By far the strangest book I've read in a very long time.
Coving drugs, spiritualism and burn victims this love story is pretty insane.
The historically intertwined stories were by far the best part but this is not a book I will ever forget reading.
It was given to me by Mrs. Abbiss because she's kind like that and she had finished with it and it suits the type of psychologically odd books she reads.
4/5 for generally compelling me to finish it.
Thursday, 27 August 2009
The Kissing Gates - Mackenzie Ford
This book belongs to Hazel as it was bought for her for her Birthday but she finished it while we were on holiday so I took it up and got it read within two days of trains and boats.
I'd heard about it and it had been recommended a few times by people on the Ning so I was looking forward to it.
Well, it did NOT disappoint.
It was not the typical war text that we discussed during our Synoptic lark last year and it would have been really good to have a variety of quotations for that paper actually.
It covered the ideas of spies, blood transfusions, war wounded, German speaking English, English speaking Germans, Switzerland (which was quite coll because that's where I was while I was reading it!) and the average family in London and job/relationship problems.
It was told through letters/diaries/memoir and was just superb.
4.5/5.
:D
I'd heard about it and it had been recommended a few times by people on the Ning so I was looking forward to it.
Well, it did NOT disappoint.
It was not the typical war text that we discussed during our Synoptic lark last year and it would have been really good to have a variety of quotations for that paper actually.
It covered the ideas of spies, blood transfusions, war wounded, German speaking English, English speaking Germans, Switzerland (which was quite coll because that's where I was while I was reading it!) and the average family in London and job/relationship problems.
It was told through letters/diaries/memoir and was just superb.
4.5/5.
:D
Girl With A Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier
This book was a historical story passed off as a novel. Quite clearly written in the hope someone would see enough allure and potential to make it into a film. Which they did.
I haven't actually seen the dramatisation of it but I can only imagine it is better than the book as it seems it's very visual because it really just was another one of those huge descriptions and 3 plot points.
That said it was a reasonably good read, especially on trains when your concentration was split and distracted by the things around you anyway.
3.5/5.
I haven't actually seen the dramatisation of it but I can only imagine it is better than the book as it seems it's very visual because it really just was another one of those huge descriptions and 3 plot points.
That said it was a reasonably good read, especially on trains when your concentration was split and distracted by the things around you anyway.
3.5/5.
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
This one I bought for £3 in hmv because it looked reasonably good and money was for once burning a hole. I really felt the urge to buy something and a reasonably priced book was the outcome.
I ploughed through this one despite the very strange nature of the story and how quickly you are plunged into the story.
From the beginning you are told enough to know what went on but never the full story and little bits and points of view and facts emerge.
I thought it was pretty fantastic although not the story type I'd usually pursue it was still gripping and rather well constructed.
A 3.5/5.
I ploughed through this one despite the very strange nature of the story and how quickly you are plunged into the story.
From the beginning you are told enough to know what went on but never the full story and little bits and points of view and facts emerge.
I thought it was pretty fantastic although not the story type I'd usually pursue it was still gripping and rather well constructed.
A 3.5/5.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster
I've been putting this off for far too long. I actually finished this book on the 7th of August and it's now the 27th!
Anyway, reasons for reading this book were that it was mentioned by both Alex Day and Ashley within a few days and their combined enthusiasm was enough for me to look at it sat there on my shelf and say:
"Sure it was not even worth finishing last time you tried but you're about 8 years older now, try again."
So I did actually finish it this time although I cannot rant and rave about it being worth reading.
Sure it made me giggle and I was pretty impressed by the word play and the ideas that were fitted into such a short story that is easily aimed at children BUT it was just not enjoyable.
I just found myself reading it for the sake of reading and not because I wanted to see what happened.
Therefore I shall give it a mere 2/5.
Anyway, reasons for reading this book were that it was mentioned by both Alex Day and Ashley within a few days and their combined enthusiasm was enough for me to look at it sat there on my shelf and say:
"Sure it was not even worth finishing last time you tried but you're about 8 years older now, try again."
So I did actually finish it this time although I cannot rant and rave about it being worth reading.
Sure it made me giggle and I was pretty impressed by the word play and the ideas that were fitted into such a short story that is easily aimed at children BUT it was just not enjoyable.
I just found myself reading it for the sake of reading and not because I wanted to see what happened.
Therefore I shall give it a mere 2/5.
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
The Host - Stephenie Meyer
Right, I'd like to get this straight.
I enjoyed Twilight, the whole saga, I really actually liked Breaking Dawn, I thought it was the sort of faerie tale ending that that fantasy series deserved.
So when this Host book malarky was reduced in Asda a few weeks ago I thought I'd give it a go even though I'm not actually the biggest fan of Ms Meyer's form of writing.
Her conflicts never go anywhere because she is too worried about who they might offend and she managed to use the word repugnant 6 times in the entire book.
FIND OTHER ADJECTIVES.
It took till the last 4 or so chapters for me to actually be at all interested in what might happen and in a 600 and something page book that's a bit pathetic.
2/5
I enjoyed Twilight, the whole saga, I really actually liked Breaking Dawn, I thought it was the sort of faerie tale ending that that fantasy series deserved.
So when this Host book malarky was reduced in Asda a few weeks ago I thought I'd give it a go even though I'm not actually the biggest fan of Ms Meyer's form of writing.
Her conflicts never go anywhere because she is too worried about who they might offend and she managed to use the word repugnant 6 times in the entire book.
FIND OTHER ADJECTIVES.
It took till the last 4 or so chapters for me to actually be at all interested in what might happen and in a 600 and something page book that's a bit pathetic.
2/5
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