A-Z Book Challenge Update
Here’s how I did in May…
My List
A – Angels by Marian Keyes
B -
C – Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee
D – Deadline by Mira Grant
E -
F – From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
G – Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
H -
I – Information is Beautiful by David McCandless
J -
K -
L – Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
M – Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
N -
O -
P -
Q -
R -
S – Ship of Magic: Book One – The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb
T – The Ice Cream Girls by Dorothy Koomson
U -
V -
W – Winter in Madrid by C.J. Sansom
X -
Y – Y: The Last Man – Cycles by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, Jose Marzan Jr
Z -
Only added two to the challenge this month, despite reading 6 books since last month’s update. I have a big pile of books on my to-read shelf, which I am going to concentrate on first, before buying/borrowing any more, so this list might stay the same for a little while… but after that I’ll try and fill in the blanks!
TTFN,
Laura
Book Number 20: Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
A recommendation…
Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
Page Count: 396 Genre: Fiction (Contemporary/Drama) Time taken: 13 days (Tue 15/05/12 – Sun 27/05/12) Sessions: 4 morning, 2 afternoon, 3 evening 1 night.
My mum suggested this to me, I used to read the Stephanie Plum novels years ago, and my mum had picked this up and enjoyed it.
I didn’t find it as interesting or as fun as I used to find the Stephanie Plum novels, but it was a little bit of fun. Alex Barnaby is on the racing team for Hooker, a Nascar driver, and they both appear to have had a relationship in the past which ended when he cheated on her with a Sales Assistant.
They both get caught up in conspiracy involving murder, cheating engineers, a divorced wife, and big thugs… the plot was a little bit all over the place and to be honest, I got a bit bored in the end, but it was entertaining enough. It was a little far fetched, and it felt like Evanovich was stretching out the storyline.
Not as good as I remember the Stephanie Plum books, but also, this isn’t my kind of book, so I would still recommend it to Janet Evanovich fans.
Next on the list: Sciencia edited by John Martineau
Book Number 19: From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
Back to Sookie:
From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
Page Count: 359 Genre: Fiction (Fantasy/Horror) Time taken: 4 days (Sat 12/05/12 – Tue 15/05/12) Sessions: 3 morning, 3 afternoon, 3 evening.
Another Sookie Stackhouse novel, this time dealing with the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. The Shreveport werewolves are fighting amongst themselves but drag Sookie into it, she’s also dealing with a possible vampire hostile takeover and is in the middle of two supernatural wars.
On top of this she has Amelia and her cat living with her, and repercussions of Debbie Pelt’s murder. Not to mention a missing boyfriend and Eric still trying to get to the bottom of what happened between them whilst he was under a spell in a previous book.
Finally, we see Sookie find new members of her family that she didn’t even know existed…
As you can see this is a book packed with storylines, plots and characters but it isn’t too complicated. There’s a chapter at the beginning of this book (as there normally is in these books) to remind the reader what’s going on, and the books are fairly easy reading, so it’s not too complicated or hard to follow!
I like these books a lot, I like Sookie and the characters are good fun. The mythology of the book is consistent and the politics side of the supernatural world, as well as the way that both the supernatural world and the normal world collide on a regular basis make these interesting books. Full of sex, violence and fantasy, great escapism.
Next on the list: Motormouth by Janet Evanovich
Book Number 18: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Next on the list:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Page Count: 454 Genre: Fiction (Scifi) Time taken: 5 days (Mon 07/05/12 – Fri 11/05/12) Sessions: 3 morning, 3 afternoon, 4 evening.
These books have been on my list for a few years now, before the film was mentioned, and I had been recommended them by a few people. I don’t know why I hadn’t picked them up before, but I have finally got round to reading the first in the trilogy…
The story is told by Katniss Everdeen, an inhabitant of District 12. America has been nearly destroyed in some unknown apocalyptic event, and now exists as Panem. Panem is made up of 13 Districts and the capitol, however, the 13th districts has been destroyed as punishment against the people for a rebellion.
As further punishment, and a way of controlling the people, every year there is a competition known as the Hunger Games. Each of the 12 districts have to supply a boy and girl ‘tribute’ to the games, and this is decided with a reaping. Each child has to have their name entered in the lottery, but as food is scarce, children are able to buy food by having extra entries in the draw, which grow exponentially every year. Even the richer inhabitants have to put their children forward, although these children tend not to have to sell extra entries, and therefore it tends to be the poorer children in the poorer districts who get picked.
Once the two competitors have been picked, they go to the Capitol to the arena to fight to the death, until only one remains, and he or she is the victor. The whole event is broadcast as a reality TV event, and everyone in all the districts must watch. The winner receives money and food and a house, and would never be hungry again, but also has to live with what they have done…
The 74th Hunger Games are approaching and Katniss is dismayed to find her younger sister is picked, so she volunteers herself instead. Along with a Peeta, the Baker’s son, who unbeknownst to her, has admired her from afar for many years, and has helped her out with bread when she was starving, and they head to the Capitol to participate.
The set up to this book was good, I really felt for Katniss, she had already lost her father, and everyday she struggles to find enough food for her beloved sister, and her mother who seems to have given up. She hunts with her friend Gale, the two of them catching enough meat to sell and eat, and keeping their families alive. She is not perfect, but she tries hard to keep her family together, and has a lot of responsibility heaped on her. She isn’t very trusting, (can you blame her?) and she often comes across as rude and stubborn, but I identified with her a lot.
As they get to the Capitol, and start their training for the Hunger Games, we see that Katniss is not happy to fall in and behave and is so disgusted with the Capitol that we see her starting to rebel here and there. She struggles to play up to the persona she is expected to have, and concentrates more on what she will need to do to survive. Tangled in this is a love story between her and Peeta, and by the time the games begin, although I felt it was fairly obvious that she was going to win, the consequences of her actions, and the twists in the story are gripping enough for this not to matter.
The book is heavy with themes of poverty and starvation and what people will do to survive, in the Hunger Games themselves and in life. There are complex moral decisions being made by competitors, playing up to the audience in order to obtain sponsorship and gifts, as well as trying to survive within the arena. There is also the issue of government control, and the ‘Big Brother’ element of the story, everyone is entered, the tributes must try and survive, or be killed, the audience HAS to watch the games. It also comments on the idea of these reality games, and Suzanne Collins has said herself that she was inspired by flicking through TV channels and seeing reality TV shows interspersed with footage of soldiers fighting. Although the inhabitants of Panem are made to watch this, there is an element of entertainment, with the Gamemakers engineering participants to come together and fight, providing them with bad weather, lack of food, and monsters. In one scene, we see a pack of wild dogs that have been genetically engineered from the dead participants – pretty gruesome stuff. I like the observations on Reality TV, the way we revel in people’s misery as well as their triumph.
Katniss’s little rebellions do not go unseen or unnoticed, and we see by then end of the book that she has not pleased the Capitol by her behaviour, in particular, her final act inside the Games. The book ends nicely, as the story is wrapped up, but there is a little open endedness ready for the next book in the trilogy, which I liked a great deal. I find it irritating when a book ends mid-story, with no sort of conclusion at all. Books in a trilogy should still work as a book in their own right, and this one does.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the storyline of Panem and the rebellion has me intrigued, and the characters were believable and realistic. The story itself of the Hunger Games was gripping, I struggled to put this book down and had I had the time I would have sat and read it in one go. I feel like there is more to the stylists and mentors that were given to Katniss and Peeta, they seemed to almost encourage her rebellion, as well as encourage her triumph.
The relationships between Katniss and Peeta, and her friend Gale are well written and seem right for 16 year olds. I want to pick up the next book and find out what happens next but… I can’t as I don’t have it – yet! All in all, a very good book, that I would definitely recommend!
Next on the list: From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
Book Number 17: Y: The Last Man – Safeword by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, Jose Marzan Jr
Y: The Last Man – Safeword by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, Jose Marzan Jr
Page Count: 142 Genre: Fiction (Graphic Novel – Scifi) Time taken: 1 day (Mon 07/05/12) Sessions: 1 evening.
In this volume, we see Yorick left with a friend and colleague of 355, to be kept safe, whilst 355 and Dr Mann go off to try and find a way round a blockade cutting off Eastern USA to Western USA.
There is a strong sexual theme here, as we explore Yorick’s sexual past, his feelings towards sex and why he hasn’t slept with a single woman since the plague hit. There’s also the usual government conspiracy storyline (I love this sort of thing) and we find out a little more about Dr Mann and what she was really up to before all the men died.
I am really enjoying these books, and I’m trying to save them for when I have a whole day off to myself, as it’s easy to sit down for an hour or two and read straight through!
Next on the list: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Book Number 16: Y: The Last Man – One Small Step by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra & Jose Marzan Jr
More graphic novels…
Y: The Last Man – One Small Step by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra & Jose Marzan Jr
Page Count: 167 Genre: Fiction (Graphic Novel – Scifi) Time taken: 1 day (Sun 06/05/12) Sessions: 1 morning, 2 afternoon, 1 evening.
Next in the series, following the adventures of Yorick, the last man left alive on the Earth after a mysterious event kills every male of every species.
Yorick is still on the run with 355 – an agent from the Culper Ring and Dr Mann, all three trying to reach Dr Mann’s Californian lab to find her back-ups of her work on cloning.
However, Yorick isn’t the only known man left in the solar system… three astronauts are on their way back from a space station, and two of them are men. And to top it all off, he’s being hunted by an Israeli army team.
Another great instalment, still loving the artwork, and finding the story interesting (if a little unbelievable). I do love scifi as a genre, but I need it to have roots in fact, and to be honest, I’m finding it hard to believe that Yorick hasn’t been holed up in a lab and been tested on, or made to re-populate… but, I can get past this, and enjoy the rest of the story.
Next on the list: Y: The Last Man – Safeword
Book Number 15: The DIY Wedding by Kelly Bare
A little research…
The DIY Wedding by Kelly Bare
Page Count: 225 Genre: Non Fiction (Arts & Crafts) Time taken: days (Mon 16/04/12 – Sun 06/05/12) Sessions: 1 morning, 2 afternoon.
I’m planning my own budget wedding for October this year, so this book has been very handy. It’s written by an American woman, so a lot of the resources are American based but there are some UK resources too, as well as a brilliant glossary of websites and books.
The book is split into different categories, invitations, attire, flowers, the ceremony, rings etc. and has different ideas on how to save money and literally do it yourself. There are a few tutorials on how to make different things, but also some great ideas on how to do things a little differently and either yourself, or with a little help from friends and family.
It has given me some really good ideas and inspiration for bits and pieces in my wedding, definitely a few things to save me money. The book isn’t all craft tutorials and templates for stationary, it offers alternative ideas on how to throw an amazing wedding without spending tonnes of money, and how to source help from unlikely places and create a totally personal, unique wedding.
Lots of good advice and resources, a perfect read for anyone planning a wedding.
Next on the list: Y: The Last Man – One Small Step by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra and Jose Marzan Jr
Book Number 14: Ship of Magic: Book One – The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb
This took a little while…
Ship of Magic: Book One – The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb
Page Count: 880 Genre: Fiction (Fantasy) Time taken: days (Mon 02/04/12 – Sa 05/05/12) Sessions: 14 morning, 7 afternoon, 13 evening, 3 night.
I have read these books before, a long time ago, but fancied reading them again, especially as I have the new books by Robin Hobb which are part of this world. I only remember bits of the books, so this was a good re-read.
The book takes place in a mystical world where a substance called wizardwood is used to make ships. These ships have figureheads that come alive or “quicken” after 3 generations of a family die on the decks. They also take on the personalities and memories of the 3 generations. They are owned by Trader families in Bingtown, and apart from the mystical fantasy element of the story, there is also a lot of politics with agreements between the Bingtown traders and other cities, whether or not slavery should be made legal, as well as the pirates who roam the shores.
We follow the story of the Vestrit family whose Liveship is quickened very early in the book. There are problems within the family straight away as we realise the boat has been bequeathed to the eldest daughter’s husband and tension’s begin to rise. The boat goes off on her maiden voyage as a Liveship with tensions onboard and an unhappy figurehead.
At home, we see the rest of the family dealing with the problems of debt, and an unruly teenager who gets herself in trouble by lying to both her grandmother and mother, and becoming the love interest of a Rain Wild Trader. The Rain Wild Traders are a strange and mysterious people who moved up the Rain Wild River and have become disfigured and unable to live for long.
Finally we also follow the story of Kennit the pirate, who wants to be King of the Pirate Isles, and plans to fulfil this by stealing a Liveship…
A good start to the trilogy, I really like these books, the characters are easy to believe and likeable. The mythology behind the books, the lore of the wizardwood, the Rain Wild Traders and the weird sea serpents which follow the liveships and eat the dead slaves thrown from the ships, is really interesting and I’m looking forward to the next book.
Next on the list: The DIY Wedding by Kelly Bare
A-Z Book Challenge Update
Update for April:
My List
A – Angels by Marian Keyes
B -
C - Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee
D - Deadline by Mira Grant
E -
F -
G - Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
H -
I – Information is Beautiful by David McCandless
J -
K -
L – Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
M -
N -
O -
P -
Q -
R -
S – Ship of Magic: Book One – The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb
T – The Ice Cream Girls by Dorothy Koomson
U -
V -
W - Winter in Madrid by C.J. Sansom
X -
Y – Y: The Last Man – Cycles by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, Jose Marzan Jr
Z -
Book Number 13: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
One of the best books I have read in a long time…
Lamb,: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
Page Count: 506 Genre: Fiction (Fantasy/Comedy) Time taken: 9 days (Sun 25/03/12 – Mon 02/04/12) Sessions: 5 morning, 2 afternoon, 5 evening, 2 night.
What a fantastic book. Definitely up there in my top 10, and Christopher Moore is an author I am going to look into.
Where do I begin. I was bought up a catholic and have had many issues with my faith (and lack of it) not just my logical sensible side telling me that it can’t be true, but also having issues with the ethical and moral side of catholicism which I am not going to bore you with, but just tell you that I came to this book as and agnostic leaning towards atheism. I was recommended this author ages and ages ago, I can’t even remember who by, and found this in my local yacht club book swap library a few weeks ago.
I picked it up, expecting it to be a humorous retelling of Jesus’s life, in the vein of Good Omens perhaps. But it was better than that (and Zgood Omens was a good book!) This book is absolutely fantastic.
The story follows Levi bar Biff, a childhood life-long friend of Jesus (or Joshua as he was actually called – Jesus being the Greek translation), who has been resurrected by the angel Raziel to tell his story, and to write another gospel. This gospel is to tell the story of Joshua’s childhood – the missing bit of the story from the Bible.
Joshua and Biff live with their families in Nazareth, where Biff has a huge crush on Mary and Joshua is struggling to find his way as the Messiah. They meet and make friends with Mary Magdalene, herein known as Maggie, who loves Joshua (who has to be celibate), and whom Biff loves.
They decide to seek out the three wise men early in their teens to help Joshua on his path. Maggie is betrothed to someone and both Biff and Joshua are too sad to stay for the wedding and leave on their journey. Along the way they meet the three wise men and learn from them about other world religions as well as how to perform some of the miracles. We learn about Kali, Hinduism, Buddhism, Tao, and meditation amongst other things, and also the reason Jews eat Chinese at Christmas and why bunnies are associated with Easter.
Moore cleverly entwines biblical references into the story, and injects enough fantastical elements to make this interesting without going over the top.
The best thing about this book are the characters. They are so well written and human, you can’t help but love them. Biff struggles with his best friend being so wonderful but is still fiercely loyal. His love for Maggie is heartbreaking and his loyalty to Joshua right until the inevitable end is so sad. I have heard the story of Jesus so many times but this was the first time that I have ever identified with him as a person, and with what he had to go through. I was devastated at the end. I knew the ending but I was so very sad at the thought of Joshua being murdered by people he was trying to save. There is a good reason why biff is not included in the bible, a good little ending to the story which explains his omission from the other gospels. The story has enough basis in historical fact (Moore researched life in Nazareth at this time as well as China and India and made this fairly historically accurate) to make the characters believable, but there is so much comedy, emotion and humanity injected into them that it wouldn’t matter if he set it on Mars.
Whether you are a Christian or not, pick this up and give it a go. It’s not going to convert you but it’s a very good story, with fantastic characters and it might make you think about how you treat your fellow man. It will make you laugh and make you cry. And although you know the story well enough, there are a few nice surprises along the way. A very good book.
Next on the list: Ship of Magic: Book One – The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb
