Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell – Review
Audiobook reviews , Book Reviews / October 30, 2013

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is the sweet story of the romance between two misfit teens, Eleanor and Park.  Neither of them fit in easily with their classmates; Eleanor because of her quirky appearance and Park because of his half Asian heritage in a predominantly white Omaha community.  While Eleanor’s homelife is desperate and downright dangerous, Park comes from a loving and supportive family.  When Eleanor sits beside Park on the school bus a sweet, beautifully written romance ensues. I read this after coming out of my post-Allegiant emotional hangover and it was the perfect antidote.  Despite the terrible family situation in which Eleanor finds herself, the bright spot in her life provided by her friendship with Park is truly heartwarming. What I liked The characterisation.  The novel is written from the dual viewpoints of Park and Eleanor, and both are beautifully and evocatively drawn, each with his or her own concerns and issues.  The characters feel very alive, and it is very easy to root for both of them.  Rowell has a real knack for making her characters seem real people.   The romance.  The love story between our two protagonists is beautifully and sweetly drawn.  It starts…

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell – Review
Audiobook reviews , Book Reviews / October 30, 2013

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is the sweet story of the romance between two misfit teens, Eleanor and Park.  Neither of them fit in easily with their classmates; Eleanor because of her quirky appearance and Park because of his half Asian heritage in a predominantly white Omaha community.  While Eleanor’s homelife is desperate and downright dangerous, Park comes from a loving and supportive family.  When Eleanor sits beside Park on the school bus a sweet, beautifully written romance ensues. I read this after coming out of my post-Allegiant emotional hangover and it was the perfect antidote.  Despite the terrible family situation in which Eleanor finds herself, the bright spot in her life provided by her friendship with Park is truly heartwarming. What I liked The characterisation.  The novel is written from the dual viewpoints of Park and Eleanor, and both are beautifully and evocatively drawn, each with his or her own concerns and issues.  The characters feel very alive, and it is very easy to root for both of them.  Rowell has a real knack for making her characters seem real people.   The romance.  The love story between our two protagonists is beautifully and sweetly drawn.  It starts…

Allegiant by Veronica Roth – Review SPOILERS
Audiobook reviews , Book Reviews / October 28, 2013

When I finished Allegiant I really couldn’t decide if it was a brilliant piece of writing or a garbled mess.  However, given that I had a major emotional book hangover and couldn’t face picking up another book for several days, I’m going for the “brilliant piece of writing.”  For those of you concerned about my mental wellbeing, I was rescued from the emotional depths by Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park, a sweet story of first love, so that in a couple of days I may actually be ready to go back to The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken.   So, onto Allegiant.  It is difficult, if not impossible, to review Allegiant without spoilers, so please join me after the cut once you have read the book.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth – Review SPOILERS
Audiobook reviews , Book Reviews / October 28, 2013

When I finished Allegiant I really couldn’t decide if it was a brilliant piece of writing or a garbled mess.  However, given that I had a major emotional book hangover and couldn’t face picking up another book for several days, I’m going for the “brilliant piece of writing.”  For those of you concerned about my mental wellbeing, I was rescued from the emotional depths by Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park, a sweet story of first love, so that in a couple of days I may actually be ready to go back to The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken.   So, onto Allegiant.  It is difficult, if not impossible, to review Allegiant without spoilers, so please join me after the cut once you have read the book.

Reading Roundup – 25 October 2013
Reading Roundup / October 25, 2013

I think my reading of House of Hades must have infected me with some demigod ADHD because I am trying to read no fewer than four books at the same time.  Sigh.  So many great books, so little time. I couldn’t decide what audiobook to listen to at work so I used a random number generator to help me choose.  The selection landed on The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March.  For those of you who don’t know, this is set in the same world as Finding Colin Firth but written and set earlier.  So far I’m enjoying it – I loved the setting and the characters are relatable.   A full review will come shortly. After listening to a few chapters though I realised I was more in the mood for some YA dystopia, so I picked up Alexandra Bracken’s The Darkest Minds.  I’d been hooked by the preview on Bracken’s website and I am continuing to enjoy it.  Ruby seems an interesting, if damaged character, and I look forward to reading more of her story.  Again, expect a full review soon. I had been asked to review Paul Levine’s State vs. Lassiter so I have added it to this…

Reading Roundup – 25 October 2013
Reading Roundup / October 25, 2013

I think my reading of House of Hades must have infected me with some demigod ADHD because I am trying to read no fewer than four books at the same time.  Sigh.  So many great books, so little time. I couldn’t decide what audiobook to listen to at work so I used a random number generator to help me choose.  The selection landed on The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March.  For those of you who don’t know, this is set in the same world as Finding Colin Firth but written and set earlier.  So far I’m enjoying it – I loved the setting and the characters are relatable.   A full review will come shortly. After listening to a few chapters though I realised I was more in the mood for some YA dystopia, so I picked up Alexandra Bracken’s The Darkest Minds.  I’d been hooked by the preview on Bracken’s website and I am continuing to enjoy it.  Ruby seems an interesting, if damaged character, and I look forward to reading more of her story.  Again, expect a full review soon. I had been asked to review Paul Levine’s State vs. Lassiter so I have added it to this…

Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding – Review – SPOILERS
Audiobook reviews , Book Reviews / October 23, 2013

Mad About the Boy is Helen Fielding’s return to her heroine Bridget Jones after a break of 15 years.  It is very difficult, if not impossible, to review Mad About the Boy without including spoilers, so if you have not read the book and do not want to be spoiled, please go away, read the book and come back later.  We’ll be waiting.

Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding – Review – SPOILERS
Audiobook reviews , Book Reviews / October 23, 2013

Mad About the Boy is Helen Fielding’s return to her heroine Bridget Jones after a break of 15 years.  It is very difficult, if not impossible, to review Mad About the Boy without including spoilers, so if you have not read the book and do not want to be spoiled, please go away, read the book and come back later.  We’ll be waiting.

House of Hades by Rick Riordan – Review
Audiobook reviews , Book Reviews / October 21, 2013

House of Hades is the fourth, and presumably, the penultimate in Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus series.  It continues the story of the seven demigods who are prophesied to work together to prevent the earth goddess Gaea from rising and populating the earth with her giants, presumably a VERY BAD THING. The overall impression I had was that House of Hades was Mark of Athena part II.  It follows on directly from and continues the plot points from the previous book.  In it the demigods continue to work on the task assigned to them in MoA – to close the Doors of Death. Books one and two form a pair – Jason and Percy’s swap – and so books three and four as well.  Riordan has cleared the decks so to speak for the final push in book five, Blood of Olympus. I also had the strong feeling that this is Riordan preparing to say goodbye to the world of Percy Jackson.  As far as I understand, his next project is a new series based on Norse mythology (Yeah!  Loki!  Odin!  Thor!  Sign me up for that!).  Annabeth and Percy’s trip through Tartarus is pretty much a Percy and Annabeth’s Greatest…

House of Hades by Rick Riordan – Review
Audiobook reviews , Book Reviews / October 21, 2013

House of Hades is the fourth, and presumably, the penultimate in Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus series.  It continues the story of the seven demigods who are prophesied to work together to prevent the earth goddess Gaea from rising and populating the earth with her giants, presumably a VERY BAD THING. The overall impression I had was that House of Hades was Mark of Athena part II.  It follows on directly from and continues the plot points from the previous book.  In it the demigods continue to work on the task assigned to them in MoA – to close the Doors of Death. Books one and two form a pair – Jason and Percy’s swap – and so books three and four as well.  Riordan has cleared the decks so to speak for the final push in book five, Blood of Olympus. I also had the strong feeling that this is Riordan preparing to say goodbye to the world of Percy Jackson.  As far as I understand, his next project is a new series based on Norse mythology (Yeah!  Loki!  Odin!  Thor!  Sign me up for that!).  Annabeth and Percy’s trip through Tartarus is pretty much a Percy and Annabeth’s Greatest…