Gorgeous, dark, sinister - I loved this book! A kiss Before Dying is a classic 1950's noir that kept me entertained from beginning to end. If you likeGorgeous, dark, sinister - I loved this book! A kiss Before Dying is a classic 1950's noir that kept me entertained from beginning to end. If you like thrillers at their finest I highly recommend!...more
A bad relationship is like being on a train journey to hell, fortunately most of us get off well before the final destination. This is a story about wA bad relationship is like being on a train journey to hell, fortunately most of us get off well before the final destination. This is a story about what happens when a relationship that should have ended, doesn't.
Imagine being bound to a self destructive psychopath who'll do anything possible to put you down/get the last word/come out on top. No, i'm not talking about the normal ups and downs of a relationship. I mean serious head case stuff, where no slight can be left unpunished. That's pretty much what it's like for Nick being married to Amy. Of course, Nick's no saint either...
I don't want to give too much away, for me the twists and turns make Gone Girl un-put-downable. I bought this book thinking it was a good old fashioned whodoneit, but there's so much more at play here. It made me think about my own relationship, and how over time couples take each other more and more for granted. I never want to be like that.
Now I was all prepared to dole out another 5-star review, but the ending...ughhh! It's one of those you either love or hate, I found it quite depressing. I always hope for a happy ending where the characters develop, learn lessons and go on to be better people. I know, I know, how naive! Yep, that's not what happens in real life, but I still believe it's what *should* happen. So I was left quite disappointed by Nick with the eventual decision that he came to. I really enjoyed the book though, and if anything the ending vexed me enough to leave the story still in my mind 2 days later.
A frighteningly original thriller, there's a good reason this book is such a success! ...more
Ooh this book is sinister! I'll freely admit I'm a scaredy-cat when it comes to horror movies, but books never normally freak me out. Not true with thOoh this book is sinister! I'll freely admit I'm a scaredy-cat when it comes to horror movies, but books never normally freak me out. Not true with this one!
Unless you've been living in Uzbekistan you'll know the concept behind The Stepford Wives. The whole idea of husbands killing their wives and replacing them with realistic life sized dolls seems pretty far fetched, but I thought as it's a classic (and super short) I'd give it a try - I'm so glad I did!
Ira Levin has a great way of making normal activities appear as creepy as hell, giving you just enough information to suspect sinister undertones, without offering enough insight to help you understand why. He ramps up the tension as the book progresses, building it up to a fever pitch in the final scene.
The copy I read had a great forward by Chuck Palahniuk that really helped to put the novel into context with the social changes occurring at the time.
I really recommend this book for anyone with a few hours to spare looking for an intelligent, well developed novel....more
You'll laugh at this but I accidentally downloaded this book thinking it was about the struggles of a trans-gender child! In actual fact this is a booYou'll laugh at this but I accidentally downloaded this book thinking it was about the struggles of a trans-gender child! In actual fact this is a book about bullying, and one bully in particular, Bradley Chalkers.
I think we all knew a Bradley Chalkers when we were at school. You know, that kid with the tall tales that was always topping whatever you'd done. The bully that really wanted to be good and have friends. The kid that was too scared of failure to try.
There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom is a story of hope, it leaves you feeling like no matter how shitty your actions may have been in the past, you still can turn your life around with a little bit of help from your friends. Yeah, this is a kids book, but who hasn't messed up from time to time? Who hasn't wanted a new start? It's just as relevant for adults.
I wanted to like this book, I really did, I even convinced myself on a few occasions that I was actually enjoying it. Truth of the matter is the main I wanted to like this book, I really did, I even convinced myself on a few occasions that I was actually enjoying it. Truth of the matter is the main motivation I had to carry on reading wasn't to find out what would happen, but just to get to the end.
The thing is, on the face of it I should really like this book. I generally enjoy dystopian fiction and the plot seemed vaguely familiar to the Hunger Games, which I loved.
Heartless soul that I am, I felt zero empathy for Richard the main character, to be honest I almost DISLIKED him. And you know you're off on a bad foot when you can't even relate to the person you're meant to be rooting for.
Luckily The Running Man is fast paced and I got into the action from the start, something was always happening to keep me turning the pages and the short and snappy chapters helped too. As an action book this is superb, but for me to enjoy a book there has to be more than this. I love getting to know the characters, their relationships, their ideas, their lives. I like feeling wrapped up in a story and practically being able to taste the world the author has created. I got none of that here. In fact I found it all incredibly predictable.
What a miserly review of my first Stephen King. I was honestly looking forward to reading him and it was quite a disappointment.
So to sum up my review of The Running Man - things happen. I didn't give a shit.
Quite simply, The Snow Child is the most gorgeous piece of fiction I've read in ages. It's everything a fairy tale should be - complete escapism into Quite simply, The Snow Child is the most gorgeous piece of fiction I've read in ages. It's everything a fairy tale should be - complete escapism into a vivid fantasy world that feels so real it's almost tangible. Very rarely does a book allow me to completely shut out the world and escape, but The Snow Child did just that.
If you're stressed and could do with some time out this is the perfect antidote. Ooh, and it could be quite an expensive read for me too as it's seriously made me want to go to Alaska.
Eowyn Ivey is definitely an author to watch and I can't wait to read her next book. Incredibly this is her début novel, what a talented lady!...more
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and this has never been more apt than with the story of Henrietta Lacks. Well researched and well written, SSometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and this has never been more apt than with the story of Henrietta Lacks. Well researched and well written, Skloot did a great job in treating the complex issues raised by the story in a sensitive and intelligent way.
Plus, if you thought your family was nuts I'm guessing they've got nothing on the Lacks's!!...more
I tried to review Of Mice and Men but words fail to fully capture its brilliance. In 100 pages Steinbeck took me on a roller coaster of emotions leaviI tried to review Of Mice and Men but words fail to fully capture its brilliance. In 100 pages Steinbeck took me on a roller coaster of emotions leaving me, ultimately, heartbroken.
If a book could encapsulate what it's like to be a human being then it would be this one. Steinbeck is a genius and I look forward to reading more of his work.
So yes, if you haven't already - READ IT! READ IT! READ IT!...more
I started mourning the loss of Gone with the Wind well before the end. After whizzing through 700+ pages of pure escapist joy the thought of life withI started mourning the loss of Gone with the Wind well before the end. After whizzing through 700+ pages of pure escapist joy the thought of life without the capricious Scarlett, sweet Melly and dashing Rhett was almost too much to bear. So I started taking my time, re-reading each paragraph and savouring each word. Sadly time can't stand still forever and eventually, despite my best efforts I finally finished the last 300 pages... And now 2 days later I have the book hangover to end all book hangovers!
The last 50 pages broke my heart! Tragedy piled onto tragedy until I had tears running down my face. And lets get this straight, I don't cry at books. Well, with the exception of The Fault in Our Stars I don't cry at books, and that's got kids with terminal cancer in it, so if I didn't cry at that I'd be kinda heartless.
I've read the reviews on here with interest and generally people either love Gone with the Wind or hate it. Don't get me wrong this book isn't perfect, but neither are people and neither is life. Yeah Scarlett is flawed, incredibly flawed, but at the bottom of all that she's got a good heart, she's a survivor and she's incredibly readable. Oh, and she's racist too, but considering the time period any other attitude would seem fake, although the idea of African Americans being like children made for pretty uncomfortable reading at times.
I know the history of the deep South isn't 100% accurate, but for a reader from the UK who previously knew nothing about the US civil war I found it fascinating. It's definitely given me the push I need to learn more about US history.
There's so much I could say about GWTW and not enough time or space to capture all my feelings. It's the ultimate tale, one i'm confident i'll come back to time and time again throughout my life. I already loved the movie, but it pales in comparison with the book (as do most film versions for me due to my preference for the written word). Although I finished this 2 days ago it'll take a long time for me to stop reeling. This is one of the most upsetting books I've ever read, yet also one of the best. Guess I'm a masochist when it comes to books.
Don't read this if you want a cosy bedtime yarn, it isn't cute and it isn't pretty. If you're ready for a roller-coaster and don't mind being emotionally challenged, this is the book for you....more
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