Category: B

techno?

Posted on by Greig

Just Listen

Sarah Dessen

just listenThis is an enjoyable YA book. Annabel used to be the ‘girl who had everything’ – at least on the surface – popular at school, a model away from it. Then things go wrong and she finds herself isolated at school, sick of being a model and feeling trapped by her complicated family life. She finds escape with another school misfit called Owen, whose anger management issues and vehement interest in music brings out something new in her.
This book is about learning to be honest with yourself and facing your problems. Though it’s handled with a light touch by the author there is a lot of dark stuff going on beneath the surface.
This was an entertaining, speedy, read. It just wasn’t original, exciting or eloquent enough to be rated any higher.
Defintely recommended to fans of female led, contemporary young adult fiction. Whether it appeals to anyone else is another matter.

Rating: B

bauxite?

Posted on by Greig

The Portable Door

Tom Holt

The Portable DoorThis book is the first of a series set in an around a firm of consulting magicians. Within that series this is the first of a trilogy starring Paul Carpenter.
We follow our uninspired and unremarkable hero as he interviews for and unexpectedly gets a job at a mysterious but seemingly ordinary business. He then goes on a series of increasingly fantastical misadventures before the real nature of the firm is revealed to him. All this while he nurtures a crush on his fellow new employee Sophie.
I enjoyed the book when I first read it back in 2004. What I can tell you now that I couldn’t then is that it’s a case of diminishing returns with the rest of the books in the series. I only stuck with it as far as I did because I wanted to find out what happened to Paul.
Recommended for lovers of comical fantasy especially those who know a bit of Gilbert and Sullivan (which I don’t but apparently it enhances the experience).

Rating: B

nanette?

Posted on by Greig

The Language Of Spells

Sarah Painter

the language of spellsI first read this less than a year ago and quite enjoyed it. The author has since brought out a sequel. I read the first chapter of that book and decided that I’d best re-read this one first in order to be up to speed with the new novel.
My original review still stands – click on the link to see it.
I’m sure a review for the follow up will appear on the blog soon enough.

Rating: B

daphne?

Posted on by Greig

The Rosie Project

Graeme Simsion

The Rosie ProjectDon is a genetics professor. He’s a creature of schedules, rules and routines.
Though never explicitly stated he’s obviously somewhere on the high functioning end of the autistic spectrum.
After a disastrous date Don decides to initiate The Wife Project. A futile attempt to apply rationality to matters of the heart. His life and the book takes a turn for the screwball comedy when he meets Rosie and starts helping her identify her biological father.
This a fairly enjoyable romantic comedy that I picked up after seeing on sale cheaply in my local Tesco.
I felt that the portrayal of the inner mental workings of Don’s mind was a bit stereotypical and didn’t really feel authentic.
A decent little romance, worth reading if you have a fondness for screwball comedy.

Rating: B

wadjet?

Posted on by Greig

Half-Off Ragnarok

Seanan McGuire

half-off ragnarokThe latest Incryptid book is the first to feature Alex Price as the lead character, taking over from his little sister Verity.
Alex is a scientist specializing in reptilian cryptids and the book finds him working the Reptile House of a Zoo under a false identity.
When people and animals start turning to stone Alex has to investigate.
While this book was fun in the same vein of the first two books there were just a couple too any convenent coincidences in this one and it took me out of the book for a while.
Still don’t let that put of the series I think they’re well worth reading if you like a slice of escapist Urban Fantasy.

Rating: B

scunner?

Posted on by Greig

Pacific Rim

Alex Irvine

pacific rimSolid novelization of one of my favourite genre films of the last couple of years.
There was a richness to the world of the film that made me wonder if any of that would be on display in the novelization.
It’s there but not to the extent that I expected. What was intriguing is that several small details must have changed between script and film because there are a few things that happen differently in the book.
If you’re interested in giant robots fighting giant alien monsters then check out the film first. While the book is enjoyable in it’s own right it’s probably only really of interest to fans of the film.

Rating: B

egress?

Posted on by Greig

The City of Ember

Jeanne DuPrau

The City of EmberThis is a quirky YA science fiction novel that was turned into a film a few years back.
While I quite liked the film general opinion online was that the book was much better.
To be honest, while different in ways, the book is pretty much the same thing.
The thing I liked most about the book was the world building. The general air of everyone muddling along and not really knowing how anything works in a city that’s falling apart and running out of resources really worked.
It’s worth reading I just didn’t feel it was at all exceptional.

Rating: B

kompressor?

Posted on by Greig

The Cinderella Pact

Sarah Strohmeyer

the cinderella pactA solid romance novel where a frumpy magazine sub-editor creates an alias who becomes a overnight sensation as an advice columnist.
I bought this as a cheap paperback because I enjoyed the TV movie based on it. It turns out this was mostly because I really like Poppy Montgomery as a redhead.
It was a quick and easy read and certainly recommended if you’re looking for an enjoyable piece of fluff.

Rating: B

capri?

Posted on by Greig

The Summer I Became A Nerd

Leah Rae Miller

the summer i became a nerdA diverting, speedy read, this YA novel is a coming of age story where the lead character is a closet nerd who has carefully constructed a ‘popular’ persona to help her survive the social minefield of school life.
The plot finds her learning to be honest with herself and the people in her life.
This is another one of those Kindle Daily Deal books. Oh the dodgy books you end up reading just because they were a bargain…
It really is nothing special and only worth reading if you’re after something to switch your brain off with.

Rating: B

veronica?

Posted on by Greig

Faking It

Jennifer Crusie

faking itA charming romance novel about con men and art forgers.
I got a very Gilmore Girls vibe from this book with all the pop culture references and the family of wonderful and off kilter women. This isn’t surprising when you remember that the author once edited a collection of essays about that beloved TV show.
I liked the slightly neurotic lead character Tilda a lot and I think I would like to read more about her.
I’d recommend this if you’re in the mood for an entertaining slice of romantic hokum.

Rating: B