as she tries to find a place in her daughter’s life. After serving five years in prison, she is finally released and is on a hunt to find her daughter, Diem. Throughout the story, Kenna goes through a series of emotions from being close to ending it to being desperate enough to go to the law and get a glimpse of Diem. 

“People say you fall in love, but fall is such a sad word when you think about it. Falls are never good. You fall on the ground, you fall behind, you fall to your death. Whoever was the first person to say they fell in love must have already fallen out of it. Otherwise, they’d have called it something much better.”

Kenna learns that Diem lives with Scotty's parents, Grace, and Patrick. Scotty died in a tragic accident that was labelled as "Kenna's fault," which has caused everyone to despise Kenna. That led to everyone doing everything in their power to keep her away from Diem. The night before Kenna goes to their house, she stops by the old bookstore where she and Scotty used to go and discovers it is now a bar called Wards. Without thinking, she enters, hoping the inside hasn't changed despite the fact that it's now a bar. She has piqued the owner's interest, so he invites her to return later. She decides to attend after much deliberation and introduces herself as 'Nicole.' The bartender turns out to be Ledger, Scotty's best friend. The next day, Kenna is on her way to see Grace and Patrick when Ledger notices her and realises that she is Kenna, the Kenna who murdered Scotty.

 After this incident, he tells his friend Roman about it, and he suggests that he check up on her because a string of losses in a day can cause people to do strange things. He offers her a job at his back bar so she can earn money and leave sooner.

They form a bond during their time together, and Ledger shows her videos of Diem. As their relationship grows, Grace and Patrick feel threatened by Kenna and file a restraining order against her, despite the fact that she and Ledger are becoming acquainted. Before he met Diem, Ledger had planned to move and had purchased land on which he and Roman intended to build a house and live together, but now he is reconsidering. He drives Kenna there and finally asks her to explain what happened that night on the way back.

Nobody could have predicted what happened the night Scotty died. They all assumed Kenna left and had a nap being nowhere close to remorseful, the truth is the farthest thing from that.

Upon learning the truth, they invite Kenna to dinner that night, where she finally meets Diem.

I recommend this book because not only does it illustrate how much a simple misunderstanding can affect not only the life of one but many, but it shows how strong a bond between a child and mother is.

“Grudges are heavy, but for the people hurting the most, I suppose forgiveness is even heavier.” – ‘Reminders of Him’, Colleen Hoover

Book Review by Hannah Grimm

‘The Tipping Point’ by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell has written many great books that I have loved, but my all-time favourite is ‘The Tipping Point’. I first read this book about seven years ago and have since re-read it and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in sociology. The novel is a non-fiction text that analyses how ideas, trends, and social behaviours cross a line and spread madly through society. Despite the book hingeing around sociological investigations into how particular trends manage to stick around, Gladwell writes with such lyrical prose entrenched with personal stories that it is impossible to not become engrossed in the world of this book. 

The text covers intriguing discoveries such as how New York City managed to address the epidemic of crime during its peak in the 1990s, by something as simple as addressing the issue of graffiti on trains and stopping public transport fare evasion. This seemingly mundane connection led to a better understanding by researchers of how the environment of criminals is largely linked to activity. If this doesn’t capture your interest, he also tells compelling stories about what triggered the feverish popularity of well-known shoe brands, and in addition, Gladwell dissects the success behind the infamous children’s TV show ‘Sesame Street’ which managed to successfully find the perfect equilibrium between fantasy and reality. 

An example of Gladwell’s writing concerns an advertising campaign about Airwalk sneakers that went viral: 

Why, for example, did Airwalk tip? The short answer is that Lambesis came up with an inspired advertising campaign. At the start, working with only a small budget, the creative director of Lambesis, Chad Farmer, came up with a series of dramatic images – single photographs showing the Airwalk user relating to his shoes in a weird way. In one, a young man is wearing an Airwalk shoe on his head, with the laces hanging down like braids, as his laces are cut by a barber. In another, a leather-clad girl is holding up a shiny, vinyl Airwalk shoe like a mirror and using it to apply lipstick. The ads were put on billboards and in “wild postings” on construction-site walls and in alternative magazines…The ads were entirely visual and designed to appeal to youth all over the world…Airwalk tipped because its advertising was founded very explicitly on the principles of epidemic transmission.

This book has something for everyone and will leave you hanging onto his every work, curious to know more about the intriguing world in which we live. 

Book Review by Nayab Nawrozi

‘A Muslim Woman’s Diary’ by Sumaya Amiri

‘A Muslim Woman’s Diary’ is a collection of thoughts, reminders, and advice in form of quotes from a Muslima to all her sisters across the world. The book is divided into four fundamental themes-Haya (bashfulness, decency, modesty, and shyness) nafs (self, ego, soul) sabr (patience) and obedience. The purpose of this work is to help you endure with major and minor issues in your life, as well as guiding you to change your mindset into a positive perspective when facing hardships or calamities. Along the way, you will also gain an overall understanding of the Islamic principles in how to understand your worth as a Muslim woman in a Western society, how to deal with your nafs, how to maintain sabr in times of difficulty and finally how to be obedient to your Lord and parents. In Sha Allah (By the will of Allah) this book will help you re-evaluate the meaning of your life and assist you to see the light within the darkness.

This one of my favourites (perhaps the best) Islamic books I’ve read. This isn’t a poetry book, its more like a religious/ spiritual non-fiction book that teaches you many lessons. This book is written so beautifully and includes great reminders for us in this Dunya (the temporal world). This book gave me so much hope and reminded me that Allah will forgive me because he is the most merciful and most kind. It motivated me to try harder and work on my sabr and tawakkul. We all sin, its normal, we are insan (humans). But we shouldn’t lose hope. We should repent.

‘Feeling guilty about your sins

Is indicative sign of much goodness.

This is how the believer is:

he loves Allah

hopes for his mercy

and fears His punishment. 

-A Muslim Woman’s Diary

Always remember

to ask for forgiveness, and always remember

to correct your mistakes.

You have plenty of time and chances

which you take for granted, 

but once it’s all over

a last chance will be

what you beg Allah for

on the Day of Judgement.

-A Muslim Woman’s Diary

Overall, I love reading Islamic books or anything that incorporates the teachings of Islam. It is a good book with charming reminders which I believe a lot of people can benefit from. It also doesn’t sugar-coat certain messages, which I admit I do like because sometimes it’s best to be direct with certain topics and just say how it is. However, it did feel like the book got very repetitive, like it kept saying the same thing but phrased differently numerous times. For that, I give it a 4 out of 5 stars. I do think it’s a beautiful gift to give to a Muslim Woman. I totally recommend this book to my sister in Islam! 

Book Review by Angela Goile

‘Tombland’ by CJ Sansom

‘Tombland’ is a historical fiction which is set in 1549 England, just after the death of King Henry VII. This book is part of a series based around the main character Matthew Shardlake, a hunchback lawyer who regularly finds himself solving crimes. He has helped many important people throughout his career including Thomas Cromwell and Queen Catherine Parr – one of King Henry VIII’s many wives. 

Now much older, Matthew has been requested by Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth I, and daughter of King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn, to assist her relative John Boleyn who has been accused of murdering his wife who went missing many years ago. John is now happily remarried and living with his horrible twin sons in Norwich. He is much despised by his neighbours as he is known as a relative of the disgraced Queen Anne Boleyn who was executed by her husband, the King. In the course of his investigations, Matthew learns that:

‘According to John Boleyn, his wife Edith, mother of his two sons, simply vanished one day in 1540, nine years ago. He says they had never got on, but her disappearance was sudden and unexpected. She vanished one winter day with nothing but the clothes she stood up in. John Boleyn enquired of her family – and she does have family, despite what she told us – her servants and the neighbours, but nobody had seen her or could explain her disappearance. She was never seen again. Two years ago, seven years having passed, Master Boleyn applied to the coroner to have Edith declared legally dead. An order was granted, and last year he married his current wife – with whom he had already been living for some years, somewhat to the scandal of the community.’

Once in Norwich, Matthew and his friends start investigating Edith Boleyn’s murder. A few suspects arise including her dangerous twin boys who scorn their father and his new wife. John is found guilty and locked up in prison. Matthew continues to follow the few clues he can find but her murderer remains elusive. 

During his investigation, Matthew and his friends find themselves involved in a political situation. A revolution is starting where the peasants of Norwich plan to overtake the city. The peasants are fed up with the treatment they have been receiving from their landlords. Initially treated as an enemy, Matthew’s skills become recognized, and he finds himself appointed as the rebels’ lawyer. He starts to directly help the Kett brothers and moves into their base camp just outside the city. 

Government forces send troops into the city to fight the rebels and try to claim back the city for the gentlemen’s class. Due to his handicap, Matthew isn’t directly involved in the fighting but many of his close friends are. During this conflict, Matthew continues to find clues about who and how Edith Boleyn was murdered. 

‘Tombland’ is a long but great read, based on historical facts and the series is a great way to learn about this interesting time in England’s history.