The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

“Augus­tus Wa­ters drove hor­rif­i­cally. Whether stop­ping or start­ing, every­thing hap­pened with a tremen­dous JOLT. I flew against the seat belt of his Toy­ota SUV each time he braked, and my neck snapped back­ward each time he hit the gas.”

When I commenced reading this novel I knew only that it was an extremely popular work of YA fiction. Had I known the subject matter it is unlikely I would have read it. I find books about the big C very difficult to take, having watched too many people go through its torments over the years. That aside, this is a beautiful, heartbreaking work and the characters are a delight.

While they perhaps speak in a far more verbose and mature fashion than most young teens, this appears consistent with the maturity they have had to draw upon given their circumstances. In fashioning a tale that is so full of beauty, humour and love, the author has developed young characters that possess a richness of life that is fascinating. If I was 14 I would be completely and utterly in love with Augustus, despite his poor driving skills.

If you feel like a good cry and have some kleenex on hand, check this out. If you want to be cheered up  - look elsewhere.  5 out of 5.

Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer

"Master Artemis did not like delays. But today he was too focused on his latest acquisition, The Fairy Thief, still sealed in its perspex tube."

When we last left Master Artemis Fowl, his life had been turned upside down. A reunion with his father was followed by some hard core memory wiping by the LEP. It seemed that his adventures with the fairy world might be well and truly over - we except for the fact that there were more volumes to get through.

Another dashing adventure with Holly, Butler and the gang is always fun. I'm not sure I like the personality change Artemis is undergoing - I prefer him cocky and evil, but good will prevail it would seem.

In any case he's still a genius and never shy of asking for extortionate amounts of cash to involve himself in anything. He would be great in a performance appraisal!

This particular adventure seemed a little flat at times, yet set the scene for a new change of pace via Holly's career change.  4 out of 5 fairy goggles on.

Blood & Beauty by Sarah Dunant

“Most men need to be overwhelmed in order to appreciate the divine.”

I confess - my interest in the Borgia family stems from watching the current eponymous television series. Upon seeing this rather tasty cover in a bookstore on a quick trip to Bowral I was unable to resist the lure of its pages.

A historical novel is a strange beast. Married so tightly to known events in some instances, and yet taking strange flights of fancy to remain entertaining. Much of what is covered within the book is reminiscent of the television series and I would like to do a little more study to find out how much of both are products of the authors’ imaginations.

A little racy at times although, given the subject matter and the Borgia family reputation, the novel is practically puritanical in the most part. Lucrezia takes on a hopeless victim role, utilized as a pawn in the political machinations of her brother and father.

The novel was particularly easy to read, due no doubt in this instance, to a combination of large print and non-stop action. Given the title, I felt perhaps there was a little too much of the latter and not enough of the former within the story, if the infamous reputation of the family is to be believed. Having completed the weighty tome in four days of intermittent reading, I’d say it makes for a great airline companion. 4 out of 5 Machiavellian machinations make marvelous morsels.

Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

 

"I was still Eric Northman's wife under vampire custom, though he wasn't talking to me right now."

 

 

After so many years following Sookie Stackhouse through her romantic adventures between and betwixt the supernatural inhabitants of Bon Temps and beyond, the final chapter has arrived. I will suppress the intense desire to give the ending away - it might leave you happy, sad, mad, a combination of both (me), or something in between.

 

 The first thing that any reader or bookstore shopper can't fail to notice is the lurid fluoro cover - that orange practically glows in the dark. Having said that, if you're buying the final, 13th novel, you are pretty much committed to finding out what happens and might ignore the crazy brights. I prefer the old cartoonish covers, but back to the story....

 

The last couple of books had me a little ambivalent about how the story might unfurl. Perhaps this is due to my Eric Northman obsession and the on again, off again, nature of their interactions. I think perhaps my appreciation of Eric is due more to Alexander Skarsgard than the actual character in the book, but I'm not one to complain. In the spirit of reference, see below.... now where was I?

 

Without detailing the events of the book in detail, there are witches, the devil ( or a devil), vampires, shifters and werewolves aplenty, along with a murder (because the bodies always mount up in Bon Temps). I'm giving this a good mark on the basis that I'm relieved to come to the end of the saga and not have to patiently wait a year between visits. It's no Dickens, but for giving the world Eric, Sookie , Bill and Alcide I can't help but be greatful to Charlaine Harris.  5 out of 5 for all the shirtless supernatural boyfriends of Sookie.

 

 

 

 

 



Foreign Affairs by Alison Lurie

 

"However long the flight, Vinnie always tries to avoid striking up acquaintance with anyone, especially on transatlantic journeys. According to her calculations, there is far more chance of having to listen to some bore for seven-and-a-half hours than of  meeting someone interesting - and after all, whom even among her friends would she want to converse with for so long?"

 

 

From beginning to end, this novel was a delight. The character of Vinnie shares my love of literature and visiting England, along with a reluctance to mix different types of friends to avoid potential social upheaval. A 50 something, unmarried, children's literature professor from America, the novel follows her study sojourn in London, including an unanticipated and moving romantic entanglement. At the same time, and generally through alternate chapters, the focus is on Fred Turner, Vinnie's much younger colleague who has fled matrimonial drama in the states and embarks on a tumultuous affair with a beautiful, yet troubled, older actress.

 

While the subject matter might dissuade some readers who are reticent to delve into romance, there is a beautiful realism within the writing which speaks to a much broader appeal. Ultimately it is the transformative nature of an unlikely love affair that remains as a life lesson for the protagonists and for the reader.  5 out of 5 crazy games of charades aplenty.

 





Pyramids by Terry Pratchett

 

“All assassins had a full-length mirror in their rooms, because it would be a terrible insult to anyone to kill them when you were badly dressed.”  

 

I was really optimistic at the beginning of this tale. The Assassin's guild section was hysterical and certainly in line with some of Pratchett's best work. Once Teppic moves back home and the novel concerns itself with the pyramids, my interest waned a little. This failure to light my literary fire may have had something to do with the medium through which I was experiencing the work - an e-book on my mobile phone. Reading  a page here and there, snatching a spare moment to delve back into Discworld was, in this instance, a trifle frustrating. Generally, I  love escaping into Pratchett's world, this was enjoyable with some classic lines, but ultimately not my favourite escapade.  4 out of 5 pass the pyramids.



A Spy In The House Of Love by Anais Nin

 

 

"It was the alchemy of desire fixing itself upon the incarnation of all women into Sabina for a moment but as easily by a second process able to alchemize Sabina into many others."

 

The torments of Sabina and her struggles with love, lust, morality and the continuing friction between the three really resonates. Here is a strong female voice torn between the joys of liberation, the struggles of fitting in and playing a part to keep the man she loves and who loves her. All she wants is the freedom to live the enticing life enjoyed by her male counterparts, but in doing so, she risks exposing the mask she wears to hold on to Alan, the nice, safe choice.

 

 

Nin's writing, as always, is like chocolate, delicate, tasty, moreish and delightful. At 124 pages, this is a particularly quick read, but the prose is dense with anticipation, struggle and is certainly worth picking up from the bookshelf. There is something so attractive about her writing which is at the same time, reassuring and testing. This short read beautifully expresses the duality of desire, of joy and deceit in equal measure.  5 out of 5. I want to read it again!