Bobblybear's Book List - 2014

[Athena]

Great review! It's nice to hear it's still having an impact on teenagers today .

[Alexi]

I first read Forever as an adult - I remember our school library had it but only for year 9 pupils and by the time I got there I was reading other things. I remember thinking it was a bit dated and unsure it would have had much impact on me as a 13 year old due to the fact I know I was already watching the likes of Pretty Woman on film, but actually, very few books I read then touched on it through teenagers. 

 

But I don't think it much depth particularly to the characters, that book was more about issue than the plot/novel IMO. 

[bobblybear]

Very true, Alexi, that the book was probably more to do with issues rather than storyline. I read somewhere that Judy Blume's daughter encouraged her to write the book because she felt that these were pertinent issues and information was just not available at the time. These days with the internet, the content of Forever is probably nothing new or even shocking.

[bobblybear]

Mr Penumbra's 24 Book Store - Robin Sloan

Oh, this book was such a disappointment to me. I’m a bit behind with reviews, so I unfortunately don’t remember all the details ( ), but I recall being disappointed at the path it was taking towards the end.

 

I had been looking forward to it for quite a while. I mean, it’s set in a book store and there is a hint of intrigue, so it sounded like the ideal book.

 

Clay is an recently unemployed website designer who's feeling a bit lost with what he wants. As a chance to do something different, he gets a job being the nightshift clerk in a 24-hour bookstore. The building itself is full of character, with shelves towering far above, only accessible by one of those ladders that slide along on rails. The books are obscure (Clay is told that he must not open them) and the customers are even stranger. The store's owner - Mr Penumbra - tells Clay that he must keep a very detailed log, descriptively written, about each customer that he serves. Soon, Clay begins to notice a pattern in the books that are being read and returned. With the help of a few fellow techy friends, he uses a software program to map the store and the footpaths of customers to see if something emerges. 

 

Sounds like an absolutely fascinating read, yah?   Well, sadly for me, it didn't live up to what I was expecting. My interest waned about halfway through, and it just went off in a direction that I thought was too far-fetched and silly. It was almost too clever and hip for it's own good, and tried so hard that it just felt a bit forced. Initially I liked Clay, but after a while he began to wear on me, as did his girlfriend and roommate, who were caricatures and just impossible to relate to.

 

This seems to be a book which divides people, so while I didn't like it, there are plenty of people who did. If the plot grabs you...well, it's only £0.85 on Kindle, so might be worth a go.

2/6

[bobblybear]

Horns - Joe Hill

I read this for the Horror Month of October. It’s not a book I would have ordinarily picked up, as I didn’t like The Heart-Shaped Box ( and gave up on it early on), so I didn’t have very high expectations (always a good place to start ).

 

Ignatius is reeling from the murder of his long-time girlfriend, Merrin. He was the primary suspect and as far as most people were concerned, was guilty as sin and got away with it. After a night of heavy drinking to escape from his thoughts, he wakes to find horns growing out of his head. He realises that he can see people’s true thoughts (what they usually keep hidden) and the darkest sides to their personalities, while they never seem to be aware that there is anything different about his appearance. It is through his new powers that he finds out who is responsible for Merrin's death, and then plans out his revenge.

 

The story moves between the present and the past, and tells the story of Ig's earlier years, how he met Merrin, and his relationship with his brother and best friend. The pacing was quite good, with various reveals happening all throughout the story so you don't know the full picture until the end. I thought it was a bit longer than it needed to be, and I was definitely less-enthusiastic about the second half compared to the first half. There were some sections to it that I was confused by, but I think they were written to be open to interpretation and either way didn't change how I felt about the book. I probably would have enjoyed it more if the supernatural element were taken out and it became a straight whodunit and revenge story. I also wouldn't classify it as horror and I don’t recall reading any parts that I consider scary.

 

Based on this, I'd be willing to read other Joe Hill books, but they won't be at the top of the TBR pile.

 

3/6

[Anna Begins]

Wow- I thought you disliked it more than that   Good review!

Edited November 9, 2014 by Anna Begins

[Athena]

Great reviews! It's a shame you didn't like those two books so much. I have Mr Penumbra's 24 Book Store on the wishlist but it seems to be getting very mixed reviews, some people really like it and some don't. It's a shame you didn't like it so much . I'm glad Horns was still a nice read for you though it's a shame it wasn't that enjoyable for you. I'm glad you participated in the Group Read though .

[bobblybear]

Wow- I thought you disliked it more than that   Good review!

 

Thanks. I didn't think I said I disliked it...I just had a quick look at my comments on the Horror thread, and I think I enjoyed it while I was reading it, then sort of lost enthusiasm once I'd finished, but I think on further reflection it was probably a decent read. Talk about changing ones mind a lot.

 

 

Great reviews! It's a shame you didn't like those two books so much. I have Mr Penumbra's 24 Book Store on the wishlist but it seems to be getting very mixed reviews, some people really like it and some don't. It's a shame you didn't like it so much . I'm glad Horns was still a nice read for you though it's a shame it wasn't that enjoyable for you. I'm glad you participated in the Group Read though .

 

 

Thanks. You may enjoy Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore more than I did, though it is definitely a marmite book. I enjoyed sections of it, but I got dragged down by the parts I didn't enjoy.

[bobblybear]

Just bought Revival by Stephen King. It will be my second next read.

[pontalba]

Good reviews, BB.  I couldn't finish Penumbra.....just put it down and backed away, slowly.

bleech!

[Anna Begins]

Just bought Revival by Stephen King. It will be my second next read.

If I wasn't in the middle of this Maze Runner read, I would SO be reading that tomorrow. 

[Athena]

Just bought Revival by Stephen King. It will be my second next read.

I hope you enjoy it !

[frankie]

Mr Penumbra's 24 Book Store - Robin Sloan

Sounds like an absolutely fascinating read, yah?   Well, sadly for me, it didn't live up to what I was expecting. My interest waned about halfway through, and it just went off in a direction that I thought was too far-fetched and silly. It was almost too clever and hip for it's own good, and tried so hard that it just felt a bit forced. Initially I liked Clay, but after a while he began to wear on me, as did his girlfriend and roommate, who were caricatures and just impossible to relate to.

 

This seems to be a book which divides people, so while I didn't like it, there are plenty of people who did. If the plot grabs you...well, it's only £0.85 on Kindle, so might be worth a go.

 

Yes, it does sound like an absolutely fascinating read! And holy bugger that it wasn't! I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it that much. I think personally for me to like a book, I want to like at least one of the characters. If they are one-dimensional and/or mean and irritating, I can't enjoy it that much  

[Kylie]

I've been quite a few months behind on your reviews. Had lots of fun catching up. You seem to be reading a real mix of books this year in terms of ratings, from 0 to 6! Here's hoping the rest of your reading this year (and into the future, of course) is at the top end of the scale.

 

So far behind in reviews......trying to catch up!
 
The World Without Us - Alan Weisman

What would happen to our world if humans vanished? As in, not killed off by something which would also affect other organisms, but if we all just disappeared in the blink of an eye?

 

I was expecting a very broad brush approach, with a lot of talk about how the greenery would fight back and cover everything before long, but instead it focused on some very specific areas and scenarios.

 

Among things discussed are how (obviously) nature would start to claim back the infrastructure of cities, etc, and how so much of the infrastructure is reliant on constant human intervention. For example, water would overrun underground trainlines in a matter of hours without people there to monitor and control pumps etc. Would our disappearance would have a strong impact on evolution, and could formerly extinct animals return in our absence? With no humans there would be no war - what impact would this have?

A lot is covered about the impact people have had on the planet as we have evolved and developed. What about all the plastic we have left behind in the ocean which will be there many centuries after we are gone, or petrochemical and nuclear plants – if we just vanished, what would happen to the surviving animals and would it take evolution or mutation of the remaining species to survive it?

All in all a very interesting read, and one I would like to refer back to at some point. There was simply too much detail to absorb all at once, but it's very clear that the author has done a lot of research. He did go off on some tangents which weren't initally straightforward to connect to the core topic, but I really liked the uniqueness of subjects covered. It can come across quite stern about what damage we are doing. However, it is told in a relatively non-preachy manner, which made it more enjoyable to read.

 

5/6

 

I'm still in the middle of reading this, but I agree with absolutely everything you've written (I may just copy and paste your review in my blog when I'm done ). Excellent review!

 

The Secret River - Kate Grenville

 

Set in the early 19th century, the book tells the story of William Maitland (fictional, but I have read he was based on Grenville's grandfather), who was one of the first convicts to be sent to Australia. The beginning of the book details Maitland's working life on the Thames, and the overwhelming weight of poverty. Eventually when it becomes too much, he begins stealing and running some rackets in order to keep his head above water. Soon, he is caught by his employer, found guilty of theft, and sent to Australia as a convict, with his wife, Sarah (Sal) designated as the person responsible for him.

 

After he serves his time as a convict, he takes on some work in New South Wales in order to earn some money with the aim that he and his wife can return to London for a better life. However he finds himself getting more attached to the land, and on one of his trips up the Hawkesbury River, he spots an outcrop in the shape of his thumb that he feels was destined to be his. He and his wife set up camp there in order to begin growing crops so that they can claim the land as their own. The land bordering his camp is lived on by Aborigines and Thornhill begins to feel they are encroaching on his territory, and vice versa. There are some clumsy attempts at communication and trade between the two groups, but you know (through history, and also the building tension in the book) that things aren’t going to end well.

On the whole I enjoyed it, but I did find the first half a bit slow, and it felt like there was a lot of waiting for things to unfold. I particularly enjoyed the details of his life on the Thames, and his post-convict times in Australia, but the section in between those two parts seemed to drag a bit.

 

It's pretty obvious that there is going to be a strong climax through the tension build up and I had a sense of dread reading it, because you just know it will be violent and unpleasant. So, although it was a good read, I wouldn't necessarily call it an enjoyable one, due to the subject matter.

 

4/6
 

 

I have this on my TBR pile. I'm particularly interested to read it because I live very close to the Hawkesbury area. Great review!

[bobblybear]

Good reviews, BB.  I couldn't finish Penumbra.....just put it down and backed away, slowly.

bleech!

 

Yep, it was a big disappointment. I think it was a Kindle Daily Deal for only £0.99, so at least I didn't waste too much money on it!

 

If I wasn't in the middle of this Maze Runner read, I would SO be reading that tomorrow.

 

I hope you enjoy it when you do read it. It has received good reviews on Amazon (not that that always counts for much) so far.

 

I hope you enjoy it!

 

Thanks, I'm sure I will, given that I enjoy most Stephen King.

 

Yes, it does sound like an absolutely fascinating read! And holy bugger that it wasn't! I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it that much. I think personally for me to like a book, I want to like at least one of the characters. If they are one-dimensional and/or mean and irritating, I can't enjoy it that much

 

Yeah, I was very bummed out that it wasn't as good as I was expecting. I think it tried too hard to be quirky, and just lost the opportunity for a good story.

 

 

I've been quite a few months behind on your reviews. Had lots of fun catching up. You seem to be reading a real mix of books this year in terms of ratings, from 0 to 6! Here's hoping the rest of your reading this year (and into the future, of course) is at the top end of the scale.

Thanks! I seem to be reading pretty decent books lately, but I have also read some stinkers this year. Oh well, variety, eh?

 

 

I'm still in the middle of reading this, but I agree with absolutely everything you've written (I may just copy and paste your review in my blog when I'm done ). Excellent review!

Thanks - glad you are enjoying it. It's a very thought provoking read, and one of the more interesting non-fiction books I have read.

 

 

I have this on my TBR pile. I'm particularly interested to read it because I live very close to the Hawkesbury area. Great review!

 

Thanks! It's a pretty decent read; I have yet to read the sequel - I have it on my Kindle waiting patiently (along with the other 200 or so books I have ).

[bobblybear]

Blubber - Judy Blume

This is told through the eyes of young teen Jill Brenner. One day in class, a fellow student - Linda - gives a speech on whales and mentions their blubber. Linda is a bit overweight and doesn't fit in, and Blubber soon becomes her nickname. Jill joins in as one of the bullies, but soon the tables are turned and Jill is the one being bullied while Linda becomes part of the in-crowd.

This one wasn't as good as I remembered, but given that Judy Blume's books are so short and can be finished in an hour or so, it's still easy to read. It can be awkward and painful reading as to how cruel and cliquey kids can be in school. It's not as powerful as some of her other books, and I don't think I will read it again.

2/6

[Athena]

It's a shame you didn't enjoy this one as much. It sounds like an interesting premise.

[Anna Begins]

Is Revival up next??

[bobblybear]

Nearly - I'm about halfway through Sharp Objects. When I've finished, I'll start Revival.

[Anna Begins]

When I've finished, I'll start Revival.

Can't wait to hear how it turns out/ how you like it.  I am about 1/3 of the way, hoping for 1/2 today, through The Scorch Trials.  By the way I am going through the Maze Runner series, I might actually get to Revival this year!     Happy reading! 

[bobblybear]

I Am Pilgrim - Terry Hayes

Pilgrim is the codename chosen by the lead character, for the mission he has to take throughout the novel. He’s a bit of an enigma, who headed up a secret espionage section of the US government. Having retired and now choosing a more peaceful life in Paris, he gets reeled in by a seemingly perfect murder committed in New York. From there, the story takes many twists and turns in plot, and heads to many locations – Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan.

 

The story is told in chapters which switch from Pilgrim’s point of view and then from his nemesis’ point of view, which makes for interesting reading as you get to see both characters and what drives them. I admit I liked Pilgrim's point of view best, but the Saracens’ story was still interesting to read. It's unusual that the "bad guy" is given as much story and detail as the "good guy", and I think it works well, and makes the Saracen a bit more interesting than some one-sided, character-deficient villain.

 

This is one of the best thrillers I have read, and it hooked me from page one. It’s not what I would call fast paced; it is quite detailed and there is a lot of back-story, but that just adds to the layers of the story, and makes for more interesting reading. There’s only one extremely gory scene which appears slightly out of tone with the rest of the book, and had me skimming it rather than reading it (if you've read the book, you'll know what I mean).

 

This is such a great book, and I will definitely read Terry Hayes' other books (if he writes more, and I hope he does). It’s received a lot of praise and a lot of ‘This is the best thriller of 2014’ type comments and I do have to say I agree (which is a relief as I have been let down many times by comments like that).

 

It’s approximately 600 pages long and I was so gutted when it was over. I would have enjoyed it if it had been twice as long, I reckon!

 

If you like any kind of spy thrillers then please, please, please read this book! You (hopefully) won't regret it!!

 

6/6

[bobblybear]

Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops - Jen Campbell

 

As the title says, this is a collection of odd off-the-wall things that customers have said in bookshops.

 

It’s very short, and I easily finished it in an hour. There are some humorous parts to it, but most had me shaking my head in disbelief.

 

I got it cheap – probably £0.99 – but currently it’s £5.39 which I think is far too much for what you get.

 

2/6

[Athena]

Great reviews! I've seen I Am Pilgrim in the book shops here several times but was never sure what it was about (I don't normally buy full price books without knowing any reviews or knowing anything about it), I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

 

I'd say £5.39 is quite a bit of money, I bought both this one and the sequel in paperback for ~£3.30 total.

[pontalba]

Love your review/take on I Am Pilgrim!  Very happy you liked it so much. 

[Alexi]

I have I Am Pilgrim on the TBR what an excellent review, I must read it soon. Although I say that about too many books these says...

 

I also agree about Weird Things. I got it for 99p, which I was happy to pay but £5 for a book you can finish in an hour just seems like a rip-off