Mr Rosenblum's List by Natasha Solomons

This is such a great book  - I got a reading copy about a month ago and I couldn't put it down.  Best read for two years!  So I was really excited to see it come into the shop yesterday. 

Eight years after WWII  Mr Rosenblum still feels like a stranger in a strange land, so he determines he will become an English gentleman at all costs.
There's some sad bits, and some unexpected turns in the plot. It's charming and funny and I thought it was brilliant. Did I mention best read in two years!


Review by Richard Ponder

The Horrible Books I've Read Lately

This is a bit like my personal raspberry awards for 2009/2010.  I've just had a run of books I"ve absolutely hated - here are a few of them. 

And the winner for Unreadably Awful Prose is Andy McNab's, "DropZone".  Of course nobody reads his stuff for the prose, they read them because he was a SAS covert ops commander, and I presume because he can come up with a decent plot.  I really couldn't get that far. 

And the winner for - Don't Ask Me Why but I just HATED it,  goes to Michael, C. Thorpes', "Ben Brown's Adventure Beyond the Universe, the Return of the Nephilim."  Old fashioned sci fi that feels like it might have come from a WWII bunker - but possibly on the wrong side.  I was probably just in completely the wrong space, I know other people who have just loved this book, but I found it distasteful - maybe I just couldn't get past those wheat fields.  It didn't help that a UFO crashed in one, killed a whole lot of cows- presumably from fire damage, but the wheatfield didn't go up .  After that I was just looking for trouble.

The winner for, Used Someone Else's Idea for a Story and it Really Didn't Work goes to Ben H. Winters', "Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters".  Seriously, "Pride, Prejudice and Zombies" was entertaining on more than one level.  I might have hated the characters and been crossing my fingers for the to die, but with this particular "conversion" I hardly know who any of the cahracters are -- and I certainly don't care.  Adding fish guts and grossness might amuse a few adolescent boys, but it's just dumped in every few pages whether it fits in with the plot or not.  So the story ends up - oh- they cooked something gross for dinner - so what?  Someone falls into the water for no real reason...




Alicia Ponder


There may be more yet to come -- but I hope not!

Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel

Starclimber, sequel to "Skybreaker," the Times Children's book of the year, seems to be an attempt at an old fashioned sci fi adventure. The plot starts with a big bang, and then Matt Cruse, the intrepid hero, has to undergo gruelling training and disappointment before being picked to be part of Starclimber's crew alongside his photographer girlfriend. They turn out to be right about all sorts of bizarre things, and end up in an awful lot of danger.

I found the characterisation shallow, the plot telegraphic, and much of the sci fi element old and tired . Don't get me wrong, some of it was great, and there were even moments where I thought, gosh if this author can sort himself out he's got real potential. But the end result was disappointment. Maybe my expectations were too high. 


Review by Alicia Ponder

Brainjack: the next war starts in cyberspace, by Brian Falkner

Sam Wilson, brilliant teenage hacker, is looking for trouble. And trouble is looking for him. He's trying to get into the most carefuly controlled pieces of cyberspace there is - but he has no idea of the danger that he's getting himself into, it's not just that the police might be after him, he's being chased by an agency he can't even comprehend.
Ok, I'm a science fiction buff, so nothing in this book was particularly new, but it didn't seem to matter, it was a great roller-coaster. Lots of fun, lots of danger, and some really nice touches -- it makes me want to read his other book - the tomorrow code - to see if it's half as good as this one.

About the author:  I'm slow on the uptake (my excuse is that the book was published in Aus):  Brian is actually an NZ author -  born and raised in Auckland - which I wont hold against him, and is the author of several aother books besides this and the Tomorrow code (shortlisted for the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children - Young Adults and the Esther Glen Award at the LIANZA Awards). The Flea Thing (shortlisted for the LIANZA Esther Glen Award, 2004), The Real Thing, and The Super Freak (shortlisted, New Zealand Post Book Awards, 2006).

Darke Academy - Secret Lives by Gabriella Poole

What can I say? Darke Academy is a bit of a cross between Harry Potter and Twilight. If you liked those, you'll almost certainly love this - it was fun, and I've not met anybody yet who didn't love it.  Even those completely jaded after Twilight.

Ordinary girl from a tough background wins a scholarship to a school so magnificent she can hardly believe it. All the guys are handsome, all the girls are beautiful and very rich, but the Darke academy has a dark secret, (of course it does,) it's a haven for the chosen "Few" who seem to be able to do whatever they like.

But who are these "Few?" and what will it take to join them? Well, of course you know they're vampires, but Cassie doesn't... and she's the one in danger.

Review by Alicia Ponder

Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar

Depressive werewolf girl is hunted by her own family. She has nowhere to go, and no life until she is rescued by two extraordinary humans who find themselves caught in the middle of two power struggles: one centred on a rather crazy clothing-obsessed elemental; and the other, a bid for the werewolf leadership -- a struggle in which the Werewolf girl's dead body would be a very powerful bargaining chip.

I'm so deeply divided about this book. The prose is stultifying, it's almost like eating baby food that's been chopped down until it's so soft all the texture is missing. But even so, and this is where the deeply divided comes in -- this baby food has kick. There's wit and charm, and the odd glimpse of three dimensions in amongst the cut-out two dimensional characters. Even better, against the odds, the apparently rambling plot of feud and counter-feud comes together to a relatively satisfying conclusion, so in the end all I can say is people like this book. They do. My copy went flying across the floor more than once, but I still made it to the end, which is more than I can say about quite a few books lately.
It's the sort of story that can make a so-so author into a name, not because it's brilliant, but because it has the things that teenagers are looking for in a story, sex, drugs, depression, rock and roll, and originality. It's not preachy. It doesn't glamorise, it just gets on with the plot as two -- no three -- very different worlds collide. I'll never love this book, for me it was twilight all over again, maybe edgier, more exciting, and far less sentimental, but still pulp -- a fact proudly proclaimed by the cover as it declares the author has invented a new genre; "pulp fantasy noir."

Review:  Alicia Ponder

The Phoenix Files -- Arrival by Chris Morphew

Review by Alicia Ponder

There are one hundred days until the end of the world...

 

A crazy man, three friends thrown together in a strange town in the middle of nowhere, and a deadline -- this book is adventure through and through.  It's an easy read that's fun, fast paced, and very up to date on modern families, school and adventure -- and of course if you like it there's a whole series.  

 

(From one of the authors of  Zac Powers -- Volcanic Panic and apparently eleven others, this is a couple of steps up in terms of age and difficulty, but the author's experience shines out in this story in terms of pace and action.)

The Gathering Storm, Book 12 in the Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series by Brandon Sanderson

Death is merely an inconvenience for Robert Jordan, as his long running series The Wheel of Time continues to turn.

It is in fact (thankfully) turning a little faster now. Under the hands of Robert Jordan, the Wheel of Time was becoming little more than a cash cow. Nothing happened, and then still less happened, while the most powerful women tugged at braids like nine-year olds - and had nothing better to do than sit through endless meetings and choose which clothes to wear. NO MORE.

Brandon Sanderson has injected new life into the characters, sped up the plot, and rekindled the flame of the first few books of this series. The threads are now finally coming together as the different factions battle it out for supremacy while a still greater evil threatens to wipe them all out of existence - forever. So yes, this book is worth reading - the only thing that's vaguely frustrating is this is BOOK 12 - and I can't help but think, are we there yet?

Two more to go.

I can't wait.

LINKS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wheel_of_Time  (useful for abridged plots)
http://www.brandonsanderson.com/

Nightlight, by The Harvard Lampoon

Reviewed by Amelia Sirvid

Nightlight is a hilarious take on the first book in the Twilight saga, Twilight.

It's about Belle Goose, a teenage girl who moves from Phoenix to Switchblade, Origin -- a tiny town not on most maps. There she meets Edwart Mullen, a hot (in her opinion) computer nerd, with no interest in girls.

This book is recommended to anyone who has read Twilight

8 ½ /10

http://shelf-life.ew.com/2009/10/06/nightlight-twilight-parody-harvard-lampoon-meyer/

We have some of the best prices in town, and check out these discounts!

Come on in and visit us at 151 Muritai Rd, Eastbourne, NZ, & ronagallery@paradise.net.nz

"And Another Thing..." by Eoin Colfer from the Douglas Adam's Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy -- universe

Part 6 of the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy is one of the more controversial books to come out this year - all the hard-core Douglas Adams fans were out asking the hard questions before it was even released, like; "is it as good as the original?" "Is it funny?" But most of all, "how dare this upstart take the place of our beloved demigod and creator of the answer to the question of life, the universe and everything?"

Fortunately the answers to the fan's questions don’t require a computer the size of a planet. In terms of readability "And another Thing" is somewhere between the good hitchhiker's books and the crappy hitchhiker's books, with a smattering of fantasy, and good eye to adventure -- which admittedly takes a while coming but is well worth the wait.

In some ways "And another thing" is fresher with more of a story feel, and I liked that a lot, but I thought the humour was also cruder and less godlike and so I liked it less.

And finally, I'm not exactly sure how Eion Colfer had the balls to take on this project knowing full well that he'd be caught in the crossfire of the purists and all the infidel who remain blissfully ignorant of the significance of the number 42. Was it money? Probably. The fun of playing with gods? Well he certainly took that opportunity in both hands. Maybe we do need a computer the size of a planet to answer that question after all.

In the end though, the only real question worth asking is -- is this new instalment of the Hitchhikers guide worth reading, and, yes, I think it is, so don't be shy -- give it a burl -- even if it's only so you can complain about how Eion Colfer should have done everything differently, which is admittedly, rather fun.

Buy Books to get Free Coffee - for a limited time only

Twilight Review - Reviewed by Cassie Brown , Australia

Genre: Romance , Fantasy

Author: Stephanie Meyer

Twilight is a romantic story about a high school romance….but different. This book is a sure hit with female teens and even some adults.

Twilight is about a girl named Bella Swan, when her Mother has to go away with her stepfather, she has to move in with her father in a small town named Forks. When Bella moves to Forks she meets old friends, and makes new ones. But she is completely mystified with one person… Edward Cullen, she cant keep her eyes off him, but soon she realises that he has a secret…..

I love Twilight and its series. They just keep you captivated so you just want to keep turning every page to see what happens next! I loved it so much I read it every night just waiting until I could read new moon (the next volume in the series) to see what happens! It’s like the most unlikely fairy tale! The clumsy awkward girl falls for the bad guy!!!

I recommended Twilight for young female teens an onwards. Although I recommended twilight for girls some boys may also enjoy this book too.

 
Thanks Cassie for your great review!
 
Older readers might also enjoy the Host by Stephanie Meyers
http://ronagallerybooks.blogspot.com/2008/05/stephanie-meyer-author-of-immensely.html#links

The Battle of the Sun by Jeanette Winterson

Jack is the chosen one, only with his help can the city of London be turned to gold -- so Jack is kidnapped by an alchemist determined to do just that.

There's kind of off the wall charm and a simplicity that gives this book a fairy tale feel - not to mention all the crazy fantastical beings, a dragon, a knight in shining armour, several orphans, and of course the heroine of Tanglewreck brought back in time especially. All of which makes this a must read for all those who enjoyed Tanglewreck - for although it's not really a sequel it does feel like one.

"'there is a battle,' he said, 'a battle for the sun..."

And there is...

The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

"A must read" - Richard Ponder

The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's nest is a bloody good aeroplane read, it's got suspense, drama, great characters, it's well written and can be read by literary as well as crime buffs. A great final book for the series that started so well with "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo."

Photo's from the Fifi Coulston's workshop.

Everyone had a blast creating characters from a picture of a skull, and adding everything from noses to names to secrets.

Beside the Dark Pool by Dame Fiona Kidman

Review by Alicia Ponder.

Yes, I know, I usually leave these reviews to the people who know something about "serious" genres. But Fiona is such an icon, and as I have rather enjoyed her latest offerings I thought, why not? I mean I rather intended to get around to it some time ago, but sometimes life gets in the way and books get piled behind other books - but now I've finally done it and I'm pleased I did.

Then, because I know so little, I peeked at the other reviews. And I agreed with them, yes she's a fantastic author, and yes it's a very long list of books, yes it was a great historical encapsulation of the springbok tour and of writing events in the last twenty years, and finally yes it was written with clarity, humility and style.

But what I took away from it, as an ex-NaeNae College student was completely different. Forget the overbearing honesty, it's overrated, I agreed with Fiona's sentiment that fiction can be more can be more truthful than non-fiction -- what I saw was her caring, and her willingness to stand up for other people, especially writers, but this was made to seem inconsequential (although I'm sure it was not) compared to her husband Ian. Fiona shows that Ian is not just any man, he is a man who is prepared to give his time, and even put his body on the line for other people. His tough and almost lawless childhood is well worth reading about - and then at the last gasp he decides to educate himself, and takes himself on the path that would lead him to NaeNae College and refugees and the clash with police during the infamous Springbok Tour.

Yes, everyone who is interested in New Zealand writing, or Fiona Kidman will want to read this book, and I certainly count myself in that category, but I think a few ex-NaeNae College students will also want a read, maybe flicking through all the writery bits and getting to the bits starring Ian, just to see what he was up to as well.

Raven: Blood Eye by Gile Kristian

Review by Alicia Ponder

A boy with a blood eye is taken by a band of Vikings...

A typical Viking adventure (not for children) where swords rule and mischeif and mayhem abound. There's plenty of action. Lots of plundering and looting, rapine (nothing graphic), murder.... You know that kind of thing. Yes on many levels its improbable and absurd but the readership doesn't care, it's adventure, treachery, and Norse heroism all the way.

Toby Alone by Timothee de Fombelle

Review by Alicia Ponder

Toby at 1.5 mm Tall, is certainly the smallest little person I've met since the Who's of Whoville, and that being the case the story has an originaility about it. Desperate to save his parents, Toby must escape from the people who are now running his home, or what he sees as the whole world -- the tree on which he lives. Throughout the book we find out that the meanies who are chasing him are also destroying the tree and want an invention that Toby's father so that they can destroy it faster. On the journey of discovery there are chases and escapes, treachery, a little holding hands, and plenty of opportunity to find out about the dangerous creatures of Toby's world.
*
The natural tendency with a fantasy story about "little people" is to think that it is for a quite young readership, as in the borrowers, but although this story's language isn't overly complicated, the timeline does jump around somewhat, and the content at times is also for maybe ten, eleven plus. The story has won awards - but not that I'm aware of in the English language version and that seems fair enough, it is however a fun and challenging read with an environmental message that never becomes overbearing.

Dark Fire by Chris D'Lacey

Review by Alicia Ponder

David Rain is back, the dragons are stirring, but with hope also comes risk, the risk of a darkling. Lucy finds herself trying to save a dragon, and simply stay alive

Unfortunately somewhere in the journey from that enchanting instant classic, "the Fire within," Chris D'Lacey seems to have lost the easy charm and magical wonder that so characterises his first book. Fortunately though, buried in this book are inklings of what series could have been, before it was hopelessly overblown. I certainly enjoyed it far more than a couple of the previous installments, less mucking around with polar bears, and more action invlovling the main characters, although I still want the simple charm back, perhaps that is because I haven't grown up in the same way that much of the readership of this series has, with the constant expectation of more excitement and more dragons, Chris d'Lacey certainly doesn't disappoint there.