Don’t go there..
28 January 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesdays
Top Ten Tuesdays (hosted by the Broke and the Bookish this week is all about where or who you don’t want to be!
‘Top Ten Worlds I’d Never Want To Live In OR Top Ten Characters I’d NEVER Want To Trade Places With’. I’ve done five of each:
Worlds in which I don’t want to live:
- The silos created by Hugh Howey in Wool/Shift/Dust – Claustrophobia, lies and deceit – plus all those bloody stairs and you definitely don’t want to be put on window cleaning duty!
- Ashes by Ilsa J Bick – this is a scary world where you have to keep your wits in order to stay alive. (Unfortunately my wits sometimes go on walk about)
- Sunshine – vampires live, they’re brutal, they definitely don’t eat tofu and you really do have to stay indoors after the dark
- The Forest of Hands and Teeth – zombies!!!! And some of them can run – really fast. Be afraid (especially if YOU don’t run really fast!)
- All the Truth in Me by Julie Berry is set in New England during puritanical times. Definitely don’t want to live there. Apart from the fact that you’re put in the stocks for not attending church meetings, you’re a wanton hussy if you don’t wear your hair covered and it’s damned hard work – there are very few books!!
Characters I don’t want to be:
- Gollum from Lord of The Rings/The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien – we all know how that ends after all and it looks a bit too toasty for my liking plus he eats raw fish and I’m not talking sushi!
- Arthur Kips – the young guy from The Woman in Black by Susan Hill – no way am I spending a night in that house like he did!
- Miriam from Blackbird/Mockingbird/Cormorant by Chuck Wendig – I love her character but I certainly wouldn’t want to be in her shoes – it probably seems like a great gift that she has but I wouldn’t be thankful to have it.
- The Falconer from Scott Lynch’s Gentlemen Bastard series – what a horrible character brrrr!
- Conor – from A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness – a brilliant story but so sad and I definitely wouldn’t trade places with him and what he has to go through
So, who who’s shoes would you rather not be in and what world do you not want to wake up in tomorrow!
All the Truth That’s In Me by Julie Berry
I’ve just finished reading All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry. I may not have read this in one sitting but it was riveting enough that I read it in less than 24 hours. This is such an intensely riveting book that I quite literally want to pick it up again right now and start again from the beginning, take my time to savour it properly without the headlong rush to find out what’s actually happening. If I was at the stage of the year when I was making ‘best of’ lists this book would be on it. In fact I doubt I can do this book justice to be honest as it totally held me spellbound. I loved it. I hope if you read this review you’ll give it a go!
The basic story is set around the disappearance of two young girls from a village in historical New England. (I’m not sure exactly when as it isn’t made clear – Puritan times, put me in mind a bit of the way of life in Witch Child or the Heretic’s Daughter). The main character, Judith, and her friend Lottie mysteriously disappear. Lottie’s unfortunate body is found dead in the stream and Judith returns approximately two years later – with her tongue cut out. There’s little sympathy for her however. Her mother, still grieving over the loss of her husband blames Judith for his demise. Believing Judith to be tainted and ashamed of the way in which she has returns she forbids her to try and speak and the rest of the village eventually come to think of Judith as not only mute but dumb. They have no time for her and it’s almost as if what happened to her reflects on them somehow. They all hate what happened to their little village and yet they have no sympathy for the surviving victim.
The one, the only, remaining light in Judith’s light that makes her friendless and hardworking days bearable is the boy she has loved for as long as she can remember. Lucas. Unfortunately it was Lucas’s father (the Colonel) who is believed to be responsible for the death of one girl and the captivity and mutilation of the other when he ran away from the village, distraught and driven half mad by the betrayal of his wife. That doesn’t really bode very well for a happily ever after for the two. Judith spends her time mooning over Lucas. Remembering better days and, well, basically following him around and spying on him a bit (stalkerish at all!)
Anyway, as though times weren’t harsh enough, war is coming to the small town of Roswell Station and desperate times call for desperate measures. In order to protect the village Judith takes action that sets a whole can of worms on it’s head and brings the story to a really compelling climax.
Sometimes jumping back and forth between timelines the story is almost told as though Judith were writing a memoir of events. Using lots of ‘you’ and ‘your’. Actually, as though she’s writing to Lucas. The writing is simple and yet totally effective. The result is an easily conjured place with characters that spring to life off the page. I really felt for Judith. In fact I really liked her, and Lucas. It’s amazing how the author manages to achieve so much and yet with such a relatively simple style of writing. Skillfully done.
On top of this JB manages to provoke such strong emotions. From the first page I was gripped. There’s a mystery here and certainly one that I couldn’t fathom, although there are hints along the way. Then you almost feel a bit, well actually a lot, of outrage for the way Judith is treated. And she puts up with such a lot, she works really hard, as did most people in these times, and yet she’s constantly judged and found wanting – I wanted to shake her and slap everyone else all at the same time. Friendless and loveless you can’t help feeling sad for her, not to mention outrage at the actions of some of the other characters. And, and this is no small achievement, I actually came incredibly close to losing my control and shedding a tear – the last few pages were blurry! That’s all I’m saying. Now, don’t judge me.
But, let me not paint too unhappy a picture here. This isn’t a depressing book – not at all. It’s compelling and you simply have to find out what really happened to Judith. There are moments of simple pleasure and there are times when you’re practically on pins hoping that nothing bad will happen.
Did I have any criticisms. No. I guess some people might not like this writing style. It’s not used very often and I would struggle to give an example of another book that uses this (although I’m sure that as soon as this is posted my memory bulb will ping on!). I didn’t have any such problems. And, there is the harshness and brutality of the times depicted – but that’s just history!
Anyway, I loved it. I absolutely, definitely without hesitation or shadow of doubt recommend you read it.
Blood Rites by Jim Butcher
26 January 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Blood Rites, dark fantasy, Harry Dresden, Jim Butcher
I love this series! It seems like every book just gets better than the last – which is a pretty awesome accomplishment considering I enjoyed all the previous books in the first place. How can they just keep getting better and better? Well, I suppose it’s because we find out a little bit more about Harry during every adventure. A little more about how he got where he is today and what motivates him, so that whilst every story is individual and self contained, they also follow on and link into one another – that just sounds total nonsense but if you’ve read this series you’ll know what I mean! If you haven’t then – firstly, what are you waiting for? and secondly, get on with it! This is a really entertaining series with some great characters. If you’re not already aware Harry is a private detective working out of Chicago. So far so normal. However, he’s also a magician and he has fairly regular encounters with a range of unusual creatures ranging from demons to brownies. He’s got a great sense of snarky humour, a soft spot for a damsel in distress and an ability to very quickly find himself in masses of trouble.
Blood Rites gets off to a fiery start with Harry rescuing a box of puppies from the clutches of some evil demon monkeys – demon monkeys who throw pooh! In his escape he’s assisted by Thomas, one of the vampires from the White Court who we’ve met in previous instalments. Thomas seems to show up unexpectedly on a number of occasions and this time he has a request for Harry. It seems that somebody who he knows may have become the subject of an entropy curse and two unlucky people have already died as a result of getting in the way of this curse and Thomas wants Harry to intercede before its too late. This involves going undercover a little bit and in this respect Harry poses as an assistant on a movie set. The person he is assisting (or protecting) is called Arturo, the producer of pornographic movies who has recently broken away from the main studio to go it alone. The plot quickly branches out from there with more than one thread being explored.
As you’ll know by this point we’ve been introduced to the White, Red and Black courts – all vampires, but all different in terms of their behaviour. In this particular story the black court are still determined to make Harry pay for his past misdemeanours (at least in their eyes). The Black Court vampires are particularly nasty! The White Court on the other hand have always felt somewhat ‘softer’ somehow – that impression is set to change slightly in this story as we become familiar with some more of Thomas’s family and in particular the feared head of the family. As we do so we get to see a different side of things altogether.
Straight away Harry is thrown in at the deep end. He has the black court jumping out of dark corners at him at every opportunity and on top of this he’s trying to come to grips with the entropy curse and exactly what the motive is behind it. He ropes in Murphy to help make discreet enquiries without drawing attention and then further needs her aid in helping to try and destroy a Black Vampires nest that has been established in the town.
Why did I really love this particular story. Well, although it doesn’t appear to have any out and out wars in this one, more Harry trying to stay alive and solve a case whilst surviving no end of cuts, bumps and bruises, I really enjoyed the extra knowledge that comes with this story. Thomas gains family in a most unexpected way. He also finds out a few home truths about his mentor Ebenezer which don’t sit too easily with him. We get an insight into Murphy and what takes place in her personal live – and OMG – her sister!!! On top of this Bob obviously makes an appearance and Kincaid also reappears on the scene – and we get to see a different and darker side of him than previously, particularly when Harry uses his ‘sight’ to see what’s really there.
Harry’s adventures are always fast paced, rough and tumble. There’s always plenty going on. If you like dark urban fantasy with plenty of humour thrown in for light relief plus a mystery to be solved then you’ll love Harry. Clearly Jim Butcher, has found in Harry, a character that is going to keep growing with every story thereby endearing him more to his readers and, as is proving to be the case, ensure his longevity.
I love this character and definitely recommend this series.
Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, readalong week 4
23 January 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Brandon Sanderson, readalong week 4, The Way of Kings
Banner courtesy of Anya at On Starships And Dragonwings!
Better late than never! Things have conspired against me this week. Firstly long working hours, secondly, my kindle running out of battery which meant I couldn’t read on my journey to work and back and thirdly my laptop temporarily ‘died’ last night and I had a couple of hours in limbo! Anyway, without further ado onto the questions which this week are being hosted by the lovely Micheline over at Lunar Rainbows. If you haven’t yet got round to picking this book up – then what you waiting for. Come and join us. Beware of spoilers for the rest of the post.
1. We seem to be getting more and more proof that there is some ”luck” or magic at play when it comes to Kaladin’s safety, survival and his skills – especially during those battle scenes. Even when performing that Kata in the Chasm, there was something incredible about his movements according to the rest of the crew. Initially the blade seemed to be the source of his skills (to me at least) , what do you think might be fueling his powers? Do you think they’re getting stronger?
I think maybe he is in some way a descendent of the Knights Radiant. I also think he has some sort of ability to use magic although I don’t think he’s aware of this, and that’s what accounts for his ‘luck’ during battle. It’s almost as though he has, or creates, an invisible shield.
2. We were introduced to Navani, King Gavilar’s widow and the current King Elhokar’s mother. What was your initial impression of her? There seems to be some complicated history between her and Dalinar, do you think she might end up being an ally or an eventual hindrance?
Not sure really what to make of her just yet. Clearly Dalinar has feelings for her and it seems like she has toyed with him in the past – or was she toying? It seems to me that she chose Gavilar because he was the first and obviously would become King. So, maybe, she really preferred Dalinar but was too ambitious to turn down the opportunity to marry the future king. And now of course, Gavilar is no longer around…
3. What did you make of Sadeas’ maneuver against Dalinar to gain the King’s favor by being named the High Prince of Information? How do you reconcile his actions with the advice Dalinar received ”to trust” Sadeas?
I still really don’t trust him. I think he’s going to try and undermine Dalinar and this new position gives him the perfect opportunity. I can’t help wondering if, when Dalinar was told he could trust Sadeas, there was another meaning to the advice – like, Dalinar can trust Sadeas to behave like a rat!
4. Were you surprised when Rock admitted to Kaladin that he was seemingly born being able to see the Spren and therefore could see Syl following Kaladin around? That led to a pivotal point for Kaladin, gaining Rock’s favor and then Teft’s. What were your thoughts on that whole scene? Can you speculate as to why some people are able to see the spren when others can not?
Maybe the Spren decide who can and cannot see them? I’m not sure about the Rock, I like his character and like seeing the friendship he’s developing with Kaladin and Teft. Perhaps he was born with this gift just like some people can use magic, or some people can foresee things? I loved when she was getting naffed off with him being too respectful with her – I like her sense of fun.
5. We got to see Adolin confront his father Dalinar because of his visions and lay all his cards on the table. Clearly Adolin thinks his father is losing it and his words seemed to shake Dalina’s own convictions as well. Do you think this will have a lasting effect on Dalinar’s belief in his visions? Not to mention his acting on them? Moreover, do you think Adolin will ever be convinced that there is more to Dalinar’s visions any time soon?
I feel a bit sorry for Dalinar because he seems to be going through a bit of a doubtful period, like, he’s unsure now whether the visions are real and he’s actually thinking there’s something wrong with him. I’m not really sure what’s going on with Dalinar – he seems to be pushing Adolin into his shoes somehow – as though he thinks he’s not going to be around.
6. As if in further indication of Dalinar and Kaladin’s collision course towards one another, Dalinar has agreed to train a bridge crew – without putting them directly into assault or harm’s way (of course, love these two!!) do you think their joined efforts might be enough to change the way the the other High Princes go about things during battle? Especially Sadeas?
Well, even though the High Princes seem to have a total disregard for the slaves you can’t help thinking that they might start to see the sense in both what Kaladin is doing and also Dalinar. If Kaladin continues to train and train his men too it makes sense because they’ll be fitter and will reach their destination quicker therefore lessening the chances of being shot at by already waiting Parshendi. No matter how much disregard the High Princes have for the slaves they must see the sense eventually!
I loved this week’s reading. Kaladin is really coming into his own. The scene where the bridge men had to go on retrieval mission in the chasms was really intriguing. What about the Parshendi growing their own armour – quite literally growing it! Sanderson is such an amazing author.
Other Bloggers taking part:
Playing away from home….
21 January 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Harry Harrison, Little Red Reviewer, The Stainless Steel Rat, Vintage Sci Fi
Yep, today, I’m guest posting over at the wonderful Little Red Reviewer‘s blog. This is all part of the Vintage Sci Fi event that Andrea is hosting for the month and in this post I get to review The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison – I really liked it! I hope you’ll stop on by LRR to find out why…
TTFN 😀
Books and travelling with Lynn 