Book Backlog

My reading list for the first half of the year.

1. Shadowplay by Tad Williams *

I read this because it was a sequel to one I'd enjoyed but to be honest it was a case of "I've started, so I'll finish". It dragged on and could've been wrapped up far quicker. The annoying thing was that when I got to the end, it's not even the end of the story - there's another one to come.

2. The Bolter by Francis Osborne ****

The author tells the story of her great-grandmother Idina Sackville whose scandalous behaviour, numerous husbands and lovers made her the talk of the town. I found this a fascinating insight into the lives of Edwardian high society. Drugs, sex, alcohol were as rife then as they are now. The wealthy were mind-bogglingly so and the amount that they spent was incredible. I found it quite a sad tale of a life wasted and unfulfilled despite having every opportunity available to her. An interesting and educational book.

3. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak *****

Loved this book. It's not often you encounter a book written from the point of view of the grim reaper! It has an interesting and very readable style as well as fascinating story. The tale of a young orphan girl in Nazi Germany and how she adapts to her new town and home. It concentrates on the relationships she builds with her parents, school friends, a Jewish fighter that they harbor in their basement and books. Having been brought up being presented with an anglo-centric view of the war it was really interesting to read something covering it from the German point of view. It made you realise how the common German people lived in as much fear as the people who were openly persecuted and the lengths to which they would go to save themselves or their families. It was hard to put this book down a gripping and thought provoking read. My 11yo enjoyed it too and reading it in 2 days!

4. The Tin Princess by Philip Pullman **

One of his Sally Lockhart stories. I found this mediocre, not a patch on the Northern Lights series. It was the first of this series of books I'd read, I won't bother   getting any more of these.

5. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld *****

Any book that starts "The early summer sky was the colour of cat vomit" has got to be good! I read this on the recommendation of the 11yo and loved it. Set in a world where all the adolescents are "Uglies" and are then turned into "Pretties" at the age of 16 by having surgery to make them beautiful. It's a great "poke" at society covering the issues of conformity and control. Of course to make a good story there have to be some rebels that don't want to follow the rules and that's where the fun begins. 

6. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld ****

This was the novel that drew my attention to this author. It's a so-called "steam punk" novel though alternative history is probably a better description. This verison of World War I has genetic engineering versus steam power. I didn't find it as gripping as Uglies but was still a good read. The book has interesting illustrations as an added bonus.

7. The Student Conductor by Robert Ford ***

The title indicates the subject matter. The story of an American studying under a "maestro" in Germany and fighting his own personal demons from the past. This was OK. It was interesting to have the obsessiveness and dedication of professional musicians laid out for thought.

8. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld *****

The sequel to Uglies and just as good.

9. Access Rd by Maurice Gee *

The only other Maurice Gee book I've previously read was Plum. It was required reading at school and I hated it with a passion. I thought now I was older and wiser that maybe I'd be more open to Maurice Gee, after all he's an award winning author, there must be something there. Nope. I hated this book too. It was a "nothing" book, with all the action happening in the last chapter. Perhaps nostalgia for NZ past is supposed to be the attraction but it didn't resonate with me.

10. The Secret Hour, Midnighters Book 1 by Scott Westerfeld *****

This has a fabulous premise, an extra hour in the day for those born at midnight! A great tale about the supernatural adventures of a handful of "special" teens in the secret hour. Beats vampires. Another very quick read. 

11. An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon *****

The ongoing saga of Clare and Jamie Fraser. I love these books, they are written with such vivid descriptions and great humour that I swear I "hear" the voices in my head as I read. Now I have to wait for the next in the series to be written.

12. Specials by Scott Westerfeld *****

The third in the Uglies series and equally as good as the first two. There is a fourth related book Extras but sadly our library doesn't yet own it.:(

13. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins *****

Another recommendation from the 11yo and he was right I did enjoy it. A horrifying world where every year each of the 12 districts is required to send a boy and a girl to the Hunger Games where they are required to survive to return home with glory, riches and food. The catch is that only one can win and they must fight literally for their lives with the game masters manipulating their environment to force them into conflict. There is a sequel which I'm on the waiting list for.

14. Touching Darkness, Midnighters Book 2 by Scott Westerfeld *****

The 2nd Midnighters books reveals more secrets about the town they live in and the history of the secret hour. Just as gripping as the first book. I believe the 3rd has recently been released but it's not yet available at my library.

15. Lord John & the Hand of Devils by Diana Gabaldon ****

This is a book of three short stories, which never sit as well with me, I like a good involved story I can get lost in. I don't think the Lord John stories are as good as Clare & Jamie stories but they're still an enjoyable read.

16. The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Larsson ***

This is a Murder Mystery/Crime Thriller and not my usual reading genre at all. It's a fairly complex plot of serial killings and fraud played with a cast of very interesting and dysfunctional personalities. Apparently the original Swedish title was "Men Who Hate Women" and that pretty much sums up the content. Some of the torture descriptions are reasonably graphic and to be honest I'd hate to imagine how these transferred to the movie. This the first of a trilogy, I would probably read the other books if I came across them but I doubt I'd actively seek them out.