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The truth is rarely pure and never simple ~Oscar Wilde

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On A Scale Of 1 to 10 - Ceylan Scott

This book was a rollercoaster of a read. The way that we are introduced to the book and its story is ambiguous but yet so direct at the same time. We know that something has happened but we don’t know how or why just that Tamar feels 100% responsible.

Tamar is a very strong character with only one thing on her mind and thats finding a way to die despite that she has been admitted into a psych ward and thats the last place that she wants to be. 

Throughout the book we learn what happened and why Tamar has landed her a bed at the ward but along the way we fall out of love with Tamar a bit as the story progresses and more details arise. She starts being portrayed as self centred and non caring about others and the impact that she has on them with her actions.

Towards the end of the book I really felt myself finding Tamar more and more self centred and just the kind of person that I would avoid in real life. When she finds out what really happens the rest of the book feels like it flies by and next thing we know Tamar is out of the ward and living as normally as she can. 

The book wasn't anything special but nonetheless it was a good quick read.

-Shaelyn Chalker

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Skin and Bones by Sherry Shahan Brought this book from a recommendation on booktok knowing that I would probably like it. Its heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time. I grew attached to one of our main boys Jack ( also known as Bones) and reading about his struggles with anorexia and battling all the thoughts whilst also simultaneously falling in love for the first time. I don’t know how accurately that this books talks about anorexia but from what I’ve read and heard its pretty damn close to what people actually go through when they are in the EDU. I guess what I found to be some of the heartbreaking moments for me where when Bones was so caught up with being there for Alice and “helping” is when he realises that he’s actually hurting her and her progress. As a reader we do get the impression that Alice doesn’t really want to get better but is rather there by force and not choice and will do the bare minimum to get released like time and time before. There were points in the book where I wanted to cry with Bones and times where I hated Bones and preferred Lard. The book was written well and in a way that does leave you wanting to know what happens next and therefore inadvertently reading the whole book in 2 and a half hours. My only critique would be that I wanted more at the ending and I wish that the ending wasn’t so ‘abrupt’ as it kinda felt a little rush and half finished. I would’ve like to have read a little more about Bones recovery process, I would like to know more about Lard and what happened to him after he finished the program, I would’ve maybe liked to know a little more about Nancy and her time in the program and finally I would’ve liked more of an ‘ending’ about Alice and where she went and if she comes out the other side. ~ Shaelyn Chalker

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The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling- Wai Chim

what a beautiful book!

to be honest I totally picked out this book on the title alone as who doesn't love a good dumpling but much to my surprise I didn't want to put the book down after I started reading it. The way that it was written was heart wrenching and really made me feel like I was apart of their family and I was going through their journey with them at the same time that they were going through everything.

I always get a bit hesitant when I pick up a book that has a prevalent story line that is based around mental illness (whether thats the main character or someone around them) as some of the time it can be misrepresented and shrugged off as just a “its all better now” solution or “boy meets girl and is instantly sure” but this book - this book really explores the good and the bad days, the road to recovery and even amazingly relapse. I find that a lot of authors do miss the relapse side of mental illness when honestly relapse is a huge part of ones mental health journey as everything can seem fine i.e medicated, mood stable, motivation - basically a constant good mental health day, and then suddenly it goes south for absolutely no apparent reason other then the fact that mental health is unpredictable, unstable and erratic which can make the recovery process brutal for both the person unwell and those who are close to them. 

I really appreciate the depiction of the relapse and everything that came with it but I also really admire her boldness in telling a really story about how disorientating and heartbreaking that the consequences can be for those around someone who is descending down a bad path and how hard it can be to accept what someone is going through and how it makes you think that you’re the reason that someone is sick when it can just purely be the chemistry in our brains going wrong. 

mental health is not simplistic and sometimes is not an easy “here are some pills and you’ll be fine” and I just really appreciate this whole book

what is normal? no matter who you ask you’ll probably get a different answer because everyone is going through something whether its big or small and there isn't one blanker definition of normal more just small unique coping mechanisms that define what is considered normal to who you’re asking. Never be upset with an expected or unexplained outburst as you never know what someone is really going through and always make sure to ask people if they’re okay even if you don’t know them or once knew them. 

I do really also love the story of Rory and Anna but I won't spoil it incase someone who wants to read this comes across this post

I would highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Wai’s books in the future

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The Psychopath Test ~ Jon Ronson 

 This was defiantly an instinctive buy. A book to fill up a long train journey. Much to my surprise it was a decent read despite it getting a bit too repetitive towards the end. 

 There’s not a whole lot to say about the book other then the fact that it was very well written and there were some funny moments that definitely made me briefly smile but it wasn’t anything extraordinary or spectacular it was merely just a good book.

 I don’t think I’d read this again as I felt like it was just so consistent and there weren’t any plot twists or interesting facts more like phrases that made you nod your head in agreement. I mean I didn’t expect much for a clearance book It would have been better in my opinion if there had been some controversy or something out of the ordinary but yeah it was somewhat underwhelming. 

 ~ Shaelyn Chalker

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Made You Up ~ Francesca Zappia

All I have to say is oh my gosh what a beautiful story.

Initially it was the cover art that caught me attention and drew me towards this book however once I read the blurb it peaked my interest as a YA fiction book on the topic of mental illness. Books about mental illness tend to go one way or the other so I was curious to see Zappias interpretation on the topic.

I couldn't put the book down. Every page left me wanting to know more about the story and what was going on. There were stages in the book where I thought " great it's going to be one of those boy meets girl and girl is suddenly cured of her mental illness" but every time it got even close to that point, Zappia threw in a very unexpected plot twist and it had me sitting on the edge of my seat. In my opinion, plot twists can either go two ways; they are irrational and unnecessary or they add depth and meaning and all other kinds of spice to the story- Zappias plot twists did exactly that. One of these twist absolutely caught me off guard and came out of no where but it had a huge affect on how I viewed the characters.

Her ode to mental illness and the way she wrote about schizophrenia and the affect it had on people's life was beautiful and delicate and soul wrenching. It was done in a way that depicted her as being ‘normal’ not the stereotypical crazy even when she was having an episode.

Overall, i’d highly recommend picking this book up if you see it at your local bookstore and giving it a read.

Shaelyn Chalker

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I LOVE IT

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LOOKING FOR ALAKA ~ JOHN GREEN I CANNOT fault this book. Absolutely everything about this book is beautiful. I don’t think I’ve related to a book on this level in quite some time. They way that John Green writes has this ability to encapsulate exactly how you feel simply in one beautiful metaphor.

Green writes about loss and coping with loss in such a delicate, simplistic way but yet he manages to capture all the emotions and the way it impacts people’s life’s. The way it consumes someone until they know why and how and who and what. This is beautifully captured between Lara, Pudge, The Colonel and Takumi and their coping mechanism of being obsessed with finding out the details of what happened and why it happened. It’s incredible they way that Alaska has such a collateral affect on everyone’s life - not just those who are particularly close to her, and this is such a reality.

I read this book in two days as I simply couldn’t put it down as I became so invested and connected to each and every character. They story itself had me engaged and turning the page like there was no tomorrow.

I know it seems like I don’t have a lot to say about this book but it’s one of those books that you need to experience first hand ! I could talk on and on about this book but I feel like it would loose its impact on the reader if it was all laid out in front of you.

I could not recommend this book strongly or highly enough

Shaelyn Chalker

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LIFE IN A FISHBOWL ~ LEN VLAHOS

*SPOILERS**TRIGGER WARNING*

Where to start with this book. After finishing reading it I am still unsure about whether or not I like the book as a whole. Personally I feel like the first half of the book dragged chronically and it felt to verbose. I understand that as the book is tackling the issue of cancer that there was bound to be medical jargon but I felt like it was overused and most of the language could have been concise as it was merely just repetitive. However, once Jarred's cancer has been established and the reality of it all settles in, the book seems to pick up. It was at this point that the book became more engaging and everything seemed to happen all at once. Personally I feel like his death could have been a bit more staggered and his back story could’ve been more self explanatory but I understand that it happens quickly and that character establishment is necessary. I didn't love the book but i loved Jackie and how strong of a character she became towards the ending. I love how people who didn’t even know each other united for one soul cause. It’s great how a gaming community comes together to help a fellow member and it just goes to show just how powerful the internet can be when used for a bigger cause. I personally didn’t like how they personified the cancer as it hit too close for home (and I imagine it would for anyone who’s lost someone close to cancer) and I just feel like overall the book could of focused more on the effect that it had on the family as a whole and focus less on the cancer. For me, the ending was meh. Vlahos could’ve done so much more with it rather than wrapping it up and having a happy ending. I just feel like that’s not how things go in the real world. Watching a family member deteriorate physically and mentally and watching them give up is heartbreaking and furthermore , having to go through a court case on top of it- I’d just imagine that it would have a detrimental impact mentally on those who surrounded jarrod, but that’s just my interpretation. To each his own. I wouldn’t probably re-read this book unless it was required, but it was a decent read- defiantly not unbearable( only in the beginning) if you’re in the market for a book where you can pick it up and put it down whenever or need something to read on a train, then maybe this is a good read but if you want something that you’re not going to be able to put down , I wouldn’t recommend this book .

And p.s - wasn’t a fan of the animal cruelty

Shaelyn Chalker

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Room Empty ~ Sarah Mussi

*SOME SPOILERS*TRIGGER WARNING*

I adored this book. This was by far one of the best books that I have read this year and I felt like they dealt with mental illness spot on and addiction and I congratulate Sarah on writing a book that doesn’t involve boy meets girl and girl is suddenly cured. Although at times it was beginning to head in this direction she pulled it right back.

I loved how fletcher and dani were recovery buddies and we got to go on a journey with them throughout their time at Daisy Bank Recovery centre and their personal character development. I would of loved to have known more about Carmen and Dani’s relationship but that’s only a small criticism.

I find Dani’s character very relatable. Her struggle with anorexia is depicted in a way that I haven’t read before and I found it fascinating. As a member of the general public who lives with mental illness I found that Sarah has got it spot on- all the self doubt, the feelings of failure, the events in someone’s life that impact an individual to a point where there’s almost no going back from, the obsessiveness and the sub-addictions that are formed from dealing with the initial addiction.

I felt the heartbreak that fletcher was going through watching dani loosing the battle with her addiction and how much time and energy he was putting into dani to help her find the source of her problems. I felt all the frustrations he felt when he was opening up about his life and his feelings and the feelings weren’t reciprocated nor was dani trying to open up but instead throws it all back in his face when he is failing too.

This book had me turning pages and not wanting to put it down for even a minute however the ending. The ending was mediocre - I didn’t much care for it. In my opinion , there was so much more that could of been done- so many alternative endings that would’ve been more satisfying.

Shaelyn Chalker

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Everything, Everything ~ Nicola Yoon 

I read this book in a day and a half and if that doesn't say how amazing this book is then I don't even know where to begin. 

I love this book. I love everything about this book; the way it's written, the story, the twists and the turns. I couldn't put this down. I regretfully and forcefully had to put it down when I had to work but I found it right back in my hands the second I clocked off. The whole story is just brilliant. 

The way that Nicola Yoon writes is flawless and leaves you reading for hours and hours at time because you can't tear yourself away as you HAVE to know what happens next. I love the layout of the story and how pictures and doodles and texts are all seamlessly cooperated. It just adds so much depth to the story. It enables you to become Maddy and really experience everything that she goes through from her perspective- the anger she feels , the love she has for Olly, the freedom she feels - just everything. I absolutely love how Yoon flips everything around towards the end of the story.

 I didn't even see the twist coming and that's how you know that it's unexpected but when reread it's totally in context and there are signs but not on first reading. I really like how she's being restricted her entire life under the care of her (ironically) sick mother and then because of love she 'risks it all' and because she does, she finds out the truth.

 I am so excited to watch the movie adaptation of the book. I just hope they don't discredit the book in any shape or form of make it all lovely dovey. I cannot flaw this book. 

I could read it a hundred times and still, I wouldn't be able to find one bad thing about it. I don't know how much more I can recommend this book. It's exciting and sad at the same time and I beam with nothing but good feelings and recommendation. I want to read it again x10000 

 Shaelyn Chalker

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13 Reasons Why ~ Jay Asher

*there may be some spoilers *

How can I even begin to explain my love for this book ! After recently watching the Netflix adaptation I decided that it was time for my to read the book again to see how it had been changed.

First of all , the Netflix series wasn’t my favourite thing. I felt that the way it was done doesn’t truely represent the message that I received whist reading the book. In my opinion the book is about healing and accepting responsibility for your words and how even the smallest insignificant event can be the trigger to set off an event of a larger scale .

The series does capture this element of the book however, I feel like the anticipation was stretched out too much when waiting for clay to finish the tapes and that some of the events were too graphic. I felt like that scene outside the milk bar where they were drinking was unnecessary and they should’ve just stuck to how it was done in the books.

I also disliked the concept slightly. I understand what they were trying to portray however, it felt to me that Hannah used these tapes to hurt not understand and honestly I believe that having 13 reason is a bit too irrational and unrealistic as in reality I believe that it would take more than 13 reasons to send someone over the edge unless they were extremely significant .

Secondly, the suicide scene cannot be ignored. I believe that the way it was done in the series was purposeful and meant to raise awareness about sucked and it seemed that it was meant to be in your face however it was unnecessary as the book confirms that Hannah used a completely different method of ending her life which would of raised the same amount of awareness without the huge trigger onset.

Lastly I felt that the small interactions that the series changed made a bigger difference then I initially thought. It’s makes all the difference who talks to who and what is said; it changed the whole dynamic of a relationship.

In conclusion, the book was great! It was the page turner that I needed to get out of my book slump and I throughly enjoyed it. Despite my criticisms, I think it’s great that it was brave of Jay Asher to tackle such a huge issue in our society however, I think that it could of been done in a better way and still project the same message Mental health needs to be talked about in normality but it needs to be tackled realistically and seriously .

Shaelyn Chalker

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A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU~ CLAUDIA GRAY

Being the first book that I’ve read by Claudia Gray I had no idea what to expect but at the end of the novel I was both surprised and honestly a bit disappointed.

Whilst the way that Claudia Grey writes is nice and easy to follow I personally just felt like there was a missing element of sorts. It wasn’t the type of writing that left you binge reading chapters in desperation to know what happens next, it was the type of writing that you can pick up whenever and enjoy and it doesn’t require 100% of your concentration. 

After reading the blurb I was intrigued as it sounded like my kind of story but the way it unfolded was, in a way, anticlimactic. In my opinion the story line was a tad predictable; a tragic event, seeking the truth, being mislead, falling in love, finding out vital information. being betrayed by best friend, getting out of a bad situation and then the fairytale ending. 

Character wise I think that Gray nailed it. I love how she used the same three characters in every scenario but yet managed to capture them in a completely different way but yet they still remained similar. Although there was the typical villainous character, I would of liked more detail and a more present character as I felt that he was just placed throughout the book quite vaguely and randomly it seemed. Aside from that I really did like Gray’s characterisation. 

As the end of the novel approached I thought just maybe she might surprise her readers with a huge twist at the end but that thrilling twist never came and I believe that it took away a vital element to the story Although I would recommend this book to others, it wouldn’t be the first book that came to mind if asked for recommendations.

Overall, it was a good read. I just don’t think I’d find myself reaching for it again off my bookshelf

Shaelyn Chalker.

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More Than This ~ Patrick Ness

After spending numerous amounts of hours watching book tube I decided that I wanted to read a book by Patrick Ness. Most people suggested ‘A Monster Calls’ but ‘More than this’ appealed to me more 

I honestly couldn’t put down the book! The way that he writes is extraordinary and it engulfs you. 

The story unfolds in a way that leaves you frantically turning the page wanting to find out what happens next to Seth and just how he will cope with it. 

There were moments in this book that were beautiful. They were made beautiful by the precision sentences and the impeccable choice of words. I cried with Seth. I laughed with Seth.  I really felt the anguish and sadness in the words and this made the book 100 times better in my opinion 

What most surprised me was the ending. It had me in a fit of rage. Good rage though. How could he do that? How could he end the book in that way? it was so gripping and intense and insane and I was hanging onto every last word. 

Shaelyn Chalker

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All the Bright Places ~ Jennifer Niven

If you’ve never read a Jennifer Niven book then I cannot recommend this one more highly. I was sceptical at first due to all the hype that this book received on book tube but wow, this book is one that I can say that was spot on with all the attention that it received. 

All The Bright Places is a ‘point of view’ book that switches between the two main characters Violet and Finch and for me, I love these kinds of books. The way that Jennifer Niven writes makes you want to continuously flip the page and find out what happens next. Her writing is easy to follow and flows so beautifully that it seems like its one continuous story and not two different peoples perspectives.

I really got attached to the characters and cried and laughed along with them throughout their journeys. Once again the writing really captures exactly what you would expect it to capture when describing pivotal life events and situations that occur in the book. It allows for the reader tor really deeply connect with Violet and Finch as you really get a feel for what they are feeling in that exact moment. 

I only have one critique and that is that the book could have been around 20 pages less as I did feel like it dragged on or a little longer than necessary. 

Despite this , overall it was a highly enjoyable book that I could not put down whatsoever. I would indefinitely recommend picking this book up or borrowing it form a library or friend. 

Shaelyn Chalker

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