Finished: On the Steel Breeze by Alastair Reynolds
The second in a planned trilogy following the Akinya family and humanities first steps out of the Solar System. Elephants feature heavily in the first book of this series and they are also present in the second. What their role is at this point, still remains to be seen. It does seem though that the fate of the Akinyas(and therefore humanity as a whole, or at least those on the holoships) and the elephants is closely related.
This book is set another generation into the future than the previous installment with vast caravans of holoships (cored out asteroids) travelling to a planet in another solar system to investigate & colonise a new planet which has some "alien made" features, the primary reason for choosing that planet as one of the first new planets for colonisation. The Akinyas were responsible for this push to move out of the Solar System in both construction of the holoships and development of a new type of physics which enable the ships to travel further and faster then ever before.
I really enjoyed this book. Obviously it is the bridging book in the trilogy and while there is a jump in time, the central characters are still there, albeit in machine form. How and why they are so important will hopefully be revealed in the final book.
I like that when you read one of Alastair Reynolds books, the truth is given out in little parcels, allowing you some satifcation in connecting dots, but not so much that you can prematurely draw the whole picture!
Started: Between Silk & Cyanide: A Codemakers War by Leo Marks
Monday, 28 October 2013
Monday, 21 October 2013
Book Bloggin' 21st October 2013
Started: On The Steel Breeze by Alastair Reynolds
The second part of the Blue Remembered Earth trilogy.
The second part of the Blue Remembered Earth trilogy.
Monday, 14 October 2013
Book Bloggin' 14th October 2013
Finished: Malory Towers Series by Enid Blyton
I loved re-reading this series. There are six books in all following the school career of Darrell Rivers as she moves through each year at Malory Towers, a fictional school on the Cornwall coast. From a modern standpoint, some of the goings on are quite quaint as is the speech. Equally, some things may be viewed as offensive by some (although not by me!). Recently alot of Enid Blytons books have been rewritten and "modernised" but I think honestly, that they should be left alone. They are a window into a different time, when the standards were alot higher in regards to the responisbility of parents and the role they play in shaoping who their children will become. And it is so true, so many parents are willing to blame this that or the other if their child is not behaving, instead of taking responsibility for their actions and trying to educate and improve them. I try my best with my kids and these books have always had a deep affect on me, especially when combined with how I was parented. It is a true fact that the child is a reflection of the kind of attention and support a parent gives them. I only hope that I am managing to do that with my children.
Started & Finished: The Wanderer in Unknown Realms by John Connolly.
A short story by an author I am excited to be going to see in a couple of weeks! A supernatural thriller that is very much in the vain of his Charlie Parker novels but based shortly after the first world war. A good read and really quite creepy.
Started & Finished: Just South of Rome by Judy Nunn
Another short story. I really enjoy these short stories by Judy Nunn. They are always highly entertaining!
I loved re-reading this series. There are six books in all following the school career of Darrell Rivers as she moves through each year at Malory Towers, a fictional school on the Cornwall coast. From a modern standpoint, some of the goings on are quite quaint as is the speech. Equally, some things may be viewed as offensive by some (although not by me!). Recently alot of Enid Blytons books have been rewritten and "modernised" but I think honestly, that they should be left alone. They are a window into a different time, when the standards were alot higher in regards to the responisbility of parents and the role they play in shaoping who their children will become. And it is so true, so many parents are willing to blame this that or the other if their child is not behaving, instead of taking responsibility for their actions and trying to educate and improve them. I try my best with my kids and these books have always had a deep affect on me, especially when combined with how I was parented. It is a true fact that the child is a reflection of the kind of attention and support a parent gives them. I only hope that I am managing to do that with my children.
Started & Finished: The Wanderer in Unknown Realms by John Connolly.
A short story by an author I am excited to be going to see in a couple of weeks! A supernatural thriller that is very much in the vain of his Charlie Parker novels but based shortly after the first world war. A good read and really quite creepy.
Started & Finished: Just South of Rome by Judy Nunn
Another short story. I really enjoy these short stories by Judy Nunn. They are always highly entertaining!
Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Book Bloggin' 8th October 2013
Finished: In the Shadow of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth
This book was slightly different to the first installment in that it dealt more with three main characters that the authour had come into contact with during her time as a distrcit nurse. Each story was a very moving account of the difficulties of growing up and living in the East End of London. The three people she follows all came from different sections of the community and each had a unique story to tell - although throughout there was the commonality of life in Poplar.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I admit I had a cry at the end when she was finishing the life story of Joseph Collett. If you want a peak into how life has changed for all ages, then I highly suggest this book. It truly is eye opening and gives an insight into the clumsy first efforts at the "welfare state".
Started: Malory Towers Series by Enid Blyton
I felt like some thing light & easy, and a return to the books I so enjoyed as a child, especially now as my daughter is starting to enjoy these books too!
This book was slightly different to the first installment in that it dealt more with three main characters that the authour had come into contact with during her time as a distrcit nurse. Each story was a very moving account of the difficulties of growing up and living in the East End of London. The three people she follows all came from different sections of the community and each had a unique story to tell - although throughout there was the commonality of life in Poplar.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I admit I had a cry at the end when she was finishing the life story of Joseph Collett. If you want a peak into how life has changed for all ages, then I highly suggest this book. It truly is eye opening and gives an insight into the clumsy first efforts at the "welfare state".
Started: Malory Towers Series by Enid Blyton
I felt like some thing light & easy, and a return to the books I so enjoyed as a child, especially now as my daughter is starting to enjoy these books too!
Friday, 4 October 2013
Book Bloggin' 4th October 2013
Finished: Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth
This book is the basis for the series "Call the Midwife" which follows the life of Jennifer Lee a midwife based in the convent of St Raymond Nonnatus (not the real name, used to conceal real identity) East London in the 1950's. Having watched the series first, it was lovely to be able to read this book (the first in a series of four) as it gave an even deeper insight into what Nurse Lee experienced in East London. As well she also gave little updates as to what may have happened to various people she had encountered on her journey as a midwife which wasn't included in the series. I really enjoyed this book. It was a frank and honest account of a midwife in the mid-1900's. I found the authors honesty refreshing when she described her feelings towards not only the nuns but also the various mothers & families she encountered.
Started: Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth
This book is the basis for the series "Call the Midwife" which follows the life of Jennifer Lee a midwife based in the convent of St Raymond Nonnatus (not the real name, used to conceal real identity) East London in the 1950's. Having watched the series first, it was lovely to be able to read this book (the first in a series of four) as it gave an even deeper insight into what Nurse Lee experienced in East London. As well she also gave little updates as to what may have happened to various people she had encountered on her journey as a midwife which wasn't included in the series. I really enjoyed this book. It was a frank and honest account of a midwife in the mid-1900's. I found the authors honesty refreshing when she described her feelings towards not only the nuns but also the various mothers & families she encountered.
Started: Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Book Bloggin' 1st October 2013
Finished: The Bunker Book 3: Virginia by EJ Camacho
Ok, I will be honest, I skipped most of this book. I went straight to the end only so I could find out what happened. I was looking forward to the conclusion of this trilogy. I really enjoyed the first 2 volumes. But there has been a BIG break inbetween. And I think that break allowed me to actually focus on what was wrong with this book, rather than, oh gee I can't wait to see how this ends!
To put it simple, the writing is clunky, the characters are completely unbelievable and really, I found myself not giving a rats if they died or lived. At the end, predictably the evil Marzin died and the good guys (of the bunker) lived. Sorry for the spoiler, but geez that's just how apathetic I am to this story. That someone like Marzin could actually continue to do what he was doing under the corporate structure confounds me. I know it was the end of the world but I found myself thinking, really? Even with all that oversight in place they still allow him to do that? I'm the first person to tell others that you have to suspend reality, but some of these stories are just so far fetched even I can't do that.
I won't be reading the stand alones that follow this trilogy as honestly I just don't care.
Started: Call The Midwife by Jennifer Worth
The first of the books upon which the highly successful series is based.
Ok, I will be honest, I skipped most of this book. I went straight to the end only so I could find out what happened. I was looking forward to the conclusion of this trilogy. I really enjoyed the first 2 volumes. But there has been a BIG break inbetween. And I think that break allowed me to actually focus on what was wrong with this book, rather than, oh gee I can't wait to see how this ends!
To put it simple, the writing is clunky, the characters are completely unbelievable and really, I found myself not giving a rats if they died or lived. At the end, predictably the evil Marzin died and the good guys (of the bunker) lived. Sorry for the spoiler, but geez that's just how apathetic I am to this story. That someone like Marzin could actually continue to do what he was doing under the corporate structure confounds me. I know it was the end of the world but I found myself thinking, really? Even with all that oversight in place they still allow him to do that? I'm the first person to tell others that you have to suspend reality, but some of these stories are just so far fetched even I can't do that.
I won't be reading the stand alones that follow this trilogy as honestly I just don't care.
Started: Call The Midwife by Jennifer Worth
The first of the books upon which the highly successful series is based.
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