Here are some reviews...
scroll down for more, I haven't sussed all the links things yet!
We have a nice young lady called Katy Handley who is studying hard for her A Levels and wants to proceed into English at University, she is aiming at Cambridge University! She is doing a work placement with us and will be reviewing books on the blog...so here's one she did earlier...
Title: The Abomination
Title: Far Far Away
Title: The Drowning
Title: The Asylum
Author: John Harwood
ISBN: 9780224097413
Price: Hard back £14.99
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A thrilling mystery set in Victorian times, ‘The Asylum’ is the story of one woman who is almost convinced she has lost her sanity. She wakes up confined in Tregannon House, a professional private establishment for mental instability having no recollection of how she came to be there or of the events of the past three weeks. However she is aware of her identity; she is Georgina Ferrars and wishes to contact her uncle and be sent home immediately. However when Dr Straker sends a telegram home the reply nearly causes here to lose her mind entirely ‘GEORGINA FERRARS IS HERE STOP YOUR PATIENT MUST BE AN IMPOSTER STOP’. Dr Straker informs her that she is subject to a rare condition in which the sufferer becomes so obsessed with another person they eventually take on their identity. The woman in London who states she is the real Georgina Ferrars states she spoke to a woman named Lucia Ardent intimately about her childhood and life so far which would explain the patient’s knowledge of this. The woman arrived at Tregannon house under the false alias of Lucy Aston but the Doctor also explains that he has researched the name Lucia Ardent, which also did not exist.
However ‘Miss Aston’ as they choose to call her at Tregannon refuses to believe that she is not Georgina Ferrars and she knows she must find some way to escape and return to her uncle in London and reveal the imposter. She becomes more anxious as the Doctor informs her she is confined in the building for her own safety and begins to wonder if she is a fly caught in a massive web- as scheme of this imposter or indeed of the Doctor himself in order to drive her to insanity. Yet she can’t help but wonder, of the two women who claim to be the same person, is she the real Georgina Ferrars? Or is has she truly lost herself in the realm of insanity?
Cleverly written with twists in every chapter, ‘The Asylum’ is a fantastic mystery story which also reveals some of the more scandalous aspects of Victorian life- this is the benefit of books written today referring back of time as parts of this book would never have been publiches during the reign of Queen Victoria. Midway it becomes harder to follow as the narrator switches and we read a series of letters, the significance of which do not become clear until later. Nevertheless if you persevere it all pulls together to form a wonderfully dramatic conclusion.
Title: Noble Conflict
Author: Malorie Blackman
ISBN: 9780385610421
As a fan of Malorie Blackman, I know she has a skill for creating entire fictional worlds, such as the fantastic ‘Noughts and Crosses’ series for example. This book is based on a Totalarian world in which Guardians protect the Alliance from the Insurgents who work for the Crusaders and attempt to attack the Alliance. Kaspar is a new young Guardian, determined to fight for his country and protect the people from the vicious terrorists. However in his role of Guardianship he discovers things he had never realised, and begins to question his own knowledge of the world he lives in and the system by which his life and the lives of his entire country are run. He decides to try and find a pattern to the movements and attacks made by the insurgents, some stealing information before committing suicide while others are blowing up large areas of cities killing innocent people and children. However as he becomes more involved his own comrades and leaders appear more opposed to him, Kaspar feels he is in far too deep.
However, with the help of Mackensie, a young librarian full of sharp wit and bright ideas, he uncovers a series of data which suggests the movements of the insurgents may not be as simple and unorganised as they are made out to be. He is burning with questions, none of which are answered by the High Councillor and or his Guardian leader Voss. In fact the more he discovers, the more he is pushed away. Then he discovers something he wished he never had. The Guardians use stun-guns as the Alliance refuses to sink to the level of the Crusaders by means of slaughter; therefore the Insurgents are checked for injuries then sent to a holding station. Or so they had been told. Yet Kaspar finds thousands of these people, shot by him and the other guardians, who should have recovered unharmed, on life support and covered in scars in the supposedly abandoned North Wing at the Guardian’s hospital. The confusion increases after meeting Rhea, an insurgent who saves his life as after he meets her he begins to have vivid dreams and he fears he may be able to experience her thoughts and emotions. Kaspar struggles on his path to find the truth: is he on the side on noble conflict?
Another gripping action packed thriller from one of my favourite authors, Noble Conflict uses an imaginary world to address issues which are very significant today and have been throughout history. The horror of the Totalarian State seems so distant to us, so impossible, but this book examines the idea of complete manipulation and control of an entire society. It also includes elements of romance, friendship and national belonging and examines the terrible realisation of the truth as the entire world falls to pieces. As a character Kaspar is likeable and obviously intelligent and therefore he displays how easily a society can be controlled if the influence is so great that no one dares to question what they have been told.
I would fully recommend this book!
8/10
Title: All Our Yesterdays
Author: Cristin Terrill
ISBN: 9781408835197
Price: £6.99
Have you ever considered what our world would be like with a time machine? Would we go back in time and solve all those wars, stop all those bombs and save millions of people? However time should not be manipulated or controlled, it is far too powerful as Marina and Finn find out when it leads to the destruction of their best friends James, a brilliant, once shy young boy who created a scientific miracle and a monster. This is Cassandra. Marina and Finn, trapped in cells and tortured for information struggle to remember the person their best friend used to be before he too became a tool for the power-hungry villains of the world; the machine which was supposed to be his legacy and the saviour of the world had been transformed into a weapon, a means of control of society through the past. The day Marina finds the note in her ell, the note from a previous version of herself she finally understands what she must do as she reads those terrible words “You have to kill him”. She and Finn must go back in time and commit the unthinkable in order to prevent the terrible events which follow on, because of James.
This science-fiction thriller also contains themes of romance and heartbreak as Marina must make the ultimate decision- to kill the boy she loves in order to save the future. It’s also an interesting representation of the human mind and how time and events can change and distort it. The power of the time machine changes James into a monster he himself never could have imagined, but Marina herself changes. She s no longer the insecure girl, hopelessly in love with the boy next door, instead she is strong independent and determined to secure the future for the younger version of herself, so that she may never experience the horror that followed the creation of Cassandra. But her childhood love for James still remains at the back of her mind, despite everything and she wonders if she could ever succeed in killing him, even for Finn, who she fell in love with after all those years in prison plotting to destroy Cassandra. Her mind knows what must be done, but will her heart fail her?
This is action packed, and has elements of both murder mystery and science fiction. The element of time travel is surprisingly easy to follow, although at times the presence of two sets of the same character, past version and future version is a little confusing. It’s still a great book however and the first person narrative, which switches between the young Marina and the older post-Cassandra Marina, is very effective.
I would give this book 7/10
Title: Cracks
Author: Natasha Carthew
ISBN: 9781408835838 (hardback)
Price: £10.99
The book follows Ennor a young girl living in a deteriorating society were money is worthless, shops are closing down and everyone has nothing. These things are nothing new to Ennor however, with her father dying of cancer and drug abuse after the loss of their farm although she is now only 14 she was forced to leave school years ago in order to take care of the few remaining animals, attempt to provide the family with food and pay the rent while taking care of her sickly father and her younger autistic brother Trip. Her mother left them years ago to follow a religious path, and as bills pile up and food runs out Ennor feels she might be their only chance of surviving the winter. Her worries increase as she receives a letter about Trip being taken to an ‘institution’ and she decides to set off in search of her mother leaving her best friend Butch to take care of her father and brother. However Butch, abused and beaten by his father and consequently ill himself finds it difficult to take care of Trip and further problems occur when Ennor is lost on the more and ends up at the house of a strange woman who attempts to take her belongings. However the woman appears to know where her mother is and gives Ennor directions. But can she be trusted, and even if found, will Ennor’s mother even acknowledge the daughter she lost so many years ago? With the bitter cold of winter settling and the desperation of a society with no possessions or food growing, the moor is not a safe place for a young girl alone. However she meets Sonny a young strong gypsy girl who can fight, hunt and shoot and soon her good humour and outgoing personality grows on Ennor.
Ennor is a girl who almost feels she has lost everything at many points in the book, yet on this path she also finds friendship and rediscovers the childhood she missed out on. She learns the meaning of hope and love and discovers that what she had been searching for had been with her along her journey. Society and mankind is falling to pieces, as desperation leads to theft, ignorance and neglect, but from the dust rises up a new generation of hope for something better; for children never forget the joy of laughter. An inspiring story that captures the freezing cold of winter in order to symbolise the coldness of humans in a times of crisis- when each person is only concerned for their own survival. However the warmth of love and friendship thaws broken dreams and hearts and leads these children to something better than the life they left behind.
7/10
Title: A Twist of Fortune
Author: Barbara Mitchel Hill
ISBN: 978184939562
Price: £5.99
The award winning author of ‘Run Rabbit Run’ has produced a thrilling Victorian historical fiction novel. It follows the tale of Sam Pargeter who through a series of unfortunate circumstances ends up head of his family; his sister Eliza and little brother Alfie and responsible for finding them food and a home. This is no easy task for children in Victorian England however as everyone seems to be against them. However they decide to set off in search of their rich grandfather with their dog Patch and their favourite book Oliver Twist, hoping that he will help them. It is a heart-warming story which does not conceal the injustice and brutality of the Victorian society towards children at the time. It also has some wonderful characters, including Charles Dickens himself and exciting villains. The children are forced to live in Devils Acre, an area of London crammed with criminals, misery and insufferable poverty, then are accused of murder and also end up trapped in a terrible school where the children sleep on stone floors and sweep chimneys. However there are also themes of family, bravery and strength in this book for children who had to grow up far too soon but are determined to find happiness and be reunited with their family. There is trouble at every corner for the Pargeter children and more importantly will their grandfather accept them, after disowning their father for marrying a poor woman? Will he even recognise them if they don’t have their father’s and Aunt Maud’s letters in mother’s silver box?
The children’s adventure makes this novel a page-turner, but it also reveals a lot about living in Victorian England and their attitudes towards the poor as well as the effects of early industrialisation and the railways. It is also written convincingly in the style of a Victorian boy and we learn how Sam is forced to become the man of a family, even though starvation has given him the frame of a small boy, in order to save his younger siblings. Yet the family always stick together, and with Sam’s careful planning and Eliza’s beautiful singing voice and Alfie’s innocent charm, perhaps the family might one day find happiness?
8/10
Title: The Extincts
Author: Veronica Cossanteli
Price: (out in May) paperback £5.99
ISBN: 978-1-908435-45
This is a story about a young boy named George (he’s not named after St George, even though he lives in the town were the famous battle with the dragon took place, he’s named after his Grandfather). George feels he is far from ordinary, in fact when he sees a job advertisement for a job at Wormestall Farm, he feels he could be the ‘Right Person for the Job’ and it’s not just because he need the money for a new bike. But George could never have imagined in his wildest dreams the creatures he discovered at Wormestall which was certainly no ordinary farm. It may have pigs and cows, but they are extinct species or mythical creatures, not to mention there is a unicorn, an ichthyosaur (like a dolphin but with very, very sharp teeth) and an old dragon with a wounded eye and a dislike towards Knights on horseback. They are very rare and seek sanctuary in Wormestall farm otherwise they would be sent to laboratories to be tested or put in cages for humans to view. Worse still there is Diamond Pye, the stepmother of Pruedence the new girl in Geroge’s class who also finds out bout Wormestall. Diamond Pye is an animal-stuffer, and when there are rumours that the wigglington worm has escaped (it is actually a basilisk named Mortifier). George has to help Mrs Linde and Lo, the keepers of Wormestall to bring back Mortifier before he turns the whole town to stone or eats a child (it’s not his fault though, he can’t help it), or is captured, bagged and stuffed by the Diamond Pyeso that she can win the Taxidermist of the Year award and the golden brain spoon. Meanwhile the evil taxidermist locks Prudence in a cage in order to make her confess the truth about the location of the weird and wonderful creatures, so George now must rescue her as well. Can he save the day?
Hilarious and full of exciting animals you could never have imagined, all real extinct creatures, or taken from myths, ‘The Extincts’ is a fun book for younger readers and will have you imagining your own monsters that live in Wormestall Farm.
Title: After Iris; The Diaries of Bluebell Gadsby
Author: Natasha Farrant
Price: £6.99 (paperback)
ISBN: 9780571297962
The Diaries of Bluebell Gadsby contain film footage, shot by the Cameraman, Bluebell herself, the film scripts of which are included in the book. The films all show Blue’s completely mad, but loving family; Flora, sixteen and would be married in some countries therefore old enough to do what she wants, Twig and Jasmine, the babes who enjoy pulling pranks and throwing tantrums, Blue herself and Blue’s shadow. Ever since the death of her twin sister Iris Blue has keenly felt the separation, like a missing arm or leg and she often images her shadow is Iris following her stil. However the rest of the family appear to have forgotten her and sometimes Blue herself feels invisible with her parents constantly travelling, Flora being overdramatic and attention-seeking and the babes constantly causing trouble. Blue never gets the chance to talk about her problems in school; how she has no friends and how Dodi, who used t be her best friend and is now her worst enemy, treats her. The story begins with the arrival of the au pair, Zoran who immediately tries and fails to take control of the unruly family, then the arrival of another mysterious character. The grandson of their nextdoor neighbours Joss is sixteen and as wild and full of fun as they are and takes great delight in watching and playing tricks on the family. He also becomes friends with Blue however, listens to her, gets revenge on the bullies at school and always makes her laugh. Just when she realises she has fallen in love with him however she sees him kissing her older sister Flora. Is Joss really as great as he has made out to be? He seems to be even wilder than they imagined bringing Flora home drunk and bringing his loud, rude friends to the school play. Meanwhile the children all begin to feel resentment towards their parents for being constantly working or travelling so that they are never together as a family. Blue knows the real reason everyone is moving so fast and being so busy, even though they may not speak about her they are trying to hide their grief for the loss of Iris, just as Blue is by not speaking to anyone and remaining always on the other side of the camera.
A wonderful novel containing the true meaning of family love and support for one another in times of difficulty and distress, this book also contains themes of growing up and heartbreak while also introducing moments of hilarious wit from the eyes of an intelligent sensitive 13 year old. The film scripts at the beginning and ends of the chapters are surprisingly effective and add to the vividness of the action within the book. You can almost imagine the novel as a film, and only at the very end does Flora take the camera and focus it on Blue’s face; she is laughing.
8/10
Title: Midnight in St Petersburg
Author: Vanora Bennet
ISBN: 9781780891590
Price: £12.99
Historical fiction in my opinion is massively underrated and, if well written, usually leads to thrilling interesting novels. Quite simply there are things which cannot be made up and part of the enjoyment, the wonder is due to the knowledge that these events actually happened. ‘Midnight in St Petersburg’ is such a novel and many would draw from it similarities with Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. It is very different however, and if the Russian classics seem daunting it’s n excellent introduction being written by an English author, but who has first-hand experience of Russia, having lived there for many years. Bennet has certainly done intense research and manages to not only incorporate the often unbelievable events of the Russian revolution but also the rumours among the people of Russia, the unanswered questions about the secrets of the monarchy. The reader also gains a sense of truly being a part of the Russian revolution, not merely an onlooker, and the beauty of the traditional, fascinating bourgeois society, with its aspiring musicians, artists, poets and the eccentric nobility as well as the brutality of the Russian Empire. Concentrated in St Petersburg it only give brief information about the effect of the revolution on the rest of Russia, however the events in St Petersburg were significant to the collapse of the Russian Empire.
The events are incorporated into the storyline of a young Jewish musician Inna, who manages to escape Kiev after the assassination of the Prime Minister in 1911. The Jews were the prime suspects of revolutionary activity and fearing the violent brutal pogroms, Inna steals a passport and gets on a train to St Petersburg hoping to stay with her cousin Yash and bringing his violin. But the unrest in the streets of St Petersburg, her cousin is a revolutionary attempting to procure papers for an exiled man and not having papers herself, Inna is possibly in greater danger than she was in Kiev. However she manages to get a job in a violin shop and lodging in the household of the kind Lemans who also house Yasha. Her stunning beauty, charm and exquisite violin playing charms an Englishman Horace Wallick who introduces her to his favourite part of Russia; the glamorous Bourgeois and Inna flourishes among this new bohemian set of friends. Inna is in love, yet she is not sure if it is with her volatile passionate cousin, or the sophisticated, smart Englishman who cares for her greatly and could secure her safety in St Petersburg. Meanwhile the city is in turmoil as the Russian government starts to collapse and revolutionary feelings are growing, no one is safe. Inna meets the nortorious Rasputin who she knows as the kind Father Gregory, a Siberian peasant who has become an obsession of the aristocracy as some beg for his spiritual knowledge and advice while others slander him in the newspapers accusing him of womazing and drunkenness. She also meets the eccentric, outrageous Prince Felix Youssoupoff, who loves to disguise himself, as a peasant, as a poor worker even as a woman! The incorporation of real historical figures into a fictional sory works wonderfully well in this novel as Bennett uses them to provide other opinions of the causes and events of the Russian Revolution in fascinating detail. Horace Wallick was also originally a real person; the authors Great Uncle who lived in Russia before the revolution, forced to return to England, never got over losing his alternative, yet thrilling and luxurious lifestyle when the Tsar was on the throne. But what will Bennett’s ending hold instore for Horace? Inna is in possession of Prince Youssoupoff’s priceless Stradivarius violin which could be her safe ticket out of Russia on board the Dowager Princesses ship to Paris, but which man will she take with her?
The Russian Revolution must be one of the most fascinating, thrilling topics of history and if you’re looking to broaden your knowledge on the subject or learn about it from scratch this is an excellent informative book with detailed information about historical figures and events. Alternatively if you’re just looking for an exciting storyline and interesting characters, you won’t be disappointed.
8/10
Title: We Need New Names
Author: Noviolet Blubayo
ISBN: 9780701188030
Coming June 2013!
This book will change your life. Set in a shanty town on the outskirts of Budapest this is an emotional, terrible, enchanting story about a young girl named Darling. She lives with Mother of Bones and her Mother as her father is away traveling to make money for them, she remembers what it was like to have a nice house, clean clothes and pretty toys before the time when their country was taken over and their houses destroyed leaving them with worthless money and few possessions. She is also keen to remind the other children that she has a rich auntie in america who she will live with one day. However her and her friends Bastard Stina Godknows Chipo and Sbho have more pressing matters to attend to. They are off to steal guava fruits. Guava fruits from the rich houses that will temporarily full their empty stomachs but have the unfortunate side effect of painful constipation.
However this is book is not miserable angry or bitter; it displays the determination and strength of a beaten down race who did anything to escape their dying country but never relinquished its culture or their love for it. Through the mind of a child Blubayo successfully captures images through words in a unique and enchanting manner. I have read few books where I actually sense feel and experience the story and the setting as I do in "We Need New Names". Also worth mentioning is he authors skill in creating a change of tone and manner of the narrator as she grows from a child to an adolescent with her own strong opinions, often intervening with chapters speaking for all African people who have been forced to leave their country behind. I can't recommend this book enough; it really will change your view on life.
9/10
Author: Liz Banks
ISBN: 978 1 84812 338
Price: £6.99 for paperback (out April 2013)
Liz Banks herself says "Irresistable is the book I would have longed to read as a teenager, full of gossip, some rude bits - but with love at the heart". This is definitely not your classic teen love story; there are some more passionate scenes that I can imagine a 12 year old little brother or sister stealing your book to gawp and giggle at. This is no fifty shades of grey however, the scenes are tastefully described and focus more on the emotions, humour and general confusion of the teenager discovering love for the first time.
When Mia gets a job at Radleigh Castle a prestigious hotel restaurant and bar she can't believe her luck. What she didn't count on however was a terrifying boss and her incredibly attractive but dangerous son James Fox who likes nothing better than getting other people into trouble. There is also James' rich friends who plot to ruin the lives of the guests and staff alike. There is Dan however who also works in the restaurant and with his easy smile and humour he manages to convince Mia that this summer will be good. They get on really well, always have fun and Dan says he's falling for Mia and she thinks she feels the same... But then there is James Fox who seems intent to charm her. Mia knows that he is dangerous but then later she sees beneath the act he puts on and begins to understand the real James underneath his overconfident womanising persona. However there is also his girlfriend Cleo to worry about who seems to want to be friends with Mia. But how much can either of them be trusted?
Exciting, very easy to read and full of classic teen drama.
I would give this book 7/10
Title: FirewallersAuthor: Simon Packham
IBSN: 9781848123076
Price: £6.99
Jess is a normal teenage girl with a cheating ex-boyfriend who she is considering getting back with, unhelpful best friend, boring work experience job at her father’s office, and an excruciatingly perfect older sister Millie aka ‘The Golden One’. However one day she returns home after a particularly tough day at school to find her mother and her sister crying and the house surrounded by the press. Her father has done something, they said, he has lost his job at the bank because he lost his money. However Jess senses there is more to the story when the next day they pack their bags and leave driving all the way to an island off the coast of Scotland inhabited by a strange group of people called the ‘Dawdlers’, who Jess’s mother has heard of through her friend Sue who is one of them . They are an anti-consumerism, anti-modernisation society and wear only eco-friendly unlabelled clothes, eat only natural foods directly sourced from nature and live without technology. Jess’s horror at having to give up her hair straighteners, make up shampoo and mobile phone is almost too great to describe, but her mother seems unusually happy at having no connection whatsoever to society, even if the lack of skin products seems daunting. Jess is told she must try to fit in with the other ‘striplings’ which is the word the Dawdlers use for teenagers, but she finds them hostile and cannot understand why they live contentedly without modern technology, skincare or fast food. Meanwhile ‘The Golden One’ seems to have changed dramatically and begins to rebel for the first time in her life. Jess obediently listens to the leader Eric and goes to the lessons and meetings with the other striplings, but Millie stays indoors, barely speaking to her mother or to Jess, refusing to take part in anything.
Jess grows more suspicious that there is something she has not been told, and worries even more that it is particularly about her dad, but any time Millie comes close to telling her she suddenly stops and closes up again, refusing to say anything. Jess becomes increasingly worried about Millie and the effect the island is having on her, but she also feels secretly glad that there is something she is better at than Millie because she finds herself liking the striplings as they are not all what they first appeared to be, particularly Campbell, who takes her on a date. However Campbell too has a secret, and his is also about his father, but will Jess ever uncover the truth about anything?
This story is cleverly written and really does put you in the mind of a teenager dealing with an impossible situation. Although humorous at times it contains mature themes and powerful underlying messages and how a young person could deal with them. Jess seems shallow and silly, if creative and amusing at first, but eventually you see another side to her emerge; of loyalty courage and strength as she saves her family from falling apart.
I would give this book 7/10!
Title: Bang Bang You’re Dead
Author: Narinder Dhami
ISBN: 978052560436
I would describe this as a teen thriller with a shocking twist. It follows Mia an ordinary school girl on an extraordinary day at school. There is a gunman on the loose in school, holding Class 9B hostage in the outbuilding. Mia is shy, insecure and weak, she is often told, but when she realises her twin brother Jamie is missing, and was last seen heading towards the location of the gunman, she takes it on herself to go looking for the potential killer.
As all the action takes place, we also learn about earlier times from Mia’s life and her struggle to live with her unstable mother, her grandad’s death and her rather strange brother Jamie. Every time someone hurts Mia, they are punished in some way for their actions and Mia can’t help but wonder if Jamie has something to do with it. Jamie is not shy or weak, but strong, bright and confident and constantly telling Mia she should stand up for herself more, especially to the bullies at school.
She knew that day, that something bad was going to happen. Her mum had another of her panic attacks that morning, after planning to use another of her credit cards to buy new things they couldn’t afford then losing her temper. Mia’s mum had been like this as long as they could remember and since Grandad is no longer around to take care of her Mia constantly turns to Jamie for help and support, but she often fears what he might too, if his own temper is pushed to the brink. And today, she knows, he has a plan.
In this thrilling tale Mia pursues the gunman through the school determined to stop what could ruin so many lives, it is a terrifying game of cat and mouse, but who will win? What if all is not as Mia suspects, or what if it is? Mia soon realises she is in more danger than she ever could have imagined. Easy to read, but also shocking and dramatic this page-turner wil have you on the edge of your seat!
I would give this 8/10!
Title: The Hit
Author: Melvin Burgess
ISBN- 978-1-908435-33-0
Out in April!
Imagine the most amazing drug in the world, with the greatest price. For one week, your intelligence, your strength and appearance becomes superhuman and your senses of taste, smell sight and hearing are heightened. However at the end of the hit is one colossal come down; death. The drug binds itself to the human brain and within a week the user is dead. Soon the drug becomes so popular that suicide rates among young people have tripled in a year, particularly after a famous singer, Jimmy Earle, dies suddenly, spectacularly at the end of his concert due to the drug. A teenage couple, Lizzie and Adam are at the concert and witness the riots that follow, encouraged by the Zealots a revolutionary gang who are handing out hundreds of free ‘death’ pills on the streets of London. At one point Adam would never have dreamed of suicide, but from that night on his life begins to spiral downwards dramatically. He never feels good enough for his rich pretty girlfriend, Lizzie who is constantly encouraged by her parents and friends to dump him. On the day they promise to lose their virginities to one another Adam finds out the terrible news that he will never see his brother again; now he must give up school in order to work as his father is handicapped and his brother Jess had been the main source of income. He feels he is on the brink of losing everything anyway, and is tempted by the ultimate high followed by escape from life. It’s up to Lizzie to save him from the worst decision he could possibly make. However she has her own problems as the Christian Ballentine, the heavily medicated, unbalanced son of an immensely powerful drug dealer has taken an interest in her and he refuses to give up. The Ballentines are linked with the drug ‘death’ and with the Zealots, but who is in control?
This book is dramatic and difficult to put down, however I would have preferred it longer, or split into a few books in order to learn more about the characters and focus on the events; I had to read the end a couple of times before I actually understood everything- it all happened so quickly! Nevertheless it’s an amazing storyline and it will have you on the edge of your seat!
I would rate this 8/10!
Title- The Humans
Author – Matt Hang
ISBN- (hardback)- 9780857868756
ISBN-(paperback)- 9780857868763
Out soon!
Sorry there is no picture, the book's not out yet!
This book will change the way you think about life, the human race and the universe. What if aliens really did exist and were more advanced and intelligent than us? And what if they walked among us disguised as humans, influencing events in order to control the progression of the human race? This is not a story about Professor Andrew Martin of Cambridge University, a workaholic who ignores his family in order to solve the greatest mathematical riddle of our time- the pattern of prime numbers. In doing this he has unlocked the secret to technological advancement which will send the human race hurtling towards the future. This story is not about Professor Andre Martin, however, this story is about the alien, who after he had been killed, took over his body in order to prevent the answer to this riddle falling into the clutches of a civilisation who were not ready. Thrown into his disguise, this alien’s only guide to earth was what lay in the pages of that the ‘Cosmopolitan’, consequently his first event on earth involves being arrested for public display of nudity. Soon, however he begins to blend in, and he begins to proceed with his task; to kill anyone who may have any knowledge of Andrew Martin’s solution. His kind have no emotions, relationships or favouritism, they strive for knowledge, and the greatest good for the greatest number, working to preserve their race rather than themselves. They also view humans as inferior, disposable beings. Therefore when the fake Andrew Martin becomes a little attached to his wife Isobel and their son Gulliver, as he tries to help them deal with the problems caused by the real Professor, who abandoned and ignored them, the situation becomes more complicated. Despite his initial hatred of his disguise, human food and tastes, he finds himself growing strangely fond of peanut butter, poetry (especially Emily Dickinson), and David Bowie’s Space Oddity’ which ‘tells you nothing about space, but is very pleasing to the ears’. Suddenly Andrew Martin has become a much better father, husband, and allround human being than he ever was, but can he save his newfound family by the fate his kind has in store for them? Or will he finally ‘remember who he truly is and what his ‘kind’ is fighting for’.
This is a humorous charming, often tragic depiction of humanity; desperate, often selfish, but loving. I would fully recommend it for a life-changing read. Remember, (from 97 pieces of advice for a human), No. 25: ‘there is only one genre in fiction, that genre is a book’
I would rate this as a 9/10!
Title: The Great Unexpected
Author: Sharon Creech
ISBN: 978-1-84939-092-7
This story is set in a small American town named Blackbird Tree, and is from the point of view of Naomi Deane, a sharp, imaginative orphan who lives with her guardians; the farmer Joe and his Irish wife Nula. Her best friend is the talkative, logical Lizzie Scatterding, also an orphan. One day while out playing on the creek, they see a boy fall from a tree and lie still on the floor, appearing to be dead. When he wakes, however, he tells them his name is Finn and mentions something about gold. The girls are both nervous and interested and when Naomi returns home she finds she cannot stop thinking about the ‘Finnboy’. Meanwhile, far from blackbird tree, Mrs Kavanagh, a bitter old woman is plotting revenge for a broken heart, together with her friend Mrs Pilpenny.
Lizzie and Naomi find that the boy falling from a tree has set a motion of events leading towards a future neither of them could ever have expected. There are the dead crows sent to Nula and also to mad old Mr Farely, then there's the strange behaviour of the weather, which everyone decides is down to Witch Wiggins. Nula tells Naomi about a boy she once knew back in Ireland named Finn McCoul whose real name wasn’t even Finn at all but Paddy McCoul, a boy who stole hearts. Naomi cannot remove her Finn from her mind she wants to see him more often and talk to him, hear is strange foreign accent and ask why he is visiting the strangest people in the town; Crazy Cora and Witch Wiggins. Meanwhile Naomi is still unable to overcome her fear of dogs, ever since that terrible incident as a young child, when she lost her father, and damaged her right arm forever. As these strange events set in motion, however, the towns people seem to turn against her and she realised she had never noticed before that, for as long as she could remember, no one in Blackbird tree owned a dog. Over on her grand estate in Ireland Mrs Kavanagh continues devising her plot, with the help now of Mr Dingle, even though she cannot seem to get rid of the pestering Paddy McCoul…
Lizzie and Naomi find that the boy falling from a tree has set a motion of events leading towards a future neither of them could ever have expected. There are the dead crows sent to Nula and also to mad old Mr Farely, then there's the strange behaviour of the weather, which everyone decides is down to Witch Wiggins. Nula tells Naomi about a boy she once knew back in Ireland named Finn McCoul whose real name wasn’t even Finn at all but Paddy McCoul, a boy who stole hearts. Naomi cannot remove her Finn from her mind she wants to see him more often and talk to him, hear is strange foreign accent and ask why he is visiting the strangest people in the town; Crazy Cora and Witch Wiggins. Meanwhile Naomi is still unable to overcome her fear of dogs, ever since that terrible incident as a young child, when she lost her father, and damaged her right arm forever. As these strange events set in motion, however, the towns people seem to turn against her and she realised she had never noticed before that, for as long as she could remember, no one in Blackbird tree owned a dog. Over on her grand estate in Ireland Mrs Kavanagh continues devising her plot, with the help now of Mr Dingle, even though she cannot seem to get rid of the pestering Paddy McCoul…
Mysterious and confusing ‘The Great Unexpected’ is a thoughtful, poignant insight to the mind of a child who lost everything so young and learns to grow up and move on. Cleverly intertwined is the story of two wretchedly poor sisters whose hearts were broken by one man and how one of them plans to repay her sister and take revenge on him. There is also a recurring theme of old Irish magic and superstition, suggesting a fairy story but with elements of reality. Both Lizzie and Naomi have terrible, painful pasts but they become, brave, charming and imaginative girls. Nula also has lived through a great deal; she was sent to America as a girl because her family could not afford to keep her and forced to be a slave for the cruel family who took her there, yet she moves on finds Joe and takes care of Naomi as though she were her own. What these characters do not realise is that they are woven into a plan which will form an unexpected ending for all of them…
8/10
Title: Just One Day
Author: Gayle Forman
ISBN: 978-1-849-41566-8
Price: £6.99
To begin with Allyson Healey lives a very normal, if rigidly organised life. When she graduates her parents pay for her to go on a tour of Europe and evenly though it is informative, well-organised and most of the other graduates including her friend Mel have a lot fun, Allyson feels that something is missing. She is seeing the countries as an American tourist but not feeling the atmosphere or living as they would. She used to be satisfied with staying in while everyone went out, studying hard in order to get into medical school and generally obeying her Mother completely. Things seem to change quickly, however, when she meets Willem a young Dutchman who had travelled for two years and somehow ended up joining a cast of amateur actors, performing Shakespeare. As Allyson watches him acting Sebastian in the acting group’s rendition of ‘Twelf Night’ she begins to fall for him. He calls her ‘Lulu’ stating she looks similar to the 1920s American actress Louise Brooks, due to her short black hairstyle and dark, deep eyes. For the first time in her life Allyson feels special, different and more confident and when Willem offers her an enchanting offer to visit Paris, just for one day, she finds it impossible to refuse…
Just one day becomes a truer statement than Allyson could have imagined, as Willem disappears mysteriously, leaving her stranded in Paris. Heartbroken, Allyson manages to get home but she is devastated feeling she has lost not only Willem, but also the person she became while she was with him; ‘Lulu’. She hates university and constantly struggles to fit in with her parent’s expectations, often falling short. Eventually Allyson decides to take action, she will find Willem and with him find answers, and hopefully also find the confident, interesting Lulu, such a contrast to the shy boring Allyson.
This is not your typical American love story. It is, I admit, an American love story, but it contains stunning descriptions of Paris and wonderful elements of different cultures which you never thought you knew. Have you ever heard Shakespeare in French? Did you know there is a word in Mandarin for ‘double-happiness’?
This is also a story about self-discovery, life and loss. In her search Allyson eventually discovers who she really is, after meeting a variety of different personalities and nationalities both friends and enemies. She learns about love and about herself, finding it incredible how just one day in Paris could change someone’s life forever. This book might not have the conventional happy ending, or even be a tragedy, but it does have love, happiness and friendship as well as heartbreak and despair and the trials of growing up and finding out who you really are.
“If Music be the food of love, play on” Duke Orsino, ‘Twelfth Night’ by William Shakespeare.
Title: Hidden
Author: Marianne Curley
ISBN: 978-1-4088-2262-3
If you enjoy twilight and various other vampire/mythical creature stories but are looking for a change this is an excellent book. It falls under the genre of teen fantasy which has recently become very popular worldwide. However this story is not about vampires or werewolves but angels. What would happen if an angel was taken at birth and hidden somewhere on earth with a mortal family? Ebony lives a sheltered life, never truly understanding why her parents keep her enclosed and isolated, away from the life her friends lead. Everything changes when at a school dance she literally bumps into Jordan and instantly feels a connection with him. Jordan is an unlucky boy whose life never seemed to go right for him. He also has a terrible secret, something he regrets, which has turned his childhood best friend Adam into his worst enemy. When Adam sees Jordan talking to his girlfriend Sophie, tension builds and a fight ensues. Ebony feels an incredible urge to protect this boy who she has only just met and when she returns home that night she feels that her life is not what she understands it to be. She soon begins to suspect that her parents have not revealed the entire truth to her about her birth- that she was born with a twin brother who died- and starts to demand the whole story. However her parents had been told that informing their daughter of her true identity would bring doom on the family and the entire village. Meanwhile Jordan meets Thane, an extraordinary man who promises to change his unfortunate life and make him happier, but first Jordan must help him find the lost angel, the one he had been searching for all his life so he could return to Avena, the human concept of heaven and marry his fiancé who has waited for him for many years… But Ebony has been brought up by atheist parents and refuses to believe talk of angels, heaven or anything out of the ordinary. Jordan realises that making her realise her role in this other world and her past life will be no easy task. Meanwhile the dark Prince Luca, a fallen angel who rules an abandoned realm is growing in power and he is also searching for something. The same thing as Thane and he refuses to be defeated.
Title: The Legacy
Author: Gemma Malley
ISBN: 978-1-4088-3689-7
Price: £6.99
Before the Hunger Games there was ‘The Legacy’. This is part of a series which I would fully recommend reading all of. It is set in the future where Albert Fern has managed to create a drug that cures cancer in order to save his daughter Elizabeth’s life. However not only does his formula prevent all disease it also create s cells that do not age. In essence he has created everlasting life. But Albert knows the price that comes with this and also knows that he must protect the circle of life at all costs. However his assistant and son in law Richard Pincent does not understand this concept. He wants to recreate the formula into a revolutionary drug that will give people eternal live and make him rich. He orders his bodyguard to get rid of Albert. Albert refuses to give him the formula but Richard has a sample and knows that other scientists will be able to retrace the process. However Albert gives him a warning; he may be able to derive the formula but nature will always win and he must always remember the circle of life. This warning will later haunt Richard as his perfect scheme of eternal life is suddenly threatened by a virus which his drug ‘longevity’ cannot cure. It seems that the unbeatable cure may be under threat; meanwhile there is an uprising from the Surpluses and their supporters who call themselves, The Underground. As people have chosen to live forever they give up the right to have children and any children born to those taking ‘longevity’ are taken to ‘Surplus Halls’ and subjected to cruel treatment and slavery, later they are secretly sent to a Pincent Laboratory, their bodies used for experiments and to create the new drug longevity plus. Such a fate happened to Sheila once after her friend Anna was released by Peter the surplus son of a former mistress of the Surplus Hall Margaret Pincent. Margaret was never told that Peter was her son, he was a surplus and so quietly smuggled away from his house by his father. Now we see Margaret in prison with a death sentence for murdering her husband after she found out what he had done to their child. Anna and Peter live happily together with Anna’s baby brother and their own child. Sheila too had a happy ending, as she was saved by Margaret’s other son and Peters brother. They both now work under Pip, leader of the Underground and fight against longevity and all it stands for, but Sheila had always been determined that she was not a surplus, that her parents had wanted her and not chosen longevity and now she wants to find them, but Pip knows this is a terrible idea. Meanwhile, Peter and Anna live happily together, far away from the problems of the real world, with Anna’s little brother and their own child. But Peter is becoming restless and knows that the resistance is struggling, as Pincent, terrified by the virus which threatens his legacy locks down on rebels with further vigilance. As people begin to grow suspicious of their neighbours seeming ill then mysteriously disappearing late at night, and more children are taken to surplus halls every day, Richard Pincent’s world seems to be crumbling around him. There is only one course he must take, he must find the original formula and understand what Albert meant when he said the ‘circle or life’. Otherwise the whole of Britain could die.Title: Billy & Girl
Author: Deborah Levy
ISBN: 978-1-4088-4068-9
Price: £7.99
Cook Books for Christmas!
Book1:
Title: Hugh’s Three Good Things…on a plate
Author: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (SIGNED COPY!)
ISBN: 978-1-4088-2858-8
Price: £25.00
Book2:
Title: Celebrate (A Year of Festivities for Families and Friends)
Author: Pippa Middleton (SIGNED COPY!)
ISBN: 978-0-718-17678-5
Price: £25.00
I have practically no skills at cooking so any kind of recipes I use must be easy to follow and I have to say this must be my first time since cookery lessons at school in Year 9 to actually use a cookbook. Nevertheless I tried my best and managed to successfully make a full English breakfast frittata from Celebrate by Kate Middleton. The Beetroot Egg Anchovy salad from Hugh’s Three Good Things was sadly less successful, I struggled cooking the beetroot. However although I think the results was due to my incompetence with cookery, rather than the actually recipe, I must admit I found ‘Celebrate’ easier to follow and a lot quicker. There was nothing in any of the recipes that confused me and my mum was certainly very impressed with my frittata which I served her for breakfast! She also liked the book itself with its beautiful layout and bright pictures. ‘Hugh’s three good things’ looks very good for a healthy eating plan. All the recipes are based around three main ingredients, usually including vegetables and are therefore meant to be fairly simple and easy (again I think it was probably my fault the recipe didn’t work, not Hugh’s). I would definitely try again with a different salad though as they all look delicious; ‘Cauliflowers, tomatoes and capers’, ‘Cabbage avocado and lentils’ and ‘fennel tangerine and pumpkin seeds’. Some of the main meals included also appeal; ‘fish, onion, olives’ and ‘ham, squash and marmalade’.
The two books are very different. ‘Celebrate’ is aimed at families, providing not only recipes, but activity and decoration activities for various events throughout the year such as Christmas, Easter, New Year and family events such as birthdays, barbecues and picnics. It is perfect for any mother and contains inventive ideas to inspire you to make every holiday enjoyable for the whole family. Hugh’s Three Good Things however focuses entirely on the food and can be used by men and women alike; single, young, old and with or without families. Hugh says “If ever you feel your cooking is stuck in a rut, your repertoire of recipes a little tired, then this ridiculously simple cookbook is aimed at you…I want to set you off in a creative direction, by showing you a pattern that underpins many well-loved dishes” Three really does seem to be the perfect number; not too complicated, not too bland or boring. It also a healthier way to eat, especially if can encourage home-cooking. This could be a great gift for a young couple, a student who doesn’t want to live off take-aways, or just a family or anyone in need of some new ideas.
Both books look very impressive with vivid images and attractive covers to brighten up your kitchen or your coffee table. ‘Celebrate’ is original in that it is arranged and categorized by seasons with an extensive index at the back and Hugh’s Three Good Things’ is arranged by starters, mains, deserts as you would perhaps expect. Both I think could be very useful, in very different ways. I really loved some of the decoration and activity ideas in ‘Celebrate’ for example ‘edible Christmas gifts’, ‘Guess my New Year’s resolution’ and the ‘Easter Crafts’ section. Depending on who you are buying for I would recommend either as an excellent Christmas or New Year’s gift, or treat for yourself!
Title: A Christmas Poem
Author: Carol Ann Duffy
ISBN: 978-1-4472-1202-7
Price: £5.99
The perfect Christmas gift for children and adults this poem retells the story of the famous carol, King Wenceslas, with beautiful illustrations by Stuart Kolakovic. Hardback and carefully structured, the little book begins with luxurious descriptions of a lavish Christmas feast at the palace of King Wenceslas and it really puts you in the festive spirit! As he is feasting however the King sees a man stood in the cold and his act of kindness to this man encapsulates the true meaning and spirit of Christmas; caring for others. With wonderful illustrations carefully incorporated into the poem, this is definitely a book to keep for many Christmases to come!
7/10
Title: Jesus’ Christmas Party
Author: Nicholas Allan
ISBN: 978-1-84941-526-2
Price: £5.99
This children’s book is a charming, funny retelling of the classic Nativity story for young children aged 6 and under. It is told from the view of the innkeeper an irritable man who is simply trying to get a good night’s sleep. However he cannot seem to get any peace, ever since he let a young couple, Mary and Joseph, sleep in his stable. He is plagued by shepherds, Kings, bright lights and singing and finally in a fit of rage goes to see what all the fuss is about. What he doesn’t realise is that a very special child has been born that night, in his stable, a child who will change the world forever.
Comical illustrations assist this tale making it perfect for younger children either to read for themselves or be read to as an excellent way to make the story of Christmas more exciting. Cleverly written and lots of fun to read, I would definitely recommend it to put children in the festive spirit!
8/10
Title: Formby Then and Now in colour
Author: Reg and Barbara Yorke
ISBN: 978-0-7524-7155-6
Written as a contribution to Civic Day organised by the Formby Civic Society, June 2012, this is a high-quality, pictorial record for those with a passion for local history, or even those people who simply appreciate Formby and are curious to know more. The book provides detailed information about Formby from the middle of the 18th century onwards, right up to June 2011. Interesting facts are intermingled with a stunning set of nostalgic images of Formby as far back as 1900. Imagine Formby as it was, a small rural hamlet, in contrast to the compact town with its own shopping centre (as we call ‘the village’). Ever wanted to know when and how the first street lights in Formby arrived? Or when the village was pedestrianized? And how did Wicks Lane Path get its name? The answers to these as well as the origins of Cross Green, the well-known inns: Cross House, The Bay Horse and The Grapes and the old church yard can all be found in Formby Then and Now. There are also interesting details about Formby during great historical events, such as the Harrington Barracks in the Second World War and the Altcar Rifle Range, which was situated on the mouth of the River Alt. in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Even Formby Bowling club played its part, acting host to convalescent soldiers during the First World War; we contrast this with how it is today. Of course, we cannot forget the fabulous Formby coast and the threat that coastal erosion poses to the natural environment and glorious beach. There is also the Lifeboat station, the very first light boat station in the world and Formby Lighthouse, ‘one of the first nautical structures erected to help aid navigation and safety at the port of Liverpool’. Gain a sense of local pride from traditions and events which have continued in Formby for years, such as the Open Air Art Exhibition, held every June since 1950.
This latest edition is brighter, bigger and better than other books in the ‘Then and Now’ series and the vivid images, hardback cover and glossy pages make this book an ideal Christmas present for any Formby dweller. Perhaps your house, someone you know, or somewhere you go every day is featured in this book, so read and find out!
I would give this book 8.5 out of 10!
Title: The False Prince
Author: Jennifer A. Nielson
ISBN: 978-1-407133-05-8
Price: £6.99
Sage is no ordinary orphan teenage boy living in the poorest part of Avenia, with a stubborn , rebellious attitude and sharp mind he refuses to be beaten. His life changes dramatically when one day, he is taken by the mysterious noble Conner. He is told where he will be taken or of what will become of him, but also captured are three other boys Latimer, the sickly, Tobias, the educated and Roden, the brave and strong. The boys are all of a similar age and appearance. It is soon revealed that the plan is for one of these boys to impersonate the Prince Jaron of Carthya, who disappeared years ago when his ship was attacked by pirates. With the royal family under attack from within, it is time for the Prince to fulfil his duty. Conner will choose the boy who appears to him most similar to the Prince, and as for the other three; they must be disposed of.
Sage understands that this twisted competition is something he cannot lose, and as a skilled thief and quick thinker he applies his skills, but antagonises Conner when he refuses to bend and obey anyone. Conner’s Prince must be obedient, loyal and willing to embrace a lifetime of lies. Sage cannot force himself and it seems that, unlike the other boys, he wants nothing less than the throne. However, he realises he has responsibilities as only he can save the other boys who are not chosen. Imogen, a young abused servant girl in Conner’s household, attracts his attention. Her mother refused Conner and as revenge for this Imogen was taken and is now forced to feign muteness in order to escape Conner’s advances. She is one of Sage’s few companions in the castle but says she will refuse to accept him if he becomes the Prince, unable to imagine why anyone would choose a life of deception, if there was any other option.
Torn between the truth, which he had never wanted to accept, and the lie which he is living, Sage must make a decision; the orphan or the prince? However the mysterious orphan hides more secrets than Conner could ever have realised. When he picked Sage up off the streets it was both his greatest achievement, but also his biggest mistake.
A gripping, exciting novel, packed with action and adventure, once you begin this book it is impossible to put down. Perfect for both boys and girls ages 11-16! The character of the Orphan Prince is entertaining and likeable, but never arrogant. The book also contains themes such as assassination, poverty, pirates and royalty and has the classic characters such as evil nobles grasping for control of the throne, Conner’s ruthless accomplice, Cregan and the suffering Princess Amarinda, betrothed to the heir of the throne, but in love with Jaron’s brother, Darius.
I would give this 8/10!
Title: Black Spring
Author: Alison Croggon
ISBN: 978-1-4063-3958-1
This book is an enchanted, fantasy themed take on the classic Wuthering Heights, a dramatic tale of powerful, intense love and the desperation of loss, set in a medieval time when there was a hierarchy of powerful families ruled by a King and Wizards. A world where magic is rife but rigidly controlled. Oskar Hammel, a traveller, chooses to visit the mysterious lands of the North, protected from its spells by a charmed ring. However, after spending a night in Elbasa with the violent aggressive Damek and his suffering, sullen wife Lina , he realises there are some kinds of enchantment For which there is no protection. He sees, in his bedroom, the ghost of a beautiful but insane witch who he soon learns is the mother of the young woman of the house. When he moves to a nearby inn he urges the woman who owns it to tell him more about the bizarre family. And so the story begins…
It is told as a narrative, related to the traveller by an observant maid and close friend of the main characters, the stolid and sensible Anna, who contrasts greatly with the passionate and unreasonable natures of the main protagonists. In this book the character of Lina, who represents Catherine, the heroine of Wuthering Heights is described as a beautiful yet violent –natured girl who becomes a danger to herself and others when her true mind is repressed by a cruel, prejudice society. It is portrayed in this book as the character of Lina is a witch- she has immense emotional and supernatural power which she is forced to keep hidden in order to be accepted. Her violet eyes however depict her true self and she finds it difficult to control her powers. Damek, is a young serious, silent boy when he is taken in by Lina’s father, but he is soon won over by Lina’s inescapable charm and as the two grow older they fall in love. However, the wizards rule has decreed that the vendetta has once again began and men must continuously avenge one another by killing other men, then pay bloodtax to the King and wait to be killed themselves. It is a dark, twisted time and with the death of Lina’s father however the King decides to punish Lina for her magical connections, her mother was also a witch, and hands over her father’s property to a cruel, pompous man and due to this Damek is eventually forced to leave, promising to return however and save Lina while gaining revenge on this man for his injustices towards her. Lina herself becomes desperate, with the loss of the strong Damek to assist her as well as the loss of her maid and most loyal friend, Anna, who is sent away to work in the palace and realises she must turn her back on her instincts and feelings in order to survive. A young man named Tibor falls in love with her and she is charmed by his simple steady nature and calming presence as well as the fact that he is her only means of escape. However what will happen when Damek returns, will the passionate, violent love between these two people ever fade? Lina’s fate also hangs in the balance as she struggles to conceal her power or risk the wrath of the wizards.
There is an important meaning behind this story, which Annie, the maid makes at one point. She declares that none of these events or injustices which made Lina the suffering, aggressive creature that she became would have occurred if Lina had been born a man. As a wizard she would have been revered but as a witch she is persecuted and her strong emotions are deemed improper for a lady. Damek himself, although he is in live with her blames her for his pain saying that she cursed him to feel this way. Eventually he takes his revenge as we learn that love does not necessarily make people good, it can sometimes destroy them. The opposite of love is not hate but indifference. Hate and love are very close indeed. I found this an excellent reworking of one of my favourite classics this book is perfect for anyone who enjoys the supernatural themed books and a possibly easier way of reading the highly dramatic but fantastic story of Wuthering Heights.
I would give this book 8/10!
Title: Noah Barleywater Runs Away
Author: John Boyne
ISBN: 978-1-849-92040-7 Price: £6.99
Noah Barleywater is an unusual, but inquisitive eight year old boy who decides to take his life into his own hands and run away, rather than face the problems at home. On his journey he reaches a strange town with a very strange old tree and meets two even stranger characters; a talking Donkey and a talking Dachshund. His new friends tell him all about the magic tree and the toyshop hidden behind it. Being a curious young man, Noah enters the Toyshop where he meets the old yet lively toymaker, who is eager to tell him his own story about when he ran away, as a child, breaking his father’s heart. He vowed for the rest of his days that he would be a toymaker, like his father, continuing the legacy of the toyshop.
Noah does not know what he finds more enchanting; the shop itself with its moving floorboards and talking clocks and doors or the magical puppets carved in the shapes of characters from the toymaker’s stories. As Noah shares his own past we slowly begin to learn about the problem which just seemed too big for a little boy to take on. In telling Noah about his life, the toymaker makes Noah see that nothing can be worse than running away and breaking a promise to the person who loves you most.
Noah Barleywater Runs Away is an entrancing tale, with elements of children’s fairy story but also a very real life issue hidden beneath. Boyne, the author of the heart-wrenching ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’, is wonderfully skilled at describing life cloaked in the imagination of a child. This book is charming and pleasantly humorous for both adults who want to remember childhood dreams and imagination, or for the younger ones just discovering them. The journey Noah takes, on this strange day, not only helps him take the right path for the future it also changes him for the rest of his life and if you read the book, it could change you too.
I would give this book 8/10!
Title: Neptune’s Tears
Author: Susan Waggoner
ISBN: 9781848122727 Price: £6.99 paperback
It’s the 23rd century on Earth and we soon learn that a lot has changed. Zee is only a teenage girl, yet already she is a trained Empath, a psychological healer used in hospitals to calm and examine patients’ minds. She meets David Sutton, an alien from planet Osmura. We discover that the Alien Guests’ arrival on Earth did not quite reach the expectations of the people. Apart from subtle differences they are almost exactly the same as humans and do not seem to be able to teach mankind anything new, or reveal the secrets to worldwide peace and happiness. Instead they insist that they came to Earth to study its culture and learn more about humans. The anarchist attacks all over the world, such as the shockbombs and man-made viruses, become more frequent after Zee meets David. No knowing where to turn, the public place the blame on the aliens. Despite them paying for their stay they are considered unwelcome among the people of Earth.For these reasons Zee finds herself torn in two when David Sutton succeeds in piercing her heart. She finds herself falling for him, not knowing who he really is. She becomes more and more aware that he is lying to her. David seems overly cautious about their relationship although the longing, intense love she feels for him appears to be mutual. But who is the tall beautiful girl with the long dark hair, who seems to appear everywhere she goes with David? And why does everything David tells her about Osmura not quite fit?On top of this, Zee finds out she may have the gifts of a Diviner, as she predicts a bomb attack before it actually happens. This would mean she would be trained to predict events and save lives but it could also be the thing that destroys her. While Zee is forced to make decisions about the dramatic changes of her life, she refuses to let David go even when he desperately tries to keep away from her, in order to save her from the terrible result which comes from humans having a relationship with aliens.Driven into a corner by his love, David eventually reveals the truth about his kind and their reason for visiting Earth, a truth almost too terrible for Zee to understand. She knows she cannot live without David but it seems their future is doomed. After beginning her Diviner’s training her dreams seem to reveal predictions about disasters, threatening people close to her but Zee, not fully capable of her powers yet, struggles to comprehend the predictions. She must fight to hold onto everything she loves, including her planet.I have never been a lover of Science-fiction but once I got into this I found it hard to put down. The storyline is thrilling and and behind the futuristic descriptions is a rather ominous prediction for the future of mankind. The characters are also interesting and likeable, particularly Zee as it is unusual to have a heroine rather than a hero in this style of book. I warn you now , frustratingly the book ends before the story is complete so now I have no other choice but to read the next one when it comes out!I would give this book 7/10.
Title: Throne of Glass
Author: Sarah J. Maas
ISBN: 9781408832332 Price: £6.99 paperback
This book would be best summed up as a thrilling fantasy novel, excellent for teenage readers, but with a flavour of adult themes. Some of the images and themes in the novel are in no way childish, mirroring conflicts in the real world such as slavery and rebellion nor is the heroine Celeana Sardothien a pathetic pretty princess. Not follow the traditional theme of beautiful but helpless damsel in distress; she has been Adarlan’s Assassin one of the most notorious hired killers of her time since the age of 17. However she is as devastatingly charming and beautiful as she is deadly. The only mistake she ever made was getting caught.
Imprisoned by an unmerciful king in the most horrifying of slave camps, the assassin is offered only one way out. If she takes part in the Kings impossibly cruel competition to be his champion, competing for his son the crown Prince Dorian, then she can win her freedom. Although confident at first she soon senses there is a much darker side to this than she ever could have imagined. Competing against villains and murderers is nothing new to her but she comes to realise there is something not quite human about the fearsome Cain, the contestant nominated by the Duke Perrington, rival of the Prince. And soon the other contestants are dying, and not in the competition as expected; they are being horrifically murdered and mutilated inside the castle walls and it becomes apparent that the magic once brutally banished and destroyed by the King is returning, some of it good and some most definitely evil.
Celeana now realises there are much higher things at stake than merely her freedom, especially after the arrival of the appearance of Elena, the ancient Queen of faeires, in her dreams headstrong fearless Princess Nehemia of the Elywes, protector of her countries rebels, at the Kings palace. Although the princess befriends Celeana , she is another character with ulterior motives, and it is clear she is involved in magic somehow, but what side is she on? Behind the adventure and magic is a passionate love triangle between the assassin and her coach, noble, cautious Chaol who is Captain of the Guards, and the charming Crown Prince Dorian. Neither man wishes to love her but nor can either help themselves and the two childhood friends find themselves growing more hostile to one another under the poisonous effects of Celeana’s charms, without her herself even realising. She too, cannot believe she could ever be with either man; Chaol, she feels, hates her for the blood she has drawn and lives she has taken; she has also sworn to never love Dorian, a Havillard, son of the King who killed her first love, Sam, and threw her into the torture and certain death of Endovian prison. Both men are drawn to her and she in return acquires feelings for both of them, in spite of herself, knowing it could never work.
Celeana is an interesting unusual character far from your classic heroine, as she displays so many bad qualities among the good. Her deadly skill with weapons, furious temper and natural distrust seem almost villainous but beneath this she is charming, frighteningly smart and loving towards those she cares for. We feel that if circumstances had been different then maybe she would have been a truly good person, but fate and life forced her into killing others in order to survive. This makes her more likeable and (worryingly if you think about it) I found myself wanting to be like her! I’m sure many girls who read this would feel the same and we can only pray that she chooses the right path in the end, because even with all her flaws, you want her to find happiness.
Not my preferred genre of book but I really enjoyed it. Exciting characters and storyline, an interesting alternative to the Twilight series or the Hunger Games of you have read and enjoyed those.
Review by Katy Handley
7/10!
Title Anna Karenina
Author: Leo Tolstoy
ISBN: 9780099540663 Price: £8.99 paperback
Similar perhaps to Tess of the D’Ubervilles his book follows the life and marital situation of its tragic heroine. Anna is a beautiful, charismatic woman in a loveless marriage. It is a doomed loved story set in the background of high society 19thcentury Russia and also follows the lives of a group of people acquainted with Anna as part of the Russian Aristocracy.
Although Tolstoy, like many Russian writers of his time, certainly does not keep the story succinct, the depth of detail gives an astonishingly vivid view of the setting and deep insight into the characters. Undeniably, it is a long book and needs concentration however I considered it well worth it as an excellent introduction to Tolstoy’s work. The story begins by foreshadowing the Anna’s deceit to her husband with the event of Oblonsky, a high society Russian man who has love affairs outside his marriage, being caught out by his devastated wife Dolly. His sister Anna advises Dolly to forgive him, which becomes ironic as we read on.
In the character of Anna herself he is particularly successful in making her an extraordinary woman, yet still realistic. Behind her sophistication and charm are glimpses of her jealousy and selfish tendencies as she enters into a love too strong for her to bear when she falls for Vronsky and is hurled into a relationship condemned by her society. Vronsky himself, a handsome general is a powerful character but is by no means the focus of the story. Tolstoy focuses on Anna intense love for him, something Vronsky can neither fully acknowledge, nor control. The constraints put on the two lovers by the world in which they live eventually make their lives almost unbearable.
Anna has choices to make, as do many of the characters in the book, and we also experience the changes taking place in Russia at this time, as the new ideals force their way through the old traditions jealously guarded by the Upper Class in Russia at the time. Kitty, a young girl is in the difficult situation of obtaining a husband when arranged marriages had long since gone out of fashion, but a lady making her own choice was unheard of. Such was the confusion of this dramatic beginning to take place, in Russia.
Levin, a man struggling with his curiosity about the beginning and meaning of life, notices these changes taking place. We, like Levin, one of the characters, begin to question fate and the world itself. If Anna had met Vronsky before her marriage to Karenin would her life have been easier? Or was their love made stronger by the impossibility of the romance?
The novel also reveals much about a woman’s place in Russian high society at the time, and her limits and lack of choice in any matter. The tragic ending is a symbol of passionate, forbidden love and what Anna feels she must do, being left no other option.
Reviewed by Katy Handley
7/10
Title: Rebecca
Author: Daphne Du Maurier
Published by…. Virago Modern Classics
ISBN 978-1-84408-879-9 Price £12.99
When a simple innocent young lady, with no great name or place in society, meets Maxim, owner of the prestigious estate, named Manderley, she cannot believe that he could ever love her. It seems as though all her dreams have been realised when the lonely widower falls for her modest, shy charms. However when she reaches Manderley, with its proud, beautiful grounds which seem to contain dark secrets, try as she might she cannot shake the shadow of Maxim’s former wife, Rebecca, whose constant presence hangs over the entire estate and in the formidable Mrs Danvers who does not attempt to hide her hostility towards a new mistress. It appears that everyone she comes across refuses to accept the loss of the former Mrs De Winter.
Following a sudden, seemingly sweet romance is a newlywed’s worst nightmare; it seems that never before has anyone struggled with such adversity from ‘the other woman’. Maxim refuses to revisit anything from his past, but seems entirely consumed, like many of the characters, by the memory of his wife. There are dark twisted secrets in the house of Manderley, and this is cunningly displayed from its enthralling description at the start of the book. A love story is indeed entwined amid the darkness and chilling atmosphere of the novel however; it is the heroine’s unfaltering adoration for Maxim which is her tragic flaw yet her most admirable quality.
It becomes evident that Maxim is indeed haunted by a terrible memory, one he can neither face nor turn away from. We see the journey of a young, naïve, rather weak girl to a strong individual who stands by the man she loves in the face of horrors she never could have realised, guided only by the hope that he loves her and not Rebecca.
I was captured by the first chapter of this novel with its powerful description of the main setting. Reading on I soon found affection towards the character despite my frustration at some of her actions and thoughts. The book also questions many theories of right and wrong; the good and the bad. It is a thrilling read, very difficult to put down especially at the unexpected, heart-wrenching ending.
Katy would give the book 8/10 and I would agree too!
Lee Child 'A Wanted Man' (as read 20-23rd July)
I have always been a fan, I love the character and Lee does come up with some sensational plots and 'baddies' to die (for and by Jack) mostly.
I wasn't a fan of his prequel though which is due out in paperback soon, I hear of and will go find the exclusive 'on line read' and well the film..hmmmm
It seems such a shame that a good actor (Tom 'not too tall' Cruise) will seemingly not be able to fill the size 12 boots of the main man in thriller land
Jack Reacher, we really really needed a huge presence, even a new face would do, at least someone like Ron Pearlman would have done (Hell Boy), but 'hey ho' we only read the books!
The new one..superb an easy 8/10 nearly a 9/10
Maybe the 'easy' is the only problem, Lee has a superb formula and framework for his action, it is simple, matter of fact and laced with 'techie detail and usually a stumble upon a local disaster affecting a 'femme fatale'. He has swung that bit round 'cos even built like an outdoor sanitation with a nose splattered to all parts of his rock solid face Jack ain't looking good and he doesn't shower or change clothes a lot! It is a well thought through 'socio-economic' constraint of rebelling against consumerism.
Jack is as ever hitching and hoping to get to Virginia, he after an hour gets lucky, he relaxes briefly in the warmth of the Chevy with King and McQueen and their quiet but under it all sassy lass Karen, she is not what she seems.
They are on a long night run to Chicago, but encounter roadblocks after a 'mob type hit' in nearby Nebraska and it looks like even down and dirty Jack does not fit the bill as they are only after two men. Click Jack's brain into 'what' gear and a blinking passage as they drive on...
Soon we have a 'manhunt', a 'whose side are you on' and a build up to quite a Syrian Surprise of Global Proportions, a real hangover from the Nuclear age of the 50s in the desert. What makes these polished thrillers so easy is the simple style of up-close and personal delivery, economy of 'over the top ness' and superb characters with reality and believability, and of course you don't know who will survive the ensuing carnage. Lee delivers his sardonic wit even with bullets flying at heads around the reader, he does make you feel the action as you read. The 'Mexican Stand Off' to the 'Count of 3' is superb, shows just what you can do with well, just 3 numbers and two guns!
I personally feel that whilst I still will read Reacher I would love Lee to develop a new character, there is an ongoing weariness as he ages and still survives, it works in the action but also limits some of the exhilaration at times, I don't personally want any more 'before he was Reacher' stories as I found Lee added too much future plot into a first person narrative, we the reader may know but Reacher wouldn't!
Anyway this is the 'Year of Reacher' and we will wait for the lack of widescreen and height screen showings of 'One Shot', back to square TV ratio methinks! At least it is one of the best books!
Anyway I am one of the lucky readers before the book is out and will no doubt have a queue for can I borrow soon!
And now my guest reviewer Eileen Clayton, the tweeter from Sefton @eileenclayton1 (do follow her!)
The 'Red Book' is the fourth novel written by Deborah Copaken Kogan.The book is about four room mates from Harvard University (Class of 1989); The main characters are Clover, Addison, Jane and Mia, who have all returned to the campus for their 20th reunion.
The title 'Red Book' come from the one which is published every five years, its where the Harvard graduates write a short piece summarising were their lives are at now .The plot centres on the discrepancies of what they write in their 'Red Book' and the reality of their lives, for example Addison, is a 'WASP' with money problems, a painter who doesn’t paint and a closet lesbian married to a man.
The plot then goes into great details of love, parenting, friendship, careers, education and more, but ultimately this is a book about…life.
Centred on sex and love, the two essential elements of any human relationship, the author’s tale confirms that successful relationships cannot have one without the other regardless of how hard one tries to make it work when either element is missing.
The reader is forced to see the results of the 'desire and longing' that leads to affairs and heartbreak in order to witness the richness that we all search for in our relationships.
This is a book to take away with you on your holidays, to enjoy with sun and wine.
Although this book is not the genre I read I did enjoy it and would rate it 6/10
The Red Book reviewed by Eileen Clayton @eileenclayton1
Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
This is a simply stunning book, powerful, profound and raw writing talent.
Taking a simple plot device of survival under the harshest of conditions and lashing in little rum,but plenty of salt and seascapes and a cracking look at choices and consequences...Grace is newly married to her Mr Right, we learn of their back stories and then they are thrown apart in the maelstrom of the sinking of their ship to their prospective new future of happiness.
Several lifeboats are launched and a random association of society is pitched in, 'helmed' by sea dog Mr Hardie a stubborn but sensible soul with a determination like none other.
At first they seem to be only a wave away from being rescued and hopefully reunited with their loved ones, surely equally safe on the other bobbing vessels.
However, as the waves wash over them and they begin to feel the wrath of the sea as their supplies diminish with their hope, we start to get a gripping tale of double crossing and death, either voluntary, by proxy or by push...
It is told in an almost clinical way at times, I think the lack of warmth of some of the characters is excellent as they must have been literally chilled to the core and we sort of don't want to get to know anyone too much as well they may soon be fish food.
Charlotte blends in many threads as we bob along forlornly, hoping and dreaming of salvation, making alliances and decisions, eating raw fish, sipping water through bloodied and cracked lips.
As we perceive the end result of actions taken as we are lead through the subsequent court case..murder most foul at sea..well the pace and inevitability keep lapping away.
Some of the central characters are slow burns and the power of persuasion and ability to survive is subtlety
written. The impact of numbers, weight, water and fatality are constants.
I give this book 9/10 and hope if you are a book club you will get to read and discuss it.
I will load up the cover later, 'tis late and I have to read more books before doing BBC Radio Merseyside
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