emma_jane2 Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 I've just joined this site, I have always had a huge interest in books and am a fast reader so I thought I'd share my reading list. Some books I only read half of either because I found them completely boring or annoying or because I found them too upsetting to continue with (such as eyewitness Auschwitz) January 1. Shadows of the workhouse by Jennifer Worth 2. Dying to be thin by Nikki Graham 3. Salem Falls by Jodi Piccoult 4. Stolen by Lucy Christopher (half) 5. Before I die by Jenny Downham February 1. Anorexic by Anna Patterson 2. Jake's Tower by Elizabeth Laird 3. Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel (half) 4. Eyewitness Auschwitz by Filip Muller (half) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 Shadows Of The Workhouse By Jennifer Worth Sypnopsis: Jennifer Worth worked as a midwife in the poverty ridden docklands on London in the 1950s. In this book she tells of the people she met; Jane who was born in the workhouse, due to being illigitimate; Peggy and Frank, devoted siblings who had to survive being seperated after their parents death and sister Monica Joan an eccentric ninety year old nun who is accused of repeated theft. My rating: 5/5 Review: As a history geek, I really enjoyed this book, the writing flows so well and so easily but I do warn you it is a very depressing and dark book. It shows the courage and strength or those giving their lives to help others in horrific conditions but one chapter is dedicated to a man's death from cancer and another to an oldmans lonileness, so be warned, it's not a happy tale at times. Good points: Very moving, gripping, interesting subject matter, funny at times. Bad points: Depressing at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 Dying to be thin By Nikki Graham Sypnopsis: Before she appeared on Big Brother, Nikki Graham's childhood revolved completely around her illness - anorexia nervosa. She spent her childhood and teenage years in multiple hospitals, institutions and children's homes - always fighting against those trying to save her. My rating: 2/5 Review: I myself am in recovery from a long battle against anorexia which is why I wanted to read this book; I was dissapointed. Nikki made no effort to hide the fact that she was and still is very proud of her illness; she does describe how it impacts the family well and realisticly but she doesn't offer hope, saying things like 'you never recover' - things I don't believe to be true. Very triggering for an eating disorder sufferer. Positives: Realistic, dramatic, descriptive. Negatives: downbeat, negative, dragged on, got boring after a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Is Shadows of the Workhouse a sequel? I think my mum has one about being a midwife in the 1950s on her bookcase. It sounds like my sort of thing. I myself am in recovery from a long battle against anorexia which is why I wanted to read this book . I'm happy to say I have no personal experience of this illness - I hope I don't sound patronising if I say I think you're brave to talk about it openly here when you're new, and to wish you good luck in your continued recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Welcome Emma Jane, To echo what Janet said, good for you for getting it out there. I hope you continue to recover and enjoy good health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 Shadows of the workhouse is the sequel to the book 'Call the Midwife' by Jennifer Worth, I haven't read it yet but if it's anything like Shadows of the Workhouse it will be good. Thank you for your kind words both of you, I am pleased to say I'm doing quite well in my recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 Salem Falls by Jodi Piccoult. Sypnopsis: The story is one of a modern day witch hunt, except the accused this time round is a new man in town who has been in jail in the past for statutory rape. Mix this with a web of secrets and magic and you have this book. Rating out of 5: 4/5 Review: This was the second Jodi Piccoult book I read (after nineteen minutes) and I really enjoyed it. The book kept me hooked as I wanted to see how it ended and who was telling the truth. However I knocked a star off because I guessed the twist of the plot quite early on in the book and the court scene did seem to drag on at times. Positives: moving, relative to modern issues, exciting, grasps attention. Negatives: Easily guessed twist, slow at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 Stolen by Lucy Christopher. Sypnopsis: A seven teen year old girl is abducted at an airport and is held captive by a man in his remote dessert home. Rating: 2/5 Review: My younger sister lent me this book so I knew not to expect great things as it's a young adult book however, the plot intrigued me so I gave it a go. The beginning of the book was very good, the description of the abduction and of the first few days of her captivity were very well written and kept me excited. The author also managed to give hints of emotional aspects that I knew would come out in the plot later. However I found it too uneventful. After the beginning, reading about their everyday life in the dessert just bored me, nothing of great excitment happened and I gave up half way through. Positives: serious subject written in a good way for young people to read, interesting plot, layered characters. Negatives: Not enough exciting events, dragged on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie2008 Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 I really love that you list the positives and negatives of the book really clearly Exactly the kind of thing I would be looking for. Salem Falls is on my list to read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 Thank you Salem falls is a great book, hope you enjoy it when you get round to reading it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted February 13, 2010 Author Share Posted February 13, 2010 Before I die by Jenny Downham Sypnopsis: Sixteen year old Tessa has been suffering from lukemia for the past few years and her father has never given up looking for that one thing that will save her. However things aren't looking good, Tessa's time is running out, so she decides to make a list, to really live whilst she has the chance. Rating: 4/5 Review: This is such a heartbreaking book, I often had to put it down because I was crying. The author writes from the point of view of Tessa very well, it's so relatable and believable but as the story progresses, the writing reflected the darkness and sadness of the subject beautifully. Positives: Beautifully written, compelling, lyrical structure of words. Negatives: depressing, very down-beat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted February 13, 2010 Author Share Posted February 13, 2010 Anorexic by Anna Patterson. Sypnopsis: Anna Patterson suffered a childhood of abuse at the hands of her sadistic grandmother, who the whole family were afraid of. Her way of coping with this was by developing the deadly illness anorexia which caused her whole world to fall apart. Rating: 2/5 Review: I'd read Anna's other book 'Beating Eating Disorders' and thought that was so helpful, inspiring and simple to work through so this was a disapointment. Her struggle was very easy to relate to, she explained life with an eating disorder and it's impact on the family etc perfectly. However her whole recovery was put down to her meeting 'the man of her dreams', it didn't offer any hope to anyone, it basically said, the only way to recover is by having a man to help you. Personally, my progress has all been made on my own so I did not like the way she empasied this. Postivies: Relatable, interesting Negative: downbeat, not inspiring, repetative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted February 13, 2010 Author Share Posted February 13, 2010 Jake's tower by Elizabeth Laird. Sypnopsis: Jake's home life is hard; his step-father is abusive, his mother is always making up excuses and he has never met his real father. He creates a world in his mind, a better place, where everything is the way he wishes it was. Can he create this place in reality? Or even something better? Rating: 3.5/5 Review: This book is aimed at a young audience (aged 12) but I liked the blurb so I decided to give it a go. It is a very sweet book, I found it easy to read, it didn't bore me and it was quite heartwarming. However I found some aspects very unbelievable such as how easily some problems were resolved and how people reacted to events in the story. Overall, a very simple and easy read, not for anyone looking for gritty drama. Positives: Easy, quick, heartwarming, good way to show a serious situation in a none graphic way. Negatives: Quick, simplistic, simple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshchick30 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Ive read Salem Falls and I quite enjoyed it too ....ive got nineteen minutes and mercy to read which im looking forward to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missybct Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Emma, I really like the way you lay out your reviews, and also wanted to wish you the best of health, I know what a struggle it is to overcome eating demons and I think you are really brave for both talking about it and reading about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 missybct: Thank you so much, that really means the world to me. It is the hardest fight I have faced but I know it's worth it welshchick30: I really recommend nineteen minutes - I loved it and lent to many friends of mine who all enjoyed it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 Other books I have read in February, now it is almost at an end. 5. Winter Rose by Patricia McKillip. 6. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted April 1, 2010 Author Share Posted April 1, 2010 I haven't had internet connection for a while so I haven't been able to post! These are my March Books: 1. Sleepwalking by Nicola Morgan 4/5 2. After the first death by Robert Cormier 5/5 3. Sugar Rush by Julie Burchill 2/5 4. Entwined by Lynda La Plante 3.5/5 5. Not the end of the world by Geraldine McCaughrean 2/5 6. Behind Closed Doors by Susan Sloan 4/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted April 27, 2010 Author Share Posted April 27, 2010 The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory Sypnopsis: This is the part fact, part fictional story of Henry the eigths first wife Cathrine or Aragon. It tells of her first marriage to Author and then her remarriage to Henry. Rating: 4/5 Review: The Tudor period in history has always been something I am very interested in and I'd heard nothing but great things about Phillipa Gregory's series so I've given it a shot. I know that The Constant Princess is supposed to be the worst in the series but I wanted to do them in order. I found the book very interesting and compelling. I really felt like I got to know Cathrine, like I felt her pain. Though at times it did drag on for way too long. Positives: Interesting, an eye opener, good imagery, reader can feel involved. Negatives: too long, boring at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted April 30, 2010 Author Share Posted April 30, 2010 I attempted to read Dear John by Nicholas Sparks as I heard nothing but great things about the movie and I prefer reading the book to seeing the film but I was so dissapointed. I had to stop after the first three or so chapters. Maybe I was expecting something different? More drama, more suspense but I found it to be a very dull romantic book. I probably would have enjoyed it more as the book progressed but I have too many other good books to read to waste my time with one that doesn't captivate me. I am now reading The Woods by Harlan Coben and am enjoying it a lot more. It's very exciting and thrilling though quite confusing at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola Booth Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Welcome I love Jodi Picoult books. Can't wait for the new one to be released House Rules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted April 30, 2010 Author Share Posted April 30, 2010 I love Jodi Piccoult too. I went to a book evening of hers last night and got to meet her which was amazing! She read a chapter from House Rules too and it does sound amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshchick30 Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Welcome I love Jodi Picoult books. Can't wait for the new one to be released House Rules I've got a hold on this book in the library...i cant wait to read it Im currently reading the Tenth Circle...Have u read it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 I like her too, have ordered mine from the library Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_jane2 Posted June 14, 2010 Author Share Posted June 14, 2010 I have a copy of Tenth Circle, I haven't read it yet though. I have all but one of her books, I've only read three so far though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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