Weave

I hope you enjoy it chaliepud and thanks

The Returners by Gemma Malley ~ Started: 27.05.11 ~ Finished: 31.05.11 Synopsis ~ London teenager Will Hodge is miserable. His mother is dead, his father's political leanings have grown radical, and his friends barely talk to him. To top it off, he's having nightmares about things like concentration camps. Then Will notices he's being followed by a group of people who claim to know him from another time in history. It turns out they are Returners, reincarnated people who carry with them the memory of atrocities they have witnessed in the past. Will realizes that he, too, is a Returner. But something about his memories is different, and with dawning horror, Will suspects that he wasn't just a witness to the events, he was instrumental in making them happen. Set in the near future, with the world on the verge of a new wave of ethnic cleansing, Will must choose to confront the cruelty he's known in his past lives, or be doomed to repeat it . . . again. The Story ~ 'The Returners' is the story of William 'Will' Hodge, a teenager who has become more and more isolated since the death of his mother. Will lives with father, who he is unable to connect with since the death of Will's Mum and also his Dad's political interests which began when Will's Mum was alive, Will is very aware of how his Dad feels and also the thoughts of his Dad's friend, Patrick, who has introduced Will's Dad to his own prejudices. As the story progresses Will becomes aware of people following him and the nightmares he has always experienced become steadily worse, nightmares of terrible atrocities from Auschwitz to Rwanda, the nightmares are so intense that Will feels like he has been there but he does not understand why and as the people keep following him and the nightmares become prophetical, Will is running out of time to change his future by facing his past. What I thought of 'The Returners' ~ I enjoyed 'The Returners' to a point, the story was interesting and insightful but at times, I found Will's thoughts just too erratic but the story is well written and gets the message across. Rating ~ 6/10

Thanks hen, I have been really strict with my books, if I am not enjoying them, I try for so long and then give up.

The Declaration (The Declaration Trilogy~Book 1) by Gemma Malley ~ Started: 22.05.11 ~ Finished: 24.05.11 Synopsis ~ Anna Covey is a 'surplus'. She should not have been born. In a society in which ageing is no longer feared, and death is no longer an inevitability, children are an abomination. Like all surpluses, Anna is living in Grange Hall and learning how to make amends for the selfish act her parents committed in having her. She is quietly accepting of her fate until, one day, a new inmate arrives. Anna's life is thrown into chaos. But is she brave enough to believe this mysterious boy? This is a tense and utterly compelling story about a society behind a wall, and the way in which two young people take the chance of breaking free. The Story ~ 'The Declaration' is the first book in The Declaration Trilogy. 'The Declaration' is the story of Anna, a 14 year old girl who lives in Grange Hall, a place for children known as 'Surplus', her crime? Being born. Following the Declaration in 2065 and then the new Declaration 15 years later in 2080 due to the creation of a drug called Longevity by a Doctor Fern, people can now live forever, the first declaration stated that people could only have 1 baby and if they tried for another baby, it would be terminated but this changed with the new Declaration, no one could have a child unless they 'opted out' and stopped taking Longevity completely, which meant they could have a child under the tile of 'One child per Opt Out' or a 'Life for a life' but would eventually died (as nature intended). Surplus children are the children of people who did not opt out, removed their contraception implants, had a baby and raised their child secretly but most children, including Anna, are caught by the Surplus Police or 'Catchers' as they are called. Anna has been in Grange Hall since she was 2 and half years old, she has been brainwashed to believe that her life is a sin, that her parents are criminals and therefore she must pay for her life and their crime, everything the Surplus children is given they work for, they are seen as a drain on society and led to be believe that they must become 'Valuable Assets' and get a position within a household as a housekeeper, etc once they leave Grange Hall. Anna under the watchful eye of House Matron Mrs Pincent, is diligent and hard~working, she believes everything that Mrs Pincent tells her, however, Anna's eyes are opened when a new surplus child called Peter arrives at Grange Hall, and he knows Anna and he knows her parents, and has been sent to find her, to take her home, will they escape Grange Hall and Mrs Pincent? What I thought of 'The Declaration' ~ I was pleasantly surprised by 'The Declaration', the book begins with Anna being docile and downtrodden and ends with her fighting back and becoming her own person, and Gemma Malley's style of writing takes you on the journey with Anna. The plot is effective and intelligent, even though book is marked for YA, its shown in an adult way surrounding the issues that run within the book. The characters are well written, especially Anna, you find yourself becoming increasingly more frustrated by her because of her blind faith in Mrs Pincent and her acceptance of being told she nothing but a drain on society but as the story progresses, you see glimpses of who Anna could be and she definitely is a strong person and a likeable character. Peter, the other character is the opposite of Anna, he is passionate about life, his freedom and all surplus children's freedom, he fights because he has to and his determination shines through and effects Anna. For me, Mrs Pincent is very much a character you will love to hate, her attitude towards Anna and Grange Hall is nothing short of cruel, you find out why but I still found her difficult to like as character. A great start to a thought provoking series. Rating ~ 9/10 ****** The Resistance (The Declaration Trilogy~Book 2) by Gemma Malley ~ Started: 24.05.11 ~ Finished: 27.05.11 Synopsis ~ The year is 2140. Having escaped the horrors of Grange Hall, Peter and Anna are living freely on the Outside, trying hard to lead normal lives, but unable to leave the terror of the Declaration - and their experiences as surpluses - completely behind them. Peter is determined to infiltrate Pharma Corporation, which claims to have a new drug in the works; "Longevity+" will not just stop the ravages of old age, it is rumoured to reverse the ageing process. But what Peter and Anna discover behind the walls of Pharma is so nightmarish it makes the prison of their childhood seem like a sanctuary: for in order to supply Pharma with the building blocks for Longevity+, scientists will need to harvest it from the young. Shocking, controversial, and frighteningly topical, this sequel to Gemma Malley's stellar debut novel. The Story ~ 'The Resistance' is the second book in The Declaration Trilogy. Following on from 'The Declaration' , Peter and Anna's life has changed but they are still facing obstacles in the form of the Pharma Corporation who own the drug Longevity (which gives immortality) ,they are about to release Longevity+, an improved version of Longevity, which everyone wants, with adults living forever and lack of children, how far can get nature go and what is the cost to the surplus children? What I thought of 'The Resistance' ~ 'The Resistance' is just as good as 'The Declaration', if not better, it is more exciting and the tension builds up nicely, which was great to read, there was so many twists and turns, that set you up for the next book. The main character Anna is different in 'The Resistance', she is stronger but she still carries the effects of her time in Grange Hall, she strives to become part of a society where adults are suspicious of children, especially teenagers (which I felt mirrors life at the moment in some aspects) , it comes to a point that Anna can only trust Peter. Peter is still as passionate as ever and plays a bigger part in the Underground, a group who fight against Longevity As with 'The Declaration', there is a new character you will love to hate, in the form of Richard Pincent, who runs Pharma and will do anything to make sure that Longevity+ is available to the world. A great read. Rating ~ 10/10 ****** The Legacy (The Declaration Trilogy ~Book 3) by Gemma Malley ~ Started: 27.05.11 ~ Finished: 27.05.11 Synopsis ~ When a Pincent Pharma lorry is ambushed by the Underground, its contents come as a huge surprise - not drugs, but corpses in a horrible state. It appears Longevity isn't working and the drugs promising eternal youth are failing to live up to their promises. A virus is sweeping the country, killing in its wake, and Longevity is powerless to fight it. When Richard Pincent of Pincent Pharma suggest that the Underground has released the virus, something has to be done to put the story straight and once and for all alert everyone to the truth. The Story ~ 'The Legacy' is the third book in The Declaration Trilogy. Following on from 'The Resistance', Anna and Peter are now in hiding but Peter wants to return to the Underground where the fighting has increased between them and Pincent Pharma, who are under fire following deaths due to a mysterious virus which may be or may not be caused by Longevity+. Richard has so far managed to keep the deaths out of the public eye. Peter, Anna and the rest of the Underground find themselves in more and more danger as Pincent Pharma goes to extreme lengths to ensure that the public never know the truth about Longevity. What I thought of 'The Legacy' ~ 'The Legacy' is an excellent read and everything comes together as you find out about Longevity and its creation. Anna and Peter go from strength to strength through the series but in 'The Legacy' their strength shines through, as they makes sacrifices and face Pincent Pharma. I enjoyed the ending too. A great ending to a great series. Rating ~ 10/10

Pizza

I'm half way through 'The Returners' by Gemma Malley

Welcome to the gang! who are your favourite horror writers?

Just my playlist

I'm the same Kylie, when Dylan used to go outside, (we lived in Belfast at the time)he killed a bird, I couldn't look at him! Too cute kennedy, I hope Levi feels better, I love how social rats are, its amazing I love your Hamlet Abby, he's so cute!

Still want to see them!

Still the same

Joy Ride (also known as 'Roadkill', I didn't see the ending because I lost interest.

I'm the same with my cats peace, I can't resist their cute faces they know how to play me

I love the fact that we have the same books as each other, great bookshelves poppyshake

That's really cool Poppyshake

I have been lucky Andrea plus I am not wasting my time on books that I'm not enjoying, I recommend 'The Forest of Hands and Teeth' its a great read.

Oh they hate the squirt bottle, when Quinn was a kitten we had to fill it up constantly because she was in everything, especially wires, she kept biting through them, eventually by accident, we found that Quinn hates the smell of dove hand cream, so one particularly wire that she would never leave alone, (I know this sounds so weird) but we put the dove hand cream on it, just a wee bit and she didn't go near it. The mat is a great idea, cats learn fast but they will push it for as long as possible just to make sure that you know who is in charge

Thanks Kylie

Wow Frankie!, that is one epic bookshelf

Whoo~hoo! ITV2 is repeating season two of TVD starting next Monday at 8.00 pm, so I can finally catch up!

I will find a way for you to see it Kylie!

Spray bottle hen full of water, works every time They were scrapping before Abby because Quinn (very much like a little sister) keeps hitting Dylan on the head until she gets a reaction, then he chases her, she starts crying because he is chasing her, so I ended up shouting at them (which I don't like doing) and they were both in a huff about it.

I'm not reading fast enough and its bugging me