I’ve actually been wanting to write this post for quite a while! I mentioned in this earlier post about bookish careers that I’m quite interested in designing covers for books and things, so this links in to that, sort of! If it’s hard to read the text on this image (I’m awkward like that, making graphic-y things instead of just writing), click on it to bring yourself to a bigger version. (:
Published March 2014 by Hot Key Books.
Goodreads Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Marnie lives in the idyllic coastal village of Clevedon. Despite being crippled by a childhood exposure to polio, she seems set to follow in her mother’s footsteps, and become a ‘dipper’, escorting fragile female bathers into the sea. Her life is simple and safe. But then she meets Noah. Charming, handsome, son-of-the-local-Lord, Noah. She quickly develops a passion for him – a passion which consumes her.
As Marnie’s infatuation turns to fixation she starts to lose her grip on reality, and a harrowing and dangerous obsession develops that seems certain to end in tragedy. Set in the early Victorian era when propriety, modesty and repression were the rule, this is a taut psychological drama in which the breakdown of a young woman’s emotional state will have a devastating impact on all those around her.
My Review: The Madness was a really haunting, fascinating read. From page one, I was transported to Marnie’s world, and I really loved it. I enjoyed Alison Rattle’s The Quietness last year, so I was really looking forward to her next YA book. I’m really happy it didn’t disappoint!
At first, The Madness seemed just like a historical romance novel (which it is, but, well, it’s much darker as well!). The love story develops well throughout the book, and it all seems quite sweet, until you get to certain points from Noah’s perspective that make you rethink everything you assumed about his feelings for Marnie. The last part of the book was pretty terrifying! Marnie begins to go mad, her thoughts entirely about Noah, and the ending was completely gripping.
Marnie is loveable. She lives by the sea with her Ma and Smoaker, and her Ma runs the famed Sea Cure- which consists of dipping ill women into the water to cure them. She’s disliked by all of the town, because of a certain (scary!) incident that happened and because of her leg, meaning she has to limp. I found it really easy to understand her. Alison Rattle is talented at crafting characters that are really easy to love and that stay in your head long after you finish the book- as also shown in her YA debut.
Told from different perspectives- through third person and Noah’s diary entries, I got a really good insight into both of their personalities. The story seemed very tense all of the way through, and I was completely absorbed! One thing that did confuse me quite a lot, though, is that in the first part of the book, the story is in one person, then that switches to another for the second and final part. I think I understand why that was done, because it really gets inside Marnie’s head as her obsession takes over, but it did take me quite a while to get used to as the language is very different compared to the more formal third person that part one of the book is told in.
Overall, The Madness is a really memorable, haunting but also powerful read. I thought that Alison Rattle’s debut YA novel was pretty dark… but this one is darker in quite a few ways! I think it’ll be big for adult readers as well as YA ones. The characters were so well developed, and so was the setting- I could visualise everything really well and I was left thinking about that ending long after the last page. The only reason that I disliked the book a little is because of the writing style change. It was a good idea, but at the same time, it does take a lot of getting used to and confused me a bit. Really recommended, though, to fans of historical fiction and romance!
My Rating:
I received a copy of The Madness from the publisher, in exchange for a review. In no way at all did this affect my thoughts.
Yay for this week’s haul! A huge thank you to Andersen Press for three of the titles (:
Seven Second Delay by Tom Easton: I’m so excited about this book! I really loved Easton’s Boy’s Don’t Knit but this is in a very different genre, and it looks great. Thank you to Andersen Press for offering me a copy of this, and sending me two extra books with it, from the Sorrowline series! They look just as awesome, too.
Fevre Dream by George R R Martin: This looks so good! R R Martin is probably more well known for his Game of Thrones series, but I spotted this on dad’s bookshelf last night. And totally stole borrowed it. If I like this I think I’ll definitely hunt down George R R Martin’s other books.
Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookshop: I saw Ruby from Feed Me Books Now! talking about this on Twitter a lot, and I ordered it, because it sounds amazing and I’ve been wanting to read it for a while. A book about books…. Just yes 😀 Ruby’s review of the book was a glowing one, so I’m hoping I’ll enjoy it as much as she did!
Have you read any of these books, or what ones are on your wishlist? Leave a comment! (:
I read Crusher a while ago, in January, though I didn’t get to write a review of it! I was sent a copy of the sequel which was released really recently (Thank you, Random House!) and I thought it would be nice to do a joint-mini-review post, reviewing the series so far- Book three, Shredder, will be out soon. Enjoy!
Crusher: By Niall Leonard, published by Corgi in September 2012.
Goodreads Synopsis: The day Finn Maguire discovers his father bludgeoned to death in a pool of blood, his dreary life is turned upside down. Prime suspect in the murder, Finn must race against time to clear his name and find out who hated his dad enough to kill him.
Trawling the sordid, brutal London underworld for answers, Finn exposes dark family secrets and faces danger at every turn. But he’s about to learn that it’s the people you trust who can hit you the hardest…
My Review: Crusher was a really, really exhilarating read! I really enjoyed it, for the most part. It’s really shocking, and packed with some brilliant plot twists that keeps the reader completely engrossed. The plot’s very unique, but at the same time, a very gritty urban murder mystery- who killed Finn’s dad with his own award? Though I did enjoy most of the plot, there were a few parts I couldn’t really agree with… I couldn’t really understand Finn’s choices a lot of the time, and I felt some points were a bit rushed. It is a fast paced novel, but I did feel like a lot happened at once, and some bits were… too freaky!
At first, I really liked the main protagonist. Finn was so determined and prepared to tackle his father’s killer. He’s a very realistic teenager- one I think a lot of YA readers will definitely be able to relate to. Then, when he meets the first love interest of sorts in Crusher, I really started to dislike his new attitude- he was so obsessed with her and I hated him for seeming to completely forget about the whole mystery behind his dad…
Incinerator: (Newest release- just published!) By Niall Leonard, published by Corgi in January 2014.
Goodreads Synopsis: London gang-lord The Guvnor is in hiding, and Finn Maguire has begun a new life running a boxing gym with his old friend and coach Delroy. But when Finn’s lawyer Nicky Hale vanishes overnight with all his money, Finn finds himself in hock to a loan shark with a vicious gang of enforcers. Desperate to track down Nicky and repay his debts, Finn investigates her other clients and soon finds himself engulfed in a web of lies, betrayal, malice and madness, with only his wits and his fists to keep him alive.
My Review: Incinerator was probably my favourite of the two books in the Crusher trilogy so far! I felt that it was very fast paced too, but definitely enjoyed the themes a lot more. It shows that Finn’s developed so much- now trying to get out of the violence, and into business- though that doesn’t work for very long. I really enjoyed the plot of Incinerator- it had me even more hooked than Crusher. Niall Leonard’s writing is really great, and captures the urban setting so well.
I really liked Leonard’s writing, as it’s edgy and gritty, going with the setting and the themes really well. I definitely grew to like Finn Maguire a lot more in this installment as well. Beforehand, in book one, I couldn’t get on with him for a portion of the book. Though, I really liked seeing his character develop a lot in Incinerator. He was even more determined than ever and I’m looking forward to hearing what awaits him in Shredder!
My Ratings:
I received Crusher from my dad.
I received Incinerator from the publisher, in exchange for a review. In no way at all did this affect my thoughts.
This review does not have any spoilers!
I have a lot to review. I have a really big list of books I’ve read this month and last month, and normally I go through them systematically, meaning this review shouldn’t be written until the beginning of April at least, because I only read We Were Liars this weekend. But I could not put off writing this review any longer… We Were Liars just blew me away and I need to talk about it!
Published by Hot Key Books, May 2014.
Goodreads Synopsis: We are the Liars.
We are beautiful, privileged and live a life of carefree luxury.
We are cracked and broken.
A story of love and romance.
A tale of tragedy.
Which are lies?
Which is truth?
My Review: We Were Liars is one of those rare few books where you literally cannot get it out of your head for days. I’m still trying to process the ending. It’s unbelievable. I went through the last 30 pages or so whispering “no” over and over and over, and then I actually dropped the book when I got to that last page. As soon as I could, I turned back to the beginning and started rereading chapters of it. I couldn’t get over this. I was in shock and… I literally can’t even begin to describe everything!
This is going to be a bit of a strange review, because I can hardly comment on anything… It’s so hard not to spoil anything! It took me a few of the opening pages to actually get into it properly, but then, I couldn’t stop. The story revolves around, and this is putting it very vaguely, a family and most importantly a group of friends, the Liars, and it’s about the effects of one particular thing that breaks everything. It’s really hard to describe the plot! All I can say is that it’s riveting.
E. Lockhart is talented at weaving suspense and suspicion around her words. I was always deep in thought about what could’ve happened (It’s a mystery, one thing is kept secret until close to the end) right up until the reveal. And, when I thought everything was over and I knew everything… THAT happened. The most heart-breaking, shocking, horrific, terrifying plot twist I have ever come across. It’s impossible to talk about it any more, but I will say that you will not see anything like it coming. As the quote on the front of my copy says, you will end up going back to the beginning and starting again, wondering how you’d missed it!
I’m just going to stop myself and wrap up this review now, because I will end up crying. Again. Honestly, I think E Lockhart and the publishers need to supply tissues with this. I can’t even. It was simply amazing. There were a couple of little things… but overall, I’m in total awe- there’s been a lot of excitement around We Were Lairs, and now I see why. Definitely recommended to anybody and everybody. This book’s one of the most original and thought-provoking books I’ve read, the ending will play with your emotions and keep you thinking about it for days (probably weeks…).
My Rating:
I received a copy of We Were Liars from the publisher, in exchange for a review. In no way at all did this affect my thoughts.
I really loved Goose! It was the sequel to Paper Aeroplanes, which I really enjoyed last year. I decided to a graphic for this review, though it’s not as cool as I hoped it would be… I hope you enjoy it! Goose, even though it’s the second book, also works as a standalone too… And both titles are definitely worth picking up!
I received a copy of Goose from the publisher, in exchange for a review. In no way at all did this affect my thoughts.
I’m seriously excited about all of the books I got this week- and I’m also seriously worried about the wardrobe I keep my TBR pile in because IT CAN LITERALLY TAKE NO MORE BOOKS (though obviously, that won’t stop me… :D). I went to a blogger’s lunch/event today, which is where this massive haul came from… Thank you so much to Hot Key Books, Templar Books, and Piccadilly Press for teaming up and organising another great event! I really enjoyed it, though I couldn’t talk very loudly and not many people could hear me, because for some reason I lost hearing in one ear on the train up there… xD I met up with Nina from Death, Books and Tea beforehand, and I got to say hello to lots more bloggers, too! It was nice to say hello to Lucy, Debbie, Cicely, Daphne and other nice people. Simon Packham, Sophie Hamilton, James Dawson and Elon Dann, YA authors, were also there. I also had the chance to talk to publicists about working in publishing, including Sara O’Conner, who was lovely. It was very cool. Thanks, you guys!
From the publishers:
I won’t go over all of them, just a few I’m most excited for!
We Were Liars by E Lockhart: THIS BOOK. I’ve already started it, I’m not even past page fifteen, I’M ADDICTED. I understand what Hot Key meant now… I literally had to drag myself out of it to write this book haul post! I’m a little scared for the ending. It’s said to be a very unexpected one, so I’m just going to go and curl up with this book now, and hope I don’t end up crying or screaming or something.
SAY HER NAME by James Dawson: I’ve been eager to read this for months, now! I was lucky enough to get to meet James and talk to him today. He did a reading from this, too, and whoa. I have a feeling this is going to be a terrifying read, so I’m not planning on reading it before I go to sleep! Thanks to James for signing my copy. Picture below.
American Savage by Matt Whyman: I had to restrain myself from doing a little happy jig when I picked this up! 😀 Excited doesn’t cover it. I loved the first book, The Savages, and so I can’t wait to see what happens.
Heap House by Edward Carey: I’m so glad I finally have a copy of this! Whenever I’ve seen it in a store (especially when I saw the lovely Heap House display in Mr B’s Emporium in October!), I’ve never had enough money to buy it. The hardback, illustrated edition is absolutely gorgeous. Also, this copy is signed. Yay!
From bloggers & bookswaps:
Thank you so much to Lucy for Wither, Cicely for Invisibility, and Debbie for Twinmaker! They all look so good. I’m going to try and get to all of them asap, as they look great.
Bought:
So I came home from London and I was all “Yay, so many books this week, I’m not going to buy any more whatsoever.” THEN, THESE. they were on a sale for £1.99 each in my local supermarket, I couldn’t not…
Ta-da! Book haul for the week, over. *breathes out* Huge thank yous again to all of the lovely publicists behind the blogger’s event today, and to the lovely bloggers who swapped books with me! Leave a comment if you’ve read any of these- I would love to know what you thought of them (:
Published by Hodder Books, 1st May 2014.
Goodreads Synopsis: It is 2018. England has been struggling under a recession that has shown no sign of abating. Years of cuts has devastated Britain: banks are going under, businesses closing, prices soaring, unemployment rising, prisons overflowing. The authorities cannot cope. And the population has maxed out.
The police are snowed under. Something has to give. Drastic measures need taking.
The solution: forced sterilisation of all school leavers without secure further education plans or guaranteed employment.
The country is aghast. Families are distraught, teenagers are in revolt, but the politicians are unshakeable: The population explosion must be curbed. No more free housing for single parents, no more child benefit, no more free school meals, no more children in need. Less means more.
But it is all so blatantly unfair – the Teen Haves will procreate, the Teen Havenots won’t. It’s time for the young to take to the streets. It’s time for them to RIOT: OUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE, OUR BODIES, OUR FUTURE.
My Review: RIOT was a really action-packed, fast paced book! I really enjoyed it, so I’m looking forward to hearing more from Sarah Mussi. The beginning of the book completely hooked me in- with a peaceful protest gone violent in the middle of the city. Instantly I was wondering why London had become a rioting hotspot, so I sped through the book, eager to know what happened next. RIOT is about a near-future, overpopulated England, where extreme methods are being used to ensure the youthful generation has as little children as possible. I was really interested in the themes, because I’ve been enjoying studying overpopulation and effects in school (biiiiit of a Geography nerd here…). I dived into this not actually knowing what it was about- a bit coincidental, actually!
I enjoyed the plot; I love thrillers and dystopians and anything similar, so it was a fitting read for me. RIOT is clever and original, with plenty of edge-of-your-seat scenes. It’s pretty political, too. Whilst I did really like it, there were a few aspects I disliked a bit, though. I know the book is meant to be fast paced, but at quite a few points, I felt it was moving a little too quickly. I had to reread a few parts!
Tia is a really great main protagonist, she’s very down-to-Earth and real. Tia is the main cause behind all of the protests against the government’s actions; online, she’s a Hacktivist called EVE, organising protest rallies with the anonymous ADAM. I think Tia developed a lot while the story progressed, though I really couldn’t get on with the supporting character, Cobain, for a lot of the time. I’m not completely a sure why, I just didn’t really click with him, until a lot later in the book, after a pretty breath-drawing plot twist…
Overall, RIOT was a great read…it’s perfect for fans of Sophie McKenzie’s Split Second. I think the book did move a bit fast, and there were a few parts I didn’t like, though I can’t elaborate on those much without spoiling! On the other hand, RIOT is packed with some really genius twists and turns. Tia’s awesome. The themes really intrigued (and slightly scared…) me… so I really liked it!
My Rating:
I received a copy of RIOT from the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for a review. In no way at all did his affect my thoughts.
Today on the blog I have an author’s guest post; one of the writers contributing to the Daughters of Time anthology! It’s a really great book written by the History Girls (http://www.the-history-girls.blogspot.com). I’m currently reading it and enjoying it. I did want to read it in time to put a review up with this post… But I wasn’t able to 😦 Review should be up next week! Here’s Dianne Hofmeyr on why she chose her historical figure in the anthology:
Why I Chose Elizabeth Stuart
I grew up in a country without a king or queen, so the life of Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of a king, who was to become a queen herself, seemed like something out of a fairy tale.
I was fascinated by Elizabeth’s lack of pretence – that she refused to dress formally for her portrait for Frederick, and left her hair wild and untamed. For her wedding she adopted the same fresh approach and despite the custom of the time and her mother’s rigid adherence to formal dress, she wore her hair long and dishevelled down her back.
I like her playfulness and boldness – she was prepared to dress as a boy to be allowed access into her brother’s rooms when he was ill. And I like her determination. It was unusual for a young princess to marry someone she truly loved.
Elizabeth almost followed the true fairytale princess format story in that, after her marriage, she went to live in a beautiful castle in Heidelberg, where Frederick built her a monkey house, an aviary, a menagerie and an Italian Renaissance garden. I visited Heidelberg Castle some years ago and wandered around those same gardens without knowing that one day I would write the story of a young girl who lived there nearly four hundred years earlier.
-Dianne Hofmeyr
I hope you enjoyed the guest post! Daughters of Time is out this month from Templar Books; make sure to get a copy- it’s brilliant! (:
This post is about all the career options I’d love to do when I’m older. All bookish, of course!
I never really write very personal posts on my blog. However, I thought I’d write this, as it does quite largely link in to Why I Blog, too. The main reason I started a blog was because I liked sharing opinions on books and writing reviews, though I also thought it would be a good way of getting a little bit of work experience, too. Through blogging, I’ve gotten to meet lots of publicists and authors! I’ve always wanted to be a writer since… I can’t even remember when. I still have the most embarrassing stories written from when I was younger… E.G., this thing about a fairy party with a gate-crashing alien.
I still definitely want to be a writer! I’m actually writing a bit less frequently now, as I’m reading more and blogging more. Also, obviously, Twitter. Which I blame for all my procrastinating. Though, I have a short novella that I wrote for NaNoWriMo a while ago which I’m hoping to make longer and edit very soon- as well as a thriller I’m planning too.
Through blogging, though, I’ve also had so many more ideas of jobs I’d love to do that are bookish. I write at least two reviews a week, and I really love doing it! I’ve found so many book magazines that I didn’t know existed- like Newbooks, and We Love This Book. I think it would be really fun to be a book critic for a magazine, too, or to be a journalist for a literary magazine of sorts! Thanks to Dad, I’ve started doing that, though not as a paid job yet… Most weeks, I have a little book review space in our local paper. It would be really great to do that for a living, right? Blogging’s the perfect experience for it, too!
Lastly, I’d love to work in a publishing company- actually being a part of the process that gets books on the shelves in stores. I’d never actually considered it until I went to my first blogger’s event, which was at the Hot Key Books offices. That was one of the first times I got to meet people working in publishing, and see behind the scenes, in a way. I think that brunch was probably the decider for me! I got really interested in working as an editor, or in marketing and publicity… It seems like a really fun job!
Or if not working on the content or spreading the word about a book, I’d really love to take part in designing book covers or illustrating books. I enjoy drawing a lot, and I like making things digitally- like the review-graphics I sometimes publish on here- even if that’s only fiddling around with photo editors I find online… Another link to Hot Key here- on their blog recently they’ve posted some design processes for their books. This one’s by Jan Bielecki, and goes through the design for Ellen Renner’s Tribute. And this post is about the illustrations by Isobel for the Isobel Journal. I really loved reading those, and they’ve gotten me even more interested about that kind of job!
So, that’s a summary of all the jobs I’d really love to do. I hope you enjoyed that post! If you’re a blogger especially or generally just a bookish person- would you go into the same kinds of careers, or what else? I’d love to know! (:
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