The Harry Potter Challenge: The Deathly Hallows

YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS! FINISHED THE BLOODY THINGS AT LAST!

Oh dear God! I thought The Half Blood Prince was tedious, that was nothing compared to this! They spend all their bloody time hiding in tents and hating each other or succumbing to stupid teenage sexual jealousy and tension. I DON'T CARE!

The only remotely good bits involved deaths and even then JK kept killing off the only bloody good characters (as per usual). The battle of Hogwarts was mildly entertaining as it was a point when something actually happened at last! And the ending was oh so bloody mediocre.

I think I can safely say that overall, I'm not a Harry Potter fan and I don't think I ever will be.

The Prisoner of Azkaban was a decent book as was The Order of The Phoenix, but I'm afraid that I just found the overall series rather tedious and to be honest pretty dull and not that well executed.

I can see why kids would enjoy some of it, but if you are reading it as you are growing up, I' not sure how you would find the later books any good...unless you have never read anything else ever.

At least I can now say I've suffered through them all and am fully justified when I say, I am not a fan of Harry Potter.

Sorry to all you Pot heads out there!

Book Geek
<:-S

Review: Season to Taste, or, How to Eat Your Husband

Publisher: Tinder Press

Price: £ 12.99 (hardback)

Well, before Christmas I was sent promotional recipe cards for some of the meals that Lizzie cooks and from those didn't really have any idea what was going on. When I got the book shortly after Christmas, along with a glorious spoon, I was most enthused to read it!

This is the story of Lizzie, who has killed her husband and has decided to eat him to dispose of the body.

I don't know how I feel about Lizzie. I feel sorry for her as her life was apparently so shitty before that she thought killing Jacob would be a help. However, I'm also slightly terrified of her as no sane person could seriously kill and eat someone else and not really have an overwhelming feeling of remorse and disgust. Tom, is very different and I found his bits rather odd. They jump forward in time and the tone is different. They kept me reading but, they also made me feel really unnerved and worried for him.

The hand written list sections are a definitive way in which to kill and eat your husband whilst still keeping your cool. They are cold and clinical, and very darkly humorous. They are also a complete contrast to the narrative sections. The list sections in fact, almost make the events of the novel seem totally and utterly normal, which is even more mental.

I found the story particularly creepy as I live in the Farnham/Guildford area so know the places that are mentioned. I don't think I'm ever going to feel the same about some of the 50 something ladies who lunch that I see in town anymore! Also, I was having real trouble eating meat over the weekend whilst reading this book. Quite an impact was made.

Overall, a really dark and to be perfectly honest mental book. I think I enjoyed it as I have told people about it all weekend. However, I don't know if that is because of the shock factor or because I've never read anything like it before and don't quite know how to digest it (no pun intended). If you want a really different read then pick this up now.

Happy Reading (I think)

Book Geek

:-s

Review: Sacrifice

Publisher: Quercus

Price: £ 7.99

We're back in the realms of hostage negotiation with Ed...ahhh the lovely Ed. He starts off having a really bad day but it gets so much worse.

The story is more evolved and detailed than Baptism...but don't get me wrong Baptism was good, but this has a little something else. The story has more characters and layers and ideas and twists and turns in the plot and doesn't start out in the way you think it will.

The whole thing is very real feeling, just as Baptism was and I think that's due to the fact that MK is a screenwriter so knows how to get the most out of dialogue and language and description.

The look at cyber terrorism more than physical terrorism was great, making these books very modern and up to date and current. The different POVs for chapters and the story being in real time once more gave it that sense of urgency that I loved about Baptism.

The bad guys are bad, the good guys are defo good and the book keeps you going from one page to the next.

I'm not 100% sure I'm happy with the ending as I'm not sure if this is all that will happen with this plot and set of characters or if they will return for Ed to combat another day. Part of me wants to know if this is the end of this portion or not! HELP!

Nonetheless, another excellent, gripping story with a gorgeous main character. Written with feeling and emotion and passion!

Happy Reading

Book Geek

B-)

Review: Your Brother's Blood

Price: £ 14.99 (hardback)

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books

Well bugger me, what a spiffingly surprisingly good read. I am most delighted indeed that I managed to save it from the big leak! YAY!

So, Thomas has woken up, and he's in no way what he used to be, a normal human. Whilst, back in his home town they are all plotting and being indoctrinated (I think anyway). It's all about to get a bit crazy!

Great look at how a religion and a few individuals can control people and warp their minds. But also a great The Walking Dead twist. BUT it isn't in the modern day, I don't think. Is it in the future (as the extracts from speeches imply), a dystopian future at that, or is it in the past, in the times of the American civil war? Is in America for that matter? Or are they in a fictional land? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS MR T!!! SO MANY!!!! And I couldn't help but read the speech portions with a southern American lilt. 

When it comes to the characters, I really loved Thomas, Caleb, Sarah, Rachel and Nathaniel. I really hated Luke, I REALLY hated him. He is a hideous human, but is he just a product of the weird religion in the town? Again, so many questions and thoughts in my head! 

A really great read indeed. I was hooked from the beginning and found myself being able to vividly picture the scenes and people in my head due to the almost normality of the surroundings and the great descriptions. I got really attached to the characters and I loved that also. This book does kind of conclude this portion of the story and could almost be stand alone, however, I have so many sodding questions that I NEED more! Also, you can find Mr T on twitter at @D_Towsey and he is most lovely indeed.

Happy Reading

Book Geek

8-)

Review: Bridget and Joan's Diary

Price: £ 1.70 (kindle)

Publisher: Oneworld

Usually I love a good parody, however, I don't know...I just don't think I was in the right mood for this one (what with all that's been going on lately) so I didn't find it as funny as I find the @bridgetandjoan tweets. The entries in the diary that were taken from tweets were however the best ones.

I like the parallels with Bridget Jones and the use of the 'ton' words and labels for other people, they are always funny. Also really liked the parody and incorporation of other things such as the Bate's hotel. They were rather clever and in some cases pretty hard to spot. 

The total and utter difference between Bridget and Joan was also funny. I kinda hope one person wrote this book and not two as that would make it even better...but I have a sneaky feeling it was probs a group of people who are game for a laugh.

Overall, a quick and fun read, but I think you need to be in a happy place to read it and therefore find it funny as well as notice the witticisms and subtle referencing to the wider world of fiction, comedy and comment.

Happy Reading

Book Geek

 :-s

Review: Freaks

Publisher: Self

Price: Not sure

Abbie has ALWAYS been different but has never known why. When she is 16 she finds out and her life goes a bit mental.

I want to say this is a YA book. I'd be most surprise if it isn't. The story is fast paced and action packed. the characters are all young, all cool and all totally confused at points, but they sort themselves out and that's great.

Max was cracking as was Dylan. I think they are my faves in this book. Abbie was a tad toooooo windgey on occasions for me to love her. The bad guys were super bad and totally super creepy. They almost had a comic book feel to them which was rather cool and did indeed suit this book.

I wanted to know what happened to them and did indeed keep reading and even stayed longer on some of the gym machines than I usually would to make sure I read as much as possible. Defo looking forward to the next one....there better bloody had be as you can't just leave a book like that!!

Please tell me there is more LMF???

Happy Reading

Book Geek

:-D

Review: Battle Royale

Publisher: Gollancz

Price: £ 9.99

Well, to say I enjoyed this book would be a MASSIVE understatement. It was bloody cracking. I have been interested to read this book for about a year, since I read the Hunger Games books and read the controversy about how a lot was taken from this. As far as I am concerned, I'd be shocked if SC hadn't read this as the parallels are many. And, I'm about to say something people may find blasphemous, but I think I enjoyed this more than I enjoyed the Hunger Games. It felt more real and more believable. 

The translation was pretty descent. A few spots read awkwardly and didn't quite flow, but that is understandable. 

I found it really really brutal in many places but the characters were outstanding. The contrasts in upbringing, history and memories were great as well as their reactions to the situation they were in. If people chose to play or not, if people chose to kill or not, it was awesome. The 3 'main' characters were absolutely excellent and I felt close to them indeed.

The names confused me a bit as they were quite similar so I did struggle on occasions to remember who was who when it came to the more peripheral characters but I shall live. 

A gripping read that is not for the feint of heart. Read this if you enjoyed the Hunger Games, and if you haven't read the Hunger Games then read them as well as this as I'd be interested to hear other thoughts on the similarities.

Happy Reading

Book Geek

:-)

The Harry Potter Challenge: The Half Blood Prince

Sorry it's been a while since you've had a challenge instalment! The Assistant had my kindle due to her thumb chopping off incident. But, I had it back over Christmas and on Saturday before I went to the pub I finished Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince.

Right....this one was long....way too long! Not enough happened to fill what felt like millions of pages. It was so so slow moving and it wasn't even the big battle of Hogwarts at the end as I was expecting.

Boy Geek found it hysterical when I explained where I was on Friday night as I was so angry that I referred to the Horcruxs as 'bits that need to be found that I just don't care about.'

The love aspects really got on my tits. I just don't care, I really don't care at all! It felt so trivial and childish when you compared it to the doom and darkness of the surrounding events that could have been so so much more exciting!

Also, it wasn't as darkly written as The Order of The Phoenix so I think the shit author is back again, or maybe JK wasn't taking her meds, or maybe she was and became placid and boring.

I really don't think these books are for me at all. I'll read the Deathly Hallows as it's the last one and it would be silly not to but I'm not going to read it yet as I don't want to loose the will to live any more than I have over the last few days.

Anyway, onwards and upwards

Book Geek

P.S. I WANT A PYGMY PUFF!!

2013: Top Reads

I present to you, my top 10 books of 2013...in no particular order.

I also present the two worst books below!! Also in no particular order.

1. Before His Time/Beyond His Years – Darren Craske. (Twitter = @darrencraske)

Just yes, yes, yes!! Second and third in the Station Guard trilogy and they are sodding amazing. I really really love him so much, author and guard. Check out this trilogy and the other stuff he has written too! Great great author, great great series.

 2. A Fucked Up Life In Books – Anon(ish). (Twitter = @bookcunt)

If you love books, swearing, sex, joy and sadness then get on this. It’ll suck you in, make you laugh and make you cry and you’ll want to think about what books you’ve read at what times and what they mean to you. Glorious!

 3. Nearest Thing To Crazy – Elizabeth Forbes. (Twitter = @lizzieforbes)

Wonderfully written and totally scary book of manipulation. So normal in many ways that it is THAT scary! Love this book, love this woman and bloody love her publishers too! If you want Catch 22 set in middle class England then lay your hands on this.

 4. Hope: A Tragedy – Shalom Auslander. (Twitter of the recommenders = @biggreenbooks)

Thank you Big Green Books for recommending this to me. Dark and twisty and humorous and weird all at the same time. Completely off the wall with some fab characters. One I’ll recommend over and over again.

 5. Poison/Beauty – Sarah Pinborough. (Twitter = @sarahpinborough)

Now, I am putting these two together as they are part of a set of 3 retellings of some of your most loved fairytales (not got my hands on Charm yet, boo). They are totally for adults and totally sexy, dirty, dark and fun. Read and enjoy, but don’t let your kids get them.

 6. Life After Life – Kate Atkinson

On first sight I really didn’t think I would like this book, but guess what, I thought it was fab! A real shock! Beautiful writing style that fits an equally beautiful narrative. I do believe that this was a perfect book for me.

 7. The Dinner – Herman Koch

Strange how I found parents concerns and misunderstandings and troubles so damn compelling. Another gloriously written book, I’d imagine it’s a translation too, so bravo even more. I’ve even passed it on and recommend it, which I wasn’t 100% convinced I would.

 8. The Written – Ben Galley (Twitter = @bengalley)

What a bloody awesome start to what I am thinking is a totally epic fantasy series. To see such things come out of such a young un is a real treat for all! If you are a big old school fantasy fan then get on this right away…now I say, NOW!!!

 9. The City’s Son – Tom Pollock (Twitter = @tomhpollock)

Urban fantasy…is that a thing? If it is, then this is a book for that genre. Not really read anything like it before and I am very excited indeed to read the next instalment! Totally crazy, weird and wonderful!

 10. Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore – Robin Sloan

A weird and wonderful book about books and bookshops which are two of my very favourite things. It also makes books cross with technology which is something I am slowly coming round to. Well done on this unique read RS!

 WORST BOOKS!

The Last Werewolf – Glen Duncan

Boy Geek’s old flat mate gave this to me, he said you’ll love it, it’s great. I did not love it, it was not great. It is one of the worst things I have ever, ever read. It is ridiculous and stupid and just never read it ever!!!

The Telling Room – Michael Paterniti

I will NEVER EVER get back the life that I spent reading this tedious pile of ridiculous self indulgence. OH MY GOD!! Even think it was worse than the werewolf book, and that really is saying something. Don’t let this book fool you… it’s shit! SHIT I SAY!