The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton

OH MY GAWD!!! I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED THIS!!!!

Excuse the caplocks. I have been struggling through this book since January. It and I were not destined to be together. And like far to many people out there in the world, I was not prepared to give up (it also had something to do with the fact that I need to read a book based on a true story for the reading challenge I am doing and I was not going to give up and have to start another. Besides, I bought this one - I don't have another book based on a true story that I haven't read.).

Although I don't mind reading historical accounts, this one had the feel of a wikipedia entry on most occasions. There were parts that I did enjoy reading, and there were some things I did find interesting, but on the whole, I put off picking up this book at every opportunity. Even setting exam papers seemed more appealing. Having said that though, once I got reading, it was less painful.  Especially when I began speed reading it just to get done.

I would only recommend this to someone who has a special interest in The Great Train Robbery. Crichton did go to a lot of trouble to research the robbery and used court transcripts etc. to put it together. It seemed to be a very thorough account of a very cocky robbery. Other than that, perhaps a reader interested in England in the mid 1800s would find it interesting.

This is the 28th book I have read for the 2015 TBR Pile Reading challenge.
I gave this 2 very generous stars on Goodreads. While I don't think this book was for me, I think there are some people out there who would really enjoy it - those who like reading encyclopedias for fun (I am related to one. If you disagree with this rating, blame him.)

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusac

What a lovely story with a lovely message. Unfortunately, it is about to sound incredibly flat with a horribly written review. Because to say much at all is to spoil something. I can't comment on characters, plot or the message because that will be giving something away - and this is a book you should read, and your friends should read, and your kids should read. Everyone should read this book, because I like the message and I think we should all hear it.

Ed Kennedy is nineteen years old and going no where. Until one day he is at a bank when it is robbed. And then everything changes - well, somethings change.

This story is filled with some really touching characters. They are not extraordinary - in fact, they are very much like people we know. There are those going nowhere slowly, those who have money, those who are lonely, those who are... well, read the book. It would be a good way to get the list. And that way, I won't spoil anything.

Zusac really has some gorgeous descriptions. It just adds to the pleasure of reading. He manages to subdue the harshness of some scenes by personifying inanimate objects and reflecting the pain or emotion onto them. He also captures harshness with some beautiful metaphors. (Can you tell I teach English? I am sorry.)

“I think she ate a salad and some soup.
And loneliness.
She ate that, too.”

― Markus Zusak, I Am the Messenger

I think that this book is going to be one of those that I will keep thinking about in the future. It isn't that it is earth shattering in wisdom - but yet it is, coming from yet another completely ordinary human being. That message is important and so true.

 I would really recommend this one for anyone who enjoys reading.

This is the 27th book I have read for the 2015 TBR Pile Reading challenge.
I gave this 5 stars on Goodreads because, for a book marketed at YA, it is exceptional.

From the Dust Returned by Ray Bradbury

This is not the easiest book to talk about. Mostly, because it appears to be a book when in actuality, it isn't. It is a collection of 'short stories' about a supernatural family (with a normal human boy) Bradbury wrote for a magazine, that have been collected and put into this book. As a result, it is nearly impossible to give a synopsis of the book.

First things first, if you happen to decide to read this, I would recommend knowing that this isn't a book. That threw me as I was expecting a continuous plot. There are characters that appear throughout 'chapters' that one has not encountered before. It seemed very disjointed and unstructured to me - because it was only after I finished the book and read Bradbury's notes on it and realised what I had been reading. Even the short stories themselves are not conclusive. Some have an 'ending' of sorts, others don't - they are snippets of the lives of these people.

There is no question that Bradbury can write. His style is poetic with his use of metaphor and alliteration. I also appreciated how the actual construction of the sentences captured the feeling of the scene (a noteworthy page and a half sentence describing the storm that brought the 'guests'). It does not make for light easy reading though. It requires brain power and a bit of time.

I am glad I have read this. It is not the Bradbury book I have been hunting bookshops for for years, but at least I have one notched under my belt.

I would only recommend this for fans of Bradbury, or those who really appreciate more cerebral reading experiences.

This is the 26th book I have read for the 2015 TBR Pile Reading challenge.
I gave this 3 stars on Goodreads.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

I need to make a shelf called 'twisted' - just for Gillian Flynn.

Libby Day was seven years old when her brother massacred her family. Her testimony helped put him away. Now at the age of 31, she has doubts. Did he really do it? And if not, who did? What happened that day?

“The Days were a clan that mighta lived long
But Ben Day’s head got screwed on wrong
That boy craved dark Satan’s power
So he killed his family in one nasty hour
Little Michelle he strangled in the night
Then chopped up Debby: a bloody sight
Mother Patty he saved for last
Blew off her head with a shotgun blast
Baby Libby somehow survived
But to live through that ain’t much a life
—SCHOOLYARD RHYME, CIRCA 1985”

I inhaled this book. I would recommend beginning this book early in the day so that you can sleep at a semi-reasonable hour, or over a weekend where it does not matter if you don't get much sleep. It is not a book that is put down easily.

I enjoyed the alternating timelines. It really added to the suspense as the reader learnt what happened in little pieces as Libby was learning other stuff in little pieces. I also really appreciate Flynn's descriptions of dark things. My favourite quote from this book (although I will admit that I was so engrossed in the story that I was not really paying attention to quotes by page 2) is right there on page one: “Draw a picture of my soul, and it’d be a scribble with fangs.” I also enjoyed watching Libby's character develop and become more responsible and adult. I did feel that her progress was too fast - too fast perhaps to honestly believe that she was so incapable and unreliable initially.

If you enjoy dark and twisted, then this is a book you could enjoy.

This is the 25th book I have read for the 2015 TBR Pile Reading challenge.
I gave this 4 stars on Goodreads. I think any fan of crime thrillers will enjoy this one. I would suggest that having a strong stomach is a requirement for some scenes.

Ten Books I Plan To Have In My Beach Bag This Summer

This post is inspired by Top Ten Tuesday!

OK, southern hemisphere gal here. I am not torturing myself thinking about summer when I still have winter staring me in the face. So, I am changing this topic - slightly. It is now, 'Ten Books I Plan to have in my Bag this Winter!' (I don't know if this is against the rules, but the alternative topic, 'Ten Books I Think Make Great Beach Reads' just seemed unappealing as beaches just aren't exactly conducive to relaxing reading really as their is wind, sand, no shade and lots of noisy people, particularly under the age of 21. Trust me, I live on the coast.)

This winter, I have a few books planned. I can't say that I plan reading according to the seasons (as there is about a 10 degree Celsius difference between summer and winter here), but I do save my longer reads or fantasy series for my longer holidays. Thank Merlin a longer holiday is coming up - in just a hair over a month.

The list:
The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson.
I have been wanting to read this series since my mom read it last year. We both agree I will love it!

The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss.
Another one my mom got to first. From what she has had to say about it, and from what I have heard from Booktube, I am really looking forward to this. Plus, they have gorgeous covers!

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Neil Gaiman blurbed this. I then also heard him mention it in the interview he had the day after Terry Pratchett passed away. I have read the first page, and enjoyed how it was written. Now I want to enjoy the seven hundred plus pages that follow.

The Stand by Stephen King
I find really long books are a drag when the reading is constantly being interrupted by real life. I want to save this one also for my holiday as I want to read it this year for the one reading challenge I am doing. (I need to read a book published the year I was born.)

...at this point, common sense is pointing out that my holiday is 3 weeks long and those books already surpass 5000 pages in reading. So as something short-ish, I will add:

The Abhorsen series by Garth Nix
A colleague and friend from work lent me these books. I suppose I should really get to them so that I can return them. Otherwise they might just end up merging with my own collection.

Oh! And just because I really do not have any grasp on reality and am completely in denial as to how much I can read in 3 weeks, I am going to add an 11th book.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
I have been wanting to read this one for years and the other day I found it at my favourite book shop at a wonderfully reduced price. It would have been mine even if it wasn't at the reduced price!

I do not know what I am going to do if my favourite bookshop ends up getting the other books I want in time for my holiday... Maybe I should try and put a dent in this before then... It is so close to being winter after all.

Unpopular Opinions Book Tag

I saw this on Booktube during my crazy term of setting exam papers and thought I would like to do it. I then completely forgot about it until I saw Bookish Sarah do it on her blog. I have more opinions than I have books (that says a lot). I am going to try and mention different books and/or authors for each question although I am sure that each book, series or author mentioned could probably qualify for most of the questions.

1. A popular book or series that you didn't like.

I can't say that I enjoyed The Maze Runner by James Dashner. I think it was over-hyped to begin with, and that started me off expecting something brilliant. Instead, I felt the outcome was simple. It is also getting to the point where I feel it is a 'been there, done that' story line. You can find my thoughts on this book here.

2. A popular book or series that every one else seems to hate but you love. 

Love is a bit of a strong word here. Let's go with 'appreciate' instead. Allegiant by Veronica Roth. A lot of people hated the ending. I am not going to spoil anything here, but I will just say that any alternative ending in that situation, would not have been in character for that character, and the result, no matter how unpleasant, was in character. I should probably also add that, while I enjoyed book 1, I found the rest of the series a disappointment.

Oh, and The Diviners by Libba Bray. I have heard many reviews on Booktube where people have even DNFed it, but I absolutely loved it. I love the way Libba Bray writes - she has a maturer style than regular YA authors, and her plot was not conventional or necessarily predictable in the slightest. I also loved that the first book of the series finished with even more questions than it opened with!

3. A love triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did NOT want them to end up with (warn ppl for spoilers) OR an OTP that you don't like. 

Bella and Edward. I thought their relationship was completely toxic and as individuals, I couldn't stand them either. It was agony reading these books - which I only did because I needed to put together a reading list of YA books for uni while doing my teaching post-grad. I was shipping Edward and a good ray of sunshine and Bella and a bus. I actually have a blog post about this from my OOOOOLD blog. (I wonder if it is still up and running?)

4. A popular book Genre that you hardly reach for. 

Romance. I have no objection to having a bit of romance in the books I am reading, but I get irked when it takes over the plot. I think this stems from my childhood, before YA was a thing. There were only Sweet Valley High books or else a teenage version of Mills and Boon where at the end she got to kiss the guy. I found them annoying and frustrating and just couldn't get why these girls would throw away their holidays pining for these guys. I read The Hardy Boys and had a lot more fun. Why was it that girls' books were only romance, while boys' books were about adventure and action and they would be out doing interesting things? I hated the underlying messages in these books - that the only way a girl would find happiness was to find a guy; while guys could go out and LIVE. I guess it was the kindling that got this little feminist questioning gender roles.

5. A popular or beloved character that you do not like.

Claire from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Wow! People say women are moody. She is a rollercoaster. One sentence she is happy, the next sentence she is fuming and the next she is aggressive, and the one after that, she is back to being happy and in love. I also thought that she could be pretty dumb at times. I also felt that she created so many situations for Jamie to come in as the knight in shining armour the Scotsman in a kilt to come and save her. I found her sporadic swearing bouts to be jarring and a contradiction to her character. If war had hardened her, then she should have been hardened completely, not just randomly for shock value. At least she was capable and was holding down a 'job' though. But still... what an idiot!

6. A popular author that you can't seem to get into. 

Cassandra Clare. I just don't get the attraction. I thought the first 3 books in the Mortal Instruments were OK, but from then on everything else was a drag. I just cannot understand the hype for it. I think the plots are predictable, the characters are trying too hard and are just carbon copies of each other, and that the whole plot is just an excuse for everyone to pair up with someone. And that goes for The Infernal Devices too. I have declared that I will not read another book by her. And I think having read 9, NINE!!!, I am entitled to my opinion. It also probably has a lot to do with the fact that I find teen romance really annoying.

7. A popular book trope that you're tired of seeing. (examples "lost princess", corrupt ruler, love triangles, etc.)

I am completely sick and tired of love triangles. And I am getting a bit tired of retellings too. I don't mind when books use mythology to advance a story, such as Percy Jackson. It is not a retelling of the Greek or Roman myths. It is its own story. But there are so many books that are retellings of fairytales or myths. Sometimes I can appreciate them - when they come with a new angle, but other times I feel it is just a writer who cannot think of their own plots.

8. A popular series that you have no interest in reading.

The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. I watched my mom suffer through all 15 of these books. I am not doing that to myself. Especially because I have heard about the pages and pages of long-winded descriptions; and that the female characters are all annoying.

9. The saying goes "The book is always better than the movie", but what movie or T.V. show adaptation do you prefer more than the book?

Empire of the Sun by J.G Ballard. This has always been one of my favourite movies. The cinematography is beautiful and the story is touching. Christian Bale was the perfect choice for Jim and did a superb job as a boy. The book was filled with a bit too much information on WW2 aeroplanes and other things. I thought that the book had less charm than the movie. The movie also came with a beautiful soundtrack from John Williams. The book was silent.

I would also like to add here that the stage production of Wicked is way better than the book (by Greg Maguire). It also had a lot more charm than the book, although the book did go into some interesting philosophical debates that I enjoyed. The play, though, was so touching. If you are ever anywhere where they are showing Wicked, go and watch it.

A link to the original tag video on Youtube by TheBookArcher.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

“The island is ours. Here, in some way, we are young forever.”

― E. Lockhart, We Were Liars

I am generally very apprehensive reading books that are very over-hyped. Usually I am disappointed. On this occasion, I can't say I was completely disappointed, but I was expecting - I don't know - what does one expect when they hear that something is insanely brilliant? Perhaps I can say that I was expecting more, but to be honest, I still enjoyed this one.

I am not going to say anything about the plot - at all. If you decide you want to read it, go in completely blind. It is the best way. All I will say is that it is about a rich extended family who holiday together on an island near Martha's Vineyard (a place I only ever heard about on The Gilmore Girls...)

What I will say is that I really enjoyed the writing style. Lockhart uses some great metaphors, especially when it comes to describing emotional pain. I also enjoyed the word play, “I suffer migraines. I do not suffer fools.”

“Then he pulled out a handgun and shot me in the chest. I was standing on the lawn and I fell. The bullet hole opened wide and my heart rolled out of my rib cage and down into a flower bed. Blood gushed rhythmically from my open wound,
then from my eyes,
my ears,
my mouth.
It tasted like salt and failure. The bright red shame of being unloved soaked the grass in front of our house, the bricks of the path, the steps of the porch. My heart spasmed among the peonies like a trout.”

― E. Lockhart, We Were Liars

I also appreciated the "act normal" idea, the one where you are supposed to pretend that you are fine and not upset, even when it is completely acceptable to be upset, such as when a grandparent passes away. It is weird to think that in a day and age where psychology is prevalent and where one knows that talking about things helps in healing, that there is still a huge belief out there that ignoring problems or by pretending that they aren't there, they will go away.

I can't say I was the biggest supporter of the narrator. But she kept me very curious as to what was happening, or trying to figure out what had happened. I think that by the end of the story she becomes completely understandable though.

We Were Liars is a quick read. I think most fans of YA contemporary would enjoy it.

This was the 24th book I have read for the 2015 TBR Pile Reading challenge.
I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.

Morality for Beautiful Girls (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #3) by Alexander McCall Smith

“Women, as usual, were expected to behave better than men, and inevitably attracted criticism for doing things that men were licensed to do with impunity.”

― Alexander McCall Smith, Morality for Beautiful Girls

It is always pleasant to return to a familiar setting with familiar people. That is what it is like picking up another one from Smith's Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Mma Ramotswe is still solving crimes and helping improve people's lives. In this book, though, the person who needs the most help is someone close to her.

I am not sure why, but I did not enjoy this one as much as I did the previous two. Maybe it was because I didn't read it in one sitting as I did with the other two. Maybe it had to do with the issue of depression. Now, I am not saying that depression is not an important issue that needs attention and awareness and understanding. I am far from that. I think it could have been that the character who ended up dealing with depression was a character that I did not expect to have endure that. Silly, yes, I know. Just because a character is stable and responsible etc. does not imply in the slightest that they are immune to such complications. But, but, but. I could not help feeling that it was out of character. This is very contradictory. I know. But sometimes I wondered if this angle was put in the book because it is good to discuss depression, and not because it is a part of a character arc. I guess I will find out more when I read the next one.

The results of this character being removed from the direct plot though were enjoyable. I really enjoyed watching Mma Makutsi really show her skills. She is quite a special character in that her views are innocent but still filled with snippets of wisdom.

One thing I do appreciate in all these book is the underlying notes on feminism. The characters in these stories are breaking the moulds and questioning the expectations on women. Although they still conform a lot, as one tends to in society, the thoughts are there and the messages are being conveyed.

This was the 23rd book I have read for the 2015 TBR Pile Reading challenge. (If you want to join up, you can until the end of the month, I think.)
I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.

Room by Emma Donoghue

This has to be one of my favourite reads of the year so far!

“Scared is what you're feeling. Brave is what you're doing.”

― Emma Donoghue, Room

Imagine being raised in a room. Imagine never realising that there is a world outside the door. Just imagine. Jack and his mother do not need to imagine. They know.

I absolutely adored this book. I do not want to go into too many details with regards to the plot because I feel that some of the experience of reading the book will be lost if even the small spoilers are dropped.That always makes a review very difficult though.

I loved Donoghue's choice of narrator. She had the little, five-year-old boy telling the story, which made it a lot more adventurous in tone than it would have been if one of the adults were narrating. I loved the way she had him personify things in the room and his use of kiddie language, getting things like the irregular verbs incorrect. His understanding of the world was also gorgeous. It is the reader's job to read between the lines and work out what is really happening in the story. The real story is heavy and dark, but because of Jack it is not.

The sociological concept was intriguing. (Vague!? Yes! I am sorry, but I really do not want to spoil you!) I must admit that I was very impressed with Donoghue's approach in dealing with it and it got me debating it with my mom, brother and sister-in-law for quite a few days. I even took the ideas to work and debated them with the therapist and another teacher. I love it when a book makes me think long after I am done reading it.

Jack was a delightful character to read from. Although we only ever get to see his mother through his eyes, she was really interesting too. I thought that she was extremely invented and exceptionally intelligent. The routine and crafts that she put together for Jack in the room were inspired. I do not know if I would have been as good as she was. Her character does plummet later, but I feel that that is completely understandable. I do not detract stars from books because I do not like characters or because they do things that bug me. In her case I think she is justifiable. Let me explain in a way that has absolutely NOTHING to do with this book. I worked in South Korea for 3 years. The culture there surprised me, but I was expecting it to. What I didn't expect was the culture shock I got when I returned back HOME. Yes. Insane, crazy, whatever, but it is true. And I am not the only one who has experienced this. Apparently it is completely normal. So that is why I can understand Jack's mother. I think her issues are realistic, and although it showed her weakness, it was right that she should have them.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in psychological or sociological theories. I would also recommend it for those who are wanting a change from the normal stories out there. This one is original in both execution and plot.

This was the 22nd book I have read for the 2015 TBR Pile Reading challenge.
I gave this 5 stars on Goodreads. I will definitely reread this book at some point.

Bout of Books 13 Wrap Up

It is over - unfortunately. I knew when I signed up for this one, that I would not do anything startling. Work is just a bit hectic as the exams start next week, and all papers need to be finalised by Wednesday. For the only English teacher covering grades 9 through to 12, it means work, work, work and nothing else. But having said that, by Bout of Books 13 was not a complete disaster.

In all, I finished 3 books (ok, ok, ok, in all fairness, I had started 2 before the readathon began) and started 2 more. Here is the final wrap up!

Books completed:

The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker.  50-ish pages
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. 32 pages
Room by Emma Donoghue. 432 pages

Books started:

Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman. 86 pages (+ the intro)
Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith. 118 pages

Total: 718 pages

General thoughts:

Short stories actually do work well for me for readathons. I thought I would give it a try this time, and it was nice having something short to read when I eventually got to bed at night, especially something that I knew I could start and finish and not be a zombie the next day.

Room was brilliant. As soon as I have finalised the last 5 exam papers, I will write a review on that one. It is one of my favourite books of the year so far, especially as far as the execution of the story went.

Anyway, that is enough from me. Time to get back to work. (The story of my life....)

The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker

A golem is awoken on a ship sailing to the new world just before her master dies. A djinni is accidentally released from a lamp in a very young America. Neither are human; both need to fit in.

This was a very well-crafted, enjoyable story. The plot moves with a good pace, although, fans of more action packed novels would probably find it slow, as there is not a lot of action or suspense built. But having said that, the story does keep moving, and it does keep the reader curious to find out what happened in the past and was was going to happen. What more could one ask for? I have always enjoyed stories where one needs to keep an eye out for clues, and this one definitely fell into that category.

I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship between Chava and Ahmad, and I appreciated that some friendships lasted and other didn't, and some had hiccoughs, and others didn't. It was a very realistic view on friendship. I really enjoyed watching how Chava and Ahmad met and slowly became friends. The transition was not rushed, and as a result, it felt more valuable. I also appreciated how Ahamd and Arbeely grew apart, plagued with jealousy and frustration with each other.

What I really liked most though, was not the claim that these two were on a hunt to discover what it meant to be human, but to discover what it meant to be themselves and to embrace that. I felt that there was a lot of emphasis on one's nature and what that meant, and accepting that for all the good and bad it entailed.

I felt that there was something lacking, though, but I can't put my finger on it. It might have to do with the fact that I barely managed to get through a few pages at night and that that interrupted the flow of the reading experience and robbed something from it. Or it might be something else.

I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads. I must admit that I think 4 stars might be a little generous, but it was definitely better than 3.
This was the 21st book I have read for the 2015 TBR Pile Reading challenge.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This was a striking read. Wow, just wow!

Charlie is an introverted, intelligent guy who is about to start high school, and let's face it, no one is really prepared for that step.

On the surface, this book has similarities to many other coming-of-age stories out there. Smart outcast kid at school, the English teacher with the extended reading list... but there was something so much MORE in this book than in others.

I really thought the format of this story was very effective. Charlie was telling his story anonymously though letters. It was a nice change from the diary format - or the straightforward novel. It also made the tone very conversational which really made it easy reading and made immersion into the story much faster and more thorough. I really felt like I was there.

There were so many things I enjoyed about the plot and the characters. I loved that Charlie was not as sex crazy as other teen protagonists in similar stories. Yes, he was definitely interested, and he did learn a lot in that department, but he had other things on his mind too. There were some interesting female characters who were strong and smart. Sam in particular was interesting. I also appreciated that the characters were flawed. They were far more realistic that way. (And yes, a flawed female character does not equal a weak character - it means a realistic one.) The one huge striking draw of this story is the friendships in it. I thoroughly enjoyed the interaction between the characters. I liked that the friendship too was perfect because of its lack of perfection. One could easily argue that Sam and Pat were bad influences on Charlie - but in many ways they were extremely good for him too.

There are some mature themes in this book, and I think they were covered well. I think it is important for teenagers to be exposed to the harsh realities of this world. This book handles these topics maturely and in a way that a younger reader could gain something from the experience.

I gave this 5 stars on Goodreads.
It is the 20th book I have read for the 2015 TBR Pile Reading challenge.

Bout of Books update Day 3

Being an adult sucks. I thought about using that word, 'sucks', but there is no other word that I can think of that quite captures the slurping, gloopy connotation of 'sucks'. So I am sticking with it. Because that is exactly the feeling I have had this week as I admire my TBR pile from my computer and then head back to work instead.

But it is not completely terrible. Here is what I have completed so far:
The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker. I think I had about 50 pages to go to the end on Monday. Yay!
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This was finished on Tuesday. I had 32 pages to go. This is a brilliant book, and every year that I read it, it gets better and better.
I also managed to set the literature exams for grades 10 through 12. The memos alone for each exam are 25 pages each. (Now that is impressive, let me just say that.)

I have since started:
Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman. I am 76 pages in so far of actually stories, but I waded though the introduction too. It was really interesting!

So that means I have read 158 pages so far. It is quite a lot considering how much work I am juggling along with reading.

Bout of Books 13.0

I can't say that the timing is good - in fact it couldn't really be much worse. My holidays and long weekends are a distant memory.  But I am going to give this my best shot. Who knows, maybe it will motivate me to get the 20 exam papers I have to set, finished before Bout of Books starts (unlikely, but I will cross my fingers.). Perhaps it will encourage me to take a few breaks from setting exam papers and actually relax. Either way, I want to sign up for this. My TBR pile has grown thanks to my retail therapy and the fact that my favourite bookshop is at the entrance to my grocery shop. (I dare you to avoid that level of temptation! Especially when the staff are awesome and know what I like - and keep books aside for me that they know I will LOVE!)

So, what is the plan - besides putting a dent in my TBR pile (apparently one challenge is not enough to get it back down to a reasonable number)?

I will probably start off with the next book in The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Andrew McCall Smith, which is Morality for Beautiful Girls. These books are wonderful. They are also quick to get through, which is of course an added bonus for a readathon. Nothing like feeling accomplished on the first day.

I might then read Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. This is the last book of hers that I have to read. I usually find that books like these go very quickly.

It is tempting to then consider Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman, because it could be nice to read one or two short stories a night and feel like I am still making progress. My other alternative is the Complete Short Stories of Sherlock Holmes, but, shew, that is a massive book. I prefer to leave that one for random reading throughout the year.

Considering my workload, I think that should be more than enough to be getting on with, but just in case I do manage to pull off the biggest miracle of the millennium and finish setting papers before the readathon starts, I will probably set out to put a dent in one of my thicker stand alones (the majority of my books on my TBR pile are over 500 pages.) Or I could try and finish The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton. I mean, I have only been reading it since the beginning of the year - if not longer.

Wish me luck!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

April 2015 Wrap Up

Wow. April seems so long ago - or at least, the short holiday at the beginning of April seems a year away. Time can be cruel. Anyway, before even more time passes and I forget what I read, let me get on with this. (If I seem rather fuzzy, it is because my brain has been replaced with a snot-producing machine. It is far less effective.)

First of was Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith. I love this series so far. It follows Mma Ramotswe, a lady private detective in Botswana, who stated the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. This book was another charming view of the lives of the main characters. The cast of characters is growing and I can only see good things for the future of this series. It gave me a good laugh and touched me.

Then, in completely the opposite direction, I read Snow White  Must Die by Nele Neuhaus. This is a crime novel set in Germany. It follows two detective, Pia Kirchhoff and Oliver von Bodenstein, as they solve the murder of a young girl. This is the second book I have read by Neuhaus this year, although this one preceded the other chronologically. It didn't spoil much reading them out of order though, so if you are interested in crime novels with a few twists in the plot, don't be too upset if you can't get them in order. I would not say they are the best examples of their genre out there, but if you happen to enjoy the same guilty pleasure as I do (a quick crime novel) then these are more than adequate.

Next up was Dodger by the late and great Terry Pratchet. As can be expected, this as an enjoyable read. It is, however, marketed as a children's book, which could lead to a few disappointments as I do not think many youngsters today would catch even half the allusions made in this book. I think it would go over many youngsters' heads. Having said that though, is it completely necessary to catch all the inside jokes to enjoy the story? I don't know. I know they made it more enjoyable. And who knows, maybe it could encourage a kid out there to find out about them. (Yes, denial is a wonderful place. Hermione was a fictitious character.)

While enjoying my holiday with my mom I read Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. This book was a disappointment for me. I was expecting something moving, though-provoking. Instead I felt I got cliched characters and a poor excuse for a character who behaved poorly. I think that, while forgiveness is necessary, the book would have meant more if the mother had claimed ownership for what she had done. Yes, yes, idealism all the way there. It doesn't happen in real life - which is probably why arguments linger without resolve. But I felt that her friends gave all the excuses for her. Anyway, I can feel a huge internal debate beginning in my sinus-addled brain, so I am just going to move on. I would love to know whether someone out there enjoyed this book, or saw something more in it than I did. (Oh, and what an insipid cover. It really is as washed out as the picture.)

Also started on holiday was 11.22.63 by Stephen King. This was a MASSIVE book. I picked it up for a yearly reading challenge I am doing - read a book with numbers in the title. I was not disappointed. Although I am sure that a lot could have been trimmed from the pages, the overall effect of reading this was a pleasant five-year journey into early 60s America. As a non-American, I found that there was a lot to be learnt in this book. I would definitely recommend this book, but perhaps not for impatient readers. There are parts where one could feel that the story could just get a move on.

Next up was my birthday haul book, Mr Mercedes by Stephen King. I really enjoyed this one. I murdered the book in under a day, and barely breathed through the last third of it. I found the duel focal points added to the suspense. Although not the 'typical' King book, I would recommend this one to fans of crime novels and thrillers.

Some time around this point I also finished reading The Crucible by Arthur Miller. This is the gazillionth time I have read this play since 2012, as it is one of the options for the Matric setwork books. I am constantly impressed with this play and the way in which the themes are portrayed. What is more disturbing is that the message of the play is still far too relevant in today's age where we should know better. I would recommend this to people who would like to arm themselves against the stupidity of society. Yes. There is a lot of stupidity in society.

And finally there was Winger by Andrew Smith. This is a YA book set in a boarding school, which covered the reading goal requirement of reading a book set in high school. Winger was a very hyped up book and I must admit that while I really did enjoy it, the 5 star rating it got from me was judging it as a YA book and not an overall representation of my feelings. There were some parts of this book that I absolutely admired and appreciated, and there were others that I could have happily done without. I do think it is a good book for teens to read though, so as soon as I get my budget from The Readathon last term, it is going into the basket for my school library.

Not completed in April

The Great Train Robbery. It is on my shelf behind my bed collecting dust. At least I actually contemplated picking it up in April. Meh.
I also started The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker which is going well and should be finished soon.
I am also near to completing (also for the gazillionth time) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee as the Grade 10 setwork book.

 Totals for April

Total completed: 8 books
Started: 2 books
Books cleared from TBR pile: 6 (This is for the 2015 TBR Pile Reading challenge.)
Books added to TBR pile: 9 (I am never going to get my TBR down at this rate!)