Bellman & Black - Diane Setterfield

It's been a long time coming, but certainly doesn't disappoint. Bellman & Black, Diane Setterfield's soon to be released second novel, has that same wonderful feel as the Thirteenth Tale; an atmosphere of unease, that all isn't quite as it seems; the apprehension that the story will suddenly tilt on its axis. 

We are introduced to Will at the age of ten, playing with his friends in the fields near their home, where a childish bet culminates in the unnecessary death of a rook. Will repents his action as soon as the stone has left his catapult and secretly hoped the rook would take flight before it was hit. His friends are stunned by his incredible skill, but he desperately regrets what he has done. It disturbs him to such an extent that he puts the event out of his mind and hopes to never think on it again.

He grows up to become a hard working, meticulous, liked and respected businessman which starts with the opportunity at his family's mill and leads to a very successful career.

But an encounter with a stranger - Mr Black - changes his direction in business. But who is he? Does he even exist? Has anyone else seen him? On what basis does their relationship rest? Is it a projection of himself - a figment of imagination perhaps, from a mind that has seemed so well balanced and logical? 

Set in the Victorian era with a dark, gothic feel embracing the attitudes towards death and the lengthy  mourning period that must ensue, the life and ambitions of William Bell are told.  The book is full of beautifully illustrative imagery that conjure up some startling and unsettling scenes making this a perfect Halloween read, for instance:

"At the graveside, fingers of lucid September sun pointed at the coffin and at the pit". 

The recurring theme of the rooks, their nature and mythology is a great device that keeps the tension building. The reader is introduced to a multitude of terms used to describe a group of rooks. After finishing this novel I'd be inclined to say that this group of rooks is a masterpiece of storytelling. 

It's out this October and is one of my favourite reads this year. 

Joyland – Stephen King

King is a superb storyteller and the first 75 pages hooked me in. The beach, the rides and fairground culture, the shies and the shooting range. He is great at setting the scene, directly addressing the reader and pulling you into his characters world. But it then fell quite flat and the high expectations I had initially built weren't fulfilled. The last 80 pages picked up a little as the story headed towards its conclusion but I felt very disappointed once I'd reached the end.

The front cover suggests a much more dramatic tale than actually unfolds. It is a mystery more than anything with a supernatural touch – only really just a touch – but definitely not what I would class as a horror. On re-reading the description on the back cover I would say the story of first love and growing up is probably a closer match to what this book is really about. And maybe that was my misinterpretation.  

I like to be frightened. I want to jump when I hear a sound outside of the little bubble I always inhabit when I open up a Stephen King novel. I want to be spooked and left questioning and doubting the actions or motives of the shifty, suspicious characters I always encounter in his stories. And none of that happened for me.

This felt like it might be better suited to a short story rather than a novel, although it only actually took a couple of days to read so no time lost!

I am ashamed to say I have never read The Shining, but am getting caught up in the hype for the sequel coming out very soon (Doctor Sleep) so might have to read that in the very near future so I am ready for his next release.