I wasn’t quite as bothered by the shift as others, but I was glad to return to Watson’s more engrossing narrative at the end. As many other readers have said, the shift in the middle where we get a backstory of what led to the crime is quite jarring. Everything is very clearly delineated for the reader, including the reasoning process of Holmes. I enjoyed delving deep into the motives of the characters involved in the murder and then learning how these all culminated in the murder scene. What makes Holmes such an interesting character is that for however much he excels in deduction and logic, he falls short just as much in other areas of life. Holmes is such a well-developed and interesting character from the very start, the reader is able to discern his eccentricities and flaws. As such, this is the book in which Holmes and Watson meet for the first time. Review: A Study in Scarlet is the very first instalment in the infamous Sherlock Holmes series.

Premise: Watson and Holmes help solve the baffling murder of a man in a room in which the wall is marked with a single word written in blood. It was interesting to see Astrid learn lessons from each of her foster mothers and the impact they had on her as she drifted from home to home. In addition to Fitch’s way with words, I appreciated her ability to create vivid, complex relationships among her diverse cast of characters, especially between Astrid and her mother. Fitch employs a variety of metaphors that accentuates the poignant quality of her writing.

From the first page onwards, Fitch’s words flow with a poetic ease, rendering the story a smooth and quick read. Review: Although some of the scenes and characters in White Oleander can be rather over-the-top, I enjoyed it. Premise: After Astrid’s mother is jailed for murder, Astrid is taken into a series of foster homes. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey.A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle.Here are some more books I’ve managed to squeeze in before the end of the month:

Winter truly is the best time for staying indoors and burrowing into a book.

White oleander goodreads