2nd blog aug 2021

Winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, Gullivers travels to a "fairytale-esque" version of Earth, "a land not so different from our own, yet somehow richer and more magical". The premise is simple: life imitates art - but not always in a way we'd expect. Time is distorted and strange events take place in strange places. What follows is a novel I would classify as surreal: a remarkable novel, with great characters, an excellent plot and one that deserves the accolades it has received. The story begins in 16th century France, where the story's main characters, Gulliver (nicknamed Worm), and his faithful sidekick, Bottom, have been sent on a wild goose chase on behalf of King Louis XIV. A rather unlikely pair of travellers cross the country and encounter many obstacles along the way, including a bear and a leopard. They eventually reach the kingdom of Wonderland, where they meet the beautiful Queen Morbucks, who grants them entrance. But before th...

Clarissa Review - By: Allen Grisham This Clarissa Review will deal specifically with the novel Clarissa by John Grisham. Set in 1963 at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, the story centers on a young woman who comes to Mississippi to seek out her birth mother. The war seems to have left her family scattered and divided; as a result, Clarissa's birth is marked with tragedy as well as heartache. When her best friend from childhood moves away, Clarissa takes up with a new man, Francis Taylor, but a tragedy strikes just before their wedding. With the help of a great attorney, Clarissa must find the strength to move forward and accept her new life as her parents' legacy is carried forward. Grisham does an admirable job of creating a complex, realistic character in Clarissa. His expertise lies in his ability to bring depth and human drama to a story that is often times simplified for the audience. The novel is entertaining and at times heartbreaking, as it deals with the afterm...