Book Odyssey

Book #4

2012-02-25T11:10:00.003Z

Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

Vanity Fair chronicles the lives of two women who could not be more different: Becky Sharp, an orphan whose only resources are her vast ambitions, her native wit, and her loose morals; and her schoolmate Amelia Sedley, a typically naive Victorian heroine, the pampered daughter of a wealthy family. Becky's fluctuating fortunes eventually bring her to an affair with Amelia's dissolute husband; when he is killed at Waterloo, Amelia and her child are left penniless, while Becky and her husband Rawdon Crawley rise in the world, managing to lead a high life in London solely on the basis of their shrewdness.

Ah, the novel without a hero!

I really enjoyed this. Thackeray's voice is absolutely wonderful, so much so that I am tempted to say that he was my favourite character of them all. There is something so cheeky about a storyteller who will pause his narrative to express an opinion or make an ironic remark. His satire is so delicious, his personal commentaries hilarious, and his insights incredibly thought-provoking.

To begin with I believed this story to be the typical nineteenth century tale of love, marriage, war, death, betrayal and social status. Although it was all of these things, it differs hugely from other novels from this time with the same themes. I couldn't help but wonder how different the novel would have been if it had been written by Austen. Thackeray gives us so much of his opinion on class, a woman's role, wealth, war, morals, and social status. His little asides really are what makes the novel brilliant.

My edition of this book is a Wordsworth Classic, which comes with footnotes to help us understand some of Thackeray's points, particularly his symbols. I found these to be incredibly helpful, particularly when I came across biblical and mythological references. There are also various sentences written in French, possibly a romantic symbol, which are translated in the footnotes also. I really would recommend obtaining a copy with footnotes, as I found them absolutely fascinating and they allowed me to learn some very exciting things.

Thackeray's characters were excellent to begin with, and I was excited to see where they'd end up. As the novel progressed, however, they all began to irk me. I'm not sure whether this was due to characterisation, or just that I felt the issues which were making them all tick were unfathomable and pathetic. However, this is Vanity Fair and Thackeray was often on hand to break his narrative in order to assure me they were in fact being completely and utterly ostentatious for no good reason. Main characters aside, Thackeray must have mentioned each and every high class citizen by name, advised to whom they were descended from, gave a little bit of background knowledge on some of their sins and vanities, only to never mention them again. Or if they did drift back into the plot at some point, I would have forgotten all about them since meeting so many more of their compatriots. My eyes literally glazed over in these pages of family trees. They added nothing to the plot, and more often than not I felt the need to put the book down for a while.

If Thackeray is to be commended for anything in this novel, it would be his attention to detail when describing the events that transpired during Waterloo. It's clear he researched every tiny detail perfectly. War jargon goes completely over my head, and my eyes would glaze over again when Thackeray was talking military; however his descriptions of the day of the Waterloo battle were perfect, and evoked the proper emotions in me.

My favourite aspect of the novel was Thackeray showing us that love can simply erode when confronted with wealth, or social class. The measures his characters took to ensure they had plenty of money, respect and status, were absolutely unreal. They were so selfish, immoral and had their priorities all wrong. He also showed us pure love, but this was also given away for money and class. Very, very thought-provoking.

I could probably sit here and write an entire critical essay on this novel, and ramble on about the satire, irony, symbolism, characterisation and narrative, however I have been reading this book for over a month and I'm now quite pleased I'm casting it off. I would absolutely recommend this as a long haul effort of a novel, an absolute eye-opener.

4 / 50 books. 8% done!

Book #3

2012-01-16T20:48:00.004Z

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

It's over. This little world I've been submerged in for the last few weeks is gone. I am very, very impressed at the depths I was dragged down to and the feats I was forced to believe were real.

Mockingjay has completely restored my faith in the trilogy, although it was quite shaky and perplexing to begin with, with Katniss just memorising, soliloquising, and generally annoying me to death. A lot of the pages towards the beginning of the novel were unnecessary and dull. After these had passed, however, and the action began, nothing was sacred. Action kept pouring itself out of the pages, and once again I was faced with the ever-delightful couldn't put it down book review cliché. I found there to be more shock and suspense than there was in Catching Fire, and I was so pleased that this was the case.

I think the main thing to note here is that my crocodile eyes were weeping again at various places in the novel. I cried viciously during The Hunger Games, but not once during Catching Fire. Indicative.

The characterisation was wonderful, and I was still in love with my old favourites and holding a terrible hatred for the dullard Katniss which was born from Catching Fire. How angsty! Where is this girl who volunteered to take her sister's place in the reaping? Is this same girl to the one who we now see moping about like a soggy bit of cardboard? UGH. She spends the majority of the novel hiding in little forts feeling sorry for herself. As I've said before, I realise she has been through a lot, but we're looking for a strong protagonist here, not an indecisive irritating moron. I didn't have any sympathy or respect for her until the final few chapters where my opinion completely turned around. I'm pleased this happened; the ending wouldn't have been the same had I continued to hate her.

Tiny spoiler: people died. (Please don't moan if I wasted anything for you here, it's the last book of the trilogy, what do you expect?) Certain people died who I felt were not mourned properly, there was no closure, they died and that was it. One of these people I loved. Cheers, Collins; I wanted to lament. I don't even forgive you for killing him off in the first place. I didn't find this death to be important to the plot. It was merciless and unforgivable. Huff!

I enjoyed the political, social and cultural comments, particularly when considering that although this is a dystopian novel, it really is only a stone's throw away from real life. Children trained to kill children; does this ring any bells? How comfortable are you challenging someone with authority, or someone in uniform?

Collins managed to convey a good message about war; that nothing is black and white, and very rarely does anyone truly win when you consider what has to be lost to ensure a victory. She's trying to get us to think about when we should stop fighting, when does it become too much. I think the book ended on quite a dark note, and although I'd usually champion dark endings, I can't help but feel it was slightly devoid of hope for a young adult novel. I can't explain it; I just didn’t feel good about it.

Another disjointed review stemming from my disjointed feelings. It's a haunting and shocking finale, with the tale taking well-executed turns that couldn't ever have been predicted. It’s an obvious must-read for those who have tried the first two installments, with a chilling and displaced ending.

3 / 50 books. 6% done!

Book #2

2012-01-09T19:50:00.003Z

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Ah, the second installment. Are you familiar with the age-old argument that the sequel is never as good as the original? This applies here. After all of my excitement, adrenaline, and urging of everyone I know to read The Hunger Games, this third of the trilogy has left me incredibly disappointed and deflated.

The plot was slightly jarring and felt strange. Collins uses a lot of pages describing the events in District 12 prior to the real plot action which begins more than halfway into the book, and I really felt this could have been more diluted. The more important scenes seem as though they were rushed, especially the second to last chapter which I found diabolically fast-paced and impossible to comprehend. Although the plot is hugely similar to the previous novel, it just doesn't have the same feeling surrounding it.

One of the factors of The Hunger Games which made me fall in love with it were the cliffhanger endings to chapters. I could not possibly put the book down, and was forced to read on. The chapter endings in Catching Fire hugely attempted to mirror those in The Hunger Games, but failed miserably. They were a half-arsed attempt to drag us in, and only really managed the odd groan from me rather than my previous hyperactive, breathless excitement at the thought of another chapter.

Katniss shifts from the strong female protagonist into a bland pain. The first book depicts her as a firey survivor and now she is an emotional wreck. Of course, she has been through an ordeal but it really didn't seem as though this was reason behind her dreariness; I really think it's the writing. She dithers constantly - Peeta or Gale? Peeta or Gale? - these two are the same person. Strong boys in love with her, but stuck in the friend-zone until she actually grows a pair. They have minor differences, but nothing too memorable. There is none of the typical love triangle contention, and Peeta and Gale's similarities meant that I didn't care who she preferred, nor did I have any personal interest in how the situation turned out.

The best part of the book is that it focuses more on politics and government control, and gives us more perspective on the forces at work. The idea of areas in revolt, the reasons for this, and the possibility of a successful rebellion under a totalitarian government is absolutely delicious. I enjoyed reading about the inner workings of the Capitol, the destruction which was a result of the previous rebellion, and most of all the rumours behind the fabled District 13.

I must admit the final chapter did raise the game considerably, and did allow me some excitement in anticipating the final installment. I just wished the book had been as thrilling as this in its entirety.

Perhaps I have been a bit too harsh here. Or have I? Am I dithering like our beloved Katniss? The book certainly did have its moments; I just think it dulls in comparison to its predecessor. It's very difficult for me to make valid comments here without posting spoilers, so I will refrain. Collins set the bar high with The Hunger Games and has failed to beat her high score here. Here's hoping Mockingjay will restore my opinions somewhat.

2 / 50 books. 4% done!

Book #1

2012-01-01T13:00:00.000Z

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen is a survivor. She has to be; she's representing her District, number 12, in the 74th Hunger Games in the Capitol, the heart of Panem, a new land that rose from the ruins of a post-apocalyptic North America. To punish citizens for an early rebellion, the rulers require each district to provide one girl and one boy, 24 in all, to fight like gladiators in a futuristic arena. The event is broadcast like reality TV, and the winner returns with wealth for his or her district.

Wow. I absolutely loved this book, it’s been quite a journey! I have a secret passion for young adult fiction, and this did not disappoint in the slightest. There has been a great deal of hype surrounding this trilogy, which I must admit made me a bit cautious (after all, the last highly hyped young adult series was none other than the aggrandised Twilight), but it absolutely lived up to the glory.

I despise using the phrase "I couldn't put it down," but this was definitely the case. To describe my reading experience without using a clichéd phrase, I read through the novel in a perpetual state of anticipation, experiencing more adrenaline than I have for a while. I was so excited, and so invested in the characters and the story.

This is a dystopian future (dystopia being one of my favourite genres), and a delicious one at that. The subtle social commentary was interesting; the Capitol being the rich and affluent area, and the twelve districts living in abject poverty, circling the Capitol as though protecting it from harm. It dawned on me from time to time that the economics and politics of this arrangement didn't make much sense in the wider picture, but I couldn't really comment further on this having an utterly amateur mind on both. The world Collins has created is so interesting, however, and I loved reading about how America was divided into districts, the rebellion, and how the Games were created as a result of that. It's a believable future, which is always a scary thought in dystopian novels, but it's a gorgeous world to find yourself submerged in.

It's very dark and brutal. Although I didn't feel the violence was graphic at all, I did feel it to be very vicious, especially when considering the motives behind the actions, and that the actions were being made by very young people. The emotion invoked in me was unreal; I do get emotionally invested in my books, but I very rarely cry whilst reading. Apart from the constant heart-banging going on in my chest, I managed to break down and cry three times in the space of this novel. Three times, which completely ruined my heart of stone demeanour. Damn and blast.

Katniss Everdeen is a beautiful character. Her love for her family and her absolute determination to keep them alive is inspirational. Despite this lovely side to her, I particularly liked her savagery, her survival skills, and the plain fact that she is a complete bad ass. She is so strong and capable; she's quite the independent woman. I am a total wimp compared to her; I was moaning about being hungry the other day and then realised, "I would be atrocious in the Hunger Games." I did like Katniss's conflicting emotions throughout the Games, however, especially with regards to the two men in her life. Strong but confused makes her a lot more human, and a bit more relatable.

I did enjoy the characterisation in general, and with the description of lives in the districts I really managed to feel for all of them. I felt a lot in particular for the character of Haymitch; the previous District 12 winner of the Games. Although he was an alcoholic, and incredibly irritating and strange at the beginning of the novel, I think this was a reminder that the Games can mess you up entirely.

I like what Collins has done with the young adult novel, however. It is still apparent these days that young adult books are characterised into boy/girl areas. She has blown this out of the water by giving a female protagonist to a violent plot, forcing people to wonder whether this is a boy book or a girl book. It's both, as are all books (although this is a debate I won’t get into at the moment).

I must admit, I did find the ending incredibly anticlimactic, and I was disappointed. Since I was aware there are another two books to get through, I was expecting a cliff-hanger, something that says, "Oh, there's more to come," but nothing like this was given to me! Why?! I would've liked to see a reunion, however I imagine I shall see that at the beginning of Catching Fire. This is my only gripe.

I would recommend this to anyone. I was sucked in completely, left breathless, addicted, in tears, and then blown away entirely. If I was ever interrupted by the phone ringing, or something similar, whilst reading, I felt as though I had snapped out of a dream, asking myself, "Where am I?" What a world! You must read this immediately, and may the odds be ever in your favour.

1 / 50 books. 2% done!

Book #47

2011-12-26T12:34:00.003Z

The Outsider by Albert Camus

Meursault leads an apparently unremarkable bachelor life in Algiers until he commits a random act of violence. His lack of emotion and failure to show remorse only serve to increase his guilt in the eyes of the law, and challenges the fundamental values of society - a set of rules so binding that any person breaking them is condemned as an outsider. For Meursault, this is an insult to his reason and a betrayal of his hopes; for Camus it encapsulates the absurdity of life.

This is one of my favourite novels. I have read it three times; once whilst living in France, once in the original French text, and finally at home in English (which I am ashamed of - there is no way I could manage the entire novel in French any longer, short as it is, and this makes me feel like an absolute imbecile). My thoughts and opinions on the book change each time, and have in fact changed a lot this time. I have seen a lot more in the text than I did in my previous reading, however whether this is down to the last reading being in French or that I have matured in the three years since, I have no idea.

This book has stemmed for Camus's philosophy for the absurd. He believed life had no rational meaning to it, that there is absolutely no purpose for our being here, and that the idea of existence being structured was simply absurd. I believe Camus and many other philosophers were given this idea by the horrors of World War II. For these reasons The Outsider is widely described as existential, and I think to an extent it certainly is. However, the idea of existentialism extends far beyond this, and far beyond my comprehension, and I don't believe Camus explores it in a great deal of detail here. Perhaps existentialist is not the best word to describe this novel, although that could be filed away with many of the other unpopular opinions I have.

Our narrator, Meursault, is as emotionally detached as he possibly could be. For the first few chapters of the novel, I believed him to suffer from depression, however I don't think this is the case. He is just entirely indifferent to people and events around him, and he is incredibly honest in an uncomfortable way which means he does not hide his indifference. In this way he completely rejects social standards, such as crying over his mother's death, and in doing so renders himself an outsider and a reject. It is interesting to note that during his trial for murder, the fact that he did not grieve over his mother's death was the damning evidence which damaged his reputation above all other facts. This prompted a wave of philosophical debate in my own head; however I will spare you the details.

Although this novel works wonderfully well as a literary text, and is in no way a philosophical essay, it also displays Camus's ideas on absurdity and the meaninglessness of life. By absurdity, Camus is referring to the way in which humans attempt to find rational meaning and order in their lives, when there is, and never will be, any at all. For example, there is no rational meaning in aspects of this novel, such as the reason for Meursault committing murder. The idea that something like this can happen for no discernible reason and that Meursault did not have a real reason for committing the act, is unsettling to society and so they will attempt to create reason and order to justify actions - Camus's take on absurdity. I find this idea absolutely delicious.

A small thing I noticed in this novel hit me in quite a big way. In most of the scenes, Meursault is either being watched by someone, or is watching someone. I think this says a lot about the notion of absurdity as well - always watching, always looking for something tangible to hold on to.

This has been more of a philosophical observation than a book review; I'm sorry. It really is a wonderful little novel, although I'm not sure whether it would be more enjoyable if you're not looking for existentialist and nihilist commentary, resulting in strange thoughts enveloping your brain. It's very short, though enjoyable, and the short sentences are very akin to our narrator's personality. I'd definitely recommend this, and I will be gearing myself up to read this in French again at some point in future.

47 / 72 books. 65% done!

Book #46

2011-12-21T18:35:00.002Z

Moab Is My Washpot by Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry's bestselling memoir tells how, sent to a boarding school 200 miles from home at the age of seven, he survived beatings, misery, love, ecstasy, carnal violation, expulsion, imprisonment, criminal conviction, probation and catastrophe to emerge, at eighteen, ready to try and face the world in which he had always felt a stranger.

I have always considered Stephen Fry as a national treasure and a man to be adored. Before now, however, I had never read any of his writing. I have to say, my adoration of him has soared after reading this autobiography due to his severe confessional honesty, and his untethered swearing (mainly f--- and c---; joyous!).

There are quite a few shocking scenes in these memoirs: expulsions from school, a spell in prison, and even a suicide attempt. Finding out about these was like being told a secret. I could never imagine Fry in any of these situations; he simply does not strike me as one who would do such things. But he has! And it was so delicious to learn that this famous, intelligent gentleman was once as naive and ridiculous as everyone else.

My favourite thing about this book was Fry's use of obscure words. I reached for my dictionary more times than I usually do whilst reading, and I learned so many new words (namely pleonasm, Fry's guilty pleasure). This is quite rare for me these days; although I do not like to boast of having a large brain and a wide vocabulary, this is the case, and finding new words has become a rarity.

I also really enjoyed the sections relating to Fry's school days. I have had a strange obsession with tales set in boarding schools ever since the wonderful Malory Towers, so I was in my element. Even his descriptions of the buildings sent me into absolute rapture. A strange fetish, but one that is present in me nonetheless!

He does tend to go off on rambling tangents, reminiscing about one thing or another, likening one situation to literary pursuits, and placing quotes from various places into the text where he thought applicable. This could be irksome with some authors, but with Fry it is simply endearing and a bit quaint.

The only downfall with this autobiography is that it only details the first twenty-odd years of Fry's life. We don't even get to meet Hugh Laurie! I find it amazing that it has taken him thirteen years to write the second half, The Fry Chronicles, however I will be attempting to source a copy as soon as I possibly can. Moab Is My Washpot, I feel, is essential for a Stephen Fry fan, full of so much honesty and self-deprecation that I simply cannot fault him.

46 / 72 books. 64% done!

Book #45

2011-12-10T10:55:00.004Z

The World's Most Evil Murderers by Colin & Damon Wilson

From Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, who sexually assaulted and killed five young victims in 1960's Britain, to Andrei Chikatilo, the Red Ripper, who confessed to fifty-fife sex murders in Russia, and from Richard Ramirex, the night Stalker, in the USA to Peter Kurten, the Dusseldorf Vampire, these are some of the most evil killers the world has ever seen.

This may have been really, really bad, or I may have a serious aversion to non-fiction. I haven't quite decided yet, but I didn't enjoy this at all.

It's split up into little chunks, one for each monster, and tells you all about their past, what drove them to it, the sordid details of exactly what they did, and how they met their end (if they had yet). Who knew such gore could be so boring? I frequently stopped halfway through a section to skip into the next one because there was no incentive to read on. It was all very dull and clinical, even the most disgusting and shocking of crimes were met with a "meh" from me. It read like a poorly written high school essay; there was absolutely nothing exciting in there at all. A book about serial killers which is lacking in excitement really is something to behold.

I really thought I was one of those crazy chicks with an obsessive interest in serial killers, but after reading this I could take them or leave them. Two people have asked to borrow this book from me, and I am going to feel guilty giving it to them.

I think I hate non-fiction.

45 / 72 books. 63% done!

Book #44

2011-12-05T18:38:00.005Z

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

It’s the early 1980s. In American colleges, the wised-up kids are inhaling Derrida and listening to Talking Heads. But Madeleine Hanna, dutiful English major, is writing her senior thesis on Jane Austen and George Eliot, purveyors of the marriage plot that lies at the heart of the greatest English novels. As Madeleine studies the age-old motivations of the human heart, real life, in the form of two very different guys, intervenes. Leonard Bankhead – charismatic loner and college Darwinist – suddenly turns up in a seminar, and soon Madeleine finds herself in a highly charged erotic and intellectual relationship with him. At the same time, her old friend Mitchell Grammaticus – who’s been reading Christian mysticism and generally acting strange – resurfaces, obsessed with the idea that Madeleine is destined to be his mate.

Over the next year, as the members of the triangle in this spellbinding novel graduate from college and enter the real world, events force them to reevaluate everything they have learned. Leonard and Madeleine move to a biology laboratory on Cape Cod, but can’t escape the secret responsible for Leonard’s seemingly inexhaustible energy and plunging moods. And Mitchell, traveling around the world to get Madeleine out of his mind, finds himself face-to-face with ultimate questions about the meaning of life, the existence of God, and the true nature of love.

Are the great love stories of the nineteenth century dead? Or can there be a new story, written for today and alive to the realities of feminism, sexual freedom, prenups, and divorce?

I honestly cannot describe how excited I was a few months ago when reading the above blurb. I thought this book was everything I had been looking for, everything I could ever hope to learn. I had a high opinion of Eugenides, with Middlesex being one of my favourite reads of all time. How could this one disappoint?

It began excitingly enough. I related to Madeleine so well - a girl who is in love with English Victorian and Regency novels, who falls in love with all of the wrong people, and who is entirely socially awkward and romantic. Tick, tick, tick. Then I got bored. I stopped reading, I stopped wanting to pick the book up. Nothing was happening; it was a road to nowhere, a cyclical walk through hell. These characters go on pointless typical journeys in order to 'find themselves'. I started to hate every single one of them (including Madeleine, I could no longer relate, she was so flat), and I didn't learn a thing. No morals of the stories were to be given, nothing was clear, the ending was AWFUL. I am devastated.

The entire thing was so dull that it has taken me weeks to get through. I could not gain the motivation to pick it up and start reading. I am sure one day I even vacuumed the house over reading a chapter. There was the odd streak of Eugenides brilliance, of course, but these were so few and far between that the 400 pages of fog seemed hardly worth it. The tangents Eugenides goes off on were ridiculous! The ins and outs of molecular behaviour of yeast! Quite the thing! This book was terrible.

I would love to sit here and delve into the ironies, subtexts and real meanings of this novel in order to understand it more clearly, but to be perfectly honest I have had quite enough of it. It was a massive disappointment after Middlesex, and it really will make me think twice about buying another Eugenides book (that is, if he writes another one after all of the God-awful reviews on this shambolic work). It may be worth a re-read in a year or so, but for now I'd really like to forget all about it. Infuriating.

(My apologies to those who were looking forward to this review, particularly Ingrid – sorry, petal)

44 / 72 books. 61% done!

Book #43

2011-11-15T19:36:00.001Z

Cruel Venus by Susan Lewis

Allyson Jaymes has it all - celebrity, power, and a glamorous marriage, until her world is destroyed by the bitterest betrayal of all: her husband's explosive affair with her 19-year-old assistant, Tessa Dukes. Tessa's ambitions burn fiercely. Her chilling manipulation of fame and her steady destruction of so many dreams and ambitions lead all concerned into a fatal minefield of sexual obsession, psychotic jealousy and deadly treachery.

It is incredibly rare for me to read a book from this kind of genre. If I do, I am normally rolling my eyes in despair after the first ten pages. I can't stand chick-lit books about how horrible men are, adultery, women's moans etc. I only began to read this because my grandma had been raving about it, gave it to me, said I had skipped in front of a long queue of friends who were to be loaned this book, and urged me to read it.

I have to hand it to her, it is gripping. By reading the blurb I had thought it would be all "cry cry cry my husband has cheated on me with a younger woman boo hoo" and so forth. Although there was, of course, a great deal of that; it had a lovely little edge of spite to it. I am a huge fan of spite and scandal, so Lewis lured me in with this. I was forced to abandon my literary puritanism, throw caution to the wind, and immerse myself in the backstabbing and betrayals of wronged against women. Fascinating!

Lewis did well with her characters here, I feel as though I was provoked to like and dislike as Lewis saw fit. The depth was good, although I'd have liked to hear a bit more, slowly but surely of Tessa's damaging past. It was almost as though we were being fed little by little, in quite a tantalising way, then Lewis hits us with "YES this is everything that has happened to her, look I need to go, let's not talk about it again, no I don't know anything else about it."

The novel is filthy, though, to the point where I will struggle to look my grandmother in the eye when handing her copy back to her. The sex scenes occurred incredibly often - I think this Susan Lewis is more of a romance writer than anything else. It was a very sexy book.

The narrative was consistent throughout the novel, with chapters being sectioned off into smaller chunks given from the point of view of different characters. I was irked by the fact that the novel was broken into three large sections of a number of chapters each, which were named after the three main female characters. Surely if you name a section of a novel after a character then that section should be narrated by them or from their point of view? Why stick their name at the front of a section for no reason?

The ending wasn't incredibly satisfying and didn't tidy things up very nicely. My grandma had actually asked me to tell her who I think 'did it' (a murder, not it, everyone was doing it in this novel) as she couldn't work it out. I think I know, but the final sentence is very ambiguous and incredibly annoying.

I enjoyed this, although I see it as a literary escape, a rest for my mind, and an easy read. It really didn't take me too long to read, didn't challenge my mind in any way, I didn't learn anything substantial from it (apart from a few shocking sex acts that I had no idea existed or were indeed possible), and I am not intrigued in the slightest to read any more Susan Lewis novels. However, I would definitely recommend this to lighter readers who like a bit of bitchiness and suspense; it's definitely worth a read as a holiday novel.

43 / 72 books. 60% done!

Book #42

2011-11-11T19:18:00.004Z

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence

Clifford Chatterley returns from the First World War as an invalid. Constance nurses him and tries to be the dutiful wife but begins to feel oppresses by their childless marriage and isolated life. Partly encouraged by Clifford to seek a lover, she embarks on a passionate affair with the gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors.

This is my first foray into Lawrence and I am still quite unsure how I feel. This was my second attempt at Lady Chatterley, and it took me a very long time to get into my stride. The beginning of the novel is greatly about business, class and industrialism, and I am unashamed to say that things only began to get interesting when Lady Chatterley begins her affair.

I think my main confusion with this novel stems from the messages it is conveying. On one hand it is incredibly Victorian, and Lawrence's comments on social class and feminism clearly show this. However, it very well may be the most modern and relatable classic work of fiction I have ever read, and most definitely the first Penguin Modern Classic I have read with such profanities included in the text. The structure and narrative themselves are incredibly modern; however some of the plot lines are so aged. It was difficult to remember that this novel was written in the early 1920s.

I think one of Lawrence's messages here is that sensuality and sexuality are far more important and superior to the workings of the intellectual mind, and the pursuit of intellectual activity. Lawrence then goes on to explore the importance of uniting the mind with the body and allowing them to work in unison to obtain a higher happiness and worth than is possible without such intertwining.

Free speech is a big thing here, rather than the stereotypical free love. I particularly liked the class comments, the differences between men and women (at the time of writing and also in the present day) and the question of whether love is a physical or mental thing. Or both!

The characters were quite flat, boring and unlikeable. Lady Chatterley was entirely dull, Mellors was almost a comic stereotype, and Clifford was your typical wronged against pathetic male who reminded me slightly of pathetic males I have encountered in my own life.

It seemed slightly misogynistic to me, and I wasn't blown away in the slightest. There was a comment somewhere saying that women don't like sex and if they do they are lesbians! The ending was an incredible anti-climax with absolutely no reader satisfaction whatsoever. To me, this is one you would read to say you have read it, and then file it away never to be looked at again.

42 / 72 books. 58% done!

Book #41

2011-10-26T19:28:00.002+01:00

Brick Lane by Monica Ali

Still in her teenage years, Nazneen finds herself in an arranged marriage with a disappointed man who is twenty years older. Away from the mud and heat of her Bangladeshi village, home is now a cramped flat in a high-rise block in London's East End. Nazneen knows not a word of English, and is forced to depend on her husband. But unlike him she is practical and wise, and befriends a fellow Asian girl Razia, who helps her understand the strange ways of her adopted new British home.

Yet another novel I had high expectations of and have come away from underwhelmed and confused. I did enjoy the story, and I feel like I learned a lot about culture, however the plot was very weak, and I didn't fall in love with any characters. Falling in love with at least one character per novel is a requirement for me.

Nazneen, our protagonist, is as emotionless as they come. She wanders through her life as though she is practically brain dead, and even when the most emotionally gripping things happen to her she remains stoic. I couldn't fathom her out. She begins an adulterous relationship with a younger man and her feelings for him are described, but they are somehow metallic and meaningless. She is a still life painting; a hologram of life. I originally thought that she was portrayed like this to embody the oppressed nature of a Muslim wife, but this isn't the case. There are other Muslim wives in the novel who have so much more character. Towards the end of the novel, Nazneen begins to stand up for what she believes in, but even this just seemed alien and downright odd. I couldn't stop imagining her walking around with a perpetual poker face, regardless of the situation she found herself in.

I would have liked more from Nazneen based on the fact that she was uprooted from her home in Goripur and taken to London where everything is different. Other than a fleeting scene involving her bursting into tears over a bowl of cornflakes on the flight over, there was nothing in the vein of trying to fit in. I enjoyed Nazneen's memories from Goripur and really immersed myself into these. The difference in culture is so lovely to read, especially when there's jinns, talking birds, and exorcisms involved. I just wanted a bit more, a bit of comparison and contrast in Nazneen's blank canvas of a brain.

I particularly liked the letters Nazneen's sister sent to London from Dhaka. These were full of life, emotion and wonder. Hasina's life was far from perfect and she was not without her problems, but her letters oozed soul. I did have a problem, however, with the way these letters were written. Ali had Hasina write in broken English, and I couldn't understand why. Surely Hasina would not be writing to her sister in English? They both spoke Bengali, so I wasn't sure whether Ali was implying that Hasina was poorly educated or whether these letters had been translated into English by Nazneen. Neither of these outcomes make sense, and the thought irks me - are we to be looking down on Hasina?

The poltics and racial issues here are themes I was really looking forward to getting my teeth into, and learning from. I just couldn't. The planned marches, the riots, the looting, the fights; all of these just passed me quietly and they shouldn't have done. They didn’t make sense to me, and were poorly explained.

I am really disappointed in this. I had heard so many good things, and it really just wasn't what I was expecting. The ending was awful, cheesy, and really made me wonder what people have seen in this book.

41 / 72 books. 57% done!

Book #40

2011-10-12T21:02:00.003+01:00

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Taken from the poverty of her parents' home in Portsmouth, Fanny Price is brought up with her rich cousins at Mansfield Park, acutely aware of her humble rank and with her cousin Edmund as her sole ally. During her uncle's absence in Antigua, the Crawford's arrive in the neighbourhood bringing with them the glamour of London life and a reckless taste for flirtation.

I am a huge fan of Austen, and have taken it upon myself to read every piece of her work I can get my hands on. Mansfield Park did not fail to disappoint me, and was filled with the humour, complexities, emotion and romanticism I have come to expect from her.

Most Austen novels centre around young women trying to find their feet in the complex social order of things in the 19th century. This is normally determined by marriage; a sort of snakes and ladders game in social circles. Our protagonist, Fanny, is a completely different breed from Austen's other heroines. She is extremely timid and moral, and is a stark contrast to Elizabeth Bennet or Emma Woodhouse. She is constant pillar of righteousness throughout the entire novel, whilst being surrounded by the shallow, the disrespectful, and the superficial.

Although this novel is greatly looked upon as a romance novel (as most of Austen's works are), I feel it is a lot more than that. Austen comments greatly on the social structure of the time, of the slave trade, of poverty, and most importantly of family. There is a message here behind almost everything, and it really is wonderful, and exciting!

There is a lot of hints here towards the argument of nature or nurture which are very interesting, and Austen explores whether or not your qualities are innate, or whether they are a result of the environment you are brought up in. She doesn't come to a definite conclusion on this one, but gives us a feast for our thoughts. (If anyone is interested, I haven't come to a conclusion on this argument either, and I am still sitting on the fence)

Austen also sets Mansfield Park - a haven filled with lovely people - in the countryside, and writes about the more urban areas, such as London and Portsmouth as filthy areas of vice and ruin. I loved this. I loved seeing such poverty in Portsmouth depicted as a life that Fanny had escaped, and I loved the contrast when she was finally summoned back to Mansfield.

I found the ending to be rather abrupt and rushed. Since it was the happy ending we were all hoping for, I would've expected it come with a certain coup de foudre. Unfortunately, it was a slowly but surely type of ending, which is more typical of life in general. The romantic in me was hoping for something more, but isn't this always the case?

I can never really bash out a good review on classic literature. I feel a bit humbled, and as though it isn't really my place to comment (a bit like Fanny Price, actually). However, this is quite the Austen novel, and if you're a fan I'd definitely recommend. Love triangles, materialism, charity, walking and talking in well-kept gardens, LETTERS! I loved it.

40 / 72 books. 56% done!

Book #39

2011-09-23T22:04:00.004+01:00

Madeleine by Kate McCann

Kate McCann's personal account of the disappearance and continuing search for her daughter.

I'd like to begin by saying I am not used to reading or reviewing non-fiction. I don't read a great deal of it as it doesn't let me escape in the same way as fiction does. This book in particular is awful to use as a tool for escapism, of course. I have also never truly had a proper opinion on this case until this book was given to me, and I was urged to read it.

I can't possibly begin to review this book in the same way I would a normal work of fiction. It was no literary miracle; I cringed at some of the grammar and sentence structure employed. But that isn't what this one is about, so I suppose all I can comment on is the situation.

The whole point of this book is to keep Madeleine's name, face, and story in the minds of the public in the hope that someone will bring the McCanns some sort of deliverance. The whole thing is eye-opening - Kate holds nothing back, and it's interesting and aggravating to see how they were treated at the lowest point in their lives. She is honest to the point of over-justification, which I didn't think necessary.

There is a lot of criticism of other parties, such as the Portuguese police force, which is obviously incredibly one-sided. This certainly does elicit great sympathy for the McCanns, however it did lead me to wonder how the criticised parties would defend themselves when faced with such observations. A great deal came across to me as sheer retaliation, which I suppose is fair enough.

There are lots of things going on in this book and I found it difficult to keep track of names, places and occurrences. I was frequently lost.

I have always maintained an indifferent attitude towards this case; however this book has tugged at my heartstrings somewhat. I cannot imagine the pain and frustration this has caused the McCanns. As Kate says herself in the book, the not knowing must be the worst part.

The book is very dark, dismal, and emotional. The ordeal the McCanns have gone through is something not to be wished on a worst enemy, and no doubt the writing of this book opened up painful wounds. I respect this as it's all in aid of finding Madeleine since there is no police body looking for her anymore. It's heartbreaking.

Fingers crossed the funds raised from this book, or the wide reach it has had, will prompt some sort of breakthrough in this investigation. It has left me feeling strangely empty, and I am reverting back to my imaginary land of fiction.

39 / 72 books. 54% done!

Book #38

2011-09-16T19:13:00.005+01:00

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

An inmate of a mental institution tries to find the freedom and independence denied him in the outside world.

I'd like to begin by mentioning that this is the first time I have read this novel, and I have never seen the film. I loved everything about it.

One flew east, one flew west. One flew over the cuckoo's nest. This rhyme alone is referring to being insane and being very far from home. I think even the title of the book in reference to this nursery rhyme lets you know exactly what you are in for.

Our narrator, Chief Bromden, is one of the most unreliable narrators I have come across. He is a paranoid hallucinating schizophrenic, so the narrative comes across as disjointed and, let’s face it, completely cuckoo. Despite these flaws, I fell in love with him. He comes across in the beginning as so weak and consumed by a fog he constantly believes to be there. By the end of the novel he has had such a journey that he is a completely different person. He often imagined the hospital itself to be controlled by an array of different machines and electronics - I loved this contrast with his past lifestyle, which was completely centred on earth, hunting and raw living. Chuck Palahniuk also made a comment about the novel which mirrors Chief Bromden's view of the hospital as mechanistic. He said the novel "focuses on the modern paradox of trying to be human in the well-oiled machine of a capitalist democracy." That's something worth considering.

Although Bromden was my favourite character, much has to be said about McMurphy. When he arrives in the ward, he is a spark of light in a depressing environment. He clashes considerably with the air of oppression, instead exhibiting symbols of freedom, sexuality, violence, and self-confidence. He immediately engages the head nurse (the source of the oppression) into a power struggle, and by doing so rallies the other patients into coming alive to help him in this war of wills.

Using McMurphy's booming character, Kesey really sends a message to us about the power of enjoyment and laughter. When McMurphy enters the ward for the first time, his laugh is the first real laugh that has occurred in the ward since anyone can remember. As the novel progresses, and McMurphy's influence becomes stronger, the men on the ward learn to laugh, and it seems through this they are able to grow stronger.

It is interesting to note that this novel was born from Ken Kesey's experiences of working night-shift in a mental health facility. No doubt he witnessed first-hand some of the events and situations in the novel. I find that incredibly intriguing, and his disturbing little sketches which were peppered throughout the novel did a lot to add to this appeal.

The tragic ending was awful, and almost an anti-climax as it didn't seem to enforce the message the book was trying to relate to us. However, such is life. Solutions do not always present themselves, and often, because of this, we are left with tragic endings. Despite this, the symbol of freedom from hopeless, trapped situations such as these transcends the tragedy, and makes the reader consider morality and human spirit.

Many have been heard to suggest that this is best American novel of all time. I have only just finished it an hour ago and I am severely inclined to agree with them. I could not recommend this novel enough.

38 / 72 books. 53% done!

Book #37

2011-09-10T14:54:00.002+01:00

The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens

Described as a "tragedy of sorrows," this story tells of a girl uprooted from a secure and innocent childhood. Cast into a world where evil takes many shapes, little Nell meets the stunted, lecherous Quilp, whose demonic energy dominates the book. Sometimes fairytale and sometimes myth, this is Victorian life at its most bleak.

This has been my first real brush with Dickens, other than dabbling in A Christmas Carol last December. It has taken me around a month to read the novel, which is a long time for me. I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on anything, and as a result I have come away from it with a lovely feeling of satisfaction.

The characters were simply wonderful, my favourites being Whiskers the pony, or the lovely Dick Swiveller (his name throwing me into fits of giggles upon the first reading). I did notice that the characters were quite polarised - the good characters were intrinsically and impossibly good, the evil characters intrinsically evil, but the inbetweeners, the supporting characters, had good, evil, and a thousand other grey shades within their personalities. Dick was one of these characters, not entirely moral, slightly selfish and a mild alcoholic. However, by the end of the novel he was kind, gentle and entirely moralistic. Whiskers was a highlight due to his inability to follow orders, dragging his master’s cart wherever he thought suitable, and in his final act, kicking the doctor who had been hired to make him better.

The plot centres around a journey, which I found exciting as Nell and her grandfather fall in with all sort of characters, circus people and a travelling waxwork museum. It was quite eccentric and animated, and alluded greatly to how people of high class entertained themselves in these times.

I enjoy reading about 19th century Britain in the general, and here Dickens makes several social comments on inequality of class.

I particularly enjoyed "Chapter The Last" which served as a "What are they all doing now?" chapter. This was a wonderful finale, and filled me with satisfaction. It's lovely at the end of a novel to know that the good are living well, and the evil ones have had what they deserve.

I was also interested to read the following information on Wikipedia: "In 2007, many newspapers claimed the excitement at the release of the last volume of 'The Old Curiosity Shop' was the only historical comparison that could be made to the excitement at the release of the last Harry Potter novel .... Dickens fans were reported to storm the piers of New York City, shouting to arriving sailors (who may have read the last installment in the United Kingdom), 'Is Little Nell alive?'" (Source)

I'd definitely recommend this one. It's not entirely plot-driven, which is why I think it took me so long to read, but is more a series of little stories about each of the characters. If you bear this in mind, you'll enjoy the novel.

37 / 72 books. 51% done!

Book #36

2011-08-14T13:56:00.006+01:00

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Centuries ago, when magic still existed in England, the greatest magician of them all was the Raven King. A human child brought up by fairies, the Raven King blended fairy wisdom and human reason to create English magic. Now, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, he is barely more than a legend, and England, with its mad King and its dashing poets, no longer believes in practical magic. Then the reclusive Mr Norrell of Hurtfew Abbey appears and causes the statues of York Cathedral to speak and move. News spreads of the return of magic to England and, persuaded that he must help the government in the war against Napoleon, Mr Norrell goes to London. There he meets a brilliant young magician and takes him as a pupil. Jonathan Strange is charming, rich and arrogant. Together, they dazzle the country with their feats. But the partnership soon turns to rivalry. Mr Norrell has never conquered his lifelong habits of secrecy, while Strange will always be attracted to the wildest, most perilous magic.He becomes fascinated by the shadowy figure of the Raven King, and his heedless pursuit of long-forgotten magic threatens, not only his partnership with Norrell, but everything that he holds dear.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

It's an intimidating tome at first - 1,000 pages, 69 chapters, and it has quite a weight to it that I've never really noticed in a book before. Upon finishing the story, though, I can only imagine this weight is due to the intricacies of the worlds that are held within the pages.

The novel isn't written as a fantasy novel as such. It reads a bit like Dickens, with some Austen thrown in, and the only way it could be described as a fantasy novel is that it's about magic. It isn't, however, your Harry Potter breed of magic. Clarke's 19th century magicians are concerned with the more poweful, disturbing, and eerie sort of magic. Magic that goes from our realm to elsewhere, magic that comes into contact with otherworldly beings (namely fairies), unknowable magic that sets your nerves on edge.

There were parts of this book where I felt horrible uncomfortable and uneasy. The eerie worlds that Clarke wove into the novel were very real, and very frightening. Her characterisation was absolutely spot on, and there was one character in particular whom I disliked greatly, and who terrified me. This was, of course, the gentleman with the thistle-down hair, whom I will speak no more of in case I spoil the novel, and/or work myself up into a panic.

I was also a bit disturbed, but deliciously so, by the idea that as well as our own world, there are other worlds which are home to fairies and other beings. These worlds can be accessed by the fairy roads, and through mirrors. When I was younger, I was convinced there was another world just inside my mirror, so this came as a bit of a shock. In fact, as I’m typing this I’m mentally daring myself to turn my head to the left and look into my mirror. I still haven’t done it, it’s the eeriest thought that somewhere, or something, is in there.

Clarke also gives us subtle social commentary on 19th century politics, sexism, racism and poverty. It's wonderfully given to us as the idea that "Oh, this is the way it was back then. But, wow, weren't they wrong?"

Her research on her plot was undeniably thorough. I can't pretend to have a great deal of knowledge on 19th century England, Napoleonic wartime, or anything at all from this period, so I was at a loss at times to deduce what was historic fact and what was Clarke's invention. Sometimes I did wonder if she was playing upon something that did happen, and attributing it to magic. However, I am sure those of you who do have ample knowledge in this area would get a lot of pleasure from these parts of the novel.

I wasn't too sure whether I was satisfied with the climax or not. It wasn't an ‘everything has gone back to being nice’ kind of ending. It was tragic and devastating, but left wiggle room for a sequel (which, I believe, is being written as we speak). I am still trying to come to terms with it.

I could have written a better review on this. My thoughts are disjointed as I've just put the book down this second. I wish I could do this more justice, and be more coherent, but my brain is all over the place.

Anyway, this was beautifully written, the plot flitted gorgeously from person to person; the characters were lovely, frightening, pitiful and selfish. However, I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. You have to really want to read it; you have to stick by it. It isn't a fast-paced adventure novel; it really is a queer little tale that takes time. I found it to be a rare treat, something that will stay in my mind for a long time. If your interest isn't piqued after two chapters, put it down and save your time. This book is not for you.

(I am still struggling not to look in this mirror.)

36 / 72 books. 50% done!

Book #35

2011-07-21T19:26:00.008+01:00

The Prime Minister's Brain by Gillian Cross

Everyone at school is playing the new computer game, Octopus Dare, but only Dinah is good enough to beat it. But she forgets who she is when she looks into the whirling eyes of the Octopus...What is happening, and how is the Demon Headmaster involved? And what will he do if he really does get into the Prime Minister's Brain?

The sequel to The Demon Headmaster! I enjoyed this one a great deal more than its predecessor.

The computer game plotline dragged me right into the book when I was younger, and it did this time too. The book was written in the 80s, and reading the descriptions of these old-fashioned computers the characters were using was quite amusing. I loved that Cross made Dinah carry one of these monumental contraptions across London on the tube. She must have been having a laugh. No one used a mouse either, all of the computer activities were command based. Press O to open, it was brilliantly retro. I also really liked the font changes in the novel which illustrated words appearing on a computer screen, à la:

ERROR!

Very enthralling.

The characters end up splitting up at the beginning of the novel, and the chapters are set out nicely to alternate between their different narratives, which varies the plot slightly and gives us an all-seeing eye of sorts.

Some of the language used is quite dated, and it reads sometimes as a jolly-oh Enid Blyton type of novel. This strangely contrasted with the futuristic, mechanical feel of the novel, and felt quite odd. The characters in the book do remind me a lot of the Famous Five, and to associate them with computers and the future is just completely bizarre.

I didn't realise there were six books in this series! I have only ever read the first two. I doubt I'll track down the remaining four, however, as I'm not too sure it would be worth my while.

I much preferred this novel to the last, but perhaps I am just remembering my feelings on first reading it. I remember absolutely loving it. I probably won't visit The Demon Headmaster and SPLAT again for a long while, though.

This is the end of my nostalgic readings for now. I am now moving onto some very thick books and I am excited, but slightly nervous about the imminent book avalanche that will no doubt occur when I try to remove the next one from my shelves.

35 / 72 books. 49% done!

Book #34

2011-07-19T18:55:00.003+01:00

The Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross

Dinah moves in with the Hunter family and starts going to the same school as her foster-brothers Lloyd and harvey. It's not easy, as they seem to hate her, and school is really strange. Pupils suddenly talk like robots and do weird things - even Dinah finds herself acting oddly. She's sure the headmaster has some kind of power over them, and is determined to find out more. But the Demon Headmaster is equally determined to stop her.

I loved this book when I was younger, and I especially loved the television series. Who could forget those horrible green eyes of doom? Yuck.

Despite this long lost love, I'm not too sure if this book is a good one for adults to return to. I remember finding it so exciting in my younger days, but reading it this time, I felt a bit depressed! I didn't feel a great deal of suspense as I read; there definitely should have been some there. I didn't have much feeling for the characters either; no love for the goodies and no hate for the baddies. It was all a bit bland.

The whole premise of the book is a terrifying one, and very reminiscent of Nineteen Eighty-Four (which is in fact mentioned in the book twice, but not as a comparison to events). The idea of a school such as this, with this kind of man in power is quite lamentable. However, (and I will ignore for the moment the fact that this is a book aimed at children) Cross shows us this scenario to be just a wee bit of a stress and a burden. No big deal, just a minor annoyance. This will probably pass over younger reader's heads, but it bothered me. I was particularly shocked by the snowball punishment. It was very cruel. The three characters who endured it seemed to be quite fine afterwards, but I was chilled to the core along with them.

Cross used the word "realer" in this novel, and my eyes crossed in frustration reading this horrible error. My particular copy was published in 1998, so I can only hope later editions have this mistake amended. It was awful.

Although more could've been done with the plot and the characters, it will always be a childhood favourite of mine. I'm moving on now to the sequel, which I seem to remember I enjoyed a bit more!

34 / 72 books. 47% done!

Book #33

2011-07-18T20:50:00.004+01:00

99 Fear Street: The House of Evil (Collector's Edition) by R.L. Stine

Take a tour of the scariest house on Fear Street in this spooky trilogy. "The First Horror": Twins Cally and Kody Frasier have moved into the scariest house on Fear Street. Will they become its next victims? "The Second Horror": The minute Brandt moves into town, he's got three girls fighting over him. But Cally's ghost wants him most of all. "The Third Horror": Kody returns to the infamous 99 Fear Street to make a movie about her life--and find her sister. But soon the horror film is becoming all too real.

(Sorry about the miniscule book cover! This isn't the newest or most popular book, so I found it difficult to find a clear cover picture, unfortunately!)

I must have read this trilogy a thousand times many moons ago. I loved scaring myself, and I loved reading about the supernatural. I can't remember, however, being as scared reading it as I was this time. I am the grand old age of twenty-three (almost twenty-four!) and I was jumping out of my skin when I heard the slightest noise in my empty house. This is what R.L. Stine is all about. I am a grown woman, it's ridiculous.

I find it amazing how kids can read these books, actually. All three were filled with such gruesome and gory scenes, terrible cliff-hangers at the end of each and every chapter, and trauma every few pages. It was delicious.

The first book in the trilogy is exciting, but upon reading the next two it's soon quite obvious that it's also an excellent set-up for what's to come in the next two installments. The ending is absolutely shocking - my book is the Collector's Edition (three books in one), I have no idea how I would've felt if I only had the first book and wasn't able to read on afterwards.

The second book becomes darker and a bit more creative, with Stine dabbling in ritual magic and voodoo. I found our male protagonist to be slightly irritating, particularly when he has three girls fawning over him at one point, making him think he was a bit of a ticket. His ending, though, was almost as delightful as the last! The twist was perfect, and I had forgotten all about it. Although I did work a few things out before they happened in book two (which, to be fair, is to be expected with an adult reading literature aimed at a younger audience), it was in no way as predictable as Call Waiting.

The third was probably my least favourite, but was still enjoyable. I found the plot to be slightly unbelievable to begin with - all of these horrible events happen at your old house, so you decide to go back so you can star in a film about it? Nonetheless, I enjoyed the gore, and I enjoyed the casualties. It was possibly the most gruesome of the three, but this is a very close call. I'm not too sure if the second or third installments would be as exciting if the reader hadn't experienced its predecessors, however.

I am an absolute sucker for being scared. I love it, and I had forgotten how wonderfully spine-tingly R.L. Stine's stories and words were. I have no idea where all of my old Point Horror and Goosebumps books are, but I really will have to have a look because I had lots of fun reading this one, despite having to put all of the lights on in the house before going downstairs for a glass of water during the night.

Normal service will resume soon; two more children's novels to go!

33 / 72 books. 46% done!

Book #32

2011-07-14T10:47:00.001+01:00

Call Waiting by R.L. Stine

A killer who phones his victims before murdering them is stalking Karen, and if Karen cannot trace the caller, she will become his next conquest.

I found a few of my old, young adult books while cleaning, so I'm going to give them a bash. It's quite a difference reading books which are so short, and with such massive text size! R.L. Stine was one of my favourites while growing up, first Goosebumps, then Point Horror as I 'matured'. It was interesting to read this one from an adult's perspective, but I was sad to discover I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I was expecting!

To begin with, the entire story was incredibly predictable. I worked out about ten pages in who this 'phantom' caller was going to be, and the other little plot points weren't too difficult to fathom. This is a kid’s book, though, so I’m sure I can forgive this.

Stine portrays his teenage characters quite well; I think he gets their feelings and actions spot on. In particular, Karen's crazy teenage girlfriend behaviour was quite accurate, and can be attributed to people in real life quite easily. For this reason, I didn't like Karen. She was a complete brat, very selfish, and cracked in the head. I didn't particularly like any of the characters; none of them were developed enough.

I liked that the book was set in the 90s. It was so odd to read, especially as it's set around telephone calls and there were no mobile phones in those days. I also enjoyed the incredibly 90s Saved by the Bell patter that was peppered through the dialogue. Awesome!

This definitely isn't R.L. Stine's best. There are many other Point Horrors he has written that have had me terrified. I think it may be down to the fact that there isn't anything supernatural going down in this one, just emotions and silly behaviours. It was enjoyable nonetheless and has inspired me to have a dig for the huge amount of others I had back in the day.

Stay tuned for another R.L. Stine review!

32 / 72 books. 44% done!

Book #31

2011-07-13T12:20:00.003+01:00

The Shack by William P. Young

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgement he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

I was really unsure about this one, and I still am to a certain degree. It's an incredibly religious text. I believe my reservations in that area may have something to do with me not fully enjoying the book, and they will certainly be a burden to me when attempting to review it. It really felt that rather than telling the reader a story here, the reader is to be taught a lesson about God, and about why he allows such pains and sufferings to take place in our world.

The protagonist was a man who had turned his back on God after his youngest daughter had been abducted and killed. God then writes a note inviting our protagonist to the shack where the ordeal happened, in order to have a wee chat. Believable?

The theological explanations which are given here are written in an extreme, poetic, Hallmark card fashion. There were times when my eyes began to glaze over due to an influx of biblical buzz words and motivational sentences.

However, God is certainly presented as someone to think about. Young challenges our preconceived notions of God, and questions our judgements upon Him, and judgements upon our peers.

Young is not a terribly good writer. Many times I noticed words which seemed to have been placed into a sentence by extreme use of a thesaurus. There were far too many adjectives, and a disturbing amount of similes. He is, however, a man who has gone through some ordeals in his life, spent a great deal of time evaluating these and trying to find God. I respect that.

This book would be a better read for practising Christians, or indeed people with an interest in religion. It has certainly changed some of my perceptions of God, but it has absolutely not given me any sort of incentive to convert to Christianity, as the blurb and various reviews I read suggested it would.

31 / 72 books. 43% done!

Book #30

2011-07-02T16:19:00.005+01:00

Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill

Baby is twelve. Her mother died soon after she was born so she lives with her father - and his heroin addiction. She's grown up in Montreal' red-light district, never staying anywhere long enough to call it home, and now Baby is losing the only constant in her life; her father. He's been sent to hospital and she's been forced into foster care. She longs for his return; other people's families are no substitute for her own. Starved of affection, Baby is attracted to all the wrong people. And when her father betrays her and she is sent to a juvenile detention centre, she is more at risk than ever. Baby' survival rests on her gift for spinning stories and for cherishing the small crumbs of happiness which fall into her lap.

There are so many reviews of this book out there, and it’s difficult to find one which will say a bad thing about this book. It has been praised so highly that I had no choice but to read it. It’s described it as outstanding, witty, riveting and believable. To me, unfortunately, this book was none of these things, and I cannot begin to imagine why people thought it was. I hated it from beginning to end; it was truly awful.

When I start a book, I like to finish it. I like to get a good idea of the writing style, and if I hate the book from the beginning I like to see whether or not my opinion can be turned around. This has been known to happen. Forcing myself to finish Lullabies was nothing short of self-torture. There was nothing in this book that made me want to keep reading. The characterisation was laughable! I had no shred of concern about anyone in the slightest. This is a very young girl who has been thrown into a world of prostitution and addiction. O'Neill did absolutely nothing to evoke my sympathies in this girl; in actual fact this poor abused girl was a chronic irritation. From the beginning, pieces of plot are thrown at us for nothing more than shock value. I didn't feel shock. I didn't feel anything because I wasn't connecting with anything in this book at all. It was a completely numb experience for me.

The Independent on Sunday said this book was full of 'magical imagery'. I do beg to differ. O'Neill tried too hard to romanticise scenes, giving us the most ridiculous imagery that could ever be imagined. Her similes were irrelevant and nonsensical; it seemed as though they were just thrown in to put stars in our eyes. Each sentence seemed to be a line of nonsense which had just been thrown in for effect. The plot ended up extremely disjointed as a result of this - I had no idea where I was for the majority of my time reading. I’d have laughed if I wasn’t too busy grinding my teeth.

Not only did O'Neill overly fabricate her writing style, her morals leave something to be desired as well. There was no sense of right or wrong in this novel, the themes of addiction and prostitution were embellished into elements of a wonderful, glamorous life. There was no shred of empathy, just a severe elaboration of a girl's poverty stricken life.

Although I can appreciate what O'Neill was trying to do with this novel, it is safe to say that she has missed the point by a long shot. I could go on and on about this book's shortcomings, but I would be sitting here for a long time. I just can't even begin to fathom why this novel has won and been nominated for so many book awards, where better novels have deserved to win, but have missed out. It’s shocking.

If you value my opinions at all, please avoid this one. I feel like I have wasted my time reading and reviewing when I could've been reading something else. Avoid like the plague!

30 / 72 books. 42% done!

Book #29

2011-06-20T22:18:00.003+01:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Harry has been burdened with a dark, dangerous and seemingly impossible task: that of locating and destroying Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows. But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to complete the task he has been given. He must leave the warmth, safety and companionship of The Burrow and follow without fear or hesitation the inexorable path laid out for him.

I can't even begin to describe how much my opinion of this book has changed since I read it last year. Although I cannot pretend that it's my favourite of the seven, it held a lot more sway for me this time than any other time I have read it (which is only twice before this time, fact fans).

Many of the elements which I had distaste for on my previous read throughs have been redeemed in my eyes. I see the reason behind these now, the symbolism, and the meaning. For example, I didn't like Rowling's stories of Dumbledore's past, how she told of him dabbling in lowly, and ignoble acts. But, why not? Our heroes can't all be shiny, golden idols. I think Rowling is trying to make a point of the fact that Dumbledore made mistakes, he was imperfect, but what a man!

I think my opinions on the novel have probably changed due to the excessive amount of fangirling I have been doing since my reading of the novel last year, and now. I had extreme doubts about the epilogue last year, but after just finishing reading it the tears are still drying on my face. Maybe I'm growing up.

When the book came out in 2007, I was almost upon my 20th birthday (which is, incidentally, on the 31st of July, the same as Harry's, and JK's). I tried my best to be immovable, invincible, and impassive. I was of the opinion that Harry's death should have been inevitable. Rowling, however, felt the need to give Harry a loophole; a chance. And Harry deserved this, because good people deserve good things. This is what I've come to realise.

So, again, my opinion has changed. Yes, I am a massive fangirl, but these books mean so much more to me than light entertainment. This series has taught me, over a fourteen year span, the merits of friendship, bravery, honesty, and love. This will all sound horribly cheesy and unlike me, but there are only a bare minimum of you who I will expect to understand. No saga has made such an impression on me as this one. A different burst of emotion is experienced on every page. It is nothing less than wonderful, and I'd like to thank J.K. Rowling for giving me something that can be cherished as much as this can.

29 / 72 books. 40% done!

Book #28

2011-06-07T21:22:00.001+01:00

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

'In a brief statement on Friday night, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He Who Must Not Be Named has returned to this country and is once more active. "It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord - well, you know who I mean - is alive and among us again," said Fudge.'

I often wonder whether this installment is my favourite, rather than Goblet of Fire. I have never made up my mind. They are both two very different novels, but I think this one has climbed to the #1 spot this time.

It's just wonderful; anguish, heartache, adventure, mystery, love, family, BETRAYAL. I could go on and on.

The best thing about this novel is the insight we are given into Voldemort's past life. It is incredible to learn about him as a young boy, and how he became the most powerful Dark wizard of all. I loved learning of what made him tick, what sort of things he was attached to, how he used people, and how he used his power. And we saw all of this through the Pensieve. I have such a high opinion of this plot device; I could talk about its merits forever. I have never come across something so effective in conveying past events - it allows us to witness events first hand rather than through the jumbled words of someone else, and it allows us to witness them more than once if need be. I love it.

Of course the heartbreak comes in the final few chapters when we lose Professor Albus Dumbledore, the heart and soul of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is an unbelievably emotional moment; a great loss. I believe the lament of the phoenix spoke for everyone at this point.

The novel ends and opens a wonderful, tantalising path for the final novel to go down, and although it doesn't end with a cliffhanger as such, it makes you desperate to read more, to make sure everyone will be okay, but with a dreadful feeling in your stomach because you know what's coming.

Time for Book 7.

Book #27

2011-05-30T14:34:00.004+01:00

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter is due to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry. He is desperate to get back to school and find out why his friends Ron and Hermione have been so secretive all summer. However, what Harry is about to discover in his new year at Hogwarts will turn his whole world upside down. But before he even gets to school, Harry has an unexpected and frightening encounter with two Dementors, has to face a court hearing at the Ministry of Magic and has been escorted on a night-time broomstick ride to the secret headquarters of a mysterious group called 'The Order of the Phoenix'. And that is just the start.

I always hope my feelings for Order of the Phoenix will change with a re-read. It is my least favourite of the seven, and I can never quite put my finger on a specific reason as to why this might be. I have a few theories, however.

The suspense of the first four novels isn't as apparent here. There is not so much incentive to read on, the mysteries involved aren't as tantalising, and there isn't as many new spells, objects or people to meet and discover as in the previous installments. These small nuances are quite important to me.

Rowling's character development is quite bland. We don't learn a great deal about her characters which we didn't already know, and only the slightest of things seem to develop, such as the way Ron and Hermione act around each other. These things can only be noticed if you are already aware of what happens later in the saga, however.

Harry is absolutely deplorable throughout the entire novel. I often wonder if Order of the Phoenix is my least favourite installment due to my intense dislike for his attitude in it. Rowling is trying to bring across his teenage angst and temperament, but he just comes across as completely abhorrent. I do not deny that being the Chosen One must be a bit on the stressful side, but all he did was piss and moan for 700-odd pages. He is nothing but rude and disrespectful to Ron and Hermione, who have with nothing but the best intentions. I felt so sorry for them. Not only this, but Harry's attitude towards Dumbledore in the penultimate chapter was nothing but foul. He is, quite simply, a horrible person in this novel.

It's an enjoyable book, just not as much as the others. And at 700 or so pages, it's full of inconsequential nonsense which is quite entertaining, but which is completely irrelevant and could probably have been left out entirely.

At least I know Half-Blood Prince will remedy all of this.

27 / 72 books. 38% done!

Book #26

2011-05-14T11:25:00.002+01:00

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Once returned to Hogwarts after his summer holiday with the dreadful Dursleys and an extraordinary outing to the Quidditch World Cup, the 14-year-old Harry and his fellow pupils are enraptured by the promise of the Triwizard Tournament: an ancient, ritualistic tournament that brings Hogwarts together with two other schools of wizardry--Durmstrang and Beauxbatons--in heated competition. But when Harry's name is pulled from the Goblet of Fire, and he is chosen to champion Hogwarts in the tournament, the trouble really begins.

My favourite of the seven!

The plot thickens! This is quite a hefty tome - 637 pages to be exact - and I think this is testament to how complex the plot is becoming. Rowling is aware her readers are growing up, so she weaves layers and layers of plot into this novel to make it as intricate and exciting as she possibly can. I think the entire plot in this installment is wonderful.

The Triwizard tournament is my main reason for loving this one. I loved meeting wizards from other countries and learning of their cultures, and different ways of life. There were different spells, objects, creatures and places to learn about during the tournament. We are even allowed a peek into the Prefects' bathroom!

Rowling's character development is lovely. I really love seeing Harry, Ron and Hermione grow up. In this installment, Rowling gives them all exactly the same teenage stresses that we all go through, and it's refreshing to see. I particularly enjoy Harry's "Wangoballwime?" invitation to Cho.

Barty Crouch Jr. is a character who has always intrigued me. I hate him so much that I almost love him in an odd way. The chapter Veritaserum in which he tells his story is one of my favourites in the book. It's just so fascinating; the things he did were deplorable. I find it a shame that the kiss was performed on him - he could've done some wonderfully awful things later on in the saga.

I love reading the series back to back. But, as always, I never want to begin reading Order of the Phoenix because it's almost like the beginning of the end. Here I go!

Book #25

2011-05-01T11:05:00.003+01:00

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts...he's at Hogwarts." Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.

Although not my favourite in the series (the winner of this title is the next in line - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), this definitely comes a close second. There are many reasons for this, but the main one is how large a leap it is from Chamber of Secrets. Things start to get very serious (and very Sirius), very quickly. The story is darker, bordering on deadly in places, and it's full of suspense. I also feel that the story in this one is the most intricate of the first three, with lots of lovely little details woven into the plot; the kind that make you breathe, "Oh!", once you realise their significance. Lovely!

Another exciting thing about this book is the deeper insights we are given into certain characters - Snape in particular. We're given a lot more of his past, and how he has come to hate Harry with such venom. I feel Dumbledore is shown a new light here too - he can be quite shrewd when he wants to be, and perhaps isn’t the jolly old gentleman we thought he was in the first two installments.

Most of all, our introduction to the Marauders is my favourite part of the novel. It's wonderful to see Harry presented with information about his father, and watching him meet some of the most important people in his father's life. Sirius and Lupin are two of my favourite characters of the series, and I really love meeting them all over again each time I read Prisoner of Azkaban.

Things are beginning to get exciting; so much so that I am almost dreading reading Goblet of Fire. It’s about to get real.

25 / 72 books. 35% done!

Book #24

2011-04-24T16:23:00.003+01:00

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Harry is returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after the summer holidays and, right from the start, things are not straightforward. Unable to board the Hogwarts express, Harry and his friends break all the rules and make their way to the school in a magical flying car. From this point on, incredible events happen to Harry and his friends--Harry hears evil voices and someone, or something is attacking the pupils. Can Harry get to the bottom of the mystery before it's too late?

Click here to read my review from last year.

It is amazing how light and fun-filled these earlier installments seem to be when thinking about later episodes in Harry's life, and how horrifically dark these turn out to be. Despite Harry's run-ins with Lord Voldemort in the first couple of books, it really does all seem very jolly, ha-ha, Quidditchy in the beginning. I like this to an extent, as it's nice to see Harry having a pleasant(ish) childhood before things start to get messy. I don't like the feeling of sheer dread that comes with this, though, knowing what the poor boy will have to go through in a few years time (not to mention how emotionally distressing I always seem to find it, no matter how many times I have been through exactly the same events in the past).

Again, Rowling's imagination is fantastic here, and I can't praise her characters enough. We are introduced to Gilderoy Lockhart, who is obessed with his own fame and incredibly self-absorbed. Rowling has written him in such a way that we can completely identify with him - after all, there is a Gilderoy Lockhart imitation in everyone's life.

I particularly like this novel because Harry destroys the diary. I wouldn't want to go into detail and risk posting a huge spoiler; however I am sure the most Potter-hardcore of those who read my blog will know how monumental a moment this is on Harry's journey - even if he doesn't know it yet.

It's the little things that make the books work. De-gnoming at the Burrow, Floo powder, Howlers, Valentines dwarves, broken wands, flying cars - the Whomping Willow! It's all so exciting and different, yet glaringly believable. I cannot fault the stories at all.

Onwards, upwards, and further into the wizardly darkness I go.

24 / 72 books. 33% done!

Book #23

2011-04-17T19:31:00.003+01:00

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand and jellybeans that come in every flavour, including strawberry, curry, grass and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself!

It has been almost an entire year since I read the Harry Potter series, and I was becoming slightly restless, almost missing the characters. Since the final film is just around the corner (cue bulk-buying of Kleenex), I have resolved to read the books all over again to ensure the story is at the forefront of my mind before I walk into the cinematic finale. I am more than a fan of this series; I am a psycho fangirl.

I read and reviewed this one last May, and my first review can be read by clicking here. I thought it would be nice to do an entirely new review, but I think I will probably repeat some of the sentiments from last year.

Meeting Harry again at the beginning of his wizarding career is a pleasure. He is so innocent and vulnerable that Rowling makes you feel that he really deserves all of the wonderful things that happen to him. He hasn't been tainted by the cruelty he's been subjected to by his horrid aunt and uncle, and you can almost feel his essential goodness emanating from the first few pages. I remember completely falling in love with him when I was younger, and I am still in love with him.

I especially enjoy reading Harry Potter as a series because Rowling places tiny nuances into the early novels, hinting at the shape of things to come. Having prior knowledge of what Harry will endure in later novels is almost delicious, and Rowling's little hints are as equally thrilling.

I got slightly emotional in places here, most memorably when Harry had the Sorting Hat on and it screamed, "GRYFFINDOR," and also when Dumbledore awarded Neville ten points for his house as "he had never won so much as a point for Gryffindor before." The feelings I stumble upon whilst reading through these again are always so strange, but wonderful. It's like a set of old friends who I am visiting after a time apart, which is very odd, but I like it.

There are many things, good and bad, that can be said about Rowling's writing (although I would advise you not to criticise her to my face), but her characters cannot be faulted. They are all so rich and full, most of them remind you of someone you know, and you feel what you are supposed to feel for them, whether it is love or hate. The backgrounds we are given are always so concise and so deep that her characters will live on for a long, long time.

Rowling also manages to create this fantastical world of witches and wizards and makes it completely believable - so much so that I am of the opinion that the books were written to introduce us Muggles to the existence of the wizarding world in order to gauge how accommodating we would be towards them. We are shown so many weird and wonderful things, but not once does it feel at all far-fetched - it's Harry's world where anything can happen.

One book down and six to go. I am so excited, as always, about reading over these. It really is my favourite series. It sounds clichéd, but there is something very magical about the whole thing, and this is why it has become a sensation.

23 / 72 books. 32% done!

Book #22

2011-04-07T20:36:00.002+01:00

Harry Potter: Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley

Immerse yourself in the world of the spectacular Harry Potter film series, and learn why Yule Ball ice sculptures never melt, where Galleons, Sickles and Knuts are really "minted", how to get a Hippogriff to work with actors, about the inspiration behind Hogwarts castle, and why Dementors move the way they do.

This was wonderful; I really, really enjoyed it.

I am by all means a fan of the Harry Potter books before the films, but I have always been very impressed by how the films have taken shape and evolved over the years. I think they do a good job of representing the wizarding world in a visual form. This book gives an amazing insight into how this is achieved, and some of these ways and means are absolutely incredible.

The photographs, storyboards, and concept art that were printed in the book were breathtaking. These, combined with the copies of props which came with the book (the Marauder's Map, Umbridge's proclamations, Harry's acceptance letter to Hogwarts, and even a Yule Ball programme), ensured a wave of goosebumps up and down my arms every time I turned a page. I especially enjoyed the pages detailing Weasley's Wizard Wheezes - everything is so eccentric and colourful; it'd be an incredible place to work.

I was particularly struck by the passion for the saga that each and every person who works on the films very obviously has for both the books and the films. The effort that could be put into a single prop - even one which is visible for only a fleeting second - is truly epic. There was an intense amount of research put into even the smallest of moments; I particularly liked the inspiration for the Ministry of Magic taken from research of the Soviet Union. The quotes given from the crew members really show their devotion, also. They really are the best people for the job.

Each of the main characters has a page dedicated to them, how the actors who play them ended up with the part, and in some cases how they were transformed into their character. This was absolutely fascinating; I particularly enjoyed reading about Evanna Lynch who plays Luna Lovegood - she seems so like her character, and such a big fan of the series.

I was also treated to a sneak peek of some of the scenes from the last film - namely Gringotts Bank and the Room of Requirement before it's consumed by Fiendfyre. My heart was pounding as I pored over it, I will not lie.

This is a good example for an anti-ebook argument. There is absolutely no way an ebook reader could begin to convey anything this book is trying to evoke in a reader. The glossy pages and the pull out pages did a lot for my appreciation. I honestly don't believe that this would have had the same effect had I read it from a screen.

This really has been great, and it's a wonderful book for anyone who likes Harry Potter - but especially the more hardcore of fans amongst us. It's inspired me to begin reading the series again in preparation for the final film, which will break my heart. I reviewed the entire series last year, and will be doing this again.

Haters to the left.

22 / 72 books. 31% done!

Book #21

2011-03-27T17:24:00.005+01:00

Spiral by Koji Suzuki

Pathologist Ando is at a low point in his life. His small son's death from drowning has resulted in the break-up of his marriage and he is suffering from traumatic recurrent nightmares. Work is his only escape, and his depressing world of lonliness and regret is shaken up when an old rival from medical school, Ryuji Takayama, turns up on his slab ready to be dissected. Through Ryuji's bizarre demise Ando learns of a series of mysterious deaths that seem to have been caused by a sinister virus. From beyond the grave Ryuji appears to be leading Ando towards a suspicious videotape -- could this hold the answer to the riddle of the strange deaths? Or is it merely the first clue?

This is the sequel to Ring, which I read in April last year and really enjoyed. Unfortunately I didn't find this one quite as interesting and engaging as I did its predecessor.

It takes place almost immediately after the previous novel leaves off. Our protagonist, Ando, is dissecting the body of one of the characters who died in the previous novel. This leads to the discovery of the Ring virus, and everything from this point is given a scientific explanation. Not being particularly scientifically minded myself, I struggled to understand the links. The way Suzuki tied the supernatural to science was incredibly difficult for me to grasp, and it wasn't really what I was looking for in this novel; I like my supernatural to be inexplicable.

Much of the book is spent explaining what happened in Ring, and although this was a good reminder, also allowing the book to be read as a standalone, it was very tedious.

For these reasons too, I didn't feel the novel to be very effective as a horror. I felt no forms of suspense, shock or panic at any point whilst reading, and it failed to hold my attention at times. It just wasn't as creepy as I was expecting, and this in itself disappointed me.

Despite all this, I'm still interested in reading Loop, the final installment of the trilogy. I'd only recommend Spiral if, like me, you are interested in reading the entire series. I absolutely would not recommend this as a standalone read, unless you have a specific interest in how science relates to the paranormal.

21 / 72 books. 29% done!

Book #20

2011-03-15T20:06:00.001Z

Porno by Irvine Welsh

In the fag-end of his youth, Simon 'Sick Boy' Williamson is back in his native Edinburgh after a long spell in London. Having failed spectacularly as a hustler, pimp, husband, father and businessman, Sick Boy taps into an opportunity, which to him represents one last throw of the dice. To enable this scam to work out, Sick Boy needs bedfellows.

This is the sequel to Trainspotting, and takes place ten years later. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews on this one, always comparing it to Trainspotting, but I have to say I like it just as much, if not more than, its predecessor.

It's slightly less intense than Trainspotting and shows sex rather than heroin as the drug of choice. Despite this, it's still filled with corruption from beginning to end.

It's possibly not the best book to read in public. I have the edition with the cover above, and this provoked a few raised eyebrows from the public when I was doing my relentless 'read whilst walking somewhere' routine. If you're easily embarrassed, then this is one that should be read only in the comforting depths of your own home.

The main thing to notice here is how deeply Irvine Welsh falls in love with his characters. They appear in sequels, but they also appear dotted around in the backgrounds of his other novels and this intertwining is something I love about his work. Porno seems to have been written to continue the stories of the much loved characters from Trainspotting, and who can blame the man for this? I found the character development to be almost perfect; every character was more or less where I would've expected them to be ten years down the line.

The narrative is set out similar to Trainspotting’s, with each new chapter being narrated by a different voice. This is wonderful as it gives us a greater insight into the minds and actions of more of the characters, rather than just one. Again, some of the characters use Scot's dialect, which can become tiresome (I imagine) if it's not your native tongue. Most of Sick Boy's chapters were written in perfect English, but it was interesting to note the occasions where he reverted back into Edinburgh slang, and wonder upon the reasons for this. How pondersome of me, I know.

There is a lot Welsh is trying to say here about consumerism and corporate capitalism, which is interesting to think about also.

I wouldn't say this is a necessary read for everyone who has read Trainspotting. It is necessary, however, for lovers of Irvine Welsh and his characters; the insight into them here is phenomenal.

It's filthy, it's dark, it's dirty and hilarious. I really don't understand what's not to love here. I'd even go as far as to demand another installment.

20 / 72 books. 28% done!

Book #19

2011-03-01T21:49:00.000Z

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

Choose us. Choose life. Choose mortgage payments; choose washing machines; choose cars; choose sitting oan a couch watching mind-numbing and spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fuckin junk food intae yir mooth. Choose rotting away, pishing and shiteing yersel in a home, a total fuckin embarrassment tae the selfish, fucked-up brats ye've produced. Choose life.

This is an old favourite of mine. Irvine Welsh can do no wrong in my eyes.

Trainspotting is almost like a collection of short stories in the way it's written. Welsh flits through different narrators so quickly and frantically that you really have to pay attention to the words and themes in new chapters in order to understand who is telling you this next particular tale.

Welsh writes predominately in Scottish colloquialism, particularly in common Edinburgh dialect. I found this easy to read, being Scottish, but at times I wasn't too sure whether anyone other than a native Scot would be able to understand certain parts of this type of narrative. I imagine it would be a bit like reading A Clockwork Orange for the first time.

The book is dark and absolutely repulsive, but at the same time hilarious and relatable in places. There are some real emotional and moral struggles, and although these are experienced by some depraved criminal losers, sympathy can still be evoked by Welsh.

As a small aside, and since this a question that many people ask me, I'd like to comment on how much I prefer the book to the film. In all fairness, the film is one of my favourites, but it misses out a lot of key points and issues, and embellishes a few others. It's a lot less disjointed than the book is which is less appealing. It raises fewer questions. It's like Diet Trainspotting.

I have always maintained that Irvine Welsh is a man who can bring the lowest lows to life. Anything coarse or depraved that can be imagined can be personified by this man. I think it's his sheer sickness that I'm attracted to; I like reading his books and being transported almost down into the gutters with his characters. I’m sure this is a book that most people are familiar with, and I’d urge everyone to read it. It’s harrowing and to the point, and it’s something that has to be read.

19 / 72 books. 26% done!

Book #18

2011-02-27T20:45:00.004Z

Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe

Weary of academic study, an eminent scholar turns to magic and makes a deal with the Devil. Mephistopheles will serve him and give him whatever he wants, but after twenty-four years Faustus must keep his side of the bargain.

This was a challenge, and I loved it. It's a Renaissance play and was written with obvious Shakespearean qualities - blank verse with iambic pentameter - and I was happy to work hard to read and understand what was going on. I think it's what I really needed to get myself back into serious reading. It's a set book for my university course, but it was also one I had been dying to read for some time. Two birds, one stone, etc. Christopher Marlowe was friends with Shakespeare, which attracted me to him. I also read about his heretic comments and his strange death, which made me even more eager to read this play.

Faustus is an intellectual who feels that although he has studied medicine and philosophy he finds it all a bit of a bore and is looking for something different, something more out there. For this reason, he decides to dabble in black magic and become as close to a God as he can possibly be. This backfires a bit, and he indulges in twenty-four years of pointless conjuring, only to have his soul dragged to hell by Lucifer after his time is up. During this time, he becomes something almost like a court jester – entertaining the rich, and becoming even less of a God than he was in the first instance.

He comes close to saving himself many times, but ends up falling into the same cycles of having doubts about the contract, being persuaded otherwise by the powers of darkness, and then convincing himself to see through his agreement with Lucifer.

I think Marlowe is subtly expressing his opinions of the church in this piece. Faustus had anti-religious feeling, and I believe this may have been the way Marlowe was feeling at the time also. There are many rumours of his unorthodox opinions, and this was one of them. The concept of belief and unbelief is rife throughout the entire play, with Lucifer and various devils appearing on stage, but God never making a single appearance throughout.

I felt the characters to be quite allegorical, with each one representing an abstract idea - such as one of the seven deadly sins. Although this made most characters slightly flat, I enjoyed it all the same.

There are so many things I'd love to talk about in depth, but I'd really like to save myself for my analytic essay on this work. However, I'd definitely recommend this one to someone who likes a challenge. It gets easier to understand the more you read, and it becomes enthralling. Marlowe’s points about religion and society are interesting; the whole thing has a breathless feeling to it. I’d ask you to try it.

18 / 72 books. 25% done!

Book #17

2011-02-20T14:12:00.004Z

No Mean City by Alexander McArthur

First published in 1935, No Mean City is the story of Johnnie Stark, son of a violent father and a downtrodden mother, the 'Razor King' of Glasgow's pre-war slum underworld, the Gorbals.

This book primarily deals with the poverty in the slums of pre-war Glasgow. I found it to be quite horrendous in places, particularly in the gang mentalities and how difficult it was for people to get into an education or a career which would be good enough to allow them to escape the slums. It made me wonder whether I would be able to better myself in such a situation, and the answer was - probably not.

The lives of all of the inhabitants of this novel just seem so incredibly depressing, and filled with violence and hardship. Very few people have ambitions; many are content to just soldier on with what they have been given.

I didn't find this to be well written, but I think it overcomes this with its brutal and frank social observations.

This is definitely worth a look, particularly if you are familiar with the Glasgow area. I found it interesting to be reading about streets and places I know with a historical slant placed on them, and I also enjoyed the use of Glasgow slang to project pieces of realism. It's harrowing in places, and definitely cutting edge, but I’d recommend it.

17 / 72 books. 24% done!

Book #16

2011-02-11T19:30:00.003Z

Misery by Stephen King

After a car crash, writer Paul Sheldon is saved by his number one fan, Annie Wilkes. She brings him home, splints his mangled legs, and all he has to do in return is write a very special book, one all about her favourite character. Because if he doesn't, if he is bad, she will be cross - very cross.

I loved this. I thought it was amazing, and to coin an over-used book review phrase - I couldn't put it down.

Every element of it is engrossing, and every single moment is tense and claustrophobic. I had to bury it under a pile of clothes one night before I went to bed, just in case Annie Wilkes jumped out of the book with an axe. King made me so afraid of her; she is the devil himself, but also a picture of what human beings are capable of.

King's descriptions and imagery are incredibly vivid and do a lot to make the plot more disturbing. It seems so realistic and awful that you can't help but rapidly turn pages.

I really enjoyed King's nods at what it's like to be a writer, and the ironies he inserted into Paul's ordeal. Annie chops off various parts of his body when he complains about writing; his book turns out to be his best one yet, his masterpiece. Not only this, but the manuscript becomes integral to his survival, and ultimately, his escape.

This is definitely not for the squeamish. I am of the opinion that the torture scenes described in the book are a lot more brutal than anything that can be displayed on screen. It’s absolutely not for the faint hearted, but I’d recommend it to anyone. My love for Stephen King is growing bigger and bigger, and I have a few more of his novels on my bookshelves awaiting my perusal!

16 / 72 books. 22% done!

Book #15

2011-01-30T20:31:00.003Z

The Witches by Roald Dahl

A book about 'real witches' - the ones that absolutely loathe children and are always plotting to get rid of them.

And so we come to the final book in my wonderful Roald Dahl boxset - and it's one of the best. I can remember it terrifying the wits out of me when I was younger, and upon reading it again at the grand old age of twenty-three, I still felt quite uncomfortable in places. It's a dark novel, and incredibly disturbing, but I like the fact that it is. I like falling through the trap door into Dahl's ludicrous worlds and seeing unconventional things happen to the characters.

The story is also bittersweet. Our protagonist's mother and father are killed at the beginning of the story and he is looked after by his grandmother. Their relationship is one of the focal points of the novel, and it's truly heartwarming and wonderful. Their mutual love and respect for one another could bring a tear to a glass eye, and this certainly happened to me at one point. Click here to see the page in question.

Our protagonist has a horrific encounter with the witches at their annual meeting, is turned into a mouse, and barely makes it out alive. He then goes on to get his revenge, with the help of his lovely grandmother. The ending is oddly satisfying but disturbing; with both of them agreeing they will die at roughly the same time due to the boy's rodent life span. This is a children's book, and I find this part insane and absolutely heart wrenching.

There are some scenes in this book that have been imprinted on my brain ever since I was little, and these will never disappear and I will never recover from them. It is truly terrifying, especially for children, but I feel it's one that most certainly has to be read, despite it being absolutely macabre.

Roald Dahl is incomparable when it comes to children's literature. He shaped my childhood, and carved me a love for reading which is now irrevocable. I have had a wonderful time reading through fifteen of his most famous works, and I think now I'll do my best to source some of his adult fiction, since I've never had a chance to dip into any of that. I'd recommend The Witches and all other fourteen of the Dahl novels I've read this month. The man is one of my heroes and a true inspiration, and he'll live forever in the form of these stories.

15 / 72 books. 21% done!

Book #14

2011-01-29T16:45:00.002Z

The Twits by Roald Dahl

Mr and Mrs Twit are extremely nasty, so the Muggle-Wump monkeys and the Roly-Poly bird hatch an ingenious plan to give them just the ghastly surprise they deserve!

This is another one I read repeatedly as a child; I could recite it to you from memory. It is so typically Dahl - disgusting antics, laugh out loud scenes, captivating prose, and sheer imagination. It is slightly darker than Dahl's other works, and some may say for a children's book it's disturbing in places.

The tricks the Twits play on one another are hilarious. They are so foul and repulsive that you can't help but hope they will get their comeuppance. But this is a Dahl novel, and of course karma catches up with them in the form of the good guys – some monkeys and birds!

Dahl's moral message in this one is that no matter how you look on the outside, if you maintain happy, kind thoughts, then these will shine out of your face and make you look lovely. Unfortunately, the opposite also applies, and we are shown this in the form of Mr and Mrs Twit. So be happy and be gorgeous, think nicely of people and you will be a beautiful person. I don’t think there are many messages better than this.

I don't think I've mentioned much of Quentin Blake in my Dahl reviews, but his illustrations are what make Roald Dahl books so wonderful for me. He really helps to characterise Mr and Mrs Twit with his drawings; they are so impressive and add a lot to Dahl's stories. Click here to see my favourite illustration from The Twits. I found this one breathtaking.

This is such a lively book, and it's a great one for kids because it's so funny. It's definitely worth a read, and it's only short so it's a nice way to pass half an hour.

14 / 72 books. 19% done!

Book #13

2011-01-29T12:21:00.002Z

The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl

The story of a little girl with magical powers. When someone makes her angry she zaps a punishment on them with her magic flashing finger!

I had never read this one before as it isn't as popular as Dahl's others. I can see why this is; it's definitely my least favourite.

A little girl 'puts the magic finger' on her neighbours as they are hunters and she doesn't like it. They subsequently grow wings and are forced out of their house by four ducks. All very odd.

It's written in the first person, which is unusual for Dahl. It's clear that he's going for some sort of anti-hunting message, but there is something lacking here that is present in his other moral messages.

There’s not a lot of character back story, and I'd have liked to have learned more about how the girl discovered she had this magic finger, and some other things that she had done with it.

On the whole, I didn't think this was great, but it was short and interesting, and would probably be a bit more entertaining for a younger person. It just didn’t feel very Dahl to me.

13 / 72 books. 18% done!

Book #12

2011-01-28T15:54:00.003Z

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl

In this much-loved Dahl story, the giraffe, the pelican and the agile monkey set out to prove that they are the best window-cleaning company around.

This is one of Dahl's slightly more outlandish stories, and I think it's meant for a younger audience than most of his others. Dahl introduces us to three animals - the Giraffe, the Pelly, and the Monkey - who run a ladderless window cleaning company. Stories don't get much more fantastic than this.

The three animals and Billy go to the Duke of Hampshire's house to help clean his 600-odd windows and whilst there manage to catch a thief! This results in a happy ending for everyone, with the Duke allowing the three animals to live on his estate in return for window cleaning, and he buys Billy his coveted sweet shop!

I think here Dahl is trying to instill in us that all the good deeds we do in life will be rewarded, and how important it is to be kind and help people.

The imagery is marvellous as usual. I particularly enjoyed the idea of the Pelly's beak being like a retractable tape measure, and the Giraffe's extendable neck.

It's a lovely quick read, and would be an excellent one to read aloud to a younger person. And there's a happy ending! What more could you possibly ask for?

12 / 72 books. 17% done!

Book #11

2011-01-28T09:35:00.003Z

The BFG by Roald Dahl

The well-loved story of a big friendly giant who spirits a child out of bed to the land of the child-eating giants.

This is another firm favourite of mine; it's so adorable that I believe it has the ability to warm even the coldest of hearts.

Dahl's creativity clearly knows no bounds. Although he is incredibly fantastical in his writing, he writes with a respect for his target audience and never condescends to them. This is his appeal to his target age group. He gives us this charming giant who catches dreams and blows the best ones into children’s windows at night. An orphan called Sophie looks out her window and sees him, so he plucks her out of bed and carries her off to Giant Country! The then proceed to build a wonderful friendship, and begin a very big adventure.

The BFG's patter is my favourite part of this novel. The way he talks is astoundingly funny, describing nightmares as "trogglehumpers" and telling Sophie she is talking "flushbunking rubbish," which is one I might actually try to incorporate into daily conversation. I feel Dahl really surpassed himself in wordplay here, my favourite part being the BFG referring to Charles Dickens as Dahl's Chickens.

There is a subtle lesson slipped in towards the beginning of the book, with the BFG explaining that giants don't kill other giants, and in fact humans are the only species who kill one another. Although I am sure there may be some exceptions to this rule, I liked the message that Dahl was trying to put across.

I love this one almost as much as Matilda. It's a wonderful quick read, it's heart-warming, it's adorable, and it's definitely one for everyone - especially (as I said above) for people with the coldest of hearts.

11 / 72 books. 15% done!

Book #10

2011-01-23T18:44:00.003Z

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Five-year old Matilda longs for her parents to be good and loving and understanding, but they are none of these things. They are perfectly horrid to her. Matilda invents a game of punishing them each time they treat her badly and she soon discovers she has supernatural powers.

This is my favourite Roald Dahl book, and also one of my all time favourite books. What's not to love?

I must have read this book over a hundred times, it was never out of my hands when I was younger. I thought at the time that this book was surely written about me; I read books too, so why couldn't I move things with my mind? I tried and failed; I am not Matilda. Despite my supernatural failings, I will always come back to this book. It is wonderful, touching, interesting, enchanting, and evokes the same emotions in me every single time.

Matilda is such an amazing character, and one of my favourites. She comes from a sad home life, where no one appreciates her, but she maintains a positive attitude and eventually begins to teach herself to read to pass the days. She plays hilarious tricks on her parents when they are foul to her, and eventually develops supernatural powers due to her excessive brain power.

Dahl writes fantastically from a child's perspective - he is a man who never forgot what childhood felt like. He captures Matilda's triumphs and defeats perfectly, and she is a wholly believable and loveable character.

I think Dahl shows us here how Matilda uses her intelligence to overcome obstacles in her life. This is a nice message, and Dahl does it in such a subtle way. He is essentially sending us messages like believe in yourself and don't give up, which is something I love about Dahl's books in general.

This book made the world a better place for me when I was younger. I read it countless times and it showed me a world I wanted to live in, people I wanted to meet, and one little girl who I wanted to be. I honestly think everyone should read this; it's mesmerising.

10 / 72 books. 14% done!

Book #09

2011-01-18T13:26:00.003Z

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

James's aunts call him names, beat and starve him and make his life a misery. If only his parents hadn't been eaten by an escaped rhinoceros, he wouldn't be in this mess. But one day he meets a man who gives him a bag of magic crocodile tongues and so begins the adventure of his dreams.

This was one of my favourites as a child. It's just so entirely fantastical, and has all the important parts of a children’s novel - goodies who get a happy ending, baddies who get their comeuppance, a nail biting part in the middle where we're not sure if our heroes are going to make it, lovely character history and development - and so much more!

It has a brilliant sense of escape to it, and it's really a book for anyone who has wanted to up sticks and leave for somewhere a bit more magical (this is, coincidentally, exactly how I am feeling at this point in my life, and perhaps this made me love the book more).

The imagery and wonder is exciting - Cloud-Men painting rainbows, would you believe! It's broken down into lovely little short chapters with cliff-hangers, and these along with the excellent rhythm and pace make it a perfect children's story.

After reading Going Solo, Dahl's autobiographical work which details his time in the RAF, I could understand more where he was coming from in certain passages. I particularly liked the paragraph where he described the peach as a beautiful, slow, silent flying machine not at all like noisy, clattering airplanes. This was a clear nod to his flying days, and why not describe how much more wonderful a peach would be to fly on!

This is one of Dahl's works which gives us a lot of his silly poems, which are a favourite of mine. I'd love to use some impressive poetry terms here to impress you all, but I've never been big on poetry. The rhythm is my favourite part, though, along with the nonsense words.

I also liked the way Dahl sneaked in the lesson to see things from other's point of view. Miss Spider describes how she has watched various relatives being flushed down the toilet, or beaten to death with a newspaper. Her descriptions are horrific, especially for the target audience, and we are taught to think a bit more before we act. Most people will, however, continue to massacre the poor spiders. I like to think of myself as more humane than that, but that is by the by.

Read this. It's trippy, but it's gorgeous. Read it especially if you've read it as a child, read it if you have your own children, and most importantly read it if you are looking for an escape.

9 / 72 books. 13% done!

Book #08

2011-01-16T20:11:00.002Z

Going Solo by Roald Dahl

The second part of Roald Dahl's remarkable life story tells of his time working in Africa and his wartime exploits.

This is Dahl's second autobiographical work. It begins where its predecessor Boy left off, with Dahl moving to Africa to work.

I didn't enjoy this half as much as I enjoyed Boy, and I think this is due to the lack of whimsical boyhood tales and insight into Dahl's writing history and inspirations. This one was a lot more serious, giving details of Dahl's life as World War II broke out, and his initiation into and time with the RAF.

I loved Dahl's descriptions of the African landscapes, culture and animals. It really made me crave travel; his imagery is so wonderful that it's almost right in front of your eyes. The book was littered with photographs Dahl had taken on his travels, and each one of these was wonderful to look at - whether it was a scenic picture, or one of his old car, they were each one of them interesting.

Despite the doom and gloom of his time spent in the RAF; the times he stared Death in the face through lions, black mambas, and dogfight; and the depressing sights he had seen, Dahl's writing remains cheerful and witty throughout. I was amazed he survived as many times as he did in some of the situations he found himself in. He came out of these in one piece, and with personality enough to write this book and all of the other wonderful children's stories he went on to write. He was a wonderful man.

Dahl's style is effortless in every novel he has written. I'd recommend this one to Dahl fans, and people who'd like to find out more about him. It lacks a lot of the magic his fictional tales possess, but it's a wonderful insight into his life. The man is an inspiration.

8 / 72 books. 11% done!

Book #07

2011-01-12T13:56:00.002Z

George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl

When George's parents are away for the day, he's tempted to do something about his tyrannical grandmother. "Something" means going round the house collecting all kinds of horrible ingredients that will make up a magic potion to make her disappear. But instead of disappearing, she gets bigger.

One of the best things about Roald Dahl is that he can take kids fantasies and turn them into wonderful stories like this one. Every child has some authoritative person in their lives who they'd like to wreak a little havoc on; George concocts a potion in order to give his ghastly grandma a little fright.

It is so cute, so funny, and so typically fantastical of Dahl. He brings so much wit and creativity to the story, it just seems so magical. I liked that everything that was put in the medicine was named; I couldn't believe half of this stuff was going in there. But it's light-hearted and wonderful; a world where real-life consequences don't come into play. What could be better?

There are lots of opinions batting around about this book. Many people think that kids shouldn't read it because of the dangerous substances George was coming into contact with, and the possible consequences of someone drinking something like this. I think kids are a lot more intelligent than people give them credit for, and if they are reminded of real-life consequences, then this book could really be an excellent one for them. It was one of my favourites growing up, and I certainly didn't try to feed anti-freeze to any of my grandparents.

7 / 72 books. 10% done!

Book #06

2011-01-11T11:51:00.004Z

Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl

Boggis, Bunce and Bean are the meanest three farmers you could meet. They are determined to get Mr Fox - but he has other plans!

I love this book. The story is exciting and fast-moving, with the characters being really funny and loveable. I liked that the three farmers were almost caricatures of vice - gluttony, alcoholism, greed etc. They were shown as being increasingly horrible and odious, and quite typical of Dahl villainy. In the same vein, Mr Fox is quite the cunning Dahl hero. I liked the way he took charge and came to a satisfactory solution, his sheer genius, and his love for his wife and kids.

Like most Dahl books, there are a few moral questions to be raised. For example, is it okay for Mr Fox to steal to prevent his family from starving? If animals are humanised in this world, then surely the chickens and ducks will be humanised and are being eaten? Why did the female animals get tired and give up so early on?

It was a lovely quick read, nonetheless. It's recommended to kid aged four to eight, which I'd agree with, but it's a wonderful read for adults too.

6 / 72 books. 8% done!

Book #05

2011-01-10T19:32:00.003Z

Esio Trot by Roald Dahl

Mr Hoppy, a retired bachelor, harbours a secret passion for his neighbour, the lovely Mrs Silver. Unfortunately she lavishes all her affection on another… Alfie, her pet tortoise. Mr Hoppy’s wildly ingenious plot to defeat his rival and win the love of his lady will delight and amaze, involving, as it does a cryptic riddle and no fewer than a hundred and forty tortoises, large and small.

I never had the chance to read this one when I was younger - in fact I had never heard of it until a few months ago. It's quite a unique and quirky little story, and I did really enjoy it, but I found it quite worrying for various reasons.

Mr Hoppy tricks Mrs Silver into believing her tortoise is growing, by replacing it with other tortoises of varying size. She falls in love with him because of this, and never learns the truth - that her beloved tortoise Alfie isn't who she thinks he is!

Essentially, this story is about building a relationship through lies and deceit. It is about obsession and neglect, and it also has a slight "men are very clever, women are very silly" undertone. It's a kids book, but it isn't really sending the best message.

It was cute in a way, and Quentin Blake's drawings really brought the story to life. I also liked the word play throughout the book - can you guess what Esio Trot is code for? A nice quick read, definitely worth passing half an hour with.

5 / 72 books. 7% done!

Book #04

2011-01-10T17:31:00.002Z

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

Danny feels very lucky. He adores his life with his father, living in a gypsy caravan, listening to his stories, tending their gas station, puttering around the workshop, and occasionally taking off to fly home-built gas balloons and kites. His father has raised him on his own, ever since Danny's mother died when he was four months old. Life is peaceful and wonderful ... until he turns 9 and discovers his father's one vice. Soon Danny finds himself the mastermind behind the most incredible plot ever attempted against nasty Victor Hazell, a wealthy landowner with a bad attitude. Can they pull it off? If so, Danny will truly be the champion of the world.

This is a lovely story - one of Dahl's less zany works.

Dahl's writing here is wonderful. His descriptions of Danny's beautiful relationship with his father almost moved me to tears; it was almost lyrical. We are told at one point that Danny doesn't ever invite his school friends over simply because he loves spending time with his dad so much. I particularly liked the chapter where Danny's dad told him a bedtime story about the BFG! It was nice to see the origins of that.

Danny is one of the most adorable Dahl children; he is brave and warm, and just a generally lovely child. You can't help but love him. I liked that he was a normal little kid, living a normal little life. There were no Oompa Loompas, or magic powers, or potions, or witches. It was just Danny and his dad living in their quaint little caravan and living a cosy lifestyle. This was the book's charm for me.

Although morally questionable in places, I loved Dahl's descriptions of the various methods used in poaching pheasant. They seemed so ludicrous, but also feasible, and the fact that they managed to pull off their crazy idea made me love the two of them even more.

I think it's unfortunate that this one is often overlooked in favour of Dahl's crazier, more famous works, but it's definitely one of my favourites simply because of the beautiful father and son relationship we are shown. I would love to read this one to children; it's beautiful, powerful, and it's full of love.

4 / 72 books. 6% done!

Book #03

2011-01-08T19:28:00.004Z

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl

Picking right up where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory left off, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator continues the adventures of Charlie Bucket, his family and Willy Wonka, the eccentric candy maker. As the book begins, our heroes are shooting into the sky in a glass elevator, headed for destinations unknown. What follows is exactly the kind of high-spirited magical madness and mayhem we've all come to expect from Willy Wonka and his creator Roald Dahl. The American space race gets a send-up, as does the President, and Charlie's family gets a second chance at childhood. Throw in the Vermicious Knids, Gnoolies and Minusland and we once again witness pure genius.

This book is about one hundred times crazier than I can remember it being. The plot is completely random and all over the place, with the characters being in space fighting aliens one moment, and back in the chocolate factory turning grandparents into babies the next.

I can remember being disappointed in this book when I was younger, and I still feel the same now. Although it picks up exactly where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory left off, it lacks a lot of the charm and enchantment that was the constant static right through its predecessor. The tone of the book is so drastically different from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and there are changes in the characters too. I was particularly disappointed in Grandma Georgina, who I had taken to be a lovely old lady until she turned out to be absolutely frightful. My favourite character, Grandpa Joe, took a bit of a back seat in this story too, which I didn't enjoy.

The humour seems a bit too subtle for kids to understand. It's centred a lot around word play, which is really funny, but perhaps would fly over the heads of some younger readers.

It's very scattered, and overblown, but definitely one for someone who enjoys some random madness. I'm not sure it's a wonderful one for kids, I didn't think it was as captivating for children as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but perhaps some children will enjoy the story.

3 / 72 books. 4% done!

Book #02

2011-01-04T20:32:00.003Z

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

The gates of Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory are opening at last--and only five children will be allowed inside.

Almost everyone is familiar with this story, whether it’s through the novel itself, or whether its through the films. I fell in love with this book at a very young age, and after having read it again in my old age, I am still in love with the characters and the story.

I think this book teaches a wonderful life lesson. Charlie Bucket is one of the loveliest Dahl children, and he is quite the moralist. It's a rags-to-riches story, and I quite like those.

The book dishes out karma of the most severe kind, with horrible characters getting their comeuppance and Charlie winning his wonderful prize in the end. I think this is a good way to teach children not to be vile, and that being a nice person has its advantages (not that all of us nice people have chocolate factories given to them, we can only dream). To begin with, the nasty children are shown as having everything they could possibly hope for, and then they are brought down by their own gluttony. Karma is a bitch, kids.

Dahl's ability to move the story along is uncanny. Skills such as these are especially required in children's novels, so as not to dull the story down and cause readers to lose interest. He uses dialogue quite a lot to convey scenes, feelings, and actions, and this allows the story to move along at a perfect pace.

This is a lovely light-hearted fantasy novel, and it's a quick and easy read that would be suitable for anyone. It'd also be a delight to read aloud, so it's good for little ones too, and in my opinion should be the staple of each and every childhood!

2 / 72 books. 3% done!

Book #01

2011-01-02T15:15:00.003Z

Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl

The remarkable story of Roald Dahl's early years at school and with his family.

Roald Dahl is a hero of mine. I was given the Phizz Whizzing Collection for Christmas which is comprised of fifteen of his most brilliant works, and couldn't think of a better start to the year than working my way through that.

I had never read this one before, nor have I read any of Dahl's other autobiographical novels. I was excited to read about Dahl's younger life, and I wasn't disappointed. His non-fiction writing is exactly the same as his fictional work - eccentric and barmy. His imagery is excellent, the writing is lovely and smooth; it's refreshing.

The book is full of nice little episodes in Dahl's life that he remembers in particular. I'm not usually a fan of autobiographies, they seem very contrived to me; I am always very dubious of them. But in this one, Dahl admits that he doesn't remember much about his childhood apart from a few random happenings, and it’s these we are given. There is also a brilliant disclaimer at the beginning of the book, warning us, "An autobiography is a book a person writes about his own life and it is usually full of all sorts of boring details. This is not an autobiography." Genius.

The lovely thing about this book is that you're shown from time to time, with clarity, where Dahl found influence for his subsequent children's novels. He mentions a certain episode that influenced Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but other characters are apparent in these pages; one in particular being Dahl's various nasty school teachers, and even the matron, who all reminded me of Miss Trunchbull from Matilda.

I'd definitely recommend this one if you're a Roald Dahl fan. I absolutely loved the insights into his inspirations, and also being allowed to get to know him better. It reads almost like one of his fictional works, which is wonderful, and it’s a light and easy read.

1 / 72 books. 1% done!

Book #72

2010-12-29T21:16:00.004Z

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

This novel is the story of Clare and Henry who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-two and Henry thirty. Impossible but true, because Henry is one of the first people diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement Disorder: periodically his genetic clock resets and he finds himself pulled suddenly into his past or future.

I originally read this when I was sixteen and loved it. I am twenty-three, I have read it again, and I don't really love it at all. I am not sure whether this is due to my heart growing blacker and colder in these seven years, or whether it's due to my ever increasing literary snobbishness. It's probably a bit of both.

The premise is amazing, and I was drawn in for a while. Henry is a time traveller, and although he can't choose when and where he travels to, this is what makes it all the more interesting. The foreshadowing is nothing less than brilliant - knowing what's going to happen before it does is absolutely delicious. I liked that cause and effect got tangled up in knots, and I enjoyed (but perhaps didn't agree with) the idea that everything is already set out; everything in the future has already happened somewhere else.

The novel was filled with unnecessary padding, which I mostly just skimmed through. Niffenegger described the weather, and what people were having for dinner in great length as though these tiny things were incredibly intrinsic to the plot. I also got incredibly annoyed at the cultural name-dropping that occurred throughout the novel. Classical musicians, literary greats, American punk rock revolutionaries, and great painters were all mentioned, passages in the romance languages were peppered through the pages; it all just seemed slightly pretentious for what it really was. It could easily have been a hundred pages shorter.

I also noticed some mildly stereotypical characters, which I don't want to go into in depth, but which annoyed me. I also will only mention in passing the hints to Lolita. Yuck.

Henry and Clare were lovely characters until they met in the present and fell in love. After this there was little to no character development - they were just these two people who were married and in love. I felt distanced from them because of this, and I ended up very indifferent towards them and their predicaments near the end. A lot of the other characters were very, very flat - such as Claire's family. We were given a snippet of them and then nothing followed. I liked Henry’s father, but again we were only given so much of him, and then nothing.

This isn’t too praising a review and it’s a shame because I didn't really want to slate this too much; it was readable, but too many things irked me. I think most people have read this and enjoyed it, and I would recommend it to people who like a love story. I think this is my problem with the plot - it was perfect as a science fiction idea, but in reality it was a love story, which doesn’t excite me as much. Give it a try if you like a chick flick.

72 / 66 books. 109% done!

This will be my last book review of 2010, and although I'll continue my quest in 2011, I'd like to take this space to thank everyone who reads, follows and comments on this blog, those who encourage me and those who make it worth it. I appreciate every single comment and every single reader. Thank you so much, and here's to 2011! Happy reading!

Book #71

2010-12-19T20:48:00.000Z

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Raskolnikov, a destitute and desperate former student, wanders through the slums of St Petersburg and commits a random murder without remorse or regret. He imagines himself to be a great man, a Napoleon: acting for a higher purpose beyond conventional moral law. But as he embarks on a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a suspicious police investigator, Raskolnikov is pursued by the growing voice of his conscience and finds the noose of his own guilt tightening around his neck. Only Sonya, a downtrodden prostitute, can offer the chance of redemption.

I'd like to say firstly that this is the first time I've dipped into Dostovesky, but it certainly won't be my last. I really feel as though I have been through something in the three weeks it has taken me to read this. His writing transcends time, and is still as relevant now as it was in the 1860s.

This is Dostovesky's most famous work, and rightly so as it is somewhat of a masterpiece. It's more of a psychological study than a story, and this is what makes it increasingly compelling. Our protagonist commits murder at the beginning of the novel, after which we are an audience to his accumulating feelings of guilt, anguish, paranoia and these (along with his attempts at self-justification) manifest and ultimately cause the collapse of his psyche.

Raskolnikov's constant agonising got to me, and made the book heavy to read in places. I felt that it was a really hard slog at times, but I also feel that this is perhaps intended and did add to the feeling of misery the novel was emanating. I did notice the style of writing causing me to empathise more than I normally would. The syntax employed could make me quite disconcerted, in keeping with the protagonist's feelings, for example hurried paragraphs made me feel quite agitated and fidgety. Some of the prose also seemed a bit dreamlike to me, and I ended up forgetting things only to be reminded of them again some pages later.

The novel also deals with various religious, moral, and philosophical consequences that arise from the actions of Dostovesky's characters. I particularly enjoyed the idea that the murder should be pardoned due to the woman's causing misery to various other people, charging them excessive amounts of interest on their pawned goods. Can the death of one person be justified if it means the salvation of many others?

I loved reading about life in St Peterburg in the 1860s. The descriptions of lodgings, dress and behaviours were so interesting to me. It was a nice history lesson, and the endnotes in my Wordsworth edition were helpful and enlightening.

I'd recommend this one. I think many people put it off as they think it'll be a difficult read - it's not! However, it does require an ounce of patience. Every written line has meaning, nothing is superfluous, and every character has their own importance. I also got a bit confused with the Russian names (I even thought at one point that someone had given a fake name on purpose!), but a bit of perseverance brings great understanding here.

It's gloomy and challenging, but it's also thought-provoking and beautifully written. I'd say come out of your comfort zone and at least give it a chance.

71 / 66 books. 108% done!

Book #70

2010-12-01T19:50:00.004Z

Contest by Matthew Reilly

The New York Public Library. A silent sanctuary of knowledge; a 100-year-old labyrinth of towering bookcases, narrow aisles and long marble hallways. For Doctor Stephen Swain and his daughter, Holly, it is the site of a nightmare. Because for one night this historic building is to be the venue for a contest. A contest in which Swain is to compete - whether he likes it or not.

The rules are simple: Seven contestants will enter, only one will leave.

With his daughter in his arms, Stephen Swain is plunged into a terrifying fight for survival. The stakes are high, the odds brutal. He can choose to run, to hide or to fight - but if he wants to live, he has to win. For in this contest, unless you leave as the victor, you do not leave at all.

I was a bit indifferent about this one to begin with. I bought it for £1 from a supermarket, and it was a bit of an impulse buy. I only really bought it because it was set in a library; I had no idea it was science fiction, which is something I don't really read a lot of. I was dubious for the first fifty pages or so, it wasn't amazingly written, but what a story! I was gripped quite quickly.

An interesting factoid here is that Reilly had to pay for this novel to be published after being rejected by a good few publishing companies in Australia. I have a lot of respect for this; I think it shows true determination and self-belief.

I'm not a huge fan of science fiction or action novels, and this was a bit of both. I do, however, like fast-paced novels and this had wonderful plot flow. There were, however, some lovely but gruesome descriptive images put into place. This can sometimes be quite lacking in fast-paced novels, so I enjoyed the treat.

I liked the Battle Royale idea here, and I especially liked that each contest was a different species, all from different planets, each one being an alien to the other. They all had different shapes, and different ways of moving and fighting, which was incredibly interesting to read about.

There were parts that felt slightly clichéd in parts, but these do generally appear quite a bit in novels such as these. You are 99.9% sure that the protagonist won't be killed off with 200 pages to go, but the author tries to lull you into believing it anyway - there are a lot of narrow escapes. I'd normally be cynical of plot twists such as these, but this time it just added to the excitement.

This is a good, quick read, and would be wonderful for reading on a journey or even a holiday. I'd recommend it to anyone who fancies something different. It is by no means light-hearted, but easy to get through and compelling. £1!

70 / 66 books. 106% done!

Book #69

2010-11-28T19:48:00.003Z

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks him arrogant and conceited; he is indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. When she later discovers that Darcy has involved himself in the troubled relationship between his friend Bingley and her beloved sister Jane, she is determined to dislike him more than ever. In the sparkling comedy of manners that follows, Jane Austen shows the folly of judging by first impressions and superbly evokes the friendships, gossip and snobberies of provincial middle-class life.

My love of Jane Austen began with this novel. Her other works have fully supported this love, but this will always be my favourite. She really tells us a tale whilst teaching us a lesson in morality which is hinted to by the title of the novel. Both pride and prejudice are rife throughout the plot, being displayed by many of the characters, and the consequences of both of these traits are shown to us.

My favourite thing about Austen, and something which is prevalent in Pride and Prejudice is how economical she is in her writing. There are no trivial characters or plot developments - everything has its place for a reason. The novel is a lovely, smooth read because of this, and everything connects in quick succession, driving the plot forward.

As a love story, it’s wonderful and almost unusual in that it doesn't try to lull female readers into securities about how perfect a man should be. Our heroine falls for a deeply flawed character, and does so gradually. There is absolutely no notion of any sort of coup de foudre that normally happens in thousands of other romance novels. She realises she has judged the man too quickly, and too harshly, and slowly but surely falls for him. It’s by no means contrived, and I love it.

Austen's characterisation is always brilliant, in my eyes. She is able to conjure both love and hatred for a character so easily. She gives a great insight into the social norms of that time period simply by crafting her characters in a certain way. Mr. Bennet is my favourite character here, by far. He is incredibly witty and sarcastic, with a very low tolerance for idiots. He has absolutely no qualms of speaking his opinions of his daughters, no matter how disrespectful (but mostly correct) these are. I found him hilarious.

It's clear from Pride and Prejudice and her other works that Austen was questioning the position women held in society at that time. She shows a society where a women’s reputation is the most important thing to her, and she has to conform to certain behaviours to prevent her reputation being tarnished. Although gently making clear her opinions on the matter, she shows us later how serious the consequences would be should a woman behave in a different manner than expected.

Although this one is generally seen as women’s fiction, I’d definitely recommend this to anyone. I have known men to love this one, and to relate to Mr. Darcy on some level. It holds an important message which is conveyed in a very simple, light manner that is wonderful to take in.

69 / 66 books. 105% done!

Book #68

2010-11-11T20:39:00.004Z

A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Convalescing in London after a disastrous experience of war in Afghanistan, Dr John Watson finds himself sharing rooms with his enigmatic new acquaintance, Sherlock Holmes. But their quiet bachelor life at 221B Baker Street is soon interrupted by the grisly discovery of a dead man in a grimy ‘ill-omened’ house in south-east London, his face contorted by an expression of horror and hatred such as Watson has never seen before. On the wall, the word rache – German for ‘revenge’ – is written in blood, yet there are no wounds on the victim or signs of a struggle. Watson’s head is in a whirl, but the formidable Holmes relishes this challenge to his deductive powers, and so begins their famous investigative partnership.

I read The Hound of the Baskervilles last year and loved it, so I went out and bought the Sherlock Holmes collection. This is the first story ever written about the most famous detective duo, and it was lovely to see how they came together. Watson's descriptions of his first impressions of Holmes were fascinating, and reading the beginnings of characterisation work for both of them was exciting.

I really enjoy Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing; he is wonderfully precise and almost scientific in his use of words. He captures your attention so well and drags you into the mystery with him. He is incredibly engaging.

Just as the murderer is caught, the narrative goes back in time by twenty years and we are given the back-story to the killer and his victims. There is nothing quite like an insight into what has driven a murderer to act, especially when it is an act of revenge. I do love a revenge tale.

It was also interesting to see Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's opinions and views on Mormonism at the time. The facts in the book regarding the religion are far from accurate, and seem ridiculous at times, but they are quite consistent with the English opinion of the late 1880s, which is very interesting

I absolutely adore reading these works, and particularly love imagining Victorian cobblestoned streets and men riding around in horse and carts with huge moustaches and huge cigars! I can't wait to read the next one, The Sign of Four.

68 / 66 books. 103% done!

Book #67

2010-11-07T18:07:00.006Z

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

James Frey wakes up on a plane, with no memory of the preceding two weeks. His face is cut and his body is covered with bruises. He has no wallet and no idea of his destination. He has abused alcohol and every drug he can lay his hands on for a decade – and he is aged only twenty-three.
What happens next is one of the most powerful and extreme stories ever told. His family takes him to a rehabilitation centre. And James Frey starts his perilous journey back to the world of the drug and alcohol-free living. His lack of self-pity is unflinching and searing.

My thoughts throughout this novel were that it was amazing, inspirational and enthralling. Spurring these adjectives into life was the fact that the book is truth. These are James Frey's memoirs from his time in a rehabilitation centre, and all of the things that happen to him in the novel have happened to him in real life. It was moving, and I fell in love with him and what he'd accomplished. In the time between finishing the novel and sitting down to write this review (ten minutes, perhaps) I have found out that the book is in fact semi-fictional. I'm gutted, and I want to get this out of the way before I begin the actual review. I now know that later editions of this book have notes inside explaining that some parts are fabricated, but my copy must be an older print because there was nothing of the sort in mine. I am really, really disappointed and upset. It was a wonderful story, and wonderfully written. I just wish I had known that it wasn't as non-fiction as I had originally thought because now I don't know how I feel about the book. It hasn't diminished my opinion a lot, but it has a bit. The book would still be wonderful if it had been fiction. I will try to review it as best I can, but this has really thrown me. And all I did was try to find an image of the book cover! So, here goes:

I did really enjoy the book. I like books that are dark and dull, but have a light at the end of the tunnel. Memoirs especially have this because you know the person has lived to tell the tale, and you're just peering at their journey towards redemption. We are shown a "self-inflicted apocalypse", the despair that follows, and Frey's trudge away from it.

Frey's writing is wonderful. In the first 100 pages he has his teeth knocked out and it's a while before he gets them fixed. I kept checking my mouth to make sure my own teeth were still there, and I felt the pain when he was going through the corrective dental work. I feel emotionally drained after reading it, as though I have personally been through all of Frey's hellish situations alongside him.

There is a certain rhythm going on with his writing; he gives us repetitions and beats that are almost melodic. This pulls the reader along at an incredible pace, and allows discoveries to happen at the right times. His prose drifts at times, and I believe this is reflective of his experience at the time, drifting through the conscious and subconscious. Many sentences lack punctuation, emphasising Frey's erratic trains of thought.

There were a lot of Frey's opinions that I agreed with. Although I've never been an addict myself, it does seem futile to drum into recovering addicts that the only way they can get better is by believing in a higher power, that it's a disease, it's not your fault, something has happened in your past to make you this way, it might even be in your GENES! Your grandfather was an alcoholic? Well, there you go. Frey put across his opinion that addiction is each time a decision, and he put this across well. Of course it's not easy, it might be the most difficult thing in the world to do, but God won't help everyone, and your parents aren't to blame.

Now that I've calmed down a bit from the first paragraph I'd like to just note that I am aware that memoirs are never 100% accurate. I know there is no way that conversations that have taken place years ago can be replicated exactly on paper. Memories are faulty. I am now calm and my only gripe about the whole thing happened on the very last page of the novel and will be a huge spoiler if I go on to moan about it, so I won't. Frey has gone through somead to tell us about it in such a beautiful, compelling way. I would really recommend this, but please just bear in mind that things might not be as they seem. It'll make you feel something, and that's all that matters in reading.

67 / 66 books. 102% done!

Book #66

2010-10-22T21:55:00.003+01:00

Too Close to Home by Linwood Barclay

When the Cutter family's next-door-neighbours, the Langleys, are gunned down in their house one hot August night, the Cutters' world is turned upside down. That violent death should have come so close to them is shocking enough in suburban Promise Falls, but at least the Cutters can console themselves with the thought that lightning is unlikely to strike twice in the same place. Unless, of course, the killers went to the wrong house... At first the idea seems crazy - but each of the Cutter family has a secret they'd rather keep buried. What was on that old computer teenage Derek and his friend Adam Langley had salvaged? And where is it now? What hold does a local professor and bestselling author have on Ellen Cutter? And what does Jim Cutter know about Mrs Langley that even her husband didn't? To find out who killed the Langleys and why, everybody's secrets are going to have to come out. But the final secret - the secret that could save them or destroy them - is in the one place nobody would ever think of looking...

I really love easy to read, fast-paced suspense novels like this. They give me a nice break from some of the harder novels I try to get through, and I like the sense of satisfaction I get in the end once everything has been unravelled. I like to guess at the mysteries, and I’ve read so many of these kinds of books that I’m normally correct, but this time I was surprised - I was only right half of the time! (This is quite the killer for someone who prides herself on always being right!)

Some of the characters were, I felt, extremely well developed. I felt myself identifying and sympathising with the most evil of characters, even the killer! I liked how Barclay portrayed Derek, the narrator’s seventeen year old son. Sometimes I feel that writers tend to try too hard when depicting young people - they come across as forced, the author’s trying to be ‘hip’, and it rarely works – but I feel this time it worked incredibly well. Derek behaved exactly how a teenager should. However, I felt certain characters were quite dull, most of all the narrator, Jim. Whenever something happened that he didn’t like, he’d punch someone, or act aggressively. That seemed to be his only answer to a variety of problems, and it just seemed a bit superficial and almost puerile. His wife, Ellen, also seemed a bit dull and underdeveloped to me. I had no idea who she was.

The novel was written in first person, from Jim’s point of view. I couldn’t help but think that it may have worked a lot better in third person. There were so many different stories from different people tangling together that I thought there might be more suspense should it have been written in third person, or if there had been narratives from various viewpoints, rather than just Jim Cutter’s.

Another thing I didn’t particularly like was that half of the plot was given away by the blurb on the back cover. Not only this, but Jim’s wife’s name was ‘Eileen’ on the back cover, and ‘Ellen’ in the book. Oh dear!

It was very engaging, and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a casual read that doesn’t require too much effort from the reader. I’m perhaps a bit out of season, but I think it’d make the perfect holiday novel.

66 / 66 books. 100% done!

Book #65

2010-10-16T15:12:00.003+01:00

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

Thought Police. Big Brother. Orwellian. These words have entered our vocabulary because of George Orwell's classic dystopian novel, 1984. The story of one man's nightmare odyssey as he pursues a forbidden love affair through a world ruled by warring states and a power structure that controls not only information but also individual thought and memories.

This book terrifies me, and always has done.

Orwell gives light to a totalitarian regime in a dystopian world that makes the likes of Hitler and Stalin look like pussies. Everything is controlled by the government - working, eating, talking - and even the most minor unorthodox thought can be detected through a variety of different technologies or groups.

What scared me most about this novel is the idea that the past does not exist. All evidence we have of the past exists in only written records and memories. What if these are false? What if both of these can be controlled?

Although 1984 has now been and gone (I wasn't even a figment of imagination at this time), it is hard to believe that this novel was first published in 1949 as a projection of the future. Although there are clear nods to Stalinist Russia, anyone reading the book now could quite easily find stark parallels to life as we know it today, and I believe even ten, or twenty years on, this may still be the case. It's essentially about propaganda, how this affects society, and how powerful it can be when put to use by government.

The ending was quite surreal, although I feel this was intended due to our protagonist's experiences.

It's absolutely timeless, and will no doubt remain a classic for an incredibly long time. It's so influential, not to mention important, and I feel as technology rapidly progresses it's a novel that will become more real year after year.

I'd encourage people to read this, or even to re-read it. I read it when I was in school and after reading it again I've gained a much different perspective than I did years ago. It's quite the cultural point of reference, and along with Animal Farm, is a good place to begin your Orwellian experience.

65 / 66 books. 98% done!

Book #64

2010-10-05T21:42:00.004+01:00

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Summer, 1954. U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels has come to Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Along with his partner, Chuck Aule, he sets out to find an escaped patient, a murderess named Rachel Solando, as a hurricane bears down upon them. But nothing at Ashecliffe Hospital is what it seems. And neither is Teddy Daniels.

This is going to be extremely hard to review without giving anything away.

Firstly, the story has a really good pace and flow, which is quite essential in mystery novels such as these. To coin an overly-used book reviewer's phrase, it was certainly a page-turner.

The book was so interesting in the sense that you never really knew who to trust, and nothing was quite as it seemed. The story kept twisting around and throwing out complete wildcards so that there's never really any certainty of what's happening, or who is being genuine. Most scenes can be construed from two different angles; it would have been nice to read this once, find out the twist, and read it again from the other perspective had I not already known all the secrets from seeing the film.

I really enjoyed the idea that when someone is proclaimed as insane, all of their protestations to the contrary will only add to the argument against them.

Lehane slowly gives out clues to what's really happening on Shutter Island, but many don't make sense until the end. It becomes quite cluttered and chaotic in places, and at times incredibly confusing, but I think that's a nod to how the insane human mind must be.

The characterisation was also really, really good. I'd like to delve a bit more into this, but there wouldn't be much to say without dishing out lots of spoilers, so I shall refrain.

The twist is delicious. I'm a sucker for a good mindbend, and this didn't disappoint. It may be one you see coming, but it does leave you reeling nonetheless. It's one that's weaved in perfectly through the entire novel, and makes a lot of sense once you think back.

I really would recommend this to anyone with an open mind who likes mystery novels and suspense. It's one that will keep you on your toes throughout, and keep you thinking long after you've reached the last page.

64 / 66 books. 97% done!

Book #63

2010-09-29T20:52:00.004+01:00

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

For 15-year-old Michael Berg, a chance meeting with an older woman leads to far more than he ever imagined. The woman in question is Hanna, and before long they embark on a passionate, clandestine love affair which leaves Michael both euphoric and confused. For Hanna is not all she seems. Years later, as a law student observing a trial in Germany, Michael is shocked to realize that the person in the dock is Hanna. The woman he had loved is a criminal. Much about her behaviour during the trial does not make sense. But then suddenly, and terribly, it does - Hanna is not only obliged to answer for a horrible crime, she is also desperately concealing an even deeper secret.

I found this novel quite odd. It begins as a tale of a boy's coming of age and sexual awakening and then slowly evolves into a far more philosophical endeavour that ponders ethics, guilt and moral responsibility in relation to the atrocities of the Holocaust. It almost felt like two completely different works.

The characters, I felt, were a bit thinly weaved. I felt very little sympathy for anyone, and I could barely relate to any of them. I also found Michael and Hanna's relationship to be quite disgraceful, and couldn't open myself up to appreciate it as a proper loving relationship. Our narrator describes it beautifully, never seeing himself as a victim of paedophilia, and this blatantly affects him later on in the novel.

The book dives headfirst into the depths of human brutality. It poses some quite melancholy questions on human nature, and also makes me wonder what Schlink was trying to convey through the novel. I can't really come to a conclusion on this one, but at the same time I'm wondering whether I'm supposed to. Perhaps the book is more concerned with the process involved in reaching a conclusion. I can't decide. However, I did like that the book didn't focus on good or evil, but rather the middle grey area in between those extremes that holds things such as morals and ethics.

I'm not sure I'd recommend this generally, but I'm definitely going to give it another try at some point and see if I can pick up anything I've missed such as symbols or recurring themes. It seems like a good novel to closely study, and I feel I may have missed a good few hidden secrets.

63 / 66 books. 95% done!

Book #62

2010-09-24T23:00:00.004+01:00

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Nine-year-old Oskar Schell is an inventor, amateur entomologist, Francophile, letter writer, pacifist, natural historian, percussionist, romantic, Great Explorer, jeweller, detective, vegan, and collector of butterflies. When his father is killed in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centre, Oskar sets out to solve the mystery of a key he discovers in his father's closet. It is a search which leads him into the lives of strangers, through the five boroughs of New York, into history, to the bombings of Dresden and Hiroshima, and on an inward journey which brings him ever closer to some kind of peace.

Extremely Sad and Incredibly Beautiful. I really, really loved this book. It's absolutely one that I'm going to start recommending to everyone I speak to. I think it's a very brave subject for Foer to have tackled, but I am certainly glad he did. He's done it in a gorgeous way, and it's one that will most definitely stick with me for a good while yet.

Oskar's journey throughout these pages is truly wonderful. He goes through a terrible bereavement process, makes the mistake of bottling up secrets, but in doing so embarks on a long quest. He doesn't do this for the end result, but to feel somehow closer to his father by doing it in his honour. His grieving methods and the fact that he was grieving in the first place really broke my heart.

I have already picked up some of Oskar's sayings and have begun to incorporate them into my daily vocabulary without really realising. He says he has "heavy boots" if he's feeling sad, and when he's talking about something quite academic or above his assumed level of intelligence, he talks about the subject, then adds, "which I know about". He is so gorgeous to me.

The narration skipped in places from Oskar, to his paternal grandparents. The typography changes with each of the narrators, which is something I typically enjoy. These changes show personality and at times the mental state of the narrator. The part I enjoyed most was where Oskar's grandfather was writing his story and was running out of space quickly in his notebook. He had to write smaller, and put his words more closely together. Quite soon, all of the words were on top of each other, and all I was left with was a page of illegible black ink.

I also liked how the story slowly came together. Although I felt the twist was slightly disappointing for Oskar, I had had a slight niggling feeling that perhaps Foer would end the novel in more of a trite manner. I was wrong, and I'm glad I was in this instance.

The climax of the book moved me more than I ever could have expected. It was written in such an identifiable way, and because I had already fallen in love with everyone in the novel (even Stan the doorman, and Gerald the limousine driver), I found myself to be wearing very, very heavy boots. I'm not ashamed to say that I cried big tears, because I think it's a wonderful thing when a writer can evoke such emotion in a person.

I'd love for everyone to have read this book. It's exactly what it says on the cover - extremely loud and incredibly close.

62 / 66 books. 94% done!

Book #61

2010-09-16T21:53:00.007+01:00

The Last Godfather: The Life and Crimes of Arthur Thompson by Reg McKay

One dark night in London during the 1960s, the city's famous twins in crime, the Krays, were holding court in their busy nightclub when they were told somebody wanted to see them. This in itself was audacious enough but what happened next simply beggared belief. There, on the Krays' home turf, the stranger who had made this bold request pulled a sawn-off shotgun from under his coat and demanded that Ron kiss his brother Reg's arse. As Ron knelt and complied with what he'd been asked to do, the grim-faced man smirked and, in a strong Glasgow accent, announced, 'Ma name's Arthur Thompson - ye'll remember me!' Backing out and still holding the gun, Thompson jumped into a waiting cab and sped off through the streets of London This is the opening of The Last Godfather, the true story of Arthur Thompson as it has never been told before.

I wasn't too excited about reading this as the last non-fiction book I'd read about Glasgow crime wasn't too exciting. This, however, was really good.

It was very clear, concise, and easy to read. I tend to find that a lot of non-fiction crime books get really bogged down with details, but this was a lot more about personality, and was written almost as fiction. It gives a good idea of what kind of people the characters really are, and the crimes become more shocking as a result of this.

However, there were a lot of areas where I was suspicious that I was reading fiction. There were instances where McKay had laid out dialogue that only the people who had been there would have known, and these were people were either dead, or the type whom I doubt would have submitted to an interview for this novel. Although this made the scenes more real, I felt a bit cheated.

Also, a lot of this book is dedicated to Paul Ferris and not Arthur Thompson. On closer inspection I've found out that Reg McKay is a friend of Ferris's, and that in fact this book is a retaliation! This is news to me, and very, very interesting.

All this aside, it is a good read, particularly if you're from or are familiar with Glasgow.

61 / 66 books. 92% done!

(A wee note to apologise - I struggle quite a bit when reviewing non-fiction. I know this review isn't up to standards, and it's for this reason! Hopefully I'll improve soon, any tips would be helpful!)

Book #60

2010-09-12T14:05:00.003+01:00

Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, and gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it. For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly 20 years ago. Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded. Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you? Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying of ALS - or motor neurone disease - Morrie visited Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final "class": lessons in how to live.

Mitch Albom is one of my favourite authors. His novels always blow me away, and I'm a bit embarrassed that it's taken me so long to get around to this one since it's quite clearly a subject that's very close to his heart. I'm almost at a loss as to how to begin this review, as I can't seem to put my thoughts in order. It was wonderful.

Morrie is a remarkable character, and incredibly open with everyone in his life. He cries openly, asks to hold hands with people he loves, and in doing this inspires people not to hold back, to do things before it's too late. He also never missed an opportunity to help someone, or to make a difference. This would seem trite to me had the novel been fiction, but this man did all of these things. This book is non-fiction, and his biography.

I can't describe how inspirational this book was to me. It advises you not to hold back, to enjoy life and your own emotions to the full, without letting anything get the better of you. It teaches you to experience your emotions entirely, but also how to detach from them before letting them consume you.

Morrie's life lessons were laid out in such a way that I was able to completely absorb his opinions on different aspects of life. Mitch visited Morrie every Tuesday until his death, and every Tuesday they discussed a different matter. Love, forgiveness, emotions and family were each devoted a Tuesday to ensure nothing was missed, and everything was talked through.

Mitch Albom's writing style throughout the book completely gives away his sheer compassion for this man who taught him so much. His in-depth descriptions of Morrie and his past, even his childhood, really show how deep a friendship they had, and how well they knew each other.

I really feel this book has helped me to take a look at myself and how I'm living life. I have learnt an amazing lesson, and already I want to read through it again just to see how I'm doing. But I'll do that maybe a bit later, to see how I feel about the book at a future date.

I consider this a must-read.

60 / 66 books. 91% done!

Book #59

2010-09-09T17:35:00.002+01:00

Holes by Louis Sachar

Stanley Yelnat's family has a history of bad luck going back generations, so he is not too surprised when a miscarriage of justice sends him to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Detention Centre. Nor is he very surprised when he is told that his daily labour at the camp is to dig a hole, five foot wide by five foot deep, and report anything that he finds in that hole. The warden claims that it is character building, but this is a lie and Stanley must dig up the truth.

I really enjoy reading light, young adult novels from time to time, and this was a particularly good one. There wasn't much at all that I didn't like about it, and I finished the book with a lovely little feeling coursing through me.

It's an inspiring wee story. Our protagonist - the palindromically named Stanley Yelnats - is convicted to a juvenile detention centre for a crime he did not commit. His punishment, along with the other young offenders, is to dig holes in the desert

Sachar's writing style here is fairly simple, but he jumps between past and present with such ease that you're barely aware it's happened. The young characters were extremely developed, and felt incredibly real, but the adult characters could have done with some more background. However, this might be reflective of the kids knowing lots about each other in the detention centre, but seeing the adults as mysterious. I can't decide.

My favourite thing about the book was that events that had happened in the past were able to be resolved by the younger generations. It was really lovely.

I really feel that the underlying message of this book is that you can overcome anything that's thrown at you, and the fact that this message is aimed at young adults makes it amazing. The ideals of justice and injustice were also rammed home quite a bit here, with the story referring back to these themes constantly.

I think both old and young people can take a lot from this book and find a character to relate to. It is an easy, quick read for someone of my age and level, but it's more than worthwhile.

59 / 66 words. 89% done!

Book #58

2010-09-06T23:41:00.003+01:00

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

"I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day of January 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of l974. . . My birth certificate lists my name as Calliope Helen Stephanides. My most recent driver’s license...records my first name simply as Cal."

So begins the breathtaking story of Calliope Stephanides and three generations of the Greek-American Stephanides family who travel from a tiny village overlooking Mount Olympus in Asia Minor to Prohibition-era Detroit, witnessing its glory days as the Motor City, and the race riots of l967, before they move out to the tree-lined streets of suburban Grosse Pointe, Michigan. To understand why Calliope is not like other girls, she has to uncover a guilty family secret and the astonishing genetic history that turns Callie into Cal, one of the most audacious and wondrous narrators in contemporary fiction.

I'd like to begin by noting that it took me almost two weeks to read this book, which must be some sort of record for me. It was quite epic.

It's essentially about the narrator being a hermaphrodite, and this sounds freakish to begin with, but it is actually a lot more than that. It traces Cal's family over almost an entire decade, beginning in Greece and Turkey and ending in Detroit years later.

Cal is lovely as a narrator. His honesty seeps out of every word, endearing us to him almost immediately. The things he confides in us - the family secrets, the innermost thoughts of each character - each of these draw him into us emotionally as though he's an old friend.

I can't remember ever reading something so heavily detailed. The intricacy of Eugenides led me almost into not just imagining, but tasting and smelling the story too. It's beautiful in this way, but there is also beauty in the novel's rawness. There are tragedies, but with these come hope too.

The amount of research that must have been put into this tome is overwhelming. Eugenides uses medical jargon, ancient Greek, mythology and political, social and historical events to reel readers into his world. It really is incredible.

It's definitely a slow burner, but in this case I find it incredibly appropriate. It's almost like a saga; the characters are people you know and love. It feels like it lasts a lifetime, and in many instances, it does.

I'd love to recommend this to people if I didn't think they'd give up on it. Please, please, pick it up and persevere, it really is a masterpiece.

58 / 66 books. 88% done!

Book #57

2010-08-24T02:03:00.004+01:00

How I Became Stupid by Martin Page

Twenty-five-year-old Parisian Antoine is sick. The disease? Intelligence. Desperate to find a cure for his overactive brain, Antoine considers alcoholism, suicide, and lobotomy, but none seems quite right for his special needs. A new job, though, is just the ticket. Accepting a position in his high-school friend's brokerage firm, Antoine finds the burdens of consciousness gradually slipping away.

I am hugely attracted to books set in France, especially when they are written by French authors. This is what happens when you are a Francophile. Unfortunately, being a Francophile also leads me down garden paths and allows me to dip myself into some seriously underwhelming novels. This is one of these novels.

The idea is interesting, but that is where it stops. The characters start off interesting - such as Antoine's friend who can speak only in rhyme - but they are only ever introduced; no one is developed or given any personality at all. This includes Antoine, our protagonist.

The last chapter is simply ridiculous, giving us the beginning of a rather indie love story and then ending abruptly.

Please don't go near this.

57 / 66 books. 86% done!

Book #56

2010-08-21T14:43:00.003+01:00

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher (or the Murder at Road Hill House) by Kate Summerscale

In June of 1860 three-year-old Saville Kent was found at the bottom of an outdoor privy with his throat slit. The crime horrified all England and led to a national obsession with detection, ironically destroying, in the process, the career of perhaps the greatest detective in the land.

At the time, the detective was a relatively new invention; there were only eight detectives in all of England and rarely were they called out of London, but this crime was so shocking, as Kate Summerscale relates in her scintillating new book, that Scotland Yard sent its best man to investigate, Inspector Jonathan Whicher.

I had been so excited about reading this that I fast-tracked it to the top of my book-queue, which was quite against my normal book-reading rules. I was a wee bit disappointed, though. Don't believe the hype.

It started off wonderfully well, describing the inmates of Road Hill House and the nature of the crime. I hadn't realised it was a true story, so it began to take on a more gruesome edge once I had worked this out. It started off reading as a fictional novel, which I thought was a nice touch. However, everything slowly descended into a, frankly quite boring, research paper. It really felt to me like Summerscale just needed somewhere to dump all of her research, even the tiniest, most inconsequential little details about the case.

Summerscale mostly spent the novel quoting books which had been influenced by the crime and the subsequent investigation. Not only did she do this, but she laid out the plots of these almost in their entirety, particularly The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, and The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. When you have these books sitting on your desk waiting for you to read them, getting a simplified plot synopsis of them every few pages can be quite frustrating, not to mention spoilertastic.

Mr. Whicher, as the book's namesake, was barely given a voice. I had been looking forward to reading about this infamous case that brought the famous Scotland Yard detective down, but Summerscale did nothing to bring him to life. She guesses at his personal life, and he's never given any sort of human element.

The book barely mentioned the actual crime in the middle section, rather focusing on what everyone was up to now that they had left Road Hill House. I could have done without hearing about William's wonderful research on sealife creatures, because really, who cares? It was extremely irrelevant to say the least.

In hindsight, it seems that Summerscale aimed to write solely about the Road Hill murder, but instead found her research on that topic alone to be quite insubstantial, so instead she decided to pad out the book with silly little details such as the origin of words like "red herring" and "sleuth". I'd recommend the first third of the book, as finding out about the crime fascinated me, but after that I'd give up. Nothing of the remotest interest is given, and it is an overall flop, in my humble opinion.

56 / 66 books. 85% done!

Book #55

2010-08-16T13:39:00.002+01:00

Divided Kingdom by Rupert Thomson

It is winter, somewhere in the United Kingdom, and an eight-year-old boy is removed from his home and family in the middle of the night. He learns that he is the victim of an extraordinary experiment. In an attempt to reform society, the government has divided the population into four groups, each representing a different personality type. The land, too, has been divided into quarters. Borders have been established, reinforced by concrete walls, armed guards and rolls of razor wire. Plunged headlong into this brave new world, the boy tries to make the best of things, unaware that ahead of him lies a truly explosive moment, a revelation that will challenge everything he believes in and will, in the end, put his very life in jeopardy.

I read Thomson's The Five Gates of Hell back in January and really enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to getting my teeth into this one. Unfortunately, I've been left feeling extremely disappointed.

It was an interesting premise to begin with - the United Kingdom being divided into four countries, and people being herded into different areas depending on their personality. I think Thomson could have done a lot with this idea, but for me it fell flat quite quickly. Although the book was set in a dystopian, alternate future, very little was given in order to deem this world plausible even in the slightest.

The main character is very two-dimensional, at times almost inhuman. He barely seems to register the ordeals he experiences, and he seems to have the emotional range of a teaspoon.

Towards the end of the novel, Thomson introduces a somewhat supernatural aspect that seems to do nothing but point to the possibility that our author was struggling to come up with a suitable ending, or was faltering in his ability to continue the tale. This plot twist does absolutely nothing to add to the novel's already poor believability, and just made me feel a bit uncomfortable and awkward.

I really wouldn't recommend this; I was looking for it to be an exciting political thriller that also delves deep into the intricacy of human nature and relationships, but instead I got a dull story of a man's decline. Also, the ending was weak and I was left feeling as though I had wasted my time. It's a shame, because I had really enjoyed The Five Gates of Hell. I'm hoping to try another of Thomson's novels in the near future, and hopefully I'll be able to reestablish my respect for his writing.

55 / 66 books. 83% done!

Book #54

2010-08-07T10:31:00.003+01:00

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye is a timeless tale of a teenager struggling with society and himself. Holden Caulfield is a teenager who hates his own life. He believes that every single person in the world is phony. One day, he decides to leave school. His life changes when he decides to go to New York for three days.

(The above blurb does nothing to really explain the book. I think this is why there is no blurb on the back cover of the actual novel - I Googled the above description. There is no real way of finding out about this book other than actually reading it.)

I am really ashamed to say that this is the first time I've read this book. It has really blown me away and moved high up in my list of favourites after just the initial read. I really believe that it's one that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime, and again I'm really embarrassed that I haven't done so until now.

Holden Caulfield is a wonderful character. He is troubled in many ways, and he's certainly an unreliable narrator due to the way he narrates his exact thought process, which is disjointed yet wonderful. His use of irony and sarcasm in his descriptions of simple things is hilarious, and very endearing.

Holden has everything that a teenager (or, in fact, an adult) can identify with, such as seeing everything as being a bit pointless, and seeing others as being fake (or as he'd say - 'phonies'). He has no wishes to be a popular, or even sociable, person, and it becomes clear very quickly that he is a teller of what is real. He doesn't sugarcoat a thing, picking up very quickly people's exact selfish reasons for behaving in certain ways. He is so wonderful, and real, that he's become one of my favourite literary characters in the space of a heartbeat.

The book raises a lot of questions, but doesn't go on to answer them. I think this is reflective to growing up, and moving on. Holden's life is never romanticised, you see what he is seeing and hope he can learn to see some beauty in things before too long.

Salinger describes the pain of growing up extremely well, making Holden almost resist the maturity process. He wants everything to constantly stay the same, and to be as simple as possible. He adopts this idea that the adult word consists entirely of 'phonies' (i.e. the superficial, the hypocrites, the pretentious, and the shallow) in order to make himself feel better about resisting entry into it.

The symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye was also something that I enjoyed immensely. Holden's hunting hat, in particular, was a favourite. I think because the hat was so odd, so outlandish, it became a symbol of Holden's individuality, and showed him trying his best to be different. But he is also incredibly self-conscious about the hat, and won't wear it if he thinks he'll see someone he knows. I think this is a gorgeous portrayal of how we feel growing up - wanting to be unique, but still fearing that someone will laugh.

I love this book so much. I'd recommend this to absolutely anyone, it could really change the way you see things, even just a little bit. It really is a beautiful masterpiece, it's made me happy, and it's made me so sad. If you get a chance, please read it, it honestly is wonderful.

54 / 66 books. 82% done!

Book #53

2010-08-03T10:24:00.003+01:00

Abandoned by Anya Peters

'Abandoned' is the true story of a childhood full of secrets, abuse and a little girl who didn't belong. This inspirational story is about how one woman finally overcame her traumatic childhood and adult homelessness to find a place she could call home.

This book is a true story; I didn't realise this until I had actually started to read it. I don't normally read a great deal of non-fiction, but I enjoyed this slightly more than I imagined I would have.

Anya Peters has been through some really awful times in her life, and hats off to her for being a survivor. For these reasons, I'm going to be very careful how I criticise the novel, and keep some of my opinions to myself, in fear of sounding distasteful.

The first half is extremely difficult to read and disturbing on a lot of levels. I can read about practically anything without batting an eyelid, but child abuse is a lot different. The suffering Peters was put through by her uncle is something no one should ever have to experience, especially at such a young age. The abuse scenes are extremely vivid, and made me feel a bit sick at times. It must have been terrible. I found it shocking that Peters' aunt let the abuser back into her home after he was released - and then allowed Peters to come back and live there! That is truly disgusting behaviour.

The second half of the book is about Peters escaping an abusive relationship and her subsequent homelessness as a result of this. The relationship was mostly documented in retrospect, whereas the first half of the novel happened in real time. Then we go along with Peters as she tries in vain to pull money together and find a home.

She then discovers blogging in a library, and now we have her book!

How she ever survived, I can't even begin to imagine. Many would just have given up. But Anya Peters now has a successful blog and a novel, and she has truly risen up from the dirt.

You can check out her blog at: http://wanderingscribe.blogspot.com/

Book #52

2010-08-01T17:33:00.004+01:00

Apathy and Other Small Victories by Paul Neilan

The only thing Shane cares about is leaving. But this time it's complicated: there's a sadistic corporate climber who thinks she's his girlfriend, a rent-subsidised affair with his landlord's wife, a dentist who won't stop crying, and a deaf woman who winds up dead. When Shane becomes a suspect, he'll have to clear the good name he's never had and doesn't particularly want: his own.

Paul Neilan dedicates this book to his parents at the beginning, saying: To my parents, who will hopefully never read this book. I can see why. It's actually quite an offensive novel, and I think it could be viewed as quite politically incorrect in so many ways. I almost don't want to recommend it for these reasons, but since I'm a rather immoral girl - read it, it's amazing.

It's so good! I spent my entire time reading it laughing, and then feeling bad for laughing. The way Shane, our narrator, describes life is absolutely hilarious, and his inner thoughts reminded me a bit of my own deep thinkings on simple life matters. He is rather cynical and spiteful of everyone and everything, which also echoes a bit on the way I personally see things.

Neilan's characters are insane. My favourite was Doug the dentist, who gets his head stuck in the bus door every time he goes on it, and freaks out at the sound of people walking on sand. All of the characters were incredibly interesting and disgusting at the same time.

I really think that Neilan's humour here is what salvages the book. The plot isn't overly brilliant; it's just Shane's observations of it that make the book worthwhile. I was a bit disappointed in the ending, too, it seemed really formulaic to me, but maybe that was something to do with the apathy of the whole thing. I've been debating this with myself, and I'm still not too sure.

It's definitely worth a read, though, if you like dark humour and laughing at grossly inappropriate things that are in no way supposed to be funny.

52 / 66 books. 79% done!

Book #51

2010-07-27T21:42:00.003+01:00

Sarah by J.T. Leroy

Cherry Vanilla, twelve years old with a penchant for short leather skirts and make-up, has one ambition: to become the most famous 'lot lizard', or truck stop whore, in the business. With his blonde curls and naked ambition he is determined to be more woman than most and to match his idol, rival and mother, Sarah - also working the lot. Cherry is recruited by Glad - the most sophisticated pimp there is. Glad dresses his boys in the finest silk from China, feeds them gourmet food and teaches them to tell what a trucker wants by the look in his eye. It is only when Sarah leaves Glad's protection that he discovers just how perilous his chosen profession can be.

I was so excited about reading this. It just seemed such an odd, sick kind of book, with a cult reputation - the kind that particularly appeals to me. I had read that it was a semi-autobiographical account of the author's life, and this spurred me into acquiring the book as quickly as I could. However, it seems that the author of this book is in actual fact a woman who has never experienced any of these things! How fraudulent. I even skipped this one past other books in my 'to be read' list just so I could dive into it as soon as I could. All this was a bit silly, though, because I've ended up severely disappointed.

The plot is compelling in places, but none of the characters are developed in any way. When characters from the beginning of the novel came back into the story at the end, I struggled to place them.

I'm confused as to how anyone could have considered the writing in this to be autobiographical. Nothing in this book rang true for me at all, it almost read like someone's memory of a dream they'd had months ago, where they fill in the parts they can't quite remember with sheer hyperbole.

It's easy enough to get through, and you are driven to read on by the complete oddities you are exposed to. However, it really feels to me like a waste of good reading time, and I wouldn't recommend this to anyone I liked, and I feel like a bit of an idiot for being excited about it in the first place. I should probably stop taking book recommendations from self-appointed cool kids.

If you're interested at all in the literary hoax that was J.T. Leroy, I found the literary article quite informative. But to be honest, the entire hoax is almost as boring as Sarah.

51 / 66 books. 77% done!

Book #50

2010-07-22T13:01:00.004+01:00

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

A father and his son walk alone through burned America, heading through the ravaged landscape to the coast. This is the profoundly moving story of their journey.

I loved it.

There is very, very little plot involved here. Hardly anything really happens, but you know what you're dealing with, and the fact that not much happens is almost a relief. The book is based almost entirely on father and son, and how much they love each other.

It's deeply moving as a whole. The dystopian setting of the novel brings us into a stark, grey world, depressing us right from the beginning. The only shining light we are given is the man's love for his son, which never falters.

The prose bothered me to begin with. The absence of punctuation is normally a deal-breaker for me, but I soon came to understand the need for skeletal prose. It quickly became beautiful to me, evoking the emotional weight of the journey and emphasising the starkness of their landscape incredibly well.

Although very, very dark and depressing, I really feel this is one that everyone should try at least once. The realism McCarthy gives to a post-apocalyptic world is absolutely something to be experienced.

50 / 66 books. 76% done!

Book #49

2010-07-13T20:06:00.002+01:00

Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk

Carl Streator is a reporter investigating Sudden Infant Death Syndrome for a soft-news feature. After responding to several calls with paramedics, he notices that all the dead children were read the same poem from the same library book the night before they died. It's a 'culling song' - an ancient African spell for euthanizing sick or old people. Researching it, he meets a woman who killed her own child with it accidentally. He himself accidentally killed his own wife and child with the same poem twenty years earlier. Together, the man and the woman must find and destroy all copies of this book, and try not to kill every rude sonofabitch that gets in their way.

This was wonderful, as I expected it to be.

The premise originally borders on the ridiculous. Oh, a lullaby that can put people to sleep forever? How believable! If you have feelings along these lines as you begin to read this, they quickly evaporate. Palahniuk writes so well that the story turns into something that your mind can comprehend as something that could absolutely, without a doubt, happen to any one of us.

It gets frustrating and confusing about a third of the way in, with the plot twisting and writhing in all sorts of odd shapes, but perseverance is definitely the key here, and the loose ends tying up at the end is almost mouth-watering.

Palahniuk's comments about life's distractions were what I loved most of all. He berated all the things that cluster around us, preventing us from thinking properly, things like noise, television and marketing jingles. It really gives you something to think about. Whether that's in any way ironic or not, I couldn't say.

This is classic Palahniuk - he takes something truly disgusting and turns it into something you don't want to forget, something you'll continue to think about, and something that may make you question your morals. Call him over-hyped, call him the hipster prince, call him anything you like, I love him.

49 / 66 books. 74% done!

Book #48

2010-07-12T13:14:00.004+01:00

The Acid House by Irvine Welsh

Two professors of philosophy turn pugilists; Leith removal men become the objects of desire for Hollywood goddesses; God turns Boab Coyle into a house-fly; and in the novella, 'A Smart Cunt', the drug-addled young hero spins off on a collision course with his past. The Acid House is a bizarre, disturbing and hilarious collection from one of the most uncompromising and original writers around.

Another wee collection of short stories! I'm really getting through these this year. I realised two stories into this that I had already read it as a teenager, but I'd forgotten almost everything that happened in the stories, so it wasn't a great loss.

In true Irvine Welsh fashion, everything about this collection is vile, dark, disturbing and vomit-inducing. It really is spit your dinner out material, but it grips you unbelievably hard.

Welsh explores a lot of different themes and styles here, it's a good expression of his various literary abilities. There were some particularly insane sections that did make me wonder for a while what actually goes on in that baldy head of his, but his style is intriguing more than anything else.

His characters are, as always, flawed and vicious, but mostly wonderful. I do love it when characters from Welsh's other novels make an appearance, this time Spud from Trainspotting cropping up in the novella A Smart Cunt.

Twisted as he may be, Welsh remains one of my favourite authors, and going back to some of his older works helps to remind me of this. I'd recommend this to anyone who can handle something that's on the wrong side of macabre.

48 / 66 books. 73% done!

Book #47

2010-07-09T20:46:00.003+01:00

The Book With No Name by Anonymous

For many centuries the shelves of a library in South America held a terrible secret. Sitting on these shelves was a book with no name, written by an anonymous author. Everyone who ever read it ended up dead, yet the book always found it's way back to the library. In 2005 a special government investigator uncovered the truth about the book and it's link to the murders. Now available in paperback, you can discover for yourself the reason why no one ever read the book and lived, until now.

This book is insane.

I was drawn to it in the first instance because it was untitled, written by an anonymous author, and told me, "Whatever you do, don't read the book with no name". I am the type of person who, when told not to do something, will do exactly that. It's incredibly, incredibly complicated, with an array of very strange characters, very strange occurences, and some very strange plot twists.

It would be difficult to go into exactly what happens, but to summarise, each character is pursuing a precious stone called the Eye of the Moon. Each character's reasons for desiring the stone are different, yet vague, and nothing is revealed properly, or falls completely into place, until the very end. One character who is particularly determined to get his hands on the stone is the Bourbon Kid, who really has no qualms about who he blows away on his mission.

It's definitely not for the faint of heart. The violence and gore involved was quite intense, I even found myself cringing in places, which I never really do. It reminded me of Quentin Tarantino's films, and although I never really put a book down and think it'd make an excellent film, if Tarantino did this one I think it'd blow everyone away.

It packs in so many genres that I'm finding it quite difficult to choose one for it. It's a thriller, mystery, supernatural, crime, horror, and even a romance novel in places.

My favourite part was the author's use of a different character's point of view in each of the chapters. This allowed us to see everything as a whole, and sometimes to find things out before certain characters do, which I always enjoy in a sort of, "OMG DON'T GO IN THERE!" kind of way. It also added more suspense, as the author would switch to another character quickly while something exciting was just happening elsewhere. Although I hate using clichéd book review phrases, it was definitely a page-turner.

There is a sequel, called The Eye of the Moon, which I'm going to try and source immediately because I enjoyed this one so much. If you like a bit of violence and blood, give this one a go. I enjoy a good punching, and I loved this.

I'd also like to add a little something that people who have read, or who plan to read this, may have missed. I am a geek and looked at the publisher's notes at the front before I started reading this. Why? There is always a copyright note there with the author's name beside it. The copyright is c/o The Bourbon Kid.

47 / 66 books. 71% done!

Book #46

2010-07-04T16:50:00.004+01:00

Somewhere To Lay My Head by Robert Douglas

This is the beginning of Robert Douglas's stirring memoir of growing from boy to man in the fast-changing Britain of the fifties and sixties. We follow him from the RAF Boys' Service to a Dickensian life down the pit, from there to slaving in a hotel, then back to Glasgow for work on the docks and a spell in a fearsome establishment for homeless men, before it is time to return to the forces for National Service.

I didn't realise when I first opened this book that it was actually an autobiography, nor did I realise that it was the second installment of a trilogy. I feel a bit odd now that I've discovered this as I hate reading things in the wrong order. However, I really enjoyed it.

I loved Douglas's writing style - it was really simple, yet somewhat comforting, and it times I almost felt like he was writing directly to me, as if he'd written all this in a letter.

There are some photographs peppered throughout the novel, too. I thought these were a great wee touch. They were mainly of Douglas's friends and family, but there was one in particular of Glasgow in the fifties, and I was mesmerised by it. It's amazing how you can instantly recognise an area you see almost every day, yet it's so different.

This was another reason for enjoying the novel - hearing about a familiar place in an unfamiliar time is something I really love. Douglas's descriptions of post-war Glasgow were gorgeous.

I'm going to try and get a hold of the first and third installments of this trilogy and try to catch up!

46 / 66 books. 70% done!

Book #45

2010-06-29T22:55:00.002+01:00

Scottish Ghost Stories by Elliott O'Donnell

This spine-chilling collection of 'Scottish Ghost Stories' is the work of an acknowledged expert in the field of the supernatural.

This is quite an old, rare book, written back in the 19th century. My uncle gave it to me about ten years ago and I have no idea where he managed to procure it from. I really should find out, because it's a strange little read.

The stories here are written in a very old-fashioned style, which I think adds to the suspense and atmosphere O'Donnell creates. They are extremely dark, and almost Victorian, and there are no clues whatsoever as to whether or not they are true accounts. I believe they may be true stories at the core, but there does seem to be some dramatisation involved on O'Donnell's part. Further research into his personality has reported him as a lover of melodrama, so perhaps the stories only have a tiny element of truth to them. Nevertheless, I was scared!

The locality of the ghost stories is slightly disturbing. There was one set in a house in Blythswood Square, and I was a bit freaked since I'd been there only a few days ago!

The illustrations were also a bit much for me. There was one at the beginning of every new story, but now and then one would pop up mid-narrative and they'd usually be quite disturbing.

I really like it when I ghost story has an insight into the ghost's history - why they are there, how they died, why they are angry - and each of these stories did their best to explain the ghost's motives, which I really appreciated.

I'd recommend giving this one a read - if you can find it! It is, however, extremely old-fashioned and requires a wee bit of patience since O'Donnell is very randomly descriptive.

45 / 66 books. 68% done!

Book #44

2010-06-28T21:26:00.005+01:00

No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July

A benign encounter, a misunderstanding, a shy revelation can reconfigure the world.

I think I'm rediscovering my love for short stories this year, and these have helped me on my way quite a bit. I do think I'll have to read them all again at some point to improve my understanding of them, but for a first read it was wonderful. Having said that, I didn't really love it in the way I thought I was going to, and I still can't quite figure out whether this is a good or bad thing.

I felt a couple of the stories fell flat, but I really did enjoy the majority of them, particularly This Person, which made me cry on a train because I felt I could identify with it so much.

Each of the stories have elements that are either forlorn or perverse, sometimes both. I enjoyed reading about all of the characters, and fell in love with a few of them too, despite the fact that many of them were downright disgusting.

At times it seemed like July was behind each word whispering, "It's okay, everyone really is like this, it's not just you," but realising this still makes you feel incredibly alone and strange. It's an odd feeling.

I'm finding it quite difficult to put my thoughts on this one into words. It really is quite difficult to review short stories that have been bound together as a novel, as they can all be so different.

I will say that the first few stories aren't as good as ones that come later on, so if you're planning on reading this, please persevere because it gets a lot better further in.

I'm putting this one back on my 'to be read' pile because I feel that a re-read may bring some more things into perspective for me. Prepare yourself for a future review. This one was a bit watery, I'm still overwhelmed.

44 / 66 books. 67% done!

Book #43

2010-06-25T22:50:00.003+01:00

Poppy Shakespeare by Clare Allan

Who is mad? Who is sane? Who decides? Welcome to the Dorothy Fish, a day hospital in North London! N has been a patient here for thirteen years. Day after day she sits smoking in the common room, swapping medication and comparing MAD money rates. Like all the patients at the Dorothy Fish, N's chief ambition is never to get discharged. Each year when her annual assessment comes round, she is relieved to learn that she hasn't got any better. Then in walks Poppy Shakespeare in her six-inch skirt and twelve-inch heels. She is certain she isn't mentally ill and desperate to return to her life outside. Though baffled by Poppy's attitude, N agrees to help. Together they plot to gain Poppy's freedom. But in a world where everything's upside-down, are they crazy enough to upset the system?

There really wasn't much in this novel that I could say I enjoyed.

It's narrated by a day-patient of the Dorothy Fish, a mental institution in London. She writes in exactly the same way you'd imagine her to speak, and this took a lot of getting used to, particularly her constant use of the phrase "would of/could of" instead of the proper "would have/could have". This is blatant nit-picking, of course, since it's not Allan's language, but the narrator's. Still, I was really annoyed, and the voice I hear inside my head when I read couldn't quite come to grips with the accent.

There was some good humour in the book, the narrator, 'N', was such a character and I particularly enjoyed it when she insulted people by "showing them the back of my head." I do feel that the constant repetitions, although they managed to convey N's apparent madness, got tiring in places. I found my eyes to be glazing over more than once as I was trying to wade through the drivel.

The ending was very, very disappointing and didn't make much sense to me. In fact, the entire novel didn't much a great deal of sense to me, and was a small step away from nonsense the entire time.

In all, this was a confusing book that I'm still trying to get my head around. It was a lovely idea in theory, but I really think it's been very badly executed. There is, however, a television adaptation available on 4od which I haven't seen as of yet, but which I've heard quite good things about. I just wouldn't recommend the book.

43 / 66 books. 65% done!

Book #42

2010-06-22T21:23:00.004+01:00

The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite by Beatrice Colin

As the clock chimed the turn of the twentieth century, Lilly Nelly Aphrodite took her first breath. Born to a cabaret dancer and soon orphaned in a scandalous murder-suicide, Lilly finds refuge at a Catholic orphanage, coming under the wing of the, at times, severe Sister August, the first in a string of lost loves.

There she meets Hanne Schmidt, a teen prostitute, and forms a bond that will last them through tumultuous love affairs, disastrous marriages, and destitution during the First World War and the subsequent economic collapse. As the century progresses, Lilly and Hanne move from the tawdry glamour of the tingle-tangle nightclubs to the shadow world of health films before Lilly finds success and stardom in the new medium of motion pictures and ultimately falls in love with a man whose fate could cost her everything she has worked for or help her discover her true self.

I was quite surprised by this, to be honest. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it a huge deal, but I ended up finding it to be quite gratifying and also rather provocative in certain places.

The story was interesting, if a bit miserable at times. It seemed that all of Colin's characters met some dark end by making one or two ill-advised choices at some point in their lives. I don't think any of them had a happy ending; Colin dealt all of them some extremely severe blows throughout the whole thing. A lovely little nuance about Colin's characterisation, however, is that we are given a great deal of history about them, and even in some cases a glimpse of their futures. This happened often, at times even with the most minor of characters, and I really appreciated it and as a result felt more affinity with her characters.

The historical setting of this novel was incredibly impressive. It was apparent that a staggering amount of research was put into this era by the author, and this alone gains a lot of respect from me as a reader. Colin went into extreme depth describing the political events that took place during these years, but also went to great lengths to correctly portray the despair and starvation people experienced during the First World War. She then went on to describe the glitz and glamour of the film industry in the early 20th century, which was a stark contrast to Lilly's earlier experiences.

The ending disappointed me in a big way. I don't want to spoil anything for potential readers, but I found it extremely unsatisfying and even after I turned the last page, I was still worrying about Lilly. It's quite obvious that Colin is a realist and not a romanticist like I am!

I'd definitely recommend this if you are interested in this period in history, or more specifically, the early years of cinema. Failing that, if you fancy a rags to riches, wartime tale with a romantic sub-plot thrown in, then it's a good one to try.

42 / 66 books. 64% done!

Book #41

2010-06-19T11:17:00.003+01:00

Blood on the Streets: A-Z of Glasgow Crime by Robert Jeffrey

For more than a hundred years, Glasgow has been right up there in the major league of big-city crime. From Madelaine Smith and Oscar Slater, by way of the Bridgeton Billy Boys and the Norman Conks, through to modern villains like Paul Ferris and Tam McGraw, Glasgow's streets have spawned a succession of fascinating tales of true crime. Films, plays and books have long chronicled the evil-doings of experts in crime, such as Walter Norval and Arthur Thompson, and the hard men who never flinched at doing their bidding. Notorious gangs, like the Penny Mob, the Cheeky Forty and the Cumbie, have also had their stories told in print and on celuloid. Even in the twenty-first century, as the new Glasgow polishes a growing reputation for sophistication and culture, blood still gets spilled on the streets and scams of one kind or another are always in the pipeline. The A-Z of Glasgow Crime is a compelling journey through an extensive history of crime and crime-fighting in a city where the illicit is never far away. From the tough streets of the east-end to the leafy avenues of the west-end; from murder behind velvet curtains in the douce homes of the wealthy to the violent and bloody street battles on postwar housing estates - all this and more is covered in gripping detail in Jeffrey's definitive true-crime guide to a city with a notoriously violent history.

I don't read a lot of non-fiction. Maybe I should read more, I'm not sure. Maybe if I were more accustomed to reading non-fiction I'd have enjoyed this a bit more. Again, I'm not sure, but the fact remains that I didn't really enjoy it at all.

It started off okay, I was quite excited to read about Glasgow crime, but I lost interest pretty quickly.

I think this was mainly due to the structure of the book. It was set out using subtitles of alphabetical order, which was all very well and good, but since a lot of the stories involved were interlinked, it meant that certain people or events were mentioned before I had come to their section of the book. It also led to an abundance of repetitions, which was incredibly frustrating. I found myself quite confused with the chronology of events, thinking that one thing had happened before another, and being mistaken. I think the book would have worked better if it had been written in more of a chronological order, a timeline of Glasgow crime, rather than an A-Z.

There were also a number of spelling and grammar mistakes that were peppered quite frequently throughout. These were, however small, met with a huge sigh on my part, and ruined the flow of the writing for me.

However, most aspects of the book were interesting and enlightening and I feel that I've come away from the book knowing a lot more about Glasgow and its dark corners than I previously did.

41 / 66 books. 62% done!

Book #40

2010-06-15T23:20:00.004+01:00

The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertson

A son of the manse, Mack has grown up in an austere and chilly house, dominated by a joyless father. Unable to believe in God, he is far more attracted by the forbidden cartoons on television. Father and son clash fatally one day and it may be guilt which drives Mack to take up a career in the Church. This minister, who doesn't believe in God, the Devil or an afterlife, one day discovers a standing stone in the middle of a wood where previously there had been none. Unsure what to make of this apparition, Mack's life begins to unravel dramatically until the moment when he is swept into a mountain stream, which pours down a chasm before disappearing underground. Miraculously Mack emerges three days later, battered but alive. He seems to have lost his mind however, since he claims that while underground he met the Devil.

I had been looking forward to this one. It had been recommended to me by at least two people, perhaps more, so I had very high expectations. I did enjoy it, but I think perhaps I didn't quite understand where things were going because of my limited knowledge of religion.

I really liked that the book was a manuscript written by the main protagonist before his death. The manuscript had been dug up by a publisher who was looking to make it into a book, and so we are allowed both Gideon's views, and also the views of an outsider. For this reason, though, we are told from the off exactly what the macabre ending will be, and this ruined the whole thing for me somewhat.

I did love Gideon. He really appealed to me, mostly coming across as sweet and vulnerable at times. I found myself completely supporting him and his decisions, which seemed strange at times because his decisions tended to be quite risqué. I am still not entirely sure what attracted me so much to this man in the first place.

I also really liked that the story was set in Scotland, fairly local compared to other books I read, and also that some parts of it were written in Scottish dialect. There was even a section with some helpful translations, and I felt considerably smug about not having to use them.

The epilogue consisted of the publisher interviewing characters who had appeared in Gideon's manuscript. I felt there was so much potential here to uncover some secrets, or tie up some loose ends, but not much was given.

I think there may have been a few messages in here about religion, beliefs and morals, but I've missed them entirely. I am a complete dunce when it comes to Christianity, not to mention other religions, so it is highly likely that I have missed some sort of great hidden symbol implanted somewhere in the novel.

Although I read through it quite consistently, I never really felt that I was being pulled into the story enough. I actually feel a bit depressed when I think about the story in general; it's definitely not a happy book. I'd recommend it to anyone with interests in religion or Scottish literature, but for those who are looking for something a bit more supernatural, like me, my advice would be to give it a miss.

40 / 66 books. 61% done!

Book #39

2010-06-10T21:24:00.004+01:00

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Esther Greenwood is at college and is fighting two battles, one against her own desire for perfection in all things - grades, boyfriend, looks, career - and the other against remorseless mental illness. As her depression deepens she finds herself encased in it, bell-jarred away from the rest of the world. This is the story of her journey back into reality.

I have to say I was reluctant to read any Plath at all to begin with. I had never experienced any of her work - whether poems or prose - and I was dragging my heels mainly because of the manner in which she had died. I thought this novel would be incredibly dark and depressing, but I was really surprised. I have nothing but praise for this book; I enjoyed every single word of it.

The timeline of the novel bothered me slightly to begin with. Scenes were flitting to and fro, and I found it confusing at times to work out where I was. I soon realised, however, that this was Esther's descent into madness, and everything began to fall into place.

It is interesting to see Esther's decline, actually. At the beginning of the novel, she comes across as a sort of plain, naïve, young woman, who is coming of age. We follow her exploits, some which are hilarious, until a certain point comes where she leaves New York and enters into her depressed state. She becomes a completely different person, and it's like a change from black to white.

Esther's decline is worrying for these reasons, but I was also shocked at how much I felt myself relating to her, and understanding entirely where she was coming from. At first, this made me think that I was also doomed to depression and madness, but on closer inspection, I believe that many women will be able to relate to Esther.

Plath's prose is so eloquent that I am tempted to read some of her poetry, even though I am not such a huge lover of poetry in general. The writing is truly incredible, and the image of the bell jar is one I will keep with me for a while. The idea is so clever, simple and true that it's one I can't possibly forget, and one which has given me endless love for this novel. I just wish I had been able to find out sooner how wonderful a writer she really was.

39 / 66 words. 59% done!

Book #38

2010-06-06T19:47:00.004+01:00

Paris Tales translated by Helen Constantine

Paris Tales is a highly evocative collection of stories by French and Francophone writers who have been inspired by specific locations in this most visited of capital cities. The twenty-two stories - by well-known writers including Nerval, Maupassant, Colette, and Echenoz - provide a captivating glimpse into Parisian life from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. The stories take us on an atmospheric tour of the arrondissements and quartiers of Paris, charting the changing nature of the city and its inhabitants, and viewing it through the eyes of characters such as the provincial lawyer's wife seeking excitement, a runaway schoolboy sleeping rough, and a lottery-winning policeman. From the artists' haunts of Montmartre to the glamorous cafés of Saint-Germain, from the shouts of demonstrators on Boul Mich' to the tranquillity of Parc Monceau, Paris Tales offers a fascinating literary panorama of Paris.

I found this breathtaking. I'm not sure whether this was because of the writing (which was wonderful!) or because I am quite obsessed with the city of Paris, having lived there for a while and having fallen head over heels in love with it.

I love reading about the different parts of Paris and the kinds of people who live in them, and this was an excellent collection. Some of the stories I couldn't understand fully, and they were a bit too poetic for my tastes, but I really enjoyed the majority of them.

The photographs were also a highlight - I find pictures of Paris to be fantastic, and they give me such a longing sense of nostalgia that I find it quite difficult not to sit and gaze at them for ages. The metro map on the last page was also a treat - I found myself sitting tracing routes I'd taken many times and thinking about how lovely the city is.

A lovely light read - I'd definitely recommend it if you're a bit of a Paris romanticist like myself!

38 / 66 books. 58% done!

Book #37

2010-06-04T18:16:00.002+01:00

You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggers

Will and Hand are burdened by $38,000 and the memory of their friend Jack. Taking a week out of their lives, they decide to travel around the world to give the money away. They can’t really say why they’re doing it, just that it needs to be done. Perhaps it’s something to do with Jack’s death – perhaps they’ll find the reason later. But as their plans are frustrated, twisted and altered at every step and the natives prove far from grateful to their benefactors, Will and Hand find that the world is an infinitely bigger, more surreal and exhilarating place than they ever realised.

I was really disappointed in this because I had heard lots of nice and lovely things about Dave Eggers.

It was extremely slow-paced and failed miserably to grab my attention. It was dry, it was flat, things happened, but they didn't really. I felt like Eggers was trying really hard to be profound and different in his approaches to themes, but it just bored me to death.

Travelling around the world is an exciting thing in itself. Travelling around the world to give large sums of money to random strangers is super exciting, and something that people should want to read about. Eggers has made these exciting adventures seem like the last thing I'd ever want to do with my life. He seems a bit too aware of his own cleverness, and he's smug with it, so this gives us a sense of overkill. I felt like I was reading a dream. A boring dream.

And the twist at the end! My reaction was something along the lines of, "Ugh, are we doing this?" It was ridiculous, and reminded me of the way a kid in primary school might end a creative writing adventure.

I had been hoping to get a few more of Dave Egger's books, but I'm really reluctant now. I wouldn't recommend this.

37 / 66 books. 56% done!

Book #36

2010-06-01T20:18:00.003+01:00

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Johnny Truant, a wild and troubled sometime employee in a LA tattoo parlour, finds a notebook kept by Zampano, a reclusive old man found dead in a cluttered apartment. Herein is the heavily annotated story of the Navidson Report. Will Navidson, a photojournalist, and his family move into a new house. What happens next is recorded on videotapes and in interviews. Now the Navidsons are household names. Zampano, writing on loose sheets, stained napkins, crammed notebooks, has compiled what must be the definitive work on the events on Ash Tree Lane. But Johnny Truant has never heard of the Navidson Record. Nor has anyone else he knows. And the more he reads about Will Navidson's house, the more frightened he becomes. Paranoia besets him. The worst part is that he can't just dismiss the notebook as the ramblings of a crazy old man. He's starting to notice things changing around him.

This book is such an oddity; I've never read anything like it. I barely even know where to begin here. I can't even decide how I feel.

First of all, it doesn't read like a story, it reads like a dissertation. I think this can be very deterring for casual readers, and this book is certainly not a light read. It requires a huge amount of effort from the reader, and it can be absolutely draining in places. I'm actually finding it quite difficult to explain my feelings for the book as there are so many layers to it.

It's presented as a thoroughly researched, extremely factual document. However, most of the references presented in the footnotes are entirely fictional, and the majority of people mentioned do not exist. The details present in the book are incredible, and there is no doubt in my mind that there are very few people in the world who could interpret these in their entirety, and successfully separate truth from fantasy.

I did really enjoy the typography. Different fonts were used for each narrator, and occasionally the text was arranged in such a way to evoke some empathy for the characters. For example, if the setting was a tiny corridor, the text only took up the tiniest square in the middle of each page. This forces the reader to quickly flip the pages, reading only one or two words at once, and therefore causing a slight panic or excitement. There were also some sections that were extremely claustrophobic, with hundreds of words crammed into differed sections, haphazardly distributed across the pages.

I also loved the comparisons to labyrinths and the analysis of the Minotaur. Greek myths always arouse my interest, and I found the similarities described here, not to mention the ones I derived for myself, absolutely astounding.

The tale is extremely post-modern in the sense that absolutely nothing is resolved in the end, and everything remains mysterious. I'd have liked a small portion of closure to reward my perseverance. I got nothing! I feel like my brain is spinning, still, trying to work out what just happened.

I feel like I'm rambling now. How very ironic considering what I'm reviewing. I shall end by saying that this has to be the most exhausting story I've ever come across. It's such an intricate mind-bend that it almost reminded me of a parallel universe. I really wouldn't recommend this if you're not prepared to work for it, I know many people who are planning on reading this book, so bear that in mind.

36 / 66 books. 55% done!

Book #35

2010-05-20T20:52:00.004+01:00

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Harry has been burdened with a dark, dangerous and seemingly impossible task: that of locating and destroying Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows. But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to complete the task he has been given. He must leave the warmth, safety and companionship of The Burrow and follow without fear or hesitation the inexorable path laid out for him.

I'm really not sure how to begin.

I had only ever read Deathly Hallows once before now, and this was just as it was released. After I read it, I pronounced my distaste for it, chucked it in my cupboard and promptly proceeded to forget all about it. I'm sorry to say it, but not much has changed.

There were much more things I appreciated in the novel this time around, although I think that's only because I've read the whole series back to back and certain things were fresh in my mind. I felt more affinity with the characters and felt more emotion at the various deaths that were peppered throughout the novel. At times these deaths seemed a bit cruel and unnecessary, shoved in at random times to shock.

I failed to see the point in the Hallows. They were the book's namesake and they did absolutely nothing, proved absolutely nothing and meant absolutely nothing to me. It struck me that perhaps Rowling had created them after all of her cliffhangers in Half-Blood Prince had already been guessed by readers, and guessed correctly. Things like the identity of R.A.B, the fact that Snape was good all along, and various other things had all been guessed before Deathly Hallows was released.

Rowling also dragged Dumbledore's name through the mud, giving details about his past that were completely morbid and so unlike the Dumbledore we had come to love in previous novels. It seemed so out of character for Dumbledore to be like this, I couldn't believe a single word of it. Again, I felt Rowling was aiming solely for shocks.

Snape's redeeming chapter was a highlight, and possibly my favourite chapter in the series. I loved hearing about his love for Lily, and I loved that this was his entire reasoning for ensuring Harry was constantly safe.

Harry's walk of death was also as beautiful a moment as any. You could really feel his pure little heart shining through as he prepares himself mentally and physically to die for his friends. I am of the opinion that he should've remained dead, but perhaps I am just a bit of a no-heart.

Molly killing Bellatrix was also a severe disappointment. I've heard many say that they wished Harry had killed her, but I disagree. Neville Longbottom killing Bellatrix would have been absolutely wonderful, and the boy deserved that chance of vengeance.

Finally, Voldemort was killed by his own rebounding curse. How incredibly mediocre and anticlimatic. Harry had already used unforgivable curses, why not let him Avada Kedavra the guy who killed his parents? I was so disappointed. There are only so many times Harry can scream, "Expelliarmus!", before you start to think he might be a bit of a pussy.

I had launched myself into this book, quite confident that my previous opinion of it would be shattered. I'd been on a Harry Potter journey and the ending was supposed to be emotional and wonderful. It wasn't, and I was gutted.

The less said about the epilogue the better.

35 / 66 books. 53% done!

Book #34

2010-05-16T19:22:00.005+01:00

Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

'In a brief statement on Friday night, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He Who Must Not Be Named has returned to this country and is once more active. "It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord - well, you know who I mean - is alive and among us again," said Fudge.' These dramatic words appeared in the final pages of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In the midst of this battle of good and evil, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince takes up the story of Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with Voldemort's power and followers increasing day by day.

So I finally get to my favourite installment - Half-Blood Prince.

It's a shame that Order of the Phoenix was such a disappointment - it made many people give up on the series, and they didn't manage to make it to this chapter in the Harry Potter saga. It's full of love, heartbreak and betrayal. It illuminates mysteries we've previously been dwelling on, and it brings new puzzles to the fore. It's the darkest installment yet, and it opens the way for the final novel perfectly.

My favourite thing about this book is the insight we get into Voldemort's past. I found the stories of his parents and their families fascinating, and I also enjoyed reading about the Dark Lord's young life. There were many similarities in Harry's childhood, and I found each of these incredibly enlightening.

I also loved the way Voldemort's past was brought to light. What better way to explain the past than through a vessel used to store memories? The Pensieve is an ingenious plot device, I really do love it. It allows us to personally witness important events where Harry wouldn't have been present. This also allows Harry to remain as our viewpoint character, and allows the plot to remain consistent.

Harry and Ginny's relationship also comes to a head in the novel, with them finally getting together. I have to admit this pairing is one I've never really been truly convinced by. I always thought there was something a bit off about it, and this time around I've realised what it is. Harry is always likened to his father in both looks and behaviour. His mother was described as having red hair and a fiery temperament, which can also be said of Ginny. Isn't this awfully Freudian? I am perhaps reading too much into things, but I did mention Freud before, in my review of Chamber of Secrets. I passed the suggestions off as rubbish there, but apparently there are more hints such as these throughout the books that I haven't noticed. Perhaps it's something to look into in future.

This novel, of course, is the one that gives us the death of Dumbledore, which broke my little heart. The emotion of it lasts from the instant of his death until the end of the novel, and it stays with you afterwards. Dumbledore has been protecting Harry for six years, and now the floor has fallen out from underneath him. He has no one left who can protect him completely and it'll be in Book Seven where we see how he copes with this.

I'd like to close with a tribute to Dumbledore. He was my favourite!

And now I move onto the final installment! Dark and difficult times lie ahead.

34 / 66 books. 52% done!

Book #33

2010-05-14T13:09:00.005+01:00

Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

As his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry approaches, 15-year-old Harry Potter is in full-blown adolescence, complete with regular outbursts of rage, a nearly debilitating crush, and the blooming of a powerful sense of rebellion. It's been yet another infuriating and boring summer with the despicable Dursleys, this time with minimal contact from our hero's non-Muggle friends from school. Harry is feeling especially edgy at the lack of news from the magic world, wondering when the freshly revived evil Lord Voldemort will strike. Returning to Hogwarts will be a relief... or will it?

It really pains me to say this, but this is definitely my least favourite of the seven books in the Harry Potter series. I suppose with every series you will always have favourites and least favourites, but this one just disappoints me to an incredible level. Its only redeeming quality is that it's a part of the story, and has to be read to move the plot along. If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have bothered.

My main complaint here is how much I hated Harry with a passion. I have loved him completely throughout the previous four installments, but this time Rowling portrays him as a complete cretin. He moans constantly and is almost always unnecessarily rude to his friends, not to mention authority figures, all of whom are only acting with his best interests at heart. He is even rude to Dumbledore, which in my book is an unforgivable act of blasphemy. The majority of the book is Harry SHOUTING IN CAPITAL LETTERS AT EVERYONE WHO CROSSES HIS PATH BECAUSE OMG THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HIM, HOW CAN THEY?!

My next annoyance is the death of Sirius. It's pathetic. It happens in a mere sentence and no one is entirely sure of what's happened. I've heard many people say that this is the death that has affected them most in the series, but I really feel that it could've been done better, and with more emotion. It didn't touch a cord with me at all.

I feel a bit sacrilegious posting this review, so I'm going to keep it short and sweet. I am only too pleased that I'm now moving onto Book Six, which I already know is an improvement.

33 / 66 books. 50% done!