REVIEW || The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

***This review may contain spoilers.***

SYNOPSIS

The Silkworm is the second book in the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling), and picks up a few months after the end of the Lula Landry case in the first book.

When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first she just thinks he has gone off by himself for a few days and she wants Strike to find him and bring him home.

But as Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine's disappearance. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were published it would ruin lives - so there are a lot of people who might want to silence him.

And when Quine is found brutally murdered in bizarre circumstances, it becomes a race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer, a killer unlike any he has encountered before...

When we begin the novel, we learn that Strike's business is booming. Rich clients are seeking his help left, right and centre, and if they're willing to pay... well, Strike's the man for them! But when Quine's wife approaches him, you just know this case is going to be something different.

As Strike finds himself getting more and more invested in the investigation into Quine's disappearance, we find ourselves wrapped up in the literary goings-on of London, where everyone Strike comes across has something to say about Quine and his work - very few, if at all, good. This obviously makes the mystery behind his disappearance all the more interesting, and the list of suspects seems long at times.

However, when Strike gets wind of the new manuscript Quine had sent to his publisher - Bombyx Mori - the pieces start slowly but surely fitting together, making it perhaps the most intriguing case Strike has ever encountered.

MY OPINIONS

I adored this book. Taking it away on holiday (I had done this with The Cuckoo's Calling too) meant I knew I had the time to invest my time and attention to the book moreso than I would have done at home. 

Like I've mentioned once or twice before, I adore JK Rowlings works. Granted, I haven't read The Casual Vacancy, but it is certainly on my to-read list. So there was no doubt in my mind that I would have any ill-feelings towards this book. Whilst some may say I am perhaps heading into the book and plot-line with horse blinkers on, oblivious to those disliking her work - I'd say they may have a point, but having a high expectation of Rowling's work makes me appreciate it just a little bit more. 

The character developments between the previous book and this one seemed well thought out, almost like the author had lived their lives for them, documenting as she went. She definitely has a way with words that will captivate you, regardless of what you read. And considering what she writes in this novel, particularly the murder scene itself, is some-what gory compared to her HP days, I'd say she has her fine writing skills down to a T. 

I think the book reflects a number of issues the current literary world holds - particularly regarding the publishing side of things. You see involvement from literary critics, friends and publishers - both major and individual - just to name but a few bodies of the literary world. Highlighting the different roles involved in writing and publishing a book, is something I think needs to be done more in the book realms I believe. It certainly helps you understand and appreciate the thoughts, time and effort put into the books published and read. 

MY RATING

Overall, I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. For me, it was almost perfect, but sometimes perfection is something that is always just out of reach. This doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book - because that is definitely not the case - it just means I can go into the third book knowing what I want. 

And what is it I want? Well, I want a proper spark between Cormoran and Robin. They'd make the greatest couple as well as work team. 

Have you read this book? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

REVIEW || HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

Yes, you read that title correctly,

I, along with the majority of the world (or so it seems), was one of the lucky ducks who got the book the day it was released, simply by popping along to my local stockist of the book, and buying it half price (or at least my other half did whilst I was at work, so thank you a thousand times over!

Naturally I was 1000x more anxious about reading this book than any other, apart from the 7th HP book coincidentally enough. And I had every right to be. This series, or the Harry Potter franchise as a whole, made not just my childhood, but many others, brighter and better just by picking it up at all.

Now I totally get that the series isn't for everyone. And hell (is hell even allowed to be said?) some may prefer the movies. But all I have to say is, give this script a go. Maybe the movie enthusiasts will prefer it moreso than those favouring the book series, due to it actually being a script!

Anyway, now that I've finally completed it (it took me a week) I'm going to try my best to compile my thoughts in the least spoiler-esque way as possible..

OK, so nineteen years later, we find ourselves transported to Kings Cross, pretty much exactly where we left off at the end of Deathly Hallows. We're approaching the entrance to the platform, and there's a little bit of nerves coming from Albus Severus, who is heading to his first year at Hogwarts. For me, this scene, along with several others throughout the script, echoed scenes we've already seen earlier in the series, some of which were almost word for word! (If you've completed this you'll know what I'm on about). So once we're through the wall (luckily no flying cars this time) the good old Hogarth Express is waiting, and we meet Rose and her family and parents, The Weasley's. As the board the train to Hogwarts, they go to find a carriage, and this is where the story really takes off, as we meet Scorpius Malfoy, son of Draco.

Now I'll drop my summary here, for fear of spoilers. Let's move on to my thoughts. 

Everything reeked of familiar scenes and scenarios. I understand we have to go through the whole process with Albus in the same way as we did with Harry and Co but it's almost too alike. I understand that Rowling didn't write it alone but on the other hand maybe that should have been a good thing? We could have possibly seen more interesting aspects or changes to Hogwarts but these seem to have been brushed aside, which really is a shame.

I did enjoy several of the character developments, particularly Scorpius and Delphi, although Delphi's development was perhaps the one that shocked me the most, as that plays a crucial twist in the play as a whole.

Overall, I'm giving the script 3 out of 5 stars.  I really wnjoyed several aspects including the twist, but for me it was all a little too familiar to the original series, and it was as if a couple of people had forced Rowling to write those familiar scenes as they couldn't let go of the series. This is such a shame though as the script had so much promise, and Rowling is an amazingly talented author, but this time, it sadly just didn't work for me.