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!

The Girl on the Stairs by Louise Welsh

The Girl on the Stairs by Louise Welsh
Genre: Mystery
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Hodder
Release Date: 2nd August 2012
Format: Paperback
Pages: 214
Source: John Murray Publishers
Pre-order: $16 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Jane Logan is six months pregnant and has moved to Berlin to live with her long-term lover, rich banker, Petra. The women's chic new apartment is in a trendy part of the city but Jane finds herself increasingly uneasy there. She conceives a dread of the derelict backhouse across the courtyard and begins to suspect something sinister is happening in the flat next door, where gynaecologist Alban Mann lives with his teenage daughter Anna. Petra believes her lover's pregnancy is affecting her judgement, but Jane is increasingly convinced that all is not well. Her decision to turn detective has devastating results when her own past collides with the past of the building and its inhabitants. A haunting, atmospheric novel from the acclaimed author of The Cutting Room. - Book Depository

This book wasn't what I was expecting. The blurb on the back was a lot more vague than the summary on Book Depository. I was expecting some sort of horror/mystery but what I got was a very dull mystery. It got 3 stars mostly because the characters were interesting and well developed and also the writing was great.

Jane and Petra's relationship was very believable. I knew they were very much in love. I didn't find any element of their relationship to be false or forged. Many people found their relationship to be odd and/or presumed they were sisters so that was realistic to today's society's general regards to lesbian/gay/transgender relationships.

It was very clear of the roles in this lesbian relationship. Petra was out working, gaining income for Jane and the soon to be born child whilst Jane was staying at home which she conveniently found time to 'investigate'. That was one thing I found a little annoying and also stereotypical of the male/female roles in the typical, heterosexual household.

There was a good balance of humor and the dynamics between the main characters and side characters. Overall the characters were very interesting and believable. I found myself engaged with the characters and connecting to them from the beginning.

The character development was great. I liked both Jane and Petra from the beginning but nearing the end I found myself slightly annoyed with Petra. Anna and her father also developed well.

From the beginning it was all very ominous and the suspense and mystery was built up gradually in a very well done manner. Though, I was a bit let down when I found out what the mystery was. I don't understand why Jane would care so much about a seemingly rude and ignorant thirteen year old girl so much! But that aside, the mystery was written appropriately for a mystery novel.

The writing was great. There was a lot of nice descriptions and metaphors which I love. Though, sometimes the metaphors were slightly exaggerated which irked me a little: "She pulled the pink scarf from a drawer and twisted it into a complicated knot." Since when do scarves have complicated knots? Generally it's a simple knot (if you would even call it a knot). I know I'm being picky but there was many more examples I found which I failed to take note of/remember.

The suspense and mystery did not drop for a second in this book. There was always questions being asked and answers but yet there was still more unanswered questions. It kept me guessing throughout.

The ending (the last 20 or so pages) was very fast paced and engaging. I found myself not wanting to put the book down for a second. There was also a great twist at the end too.

Overall I thought this was a decent mystery but it was far too short and lacking in depth. It was too straightforward. Also I found it a little tedious; why was Jane so obsessed with finding the answer to this mystery? Why should she care?

Anyone who likes basic mystery novels should definitely pick this up. (Though, it's no Agatha Christie!)

Thanks to John Murray Publishers (imprint of Hodder) for supplying me this book for review. 

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James
Genre: Erotica Romance
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 2011
Format: Kindle
Pages: 540
Source: Amazon
Buy: $5 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

WARNING: This is a review of an erotica novel so don't read the review if you don't like that. This review may also contain direct quotes from the novel.

Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, `Fifty Shades of Grey` is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever. When literature student Anastasia Steele interviews successful entrepreneur Christian Grey, she finds him very attractive and deeply intimidating. Convinced that their meeting went badly, she tries to put him out of her mind - until he turns up at the store where she works part-time, and invites her out. Unworldly and innocent, Ana is shocked to find she wants this man. And, when he warns her to keep her distance, it only makes her want him more. But Grey is tormented by inner demons, and consumed by the need to control. As they embark on a passionate love affair, Ana discovers more about her own desires, as well as the dark secrets Grey keeps hidden away from public view... - Book Depository

This book is good and bad for many reasons. I liked it because it had a decent plot/storyline and just enough drama to keep me interested. Though there was so many problems with this book. The writing was terrible and after about 40% of it, I was sick of it; here's why:

The writing was okay up until the sex scenes when there would be so many overused phrases e.g: gasped, holy fuck (any other variation on 'holy') and "I felt it down there". Really? Down there? If this is an erotic novel the least it could have was the damn scientifically correct words for 'down there'. Also, when she was angry with Christian or unsure of what to do, her 'inner goddess' would come out and her 'conscience' would hide. What is that? It was beyond annoying!

There was some plot issues also. Since when is a Mac-Book the latest technology? Also who doesn't have an email address? This is in reference to when Christian bought her a computer and set up an email for her.

I hated Ana more than words can describe. Though, I did find Christian to be very interesting. Why is he the way he is? etc. Christian is probably the reason I kept reading. Don't get me wrong though, he is not the type of guy you will fall in love with.

The whole book was literally just Ana arguing with herself about weather she should consent to the BDSM relationship with Christian. I just wanted to shake her and scream at her to consent because it's obvious she does somewhere along the lines considering there is a whole trilogy.

I won't bother with the Twilight similarities because there wasn't many. It definitely didn't take away from the story so don't let that affect your thoughts on this book.

Though there was a nice bit of drama, Christian was interesting and kept me interested for the most part. Read it if you like, if you don't, oh well.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
Genre: Literary fiction
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 2010
First Published: 2003
Format: Paperback
Pages: 180
Source: Book Depository
Buy: $9 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

He is a brilliant maths professor with a peculiar problem - ever since a traumatic head injury seventeen years ago, he has lived with only eighty minutes of short-term memory. She is a sensitive but astute young housekeeper who is entrusted to take care of him. Each morning, as the Professor and the Housekeeper are reintroduced to one another, a strange, beautiful relationship blossoms between them. The Professor may not remember what he had for breakfast, but his mind is still alive with elegant equations from the past. He devises clever maths riddles - based on her shoe size or her birthday - and the numbers reveal a sheltering and poetic world to both the Housekeeper and her ten-year-old son. With each new equation, the three lost souls forge an affection more mysterious than imaginary numbers, and a bond that runs deeper than memory. - Book Depository

 This book was beyond amazing! I enjoyed it much more than I expected and it was just great. I found it very hard to put down and I read it in just a day. But, keep in mind, this book is not action packed, full of suspense or anything else a commercial novel may have. It is very much character driven.

Although, it's character driven, none of the characters in this book have names. The housekeeper is simply the housekeeper, the professor, again, is simply the professor and the housekeeper's son is referred to as Root: a nickname he obtained from the professor because his hat is flat like a square root sign. There is also another character whom appears only a handful of times; the sister-in-law. This definitely made it more personal for the reader because these characters could literally be anyone.

The professor seems to have a problem with keeping housekeepers. At the beginning of the book it is noted that the professor has had nine housekeepers which have previously quit their job. Predictably the housekeeper we are presented with seems to find it easy and enjoys working with the professor. The professor is a very loving man. He can be a bit snappy but a lot of the time he is very polite and nice. He also loves Root's company. A very strong bond grows between Root and the professor throughout this book.

As the professor is a maths professor, there was a lot of equations throughout this book. For someone who hates maths, I didn't find it overpowering. I thought it was a nice, simple touch to add to the book. Numbers are basically the professor's only friends and he also admits this fact in the book.

This book was sad for a few reasons. The professor was such a recluse. He didn't know how to act around people and whenever he got frustrated or anxious he resorted to numbers. When he was out in public, this didn't work. This made me feel sorry for him. He seemed also to be a very lonely man and this is touched on in the book. Also, the ending. Not what I was expecting but it was still very sad.

If you're looking for a nice, easy but touching read, this is for you.

The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King
Series: The Dark Tower #2
Genre: Fantasy/Horror
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
Published: 2003
First Published: 1987
Format: Paperback
Pages: 454
Source: Book Depository
Buy: $9 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 



IMPORTANT: do not read the following book description if you have not read the first book in the series, The Gunslinger. However, my review will not contain any series spoilers.

After his confrontation with the man in black at the end of The Gunslinger, Roland awakes to find three doors on the beach of Mid-World's Western Sea--each leading to New York City but at three different moments in time. Through these doors, Roland must "draw" three figures crucial to his quest for the Dark Tower. In 1987, he finds Eddie Dean, The Prisoner, a heroin addict. In 1964, he meets Odetta Holmes, the Lady of Shadows, a young African-American heiress who lost her lower legs in a subway accident and gained a second personality that rages within her. And in 1977, he encounters Jack mort, Death, a pusher responsible for cruelties beyond imagining. Has Roland found new companions to form the ka-tet of his quest? Or has he unleashed something else entirely? - Book Depository

It was almost two years ago since I read the first book in this series. I was so put off by it because it didn't seem like something I would enjoy from the first book. As a crazy King fanatic, I decided to give this another shot since I found my copy of it recently which I bought about two years ago, also. I was not disappointed by this one. It really picked up the pace from the previous book and it was way more King-ish.

It took a little while to get stuck into this book, about 50 or so pages. But once the pace picks up, it never lags from there on. Though, I found it a little bit of a struggle to get through the last 50 pages. I guess it was because there was a lot of action going on and I'm not a fan of action. But the pages in the middle were definitely far from boring.

My favourite character in this would have to be The Prisoner, Eddie Dean. He was just so lovable. There was also a few more side characters, The Lady of Shadows, Odetta Holmes/Detta Walker and The Pusher, Jack Mort. I don't want to spoil the first book so let's just say there was a great deal of character development throughout the book. Also, the 'drawing' concept was genius!

The writing style is easy to get into. It all flows well and there's nothing complex about it. It's very straightforward which I love about King's writing. He doesn't use flowery descriptions or pages upon pages of describing the setting. Though, he does have some good metaphors and descriptions here, don't get me wrong, but it's not overpowering. The plot is very much King's main focus in writing this.

Overall this book was awesome. There is still a lot of unanswered questions I have so I'm looking forward to the next books in the series to see how everything turns out.

1st to Die by James Patterson

1st to Die by James Patterson
Series: Woman's Murder Club #1
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2001
Format: Paperback
Pages: 453
Source: Used book store
Buy: $8 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Four women--four friends--share a determination to stop a killer who has been stalking newlyweds in San Francisco. Each one holds a piece of the puzzle: Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector in the San Francisco Police Department, Claire Washburn is a medical examiner, Jill Bernhardt is an assistant D.A., and Cindy Thomas just started working the crime desk of the San Francisco Chronicle. But the usual procedures aren't bringing them any closer to stopping the killings. So these women form a Women's Murder Club to collaborate outside the box and pursue the case by sidestepping their bosses and giving each other a hand. The four women develop intense bonds as they pursue a killer whose crimes have stunned an entire city. Working together, they track down the most terrifying and unexpected killer they have ever encountered--before a shocking conclusion in which everything they knew turns out to be devastatingly wrong. Full of the breathtaking drama and unforgettable emotions for which James Patterson is famous, 1st to Die is the start of a blazingly fast-paced and sensationally entertaining series of crime thrillers. - Book Depository

It starts out with a simple murder scene of a couple on their honeymoon in their hotel suite. A person whom we believe to be called 'Philip Campbell' has murdered these newlyweds. This is the part in third person. It then switches to first person from Lindsay's POV and from there on, with the help of her partner Raleigh, they try to solve this murder. Soon enough, there is a murder of another two newlywed couples and they attempt to track down the killer of the connected three murders.

Aside from the main plot there is a lot of character development. There is a little romance which I wasn't too sure about, it seemed to sudden. I also love how the main character had a suddenly diagnosed terminal illness at the beginning. It added more to Lindsay's character. Patterson definitely succeeded in adding some real life drama into this too, it wasn't just about the murders.

The last 100 or so pages were great! It was filled with so many twists. I thought I had the whole thing figured out until something else happened, and then something else, and something else! It ended and I was satisfied with the ending but I saw there was an epilogue. I read that (which was set about 6 months ahead) and there was an even bigger twist! It was amazing. It kept you guessing throughout.

My only critique with this book was the writing was a little too simple and help back. Nothing really impressed me with the writing but that's not too big of a deal.

If you like a good murder mystery, read this. This book is what I would call a page-turner! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 2011
Format: Paperback
Source: O'Mahony's
Buy: $8 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. The black sign, painted in white letters that hangs upon the gates, reads: Opens at Nightfall Closes at Dawn. As the sun disappears beyond the horizon, all over the tents small lights begin to flicker, as though the entirety of the circus is covered in particularly bright fireflies. When the tents are all aglow, sparkling against the night sky, the sign appears. Le Cirque des Reves The Circus of Dreams. Now the circus is open. Now you may enter. - Book Depository

 While I really enjoyed this book, it wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting something a lot more enthralling, captivating and fast moving. But what I got was something more gradual, slow and magical. Which was still okay but I would have hoped for it to be a bit better paced and more linear.

The writing style was amazing. It was told in the third person for the most part with small second person chapters scattered throughout. This made you, the reader, a part of the story. An example of what I mean is the excerpt above from Book Depository. It used many words I didn't know, which I had to look up. This made me slow down in my reading even more and make me disconnect slightly from the story as I was reading. But that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It had a lot of sensual descriptions. It felt like I was in the circus throughout the entire book. Though, the people weren't very well described but I liked that--I could discern for myself what they looked like. One person that was well described was Poppet but the rest were left more the imagination.

The story was told in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The problem I had with this was that it jumped back and forth between years and character POV's (each chapter is from a different person's POV).  It made it a little difficult to discern what had already happened and what had not happened when it went back and forward in time. If you concentrate enough it shouldn't be much of a problem. It was an interesting way to write the story. Though, if this becomes a movie I'm not sure how this will work.

The characters were (for the most part) developed well. I really enjoyed the chapters with Baily, Poppet and Widget. I feel they were the characters I connected with most. Most importantly, their friendship was believable! I found Celia and Marco (the main characters) to be a bit flat and dull. I didn't relate to them and the romance didn't come into it till over halfway through the book. It was all too sudden and I found it forced and unbelievable. I really didn't enjoy them and I feel like we were supposed to since they were the main the characters.

There was various circus acts (not typical acts) which I really liked. The descriptions of the circus acts and the acts seemed very magical. There are acts such as tarot card readers, contortionists and illusionists.The circus itself was described beautifully and I felt as if I was there! The sensual writing really helps that.

Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to anyone who loves magic and illusions and romance.

 

Timeless Innocents by Janis Susan May

Timeless Innocents by Janis Susan May
Genre: Horror
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: June 11th 2012
Format: Kindle eBook
Source: NetGalley
Pre-order: $1.22 on Amazon
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

When Brianna Forte is made executor of the Clerkwells' estate, she thinks it'll be a simple task to catalogue and liquidate their assets. After all, they lived very modestly, their only apparent interest in life being a large collection of eerily lifelike little figurines called Timeless Innocents.
Exquisitely crafted yet somehow ominously creepy, the figurines are all different and made of some hard fleshlike material. When a parade of sinister characters turn up demanding she sell them the figures, Brianna begins to investigate their origin—and what she learns will change her life forever... - Amazon

This was an enjoyable book that passed away a few hours. But, that was all it was. I didn't jump, I wasn't scared--I did not show any sign I was reading a horror book. This wasn't of any fault to Janis Susan May, however, it was merely the fact that this novella was very similar to the usual movie thriller. Yes, I didn't find it to be of the horror genre because usually a lot more happens and many people die but this was a thriller because everything was more or less resolved by the end and it just kept you on your toes, waiting for something to happen throughout.

The first 'horrifying' thing happened at 48% of the book. That's how slow it was. It was just dragging and talking about pointless things to do with the protagonist's personal life. We didn't need that much detail!

When it got a bit 'spooky' it was relatively enjoyable, however to be able to scare someone while reading can be difficult (Mr. King is the only one who has achieved that with me) so I would think this story would be much more suited to the big screen rather than a book.

The writing was excellent. There was very little errors considering it's an uncorrected proof which is always a plus. The descriptions were great and I could picture everything perfectly. I loved the little details about the main character, Brianna. Her actions and how she reacted to things said so much about her. I loved how whenever she felt a bit stressed she had a diet Dr. Pepper.

The bad things about the writing: There was a little bit of telling and explaining rather than doing and illustrating here but it wasn't much of a big deal. Also, it was told in third person and was from Brianna's POV but in the middle it suddenly switched to another person's POV and at the end it switched to Brianna's boyfriend's POV which was sort of random. I think it would have flowed better without those two minor glitches.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick read but don't expect to be scared!

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Genre: Mystery/literary fiction
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Vintage
Year: 2004
First published: 2003
Format: Paperback
Pages: 271
Source: O'Mahony's
Buy It: $6 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow. This improbable story of Christopher's quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years. - Book Depository

This book is amazing! I picked it up without reading the back or knowing anything about it because I heard a lot of good things about it. I was kind of disappointing when I did read the back but when I started the book, I knew it was going to be awesome!

Christopher 'wrote' this book and he wanted it to be as he liked so he added many things to this mystery novel to personalize it. The first chapter is '2', the second is, '3', then '5' and then '11'. Notice any pattern? They're all prime numbers. There is also a number of maths formulas and equations which are explained in detail in the appendix.  There's many diagrams and illustrations demonstrating what Christopher is talking about such as the constellation Orion. Christopher is very interested in maths and physics in case you hadn't noticed.

The main point of this book is the characters. At first you think it's about the mystery but it's not, that is simply a minor subplot which serve as as base for the characters. The father, mother and neighbors play a big part in this book as well as Christopher. The various subplots help the characters grow and develop.

There is a couple of themes I picked up on. The first one being right and wrong or morality. Christopher is very set in what he thinks is right and wrong because of his Asperger's. He finds it very hard to trust people so the people he interacts with have to do things 'right' to gain his trust. But everyone has a different idea of what is the moral thing to do so it was interesting to see what Christopher thought.

Another, which is sort of connected to the first, is family. Family is very important to Christopher because it's all he has. He needs to know he can love and trust his father, whom he lives with. Christopher finds it hard to show his love for his father because he can't express emotion well and he doesn't like being touched. But they work around that together.

The writing style is very effective. It is told in a very simplistic way which conveys well how Christopher thinks and how is trail of thought is just mashed together. There is many long paragraphs which are just one sentence but it works and not many authors can pull that off. One thing I did find annoying was that nearly every paragraph started with the word 'And'. It worked to a certain extent but there was times when I found it overused and repetitive.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants an insightful, fun read.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 
Genre: Classic romance
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Arcturus
Year: 2010
First published: 1813
Format: Paperback
Pages: 352
Source: Tesco
Buy It: $3 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Pride and Prejudice, which opens with one of the most famous sentences in English Literature, is an ironic novel of manners. In it the garrulous and empty-headed Mrs Bennet has only one aim - that of finding a good match for each of her five daughters. In this she is mocked by her cynical and indolent husband. With its wit, its social precision and, above all, its irresistible heroine, Pride and Prejudice has proved one of the most enduringly popular novels in the English language. - Book Depository

 I started reading this book because I was dying to read Austen for a while. I bought a collection of her works and realised the book was much too heavy to carry around so I bought a single edition and began reading that. So, overall I spent over €20 on this, rather tedious novel. I enjoyed the first 100 pages but after that it got so boring and repetitive.

Mrs. Bennet annoyed me to no end. The whole book was mostly focused on how much she wanted her daughters to get married. She was selfish and annoying. Mr. Bennet was quite the opposite. He didn't seem bothered about his daughters marrying and he was very laid back and boring. Elizabeth is the main character and she was so annoying too. She moaned about how she hated Mr. Darcy throughout the book and then... the ending! What? It was so sudden and ridiculous. Jane was so boring and all nice and pleasing and horrible. Lydia was the only character I semi-liked. She was a typical teenage girl which I loved. I loved how she just left in the middle of the book without telling anyone.

The character development was poorly done. Everyone just so suddenly changed. Well, Jane and Mrs. Bennet never changed but the others, when they changed it was so obvious.

The writing style was okay, it was easy enough to understand but the blanks (which apparently is a 19th century literature thing to make books more realistic) was so distracting and not at all any more realistic than it already was (which was very little).

The plot was very 2D. There was not much to it. I don't really know what I was expecting from this novel but what I got was not what I wanted. It took me 5 days to read this novel when it should have taken only 2-3 days.

I'd recommend this book only if you like classics or Jane Austen.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath  
Genre: Classic literary fiction
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Year: 2005
First published: 1963
Format: Paperback
Pages: 234
Source: Book Depository
Buy It: $7 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Esther Greenwood is at college and is fighting two battles, one against her own desire for perfection in all things - grades, boyfriend, looks, career - and the other against remorseless mental illness. As her depression deepens she finds herself encased in it, bell-jarred away from the rest of the world. This is the story of her journey back into reality. Highly readable, witty and disturbing, The Bell Jar is Sylvia Plath's only novel and was originally published under a pseudonym in 1963. What it has to say about what women expect of themselves, and what society expects of women, is as sharply relevant today as it has always been. - Book Depository

WOW! That was all I could say when I finished this book. I wanted to constantly talk about it and just express my undying love for Esther Greenwood. But, unfortunatly, I am not surrounded by people who love books, nor am I surrounded by people who even like the sound of my voice. But, that's besides the the point. The point is, everyone should read this book. Everyone!

I'll admit, I was not expecting what I got. I was expecting something more like Girl, Interrupted. I am happy I didn't get that, though. I got something much, much more. But when I received the book in the post I was disappointed at the synopsis. It seemed a bit boring and cliché but nevertheless, I read it and had absolutely no regrets.

It begins with Esther Greenwood on a night out with her friend and they meet two guys. One is very attracted to Esther and one is attracted to her friend but Esther doesn't like him. This is where I sighed, put the book down and didn't touch it until I was forced to stay outside for an hour. I had nothing better to do, so I read this. When I finished the first 100 pages two hours later, I was amazed and couldn't stop reading from there on.

I won't talk too much about what happens in this book. Let's just say, I could relate to Esther a lot. She began to get very stressed and depressed. She described it as 'not being able to read or sleep' which was very worrying for her. I like how Plath doesn't automatically make her depressed, suicidal and every other mental illness possible as some authors would. She simply allows Esther's actions and thoughts to show she is depressed and is slowly spiraling out of control. Esther, as people suffering depression are, very unaware of why they are feeling this way and they begin to disconnect from the world. This was portrayed very well. I think the word 'depressed' was used only once or twice in this book but the illness is still very present.

As I said, it's nothing like Girl, Interrupted so don't be put off by her illness. It's much more than that. It's also about finding her place in society and feeling wanted and worth it. She doesn't have many friends because she doesn't like letting people in, which I can relate to again. It is also not 'the female version' of Catcher in the Rye as many people have compared it to. It has similar aspects to it but it's not that. It's a book all on it's own that deserves no other name put next to it but the title itself.

I also loved the concept behind the title. You'll find that out when you read it. It's not a spoiler but I think you should find out for yourself. Just, please. Stop what you're doing right now and go buy and read this book. Now!

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Genre: Dystopia
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Year: 2006
Format: Kindle
Pages: 304
Source: Amazon
Buy It: $10 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Imagines the lives of a group of students growing up in a darkly skewered version of contemporary England. This novel dramatises the author's attempts to come to terms with her childhood at the seemingly idyllic Hailsham School, and with the fate that has always awaited her and her closest friends in the wider world. - Book Depository

I had this book sitting on my Kindle since the day I got it, my birthday in February. I bought it and thought no more about it. I got it simply because I thought the movie advertisements were decent looking and it was on sale. I looked it up on Goodreads a couple of days before I started reading it (finally!) and I found out what it was actually about. So, I began reading and I wasn't dissapointed.

It starts out with the main character, Kathy H introducing herself. I liked the description of Tommy. From the first mention of that boy, I loved him. He was a great and well developed character, throughout. I didn't like Ruth much, nor did I like Miss Emily. But one character, I had no opinion on, was Kathy. You were very detached from Kathy throughout the book which is one of the reasons why I gave it just a 4/5. But don't get me wrong, I loved the book!

Another thing I wasn't too pleased about was the writing. It was very conversational and choppy in time. It began to take on a bit more of a linear sequence after about halfway, but broke off again at the end. Though, I did manage to get used to this and it wasn't too distracting.

I really loved the relationship between Kathy and Tommy from the very start. But that side of things was a bit predictable.

Some people didn't like how the book was so emotionless but I did. I realised it was a reflection on Kathy and how she was brought up in Hailsham. No one was allowed speak their mind or show their feelings. Kathy, especially felt quite intimidated by her friend, Ruth, which, I think, was another reason she wasn't very emotional.

It was a small bit confusing as to what happened at the end but I eventually realised (thanks to the movie adaptation). If you're a fan of books that you have to think about a lot, read this. If you're not, watch the movie because everything is practically spelled out for you.*

I really enjoyed this book!

*I might do a book and movie review (comparing them) also.

A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton

A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
Genre: Crime Mystery
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Pan
Year: 1993
Format: Paperback
Pages: 253
Source: Used bookshop
Buy It: $5 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

A tough-talking former cop, private investigator Kinsey Millhone has set up a modest detective agency in a quiet corner of Santa Teresa, California. A twice-divorced loner with few personal possessions and fewer personal attachments, she's got a soft spot for underdogs and lost causes. A IS FOR ACCUSED That's why she draws desperate clients like Nikki Fife. Eight years ago, she was convicted of killing her philandering husband. Now she's out on parole and needs Kinsey's help to find the real killer. But after all this time, clearing Nikki's bad name won't be easy. "A IS FOR ALIBI" If there's one thing that makes Kinsey Millhone feel alive, it's playing on the edge. When her investigation turns up a second corpse, more suspects, and a new reason to kill, Kinsey discovers that the edge is closer--and sharper--than she imagined. - Book Depository

This is my second time reading a murder mystery (first time being a couple of Agatha Christie books) and I loved it! It was first published in 1985 so I wasn't sure how enjoyable Grafton's writing style would be but it was amazing. If it wasn't for the great writing I probably wouldn't have liked it as much as I did. There was quite a few curse words but nothing major, which I thought was good as it helped create an image for Kinsey Millhone and helped me, as a reader depict what kind of character she was.

The "mystery" for this book is who murdered Laurence Fife? Eight years previous, Nikki Fife (Laurence's wife) was put in jail for his murder. She is out on parole now and needs Kinsey's help to find the real killer and get rid of her label as a murderer. I thought there was great suspense throughout and I never suspected one person out of all the people being interviewed in this book. Kinsey ends up being led to other connected murders whilst trying to solve this one. This added even for suspense. There was quite a big plot twist at the end which I loved! I did not see it coming--I didn't see anything coming in this book. It was not predictable in the slightest. I also loved how the it opened and ended with Kinsey confessing to a murder (the same murder).

The character development was great. I really loved Kinsey as a character. She was strong and witty which I loved. There was a great cast of other characters throughout this book too and they were not forgotten about--everyone in this book had very well developed characters and each had their own distinct personality. Trust me on this one, you will not forget the majority of characters in this book--especially not Kinsey.

If you're a fan of mystery/suspense/crime/thriller books, then read this. You won't be disappointed. I'm looking forward to getting the rest of the Alphabet Series.

*Just to let you know, the copy I have of this book is not pictured here as I bought it in a used book shop and I can't find my copy online anywhere to get a picture. I think it's out of print.

On Writing by Stephen King

On Writing by Stephen King
Genre: Autobiography/memoir
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: New English Library
Year: 2001
Format: Paperback
Pages: 351
Source: Book Depository
Buy It:  $10 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Find out what books and films influenced the young writer, his first idea for a story and the true life tale that inspired Carrie. For the first time, here's an intimate autobiographical portrait of his home life, his family and his traumatic recent accident. Citing examples of his work and those of his contemporaries, King gives an excellent masterclass on writing - how to use the tools of the trade from building characters to pace and plotting as well as practical advice on presentation. And King tells readers how he got to be a No. 1 bestseller for a quarter of a century with fascinating descriptions of his own process, the origins and development of, e.g. Carrie and Misery. - from Book Depository

As a big fan of King and an aspiring writer, I loved this book! I had been wanting to get my hands on this book for a while but just never bought it. When I received it in the mail I immediately began reading and was immersed into little anecdotes about King's childhood.

To put it simply, the first 100 or so pages was about King as a child and how he discovered his love for writing. The next 100 or so was on the craft of writing. He began by talking about the writer's 'toolbox' and then proceeded onto the mechanics of writing such as grammar (though, he didn't stall too long on that one, it is generally something every writer should know) and other such things. He talked a bit about ideas and plotting. He went through how he came up with the idea for a few of his novels. He also spoke about how to get published and what you have to do if you are serious about writing. King used a lot of motivational techniques in this book because once I was finished reading the 'on writing' section, I was pumped and wrote about five thousand words in a couple of hours.

The last part was about the time he got hit by a van and almost gave up on writing. He described what happened and how he recovered and began writing again. It was around 50 or so pages which was the perfect length for such a thing. If it went on any longer I would imagine it would become very tedious and whiny.

Throughout this book, King spoke a lot about his wife, Tabitha and how she helped him. I found this particular aspect of the book very interesting and I began to really like this woman by the end. I also gained a lot more respect for King as a writer than I had previously. I always respected him but his very blunt way of putting things and down to earth style of writing he used allowed me to "get to know him", if you like.

Overall I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to any King fan or aspiring writer.