With the movie coming out soon, I decided it was time to pick up James Dashner’s The Maze Runner. I wasn’t too sure if I would enjoy it so I picked it up in eBook from the library. [book-info] I’m glad I didn’t purchase it because I found it was not really my cup of tea. It reminded me in some ways of Lost – more questions being asked than answered. It was particularly frustrating when characters refused to share information when it would have been in the interest of the larger group to have done so. The worldbuilding was otherwise excellent and there is no fault I could point to in the writing. It just didn’t appeal to me personally, and I am unlikely to be continuing with the rest of the series. I gave The Maze Runner three stars out of five. One of the TV series I’m looking forward to most this year is Starz adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. For those of you unfamiliar with this book, it’s about a WWII nurse, Claire Beauchamp, who finds herself transported back in time to 18th century Scotland and falls in love with a handsome red-haired Scot, Jamie…
With the movie coming out soon, I decided it was time to pick up James Dashner’s The Maze Runner. I wasn’t too sure if I would enjoy it so I picked it up in eBook from the library. [book-info] I’m glad I didn’t purchase it because I found it was not really my cup of tea. It reminded me in some ways of Lost – more questions being asked than answered. It was particularly frustrating when characters refused to share information when it would have been in the interest of the larger group to have done so. The worldbuilding was otherwise excellent and there is no fault I could point to in the writing. It just didn’t appeal to me personally, and I am unlikely to be continuing with the rest of the series. I gave The Maze Runner three stars out of five. One of the TV series I’m looking forward to most this year is Starz adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. For those of you unfamiliar with this book, it’s about a WWII nurse, Claire Beauchamp, who finds herself transported back in time to 18th century Scotland and falls in love with a handsome red-haired Scot, Jamie…
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead is the first in the Bloodlines series, the spinoff from Vampire Academy. It follows the story of young Alchemist Sydney Sage whom we met in the Vampire Academy series. In it, Sydney is tasked with protecting Jill Mastrano in Palm Springs and in order to do so attends an elite boarding school with her. We learn more about the Alchemists and also some secrets about Vampire Academy characters are revealed. To be honest, Bloodlines didn’t grab me nearly as much as Vampire Academy did. With VA we were introduced to interesting characters and they drew us into their fascinating world. While reading VA I had been interested to learn more about the Alchemists, but other than Sydney the Alchemists we meet in Bloodlines are very unsympathetic characters which killed any interest I had in learning about their organisation. What I liked Sydney. I did like Sydney in Bloodlines, and I feel her character has great scope for development. I would love to see her develop from a competent if anxious and insecure operative to the kick ass Alchemist we know she can be. I would also enjoy seeing her deal with the prejudices she’s carrying around…
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead is the first in the Bloodlines series, the spinoff from Vampire Academy. It follows the story of young Alchemist Sydney Sage whom we met in the Vampire Academy series. In it, Sydney is tasked with protecting Jill Mastrano in Palm Springs and in order to do so attends an elite boarding school with her. We learn more about the Alchemists and also some secrets about Vampire Academy characters are revealed. To be honest, Bloodlines didn’t grab me nearly as much as Vampire Academy did. With VA we were introduced to interesting characters and they drew us into their fascinating world. While reading VA I had been interested to learn more about the Alchemists, but other than Sydney the Alchemists we meet in Bloodlines are very unsympathetic characters which killed any interest I had in learning about their organisation. What I liked Sydney. I did like Sydney in Bloodlines, and I feel her character has great scope for development. I would love to see her develop from a competent if anxious and insecure operative to the kick ass Alchemist we know she can be. I would also enjoy seeing her deal with the prejudices she’s carrying around…
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is whimsical tale of a magical competition by proxy between two conjurers which takes place through the medium of a fantastical circus which “opens at nightfall, closes at dawn.” The challenge is further complicated by the fact that the two chosen proxies fall in love. I read recently that the novel in its original form was little more than a series of vignettes with little in the way of plot or cohesion to pull them together. While in the published form it’s true that visual images are more important than plot, it still flows very well. I found that The Night Circus sneaked up on me. It didn’t immediately draw me in, but the more I read the more I fell in love with Morgenstern’s circus and the people who live and work in it. What I liked Visual imagery. One of the real treats of The Night Circus is the beautiful images conjured up by Morgenstern’s writing. Her descriptions of, say, the Ice Garden or the Cloud Maze are breathtakingly evocative and stunning. It really made me wish I could visit them in person. Larger than life but relatable characters. All of the…
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is whimsical tale of a magical competition by proxy between two conjurers which takes place through the medium of a fantastical circus which “opens at nightfall, closes at dawn.” The challenge is further complicated by the fact that the two chosen proxies fall in love. I read recently that the novel in its original form was little more than a series of vignettes with little in the way of plot or cohesion to pull them together. While in the published form it’s true that visual images are more important than plot, it still flows very well. I found that The Night Circus sneaked up on me. It didn’t immediately draw me in, but the more I read the more I fell in love with Morgenstern’s circus and the people who live and work in it. What I liked Visual imagery. One of the real treats of The Night Circus is the beautiful images conjured up by Morgenstern’s writing. Her descriptions of, say, the Ice Garden or the Cloud Maze are breathtakingly evocative and stunning. It really made me wish I could visit them in person. Larger than life but relatable characters. All of the…
Recently I was asked to review The Land of Honey by Chinenye Obiajulu. This is the account of Zimako’s and Anuli’s, a professional Nigerian couple’s, experiences as they immigrate from Nigeria to Canada. It deals with their struggles to adapt to Canadian culture and also to enter the Canadian workforce. It is additionally a moving account of how struggle to adapt put a strain on what appeared to be a strong marriage. What I liked Well written and structured. I appreciated that Obiajulu spent some time with the couple in their original home of Nigeria before their move to Canada. This section of the book did an excellent job of introducing us to Anuli and Zimako and explaining their reasons for moving as well as the ties that continued to bind them to Nigeria. Obiajulu describes Nigeria in a vivid and colourful way, making use of local dialect to add to the picture – there is a glossary of Nigerian terms included in the book.It is important to get a sense of where the couple is coming from, their values and what they hope to gain from the move to Canada. Relatable. As an immigrant to Canada myself, I…
Recently I was asked to review The Land of Honey by Chinenye Obiajulu. This is the account of Zimako’s and Anuli’s, a professional Nigerian couple’s, experiences as they immigrate from Nigeria to Canada. It deals with their struggles to adapt to Canadian culture and also to enter the Canadian workforce. It is additionally a moving account of how struggle to adapt put a strain on what appeared to be a strong marriage. What I liked Well written and structured. I appreciated that Obiajulu spent some time with the couple in their original home of Nigeria before their move to Canada. This section of the book did an excellent job of introducing us to Anuli and Zimako and explaining their reasons for moving as well as the ties that continued to bind them to Nigeria. Obiajulu describes Nigeria in a vivid and colourful way, making use of local dialect to add to the picture – there is a glossary of Nigerian terms included in the book.It is important to get a sense of where the couple is coming from, their values and what they hope to gain from the move to Canada. Relatable. As an immigrant to Canada myself, I…
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani is the fairytalesque story of Sophie and Agatha who attend the School for Good and Evil. The twist is that Sophie, who s is beautiful and thinks of herself as a princess and is expecting to go to the School for Good, ends up being placed in the School for Evil whereas reclusive, less traditionally attractive Agatha is placed in the School for Good. Much of the book revolves around the girls’ struggle to adapt to an environment and course of study which feels alien to them. What I liked The Sophie Agatha friendship. This relationship is really at the core of the book. Although the girls are very different, they do share a close bond even if they don’t always recognise or acknowledge it. I loved the way their friendship was developed – and tested throughout the book. The nature of good and evil. Of course, it’s implied that, since the girls were sent to the schools they were, there was obviously some implication of what made Agatha “good” and Sophie “evil.” From various incidents it appears that evil is equated with selfishness and good with consideration for others. I’m not…
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani is the fairytalesque story of Sophie and Agatha who attend the School for Good and Evil. The twist is that Sophie, who s is beautiful and thinks of herself as a princess and is expecting to go to the School for Good, ends up being placed in the School for Evil whereas reclusive, less traditionally attractive Agatha is placed in the School for Good. Much of the book revolves around the girls’ struggle to adapt to an environment and course of study which feels alien to them. What I liked The Sophie Agatha friendship. This relationship is really at the core of the book. Although the girls are very different, they do share a close bond even if they don’t always recognise or acknowledge it. I loved the way their friendship was developed – and tested throughout the book. The nature of good and evil. Of course, it’s implied that, since the girls were sent to the schools they were, there was obviously some implication of what made Agatha “good” and Sophie “evil.” From various incidents it appears that evil is equated with selfishness and good with consideration for others. I’m not…