The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman

The tale of Nobody Owens, raised by ghosts after his family was murdered by the man Jack. Bod lives a life full of adventure within his own piece of the world, learning all he can about life, and death from the many living-impaired inhabitants of the graveyard turned nature reserve into which he toddled when he slipped through the grasp of his would be killer...

 

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Gaiman's writing. The dark, but not too dark, way that he conveys his stories, the little twists along the way that keep you guessing. The satisfying, but not quite happy endings, that linger in your thoughts long after the story has finished.

 

Highly recommended, definitely one I'll encourage my kids to read (even though they'll refuse to read it on the grounds that I enjoyed it)

 

5/5 stars

Original post: cafebiblioaus.booklikes.com/post/1516902/the-graveyard-book-neil-gaiman

Kinslayer (The Lotus War 2) - Jay Kristoff

Review:

This second part of the Lotus War was much easier to get into than its predecessor, though some parts still dragged a little, I found myself not wanting to put this book down (but hey, we all have to sleep sometime).

There was some predictability, some twists and, a few slaps in the face just to keep you on your toes. Enjoyed this more than Stormdancer, and look forward to reading book 3, Endsinger, at some point (after I track down a copy...) this year.

 

One question still bugs me though, what did Buruu do to earn the hatred of his brethren and the name of kinslayer... 

4/5 stars.

Original post: cafebiblioaus.booklikes.com/post/1513279/kinslayer-the-lotus-war-2-jay-kristoff

Call of the Wild - Jack London

Review:

The story of Buck, a St. Bernard/Shepherd cross family pet, stolen and subsequently sold to become a sled dog in the harsh environments of the Alaskan wild.  Passed from owner to owner, Buck soon learns that the only way to survive is to use his sheer size to overpower any would be attackers and show them who's boss. 

 

Told from an odd combination of Buck's perspective in third person, we slowly see Buck transform from beloved family pet to the savage mutt, fighting to survive in the (excuse the pun) dog eat dog world,  finally to the wild and free dog, adopted by the local wolf population. 

 

I have to admit, I'm fond of books told from an animals perspective (Black Beauty being one of my all time favourite books), horrified at the way people treat them, heart melting when they at last have a happy ending.  Though the setting wasn't really appealing to me, I still enjoyed the story.

 

4 stars.

Original post: cafebiblioaus.booklikes.com/post/1480716/call-of-the-wild-jack-london

Empire of Storms - Sarah J Maas

Review:

OMG, this arrived Friday, I absolutely devoured it. I won't bore you with the gushing about how much I love this series, and how much I'm going to hate waiting for the rest of it to be published (and how thankful I am that SJM isn't GRRM when it comes to publishing the next novel in a series, hence why I've been in no hurry to finish that series).

 

That said, the passivity of Aelin's followers bothered me a little, especially the way Dorian took a back seat to much of the planning and scheming that went on during the book, but not enough that it detracted from my enjoyment of the book.

 

5 stars.

Original post: cafebiblioaus.booklikes.com/post/1480151/empire-of-storms-sarah-j-maas

Smile - Raina Telgemeier

Review:

Cute graphic novel based on the authors childhood, and the struggles faced in the tween/early teen years, especially when braces are involved.  It almost felt like a walk down memory lane, though I was very lucky to have less-judgmental friends than poor Raina.  The lessons learned in this book are some that all children deal with at some point in their lives, lessons on self, friendship and accidents. 

 

After finishing this I immediately handed it to my 10yo (who happened to be home from school sick) and encouraged my 12yo to also read it when her sister had finished.  Highly recommend to girls in the same age group. 

 

4 stars.

Original post: cafebiblioaus.booklikes.com/post/1480147/smile-raina-telgemeier

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

Review:

Wow, just wow... This is quite the prophetic read.  

 

In a world where ignorance is indeed bliss; fast cars, inane chattering and 'the family' are all everyone needs. The threat of war is treated with such blasé disregard that no one even thinks twice about how it will affect them, because bad things only ever happen to someone else.  The parallels between the book and modern society are scary, and a stark reminder of the direction the world is headed...

 

4 stars

Original post: cafebiblioaus.booklikes.com/post/1480130/fahrenheit-451-ray-bradbury

Ms. Marvel (2015)

Review:

I love, Love, LOVE Kamala Khan, I just can't get enough.  The 16 year old inhuman tries her best to deal with the strain of celebrity, a pang of jealousy toward her best friend's new girlfriend, while keeping her grades up and doing her best to keep in line with her Pakistani roots.  

Original post: cafebiblioaus.booklikes.com/post/1464823/ms-marvel-2015