Review: Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson

When a book really takes off and becomes a huge bestseller, I tend to steer away from it, and I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's a desire not to read what everyone else is reading, not to conform and become 'one of the crowd' and follow the trend. Anyone can stick to reading novels from the top 10 bestseller list, but it doesn't take any effort and in my opinion is a lazy way to choose a book. I believe that books need to be 'discovered' and I love to find a book that isn't well known and tell everyone about it afterwards.

However, it must be said that the Millennium trilogy by author Stieg Larsson has drawn so much attention this year, and is being highly acclaimed amongst critics, that I had to bow to the pressure and dive in. And boy I'm glad I did.

In the first book, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, we meet two of the main characters: Michael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander. Blomkvist is a Swedish journalist, working for Millennium magazine (hence the name of the trilogy) and is hired to investigate the mystery surrounding the unsolved disappearance of an heiress, Harriet Vanger.

Lisbeth Salander is a genius hacker with a photographic memory, extremely poor social skills and a mysterious past who becomes involved in the investigation with Blomkvist. I was instantly drawn to the character of Salander, and for me, this is what made the book so intriguing and cutting edge.

Salander and Blomkvist continue on in the second book of the Millennium series, The Girl Who Played With Fire. This too was a riveting read, and I raced through it. This time Salander is in trouble and Blomkvist tries to help. I don't want to give any of the plot away, but it needs to be said that the crimes are nasty, and there is quite a lot of graphic description littered throughout the pages in both books that may be too much for some readers.

In my opinion, the detailed plot, complex characters and ability by Larsson to keep the readers on the edge the entire time is the secret to his success. Sadly Stieg Larsson died in 2004, and I must admit that knowing this in advance also added to the intrigue and my decision to pick up his first book.

I'm yet to read the third in the series The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest however I'm really looking forward to it.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - my rating = ****1/2

The Girl Who Played With Fire - my rating = ****1/2

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Review: The Ghosts of Sleath by James Herbert

I saw this book in a $5 bargain box at Borders and decided to buy it based on the fact that I already wanted to read Others also by James Herbert.

This is my first introduction to James Herbert, and I thought this was a very decent 'ghost book'. I was sucked in the moment I discovered it was about a psychic investigator who is sent to a quaint village called Sleath by request of the Vicar's daughter. David Ash discovers hauntings and bizarre incidents in the town and tries to get to the bottom of it all as the town and its inhabitants are endangered any further.

This was one of my 'work books' which I read on my lunch break and it was quite interesting/amusing to read about a cold haunted town for 30 mins a day whilst in the middle of summer. I'm sure I would have found it more scary had I read at home alone at night, however it was a very easy and enjoyable read.

There was an extremely graphic sex scene that caught me by complete and utter surprise, and Herbert's talent for graphic descriptions is evident throughout the novel. His explanation for the cause of the trouble in Sleath is interesting but wasn't completely surprising.

I enjoyed this and look forward to reading Others in the future.

My rating = ***

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Review: Corpse Candle - Paul Doherty

This time Sir Hugh Corbett, Keeper of the King's Seal is sent by King Edward I to the abbey of St Martin's-in-the-Marsh to investigate the death of Abbot Stephen.

The death toll begins to escalate as the assassin murders other monks in the monastery and Hugh Corbett, Ranulf and Chanson investigate the killings whilst fending off threats to their own lives.

Doherty is able to create a creepy, cold and haunting atmosphere throughout the medieval mystery, with rumours of Sir Geoffrey Mandeville's ghost galloping through the fens and corpse candles glowing out in the marshes, which forewarn men of their own deaths.

Hugh Corbett arrives at the truth at the end, and all is revealed in the manner typical in this series. I enjoyed the character 'Brother Dunstan' the Treasurer for obvious reasons, and this was a good mystery. I'm slowly making my way to the end of the series, with this being the 13th in the series with 3 to go.

My rating = ***

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Review: Hiding in the Shadows by Kay Hooper

Hiding in the Shadows by Kay Hooper is the second in the Shadows Trilogy and I must say I enjoyed the first one better, Stealing Shadows, rated 4 stars on this blog in July 2008.

This novel doesn't feature the main character from the first book, and in fact could be read as a stand alone. In this book Faith Parker has a car accident and has finally awoken from her coma without any memory of the crash, or her life before the accident.

Meanwhile, journalist Dinah Leighton has gone missing. Dinah regularly visited Faith in the hospital and made sure all her hospital bills and expenses were paid for, but Faith has no recollection of their friendship.

Not as chilling as the first in the series, this was nevertheless a good read.

My rating = ***

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Review: The Journey by Brandon Bays

The Journey is a non-fiction book about self-healing and awareness. The author healed herself of a basketball sized tumour in her stomach, and then went on to help thousands of people 'heal' themselves of physical and emotional damage, taking each of them on their own 'journey'.

I found each of the personal stories extremely inspiring and moving, and it reaffirmed my belief that unresolved emotions can manifest themselves in a physical illness or ailment in the body. It also reaffirmed my belief that in some cases we can heal ourselves without heavy drugs or surgery.

Brandon Bays now runs healing workshops and many practitioners all around the world are trained in her techniques. I'm not sure I've been inspired so much as to seek one out but if it came across my path, I might consider going along.

I recommend this book to anyone who is suffering from a physical illness or ailment in the body, looking to open their mind about the healing options available and the power of the mind and body.

My rating = ***1/2

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Review: Eifelheim by Michael Flynn

This book is best described as science fiction meets historical fiction and I absolutely loved it!

The book is set in two time periods, modern day and the late 1340's Germany. In the current day, Tom is a mathematical historian and has discovered an anomaly regarding settlement patterns in a particular area of Germany. According to his work, a town called Eifelheim was abandoned in the 14th Century and never re-settled which is extremely uncharacteristic. In fact, centuries later, the roads turned back on themselves and went out of their way to avoid the area.

Meanwhile, we are inserted into the daily lives of the inhabitants of Oberhochwald (as it was known back then) through the eyes of Pastor Dietrich. We learn quickly that this is the lead up to the abandonment of the town. Without ruining the story, there is a discovery of 'beings' living in the forest and the ever encroaching threat of the black plague.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from so many angles. I enjoyed unravelling the mystery with Tom and his partner Sharon, and following along as the drama unfolded at Oberhochwald.

I enjoyed pondering the different responses by the towns people to the events occurring and how different the behaviours, beliefs and values were in that time period in Europe. It was also fascinating comparing the technology of the beings to those of the time period, and also to what we know today.

The book had a satisfactory and solid conclusion, and I was still thinking about it days after finishing it, which is the mark of any great novel.

Highly recommended!

My rating = ****1/2

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Review: The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

The Little Stranger was written by UK based author Sarah Waters and is hailed as a ghost story set against the backdrop of the fall of the British class system following WWII. The story begins when Dr Faraday is called out to Hundreds Hall to tend to an ill servant who has just started working at Hundreds Hall. The Doctor begins to develop a relationship with the family, and strange things begin to happen from there.

The book takes a while to 'lift off' however I enjoyed the pace and the narrative kept me engrossed from the beginning. The portrayal of Hundreds Hall was enchanting, and I longed to walk through it's gardens and decaying rooms myself. In fact, I think I enjoyed this aspect of the novel the most. I wanted to explore the empty locked rooms, whisper down the speaking tube and ring the servants bells.

I couldn't help but find the lead female character a little annoying, as well as Dr Faraday, however this didn't distract me from enjoying the book as a whole.

I don't believe this novel works strongly as a 'ghost story', however the mystery certainly kept me quickly turning the pages in suspense. I was working up towards a climax and hoping for a Koontz or King moment towards the end, but was unfortunately let down. The end of the book is a little controversial and for those that enjoy an ambiguous ending, you'll love this book. It's fair to say I rarely enjoy an ambiguous ending to a novel or movie, and when I finished reading the book I instantly started scanning the internet for different opinions on the ending.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy the 'softer' side of a ghost story or a novel with a paranormal sub-plot, and those who enjoy a thought provoking and ambiguous conclusion.

My rating = ***1/2

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Review: The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell

This is another in the Kay Scarpetta series and again I enjoyed the forensic style 'whodunnit' by Patricia Cornwell. I thought the title a little too much given how small a role the farm actually played in the plot. In fact I would have liked to pursue this further in the novel, however the reader was given just a glimpse into the scientific nature of the body farm.

This book can be read as a stand-alone, however there are references made to previous cases Scarpetta and Marino have worked in the past.

After reading the first 5 books in this series in the last 8 months, I'm growing a little weary of the predictability of the main characters and the similarity in the plot outline in each novel. I think I'll give the series a rest for now, besides there are plenty of other books out there waiting to be read.

My rating = **1/2

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Review: Satan's Fire by Paul Doherty

I've been trying for more than 6 months to buy a copy of this book, but I couldn't order it as it's out of print! I made the difficult decision to keep on reading the series, and skip this one until I could track down a copy - argh, but I hate when things aren't 'in order' so I've been desperate to get this book!! I finally found a second hand copy for sale on eBay, and snatched it up straight away and have just finished reading it.

I enjoyed it, but the relief at having read it and now restoring 'order' to the series was also, sadly, more important to me than it should have been (sigh).

Okay, all that aside, what's it about? It's another of the medieval mysteries featuring the King's Keeper of the Secret Seal, Sir Hugh Corbett. This time murders are being committed during a visit to York by members of the Order of the Temple. Corbett is asked by King Edward to investigate these murders at the hand of a mysterious fire that seems to erupt from hell.

Another enjoyable read, and the end of a book saga that has bothered me for some time.

My rating = ***

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Review: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

This is a non-fiction 'self help' book that has sold millions of copies around the world. It has also been featured on the Oprah show, no doubt increasing its popularity.

It was written by the author of The Power of Now Eckhart Tolle, and is essentially a book about 'awakening to your life's purpose'. The book shows you how to 'awaken' by recognising your ego. 

Many of the key themes were insightful, with quotes from many religions and wise men of different ages. 

I enjoyed these references and there are a few key ideas I took away with me, after reading this book.

My rating = ***1/2

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Review: Tomorrow, When The War Began by John Marsden

Written by Australian author John Marsden, Tomorrow, When The War Began was published in 1993 and was the first in what was to become the Tomorrow series. The series became very popular, however at the time I was trying to plow through books like Moby Dick at University and I guess it passed me by. I'd always promised myself I'd go back and read it and I finally have.

The book is based on events in a small country town and involves a group of teenagers and their response to an invasion from a foreign land. I admired the ingenuity of the characters and the manner in which they react to the situation and the danger. They're forced to grow up very quickly and I admired their quick thinking and bravery.

This was an enjoyable read, and quite an imaginable scenario. I also chuckled along at the small town references throughout the book, and I can imagine this novel would have been very popular amongst readers growing up in rural areas in Australia.

I don't think I'll read the rest of the series, although I do want to find out how it ends, however it's the age old 'too many books, too little time' scenario, and sometimes you have to make a decision not to continue so you can move onto other books.

At least I now know what the fuss was all about, and after reading it, I now admire the creativity and imagination of John Marsden even more. What a terrific Australian author!

My rating = ***

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Review: A Density of Souls by Christopher Rice

This book came to my attention because it was written by the son of one of my favourite authors, Anne Rice. Based in New Orleans, A Density of Souls is about four young friends whose relationships change dramatically when they enter High School. I found the depth of the relationships absolutely fascinating and the insights by each of the characters to be beyond their years, but altogether convincing.

I enjoyed re-reading certain sections throughout the book in order to savour the language and the writing. There were also particular sections I needed to pause and reflect on, as they were deeply moving and poignant.

I couldn't help but compare Christopher's writing to that of Anne Rice, and I was surprised to draw the conclusion that this book is better than some of her novels. I wonder if they share a happy rivalry.

This book isn't for everyone. Some of the themes are quite heavy going and include violence and sexual themes. The review on the book cover claims this book is a "shocking, sexy tale. An intricate novel about four childhood pals whose friendships deteriorate into a nightmare of violence and chaos" and I can't help but agree.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel by Christopher Rice, although I don't think I would have the courage to recommend it to anyone.

My rating = ****1/2

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Review: The Adamantine Palace by Stephen Deas

After watching The Lord of the Rings series in a massive movie marathon, I was inspired to introduce some fantasy books to my repertoire. The Adamantine Palace is a story of dragons and humans living together in a different world consisting of many Queens and Kings of the different realms.

After a somewhat slow start, the book took an exciting turn when one of the dragons starts communicating with the humans. The story really picks up here, and I thoroughly enjoyed the drama, conflict and the secondary plot featuring court plotting, lust and deception. I also enjoyed the description of the diamond palace, and found myself imagining how this could be depicted on the big screen.

I couldn't help but side with the plight of the dragons, led by the pure white dragon 'Snow' and would be interested in reading a sequel.

Great read!

My rating = ***

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Review: The Treason of the Ghosts by Paul Doherty

This is the eleventh book in Doherty's series featuring the medieval sleuth Hugh Corbett.

Whilst I enjoyed this mystery set in the small town of Melford, it lacked the political intrigue of the court that I've enjoyed in previous novels.

It also included too much reflection on the details of the murders by Hugh Corbett that has the potential to become tedious in parts. As I draw nearer to the end of this series though, I can't imagine not reading through to the end. There are 5 more in the series to go, so look out for the next instalment! I do hope it's better than this one.

My rating = **

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Review: The Feast of All Saints by Anne Rice

I was looking at all my Anne Rice books and I noticed one of them didn't look like it had been read. My best guess as to why I hadn't read The Feast of All Saints when I bought it is most likely because of the very small and heavy font.

Anyway, years after purchasing it, I have finished reading this book which was quite different to her vampire series. The novel has a familiar setting in New Orleans, however there are no vampires or supernatural themes in the story. Set in the French Quarter in the 1840s the novel is about the gens de couleur libre the free people of colour, neither black nor white, and living in a city with slave markets and black servants.

This was a real eye opener into the times and challenges faced by the gens de couleur, and the struggles they faced. The main character is Marcel, although the reader is treated to an in depth analysis of several 'sub characters' and much family drama is covered in the book.

I was surprised by some of the themes and it really made me think. How could women of colour look down upon women who married other men of colour for love? Instead it was expected that young women of colour would strive to be the mistress (second wife) of a white plantation owner who would only visit the city every few months. Essentially this meant knowingly being the wife/mother of a second and secret family. Unbelievable.

There is a lot of family drama, questions of lineage, family traditions, society expectations and when it's okay to break the rules.

To be honest I struggled during the first 100 pages (there are 636 pgs in total), however the story really picked up after that and I was hooked. It was such a treat to read an earlier work of Anne Rice (one of my favourite authors), as I'm hanging out for her new book.

My rating = ***1/2

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Review: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

I finished this book a few weeks ago, but I've been procrastinating big time about writing my review. I fell in love with the book A Confederacy of Dunces after Marieke Hardy recommended it on the FTBC, and when I heard her say that Slaughterhouse-Five was also an all-time favourite of hers it hit my TBR (to be read) pile immediately.

It's been on the pile for months though because it's a science fiction book, which isn't my preferred genre but I finally picked it up a few weeks ago and started reading.

I was deeply disappointed and didn't enjoy it, as it goes. The narrator jumps around in time at random intervals without a hint of a solid plot line. I would have liked to explore some of the threads within the story however they were wrenched away without further development and so it lacked depth for me. The novel was relatively short, so I believe there was scope for further development but perhaps I just 'didn't get it'. The only gem I took from the author were the notions of memory experienced through the main character.

I found it jumped around too much, was quite bizarre in parts and quite shocking in others. I found the use of the phrase 'so it goes' a few times on every page was utterly and completely infuriating. Argh!

I didn't enjoy this book at all and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Sorry Marieke.

My rating = **

Carpe Librum, so it goes!

Review: Odd Hours by Dean Koontz

This is the fourth in the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz and it was a very pleasant read. I'd have to say that this book was more of a thriller than a 'para-normal thriller' which sets it apart a little from the others in the series.

I found myself wanting more of the 'supernatural themes' that Koontz writes so well, but having said that, this novel certainly had suspense and was a quick and enjoyable read.

Odd Hours could be read as a stand alone, however will be enjoyed more by those who are familiar with the Odd Thomas series in my opinion. The ending opens the possibility of a fifth book in the series which I'd be very much looking forward to.

My rating = ***

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Review: Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell

The Kay Scarpetta series seems to get better and better with each book, and this was no exception. I enjoyed this murder mystery and the further character development that was evident throughout the novel.

I especially enjoyed learning that Kay Scarpetta had given up smoking, as I cringed every time she lit up a cigarette in the morgue. I found it interesting to read about the new and emerging forensic techniques used by the characters that we are so familiar with today.

As well as being part of a well know series, this is also a stand alone book, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes to read crime fiction.

My rating = ***

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Review: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

After reading this much acclaimed American classic, I was baffled. "What is so great about The Great Gatsby?" I've given this question much thought and I still don't have the answer.

I honestly believe this short book lacks the bones and elements of a classic and even on the last page I was waiting for the 'light bulb' moment. In fact, this novel reminded me of Breakfast at Tiffany's for it's simplicity and classification as an American classic that I failed to understand.

I know my opinion isn't popular in the literary world, but if you read this book and believe it worthy to be called a classic, I'd love to hear your opinions, so leave me a comment.

My rating = **

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Review: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon was published in 2005 and was very popular in Australia; however, it wasn't until a friend told me recently it was her favourite book of all time, that I finally got around to reading it. My only regret is not reading it sooner.

Set in Barcelona in the 1950s, I was engrossed from the beginning, and desperate to visit the Cemetery of Forgotten Books with the main character and roam the bookshelves until the end of time. I was immediately enthralled by the plot, the writing style and the unfolding drama of the story.

The Shadow of the Wind has all of the elements I love in a book: mystery, intrigue, history, fear, love, hate, family secrets, drama, big old mansions, humour, murder, books, broken dreams and broken hearts. While I was reading it, I woke up every morning looking forward to picking it up again, and I was very sorry when it was finished.

The characters and their stories totally swept me away, and I can confidently say this is the best book I've read in a while. I'd recommend it to anyone!

My rating = *****

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