Weave

Just started 'True Grit' by Charles Portis

Afterlife (Book Four of the 'Evernight' series) by Claudia Gray by Claudia Gray ~ Started: 08.03.11 ~ Finished: 10.03.11 Synopsis ~ When Bianca chooses death over becoming a vampire, she doesn’t realise that another life lies in store… The fourth and final novel in the internationally best-selling EVERNIGHT series – a vampire romance with a shocking twist. Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a wraith but also turns Lucas into a vampire – the very creature he spent his life hunting – they are left reeling. Haunted by his powerful need to kill, Lucas can turn to only one place for help… Evernight Academy. But with the vampire leader of Evernight waging war on the wraiths, Bianca’s former home has become the most dangerous place she could be, despite the new powers her ghostly transformation has given her. A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. Is their love strong enough to survive after life? The Story ~ 'Afterlife' is the fourth and final book of the 'Evernight' series. The story begins from where the previous book ended, with Lucas in danger and Bianca making a life changing decision that will change everything for the couple, which leads to Bianca and Lucas returning to Evernight Academy, when their story began and face the powers that be, and hopefully find some peace. What I thought of 'Afterlife' ~ I was very disappointed by 'Afterlife', the premise of the books had always been solid and despite my reservations with the first book in the series, 'Evernight', the series had potential and the next two books showed that, unfortunately 'Afterlife' felt very rushed towards the end, which was a pity since it was the last book in the series. Rating ~ 4/10 *** Desires of the Dead (Book Two in 'The Body Finder' series) by Kimberly Derting ~ Started: 10.03.11 ~ Finished: 12.03.11 Synopsis ~ Violet and Jay are finally dating, but adjusting to the new relationship is not as easy as Violet anticipated. Especially when she has to split Jay's time and attention with his new best friend, Mike, and Mike's pesky younger sister - who happens to be obsessed with Jay. Meanwhile, when Violet's special abilities lead her to the body of a young boy, her tip to the police puts her on the radar of the FBI. Violet tries to fend off the FBI's questions while maintaining the semblance of a normal life, but somebody's leaving her threatening notes and an echo around Mike's house reinforces that all is not right. Violet is forced to admit that perhaps the only people who can help her figure it out are the very people she's desperate to avoid - the FBI. The Story ~ 'Desires of the Dead' is the second book in The Body Finder series. 'Desires of the Dead' starts three months after the events of the first book. Violet feels that her life has returned to normal until while in Seattle she feels an echo of a person calling to her, a person who has died, Violet feels the echo of the dead, a power she has had all of her life and she feels the echo until the person is found and properly buried. Following the discovery of the body and despite Violet's actions to make sure that no one knows about her involvement in the discovery and her powers, she is approached by the FBI, who are very interested to know how she found the body, something that Violet is not willing to share. Through all of this, Violet is receiving anonymous and sinister notes, and also adjusting to her relationship with best friend and now boyfriend, Jay. What I thought of 'Desires of the Dead' ~ I did not enjoy 'Desires of the Dead' as much as I enjoyed 'The Body Finder', I thought the story was somewhat lacking and while there was enough to keep you interested, there was nothing exciting happening or any twists, I just felt like the story plodded along until the end. Rating ~ 5/10 *** Back Home by Michelle Magorian ~ Started: 12.03.11 ~ Finished: 14.03.11 Synopsis ~ WW2 has just ended and twelve-year-old Rusty comes back home to Britain after being evacuated to the US. The greyness and bleakness of life in England is a shock, but even worse is adapting to the strict discipline of her family, including a brother she's never met, after the warmth and openness of her adopted American family. Rusty is sent to an horrific boarding school, before finally running away as her search for happiness becomes more and more desperate. The Story ~ 'Back Home' is the story of Virginia Dickinson, nicknamed 'Rusty' and her return to Great Britain five years after she was evacuated to Connecticut in America. Rusty as she was affectionately called by her American family because of her red hair is sad to leave America but is looking forward to seeing her parents and finally meeting her four year old brother, Charlie, who was born a year after Rusty left, although Rusty is going to miss her American family and she is homesick, she has high hopes for her return home. Unfortunately as soon as Rusty arrives she discovers that she does not really know her Mother, and her Mother feels the same about Rusty, Charlie does not want to know Rusty and is jealous about her return, Peggy, Rusty's Mother has becomes independent since her husband left for War and she was billeted to Devon to live with The Honourable Mrs Langley (known as Beatie) to give birth to Charlie and eventually started to work for the W.V.S (Women's Voluntary Service) and is now a trained mechanic, a job she loves doing and does well, Rusty's father is still at war in the Pacific. Rusty is an independent, intelligent and cheerful girl who speaks her mind, much to the horror of her family but she is accepted by Beatie, who helps Rusty and Peggy to reconnect,which they start to do when they return home to their old home, where Rusty and Charlie's Grandmother resides, who is shocked by Rusty's ways and her accent and Charlie and his 'childish' ways, she makes sure that Rusty is sent to boarding school, which Rusty hates, she finds herself isolated because she is different from the other children, they will not accept her because she did not experience the war as they did, the teachers are also cold towards Rusty, who finds herself becoming more depressed and lonely, all she wants is to go home but she's not sure where home is anymore. What I thought of 'Back Home' ~ Like 'Goodnight Mr Tom' also by Michelle Magorian which I read earlier this month, I first read 'Back Home' when I was a teenager and like 'Goodnight Mr Tom', I also enjoyed the book the second time as much as I did the first time. 'Back Home' is a story of family and the changes they can and do go through, Rusty returns from a place of safety to a place that has changed drastically because of the war, and her family has changed too, after years of separation, Rusty and her parents barely know each other, things have changed between Rusty's parents too, which becomes apparent when Rusty's Father returns from War, he expects everything to have stayed the same and does not appreciate the change in Peggy or Rusty. I liked all of the characters, Rusty was my favourite, she was such a funny and bright character that I could not help liking and feeling sorry for when so many things were changing for her, Peggy and Beatie were also great characters, both women fiercely independent, with Beatie encouraging Peggy to find her own way, to find happiness. 'Back Home' is an interesting story which shows the life of a returned evacuee. An interesting and uplifting read. Rating ~ 10/10

Please excuse my whoo~hoo :blush:

I'm almost finished 'Desires of the Dead' by Kim Derting.

I'm glad you siblings are okay hen

My husband and I are avid readers, my sister is just starting to read more and my brothers don't read at all My Ma was an avid reader but then stopped , my Da was a reader too

Whoooooooooooooooooooooooo~hoooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I'm glad you are safe Echo, take care

Me too, its so terrible.

Schindler's List

Chop and Change by The Black Keys

I'm halfway through 'Desires of the Dead' by Kim Derting

Hi Poppy, how are you? I love the covers of your books, especially the cover of 'The Fall of the House of Usher' by Edgar Allan Poe

'Yes Man' sounds great Janet, I keep seeing it, next time, I will pick up a copy

I think you are right Pickle, pets rule us I love how you acted all nonchalantly with Squeak Squeak

Great review Page turner, Thursday Next is so cool!

Fantastic book, so inspiring

Oh you have a naughty room! (tsk tsk Jasper!), we put Dylan and Quinn in the hallway when they are naughty (I.e just Quinn!), I think she was living out there at one point

I have The Big Over Easy and The Fourth Bear waiting to be read(one of them is signed but not to me, its just signed) I am determined to read them because after reading 'Shades of Grey', I forgot how much I missed Jasper Fforde very singular sense of humour

Hi Sheeta, The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner There are two book released at the moment and the third book is due for release on the 11th October 2011 Its a large group of teenagers trying to survive trials ran by an unknown author, great story

Cats are funny wee souls, at the moment, mines are fed, contented and having a snooze

My favourite female is Margaret Atwood, she is such a diverse writer, she can write about men and woman brilliantly, easy identifiable characters, etc

I think so hen and I am okay

I like the vintage covers too, my copy of 'Moby Dick' is a vintage

Welcome to the gang Habeebi