Title: A Dreadful Murder: The Mysterious Death of Caroline Luard
(US Link)
Author: Minette Walters
Genre: crime, historical fiction
Series: Quick Reads
A few starting notes:
Another of the awesome Quick Reads series (which as always deserves my commendable praise for trying to get everyone reading) this is a fictionalisation of the real 1908 murder of Mrs Caroline Luard.
Premise:
Mrs Caroline Luard is found dead - shot - in the rural Kent town of Ightham. The neighbours suspect her husband - Major-General Luard, a local JP and well-off snob. But did he kill her? Or is there another explanation?
Best bits:
The pace and depth both pick up from about half-way through, as the author seems to get into her stride. It's from this point - where there's more of the fiction and supposition, rather than the fact, that the book becomes more involving.
The whole story is edible in bite-size chunks, and the atmosphere of early 20th century secrets and poverty is captured in an intriguing and encapsulating way.
Not so great bits:
As always, there are some issues here which may upset some readers - murder (obviously,) poverty, alcoholism, suicide, and domestic abuse are all touched on at various points. If this is a major problem for you, then obviously, read with caution.
The tone sticks a little in places, but not enough to really bother you all that much.
Verdict:
A very readable, short, and digestible fictionalised account of an intriguing and mysterious crime. Perfect for a bit of detective-ness in the middle of your everyday life.
Sunday 7 June 2015
Tuesday 2 June 2015
Reviewing the evidence - Under the Never Sky
Title: Under the Never Sky (US Link)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Genre: YA, Sci-fi, Dystopian
Series: Under the Never Sky
A few starting notes:
This is the first book in the 'Under the Never Sky' series by Veronica Rossi (not to be confused with Veronica Roth - author of the Divergent series.) I picked it up randomly at the library. I warn any fangirls/boys amongst you that it may well drag you into a new fandom, complete with ships and potential otp (I have a feeling this is going to suck me to fandom levels, I already want to read the rest of the series. I will resist becoming obsessed while it's still possible.) To non fangirls/boys - ignore that last sentence and try to not to get sucked into the fandom vocab, the less you know the more likely you are to continue in your somehow fandom-free existence.
Premise:
Aria (pronounced like the song) has lived in Reverie her whole life. She's never even been to the outer pods. She has the Realms - the virtual worlds all Dwellers live in, in ignorance of the cracks beginning to show in the aging Reverie. Aria's world is about to change forever.
Perry is an Outsider. He lives outside the pods, with the other Outsiders. He's Marked - he has special abilities: ultra-sharp eyesight and the ability to smell feelings. Perry's world is about to change forever.
Somehow, their going to have walk the balance between Reverie and the Outside, together.
Best bits:
The dystopian system is well thought-through - you can tell that there's a history to this place that the author knows but also knows isn't relevant to the plot. Rossi walks with ease through the different facets of her world, as if she's actually been there.
The concept of the Realms is frighteningly realistic - it's only a short step from what we already have, and it's an unnerving prospect used to excellent effect.
This book is a real page-turner, it grabs you and carries you along. Even with the recent glut in dystopian fiction off the back of series like The Hunger Games, this manages to feel fresh and relevant, despite walking some well-trodden paths.
Not so great bits:
There's some weighty issues here - parental neglect, child abuse, family betrayal, and sexual assault (starting to think that there's sexual assault in pretty much every book I read.) There's also a bunch of gore, death, and a touch of cannibalism. This is dystopian fiction - this tends to result in an absence of fluffy bunnies.
You can see the romance coming a mile off - thing is, you kind of want it. The irritating part is that it doesn't come soon enough! I hate it when books make you wait around for something that's obvious from the first chapter.
Verdict:
This manages to bring fresh air to a recently saturated genre. It will keep you reading, keep you hoping, keep you guessing. It's sure as hell a great novel - and I can't wait for the rest of the series!
Author: Veronica Rossi
Genre: YA, Sci-fi, Dystopian
Series: Under the Never Sky
A few starting notes:
This is the first book in the 'Under the Never Sky' series by Veronica Rossi (not to be confused with Veronica Roth - author of the Divergent series.) I picked it up randomly at the library. I warn any fangirls/boys amongst you that it may well drag you into a new fandom, complete with ships and potential otp (I have a feeling this is going to suck me to fandom levels, I already want to read the rest of the series. I will resist becoming obsessed while it's still possible.) To non fangirls/boys - ignore that last sentence and try to not to get sucked into the fandom vocab, the less you know the more likely you are to continue in your somehow fandom-free existence.
Premise:
Aria (pronounced like the song) has lived in Reverie her whole life. She's never even been to the outer pods. She has the Realms - the virtual worlds all Dwellers live in, in ignorance of the cracks beginning to show in the aging Reverie. Aria's world is about to change forever.
Perry is an Outsider. He lives outside the pods, with the other Outsiders. He's Marked - he has special abilities: ultra-sharp eyesight and the ability to smell feelings. Perry's world is about to change forever.
Somehow, their going to have walk the balance between Reverie and the Outside, together.
Best bits:
The dystopian system is well thought-through - you can tell that there's a history to this place that the author knows but also knows isn't relevant to the plot. Rossi walks with ease through the different facets of her world, as if she's actually been there.
The concept of the Realms is frighteningly realistic - it's only a short step from what we already have, and it's an unnerving prospect used to excellent effect.
This book is a real page-turner, it grabs you and carries you along. Even with the recent glut in dystopian fiction off the back of series like The Hunger Games, this manages to feel fresh and relevant, despite walking some well-trodden paths.
Not so great bits:
There's some weighty issues here - parental neglect, child abuse, family betrayal, and sexual assault (starting to think that there's sexual assault in pretty much every book I read.) There's also a bunch of gore, death, and a touch of cannibalism. This is dystopian fiction - this tends to result in an absence of fluffy bunnies.
You can see the romance coming a mile off - thing is, you kind of want it. The irritating part is that it doesn't come soon enough! I hate it when books make you wait around for something that's obvious from the first chapter.
Verdict:
This manages to bring fresh air to a recently saturated genre. It will keep you reading, keep you hoping, keep you guessing. It's sure as hell a great novel - and I can't wait for the rest of the series!
Friday 29 May 2015
True Confessions of a Reading Addict - The Dangers of Goodreads
I thought I could control myself. I thought I could keep it recreational. Then I started the Goodreads challenge.
I find myself reading things just to put them onto my count. I thrill at the prospect of putting my target up again and again. I spend an inappropriately large amount of time per day looking at the covers, displayed in thumbnail format for my pleasure, of the books that have already gone towards it. There's something truly lecherous about the way I gaze upon my conquests (*creepy voice* my pretties.)
Oh, where will it end? Before you know it I'll be selling all I own just to have the money for one more book - just one more book.
I already flirt my way through reams of pages - I'm unfaithful, sometimes reading whole stacks of books without the others knowing. I don't even insist that they all have dust-jackets - that's right, unprotected reading.
And when I found that many of ComiXology free books counted for the Goodreads challenge, did I tell myself you need to go slow? That there's only so many words you can take before the inevitable overdose? No, I just plough ahead - just one more book, one more page, one more chapter. Then I'll quit. Except I know I don't mean it.
The thing is I don't wanna quit! Happy reading :)
I find myself reading things just to put them onto my count. I thrill at the prospect of putting my target up again and again. I spend an inappropriately large amount of time per day looking at the covers, displayed in thumbnail format for my pleasure, of the books that have already gone towards it. There's something truly lecherous about the way I gaze upon my conquests (*creepy voice* my pretties.)
Oh, where will it end? Before you know it I'll be selling all I own just to have the money for one more book - just one more book.
I already flirt my way through reams of pages - I'm unfaithful, sometimes reading whole stacks of books without the others knowing. I don't even insist that they all have dust-jackets - that's right, unprotected reading.
And when I found that many of ComiXology free books counted for the Goodreads challenge, did I tell myself you need to go slow? That there's only so many words you can take before the inevitable overdose? No, I just plough ahead - just one more book, one more page, one more chapter. Then I'll quit. Except I know I don't mean it.
The thing is I don't wanna quit! Happy reading :)
Monday 25 May 2015
Reviewing the evidence - The Witch's Daughter
Title: The Witch's Daughter (US Link)
Author: Paula Brackston
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Series: The Shadow Chronicles
A few starting notes:
Apparently this is the first volume of the Shadow Chronicles, though it seems that the series continues along a theme rather than with the same characters. Though with this being the first I've read, it's possible I'm wrong.
Premise:
Bess Hawksmith was happy enough faffing about in the rural West Country in the 1600's. Then everything basically went to hell in a hand-basket. There was death, lots of it, and magic, some of it, and fear, buckets of it.
Eliza Hawksmith was working as a doctor, treating the rich and the poor of Victorian London, until the past caught up with her.
Elise Hawksmith was a nurse on the Western Front. She met a soldier. They were in love. Could it last?
Elizabeth Hawksmith is just settling into a new village when she meets Tegan. Tegan becomes almost like a daughter to her, and Elizabeth finds herself having to protect the girl from things she's too young to understand.
And looming over it all is the shadow of Gideon Masters. A rejected suitor is a dangerous thing - particularly one like Gideon.
Best bits:
I like the historical settings - the images used are vivid and really conjure the essence of the period of time.
The plot is interesting enough to keep you going, and the characters are amiable enough to make you care. Which of course is what you need in any novel.
I also liked the way Elizabeth's diary is used as a frame for the other three stories - it gives an effective structure to the whole thing.
Not so great bits:
There's some pretty gory bits, so if you're not a fan of the violence, blood and guts, beware. There's also some pretty uncomfortable and down-right graphic descriptions of rape, so read responsibly.
This isn't exactly historically-accurate, what with all the witching and all, but I'm pretty sure that the black death/bubonic plague was centred in the 1300/1400s, not the 1600s - though I will admit that there were some localised outbreaks afterwards. Brackston's plague is in 1628; the history nerd in me wishes that at the very least there was some mention of the unusualness of an outbreak at this time.
The narrative has a kind of BBC4 afternoon play vibe - which is all very well and good in its place, but kind of jars with the content in places.
Verdict:
A decent novel with plenty of historical-drama melded with witch-y activity. Enjoyable but a little slow and sometimes off-key in pace and tone, this is most likely to appeal to fans of Alma Katsu's The Taker, or the TV show Forever - although, personally, I think that Forever does a better job at dealing with the themes.
Author: Paula Brackston
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Series: The Shadow Chronicles
A few starting notes:
Apparently this is the first volume of the Shadow Chronicles, though it seems that the series continues along a theme rather than with the same characters. Though with this being the first I've read, it's possible I'm wrong.
Premise:
Bess Hawksmith was happy enough faffing about in the rural West Country in the 1600's. Then everything basically went to hell in a hand-basket. There was death, lots of it, and magic, some of it, and fear, buckets of it.
Eliza Hawksmith was working as a doctor, treating the rich and the poor of Victorian London, until the past caught up with her.
Elise Hawksmith was a nurse on the Western Front. She met a soldier. They were in love. Could it last?
Elizabeth Hawksmith is just settling into a new village when she meets Tegan. Tegan becomes almost like a daughter to her, and Elizabeth finds herself having to protect the girl from things she's too young to understand.
And looming over it all is the shadow of Gideon Masters. A rejected suitor is a dangerous thing - particularly one like Gideon.
Best bits:
I like the historical settings - the images used are vivid and really conjure the essence of the period of time.
The plot is interesting enough to keep you going, and the characters are amiable enough to make you care. Which of course is what you need in any novel.
I also liked the way Elizabeth's diary is used as a frame for the other three stories - it gives an effective structure to the whole thing.
Not so great bits:
There's some pretty gory bits, so if you're not a fan of the violence, blood and guts, beware. There's also some pretty uncomfortable and down-right graphic descriptions of rape, so read responsibly.
This isn't exactly historically-accurate, what with all the witching and all, but I'm pretty sure that the black death/bubonic plague was centred in the 1300/1400s, not the 1600s - though I will admit that there were some localised outbreaks afterwards. Brackston's plague is in 1628; the history nerd in me wishes that at the very least there was some mention of the unusualness of an outbreak at this time.
The narrative has a kind of BBC4 afternoon play vibe - which is all very well and good in its place, but kind of jars with the content in places.
Verdict:
A decent novel with plenty of historical-drama melded with witch-y activity. Enjoyable but a little slow and sometimes off-key in pace and tone, this is most likely to appeal to fans of Alma Katsu's The Taker, or the TV show Forever - although, personally, I think that Forever does a better job at dealing with the themes.
Friday 22 May 2015
Reviewing the evidence time - Cross
Title: Cross (US Link)
Author: James Patterson
Genre: Crime, Blow-y Up-y, Thriller
Series: Alex Cross
A few starting notes:
This is #12 in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. I'm not going to lie, I hadn't read any of this series before and just sort of dove in at the deep-end.
James Patterson, as most people will be aware, is a pretty damned prolific writer. It's near impossible to even comprehend the ridiculously large amount of books this feller writes. Most of them are in a genre which I have decided to re-name blow-y up-y. I guarantee that it's an excellent descriptor.
Premise:
Alex Cross - the crime-hunting psychologist loved by many - is tracking a rapist. This particular series of serial rapes may have something to do with the murder of his wife about a decade previously. Giving up on this one is not likely to be an option.
Of course, there's also connections to the mob, an attempt by Alex to re-open his therapy practice, and some psychological issues of his own to deal with.
Best bits:
The short, sharp chapters and cliff-hanger chapter endings are what Patterson excels at. This means you can jam a chapter into a TV ad break without losing the thread of the story. And the pace keeps you interested.
The characters are fairly well-developed, with 'the Butcher' being an excellent psychopath to deal with. It also has explanations of why the hell the Butcher has these...issues, which is refreshing as it rounds the character out beyond a 2D plot point.
Not so great bits:
The plot of this is based around serial rape - there are some pretty damned uncomfortable descriptions of sexual assault. There's also child abuse and domestic abuse mixed in at various points. And plenty upon plenty of descriptions of violence. If this isn't your thing, don't read it.
And let's be honest, this is blow-y up-y. It's not too intellectually challenging.
Verdict:
A well-rounded yet run-of-the-mill thriller. Certainly enjoyable, and I can see why so many rate the Alex Cross books, but I couldn't help but feel I was waiting for something that wasn't there.
Author: James Patterson
Genre: Crime, Blow-y Up-y, Thriller
Series: Alex Cross
A few starting notes:
This is #12 in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. I'm not going to lie, I hadn't read any of this series before and just sort of dove in at the deep-end.
James Patterson, as most people will be aware, is a pretty damned prolific writer. It's near impossible to even comprehend the ridiculously large amount of books this feller writes. Most of them are in a genre which I have decided to re-name blow-y up-y. I guarantee that it's an excellent descriptor.
Premise:
Alex Cross - the crime-hunting psychologist loved by many - is tracking a rapist. This particular series of serial rapes may have something to do with the murder of his wife about a decade previously. Giving up on this one is not likely to be an option.
Of course, there's also connections to the mob, an attempt by Alex to re-open his therapy practice, and some psychological issues of his own to deal with.
Best bits:
The short, sharp chapters and cliff-hanger chapter endings are what Patterson excels at. This means you can jam a chapter into a TV ad break without losing the thread of the story. And the pace keeps you interested.
The characters are fairly well-developed, with 'the Butcher' being an excellent psychopath to deal with. It also has explanations of why the hell the Butcher has these...issues, which is refreshing as it rounds the character out beyond a 2D plot point.
Not so great bits:
The plot of this is based around serial rape - there are some pretty damned uncomfortable descriptions of sexual assault. There's also child abuse and domestic abuse mixed in at various points. And plenty upon plenty of descriptions of violence. If this isn't your thing, don't read it.
And let's be honest, this is blow-y up-y. It's not too intellectually challenging.
Verdict:
A well-rounded yet run-of-the-mill thriller. Certainly enjoyable, and I can see why so many rate the Alex Cross books, but I couldn't help but feel I was waiting for something that wasn't there.
Wednesday 20 May 2015
Reading is my crutch
As I've mentioned before on this blog, I have depression. Depression sucks like almost nothing else. It is well known for its suckitude.
Today, I have a doctor's appointment. Now, I've always had some major vulnerability/phobia issues with anything medical - this extends to simply sitting in the doctor's waiting room. Add in the fact that this appointment is essentially to discuss what's going on inside my head and you can see that I'm understandably a little nervy. I also couldn't get an appointment with my regular GP because, let's face it, doctor's appointments are essentially gold dust these days. So, I have one of the other doctor's at the practice this afternoon - one who I have had before and I don't have a particularly high opinion of. Generally speaking, she's never been useful at any point or during any appointment as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure she tries, but, like most doctors, she has a barrier of arrogance that prevents her from actually listening to her patients. With my regular doctor, over several appointments I've managed to beat the wall of arrogance down to leave myself a cat-flap sized hole to get through to her. Now I have to try again with a different doctor.
So, I'm going to go. I have considered pretending I went and telling my family that I did, but decided against it (tempting as it is.) In the end, the person who'll get hurt by that is me, and I've had plenty enough of hurt to last me for a while thank you very much. But it doesn't help that I know I'll have to wait at least half an hour past my appointment time - maybe as much as an hour, with the off-chance of more - just to see the doctor. Because by the afternoon they are behind and running late. Hell, by the third appointment of the morning they are behind and running late, and it just gets worse from there. So I have a plan. I'm going to take my book.
What's so different about that? I hear you ask. Nothing - and that's the point. I'll look perfectly normal, just passing time away before a regular, routine appointment. But inside it'll be different, because I'll have the book. I can sink into it - wash away my fears and hurt, if only for a while - and find myself totally immersed in the world of the book. I can steal the strength of the characters, feel myself wandering through the streets of their world, watch them and feel with them through the good and the bad - but I won't be thinking about the appointment. I won't be sinking into the darkness of my illness, dropped away into the spirals of my own thoughts. I won't be letting the anxiety - I get a touch of it with the depression - wind me up like a clockwork toy until my heart is beating so fast I can't speak. It'll keep me calm. It'll keep my mind off things until the time of my appointment.
Reading is my crutch. It's got me through plenty, and it'll get me through this. I'm a reading addict, and I never want to stop.
 |
| image courtesy of nipitphand at freedigitalphotos.net |
So, I'm going to go. I have considered pretending I went and telling my family that I did, but decided against it (tempting as it is.) In the end, the person who'll get hurt by that is me, and I've had plenty enough of hurt to last me for a while thank you very much. But it doesn't help that I know I'll have to wait at least half an hour past my appointment time - maybe as much as an hour, with the off-chance of more - just to see the doctor. Because by the afternoon they are behind and running late. Hell, by the third appointment of the morning they are behind and running late, and it just gets worse from there. So I have a plan. I'm going to take my book.
What's so different about that? I hear you ask. Nothing - and that's the point. I'll look perfectly normal, just passing time away before a regular, routine appointment. But inside it'll be different, because I'll have the book. I can sink into it - wash away my fears and hurt, if only for a while - and find myself totally immersed in the world of the book. I can steal the strength of the characters, feel myself wandering through the streets of their world, watch them and feel with them through the good and the bad - but I won't be thinking about the appointment. I won't be sinking into the darkness of my illness, dropped away into the spirals of my own thoughts. I won't be letting the anxiety - I get a touch of it with the depression - wind me up like a clockwork toy until my heart is beating so fast I can't speak. It'll keep me calm. It'll keep my mind off things until the time of my appointment.
Reading is my crutch. It's got me through plenty, and it'll get me through this. I'm a reading addict, and I never want to stop.
Tuesday 19 May 2015
A Comic Discovery
Hi! One of my companions in nerd-girl-ity recently introduced me to ComiXology (www.comixology.co.uk) - this is a place where you can get digital comics. Now, you know I'm not normally one for the digital stuffs - I like a good bit of print and paper for my reading fix. But, though you can buy reasonably cheap comics here, it's the free section I signed up for.
This is full of the weird and wonderful - from indie titles to Marvel and DC, the array on offer is well worth the discomfort of the digital format. The reading can either be an awkward zoom-in/zoom-out kind of deal-y, or in sequential format (so, one pane transitions to the next on command.) Again, not a big fan of the sequential-ness but once I figured out that I could use the arrow buttons on my keyboard instead of the on-screen buttons which kept bringing up the blasted tool-bar and covering the words. Strange that. Arrows do arrow things. Who knew? ;)
By the way, should you want to do your own foraying into the world of ComiXology and digital comics, I highly recommend the 'Detective Honeybear' free issue. It's a teddy bear detective - he says vewwy instead of very. Your argument is officially invalid. It's frickin' adorable - so much so that I may have to flap my arms, bounce up and down, and make the 'squeeeee!' noise.
It's pretty addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you, and, as always, happy reading!
This is full of the weird and wonderful - from indie titles to Marvel and DC, the array on offer is well worth the discomfort of the digital format. The reading can either be an awkward zoom-in/zoom-out kind of deal-y, or in sequential format (so, one pane transitions to the next on command.) Again, not a big fan of the sequential-ness but once I figured out that I could use the arrow buttons on my keyboard instead of the on-screen buttons which kept bringing up the blasted tool-bar and covering the words. Strange that. Arrows do arrow things. Who knew? ;)
By the way, should you want to do your own foraying into the world of ComiXology and digital comics, I highly recommend the 'Detective Honeybear' free issue. It's a teddy bear detective - he says vewwy instead of very. Your argument is officially invalid. It's frickin' adorable - so much so that I may have to flap my arms, bounce up and down, and make the 'squeeeee!' noise.
It's pretty addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you, and, as always, happy reading!
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