I don't generally give a book I assume to be a chick-lit 5 stars (unless it includes cupcake recipes - as I have a weak spot for cupcakes!) as I see tI don't generally give a book I assume to be a chick-lit 5 stars (unless it includes cupcake recipes - as I have a weak spot for cupcakes!) as I see them as mindless reading fun rather than something that makes me think beyond the inevitable romantic conclusion. However, I don't think Bad Sisters is an ordinary chick-lit, if it falls into that category at all. While it certainly contains romantic relationships (and very sexy scenes) it's also filled with suspense, intrigue, drama and a generous dose of mystery that puts the reader's brain cells at work.
The novel tells the story of three sisters: Deeley, Devon and Maxie. Despite having come from a very poor and rather dubious background each of the sisters has worked their way up in life (although Deeley didn't do an awful lot of work to get where she is) and made something of themselves. They seem to lead perfect and glamorous lives, but they each have been carrying a heavy burden since they were little more than children in the shape of a big secret.
The three main characters have very different personalities and author Rebecca Chance manages to make all three of them believable and intriguing. Even if you don't feel fond of a character per se, you still want to know what happens in her life next as there seems to be a twist around every corner. Maxie is the ambitious one that studied at Oxford and is the real reason that her intelligence lacking husband is working his way up in parliament. Devon is a celebrity cook married to a celebrity sportsman and finds more comfort in her food than she does in her marriage. And Deeley is the young and (more or less) free spirited sister that after having lived in Los Angeles for five years returns to London and tries to reconnect with her estranged sisters which, while unintended, sets the wheels of the story into motion.
The novel is well put together, laced with secrets that makes the reader want to turn the next page as fast as possible. Add to that the glamour and glitz descriptions of clothes, food and very steamy scenes and you have yourself a fabulous read. ...more
Where the Streets Had a Name is a wonderful and unique young adult novel that was an eye-opener to me about the current situation in the Middle East. Where the Streets Had a Name is a wonderful and unique young adult novel that was an eye-opener to me about the current situation in the Middle East. The subject matter is quite heavy but told in such a way that the book remains easy to digest. And it's surprisingly even funny at times! A really great novel for teenagers as well as adults as it's fascinating to read a perspective on this situation, with real people you easily fall in love with, that isn't just a factual newspaper article....more
This is a wonderfully original children's book set in a world where demons, arch demons and even Satan are more than just myths and legends.
Edgy TaylThis is a wonderfully original children's book set in a world where demons, arch demons and even Satan are more than just myths and legends.
Edgy Taylor thinks he's just an ordinary boy with a gift of solving riddles until he suddenly finds himself running for his life and ends up at the Society of Daemonologie. Once there he discovers the most extraordinary things and tumbles head first into a dangerous world filled with demons (some good, some bad), imps and even a snake of knowledge in the library. For the first time in his life he finds himself surrounded by actual friends, but unfortunately also by enemies and it is sometimes hard to define which is which. However, Edgy has to make up his mind fast and be one step ahead of his enemies as making the wrong move can be not only fatal to himself, but to everyone on earth.
The characters in The Demon Collector are well written, the story is action-packed and fast paced and the book will leave you guessing to the very end about the true evil in this world....more
While Noah's Ark was a fascinating read at times, the story seemed to bounce from plot to plot without a main direction. There was no particlar start While Noah's Ark was a fascinating read at times, the story seemed to bounce from plot to plot without a main direction. There was no particlar start or ending to the descriptions of the relationship of Alison and Noah, the focus of the book, which sometimes made it hard to grasp the plot or even remember the background to other characters mentioned as they were not given a proper introduction. As a period piece it was a satisfying read but I wish there had been a clearer aim to the depiction of the characters and their lives to give the novel its lacking purpose....more
In Diary of a Parent Trainer author Jenny Smith uses the popular writing technique of telling the story through the main character's diary entries, yeIn Diary of a Parent Trainer author Jenny Smith uses the popular writing technique of telling the story through the main character's diary entries, yet it stands apart from other novels as she adds a little twist to it. Because not only do we read about Katie Sutton's innermost feelings and day to day thoughts and musings there is also the added bonus of tips and tricks explaining how to handle ones grown-up.
While I have to say though is that the core of the story is extremely similar to Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicholson books, I found the characters in Diary of a Parent Trainer much more genuine and likeable. The question is though, will author Jenny Smith be able to turn this into a likewise popular series? This book already covered many of the basic modes a grown-up according to Katie can be in such as determined, sociable, grumpy, sympathy, happy, smitten, embarrassing and devastated, and even explains what to do in case of overheating. So while the approach to the story is fresh and interesting it also set the author up for a difficult decision in the future as unless she changes the format or decides to repeat herself the guide to training a parent will be finished much quicker than Katie's story will. ...more
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is a lovely little novel giving the readers a fascinating insight into the mind of a boy with AspergThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is a lovely little novel giving the readers a fascinating insight into the mind of a boy with Asperger's Syndrome, Christopher, as we follow him on a journey that starts out with him trying to find out who killed Wellington (the dog of one of this neighbours) but rapidly evolves into Christopher uncovering a much bigger mystery in his own life.
Author Mark Haddon has used an unique approach in his novel as it is told from the point of view of his autistic main character. This results in many breaks during the story as the boy elaborates on mathematical problems, maps out his environment and includes a wide variety of drawings and lists that allows him to distract his mind when he is faced with an unknown or challenging situation.
I do not know how accurate the descriptions of Christopher's thought process and reactions to the world surrounding him are, but I think it's fair to say that the book reads realistic and the unique concept works very well....more
I am not sure what the purpose of telling this story was or what the reader was supposed to take away from it. While Tess is the main character and thI am not sure what the purpose of telling this story was or what the reader was supposed to take away from it. While Tess is the main character and the reader is supposed to see the male characters she so looks up to (William, Victor) through her eyes they just come across as incredibly unlikeable and improbable choices for her adoration. Furthermore the story is told in short chapters and paragraphs that are all very disjointed making it an uncomfortable and unnecessarily disorganised read. In short: I did not see the point to this book at all. ...more
The city previously known as Chicago, and assumingly the entire world though we have yet to glimpse behind the gates surrounding the city, is divided The city previously known as Chicago, and assumingly the entire world though we have yet to glimpse behind the gates surrounding the city, is divided in five factions. These factions represent the quality that the people within these parts hold most important. Abnegations treasure selflessness, the people in Candor pride themselves in being honest, those in Amity value peace, the Erudite seek knowledge and the people in Dauntless are daredevils that put bravery above all else. Those that do not belong to any of these are the factionless and they wander the streets in between the factions; homeless and begging for a scrap of food.
At the age of 16 the children of this world undergo testing which will define which one of the five factions would be most suitable for them to spend the rest of their lives in. Though the results are a a mere advise as it's up to the children themselves to decide if they will stay in the faction they grew up in or change to one of the four others. Changing factions means having to go through an initiation process (which upon failure can, depending on which faction you want to join, lead to death or becoming factionless) and leaving your former friends and family members behind. "Faction above blood", is the motto after all.
And this is where we meet our main character Beatrice, an Abnegation struggling with the decision as to which faction to pick. She hopes that the test results will make the choice easier but unfortunately the exact opposite is the case when she's classified as the rare sixth option: Divergent. For reasons yet to be clarified at this stage this result is extremely dangerous for her so the test is deleted from the computer system and instead put in manually by her instructor - leaving Beatrice to make the choice all on her own and an extra, possibly lethal, secret to keep.
I do not mind the fact that the dystopian genre seems to have exploded in the past few years and everyone and their dog is trying to cash in on the hype by writing their own little versions when as a result of such every now and again a wonderful novel like Divergent comes around. I wouldn't go as far as to say that the book is perfect or OMG THE BEST BOOK EVER!!1! but the world it's set in is endlessly fascinating and had me hooked from the start. Even though I do not understand the reasoning from main character Tris for the faction she eventually decides on - quite possibly because it would be the one I am least attracted to myself - that is not a problem as each of the different factions have something special and intriguing about them that can lure the reader in. The history of how the factions came to be, their differences and the inevitable doom hanging over everyone's head (because the seemingly perfect worlds within this genre are always nothing but a mirage for the trouble brewing underneath) makes for an amazingly complex and interesting story, one I can not wait to uncover a little bit more in the next book. ...more
I have been a big fan of The Morganville Vampires books for a long time now and I was absolutely stoked to get my eager hands on a gorgeous review copI have been a big fan of The Morganville Vampires books for a long time now and I was absolutely stoked to get my eager hands on a gorgeous review copy weeks before the official release in the UK. The British cover looks very appealing and the bright red title and details are really eye-catching and suitable for a book where the fanged ones are very central to the story.
Even though I have been avidly reading the Morganville books for years and have grown to love the characters I have to say that the last few titles left a lot to be desired and I feared that Bite Club would sadly go the same forgettable route. However, while the book felt like a very quick read the story itself was highly entertaining throughout and definitely captured my attention until the final page. And I have to say I really enjoyed reading it not only from Claire’s point of view but also Shane's. This was a clever move as without giving him a voice the choices the character made this time around would've made Shane very unlikeable very fast.
Most importantly: the main characters went back to their roots after feeling a bit ooc in the previous book Ghost Town, the inevitable show downs were finally dealt with, lose ends tied up and a new path paved for future storyline developments. Overall a great continuation of the Morganville stories and certainly a treat for fans of the books. ...more
The fact that I finished three other books since starting Ghost of a Chance probably says it all. While the story was an interesting one and definitelThe fact that I finished three other books since starting Ghost of a Chance probably says it all. While the story was an interesting one and definitely got more fast-paced towards the end it really wasn't so gripping that it was able to hold my attention for more than a few chapters at a time I am afraid. I am only giving it three stars instead of two because for the most part this novel was written beautifully and that is its only saving grace. ...more
Author Gesine Bullock-Prado writes in a humorous way about her former Hollywood life and how she eventually finds her true calling in the one occupatiAuthor Gesine Bullock-Prado writes in a humorous way about her former Hollywood life and how she eventually finds her true calling in the one occupation she always took solace in when life became too stressful: baking.
To get the big question out of the way first, yes the author is the younger sister of actress Sandra Bullock. But those who start reading the book expecting to find Bullock's dirty little secrets on display will be thoroughly disappointed. Instead "Sandy" is mentioned in regularity as the helpful older sister and at times the reader forgets Bullock-Prado is actually talking about the Hollywood star.
Personally I expected Starting Over One Cake at a Time to be a combination of a chick-lit and Hollywood superficiality but on contrary, it's an honest and often hilarious memoir about Bullock-Prado's childhood in Germany and later on the United States where she does not shy away from recounting her mistakes both as a child and adult. Having German ancestors myself I felt a familiarity in her wonderful descriptions of the towns, customs and delicious baked good that made the book even more real and fascinating to me. And on top of that every chapter ends with a mouth-watering recipe fitting to the story - pure pastry heaven for an amateur baker such as myself. ...more
"The Garden in the Clouds" is not an encyclopaedia with gardening tips and facts but rather an autobiographical tale of an, as the subtitle indicates,"The Garden in the Clouds" is not an encyclopaedia with gardening tips and facts but rather an autobiographical tale of an, as the subtitle indicates, hopeless romantic. It's the story of Antony Woodward and his ideal to make a garden in the clouds. Or high up on the mountains as the case may be. From the move to Wales to all the various parts that make up his unique garden the author uses each chapter to dive into a different aspect of the transformation and manages to not only make the story consistently engaging but also surprisingly humorous. Some of the choices he has made along the line were hardly thought through properly and he knows it. Yet Woodward did not choose to rewrite those parts or ignore them, instead he uses a healthy dose of self-deprecation which makes him much more likeable and relatable and prompts the reader to root for him despite the very unlikely goal of converting the unappealing waste land into something worthy to be included in the Yellow Book of the National Garden Scheme.
There were a few points to the story that the realist in me despite getting lost in the hopelessly romantic musings and actions of the author questioned however. Such as the details of the relocation from London to Wales and how the author managed to get by without a steady job and income. I am assuming at least that both he himself and his wife left their jobs in London and did not instantly start working again in Wales. The story indicates that since the move they spent most if not all of their time on the garden and especially when reading about some of Woodward's more expensive impulse buys it left me wondering how he was still able to support his family (and on that note, his wife must be an absolute saint for putting up with his splurges and his more often than not rather unrealistic ideas such as the sudden urge to obtain a railway carriage to decorate part of their land).
Having said that, the descriptions of the area the story is set in are wonderfully lush and transports the reader to the rugged Welsh country side. And despite all the hiccups author Anthony Woodward encounters during his various antics (from bees invading the house to inventive sheep getting into his vegetable patch) after finishing the book I wanted to do nothing more than to pick apples in an orchard, mow a field with an antique tractor and make my own award winning honey - sticky mess and all. ...more
This book took me a lot longer to read than I am used to (and there are pictures and everything!) but that's because I got distracted by other books aThis book took me a lot longer to read than I am used to (and there are pictures and everything!) but that's because I got distracted by other books along the way, not because Stuart is in any ways a poor read. On contrary. It's fascinating, gripping and heartbreaking at times. Despite all Stuart's flaws and all the wrongs he has done in his life author Alexander Masters manages to make present Stuart relatable and sympathetic - the heart of the book. I'd certainly recommend this novel to anyone interested in non-fiction, though I would advise to read it before seeing the film adaptation. I saw the BBC drama first and while an amazing film it lessened the impact the storyline had on me while reading the book as I obviously knew how it would end (or start I should say as it's Stuart's life told backwards). ...more
Despite its 650 odd pages Rachel's Holiday is a quick read that I was barely able to put down for the entirety of reading it - I was so engrossed intoDespite its 650 odd pages Rachel's Holiday is a quick read that I was barely able to put down for the entirety of reading it - I was so engrossed into the story. It touches upon various addictions, drugs primarily, through the distorted view of the world of main character and drug addict Rachel. While it's a heavy subject matter to address the novel is written in such a humorous way that it does not get depressing or boring, on contrary. One could say that perhaps it was written too lightly as it could be seen as not taking addiction seriously, but personally I found this fresh approach highly suited with the whimsical and flaky character that is central to the novel and did not think it an issue. ...more
One Day is the story of Dex and Em, Em and Dex. Two graduates that have a sort of fling, but not really, and become friends. Then best friends. As theOne Day is the story of Dex and Em, Em and Dex. Two graduates that have a sort of fling, but not really, and become friends. Then best friends. As the years go by, late eighties, the nineties and then the 21st century - and they are on opposite sides of the world, hit rock bottom, fall out and not speak for months, find other relationships and grow apart - they still think of each other every single day.
I have been wanting to read this novel for quite some time but not until I heard a live reading from author David Nicholls did it urge me to finally pick up the book. He read the letter that Dexter writes Emma very drunkenly from India and because in its drunken honesty it's absolutely hilarious I expected the entire book to continue along those lines. It did not but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Instead the book is far more realistic and gripping in that way. And strangely, despite some very poor choices made by both characters, their many flaws eminent, they are still sympathetic in such a way that the reader roots for them no matter how hopeless their story may be....more
Fifteen year-old Billy is a lifer. Stuck in the care system for the past eight years he is mad at the entire world. His mother for not protecting him Fifteen year-old Billy is a lifer. Stuck in the care system for the past eight years he is mad at the entire world. His mother for not protecting him and giving him away. His stepfather for the physical violence he had to endure when he was younger. The Colonel for pretending to care for him only to go home every night after his shift at the care home has ended; home to his real family. The only people he truly and deeply cares for are Lizzie and Louise his ten year-old twin siblings to which he is a not only an older brother but also a father and mother. He sits outside their bedroom door when they cannot sleep, reads them a bedtime story and tucks their duvets under their feet every night so they don't get cold, he even sits outside the bathroom when Lizzie is afraid that any of the other lifers will open the door when she is in there.
Billy's life is harsh and Earle manages to realistically depict the problems a child in the care system is confronted with as well as all the terrible things Billy and his siblings went through before ending up there in the first place. It's heartbreaking at times and will move the most placid reader to tears towards the end (trust me). Yet it's also a story about hope and new chances and has surprisingly uplifting moments.
Being Billy is a fantastic debut by British author Phil Earle. It is gripping and moving and most of all it makes the reader think about issues that don't often get addressed in children's and young adult literature. ...more
The first of the Lucifer Box books - The Vesuvius Club - is exceptionally well written but a bit of a mishmash. Starting out it seems to mimick a ConaThe first of the Lucifer Box books - The Vesuvius Club - is exceptionally well written but a bit of a mishmash. Starting out it seems to mimick a Conan Doyle novel, with the main character Lucifer Box described as a somewhat flamboyant Holmesesque character, but the story rapidly moves into the absurd. Once the reader gets comfortable with these unexpected turn of events though and takes some of the unexplainable inventions with a big grain of salt the novel is well entertaining until the final page....more
Pip is a runaway orphan who ends up in the walled city of Hangman's Hollow, which up until that point he has only kn(review for hodderchildrens.co.uk)
Pip is a runaway orphan who ends up in the walled city of Hangman's Hollow, which up until that point he has only known from stories. Horror stories. There are no other children on the streets of the city but there are wood creatures and the spies from the city. Both on the hunt for the children, each for their own sinister purpose.
The book is fast-paced, adventurous and the names and creatures are fantastical enough that sometimes the story reads like a modern fairytale. What really makes the book stand out though are the most excellent graphics (sometimes mimicking a comic book layout, other times the characters are curled around the page) as well as the clever and interesting chapter titles. Particularly enjoyable are the extras in between the chapters such as "A short bit at the end of chapter fourteen" that tell the story of an extra character that I'm assuming will become more prominent in the later books.
Pip and the Wood Witch Curse is the first in a series of Pip books and is highly recommendable for children in the age group of 8-12. ...more
The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag is the second title in the Flavia de Luce mystery series but can be read as a stand alone novel as very littleThe Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag is the second title in the Flavia de Luce mystery series but can be read as a stand alone novel as very little knowledge on the previous book is required. With a slow start and light plot perhaps not a novel I would pick up again any time soon, but as author Alan Bradley neatly ties all loose knots and brings the mystery to a predictable but believable conclusion it was by no means a bad read.
"A travelling puppet show arrives in the sleeping village of Bishop's Lacey - and a shocking murder takes place. For eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, the crime will test her precocious powers of deduction to the limit - particularly when she discovers that the murder echoes a tragedy which occurred many years before..."
Admittedly this book and I did not get off to a good start. First of all, the first several chapters are agonising slow and we do not get to read about the main mystery until about midway through. This would be fine if there was a lot of introductory storytelling necessary but there wasn't. As it is this is the second novel in a series the main protagonist is already established and the additional information mentioned about new characters was spread out too thin and could've easily be condensed down to give the novel a bit more of a kick.
Furthermore I was extremely annoyed by the voice given to main character Flavia de Luce. She's supposed to be a book-smart eleven-year-old but even if she spent every waking hour reading her Great-Uncle Tar's copies of Chemical Abstracts & Transactions and experimenting with poisons that does in no way justify her talking and acting like a middle aged man, as she so often does. Especially when in the next scene she does act like a ordinary eleven-year-old as it completely throws the reader off. This also prevents the character from becoming believable and likeable and since she's telling the story this obviously is a big nuisance throughout the novel.
Having said that, after finally continuing and finishing the novel (weeks after I started it and I don't usually put a book aside for such a long period of time before picking it up again!) I found myself quite content in the end. The main plot never thickens very much, and there is still far too much focus on side characters that matter little, but ignoring those aspects it was a quite enjoyable book to pass my time. Nothing overly spectacular, but not a bad read by any means either. ...more
I read the first few chapters of Life of Pi a few months ago and it didn't really grab my attention. However determined to finish the novel and knowinI read the first few chapters of Life of Pi a few months ago and it didn't really grab my attention. However determined to finish the novel and knowing I had a fair few hours in the train coming up, I picked up the book again early this month. As soon as I reached the part where Pi gets shipwrecked I started to get really invested into the story and I didn't want to put the novel down until it was finished. If it weren't for the slow start, which nearly made me give up on the book all-together, I would give it 5 stars....more
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