#katherinehowe

La ciencia y la superstición se unen de la mano de la autora Katherine Howe, en su obra El libro de los hechizos publicada en España por la editorial Planeta (The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, Hyperion). ¿Qué pasaría si durante una investigación doctoral sobre los controvertidos sucesos acaecidos en la ciudad de Salem en 1692 comenzáramos a experimentar situaciones en nuestra propia piel, que la ciencia no puede explicar? Recuerdos enterrados en el inconsciente; presentimientos; sueños que abrazan la videncia; amigos que enferman de forma inexplicable y un libro que contiene la clave a una verdad incómoda.Esto es, precisamente, lo que le ocurre a la protagonista Connie Goodwin, en un verano que será crucial en su vida profesional. Algo cotidiano, el encargo de su madre de poner a punto la casa de su fallecida abuela para venderla se convierte en una experiencia de crecimiento personal y auto-descubrimiento hacia lo maravilloso. Durante este tiempo, Connie se encuentra a si misma en una antigua casa que recuerda a las mansiones góticas del romanticismo en las que los fantasmas del pasado —no siempre difuntos—, abrían nuevos caminos de conciencia. La mujer Connie Goodwin descubre su identidad a través de la historia que le cuenta la casa de su abuela, mediante el hallazgo de una Biblia antigua que oculta el nombre de una misteriosa mujer Deliverance Dane y una llave que abrirá más de una puerta. La profesora de historia y doctoranda de la Universidad de Harvard, además de todo esto, debe lidiar con su excéntrico director de tesis, un viejo profesor obsesionado con la alquimia, que no duda en invadir su intimidad para que consiga más información sobre Dane, la misteriosa llave y la Biblia de su abuela.

El punto de vista narrativo se sitúa en una dualidad que cabalga entre los acontecimientos vividos por Deliverance Dane en el pasado y el presente de la protagonista. Este recurso ingenioso dota de autenticidad creativa a la historia que Connie examina como investigadora racional. Del mismo modo, también sirve a la autora para enfatizar el misterio y reiterar el peso de esta veracidad histórica en consonancia con una ambientación sutil sobrenatural con tintes sugestivos ocultistas y supersticiosos, con la añadidura de la filosofía New Age y un concepto sobre la magia normalizado por la propia vida. Otros de los rasgos originales que podemos encontrar en la obra recae en el estilo de la autora, que se atreve con buen resultado a poner en contexto científico-teórico todo lo que la humanidad entiende sobre la magia y lo sobrenatural. La autora invita al diálogo y a la reflexión al lector, haciendo que este libro se convierta en algo más, en un modo de comprender la historia de la humanidad acercándole a aquello que nos hace humanos.

El libro de los hechizos ha logrado la posición número 2 en la Lista de los libros más vendidos del New York Times, consiguiendo así ser un Best Seller.

So yesterday I went shopping. Book shopping. And I got five new books; how exciting! I thought I could start a section of my blog about books and book reviews, so here goes it! Scroll down to see each book and what they're about! 

1. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly Goodreads rating: 4.02 Number of pages: 472

I absolutely love this book! I've read it twice already; once when I was a fair bit younger and didn't quite understand it (I found it in the library) and in the summer last year (I got it from the library again). I vowed that the next time I saw it cheap I would buy it to keep forever, so I found it in the charity shop and couldn't leave it. One of the best books ever I think. 

Andi is struggling with drugs, thoughts of suicide and the death of her brother Truman. Her mother is very mentally ill, and she is sent off to spend time in Paris with her Dad after she gets expelled from school. Andi discovers a journal written by a girl her age, Alexandrine Paradis, two centuries earlier which she is drawn to read. - Just a quick snippet for you there!  

2. Conversion by Katherine Howe Goodreads rating: 3.33 Number of pages: 402

Colleen is in her final year of school when classmate Clara starts having loud and uncontrollable tics while her horrified classmates look on. More students follow suit with symptoms of: seizures, body vibrations, violent coughing fits and hair loss. The school's town was once Salem Village, the site of a bizarre epidemic 300 years earlier - and history is about to repeat itself.

I'm excited to read this one, it seems a bit different to what I'd usually read so I’m excited to see what it's all about.

3. Room by Emma Donoghue Goodreads rating: 4.04 Number of pages: 321

Jack is 5 and excited about his birthday. He lives with his Ma in Room, which has a locked floor and a skylight, and measures 11ft by 11ft. He loves watching TV, and the cartoon characters he calls friends, but he knows nothing he sees on screen is truly real - only him, Ma and the things in Room. Until the day Ma admits there's a world outside...

For this book, I didn't know what to do other than copy the blurb out for you to read. I was hooked on those words - I'm so excited to see where this goes!

4. Taming The Beast by Emily Maguire Goodreads rating: 3.53 Number of pages: 317

At the age of 14, Sarah Clark is seduced by her 38 year-old English teacher, Daniel, and becomes entangled in an illegal, passionate, and dangerous affair - that ends badly. Devastated by grief and longing, Sarah embarks upon a series of meaningless self-abasing sexual encounters, hoping to reclaim the intensity of that first relationship. Then, 7 years later, Carr returns and Sarah is drawn in again.

I am potentially most intrigued about this book. I'm sure I've read something similar when I was in school but I can't quite remember - so when I saw this I thought I'd give it a go.

5. This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas Goodreads rating: 4.12 Number of pages: 456

Last, but not least, is the slightly risque book I found. I am currently working my way through Darker by E.L James so thought I'd give this similar book a try. Why not, eh?

Young interior designer Ava  has an appointment at The Manor with the owner, Mr Jesse Ward. She is expecting nothing more than an overweight, cravat wearing, well-to-do countryman. But, This Man is devastatingly handsome, charming and confident. He is also a conceited, hedonistic playboy, who knows no boundaries. Ava desperately does not want to be attracted to him, but she can’t control the overwhelming effect he has on her. Every instinct is telling her to run, so she does, but Jesse Ward is not so willing to let her go.