I read this book on Saira’s recommendation and I’m glad I did. It definitely reads like a book for teenagers but it’s very good anyway, totally compulsive. It’s simply but well written. The story is science fiction: part Battle Royale, part Big Brother (Channel 4 versions). It throws up some interesting ideas that will get young people thinking. Overall, a very enjoyable package.

I picked this up at the library because I loved the TV series of The Take and The Runaway. I’m not very far in but the writing seems quite simplistic, bad in places: ‘relaxed hair’?? but I’ll read a bit more and see how it goes.

Later…
Well, I have read 100 pages and I am getting annoyed that there is far too much narrative and there is far too little dialogue and action. The writing style is very immature. It’s so stereotypical too: all the women are good-looking, all the men are handsome. And the central characters being two brothers, one sensible and one out of control, is a carbon copy of The Take. I’m going to give this one up as a bad job; life is just too short. I’ll definitely watch it if it gets made into a TV drama though.

This is the first book in a long time, perhaps ever, that I am going to give up on halfway through. It’s direct and bizarre, and I have enjoyed those aspects so far but I just can’t seem to ‘anchor’myself in the book. The events are shocking but so random that it makes them meaningless. I don’t understand the protagonist; he seems completely devoid of feeling although the children are believable. Having read reviews I know how things pan out and the ending seems very mushy which jars against the dramatic opening of the book.

I don’t think this book is worse than others I’ve persevered with; I just feel differently about books now that I’ve stopped going to the book group. I just don’t feel obligated to finish books anymore. A lot of the pleasure of reading, for me, comes from reading precisely what I’m in the mood for.

I reserved this book from the library because it was near the top of the Amazon bestseller chart. It’s certainly a page-turner and GF has interesting points to make about male/female relationships, pop culture and the media. There’s a clever take on the ‘two sides to every story’ aspect and there is an unexpected twist at the end. But overall the book didn’t live up to my expectations. The writing style is just ok and some parts of the plot verge on the ridiculous. This book left me feeling slightly flat.

A quiet and understated tale, touching and tragic, and full of wisdom about life and death. I’d recommend this as a gentle read.

After listening to a few light reads in the sunshine I was in the mood to read a book and I wanted something I could really get my teeth into. An article in the Guardian which seemed to suggest that the book was partly autobiographical piqued my interest.

Big Brother is brilliant, perhaps not as disturbing as Kevin, but still a confrontational and compelling read. I loved the reflections on food, society and family. Like in Kevin, there are intelligent and ascerbic characters, conflict, there’s horror and a great twist at the end. I’d highly recommend it.

This is another ‘beach’ book that I listened to mostly while lying in the sunshine. I think Emily Barr is quite a good writer. I certainly identified with the voice of her late-thirties heroine. The part of the story set in Malaysia was captivating and perfect for the weather I was experiencing at the time. The chapters when the group are stranded are the best; tense and spell-binding at times. There is an interwoven mystery which kept me guessing too. The only thing that let this book down slightly was the rather far-fetched conclusion. But this book is sharper than most chick lit; I enjoyed it.

Another book I listened to mostly while sunbathing. Someone on Amazon described it as ‘chick-lit written by a man’ and I can see what they mean. It’s funny in places, as well as a bit gooey, perceptive and contemporary; a good mix. The cognitive disorder aspect was fascinating. The book makes a decent light read.