Goose

I was a lovely book! Really enchanting but also eerie and atmospheric and the same time. I loved the nature element to the story. I'll have to check out Faerie Wars Chronicles!

Punk 57 – Penelope Douglas (romance, adult, contemporary) 3.25/5 I have mixed feelings about this book. The story follows two teenagers who became pen pals when they were young and have never stopped writing to each other. They have never met and have never seen pictures of each other however they have a very strong bond. An accidental meeting changes everything and the story follows them as their relationship develops and changes. There is also a slight mystery as part of the plot which was enjoyable however I worked out the ‘reveal’ pretty early on. I have very different opinions of the two main characters. The female character Ryen is displayed to the reader as a mean, popular girl who has shallow friends and only cares about herself. I really liked Ryen however, as we get to know her, we discover how torn up she is inside and why she has ended up the way she is. I have seen a few reviews that criticise the character however I think she should be given more credit, she isn’t perfect, just like everyone else and I would rather read about a realistic character than some perfect angle who can do no wrong. On the other had the male character Misha I feel we as the reader as supposed to like and connect with however, I really did not like him. He is possessive over Ryen, the way he treats her is questionable at times and he seems very self-righteous. Again, I don’t mind characters that have flaws however he never acknowledges these flaws or tries to become better and his character doesn’t seem to grow in any way. I am not really much of a romance reader, I enjoyed it but it hasn’t made me want to pick up more romances in the future. Opening line: Dear Misha, So, have I ever told you my secret shame? Format: ebook 343 pages Published in 2016

Arc of a Scythe Trilogy (#1 Scythe, #2 Thunderhead & #3 The Toll) – Neal Shusterman (utopian, YA, sci-fi) Books 1 & 3 3.5/5 Book 2 3.75/5 This story is set in a time where humans have almost completely conquered death and therefore are practically immortal. This obviously creates some issues regarding population so they have come up with a solution in the form of Scythes. Scythes are people who have been given the authority to glean (kill) people in order to manage the population. In this future there is also an artificial intelligence called the Thunderhead who looks after humanity and has created a world where everything is perfect. The story follows two teenagers who are chosen to become scythe apprentices, to learn how to glean and live a new life as a Scythe. Shusterman spent a lot of time developing the world and all the systems in place to make this futuristic earth plausible. As well as this, the politics in the book are also well thought out and are a main focus of the story line. One thing however that I feel could have had more time devoted to it was character development as well as the development of the characters relationships with each other. There were some relationships that I felt were not given enough time to blossom and I found it difficult believing in them. The 3rd book, The Toll involved a large cast of characters all leading their own storylines, it did seem to jump around in time a lot without really explaining that it had however I did like that it kept the storyline interesting and engaging. Over all I really enjoyed these books, I think the 2nd book, Thunderhead was my favourite as it focussed on the thunderhead as a character which was really interesting. Opening line: We must, by law, keep a record of the innocents we kill. Format: ebook Book 1 - 435 pages Book 2 - 504 pages Book 3 - 625 pages Published in 2016 - 2019

Howl’s Moving Castle – Diana Wynne Jones (fantasy, middle-grade, whimsical) 4/5 Howl’s Moving Castle is a beautiful tale of a girl called Sophie who a witch casts a spell on, Sophie then runs away where she joins the inhabitants of Howls Castle and partakes in their magical lives. I loved the whimsy and enchantment of this book, it is so fantastical and there were many aspects of the story that, although in themselves not particularly important to the progression of the narrative, did so much to add to the magic and wonder of the story. One of my favourite aspects of the book is the dynamic between Sophie and Howl. Sophie is stubborn and strong minded whereas Howl is overly dramatic and vain, the interactions between these too were a part of the book I found myself most looking forward to. One of my favourite parts is when Howl catches a cold and delivers lines such as “I feel ill (he announced) I’m going to bed, where I may die” and “Help me, someone! I’m dying from neglect up here!”. I just generally loved all the main characters in this book and they are all characters that I don’t think I will forget any time soon. There were times when I felt that it was going a little slow, however overall, I really enjoyed it and would love one day to be able to read this to my own children. Opening line: In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be born the eldest of three. Format: ebook 329 pages Published in 1986

1984 – George Orwell (dystopian, thought-provoking, classic) 3/5 This book took me quite a while to get through, not because its long, but because I think I read it at the wrong time, a time when I felt more like reading fantasy and not sci-fi and therefore kept picking other books up. I finally decided to just focus on it and not let myself be tempted by anything else until I had finished it, and eventually found myself really enjoying it. The story follows the main character Winston who lives in an age where people are completely controlled and brainwashed by the current governing body called ‘The Party’ in ways that the general population are blind to. Orwell wrote this book in 1948 and it is interesting to see how someone from that time imagined the world could change. I found that the first half of the book dragged a little, we mostly follow Winston in his day-to-day life as he begins to have rebellious inclinations. However there came a point where the narrative seemed to switch more to focussing on building our knowledge and understanding of how the questionable government was controlling the country. This part I was intrigued by. I was taken aback by how detailed and well thought out the foundations of this story were, I really felt that Orwell had created a clear and fully constructed world and had left no stone unturned when it came to thinking of all the ways in which ‘The Party’ could control people. As with many dystopian stories 1984 asks the question as to whether it is acceptable to sacrifice people’s freedom in order to provide them with happiness and contentment. I do feel like 1984 stands out from other dystopian novels in the way that it presents people being controlled and is one of the most well-thought-out systems I have read so far. Opening line: It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Format: ebook 328 pages Published in 1949

Thank you! 😊😊

You’re Welcome, Universe – Whitney Gardner (YA, contemporary, friendship) 2.75/5 This is a very sweet book about a girl Julia, who is deaf and who ends up getting expelled from her school and is made to transfer to a mainstream school. Julia is a graffiti artist and all she wants to do is go out and create amazing artwork, but she realises there is a rival in her town and they enter into a ‘turf war’. I thought the way the book presented the topic of Julia being deaf was really well done. Julia lip reads, however naturally she doesn’t always catch every word that someone is saying. Therefore, some words of dialog are missed out which allows the reader to get a better understanding of what it is like for Julia when she is communicating with others. I also really liked that Julia being deaf wasn’t a main focus of the story line. Yes, it came up a lot and was relevant in a lot of situations however it didn’t feel forced and overdone and it didn’t feel like Julia’s deafness defined her, we got to learn a lot about other aspects of her too. There were parts of the storyline that I felt were a little too cliché and obvious and also found that everything just seemed to resolve itself a bit too easily and then just ended. However overall, I did really enjoy it and would recommend it. Opening line: Six stencils in and it's gone. Format: ebook 297 pages Published in 2017

Bunny – Mona Awad (horror, satire, cult) 3.75/5 I don’t really want to say an awful lot of what this book is about as I don’t want to give too much away. I went into this book not knowing anything about it other than that it was a horror of sorts and I am glad I did. I think my not knowing what to expect made me enjoy it a lot more than I think I would of if I had an idea of what was going to happen, if someone was to explain it to me, I think I would have thought it sounded like a load of rubbish! All I’ll say is that the main character Samantha Heather Mackey is an outcast who ends up getting drawn into a strange cult with these perfect, twee rich girls in her class who call each other bunny; and that is when the surrealness begins. The book gave some interesting commentary on female friendships and the complicated and delicate social structures within a group. It demonstrates how even when people are treated badly by someone, if they are desperate to feel loved and accepted then they can often end up going right back to them. I saw someone describe this book as a mix between Mean Girls and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and I think it is the perfect comparison. I would recommend this book if you are looking for something just completely bonkers, it definitely left an impact on me! Opening line: We call them Bunnies because that is what they call each other. Format: ebook 307 pages Published in 2019

Bones of Faerie – Janni Lee Simner (fantasy, magical, adventure) 3.5/5 Bones of Faerie is a sweet little middle grade fantasy which felt quite different to many other fantasies I have read. The story follows Liza, a young girl who lives in a time after a magical war between faeries and humans has changed the world that they live in. She embarks on a journey in which she learns a lot about how the world has changed since the war. I really liked this element of the book, little aspects such as butterflies spontaneously bursting into flame and rocks that glow with magic. Although the magic system in the book isn’t particularly developed in terms of people using it, I do like how the magic seems to reside in the earth and nature around them. A main element of the story is that plants have become dangerous and have developed a taste for flesh and we see how people deal with this danger every day. There is an eerie darkness to the book that really helps create an atmosphere which in turn helps to transport you into the world. I would have appreciated a bit more character development, as well as their relationships with each other as this did feel a little limited, I feel that this would help the reader connect to the characters more. Bones of Faerie is the first of three books and I do plan on completing the series at some point. Opening line: I had a sister once. Format: ebook 247 pages Published in 2009

My Dark Vanessa – Kate Elizabeth Russell (adult, thought-provoking, mental health) 3.75/5 My Dark Vanessa is a story about a fifteen-year-old girl, Vanessa Wye, who enters into a sexual relationship with her forty-two-year-old teacher, Jacob Strane. The narrative switches between Vanessa at fifteen during the relationship as it progresses and also Vanessa when she is an adult after allegations of abuse from other students surrounding the teacher come to light. We follow the perspective of Vanessa and therefore during her teenage narratives we are shown the excitement she feels of being singled out as special by her teacher. However, as the reader we are given indications as to how manipulative Jacob is being and how he is grooming Vanessa into believing that what they have is not wrong, but that they are in fact just different to other people. Russell does this cleverly, it is not spoon fed to us, instead we are required to read into Vanessa’s reactions to what she is experiencing, which although explained away by Vanessa herself, reveals to the reader how disturbing the situation is. This book really is a counter to the argument that a young victim like Vanessa is in some way part responsible for the abuse they received, that they were willing and consenting. The book shows how skilled at manipulation and grooming these abusers are and how they manage to make the victim become fully and completely reliant on them and therefore making it impossible for the victim to leave. The book also gives a raw view of how this kind of abuse never leaves a person, we see Vanessa as she struggles to be a normally functioning adult and as she tries to unpack what she experienced as a child and tries to come to terms with the fact that it was actually abuse. Overall, I would recommend this book, it didn’t feel over dramatized and it really helps to improve your understanding of the complex issue it covers. However, a word of caution as it is a difficult read, there are detailed scenes depicting the abuse Vanessa experiences which can be uncomfortable and therefore it may not be for everyone. Opening line: I get ready for work and the post has been up for eight hours. Format: ebook 373 pages Published in 2020

The Stepford Wives – Ira Levin (mystery, thriller, feminism) 3.5/5 This book it a satirical look on women’s liberation and the stereotypical gender roles within a family unit. The story follows Joanna after her and her family move to Stepford, a seemly pleasant place to live, however it doesn’t take long before Joanna realises there is something unusual going on. All the wives of Stepford seem to have little about them, staying home entertaining themselves with housework and looking after the children. The book then follows Joanna as she discovers the truth. I really like the main character, Joanna; she feels well developed and although the book is short, I still feel like we are able to get a good understanding of the person that Joanna is and her relationships with others. I also like how once we as the reader realise what is going on it makes us reflect back to previous scenes within the book and view them differently, in light of the new information we are given. I did find the book was a little bland, not an awful lot really happens to progress the plot until the end, and even then, there isn’t a clear resolution. Although I do enjoy ambiguous endings, in this book however, all the factors point in one direction and therefore there aren’t really any other interpretations that could easily be made other than the one that we are led to and therefore it feels a little disappointing when there is no reveal. Overall though I did really enjoy the commentary of the book as it is a topic which I am interested in reading and therefore I would recommend it to others with a similar interest. Opening line: The Welcome Wagon Lady, sixty if she was a day but working at youth and vivacity (ginger hair, red lips, a sunshine-yellow dress), twinkled her eyes and teeth at Joanna and said, 'You're really going to like it here!' Format: ebook 144 pages Published in 1972

Anxious People – Fredrik Backman (character study, mental health, mystery) 2.75/5 This is definitely a book that gives you a lump in your throat. The story is of a bank robber who accidently ends up holding a group of people hostage and we gradually discover that this group of people all have their own issues. The majority of the book is set on one day, the day of the hostage drama and so although not really a lot actually happens it doesn’t get boring as it goes into so much detail about the characters and who thy are as people. The characters are so well developed that you really feel like you know and understand them. The main themes of the book are of anxiety and depression and the different ways people deal with them. I really appreciated the real and honest way in which the characters are portrayed, they are inherently flawed but that only makes you like them more. I love the way Backman will give the reader bits of obscure information and only later do the connections and links get revealed, gradually as the story progresses. If you like fast paced action then this book probably won’t be for you, however I would definitely recommend it to those who like touching stories that focus mostly on the characters and their lives. Opening line: A bank robbery. Format: ebook 336 pages Published in 2019

Brave New World – Aldous Huxley (dystopian, thought-provoking, sci-fi) 2.5/5 I enjoyed the premise of this book and the fact that it makes you think about the way that society is, people’s freedom of choice and to develop as an individual is removed and instead who they are is decided for them by the government. The story is set in a time where people are born in laboratory conditions and they are altered to have different, behavioural, physical and intellectual abilities. They are also heavily conditioned from birth to believe certain things and behave in certain ways. Overall, I did find that I was reading more so just to finish the book rather than because I was enjoying reading it however it did make me think a lot. I liked the parts that were describing the ways in which life and civilisation has changed however I found other parts a bit of a drag. Opening line: A squat grey building of only thirty-four storeys. Format: ebook 268 pages Published in 1932

The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams (humorous, adventure, sci-fi) 3.75/5 Growing up we used to watch the film adaptation of this book all the time and have very fond memories of it so I decided to give it a read. It was a very pleasant and humorous read and over all I thoroughly enjoyed it. I like Adams’ writing style; the reader is given lots of little insights and observations regarding events within the story that make it feel as if you are receiving a first-hand account of what happened. I like the descriptions of the different planets and the weird and unusual species and civilisations Adams’ has created. There are only a few characters throughout the book which allowed for richer character development of the few that are in it and therefore I found that I developed much more of a connection with the characters than I sometimes do with other books. There are more books in the series which I would quite like to read at some point, although I think I have figured out that I prefer stand alone books as I am always keen to move onto something different whenever I finish a book. However, I do think I will read the rest eventually. Opening line: The house stood on a slight rise just on the edge of the village. Format: ebook 180 pages Published in 1979

In Watermelon Sugar – Richard Brautigan (thought-provoking, dystopian, creative) 3.5/5 When reading the first chapter I had reservations as to whether I would enjoy this book or not, the writing style is very minimalist and the sentences can often feel more like statements. However, as I progressed through the novel, I was pleasantly surprised and found that I couldn’t put it down. It felt very sweet and delicate and the wonderfully bizarre landscape is presented in a matter-of-fact way that just forces you to accept its unusualness. The setting is that of a post-apocalyptic world where civilisation is centred around a communal-living house called iDEATH and everything is made from watermelon sugar. The sun rises a different colour each day and this determines what colour the watermelons grow. There isn’t an obvious meaning to the story, I would say that each reader may interpret it differently. To me I got a sense of a distancing from emotion and feeling, when confronted with the subject of death most of the characters seemed to have little to no reaction. There is reference to ‘The Forgotten World’ and this to me indicates that the civilisation within the story has become distant from their past and what it may have previously meant to be human. It is a short book, one that can be finished in just a few hours and I would definitely recommend it to those who like a touch of the weird and wonderful. Opening line: In watermelon sugar the deeds were done and done again as my life is done in watermelon sugar. Format: print 144 pages Published in 1968

The Constant Rabbit – Jasper Fforde (humorous, magical realism, creative) 4.5/5 What a wonderfully unique book this is! When describing this book to friends and family I would often get an odd look, on the surface it sounds like a children’s book, but it is definitely not. It is set in the UK in an alternate world where there are 1.2 million human-sized rabbits living as part of society. The book regularly references the ‘Event’ which is when the anthropomorphising of rabbits took place and no-one really knows how it happened. Fforde creates a detailed and believable setting and takes a lot of time explaining how the world has changed and integrated since anthropomorphised rabbits came into existence, things like rabbit focussed political groups, rabbit targeted TV shows and new rabbit cuisine. There were times at which I felt the book was going on a little too long and eventually when it got to outcome that the book is building up to, it is over fairly quickly. However, I did like the time Fforde spent on sub-plots of the book as it helped to flesh out the overall development of the characters and their relationships with one another. There are also little informative paragraphs at the start of each chapter as well as numerous footnotes throughout the book that help in solidifying the readers understanding of the landscape of the story. Although the concept of the book is a fairly comical one, underneath the human-sized rabbit narrative, the book is really about a specific group being treated with hate and prejudice and the systemic discrimination we can observe in our own society. There is also commentary from the main character, Peter, about being a bystander and not doing enough to help create a positive change. I was also amused by how much it reminded me of Brexit in the UK and a lot of the arguments that surfaced during the debates. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes stories that take normal life and give it an interesting twist. Opening line: Somebody once said that the library is actually the dominant life form on the planet. Format: ebook 307 pages Published in 2020

That makes sense as right after I posted this I was then able to see the edit button! Felt a bit stupid haha but I feel better knowing that it wasn't actually there and it wasn't just me being dim!! Thank you 😊😊

Hi there! How do I go about editing my posts? I cant seem to find an edit option on any of them. Thanks!

A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess (dystopian, disturbing, thought-provoking) 3/5 An obvious comment regarding this book is that it is partially written in a fictional language that Burgess created himself. The language is called Nadsat, a type of slang language used by teens, it is derived from both Russian and English. The use of this language does make the book a little difficult to read particularly at first, but once you tune into it, it does become easier. There is little to not translation of words and therefore it is left up to the reader to decipher what the words mean. I think the use of this fictional language adds to the authenticity of the story line. One of the main themes that the book touches on is that of good vs bad and the element of free will. Alex, the main character is part of a violent youth gang who the government tries to force to become reformed by using some questionable psychological treatment. This raises the question of the importance of free will. Is it okay to remove someone’s free will if it means they are no longer able to commit crimes? For the greater good perhaps? And also, whether a kind act can truly be considered as good if the person performing it has no choice in the matter? There is not really any description as to the background and setting of the story, I usually prefer to have lots of description however I liked the way in which the story is told by Alex as it allows us to really get a feeling for who he is and the society he lives in. Burgess presents the topic of free will in a very creative and interesting way and it is definitely a book that makes you sit back and think. The story line is fairly dark and some parts describe violence in detail, I really enjoyed it however I think my next read will need to be slightly more light-hearted! Opening line: 'What's it going to be then, eh?' Format: ebook 240 pages Published in 1962

Ive just looked up We and it looks to be right up my street! I've added it to my reading list, thanks for the recommendation 😊

Thanks for the recommendation Raven, Hayley, Madeleine and Marie! It's clearly a very popular series, Ive added it to my reading list! 😊

The Darkest Minds – Alexandra Bracken (YA, dystopian, magical realism) 3.5/5 Although my genre of choice is dystopian, I do struggle a bit with stories where the characters mostly reside in and navigate a ‘wasteland’, I prefer to read about the ways in which an author has imagined our societies will develop in the future. Darkest Minds is kind of in between these two things, it is set in a world with a fully functioning society however children are outcast due to powers that they begin to develop around the age of ten. The story follows Ruby on a dangerous journey to stay alive and find hope. A portion of the story line has the characters on the road and on the lookout for a safe haven but this narrative is changed up before it becomes repetitive. They discover a camp for kids like them and we learn of the society they have built for themselves to live in. This book is definitely aimed at teens and YA, particularly as one of the main themes of the story is that of ‘children vs adults’, however it doesn’t feel too over the top and childish so it is not off putting for an adult to read! There are four books in this series and although I really enjoyed Darkest Minds while I was reading it, once I had finished, I didn’t feel desperate to read the rest. If I had had the next three books to hand, I may well have continued but I didn’t feel I needed to read another three books to feel satisfied with the story. Opening line: When the white noise went off, we were in the garden, pulling weeds. Format: print 488 pages Published in 2012

The Giver – Lois Lowry (YA, dystopian, thought-provoking) 3.75/5 Over-all I enjoyed this book. I really like dystopian books that play with the concept of living in a ‘perfect and safe society’ but which overall removes the inhabitant’s freedom of choice and seeing the characters eventually develop an understanding of this. I appreciate the amount of time Lowry gives to developing the readers understanding of the setting of the story and she really evokes a sense of peace and prosperity in this world. The characters live in what is called the ‘community’ in which decisions such as their job, who they are partnered with and even who their children are, are made for them. The main character, Jonas is a seemingly ordinary twelve-year-old boy and the story follows him as he learns to truth about the past that has been kept hidden from them. The story is fairly predictable however I don’t think that this spoils it over all. It is definitely aimed at a younger age group but as an adult reading it encourages you to analyse our own societies and ways of life. The giver is the first of a series of four books and although I enjoyed it, it didn’t inspire me enough to continue the series. Not to say that I wont one day read the rest but I had other books queued up that enticed me more. Opening line: It was almost December, and Jonas was beginning to be frightened. Format: print 208 pages Published in 1993

The Handmaids Tale – Margaret Atwood (dystopian, feminist, powerful) 2.5/5 I have mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed the premise and liked the idea of the society that the story is set in, I love the commentary on themes such as gender in-equality, social structures, and organised religion. However, I struggled a bit with how the book was written and found myself not really relating to Offred, the main character much. This is probably because we are given limited information about her and her background, I do believe this is done intentionally however as the person she currently is is not the same as the person she used to be and therefore she is no longer her true self. We share in her feeling of not knowing who she is anymore. I do appreciate how this reflects the characters within the story and their situation however I personally prefer to be given more detail and information so I can build up rich picture in my head. There is also not much dialog between characters which although again I understand as to why (Offred and her fellow handmaids are not really allowed to talk) I do prefer reading lots of dialog. The narrative often switches between tenses quite a lot in order to start to give us some small insight of who Offred used to be and the world that she used to inhabit. I enjoyed these ‘flashbacks’ although I often found they came fairly randomly and sometimes with no obvious connection to what had been happening in the current timeline. I do however think that the ‘randomness’ of them helped to create an understanding of Offred and how she was trying to hold on to her past life, grappling at any memory that surfaced. I think over-all I understand why it is written the way it is and that this style really helps form the over-all feeling of the environment they live in, however I just think the style is not for me. I like to be given lots of information regarding the world that the character lives in in order to form a picture whereas Atwood relies more on the development of a feeling. Like I said, I really really like the premise of the book, it is cleverly and well written book, its just not for me. I am glad I read it but I probably won’t be reading it again. Opening line: We slept in what had once been the gymnasium. Format: print 314 pages Published in 1985

Ready Player One – Ernest Cline (dystopian, sci-fi, adventure) 5/5 I love this book! I have read it twice since Sep 2020 and I wouldn’t say no to reading it again before 2021 is out. For me it is the perfect level of dystopia, a world not so advanced that it is difficult to relate to but different enough that it feels futuristic. In the year 2044 video game technology has advanced so much that most of the world’s population spends the majority of their lives logged into an insanely realistic virtual reality called the OASIS. Within this virtual world a contest begins for complete control over the OASIS, a contest that also has very real-world implications. I fell in love with Cline’s writing style, he dedicates a lot of time to explaining and describing the world that the characters live in which for me is a must in story telling, for example two pages are spent describing and explaining the gadget set up the main character uses to access the OASIS. The attention to detail Cline uses to explain how the OASIS is made to feel so realistic to its users really helps the reader to understand and appreciate the important role the OASIS plays in the lives of the characters. An obvious undertone of the book is that of how the over farming of earth’s resources has led to the decline of a properly functioning society. However, another theme of the story that I really enjoyed was that although the world presented describes one where people have ever decreasing interactions with other actual human beings the story really is about friendship and the importance of forming real human connections. The book is jam packed with 80’s pop culture references and although I am a bit too young to really appreciate them, I still very much enjoyed the references which helped with making the setting of 2044 much more relatable. The book was made into a film in 2018 and although I really enjoyed the movie the book is so SO much better! Opening line: Everyone my age remembers where they were and what they were doing when they first heard about the contest. Format: print 374 pages Published in 2011