I received a digital copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: Sam owns a bookstore. Upon going to collect money for an I received a digital copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: Sam owns a bookstore. Upon going to collect money for an unpaid order, Sam discovers his customer - a history professor - murdered. Luckily, Sam is friends with the local detective. Investigation ensues!
There was nothing glaringly wrong with this book, except that there was far too much telling, rather than showing, and clunky dialogue that was mildly, but persistently, irritating.
Sam is an unassuming, laid back kind of a guy – so much so that he is happy to leave the business he owns for hours at a time in order to help the police investigate the murder of one of his clients. While detective Gaston Lemieux does the official business, Sam potters around trying to sniff out leads and find that extra bit of information that may prove crucial to the whole operation.
The book has the quirky aspect of featuring Sam as a suspect early on, but this is put aside almost immediately, which I thought was unfortunate because it could have added some much needed suspense to the plot.
Unfortunately, I found the investigation to be tedium itself. There is very little in the way of danger and Sam seems to be able to wander into any suspect's circle of awareness, ask some questions, get some reasonable answers and report them back to Gaston. While Sam obviously has to have a big part in the investigation, being the protagonist, it beggars belief that a detective would let some ordinary Joe (or Sam, as the case may be), go around doing police work. One would think that this would prejudice the case somewhat. The ending is also a bit lacklustre, with only the most minor of minor twists, which I imagine will be pretty disappointing to avid murder mystery fans.
Overall, this was a disappointing read. I would say “bitterly” disappointing, but I can’t even muster up enough emotion about it to be bothered being bitter. I was initially excited to read a murder mystery set partly in a bookshop in Canada, as I felt this was an interesting variation from my usual British cosy mysteries. I can’t really recommend this book simply because there are far more engaging examples of the genre floating around. If you have a specific interest in Canadian murder mysteries however, you might find something to enjoy here.
Merged review:
I received a digital copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: Sam owns a bookstore. Upon going to collect money for an unpaid order, Sam discovers his customer - a history professor - murdered. Luckily, Sam is friends with the local detective. Investigation ensues!
There was nothing glaringly wrong with this book, except that there was far too much telling, rather than showing, and clunky dialogue that was mildly, but persistently, irritating.
Sam is an unassuming, laid back kind of a guy – so much so that he is happy to leave the business he owns for hours at a time in order to help the police investigate the murder of one of his clients. While detective Gaston Lemieux does the official business, Sam potters around trying to sniff out leads and find that extra bit of information that may prove crucial to the whole operation.
The book has the quirky aspect of featuring Sam as a suspect early on, but this is put aside almost immediately, which I thought was unfortunate because it could have added some much needed suspense to the plot.
Unfortunately, I found the investigation to be tedium itself. There is very little in the way of danger and Sam seems to be able to wander into any suspect's circle of awareness, ask some questions, get some reasonable answers and report them back to Gaston. While Sam obviously has to have a big part in the investigation, being the protagonist, it beggars belief that a detective would let some ordinary Joe (or Sam, as the case may be), go around doing police work. One would think that this would prejudice the case somewhat. The ending is also a bit lacklustre, with only the most minor of minor twists, which I imagine will be pretty disappointing to avid murder mystery fans.
Overall, this was a disappointing read. I would say “bitterly” disappointing, but I can’t even muster up enough emotion about it to be bothered being bitter. I was initially excited to read a murder mystery set partly in a bookshop in Canada, as I felt this was an interesting variation from my usual British cosy mysteries. I can’t really recommend this book simply because there are far more engaging examples of the genre floating around. If you have a specific interest in Canadian murder mysteries however, you might find something to enjoy here....more
I received a copy of this title from the Allen & Unwin for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: A longitudinal look at the life and times of a simple park benchI received a copy of this title from the Allen & Unwin for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: A longitudinal look at the life and times of a simple park bench, as seen through the eyes of those who use it.
One might not expect a great deal of feels, as the young people say, to arise in a wordless story about an inanimate object, yet The Park Bench is chock full of poignancy and moments that are quietly heartbreaking. The book follows various folk as they interact (or not) with a simple park bench, from the young sweethearts who carve a memorial to their love into the bench, to the elderly couple who routinely use the bench to share a baked snack, to the homeless man who just wants to have a kip without being moved on by a recurrent policeman. Some characters seem to be bit players, with a very small story arc - such as the businessman who trudges past the bench on his way to and from work and the jogger who uses the bench as part of his fitness routine - while other characters' stories unfold throughout the tale. The story of the homeless man is, I think, the most developed of the bunch and the ending to that story is both satisfying and somewhat irritating, although it does prompt reflection on the various uses to which one can put their life and the vagaries of changing allegiances.
This is a right old doorstop of a book, yet it took me a very short time to get through it, given its graphic novel format. I suspect it's one that is meant to be flicked through again and again, to allow details that were missed the first time to come to the surface.
The ending of the park bench's story is quite bittersweet and filled with the same sort of quiet rebellion and "coming full circle" that colour the stories of many of the characters with whom the park bench has a relationship.
I enjoyed this one, but the sparsity of text and the need to look carefully at panels that alternate between mostly blank and filled with action may not be to everyone's tastes....more
I received a copy of this title from Bloomsbury Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Orson likes to make things and one day he makes his own planeI received a copy of this title from Bloomsbury Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Orson likes to make things and one day he makes his own planet. Even after researching the care and feeding of his planet, Orson senses that his planet isn't happy and might need to make its own way in the cosmos...but can Orson let it go?
This is a remarkably cute story with a multi-pronged narrative that covers everything from environmental issues to the struggle of letting go. Orson is a boy who likes to make things and very handy at it too, he seems to be. After creating a very small planet in his own bedroom, a chain reaction begins that leads to Orson having to weigh up his love of his creation against the planet's best interests. The ending might encompass the only sensible choice that Orson can make, but the author leaves the reader with a bit of hope that Orson and his planet might one day meet again.
The mini-fleshlings enjoyed this story and the busy illustrations but it didn't grab them on first reading as I expected it might, given that both of them are avid makers of things using random bits of rubbish from around the house. I had a little trouble with the way the story meshed together (or didn't) because I expected after the first few pages that the story might have a strong scientific bent. A few more pages in and I changed my mind to think that the story would focus on environmental issues regarding the proper way to care for a planet. A few pages on however, and the focus had changed again to an "if you love something, set it free" sort of vibe. This change of focus throughout meant that I didn't feel the story hung together quite as well as it might have, but this was a small niggle in the scheme of things.
This would be a great choice as a literacy link for primary school classes in the early years who are covering planets in science. Orson's makey nature is also a good source of inspiration for getting little ones making their big ideas for real. ...more
I received a copy of this title from Bloomsbury Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Dragon is sick of being the villain all the time and just wanI received a copy of this title from Bloomsbury Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Dragon is sick of being the villain all the time and just wants to be the hero in the story - any story! After he exhausts all his options, an errant sneeze causes the residents of the fairytale kingdom to beg the dragon to join in the story and save the day!
What a fun romp, and with such a sympathetically drawn protagonist, too! Poor old dragon is always the villain and he's now fed up with having to fight (and lose) to the knight every single time. He wants to be a hero, but none of the fairytale folk can find room for a dragon in their stories. While assisting Jack (of beanstalk fame) on his mission, dragon accidentally sets in motion a chain of events that cause the sun to go out....but who could the fairytale folk possibly find who could reignite the sun? Enter the dragon of course!
There's plenty of humour in this one, in both the text and cheeky illustrative details. The mini-fleshlings enjoyed spotting all the different fairytale characters and the surprise post-climax ending (ie: the last page!) even had us trip-trapping off to remind ourselves what happened in a certain fairytale story, so the book launched us on our own adventure.
Young readers, and especially those who are younger siblings or always shunted out of the "hero" role in imaginative games, will no doubt relate to poor old dragon, who really only wants a brief shining moment in the sun and a chance to break out of his stereotypically assigned role.
The combination of text and illustrative format means that the story rolls along quickly and we found this to be an all around winner as a pre-bedtime, relaxing read. ...more
I received a copy of this title from Allen & Unwin for Review.
Ten Second Synopsis: A monster realises the error of his ways after eating his only frienI received a copy of this title from Allen & Unwin for Review.
Ten Second Synopsis: A monster realises the error of his ways after eating his only friend. Will his quest for a new friend result in success...or dinner?
This was a totally fun read that resulted in a few bemused looks as the realisation dawned that the monster did actually just eat its friend and now required a replacement. For friendship, that is. Not for eating. Definitely not.
The book reads like a cross between Please Mr Panda and Ugly Fish as once the friend has been eaten, the protagonist monster goes on a hunt for a new buddy, asking all manner of variously weird, winged, toothy, leggy creatures whether they’ll be its friend. All the creatures asked have perfectly valid reasons for denying the request (except for the cranky looking fanged dragonfly thing that responds simply with a “No”) and it quickly becomes apparent that the monster may well have eaten its only friend.
There is definitely a Klassenesque feel about the story, with the eating of the friend presented bluntly, with no explanation as to why the monster may have felt the need to nosh on its only mate. The monster differs from most of Klassen’s morally bankrupt characters however, in that it seems genuinely remorseful once the consequences of its actions become apparent. Those who enjoy reading these subversive types of picture books can probably guess what happens in the end, but it will be no less of an enjoyable read for guessing correctly.
The illustrations consist of bold, bright colours set against a deep green, blue and black background and we just loved the array of strange creatures that populate the story. The text comes in short bursts so the book is perfect for little ones just learning to read as they will quickly come to remember the words on each page thanks to the repetition in the text.
The best indicator that the mini-fleshlings enjoyed this book is that upon finishing it, they immediately requested that it be read again. I’m not sure whether this had something to do with the disbelief of how the story ended, but they definitely wanted to go back and have a second look at this funny, quirky and just a little bit scary story....more
I received a copy of this title from Harlequin Australia for review.
DNF at 81 pages (chapter nine)
Ten Second Synopsis: In the middle of the night the pI received a copy of this title from Harlequin Australia for review.
DNF at 81 pages (chapter nine)
Ten Second Synopsis: In the middle of the night the police turn up at Cat's door with a bedraggled girl and Cat's world is turned upside down. The girl is the result of her husband's affair and with her mother now dead, has been sent to live with the couple and their daughter...but is she all she seems?
Although today’s book was a DNF for me, I would still heartily recommend it to you if you enjoy psychological thrillers featuring creepy children. Even though I DNFed this at 81 pages (chapter nine), it is not for the reasons you expect. In fact, for the 81 pages I read, I was engaged, creeped out and thoroughly looking forward to the storm of batsh*t crazy that was no doubt going to explode in the second half of the book. The reason I put this book down is purely because I could no longer bear to read about one of the characters – Cat’s “King of the Manchildren” husband, Tom.
But back to the good bits. The book is a psychological thriller based upon the question of what would one do if a long-lost child turned up on the doorstep needing sanctuary…but said child was also significantly emotionally damaged. This is the situation in which Cat finds herself, when the product of Tom’s affair (undertaken when his wife was in the HOSPITAL, PREGNANT and suffering from PRE-NATAL PSYCHOSIS!!) is unexpectedly thrust into the bosom of their family after the death of the child’s mother. From the get-go, Cat is uneasy about the arrangement (perfectly understandably, one would think) and as she goes about tying up the loose ends of the child’s life, discovers some events which give her pause…not least because Cat is a doctor who deals with children displaying characteristics of psychopathy.
The story begins to unfold as you would expect. There are incidences that send a shiver up your spine. Cat tries to be welcoming to Ruby (the child) but is conflicted by her resentment of her manchild husband whose manchild actions have caused such disruption to the family. Tom begins to show more loyalty to Ruby than Cat. The suspense is taut, the potential for exciting and thoroughly spine-tingling disaster is ready for tapping….
…but then I just snapped. When Tom – philanderer, crap husband and emotionally immature asshat – tells Cat that she’s being paranoid (a direct attack designed to shame her for having a completely unavoidable episode of mental illness in pregnancy) and that he won’t get his new child (who has obviously experienced trauma and neglect) therapy in order to ease the transition into her new family, I could not stomach reading one more second of book that had Tom in it. In fact, I was wishing fervently that Tom could somehow be whooshed out of this book and into the Game of Thrones series, there to be eviscerated by whatever would be the most painful means.
Perhaps my irritability trigger is heightened at the moment.
But I just couldn’t bear to share the story with Tom any more.
However, I would love to know how it ends. If you do happen to read it – and I really hope you do because it has all the hallmarks of a spectacular psychological thriller – please let me know how it ends.
And if Tom somehow manages to get off scot-free, feel free to make up some horrible fate for him. I’ll believe you....more
I received a copy of this title from Hachette Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Verity Fassbinder is pregnant and on the job, investigating weiI received a copy of this title from Hachette Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Verity Fassbinder is pregnant and on the job, investigating weird occurrences around Brisbane. When a woman complains of a pattern of muddy befoulment of her upmarket house, Verity discovers that a bit of mud is just the tip of the iceberg.
It must be noted that Brisbane, my ancestral home and current shelfing ground, is not commonly the setting for books featuring fantasy and paranormal happenings. In fact, the last one I read with Brisbane as a setting was Jam by Yahtzee Croshaw, four years ago. Despite this, Slatter has had a damn good crack at trying to create a paranormal paradise in our fair city in Corpselight, with, among other creatures, a mud-slinging Scandinavian nasty and a skulk of kitsune who have no doubt taken advantage of the quick nine hour flight from their home country.
The quick-witted tone of Verity’s narration moves the plot along apace and despite the many, many references to her pregnancy in the first few chapters (including the truly remarkable revelation that at thirty-two weeks along, she sleeps soundly all night), it’s easy to get sucked in to the initial mystery on offer – the mysterious repeat appearance of stinky, coating mud inside an upmarket Paddington house. Much like in the Peter Grant series, Verity works with various connections in the paranormal underworld as well as seemingly ordinary people who have taken advantage of Weyrd-Human relations – the ubiquitous insurance agency chief amongst them – to dig deeper and uncover the truly unexpected source of the mud-slinging. I did find that the narration was slowed a little in the early chapters by information dumps about the events of the previous book. These were necessary from my point of view, considering I hadn’t read the first book, but I wonder whether there might have been another way to accomplish the same task without slowing the narration – a cast of characters at the beginning, perhaps, or something similar.
I’m sure that most readers won’t have any problem at all with Brisbane as a setting, but for some reason I found it enormously difficult to try and pair places mentioned that I know with the existence of fantasy elements. I’m not sure why that is. I’m sure if the setting was Melbourne or Sydney or some other Australian city I wouldn’t have had this problem, but because Brisbane seems so unlikely to me as a paranormal setting, what with being a resident, it took an awful lot of effort to suspend my disbelief. Although I will admit to a little flash of schadenfreude when I noted that the mud-afflicted house was in Paddington. Sucks to be you, richy rich!
There were some reasonably complicated reveals toward the end of the book relating to Verity’s mother and other family members, that may have been clearer to those who have read the first book, but provided for an action-packed finale. The fact that Verity gives birth halfway through the book was also an unexpected spanner in the works but provides a new lens through which Verity views the sinister events that are unfolding around her.
Overall, if you enjoy urban fantasy novels and appreciate some diversity in the paranormal creatures you encounter in your reading then you should definitely give Corpselight a go. If you aren’t a fan of jumping in at the middle of a series, start with book one instead – Vigil....more
I received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Wendy and her family are involved in a car accident inI received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Wendy and her family are involved in a car accident in which her younger brother Michael is killed – although Wendy is certain that she saw Michael fly away from the crash and is therefore still alive. Understandably concerned, her parents involve Wendy in therapy, in which she is encouraged to keep a visual diary in order to make sense of her thoughts about the loss of her brother.
The Wendy Project is a thoughtful and fast-paced graphic novel dealing with themes of grief, loss and the pressure to move on after losing a loved one. Despite the heavy subject matter, the author and illustrator have infused this story with magical realism based upon the Peter Pan story. Different characters, as well as sharing names with characters from Peter Pan, take on characteristics of their fantastical namesakes, culminating in a trip to Wendy’s very own Neverland. It is through this experience that Wendy comes to terms with who she is now and how her life will change.
This one does borrow heavily from the Peter Pan narrative, and I will be the first to admit that Peter Pan is one of my least favourite stories (what with Peter himself being the poster boy for man-children everywhere)…but this didn’t put me off as much as I thought it would, and I think the creators of The Wendy Project have achieved a good balance between original story content and content based on the more famous work.
This turned out to be quite a quick read but one that manages to explore serious themes with some depth despite this. With a balanced blend of fantasy and real life, the authors have done well to highlight the difficulties that can be faced by young people, and all of us really, in the situation of a sudden bereavement, particularly when, as Wendy is here, there is guilt, be it actual or misplaced, about the circumstances in which their loved one died. I would recommend this to those who enjoy graphic novels about real life issues told in creative ways....more
I received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Another hilarious collection of unexpected yet deep-seI received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Another hilarious collection of unexpected yet deep-seated fears, presented in four-frame comic format.
If you are the suggestible, anxious type and don’t like the idea of having new, hitherto unconsidered fears worming their way into your consciousness, you should probably avoid this book. I had just as much fun with this collection as I did with the first and the real beauty of these collections is that, for many of the fears depicted, I was totally unaware I might harbour such outlandish concerns until they were pointed out in comic form. My two favourites from this collection were the potential horrible circumstances behind how our favourite plush toys come to be, and the deaf ear that we might unwittingly turn to the suffering of peeled vegetables.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it simultaneously provokes laughter and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. I read this in one reasonably short sitting, but as with the first collection, it really is the perfect choice as a coffee table book or to leave in a waiting room for the enjoyment of unsuspecting victims.
I received a copy of this title from Hachette Australia for review.
A Top Book of 2017 Pick
Ten Second Synopsis: Ethan and his family move back to his moI received a copy of this title from Hachette Australia for review.
A Top Book of 2017 Pick
Ten Second Synopsis: Ethan and his family move back to his mother's small hometown after a terrible accident involving Ethan's best friend Kacey. As his family implodes with the changes forced upon them, Ethan befriends Coralee and begins to regain his confidence.
It took a little while for this book to hit me the way it did but having finished it and had some time to reflect on it, The Ethan I Was Before is definitely one of those special books for middle grade readers that will stay in the reader's mind long after they've put it down. With a slight Bridge to Terabithia feel, Ethan moves to a new, insular town after a tragedy involving his best friend Kacey. When Ethan starts to form a strong bond with Coralee in his new school, his parents are understandably worried that his unresolved issues from the "Kacey incident" will resurface in this new friendship to the detriment of both kids involved. Little do his parents know, but Coralee seems to be just what Ethan needs to trust himself again and learn to trust others.
There's a lot going on throughout the book that will have young readers questioning the motives of various characters - is Coralee really to be trusted with her "colourful" stories? Will Ethan's brother ever want to talk to him since Ethan ruined his potential baseball career with the move? Is the big house haunted or is something more secretive going on amongst the residents of the town? I found these questions made the reading experience richer and was impressed to see that the author manages to flesh out each of these storylines by the end of the book and provide at least some answers to each. Part of the beauty of the story for me lies in the fact that no character is two-dimensional. Every significant character in Ethan's sphere - both child and adult - is made more authentic by the issues that they are struggling with, all of which are revealed by the end of the book.
The book includes flashbacks of sorts and thereby slowly reveals the details of the Kacey incident. What happened during this tragedy may not be exactly what the reader expects - deliberately so, it seems - and this also allowed for a change of perspective on what exactly it is that Ethan is trying to process.
Overall, I found this to be a mature and quite sophisticated story for a middle grade audience that didn't patronise readers by tying everything up in expected and obvious ways. ...more
I received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: Ted and Kat and their mother are off to New York to visit their cI received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: Ted and Kat and their mother are off to New York to visit their cousin Salim (he of the mysterious London Eye vanishing act) and Aunt Gloria, who works at the Guggenheim. When a famous painting is stolen while the family are in the building and Aunt Gloria is mistakenly accused of the crime, Ted must pull on his detective hat once again (metaphorically speaking, of course) and solve the mystery before Aunt Gloria is thrown in the slammer (a slang term for jail).
It has to be said that Stevens was a great choice for carrying on Ted’s story, because she can work a mystery like nobody’s business. Even though it had been years since I had read Ted’s story (and I think I read it twice in quick succession at the time), Ted’s style of narration was immediately recognisable and I quickly remembered the atmosphere of The London Eye Mystery. Stevens has done a wonderful job of recreating Dowd’s characterisation of Ted, but there is a definite Stevens stamp on the construction of the mystery.
Being out of his everyday context, Ted at first struggles with the mysteries of human relationships, as his cousin Salim and sister Kat seem to be shutting him out for reasons that aren’t clear to Ted. The early chapters of the book are coloured in part by Ted’s feeling of loneliness as he sees his two closest companions moving on without him. Once the mystery of the stolen painting kicks off however, and it is clear that Aunt Gloria is being framed (pun intended?), the relationship rifts are quickly healed and Ted even attempts to look at his family’s behaviour from a different viewpoint.
The mystery part of the story felt very much like Steven’s Murder Most Unladylike setups, and it was clear that the theft and its various elements – the timing, the smoke bombs, the suspects – had been tightly plotted. I did find that this story lacked the emotional connection that was so heightened in The London Eye Mystery – and is present in most of Dowd’s work – but I suspect that was only because this particular mystery dealt with a stolen painting rather than a missing child. Given that the stakes were not quite as high in this particular story – the loss of the painting not being as emotionally charged as the potential loss or death of an actual person – I enjoyed the story but wasn’t blown away by it.
I think it must be said that Stevens has done a worthy job here of recreating a memorable character in a new setting with nothing more than a title to go on. It would be interesting to see if this series will be developed further and whether that emotional element from the first story can be reinvented down the line.
If you haven’t read The London Eye Mystery, you should really seek it out. If you have, you really ought to check out this next offering and see how you think it stands up....more
I received a copy of this title from Hachette Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: With a child, successful career and recent divorce under her beI received a copy of this title from Hachette Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: With a child, successful career and recent divorce under her belt, Louise is disconcerted to receive a friend request on Facebook from the victim of a high school stunt, a woman Louise – and all who knew the girl at the time – thought to be dead.
I will be the first to admit to being reluctant to reconnect on social media with acquaintances from the distant past and this book did nothing to dissuade me from clinging to this anti-social stance with a vengeance. Louise made some poor choices (as they would be described in today’s school disciplinary lingo) as a high school student and carries immense guilt due to the terrible outcome of a vindictive prank in which she was involved. Years later, with a child, successful career and recent divorce under her belt, Louise is disconcerted to receive a friend request on Facebook from the victim of her high school stunt, a woman Louise – and all who knew the girl at the time – thought to be dead. The request sends Louise plummeting back into the insecurities and confusion of her high school-aged self as she is forced to confront her past actions while trying to ensure that her son Henry is untouched by this new danger.
This was a book that I enjoyed while I was reading, but in the end, lacked a certain something. There is certainly suspense throughout as we puzzle out with Louise who it might be who has sent the request and the associated questions – why Louise? Why now? – and a mounting sense of dread as Louise’s old school friends come in for a request as well. The ending, although unexpected, just lacked that heightened sense of terror that I was hoping for, in which I’m flipping pages and trying to read faster and faster to find out if the worst will happen. Rather, on discovering whodunnit, I had more of a feeling of “Well, that was unexpected!” The story also has a bit of a double-header in terms of who did what to whom, so the mystery is extended beyond a single reveal.
The author did a good job of providing multiple red herrings with plenty of characters both from Louise’s past and new acquaintances, with something to hide. The book flicks back and forth between the present and Louise’s final year of high school, during which the turbulent relationship between Louise, Maria and Louise’s girl-idol, Sophie is played out with tragic results. The actions of the fateful leaving party, during which Maria dies – or does she? – are revealed piecemeal throughout the book, so it is quite a long while before the reader has a good grasp of why Louise might be a target for Maria’s posthumous friend request.
Overall, this was an arresting read for the most part and one that I would recommend if you are a fan of contemporary mysteries that feature a bit of murder and suspense. Reading this one might be a good reminder to check your privacy settings on your social media accounts too!...more
I received a copy of this title from Allen & Unwin for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: A gentle reflection on a man's teenage years in the seminary, in whiI received a copy of this title from Allen & Unwin for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: A gentle reflection on a man's teenage years in the seminary, in which he forms a relationship that he considers to be the most important of his life.
Although this is classified as a YA novel, I think it’s safe to say that the setting and historical background underpinning Tom’s reflections will be lost on many current twelve to seventeen year old readers. I think it was a lucky thing that I have a background knowledge of Catholicism and the structure of the Church both on a personal level and through tertiary studies, because it allowed many parts of the book to resonate with me in a way that might not be possible for young readers of today, be they Catholic or otherwise. Couple that with the fact that the narrative style of the book is reflective, gentle and lacking in action for the majority of the novel and this may not be seen as a winner for its target age group.
Nevertheless, if you have any interest in historical novels and themes of coming of age against difficult social circumstances, I would encourage you to give My Lovely Frankie a go.
Tom decides, of his own accord, to enter the seminary and train to be a priest. While this may not have been a strange decision in the 1950s – indeed, for Catholic families with multiple sons, it was almost a given that at least one boy would go into the Church – for Tom, this decision could be classed as a bit unusual because he is an only child and his parents don’t seem to be particularly pious or involved in the Church. Nevertheless, Tom stands by his decision and while in the sparse, regimented and emotionally distant environment of the seminary, he meets Frankie. Frankie is a breath of fresh air in the stale corridors, and felt to me almost like a St Francis of Assisi character; the one who is out frolicking amongst the baby animals while the others are restrained by tradition and discipline from admitting to and engaging with the beauty of life. Tom becomes fascinated with Frankie and when Frankie mysteriously disappears from the seminary later, it affects Tom such that his whole life is coloured by the loss.
The story opens on Tom’s dotage and the reader is privy to the importance that Tom has placed on his relationship with Frankie, fleeting though that relationship was. From there, the book flicks back to Tom’s youth, and the decisions that led him to enter the seminary – and perhaps more importantly, the decisions that caused him to remain there. Alongside the tale of friendship and unrequited romance between Tom and Frankie, the book highlights themes of emotional connection and the development of empathy (or lack of it) in an environment as restricted as the seminary.
Clarke has cleverly thrown up many of the issues that are major factors in the train wreck that is the current state of Catholic clergy, including the enforced separation of young boys from their families while training to be priests, an overblown sense of superiority bestowed upon those who would be priests and a complete lack of acknowledgement or understanding about key aspects of being human, such as sexuality and emotional connection. Through Tom’s eyes, Clarke brings to light the great injustices and suffering that have been the result of such a regime, both for those within the clergy and those who have been impacted forever by the actions of clergy members.
Allow me to share with you one of the most telling lines of the book for me, in which Tom reflects on the constant nighttime crying of the youngest kids at the seminary:
“…it was part of our training, our formation: for us there was no use crying because no one would ever come to comfort us. Like soldiers, we were being taught to have no pity for ourselves, and even then the edge of it struck me: that if you had no pity on yourself, how could you have it for other people, ever?”
My Lovely Frankie, page 119
Once again, although I found the book absorbing and thought-provoking and bang-on accurate in its setting and atmosphere, I am still struggling to see how this will appeal to a contemporary audience of teenagers....more
I received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: An accessible and adorable collection of cat amigurumi patterns sI received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: An accessible and adorable collection of cat amigurumi patterns suitable for all skill levels.
As craft and pattern books go, this one is quite high spec. The patterns are clearly set out with extra pictures showing how to assemble the pieces, which is always helpful for those who like to see things step by step. Between the 25 kitty patterns are "bonus" patterns for accessories such as bowls and beds so crafters can provide a bit of comfort for their crocheted kitties. I jumped in with the pattern for Dusty, who is pictured on the left of the cover, but since the mini-fleshlings prefer Pokemon at the moment, I modified the ears and tail to make an Eevee instead.
The beauty of this book is that it is perfect for beginner amigurumists, because the patterns are simple to follow and result in a small plush that can be created in only a few hours. More importantly though, from an experienced crocheter's perspective, the patterns are basic enough that they provide a variety of good base shapes that can be modified, if you have the skills, thereby opening up a whole range of creatures that could be made. I'm already planning a Pikachu mod based on one of the plumper shapes.
Apart from the uses that I can see this having in terms of creating new spin-offs using these patterns, the book didn't entirely work for me because I prefer working with larger sized plushies. The small plushies produced here, that fit into the palm of your hand, aren't as forgiving when it comes to little mistakes that can be made here and there while following the pattern. Again though, the small sized pieces mean that a finished piece that looks pretty much like the picture is achievable for those new to the craft.
I can see myself coming back to this book to gain inspiration from the adorably squishy body shapes of the dumpling cats and I would definitely recommend it to beginners and more experienced amigurumists alike....more
I received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: After moving to a new town, Murph is accidentally enrolled in a sI received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: After moving to a new town, Murph is accidentally enrolled in a secret school for superheroes after a misunderstanding between his mum and the Principal. Lucky for Murph, he's not the only misfit at the school and when disaster befalls the top brass, Murph and his friends must step into the breach to neutralise the problem.
What a fun read this was! It felt like a cross between X-Men and Little Britain and was a refreshing change of pace from the books I've been reading lately. Kid Normal is not the most original story in the world - untalented kid makes good being the order of the day in many middle grade reads - but it is certainly funny, pacey and tongue in cheek, with a likable protagonist, a band of lovable misfits and some truly ridiculous(ly evil) villains.
Murph is a boy who has moved around a lot and when his mother finally discovers a school in which to enrol him in their new town, it is to Murph's chagrin that the school turns out to be a secret school for the super-powered. Having said that, not all of the "powers" evident in the attendees could really be classed as "super", unless you count making a screeching noise with your teeth particularly super, so Murph, while the only one not endowed with a superpower, is not the only one struggling to fit in.
If you discount the superpower element, Kid Normal is a tried and true story of a young man who is lost and alone developing some solid, if unusual, friends and working together to overcome their difficulties. In this case, the difficulty happens to be a giant wasp-human hybrid villain with a plan to take over the picnic world through the means of enslavement-inducing helmets, but apart from that, the story is one with which middle grade readers will be generally familiar.
The humour really is the driving force behind the story, with the book using a narrative style that invites the reader in and addresses them here and there. The narrative style is fun and fast-paced and there were many moments that had me giggling along at the imagery produced. Many of the adult characters are larger than life and readers won't be able to help having a laugh at their over the top antics. We absolutely fell in love with Hilda, the girl whose power is to produce two tiny horses at will. I mean, what a brilliant power! Who wouldn't want such an adorable skill at their disposal?
While my copy didn't have any illustrations, the final edition of the book will be illustrated throughout, which will no doubt enhance the reading experience even more.
Kid Normal was a wonderful brain-break that celebrates the outsider, the kid who doesn't fit the mould, in a supremely humorous way. There is enough action and mystery to keep young readers happy and I highly recommend this to readers who love a rollicking tale that uses super-charged laughs to drive the action-packed outcome. ...more
I received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: Louise is exhausted from caring for her third child when the famiI received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: Louise is exhausted from caring for her third child when the family take on a lodger. At first, nothing seems amiss, but as time passes and Louise struggles to retain her grip on reality through sleeplessness, the lodger's behaviour begins to appear more sinister.
The Hours Before Dawn by Celia Fremlin is a psychological thriller based upon those oft hideous first months of sleeplessness, exhaustion and physical and mental barrenness that can follow the birth of a child. We are so glad we came across this novel because even as the attitudes and situations depicted in the book are clearly of their time, I have yet to come across a book that so flawlessly transcends social change to appear as relevant and likely today as ever.
Although the book is a mystery with a psychological focus, Fremlin deals with the events with a remarkable sense of dry wit. I initially thought that the book might be a bit dreary in tone, dealing as it does with an exhausted new mother, but Fremlin's writing is incredibly enjoyable and droll and I couldn't help having a bit of a giggle at certain wry observations. This really helped carry the book and was part of the reason, I suspect, that I got through this one in a couple of chunky sittings.
The descriptions of the life of a stay-at-home mother with multiple children and a new addition are so absolutely spot on that it is obvious that Fremlin knows whereof she speaks. Indeed, this edition features an introduction that describes how Fremlin based the story on her own experiences with one of her children. The walking-dead exhaustion, the scrutiny of judging members of the public, the feeling that one must certainly be losing one's mind when sleeping and nursing upright in a kitchen cupboard seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to do to avoid waking the household during a night feed will be familiar to anyone who has ever had to live with and care for an infant who is a difficult sleeper.
Similarly, contemporary readers will recognise people of their acquaintance in Mark, Louise's "man of the house" husband, who seems to have little idea why Louise can't keep it together on less than three hours of sleep a night, and the family's neighbours who are by turns nosy, complaining and downright outrageous. There are a few bits of the book that are "of the period" such as the moments when the mothers in the story are quite happy to leave their unattended infants for hours on end to attend to some other task or errand, but overall, the situations faced by Louise and new mothers of today are remarkably similar.
The psychological thriller aspect of the story relating to the family's lodger, the mysterious Ms Vera Brandon, unfolds slowly and almost as an afterthought in Louise's hectic, chaotic life. This is somewhat made up for in the end however, with an action-packed and sinister denouement that features danger, death and daring escapes.
I thoroughly recommend this as the perfect pick for a fun and creepy holiday read, although it may not be wise to pick it up just now if you are a new mother....more
I received a copy of this title from Walker Books Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Bert the bus driver finds an angel in his shirt pocket and I received a copy of this title from Walker Books Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Bert the bus driver finds an angel in his shirt pocket and his life is turned upside down. But although almost everyone seems to love having little Angelino around, is it really safe for an angel in a world of humans?
David Almond is one of those authors that many people categorise as an "auto-read"; that is, such is the strength of his previous work, any new work that is published will be snapped up immediately by his fans. It's a bit that way for we shelf-dwellers. We loved Skelling, A Monster Calls and Heaven Eyes, for instance, but found some of his other books like Clay and The Savage a bit too dark and depressing. The Tale of Angelino Brown which we received from Walker Books Australia for review, felt like something new from Almond. The magical realism and quirkiness were all still there, but oozing out of the pages was a sense of hope and a lightness in tone that we hadn't encountered in Almond's work before.
There's a real sense of joy that comes flitting through the text and images of this tome, from the opening lines of "Here we go. All aboard", to the rosy-cheeked, golden-haired, flatulent angel of the cover. This book felt quite uplifting to read throughout, which is not always the case with Almond's work, and I couldn't help but feel that this book would be a hit with both its intended young audience, and older readers who dared to venture into books for young readers. The tone is generally light and humorous, without ever losing Almond's signature sense of pathos directed toward certain of the more pitiable characters in the story.
The book opens on Bert Brown's pondering about the deficiencies of the bus driving trade, when all of a sudden, Bert's life is turned on its head by the discovery of an angel - a living, breathing, if somewhat flatulent and undersized angel! The grumpy Bert brings the angel home to his wife Betty and the pair immediately become enamoured of the little creature and name him Angelino. As the story moves on, Angelino becomes a treasured being among the children at the school at which Betty works as a lunch lady and with each passing connection, Angelino grows larger. All is not well however, as unscrupulous and just plain unwise forces find out about Angelino and set into motion a plan to kidnap him for reasons nefarious.
This really is a delightful read, with lots of giggles to be had and a real sense of warmth about the quirky characters. Almond has a way of making even the most odious of personalities at least pitiable, if not likeable, and there is much of that going on here with everyone from Kevin the Master of Disguise, to Mrs Mole the acting Headteacher and the truly monstrous Basher Malone. Bert and Betty are the epitome of lovable however and felt like the true heart and soul of the book to me.
Themes of friendship, forgiveness and the forging of community can be found at various junctures of the story and Angelino, while never the most loquacious of characters, serves as a central focus around which unconnected characters come together. The illustrations enhance the reading experience and wrap neatly around sections of text, giving extra life to the imagery generated by the writing.
I thoroughly recommend The Tale of Angelino Brown to current fans of Almond's work as well as those who have never come across his work before. I could see this being the perfect read aloud for a lower middle grade classroom, both for its humour and its gentle message of rallying around the vulnerable. ...more
I received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: JC has been adopted by an American family from his native Haiti. I received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis: JC has been adopted by an American family from his native Haiti. When his adoptive mother leaves, JC and his dog Boy find themselves at the mercy of Melanie's abusive husband.
I've got two separate warring opinions on this book which is making it a little difficult to come to a cohesive overall feeling about it. Goodnight, Boy is narrated by JC, a teen boy who has been adopted from Haiti by an American couple. The story is revealed as JC talks to his dog, Boy, with whom JC is imprisoned in a kennel in the backyard of his suburban home. As the story unfolds, the reader finds out that JC's adoptive mother, Melanie is missing, gone away or otherwise absent, for reasons that are also unclear, and that JC's angry adoptive father is responsible for JC and Boy's captivity.
If you are hoping, as you read, that the reasons behind JC's imprisonment will be revealed in a timely fashion, you will be sorely disappointed. The reasons are not revealed until the very end of the story and by that time I was a bit baffled as to why Melanie thought leaving JC alone with her obviously abusive partner, who had expressed no liking for JC, was a good idea in the first place.
But I digress.
The main things I enjoyed about this book were the easily readable narrative voice and JC's descriptions about his childhood in Haiti. The book has a conversational tone and it is easy to fall into the flow of the words and get caught up in the story, despite the constant interruptions in which JC takes issue with Boy's doggish behaviour. Similarly, although often sad, JC's recounting of his childhood I found to be absorbing and fascinating and revealed much about the factors that have moulded his personality.
The thing that I found difficult about the book was that it didn't have the shock factor of a book like Room by Emma Donoghue, which dealt with a similar situation, and I felt that without this, something was lacking. From the beginning of the story it was obvious that something seriously bad was going to happen - or possibly was already happening - but this didn't pan out in the way I expected and I felt that the ending was a bit of an anti-climax. Not that I'm unhappy that there was a satisfactory ending for JC and Boy - far from it - but I was hoping for a bit more suspense and emotional turmoil than was delivered.
I think I would have preferred it had the book had a second story thread, narrated by Melanie or her husband, to flesh out some of the issues and heighten the suspense.
Overall I found this to be an interesting read with some original qualities, but it didn't quite stand out as a stellar story for the reasons I've mentioned....more
I received a copy of this title from Fremantle Press for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: While retrieving a lost soccer ball during a game, Spencer Gray liI received a copy of this title from Fremantle Press for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: While retrieving a lost soccer ball during a game, Spencer Gray literally stumbles upon an extremely suspicious set-up filled with an assortment of native animals. After bringing one home, on account of it looking a bit worse for wear, Spencer uncovers a terrible secret and he and his friends must work to make it right before they're sucked in to a dangerous situation.
It's refreshing to come across a book which is fun but touches on serious subjects, is laconic but allows the reader to learn something (surreptitiously!) and is action-packed, but also feels creepily authentic. It's safe to say then, that I felt refreshed after having read of Spencer's escapades.
Before we get started, let me point out that this is the second adventure of the titular Spencer Gray, the first of such adventures having been chronicled in The Amazing Spencer Gray which was published in 2013. Also allow me to point out that I was not aware that this wasn't Spencer's first dangerous outing and it made not one jot of difference to my enjoyment of the book. This tale can certainly be read as an exciting standalone novel with no need for prior knowledge of Spencer's situation.
The book opens on Spencer's unwitting discovery of a bizarre, homemade setup in the bush just outside his school oval containing a collection of native Australian animals. Spencer makes the split second decision to bring one of the animals - that he later learns is a Potoroo (google it) - back to his home, because it looks on the brink of death. When Spencer and his mates Charlie and Leon decide they should return the Potoroo to the bush, things start to go pear-shaped because it immediately becomes clear that someone...or multiple someones...are not happy that Spencer has discovered their criminal activities.
The pacing of the story is truly Australian, in that it takes its time to warm up and the boys are remarkably laid back about (a) finding a bunch of native animals in a slapdash shelter in an unlikely place and (b) keeping an endangered animal in box under a bed. The second half of the book however, in which Spencer's marsupial-saving activities come home to roost in the worst outcome possible, is all go, go, go and I whipped through these chapters like a Potoroo with its pants on fire. Although the events of the second half of the book are, when viewed objectively from an adult's point of view, pretty far-fetched, the suspense in the writing somehow made them feel decidedly authentic and I really felt for Spencer's parents as they waited with mounting terror for news of their son's whereabouts.
Overall, Fitzpatrick has done a great job with balancing the adventurous and more down-to-earth elements of the story, as well as providing information to the reader in a readily digestible form about one of Australia's most endangered animals. And in case you're wondering, no, I had no idea what a Potoroo looked like before reading this book. Or that it was endangered. In fact, after reading the book, I visited Google to run a comparison on Potoroos and Quokkas and while typing in Potoroo vs... the option for Quokka immediately came up, so clearly I'm not the only one still learning here.
I would recommend The Spectacular Spencer Gray to young readers looking for a quick yet involving read featuring an unlikely hero and the adventure that awaits in the great outdoors....more
I received a copy of this title from the Scribe for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Vega's older brother is missing and when the police come knocking, VegaI received a copy of this title from the Scribe for review.
Ten Second Synopsis: Vega's older brother is missing and when the police come knocking, Vega knows why. Struggling to find answers in an adult world, Vega strolls into the underworld of her remote town.
If you like your YA peppy, romantic and with a good dose of teen angst, you are going to be sorely disappointed (and possibly traumatised) by October is the Coldest Month. Certainly one of the grittiest novels categorised as YA that I've ever read, the book takes the reader into the dark underbelly of a town in remote Sweden. Fittingly, the atmosphere of this book is bleak from the get-go and held me in an icy sense of fatalism throughout.
Vega is a teen in a predicament. Her brother Jakob is missing, she knows why (although the reader isn't privy to this information until partway through the book) and her stark existence seems like it's about to become considerably more wintry should the police find Jakob before she does. The narrative style has a distinct sense of detachment throughout, which is typical of noir I suppose, although I don't read much of it, which actually made it a bit easier for me to keep reading through the bits that made my stomach churn.
The book features sex, violence and general criminal activity, so if any of those things turn you off, I would recommend you place this one back on the shelf and find yourself something more comforting. Although this is a YA book in that the protagonist is a middle teen, the other characters, bar one - Vega's love interest - are adults and careworn, to put it mildly, at that. It very much feels throughout the book that Vega is well and truly out of her depth, trying to protect her brother while the significant adults in her life are involved in everything from black market hustling to murder.
Towards the end, the story feels a bit like a traditional murder mystery in that Vega starts to unravel the truth and various characters admit to playing various parts in the act in which Jakob was caught up. I quite enjoyed this part of the story because things finally started making sense and the action ramped up in tandem with the pace of the story.
Overall, since this was quite a quick read, I found this quite absorbing and easy to fall into. Noir is certainly not a genre I read often, given that I don't necessarily love grittiness for the sake of it, but this was a good example of the genre and not overwhelming, given the shortish length of the story. I would recommend this if you are a YA reader looking for something completely out there, or if you are a fan of edgy crime novels and need a quick fix. ...more