The Mis-Education Years - August 2011

41. The Mis-Education Years - Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (Paul Howard)

256 Pages; Charity Shop

Ross O'Carroll-Kelly is a fictional teenager from the southside of Dublin, Ireland. The book is a diary giving us the characters "hilarious" exploits in his own posh Dublin 4 accent. He plays on the school rugby team, "roids the arse" of various girls and generally behaves like an "orsehole".

The Ross O'Carroll-Kelly series of books is very popular in Dublin and I guess most of Ireland but to be honest, I didn't enjoy the book. Probably a case of hearing how good it was for so long that by the time I got around to reading it my expectations had been raised beyond what was ever going to be possible for the book to live up to.

The Dublin 4 accent annoyed the "orse" off me too.

I might read the next book in the series to see if my attitude changes but I won't go out of my way to hunt it down. If it happens, it happens.

I give the Miseducation Years 2 "Total Filthies" out of 5

The Complete Book of Food Combining - August 2011

40. The Complete Book of Food Combining - Kathryn Marsden

480 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

Food Combining (sometimes known as The Hay Diet) is something I've looked at a few times, especially after reading Fit for Life by Harvey Diamond a few years ago.

To be honest, it sounds like it makes sense but Harvey Diamond made it so complicated I didn't bother trying it. He had all these rules on when to eat, what sequence to eat in etc. and it really put me off.

Having said that, the one rule about only eating fruit on an empty stomach and no later than 30 minutes before a meal cured me of fruit-related acid reflux...so he's not all bad!!!

Anyway, the Complete Book of Food Combining is a different kettle of fish altogether.

Not too many rules other than the don't eat concentrated proteins with concentrated carbohydrates in the same meal. (and only eat fruit on an empty stomach!)

It's a straight-forward explanation of food combining, how to do it, how it has helped others and how it may help you, and loads of different recipes to try.

It's a great book that will take you from novice to master food combiner in just one read.

I award this book 5 "Easy to Follow Food Charts" out of 5

Green Living in the Urban Jungle - August 2011

39. Green Living in the Urban Jungle - Lucy Siegle

160 Pages, Bought online

I got this as a 3 for £10 deal online from a  bookseller I bought a book from a few years ago.

It offers various examples of how you can live a more "Green" life while living in an urban setting.

It's told with humour and there's plenty of examples of what the author did. It covers from absolute beginners which was great as I'm petty clueless about things like this. I recycle as much as I can but it's almost unconscious as we have a recycling collection every 2 weeks here so all I have to do is rinse and sort as I go.

I'l definitely try growing something in the garden and maybe using my bicycle more.

On the whole this book is a great user-friendly introduction to green living.

I give it 4 "Green Fingers" out of 5. It would have got a five if there were more step by step examples and projects.

July Round Up

Suzanne Collins 

July Round Up

Books Read in July: 4

Total Pages: 1372
Average Pages Read per day: 44.2

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 1
Library: 3

Genres:
Fantasy: 2
Sci Fi: 1
Non-Fiction: 1

For more about Suzanne Collins check out her website: http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/

2011 so far:

Books Read: 38

Total Pages: 10,583

Average Pages Read per day: 49.91

Reading less as the days are now officially warmer and brighter, even in Ireland!

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 13
Library: 23
Amazon: 2 

Genres:
Fantasy: 8
Sci Fi: 14
Non-Fiction: 11
Crime: 2
Thriller: 2
Historic Fiction: 1

Dragonflight - July 2011

38. Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey

356 pages, Bought in Charity Shop

A very popular book on Fantasy lists and the first in a series covering the Dragons of Pern.

I rarely finish a book if it hasn't hooked me by page 50.

I made myself finish this book as I figured it would improve...for me, it didn't.

I know there are a lot of fans out there but this book just didn't do it for me.

I tried.

I give this book 2.5 "Threads" out of 5

The Hunger Games - July 2011

37. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

464 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library.

A new Sci-Fi classic in the making, soon to be made into a film.

Like a mix of "The Running Man" and "Battle Royale" this book focusses on Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year old girl who ends up in "The Hunger Games" a fight to the death competition that takes place every year in this post-apocalyptic tale.

But Katniss already has skills to help her survive...and maybe win.

What can I say, it's a belter of a story! It races along and the characters and situation they find themselves in seem real.

I read this in a day, and as it's the first book in a trilogy, I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.

If you like action, plot and characters you like and start to care about very early in the story then this is the book for you.

I should mention that it's a Young Adult book. Don't let that put you off, it's still a great read.

I give The Hunger Games 5 "Mockingjay Birds" out of 5

American Vampire - July 2011

36. American Vampire (Vol. 1)- Stephen King & Scott Snyder, Illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque

200 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

This is the first graphic novel of our list and a very enjoyable read.

It is a book of two stories, one by King, the other by Snyder.

Both stories were entertaining, showing a fresh take on vampires.

One has a girl who is attacked by vampires and left for dead. She's found by another vampire who bites her and turns her into an "American Vampire"; a vampire with teeth, claws and no problems with the sun!

The second story follows Skinner Sweet, the original American Vampire.

For once, the artwork perfectly complements the tale. I know art is a personal thing, but when it comes to graphic novels sometimes it can take away from the storyline...that is not the case here. I would have Rafael Albuquerque do all illustrations for Stephen Kings works from now on...and re do The Dark Tower comicbooks too.

If you're a fan of vampires, and NOT the lame-ass Twilight versions of them, then this book is one to chase down.

It's the first in a series so there plenty more to look forward to.

I give American Vampires 5 "Pearl Jones" out of 5.