David Stringer's Blog, page 2

Reading Challenge update – Middle of May

Well my progress is looking good!  As per Goodreads I’m 46% of my challenge complete, which apparently puts me 5 books ahead of schedule.  So what have I consumed since my last blog?

 

Book #21 – Rise of the Shadow Stealers by Daniel Ingram-Brown

This is an intelligent, well thought out story about two young students/apprentice’s that have to solve some mysteries going on around the college they have bizarrely found themselves in. I like the authors discreet nod and work around naming things in this new magical world around literary terms, for example; Full stop Island, Blotting’s academy and the Quill sisters to name but a few.

And so we find a pretty good book here, with plenty of magic, mystery and a nice helping of twists and turns to keep you on your toes, but, and I’m sorry there is a but, I think what I struggled with a little was that all the way through I didn’t feel like I was reading anything brand new. All had echoes from other YA books. This story follows paths already famously trodden, or familiar to us, like Harry Potter and the Narnia stories so much so that a lot of characters I ended up picturing to be like characters from those books.

So a nice book, which was enjoyable, but I couldn’t help shake that feeling of….I’ve been/read this kind of thing before, I kinda know this character from other pages, give me something new!  Three stars out of five, I liked it, just wanted something more unique from it.

Book #22 – Dragonfly Song by Wendy Orr

I must admit, I enjoyed this book, it is about a young girl who doesn’t have a lot of luck growing up back thousands of years ago in Crete. She is however destined for more out of life then she starts out getting. And so with this book we get some historical fiction, generous sprinklings of mythology and a good dollop of action later on in the story…so I was always hopeful of a good read with all these ingredients.

Why the dropped stars? From a personal point of view, and know others will give more credence or praise for this, but the regular sporadic use of poetry and verse put me off. That’s just me. I also, and reason I selected this book was to share a little with my young son (8) as he loves anything with Greek mythology in it. But he never got into or showed any interest in this, but aware this is aimed more at YA then him, so meant I read majority of this on my own.

So a well written, interesting read and one that has introduced me to a good author I will keep an eye on.  Another three stars out of five.

Book #23 – The Book of Never (Complete Series) by Ashley Capes

This is an enjoyable series of fantasy books about our main character, Never, who while on a quest for answers about himself etc. comes across various adventures and mis-adventures. And I did like how, almost like some fantasy games and I suppose D&D, the main character would get side tracked by a side mission or decide to help out a new character along the way into solving some mysteries he has about himself. Not a spoiler I believe, but Never has some interesting traits that he’s discovering, struggling to control and hide which does make him a more fascinating character as both you and he, tantalisingly learn more as the stories unfold. Good work done here by the author!

The first book in the series, for me, was the best and had me gripped the most! As we meet Never, strange name I know, as a lone wolf type rogue of a character. Nothing original there, but it works fine. Although I’m going to lead on with a slight negative for me, in that as the series goes on…Never becomes less thief/rogue like as his character seems to change into a more rounded nice guy. And for me this didn’t really fit or feel like character development, but almost as a new character, which was a shame.

The series concludes with book 5, Imperial Towers, where Never and his brother Snow (who is also an interesting character and arch enemy) come to a head.

So for fantasy fans, this is a good set of books to lose yourself in. I liked it.  Four stars out of five.

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Thanks again for visiting me, feel free to give me a like

Book challenge update and I’m officially a ‘Top Reviewer’!

It’s May 2017, ALREADY!, wow time is flying by.  So what’s new.  Well I’m officially, and have the badge to prove it, a Top Reviewer on NetGalley.  Where a certain number of publishers have used my reviews of their books.

36% Reading Challenge Completed!

Hi everyone, thanks for joining me again!  It is now getting close to the end of April, the sun is shining nicely outside!  Me and my youngest son are now getting out biking quite regularly which is really nice, and my book challenge is going surprisingly well.  As per Goodreads website, I’m 36% done and three books ahead of schedule

Reading Challenge – Easter Weekend

At last, I’ve finished my working week and now have four days off! Yes! The most time I’ve had off together since October 2016.  Cue Violins!

Anyway, back to blogging business, how is my reading going.  Well, I’ve read three books since my last blog, but two of them I’ve unusually for me read within a day or two! A good sign I believe.  So, what have I read?

 

Book #14 – A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Wow. All I think I’m going to say on this book is that firstly, it’s the first book that I can remember where I’ve read it straight through in one day! And secondly, that it hit’s you, a little as expected, emotionally at the end.  It is about a young boy, growing up and dealing with his mothers terminal illness with the help (help?) of a tree like monster.

This is a beautiful book that I recommend with ease.

Five out of Five stars.

Book #15 – Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft

I gave this book a try on the backing of many, many five star and glowing reviews from a lot of people/friends on Goodreads who’s view I very much rate and respect. I still do by the way.

But I didn’t get the same joy and satisfaction they did about this book. I’m sorry to say. I possibly missed something. Now for sure, the world building by the author is interesting and the tower is an intriguing place, but other than that I didn’t enjoy this book and had to force myself to persevere. I found it very slow paced as we slowly plodded on, I never felt the need to quickly read another page to see what happens next.

I think, and this always seems to effect me I’ve noticed, is that I didn’t like, care or get on with the main character Senlin. I think if he was me, and don’t think this is a spoiler as such, but had my wife gone missing I’d be a little bit more upset, panicked, concerned or frantic. He takes it all in his stride and doesn’t seem overly effected, so much so that he buys her various silks while waiting around in case she reappears and a little later (a day or two) buys himself a nice suit.

But hay, that’s the good thing with books and reviews, we’re all different. I’m giving this an ‘ok’ two stars. Wanted to like it, sadly I didn’t.

Book #16 – His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet

His Bloody Project is a novel about the murder of three members of a family by a young 17 year old boy, Ruddy, in a very rural 19th century Scotland.

I think I’m going to start off by saying, I don’t believe, I’ve read anything like this before. The style seems to me quite unique and after a slow start, I was gripped and got through the book within a few days. I enjoyed the descriptions, details and portrayal of what life was like back then. How difficult making a living was when under the strict and sometimes harsh controls of both Landlords, the church and a quite claustrophobic community.

The main character, and murderer, is a young Ruddy who you can’t help warm to and feel for. Well I did. From the offset there is no doubt of his guilt. He freely and happily admits it, but the story is around explaining why he did such a hideous crime, and then the trials with which his lawyer attempts to prove his insanity and get some sort of plea bargain in.

So all good. But I’m giving this four stars out of five.  Why the drop star. Firstly it was a slower burner at the beginning, and it took me a while to get into it. Secondly, I found the frequent repeating of events a tad tedious, where we would look at various events from different peoples views, then again from reports and then again during the trial. Skimming bits almost seemed a necessity to prevent a stronger grip by boredom.

But overall I did enjoy this book. It was like Netflix’s ‘Making a Murderer’ in 19th century Scotland.

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Now, let my lovely long Easter weekend begin!

2017 Reading Challenge – 26% completed!

Well I’m sat at home on one of my day’s off, its the end of March 2017 and it’s wet, windy and spitting a little rain outside.  Perfect conditions to stay in and read.  So how’s my reading challenge going, well as per Goodreads I’m one book ahead of schedule (Phew!) and 26% completed.  So doing well, although think my target this year is going to be a push to maintain.

Anyway, what have I read since my last post?

Book #12 – Behind the Mask – Numerous Authors

This is a collection of twenty short stories about superhero’s, but from a more personal side, almost their stories with their masks off. Not lot’s of fighting of monsters and aliens, but internal struggles, finding themselves etc. And each story is written by a different author, so the styles vary slightly but with the uniqueness of there not really being a weak chapter, each is written with it’s own merits, but of course there will be one or two you warm to ahead of the others. Although as I’m typing this struggling to think of one I had as a favourite!?!

I think one aspect that amused me, and more from an observation that once I’d noticed it I couldn’t ignore it, was that eighteen or nineteen of the twenty stories where all based around female superheroes or leads. Which isn’t a problem at all! But did strike me as odd, different, not sure what the word is? Unique maybe, and found myself chuckling when I’d start a new story and once again it was a female superhero. Perhaps this is simply what we’ve had in history for years but in reverse, with mainly male dominated superhero stories. I don’t know.

But overall I liked it.  Three out of Five stars.

 

Book#13 – I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells

Well I have to say I really enjoyed this book! Admittedly I came across it on Kindle for a mere 0.99p and thought I would give it a try. And boy I’m glad I did. For me this book is like the TV series Dexter meets the Netflix TV series Stranger things. And I love Stranger Things!

The lead character is a young teenage boy John, who like Dexter, is a Sociopath who works (Unlike Dexter) with his mother in a mortuary. But I’m sure the similarities are clear here. He is a fascinating and interesting character who I warmed to straight away with his blunt, dark and slightly humorous thoughts which are written with such simplicity that you can’t help but like this character, even though I’m not entirely sure you should. And so the story goes on with the small town in which he lives, suddenly becoming victim to an apparent serial killer. And the story goes on, really really well with the author’s writing gripping you hard. Then almost half way through…Bam!

We take a sudden twist, flip and wow. With the potential for the story to collapse, which was going well and worried me on how things would now pan out with some additional and unexpected horror, but I’m pleased to say I thought it continued with the engrossing standard the first part of the story had! and I continued to read through in joy. Loved it. Want more!

Five out of Five stars.

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Reading Challenge – 22% completed.

Calendar check and it’s the middle of March 2017.  So how’s my new reading challenge going? Well I’ve chalked up two more books.

 

 

Book #10 – The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Well I’ve finally got round to reading this book, which has been on my radar for quite some time, and boy from nearly the first page it had me gripped.

This book is everything I hoped ‘Dr Strange and Mr Norrell’ would of been, many moons ago when I read that. This, similar to that, is a story about two protégés (Celia and Marco) of two mysterious magicians, trained up and set up to play a mysterious game against each other. This is all set out in the Cirque des Reves – a circus which arrives and departs without warning and then only opens up at night. Everything within the circus is black or white. And like normal circus’s there are acrobats, contortionists, big cat tamers but the Night Circus is no conventional spectacle with a bonfire that burns pure white and which never goes out, as well as some tents that contain clouds and others containing ice.

I fell in love with the magic and awe of the circus, as all of it’s visitors do, you as a reader feel as though you are really there, wandering through the circus, peering into the tents. You can feel the chilly night air, smell the smoke from the bonfire and the taste of the caramel apples. The short descriptions throughout the story, of the different individual tents scattered between the chapters for example, are marvellous. The world of the Cirque des Reves is dreamlike and spellbinding.

And bubbling in the background is the romance and love story of the two protégés, which isn’t something I’m normally into, but I found bearable and nicely done in this book. I cared about both characters, although Marco took some warming up too, so overall a very good, spell binding book.

5 out of 5 stars from me.

Book #11 – Octopus Pirate by Jane Yates

It looks harsh giving this two stars, but that, as per Goodreads is classed as ‘ok’ which is what I think this book/story is.

In the book we follow the life of Coco, where various tragedies befall him from the offset of his life, from the beginning his mother falling off a ship and drowning as giving birth to him, to being rescued by an Octopus and placed in safety of a nun on an island. And to avoid too many spoilers more tragedies follow as young Coco has to survive life with some deformities that make him stand out but likewise interesting and special.

So what’s the problem. Well this is a nice, straight forward story that does dash along at some pace and I think that’s partly my problem with it and why I didn’t buy into it as much as others. Yes, there is the odd grammatical error but the writing does feel rushed to me as the author, I suspect, is in a rush to get her ideas down on paper. And there are a lot of ideas: Tragedies, Pinocchio style character, deformities with special abilities, steam punk, time travel, monsters, pirates and all clearly building up to the next book.

So a nice, little heart warming story, straight forwardly written with a tad to much crammed into it for my liking.

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Right then, what next??

 

 

Reading Challenge – 18% done.

It is now the beginning of March, 2017.  I’ve slowed down a bit with my blogging, but believe my reading has been at a pace to maintain by yearly target (50 books in a year).  So, what have I completed since my last blog.

Book #7 – Wolf of the Plains by Conn Iggulden

I’ve recently started watching Marco Polo on Netflix, which is about one of Genghis Khans sons, and so prompted me to finally get this highly anticipated book off my book shelf and give it a go. I’ve had these and other Conn Iggulden books on my shelf waiting to be read for a while, I’ve kind of been saving them, as years ago really enjoyed the Empire series and after a couple of recent disappointing reads wanted to kick on with something I am sure I would enjoy.

And I did, eventually, as I have to say at the start of the book I was concerned as really didn’t get into it or enjoy it. Had quite a disappointing sinking feeling and the thought of stopping did cross my mind. But I persevered and the book did eventually get going and grip me as I followed Temujin through all his trials and tribulations, willing him on every step of the way and pleased with his triumphs! Towards the end of the book it became quite, un-put-downable!

So a good, solid Historical Fiction book written by a good, solid author who is easily one of the best at his craft.

Four stars out of five.

Book #8 – Bones of the Hills by Conn Iggulden

This is the third instalment in Conn Iggulden’s Genghis Khans Conqueror series, and I admit to have somehow many moons ago when collecting them all in Hardback, I seemed to have missed the second one out. But having recently finished the first book felt that I would stay/stick with characters and see what happens next.

And I enjoyed, as always up to now, Iggulden’s writing which I can only explain or define as smooth, slick and easy flowing. You can get swept along with it like a nice flowing river. He doesn’t bog us down with lots of technical, showing off style detail that you get from other authors in the historical fiction genre. With this book, one aspect I loved as I have done in other books, is when we see things from the other characters point of view. For example early on when Genghis eldest son Jochi is left in charge of a Mongol army and the then harrowing account that follows of the Mongols taking on and subsequently destroying a Kievan Rus’ army, but we also get to see this from the perspective of one of the Russian knights. Loved this!

But I’m giving this three stars out of five.  So why the dropped stars. Well although this is the last we’ll see of Genghis, I cant say I’m to disappointed, as I was feeling with this and the first book that it all was getting a bit ‘samey’. Genghis himself is slowly becoming unlikeable, but when I say getting ‘samey’ I mean because there are Lots and lots of sieges, of arrows, of massacres and of fighting battles when always outnumbered. It all had me feeling that I’d read it all before, and at one point expected Bill Murray to walk by from Groundhog day.

So, Iggulden is still one of my favourite authors, but I do now feel like switching genre as worn out from all the battles, arrows and horses. I’m getting saddle sore.  Good book though!

Book #9 – The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes

This is a fascinating read. The award winning author, Julian Barnes, is clearly a very good, meticulous and intelligent writer who has put together a really interesting book about a composer, about art, about music and about life in soviet Russia.

And I think the later is what I really enjoyed about the book; reading and learning through the story, about life in the early nineteenth century Russia, and the fear that hovered over every citizen. As beliefs, powers etc. shifted as the wind did. What is popular and acceptable one minute, is soon out of favour and unacceptable the next. In the story we follow the life of the composer Shostakovich, his up’s and down’s he finds himself going through and the fears, decisions and convictions he lives with daily. Although I understand this is all factually correct about Shostakovich, this isn’t a biography as such but the author uses him as a vehicle to tell a story of how (I believe) the Arts and political powers mix, or don’t mix.

It’s not an easy read at all, but that is no doubt due to me being a layman as I knew nothing of the composer prior to reading this book and again no little on music or early nineteenth century Russia. But it is thought provoking and I can imagine it causing good discussions in book groups.  Four stars out of five from me.

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Right then, what next?

 

 

 

 

2017 Reading Challenge – 12% done.

Well, 2017 is going at a rather quick pace, as we hit early February faster then one of my best jokes hit’s a violent, awkward silence.  Tumbleweed rolls on by….

So, after an enjoyable first few books of the year, we finish January with a little bit of a whimper.

 

 

Book #5 – Anamesis by Whitney Murphy

How to review this book? Well, it’s about a race of people/animal that have awoken from some catastrophe with no memories. Their world is now in ruin and we follow the survivors adventures as they try to not only stay alive, but figure out what is and has happened.

I did enjoy and like how we were discovering and piecing things together at the same time as our main characters, Loreu and Thayl who I believe or pictured to be furry monkey type things! It is never really explained to you, so you have to picture and work it out for yourself, both what our main characters really are and what has happened as you go along. Which is nice. But this also adds to the confusion that is smeared all over the book, which I’m assuming is done my design.

So I’m giving this book three stars ‘I liked it’ it just never really gripped me and the confusion throughout probably added to that. An author worth keeping an eye on.

Book #6 – Inpector Hobbes and the Bones by Wilkie Martin

This is the fourth book of a series of ‘unhuman’ crime mysteries, which unfortunately I haven’t read prior to reading this instalment, so it’s possible this has taken something away from what’s going on, for me.

This book is a light hearted, easy to read story where the main characters Inspector Hobbes and Andy Caplet are strongly based/linked to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. With the interesting twist that we find Inspector Hobbes is undead (or unhuman) and is a vaguely interesting character. Unlike Andy, who I found extremely grating, clumsy, hard done too and accident prone to the degree of annoyance.

And here, this is where my interest fell straight away. Not only was the Watson character frustrating and to be honest…uninteresting, which took away some of my interest but also for me the crime mystery and plot was a little obvious from the off set and so unfortunately I never felt the desire to carry on to see what was going to happen next! I also didn’t find the light hearted comedy funny enough to get me through.

Almost didn’t finish, but did skim read pages and rushed through to the end. A disappointing read.  Two stars out of five.

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Right, back to the book shelf! I need a good book to pick me up…..

 

 

Reading Challenge 2017 – End of January

Well I’m looking out of the window, it’s cold and miserable out there!  The kind of wintery day that makes you want to stay in doors, get housework done (?), watch films and read some good books.  Sure I had to say that.  So how’s my reading challenge going?  Well I’ve read two more books since my last blog, and those first two books where very good, so it’s surely going to be difficult to maintain that standard.

Book #3 – The Midnight Gang by David Walliams

I don’t normally include children’s book in my reviews and blogs, as my regular (and lovely) followers will know, but as I’ve started trailing my reading target and I have read this book I thought I would include it.  Cheating? Nahhhh.

Now this is the first book written my David Walliams I have read, my youngest son Harry (7) requested I buy this when it came out, and obviously as keen to encourage my son’s reading I went out and bought it. We’ve been reading this together most nights since. So what did we find….this story is about a young boy (Tom) who ends up in hospital, who makes some friends (Midnight Gang) who then sneak around at bed time having fun and adventures.

And I have to say we both enjoyed it! I was pleasantly surprised how good David Walliams has done here, as I was a fan of his early comedian work, when he first burst on the scene with Little Britain some moons ago. Then, as he started appearing everywhere on more mainstream rubbish like X-factor or whatever, found I tired of him very quick! So was dubious to how good these books of his would be. I’m pleasantly surprised.

I can understand why he’s been likened to the legendary Roald Dahl, as there is a similarity in writing style as well the use of some lovely hidden messages tucked away in the pages. The illustrations again are good and again (no doubt by design) are similar to the illustrations done by Quentin Blake for Roald Dahl.

So an overall good book, that had Harry (and me) chuckling at times and having some good discussions afterwards at others. Thumbs up and 4 out of five stars.

Book #4 – Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Red rising is an interesting, futuristic dystopian story set on the now heavily inhabited Mars. Our main character is Darrow, a young miner (Sorry Helldiver) from the Red section of society on the beloved Mars. And can I say the first section of the book, which is more about the Red’s, Darrow and his family was great! I loved the start of this book, and thought I’d walked into another 5* book, with the descriptions, characters, atmosphere and world building. Brilliant. I was thinking to myself, Wow, 2017 reading so far has been awesome.

Then the story twists and unfolds as Darrow is then, after some I guess expected tragedies, is enlisted by some resistance to how Mars is currently run, as secrets are unravelled. He is transformed, but will say no more so at to avoid spoilers, and is entered into the top part of societies (The Golds) brutal war like gsmes, used to help pick future leaders etc.

It was during these tests/games, around the half way mark, my interest levels dropped. Mars (and I understand why) was now no longer Mars like in it’s descriptions, which took something away from the originality and initial love of the book I had. I also found my early engagement and like of Darrow, dwindle, which never bodes well for a story.

So overall a good read, not sure I’ll carry on with the series though, but definitely worth a go for fans of fictional dystopian yarns. Three out of five stars.

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We read on…8% of challenge completed.

Reading Challenge 2017, here we go!

Well, after successfully completing my Goodreads reading challenge last year, I’ve decided to do it again this year.  I’ve had such fun reading, reviewing and blogging and re-discovering my love of reading that I had no real choice, did I?

So this year, I’ve decided too push the boat out a little more, well, kind of.  My target last year was 45 books in a year, which I ended up easily completing.  So this year I’ve decided to go for 50 books in one year.  Gulp.  Although that is what I managed last year, so know it’s doable.

So, what have I kicked off with so far, as I head half way through January 2017.

 

Book #1 – Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Wow. This is my first book of 2017 and of my new Goodreads reading challenge, and all I can say is…Wow. This book has fast become one of my favourite books of all time!

USA Today state this book is ‘Willy Wonka meets The Matrix’ and it is, I couldn’t put it better myself. The story follows our main character Wade as he, and many millions of others, enter an online virtual-reality game contest in order to win a now deceased multi-billionaires fortune. With riddles, arcade game challenges and many 80’s film/TV trivia type challenges to reflect and solve along the way plus face many other outside and online obstacles.

This is a difficult review to write, as I’m so blown away with how much I loved it! I can’t imagine any child of the 70’s, 80’s and possibly 90’s not to like this. So short review, I’m simply going to say I loved it! and recommend it very, very much.

Easy 5 stars out of 5.  And on my all time favourites list of books…..EVER!

Book #2 – Nod by Adrian Barnes

Well I’ve continued the year with another really engrossing and enjoyable read. NOD is about what happens to the world, when for some unknown reason the vast majority of the worlds population can now, suddenly, no longer sleep. What ensues is the world free falling into madness, mayhem and horror.

The author does a great job making this a completely absorbing and believable story as the world sadly falls into decay and ruin, as our main character Paul tries to get on with and survive this new world as everything and everyone disintegrates in front of him. I really bought into it and felt alongside him every step of the way. The descriptive story telling of the author is one of the best I’ve come across as he paints a bleak, scary and yet familiar world to us. I couldn’t put the book down and read through it in next to no time at all.

So in summary this is a really good book, that get’s you thinking long after you have put it down, but be warned…this book holds no punches and shows us the dark side of the world and of human beings.

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Well, after reading them two great books….I’m eager to start another.  Let me know what you think, I’ve loved hearing from those of you that have been in touch or even liked my blog’s.  Take care…and let’s continue to enjoy 2017!