Acting up by Melissa Nathan 5 stars
After so many disappointing reads this month I wanted to re read an old favorite of mine. This modern interpretation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is cleverly and beautiful realised.
Melissa Nathan captures the wit and imagination of Jane Austen by both having the plot based around an adaption of 'Pride and Prejudice' as a stage play but also giving us recognisable characters from the book to enjoy. Jasmin is our Elizabeth and columnist for a women's magazine. Her opinion is always right so when she meets Harry Noble, the Hollywood star who is directing and starring in the P&P play and he is excessively rude to her, the story is set for misunderstanding and revelations.
This so beautifully realised that I always lament that Melissa Nathan tragically died of cancer in 2006. I love that the story doesn't feel false or untrue and she manages to make the Bennet family scandal relevant to the modern age. I really can't say have amazing this book is, so good in fact that I have picked up the follow up Persuading Annie, her adaption of Persuasion. Review to come.
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Fallen
Fallen by Lauren Kate 2 stars
I really didn't think it was possible to make Hush, hush seem like the new Twilight but this book has achieved it. I feel bad that yet again I am giving a negative review but like my taste in films, I'm more inclined to like something then to dislike it so you can imagine how disappointed I have been with the current books I have read.
The main problem with this book is it is so trying to be Bella Swann however Lauren Kate does not have the skill to pace the (very long) novel nor write a sympathetic main character.
Nothing happens for a long time and I mean nothing. This not the months of tension Bella endures as she pieces Edward Cullen's life together. This is Luce, the protagonist, mopping about, lamenting her life and her unrequited love for a certain boy Daniel. Large chunks of the book do not progress the story and are quite frankly boring. It wasn't until the end that the theology the author introduces interested me, unfortunately so I will no doubt buy the sequel to see if the author will settle down and write a proper story and answer some of the questions she has thrown up (as a frustrated Lost fan, I know what it is like to never have anything answered).
All the vital elements to make this a twilight are there: 'ordinary' girl (who doesn't know she has a special destiny/power), mysterious boy who rejects her but can't keep away, 'ordinary' boy who loves her but she doesn't return his affection and depressive, internal monologue. These should all work in Fallen but it is missing the vital spirit that make Bella such a modern and exciting character. She doesn't take no for an answer, she doesn't let Edward's overbearing, old fashioned ways stop her from doing what she wants to do. This is part of her attraction to the reader. Luce is unfortunately a little passive and doesn't ask the right questions or defend herself. This is very frustrating and towards the end you kind of hope the bad guys get to kill her so that your suffering will end!
She offers an interesting theology (even if it is not explained) but describes Georgia (USA) beautifully. The ending was intriguing and the first chapter of the second book 'Torment' hinted that this book will be better paced. The book covers are great too (love the dress).
I really didn't think it was possible to make Hush, hush seem like the new Twilight but this book has achieved it. I feel bad that yet again I am giving a negative review but like my taste in films, I'm more inclined to like something then to dislike it so you can imagine how disappointed I have been with the current books I have read.
The main problem with this book is it is so trying to be Bella Swann however Lauren Kate does not have the skill to pace the (very long) novel nor write a sympathetic main character.
Nothing happens for a long time and I mean nothing. This not the months of tension Bella endures as she pieces Edward Cullen's life together. This is Luce, the protagonist, mopping about, lamenting her life and her unrequited love for a certain boy Daniel. Large chunks of the book do not progress the story and are quite frankly boring. It wasn't until the end that the theology the author introduces interested me, unfortunately so I will no doubt buy the sequel to see if the author will settle down and write a proper story and answer some of the questions she has thrown up (as a frustrated Lost fan, I know what it is like to never have anything answered).
All the vital elements to make this a twilight are there: 'ordinary' girl (who doesn't know she has a special destiny/power), mysterious boy who rejects her but can't keep away, 'ordinary' boy who loves her but she doesn't return his affection and depressive, internal monologue. These should all work in Fallen but it is missing the vital spirit that make Bella such a modern and exciting character. She doesn't take no for an answer, she doesn't let Edward's overbearing, old fashioned ways stop her from doing what she wants to do. This is part of her attraction to the reader. Luce is unfortunately a little passive and doesn't ask the right questions or defend herself. This is very frustrating and towards the end you kind of hope the bad guys get to kill her so that your suffering will end!
She offers an interesting theology (even if it is not explained) but describes Georgia (USA) beautifully. The ending was intriguing and the first chapter of the second book 'Torment' hinted that this book will be better paced. The book covers are great too (love the dress).
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Moonlighting
Moonlighting by Kate Lace 2stars
I normally enjoy the Little black dress series. They are short, fun books which are great as a break after something serious. I brought this as the premise sounded very interesting. Jess Drydon is a Community Support officer by day and a struggling ex dancer by night. Tricked into working at a pole dancing club she is soon recruited her police force to investigate drug dealing which is suppose to be going on at the club. However this seriously impacts on her relationship with PC Matt.
This book started well and the characters are engaging and realistic. I liked Jess and Matt straight away however the author set up the dodgy brother in law too early, hinting at the unanswered questions that Jess and her sister have about him. This is one of many incidents that really makes you wonder if the author really understood her characters as Jess spends the entire novel being very stupid. She ignores all the weirdness with her brother in law and when she is kidnapped, despises the fact that she is a trained policewoman she is completely unable to fathom a way out. Instead we get four chapters of her whining about being locked up and worrying about Stockholm syndrome. If she broke out she wouldn't need to worry about this.
Also the acceptance of stripping in this book was interesting. Either you disagree with stripping or you think it is empowering. You have to pick which. This book tries to make it empowering but in such a uncomfortable way that it should be given out to all teenage girls as an example of why stripping is NOT empowering (don't believe me? Read Living Dolls. Opened my eyes and will change your mind)
I normally enjoy the Little black dress series. They are short, fun books which are great as a break after something serious. I brought this as the premise sounded very interesting. Jess Drydon is a Community Support officer by day and a struggling ex dancer by night. Tricked into working at a pole dancing club she is soon recruited her police force to investigate drug dealing which is suppose to be going on at the club. However this seriously impacts on her relationship with PC Matt.
This book started well and the characters are engaging and realistic. I liked Jess and Matt straight away however the author set up the dodgy brother in law too early, hinting at the unanswered questions that Jess and her sister have about him. This is one of many incidents that really makes you wonder if the author really understood her characters as Jess spends the entire novel being very stupid. She ignores all the weirdness with her brother in law and when she is kidnapped, despises the fact that she is a trained policewoman she is completely unable to fathom a way out. Instead we get four chapters of her whining about being locked up and worrying about Stockholm syndrome. If she broke out she wouldn't need to worry about this.
Also the acceptance of stripping in this book was interesting. Either you disagree with stripping or you think it is empowering. You have to pick which. This book tries to make it empowering but in such a uncomfortable way that it should be given out to all teenage girls as an example of why stripping is NOT empowering (don't believe me? Read Living Dolls. Opened my eyes and will change your mind)
Monday, 9 August 2010
The 19th Wife
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff 4 stars
I started reading this last year and picked it up again recently to finally finish it. My slow approach to this book should not put you off. This was a fantastic read one that engaged me from the beginning fascinated me right through to the end. The core of the novel is a fictional account of the Mormon leader Brigham Young's 19th Wife Ann Eliza and her family life amongst the emerging Latter Day Saint Church. The historical narrative is framed by a modern story of a young man investigating the death of his father, a First - a modern day polygamist, who the police believe was killed by his mother the 19th wife.
The historical story is mesmerising. The character and scenery are so vividly invoked that the reader can't help feeling as though they are reading a genuine source. Ann Eliza is such a fantastic guide and so beautifully realised she leapt from the page.
It is a shame that the modern story is not as interesting and seems to be an addition but this book should be read for the well researched and realistic account of the pioneer life. Beautiful and well written. (NB: Not an ideal commute book as it is quite thick!)
I started reading this last year and picked it up again recently to finally finish it. My slow approach to this book should not put you off. This was a fantastic read one that engaged me from the beginning fascinated me right through to the end. The core of the novel is a fictional account of the Mormon leader Brigham Young's 19th Wife Ann Eliza and her family life amongst the emerging Latter Day Saint Church. The historical narrative is framed by a modern story of a young man investigating the death of his father, a First - a modern day polygamist, who the police believe was killed by his mother the 19th wife.
The historical story is mesmerising. The character and scenery are so vividly invoked that the reader can't help feeling as though they are reading a genuine source. Ann Eliza is such a fantastic guide and so beautifully realised she leapt from the page.
It is a shame that the modern story is not as interesting and seems to be an addition but this book should be read for the well researched and realistic account of the pioneer life. Beautiful and well written. (NB: Not an ideal commute book as it is quite thick!)
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Dracula by Bram Stoker
I have just finished reading by email Bram Stoker's Dracula. I used Dailylit.com who were excellent with a great selection of public domain books and the ability to adapt the length of the email you get sent. I have now started A Study in Scarlett after the recent brilliant adaption of Sherlock on the BBC.
Anyway back to Dracula. This is the second time I have read the book I was inspired by my favorite living author, Meg Cabot publishing her new book Insatiable. It is a modern retelling of Dracula (but not very similar to the original). Meg Cabot mentioned how Mina Harker is a feminist character and not remembering that the first time I read it I decided to reread it. Dracula is unique for being one of the first books to have the entire narrative written in letters and journals. This breaks up the story nicely and means that the reader gets to see how each character learns about Dracula and how they come together to destroy him. The problem with this style of narrative is that just as in real life diaries, there will be lots of activity and then lots of sitting around and talking which gets very dull.
Despite Meg Cabot's endorsement of Mina's feminist credentials, she too becomes annoying and the men spend the majority of book being very condescending. I realise that for the time Bram Stoker is being very empowering of women by writing a woman who has a job, writes short hand and knows the train timetable however in these modern times this view is as condescending as James Bond in 'Live and let die' towards the emerging Civil rights movement. It is uncomfortable to read and insulting when it refers to you.
Ultimately Dracula should be read as the definative vampire lore bible. What to write your own twilight novel? Read Dracula and learn the vampire lore, some of it is as ridiculous as sparkly vampires!
Anyway back to Dracula. This is the second time I have read the book I was inspired by my favorite living author, Meg Cabot publishing her new book Insatiable. It is a modern retelling of Dracula (but not very similar to the original). Meg Cabot mentioned how Mina Harker is a feminist character and not remembering that the first time I read it I decided to reread it. Dracula is unique for being one of the first books to have the entire narrative written in letters and journals. This breaks up the story nicely and means that the reader gets to see how each character learns about Dracula and how they come together to destroy him. The problem with this style of narrative is that just as in real life diaries, there will be lots of activity and then lots of sitting around and talking which gets very dull.
Despite Meg Cabot's endorsement of Mina's feminist credentials, she too becomes annoying and the men spend the majority of book being very condescending. I realise that for the time Bram Stoker is being very empowering of women by writing a woman who has a job, writes short hand and knows the train timetable however in these modern times this view is as condescending as James Bond in 'Live and let die' towards the emerging Civil rights movement. It is uncomfortable to read and insulting when it refers to you.
Ultimately Dracula should be read as the definative vampire lore bible. What to write your own twilight novel? Read Dracula and learn the vampire lore, some of it is as ridiculous as sparkly vampires!
Friday, 6 August 2010
Hush, Hush
Today I'm reviewing Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick 3 out of 5
Like must people I brought this because of the links to twilight. Insular teen girl, check. Mysterious moody boy, check. The book started well too Nora being a bright but troubled girl dealing with the death of her father. Just as she seems to be getting her life on track Patch, the transfer student, becomes her biology partner and she discovers that there is secret battle going on between the fallen angels and angels and Nora is now a part of it.
This book made me feel uneasy, not just because of the excellent atmosphere the author creates which is similar to the self contained world of Bella Swan in the Twilight books. The thing that made me uneasy is that even though she is attracted to him she spends the majority of the book afraid he is going to hurt her. Is this a message that the author wishes to convey to teenage girls? That stalking and fear of violence is attractive? Considering a quarter of teenage girl aged 13 to 17 have experienced physical violence in a relationship (NSPCC research, 2010) I can only hope that the author means to address this issue because otherwise Nora and Patch relationship is very creepy. Why Nora, or Patch for that matter, would be interested in each other when he is antagonistic and she is paranoid does not quite make sense however the rest of the novel was interesting and the plot and back story suitably intriguing that will buy the sequel Crescendo when it comes out later in the year.
Like must people I brought this because of the links to twilight. Insular teen girl, check. Mysterious moody boy, check. The book started well too Nora being a bright but troubled girl dealing with the death of her father. Just as she seems to be getting her life on track Patch, the transfer student, becomes her biology partner and she discovers that there is secret battle going on between the fallen angels and angels and Nora is now a part of it.
This book made me feel uneasy, not just because of the excellent atmosphere the author creates which is similar to the self contained world of Bella Swan in the Twilight books. The thing that made me uneasy is that even though she is attracted to him she spends the majority of the book afraid he is going to hurt her. Is this a message that the author wishes to convey to teenage girls? That stalking and fear of violence is attractive? Considering a quarter of teenage girl aged 13 to 17 have experienced physical violence in a relationship (NSPCC research, 2010) I can only hope that the author means to address this issue because otherwise Nora and Patch relationship is very creepy. Why Nora, or Patch for that matter, would be interested in each other when he is antagonistic and she is paranoid does not quite make sense however the rest of the novel was interesting and the plot and back story suitably intriguing that will buy the sequel Crescendo when it comes out later in the year.
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