A Rainbow of Books

Aravind Adiga - The White Tiger

2009-09-02T18:10:00.001+10:00

Wow. What an absolutely brilliant book! It's so unique, so different to anything that I've read lately, and utterly engaging. I was a little reluctant to pick this up because I have found some previous Booker books to be too tedious for me to actually enjoy. However, with The White Tiger, I was sucked in from the minute I started reading. Who would have thought that you could craft a story set in India from writing letters to the Chinese Premier? Balram Halwai is the hero/anti-hero (depends on how you look at it) and star of the novel, as we follow his life story out of his rural hometown of Laxmangarh into the bright lights of Bangalore. Through Balram's journey, Adiga offers a critique on life in modern India and an insight into the harsh realities for those born into the lower social classes. Not willing to accept his pre-determined fate by his caste, Balram breaks out of the rooster coop but there are consequences to pay. Regardless of his actions, Adiga has created a likeable character with a compelling story. I really enjoyed The White Tiger and even though I haven't read the other nominees, I think it's a deserving Booker Prize winner.

Margo Lanagan - Tender Morsels

2009-08-30T18:06:00.003+10:00

I was astonished to discover that Tender Morsels was actually meant to be a YA fiction book. Personally, I think this book is far more suited to an adult audience, not only because of its dark content but also because of the writing style. The prose used in the book is an earthy kind of language (if that makes any sense!), which reflects the setting of the story well but can be a little hard to follow, especially with the constantly switching viewpoints. The adult themes of this book are also quite disturbing, what with incest and rape just part of the narrative. The author never really delves into graphic details but certainly enough for readers to understand some of the horrifying traumas the character goes through. I was quite excited to borrow this book from the library as it was highly recommended by Neil Gaiman, who is one of my favourite authors, and it also had mainly positive reviews on Amazon. I must say that I am actually quite disappointed and a little glad that I didn't purchase it to read. My main issue with the book is the changing viewpoints, which I feel didn't serve much purpose for Tender Morsels. I think I would have enjoyed the story much more if the novel focused on Liga and her daughters and their journey back into the real world. For example, I don't think some of the parts that featured the bear-men were all that necessary; in fact, I found them quite tedious and I would skip over those bits. Also, who was Wolf? I would have liked to know more about his relationship with Branza but in the end, he remained a dream and fantasy. It's an interesting read, but not one that I think I will revisit nor recommend to others.

MaryJanice Davidson - Fish Out of Water

2009-08-26T10:13:00.002+10:00

Ahh... it is time to bid adiós to Fred as Fish Out of Water is the final book of the Fred the mermaid trilogy. A true shame really, as I feel I am just warming up to the brash green-haired Fredrika. I am an absolute sucker for happy endings and I can't complain about this one. I had hoped Fred would pick Thomas (the human one) eventually, and even though it only finally came about in the last book, at least I got the ending I wanted. I also like how MJD extracted Artur from the love triangle; sure, it was convenient but at least it wasn't messy and I don't feel heartbroken for Artur. Somehow, I think he'll survive. Throw in a bare-bones mystery about missing merfolk and a finale appearance by a deranged mer-father and we have a story cooking. While not the greatest novel that I've read (even by MJD standards), I must say that I have enjoyed the mermaid trilogy and Fred and the gang will be missed. Who knows? They may appear again one day; I don't think this series is on its last leg - or tail! - yet.

MaryJanice Davidson - Undead and Unwelcome

2009-08-26T07:51:00.005+10:00

I am an MJD fan and will continue to be, just like I will continue to follow the Undead series, even though it seems to be on a downward spiral. So, yes, Undead and Unwelcome is Book 8; surely, by now, I should be used to how Betsy books turn out. I have no issues with MJD's style of writing; the haphazard crazy way of writing is fun and suits Betsy's personality. Wafer-thin plots, I have more of an issue with, but even that I can overlook - I mean, we all know Betsy books aren't exactly literature. I think a measure of a good author is the ability to evolve its character, especially since MJD herself had called out that it was a new beginning for this series from the previous book. The character shouldn't be changed beyond recognition, but certainly in a way where readers can grow with the character as the series progresses. After all, major events would have happened; a person does not stay exactly the same. I love reading Betsy's frank outbursts; the way she speaks her mind with a devil-may-care attitude regardless of who's around is one of her endearing traits. What I can't stand is her inability to focus for more than 2 seconds, which seems to be much worse in this book than I can remember in all previous installments. Yes, we all know that she is not exactly enamoured about her position as Queen of the Undead but with all the recent events and new responsibilities, you would think she would be able to concentrate for at least the length of a conversation. I'm not sure how long more MJD can drag out this series for as things seem to be coming to a head. I can only hope that she will give the Undead series a fitting end, as Betsy so rightly deserves.

James Thurber - Many Moons

2009-08-25T21:04:00.004+10:00

This is a very cute picture book and I can imagine it will be an absolute delight for any little girl to read. I've not seen the book with the original illustrations but Marc Simont's watercolour drawings are gorgeous to look at - a perfect fit with the adorable and endearing story of Many Moons. I don't know if it stands out as an instant classic as many reviewers have said on Amazon; however, it certainly won't be amiss in a little one's library. A must for all the princesses out there!

Marjane Satrapi - Persepolis

2009-08-25T20:58:00.001+10:00

I know almost nothing about Iran so Persopolis is quite an eye-opening read about a part of the world that is very alien to me. The use of the comic book medium in Persopolis is an effective one as it makes a distressing and complicated tale more accessible to readers. The illustrations are simple and cartoonish, a stark contrast against the complex and sometimes harrowing backdrop of Satrapi’s life and journey into adulthood. Despite the simplicity of the illustrations, they still manage to convey with forceful impact the horrors and stifling restrictions of a turbulent life in Iran and the challenges of finding her own identity when she goes to Austria as a teenager. Satrapi pulls you into her story and provides the reader rare insight into a life behind closed doors. I definitely want to watch the movie now and see how it compares to the book.

Christopher Moore - Coyote Blue

2009-06-03T14:24:00.001+10:00

I'm still fairly new to Christopher Moore's work but so far, his books have never failed to entertain me. Coyote Blue is no exception with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments - my husband was seriously worried that I was going to fall off the bed eventually from the cackling. I don't know enough about Indian gods to fully understand the underlying mythology referenced in the book but it didn't stop me from enjoying the story. Moore spins some really zany scenarios and you just have to go along for the ride. The protagonist, Samson Hunts Alone, is a likeable guy and as a reader, I couldn't help but cheer him on as he goes on his quest with the crazy god by his side. However, my absolutely favourite character would have to be Minty Fresh - how does someone even begin to imagine naming a character that?! The book is by no means perfect but it's easy to overlook the flaws and just be pulled into the story and enjoy every minute of it. I know I did!

China Miéville - Un Lun Dun

2009-06-02T17:07:00.001+10:00

What an amazing story! Un Lun Dun is spectacularly imaginative and the UnLondon that China Miéville has created is endlessly fascinating. Certainly, there will be comparisons to Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere that also features an alternate London called London Below (Miéville acknowledged Neverwhere as a source of inspiration) but Un Lun Dun is uniquely charming in its own right. I loved the characters and the surprising turns that the story took. I kept expecting Book to discover that it was wrong about the prophecies all along and it was actually Deeba who was the Schwazzy, but I liked how Miéville stuck to celebrating the sidekick – you know, the funny one. The madcap universe of UnLondon (and other abcities) was absolutely delightful; my favourite inhabitants were the binjas and utterlings. Oh, and of course, Curdle, your very own pet milk carton. Un Lun Dun was an utterly engaging and entertaining read and I would be happy to revisit this weird and whimsical world with carnivorous giraffes and half-ghosts again and again. Now, can someone tell me how I can get my very own rebrella?

Scott Smith - The Ruins

2009-06-02T17:05:00.002+10:00

It's kinda sad but I'm an absolute sucker for horror movies, even though I get completely terrified. Why I torture myself, I have no idea. I read a review about the movie, The Ruins (which I haven't seen), and found out that it was based on a book. I do enjoy a good horror read too so I decided to look for this book on BookMooch. I took this along with me on my honeymoon in May and I finished reading this on the flight to Bali. I won't give it the same kind of lavish praise that Stephen King did, but The Ruins is a decent horror novel. It was sufficiently creepy with plenty of WTF moments and a constant growing sense of doom and despair. Sure, the story was riddled with plot holes like a slice of Swiss cheese, but once it picked up pace, all of that was inconsequential and it was hard to pull away from the tale. I would have preferred it if at least one of the characters found a way to beat the vines and escape (just one happy moment, please!) but I guess the tragic ending really reinforces the utter bleakness of the situation, which is probably what the author was aiming for. The film is certified fresh on RottenTomatoes so I'm looking forward to see how it compares against the novel.

James Thurber - The 13 Clocks

2009-06-02T13:57:00.003+10:00

I sought out this book because it was highly recommended by Neil Gaiman on Amazon. Thankfully, my local library made the purchase and I was able to borrow it. The 13 Clocks is a clever little fairy tale that is deceptively simple and charming. Kids will find it a blast but I think it will also appeal to the older crowd. Thurber's amazing use of language, including all the delightful made-up words (which I'm trying to work into my vocabulary range), really adds to the story and I can imagine kids just begging for more when it's read aloud to them. This doesn't quite make it to my list of all-time favourites as the story is just far too brief, but it sure is an enchanting and wonderful fairy tale that all ages can enjoy.

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman: Endless Nights

2009-06-02T13:30:00.002+10:00

I completed my Sandman odyssey with the graphic novel that had seven separate stories, each featuring a member of the Endless. I was really looking forward to reading this as for me, the best part about the Sandman series was the Endless siblings. While I didn't like all of the stories, there were definitely more hits than misses. I thought the stories that featured Death, Dream, Desire and Delirium were brilliant. The one with Despair I didn't really care about, while I thought the rest were okay. Overall, a great collection and it gave readers greater insight into the Endless. My one complaint about the Sandman series was that the Endless featured far too infrequently so Endless Nights certainly fit the bill. For Sandman fans, this is definitely one not to miss.

Alan Moore - Watchmen

2009-06-02T13:12:00.003+10:00

Oh dear... I have been extremely slack with updating this blog with my latest reads. This goes back quite a few months now! Oh well, better late than never, I suppose!

I borrowed Watchmen from the library before the movie was released as I wanted the opportunity to read the graphic novel before watching the film version. It was a good thing that I did because Watchmen was incredibly complex and it would be impossible to capture everything in the movie, although I did think the movie did a decent job. For people who brush off the comic medium as kids' stuff, this one certainly ain't for the kiddies. The novel was very dark and gritty, reflecting the turbulent times in the world at the time of its publication. Even though it was published in the 80s, the material did not feel dated. Watchmen probably won't be everyone's cup of tea (it did get a bit much for me at times) but it was certainly very interesting and thought-provoking - definitely worth a look for someone interested in exploring the comics genre.

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman Vol. 10: The Wake

2009-02-24T17:07:00.005+11:00

With The Wake, I have finally reached the end of the Sandman series. The first three chapters conclude the events from the previous volume and serve as a truly fitting finale to a brilliant series. It was great to see several characters reappearing for Dream's wake, some with their absolutely moving eulogies; there were even a few cameos thrown in. I also really enjoyed seeing the new Dream take shape and finding his place in the Dreaming. Personally, I didn't really care much for the epilogue and it didn't resonate with me, but it doesn't matter; overall, with just the first three chapters alone, The Wake brings a satisfying end to the Sandman series. I am glad I made the decision to seek out these graphic novels and I look forward to reading them again in the future.

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones

2009-02-24T16:07:00.004+11:00

The Kindly Ones is the climax of the Sandman series and is truly an epic tale. For me, it's the best one out of the series. I also really liked the artwork in this particular story arc; it's very different from the usual comic book style and it really appealed to me visually. Even though the previous volumes prepared readers for Dream's death, I was still incredibly saddened by the loss of Morpheus. Yes, technically, Dream of the Endless does not die; he has existed since the beginning of time and will continue to do so for a long time, but Morpheus is no longer and I was truly sad to see him go. To fully appreciate this volume, it is definitely necessary to have read the previous volumes as several storylines from earlier books get tied up here. What an incredible story, and one that I think will just get better and better each time I revisit it.

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman Vol. 8: World's End

2009-02-24T09:19:00.003+11:00

I always find it hard to give my opinion on the Sandman books; partly because I think I will sound like an idiot, but also because it's hard to find the right words to adequately describe them. In World's End, a whole bunch of people/supernatural beings find themselves stranded in an inn because of a reality storm and they share their tales with one another while waiting for the storm to pass. I really liked this volume, which effectively was a collection of short stories, with Dream (and Death) making an appearance occasionally. I was completely intrigued by what was revealed towards the end and appeared to be the cause of the reality storm: a funeral procession in the sky involving the Endless. It feels like a set-up for the next volume; what is going to happen in The Kindly Ones? I can't wait to find out.

Jeff Lindsay - Dexter by Design

2009-02-23T23:27:00.004+11:00

Hmm... I am not quite sure what to make of this. I felt like I was waiting to get into the thick of it but before I knew it, I finished the book - and I don't mean that in a good way. I think it's an improvement over Dexter in the Dark but I still don't think it's as good as the first two books in the series. It lacks that dark, twisted humour that makes the Dexter books such fun, despite the fairly grim subject matter. I know a character needs to evolve and change, but I'm not liking much the new-ish Dexter. I mean, he pretty much whinges in this book, and that is just so unlike him. The event involving Deborah was pretty drastic as well and came out of the blue, and even though it would explain the change in her, it didn't feel quite right either. As for her partner, it felt like he was thrown in just to be a substitue Doakes, and then he was just as easily taken out. Look, it probably wasn't that bad overall; I was just hoping for more after the disaster that Dexter in the Dark was and I so wanted to see more of that delightful wickedness from the first two books. Well, there's definitely Book 5 coming, so I guess one can only hope that Lindsay will deliver in that one.

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman Vol. 7: Brief Lives

2009-02-23T23:01:00.004+11:00

A whole book featuring the Endless? Perfect. Delirium decides that she needs to hunt down her missing brother and the only sibling she can convince to go with her is Dream, who needs to snap out of his own misery following a broken heart. Change is the main theme in this volume, and because of the events that take place, there is much change coming to the Endless, especially for Dream. As usual, the storytelling is impeccable and it is great to see storylines from previous volumes weaved into this one and as well as borrowing from the various mythologies and integrating that into the Sandman story; all things that make this series such a unique one. Another great addition to the Sandman collection that I thoroughly enjoyed.

William Sleator - The Beasties

2009-02-23T21:39:00.003+11:00

I picked this up at a library book sale, thinking I would be in for an old-school horror treat, especially after seeing the endorsement by R.L. Stine on the back cover; I was sadly mistaken. The book starts out okay but quickly develops into a strange mix of gory horror with an environmental agenda. I guess kudos to the author for trying something different and attempting to use this medium to convey a serious message about environmental issues and its impacts to his young audience, but in my opinion, it didn't work at all. I didn't particularly care for the characters either, so in the end, nothing much about the book really appealed to me, which is a true shame as I had been rather looking forward to this one. Oh well... moving on!

Julie Gregory - Sickened: The True Story of a Lost Childhood

2009-02-02T20:57:00.001+11:00

When I read stuff like this, I am truly horrified at how parents can be so brutal and cruel to their own children or to any other human being. Sometimes, I wonder at the irony of people requiring permits to keep specific breeds of dogs, yet people who are obviously unsuitable to be parents don't need a licence to reproduce when the responsibility is so much greater. Not that I'm saying this is something that should be regulated but it is painfully heart-breaking to read about child abuse, especially at the hands of their own parents. Julie Gregory's story is amazing; she not only survived a beast of a childhood but has put together the broken pieces of her life and moved forward. While it was a long, painful and arduous process, she has emerged stronger and wiser, with the courage to face up to her mother and prevent her from hurting other children, as well as spreading awareness of Munchausen by proxy. As a reader, I would have liked proper closure and to know more about what Julie did to stop her mother. Did she get prosecuted in the end? Did she get psychiatric help? It's a bit uncertain what actually happened in the end, although I would like to think that Julie was successful. Apparently, updates were previously available on her website but there's not much information on there at the moment. Regardless, I applaud Julie Gregory for courageously sharing her difficult tale with the world and using her experiences to help others in MBP cases. I wish her all the best.

Agatha Christie - The Clocks

2009-02-01T17:28:00.002+11:00

Even though my mother was a fan of Agatha Christie, for some reason, I never read any of her books when I was growing up, despite being a fan of the mystery genre myself. When the video game, And Then There Were None (which was based on Agatha Christie's novel) was released, I decided to seek out a copy of it to read before trying out the game. (The book has been read but the game has only seen about 10 minutes of action so far...) I found And Then There Were None strangely compelling, even with the old-fashioned writing, and I did not hesitate to pick up The Clocks when I saw it at meet-up. Once again, the set-up here is very interesting and the mystery and suspense was sustained throughout, although I did find some of the dialogue quite dreary, especially when it was not related to main plot. However, I thought the ending was quite weak and a bit of a cop-out when everything leading up to that point was really excellent and had me completely hooked. A disappointing finish, but overall, still a fairly exciting and enjoyable read.

Mary Higgins Clark - You Belong to Me

2009-01-28T20:02:00.002+11:00

Mary Higgins Clark may not write the most imaginative of thrillers but she's an accomplished writer in her own right and she never fails to deliver a page-turner that's full of suspense. She's like that dependable friend: she can always be relied on to produce a mystery thriller that is easily digestible and pleasant to read. You Belong to Me doesn't disappoint and is an entertaining read despite its formulaic structure and predictability. While I had picked the killer quite early on, she kept me guessing and doubting myself with the red herrings that were thrown in throughout the narrative. The only minor letdown is that when the killer is finally revealed, apart from being barking mad, the implied motive for the murders seems quite weak - although, who am I to argue that insanity isn't a good enough reason? As described on Amazon, this is vintage Mary Higgins Clark and most readers will enjoy this fast-moving storyline that makes for effortless reading.

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman Vol. 6: Fables and Reflections

2009-01-28T19:10:00.003+11:00

Fables and Reflections is another volume in the Sandman series that is a collection of short stories. Once again, Neil Gaiman displays his deft touch with some brilliant story-telling: Ramadan, Orpheus, and The Hunt are my favourites from this volume, although I do like most of the stories in this volume. While they are standalone stories, some do have linkages with previous and future volumes, which make it confusing for me at times because I feel that I'm not getting the full picture. There were also a few stories that didn't do much for me, like Soft Places and Fear of Falling, while August was just plain weird. The best thing in this volume though? Seeing Death and Dream as children - absolutely adorable, something that you'd think would never apply! If there ever were figurines of Lil' Death and Dream, I'd definitely try to get them for myself. Fables and Reflections may not be the most consistent offering as a whole, but it's definitely still worth a read for the ones that don't disappoint.

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman Vol. 5: A Game of You

2009-01-20T20:58:00.004+11:00

This is another solid addition to the Sandman series. This is a sequel (of sorts) to the events in The Doll's House (Volume 2); however, the main thing I remember from that volume is the serial killer convention while I only have a vague memory of the other stories. Nevertheless, it was still a delight to read A Game of You, a tale about exploring one's identity. I'm sure it was much deeper than I could actually comprehend, but I enjoyed it anyway, even with my limited understanding. I probably still prefer Season of Mists to this, only because I find the Endless characters so intriguing and always enjoy the stories that they feature in. I am sure I will benefit from a re-read of this in the future to get a better understanding of the underlying themes and meaning; in the meantime, I'm on to the next one in the series!

Michael Chabon - Summerland

2009-01-20T20:30:00.004+11:00

I so wanted to get into this book and enjoy it but I just couldn't. The premise sounded great and right up my alley: magic worlds; supernatural creatures; underdog kid who saves the world. All great things, except for one thing. Baseball. It's not the first time that I've read a book that featured a sport that I'm not particularly into; The Art of Racing in the Rain holds that honour. However, while I could appreciate the racing aspects of that novel even though I couldn't care less about cars going round and round on a track, this was not the same for Summerland. For me, the baseball bits just bogged down the story and I just could not settle into it. After I tried for a few days, I decided to drop it when I reached page 110. I probably would have enjoyed it if I had made it to the end; I just didn't want to push myself anymore. Back to the library this goes!

Stephenie Meyer - The Host

2009-01-20T17:08:00.004+11:00

This book was not at all what I expected it to be - a little bit odd, but strangely compelling. When I first read the blurb, I was slightly intrigued but I didn't think it would grab me in a big way. The only reason why I decided to read this book is because I'm a huge fan of the Twilight Saga and I wanted to read this standalone adult novel from Stephenie Meyer. The Host progresses at a steady pace in an unhurried manner, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the new universe that Meyer has created. The names of the various planets and their inhabitants bugged me - Bats of the Singing World; Planet of the Flowers; See Weeds - such silly names, in my opinion. However, once I got past that, I really enjoyed Meyer's storytelling, thanks to the great characters that she created in The Host - from Wanderer/Wanda, the self-sacrificing alien parasite who loathes violence, to her feisty and hot-tempered human host, Melanie, as well as the other remaining human survivors of the alien invasion like Jeb, Jamie, Ian and Jared - I found myself really caring for these characters and increasingly drawn into their world. While I didn't have the same passion for The Host as I did for the Twilight books, I still think it's very well written and I look forward to its sequels. The marketing pitch for this book is "science fiction for people who don't like science fiction" - I am not sure if Stephenie Meyer has achieved that but I will certainly attest to it being a fantastic read and a worthy addition to any bookshelf.

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman Vol. 4: Season of Mists

2009-01-20T15:06:00.005+11:00

In Season of Mists, the focus is back on Dream after minor appearances in the previous volume. The rest of the Endless family also make an appearance, with the exception of one missing sibling. This story arc is extremely interesting and inventive, where Lucifer decides to quit Hell and hands over his realm to Dream. His action has its ramifications and Dream is left with the mess to clean up and a huge responsibility - who gets Hell? Everyone wants a piece of Hell: angels; demons; various gods and deities. It's amazing to see how Gaiman weaves in the different mythologies and folklore with his Sandman creation. As for the ending? Mind-blowingly awesome, in my opinion. It's really thought-provoking - if horrific things are done in the name of good (Guantanomo Bay comes to mind), does that make them right? Just my own interpretation anyway. "Happily ever after. In Hell." Indeed.

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country

2009-01-20T10:49:00.004+11:00

Well, I've moved from one series to another; although I will not experience the same kind of Twilight mania with the Sandman series. Dream Country is a collection of four standalone stories featuring Dream and Death, two of my favourite Endless characters. I particularly enjoyed "Calliope" - a creepy and slightly disturbing story that provided a glimpse into Dream's past - and "Facade" - a wickedly dark superhero tale about Element Girl. I thought "A Dream of a Thousand Cats" was quite original and rather amusing - although I wouldn't be looking at cats and think that they're trying to take over the world anytime soon. Much has been said about "A Midsummer Night's Dream"; in fact, it has won heaps of awards. However, this was my least favourite story in Dream Country. I think this is partly due to the fact that I'm not really familiar with the Shakespeare classic (I know, the horror!) so I couldn't really fully appreciate the tale. Overall, this was a great volume and I look forward to more Gaiman magic in the rest of the series.

Stephenie Meyer - Breaking Dawn

2008-12-30T22:41:00.003+11:00

Well, after two very long days, I have completed the Twilight Saga. After reading the last installment till 3am this morning and then finishing the rest in about another hour and a half when I woke up, I am officially finished with the Twilight series. Not since the Harry Potter books have I ever been this engaged in a literary universe. Sure, I adore the Discworld books (Terry Pratchett remains a firm favourite of mine) but the pull is so much different with the Twilight books - I think I may possibly love them more than the Harry Potter series. I think it's to do with the complicated supernatural love triangle - all that teenage angst and melodrama! Some have complained that Breaking Dawn is too neat and tidy, that everyone gets their happy ending and it's just too convenient. Well, what's wrong with that? I could be biased as I am a sucker for happy endings, but it's not like Stephenie Meyer just gave the characters their happily-ever-after that easily. Everyone went through incredible hardship and to me, the progression of events felt like they made sense and not contrived at all. I also really enjoyed the chapters from Jacob's perspective, which helped to break up the book a bit and provided a bit of comic relief, even with the painful moments for him at the time. As a reader, I was so attached to these characters as Meyer brought them to life and made them intensely real, and it brought me comfort that everything worked out in the end. My only complaint is the ridiculous name for Bella and Edward's baby, Renesmee - thank goodness for the nickname, Nessie, which is just soooooo much better! It wouldn't surprise me if there's a new series for Jacob and Nessie in the future; it will be interesting to see how that turns out! In the meantime, although I know the project has been put on hold indefinitely, I hope Stephenie Meyer will continue to work on Midnight Sun and publish it sometime in the future. As painful as the leaks have been for her, I think having Edward's perspective on the events in Twilight will give fans that extra insight and dimension into the world of Twilight and it wouldn't be fair to punish the fans for something that they could not control. For now, I will have to make do with the current set of books and I look forward to the movie sequels. I've had such a thrilling ride in the Twilight universe and I remain a happy and besotted fan!

Stephenie Meyer - Eclipse

2008-12-29T17:54:00.001+11:00

Okay, so this was an incredibly soppy read at times - it really is a teenage soap opera with supernatural elements - but I don't care. I absolutely LOVED it, possibly even more so than Twilight. I was so incredibly swept up in the story that I simply couldn't tear my eyes away, even with the ridiculously sappy lines for the romantic bits. What can I say, I'm a sucker for sappy romance! The Bella-Edward-Jacob love triangle goes into full swing in Eclipse and even though it's obvious there can't be a happy ending for all parties involved, there are still a few thoroughly enjoyable and hilarious moments. I enjoyed reading about the rivalry between Jacob and Edward, in particular the two major events when Bella punched Jacob (and broke her hand), and when they were camping and ended up sharing the same tent - I couldn't stop myself laughing. There are also the sad moments: when Edward and Jacob share a heart-to-heart; when Bella comes to the realisation that she does love both Edward and Jacob but it is impossible to reconcile her feelings for both. Corny as the words may have been, I was incredibly touched by the part where Bella was at Jake's side after getting hurt in the vampire fight and they both had to acknowledge that their future was not going to happen. I was so emotionally invested in the story that I was still heartbroken for Jacob (even though he's not real!) for the inevitable outcome; I may have even shed a few tears (gasp!). Stephenie Meyer does lay it on a bit thick with the 'no sex before marriage' message, which was mildly annoying but not enough to dampen my love for the book. Oh, I also needed to point out the one mistake that I found (which stood out because it irked me) when 'who's' was used instead of 'whose'. This was right towards the end when Bella and Edward were having a discussion about sex/wedding/the change and Edward wanted to know whose definition of right that Bella was adhering to. Again, another minor detail but I just needed to point it out. That said, Meyer's writing is just absolute magic and with Eclipse, I was drawn even deeper into the world where Bella Swan, Eward Cullen and Jacob Black exist, even with all the melodrama. Bring on Breaking Dawn!

Stephenie Meyer - New Moon

2008-12-29T11:01:00.004+11:00

After finishing Twilight yesterday, I started reading New Moon straight away and didn't go to sleep till I finished it (much to my husband's annoyance). Just like its predecessor, New Moon was another enthralling read that I couldn't put down. The whole Bella-and-Edward thing did get a bit tedious at times with the Romeo and Juliet star-crossed lovers tragedy hammed up a little way too much, but having accepted the melodrama and teenage angst from the first book, it would be hypocritical to start complaining about it now. I really liked the character of Jacob Black, who became more than just Billy's kid in this book. As much as I welcomed Edward's return, it was a little sad to see the negative impact it had on Jacob's relationship with Bella as I thought he was such a revitalising breath of fresh air and I really enjoyed reading about their interactions. I'm not sure what Stephenie Meyer can do with the Bella-Edward-Jacob love triangle as it's pretty much doomed; vampire and werewolves as mortal enemies kinda make any friendship or relationship a lot harder! I'm now moving on to Eclipse, I'll be back with a report soon!

Stephenie Meyer - Twilight

2008-12-28T16:09:00.003+11:00

I absolutely loved Twilight when I first read the book last year, so of course when the movie came out, I knew I was definitely going to watch it, even though I was a little apprehensive as the film adaptation could turn out to be crap. I checked out the movie last night with some of my friends and it was okay, although I don't think I liked it as much as the book (casting was definitely a major issue!). As I had read the book so long ago, I had forgotten some of the finer details, which in a way worked in my favour as I think I would be majorly disappointed in the movie otherwise. After last night's experience, I decided to re-read the book to go through the original story and refresh my memory. Twilight is just as fantastic the second time round and I ripped through this book quickly and finished it in a matter of a few hours. While I think the movie was a decent effort, the book is just so much better and I remembered how much I loved it after reading it again. I can see how this book can irritate some because Bella and Edward can get a bit melodramatic at times, but come on, she's a teenage girl in love with a vampire who's permanently 17 years old! I think the occasional whining and teenage angst should be a given. I still think this is brilliant YA fiction that I enjoyed thoroughly and I hope the newfound fans from the movie will discover the book that it's based on. I am now going to power through the rest of the series now so hopefully when the rest of the movies get released, the story won't be so fresh in my head and I can give myself a chance to enjoy the movies!

Zoë Heller - Notes on a Scandal

2008-12-27T09:38:00.004+11:00

After hanging on to this book for more than two years, I finally got round to reading this over the holiday break. This is a very slim book and was surprisingly easy to get through for a novel that was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize (my experiences with Booker reads are that they're always way too avant-garde and mind-boggling for me!). As unpleasant as the characters are, I must say that I did find this novel strangely compelling and intriguing. I am quite impressed that Zoë Heller has tackled an issue that could have served as mere tabloid fodder and has instead crafted a dark tale that is less about the scandal but more about the dynamics between two women that develops into a suffocating friendship because of one's obsession and loneliness. I thought this was really smartly written and the deliberate vagueness of the ending left the entire story open to interpretation by the reader. This normally drives me bonkers but I think for this instance, it actually adds to the story and drives home how wicked and delusional Barbara is for completely succumbing to this web of illusion that she has spun herself. I am now really looking forward to the film adaptation starring Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench - if it's anything like the book, it's going to be a great movie!

Shannon Drake - The Awakening

2008-12-24T12:39:00.003+11:00

There is one more book that I forgot to post about. I had forgotten about it because I didn't finish it. This is why...

I had to give up even though I had managed to get to page 256. There was just so much waffle and the mistakes drove me bonkers! Twice (once could be justified as an oversight; when it happens twice, that's just really poor!), "it's" was used instead of "its", and "they're" was used instead of "their"! These were just the mistakes that I actually caught because I was only glancing through certain bits; who knows what else is there?! I also thought the story was just so... cheesy... Just how the story was framed, it came across really corny and tacky to me. I also hadn't known it involved vampires; not that I think there is anything wrong with vampire reads because I do like my supernatural books, but it just didn't feel like it fit in this context. The beginning of the book was heavily focused on the supernatural aspects (like demons, witchcraft etc.) but from the perspective that this was happening to ordinary folk. When I skipped to the end of the book to see if I should keep pushing through and read that there were vampires and werewolves involved, I thought, wtf?! That's when I knew I had to drop it. Maybe if I had continued, I would have gotten into the story but I think I've tried hard enough.

Trenton Lee Stewart - The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

2008-12-24T11:01:00.005+11:00

With this post, I'm all caught up with the books that I've read over the past few months. I hope to be able to keep this book blog updated regularly from now on!

This book is the sequel to The Mysterious Benedict Society, where the brave and clever foursome set off on yet another adventure. This time, they have to rescue Mr. Benedict and Number Two as they have been abducted by Mr. Benedict's evil twin and the children need to figure out the clues to get to them before it's too late. In this book, there is more 'action' as the children are thrust into the thick of it and they have to depend on themselves to get to Mr. Benedict without any help from the adults, and trying to dodge the Ten Men at the same time. The same clever puzzles are here again, this time in the form of clues and riddles that the kids need to decipher in order to follow Mr. Benedict's trail. Once again, this is another brilliantly written book by Trenton Lee Stewart, charting the protagonists' growth and increasing maturity since the last book and really demonstrating to readers how these characters have grown and developed. My only complaint is that I felt the story ended quite awkwardly but this is only a very minor thing. Now all I have to do is wait for the next book in the series!

John Ajvide Lindqvist - Let the Right One In

2008-12-24T10:55:00.001+11:00

I bought this book last year but didn't read it until now. I found out that a Swedish movie had been made based on this book and I decided to read the book first before checking out the movie. This was a very interesting novel, but also quite strange and disturbing at the same time. It tackles a diverse range of controversial issues and they're all wrapped up in this weird vampire love story. First, there's Oskar who is incessantly bullied at school and fantasizes about being a mass murderer (that screams major therapy issues right there). Then there's Eli, a vampire stuck at 12 years of age, who looks like a girl but is actually a boy before he got castrated in some former life and now possesses no form of genitals, and is in a relationship of sorts with Oskar. Throw in Håkan, who is a pedophile and looks after Eli because he's driven by his own twisted desires and he is willing to do pretty much anything for her, including murdering people to get fresh blood for her. And there's more from where all that came from! It's an absolutely fascinating read but it does get uncomfortable at times. It's still a haunting story though, and it captures a wide range of emotions: despair; loneliness; helplessness; yearning; and hope. It did get a little confusing at times; there was a myriad of supporting characters and my unfamiliarity with Swedish names made it a little difficult to follow the story occasionally. The film was a simplified version of the novel, leaving out some of the more challenging aspects, but still remained very faithful to the book and captured a lot more of the story than I thought it would. There is going to be an English (Hollywood) remake to be released in 2009 or 2010, so it will be interesting to see how that turns out. Overall, definitely a worthwhile read but with its subject matter, it probably won't be for everybody.

Neil Gaiman - The Graveyard Book

2008-12-24T10:52:00.002+11:00

This is another magnificent book by the master storyteller, Neil Gaiman. This may be YA fiction but it is equally engaging for kids and adults alike. It certainly held me captive; but then again, all Neil Gaiman novels have. As usual, Gaiman has crafted an engaging set of characters, in particular Silas and Nobody Owens. I was completely drawn into Bod's world and I was hanging onto every word as I read about his adventures. If anything, this book was too short and there was so much more I wanted to know. For example, what is Silas's backstory? The novel hints at him being a vampire but this is never specified in the book, and there's no history on Silas or why he ends up at the graveyard. The Sleer also remains a bit of a mystery. I also don't think Gaiman provided a clear enough motive as to why the Jacks wanted Bod and his family dead. Gaiman also didn't explain why Bod seemed to be losing his 'graveyard' powers at the end - is it an age thing or is there some other reason? Certainly, I would love to read more about Silas and Nobody so hopefully Gaiman will bring them back in future books. In the meantime, this will be a treasured book and I look forward to reading it again and again.

Paullina Simons - Eleven Hours

2008-12-24T10:46:00.001+11:00

I had an evening appointment to donate blood so I needed a thin book that would be easy to hold, especially when I would be lying down and trying to pump blood at the same time! This fit the bill perfectly so I brought it along with me. This was a really quick read; I finished more than half of it during the whole blood donation process and I finished the rest of it at home after dinner. It may not be the most original story (I kept feeling that I had seen or read this before but I hadn't) and the plot was pretty transparent and predictable (like how the hell is it NOT obvious that the killer is after the baby?!), but it was still no less of a page-turner. This book reads like a movie screenplay and with the vivid descriptions, I could picture the scenes in my head and imagine what was going on, which kept me wanting more. What didn't fit quite right in the book - to me anyway - were the religious subtexts included in the novel. If Paullina Simons was trying to tie in a religious message that God has a plan for everything, I think it was a half-baked attempt to just throw in the conclusion at the end that God was looking out for the protagonist and it was his doing that sent Didi to the killer so she could do his work by finishing him off. Right, how convenient. I think the author should have paid more thought to it if she wanted to weave in a religious overtone to the novel; if she wasn't going to do it properly, then she should have just ditched that concept completely. Despite its flaws, it was still a fairly exciting read overall and it did its job of keeping me entertained while waiting around to get poked with a needle. That's good enough for me!

J.K. Rowling - The Tales of Beedle the Bard

2008-12-24T10:40:00.002+11:00

This book was much thinner and smaller than I expected and it was really quick to get through. There's not much to fault with this little book, J.K. Rowling's latest offering to her Harry Potter crazed fans (me included). The five short tales that Rowling has written up here are enjoyable, but made even more so through Dumbledore's notes, giving readers additional insight to the Harry Potter universe. I was also impressed by her own hand-drawn illustrations included in the book; I can imagine why the collector's edition, which is a replica of the handcrafted original, would be a prized treasure for those willing to spend the money! This is a neat little addition to the Harry Potter series and it's also nice to know that my purchase helped in a small way towards a charitable cause. For all Harry Potter fans, this is definitely a must-buy!

Sophie Kinsella - Shopaholic and Baby

2008-12-24T00:00:00.001+11:00

I had a really crappy day and all I wanted was a non-taxing, light, fluffy read to relax with in bed. After having a quick look at my bookshelf, it was clear that another Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) adventure would be the perfect remedy. Not much has changed since the last book; Becky is still as obsessed as ever with shopping, except this time it's all about designer baby gear and the latest celebrity trends with baby stuff. At least this time, Sophie Kinsella kept Becky's shopping addiction more light-hearted and amusing, and didn't get to the point where readers would feel that she needed to be institutionalised instead. I thought this was another fun addition to the Becky Bloomwood series and even with all her silliness, as a reader, you just can't help but cheer for the ditzy heroine as she takes on the latest challenges thrown at her: Luke's red-haired ex-girlfriend (bitch!) who's the new baby doctor; her employer's deteriorating business; and Luke's bastard of a client. As usual, the Brandon duo comes out tops at the end of it (even if they did lose the house) with a new addition to the family - although I really am not thrilled with the name Minnie! This was a quick and easy read that I finished in one night and was just what I needed for a little lift at the end of a bad day. Yay for Becky!

Stephen King - Duma Key

2008-12-23T23:45:00.003+11:00

Well, it sure was a bad idea to pick up this book because once I did, I was just glued to it even though I really should have been focusing on doing my household chores. I was hooked right from the beginning and once the story picked up pace, I just had to keep going till I had an answer to the mystery unravelling before my eyes. I have not read much of Stephen King's vast portfolio (the last book of his that I read was The Cell) but what I've read so far, I have always enjoyed them. Duma Key was certainly another thrilling read - a little too long perhaps, but even if it were double its current length, I would still have raced through it to get to the end. There may have been some plot inconsistencies (and some unnecessary and irrelevant political viewpoints) but not major enough to distract from the main storyline and Stephen King portrayed such real and engaging characters that really drew me in as a reader into the story. The description of the drawings that Edgar painted were also so vivid that they jumped off right the page; it would have been really neat if there were illustrations included in the book. I really enjoyed the supernatural theme of the story, although it did get a tiny bit silly at times with talk of vampires and zombies, which felt out of place in the book. Overall though, this was a fantastic read and I think I will seek out Stephen King's earlier work from the library.

Helen Garner - The Spare Room

2008-12-23T23:41:00.002+11:00

This was sometimes difficult to get through because I have now lost two grandparents to cancer -- one only a few months ago -- and reading about Nicola's pain reminded me of my grandparents' suffering. For such an emotional topic and obviously draining time of the author's life, it was actually surprisingly easy to read (apart from my own personal struggles). I felt for Nicola who tried to brave her cancer in her own way, clinging on to each last desperate hope. However, I could also feel Helen's anger at her friend for being in such deep denial about her condition and the frustration she must have felt in trying to support her, but yet slowly eating away at her with the emotional strain. This was a very moving recount of a tough and trying time and I really admire Helen for telling this story.

PS. I also thought Verity sounded like a real snooty bitch!

Matthew Reilly - Ice Station

2008-12-23T23:37:00.001+11:00

This has got to be one of the craziest stories I've ever read -- psychotic killer whales; mutant giant elephant seals; death-defying scenarios (swimming with icebergs included!); and a whole tangle of conspiracy plots, with one insane battle after the other. And of course, the protagonist, Shane 'Scarecrow' Schofield (that really should be Superman instead), survives all this with barely a scratch. Okay, so he ended up with more than just scratches, but with everything going on in this book, he should have died a million times! That said, this was a highly entertaining read and despite the incredulous storyline, I really enjoyed it. The book reads like a movie and I was just racing through it, trying to keep up with the action. In fact, there were times where I had to slow down because I was flipping pages so quickly to find out what happened next that I wasn't digesting the words properly. It could get confusing at times when people were running from place to place in the ice station (I didn't think the little diagrams at the beginning of the book were of much help) but ultimately, it doesn't matter. It's all about the action -- whether it's on C-deck or in a drilling room -- and it never lets up. This was definitely very blokey and testosterone-filled but even as a female reader, I still enjoyed this crazy ride of an action adventure tale. Sign me up for the next Scarecrow expedition!

Augusten Burroughs - A Wolf at the Table

2008-12-23T23:31:00.003+11:00

Augusten Burroughs delves into his childhood with his latest book and at times, it seems a little incredulous that he could remember in such great detail events from his childhood, especially those that happened when he was very young. However, for most parts, I do not doubt the authenticity of what he has gone through. If I look back at my own childhood, events that were traumatic for me as a kid (which did not even come close to what Augusten has been through!), I can still recall them pretty vividly. It truly is remarkable how he has turned his life around, considering everything that has happened to him. It must have been incredibly difficult to tell this story about his father and I admire him for his courage and unflinching honesty in sharing his life with his readers. The epilogue was exceptionally moving and I can just imagine the profound effect the lack of love and affection from his father has had on his life. I hope with this memoir, he is finally able to let go of his past and embrace his future, and continue producing great literary work. I look forward to reading more from Augusten Burroughs.

Debi Gliori - Pure Dead Magic

2008-12-23T23:28:00.002+11:00

Even though I bought this book and its sequel ages ago, somehow I never got round to reading them. They were just sitting on my bookshelf looking pretty with their lovely velvety covers. Well, I finally picked up this book a couple of months ago to read it and it was a really fun story, which I think will really appeal to younger kids. The fantasy does get a little OTT at time, but I think that's part of the charm - what with the ravenous crocodile living in the moat; a strange combination of house pets including a yeti, a griffin, and a dragon; a new Mary Poppins-like magical nanny; frozen nana in the basement - they all come together to make one very humorous story involving the Strega-Borgia family. With a willing suspension of disbelief (rats and sisters can't really be e-mailed and lost through the modem, amongst numerous other things), I think most readers will come away from this with a smile on their faces.

Trenton Lee Stewart - The Mysterious Benedict Society

2008-12-23T22:32:00.003+11:00

This book was an absolute delight to read! Even though it's a kids' book, as an adult, I enjoyed it thoroughly. The story was original and refreshing, and it's just so clever! Trenton Lee Stewart creates four protagonists who are all very smart and capable in their own way that will resonate strongly with today's kids. I also think it's great that there are all these puzzles weaved into the plot because they challenge readers and get them thinking to try to solve these puzzles themselves - I know they certainly got my brain working! I can imagine myself reading this as a 10-year-old and I know I would have been absolutely fascinated by the Mysterious Benedict Society and their adventures. It was still a joy to read it now, even though I'm no longer in the target age group! I am really pleased to have discovered this book and also so thrilled to find such great literature that is available for children these days. I hope Trenton Lee Stewart writes more adventures for this bunch - it would be a really great series!

Garth Stein - The Art of Racing in the Rain

2008-12-23T18:35:00.004+11:00

I didn't think I would like this book. Firstly, my care factor for racing is zero, so that aspect of the novel didn't appeal to me at all. Also, while I loved Marley and Me and this novel featured a dog as one of the main characters, based on what I read from the blurb, it seemed so ridiculous to have Enzo narrate the story and to be portrayed as a philosopher trapped in a dog's body. Right. Despite my preconceptions, I decided to go ahead and borrow this book from the library because of the rave reviews that I had seen on Amazon. After all, what did I have to lose? I am so glad I did because I ended up loving this story, racing bits and all. Garth Stein has created such real and remarkable characters that as a reader, I just can't help but be swept up by the moments and follow their journey. I felt their joy when Denny and Eve had Zoë in their lives; I was saddened by the immense grief that Denny felt when Eve passed away; I shared Enzo's outrage when Zoë grandparents ganged up on Denny and took her away. In lesser hands, this novel could have verged on the ridiculous; but Stein masterfully crafted an absolutely beautiful story that was utterly engaging and moving. Two thumbs up!

Bodhi Oser - Fuck This Book

2008-12-23T18:27:00.001+11:00

Oh dear. It's possible to sell a book like this?! Remarkable. Most of these had me chuckling and kept me amused while waiting for dinner to made. I certainly did my bit by reading out the funny ones to entertain my other half while he cooked dinner! There were a few that really had me laughing, like the sign at the tennis court; the one with "considerate" operators able to communicate in English and Spanish; and the poor cashier at a gas station. This particular one really stood out from the bunch for me:

Persons must obtain approval of the principal before fucking in classrooms or on school grounds.

Final comment? Dearie dearie me! :)

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House

2008-12-23T17:56:00.004+11:00

The Doll's House is the second volume in the Sandman series and has more of the quirky and dark tales from the first. There's a story in the second volume that involves serial killers having a convention; I mean, who thinks of that?! While I'm not enough of a comics expert to comment on the art itself (my husband reckons the art is shit, which is the reason why he's never read this series) but the storytelling is what's captivating to me. The way that Gaiman weaves the different tales into the mythology of the Sandman itself is masterful and leaves me wanting more. I can't wait to borrow the rest of the volumes from the library and continue with this series.

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes

2008-12-23T17:33:00.004+11:00

I have never really been inclined to read comics although I do read some Japanese manga. That said, I have been very interested to read the Sandman series because they are Neil Gaiman's creations and I do love Neil Gaiman. I borrowed the first two volumes from the library and got stuck into them. Although I had an inkling of what to expect, I was still quite surprised when I read them. I guess being a novice with comics, while I wasn't expecting fluff (certainly not from Neil Gaiman!), I didn't expect the stories to be that dark. These tales were intoxicatingly wicked and strangely compelling, as I would expect from Gaiman. I don't see myself suddenly wanting to read the other 'classics' (such as Superman, Batman etc.) but I would definitely want to continue with this series, especially when it's so highly regarded in the world of adult comics.

Douglas Preston & Mario Spezi - The Monster of Florence

2008-12-23T09:40:00.003+11:00

This is a remarkable tale about two men who set out on a quest to uncover the mystery behind the Monster of Florence - Italy's own Jack the Ripper - but end up being arrested as the main suspects instead. With all the twists and turns throughout the entire saga, it would be easy to think this is just a made-up story, but as with most things, truth is stranger than fiction.The first half was a little more interesting because it provided the background and history of the Florence killings. The second half focused on the bungled investigation by the Italian police force and the seemingly inept judicial system, especially when the police turn on the authors, accusing Mario Spezi to be the Monster himself and Douglas Preston an accomplice. This section could be a little dry at times but helped to highlight the incredulousness of the situation. In the end, the Monster of Florence remains a mystery and is unsolved to this day. I'm not really a true crime fan, but overall, I thought this was an intriguing read.

MaryJanice Davidson - Undead and Unworthy

2008-12-22T12:55:00.005+11:00

It's been a few months since I've blogged about my reading! I kept up with the reading (although not as much as I would have liked) but with so many major events that have happened over the last few months, I just did not have the time to update my book blog. Well, as the saying goes, better late than never, so here are all my updates!

Let's start with the latest addition to MJD's Undead series, Undead and Unworthy. I borrowed this from the library (did I ever mention that I love my local library?!) and it was another quick read that I polished off in a day. That said, I don't think it's a great addition to the series, especially when I thought MJD had only just brought back a bit of sparkle to the Undead series in Book 6.

Firstly, I HATE the new cover (at least the UK version is still semi-decent). It looks absolutely horrid and I don't know what possessed the publisher to make the change and what came over MJD to give the tick of approval. Sure, I get the whole new start thing and looking for that something to rejuvenate the series, but this just doesn't work. The old covers were quirky and fun, capturing the quintessential essence of Betsy; the new cover just doesn't feel right and doesn't convey the 'Betsy-ness' of the Undead series. Of course, it clashes terribly with the rest of the collection that I don't even know if I will want to purchase Book 7 because it will stand out like a sore thumb! (I need matching covers in a set!)

MJD also attempts to breathe new life into the series by creating a new story arc for Betsy and her sidekicks. Well, I'm not sure if it's working all that well based on Book 7. I think it was rather drastic to kill off Antonia and Garrett, especially after giving them happy endings just in the previous book. MJD seems to be using that TV trick where major characters are killed off to 'shake things up' but I don't think it achieved the desired effect. I am still a fan of the Undead series and I will perservere with it and wait for the release of Book 8, but MJD has been producing more misses than hits - let's hope that she can recover some of the Betsy magic for the next book.

Chelsea Handler - My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands

2008-07-13T22:09:00.005+10:00

I chanced upon Chelsea Handler's new book (something about vodka) on the Amazon bestseller list and thought I would borrow her first book from the library since most reviewers had raved about it. This was a really quick read and I breezed through it in a couple of hours. I am alternately amused and horrified after reading this biographical account of her sexual conquests -- when they did happen, that is. The opening chapter had me chuckling away when she caught her parents doing the deed (in the most interesting way) after a bribe from her sister; I thought that was hilarious and I was really fond of this gutsy five-year-old. There were other moments that I thought were brilliant; like when Chelsea pretended to be her own imaginary twin sister in order to avoid one of her not so one-night stands; or the time she discovered that the doctor that everyone had a crush on was gay in the most eye-popping manner.

However, there were other things that truly grated on me to fully embrace Chelsea, endear her to me and just laugh with her through all of this. As a fifteen-year-old, she decided to ring the police to tell them that her father had molested her just so that she could get him out of the house for a party -- that to me was appalling. Yeah, she may have been a dumb teenager then, but still?! How shallow and selfish is this girl?! It's not like she shows any improvement with maturity. The excessive drinking, the compulsive lying, they all just get a bit much for me to really care and feel for Chelsea in the end. While all of this may now be in the past (she has obviously done well for herself with two successful publications on top of a TV career) but I think this is my limit for Chelsea Handler. I know I won't be seeking out her other book!

Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi - The Nixie's Song (Beyond The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1)

2008-07-13T21:49:00.003+10:00

Compared to the original Spiderwick Chronicles, I think this one was a bit of a disappointment. The two main leads in this -- Nick and Laurie -- are not very likeable and verge on annoying for me. The nixie that they save is creepy and seems to be just as capable of inflicting harm on the kids as the giant. The 'cameo' by the authors in the book felt misplaced and did nothing for the story. I suspect they must have thought it very clever at the time but I certainly didn't think so, espeically when they presented themselves as frauds in the book and not really the experts on the faerie world. For me, that joke didn't work but backfired instead. The illustrations have always been great and they remain so in The Nixie's Song; I just wish the story-telling was better. I will still check out the next book when it comes out just to see what happens, but at this stage, I'm not expecting much!

Neil Gaiman - American Gods

2008-07-13T21:28:00.003+10:00

This is the fifth novel that I've read by Neil Gaiman. I really enjoyed it but I liked Neverwhere more. I think this was partly due to my own limited knowledge of the gods that were featured in the book so it made it a little difficult for me to fully appreciate how far the gods had fallen. Also, while I enjoyed the short stories that were scattered throughout the book, I'm not sure what purpose they served. I kept expecting the gods/characters that were featured to show up in the main plot somewhere but it didn't happen. Maybe I missed them, I'm not sure, but without the connection to the main story, they felt like distractions to me. Overall, I still think this was a cool book and I will definitely purchase another copy to add to my Neil Gaiman collection. I think I will have to brush up on my mythology before I read this one again to fully appreciate the tale that Gaiman has weaved here. He is a magnificent storyteller and I look forward to revisiting this one and reading his other works.

Charlaine Harris - From Dead to Worse

2008-07-13T17:05:00.004+10:00

I actually read this one a couple of weeks ago (I polished it off the same day I picked it up from the library) but had been too lazy to blog about it earlier. I think this latest book is better than the previous offering but still, something seems to be lacking when compared to the earlier books in the Sookie Stackhouse series. There wasn't really much of a mystery in this one, with Sookie getting involved in one hairy situation to another. I never thought I would say this, but these books have been getting increasingly chaste. It seems like the less action there is in the bedroom for Sookie, the body count starts getting higher! Not that Sookie needs to be having sex in every book, but I certainly hope Harris will stop changing partners for Sookie. Now that Quinn is out of the picture, looks like the fight is back to between Bill, who would die for her, and Eric, who now remembers the time when he lost his memory! All very exciting, but this yoyo-ing back and forth does get annoying. Throw in her dead cousin's baby and who knows what can happen in Book 9. I will always keep going with these books, but I wish there can be some resolutions so that Sookie can just concentrate on the mysteries. It's time the poor girl got a break with her love life!

Dean Koontz - Odd Hours

2008-07-01T09:23:00.005+10:00

I finished reading this last night while watching the Federer-Hewitt Wimbledon tennis match, making this the last book for me in June. I really enjoyed the previous Odd Thomas books, but this fourth outing by Dean Koontz falls completely flat for me. Odd enters into the situation abruptly, even with his 'psychic magnetism'. All he does is go for a walk, and BAM, he's in the thick of a terrorist plot. Right. The character of Annamaria appears just as suddenly and it is never really clear what purpose she serves, although Koontz hints at a linkage to Stormy, Odd's original gal from Book 1.

At the beginning, it seems like the baddies are after Annamaria (why did they even approach Odd and her on the pier?) but really, they want Odd after he transfers his vision to one of the bad guys and so they chase him and people connected to him. From there, it's just waffle followed by more waffle; some sections really drag on and get so tedious.

The book is not without its moments; for example, I really enjoyed the dialogue between Odd and his eccentric employer, Hutch, and the banter between Odd and the villains was quite funny as well. Overall though, it's a pretty weak effort by Koontz in the Odd Thomas series and I'm quite disappointed by it. If this was the first time that I had encountered Odd Thomas, I would have dropped the book after the first 50 pages. I don't know how the additions of Annamaria and Blossom are going to pan out in the next book, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Here's hoping that the next one will be much better!

Angela Carter - The Bloody Chamber

2008-06-25T21:37:00.004+10:00

This is a collection of fairy tales that most people would be familiar with, but don't be fooled into thinking this is your usual Disney fare. These traditional stories have been retold with Carter's own dark and unique take on them, and she infuses them with eroticism and violence -- you definitely won't find bluebirds bursting into merry song here. I can see why The Bloody Chamber is studied extensively in literature courses as these stories are full of symbolism and cultural references. This was a very evocative and rewarding read, and I'm sure each subsequent reading will reveal more to the reader (I really feel I ought to be studying this!). My favourites from this collection were: The Bloody Chamber; The Snow Child; and The Werewolf.

Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi - The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5)

2008-06-25T17:52:00.003+10:00

Ahhh... the last one in the series. Personally, I feel that these books are way too short to be standalone stories (unlike the Chronicles of Narnia) and perhaps would have worked better as a single volume. Then again, I am not exactly part of the target audience so such bite-size morsels may have been the most effective way to reach the intended readers. Luckily, I did not have to wait for each release and could read all five in one go. Now that I have read the books, I am quite pleased to say that I am really happy with how the movied turned out. In fact, I think I may prefer the movie to the books, although the books are entertaining in their own right. I like the use of the 'protective circle' for the house, which helped to explain why the house remained untouched for so many decades. In the book, Mulgarath ransacked and destroyed the house, finding the Guide in the process; why didn't this occur much earlier and only when the Grace family moved into the Spiderwick estate? In the movie, Simon discovers the use of tomato sauce as a weapon against the goblins and prepares bags of it using a recipe from the Guide; in the book, this is hinted at as Jared threatens the use of it on the hobgoblin but there is no mention of where Jared gained this knowledge. Presumably, it's from the Guide but readers have to make their own assumptions. Overall, I feel the movie provides more cohesive explanations whereas things just happen in the books and readers are made to accept that that's how they are meant to be. I think it would have been nice if the movie had kept the book's ending, although the film version where Arthur and Lucy were reunited was also a nice touch. May be a little tricky to explain where a grown woman disappeared to though! Overall, it has been fun to read the Spiderwick Chronicles and I'm glad the movie led me to these books, which I'm sure have brought much joy to young readers.

Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi - The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4)

2008-06-25T17:31:00.003+10:00

In The Ironwood Tree, Mallory is kidnapped by dwarves, who are under the command of the ogre, Mulgarath, and Jared and Simon go off to rescue her. Book 4 takes on a slightly darker tone than the previous books, with some true tension in the Grace family -- when Jared overhears his mother making an exasperated call to their father as she is at wit's end as to how to deal with Jared and his anger; when Jared explodes at Simon as they try to get to bottom at the quarry, unsure of how to control his temper. There have been hints of the underlying tension in the previous books as the Grace family (minus the father) makes a fresh start at the Spiderwick estate, but it is only in this book that shows how the divorce and separation of the family have affected them, especially Jared. There is also a massacre of the dwarves by Mulgarath's army of goblins, which would have been quite a confronting sight for the little kiddies if it were included in the movie! This was another quick and fairly enjoyable read, although some parts felt like filler sections and were not central to the story. For example, what need was there for Mulgarath to shape-shift and appear at the school? You would think that he would just send one of his minions, rather than the head honcho making an appearance himself. It just didn't quite make sense. Regardless, this was a decent effort and set up the scene for the showdown with Mulgarath in the last book of the series.

Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi - Lucinda's Secret (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 3)

2008-06-24T21:38:00.002+10:00

I picked up the last three books in the Spiderwick Chronicles from the library last night and polished them off the very night, fast reads that they were. From Book 3 onwards, the movie veered off in a completely different direction, recreating only bits and pieces but in different contexts. A couple of things in the book did annoy me, as it felt like the authors did not think things through and just chucked in certain plot elements as required without really explaining them. For example, right at the start Jared put on his shirt inside out without any specific reason, apart from him looking at a page in the Guide on protective devices. Why did he test that one out? Was it something he thought would help him against Thimbletack's pranks? And lo and behold, as they go exploring and try to look for Arthur Spiderwick, Jared is the only one immune to the faerie trick because of the way he had put on his shirt. Just too convenient for my tastes, even for a children's book. Nevertheless, it was still an interesting read for me as it featured new characters such as the elves and the phooka, which didn't make their way into the movie.

Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi - The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2)

2008-06-22T15:29:00.004+10:00

The Seeing Stone is the second book in the Spiderwick Chronicles. Book 2 was slightly more interesting for me as it varied from the movie and the changes made it more entertaining for me as a reader. That said, I would have loved to see parts of this book in the film. For example, there was a troll scene here with the goblins that would have been quite visually exciting, although it may be a little too scary for the kiddies! This was yet another enjoyable read (albeit a little short for my liking), and I look forward to the rest of the books to see how differently the story progresses from its movie version. Till Book 3!

Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi - The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1)

2008-06-22T10:49:00.007+10:00

I hadn't heard about these books until I watched The Spiderwick Chronicles recently. I really enjoyed the movie and thought it would be a great idea to seek out the books that the movie was based on. The Field Guide is the first book in a series of five making up the Spiderwick Chronicles. This was a very quick read and I think all five books could easily be published into a single volume. A single book on its own felt too short, although I supposed it is a children's book afer all. Based on what I've read so far, most of the elements from the books were kept in the movie without too many changes. Any adaptations for the movied worked really well and helped to enhance the story rather than taking away from it. It will be interesting to see how the story progresses as I get to the other books!

Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale

2008-06-22T10:29:00.002+10:00

I don't know what qualifies as a 'gothic' novel, but if it's always going to be as great as this one, count me in as a fan of the genre! Setterfield's prose had me hooked from the very beginning and always kept me wanting more. The fact that this is her debut novel is even more impressive. Setterfield has crafted a complex mystery and because of her remarkable story-telling skills, I did not bother to try to 'pick' the ending, but rather, to let the tale take its course. This would have been a perfect book to devour in one sitting; unfortunately, work and life prevented me from doing so and I found the disruptions annoying as I needed to recall what was happening when I picked up from where I left off. I plan to purchase a copy for myself as I think this is one of those books that will benefit from re-readings, where the reader can discover clues that were previously missed. The Thirteenth Tale truly was a brilliant read and I look forward to Diane Setterfield's next novel!

Harlan Coben - Deal Breaker

2008-06-13T13:57:00.001+10:00

Myron Bolitar is officially my favourite character from all the mystery novels out there. Harlan Coben has created such a fascinating character: he's charming and dashing; has a great sense of humour with those witty one-liners; but also very vulnerable and injured in a very attractive way and just makes you want to hug him and say that everything will be okay. There is also a great supporting cast: his best mate, Win, whom I must say is a little scary and creepy (but still oh so cool); Esperanza, a fiercely protective friend; and Jessica, who is the love of his life. Everything just works so well in this book -- the combination of humour (great banter between characters!), mystery and suspense -- they just come together perfectly and make this such an entertaining read. There are also some classic moments that made me laugh so hard. For example, Win getting a mobster to drop the hit on Myron by offering him the opportunity to play at prestigious golf courses -- priceless! I was first introduced to Myron and his gang in Drop Shot and now that I've read the first in the series, this is one that I will continue to follow. I would love to know more about Jessica and Myron; Coben never explains why the two broke up and he makes it clear that they both still are very much in love with each other. Overall, a fantastic book; I say, give me more!

Lynne Truss - Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

2008-06-13T13:48:00.002+10:00

I lurrrrveee Ms. Truss! So, I won't profess to be an expert on punctuation as Lynne Truss would be, and I'm sure I've messed up the use of a semicolon in my time. What I am at least completely sure of are the basics: you will NEVER find me screwing up 'it's' vs. 'its'; 'your' vs. 'you're'; or getting plurals wrong. For that matter of fact, the same goes with they're/their/there -- but that's a different story altogether. Oh, how I rejoiced when I read this book. Finally, someone else who feels the same way that I do, that this is something extremely easy to grasp, and always irks the hell out of me when I spot such errors, especially when I see these mistakes in the papers. You would think journalists would be able to get this right?! This had me cackling away: "If you still persist in writing, "Good food at it's best", you deserve to be struck by lightning, hacked up on the spot and buried in an unmarked grave." My reaction isn't that extreme but I do admit to throwing my hands up in the air sometimes and wonder how people can stuff up something so simple. While it can get a bit dreary at times (I don't really care much about the history) but overall, it's a witty little book that I enjoyed immensely. Who would have thought a book about punctuation could be so full of humour? If you're a stickler for punctuation like me, you will definitely have a laugh reading this book; if you need some help, then this will set you in the right direction. As Lynne Truss would say, sticklers unite! :)

Jenny Valentine - Finding Violet Park

2008-05-27T11:34:00.002+10:00

Quirky little book, this one is. First impressions? It smacks a little of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time from the quirky and unusual lead character to the side detective story when Lucas embarks on a quest to find Violet Park. Nevertheless, Finding Violet Park is a clever and original story in its own right, which really is not so much about finding Violet Park, but Lucas's own journey to break free from his abandonment issues and trauma after his father vanished without a trace and to accept his family as it is. Valentine weaves in an improbable connection between a dead lady whose ashes are stashed in a minicab office and Lucas's father, but somehow, the tale works, resulting in a funny and moving story with fabulous, well-observed characters. I purchased this book on a whim because of its interesting cover and I'm really glad I did so. This is an unusual but enjoyable read that I would highly recommend to readers of all ages.

John Elder Robison - Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's

2008-05-27T09:44:00.003+10:00

This is a fascinating read about Robison growing up with Asperger's syndrome at a time when the diagnosis didn't yet exist and realising that he was "different" from other people and learning on his own how to adapt. It wasn't until he was forty that he was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome by a therapist friend of his. Robison describes his childhood days and his difficulty in making friends in a frank and mostly lighthearted tone, but the heartbreak and loneliness of those days are not lost on readers. It must have been an immense struggle to be misunderstood all the time or to be called a sociopath, bringing about doubt about oneself. I enjoyed the chapters that featured John and Snort/Varmint, especially in the early years, and also those with him and his son, 'Cubby'. I would have liked to know a little bit more about Robison's current life -- how he met his second wife, 'Unit Two'; his relationship with Augusten; and just other bits and pieces to give a little more insight. I also would have liked to read the essay that Robison wrote about his father, but unfortunately, this is no longer on Augusten's website. Regardless, I am glad to have had the opportunity to read this and take a glimpse into a life that I otherwise wouldn't have understood.

Jodi Picoult - Wonder Woman: Love and Murder

2008-05-26T17:36:00.003+10:00

I picked this up from the library as I thought this was a standalone graphic novel by Jodi Picoult featuring Wonder Woman. What I didn't expect was that this was actually part of a series, picking up from a previous storyline and the comic book itself ended on a cliffhanger. Nothing about it particularly stood out for me, and it was actually a frustrating story because I had no idea about prior events and a story without a resolution was certainly not what I was looking for. I definitely won't be chasing down the next issue to find out what happens next -- I guess I will just stick to Picoult's regular novels.

Gillian Flynn - Sharp Objects

2008-05-26T10:34:00.003+10:00

This sure was an impressive debut effort from Gillian Flynn, albeit a very dark and twisted one. Flynn crafted a psychological thriller that was extremely intense and there was no let-up from the intensity at anytime; it was uncomfortable, creepy and bone-chilling at times. Camille, the protagonist in the novel, was a damaged soul from her childhood and emerged broken, still unable to shake off her demons. The author built a palpable suspense in revealing the horrors that Camille went through, and what she unveiled in her investigation of the two murders in her hometown. I was kinda expecting the ending but Flynn had me hook, line and sinker for the mother, so I was still horrified when I read it and it blew me away. This was a page-turning thriller that had me hooked on every page and I look forward to more of Gillian Flynn's work.

Christopher Moore - Bloodsucking Fiends

2008-05-17T11:53:00.003+10:00

Hmmm... I'm not quite sure what to make of this one. I thought I would absolutely love this one as I really enjoyed reading Moore's Practical Demonkeeping. Bloodsucking Fiends started really abruptly for me and from there, I felt it never quite fell into a groove. The plot came across sudden and choppy with no real natural flow. There was no proper explanation why the vampire decided to turn Jody, or why Jody was able to survive when others before her hadn't. Tommy and his motley crew were a really odd bunch, which normally I would find quirky and endearing but they were just plain strange. I kept waiting for the story to settle but it never did for me. The ending is just as abrupt as its beginning, which made for a fairly unsatisfactory conclusion. The book wasn't without its moments with some funny dialogue and great one-liners, but ultimately, quite disappointing.

Michael Crichton - A Case of Need

2008-05-12T21:57:00.002+10:00

I am a fan of medical thrillers but A Case of Need by Michael Crichton isn't very good. Firstly, the medical footnotes annoyed the hell out of me. I get that they are useful in explaining the medical jargon, but I think it was used way too much in the book that it lost its effectiveness. Even then, it wasn't consistent! He explained some obvious terms but then did not for 'D & C', which was used regularly throughout the book. It felt like Crichton was trying too hard to impress -- hey, look at me, I know all these fancy medical terms -- and just peppered everything with all the medical jargon he had ever picked up. This was overkill, a subtle touch would have been better. Secondly, I don't think the suspense of the plot was built well at all. Discoveries that I deemed as major plot developments just vanished or turned out to be inconsequential. A prime example was the possibility that Karen Randall might not have been pregnant at all. It felt like the protagonist was pursuing this truth relentlessly but when a certain point in the book was reached, it was completely unimportant. To a reader, this was a huge letdown and ruined the tension. I guess considering that this was Crichton's debut effort I shouldn't be so critical, but I think if this was the first time we were introduced to Michael Crichton, this book would not have done well at all. I think for future medical thriller fixes, I will stick to Tess Gerritsen's novels!

Jodi Picoult - Change of Heart

2008-05-06T21:01:00.002+10:00

Jodi Picoult is like a machine, churning out book after book. While there have been some misses, her books are always high-quality reads, even those that don't quite make the mark. With Change of Heart, Picoult has produced yet another gripping read. I started reading this on my flight back to Melbourne from Hobart and I simply couldn't put it down until I finished it. That said, the book is not without its flaws.

The part about Shay as the miracle healer is too similar to The Green Mile for my liking. At least Picoult makes reference to it with one of the inmates calling him that in the book, but there still isn't enough variation from the original. Maggie is a bit of a cliché as an insecure plus-sized woman who has a difficult relationship with her exacting mother, down to the relationship she develops with the gorgeous British doctor who loves her the way she is: good appetite, curves and all. Surprisingly, the chapters on June and Claire are fairly slim, and as a reader, I would have liked more on them. The twist about Kurt was predictable right from the very beginning so it wasn't really a huge shock. The way Picoult ended the book also annoyed me a little. The items that Shay passed to Michael appeared to debunk the notion of Shay possessing any supernatural abilities, but in the epilogue with Claire, it was then suggested otherwise. Only a slight issue, but I'm the type of reader that likes things definite and I'm usually not a fan of the maybe-maybe not situations.

Even with these shortcomings, I still think this is a remarkable read and Picoult is truly a brilliant storyteller, weaving together a tale from the different viewpoints of all the characters. She covers difficult issues in this book, from religion to capital punishment, and while she may not have pulled it off perfectly, I think she handled them with a delicate touch and was successful in the end. Picoult has certainly provided food for thought with these challenging issues, and I'm sure there will be healthy discussions among readers at book club gatherings out there. It may not be the best that Picoult has ever written (My Sister's Keeper still retains that honour for me) but it's still an impressive effort and sits among my favourites by Jodi Picoult.

Agatha Christie - And Then There Were None

2008-05-06T15:17:00.001+10:00

Strangely enough, I have never read any novels by Agatha Christie despite my mother being a fan of her work and myself an avid reader of the mystery genre. I sought out this book to read as a video game based on this particular novel was recently released and I wanted to read it before playing the game. Unfortunately, in trying to find out more about the video game, the cat was let out of the bag and I stumbled upon the true identity of the killer. This dampened my reading experience slightly since there was no guessing on my part to try to figure out who the killer was, but still, the suspense and tension that Agatha Christie built is remarkable, and I can see how a reader without any prior knowledge would find this book very exciting to read and extremely difficult to pick the killer. I did find the old-fashioned writing a little odd at times but this was truly a great mystery novel, and I'm glad I made the decision to get a copy of this book to read. I do have another Agatha Christie novel in my possession; let's see if that one will be just as good!

Khaled Hosseini - A Thousand Splendid Suns

2008-05-06T14:21:00.004+10:00

Just one day into my holiday in Tasmania and I turned into a sobbing mess. Nope, nothing to do with Tasmania -- which had been very lovely -- but this heart-wrenching read that affected me so much. I finished this while resting in our hotel room before heading out for dinner, which wasn't such a great idea since I went out with a puffy face! Anyway, back to the book, this was beautifully written and really struck a chord with me, even though I could never begin to comprehend such a nightmarish world. My heart went out to the two courageous women in this book and I wept for them for all the horrors that they had to endure, especially towards the end when Mariam had to make a terrible choice and sacrifice. This is a great account of the changing landscape of Afghanistan in the last 20 or so years, and despite all the hardships, how Laila still holds hope for the future and wants to contribute to a better life for all in Kabul. A really fantastic read that I highly recommend to all.

Sudhir Venkatesh - Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets

2008-04-19T09:23:00.004+10:00

What a fascinating read! Although I enjoy reading non-fiction, I sometimes find the writing can be dreary and tedious when authors just rattle off facts and plod through their life experiences without really pulling their readers into their world. Sudhir captured my attention right from the very first sentence and I was immediately drawn into the book, which was every bit as engaging as any other great novel that I had read. I am full of admiration for Sudhir's tenacity and courage for stepping into Chicago's gang world -- I wonder in hindsight if the author had any fear at all? From the book, it felt like apart from certain moments, he never had any inhibitions about heading into the projects to do his research. Sudhir paints a riveting portrait of day-to-day life in a poor community dictated by violence and drugs and the struggles faced by its residents that most people will not even be able to comprehend. His interactions with the various characters made the reading experience so much richer and as a reader, you cannot help but care for these people. This is a brilliant book and I would highly recommend it to everyone.

Sue Walker - The Reunion

2008-04-16T11:09:00.004+10:00

I actually finished reading this a while ago but didn't feel compelled to write down what I thought about the book -- I guess that's pretty indicative what I felt about it. It's a decent attempt for a first novel, but in most parts, it gets rather draggy and moves too slowly to truly engage readers. The flashbacks were fairly interesting but I didn't think those sections flowed well with the present moments. I also found it hard to care about most of the characters, especially after learning about the big secret towards the end. I think better editing could have helped to produce a more tightly-knit story, which would be more effective in leading up to the truly shocking climax at the end. Overall, an okay read but not one that I will choose to read again.

Richard Matheson - I Am Legend

2008-03-31T20:50:00.004+11:00

When I found out that I Am Legend was based on Richard Matheson's novella of the same name, I was really interested to read the book, especially after realising that the movie took a very different direction from the book. It's a little tough to compare the book to its film version as they really are so different from each other but I think both are good. The "legend" theme takes a slightly sinister twist in the book and the overall tone of the story is darker than portrayed in the movie. I think Matheson did a terrific job in capturing the desolate loneliness of the protagonist and how he copes in such a nightmarish world. The sections where Robert Neville tries to befriend a dog, the first creature he's come into contact with that hasn't exhibited symptoms of the vampire virus, are truly touching and heart-breaking. In fact, in the movie, it is the friendship and bond between man and dog that really affected me as well. Overall, this was a really great read that did not feel dated at all, even though it was first published in 1954.

There were also other short stories included with this novella, although there was no mention of them on the back cover at all. I'm not sure if the original was published like that, or this is something unique only to this edition. It took me a while to figure out that I had actually finished reading I Am Legend! I didn't really like all of them, but most were okay with a few standout ones that gave me the creeps! That to me is what makes a successful horror story. My faves from the short stories were The Near Departed; Prey; Mad House; and Person to Person.

Kristina Jones, Celeste Jones & Juliana Buhring - Not Without My Sister

2008-03-30T16:31:00.003+11:00

This book is about three sisters who spent their childhoods in the cult called 'Children of God'. I had never heard of this cult before and it's shocking to know that such an organisation still exists. Some of the things that the children were subjected to were truly disturbing, with adults knowingly and deliberately engaging in such behaviour when they should have been the children's protectors -- just appalling. I am always amazed to see how people can manipulate religion to suit their own twisted beliefs and then propagate those new doctrines and gather new followers; why others even believe and fall for it, I can never understand. I admire the three sisters for their determination and courage in the face of such unimaginably horrific circumstances and their abilities to break free from the cult, picking up the pieces and carrying on with the rest of their lives. My only complaint that it's sometimes a little difficult to follow the timelines from three different perspectives, but otherwise, a compelling read.

John Connolly - The Book of Lost Things

2008-03-22T23:31:00.004+11:00

John Connolly just seems to get better and better with each book of his that I pick up; he's definitely become one of my favourite authors. (Number one will always be Terry Pratchett though!) Even though this is only the third book that I've read by John Connolly, I reckon it's the best so far. I've always been a fan of fantasy and fairy tales, and while Connolly is not the first who has given his own twist on the traditional fairy tales that we know, he weaves them into a unique story of his own and gives them shape and context within his own tale. Especially after reading his own personal views about the book -- these are shared with readers at the end -- this really provides readers greater insight into his thoughts behind certain elements of the book and gives the book deeper meaning. I also enjoyed reading the original versions of the tales referenced in the book and about their origins. Again, this highlights the care behind the thought process of the author; Connolly is truly a master of his craft. This is a definite addition to my list of favourite books, and I will be purchasing my own copy (I had borrowed this from the library) for my personal library, which I am sure I will be reading again and again.

Jeff Lindsay - Dexter in the Dark

2008-03-18T22:11:00.005+11:00

I am extremely disappointed with this latest offering by Jeff Lindsay in the Dexter series. Personally, I feel it is shockingly written and just so completely out of tune with the first two books, and strikingly so in comparison with Dearly Devoted Dexter that I've only just read. I think it was completely the wrong move to suddenly plonk in a supernatural aspect to Dexter -- it was utterly ludicrous and so contradictory to the psychological tones of its predecessors. I mean, suddenly, Dexter's Dark Passenger is another being all together, and it just runs away?! Puh-leeze! Plus, those passages about IT were really annoying and bizarre. If they were supposed to send chills down my back, that certainly didn't happen.

When Lindsay introduced the concept of Rita's children turning into mini Dexters in the previous book, that never sat well with me and I detest that bit of the storyline even more so in Dexter in the Dark. As an Amazon reviewer pointed out, not all children with a traumatic past grow up to be sociopaths (and while Astor and Cody had an abusive father, Lindsay never really portrayed any truly horrific experiences for them, as opposed to Dexter, who witnessed his mother's murder and was caked in inches of blood for days) but Dexter somehow ends up becoming a stepfather to not one, but two of them? Not very believable, and also makes for uncomfortable reading - one Dexter really is quite enough.

The character of Rita is also incredibly annoying in the books. On the TV show, Rita is scarred and vulnerable but acquires quiet inner strength for her children, and is most definitely a sensible Susan. On paper, she's whiny and frivolous, and turns into Bridezilla with unreasonable demands for the wedding, which just seems so out of character, considering her past. Maybe it's just that the TV series has shaped Rita so well, but Rita never seems to quite fit in the books.

Ultimately, this was a major disappointment for me. I flew through the second book and could not get enough; with this, I plodded my way through it and came out unsatisfied. Now that Dexter's Dark Passenger has "returned" (in another ridiculous manner), I hope that Jeff Lindsay can focus on getting Dexter right and bring back the Dexter that readers love. The TV series has been brilliant so far, here's hoping that streak continues into the third season!

Jeff Lindsay - Dearly Devoted Dexter

2008-03-10T22:11:00.002+11:00

I love the TV show, Dexter, which then brought me to the book, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, when I found out that the TV show was based on Jeff Lindsay's novel. As much as I enjoyed the first book in the series, because I had watched the TV show first, there was a lack of anticipation since I already knew the major plotlines. However, for Dearly Devoted Dexter, I could really sink my teeth into this one as the TV series veered off into a completely different direction for its second season. With this book, I could just fully throw myself into the storyline as I had no idea what was coming and could just go along with it. In this one, there is yet another horrible serial killer that Dexter has to track down, with some truly gruesome and graphic scenes included in the book. Yet -- as ironic as this sounds -- while the subject matter can be heavy (such as murder and pedophilia), the book itself always has a humorous tone from the way Dexter is portrayed. He may be a murderer himself, but somehow, he gets the readers on his side. I enjoyed the second outing with Dexter, although I'm not too keen on the Cody storyline, and the engagement with Rita feels pretty forced as well. I also pity Doakes with the treatment he received in the book -- at least on the show he didn't have to suffer. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, which I already have in my hot little hands. Aren't libraries just wonderful?!

Markus Zusak - The Book Thief

2008-03-10T17:17:00.003+11:00

Wow. I don't think I've read a book quite like this one before. While I didn't mind Death narrating the story, I did find the constant interruptions rather annoying at times. I felt they disrupted the flow of the story and although they did contain useful information, they were more irritating than anything else, especially so at the beginning at the book. Nevertheless, these were minor things and did not take away from the brilliance of this novel. While the writing may be simple and plain, it paints incredibly vivid images. I loved the characters and I felt that the emotions they experienced during such a tumultuous time -- joy; anger; pain; love; and suffering -- really came through in Zusak's tale. Although the ending brought me to tears, ultimately I believe this story is about hope and courage despite such horrific and tragic circumstances. I hope this message stays with all readers for a very long time.

John Connolly - Nocturnes

2008-02-28T22:09:00.002+11:00

This collection of short stories was truly chilling and a few of these stories certainly gave me the creeps. I thought the two novellas, The Cancer Cowboy Rides and The Reflecting Eye, which featured Charlie Parker from his novels, were excellent. My other favourites were: The New Daughter; The Ritual of the Bones; Miss Froom, Vampire; and Nocturne. The other supernatural/horror stories in this collection were pretty good also, but these were the ones that stuck with me and made me huddle under my blanket after I had turned the lights out. Although this is only the second time that I've had the chance to sample John Connolly's writing, I think he's a remarkable writer with the amazing ability to blend the supernatural and crime thrillers genre so well. I look forward to reading the rest of the Charlie Parker series, as well as his YA novel, The Book of Lost Things, which also comes highly recommended.

MaryJanice Davidson - The Royal Mess

2008-02-28T14:34:00.003+11:00

I picked this up from the library last night and couldn't resist starting it, even though I'm in the middle of John Connolly's Nocturnes. The Royal Mess didn't take me long to go through and I finished reading it before I went to bed. Don't take that as a sign that it's a good read though, because it wasn't great. It definitely wasn't horrible, but it sure was lacking in substance, even for an MJD read. The first book in the series, The Royal Treatment, was interesting with the premise of a parallel world where Alaska is its own country with a ridiculously good-looking royal family ruling the nation and its subjects. David, the Crown Prince, falls in love with Christina, a commoner (and American!), and despite a few hiccups, the story ends with happily ever after. The Royal Pain that followed featured David's younger sister and her own love story. In the The Royal Mess, MJD throws in an illegitimate daughter, which for me, just didn't work. I felt that the dynamics between Nicole and her new family felt forced, and MJD's writing was repetitive and there wasn't much distinguishing Nicole from her previous characters -- they all come across the same. This book could have been so much better if the plot was more developed with more care given to the characters. While it was a fun and lighthearted read, ultimately a tad disappointing, especially for a book that is supposed to mark the end of this series.

Kerry Greenwood - Trick or Treat

2008-02-21T12:14:00.002+11:00

Devil's Food was brilliant, a remarkable improvement over the second book with the sparkle and magic from the first book in the series. In my opinion, Trick or Treat wasn't quite as bad as Heavenly Pleasures but it didn't quite capture me as the third book did. I felt that it was a haphazard plot involving drugs, ancient treasure, unpleasant history and a gathering of witches. These were all weaved together that only just barely held up as a coherent narrative. As much as I love the character of Meroe, I think there was a bit too much of her and the magic in this book. Meroe is great in small doses and when sprinkled throughout the book (for example, the healing of Kepler's hand) makes it digestible and accepting of the magical and unexplained. However, when there's too much, it just borders on the bizarre (like the over-dramatic scene with Barnabas) and makes the skeptic in me pooh-pooh it away. I still love Corinna, Daniel and the whole cast of characters (Meroe included) so it is easy to press on with the story even if it's not drawing me in completely. While this may not be the best of the lot, I'm glad I discovered this series (thanks to BookCrossing!) and I look forward to more Corinna Chapman adventures.

Kerry Greenwood - Devil's Food

2008-02-19T18:41:00.003+11:00

Absolutely fabulous! This is a great addition to the Corinna Chapman series. The previous book, Heavenly Pleasures, was a bit of a letdown, in my opinion, but boy oh boy, has Kerry Greenwood made a comeback with this one. It was a perfect mixture of a few plot lines that came together so well and made Devil's Food brilliant. Although the climatic peaks in the novel weren't really all that dramatic, it flowed really smoothly and it was such a joy to read. As infuriating as Starshine was, the appearance of Corinna's parents made for some interesting dynamics and provided greater insight to her past. The usual cast of characters are tight-knit as ever and they give a real warmth to the story. Especially when everyone comes together to care for Jason when he falls ill, that is really touching and makes me wish for neighbours like that! I loved the familiarity of the Melbourne setting; I'm not sure if the Insula is a real building in Melbourne but if it is, I sure would love to live there! I hope Kerry Greenwood will keep going with this series as Corinna Chapman is a wonderful character and it will be such a shame if readers don't get to see more of her. On to Book 4, which will be the last book in the series so far. After that, I think I will need to bake some of Jason's chocolate orgasmic muffins till my next Corinna Chapman fix...

C.J. Adams & Cathy Clamp - Hunter's Moon

2008-02-18T21:16:00.005+11:00

Hmmm... I felt really ambivalent about this one. I was after a fluff read so I picked this one off my bookshelf. Some parts were interesting, but otherwise, I found most of the book rather tedious -- especially when the authors went on and on about the various scents. I know it's supposed to be a characteristic for Tony, the werewolf in the story, but talk about overkill. Gimme a break! The other protagonist also wasn't all that interesting. Usually when the heroine isn't depicted as drop-dead gorgeous, she will have other quirky and charming qualities that endears her to the reader. Not so much in this case. Sue was portrayed as a plain Jane and a complete pushover -- she just wasn't that likeable. While I did feel a little sorry for her because of her horrid family, I never really found myself cheering for her. (And it was a bit of a stretch to want to off yourself just because of that -- grow a backbone and kick them OUT!) If I chance upon the other books in the series, I will probably give them a go, but only because I'm interested to know more about the Sazi and how they function in the real world. It was a shame that the book didn't turn out as well as I had hoped as I thought it could have been a real gem. Hopefully the later books in the series will be better!

Chuck Palahniuk - Survivor

2008-02-17T19:44:00.004+11:00

WOW. Bizarre, but strangely compelling. I think that the plot gets a bit messy sometimes, but Palahniuk is such a brilliant storyteller that he draws you in anyway. Palahniuk combines several elements to piece this one together: organized religion; media-driven insanity; obsession with plastic surgery; drug addiction; crazed world of celebrity; psychic phenomena -- they all come together as one heck of a rollercoaster ride. The book really picks up momentum towards the end when someone from Tender Branson’s past shows up. From then on, it’s full throttle, baby! This is a great satirical novel by Chuck Palahniuk and I look forward to reading his other works.

Sam Harris - Letter to a Christian Nation

2008-02-17T19:35:00.002+11:00

Although I am agnostic, I have no issues with religion and people having their own set of beliefs. However, fundamentalists (regardless of religion) just amaze me with their intolerance of anything that doesn’t gel with them and their behaviour leaves me dumbfounded. A recent example was when so-called Christians declared they were going to picket at Heath Ledger’s memorial service and the hateful things that were spewing out of their mouths – just absolutely shocking. It’s such behaviour that gets me so frustrated about religion; although I try to remember it’s not religion itself, but the people that get carried away.

Anyway, I digress. While I don’t necessarily agree with everything in the book, Harris does make some compelling arguments. However, he’s merely preaching to the choir and I’m not sure if he will get through to the religious – that is if they even pick up this book. My personal opinion is that this world is big enough for all kinds of people and their differences, and that it should be possible for us to agree to disagree and still get along. I feel dead-set, one-track ways of thinking should change -- single-minded atheist ideologies included -- which the end of Harris’s book smacks a little of. Letter to a Christian Nation is still worth a read if you’re interested in the counter argument to religion, but be sure to keep an open mind.

Charlaine Harris - All Together Dead

2008-02-06T20:15:00.001+11:00

I love Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries because Sookie Stackhouse is a great character and you can't help but cheer for her. The first few books in the series have been fabulous reads but the last couple of books have been a little disappointing. They feel unnecessarily complicated with various events thrown in that go nowhere and don't really make sense. This is the case here in Book 7, where there are so many characters that I have to keep reminding myself who is who to keep up with the plot. This love-rectangle thing is also driving me a little batty. I think there needs to be resolution between Sookie and Bill, it just can't keep being a recurring issue. I mean, having Quinn and Eric eyeballing each other for Sookie's affections is quite enough without having Bill remaining in the equation. In the recent books, Bill has already been relegated to minor character status so I reckon closure needs to happen there. The ending is also messy, with so many unanswered questions that I hope will be addressed in the next book. Of course I will keep going with the series, but I sure hope Book 8 will be better than this offering.

Melissa Bank - The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing

2008-02-02T12:02:00.001+11:00

Hmmm... this was an interesting book. I was a little dense at first and didn't pick up immediately that it was not a novel, but rather a collection of short stories that focused mainly on one protagonist, Jane. I just thought it was a quirky way of writing and creating chapters (like how Terry Pratchett just doesn't do any chapters at all) and I was very thrown when one of the stories featured completely new characters. While the short stories were a delight to read, I think it would have been better to have brought the various stories of Jane together as a novel. Certainly in the way it was marketed, it sure made me think it was a novel. The writing was refreshing and witty, which left me wanting more, especially with the last story that left me hanging without a proper ending. I want to know what happens to Jane; I want to see the happy ending that she deserves! Kudos to the author for creating such a delightful character, it's a shame that readers couldn't stick it out to the end with Jane due to the nature of this book.

Charlaine Harris - A Secret Rage

2008-01-29T20:32:00.000+11:00

This was first written in 1984 and was published again in 2007 as a mass-market paperback edition. I stumbled upon a copy in the library and I borrowed it as I had always enjoyed Charlaine's novels. This was a fast-paced mystery-thriller, which flowed more like a TV show with abrupt change of scenes rather than a natural progression of chapters. While it wasn't a bad read, I felt it was quite ordinary with a predictable ending. As I had picked the killer quite early, the book didn't have that climax for me as most thrillers usually would. I also found it extremely weird that the protagonist immediately developed a sexual relationship with her childhood crush after her rape. Not that I would have any understanding how a rape victim copes with the aftermath, but surely jumping straight into a sexual relationship wouldn't be it? I understand that the comfort and warmth from the relationship itself will be very much wanted and needed after such a traumatic experience, but I definitely don't get the sex bits. If presented with the opportunity, I will never turn down crime fiction from Charlaine Harris, but her Sookie Stackhouse series -- as fluffy as the books are -- is still more appealing to me than her other novels.

Sue Grafton - S is for Silence

2008-01-26T22:11:00.001+11:00

Read on 7 January 2008:
This was surprisingly engaging and I found myself drawn into the story, wanting to know more. Considering that Kinsey was following up on such an old case, I thought it would be a book that I would ditch pretty quickly as I didn't think much would happen. This turned out to be the case -- apart from slashed tyres and a bar fight -- but I was proven wrong. The author did a great job in builing the tension and I enjoyed the flashback chapters as Kinsey investigated the case, and her "interviews" with the various characters gave greater insight into the bigger picture. What was disappointing though was the abrupt ending, which didn't make much sense either. Apart from the obvious that the killer was after Violet's money, but still, there didn't seem to be much else of a motive. I know that money is as good as any other motive, but throw in the clue highlighted by the author about the dog being significant, it just didn't make sense in the overall scheme of things. It almost felt like Sue Grafton got tired of writing the book and decided to wrap things up and just picked a character out of a hat to be the perp. An otherwise good read marred by an unsatisfactory ending, which is most unfortunate.

Christopher Moore - Practical Demonkeeping

2008-01-26T22:08:00.000+11:00

Read on 3 January 2008:
What a fun book to kick off the new year with! This is the first Christopher Moore book that I've read, but undoubtedly, it will not be the last. Practical Demonkeeping was a lighthearted supernatural read that was very entertaining and made me chuckle several times. It might not be the most complex literature ever written, but it certainly got me hooked and it was a complete joy to read. It was not without its flaws though -- I thought there were way too many characters and the ending wasn't completely satisfactory for me -- but overall, a humorous and twisted (in a good way!) tale that put a smile on my face. Always a good sign! :)

Kerry Greenwood - Heavenly Pleasures

2008-01-26T22:03:00.000+11:00

Not a bad follow-up to Earthly Delights, but I think its predecessor was better. The first book was "clean", with one main plot as its central focus and great character development. In Heavenly Pleasures, it was far messier and rather convoluted with several stories happening at the same time. One was the case to solve at the chocolate store, which then broke off to another case involving a runaway. There was also the mystery of the new face to Insula, resulting in bombs and break-ins, while also having to deal with a nutcase before he self-destructed and got himself killed in prison. There were just far too many things going on for each to be developed properly, so it was very much touch-and-go for the various stories. The great cast of characters helped to keep me going through the messy plot lines, and all in all, it was a competent follow-up, but just didn't turn out as good as I hoped it would be.

Kerry Greenwood - Earthly Delights

2008-01-22T22:01:00.000+11:00

I had heard of Kerry Greenwood and her popular Phyrne Fisher series but had never read any of her books. Earthly Delights is the first novel that I've read from her and it was a delightful book. I had no expectations whatsoever when I started reading and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Corinna Chapman is a refreshing protagonist -- a full-figured leading lady, accepting of herself and takes crap from nobody. And she does all this with a wicked sense of humour. There is also a great supporting cast of characters, like the dominatrix, Miss Dread; Meroe, your friendly neighbourhood witch; and especially the divine Daniel, who sounds positively gorgeous and very swoon-worthy. I was hoping for more sparks between Corinna and Daniel, but alas, there wasn't much happening but I expect the relationship will develop further in the next book. Oh, and I didn't mind the cats either as they were very entertaining in their own right. I wished that Corinna was more of a dog person but I must admit the only dog to feature in the book was one of those little annoying yappy ones, not endearing even to a dog lover. I'm still not a hundred per cent sure about the Phryne Fisher series as the 1920s setting in Melbourne doesn't quite fully appeal to me, but I will be sure to read the follow-up to Earthly Delights and try to track down the other books in the series.

MaryJanice Davidson - Undead and Uneasy

2008-01-22T10:51:00.000+11:00

Ahhh... the latest in the Undead series by MJD. I had been disappointed by the recent offerings in this series -- they lacked the sparkle from earlier books, which were insane and silly, but with coherent plots at least. Well, fairly coherent anyway. In Books 4 and 5, they were disjointed and felt like a bunch of nonsense strung together -- whimsical, okay; nonsensical, not so much. I am pleased to say that with Book 6, MJD has gotten her -- as Betsy would put it -- "mojo" back and has delivered a highly enjoyable read. It is a little convenient to use a cursed ring to explain some of the nonsense (for example, the zombie) from previous books, but at least this time, the plot felt like a whole thought-out story. It's not without its flaws, but at least back to being fairly coherent. The blow-up with Laura and an appearance of the devil did smack a little of MJD trying to fill up pages, but not so jarring that they can't be overlooked. As usual, Betsy saves the day with another new-found incredible vampire queen ability and all that was wrong is right again -- Jessica is cured; Antonia can now change; Garrett is super-smart now; and Betsy and Eric get married, with Sinclair himself acquiring a new ability. All very convenient and too easy, but as a sucker for happy endings, I have no objection. Hurrah to MJD for a great addition to the Undead series! I hope Book 7 will be just as good!

Philip Pullman - The Amber Spyglass

2008-01-21T22:15:00.000+11:00

Read on 28 December 2007:
I read the first two in the series, His Dark Materials, from bookrings on BookCrossing, which really had me absorbed. I couldn't wait for the third book to arrive so I borrowed a copy from the library. Boy, what a letdown after investing all that time into this series!

I am so disappointed with the ending for The Amber Spyglass. Okay, so I'm hardwired for happy endings, but surely Will and Lyra could stay together?! I don't get why there could only be ONE window left open. Yes, yes, it messes with the Dust or whatever, but it took gabizillion of those windows to screw everything up, it hardly seems like having TWO windows would throw all of the universes back into utter chaos. Personally, I thought it was a lame ending because it just "fit" to do the tragic-lovers thing. Also, it doesn't feel finished, which makes me feel kinda cheated, because as much as I would love to read more, what I want even more is a proper conclusion. This still feels very open-ended, and after some googling, I find out there are companion novels to be published to wrap up the unfinished storylines. That is so annyoing, the story should have been wrapped up properly from the start! It was a thrilling read but major points off for the cop-out ending. URGH!

Irene Spencer - Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife

2008-01-20T21:45:00.000+11:00

I was browsing through Amazon's bestseller pages when I chanced upon this book. The memoir sounded like it would be a fascinating read so I recommended it to my local library to purchase a copy so that I could borrow it. It was definitely intriguing, but it also left me feeling baffled and in disbelief. It was quite amazing to read about Irene toughing out the life that she had for such a long time, especially when she struggled so much with a polygamous marriage, right from the very beginning, and had to painfully remove herself from her first love. It was hard for me to imagine her choosing Verlan, and then staying with him almost to the very end, despite the incredible challenges and hardship throughout the entire relationship. The world that existed for her is so alien to me, it's quite difficult to fathom how it must have been like. While I felt sometimes that Irene's story was a little disjointed with some details missed, it did provide a glimpse into her life in polygamy. I would have also liked to know more about the development of her relationship with her current husband, Hector, especially when there was a photo in the book of Hector with Verlan. I guess that was a new chapter in her life with a fresh beginning when this book was about letting go of the past. Overall, an interesting read about a hidden part of society that most people will never know about or experience.

Leeny's Book Blog

2008-01-20T21:35:00.000+11:00

I haven't been able to think of a clever name for my book blog, so it will just be a boring title for now. If I do come up with something brilliant, I will change it, but just right now, I can't be bothered. Most of my thoughts about the books I read are on journal entries as part of my BookCrossing bookshelf, but there are some books I read that are not registered, either from the library or borrowed from friends, so I've created this blog just for that. I doubt many people will visit here (if any at that), but it's really more for me as it's been quite a habit sharing what I feel about each book I've read. Happy reading to all!