Review: The Keeper

Publisher: HarperCollins

Women are going missing because HE needs HER...but don't worry, Sean is on the case.

I do wish that whilst I was reading this I could have recalled more of what happened in Cold Killing as I think it would have helped me think about Sally more. But what is past is past.

The whole thing is really bloody creepy and as I am a similar age to the victims, female and live in London I was totally freaked out. WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP DOING THIS TO ME???!?!?!?! HMMMM!!!!!!!

Achem, humm...

Sean would be an amazing TV cop and I think you could get great shows out of these books. They would, I'm sure be as big as The Fall!!  Donnelly just gets worse and worse and I wanted to wallop him one by the time I had come to the end of the book! ARRGH! He makes me so angry!

It was great to see what those who suffer by the hands of loonies start to consider and start to think is behaviour/actions that are acceptable and easy to carryout. I'm sure they wouldn't think and feel such things if not in captivity and this made me start to think about what I would do in their situation and that freaked me out even more!

Oh, back to Sean again sorry...the fact that he is standing on a very fine psychological line makes this book/this series of books/this character what it is...as far as I am concerned. It really does add to the tension and unease felt through out as you are waiting for Sean to snap and you never know if you can 100% trust him. It's brilliant.

As always, I want to know how much of Sean and the plots are drawn from LD's real life! It would be amazing to know!

So, another cracking crime read that really gets under your skin and is completely unputdownable!

Happy Reading

BG

:-D

P.S. I was reading this on the tube and a woman asked me what it was and what it was about. When I told her she wrote it all down. I did however tell her to read Cold Killing first as it doesn't feel as commercial as this book and does set the scene.

Review: Child of the River: The First Book of Confluence

Publisher: Gollancz

Forgive me all of you for this review!

I began this book in May 2014, yes MAY! I was away for the weekend with the boy and his fam and I was most looking forward to this book as I love a bit of Scifi and I do love an old classic being brought back to life. BUT OH DEAR GOD!!!

I just couldn't get to grips with this book and I finally finished it on 16 November (Yes I'm still behind on reviews). So, it took me 26 weeks to read and here is why.

1. I kept falling asleep when reading it.
2. Yama is not engaging or likeable.
3. Noting of any uniqueness in this for me really.
4. The old worlds meets machines was way too wishy washy a plot and needed more context.
5. The whole book needed more context so I got fed up every few pages through lack of depth.
6. Did not like the writing style.

So, I finished it, all 270 odd page and I think it's safe to say I will not be reading the other parts.

SORRY

BG
:-s

Review: Crossword Ends in Violence (5)

Publisher: PIQWIQ

Right then, we are with Fellowes who has had a death in the family and his business is going tits, but there is a family mystery to solve!

I wasn't and am still not 100% sure how I feel about this book. I mean, well...even after pondering it I'm not sure what I make of it. All the humour felt a bit too Dad's Army for me to fully embrace it, but the plot was super gripping and rather interesting and it's not even if this book was one of your typical holiday page turners. 

I preferred the portions in the past in the present...except for the Robot Wars bit, Bloody Love a bit of Robot Wars! Also, I really missed Fellowes after he disappeared close to the beginning, I thought he was a really nice character and I liked him.

Overall, (yes I know this is a short review for a novel but I really, as I said above, don't know what I feel or what to make of it) I see this book as a dark and slightly mental comedy of errors. It's a surprising read that I know won't be for everyone but I am glad I gave it a shot.

Happy Reading

BG

*<:-D

Review: An Eye for an Eye

You are going to get a bit of an influx of posts for the next week or so if I can manage it as I need to catch up on my MASSIVE POSTING BACKLOG!!! Like it or lump it!

Right then, so this is a short story prequal to Knife Edge and it answers a lot of questions that are floating around when you read Knife Edge. It's printed at the end of Knife Edge (in Kindle land) and that's weird as surely you need to read it BEFORE the full length novel.

It was good to be back with Jude. I don't know why, but I do like him. I even feel sorry for him and his desperation with life and all the horrible things that seem to have befallen his family. He is a bit of a dick to Sephy, but I really don't like her, I can't help it! It was also nice to have Minerva's POV even thought she is a bloody idiot!

I would love to know more about the politics and the background to it in this entire series. It's alluded to slightly by Jude in chapter 1 of this short story and if you google the series there is a bit. But is this just some supposing or is it actually from MB. I think I would enjoy the books more and have a more indepth grasp of it all. Also, it would provide more of a deeper context and layer to the whole thing.

Defo read this before you read Knife Edge.
That's an order!

Happy Reading

BG
:-)

Review: Moon's Artifice

Publisher: Gollancz

I've had this sitting on my bookshelf for what feels like years. I don't know why I was put off reading it but I was...it's weird I know. However, as soon as I picked it up and opened the cover, I was delighted that I had! We are with Narim and he has a lot on his plate...daaaaaamn!

I was completely absorbed by it all! The characters were fantastic and the intricacies of the politics was absolutely amazing! It was a real surprise. I do have to know however, is there meant to be a book before this as I couldn't help think that I was missing out on something as so much had happened that was previous to this particular plot.

I loved the small elements of magic that cropped up and I loved the fact that you can't see where the plot is going at all. Just when I thought the total and ultimate climax of the whole thing was to hit, it didn't! WAAAAHH! That was great and kept me turning page after page. I also liked the anti religion stuff at the end as well...I'm not all that religious...well at all in fact so ya know. Oh and I was shocked with the lack of tragedy as a whole when considering what went on! I hope that doesn't spoil it for anyone, but some people may be heartened to carry on with the book to know it's not allllll doom and gloom!

Cracking little fantasy read that I think would have totally passed me by if Gollancz hadn't sent it to me and I hadn't finally pulled my finger out and picked it up.

Happy Reading

BG

P.S. I had a massive debate on how to pronounce Artifice with Boy Geek. We are still undecided...weird I know but he says some words in a stupid way!

Review: Knife Edge

So then, Noughts and Crosses has been read as has short story Callum, so now it's book two which picks up a time after book one ended and there was a short story written in between, but I read that after so that comes later on...I think...in review land. 

So, I was 4% in and already found I missed Callum. I also found Sephy's parts rather tedious in the beginning but it was great to get to know Jude...even though he has many issues and is rather scary.

Sephy's parts just seemed very superficial and I know they are still making social comments and what have you but they didn't have the depth, grit and balls that Jude's did. However, Sephy did say the best thing she has ever said, 'I'll kick you ares so hard you'll be wearing your bum cheeks for ear muffs.' POssibly the best line ever in books! Well...YA books!

I could almost sympathise with Jude on occasions and that scared me. It also showed how good the writing is to stir passion in the reader on the side of the slightly deranged terrorist type character!

Also, it was good to see the story develop from Meggie and Jasmine's POV. I hope all that continues in to the next books.

Overall, yeah it's an alright series. I still really don't like Sephy, but I think that may just be me...but we will see as time goes on.

Happy Reading

BG
:-)

Review: See You Tomorrow

Publisher: Arcadia

We're getting all Scandi right now so embrace it!

There is a gang, there are some school kids, there is a father with some problems and they are all about to get mixed up in some very hot shit.

I'm not going to deny it, I like books like this were each chapter is from a different POV of a person in the book. I love having so many different takes on exactly the same situation! It really gives a book layers...god that made me sound like an english student didn't it! Anyway...it's true I love it!

Whilst reading the POVs I was totally convinced that they would all come together in the end but I had no idea how and that was pretty awesome. I kept wondering and developing my own theories...none of which turned out to be correct of course.

When it came to the characters, Rudi 'did my nut in' (to use a very Neath colloquialism), I really couldn't stand him and just wanted him to go away every time he cropped up. Cecilie had my pity, she had the potential to be a beautiful person but was screwed from such a young age there is no hope. The teenage crew drove me round the bend a bit...maybe because we've all been teenagers and can all relate to them. Pal...well, he is basically my Dad and that made me love and hate him at the same time. Odd one that. 

The whole book is incredibly dark and twisted but at the same time it's off the wall and totally nuts in a way that I just can't explain. The ending was completely satisfying but you could tell that the gang is now lined up for another appearance else where...if not then there is something very wrong going on here.

A cracking Scandi read that isn't yet more of the same old, same old, that seems to be coming out of the region. Dark and twisted but with some humour and characters you hate to love and love to hate.

Happy Reading

BG

:-)

Review: Your Servants and Your People

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books

If you read Your Brother's Blood then you need to read this....part 2! We're back with Thomas seven years after the end of the last book and we're finding out what life is like for him and some others now!

To be honest, at some points when reading this I struggled to remember part 1 and what exactly was going on...however, don't worry, my enjoyment wasn't ruined!

I had many questions during YBB and I have many now too! I need more history on the Red Coats and Walkin'! I need to know how all this started and I need to know what went wrong and where!! Wahhhh! These questions alone keep you turning pages! The thirst for more knowledge about this world is overwhelming! I want to know where we are and when! Is it the US civil war? Are we in a future dystopia? It's kinda great that you can be anywhere and everywhere...but at the same time I need answers TOWSEY!!!

Moving on.....I loved Bryn, I really did, what a gorgeous character. I hated Mary, god I despised her!!! BINT!!! Thomas was a darling as before!

The whole book was much darker than part one. There were far fewer parallels and mentions of religion and its place in this world, more politics and friendship. However, the epic twists were still there and some were truly truly heart breaking!

If you enjoyed YBB then defo read this and anticipate part 3 as much as I am! This really is a great mashup of genres series and I can't wait to see what part 3 holds. DT really does know how to set fire to a plot and keep it burning!

Happy Reading

BG
:-D

Review: Scratch One

Publisher: Hard Case Crime

This is a good old fashioned case of mistaken identity in the cheesy world of Michael Crichton's Bond type books! I do love these and I warn you that this review will be short as the book is and I want to give as little as possible away!

I thought the torture scene was INCREDIBLE!!! ARRRRRGH I could imagine the pain! It made me feel as uncomfortable as that scene where James Bond was having his balls smacked by that rope...Casino Royale was it?? ARRGHH! OUCH!!!

I love the cheesy, wink wink, smarmy humour that runs through all these books and I am glad to see that it is continuing, and I hope it will for the entire collection (for I have them all BOOOM). 

One bit I found tedious was the start of the Grand Prix section. Good God did it go on and on and on! It was like the whaling part at the start of Moby Dick or the sheer volume of Russian Farming tips in Anna Karenina (I really hate that book). I was delighted when that part was over.

So, on the whole, and despite the cars going round and round part, I thoroughly enjoyed this book with its neat ending and humour. Oh and I also really like the transcendence that was still present. Admittedly some things are very of the time but you can still picture the adventure in the modern day.

Happy Reading!

BG

:-)

Review: The Casual Vacancy

Publisher: Little Brown

When on holiday back in September...YES MY REVIEW BACK LOG IS THIS HUGE....Boy Geek ran out of things to read so he borrowed my kindle and downloaded this. He thought it was funny but wasn't enamoured with it. Also, when Boy Geek discussed it with one of his colleagues (I girl crush on her a lot) she said that JKR was trying to do too much with it, and I think I totally agree! So, when it came to it, I read the book so I could join in the conversation with Boy Geek and continue to maintain my opinion that JKR isn't really all that hot.

On to the book...

There has been a death and there is now a seat on the council. So, we're going to delve in to the lives of the people of this little Parish. Look at them, their politics, their secrets and their emotions.

The characters were caricatures. That is my main point about the characters and that drove me mental. The points and stereotypical traits that I think JKR was trying to point out were too bloody in your face and obvious allllll the time. Subtly would have made this far more enjoyable! I thought Kay was a total idiot, Krystal's life made me desperately sad. However, there was one character I did love reading about. SAM!! She was bloody awesome...she was also almost the most realistic of them all!

The whole thing wasn't very mind blowing, it wasn't very original even...some what like Harry Potter (see my challenge from earlier this year...GOD THAT WAS TEDIOUS and reminds me that I really do need to get on with my Holmes Challenge) It was just very normal village politics with a bit of a try hard side. I didn't really want to read it in the end. I could happily let my kindle sit there and not read the book at all.

I'm sorry, I know MILLIONS of you are hardcore JKR fans and love all she writes. I just don't fall in to that category. Harry Potter didn't really do anything for me and this book left me really non-plussed.

I do apologise.

BG

:-s

Review: Callum

Right then, so this is a bit of a what if short story following on from Noughts and Crosses. We are looking at an alternate ending after the pivotal kidnap and what could have been different. 

You can defo tell that this short piece was written after the book as it has a completely different feel to it and the writing style is also rather different. AND to top it all off, I felt that the characters were different too, despite the fact that this was meant to be an alt ending, not at a different time or anything. 

The story draws together more conclusively the questions of love, family, race and freedom that I had when reading the book and that the book doesn't really tie up satisfactorily for me anyway.

The ending, despite being alternative, is still DEVASTATING!!! Some things will never change I guess. If you read Noughts and Crosses, defo give this a read as it makes more of the whole series and helps you think about things.

Happy Reading

BG

:-(

Review: Fuck Life

So, I am in work whilst I write this so I can't really search for a pic of the cover, etc, but I will attempt to remember to do so when I am not in work!

Anyway...this book is from a German author (Amidu Omar Njiemoun)/publisher (Tausendschlau Books) and I was sent it after an email from the author asking me to review it. I was most excited as very rarely get publishers outside of the UK! THANKS!!!

On with the show...

Adam and Sara are in a relationship but it is seriously, seriously fucked up and we are about to see what's what.

I have one thing I really have to get off my chest, a big complaint. The translation of this book is not very good at all! Three things really REALLY bugged me...the incorrect usage of two, too and to throughout the entire book. The phrase 'arrest my case' and 'nursery home'. Just, NO! Please, please people who translate books or have their books translated. GET PROPER PROOF READERS AND TRANSLATORS! I see more books like this than I care to remember and they really do stick in my mind as I am an Editor by profession! Anyway...moving on...


After reading the about the author bit, the whole way through this book I couldn't help wondering how much is autobiographical. I would really love to know now. TBH, my wondering enhanced my enjoyment of the book!

Some of the plot twists do click pretty quickly, but that doesn't detract from the enjoyment, so do not worry about being able to see what's coming. I kinda think that is part of the book's charm. However, the plot really is brutal and twisted and shocking and I'm not 100% sure how I feel in general about the book and the writing style as it's very aggressive all round.

This isn't a book for the weak of heart and nerve. It is dark, it is brutal, it is REAL and that does put it in a bit of a league of its own.

Happy Reading

BG
:-/

Review: Dragon Haven

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Price: £ 8.99

We are now in book two of the Rainwilds Chronicles which picks up pretty much exactly where book 1 left us and all is very very tense!! WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I once more thoroughly enjoyed this book, but this time I didn't feel like it took a while to get going. I'm not sure why people think this is a weak series, so far I think it's spiffing!

I am looking back over my notes, as I read this a while ago, and I have one comment that says 'noooooooo Leftrin, Not this badness, Noooooooooo!' I think, you will all think this when you read the portion I am referring to! NOOOOOOOO LEFTRIN!!!!!!!

The pace, adventure and action was non-stop from the start, as mentioned above, and for this I am most thankful to Ms Hobb! There really is a lot of pace and for that I am thankful. I also like to fact that you get to know the dragons even better as they are intriguing creatures with varied minds, experiences and temperaments, not something I was expecting at all to be honest. 

When it comes to the humans, I really started to feel sorry for Sedric, and I don't quite know how I feel about that as, if I'm honest, I HATED HIM IN BOOK 1. I think he needs love, a friend and a bit of support. Poor dab!

Oh oh, and one final comment, I LOVE the relationship between the two bird keepers that you see developing via missives. I know this is possibly a terrible thing to say, but I think it's my favourite part of the whole series!

The next instalment is in a box in the spare room as we are STILL not totally unpacked as the decorator doesn't finish until tomorrow. However, as soon as I can get my hands on book 3 I will be reading it immediately!!!

Happy Reading

BG

<;-)

P.S. I'm pissing off to Lisbon for work for a few days tomorrow so won't be around till Friday after today! Try not to miss me!

Film versus Book: Divergent

                                                           

 


So then, I've read the BOOK and now I've seen the film...well I saw it back in September on a flight to Singapore..but anyway...here are a few things I have to say!

Some bits of the film were changed and in my opinion changed tooooo much. I know films don't have time for subtlety always but I think we missed out on a lot due to the changes in this film. For example, Tris and her mum meeting up half way through...WHAT THE HELL??

When it comes to how things look in the film, Chicago looked exactly as I pictured, but as I mentioned in by review of the book after I'd see posters for the film, the Dauntless don't look gothy enough. The only ones I was happy with was Eric and Tori as they looked a bit edgy. The others just all look like spandex clad buff people. That is not at all what I expected from the dauntless.

When it came to the end, I found things a bit too different for my liking there also and I'm now wondering what is going to happen.

On the plus side, the bit with the zip wire was very good and it did make me very sad. However, I'm not sure if that is just the case because I know the end of the series.

Overall, when compared to the book, I defo enjoyed the book more! I didn't see this film in the cinema as I hadn't read the books then and it didn't appeal to me and TBH I don't think I'll make the effort to see the next one.

Oh and also, Tris was not at all small and petit enough and Christine was too small!! WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE INCORRECT SIZE OF PEOPLE CASTED?

Let me know your thoughts

BG
:-s

P.S. Check the Honest Trailer for Divergent out...just cos you should! It's hyperlinked over there <<<<<
P.P.S I think I enjoyed the honest trailer more than the film!

Review: An English Ghost Story

Publisher: Titan Books

Price: £ 7.99

A family has left London and moved in to their dream home in the West Country. However, the house has other plans.

The cover of this book felt physically good. I just had to get that out there!!! Also, I felt very brave reading this book as I do worry about reading scary things. HOwever, it did help that I now live with boy geek.

So, on with comments on the actual book.

It was a surprise to see the Wheezie stories come in to play, however, I found them to be most entertaining. The writing style they adopted was very different and it really felt as if someone other than KN had written them! Huzzah! Other portions of other books appear too and that was also a little treat due to the complete change in tone also!

I liked the bleak and dark past that the family had. I particularly liked the fact that it was only alluded to on occasions and then drip fed to you the rest of the time. It built up the terror even more. What made the book truly scary though, was not the ghosts but the fact that as the family descended in to chaos their actions are truly disturbing, unnerving and unsettling. The ghosts merely contribute to this, they are not, at all, what causes the chills down your spine.

I also want to let you alllllll know that I was indeed pretty satisfied with the ending...however I am not going to say anything else about it as I am refusing to throw any spoilers at you.

So, not your typical ghost story but one that I enjoyed far more than I had originally expected.

Happy reading!

BG

:-D

Bogging off for a week

Hey all

I'm sodding off again sorry!!!

I'm going to a lovely conference allllll about sulfur in Paris...good and bad, I know.

Anyway, I'll read books as usual and construct some lovely reviews for you all when I return!

Enjoy the week!!!

BG

Review: Skylight

Publisher: Random House

Picture this....you are on holiday....you ran out of paper books 2 days ago so have been merrily reading your kindle. Then The Boy runs out of paper books too and doesn't have his own kindle!!! What do you do? You go to a book shop god damn it and get books!! This is the book I got.

This book was a 'lost' manuscript from JS. It was written when he was rather young and before he came to prominence and won all his prises. That was pretty much what drew me to it. And here is my review.

This is a collection of short snapshots in to the lives of many different people who live in one apartment block. How their lives mingle, what they get up to and what they feel. It is, to be honest, surprisingly entertaining. I know I use the phrase 'character studies' all the bloody time, but this is essentially what this book is, a collection of character studies. 

There are some cracking lines of humour in this book and the translator did an excellent job on them...along with the rest of the book. It is, I hope at least and am lead to believe, perfectly translated. There were no awkward phrases or things I didn't really get.

When it comes to the characters, some were hateful, some were desperate, some were sad, some were lovely, some had no idea what was happening to them and their lives but in all their own special ways, I fell for them all. The language and the people and their development is very delicate and rather beautiful.

The only criticism of this book I have is that some things got a bit too 'literary' for me at times and I'm not very good with all the highfalutin literary concepts that can be bandied about. But I do forgive JS for them.

Defo a book that took me by surprise and that I would suggest people read if they come across it. A very different read for me but one I did indeed enjoy!

Happy Reading

BG

:-)

Review: Deja Vu

Publisher: Unsung Stories

It's always nice to be approached by a publisher, especially an Indie one and asked to review a book! THANK YOU!!!

We have David in the UK whose past is catching up with him and we have Saskia in Berlin who is where she is because of a past she can't remember. A lot is about to kick off.

There is one thing I'd like to say first...before I comment on the content. The actual physical paper the book was printed on was lovely to touch, excellent stock there!

From the off, the book really didn't take the paths I expected at any one point. I was intrigued from the word go. I will say however, that you really really do have to concentrate on this book. Don't read it unless your mind can be 100% engaged as the plot can be a tad confusing in places.

I completely fell in love with David and Saskia. Two fantastic characters with many many deep and complex layers!! They were excellent. Their interactions were also top notch, despite where, when and why!

This is a scifi book but it, tbh, isn't totally off the wall, it is really within the realms of possibility, well to me and my mind anyway. That was really cool, we weren't in your usual place of aliens or other life forms or completely mental tech. It was almost 100% normal and that is what I really enjoyed. The questions of time travel and what will be one day possible, or not, were VERY present.

My final note is that I don't think the blurb for the book and the strap line do it any justice at all. I don't really think they are at all right for the plot. They make it seem flighty and trivial rather than intense and compelling!

Anyway, one for the scifi people and one for those who want something a little different from what I hope is going to turn in to an AWESOME indie publisher.

Happy Reading

BG 

:-P

Review: Noughts and Crosses: 1

Price: £ 1.99 ebook

Publisher: RHCP Digital

I've always been aware of MB, especially when she was made Children's Laureate and when she appeared in a Tinie Tempah song....so I've always been keen to get on this series...here it goes.

Callum and Sephy are friends but they are from two very different back grounds, upbringings and circumstances for them suck in general. We are looking at how their lives and friendship develops as they live in the segregated world of noughts and crosses, black and white.

I was really interested in reading the foreword so I did so, and I very rarely do that. It was really interesting to see what spurred MB to write this book and start the series so I thoroughly recommend reading this before you start on the novel.

At the beginning it's not 100% clear who is black and who is white. I of course made the wrong assumption, but I'm sure that that is the point of this series as a whole, if not this book alone. It spins perceptions and 'norms' on their heads and that is a fantastically strong comment to make and one that I think should be put forward to everyone. YAs should have this challenge presented to them as people are still far too racist around the world as a whole!

It was really nice to read a YA novel that was set in the UK and that wasn't necessarily set in a dystopian landscape of dismay and destitution. It reminded me a bit of WOC's book in many respects. I know MB probs wrote hers first but I read WOC's first, so sorry about that. 

I did not at all expect the story to be so brutal. It really did get to me quite dramatically and I do challenge anyone of any age or gender not to feel the same.

This book really does stir some very strong feelings. I believe it is because the characters are so powerful along with their beliefs and emotions. It really is an excellent read and one I think As should read as well as YAs. I'm most intrigued to read the next full length novel. Especially as I've read the short story Callum, which I will of course review in due course.

Happy Reading

BG

:-)

Review: 3 Short Stories from Quercus

First Watch
This is a very short story about Madison. I really liked the fact that its alllll in retrospect of the event. It is a recall of a night when another officer's behaviour and actions are in question. I like that kind of thing. I also liked that police corruption was looked at briefly in this. It's a case of people being out to get someone so pushing the boundaries to do it!

Blood On The Water
This is the narrative of Poor Mr D. and also the narrative of a murderer! The story made Venice sound horrible. I've only been there for one day and that was for work during November a few years ago and it was pretty empty and creepy, as I imagine it in the story. Also, it makes it sound like a really dangerous place for tourists to go!

This is the prequel to a book apparently that is coming out. Apparently the book is about murders in Venice in the days of Titan.

Unearthing The Bones
Right then, I started reading this as it was advertised as a short story. I was gutted to discover that it is not one, it is actually the start of a novel! THE BASTARDS!!!

Anyway, its the common thug versus the common illegal dealer in fine things. Mamma G seems terrifying and I bet she continues to be so and the cockney guy is horribly grotesque.

I'm not 100% sure I'm actually going to bother with the rest of this story as it's alllll a tad Dan Brown seeming.

Anyway, there you have them in a nutshell.

Happy Reading

BG
:-)

Review: Weirdos v Quimboids

Publisher: Catnip Publishing

Price: £ 6.99

This is the diary of Blossom, a self titled Weirdo, as she battles life in school and at home and well, in general. 

Initially I thought that any book endorsed by Greg James and Chris Smith of Radio 1 fame (yes I am fans of theirs, and yes you can judge me if you want...I'm used to it), I thought that it must be worth a read...contrary to what boy geek said. Sadly, I think boy geek was proved correct on this occasion.

About 50 pages in and I knew for sure that I was far too old for the book. I found it too try hard and I did wonder if ND wrote it to cash in on her celeb status, and got Greg James, fellow BBC DJ to endorse it as he couldn't not really if he didn't want to be snubbed in the BBC R1 offices.

Anyway, the book was home to the odd interesting and intelligent quip and comment on occasion and I did indeed like the moon illustrations with Chased moon being a particular favourite. However, they were the only parts of this book I enjoyed.

The whole thing is a big moralistic, but maybe, if I was younger this would be just want I needed as it does tell people that they just have to be themselves and not be anyone else in order to be cool and happy.

I think I'm wrong age group for this book, I actually think I have grown up too much for it...well at 28 you would hope that I've done some growing up.

Anyway, Happy Reading to you youngsters.

BG

:-s

P.S. The publisher's logo is AMAZING!!!!

Review: Manic Mondays

Publisher: Candy Jar Books

We are seeing Caz's life as she branches out on her own, through a series of days....mainly Mondays but annoyingly not always. The idea, for me was a tad tooooo similar to One Day so I had high expectations from the start.

It's a very light and easy read despite all the personal turmoil of the characters involved, be it the next door neighbour who is far too young to be a mum to Mike the hottie cyclist. And of course Caz is having a rough time for a nice middle class woman. With her it's a case of Middle Class Woe and the type of thing you'd find on overheard in Waitrose. 

This is in the Bridget Jones school of books tbh and it fits well in to the holiday read category, but it was a bit too far on to the chick lit side for me to enjoy it fully. There wasn't the wit and scathing comments etc of Bridget Jones for me to embrace it fully.

Anyway, if you like this type of book, go for it, I'm sure you will enjoy.

Happy Reading

BG

:-s

Review: Allegiant

Price: £ 7.99

Publisher: Harper Collins

DO

NOT

READ

THIS

REVIEW

UNLESS

YOU

HAVE

READ

DIVERGENT

AND

INSURGENT!

I 

DO

NOT

WANT

TO

SPOIL

THINGS!

So, we are pretty much where things were left off. 

I liked the flipping between Tobias and Tris between chapters. It was good to get a totally different perspective on things, especially after all that has been and will be discovered as the final book of the trilogy goes on.

It was however super annoying that what was going on with the factions in Chicago was not really looked at. We spent the entire book with Tobias and Tris outside and all their dithering and fannying. I would have preferred to know more about inside the city as there was surely a lot going on that would have been interesting to know about! They all just seemed to be forgotten on the whole.

The ending was satisfactory to me. As we all know I don't like neat little tied up with a bow parcels of joy. However, god it was drawn out for a bloody long time. I mean seriously?!?!? Did it HAVE TO BE THAT LONG and moralistic? I found it a bit self indulgent in places if I am honest.

I'd defo say that this is the weakest of the three books, but it's still a trilogy that's worth a read. Wedding Obsessed Colleague thought the whole thing was a bit of a cop out and really didn't like the ending. 

Happy Reading

BG

:-)

Review: The Killing of Olga Klimt

Price: £ 8.99

Publisher: The Mystery/History Press

Olga is Charlie's love but the situation has all got a bit out of hand. This leads to many people ending up in a big ring of deceit and part of a classic whodunnit?

When I looked at this book I imagined it would be in the era of Sherlock Holmes so I was really surprised (in a good way) when I started reading and discovered it was set in the modern day!

When it came to the writing style, I was a super big fan. It's really quirky and unique. There is also a great self awareness not only to the writing but the story as a whole. There is a very droll kind of parody to the whole thing which I loved. It made me chuckle inside and out on many occasions. The whole thing is very fab and funny but terribly, terribly dark.

The characters were spiffing. From Olga to Charlie to the Man Servant who is so twiddly moustache I just couldn't get enough! The way the characters were all linked in crazy ways was great too. 

The whole book was like a whodunnit of the days of yore, but with a comedy edge and a self consciousness that I adored. Not a book I probably would have read off my own back but certainly one I am delighted to have read and one I will recommend to crime reader fans and those who fancy a change in reading!

Happy Reading

BG

:-D

Review: One Step Too Far

Price: £ 2.99 ebook

Publisher: Kirk Parolles

The next load of reviews are all being written from notes I made through my reading foray in September. So, please do forgive them if they aren't the usual! THANK YOU!

Emily is running away from her family and seeking a new life. We get to experience that with her and also learn about what her life was like before.

I throughly enjoyed the different voices, person focuses and eras that flip flopped throughout the book. It was pretty darn awesome. I also loved the fact that the plot was leading you completely and you had no idea what was going on or what triggered Emily's departure from her life! AWESOME. 

The characters were fab. I really didn't know for a long time how I felt about Emily. I didn't know if I loved or hated her or felt sorry for her. It was how she treated Ben when we didn't really know what he'd done that made me feel like that. Caroline was a pretty awesome character too, completely mental and so contrasting to Emily!

I really enjoyed the fact that this book was all about relationships. Between family, friends, colleagues and the relationships people have with themselves and with their pasts, presents and futures. I also loved how mental lives and people can become just because of one trigger, one nudge that forced them down a path. 

There is one thing negative about this book though. I don't know how satisfied I was with the ending. I think, to be honest that it let me down somewhat. 1 or 2 of the twists were very very good, don't get me wrong there. However, I felt that the ending was all too easy and wrapped up with a bow. The turmoil and stress of the rest of the book, I felt, needed more angst and grit in the conclusion.

Anyway, I did enjoy this book, and it wasn't at all what I expected, as I was thinking it would fall in to the realms of chick lit.

Happy Reading

BG

:-)

Holmes Challenge: The last 4 adventures

So, I'm back! You've all been keeping up with my self inflicted Holmes Challenge I hope...so here, to kick off my return the the blog are my thoughts on the last 4 adventures.

9 - The Adventure of the Engineers Thumb
It was alright. I would have preferred there to have been more made of the forgery part of the tale and Sherlock's all encompassing knowledge of the events surrounding the syndicate. It didn't really blow my mind and I have one BIG question...why they hell would you travel ALLLLLL the way to London for a doctor???

10 - The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor
Awwwwwww what a sweet one, it was allllll about love!!! I would have liked more to have been made of the challenge/rivalry between Sherlock and Lestrade. Oh and, why bloody AMERICANS AGAIN???

11 - The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
This was so tedious and boring and run of the mill I was ready for it to be over as soon as it started. That is all I have to say.

12 - The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
This one was actually rather enjoyable as it was so farcical and pretty funny to an extent. I think I enjoyed it the most out of this batch of four. I also liked the follow up at the end with the 'what they are all doing now kind of bit'.

So, now on to the next instalments!

Happy Reading

Book Geek
:-)

Gone, but will come back

Hello Loyal Readers

I am going to be disappearing for a few weeks, what with funerals, holidays, work trips and officially moving in to a new pad. I won't have continuous web access (at least not on something I can write reviews on) so I won't be posting any thing until October.

I promise to read plenty of books whilst I am gone and then bring you many a review next month.

I'll still be popping up on Twitter so if you miss me, find me there @book_geek_says!

Stay cool and see you in OCTOBER!

BG
:-)

Review: The Room

Price: £ 9.99 hardback

Publisher: Hogarth (Vintage Books)

Well, I don't quite know what to make of this. I have literally just finished it and well, I feel a bit out of sorts. 

Bjorn works at the Authority, and has a special Room where he likes to go...however, is it really there?

First off, the translation was excellent, totally cracking. This is a Swedish novel, and the translation is top notch. Sometimes in translations you get the odd sentence that doesn't read all that well but there wasn't a single one here! Hooray, and it's even a proof and not the final thing. 

The whole book made me feel rather on edge, a bit mental and a bit neurotic during the times I was reading it. Wahhh! I was feeling really anxious. I didn't know what I wanted for Bjorn. Did I want the room? Did I want it to come out that he was mentally ill? What exactly is The Authority? Why was he there? Arrrgh! I really don't know what to think.

I am glad I read this book as I can see that it is very thought provoking, it looks at many things that out society doesn't always (well I think it does...mental illness for example...but then again, I could be reading a lot in to it...I am afraid I do that sometimes). But anyway, as I was saying, I am glad I've read this book and I think it's going to stick in my mind for a good long while as I'm not 100% sure what I think about The Room as an entity.

Anyway...an odd review this one...but it was a very unique read!

Have a go? (When it comes out next year that is)

Happy Reading

BG
:-s

Review: Insurgent

Price: £ 7.99

Publisher: Harper Collins

So then, we are back, pretty much immediately after the end of Divergent! And don't we just hit the ground running.

This book has even more to offer than the first one and all I could think about this weekend when I wasn't reading it was when I would get to read it next. The politics really kicks off as does the test of character, the test of characters, the test of friendships and the test of relationships. The underhand tactics, the continuing plot twists. WAHHHH!

However, once again, I'm not a massive fan of the levels of relationship dependence with hints of violence and the levels of such brutal battle violence in a book that is purported to be YA. I really, don't think 11 year olds should be reading this, and even though its 13+ as a recommendation on the book, it really should be older.

But, I didn't let that stop me enjoying it, not a jot. Tris is super coming in to her own and I'm starting to love her a lot. Her personal battles and her balls are fab and for me, pretty much make the book. I'm having a bit of a marmite relationship with Four. He is fab one minute and the next I want to yell at him and punch him in the face with something really sharp round my fist (think I'm becoming a bit Dauntless). 

I really cannot wait to read Allegiant and find out exactly what is really going on, the cliffhanger at the end of this book was immense!

Defo a book for fans of YA and do keep going with this trilogy if you have read Divergent. If you haven't read any then pick them up immediately. Again, I know it's controversial, but I do think I am enjoying these more than the Hunger Games trilogy!

Happy Reading

Book Geek

:-P

Review: The Glass Republic

Price: £ 14.99

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books

This is book two of The Skyscraper Throne. I read Book 1, City's Son just over a year ago and I wish I had read the two books closer together in many ways, however, I always tend to do this to myself, booo!!

But, moving on.

Pen is coming to terms with what has happened to her, or at least trying to, and Beth is doing the same. But when Pen must go on a hunt then things get rather mental and very very interesting!

This is like a modern day Alice Through the Looking Glass with some Alice in Wonderland thrown in for good measure and I bloody loved that about this book. Alll the sections in London-Under-Glass were awesome and if we moved away from there I was itching to get back to it. I loved the politics, the plot and the characters that were there. I also really enjoyed the small foray in to sexuality and Espel was a cracking character. Oh, and I think I have a bit of a crush on Garrison! BABE!

Back in our world, Jonny Naphtha is still as creepy as ever and still perfect for the job! His relationship with Beth is on the cusp of kinky and I like that. Maybe, reading this as an A rather than a YA is giving me that hint...was it intentional??

A great follow up to City's Son and it is filling the formula of the middle book which leaves you on a cliff hanger and gagging to read the next one! It is interesting that I could have read book 1 as a stand alone, and now I can't read this as one, however, I find that that is true of so many trilogies.

The only criticism I have of this book is the proof reading. I had a final hardback copy to read and well, there were a lot of mistakes that jumped out. It could be I noticed them because I am an editor by profession, I don't know. But anyway, don't let them detract from your enjoyment.

If you loved City's Son then get on this immediately! I have Our Lady of the Streets (book 3) at home ready to read pretty soon and I can't wait.

Happy Reading

BG
:-)

Review: Jet

Price: £ 2.34 ebook

Publisher: Reprobatio Ltd

Maya is chilling in Trinidad and Tobago and seems to have a pretty nice life considering what she used to do. However, someone is out to ruin it for her. Bugger!

Jet is like the female Jason Bourne you have always wanted. I'm a fan of the Bourne books, they have action, they have politics, they have relationships but they do take a hell of a lot of concentration. Jet, doesn't take as much concentration but the characters are awesome, the action is there, the relationships are there as are the politics. 

If you want a sexy heroine and a bit of a cool hero then this is the book for you. If you want a few action plot cliches such as Russian's, boat chases, mass assassin attacks that fail and a bad ass bond girl scenario then again, this is for you.

I was pretty much gripped from the very start as the heroine is so badass and is a girl. Huzzah! It isn't high brow and it isn't going to take you years to read. But it is intense, fun and action packed.

I will not say more as it would be REALLY easy to spoil it. But Bourne and Bond fans alike, pick this up!

Happy Reading

BG

:-)

Review: The Dragon Keeper

Price: £ 8.99

Publisher: Harper Voyager

You will most likely be aware of my MASSIVE Hobb love if you are a frequent visitor. So, I was delighted when Boy Geek's Mum told him to take me book shopping for my birthday. The Rain Wild Chronicles was my selection of choice as I have never before read them. I love alllll that is to do with the Fool and Fitz and I loved the Liveship trilogy, the recent new Fitz and the Fool was also AWESOME!!!! So, as I knew we would be in the realms of the Liveships I wanted to return.

At the start I was feeling a bit let down by the book as it was very slow to pick up and it was a all a bit woe is me I'm a girl. However, as I got more involved in the book I began to love it. The characters also grew on me and that was maybe because they grew a pair in some respects (Alise and Thymara in particular). Love the dragons and their crazy ways, they are awesome. Also, the Hest and Sedric relationship is brill and so different for a Hobb book. Also, love how Sedric is such an ambiguous character. I don't know if I like him, loathe him or just feel sorry for him! 

It's great to see the return of some of the old characters and seeing them interact with new. I'm most excited to see where exactly this series goes and what becomes of the dragons as their adventure continues. This is hopefully going to be another epic series from Hobb that fills my imagination with joy!

Happy Reading

BG

:-D

Review: 50 Sheds of Grey

Price: 20 p ebook

Publisher: Boxtree

Every now and again I'll read a comedy book or coffee table book, and when I do, I of course write a review.

This will be a short un as this is defo a short book.

It's a parody on 50 Shades of Grey. Whilst I haven't read that and have no real desire to, I know what the plot vaguely is. This little book has a vague plot of its own and some excellent pics of sheds for those shed enthusiasts out there.

There is an edge of kink but it is most mild. It's basically a load of one line quips that I believe are taken from the twitter account @50ShedsofGrey. They made me chuckle and giggle. So I think if you want a bit of light relief then crack on. Also if you've read 50 Shades, you will probs enjoy it also!

Happy Reading

BG

:-)