Being A Boy - James Dawson

It's harder to be a girl because
they have to push enormous babies
out of a very small hole and also
because we live in a pretty sexist
world run almost exclusively
by rich men.

Rated 10/10

Being a boy is hard. How can you possibly act cool and even think about pulling potential partners when your face is sprouting spots and you're hairy in places you didn't even know could be hairy? Luckily, 'Being a Boy' provides an uncensored look at puberty, from the social food chain to sex, being a boyfriend and everything guys need to know to survive - brutal honesty included.

My thoughts: A really quick and easy read that speaks to teen boys on their own level. I was sent this as a proof and read it in a day, it's very difficult to put down!

James Dawson writes with wit and understanding - almost like having an older brother/friend on call to answer those questions that are difficult to ask. As a 26 year old woman, I still found it highly entertaining and would recommend that anyone could read and be amused and informed in some way.

I particularly loved Dawson's stance on sexuality - refraining completely from labels and recognising that sexual preference is never as black & white as people suggest. Similarly, the ideas put forward on sexism and gender are equally as valid, and I would trust in putting this book in any boy's hands without worrying that they might be baffled or overwhelmed by the differences between men and women. There is none of that here...

Which puts forth another major positive that I got from this book - it doesn't bombard the lads with all of the biological physical explanations that they will have heard in sex ed classes. Ie: it's nothing at all like sitting down in a Science Biology lesson and being bored senseless for an hour. None of that. Just the stuff that is relevant, and written in a way that is easily digested.

There was only one little sentence that I personally completely disagreed with.

Other than that, an absolute winner!

The War of the Worlds - H. G. Wells

No one would have believed in
the last years of the nineteenth century
that this world was being watched
keenly and closely by intelligences
greater than man's and yet as mortal
as his own.

Rated 5.5/10

My Thoughts: I wasn't hugely struck on this book. It could have been the rambling style of the narrative, the fact that I am very much a fan of character driven novels, or maybe because I was reading on my iPhone; which is nowhere near as enjoyable as flicking through a hard copy.

I loved the concept, and the story has inspired so many novels and films since Wells penned his masterpiece. And for that reason I'm giving The War of the Worlds an average score. But I just couldn't get into it.

I'll probably be slated for this!!!!

The Masque of the Red Death - Bethany Griffin

'The charcoal sky spits cold
rain as we rumble to a stop at
a crossroad.'

Rated 1.5/10

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who survived live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them... Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for - no matter what it costs her.

My thoughts: I know that this book has had some positive reviews, and I also know that it is heavily influenced by Edgar Allan Poe's drama with the same name - but I just couldn't get on with it.

This is a YA novel, and so there will be inevitable romance and angst as a result, but the protagonist is a whiny teen with absolutely no endearing qualities about her whatsoever; And yet she is at the centre of a heated love triangle (of which I won't go into detail due to spoilers). Araby punishes herself due to her twin brother's death by supposedly never experiencing the things that he will never get to experience in life - and yet here she is in the centre of a club taking drugs and drinking quite casually. This is one of the many plot holes that I just couldn't get my head around.

The coherence of the novel is barely there - it rambles on irritatingly in 1st person, present tense using a myriad of very short sentences and utterances...

And so many unanswered questions! Why can't you catch the airborne plague when you're indoors? the air in a room is completely refreshed on average every two hours, even if all doors and windows are closed. Why do girls wear 'negligible' dresses despite the fact that pretty much every 'penniless' man is horny and dangerous, and it's so cold all the time? Would the need to be safe not outweigh the fashion of showing off you have no plague? And so on.

Not a single strong female character was present throughout the whole book either, not great for the young female teen audience that this book is aimed at.

The motives and actions of the antagonists also did not make sense to me but again, not going to reveal due to spoilers.

This book did survive my scrutiny right until the final sentence however, and I did finish the whole thing. Although it is not to my tastes, I know that others will enjoy it. If you want a really good YA novel that does everything that this one doesn't, then check out 5th Wave by Rick Yancey.

Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain

'My first indication that food was
something other than a substance
one stuffed in one's face when hungry
- like filling up at a gas station - came
after fourth-grade elementary school.

Rated 10/10

After twenty-five years of 'sex, drugs, bad behaviour and haute cuisine', chef and novelist Anthony Bourdain decides to tell all.

My thoughts: I found myself strangely inspired by Bourdain's full on account of his own culinary successes and (mostly) failures. I admire his attitude towards his business, the way that he prizes character and drive over skill, and the way that he admits to his own mistakes and makes no apologies over his completely obsessive behaviour.

This book was interesting throughout every word, and I found myself wanting to read more,  hungrily devouring the pages (pun intended) and wondering whether I could get myself a decent kitchen knife on my way home from work (I couldn't), and whether anyone would actually try my spur-of-the-moment masterchef creations (they won't).

The fact that Bourdain's journey drew me in and moved me in such a way is testament to the fact that Kitchen Confidential is a brilliant book and should be read by anybody who has an interest in food. I know that he has a bit of a reputation, but between these pages we see a more rounded view of this notorious tv chef.

The Games - Ted Kosmatka

"The boy lay motionless in
the tube as the machine moved
all around him."

Rated 8/10

This stunning first novel from Nebula Award and Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award finalist Ted Kosmatka is a riveting tale of science cut loose from ethics. Set in an amoral future where genetically engineered monstrosities fight each other to the death in an Olympic event, The Games envisions a harrowing world that may arrive sooner than you think.

My Thoughts: The Games was one of the many books that I found difficult to tear away from. I loved the theme of the title; genetic engineering, super computers, vaguely dystopian and very much appealing to the geek in me.

Although Vidonia didn't really appeal to me as a character (she seemed very much the 'token' lady, and her relationship with Silas was forced and unnecessary), most of the others were introduced with skill and I loved the way that Kosmatka gave us their little quirks and charms. Even the very minor characters (such as James Mitchell for example, who appears on just one page) were described without any kind of jarring awkwardness. Fair enough, the characters didn't 'grow' much during the course of events, but they were well rounded enough from the start to be interesting.

The one thing that let this book down was the fact that the first half of the novel was written with such style, suspense and a real building of tension that had me eager to turn pages - and then the last half of the book went obliterating that build-up completely, rip roaring to a speedy (and not entirely tied up) car-crash ending. I wanted more from it; I needed answers. It's as if Kosmatka had a really epic idea in place, but then ran out of space and had to bring it to a speedy close. I loved the scope of the plot that was set out before us, and then was disappointed to see it come to an abrupt ending.

And so, if you're looking for a neatly sculptured novel with developing characters and a steady plot line then you're in the wrong place. The Games is pure entertainment and nothing more.

An Idiot Abroad - Karl Pilkington

My Seven Wonders experience
started today with a trip to get
my injections.

Rated 5.5/10

What happens when a reluctant traveller is forced to visit the seven wonders of the world?

My Thoughts: I like Karl Pilkington. I've watched the tv series and I like to hear him moan and whinge about anything and everything. Some of the things he says, I would have been thinking myself but would not have had the guts to say. I like to see the grittier side of the majestic places often seen on travel programmes.

The book of An Idiot Abroad is okay. I liked it. It's quick and light and easy to read. There is absolutely no need to use your brain whatsoever and it doesn't really shed any light on anything not already included in the programmes. It's not particularly descriptive, not massively funny and definitely not enlightening. There is nothing much else to say about it!!!

There is certainly nothing special about this book, but if you like Karl (or his persona) then it's worth picking up. If you're not a fan or you don't know who he is then you should probably give it a miss.

The Psychopath Test - Jon Ronson

This is a story about madness.

Rated 9/10

This is a story about madness. It all starts when journalist Jon Ronson is contacted by a leading neurologist. She and several colleagues have recently received a cryptically puzzling book in the mail, and Jon is challenged to solve the mystery behind it. As he searches for the answer, Jon soon finds himself, unexpectedly, on an utterly compelling and often unbelievable adventure into the world of madness.

My Thoughts: Jon Ronson has quickly become one of my favourite writers. His style is witty, interesting and tongue in cheek. I love the observations that he makes and the quirks from people that he picks up on. I love that his reporting style is a little gung-ho - not a huge amount of planning seems to be in place (at least that's how it comes across). And he's not afraid to rub people up the wrong way sometimes. 

Another brilliant read that I would highly recommend. I'm looking for yet more from Ronson, and can see myself with the full set of his books on my shelves fairly soon.

That Near Death Thing - Rick Broadbent

The broken man pushes a leftover
calzone around a plate in Paparazzi
and falls off the Verandah.

Rated 10/10

The Isle of Man TT is a throwback to a maverick era that existed before PR platitudes and PC attitudes. William Hill shortlisted author Rick Broadbent gets inside the helmets of four leading motorcycle racers as they battle fear, fire and family tragedy for a gritty sort of glory.

My Thoughts: I was already a fan of Rick Broadbent when I picked up his in depth account of the TT, as I had read his work on the Moto GP a while ago and adored it.

I was not disappointed this time round either. That Near Death Thing scoops you up from your seat, carries you over to The Isle of Man, and gives you a glimpse behind the visors of some of the most fearless men (and Jenny) in the world. But these guys would never see it that way - they just love racing, finding the pencil line that marks out their limit and stepping over it. Sometimes they make mistakes. Sometimes they pay big time for these mistakes. Sometimes they get lucky and bring it home in one piece.

I could never say that I have a favourite rider as I respect every single one of them for their sheer gut and determination, and I believe Broadbent shares the same view. I love the way that he sheds light on the individual characters that he writes about - really opening my eyes to the differences between the riders, their passions, emotions, family feuds, what makes them tick. McGuinness and M.Dunlop are a mile apart when it comes to emotion and race ethic, and yet they scrape leathers on track and have the utmost respect for one another. Same goes for all of them.

I loved the way that Broadbent described the difference between road racers and circuit racers too. They are very much in different classes, but the passion for both is very much at the forefront of every single word.

I could read his observational descriptions all day - and I really hope that he is planning to write more on racing, though I get the feeling I would be happy enough to pick up any of his works, no matter the topic.

The 5th Wave - Rick Yancey

There will be no awakening.

Rated 10/10

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

My Thoughts: This book was powerful from the very first sentence. It's a dark and gritty teen read (though it has a maturity in style that adults will enjoy too). Relentless and full of action throughout, I actually couldn't put it down. 

The characters are strong, very strong; and as they are children from the age of 5 upwards, they are battling with self-discovery alongside the inconvenience of a full on alien invasion. But not the cheesy, big-eyed, hairless, green life forms you might see in an old film or tv programme - we're talking something a lot more sinister than that. Something that could really make your skin crawl...

What struck me the hardest about this novel was Yancey's style. It's no holds barred, grown up writing; short, sharp, shocking. 

Packed full of violence, death and the urge for survival; this is a book for those not too faint at heart. If you love grit and grime then this could be for you - might be best not to read in the dark...

Lost At Sea - Jon Ronson

A young man called Bill
stands in the shadows behind
a curtain at a converted
paintworks factory in Bristol,
now a TV studio.

Rated 10/10

"The New York Times"-bestselling author of "The Psychopath Test," Jon Ronson writes about the dark, uncanny sides of humanity with clarity and humor. "Lost at Sea "reveals how deep our collective craziness lies, even in the most mundane circumstances. 

Reviewed on my iPhone. 

My thoughts: I had barely reached page 30 and had already been taken behind the scenes of Deal or No Deal and met the worlds most advanced humanoid robots!

This is a book of articles packed with so many interesting people, and Ronson's dry wit and sarcasm that had me thoroughly entertained. I love Ronson's writing style, and I am currently seeking out more of his books for my upcoming holiday.

There have been other less favourable reviews about Ronson not doing research and just showing up to interview people on a whim. I actually quite admire this approach - it makes each article a lot more personal and we can see his own viewpoints based on his observations. Whether we agree with them or not is a different matter; we could always do our own extensive research if the cold hard facts meant that much to us.

Readers should remember that a lot of Ronson's own feelings and emotions come through - it is of course going to be biased. I think that this gives the writing a touch of personal honesty and a bit of an insight into Ronson himself too. I find this connection important in anything I read, whether non fiction or otherwise.

This has actually inspired me to perhaps explore my own passion for writing and perhaps taking this love down a route that I haven't yet explored. Real people provide the most interesting of stories at times, and it takes the right kind of writer to get the best (or worst) out of them. 


An enjoyable and thought provoking collection!

Republic - Steven L. Kent

'"Name?" The sergeant barked
the question without bothering
to look up from his desk.'

Rated 4/10

Private First-class Wayson Harris was raised in a Unified Authority orphanage among thousands of clones, bred to be the ultimate soldiers. But unlike the other Marines, programmed to obey first and think later, Harris has a mind of his own. When he fends off an attack from a rogue general, Harris is thrust into the middle of a galactic conflict that forces him to question his existence as a weapon of the U.A., and the cost of rebellion.

My Thoughts: This is going to be a really tough review to write, mainly because this book wound me up for quite some time before I reached the end, and not really in a good way. Please remember that this is just my own opinion, and you will need to read the book yourself to form your own views. I am going to break this review down somewhat, to help me to articulate everything that I feel I need to. There is quite a lot for me to get through!

First Impressions... The idea of this novel struck me. Give me anything to do with conformity, cloning, remnants of a dystopian society and I will be all over it, whether the book is set on planet Earth or otherwise. I had never picked up anything from military sci-fi before, and so this has opened up a whole new genre for me. I love to read military history, action and adventure stories, fantasy and science fiction; and so as long as a book has a lot of ass-kicking in it, then it will be good for me! 'Republic's' book jacket looks pretty awesome, with the identical silhouettes at the top to represent cloning and the brutal looking landscape at the bottom - I couldn't wait to get started on it!

In The Beginning... We are introduced (in first person) to Wayson Harris and instantly he is thrust amongst a group of untrained, lazy marine clones without a care in the world ... I enjoyed the first part of the book; the action, the introduction to Freeman and the way that Harris (despite not doing much at all) is given his second assignment before I had even reached page 100. And this is where things started to go downhill...

The Middle... Once I had been introduced to the main characters, I began to notice the awkward writing style. Short sentence after short sentence, the same word repeated two or three times in quick succession. The lack of metaphoric language and the occasional odd choice of words (personal annoyance, but 'specking' this and for 'speck's' sake really irritated me!).... 
The water was cold, but my body adjusted quickly. I loped forward through the shallows until the water was up to my waist, then I dived in. Lee followed me as far as the water's edge, but his willingness to continue vanished the moment he felt the water.
Just one of many examples in which I took out my biro and started to edit the book!!! Four uses of one word in three sentences?

The whole book was written in this style, where the narrator tries to hammer the story into us by reeling out the facts in short bursts and never giving us any emotion, any atmosphere or much creative use of language at all. It sounds harsh, but this is how I personally interpreted it. Half of the sentences could have been cut out and I would have gained back hours of reading time.

The characters were also lacking. With the narrative being written in first person, the reader never witnesses the 'behind the scenes' look at the other character's background, actions or thoughts. We don't see the broader picture, and for a setting as vast as the whole galaxy, this could have been a big mistake.
Some of the dialogue was pretty poor also - the characters don't 'sound' genuine; at one point, Wayson says "Ha!"... which to me is pointless!

Wayson Harris (taking into consideration that he isn't human) is not relateable at all. He doesn't seem to have much emotion. No hobbies to speak of, no family or friends, no history. I couldn't connect or find him likeable.

The only female characters mentioned at all in this book are two pieces of 'damn fine scrub' that Wayson and his comrade meet whilst on leave. I understand that this book is not targeted towards a female reader and that blokes do talk about girls in this way, however, the plot might have had more depth if the odd woman was introduced at other times too, or one or two were laced into the background cast. Preferably strong, modern ladies (as would be expected 500 years down the line) and not hysteric tanned blondes who hook up with a guy the instant their eyes meet. It is clear at this point exactly who the reader should be; these girls seem to be a ditzy blip in the plotline to highlight the fact that clones actually do have testosterone in there somewhere and that females do still exist in this future.

I believe that all of this could have been pushed aside if there had been some action throughout the plot - but in fact there was hardly any. Harris doesn't really show off his skills (yet) and any action that actually does take off is initiated by other people. We never really get close to it. This had to be the biggest disappointment, as I was expecting fire fights and fist fights throughout. Maybe this is because I have never read from this genre before and I had misguided preconceptions.

The End... The best part of this book was the end! Not simply because it took me so long to get there. Harris' action FINALLY started from page 430, and he led a pretty intense mission that actually had me quickly turning pages for a little while. This is the part of the book that I will gladly remember, and actually, I was pretty pleased that I had stuck with it at this point, as I had been close to putting it down on a few occasions! This is the kind of narrative that should have really been present from the beginning - even with the odd writing style I would have enjoyed it that much more. What a finish!

In Conclusion... A pretty good first and last 100 pages, but the middle felt like filler for the reasons outlined above. I was glad that I finished it, but unhappy that it was so time-consuming to do so. And that I felt the need to edit it when it all got a bit too much for me!

I read the first few pages of Jack Campbell's first Lost Fleet novel (as Steven Kent has been compared to) and already found it more captivating, his style is engaging (I have since added Campbell to my book(et) list).

I do have book 2 of Kent's Clone Rebellion Series on my bookshelf, and I think that I might wait a while and then give it a go. Now that the scene has been set and I know Wayson Harris a little better, the second book might be easier to read.

Watch this space!!!

Trainspotting - Irvine Welsh

"The sweat wis lashing oafay
Sick Boy; he wis trembling."

Rated 10/10

Irvine Welsh's controversial first novel, set on the heroin-addicted fringe of working-class youth in Edinburgh, is yet another exploration of the dark side of Scottishness. The main character, Mark Renton, is at the center of a clique of nihilistic slacker junkies with no hopes and no possibilities, and only "mind-numbing and spirit-crushing" alternatives in the straight world they despise. This particular slice of humanity has nothing left but the blackest of humor and a sharpness of wit.

My Thoughts:  Trainspotting is essentially a gritty collection of experiences through the eyes of various different people - laced with drugs and booze and sex and the blackest of wit throughout. I found myself alternatively repulsed and smiling right the way through to the last page.

And the characters are just brilliant, I don’t think that my descriptions could do them any kind of justice; they are violent and dirty and obsessive and I found them to be likeable and shocking at once. Each of them struggles with addiction, their own moral conflict and with each other; some manage to clean up and others don’t. I know that other readers felt differently, but they are relatable. I love that each of the characters in this book has a saving grace no matter how brutal they are.

The honesty with which Welsh writes is simply stunning (quite literally: some of it I couldn’t believe he would put on to paper) he’s obviously a talented observationalist with a lot of life experience under his belt and the power to make us stop and think about our own actions and thoughts towards society, class, gender and addiction.

This is a book that can be read on so many levels and has a lot of depth to it. No doubt I could read it again and again and get something completely different from it each time. It is definitely worthy of the endless amount of positive reviews that have been compiled by readers over the years and one to add to the reading list.

Hard Landing - Stephen Leather

"Trish Elliott ran her hand across
her stomach for the hundredth
time since she'd left the doctor's
surgery."

Rated 7/10

Dan 'Spider' Shepherd is used to putting his life on the line. Working for an elite undercover squad he has lied, cheated and conned in order to bring Britain's most wanted criminals to justice."

My Thoughts: Hard Landing is a fast-paced read packed with action and tension. The concept of an undercover officer being stationed inside a high security prison is one that instantly had me hooked, and you really get a feel for the inmates’ life behind bars. I love that this is a British crime thriller and I couldn’t put the book down once I had started it. The book reminded me somewhat of a Nick Stone thriller.

I had a slight problem with the over-usage of logos and colours to describe the inmates’ attire; I know that clothing would be important in a prison, but it could have been done a little more sparingly to make the text flow smoothly and to get a little more detail than “He was wearing a white Addidas tshirt” and such. Similarly, his descriptions of the food was always a repetitive and off-hand "It was awful, but he ate it anyway" job.

The book is clearly plot based and I think that Leather has just about scraped by on the descriptions of protagonists that he gives the reader. He has imagined some real larger-than-life characters and should have fleshed them out a bit more so that we can really connect to them. I didn’t feel shocked or upset when protagonists died or were killed, and I know that I could have been if I’d been introduced to them more thoroughly. Dan Shepherd didn’t have any depth to him and didn’t really do it for me (though he’s an ex SAS hard man so he should have);  Ironically enough I found myself sympathising more with the antagonist at one point as he was well-rounded in comparison, even Carpenter’s family were more relatable than Shepherd’s.

The heat really builds during the last third of Hard Landing, when there’s a bit of a twist in the plan of action and things don’t work out quite as you would expect them to. I did find myself skipping pages towards the very final conclusion of the book to get to the ending, as I knew what was going to happen by this point and didn’t need to read the build-up. Having said this, I was desperate to finish, and it was full of action right up until the very last page!  

All in all a great read. I don’t think I’ll rush out to get the next in the series, but if it lands on my bookshelf somehow then I’ll read it.

When The Eagle Hunts - Simon Scarrow

"The heaving tumult around
the ship was frozen for an instant
by sheet lightning."

Rated 10/10

It is the winter of AD 44 and after a series of bloody battles, Camulodunum (modern day Colchester) has fallen to the invading Roman army...

My Thoughts: Wow! Definitely the best addition to the Macro/Cato series so far.

Throughout these epic novels, Scarrow seamlessly switches from the personal POV of Macro and Cato to the view point of the army as a whole, to the ongoing invasion of Britain, and back again without a glitch. It's very cleverly done and keeps you hanging on to every word. He doesn't bombard the reader with technicality or historical terms that might leave people like myself scratching their heads over it - but he includes enough for the more studied in Roman history to really get their teeth into. I really admire his style for this - it is quite some skill.

As for 'When The Eagle Hunts', it's a fast and furious read with non-stop action and dilemma. Scarrow doesn't really need to set his main protagonists up, however he does describe their roots enough for new readers to be able to enjoy it without going too far and re-explaining everything.

Although Scarrow's plotline hides fresh suspense round every corner, his characters are immense and really enjoyable to follow. New faces Boudica and Prasutagus are very well-rounded and likeable, alongside some of the more familiar comrades (Vespasian for example, with his softer qualities but stern exterior is a particular favourite of mine). Scarrow gives even the most minor of characters a full bodied personality, and it's for this reason that the reader can easily grow attached to the likes of Maxentius and Diomedes despite them only appearing for a handful of pages.

Macro's touch of brutal humour is always welcome to break up the more serious and bloodied battles that are consistently encountered, and the way that the great Prasutagus is revealed as the novel continues only adds to this relief. And Cato - Cato got awesome!!!

It's not often that a series gets even better as it goes along, but Scarrow is a master of his genre and I'm looking forward to The Eagle And The Wolves.

Love Minus Eighty - Will McIntosh

"The words were gentle strokes,
drawing her awake."

To be published 11th June 2013
Rated 4/10

In this daring and big-hearted novel based on the Hugo-winning short story, the lovelorn navigate a world in which technology has reached the outer limits of morality and romance.

My Thoughts: Another mobile phone review...

I received Love Minus Eighty as a proof and the blurb had me hooked in an instant. "...Frozen brides wait in dating farms for billionaire suitors to pay for their reanimation..." What a chilling concept; dark and gritty dystopia - cue thoughts that this might just perhaps be on par with The Handmaid's Tale - this book sounded right up my street!

What followed led me into a fascinating future world, which unfolded with new discoveries as the story went on. I enjoyed this, it was a clever way of keeping me turning pages. A new piece of technology was revealed every few pages or so, even towards the finale. Some real imagination has gone in to setting the scene here, it was the novel's real strength.

However, I personally feel that Love Minus Eighty lacks believable characters with realistic depth to them. I couldn't connect to any of the protagonists myself as I found them to be one dimensional and a bit forced. The dialogue is off, and doesn't feel real to me. Their emotions come across as flat and we are 'told' about themselves rather than 'shown'.

The characters that I felt were well imagined were Lorelei and Nathan, and I'm wondering if this is because we don't see things from their view point at any time; we see them through the eyes of a separate narrator(s). I think McIntosh's style is best suited to 3rd person in this respect as his writing was at its best when his characters were explaining the world and the people around them.

I feel that this book would be epic if there was more depth to the narrating protagonists, if the writing style was a little sharper, and if the Bridesicle idea had been explored even further.

As it stands, this is a decent read set in a vivid future world; not to the same standard as Atwood's books, but fans of light dystopian fiction will probably really enjoy it; particularly late teens and young adults. Once I picked the book up I could not put it down!

It ends as if there is a lot more left to tell, and I think that a sequel to Love Minus Eighty would go down really well.

If you prefer your tales plot-driven rather than character-driven then even better!

Recommended to fans of Lauren DeStefano.

The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides

"On the morning the last Lisbon
daughter took her turn at suicide-
it was Mary this time, and sleeping
pills, like Therese- the two paramedics
arrived at the house knowing exactly
where the knife drawer was, and the
gas oven, and the beam in the
basement from which it was possible
to tie a rope."

Rated 10/10

The shocking thing about the five Lisbon sisters was how nearly normal they seemed when their mother let them out for the one and only date of their lives. Twenty years on, their enigmatic personalities are embalmed in the memories of the boys who worshipped them and who now recall their shared adolescence: the brassiere draped over a crucifix belonging to the promiscuous Lux; the sisters' breathtaking appearance on the night of the dance; and the sultry, sleepy street across which they watched a family disintegrate and fragile lives disappear.

My Thoughts: A stunning, dark novel that captured me from the first word. Although you are given the conclusion of the story from the outset, the book never fails to impress. 

Eugenides drew me in with his description of the girls, who were not perfect - but were perfectly elusive, mysterious and very real. Their lives seemed so vivid and so easy to picture as his language was exquisite. I actually found it touching that the boys were so obsessed with these girls, and it all seemed so innocent as they kept their distance, observing and wondering, wanting to connect with these girls and never managing it, reminiscing even into their later lives. Writing about teenage girls in such a convincing manner takes a lot of skill, but the pains of adolescence are clear both from the girls perspective and the boy's too.

I think that people taking the title 'Virgin' Suicides too literally need to think a little more into the deeper connotations connected to the word. The girls were young, had no life experience, and yet cut their own lives short for reasons that nobody could fathom.

A chilling and yet beautiful tale of tragedy that it is easy to lose yourself in, Eugenides style is perfect - and I want to read more from him.

Casino Royale - Ian Fleming

"The scent and smoke and
sweat of a casino are nauseating
at three in the morning."

Rated 4/10

This, the first of Fleming's tales of agent 007, finds Bond on a mission to neutralize a lethal, high-rolling Russian operative called simply 'Le Chiffre' - by ruining him at the baccarat table and forcing his Soviet spy masters to 'retire' him. It seems that lady luck is taken with James - Le Chiffre has hit a losing streak. But some people just refuse to play by the rules, and Bond's attraction to a beautiful female agent leads him to disaster and an unexpected savior.

My Thoughts: I had high expectations of my first ever Bond novel, being a huge fan of action thrillers, sleek cars and powerful characters. I was bitterly disappointed. 

The book is nothing at all like the films; James Bond comes across as a bit weak, highly chauvinistic (I was surprised at Fleming's very obvious sexism) and with no ounce of the smooth and suave character that you see in the films. He was not desirable in the slightest.

Aside from this, there was virtually no action in Casino Royale at all - ***SPOILER: he spent the first 120 pages gambling and the last few pages being tortured and then saved by someone almost entirely unrelated to his plot, falling stupidly for a woman he earlier described as a bitch and preparing to propose to her after a matter of weeks because she sleeps with him and it feels a bit like rape.(?!?)*** 

I do, however, like the fact that he gets naked randomly at any given opportunity - it's amusing, typical and highlights Bond's confidence and arrogance perfectly. 

And where was the beautiful Bentley that Bond adores? I think he drives it up the road once or twice and that is it. 

James Bond, however, has been turned into an absolute legend by the big screen, and I can see that the book does show a lot of potential for this kind of adaptation. It needed a fair amount of work: It was very clever to transform M into a female for the movies, for example, and you can forgive Bond for being a player in the films because he is just so cool.

I will not be picking up another Bond novel if I can help it, but I will continue to watch the films. And this is why Casino Royale gets 4 stars instead of none!!!

Books V. Cigarettes - George Orwell

"A couple of years ago a friend
of mine, a newspaper editor,
was fire-watching with some
factory workers."

Rated 9/10

Beginning with a dilemma about whether he spends more money on reading or smoking, George Orwell's entertaining and uncompromising essays go on to explore everything from the perils of second-hand bookshops to the dubious profession of being a critic, from freedom of the press to what patriotism really means.

My Thoughts: I enjoy reading through other people's thoughts and feelings on subjects close to my heart, and with this book being beautiful and pocket sized, I had to pick it up.

Orwell and I have had similar experiences, it seems, in bookselling, however his experiences left him with a growing distaste for books and I still can't get enough of them. Despite all the lifting and shelving and dusting and scanning and so on, I find myself spending half of my wages on stacks and stacks that pile up quicker than I can read them.

I also enjoyed Orwell's last essay in this book - it made me reflect upon my own school days and whether I felt the same way he did. 

In all, Books v Cigarettes is a great read, a quick read; and highly quotable. I loved it.

The Bunker Diary - Kevin Brooks

Rated 10/10

Room meets Lord of the Flies, The Bunker Diary is award-winning, young adult writer Kevin Brooks's pulse-pounding exploration of what happens when your worst nightmare comes true - and how will you survive?

My Thoughts: This book hit me right in the face. It's a dark and disturbed piece of Big Brother fiction that I actually couldn't prise from my own hands. The writing style is addictive - short, sharp and hard hitting. 

The setting is bleak and well described; the characters are bold and vivid and flawed at once. I couldn't stop reading and I know that others that haven't been able to put it down either. It's tragic and captivating and the ending is ... well... 

Very simple. Very effective.

Don't read this if you're after something light and cheery, you have been warned!

Ghostman - Roger Hobbs

"Hector Moreno and Jerome Ribbons
sat in the car on the ground level of
the Atlantic Regency Hotel Casino
parking garage, sucking up crystal
meth with a rolled-up five spot, a
lighter and a crinkled length of tin foil."

Rated 8/10

I make things disappear. It’s what I do. This time I’m tidying up the loose ends after a casino heist gone bad. The loose ends being a million cash.But I only have 48 hours, and there’s a guy out there who wants my head in a bag.
He’ll have to find me first.
They don’t call me the Ghostman for nothing...

My Thoughts: I couldn't put this book down! I liked the detailed explanations of the choices he made, the procedures he took, the weapons he used. For those not quite so clued up on these things it was very helpful, and above all, interesting. I liked the attention to sensory descriptions. I liked the fact that I almost forgot the Ghostman is a criminal.

It's a proper action packed read with an anti-hero at the centre of the whole thing. Two tales twisted into one. Enough cliff hangers to keep me glued. Cue guns, cars and dirty money. 

The short sentences and chapters and repetition of 'I' were a little distracting, but Ghostman is a fantastic debut - well written, well researched and one that makes you feel as if you were reading through the latest action movie. Fans of Lee Child, Robert Crais and other similar authors, should add this book to their 'to read' list.

Intrusion - Ken Macleod

Rated 1/10

Imagine a near-future city, say London, where medical science has advanced beyond our own and a single-dose pill has been developed that, taken when pregnant, eradicates many common genetic defects from an unborn child. Hope Morrison, mother of a hyperactive four-year-old, is expecting her second child. She refuses to take The Fix, as the pill is known. This divides her family and friends and puts her and her husband in danger of imprisonment or worse. Is her decision a private matter of individual choice, or is it tantamount to willful neglect of her unborn child? A plausible and original novel with sinister echoes of 1984 and Brave New World.

My Thoughts: Where to begin! I actually got my biro pen and started editing this book at one point, it was that awful. The female characters are flat, forced and uninspiring, and they seem mostly irrational. I didn't really understand how Hope couldn't think of a reason not to take the fix, and yet was so adamant about it. People make their decisions based on a number of their own experiences in life, influences from upbringing, social standings, religion, education, the works. And so the whole foundation of the book wasn't credible as far as I could see it. She would have had some reason not to do it, no matter how small the reason might have been.

Apart from this, half of the text could have been missed out as it was just filler, the dialogue was terrible ("Man!" Said Bernard.) - there was so much rambling going on. I read 115 pages and still nothing had happened. When something exciting finally did happen it felt really out of place and unjustified.

I really like dystopian thrillers and I was looking forward to reading this one. It was money wasted unfortunately as I couldn't finish it.

Without Fail - Lee Child

"They found out about him in
July and stayed angry all
through August."

Rated 4/10

Featuring Jack Reacher, hero of the new blockbuster movie starring Tom Cruise. This time, he's in the line of fire, protecting the Vice President of the United States.

My Thoughts: I was pretty disappointed with the 6th book in the Jack Reacher series. The first few were brilliant - fast, furious and somewhat believable despite the larger than life protagonist and plot lines.

Without Fail lacked most of the drama that we have come to expect from Lee Child's thrillers. The plot didn't tie up (I won't spoil it, but the antagonists had a very poor motive for killing the VP). 

There is also one massive plot hole that doesn't add up. It was to do with the 'messages' and one particular message that the bad guys sent the VP that would have given the game away right off the 'bat'. Completely out of character for them as they do such a good job of attempting not to be identified the whole way through. 

Froleich was an awful character! Supposedly a strong and professional woman and yet going round and round in circles about an ex from years ago; At one point pretty much a full chapter was made from her blaming Reacher over her ex's death - it drove me insane and could have been completely skipped - not great at all!!!

In fact, a fair amount of this book could have been skipped over.

I did love Neagley as a character however, and I loved the relationship she has with Reacher - a full set of Reacher-style thrillers could probably be made from her and I would definitely pick them up.

I have given this book 2 stars simply because it is a Jack Reacher book - and that in itself makes it worth them. Reacher is still a fantastic character and I still wish he was real, and I still wish he wasn't Tom Cruise on the big screen, and I will still be reading through the rest of the series!!!

Haunted - Chuck Palahniuk

"This was supposed to be
a writers' retreat, it was
supposed to be safe."

Rated 9/10

Haunted is a novel made up of stories: twenty-three of the most horrifying, hilarious, mind-blowing, stomach-churning tales you'll ever encounter. 

My Thoughts: Wow! I'm fairly insensitive to any kind of blood, guts and bodily fluids, but I still found myself wanting to read this from between my fingers at times...

I asked my fellow bookseller to recommend me something that would make me think "What kind of sick person could think up something like this!?!" (think Halfhead/Stuart MacBride, Genesis/Karin Slaughter, Perfume/Patrick Suskind) - and she told me that this one fitted my brief exactly. She was spot on.

Some of the stories within the book were fantastic and left me wanting more of it - they're stuck in my head now and I can't get them out - some were so bizarre that I couldn't follow them (hence no 10th star). The characters were a mixed bag, mostly disconnected and unrelateable, but I did find myself rooting for one or two of them, which was a little disturbing in itself. I really did like the penultimate tale 'Obsolete' - it was one of the chapters that is now ingrained into my head.

I already read 'Snuff' by Palahnuik a while back, but now I think Choke and Fight Club are going onto my ever expanding Book(et) list.

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

"Lolita,light of my life,
fire of my loins."

Rated 10/10

The book chronicles the life of its narrator and protagonist, Humbert Humbert, a middle-aged, fastidious college professor, focusing on his disastrous love affair with a young girl (he happens to like little girls), named Lolita, whom he'll do anything to possess. 

My Thoughts: Such a brilliantly written novel about a subject so terrible, and told through the eyes of a manipulative, destructive man. He tries to coerce the reader into sympathising with him, whilst all the time ruining the life of a young girl. He plays games with Lolita as he plays games with the reader. Isolates her, abuses her, blackmails her. Attempts to make us understand him. And it seems that some readers have actually been swayed by his immature obsessive ways.

An absolutely stunning read that I could not put down despite being horrified by it. Very well written, gripping and captivating and I can't help but hope that the writer had no life experience in the matter; he writes with such vivid style. Definitely one to read.

I have no idea why anyone could describe this novel as 'comic'. I don't quite know where the comedy lies. It is NEVER a child's fault, and (dear reader) it should NEVER be interpreted that way. The relationship in this book shouldn't be glamorised or romanticised. Adults hold a responsibility for protecting the health and well being of children, for teaching them morals and values and attempting to lead by example so that children can grow up forming their own happy and healthy relationships. This is one subject matter that I will always get on my soapbox for.

The Rachel Papers - Martin Amis

"My name is Charles
Highway, though you
wouldn't think it to look
at me."

Rated 6/10

Charles Highway, a precociously intelligent and highly sexed teenager, is determined to sleep with an older woman before he turns twenty. Rachel fits the bill perfectly. Charles plans his seduction meticulously, and sets the scene with infinite care - but it doesn't come off quite as he expects...

My Thoughts: All in all this book was pretty good. I enjoyed the language and writing style used, and I was also mesmerised by the way that the relationship the narrator had with Rachel changed from meeting her to the very end page. A coming of age novel that I found brutal and cringeworthy in parts, and quite a bit sexist in others. Amis portrays his character very well and I can't help but believe that this book was written based upon personal experiences (bit worrying). 

Took me a while to plough through and I still can't make up my mind just what I took from it, but I'm glad I stuck with it and now I will never read it again.

Birthmarked - Caragh M. O'Brien

"In the dim hovel, the mother
clenched her body into one final,
straining push, and the baby
slithered out into Gaia's ready hands."

Rated 3/10

After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It’s Gaia’s job to “advance” a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia’s parents disappear.

My Thoughts: Bear with me, as I'm reviewing this on my phone. Birthmarked is a fairly bland read, with no real direction and characters that I just couldn't find realistic. I didn't get worked up over the problem, if there even was one. I couldn't see what all the fuss was about within the plot at all and didn't care. 

I thought the book was going to be so much more than it turned out to be - quite disappointing.