Thoroughly modern millennial

Tag: Book review

  • November | In Books

    Nov in books
    Fangirl | Rainbow Rowell
    I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed this book. So well written and so well done, Rainbow Rowell captured the exact feelings about being a part of a fandom and why it means so much to be part of a fandom. I found myself relating to Cath on so many levels – to the point of freaky sometimes – not just the fandom stuff but the terror of facing the unknown during your first year University. The dialogue was really sharp and definitely found myself snorting with laughter at parts. I got through this pretty quickly too (which was a nice change!), the plot was pretty engaging and so were the characters.
    My only gripe is the snippets of Simon Snow fanfic within the book itself, I felt like the plot could’ve been driven just the same without it but I suppose it does add some depth to the novel’s world! 
    Would definitely recommend!
    Allegiant | Veronica Roth
    The third and final installment of Veronica Roth’s Divergent series was one of the sequels I was really looking forward to going into 2013. The plot obviously picks up from where Insurgent left off – so I’ll try not to spoil it too much for those who haven’t read the series yet! Tris Prior’s just revealed a huge secret to the faction based society. She now has a chance to venture beyond the fences and discover a world full of even more secrets and life-altering truths. 
    I went into this a little apprehensive, I don’t think I’d seen a more divided set of reviews since Mockingjay came out! This book is told from both Tris and Four’s perspectives, so we get a few more viewpoints and see a bit more action. That being said, their voices felt too similar, so I found myself confused at who’s part of the story I was actually reading at times. Nevertheless the longer I’ve to sit with what happened in the book the more I think it was definitely the only ending I can imagine happening now. This probably warrants a re-read to actually garner the smaller intricacies about what happens too!
    Quiet | Susan Cain
    Susan Cain endeavours to explore this often forgotten personality type. Her starting point is the softspoken values of early civilisations to society’s evolution and preference for the ‘extrovert’ ideal, and more importantly why we suddenly live in a world where ‘he who shouts the loudest’ has reached a saturation point. She also provides real world context for the studies, by speaking to and presenting case studies of individuals on all points of the introvert/extrovert spectrum.
    If you read one non-fiction book in your lifetime read this one. You can see my full review at Blogger’s Bookshelf, but in short if fell for this book, its message and Cain’s writing style from the get-go! 
    Let It Snow | John Green, Maureen Johnson & Lauren Myracle
    In the middle of a snowstorm on Christmas Eve, the three stories of Let It Snow centre around the happenings in and around the town Gracetown. Authors John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle work their collective charm and wit around these stories that are full of festive cheer :) 
    I’ve got a post planned for this so check that out on Blogger’s Bookshelf soon!

  • October | In Books

    Oct in books
    I think I went a little Dystopian/Utopian crazy this October #Oops. Also rather excitingly, I completed my GoodReads goal of reading 30 books by the end of 2013! 
    Fearsome Dreamer | Laure Eve
    Fearsome Dreamer is set in a society of two clashing worlds with clashing people and clashing cultures. There’s Vela Rue, a hedgewitch in training from a land called Angle Tar and it’s simplistic, rural ways of thinking and living. She is living with some troubling, rich and sometimes terrifying dreams that may be a clue to a exceptional type of power residing within her. 
    There’s White, a teenage boy running from the society called World, he too has extraordinary power that could tear this world apart. 
    White finds solace in the mysterious Frith, a man holding more secrets than he lets on. Part teacher, part government spy, he seeks those with gifts just like White and takes him under his wing. A boy prodigy but also a powerful weapon, White may be the very person he’s looking for. But when Rue thrown into the mix, Frith is unprepared for the explosion that comes from these two worlds, Rue and White colliding.
    I did a full review of the book on Blogger’s Bookshelf, so check out my full thoughts there! In short, really enjoyed it and thought it was pretty good for a debut author. Not to mention Laure Eve herself is an absolute sweetheart! 
    Under The Never Sky | Veronica Rossi
    Aria knows nothing of the world outside of the dome of Reverie and the virtual Realms her society prefer to escape to, but when her mother goes missing, she’s forced from the comfort of her home and into the wasteland. The reality is hard to cope with but she soon meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s as wild and terrifying as the Aether sky that damages the land around them but Aria is left with few choices to stay alive. 
    Perry is also searching for someone and he’s not afraid to leave Aria behind to get him to his goal quicker. That’s just the start. There are secrets all over this book and the two soon find they can only trust each other to survive. 
    I honestly thought I’d hate this but found myself utterly engrossed! Despite the formula for the book being pretty standard for a Dystopian novel, the characters themselves felt fresh and for the first time ever since The Hunger Games I loved the female protagonist. My only let down is that, after the distinct lack of romance for the majority of the book, I could feel it forced in a little heavily right towards the end. I’m hoping the sequel will balance this out a little – the cliffhanger is certainly intriguing! 
    The Handmaid’s Tale | Margaret Atwood
    Offred is a young woman living in the Republic of Gilead. She’s a Handmaiden and serves only one function in this society: to breed. The price to pay if she chooses to break free from the oppressive state? Death. Either by hanging or sent out to the Colonies to die of radiation poisoning. She’s not the only one suffering though and there are many rebelling all around her in the smallest ways possible. Not even the government can suppress human desire.   
    As much as I loved the premise of this book I found this really hard to get into. Admittedly the writing is stunning, the plot itself (once it gets going) is really good, but there was something about this that I couldn’t quite get my head around. I did however love the world Atwood’s built in this book. It’s so rich and deeply layered, not to mention terrifyingly realistic. This is probably one of those books that warrants a re-read!

    Make sure you check out Blogger’s Bookshelf’s First Birthday giveaway to win a copy of Fearsome Dreamer and Earth Girl by Janet Edwards! The giveaway ends soon so get your entries in quick! 

  • September | In Books

    Sept in books
    Wahey have managed to actually read some books this month! 
    Code Name Verity | Elizabeth Wein 
    I reviewed this ages ago for Blogger’s Bookshelf, so can read the full review there. In summary, it’s 1943 and the reader have been transported to an abandoned hotel in Nazi occupied France, where Queenie, a British spy, has been captured and tortured by the Gestapo. Her captors soon convince her to become a collaborator and she has been allowed to write down the events that led to her capture in the hope she will divulge some secrets about the British War Effort. She relents but only so much so that she can also tell the story of her best friend Maddie, the pilot who flew her to France. 
    I confess that I usually avoid historical based novels, as I find many get too bogged down in the details of the time period. Wein, however manages to weave this in seamlessly within the girls’ stories and for the most part the the information she writes about is necessary for the story. The account Queenie provides ends up becoming so much more than a forced confession but an incredible account of two best friends who make a sensational team and it was great to read about two strong female characters.
    The Cuckoo’s Calling | Robert Galbraith
    Another book I reviewed for Blogger’s Bookshelf! This is Galbraith’s (aka Ms Jo Rowling’s) first crime novel and the first novel following hardened ex-military turned detective Cormoran Strike. Strike is called upon to investigate the case of Lula Landry, a woman who’s life is a million miles away from Strike’s own, who plunged to her death from the balcony of her lavish London apartment. Her brother John, sought Strike’s help and is convinced her death was something more cold blooded than the police ruling of a crazed suicide. By Strike’s side is unlikely temp Robin, who balances out the detective’s harsh personality.
    This was another great read and you can see my full review on Blogger’s Bookshelf. It’s a typical ‘whodunnit’ with an unlikely hero and a wonderfully crafted narrative. 
    Wake | Robert J. Sawyer 
    And finally the book I got from the HP Alliance’s Apparating Library. Caitlin Decter is teenage math nerd and like most teenagers, is addicted to the internet. She is also blind, but has gotten through her life so far without any other complaints. When the opportunity arises from a Japanese scientist to implant a new piece of technology that may cure her sight, she jumps at the chance. It certainly works! But not in the way she could ever expect. 
    Apologies for the vague review but revealing too much would spoil the plot line. This was another enjoyable read and Caitlin proved to be a really likeable character. She doesn’t wallow in her disability, she’s quick witted and actually uses her lack to sight to her advantage (both before and after the surgery). My only gripe is the amount of unresolved subplots in the story – again, no spoilers for you guys! Though Caitlin’s story did come to a natural stopping point for now (the book is the first in a series), other stories laced throughout the novel are left in the open. Am hoping book two will start linking all of them together. I also found some of the language quite difficult, as someone not so versed in science and technology much of it went over my head. Despite this I found the story pretty page turning – again mainly to find out what the significance of all the subplots!