Book review: PS, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

PS, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


PS, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

There was only one thing going for this book, and that's what I call 'the pull', the thing that makes you keep turning the pages, even when you're really tired. Other than that there was so much wrong with it. I watched the film first and I'm glad I did, because I actually thought it was better than the book. Also, without the film, I would have had no images in my head for any of the characters.
For a start, I had no idea where the book was set. It eventually revealed that it was Ireland, so that was fine. The character of Holly slowly got on my nerves. The things she did and said began to grate on me the further it went on. Her friends were the same person pretty much. I also had no sense of Gerry at all. I had no idea what he looked like, what his interests were or anything. It all seemed a bit inappropriate that Holly was checking out other men within months of her husband passing. The dialogue was really strange as well, people don't talk like that! Ahern also used adjectives like 'bitchily'. I didn't think that was a word.
I thougt the story in the film would've made a much better book. The whole thing was much more romantic. Gerry sent Holly to the place where they met rather than to Lanzarote and the letters arrived at random. The only thing the film lacked were the family present in the book, which I thought was needed, and the ending was rather unrealistic. She started up a shoe shop from nothing!
I hope Ahern gets better because there's something there for her to work with.



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Book review: Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

It took me a long time to read this book and I'm not entirely sure why. The writing was good, the characters each had unique attributes and were developed and the plot was exciting and full of action. Yet for some reason it look me months to read it! Normally, I read Michael Crichton books within a matter of days, although with those books I had the advantage of seeing the films first (Jurassic Park and Sphere), so I knew the plot and I knew what to expect.
Overall, I'm giving it three stars because it didn't have the initial grab that I look for in a book, although it certainly picked up towards the end. I remember when I started reading it that I was also confused by all the characters. Hunter's crew are introduced all at once and trying to remember which name belongs to which character is difficult.



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Book review: The Moses Stone by James Becker

The Moses Stone by James Becker

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Although technically I am currently reading it, I haven't actually read it for ages, I'm stuck about three quarters of the way in it and I keep getting distracted by other books. It just hasn't got the momentum I would like.

The Moses Stone by James Becker

I have moved house twice since I started this book. There are some things that James Becker does well, especially tension. The parts of the book where Bronson and Angela are running through the steets, followed by armed men are great. I often found that I was holding my breath and only released it at the end of the chapter. This book made me want to visit the numerous locations it talks about. It would also make a great movie with it's half-blind villians and chase scenes through busy town centres.
However, there were several points that let it down. The characters of Bronson and Angela were a little bit one-dimensional and some of the dialogue they exchanged was unrealistic. The statement I made before about the book having no momentum I'm sticking to. The last few chapters that I read should have appeared much earlier, as a result the end of the book seemed rushed.
Overall, the book was a bit of good fun, but it's nothing that could be taken too seriously and the majority, if not all of the characters hadn't really been developed.



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Book review: The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde

The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde



I'd read one of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next novels, but I didn't realise he'd written a collection of books based around nursery rhymes. I picked this up in a charity shop, not knowing it was the second in the series. But it didn't matter, the characters were introduced well and although I'd not read the previous one, there were several references to Red Riding Hood, which I'm guessing is the previous case.

Fforde's universe is amazing, bears and aliens and PDR's (basically nursery rhyme characters) live alongside humans and it's all totally believable. I also love the added section of the Berkshire Bumper Book of Records at the beginning of every chapter.

The story itself is brilliant if a little confusing. This book focuses on the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but puts a spin on it that brings it up to modern day. Intertwined in this is the psychopathic Gingerbreadman, possibly one of the best ideas ever! As well as bears breaking their porridge quotas, a new theme park known as Sommeworld and a global company known as QuangTech.

The reason why I didn't give this five stars is because it took me a while to get into it. I probably read the last half of the book within two days, but the first half took me about a month. I'd say the reason for this is because there are a lot of different elements you have to keep in your brain, such as cucumbers exploding, the Gingerbreadman and Spratt and Mary busting a bear with a van full of oats. Only later does it all so cleverly slot together.

Overall four strars for the great characters, clever plot and fantastic world that Fforde has created. I will most certainly be getting the others!



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Book review: The Death of Dalziel by Reginald Hill

The Death of Dalziel: A Dalziel and Pascoe Novel by Reginald Hill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Death of Dalziel by Reginald Hill

I'm a massive fan of Dalziel and Pascoe, and have practically grown up watching the TV series. However, I didn't realise they were books until I found one in a charity shop.
It was probably the wrong Dalziel and Pascoe book to start with, but nevertheless it was brilliant. For me, Dalziel and Pascoe will always be Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan, so I had no problem picturing them. The dialogue was really well written and several times I laughed out loud, which I didn't expect to do in a murder mystery!
The characters are worth five stars, but the plot confused me. It started off with a bomb on Mill Street knocking Andy unconscious and injuring Peter. What initially was a simple case turned into something much more complicated with code names for the gang of people who were involved in the various crimes that occured through out the novel and the relationships between certain people. There were also a lot of characters to keep track of. When it finally reached the end I didn't feel entirely satisfied and had to reread the last couple of pages to make sure I understood everything correctly.
Overall a great book, but very complex, almost too complex, which why it isn't the five stars I would've expected it to be.



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Book review: The Return Journey by Maeve Binchy

The Return Journey by Maeve Binchy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The Return Journey by Maeve Binchy

I wanted to read something romantic and soppy and light hearted so my Mum recommended this, but it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. The writing is excellent, but some of the characters got on my nerves completely! Most of the women I wanted to shake and tell them to get a grip and to stop being so meek. All the women had dark curly hair as well, and several names crossed over from different stories which made it a bit confusing. There were a few gems in there, but the way women were represented was generally not in a good light. I wanted something giddy and a bit silly but generally that made me happy. Instead I got angry with the characters for not doing things simply because they didn't want to 'cause any fuss'.



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Book review: Fade Away by Harlan Coben

Fade Away by Harlan Coben

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Fade Away by Harlan Coben

I love Harlan Coben, the first book of his I read in less than twenty-four hours and I love the characters of Myron Bolitar, Win and Esperanza, but there's just something that doesn't connect for me. Maybe it's because I read the Bolitar books out of order, or maybe it's because it's too Americanised. I don't know anything about basketball and I don't really care about it, so I don't share the same obvious love that the author has for it. The storylines are often also very personalised to Myron, and I have only ever read one other Bolitar book and it was number six or something.
Overall, the plot was good, easy to follow and exciting but there was no 'gasp surprise' at the end like there usually is and I just don't think these books are as good as the independant Coben books are.



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