Gyre's Reading Adventures 2009!

[chrysalis_stage]

I love coming to your thread and seeing what you have read, I like your taste!

[Weave]

I love coming to your thread and seeing what you have read, I like your taste!

 

Thank you

[Weave]

I finished reading 'A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch Trials' by Ann Rinaldi. Scroll up for review, thanks :eek2:

 

[Weave]

The Death of Grass by John Christopher ~ Started: 04.04.09 ~ Finished: 05.04.09

 

Synopsis ~

 

At first the virus wiping out grass and crops is of little concern to John Custance. It has decimated Asia, causing mass starvation and riots, but Europe is safe and a counter-virus is expected any day. Except, it turns out, the governments have been lying to their people. When the deadly disease hits Britain they are left alone, and society starts to descend into barbarism. As John and his family try to make it across country to the safety of his brother’s farm in a hidden valley, their humanity is tested to its very limits.

 

 

‘The Death of Grass’ was a book that I could not put down, it was compulsive reading. The story was interesting because it is so relative to this day and age. At times brutal, ultimately it’s a story of survival.

 

Highly recommended.

 

Rating: 10/10

Edited April 20, 2009 by Weave

[lexiepiper]

Ohh that one sounds awesome Gyre

[Weave]

Ohh that one sounds awesome Gyre :eek2:

 

So far, so good Lexie, its a good read x

[lexiepiper]

If you enjoy it I'm going to be mighty tempted to pick it up I have to admit, sounds like my kind of thing x

[Weave]

I finished 'The Death of Grass' by John Christopher, review on the previous page

[Ben]

Good to see you're having some good reads again Gyre!

[Weave]

Thanks Ben

[Kylie]

I've heard good things about The Death of Grass elsewhere too. I've just added it to my wish list. Thanks Gyre!

[Weave]

I've heard good things about The Death of Grass elsewhere too. I've just added it to my wish list. Thanks Gyre!

 

You are welcome Kylie x

[Weave]

Skellig by David Almond ~ Started: 06.04.09 ~ Finished: 06.04.09

 

Synopsis ~

 

When a move to a new house coincides with his baby sister's illness, Michael's world seems suddenly lonely and uncertain. Then, one Sunday afternoon, he stumbles into the old, ramshackle garage of his new home, and finds something magical. A strange creature - part owl, part angel, a being who needs Michael's help if he is to survive. With his new friend Mina, Michael nourishes Skellig back to health, while his baby sister languishes in the hospital. But Skelling is far more than he at first appears, and as he helps Michael breathe life into his tiny sister, Michael's world changes forever...

 

 

I read ‘Skellig’ because it is being screened this Easter Sunday on Sky One and I always like to read books before I see the film. I also did not read any of the reviews either, my husband brought it home and I started reading it.

 

What can I say about ‘Skellig’? despite it being a children’s book, it will appeal to adults as well.

 

The story is narrated by Michael, a young boy who is dealing with changes in his life, moving house and the illness of his new born baby sister. Michael feels very isolated and then he meets Skellig, a man he finds living in Michael’s family garage, Skellig changes Michael’s life.

 

‘Skellig’ is a lovely book, the story is wonderfully written, you feel Michael’s turmoil and you want everything to work out for him. I also loved Mina, Michael’s friend, she was such a lovely wee character, a very forthright young lady.

 

A bit of a clich

Edited April 20, 2009 by Weave

[lexiepiper]

Sounds like a lovely little book

[Weave]

Sounds like a lovely little book

 

It was x

[Heather]

Another one for the wish list

[Lucybird]

I liked Skellig when I read it, but I can't really remember it, it was so long ago. I can remember I liked Heaven Eyes by the same author more

[chesilbeach]

A bit of a clich

[Weave]

Not a clich

[Weave]

After Dark by Haruki Murakami ~ Started: 07.04.09 ~ Finished: 11.04.09

 

Synopsis ~

 

The midnight hour approaches in an almost empty all~night diner. Mari sips her coffee and glances up from a book as a young man, a musician, intrudes on her solitude. Both have missed the last train home.

 

Later, Mari is interrupted again by a girl from the Alphaville Hotel; a Chinese prostitute has been hurt by a client, and she needs Mari’s help.

 

Meanwhile Mari’s beautiful sister Eri sleeps a deep, heavy sleep that is ‘too perfect, too pure’ to be normal; she has lain asleep for two months. But tonight as the digital lock displays 00.00, a hint of life flickers across the TV screen, though the television’s plus has been pulled out.

 

Strange nocturnal happenings, or a trick of the night?

 

Being a night owl myself I can appreciate the beauty of ‘After Dark’, Haruki Murakami has again created memorable characters that are in some way all connected and all have different backgrounds and secrets, which come to light in the dark.

 

Haruki Murakami has an amazing gift to see beauty in everything and that is why he such an amazing writer.* I will no doubt re~read ‘After Dark’ again.

 

Highly recommended

 

Rating: 10/10

 

Edited April 20, 2009 by Weave

[pipread]

After Dark, I`m adding this to my wishlist - Thanks Gyre.

[Weave]

After Dark, I`m adding this to my wishlist - Thanks Gyre.

 

Not a problem

[Weave]

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong ~ Started: 07.04.09 ~ Finished: 13.04.09

 

Synopsis ~

 

Elena Michaels is your regular twenty~first century girl: self assured, smart and fighting fit. She also just happens to be the only female werewolf in the world...

 

It has some good points. When she walks down a dark alleyway, she’s the scary one. But now her Pack ~ the one he abandoned so that she could live a normal life ~ are in trouble, and they need her help. Is she willing to risk her life t o help the ex~lover who betrayed her by turning her into a werewolf in the first place? And, more to the point does she have a choice?

 

 

Another great read for me, I really enjoyed 'Bitten', Elena Michaels is an excellent character and there is so much to her, which I enjoyed, she is so much more than the only female werewolf in the world.

 

The story was excellent reading, I loved all the aspects of the wolf lifestyle, the sense of family, how they looked after each other. An excellent read, I am looking forward to reading ‘Stolen’ and hopefully the rest of the series.

 

Thanks to Kell for the recommendation.

 

Rating: 10/10

Edited April 20, 2009 by Weave

[lexiepiper]

Yay, so glad you liked it! Elena is my favourite in the series

[SaraPepparkaka]

I'm also a great fan of Elena!