**spoiler alert** For some reason, I had high hope for this book. I expected to be blown away and instead, when I finished the book, I felt decidedly ...more**spoiler alert** For some reason, I had high hope for this book. I expected to be blown away and instead, when I finished the book, I felt decidedly underwhelmed.
*spoilers ahead*
I hadn't known much about the book before I started: I was aware of the film's existence but I hadn't seen it; I knew there was a sad ending; I had read (and thoroughly enjoyed Nicholls's previous novel Starter for Ten); I had read the blurb which described the format as visiting these two characters on the same day through twenty years of their lives.
My biggest problems with the book were as follows:
1) I just couldn't stand Dexter; even his name annoyed me. I was not rooting for him until the very end when I finally felt some sympathy towards him.
2) Whilst I didn't dislike Emma, I found her rather dull. She came across as a bit whiny and it irritated me.
3) The book was too long for the amount of story. Whilst it is true that years can go by, especially in your twenties, without much changing, it is not interesting to read.
4) I read the book in a constant state on unease, waiting for something awful to happen. Dexter certainly seemed like he was one eff-up away from total disaster and so when Emma met her sudden end, it was a shock - I had expected it was something that would happen to Dexter or at least because of his actions.
Despite enjoying Starter for Ten, I can't see myself rushing out to read more of Nicholls's work when there are already so many books on my 'to-read' list.(less)
It has been a while since a book has made me cry but this one did, in a good way. This is a story about Bradley. He starts out as a bully and a 'bad k...moreIt has been a while since a book has made me cry but this one did, in a good way. This is a story about Bradley. He starts out as a bully and a 'bad kid' - the sort that sits at the back on the classroom and doesn't do his homework. Yet there is another side of him that his schoolmates don't see and this is shown to us through his make-believe play with his stuffed animals in his room. His attempts at making a friend go horribly awry and you end up rooting for this prickly character. His saviour is Carla, his guidance counsellor. She is kind and cheerful. She is entertained by his 'Bradley-ness' and he responds. As someone who is applying to be a teacher, I think this book really struck a chord. There is so much bad press about our children - they are all wild animals with no soul, if you believe the Daily Mail. But I do believe that in most cases, kindness and patience can go a long way in bringing those marginalised 'bad kids' into the heart of their society, rather than leaving them lonely and angry on the sidelines. You might think this is a very naive or idealistic point of view, but I refuse to believe that bad kids are inherently bad. I think they just live in bad situations with bad role models. I think this is a great book for children and adults alike. I have't read anything else by Sachar, including his more famous Holes, but I definitely intend to now. (less)
This has been one of those books I have been wanting to read for a while ad although it has been much hyped, I didn't know much about it.
...moreThis has been one of those books I have been wanting to read for a while ad although it has been much hyped, I didn't know much about it.
I am only about a third into it and the pace of the novel surprised me - I expected it to move much faster. Yet, I am not finding it slow going; on the contrary, I have been pulled into the story and am desperate to know more. Only being able to read a few pages at a time has not helped me get into this book, and this perhaps accounts for my impression of the slower pace.
I read this book as it was the latest Book Club choice for sew make believe and I was looking forward to it since it comes from the writer of Downton ...moreI read this book as it was the latest Book Club choice for sew make believe and I was looking forward to it since it comes from the writer of Downton Abbey, one of my current faves (and probably the only proper UK TV I am watching - The X Factor and Homes Under The Hammer don't count!).
It is about the reunion of two frenemies who back in the Sixties were part of the London debutante scene and lived a privileged and whirlwind life in their youth. One of these men is dying and has received a mysterious letter which suggests he has a child and therefore heir to his considerable fortune. The other has been asked to find out which of his several conquests is the mother so that the child can be identified and found.
Fellowes's writing is so vivid that it takes you deep into this world and despite struggling to find any character which has a redeeming quality (there are a couple but that is all), I found the book totally riveting. My one criticism is that the descriptions are at time so detailed that it reads more like an historical account and as such, the pace of the story was slowed down while the scene was painstakingly set and the context elucidated.
You can read more about our club discussion here. I think would read more of Fellowes's novels if the opportunity presented itself. He may be a bit of a toff but he is an excellent writer.
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It is quite remarkable that it has taken me quite so long to get around to reading this book given its ubiquitous nature since its publication. I only...moreIt is quite remarkable that it has taken me quite so long to get around to reading this book given its ubiquitous nature since its publication. I only bought it at all because it was a set text for my Children's Literature course although when it came to it, you could choose between that and Northern Lights which I had already read...
I saw the film version some time ago and more recently, Rich and I caught up on all the films before seeing the final instalment in July at the cinema. As such, the story is not exactly a secret but I definitely got a sense from watching the films that they were only scratching the surface - it often felt like I had missed something and I think that the films probably serve better as companion pieces to the source material than stand alone films (although I did enjoy them nonetheless).
Anyway, I have now raced through the first book in this jugganaut of a series and I read it with an alomst totally open mind. I was neither willing it to be brilliant nor hoping it would suck. I had heard so much about Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling but I didn't want this to influence my reading of the book. Despite this, though, I suppose that I was a little skeptical that the book would live up to the hype - let's face it, that's quite a task. Yet, it does live up to the hype and then some. The story flowed with ease and the characters popped from the page (I wasn't even picturing the films' actors as much as I expected). I was hooked!
Whilst there are obviously derivational aspects to the setting and the motley crew of characters - a troll, centaurs, wizards - it reads as intentional and it uses the tradition of wizards and witchcraft to its advantage. Wizards in cloaks and pointy hats? Of course! So recognisable and also funny to think of wizards-in-training donning this garb as a uniform.
It is true that the writing is not necessarily as literary as, say, Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy but then again, this book is aimed at a much younger readership and there is certainly a craft to Rowling's writing that means you aren't really thinking about the writing while you are reading, you are far too engrossed in the story itself.
I am eager to get on an read The Chamber of Secrets which is on my bedside table underneath our sew make believe book club choice Past Imperfect by Julian Fellowes.
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North Korea has always been a mystery to me (and let's face it, most people) and I have been fascinated by this isolated land held captive by a ruthle...moreNorth Korea has always been a mystery to me (and let's face it, most people) and I have been fascinated by this isolated land held captive by a ruthless dictator. I was intrigued, then, when my brother lent me this account of North Korean life written by a journalist who has spent years gathering first-hand accounts from escapees.
It reads like a historical saga. You cannot quite reconcile the conditions and mentality of Korean authority with modern living. While the developed world was growing and learning in the 20th Century, North Korea stayed soundly in the past. In fact, as the rest of the great communist states fell or at least acquiesced to dealing with the 'free world', North Korea (with their last allies, Albania) stuck to their flawed communist guns and as such suffered terribly as their sources for power were systematically cut off. Without oil for their power stations, manfacturing stopped and food became increasingly scarse.
As one leader died, hope for change died with him as the son filled the father's shoes. Now with this son himself in ill-health, hope rises again that someone will allow this country to be revived. South Korea had a very different journey since the spilt and is now booming - a stark contrast to their starving neighbours to the north.
The title comes from a patriotic song taught to children as they start school (back when schools were all open and teachers were paid) and they are taught that their country us the pinnacle of the world; there is nothing to envy in the world, they are told, because everyone else in the world is worse off. How very sad that this could not be further from the truth.(less)
2011 seems to be a year of getting to those authors who you really ought to have already read but for some reason, haven't. This is the first ACD / Sh...more2011 seems to be a year of getting to those authors who you really ought to have already read but for some reason, haven't. This is the first ACD / Sherlock Holmes novel I have read and I am sorry that it has taken so long because I loved it.
This is our current sew make believe book club pick and I am so glad it was chosen. Every police / crime TV show and novel since owes a debt to Doyle for his skillful and intriguing Holmes who has almost supernatural powers of deduction.
1880s London is brought to life the shift in the second part to Utah is similarly engrossing. I read it very quickly and was desperate to know not only how the murdered man came to be found in the empty London residence but also how Holmes came to work it out. The writing has held up remarkably - it is so fresh, amusing, exciting and vivid. I will most definitely be reading more Sherlock Holmes novels. (less)
I haven't finished reading this but I am already convinced this book will be invaluable when my daughter Evelina gets to a certain age (and that age s...moreI haven't finished reading this but I am already convinced this book will be invaluable when my daughter Evelina gets to a certain age (and that age seems to be getting younger by the year).
This self-help book was the basis of the film Mean Girls written by Tina Fey. It aims to help parents of daughters safely navigate the murky waters of being a girl and having girl friends. Undoubtedly, this book has a heavy US bias but I do feel like it is getting more and more relevant for girls in the UK, even if we don't have the cliques which are so entrenched as they are in US high schools.
I know that this book has done very well and I assume this means that people like it - I haven't actually bothered to read any reviews - but I am a bi...moreI know that this book has done very well and I assume this means that people like it - I haven't actually bothered to read any reviews - but I am a bit on the fence about it now that I have finished.
Sure, it is different with a very specific voice - there aren't many books written in the first person where the first person is a five year old boy. Room is about a boy and his mother who are held in captivity in a, well, room, where the boy was born and as such, only knows this very small world. One of the stylistic choices is for Jack (the boy) to personify the various inanimate objects which 'live' in Room (also personified) with them both. This helps develop this strong voice but is a tad irritaing and probably one of the reasons I couldn't really love this book because whilst I get what Donoghue was trying to do, it just didn't quite work for me.
I should have been really rooting for this boy and his poor kidnapped mother but instead I found his too-young perspective distracting. Perhaps this was intentional so as not to make the horror too gratuitous - especially since sadly these things actually do happen and I imagine that the last thing that Donoghue wants is for some kind of voyeuristic novel. Jack's innocent outlook certainly glosses over some of the worst aspects of their confinement including the repeated rape of his mother (we know what is happening but Jack is not aware).
Without wanting to give too much away, there are moments of extreme tension and it was even exciting in places. I applaud that a novel about such a gruesome subject could be made palatable. I just wish I could have connected with the two main characters more. Maybe I am just too tired when reading to fully engage.
In fact, as an afterthought, I am wondering if the format of the e-book (I read this on my iPad since this way, I can read in bed while Rich is asleep) hindered my connection with the prose. I have yet to read an e-book that I have really enjoyed. So far, I have blamed the books (Last Sacrifice and Breaking Dawn... hardly fine masterpieces) but maybe the format has something to do with it too. My next e-book to read is Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro so I will have to let you know!(less)
I was asked to review this last instalment of Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series which meant I needed to read all the previous titles also so that...moreI was asked to review this last instalment of Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series which meant I needed to read all the previous titles also so that I knew what was going on. Maybe this intensive teenage vampire fiction reading made me a little less than receptive once Last Sacrifice rolled around, maybe it was trying to plough through it despite having some major impediments to reading (I am looking at you, Evelina) or maybe it was just because it was not very good but whatever the reason, I can't say I particularly enjoyed Last Sacrifice.
For each of the books, I would start of being irritated by the prose which I realise is written for teenagers but also sounds like it has been written by a teenager too. I would remember how arrogant the protagonist Rose could be (although I will take that over the insipid, a-little-too-self-depricating-such-that-I-don't-believe-it Bella from Meyers's Twilight Saga). For the other books in the series though, despite my better judgement, I would find myself getting involved in the story enough that I could put these peeves to one side. Last Sacrifice unfortunately seemed to have a large portion of the book which had Rose sitting around a lot. Her geographical separation from her best friend Lissa means that she has to use her bond - a supernatural link that allows her to see and hear what Lissa says, does and thinks - for protracted periods, ostensibly in order that we as readers can see what is happening back at Court while Rose is away.
The overuse of this plot contrivance dilutes the drama and emotion and as such, I found myself not really caring about the relationships which were in the balance i.e. the Rose / Dimitri / Adrian triangle and the frankly dull and predictable Lissa and Christian pairing.
Now I do need to be a little fair and acknowledge that I am not the target demographic for this series and despite all its flaws, I still found Mead's writing far superior to Meyers's. I think I will stick to Shiver author Maggie Stiefvater for my supernatural teen fiction since the quality is far superior and Gail Carriger for my grown-up vampire / werewolf action. I will be reading Linger and Changeless respectively just as soon as I have de-vampired a bit.(less)
Penguin sent me the first 5 Vampire Academy books ready to review the latest in the series which is released in a couple of weeks. I was unsure whethe...morePenguin sent me the first 5 Vampire Academy books ready to review the latest in the series which is released in a couple of weeks. I was unsure whether (less)
The second in Carriger's Parosol Protectorate series, Changeless tkes us up to Scotland amid a struggling werewolf clan who are suffering from an unfo...moreThe second in Carriger's Parosol Protectorate series, Changeless tkes us up to Scotland amid a struggling werewolf clan who are suffering from an unfortunate case of humanity, along with most of London's usually supernatural set. Alexa wants to find out more about her husband's family and also get to the bottom of this affliction - is it a weapon? an illness? - before some real damage is done.
I raced through this instalment which was just as witty and fun as the first book Soulless. The vivid Victorian setting and lively characters make these books so very enjoyable and distinctly for adults, unlike the ubiquitous Young Adult supernatural books which often (but not always) fail to fully engage the adult reader. This is not a criticism - these books are not written for an adult readship - but it is refreshing nonetheless to have such good writing in such a frivilous and fun genre.
I am now a little concerned that I don't have Blameless (the third in the series) on hand although I may well wait a while so I can really savour it.(less)
This ambitious book puts its plucky protagonist on a journey through a combined consciousness, exploring large ideas of thought and language along the...moreThis ambitious book puts its plucky protagonist on a journey through a combined consciousness, exploring large ideas of thought and language along the way. For me, the read was both gripping and turgid. The adventure story was thrilling and had me hooked but the long passages of theory list me and interfered with the pace of the narrative. Overall, I enjoyed the novel but the end felt rushed and left me a little disappointed. Apparently, there is a sequel but I doubt I will read it. (less)
This book was such a great read - fun, stylish, exciting... I didn't want the book to end. It is such a pleasure to read something so fun yet so well...moreThis book was such a great read - fun, stylish, exciting... I didn't want the book to end. It is such a pleasure to read something so fun yet so well written. I can't wait to read more. For a more comprehensive review, I suggest you check out Caroline's blog since she loved the book just as much as I did.(less)
**spoiler alert** I started this straight after having read the first book and although I still enjoyed it, I downgraded the star rating for this seco...more**spoiler alert** I started this straight after having read the first book and although I still enjoyed it, I downgraded the star rating for this second Valentine book because of who she ends up with - totally shallow I know but I am afraid I just didn't get the attraction... it doesn't matter how many times Trigiani tells me he is handsome, to me a 53 year old man just isn't that appealing to me. Valentine is my age too so it's easy to put myself in her shoes. Since this is a trilogy, hopefully all will be sorted out in the final book. I will most likely read it just to find out.(less)
Some much needed light reading, Very Valentine is neither deep nor stretching but it IS fun. New York, Italian-American passions, pretty custom weddi...moreSome much needed light reading, Very Valentine is neither deep nor stretching but it IS fun. New York, Italian-American passions, pretty custom wedding shoes and love... what's not to like? The eponymous protagonist, Valentine, is at times a little much and I couldn't quite get on board with her taste in men but overall this was an enjoyable read. (less)
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