Review: Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Phil Knight
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"For some, I realize, business is the all-out pursuit of profits, period, full stop, but for us the business was no more about making money than being human is about making blood. Yes, the human body needs blood. It needs to manufacture red and white cells and platelets and redistribute them evenly, smoothly, to all the right places, on time, or else. But that day-to-day business of the human body isn't our mission as human beings. It's a basic process that enables our higher aims, and life always strives to transcend the basic process of living ..."

I really enjoyed the message of this book. I actually found it to be rather inspiring. It's all about doing things your own way; being true to yourself. Phil Knight pursued his Crazy Idea, even when no one was backing him, and he fought for it when people tried to bring him down. He overcame obstacles through the sheer determination to keep fighting. And he gathered around him people who believed in the dream as wholeheartedly as him.

It's also fascinating to learn how this iconic brand began and all the brilliant little Nike trivia throughout. I'd never heard of most of the people mentioned in this book, yet they were big names back in the day. It's amazing all the effort that went into building this brand. I work for a company that sells predominantly Nike products, and to be surrounded by it - and dressed in it - while reading about those humble beginnings was an awe-inspiring experience. Plus, it'll be fun to tell customers and colleagues all these new and interesting facts. I'm always thirsting for knowledge.

The writing was surprisingly good and I, like many, wonder if there was some ghost-writing involved. If not, it's pretty impressive. I was actually entertained throughout, even with all the mentions of numbers, loans, shoe materials, factories, etc. There's a great human element that's evident in the storytelling, and it helps you to connect.

It's also incredibly honest. Knight was kind of a jerk, and did some questionable stuff. But he reflects on himself and is able to admit when he was acting petulant, or whiny, or stubborn. The story of how Nike got its name was my favourite.

It would have been nice to have some pictures, but I guess there's always Google for that. I was also hoping to read about the signing of Jordan, whose first choice was Adidas, but alas, he only gets a brief mention in the final few pages. There was some stuff that I feel didn't really need to be included, though I can see why it was, and was still interesting to read.

All in all, a fascinating look at the beginnings of a sports giant, and a rather inspiring memoir about doing things your own way, being true to yourself, and making more out of life than just money.

Anyone interested in the brand will enjoy the trivia, but this is also an inspiring memoir for people who are interested in stories of overcoming adversity, of the little guy with sharp teeth, of a start-up business that ultimately became one of the most successful in the world.

Highly recommend.

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Review: Hekla's Children

Hekla's Children by James Brogden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was entirely not what I was expecting, and I kinda don't know how to feel about it.

The blurb sounded more like a sinister crime novel but this is way out of the box. Less crime, more ... sinister evil weird time travel monster. There's a thing, and it is evil, and it steals children from it's place in 'Un' - the 'other side'. I mean I kinda got it but also goodbye any sense of reality.

This story travels a long distance. First you get Nathan and the mystery of the disappearing kids, then you get him going back to figure out what's going on, and then slightly weird time travel moments and craziness and then it kinda progresses to full-scale batsh*t insane and it's both fascinating and completely bizarre. I don't know if I enjoyed it, but I certainly couldn't stop reading once I'd reached a certain point.

I feel like the story was actually pretty clever. The fact that it was so involved but I still managed to follow it is pretty miraculous. And massive props for originality because I've certainly never read anything like it before. Huh. Look at me warming up to it.

The tense changes were a bit annoying, but definitely made sense in the context of the story so I'll let it slide. I didn't particularly warm to any of the characters (view spoiler)[(except for maybe Scattie, when her survival story came into play) (hide spoiler)] but I was too intrigued by the setup to really care about emotional connection. There is a very subtle horror, here. The notion of time, and being trapped by it; of facing the horror of our true natures; opportunities lost. There's actually very little gore, all things considered.

Honestly, I feel like I'll be pondering this bizarre mess for a little while.

If you want to read something mildly spooky that is unlike anything you've ever read before, get your hands on this one. Don't expect any kind of reality, or scientific explanations, or logic. There is no sense here. But if you like convoluted time-travel stories that kinda make sense in their own nonsensical way then you'll eat this right up.

SO. FREAKING. BIZARRE.



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Review: The Three Secret Cities: A Jack West Jr Novel 5

The Three Secret Cities: A Jack West Jr Novel 5 by Matthew Reilly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OH MY GOD I CAN'T DEAL.

And you're telling me I have to wait til freaking 2020 for the next one?!!

I don't even know how to process this.

This book has been my most anticipated read of 2018, and it did not disappoint.

There's the trademark action involving vehicles and guns, chases, puzzles and some seriously evil villains. Once again, Jack has to save the world with assistance from his friends, solving riddles and brushing shoulders with death. It's super far-fetched, so if you're one of those people who needs realism, this is probably not the series for you. Me, I personally love how outrageous things get, and I'm more than happy to suspend disbelief.

It picks up where The Four Legendary Kingdoms left off, with the Minotaurs having to face what comes out of the coffins, while Jack is back home, recuperating. I had to flick through the last half of 4LK to refresh my memory and it was well worth it. This is a definite continuation of that story, but its own contained arc of it.

This is back to the global scale of the first few novels, meaning we've got more characters as well. I was so happy to have the twins pop up again! (view spoiler)[I'm also not gonna spoil properly til after the release date, but I LOST MY MIND when one particular character showed up that I wasn't expecting. I still grin maniacally thinking about their grand entrance. SO BADASS. (hide spoiler)]

I love the way these characters interact with one another, so I was sad they were all so spread out! They kinda clump in groups of two or three, but it does allow for fast action in multiple locations so it works.

The locations themselves were a lot of fun to puzzle out, as with any Jack West Jr book. Reilly does some meticulous research, then plays around with history wherever there's a gap and it's always a good time reading about all these myths and legends that have been turned on their heads. The scale is always big and he uses familiar legends and historical figures so that you're easily drawn in.

There was a teaser recently from the author that warned he did something terrible in this book, and it was in my mind the whole time. I was constantly wondering which of our favourites was gonna die, and if he was in fact going to kill someone or just teasing. That little teaser had me believing anything is possible, so all those fatal situations became so much more real! Because suddenly there's no, 'oh he can't kill off a main character' moments and it amps up the intensity instantly. (Read it for yourself to discover the Mystery of the Teaser :P)

SO MUCH INTENSITY.

I loved it, but it gave me mild anxiety on repeated occasions.

Safe to say, I LOVED THIS BOOK. It had everything I've come to love from Reilly's books, and it's just such a fun ride to lean back and enjoy. There's never a dull moment, but it has its emotions, too, so that you can really invest in these characters.

The cover is gorgeous, too, and the inside cover is also gorgeous but totally intriguing and confusing. I could study the pictures and diagrams in this book for hours.

Highly enjoyable, totally worth the wait, and absolutely ridiculous fun.

Matthew Reilly fans should enjoy this one immensely, and for people who love treasure-hunt-type action, get onto the first book, Seven Ancient Wonders so you can enjoy the journey properly.

Copious thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for my sneaky early copy.

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Review: Catwoman: Soulstealer

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I LOVE ME SOME SUPERHEROES.

Or villains, in this case.

I've also read everything by Sarah J Maas since I first read Throne of Glass and fell in love. (Let's not get into my love/hate relationship with that series, though.)

So naturally, this was a must read for me. Thanks to my friend Kiera for encouraging me to read it sooner rather than later!

I've been a bit disappointed with the latest offerings from Maas so I was a little worried, but thankfully there was no noticeable lack of question marks in this one and it was a fresh and exciting story, with new - albeit iconic - characters.

As much as I love Marvel and its colourful offerings, Batman is probably my favourite superhero ever. (If you're thinking visually, think Christian Bale, NOT Ben Affleck. For the love of God, please not Ben Affleck.) Batman is a superhero who actually doesn't have any super powers. (Just a sh*t-ton of money.) But he goes out and toughens up and works hard to become unbeatable. He has purpose, and drive, and just does what needs to be done. SO BADASS. *swoon*

Selina Kyle speaks to me for the same reasons, although her motives are less pure. She's wicked, which is a lot of fun, but she has a good heart underneath it all.

This story from Maas ups the angst a little too much, taking out some of the fun (goodbye, 5th star), but Cat still has that ambition and dedication - with a side of B&E - that makes heroes so appealing to me. Add Ivy and Harley into the mix and you have a pretty hectic trio of ladies to deal with.

I liked that the three of them worked together, though it was hard for me to picture Selina as their leader. I've seen/read too many different incarnations of these characters and it was weird trying to bring them together and reconcile them with the partnership I was reading about. But once you get past the preconceived notions, it's a pretty fun romp.

Luke Fox ... mmmmhmmm. I mean, as Batwing he was kind of pathetic? Not actually winning much for the Good Guys? But guh, the ex-marine with PTSD ... that guy stole my heart, the precious little guy. But still gentlemanly and strong. I really liked him, and appreciated the split viewpoints. Sad his dad wasn't in it more, though, coz Morgan Freeman Lucius Fox is a Total Boss.

The League assassins were disappointingly weak, all things considered. I wanted more intense showdowns, a little more blood. Oh well. Can't have everything, I guess. *shrugs*

I feel like this might wander a little too far for the hardcore comic fans, but once I relaxed into the idea of it being something a little different, I really enjoyed it. There's plenty of recognisable characters, but Maas has put her own spin on things to craft something unique with our beloved characters.

Hardcore comic book fans: read at your own risk
Maas fans: definitely worth a read
Heroes/villains fans: YES
Batman fans: Absence just makes the heart grow fonder, right?

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A Modern Legend

I never had any intention of sharing a lot of personal information about myself here. This is really about writing, and books, and stories. However the story I feel driven to share needs a little background info.

As much as I love reading and writing, these things alone don't pay the bills. My full time job is actually retail: I work for Foot Locker. Retail has a pretty bad rep, but I quite enjoy it. Every day is different, and I get to meet some really interesting people.

For the past few months, I've been spending most of my work days running our store's House of Hoops section. This branch of FL is dedicated to Nike basketball, and brings me plenty of customers who are dedicated to the sport. 

I love interacting with people who are passionate. People who have been wearing Jordans since they were kids, people who have to have the latest in b-ball fashion, young people who are just starting to build their collections. People of all ages who feel alive every time they set foot on a court. People who are just learning to play. People who are looking for their very first pair of basketball shoes, and people who are replacing the latest pair of shoes to be falling apart from abuse on the court. People who idolise Lebron, Kyrie, Kobe ... people who are inspired, and inspiring.

I love to hear their stories, and yesterday I met a girl whose story will stay with me for a long time.

She was young - eleven or twelve, I think. Athletic, and decked out in her basketball uniform after the morning's game. She came in with her mum, looking to try a pair of new Kyries, being familiar with the previous model.

When we realised the Kyrie IV wasn't going to work for her, I suggested some other models, and her mum saw more time was needed so she went to move the car, leaving her daughter alone to continue trying shoes.

I'd been flat out since I'd started, but somehow it was suddenly just the two of us, and not another customer in sight.

So to fill the silence while we tried some different styles, I asked this girl how often she played basketball. And she opened up to me.

This girl plays seven days a week. 

She trains with her team(s), she trains on her own, and she plays games on weekends. She plays during school, and after. She would play more if she could, but something was stopping her.

See, during her lunch hours, she wanted to play basketball. As her friends preferred to sit around gossiping, she would instead play ball with the boys. This, however, caused a bit of trouble for her because some of the boys she played with were the boyfriends of her friends. 

She was bullied for it. Some of the girls played on the same ladies team, and they would throw balls at her, claiming it was accidental. They seemed to think she was trying to steal their boyfriends. So she had begun to avoid playing with the boys.

The way she spoke so plainly about it broke my heart.

In truth, it took my back to my own high school days.

I had been the same as this girl - I chose to spend my lunchtimes playing soccer with the boys, because sitting around gossiping about reality TV just didn't excite me. The fallout wasn't a good time for me. 

This girl's story took me back to my own experiences, but I could tell I was facing a girl who was much stronger than I was at that age.

She moved on to tell me how she was training hard for upcoming tryouts, working to be equally dexterous with each hand because that was important in being picked for the team. She spent her own time honing her skills, working hard to become better. I admire the hell out of that.

This girl was being bullied because of the insecurities of others, but she was still out there, busting her guts to be better. To progress, and advance. She wouldn't have mentioned the bullying if it didn't bother her, but she wasn't letting it slow her down. I told her she should never stop doing something she loves because of what others think, and she nodded as though she was inclined to think that way already.

I wanted to offer some meaningful words of encouragement, but it felt inadequate when I was already so floored by her resilience. In the end, I just said exactly what I was thinking: 'You know what? With your dedication, and your attitude, you are going to go far in life, girl. You're incredible.'

The small talk dwindled, her mum returned, customers came flooding back, and the girl picked out some Hyperdunk X that fit her like a glove.Time resumed.

The whole experience was so valuable to me, and I'm so glad to know that there are young people out there like this girl who will become the strong, fierce women of the future. 

These are the stories that are so easily overlooked, that I want to tell. People who are fighting their own battles, pushing themselves every day for things they believe in. Today, this girl is fighting bullying so that she can play more of the sport she loves. Who knows what future this will build for her? Maybe one day she'll go pro, and be a role model for girls who will be in the same position she once was. And she'll be able to make their lives that much brighter because she'll be the living proof that says, 'Look what we are capable of.' 

There are so many stories like this one, waiting to be told. So many people carving paths that will make this world a better place. It's the small acts of rebellion against the boxes we are forced into that will allow society to grow and thrive.

My writing veers towards myths and legends, and I feel like yesterday I caught a glimpse at the early days of a modern legend. This girl will go on to do great things, I am certain. 

I feel so privileged that she opened up to me, and shared a little of her story with me, and I hope one day I can share stories like hers with the world so that more people can take notice of the overlooked who are so worthy of our admiration.

Review: The Lady of the Rivers

The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was really looking forward to reading this and was tragically disappointed.

This was my first Philippa Gregory novel. She's written so many that I'm keen to read, as I'm fascinated by this era of history, and this was recommended as the best one to start with, so that I can read the series' chronologically. I think maybe that was a mistake.

I feel like this is more of a supplementary novel, more entertaining for those who know what comes later. This story dragged so much for me, and I just wasn't invested. Firstly, it took over 100 pages just to get to the plot described in the blurb. Then it was a tedious cycle: Baby - war - baby - war ... this woman was popping out so many kids and none of them are given the time of day so why would I care? And then the wars are so repetitive, and back and forth, and the way that it's all told just makes it so bland.

Margaret is a horrible person, and I mostly despised her. I really felt like Jacquetta and Richard were on the wrong side the entire time. They're fighting for terrible people, and I get that, but it's such a stated fact, there's no emotional investment so you kinda just question why?

I think the way the story is written in first person, present tense, made it completely emotionless. I felt nothing throughout this entire novel. I didn't really care who lived or died, what cities were lost or won ... zero emotional attachment from me. I wanted characters that I could really root for and admire and there were none to be found.

Overall, I'm glad to be done with this because it was just a massive disappointment. I'll continue reading the series, but I'm really hoping it improves.

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Review: Scarlet

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh my, this was so much better than Cinder.

I mean, I liked Cinder, but I LOVED THIS.

The story was faster and more fascinating and more adventurous, and I kinda preferred the characters?

OKAY. LOOK. IT'S A BAD BOY THING AGAIN STOP JUDGING ME. I just have such a weakness for bad boys. *swoon*

Warning: You are now approaching Cinder spoilers.

So. Book 1 we get cyborg Cinder who is *gasp* actually the Lost Princess (such a shock that absolutely no one could have seen coming. [note sarcasm]). She falls for Prince Kai, there's drama involving an evil queen from Luna who is trying to take over Earth. There's a cute romance between Cinder and Kai, but the sci-fi angle is pretty steep, with lots of fancy technology and a deadly virus to boot and it was a bit meh for me.

This book, we get to meet Little Red Riding Hood Scarlet, and a badass street fighter called Wolf, and they are an instantly charismatic pairing. Their relationship is fairly typical but it's one that I will always ship because bad boys will always have my heart. Just, like, not too bad. Coz evil is a slight turnoff. Anyway, Wolf is the good kind of bad boy. He's actually kinda pathetic to start with (that whole tomato thing) which was totally unexpected but also endearing.

So Scarlet and Wolf get to do way cooler, more adventurous stuff, like get into fights and jump from moving vehicles. There is some heavy animal magnetism which I was totally digging. Cinder also makes an (inevitable) appearance and she has a fun new sidekick who is a charming idiot who grew on me. I'm waiting for Captain Thorne to really come into his own, though, with a name like that.

Clearly this is another one of those reviews where instead of coherent thoughts I kinda just blurt out my feelings. *shrugs*

So.

Story: much more fun. Less world building = more time for action.
Characters: also more fun. Sassier, less serious. More badass.
Setting: I have to give props to the setting because I am a Francophile so the unexpected French references warmed my heart. I support this series' use of our current world to create a really messed up future world that is still totally recognisable.

I just got into this so much more than the first book, and yes, I read a book in a day again. Now I have to go buy the next one. *Le sigh*

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The Witch

Once upon a time there was a witch, who lived in a dark forest on a beautiful island.

She was not mean nor ugly, she did not cast spells or brew things in cauldrons. She didn't even have a cat. But because she lived in the forest, everyone assumed she was a witch, and so a witch she was.

One day, a stranger came to the island. He went walking in the forest, and he happened upon the witch.

'How do you do?' He asked.

The witch stared at him.

'Why do you not run away, or try to hurt me? I am a witch, after all!'

He looked embarrassed. 'Oh, I'm terribly sorry, but you don't seem a witch to me. Do you cast magic spells?'

The witch shook her head.

'Do you cackle a lot?'

The witch shook her head again.

'You must own a black cat then, at least?'

When the witch shook her head yet again, the stranger was quite exasperated.

'Then you do not really sound like a witch at all!' He exclaimed.

The witch felt a warmth spread through her chest, and she realised that it was a good feeling for this stranger to tell her she wasn't a witch. She really did not like being a witch at all!

She and the stranger talked for a long time, becoming fast friends. It was so lovely to talk to someone who did not see her as a witch!

And so, when the stranger left the forest, and then the beautiful island, the not-a-witch went with him.

They returned to the stranger's city, and she became a doctor who was loved by all her patients. And the stranger was no longer a stranger, but her very best friend, and she was always grateful that he had shown her she could be whatever she chose to be.

The end.

Review: The Lost Man

The Lost Man by Jane Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.

Jane Harper is a gifted writer. She has the ability to evoke that dusty, dry, Australian countryside and use its atmosphere to build tension underneath an intriguing murder mystery that keeps you glued to the story from page one.

This book I found to be particularly clever, as there's no detective figuring things out - there's just the Bright family, who are struggling to come to terms with the horrific death of brother/son/husband/father/uncle/nephew, Cameron.

It's told mostly from the perspective of Nathan, who is the eldest son and lives on a neighbouring property completely alone. The lonely nature of the location seems so bleak to me, and its hard to imagine this kind of 'town', where people live kilometres away from others, and spend days travelling out to fix fences around their lands, etc. I have a vague idea about small Australian towns, having passed though plenty, but the vastness of this landscape was still really incredible to me. That level of isolation terrifies me, and it's a fantastic ploy of the novel to draw on that isolation, and weave it into the hostile environment.

Harper has created some fascinating characters here. I found my opinions of them all mutating throughout the book, as their natures became more apparent, and by the end of it I was happy to leave this broken family behind. There are secrets upon secrets, and everyone is suspicious because no one seems to be at first. The information leaks slowly into the story, first raising questions, then answering those with new questions, until you're tearing through chapters trying to figure out what exactly happened to Cameron, and who was behind it. I found it highly addictive because there was always a fresh bone to gnaw on, and more puzzles to solve.

It's very Australian, so I wonder how international readers will fare with the language and terminology, and whether that will affect the reading experience. I really enjoyed the setting that was crafted here, and Harper has a way of taking vast, flat, mundane Australian landscape and turning it into a character that plays just as vital a role as the others.

The Lost Man will have you thinking a lot about the ugly side of human nature, so be ready to be confronted by your own thoughts and the kind of person they make you. There were so many times in this book where I found myself wondering what I'd do in a similar situation. It explores the many facets of family and protecting loved ones (or not), and dynamics outside the ordinary that will draw you in and make you silent witness to the intricacies of the lives behind closed doors.

Safe to say, Jane Harper is still in fine form with this one, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend.

With thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for my ARC.


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Review: The Clockmaker's Daughter

The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

WELL.

Blurb:
1862. Artists. Summer house. Mystery.
2017. Clues. Modern girl trying to solve mystery.

Actual story:
Multiple timelines, multiple mysteries, secrets, intrigues, family, love, heartbreak, ghosts.

This book just offers so much and it was such a fascinating trip unravelling it all.

I loved that it was divided across time, and what an experience trying to put all the pieces together to see how they fit. There are some great characters - obviously some I liked more than others - and hearing the individual stories makes this book stand out.

It's a little haphazard in the way the timelines are explored, which did my head in a little bit, particularly towards the end when I was trying to figure out how it all came together. I still feel like there's some pieces that haven't clicked for me yet but I'm sure the answers will be there when I stop to think about it. I can't decide if I would have preferred the different stories chronologically or if it was more exciting reading the timeline all over the place.

I loved the exploration of different family dynamics throughout, and particularly enjoyed the relationship between Edward and Lucy. The title is a little misleading, I think, as clocks play such a minor role, but the suggested familial relationship does, I think, allude to the many incarnations of 'family' which was quite a fun topic to explore, and one that permeates throughout.

I'm a big fan of ghosts, too, so I enjoyed the way this book dealt with that topic. There's no cheap thrills - it's a sobering take on the notion of the soul and what may happen to it. I found this interpretation to be quite beautiful, if a little melancholy.

I have been hanging out to read this book since I first read the summary and I'm pleased to say it didn't disappoint. I was a little frustrated with the slow start of the first hundred or so pages but after that it really gathered momentum and held onto me nice and tight.

Highly recommend for lovers of historical fiction, mystery and just great, interwoven stories that make you think.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my ARC

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