Saturday, July 30, 2011

Coming Soon! Entire Harry Potter Series Rreview!

It is actually with some sadness that I will be writing these reviews. From reading my first Harry Potter book, The Philosopher's Stone, back in 2001, I have amassed a wealth of wonderful memories surrounding these books and enjoyed the frantic rush to read and absorb each new book on its release. It is strange to think that a collection of books, and essentially a children's selection no less(!), could have had such an impact on my life, but then, I think anyone who has read the books, will have happy memories linked to them. 
Truly something that will go down in modern history, its been such a long time that something like this has had such an effect on the world and I'm only too glad to have been part of it. Maybe being an adult has helped as I can appreciate it more and will be more able to recall the events around each book and film. It is hard to believe that it has now come to an end (although Pottermore might change that!) but I have no doubt that HP fans will be only too happy to revisit the books, and maybe, if there are actually people out there who haven't read them, then they'll want to join in too!
So please, join in the fun with me in the coming months before Pottermore hits the web in October! I'll be reviewing each book and sharing my memories linked to them and I would love it if you would share yours too! 

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Book Bug List - book of the moment

The book of the moment for me is this amazing Roald Dahl book. Not so much a children's book, I think this is more a reminiscent delight for adults. It's a complete smorgasbord of selected parts of his novels and poems, as well as personal viewpoints from Roald Dahl himself and the fabulous illustrator Quentin Blake, among others.
As a child, Roald Dahl was my favourite author and the first to introduce me to completely crazy fantasies and crazy words such as Sugar Snorters and Muggle-Wumps! My friend Rachel bought me this knowing how much I loved Roald Dahl and I have to say, I think it was one of the best gifts I've ever received!
And if you haven't ever read a Roald Dahl book, I would suggest it's never too late...

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Are you Harry Potter mad?

JK Rowling has created a new website to help satisfy our Potter lust now that the final film of the book series has been made. It isn't released until October, but I'm pretty sure it will be worth the wait!! I'm excited already just looking at it - Pottermore: Register your interest

The Swan Thieves

I was super excited when I saw this book, having read the author's other book The Historian. Unfortunately it didn't match up to the author's first effort. While I had found it took a while for The Historian to get going, The Swan Thieves literally took until about the last 5 chapters to get going! Not so good.
The story revolves around an artist who is obsessed with painting a woman. A woman who, it turns out, is dead and is one he's never met. After attacking a painting, he ends up in a mental hospital where his therapist sets off on a mission to find out what it was that caused this man to attack a painting and along the way, naturally, has his own journey of self discovery  through the people he meets and the journeys they lead him on to seek out the reason behind his patient's arrival at his clinic. 
Other characters in the book are the artist's wife and girlfriend, the woman who features in the paintings and her lover; and the woman's daughter and partner. The author brings in the subject of the paintings through a series of letters she and her lover write to each other and thus cleverly brings together the current storyline and the historical context its based on. 
All of the characters are interwoven into the story throughout the book and slowly (emphasis on slowly!) help to finally bring together the entire background to the artist's attack on the painting in the museum that occurred right at the start of the book.
Given her first book, Elisabeth Kostova is very much into weaving out an elaborate story, with lots of detail and happy coincidences thrown in for good measure. Unfortunately she fails to keep the pace going on what otherwise could have been an excellent novel. Alas, it was disappointing at best.


Rating: 2 out of 5
Why: While the plot (in the end) was rather exciting, it took far too long to get going and for the first time in a long time, it actually took me months to finish this book! I only read it out of determination to finish it rather than wanting to read it. Not exactly what a good book should do!

Monday, July 04, 2011

Current favourite author

My current favourite author is JODI PICOULT. The first book I read of her's was Nineteen Minutes, a story about a high school student who walks into school one day and shoots several of his fellow pupils. The book follows the story from several different angles, i.e. it is told from the perspective of the different people involved.
I have since read several others of her books, but the first is still my favourite. 
Sometimes harrowing, always related to something in life you could actually have to face yourself, her books make you think and also appreciate a little more the good life you have.
Other titles I've read:
  • My Sister's Keeper
  • Change of Heart
  • The Tenth Circle
  • Picture Perfect
Pick up a book today! You won't be disappointed I promise!