Jessica

Jessica by Bryce Courtenay
Non-Genre

I really enjoyed this book. It is about a young girl's abuse in the Australian Outback. Jessica's own mother mistreats her so that her other daughter can marry a wealthy station owner. Jessica overcomes so much in her young life. I love the way she fights her battles. She also makes friends with an aboriginal woman which would have been frowned upon in that era (1910+) and helps her get back her own children from the government. Another great read from one of my favourite authors
Favourite Character: Jessica. I love her persistence and sense of justice and her independence
Least Favourite Character: Hestor, Jessica's mother. What a contemptible woman
Best Part of the Story: When Jessica gets out of the insane asylum
Least Favourite Part of the Story: Jessica's pregnancy
What was missing: nothing

Rating:

(4.5/5)

Away Laughing on a Fast Camel by Louise Rennison

Away Laughing on a Fast Camel by Louise Rennison
Teen

This is the 5th book in the series that sees Georgia chasing after a new Sex God after Robbie left for sheep and greener pastures.
I liked it just as much as any of the previous ones! There were some very funny moments in it (Georgia lighting someone's clothing on fire at the church, Gordy getting cardboard glasses, etc). I liked the introduction of the new kitty, he seems quite cute. Although you just know he's going to be a trouble maker like Angus! I'm not too sure I like Masimo, the "New Sex God". Georgia should get togehter with Dave the Laugh. Infact I'm sure they will by the time this series ends.
I didn't like how Georgia was getting nastier near the end. She was calling a whole bunch of people very rude names. I know she can be annoying at times but I thought perhaps she had gone a bit too far this time. Hopefully the next book is a bit more toned down on the name calling. Honestly, I can't understand why anyone would want to be her friend!! LOL She can be so rude sometimes.

Rating:

(4/5)

The Black Ice by Michael Connelly

The Black Ice by Michael Connelly
Mystery

Good old Detective Bosch never does anything his superiors tell him to. There was some repeat in this story from the first in the series (I guess that has to happen when it's a series of a single person so that you can pick up any book in the series and still understand it). The rest of it is Harry trying to find a cop killer and a drug dealer killer - and somehow they are intertwined.
At some points the story drags on a bit, but overall it's pretty well paced. There's a great twist at the end that you can't really see coming until you're a couple of pages from it. Although I'm not sure I quite understood Bosch's reason for keeping everything hush hush at the end of the book. Why bother?
I wonder if Sylvia makes an appearance in the books to come. They seemed to have a good connection. I'd like to see where that relationship goes.

Rating:

(3.5/5)

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
Asian

A book that is sparse on details but very rich in imaginative prose. I found myself thinking about a life with no books in it. How depressing!! I like to read Asian literature and find it different from our western literature. It is simple but when you think about it; it seems so complex
Favourite Character: the author. I found his integrity in taking caring of his friend's girlfriend admirable
Least Favourite Character: the seamstress. She was very selfish and a user
Best Part of the Story: I loved the way the boys got around the headsman. I also loved how the books opened up the world to them
Least Favourite Part of the Story: The ending
What was missing: details but this is typical of asian literature

Rating:

(3.5/5)

The Blind Colt

The Blind Colt by Glen Rounds
Children's

This story is about a colt that is born blind. The Cowboy wishes to kill it but is convinced to let it be and keep an eye on it. This colt goes through many trials but comes through eventually finding its way to the ranch. A sweet story with a lesson to keep on trying

Rating:

(3.5/5)

Striped Shirts and Flowered Pants

Striped Shirts and Flowered Pants by Barbara Schnurbush
Children's

What a wonderful book!! I have just gone through the loss of my Mom to Altzheimer's. This book uses just the right touch in describing the disease to a child and allaying their fears. I too loved when Nana has a lucid moment and tells her granddaughter how much she loves her. The illustrations were also wonderful and colourful

Rating:

(4.0/5)

McNally's Risk

McNally's Risk by Lawrence Sanders
Mystery

P.I. Archy McNally mixes business with pleasure when he's hired by a well-heeled society matron to investigate the fiancee of her wealthy son. Archy suspects that he is flirting with danger when he finds the stunning bride-to-be involved in murder.
How can anyone not like Archy McNally. He is such a rogue and old-fashioned playboy. This time he has been asked to investigate a temptress before her society wedding. He is seduced by her and then the murders start....
Favourite Character: Archy of course
Least Favourite Character: Theo. I just hate beautiful gold-digging women probably because I am not beautiful
Best Part of the Story: I loved the descriptions of the food. Mouth watering
Least Favourite Part of the Story: I really didn't like that Archy was so easily seduced
What was missing: The actual food described :)

Rating:

(4.0/5)

Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore

Practical Deamonkeeping by Christopher Moore
Fiction

This is my very first Christopher Moore book, and it's way outside my usual genres (this is part fantasy, part paranormal, part fiction). This story involves a person-eating demon named Catch, and his master (though his control is waining) Travis. I was beginning to get worried as Moore introduced more and more characters into the book. There was a point where I was beginning to forget who was who and would have to flip back to where they were introduced. At the end though, they all tied together nicely.
This was a very easy read, and provided some suspense to try and figure out how the lot of them were going to get rid of Catch. Overall, I thought the book was ok. I hear that Moore's work gets better as he writes more and this is his first book so I'll have to find the next one he's written.

Rating:

(4/5)

Striped Shirts and Flowered Pants

Striped Shirts and Flowered Pants by Barbara Schnurbush
Children's

The book was created as a bookray by a bookrealyer whose sister wrote the book. It's a childrens story about Alzheimers Didease. Libby, the young girl in the book, has a grandmother with Alzheimer's disease and the book is how Libby notices the changes in her grandmother and how her parents discuss these changes with her.
My grandmother had Alzheimers so I can relate to Libby, even though (thankfully) I was much older when we found out she had it. I think the very most important line is the book is when Libby's nana tells Libby that no matter what, she will always love her. The illustrations in the book are sweet, and the story is touching. There's also a great section in the back for parents and how to tell their children about Alzheimers, as well as what reactions to expect. This is a great book for any child going through these circumstances.

Rating:

(4.5/5)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Children's

Dahl simply has a most wonderful imagination. He has taken some of the most undesirable traits and has had a field day exploring what might happen. I would have loved a visit to his factory. I have not seen the movie and now wish to see it as the Oompah Loompahs songs would be worth watching
Favourite Character: Charlie. He was the best behaved child. Did Dahl equate being poor with having good manners?
Least Favourite Character: Veruca Salt. The spoiled child. As parents we are all worried we might spoil our child too much. What is too much?
Favourite Part of the Story: I loved the factory tour with all the rooms explained. I could envision all the fabulous rooms
Least Favourite Part of the Story: I felt that the Mike Teavee story about the television a little weak
What was missing: Nothing

Rating:

(4.5/5)