Category: A-

screewee?

Posted on by Greig

Only You Can Save Mankind

Terry Pratchett

Only You Can Save MankindThis is the first of the Johnny Maxwell young adult series and the first of Terry Pratchett’s books I’ve been able to read since his death.
I stayed over at my parents on Christmas Eve and I woke up early on Christmas morning before dawn. As I sat, slightly cold, watching the sun rise over the Forth I borrowed this ebook from Edinburgh Overdrive.
I first read it a long time ago before this blog existed and never again since I started keeping a record of my reading.
This short book retains all of Pratchett’s humour, insight, and empathy while squarely viewing the world from a the perspective of a twelve year old boy.
I don’t want to spend a lot of time on the plot of this one – I just want to recommend it.
Everyone should read Terry Pratchett. If the fantasy trappings of Discworld are putting you off this is as good a place to start as any.

Rating: A-

humdrum?

Posted on by Greig

Carry On

Rainbow Rowell

carry onThis is a super enjoyable piece of YA fantasy taking the fictional fantasy found in Rowell’s Fangirl and turning it into a real story.
Simon Snow is the chosen one. Destined to save the World of Mages he cannot control his massive magical power.
As the stakes are raised in both the magical civil war and the battle against the magic destroying Insidious Humdrum he starts his final year at magical school with his room mate and nemesis Basilton Pitch missing.
I really enjoyed this book. The only issue I have is the state of ignorance the heroes are left in at the end. The reader knows more than Simon at the end and I felt sad that he didn’t get to know some things revealed in other character’s perspectives.

Rating: A-

elf-shot?

Posted on by Greig

A Red-Rose Chain

Seanan McGuire

a red-rose chainThe latest instalment of the Toby Daye story finds her in Portland on a diplomatic mission to avert war between Faerie kingdoms. Obviously this being Toby nothing quite goes to plan.
I seriously really enjoyed this book. I love the whole series so much. I’ve been rating them a bit harshly ever since I started because I’m certain that McGuire is capable of pushing her writing to another level but the consistent B+ rating doesn’t really reflect how much I enjoy these books. Or indeed how excited I am to read what happens next.

Rating: A-

tamerlane?

Posted on by Greig

The Storied Life of AJ Fikry

Gabrielle Zevin

the storied life of aj fikryA.J. Fikry is a bitter widower settling into drunken middle age when a baby is left in his bookshop.
This is a surprisingly moving story of a man returning to the world from deep depression through the love of a child.
I have to say this book is so much better than the plethora of generic romance novels I’ve ploughed through lately.
Highly recommended if you like contemporary fiction and have a bit of a sentimental streak.

Rating: A-

taptap?

Posted on by Greig

The Cormorant

Chuck Wendig

the cormorantThe third Miriam Black book (after Blackbirds and Mockingbird) finds our favourite foul-mouthed and (ever so) slightly unhinged psychic pulled into a seemingly inescapable trap in the weirdest parts of Florida.
I found this book hugely enjoyable. It started off slowly but as the plot unfolds it reveals itself to be the strongest entry in the series yet.
One way it does this by giving Miriam some resolution about parts of her past. It also helps that when Wendig gets to the sharp end of events he makes it deeply personal for our nomally detached and cynical protagonist.
This is also the most overtly fantastical Miriam Black book to date but it’s applied in a way that adds depth to Miriam’s world without losing the noir feel.
The Cormorant is highly recommended but you will need to read the earlier books to get full value (luckily they’re also great reads).

Rating: A-

basset?

Posted on by Greig

The Disreputable History of Franke Landau-Banks

E. Lockhart

THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKSFrankie Landau-Banks is one of the most interesting characters I’ve come across in a book in ages.
A sophomore at an elite Preparatory called Alabaster she discovers that her boyfriend is a member of a secret society. After he balks at every opportunity to tell her about it she takes an opportunity to use the group to her own ends.
I really enjoyed this book and I really like Frankie and share her frustration with the double standards which are applied to women. I would love to read another book set later in her career to see where that stylishly twisted and pin-sharp mind takes her.
Recommended.

Rating: A-

idlewild?

Posted on by Greig

Anne Of Green Gables

L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Green GablesThis much loved novel tells the story of the irrepressible orphan Anne Shirley who is adopted by sober elderly siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert in late Victorian Prince Edward Island in Canada.
It’s an enjoyable read and it’s hard to not love the three lead characters for their various strengths and faults.
I basically only read this because various Lizzie Bennet Diaries fans really love it.
You can find yourself a copy at the Gutenberg archive – it’s well worth a read if you like a good bildungsroman.

Rating: A-

maladicta?

Posted on by Greig

Monstrous Regiment

Terry Pratchett

monstrous regimentThe 31st Discworld book is the story of Polly who goes to war disguised as a boy in order to find her brother.
It’s a rare one-off story in the Discworld series even though it does feature Sam Vimes, William de Worde and a few other characters from earlier books.
Some people love this book and think it’s one of Pratchett’s very best. I personally think it isn’t quite that good – but it’s still a great read.
I read it back when it came out but apparently I didn’t get around to putting it up on the blog – entries were much more intermittent prior to 2005.
If I remember correctly I thought it was OK but not great. I enjoyed it more and I definitely appreciated the overt feminist themes better this time around.
Monstrous Regiment works as an introduction to Discworld but it wouldn’t be my first choice as the book to begin with.
You do know you should be reading Pratchett right?

Rating: A-

solderburn?

Posted on by Greig

Bedlam

Christopher Brookmyre

bedlamThis is Brookmyre’s first foray into straight up science fiction.
The plot is pretty straightforward – the protagonist finds himself trapped in an FPS and tries to find a way out.
The story jumps back and forward between his adventures in the virtual world and his life outside the game.
It’s kind of like Tron crossed with Greg Egan’s Permutation City with a ton of computer game nostalgia mixed in.
He’s touched upon gaming culture in earlier books but it really saturates this one.
Bedlam is fast paced, funny, with lots of action and I really enjoyed it but it’s not top rank Brookmyre.
I would love to see him do more with Science Fiction in the future – perhaps in a less contemporary context next time.

Rating: A-