Thoroughly modern millennial

Tag: Book review

  • July | In Books

    Jul in books
    Briar Rose | Jane Yolen
    Reviewed on Blogger’s Bookshelf already, Briar Rose was an on the spot find in a charity shop a while ago. As I said in my review I was expecting this to be an different retelling of a fantasy fairytale, but what I found was a really thought provoking and, at times, disturbing story about the Second World War. Make sure you check out my review for full content, but all in all a definite recommended read if you want something a little gritty to get your teeth into.

    The Death Cure | James Dashner

    The final book in The Maze Runner series, it took me a while to get onto this! If you’re following the series *spoiler alert!* Thomas and the other Gladers are now out of the Trials and with a chance to get their former memories and help WICKED find the cure for the Flare. But unlike some of the other Gladers, Thomas is not so fond of WICKED, he can remember more that they even realise and he’s not so ready to trust them. 
    Once a series that started off strong, with The Maze Runner, I really ended up disliking The Scorch Trials. So you can imagine my apprehension at getting this one over and done with. But I did find the first part of the book much less confusing than Scorch Trials, the purpose of the Maze, the Trials and why WICKED are doing this are fully exposed, questions are finally answered and we, as readers, can finally concentrate on Thomas’ story. Over complicating the plot and introducing too many new elements/secrets was my main bug bear of Scorch Trials, but Dashner goes back to a simple survival of the fittest story archetype with The Death Cure and I’m definitely grateful for that. There is one major plot twist towards the end that I think he put in for the sake of making us readers shout ‘NO!’, but the final epilogue will make you forgive him a little…I think…
    So in summary, the series is definitely worth following – if only so you can keep up with the hype of the new film adaptation that’s due to come out next year. 

    The Last Little Blue Envelope | Maureen Johnson
    The second novel in The Little Blue Envelope’s series, Ginny is back from Europe, back home and college applications and normality after the craziest trip of her life. Having lost the last blue envelope on in Greece, Ginny’s resigned herself to not knowing how her Aunt’s story ended. Months later she’s contacted by a boy in London who’s found her bag and the final letter. Naturally Ginny heads back over the pond, staying with her newly found Uncle, expecting to say a final farewell to the letters. 
    But hey there’d be no story if the book ended there. Getting the last envelope is just the start of another adventure. 
    I have to say I enjoyed this part of Ginny’s story much more than her first. Before a kind of whiny American girl who never really experienced life and ambled around a little, Ginny’s now older and wiser after her first trip to Europe. It’s almost as if the thought about finally finishing her Aunt’s story has kicked her into high gear, she’s a fighter and willing to stand up for herself a bit more. That doesn’t mean the book is completely devoid of teenager feelings, with romance rearing it’s angst-y head. All in all though it’s better read than it’s predecessor and the ending will leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling inside.  

    Nocturnes | Kazuo Ishiguro

    A story cycle exploring themes of music, the passing of time and love, this is one of my first forays into the world of short stories. Ishiguro, author of such novels as Never Let Me Go and Remains of the Day, regales five short stories where we meet a whole range of characters. The stories take you around the world, from a mysterious high rise hotel with some odd clientèle to the dreamy streets of Italy and it’s piazza musicians to an ordinary London flats with a well-meaning friend stuck in the middle of a sparing couple.  
    I’m used to song cycles with musical theatre but story cycles are something very new to me, and I struggled getting into the stories at first. However, as I went through each story and saw the themes develop I actually found myself enjoying the last few stories. I think this deserves a re-read, much like I had to with Never Let Me Go, Ishiguro’s style is rather dreamy and the stories do linger if you give them a chance.

    R.xoxo
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  • June | In Books

    Jun in books
    *all images via GoodReads
    Billy & Me | Giovanna Fletcher

    I’ve done a full review of this on Blogger’s Bookshelf already, so head over there for the full view and feels!
    In summary, Sophie May, a young girl from the sleepy British countryside whose life is suddenly turned upside down with the arrival of a film crew and it’s dashing star Billy Buskin. It turns out that Billy is quite taken with Sophie (and visa versa!) and after not too long he decides to whisk her away to the bright lights of London town. There Sophie is forced into the spotlight and has to muddle her way through a scary, new, judgemental town, testing her relationship with Billy and the family and friends she left behind to the max!
    Billy and Me was a light and fluffy read, which made me both cry and laugh – though let’s face it, I’m a crier. If anything the ending will leave you feeling all the things for Sophie and for a debut novelist Mrs Fletcher did well!

    Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore | Robin Sloan

    Clay Jannon needs a job. The young graphic designer from San Fran, recently made redundant thanks to the good ol’ recession is getting pretty desperate…which is when he stumbles into a curious little shop. The shop in question is a 24 Hour Bookstore, it’s owner? Mr Penumbra. Penumbra’s a charming, yet mysterious old man and offers Clay the night shift job at the store. Clay takes it on with much gusto, clambering the precariously placed ladder for Penumbra’s odd clientele for books they don’t buy, but check-in and out – like a library system. He’s unperturbed by the strange behaviour of Penumbra’s customers at first, until he starts to look a little closer at the books they’re checking out. Before too long Clay’s embarks on a mission to unveil the mystery of the store, the code inside the books and even Penumbra’s own story. What he finds though, may not be what he expects. 
    All in all, I did enjoy this. The twists and turns were refreshing and I don’t think I’ve read a book quite like this one before. It was great to see the contrast between the old and new worlds, of books, code-breaking and tradition in comparison to computers, tech and quests to discover the unknown. 
    However I don’t think it lived up to the huge hype that was piled on it from pretty much every book blogger/vlogger/GoodReader-er(?…I don’t know?) I came across. Had I not known anything about it or the praise it receive, maybe my expectations would’ve been lowered? Or maybe I need a re-read? I think this might be a grower for me. 

    Harry: A History | Melissa Anelli

    ‘Harry…’ is a non-fiction book written by Melissa Anelli, web-mistress of The Leaky Cauldron (one of the largest Harry Potter fansites in the world) and American journalist. It chronicles the story of the Harry Potter fandom leading up to and through the release of Deathly Hallows in 2007, from it’s early beginnings with the publication of Philosopher’s Stone, through the earliest Internet fansites, the evolution of Wizard Rock, Rowling’s first interactions with the fans, right up to the biggest book release in publishing history and the so-called ‘End of an era’. Told in Melissa’s own words, she gathers her information from some of the book’s publishers, editors, and even Jo Rowling herself, as well as other fans voices, both big and small, to paint a picture of what that time in literary history and Potter-mania was like.
    I’ll stop there as I’m planning on doing a full on review for Blogger’s Bookshelf but I’ll tell you this, if there’s one emotion that sums up my feeling when I finished ‘Harry…’ it’s nostalgic. For someone who lived and watched most of the events that happened in the book from the sidelines, it was fantastic to relive the magic of that unique moment in history all over again…not to mention the fact that this has gotten me far too excited to – potentially (let’s not jinx this, though she did favourite my tweet so we’re obviously besties :P) – meet Melissa at LeakyCon!

    R.xoxo
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  • May | In Books

    May in books
    *all images via GoodReads
    What, what, what? I cleared through FIVE books this month! Check out what I thought about all of them below…

    Fahrenheit 451 | Ray Bradbury
    This ultimate book lovers classic regales the story of Guy Montag, a fireman living in the near distant future. His occupation is rather unusual though. In a world where books are banned and philosophical thought discouraged, it’s Guy’s job to burn books. Yes. A fireman who starts fires. After a few chance encounters with some unusual people, he takes a bold move and steals a book. Having lived years with book censorship, where the world has turned away from the printed pages, burning scholars and libraries to dust, Guy soon questions everything about his existence.
    I loved the opening chapter for this novel. The imagery is wonderful and so powerful, but the middle seemed to tail off and it was difficult to decipher what was actually happening. It wasn’t until the last few chapters that the message of the book really hit home and the message of the importance of reading are extremely relevant in today’s world. Bradbury’s book is a cautionary tale, it’s disturbing to think we may already be living in a world that chooses to fill it’s ears with the same kind of mindless entertainment that Montag’s wife chooses to in the book. I will say that this book may not be for everyone, but as one of the classics I’d say give it a go, re-read and think on it.
    The Shades of London series: The Name of the Star & The Madness Underneath | Maureen Johnson
    Holy Hell these were good. I picked up a e-book copy of The Name of the Star after months of nagging from my best friend. Surprisingly this is the first Maureen Johnson book I’ve read (despite being a huge fan of her as a person, seriously follow her on twitter she’s awesome) and I’m seriously kicking myself for not getting into her books sooner.
    The series is a classic tale of the paranormal. Rory Deveaux is a normal American girl starting school in London, but after a near-fatal brush with death she finds that she has some unusual abilities. Not only this but her arrival in England is timed alongside a series of copy-cat Jack the Ripper style murders. She soon finds herself as the only witness to a potential suspect that no-one else can see. You can read the rest of my review at Blogger’s Bookshelf, but to round up….oh.my.God. It’s been a while since I’ve finished a book and been desperate for more. Maureen’s style of writing is both hilarious and emotional. 
    Book two of the series, The Madness Underneath, is equally good. Starting off a little slow, and for good reason – you’ll see why when you read it – the story picks up the pace towards the last few chapters. And jeez….THE ENDING. It will make you feel all the things! 

    Highly recommended reading from me and I’m literally jumping around waiting for the sequel!

    Ready Player One | Ernest Cline
    This was another one people *cough* Erin *cough* have been bugging me to read. 
    The year is 2044, James Halliday, CEO of [GSS] and general computer genius dies and he leaves his vast empire to the the person who can crack the cryptic riddle in his will. The only problem is that this cryptic riddle involves a quest into his virtual world called the OASIS, and when I say world…I mean world! The OASIS is huge, engulfing countries and turning the whole world into virtual computer addicts. Five years go past and no one has managed to make it onto the scoreboard that Halliday set up to track the quest’s progress…until the name Parzival appears on the number one spot. Parzival is the alias of a teenager called Wade Watts. He’s a Halliday obsessive, computer geek, down-and-out kid from the slums of this bleak looking future America. This is his story.
    I really enjoyed this book. Cline manages to perfectly capture the readers imagination with the detailed world of OASIS and the people within it. The story is choc-a-bloc with 1980’s references (alot of which I very proudly understood ^_^) and leaves you feeling like you played a video game yourself. I do think this one will be a bit of a Marmite book though. For those not into gaming and geekery this may not be the book for you, but I found it exciting and with twists that will leaving literally twisting in your seat and cheering Wade on from the sidelines.

    13 Little Blue Envelopes | Maureen Johnson
    After catching up on the Shades of London series I started what is now a bit of a Maureen Johnson binge #Oops. 13 Little Blue Envelopes is the story of Ginny (or Virginia, but don’t call her Virginia) on the adventure of a lifetime. Her recently deceased, mad, free spirit Aunt Peg left her a little gift: 13 little blue envelopes, each to be opened in order and each contain a task for Ginny to perform. But these tasks won’t confine her to her comfort zone in her cosy American small town. Nope these are taking her over the Atlantic Ocean and across the whole Europe on a trip that will challenge her, scare her and dare her to travel off the beaten track. Her first stop, little ol’ London town, where the journey will take her? Only the envelopes hold the answer to that one.
    This was a lovely little YA read, Ginny’s unusual circumstances can feel ridiculous and insane at times, but suspend belief long enough to give this one a chance! The characters she meets, the places she visits and Aunt Peg’s even crazier tasks make this one a fun and fast paced read. Ginny is hapless but in an endearing way and the story will have you wanting to grab the next train ride to anywhere.

    If you’ve read any of these let me know what you think! And don’t forget to follow Blogger’s Bookshelf to see mine and the team’s reviews!

    R.xoxo
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