Book Review: Atonement by Ian McEwan

Atonement - Ian McEwan

Synopsis:
It’s 1935, and at thirteen years of age, Briony Tallis has decided to move on from writing and illustrating short stories, instead choosing to create a play, The Trials of Arabella. She has high hopes that the play, which is a product of her overactive imagination, and which features her penchant for dramatics, will be performed for her brother Leon and his friend Paul Marshall, following their homecoming from college.
Her cousins, who are staying with the family for an undetermined amount of time while their parents go through a messy divorce, are delegated roles in the play, but Briony is disheartened by their poor attempts at acting and decides to call the play off. It is while she is staring out the window in a depression that she spots her older sister Cecilia in a moment’s interaction with the cleaner’s son Robbie Turner.
With her thoughts going into overdrive, Briony imagines the scenarios that have lead to what she has witnessed, and starts to plot a story far beyond what she knows.
These imaginings skew her perceptions of Cecilia and Robbie’s relationship, and when a crime is committed on the grounds, she immediately points the blame at Robbie, despite contrary evidence.
Briony’s distorted perceptions of the event, and the repercussions that follow, haunt each of the characters as they struggle to survive through World War II and through the difficult years that follow.

What I gained from reading this book:
This story gives as good a reminder as any that you shouldn’t judge someone without knowing all the important facts.
Briony lets her imagination dictate what is happening between Cecilia and Robbie, and this not only threatens to ruin the couple’s new relationship, but it destroys their families and aids a criminal in his escape from justice.
The fact that a thirteen-year-old middle-class girl is believed over a cleaner’s son is also reminiscent of the times when higher status in the community meant more than a person’s integrity. What is worse, even though Briony has her doubts later on, she is too afraid to renege on what she has said for fear of retribution, which only heightens the guilt that she ultimately feels.
This is an issue that affects many people in their day-to-day lives, where they feel the need to lie to save their own skins, despite knowing that they are wrongly incriminating somebody else. The author is able to highlight the remorse that Briony feels about Robbie during the war, but is also able to draw on her fear of being blamed for destroying so many lives. This theme could strike a chord with readers who have also found themselves in situations where they have faced avoidable guilt.

Positives:
Not only are the characters well developed, but readers will get drawn into the drama that comes from their personal stories and the wartime experiences they face- especially as they deal with the consequences of what happened in the summer of 1935.

Negatives:
Although the novel has won wide acclaim from critics, as well as several awards, it takes a while for readers to actually get into the story. The beginning is slow and sometimes it seems as though nothing exciting will ever happen, but if you persist with reading the first few chapters, you will find yourself drawn into wanting to know what happens next to the characters.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: War/ Relationships

Recommended for: People who have seen the film and would like to read the book.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler

Back When We Were Grownups - Anne Tyler

Synopsis:
From a young age, Rebecca is destined to marry her sweetheart Will Allenby, graduate from college and start a family.
But meeting Joe Davitch changes all of that. Thirteen years her senior, Joe already has three young daughters and becomes smitten with Rebecca after seeing her laugh at a friend’s engagement party, which is being held at his family’s house, The Open Arms.
Within weeks, any future with Will is forgotten as the new couple fall madly in love with one another and marry. It’s not long before Rebecca becomes a part of the Davitch clan, looking after the children and taking control of the festive parties that the Open Arms hosts every week.
However, everything takes a turn for the worse when Joe is involved in a car accident. Rebecca finds herself widowed, juggling the family business, looking after the children and assorted family members, and dealing with the chaos that is her life.
Although she loves her family dearly, she struggles to find her place, and by the age of fifty-three, begins to wonder what her life would have been like if she had never met Joe and instead stayed with Will.

What I gained from reading this book:
This is a novel that very much deals with the question of ‘what if?’
Rebecca, or Beck as she is called by the Davitch clan, wonders whether she would have gradually developed an outgoing persona after being shy for so much of her life, or whether she is only pretending to be so joyous because she knows that is what her family expects of her. She also wonders whether a life with Will would have been as rewarding as her current life or whether she would have fallen into a different kind of bliss. These are questions that many people ask themselves when they find themselves at a crossroad, or even when they are long past the moment and are re-evaluating their life and the place that they hold in it. The characters in this novel are very true to life, in that they too question what could have been, had their circumstances turned out differently.

Positives:
The characters’ arguments and grievances with one another are just as realistic as the harmony that they share. The author is able to portray a strong portrait of the dysfunctional family- one which many people will be able to relate to.

Negatives:
The storyline is a bit slow in some parts and sometimes it is difficult to keep track of who all the characters are, as there are just so many of them (and most are introduced at the same time).

Rating: 6 out of 10

Genre: Family/ Relationships

Recommended for: Fans of Anne Tyler’s novels.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Any Books You'd Like Me To Review?

Hello there!

Do you ever come across a book that you really want to read but you just don't have the time to read it?

Working at a bookshop, I see all the new releases and the above situation happens to me a lot!! I have to write down the title and add it to my long list of books to read- I call it The List.

But sometimes, depending on the title, someone I know is able to read a certain book before me and tell me whether it's worth moving up on The List..

If there's a particular book you'd like me to review so that you can decide whether to read it straight away or let it wait a while, please let me know and I'll do my best to cover it.

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions!!

Catherine

Book Review: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Synopsis:
Before the war in Afghanistan, Amir’s favourite pastimes include flying and running kites with his loyal friend, a lower-caste servant named Hassan, who has a talent for catching the last fallen kite- the coveted prize, and a trophy of sorts, during the winter kite-flying tournament. Throughout the rest of the year, the boys cause mischief by reflecting sunlight into people’s homes using mirrors, and shooting walnuts at the neighbour’s dog with a slingshot. Amir also reads adventure stories to the illiterate Hassan, and dreams that one day he will win the approval of his stern father.
One day, after a successful kite tournament, something happens that changes the relationship between Amir and Hassan forever, and alters their lives in ways previously unimaginable. Amir finds himself struggling to cope with his guilt, and in desperation, drives away the only friend he has ever really had.
As war starts to close in on the small country, Amir and his father flee to America, and it isn’t until decades later that Amir is forced to confront his demons and make the difficult journey back to Afghanistan and the life he left behind.

What I gained from reading this book:
For as long as I can remember, Afghanistan has been a country plagued with war, overruled by the Taliban, and destroyed by acts of terrorism. Even now, news reports tell of suicide bombers detonating their bombs and destroying various parts of the country. This book is an eye-opener because it not only covers aspects of the war as seen through Amir’s eyes, but it is also delves into his life as a young boy before war tore apart his native country. The author highlights the differences between the Afghanistan of Amir’s childhood and the Afghanistan of his adult years, and juxtaposes this with the events that helped to define Amir’s transition from an awkward and uncourageous child, to a man determined to turn a past wrong into a right.

Positives:
This highly acclaimed novel didn’t get rave reviews for nothing. The story is exceptionally written and evokes a sense of authenticity that many fictional novels lack. The details involved in the author’s writing make the reader believe that they are reading the memoirs of an Afghani refugee, rather than a fictional story drawn from some of the real-life events of asylum seekers from Afghanistan.

Negatives:
People who are unable stomach stories of war and violent abuse should probably steer clear of this novel, as the crux of the story centres around these themes.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Genre: Family/ Relationships

Recommended for: Anybody looking for a fictional novel that draws from real-life experiences that some Afghani refugees faced in their search for asylum.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: The Other Extreme by T.J. MacGregor

The Other Extreme - T.J. MacGregor

Synopsis:
Jay Hutchin is an esteemed judge and respected member of the community. But while he is looked upon as an authority of the judicial system, he is also leading a secret life away from the courts, by having an affair with an up-and-coming actress named Diane Jackson- a woman who is taking Hollywood by storm and also seeing other men on the side. When Jay kills Diane in a jealous rage, he has to try and do everything in his power to prevent the press from discovering his involvement. This is especially crucial after the President’s chief of staff contacts Jay to inform him he is on the shortlist for a possible appointment as attorney general. With the FBI delving into his life to determine his suitability for the position, Jay has everything to lose if his role in Diane’s death is made public.
Meanwhile, defence attorney Kit Parrish is hired to defend Diane’s boyfriend, who has been arrested for the murder. While she is collecting evidence for the defence, FBI agent Ben Webster enters her life, reopening a cold case which involves Kit’s brother Pete, who disappeared a decade before. If that’s not enough to contend with, Kit also has to deal with her son’s strange behaviour, which is triggered by voices only he can hear.
Kit faces many challenges in her efforts to save an innocent man from a life sentence, put the real culprit behind bars, and help her son uncover ghosts from memories that belong to someone else.

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel shows how jealousy and greed can change people’s lives, and how too much power can corrupt even those whose duty of care shouldn’t be compromised. Although Jay Hutchin is a figure of authority, he finds himself stooping to the level of the people he convicts in an effort to reign supreme and ‘beat’ the judicial system. He even goes so far as to plan the downfall of Diane’s boyfriend, who has been arrested for her murder despite his innocence. This shady portrayal of the judge helps to raise awareness that there are people out there who consider their interests before everyone else’s, and that this is not just a weakness held by people of little power.

Positives:
This story holds all the trademarks of a political thriller like you’d see on the big screen, with paranormal elements such as memory transfers also thrown into the mix. It’s difficult not to get drawn into the intertwining storylines.

Negatives:
The sub-plot involving Kit’s son Ryan and the memories he keeps on dredging up is interesting, but it is also very easy to determine whose memories they are. This predictability, despite the characters not piecing it together, can sometimes be infuriating for readers.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Paranormal Thriller

Recommended for: People who enjoy reading a good murder mystery, even if some of the characters seem to have abilities beyond the norm.

Book Review: Vittorio, The Vampire by Anne Rice

Vittorio, The Vampire - Anne Rice

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Vittorio di Raniari is part of a wealthy family who live in a Tuscan hilltop castle that is surrounded by warring fronts. Despite the conflicts that border the small village, the people are safe in the knowledge that their Lord, Vittorio’s father, has made strong alliances with Cosimo de Medici and his people in Florence.
But a more sinister threat than war approaches the village one day and it changes Vittorio’s life forever. Without warning, the homes on the outskirts of the village are empty, as people flee a dark force that looms in the forest and only appears in the dead of night. Vittorio’s family remain in the village, but find themselves victims of a bloody and bizarre massacre- one that leaves Vittorio orphaned, alone, and seeking revenge.
Vittorio’s path of vengeance leads him to the bloodthirsty and demonic creatures of the night, to a strange village that seems too perfect, and into the arms of young Ursula, a woman who played a part in his family’s deaths yet appears eternally ‘innocent’. This is the story of how Vittorio lost his innocence and became one of the creatures he despised.

What I gained from reading this book:
In this novel, Vittorio is faced with a nightmare situation, where he sees his brother and sister die in the most appalling way, and hears his family’s screams as they are slain. What’s worse, a young woman who he can’t help but feel attracted to is one of the perpetrators of the massacre, regardless of the fact that she does everything in her power to save him from a fate like that of his family. Thus, who can blame Vittorio for wanting to seek revenge for his loss? This novel is all about vengeance and its many forms, but it’s also a tale about courage, as Vittorio confronts his fears in the face of death and struggles to find justice in a world where humanity is fragile and demons are at the top of the food chain.

Positives:
Readers already know that Vittorio is a vampire, just from reading the title of the book, but what they may not realise at first glance is that this curse was bestowed by those he hated and wanted to destroy. The author is able to turn this tale of vengeance into one of a different kind of torment for her principle character as he struggles to come to terms with his past and his infinite future.

Negatives:
Despite being written in the late 1990’s, the author uses an old style of language to best represent Vittorio and his views, and because of this technique, some people may not enjoy the story as thoroughly.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Horror

Recommended for: Fans of Anne Rice’s gothic horror stories



Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Vamped by David Sosnowski

Vamped - David Sosnowski

Synopsis:
It’s been years since humans lived freely in a world now run and owned by vampires.
The act of hunting and killing humans is long since extinct, and blood production has become a commercial exercise, produced from stem-cells and packaged in juice boxes. In a world full of vampires, the only place one can find a real human is on black market farms that officially ‘don’t exist’, where vampires, for a large sum, can hunt humans au naturale.
So when suicidal vampire Martin Kowalski comes across a six-year-old girl- who presumably escaped from a human hunting reserve- he decides to take the recently orphaned and blood-spattered child home. While he initially plans on making her into a midnight snack, he finds himself charmed by the young girl, who goes by the bizarre name of Isuzu Trooper Cassidy- and allocates himself the role of unofficial guardian. Through the tumultuous years that follow, Marty embraces ‘fatherhood’ and strives to protect Isuzu from the rest of the world, who would tear her apart for a taste if they knew she existed.

What I gained from reading this book:
Despite the fact that most of the characters in this novel are vampires, the author is strangely able to make readers relate to them. This could be because he describes a world very similar to our own, only the characters function at nighttime rather than during the day. Marty holds a job writing memos for the Bureau of Blood Quality (BBQ), and before Isuzu came along, used to frequent bars where he’d watch topless dancers. His mundane life is what led him to almost crash his car and put an end to the boredom of living an eternal life. Isuzu’s appearance in his life brings a glimmer of hope to Marty, initially for the thrill of fresh blood and then for the challenges of parenthood. This novel shows that there is always something to live for, and to use the cliché, that sometimes the best things come in small packages.

Positives:
This novel is extremely entertaining and there are several reasons for this.
The author has managed to create humour in his portrayal of the eternally angry and emotional Screamers (vampires who may be hundreds of years old but are trapped in the young children’s bodies that they were vamped in- never able to look older than they are, and therefore never taken seriously).
As well as this, the character of Marty has a lot on his plate when it comes to dealing with Isuzu, and this helps readers to relate to his character. Marty’s role as a parent is varied, but in short, he has to protect her from other vampires, deal with her hormonal mood swings as she grows up, make sure he has enough human food (AKA pet food) for her while avoiding suspicion about the amount he buys (since he doesn’t own a pet), and generally adjust to having a female living with him who sleeps most of the night and has regular bodily functions that vampires no longer have. This is a story about co-habitation at its most extreme and most amusing.

Negatives:
The humour in this book may not appeal to everyone, but I think most people will appreciate the author’s rampant imagination.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Genre: Black Comedy

Recommended for: Anyone who has ever wondered what life would be like if everybody in the world was undead.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Queen Of Babble In The Big City by Meg Cabot

Queen Of Babble In The Big City - Meg Cabot

Synopsis:
Connoisseur of vintage fashion, Lizzie Nichols, is chasing her dream job of becoming a Wedding Gown Restoration Expert in the expensive city of New York.
Living with her boyfriend Luke in his mother’s Fifth Avenue apartment, and with a real Renoir painting hanging over the bed, Lizzie’s dream is off to a good start- except that finding a job in her chosen field is a lot harder than it looks.
The only wedding dress-orientated job she can find is non-paying, and she puts in long hours to prove herself proficient, hoping to learn the tricks of the trade from old Monsieur Henri.
Luckily Chaz, her best friend’s boyfriend, is also able to land her a job in his father’s law firm as a receptionist, which helps to pay the bills.
But then everything starts to change.
Jill Higgins, who works with the seals at Central Park Zoo, and is about to marry the most eligible bachelor in New York society, finds herself in wedding strife.
With her future mother-in-law causing her problems, and an atrocious heirloom wedding dress to wear, Jill secretly enlists Lizzie to save the day and make her wedding into one that she can forever treasure, after a little prompting of course.
Now Lizzie has to try and transform one very ugly duckling of a dress into one that a princess would feel honoured to wear, as well as keep secret the biggest gossip scoop of the century.

What I gained from reading this book:
This book teaches that sometimes people view others in the way that they want to see them, whether the perception is accurate or not. Lizzie believes that Luke is the man for her and refuses to change her mind, even when faced with obvious clues that indicate otherwise. Similarly, she judges other characters on how she thinks they are, reality be damned! By reading this book, people can draw comparisons between Lizzie and themselves and try to stop perceiving people in ways that are not realistic.

Positives:
This novel is extremely entertaining and fun to read. Lizzie’s babblings are humorous and I think they are genuine reflections of how some women really do think. This is especially the case when Lizzie’s thoughts become sidetracked at the sight of a cute dress that she sees on display at a shop. Sometimes when authors try this technique it can make readers frustrated with the character’s erratic thoughts, but luckily Cabot is able to make Lizzie into a likeable person who readers can relate to.

Negatives:
Lizzie’s adoration of her boyfriend, while understandable, can be a little trying at times. Yes, we know he is studying to be a doctor and save all the sick children, and yes he is gorgeous and French and a prince… Luckily for readers, Lizzie gets her mind on track before those particular babblings can get too annoying.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Romance/ Comedy

Recommended for: Fans of the original Queen Of Babble book.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Queen Of Babble by Meg Cabot

Queen Of Babble - Meg Cabot

Synopsis:
When Lizzie Nichols’ long-distance boyfriend Andrew invites her to stay with him and his family in England, she jumps at the chance to travel overseas and visit him. But their three-month-long relationship is not as loved-up and romantic as she remembers it to be, and before long, Lizzie finds herself regretting her trip to London.
Things become especially worse when she discovers that Andrew is accepting welfare money from the government while also working at a restaurant, and despite her good intentions, Andrew gets into big trouble with the authorities when she innocently lets slip that he is not as destitute as he lets on. Finding that she cannot deal with a boyfriend who is cheating the government, and alone in an unfamiliar country, Lizzie fears she might have to return home to her family sooner than expected.
But then she remembers that her best friend Shari is in a sixteenth-century chateau in southern France, catering a wedding with her boyfriend Chaz, and decides to travel across the country alone- with only basic school French- to find her.
Once at Chateau Mirac, Lizzie finds herself in love with the old-fashioned elegance of the place, and smitten with Luke de Villiers, the handsome son of the chateau’s owner. It’s not long, however, before Lizzie’s big mouth strikes again, and she finds herself struggling to make amends for her latest leaked secret.
With a wedding dress to save, a handsome man to woo, an ex-boyfriend to deter and an angry best friend, Lizzie has a lot to deal with.
The question is, can she beat the odds and save the day? Or will this wedding be one to remember for all the wrong reasons?

What I gained from reading this book:
Lizzie has a very strong sense of what she considers to be right and wrong in the world, and she’s not afraid to take a stand against what she believes to be unfair.
Readers first get an inkling of her do-good nature after she discovers that her boyfriend Andrew is cheating his government’s welfare system. Although she inadvertently lets slip that he’s not genuine, she doesn’t stick around to continue her relationship with him. She also disagrees with the ideas of Luke’s girlfriend Dominique, to turn Chateau Mirac into a plastic surgery recovery centre, believing it would destroy the ambience of the place, and she encourages Luke to follow his dreams of becoming a doctor, despite his hesitations.
Just from observing Lizzie’s beliefs, readers can learn that not everything has to succumb to commercialism, and that missed opportunities are always the ones that you’ll regret in the future.

Positives:
Cabot’s novel brings forth a funny portrayal of how a small group of Americans view things in an unfamiliar country. It’s humorous following Lizzie’s attempts to find Diet Coke (a.k.a. those terrible chemicals) in London and France, and it’s just as entertaining to read about her shock when she discovers that Europeans really do have a more relaxed attitude regarding nudity when sunbathing.

Negatives:
Lizzie’s naivety is truly unbelievable at times. Although it is obvious to everyone that Andrew is a conniving and selfish guy who is only looking for easy money, Lizzie still builds him up in her mind to be something that he is not, and is then horrified when he reveals his true colours to her. This can be slightly annoying for readers, however it does add to her character’s small-town American innocence.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Romance/ Comedy

Recommended for: People who can sympathise with Lizzie’s inability to keep a secret.

Australians can buy this book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: The Blood Hunters by Katherine Ramsland

The Blood Hunters - Katherine Ramsland

Synopsis:
When four dead bodies are found throughout Bucks County in Pennsylvania, Detective Teri Lewis has her hands full; these deaths are unlike any that the seasoned homicide investigator has ever seen. The victims have been burned from the inside out before their death, are missing blood, and have been bitten- by snakes and other creatures that aren’t quite human- in what is believed to be part of some strange vampiric ritual.
While Detective Lewis follows false trails and dead ends to find the culprits, a young vampire by the name of Christian is sent to Mexico by his elite squad to extract a rival vampire, who holds special abilities that can solve the vampires’ problems back in Bucks County. With the vampire’s existence partially compromised, and human authorities coming ever closer to discovering the real creatures behind the murders, it’s up to Christian to bring the much stronger vampire back, and prove to his peers that he has what it takes to be a part of the vampire elite.

What I gained from reading this book:
In this novel, both Christian and Detective Lewis feel that they have something to prove. Both have previously made very public mistakes that have either cost the credibility of their positions or endangered others. The situation involving the murders is their chance to redeem themselves in front of their peers and earn back their respect. Through this underlying theme, readers are able to see that everybody feels the need to prove themselves, regardless of outwards appearances, and that this need is universal.

Positives:
It is interesting how the author is able to juxtapose the lives of vampires with those of humans and draw links between how each species affects the other. Usually in most vampire stories, readers only see the point of view of either the humans or the vampires, and so this novel is unique in that both sides are covered.

Negatives:
This isn’t just a vampire story- it is also a forensic case where humans are trying to solve murders, so if you don’t really want to read about the coroner’s determinations of the victims’ deaths and would prefer to read just a vampire horror story, this probably isn’t the book for you.
Rating: 6 out of 10

Genre: Horror/ Crime

Recommended for: People who enjoy well-plotted murder stories, even when they know who the culprit is from the start.



Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Monster Planet by David Wellington

Monster Planet - David Wellington

Synopsis:
For twelve years, ever since zombies took over the world, Ayaan and her small band of fighters have been defending what is left of the human race in Africa. Doing overhead patrols in one of the few working helicopters on earth, they monitor the progress of the ghouls heading towards their camp and eliminate any that could be a threat. But one day the group come across a sight never before thought possible- a large group of living humans, working together with the zombies as they trek across the vast African desert. This unusual ensemble is led by the Tsarevich, also known as the Prince of Death, whose supernatural powers as a lich (a zombie who rose again with his intellect intact) are greater than those of any other. Sensing that this may be the only chance for her to destroy him, Ayaan and her crew make an impulsive attack on the Tsarevich’s group, but the stronger forces of the lich win out and Ayaan is captured while many of her crew are slain. Among the surviving members is Sarah, a young woman who Ayaan brought up after she was orphaned at the age of eight.
Sarah feels it is her duty as Ayaan’s young protégée to rescue her from the horrors that await, and if all else fails and Ayaan is killed, to end her ‘life’ as one of the undead. With Osman the helicopter pilot, a ghost and some old revived mummies on her side, Sarah has to face insurmountable odds to save her mentor and friend.

What I gained from reading this book:
In this novel, the viewpoints of some of the major characters change as the action of the story progresses. Views, which were once black and white, now feature variants of grey, and the ideals that were once held are overturned in favour of new concepts about the way that the future should pan out.
This is a situation that often occurs in everyday life, and it is interesting to see how the author can adapt these views to mean the difference between life and death for his characters.

Positives:
This is a story of survival- all of the human characters are fighting to create a world that will once again be safe enough for humans to inhabit, and free of flesh-eating zombies. Even the Egyptian mummies, who have been dead for thousands of years, endeavour to survive the Tsarevich’s discriminating elimination of their ‘race’.

Negatives:
The gory descriptions of the zombies and the methods that the Tsarevich uses to torture and kill his victims are more than a little unsettling at times, but given the nature of the story, this is to be expected. You can’t have a novel about the undead without it featuring some of these themes.
Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Horror

Recommended for: People who enjoy a good zombie novel and who may have read David Wellington’s previous zombie novels.



Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: The Magpie Bridge by Liu Hong

The Magpie Bridge - Liu Hong

Synopsis:
Jiao Mei is a young Chinese national, studying in England and living with Barbara, her late father’s female companion.
Despite bouts of homesickness, and a longing for the salty and spicy Sichuan food of her homeland, Jiao Mei is enjoying her time in London, has made friends at the university she attends, and is in a new and promising relationship with an architect named Ken.
However, life as she knows it is about to change when she is one day woken by a young Chinese woman who claims to be her grandmother. Despite her disbelief about the apparition’s declaration, Jiao Mei finds herself conceding that the woman is who she says she is, despite having been dead for several years.
The woman, Tie Mei, not only calls Jiao Mei by her childhood nickname, but she imparts knowledge about their family’s painful and complex past and reveals secrets that not even Jiao Mei is aware of.
Tie Mei also gives her granddaughter a message that is becoming increasingly hard to ignore- Jiao Mei is pregnant with Ken’s child, and she has the family reputation to uphold.

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel gives a fascinating insight into Chinese culture, and the way that Jiao Mei assimilates into the English way of life is representative of how so many foreigners have had to adapt to the Western world. Readers are able to see London from the point of view of Jiao Mei, but also through the eyes of her grandmother, who had never encountered ‘foreign devils’ before her death. Tie Mei’s reluctant acceptance of her granddaughter’s choices, and her gradual recognition of a life far different from her own as a young woman are also represented by the author, who is able to tell the story by shifting between the imperial gardens of nineteenth-century Beijing, and the grey bleakness of modern-day England.

Positives:
This novel is filled with old Chinese folklore, all of which contributes to the storyline, and gives the story a unique edge over others that have similar plots. Even the title of the novel, The Magpie Bridge, is taken from one of the folk stories that Jiao Mei recounts to her boyfriend Ken. It’s refreshing to see new literature mixed in with remnants of old stories that have been passed down through time.

Negatives:
Sometimes Jiao Mei’s representations of the characters in the novel seem contradictory, and although this is similar to real life, it can be disconcerting to readers. An example of this can be seen in Barbara’s boyfriend Bill. At times, Jiao Mei seems to despise him for always being around the house and being so sarcastic, yet she also seems to respect him for the way he treats Barbara, and she even appreciates how he sometimes smells of cigarettes. But even though she professes to sometimes like him, in actuality she barely tolerates him and goes out of her way to avoid him. While these actions may not be a problem on their own, Jiao Mei’s indecision about him tends to annoy after a while, and is also a common thread among several of the other characters in the story.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Genre: Family/ Relationships

Recommended for: People who are interested in old Chinese legends and superstitions, mixed with the reality of modern life.



Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: The Quiet Girl by Peter Høeg

The Quiet Girl - Peter Høeg

Synopsis:
Kasper Krone is a circus clown famous on the international stage, and wanted by Danish authorities for tax evasion. Living in a caravan on a property dedicated to circus training and stables, Kasper is unique in that he also has a special gift regarding sound. He can ‘hear’ the musical keys that make up a person, instantly identifying whether they are a D-minor or A-flat major, and thus determining their personalities and intentions in an instant. He can also hear sounds that most ordinary people can’t pick up, and often compares them to great musical works, including those by his favourite composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
But despite his abilities, Kasper also has a deep gambling debt, and is on the verge of being extradited to Spain for his tax evasion.
It seems that Kasper’s life as he knows it is over, until he is recruited by a mysterious order of nuns, from the Rabia Institute, who want him to use his abilities to help them find two missing and extraordinary children who have been kidnapped. In return for his services, they promise him a reprieve from the international authorities, and thus Kasper decides to help.
But Kasper doesn’t realise the full extent of the children’s mystical abilities, or the true intentions of all involved. His determination to save young KlaraMaria, who he previously created a bond with, as well as the other child, means that he faces adversity from all angles, and rediscovers relationships with people from his past.
Kasper has to use all of his circus training, hearing abilities and wit to discover where the children are, and work out how to get them back to safety.

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel brings into question the different ‘gifts’ that some people reputedly have. Kasper’s ability to hear the musicality in people’s everyday lives makes him stand out from regular people and gives the book an artistic and even spiritual edge that wouldn’t ordinarily be present in a book of this genre.

Positives:
The character of Kasper Krone is incredibly complex. Even though he is determined to save the children, he is also using the situation for his own gain, hoping to save himself from deportation. His interest in all of the people involved in the situation varies according to their usefulness to him, and his wit and cunning help him in circumstances when most people would ordinarily give up. These characteristics help to make the book so interesting to readers, as they wonder what he will do next.

Negatives:
I can’t fault the way that the book was written because the language that Høeg uses seems almost poetic at times, flowing like the classical music he loves to talk about so much. The methods that he uses in writing this novel, however, make it difficult to link together different parts of the story and can sometime makes it hard to grasp what is happening.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Genre: Mystery

Recommended for: People who enjoy Peter Høeg’s work.

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Book Review: Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin

Mao’s Last Dancer - Li Cunxin

Synopsis:
Growing up in Qingdao, a poverty-stricken rural village in Northeast China, Li Cunxin’s life is already mapped out for him. Only divine intervention will prevent him from doing anything more than work in the fields for the Chinese government, just like his father does, seven days a week.
Even with his father constantly working, Cunxin, his parents and his six brothers barely have enough to eat, and share two beds amongst them. The only enjoyment in their lives comes from telling fables and folk stories, catching crickets, playing marbles, and pretending to be kung fu masters.
Despite his reverence for Chairman Mao, the communist leader whose every word is sacred and filled with promises for a better China, Cunxin can’t help but dream of a better life where his family can prosper and his beloved mother can have enough food to eat.
At age eleven, Cunxin’s life changes dramatically, when Madame Mao’s cultural delegates visit his school to select young peasants to train in ballet. It is hoped that the students will become faithful guards to the communist leader’s aspirations for a better China, and help to bridge the cultural gap in a country that is determined to avoid capitalist ideals at all costs.
Li Cunxin is one of the students chosen, an honour that sees him leave his hometown, family and friends and move to the dauntingly large city of Beijing.
In the years that follow, Cunxin learns to push his body to the limits, dances for international ballet companies and befriends the American president and first lady. This is his remarkable and challenging story.

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel provides a fascinating insight into the world of communist China during Chairman Mao’s ruling, and the views that were once held regarding countries like America and Britain. It is also interesting to see how Li Cunxin’s life was shaped by communist propaganda and how he was able to form his own perceptions about Western countries, having actually visited them and learnt about the people living there.
The most important thing to note about this book, however, is Li Cunxin’s strong sense of nationalistic pride. Despite some of the problems that he had with the Chinese government, Cunxin was still determined to represent his country and make his family proud. It is this on-going determination that makes Cunxin’s biography so interesting to read.

Positives:
Cunxin doesn’t shy away from telling the story as he remembers it- he recounts watching the execution of men accused of being too wealthy when he was a boy, and tells of the squalid conditions that he faced while living in his village. He also points out the vast differences in the wealth of the Western world, in comparison to the poverty of the world that he grew up in, and raises questions about why such poverty exists.

Negatives:
Some people may wonder how Cunxin and the other Chinese people could be so brainwashed by the communist propaganda spouted over the years but as you read the novel you can understand the reasons why. The Chinese people didn’t really have much of a choice if they didn’t want to face accusations of treason or be executed. Chairman Mao’s propaganda was also spread through his Red Book that everyone was supposed to own and study, and his values were among the first things taught at school. So it is through no fault of their own that the Chinese believed almost everything that they were taught about Chairman Mao and his ideals.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Biography

Recommended for: People interested in a young boy’s journey from poverty to international stardom



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Book Review: Marley And Me by John Grogan

Marley & Me - John Grogan

Synopsis:
John and his wife Jenny are happily married, working as journalists at competing newspapers and considering starting a family in the not-too-distant future. But concerned that they might not be able to cope with looking after a child, they decide to get a puppy so that they can have a ‘practice run’.
After visiting a local breeder, they pick out a yellow Labrador pup and name him Marley, but they have no idea what they’re getting themselves into.
Marley is adorable and lively as a puppy and continues to be so, even after he is fully-grown and weighs over ninety pounds. His unbridled energy and unconditional love for everybody he meets, and his love for eating things that he shouldn’t, drives the Grogan’s insane but they can’t help but love him for who he is.
As the family begins to grow, the Grogan’s face many challenges, mostly to do with the mayhem that Marley causes, but they stay united as a loving family unit until the end.

What I gained from reading this book:
There are many pet owners in the world who believe that they have the best dog in the world. There are also many in the world who think that they have the worst. John Grogan found the best and the worst in his yellow Labrador Marley, and recounts his experiences with his lively and often misbehaving dog in this biography.
Together with his wife Jenny, John picked out Marley from a litter of nine puppies, and soon became the owner of an incredibly goofy yet loving Labrador.
This novel recounts some of the more memorable moments in Marley’s and John’s life, highlighting the companionship that so many people share with their dogs throughout their lifetimes together.

Positives:
Grogan’s tribute to his beloved dog has touched people’s hearts all over the world, and his biography has been made even more popular with the release of the Hollywood film of the same title, starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston.
It’s wonderful that Grogan has been able to celebrate Marley’s life in such an honest and candid way.

Negatives:
People who have recently lost a beloved pet may find it difficult to read this book, especially if they can recognise aspects of their relationship in Grogan and Marley. On the other hand, this book may be a good way to help people come to terms with their grief, as they read about the love and hardships that others endure with their pets.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Biography

Recommended for: People who might have seen the film and are interested in reading the source.

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Book Review: Just A Hint - Clint by Lori Foster

Just A Hint--Clint - Lori Foster

Synopsis:
When schoolteacher Julie Rose is kidnapped by a bunch of thugs who plan on ransoming her for a large sum, Clint Evans and his best friends Mojo and Red, are hired by her ‘fiancé’ Robert Burns to find and retrieve her.
But there is more to the story than meets the eye, especially when Robert insinuates that the person behind Julie’s kidnapping could be the infamous mobster Asa Ragon, and suggests that Clint find a way to get rid of him.
Realising that there is an ulterior motive behind Robert’s ill-conceived theories, Clint approaches the mobster and, through him, is able to locate and save Julie.
At Robert’s insistence, Clint also finds a place for her to stay out of danger, at least until the mastermind of the kidnapping plan is found.
But Clint and Julie soon find their lives on the line as the person behind Julie’s kidnapping decides to seek vengeance following her rescue, and despite Clint’s strong resolve, he finds himself falling in love with feisty and seductive Julie, and she with him. With a little help from some of Julie’s friends, they have to work out who is out to get Julie, and stop them before it’s too late.

What I gained from reading this book:
This story is a classic ‘damsel in distress’ tale, despite Julie’s feistiness and ability to fight for herself. The fact that she has a wealthy background, while Clint is from the wrong side of the tracks also makes this story more appealing to readers, as it brings together some of the different elements of society, and shows that love can blossom between people from opposite ends of the scale.

Positives:
This novel includes small time thugs, neighbourhood mobsters, wealthy estate owners, out of control gambling addictions, illicit love affairs, and of course, an exciting love story, so it is very appealing to readers on many fronts.

Negatives:
Clint can come across as hardheaded, and his no-nonsense approach to violence when defending the woman he loves can be a bit over the top at times. But these characteristics are representative of most of Lori Foster’s male characters, so readers will just have to take it in their stride.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Romance

Recommended for: Any woman who fancies herself as a damsel in distress, waiting for her knight in shining armour to rescue her.



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Book Review: Bringing Down The House by Ben Mezrich

Bringing Down The House - Ben Mezrich

Synopsis:
Kevin Lewis is an engineering student at MIT when he is recruited by the MIT Blackjack team and taught the art of counting cards. Using basic counting techniques mixed with a variety of physical and oral signals, the team travels to Las Vegas and works the blackjack tables, counting cards in order to make a profit.
Although it’s not illegal, the team have to be aware of suspicious pit bosses and casino security who don’t like the idea of somebody beating the system and taking their money.
Mezrich, a friend of Lewis’, was enlisted to write about the extraordinary tale, where a group of twenty-something’s study and work during the week, and party with actors and famous sportspeople in Vegas on the weekends, all the while earning millions of dollars on the blackjack table.

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel was made into a film called 21, starring Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey, but it’s interesting to see just how different the book and the film are. In the film, the characters look very different to how they are portrayed in the novel, and even their relationships are altered (although this is more than likely for cinematic appeal than for any other reason). This only highlights just how much is sacrificed from novels when texts are adapted for film.

Positives:
This story has everything- not only are the characters dealing with millions of dollars in cash and casino chips, but they also have to smuggle it all in and out of Vegas on airplanes, avoid casino heavyweights, keep their secret occupation hidden from their loved ones and all while struggling through college or mundane jobs. But want to know the best thing about it? It’s all apparently true.

Negatives:
The idea that a group of people were smart enough to beat the system and try to take back from the casinos is inspiring, although it makes you wonder exactly how smart they really were, risking their safety to feed their high-stakes addictions.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Biography

Recommended for: People who enjoyed the film and want to read from the source



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Book Review: The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga

Synopsis:
Balram “White Tiger” Halwai is destined to work in a small Indian teashop after he leaves school, in order to earn money to support his grandmother, brother and extended family, and keep the corrupt landlords of his village happy. But he has higher aspirations and longs to move to the city and become more than just a rickshaw-puller’s son.
The story of Balram’s journey to success is told over seven nights in letters to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who will be visiting the city of Bangalore the following week. The Premier, who is interested in meeting Indian entrepreneurs so he can bring some of their ideas back to his country, will be touring India, and Balram is incensed that he will only be shown the happy and successful parts of the country, rather than the real India he was raised in, which is full of poverty and corruption.
In his letters, Balram recounts his life journey from the village of Laxmangarh, where he grew up with his family, to his position as a driver and servant in Mumbai, to his current entrepreneurial role in Bangalore.
His honest views about religion, poverty, wealth, corruption and social injustice are mingled with dark humour as he attempts to enlighten the Chinese Premier about the parts of India that are often hidden from foreign government officials

What I gained from reading this book:
This book gives readers an insight into an India that is rarely seen in Bollywood films and tourism brochures. The poor, the needy, the homeless, and the persecuted are all highlighted within the dark humour of the novel, and are contrasted strongly with the wealthy, often corrupt, citizens of India. While India isn’t the only country in the world that has a defining gap between those that are wealthy and those that are poor, it is the author’s ability to distinguish the reasons for this wealth, or lack of, that make this book such an interesting and entertaining read. Despite the serious overtones of the social situation in India, the author is able to use humour to help readers relate to Balram and his plight.

Positives:
This is a true underdog tale, and what makes it even more special is the dark humour that Balram often reverts to in his efforts to highlight his struggles to get out of his tiny village and into the city. The author’s attempts to lighten the story with comedy are often very successful and even help to emphasise Balram’s sometimes amoral attempts to reach a higher place in the world.
Although this is a fictional story, readers also can’t help but believe the events that occur in the novel. This is especially the case since the release of the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, which also showed a darker side to India, and drew attention to the poverty and corruption that so many people live in.

Negatives:
Although the novel is brilliantly written and highly entertaining, it still paints a very bleak picture of India and its people, and some people may not appreciate the references made to the darker, more sinister side, of the country.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Black Comedy

Recommended for: Anyone interested in reading about India’s darker side.



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Book review: The three day rule by Josie Lloyd & Emlyn Rees

The Three Day Rule - Josie Lloyd & Emlyn Rees

Synopsis:
Every year the Thorne family travel to small and isolated Brayner Island, just off the coast of Cornwall, to celebrate the Christmas holidays.
However the bonds that once tied the family together have unravelled over time, and long-held rivalries, jealousies and arguments lay under the surface of what looks like a happy family unit.
Elliot is having a secret affair with one of his colleagues, Kellie, and his wife Isabelle is oblivious to his betrayal. His teenage daughter Taylor is rebelling after being sent to boarding school, and her acts of rebellion impact on her over-protected cousin Simon, and local boy Michael, who lusts after her.
Simon’s mother, and Elliot’s sister, Stephanie, is dealing with a grief that she can’t let go of, and blames her husband David for their loss.
Despite their problems, they all congregate on the island to celebrate Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day- only three days that they have to endure together before their lives can return to normal.
But when a violent storm crops up, bringing with it snow and furious winds, the Thornes find themselves cut off from society, and those three days seem to drag on forever as they find themselves struggling to cope in their close confines.

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel brings up the topic of affairs and how they can affect different people, whether they are part of the relationship or not.
Kellie plays a major part in this story, being the mistress of Elliot, and the reader often sees the story from her perspective. As much as she loves Elliot, she doesn’t want to be known as the ‘other woman’, and begs Elliot to end his marriage so that they can be together and start a family. But Elliot is hesitant and keeps breaking his promises to Kellie that the relationship with his wife will soon be over. She longs to be accepted by his extended family and create a friendship with his daughter Taylor, and her yearning to be a part of the family is what makes her accept Elliot’s proposition- that she stay in a hotel on the mainland so they can be near one another over the Christmas break. However, her meeting with Ben, whose father owns a water taxi service, makes her begin to re-evaluate her relationship with Elliot, especially after she finds out how his ex-wife’s affair ruined their marriage.
Through these situations, readers are able to grasp a different perspective on affairs, and see how sometimes love, while special, can be the cause of many problems.

Positives:
The characters in this novel are interesting and very true to life. Who doesn’t have at least one family member who they can’t tolerate? The authors’ are also very good when it comes to portraying the events in the novel, writing from the view of a cheating husband, a grieving mother, a lustful teen and a couple of people in search of love, while still keeping the reader involved in the story.

Negatives:
For some people, the events in this story might strike a little close to home, with grieving, jealousies, betrayal and lust being a major part of the novel. But these characteristics are also what make the novel so enjoyable to read.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Family/ Relationships

Recommended for: People with families like the Thornes- you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them.


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Book review: Anybody out there? by Marian Keyes

Anybody Out There? - Marian Keyes

Synopsis:
Anna Walsh may have The Most Fabulous Job In The World- working in the marketing department of one of the best cosmetic lines on the planet- but she is living a shattered existence.
While she once spent most of her time wining and dining with big-shot magazine beauty editors in New York, and finding zany outfits to wear that were symbolic of her brand, her days are now reduced to laying in bed at the family home in Dublin, Ireland, while she recovers from the physical and emotional scars that have changed her life forever.
When Anna is finally able to return to New York, she is treated like a china doll that has just been meticulously glued back together after falling off a shelf. Her best friends are sympathetic but can’t truly understand what she’s been through. And despite her attempts to contact him, her husband Aidan, who she’s missed the most, appears to have vanished.
Everybody who knows her thinks that it’s time Anna moved on. But is that really the answer?

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel primarily focuses on people’s ways of dealing with unfortunate events. Aidan’s absence, at the beginning of the novel, is dealt with in several different ways by the different characters. Anna’s parents and sisters think that simply avoiding mentioning Aidan is the best way to help Anna cope. They involve themselves in various plots, including spying on dog-walkers, to lighten the mood and take her mind off her dilemma. Similarly, her best friend Jacqui, who moved to New York with her, insists on regaling her with stories about the celebrities who frequent the posh hotel she works at, in an effort to help her forget about her missing husband. Anna even encounters an eclectic group of people intent on communicating with the dead, who try to help her in their own ways.
By using all of these examples, the author is highlighting that there are many ways for people to deal with their problems, with no path to resolution being the right one.

Positives:
Anna’s family is as crazy as they come, and provide quite a few entertaining moments. Her oldest sister Claire is pushing forty years of age but still acts like a young party animal, despite having a husband and three children. Rachel is a former cocaine addict who lives with her boyfriend Luke, and works at a rehab facility in New York. Anna’s youngest sister Helen has her own detective business, where she is hired to trail people suspected of cheating on their partners. Surprisingly, the ‘Black Sheep’ of the family is the second eldest, Maggie, who refuses to be ‘deliberately obstructive’ and is known as the ‘lickarse’ of the family. Yes, these are strange notions but are funny all the same.

Negatives:
Anna’s repetitive struggles to contact Aidan begin to grate after a while, especially since the reader is still unaware about what happened to him, and haven’t yet found out the reason why Anna is so physically and emotionally broken. But her actions are understandable when you consider that he is her husband and she is unable to locate him- most people would be doing the same thing.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Genre: Family/ Relationships

Recommended for: People who want to read a heartfelt novel that features loss but is also filled with laughs.


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Book review: Till we meet again by Lesley Pearse

Till We Meet Again - Lesley Pearse

Synopsis:
Susan Wright and Beth Powell meet by chance one hot day in August 1961, when they are just ten years old, and instantly become the best of friends.
They ride their bikes, watch boats steer down the lock and have picnics in their own secret cubby, and when they aren’t together, they write each other long and detailed letters about what’s happening in their lives. But although they have spent every August together for five years, they hide personal family secrets from one another and secretly harbour small jealousies regarding one another’s seemingly perfect lives.
Eventually the holiday catch-ups cease, the letters become far and few between and the girls drift apart, due to difficult and unforeseen circumstances.
Twenty-nine years later, Susan and Beth are reunited after Susan walks into a busy doctor’s surgery and guns down the receptionist and a doctor, seemingly in cold blood. Beth, now a criminal lawyer, is assigned to defend Susan and try to find out why she became a ruthless killer, and it is then that she discovers that the murderess is in fact her old childhood friend.
As the women become reacquainted with one another, they find out about each other’s secret pasts, and their friendship becomes stronger. But as the evidence against Susan grows, Beth begins to realise that the sweet, placid Susan she once knew is not the same Susan who now sits before her, and learns that terrible circumstances have a way of changing a person for good.

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel highlights how different circumstances can change a person’s life- and not always for the better. Susan’s role as a full-time carer started when she was only sixteen years of age, and she had no time for herself, working almost twenty-four hours a day for eighteen years. This took a toll on her social life, self-esteem and mental wellbeing, and only led to more difficulties later on. While Beth didn’t face the same traumas as Susan, she had to deal with a lazy, heartless and oppressive father who physically abused his family because he had a “position to maintain”. Both of the women faced problems in their families but each came through their experiences in different ways. Likewise, Detective Inspector Roy Longhurst, who was Susan’s arresting officer, grew up in an undesirable area full of crime but he ascended above the expected norm and became an honest man and honourable police officer. This novel shows that past experiences can easily shape people into what they will become in the future, or at least have some bearing on what they will do with their lives.

Positives:
The secret lives of the women, and their different perspectives of certain events are revealed gradually throughout the novel, which helps to make the storyline more riveting for the reader. Readers are also kept on their toes with unexpected twists popping up every now and then.

Negatives:
This is not your average crime novel, as the murderer is revealed from the start. So people who are looking for the excitement that is derived from working out who the killer is may be disappointed, but the process the author uses to withdraw Susan’s reasons for murder are befitting of any criminal fiction.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Mystery/ Crime

Recommended for: People who have lost touch with childhood friends and then met up with them again after decades of time apart.



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Book review: Code Name: Blondie by Christina Skye

Code Name: Blondie - Christina Skye

Synopsis:
Miki Fortune is undertaking the most important assignment of her career- shooting photos for a beach calendar that could mean the difference between becoming a professional well-paid photographer or a down-on-her-luck small-time amateur.
Unfortunately for Miki, Vance Merchant, who makes the final decision about the calendar shoot, is also a sleazy bastard who thinks that having her on his books also means having her for himself.
After their flight is delayed following a short altercation between the pair, Miki, Vance and their pilot Dutch take off from the island, but their postponement proves to be fatal when they crash land into the ocean during a violent storm.
Despite all odds, the island they crash closest to is occupied by Navy SEAL Max Preston, and his remarkably gifted dog Truman. The biologically and genetically enhanced duo is on a mission to find and destroy Enrique Cruz, who, while once like them, has now turned into a villainous murderer.
In order to protect his position on the island, and unable to ignore the injured survivors of the plane wreckage, Max rescues those that lived, including Miki, in spite of the possibility that they could be informants of Cruz’s. Despite himself, he comes to appreciate Miki’s fiery determination to live, and her ability to focus on the situation at hand. But regardless of this appreciation, trust issues plague both Max and Miki, and with a hurricane approaching, and the deadly revenge of Cruz on the cards, they have to put aside their differences in order to survive.

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel could be seen as an introduction into biological and genetic enhancement in soldiers and government forces. While this may seem farfetched in reality, I think it provides an insight into what could be possible in the future, although perhaps not to the extreme of what is featured in the book. Whatever the case, some of the abilities that feature in the story really make you think about what future technology holds in store for us.

Positives:
The way the author explains the intricacies of Max’s abilities is very interesting, and readers are able to relate to him as he struggles to maintain the professionalism expected of him to get the job done, while also protecting the plane survivors who have interrupted his plans. Miki is also an interesting character, at first seeming to be nothing more than a person centred on her career, but who proves herself to be proficient when it comes to island survival. She is easily able to cast aside her photographic equipment (which is water-damaged anyway) and become someone a Navy SEAL can depend on.

Negatives:
It may be difficult for people to comprehend some of the more unbelievable aspects of the story, mostly involving scientific experiments that enable some of the Navy SEAL’s to have special abilities- special abilities that could be classed as paranormal.
However, if you can get your mind past these abnormalities, you’ll probably enjoy the novel.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Romance/ Action

Recommended for: Lovers of books where the hero and heroine are trapped on a desert island and surrounded by deadly forces.



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Book review: When Bruce met Cyn by Lori Foster

When Bruce Met Cyn… - Lori Foster

Synopsis:
Beautiful and fiery Cynthia Potter, otherwise known as Cyn, is only seventeen when she runs away from home, and her mother’s abusive boyfriend Palmer Oaks. Living in squalor and selling her body to make ends meet, she begins to view all men as the same, and as a result becomes extremely distrusting and disillusioned.
After five years of living in this fashion, and with enough money finally saved, Cyn decides to travel to the small town of Visitation in North Carolina, hoping to start life anew and leave behind the horrible memories of her past.
While there, she meets Bruce Kelly, a preacher who has spent most of his life helping women in need, although he has met none as independent or sexy as Cyn.
Determined to help her assimilate into the close-knit community, Bruce has to resist his growing attraction to her, hoping to show Cyn that he can give her the respect that she deserves.
But their growing relationship comes under threat when Cyn’s past comes back to haunt her, and she finds her life, and the lives of her newfound friends, in mortal danger.

What I gained from reading this book:
Cyn is a survivor of domestic abuse at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend, as well as the local reverend, and regrettably this theme still resonates in today’s society, where adults who hold a position of trust sometimes abuse children and manage to get away with it. Unfortunately for Cyn, no measures are taken to protect her until she decides that enough is enough and she stands up for herself.
While it is unlikely that many abused children will have the ability to stand up for themselves against cruel adults, this only serves to show that we, as a society, have to be aware of domestic abuse and be vigilant about uncovering such mistreatment.
Bruce sees the trauma that Cyn has faced as a result of this abuse and strives to show her that he, unlike Palmer Oaks and Reverend Thorne, is in the majority of good and moral men. He helps to boost her confidence and self-esteem, effectively driving away any lingering fears of neglect or distrust.

Positives:
The character of Cyn is sassy, strong and fiercely independent, despite the problems that she has faced during her young life, and this creates an instant rapport between her and readers. There is also plenty of sexual awareness between Cyn and Bruce from the beginning, which makes their developing relationship even more exciting.

Negatives:
People looking for an instant romance may be disappointed as it takes quite a while for Bruce to show Cyn exactly how strong his lust for her is. Out of fear of showing her disrespect or taking advantage of her, he holds off on their first kiss for as long as he possibly can, although I believe this only serves to heighten the sexual tension.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Romance

Recommended for: Any fans of Lori Foster




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