A Woman in Berlin Eight Weeks in the Conquered City A Diary
4.5 Stars
This was a remarkable book showing the day to day life of women in 1945 while Berlin is being occupied by Russian Troops. The author frankly (yet not graphically) describes the brutality she suffered but also how she looks to survive with an eye to her future. I found her dark humor enjoyable. Her thoughts on human nature and the effects of war on social mores were very interesting.



Infidel
5 Stars
This was a fascinating book and one that I believe was very courageous to write. I’m not going to say much more on it than that, as I do not want to get into a discussion on religion. However, this book made me think, made me gasp and made me laugh.



Blindness by Jose Saramago
5 Stars:
What a great book and such a surprise!
I'm admittedly not a big 'sci-fi' person but this was really more of a sociology/psychology story about people and how they interact, what they depend on, what is really important to them.

Premise is pretty simple, an epidemic of blindness takes over and noone can see. Panic ensues and Quarantines are created. However, the epidemic continues to grow until factories shut down, stores close, government crumbles, all in a matter of weeks.

The main characters are now left in their quarantine to survive among the masses, a combination of every man for himself and people's natural inclination to form groups. Some groups are not very nice.

One woman only retains her sight and is left herding and caring for the people in her group, all the while trying to keep her lack of blindness a secret for various reasons.

While the translation of the book left the grammar a bit wonky (no quotations marks and endless commas) it only took half a page to get into the swing of things.

I loved that not one name is used the entire book. They become 'the doctor's wife' and 'the girl with the dark glasses' etc. Their perception of identity has now changed and names are really no longer important.

Anyway, i thought this would be a fairly decent sci-fi fluff but was really impressed by this book instead.



The Night Watch by Sarah Waters
This book was not particularily fast-paced, it was a character driven story with really very little 'action' until the last quarter.

It was written in three distinct sections (1947, 1944, 1941) which chopped up the story and it was also written in reverse chronology which added to a lack of fluidity and, i feel, the proper character development.

Overall, the characters were mostly likeable, the time period was interesting and i did like it. The book just isn't one to really grab you and keep you enthralled

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
2.5 Stars
This was alright, nothing overly exciting or moving. Not quite good enough to be a true three stars but better than just 2.
I liked the language of it, I liked the 'Boy' but it was a bit too 'in-your-face-moral-of-the-story' for me. I'd of preferred it to be a bit more subtle.
I'm a bit disappointed as I'd heard some great things about this book and expected to really like it.
Ah well....

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
3.5 stars.
A bit slow to start and a bit abrupt to end but overall an interesting premise with some good characters.

Change Me into Zeus's Daughter A Memoir by Barbara Robinette Moss.

What a great book!
4.5-5*

This is an autobiography of a girl growing up in Alabama in true poverty - so poor malnourishment causes her bones to develop improperly. She is one of 8 children and she tells stories upon stories of their shananigans, of their loving mother who tries to deflect their drunken & abusive father's attentions to her rather than the children but who is still not strong enough to remove herself and her children from his clutches.

The book could become a tad confusing as times as memory was layered within memory.

However, the book was completely engrossing, both sad & humorous and overall very satisfying.

Loved it.

Not All Tarts Are Apple by Pip Granger

2.5 Stars

This was ok. Not great, not bad, just ok.
The story was rather flat with no real depth.
While I became attached to the characters, the story was not especially engaging.

The story was told from the perspective of a child, which can work well, but in this case it just got a bit tiring.

There was such a variety in the characters personalities & backgrounds, this probably would have been a great story to tell from multiple perspectives.

Anyway, it was the title and author's name that initially drew me in, then the jacket description further interested me but the result was just a bit flat.

The Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo

2.5 Stars

The movie was cute but a bit boring.

The book was better and surprisingly dark for a kid's story.

The Ruins by Scott Smith
5*

I loved this book! I expected a kind of standard gruesome horror story but this was different. It was a very well done psychological thriller. It completely sucked me in to the very end.

The Host by Stephanie Myer
5*

I seem to be giving out a lot of 5* (and almost) so far in this challenge. Perhaps i rating a bit too soft but regardless, I've been really enjoying some of these books.

This was a great book. It was very entertaining, it had great characters and I really felt their confusion, desperation and anxiety.

I found it hard to get into it initially but after the first few chapters I was completely pulled into the story and i was actually disappointed when it was over.

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
3.5 Stars

My mum has always loved this series of books so I thought i'd give it a try.

I'm glad i did.

It was quite humorous in a knee-slapper kind of way and as foolish & flawed as the main character & her friends are, they are endearing. (Plus Joe Morelli is just hot.)

I will definitely read the rest of this series. It's good fluff.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane.

4 Stars.

It was a bit slow to start but once it picked it I was very intrigued. It's a creepy psychological thriller and is quite clever.

I'm looking forward to movie now!!

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

5 Stars.

I am completely biased as this one of my very favorite movies. However, the book was no disappointment.

It's only 200+ pages but the characters were still very well developed. You really felt their highs and lows; at times my heart physically hurt. Any book that can do that deserves its credit.

Anyone who is familiar with altzeimers knows how cruel a disease it is and this author captured that so well

Death in Kenya by M.M. Kaye

3 Stars.

Started out a bit dry but turned out to be quite a clever 'whodunnit' in the style of Agatha Christie.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

3.5 Stars.

Loved the way it was written; in the perspective of a 15 yr old autistic boy.

It was very endearing and made me laugh aloud, as the character explains everything in it's most literal sense.

Overall, quite enjoyable

Coraline bu Neil Gaimen

2 Stars.

Disappointing.

I'm actually kind of confused regarding the intended audience. If it was aimed to young adults (or older)it was quite boring & childishly written.

However, if it was aimed for children (which I believe it was), it would have been really scary and quite disturbing. Not something i'd want my children reading...

Regardless, it was ok but not worth recommending...

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.

4 Stars.

Very well written, great character development.

You could really feel Jesse's loneliness and resulting the brightness in his days upon befriending Leslie.

Very good story, quite heart wrenching

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

2-2.5 Stars

I was expecting a lot from this book as it came so highly recommended.

However, i found the style of book led to it being quite disjointed and it often felt more like a book of short stories.

I found the characters less than likeable with moments of charm.

Overall, not for me.

The Birth House by Ami McKay

3 Stars

I enjoyed this book. I was a bit slow to start but i really liked the protagonist and her Newfie friends.

The story also took place (in 1918) in Nova Scotia, where I live, which probably made it more appealing to me as it touched on some interesting heritage.

Overall, enjoyed it.