Review: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

It serves me right for jumping on the Twilight bandwagon, but with the astronomical book sales, new release movie and vampire theme, I couldn't resist. I knew going into this that it was 'teen fiction' but I hoped it would work well for adults the same way the Harry Potter series of books do but I was sadly disappointed.

A great majority of the 500+ pages in Twilight is taken up with the teenage thoughts and actions of two people who like each other and want to be together. Not that I couldn't relate at all. I can remember being like that when I was a teenager, but I grew out of it soon enough and was bored to tears with this book. It was so dull and the main character got on my nerves!!

It also annoyed me that the basic vampire rules weren't followed in this book, and the main character left a lot of unanswered questions about his vampire history and that of his family. This was the only portion of the plot I was interested in and I was left unsatisfied.

I can understand why this book is so popular with the teens of today and I can certainly recognise the well publicised issues of sexual tension and celibacy here.

If you're over 20 and have read any Anne Rice books, you won't enjoy this one.

My rating = *

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Review: Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

This American classic by Mark Twain has been on my list of books to read for many years, primarily to find out why it is so popular and highly regarded. I had high expectations going in but unfortunately they weren't met.

I can certainly appreciate the literary accomplishment in reproducing the dialogue of the times for both Finn's character and that of the main negro character Jim. This was done exceptionally well and there were certainly some laugh out loud moments.

I thought it was interesting that although this book is set in the time of slavery, Huckleberry Finn wants to 'steal his nigger' friend Jim and set him free, but feels guilty at the same time and believes he will go to Hell if he carries it out.

I also found Finn's ability to hastily weave such convoluted lies quite amusing, however my interest started to wane when Tom Sawyer joined the adventures towards the end of the book.

I'm glad I finally got around to reading this American classic, but I couldn't say I enjoyed it all that much.

My rating = **

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Review: The Resurrectionist by James Bradley

I was really excited to read this book for two reasons: it's written by an Australian and is about the trade in stolen bodies used by anatomists in the 1800s.

I was really impressed that an Australian author could conjure the essence of London in the 1800s and was captivated by his writing early in the book. I'm fascinated by the topic of resurrectionists (grave robbers who steal recently buried bodies and sell them to anatomists who dissect them for science) and I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of this book.

I was disappointed in the direction in which the author decided to take the main character, and was confused when he appeared in Australia with a different name many years later. This part of the plot seemed disjointed and I felt unsatisfied by the conclusion. I understand the author was exploring the themes of death, murder and rebirth, but I just didn't like where he chose to take the plot.

James Bradley is certainly an accomplished author and if he publishes another book I'll definitely want to check it out!

My rating = ***

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Review: Just After Sunset by Stephen King

I received this book for Christmas, and it was definitely high on my wishlist. This is the latest book from horror guru Stephen King and is a collection of short stories. Some of the short stories are from early in his career and some are new, but all here are published for the first time in a book.

When reading several of the stories I found myself wishing he'd developed them into stand alone novels as I wanted to remain in the story for longer. The beauty of the short story though is that it packs a punch and doesn't need a plot to sustain a 300 page novel.

If you're a Stephen King fan, you'll love Just After Sunset, and if you're not, it could be a good introduction. Stephen King fans will especially enjoy his comments at the end briefly touching on the inspiration for each of his short stories. He certainly has a great sense of humour!

My rating = *****

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Review: Judge & Jury by James Patterson

I purchased this e-book based on the involvement of the co-author Andrew Gross, as I've enjoyed previous books he's co-authored with Patterson.

I enjoyed the first half of the book involving the capture of the big mafia boss and his subsequent trial. However the last half of Judge & Jury is typical Patterson, rollicking read with a very basic plot line.

I'm glad this one won't be taking up precious space on my bookshelf, however I'm glad I read it.

My rating = ***

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Review: Watchers by Dean Koontz

This was the first electronic book (e-book) I downloaded to my new Iliad - the best gadget ever, given to me by my loving husband for Christmas!

This is an old book by Koontz, and the main character is a very smart golden retriever dog. I enjoyed this book much more than his novel published last year The Darkest Evening of the Year also featuring a unique dog.

This is Koontz at his best and this was a great thriller. I really enjoyed getting to know the main character 'Einstein' the dog, and found his ability to communicate with people both fascinating and heart warming. Of course there is always a dark side to a Koontz novel, and this book was no exception. The polar opposite of Einstein is the 'Outsider' who pursues them across the country leaving carnage in its path.

Highly recommended for any Koontz fan or anyone who is a dog lover and enjoys a good thriller.

My rating = ****

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Review: Fridge Magnets are Bastards by Mark Dapin

I just finished reading this book by Mark Dapin and absolutely loved it! I received it as a gift last Christmas and it's been sitting in my TBR (to be read pile) since then and now I'm sorry I didn't get to it sooner.

This book had me laughing out loud every 5 minutes and wanting to share it with anyone who'll listen. His take on things like 'the loop', 'learning curve' etc had me chuckling all the way through.

I also loved his list of imaginary countries that should exist like 'Burmany, where the mysterious temples of an ancient civilisation are serviced by the finest roads in Europe'.

Mark Dapin is funny and witty and I'll definitely keep an eye out for him in the future.

Highly recommended for last minute Christmas gifts!!!

My rating = *****

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Review: The Chase by Clive Cussler

This is the first book by Clive Cussler I've read and I really enjoyed it. Set in America in the 1900s it isn't the era or setting I usually go for however I was pleasantly surprised and found it easy to immerse myself in this epic battle between 'good guy' Isaac Bell and the 'Butcher Bandit'.

Those with a love of trains or early motor cars will love this book and I found this aspect quite interesting, despite not having any knowledge in this field.

As the title suggests, the book feels like a chase and I was certainly on the edge of my seat (so to speak) until the final page.

I even purchased this book for a Christmas gift for somebody else, so it was a great referral, thanks Dad!

My rating = ***

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Review: War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

I enjoyed reading this classic by H.G. Wells and can understand how it inspired so many authors to explore 'alien invasion' after reading it.

The narrator describes the events of the invasion in the past tense, so I struggled to understand how those listening to the reading over the radio could possibly think it was happening in the present. As I was reading it, I was trying to identify 'the passage' that could have inspired such panic but alas, I couldn't.

Once I gave up this quest I was able to enjoy the writing and the developing plot. The most poignant part of the book was when the soldier was discussing the fate of human beings in years and decades to come and how their relationships with the martians would change. The soldier also claimed to know what type of human being would die in the early stages of the invasion and the characteristics it would take to survive.

I wanted to linger here and explore this further but the main character left the soldier and continued his journey to look for his wife, and this depth of analysis was cut short in my opinion.

All in all, a great classic and an easy read.

My rating = ***

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Review: Death and the Arrow by Chris Priestley

This book was part of a series known as the Tom Marlowe series, but is a stand alone novel and a great little read. Based in London 1715, it is a medieval 'whodunnit' and was very enjoyable to read.

Similarly to P.C. Doherty, Priestley conjurs up the smell and feel of the city during this period which was what attracted me to read this book.

My rating = ***

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Review: The Servants by Michael Marshall Smith

I read this book in one day, but was disappointed that it wasn't all I'd hoped for. I was attracted to the plot line that the main character discovers the ghosts in the old servants quarters in his home. While this was the case, the author didn't really take the plot in the exciting direction I would have liked.

The main character was a young boy dealing with the breakup of his parents, and his ill mother marrying an American and moving to Brighton. There is a lot of skateboarding out in the cold weather that begins to take its toll on the reader, and not enough about the boy's discovery in the old ladies' flat in the basement.

The end was abrupt and the 'twist' that I thought was coming never arrived, which made this a disappointing read.

My rating = **

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Review: False Impression by Jeffrey Archer

This is the first book by Jeffrey Archer I've read and I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed that the main character was an art expert who used to work for Sotheby's and there are plenty of references to artists and artworks throughout the book. If you didn't know your art or Impressionists then I could understand why some readers could feel like Archer is name dropping, but I really enjoyed this angle on the art world.

The incorporation of the events of September 11 were also very interesting and I enjoyed how Archer used this as part of the story but it didn't dominate the plot. The unfolding of events from the point of view of the main character were captivating and I think he achieved a perfect balance here.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action/crime novels and I'd certainly keep my eye open for another book by Jeffrey Archer in the future.

My rating = ****

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Career Change in 2009

Well, it's time for a change, and I've resigned from my job after almost 6 years. My resume is ready to go and I'm looking forward to a career change in 2009!

I'm going to take a well earned break over Christmas and then it's full steam ahead and I'm really looking forward to it. There's so much I want to do in December, my list is h-u-g-e!! Oh yeah, and I'm sure I'll enjoy some extra reading time of course :-)

That's my four bucks!

Review: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

I bought and read this book based on the fact that it was the winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. This book has received endless accolades, but I'm sad to say that I didn't enjoy it at all.

I was intrigued by the premise of this novel, in that Reverend Ames is writing a letter to his son with the knowledge he is dying. The book almost reads like a series of diary entries with entries from the current day and reflections from the past. The entries flipped forwards and backwards in time without any order and I felt like I was being jerked around without any firm destination.

I can see how so many readers were moved by the reflections of the Reverend, but I'm disappointed to say that the deeply profound moments were lost on me for some reason. I'm not quite sure whether it was the writing style, or the religious references or a disbelief that human beings reflect the way he does.

Nevertheless, I won't be recommending Gilead to anyone, and to be quite honest, I found it a chore to read.

My rating = **

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Review: Spider Light by Sarah Rayne

This is the third book I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. This time the creepy building was a disused mill and there was also the inclusion an asylum called 'Latchkill'. I enjoyed the unfolding sub-plots and and learning how various deaths occurred in the mill over different generations.

Rayne doesn't attempt to disguise the fact that her plot construction is the same in each book, although this recipe always delivers a thrilling read. Deviating from this recipe would be exciting for the reader for a change but at the same time a risk to the success of the novel. I guess the only way to know if she's done this is to read her other books.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thriller and uncovering a web of secrets from the past.

My rating = ****

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Review: The Devil's Hunt by Paul Doherty or P.C. Doherty

I enjoyed this medieval mystery starring my favourite Clerk, Sir Hugh Corbett. This one is set in 1303 and Corbett is sent to Oxford to investigate a number of vicious murders. Oxford was a completely new setting for the series, and I enjoyed learning about the college halls and scholars and how they operated so many hundreds of years ago.

One of the key characters was surprisingly killed in this novel and I certainly wasn't expecting that. 

All in all, another enjoyable historical fiction by Doherty.

My rating = ***

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Review: Tower of Silence by Sarah Rayne

I've been off work this week (torn ligament in my ankle) and have had lots of time for reading and just finished reading Tower of Silence by Sarah Rayne. This is the second book of hers I've read and I think I enjoyed it even more than the first. 

Rayne uses the same method of plot construction in that the story consists of multiple plots and characters that manage to come together in the end in an unexpected way.

This time the 'creepy historical building' was the Tower of Alwar and the Tower of Inchcape and they were certainly creepy. I really enjoyed this book, and can't believe I picked it up in a bookshop for only $9.95.

My rating = ****

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Review: The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

I absolutely loved this book!! The main character is severely burned in a car accident and the book begins with his recovery in the burn unit. I was engrossed in the book by the first page and the details regarding burn patients is extremely graphic and very informative.

Marianne Engel is a psych patient from the hospital and begins to visit his bedside and tells him that this isn't the first time she's looked after him after he's been burned. So begins a series of tales and stories from many hundreds of years ago, each one an extraordinary and well written story of love and loss. (I want to stress here that these weren't romance stories, but also involved courage, myth and sacrifice and each one of them touched me in some way).

I immensely enjoyed these 'medieval tales' and the idea that Marianne believes they lived together in previous lives. Ultimately the reader is left to decide whether this is true or not.

This is the first book by this Canadian author and I can't wait to see what he publishes next.

My rating = *****

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Review: The Tin Roof Blowdown by James Lee Burke

This is the first book I've read by James Lee Burke and it will most likely be the last. This book is part of his series featuring Detective Robicheaux, however it is set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Hailed as one of 'America's greatest living novelists' I was sucked in by reviews that Burke's descriptions of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina were 'tremendously powerful', and 'more vivid and powerful than any piece of reportage'. Sadly I disagree.

I found the backdrop of Hurricane Katrina dwarfed the plot and I wanted to read more about the devastation caused by Mother Nature than a couple of criminals and their evil deeds.

The plot was a little confusing in parts and I didn't find Burke to be a terribly good crime writer. If anything, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read his most critically acclaimed novel, now I don't need to read anything else by this author.

My rating = **

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Review: The Keep by Jennifer Egan

With a teaser like this: "In the wilds of Eastern Europe there is a mysterious castle that has stood for hundreds of years, steeped in blood lore and family pride" I just had to read it.

However I was disappointed to find that this 'gripping and ghostly gothic tale' was really not at all gripping. The story line was set up really well and had a lot of promise, however I think it became to surreal and I think Egan complicated the plot unnecessarily.

The ending was hazy and left a lot of unanswered questions, and I hate that!

My rating = **

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