karen.d

I actually really enjoyed 'Gone Girl'.I know some people hated the ending, but I liked it.

It's sad that her books don't seem to improve! It was a fun read, it's a shame that the organization of the plot and characters wasn't better.

'An Unwanted Guest'- Shari Lapena This is the first book I had read by Shari Lapena and I was surprised to find out this was her third book, because it feels like a first novel.I enjoyed the element of trying to work out who the killer was. However, I did have a problem with several elements within this book.Firstly, the dialogue at the beginning, is awful. You could tell that Lapena was trying to introduce each character using dialogue, but what she succeeded in doing, was creating forced, unnatural conversation. This does improve throughout the book though.Secondly for me, there were too many characters. At times, I got confused about who was who and had to keep referring to the beginning, to figure that out. I don't think that the characters were distinctive enough.I also found some of the decisions of the characters to be implausible and, things which seemed obvious to do, took nearly 200 pages for the characters to figure out.The ending for me was a bit weak. It felt like Shari Lapena wasn't exactly sure who the killer was herself. So as the book went on, the plot started to unravel. However, I did enjoy the little twist at the end.Judging by all of the criticisms I have about this novel, you would think that I hated it. However, despite it's many flaws, I quite enjoyed it. I might re-read 'An Unwanted Guest', but I have no intention of reading any more of Shari Lapena's books in the future. My Rating: ***

'The Hole'- Guy Burt I'm basing this review on a re-read of this novel. I read this book originally about 7-8 years ago and thought I would re-read it now, to see if or how my opinions changed.The things that stick out for me with this book, are the description and writing. It's a very well crafted piece of literature, which has realistic and believable characters. This book is not exactly centred on a plot as such, but focuses more on the psychology of the teenagers in the Hole and for that, it does that very well.The pacing of the novel is really good. The drama and suspense within this novel slowly creeps up on you, as you read through this novel.On my second reading, I did guess the majority of the twist which happens at the end, so I don't think it had as much impact on me as it did the first time I read this. However, the ending was satisfactory regardless.If you like a dark read with twists and turns, then I would recommend this novel. My Rating ****

'The Keeper of Lost Things'- Ruth Hogan I thought that this book was generally good. The writing of this was, at times, beautiful and I think that the majority of the characters were likable and well formed. I think that Portia, Bomber's sister was rather cartoony and over exaggerated and I didn't really like her involvement in the story, it was a little bit too silly for me. I think the story line with Bomber was much more interesting and heart wrenching than the modern one. The idea of lost things, kind of fizzled out into something that was conventional, rather than having a more mysterious edge to it. I thought that the way the story lines in the present and the past were tied together, was rather flimsy and too convenient. I liked all of the characters in the present, but this story line was a little cheesy and a bit cliche ( it seems like every single woman that has a break up or a bad marriage gets a dog!)Personally, I think it would have been better to get rid of the modern plot line all together and just have a book about Bomber and a separate book of the different short stories about the lost things, as I enjoyed reading them and felt they were the stronger points of the book.Despite its problems, I enjoyed reading this book. It was a easy and quick read. My Rating ***

'Never Let Me Go'- Kazuo Ishiguro I read 'Never Let Me Go' a few years ago and, after just finishing re-reading this book, I realize that you possibly need to read it more than once, to really appreciate how brilliant this is.'Never Let Me Go' tells the complex relationship between 3 friends Ruth, Tommy and Kathy, the narrator of this story. These characters are so well formed, that I totally believed that these people exist. This is a story about friendship and growing up, which is something that you can relate to. However, the macabre twist to this story, delves deeper into what it is to be human.My only real criticism of this book is that at times, it was a little slow. This melancholy, slower pace suited the story well. Due to the fact that the truth of what was happening to the main characters, was revealed slowly, meant that this had more impact. However, at times I felt like Kathy would be explaining something that had happened, but doing it in such a rambling way, that I wished that she would just get to the point.Despite this little criticism, I think that this book is a beautiful and disturbing look into a future, that could potentially happen.I would definitely recommend it. My Rating ****

'Never Say Spy' Book 1 of the 'Never Say Spy' Series- Diane Henders This book was given to me as a present by a friend and is the first in the 'Never Say Spy' Series.Firstly, what I really liked about this novel, was that the main character was a woman. This is a book set within a crime/spy environment and it's unusual to have a female main character, within this genre. I also really liked how Aydan Kelly was not portrayed as a weak, helpless victim, who was waiting to be rescued. She had guts and could definitely hold her own in a tricky situation.This is a very fast- paced novel, from the very beginning. I liked this because you felt like you were finding out things, as Aydan was. This is so gripping, that I found it difficult to put this book down.I also liked the Sci-Fi element to this novel. Usually I don't like books mixing genres too much, but actually., I wish that it could have been used a bit more, because it makes this different from every other novel within this genre.I enjoyed reading about the male characters within this novel. They are all very distinctive and I liked that they all had their own identities. I loved the dynamics of the two main male characters with Aydan and it kept me wanted to know how this was going to resolve.Due to the fact that Aydan Kelly is such as strong character, she has some very funny one liners and I really cared what happened to her. However, my only criticism of this novel would be that, as well as being a feisty woman, she also has a lustful mind. This is good because it's realistic, but, I did feel that these thoughts crept into her mind at the most inappropriate times, particularly when she had just been in an intense, dangerous situation.This is also violent and gory in places. Although I wouldn't say that these parts were not inappropriate to the story.I'm generally not a fan of spy novels and films, but I really enjoyed this one. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series. My Rating ***1/2

I enjoyed it, but I thought it was a it messy. I don't think I'll be reading anything else by Ruth Hogan though. I also managed to read about 30 pages of 'The Hole' by Guy Burt during the read-a-thon too.

Wow, you read a lot! Yesterday, I read 122 pages of 'The Keeper of Lost Things' by Ruth Hogan and today, I've just finished reading the last 72 pages of this book. I'm not sure what I'm going to read next. I'm off out to lunch in a while, so will decide when I get back.

I'm reading 'The Keeper of Lost Things' by Ruth Hogan as a buddy read with my friend, so I'm hoping to read some of that during the read-a-thon.

leagues

I-m going to try and join in this weekend! Friday and Saturday are a little busy, but hopefully i-ll get some reading done.

Bubbles

Jockey

Thank you! It has been a bit hectic the last few weeks, but my mum is slowly getting better.

I really want to read 'MelMoth' I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Over the weekend, I managed to read 87 pages of 'Every Secret Thing' by Rachel Crowther and also, I decided to do a buddy read with my friend, so I read 83 pages of 'Three Things About Elsie' by Joanna Cannon. So in total, I only read 170 pages but, as my mum broke her shoulder before Easter, I've been busy helping at home. So, I don't think that's too bad. I still enjoyed what I read anyway!

I'm going to join in the read-athon! Not sure what I'm going to read. I have a couple of days to decide.

So far I've read: Friday: 'I Let you Go' by Claire Mackintosh 64 pages Saturday: 'I Let you Go' by Claire Mackintosh 64 pages Sunday: 'I Let You Go' by Claire Mackintosh 88 pages Finished and it is such a good book! Now, I'm about to start reading 'Never Say Spy' by Diane Henders Edit> I read 54 pages of 'Never Say Spy' by Diane Henders yesterday, so in total, I read 270 pages over the weekend. Not the highest page count for a read-a-athon, but I was busy with friends and other stuff. I still really enjoyed the reading though!

Yes! I would like to join in!

I've just finished reading 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest' by Steig Larsson. I thought it was a good end to the trilogy, if a little long winded at times. Now, I'm about to read 'I Let You Go' by Claire Mackintosh, which was given to me as a present from a friend.

Hi! It's been a whole since I did an update on this page. I'm still ploughing through 'The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest' by Steig Larsson and really enjoying it. I've decided to start posting on my book blog again. Today, I've posted a 'My Good Reading Habits' Tag. If anyone wants to read it, go to: https://theavidbookreviewer.blogspot.com/2019/03/my-good-reading-habits-tag.html

Puppet

to the board! Your English is very good!

Shade