The Reader Room

Tuesday, 13 September 2011

Review: What Happened To Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Title: What Happened To Goodbye

Author: Sarah Dessen
Series: Standalone

Pages: 402
Publisher: Razorbill Penguin
Release Date: June 2nd 2011 (UK)
Source: For review
Rating: 4 stars

Another town. Another school. Another Mclean. Ever since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her father have been fleeing their unhappy past. And Mclean's become a pro at reinventing herself with each move. But in Lakeview, Mclean finds herself putting down roots and making friends—in part, thanks to Dave, the most real person Mclean's ever met. Dave just may be falling in love with her, but can he see the person she really is? Does Mclean herself know?

I ADORE Sarah Dessen. She is one of my favourite contemporary fiction authors. She creates realistic, magical romance novels that make my heart melt. She writes books that I will reread multiple times.

What Happened To Goodbye, in my opinion, is not her best. It lacked something for me. What I love most about Sarah Dessen is that we get to see an actual relationship between the two characters. I felt it was a little rushed here.

Dave, the romantic interest was super swoon worthy. I love a super smart guy who is a little on the geeky side. I had no qualms with him at all. McClean was also a relatable protagonist that I could connect to. Dessen always makes characters that I want to be friend with. The additional characters were also fabulous. McClean’s diner and school friends really added an extra dimension.

The writing was as incredible as always. I am totally swept in and captivated by her words. They are so beautiful and poetic and mesmerising. She also knows how to create super sweet, make-me-aw moments that just tug on my heartstrings.

What Happened to Goodbye is a quick, sweet romantic novel with beautiful writing and engaging characters, though the romance felt slightly rushed. If you are a Sarah Dessen fan, read it. If you have never read Sarah Dessen before I wouldn’t recommend starting here. The Truth About Forever, Just Listen and Along For The Ride are some of my favourites.

Sunday, 11 September 2011

In My Mailbox - 9/11/2011

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren

I would link all the books but there are WAY too many. Sorry :)

I would also like us to spare a thought for those that lost their lives or lost loved ones in 9/11.

Saturday, 10 September 2011

Review: Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien

Title: Birthmarked
Author: Caragh O'Brien
Series: Birthmarked #1

Pages: 361

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Date: May 2nd 2011 (UK)

Source: For review

Rating: 4 stars

After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It’s Gaia’s job to “advance” a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia’s parents are arrested.

Badly scarred since childhood, Gaia is a strong, resourceful loner who begins to question her society. As Gaia’s efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned.

Fraught with difficult moral choices and rich with intricate layers of codes, BIRTHMARKED explores a colorful, cruel, eerily familiar world where one girl can make all the difference, and a real hero makes her own moral code.

I really enjoyed Birthmarked. It had everything needed to make a fabulous dystopian. The setting. The oppressors. The strong heroine.

Gaia was a wonderful protagonist. She was brave and strong. Her determination and love for her family were endearing qualities that made me respect and admire her. She did, though, have faults. She felt that serving the Enclave was the most important thing and in the beginning, did not question this.

The book is full of secrets that are slowly revealed throughout the novel. A lot is learnt and there are definitely a lot of surprises. The book itself is also beautifully written; however whilst I enjoyed reading it whenever I put it down it took an immense amount of effort to start again. I couldn’t tell you why as I loved it whilst I read it.

Birthmarked was an enjoyable read and I am excited to start Prized, the second in the series.

Thursday, 8 September 2011

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.

Tuesday, 6 September 2011

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!