After reading
Atonement, I moved on to The Cuckoo's Calling. To be honest, I was curious
since it has already been established that it is in fact JK Rowling writing as
Galbraith but I was highly dubious for a number of reasons as to if I would
genuinely enjoy this one, her crime fiction debut.
Firstly, crime fiction
is a genre I don't tend to pick up unless there is one very hyped title out
there. I don't want to be reading blood and gore to relax. Secondly, I have
not read 'The Casual Vacancy', her first adult book but I do recall mixed
reviews and have sort of concluded that the phenomenon of Harry Potter couldn't
be recreated so why was Rowling risking letting herself down, writing new books
in new genres when she could easily quit at the head of her game. To me, that
seemed a bit foolish!
However, it has to be
admitted before reading Harry Potter, I'd been sceptical of that HP hype too. I
was about 18, a little older then the target audience and couldn't believe I
could become immersed in this fantasy world of children wizards and magic
but yes, I was won over and yet again, with The Cuckoo's Calling', Rowling has
done it again, won me over.
I loved this book and
was completely immersed. Luckily it was easy to read in snatches and I could
happily pick it up several times a day for yet another little fix. I cannot
believe how well Rowling creates plots and tie them up so succinctly.
Of course, now having
finished the book and knowing the answer, it is ALL so obvious but yes, with
all the little twists and turns, Rowling kept me wondering until Strike reveals
his findings in the office. I'm not sure how Rowling distracted me from such an
obvious answer. . !
There was a lot of
setting detail in this book as there was with Atonement. However, with this
book, I found it easier to read along with and paint the scenes in my head.
Maybe because I know London a little or maybe because the book is more
contemporary in language and narrative feel (almost like a reporter was
following Strike?) or maybe it is just Rowling's style but I loved the detail
and was happily trying to take it all in. Characterisation in my opinion though
remains Rowling's biggest talent, from Strike and Matthew to the three shop
assistants. Haven't we all been helped by staff in almost in the same way and
manner as Robin and Strike was in Vashti?!! Reading about the wolf's mask and
the scenes with the pap’s and the clubs seemed almost reminiscent of similar
happenings the tabloids report almost daily. The slow growth of fondness
between Robin and Strike seems particularly genuine and I'm so glad that this
part of the trilogy does not appear to have peaked yet.
This book absorbed every
spare minute I had this weekend I found it compelling yet as a crime novel, I
don't think it was a heavy read (just a tad long). Every time, I finished
reading, I felt as if I had been dragged back to my own world. I loved the
escapism element of this book and found Rowling's general negative references
to the theme of fame interesting and especially enlightening given that she
originally released this book secretly as Robert Galbraith and not famous J K
Rowling. The way she referenced the real life news stories specifically the
reporting of trivial political/electoral happenings /leads up of the time
against the background of Afghanistan also makes me think about the world we
are living in today.
I cannot wait to read
Silkworm, the follow up, when it is released later this year and just hope that
I can still pre-order it somewhere for half-price!!!'
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