By Zoe Sugg
Penny, the protagonist of Girl Online, is an 'every girl'. Elements of her personality are identifiable and accessible to most, if not all girls aged 15. She's clumsy, and gets embarrassed quickly, but she's also smart and knows the difference between right and wrong; she knows how to treat people. Silly things happen to her that most would dread, but also amazing things happen to her that one would be lucky to experience. She has friends, but not all of them are nice to her. Her parents are gentle, but they don't always get her.
Penny has a blog, and interspersed throughout Girl Online are blog entries Penny has written. These entries keep the pace of the book flowing, but don't add much - the fact that Penny is a blogger is important to the storyline, but the entries included weren't particularly interesting. Penny heads to New York and meets Noah. Noah is a rock star with the looks to match, quietly spoken and with interesting things to say. He's caring and polite and laughs when Penny spills food; he doesn't make her feel embarrassed for being her.
Girl Online is ultimately a love story, and who doesn't enjoy a love story between two well-crafted and developed characters?
Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Thursday, 11 December 2014
No Safe House
By Linwood Barclay
No Safe House follows Cynthia and her family, previously seen in No Time for Goodbye. This book is a fast-paced thriller, easily matching up to the success of its predecessor.
Terry Archer, Cynthia's husband, plays a bigger part in No Safe House alongside daughter Grace. Terry faces difficult decisions and threatening situatons, and does so with surprisingly little panic for someone whose previous experience in violent crime would have been little Jimmy hitting big Sam with a bendy ruler (he’s a teacher). Wherever he gets this strength from, he does, and is a calming influence on the family.
There’s a much bigger storyline in this book; this isn’t all about Cynthia anymore and some of the ‘baddies’ match up to blockbuster gangster types.
No Safe House tells an exciting story, keeps the pace and ends well.
No Safe House follows Cynthia and her family, previously seen in No Time for Goodbye. This book is a fast-paced thriller, easily matching up to the success of its predecessor.
Terry Archer, Cynthia's husband, plays a bigger part in No Safe House alongside daughter Grace. Terry faces difficult decisions and threatening situatons, and does so with surprisingly little panic for someone whose previous experience in violent crime would have been little Jimmy hitting big Sam with a bendy ruler (he’s a teacher). Wherever he gets this strength from, he does, and is a calming influence on the family.
There’s a much bigger storyline in this book; this isn’t all about Cynthia anymore and some of the ‘baddies’ match up to blockbuster gangster types.
No Safe House tells an exciting story, keeps the pace and ends well.
Wednesday, 15 January 2014
Book Group - Book 3
'Oh Dear Sylvia' by Dawn French
Sylvia is in a coma and her various friends, family and acquaintances come to visit her at the hospital. Speaking to someone in a coma allows the visitors to say things they might not normally and to embark on their own soliloquies; storytelling at its laziest. Sylvia, on the other hand, is never given the chance to talk back or stand up for herself and a whole side of the story is missing. This missing chunk of story is noticeable throughout Oh Dear Sylvia.
There is a vaguely interesting, but totally ridiculous, storyline between two of the main characters. The rest of the characters are caricatured stereotypes of themselves. The funny one isn't really that funny, either.
Nature is discussed, some trees are planted, some people sing and some animals get lost in a hospital.
In the end, it is difficult to care whether Sylvia wakes up or not.
Sylvia is in a coma and her various friends, family and acquaintances come to visit her at the hospital. Speaking to someone in a coma allows the visitors to say things they might not normally and to embark on their own soliloquies; storytelling at its laziest. Sylvia, on the other hand, is never given the chance to talk back or stand up for herself and a whole side of the story is missing. This missing chunk of story is noticeable throughout Oh Dear Sylvia.
There is a vaguely interesting, but totally ridiculous, storyline between two of the main characters. The rest of the characters are caricatured stereotypes of themselves. The funny one isn't really that funny, either.
Nature is discussed, some trees are planted, some people sing and some animals get lost in a hospital.
In the end, it is difficult to care whether Sylvia wakes up or not.
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Book Group - Book 2
The Cuckoo’s Calling – Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)
The characters are developed quickly and the main two characters are both likeable in very different ways. Whilst there wasn’t anything outstanding about this book, it was a good murder-mystery-whodunit-thriller type. The bad guy was suitably outrageous, and The Cuckoo's Calling threw out enough red herrings to prevent anyone from working out 'whodunit' until the last possible moment.
The unlikely detective duo made a good team and the storyline was a good balance of getting to know them alongside head-scratching criminal activity.
The characters are developed quickly and the main two characters are both likeable in very different ways. Whilst there wasn’t anything outstanding about this book, it was a good murder-mystery-whodunit-thriller type. The bad guy was suitably outrageous, and The Cuckoo's Calling threw out enough red herrings to prevent anyone from working out 'whodunit' until the last possible moment.
The unlikely detective duo made a good team and the storyline was a good balance of getting to know them alongside head-scratching criminal activity.
Book Group - Book 1
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
Harold and his journey could be a metaphor for anyone, regardless of age or mind-set. His journey wasn’t really religious, maybe some people could read a religious aspect into it (and some characters in the book certainly did), but it is simple not to.
Harold is a likeable character, as are the people he met along the way. The introduction of the media and press frenzy brought the story to the current day; social media interest in anything unusual a sign of the times. The story of Harold’s life unfolds as he walks his journey, and his life was very human. Mistakes were made, and the quiet life Harold and his wife led comfortingly unglamorous.
The ending of the book is satisfying, and ultimately The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a heart-warming experience.
Harold and his journey could be a metaphor for anyone, regardless of age or mind-set. His journey wasn’t really religious, maybe some people could read a religious aspect into it (and some characters in the book certainly did), but it is simple not to.
Harold is a likeable character, as are the people he met along the way. The introduction of the media and press frenzy brought the story to the current day; social media interest in anything unusual a sign of the times. The story of Harold’s life unfolds as he walks his journey, and his life was very human. Mistakes were made, and the quiet life Harold and his wife led comfortingly unglamorous.
The ending of the book is satisfying, and ultimately The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a heart-warming experience.
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Gone Girl
By Gillian Flynn, 2012
"There's something disturbing about recalling a warm memory and feeling utterly cold."
In this modern day thriller, husband and wife take a chapter each to try and convince the reader that they are the one to empathize with.
During the first half of 'Gone Girl', each chapter ends with such dramatic twists and turns that the reader will find themselves promising 'just one more chapter', before hungrily devouring another four.
Right from the start this crime thriller will throw clues and details and red herrings from its pages; reader will turn detective by frantically suspecting every character, more than likely - every character, but the correct!
The second half of the book slows down, with less page-turning excitement and more tying up of loose ends. Who wins out of husband and wife in winning the audience's affection? Actually, neither. Both are self-important, arrogant and egotistical characters, whose 'relationship' mocks the very idea of love.
The final chapter is unsatisfying, but with a sense of well-deserved inevitability.
"There's something disturbing about recalling a warm memory and feeling utterly cold."
In this modern day thriller, husband and wife take a chapter each to try and convince the reader that they are the one to empathize with.
During the first half of 'Gone Girl', each chapter ends with such dramatic twists and turns that the reader will find themselves promising 'just one more chapter', before hungrily devouring another four.
Right from the start this crime thriller will throw clues and details and red herrings from its pages; reader will turn detective by frantically suspecting every character, more than likely - every character, but the correct!
The second half of the book slows down, with less page-turning excitement and more tying up of loose ends. Who wins out of husband and wife in winning the audience's affection? Actually, neither. Both are self-important, arrogant and egotistical characters, whose 'relationship' mocks the very idea of love.
The final chapter is unsatisfying, but with a sense of well-deserved inevitability.
Sunday, 24 February 2013
(Film) One Day
Directed by Lone Scherfig, 2011
"I love you Dexter. I just don't like you anymore."
Following the relationship between two friends; Emma and Dexter, visiting their lives on one day every year for twenty years, One Day covers lots of ground quickly.
"She [Emma] made you [referring to Dexter] decent, and in return, you made her so happy."
Dexter isn't very likable, Emma almost appears weak and silly for falling for him.
The end of the film strikes in reminding the audience how short life can be, and how time does not wait for those uncertain in love, or life.
"I love you Dexter. I just don't like you anymore."
Following the relationship between two friends; Emma and Dexter, visiting their lives on one day every year for twenty years, One Day covers lots of ground quickly.
"She [Emma] made you [referring to Dexter] decent, and in return, you made her so happy."
Dexter isn't very likable, Emma almost appears weak and silly for falling for him.
The end of the film strikes in reminding the audience how short life can be, and how time does not wait for those uncertain in love, or life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)