Reading...

"Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficit disorder medicates itself. Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it's a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it's a way of making contact with someone else's imagination after a day that's all too real. Reading is grist. Reading is bliss." 

- Nora Ephron

The Hunger Games

So I might be a little late on the bandwagon with this but I have just finished reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I read it for work, since I work in a library. I've been asked to hold a discussion about the book towards the end of the summer holidays with a group of high school students and I jumped at the chance - read a book for work? YEAH!

I had cheated a little and saw the film at the cinema when it was out earlier in the year so I knew what to expect but I didn't think that the film would be exactly like the book! Now when I say this, I don't mean it as a compliment (sorry Hunger Gamers!); maybe I've read too much Harry Potter in my life (is there such a thing??!!), but I expected the book to have more detail about this future world and about the characters. Now I hate comparing books to movies but it is inevitable, and the one thing I will say for the film is that, I felt, it was much more gracious to the character of Katniss than the book. In the film I found her character had the balance as a protective older sister, survivor and confused teenager. However in the book she comes across as whiny, moaning, paranoid and unforgiving; it is not often that I read a book and I really dislike the main character but in this case I did.

I have to say though there were times in the middle when I started to warm to Katniss as she seemed to be growing up a little but it was lost by the end - how can she not see that Peeta is completely besotted with her??? And that Gale loves her??? What is wrong with her?! She also doesn't appear to feel much guilt about breaking Peeta's heart, but then maybe that will come later in Catching Fire and Mockingjay (which I am now going to have to read purely because I know that it is a trilogy.).

I have spoken to lots of people about this book, before and after I read it and the reaction seems to have been the same: adults think that it is a fantastic concept for a book, but they agree that Katniss is a bit paranoid and self absorbed (but then aren't most sixteen year-olds?). Kids: love it! They can't gush about it enough but I worry; because they don't seem to be understanding the themes or seeing flaws in the characters, and is that not what reading is about? Escapism, yes; but also about finding truth and seeing yourself reflected in the characters? Like I said what sixteen year old isn't a bit selfish, but is it possible that they're not seeing this as a flaw? Maybe I'm reading too much into it, or maybe I'm secretly ninety-three years old: "Back in my day..." Ha ha!

Like I said though I will have to read the next two books, and I hope that Katniss grows up a bit and stops the moaning; and that Peeta realises that she's not all that great and moves on; but maybe that's just me. In the mean time I am moving on to something I know I am going to enjoy - A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin - Game of Thrones anyone?? :)

Jxx

Rules Of Civility

This book review has been a while in the making, life has been getting in the way of my blogging of late.

Rules Of Civility has been described as; "stylish"; "delicious"; "memorable" and "sparkling" and I'd have to say: I agree. This novel is set in New York City in 1938; with a soundtrack of jazz bands. It tells the story of three friends: Katey Kontent, Eve Ross and Tinker Grey who meet in a bar on New Year's Eve,1937 and this meeting changes the course of there lives forever. There's a love triangle, great characters, a spectacular setting and nods to society and politics of the time. I don't want to give too much away because it really is a great read, other reviews I have read have compared it with The Great Gatsby and needless to say that is now on my reading list. 

So if you are looking to be swept away to another time, another world with interesting characters that are full of life and intrigue then you can't go wrong with Rules Of Civility!

Jxx

Before I Go To Sleep

As some of you may know I was reading this as part of the Cold Water Book Club and I thought I'd do a little review.

"Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine's life."

From this blurb you can probably tell that this is a story of an amnesiac. The story is told from the point of view of Christine Lucas, a forty-seven year old woman who wakes up each day not knowing who or where she is. In the first part of the book Christine is waking up on a typical day in her life and having her husband explain to her who she is and how she came to be this way, when he leaves for work things begin to unfold. She meets with a doctor whom she has been seeing, in secret, to help her with her condition, and he gives her a journal that she has been keeping to help her remember. This is where the second part of the book begins where the reader then follows Christine's journal. This is pretty much all I can say without giving the game away, needless to say it's a page turner.

I was surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did - I'm more of a fantasy or chick-lit kinda gal, but I really did. As a psychological thriller though it did kind of mess with my over active imagination a little and meant that I couldn't read it right before bed (yes I am a BIG kid!) however I still enjoyed it. There are little clues all the way through the book that lead up to the ending and if I was braver I'd read it again to catch them all. The only thing I can say against this book is that I was a little disappointed with was the ending. I'm a fan of the all-round, complete happy ending so if your like me you might be disappointed too but please don't let that stop you from reading the book - it's great! And does end happier than you'd expect.

Have any of you read Before I Go To Sleep?

Jxx

Bookworm

Confession: I am a massive bookworm. I buy and borrow more books than I will ever have the time to read. Currently I have a pile of books about two feet high next to my bed that I am aiming to get through before my birthday in June (I didn't help myself by taking two more books out of the library last week...)

Confession 2: I have four pages in my notebook filled with the titles of books that I want to read...

So I am making my way though my little mountain of books but I have discovered I will just have to buy/borrow another one. My problem began with Twitter (as so many problems do), you see I am a massive fan of Dawn Porter. For those who don't know Dawn Porter is a broadcaster/ journalist who has made TV documentaries for BBC and Channel 4 and she has now started an on-line book club known as Cold Water Book Club, described like this on Twitter:

As far as I can see I'm a bit late to the party, as usual, because they have already read a few books since beginning in February, but I am determined to give it a go; because despite my love of books I have never been part of a book club and the super-geek in me is very excited at the prospect! So the new book I must add to my ever-growing pile is: Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson. Sadly it would appear that it is very popular and I can't get it from the library so I have ordered it from my absolute favourite book site: GreenMetropolis.

GreenMetropolis is an amazing on-line charity book shop, where users can buy and sell books all the while raising money for charity AND helping the environment! Amazing! If any of you out there love books as much as me or you have tons of books around that you're looking to get rid of I highly recommend this site. So here's hoping that my book will come in time for me to read it before the first discussion (the date has still to be released) I'm really looking forward to getting started and will keep you posted on my progress...


Jxx