Title: Lockie Leonard Human Torpedo
Author: Tim Winton
Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 144
Lockie is a thirteen year old who is new to town, moving from Perth to "the most remote town on Earth" with his family. The 'surf rat" has just started his first year of high school with nothing going for him. But, when Viki Streeton becomes his girlfriend everything changes - he becomes famous and popular. Now it is up to Lockie to learn the ways of a teenager.
Although this book has been given a lot of terrible reviews on Goodreads, I personally really enjoyed Tim Winton's interesting descriptive style and sense of dry wit to convey what a young teenage boy can go through. I found it an amusing and very short, easy read - in fact, I finished the short story almost in one sitting. The Lockie Leonard series might not be for everyone but, I would recommend this book to children and young teens looking for a good laugh and a quick novel.
Sunday, 15 June 2014
Thursday, 12 June 2014
While I Live
Title: While I Live (The Ellie Chronicles)
Author: John Marsden
Rating: 3 and a half stars
Pages: 304
“Funny, some things, even though you’re expecting them, even though you’ve known for the last five minutes what’s probably happening and what you’re likely to see, when you’re face to face with them you realise that nothing, nothing, nothing, on God’s Earth can prepare you for them.”
- Ellie Linton
Have you ever splurged into a series not wanting the last book to finish? Well, this novel is for you. While I Live is the first book in the trilogy, The Ellie Chronicles, following on from the thrillingly brilliant Tomorrow series by John Marsden. Ellie Linton and her small farming town have just emerged from being in a war, trying to rebuild their lives again. But, as soon as things appear to be starting to regroup - war comes flooding back towards Ellie and the consequences change her life forever.
For an absolute fan of the Tomorrow series, stumbling across this trilogy personally was like being six years old again on Christmas Day and realising you've just missed opening one last present. While I Live is sweet, descriptive, tearful, exciting and adventurous with all the lovable characters from the previous series as well as new ones. In my opinion, this is another great book written by Marsden which jumps straight to the plot. However, I did find it dry in a few parts where there should've been an overload of emotion felt. That said, John Marsden is one of the best writers I know of and I'm really looking forward to reading what happens to Ellie and Gavin in the next two novels.
“I know my life’s different from other people’s but everyone’s life is different from everyone else’s. All I can do is keep living it, keep moving it forward every day I can. Lots of days it’s three steps forward, four step back. If at the end of every month I’m step or two ahead – well, I’ll settle for that.” - Ellie Linton
Author: John Marsden
Rating: 3 and a half stars
Pages: 304
“Funny, some things, even though you’re expecting them, even though you’ve known for the last five minutes what’s probably happening and what you’re likely to see, when you’re face to face with them you realise that nothing, nothing, nothing, on God’s Earth can prepare you for them.”
- Ellie Linton
Have you ever splurged into a series not wanting the last book to finish? Well, this novel is for you. While I Live is the first book in the trilogy, The Ellie Chronicles, following on from the thrillingly brilliant Tomorrow series by John Marsden. Ellie Linton and her small farming town have just emerged from being in a war, trying to rebuild their lives again. But, as soon as things appear to be starting to regroup - war comes flooding back towards Ellie and the consequences change her life forever.
For an absolute fan of the Tomorrow series, stumbling across this trilogy personally was like being six years old again on Christmas Day and realising you've just missed opening one last present. While I Live is sweet, descriptive, tearful, exciting and adventurous with all the lovable characters from the previous series as well as new ones. In my opinion, this is another great book written by Marsden which jumps straight to the plot. However, I did find it dry in a few parts where there should've been an overload of emotion felt. That said, John Marsden is one of the best writers I know of and I'm really looking forward to reading what happens to Ellie and Gavin in the next two novels.
“I know my life’s different from other people’s but everyone’s life is different from everyone else’s. All I can do is keep living it, keep moving it forward every day I can. Lots of days it’s three steps forward, four step back. If at the end of every month I’m step or two ahead – well, I’ll settle for that.” - Ellie Linton
Thursday, 15 May 2014
Looking for Alibrandi
Ok guys, here's my second review...much better than the first I think.
Looking for Alibrandi
Written by Melina Marchetta
Rating: 4 stars
313 pages
“... Suddenly I began to cry... but I think I cried more out of relief than self-pity. Relief because I was beginning to feel free. From whom? Myself I think.” Joesphine Alibrandi
Looking for Alibrandi is an Australian novel which tells the story of Josephine Alibrandi, a young lady in her final year at a wealthy Catholic high school. For as long as Josephine can remember it has been her, her mum and her grandmother. But, now even though the stress of doing the best in her end of school exams plagues her, that doesn't seem to stop all kinds of men from coming into her life. Trying to find her way through the old world values of her Italian grandmother, the no-nonsense of her mum and the continuously mystifying boys, Josie is on the ride of her life!
A beautiful and heartwarming novel that also had me snorting with laughter, uncontrollably grinning and trying to hold back tears of sadness so people around me wouldn't think I was delusional. Looking for Alibrandi is easy to understand on many levels. The author, Melina Marchetta, confronts many issues such as racism, religion, traditions in modern society, depression and self insecurities as a teenager which makes it so commendable and interesting. The relationship between Josie and her mother, Christina Alibrandi, is what I could most relate to as I have a strong bond with my mother and have my own insecurities. For me right now it was a good time to digest this book as I'm currently working through my last year of high school too and it gave me the reassurance I needed.
“I slept with the knowledge that my life was going somewhere good because of good people around me. And no HSC failure could take that away from me.” Josie Alibrandi
Looking for Alibrandi
Written by Melina Marchetta
Rating: 4 stars
313 pages
“... Suddenly I began to cry... but I think I cried more out of relief than self-pity. Relief because I was beginning to feel free. From whom? Myself I think.” Joesphine Alibrandi
Looking for Alibrandi is an Australian novel which tells the story of Josephine Alibrandi, a young lady in her final year at a wealthy Catholic high school. For as long as Josephine can remember it has been her, her mum and her grandmother. But, now even though the stress of doing the best in her end of school exams plagues her, that doesn't seem to stop all kinds of men from coming into her life. Trying to find her way through the old world values of her Italian grandmother, the no-nonsense of her mum and the continuously mystifying boys, Josie is on the ride of her life!
A beautiful and heartwarming novel that also had me snorting with laughter, uncontrollably grinning and trying to hold back tears of sadness so people around me wouldn't think I was delusional. Looking for Alibrandi is easy to understand on many levels. The author, Melina Marchetta, confronts many issues such as racism, religion, traditions in modern society, depression and self insecurities as a teenager which makes it so commendable and interesting. The relationship between Josie and her mother, Christina Alibrandi, is what I could most relate to as I have a strong bond with my mother and have my own insecurities. For me right now it was a good time to digest this book as I'm currently working through my last year of high school too and it gave me the reassurance I needed.
“I slept with the knowledge that my life was going somewhere good because of good people around me. And no HSC failure could take that away from me.” Josie Alibrandi
Saturday, 19 April 2014
Unearthly
Hey guys, here is my first review. Hopefully you enjoy!
Unearthly #1
Unearthly #1
Written by Cynthia Hand
Rating: 3 stars
435 pages
“So often we only do what we think is expected of us,” she said. “When we are capable of so much more.” Maggie Gardner
Clara Gardner is a young teenager who has just recently learnt that she is part angel. This not only means she's smarter, stronger and prettier than any human, Clara also has a purpose - something she was put on Earth to do. Trying to find out what this is isn't easy though. The visions of a raging forest fire and a guy lead her to move house and school where she meets and becomes romantically drawn to Christian Prescott, the boy from her dreams and Tucker Avery - Clara's new friend, Wendy Avery's brother. It is then up to Clara to decide whether she fulfills her destiny and abides by the rules of "angel bloods" or follows her heart and accepts the consequences.
At first I thought the idea of "angel bloods" or "part angels" was flimsy and airy fairy, considering I'm used to reading series like Wicqked Lovely by Melissa Marr and Beautiful Creatures written by Karni Garcia and Margret Stohl with extraordinarily complex characters and story lines. But, as the novel Unearthly progressed and I delved deeper into the life of Clara Gardner, I promptly became drawn to the plot via Hand's very easy style of writing and sense of quick wit.
The thing I enjoyed most about Unearthly is that Clara has a purpose on earth to fulfill, which is a lovely concept as I believe we all have a purpose in this world - no matter how insignificant that may seem. The characters are lively and left a soft spot in my heart, especially Tucker Avery who is so sweet and loving towards Clara. I was even pleasantly surprised at Hand's choice of ending and finished the book wanting to read the rest of the series. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a break in heavy novels and would like a very light, easy and fun read.
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