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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Where do I start? Louise Swanson you have blown my mind! 🤯
This is the first book I have read from this author and I can’t lie Louise, it really took some going for me to get into this book. I have never been one for reading dystopian books before so it took my little brain some getting into it. You really did engage my mind once I got halfway through and the fact that you mentioned my home town Hull in this book was amazing. In fact my jaw dropped 🤣
Throughout the book you had me guessing, head spinning thinking what the hell is going on and where is this going to go and then boom đź’Ą there it was.
I genuinely never ever want to live in a world where books are banned, authors are criminalised for writing fiction. I am so glad Fern didn’t go down without a fight and overcome so many hurdles.
This was genuinely brilliant and I am so glad I powered through and got to the end. In fact @louise_beech_swanson, you reduced me to tears when I learnt about the trauma Fern was now living.
Amazing, just absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to purchase and read your new release “Lights Out” at the end of this month.
See you at the Beverley book meet with @yorkshire_reads_uk gang next month. I can’t wait to meet you and lunch with you 🫶🏼
This is the first book I have read from this author and I can’t lie Louise, it really took some going for me to get into this book. I have never been one for reading dystopian books before so it took my little brain some getting into it. You really did engage my mind once I got halfway through and the fact that you mentioned my home town Hull in this book was amazing. In fact my jaw dropped 🤣
Throughout the book you had me guessing, head spinning thinking what the hell is going on and where is this going to go and then boom đź’Ą there it was.
I genuinely never ever want to live in a world where books are banned, authors are criminalised for writing fiction. I am so glad Fern didn’t go down without a fight and overcome so many hurdles.
This was genuinely brilliant and I am so glad I powered through and got to the end. In fact @louise_beech_swanson, you reduced me to tears when I learnt about the trauma Fern was now living.
Amazing, just absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to purchase and read your new release “Lights Out” at the end of this month.
See you at the Beverley book meet with @yorkshire_reads_uk gang next month. I can’t wait to meet you and lunch with you 🫶🏼
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Powerfully emotional thriller that isn’t at all what you think!
This is the first book I’ve read by Louise Swanson but, flippin’ heck, it WILL NOT BE THE LAST! I have been glued to my headphones, devouring this incredible novel. I was immediately intrigued by the premise - a not too distant future where fiction books have been banned - but what I was not expecting was a story that would take me on a rollercoaster of emotions, sucker-punch me right in the gut and actually make me shed a tear (only one book has previously achieved that in my lifetime). It’s incredibly hard to review this book without giving away too much, but what I will say is that it is exceptional. It has one of the most unexpected twists I’ve ever read. And we are talking proper flip-everything-on-it’s-head-make-you-rethink-everything-you’ve-read twist, not just an excellently presented reveal. I thought this book was one thing, but in reality it is something so much more powerful that is beautifully executed. It made me gasp, it made me bubble with anger, it clutched my heart (and it squeezed and twisted it), it hit nerves, it made me think and it’s taken root in a little part of my soul.
End of Story is a profound book that is topical, important and cuts terrifyingly close to the bone. It’s incredibly thematic and thought-provoking. Swanson tackles a variety of subjects, some of which are really hard-hitting. I enjoyed the political exploration. The ban on fiction is a fantastic allegory for the current political turmoil we endure, particularly when taken into account in relation to the pandemic and the physical restrictions on our freedoms that we have weathered. It’s also a vehicle to explore the corruption and self-interest of those in power, with a particular emphasis on the impact this has to the NHS. It is scary how this vision of the future feels so horrifyingly palpable. However, what resonated most evocatively with me, is how this story is about relationships, expression and grief. The narrative is about the relationships we have with our children: the importance of them, the impact of a hectic modern life, and the need to make sure our priorities are right. It’s also about loss and grief. Fern’s husband was a casualty of the pandemic, a pain many of us are still feeling. However, the release of writing and expressing her feelings is so important in Fern’s recovery. Swanson writes about both grief and writing as an art form with such beauty. Her words really resonate and this is a story I will never forget. I won’t divulge more, because it’s a story that demands to be read. It’s a novel that will mean so many different things to so many different people. I implore you to read it!
I listened to the audiobook of End of Story, which I was very gratefully granted access to from @hodderbooks via NetGalley. The narration is pitch perfect and really drew me into the novel. The narrator breathed life into all the various characters and I could always follow who was speaking. I thought the chapters ending mid sentence (a technique used by Fern to encourage her to return to her writing) worked with particular effect in the audio. The jolt of a sentence finishing mid-flow really acted as a fantastic reminder of the restrictions the fiction ban enforced and its stifling of writers. It creates tension and a desire to keep listening, which made it really hard to take my headphones off! I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook and highly recommend it.
This is the first book I’ve read by Louise Swanson but, flippin’ heck, it WILL NOT BE THE LAST! I have been glued to my headphones, devouring this incredible novel. I was immediately intrigued by the premise - a not too distant future where fiction books have been banned - but what I was not expecting was a story that would take me on a rollercoaster of emotions, sucker-punch me right in the gut and actually make me shed a tear (only one book has previously achieved that in my lifetime). It’s incredibly hard to review this book without giving away too much, but what I will say is that it is exceptional. It has one of the most unexpected twists I’ve ever read. And we are talking proper flip-everything-on-it’s-head-make-you-rethink-everything-you’ve-read twist, not just an excellently presented reveal. I thought this book was one thing, but in reality it is something so much more powerful that is beautifully executed. It made me gasp, it made me bubble with anger, it clutched my heart (and it squeezed and twisted it), it hit nerves, it made me think and it’s taken root in a little part of my soul.
End of Story is a profound book that is topical, important and cuts terrifyingly close to the bone. It’s incredibly thematic and thought-provoking. Swanson tackles a variety of subjects, some of which are really hard-hitting. I enjoyed the political exploration. The ban on fiction is a fantastic allegory for the current political turmoil we endure, particularly when taken into account in relation to the pandemic and the physical restrictions on our freedoms that we have weathered. It’s also a vehicle to explore the corruption and self-interest of those in power, with a particular emphasis on the impact this has to the NHS. It is scary how this vision of the future feels so horrifyingly palpable. However, what resonated most evocatively with me, is how this story is about relationships, expression and grief. The narrative is about the relationships we have with our children: the importance of them, the impact of a hectic modern life, and the need to make sure our priorities are right. It’s also about loss and grief. Fern’s husband was a casualty of the pandemic, a pain many of us are still feeling. However, the release of writing and expressing her feelings is so important in Fern’s recovery. Swanson writes about both grief and writing as an art form with such beauty. Her words really resonate and this is a story I will never forget. I won’t divulge more, because it’s a story that demands to be read. It’s a novel that will mean so many different things to so many different people. I implore you to read it!
I listened to the audiobook of End of Story, which I was very gratefully granted access to from @hodderbooks via NetGalley. The narration is pitch perfect and really drew me into the novel. The narrator breathed life into all the various characters and I could always follow who was speaking. I thought the chapters ending mid sentence (a technique used by Fern to encourage her to return to her writing) worked with particular effect in the audio. The jolt of a sentence finishing mid-flow really acted as a fantastic reminder of the restrictions the fiction ban enforced and its stifling of writers. It creates tension and a desire to keep listening, which made it really hard to take my headphones off! I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook and highly recommend it.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a crazy ending!
An excellent read with an ending I wasn't expecting.
Fern Dostoy is an award winning writer of fiction. She should be enjoying her succes, however, in the year 2035, all fiction has been banned. No-one can write or sell it. There is only one book shop alled Allbooks.
Fern learns about a group, from a friend, where stories are read to children who can't sleep. She joins the group but always seems to end up reading to a boy called Hunter, who comes through on a different phone line from the other children.
Who is Hunter and what does he want from Fern and why is Fern so determined to do the right thing by this boy she has never met?
#Pigeonhole
Fern Dostoy is an award winning writer of fiction. She should be enjoying her succes, however, in the year 2035, all fiction has been banned. No-one can write or sell it. There is only one book shop alled Allbooks.
Fern learns about a group, from a friend, where stories are read to children who can't sleep. She joins the group but always seems to end up reading to a boy called Hunter, who comes through on a different phone line from the other children.
Who is Hunter and what does he want from Fern and why is Fern so determined to do the right thing by this boy she has never met?
#Pigeonhole
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not sure how to write this review. This book brought out so many emotions. It made me sad and angry, broke my heart and inspired hope.
It begins in a near future dystopian world where the Government has banned all fiction and storytelling. Fern, an award-winning author (in the past), finds herself working as a cleaner in a hospital and having her income subsidised by the government; now she can no longer write for a living. Contact with other authors is forbidden, only non-fiction reading is permitted, and parents can no longer read bedtime stories to their children. It is a bleak world I would not wish to inhabit.
Fern lives a lonely and sad existence. Her husband is dead, and pursuing any writing has become illegal, with dire consequences for those who break the rules. As we progress through the novel, this becomes evident as we discover what is happening to other authors. Fern joins an underground movement to read stories to children, where she meets Hunter a boy she seems to connect with.
The novel builds more pace, and I found myself rushing back to the page to find out what happens next. What is finally revealed is a heartbreaking conclusion.
However, alongside the topics that made me sad and angry were also elements of hope and kindness that were evident in the weekly meetings Fern has with the Fine Fayre man who delivers tea and biscuits. These parts of the story may seem mundane and ordinary, yet in my opinion, were among the most beautiful - showing Fern's character and what she's going through. They also reminded me that sometimes when we're at rock bottom, a stranger's kindness or wisdom can pick us up and help us through and that often it's in the most ordinary and everyday interactions that this occurs.
This book is an incredible piece of writing that shows what the mind can do to try and protect us, and like Fern states, if you tell a story well enough it's true.
It's a tough read at times, filled with raw emotional writing about love, loss and grief. It's a book I'd be proud to have written. Louise Swanson (aka Louise Beech) has accomplished something profound and beautiful.
It begins in a near future dystopian world where the Government has banned all fiction and storytelling. Fern, an award-winning author (in the past), finds herself working as a cleaner in a hospital and having her income subsidised by the government; now she can no longer write for a living. Contact with other authors is forbidden, only non-fiction reading is permitted, and parents can no longer read bedtime stories to their children. It is a bleak world I would not wish to inhabit.
Fern lives a lonely and sad existence. Her husband is dead, and pursuing any writing has become illegal, with dire consequences for those who break the rules. As we progress through the novel, this becomes evident as we discover what is happening to other authors. Fern joins an underground movement to read stories to children, where she meets Hunter a boy she seems to connect with.
The novel builds more pace, and I found myself rushing back to the page to find out what happens next. What is finally revealed is a heartbreaking conclusion.
However, alongside the topics that made me sad and angry were also elements of hope and kindness that were evident in the weekly meetings Fern has with the Fine Fayre man who delivers tea and biscuits. These parts of the story may seem mundane and ordinary, yet in my opinion, were among the most beautiful - showing Fern's character and what she's going through. They also reminded me that sometimes when we're at rock bottom, a stranger's kindness or wisdom can pick us up and help us through and that often it's in the most ordinary and everyday interactions that this occurs.
This book is an incredible piece of writing that shows what the mind can do to try and protect us, and like Fern states, if you tell a story well enough it's true.
It's a tough read at times, filled with raw emotional writing about love, loss and grief. It's a book I'd be proud to have written. Louise Swanson (aka Louise Beech) has accomplished something profound and beautiful.
This book was the thing that kept nagging me in my mind all the time I wasn't reading it. A world without fiction is a nightmare and to read about such a world in this book was intriguing and horrifying. The methods employed by the government made my blood boil. Fiction is and always will be a huge part of human life, it is grave injustice to even try to wipe out all fictional works. When I tell you I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what happens in the end, believe me, I am not lying. So yes, I loved reading this one!
The setting of the story is constructed so well! I am absolutely in love with the narrative technique that the author has employed, the way all chapters end in an incomplete word and its significance. The book is divided into 5 parts, named after the 5 stages of grief.
Human grief is incomprehensible. It does not work in a certain manner, nor does it follow a set of instructions. Grief is shown in such a strong and raw manner, it reaches its fingers from the pages to clutch the reader's heart. For many reasons, this slow paced thriller will not leave your mind long after you have finished it!
The setting of the story is constructed so well! I am absolutely in love with the narrative technique that the author has employed, the way all chapters end in an incomplete word and its significance. The book is divided into 5 parts, named after the 5 stages of grief.
Human grief is incomprehensible. It does not work in a certain manner, nor does it follow a set of instructions. Grief is shown in such a strong and raw manner, it reaches its fingers from the pages to clutch the reader's heart. For many reasons, this slow paced thriller will not leave your mind long after you have finished it!
The premise of End of Story reads like it will make for an interesting dystopia. Fiction is banned and the main character (Fern) used to be an author. No longer allowed to write, she is now an unhappy cleaner in a world where children aren't even allowed bedtime stories. Who can she trust...?
I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Fern isn't a hugely reliable narrator. Her chapters are disjointed and the world around her doesn't quite make sense.
As a long-time science fiction reader (and other genres too!) who loves a dystopia and a book that asks 'what if', I think I was looking for something rather different than the author was offering. So maybe my rating for this one is really a 'me problem'.
The dystopia wasn't right from the very beginning - and while this is clearly intentional (and you will eventually understand why), I found it frustrating. I wanted a world where it somehow felt logical that 'they' had decided to ban fiction and to look at the ramifications of that.
Instead we have Fern, focused on sour milk, a man selling tea bags, and a trainer that disappears and reappears randomly. It's not until the final third of the book that the plot moves onto what's really happening. The problem is that I'd guessed what was really going on pretty early on. I'm not sure we needed to spend so long on the set up.
It's also a book that's quite sad. It's well done but I did feel as if someone was really trying to mess with my emotions!
I can't say much more without spoilers. I think this book will find fans in non-genre readers who love the unreliable narrator and twistyness. It simply wasn't the book for me.
I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Fern isn't a hugely reliable narrator. Her chapters are disjointed and the world around her doesn't quite make sense.
As a long-time science fiction reader (and other genres too!) who loves a dystopia and a book that asks 'what if', I think I was looking for something rather different than the author was offering. So maybe my rating for this one is really a 'me problem'.
The dystopia wasn't right from the very beginning - and while this is clearly intentional (and you will eventually understand why), I found it frustrating. I wanted a world where it somehow felt logical that 'they' had decided to ban fiction and to look at the ramifications of that.
Instead we have Fern, focused on sour milk, a man selling tea bags, and a trainer that disappears and reappears randomly. It's not until the final third of the book that the plot moves onto what's really happening. The problem is that I'd guessed what was really going on pretty early on. I'm not sure we needed to spend so long on the set up.
It's also a book that's quite sad. It's well done but I did feel as if someone was really trying to mess with my emotions!
I can't say much more without spoilers. I think this book will find fans in non-genre readers who love the unreliable narrator and twistyness. It simply wasn't the book for me.