Full review at http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/post-number-100-a-double-read-it-if-review/Okay, I've given this one a four, but my real rating would be closer to 3.5 stars. The reason for this is that while I enjoyed the book very much, it wasn't the story I was expecting given the blurb. This is much less a ghost/horror story than it is a friendship/road trip story.
Overall, this is would perfectly suit middle grade readers who enjoy a little bit of paranormal in their reading. It's not too scary and the relationship between the three main characters is engaging.
Recommended.
Ten people travel to an inaccessible island at the behest of a mysterious stranger. Nope, nothing could possibly go wrong.This is Christie at her best.
This is typical Louis, just as you'd expect. It's very similar to the TV series, so if you are a fan, you should enjoy this.
More at http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress.com/2013/06/04/top-ten-tuesday-books-that-feature-travel/Many years ago now I picked this book up on the appeal of the cover art alone, after a very long book drought. I'm so glad I did, because it has become one of my favourite series of all time.
Before the current wave of books featuring shuffling hordes, Garth Nix created the Old Kingdom with its own peculiar brand of dead-who-won't-stay-dead. This is a thoroughly engaging read that will stick with you after you've put the book down. Best of all, it (and its sequels) are also eminently re-readable.
If that's not enough of a recommendation, I liked this one so much I named our housecat Moggett in homage to the cat-shaped creature who is the Abhorsen's servant and companion. That's how much I liked it.
Full review at http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/mind-your-own-delusions-ya-fiction-mixing-mental-health-and-fantasy-themes/This is a very well constructed YA title mixing science fiction and mental health themes with a bit of romance thrown in. The premise - a girl residing in a psychiatric facility and under suspicion in the disappearance of a classmate - was immediately intriguing to me, but the science fiction twist that occurs about two-thirds of the way into the book knocked me for six.
Initially the twist felt uncomfortable, as if it hadn't been thought through by the author, but on finishing the book I was left with the feeling that this was a very satisfying read.
Highly recommended.
Full review at http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/atlantis-re-imagined-whats-in-a-name-challenge/McKinlay has created a refreshing take on the sense of mystery and adventure evoked by the image of a city hidden beneath the water – it’s a great premise and a nice change from the usual middle grade/YA fare around at the moment.
Full review at http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/post-number-100-a-double-read-it-if-review/Okay. Now I know Meg Rosoff writes books that are unusual, different, out of the ordinary...but this one takes the cake. When I initially picked it up, I thought the Moose Baby of the title (on the edition that I read) was going to be some sort of clever metaphor. Nope. Literal moose baby.
I think the target audience of teens will really enjoy this book as there are plenty of chuckle-worthy events that crop up for the unsuspecting parents of the moose baby. I'd recommend this to those teens who aren't afraid to step outside of their reading comfort zone.
Attica has a special place in my stony heart because it was one of the books that kick-started regular reading for me in my early adult years. I came upon this book unexpectedly in the time before blogging and it has now become one of my absolute favourite books in the Narnian theme – that is, travel to another world through some sort of household orifice…in this case through the attic of a terraced house. I’m not a die-hard fan of Garry Kilworth by any means, but this is a deeply engaging read that is perfect for independent readers in the pre-teen/early teen age bracket.More at http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress.com/2013/06/04/top-ten-tuesday-books-that-feature-travel/
I was eagerly awaiting this one as soon as I heard about it, such was my enjoyment of old Harold’s antics in Joyce’s previous work. Did I enjoy Perfect as much? No. No, I didn’t. Is it nevertheless as worthy of a look as Joyce’s first book? Yes. Yes it is.Perfect is told from two perspectives and in two time periods and follows challenging periods in the lives of its two protagonists. Byron, a young lad growing up in 1972, discovers the plans of the powers-that-be to add two seconds to time, and must deal with the slow disintegration of his comfortable world after this added time causes his mother to make a terrible mistake. Jim, a middle-aged, loner tormented by mental illness, attempts to make a new life for himself on the outside after the psychiatric facility in which he has long resided, is closed and the residents discharged into the wide world.
The paths of the two seem disconnected, albeit with some parallels, until late in the book, when certain commonalities are revealed for a very satisfying ending.
As I mentioned, I didn’t enjoy this one as much as Harold Fry, but that may have been due to my high expectations. I found Perfect a little bit slower than I would have preferred, but Joyce’s characteristic turn of phrase and clever plot progression kept me hanging in. There is a nice twist toward the end of the book that I actually suspected from very early on, but this didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story at all – in fact, if anything, I felt more committed to seeing out the journey with the characters due to the gentle reveal.
In short, this was a good solid read with so much happening that one could be forgiven for feeling like they’d just finished a much longer book.
Full review at http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/the-rithmatist-read-it-if/If you’re looking for something completely different, with engaging characters and some really novel concepts, you could do a lot worse than this book. One of the stand-out bits of The Rithmatist is the confident world-building that Sanderson has accomplished. He has managed to pull off a story set in a completely original and believable alternate-Earth, without getting bogged down in describing the ways and workings of the whole deal.
The Rithmatist follows the fates of Joel, son of a chalk-maker and all round ordinary sort of guy, who is completing his schooling at an institution dedicated partly to the teaching of Rithmatics - a type of combat that involves bringing chalk drawings to life. When Rithmatic students on Joel’s campus start disappearing, he becomes much more involved in the fates and fortunes of the Rithmatic community than he could ever have hoped. Thus begins a wholly original tale that has it all – murder, mayhem, mystery, monsters, mystical doodling and…much else besides, not necessarily starting with M.
Full review at http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/whats-in-a-name-challenge-creepy-and-maud/At 3 stars, Creepy and Maud is definitely worth a look if you are searching for something a bit different in the world of YA.
Creepy and Maud is told from the alternating viewpoints of Creepy (not his real name…obviously) and Maud (not her real name….less obviously); teenage neighbours who conduct most of their interactions through the use of binoculars and messages flashed through their respective windows. The story explores how the friendship – if you can call it that – develops amidst the daily dramas of life in the teens’ less than idyllic family settings.
I found this one to be an engaging but unsettling read. It didn't really hit the mark for me in terms of being one to cherish and re-read because I found the characters to be a bit...well, unlikeable really. While I didn't want to abandon the book at any stage, I also didn't particularly connect with any of the characters in the book - possibly due to the spectacularly unhealthy relationship dynamics that abounded.
One to read and think about, rather than read and enjoy for my money.
Full review at http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/read-it-if-a-two-for-one-deal/The plot of The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, came as an utter surprise to me because I was mistakenly under the impression (after a clearly brief reading of the blurb and a filtered glimpse at the picture on the cover) that this was to be a story about World War II. Now although stories set in World War II are particular favourites of mine, The Rosie Project had plenty of charm to alleviate my ever-so-slight disappointment at my own mistaken conjecturing.
Despite not being a massive fan of romance novels in general, I found this book both humorous and believeable, even though some of the situations, particularly with regard to Don’s ability to learn new skills, are beyond the bounds of reasonable expectation. This is a good pick-up, put-down read for those days when you just want a brain break.
Recommended.