Relatively Strange

Relatively Strange is basically relatively strange! I am not sure where to categorise this odd book, but with a wonderfully dark and self depreciating, typically Jewish sarcastic humour running through out it certainly tickled me. Meet Stella a young Jewish girl with extraordinary powers of mind reading, levitation, telekinesis plus a wicked sense of humour. Follow her from her earliest memories when she accidentally flew to her strange and eventful teenage years. A wonderfully strange book and I hope the author is writing a follow up. Definitely recommend

Relatively Strange by Marilyn Messik is about people with psychic abilities and the lengths others will go to, to harness these abilities for their own selfish motives.

The writing style is unusual. The novel is filled with lovely prose and beautiful descriptions and the characters are instantly relatable. There’s a clear line drawn between “good” and “bad” characters and you either love them or you don’t.

The story started slowly with a lot of build up to the main event, but it’s worth persevering because once you get there, you realise that everything that came before is integral to understanding the unfolding events.

The book is filled with humour and at times I actually laughed out loud. But the premise is dark and disturbing and, I believe, all too real in the medical field.

A great first book to what I imagine will be a fascinating series.

#netgalley #relativelystrange #marilynmessik #booksgosocial

The title says it all, it certainly is Strange but I absolutely loved it, I saw that it was highly recommended in The Book Club and thought I would give it a go. I think it must be described as paranormal as there isn't any other explanation for the goings-on. The book is about Stella and her gift or curse whichever way you want to look at it. she was born around the same time as me and although I'm not from the same background I could relate to lots of the everyday occurrences. Her early life is a journey of discovering all the weird things that she can do, her family realise that she is different but want to keep it on the backburner hoping that she will turn normal That ain't gonna happen and she gets embroiled in situations that are very dangerous and scary. If you want a well-written different kind of a read I can most definitely recommend this book.

Wow! Just Wow!

With so many people raving about this book I just wasn't sure what to expect but I think I was expecting to be let down. This was not the case! This went beyond my expectations.

The first line of the book "I was five when I discovered I could fly, sixteen when I killed a man. Both events were unsettling in their own way." had me intrigued straight away. I couldn't put it down and had it finished in two days.

Marilyn Messik done such a wonderful job writing this that it came to life for me and made it so believable I just wanted to know what happens to the main character Stella. It is written from her point of view and she is particularly interesting as she has some amazing abilities in the form of mind reading, telekinesis, fire starting and levitation (which she called flying) but is also a great personality. I just love her sense of humour.

It follows her life from earliest memories until she starts working and I was gripped every second. Some of her story was very dark and had some very disturbing moments where at other times I just had to laugh out loud at Stella's actions and thoughts and the way they were described.

I am not sure I could put this book into a category of who should read this as personally after finishing early hours of this morning I want to recommend to all to give this a read. I will be on the look out for more by this author as this was first one I had tried but if the rest are even close to as well written I can't wait for more.

If ever a book were 'right up my street', this is it! This is the book I would like to have written and I'm really hoping it will be the start of a long series (it would make an amazing film too!). It all takes place in North West London, where I am from, and I recognise the references (even I, who gets lost in Edgware 😂). It also all takes place in a Jewish family, and the humour and family dynamic is very similar to my own childhood.

Stella knows from the age of 5 that she is different to other people, she calls it Strange. After all, none of her friends can fly - can they? This is just the start of what Stella can do - she finds herself very popular as she can read minds, and in so doing, tells her friends exactly what they want to hear. She can also manipulate, just a little you understand, until one day it goes too far and someone ends up dead - although he probably deserved it. Stella has to be very careful about who she is, and all the other things she can do. She knows there are others like herself but they are very few and far between. When she is tested, and with a little guidance manages to escape, she has no idea that this could eventually be a favour she is asked to repay.

Stella just wants to be 'Normal', but if 'Strange' means helping others, how can she be anything else?

I read this book in 24 hours, and didn't want to put it down. I'm really looking forward to the sequel!

I really love this book. I love the way it is written from Stella's point of view with her dry and often irreverent humour - there were many times when I laughed out loud. Stella has powers unlike anyone else she knows. She can fly, she can move things with her mind and she can read other people's thoughts. Sometimes this can be helpful, sometimes it can be a shock to know what others really think of her and sometimes she can just pry and be a nuisance. She can cause havoc and be the instigator of hilarious and disastrous consequences at parties and she can also be dangerous if she isn't careful with her powers. As Stella herself says in the opening line: "I was five when I discovered I could fly, sixteen when I killed a man. Both events were unsettling in their own way."

Then part way through she meets a group of people with similar powers who call on her to help them in a dangerous situation. This part I was not so keen on and wondered if the book was actually YA. However, I was still fascinated and kept reading. The last part of the book is different again and I think is probably leading up to the next in the series, which I shall definitely look out for.

Because Stella is a child and teen in the 60s and 70s (and Jewish to boot) I could identify with so much of the background to her family life and the period itself. The prose is so well written and frequently hilarious while at other times dark and scary. A wonderful read.

Wow! Where to start, what to say?
How is this not already a Netflix series?
This is one of those books I picked up with very little idea what it was about and it just exploded into my mind... it reminded me of The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Bone Clocks or The 15 Lives of Harry August, the same feeling of reading something entirely different, completely unexpected, something very special.
The characters and scenes are wonderfully drawn, from the Yiddish grandmothers of Stella’s childhood to the bullies and friends of her school years and the eccentric compatriots she finds as a young adult. The story is humorous, dark, original and gripping - the whole thing is an utter jewel. Thank the gods, there’s a sequel!

This book reminds me of childhood. I know that sounds crazy but it's like the author went into childhood and picked out my childish desires and created the perfect character from this! Stella does everthing I wished I could. Flying, telekinesis and reading people's minds to name a few. How can you not love a story involving that! I loved how brilliantly characters have been put together and I could easily visualise them whilst reading.
The storyline is fabulously different and well put together and pulls you in from the very start. Highly recommend this book for something fabulously different!

I love a good opening and you don’t get much better than this: “I was five when I flew for the first time, sixteen when I killed a man.” I was hooked!
I also adore a touch of magic, and this story has that in spades. To begin with, Relatively Strange is a charming, delightful romp with Stella, who’s just a tad different from most of us. When she realises just how different, she tries very hard to be normal and fit in. It’s not always easy though. When Stella discovers she’s not the only one with extraordinary powers her adventures really begin.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Stella’s noisy, abundant, usually food-fuelled extended family life. Family occasions seemed to involve hundreds of close relations, with their hilarious foibles and distinguishing characteristics. In fact, much of this read is laugh aloud funny. I could so relate to the story of the cold tapioca pudding with the dollop of strawberry jam - and Stella volunteering for a magic act had me snorting with laughter.
The book is also cleverly written and I can imagine the author having great fun inserting herself inside the heads of those who inhabit such a very different world to describe what’s going on ...
Relatively Strange is hilariously funny in parts and utterly terrifying in others, touching as it does on medical experimentation, and abuse. The story gallops along and I was delighted to be along for the ride. This is the first of a trilogy, so I have two others to look forward to and can’t wait to see what faces Stella in her future.

This is not your run of the mill storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed Relatively Strange for it’s thought provoking uniqueness.

How would it be if you could hear other people’s thoughts, actually enter and visit the mind of someone else, experience first hand physical pain or witness exactly what they are experiencing at any given time? How about causing a ruckus or move things with our minds? What power! A gift or a curse and does anyone else have this same affliction? Would we be sought after by the government to have studies done to figure out what makes us tick? Maybe someone or something more sinister would be lurking waiting for an opportunity to exploit our capabilities. All these questions are answered in this colorful storyline.

After the first 25 percent of the book, I was completely hooked. There are many characters that enter the story, each playing their part and adding necessary depth to the story. I Loved it the characters and the story.

So why only 4 stars and not 5? Personally I was frustrated by author’s writing style, run on sentences and unnecessary rambling. I often had to reread a sentence asking myself “wait,what was the point?”. Example.....(I dutifully utilised the water, boiled, was it only a few moments ago, by the late, not yet lamented Chief Inspector and in no time at all there was the sound of sirens). Huh?? You get my point. Just a personal preference but this style doesn’t appeal to me. Otherwise a great read.

Relatively Strange by Marilyn Messik is the first book in this brilliant series. Marilyn Messik is a new author to me and I just loved the way she wrote this book and hopefully I will be reading more from her in the future.

This was a great read and I would highly recommend this book.

Big thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Relatively Strange by Marlyn Messik.
"I was five when I discovered I could fly, sixteen when I killed a man. Both events were unsettling in their own way"
Wow. Absolutely fantastic read.
CNPID.
I loved the story and the characters.
I loved Stella.
She was my favourite character.
I loved Ruth too.
Wow. Didn't expect that.
This story just gets better and better.
Had me gripped from start to finish.
Wow.
I loved the ending too. Can't wait to read more.
This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book.
Definitely worth more than 5 *.

Blurb:

Forced to call on resources she didn't know she possessed and thrust headlong into the violence of a situation for which nothing could have prepared her, Stella’s suddenly face to face with the stark reality of medical experimentation and its horrifying consequences.

But in a world of uncertainties, she’s sure of one thing - this hero stuff really isn't her. Normal, or as near as damn it is what she wants, and if that means smothering her instincts and adjusting her expectations well so be it. At least she'll know should she slip off the wagon occasionally, it'll be choice not chance, and to suit herself.

Isn't it a fact though, just when you think you've got yourself on track, events can overtake and derail you?

Relatively Strange, the first in the Strange Series introduces Stella; her irreverent sense of humour, the conviction she always knows best and an overdeveloped sense of justice. Throw into the mix a complete inability to keep her nose out of other people's business and some serious psi abilities, and results are as unpredictably uncomfortable as you might expect.

I don't know which genre this book should go under. It's a bit 'out there'. I've been watching a TV series called 'Fringe' and I think this book is along similar lines, although this has nothing to do with the FBI. Anyway, that aside, I really enjoyed this book and will recommend others to read it too. 5*

I was immediately attracted by the pretty cover where I saw little Stella with her pretty face.

I particularly want to thank the Netgalley website and Satin Publishing for allowing me to read this book.

It features Stella who grew up in North West London with a fairly average education. Her family has the gift of protecting her a little too much, is she paranoid? Yet she doesn't make any fuss. She is going to face the harsh medical reality and with horrible consequences that she will learn that she is not a hero.

A book read in one go, so much so that I have hung on to the story, so moving in certain passages, captivating, addictive, full of suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters. Can't wait to read more. I hope to release the entire series one day.