Book 1- Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
The first book in my Shelf Confidence series is the first instalment of Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie series. So yes, I am a little bit late to this particular party, as this novel was released in 2004, and there has been five books so far, with the latest one, Big Sky, having been released in June of last year. There was also a BBC adaptation starring Jason Isaacs, of Lucius Malfoy fame, as the aforementioned private detective.
But I digress from the point of all of this. The reason I loved this novel, and Kate Atkinson’s work in general, is the employment of the split narrative. In this particular novel, the story is told from multiple perspectives, with the chapter heading being the name of the character whose perspective it is being told from. The reason that this is such a great feature is that you get to see the revelations within the story through a different set of eyes each time. This is what I love most about this book. Yes, the mystery is ‘moving’ ‘triumphant’ and ‘pacy’ as the reviews on the front suggest, but the human reactions to the mysteries being revealed. The realistic representation of the human mind is something that has always fascinated me about novels. The fact that an author can capture, through the use of language alone is something I find so amazing.
Another thing I adored about this book was that all of the mysteries revolve around women, and are all set in different time periods despite the main action occurring in the 21st Century. The reason I loved this so much was because it showcases not just how diverse women are, but also how diverse humanity is as well. This is also something I adore about reading novels. Reading, I feel , is an easy way to experience new cultures and understand others without actually having to move. As an introvert in extrovert clothing, this is the best thing EVER!
This book I think is amazing because it compiles mystery on top of mystery. Everything is deeply mysterious, even the characters themselves. I think this is the ultimate mystery of all life. The most thrilling discoveries are not who murdered who or what happened to a missing child, or the identity of an unknown. Rather the most thrilling discoveries come when we are getting to know someone, or even when we are getting to know ourselves. There is something that I think is deeply thrilling about stepping into the unknown of humanity and how we tick. It’s why every friendship is a journey, and every relationship is a rollercoaster in which we don’t know what will happen next. When life is predictable, it is boring. However, when you don’t know what is coming next and what to expect, that is when life is most exciting.
Reflections
So, what have I learnt from this experience, and from beginning on my journey to ‘Shelf Confidence’? Well, I have found that sitting down to finish this book was a difficulty, and it wasn’t because I didn’t love reading it. The difficulty I found when my brain became distracted by the technology available to me. Even whilst writing this blog, I have found myself distracted by technology. I have no problems with technology itself, indeed it is through technology that I am writing this, and you are reading it. Rather, it is my attitude to technology and my reliance on it. Reading has always been a way for me to clear my mind and relax. But I have found recently that technology has been a leech upon the side of that. As such, I will be exiling my technology from my reading space, which includes my computer and television. I want my reading time to be a space in my day when I can calm myself and absorb the words around me. Because I believe that it has the potential to help calm me, and I do not want any obstructions to that end.
To close, I have learnt a lot through this novel about the power in discovering truths about yourself, and the importance in constantly discovering things about others. I believe that people are not static, and they have the power to change and evolve. Even if some central things to our being remain the same, we have the power to change our mindsets and to grow in our understanding of others. Perhaps the greatest mystery of all is our ability to adapt and morph into new beings over time. Or perhaps I am reading too much into this novel because I am a literature graduate. You be the judge.
Fay Dragon 