Taking a break

I have some personal things to sort out so I won't be back for most of the remaining days of this month. Hopefully I'll be back active in September. Please stay following, I will be back.

Come to the Edge by Joanna Kavenna

Come to the Edge by Joanna Kavenna
Genre: Contemporary/Humour
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Quercus
Release Date: 12th July 2012
Format: Hardback
Pages: 295
Source: Publisher
Buy It: $13 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆☆
 

A narrator in retreat from suburban life, a shambolic draughty farmhouse in a scenic valley...A widowed survivalist called Cassandra White...A banker, a village-full of empty second homes, and scores of poor and elderly people with nowhere to go...A crazy utopian scheme to reclaim the valley for the locals. A dark, timely satire from Joanna Kavenna, the prize-winning author of Inglorious and The Birth of Love... - Book Depository

I didn't know what to expect from this book. I went in to it completely open minded and not knowing much; I'm glad because after reading the synopsis I realise it doesn't do much for this book.

The first 100 pages or so was very enjoyable, I was laughing out loud now and again at Cassandra's crazy-ness and at the narrator. After that, it went a little downhill. It was all very crazy and dramatic and I didn't really know what was happening. I think the whole thing about the empty houses and the 'perverts' was a little weird. Then again, I don't usually read this sort of book but I did enjoy it somewhat and I think people who usually read this sort of genre will enjoy it more.

The writing style is good. It's very easy to follow and there's nothing different about it. I like how the author chose to keep the narrator's identity under wraps. It doesn't distract from the story and if I'm honest, I didn't notice it until half way through.

The ending. I'm not really sure if I liked it or not. It was very sudden and abrupt. But I think that was what was supposed to happen. Everything was so dramatic and fast paced and then it all stopped with a big sudden ending which was good.

If you're a fan of contemporary humorous books, this is for you. It's definitely different but worth a read!

Teaser Tuesdays #9

Teaser Tuesdays is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Grab a book you're currently reading and post a teaser (no spoilers) to persuade others to read the book.

I wanted to suck up Cassandra's rich and foaming sense of purpose. And perhaps I didn't want to admit I had made a terrible mistake. Or worse still I might just have been too embarrassed to tell her I wanted to go. I ended up staying anyway. - p. 40 Come to the Edge by Joanna Kavenna.

Musing Mondays #8

Musing Mondays is a meme hosted by Should be Reading, which involves answering a book related question each week.

What attracts you to a book blog? What puts you off in a book blog? Do you share personal stuff on your book blog?

I love book blogs that have a nice colour scheme and the colours are not too bright or clashing. I also love if a book blog has their own banners for things like 'ramblings' or other such posts. I like when they have their own rating system rather than just a star rating system. Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea uses biscuits as her rating system and I love that! I prefer when there is links and images of the books that the particular blogger is showcasing. Book discussions are also great. I love organized sidebars too.

I hate clutter and blinding colour schemes and backgrounds. I also hate when there is too much of a focus on the person's personal life in posts. I want to see mostly book related things. I think all the different Sunday memes are okay for talking a little about your personal life. I personally don't like talking about my personal life unless I'm letting you guys know why I have been absent or slacking a little in my posts.

Summer Wrap-up Read-a-thon - Challenges & Updates

This challenge runs from august 4th-12th. If you want to sign up, you can do so here.

I don't have any plans for this because I never plan what I'll read, I read according to my mood. I won't be doing daily posts, I'll update this post when I can. (hopefully daily)

Books Read:

1. The Running Man by Stephen King

Challenges:

August 6th: Cover Love Challenge
Show the covers of one or more books released during the summer that you love!

Come to the Edge by Joanna Kavenna

Showcase Sunday #5

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea. It is an opportunity to show off the books you have recently acquired. Whether it was purchased, gifted, borrowed or sent for review, you can display it here.

World Without End by Ken Follett (purchased)

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom (netgalley)

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire (netgalley)

Maidenhead by Tamara Faith Berger (netgalley)