Magic Flutes is the last of Eva Ibbotson’s young adult books that I have to read. I do enjoy her books but I cannot help but feel, as you progress through them, that they are rather formulaic and predictable and that led to me not enjoy the book as much as I did the early books.
I love the way in which Eva Ibbotson describes Vienna and Austria. She really draws you in to that world although at times I find myself stumbling on some of the words such as the name of the castle. Some of the dialogue also leaves me a little confused because at times the book presumes you know certain things which aren’t necessarily common knowledge.
Tessa and Guy are very likeable characters although at times they are just too perfect. I suppose that could be said of most of Eva Ibbotson’s novels though – especially with the female heroine. Guy, I guess, is supposed to be slightly flawed in his temper. Nerine reminds me rather too much of Muriel from the previous Eva Ibbotson book The Secret Countess. The characters just seem too similar.
This novel is an easy read. Everything that happens you can see coming without any difficulty even if you aren’t familiar with Eva Ibbotson’s previous novels. But that doesn’t totally destroy my enjoyment of the novel – it’s easy to get lost in the world that Eva Ibbotson creates. It’s a world which is pretty safe and comfortable despite it taking place in the fallout of war.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Noughts and Crosses - Malorie Blackman
Noughts and Crosses is one of those books that I just love. I’ll never forget the first time I came in to contact with the book it was a little ‘tester’ book I bought which contained only the first few chapters but that was enough to have my absolutely hooked. It’s one of those books that I just love coming back to and rereading.
This book is one of those that just makes you think. In the story everything isn’t just black and white the characters aren’t perfect and they don’t fall completely in to any one category. Characters aren’t just good or bad.
Admittedly some of the plot twists and developments are a little bit obvious – the book still has the power to affect me. I still shed tears as I progress through the book and I still cannot help but feel anger at the unfairness of what happens. Despite having read the book a fair few times these things still gets to me.
The story of Sephy and Callum is one that stays with me long after I have turned the final pages of the novel. I don’t honestly think it ever really leaves me. The way in which the characters are written and their worlds are described means I get so lost that I do feel like I know the characters personally and that is what makes the ending all that more heart wrenching. Callum and Sephy’s relationship is something special and every time I read the novel I cannot help but wish that someone would step in and rescue them – and that they would be able to be a family. But the world isn’t perfect and the ending stays the same.
Noughts and Crosses is a beautifully written book. It isn’t the perfect book but in many ways I wouldn’t want it to be. I love this book as it is and at least the story doesn’t end here.
This book is one of those that just makes you think. In the story everything isn’t just black and white the characters aren’t perfect and they don’t fall completely in to any one category. Characters aren’t just good or bad.
Admittedly some of the plot twists and developments are a little bit obvious – the book still has the power to affect me. I still shed tears as I progress through the book and I still cannot help but feel anger at the unfairness of what happens. Despite having read the book a fair few times these things still gets to me.
The story of Sephy and Callum is one that stays with me long after I have turned the final pages of the novel. I don’t honestly think it ever really leaves me. The way in which the characters are written and their worlds are described means I get so lost that I do feel like I know the characters personally and that is what makes the ending all that more heart wrenching. Callum and Sephy’s relationship is something special and every time I read the novel I cannot help but wish that someone would step in and rescue them – and that they would be able to be a family. But the world isn’t perfect and the ending stays the same.
Noughts and Crosses is a beautifully written book. It isn’t the perfect book but in many ways I wouldn’t want it to be. I love this book as it is and at least the story doesn’t end here.
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Megan 3 - Mary Hooper
Megan 3 is the final book in the Megan series and is sadly not as good as it predecessors. I was always rather disappointed by the fact that Megan 3 didn’t live up to the rest of the series and was hoping that rereading it now that I am older would change my perception of it a bit – sadly that wasn’t to be.
The third book in the Megan series takes place sometime after the end of the second book – with baby Jack now a one year old toddler. The book still shows Megan’s struggles with being a young mum and having to deal with everything that goes along with that but it just doesn’t have the same flow and edge which went with the previous books.
The third book features the introduction of Megan’s mum’s boyfriend. The boyfriend character was obviously written in give some sense of danger to the series. It is obvious to the reader from very early on that everything isn’t what it seems with this character. I don’t think the storyline is dealt with very well especially once it has been revealed the true extent of his character relating to baby Jack.
I also felt that maybe things felt a little weird in the Lorna and Mark story. Maybe because things moved so quickly in Megan 2 and the abruptness of the ending of the second book meant that now things have progressed it feels a little strange. I suppose I would have liked to have read the immediate fallout of Megan’s discovery .
This is the only book in the series which does not end with a cliffhanger which makes it pretty obvious to the reader that this is the final part of the series. I didn’t find the ending particularly strong and it was rather disappointing. The end comes rather suddenly and just didn’t do it for me. Megan 3 is still as realistic and honest as the other books in it’s portrayal of teen motherhood – shown not only through Megan but also her friends at Poppies – but it just isn’t the same as the other two books. As a conclusion to a strong series it is quite weak but it serves it’s purpose – to close the series.
The third book in the Megan series takes place sometime after the end of the second book – with baby Jack now a one year old toddler. The book still shows Megan’s struggles with being a young mum and having to deal with everything that goes along with that but it just doesn’t have the same flow and edge which went with the previous books.
The third book features the introduction of Megan’s mum’s boyfriend. The boyfriend character was obviously written in give some sense of danger to the series. It is obvious to the reader from very early on that everything isn’t what it seems with this character. I don’t think the storyline is dealt with very well especially once it has been revealed the true extent of his character relating to baby Jack.
I also felt that maybe things felt a little weird in the Lorna and Mark story. Maybe because things moved so quickly in Megan 2 and the abruptness of the ending of the second book meant that now things have progressed it feels a little strange. I suppose I would have liked to have read the immediate fallout of Megan’s discovery .
This is the only book in the series which does not end with a cliffhanger which makes it pretty obvious to the reader that this is the final part of the series. I didn’t find the ending particularly strong and it was rather disappointing. The end comes rather suddenly and just didn’t do it for me. Megan 3 is still as realistic and honest as the other books in it’s portrayal of teen motherhood – shown not only through Megan but also her friends at Poppies – but it just isn’t the same as the other two books. As a conclusion to a strong series it is quite weak but it serves it’s purpose – to close the series.
Megan 2 - Mary Hooper
Megan 2 follows on pretty much from the point where the first book ended. Megan having newly given birth to her baby boy and it follows her as she adjusts to life being a teenage mum. I think it was fairly obvious even in the first book that Megan would not give up her baby for adoption so when I realised there was a sequel it was pretty much confirmed for me even without reading the back of the book.
I think the turnaround in attitude from Megan’s mum is a little bit hard to take. In the first book she is so for adoption and so harsh towards Megan that her pretty much being fine when Megan tells her she is keeping the baby doesn’t feel completely believable although I guess seeing the baby would bring forth emotions that she had probably been suppressing.
I also think from the mention of Lorna’s secret in book 1 that it was fairly obvious that somehow Megan was going to find her baby. Regardless of it being so obvious that it was going to happen the ending did seem to be very abrupt and rang a little untrue. I don’t think anyone would give news like that in that way.
I think it is the little things though that really adds to the realism of this book. Like how Megan feels in relation to her friends Claire and Josie and the ways in which her life differs to theirs. The feelings and emotions are once again spot on and what really makes the Megan series of books special. Mary Hooper really does know how to get in to the mind of a teenager.
I think the turnaround in attitude from Megan’s mum is a little bit hard to take. In the first book she is so for adoption and so harsh towards Megan that her pretty much being fine when Megan tells her she is keeping the baby doesn’t feel completely believable although I guess seeing the baby would bring forth emotions that she had probably been suppressing.
I also think from the mention of Lorna’s secret in book 1 that it was fairly obvious that somehow Megan was going to find her baby. Regardless of it being so obvious that it was going to happen the ending did seem to be very abrupt and rang a little untrue. I don’t think anyone would give news like that in that way.
I think it is the little things though that really adds to the realism of this book. Like how Megan feels in relation to her friends Claire and Josie and the ways in which her life differs to theirs. The feelings and emotions are once again spot on and what really makes the Megan series of books special. Mary Hooper really does know how to get in to the mind of a teenager.
Megan - Mary Hooper
It’s been years since I last read the Megan books. But for some reason I felt like revisiting them and so I searched them out on my bookcase. I think the first Megan book was one of the first teenage books that I really fell in love with.
I really love the way in which Megan is written. Mary Hooper allows the reader to get inside fifteen year old Megan’s head and to get a genuine idea of the thoughts, feelings and emotions that come from being pregnant at such a young age along with everything that happens to her as a result (the reactions of those around her, exclusion and being sent away). At times I felt the reaction from Megan’s mum was rather over the top and too harsh – reading it now as an adult I felt angry towards Megan’s mum and would have liked to have slapped her and given Megan a cuddle. Although as a young teen the reaction probably would have scared me a little which may have been the point. Which could also be detrimental as it may have put some girls off telling their own mums if they were in Megan’s situation.
One thing that I probably would change about the book is to have included the letters written to Megan during the time she spent with her aunt rather than just being able to read the letters Megan sent in response. But that is just a minor quibble. I do think it was a very good way of being able to pass time in the novel.
Another thing that I think the book maybe could have benefitted from is perhaps they could have shown Megan’s reaction to things such as having her first scan (and seeing the baby) along with maybe how she found antenatal classes and the like as the book doesn’t really touch on these aspects of pregnancy.
I really love the way in which Megan is written. Mary Hooper allows the reader to get inside fifteen year old Megan’s head and to get a genuine idea of the thoughts, feelings and emotions that come from being pregnant at such a young age along with everything that happens to her as a result (the reactions of those around her, exclusion and being sent away). At times I felt the reaction from Megan’s mum was rather over the top and too harsh – reading it now as an adult I felt angry towards Megan’s mum and would have liked to have slapped her and given Megan a cuddle. Although as a young teen the reaction probably would have scared me a little which may have been the point. Which could also be detrimental as it may have put some girls off telling their own mums if they were in Megan’s situation.
One thing that I probably would change about the book is to have included the letters written to Megan during the time she spent with her aunt rather than just being able to read the letters Megan sent in response. But that is just a minor quibble. I do think it was a very good way of being able to pass time in the novel.
Another thing that I think the book maybe could have benefitted from is perhaps they could have shown Megan’s reaction to things such as having her first scan (and seeing the baby) along with maybe how she found antenatal classes and the like as the book doesn’t really touch on these aspects of pregnancy.
Monday, 23 August 2010
Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse - Rick Riordan
The Percy Jackson series is starting to get exciting. I very much enjoyed this - the third book in the series. It was a little startling that it didn’t carry on directly from the second book which is a shame as I would have liked to have read the immediate reaction to Thalia’s return and how she adjusted to not being a tree. I was also a little disappointed by the ending as I would have liked to have learnt more of Thalia in the future book although I supposed for the prophecy sake the author wanted her out of the way to focus on Percy.
I was a little disappointed that Tyson – Percy’s half brother – didn’t get much of a role in this book as I did like him in the second book. But I did like seeing Percy’s other relationships change and develop. I especially enjoyed the scene between Percy and his dad.
I found this book to be quite emotional particularly Zoe. I couldn’t help but cry. I think it was because the book had been leading up to something big and then when it happened to a character you had grown to care about over such a short space of time it was quite an emotional blow made all the more emotional by Artemis.
I do enjoy the involvements of the gods and the other immortal characters. They add an extra layer of interest to the books and I do like learning a little bit of ancient Greek history and mythology along the way.
I look forward the reading the next two books just to see how things come to pass as well as how the relationship between Annabeth and Percy develops because I do rather like the pair of them together. I also hope Percy manages to sort Nico out because I have a feeling he could be rather dangerous an enemy to have especially given what happened to Bianca.
I was a little disappointed that Tyson – Percy’s half brother – didn’t get much of a role in this book as I did like him in the second book. But I did like seeing Percy’s other relationships change and develop. I especially enjoyed the scene between Percy and his dad.
I found this book to be quite emotional particularly Zoe. I couldn’t help but cry. I think it was because the book had been leading up to something big and then when it happened to a character you had grown to care about over such a short space of time it was quite an emotional blow made all the more emotional by Artemis.
I do enjoy the involvements of the gods and the other immortal characters. They add an extra layer of interest to the books and I do like learning a little bit of ancient Greek history and mythology along the way.
I look forward the reading the next two books just to see how things come to pass as well as how the relationship between Annabeth and Percy develops because I do rather like the pair of them together. I also hope Percy manages to sort Nico out because I have a feeling he could be rather dangerous an enemy to have especially given what happened to Bianca.
CSI: NY Dead of Winter - Stuart M Kaminsky
This is the first book written for the CSI: New York (NY) series as well as being the first CSI book written by Stuart M Kaminsky.
Rather disappointingly, this book could have been brilliant. Both the cases are interesting and keep you guessing as to just what is going on and how things are going to unfold. But sadly this wasn’t enough to save the novel. There were just too many little mistakes which made the novel very jarring and difficult to keep my head in.
Some of the actions of the characters aren’t exactly realistic and would, in the real world, result in evidence being made inadmissible (such as Stella entrusted a regular cab driver to return important evidence to the lab while she stayed at the scene).
Other mistakes come in the form of odd continuity. At one point the characters of Mac Taylor and Aiden Burn are talking on the phone and after disconnecting the call Mac says something else to her which she responds to.
But the thing which annoyed me most and which I found very difficult to get passed is the fact the author muddled up the character Don Flack and Danny Messer at many points in the novel. It gets rather confusing when Don is referred to as Dan and the reader is just meant to be able to work out which character the author actually means.
It’s a shame that these errors appear because without them I would have been able to concentrate a great deal more on the case and just been able to enjoy the novel.
Rather disappointingly, this book could have been brilliant. Both the cases are interesting and keep you guessing as to just what is going on and how things are going to unfold. But sadly this wasn’t enough to save the novel. There were just too many little mistakes which made the novel very jarring and difficult to keep my head in.
Some of the actions of the characters aren’t exactly realistic and would, in the real world, result in evidence being made inadmissible (such as Stella entrusted a regular cab driver to return important evidence to the lab while she stayed at the scene).
Other mistakes come in the form of odd continuity. At one point the characters of Mac Taylor and Aiden Burn are talking on the phone and after disconnecting the call Mac says something else to her which she responds to.
But the thing which annoyed me most and which I found very difficult to get passed is the fact the author muddled up the character Don Flack and Danny Messer at many points in the novel. It gets rather confusing when Don is referred to as Dan and the reader is just meant to be able to work out which character the author actually means.
It’s a shame that these errors appear because without them I would have been able to concentrate a great deal more on the case and just been able to enjoy the novel.
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