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 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 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.

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