Review: There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

    

Title: There Is No Dog
Author: Meg Rosoff
Series: None

Pages: 224
Publisher: Puffin
Release Date: August 4th 2011 (UK)
Source: From Spinebreakers
Rating: 3 stars

Meet your unforgettable protagonist: God, who, as it turns out, is a 19-year-old boy living in the present-day and sharing an apartment with his long-suffering fifty-something personal assistant. Unfortunately for the planet, God is lazy and, frankly, hopeless. He created all of the world's species in six days because he couldn't summon the energy to work for longer. He gets Africa and America mixed up. And his beleagured assistant has his work cut out for him when God creates a near-apolcalyptic flood, having fallen asleep without turning the bath off. There is No Dog is a darkly funny novel from one of our most delightfully unpredictable writers.

This is the first Meg Rosoff book I have ever read and from what I've heard it is the most out there she has written. The premise - fantastic. I am fascinated by God and his existence so the premise suited me perfectly. It is one of those books where you read it and when you finish you can't decide whether you liked it or not. I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

I loved Meg's quirky writing style. It definitely drew me in and intrigued me. The writing could not really be faulted and it is because of this that I am eager to pick up her other, less unusual, books.

What I really enjoyed was how realistically....it started. I could really see how a 16 year old could have created the Earth, enjoying terrorising humans. It was completely different to how God is normally described. I think the plot lost some realism throughout the novel which hindered my enjoyment. I love books with wacky premises that make it seem like it could really happen.

The intrigue in the subject matter kept me going through most of it. The chapters were too short for me, averaging at 5 pages each. It felt a little disjointed and occasionally hard to follow. (A friend of mine suggested this could be down to the fact that a teenage boy's interest lasts about as long as the chapters).

Bob, though interesting, wasn't a likeable character. His sense of entitlement, his treatment of humans and having sex with human girls just to ditch them the next day really irritated me. I understand that this was the point. He wasn't meant to be a likeable God. I did hope for a little growth of his character and at points it felt like this may happen but alas, there was none. Bob's adviser was an amusing character. I enjoyed his witty sarcastic remarks and his concern for the whales (though you would have the humans would be more important). Bob's pet was also a nice touch.

The book was funny at moments whilst at others it went a little too overboard and felt a little silly. The realistic parts were the most amusing as you envisioned them happening.

There Is No Dog had fabulous potential but something went wrong somewhere for me. If the chapters had been a little longer and the plot less silly in parts it could have been wonderful. It may not be for all people and some religious believers may be offended so enter with caution. 

Review: The Name Of The Star by Maureen Johnson

      

Title: The Name Of The Star

Author: Maureen Johnson
Series: Shades of London #1
Pages: 370

Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: September 29th 2011 (UK)
Source: For review
Rating: 4.5 stars

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

The Name of the Star is nothing like I've ever read before. A book set in London, about Jack the Ripper and ghosts. Totally count me in! Rather than feeling like a paranormal, it felt like a contemporary fiction with a touch of paranormal. The first third of the book felt very much like a contemporary novel. A new girl in a new school in a new country. Nothing overly unique there (though still fabulous). The ghosts were a nice touch to add some paranormal elements yet it still felt very plausible and realistic.


Rory was incredible. A fabulous protagonist. Her southern charm and wit was hilarious and constantly had me smiling. Jazza, Rory's roommate was wonderful too and she added humour and fun to the novel. The relationship the two of them had was endearing and sweet.


Jermone was a lovely romantic interest. Gosh, does Maureen Johnson know how to write a hot guy and some steamy make out scenes. I really enjoyed the romantic aspect of the novel. This being said, I liked Stephen a lot too.


I'm not going to say much on the ghosts as I wouldn't want to spoil anything. There is a lot of mysteries around the ghosts and those who can see ghosts and it was extremely interesting to read about!


I love history. I find it extremely interesting and I loved how Johnson wove in interesting facts about Jack the Ripper. It was done so subtly that it didn't feel like a historical fiction, in the sense of it taking over the whole novel. It was a perfect amount of fact and fiction. 


I did, however, feel a little lag in the middle which slowed my reading. It wasn't hugely significant though it did effect my enjoyment slightly. The POW-WOW ending completely made up for this though. All in all, a fabulous read. Definitely recommend!

Weekly Update (2)

I've been a little behind this week so I haven't read as much as I would like.

Read:

Airhead by Meg Cabot 

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Past Perfect by Leila Sales

Currently Reading:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusa

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood

Reviews:

Brother/Sister by Sean Olin

Fury by Elizabeth Mile

Flawless by Lara Chapman

Memes:

In My Mailbox

TBR Pile - September

Waiting On Wednesday

Im My Mailbox - Birthday Edition

Gifted


We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs
Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (preorder)


What did you get in your mailbox?

September TBR Pile

I am a little behind on my 100 book challenge this year so I am trying to catch up this month. I am planning on reading:

Bright Young Things by Anna Godberson

Beautiful Days by Anna Godberson

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Airhead by Meg Cabot

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

Runaway by Meg Cabot

Passion by Lauren Kate

Deception by Lee Nichols

Betrayl by Lee Nichols

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood

Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie

Sister, Missing by Sophie McKenzie

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

What are you hoping to read this month?

Review; Brother/Sister by Sean Olin

     

Title: Brother/Sister
Author: Sean Olin

Series: Standalone
Pages: 242

Publisher: RazorBill Penguin
Release Date: August 4th 2011 (UK)
Source: For review
Rating: 3 stars

Will and Asheley have a troubled past. Their father left them when they were little, and their mother has just been carted off to an alcohol treatment center. Now, they have the house to themselves, and an endless California summer stretching out before them. Through alternating perspectives, they tell the story of how and why their lives spun violently out of control—right up to the impossibly shocking conclusion you'll have to read for yourself to believe. 

Brother/Sister is a disturbing, heart wrenching story about a brother and sister who have gone through life with only each other to depend on. It shows the transition of a brother and sister from best friends to something terrifying over an action slowly revealed in the novel.


The characters, I felt, were a little two dimensional. While I pitied both characters I can't say I liked too much about them. As the novel progressed the actions of both characters changed the way I viewed them, but in different lights. Asheley's actions were understandable to a certain extent, yet completely outrageous. Will's actions, which could never really be accepted nor understood really, just spiralled out of control. It was horrifying yet memorising to read about.


It was unlike anything I've read. Twisted, dark and heartbreaking. A huge issue I have with this novel is the ending. I don't understand it. It think it is me. A lot of people get it (and if you do, please explain it to me). I feel that something clever was being done but I'm a little lost. That lost a star for me. 


There were many things about the book that made it intriguing, though I can't really say enjoyable. If you like mystery and some disturbing relationships, I'm sure you would enjoy this.

Alice's Birthday Bash & RAK - September

For those of you that don't know it is my 18th Birthday on the fourth of September so this month I am hosting Alice's Birthday Bash which will be a collection of giveaways to celebrate my birthday :) The first giveaway is for a copy of Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan. All you have to do is fill out the form below. You must live in the UK and you must be a GFC follower.