Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield | Book Review

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Author & Title: Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

My rating: 4/5

Publication date: 3rd March 2022

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Blurb:

Miri thinks she has got her wife back, when Leah finally returns after a deep sea mission that ended in catastrophe. But It soon becomes clear that Leah may have come back wrong. Whatever happened in that vessel, whatever it was they were supposed to be studying before they were stranded on the ocean floor, Leah has carried part of it with her, onto dry land and into their home.

Memories of what they had before – the jokes they shared, the films they watched, all the small things that made Leah hers – only remind Miri of what she stands to lose. Living in the same space but suddenly separate, Miri comes to realize that the life that they had might be gone.

Review:

I read this book simply because I'd heard a lot about it but I didn't know what to expect.

Miri and Leah are a married couple and we learn that Leah has recently returned from a deep-sea mission on a submersible for work. Whilst away, she and her two colleagues lost contact and were essentially missing under the water for five months.

Leah is now back home with Miri but it isn't the Leah that Miri is used to. Something happened. 

The novel is told from the points of view of Miri in present day and how Leah's return has changed her and how it is affecting her. She reminisces about their old life together. We also have Leah's point of view on the submersible.

This book is absolutely beautiful. The prose is stunning and you have the mix of magic realism (something that I didn't think I liked) and an emotive story. Leah and Miri's relationship was beautiful and you really felt for Miri due to the change in her wife since her return. It is moving, touching and sad. I loved it. 

My Rude Awakening by Edward Charles Featherstone | Blog Tour Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received a proof copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

Author & Title: My Rude Awakening by Edward Charles Featherstone 

My rating: 5/5

Publication date: 3rd October 2024

Blurb:

The honest, explicit and extraordinary memoir of Edward Charles Featherstone—Englishman, Businessman, Polo Player and Combat Pilot—My Rude Awakening reveals an astonishing account of life lived with passion and intensity.

From the lush green Berkshire’s polo fields, through the ardours of military helicopter training, to the white heat of flying combat missions in the Middle East, Charles’s journey is a riveting tale of privilege, peril and profound personal transformation.

Raised amidst the traditions of English upper-class society, Charles’s life takes an unexpected turn when he embarks on a forbidden, intoxicating affair. This passionate relationship not only challenges societal norms but also ignites a deeply personal awakening that defines his transition into manhood.

Then as a combat helicopter pilot in the Royal Air Force, Charles faces the brutal realities of war and harrowing experiences that still live with him to this day.

Prepare to be shocked, captivated and inspired by the raw, unvarnished truth of this shy boy’s unforgettable journey of love, loss, and survival into adulthood.

Review:

I love reading memoirs and usually my favourite way to consume them is via audiobook, especially if they are read by the author. This is mostly because I find it brings them to life a bit and keeps my attention more. My Rude Awakening, however, was written like fiction so I was hooked from the start.

When I first heard about this memoir, I was intrigued by its description but also felt a little out of my comfort zone as it probably wouldn't have been something I'd pick up of my own accord, but that is the beauty of signing up to blog tours, it expands your horizons and introduces you to books that may surprise you.

My Rude Awakening follows Edward Charles Featherstone (a pseudonym, which I think adds to the intrigue) and his life coming from a wealthy family, playing polo, shooting, before going to the RAF as a helicopter pilot. I really enjoyed hearing about these moments as it is so different from anything in my own life, a girl who grew up in Belfast in the 90s, which is what I love about memoirs. I did originally wonder why the nom de plume, but as the story progresses and you see the explicit honesty on the paper, it becomes clear why you maybe wouldn't want people in your real life to know this much about your personal life.

I especially enjoyed the chapters about Charles's grandfather and it became clear how much of an influence he was and the comparison between his grandfather his friend James when they met in the RAF. Special mention to Osric too because I am always here for animals.

The real crux of the story however, is Charles's relationship with a much older woman, the mother of one of his friends, and his sexual awakening in a way at the age of 20 and how he then goes from boy to man. I am not a prude and read a lot of books where the subject matter can be explicit or morally grey, and nothing really shocks me. There were occasions throughout My Rude Awakening where my eyes did widen a bit. 

What I want from a memoir is for it to be raw and honest but also for the author to reflect on themselves and I think that's what we get here. 

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A massive thank you for Midas PR & Edward Charles Featherstone for having me on the blog tour and for the beautiful gifted hamper. You can find information about the other bloggers taking part in the tour in the graphic below.