T is for Throne of Glass
Another Sarah J Maas!
Throne of Glass
Sarah J Maas
Bloomsbury 02/08/2012 Paperback
7/10
Bookhaul (Bloomsbury)
The role of the female assassin is beautifully captured in Celena Sardothien. I liked that this whole novel was complex. She has a dark history and back story, her relationships, romantic and otherwise, are not clear cut or simple and the mysterious forces that run through the sub plot are complicated. I love that the other characters are constantly trying to figure her out, while the reader can see that Celena is just like every teenage girl in the world, trying to figure herself out as well. A YA read with a fantasy/action hybrid that keeps the pages turning. Bring on book Two.
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
The Alphabet in Books - S
S is for One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Another one I DO NOT recommend. But I think it is important that people read all the reviews, some love it some hate it, I'm in the latter camp.
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Penguin 06/09/07 Paperback
4/10
Gift (Penguin Intern)
This book either gets five stars or one. For those who award five, a review of incredibly critical insight is written. For those who award one they apologise for 'not getting it'. I will not apologise.
I get it. The passage of time, the reality of time, the madness of the human condition. The absurd. One critic called it Dali in words. I loved passages of the writing. Perhaps one paragraph in nine. But I could not finish it. Such importance was put upon the family, but we were raced through it. I lost interest in trying to keep up. Unlike Ulysses where the beauty of the language has to wash over you as you read it (and perhaps this is the downfall of translation) one hundred years of solitude read as a very dull timeline with extraordinary events chucked in. Other critics I read said: one hundred years of Boredom/Tedium/Torture. I am inclined to agree. I did not finish it and I would not recommend it.
Another one I DO NOT recommend. But I think it is important that people read all the reviews, some love it some hate it, I'm in the latter camp.
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Penguin 06/09/07 Paperback
4/10
Gift (Penguin Intern)
This book either gets five stars or one. For those who award five, a review of incredibly critical insight is written. For those who award one they apologise for 'not getting it'. I will not apologise.
I get it. The passage of time, the reality of time, the madness of the human condition. The absurd. One critic called it Dali in words. I loved passages of the writing. Perhaps one paragraph in nine. But I could not finish it. Such importance was put upon the family, but we were raced through it. I lost interest in trying to keep up. Unlike Ulysses where the beauty of the language has to wash over you as you read it (and perhaps this is the downfall of translation) one hundred years of solitude read as a very dull timeline with extraordinary events chucked in. Other critics I read said: one hundred years of Boredom/Tedium/Torture. I am inclined to agree. I did not finish it and I would not recommend it.
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
The Alphabet in Books - R
R is for Rasputin's Daughter
Not technically a recommendation as I didn't like this book... but it appears to be the only R in my reading record. So:
Not technically a recommendation as I didn't like this book... but it appears to be the only R in my reading record. So:
Robert Alexander
Penguin 19/01/2006
3/5
Mummy's Library
This short book was an easy read and perfect for the plane ride home from Istanbul. This piece of historical fiction was a interesting, but only because I am already interested in this period of history. The little nuggets of interest were mostly already known, and there wasn't anything particularly ground breaking in terms of the story line.
A sweet book, It had some adult themes but I felt that the writing style was slightly too young for me, aimed more at a young adult audience then me. If you're into historical fiction from this time, then it's a good one, but it's not the best and is particularly simple.
Monday, 16 December 2013
The Alphabet in Books - Q
Q is for Queen of Shadows
Another one for the TBR list. I love Sarah J Maas' books and would love to round off the series with the last book. I've been doing pretty well with my TBR list and have been focusing on those books on my shelves that really need to be read or disapear.
This is a YA novel, so it is unlikely to hang around for long as I tend to devour them, particularly the really well written ones by Maas. In this new book Celaena Sardothien is out for revenge and by all accounts it's a passionate and exciting finale. I can't wait to get my hands on it, I'm only stopped by my HUGE list of other books to read. but soon. soon I will read this one.
Another one for the TBR list. I love Sarah J Maas' books and would love to round off the series with the last book. I've been doing pretty well with my TBR list and have been focusing on those books on my shelves that really need to be read or disapear.
This is a YA novel, so it is unlikely to hang around for long as I tend to devour them, particularly the really well written ones by Maas. In this new book Celaena Sardothien is out for revenge and by all accounts it's a passionate and exciting finale. I can't wait to get my hands on it, I'm only stopped by my HUGE list of other books to read. but soon. soon I will read this one.
Sunday, 15 December 2013
The Alphabet in Books - P
P is for Pride and Prejudice
OF COURSE!
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
T.Eggerton, Whitehall 28/1/1813
5/5
Borrowed from Mummy's library
I took this book from Turkey for the plane ride home. I LOVED it. amazingly, having grown up watching pride and prejudice 1992 TV series on VHS round and round until we didn't know the colours of the dresses, I never actually read the book.
This is part of my classics initiative. Now that I'm not working in publishers, I have less access to new releases so I am focusing on some of the classics that I SHOULD read. Anyway, Pride and Prejudice lived up to everything that I wanted it to be. I loved reading the original characters and felt them evolving and changing in my brain.
I will say though, that it was easier to read because I already had the tone of the TV series in my mind, and so it was much easier for me to follow than I think it would be if I wasn't so familiar with the narrative already.
OF COURSE!
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
T.Eggerton, Whitehall 28/1/1813
5/5
Borrowed from Mummy's library
I took this book from Turkey for the plane ride home. I LOVED it. amazingly, having grown up watching pride and prejudice 1992 TV series on VHS round and round until we didn't know the colours of the dresses, I never actually read the book.
This is part of my classics initiative. Now that I'm not working in publishers, I have less access to new releases so I am focusing on some of the classics that I SHOULD read. Anyway, Pride and Prejudice lived up to everything that I wanted it to be. I loved reading the original characters and felt them evolving and changing in my brain.
I will say though, that it was easier to read because I already had the tone of the TV series in my mind, and so it was much easier for me to follow than I think it would be if I wasn't so familiar with the narrative already.
Saturday, 14 December 2013
The Alphabet in Books - O
O is for Orlando
Orlando
Virginia Woolf
Hogarth Press 11/10/1928 Kindle
4/5
Kindle Classics
In a strange turn of events, I actually saw the film of Orlando before the book. I found the story much more dark, confusing and bizarre than the film and I really enjoyed that, it felt like I was unwrapping a secret part of the story I didn't know before. I loved the Tiresus style gender bending and the struggles of the genders between them selves. The exploration of ying and yan in a persons' personality as well as their body was interesting as well as the impact of a woman losing her fortune and rights in a world where she was once a man.
It was fantastical in all the right ways and incredibly readable. I was surprised as I've struggled with Woolf's essays before and thought the book would be another dribble of musings from the mind. I find stream of consciousness style writing quite self indulgent actually, so I was pleased to find that Orlando was very well constructed and not in the least annoying. I might even try another of Virginia's soon (first name basis, obviously).
Orlando
Virginia Woolf
Hogarth Press 11/10/1928 Kindle
4/5
Kindle Classics
In a strange turn of events, I actually saw the film of Orlando before the book. I found the story much more dark, confusing and bizarre than the film and I really enjoyed that, it felt like I was unwrapping a secret part of the story I didn't know before. I loved the Tiresus style gender bending and the struggles of the genders between them selves. The exploration of ying and yan in a persons' personality as well as their body was interesting as well as the impact of a woman losing her fortune and rights in a world where she was once a man.
It was fantastical in all the right ways and incredibly readable. I was surprised as I've struggled with Woolf's essays before and thought the book would be another dribble of musings from the mind. I find stream of consciousness style writing quite self indulgent actually, so I was pleased to find that Orlando was very well constructed and not in the least annoying. I might even try another of Virginia's soon (first name basis, obviously).
Friday, 13 December 2013
The Alphabet in Books - N
N is for Nutcracker
Since it's Christmas, the classic Christmas story of the Nutcracker is the obvious choice when it comes to recommendations. The story has obviously been taken over successfully by the ballet but the original story by E.T.A. Hoffmann: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a charming story and well worth a read. The festive story is the perfect prelude to watching and enjoying the ballet by Tchaikovsky.
It is no wonder that the story was taken up as Clara is whisked away into a world populated by dolls that come alive.
Definitely one for Christmas time!
Since it's Christmas, the classic Christmas story of the Nutcracker is the obvious choice when it comes to recommendations. The story has obviously been taken over successfully by the ballet but the original story by E.T.A. Hoffmann: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a charming story and well worth a read. The festive story is the perfect prelude to watching and enjoying the ballet by Tchaikovsky.
It is no wonder that the story was taken up as Clara is whisked away into a world populated by dolls that come alive.
Definitely one for Christmas time!
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