Saturday 31 December 2016

Bout of Books 18


Bout of Books 18Nothing starts off a new year like a readathon!

I almost missed the announcement of Bout of Books 18, what with Blogger's new layout where I now have to hunt to find the blogs I subscribe to. Luckily Facebook saved the day. I found out in time!

I have yet to figure out what I am going to read (10 minutes having passed since discovering the start of BoB), but I am sure I will figure it out soon enough. It isn't as though my TBR pile is lacking after all. I also like the idea of getting ahead of my 2017 reading goal right from the word go.

To all other participants, I wish you hours of quiet time, exciting books and coffee.
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 2nd and runs through Sunday, January 8th 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 18 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin

Something dreadful happened to Tess when she was a teenager. By dreadful, I mean really, really dreadful. Perhaps the worst thing besides being raped or murdered (or raped and murdered). Decades later she is forced to face the reality that the person who was arrested for the crime might not have been guilty. Of course, she has always wondered this. Someone, after all, has been planting blackeyed susans under her bedroom windows.

I really enjoyed this, but I can completely understand why some people would not. I think it would be less the read than the disappointment thereafter. But, I loved that (Yip, I am being vague. Any more detail and I would completely ruin it for you.). I loved how this book got into my head, made my dreams extra weird (and a bit scary), and had me just as tense and as terrified as Tess was - especially for her daughter who is now a teenager. I also really enjoyed that this was not your average predictable thriller. No. There were surprises along the way, and definitely a few "You've got to be kidding me!" moments.

“Closure doesn’t exist,” she responds smoothly. “Just … awareness. That you can’t ever go back. That you know a truth about life’s randomness that most other people don’t.”
― Julia Heaberlin, Black-Eyed Susans

Another thing I really appreciated was the research that went into this book. Not only was the psychology behind this realistic (for extreme cases - I had stumbled upon this information while researching a book), but the forensic science was up to date and correlated with other things I had read (particularly from Kathy Reichs - and we all know what line of work she is in). Basically, I came out of this feeling that I had learnt something. This book also covered important social themes - themes that are particularly relevant in a day where prejudice and bias is seeming acceptable again. (And here I thought the world was progressing. How disappointing.)

I should probably also mention the format of the book. Instead of having an info dump of the events in the past, I had to piece everything together. One chapter was in the past, one in the present, past, present, and so on. But the past chapters pick up after the 'dreadful thing', so even that is left to the reader to find out slowly. I liked that, as it kept me completely involved in the book and turning pages.

I would recommend this for fans of Kathy Reichs's Tempy Brennan series, or just fans of thrillers. I gave this 4 stars on Goodreads. For a thriller, I found it original and a pretty good example of the genre - and not badly written either.

Puppies!

Where has the time gone? It was just yesterday, surely, when the schools closed and I was deemed free. Yay! I had such good intentions. I was going to rebuild cabinets in the kitchen, I was going to sort out my garden and get it flourishing again, I was going to fix up the veggie garden, I was going to read my TBR pile (almost) flat, and I was going to get this blog and all my reviews in and up to date. Well, surprise, surprise, none of that has happened. I have two good excuses: 1) we are in the middle of a hectic drought, so doing anything in the garden is pointless, and 2) I got puppies!

Tougie
Puppies: the devourers of time (and toes and shoes), the creators of work (I have mopped floors endlessly), and bundles of fun (if you can keep your fingers out the way). To those who have been following me, you will know I lost my Staffie to cancer in June. Tortuga (Tougie) was such an awesome dog, and he left a very big hole in the house and our hearts. Because this is Africa and safety is a genuine concern, I knew I had to get past Tougie and get another dog. I phoned around at the different animal rescue organisations (definitely not supporting breeders after reading Kathy Reich's Bones in Her Pocket), and finally hit the jackpot. Save-a-Pet in Port Elizabeth had what they thought were Staffie puppies who had just reached the age to adopt that morning. I tossed my mom in the car and we headed down there keeping closely to the speed limit. We didn't want someone to come and pip us at the post.

Pic from Save-a-Pet. The box they were
 found in
At Save-a-Pet we heard the horrifying story of the four puppies (one of which we were planning to adopt). They had been found in a burger box on a rubbish tip at 12 hours old. I gather that there were more than the four in the box, but only those had made it. Two looked like Staffie pups, two looked like Labradors. They were hand reared on puppy formula.

Pic from Save-a-Pet. How little they
were.
Choosing one was a difficult task. They looked far too cute, wobbling around on unsteady legs, the little yips they gave us as they wanted to be loved... My heart broke. But, my mom and I decided that we would adopt the little girl - the 'Staffie' one. She was feisty and curious. At Save-a-Pet, they had named her Chilli (after a burger) because she was the spicy one. We couldn't take her home that day, as they were in quarantine for two weeks having just had their inoculations; and Save-a-Pet don't just let you take a puppy home. No, they send an inspector out to check your property to make sure that your property is suitable. I suspect it also prevents people from picking up dogs for dog fighting - yes... there is that problem going around too. (Some people should be shot - slowly.)

Mom and I on the big day!
Anyway, two weeks passed. Mom and I were busy puppy-proofing the house. Electric chords were lifted, I cleaned up the back garden (did I just accidentally do something on my to-do list?), the carpet was lifted and rolled up... We then made a bed for our new little madam, bought some toys and got out Tougie's blankets and gave them a good wash to freshen them up.

Finally the day came! We arrived there at 8am, even though their business hours say 10am (they said we could come early). Our little girl was excited to see us and came running up to the fence of the enclosure! My heart was full. And then... we heard that two of the other puppies were being adopted that day, but one was not. The people who were to adopt him did not pass the inspection. I just couldn't leave him behind all on his own. (He was too small to put with the bigger dogs.) Mom and I shared some eye-to-eye communication, and then we declared that we would take him too. Which is why I have two puppies and not the planned one. It also explains why we have a pup that looks like it has a lot of Lab in him - a new venture for us - a family who has only had Staffies and Alsatians before.

Neagley
I could just leave the story there, but I will take it just a few minutes later. Because these shelters are full, many of these dogs don't get to walk on grass. Our lot had never seen grass before. When we got home and popped them on the lawn for some very necessary ablutions, they looked quite funny trying to figure out what the spongy green stuff under their feet was. In fact, it took them three days to be able to run in a straight line on the grass. Today, they love rolling around on it.

Oh! I haven't told you what their names are! This is Neagley (right). Her name was taken from the Jack Reacher books by Lee Child. Sergeant Neagley is a character that pops up every now and again. She was a military cop along with Jack. She is tough and capable. My Neagley is looking a lot less like a Staffie now that she is getting a bit older, but time will tell what we have. So far, she is living up to her name. In fact, stroppy bitch would not be an incorrect description of her.

Sherlock
And this is Sherlock (left). You don't need any explanation as to where I got that name from. Can't you just picture him with a deer stalker and pipe? His permanent wrinkly forehead makes it look like he is always deep in thought. He seems to have a gentler nature and is quite independent. He has no objection exploring the garden when Neags is napping (or pulling something apart).

I don't regret getting two puppies at all. They keep each other company, they chase each other around the garden, and what difference does it make whether I mop up one pee or two? Training is proving a bit trickier as I rarely know who made the puddle. Oh, and the other little problem with training. Apparently I have the best trained cats ever. They come when I call. Neagley and Sherlock have a healthy fear of the cats, so when I call the pups and the cats come running to me, they are not quite keen on joining in. We will be taking them off to puppy school in the new year. With luck that will iron out a few minor issues.

ETA: Although I really wanted to have all of 2016's reads reviewed in 2016, I don't think that is going to happen. I will be popping them up into the beginning of 2017. New Year's resolution? Don't fall behind on reviews (again)!

Saturday 17 December 2016

The Heir Chronicles by Cinda Williams Chima

I picked the first three in the series up because I really enjoyed Cinda Williams Chima's Seven Realms series. Being October and in the middle of setting a gazillion exam papers (are you getting bored of me mentioning this? I m getting bored of doing it...), I needed something light and fun and not requiring any serious thought. Of course, having worked myself to a stand still, only getting 3 to 4 hours sleep a night for a month, trying to make my deadlines, I had a 'senior' or 'blonde' moment and picked up book 2 instead of book 1. That was not such a good idea, as I am sure you could guess, being a fantasy series. However, besides the fact that I spoilt book 1 completely, at least I was lucky enough to choose a series where the second book follows a new character. But... this has made reviewing the first two books a bit tricky.

The Warrior Heir


In The Warrior Heir, we meet Jack. He thinks he is just an ordinary teenager, but, of course, he is not. What he is though, I will leave you to find out. In this magical world, some people are born with weir stones near their hearts. This makes them either warriors, wizards, sorcerers,enchanters or seers. (The rest of us, I am afraid, are just Muggles - or Anaweir as they are called in this world.) To add to the complexities of this world there is also a long running feud between the white and red roses.

 This was fun to read. The action ran through the pages non-stop. I do have to question the sense of some of the adults in here. I think YA should stop encouraging the myth that as soon as you pass 21 your IQ decreases in leaps and bounds.

I wish I had read this book first (as opposed to book 2 - senior moment). I spoilt myself very badly, which I think took something out the 'Wow' factor, or the 'Hey! I was right!" factor. It makes it hard to comment on the suspense because I already knew the outcome.

This is an interesting world Chima has created. The use of 'class' is definitely a very good reflection on the prejudiced world we live in.

While giving this a 3 star rating, I think I would have given it a 5, had I read this when I was 14.

The Wizard Heir


In this addition to the series, we meet Seph. Seph knows he can do things - especially when he is not intending to. The book starts with him accidentally burning down a night club full of people. Woops! Seph gets sent to a special school, but things are not what they seem. He meets people like him. But... this ain't Hogwarts!

The plot in this is interesting and maintains the suspense throughout. It is targeted at a younger YA audience though, so I am not the intended demographic. To be honest though, this is hitting the spot. It is light and fun and predictable (yes, yes - did anyone not work out that ...).

This was nice to read during hectic moments in life. I also gave it 3 stars, but again, just in case you missed it, I am far too old to be the target audience for this.

The Dragon Heir


Another interesting installment.


This book follows Jason and Madison (who you meet in book 2) as the war continues. What role could someone who is not a powerful wizard play? In fact, what role could an anti-wizard play? Can the kids keep the defences up and running considering the odds they are facing? You would have to read this to find out.


I was impressed with the bold move Chima made in here. I did not expect that. Each book follows different characters; book 1 - Jack, book 2 - Joseph etc. It gives different perspectives and adds to the overall story. But I miss the characters from the earlier books. I feel that they almost become background secondary characters in the other books. Which is a bit disappointing once one has got to know and like the characters. I felt that all the personality they had developed in a prior book is lost as soon as they are no longer the main character of the next book. I could not feel Jack in here, and Seph was a completely foreign being. He was definitely not the boy I had grown to know in book 2. And I have to ask the question that I tend to ask while reading YA. WHERE THE BLAZES ARE THE ADULTS? Seriously, I consider myself to be challenged in the maternal instinct department, but hell, not even I would leave a bunch of kids to do THAT all alone while I went off on a different adventure.

This one has a fairly conclusive ending, so I am going to leave it here for now. While it isn't a bad series for younger readers, I am not dying to know what happens next. Another 3 stars from me.

Thursday 24 November 2016

The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

Another one of my 50c finds at the School Feeding Fund's book sale.

Tom Ripley has not had an easy life. He was orphaned as a child and raised by a cold aunt. Now, as an adult, he is dabbling in white collar crime because he still can't get a break. But things change when he gets asked to find the wealthy Dicky Greenleaf in Greece and convince him to come home. (Jaws music should probably be playing at this point.)

I think I have realised why I struggle with books with the bad guy as the protagonist. I am a goody two shoes. I have this ridiculous fear of getting into trouble. So this is my mental process while reading books like this: What are you doing? You are never going to get away with that! ... Oh you idiot! You are going to be in SOOO much trouble! ... Dude! You're insane. WTF! There is no way you are going to pull that off! ... etc., etc.,etc.. I have to force myself to realise that, should this be real, I would want the guy trussed up well and tossed in jail indefinitely. But the thought of all that trouble...

In other words, my reading experience of this was draining and suspenseful; I could use that old cliche: like watching a train wreck in slow motion. But having said that, it was an interesting read. I could also see similarities between Tom and Patrick Bateman from 'American Psycho' by Bret Easton Ellis. 'The Talented Mr Ripley' was far less graphic though, so it was much less repulsive to read.

I probably should also mention that this is one of the few books I have read where I have noticed the correct use of the gerund. Patricia Highsmith managed to take me on one hell of a ride because of the characters she created. Even though I would detest someone like Tom, I could feel sympathy for him, and, (which is odd) want him to succeed - or at least get away with what he did. I felt Tom's hurt, embarrassment and discomfort when things stopped going well for him with Dicky. Although Marge should have been seen as a caring character, I constantly saw her as a potential hindrance. I think this all goes to show that Tom was a brilliant narrator.

This is probably deserved 3.5 stars from me, if not more.

Tuesday 15 November 2016

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

When a reluctant learner gives you a book to read because they liked the book - you read it. You read it even if your TBR pile has multiplied and had children. You read it even if you have absolutely no interest in the book whatsoever. So I read this.

Eddie is killed in a freak accident at work while trying to save a child. What follows are his experiences in heaven, meeting people whose lives touched his, or whose lives he touched.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is not a slog to read. It goes quickly - very quickly. The other thing I liked about it is that it highlighted that there is more than one side to every situation. A point that many people could do with some reminding about. But, I will be honest here, I didn't enjoy it. Let me explain. While I was happy that there were two sides to every issue, I felt that the reasons given for some of the actions of some people were not adequate in justifying their actions, and were definitely not adequate for understanding, let alone forgiveness. Take, for example, an extremely (physically) abusive parent. One sole decent act later on in life does not justify nor make up for years of beating one's children. Yes, it might show another side to a person who might have just been considered a monster, but it only raises more questions. Why could somebody who was clearly capable of understanding and forgiveness and immense self-sacrifice beat their kids without cause? See. Those are the things I am questioning after reading this.

I do not know if this was intended for a young audience, but it was written as though it was. The vocabulary and sentence structure was the opposite of challenging. Even the print was suited for the visually challenged. The best part of this was the very beginning when you know Eddie is going to die, but don't know how. The suspense was done fairly well there.

But the review that Junior got at school was that I thought his philosophy on life was interesting. I liked how there were two sides to every situation. And I liked how even what would seem irrelevant events, could cause chain reactions or cause an effect and effect people years later. I told her I thought I was a very interesting read.

I know I am not the intended audience for books like this. I am an atheist. I don't believe in heaven. I also feel that Mitch Albom knows just as much as everyone else does about the 'afterlife' - absolutely bloody nothing. So while I can see what he is trying to do (besides run on the shirt tails of Tuesday's with Morrie, his first book which got acclaim from Opera), I just don't see him as an expert on any of this. His guess on the afterlife is as good as yours and mine. His theories for living life are as good as yours and mine.

I gave this 3 stars. It was Ok.

Sunday 13 November 2016

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

Did I ever mention the amazing book sale I stumbled upon? I found this book at that magnificent book sale in the 'Ten books for R5' section. Yes. There is no typo there. I really spent a whopping 50c on this. (All the other books were R5 a book - and I mean ALL the other books! :D ) The other thing that drew me to this book (because at that price I was already very tempted) was the way in which it is written. It is written as separate poems, which together, make the whole story. I have read epic poems (Paradise Lost comes to mind first), but never something like this. For that price, I was prepared to give it a go.

Billie Jo is living in The Dust Bowl in America during the depression. Her father is a wheat farmer, and with the drought and dust (and no, we are not talking about the bit that one tackles when cleaning the house, this is the type or dust that can cover and hide your house), times are hard. And just when things are hard - they get worse.

While I do not feel able to judge the quality of the poetry, I am quite confident that I can make a fair appraisal of the story. I found this very touching. Maybe that was a result of the poetry. There were no unnecessary frills and long passages of description which drowned out the bare bones of the story. The story itself was devastating in places, but ended with a tone of hope.

I found the history of the Dust Bowl during the depression interesting. It is something I had never heard about. (If you want to know why, take a look at the unit of currency my country uses.) The imagery of the dust was vivid, and felt smothering, adding to the feeling the narrator was experiencing.

I gave this 4 stars because I felt touched by this book. I could relate to Billie Jo wanting to leave and I could relate to.... well... that would be a spoiler.

Friday 11 November 2016

Lightbringer series books 1 -3 by Brent Weeks

Yeah,. The best cure for one's head after reading something truly sick and twisted (did you see I have finally made the label for that with the last post?) is some fantasy. Plus, it was the holiday (that brief 5 days off between one crazy workload and the next) which meant I could settle down and get some reading done - reading books that one does not want to have to put down at a reasonable hour because of work the following day.

I am going to lump the three books together here. Just in case you are new around here, this makes it easier as books in the middle of a series are harder to review because pretty much anything said is a spoiler for earlier books.

The Black Prism


This is a fantastic world with a super magic system based on colours! How different! The Prism, the magical head of this world receives notice that he has an illegitimate son in a distant land. Following his son, Kip, he realise that war is breaking out there. Can The Prism reach him in time to save his life? Well, that will be answered by around chapter 3. after that, it gets more exciting and involved as politics, war and hidden agendas come in to play.

I will say one thing for Brent Weeks - he can write one action packed story. I must say that whenever I read a story that gets too exciting, I end up pacing around the house - something that is difficult to do with a book in my hand. But I just can't sit still. I would have finished this an hour earlier if I didn't feel an urgent need to go pacing.

What I enjoyed the most about this was that the characters kept me guessing. Good, bad, just well-rounded? Guess time will tell!

The Blinding Knife 


I am honestly not saying a word on the synopsis here. Anything I say will ruin book 1.

Another thrilling ride. This books does not suffer from second-book-slump syndrome. One thing about exciting books is that they read very quickly.

If I were to be picky, I would say that there are some continuity issues with regards to characters. Also, that there are times where I feel that some lines are put in to be funny (when it really is not the right place) and unfortunately, it gives an aftertaste of immaturity. But then. I wasn't reading this because I was in the mood for highbrow intellectualism. This story is fun, fast-paced, and likes to keep one guessing. And guessing and guessing some more. I don't think I would trust my own shadow in this world!

The Broken Eye


Once again, I have nothing to say about the synopsis. If you want to be spoiled, head on over to Goodreads and read it there.

This one is my favourite so far! And do I want to get my hands on the next two books - yesterday!

The odd moment of immaturity that I had mentioned in my review of the previous book was drastically reduced in this one. The story has become so much more involved and layered. To say that I enjoyed this is quite the understatement. It was exactly what I wanted for my very short holiday. Perfect escapism, an amazing magic system, and a world that has left me quite impressed. And hell, did it play havoc on my nerves. I hope my favourite characters have gone and done something really stupid.

AHHH!!! I want the next two books NOW!!!! Please!!!

Wednesday 9 November 2016

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

I had heard a lot about this one. I had even seen the movie, although I could not remember much about it. And then a review on Stripped Cover Lit reminded me that I had American Psycho and that I should probably clear it off my TBR.

Patrick Bateman is successful. He works on Wall Street (a place I no longer think one should aspire to work for). He also happens to be a psychopath. Enqueue grossness.

What can I say? At least it is over. I need a HUGE bucket of brain bleach.

This was too disturbing. I cannot even comment on the writing - with the exception of one thing, but I'll get to that in a bit. I suppose the book was effective, achieved its goal. I am completely grossed out, and I suspect that was Ellis's intention. But... I am a bit too disturbed to actually spend time figuring out what he was trying to say. He created really real characters too. I think that is what added to the disturbing experience. I found these characters extremely annoying (well, besides the Psycho - who managed to reach a category I haven't named yet), but I felt that was accurate.

The thing that really annoyed me was the constant reference to fashion designers. Every person in this book has their attire described by designer: Armani, and every other name (most that I don't even recognise). I get that this is done because that was what the shallow people in this damned book were interested in, adding to their shallow characters, and their extensive bank accounts. But by the third chapter I was irritated. Thirty chapters and I was thoroughly frustrated. Although - hearing about the fashion choices was a dang side safer that reading all the other stuff - which was not fun. Not fun at all.

While I suspect that a reread would get more out of this (what is up with the time; is it non-linear, or does it jump a lot?) I am not up for that - EVER. I was also not sure whether he had imagined all the killings. Those scenes sounded more like the porn videos he had been watching. The sex was explicit, yet the violence was either a description of the aftermath, or just the beginning. The thing with time that got me wondering if it was non-linear was that chapter on a random Thursday where he was running around the city like a complete lunatic. I found it hard to believe that he would have been able to pull off incidents like that while still being a successful bloke on Wall Street. As I said, I think I would get more out with a reread. Confession time: I ended up skim reading this.

I do think this was well done. I felt like I had been in the head of one super sick psycho. But after reading this, I really did feel like I could do with washing my head out.

This left me in the mood for light and fluffy. REALLY fluffy. BUT! Don't take my word for this. I have friends who have this listed as one of their favourite books. As to me: I gave it 1 star. It is fair to penalise a book for being too well done?

PS: The cover for this book is stunning!

Monday 7 November 2016

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood is an automatic buy author for me. The first time I read her was at university. We had to read Surfacing by her. Although I can't remember anything other than the 'tear the umbilical chord in your teeth' part (and I am not even sure I remember that part correctly), I do remember being impressed with the book.

I found the Penelopiad sitting looking lonely at Jimmy's Secondhand bookshop, so I fixed the problem.

This book is a part of the Canongate Myth Series (I need to look into those books). It is a retelling of the myth of Odysseus from the point of view of Penelope and the hanged maids. Now I will admit that I have not read Homer (I have acquired the books this year and hope to rectify that), so my knowledge of this story was very basic and probably mostly wrong.

Perhaps I should give you Margaret Atwood's words on this, as found in the prologue: “I’ve chosen to give the telling of the story to Penelope and to the twelve hanged maids. The maids form a chanting and singing Chorus, which focuses on two questions that must pose themselves after any close reading of the Odyssey: What led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to? The story as told in the Odyssey doesn’t hold water: there are too many inconsistencies. I’ve always been haunted by the hanged maids and, in The Penelopiad, so is Penelope herself.”

I think having the perspective from dead Penelope made this a refreshing and insightful tale. While commenting on Odysseus, Atwood threw in many commentaries of the modern world we live in. I had to enjoy the cattiness between Penelope and Helen.

While I chuckled many times throughout this, I have to say that the parts by the twelve maids were ominous. The prologue in the beginning lets one know with no doubt that things are not going to end well (when do they ever for virgins?), and as the plot is slowly revealed and the hints are dropped by the maidens, that bad feeling becomes a bad eventuality. Not that this is gory. It isn't likely to turn stomachs (although I am not a good judge on that). Atwood was using this to make a comment on women.

I gave this 5 stars. I was just what I was in the mood for.

Saturday 5 November 2016

The Year of the Flood and MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood

I read Oryx and Crake, according to my records, exactly one year ago - or (which is probably more important for the point I am going to try and make) 130 books ago. In other words, I knew the plot, I remembered (surprisingly for me) the characters names - well the main three. But, my memory was not good enough to take me into The Year of the Flood.

Once again, I am going to review books together. It seems a good idea with series.

The Year of the Flood


Margaret Atwood is a genius.

Because I read Oryx and Crake over a year ago, it took a while for me to join this story with that one. I was past the half way mark when a few pieces fell into place and I hit Google to confirm my suspicions. I thought the book would continue where Oryx and Crake left off. How wrong I was.

This story is an eerie prediction (or perhaps hyperbolic prediction) of what could happen if science is left unchecked. Already, so much of what happens in the real world was shown here: the extremes people will go to to look beautiful, the genetic modification of food (we are at least still sticking to plants - from what I know at least) etc. But while this book is set in a scientifically advanced future, it does not seem that distant - possibly because it does not take a huge stretch of the imagination to get there, or because Atwood captures human nature so well, that nothing seems foreign. What was also brilliantly done was that there was no 'one side that was completely good' or 'completely bad' (with the exception of the painballers - but then, that made sense too).

I had a good laugh when I read that Rachel Carson had been made a saint. I must go back and look up the other saints that I didn't catch.

I gave this 5 stars on Goodreads.

I learnt from my mistake and  picked up MaddAddam immediately. I didn't want to spend my time trying to figure out what happened again.


MaddAddam


MaddAddam is an extremely well-balanced story of delightful humour, absolute horrors, total innocence and well-seasoned experience. I laughed heartily in places, cringed in others; but overall, had to admire the complexity of what Margaret Atwood managed to put together into a mere 394 pages.

Although this is the third book in the MaddAddam trilogy, I think it can be read as a standalone. It reads differently to its predecessors, for which I was happy - not that I have anything against Oryx and Crake or The Year of the Flood. MaddAddam just read so much more easily. The first two books build the world and the characters; MaddAddam explores 'what happened next'. Perhaps that is why I enjoyed it more too.

Margaret Atwood has an amazing imagination. I ended up loving the Crakers, even though my initial impressions were less than positive. But the part I loved the most were when Toby told the Crackers stories.

I could go on and on. If dystopian or apocalyptic stories are your thing, and you appreciate really good writing, I would recommend this one. I gave this 5 stars too.

Thursday 3 November 2016

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Another book that had been sitting on my shelf for ages. This year I wanted to get my TBR pile down to something far more reasonable. (Isn't that a joke. It has grown, multiplied and had children. Soon it will be wanting to move out and get a driver's licence.)

Writing a synopsis for this is not going to be easy at all. I cannot tell you what the story is about because... well... it is almost like a collection of short stories that are connected to each other - except that the stories are read as though they are real, with past, present and future settings. (Which is why, when you look at the shelves for this book on Goodreads, you will see it shelved as contemporary, historical and sci-fi.) Besides the stories being connected to one another, themes connect the stories too - and they are good themes: slavery etc.

This was fantastic. I have never encountered a concept like this before. I found myself glued to each story, disappointed when each stopped, and then completely glued to the next. And the best thing! I got to do it all in reverse again! Reading the conclusion to each tale, and seeing how it all fitted in with the other tales.

David Mitchell can create characters who have their own distinctive voice. Hands down, the man is a genius. His character in here were also very diverse, ranging from bisexual to Korean. But it isn't just his characters that kept me going, completely awed. His plots (and the overall storyline) were great too. I am so pleased that I have more to look forward to from Mitchell. This book was such a good investment, both financially and of time.

I gave it a well deserved 5 star rating.

Tuesday 1 November 2016

Atonement by Ian McEwan

What a difficult book to review - although that is not the books fault. it is my fault. I watched the movie years ago, and that was a problem.


When Briony is a child she witnesses something between her older sister and a friend, Robbie. Her lack of understanding of their relationship, makes her do something that she will regret for the rest of her life. (And that is no hyperbole.)

This book starts off very slowly. The first day is over 100 pages long, but it is a HUGELY important day, as it is the day that changes everything. As a result, we get to hear about many of the events from the perspectives of different people. Which can be tedious - if you have seen the movie. I loved the language, but... I knew everything that was going to happen and, although I saw the movie 8 years ago, I could still visualise everything from the film (It is a great film. Go watch it. Bring tissues.). I must admit that I was debating putting the book down at this point, and I will confess to some speed reading.

The pacing picks up in the second part, set a few years later during the war. My memory of this part from the film was more vague, so I was much more interested here. Spending time with Robbie was devastating - not only because of the war, but because of what had happened to him.

Although I really do not want to compare the book to the movie, I can't help it. I think the movie *squeaks* is a bit better. The movies ending packed such a punch that months later I couldn't tell my mom about it without sobbing - but the book's didn't do that to me. Maybe it was because I knew what was going to happen; maybe it is because the movie's statement is far less open to interpretation and therefore so much more devastating.

This isn't a bad book. It deserves the 4 star rating (although I think it is really a 3.5). But... I would probably recommend the movie. Especially to get past that first day.

Sunday 30 October 2016

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

I hummed and ha'ed over buying this one for a while. I have not been in the mood for YA in years, and I can't say the mood has struck recently either. But... it was on special (my kryptonite!) and it looked pretty and I was in the mood for fantasy.

Kelsea has come of age and as a result, has to take over her kingdom. But people are out to kill her and she has just barely left her sanctuary. What on earth will it be like when she gets there! And does she have the wisdom to take a country that is being bled to something better?

This was a lot of fun!

I enjoyed Kelsea as a character. I liked the way she thought, I enjoyed watching her grow, and it was a pleasant change to have a more relatable heroine, one that was not super skinny and drop dead gorgeous. Mace, her body guard, was also a fun character - although, to be honest, I found his authority to be a bit excessive to be considered realistic.

The plot kept me going. In fact, I am really looking forward to picking up the next two so that I can see how this all wraps up. It was a fairly involved plot. Early on in the book, I was wondering how on earth Kelsea was going to sort everything out. It seemed an impossible task. Did I use the past tense there? Sorry. It still definitely seems an impossible task.

There were some parts, though, where I felt that what was going on was unrealistic and put there because the author enjoyed writing that scene. These bits disappointed because it gave the book a juvenile aftertaste, and they clashed with some of the adult discussions - sex slavery etc. The language is easy to follow though, so this would be a good book for less experienced readers who enjoy more of a mental challenge.

I will be picking up the next one soon. (Right after the exams 'soon' - if not before!)

Oh! I gave this 3 stars on Goodreads and 3.5 on my own records. Unfortunately, the few scenes I mentioned above did lower the overall affect of the book.

Friday 28 October 2016

The A to Z of You and Me by James Hannah

It isn't often that I buy the wrong book - I can't remember having done it before. On this occasion I did. I can't remember which book it was that I was looking for, but the covers were similar, and, I thought this was the right one. Oh well. It wasn't the worst I have made. In fact, this seemed a bit serendipitous.

Ivo is dying. He is in a hospice, sounded by the nursing staff who are doing all they can for him to help him through his last days. One nurse suggests he plays a game, listing body parts in alphabetical order. This sends Ivo down memory lane.

This was such an enjoyable read. If it weren't for work commitments, I would have finished in a fraction of the time.

One thing I really enjoy in books in unpredictability, and this book was filled with it. For starters, I loved the non-linear approach. It worked magnificently in this. This needs a bit more explanation. The present day story is presented as though the reader is a fly on the wall. Life happens as it would happen without any explanations, no dumbing down. (I LOVED that about this.) This would naturally make me extremely curious, but I would have to wait for the flashbacks to the past (which did not come in a linear fashion) to work out what had happened - and sometimes Hannah would really make me wait to find out. Talk about reason to keep turning the pages. Oh, and did I mention that there was a love story in here too? I enjoyed the puzzle of finding out what happened there too.

Ivo was an interesting character. In real life, he would have been a guy I scorned. This book got me to see a completely different side to him. By the end I felt bad that I had labeled him an idiot-loser who 'made his bed'. But even though I felt guilty for having thought that, Ivo does not try and justify his former stupidity. He owns it. Good for him.

This was a pleasant mix of touching, heart-breaking, humorous, suspenseful and insightful. Overall a good read, and I would recommend this to folks who like contemporary novels in general. This got a well-earned 4 star rating on Goodreads, and 4.5 on my own.

Wednesday 26 October 2016

The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan

I have enjoyed the books that I have read by Amy Tan in the past. I also think she is an interesting character, being a member of the band Stephen King is in is one of the reasons. Accidentally, in the past, I have stumbled upon non-fiction essays by Amy Tan. Finding a collection of her essays was therefore something that thrilled me. (Although one would doubt that considering it then sat on my shelf for about two years.)

I thought this was brilliant. There are so many interesting essays, lines and passages in this book, I could really see myself rereading it - with a pile of tags on hand. I also enjoy Tan's voice. She is humorous, intelligent and has such a quaint way of putting things.

Her essays, particularly the one on English speaking where she discusses the problems her mother encountered being Chinese; and the one where she speaks about the expectations on authors of colour to fit within their own minority and write about their cultures in a positive light, have given me loads to debate and contemplate.

I can see that some folks could see some aspects of this being repetitive. This is a collection of essays, speeches etc. Each entry was meant to be heard in isolation from the others - which means that some facts are repeated. Maybe it isn't the most thrilling thing to encounter in a book - but I will gladly ignore that. I am just happy that all these essays were put in one place where I could get my hands on them.

I gave this 5 stars on Goodreads.

Monday 24 October 2016

The Lighthouse by P.D. James

I am always on a quest to find more crime writers that I like. I read crime novels when I really need to relax - or at least that is what my reading stats show. Exam terms have a noticeably large number of crime novels read.

PD James' books were recommended on a Booktube channel, whose is anyone's guess. Although it was Death comes to Pemberley that was really the book that was reviewed, her other books were mentioned in general. I managed to find a decent secondhand copy of this one, (and a copy of Death comes to Pemberley, but I was too tired at the time to try and deal with, what at a glance, appeared to be Jane Austen's language). This book is the 13th book in the Adam Dalgliesh series.

This is a locked room murder, or should I say, an isolated island murder - which is becoming a thing of its own, and at least doesn't have the problem of 'how did they get into the room' added to the questions. The man who is murdered seems an unpleasant fellow, and pretty much everyone has a motive for wanting to do him in.

Interesting was the first word that came to mind. This is the first novel I have read by PD James and I am not yet sure what I make of her style or composition of a crime novel. In some ways I really enjoyed this, in other ways I felt there was far too much information about the characters - I was in it for the crime. But then, I don't object to all the character stuff in Kathy Reichs's books, so perhaps I am feeling this way because I have missed the earlier 12 books where I would have grown to care about these people and their relationships. I have a suspicion that that is probably the case. For this book, all I can say is that I didn't care about the characters at all.

For a crime novel the plot was pleasantly twisty. I have a feeling my gran might enjoy this one. Also, fans of Ruth Rendell might enjoy this too.

I gave this 3 stars on Goodreads. My favorite crime books are the forensic crime books. I like the science investigation as opposed to the plodding from door to door method. I suppose it comes down to the fact that I like learning new things about science, and I also like testing my own science knowledge (I am often amazed just how much I can pick up and use to solve crimes in books from my general knowledge.)  As a result, I will probably read more of these books, but i won't be going out of my way to find them.

Saturday 22 October 2016

Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde

I had had an eye open for Jasper Fforde for some time, so when I stumbled upon two of his books (in mint condition) in my favourite secondhand bookshop, I couldn't resist. As my luck would have it though, I managed to pick up books 3 and 4 in the Thursday Next series, which meant a hunt was on (well, actually, I just went over to my favourite bookshop and sent them on a hunt) to find books 1 and 2. A week or so later, there they were!

Because it is so damned difficult discussing books later in a series (as spoilers are a thing), I decided to lump the whole lot in here. Well, the first three. I am yet to read the 4th book. I am saving it for when the kids start exams and I have a thing called free time.

So welcome to the post where I practise being vague, and where I emphasise that this was a fun read.

The Eyre Affair


In this book, we meet Thursday Next, an investigator in the Special Operative branch of literary detection. We meet an alternate universe to the one that we know: a world where time travel is possible, where people actually REALLY care about literature, and the Crimean war is still on going.

This was a great idea. I don't think I have ever encountered a plot like this at all. It was fun, but what made this a really enjoyable read were all the literary references. I felt this book was filled with insider jokes for readers. Especially readers who have read tons of classics.

I really enjoyed Thursday. She was a feisty lead character. She was not afraid to take chances. Rochester was also fun. I liked how he was portrayed - but I can't say more on that without spoiling something.

Overall, this was a fun read. I gave it 4 stars for its original plot and chuckle factor.

 Lost in a Good Book 


This book picks up exactly where the previous one left off - hence, no synopsis. Well... ok, maybe a short synopsis. Someone has gone back in time and changed something. Oh, and Thursday might have to face some repercussions. Oh, and a whole NEW, SPECTACULAR, I WANNA GO THERE WORLD is introduced.

Another enjoyable and fun read. I think this one was only worth 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the first one a bit more. This one had a lot of waffling around in the middle - and although I enjoyed it for the literary references, I did get a bit impatient with it. Still, it is a new concept and it is done well.

It has definitely added to the puzzle that I suspect is running through these books. I am curious to know if Fforde planned all of these as one continuous series, or whether he is winging his way through them. If this is winging, I am impressed. If it isn't - dang! I will be forking out more money for the rest of the series. As it is, it doesn't look like one can just give up.

The Well of Lost Plots


And .... *drum roll* ... this book picks up exactly where the last one left off. Once again, no synopsis! I will say that we meet the Well of Lost Plots and Jasper Fforde raises the stakes.

Another fun read. Fforde is very good at blurring the lines between 'reality' and fiction. These are really stories one can live in.

I think my enjoyment of these books is based on the the number of books I have read - and the types of books I have read. Yes, this is a series for lit majors. The inside jokes are brilliant. The pacing is a bit slower than I would perhaps like, especially for the first two thirds of the book. After that, the last 100 pages flew by. But then, reading this nice and slowly is probably helping me enjoy the inside jokes more, as I am not bombarded with them in one sitting. This one also got 4 stars!

I have book 4, Something Rotten, and am really looking forward to delving into it!


Thursday 20 October 2016

Beloved by Toni Morrison

My reading stats chart showed that I was lagging both with female authors and authors who are not white. I bought this book a couple of years ago, knowing that it would not be an easy read, but that it was probably an important read. I got in the mood for something that would be a bit more challenging, and on that note, this book did not disappoint.

This story follows a former slave who is haunted by her dead child.

This is not an easy book to review. Just as it was not an easy book to read.

This is very well written. It is haunting, soul-destroying and enlightening (in a very dark way). But there is a need for this story to be told. I really struggled through it, not because it was difficult to make sense of, but because it was difficult to read.

I liked the way the book is structured. The timeline was not linear and jumped from the present to different points in the past, slowly building to a complete picture. It keeps one needing to turn the pages, to find out what had happened, and what will happen - and I think it improved the reading experience. I don't think this book would have been as powerful structured differently.

The characters were so realistic - even with the element of magical realism in it. One had to appreciate the irony of the dead baby being called Beloved. But what was more chilling was that one could completely sympathise with Sethe and her actions, both in the present timeline and the past.

This novel highlights the shocking act of slavery. It shows how humans were treated with less concern than animals. It shows how families were torn apart, how brutally people were murdered and how inhumane the whole thing was.

I gave this 4 stars. It is brilliant and definitely worthy of 5, but, shew. It is hard to like something so harsh.

Tuesday 18 October 2016

The Babes in the Wood by Ruth Rendell

The Babes in the Wood is the 19th book in the Inspector Wexford series. So far, I have had an on and off relationship with Rendell's books; 'off' with her non-Wexford books, 'on' with the only other Wexford book I have read. But as crime novels are my guilty pleasure and a sure cure for high-stressed times, I decided to give this a go.

Two teens and their 'baby sitter' have gone missing. It is up to Wexford and his team to fight the floods and find out what happened.

This was a pretty decent mystery. It definitely kept me guessing, which is an unusual occurrence. 

One thing that can be said about Rendell's writing, is that she writes well. The standard of the language in her crime novels (that I have read so far) are far superior to the more popular books in this genre. I also enjoy the fact that one needs to be paying attention to pick up all the clues.

I was very satisfied with this book. The logic was rational (which sounds silly to say, but lets be honest, it isn't always that way in books, where situations and characters are twisted 'out of character' to accommodate a plot error, or to move the plot in a direction), and the characters were believable. Although I did feel that there was a bit of a drag nearing the middle, it makes sense that a lot of footwork and waiting needs to be done.

One thing that bugged me though was the head cop who was, to put it mildly, asininely stupid in the beginning. It makes one disbelieve that he would have ever made it to that position with his head so far in the sand. (OK, so apparently I did have one problem with a character being twisted out of belief.) Oh, and I suppose I should add that my thoughts are still out on Wexford's daughter. I don't want to believe that women would put up with that level of abuse and make such accommodations for abusive men, but that does not mean it isn't a realistic (if unfortunate) occurrence. As I said, I have not made up my mind about that. I will say though, that my father would have been a lot less aware of any law had that have happened to me. Either that says a lot for Wexford's character, or a lot for my dad (who was brilliant).

Crime lovers, especially of older crime novels (the non-forensic, blood-guts-'n-gore crime books) would probably enjoy this. It was a decent puzzle to solve. I only gave this 3 stars, because, although I was satisfied with this novel, I wasn't blown away. In fact, to write this review 2 months after finishing it, I had to squiz through the synopsis on Goodreads to make sure this was the book I thought it was. (Thank Merlin I keep notes most of the time when reading so I can still write about what I have read months later.)

Sunday 16 October 2016

The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Hi! So you are still here! I admire your patience. Once again work has taken over my life. Our exams last term are followed by a mere two weeks of teaching this term before the next round of final exams start. In other words, I am cramming in the last of the syllabus, trying to revise complicated areas, prepare the kids for the final exams AND still set exam papers. Oh, and have I mentioned meetings. I seem to do nothing but attend meetings if I am not prepping lessons or setting papers. Life. I have it not. On the good note, because life has been so demanding, I have been reading quite a bit. So, how can you find time to read and not find time to update your blog, I hear you ask. Well, I read in bed - I don't compute in bed. When I wake up in the middle of the night (which is actually 3am for me) because my brain has decided to panic about how much I need to get through, I read to put myself to sleep. The last thing I want to do is have heavy thoughts, or at least thoughts which need to come across coherently and preferably grammatically. Apologies. If I do manage to do reviews for all that I have read in the past three months, I should have made up some of your waiting up to you. But look at me here, wasting time again with excuses and apologies.

I have heard about 'The Dark Tower' series for years. I think the first person who mentioned it was my brother's ex-girlfriend, and considering he and his wife have been together for 10 years now, I can honestly say it has been a while. Since then my brother's wife has read the series, my writing friend has read the series, and a colleague has read the series. So I was quite confident that this would be a series I would enjoy. As result, I had no reservation buying books 2 and 4 when I found them on a 50% closing down sale. Which meant I had to buy book 1 at full price. Hmmm. and hmmm. You will see why.

The last Gunslinger is following the man in black across what appears to be a wild west setting. From the wake of the man in black's heels, there seems little doubt that the man is evil and capable of powerful 'magic'.

I really don't know what to make of this.  I can't say that my initial reaction is enthusiastic. I also can't say that I can pinpoint exactly what didn't really work for me. I understood the story, I got all the allusions. But something was missing. Maybe it was that I didn't care at all for the Gunslinger. Perhaps it was that through this (fortunately slim novel) very little happened.

I gave this 3 stars. I really hope this series picks up. I will be continuing, even though I would have happily abandoned the series at this point had I not already been in possession of more (AHHHH! And it means I should probably buy book 3 too! AHHHHH! At full price! Double AHHHHHHH!!!). But I am taking a break before I pick it up.

Tuesday 13 September 2016

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca was a recommendation from my mom and was I so glad I listened to her. (Ahh.. the advantages of no longer being a teenager!)

I am not going to give a synopsis for this one at all. I went in knowing almost nothing, and as a result, I loved every minute. I will just say that there is definitely a Gothic air to this one, so if that sounds up your aisle, then give it a go.

The atmosphere created in this book was brilliantly done. It was dark and ominous. Du Maurier manipulated my feelings with her skilled use of imagery. Also, the way the novel was constructed helped too. The plot structure is cyclical, so we get the end at the beginning which just drops enough hints to make the reader know/assume that 'something bad' is going to happen. But it does not suggest how bad nor what happened. That was great - except for my nails. I chewed quite a few off while reading this. Not that is was scary. This isn't a horror story. But suspenseful! Definitely!

The characters were all conundrums, with the exception of the unnamed narrator. But even she was interesting because she would visualise what she thought was happening, or what people were saying, so I was constantly aware that she was a bit unreliable. As to all the others - who knows what was going on with them! Rebecca is a character I can't ignore here either. Although you never meet her in the book, her presence is overwhelming and unforgettable. That in itself was an impressive feat.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I was expecting something above average or OK - especially with the hideous cover that promised a complicated, snooze-fest of a read. (No really, just look at it. How did that sell at all?)  I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads. Fans of Gothic fiction, fans of suspense and fans of really good writing and a well-thought out plot and structure will appreciate Rebecca.

Monday 12 September 2016

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

AWOL Again! Anyone would swear that I don't always have time to blog! It's not like I have a job or anything. OK. So that was sarcasm. Work has been hectic - again. Apologies. But unfortunately blogging doesn't feed the family. I am going to be a bit on and off until the end of the month (hopefully some 'on') as the mad rush to finalise the term hits, and the prep for the insanity for next term begins.

I found Atlas Shrugged at Jimmy's Second Hand bookshop. It was in good condition, and I was curious. I knew I had heard about it before (although what I had heard was anyone's guess) and I kept seeing it on List Challenges (a fun place to procrastinate). This book is also partially responsible for my hiatus. There is so much to say, and some brain power is required. (Whether my brain is actually working by the time I put this together is not guaranteed though. I really need to get past this book.)

Once again, I had no idea as to what to expect going into this book. If I were honest, I would admit that I would probably have not read this had I known what it was about - but I will get to that below. Atlas Shrugged read like a horror story. Not the supernatural-type - why have ghosts and demons when mankind can be so much more dangerous. Coming from Africa, this terrified me.

A bit on the synopsis: Imagine a world where the rich are punished for having a monopoly. Imagine if these rich folks were required to support others, those who don't have work. Imagine a world where businesses have been strangled so much that many are being forced to close. Not too different from the one we live in, right?

Atlas Shrugged took some time to process. It was a good read and it gave me tons to think about. While I do not agree with every premise in this book, the fact that I had multiple debates with my mom about things that cropped up while reading, was a good sign. I love that this made me question and re-evaluate my beliefs. However, Ayn Rand's philosophy, while put across convincingly, has many flaws and oversights. Her premise would work better in a world where, and dare I quote Orwell here, "Everyone is born equal", which, unfortunately is not the case. Children born into underprivileged families are going to struggle a lot more to make anything of their lives than those who are born to wealthy families who have funds for the best schooling, who can afford resources, who have access to parents who are more educated. It isn't fair, but it is a mean reality. This alone is not something considered in Rand's book, beyond her disapproval of those who are 'disadvantaged'. I suppose I am also biased against her philosophy; I teach kids with barriers to learning. Chances are that they are not going to be in a position to be huge money makers. If anything, they are going to end up like me: someone who is overworked and chronically underpaid. But that should not detract from our value of members of society. Yes, I know. Ayn Rand does not have issues against folks who work - more against those who don't, and the leaders who want to distribute wealth. I don't think one could find a book that goes more against communist principles if one tried. What this book does well, though, is illustrate how much we need the people who are in business. It pinpointed the importance of the relationship between all sorts of industry. You might have miners, but without transport, where would one be? Where would transport systems be without the metal industry? Where would the metal industry be without fuel? One upset in that 'ecosystem' would result in destruction of all. From the position of someone living in Africa, this was probably the scariest part of this book. How many forms of industry are in the process of being nationalised - and with our track record, that does not bode well. This is just the start of the debate that Atlas Shrugged started in my head. As I said, while I can't say that I agree with her philosophies, I appreciated that she got me to question my own and then reestablish a stronger foundation for what I believed.

“If you saw Atlas, the giant who holds the world on his shoulders, if you saw that he stood, blood running down his chest, his knees buckling, his arms trembling but still trying to hold the world aloft with the last of his strength, and the greater his effort the heavier the world bore down upon his shoulders - What would you tell him?"

I…don't know. What…could he do? What would you tell him?"

To shrug.”
― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

This book is not for everyone though. While the plot itself is definitely grabbing, there are moments where I wished Rand would get off her soapbox and challenge her own beliefs a bit. Surely an opinion is only worth considering if it can truly withstand an attack from 'the opposition'. Plus, some of those speeches were tedious to read. No, really. One was about 50 pages long. Philosophy flying at one for that length of time with no interruption was mental murder. The other area of concern had my feminist buzzer ringing. But I need to give this part more thought, as this book was published in 1957, and I think that for that time, it was rather progressive in thought. But I will confess that the total number of professional women mentioned were 3 (I think), and only ONE was actually a mastermind in business. (The other was an actress and the third was something not worth remembering - apparently). The other two were completely unmentionable characters and had no part in the story. The other thing that had me questioning my feminist stand point were Dagny's relationships. Besides the fact that both guys were pretty much of the same mould in the sack, I must confess to finding it hard to swallow that such a strong woman would like to be treated as such. I expected a bit more ... self-respect? But then, who am I to sit here and question what strong women would like in the sack.

I did give this book 5 stars. Although I did find some parts horribly tedious and although I definitely disagreed with her philosophy, I appreciated the mental hoops it made me jump through. I would recommend this to folks who are interested in economic philosophies,, folks who don't shy away from MASSIVE tomes, and those who can read looooooong philosophical ramblings very quickly.

Wednesday 24 August 2016

Shakespeare by Bill Bryson

You must blame Steve Donoghue for my venture into non-fiction!


This was a very interesting read, and to my surprise (and relief), it was a fun read too. As I have a degree in English, I had heard a lot about Shakespeare. There were things that I assumed were accurate and true. Shakespeare's recognisable portrait, for example. I never knew that we do not actually know what he looked like. Or how he spelt his name? Apparently there are six (I think it was six) records where Shakespeare signed his name, and not one of them was spelt the same, and NONE of them were spelt the way we spell it today! I did not realise just how much of a mystery Shakespeare was.

“We don’t know if he ever left England. We don’t know who his principal companions were or how he amused himself. His sexuality is an irreconcilable mystery. On only a handful of days in his life can we say with absolute certainty where he was.”
― Bill Bryson, Shakespeare: The World as Stage

I found this book extremely readable. At no point did I have flashbacks of wading through textbooks with obscure language, sentences the length of paragraphs, and missing foundations as a result of assumptions that the reader already would know it. Instead, this was humorous, relevant and gave a good grounding of the setting in which Shakespeare lived. In fact, the background was perhaps the bit where the facts were, as there is historical record about Queen Elizabeth.

“All that is missing to connect her with Shakespeare is anything to connect her with Shakespeare.”
― Bill Bryson, Shakespeare: The World as Stage

The process of the first folio and putting it together really interested me too. It was an impressive feat, and while I would guess that many high school students are quietly damning them for their efforts, it has to make literature lovers appreciate just how close we came to never having read Shakespeare at all.

“Shakespeare 'never owned a book,' a writer for the New York Times gravely informed readers in one doubting article in 2002. The statement cannot actually be refuted, for we know nothing about his incidental possessions. But the writer might just as well have suggested that Shakespeare never owned a pair of shoes or pants. For all the evidence tells us, he spent his life naked from the waist down, as well as bookless, but it is probably that what is lacking is the evidence, not the apparel or the books.”
― Bill Bryson, Shakespeare: The World as Stage

 I have found myself referring to this in class ever since I began reading it. I think English teacher's should really give this one a read, as it is packed full of interesting snippets which could invgorate a class.

I will definitely pick up another Bryson book. I gave this 4 stars on Goodreads.

(Note regarding rating: I have not read much non-fiction, so I do not feel very qualified to offer this a rating in comparison to other books. I enjoyed it for what it was, hence the rating. Whether this is actually a good biography is not really for me to decide.)

Monday 22 August 2016

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

So John Green, according to his Crash Course series on Youtube, does not like this book. John Green and I disagree. I set this as the setwork book for my Grade 10s this year, and they loved it.

In case you are not aware, Lord of the Flies is a thought experiment of what would happen should a bunch of school boys crash on a deserted island. Now, before you think of some gorgeously romantic island getaway, sit down and remember your school days. What happened when the teacher left the classroom? Did everyone sit down, nose to the books, pen in hand and do some work? I bet you are raising your eyebrows at the silly question - unless you went to an all girls' school, in which case, I wouldn't know.

“We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything.”
― William Golding, Lord of the Flies

This novel was both written and set after World War 2 (the novel set during a nuclear war shortly after World War 2.). Golding was in the navy during the war, and I think that had a huge effect on him and his understanding of human nature. This was the war that saw the first nuclear attack. This was the war that saw genocide and the horrors of concentration camps. Can anyone really blame Golding for thinking man was capable of immense evil? He had just seen it! This leads me to the main premise of this novel: the evil is within us.

“What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages?”
― William Golding, Lord of the Flies

The language in this is spectacular. The imagery is fantastically dark. It does not let the reader have a moment to relax as it fills one's head with murder and danger. The vocab is a bit advanced for school going kids, but that is why dictionaries were invented, right!

The characters were not stagnant. They developed throughout the story, and watching their growth or degeneration was gripping. The three main characters are Ralph, Jack and Piggy with Simon coming in closely behind them. All the characters are flawed - even those that we were rooting for. Ralph was initially a bit of a bully, Jack was on a power trip, Piggy was lazy. Simon was physically weak and was unable to express himself - which was really unfortunate.

I do agree with John Green, however, that Golding's references to tribal life being savage were unfounded. While I think he was aiming at a generalised opinion, it was not a fact, and therefore the argument does flounder. But the reason it is not a fact is because tribal societies are societies with rules and expectations which means that they are civilised.

If you enjoyed Lord of the Flies, I would suggest reading Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. It is a very similar setting, but with girls. Her novel is completely satirical, so read it for the message, not necessarily the plot.

I have bumped my rating up to 5 stars for this book. The more often I read it, the more I appreciate it. Or maybe it was that this particular class got so involved and invested in the story that



Saturday 20 August 2016

The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame

I will admit it. I bought The Wind in the Willows because it was pretty. Guilty as charged. You see all that yellow on the cover? It is actually a beautiful shiny gold. (Yes, like all readers out there, I also like pretty books.)

Simply explained, this is a children's book about woodland creatures: Rat, Toad, Mole and Badger; and their adventures. But it is also more than that. It is a tale of friendship, responsibility and friendship (friendship features a lot, because friendship involves more than just enjoying another person's company).

After buying it, I attempted it twice and just couldn't get into it. It wasn't because of the quality of the story, but just because I am not a child, and the thought of reading a book about Rat, Mole, Toad and Badger just seemed childish. This time, I read enough to get into it. And I must say, I ended up really enjoying this. It wasn't a book aimed solely at children, but for the parents reading the book too.

I am surprised at the vocabulary in this book aimed at young children! I find it quite shocking as to how drastically vocabulary has diminished over the years. I also had to laugh at the actions that were considered appropriate in the days this book was written. The characters smoked, one wielded a sword and guns, and I am not even going to get into all the things Toad did.

The characters were really well flushed out. While Toad irritated me the most, he was the most interesting character. I did find it a bit annoying as to how wonderful the rest of them were. People I have met are not that perfect. But if that is the only flaw I can find in this, then it was pretty good.

But this was enjoyable. For some reason, I had a Neil Gaiman-ey feeling while reading parts of this.
I gave this 4 stars on Goodreads, and that was only because I am a bit old to get lost in this story.