a road less travelled

 Running On A Dream, The Pat Farmer Story by Ian Eckersley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Look - if you're feeling insignificant and ordinary, this book is for you.

I cant help but be inspired when I think how many times Pat Farmer - a dad, landscaper, and 'ordinary' guy from Granville NSW - would have been told to "get real Mate", "that cant be done", and "what makes you think you can just...". This is proof that one person can do extraordinary things, as long as they persist and believe in themselves (even when no one else does).

Pat Farmer is one of those people I'd love to meet, but would probably clam-up and have no idea what to say if I did.

Just wow. Inspired beyond belief.

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2012 eclectic reader challenge: december - classic

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my last book for the Challenge, and I chose it as my classic because I really wanted to finish with something good. And really, there was no way I was not going to like this book.

Anne of Green Gables is one of my all-time favourites - but since I had read it before, in the spirit of the challenge, I decided to read Anne of Avonlea. LM Montgomery didn't let me down.

This book instantly transports me back to girlhood, when my "bosom-friend" Emily and I used to re-enact Anne and Diana's adventures as 12 year olds. We were BESOTTED with this story. We had all the movies. We made raspberry cordial (non-alcoholic! Readers of the book will get this!) and we pretended to have puffed-sleeves and picnics.

Needless to say, as I read this, I could see perfectly in my mind every scene played out. The characters to me are as familiar as old friends.

I loved every minute, and I still have an image of Anne stuck in a storm, having fallen through a hen-house roof, balancing on a barrel with an umbrella over her head!

Anne of The Island is already beside my bed!

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2012 eclectic reader challenge: november - your favourite genre (general fiction)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was such a surprise! It just looks so unassuming, I never expected to be so charmed by it! It is based on a collection of correspondences between characters with one Elizabeth McKenna in common in the aftermath of World War 2. But it's so much more than that! It's a love story, a story of heroism, a historical tale, a tragedy, and a work of charming humour all in one! And it is the only book written by 70 year old librarian Mary Ann Shaffer! It's a little gem of a book; rare, precious, delicate and beautiful.

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Recapping the Challenge...

Genres

1. Literary Fiction - Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
2. Crime/Mystery Fiction - Truth, Peter Temple 
3. Romantic Fiction - A Good Indian Wife, Anne Cherian
4. Historical Fiction - Wild Lavender, Belinda Alexandra
5. Young Adult - Catching Fire, Suzanna Collins
6. Fantasy - Angel's Blood, Nalini Singh
7. Science Fiction - Adjustment Team, Philip K Dick
8. Non Fiction - Pole to Pole, Pat Farmer
9. Horror - The Turn Of the Screw, Henry James
10. Thriller /Suspense - Bold Blood, Lindy Kelly
11. Classic - Anne of Avonlea, L M Montgomery (Currently reading for December)
12. Your favourite genre - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer

2012 eclectic reader challenge: october(got a bit ahead!) - horror

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Okay - lemme start by saying that I am a wuss. Of the first degree. So I really REALLY didn't wanna read a horror book. I don't 'do' scary. So I thought maybe if I chose a historical book, I might be less scared...
Couldn't have been less-scared if I tried.
I think this book is meant to be all about creating suspense and atmosphere, but really... I mean NOTHING ACTUALLY HAPPENS. You wait for it to happen, and it never does. Hmm.
Too subtle even for me.

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2012 eclectic reader challenge: september - sci fi

Adjustment Team by Philip K. Dick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wow. Simultaneously the most intriguing premise and the most frustrating book I've ever read.
Dick explores the idea that there is no such thing as coincidence, and that the 'higher power' in control is a government organization. I don't read a lot of sci fi, but the ideas and possibilities here had me hooked.
But - it just ENDS! This book has the most I unsatisfying ending I have ever encountered! It leaves so much unsaid, so much unexplored! I got to the end, and glanced at the floor in case pages had fallen out! LOL Makes me curious to see how they ended the movie!

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2012 eclectic reader challenge: august - thriller

Bold Blood by Lindy Kelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nothing ground-breaking here. The writing is so-so and there are a few subplots which I think are meant to divert the reader's attention from the mystery, but are just confusing and irrelevant.

The 15 year old horse lover will love this. It's James Patterson meets Christine Pullein-Thompson.

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2012 eclectic reader challenge: april - historical fiction

From www.goodreads.com : 


"At fourteen, Simone Fleurier is wrenched from her home on a Provençal lavender farm and sent to work in Marseilles. Her life there is hard and impoverished, but Simone discovers the music hall and a dream: to one day be a famous dancer and singer...




Belinda Alexandra has created a tale of passion and courage that moves from the backstreets of Marseilles to the grand music theatres of Paris, from the countryside of Provence to decadent pre-war Berlin and jazz-age New York. " 


Felt a bit 'meh' in the 1st half of this book, but am so glad I pressed on! I loved the story & the WW2 history from a French perspective was fascinating. The characters were maybe a bit 2D if I'm gonna b picky - but I really loved this. 

Never read anything from this author before (this was recommended by a bookmobile regular!), But will def read more of Belinda Alexandra's stuff! I gave it 4/5 stars on Goodreads (Would've given it 4.5 stars if I could've!)

2012 eclectic reader challenge: february - mystery.

This was just not my cup of tea. The story relies heavily on the reader's ability to follow conversation that is highly colloquial and jargonistic. There is very little description, and often characters are introduced without preamble or explanation. I found this book like listening in to a phone conversation between two strangers without knowing any background (and not really caring). 


I know it's a multi-award winning book, but honestly, it just didn't hold my attention, and reading it became a chore.


Not for me. I gave it 1 / 5 stars on Goodreads.

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2012 eclectic reader challenge: january - literary fiction.

I wasn't really sure what to read for this category, as the line between 'literary' fiction and 'fiction' seems pretty blurry as far as I can tell!!! So I picked this book: It read promisingly from the blurb, it had no classification on our library shelf, and I like reading about different cultures.

Having read it - I wouldn't call it 'literary' :( Oops, my bad.

Don't get me wrong! I enjoyed it! It's a nice story, I enjoyed the little insights into Indian culture and everything; but I'd call this a romance. Character development wasn't very deep, the writing was fairly unadorned, and the plot was fairly predictable, if I'm honest. 

The main male character Suneel started to irritate me after a while, and I wanted to tell him not to be a selfish, whining teenager mostly, but I did like and admire Leila, and I think that's what kept me reading! :)

Altogether, a nice read. A romance with a bit of a difference! I gave it 3/5 on Goodreads.

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right up my alley

I'll read anything.

ANYTHING.

When people ask me what I like to read, or to recommend them a book, I actually find it really hard, because I'll give anything a whirl! I suppose I like sagas, literary fiction, and suspense the most, but honestly: I'll read anything anyone recommends!

So when Shelleyrae tweeted her 2012 Eclectic Reader Challenge, I knew this was the one for me! :)

The challenge is to:

"Select, read and review a book from each genre listed below during the year for a total of 12 books.

*  You can choose your books as you go or create a list in advance.

*  Where a book is identified by more than one genre eg historical romance, it may only count for either the historical fiction or romantic fiction genres – not both.

Genres

1. Literary Fiction
2. Crime/Mystery Fiction
3. Romantic Fiction
4. Historical Fiction
5. Young Adult
6. Fantasy
7. Science Fiction
8. Non Fiction
9. Horror
10. Thriller /Suspense
11. Classic
12. Your favourite genre

• Each time you read and review a book as part of this challenge, make sure you identify it by adding either a direct statement  and /or the challenge image badge to the post.

• Share your review with other challenge participants by adding a new comment to this page with a direct link to your review."

I'm gonna choose as I go, so any recommendations you have - don't hesitate to comment! Maybe you could join in...? ;)

 

hey darklyss? what do you think of...?

I don't write book reviews, as a rule. I have written about books I've read on this blog, but usually I write my opinion in a short paragraph or so.

I do this for a number of reasons:

a) I am a time-poor Mum of a toddler, with a casual job, a full life, and a big book addiction!
b) I don't have time to read lengthy reviews, and I assume there are others like me who don't either!
c) I can usually say what I think about a book in a few minutes thusly:

"I liked it/hated it. I liked it because ***. I didn't like it because ***. If you like ***, you'll probably like this one too."


That's all I usually want to know when I read a book review. Call me overly simplistic, but if I wanted to know in copious detail about the themes/characters/plot - I might as well read the book! (And make up my own mind!)
d) The fourth reason - in all honesty - is that I don't think I write that well, nor do I think that my opinion is necessarily gospel! Just cause I loved it, doesn't mean you will! And if I hated it - I'd want you to read it anyway, and make your own mind up!

What do you think? Do you write/read book reviews? Do you feel like they affect your opinion of a book, or what you read?

Here's Darryl Campbell's view on reviewing books:

Darryl Campbell has a few suggestions on how book reviewers can sound more esoteric

And some pointers by John Pinsky:

How Not To Write a Book Review: What a hatchet job on John Keats teaches us.

What do you think?

do you have a book club?

I don't currently, but I do LOVE AbcTVs First Tuesday Book Club!

"First Tuesday Book Club is ABC TV's first nationally televised book club. Hosted by Jennifer Byrne it draws on the basic models of national and international book clubs, the series brings to the screen the pleasures that draw millions of clubbers worldwide to these groups with their shared love of reading. It is a nationally televised forum for literary debate and conversation not easily found elsewhere.

First Tuesday Book Club gathers Australian booklovers together on a monthly basis, a reading shot in the arm on the first Tuesday of each month. Each episode aims to rekindle nostalgic literary favourites and encourage viewers to read books they might not have otherwise read . A spine tingling experience."

Seriously - you'll love it.

oh where to begin?

Challenge completed: Turned out to be far harder than I could've imagined!

Maybe I should've been tipped off by the names of the characters ('Chase Manhatten', 'Wanda' who has eyes like a fish...)

Maybe I should've known by the names of the renaissance-style shops (Wicked Weaves, The Feathered Shaft, The King's Tarts, Harriet's Hat House).

Maybe I should've realised that being purchased in 'largeprint paperback' only at our library is the equivalent of going 'straight to DVD' for movies.

And maybe I should've given up when the first 70 pages was about basket weaving. ( I shit you not).

I really wanted this to suprise me. I really wanted it to be good. I really wanted to have this whole new exciting genre to read and get excited about.

This book is terrible. Utterly terrible.

And believe me, this is no small feat. I rarely dislike any book I read. I read all kinds of things. I'm pretty easily amused. I'm pretty easy to please and I usually find something I like about everything.

I also usually keep my reviews to a paragraph or two, on the premise that I never have time to read lengthy reviews, I just wanna know: "Did you like it? Should I read it?", and I figure there's probably others out there like me.

This book is the exception to all of that.

The plot was confusing.
The dialogue was clumsy and confusing.
The characters are two-dimensional, lacking motivation, and... confusing.

For example, let's take the character of Mary, who is suspected of committing the murder central to the book. Allegedly she's extremely "secretive", but at the same time, appears to offer anecdotes and stories about herself numerous times and is described as a great story teller. However, her background story (when she offers it) is laughably unrealistic:

"Joshua lied to me. I left our boy Jah with him. I was supposed to see Jah every so often. A few months after I left home, Joshua told me he died from the same thing that killed Abraham's son. I grieved, but I went on. I never went back"

?!?!

What?! As easy as that, eh? "Oh, my son's dead. Apparently. Oh well - moving on..." And apparently we are meant to feel empathy with her when her son reappears - alive - and a wee bit bitter.

Oh but she's not the only wingnut in the book. There's a 'king' and 'queen' who are so oblivious to reality that they stage a  jousting reenactment which takes precedence over the REAL murder investigation! And a band of baker 'monks' who hold mysterious 'freemason' -style gatherings in the renaissance bakery - in a kind of Davinci Code parody. And the 'romance' between the lead characters is just annoying. It's more hot and cold than a teen vampire flick and it just adds to the superficiality of the characters and relationships in general.

In fact if I was someone interested in renaissance/medieval re-enactment, I would be insulted by the portrayal of the characters in this book.

I wish I could say this book is worth a read just for a laugh - but I wouldn't bother. It's not even that interesting in an ironic sense.

I wonder if the 'Amish Mysteries' would be any better ...? :)

a superficial journey of self-whatevery

I dont really know what I expected from this book. And so I don't really know why I was disappointed. What I didn't expect was it to be 'Eat Pray Love' meets 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'.

I know, I know - the title should have tipped me off.

I think she acurately sums it up in the quote:
"My life in India had been a mass of contradictions; one minute I was beyond materialism and sleeping on an inch-thick mattress, the next I was dropping 130 pounds in Amethyst. One minute I was sipping coconut juice between classes and discussing yoga sutras, the next I was swigging Pinot Grigio"

Must admit I skimmed a fair bit of the end. I didn't learn anything. I didn't relate to any of the characters. I don't really know what the point of this book is. I'm not sure Lucy Edge does either.

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