Review: The Lady Who Turned

Publisher: City Fiction

 

Sorry I can't find a cover for this on tut interweb...I'll try to remember to take a photo of the cover and add it to the post...but I can't promise anything.

 

So,

This book came to me because Boy Geek knows a chap who is mates with the author and mentioned to said mate that I do anonymous book reviewing (Kept me really anonymous there didn't he). So this came to Boy Geek in the post to be passed on to me.

 

First, I'd like to say that I'm not 100pc convinced that the title of 'Romantic Thriller Writer' is totally apt. Firstly I don't see there actually being more romance/sex/love in this novel than any other and also, this title, would have put me off the book a bit if I was to select it from a shop and not have it presented to me.

 

Now on with the story.

 

The links between the plot and sub plots are good. I enjoyed them appearing and developing and trying to work out how they all fit together. A plot with many layers always satisfies me and this was indeed one of those.

 

I also thoroughly enjoyed the style of writing and the language. The tone in general and the narrative were right up my street and suited the story really well.

 

When it came to the characters, the photo fit kid was BRILLIANT. She was one of my favourite characters and a really great moment in the novel for you to realise that the world is not alllll horrible. In fact, now I think about it the kid in the book in general were portrayed well.

 

The only criticism of this novel is that there is a lack of time frame. I would have liked to have some indication of how things progressed and at what speed and maybe that would have added intensity and suspense.

 

But, overall, I enjoyed this book and would be keen to read more!

 

YAy

BG

Review: Forbidden Lines

Publisher: Galley Beggar

 

I'm going to say it from the start, I think this is one of those books AGAIN where I am not intelligent enough to really get the full impression/understanding/depth of it but there we go..I admit it from the start and leave you to see if I am correct in this assessment.

 

And secondly, it has made me want to read Don Quixote as I think I would get the book even more, and even in retrospect if I did.

 

We are with Don and Is on their journey, more Don's journey that Is has been dragged on and it's a really mental journey with lots to get involved with. And even though I didn't have the full intelligence to get it all, the journey was a riot. It was warming, it was amusing, it was scary and it was confusing.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the interjections from the narrator, it really did jolt you back to reality and they were really rather amusing also. Especially when you are with Is and Don you find yourself totally embedded in their completely bizarre world of weird.

 

I also loved the Triseptimums. They were great little bags of mad, but they did to an extent make sense and really did help me understand the crazy mind of these two bods we are on a tour with.

 

Finally, the question I'm still pondering is who was more mad Don or Is? Is to go with Don or Don to start the crazy mission.

 

Overall, I know I didn't understand the whole thing, but I am so glad I read it and I hope the guys at GB are pleased that even if the reader isn't as clever as maybe necessary to get the nuances, the reader can still enjoy it!

 

Happy Reading

BG

:-)

Review: The Girl on the Train

Publisher: Double Day

 

I am sure you are alllll going to tell me I'm way behind the times with this book, but tough, I've only just read it.

 

Mother Geek gave it to me after she had read it....she only read it as was going to see the film and even then didn't finish it in time....

 

Well, I am sure most of you know what the story is about but if you don't, Rachel is on a train when she sees something that impacts her and her slightly sad and troubled life.

 

To start I'm not sure how I feel about Rachel. I'm not sure if I love or hate her. I spent the whole book wanting her to sort her shit out but also wanting to smack her in the face as she can be annoying.

 

The other women in the book I'm very confused about too. Anna, I despised her to be honest, but then I did change my mind about her a tad when it came to the end. Megan, just needs to get a grip. I did again feel sorry for her because of all the shit in the her life and her depression, but she seemed a tad spoilt bitch too.

 

I enjoyed the flicking of voices/POVs between these three characters, BUT I don't think the tones/styles were as different as they should have been or had room for when it came to three very different women. I agree wholly with Mother Geek on that.

 

I also really enjoyed the slow, slow unveiling of the plot as a whole. I admit, I did see the end coming, but I liked the delicacy with witch it was handled and written. Very slowly, slowly catchy monkey!

 

I can see why this is a popular book and I did indeed enjoy it. So much so I recommended it to Boy Geek and he read it on holiday. He also enjoyed it!

 

Cheers and Happy New Year!

 

Book Geek

*<:-)