I should begin by saying that I have read every single one of Tracy Chevalier's novels. I think she is one of the most literary contemporary authors, and that the way she uses language is absolutely beautiful.
"Remarkable Creatures" is her newest novel. It is historical fiction based on the lives of friends Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot. These two women led quiet lives, but they made huge contributions to natural history and science through their discoveries of fossils. It is an interesting bit of history that I personally was not previously familiar with. This novel is not Chevalier's most captivating, but it is still a well-written and interesting read.
To read my longer review of the book "Remarkable Creatures" by Tracy Chevalier, click here.
Click here to visit Tracy Chevalier's official website, or you can follow her on Twitter (@Tracy_Chevalier).
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Monday, 21 March 2011
"Dune" by Frank Herbert
I love science fiction (especially sci fi movies), but I admit that it's not usually the first genre that I pick up to read. I remember reading Jules Verne and H.G. Wells books when I was growing up, but I later found that a lot of science fiction novels get bogged down in too much science and don't have enough fiction. One sci fi book that I had heard of (being a classic and very famous and having a movie based on it) was "Dune".
My husband recently read "Dune", and asked me to read it as well so that we could discuss it. So I did.
The beginning of "Dune" is very slow. If it weren't for my husband's encouragement I don't think I'd have stuck it out past the first 50 pages. Eventually the story does get moving, but it remains a very slow-tempered book. Somehow even when there are major events happening and lots of action, it manages to keep plodding along at the same pace (often skimming over events rather than really describing them, but spending lots of space and detail on other things). There's a lot of info to take in about the world and universe of "Dune", and a lot of characters.
Overall, the story itself is interesting, and you do feel somehow compelled to find out what happens. The book "Dune" as a whole, though, is actually kind of boring. There are only so many times, for example, that we can read that the people were obsessed with moisture/water and lived in a desert full of sand. I wish there had been less telling and more showing. (For example, rather than telling us for the 500th time that it was dry, show us that the characters get nosebleeds/cracked lips/dry skin/etc. from their arid surroundings.)
If you do read this book, I recommend having someone else to discuss it with. For me, the best part of reading "Dune" was discussing it afterward.
There are lots of things in the book that are hard to visualize or should be visually impressive, so I'm interested to watch the movie of "Dune" and see how it interprets the book and shows things (especially the Worms and Fremen sietch).
My husband recently read "Dune", and asked me to read it as well so that we could discuss it. So I did.
The beginning of "Dune" is very slow. If it weren't for my husband's encouragement I don't think I'd have stuck it out past the first 50 pages. Eventually the story does get moving, but it remains a very slow-tempered book. Somehow even when there are major events happening and lots of action, it manages to keep plodding along at the same pace (often skimming over events rather than really describing them, but spending lots of space and detail on other things). There's a lot of info to take in about the world and universe of "Dune", and a lot of characters.
Overall, the story itself is interesting, and you do feel somehow compelled to find out what happens. The book "Dune" as a whole, though, is actually kind of boring. There are only so many times, for example, that we can read that the people were obsessed with moisture/water and lived in a desert full of sand. I wish there had been less telling and more showing. (For example, rather than telling us for the 500th time that it was dry, show us that the characters get nosebleeds/cracked lips/dry skin/etc. from their arid surroundings.)
If you do read this book, I recommend having someone else to discuss it with. For me, the best part of reading "Dune" was discussing it afterward.
There are lots of things in the book that are hard to visualize or should be visually impressive, so I'm interested to watch the movie of "Dune" and see how it interprets the book and shows things (especially the Worms and Fremen sietch).
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
"The Kiss of Death" by Marcus Sedgwick
Marcus Sedgwick is a great author who writes primarily young adult novels. His books are beautifully written and create absolutely captivating settings. Although his books are geared towards teens, most of them are crossover novels that appeal to adults as well.
"The Kiss of Death" is set in a beautifully depicted Venice full of menace and magic. The storyline itself is not as complex as I at first expected it to be, but there is a great sense of menace that permeates every page. Like the city it is set in, this book is all about atmosphere.
To read my full review of "The Kiss of Death" by Marcus Sedgwick, click here.
"The Kiss of Death" is set in a beautifully depicted Venice full of menace and magic. The storyline itself is not as complex as I at first expected it to be, but there is a great sense of menace that permeates every page. Like the city it is set in, this book is all about atmosphere.
To read my full review of "The Kiss of Death" by Marcus Sedgwick, click here.
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
"The Secret Wife of King George IV" by Diane Haeger
"The Secret Wife of King George IV", by Diane Haeger, is a fascinating historical novel about the romance between Maria Fitzherbert and George IV (he begins the book as Prince of Wales and later becomes King). The novel is based on the historical facts of their relationship, and shows some interesting royal history that is not generally known. Yet rather than reading like a history text book, the book focuses on their personalities and relationship throughout their troubled love affair (including their secret marriage).
For more about "The Secret Wife of King George IV" by Diane Haeger, click here.
For more about "The Secret Wife of King George IV" by Diane Haeger, click here.
Monday, 14 March 2011
"Nevermore" by Linda Newbery
Linda Newbery is a popular children's author. She's won numerous awards for her books, and has written books covering a wide range of topics for middle readers and teens.
Her book "Nevermore" is, in my opinion, appropriate for about 4th to 7th graders (obviously this can vary by child though). The basic story line is that Tizzie (a year 7 student) moves with her mother from the city to the countryside (where her mother has taken a job on a mysterious estate). Tizzie meets new people and begins learning about a past that becomes increasingly personal to her.
Overall, this is not Newbery's best work, nor is it the best book I've read in this genre. Having said that, it is still a good book that older elementary and middle schoolers (especially girls) will enjoy. The majority of the plot is pretty straight-forward and predictable, but there are some nice interludes and narrative moments. Most adults will not be overly drawn to this book, but it should be enjoyed by kids in its target audience.
To read my longer review of "Nevermore" by Linda Newbery, click here.
Her book "Nevermore" is, in my opinion, appropriate for about 4th to 7th graders (obviously this can vary by child though). The basic story line is that Tizzie (a year 7 student) moves with her mother from the city to the countryside (where her mother has taken a job on a mysterious estate). Tizzie meets new people and begins learning about a past that becomes increasingly personal to her.
Overall, this is not Newbery's best work, nor is it the best book I've read in this genre. Having said that, it is still a good book that older elementary and middle schoolers (especially girls) will enjoy. The majority of the plot is pretty straight-forward and predictable, but there are some nice interludes and narrative moments. Most adults will not be overly drawn to this book, but it should be enjoyed by kids in its target audience.
To read my longer review of "Nevermore" by Linda Newbery, click here.
Friday, 11 March 2011
"Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler
Publishing company Bloomsbury recently ran a competition on Twitter to win copies of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" and "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler. Although I wasn't familiar with the books, I love Jane Austen. I entered and was thrilled to win copies of the books (and about 500 bookmarks for them).
My first impression of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" was good. I love historical fiction and Jane Austen, and I enjoy fantasy fiction, so the basic concept of a modern woman being transported to Austen-ite England sounded entertaining to me. Overall, though, the book was disappointing. Although there were plenty of Austen references, they sometimes felt a bit contrived to me. Also, the whole book was lacking in a bit of planning and clarity. It was enjoyable for a bit of light reading, but utterly forgettable. If you really love Jane Austen and Austen fan fiction, then you may enjoy this book as something to read during your commute to work or while lounging next to the pool on holiday. Just don't expect too much from it.
For a longer review of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict", click here.
Look forward to a review of the sequel, "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict". I'll read and write about it soon.
You can follow Bloomsbury or me on Twitter: @ BloomsburyBooks and @KeriWithington .
My first impression of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" was good. I love historical fiction and Jane Austen, and I enjoy fantasy fiction, so the basic concept of a modern woman being transported to Austen-ite England sounded entertaining to me. Overall, though, the book was disappointing. Although there were plenty of Austen references, they sometimes felt a bit contrived to me. Also, the whole book was lacking in a bit of planning and clarity. It was enjoyable for a bit of light reading, but utterly forgettable. If you really love Jane Austen and Austen fan fiction, then you may enjoy this book as something to read during your commute to work or while lounging next to the pool on holiday. Just don't expect too much from it.
For a longer review of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict", click here.
Look forward to a review of the sequel, "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict". I'll read and write about it soon.
You can follow Bloomsbury or me on Twitter: @ BloomsburyBooks and @KeriWithington .
Thursday, 10 March 2011
"Frostbitten" by Kelley Armstrong
If you like contemporary fantasy fiction, then you're probably already familiar with Kelley Armstrong's books. She has written both adult and teen fiction (for a mostly female audience, although I think men would enjoy the books as well) about werewolves, witches, half-demons, necromancers, and other fantasy characters. However, these are all set as a subculture within the real present-day world. Her books are entertaining and full of action.
I recently read Armstrong's novel "Frostbitten". It's one of the Women of the Otherworld books, and the main character is werewolf Elena (first introduced in the book "Bitten"). Although "Frostbitten" could be read as a stand-alone book, I recommend going back and reading other books in the series first. If you've enjoyed the previous books, you'll enjoy "Frostbitten".
For my full review of "Frostbitten" by Kelley Armstrong, click here.
I recently read Armstrong's novel "Frostbitten". It's one of the Women of the Otherworld books, and the main character is werewolf Elena (first introduced in the book "Bitten"). Although "Frostbitten" could be read as a stand-alone book, I recommend going back and reading other books in the series first. If you've enjoyed the previous books, you'll enjoy "Frostbitten".
For my full review of "Frostbitten" by Kelley Armstrong, click here.
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Hurray for Books
Hi. I'm Keri and I love books. I love to read; I love to write.
I've written book reviews and other literature related things for other websites, and I felt like it would be good to have everything organized in one place. So this is Keri's Bookshelf. I'll only post about books, what I'm reading, and author-related things.
Hope all of you enjoy reading too.
I've written book reviews and other literature related things for other websites, and I felt like it would be good to have everything organized in one place. So this is Keri's Bookshelf. I'll only post about books, what I'm reading, and author-related things.
Hope all of you enjoy reading too.
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