Weave Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 I hope so, I am going to re~read 'Clockwork Angel' first (A wee reminder for me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) 5) Roadside Crosses by Jeffrey Deaver Roadside crosses are appearing along the California highways - memorials to deaths that have not yet occured (From back of book) This is another in Jeffrey Deaver's Kathryn Dance series. She is a Special Agent with the CBI specialising in Kinesics (body language). I have always enjoyed Jeffrey Deaver's writing, as he is deft at bringing characters to life, be they central or peripheral. In this story, the worlds of the internet and outsie merge and Kathryn is set to fathom how and why a young estranged teenage gamer has arrived at the forefront of their investigation into attacks on a small collection of blog posters. The lives we can all live in the cyber world and how we interact come under scrutiny in this taut and flowing tale. Mr Deaver never disappoints with his gripping and thrilling reads. Edited February 7, 2012 by Chrissy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelley.s Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I loved Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince, Clockwork Prince isnt as action packed but it has other elements that totally make up for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 I loved Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince, Clockwork Prince isnt as action packed but it has other elements that totally make up for it! This sums up my feelings on the book completely! There wasn't so much action, but I felt it had greater depth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted March 14, 2012 Author Share Posted March 14, 2012 6) Stealing Phoenix by Joss Stirling Chesilbeach has written the best review of this book, so I will initially quote her, As often happens after the first book of a series, which has lots of scene setting and a new world to introduce the reader to, the second book hits the ground running, and the author can get straight into the story. This story is packed with action, and I loved how she manages to intersperse the action with moments of quiet and calm. The heroine, Phoenix, is a headstrong and single-minded teenager, but after being orphaned at an early age, has had to grow up quickly and without a moral compass of a parent or parental figure to guide her Claire and I also agreed on a late aspect of the story. I felt that the rushed wedding as a form of capitulation rather than romantic. There was no need for it to be so rushed, despite easing the UK to USA transition. It felt as though the character Sky from the ealier book was given more time to come to terms with the might of the special situation. 7) Splinter by Sebastian Fitzek Mr Fitzek is a twisty turny writer of the excellent thrillers, and although I was wary of the impact 'Splinter' would have on me after my thorough enjoyment 'Therapy', I needn't have worried. You have to strap yourself in and just relax into this hectic and dizzying ride because no matter how clever a reader you consider yourself to be, you will not be able to predict every one of the twists that occur in the book. Love and marriage, brothers, sensitivity, conspiracies, violence and the art of forgetting are mangled together. It takes the length of the book to unravel this story to it's heady conclusion. 8) Doctor Who ~ The Sontaran Games'by Jacqueline Rayner (Quick Reads) I hereby admit to my guilty pleasure of loving fiction based on Doctor Who. They are easy (and in this case quick) reads that fill a gap between other books, You know the central characters, and can only judge the books on how well they capture the spirit of those charcaters and the story's execution. This one was a rush of action ending with a more intellectual resolution. Quick, recognisable and perfect for the evening I read it when I ached all over, had a headache and was so very tired. Challenging? Absolutely not. Fun? Definitely. 9) 'Hollow Earth' by John Barrowman & Carole Barrowman I just didn't know what to expect with this book. It's celeb (+ sister) concieved and written, so could very well have been dire, but what a great first book of a series it turned out to be! An action packed and beautifully described book. The central premise feels fresh and exciting, and from the early pages to the close this YA book is compelling. I am really looking forward to the next . HURRY UP WITH IT YOU BARROWMANS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 Glad you enjoyed Stealing Phoenix, Chrissy, and it's good to see we agree about the particular plot point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 Hollow Earth is going straight on my wishlist. I love John Barrowman so hopefully this will be a good read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted March 14, 2012 Author Share Posted March 14, 2012 Glad you enjoyed Stealing Phoenix, Chrissy, and it's good to see we agree about the particular plot point! Oh, we so do! Hollow Earth is going straight on my wishlist. I love John Barrowman so hopefully this will be a good read I really enjoyed it Laura, and I did approach it with the thought that it wouldn't be up to much. I am genuinely disppointed that I will have to wait to read the next in the series. Its pretty cheap to get hold of at the moment too, at less that £3.50 for either paperback or Kindle versions. Sales pitch over! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 I'm definitely looking forward to Splinter Chrissy, even more so now I've seen your review!! I've just ordered Hollow Earth, I was on the Waterstones website, realised I had points to spend, and the rest as they say, is history!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 I really enjoyed it Laura, and I did approach it with the thought that it wouldn't be up to much. I am genuinely disppointed that I will have to wait to read the next in the series. Its pretty cheap to get hold of at the moment too, at less that £3.50 for either paperback or Kindle versions. Sales pitch over! Its part of a series? well it goes up in my list even more now then! oh and its a kindle book too? well I think you have pretty much just sold it for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 10) Anything Goes by John Barrowman & Carole Barrowman A while ago I got hold of a copy of this first installment of John Barrowman's memoirs, but it has lain on my TBR pile / shelf / mountain like so many othet of my books, but having read 'Hollow Earth' I had Mr Barrowman on my mind, so when I was trying to decide what to read next, I picked this up to tide me over. It's an easy read that gives the reader a lot of John Barrowman's lifes and times without getting bogged down with minute, sluggish and unnecessary detail. He is a hard working, hard playing team player from a loving and mutually supportive family. This isn't an intense read of hand wringing angst and spewing confessions, but he acknowledges both his successes and his less successful times with candour. An enjoyable read for fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 10) Anything Goes by John Barrowman & Carole Barrowman A while ago I got hold of a copy of this first installment of John Barrowman's memoirs, but it has lain on my TBR pile / shelf / mountain like so many othet of my books, but having read 'Hollow Earth' I had Mr Barrowman on my mind, so when I was trying to decide what to read next, I picked this up to tide me over. It's an easy read that gives the reader a lot of John Barrowman's lifes and times without getting bogged down with minute, sluggish and unnecessary detail. He is a hard working, hard playing team player from a loving and mutually supportive family. This isn't an intense read of hand wringing angst and spewing confessions, but he acknowledges both his successes and his less successful times with candour. An enjoyable read for fans. I loved this book, I am a big John Barrowman fan and for me it was a very enjoyable read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted March 22, 2012 Author Share Posted March 22, 2012 11) I Am What I Am by John Barrowman Having read the first part, I just had to carry on my Barrowman journey. Again, a light easy read that charts the continuing saga of Mr Charisma. As with the first book, it's interesting and fun and holds the readers ineterest with the stories of family antics, tv appearances, singing, concerts and competitions. Put it this way, I think the world needs characters like John Barrowman. He is sure and loud and inclusive. 12) Ember by Bettie Sharpe Everyone loves Prince Charming. They have to—he’s cursed. Every man must respect him. Every woman must desire him. One look, and all is lost.Ember would rather carve out a piece of her soul than be enslaved by passions not her own. She turns to the dark arts to save her heart and becomes the one woman in the kingdom able to resist the Prince’s Charm. Poor girl. If Ember had spent less time studying magic and more time studying human nature, she might have guessed that a man who gets everything and everyone he wants will come to want the one woman he cannot have. Warning: This story contains sex, violence, and naughty words. It’s based on a fairytale, but it isn’t for kids (From Amazon) The warning says it all really. I started reading the book and it got, how shall I say? Fruity. This would not be a problem for me except that I had downloaded this to my Mum's Kindle too. OK, I thought Mum can cope with fruity......but then the naughty words that described the fruitiness crept in and all I could think was "Oh Dear!". It's a re telling of the Cinderella story. A quick, witty and 'fruity' read that will make you chuckle and blush in equal parts. The little twists away from the original story were clever and amusing, but kept true to spirit of the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursenblack Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 The warning says it all really. I started reading the book and it got, how shall I say? Fruity. This would not be a problem for me except that I had downloaded this to my Mum's Kindle too. OK, I thought Mum can cope with fruity......but then the naughty words that described the fruitiness crept in and all I could think was "Oh Dear!". Oh, my! That cracks me up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 13) The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing A dark, deeply felt yet very short read. From the back cover, Harriet and David Lovatt's life is a glorious hymn to domestic bliss and old-fashioned family values. But when their fifth child is born, a sickly and implacable shadow is cast over this tender idyll. In these few pages Doris Lessing draws a vivid and emotionally laden family drama that explores nature, nurture, parental fears and expectations, the power of (frequent) parental apathy and the stronger power of (occasional) parental action. A book worth reading, and once you gauge the rhythm of the writing a captivating read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Oh, dear. One look here and I see how many books there are that I would really REALLY like to read. But then- whatever would I do if I ran out of books to read? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 *Starts packing an emergency book parcel to send to Finland* My wobbly reading mojo has made my list a little short, but I'm enjoying the journey all the same! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share Posted April 17, 2012 14) Ben In The World by Doris Lessing This book is the sequel to Doris Lessing's 'The Fifth Child', a story of a child born into a family that sees it as a destructive changeling of sorts. 'Ben, In The World' starts from when Ben is 18 years old, and follows the trials he undergoes attempting to exist in an often cruel and uncompromising world. He encounters kindness along the way, most often from other socially dispossesed people; an elderly lonely woman, a prostitute and a former prostitute from destitute beginnings In each case they take the time to get to know Ben, and attempt to guide him through life. The story takes Ben first to France, ad then onto South America. His loneliness and need to find out where he truly belongs is palpable within the pages and touches on the every human's desire to know our origins and find out our place in the world. It is another short read, but equally as affecting as it's prequel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 (edited) Well, it has been a while since I posted in here. I found for a very long stretch that I could only cope with reading fiction written from the tv series Torchwood. The characters and settings were familiar and it didn't strain me in any way. I was then able in the past week read a couple of 'proper' books; Rescue by Anita Shreve a book ring book generously provided by Inver, and 'The Chalk Girl', a book by one of my most favourite of writers, Carol O'Connell. The list looks something like this; 16) Torchwood - Another Life by Peter Anghelides 17) Torchwood - Border Princes by Dan Abnett 18) Torchwood - Slow Decay by Andy Lane 19) Torchwood - Something in the Water by Trevor Baxendale 20) Torchwood - Trace Memory by David Llewellyn 21) Torchwood - The Twilight Streets by Gary Russell 22) Torchwood - Pack Animals by Peter Anghelides 23) Torchwood - Sky Point by Phil Ford 25) Torchwood - Almost Perfect by James Goss 26) Torchwood - The House that Jack Built by Guy Adams 27) Torchwood - Consequences by Joseph Lidster, James Moran, Andrew Cartmel, David Llewellyn and Sarah Pinborough 28) Torchwood - First Born by James Goss 29) Rescue by Anita Shreve (Book Ring Book) A creeping and oddly gripping read, where nothing really happens, but as a reader you are compelled to read on. The cast of characters is tiny, but so well described, and you eaily catch the movement and motivation from them all as your sympathies and loyalties shuffle about through the pages. For solid and rounded characters and an interesting study in choices we make and their consequences I would recommend this. 30) The Chalk Girl by Carol O’Connell I am constantly startled by Carol O'Connell's uncanny ability to lay here characters bare. She has a special talent in showing the quirky underbelly of all her characters, be they central protagonists or periheral walk ons. When she writes about chidren however, she truly comes into her own. In every one of her books that I have read, the children have made such an impact on me. Their beauty and depth and individuality are captured so painfully and honestly. The Chalk Girl tells the story of a little lost girl, found wandering Central Park with blood upon her shoulders. It additionally tells the story of a little boy, through his increasingly haunting and harrowing diary entries. If you have enjoyed C O'C's writing before, this book will not disappoint. She has writing strengths like no other writer. Edited July 30, 2012 by Chrissy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Chrissy Don't you hate it when you lose your Reading Mojo ? It looks like you are on track ,numbers-wise for the year if you are aiming for 50 ,you're at a good spot . At least you found something to read that kept your attention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Chrissy Don't you hate it when you lose your Reading Mojo ? It looks like you are on track ,numbers-wise for the year if you are aiming for 50 ,you're at a good spot . At least you found something to read that kept your attention I was astounded when I actually made note of how many of the Torchwood books I had got through! But they have been a real mojo saver. I tried reading other books, but none held my poor wrought brain for long, I had no numbers in mind to have read, but maybe I'll get some good reading done in this secnd half of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ooshie Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 It is another short read, but equally as affecting as it's prequel. I agree, Chrissy, I found it very moving too, especially the ending. It's amazing just how much Lessing can pack into a very few pages! 29) Rescue by Anita Shreve (Book Ring Book) A creeping and oddly gripping read, where nothing really happens, but as a reader you are compelled to read on. The cast of characters is tiny, but so well described, and you eaily catch the movement and motivation from them all as your sympathies and loyalties shuffle about through the pages. For solid and rounded characters and an interesting study in choices we make and their consequences I would recommend this. Anita Shreve is one of my favourite writers - I enjoyed Rescue, and always really look forward to her new books coming out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 My Mojo was not doing so well either. It's better now - am reading Nesbo as medicine - I guess I should check the Torchwood books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 16) Torchwood - Another Life by Peter Anghelides 17) Torchwood - Border Princes by Dan Abnett 18) Torchwood - Slow Decay by Andy Lane 19) Torchwood - Something in the Water by Trevor Baxendale 20) Torchwood - Trace Memory by David Llewellyn 21) Torchwood - The Twilight Streets by Gary Russell 22) Torchwood - Pack Animals by Peter Anghelides 23) Torchwood - Sky Point by Phil Ford 25) Torchwood - Almost Perfect by James Goss 26) Torchwood - The House that Jack Built by Guy Adams 27) Torchwood - Consequences by Joseph Lidster, James Moran, Andrew Cartmel, David Llewellyn and Sarah Pinborough 28) Torchwood - First Born by James Goss That's a lot of whole lot of wood. Have you read The Cleft, by Dorris Lessing? I have a copy but haven't got around to it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted August 1, 2012 Author Share Posted August 1, 2012 I agree, Chrissy, I found it very moving too, especially the ending. It's amazing just how much Lessing can pack into a very few pages! Anita Shreve is one of my favourite writers - I enjoyed Rescue, and always really look forward to her new books coming out. I find Lessings writing has such an impact on my psyche. This was the first Anita Shreve I have read, and would be happy to read more by her - oh no, another author I will start devouring! My Mojo was not doing so well either. It's better now - am reading Nesbo as medicine - I guess I should check the Torchwood books. My mojo is still a little fragile, but I have some Doctor Who books on standby, and a few more Torchwood books to keep me steady if the need arises. I loved the Torchwood tv series, so it helps to have the characters in mind when reading the books. That's a lot of whole lot of wood. Have you read The Cleft, by Dorris Lessing? I have a copy but haven't got around to it yet. I have just ordered The Cleft. 'Whole lot of wood'? That's so Captain Jack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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