Ever wanted to read a fantasy series where the protagonists aren't weirdly gifted with suitable talents. where they swear, take drugs and have sex, whEver wanted to read a fantasy series where the protagonists aren't weirdly gifted with suitable talents. where they swear, take drugs and have sex, where they've read Harry Potter and watch Netflix? A fantasy series where the use of magic has understandable consequences, where power really does corrupt, where there are no ridiculously romanticised relationships and key players are non-binary? Welcome to The Magicians. [image] The Fillory series, like the Harry Potter books in our universe is the major book fantasy series that almost every kid has read and loved; few however, as much as young Quentin Coldwater a sufferer of depression and a lover of magic. Unlike most of his peers, now in his late teens / early twenties Quentin is still obsessive about Fillory, so when circumstances appear to give him his wildest dream, a chance to go to college to become a magician, a real magician, he grabs it! [image] It's pretty hard to share anymore of the plot without spilling into spoiler territory, but this book, this absolute stand-out urban fantasy takes the fantasy genre to an adult level; there's no idyllic sugar-coating as seen in so many fantasy books, and it works tremendously well. It has been lauded by the likes of Stephen King, Audrey Niffenegger and George R.R. Martin and deservedly so. I just couldn't give this Five Stars because of a startling lack of (race) diversity and some basic plot holes! Still, with a twisted dark humour running throughout, and an overall plot that you can't really foresee, this is a must-read for urban fantasy lovers. The book is blatantly influenced by the Tales Of Narnia, and it would have been nice for Lev Grossman to explicitly spell that out and/or thank C.S. Lewis. Anyways, I just can't get over how much I enjoyed this read - the final 200 pages are remarkable! 9.5 out of 12 fiery Four Star read. [image] 2021 read...more
2020 review: With my TBR almost eradicated by all my Lockdown reading I picked this wonder-ful book off of my shelves for a reread, and even on second2020 review: With my TBR almost eradicated by all my Lockdown reading I picked this wonder-ful book off of my shelves for a reread, and even on second reading this book is still an absolute delight! A book that does not paint grey-issues where they are not grey; a book that asks us all to recognise that we have control over how other people feel; that ultimately our teaching professions want the best for their students, and that every day and every hour they pursue that cause; that unity really is strength. So glad that the writer and the publishers weren't afraid to get this story out there. 11 out of 12! [image] 2017 review: Auggie is a normal 10 year old with a hideous genetic facial condition. This is the story of his first year in school in the Fifth Grade, told from numerous first people's viewpoints. And this book? It is a wonder, a superbly crafted piece of fiction, ultimately promoting human kindness. This book totally moved me and had my crying at the spirit of human kindness throughout. 11 out of 12. [image] It's because of books like this I have a book rating system that goes up to 12, so that books that are better than 10/10 have somewhere to go. I have only ever given one book 12/12 - To Kill a Mockingbird. 2020 read, 2017 read...more
SF Masterworks 1(!). That's right, this book was the first released under the SF Masterworks brand, so it's gotta be good then? It sure damn was! ThisSF Masterworks 1(!). That's right, this book was the first released under the SF Masterworks brand, so it's gotta be good then? It sure damn was! This book! [image] A star gate like natural phenomena has been discovered that allows man to roam the stars - but each journey albeit instantaneous, sees the passing of the equivalent amount of REAL TIME on Earth. As the UN-led Earth ratchets up space colonisation, an alien race (the Taurans), attacks and destroys some Earth ships, thus sparking a war... a war that goes on forever! [image] Enforced conscription of the best and bravest, sees our first person narrator, and at heart pacifist William Mandella share his military service in this book. Haldeman, already strikes gold, by using an emotionally intelligent pacifist, who is evolves into an assured veteran to narrate the story. He provides a very realistic (like Battlestar Galactica 2004, style) approach to space combat and colonisation. [image] He uses the passage of time to give a background story of how Earth and its colonies developed whilst being in an ongoing space war. What he does most of all though, is tell a hugely important story from a very human angle, and tell it really well. Goddamn Five Star read! [image] And to top all this off... what a fabulous ending! It will come as no surprise that this was written as a reaction to America's war in Vietnam. So that's it then, this is currently the best sci-fi book I have ever read! Joe Haldeman I salute you sir, 10 out of 12, Five Star Read. [image]...more
An amazing book that looks at the relationships between African American housemaids and their White female employers in the early 1960s in the town, JAn amazing book that looks at the relationships between African American housemaids and their White female employers in the early 1960s in the town, Jackson, in Mississippi. The book is written by a White woman from Mississippi. A book that made me cry with anger, with sorrow, but aslo with wonder and laughter. A fantastic work from first time published author, Kathryn Stockett! A book that is not as full of anger and pain as it could have been; and in my opinion, it is exactly that, that makes it such an original and enjoyable read? 11 out of 12 = Five Star Read [image]...more
The famous auto-biographical tale of an Iranian woman growing up during the fall of the Shah and the actualisation of the Islamic and cultural revolutThe famous auto-biographical tale of an Iranian woman growing up during the fall of the Shah and the actualisation of the Islamic and cultural revolution. A terrific book, managing to capture the voices of childhood and youth whilst telling the story of living under the Shah and then the fundamentalist regime. [image] Please note that the author grew up in an upper middle class neighbourhood in a community of Marxist leanings and I would suggest that some of the Iranian history depicted should be taken with a pinch of salt, but ultimately this book is about Marjane, living in a permissive and liberal household and trying to find her identity during some of the most change-ridden times of modern Persian history. The sequences of her student days in Austria were also gripping. Superb book, recommended. 9 out of 12 Four Star read. [image] 2011 read...more
An unnamed woman recounts her past, looking back at when she first fell in love, as a young woman, almost still a girl. She was a shy young women, worAn unnamed woman recounts her past, looking back at when she first fell in love, as a young woman, almost still a girl. She was a shy young women, working as a companion to an older women in Monte Carlo, when she came across, and fell for, the well known, upper class Maxim de Winter, a recent widow and owner/occupier of the legendary English home, Manderley. The mighty Manderley itself, is a key player in this magnificent gothic mystery romance. There's the combative head housekeeper Miss Danvers to overcome, and even more so the legacy of Maxim's well loved and adored first wife, Rebecca. Chapter by chapter the narrator documents her tale of secrets, lies, love and hate, manipulation and disinformation, of masks and of facades. [image] From the opening line - "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again", I knew I was reading something special. This is one of those books, that after the first few pages I already knew I was reading a Five Star read. Yet as I progressed through the book, I began searching in vain for a Six Star rating, absorbed with how the mix of the almost irreverent gothic romantic spiel of the narrator in her youth, is counterbalanced by the aloof, mature, and yet selective and secretive De Winter - it is/was all so compelling! The supporting cast are a joy, from the dark and distraught Danvers, through the the sister who says what she thinks! The key driver for me, for most reads is the story, and yet again du Maurier BRINGS IT ON! 10 out of 12. Five Star Read! [image] My two fave writers of all time are Margaret Atwood and Donna Tartt, and it looks like this list has just got one author longer. [image]...more
“In journeys, as in life, it is a great deal easier to go down hill than up.” Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby Often sidelined by both critics and mul“In journeys, as in life, it is a great deal easier to go down hill than up.” Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby Often sidelined by both critics and multimedia this work of utter genius is my all-time favourite Dickens. Full of darkly comedic antagonists, as well as a raft of fully realised supporting characters, this work feels like Dickens unleashed. I recommend this is read after reading some of the so called greats like Oliver Twist and Great Expectations, to see just what a genius piece of work this is! [image] That's right, I'm calling it - genius! = Five Star Read! 10 out of 12. My second favourite classic of all-time after The Count of Monte Cristo....more
I had to keep putting this book down as the tension and stress, was at times, too much to handle... that's how good this book is! The girl - Lisbeth iI had to keep putting this book down as the tension and stress, was at times, too much to handle... that's how good this book is! The girl - Lisbeth is in Intensive Care, after being shot in the head and buried! The enemy - as revealed in The Girl Who Played with Fire, are a conspiracy going back from before Lisbeth's birth, and now they've decided to destroy her, once and for all. The support - as more evidence of Lisbeth's truths are revealed her friends, some cops, her hackers etc. decide to fight back!. The psycho - Niedermann, multiple killer and on the run. The bastard - Zala is still alive... 2 rooms down from Lisbeth in the Intensive Care Unit! Lisbeth kicked the hornet's nest and her world has erupted! [image] Lisbeth's life is in utter peril from the first page to the last. Larsson somehow moves the series up another gear(!), detailing just how much damage the state can do to an individual if you abuse their rights. On the other hand he also shows, that in a mostly free society how the press and other parts of a state can uphold the law. [image]How did this book make me feel? This book made me feel great, it really did. The world of Salandar feels so real, so alive. Having multiple points of view works extremely well for the characterisations, which are so good, one wonders just how much time Larson spent fine-tuning them! I like how storywise, Larson has no compromise for intolerance, prejudice, abuse etc. None of that bullshit not-so-subtle anti-PC crap that's in a lot of crime fiction. That's what is so great about this series for me... it has no (bullshit) compromise for bigots, abusers, criminals etc. we get to be in their heads and hear their thoughts. [image] The storyline is so well crafted, and kept me on tenterhooks throughout... even more so than the first 2 books. It felt like I was in Salander's camp, that the stakes were high, and that I personally had something to lose if they did not overcome! I would say, as in the last 2 books, that at times the narrator sounded like a documentary, but I feel that that's a perfect fit for this series. 11 out of 12, another Five Star Read for this superb series... also currently the best book I've read this year. Just to make it clear how much I like this, this trilogy is also the best trilogy I've ever read! [image] 2020 read; 2010 read...more
When I first read this (in 2007) I felt bad about rating such a wonderfully written book with just Two Stars! [image] With my second reading (in 2008), When I first read this (in 2007) I felt bad about rating such a wonderfully written book with just Two Stars! [image] With my second reading (in 2008), I began to see the light with a 7 out of 12, Three Star rating - my one sentence review: 'Second and more enlightened reading of this almost poetic masterpiece about a loneliness, self-identity and relationships, I think?' [image] BY my third reading I could simply put out there, that this is a poetic masterpiece about loneliness, self-identity and relationships, I'm sure! It's also all kinds of cool that the relationship that this book centres around is a same sex coupling and that, that itself is not an issue. All hail the King! 10 out of 12. Five Star read. [image] And yes, I know that's a Norwegian Wood GIF, what's your point? :) 2016 read; 2008 read; 2007 read...more
A truly modern classic masterpiece - Tartt's first offering as a writer is this juggernaut - a descent into evil, unreliably narrated by the newest adA truly modern classic masterpiece - Tartt's first offering as a writer is this juggernaut - a descent into evil, unreliably narrated by the newest addition to a group of highly eccentric elitist misfits, who form a group around a just as eccentric classics professor at a small liberal arts college in Vermont. Within this microcosm, they are creating their own norms and in time, their own morality, which leads to a descent to evil. [image] A masterclass in scene setting and character development from a first person narrator's perspective; in beautifully paced suspense building; and in creating an atmosphere and plot that aptly illustrates the general complexity and confusion of relationships. The well drawn out character development by Tartt, brings the group to life, despite the at first glance, limited view of the narrator. One of those books you can read again and again, and again... and still be completely drawn in by the suspense and the mystery of it all. [image] Tart announces her talent to the world! 10 out of 12. [image]...more
2020 review: Unbelievably good! Beyond doubt one of the best sequels that I have ever read. After the heights of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I di2020 review: Unbelievably good! Beyond doubt one of the best sequels that I have ever read. After the heights of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I didn't think it was humanly possible to maintain or surpass the levels reached by that first book, but Larsson does, and does it with aplomb! [image] Looking at a GIF from the film above, reminds me that I will never watch any of the movies. This is, and always be a masterpiece book of neo feminist noir crime/thriller fiction for me. [image] At the start of the book investigative publication Millennium is sniffing out a big story around the sex trade; Lisbeth is overseas; Nils Bjurman is still seething; and lots of people in positions of authority are going to be exposed. One name connects all this, Zala? Who is Zala? [image] Like the first book, it often feels like the narrator is voicing over a documentary, and it works just as well. We get insight into some of this realities' back stories in this, which blew my mind, but also seamlessly connected the two books. The trial by media; the unstoppable antagonists; the murder squad; so much of this was pitch perfect, and then there's the spellbindingly captivating storytelling. And the gift that just keeps on giving? ...One of the greatest characters ever put down on paper... Lisbeth Salander. 10 out of 12, back to back Five Star reads for this series. [image]...more
So. Damn. Good. Toru Watanabe is reminded of the love, and of the pain, of his youth every time he hears Beatles' songs such as 'Hey Jude' and... 'NorSo. Damn. Good. Toru Watanabe is reminded of the love, and of the pain, of his youth every time he hears Beatles' songs such as 'Hey Jude' and... 'Norwegian Wood'. The reader is then cast back to Toru's late teenage and early 20s youth in the late '60s and early '70s centred around Tokyo. A simple premise - an old(er) person recalling their youth? Not with Murakami is it isn't! So. Damn. Good. [image] Murakami surprised many at the time, by writing a 'normal' novel as opposed to his magical realist mainstays; and he himself admits to be being 'shocked' and 'dismayed' when this book turned him from a niche cult writer to a world famous celebrity author! And therein lies the beauty of this amazing piece of work, as it is anything but normal. The cast of characters are innovative, formidable and brain hurting (yes, hurting!), from the almost callous ultra-realist Nagasawa, to the highly strung but firestorm of almost unhinged practicability on her own terms Midori. [image] As per usual, his writing is pitch perfect; and in addition the dialogue and some of the exchanges in this book blew me away. This is anything but just a normal novel. FIVE STAR READ - 11 out of 12. [image] My 2008 one sentence review was: 'An understated masterpiece by Murakami'...more
Accept. Obey. Serve. Flora 717 is a survivor - large, deformed and ugly at birth, normally she should have been summarily terminated... and did I forgAccept. Obey. Serve. Flora 717 is a survivor - large, deformed and ugly at birth, normally she should have been summarily terminated... and did I forget to mention, she is a bee! [image] Whether seen as allegorical or literal, the buzz (pun intended :)) around this book is very much well deserved. Are the core lives and roles in a bee-hive, portrayed in this book, correct? I don't know, but will one day probably check, but the world within our world created by Paull is hypnotically spell binding - and then to top it all off the story of a bee, Flora 717, coping and surviving, despite a lack of privilege, is so well thought out, crafted and paced. 10 out of 12, a Five Star read... now buzz off and go read this! [image]...more
That's right... I'm calling this historical fiction! It feels like one of the last great pre-digital age novels, telling the story of a fictional 1970That's right... I'm calling this historical fiction! It feels like one of the last great pre-digital age novels, telling the story of a fictional 1970s phenomenon, Daisy Jones and the Six, using snippets of interviews from the band members, some of the entourage, friends, family and some of the media. [image] I'm finding it hard to explain why this book meant so much to me. From a personal perspective, it's what kids, when I grew up, aspired to. They didn't know or care about the internet, likes and emojis, they wanted to jam on stage and get to Number 1, for who they were, after working hard to get there. [image] This at first just feels like a band on the up story, but as we get more insight into the main protagonists we realise it's about creativity, individuality, family and the true nature and meaning of love -not bad for 300+ pages! A slam-dunk wonderful concept, read and package as a whole. 10 out of 12. - >FIVE STAR READ< [image]...more
Reread. Five Stars again. A must-read... a must-read on so many levels. What's the story about? What makes it such a great read? [image] The narrator isReread. Five Stars again. A must-read... a must-read on so many levels. What's the story about? What makes it such a great read? [image] The narrator is... Death. The main protagonists are children living in one of the many poverty stricken German communities in Hitler's Germany. This is about their lives during wartime. [image] A monstrous US President once said about Nazis, that some of them are 'very fine people'. No Mr President, Nazis are and were bad people, but there are, and were some very fine Germans during wartime... well this book, this is their story. Read it! 10 out of 12. [image] My one sentence 2008 review: 'Made me cry - Hitler's Germany from inside a poverty stricken German community'...more
SF Masterworks (2010- series) #21: This book was a very deserving winner of the Best Novel, 1990 Hugo Award. Seven pilgrims travel to the mysterious TSF Masterworks (2010- series) #21: This book was a very deserving winner of the Best Novel, 1990 Hugo Award. Seven pilgrims travel to the mysterious Time Tombs on Hyperion and share their stories of how they ended up being a pilgrim. Words escape me - immediately I had to start reading the sequel The Fall of Hyperion! On so many levels this book is a masterwork from a constructed reality that covers universes and eons, through to a cosmos wide legacy, mythology and strategic planning by numerous power bases centred around the legend/myth of the Shrike. [image] This is a meticulously amazingly well thought out reality, that sets out the myriad races, creeds, sexes, cultures, customs, religions, technological development, species diversification, power sources etc. etc. and just as essentially sets out how their existences, development and growth (or collapse) impacted on each other's worlds over centuries. Then there's the superb use of the pilgrim's story telling device, that not only pushes the main story on, but seamlessly provides the depth and vibrancy to lay out this reality to the reader in such a simple, yet compelling way. 10 out of 12 - A FIVE STAR READ! [image] Pilgrim artwork: fom the 'Hyperion Cantos' Tumblr account and Tumblr artist - davidswiftart...more
Dumas' amazing (and long, but not at all tedious) tale of conspiracy, hope and revenge, a tale of friendship, love and families, a tale of Napoleonic Dumas' amazing (and long, but not at all tedious) tale of conspiracy, hope and revenge, a tale of friendship, love and families, a tale of Napoleonic France, the colonial empires and Marseille. A truly glorious and momentous classic, the tale of Edmund Dantes' unfair orchestrated imprisonment, what he gets in prison and what he does when, and after, he mounts his memorable escape. 9 out of 12 [image] 2011 read...more
"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." That was Atticus' advice to Scout and Jim, befor"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." That was Atticus' advice to Scout and Jim, before the onset of African American Tom Robinson's trial for the alleged rape of a white woman in a town in the Deep South, in the United States in the 1930s. A work of genius, of pure perfection, the best book I have ever read. [image] On every single level, this book is flawless. [image] Thank you Harper Lee. [image] FIVE STAR READ... 12 out of 12!!!!!!! [image] 2010 and 2011 read...more
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