Weave

My playlist (various songs)

Nothing much going, I am still looking for a job and helping my sister with the girls.

Good luck with the move and your job Kell

Empire and occasionally Heat magazine (only when I'm in my sister's)

My cats are fine, I'm convinced that Cash is ran by batteries, he never stops.

Great review Athena, I love the cover of the book.

Thanks Althena

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman ~ Started: 01.08.14 ~ Finished: 04.08.14 Title of Book: Anansi Boys Name of Author: Neil Gaiman Edition: Kindle ASIN: B005NAD7ZW Number of Pages: 354 pages Synopsis ~ Fat Charlie Nancy is not actually fat. He was fat once but he is definitely not fat now. No, right now Fat Charlie Nancy is angry, confused and more than a little scared - right now his life is spinning out of control, and it is all his dad's fault. If his rotter of an estranged father hadn't dropped dead at a karaoke night, Charlie would still be blissfully unaware that his dad was Anansi the spider god. He would have no idea that he has a brother called Spider, who is also a god. And there would be no chance that said brother would be trying to take over his life, flat and fiancée, or, to make matters worse, be doing a much better job of it than him. Desperate to reclaim his life, Charlie enlists the help of four more-than-slightly eccentric old ladies and their unique brand of voodoo - and between them they unleash a bitter and twisted force to get rid of Spider. But as darkness descends and badness begins is Fat Charlie Nancy going to get his life back in one piece or is he about to enter a whole netherworld of pain? What I thought of 'Anansi Boys' ~ I first read 'Anansi Boys' a few years ago and I am happy to say I enjoy the book now as much I did the first time I read it. After his death of his father, Fat Charlie returns to Florida for his funeral where he discovers he has a brother, a brother he has never met and all he has to do to meet his brother is to tell a spider that he wants to see his brother unfortunately Fat Charlie does not believe he has a brother until Spider arrives and descends Fat Charlie's life into chaos, steals Fat Charlie's fiancé Rosie, blackmails Fat Charlie's boss which leads to Fat Charlie being arrested, the list goes on. Fat Charlie decides to get rid of his brother, to make him leave because asking Spider to leave does not work and now Fat Charlie is facing a world of gods. Fat Charlie and Spider are fantastic characters, two brothers who look alike but don't look alike (if that makes sense). Fat Charlie (who is in fact not fat, he got the name when he was teenager by his Dad), Spider is everything that Fat Charlie is not, he's confident, he does what he wants and he is a god, just like their dad, the god Anansi, the spider god. As mentioned, I enjoyed this book from start to finish, it was funny, surreal and everything that makes Neil Gaiman's writing great. I know I will re-read this book. Rating: 4/5

I wish I had liked it more.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman ~ Started: 12.07.14 ~ Finished: 01.08.14 Title of Book: American Gods Name of Author: Neil Gaiman Edition: Kindle ISBN-10: B005NACYQU Number of Pages: 612 pages Synopsis ~ After three years in prison, Shadow has done his time. But as the time until his release ticks away, he can feel a storm brewing. Two days before he gets out, his wife Laura dies in a mysterious car crash, in adulterous circumstances. Dazed, Shadow travels home, only to encounter the bizarre Mr Wednesday claiming to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god and the king of America. Together they embark on a very strange journey across the States, along the way solving the murders which have occurred every winter in one small American town. But the storm is about to break... Disturbing, gripping and profoundly strange, Gaiman's epic novel sees him on the road to the heart of America. Includes extra material exclusive to this Headline Review edition What I thought of 'American Gods' ~ This is the first time I have not enjoyed a Neil Gaiman as much as his other books which did surprise me. The story was great, well written, the characters were wonderful and Shadow was my favourite character. It was just too long, the version I read was the 10th anniversary edition which now has the full manuscript and as I said it was too long. I felt that most parts seemed to ramble on and it did not bring anything to the story. It was interesting read and I enjoyed parts of it but I do not think I will read it again. Rating: 3/5

The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth ~ Started: 08.07.14 ~ Finished: 12.07.14 Title of Book: The Wild Girl Name of Author: Kate Forsyth Edition: Kindle ASIN: B00CW0G5A0 Number of Pages: 512 pages Synopsis ~ Dortchen Wild fell in love with Wilhelm Grimm the first time she saw him. Growing up in the small German kingdom of Hessen-Cassel in early Nineteenth century, Dortchen Wild is irresistibly drawn to the boy next door, the young and handsome fairy tale scholar Wilhelm Grimm. It is a time of War, tyranny and terror. Napoleon Bonaparte wants to conquer all of Europe, and Hessen-Cassel is one of the first kingdoms to fall. Forced to live under oppressive French rule, the Grimm brothers decide to save old tales that had once been told by the firesides of houses grand and small all over the land. Dortchen knows many beautiful old stories, such as 'Hansel and Gretel', 'The Frog King' and 'Six Swans'. As she tells them to Wilhelm, their love blossoms. Yet the Grimm family is desperately poor, and Dortchen's father has other plans for his daughter. Marriage is an impossible dream. Dortchen can only hope that happy endings are not just the stuff of fairy tales. What I thought of 'The Wild Girl' ~ I read 'Bitter Greens' also by Kate Forsyth a few months ago and I enjoyed it immensely, the story was well written and I loved all the characters and how I grew to care for them. I enjoyed 'The Wild Girl' just as much, the character of Dortchen is brilliant to read, there is so much to like about her, she's responsible, spirited, caring, stubborn and tells wonderful stories which she shares with Wilhelm Grimm. The story intertwines history that Dortchen and her family witness and suffer and the joys of storytelling. I felt they worked well together because during the times of darkness and unrest the stories that were shared helped the people around them. Dortchen's relationship with her father is complicated and as the story progresses it becomes more complicated, it leaps off the page as you read, I could not help but hate her father, there was rare moments of how caring he could be but they were few and far between. Dortchen and Wilhelm's relationship was lovely to read and so much keeps them apart, I have never wanted characters in a book to have a happy ending as much as I wanted Dortchen and Wilhelm to have theirs. After I finished 'The Wild Girl' I read about Wihelm and Dortchen, they had a good life together which make this story even more special. I am looking forward to reading more books by Kate Forsyth. Rating: 5/5

Great news about your move Frankie, well done and all the very best.

Thanks Frankie 'The Entity' was scary, the psychiatrist was really frustrating because all he seemed to care about was his feelings and Carlotta is dealing with the horrible attacks!

The 100 by Kass Morgan ~ Started: 06.07.14 ~ Finished: 08.07.14 Title of Book: The 100 Name of Author: Kass Morgan Edition: Kindle ASIN: B00BJ5AE24 Number of Pages: 337 pages Synopsis ~ No one has set foot on Earth in centuries - until now. Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents - considered expendable by society - are being sent on a dangerous mission: to re-colonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission. CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves - but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth. Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope. What I thought of 'The 100' ~ I enjoyed 'The 100', the story was good to read and the premise was interesting, I like the idea of the generations from survivors of a nuclear war living on connected spaceships circulating the Earth. 'The 100' of the title are teenage delinquents who are sent to earth to find if it can be repopulated as the spaceships are breaking down and losing oxygen which the council know about, while the rest of the population have no idea what is about to happen to them. All the characters are well written and they have their own stories as to why they were imprisoned, some reasons are justifiable and some reasons are ludicrous, needless to say, they are now all on Earth and it's very much survival of the fittest. The story ends at exciting point and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series 'Day 21' which is due for released in September of this year. I have started watching the television adaptation of 'The 100', it's passes the time but the book is better. Rating: 3/5

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki ~ Started: 22.06.14 ~ Finished: 06.07.14 Title of Book: A Tale for the Time Being Name of Author: Ruth Ozeki Edition: Kindle ASIN: B00AO3K01C Number of Pages: 400 pages Synopsis ~ Within the pages of this book lies the diary of a girl called Nao. Riding the waves of a tsunami, it is making its way across the ocean. It will change the life of the person who finds it. It might just change yours, too. What I thought of 'A Tale for the Time Being' ~ I enjoyed 'A Tale for the Time Being', it was a interesting story and the characters were well written. Nao, one of the main characters was great to read as she shared her life with the person she hopes would find her diary, I enjoyed the fact that despite what was happening in her life she still had hope. I look forward to reading more books by Ruth Ozeki. Rating: 4/5

I finished 'American Gods' by Neil Gaiman in the early hours of this morning and then started 'Anansi Boys' also by Neil Gaiman.

The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff ~ Started: 15.06.14 ~ Finished: 22.06.14 Title of Book: The Monsters of Templeton Name of Author: Lauren Groff Edition: Kindle ASIN: B0094HY3P8 Number of Pages: 480 pages Synopsis ~ Willie Cooper arrives on the doorstep of her ancestral home in Templeton, New York in the wake of a disastrous affair with her much older, married archaeology professor. That same day, the discovery of a prehistoric monster in the lake brings a media frenzy to the quiet, picture-perfect town her ancestors founded. Smarting from a broken heart, Willie then learns that the story her mother had always told her about her father has all been a lie. He wasn't the one-night stand Vi had led her to imagine, but someone else entirely. As Willie puts her archaeological skills to work digging for the truth about her lineage, a chorus of voices from the town's past rise up around her to tell their sides of the story. Dark secrets come to light, past and present blur, old mysteries are finally put to rest, and the surprising truth about more than one monster is revealed. What I thought of 'The Monsters of Templeton' ~ 'The Monsters of Templeton' is the story of Wilhelmina 'Willie' Upton (not Cooper as it says in the synopsis) who returns to her home town of Templeton, where her mother, Vivienne lives. Vivienne and Willie's family history is a big part of Templeton. Willie has returned home because she has found herself in trouble and needs to get away from her troubles. Willie is surprised when her Mother tells her truth about her father, Willie having been told by Vi that she was unsure who her father was is more surprised to find out that her father is a resident of Templeton and she has to find out by herself who he is. Willie begins to explore her family history and as she does she finds out more and more about her ancestors and their secrets. I started reading 'The Monsters of Templeton' at the start of the year and for some unknown reason I just could not get into the story, so I put it to one side. This time, however, when I started reading, I became quickly engrossed by the story and enjoyed it from beginning to end. The characters are very well written, they are realistic and flawed. Willie's history is interesting and I enjoyed finding out more about her family and the discovery of who her father is. There is something mystical about Templeton and I loved that there was a monster in the lake and how he/she appears throughout the book. A wonderful book. Rating: 4/5

I added it to my kindle wishlist

Frankie ~ 'The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry' sounds good, I just added it to my wishlist

Sascha was beautiful x

Great reviews Athena

Thanks Athena

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Great topic Frankie 1. The Black Keys ~ Brothers 2. Dan Auerbach ~ Keep It Hid 3. Metallica ~ Master of Puppets 4. Muse ~ Origins of Symmetry 5. The Kings of Leon ~ Youth and Young Manhood 6. Best of Bowie ~ David Bowie (I know its not a proper album but its has all of my favourite songs on it) 7. Biffy Clyro ~ Only Revolutions 8. Talk Talk ~ Spirit of Eden 9. Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds 10. The Black Keys ~ El Camino

Planets of the Apes by Pierre Boulle ~ Started: 13.06.14 ~ Finished: 14.06.14 Title of Book: Planets of the Apes Name of Author: Pierre Boulle Edition: Kindle ASIN: B004ZLS4I0 Number of Pages: 274 pages Synopsis ~ In a spaceship that can travel at the speed of light, Ulysse, a journalist, sets off from Earth for the nearest solar system. He finds there a planet which resembles his own, but on Soror humans behave like animals, and are hunted by a civilised race of primates. Captured and sent to a research facility, Ulysse must convince the apes of their mutual origins. But such revelations will have always been greeted by prejudice and fear... What I thought of 'Planets of the Apes' ~ I have lost count how many times I have watched the film 'Planet of the Apes', the original 1968 film and I always wanted to read the book and I was pleased to see it was released in the kindle edition. The film is similar to the book in different parts, in the book, the main character is called 'Ulysse' and the rest of the spaceship crew have different names, the rest of the characters have the same names in the book and film. As much as I liked and enjoyed the book, I enjoy the film more, the book has many themes throughout, identity, society and how a individual sees the world which was great to read, the only negative aspect to the book was Ulysse, at times he seem very ignorant despite his constant reminder to himself that he was more intelligent and better than the ape society. The ending is predicable and I am glad I read it because when all is said and done Pierre Boulle creating this world that eventually became a memorable film. Rating: 3/5