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.

Teach Us To Sit Still - July 2011

35. Teach Us To Sit Still: A Sceptic's Search for Health & Healing

352 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

This book, by novelist Tim Parks, charts his experiences in trying to free himself from distressing pain that he describes as "a general smouldering tension throughout the abdomen, a sharp jab in the perineum, an electric shock darting down the inside of the thighs, an ache in the small of the back, a shivery twinge in the penis itself". As a man, I can't help wincing as I read that sentence!

He goes to doctors, who subject him to a battery of tests...all of which come back inconclusive. He undergoes operations that do nothing to free him from this constant debilitating pain.

Finally, while in India, he consults a doctor who tells him the pain is a manifestation of a struggle going on in his mind. Then he discovers a book written by two doctors that related the pain he's experiencing with muscle tension.

What follows is the authors journey into the mind/body connection and how he discovers the benefits of meditation...the "Sit Still" of the title. It's not a self-help or "How To..." manual but it is a fascinating glimpse at a man who has been let down by conventional medicine finding peace with himself and relief from his pain. It's laced with humour, and sometimes cringe-inducing descriptions, but is a very worthwhile read, maybe more so for people with health problems or who are just getting a bit older and starting to feel it!

I'm not in pain and I'm not a meditator but having read his story I am a lot more willing to try meditiation/relaxation techniques just for the sense of peace side of it.

I give this book 4.5 "Wee Samples" out of 5.

June Round Up

Alex Haley

Books Read in June: 4

Total Pages: 1584
Average Pages Read per day: 52.8

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 1
Library: 2
Amazon: 1

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

Find out more about Alex Haley check out his Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Haley



2011 so far:

Books Read: 34

Total Pages: 9211

Average Pages Read per day: 50.88
Reading less as the days are now officially warmer and brighter, even in Ireland!

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 12
Library: 20
Amazon: 2

Genres:
Fantasy: 6
Sci Fi: 13
Non-Fiction: 10
Crime: 2
Thriller: 2
Historic Fiction: 1

The Postman - June 2011

34. The Postman - David Brin

400 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

Civilisation has been destroyed; not by nuclear weapons or a plague but by violent survivalists...

..kind of a BS premise for the book but once you get past that it's a great story.

A guy wandering through the former U.S. of A. hides in an old postal van and finds a warm postman's jacket and a bag of letters. He takes both, hoping to trade the letters for food; and slowly takes on the role of "The Postman"; an everyday hero destined to rid the land of the bad guys and restart civilisation to boot!

A cracker of a read, great way of looking at a post-apocalyptic land and a fun and entertaining read as well.

What more could you want ?!?

I give The Postman 5 "Holnists" out of 5

Roots - June 2011

33. Roots - Alex Haley

704 Pages, Bought in Charity Shop

I was too young to remember the classic 1977 TV mini-series based on this book but was familiar with the general story from it being mentioned online and on various TV shows over the years.

So I was delighted when I saw the book on the shelf in our local charity shop.

I found the story just amazing. It was great that the author had traced his own family "roots" all the way back to Africa and had used their lives as the framework for the novel. I also liked the way it jumped from character to character and generation to generation but I did kind of wish I could find out how the original characters lived out the rest of their lives.

I had very little knowledge of the hardships slaves endured from the moment they were stolen from Africa and using the narrative this book doesn't shy away from letting the reader know just how horrific it could be. Sadly, I believe there was plenty of worse things done to slaves that maybe the author just didn't want to mention.


It's a great historical novel and something I feel everyone should read, just to remind ourselves that humans can survive under terrible conditions...and unfortunately that suffering is nearly always at the hands of other so-called humans.

I give this book 5 "Chicken George's" out of 5

P.S. I've since learned online that Alex Haley was accused of plagiarism for a hefty chunk of the book and had to settle out-of-court with the author; and also there are doubts about his being able to trace his family history all the way back to a village in Africa. I don't care, I still loved the book and still recommend it!