Double Cross - Malorie Blackman

Well the end of this book will probably be marked forever with my tear.
Oh gosh, I've not been so compelled to finish a book for a good long time.
In comparison with the last book I read this one wins hands down.
Unbelievably good writing.
You don't just read the words you end up living them alongside Tobey and Callie-Rose.
The beauty of the language stands out.
"sparkled like a giggle"
"Life was too precious to be so fragile. Or maybe life was precious because it was so fragile."

Oh dear, I don't know what else to say about it. 5/5 and it was great. I will read it again. When I buy Knife Edge and Checkmate to fill my collection.
I remember seeing Noughts and Crosses at the theatre.
I'd love to see this one acted.

:D

Necropolis - Anthony Horowitz

After a massive break from reading because of school work I've been taking time off from the internet instead so that I can try and get more sleep.
To relax my mind before bed I decided that reading for fun (as I used to do every day and have missed) would be great.

Without rereading the first 3 in the series I slipped easily back into the narrative of this book. I love AH's stories. They're always full of action and complexities, twists and turns.

But I have to say that in the technicalities he isn't that good of a writer.
This might be because I've spent the last two years being very very critical of writing. I'm aware that it is more effective to show not tell and he seems often to write "Scar did this" or "Pedro looked lost". Which is OK and gets the meaning across but it wouldn't hurt to alter the style a bit.

Mind you I give this book a good 4/5 and am eager to read the 5th and final instalment and I will probably read them all again before then too.

I hope to read a lot more soon so keep an eye on this. It should get better.

Journey's End - R.C.Sherriff

For English this year we have a 3 hour Synoptic paper about all sorts of texts to do with WWI.
This one is a short play which I found particularly dull.
I could hardly find one good quotation that made me actually want to analyse it at all.
I think I found ten mediocre ones.
Well, at least I read it rather than blagging.

I doubt I'll ever read it again.

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

Oh gosh, this is the first book in '09 to make me cry and is strangely appropriate because today is Holocaust memorial day.
I LOVED the way it was written, the snippets and insights and doodles.
Thanks go to everyone who ever recommended it, especially the Nerdfighters and to Maddy who bought it for me as a Christmas present.

Very very good.

:)

(edit: actually 'Perfect Match' made me cry too...)

The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J.K.Rowling

Well this book was a really pleasing read despite it's shortness.
I really loved the annotations and explanations thrown in by Dumbledore and how through this we heard more about past goings on at Hogwarts.
I also loved how it referenced "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and also mentioned such things as attempts at Drama in Hogwarts and its actual place in the Wizarding world. I hope that some even more accurate fanfics can spring up now this information is available. I indulge in some here and there but much prefer if they actually fit into known facts.

This book was one of my Birthday presents and only took last night to read.

Perfect Match - Jodi Picoult

A deep and complex novel about a mother who is a prosecution lawyer whose son has been molested. She doesn't want her son to get hurt further and puts herself in a very precarious position.
I found this book difficult to read as I was rather upset by the events involved but overall I think it was a worthwhile endeavour.

Thanks to Mrs Holroyd who lent my mother and I this book.

I wouldn't re-read it but it was OK.

Dibs (In Search of Self) - Virginia M. Axline

This endearing book was recommended to me by my Psychology teacher as a good read.
I read it over the 2/3/4th of January and thoroughly enjoyed it.
It follows a small boy on his exploration of being recognised as a person I suppose.
It is written in such a way that you connect with the story.
Very good indeed.