I adored this book. It gave me all the feels. The author is around 10 years older than me so not all of the books she talks about were popular in my cI adored this book. It gave me all the feels. The author is around 10 years older than me so not all of the books she talks about were popular in my childhood, but many were. Her love of books shines brightly throughout and I saw a lot of myself in the experiences she recalls (such as being seen as different at school because she always had her head in a book, and checking out stacks of books at a time week after week from the library!). It’s made me want to go and re-read some of my childhood favourites again and had given me a good starting point of books to consider reading with any children I may have in the future. I love that she’s included a list at the end of the books she’s mentioned throughout, too. ...more
Everyone should read this book, whether you’ve experienced depression and anxiety or not. Matt Haig is honest about his experience and how he found liEveryone should read this book, whether you’ve experienced depression and anxiety or not. Matt Haig is honest about his experience and how he found light in his darkest moments. It’s broken down into short chapters which is great when your attention span is short (which is one of the symptoms I get when I’m anxious/depressed) and he not only talks about his own experiences but gives some great pointers and things to think about for people to help themselves. Some of the points he makes really resonate with me and I think I’ll find myself referring back to this book again and again....more
When Rosy Thornton contacted me via my blog to ask if I'd like to review her book, I wasn't sure whether to accept at first. This is not the kind of nWhen Rosy Thornton contacted me via my blog to ask if I'd like to review her book, I wasn't sure whether to accept at first. This is not the kind of novel that I usually read and to be honest I probably wouldn't have picked this up in a bookstore, but I decided to give it a chance because I do like reading about other countries and it has had some great reviews. Having read it, it's clear that I need to re-think how I choose my books in bookstores because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Catherine was an instantly likeable character. She's incredibly strong willed yet down-to-earth and simply refuses to let anything bring her down. Throughout the book there are a number of occuring problems that would cause a lesser person to become self-pitying but this is never the case with Catherine and I loved her for it. Despite the fact that Catherine is much older than me, I was still able to relate to her and I felt a real affinity for her need to escape and to experience a different way of life. I also grew to really like the supporting characters in the book, especially Monsieur and Madame Bouschet. I loved the way that they took Catherine under their wing and it was nice to see the relationship build between the three. Patrick was an interesting character and it took me longer to warm to him, but I did eventually and it was interesting to see Catherine's relationship with him develop also.
The plot is brilliant in it's simplicity. It's simply a tale of life. There is no mystery, there is no huge twist and there are no vampires, but it's a compelling read. Everytime I picked this book up, I lost myself in the French way of life and I really didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay in the gorgeous French countryside, the slow, relaxed way of life and the sense of belonging and community that comes with living in such a small village. The images painted throughout the book of the mountains and the surrounding area just made me want to get on a plane as soon as possible - the authors use of description is just enough to make you feel like you're there, but not too much that it overshadows the rest of the book.
This book is just beautiful. I could have easily read another 300 pages without becoming bored. I will definitely be looking into Rosy Thornton's previous works....more
I don’t even know where to start to try and sum up my thoughts on this book. I don’t feel like anything I could say would do it justice.
While readingI don’t even know where to start to try and sum up my thoughts on this book. I don’t feel like anything I could say would do it justice.
While reading the first chapter I wasn’t sure if it was for me, it felt a little slow to start and my first impression was that I was going to dislike Celia, the protagonist, however I was definitely wrong on both counts. I LOVED this book, I would definitely put it in my favourites of all time. I read it in two sittings because I just couldn’t put it down.
It made me laugh, it made me sad, and it confused the hell out of me in places, but my my, what a story. The imagination of the author is fantastic and I loved all of the references to the original Alice in Wonderland, which was one of my favourites growing up. It’s a bit trippy and I imagine it won’t appeal to everyone, but it really is escapism at its finest. There are some deeper topics/messages covered in here too, which I can’t discuss without spoiling the story, and I thought these were expertly woven into the plot.
I’ll definitely reread this at some point. I think it’s one of those that will get better each time....more
I didn't expect this book to pull me in like it did. From the first page I was hooked. I loved that the book was written in dialect as it made me feelI didn't expect this book to pull me in like it did. From the first page I was hooked. I loved that the book was written in dialect as it made me feel like I really got to know the characters. It really enhanced the characterisation.
Being from the UK, I really don't know how much of this book is true-to-life of how things used to be, however I have to say that most of it made my blood boil. The treatment the black maids were subjected to was horrendous and I hated that they just had to put up with it. The views were ridiculous and I found myself shouting at some of the characters, Hilly in particular, a lot of the time.
I definitely enjoyed this book more than I was expecting to. When a book receives a lot of hype it makes me apprehensive to read it because, more often than not, for me it just doesn't live up to the praise. This one certainly did and has gone straight into my favourites. I'm recommending it to everyone!...more
Sometimes I find it hard to put my feelings about a book into words. This is one of those books. The book is set during WWII, at the time that France Sometimes I find it hard to put my feelings about a book into words. This is one of those books. The book is set during WWII, at the time that France fell to Germany, and falls into two parts - the first part chronicles the journey of a group of parisiens as they flee the city; the second tells the story of a village and how they cope with the German occupation.
This book invoked a multitude of emotions. There is just no way for me to imagine how it must have made them feel for their country to be at war like that. OK, so there is the war that is currently happening in the East, however it's not happening here in our streets and so although many people are touched by it because of family members fighting, we are still somewhat removed from it. To have the war thrust in their face constantly; to see their homeland in ruin; to be completely powerless to do anything; to have no hope that things would be as they were before; I just can't imagine how that must have felt. I read this book during a busy week and so had to put it down often, yet it was still in my thoughts when I wasn't reading.
The writing was excellent. I found the author's use of decription to be perfect. Sometimes description can be overused and it really isn't in this novel, yet there is enough to give you the feeling of being there. The story is told from many different viewpoints which, again, doesn't work well in some novels, but does in this one. I found that it really enhanced the story and helped to convey the many emotions felt by those living through the horror.
This is one that will stay with me for some time....more
I will start by saying that I didn't feel that this book lived up to the hype. I got the book on the day it was released, having pre-ordered it AGES aI will start by saying that I didn't feel that this book lived up to the hype. I got the book on the day it was released, having pre-ordered it AGES ago from Amazon. I couldn't wait to get started as I, along with so many others, had eagerly waited for this book after reading the first two amazing books. I had really high hopes. It didn't live up to those hopes...
BUT
...it was still a great read. Granted, it didn't pull me in like the other two books did. It didn't captivate me in the same way as the others did. But yet it was still a fun, interesting read. It still kept the pages turning. There was a part that I felt slowed down a little in the middle, but the final few chapters made up for that. The final few chapters had all the action and suspense that the earlier chapters didn't. The final chapters had me on the edge of my seat wondering how it was all going to turn out.
The writing was just as good as in the first two books. I think what was lacking was the focal point of the games, which took up so much of the first two books. But then, the Hunger Games a third time would have been overkill.
In all, this was an amazing trilogy and I'm definitely glad I read it. I rarely re-read books anymore, but I have a feeling that I'll be reading these again at least once more....more
It's hard to summarise this book without giving key parts of the plot away, but lets just say that after Katniss rebelled against the Capitol by forciIt's hard to summarise this book without giving key parts of the plot away, but lets just say that after Katniss rebelled against the Capitol by forcing the first ever dual-win of the Hunger Games, the Capitol is seeking revenge...
It took me a little while longer to get into this book than it did with the first one. Still, I loved it. The writing is as great as in the first book and the plot was, again, captivating. It took me longer to read but that wasn't the book's fault. When I did get chance to read it, I hated putting it down! The characters were well developed in the first book but we get chance to explore deeper into their feelings in this book and I came to really care about Katniss and Peeta.
I can't wait to read the final installment in the trilogy!...more
This is one of those books that is hard to recommend to someone, because when you try to describe the story, there's just no way to do it justice. To This is one of those books that is hard to recommend to someone, because when you try to describe the story, there's just no way to do it justice. To someone who hasn't read this, the plot would seem depressive and dark. But it isn't. Somehow Eugenides manages to stop it being dark and it's certainly not depressive. Man, can this guy write. The prose flows like poetry and his narrative captured me from page one and didn't let go. In fact, 3 days after finishing the book I'm still thinking about it.
We never know who is narrating. It could be one or more of a number of boys who lived in the same neighbourhood as the Lisbon girls. The narration is always 'We' instead of 'I' and the vagueness works well in this book because it gives a sense of how the lives and deaths of the Lisbon girls affected all of the boys who knew them and how, many years later, they are still haunted by this tragedy.
Knowing the ending of the book didn't spoil this for me at all. The story told by the boy(s) was such that I felt by the end of the book that I really knew the Lisbon girls even though, actually, no-one really knew them. The deaths, although expected, were no less shocking and I felt far more emotion than I thought I would do, given that knew it was coming....more
This book was so much more than I was expecting. It had been recommended by a friend who raved about it and so I read it as soon as I'd bought it (whiThis book was so much more than I was expecting. It had been recommended by a friend who raved about it and so I read it as soon as I'd bought it (which I very rarely do). I'm so glad I read it.
It cuts pretty deep for a YA novel, and I think it's one that will stay with me for a long time. It has a very valid message - that everything we say/do has consequences, and that things that may seem small/insignificant can actually come together to form a much larger problem, in this case suicide. It shows that people don't commit suicide for a single reason, but because of many things that form a 'snowball effect'. This book is the story of Hannah Baker, who took her own life - but not before recording a series of tapes, intended for a specific list of people, detailing the 13 reasons why she decided that she couldn't take it anymore. Each person is supposed to listen to the tapes and then mail them to the next person on the list. Our narrator is Clay Jensen, whose name is on the list. We watch as Clay falls apart, realising that he could have helped Hannah, had he only taken the time to see who she really was.
The writing is captivating and the unique format is perfect for this book. The dual narrative works brilliantly and I was swept up by the emotional rollercoaster of both narrators. I read it in a day. I haven't been touched this deeply by a book in a long long time. Everyone should read this. ...more
This book had me hooked from the first page. The action starts in the first chapter and I loved that about it. There was none of the slow build-up thaThis book had me hooked from the first page. The action starts in the first chapter and I loved that about it. There was none of the slow build-up that so many novels seem to have, although there is a LOT of detail. This may put some readers off but it really is essential to the story and the character building of the protagonist, Martin. There was a need to suspend disbelief to some degree, but that's part of the fun of the story! The story moved along at a good pace and there were parts where I held my breath wondering what would happen next and there were parts where I laughed out loud - cue the funny looks from people around me!
I took an instant liking to the protagonist, Martin, although I'm not really sure why. I guess it was because, despite his profession, he's actually a pretty nice guy and it's hard to dislike him. I also think that his methodical, organised approach to life resonated with me because, although I am nowhere near as meticulously organised as he is, I do have a pre-disposition to list making and attention to detail so this appealed to that side of me! The fact that he calls the homeowners 'Clients' rather than victims really endeared him to me - it shows that he cares about them and really does think that he's providing them with a service. I guess he's also using the term to make it sound more acceptable, but he does know that what he's doing is wrong. I don't really want to say anymore about the story as that would give away spoilers, but I will say that the situations he ends up in and the steps he takes to resolve those situations show how caring he is and made me like him even more.
As much as I did like Martin, it did really creep me out to think about how easy it is for someone to get into your house. I was lucky enough to be part of a chat with the author recently and he mentioned that he'd done a lot of research on lock-picking whilst writing the book and that it's surprising how many forums and sites there are on the internet that are dedicated to this. It definitely made me want to up the security on our house. It also made me think about things that I've misplaced in the past. Obviously the reality is that most burglars will go for the big cash items, but still...
A great read and one that I will probably read again. I can't wait to pick up the author's second book, Unexpectedly Milo....more
I absolutely LOVED this book. I couldn't put it down and read it in two sittings. I was hooked from the very beginning and loved that the suspense didI absolutely LOVED this book. I couldn't put it down and read it in two sittings. I was hooked from the very beginning and loved that the suspense didn't let up at all throughout the book.
Katniss is 16. She lives in District 12 of what used to be North America with her mother and twelve year old sister, Prim. There are 11 other Districts, plus the Capitol. There used to be a District 13, but they rebelled against the government and were consequently obliterated by the Capitol. Because of District 13's rebellion, the Capitol stages an event every year to remind the other Districts of the power that the Capitol holds. This event is called the Hunger Games. How does it work? Each District has 2 competitors, known as tributes. The tributes are put into a huge arena, where they literally fight it out to the death. The winner is the person left alive at the end. Scary stuff. When Prim is selected in the lottery that determines the tributes for District 12, Katniss steps into her place. And so the book (and the fight) begins...
We live in a world that is obsessed with reality TV. Personally I can take it or leave it. A couple of shows I'll watch now and again, but mostly they annoy the hell out of me. This book, however, is just captivating. Collins' writing is superb. Yes, this is a YA novel, however it's an intelligently written YA novel and stands well above some adult novels I've read. The writing flows, the suspense is fantastic and the characters are well developed for the most part. I got caught up in the emotions of the book and in some parts my heart was pounding along with Katniss' as I turned the pages.
I haven't read any fiction about the circus before, but I found this to be a captivating novel. It tells the story of Jacob, who is training to be a vI haven't read any fiction about the circus before, but I found this to be a captivating novel. It tells the story of Jacob, who is training to be a veterinarian at Cornell when his parents are killed in a road accident. Distraught, he walks out of his exam and decides that he can't go home and so he jumps on a train... not knowing that it's the train of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. The story goes back and forwards between his journey with the circus as a young man and his time in a nursing home as a 93 year old man.
I had wanted to read this for a while, but just never got around to it. As with many books I've read, I wish I'd picked it up sooner. I was engrossed from the first page. As a child, I loved the circus (well, except for the clowns) and this book brought back those magical feelings. Gruen has clearly done her research and perfectly blends fact with fiction and I found that her writing flowed really well. The characters were well-built and I found that I really got to know Jacob throughout the book. At times I wanted to shout at him but most of the time I was rooting for him. I took a lot of pleasure in hating August... the scenes with the animal cruelty were particularly upsetting and at times I wanted to kill him. I have a particular liking for elephants and I fell in love with Rosie as soon as she made an appearance in the book!
I can't say too much about the ending without giving away spoilers, but I will say that I liked the twist and wasn't expecting it at all....more
The narration in this book was brilliant. It really allowed me to get into the mind of the protagonist... and what a mind that is. The book is told frThe narration in this book was brilliant. It really allowed me to get into the mind of the protagonist... and what a mind that is. The book is told from the perspective of Christopher Boone, a 15 year old boy with Asperger's Syndrome. Having known a person who has Asperger's, I was able to see how well the author portrays the mindset and 'quirk's' of someone with this complex condition. Christopher, whilst out for a walk in the middle of the night, discovers that his neighbour's dog has been murdered with a pitch-fork. The story follows him as he attempts to find out whodunnit.
The story made me laugh and feel sad in equal amounts. I can't say too much, as it would give the story away, but at parts I really felt for him and wanted him to be able to connect to other characters in the way that a child without Asperger's can. In other parts, I was really rooting for him and actually cheered at one point (making myself look like a fool in the process).
Anyway, I found that this was a superbly written book and Haddon's characterisation was fantastic. I could have easily read many more pages. Some of the phrases used were a little annoying at times, however given that this is told in Christopher's words, I realise these phrases were integral to the story. Also, being fairly mathmatically-minded, I really enjoyed the maths side of the book too. Straight into my ever-expanding list of favourites....more
At age 15, Michael fell ill on the way home from school and was cared for by an older woman, Hanna, before returning home. After he recovered he went At age 15, Michael fell ill on the way home from school and was cared for by an older woman, Hanna, before returning home. After he recovered he went back to her house to thank her and from there a love affair developed. Then one day Hanna disappeared. Years later Michael is shocked when, observing a Nazi war crimes trial as part of his law degree, he finds that Hanna is one of the defendents. He struggles to distinguish between the person he knew, and the person sitting in front of him, who is accused of a horrendous crime. This book is his (fictional) memoir.
The story is definitely one to make you think. There are many books written about the Holocaust, but very few of them deal with the events without pointing fingers and taking sides. Schlink remains neutral throughout the book. It raises the question of how far a person can be held responsible for their actions if they were simply following orders for fear of punishment. More than once, Hanna asks the judge 'what would you have done?'. It suggests that the answer is not as clear cut as people would believe. The book challenges the 'normal' viewpoint of many people. There are many moral questions asked and the theme of guilt runs throughout the book.
The prose was simple, relatively unemotional and flowed easily. The simplicity could be seen as a bad thing, however I felt that it worked perfectly with the book and the subject matter. The 'secret' was fairly obvious as the book progressed but I also don't think that is a bad thing. This book isn't meant to be a mystery or thriller - it's a moving, well-written book that doesn't attempt to dramatise its subject. One that will stay with me for a while I think....more
It's the story of Leo, your average high school student, who is intrigued when a new girl, Stargirl Carraway, joins his schI really enjoyed this book.
It's the story of Leo, your average high school student, who is intrigued when a new girl, Stargirl Carraway, joins his school. Stargirl's name isn't the only thing that's different... she's a free spirit who doesn't care what anyone else thinks of her. At first, Leo thinks (along with the rest of the school) that she's crazy. Then he gets to know her...
The writing flowed really well and this was an easy, pretty quick read. The thing I like about YA books is that the majority of them (the good ones anyway) have some sort of message/lesson to learn. Makes sense really, as teens are just starting to find their way in the world and need all the help/support/advice they can get. This book is no exception and carries a very valid message - it's ok to be different; be who you are.
That was my initial thought on finishing this book. I can't even begin to put into words my feelings about the author and the st**spoiler alert** Wow.
That was my initial thought on finishing this book. I can't even begin to put into words my feelings about the author and the story of his life.
Shantaram made for some heavy, yet mesmerizing, reading. It took me an age to finish, because I wanted to absorb all of it, and therefore felt like I wasn't doing the book justice if I simply rushed it.
Roberts has been through much more than your average person. Granted, a lot of it was because of things he had done, however even he didn't deserve the cruel beatings he was forced to endure in the Arthur Road prison. On the flip side of this, he also experienced a lot of love. This book shows the kind-hearted nature of the Indian population - even down to the hardest criminals.
I found this book inspirational. Roberts talks openly about the crimes he committed, and their consequences. Yes, he should have served his time in prison instead of running. After breaking out, however, a lot of the things he did in India (for example the free health clinic in the slums) went towards repaying those dues. He rebuilt his life, even though his past meant that he was constantly on the run, and proved that people really can change.
I liked the philosophical side to this book, and found that there were many passages which spoke to me. I especially liked Khader's take on life, the reasons for us being here and people's moivations for the things they do and the choices they make.
The friendships built within the book were heartwarming. I was particularly touched by the author's relationship with Prabakar. I cried like a baby when he died. The author does such a wonderful job of capturing the essences of all the people referred to in the book, and I felt like I really knew some of them.
This account of the author's incredible journey made for compelling reading and I was sad to finish the book. I know that the story and its lessons will stay with me for a very long time....more
This book is definitely a grower. The beginning makes for a difficult read because of the lack of punctuation and grammar. I actually had to make myseThis book is definitely a grower. The beginning makes for a difficult read because of the lack of punctuation and grammar. I actually had to make myself keep reading at the beginning... I didn't like this book. Further in however, this ceases to be a problem and you realise that it all makes sense and is the best way to present the book.
The writing is beautiful in its minimalism. The characters don't have names, the scenery isn't described in much detail and we don't know anything about the catastrophe that preceded this story. This is because none of it matters. The book is a laid bare story of human survival, the overwhelming feelings of love and protection of a parent towards their child, and the unconditional love of a child towards its parent.
The Road is a harrowing, emotional read. I found myself wondering if I could make it in their situation, and I have to say I don't think I could. Then again, the book shows that a humans basic instinct is survival - even if there is nothing to survive for. It would be so much easier for them to admit defeat, yet something keeps them going.
The relationship between the father and son was very well written. There were parts of this book that brought tears to my eyes. The fact that the father still had hope for his son, even though the present was bleak, was heartwarming. Regardless of the small disagreements between the two throughout the novel, their bond was unbreakable.
This was a truly haunting novel, and is one that will stay with me for a long time....more
Nothing I could say would do this book justice. I thoroughly enjoyed the story from beginning to end, and was really sad to finish it. Charlotte BrontNothing I could say would do this book justice. I thoroughly enjoyed the story from beginning to end, and was really sad to finish it. Charlotte Bronte is one of the most talented storytellers I've come across. There is something about her style of writing that pulls you in and captures your imagination, whilst taking you on a whirlwind ride of mystery, suspense and romance.
Jane Eyre was ahead of her time in her attitudes, and this really endeared her to me. Bronte's characterisation of the protagonist was well thought out and brilliantly executed. I loved that Jane wasn't afraid to defy convention and refused to conform to how people expected her, as a woman, to behave. I liked that she appeared, more often than not, to be quite assertive; however the reader was allowed glimpses into her thought process, which showed her to have a much softer side. I grew quite attached to Jane, and really cared about what happened to her throughout the story.
The story is well paced and I found that there weren't any parts of the book that I considered to be slow-moving. For me, this was a real achievement, as the classics I have read so far (which, granted, isn't really very many) have had slow parts throughout. I can't really say much more about my feelings on the story without giving spoilers.
There were a few twists in the book, and these made sure that my interest wasn't swayed. The ending, for me, was perfect and I have to say I wasn't expecting it.
I can't say enough good things about this book, it has gone straight into my all time favourites, and I have a feeling I will re-read this many times....more
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