Thousand Cranes: A Review

I am a big fan of anything Japanese, being one of many westerners that struggle to resist the pull of something more exotic and different from our own life experience. This is why I picked up Thousand Cranes, I love Japanese literature having read through a number of Haruki Murakami, Ryu Murakami and Natsuo Kirino's novels I felt the need to travel further into a world laden with cultural fascination and enviable rigidity in tradition.

Kikuji has been recently orphaned due to the death of his adulterous father in post World War II Japan. He is invited to the tea ceremony of one of his father's meddling mistresses who intends to marry him off to one of her students, from here on in Kikuji begins to realise he may have inherited more than just his father's possessions.

Yasunari Kawabata penned this beautiful novel and has even earned the Nobel Prize for his contributions to literature, so I expected to be more than a little bit baffled by this novella as it sits rather far outside of my reading comfort zone. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this novel is incredibly readable and can be enjoyed on many levels, as I reader I found I could even enjoy it at face value without having to go too deep into the subtleties and metaphor rich prose with a fine toothed comb. This story reads incredibly well and I found myself getting swept into the plethora of extreme emotions put forward by the actions of the characters.

None of the people represented in this novel retain an air of innocence, even Kikuji himself is unable to tear himself away from his father's emotional legacy as he gets drawn into the unfinished drama between his father's mistresses. That these characters are driven more by their emotions than by logic is what makes this novel so beautiful, deserving of being re-read in order to delve further into this poetic world. If I was more informed about Japanese tradition I could offer a far more involved perspective on this novel, however, as I have already stated, you don't need to look too deep in order to enjoy it.

My favourite character by far was Chikako, just because I ended up hating her so much! She is a feisty forceful woman driven by envy, she spreads her spiteful poison exponentially as the plot develops. She has ties to every character in the novel and uses the tea ceremony to draw them into further levels of despair. It is because of her actions that decay, through hate, becomes a central theme to the novel, Kikuji allows for his father's tea house to fall into disrepair simply due to his dislike of Chikako. It becomes obvious very quickly that this woman is the reason behind Mrs. Ota's descent into depression and shame resulting in an action that can never be undone. Chikako forces Kikuji into his father's fate, as he continues the drama left by his father's death and to a degree becomes his father. She is an extraordinary character, no doubt about it.

The ending itself was perhaps the best part of the novel as it is left unresolved. I love ambiguous endings and as a reader I felt compelled to make my own mind up about Fumiko's mysterious fate. I shan't say any more, leastwise I ruin the journey of any reader wishing to give this story a crack.

A totally engrossing read that would suit just about anyone's taste, it's short and sweet so doesn't pose any sort of chore in reading. This novel was a true delight to read.

The Uninvited: A Review

I have tried, and failed, a few times to get my hands on this interesting looking book. I struggled to secure a reading copy from the publisher and the copy I got through as a digital proof was packed full of errors, so I was ecstatic when I saw it in the local library and as such snapped it up and ran off to read it snuggled under a blanket with a mug of hot Ribena. The Uninvited is Liz Jensen's eighth novel, and this is my first encounter with her writing. I am still not entirely sure what I thought of this novel, it leaves you feeling a touch mystified, maybe in keeping with the supernatural elements that this novel explores.

Terrible events are starting to occur all over the world, in short, children are killing their loved ones. At first cases seem to be isolated and under control, however, as time passes, more and more incidents indicate that the world is facing a terrible pandemic. Shortly after the first murder Hesketh is called out to investigate a mysterious business sabotage, a case which begins his journey into a more spiritual and terrifying world than he could have ever expected. Soon, parallels emerge between the murderous children and Hesketh's cases, parallels that force him to question the very basis of reality and how powerless human beings really are.

The first chapter of this novel is utterly compelling, it's fast paced and draws us straight into a vicious attack administered by a child with a nail gun. My jaw hit the floor and I couldn't help but feel I had discovered a disturbing gem of a novel. Sadly, however, the pace slows as soon as we are introduced to the narrator and the story unfolds a little less dramatically. This is not to say the pace doesn't pick up again, believe me it does, it just takes a while to establish the looming dread needed to push this novel along.

The story itself is brilliant, I couldn't wait to discover what happened next and it forced me to indulge in the darker side of humanity, a side we are not usually encouraged to explore, especially in children. I couldn't help but think I had been drawn into a world of creepy Japanese horror, one in which the kids are the ones you should be running from. I had flashbacks from The Ring and Dark Water....not pleasant. These children really do get mean, as soon as Jensen talks about cannibalism and ritualistic violence you know this novel is not going to have a happy ending.

I will admit, in spite of the excellent story, I was not particularly taken with Hesketh as a narrator. He serves his purpose well, nonetheless, documenting the goings on of the narrative with an organised and practical view. However, he is not very likeable as a character. His frequent mishaps in social encounters are attributed to his suffering from Asperger's Syndrome, but the way in which he treats the women in this novel are hard to overlook. He is, by all accounts, just mean. His saving grace is his love for Freddy and his willingness to do anything to pull the young boy back from the precipice, even to the detriment of those around him. What is interesting is watching Hesketh's understanding of the world around him change, as the order of reality shifts to become something entirely different. It is because of his honesty and frankness that other main protagonists take his observations seriously regardless of how bonkers they appear to be.

This novel's slow, spiralling descent into madness and disorder has a deeper meaning. I felt as though there was the implication that we, as a species, are destroying the world in which we live. These terrifying, time defying spirits are brought in to try and restore a type of order, to push humanity in a different direction. It is sad that violence is the only solution on the table, and this is perhaps a comment on how we solve real life problems. Jensen does not ram this down the readers throat, but we are encouraged to at least ponder these ideas.

The turning point in this novel, which takes it from average to good, is when Hesketh witnesses a suicide in Dubai. A young girl seems to disappear into the man as he falls, this is when I knew that this novel was going to take an unexpected and exciting turn, one that would keep me hooked until the very end.

The Uninvited is a good read, not one of the best books I have picked up but one I would recommend to anyone looking for something a little bit different, rich in imagery and thoughtful. If you get a bit queasy at the thought of a child shooting a nail-gun into someone's face, I would suggest that perhaps this book is not for you because this is not the only violent outburst in the novel. As I mentioned at the start, I was left feeling mystified with a small number of unanswered questions. In the answering of these questions I don't think that The Uninvited would have left it's mark, sometimes it is just better that you don't know and this novel is a great example of that.

The Universe vs. Alex Woods: A Review

This is the second novel to be featured as part of the Waterstones 11 for 2013, a campaign that celebrates and highlights strong debuts from new authors. I must say, the panel that decided on the books for this list deserve a massive pat on the back, The Universe vs. Alex Woods is a beautiful and original book. I managed to get my grubby little paws on a reading copy that magically appeared on the proof shelf in the staff room. So first and foremost, thank you to Hodder for sending this one out, I loved reading it. Now, on with the review....

Alex Woods has lost nearly a month of his life, his memories have disappeared with no sign of their return. The reason? A freak accident where a meteorite shot from the sky, through the roof of Alex's home and struck him in the head, knocking him into a coma. This is the catalyst for massive changes in Alex's life. He takes time out of school to help him deal with frequent epileptic fits of varying degrees of severity and discovers he has a thirst for knowledge beyond that of any normal child. The plot thickens when he returns to school and has to learn the tyrannical rules of the playground and sadly he becomes the target of a trio of bullies. As a result of a stressful escape from his tormentors Alex meets Mr Peterson, an elderly widower, and then the story really gets going. These two form an unlikely and important friendship that takes the both of them on a journey about the importance of freedom of choice and the strength of human spirit.

Gavin Extence opens this gem of a novel with a scene from the narrative's finale in order to introduce us to the varied and charming protagonist that is Alex Woods, who also serves as the first person narrator. This opening is what got me hooked, you desperately want to discover why Alex is wanted by the police and why he has his best friend's ashes on the seat next to him when he is stopped at the Dover border on the way back into the U.K.  It also creates intrigue through the little snippets of information that Extence plops into the narration that he doesn't explain until later in the novel. He uses this clever little trick throughout because you have no doubt all will become clear, as it ultimately does. I honestly thought that a retrospective narrative would irritate me, but it works incredibly well in the telling of this story.

Alex is an astonishing character and you would have to have a heart made of stone if you don't end up caring for him and wanting the best for him, he becomes more and more real as the novel progresses. Alex provokes a deep sense of empathy and I appreciated his simple honesty, this is a protagonist that is not afraid to ask questions even if the answers are hard to understand. His friendship with Mr. Peterson enriches the story and his dedication to his old friend's wishes encourages us to question our own thoughts on how far we would go for our loved ones.

From Alex to Mr. Peterson, a stark contrast of characterisation. Peterson is a stubborn but kind and worldly wise man from Texas who writes letters to try and encourage the righting of some of the wrongs in the world, and he is a man with strong beliefs. Extence handles Peterson very well, as it is this character that introduces the most moving theme of the novel and arguably the most important situation for Alex to overcome. 

It is hard to discuss the taboo theme of euthanasia in any capacity, but I can say with confidence, that Extence handles this subject with the utmost respect and in admirably good taste. This is a subject that comes up time and time again for debate in contemporary media and Extence actually uses the media towards the end of the novel to express the more negative views on the procedure. It is worth noting that although euthanasia is the matter at hand, it is made very clear that it is more about a person's freedom to choose and I was so pleased to find that the writing wasn't too bogged down by this moving and thought provoking subject. 

What I did love was the description of playground politics, and it's exceptional accuracy. I was teleported back in time to my own school days, when it was all about what designer sports wear you owned and how kids were ostracised depending on their interests or the way you carried your backpack. Alex is made a victim of this fickle exclusion and he actually seems to become a stronger person for it. There is a scene in which he is called to the head teacher's office along with one of his tormentors after a very public incident on the school bus. The dialogue and narrative that ensues is outstanding and I laughed out loud when Alex finally said exactly what he was thinking. This scene in particular is a ripe example of Extence's skill in creating a high level of tension and offering perfectly timed comic relief. This is by far my favourite chapter in the book and it's an important turning point for Alex's personal development. 

It is hard to believe that this is a debut, the story is sound, the writing almost poetic in places yet still what I would consider an easy read. You never get lost and the characters are extremely memorable, I never felt like I had to go back over parts of the book when I picked it back up to read. This is a real achievement and the careful balance of humour and drama is what makes this an all rounder, I can well believe that just about anyone could easily enjoy The Universe vs. Alex Woods. 

If you are a fan of discovering new and exciting fiction, have a peek at this year's full list of Waterstones 11 titles. There is something for everyone on the list.

Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway: A Review

This unusual and slightly obscure novel grabbed my undivided attention when it appeared in the Waterstones Book Club list at work alongside 11 other novels vying for my readership. Why did it stand out? Well how could I resist a book that promised me mad monks, a doomsday device and as a quote on the cover says "pure unhinged delight"? Clearly I couldn't and I was not disappointed, Angelmaker is a thrill ride deserving of its many gushing reviews featured in and outside of the cover. 

Enter Joe Spork, a man trying to escape his father's criminal shadow by repairing clockwork and desperately seeking the quiet life. He is asked to repair a one of a kind, unknown device and is henceforth plunged into a world of violence, corruption and a plan to unravel life as we know it. Joe's tale is helped along by the back story of the mysterious and elderly Edie Banister, a woman with more to hide than your average pensioner. Throw in some hardy, golden clockwork bees, a disgruntled, blind pug and a crazed dictator seeking immortality and you have a tale that will stop you in your tracks and demand you read on.

This is the sort of novel that is almost impossible to review because of its ambitious scope and the achievement the author has made in writing such an intricate, involved novel. The story runs like one of the complex clockwork devices contained within. 

It is easy to imagine that Nick Harkaway lives in the crazy world that is Angelmaker. Everything is beautifully (or gruesomely where necessary) imagined using realism sprinkled with the fantastic. You never doubt this world is real, and to be honest I really wished it was. I would have loved to travel on the Lovelace, a steam train that hits high speeds and is more advanced than any train you could possibly imagine and to travel to the depths of the ocean with a merry crew of Ruskinites. The world seems so real that time passes far too quickly when you are reading, this novel devours time because it is hard to put down and return to reality. 

This is a tale that challenges the very notion of genre, as soon as you begin to think you are being submerged into a sci fi steampunk world you are swiftly whisked away by a thrilling spy novel and then smoothly dropped into a coming of age yarn. I loved this and it is perhaps why this is not a predictable tale, generic conventions get tossed away willy nilly. I also enjoyed the literary edge this novel has, it is not trashy in the slightest (an unusual choice for me). 

The characters are a mixed bunch, all of them are well formed and believable and there are a hell of a lot of them as the novel progresses. Joe is the main focus and his journey alongside his personal development is brilliant. He unravels his true nature one small piece at a time and the end result is startling. Even though Joe's journey is fraught with torture, loss and corruption he comes out the other end as a powerful, terrifying man, as far from the life he thought he wanted as he can get. Edie also deserves a mention, she is, in the narrative present, an astute old lady with a past that is completely unexpected. Edie's troubled history of espionage and love is the driving force for Joe's present. 

By far my favourite character is the barbarous Bastion, Edie's formidable pet pug. At first sight he is seemingly harmless, what with his two pink glass eyes and his one lonely tooth but anyone would be a fool to cross him. Bastion is loyal, ferocious and absolutely adorable. I was also taken with the baby war elephant, another mammal you would be wise to leave well alone. 

Every madcap apocalyptic novel needs a super villain and Shem Shem Tsien is one of the maddest, baddest nut jobs to be set loose in the world of literature. He is cold, calculating and perversely cruel, Harkaway makes sure to give him not a single redeeming feature and he is easy to hate. Shem Shem Tsien is everyone's worst nightmare that keeps coming back for more. The battle of wills between him and Joe as the novel draws to a close is tense and gripping in a jaw dropping fashion. 

I only have a single complaint, I struggled with one part of the narrative. Joe is imprisoned for a time in a ward where he is constantly tortured for information. I felt myself drifting off at points here, not because of the torture but because the writing wasn't quite so smooth and delightful as it is throughout the rest of the novel. But this is only a small chunk, pivotal to the story, so an easy niggle to overlook in light of its crucial relevance. 

This is a long novel deserving of the commitment needed to finish it and upon completion I was delighted to discover that Angelmaker ties up every loose end neatly in a bow, an impressive feat considering the vast scope of this novel.

I can't recommend this enough as you can probably tell from my gushing review, I can appreciate this is not for everyone but it hit all of my sweet spots. It reminded me of China Mieville and Neil Gaiman in places so I would image if you are fans of these two sci fi/fantasy behemoths you are likely to enjoy this book as much as I did. 

Storm Front: A Review

How Jim Butcher's writings of wizard for hire, Harry Dresden, have never before graced my reading interests I will never know, this is exactly my type of novel, urban fantasy, witty, gruesome and written well (unlike a lot of urban fantasies that are mediocre and easy to forget). I haven't yet seen any episodes of the TV adaptation of Butcher's series, and would now like to see how the world of silicon has captured a very engaging, slightly silly character and his many mad cap exploits.  

Storm Front introduces us to Harry Dresden, a wizard for hire and occasional police consultant for anything weird and unexplained. He is in need of money, can't be too close to electrical equipment and his car is constantly getting the better of him by breaking down. On top of that, he is also on his last chance with the White Council, who will execute him if he makes even one tiny magical mistake. Harry is in desperate need of a break. He is called into a case to look at a double homicide, one that will result in him being threatened by mobsters, hungry toad demons and an unhinged black magician. Seemingly all in a day's work for Harry Dresden. 

First and foremost, I devoured this in a couple of sittings. Storm Front is ridiculously fast paced and almost impossible to put down, I always wanted to know what came next. Jim Butcher never dawdles with the telling of the tale and for this sort of novel, that's just perfect.

As for Harry, named after a few famous magicians (Harry Houdini being one of them, NOT Harry Potter), he is a brilliant character and reminded me in places of a bumbling, socially adept academic and in others of a wisecracking detective. Harry is a varied and well formed fellow and it is hard not to feel some sort of empathy for him, he receives far more beatings than is normal for someone outside of a boxing ring. He is not Prince Charming however, he doesn't respect women particularly well and every woman in this narrative becomes a victim in some way or another. This becomes more noticeable the more you think about it and is my only niggle with Butcher's storytelling. I am hoping that in a later novel a magic wielding, vengeful woman comes in and kicks Harry's ass. Fingers crossed. 

Harry is of course only one of many characters, and you invest enough thought into all of them to have concern over their well being, or in the black magician's case, their demise or capture. I loved Murphy, the detective who calls Harry in to consult on a visually disturbing homicide. She is bossy and slightly scary, perfect for her role and happy to give Harry what for when he is being a bit of a wally. Bob, a talking skull, was hilarious, he is excessively pervy and indulges in sexual voyeurism whenever he is allowed time outside of the skull (he is a caged air spirit, not technically a 'talking skull', but near enough).

Butcher's imagery is compelling enough to make the reader feel quite unwell at the beginning, the double homicide is somewhat savage, even Harry vomits into a thoughtfully provided bucket. The narrative drive is that an evil practitioner of magic is making people's hearts pop out of their chest cavity, leaving a bloody mess at the crime scene. Storm Front is very much a magical whodunit. A whole host of creatures make their way into the telling, they are imaginatively rendered and leave a lasting image. Toot was adorable, a small, forgetful, yet informative fairy who loves pizza. The toad demon was vile and terrifying and I still can't quite shake the scene in which Harry is stark naked with his staff pointed at the electrical storm above (not a euphemism) with his other arm stretched in the direction of the demon, hoping to smite it with the power of the storm, brilliant. 

Storm Front is by no means a literary breakthrough but it is a novel that stands out from the rest of those categorised as urban fantasy, this is obvious in the series' success alone. The storytelling is sharp and events tie up neatly, and the style reminded me of Laurel K. Hamilton's 'Anita Blake' novels and also the work of Ben Aaronovitch. There is no doubt that I will be hunting down more of Butcher's Dresden novels, and I hope to enjoy them just as much as I did this one. Overall, a super sharp magical roller coaster and an enjoyable introduction to the series. 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: A Review

This much talked about novel has sat idle on my bookshelf for a fair amount of time, the beautiful design on its cover has finally drawn me to it as has the reading of a number of conflicting reviews online. I felt it was time to form my own opinion of a novel that continues to sell well from the shelves at work without even having to push it into the hands of customers. It seems it is indeed hard to resist the pull and the mystery of Erin Morgenstern's 'The Night Circus'. 

The title itself refers to a circus, one that appears unbidden and as if by magic. The tents and performers draped in black and white, the only real colours coming from the curious guests that pour through the circus gates. Little are these happy, wowed consumers aware that beneath the jovial, fun exterior of the circus there lies a secret, one that threatens to pull the circus apart along with everyone within it. 

First and foremost, this novel is just great fun. It never sways too far into the world of surrealism and magic to make it confounding and tricky yet doesn't brush too lightly across it's surface as to make the wonders of the tale seem trivial and unimportant. Morgenstern has created a tangible balance between realism and the world of magic that deserves a gargantuan pat on the back. I was completely and utterly drawn into this beautiful world and grumbled audibly whenever it needed to be put down for some reason or another. 

The narrative is written in chapters headed by dates and geographical locations, and it soon becomes clear that there is some time lapses going on. We are brought in towards the story's end as well as its beginning. I was expecting this to be aggravating as it has to be done well in order to allow for a tale to run smoothly. However, I was gladly proved wrong as the seemingly separate narratives reach a natural and unobtrusive convergence in a timely manner before the novel's grand finale is reached. The two stories that appear separate at the start feature characters that differ immensely from one another. One narrative string follows the awestruck Bailey and his obvious love of the mysterious Le Cirque des Reves, from his sneaking in during the daytime to his forming of a close friendship with the circus' only pair of children. The other takes us through the inception of the circus, created by an elite group of midnight diners and tells the intriguing love story of Celia and Marco, arguably the most important characters of the narrative.

It is tricky to write a review of this novel without giving too much away, because this is a book best read without really knowing too much about the direction of the story itself. So all I will say about the story is that the magic within the circus is as a result of a tortuous duel, one which even it's participants fail to understand the implications of. It is this duel that results in the creation of the circus itself as a stage, a place to show off one's skills, an extremely public stage nonetheless. The descriptions of the various attractions within the circus are intoxicating, each tent holds its own sort of magic. I was particularly fond of the ice garden, a beautiful display made from what appears to be a flowering garden hewn from ice. Even as the ice sculptures are accidentally broken, they reform to restore the beauty of the exhibition.

It is worth mentioning that the descriptions in the novel are more fleeting than padded, Morgenstern clearly does not feel the need to add too much and it is a tactic that works. Descriptions of time, place and magic are handled beautifully and well enough to conjure up dazzling images that stick with you and don't bore you slightly to death (ahem, Salem's Lot). 

I have drivelled on enough about the magic and intents of the circus, obviously the characters are important too. Morgenstern creates very believable personalities, none are all knowing and each of them has their flaws. Celia is a delight, a mistreated child grown to become a beautiful yet haunted illusionist, one who forms friendships somewhat easily yet suffers her losses greatly. Marco I found to be a bit of an enigma, his love is obvious but there is a cruelty to him that put me off of him a bit, but not in a disappointing way, it merely adds more depth. I fell in love with the clockmaker Friedrick Thiessen in much the same way as he falls in love with the circus, a kindly, pro active gent undeserving of his eventual fate. The only character I did not feel a particular affinity with was Bailey, he just felt a little under formed and in need of some vibrancy. 

All in all a fantastic well rounded and well paced read. It's style reminded me in parts of Audrey Niffenegger's writing and as such I am sure that if you have enjoyed her books then this will spark your interest as well. Be warned, once you start reading this the real world will lose its sparkle as you get drawn further into the enchantment that is 'The Night Circus'. 

Breakfast at Tiffany's a Review

I have had this recommended to me time and time again by close friends and customers and after reading The Great Gatsby I felt in the mood for picking up another short, modern great to leaf through. I feel it's important to note here that I knew nothing of the plot or the back story of this novel and neither have seen the film starring the charming Audrey Hepburn. I came to this novel a clean slate and left it wanting to know more about Truman Capote's inspiration and what other people thought about the rambunctious Holly Golightly. 

The story itself is a simple one, our helpful narrator sets the scene as he returns to an old local bar to reminisce about an unforgettable woman whose very presence affected those around her in number of ways. We are then transported back to his times as a writer struggling to be published living in a small flat in New York, this is when he met Holly and hence the tale really begins. The two become friends as Holly continuously forgets or loses her keys, forcing the narrator to have to let her into the building on any number of occasions. This is an unusual and passing friendship that feels almost voyeuristic to a point as he observes Holly's life from within, a whirlwind passing through New York. Parties, men, madness and tantrums ensue as we are given a brief peek at the tour de force that is Holly Golightly. 

This novel is absolutely brilliant, I enjoyed it immensely and fell head over heels in love with the exceptionally unusual Holly Golightly. It is this character and her brazenness that really makes this novella tick. At the time in which this story was written the open references to numerous sexual partners and homosexuality would have shocked Capote's audience and this is why Holly is so alluring, she doesn't give a rats arse what people think of her. The metaphors hidden in plain view about wild birds and cages allow us to understand the nature of Holly all the more, a wild bird that should always fly free. Obviously not quite so shocking now, Holly is still a character that should please and amuse a modern audience. 

Holly isn't the only character Capote exposes to the reader, yet each character has some sort of tie to Holly. There is the long lost husband, the smitten barman, her unpleasant model acquaintance and her eventual undoing, the gangster Sally Tomato. Each and every character seeks a bond with Holly in a manner of ways. All of these people give us a brief glimpse into a New York that has vanished with time. It's decadent, exciting and, to some degree, an age of innocence.

Perhaps the most interesting accompaniment to Holly is 'cat' an unnamed stray feline she houses in her flat. Unnamed because Holly does not wish to seek ownership over an independent being, yet by the time we reach the novel's conclusion 'cat' has found itself a home, somewhere to belong. Perhaps this is an implication that even the wildest of creatures can be tamed, maybe even Holly herself however we are never privy to this development. Holly's fate remains a mystery.

It is not all glitz, glamour and gaiety, Capote writes of a darkness hidden beneath the surface. Holly completely loses the plot when stricken with grief and her eventual arrest is as a result her involvement with her imprisoned gangster friend. It is this darkness that brings the reader back to reality, not everything in life is peachy. 

Written with grace and style this is a novel that will no doubt continue to stand the test of time effortlessly. It is a quick read, easily achieved in one sitting should you set aside the time for it. This novel is an enormously enjoyable and I would implore anyone to give it a go. As it stands I am currently planning a Breakfast at Tiffany's film evening with a few friends, fake pearls and party dresses in tow, all because this novel is unforgettable and deserves exploring even further. It also makes for the perfect gift, this is a story that demands to be shared with friends!