Thursday 12 March 2015
Goodbye to a great writer
I just heard the news about Sir Terry Pratchett who has passed away at the age of 66. A fantastic and funny writer, and someone who raised the profile of Alzheimer's, I will miss waiting to buy his new books. My thoughts are with his family.
Some Days...
Ok, I'm going to level with you, completely and utterly. I am having a bad day. Nothing bad has particularly happened, no one has said anything to upset me, nothing has broken, nothing has really gone wrong. But I'm still having a bad day, the kind of day where you don't want to get up, face the world, and pretend everything's Ok. This is the kind of day when I want to do nothing at all, and hate myself for it, and then hate myself for hating myself, and then hate myself for hating myself for hating myself...you get the idea.
In short, I'm having one of those days where my depression has decided to sink it's teeth in and not let go. . Luckily, they are less frequent these days, and aren't quite as dramatic as they were. But I'm not Ok. I don't mean I'm a bit down; I have depression But somehow, here I am sitting on the sofa with my laptop across my knees attempting to do things, struggling on when all I want to do is go back to bed. And if that's not strong, I really don't know what is. To anyone in the same situation - I really do applaud you; this is some tough s**t. To anyone who's not been through it - imagine the worst hangover you've ever had, then add the start of a cold or flu, and the feeling you get when you remember a recently deceased loved one, and you'll have something similar though not the same.
So I'm having one of those unspeakable days where I don't even feel like reading (I know, almost sacrilegious to say it) but I will anyway. Because it'll make me feel better - and the weirdest thing about depression is that it's the stuff you lose interest in will drag you out of it; if you don't feel like eating you need to nibble breakfast, don't feel like writing then you need to let it all out; don't feel like wearing nice clothes and accessories and you damn well need to, don't feel like doing your favourite hobbies then you damn well should. Because your favourite necklace, shirt, book, DVD, is for you; not anyone else. And you're important, even if you feel like you belong on the bottom of the proverbial shoe. So excuse me while I battle on, try to smile, try not to hide, try to stay positive, while all the while I'm fighting my own brain. Good luck to anyone and everyone dealing with this or anything similar - and please remember, it will pass, and the moments when it does are totally worth it. Now I'm going to go find something enjoyable to read, and I think I can manage a small smile already...:)
In short, I'm having one of those days where my depression has decided to sink it's teeth in and not let go. . Luckily, they are less frequent these days, and aren't quite as dramatic as they were. But I'm not Ok. I don't mean I'm a bit down; I have depression But somehow, here I am sitting on the sofa with my laptop across my knees attempting to do things, struggling on when all I want to do is go back to bed. And if that's not strong, I really don't know what is. To anyone in the same situation - I really do applaud you; this is some tough s**t. To anyone who's not been through it - imagine the worst hangover you've ever had, then add the start of a cold or flu, and the feeling you get when you remember a recently deceased loved one, and you'll have something similar though not the same.
So I'm having one of those unspeakable days where I don't even feel like reading (I know, almost sacrilegious to say it) but I will anyway. Because it'll make me feel better - and the weirdest thing about depression is that it's the stuff you lose interest in will drag you out of it; if you don't feel like eating you need to nibble breakfast, don't feel like writing then you need to let it all out; don't feel like wearing nice clothes and accessories and you damn well need to, don't feel like doing your favourite hobbies then you damn well should. Because your favourite necklace, shirt, book, DVD, is for you; not anyone else. And you're important, even if you feel like you belong on the bottom of the proverbial shoe. So excuse me while I battle on, try to smile, try not to hide, try to stay positive, while all the while I'm fighting my own brain. Good luck to anyone and everyone dealing with this or anything similar - and please remember, it will pass, and the moments when it does are totally worth it. Now I'm going to go find something enjoyable to read, and I think I can manage a small smile already...:)
Wednesday 11 March 2015
True Confessions of a Reading Addict
How is that it seems to be OK in this world to drink, smoke, f*** around etc., but not OK for you to prefer entering a world with dragons and demons, heroes and angels? The reading world is the one that I want to live in, I would rather wrap myself in the rhythm and beauty of the words on the page then get hammered at a night club. I'm sorry if my preferences irritate you.
For the record, if you want to go out and have a good time then go ahead, but please please please understand that I and people like me don't actually enjoy it, and would rather stay in with a good book. Oh, and try to stay safe please!
For the record, if you want to go out and have a good time then go ahead, but please please please understand that I and people like me don't actually enjoy it, and would rather stay in with a good book. Oh, and try to stay safe please!
Friday 6 March 2015
Time to Review the Evidence - Prince of Shadows
Author: Rachel Caine
Genre: YA, Historical fiction, Romance
A few starting notes:
A historically-set piece of YA from Rachel Caine (author of the Morganville vampire series) which had me intrigued but weary before reading. Could it live up to the strength of its premise?
Premise:
Ok, so we've all heard of Romeo and Juliet - those doomed Shakespearean lovers from fair Verona. This takes the original play and runs with it, focussing on characters who see relatively little or no stage time in the Shakespearean version - Benvolio Montague, cousin to Romeo, and Rosaline (here made a cousin to Juliet to make the plot more fitting.) Benvolio has secrets of his own, stalking the night as the infamous thief the Prince of Shadows, and despite his best efforts, developing a bit of a thing for Rosaline Capulet. And then a curse starts to set in and things get interesting!
Best bits:
The paranormal aspects of this are never overdone - subtle and in-keeping with both the plot and the tone of the novel. It's not overt, and hits just the right note.
The writing flows well (I know it sounds like a bit of a standard review phrase but good quality writing really should be acknowledged,) and Caine imbues the whole book with the passion of both her own plot and the original play. Her Verona has a dream-like feel to it - a world of extremes filled with beauty and horror - and we stay very firmly in the period setting of swords and nobles.
The characters are vivid, their pains and pleasures believable, and Benvolio (our eloquent narrator for the majority of the novel) is charming enough to keep you reading - which of course is an excellent quality to have in a narrator.
Not so great bits:
Caine's attempts to incorporate Shakespearean language and dialogue occasionally jar the reader - this isn't her fault exactly, it's just that Shakespeare's tone is so different from her own voice that it's sometimes noticeable when she's tried to force a merger of the two.
I also didn't find the character of the Montague grandmother all that believable - are you telling me that this world you've tried to convince is so chauvinistic allows a shrivelled and spiteful old matriarch to tell lords what to do? Maybe it's a personal thing, but, although she certainly moved the plot along, she annoyed the hell out of me.
Verdict:
A couple of minus points aside, this kept me engaged and lived up to its promise - I love things that look into other character's points of view and this managed to follow through where a weaker writer may have floundered and failed. I thoroughly enjoyed it - and it wasn't too smushy and kissy kissy either, making it all the more believable. Anyone who enjoys well-written young adult fiction could do worse than to give this a go.
Thursday 5 March 2015
World Book Day
Hey everyone, today's World Book Day and as far as I'm concerned any excuse for us to celebrate books and reading in general is a genuinely awesomeful thing. Not to mention the brilliant work it does to encourage the kidlets to read. Their website is pretty awesome, and contains trailers for YA books such as the one below for Opal Plumstead by Jacqueline Wilson (enjoy!)
Monday 2 March 2015
Being Bookish
You know you're a reading addict when...
...your book piles look like a treacherously cunning game of Jenga.
...you volunteer as tribute.
...you can't walk past a stall of second-hand books without your head craning to look, with or without your permission.
...you want to finish the book but you don't want to finish the book.
...when you close a book you keep judging how much is left by where the bookmark is.
...there's no such thing as too many books!
...your book piles look like a treacherously cunning game of Jenga.
...you volunteer as tribute.
...you can't walk past a stall of second-hand books without your head craning to look, with or without your permission.
...you want to finish the book but you don't want to finish the book.
...when you close a book you keep judging how much is left by where the bookmark is.
...there's no such thing as too many books!
Wednesday 25 February 2015
Time to Review the Evidence: Traitors of the Tower
As promised, here's my review of Alison Weir's Traitors of the Tower. I'm still trying to work out the best, most useful, and most refreshing ways to review books on this blog so please have patience and let me know what you like!
Title: Traitors of the Tower
Author: Alison Weir
Genre: Non-fiction
Series: Quick Reads
A few starting notes:
This is a short and interesting book by the historian Alison Weir. It's part of the Quick Reads series - an excellent series funded in part by literacy charities, skills agencies and the Welsh Assembly via Basic Skills Cymru. This series is worthy of being praised to the hilt - short, easily digested books by top authors on a variety of subjects. This is an affordable series (though I borrowed mine from the library) at the incredibly reasonable price of about £1.99 per book. Appropriate for the reluctant and the avid reader alike.
Premise:
This is a work of non-fiction focussing on 'traitors' who have been executed in the tower of London (does what it says on the tin!) It's set into chapters, with each chapter really being a standalone piece in its own right, as each deals with an individual 'traitor.' It's set out chronologically (in time order of deaths.)
Best bits:
The length means that this is a book you can stick into your lunch-breaks or train-journeys. The way the structure works with the different chapters means that you can read a chapter and then have a ready made break to the next one. The way Quick Reads describe their series is as a shot - and I think that's pretty accurate: short, distilled, enjoyable.
The author is knowledgeable; Alison Weir knows her stuff, and writes confidently, slimming down her normally intensely detailed writing into its core components to give an overall impression of the events.
The whole of the book is planted firmly in the Tudor period (which Weir knows well,) which is as popular and interesting as ever. What's so good about this book however is that not only does it include the big names (Anne Boleyn; Katherine Howard,) but it also includes names which are a little less well known (Lady Jane Grey; Margaret Pole,) which means there's plenty to interest you.
Not so great bits:
Sometimes the writing seems a touch forced - as if the slimming down purpose has caused it to lose some of its sheen, this is only occasional but is noticeable in some parts.
There's no debating the details here - now, I don't mind this, but some history buffs wouldn't be so thrilled. I think it fits the series though, so it's really not too much of a minus point.
Verdict:
This is a great book to fill in those in-between times such as breaks, or waiting at a doctors surgery. It's accessible to those who don't have a lot of time, and those who maybe aren't so confident in reading, while still absorbing and interesting the reader. A job well done by Ms Weir.
Title: Traitors of the Tower
Author: Alison Weir
Genre: Non-fiction
Series: Quick Reads
A few starting notes:
This is a short and interesting book by the historian Alison Weir. It's part of the Quick Reads series - an excellent series funded in part by literacy charities, skills agencies and the Welsh Assembly via Basic Skills Cymru. This series is worthy of being praised to the hilt - short, easily digested books by top authors on a variety of subjects. This is an affordable series (though I borrowed mine from the library) at the incredibly reasonable price of about £1.99 per book. Appropriate for the reluctant and the avid reader alike.
Premise:
This is a work of non-fiction focussing on 'traitors' who have been executed in the tower of London (does what it says on the tin!) It's set into chapters, with each chapter really being a standalone piece in its own right, as each deals with an individual 'traitor.' It's set out chronologically (in time order of deaths.)
Best bits:
The length means that this is a book you can stick into your lunch-breaks or train-journeys. The way the structure works with the different chapters means that you can read a chapter and then have a ready made break to the next one. The way Quick Reads describe their series is as a shot - and I think that's pretty accurate: short, distilled, enjoyable.
The author is knowledgeable; Alison Weir knows her stuff, and writes confidently, slimming down her normally intensely detailed writing into its core components to give an overall impression of the events.
The whole of the book is planted firmly in the Tudor period (which Weir knows well,) which is as popular and interesting as ever. What's so good about this book however is that not only does it include the big names (Anne Boleyn; Katherine Howard,) but it also includes names which are a little less well known (Lady Jane Grey; Margaret Pole,) which means there's plenty to interest you.
Not so great bits:
Sometimes the writing seems a touch forced - as if the slimming down purpose has caused it to lose some of its sheen, this is only occasional but is noticeable in some parts.
There's no debating the details here - now, I don't mind this, but some history buffs wouldn't be so thrilled. I think it fits the series though, so it's really not too much of a minus point.
Verdict:
This is a great book to fill in those in-between times such as breaks, or waiting at a doctors surgery. It's accessible to those who don't have a lot of time, and those who maybe aren't so confident in reading, while still absorbing and interesting the reader. A job well done by Ms Weir.
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