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Posts posted by Lucybird
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I read this book back in January but seeing as I had tour obligations for my blog which meant I couldn't put up a review until today I've left posting the review until now.
Against My Will- Benjamin Berkley
Synopsis (from Amazon)
Danielle Landau knows she should feel lucky, but she can't feel anything but dread. Not only did she pass the New York Bar, but she married the man her father says is just right for her and lives in a fashionable new loft in Queens. But the man who seems like the perfect catch is a perfect nightmare at home. Jacob tries to control her career, her daily routine, and even what she eats. He ignores her desires and belittles her every chance he gets. Soon, Danielle doesn't recognize her husband or herself, and she struggles to find a way out. As we follow Danielle on her journey of terror and recovery, we see her story intersect with the diary entries of a young girl from more than fifty years ago, and the full weight of the family's secrets becomes clear. This is a story of survival, self-discovery, justice, and ultimately about love.Review.I had bit of a funny relationship with this book. A lot happened, and I was interested in the things that were happening but everything seemed a bit brief. I think with all the topics there could have quite possibly have been three, or maybe even four different novels written, and I think that would have been better because it would have meant the stories would have to be told in more detail.I did feel that I got to know Danielle quite well, but it was more from knowing her that I could tell how she felt rather than how her actual feelings were described. It meant that early on I felt a bit detached from her, but towards the end I could look back and imagine her feelings a bit better. I can't quite decide if that's a good thing or not. It's a bit more like getting to know a friend than you would get from a deeper description, and in a way in the end that makes you care more. I wanted things to work out for Danielle buy the time I felt I knew her. On the other hand the most emotional areas were at the start of the book, and this is where I felt the most detached from her.The second story however I didn't really get. There was very little to really link the two stories, and the detail was far too sparse. It felt like Berkley added this bit to try and add something deep and meaningful into the story, but he would have been better off adding something more to Danielle's story. If he wanted to write a story of the concentration camps then I feel it should have been done as a separate story.3/5 -
What sort of Kindle did you get?
Just a normal kindle, it's the one I wanted. My boyfriend got me a 3 year warrenty too after what happened with the last one!
The book by Reginald Hill? Tell me what you think of it!
Nope Kate Delaney. It'skind of about The Woodcutter from Little Red Riding Hood, but only in that she is in it too really. I bought it on amazon as part of my quest to look outside my comfort zone and it was listed as a graphic novel but there haven't been any pictures yet :/
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Am still reading The Specimen and got a new kindle for my brthday so started The Woodcutter on that yesterday.
It was my borthday on Saturday and both my sisters go me books. The Lifeboat and Hallucinations (which is a psychology book by Oliver Saks). I started Hallucinations in the bath at the hotel but I don't think I'll continue until I've finished The Specimen.
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Thanks for your good wishes everyone. My driving test got canceled because of the snow, they've given me a new date but with work I might not be able to do it.
Spent the weekend in London for my sister's birthday. Felt like I spent most of the time travelling though because we drove up on Saturday and I came back on the train yesterday
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Good luck with the test Lucy.
I am cream crackered after another five days at work. Coran and I are going out tomorrow for a pre Valentines meal, as I have to work next weekend, and to go shopping in Guildford. Other than, not much planned.
Thanks
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I have started reading The Woman who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde and so far it's shaping up to be a typically good read.
I just finished that one. As enjoyable as ever
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Had my last driving lesson before my test day today, am starting to get nervous! Fair bit to keep me occupied over the weekend though. It's my sister's 30th today so we're going down to London on Saturday and I'm coming back Sunday. Tomorrow have got to sort out my bag, wrap presents, go to the post office and do some handwashing. Just wish I hadn't finished series 3 of The Gilmore Girls today, would be something else to distract myself.
UCP Marjon is my firm choice with Plymouth Uni as my insurance.
Good luck. I think I looked at Plymouth when I was thinking about uni. That was before I knew what subject I wanted to do though!
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Have gone back to The Speciman now that The Woman Who Died A Lot is finished. I left it at the boyfriend's over the weekend which is why I had a break.
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Hope you feel better soon Kell
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I remember reading and enjoying both Pigman novels as a teenager. Can't really remember what happened in either of the though. Glad you enjoyed The Pigman
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Applied for student finance last night for uni next year and now I am paranoid I have messed it up but I know I haven't xD
Scary! What uni are you looking at?
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Apparently there's lots of social networking, you can imagine the agony Bridget might get into over that!
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Finished The Woman Who Died A Lot today, review is on my thread and my blog. Really enjoyed it but it was a bit more predictable than the other Thursday Next books.
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The Woman Who Died A Lot- Jasper Fforde
The Woman Who Died a Lot was read as part of the Wishlist Challenge.
This is the seventh book in the Thursday Next series. You can read my reviews of the previous 5 Thursday Next books on my blog.
Synopsis (from Amazon)
The BookWorld's leading enforcement officer Thursday Next is four months into an enforced semi-retirement following an assassination attempt. She returns home to Swindon for what you'd expect to be a time of recuperation. If only life were that simple.
Thursday is faced with an array of family problems - son Friday's lack of focus since his career in the Chronoguard was relegated to a might-have-been, daughter Tuesday's difficulty perfecting the Anti-Smote shield needed to thwart an angry Deity's promise to wipe Swindon off the face of the earth, and Jenny, who doesn't exist.
And that's not all. With Goliath attempting to replace Thursday at every opportunity with synthetic Thursdays, the prediction that Friday's Destiny-Aware colleagues will die in mysterious circumstances, and a looming meteorite that could destroy all human life on earth, Thursday's retirement is going to be anything but easy.
Review
As with the previous book The Woman Who Died a Lot read much more like a series book than the previous books did. That is that it is harder to understand if you didn't read the previous books.
I found that this book was a little more predictable than the others. I quite often guessed what was going to happen before it did, which hasn't generally been true of the Thursday Next books. However enough was confusing and there were enough twists that I didn't guess everything, so it was still exciting and intriguing enough for me to want to keep reading it.
I did kind of miss the bookworld element which wasn't in this book, and the literary references were a bit less frequent.
Eagerly awaiting the next one now.
4/5 -
Crass, yes, but very good! Although I have started to get a little tired of it. Are you watching the first season?
Which season are you watching? I recommend buying them all and having them all ready to go because it's very hard to stop at the end of each season!
I'm watching a new show called The Mindy Project. Off to a good start.
I was on 2, now I bought and am watching 3. They're on sale at HMV.
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More Gilmore Girls, am on series 3 now
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No suprisingly. I have come across some like that though. This one came from the library- I was trying to pick something I wouldn't usually read.Lucy
Was the one you disliked so much one of the Kindle Freebies ? I've run across some of them myself. For the most part,they are pretty good,but once in awhile you run across a really bad one. either the writing is lousy or they don't know how to spell,shich drives me bonkers .
The Hotel one sounds very good. I may have to give it a go sometime . I'm not much into romance,but it sounds as if it at least has a good story line to it ,not just the romance part .
Great reviews ~
It is. I think the historical aspect is enough to not be overwhelmed by the romance.
Hi again. And thanks. Nothing really has kept me away, mainly just being busy with other things. I've missed it though.We've already said our hellos on this forum again this year, but I just have to say hello again, and welcome back! You are one of the people I've missed the most, it's been odd not having your reading log about on here I don't know what's kept you away in the recent past, but I hope it's not to do with the forum and that you've come on here with vengeance
It's a stand alone novel. Looking forward to that one.I remember you being one of the few (if the only!) on here who's read Andrey Kurkov! Is this a stand alone novel, or is it a new title in the penguin series? I bought Death and the Penguin for poppyshake as a Christmas present, and she liked it 4/5 worth
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Have the week off for my birthday nice to sleep in and have been watching lots of Gilmore Girls, and reading of course!
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Diary of a Jetsetting Call Girl- Tracy Quan
Synopsis (from amazon)
Married call girl Nancy Chan has been asked to do something outrageous – even by her standards.
Most favoured customer Milt has invited Nancy to his luxurious new villa in idyllic Provence. That's a lot of euros, but …
Can a (married) Manhattan call girl really holiday with a client? Seeing him morning, noon and night, coming up with new entertainments, and maintaining both a light tan and a ‘professional' distance? Not to mention Milt's Viagra habit. In a difficult economic climate a girl can't always meet her quota, and Nancy's worried about losing her edge.
Nancy jumps at the chance to have a break from Manhattan (and from husband Matt) for a few weeks. Desperate for an alibi, she invents a vacation with her mom in southern France. In reality, Nancy is hard at work with some new playmates – Tini (Malaysian, with something extra), Isabel (a St-Tropez madam), and Serge (Isabel's hunky chauffeur) – while Matt grows more inquisitive. As Nancy discovers, the French countryside is ‘ten times trickier than Manhattan’ and nothing in her temporary world is quite what it seems.
When Milt's enigmatic cook Duncan turns up unexpectedly in Nancy's erotic fantasies, she begins questioning everything she knows. Can Nancy keep getting away with this?
Review
Having read the first Nancy Chan novel as a teenager, and the second in 2009 I've had Diary of a Jetsetting Call Girl on my wishlist for quite some time. When I saw it in The Works I considered the Wishlist Challenge and thought, why not?
In comparison with the other Nancy Chan novels it was a bit racier than I had remembered. Obviously if it's a book about a Call Girl you expect at least some sex but I'm sure there was less in the other books.
The plot was rather different from the other two as well. A bit less realistic, a few too many coincidences.
I did rather enjoy it however. It was an easy read, and had a bit more kick than your standard chick-lit.
3.5/5
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More Gimore Girls. Will have to buy the next series at this rate
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23 meant to be a tjriller, just stupid, we really should have turned it off. Led to lots of jokes about the number 23 though
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Finished Deep Powder on Friday- thank God that's over! Review is on my thread and my blog.
Read Diary of a Jetsetting Callgirl over the weekend, finished it today.
Thinking I will start The Specimen next.
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Great review Lucy, I'll avoid that one then! Out if curiosity though, how much worse could a book be to warrant a 1/5 from you?!
lol. Well at the end I sort of wanted to know what had happened, although when I found out the answer I didn't want to know anymore! I hate giving low scores!
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Deep Powder- Dirk Robertson
Synopsis (from amazon)
Black snowboarder Finlay turns amateur sleuth when his gardening expertise leads him to believe that the death of fellow snowboarder Animal, is no typical slope accident. Things heat up when he learns that the flashy new snowboard he promised to test is designed to not only cut through snow, but to transport another kind of powder. With a little help from his friends, Finlay gets closer to the truth, and as the tables begin to turn, the line between friend and foe begins to blur.
Review.
Oh my God this book was sooo bad, just simply terrible. Words cannot describe. I probably never would have even finished it is it wasn’t fr the fact that my kindle, and slightly because I didn’t want to give up on a book I was reading for my own challenge.
First off there were just factual errors. Whoever heard of a high-pitched Birmingham accent for one thing? Then there were continuity errors. At one point someone watches someone else die after he has already made sure that he has expired!
There seemed to be random events thrown in which had absolutely nothing to do with the rather absurd (and at times very predictable) plot. The worst being a very clinical, very pointless, very unlikely, and very badly written sex scene.
It was just…urgh.
2/5
Lucybird's Books 2013
in Past Book Logs
Posted · Edited by Lucybird
This one I read last year but haven't put up on my blog until today because it's out later this month. It was a free advance copy from the publishers.
Garden of Stones- Sophie Littleford
Synopsis (from Amazon)