Molly Looby's Blog, page 12
July 12, 2015
Dinner With a Vampire - Abigail Gibbs
A Spoiler Free Bit About The Book
This book is about rowdy vampires. DID NOT FINISH.
My Review
To be honest, I'm so disappointed with this book because picking it up I sowanted it to be good. And the first chapter was okay and I thought I could get on board but that was impossible.
First, on my copy the words 'The Dark Heroine'are written in huge letters and I only realised the title was actually 'Dinner With a Vampire'when I went on ŷ. Why the publishers decided to put the series name in huge letters I have no idea.
To start, the first thing that annoyed me was the old adverb nuisance I can't get over. I let Gibbs off for that because a lot of books annoy me with their adverb usage. "Ƿɱ,DzԾԲǷɱ"- Doesn't that just irritate you? No? Just me? Okay then.
Also this phrase got to me; "tears unchecked". This was used so many times and it clanged for me at every single use. What's that even supposed to mean?
The room descriptions got old fast, as did the vampire politics and I began to skim over anything that wasn't dialogue about fifty pages in.
Before I get on to freaking KASPER, I must point out that Violet, in grave danger, notices how "staggeringly handsome" he is and has a reaction to it. Twice. She could've been murdered in that second and she knew it but wait, let me just check out this hot guy. Puh-leeease
Plus, just a little note about Kasper's chapters. Were they entirely necessary? I don't think so.
But these little trivial things had nothing on the despicable character, Kasper Varn. Oh you don't know the half of it. Kasper is the vampire prince (of course) and he's handsome (again a given) but he's also the most evil, horrendous character I've read about in a long time. And he's supposed to be the love interest. What? Let me explain.
He can be all those things, of course he can, but Violet would not fall in love with him. No way. Yes, Stockholm Syndrome is a thing but that's having sympathy for your kidnappers, not falling in love with them as the misconception would have you believe. Kasper does nothing but physically hurt her, terrify her and laugh at her. Plus, he even attempts to rape her.
This is romance? I think not.
Violet even sums it up for me!
At one point he bullies her into saying 'okay' and letting him drink her blood. That is not consent. Consent is 'Yes! I want to do that with you. Yes!' I cannot stress how important that is. And on that note, their relationship is poison. It is NOT 'sexy' and it genuinely terrifies me that people find books like this 'sexy'. You can enjoy these books - who am I to judge? - but please do NOT think this is what relationships are like. PLEASE.
A final note for you about sexism towards men. Men are not animals, okay? They have feelings and dreams and hopes like females. They are not a ball of animal impulses as Gibbs wants you to believe;"Because no man can control his passions." Do not fall for this lie. It offended me deeply. Let's stop.
"The sexiest romance you'll read this year" I think not.
Evaluation
Overall 1/10 - DID NOT FINISH
Would I recommend it? No. No way in hell.
Would I look up the author? No. Obviously not.
Dinner With a Vampirepained me on about every level. Did not finish.
Molly LoobyAuthor / Ghostwriter / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA [email protected]
This book is about rowdy vampires. DID NOT FINISH.
My Review
To be honest, I'm so disappointed with this book because picking it up I sowanted it to be good. And the first chapter was okay and I thought I could get on board but that was impossible.
First, on my copy the words 'The Dark Heroine'are written in huge letters and I only realised the title was actually 'Dinner With a Vampire'when I went on ŷ. Why the publishers decided to put the series name in huge letters I have no idea.
To start, the first thing that annoyed me was the old adverb nuisance I can't get over. I let Gibbs off for that because a lot of books annoy me with their adverb usage. "Ƿɱ,DzԾԲǷɱ"- Doesn't that just irritate you? No? Just me? Okay then.
Also this phrase got to me; "tears unchecked". This was used so many times and it clanged for me at every single use. What's that even supposed to mean?
The room descriptions got old fast, as did the vampire politics and I began to skim over anything that wasn't dialogue about fifty pages in.
Before I get on to freaking KASPER, I must point out that Violet, in grave danger, notices how "staggeringly handsome" he is and has a reaction to it. Twice. She could've been murdered in that second and she knew it but wait, let me just check out this hot guy. Puh-leeease
Plus, just a little note about Kasper's chapters. Were they entirely necessary? I don't think so.
But these little trivial things had nothing on the despicable character, Kasper Varn. Oh you don't know the half of it. Kasper is the vampire prince (of course) and he's handsome (again a given) but he's also the most evil, horrendous character I've read about in a long time. And he's supposed to be the love interest. What? Let me explain.
He can be all those things, of course he can, but Violet would not fall in love with him. No way. Yes, Stockholm Syndrome is a thing but that's having sympathy for your kidnappers, not falling in love with them as the misconception would have you believe. Kasper does nothing but physically hurt her, terrify her and laugh at her. Plus, he even attempts to rape her.
This is romance? I think not.
Violet even sums it up for me!
"Why would I trust you? You kidnapped me! You constantly try to suck my blood!"Yeah. Nice guy, huh?
At one point he bullies her into saying 'okay' and letting him drink her blood. That is not consent. Consent is 'Yes! I want to do that with you. Yes!' I cannot stress how important that is. And on that note, their relationship is poison. It is NOT 'sexy' and it genuinely terrifies me that people find books like this 'sexy'. You can enjoy these books - who am I to judge? - but please do NOT think this is what relationships are like. PLEASE.
A final note for you about sexism towards men. Men are not animals, okay? They have feelings and dreams and hopes like females. They are not a ball of animal impulses as Gibbs wants you to believe;"Because no man can control his passions." Do not fall for this lie. It offended me deeply. Let's stop.
"The sexiest romance you'll read this year" I think not.
Evaluation
Overall 1/10 - DID NOT FINISH
Would I recommend it? No. No way in hell.
Would I look up the author? No. Obviously not.
Dinner With a Vampirepained me on about every level. Did not finish.
Molly LoobyAuthor / Ghostwriter / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA [email protected]
July 5, 2015
The Wicked Young Writers Award 2015
So Sunday was the Wicked Young Writers' Award! Me and ninty-nine others (and our guests) headed to the Apollo Victoria theatre, home of Wicked. I don't know about everyone else but I was hot and sweaty after a train and tube journey.
Once in the theatre, I sat by myself for a while as I was the first person there in my row. I spent most of the time knocking the pencils and paper off the arms of the chairs that had been put there. Every time I sat up straight with another pencil off the floor, I knocked the one on the other side down. After a few goes at the this I was amusing myself while a group of girls sat in front of me were talking like they'd known each other forever. I have to admit, that made me a little jealous sitting there alone.
The ceremony began with stand-in Elphaba, Natalie Andreou, singing a song from Wicked and she was fantastic. Sam Gayton took to the stage next and hosted a writing workshop on six word stories. I've tried to write a six word story before so I knew I couldn't do it in less than five minutes but some people wrote some brilliant ones. The younger children seemed to find it easier and that blew me away.
Cressida Cowell, author of the How to Train Your Dragon books gave a speech and then Emma Hatton and Savannah Stevenson (Elphaba and Glinda) announced the winners.
My favourite was Wacky Tuesdayby Harry Sample who is just six years old. I couldn't write a single page at six years old so I have huge respect for him and all the kids in the younger categories. They're truly amazing.
After all the excitement, Cressida answered questions from the audience. Cressida Cowell must be one of the most enthusiastic people I've ever seen. Some of her advice was truly inspiring. But my favourite question was from a little girl. She asked, "Is your book the one with Hiccup and Toothless?" Isn't that just priceless?
To top off the show Emma and Savannah sung with the cast of Wickedand I wanted to see the show more than ever before. I willget to see it at some point!
Then we all gathered on stage for a photo, though you can't see me because I'm right at the back and I'm only 5"2.
The finalists and winners!
The view from the Wickedstage.But there was an upside to being at the back. There was one girl next to me and then Emma and Savannah. I couldn't believe I was so close to them. The girl next to me was a huge Wickedfan and asked Emma and Savannah for a selfie. I knew I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't jump in there too, so I did!
The greatest selfie of all time.When we all made our way off the stage, we were handed a tote bag with an anthology in it with all the finalists' entries in it. Except the 18-25 year old entries. I'm guessing this is because some of them might not be suitable for children but I'm still disappointed I'm not in it. I've downloaded the 18-25 year old one off the internet but it's not the same thing.
My goodies!Before we left, I had photos by the stage and by the banner in the foyer before jumping back into the oven we call the tube.
Oh, and there was a giant cornetto at Victoria station.
Do you want anything from the shop?So though I didn't win, it didn't matter. I had a weird and wonderful day at the Wicked Young Writers' Award. And if anyone's reading this thinking they're not good enough, you are. You don't need a competition to tell you that, but enter them anyway. If you're lucky, you might end up with a day like this.
Molly Looby
Author / Finalist
[email protected]
June 28, 2015
CREATIVE WRITING IN ESSEX: SPOTLIGHT ON CHELMSFORD WRITERS� GROUP
Different approach this week. I've shared a blog on Chelmsford Writers' Group by the fantastic Dot Gumbi. . And if you fancy a tweet or too .
Anyway, enough of my ramblings, this is what you should really be reading:
Greetings one and all, and apologies for having spent the last however-many-weeks living like a digital hermit. I could attempt to explain but it might take too long, so instead let’s get to the Quorn mince.I’ve been tinkering with creative writing for over ten years now. I came out of university full of Blackadder-like pomposity, believing I was going to write the genre-bending, mind-melding, magnum opus of our times. I spent a long time chewing pencils and staring whimsically out of windows, writing the odd ‘oh so witty� sentence and feeling smug about it.The problem was, it was crap.And not even passable crap at that. It was the sort of stuff that even a phalanx of plumbers with Mario mustaches would struggle to push through the literary U-bend.No, it was no good. I told myself that if I wanted to improve as a writer, aside from reading more books, I’d have to stare out of fewer windows and meet more people in the same boat as me � fellow writers � and see if they had any ideas I could steal…erm…I mean,skillsI couldacquire.So, I went looking for some.Thanks to the interweb,there’s hundreds of them, up and down the country, meeting in pubs, in village halls, in people’s houses, in libraries. Some set exercises, some let you read your own stuff.If you’re tinkering with writing and have never been to one of these meetings � I urge you to go. They are both fascinating and inspiring in equal measure. Nobody will expect you to read on your first visit, so you can sit back and listen with immunity. And I reckon you’ll be surprised by what you hear.The first writing group meet up I ever went to was in Stratford, held in a cellar beneath a church. I was fairly nervous about going, knowing that people were going to judge each others work. What if they didn’t like me? It was an impossibility, obviously, as I was writing aٴdzܰ--ڴǰabout some stoners in Southend at the time. How could any right thinking person not see that as something that would resonate through the annals of history?As I took my seat I cast a gaze around the room. Twenty or so people, all very friendly, they said hellos and how do you do’s and all that. They were mostly aged 50+, which made me thinkmy stoner story was going to be too edgy for them. It had swearing. Drug references. Even some bad sexual puns. I was worried if I read it to them, I’d cause offence. So I was caught quite by surprise when the meeting was opened by a woman readingfrom her gay roman hardcore sorcery slash fiction thriller with the line:“I pressed my throbbing member against his virgin arsehole.”Yeah, how’s that for a first line to hear in a room full of strangers? I looked up expecting the rest of the group, particularly the pensioners, to be shocked. Instead they nodded sagely, with a few making notes on a piece of paper. I guess the point I’m trying to make is that if you’re thinking of going to a creative writing group, leave any assumptions you have at home.I went to the pub with the group afterwards and found them to be comprised of a fantastic bunch of people. Some were serious/professional writers with book deals and others hobbyists who just liked stories and had no literary pretensions at all. Over the course of a year I heard amazing poems, bizarre Dali-esque sci-fi, war stories, young adult novels of quests and kings and many others. It was great, and everyone had comments and useful feedback about what was working and what was not.I couldn’t stay living in Stratford forever (see my bookfor an idea of what the area was like) and moved out to the murky suburbs of Essex. I worried that being outside of London I would struggle to find a group with the same depth of talent.WRONG!For the last five years or so I’ve been a regular member ofand been left gobsmacked by the quality of the work people bring each month. There’s been ghost stories, post-apocalyptic fiction, superheroes, twists on Greek myths, alien invasions, hapless housewives, troublesome teenagers, reinterpretations of the nativity and even. The collective enthusiasm and endless creativity of the group inspires me every time we meetand whether someone is a professional or amateur writer, everybody treats each other’s work seriously and with respect. For me the support of the group has, more than once, been the thing that has reminded me that I love to write.Junehas been a bit of a bumper month for the group. Several people have seen their books go into print and I’m pleased as punch for them. Have a nose and feel inspired.
Jerry’s been a member of the Chelmsford Writers� Group since the late 1980s. He has written four novels and has another on the way. He writes mostly fantasy, some of it comical.is aimed at the 10-14 age group, which means I should be twenty years too old for it, but that’s not going to stop me grabbing a copy this week. He’s been drip feeding the group chapters over the last year or so, leaving us on cliffhangers each month, in fact it’s taken everything not to slap him and steal his laptop and read the ending. Thankfully I don’t have to do that now. I can read the whole thing in comfort.Here’s the blurb�
First Blogged Here:
Anyway, enough of my ramblings, this is what you should really be reading:
Greetings one and all, and apologies for having spent the last however-many-weeks living like a digital hermit. I could attempt to explain but it might take too long, so instead let’s get to the Quorn mince.I’ve been tinkering with creative writing for over ten years now. I came out of university full of Blackadder-like pomposity, believing I was going to write the genre-bending, mind-melding, magnum opus of our times. I spent a long time chewing pencils and staring whimsically out of windows, writing the odd ‘oh so witty� sentence and feeling smug about it.The problem was, it was crap.And not even passable crap at that. It was the sort of stuff that even a phalanx of plumbers with Mario mustaches would struggle to push through the literary U-bend.No, it was no good. I told myself that if I wanted to improve as a writer, aside from reading more books, I’d have to stare out of fewer windows and meet more people in the same boat as me � fellow writers � and see if they had any ideas I could steal…erm…I mean,skillsI couldacquire.So, I went looking for some.Thanks to the interweb,there’s hundreds of them, up and down the country, meeting in pubs, in village halls, in people’s houses, in libraries. Some set exercises, some let you read your own stuff.If you’re tinkering with writing and have never been to one of these meetings � I urge you to go. They are both fascinating and inspiring in equal measure. Nobody will expect you to read on your first visit, so you can sit back and listen with immunity. And I reckon you’ll be surprised by what you hear.The first writing group meet up I ever went to was in Stratford, held in a cellar beneath a church. I was fairly nervous about going, knowing that people were going to judge each others work. What if they didn’t like me? It was an impossibility, obviously, as I was writing aٴdzܰ--ڴǰabout some stoners in Southend at the time. How could any right thinking person not see that as something that would resonate through the annals of history?As I took my seat I cast a gaze around the room. Twenty or so people, all very friendly, they said hellos and how do you do’s and all that. They were mostly aged 50+, which made me thinkmy stoner story was going to be too edgy for them. It had swearing. Drug references. Even some bad sexual puns. I was worried if I read it to them, I’d cause offence. So I was caught quite by surprise when the meeting was opened by a woman readingfrom her gay roman hardcore sorcery slash fiction thriller with the line:“I pressed my throbbing member against his virgin arsehole.”Yeah, how’s that for a first line to hear in a room full of strangers? I looked up expecting the rest of the group, particularly the pensioners, to be shocked. Instead they nodded sagely, with a few making notes on a piece of paper. I guess the point I’m trying to make is that if you’re thinking of going to a creative writing group, leave any assumptions you have at home.I went to the pub with the group afterwards and found them to be comprised of a fantastic bunch of people. Some were serious/professional writers with book deals and others hobbyists who just liked stories and had no literary pretensions at all. Over the course of a year I heard amazing poems, bizarre Dali-esque sci-fi, war stories, young adult novels of quests and kings and many others. It was great, and everyone had comments and useful feedback about what was working and what was not.I couldn’t stay living in Stratford forever (see my bookfor an idea of what the area was like) and moved out to the murky suburbs of Essex. I worried that being outside of London I would struggle to find a group with the same depth of talent.WRONG!For the last five years or so I’ve been a regular member ofand been left gobsmacked by the quality of the work people bring each month. There’s been ghost stories, post-apocalyptic fiction, superheroes, twists on Greek myths, alien invasions, hapless housewives, troublesome teenagers, reinterpretations of the nativity and even. The collective enthusiasm and endless creativity of the group inspires me every time we meetand whether someone is a professional or amateur writer, everybody treats each other’s work seriously and with respect. For me the support of the group has, more than once, been the thing that has reminded me that I love to write.Junehas been a bit of a bumper month for the group. Several people have seen their books go into print and I’m pleased as punch for them. Have a nose and feel inspired.
Jerry’s been a member of the Chelmsford Writers� Group since the late 1980s. He has written four novels and has another on the way. He writes mostly fantasy, some of it comical.is aimed at the 10-14 age group, which means I should be twenty years too old for it, but that’s not going to stop me grabbing a copy this week. He’s been drip feeding the group chapters over the last year or so, leaving us on cliffhangers each month, in fact it’s taken everything not to slap him and steal his laptop and read the ending. Thankfully I don’t have to do that now. I can read the whole thing in comfort.Here’s the blurb�A spirit of immense power is seeking to destroy our world. Our last defence lies in the weathered stone circles of Cornwall, but their resilience is failing as they crumble away. Karin and Denzil draw on the strength of their ancient blood to shore up the defences. Denzil is possessed by the spirit, and must fight against his sister as she strives to hold the weakest point � the Third Circle.Jerry’s blog: Maggie is a long-standing member of the group and when not penning her own stuff, she’s encouraging others by teaching creative writing. She writes widely, for adults and children, poems, short stories, and novels.is her third novel.According to Maggie, The Clock-Mender is:
…a tale of love, crime and bloodshed in a small rural community in Sweden between the 30s and 50s. A clock-mender’s partner has a light-hearted affair with his best friend. But terrible consequences ensue.Ի� …so get downloading. A few moments ago it was as high as#496 in the Amazon Kindle chart.Maggie’s blog:byMolly types at 3,000 words per minute. I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, but judging by the number of books she’s written (and the number of times she’s taken onand won) I doubt she knows how to type any slower. Quantity doesn’t come at a cost to quality either.Molly is a natural storyteller with an easy flowing style and she was recently shortlisted for the.Here’s the blurb for her novel:
The Zombie Armageddon . . . yeah I know.How unlikely is it, right?“There are no such things as zombies.”I’ve heard it all before, but I’ll never hear it again.There are a few simple rules: Get supplies. Stay hidden. If they come, run. Fast.After all, this wasn’t a video game and we only had one life each.Molly’s blog:There you go, folks. Creative writing groups � bursting with talent and ideas. Here’s some useful links if you’re looking to join one:List of writing groups in the UK –Search engine for finding writing groups and book groups –�
First Blogged Here:
June 21, 2015
She Is Not Invisible - Marcus Sedgwick
Blurb
TWO DRIED MICE. A FLUFFY RAVEN CALLED STAN. A SUICIDAL AUSTRALIAN BIOLOGIST . . .
Is it coincidence or something more sinister that draws them together? Many strange things collide in Laureth Peak's life one hot August weekend. Perhaps the strangest of all is the way her dad had been acting lately. And now he's disappeared. It looks as if his obsession with coincidence might have fatal consequences.
As Laureth sets off for New York with her strange younger brother, Benjamin, she has little faith in herself. But she has a burning determination to find her missing father. She has just one clue to follow; his notebook. Does it contain salvation, or madness?
My Review
Now I'm not fond of the blurb. In fact, I wasn't going to pick this book up at all because of it. The reason I did is down to my partner - who doesn't read. He said it sounded good and that intrigued me because I couldn't see it. So here I am with the book on my shelf. And let me tell you, I'm glad he made me reconsider.
'She Is Not Invisible' was a great, easy read. So easy in fact, I struggled to put it down. I read the whole thing - all 354 pages of it - in just one day. It might have been the mystery or the tone and rhythm of the narration, I don't know, but I just fell into it.
I loved Laureth's narration so I was on to a winner. The narrative jumped around in a natural chatty way that was surprisingly easy to follow. I also found Laureth realistic and relatable. By the end, I really wanted to be her friend - which happens to me a lot. However, Laureth's brother, Benjamin, took longer for me to warm up to. Perhaps that was because I felt he was too babyish for seven sometimes. But as the book went on and I got to know the character better, I realised why Sedgwick had written him that way and I took my snap judgement back.
Laureth's father is a writer and every time she mentioned him or his work or his process, I just ate it up. I love to hear about authors in books and that'll always be the case. It always has been."Maybe writers are just a bit bonkers anyway." How can you not love that?
What really blew me away though was how it all came together. The last few paragraphs particularly, made me insanely happy. I won't be able to explain it, but if you read the book, you'll know just what I'm talking about.
Let me leave you with this. 'She Is Not Invisible'is an incredibly clever book that gets cleverer and cleverer as you read it. I will most definitely remember this book for a long time.
Evaluation
Overall 9/10
Would I recommend it? Yes! It is too clever to miss and so easy to pick up.
Would I look up the author? Yes. I'd like to see what other 'diamonds and pearls' Sedgwick has written.
'She Is Not Invisible'is an insanely clever book I enjoyed every moment of.
Molly LoobyAuthor / Ghostwriter / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA [email protected]
TWO DRIED MICE. A FLUFFY RAVEN CALLED STAN. A SUICIDAL AUSTRALIAN BIOLOGIST . . .
Is it coincidence or something more sinister that draws them together? Many strange things collide in Laureth Peak's life one hot August weekend. Perhaps the strangest of all is the way her dad had been acting lately. And now he's disappeared. It looks as if his obsession with coincidence might have fatal consequences.
As Laureth sets off for New York with her strange younger brother, Benjamin, she has little faith in herself. But she has a burning determination to find her missing father. She has just one clue to follow; his notebook. Does it contain salvation, or madness?
My Review
Now I'm not fond of the blurb. In fact, I wasn't going to pick this book up at all because of it. The reason I did is down to my partner - who doesn't read. He said it sounded good and that intrigued me because I couldn't see it. So here I am with the book on my shelf. And let me tell you, I'm glad he made me reconsider.
'She Is Not Invisible' was a great, easy read. So easy in fact, I struggled to put it down. I read the whole thing - all 354 pages of it - in just one day. It might have been the mystery or the tone and rhythm of the narration, I don't know, but I just fell into it.
I loved Laureth's narration so I was on to a winner. The narrative jumped around in a natural chatty way that was surprisingly easy to follow. I also found Laureth realistic and relatable. By the end, I really wanted to be her friend - which happens to me a lot. However, Laureth's brother, Benjamin, took longer for me to warm up to. Perhaps that was because I felt he was too babyish for seven sometimes. But as the book went on and I got to know the character better, I realised why Sedgwick had written him that way and I took my snap judgement back.
Laureth's father is a writer and every time she mentioned him or his work or his process, I just ate it up. I love to hear about authors in books and that'll always be the case. It always has been."Maybe writers are just a bit bonkers anyway." How can you not love that?
What really blew me away though was how it all came together. The last few paragraphs particularly, made me insanely happy. I won't be able to explain it, but if you read the book, you'll know just what I'm talking about.
Let me leave you with this. 'She Is Not Invisible'is an incredibly clever book that gets cleverer and cleverer as you read it. I will most definitely remember this book for a long time.
Evaluation
Overall 9/10
Would I recommend it? Yes! It is too clever to miss and so easy to pick up.
Would I look up the author? Yes. I'd like to see what other 'diamonds and pearls' Sedgwick has written.
'She Is Not Invisible'is an insanely clever book I enjoyed every moment of.
Molly LoobyAuthor / Ghostwriter / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA [email protected]
June 14, 2015
Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
Blurb
Kathy, Ruth and Tommy grew up together at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic school deep in the English countryside with a dreadful secret at its heart. Now thirty-one, Kathy attempts to come to terms with her childhood at Hailsham and with the fate that has always awaited her and her closest friends in the wider world.
My Review
All the excellent reviews of 'Never Let Me Go'along with the prizes it's won, made me wary. But I understand where all the prizes and reviews came from. It's a beautiful book.
However, I did have my problems with it. After reading the first chapter, I had to force myself to pick the book up again. This continued to happen until I was about 100 pages in and I'm going to be honest, I almost put it down. Though I can't criticise Ishiguro on why I wasn't gripped because I couldn't find much wrong with the entire book. I suppose maybe it just wasn't for me.
Perhaps one of the reasons I found it so hard to get into was because of Kath's narration. It jumped all over the place - though if you were telling the story out loud that's how you'd tell it. Saying that though, I liked how she was unreliable and it made me wonder how much our memories change and warp over time.
Once the strange mystery was set up and I began asking questions, I was much more interested and into it, reading more than I set out to each time I picked it up. I loved how everything was downplayed and no huge drama. It's just little bits of life here and there that have a way of really touching you. This is refreshing for someone who reads a lot of high drama in YA books set in another world.
Although I can't decide whether or not I enjoyed it, I have a feeling 'Never Let Me Go'will stay with me because it left me empty and sad and thoughtful.
Evaluation
Overall 8/10
Would I recommend it? No. Probably not.
Would I look up the author? No. I know all of Ishiguro's books are supposed to be good but I wasn't gripped enough.
'Never Let Me Go'was beautiful and thoughtful but a struggle to get into.
Molly LoobyAuthor / Ghostwriter / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA [email protected]
Kathy, Ruth and Tommy grew up together at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic school deep in the English countryside with a dreadful secret at its heart. Now thirty-one, Kathy attempts to come to terms with her childhood at Hailsham and with the fate that has always awaited her and her closest friends in the wider world.
My Review
All the excellent reviews of 'Never Let Me Go'along with the prizes it's won, made me wary. But I understand where all the prizes and reviews came from. It's a beautiful book.
However, I did have my problems with it. After reading the first chapter, I had to force myself to pick the book up again. This continued to happen until I was about 100 pages in and I'm going to be honest, I almost put it down. Though I can't criticise Ishiguro on why I wasn't gripped because I couldn't find much wrong with the entire book. I suppose maybe it just wasn't for me.
Perhaps one of the reasons I found it so hard to get into was because of Kath's narration. It jumped all over the place - though if you were telling the story out loud that's how you'd tell it. Saying that though, I liked how she was unreliable and it made me wonder how much our memories change and warp over time.
Once the strange mystery was set up and I began asking questions, I was much more interested and into it, reading more than I set out to each time I picked it up. I loved how everything was downplayed and no huge drama. It's just little bits of life here and there that have a way of really touching you. This is refreshing for someone who reads a lot of high drama in YA books set in another world.
Although I can't decide whether or not I enjoyed it, I have a feeling 'Never Let Me Go'will stay with me because it left me empty and sad and thoughtful.
Evaluation
Overall 8/10
Would I recommend it? No. Probably not.
Would I look up the author? No. I know all of Ishiguro's books are supposed to be good but I wasn't gripped enough.
'Never Let Me Go'was beautiful and thoughtful but a struggle to get into.
Molly LoobyAuthor / Ghostwriter / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA [email protected]
June 10, 2015
Teardrop - Lauren Kate
A Spoiler Free Bit About The Book
I'm not sure I'm qualified enough to tell you about a book I read 40 pages of. (Plus my copy doesn't have a blurb so . . . )
My Review
I didn't like this book. That's being kind. But I'll start at the beginning.
I was already wary when I picked up Teardrop(which was given to me) because I wasn't a fan of Fallen, Kate's most famous book. I was afraid Teardropwas going to have all the problems Fallenhad.
And I was right.
The only positive thing I have to say about Teardropis that I liked the prologue which is bizarre for me because I usually hateprologues. Prologues are - the vast majority of the time - a waste of paper. The story should start and we can learn information later, at least, that's my take on them. This was still true of the Teardropprologue but it had me hooked and turning pages. Until I met Eurkea.
Before I move on to that, I have a question about YAs and therapists. Why do the protagonists always hate their therapists? I get that some people do but some people also like them because they're good people and they're trying to help. Eureka might not be that person but surely someonewriting YA can have a helpful therapist for once?
Anyway . . . chapter one seemed to drag on and on and it had nothing to interest me with. Also, I found certain bits of description and thoughts stupid. This can be said of Eureka who I hated almost instantly. Of course she's been through a lot (that's a trend in YA) but she could be less of a brat. I didn't like her attitude. I didn't like her self-destructiveness. I didn't like her name. She seemed like a walking stereotype to me.
In fact, I was so displeased with chapter one, I gave Kate one more chapter to redeem herself before I put Teardropdown forever. I'm not wasting my time with skimming books any more. I'm going to start putting them down.
Needless to say, I put it down. This is the end of me reading bad books all the way to the end because I feel like I 'have to'.Never again!
Teardroplives in its very own list at the bottom right: DID NOT FINISH.
Evaluation
Overall 1/10 - has to be
Would I recommend it? No. How can I when I could barely stomach 40 pages?
Would I look up the author? No. I've now picked up two Kate books I've disliked. I will not be picking up any more.
I couldn't even reach the end of Teardropand I don't know how anyone could.
Molly LoobyAuthor / Ghostwriter / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA [email protected]
I'm not sure I'm qualified enough to tell you about a book I read 40 pages of. (Plus my copy doesn't have a blurb so . . . )
My Review
I didn't like this book. That's being kind. But I'll start at the beginning.
I was already wary when I picked up Teardrop(which was given to me) because I wasn't a fan of Fallen, Kate's most famous book. I was afraid Teardropwas going to have all the problems Fallenhad.
And I was right.
The only positive thing I have to say about Teardropis that I liked the prologue which is bizarre for me because I usually hateprologues. Prologues are - the vast majority of the time - a waste of paper. The story should start and we can learn information later, at least, that's my take on them. This was still true of the Teardropprologue but it had me hooked and turning pages. Until I met Eurkea.
Before I move on to that, I have a question about YAs and therapists. Why do the protagonists always hate their therapists? I get that some people do but some people also like them because they're good people and they're trying to help. Eureka might not be that person but surely someonewriting YA can have a helpful therapist for once?
Anyway . . . chapter one seemed to drag on and on and it had nothing to interest me with. Also, I found certain bits of description and thoughts stupid. This can be said of Eureka who I hated almost instantly. Of course she's been through a lot (that's a trend in YA) but she could be less of a brat. I didn't like her attitude. I didn't like her self-destructiveness. I didn't like her name. She seemed like a walking stereotype to me.
In fact, I was so displeased with chapter one, I gave Kate one more chapter to redeem herself before I put Teardropdown forever. I'm not wasting my time with skimming books any more. I'm going to start putting them down.
Needless to say, I put it down. This is the end of me reading bad books all the way to the end because I feel like I 'have to'.Never again!
Teardroplives in its very own list at the bottom right: DID NOT FINISH.
Evaluation
Overall 1/10 - has to be
Would I recommend it? No. How can I when I could barely stomach 40 pages?
Would I look up the author? No. I've now picked up two Kate books I've disliked. I will not be picking up any more.
I couldn't even reach the end of Teardropand I don't know how anyone could.
Molly LoobyAuthor / Ghostwriter / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA [email protected]
June 2, 2015
Midnight Alley - Morganville Vampires #3 - Rachel Caine
Before you go any further please know that this is book three in a series so there may be book one (Glass Houses)and two (The Dead Girls' Dance)spoilers ahead.
A Bit of the Blurb
Now Claire has pledged herself to Amelie, the most powerful vampire in town. The protection her contract secures does little to reassure her friends. All of a sudden people are turning up dead, a stalker resurfaces from Claire's past, and an ancient bloodsucker extends a chilling invitation for private lessons in his secluded home.
My Review
I knew that overall I would enjoy reading this book because I enjoyed books one and two back in 2012 when I read them on the recommendation of my A'level English teacher - of all people. I was thrown into Midnight Alleya little rusty but it didn't take long to remember what was going on. The characters are so lively that I recognised them all and Caine was kind enough to only remind me of the most important plot points which I was glad for. I hate it when books give a detailed summary of the previous one, it gets on my nerves.
I went in knowing - as I always do with the Morganvillebooks - that it wasn't going to be by any means a 'literary' piece. Caine isn't trying to make a point or wow you with ideas, she's just out to entertain you. And she's pretty damn good at that. One of the reasons I like these books so much is that they're so easy to read. At times I felt guilty for not picking up something that makes me look a little more intelligent but hey, you like what you like. Caine's taught me to enjoy whatever it is I like to read. It's not a big secret that vampire fiction is a guilty pleasure of mine and these books do a good job of quenching my thirst.
Another reason I love the Morganvillebooks is that I've invested quite a lot into these characters at this point and I want to find out where they end up. Not to mention they're all different and relatable in bizarre ways. Their personality traits are louder in this universe than in real life so sometimes it felt a little caricature but that just made me smile. I'm sure Caine knew exactly what she was doing.
I've blabbed on enough about why I love these books but now I should take a moment to explain they're not perfect. Far from it. First of all, there was a lot of unnecessary description of people's clothes and actions for my liking. I don't care that so-and-so picked this up before sitting on this very specific part of the sofa. It felt as though Caine was trying to get as much out of her chapters as possible. I think I was correct in saying that because the weird unnecessary description disappeared as the plot fired up.
Adverbs! Yes, I know, I know, I won't go on. But seriously(!)? There were a lot more than I expected but I suppose I'm much better at spotting them now. These irritating words didn't annoy me back in 2012 and I'm sure books one and two are riddled with them also.
But the most painful thing about Midnight Alleywas one huge mistake I found. Caine wrote 'Michael' when she meant 'Shane' in a super important scene and confused the hell out of me! I love these books but that's pretty unforgivable. How many people did that mistake go through before confusing me? I just couldn't believe it hadn't been spotted.
Overall though, Midnight Alleywas a delight to read. I laughed out loud more than I usually do because the tone and narration are just spot on. The Morganville Vampire books will remain a guilty pleasure for a long time yet.
Evaluation
Overall 7/10
Would I recommend it? Yes. I thoroughly enjoy the Morganville Vampirebooks when I pick them up.
Would I look up the author? No. This one series is enough for me.
Midnight Alleywas just as I expected. A familiar, entertaining read.
Molly LoobyAuthor / Ghostwriter / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA [email protected]
A Bit of the Blurb
Now Claire has pledged herself to Amelie, the most powerful vampire in town. The protection her contract secures does little to reassure her friends. All of a sudden people are turning up dead, a stalker resurfaces from Claire's past, and an ancient bloodsucker extends a chilling invitation for private lessons in his secluded home.
My Review
I knew that overall I would enjoy reading this book because I enjoyed books one and two back in 2012 when I read them on the recommendation of my A'level English teacher - of all people. I was thrown into Midnight Alleya little rusty but it didn't take long to remember what was going on. The characters are so lively that I recognised them all and Caine was kind enough to only remind me of the most important plot points which I was glad for. I hate it when books give a detailed summary of the previous one, it gets on my nerves.
I went in knowing - as I always do with the Morganvillebooks - that it wasn't going to be by any means a 'literary' piece. Caine isn't trying to make a point or wow you with ideas, she's just out to entertain you. And she's pretty damn good at that. One of the reasons I like these books so much is that they're so easy to read. At times I felt guilty for not picking up something that makes me look a little more intelligent but hey, you like what you like. Caine's taught me to enjoy whatever it is I like to read. It's not a big secret that vampire fiction is a guilty pleasure of mine and these books do a good job of quenching my thirst.
Another reason I love the Morganvillebooks is that I've invested quite a lot into these characters at this point and I want to find out where they end up. Not to mention they're all different and relatable in bizarre ways. Their personality traits are louder in this universe than in real life so sometimes it felt a little caricature but that just made me smile. I'm sure Caine knew exactly what she was doing.
I've blabbed on enough about why I love these books but now I should take a moment to explain they're not perfect. Far from it. First of all, there was a lot of unnecessary description of people's clothes and actions for my liking. I don't care that so-and-so picked this up before sitting on this very specific part of the sofa. It felt as though Caine was trying to get as much out of her chapters as possible. I think I was correct in saying that because the weird unnecessary description disappeared as the plot fired up.
Adverbs! Yes, I know, I know, I won't go on. But seriously(!)? There were a lot more than I expected but I suppose I'm much better at spotting them now. These irritating words didn't annoy me back in 2012 and I'm sure books one and two are riddled with them also.
But the most painful thing about Midnight Alleywas one huge mistake I found. Caine wrote 'Michael' when she meant 'Shane' in a super important scene and confused the hell out of me! I love these books but that's pretty unforgivable. How many people did that mistake go through before confusing me? I just couldn't believe it hadn't been spotted.
Overall though, Midnight Alleywas a delight to read. I laughed out loud more than I usually do because the tone and narration are just spot on. The Morganville Vampire books will remain a guilty pleasure for a long time yet.
Evaluation
Overall 7/10
Would I recommend it? Yes. I thoroughly enjoy the Morganville Vampirebooks when I pick them up.
Would I look up the author? No. This one series is enough for me.
Midnight Alleywas just as I expected. A familiar, entertaining read.
Molly LoobyAuthor / Ghostwriter / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA [email protected]
May 26, 2015
My Definitive List of Disney Classics
It irritates me that so many of the Disney Classics are undervalued by people. Of course there's no arguing that The Lion King is a masterpiece, Snow White's pretty dated and there are a whole host no one's ever heard of. But I'm here to educate you on what Disney films you might have missed but must buy and see.
So as far as I'm aware, here are the 53 Disney Classics that have been released as of May 2015 when I write this:
1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs2. Pinocchio4. Dumbo5. Bambi6. Saludos Amigos7. The Three Caballeros8. Make Mine Music9. Fun and Fancy Free10. Melody Time11. Ichabod and Mr Toad12. Cinderella13. Alice in Wonderland14. Peter Pan15. Lady and the Tramp16. Sleeping Beauty17. 101 Dalmatians18. The Sword in the Stone19. The Jungle Book20. The Aristocats21. Robin Hood22. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh23. The Rescuers24. The Fox and the Hound25. The Black Cauldron26. Basil the Great Mouse Detective27. Oliver and Company28. The Little Mermaid29. The Rescuers Down Under30. Beauty and the Beast31. Aladdin32. The Lion King33. Pocahontas34. The Hunchback of Notre Dame35. Hercules36. Mulan37. Tarzan38. Fantasia 200039. The Emperor's New Groove40. Atlantis41. Lilo and Stich42. Treasure Planet43. Brother Bear44. Home on the Range45. Chicken Little46. The Wild47. Meet the Robinsons48. Bolt49. The Princess and the Frog50. Tangled51. Wreck-it Ralph52. Frozen53. Big Hero 6
Now I can't claim to have seen all 53, but I have seen my fair share (almost 3/4) to know that Disney doesn't always get it right. But more astoundingly, us, the audience, don't always get it right either.
Let me help you. Here are, in my opinion, ten Disney films that are under appreciated:
1. Oliver and Company2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame3. Hercules4. The Emperor's New Groove5. Lilo and Stich6. Treasure Planet7. Brother Bear8. Meet the Robinsons9. Bolt10. Wreck-it Ralph
I know Lilo and Stich is pretty popular, but ask yourselves this; would it be as popular if Stich wasn't so merchandised? Thinking about it, that might be where these films made mistakes. They're not as easy to merchandise. Princess films create princess dresses every little girl (and sometimes boy and there's nothing wrong with that) - and adult - wants to wear. Growing up, I wanted an Ariel dress but alas, my wish didn't come true. I didn't include The Princess and the Frog here because there's some good merchandise for it. You might not have seen it but you know who Tiana is right? I bet you don't know who Lewis is. No, not the crocodile in The Princess and the Frog, that's Louis. Any other guesses? No?I didn't think so.
Cute side-kicks turned into cuddly toys are a goldmine for Disney. Think of Olaf - he didn't add much to Frozen if you ask me. He's my least favourite character in the whole film, but they kept him in for a reason. That reason? Merchandising!
All ten of those films I love and could watch again and again but if I had to pick one to force you to watch it would be The Emperor's New Groove. That film gets funnier with every watch. It's aimed just as much at adults as it is for kids. I'm astounded people don't rate this in their top funniest films ever.
So now you might be wondering what in my opinion are ten Disney films that have been hyped to death:
1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs2. Bambi3. Peter Pan4. The Jungle Book5. The Little Mermaid6. Beauty and the Beast7. Aladdin8. The Lion King9. Tangled10. Frozen
Now before you go screaming at me, I'm not saying these are bad films. These films will always be known by everyone and that's just the way it is. They're over hyped for a reason. These are Disney's true successes. Tell me you haven't seen more of this list than the previous one?
I rest my case.
All I'm trying to say is that instead of watching Aladdin for the 30th time, why not go for Treasure Planet?It's masterpiece, I assure you. Instead of singing Let it Go for the 185,389th time, why not listen to the songs from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Again, outstanding).
Disney is more magical if you broaden your horizons. Plus if you haven't seenHerculeswe can't be friends.
P.S. Big Hero 6is incredible.
P.P.S. In case you were wondering, I'm one of those 'Pixarcan do no wrong' type of people. (Except Cars 2) #sorrynotsorry
Molly LoobyDisney Obsessed / Author / Blogger
[email protected]
So as far as I'm aware, here are the 53 Disney Classics that have been released as of May 2015 when I write this:
1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs2. Pinocchio4. Dumbo5. Bambi6. Saludos Amigos7. The Three Caballeros8. Make Mine Music9. Fun and Fancy Free10. Melody Time11. Ichabod and Mr Toad12. Cinderella13. Alice in Wonderland14. Peter Pan15. Lady and the Tramp16. Sleeping Beauty17. 101 Dalmatians18. The Sword in the Stone19. The Jungle Book20. The Aristocats21. Robin Hood22. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh23. The Rescuers24. The Fox and the Hound25. The Black Cauldron26. Basil the Great Mouse Detective27. Oliver and Company28. The Little Mermaid29. The Rescuers Down Under30. Beauty and the Beast31. Aladdin32. The Lion King33. Pocahontas34. The Hunchback of Notre Dame35. Hercules36. Mulan37. Tarzan38. Fantasia 200039. The Emperor's New Groove40. Atlantis41. Lilo and Stich42. Treasure Planet43. Brother Bear44. Home on the Range45. Chicken Little46. The Wild47. Meet the Robinsons48. Bolt49. The Princess and the Frog50. Tangled51. Wreck-it Ralph52. Frozen53. Big Hero 6
Now I can't claim to have seen all 53, but I have seen my fair share (almost 3/4) to know that Disney doesn't always get it right. But more astoundingly, us, the audience, don't always get it right either.
Let me help you. Here are, in my opinion, ten Disney films that are under appreciated:
1. Oliver and Company2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame3. Hercules4. The Emperor's New Groove5. Lilo and Stich6. Treasure Planet7. Brother Bear8. Meet the Robinsons9. Bolt10. Wreck-it Ralph
I know Lilo and Stich is pretty popular, but ask yourselves this; would it be as popular if Stich wasn't so merchandised? Thinking about it, that might be where these films made mistakes. They're not as easy to merchandise. Princess films create princess dresses every little girl (and sometimes boy and there's nothing wrong with that) - and adult - wants to wear. Growing up, I wanted an Ariel dress but alas, my wish didn't come true. I didn't include The Princess and the Frog here because there's some good merchandise for it. You might not have seen it but you know who Tiana is right? I bet you don't know who Lewis is. No, not the crocodile in The Princess and the Frog, that's Louis. Any other guesses? No?I didn't think so.
Cute side-kicks turned into cuddly toys are a goldmine for Disney. Think of Olaf - he didn't add much to Frozen if you ask me. He's my least favourite character in the whole film, but they kept him in for a reason. That reason? Merchandising!
All ten of those films I love and could watch again and again but if I had to pick one to force you to watch it would be The Emperor's New Groove. That film gets funnier with every watch. It's aimed just as much at adults as it is for kids. I'm astounded people don't rate this in their top funniest films ever.
So now you might be wondering what in my opinion are ten Disney films that have been hyped to death:
1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs2. Bambi3. Peter Pan4. The Jungle Book5. The Little Mermaid6. Beauty and the Beast7. Aladdin8. The Lion King9. Tangled10. Frozen
Now before you go screaming at me, I'm not saying these are bad films. These films will always be known by everyone and that's just the way it is. They're over hyped for a reason. These are Disney's true successes. Tell me you haven't seen more of this list than the previous one?
I rest my case.
All I'm trying to say is that instead of watching Aladdin for the 30th time, why not go for Treasure Planet?It's masterpiece, I assure you. Instead of singing Let it Go for the 185,389th time, why not listen to the songs from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Again, outstanding).
Disney is more magical if you broaden your horizons. Plus if you haven't seenHerculeswe can't be friends.
P.S. Big Hero 6is incredible.
P.P.S. In case you were wondering, I'm one of those 'Pixarcan do no wrong' type of people. (Except Cars 2) #sorrynotsorry
Molly LoobyDisney Obsessed / Author / Blogger
[email protected]
May 19, 2015
Books Nobody's Reading That Everyone Should Be Reading for #IreadYA
It's #IreadYA week over at and what a perfect opportunity to promote some of my favourite books!
They need some serious love!
Being popular and incredible is something rare to me. There are so many popular books that don't deserve even a portion of the fame they have achieved. But incredible books that are underrated - now that's my thing. Here's a list of some of my favourite books. All of these are worth your time. And also worth way more hype than they got.
Before you bite my head off, I know some of these are best sellers but that doesn't mean I've ever heard people talk about them. Like I said, these books are worth way more hype then they got.
This time I tried to be ruthless and put them in order of how much I think these books need to be read but they all need to be read. So read them!
The Dustlands Trilogy - Moira Young(Blood Red Road, Rebel Heart, Raging Star)
The Forest of Hands and Teeth Trilogy - Carrie Ryan(The Forest of Hands & Teeth, The Dead-Tossed Waves, The Dark & Hollow Places)
The Rephiam Series - Paula Weston(Shadows, Haze, Shimmer - plus more to come)
Anna Dressed in Blood - Kendare Blake
The Reapers are the Angels - Alden Bell
The Unearthly Trilogy - Cynthia Hand(Unearthly, Hallowed, Boundless)
The Other Life - Susanne Winnacker
The Lorien Legacies - Pittacus Lore(I am Number Four, The Power of Six - am yet to read the rest)
Maybe One Day - Melissa Kantor
Starters - Lissa Price
So pick one of these fantastic books up, grab a glass or mug of something and settle into a wonderful summer of book discoveries.
Molly LoobyAuthor, Reader, YA lover
[email protected]
May 12, 2015
Bluff Your Way In Publishing - Dorothy Stewart
A Spoiler Free Bit About The Book
The title speaks for itself.
My Review
First, of course, this book is dated and I can't believe the publishing industry conducts itself in the exact same way it did back when this was written. Not to mention the popularity of the eBook has changed a lot for publishers and they've had to adapt, even if it is in a small way. So a lot of it I found out-of-date and irrelevant.
I'm going to be brutally honest. I did not like this book. Is that because I have an idealised vision of what publishing's like? I don't know. But what was written in this book must have been, at least some of it, an exaggeration.
Being told that if you have a certain name you are more likely to get into publishing made me sceptical of the seriousness of this book from the off and I spent all 60 pages of it wondering how serious I was supposed to take it. I was glad it was so short because with each page I became more miserable Everyone in publishing seems to hate everybody else in publishing according to Stewart. Plus, do publishers really not give a damn about authors? What about J.K. Rowling? I bet publishers give a damn about her. I just can't believe that authors mean nothing in the publishing industry. I worked in an editing department for two weeks, the people there cared more than the book suggested.
It's safe to say I was left with an even more depressing view of the publishing industry than I already had. Stewart painted a view of a stuffy, half asleep industry you wouldn't touch with a bargepole. Again, I just can't believe this to be true
Evaluation
Overall 5/10
Would I recommend it? No. Unless you're a publisher with this specific brand of humour I suppose.
Would I look up the author? No. I'm not sure what I was supposed to take from this book.
Bluff Your Way In Publishingwas depressing and out-of-date. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to have learnt from its pages.
Molly LoobyAuthor / Ghostwriter / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA [email protected]
The title speaks for itself.
My Review
First, of course, this book is dated and I can't believe the publishing industry conducts itself in the exact same way it did back when this was written. Not to mention the popularity of the eBook has changed a lot for publishers and they've had to adapt, even if it is in a small way. So a lot of it I found out-of-date and irrelevant.
I'm going to be brutally honest. I did not like this book. Is that because I have an idealised vision of what publishing's like? I don't know. But what was written in this book must have been, at least some of it, an exaggeration.
Being told that if you have a certain name you are more likely to get into publishing made me sceptical of the seriousness of this book from the off and I spent all 60 pages of it wondering how serious I was supposed to take it. I was glad it was so short because with each page I became more miserable Everyone in publishing seems to hate everybody else in publishing according to Stewart. Plus, do publishers really not give a damn about authors? What about J.K. Rowling? I bet publishers give a damn about her. I just can't believe that authors mean nothing in the publishing industry. I worked in an editing department for two weeks, the people there cared more than the book suggested.
It's safe to say I was left with an even more depressing view of the publishing industry than I already had. Stewart painted a view of a stuffy, half asleep industry you wouldn't touch with a bargepole. Again, I just can't believe this to be true
Evaluation
Overall 5/10
Would I recommend it? No. Unless you're a publisher with this specific brand of humour I suppose.
Would I look up the author? No. I'm not sure what I was supposed to take from this book.
Bluff Your Way In Publishingwas depressing and out-of-date. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to have learnt from its pages.
Molly LoobyAuthor / Ghostwriter / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA [email protected]
