- Memoirs of a Geisha
- The Painted Man
- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
- The Desert Spear
- Guards Guards
- Empress Orchid
- Vampire Academy
- The Book of Loss
- Just In Case
- Mockingjay
- The Chamber of Secrets
- The Great Gatsby
- Stray
- Slawter
- Switch Bitch
Monday 30 May 2011
The 'to-review' list
Just a track list of books I intend to review in no particular order :P
Wednesday 25 May 2011
Holes
Holes - Louis Sachar
Rating: 7/10
Stanley Yelnat's family has a history of bad luck, so he isn't too surprised when a miscarriage of justice sends him to a boys' juvenile detention center, Camp Green Lake. There is no lake - it has been dry for over a hundred years - and it's hardly a camp. As punishment, the boys must each dig a hole a day, five feet deep, five feet across, in the hard earth of the dried-up lake bed. The warden claims that this pointless labor builds character, but she is really using the boys to dig for loot buried by the Wild West outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow. The story of Kissin' Kate, and of a curse put on Stanley's great-great-grandfather by a one-legged gypsy, weaves a narrative puzzle that tangles and untangles, until it becomes clear that the hand of fate has been at work in the lives of the characters - and their forebears - for generations.
Summary by Goodreads.com
Personally I liked this book a lot, it contains, for me one of the most touching and heart breaking love stories of all time. The plot however un-based around said story is also just as unique and interesting, it's a perfect story for tweens as I found that as a young adult it could have been a little more challenging. I decided to read it based from having seen the Disney movie it inspired. Loosely knowing the plot I wasn't expecting any sudden surprises or plot twists, although one can secretly hope, I found that the movie had stuck to the book entirely, nothing was omitted and hardly anything extra was added, the script was rigid. I found this slightly disappointing as it left me feeling as though I were simply reading the movie. I would recommend this still however to young teens, as it was originally targeted to.
Good points:
Rating: 7/10Stanley Yelnat's family has a history of bad luck, so he isn't too surprised when a miscarriage of justice sends him to a boys' juvenile detention center, Camp Green Lake. There is no lake - it has been dry for over a hundred years - and it's hardly a camp. As punishment, the boys must each dig a hole a day, five feet deep, five feet across, in the hard earth of the dried-up lake bed. The warden claims that this pointless labor builds character, but she is really using the boys to dig for loot buried by the Wild West outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow. The story of Kissin' Kate, and of a curse put on Stanley's great-great-grandfather by a one-legged gypsy, weaves a narrative puzzle that tangles and untangles, until it becomes clear that the hand of fate has been at work in the lives of the characters - and their forebears - for generations.
Summary by Goodreads.com
Personally I liked this book a lot, it contains, for me one of the most touching and heart breaking love stories of all time. The plot however un-based around said story is also just as unique and interesting, it's a perfect story for tweens as I found that as a young adult it could have been a little more challenging. I decided to read it based from having seen the Disney movie it inspired. Loosely knowing the plot I wasn't expecting any sudden surprises or plot twists, although one can secretly hope, I found that the movie had stuck to the book entirely, nothing was omitted and hardly anything extra was added, the script was rigid. I found this slightly disappointing as it left me feeling as though I were simply reading the movie. I would recommend this still however to young teens, as it was originally targeted to.
Good points:
- Amazing love story.
- Perfect story for young teens.
- Interesting and unique content.
Bad points:
- Isn't particularly relatable or challenging for older readers.
- Follows the movie strictly, nothing new to be discovered if you have seen the movie first.
Buy/Borrow/Avoid:
Borrow (if you're young adult or older and still interested) :)
Monday 23 May 2011
Wicked
Wicked - Gregory Maguire
Rating: 6.5/10
Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first–class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle–class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green–skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.
Summary by Goodreads.com
Originally I found the concept of a re-worked Oz intriguing, the idea of a backstory to the 'wicked witch of the west' was appealing and I enjoyed the story in that regard, however I found that the political and religious arguments raised detracted from the overall fantasy plot line that I had expected. The book itself was a little difficult to understand perhaps due to this leading to a loss of interest two thirds through. The impression the story gives from being the inspiration for the musical Wicked is misleading, expectations on the content of the novel were certainly not directly met, however the appeal of the novel as a whole is understandable, having not had pre-expectations I might certainly have enjoyed the novel more despite the somewhat confusing political notions raised within. I would recommend to those who enjoy unwonted conspiracy theories and take interest in modern parliament.
Rating: 6.5/10Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first–class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle–class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green–skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.
Summary by Goodreads.com
Originally I found the concept of a re-worked Oz intriguing, the idea of a backstory to the 'wicked witch of the west' was appealing and I enjoyed the story in that regard, however I found that the political and religious arguments raised detracted from the overall fantasy plot line that I had expected. The book itself was a little difficult to understand perhaps due to this leading to a loss of interest two thirds through. The impression the story gives from being the inspiration for the musical Wicked is misleading, expectations on the content of the novel were certainly not directly met, however the appeal of the novel as a whole is understandable, having not had pre-expectations I might certainly have enjoyed the novel more despite the somewhat confusing political notions raised within. I would recommend to those who enjoy unwonted conspiracy theories and take interest in modern parliament.
Sunday 8 May 2011
Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë
Rating: 8.5/10
As an orphan, Jane’s childhood is not an easy one, but her independence and strength of character sustain her through the miseries inflicted by cruel relatives and a brutal education system. However, her biggest challenge is yet to come. Taking a job as a governess in a house containing dangerous secrets and a passionate man she finds increasingly attractive, Jane is ultimate forced to call on all her resources in order to hold fast to her beliefs.
Summary by Goodreads.com
I have found Jane Eyre to be amongst my favourite classics, it (unlike many others written in the era), was not at all difficult to read. The story, although long, held my interests without and is as the blurb tells it to be "one of the most perfectly structured novels of all time." A very fulfilling classical romance, I found the characters absorbing and competent, more so than perhaps current day protagonists (despite the restrictions on women in that era.) I would recommend this novel to those who are fond of either romance novels or a good classic.
Rating: 8.5/10As an orphan, Jane’s childhood is not an easy one, but her independence and strength of character sustain her through the miseries inflicted by cruel relatives and a brutal education system. However, her biggest challenge is yet to come. Taking a job as a governess in a house containing dangerous secrets and a passionate man she finds increasingly attractive, Jane is ultimate forced to call on all her resources in order to hold fast to her beliefs.
Summary by Goodreads.com
I have found Jane Eyre to be amongst my favourite classics, it (unlike many others written in the era), was not at all difficult to read. The story, although long, held my interests without and is as the blurb tells it to be "one of the most perfectly structured novels of all time." A very fulfilling classical romance, I found the characters absorbing and competent, more so than perhaps current day protagonists (despite the restrictions on women in that era.) I would recommend this novel to those who are fond of either romance novels or a good classic.
Sunday 1 May 2011
My Sisters Keeper
My Sisters Keeper- Jodi Picoult
Rating: 4.5/10
Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.
Summary by Goodreads.com
This book was not my favourite by any means for a variety of reasons, I gave it a rating of 4.5 merely because it deserves some literary credit, the concept of the novel is interesting and the style of writing is distinctive, however, I believe it was this that led to its downfall. The novel is written as a series of days, giving practically everyone in the Fitzgerald family (and more) their take on the day. This became frustrating and deviated away from the main plot line in so many places that the subplots devalued the original story. The most frustrating chapters of the entire story were that of Sara Fitzgerald, the emphatic mother of Anna, Kate, and Jesse. Completely blind sighted by Kate's condition, she barely notices the existence of her other children and drives me crazy with her self centered ideas and opinions that I almost loathed to see her name written on the page. I found myself dumbfounded at the many unproductive, and certainly unnecessary plot twists, reading the book to its finish merely because I had a peaked curiosity for perhaps one of the most minor details in the book, (the reason behind the presence of Alexander's dog.)
Despite having quite a large fanbase, a film based on its plot and a few rare 'sweet moments' I could not see myself recommending the book at all with a free conscience.
