Dead as a Doornail- Charlaine Harris

Synopsis (from Amazon)

Sookie’s got just a month, before the next full moon, to find out who wants her brother dead – and to stop the fiend! Sookie Stackhouse enjoys her life, mostly. She’s a great cocktail waitress in a fun bar; she has a love life, albeit a bit complicated, and most people have come to terms with her telepathy. The problem is, Sookie wants a quiet life – but things just seem to happen to her and her friends. Now her brother Jason’s eyes are starting to change: he’s about to turn into a were-panther for the first time. She can deal with that, but her normal sisterly concern turns to cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population. She afraid not just because Jason’s at risk, but because his new were-brethren suspect Jason may be the shooter. Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who’s behind the attacks – unless the killer decides to find her first. The Sookie Stackhouse books are delightful Southern Gothic supernatural mysteries, starring Sookie, the telepathic cocktail waitress, and a cast of increasingly colourful characters, including vampires, werewolves and things that really do go bump in the night.

Review

This one surprised me a bit because it barely had vampires in it compared to the others (highlight for spoiler)even if the killer did turn out to be a vampire…or at least the one who was trying to kill Sookie! At least it had a fair bit of Alcide in, who is still my favourite, and quite a lot of Sam who I grow to like more and more with each book. A little Eric too who I like to see, and not too much Bill who I’m not so fond of.  It strikes me more and more that although Sookie is technically the heroine, she’s barely ever works things out by herself, and i’s only ever towards the end that she really seems to be the heroine. The romance in this book I find a little confusing, I mean she seem to like these guys but doesn’t get her act together, and I don’t understand how she can have spent years and years with no dates then after she’s dated a vampire she’s suddenly so popular.

3.5/5

Dead to the World- Charlaine Harris

Synopsis (from Amazon)

Sookie comes to the rescue of a naked, amnesiac vampire – and ends up in the middle of a war between witches, werewolves and vampires! Sookie Stackhouse is a small-town cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She’s pretty. She does her job well. She keeps to herself – she has only a few close friends, because not everyone appreciates Sookie’s gift: she can read minds. That’s not exactly every man’s idea of date bait – unless they’re undead – vampires and the like can be tough to read. And that’s just the kind of guy Sookie’s been looking for. Maybe that’s why, when she comes across a naked vampire on the way home from work, she doesn’t just drive on by. He hasn’t got a clue who he is, but Sookie has: Eric looks just as scary and sexy – and dead – as the day she met him. But now he has amnesia, he’s sweet, vulnerable, and in need of Sookie’s help – because whoever took his memory now wants his life. Sookie’s investigation into what’s going on leads her straight into a dangerous battle between witches, vampires and werewolves. But there could be even greater danger – to Sookie’s heart, because the kinder, gentler Eric is very hard to resist. The Sookie Stackhouse books are delightful Southern Gothic supernatural mysteries, starring Sookie, the telepathic cocktail waitress, and a cast of increasingly colourful characters, including vampires, werewolves and things that really do go bump in the night.

Review.

I liked this one, not quite as much as Club Dead, but still I liked it. Sookie retained some of her independence (although not all of it) which I liked in Club Dead. There was less of Bill, which was probably connected to Sookie’s independence, and which made me realise that I actually don’t like Bill, at least as a character, the books are better without him. Then there is lots of Eric, who I always enjoy reading. Him loosing his mind makes it not to good, although he still retains something of his Ericness that I can’t quite put my finger on. There is Alcide too, who is my favourite character still (highlight for spoiler)(even though he got back together with Debbie, what was he thinking?), but not enough of him by far. I guess the one thing that is better in this book is that the story seems to get going quicker, I felt with the others I was waiting for the action to happen.

I still get surprised at the adult scenes in these books. You’d think I’d have learnt to expect them by now right?

3.25/5

Club Dead- Charlaine Harris

Synopsis (from Amazon)

There’s only one vampire Sookie Stackhouse is involved with – at least voluntarily – and that’s Bill. But recently he’s been a little distant – in another state distant. His sinister and sexy boss Eric has an idea where to find him, and next thing Sookie knows she’s off to Jackson, Mississippi, to mingle with the underworld at Club Dead. It’s a dangerous little haunt where the elusive vampire society can go to chill out and suck down some Type O – but when Sookie finally finds Bill caught in an act of serious betrayal she’s not sure whether to save him, or to sharpen some stakes. The Sookie Stackhouse books are delightful Southern Gothic supernatural mysteries, starring Sookie, the telepathic cocktail waitress, and a cast of increasingly colourful characters, including vampires, werewolves and things that really do go bump in the night.

Review.

This has probably been my favourite Sookie Shackhouse so far, although they are still not a favourite series, enjoyable enough but nothing special. I think maybe I don’t care that much about Sookie (or Bill as it comes to it), I don’t hate her or anything, it’s just that I’m not particularly interested in her. I prefer Eric, he might not have been the greatest guy, but I found him interesting, and more entertaining. I think what really makes this book better for me is Alcide. I like this guy, he’s better than Eric, and I certainly prefer him to Bill. I hope we’ll see more of him in the next books. I never seem to like the leading male in these types of books, maybe it’s me, maybe they’re written that way.

I kind of liked how Sookie was more independent in this book too, maybe I don’t really like how Bill looks after her.

3.5/5

The Third Angel- Alice Hoffman

Synopsis (from Amazon)

This haunting, poignant and addictive story travels effortlessly across three generations and through time. Unravelling the years from the present to the 1950s, “The Third Angel” is a compelling novel, set mainly in London, about girls and women who make the wrong choices and have to live with the sometimes unbearable consequences.”The Third Angel” opens in London in the present day, when an envious sibling comes to her sister’s wedding. Their mother’s illness cast a shadow over their childhood, and both Madeline and Allie are still searching for something missing in their lives. Back in the Swinging Sixties, the bridegroom’s conventional English mother, Frieda, behaves in a wholly unconventional way, and the ghosts of that era still haunt all their lives and a Knightsbridge hotel. Even before that, the seeds of tragedy are sown in the Fifties, when twelve-year-old Lucy first visits London and the same hotel. Precocious, impatient, wise beyond her years, Lucy becomes a go-between for two star-crossed lovers and then holds herself agonisingly responsible for what happens…

Review

It’s a bit difficult to talk about this book without giving away important bits of the plot. I shall try, but be ready for a few blanked out spoilers! I’ve only read one book by Alice Hoffman before, Blue Diary, which is probably better known, but I preferred this one. I found it read a little like Sebastian Fawkes’ earlier work (like The Girl at the Lion D’or, especially in the parts set at the hotel). Not quite up to the standard of Fawkes, but getting there. It made me think a fair bit too, and I felt quite connected with some of the characters. My favourite was probably Lucy [highlight for spoiler] (at least when she was young), she kind of reminded me of myself but maybe more how I would want to be, more confident. I liked Frieda too. I liked how she was so independent, and how she had so many hopes [highlight for spoiler] I was almost disappointed when she gave up on her life in London, but I don’t think it was really her, more a kind of teenage rebellion. I think in the end the life she had was the one that would have made her happy rather than carrying on as she was. I had mixed feelings about Paul, or at least about his actions. [Highlight for spoiler]When I found out why he was trying to drive Allie away at first I thought he was a coward for not just breaking up with her. After a while I began to think that actually he was quite romantic, trying to make it easier for her to leave, and maybe to make it easier on her when he died. And he kept trying to get her to escape right to the very end. He didn’t want her to suffer, even when he most needed her.

4/5

The Lucifer Effect- Phillip Zimbardo

Synopsis (from Amazon)

In The Lucifer Effect, the award-winning and internationally respected psychologist, Philip Zimbardo, examines how the human mind has the capacity to be infinitely caring or selfish, kind or cruel, creative or destructive. He challenges our conceptions of who we think we are, what we believe we will never do – and how and why almost any of us could be initiated into the ranks of evil doers. At the same time he describes the safeguards we can put in place to prevent ourselves from corrupting – or being corrupted by – others, and what sets some people apart as heroes and heroines, able to resist powerful pressures to go along with the group, and to refuse to be team players when personal integrity is at stake. Using the first in-depth analysis of his classic Stanford Prison Experiment, and his personal experiences as an expert witness for one of the Abu Ghraib prison guards, Zimbardo’s stimulating and provocative book raises fundamental questions about the nature of good and evil, and how each one of us needs to be vigilant to prevent becoming trapped in the ‘Lucifer Effect’, no matter what kind of character or morality we believe ourselves to have. The Lucifer Effect won the William James Book Award in 2008.

Review

Oh how long have I been reading this book? Seems like I have been reading it for months! It has taken a long time but not because it’s uninteresting or badly written. In fact of the psychology books I’ve read aimed at none psychologists this is probably the best written. It doesn’t use too much specialised language and, unlike the others I’ve read, when it does it seems to be explained well. I’m probably not the best person to say that as I have a psychology degree but I was trying to think of how people who know little about psychology would view it. Despite a good writing style I can’t really say that it was easy to read. The subject matter was quite disturbing, in parts things which happened during the Stanford Prison Experiment and at Abu Ghraib  were described in such detail that it actually made me feel a bit ill, there were pictures from Abu Ghraib that I’ve never seen before, and were nasty. The thought that anybody, any normal person, could do those sort of things is disturbing because it’s one of those things you never imagine you could do, but maybe that’s wrong. I’m glad to be aware of it though, it’s like a guard against it.

Certainly not an easy book to read, but an important one I think, and very interesting, I definitely recommend it.

4/5

Edit: I forgot to say something which I disliked about the book was that sometimes Zimbardo seemed to be pushing his own political views, or even agenda, when it came to discussing Abu Ghraib, and it did mean that there was some content which wasn’t really needed (at least to the extent he discussed it) when thinking about the situation surrounding the events at the prison.

The Fourth Bear- Jasper Fforde

Synopsis (from Amazon)

The Gingerbreadman – psychopath, sadist, convicted murderer and cake/biscuit – is loose on the streets of Reading.

It isn’t Jack Spratt’s case. Despite the success of the Humpty Dumpty investigation, the well publicised failure to prevent Red Riding-Hood and her Gran being eaten once again plunges the Nursery Crime Division into controversy. Enforced non-involvement with the Gingerbreadman hunt looks to be frustrating until a chance encounter at the oddly familiar Deja-Vu Club leads them onto the hunt for missing journalist Henrietta ‘Goldy’ Hatchett, star reporter for The Daily Toad.

The last witnesses to see her alive were The Three Bears, comfortably living out a life of rural solitude in Andersen’s wood. But all is not what it seems. Are the unexplained explosions around the globe somehow related to missing nuclear scientist Angus McGuffin? Is cucumber-growing really that dangerous? Why are National Security involved? But most important of all: How could the bears’ porridge be at such disparate temperatures when they were poured at the same time?

Review

I really do like Jasper Fforde novels. They’re like nothing I’ve ever read before. Like crime stories but with a bit of a literary twist. This one was particularly good, or at least better than the previous in the nursery crime series (The Big Over Easy). While I still prefer the Thursday Next series in general this is a strong contender to knock them out of place. In ways these are easier too seeing as it’s pretty easy to miss the literary references in Thursday Next, but I have a pretty wide knowledge of nursery rhymes.

I found the general storyline of this one better than the previous in the series, more compelling somehow, and the twists and turns kept me guessing. In fact the only thing I really didn’t like about the book was how much the title gives away, and that there were plenty of alternative titles which wouldn’t have done that.

4.5/5

Review of the Year (part 2)

The Worst

Review of the Year 2009 (Part 1)

The bit at the beginning

Seing as it’s almost the end of another year I thought it might be nice to have a sort of review of what I’ve read this year. What the best books have been, and the worst, and the most surprising. I’ll probably go on to talk about the books I’d like to read as a result of what I have read.

As I started logging my books from about the beggining of Febuary those are all I will mention. My first review was written in late Febuary so on lists I will highlight books with no reviews in red, books with reviews on this blog will be linked. Those not reviewed on here are reviewed on my thread at The Book Club Forum, if you aren’t a member there (Why not?!) but would like to see a review of something mentioned let me know. I’ll post full reviews for the ‘winners’

So off we go…

General Stats

Books read (45)

New Moon- Stephenie Meyer

Synopsis (from Amazon)

I stuck my finger under the edge of the paper and jerked it under the tape. ‘Shoot,’ I muttered when the paper sliced my finger. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut. It all happened very quickly then. ‘No!’ Edward roared …Dazed and disorientated, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm – and into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires. For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is more dangerous than Bella ever could have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of an evil vampire but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realise their troubles may just be beginning …

Review

Ok first off I want to establish I am not a Twilight fan. I find the books pretty insubstancial and plot driven (which is not a bad thing for everyone, but is for me- having said that I would rather read a plot driven book than a book with no plot 99% of the time). I knew lots of people who had read them before I picked up the first one, a lot of them hadn’t thought much of them but still seemed sucked into them, and I was intrigued. I’m not going to put a review of the first book here but lets just say I didn’t see anything special, still the plot had got to me enough to be interested in seeing what happened next. That I didn’t want to spend money to read the next one, and that it took over a year for me to be able to read New Moon should tellyou something. I could go on and on about the things I generally dislike about the books (Bella being somewhere at the top of the list) but I’m just going to focus on this book.

Most people seem to say this book is poorer than the previous but I actually preferred it. Part of this I think is because I realised early on that actually I hated Edward (I spent too much time hating Bella to realise before I think!). I mean what sort of a boyfriend is he. He claims to love her but at the same time lets her get closer when he’s ‘dangerous’ (highlight for spoiler) and knows he has to leave, for God’s sake he gives her a sentimental present the day before he leaves her! I much prefer Jacob, he seems to care for her a little beyond ‘I man I protect woman’ type mentality, in fact for this book he’s quite advanced in terms of how he sees women and himself. I found the whole (highlight for spoiler) werewolf thing must more interesting than the Vampire thing too. I was intregued at what changed at that age, and why there weren’t more than 5 of them. Plus the Vampires were never really a risk, whereas they were so much more volatile.

Basically I would pick Jasper any day of the week over Edward (even if he does ‘dazzle!’) (actually I would probably pick Eric, but that is neither here nor there). Even if it was just for a story.

2.2/5

Oh and you know what else annoyed me, she kept comparing them to Romeo and Juliet…just on a literary level that offends me! Let alone on a romantic level

(I do agree with Edward about Romeo though!)

Oh and you know what else annoyed me, she kept comparing them to Romeo and Juliet…just on a literary level that offends me! Let alone on a romantic level
(I do agree with Edward about Romeo though!)

Before I start

There is a review in the pipeline but I have realised it’s been a while (and well if anyone was reading Twilight for that long I would be worried!). I’ve been reading The Lucifer Effect by Phillip Zimbardo since my last review, (a worthwhile book but not easy- I shall save the rest for its review) and am about halfway through. I fancied something easier over Christmas, hence reading New Moon, but shall start back on The Lucifer Effect once I get back to work. Just know it may take a while.

Review of New Moon will be up as soon as I have written it!