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Book Reviews
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Jodie Mitchell01 April 2009
The final instalment of the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, lived up to my expectations. The storyline is exciting and stays true to the characters, which I felt was important. Breaking Dawn takes on a split narrative, which allows the reader to learn more about characters, from Jacob Black's perspective. The narrative of the main character, Bella is emotive and very thoughtful, whereas the narrative of Jacob gives the book a humorous yet edgy side. The storyline is brilliantly written and will keep you guessing. The introduction of new characters creates mystery and helps develop the main characters personalities.
It was a fantastic end the series and I felt it was a good place to end the series, although, Meyer could continue writing about these characters forever and I don't think I'd ever get bored!
***** 5 stars! -
Pathways to Literacy (Year 1/Stage 2) - Hop Hop Kangaroo: Big Book (Collins Pathways)
Lia01 April 2009
Little kangaroo is a very determined kangaroo that goes on a search for his 'hop'. This search shows the kangaroo going through lots of settings and meeting several characters.
The language gives you the chance to explore description, adjectives and action verbs.
The illustrations couldn't be better. They are very colourful and lively. -
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Erin Britton31 March 2009
Written by Alan Moore, the creator of comics classics like Watchmen and V for Vendetta, and illustrated by Kevin O'Neill, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a near perfect literary mix of high adventure, twisted science fiction and a wonderful reimagining of classic [anti]heroes. As Alan Moore sees it, London in 1898 was a time of great change as well as an age of stagnation. As the Victorian era was drawing to a close and the twentieth century approached, England was in great need of champions. Borrowed from classic novels of the time, Allan Quatermain, Captain Nemo, Hawley Griffin, Doctor Henry Jekyll, Mister Edward Hyde and Mina Murray are those champions and together they comprise the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Summoned to London from all over the globe and recruited by the enigmatic Campion Bond under the orders of the mysterious "M", these six famed adventurers are called into the service of their country at a time when the British Empire is in dire straits. British Intelligence has learned that the nefarious Doctor has a diabolical plan for world domination and so the League are dispatched to deal with him. But things are not what they seem and the members of the League soon discover that other factors, both cryptic and corpuscular, are at play. With the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Alan Moore has combined his love and knowledge of 19th century adventure literature with his mastery of the 20th superhero phenomenon and has produced a beautifully illustrated triumphant tale of suspense, mystery and intrigue. Remember to keep your eyes peeled whilst following the League's adventures, just about every panel contains references, obscure or otherwise, to famous works of literature ranging from Oliver Twist to Sherlock Holmes.
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Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog (Penguin Classics)
Erin Britton31 March 2009
Originally intended to be a travelogue, Three Men in a Boat is Jerome K. Jerome's masterpiece and one the most enduring popular examples of English comic literature. Suffering from every malady under the sun save for housemaid's knee, three bungling Victorian bachelors and one Victorian dog decide to take a relaxing boat trip along the Thames. Anticipating peace and leisure, the three gents (and dog) instead encounter the dubious joys of roughing it, of getting their boat stuck in locks, of being towed by amateurs, of having to eat their own cooking and, of course, of coping with the glorious English weather. Three Men in a Boat, the hilarious tale of what is probably the worse holiday ever to be immortalised in literature, has a delightful air of nostalgia, a cast of wonderful friends who, despite their epic hypochondria, you really wouldn't mind being stuck on a boat with and is still laugh-out-loud funny more than one hundred years after it was first published.
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Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
Naomi Stanley31 March 2009
I was given this book as a present for Christmas and was told that I had to read it, as it was the best book my friend had ever read. With such a bold statement I was extremely dubious that the book would live up to such personal hype.
So after several months of gathering dust on my book shelf I decided I would give it a go and see if it really was such a great story.
I have a crazy dog, so the book did appeal to me on one level as I thought, "surely no dog can be as bonkers as mine". I assumed the book would be a bit too touchy-feely animal lover-fest for me to get in to it....but I was wrong!
After several days of devouring each and every single noun and adjective I closed this book after shedding many tears (of happiness and sadness).
Now, I'm not usually one to be moved by a book or even a film, but this love story (yes, the love between human and man's best friend is as valid as any love story) tugged on my heart strings and left me reaching for the tissues time and time again. This beautiful book about a loopy Labrador, tells a heart-warming story of life, friendship, family and the endurance of love and devotion. Marley and Me explores all these things with humour and pragmatism, that you can't help but be sucked in to.
If you love animals you will love this book. If you love dogs you will love this book. If you have a heart you will love this book. This book will move you deeply!
I experienced laughter, sadness, empathy, sympathy and tears of joy and emotion. What more can you ask for from a book? When I finally put it down, I looked down at my daft dog, and told him "I love you, you're a great dog".
HEALTH WARNING: This book will have you laughing out loud and also sobbing hard, so it is not recommended you read this on the train or anywhere else in public.
And if you're wondering if I believe that this is the best book I've ever read, then I will tell you....this book has definitely shot into my top ten and I know it won't be budging! -
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China
Naomi Stanley30 March 2009
This beautiful and insightful book is told through by three generations of women from one family - grandmother, mother and daughter.
This book tells the story of China through the 20th Century and not only details Chairman Mao's affect on the country as a whole but also on an individual family.
Wild Swans is beautifully written and engages the reader immediately. As a fan of Chinese literature I already knew a lot about the subject material detailed in this book but that did not put me off as Jung Chang writes so eloquently and you find yourself feeling deeply moved by the three characters plights.
Due to its dramatic content it"s easy to forget that this is a true story. Wild Swan explores the damage that was done to China and the Chinese people throughout the last 100years. It tells the story unapologetically and details the brutal harshness that the Chinese people endured under the leadership of Chairman Mao.
This book deeply moved me and is definitely one that I plan to re-read time and time again. This book also, surprisingly, explores family dynamics especially under pressure.
If you've been tempted in the past to pick up a book of Chinese fiction then I would definitely recommend this as a starting point to expand your knowledge of Chinese history and also as a beautiful story that will leave you wanting more.
Happy Reading! -
Erin Britton28 March 2009
These days it seems like just about everyone is watching the Watchmen but, way back in the dim and distant 1980s, way before the special effects bonanza movie, the collectible trading cards and the ultra realistic action figures, there was Alan Moore's groundbreaking comics series. Illustrated by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen represents a seminal moment in the history of comics, a moment when comics ceased being solely a fantasy world created for the pleasure of children and instead took on a far more realistic, adult feel. Set in an alternative future where Nixon is in his third term as President of the United States and where America won the Vietnam War, Watchmen begins with the murder of Edward Blake, also known as the Comedian. The Comedian had been a member of a group of crime fighters known as the Watchmen, a group that included Ozymandias, the smartest man on Earth, the super powered Doctor Manhattan, the Nite Owl, the Silk Spectre and the disturbed Rorschach. Although initially impressed, the public had quickly turned against the Watchmen's vigilante style of justice and so the government had outlawed masked crime fighters. While the Comedian and Doctor Manhattan continued to work for the government and Rorschach continued his independent vigilante activities, the rest of the Watchmen slipped back quitely into civilian life. When the police fail to find any leads as to the identity of the Comedian's murderer, Rorschach investigates and comes to believe that there is a plot afoot to murder all of the former Watchmen. Setting out to warn his former colleagues, Rorschach finds himself framed for murder while an attempt is made to assassinate Ozymandias and Doctor Manhattan leaves the Earth for Mars after being accused of causing the cancer that has plagued some of his old friends and former enemies. Realising that Rorschach was right about the death of the Comedian, Nite Owl and the Silk Spectre set out to spring him from jail and track down the murderer before any more of the Watchmen die. Alan Moore's Watchmen is a truly amazing comics series, collected here in graphic novel format, featuring perhaps the best and most involved story in the history of the medium as well as masterful art by Dave Gibbons and some wonderful extra material such as Hollis Mason's autobiography "Under the Hood" and the comic-within-a-comic "Tales of the Black Freighter". One of very few graphic novels to regularly be included in "Must Read" lists, Watchmen is a quite exceptional piece of literature and should be read and enjoyed by everyone.
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Erin Britton27 March 2009
The ultimate dystopian satire of a consumerist society gone mad, JG Ballard's Kingdom Come follows unemployed advertising executive Richard Pearson as he returns to his Heathrow adjacent hometown, Brooklands, to organise his father's funeral. Needless to say, his father did not die in ordinary circumstances. At the heart of Brooklands is a labyrinthine shopping complex known as the Metro-Centre and it was while shopping there that Richard's father was shot by a rampaging gunman. Upon his arrival in town, Richard is understandably surprised to learn that the gunman had been arrested but was promptly released thanks to the testimony of self-styled pillars of the community like the doctor who treated Richard's father on his deathbed. Determined to unravel the mystery of his father's death, Richard investigates and soon comes to realise that there is far more than bargain prices lurking behind the pristine facade of the Metro-Centre, its 24-hour cable television and sports club. Kingdom Come is a quite immense novel that takes Richard on a twisted journey through suburban England and towards race riots, contemporary politics, sports hooligans, consumer greed, terrorism and religious extremism. Despite the rather bleak social commentary, Kingdom Come is a sublime novel that races along a rather twisted path before reaching an explosive, impressive conclusion.
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Naomi Stanley25 March 2009
A stunning story that will have you laughing and crying (sometimes at the same time!!).
This was the first Marian Keyes book that I read and it got me hooked on the author. Keyes writes in such a vivacious way, that is so easy to digest and in a manner that is entertaining throughout.
This is a perfect holiday read! -
Naomi Stanley25 March 2009
This book is set in the heart of an Armish Community and is packed full of surprises. It tells the tragic story of a baby that is found dead and the investigation the surrounds this.
Who is the mother? Who is the father? Why was the baby abandoned? Your head will be spinning with questions as you turn the page and read on. Picoult keeps you guessing until the very end!
Definitely worth a read!
