Book 15 of 20: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Image from Wikipedia


I'm writing this whilst it's fresh in my head, so bear with me.

This afternoon (Thursday 8th May 2014) I sat down and read this book cover to cover. It's just one of those books that, I certainly believe, deserves it praise. It's been on most must read lists for years and I just never sought it out. Until I was charged with the task of reading it by my friend/cousin/hairdresser [in that order], she told me she was setting me homework to read it, because I hadn't yet. So I read this on her recommendation.

It's going to be a movie soon and I don't know if I'll see in the cinema, I might wait until the dvd is out. I don't know how well it would translate as it's such an inner narrative story. Hell, it would translate really well to theatre. I just feel that the book is such an intimate thing, that I don't want to share it with strangers in a screening, to see it acted out would no doubt make me cry, and I do not like people seeing me cry.

Before I read it, I was scared it'd just be a cancer book with a love story tacked on, I'm not spoiling anything by saying that, it's on the blurb, but this is so much more than that. This is what life is about, being angry, idolising people and having them not meet expectation, disappointment and moving past it. Finding some way to joke about the bleakest of things, not allowing yourself to be defeated.

It wasn't until I'd finished, that I came across John Green's photo in the 'about the author' section that I realised how familiar he looked, and then it said he was part of the Vlog Brothers that it connected in my head. Accio Deathly Hallows, I played that so much when I waiting for Deathly Hallows to be released that I still sing it now.

This isn't a cancer book, this isn't a dying book. It's a living book.

Book 14 of 20: Three Bedrooms, One Corpse by Charlaine Harris

Three Bedrooms, One Corpse by Charlaine Harris

Image from amazon

The third in the series and the last one I own for the moment, so we'll have to revisit Aurora again at a later date.

If I lived in the town she does, then I'd pack up and move given the amount of murders that seem to happen in the short space of time.
The three books seem to span about two years, so Aurora herself has been in the cross hairs twice and the number of her acquaintances  seems to be dwindling rather rapidly. Although she does keep up a love life despite it all.

Personally, I'm not entirely sure she's sane, because how the hell do you keep your sanity after that? She also makes some questionable choices that I can't say I agree with.

Despite it all, I do actually enjoy reading these books!

Book 13 of 20: The Girl With All The Gifts by M. R. Carey

The Girl With All The Gifts by M. R. Carey

Image from amazon

Whilst killing time in town, as I was too early for my bus, I wondered into Waterstones and browsed their selection of recommendations, which is where I came across this book, I started to read the front page and was gripped so I had to buy it and then I carried on reading it whilst I was on the bus.

So, what attracted me to it? The recommendation said something about it being "The Walking Dead meets [an author sorry I forgot]" and the cover was bright yellow, so that helps.

Now, I love zombies and I'm attracted to pretty much anything zombie, but I'm sure you'll agree that the genre is getting a little over-saturated and stale. They're the 'in' monster, like how vampires were a few years ago, so I was a little hesitant until I started reading. I was hooked.

It's such a fresh and interesting take on the genre, it really is. The narrative is from different character's points of view and you honestly get involved with their thoughts. The science of the zombies is rooted in actual documented science that I'd seen on a BBC documentary.

Get this book, read it and love it! It's great!

Book 12 of 20: A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris

A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris

Image from amazon

The second book in the Aurora Teagarden Mystery series.

Another short read, it took me a day, whilst my laptop had died and to give me something to do when I couldn't surf the wonderful world wide web, and I enjoyed it terribly.

I found it a little less exciting as the first book but I was still gripped.

I'm starting to think it must be exhausting, socially, to live in a small American town, as everyone seems to know each other and each other's business, it's as bad as if they were on social media, but remember, these books are set in the early nineties.

The whole mystery of this book is finding out whose skull Aurora finds in her newly inherited house.

Book 11 of 20: Real Murders by Charlaine Harris

Real Murders by Charlaine Harris

Image from amazon

I like her True Blood books, and her Harper C. books, so when I saw the first 3 books of this series in the Works I had to pick them up. Bonus: They were 3 for £5.

It's a fun little murder mystery story, little being the word, I don't think it has more than 200 pages, and I read it in under a day when my poor laptop decided to die, hence there being a delay in posting the books I've read, and why Book's 10, 11 and 12 will be posted very closely together.

I was entertained pretty well despite the foul mood I was in.

Though I hadn't realised when reading, that despite the pretty new covers, these must be a reprint, as I wondered why a character who was working in a library was recording books by hand and made no mention of using a computer. It wasn't until I checked that the copyright was 1992 and I realised that this story is almost as old as I am.

As ever, Harris's female lead is pretty similar to Harper and Sookie, by being pretty but with a flaw, surprised that they attract many male suitors at one time, seems to be a trouble magnet and is fuelled by coffee.

Book 10 of 20: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Image from Tesco

Oh this was fantastic too. If you've seen the film first, like I did, then you already know what happens, and I'd say the film is very true to the book, the only difference is a little restructuring to make the film's narrative flow more that being a book, it didn't need, you can keep going back and forth because it's a book.

This is the sequel to The Hunger Games and continues the story a few months after the last book. When I started reading it, I couldn't put it down and stayed up really late to read it. That's how I know it's a good book. I may have cried whilst reading it, not full on bawling tears, but leaky eye kind of crying.

A little scared to read the third one as I know it's different to these two, and as I don't know what's ahead. Maybe I'll muster up a little courage.

Book 9 of 20: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Image from Amazon.

My plan, and it was a wonderful plan, was seeing as I was enjoying movies, I'd wait to read the books. Then, a friend I truly love, dropped the "I'm amazed you haven't read these yet" line, and that was it, that little gnat buzzing around my mind. I got home and started reading.

I got through this book in a day, as I couldn't put it down.

You know when you are really into a book, as you can see a 'movie' play in your head. I had the movie playing and I was enjoying the ride.

I am so happy I've read this and I urge you all to do the same.

Book 8 of 20: 1602 by Neil Gaiman

1602 by Neil Gaiman

Image from Neil Gaiman  's website

From Book 7 you know I enjoy reading comic books, and given my newly discovered love of Neil Gaiman I was happy the two could collide.

Although I've never read the books of many of these characters, I understood who they were from the movies, and even if  I hadn't seen those, doesn't everyone have a grasp on who Spiderman, The Fantastic Four, Daredevil and The X-Men are? They're pretty much public knowledge these days. Add to the fact that this is pretty much a stand alone story means that anyone can read this without having to worry about previous histories.

It's story is wonderful, I love it, why can't this be a movie? I'm not getting into a film rights conversation, but it usually bubbles up, and no, I don't care that the guy they've cast as Human Torch is black, it makes no impact on the story and we'll all be seeing the movie anyway.

Back to my point, it would make an awesome movie, I mean, just imagine the costumes! Great characters, the story is wonderful, I enjoy the time setting. I guess it'd be a sci-fi historical romp of a movie. Seriously, make this. It's so interesting.

Gaiman's writing really shines, I could gush for hours about how much I love his writing style, and it translates well to the comic format, which doesn't always happen for other authors.

I really enjoyed the artwork too, vibrant and each character is easy to identify and distinct throughout.

This has to be read.

Book 7 of 20: Deadpool Volume 3: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Deadpool Volume 3: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Posehn, Duggan, Koblish, Shalvey.

Image from Forbidden Planet

It's a graphic novel, but it has pages which make it a book and a heart wrenching story, so it's allowed.

I know comic books are not everyone's cup of tea, but I really enjoy them, I'm not going to pretend that I know everything about them that ever existed, but I am a Deadpool fan, and I adore him.

Brief history of Deadpool

Real name is Wade Wilson. Deadpool is a Mercenary who has regenerative abilities. He got these abilities from the Weapon X program, like Wolverine. He joined to cure his cancer, which it did, but left him with horrific scars/tumors across his body and he never dies. Most other characters in the Marvel Universe call him crazy as he talks to the two other voices in his head. Is he a good guy? Well, he's pretty much in the grey area on that, but he usually does things for the right reasons.

He was created by Rob Liefeld in the 1990's, making his first appearance in New Mutants #98.

Mostly, I think he just wants friends, but is too scared to put himself out there.

Back to the post.

I think this story may have broken my heart a little bit, it started out all fun, as usual, with a romp of an issue where Deadpool is working alongside Luke Cage and Iron Fist, that has a ridiculous villain and 4th wall breaking antics, and then floor falls away, and your stomach drops, and it's such a straight story. Deadpool teams up with Wolverine and Captain America, and finds out about his past and it will leave you heartbroken.

The artwork in this book is wonderful.

All the heartbreak aside; this book has Deadpool, Captain America and Wolverine kicking ass! Serious ass-kicking. It's kick ass.

Book 6 of 20: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon

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

Image taken from ebooks.bigw

I remember when this book came out in 2003, how every magazine I picked up had this book in it, and then I kept hearing people around me talk about it wherever I went. Fast forward to 2012, and whilst having coffee with my Auntie, this book came up in conversation, as she'd just finished reading it and couldn't praise it enough, she decided to buy it for me, as I hadn't read it yet. Once more, it became another book that was left sitting on my shelf.
And now to January 2014, whilst sat in the cinema, waiting for the stream of Coriolanus, live from the Donmar Theatre, to start I saw a trailer for the play of Curious Incident that would be coming in May as an encore playing of the show to be streamed in cinemas, and it caught my interest, and we decided that we'd go see it. So I resolved that I'd read the book before we watch the play.

Last night I finished reading it and I loved it. I think that I may have put off reading it for so long because of all of the hype that surrounds this book, and honestly, this book lives up to it.

It's a mystery novel, that is so innocently naive and quite humorous because of that, there's the added bonus that you may learn something from it like I did. It's a wonderful look into Christopher's mind, who has learning difficulties but it's never really revealed as which one it is.

I urge you all to read this, and I'm now really looking forward to seeing the play.

Book 5 of 20: Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Image from hachette

Given that the film has been one of my favourite films since it's release, I thought it was about time that I read the book.
Now that's something I seem to do a lot, enjoy a film and some time later buy the book only to put it on the shelf, rinse and repeat.

Now, I finished reading this last week but got a little preoccupied by other things and forgot to write this, so my apologies.

I really enjoyed this book, there's just something about Gaiman's writing style that I need to keep reading, he truly gives magic to the world around us.

Again, if I ever do film/book comparisons, this would certainly be a part of that series, as there are some differences between these two versions of Stardust, but like in other cases where I'll be extremely disappointed in the film, I don't think the film is a bad adaptation and it really expands the source material.

So if you've enjoyed the movie, you'll love the book.

My copy of Stardust has a couple of extras, including a short story involving a young girl, and what happens to her is something every woman will empathise with, and I just wish that when it happened to me it was as magical an experience. I'm mostly surprised by how well Gaiman wrote the experience.

Book 4 of 20: The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin with an Introduction by Chuck Palahniuk

Image from www.theworks.co.uk

You know what? I rather enjoy the Nicole Kidman movie, I never realised it was based on a book, so now I get to see the root material and how the film compares.

The film is a comedy, whereas I've been told this is more sci-fi.

My edition of Stepford Wives has an introduction by Chuck Palahniuk, which gives a very interesting overview of the story and how it relates to us now, in this era, though it is pretty full of spoilers, so if you're going in with no idea of the story, I'd skip it if I were you and read it afterwards. In itself, the introduction is an interesting essay on the state of the current media, and is a rather eye opening piece of text.

Now I've finished reading it all I can say is how fantastic it is. How utterly amazing, thought provoking, suspenseful, scary and completely modern and relevant to today, despite first being published in 1972, that's 42 years ago.

I'm going to be honest here, I read it in one sitting. It's not a long book, and that's what appealed to me, but it's brilliant. I just had to keep reading it.

This is way scarier than the 2004 film. I may have to compare the two at some point. The ending to the film is so different to the book.

Read it.

Book 3 of 20: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Coraline and Stardust are two of my favourite films, I watch them over and over, but I realised that I hadn't read them, or any of Neil Gaiman's books and it was about time I did. So I popped down to my local bookstore and found a small selection of his books on a shelf.

One in particular stood out to me, and that one is the reason for this post. So let's jump into The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and Illustrated by Dave McKean.

Image taken from Wikipedia

Straight from the off I was enchanted by the story, a little boy who grows up in a grave yard, and taught by ghosts is one of the most amazing sounding things I've ever heard. This is one of those wonderfully dark children's stories, that adults seem to really love. 

It's innocent enough for children, but with darker themes and adult can appreciate.

The story spans years of Bod's, short for Nobody Owens, life in the graveyard, discovering it's magic, adventures he has there and ultimately the reason that he's there.

I was so engrossed in this book that I stayed up until 3am reading it before I noticed the time. This is a book that is certainly worth your time.

And, if we're very lucky, Disney will soon be releasing a film adaptation of it.

Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine

I haven't changed my format, I just wanted to tell you how super excited I am about this book; Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine, which is out February 4th. It will more than likely end up in my  Book # of 20 reviews this year.

Here's what it's about;

In the Houses of Montague and Capulet, there is only one goal: power. The boys are born to fight and die for honor and—if they survive—marry for influence and money, not love. The girls are assets, to be spent wisely. Their wishes are of no import. Their fates are written on the day they are born.

Benvolio Montague, cousin to Romeo, knows all this. He expects to die for his cousin, for his house, but a spark of rebellion still lives inside him. At night, he is the Prince of Shadows, the greatest thief in Verona—and he risks all as he steals from House Capulet. In doing so, he sets eyes on convent-bound Rosaline, and a terrible curse begins that will claim the lives of many in Verona…

…And will rewrite all their fates, forever.

Romeo and Juliet has been done a thousand times, my favourite film incarnation has to be Warm Bodies, so it's interesting to have a perspective shift to another character and have it be about them instead. I'm seriously looking forward to see how this story will fit in the R&J storyline.

Rachel Caine is one of my favourite authors and I've had the good pleasure of meeting her, she's so lovely and warm. I remember the Q&A she did at Waterstones in Walsall, I asked her if there were any plans of her books becoming graphic novels, I was so excited and nervous, I'd gone there alone and my only regret is not asking someone to take a picture for me!

I've read all of her Morganville books, including short stories and her Weather Warden Books, plus the "Manny" books, so I am looking forward to having a new series to look forward to!

Book 2 of 20: In an Iron Cage

In an Iron Cage: The Magic of Steampunk edited by Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Elektra Hammond, and Neal Levin

Image taken from Amazon.

IaIC is a collection of 14 short stories, and to fairly give each one it's due I've written the review after reading each story.
Before reading this, I will admit that, I had no real clue what steampunk was or how it came about. I've seen the cosplayers who wear lavish Victorian costumes but amped up to eleven with the addition of, what seems to be a staple, goggles.

Given that they are short stories, I won't go into too much detail as I wouldn't like to spoil it and, well, there are fourteen to get through, so we don't want to be here all day.

The Winter Court by Bernie Mojzes
A nice little story, with a good level of humour and plenty of wonder to sate my imagination. Whoever thought trying to find an island would be so enjoyable? It was a nice way to ease me into a new genre, there were markers of steampunk that I recognised, but I never thought it would go the way it did.

House of Automatons by James Chambers
This is a tale that I rather enjoyed reading, and will most likely reread. It has everything I need; a love story, a rogue of a main character, a witch, magic, automatons (steam powered robots), intrigue, puzzles, revenge....

Drinking Down Death by Jeff Young
This one had me from the start due to mysteriously missing Mediums, forgive my use of alliteration but I so rarely get to use it, and suspicious Sisters. Quite a fun little ride of a story.

Speaker for the Mayans by Brenda Cooper
A tale of exploration and bringing hope. I would have loved this one to be a full length novel. Everything was described so brightly that my mind was ablaze with colour and wonder whilst reading it. The characters worked well together and I love a woman in Victorian man trousers.

To Love and Hope by C.J. Henderson
This story has a more modern setting and features dimension travel. I'd thought steampunk was in a predominantly Victorian setting, so it was interesting to have a different setting. The heroes travel from a world just like ours, just with the addition of interdimensional travel where science reigns, to a world just like theirs only in that world magic reigns.

Little Girl with Pink Ribbons by Stuart Jaffe
Set around the Depression era, a man is entrusted with a little girl to look after, as a way to pay off his brother's debts to a mobster, during a boxing match between a wizard and a steam powered robot. I found this story to be a very quick read, nice and simple, good for a short journey and very likeable.

Scoundrel's Magic by James Daniel Ross
Who doesn't love a scoundrel's tale? The only thing better is a scoundrel's redemption story. See the horrors they inflict and how they remedy it. A good little story made even better, for me, with magical creatures.

On the Wings of an Angel by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
Seen through the eyes of a bar singer, she reflects on her job and the mechanical wings she wears. It was a nicely written story, in an accent no less!

The Trans-Siberian by A.C. Wise
What does the fox say? Quite a lot actually. Pop culture references aside, this is a very interesting story, a murder mystery, a Royal in danger, on a train, with were-foxes. I really don't think it gets better than that. I'd like to think that this is just the tip of the iceberg, and that'll I'll find more stories like this one in the future.

The First Flight of Valhalla by Darren W. Pearce
Follow Valhalla, the Dark Elves first warship, in it's maiden voyage. The elves are not of the Tolkien variety, they remind me of the elves found in Skyrim, this observation applies to all of these steampunk tales not just this one if anyone needed a frame of reference. Though in this story, they are feuding with Dwarves, that I recognise. The story is written with a lot of detail, which fed my imagination and allowed me to really see the world and it contains a very interesting plot point with fairies.

The Case of the Duchess's Dog by Elektra Hammond
A sweet little whodunit story. When the Duchess finds her dog dead, forensics use a combination of magic and science to find out what happened. The main character is smart and caring, using her gadgets, including a clockwork ferret, which I never knew how much I wanted one until now, effectively she discovers what has happened and takes the time and care to do her job properly, as the case could be considered somewhat frivolous and a waste of time to her peers, which is what I like about the main character.

That Voodoo that You Do by Patrick Thomas
Big Brother: Steampunk Edition, with Witch Trials and gangs. The main character is extremely likeable, and he likes to talk, a lot, which is all part of his charm. It's well written, with a clear narrative and interesting concept. As with the other stories, I'd love it to be expanded on.

Iron and Brass, Blood and Bone by Alma Alexander
What an amazing story, somewhat of a cautionary tale mixed with Jekyll & Hyde. Thought provoking and wonderful. That's all I can say without spoiling it.

Greater Crater Gremlins by David Sherman
A fun story to wrap up with, the main character has all the charm of Indiana Jones. It's honestly funny too, it had me laughing out loud as I read the climax.  We all know that gremlins are mischievous little buggers. A twinkly eyes kind of story and definitely worth reading.

I have enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would, and I'm now rather interested in Steampunk now I have a gist of of it. I think I'll go do a bit of research on the subject.

I borrowed this book from my brother, so I'm recommending it to you on my enjoyment of it. You can find it on amazon.

Book 1 of 20: Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Linsay

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

I've seen a couple episodes of the television series, Dexter, and I was rather charmed by it, but I didn't see it from the start so I couldn't follow it properly. So when I came across one of the books the show is based on, in Morrisons for £2*, well, how could I object?
I was quite taken with the tagline; "A serial killer with a heart.. be grateful it's not yours."
The whole idea of a serial killer who only goes after serial killers, like a bloody Robin Hood; stealing the lives of the guilty to give chance to the innocent, appeals to my morbid sense of humour.

I'll try to make this as spoiler free as possible, whilst giving you a gist of the story.

The book is written in first person view, so you get to experience the inner workings and thoughts of Dexter's mind.
The opening pulls no punches, throwing you into one of Dexter's 'kill nights', how he carefully targets those who deserve his attention. This completely sucks you into the story. You want to know what makes him do this and why. I mean, we've seen shows like CSI, where they catch serial killers, whilst unravelling their pasts, and those characters are always over the top, bigger than big, but Dexter works for the police, he helps catch killers, it's his job as blood splatter analyst.
And honestly, despite his statements saying he isn't human, I think he has completely human feelings, even if he doesn't realise them, or rationalise them.
Dexter is completely charming and funny. I let out more than one chuckle. He even calls someone a "scamp", which I loved, as I'm not sure of the last time I heard anyone use the word scamp!
The main plot of the book is trying to catch a serial killer known as the Tamiami Butcher, who targets Miami's prostitutes and how much Dexter admires their work and isn't sure if he wants it to come to a stop.

In brief, this story is dark, engaging and amusing, with a charming protagonist and relatable side characters who all work well together. The ending is wonderful and leaves you wanting more. I know that I'll be on the look out for the rest of the titles in the series.

*As of New Years Eve 2013

Introductions

I, like many people, buy books with good intentions to read them, but never seem to make time to do so, I make a vow here, to the books on my shelves, to read them.

I am making a goal, that in 2014, I will read at least 20 books. 20 books that are new to me, re-reads will not be included in the score, but will get a mention if I read them.

The plan is not to stick to one genre, as that could get boring. The books I'll be reading are probably not going to be the newest releases, but that's part of the adventure of books, isn't it? You can find a new favourite anywhere.

I'm currently three quarters of the way through book 1/20, so you'll be hearing from me soon.

Until then,

Laura
xo