The Secret Adversary (Tommy and Tuppence #1) by Agatha Christie

Read from April 14th - April 22nd 2015.

Published in 2001 by Planet Three Publishing Network LTD (first published in 1922)

Format    Hardback - 256 pages

Review    Wow, this is amazingly good.Hard to put down.Full of action written in such attentive detail that we have come to expect from an Agatha Christie story.

A young Tommy and Tuppence are such loveable characters.Post WW1, down on their luck and looking for adventure.
Advertising themselves as-
'Two young adventurers for hire. Willing to do anything, go anywhere. Pay must be good. No unreasonable offer refused', fancying themselves as sleuths.
Quickly, they become embroiled in a case of mystery involving a missing girl, important war time papers and some not very nice men, including criminal mastermind-The Elusive Mr Brown!

Trouble follows them around this adventure.

I loved this book and recommend to any Agatha Christie reader but please remember it was written in 1920, full of all the playfulness and terminology we would surmise from that time.

5 stars for this one.

The Dark Army (Keeper of the Realms #2) by Marcus Alexander

Read from November 25th - December 21st 2014.

Published February 1st 2013 by Puffin Books

Format    Paperback - 412 pages

Review    Marcus Alexander has only gone and done it again.Book 2 in the Keeper of the Realm series really doesn't disappoint, chocca with endless imagination.The story is so vivid, a reflection on how good Marcus's writing is. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end, it never faltered.
I liked the character of Edge Darkmount, he is scarily untrustworthy but wins Charlie over by promising to decipher her mysterious pendant she holds for a price- if she will help him get revenge on Bane by carrying out a dangerous mission where she faces demons, gods and experiences torment and a darkness that mixes with her keeper powers to find and bring him back an urn which contains his 'god'.
She completes this task and realises she cannot trust the evil lord as he turns on her. The future of Bellania relies on Charlie's special powers. The evil lord conjours up a stone army via his god to advance upon Bane. Clever Charlie banishes the evil lord through a portal in the middle of nowhere and the urn with his god in it to the bottom of a lake again in the middle of nowhere and with the help of her fellow keepers, they combine their skill and power and take over the entire stone army to advance on Banes army that is pulling Bellania to shreds.

5 stars given.

Cruel Reality: Games of Life and Death by C.J. Whitley

Read from April 30th - May 8th 2016.

Published May 27th 2016 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform


Format    Paperback - 590 pages

Review    I was asked whether I would read and review this book by the author C.J Whitley, and what an honour it was to be asked as this was an amazing, imaginative read. It was marketed to me as a YA (young adult) read, somewhat resembling a modern day Hunger Games style. I thought to myself, bring it on. I am not adverse to a bit of dystopian fantasy. 
Soon enough, this book came flying through my letter box. I say flying, really, that is not the right word for a book of it's size. I have read books of many more pages and books of much less so wasn't at all daunted by it's sheer size.
Upon opening and reading the first few pages, I was soon to realise that it held lots of very short chapters. This was a smart move by the author I felt as there is nothing more off putting than a huge book with extremely long chapters and worse still, no chapters to some. Remembering the target audience, shorter chapters in busy lives are quite attractive. The chapters were catchy and gripping, willing me onto turn the page, onto another chapter. I was loving this book, it appeared.

300 British people of varying ages wake to find themselves in a room, a room with no windows, doors that do not open (from their side at least), but they have been provided with food and water and a blanket for warmth/comfort. What is it all about? Have they been kidnapped? Is it all just a scary dream for someone? Once all awake, this picture slowly becomes clear and the reality isn't the most desirable.

As regular readers of my reviews know, I am not a fan of repeating the plot/story as there are many that do that and people just want to read thoughts and opinions and after the first handful, tend to scroll past until they get to the desired review part. The above paragraph is all you are getting out of me regarding the story line. 

This amazing story encouraged convincing imagery with the detailed but light descriptions although I did find on the subject of detail, that it bounced around with how full it was of it. At times, like some of my reviews ;-) it was a little too wordy in places. There is a sentence which says of one of the main characters, '....she went and used the toilet'. Nice to know that unlike on television, they actually carry out normal every day activities, but this is where tv have it right, as I felt it wasn't needed.
I found myself feeling for the characters, I felt very connected to them as the story went on and I think that is the sign of a good writer if they can get a reader feeling (with) for the characters portrayed. I felt the claustrophobia and fear when it was being described for the characters and went on that first recce with Mike (the main pratagonist), armed with those scary feelings. Another element that stood out for me was when I read some of the book earlier in the day, I was thinking often about the characters and the story most of the day and couldn't wait to get my nose stuck back into those characters lives again.

This story was all a bit far fetched really, as with all books of this subject but but not completely unbelievable. 
There was one point (by page 85) where I remember thinking the young children were being exceptionally good. Really? by this point, none of them had 'created' about having no gaming systems etc? hmmmm, hard to believe and if going to the toilet is mentioned, surely this wouldn't be excess detail to add. 

The author seemed to have an understanding of what runs through a young ladies mind when in 'love'. It reminded me of when I was young and in that lust stage and I felt myself smiling with the memories of this. Great thought and empathy shown there from C.J Whitley. I felt a bit emotional a few times reading this book.

I was left wondering throughout, what people must have been thinking with this disappearance of many. This question kept rearing it's head and the author didn't fail to disappoint. From page 207, this was indeed answered. 

The pages included some truly unexpected, shocking and brutal twists that are certainly not for the feint hearted but it just kept giving more and getting more exciting and shocking. I couldn't work out what was coming next. There was no build up to events, just a pure adrenaline fuelled read. I have seen two of The Hunger Games films although I have not read the books but I actually preferred this to watching those if I am honest. The author did a magnificent job of making the story feel real, so real in fact that it has taken me a while to be able to put a review together for it.

I highly recommend this book and not just to young adults but anyone who is willing to take chances, wanting an adventure, able to believe the unbelievable and isn't afraid of an emotional roller-coaster that may leave them feeling a bit of an emotional wreck of any age.

4 out of 5 stars for this one - well earned.

The Babble Hinge - 7.

Hellooooooo,
Ok, ok, so it has been a little while since I added a review (apart from a couple of old ones, I transferred over from Goodreads).
I have had a fair bit of overtime at work lately and well, basically life happened and got in the way.
I have a couple of reviews to put up on here and promise you they will be going up by the end of the week.

I have had a crazy prescription day today. Boots (chemist) keep messing up my script.I am on a couple of pain meds. The first, I get more than enough of and the second,well, that's another story. The script is, 1-2 4 times daily.I get a box of 100.Boots order this for me ONCE a month.Now, my maths is dire but even I know that if I am taking my max dose, then a box of 100 just isn't going to make it through the month so, I place an order with my Drs manually for that and my cholesterol pills.Oh my word, all this pillage, sounds like I am a right druggie.I would rather not be on any of it but I do know it is only temporary. Back to the story.The order was put in on Thursday,which was 4 days ago explaining that Boots keep messing the script order up and this was an extra order as well as their monthly one. Now, I understand why people get so annoyed talking to answer phones as all this is done via a prescription voicemail system. Today, I rang Boots who confirmed they had got my cholesterol med script all ready to go and yes, I could collect after work.Fantastic, what about my pain relief. "What about it" you ask. Oh no, it hasn't been put on. I rang the G.p next and spoke to a receptionist who says, yes it has been written but to be sent over to Boots for the 26th. Argh!! "But, I have had no pain meds over the weekend and left my repeat med req on Thursday". She says but you have them once a month and Boots have requested it for 26th."Look", I said "with all the will in the world and my maths isn't great, you can not make a box of 100 last a month at a dosage of 1-2 4 times a day, it just doesn't equate". The receptionist seemed to understand and said she would just speak to the Dr................5 minutes later, she returned to the phone. "The doctor says they will scrap that script and get you another done, it will be ready tomorrow". "Tomorrow?!? but I called it in on Thursday, giving over the required 48 hrs notice and I have work and have been without meds all weekend". She giggles, I think what is so darn funny.You don't have my pain obviously.Yes, it only takes off an edge but that edge enables me to sleep a little and to work better a little more which is huge to me.Here we go again.I decide to pop into Boots after work and get my cholesterol meds and some shop strength co-codamol. I waited ten minutes for someone to take note that I was there and then they couldn't find the meds.They looked high and low and then apologised to me.The pharmacist apologised saying I had been given incorrect information and even that med wasn't ready for me either and that they would text me once it was in and ready........really ready.
Off home I went almost empty handed.I went somewhere else for the co-codamol and they didn't have any but did have their own capsule mix which I thought, that will do and took it.

Oh dear.What a palarva! I love that word - palarva.
Talking about words, I was having a conversation with some others about lovely sounding words on The Bookshop Cafe (a group on Facebook for book lovers of all kinds).We liked agog, I love place names such as Mesopotamia and Constantinople and I also like Pumpernickel. We also came up with these beauties to name just a few - flibbertigibbet. rambunctious, widdershins, bunting, doily and cockwomble. Ohhhhh, should I have said that word on here? hehe (feels naughty now). I shall leave you with that one.What words do you like the sounds of? 

Will be back soon to review and babble some more.

Equal Rights (Discworld #3) by Terry Pratchett

Read from August 24th - August 31st 2014.

Published April 3rd 2014 by Gollancz

Format    Hardback - 240 pages

Review    Loved this book.Full of fantasy,humour and magic .I'm not convinced that Esk is just 9yrs old.I think Terry Pratchett writes her much older,like a teenager.Absolutely enjoyed the relationship between Granny Weatherwax and Cutangle.I could imagine them in the boat together (felt like I was there too) like an old married couple.very humorous and really made the book a clear hit for me.An easy,comfortable read. Wyrd sisters next....

5 stars given.

One of my first reviews. A little shorter than others. Will expand on this in the future.

The Babble Hinge - 6.

Here I am, at 09:30 hours, sat at my desk attaching another hinge with a Latte beside me and two furry moggies either side of me also. I am sporting the rather tired eyes and hair look after a busy day yesterday. Yesterday, what happened yesterday? I'll start there and work backwards, just because, I can :-)

I left the house at 9am to make the approx 3hr drive to the other side of Lincoln and for those that don't know, Lincoln in the UK is round in the next smaller hump up on the map to me. The darker green area shows Norfolk and Lincolnshire.
                                          
It was only my 4th/5th time driving there and for those that know, driving on the A17 can be a bit of a deathwish in itself although, I don't see it as that bad if I'm honest. 50mph was pushing a bit as a max speed due to being stuck behind bank holiday caravans. It resembled a convoy backing down the road until hooray, we lost the caravan only to find that within seconds two more had joined the convoy.......in front! This was certainly going to take some time. Oh how I wished I could trundle along and read my book at the same time. If only. Two problems with that, the book was at home and I may just end up in the purple Citreon Picasso's back end that I was becoming all too familiar with from the A47 onwards.
Onto the A15 with afore said caravans dearly departed, and a little before seeing R.A.F Waddington on the left in a sign, a small low down sign saying RAMP, like so -
                                  
remembering this road allows you to drive down it at 60mph so one of these at the side of the road in the grass very close to THE ramp doesn't really do much for your 11 yr old cars suspension or the 11 yr old wheels and if I'm truthful, my 40 yr old body in general. You may giggle, but by jove, this was no RAMP, this was a STEP!!

I was going to show you some lovely photo's of yesterdays trip into Lincoln with my dad but I will have to show you some from the internet stock instead as I'd still like you to see what a wonderful historic city is is and hopefully you can enjoy it as much as I always do. I completely forgot to take some for you yesterday. I have loads on my external hard drive but do not have it to hand. I will endeavour to show you ones which correspond with where we went.
Here is a view of part of Lincoln castle from the medieval wall walk which is mainly what we went for -
           
Photo taken from Trip Advisor.
If you ever get the chance to go, go.The castle and the cathedral are wonderful. We didn't go into the cathedral yesterday but here it is for you to see and is directly across from the castle.
                 
This is almost as I would have seen it yesterday from the medieval wall walk.Photo taken from BBC Lincolnshire site. A little history on the beautiful Lincoln cathedral.
Afterwards we went for a strutt down Steep hill.Steep hill is littered with tiny old shops down each side.Very quaint.

Steep Hill midway point. Click link to see where it is cited from.

Lets bring it back to books. On the way down on the right is this wonderful building called Jews Court/Jews House and that door right next to the window made me feel like Alice in Wonderland as it is much smaller than I am. This is a second hand bookshop but I didn't go in it as we were then going off for lunch.


On the way back home to Norfolk there were waves lapping (slight exaggeration) up the left side of my car. I have become a mega, blinded, spray pro driver. The journey home made more pleasurable with 6 mins, 45 seconds of the full version of Guns and Roses, Paradise City blasting out courtesy of Radio one, and yes, I did sing and wiggle my head. :-).

I am going to leave you with photo's of a treasured book box set that I received recently for my birthday. They are so beautiful.

                         
     
 

I love Sherlock Holmes and wanted a really lovely set to keep and treasure. They are a little smaller than average books and are sold by The Collectors Library, although mine came via Amazon. Book lovers will understand the joy I felt upon hearing the book sounds, the feel of the pages and the smell of the ink. Wonderful book times ahead with these. Other books from The Collectors Library may end up on my bookcases in due time ;-).

Oooooo, one more thing. I spotted this on my local library window -



A trip to the library may be in order. How exciting is this. :-D

For those that subscribe to my blog via emails, apologies if you have received a few with older reviews on them. I sent some back out via Google+ as they are good books but are so far back, I didn't want them to be forgotten as they deserve reading time by others.


It is book o'clock, so I will waffle at you again another time very soon.

The Taxidermist's Daughter by Kate Mosse

Read from March 26th - April 5th 2016.

Published September 11th 2014 by Orion

Format    Hardback - 409 pages

Review    I don't like repeating the story blurb in my reviews so here is the
 synopsis from the cover - 

Sussex, 1912. In a churchyard, villagers gather on the night when the ghosts of those who will die in the coming year are thought to be seen. Here, where the estuary leads out to the sea, superstitions still hold sway.
Standing alone is the taxidermist's daughter. At 17, Constantia Gifford lives with her father in a decaying house: it is all that is left of Gifford's once world-famous museum of taxidermy. The stuffed animals that used to grace every parlour are out of fashion, leaving Gifford a disgraced and bitter man.
The bell begins to toll and all eyes are fixed on the church. No one sees the gloved hand pick up a flint. As the last notes fade into the dark, a woman lies dead.
While the village braces itself against rising waters and the highest tide of the season, Connie struggles to discover who is responsible, but finds herself under suspicion. Is Constantia who she seems - is she the victim of circumstances or are more sinister forces at work? And what is the secret that lies at the heart of Gifford House, hidden among the bell jars of her father's workshop?

My thoughts    Atmospheric, Gothic psychological thriller that allured me into it's dark pages from the get go. My first introduction to a Kate Mosse book has enticed me to read her other works. I really enjoyed the writing style. It flowed very comfortably with an almost warming feel. The imagery and descriptive text were totally captivating. A strong introduction,opening at midnight on 24th April 1912 in the graveyard of the local church, where people believe that the ghosts of those who will die in the coming year will walk into the church. Commencing the first chapter with a scene in the graveyard was exciting, a fabulous angle to enthral any reader. I disliked having to put it down. The taxidermy procedures and techniques were described in depth showing the research that must have gone into putting the chapters together. Some of the characters are quite complex and I found I had feelings towards them all, including a fondness to the alcoholic Gifford. Gifford and his daughter Connie live in a remote building known as Blackthorn house that appears to be watched. Ten years before, criminal activity took place which involved the main character Connie (now 22 years old), then 12, having an accident and ending up with amnesia, but is dimly aware through flashbacks that something consequential happened. I was surprised throughout this book. It kept time with me and unfolded as I read. I personally think this would make a really good film.

I gave this one 5 stars.