Bobblybear's Book List - 2012

[bobblybear]

^You may enjoy it; it just wasn't my cup of tea, though the subject matter was interesting.

[bobblybear]

Blue Heaven - C J Box

 

Synopsis from Amazon:

THEY WERE RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME, NOW THEY'RE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES If twelve-year-old Annie hadn't been angry with her mother, she would never have taken her younger brother William on a secret fishing trip deep into the North Idaho woods and they would never have witnessed the execution nor looked straight into the eyes of the four executioners. Now they're running for their lives. They can't go home: the killers know exactly who they are. And where they live. They can't turn to the law: the killers are four respected Los Angeles policemen. There's nowhere for William and Annie to hide. And no one they can trust. Until they meet Jess Rawlins. Rawlins, an old-school rancher, knows something is wrong with the law in Blue Heaven. But he is only one against four men who will stop at nothing to silence their witnesses...

 

My Thoughts:

This was a pretty decent, fast-paced thriller. Actually, it was very decent (aside from a pretty weak opening chapter, which nearly had me putting it aside), and I found it very hard to put down. I'd say it was actually one of the better books of it's genre. A lot of these hide-and-seek thrillers often end up with the hero being almost super-human, and just too cool for words. Jess Rawlins is written as just an ordinary guy who sticks by his principles of doing the right thing but in his own way. The book never strays into the territory of the ridiculous, which is why it's so readable through to the end.

 

There are also good doses of suspense, to keep the reader engaged and wanting to know what happens next.

 

8.5/10

[bobblybear]

Paper Towns - John Green

 

Synopsis from Amazon:

Who is the real Margo? Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life - dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge - he follows. After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. She has disappeared. Q soon learns that there are clues in her disappearance ...and they are for him. Trailing Margo's disconnected path across the USA, the closer Q gets, the less sure he is of who he is looking for.

 

My Thoughts:

This book reminded me a bit of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, only better. Maybe that’s a bit unfair, as I read TPoBaW quite a few years ago, but I remember being very disappointed as I’d expected it to have a significant impact on me (based on reviews and comments).

 

Paper Towns is written through the eyes of Quentin Jacobsen, a teenager about to graduate from high school – and his efforts to find his childhood friend Margo who has intentionally gone missing. Quentin and his friends follow the ‘breadcrumbs’ that Margo has left, in order to find where she has disappeared to.

 

It kept me intrigued from the start. It sagged a tiny bit in the middle, and I wanted the story to move a bit faster, but that was only temporary. It’s not the kind of book that can be rushed as it is very multilayered, and a lot of the subtlety can be missed (and I’m sure I missed a lot of it). It’s more than just a ‘mystery story’; it’s a lesson about seeing and accepting people for who they are and really seeing them as a person, flaws and all. Even though the book is about teenagers, and written through the eyes of one, it’s not necessarily what I would consider YA. I'd never heard of John Green before, but he's written a few books - mostly YA by the sound of things - and seems to be pretty popular, judging by reviews of his books.

 

9/10

[~Andrea~]

Blue Heaven sounds good BB. Happy reading!

[bobblybear]

Thanks Andrea. It was a very good read.

[frankie]

I've just updated my Books Purchased list. I've bought 75 books this year ( - I'm quite shocked at that; it's quite scary to see them listed like that), and of those I've only read 11 of them.

 

I'm sorry for laughing, but this is just all too familiar to a fellow BCF member! It's really scary when, at the end of the year, the number of books bought is bigger than number of books read. And there's no safe cure!

[Kidsmum]

I'm sorry for laughing, but this is just all too familiar to a fellow BCF member! It's really scary when, at the end of the year, the number of books bought is bigger than number of books read. And there's no safe cure!

 

That's why i didn't bother with a books bought list on my reading log this year it just made me feel guilty every time i added to it although i've now got an overflow pile next to my first overflow pile next to my bookshelves so i know i haven't mended my ways since last year

 

I liked your review of Pure, Bobbly i didn't enjoy it either & couldn't understand how it won an award but some people seem to have enjoyed it so i guess it's just a matter of different tastes.

[bobblybear]

I liked your review of Pure, Bobbly i didn't enjoy it either & couldn't understand how it won an award but some people seem to have enjoyed it so i guess it's just a matter of different tastes.

 

Thanks Kidsmum. I was scratching my head while reading it, but like you say, people have different tastes. I found the core of the story interesting (ie. the 'real' bits), it was just the fictionalised parts that bored me.

[bobblybear]

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - JK Rowling

 

Synopsis from Amazon:

'In a brief statement on Friday night, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He Who Must Not Be Named has returned to this country and is once more active. "It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord - well, you know who I mean - is alive and among us again," said Fudge. These dramatic words appeared in the final pages of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In the midst of this battle of good and evil, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince takes up the story of Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with Voldemort's power and followers increasing day by day ...

 

My Thoughts

This is the penultimate Harry Potter book, and in my mind the series just gets better and better. I loved seeing the characters develop over the books - even the minor ones; they are all pretty detailed and you never quite know how relevant to the story they will be. I love Luna Lovegood's character - she's awesome! The storyline is becoming more complex and a lot darker in tone, and there are also adolescent romance parts which are quite sweet.

 

There are quite a few shockers in it, especially towards the ending (if you’ve read it, you’ll know what I mean), and I just couldn't believe what I was reading. In fact, when I went into work the next day, the first thing I said to my coworker when she walked through the door was:

"Snape killed Dumbledore!!" She had read the series, and thankfully didn't give anything away, now that I've read the final book and know the truth!!

 

 

Tom Riddle's background is explained a bit more as well, which just adds a bit more depth, though to be honest I'm not that interested in him beyond being 'the bad guy'

 

The ending nicely sets the tone for the next and final book, in which the showdown between Harry and Voldemort takes place. I was lucky to be able to read the final book straight away; I can't imagine the excitement and suspense of people who were reading the books as they were being released. I don't know how much time lapsed between the 6th and 7th book being released, but I would have been on tenterhooks the whole time. As hokey as it sounds, it's great to get so excited over a book release!

 

10/10

[bobblybear]

The BFG - Roald Dahl

 

Synopsis from Amazon:

The well-loved story of a big friendly giant who spirits a child out of bed to the land of the child-eating giants. This edition has a great new cover by Quentin Blake as well as a whole new exciting end section about Roald Dahl and his world.

 

My Thoughts:

This was one of my childhood favourites, though I hadn't read it in maybe 25 years, so had forgotten quite a bit of it. I doubt there are many people who haven't read The BFG and I'm sure a lot of people my age have fond memories of it. I wonder if Roald Dahl's books are as popular with children now, as they were 'back then'.

 

I had completely forgotten about The BFG's unique way of speaking and reading it as an adult I can see how creative and clever it is. And who can resist giggling at whizzpops!

 

It's a short, entertaining and unique read that hopefully everyone will have had the pleasure of reading at least once in their lives.

 

9/10

[bobblybear]

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling

 

Synopsis from Amazon:

'His hand closed automatically around the fake Horcrux, but in spite of everything, in spite of the dark and twisting path he saw stretching ahead for himself, in spite of the final meeting with Voldemort he knew must come, whether in a month, in a year, or in ten, he felt his heart lift at the thought that there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione.' With these words Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince draws to a close. And here, in this seventh and final book, Harry discovers what fate truly has in store for him as he inexorably makes his way to that final meeting with Voldemort. In this thrilling climax to the phenomenally bestselling series, J.K. Rowling will reveal all to her eagerly waiting readers.

 

My Thoughts:

I was so excited to start this, but it was a bit of a downer as well knowing it was the last of the series. We’ve seen Harry and his friends grow from 11 year old kids to young adults with huge responsibilities. Initially Rowling may have been writing for children, but as the popularity of the series has taken off and attracted readers of all ages, I think the tone of the books have changed, so they are more likely to appeal to people of all ages. The last few books are a lot more sinister with more adult themes; I suppose a lot of readers have grown with Harry and are now young adults themselves.

 

This one was so full of twists and turns, and I did find it a bit hard to keep up. I’m still not sure I understand the full connection between the Deathly Hallows and the Horcruxes, but I’m sure when I watch the movies it will fill in any gaps in my understanding.

 

The death-count is quite high and I guess it’s to be expected given the subject matter, but I couldn’t help but shed a tear at

Fred Weasley's demise. Not to mention Lupin and Tonks. All three were very colourful characters.

 

 

I loved Snape’s backstory and I think he is now my favourite character in the series. I really look forward to re-reading the series again to see all the little seeds that have been planted about things that were revealed in the later books of the series.

 

I was also happy to see Neville Longbottom play a large and key role. It’s nice to see an underdog character find their own place and strengths and come out on top. Go Neville!!!

 

Clearly I’m a fan, so I’ll have to give it a high recommendation.

 

10/10

[Kidsmum]

I read the BFG to my little girl & it's definitely one of my favourites we've got a Roald Dahl Recipe book which has snozzcumbers in as well

[bobblybear]

Me Before You - Jojo Moyes

 

Synopsis from Amazon:

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

 

My Thoughts:

I loved this book. I initially had some doubts about reading it, because it seemed to be a chick-lit book if I was going to judge it by the cover (naughty, I know ). Even though the subject matter sounded quite serious, I didn’t think it would be dealt with in an appropriately considerate way. But I read quite a few rave reviews of it, and thought I would give it a try, and I’m so glad I did.

 

Yes, the subject matter is very serious, but it is also coupled by the light-hearted tone of the narrator Lou, who is a very endearing, generous person. The two main characters are very well fleshed out, and Will’s condition is dealt with compassionately and in no-holds-barred detail, so you really can empathise with his state of mind and his intentions. Of course it makes the reader ask the inevitable question: What would you want to do in the same situation?

 

Both characters grow and change through the book, having an impact on each other, and changing each others lives. I’ve seen in some reviews the book has been described as romantic or a love story, but I would describe it as a story of intense friendship between two people who are fighting their own demons, and cannot connect with anyone else in way they can with each other.

 

All sides of the story are covered, using Will and Lou’s family to show all the different strong opinions people have

about assisted suicide

.

 

The book is dotted with humour, and is very funny in some places. I think this helps keep your spirits up and makes it a bit easier to read, otherwise it could end up a depressing read that leaves you on a downer for the rest of the day. Despite the heavy topic, I found it easy to read and quite hard to put down. Sad when it ended, but in a way I’m glad it ended how it did.

 

One of the best this year for me.

 

10/10

[poppyshake]

Great review bobbs. I was put off by the cover too but Audible had it as one of their free first chapter downloads and it was practically the only one that sounded even vaguely interesting. I'm now very encouraged by your 10/10 .. so much so that I was very disciplined and didn't click on your spoiler .. though I wanted to very much

I probably will listen to it actually because *hides head in shame* .. I don't want to see that cover on my shelves. It didn't seem to even go with the story.

[bobblybear]

Thanks poppyshake. The spoiler isn't that much of a spoiler really and is hinted at in the synopsis, but I thought I'd play it safe.

 

The cover is an odd choice, and somewhat lets the book down a bit, or at least misrepresents it. I suppose that's why they always say to not judge a book by the cover, but sometimes it can't be helped as a first impression.

 

I also found out today that it is Richard & Judy book. I suppose it explains why it is so popular. They interviewed the author (it's on You Tube) and she had some interesting comments to make.

[Kidsmum]

I'm so annoyed as i've seen this book loads of times in different charity shops & jumped to the conclusion it was chick lit so didn't bother picking it up & now i find out its not & i want to read it it's disappeared into the literary ether. That'll teach me not to judge a book by it's cover next time i'll just have to buy all the books to be on the safe side

[Janet]

A friend offered me a Jojo Moyes book recently (I don't know if it was the same one) but I said no because of the cover. Oh dear - we are a judgemental lot at times it seems!

[bobblybear]

In fairness though, how else can you judge a book when you have never heard of it before? It can only be the cover that draws you to it and makes you pick it up to read the blurb or the back cover. That's my excuse anyway. Having said that, I would have never picked it up, if not for the rave reviews and the confirmation that it is not chick-lit.

[poppyshake]

A friend offered me a Jojo Moyes book recently (I don't know if it was the same one) but I said no because of the cover. Oh dear - we are a judgemental lot at times it seems!

Well, in our defence .. we have to draw the line somewhere or our houses would fall down I do tend to draw mine at covers and you know, nine times out of ten it works. I go into Waterstone's and the cover I'm drawn to tends to have the story in it I like. This one is an exception though .. they have to keep you on your toes I suppose.

[bobblybear]

The Declaration - Gemma Malley

 

Synopsis from Amazon:

Sixteen-year-old Anna should not have been born. It is the year 2140 and people can live for ever. No one wants another mouth to feed, so she lives in a Surplus Hall, where unwanted children go to learn valuable lessons . . . at least she wasn't put down at birth. One day, a new inmate arrives. Anna's life is thrown into chaos. He says things about her parents and the Outside that couldn't possibly be true . . . Or could they? Thrilling, passionate and beautifully written, this dystopian novel is perfect for fans of The Hunger Games

 

My Thoughts:

I liked the story, but probably would have preferred it as an ‘adult’ book rather than ‘young adult’ as it would have maybe been told in a grittier way. While the story itself was serious, it was often interrupted by the romantic tension between Anna and Peter. I lost count of the times Anna blushed when Peter looked at her, and how often Peter’s eyes ‘flashed’ whevever someone said something that irritated him. (In fact, as the story went on, I kept myself entertained by guessing - sometimes correctly – that Peter’s eyes were about to ‘flash’ ) But, really that’s a minor criticism and probably wouldn’t bother other readers. Thinking on it, I would have enjoyed it more if the main characters were adults.

 

I thought the story took a little while to take off and a bit too much time was spent in the Surplus Hall but I can see how it was need to set the scene. I was just dying to find out about the outside world so I was a bit impatient.

 

If you like dystopian novels, then there will be something in this book to keep you interested whether you are a young adult or adult.

 

I'll read the sequels, but they aren't at the top of my TBR list.

 

7/10

[bobblybear]

The Witches - Roald Dahl

 

Synopsis from Amazon:

"There is a secret society of Witches in every country," said my grandmother. "An English witch will know all the other witches in England. They swap deadly recipes. Goodness knows what else they talk about. I hate to think."

Unfortunately, there is no way of telling for sure whether a woman is a witch or not- but there are a number of little signals that you can look out for, as the hero of this story finds out. But can he foil the Grand High Witch and her gang before he is squelched forever?

 

My Thoughts:

This is another re-read from my childhood. I loved the story back then and loved it just as much now. Roald Dahl really shows off his creative talents with his description of these wig-wearing, square-toed witches. Such an inventive and imaginative story. No wonder he was such a popular children’s author.

 

Highly recommended for children and adults alike.

 

9/10

[bobblybear]

I've just updated my Books Purchased list. Here I was thinking I was being good and not buying many, and I've bought 13 Kindle books in the last 2 months. How did that happen? Goodness knows how many I will buy during the Twelve Days of Kindle. I'm dreading it but also looking forward to it.

[bobblybear]

Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch

 

Synopsis from Amazon:

My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluable, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England.

Now I'm a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden . . . and there's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair.

The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying.

 

My Thoughts:

Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this as much as other people have, but I seem to be in the minority. The synopsis made it sound like something I would like. It started off well with a very quirky storyline (loved the first meeting with the ghost) and a likeable lead character. One of the problems I had with it was the humor. I’ve come to realise that I don’t particularly enjoy humor in fiction. It reminded me of Jasper Fforde whose book I couldn’t fully get into, partially because of the humor. It just got a bit too bizarre for my liking.

 

The murders in the story were extremely graphic; that didn’t bother me, but it was an odd juxtaposition with the humor and lightheartedness within the novel. I couldn’t quite place the genre – was it supposed to be serious or funny? It didn’t feel right to me and it left me scratching my head. I did chuckle at the Harry Potter references though.

 

I won't be reading the sequel anytime soon.

 

6/10

Edited December 2, 2012 by bobblybear

[bobblybear]

The Loop – Nicholas Evans

 

Synopsis from Amazon:

Helen Ross, a twenty-nine-year-old biologist, is sent to a sleepy Rocky Mountain ranching town to defend a pack of wolves from those who want to destroy them. For in Hope, Montana, a century ago, the wolf was slaughtered to extinction and though now protected by law as an endangered species, the old hatred runs deep. Alone in this hostile place, bruised by a broken love affair, Helen struggles for self-esteem and survival, embarking on a dangerous alliance with the son of her most ferocious opponent, the brutal and charismatic Buck Calder.

 

My Thoughts:

Loved this book, but no surprises there as I have enjoyed all of Nicholas Evans’ books. The Loop has a double meaning, of the circle of life and the horrific trap used to kill wolf pups.

 

His books are always about people with a journey to make – people who are ‘incomplete’ in some way and need to undergo a particular life experience to be ‘whole’ or to reach their full potential. I like the way he writes flawed characters so well, without going over the top and making them caricatures. He never skims the surface, but goes right into the detail of what has made his characters the way they are and it’s painful to watch them struggle to better themselves.

 

The tale of the wolves is very interesting in itself, and I’m surprised that they are so hated in parts of America (I’m assuming that bit is factual – haven’t actually looked it up myself). Some parts make for difficult reading (as an animal lover), but I guess it’s necessary to tell the whole story.

 

It’s a shame he’s mostly known for The Horse Whisperer, as I think that is his ‘weakest’ book (perhaps because it was his first), though it’s still pretty damn good. The Loop is probably my most-loved of his books now, though it’s a close call with The Divide as well.

 

10/10

[vodkafan]

Hi bobblybear, sort of a Coincidence because I was just looking at both those books (Rivers Of London and The Horse Whisperer) only minutes ago, they are on my shelf ready for next year....was turning both of them over in my hands, then I clicked on your thread and saw this....