Nollaig Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Noll ~ From amazon, if I'm interested in a book, I read the reviews, etc, add them to my wishist, then check out the books that customers have bought on the basis of the book I just bought/added to wishlist. I really enjoy YA, I do think (sometimes) that I am too old for YA. Not at all, you're never too old for YA. A lot of YA deals with a lot of issues that might be first experienced as a young adult, but persist through life and honestly I think they can be very insightful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 Not at all, you're never too old for YA. A lot of YA deals with a lot of issues that might be first experienced as a young adult, but persist through life and honestly I think they can be very insightful. I agree with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 Thanks Athena and Noll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted May 10, 2015 Author Share Posted May 10, 2015 (edited) The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood ~ Started: 18.03.15 ~ Finished: 05.04.15 Title of Book: The Robber Bride Name of Author: Margaret Atwood Edition: Kindle ASIN: B002TXZSNA Number of Pages: 529 Pages Synopsis ~ Zenia is beautiful, smart and greedy, by turns manipulative and vulnerable, needy and ruthless; a man's dream and a woman's nightmare. She is also dead. Just to make sure Tony, Roz and Charis are there for the funeral. But five years on, as the three women share an indulgent, sisterly lunch, the unthinkable happens; 'with waves of ill will flowing out of her like cosmic radiation', Zenia is back... 'The Robber Bride' is the story of three women and their friend, Zenia, who uses them to her advantage. What I thought of 'The Robber Bride' ~ This is the second time reading 'The Robber Bride' and I enjoyed it more than I did the first time I read it (but I think I gave it the same rating). What can I say about Zenia? Love her or hate her, she makes an impression, how she manages to become part of Tony, Charis & Roz's lives is nothing short of remarkable, she sees their weakness, use it against them then destroyed their lives by having affairs with the three women's significant others, as Zenia admits herself, she shown them how weak willed their men are, whilst using the women's fears against them. As always Margaret Atwood writes vivid characters, characters who are easy to relate to which makes for more interesting reading. Tony, Charis and Roz are strong women and you learn about them from their backgrounds and they learn more by their experience with Zenia. Zenia is a enigma, you never find out where she is from, is her name really Zenia? She tells so many stories, it's difficult to believe what is true. Zenia also makes Tony, Charis and Roz sees themselves for who they are, they all have the best of intentions helping Zenia, at the same time, they are human, they feel pleased that they have helped her, it doesn't make them bad people, its just that Zenia uses it as a weakness against them. A memorable story which I will read again. Rating: 5/5 Edited May 11, 2015 by Weave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Begins Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 Weave! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 Oh my god I can't believe its so long since you last posted here Paula, where has the time gone?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Hey Paula ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Begins Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 You need to post your Top 10 Books in the BCF thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted May 11, 2015 Author Share Posted May 11, 2015 Hi everyone! sorry I haven't posted for awhile, we are back to one laptop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted May 11, 2015 Author Share Posted May 11, 2015 (edited) Birdy by William Wharton ~ Started: 05.04.15 ~ Finished: 13.04.15 Title of Book: Birdy Name of Author: William Wharton Edition: Kindle ASIN: B007M4F156 Number of Pages: 305 Pages Synopsis ~ An inventive, hypnotic novel about friendship and family, love and war, madness and beauty, and, above all, "birdness." Wharton crafts an unforgettable tale--one that suggests another notion of sanity in a world that is manifestly insane. What I thought of 'Birdy' ~ I enjoyed 'Birdy', it was a interesting story of friendship and the effects of war. Birdy (you never know his real name) and Al go through so much together. Both men are very different, Al is all about lifting weights and chasing girls, while Birdy is obsessed with flying. Al and Birdy are both suffering because of their war experiences Al talks to Birdy everyday about their pasts, while Birdy thinks about his birds and flying. I felt Al's frustration because of Birdy's lack of communication, I understood why Birdy did not want to speak, as does Al, you keep hoping that Birdy will say something, that he will come back to the world. 'Birdy' is a memorable story. Rating: 4/5 Edited May 11, 2015 by Weave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted May 11, 2015 Author Share Posted May 11, 2015 Swamplandia by Karen Russell ~ Started: 13.04.15 ~ Finished: 29.04.15 Title of Book: Swamplandia Name of Author: Karen Russell Edition: Kindle ASIN: B007IVBOUO Number of Pages: 418 Pages Synopsis ~ In the Florida Everglades, gator-park Swamplandia! is in trouble. Its star performer, the great beauty and champion alligator-wrestler Hilola Bigtree, has succumbed to cancer, and Ava, her resourceful but terrified 13-year-old daughter, is left in charge with her two siblings. But Ava's sister has embarked on a romantic relationship with a ghost, her brother has defected to a rival theme park, and her father is AWOL. And then a mysterious figure called Bird Man guides Ava into a perilous part of the swamp called the Underworld, promising he can save both her sister and the park... What I thought of 'Swamplandia' ~ 'Swamplandia!' is the story of the Big Tree family, a family who own a alligator park called 'Swamplandia!' in the Everglades. Their main performer, Hilola has passed away from cancer and now her husband, The Chief and their three children, Osceola (Ossie), Kiwi and Ava struggle to keep Swamplandia! open as a new amusement park opens on the mainland called 'The World of Darkness'. Kiwi eventually leaves and gets a job in the new amusement park in the hope of helping Chief with his finances. The Chief also goes to the mainland to make money, leaving Osceola and Ava to look after themselves which leads to trouble for both girls. As the story progresses, you find out what happens to Kiwi and how his decision to leave his home for the mainland leads to changes in his life. I enjoyed 'Swamplandia!', Ava is a strong character who wants to keep her family and their business going whilst coming to terms with the loss of her mother. What happens to all of her characters helps them to face their loss, to move on. 'Swamplandia!' is a interesting story with memorable characters, the downside about the story I felt was that it was quirky for the sake of being quirky which the story did not need because it is a strong story, there is also a part which I knew was going to happen and it was sad to read. A interesting story about family. Rating: 3/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted May 11, 2015 Author Share Posted May 11, 2015 Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link ~ Started: 29.04.15 ~ Finished: 10.05.15 Title of Book: Pretty Monsters Name of Author: Kelly Link Edition: Kindle ASIN: B002RI9UEK Number of Pages: 417 Pages Synopsis ~ Weird, wicked, spooky and delicious, PRETTY MONSTERS is a book of tall tales to keep you up all night. Blending fairytale, fantasy, horror, myth and mischief in a delicious cocktail, Kelly Link creates a world like no other, where ghosts of girlfriends past rub up against Scrabble-loving grandmothers with terrifying magic handbags, wizards sit alongside morbid babysitters, and we encounter a people-eating monster who claims to have a sense of humour. Combining the imaginative brilliance of Borges with the madcap escapades of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and more than a pinch of macabre humour, this is writing to come back from the dead for. What I thought of 'Pretty Monsters' ~ 'Pretty Monsters' was a great collection of stories which explored different subject. Each story is different which made for an enjoyable read. My favourite stories were 'The Wrong Grave', which had a good twist at the end, 'Monster', 'The Surfer' and 'Pretty Monsters'. A great collection of stories. Rating: 3/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted May 11, 2015 Author Share Posted May 11, 2015 Cat & Jemima J by Jane Green ~ Started: 10.05.15 ~ Finished: 10.05.15 Title of Book: Cat & Jemima J Name of Author: Jane Green Edition: Kindle ASIN: B00XAK5C32 Number of Pages: 29 Pages Synopsis ~ From number one Sunday Times bestselling author Jane Green comes an original short story, featuring Jemima, the main character from Green's beloved novel Jemima J, and Cat, the main character from her upcoming novel Summer Secrets. When young journalist Cat meets JJ, a career-making opportunity for a story presents itself. Cat has the chance to shine - but at the expense of a new friendship, will she take it? What I thought of 'Cat and Jemima J' ~ I read 'Jemima J' a few years ago now and I enjoyed it, so I was pleased to hear that a new short story was being released with Jemima J in it. 'Cat and Jemima J' is a introduction to Cat, the new character in the upcoming novel, 'Summer Secrets' which I plan to read. There is not much to the story, Cat meets Jemima when they are both having difficulties in their lives and it was nice to see the start of a friendship between both women. Rating: 4/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Begins Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 You need to post your Top 10 Books in the BCF thread! Hi everyone! sorry I haven't posted for awhile, we are back to one laptop I would LOVE to see them Please, come back more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Ooh, I definitely like the look of Birdy, one for the wish list, maybe one of my lovely family will pick up on it for my birthday! Great review, thanks Paula x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Nice to see you again Weave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 Thanks everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 I would LOVE to see them Please, come back more! I will do and definitely try more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 1, 2015 Author Share Posted June 1, 2015 The Dead Lands by Benjamin Percy ~ Started: 10.05.15 ~ Finished: 21.05.15 Title of Book: The Dead Lands Name of Author: Benjamin Percy Edition: Kindle ASIN: B00P6URLJ2 Number of Pages: 417 Pages Synopsis ~ Like Stephen King's The Stand before it, THE DEAD LANDS is an incredible novel set across the sprawling landscape of a nightmarish post-apocalyptic American West. The world we know is gone, destroyed by a virus that wiped out nearly every human on the planet. Some few survivors built walled cities, fortresses to keep themselves safe from those the virus didn't kill... but did change. Sanctuary. A citadel in the heart of the former United States of America. Hundreds of miles in every direction beyond its walls lies nothing but death and devastation. Everyone who lives in the safety Sanctuary provides knows that. Until the day a stranger appears. He speaks of a green and fertile land far to the west, a land of promise and plenty, safe from the ruin the virus has wreaked. He has come to lead the survivors away from Sanctuary, to the promise of a new life without walls. But those who follow him will discover that not everything he says is true. 'The Dead Lands' is the story of a world changed after a fatal virus and the actions the world took to stop the virus. What remains of St Louis is a walled in sanctuary where the inhabitants struggle for water and food. 'The Dead Lands' outside the walls are full of mutant animals and any person from the sanctuary who commits a crime is left outside tied to an altar and eaten. The sanctuary is faced with the unknown when a girl named Gawea appears from The Dead Lands who has survived the trek across country to find an inhabitant of the sanctuary, a man called Lewis, who has always been seen as different and when he leaves the sanctuary, he begins a journey to what he hopes is a better place but he finds something worse. What I thought of 'The Dead Lands' ~ 'The Dead Lands' was a enjoyable story with plenty of excitement to keep you entertained whilst being thought provoking at the same time. Lewis is a unlikely hero, he has hid himself from the world in the sanctuary, living in the library and learning about the world before. I liked Lewis as a character, he was an individual, it was interesting to watch him change. The journey that Lewis, Clark, York, The doctor, Reed, Gawea make through the Dead Lands is written well as they face different obstacles. Gawea is a mysterious character, she is the same as Lewis, they are both mutants, Gawea has black eyes and uses her powers to help when she can. As the group leaves the sanctuary, Simon, a thief, Ella, Lewis's aide remain at the sanctuary alongside Rickett Slade, a corrupt sheriff who targets Ella, Thomas Lancer, the mayor, who hides food and water from the inhabitants of the sanctuary and his wife, Danica who is having affair with Reed and despises her husband. I enjoyed 'The Dead Lands', the characters were well written and I also enjoyed the ending. Rating: 4/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 1, 2015 Author Share Posted June 1, 2015 Lies in the Dust: A Tale of Remorse from the Salem Witch Trials by Jakob Crane (Author) and Timothy Decker (Art) ~ Started: 21.05.15 ~ Finished: 21.05.15 Title of Book: Lies in the Dust: A Tale of Remorse from the Salem Witch Trials Name of Author: Jakob Crane (Author) and Timothy Decker (Art) Edition: Kindle ASIN: B00QJ8WC4O Number of Pages: 128 Pages Synopsis ~ In Salem’s dark days of 1692 and 1693, young girls pointed fingers and accused others of witchcraft, sentencing them to torture or even death. When the cloud lifted, and accusations were shown to be false, the girls faced little, if any, penalty. Were they sorry? No one knows. Only one girl, Ann Putnam, Jr., felt moved to show remorse publicly. Fourteen years after the trials, Ann wrote a letter of apology. This is her story. 'Lies in the Dust' is the story of Ann Putnam Jr and the consequences of her actions. What I thought of 'Lies in the Dust: A Tale of Remorse from the Salem Witch Trials' ~ I have read about Ann Putnam Jr and the Salem Witch Trials in the past and I always thought it was brave of her to admit the truth of what actually happened, I also found it sad that she never married and died young. Ann Putnam Jr was the only girl from the group that admitted that all accusations made were false. I enjoyed 'Lies in the Dust', the fear of the devil is shown well through the images, the strength of the individuals accused as they faced and refused to admit to any wrongdoing was interesting. The illustrations are simple but effective, especially the images of the devil as a dark shadow. The only downside of the book for me was the fact I read it on my kindle, I think the images would have made more of a impact in book form. Rating: 4/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 1, 2015 Author Share Posted June 1, 2015 (edited) Paranormal Intruder by Caroline Mitchell ~ Started: 21.05.15 ~ Finished: 22.05.15 Title of Book: Paranormal Intruder Name of Author: Caroline Mitchell Edition: Kindle ASIN: B00GURVKHY Number of Pages: 254 Pages Synopsis ~ An innocent family finds itself completely helpless against the sudden onset of paranormal activity in their quiet rural home. A knife embedded in a kitchen cupboard, crockery smashed by invisible hands, and blood-chilling growls emit from thin air. Caroline and her husband Neil search for answers as they try to protect their family from the unseen entity that seems determined to rip them apart. The biggest question looms over them like a dark cloud ... who is going to help us? There are emergency services for many things, but not of this nature. It might be easier to believe temporary insanity, if not for the vast amount of witnesses. Police, fire services, mediums, priests and investigators all become embroiled in the mystery. The family struggles to cope, and Caroline grows concerned for her husband’s failing health as he withdraws from the world. However, the entity has only just begun. Paranormal Intruder is the true story of one family’s brave fight against an invisible entity. Described as one of the best-documented cases of paranormal activity, this page turning book will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. 'Paranormal Intruder' is the true story of Caroline Mitchell, her husband, Neil and her family as they face a paranormal presence which torments them and tries to destroy their family. What I liked about the story was how honest and straightforward Caroline was about what happened, from mysterious fires, objects being moved, thrown dishes, threatening telephone calls, a threatening note which are all directed at her husband. I found Caroline's story to be unnerving, I have always believed that there is something after death but what Caroline and her family live with is a presence that is just plain evil, so there was times after reading that I went to sleep with the bedroom lamp on and I am still not brave enough to listen to the podcast of the presence growling. 'Paranormal Intruder' is a interesting read, there are aspects to the story which are never fully solved but that unfortunately is the nature of what the family is living with. Whether you believe or do not believe in the paranormal, the story shows you how mysterious the world can be. Rating: 5/5 Edited June 1, 2015 by Weave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 The Dead Lands sounds like my kind of book, as I am always looking for something similar to The Stand. Paranormal Intruder sounds creepy. They've both gone on my wishlist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 The Dead Lands sounds like my kind of book, as I am always looking for something similar to The Stand. Paranormal Intruder sounds creepy. They've both gone on my wishlist. Thanks bobblybear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 The Color Purple by Alice Walker ~ Started: 22.05.15 ~ Finished: 24.05.15 Title of Book: The Color Purple Name of Author: Alice Walker Edition: Kindle ASIN: B006MOE1V2 Number of Pages: 308 Pages Synopsis ~ "Dear God: I am fourteen years old. I have always been a good girl. Maybe you can give me a sign letting me know what is happening to me." So begins Alice Walker's poignant novel set in the deep American south between the wars. Celie has been raped by the man she calls her father; her two children have been taken away from her; she has been parted from her sister and forced into an ugly marriage. Then she meets Shug Avery, singer and magic maker, and Celie discovers not the pain of female rivalry but the love and support of women. 'The Color Purple' is the story of Celie, a young girl who is mistreated by her father and then married off to a man who also mistreats her. As Celie grows into womanhood, she writes to God and her sister, Nettie as she tries to find her place in a family who do not want her, as Celie fights for survival, acceptance and learns to love herself for who she is. What I thought of 'The Color Purple' ~ I have read 'The Color Purple' a few times through the years and I have always enjoyed it. The story of Celie is a story of strength,courage, family and friendship. All of the characters are well written, I especially liked Celie & Shug's relationship, two very different women who find love with each other. I love how the story is told through letters and you see Celie's writing skills improve, you see her changing, you see how her world is changing and what she wants from her life, how she is willing to fight for her life. The ending always brings a tear to my eye. Rating: 5/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Lies in the Dust sounds exactly my kind of thing - one of the wishlist! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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