Review: See What I Have Done

See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

To be perfectly honest, I knew very little about Lizzie Borden before picking up this book. It just sounded like a great story, and I got hooked pretty quickly. Then I started watching Season 11 of Supernatural (those Winchester boys are always teaching me cool new stuff) and there was an episode about the 'Lizzie Borden case' and I cottoned on that this is something that actually happened.

So that whole historical aspect is pretty cool and I love that it's a fictionalised account that makes assumptions but it's gonna eat away at me not knowing the actual truth. Unsolved mysteries get me every damn time. Gotta admit though - Lizzie is pretty suss.

So I can't say much about the actual characters since they were real people, but the way they were written was fascinating. This novel paints the picture of a sordid family of mostly despicable human beings. (Emma was okay, but she was nuts to put up with Lizzie like she did.)

Lizzie's clearly got a couple of screws loose, and you kinda feel for pops and the step-mum, but then you realise they are also really crummy people. That family just sounds like it was all kinds of messed up.

The entire mystery is absolutely riveting, particularly when you add the whole 'possible poisoning' element. It's so confusing. I wanted Sherlock Holmes to give it a once over because there were just so many dangling threads that seemed impossible to tie together. This case is gonna haunt me, I can feel it. It was an easy hook and I powered through this novel trying (unsuccessfully) to figure it out.

The writing style was a bit odd, and at times it frustrated me, because it felt like it was trying to be clever literary fiction but it was also really simplistic? Skipping words, repetition, etc.

I did really enjoy the personality that was injected into the characters though.

Overall it doesn't give too much more than a Google search turns up, but it does humanise the characters and add a little more feeling into cold hard facts. It was a 4 star read for me, but it was the plot and the madness of the characters that got me, so I feel like I can't really give all that credit to the author. The writing didn't impress me and, as mentioned, it doesn't do anything particularly novel with the story, so there's not really anything new to sink your teeth into. As a novel it was a great read, but for those reading it for a new angle on a historical case, you may be disappointed.

View all my reviews

Review: Behind the Night Bazaar

Behind the Night Bazaar by Angela Savage
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Oh boy. How do I even attempt to make this review kind?

Firstly, it's such a nothing story. It sets itself up as crime but there's zero mystery and it all gets solved pretty quickly. It's more about corruption and how it's dealt with.

That being said, it also has a bunch of x-rated scenes that totally threw me. I felt super awkward reading about the licking of arse cracks and cresting orgasms and hard nipples and packages, etc. So not my jam. It was such a ridiculous inclusion and I honestly can't understand what the value was. If you're going to write hardcore erotica, better to make that clear from the get-go than trying to disguise it as a crime novel.

So as a crime novel, it was insubstantial and terrible, with no mystery and too much sex but, as an erotica novel, there was no chemistry, no plausibility, and no build up to the relationships.

Jayne is a terrible, colourless character. Everyone who meets her wants to bone her, but she's totally ordinary. She's also incredibly arrogant and frustratingly self-absorbed and I just did not like her one bit. She has no personality. She has no real feeling. She was just ... meh.

In fact, I didn't really like any of the characters. Actually none of them. I didn't even realise that Komet wasn't an ancient old fuddy-duddy until the last 20 pages or so. They're all so bland and boring and preachy and one-dimensional and there's just zero to relate to. There's nothing worth investing in.

I wasn't thrilled with the Thailand setting, because it was dark and grimy and it really just feels like the author is trying to shove in your face how much she knows about Thailand compared to the tourists who flock there on a regular basis. I don't think it was necessary to include as many Thai phrases as there were. The whole thing just felt incredibly condescending. Maybe it'd be different if I'd been to Thailand, but I doubt it.

So.

Constructive criticism?

Build a plot that hooks the reader with little mysteries that aren't easily resolved. Create deep, multi-dimensional characters who have qualities the reader can relate to. Tone down the sex, or amp it up to a proper erotica novel. Commit to the story. Don't try to impress your reader as anything other than a talented author. Use names that are easy to comprehend on paper.

I didn't like it. Not even a little. Sorry. I mean, I'm always impressed by any author who actually finishes a novel, but this particular work suggests a lot of room for improvement.

This is a particularly scattered review, I know. I'm just trying really hard not to go on a mean rant and slam this book as much as my heart yearns to.

If you like Thailand, or murder mysteries with no mystery, or lots of references to sex and homosexuality, go ahead and pick this one up. As it stands, this was nowhere near my cup of tea.

View all my reviews

Review: The Raven Boys

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Mate. What was that?

Like, I have no idea what just happened.

I happily admit this was a thousand and one times better than Shiver, but I'm just so confused.

Don't get me wrong: I did actually really enjoy it. I have no regrets at letting FOMO and peer pressure make this reading choice for me.

But ... I mean ... I just ... what???

I think it's the blend of reality and magic that did my head in. I like a taste of magic in the real world, but this just went with it so naturally. Are we really supposed to believe a guy as popular and handsome etc as Gansey is just perfectly accepted as a superstitious eccentric? No way he didn't cop a ton of crap for it all behind his back. Teenage boys are JERKS. There's no way all this weird crap was accepted as normal. Sorry, don't buy it.

And coincidently the teacher was into the same bs? No no no. I do believe it more of the social outcast, but the alpha male's gotta at least get some weird looks.

Blue makes perfect sense, though. She's odd, and a bit of a loner. Shame she didn't get at least one bff, though!

So there's that: the formula was off like a bag of prawns in the sun.

And then just ... ley lines and energy and dowsing and stuff ... it's a lot to wrap your head around. It's modern day magic brought to life like it's the most natural thing ever and I was a bit confused by it. I'm hoping reading the rest of the series will clear up a lot but basically there's a lot of magic and it's really hard to understand what is normal and what is science and what is fantasy and WHAT GENRE IS THIS, BTW??!

I really liked the characters, though. Those boys are adorable.

Gansey is a great hero, being the rich snob who's trying really hard (and failing) to not be a rich snob, and he's well balanced with his realistic, poor friend, his aggressive, idealistic friend and that one guy who doesn't say a lot. The boys make a great crew; a bromance for the century. I like that there's so much testosterone-fuelled angst thrown around but they still manage to stay thick as thieves. That's pretty cool. (view spoiler)[I definitely wanted to high-five Ronan for decking Adam's old man. Hes the real MVP. (hide spoiler)]l

Blue is a quirky little misfit but I like her assertiveness. Shame about that whole 'no kissing' thing, though. Total bummer.

Her wacky fam is fam goals. I mean, maybe not quite craziness at that level but just that honesty and community and trust etc. It's heartwarming to read about actual decent parents in YA - they always cop a raw deal! So Blue's family were a welcome addition to the plot. Handy having an in-house psychic!

Whelk was a creepy ol' douchebag so I was quite happy to hate him. What. A. Loser.

It's a pretty quirky story with a bunch of random symbolism that hopefully clears itself up in the next few novels. If you just kinda relax and go with it, it's a pretty enjoyable story. There's plenty of action and intriguing developments to drive the narrative, and how the characters relate to one another is probably the greatest charm of the book.

Can I just talk about the ending for a sec?

(view spoiler)[So I have no idea what happened with Adam? I think the vagueness failed to penetrate my thick skull. I thought he was gonna end up in Gansey's body (otherwise what was that 'I'll be your eyes and ears' crap?) and then he got not-shot which kinda confirmed my theory but then no one was shot? And Adam was basically the same except on a power trip? So was his sacrifice actually to the Latin trees? (Also, lol at the Latin trees) And why did we jump straight from there to the happily ever after?? What a terrible conclusion. I mean, I'm glad it wasn't a cliffhanger but that was a pretty terrible ending.

And what's up with Gansey being all, 'OMGeeeeee Adam you totally let him be trampled, you murderer!' (And also, I'm still confused about what did the trampling?? Like, I kinda just pictured Arwen's badass water horses from the Lord of the Rings movie but I'm pretty sure these things were more tangible. But where did they go???) Because Gansey seems like a pretty reasonable guy so I thought it was a bit condescending for him to suddenly be all accusatory towards one of his best mates. Plus, he's a weird dude. So I get that he might feel a bit sick over witnessing death but surely he kinda saw it coming after messing around with all this crazy stuff. Sigh. It just didn't make a huge amount of sense to me.

And since I'm divulging spoilery feelings, I'm totally shipping Gansey and Blue. Adam is aiight, but he's all soft and dull. Whereas Gansey can be soft but is more sharp, shiny edges. In short, he's a billion times more fun. Top pick for Raven bf.
(hide spoiler)]

I expected to love this because everyone else seems to (and that worked well for me with Six of Crows) but ir didn't nab me as hard as I hoped. I really enjoyed it, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one, but I'm not feeling obsession, so it didn't quite hit the 5-star mark.

I was also a bit frustrated by the writing - like when the author forgot she knew more than us. Eg. When Girlfriend is referred to by her name, creating a hitch in continuity. It still feels like messy writing but, considering it's come such a long way since the train-wreck that was Shiver, I'm pretty dang excited for what will be spawned in the future from such magnificent author growth.

Final verdict: quirky, but loveably so. Characters that are easy to fall for, and a story that raises plenty of questions, driving the pace. Best served with a grain of salt. YA lovers should be suitably smitten.





View all my reviews

Review: All the Light We Cannot See

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Oh hey, it's unpopular opinion time!

Reading this book was a total drainer. It's so over-hyped. For some reason everyone drops their panties for war stories but it's just not my jam. They are honestly all the same to me and with everyone going nuts over this one I thought it might be different but no, it's 500 tedious pages of the same depressing crap.

So we've got this sweet lil blind girl, who's just dealt a rough hand in life. It's her and pops, thick as thieves and full of wonderful imagination to get them through dark times. It's a sweet relationship; I'm not totally heartless! I love creativity and imagination and I love that they can use it for good. So I was totally rooting for them and their naivety. (Watch out for those 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea spoilers, though.)

Then there's Uncle Etienne, who's a bit of a nutter, but a loveable nutter. He's the typical old fuddy duddy whose hardened heart is softened by youthful innocence. And he's tempered by the super positive, also creative Madame Manec, who's basically Jamie Oliver with war rations. So she's pretty handy to have around.

On the other side of the coin, there's little German Werner, who's basically a nerdy coward who does what he's told.

There's also some symbolic story about a valuable gemstone but, honestly, it's a dangled carrot to get you reading yet another war book about how much war sucks. It promises it's gonna be different, tell a unique story, but it's the same message.

Guh.

I really should not read war books. They are too depressing. They prattle on and on and on about life in a war zone - lack of food, bombs all the time, crumbling buildings, fear of soldiers, of being arrested, hiding out etc. I GET IT. I can appreciate that living through that era was absolutely horrific and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. But there are so many books that have already told these stories from hundreds of different viewpoints. I'm always willing to try new things and I was fortunate enough to win a copy of this book; I had high hopes for it - I wouldn't have picked it up, otherwise! But there was too much of the same and not enough of the unique to make this an interesting read.

I was grateful for the mercifully short chapters, as it did make it easier to read, but it also made me more surprised at how much the story dragged. I get it: this is not a book for people who want a good story. This is a book for people who like to linger over prose, who like to build scenes complete with scent, sight, taste, touch etc. For people who are happy to just sit and feel for 500-odd pages. Me? I need a decent story to actually keep me going. This just wasn't it for me.

There's also a ton of symbolism so everyone who gets that is bound to come away feeling like an intellectual for enjoying this book with all its mighty metaphors.

I think a big part of the appeal of this novel is just its realism. It doesn't go out of its way to have happy endings and surprising mercies, it just straight up tells a story that very realistically could have happened. There are no heroes. I actually appreciated that Werner was a spineless coward, even if it meant I didn't like him as a character. I think he was such an important element to the story, because he does paint the picture on the other side. It does make you think about the people behind the atrocities of the era.

I mean, I really do get it.

I understand WHY people enjoyed this book so immensely, because I can see the care that went into writing it. I can see the point behind the structure, I see the symbolism, I see the hidden meanings and the brutal messages. I see it, I acknowledge it, I appreciate it for what it achieved. It just was not my cup of tea. The story was bland. It took two pages to make a really mundane point, then gave away a massive plot development with a careless sentence. I also hate reading present tense, so that was never going to help.

If you're into war stories, you'll love it. If you love literary fiction that takes pages to make a point, you'll love it. If you love feeling more than actually being entertained, you'll love it. If you love feeling super smart because you get vague references and symbolism, you'll love it. And if you love getting caught up by mainstream opinion, you'll love it.

If you want a decent story that strays away from the suckiness of war, though, look elsewhere.

View all my reviews

Review: Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype

Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the longest it's ever taken me to read something I've enjoyed so thoroughly. I had to take regular pauses because it's so dense, and if my heart wasn't in it I read something else instead rather than risk missing bits through lack of attention.

Imagine Wonder Woman gave birth to a girl who was even more badass than her mother and was raised by wolves. And her sole goal in life was to tell stories to women to inspire them to be just as badass and basically wreak femininely havoc on the world.

It is not an easy read. The language is fancy and elaborate (I'm pretty sure she made a ton of words up but I'm okay with that) and the material is so rich that every sentence is a loaded one. There are themes that will make you feel uncomfortable, and if you're a bit cynical there'll probably be a lot of eye-rolling. But if you approach this with an open heart and mind, I promise you will get so much out of it.

This book is like a fluffy wolf cub that you wanna cuddle coz it looks so cute and friendly but then when you go to stroke its furry little head it's face launches towards you and you feel the searing pain of teeth in your hand as it rips a chunk out of you. And you wanna get mad at it but then it looks all cute and starts licking the wound and you kind of just think, well, it is a wolf cub, after all ...

I love myths and legends. I love how stories from the past and from different cultures can teach us so much about our present-day lives. To see them so thoroughly explored here was absolutely fascinating. Each story is delivered then followed up with a chapter that divulges how the story can represent a facet of the female psyche. Familiar stories like Bluebeard and The Ugly Duckling took on new meaning. I love symbolism, and when the dots were connected I could see the new picture quite clearly. There were so many times I picked up this book only to find the next portion I read directly related to a current aspect of my life.

I've never considered myself to be a feminist, so parts of this did make me feel a bit awkward. But it also allowed me to understand a bit about that awkwardness. It is an incredibly empowering book, and I do certainly feel more comfortable in my feminine presence. I'm a woman, yo. I am a strong, beautiful, wild creature that cannot be contained by the rules and regulations of a rigid society. *flexes*

That being said, I do wonder how this would be received by non-traditional genders. (Forgive me if that's an offensive term, I am consciously incompetent on the subject). I really appreciate that it inspires women to be badass and embrace their wild woman, but I wonder if that means it will be less relevant to non-female readers?

BE WARNED: This book may make you want to strip naked and dance under the moonlight. It may make you want to sell everything you own and journey out into the wild world with nothing but the clothes on your back. It may make you want to quit your job, bathe in the ocean, practice witchcraft, or howl at the moon. It may awaken your soul in unexpected ways.

It may also have you scratching your head wondering what the heck is going on. If that's the case, put it down. Give yourself time to grow. Pick it up again when you feel a little more open to new ideas.

Honestly this is such a wonderful, empowering book and I cannot recommend it highly enough to woman looking for strength, growth and just that little something that might be missing in life.


View all my reviews

Review: The Art of War

The Art of War by Sun Tzu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Errrrr ... so I guess this was just a lot more literal than I was expecting? I mean, there was the occasional nugget of metaphorical wisdom, but there's also a lot about where to pitch your army and how and when to attack etc.

I'm not gonna lie - I was kind of hoping for some brilliantly veiled allusions as to how to triumph in day-to-day conflict. But it's actually warcraft. Literally. I hate that word because it's misused so often but it's the most appropriate word to describe this book. Since I'm not running off to war at the head of an army any time soon, there was a lot here that just didn't do anything for me.

I'm throwing it a bonus star, though, because if you are genuinely into physical warcraft this is actually a pretty detailed guide.

View all my reviews

Review: Shadowcaster

Shadowcaster by Cinda Williams Chima
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a pretty disappointing continuation of the series, considering I pretty much devoured everything that came before. I was hanging out for a continuation of the first book's adventures but instead it's all about Adrian's sister, Lyss, who has to be one of the most boring characters of the series. There's a ton of boring war talk and lots of marching, and most of the time I didn't really get what was happening. Probably didn't help that I'd mostly forgotten the first book, so there were a bunch of references I knew I was supposed to get but didn't.

The blurb builds up the inevitable relationship between Lyss and Hal, a commander on the opposite side. But aside from a random skirmish early on, we see very little of Hal until well over halfway through the novel. It made the relationship between them pretty hard to swallow, and it felt incredibly false and rushed to me. Then you've got Breon, a completely random addition who at least injects a little character into the story, but even he doesn't do anything particularly exciting.

Then, when you're finally getting used to the fact that this story is separate from the first, (view spoiler)[Jenna shows up and flies around on her dragon a bunch(view spoiler)[, which probably could have been saved for the follow-up novel. It was just too random and felt out of place in this story.

The story itself dragged on with nothing particularly exciting happening, but a lot of it. It spent so much time talking about war tactics that there wasn't really a lot of character development, and there was little fun to be had. It was simple enough to read, but I really struggled because I thought this would be a two-day read tops but I avoided reading it because it was so dull.

Plus, (and stop reading here if you don't want spoilers for the Demon King series or Flamecaster) I'm still so mad that Han was killed off and Raisa was relegated to overbearing mother. They were such kick ass characters in the first series and I just feel like this one would have been so much better if they all just slayed together. I miss Cuffs. :'( The first series he and Raisa tore it up, they were such great characters and the relationship between them developed so beautifully over the four books. And then Flamecaster came and it was all, 'they've had their big moment so let's turn their happily ever after into a nightmare so the kids can take the spotlight.' I'm just so heartbroken by that decision. This could have had crazy family dynamics and badass wizardry and mad father-son/mother-daughter/etc teams but instead the pie got cut up into giant lonely slices on giant separate plates. Devastating.

Dragons are cool though.

I don't know that I'd recommend this series after reading this book. I'll still read the third one when it comes out, just because I did actually enjoy the first one, but lets hope the writer was just off her game in this one rather than me being blind to bad writing this whole time and only seeing it now. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

View all my reviews

Review: An Ode to Life

An Ode to Life by Tajammul Kothari
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Full disclosure: I am not a poetry person. I've never been a fan of how convoluted the words get; the way the meaning gets lost because it takes so much effort to comprehend a single sentence.

With this short work of poetry, I kind of had the opposite problem. It's very simplistic, though it has some impressive words and ideas. It just doesn't seem to gel well.

'As even your cries sings melodies
For certainly you are a twinkle of their eyes
A blessing to cherish for a long time'

There are parts that are grammatically incorrect, such as the first line in this example, and it breaks up the flow, creating awkwardness out of what should leave quite a lovely impression. But there's also no exaggeration of the elements.

Let me explain myself using that first line.

It suggests this lovely idea of a parent's joy hearing their child's first cry. As far as I understand poetry, it's supposed to elicit an emotional connection, which just can't be done well in one line. Here, we have the idea, then straight away move to the next idea.

What I need is to hear that cry, see the baby's tiny mouth open while it cries, its face all crinkled up. See that gleam (twinkle) in the parent's eye as s/he cradles the child lovingly. I want to see where they are, feel and hear with them. A fancy synonym here and there contrasts with the simplicity of the poems in their entirety; it's not enough to create attachment because there's no feeling with it.

'Because nothing can make me smile but your smile
May go blind if I don’t see your lovely eyes
Deafness may grip me if don’t hear your voice
Your distinct aroma makes me smell nice
That soft touch of yours enlivens my skin
Passions ignite when your breath feels me
Can’t live without you my love'

Right idea, badly delivered. Yes, you want to allude to each of the senses, but the notion should caress the mind of the reader gently, not bludgeon their imagination with bluntness. Poetry is subtle, and goes out of its way to say everything in metaphor and similie. The latter, in particular, is missing here.

Eg: 'That soft touch of yours enlivens my skin'

This would be stronger if 'soft touch' was suggested by, say, a feather, (bare with me here, I know I'm no poet myself) and we knew what it felt like to have skin that feels enlivened.

Eg. 'Feather strokes from your fingertips shoot sparks under my skin'

In the second version (I made it up to present an example, please don't use it against me) we're getting the same message but we can feel it more because we know what a feather, and electricity, feel like. My example is probably still a little too blunt, to be honest. Can I just say again that I'm no good with poetry?

This is all purely from a content point of view. I can't comment on style and syllables etc because I know nothing about the literary rules of poetry, but I'd highly recommend the author seek editing advice from someone knowledgeable about the subject.

I like that it's themed on life to death, and there really are some beautiful ideas here, but it's raw potential with no refinement. The author has the talent but there's a great opportunity for growth. I'd recommend working closely with an editor who specialises in poetry (this will also help with grammatical errors) and reading as much poetry as possible. Learn what you like and don't like, and create your own style from it.

It's not horrible, it just has so much potential to be greater.

View all my reviews

Review: One Day My Soul Just Opened Up: 40 Days and 40 Nights Toward Spiritual Strength and Personal Growth

One Day My Soul Just Opened Up: 40 Days and 40 Nights Toward Spiritual Strength and Personal Growth by Iyanla Vanzant
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm sorry to say this was not what I expected. I thought it would be an inspiring read about the author's spiritual transformation, but instead it was part anecdotes, part workbook. The themes were pretty standard in terms of spirituality books, but they're accompanied by stories of the author's own enlightenment born from her own experiences.

I tried to fill in the journal parts at first, but in the end it was too slow a process. I'd like to go back and give it a go some time, but at this stage I just wanted to read a book so it was a nuisance having to read through those parts.

Some of the themes I really appreciated, but others had me rolling my eyes. Same with the anecdotes - some I was really fascinated by, while some had me wondering if they'd actually been made up! I mean, this woman has clearly had an incredibly tumultuous life. And I'm so glad she was able to write her story and express the journey towards her enlightenment but at times I just didn't care. Other times it just felt like the same message was just being said a ton of different ways so it was painfully repetitive.

I don't want this to seem like I'm slamming the book. I think when it comes to spiritual/self-help text you're always going to pick out just the things you need. I think the themes that affected me the most are the ones I need to work on. This will be different for every person and I believe that the reader's stage of spiritual development is going to play a huge role in how well this book is received. I'd probably recommend it to people who are just beginning their spiritial journey, because there is actually a lot to relate to.

I try to keep an open mind when spiritual stuff refers to God, but the overuse in this book left me feeling a little alienated. I don't believe in God, and the powers I believe in are far less present than Vanzant's God. By the end of it, I was kind of tired of being told to trust God and leave everything in his hands. I'm a strong, independent woman, thank you very much, and I believe the spirit of the world observes and influences but that's about it. I like to think I have a little say in who I am and what I'm capable of.

I'd advise readers to take this slow, and work on themes that feel relevent at the time. Skip anything that seems silly, and maybe come back to it when your soul is a little more open.

While it was a bit of a disappointment to me, I can see how this book will benefit others, and I hope I can go back to it one day with a little more understanding and openness. Full props to the author for her honesty, though. What a remarkably strong woman.

View all my reviews

Review: Turtles All the Way Down

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You know what I really enjoy? Thinking about thinking. The mind is such a wonderful mystery, and it holds so much power over our lives. I love contemplating how much of 'I' is 'Me' and the soul vs body etc; there is just so much about life to unravel and the mind is such a big part of that.

So I totally get Aza. I understand her spirals (to a degree) and I think she raises some really interesting questions. But I also think the better mystery in this novel is, how many of Aza's thoughts make her mentally ill, and how many are totally justified?

Now, I'm no psychologist (three years at uni were enough to deter me from that particular path) but I can understand that Aza definitely has some compulsive behaviours. I wonder how OCD people receive this book? Because I thought it was a beautiful portrayal but then I'm on the outside glancing in. I just appreciate the divide between being 'normal' sometimes but feeling 'crazy' at other times. And I think that's something everyone can relate to on some level. I'm sure we've all had moments where we wished we were just like everyone else. I feel ya, girl.

That being said, I also empathise with Daisy, who loves her best friend fiercely but can also admit that the nuances drive her mad at times. I think the important takeaway is that (view spoiler)[in the end, no matter how much Aza gets on her nerves, Daisy is still there for her no matter what. Basically, it's not a case of, 'I see beyond your flaws' but more, 'your flaws make you an absolute pain but I will put up with it anyway because I love you unconditionally.' (hide spoiler)] And I think that's a pretty beautiful message.

The whole mystery angle is a bit weak, with it appearing more as bookends to a quirky romcom about mental illness rather than a quirky mystery starring a mentally ill girl. This book is about relationships, and mental illness, and that's kind of it. I enjoyed reading it, it just wasn't the book I was expecting.

I did have some real feelings moments, but honestly I was probably driven more by how interesting the trains of thought were. Like, I'm kind of afraid that the next time I kiss a boy I'm just going to be thinking about germs. Hmm. Guess I'll let you know.

I did, however, LOVE the relationship between Aza and her mum. I mean, maybe I'm biased because my own mother is so wonderful, but I love reading about compassionate mums. I relate to it. I think mums are totally underrated in YA fiction.

I'm sorry I didn't cry in this book but to me it was far more fascinating than it was emotionally demanding. I loved following the spirals of thoughts.

Another thought-provoking read from John Green, with a decent diversion from his usual formula, though the quirkiness is familiar. I am content with the way the subject material was explored.

Now excuse me while I go find a boy to kiss. For science.

View all my reviews

Review: Crooked Kingdom

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So this was just as epic as the first book, and I'm kinda still reeling from all the twists and turns!

Kaz is back with his motley crew but all we really care about is getting Inej back. Also teaching that scoundrel Van Eck a lesson. God I hate that guy.

Man I was so friggin gung-ho for violence in this one. I felt so much rage and honestly a little part of me just wanted the gang to go on a rampage and trample everyone into a bloody pulp. Thankfully, Kaz is a bit more practical than me so he comes up with a much better plan.

I do so love the scheming! Also that it's all scheming in the name of vengeance. Like, being badass for money was cool in the first book but now they're righteous avenging angels of mayhem and it just amps up the badass factor by like a thousand percent.

Nina's got a little magical weirdness going on which is kind of intriguing, plus there's that cheeky romance with Matty whom I love so much myself so that was all great fun to read.

Wylan's stepping (gingerly) into his Big Boy shoes so he held my interest a lot more this time around. He just had a bit more to contribute, and this time he's bringing a bit more shine to Jesper's brooding so again, they make a pretty pair.

Lil Inej is solid frontrunner for my fave. The girl has guts and is such a beautiful weapon. But she's spiritual and forgiving and soft and kind and I love that balance. I ship her and Kaz so much. (view spoiler)[That bathroom scene literally had me holding my breath. It was just so freaking beautiful and tender and I really felt the fragility of the moment. I was utterly absorbed. Nothing existed in the world for me while I read that scene. (hide spoiler)]

The story was so twisted, which is part of why I loved it (and its predecessor) so much. You really have no idea how much is going wrong and how much is going completely as planned. These kids are absolute geniuses, that's for sure.

The bad guys were DOUCHEBAGS so I enjoyed every single time they were hoodwinked, and I was glad Kaz was so intent of revenge because, as mentioned, I sort of wanted to murder them myself. (view spoiler)[I felt so much satisfaction when both Van Eck and Pekka Rollins got their asses handed to them. I may have actually cheered profanely out loud at their comeuppance. That was such a thrilling climax. I felt like laughing. (hide spoiler)]

Honestly, this book made me feel a full range of emotions. I loved every second of it.

Well, okay, maybe not every second ...

(view spoiler)[I kind of saw Matty's death coming a long way off.I was thinking, there's no way they're all gonna make it out alive a second time, and then I wondered, who is the most expendable? Who is contributing the least? Alas, my ruminations led me to conclude that Matty was not long for this fictional world. But that didn't make it hurt any less, particularly when it came at a time when I was starting to suspect I'd been wrong. I mean, it was all over, wasn't it? I forced myself not to cry but it was a near thing. I had real feelings for that big, dumb, blonde Fjordan. And yes, OKAY, I was secretly hoping for a heartwarming wolf-friend reunion so that he could RIDE DOWN HIS FOES ON HIS NOBLE LUPINE COMPANION AND WREAK BLOODY HAVOC in subsequent novels. Le sigh. (hide spoiler)]

Leigh Bardugo is honestly brilliant. I henceforth will endeavour to read everything penned by her and her genius imagination and talent.

Is there a third book yet? Can I have it please?

View all my reviews

Review: The Greatest Gift

The Greatest Gift by Rachael Johns
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So chick-lit is really not my genre of choice, but this heartwarming novel blew me away!

The novel is a detailed journey, so begins with the romance between Claire and Jasper while alternating between Harper's first inclination to donate eggs in the present. It's a clever opening that creates immediate investment in the main characters and even though you know what's coming, it's enjoyable to read.

Claire and Jasper are an adorable couple, and I became rather attached to them and their heartbreaking journey. Harper was a strong independent woman who probably mentioned that fact one too many times but was well-balanced by her blossoming maternal instinct. Samuel was a jerk, but then he was nice, but then he was a jerk ... honestly, the guy gave me whiplash with his mood swings.

I can't go into too much detail without spoilers so let me just say this is so much bigger than the ethics of 'test tube' babies. This story really tugged at my cold, crime-fiction-loving heart and kept me hooked the entire time. I was genuinely surprised by how much this book messed with my emotions!

A captivating, thoughtful story of an incredibly real journey. Highly recommend.

View all my reviews

Review: All the Birds, Singing

All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The down side to reading literary fiction is that I almost always finish the book wondering what the heck the ending is supposed to mean. It's like there's an unwritten rule that, in order for a book to be considered literary fiction, it must have as confusing an ending as possible. It must contain no trace of a conclusion, and must be fraught with symbolism that only the cleverest of readers will understand, after a lengthy consideration.

So basically, the ending sucked.

Otherwise, I kind of enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting.

It's a bit of a bland setting - lone woman and her dog on an isolated sheep farm - but the alternating chapters that tell her past backwards make things plenty interesting. Took me a little to get used to the format but once I had I found I rather enjoyed it. It's a slow unravelling of a subtle mystery, contrasted with the unspooling of the present mystery. Clever.

The language is obviously what made this book a prize-winner, as it creates a very real, tangible story. I'm not one for flowery descriptions but this never felt like overkill. It was balanced with just enough story progression to keep the pace steady.

Now, about that ending.

(view spoiler)[Honestly, I have no clue what happened. I mean, obviously the mystery of her scars is solved - she was a sh*t of a kid, and was punished for it - but I'm not sure what the point of it was? Am I supposed to be mad that I've felt sympathy for this woman the whole way through just to discover that she's a proper psycho?
Also, what's the go with whatever was eating the sheep? I HATE that it wasn't resolved. Her and Lloyd holding hands, YIPPEE, she made a friend, good on her, but what about the monster thing? I DON'T UNDERSTAND. Even as a symbol, I have no clue what it means. What was the point? (hide spoiler)]

So in conclusion, a brilliantly written book, nice and short, lyrical, and descriptive, but still with a little mystery to keep you turning pages eagerly. So much symbolism though, so have fun wrapping your head around it because I can honestly say it was too much for my tiny brain.

View all my reviews

Review: The Woman in the Window

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Honestly this is so ridiculously similar to The Girl on the Train but that doesn't stop it from being one heck of a story.

Anna is confined to her house by agoraphobia, so spends her days drinking, overdosing on meds and spying on her neighbours. Then one night she witnesses something in the new neighbours' house and things will never be the same ...

The 'something' Anna witnesses doesn't happen until a good 150-odd pages in, so it seems slow to take off, but once you get there the book becomes hard to put down. A lot of it is predictable if you're familiar with the thriller genre, but it's still a lot of fun to read. Told by Anna, there's plenty of second guessing - how much is real and how much is a side effect of her drug and alcohol abuse? Can we trust her word?

It does get a little frustrating at times with seemingly incompetent cops unwilling to do their jobs thoroughly - I personally believe even crazy ladies deserve the benefit of the doubt - but so much of this book is driven by 'what if?' that it adds to the story.

Some interesting characters but, again, nothing particularly new. There's the unreliable protagonist, the (good-looking) handyman tenant, the good cop and bad cop, the crazy neighbour whom only the unreliable protagonist realises is crazy, the innocent kid caught in the middle ... although I was a bit confused by the way Ethan was written. He was portrayed as a child - ten, twelve - early teens at most - but we're supposed to believe he's seventeen. I had a hard time buying it.

The pace really picks up in the second half of the novel, and it'll have you wishing you paid more attention to begin with. It's addictive, even if you suspect the outcome, because with an unreliable protagonist, all bets are off. I had a hard time putting it down for that last 200 pages.

The writing is sparse, and you're left to fill in a lot of the blanks yourself. I found the style confusing at times but by the second half of the novel I was too far into the story to care. It's a clever style, in that it uses story progression to describe scenes, but at times there wasn't enough information to properly build the picture, which could be quite frustrating.

Overall, a racing thriller that will likely race right up the charts upon its release early next year. Despite its familiarity, this is a well-written thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final pages.

View all my reviews

Review: The Dark Tower

The Dark Tower by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Re-read 10/17:

Well folks, I now mourn the loss of Roland's journey to The Dark Tower for the third time.

This series in no way diminishes over time or with multiple reads. Everything is so real and vibrant, and there's so much detail that you're bound to remember different things through each read. I'd forgotten so much of this one that there was still a lot of anticipation for things to come. Almost the entire first half of the book had been relegated, in my mind, to the previous book. (view spoiler)[(Thus, I thought my bereavement was drawn out across two books - I can't decide if I'm glad or not that it was only one). (hide spoiler)]

We begin immediately where Song of Susannah left off, and jump straight into action. There is so much diversity in storytelling throughout this mammoth book that it's almost a whole series on its own. We jump around all over the place and, knowing this is the final chapter, suddenly all bets are off. It adds a whole new thrill.

Okay. Here we go. (view spoiler)[ Losing Callahan was sad but I was okay with it - he hadn't been around all that long anyway and he wasn't getting any younger! But damn, losing Eddie that way ... you know how sometimes books make you feel strong emotions where you get all choked up in the throat, your face goes warm, your lip quivers a little as you press them together in a tight line and your eyes start to sting? NOT EVEN CLOSE. I generally do not cry but even knowing what was coming, I once again BAWLED LIKE A BABY for Eddie. Gushing torrents of tears. And Jake, my fave, so soon after! My heart was ripped out and shredded and tossed onto a garbage heap, and then Garbage Man comes along and the scraps of heart get squeezed until there's nothing left. And then of course Oy goes and sits by his grave all devastated and I'M DONE. I had to give myself time to recover. AGAIN.

I knew Susannah was the next to go, but I'd forgotten how. Now I can see why - her departure was such an anti-climax in comparison! But hey, Sai King would hate to let you think a piece of your heart escaped intact so let's just SKEWER OY LIKE A SHISH-KA-BOB.

I felt so much pain reading the deaths of these characters. You really come to love them after 6 books (or 7, in Jake's case) so the loss is quite physical. I don't even cry in movies but this series works its way into my cold heart every damn time. I love and hate it at the same time for that. (hide spoiler)]

That being said, the period of travel towards the end, (view spoiler)[after Roland and Susannah are reunited (hide spoiler)] does get a little dull at times. I mean, some seriously freaky sh*t goes down thanks to Mordred (view spoiler)[the Evil Spider-Child of All Nightmares (hide spoiler)]but then it's back to more trekking and details about snow and stuff. Ehhhhhh just get to the damn tower already please!

Honestly this is just such a complex story and woven with so many different threads - to me it is easily King's best work. This is quite simply a tour de force and easily one of the best series I've ever read in my life.

Now about that ending.

(view spoiler)[It's another love/hate thing for me. Because I hate the idea that Roland is doomed to repeat his whole sordid adventure over and over for all eternity (not to mention re-live the loss of his friends) but I also found it to just be ... fitting. I remember being angry the first time I read it - the whole, 'WTF?!' rage breaking out, but it's just because I really felt for the guy. But I also like the idea of redemption, and that maybe this time around things will be different. If King wrote this entire series again with a just few variations I would probably still read it. The journey to the Dark Tower is ongoing. (hide spoiler)]

Such an incredible highlight of my lifetime of reading, and King at his most impressive. A worthy conclusion to one of the most epic series ever written.

***
Original (delayed) review:

This was an epic conclusion to possibly the best series I've ever read. I loved every second. King so cleverly weaves everything together, and it certainly makes me want to read his entire collection of work before re-reading, so that I can pick up every single reference. The characters and their adventures had me on the edge of my seat, and this final chapter is a worthy conclusion. Even at its mammoth size I was hooked the entire time. Brilliant. And that ending! (view spoiler)[God I felt so much for Roland! It was such a fitting ending but god it broke my heart!! (hide spoiler)]

View all my reviews

Review: The Hunger Type Diet: Discover what drives your hunger, rebalance your hormones - and lose weight for good

The Hunger Type Diet: Discover what drives your hunger, rebalance your hormones - and lose weight for good by Lowri Turner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I appreciate that this book goes beyond telling you how to lose weight and examines the psychology of hunger a little bit more. It explains different types of hunger and allows you to stop and think about what it is that's driving your eating habits. It gives you the science of what foods are best to combat what feelings, and the why of this.

There's some great, simple recipes in the back (okay, confession - I can't cook to save my life but I think if I could cook, some of these meals would be delicious) and a meal plan to go with each 'type of hunger' result. It explains why you should eat the way it's telling you to eat.

For people that want to lose weight, one of the most damaging notions is the one that says people are overweight due to lack of willpower. This breaks it down and explains that hunger/bingeing is a physical response to a chemical imbalance which manifests in a variety of ways. If I had to side with a dieting book, it would be this one.

That being said, I'm fortunate enough to have broken the cycle of chronic dieting, so this has become almost redundant to me. The science is solid but I know more about the science of deprivation and psychological starvation to know that dieting is not the answer to losing weight.

I think (and this is me on my soap box, as opposed to contributing to my review of this book) the problem with our society is that we feel we need books like this. We need to appreciate that we are of no less value if our bodies to not conform to the ideals of others.

I'd recommend people use this to understand the science of hunger a little better, and as inspiration for meals and meal planning, but don't live your life bouncing from diet to diet. Find your own normal by listening to what your body wants.

View all my reviews

Review: The Haunted Hotel

The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ehhhhhhhhh not sure about this one!

Very slow on the suspense and intrigue and creepiness, but I was definitely suckered in by the foreshadowing. Absolutely fascinating characters, and I quite enjoyed the way the Countess was introduced, as it garnered instant sympathy for her and her troubled spirit.

Agnes was pretty bland, considering how much hinged on her, but it was balanced by the enigmatic Henry through his devotion to her.

The characters were all introduced in different contexts which really enhanced that idea that nothing was as it seemed. I liked that I questioned everyone's motives, and each different tale. It was cleverly written, that's for sure.

I guess what I didn't like was that it all felt like a bit of an anti-climax to me. It's called 'The Haunted Hotel' but the hotel doesn't even exist until well over halfway through the story. The opening chapter was superb, but the rest was really dragged out. There just wasn't any horror, and aside from (view spoiler)[the missing courier (hide spoiler)] there wasn't a great deal of mystery, either.

That ending though, wow! that really hooked me. (view spoiler)[I feel like maybe that terrible, decaying head might haunt my dreams a little tonight (hide spoiler)]

Overall, a decent expression of atmosphere and an okay tale of intrigue. If you're looking for horror or major chills, though, I'd probably look elsewhere.

View all my reviews

Review: Remind Me How This Ends

Remind Me How This Ends by Gabrielle Tozer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Man this was just such an adorable piece of fluff! It also got a surprisingly enormous amount of bonus points for being set in Australia because it was just so damn relatable without overdoing it on the Aussie stereotypes.

I loved how honest it was, and how it made a point of everything being pretty bland, with just the two lights of Milo and Layla in all the murkiness. How many 18-year-olds have been in Milo's position? That feeling of pressure to make something of yourself but not even knowing what you want or who you're supposed to be? That resonated with me so much, because I was exactly the same. It took an interstate move for me to finally start finding out who I was, and even then it's still a work in progress. I love that this novel explores that without drilling it home, and I love that the relationship between Milo and Layla really draws you in so you stop thinking about all those outside issues for a bit. It was very real to me, but it also created this fantastic, fun relationship that was just enjoyable to experience. Layla was so kooky and unique and I really liked that they seemed like opposites that fit together perfectly, with their own similarities providing the glue. The side characters of Sal and Kurt were easily forfeited for the (re-?)blossoming friendship between our two protagonists.

(view spoiler)[Even the watered down ending felt right to me, though it wasn't what I was hoping for. It was nice that they at least got a taste for each other (ha ha) but it felt right that they went separate ways to focus on their own needs. I really, really appreciated that. To me, it felt that much more real. Tell you what, though: if there were to be a sequel where the two were reunited, I'd be all over it. (hide spoiler)]

Really enjoyed how uncomplicated this one was, and just the simplicity of a friendship in a tiny Australian town. I loved the effortless Aussie slang, and how at times I could forget the setting as I got swept away by the story, which is a real highlight for me when I read Aussie fiction because it's so rare.

Highly recommend this one for lovers of fluff and easy YA reads, especially if you are Australian, or grew up in Australia. I wonder how this'll fly with a non-Aussie audience, though?

View all my reviews

Review: To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I completely understand the hype, even if this wasn't a 5-star for me.

The racial issue is powerful, particularly in such a time setting, when the N-word is thrown around haphazardly and it's totally acceptable to denigrate people simply because of the colour of their skin. Discrimination repulses me, and I feel physically ill reading accounts - even fictional ones - of despicable conduct towards those who are different. There are some pretty familiar characters here, but how many of these characters are familiar because they themselves influenced more modern work? It's no secret that this is a classic which has inspired millions of people around the world, so I can't complain about stereotypes as I'm sure this book was quite unique when released back in the 60s.

I was a bit confused about the unrelated stories of Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. The latter is clearly the Big Issue of this novel, but the first part of the novel barely touches on it, making for a rather confusing start to the book. I enjoyed the childhood exploits, and it was quite well-written, but at the same time it felt a little pointless. I can appreciate that there was a beautiful story told in Boo's regard, but it got a little tedious towards the end of Part One. (view spoiler)[ I also felt that his part at the end of the novel was a bit too easy. I get it, I understand that the author wanted to present ideas about the grey area of right and wrong, I can see how it evokes mixed feelings, but it just felt a little too convenient to me, and more of literary device than actual realistic plot development. (hide spoiler)]

The Robinson case broke my heart. (view spoiler)[Particularly knowing the outcome was inevitable, because what sort of powerful statement would this novel make if it had ended happily? (hide spoiler)] Just reading about the small-mindedness of others and knowing that, though the story is fictional, this is a real glimpse of human history - and that this kind of behaviour still exists today - truly saddens me. At the same time, it makes the character of Atticus that much more powerful, because he is a symbol of hope, and he is unrelenting.

There's not really much that I can say that's not already been said by appreciative readers all around the world. I enjoyed reading this novel, and it was an easier read than I anticipated, but there are some dark moments that will boil the blood of any decent human being. I'm glad I read it, but I doubt I'd want to read it again. Humankind really depresses me, sometimes.

It has got me pretty curious about the sequel, though.

View all my reviews