Review: Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver

4 stars for Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver.

I am not a fan of historical novel nor that of gothic. But I choose to read this book because of my past reading experience with this author. I have read two of her earlier books, Dark Matter and Thin Air, and enjoyed both tremendously.

Truth be told, I am not sure if I will like Wakenhyrst initially as it is written in third person with a setting that covers the early part of the 20th century (the Edwardian era). I actually speed read after the opening frame to see if the story can entice me to slow down. Amazingly, it did. The story slowly draws me in and the unfolding of mysterious events keeps me riveted. And before I know it, my reading pace has slowed to my usual to match that of the haunting yet captivating diary entries. In fact, at some point in time, I turn the pages back to reread some of the sections that I feel I have read a tad too quickly and may have missed out some important details.

On the surface, Wakenhyrst appears to be a horror story, one that revolves around witchcraft, demons and superstitions alike. But deep down, this novel is about coming to terms with the ghosts of the past where the real ghosts are the ones that take up residence in one's mind. It is about a man who reveals his deepest thoughts and fears and inclinations in a notebook, a diary of a sort. And his daughter secretly reading his confessions and obsessions so recorded. Thus begins an emotional battle between father and daughter that leads to more than one death.

Though the diary entries of the father's form the meat of the story, the backbone is that of his daughter's. Maud. It is always Maud at the heart of the story. We see her growing up, her character taking shape and developing in strength as she moves from childhood to adolescence to maturity. We witness her restrictive upbringing and feel her burden of increasing isolation in her remote fenland house.

The fen forms the backdrop of the story and its mysterious atmosphere dominates the entire book. Its significance? Well, it means different things to different characters in the book. For the protagonist, Maud, it is a peaceful and serene place where she feels most at ease with. For old man Jubal, it is his livelihood. For Maud's father, it is a dark place he wants to rid of as it holds a secret; a terrible secret of his. For the villagers, it is a place of witchcraft to be avoided after dark. As the story progresses, it certainly seems that there are dark forces at work in the fen. But really, it is up to the imagination of the reader.

What I feel most exciting reading this book are the diary entries. Though not right, it is somewhat thrilling to gain access to the inner thoughts of another. And the entries are penned so masterfully that it feels as if I'm reading a real one.

I am not sure how many readers do this upon reaching the end of this book. But I know for sure that I contribute to the statistics; I flip to the beginning to read the opening frame once more. That is the effect of remarkable storytelling by author Michelle Paver.

Review: With the End in Mind: Dying, Death, and Wisdom in an Age of Denial by Kathryn Mannix

4 stars for With the End in Mind: Dying, Death, and Wisdom in an Age of Denial by Kathryn Mannix.

This is a book about end of life, palliative care and making the most of what remains of life in comfort (rather than trying to cure of cancer and illnesses). Within are real-life stories that illustrate the journey of shrinking horizons and final moments. The author hopes that through her sharing, the knowledge that is common to all when death takes place can be a guide and comfort to people contemplating death.

What I like most about this book is learning to recognise the beginning of the process of dying that leads to the thing that happens at the end of every life. Whether it is anticipated or unexpected, the truth is, we are all walking towards death from the day we are born. There are many books written on the topic of living and dying and what to expect towards the end of life. But this is the first book I have read that actually walks us through the finer details of the process of dying towards the final moment.

Also, I agree with the author that the more we understand about the way dying proceeds, the better we can manage it. When death is being discussed, talked through and prepared for, it will not be unbearably sad or frightening. In fact, the well-being of the patient, caregiver and family members will be taken care of physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. To quote "Open discussion reduces superstition and fear, and allows us to be honest with each other at a time when pretence and well-intentioned lies can separate us, wasting time that is very precious."

The author has written this book with the end in mind, to prepare people with the process of dying and to provide food for thought. I think she has achieved what she set out with, at least with me. One thing I know for sure is, where I want my end to happen, that is if I get to choose. To quote "Instead of dying in a dear and familiar room with people we love around us, we now die in ambulances and emergency rooms and intensive care units, our loved ones separated from us by the machinery of life preservation."

This book can help us to live better and die better by keeping the end in mind. To quote "Living is precious, and is perhaps best appreciated when we live with the end in mind." And so, I recommend reading this book. Because in the end, the story is about us.

Review: Auschwitz and After by Charlotte Delbo

4 stars for Auschwitz and After by Charlotte Delbo.

Auschwitz and After is a finely translated masterpiece that encompasses three volumes - Volume I None of Us will Return, Volume II Useless Knowledge and Volume III The Measure of Our Days. The entire book holds within itself one of the saddest accounts of living and breathing in the concentration camp in the history of mankind, and yet, the unique blend of prose and poetry gives a lyrical feeling of poignancy that stretches from sadness to beauty.

The book tells of the price the women from the French Resistance paid for their daring contributions in World War II. Of the 230 women sent to Auschwitz in January 1943, only 49 returned. Besides the daily struggle to stay alive in the concentration camp besieged by hunger, thirst, fatigue, abuse and despair, these women have to contend with debilitating diseases such typhus and dysentery that come about due to terrible living conditions. To survive against the odds, these women form groups and avoid being separated from one's group. The temptation to give up is high when one is alone, but when surrounded by others, one is able to endure and dare to hope. Members of the same group give support and take care of one another. However, there are still those who stop believing they will return home and these women are as good as dead. To stay alive, one has to make plans about going home. Hope keeps one alive.

After Auschwitz, those who survived continue to struggle. These survivors, yes, they return, they live and they are alive. Everything about them is the same, yet nothing is. Because nothing will ever be the same within those who survived Auschwitz for they carry the weight of the dead in their arms, in their heart and in their memories. These survivors, though liberated from their captors, are imprisoned by their memories of the dead. They find it difficult to talk to the living. And having conversed with death, they find everything pointless and grapple with the meaning of living. Through the author, we learn that surviving and returning is not the end. In fact, it is the beginning to living again. No one survives Auschwitz and returns unscathed. For those who return, it is a must to learn to endure their horrid past and adjust to living anew, otherwise they cannot move on.

This trilogy of a book is written for us to learn from the past so that history will not repeat itself ever again. Reading this book makes me appreciate even more for being born and living in a part of the world where there is peace and harmony.