Kidsmum Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I have been busy acquiring books too, which is a shame as my resolution at the start of the year was to reduce my TB and I am fairly sure it has increased in size by a good 40 or so books... In the last few weeks I have acquired: Two Brothers - Ben Elton The Help - Kathryn Stockett Reconstructing Amelia - Kimberly McCreight The Worst of Friends: The Betrayal of Joe Mercer - Colin Schindler The Cry - Helen FitzGerald The Corpse Reader - Antonio Garrido Stillness and Speed - Dennis Bergkamp Nicholas and Alexandra: The Tragic, Compelling Story of the Last Tsar and his Family - Robert K Massie Redemption In Indigo - Karen Lord Philomena - Martin Sixsmith Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit - Jeanette Winterson Whoops! Lots of interesting books Alexi I really enjoyed The Help & i'll be interested to hear what you think of the Ben Elton as i've not read anything by him yet but i do have Blast From The Past on my pile. I'm looking forward to reading Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit for the Counties Challenge, i saw the TV adaptation many years ago & really enjoyed it, they got a really good actress to play her part . I'd definitely recommend Why Be Happy.... you might enjoy that more than OANTOF as there aren't any fairytale elements to the story Congrats on hitting your book targets not easy when you've had a house move & an illness to contend with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted December 16, 2013 Author Share Posted December 16, 2013 Thanks guys. 2013 has been a brilliant year for me so I shall let go the fact I only just reached my targets and aim for better next year Kidsmum - I've read a lot of Ben Elton and really enjoyed them. I've not read Blast From the Past though. I got into him when my dad handed me Dead Famous - it must have been around 10 years ago because I was still in my Big Brother phase! I loved that one and have read lots of his other books. I understand Two Brothers is a bit different to those though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 #53 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Synopsis:Charles Dickens’ masterfully crafted Christmas fable tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a man with wealth to match the coldness of his heart. On a mystical Christmas Eve, a visitation with spirits forces Scrooge to make a choice: change, or perish. Thoughts: Wow, I loved this. I know the basic story (once acted in a simplified version) but it really should be left to Dickens to tell this tale. Sure, it's sentimental but it's a beautifully told story about what Christmas should mean to us all - without religion. My mum has this year, for the first time, invited several people who would otherwise be eating in ones or twos and we're all going to pile round the table. After reading this, it made me even happier we're doing it. I love how Dickens can transport me anywhere through the magic of his writing. I read this for the English Counties Challenge, but I'm now keen to read a Dickens that I'm not so familiar with the story - definite aim for 2014. Not sure I have much else to add, it was perfect. 5/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 #54 The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler Synopsis: It's 1996 and very few high school students have ever used the internet. Facebook will not be invented until several years in the future. Emma just got a computer and an America Online CD. She and her best friend Josh power it up and log on - and discover themselves on Facebook in 2011. Everybody wonders what they'll be like fifteen years in the future. Josh and Emma are about to find out.(From Amazon) Thoughts: although this is young adult, which I don't read a lot of, I picked this up because the concept grabbed me. What would my 16 year old self made of my 27-year-old self now? Emma and Josh get a glimpse of their early 30s selves in Facebook form. Some of it made me giggle - they discuss why people put so much pointless information on the Internet! - and I liked the references to current culture they had no idea about - what is a text, Ellen DeGeneres is not gay etc. Emma is really not happy with her future and tries everything she can to change it, repeatedly, while on paper Josh's future looks like the one every high school boy dreams of. Every action they take in 1996 has a reaction in 2011, but as they grow to realise they are judging their future lives by snippets - banal statuses and profile pictures - and relationship statuses! The ending is overly cheesy, but I enjoyed the book and read it very quickly. 3.5/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 #53 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Synopsis:Charles Dickens’ masterfully crafted Christmas fable tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a man with wealth to match the coldness of his heart. On a mystical Christmas Eve, a visitation with spirits forces Scrooge to make a choice: change, or perish. Thoughts: Wow, I loved this. You know how happy your review makes me! I invited a couple of people who I knew would have a difficult Christmas this year. They have declined (they're brother and sister - one wanted to come but the other didn't, so they're staying together on their own, so to speak!) but I didn't like the thought of them being alone and unhappy. It's lovely that your Mum has invited people. The Future of Us sounds interesting, Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 Haha I knew you'd be happy with it! I think I might try Nicholas Nickleby next. Christmas is a funny time of year really. It's the first one without my Gran so that will be painful, so I think a different sort of Christmas will suit us really. My cousin and her boyfriend are coming which is great - we're now close after years of not much contact (her parents work Xmas day). I've started Casino Royale now. I'm working loads ATM so thought I'd have no time to read but forgot more days in work = more commuting time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Alexi Great review on Dickens, he's one of my favorites . I think you'll have a nice Christmas this year adding some new people to the mix . Sorry about your Gran. she will be looking down on you all , so will be there in spirit. Just stop to take a moment ,and you'll feel her presence there . I truly believe in that . Enjoy your dinner and spending more time with your cousin . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Great reviews! I'm glad you loved A Christmas Carol. I read it a few weeks ago and loved it too. The Future of Us is on my wishlist, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it (I also have Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher but I haven't read it yet). I'm sorry to hear about your gran, I hope you will have a nice Christmas even though it will be different. I think Julie is right, very wise words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 (edited) Thanks Julie and Athena Julie - I think you're right. I'm not particularly religious (when I was 7, my other Grandma told me heaven did not exist and when she died she was gone from me forever - I cried!) but I do believe they are somewhere watching us all grow up. I suppose I am grown up now but you know what I mean! Athena - Thirteen Reasons Why is on my wishlist It's huge though (the wishlist, not the book!) and I think my brothers were a bit intimidated when I gave it to them for Christmas present ideas! Edited December 19, 2013 by Alexi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Alexi I'm not religious myself ,but I do understand what you mean . I wish your other Grandma wouldn't have explained it to you in the way she did . Kinda makes you feel like THE END . I really don't think that's the case . I'm so very close to my grandson .We're like best pals . We laugh and goof off with each other and have a wonderful time. He knows he can always talk to me about anything ,and if he has a problem, he comes to me . Since I've had several health scares and realize I may not be here as long as I'd like, I have slowly talked to my grandson about the day I won't be here any longer . I took him to the cemetery when he was young ,and explained that this is where I'll be someday. I told him how peaceful it is there, with everyone resting after their bodies are too tired . That they are all there, listening . I told him that he can find me there once I'm gone . To come sit on my grass and talk to me and that I'll always listen. So he's very comfortable with it and knows that even though someday he won't be able to SEE me any more, he will know I'm there and listening . I've taken him with me once or twice to visit my grandma's grave. It's 2 hours away so I don't go often, but when I'm down there, I sit on her grass and talk to her . She listens, I truly believe that ,so it's comforting to feel that strongly about it . The person is with you. All you have to do is think of them, or talk to them and they are there . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Athena - Thirteen Reasons Why is on my wishlist It's huge though (the wishlist, not the book!) and I think my brothers were a bit intimidated when I gave it to them for Christmas present ideas! x I hope you get some nice presents ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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