Tag Archives: 3-stars

Review: Diana Wynne Jones – Power of Three

Posted on by
Reply
Power of Three
Diana Wynne Jones
There is a powerful curse at work on the moor. The giants, the people and the Dorig are all suffering from one ill-advised deed. Although the reader may think they know what to expect – they really don’t. It is up to Gair, the ordinary son of a hero, to save the day.
The plot of this book builds up slowly. Although the reader will know from the beginning that things are not right, and where the curse has come from, it is not clear how things can be set right, or even if they can be.
There are a variety of characters which is nice, with the majority of focalisation through Gair. Children will find them likeable, and not too confronting. The ending is a bit of a chair edged one, but it’s certainly not too scary!
I guess this book was a little disappointing for me. I thought I had never read it before, but after getting into it, I realised that it had. It meant that even with all of Gair’s bad feelings, I knew what was going to happen, and I couldn’t dread it properly.
This was a fast read for me, but no doubt will be a little more challenging for its target audience. It did read aloud well though, probably a mark of its author’s craftmanship. It’s a good book, just not for me any more. I somewhat regret buying this one, except that I am sure I will share it with my children eventually!
This book is for children. The storyline is simple, and emphasises the need to look after your friends, and also the importance of words. For a writer, words are all you have to get the message accross, so of course they are important!

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy3star

Review: Miles Franklin – My Brilliant Career

Posted on by
Reply
My Brilliant Career
Miles Franklin
Sybylla is going to have a brilliant career… in doing nothing. Out in the Australian Bush, and even in town, it’s obvious that Sybylla doesn’t belong. This is a prime example of early Australian literature, and it’s worth a read if you like that type of thing, or the poetry of the 1890s isn’t for you. Hit the jump for more…

For years I didn’t know that Miles Franklin was a woman. Upon now reading it, it’s obvious that it is! She says it’s not romantic, but in a way it is. Sybylla is lovable, in an irritating sort of way. The foreword by Henry Lawson is rather masculine, and I”m not sure it’s really in keeping with the book, but it does display the attitudes of men towards women’s writing at the time.

Before I started reading, I knew the ending because I had already read some references on the topic (hello essay topic of mateship). So I knew it was doomed from the start! I still persevered though, and in the end I was reading past my bed time because I wanted to see what the stupid Sybylla would do! There is a sequel to this book (‘My Career Goes Bung’), which I don’t think I’ll bother reading (although I am somewhat curious).
Australian fiction doesn’t do anything for me. Certainly not Australian fiction from the literary period of the 1890s. I’m sure there are better examples of Australian fiction, and I do enjoy some Australian fantasy, but novels of mateship and the hardships of the Bush don’t seem to do anything for me. UnAustralian of me, I know, I know. 
I can understand why I am set to study it, because it is a relatively good example of its kind. And it is extremely well known. This is rather reminicent of the writings of Jane Austin, which I also didn’t enjoy. However, if you enjoy fiction in the style of Austin, and don’t mind a bit of Australian slang, this is a good book to get right into it. The language isn’t particularly hard, as long as you understand the Australianisms.

I feel like I’ve given you a list of reasons not to read it, and very little on the good aspects of the book. For a first novel by an early Australian writer, it’s not that bad. The settings are well described, and you can understand the relationships of Sybylla with her family nicely. There is little action, but what there is is quite good. Sybylla seems to get into trouble over everything! And there is certainly no ‘Brilliant Career’ to speak of.

My copy was from the library, and the version of it had a surprising number of typos. Not unreadable, just that the editors seemed not to take any care. Or perhaps it was left over from the original manuscript – whatever, it was just a shame. That was reflected in the boring cover you see in the above image. The book is obviously riding on its reputation as a classic, not looking to pull readers on the basis of looks or story line alone.

You can purchase My Brilliant Careerfrom Amazon (affiliate link)

Review: Mercedes Lackey – Changes

Posted on by
Reply
Changes
Mercedes Lackey

Mags is moving up in the world. He is apprenticed to the King’s Own, and seems to be getting somewhere with catching up on his studies. Of course, that all comes crashing down as the Colligium heats up for the summer. I found it to be disappointing, but feel free to come to your own opinions. Hit the jump for more…

17018909This novel initially focuses on Kirball, which is something I actually enjoy. It’s good to see the Greys doing something other than book work! It wraps up nicely after the previous book, where Dallen has been injured and is unable to play. The novel quickly progresses to using Mags’ talents at analyzing ‘sparklies’. The novel’s progression again reminds me of ‘Take a Thief’, but it’s still nice to get some insight into the beginnings of the Collegium.

What was disappointing was that I knew how to pairings would work Bear and Lena, Mags and Amily. It was just a little too clear cut and obvious. I always thought I knew that Amily would end up being the Herald Chronicler – how could she not? The Dean of Heralds is going on about how his office is full of books, and the archives are poor, so there is a place for her, crippled as she is. I’m somewhat disappointed that the novel isn’t conclusive like I had hoped – it’s not a trilogy at all! It lied to me!

The novel doesn’t seem to have any relation to ‘Changes’ that I can see. I’m feeling very disillusioned abotu it at the moment, it’s just not as good as other Valdemar novels I have read by her. I was looking forward to reading it, and reaching a conclusion. Oh Lackey, why did you have to trade from your trilogies? I feel like the action in the second book could have been condensed more, and I could have had more meat in the second!

Another problem I have is that there are multiple typos in it. It feels rushed. Maybe Lackey or her editor didn’t reread her work? There’s one spot where it reads ‘Hera;ds’. It’s such an easy mistake to fix!

If you’re a hard-core Lackey fan, it’s worth reading. If you’re looking for something to introduce you into her finest work, this isn’t it. Please, if you read this set of books, and find you hate them, please don’t give up on Lackey. I promise there are other books by her out there that are so much better. It was ok to read, it did grab me, but it just wasn’t satisfying. Lackey, I’m disappointed.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy3star

Review: Mercedes Lackey – Intrigues

Posted on by
Reply
Intrigues
Mercedes Lackey
Mags seems to be finally settling down in the Collegium. He has his great friends, Lena and Bear to look after him, but suddenly they are both in danger of being snatched away.To top that off, Mags is being accused of injuring the king. Hit the jump for more…
16694405Much of ‘Intrigues’ is about Mags finding out his history, although it turns out to be something like he really was ‘Bad Blood’. Mag’s friends are being accused by their families, and it makes for an uncomfortable situation. When Dallen gets into an accident, Mags’ world is thrown upside down, and he feels like there will never be light at the end of the tunnel.
In this novel, Mags is almost certainly suffering from depression. Because that is my own personal area of interest, it draws me to him. I found myself crying occasionally, because the situation just seemed so hopeless. I guess that’s a mark of how much I empathized with him. His recovery though was swift and painless – he of course has a Companion, when the rest of us don’t have a mythical horse to pull us out of the pit.
The settings are familiar to those who have read the other books. I agree with other reviewers that it seems very choppy, with some obvious errors in spelling and grammar. In other books, I have even noted where the publisher has changed a character’s name to something else, such as an article of speech! It’s still an ok novel, but it isn’t the best she has even written. It feels a little like as Lackey has gotten older, her attempts of pushing books out onto the market quickly have destroyed the flow she had in the earlier novels.
Although it could be done, I wouldn’t recommend reading ‘Intrigues’ without having first read ‘Foundation’. It really is a trilogy – or I thought it was! Again, I didn’t reread this book before reviewing it because I wanted to read the next one! Surprisingly, although this says it is a trilogy, the Mercedes Lackey website lists it as having a fourth book to come out. I find that a little disappointing – I love Mags, but I’d love to have a new character just as much!
I’d still recommend this book for teens and adults, although the themes are far darker than before. Blood, betrayal, fire and corruption – they’re all here, but they are dealt with sensitively and not gratuitously.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy3star

Review: Anthony Horowitz – Snakehead

Posted on by
Reply
Snakehead
Anthony Horowitz
Twists, turns and family dramas. Alex Rider is embroiled in another job that is custom made for him. I often wonder what will happen to him when he grows up… or whether he ever will. Hit the jump for more.
1821571If the bad guys ever learnt not to gloat, and to shoot first, then Alex Rider would be in trouble. Instead they like to create creative ends for him, which he always manages to wriggle out of. It’s pretty close though, as a reader I’m almost always on the edge of my seat. I’m both hoping and dreading reaching the end of the series, as Alex’s luck could finally run out!
Alex has abandoned any attempt to be normal, and seems to be finally embracing the spy life. He’s not a patriot, he’s doing it only to find out what has happened to his mom and dad. Little does he know that he’s doomed from the beginning, and almost everything he trusts is a lie.
Something that fascinates me is Horowitz’s  realistic settings, and the effort he puts into being international. This is the first time he has really included Australia, which is totally typical of most writers. Australia is more of a destination than an explored place. Horowitz is very creative in the way he kills off the characters. It’s a mark of the research he obviously puts into his writing – I really appreciate it, after reading such things as ‘Twilight’ where things aren’t really thought out.
Thrilling, in fact I’d say it was one of the better books of the series. It was a little longer in length (or it felt that way). Horowitz puts his trademark twists in, as well as some gadgets, and some very nice disguises. What the reader thinks is a simple job, really never is.
I’d recommend this for teens who enjoy action. At this point in the series, I think it is essential to have read the books that came before. This book picks up straight after ‘Ark Angel’.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy3star

Review: Frank O’Connor – Classic Irish Short Stories

Posted on by
Reply
Classic Irish Short Stories
Frank O’Connor

This is a literature text for one of my Arts units, Irish Literature. For that reason, I haven’t actually read all of the short stories within the book. Frank O’Connor is only the editor, not writer of the short stories. There is a good range, particularly of women Irish writers.

142497The short stories are carefully crafted, and often filled with symbols and metaphors. They are a great expose on ‘Irish Life’. A bit of context regarding the famine, and world war II would be helpful, but not essential. You can still appreciate the stories as great Irish Literature.

While reading I wasn’t exactly concentrating on the joy of reading – these had an exam on them. I would love to go back at a later time when I’m not so stressed and reread more in the collection. If you didn’t like James Joyce, there is still a good chance you may like these, because there is simply so much variety in style.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy3star

Review: Thomas Mann – Death in Venice and Other Stories

Posted on by
Reply
Death in Venice and Other Stories
Thomas Mann
‘Death in Venice’ is an assigned text for one of my literature classes. It is a collection of short stories by Thomas Mann, including his possibly most famous – the same titled Death in Venice. Mann is the perfect example of a Modernist writer, and by no means are his works comfortable to read.
323328The title story, Death in Venice, is about Aschenbach, an aging writer who falls in lust with a younger boy when taking a holiday. The work is resplendent with images and symbols, and to be fair, it is a very good text to analyse. I didn’t particularly enjoy it, but it wasn’t bad either.

I couldn’t tell you whether it is a great example of Modernism – but it is according to my tutor. The story lacks a concrete feeling to the ending, which is something I personally hate. I’m also not very fond of short stories, as I feel like I never get to know the characters well before they are killed off. This story is more like a short novella though, and there is room for some ‘plot’ development.

Although not required for my class, I read a number of the other short stories in the book. I found them all to expand on the same themes of death and wanton destruction, and felt like once you had read one, you would expect the ending of the next to be the same (and indeed it is, with some subtle twists).
This book of short stories is certainly not suitable for younger readers. Adults may struggle with the uncomfortable, and often graphic, contents of the novel. This is not something I would normally read, and I probably wouldn’t seek out any of his other works.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy3star