Driving Me Crazy!

Women learning to drive is becoming a bit of a joke in my family. My Mum can't drive because she was told that she couldn't steer by her instructor. My Aunt can't drive because she couldn't pass her test and my Nan can only drive a tractor. As you can see, it's not looking good. Unfortunately learning to drive is going to be a necessity. I regularly finish work at ten 'o' clock and although my Mum's partner comes to pick me up whenever he can (which is most nights), it's not fair for him. Especially on the weekend when he wants to unwind and relax. It will also be great when the snow hits, as I expect public transport to grind to a halt and when I travel down South to see my friends and family. So I took the plunge and booked up my driving lessons with a company called Zoom Zoom. I've now had two lessons with my instructor Shaun. For a start, he is a really good teacher, or coach, as he prefers to be called. He encourages independence, and only uses the other controls if necessary. So far, only once! He's also incredibly patient which is what I need! My brain has a habit of freezing up when I'm trying to do too many things. In fact I didn't realise how much the driver has to do! Steering, pedals, indicators, looking where you're going and checking the mirrors. I have no idea how drivers talk or sing as well as driving, let alone eat, or go on their mobile phones! Doing anything but driving should be made illegal! After my second lesson, two big problems have become apparent. The first is that my steering leaves a bit to be desired. It seems like I'm taking after Mum! I over steer, which I'm blaming Dad for, so it takes me a while to get straight again. The second problem is how much pressure I put on the accelerator. It is so sensitive, that sometimes I don't even realise I'm putting any pressure on it. Thankfully, (and hopefully) these things can be sorted out. Shaun has told me he's expecting me to drive home next Monday, which has made me both nervous and excited. It's such an achievement, but I can't wait until I'm able to drive like it's second nature! Hopefully all this worrying will pay off!

Book review: Panic by Jeff Abbott

Panic by Jeff Abbott
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Panic by Jeff Abbott

I really wanted a book that I could race through and finish quickly, just so I could up the pace. This book unfortunately didn't do that.
It started off great. You're introduced to Evan Casher and his life. He's an interesting likable character, even if he's a bit mushy when discussing Carrie, his girlfriend. Then his life starts to go downhill as his life is revealed to be something different to what he knows. But around a third of the way through the book, my interest dwindled. There were too many characters, too many acronyms (CIA, FBI, MI5...) and the pace just stopped. I also didn't really care about the other characters, especially Evan's dad Mitchell, or the bad guys. Even the technology was too complicated and it went too far into the unbelievable. I understand that this isn't going to be fact, but at least it should be based on truth.
In the end, what would have been Abbott's twist in the story, was very predictable. So, just three stars from me. I still need to find a book I would give more than three stars!

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Book review: Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh

Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh

This book took me forever to read and I'm not entirely sure why as it was my favourite 'book club' book yet!
In some ways Sea of Poppies reminded me of Pillars of the Earth, the way that all the characters are introduced separately and at some point in the novel are brought together. It's what I call an epic book and I really can't wait for the next one in the trilogy to come out. This one ends rather suddenly and leaves you wanting more.
The reason why this book only has three stars is for two main reasons, one which could have been avoided. The first was the chapter structure. I hate long chapters. Ideally I should be able to read a chapter in half an hour, that way I can read two or three if I've got the time, or only one if I'm tired. This book had a lot of long chapters, and when I got home from work I really couldn't be bothered to read a whole one, so I would just read chunks. It took me a lot longer because when I started reading the books, I might forgo a night of reading Sea of Poppies because I wasn't looking forward to it.
The other thing that put me off initially was the language. The way things are phrased and anything spoken by Serang Ali was particularly hard to read. To put it bluntly I couldn't be bothered to translate the text! But as I carried on reading I found it easier and eventually learnt to love it as something that makes the book unique.
Overall, three out of five! Bring on the sequel!

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Book review: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre

I read this book in preparation for going to see the film when it came out of the cinema and as soon as I started reading it, I was hooked.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was one of the most tense books I have ever read. As it neared towards the climax and the mole was revealed I was reading so fast because I couldn't wait to find out who it was! This book certainly has 'the pull' as well as memorable characters. I love the fact that George Smiley is overweight and wears glasses, not the typical spy of modern novels.
The reason why I only gave it three stars was because for some parts of the book, I had no idea what was going on. It's very complicated and you really need to concentrate. If I was tired, or my mind was focused on other things I would feel it wandering and I would have to reread the page or paragraph. I also guessed who the mole was before the reveal!
Overall, a book everyone should read, simply because it's legendary. But be prepared to concentrate!

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Book review: Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

Although I've given this book two, it's more two point five, but I was so disappointed that I thought I round down rather than up.
I was recommended this book by my Aunt, who is usually a genius when it comes to giving me good books but with this one, it got worse as it went along. It recovered itself a little bit at the end, but when I was reading a book, within a flashback, I was ready to give up!
The first problem with this book, is that Trussoni cramms as many long, intelligent words she can in each sentence. It's as if she's showing off her vocabulary, but really it's completely unnecessary and it makes it harder to read.
When I started I thought it was going to go well. I liked the characters of Evangeline and Verlaine and I was intirigued by the mysterious letters. However it went back sixty odd years, in the mind of a senior nun Celestine. That's when it lost me. What could have been done as several conversations took up the middle of the story and what made it worse was that the interesting bits (like the expedition to get the lyre) were shorter than the boring 'talky' bits. Then I found I was reading a translation by one of the characters! That was unnecessary as well! It could have been shortened, or it could have just been the paragraphs that were essential to the plot. In fact, the whole flashback could have been a separate book, and I wish it was.
When we came back to modern times, it did get better. We were back on track, even if the way the characters spoke was a little iffy. Trussoni also introduced a load of characters that weren't needed and just complicated things as I tried to remember what everyone looked like.
I will admit, I was surprised by the end, but the journey, wasn't really worth it!

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Waiting for my lift home!

I'm standing outside Fairholme, waiting for Mum and Jim to pick me up and seeing as I haven't blogged in a while I thought I might as well.
Work is still going well, as expected. I really do love it, the residents, the staff. At the end of a shift when you do handover (inform the manager of anything of note) you realise how much of a team you are. Everyone comes together and shares shift stories. So all is well on the work front.
On Saturday night I had Oswestry best friend, Miss Sophie Louise Matthews over to stay. We had a great time on SingStar, playing cards and general sleepover stuff. Even if she did clobber me in the head in the middle of the night!
As well as all this I'm trying to organise my time off so I can go and see Bonfire Night this November and go and see The Tavares, The Four Tops, The Temptations and The Crystals next March with Dad. I've been calculating all my holiday hours to work everything out. I've got twelve hours left to last me until the 1st of April.
The only other major problem I've got is writer's block. I keep getting jammed, only being able to get so far in a book before I get stuck. I either lose my passion for it or I conclude it's rubbish and give up. Sometimes I wish I spent my year 'off' (jobhunting) more wisely. Maybe then I would have got something finished!
Much love, Sian xx

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Book review: Nightmares and Dreamscapes by Stephen King

Nightmares and Dreamscapes by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Nightmares and Dreamscapes by Stephen King

I love Stephen King's short story collections simply because if you don't like one, you know that it'll be finished soon and you can move onto the next, not that this happens very regularly! My favourite stories in this collection were The Moving Finger, which was insanely creepy! I had to search my bathroom every time I went in there; The House On Maple Street where the kids get one up on their stepfather and The Ten 'O' Clock People, which is a genius piece of observation. Umney's Last Case, The Doctor's Case and Sorry, Right Number were also brilliant. The only story I didn't really like, and it was more of an essay anyway was Head Down. I'm British, have never seen a game of baseball ever played and don't know anything about it, so for most of that story I was lost!
Otherwise, an excellent collection, as always, from the master that is Stephen King!



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