Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

(288 pages)



Twelve-year-old villain, Artemis Fowl, is the most ingenious criminal mastermind in history. His bold and daring plan is to hold a leprechaun to ransom. But he's taking on more than he bargained for when he kidnaps Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance Unit). For a start, leprechaun technology is more advanced than our own. Add to that the fact that Holly is a true heroine and that her senior officer Commander Root will stop at nothing to get her back and you've got the mother of all sieges brewing!

I was really looking looking forward to this one after hearing all the hype, but unfortunately I didnt get along with it very well. I am not sure why but it irritated me. I guess I was expecting an Laex Rider (Horowitz) clone, but that wasnt what I got! The book wasnt bad, I could imagine loving it when I was a kid, but the writing style felt a little young for my mature 27 years! ;o) LOL! its just that i dint particularly enjoy it :o( I wasnt keen on Butler and Artemis really p***ed me off from the outset! Never mind, you cant win em all!

Ring by Koji Suzuki

(304 pages)



Stunning, cutting-edge thriller with a chilling supernatural twist from Japan's stylish new literary star. Asakawa is a hardworking journalist who has climbed his way up from local-news beat reporter to writer for his newspaper's weekly magazine. A chronic workaholic, he doesn't take much notice when his seventeen-year-old niece dies suddenly -- until a chance conversation reveals that another healthy teenager died at exactly the same time, in chillingly similar circumstances. Sensing a story, Asakawa begins to investigate, and soon discovers that this strange simultaneous sudden-death syndrome also affected another two teenagers. Exactly one week before their mysterious deaths the four teenagers all spent the night at a leisure resort in the same log cabin. When Asakawa visits the resort, the mystery only deepens. A comment made in the guest book by one of the teenagers leads him to a particular videotape. When he watches it, instead of a movie he finds an odd collection of disparate images with a portentous message at the end: Those who have viewed these images are fated to die at this exact hour one week from now. Asakawa finds himself in a race against time

Having seen both the original Japanese film 'Ringu' and the Americanised version 'Ring' and loving both, i felt it necessary to read the book. Luckily I wasn't disappointed!There are some big differences between the films and the books, the main one being that the main character (Asakawa) is male not female, there is also some detailed description as to how the video could've come into being and that all makes sense (unlike parts of the American film), BUT I think that had I not seen the Japanese film first, I may not have been sure where it was going. I am definitely glad that I hve read it, and having discovered that there are another two books 'Loop' and 'Spiral', I must say that I am itching to read them!I would recommend this to everyone, but must suggest that you watch 'Ringu' first (it is scary - more so than the book)

Naked In Death by JD Robb

(313 pages)



Crime and punishment is Lieutenant Eve Dallas's business. Murder her speciality...Named by the social worker who found her when she was a mere child roaming that city's streets, Eve Dallas is a New York police detective who lives for her job. In over ten years on the force, she's seen it all - and knows her survival depends on her instincts. But she's going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, a charismatic Irish billionaire - and a suspect in Eve's latest murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own, and it's up to Eve to take a chance in the arms of a man she knows nothing about - except the addictive hunger of needing his touch.

I really liked this, I loved the characters Roarke sounded very dishy, and I found the writng style nice and easy to follow and get along with!
It would've gotten 5 out of 5 had I not figured ot whodunnit so soon!
Just have to work my way through the rest of the series now!

No Greater Love by Danielle Steel

(384 pages)



In her twenty-eighth bestselling novel Danielle Steel portrays the full breadth of human emotions as she sweeps us back to a dramatic moment in history no-one will ever forget.

On the maiden voyage of the greatest ship ever built, the Titanic, Edwina Winfield was returning from her engagement trip to England with her fiance, her parents and five siblings.

In one fatal, unforgettable night, Edwina instantly becomes a woman mourning the loss of the man she loved, and mother to her five brothers and sisters. Her struggles to keep the family together go on for twelve long years, but as each child sets sail at last, to Hollywood, Europe, and elsewhere, Edwina finds her own life finally, and frees herself from the ghosts of those she loved and lost on the Titanic.

In this magnificent work that brings a new authenticity and immediacy to the Titanic disaster and its impact on those who survived, Danielle Steel is at the height of her enormous talent as one of the world's most respected and beloved writers.

Just finished this again, and loved it even more than bthe first time, its absolutely wonderful! Recommended to everyone with a soft centre!

Attention All Shipping by Charlie Connelly

(352 pages)



The solemn, rhythmic intonation of the shipping forecast on BBC radio is as familiar as the sound of Big Ben chiming the hour. Since its first broadcast in the 1920s it has inspired poems, songs and novels in addition to its intended objective of warning generations of seafarers of impending storms and gales. Sitting at home listening to the shipping forecast can be a cosily reassuring experience. There's no danger of a westerly gale eight, veering southwesterly increasing nine later (visibility poor) gusting through your average suburban living room, blowing the Sunday papers all over the place and startling the cat. Yet familiar though the sea areas are by name, few people give much thought to where they are or what they contain. In ATTENTION ALL SHIPPING Charlie Connelly wittily explores the places behind the voice, those mysterious regions whose names seem often to bear no relation to conventional geography. Armchair travel will never be the same again.

This was a fun read giving us a guided tour of some odd places and people. Not my usual cup of tea, but was worth the read.

Man In The Mist by Annette Broadrick

(256 pages)



He appeared from the mist - formidable, feverish... and searching for her. Within moments he was in her bed, leaving Fiona MacDonald to wonder why an American man had travelled so far and to such personal expense to find a woman who hadn't wanted to be found.

She'd nursed Greg Dumas to health, only to learn that the former police officer's investigation of a client's birthright had led him to her father's dusty medical files. Fiona knew nothing of clandestibe deliveries, but she did know that she wanted to love the sorrow from this wounded warrior's eyes. But she also sensed Greg might disappear from her life as suddenly as he'd entered it...

This was a nice slushy read, but in typical Mills And Boon style it was rather corny! As usual there were some decent sex scenes too!

Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre

(288 pages)



Teenager Vernon Gregory Little's life has been changed by the Columbine-style slaughter of a group of students at his high school. Soon his hole-in-the-wall town is blanketed under a media siege, and Vernon finds himself blamed for the killing (rather than the real culprit, a friend of Vernon's). Eulalio Ledesma is his particular nemesis, manipulating things so that Vernon becomes the fulcrum for the bizarre and vengeful impulses of the townspeople of Martirio. After a truly surrealistic set of events, Vernon finds himself heading for a fateful assignation in Mexico with the delectable Taylor Figueros (everyone in the book has names as odd as the author's).

I am afraid that i didnt get on with this at all. I didnt find it funny and the profanity was un-necessary. I am not a prude and dont mind bad language, but this seemed excessive to me. Sorry!

The Way The Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald

(848 pages)



The optimism of the early sixties, infused with the excitement of the space race and the menace of the Cold War, is filtered through the rich imagination of high-spirited, eight-year-old Madeleine, who welcomes her family's posting to a quiet Air Force base near the Canadian border. Secure in the love of her beautiful mother, she is unaware that her father, Jack, is caught up in a web of secrets. When a very local murder intersects with global forces, Jack must decide where his loyalties lie, and Madeleine will be forced to learn a lesson about the ambiguity of human morality -- one she will only begin to understand when she carries her quest for the truth, and the killer, into adulthood twenty years later.

I really did enjoy this. It began really well and then trailed of slightly giving masses of details about things that seemed totally irrelevant, but then it really picked up in the middle and became totally un-put-down-able. Persevering and taking in all the little details was well worth it, because most of them were needed in the last third of the book :o)
It was gripping, compassionate, sad and moving along with being a cracking murder mystery, making you wonder 'whodunnit'? I didnt guess correctly and was shocked when the conclusion came. WOW! It really was great!

Girls Night In by Various

(592 pages)



An unparalleled collection of stories especially written by today's best young female writers, to be published in aid of War Child, the charity dedicated to alleviating the suffering of children affected by war. Top authors Jessica Adams, Fiona Walker and Chris Manby have asked some of today's bestselling young women writers to contribute stories to an anthology to be published in aid of War Child. Just a few of the contributors are Candace Bushnell (Sex in the City), Jane Green, Lisa Jewell (Ralph's Party), Wendy Holden (Simply Divine), Isabel Wolff, Marian Keyes, Freya North, Fiona Walker, Cathy Kelly, Patricia Scanlan, Clare Naylor, Josie Lloyd and Jenny Colgan. All profits from the publication will go directly to War Child.

This is a collection of short Stories, so I will rate each one individually.I did read all these stories, but couldn't find that musch to say about most of them, so I apologise if there ismt much of an entry for all the individual ones. (I also didn't have the patience to make notes on all 31!!!!!)

1. In and Out By Freya North - 6 out of 10 A very odd little tale, not quite sure if there was a point to it though!
2. Dougie, Spoons and the Aquarium Solarium By Jenny Colgan - 8 out of 10 Typical Jenny Colgan style, teaching us that appearances can be deceiving!
3. The Power of Two By Fiona Walker - 7 out of 10 Shows why fame isnt necessarily all its cracked up to be (but then again ...)
4. The Truth is Out There By Marian Keyes - 10 out of 10 It is strange how strength and comfort can be found in the strangest of places, like an invisible, psychic, 6 legged, yellow alien called "Ozymandmandyprandialsink" (just call him 'Bib'!) A lovely heartwarming, cute and sensitive story in typical Keyes style!
5. Rudy By Lisa Jewell - 8 out of 10 A lovely story, showing the strange intricacies of a single mans mind!
6. A Swimmer's Tale By Stella Duffy - 6 out of 10 I don't know why, but I didn't relly get along with this one :o(
7. Post Haste By Isabel Wolff - 8 out of 10 There are only two things to say about this 1) OOOOOPS and 2)Never post a letter when you are in a really bad mood! Read this story and you will understand :o)
8. Cassandra By Cathy Kelly - 7 out of 10 An entertaining story teaching about so called 'friends'
9. Access All Areas By Jane Owen - 8 out of 10 Reminded me of Bridget Jones!
10. The E-Male of the Species By Wendy Holden- 7 out of 10 Oh! the joys of eMail & men ! Lol!
11. Love on the Underground By Jessica Adams - 8 out of 10
12. Fairweather Friend By Patricia Scanlan - 7 out of 10
13. Something Different By Clare Naylor - 9 out of 10
14. The Itch By Polly Samson - 7 out of 10
15. Morro By Alecia McKenzie - 8 out of 10
16. FlungBy Adele Parks - 9 out of 10
17. Pull Me in the Pullman Carriage By Helen Lederer - 9 out of 10 I absolutely love Helen Lederer, she cracks me up & this was no exception!
18. The Plain Truth By Claire Calman - 7 out of 10
19. Mr Charisma By Yasmin Boland - 7 out of 10
20. The Sun, the Moon and the Stars By Pauline McLynn - 8 out of 10
21. The Shell of Venus By Victoria Routledge - 9 out of 10
22. Man with a Tan By Anna Maxted - 9 out of 10
23. Storm Clouds By Seila O'Flannagan - 7 out of 10
24. Caravan By Rosalyn Chissick - 8 out of 10
25. The Seven Steps from Shag to Spouse By Tiffanie Darke - 8 out of 10
26. Lip Service By Karen Moline - 8 out of 10
27. Saving Amsterdam By Chris Manby - 9 out of 10
28. A Form of Release By Daisy Waugh - 7 out of 10
29. Hurrah for the Hols By Helen Simpson - 7 out of 10
30. No Worries By Sarah Ingham - 8 out of 10
31. Re: The World By Amy Jenkins - 8 out of 10 This is a really sad story, left me with a heavy heart. Perhaps being beautiful isnt the most important thing in the world!

WOW! Thats a lot of short stories!
My favourite was definitely Bib the alien created by the wonderful Marian Keyes!

Lovely Green eyes by Arnost Lustig

(256pages)


Fifteen-year-old Hanka Kaudersova has ginger hair and clear, green eyes. When her family is deported to Auschwitz, Hanka is faced with a choice: follow her family to the gas chamber, or work in an SS brothel behind the eastern front. Choosing life, she fights cold, hunger, fear and shame.

This is a very cruel sad and depressing book. It shows how human spirit can triumph over harsh adversity, and serves as a reminder to everyone of the awful things that people are capable of doing and also enduring.I would have given more stars had it not been so miserable!

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

(240 pages)


Manhattan teenager, Mia suddenly becomes heir to the Genovian throne, apparantly she is really a princess. Mia begins taking princess lessons from her bonkers old "grandmere" and has to be followed everywhere by a trigger happy bodyguard. But if you think she's moving to Genovia, think again!

A fun, light-hearted look at the life of a reluctant teenage princess. Slightly sickly sweet but definitely enjoyable. I am just glad that I had my teenage life and not Mia's!

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

(240 pages)



When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances, 14-year-old Alex Rider finds his world turned upside down. Forcibly recruited into M16, Alex has to take part in gruelling SAS training exercises. Then, armed with a special set of secret gadgets, he's off on his first mission to Cornwall.

I rattled through this in less than 12 hours! WOW! It was a really nice, fun escapist read. I wasnt over keen on the corny Hollywood ending though.
Even so I still want to read the rest of the series :o)

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

(224 pages)



THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN is a wonderfully moving fable that addresses the meaning of life, and life after death, in the poignant way that made TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE such an astonishing book. The novel's protagonist is an elderly amusement park maintenance worker named Eddie who, while operating a ride called the 'Free Fall', dies while trying to save a young girl who gets in the way of a falling cart that hurtles to earth. Eddie goes to heaven, where he meets five people who were unexpectedly instrumental in some way in his life. While each guide takes him through heaven, Eddie learns a little bit more about what his time on earth meant, what he was supposed to have learned, and what his true purpose on earth was. Throughout there are dramatic flashbacks where we see scenes from his troubled childhood, his years in the army in the Philippines jungle, and with his first and only love, his wife Marguerite.

I read this in one sitting, It only took 2 1/2 hours!
What a wonderful little book. It was touching and sensitive and thought provoking all at once. It has certainly made me realise that no matter how insignificant you may feel, you are always a part of a bigger picture :o)
To all those who read this I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

(160 pages)



The Summer Book is a fresh, vivid and magical novel about seemingly endless summers of discovery. An elderly artist and her six year old granddaughter while away the summer together, on a tiny island in the Gulf of Finland, their solitude disturbed only by migrating birds, sudden storms and an occasional passing boat. Gradually, the two learn to adjust to each other's fears, foibles and yearnings for independence, and a fierce yet understated love emerges - one that engulfs not only the summer inhabitants, but the very island itself. Tove Jansson writes with a special toughness, and with a quiet, dry sense of humour, about a small girl and her grandmother, who as kindred spirits share the long days together.

This really is a lovely little book! I havent read a book so quickly for a while, and i couldnt wait to get to the end. As for the ending, I think it is up to the reader to decide what happens, I suppose it all depends on whether you are an optimist or a pessimist :o)

Dead Famous by Ben Elton

(384 pages)



One house. Ten contestants. Thirty cameras. Forty microphones. Yet again the public gorges its voyeuristic appetite as another group of unknown and unremarkable people submit themselves to the brutal exposure of the televised real-life soap opera, House Arrest. Everybody knows the rules: total strangers are forced to live together while the rest of the country watches them do it. Who will crack first? Who will have sex with whom? Who will the public love and who will they hate? All the usual questions. And then, suddenly, there are some new ones. Who is the murderer? How did he or she manage to kill under the constant gaze of the thirty television cameras? Why did they do it? And who will be next?

Really good fun, laced with the trademark Ben Elton humour. I enjoyed this, but unfortunately its making me crave more BigBrother on the TV!

Keeping track

I am going to use this blog as a diary of what I have been up to as well as the books I have read.
I am a member of BookCrossing, BookRelay and also 43Things, and my BookCrossing shelf can be found HERE

I hope to be able to record everything together in one site to make my life a little easier!!

Welcome

This is my first ever BlogSpot, so you will have to be patient with me!

All the stuff you need to know about me is over in the profiles and archives. Hope you enjoy noseying around!