Author Archives: Rose Herbert

Review: Don De Lillo – Libra

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Libra
Don De Lillo
This novel is one that stopped me from wanting to read it from the very beginning. Nothing about it suckered me in. I know I should have been more excited about it, given that De Lillo is quite a celebrated American author, but I just wasn’t.
The intersecting plot lines are confusing, and often seem superflous. Just as De Lillo surely intended, I hardly cared about the plot to kill JFK, instead I wanted to know more of Oswald and what his hopes were. Oswald is such an enigma it is frustrating at times, but the insight that De Lillo makes into the character is interesting.
As I’ve alluded to, this novel is a fictionalised post-modernist account of the JF Kennedy assassination, the ‘seven seconds’ that broke the back of America, or some such thing. It’s quite interesting to me, because before reading this novel I knew very little about the assassination.
I needed to read this novel in time for an exam, and I hate to admit that I didn’t get all the way through it. I started reading it early, but I simply couldn’t stomach the stretches in language. The language is the thing that is supposed to hold this book together, and in a way it does, but it also makes it very difficult for the average reader to get into.
I don’t have this exact cover, but I have one very similar  It doesn’t draw me into the book any more than the actual story line does sadly. I want to say I wanted to like this book, and I did, but I simply couldn’t. Sorry De Lillo, you’re going to have to try and get me to read you again in some other manner.

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Review: Jenny Nimmo – The Children of the Red King 1: Midnight for Charlie Bone

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The Children of the Red King 1: Midnight for Charlie Bone
Jenny Nimmo
Charlie can hear people talking to him. No, not the kind of voices inside his head that might mean he’s mad – he’s one of the Endowed children of the Red King. Charlie is able to hear the voices of what people were thinking and saying when photographs were taken. Life is not easy for Charlie though. His friend Benjamin thought they were going to attend the same school – but now Charlie must go to the Academy or be kicked out of home.
862369Nimmo has crafted a beautiful novel as a starter for this series. There are crafty foreshadowing motifs, and other parts that flow because of the imagery that Nimmo uses. I didn’t even mind the perspective alterations in order to show off the villains better!
Although I would say mainly this novel is plot driven (and also with a healthy dose of suspense thrown in), we also see some character development from Charlie and the others. The Flames have to be my favourites – and you just know there’s something extra strange about them from the beginning.
Billy Raven acts as a loveable, and question-inducing antagonist. It’s just what is appropriate for a children’s book, and I can imagine this book being put on syllabuses  because of the questions it could potentially raise. If you’re raising a budding fantasy lover, I’d absolutely recommend this novel as one of the early ones to read.
There are now lots of different covers for this novel – but I have the one on the left, and all of the other books in the series as matching ones! I love them, and they’re all subtly shiny. Sadly, the new book doesn’t match, but at least it’s obvious about where it belongs. I haven’t actually read that one yet,  but I will once I’ve reread all the ones in The Children of the Red King series (check the Reviews by Author page to see what I’m up to).
I read and loved this novel when I was considerably younger, and was re-attracted to it recently because there is a new book in the series (a prequel). This of course makes it nearly impossible for me to properly evaluate, but I have tried to some extent. Go and buy yourself a copy if you love simple, easy to read fantasy that still has hidden elements for you to puzzle over.

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Review: Rick Riordan – The Lightning Thief

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The Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan

Sorry guys, if you’ve come here look for a review, you won’t find one yet! This novel is on my to be read pile. This is a test post for my new bookish meme type thing: Networking Book Review Blogs. If you want to get involved, drop me a line at thecosydragon (at) gmail (dot) com

Interested in this novel, but not quite sure you want to read it yet? Click onto my networked buddies’ blogs for more reviews which will help you decide what to do!

Kristin @ 2nd Book to the Right
Chloe & Elicia @ Girl in the Woods Reviews

Review: Nathanael West – the Day of the Locust

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the Day of the Locust
Nathanael West
Tod loves Faye, a woman of questionable talents and questionable motives. In a romance gone wrong, Tod fights over her, but never seems to progress on anything – except perhaps his wonderful painting that describes everything that is wrong with American society.
This is another American literature novel for me. It starts out quite slowly, but interestingly, but does not build to the expected climax. Of the whole book, I would have said that the ending left me most underwhelmed – but that that was the point, because the themes of the book are unfulfilled sexual gratification and unfulfilled dreams.
This novels quite a gritty one, and I wouldn’t have said I really enjoyed it. It’s going to be a fun one to write about in the exam though, because there is just so much there to comment on. The narrator really made the story for me with his forknowledge and snarky remarks about the characters. I really didn’t feel any sympathy for the characters, even poor Homer.
Apparently this novel has multiple references to pop culture – or that pop culture references it. Homer is as of “The Simpsons” in humour, and additionally apparently there is a similar scene in Seinfeld. See, I had to even google that to spell it correctly!
Overwhelmingly this novel dreams of blood and violence. Tod often fantasises about raping Faye, and sometimes you even feel as if that would be justified, she’s so annoying and teasing. I actually really liked the Mexican with the chicken, and felt that in an odd way, of course it was he that got Faye in the end.
Not the finest example of American literature I’ve read so far, but not the worst. I wouldn’t personally recommend reading it, but if it was on your bookshelf and you felt like some violence and unfulfilment go for it!

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Review: Leslie Marmon Silko – Ceremony

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Ceremony
Leslie Marmon Silko
Tayo has survived his beginnings as an outcast of both white and Native American society, only to be sent off to fight a war that he can’t hope to survive intact. As his childhood, war memories and ceremonial present  come to the fore, Tayo must make a journey to bring the rain back to the land.

This is one of the novels I was assigned for American Literature. It’s filled with figurative language (images & symbols) and a really heart rending story. The beginning is quite confusing and the time changes irritating, but eventually you get used to Silko’s style.
I found it to be a really rich spiritual journey, one that is so nicely articulated and accessible  even for me, a white Australian! I felt quite moved after I had finished reading it, and immediately had to write down some of my impressions for my essay writing.

One of the main things I took away from this novel is that we must all be responsible for our own actions. That’s what Tayo must come to terms with (and does, with Harley’s death) in order to deal with Rocky’s death (which Tayo feels responsible for.

I only wish I felt the same sort of connection to the land and the family that Tayo does. I probably wouldn’t reread this novel, but it certainly gave me some things to think about once I had finished reading it. Even if you’re a bit nary of American Literature, if you need to choose something to read you should choose this one over Tender is the Night or Daisy Miller (both of which I also read for this unit).

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Review: Leisel K. Hill – Persistence of Vision

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Persistence of Vision
Leisel K. Hill
Some authors just have a spark in them that makes their worlds come alive in new and exciting ways. Leisel Hill is one of those authors. This is her first novel that I have read, and man, I can’t wait to get my hands on the other ones in this series.

When I wasn’t reading this novel, such as when I was at work, I couldn’t resist thinking about it and mulling over what would happen next. I could say I was captivated by it! However, the attraction wasn’t so strong that it overcame my willpower to work – which is actually a good point for me.

Maggie’s character is so nicely realised. Her actions speak so much louder than her words, yet her words are natural and fit well with the rest of the dialogue. The whole concept (which I don’t want to spoil for you) of losing time and memories is a fascinating one, particularly when there are others that know what has happened – and things are understandably awkward because of this.
I think there was just one section where things didn’t add up for me, and this was the Trackers sent out to find Nat. Now that I’ve perked your ears up for that, you can keep an eye out and see if you notice the same discrepancy. Other than that, the twisting story and what each character knows about each situation is kept strictly under wraps, which adds an element of surprise, as well as being the reason you keep reading.
I never knew I could enjoy a dystopian sci-fi so much! The concepts were really fascinating, and I really could see how the world we are currently inhabiting could go the way of this novel. It wasn’t unbelievable, and the science that was included fitted with what I know already.
This is a novel written by an author who knows what the formula for a good book is, yet has adapted it to produce a great book. I follow Leisel’s blog, and she often posts about how to write good novels, and she has used those techniques to great effect in her work.

The ending was just as good/bad as I hoped. Good, because it was satisfying, bad because this book is only just being released, and I want more right now!!! There were some nice additional twists that got me onto the edge of my seat, and everything was just awesome.

I requested this novel from the author, and was lucky enough to receive a beautiful paperback of it. This has in no way influenced my review, although I have promoted this novel on my blog as much as possible because it’s a great book.

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Review: Michael Santolini – The Rainbow Stick Boy

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The Rainbow Stick Boy
Michael Santolini
This is a cute little children’s book which extols the virtues of being different, and finding that someone special to share it with you. Rainbow Stick Boy is different from all the other people in his village because he’s multiple colours, not only one. But there’s something else special about him anyway.

 

This is a cute little picture book, but not a particularly unique one. There are plenty of others in this genre for kids (‘The Rainbow Fish’) that are better. I didn’t get any requests for a reread – I’d say let your local library buy a copy, and borrow it for your children to read.
I liked the straws he used! That was the highlight of the book for me, and gave me something to laugh about. It was also popular with my young audience.
I’d suggest to the author that although the artwork is as good as other picture book I’ve read, the prose could use some work. Also the title made me think this was a picture book for teaching children about LGBT children and adults, but it wasn’t at all.
I received this novel free, but this in no way influenced my review.

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Review: Marie Brennan – Lies and Prophecy

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Lies and Prophecy
Marie Brennan
Kim is majoring in divination, but it doesn’t mean her life is clear cut. There’s signs that things aren’t going smoothly, but with no way to turn, and piles of college work, Kim doesn’t really have enough time to devote to her budding romance as well
I really liked the beginning pages and opening chapters of this novel. They drew me in, and kept my interest up. This hints and things were exactly as you should set up a novel. However The middle of the text felt like it was dragging somewhat, which I found annoying.
As always, the fact that this novel is set in a university for fascinating for me, and held my interest in the same way that the early Harry Potter books did. I just love learning things! I dabbled in some tarot and runes when I was younger (as well as wicca) and I think that this novel is quite accurate in its portrayal. Of course there is not enough there for a whole training in it though.
Although the majority of the text is told for Kim’s point of view, some is from Julien’s, which becomes more important as the text progresses. I would have found the final scenes very jarring had I not had any insight into him before. However  his narration is more of a limited kind as you feel less feelings from him.
The ending was less inspiring than I had hoped. I kept checking, going “Uh oh, only 20 pages left and I don’t think they’re going to solve the problem in that time and I don’t think this is a series” and indeed it wasn’t, and I wasn’t satisfied! Yes, the hurdles they overcame made sense and made things work out well though, but there wasn’t any real resolution of conflict.
I did finish this novel, and think that I wished something had been different, but it wasn’t a bad book by any means. I wonder whether there will be more in the series, and I’ll totally read them if I can get my hands on a free copy. I probably wouldn’t opt to buy this for myself. Recommended for teenagers.
I received this novel as a free copy from somewhere (no idea where any more), but that has in no way altered my review.

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Review: Jean Haus – In the Band

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In the Band

Jean Haus
Welcome to Reading Addiction Blog Tour’s stop for ‘In the Band’.
Riley was supposed to go interstate for a drumming scholarship, but has instead stayed home with her increasingly dysfunctional family. When she tries out for a band, she’s a shoo in, but will the sparks that fly between her and Romeo destroy the chemistry of the band?

The official blurb:

When family problems push Riley Middleton into giving up a percussion scholarship in another state and attending college from home, her friends push her to try out for a local rock band. Of course, Riley makes the band. She rules at the drums.

Riley soon finds out rock bands have a different dynamic than marching bands, especially when each of her male band mates has a major ego and is a major player. Two of them relentlessly flirt with her. The other—a dark, sexy rock god she can’t help being attracted to— is a total jerk and pushes her to quit. She becomes determined to ignore his rudeness and his hotness. Even if she was interested in jerks, a hook up would probably get her booted out of the ego-ridden band, and playing keeps her sane. Behind the drums, the world and her family’s troubles evaporate.

If she wants to stay in the band, Riley just has to ignore the growing sparks between her and her band enemy. But as she gets to know the man behind the stage persona, ignoring him proves to be more difficult than flowing through a time sig shift.

My review:

This novel was great. There was a main storyline which was really powerful without being cloying – the chemistry between Romeo and Riley. At the same time there are plenty of other romance storylines happening at once – so much drama!
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Sex scenes in this one, and plenty of groping, but it’s not too bad. Really this one is in the category of young adult for a good reason. There’s plenty of swearing as well, which I learnt to ignore eventually.
I felt Riley as a person. I wanted to cry with her when some things happened, and other times I just wanted her to beat the crap out of other people. Romeo was understandable too, and frustrating.
Band dynamics are always interesting to see and interpret. It’s strange to me for over 18 shows (which are I suppose opposed to over 21 shows in the US), and the bribing the bouncer to get in. But I guess I never did that, so it didn’t make sense to me.
I hope to see more from this author in the same genre, with the same mix of heavy teenage issues. I really enjoyed this one, and was gripped right to the end.

I didn’t approve of the ending, but then I guess this is a romance, so love is supposed to trump all. And they were pretty miserable before that. But the band! Music! Music should be the priority! I can understand about family though. Sigh.

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About the Author

Jean Haus lives in Michigan with her wonderful husband and son who, other than cooking, have taken over homemaking duties since she started writing more. When Jean isn’t writing, she’s usually reading. Anything from young adult to historical fiction as long as there is a bit of romance, she’ll load it on her Kindle. She loves to cook, and someday she will create the world’s best potsticker.

You can find her at:

Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour! You can look at some other things at:
January 14 – Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
January 15 – Coffee Books and Lipgloss – Review
January 16 – YA Reviews and News – Review
January 17 – Up All Night Reviews – Review
January 18 – My Devotional Thoughts – PROMO
January 19 – The College Crawl – Review
January 20 – TE Garden of Books – Review
January 21 – Mom With a Kindle – PROMO
January 22 – Diane Mulligan – PROMO
January 23 – For the Love of Film and Novels – Review
January 24 – Delirious About Books – PROMO
January 25 – Oh The Books That You’ll Read – Review
January 26 – Tana Rae Reads – Review
January 27 – Reader Girls -Review
January 29 – Lauries Thoughts and Reviews – PROMO
January 30 – My Reading Addiction – PROMO
January 31 – Just A Booklover – Review
February 1 – A Date With a Book – Review
February 2 – Andi’s YA Books – Review
February 3 – Rampant Readers – Review
February 4 – Book Lovin Mama’s – PROMO
February 5 – My Bookmark Blog – Review pan>
February 6 – Doodle’s Book Blog – PROMO
February 7 – Bibliophile’s Thoughts -PROMO
February 8 – The Cosy Dragon – Review

Review: Victoria Simcox – The Black Shard (review and giveaway)

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The Black Shard
Victoria Simcox
I originally read and reviewed The Magic Warble, the first book in this series, and said it reminded me of Enid Blyton’s ‘The Faraway Tree’. This novel is listed as a ‘middle-grade’ read, ages 9-13. It has 1-2 images every chapter.

Kristina is getting older, but she still remembers the fun times she had in her fantasy land Bernovem. Even as she writes about them in her journal, and others who went with her tell her she is stupid, she still perseveres with her memories.

The language of this novel could have done with a little more polishing for my liking. Certain things such as “Davina and Hester bonded together like lint on sticky glue.” made me giggle, but others just seemed as if the book hadn’t had enough editing.
The beginning of the novel was quite slow, but things quickly heated up. I found some elements to be similar to Lord of the Rings, which can only be a good thing! Introducing younger readers to fantasy early is always good.
Once again, the plot points are quite transparent to me, but it wouldn’t be as obvious to younger readers. I’m glad I read this novel – seeing Kristina and Werrien develop is wonderful. I hoped for more development from the antagonists, but it wasn’t quite there for me…
I received a free copy of this book after I previously reviewed The Magic Warble, and then offered to do a review and another giveaway for the author. This has in no way influenced the review I have given.

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giveaway (international)