Athena's Reading List 2014

[Athena]

George R. R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire 5: A Dance with Dragons 2: After the Feast

 

 

Genre: Fantasy

Age-range: Adult

Format: Paperback

Pages: 493 (557 if you include the appendix)

Synopsis: (no synopsis because it's part of a series)

 

My thoughts: Shortly after reading part one of book five in this series, I was eager to read the next and last part.

 

This book continues the story of all the characters. I found I liked it better than part one (Dreams and Dust). More seemed to happen in this book. There were still some scenes where I felt the author rambled on a little, about details of the past or the people who were in the room (for example). I didn't mind it too much, often it was nice to read, but it did slow down the story a bit.

 

I enjoyed some chapters more than others, also because I like certain characters more. Most chapters were pretty tense though and ended on some kind of cliffhanger. I really liked certain plot twists, others less so. Sometimes there was a recap of what had happened to characters in the other books, most of which I still remembered but I suppose can be handy for those who don't read the books so close to each other. I quite enjoyed reading this book, it was suspenseful and better than part one.

 

It has been great reading all the books in this series not too far apart from one another. I think I read book one last year in June, so it's taken me about a year. Now it's over.. I have to wait for the next book (and the one after that) to be published (in paperback).. The agonising wait! It has been great to read these books.. I think after all this though I'm going to read some shorter, easier, less complicated books (something different).

 

Rating: (*****) (9/10)

[Kidsmum]

I think it's a good idea not to leave too big a gap between books Athena i've a few series on the go but i just haven't been keeping up with them & other books have demanded to be read first so really i could do with rereading some of them from the beginning as i'm sure i forgotten quite a bit 

[Anna Begins]

How many are in the series?  5?  How long has it taken you to read them?

[Athena]

I think it's a good idea not to leave too big a gap between books Athena i've a few series on the go but i just haven't been keeping up with them & other books have demanded to be read first so really i could do with rereading some of them from the beginning as i'm sure i forgotten quite a bit 

I agree! I would feel the same, in fact I had a bit of a gap between book two and three, so I was confused at first.

 

How many are in the series?  5?  How long has it taken you to read them?

There are five books in the series. Books three and five have been published as two parts at the same time (you can also find versions with both parts in one book, but I have the versions where the books are split in two volumes). So it's either five or seven books depending on how you count. George R. R. Martin has said there will be two more books (books six and seven), I don't know if they'll be split up or not. I read book one in June last year, book two in July, book three part one in December, book three part two in April, book four in April, books five part one and two in May.

[Athena]

Jena Pincott - Waarom Vrouwen Chocola Lekkerder Vinden Dan Seks: En Andere Prikkelende Vragen over Liefde en Relaties (Do Gentleman Really Prefer Blondes?)

 

 

Genre: Information

Age-range: Adult

Format: Paperback

Pages: 268 (excluding the sources)

Synopsis (GoodReads):How long does it take to decide if a person is hot?

Is your lover more likely to get you pregnant than your husband?

Can men tell when a woman is fertile?

 

If you’ve ever wondered how scientists measure love—or whether men really prefer blondes over brunettes—this smart, sexy book provides real answers to these and many other questions about our most baffling dating and mating behaviors. Based on the latest research in biology, evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science, Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes? dares to explain the science behind sex—and opens a fascinating window on the intriguing phenomenon of love and attraction.

 

Covering the areas of bodies, brains, and behavior, this eye-opening guide reveals the genetic, hormonal, and psychological secrets behind what makes us tick sexually. For example, do you know why a man’s body chemistry and behavior change when he’s in a committed relationship? And why, when he becomes a daddy, his testosterone level seems to plummet? And did you know…

 

• When a couple first fall in love, their brains are indistinguishable from those of the clinically insane

• You can tell a lot about a person’s sexual chemistry just by looking at his or her hands

• Your genes influence whose body odors you prefer

• Being around breast-feeding women may increase a woman's sex drive

 

Viewed through the lens of science and instinct, your love life might be seen in a completely different way. Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes? provides both an in-depth exploration into our sexual psyches—and fresh advice for men and women who want to discover the secrets of successful relationships.

 

My thoughts: I bought this book at the most recent book fair. After reading a big epic story I felt like reading an information book, something a bit shorter and less complicated.

 

This book was interesting. It's well written and easy to read (I'm reading the Dutch translation). The book consists of three parts, Bodies, Behaviours and Brains, each of which have various chapters. These chapters each consist of a number of questions related to the subject of the chapter. Some questions, and their answers of course, interested me more than others, but overall I found the whole quite enjoyable to read. Some knowledge was not new to me, a lot of other knowledge was. The author has used a lot of researches and theories to explain things. It was interesting to read.

 

Rating: **** (8/10)

[Athena]

Barbara Berger - Ben Je Nu Gelukkig? 10 Manieren Om Gelukkig Te Worden (Are You Happy Now?)



Genre: Information
Age-range: Adult
Format: Paperback
Pages: 224
Synopsis (GoodReads):In Barbara Berger’s much acclaimed book “Are You Happy Now? 10 Ways to Live a Happy Life”, she asks readers “What is preventing you from being happy now?” And then she proceeds to take a look at all the things we think and do that prevent us from living happy lives right now. And readers around the world report that Berger’s 10 ways are really helping them live happier lives. (The book is already published in 18 languages).

The book’s basic premise is that our thoughts determine our experience of reality—and understanding this is the key to living a happy life. This is a revolutionary way of looking at life because most people believe that outer conditions are the reason why they are unhappy. But if outer conditions are not the cause—what is?

A powerful combination of the spiritual and the psychological
Berger presents 10 practical ways to use this understanding in our daily life, our relationships, at work and for our health. And she gives examples from her own dramatic life since leaving America at the young age of 18 in protest against the Vietnam War and settling in Scandinavia to her lifelong exploration of the power of mind and the nature of consciousness.

My thoughts: I bought this book at the most recent book fair. I felt like reading it.

This book is a bit difficult to review. I'm still thinking about some of the concepts explained. The book is well written and reads easily (I read the Dutch translation). Some of the concepts were not new to me, others were. The author explains it well. A recurring concept she mentions, about living in the now, reminded me of mindfulness. I don't know if the book will be of use to me yet, it's certainly made me think though. It's one to re-read at a later time, to learn more of the things mentioned. The 10 ways seemed to make a lot of sense to me, a lot of these things my boyfriend already does (I don't though). Overall I quite enjoyed reading this book and it's definitely food for thought.

Rating: **** (8/10)

[Kidsmum]

The Jena Pincott sounds interesting Athena, actually i don't eat chocolate anymore so it definitely wouldn't be my preference 

[Athena]

It was an interesting book. Did you stop eating chocolate because of weight reasons? Just curious . I try and limit the amount of chocolate I eat but I do eat it now and then.. it's just so nice (I'd rather give it up though if I had to choose).

[Kidsmum]

No, i gave it up after i had my treatment. The radiotherapy damaged my saliva glands so i don't have as much saliva to protect my teeth from decay & of course as you know sugar is really bad for your teeth so apart from pudding on a Sunday i don't eat or drink anything with added sugar in. Tbh i don't miss it at all & i never get cravings for anything sweet anymore 

[Athena]

Wow, that must have been difficult at first. I'm glad you don't miss it at all .

[Athena]

Jay Asher - Thirteen Reasons Why

 

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Age-range: Young-Adult

Format: Paperback

Pages: 288

Synopsis (GoodReads):You can't stop the future. You can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret. . . is to press play.

 

Clay Jensen doesn't want anything to do with the tapes Hannah Baker made. Hannah is dead. Her secrets should be buried with her. Then Hannah's voice tells Clay that his name is on her tapes-- and that he is, in some way, responsible for her death. All through the night, Clay keeps listening. He follows Hannah's recorded words throughout his small town. . .

. . .and what he discovers changes his life forever.

 

My thoughts: This book has been on my TBR for several years and I've been about to read it several times but somehow never got into it until now.

 

This book was hard to put down (I read it in one day). It's told from two perspective, Clay's and Hannah's, intertwining. Hannah tells her story on these tapes (written in cursive) and Clay listens to them. I thought this worked quite well. The characters are very interesting, I quite liked the two main characters and also the side characters, though some of them I didn't like. The book really makes you think about the consequences of your actions on other people's lives. Sometimes it was a little hard to read, because of the subject matter (suicide) and the emotions related to that (I felt for the characters). The writing is good and the book reads easily. I liked the ending. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book.

 

Rating: ***** (9/10)

[Little Pixie]

No, i gave it up after i had my treatment. The radiotherapy damaged my saliva glands so i don't have as much saliva to protect my teeth from decay & of course as you know sugar is really bad for your teeth so apart from pudding on a Sunday i don't eat or drink anything with added sugar in. Tbh i don't miss it at all & i never get cravings for anything sweet anymore 

 

 

I chew Peppersmith gum, which has xylitol in it - it`s supposed to stop plaque from building up as badly - I was needing to have plaque taken off every three months `cos my mouth was so dry, and now it`s every six months.

[Athena]

That's good progress! Whenever I go to the dentist I have to have plaque taken off too. I don't like any types of gym though.

[Little Pixie]

That's good progress! Whenever I go to the dentist I have to have plaque taken off too. I don't like any types of gym though.

 

 

The same company also does a sicilian lemon Mint, which is really nice.

[Weave]

'Thirteen Reasons Why' sounds great, I enjoyed reading your review.

[Karsa Orlong]

George R. R. Martin has said there will be two more books (books six and seven), I don't know if they'll be split up or not.

 

I'm sure, if he and the publishers can find an excuse to squeeze more money out of it, they will.  Three parts per book, maybe?   

[Athena]

'Thirteen Reasons Why' sounds great, I enjoyed reading your review.

Thanks, that's great to hear/read .

 

I'm sure, if he and the publishers can find an excuse to squeeze more money out of it, they will.  Three parts per book, maybe?   

That's true .

[Athena]

Stephen King - Carrie

 

 

Genre: Horror

Age-range: Adult

Format: Paperback

Pages: 248

Synopsis (GoodReads): Carrie White is no ordinary girl.

 

Carrie White has the gift of telekinesis.

 

To be invited to Prom Night by Tommy Ross is a dream come true for Carrie - the first step towards social acceptance by her high school colleagues.

 

But events will take a decidedly macabre turn on that horrifying and endless night as she is forced to exercise her terrible gift on the town that mocks and loathes her...

 

My thoughts: I wasn't really feeling like reading after reading some in Rabinowitz & Kaplan - A Passion for Books which I didn't enjoy so much. I tried several books but nothing seemed to grab me, until I started to read this book.

 

This book pulled me in from the start. Parts of the story were familiar to me, I'm not sure if this is because I've read the book when I was a child (in Dutch) or whether I've ever seen a film of it, or whether it's just from hearing about it from other people. Anyway, I found the book to be really enjoyable. The characters were very interesting to read about, I particularly liked Carrie and Sue. The writing is very good. The plot is good and interesting. The story is intertwined with excerpts from fictional articles and books about the plot, which I think added quite a nice touch to the story.

 

I really enjoyed reading this book and felt for the characters. The book is not as scary as I found for example IT, so if you're going for really scary I'd recommend other books over this one (such as IT). Personally I really enjoyed the story and think it's well written and has great characters.

 

Rating: ***** (10/10)

[Timstar]

Carrie was one of the first King's I read and I really enjoyed it as well, but you're right, definitely not as scary as IT.

[Athena]

Carrie was one of the first King's I read and I really enjoyed it as well, but you're right, definitely not as scary as IT.

I'm glad you enjoyed it too .

[Athena]

Harold Rabinowitz and Rob Kaplan - A Passion for Books: A Book Lover's Treasury of Stories, Essays, Humor, Lore and Lists on Collecting, Reading, Borrowing, Lending, Caring for, and Appreciating Books

 

 

Genre: Biography, Information

Age-range: Adult

Format: Paperback

Pages: 353

Synopsis (GoodReads):Featuring essays by John Updike, Philip Roth, Anna Quindlen, Leo Rosten, and others, these 50 selections celebrate the exhilaration to be found in books.

 

My thoughts: I thought a book about books might inspire me to read some more books, but I was wrong.

 

This book contains quite a few essays, quotes and lists on things related to books. Some pieces I enjoyed much more than others. One thing that started to bother me after a while was that almost all of the authors of the pieces are male, and were written quite some time ago. The book itself was published in 1999. I felt more modern pieces could've been included as well as more pieces written by females. Surely at least by the 1990s women were reading too?!

 

The language of some of the pieces bothered me. On occasion there was a snide remark towards women, as if they wouldn't be able to read books too.. There were also remarks towards certain books vs. certain other books. In my opinion it's not good to look down upon anyone depending on what they read.. yes some books might be more complicated or have more literatary value (who decides what that is, though), but there's no need to talk someone down just because they like a different thing to your own. In my opinion. A lot of the old pieces showed their age, the language seemed awkward, some of them were hard to read. I admit I skimmed through some of them.

 

Some pieces were not so interesting, as well. Others were interesting, a few memorable ones include the piece on books in world war II, a piece by a person who set up a book shop and a piece by one of the authors of the book on how things worked for him when he bought books. I did like most of the quotes in the book. The lists seemed to all include mainly older classics, I didn't see why more modern stuff was not on most of the lists. Also the focus on American classics was lost on me.

 

Overall I'd highly rate the pieces I enjoyed, but there were too many I didn't enjoy.

 

Sidenote: My book is a second hand copy and has a lovely inscription in the front from a person to her friend.

 

Rating: ** (3/10)

[Athena]

I bought a few books, most of which came from the charity shop.

 

Anna Enquist - De Ijsdragers (a short Dutch book, I loved Het Geheim when I read it for secondary school)

Harry Mulisch - Het Theater, De Brief En De Waarheid: Een Tegenspraak (another short Dutch book)

Donn Cortez - CSI Miami: Daad van Terreur (Harm for the Holidays 2: Heart Attack) (my sister owns quite a few of the CSI (Las Vegas) books and I enjoyed reading those)

Richard Templar - De Basisregels Voor Een Gelukkig Leven (The Rules of Life: A Personal Code for Living a Better, Happier, More Successful Life) (this looked pretty good, 100 rules to be more happy)

Loes Den Hollander - Loes Den Hollander Omnibus: Vluchtgedrag and Zielsverwanten (I was attracted by the cover and the synopses)

 

I have a strong urge to buy/order certain books soon, I might do so next month .

[Kidsmum]

 

I chew Peppersmith gum, which has xylitol in it - it`s supposed to stop plaque from building up as badly - I was needing to have plaque taken off every three months `cos my mouth was so dry, and now it`s every six months.

 

A fellow dry mouth sufferer  I chew gum all the time as well, i usually stick with Orbit because i like it, before i had the dry mouth thing i wouldn't let my children chew gum as i thought it looked awful that constant chewing but now of course i'm like a football manager i can't go anywhere without a piece of gum in my mouth. I also get a saliva gel on prescription which i use at night which really helps. If you don't mind me asking Pixie what is the cause of your dry mouth ?

 

'Thirteen Reasons Why' sounds great, I enjoyed reading your review.

 

My teenage daughter really enjoyed this as well 

Carrie was one of the first King's I read and I really enjoyed it as well, but you're right, definitely not as scary as IT.

 

I think it was one of my first King's as well. I loved the movie as well with Sissy Spacek but my eldest daughter went to see the remake & she said it was awful 

 

 

That's a shame that you didn't like the Rabinowitz book Athena, it sounds so good & i love the cover as well. Congrats on your new books  Do you have any space left to put them in 

[Little Pixie]

Harold Rabinowitz and Rob Kaplan - A Passion for Books: A Book Lover's Treasury of Stories, Essays, Humor, Lore and Lists on Collecting, Reading, Borrowing, Lending, Caring for, and Appreciating Books

 

. The book itself was published in 1999. I felt more modern pieces could've been included as well as more pieces written by females. Surely at least by the 1990s women were reading too?!

 

The language of some of the pieces bothered me. On occasion there was a snide remark towards women, as if they wouldn't be able to read books too.. There were also remarks towards certain books vs. certain other books. In my opinion it's not good to look down upon anyone depending on what they read.. yes some books might be more complicated or have more literatary value (who decides what that is, though), but there's no need to talk someone down just because they like a different thing to your own

 

 

Grr, appalling behaviour.

[Little Pixie]

A fellow dry mouth sufferer  I chew gum all the time as well, i usually stick with Orbit because i like it, before i had the dry mouth thing i wouldn't let my children chew gum as i thought it looked awful that constant chewing but now of course i'm like a football manager i can't go anywhere without a piece of gum in my mouth. I also get a saliva gel on prescription which i use at night which really helps. If you don't mind me asking Pixie what is the cause of your dry mouth ?

 

Hurray, we`ve got our own club now !

 

Mine could be auto-immune, though I think it`s more likely to be hayfever related ( `cos those anti-histamines really dry out your mouth and eyes ). I sit up in bed chewing gum whilst reading at night, `cos I am also full of gum snobbery and cannot do it publicly ( though I feel like a 1930`s gumshoe  ).