Hanananah

August 5, 2012

Power

August 5, 2012

I was there when Darren Shan first said he would be doing The Saga of Larten Crepsley lol. He was doing a small signing/reading/Q&A at a local children's theatre near to me, so me and my best friend of the time (who lent me my first Darren Shan book) decided to go. Well at the start he told us that at the end of it he would read a chapter from his new 4 part series. As the Q&A come around lots of people were asking questions about possible films and what had happened to some characters. Well as I've always loved him and he was my favourite from the off I asked if he had ever thought about doing a stand alone book about Larten Crepsley in his younger years, before the circus and maybe before and how he became a vampire. He said that it was a possibility only to later go on and read a chapter from Birth of A Killer. After when it came to the book signing he couldn't stop laughing at me because my question left the perfect set up for his reading. Silly man, lovely but silly haha.

Haha, that's amazing, I remember he was doing a book signing at my local Waterstones and at the time it was only my little brother who liked his books (I hadn't actually read them at this point) so I said I'd take him to see him but it was on the condition that he had to behave himself all week or I wouldn't take him and unfortunately he didn't behave himself or whatever reason we didn't go (I can't actually remember why we didn't go, it was a few years back now). Kinda gutted I didn't go now, having read his books

August 5, 2012

No I've never been into romance novels either. I think I read a few 'Goosebumps' novels, didn't they get turned into a tv programme too, or is that my imagination? This thread also makes me think of 'Sweet Valley High' books/tv programmes, but that's for another thread!

Yes! The Goosebumps show was awesome when I was a kid, it was one of those when everyone used to come to school the next day and talk about it! I haven't thought about Sweet Valley High in yeeeeears!!! But yes, this is for another thread.

I'm trying to remember some of the names of other Point Horror books, I read so many I should be able to remember a few but all I can remember at the moment is how The Babysitter ones were really good and put me off babysitting

August 5, 2012

Oh wow! I used to love these books when I was younger, there was loads of them in the school library, I used to loan them out and sit in my room at night to read them. They were great, dunno if I'd feel the same about them now but this thread had definitely made me want to read a couple again! I remember the babysitter ones were really good and the Point Horror Unleased were amazing

I did try and read a couple of the 'Point Romance' novels, but they were never as good.

I tried these as well, they weren't nearly as good but then I'm not a big romance novel person really

This thread had also made me think of Goosebumps They were good fun too!

August 5, 2012

I started 'The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo' yesterday, but to be honest, I really am struggling to get in to it! and it is a beast of a book (on 465 pages) but the type face is TINY!!!

Lou x

Like everyone else has siad, it does get much better! For me it didn't take too long to get into it but I know a few people who read 100 or so pages before they got into. By the end I literally couldn't put it down and read the last quater or so in one sitting as I was so immersed in it. Carry on and break through that barrier

As for myself I'm on book three of The Saga of Larten Crepsley, I've started a new, very time consuming job recently so I've had hardly any time to read but I'm going to try my best on the weekends and the nights I'm not too worn out

August 1, 2012

Haha he's just amazing tbh. But I'm a little biased because for me, if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't the fanatic about books today .

I haven't actually read The Saga of Larten Crepsley yet, which is terrible for me as he was always my favourite character. I'm sure I've read the first one but for the life of my cant remember haha. I've read The Demonata series ( if you haven't read them run out and get them), Koyasan (a one of short book for world book day in 2006) & Procession of the Dead (the first in the first series he did for adults)

Its also been a long time since I reread The Saga of Darren Shan, so its hard for me to give a proper review. All I'm saying is, it will always hold a very big part of my heart and I think it was perfect haha.

Like I said in my introduction when a few months before I found I was pregnant till my daughter was about 2 years old I didn't really have time to read. So I lost touch with all the books I should have read (hence why I haven't read the rest of the books by my favourite author hahah). I'm going to finish when I'm reading ad start though, because it makes me sad to think there are books by him I have yet to read.

I know what you mean, for me it was the Harry Potter series that will always have a space in my heart, even though I'm older I have realised a fair few flaws and don't rate Rowling writing as highly as I used to.

I haven't read the Demonata yet. My boyfriend owns, I think all of Darren Shan's books so I just steal them from him but I think I might leave it a bit til I read those as I like to have a variety of books to read but they're definitly on my list The Saga of Larten Crepsley, is kinda just a breif overview of his life rather than an full on story like The Saga of Darren Shan it just kinda highlights main events but it's still lovely as it shows the origins of other characters as well as Larten, it does make me kinda sad reading about Larten's life considering the events that occur in The Saga of Darren Shan but it's lovely to kinda reminisce a bit as I grew so fond of most of the characters in the series.

July 31, 2012

Stream

July 30, 2012

Finished Mogworld by Yahtzee Crowshaw, working my way through The Saga of Larten Crepsley by Darren Shan

July 30, 2012

I am so looking forward to these films I'm okay with two films but three? Hopefully Jackson will do it right though, I loved Lord of the Rings so much! I will have to read the book beforehand though, it's been years since I've read it

July 30, 2012

Hello and welcome

I recently finished reading The Saga of Darren Shan. I absolutely loved it! I felt so attached to all the characters and loved every page of it! I even reviewed them on my blog (link below) and on my reading log page on this site. I'm currently reading The Saga of Larten Crepsley which (as you can probably guess) is a prequal to The Saga of Darren Shan. I look forward to hearing more of your views on Darren Shan's series (and any other books you've read).

July 30, 2012

I really enjoyed The Chocolate Lovers Club, so much so that ive just brought the sequel, The Chocolate Lovers Diet. I'm not really into chick lit anymore either, but this book was very good Hope you get round to it one day

Well, Dracula! I am enjoying this book so much. Its the first time a book has kind of scared me, but in a good way, not in a want to put the book down way! I love the different characters perspective and the fact that its written in letters and diary entries. I'm about halfway through now and i cant wait to pick it up again! What did you think to it?

I'm glad you're enjoying it like you it was the first book that's ever really scared me I pretty much agree with everything you said above. It's one of my favourite classics, it's so well wriiten and put together. I've only read it twice so far and I enjoyed it even more on the second read through I plan to read it again at some point as I love it so much. You're only half way through? You have so much to look forward to with the second half

July 26, 2012

Definitely The Picture of Dorian Gray

July 26, 2012

Aw that's a shame but I think you're right, they were a one of a kind team, won't be another for a while

July 26, 2012

I do so miss the 'Dominator' days with the Waughs, McGrath, Gilchrist, Hayden, Langer, Lee and co. Some great cricket...especially the Australia V's South Africa during the Oz summer. *sigh of reminiscence*

As an England fan, I'm sad to say I miss those days too. It was back when I first got seriously into cricket, when those Australian greats were playing against us in the Ashes. It was so exciting to watch and so tense. I remember there always being fear and anticipation when we (or anyone) faced Australia as such great players were playing fantastically. I miss that but I'm sure there's plenty of great new talent coming from Australia (I haven't had the time to keep a proper track of things yet).

July 26, 2012

Hmmm, I've never read a self help book as such but I have a little book about ways to stay calm and chilled (someone obviously thought I needed it). I've found it useful at times just for hints and tips but I can imainge well written and sensible self help books can help some people it all depends on the type of person you are I suppose

July 26, 2012

The Chocolate Lovers Club - Carole Matthews

I have often seen this about and it has always interested me. I'm not really into chick lit or anything but this seems like it could be fun. I enjoyed your review and I will hopefully get round to reading the book at some point The fact that you read in a short space of time appeals to me if I ever fancy a quick and easy book (which I often do).

Oooh I've just noticed you're reading Bram Stoker's Dracula! I would love to know what you think of it so far, I read it for my Alevel

July 26, 2012

Yeah, it's really annoying! I heard so many great opinions and views of this book. So I decided to try it as it sounded really exciting. I was rather disappointed when I actually read it though. But I hate starting a book and leaving it because it just doens't feel right :/

This is the problem I'm having, I can't leave the book unfinished and just move on to something else, like you said, it doesn't feel right. It's taken me so long to read Mogworld which isn't an overly long book.

July 26, 2012

Hey guys,

I'm currently reading Mogworld by Yahtzee Crowshaw and I was so excited to read it as I'd heard good things and enjoy Yahtzee's online Zero Punctuation series on video games. So once I got hold of a copy, I couldn't wait to read it. However when I did, I found myself not enjoying when I thought I would and really wanted to. It's upset me a little as I don't think I've experienced a book like that before. I haven't finished it yet though I'm about 70 or so pages away from the end so there's still hope

So I was just wondering if any of you guys have experienced this with a book before?

July 24, 2012

I would definitely reccommend it guys, it's really good it's a bit of a lengthly read but it's so worth it and by the end you just can't put it down

I have The Hunger Games on my TBR list but I don't seem to be reading as much anymore even though I have loads of exciting new books on my TBR list.

July 21, 2012

Just thought I'd bring this post up again as I've just read the book and written up a review for it overall I loved it, it was so well written and I felt so attached to the characters, it was as though I knew them I did find it hard to get into at the beginning though.

Here's my review:

I, as I’m sure many of you have as well, have heard the constant comparisons of Battle Royale to the recent big hit The Hunger Games. This interested me I am very much a person who is interested in ‘originals’, as in I’m very determined to read a book before I watch the film adaption, I just like to see how the two measure up. So when I hear people say that The Hunger Games is almost exactly the same as Battle Royale my interest in both heightened.

Battle Royale is translated from Japanese and focuses on a class of 15 year old Japanese students whose class is randomly selected for ‘The Program’. Japan, in this timeline, is ruled by the Republic of Greater East Asia. A lot of emphasis is put on the tyrant rule over Japan and the mistreatment of the people throughout the book.

The book starts with the class on a bus going on a school trip, with brief introductions to most of the members of the class with various cliques and friendship groups being established as well as individual student’s talents being described. The bus is the gasses making all the students unconscious.

The students reawaken in a classroom which is described as very similar to their own. They wake up to be introduced to ‘The Program’ by the organiser Sakamochi who informs them that their class has been selected to take part in the ‘The Program’ and that they must kill each other until one is left. Two students interrupt Sakamochi’s briefing and are mercilessly killed.

The students are systematically sent out with a day pack, containing a weapon, a map, list of students, a compass and food and water. There are various rules which are in place throughout ‘The Program’, someone must be killed within twenty four hours or the collars which were places around their necks will detonate and kill them all, every six hours Sakamochi will make an announcement informing the remaining students on which students have died. During these announcements Sakamochi will also declare certain areas of the island they’re on as forbidden zones which are not allowed to be entered or the student’s collar will detonate.

That’s pretty much the plot and the majority of the story shows the various killings of the forty two students. We mainly follow our main character, Shuya Nanahara throughout ‘The Program’, engaging with his thoughts and feelings on the situation he and his classmates have found themselves in.

Shuya is a very likeable character; he has been described as very talented at sports and is somewhat of a rebel by listening to rock music and playing the electric guitar. He believes that his classmates will refuse to play the game and stick together; it becomes obvious that he is wrong. Some of the students begin to play the game and kill their classmates. This makes it all the more upsetting when he does kill someone.

A lot of the students also stick together in their various friendship groups, however many of them end up on their own, paranoia and suspicions rising as time goes on. As the book continues, it becomes clear that there are a few students who are dominant in the game, emotionless Kazuo, deceptively beautiful Mitsuko, technology genius Shinji, mysterious Shogo and of course our protagonist Shuya. These characters are followed closely throughout the novel.

There is a heavy emphasis on talent within the characters. Along with the rest of Japanese culture, there is a greater respect for the children who are talented at sport or music. There is also a lot of talk amongst the students on relationships and that just fancying a person is a massive issue and consumes a lot of the student’s thoughts, very much true to a 15 year old’s thoughts. These two aspects bring in some background for the characters and make us feel more attached to them, making the situation they’re in painful and upsetting for the reader.

The style of writing in this novel is very interesting, as it doesn’t follow one character the entire way through. A majority of the chapters do follow Shuya however some other chapters do focus on lesser known characters who may just get killed off in that chapter alone. I think that this makes the reader realise how much danger Shuya and the others are in as sometimes the killings of these other characters take place very close to Shuya’s current location. Also, even though the thoughts and feelings of the characters are told, the majority of the story telling is told as though it’s fact which brings in a sense of realism to the story.

The book helpfully comes with a map and list of students and their respective numbers. I often used this to reference which zones were forbidden when they were announced or to see where the characters said they were heading, just as the characters themselves were doing. Also at the end of each chapter, in bold, it states how many students are remaining. This makes it easier for the reader to see how many people have died and in what sort of time frame.

Overall, this book was fantastic. It has been described as a cult classic and I must agree, it may not be to everyone’s taste, but then what is? I’d say definitely give it a go and see what you think, it may be a bit tricky to get into at first due to the style of writing and minor translation issues but once you’re a few chapters or so in, it really is an addictive story. As for it's similarities with The Hunger Games I'm not too sure if it's the same as everyone keeps saying, I'll have to let you know once I've read it (which will be soon, hopefully).

July 21, 2012

I have heard the same things which made me get them and I couldn't really resist when they were all around £3 each!

Also here's my review of Battle Royale (finally!)