Matter (Culture #8) by Iain M. Banks

Matter
Culture #8
Iain M. Banks

Front cover

Date read: 10 - 24 October 2019
Length: 593 pages
Published: 2008


Ferbin's father, King Hausk, is murdered by his best friend. Believed to be dead, no-one knows he has witnessed this cruel act. He flees, attempting to find his sister, Djan Seriy Anaplian, who works in Special Circumstances for the Culture, to inform and warn her. Their brother Oramen, is to inherit the throne when he comes of age, but is his life in danger?


I liked the characters but I didn't feel a particular attachment to one. Of course, there were some characters I definitely didn't like.

I wanted Tyl Loesp brought to justice! He's a bad, bad man. It's one thing to kill the king for power, but when that same man is your best friend, that's just evil on another level. I suppose you never really know who people are.

The relationship Djan has with everyone is so strained. She's barely even a member of the family after being sent away, but it's good that her brothers still think of her as their sister. You can tell they love each other, but maybe don't really know how to show it. The unfortunate circumstances bring them together a bit, which is nice.


Looking forward to the last 2 in the series!




Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

Cause Celeb by Helen Fielding

Cause Celeb
Helen Fielding

Front cover

Date read: 1 - 9 October 2019
Length: 342 pages
Published: 1994


Rosie Richardson is fed up with her life in London. She has an unhealthy relationship with a TV presenter, and so she sacks it all and spends 4 years running a refugee camp in Africa. But the camp is running out of food, the locusts are swarming and a very big influx of refugees is expected to hit the camp. In a desperate bid to help, Rosie returns to London to enlist the help of her celebrity friends. Will it be too late?


Helen Fielding is more known for her Bridget Jones books, but Cause Celeb is her first novel. It is easy to read, interesting and sometimes funny. It is a serious subject without being too serious.

I'm not really much for following celebrity culture, and even in the book I prefer the personalities of the people in Africa. They're more real, caring and genuine people.

Oliver, Rosie's TV presenter boyfriend in London, is a twat, put simply. He's controlling, nasty, and has no regard for Rosie's feelings. Everything is what he wants and when he wants it. I'm glad that at the end of the book, Rosie is able to stand up to him. Going to Africa was probably the best thing she had done for herself and she gained so much from it.


I feel like this would make a good holiday read.

Helen Fielding

Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist