| Greg and Zoe sign up to a radio show competition to loose weight (something like the biggest loser) after a number of unfortunate body weight related incidents. We follow them on their weight loss journey through alternating diary entries This book wasn't great. Besides a few witty comments thrown by Greg and Zoe this was basically a bunch of whiny diary entries. If I wanted to read endless complaining, I'd dig up my old diaries. I can sum the story up in a few lines (Spoilers ahead. If you could call them that) First 80% of the book. Zoe: I'm fat and I can't fit in a dress. Greg: I'm fat but it doesn't bother me. 20 pages and a broken chair later... Greg: Ok, maybe it does bother me a bit. Zoe: 20 pages about a cabbage diet Greg: 20 pages about his personal trainer experience Zoe: I'm Fat Greg: I'm Fat Last 20% of book Zoe: 20 pages about allll the different diets she tried and what finally worked for her.... wait for it.... EATING IN MODERATION .... who would have thought people? Greg: 20 pages about various exercise equipment he bought and what finally worked..... the Treadmill... SURPRISE. (P.S. treadmills don't make shin splints better.... just sayin) Zoe and Greg: We're now happy The End Blekh. It's an honorable message : You can achieve anything you set your mind to. But way too much whining and self deprecating humor. Once or twice is funny, but not 300 pages of it. |
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Nick Spalding - Fat Chance
Monday, March 26, 2018
How to Stop Time- Matt Haig
It may seem strange falling in love with someone because of a single gesture, but sometimes you can read an entire person in a single moment. The way you can study a grain of sand and understand the universe. Love at first sight might or might not be a thing, but love in a single moment is.
So much feels.
I did not love this book like I loved The Humans, I didn't even really like it. I did appreciate it for the beautiful writing, which was to be expected from Matt Haig. Five stars for the abundant quotes and the beautiful Montaigne references, two stars for the actual story.
Tom Hazzard does not age like everyone else. He was born in the Shakespearean era and has only just started looking like a man in his 40's. After being around for almost 400 years, one might just lose the will to live, but Tom's search for answers from his past keeps him going and ties him to a cult-like society that "protects"people like him.
The novel alternates between present day London and Tom's looong past in various locations (London, Paris, tahiti, etc.). I honestly did not care for Tom's past life interludes, sure they were vital to the story, but meh. There was so much name dropping there, Shakespeare, the Fitzgeralds, Captain Cook, I don't care. The ending was rushed, basic and downright bizarre (view spoiler) , it undermined the effort that went into building up the anticipation.
That being said, Haig has such a way with words and with making his settings come alive, walking past Shakespeare's Globe will never be the same again. Even though I did not like the story, I enjoyed reading this book so much, simply for Haig's talent of creating hopeless broken protagonists then building them back up one beautifully written sentence at a time and giving his readers hope in humanity as he does so.
I still recommend this book and of course highly recommend The Humans. When you're feeling like everyone is a piece of shit, read Matt Haig.
So much feels.
I did not love this book like I loved The Humans, I didn't even really like it. I did appreciate it for the beautiful writing, which was to be expected from Matt Haig. Five stars for the abundant quotes and the beautiful Montaigne references, two stars for the actual story.
Tom Hazzard does not age like everyone else. He was born in the Shakespearean era and has only just started looking like a man in his 40's. After being around for almost 400 years, one might just lose the will to live, but Tom's search for answers from his past keeps him going and ties him to a cult-like society that "protects"people like him.
The novel alternates between present day London and Tom's looong past in various locations (London, Paris, tahiti, etc.). I honestly did not care for Tom's past life interludes, sure they were vital to the story, but meh. There was so much name dropping there, Shakespeare, the Fitzgeralds, Captain Cook, I don't care. The ending was rushed, basic and downright bizarre (view spoiler) , it undermined the effort that went into building up the anticipation.
That being said, Haig has such a way with words and with making his settings come alive, walking past Shakespeare's Globe will never be the same again. Even though I did not like the story, I enjoyed reading this book so much, simply for Haig's talent of creating hopeless broken protagonists then building them back up one beautifully written sentence at a time and giving his readers hope in humanity as he does so.
I still recommend this book and of course highly recommend The Humans. When you're feeling like everyone is a piece of shit, read Matt Haig.
Saturday, October 21, 2017
The Boneclocks - David Mitchell
This was one weird book.
Holly Sykes has a fight with her mom and runs away from home one day, starting a chain of events that leads us to soul eaters?, soul shifters, journalism, a dystopian Earth, a "psychoteric" fight in another dimension, a murder and lots of other random events.
I really liked where the book was headed in the first half but then it lost me. There was SO much going in, is it an Urban Fantasy? Is it a coming of age story? Is it a family saga? Is it a post apocalyptic novel? It's everything, all jumbled up in one big novel. Which is cool but kind of lost me halfway through. I also found the writing cliche at times, particularly when opposing characters were having an argument. It sounded like the showdown between comic book characters, was a bit odd in the context of the book.
I do want to check out his other works, Mitchell covers interesting themes and definitely has a wild imagination.
Holly Sykes has a fight with her mom and runs away from home one day, starting a chain of events that leads us to soul eaters?, soul shifters, journalism, a dystopian Earth, a "psychoteric" fight in another dimension, a murder and lots of other random events.
I really liked where the book was headed in the first half but then it lost me. There was SO much going in, is it an Urban Fantasy? Is it a coming of age story? Is it a family saga? Is it a post apocalyptic novel? It's everything, all jumbled up in one big novel. Which is cool but kind of lost me halfway through. I also found the writing cliche at times, particularly when opposing characters were having an argument. It sounded like the showdown between comic book characters, was a bit odd in the context of the book.
I do want to check out his other works, Mitchell covers interesting themes and definitely has a wild imagination.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Neanderthal Seeks Human - Penny Reid
The cover says " A Smart Romance".....
BEST JOKE I'VE HEARD IN 2017!
So what is this "smart" romance about?! Well, from the 200 pages I managed to painfully get through, here's what I gathered:
Jane Morris, your typical clumsy, awkward, insecure, insult to women everywhere, main female character, got fired and dumped her cheating boyfriend all in one day. To get over it, she goes out dancing with her bestie to a hot new club. At the club she runs into Sir McHotPants, a.k.a the "security guard" who works in her old office building and escorted her out of the premises on the day she got fired. Her friend has to leave and against McHotPant's (Quinn) wishes, Jane stays at the club, drinks some dodgy shit and ends up waking up at Quinn's place with absolutely no memory of the night before. Thus begins a post date rape drug romance!
I don't even know where to begin. Shall I list out the plot holes first? Or maybe amaze you with the "smartest" paragraphs ever written in literary history. Let's go for writing first..
Are you guys ready? Here we go..
"I reflected on the resulting debate after the found condom wrapper was smacked to his forehead by my palm"
"Good looking in an adorkable kind of way"
It's not adorkable to use adorkable as an adjective.
"Even after our fight, for it was the closest we'd ever come to a fight, this morning he told me I could stay, that I should stay, that he wanted to work things out."
The Grammar Nazi's called, they want their commas back.
" It didn't matter how certain my head had been that his..."
Oh, those troublesome heads!
"I looked from the hand, now on my elbow, up the strong arm, around the curve of the bulky shoulder, and over the angular jaw and chin, until my eyes met the breath-hijacking sight of Sir Mchotpant's piercing blue eyes. I cringed."
NO! I'M THE ONE CRINGING! ME AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE PLANET.
Blekh, as if the atrocious writing wasn't enough, there was also the random ass plot.
Spoiler Alert from here on.. well tiny spoiler alert since I never actually got to the end of the book.
Let's play a little game of what would you do...
1) If you wake up in a stranger's home after clearly having ingested a rape drug, do you:
If Jane was a real person, she could potentially do any of the first three. But, since Jane is a clearly unrealistic and unhinged book character, she just went out for breakfast!
2)If a creep manhandles AND threatens you at the park do you:
We obviously all know what our intelligent Jane did!
Finally, I say this all the time and will continue saying it, DOMINATING MEN ARE NOT ATTRACTIVE.
It's not endearing when a guy decides what you're going to eat... how is this cute?! I would throw a proper bitch fit if my date ever orders for me without asking me what I wanted. That's the shit that ends relationships and starts wars.. alright.. it's not cool.
Or another weird ass dominant scene was when Quinn just takes off Jane's glasses and pockets them....
DOES SHE NOT NEED HER GLASSES?! Is this romance? " You don't need your glasses when I'm with you"? What the flip guys... has this ever happened to anyone?!
GAH. Goodbye book. You shall stay on unfinished forever.
BEST JOKE I'VE HEARD IN 2017!
So what is this "smart" romance about?! Well, from the 200 pages I managed to painfully get through, here's what I gathered:
Jane Morris, your typical clumsy, awkward, insecure, insult to women everywhere, main female character, got fired and dumped her cheating boyfriend all in one day. To get over it, she goes out dancing with her bestie to a hot new club. At the club she runs into Sir McHotPants, a.k.a the "security guard" who works in her old office building and escorted her out of the premises on the day she got fired. Her friend has to leave and against McHotPant's (Quinn) wishes, Jane stays at the club, drinks some dodgy shit and ends up waking up at Quinn's place with absolutely no memory of the night before. Thus begins a post date rape drug romance!
I don't even know where to begin. Shall I list out the plot holes first? Or maybe amaze you with the "smartest" paragraphs ever written in literary history. Let's go for writing first..
Are you guys ready? Here we go..
"I reflected on the resulting debate after the found condom wrapper was smacked to his forehead by my palm"
"Good looking in an adorkable kind of way"
It's not adorkable to use adorkable as an adjective.
"Even after our fight, for it was the closest we'd ever come to a fight, this morning he told me I could stay, that I should stay, that he wanted to work things out."
The Grammar Nazi's called, they want their commas back.
" It didn't matter how certain my head had been that his..."
Oh, those troublesome heads!
"I looked from the hand, now on my elbow, up the strong arm, around the curve of the bulky shoulder, and over the angular jaw and chin, until my eyes met the breath-hijacking sight of Sir Mchotpant's piercing blue eyes. I cringed."
NO! I'M THE ONE CRINGING! ME AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE PLANET.
Blekh, as if the atrocious writing wasn't enough, there was also the random ass plot.
Spoiler Alert from here on.. well tiny spoiler alert since I never actually got to the end of the book.
Let's play a little game of what would you do...
1) If you wake up in a stranger's home after clearly having ingested a rape drug, do you:
A) Rush to the hospital to get yourself tested
B) Have a nervous breakdown and attack said stranger
C) Be rational and demand to know what happened last night since the stranger clearly knows something
D) Completely disregard the fact that you were drugged - possibly raped too- and just go get some breakfast with the stranger cause he's oh so hot!
If Jane was a real person, she could potentially do any of the first three. But, since Jane is a clearly unrealistic and unhinged book character, she just went out for breakfast!
2)If a creep manhandles AND threatens you at the park do you:
A) Kick him in the balls and run away
B) Scream for help
C) Freeze from panic until your date saves you, then have a nervous breakdown
D) Apologize to the creep for bumping into him, tell your date that it is totally cool that this guy is manhandling you... you bumped into him after all cause you're, woops, so clumsy! Then forget all about the incident and the fact that this man VERBALLY THREATENED YOU CAUSE HE CLEARLY WANTS TO HARM YOU!!!!
We obviously all know what our intelligent Jane did!
Finally, I say this all the time and will continue saying it, DOMINATING MEN ARE NOT ATTRACTIVE.
It's not endearing when a guy decides what you're going to eat... how is this cute?! I would throw a proper bitch fit if my date ever orders for me without asking me what I wanted. That's the shit that ends relationships and starts wars.. alright.. it's not cool.
Or another weird ass dominant scene was when Quinn just takes off Jane's glasses and pockets them....
DOES SHE NOT NEED HER GLASSES?! Is this romance? " You don't need your glasses when I'm with you"? What the flip guys... has this ever happened to anyone?!
GAH. Goodbye book. You shall stay on unfinished forever.
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
The Man in the High Castle- Philip K. Dick
Unfinished Book
Couldn't get through this.
The idea is brilliant, what if the Axis Powers had really won the war.. what would the world be like then?? I personally don't think things would have been as dramatic is portrayed in this book. And maybe that's what Philip was trying to tell us since "The Grasshopper Lies Heavy" is way more disastrous than the world actually turned out to be.
Basically, any outcome would have been just as good and shit as the other.
The problem with this book was the cringe dialogue. Oh my, it was sooo awkward and uncomfortable. I stand by the statement I made after getting through a Kafka novel " Great thinkers do not necessarily make great writers". Some people should stick to theorizing and philosophy and not venture into the world of novels.
Example of awkward dialogue/scenes:
I don’t understand you,’ she said. ‘What do you believe? What is it you want? You defend those monsters, those freaks who slaughtered the Jews, and then you –’ Despairing, she caught hold of him by the ears; he blinked in surprise and pain as she rose to her feet, tugging him up with her. They faced each other, wheezing, neither able to speak. ‘Let me finish this meal you fixed for me,’ Joe said at last. ‘Won’t you say? You won’t tell me? You do know what it is, yourself; you understand and you just go on eating, pretending you don’t have any idea what I mean.’ She let go of his ears; they had been twisted until they were now bright red.
This is just so weird. Mind you, those people just met. Juliana picks this guy up at a bar, takes him home and he just stays there... He "misses his ride" and just stays in her house. Their interactions are fucking awkward and unnatural.
Then there is the weird Japanese clipped sentences. So all the Japs in the novel converse in broken English but it seems that the Americans have adopted this speech too... with each other.. why? The war hadn't even ended that long ago for this talk to be imbedded in their psyche. It just made the book hard to follow and pissed me off:
‘What else reported by Nippon Times?’ Paul asked his wife. ‘Much confusion and intriguing. Army units moving from hither to yon. Leaves cancelled. Border stations closed. Reichstag in session. Speeches by all.’
Ugh. Shut up!
Gave up on this in the end; not worth it.
Couldn't get through this.
The idea is brilliant, what if the Axis Powers had really won the war.. what would the world be like then?? I personally don't think things would have been as dramatic is portrayed in this book. And maybe that's what Philip was trying to tell us since "The Grasshopper Lies Heavy" is way more disastrous than the world actually turned out to be.
Basically, any outcome would have been just as good and shit as the other.
The problem with this book was the cringe dialogue. Oh my, it was sooo awkward and uncomfortable. I stand by the statement I made after getting through a Kafka novel " Great thinkers do not necessarily make great writers". Some people should stick to theorizing and philosophy and not venture into the world of novels.
Example of awkward dialogue/scenes:
I don’t understand you,’ she said. ‘What do you believe? What is it you want? You defend those monsters, those freaks who slaughtered the Jews, and then you –’ Despairing, she caught hold of him by the ears; he blinked in surprise and pain as she rose to her feet, tugging him up with her. They faced each other, wheezing, neither able to speak. ‘Let me finish this meal you fixed for me,’ Joe said at last. ‘Won’t you say? You won’t tell me? You do know what it is, yourself; you understand and you just go on eating, pretending you don’t have any idea what I mean.’ She let go of his ears; they had been twisted until they were now bright red.
This is just so weird. Mind you, those people just met. Juliana picks this guy up at a bar, takes him home and he just stays there... He "misses his ride" and just stays in her house. Their interactions are fucking awkward and unnatural.
Then there is the weird Japanese clipped sentences. So all the Japs in the novel converse in broken English but it seems that the Americans have adopted this speech too... with each other.. why? The war hadn't even ended that long ago for this talk to be imbedded in their psyche. It just made the book hard to follow and pissed me off:
‘What else reported by Nippon Times?’ Paul asked his wife. ‘Much confusion and intriguing. Army units moving from hither to yon. Leaves cancelled. Border stations closed. Reichstag in session. Speeches by all.’
Ugh. Shut up!
Gave up on this in the end; not worth it.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Friday, April 14, 2017
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley
Flavia, an 11 year old chemical genius, finds a dead body in the cucumber patch. Armed with her bicycle, chemist knowledge and wholly entertaining thoughts, she sets out to solve the murder and exonerate her father who is the prime suspect.
Loved this!! Flavia is such an entertaining narrator, she may be 11 but she doesn't act or think like an 11 year old, except when she's poisoning her older sister's lipstick. The whole de Luce family was hilariously dysfunctional and I loved seeing it through Flavia's eyes. The mystery aspect reminded me of Harriet the Spy, which I loved as a child, so it made me appreciate this book even more.
It's a fun light read that I really enjoyed. Would I be picking up the rest of the novel? hmmmm, probably not, at least not now, I feel satisfied with just the one.
Loved this!! Flavia is such an entertaining narrator, she may be 11 but she doesn't act or think like an 11 year old, except when she's poisoning her older sister's lipstick. The whole de Luce family was hilariously dysfunctional and I loved seeing it through Flavia's eyes. The mystery aspect reminded me of Harriet the Spy, which I loved as a child, so it made me appreciate this book even more.
It's a fun light read that I really enjoyed. Would I be picking up the rest of the novel? hmmmm, probably not, at least not now, I feel satisfied with just the one.
The Woman in Black - Susan Hill
Arthur Kipps, a young enthusiastic lawyer, is sent to the late Mrs. Drablow's estate to go through her documents and settle her affairs. Mrs. Drablow's estate, Eel Marsh House is isolated and a long way off from the nearest town. There Kipps witnesses horrors that will haunt him forever.
Not really SCARY but still creepy enough that I wouldn't listen to the audio book while taking the stairs (the staircase is in an enclosed space and the lights come off every 10 seconds so that you have to flip the switch every time you descend/ascend a floor). My boyfriend's been to see this as an interactive play and says it's the scariest thing he's experienced, I'd LOVE to go see that! I'm a sucker for ghost stories, although I don't sleep well for days afterwards. Some people get their adrenaline kick from rollercoasters I get mine from the supernatural.
I believe there are better horror stories out there, but this was a good enough subtle gothic story with a solid plot and an eerie feel.
Not really SCARY but still creepy enough that I wouldn't listen to the audio book while taking the stairs (the staircase is in an enclosed space and the lights come off every 10 seconds so that you have to flip the switch every time you descend/ascend a floor). My boyfriend's been to see this as an interactive play and says it's the scariest thing he's experienced, I'd LOVE to go see that! I'm a sucker for ghost stories, although I don't sleep well for days afterwards. Some people get their adrenaline kick from rollercoasters I get mine from the supernatural.
I believe there are better horror stories out there, but this was a good enough subtle gothic story with a solid plot and an eerie feel.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin
This Book:
I detest this book, loath it, ABOMINATE IT. Possibly the shittiest women's lit story written in the 21st century. AND THEY MADE IT INTO A MOVIE... AND KATE HUDSON WAS IN IT. Unacceptable.
This shitty excuse of a book begins at Rachel's 30th birthday party which was organized by her "best friend" Darcy. We quickly realize that Darcy is the bitchy charmed child and Rachel is the self pitying friend in the shadows. By the end of the night, Rachel and Darcy's fiancé, (who was originally Rachel's friend) get drunk, hook up and continue hooking up afterwards.
Why was this book shit? Oh, let me count the ways.
The whole foundation of the book was faulty. Rachel and Dex are having an affair. Ok, fair enough, people have affairs all the time, sometimes it's with a stranger, sometimes it's with your partner's friend and sometimes even with their siblings. Ok, it happens. BUT SINCE WHEN DID IT BECOME OK?! Cause that's how it was portrayed in this book.
Giffin took PAINS to make the reader hate Darcy and feel sorry for Rachel. We were bombarded with flashbacks of Darcy being mean and selfish, taking Rachel for granted and generally putting her down. All of Rachel's friends SUPPORTED this affair and again reminded her how terrible Darcy is. So, my question is: Rachel, WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH THIS GIRL?!??! I'll tell you why, because Rachel is a spineless creature that's just floating through life and looking for excuses why it sucks. She hates her job but won't do anything about it, she complains about her figure all the time but never spoke of working out or changing her eating habits and she uses Darcy as an excuse for why her life sucks. "I didn't get into uni because Darcy stole my place, I didn't get the boy because Darcy got to him first." NO. It's cause you either weren't good enough or you didn't flippin try!!! Don't blame Darcy.
Another literary crime Giffin committed was creating a character that's not real. Of course I'm not going to hate Darcy and take Rachel's side because Darcy simply does not exist. NO ONE is this lucky, beautiful, loved, talented, successful and horrible. Yea, maybe on social media, but not in real life. It's ridiculous. She's pitted Rachel up against a unicorn.
I felt so much anger towards this book, even now, when I glimpse it in my kindle library, floods of hatred rush through my body. Like an allergic reaction.
I detest this book, loath it, ABOMINATE IT. Possibly the shittiest women's lit story written in the 21st century. AND THEY MADE IT INTO A MOVIE... AND KATE HUDSON WAS IN IT. Unacceptable.
This shitty excuse of a book begins at Rachel's 30th birthday party which was organized by her "best friend" Darcy. We quickly realize that Darcy is the bitchy charmed child and Rachel is the self pitying friend in the shadows. By the end of the night, Rachel and Darcy's fiancé, (who was originally Rachel's friend) get drunk, hook up and continue hooking up afterwards.
Why was this book shit? Oh, let me count the ways.
The whole foundation of the book was faulty. Rachel and Dex are having an affair. Ok, fair enough, people have affairs all the time, sometimes it's with a stranger, sometimes it's with your partner's friend and sometimes even with their siblings. Ok, it happens. BUT SINCE WHEN DID IT BECOME OK?! Cause that's how it was portrayed in this book.
Giffin took PAINS to make the reader hate Darcy and feel sorry for Rachel. We were bombarded with flashbacks of Darcy being mean and selfish, taking Rachel for granted and generally putting her down. All of Rachel's friends SUPPORTED this affair and again reminded her how terrible Darcy is. So, my question is: Rachel, WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH THIS GIRL?!??! I'll tell you why, because Rachel is a spineless creature that's just floating through life and looking for excuses why it sucks. She hates her job but won't do anything about it, she complains about her figure all the time but never spoke of working out or changing her eating habits and she uses Darcy as an excuse for why her life sucks. "I didn't get into uni because Darcy stole my place, I didn't get the boy because Darcy got to him first." NO. It's cause you either weren't good enough or you didn't flippin try!!! Don't blame Darcy.
Another literary crime Giffin committed was creating a character that's not real. Of course I'm not going to hate Darcy and take Rachel's side because Darcy simply does not exist. NO ONE is this lucky, beautiful, loved, talented, successful and horrible. Yea, maybe on social media, but not in real life. It's ridiculous. She's pitted Rachel up against a unicorn.
I felt so much anger towards this book, even now, when I glimpse it in my kindle library, floods of hatred rush through my body. Like an allergic reaction.
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Shakespeare
I dislike Shakespearean plays, or so I've said to myself and others for the past 11 years, ever since I read the dreaded Romeo and Juliet and watched as my teacher awkwardly skipped the sex scene during the Macbeth movie.
My dislike for Shakespeare has no basis, rather I don't care for Romeo and Juliet, but it's just ONE PLAY. So! I've finally gotten myself to read another play and I didn't hate it! It was difficult to read, sure, but there are annotations and kindle now let's you check Wikipedia when you highlight a word, so it wasn't as bad.
It was funny, I'd love to watch it being performed and I'd definitely enjoy it even more now that I've read it and understand what's going on.
It wasn't until I got to the part where Hermia finds Lysander sleeping in the forest that I realized I used her monologue to audition for a play at University! No wonder I didn't get the part.. I didn't even understand what I was saying or the context it was in.
I don't even know why I attended the auditions, they were for Romeo and Juliet.... #hypocrite
My dislike for Shakespeare has no basis, rather I don't care for Romeo and Juliet, but it's just ONE PLAY. So! I've finally gotten myself to read another play and I didn't hate it! It was difficult to read, sure, but there are annotations and kindle now let's you check Wikipedia when you highlight a word, so it wasn't as bad.
It was funny, I'd love to watch it being performed and I'd definitely enjoy it even more now that I've read it and understand what's going on.
It wasn't until I got to the part where Hermia finds Lysander sleeping in the forest that I realized I used her monologue to audition for a play at University! No wonder I didn't get the part.. I didn't even understand what I was saying or the context it was in.
I don't even know why I attended the auditions, they were for Romeo and Juliet.... #hypocrite
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Moon Called (Mercy Thomposon 1) - Patricia Briggs
Mercy is a coyote shape shifter, (she can change form and become a coyote ) works as a mechanic and lives in a trailer behind an alpha werewolf's house. When a noob homeless werewolf turns up in her garage, she takes him in against her better judgement and is soon embroiled in a werewolf war- ok not WAR.. more like a conflict. That's not the only drama the werewolves bring her, for she must also deal with an old boyfriend she has long since left behind and a new potential love interest.
I don't know why I liked this. It must be because I had boycotted paranormal fantasies for so long before reading this. All well written paranormal novels are the same, fast paced, filled with action, contain well described sexy male leads and headed by either an endearing bimbo or a kickass stubborn female. Reading them is like being on a sugar high, you love it up until the point you realize that you've had the whole cake and now you're going to vomit it all out and possibly get diabetes. Which is what happened with me. I started this one evening and I got hooked, I couldn't put it down, I breezed through the first 75% like it was nothing but then I noticed the time and reluctantly switched off my kindle, hoping the four hours of sleep that I was going to get would be enough for me to pretend to be awake at the office. However, the next evening the charm suddenly wore off, just like the inevitable sugar high crash, and I wasn't so obsessed with the book anymore. I noted that the plot was pretty lame actually, the love triangle is so 2000 and late and the alpha wolf trope has been done to death.
Nevertheless, I will grant it the 4 stars I reserve for an entertaining, well written paranormal. Blood Bound is already on my TBR, let's see where this goes.
I don't know why I liked this. It must be because I had boycotted paranormal fantasies for so long before reading this. All well written paranormal novels are the same, fast paced, filled with action, contain well described sexy male leads and headed by either an endearing bimbo or a kickass stubborn female. Reading them is like being on a sugar high, you love it up until the point you realize that you've had the whole cake and now you're going to vomit it all out and possibly get diabetes. Which is what happened with me. I started this one evening and I got hooked, I couldn't put it down, I breezed through the first 75% like it was nothing but then I noticed the time and reluctantly switched off my kindle, hoping the four hours of sleep that I was going to get would be enough for me to pretend to be awake at the office. However, the next evening the charm suddenly wore off, just like the inevitable sugar high crash, and I wasn't so obsessed with the book anymore. I noted that the plot was pretty lame actually, the love triangle is so 2000 and late and the alpha wolf trope has been done to death.
Nevertheless, I will grant it the 4 stars I reserve for an entertaining, well written paranormal. Blood Bound is already on my TBR, let's see where this goes.
The Age of Innocence- Edith Wharton
Who knew New Yorkers were ever know for their subtlety and reserve!? The gilded age must have ended any ties they had to British formality as the progressive era seemed to be the beginning of the stereo typical American forthrightness.
Our story takes place in 1870 New York, a city were appearances were all that mattered, people stuck to others of their "rank" and Europe was viewed as the playground of the scandalous and "eccentric". Enter Ellen Olenska, a New Yorker by origin who had spent the most part of her life in Europe with her aunt. Ellen's return to NY is met with outrage as the conservative New Yorkers are repulsed at the idea that she left her abusive husband, allegedly with the help of her lover. Newland Archer, betrothed to Ellen's cousin, May Welland, is just as outraged as everyone else but does his utmost best to protect Ellen in support of his Fiancé.
It should be frustrating reading about times where everything was so hush hush and people refused to even admit things to themselves but it wasn't, cause this shit still happens. Newland is torn between his upbringing and the new ideas of women emancipation that Ellen inspires in him. Newland, living in the 1870's, is probably way more open minded and forward thinking than most men I know today, how messed up is that? I liked this character and how he changed throughout the novel I also liked May, whom for all her innocent girl exterior, turned out to be a shrewd little fighter.
3.5 stars cause it dragged and was a bit too dry for my tastes.
The moral I take away from this story and form every stunted love novel is Don't Settle. No matter what. Even if all the odds are stacked against you and it feels like there is no choice, in matters of the heart especially, just don't settle! That shit will follow you forever.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry- Rachel Joyce
Oh, this was so sad! I didn’t expect to be this sad! I don’t know what I expected! There was so much hope at the start that I allowed myself to be swept by it, against all logic.
Harold Fry receives a letter from his old friend Queenie, informing him that she is dying of cancer in Berwick-Upon-Tweed. Consumed by grief, Harold sets out to the post office to send his reply. After a run in with a girl at the garage, he’s seized by inspiration and decides to take an impromptu walk all the way from Devon to Berwick to save Queenie. Armed with the belief that if he keeps walking Queenie will stay alive and dressed in his yacht shoes, Harold begins his 466 miles journey, leaving his wife, Maureen, behind.
On the course of his unlikely pilgrimage, Harold meets a host of colorful characters and comes to terms with the way his life turned out. The journey is peppered with heartbreaking revelations and moments of despair but I’d like to think the ending was hopeful, if bittersweet.
I liked this book, it’s thought provoking and inspires you to get up and do something. (For the whole two minutes it take for life to suck that inspiration right out of you again.)
Harold Fry receives a letter from his old friend Queenie, informing him that she is dying of cancer in Berwick-Upon-Tweed. Consumed by grief, Harold sets out to the post office to send his reply. After a run in with a girl at the garage, he’s seized by inspiration and decides to take an impromptu walk all the way from Devon to Berwick to save Queenie. Armed with the belief that if he keeps walking Queenie will stay alive and dressed in his yacht shoes, Harold begins his 466 miles journey, leaving his wife, Maureen, behind.
On the course of his unlikely pilgrimage, Harold meets a host of colorful characters and comes to terms with the way his life turned out. The journey is peppered with heartbreaking revelations and moments of despair but I’d like to think the ending was hopeful, if bittersweet.
I liked this book, it’s thought provoking and inspires you to get up and do something. (For the whole two minutes it take for life to suck that inspiration right out of you again.)
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Charlotte Bronte- Jane Eyre
The Writing:
The Story:
I absolutely loved the writing, easy 5 stars for that and Jane was the perfect story teller I genuinely liked her and wanted to hear the story. Spoilers beyond this point.
It started out fine, with some child abuse and a sob story. But once Jane got to Thornfield and the love story started it just got ridiculous.
The Love Story
Some would argue that this was ok for that time and age. But it wasn't, the characters themselves expressed worry over the huge age gap. Furthermore, the whole master/servant thing followed by the manhandling when Jane found out the truth..... creep central.
The BIG SECRET, ridiculous as it was, paled in comparison to Jane's mindless flight and the CONVENIENT COINCIDENCE that followed. Because it is SO legit to get on a random coach travel cross country to an unknown town, beg for two days and the MIRACULOUSLY COME ACROSS THE HOME OF YOUR LONG LOST COUSINS!!!
Happens every day! Right!?
Don't even get me started on Mr. Rivers and how fucked up that whole scenario was. Vomit in my mouth. That was a third wave of abuse, in this case complete emotional manipulation. Ugh, repulsive character.
The Ending
This is meant to be a story of a young woman who develops a backbone and stands up for herself. While Jane is a pleasant character with common sense and tough interior, she's just an abused teenager with daddy issues who develops a school girl crush on a man her father's age and he totally takes advantage of it. #creep.
The Story:
I absolutely loved the writing, easy 5 stars for that and Jane was the perfect story teller I genuinely liked her and wanted to hear the story. Spoilers beyond this point.
It started out fine, with some child abuse and a sob story. But once Jane got to Thornfield and the love story started it just got ridiculous.
The Love Story
Some would argue that this was ok for that time and age. But it wasn't, the characters themselves expressed worry over the huge age gap. Furthermore, the whole master/servant thing followed by the manhandling when Jane found out the truth..... creep central.
The BIG SECRET, ridiculous as it was, paled in comparison to Jane's mindless flight and the CONVENIENT COINCIDENCE that followed. Because it is SO legit to get on a random coach travel cross country to an unknown town, beg for two days and the MIRACULOUSLY COME ACROSS THE HOME OF YOUR LONG LOST COUSINS!!!
Happens every day! Right!?
Don't even get me started on Mr. Rivers and how fucked up that whole scenario was. Vomit in my mouth. That was a third wave of abuse, in this case complete emotional manipulation. Ugh, repulsive character.
The Ending
This is meant to be a story of a young woman who develops a backbone and stands up for herself. While Jane is a pleasant character with common sense and tough interior, she's just an abused teenager with daddy issues who develops a school girl crush on a man her father's age and he totally takes advantage of it. #creep.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness
Inside every girl there lies a secret Bella Swan or in this case a Diana Bishop. An old fragment left from childhood days watching damsels in distress on the Disney Channel being saved by the handsome, fearless, prince. It was that part of me that slightly enjoyed this book for a brief moment. That found enjoyment in the ridiculous love at first sight, I will destroy the world for you kind of relationship that transpired between Diana and Matthew. Unfortunately, it was short lived and the incredulities outweighed the weak charm of this book.
First, this book was a total rip off of twilight. So what? Hundreds of books are based on twilight. Yes, but this one is shameless!
List of Twilight Similarities
1. Most obvious of all: Taboo love between a vampire and a non vampire
2. The obsession with "smelling" things and giving the smells retarded descriptions. " You smell of willow sap. And chamomile that's been crushed underfoot."..... OKAY...
3. Sneaking into her room and watching her sleep.. like we haven't seen that before. #creepyasfuck
4. The Congregation, a.k.a the Volturi. The law keepers of the paranormal realm who are against Diana and Matthew's relationship and want to destroy them
5. The allusion to Diana and Matthew's future babies. Not 100% in line with twilights disturbing demonic baby clawing itself out of the mother, but still a taboo subject.
6. The love at first sight relationship and the following overprotective trope.
That wasn't even my main issue with the book. Since Harkness actually introduced an interesting accompanying story line re. Ashmole and the mysteries surrounding it. No, my issue was the silly character interaction and the over the top cheeseball descriptions. Examples:
Somewhere in the center of my soul, a rusty chain began to unwind. It freed itself, link by link, from where it had rested unobserved, waiting for him
But the most unnerving thing about him was not his physical perfection. It was his feral combination of strength, agility, and keen intelligence that was palpable across the room.
Easy there tiger.
He smiled. It was a small, polite smile that didn't reveal his teeth. I was intensely aware of them anyway, sitting in perfectly straight, sharp rows behind his pale lips.
I was so dumbfounded that I swore. Clairmont looked at me in shock, then chuckled.
Matthew's arms shot around me from behind, pressing my back against his chest so hard that I could feel every flexed muscle. 'Now,' he said directly into my ear, ' we're going to talk like civilized creatures about what happened. You are not running away from this- or from me.'
' Let me go Matthew.' I struggled in his arms.
'No.'
Gosh, this is not ok. Why do authors think this manhandling is sexy. I honestly think we will never progress as a society that respects women until we get rid of this misconception from our literature, films and lives! This is not sexy.... not at all. It's a sign of helplessness and abuse of physical strength. #saynotomanhandling
Let's talk about Matthew's mom, who despises humans because of what they did to her husband. The woman would kill a human on sight, she loathes them BUT somehow, after meeting Diana and initially hating her, TWO DAYS LATER, she's protecting her and treating her like her own daughter......
There were so many strange behaviors in this story, like Diana obsessing over her keynote speech THE WHOLE TIME while people were out to kill her.
"I was just almost tortured to death but hey I'm fine now! Let's think about my key note speech!"
Basically, it's a shallow paranormal romance that was written as twilight fan fiction. Did you absolutely love twilight and wish there was more novels in the series? LOOK NO FURTHER! Harkness got your back!
Friday, December 23, 2016
A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman
A man called Ove decides to die. Ove's never really liked other people, the only person who's constant company he enjoyed is his beloved wife Sonia. When Sonia passes away and Ove is subsequently forced into early retirement, he decides that joining Sonia is the only logical thing to do. However, life has other plans and soon enough Ove is distracted from his suicide plans by nosy neighbors, teenagers, a certain cat and a series of frustrating yet hilarious events. What a lovely book! I must be honest and admit that I absolutely hated it at the start. Ove's bitterness about EVERYTHING just got on my nerves, especially when we realize it's not age that's made him bitter but his genetic make-up. I didn't like his wife, for she seemed a self obsessed creature, I didn't like Pavana for her appalling meddling ways, I didn't even like the cat. I was just annoyed at the whole lot of them.
But then, the clown incident happened at the hospital and it made me giggle. And as the relationship between the characters deepened and evolved into something substantial, I started enjoying their interactions and felt for them. It's quite a feat for a book to change a reader's feelings so utterly. I usually judge a book in the first couple of chapters and if I dislike it then it's close to impossible to change my mind. Not only did I start liking though mid way, I LOVED it. The characters were so colorful and distinct, the dialogue funny and endearing and Ove grew on me unexpectedly.
By the end of this book, I was tearing up at each chapter, happy tears mostly. It was a beautiful, if sad ending, that was a perfect end to this light hearted, emotionally engaging novel.
Friday, November 25, 2016
Ready Player One- Ernest Cline
In a dystopian future, humanity pretty much mainly functions in the OASIS, a virtual reality that caters to all your needs and wants. Upon Anorak's, the creator of the OASIS, death, his final will is released to the world. He leaves all this riches and the keys of the OASIS to the "player" who manages to crack his puzzle and find "easter egg" hidden within the OASIS. And so, the race begins, with everyone on the planet fighting to gain this treasure.. whatever it takes.
What a delightful and clever book. I enjoyed reading this book SO much. It was pretty much an ode to the 80's and even though I wasn't around in the era, I still appreciated the references. In fact, it got me really interested in that decade and I wished I had grown up then, just so I could get all the allusions.
I loved the world Cline created, it's where I feel humanity is eventually headed. Great characters, on point dialogue, fast paced writing and action packed pages. Perfect read for any gamer enthusiast, 80's kid, Sci-fi or dystopian reader and anyone who enjoys an intelligent page turner.
What a delightful and clever book. I enjoyed reading this book SO much. It was pretty much an ode to the 80's and even though I wasn't around in the era, I still appreciated the references. In fact, it got me really interested in that decade and I wished I had grown up then, just so I could get all the allusions.
I loved the world Cline created, it's where I feel humanity is eventually headed. Great characters, on point dialogue, fast paced writing and action packed pages. Perfect read for any gamer enthusiast, 80's kid, Sci-fi or dystopian reader and anyone who enjoys an intelligent page turner.
Rebecca- Daphne du Maurier
A dark gothic tale about a young naïve nobody who marries Mr. De Winter, our broody recently widowed protagonist, on impulse. The new Mrs. De Winter dreams of an exciting and romantic life at Manderley, her new home. However, our heroine develops an unhealthy obsession with the dead Mrs. De Winter, Rebecca, and Manderley turns out to be creepy central.
Ok Hollywood!! You MUST make a remake of this! The 1940's movie doesn't count, it's bound to be cliché and over dramatic as was typical of that era.
Look, I've made your life easy.. I've already cast the roles, I'll even direct it for free! It will be a hit.. promise.
The Cast
Mr. De Winter: Dark, broody, middle aged:
He can still pass for a man in his 40's... right?! Botox works miracles.
Mrs. De Winter: Innocent, Naïve, young
In case you have no clue who that is, it's Dakota Fanning's little sister. Maleficent anyone?
Rebecca: Dark features, beautiful, mysterious character
LEGEND
Mrs. Danvers: Creepy, Skeleton like
No one does creepy like Helena Bonham. No. One.
Seriously now, this was the best book I've read all year. It's made my favorite book list. I know it's not perfect, du Maurier isn't the best with dialogue, in fact there were times when the dialogue was pretty basic and awkward, but who cares about dialogue when you've got the most beautiful descriptive paragraphs. Du Maurier's writing sucks you in and makes you feel like you're living the story with the characters.
I've read Jamaica Inn by the same author and found it to be mediocre at best, but Rebecca... Rebecca is a whole other world. If you're a fan of gothic themed books, this one is for you. It's not creepy in a horror way, it's more of a gothic thriller, but it did creep me out considering I'd read in the dark before bed every night.
I loved all the little details that went into it. Choosing to maintain an unnamed female protagonist was just perfect and fit into our heroine's naïve, plain and timid personality. I can imagine her optimistic and jaded view on life would have irritated some people but i totally identified with her overactive imagination. Haven't we all been there? Day dreaming about all the great things we're going to accomplish and how wonderful life's going to turn out, only to have reality hit us in the face like a brick.
Mrs. Danvers, bravo! The creepy, vindictive housekeeper, who's never gotten over Rebecca's death and hates our heroine on sight. Our heroine was terrified of her and so was I. I dreaded her name appearing on the page because it spelled disaster. The fact that du Maurier was able to incite such feelings in the reader is proof of her genius.
I want to read this book again and get lost in it's timeless pages.
Ok Hollywood!! You MUST make a remake of this! The 1940's movie doesn't count, it's bound to be cliché and over dramatic as was typical of that era.
Look, I've made your life easy.. I've already cast the roles, I'll even direct it for free! It will be a hit.. promise.
The Cast
Mr. De Winter: Dark, broody, middle aged:
He can still pass for a man in his 40's... right?! Botox works miracles.
Mrs. De Winter: Innocent, Naïve, young
In case you have no clue who that is, it's Dakota Fanning's little sister. Maleficent anyone?
Rebecca: Dark features, beautiful, mysterious character
LEGEND
Mrs. Danvers: Creepy, Skeleton like
No one does creepy like Helena Bonham. No. One.
Seriously now, this was the best book I've read all year. It's made my favorite book list. I know it's not perfect, du Maurier isn't the best with dialogue, in fact there were times when the dialogue was pretty basic and awkward, but who cares about dialogue when you've got the most beautiful descriptive paragraphs. Du Maurier's writing sucks you in and makes you feel like you're living the story with the characters.
I've read Jamaica Inn by the same author and found it to be mediocre at best, but Rebecca... Rebecca is a whole other world. If you're a fan of gothic themed books, this one is for you. It's not creepy in a horror way, it's more of a gothic thriller, but it did creep me out considering I'd read in the dark before bed every night.
I loved all the little details that went into it. Choosing to maintain an unnamed female protagonist was just perfect and fit into our heroine's naïve, plain and timid personality. I can imagine her optimistic and jaded view on life would have irritated some people but i totally identified with her overactive imagination. Haven't we all been there? Day dreaming about all the great things we're going to accomplish and how wonderful life's going to turn out, only to have reality hit us in the face like a brick.
Mrs. Danvers, bravo! The creepy, vindictive housekeeper, who's never gotten over Rebecca's death and hates our heroine on sight. Our heroine was terrified of her and so was I. I dreaded her name appearing on the page because it spelled disaster. The fact that du Maurier was able to incite such feelings in the reader is proof of her genius.
I want to read this book again and get lost in it's timeless pages.
Friday, November 18, 2016
Gardens of the Moon ( The Malazan Book of the Fallen #1) - Steven Erikson
The Malazan Empire is a cluster fuck. You've got Empress Laseen on one hand, who's taken the continent in a coup a couple of years ago, the resistance on the other hand trying to eliminate her rule and maintain the unoccupied cities and then you have the gods who are meddling in mortal affairs and trying to screw each other over. Fun Times!
INFORMATION OVERLOAD!
First of all, if you haven't read this book already, make sure you buy it in paperback! Avoid Audio and e-book versions. I had it on my kindle and was unable to view the map + found it really tiresome to skip to the glossary every time I encountered a new character/race/country/etc. which kept me in a state of continuous confusion.
The Malazan Book of the Fallen is infamous for being a mind fuck. Erikson even writes a note at the start pretty much warning readers about how confusing the book is going to be. Found that a bit odd tbh, it was like he's defending his writing. an author shouldn't have to do that! Anyway it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be in terms of having to keep up but I definitely have to go back and read it now, things will make SO MUCH sense and the reading experience will be way better. That being said, i enjoyed this, it was a breathe of fresh air. What an intricate world and what an imagination! How can one man (or two in this case) hold all this in their heads? Very impressed. 5 stars for the world Erikson created and for all the pedantic details that went into it.
Contrary to what others say, it wasn't a fast read for me. Because I wasn't 100% certain what was going on, some storylines did not interest me and i found my reading lagging every time those chapters came up. On the other hand, I breezed through chapters that contained plots I enjoyed (Crokus, Sorry, Krupe- who btw is the best character evaaa). All in all, this book was 50/50 for me; I was intrigued but not blown away, impressed with the world building yet slightly bored, amused by the characters but not invested in them.
I have high hopes for the rest of the series. Now that I have my bearing and will be purchasing a paperback, I feel the second book will be rewarding.
INFORMATION OVERLOAD!
First of all, if you haven't read this book already, make sure you buy it in paperback! Avoid Audio and e-book versions. I had it on my kindle and was unable to view the map + found it really tiresome to skip to the glossary every time I encountered a new character/race/country/etc. which kept me in a state of continuous confusion.
The Malazan Book of the Fallen is infamous for being a mind fuck. Erikson even writes a note at the start pretty much warning readers about how confusing the book is going to be. Found that a bit odd tbh, it was like he's defending his writing. an author shouldn't have to do that! Anyway it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be in terms of having to keep up but I definitely have to go back and read it now, things will make SO MUCH sense and the reading experience will be way better. That being said, i enjoyed this, it was a breathe of fresh air. What an intricate world and what an imagination! How can one man (or two in this case) hold all this in their heads? Very impressed. 5 stars for the world Erikson created and for all the pedantic details that went into it.
Contrary to what others say, it wasn't a fast read for me. Because I wasn't 100% certain what was going on, some storylines did not interest me and i found my reading lagging every time those chapters came up. On the other hand, I breezed through chapters that contained plots I enjoyed (Crokus, Sorry, Krupe- who btw is the best character evaaa). All in all, this book was 50/50 for me; I was intrigued but not blown away, impressed with the world building yet slightly bored, amused by the characters but not invested in them.
I have high hopes for the rest of the series. Now that I have my bearing and will be purchasing a paperback, I feel the second book will be rewarding.
Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle #1) - Christopher Paolini
When Eragon finds a strange blue stone in the forest, he takes it home thinking it could be of some value to sell. Little does he know that his discovery is going to lead him into the world of Dragons, war, dangerous enemies and possibly luurvve.
When I was in High School I had a crush on a boy who shared my love of Fantasy novels. I introduced him to the world of the Wheel of Time and he in turn promised to lend me Eragon. He had a terrible reputation and was labelled as a "bad boy", while I was the ever dramatic teen who pined after people but enjoyed the drama too much to ever actually date them. So, when he finally got round to lending it to me, I was upset at him for some reason and tragically refused to take it. We went to different schools and he had passed it on to a mutual friend, he even sprayed it with his perfume. Cringe. Anyway, I refused to take it from her (mutual friend), asked her to give it back to him and vowed never to read it. Ever.
Eventually, I grew up, became slighty less dramatic and got over the whole incident. However, by then I felt I had outgrown Eragon and I didn't think I'd find much enjoyment in it. Now, 10 years later, I've been taking a trip down book memory lane and picking up books I've always wanted to read regardless of their genre or their age target.
My hunch was correct though, I have outgrown Eragon. Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely book, it accomplished what Anne McCaffrey set out to do with her Pern novels (Don't know what I'm talking about? Check my Pern review here ) but it was just too childish for me. Especially the beginning, which was drawn out in a slow world building fashion. Then you had your typical Heroic Fantasy elements. A nobody who suddenly discovers he's something special, a tragic event that starts him on his journey, the old wise man that tutors him, the ally he finds along the way to help him, etc. etc. etc. It didn't help that i was reading Gardens of the Moon at the same time, it accentuated Eragon's lackluster fantasy elements.
It's 2.5 stars, but I've bumped it up to 3 because it IS an enjoyable book for younger people and I would like to read it with my nieces, it's just a shame that I happened to read it at 27 rather than at 16 as intended!
When I was in High School I had a crush on a boy who shared my love of Fantasy novels. I introduced him to the world of the Wheel of Time and he in turn promised to lend me Eragon. He had a terrible reputation and was labelled as a "bad boy", while I was the ever dramatic teen who pined after people but enjoyed the drama too much to ever actually date them. So, when he finally got round to lending it to me, I was upset at him for some reason and tragically refused to take it. We went to different schools and he had passed it on to a mutual friend, he even sprayed it with his perfume. Cringe. Anyway, I refused to take it from her (mutual friend), asked her to give it back to him and vowed never to read it. Ever.
Eventually, I grew up, became slighty less dramatic and got over the whole incident. However, by then I felt I had outgrown Eragon and I didn't think I'd find much enjoyment in it. Now, 10 years later, I've been taking a trip down book memory lane and picking up books I've always wanted to read regardless of their genre or their age target.
My hunch was correct though, I have outgrown Eragon. Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely book, it accomplished what Anne McCaffrey set out to do with her Pern novels (Don't know what I'm talking about? Check my Pern review here ) but it was just too childish for me. Especially the beginning, which was drawn out in a slow world building fashion. Then you had your typical Heroic Fantasy elements. A nobody who suddenly discovers he's something special, a tragic event that starts him on his journey, the old wise man that tutors him, the ally he finds along the way to help him, etc. etc. etc. It didn't help that i was reading Gardens of the Moon at the same time, it accentuated Eragon's lackluster fantasy elements.
It's 2.5 stars, but I've bumped it up to 3 because it IS an enjoyable book for younger people and I would like to read it with my nieces, it's just a shame that I happened to read it at 27 rather than at 16 as intended!
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