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bookwormlukas's reviews
595 reviews
Bad Bargain by Diana G. Gallagher
1.0
If this was really an episode in season two, it would definitely be one of the worst. The plot here could have probably made for a fun 'monster of the week' style episode but the author really didn't seem able to attach any humour to make it fun. Buffy barely even quipped. Poor showing.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 Library Edition, Volume 1 by Joss Whedon
4.0
Enjoyed it, but probably won't pick up the next one...I don't think me and comics will become a thing.
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
2.0
When I started reading this book, what I was looking for was a light-hearted, funny satire that doesn't take itself too seriously. What I got is two out of three, and the fact that it took itself so seriously was kind of a deal breaker for me.
Now I obviously don't mean that it took it's plot seriously, as that is obviously ridiculous. Beauty Queens marooned on a deserted island with hot reality TV star pirates, getting chased by government officials in an international conspiracy? Obviously it's all extremely over the top, and the novel can be very funny in places…sure it's all relatively cheap and easy style humour, but it made me laugh all the same. It takes it's jabs at the pageant life, while also dealing with your typical teenage girl problems in an over the top way.
My problem with this book is that while it is sometimes a funny satire, it is not at all subtle about it. This means that everything gets relatively predictable, with a huge dose of preachy plot points. The 'wild child' of the group embraces her inner sexual desires and takes back the word 'slut'. The lesbian discovers one of the other girls just happens to be a lesbian too. The transgender girl meets a pirate who doesn't mind that she hasn't got her kooka yet. Through these, I found myself laughing not because of them being funny, but because they were far too cheesy.
I did like the writing style of the book, with the fake product placement commercials, and made up movie trailers. Although, I'd say these are used a little too much to the point where they started to seem like filler after a while. The novel was also a little long for what it was, if it was shortened by about a hundred pages, I may have rated it a little higher as certain bits turned into a chore to get through.
Overall, while this novel is funny in places, it's far too preachy, and that ruins the satirical effect that works well in the beginning. Not one I would recommend.
Now I obviously don't mean that it took it's plot seriously, as that is obviously ridiculous. Beauty Queens marooned on a deserted island with hot reality TV star pirates, getting chased by government officials in an international conspiracy? Obviously it's all extremely over the top, and the novel can be very funny in places…sure it's all relatively cheap and easy style humour, but it made me laugh all the same. It takes it's jabs at the pageant life, while also dealing with your typical teenage girl problems in an over the top way.
My problem with this book is that while it is sometimes a funny satire, it is not at all subtle about it. This means that everything gets relatively predictable, with a huge dose of preachy plot points. The 'wild child' of the group embraces her inner sexual desires and takes back the word 'slut'. The lesbian discovers one of the other girls just happens to be a lesbian too. The transgender girl meets a pirate who doesn't mind that she hasn't got her kooka yet. Through these, I found myself laughing not because of them being funny, but because they were far too cheesy.
I did like the writing style of the book, with the fake product placement commercials, and made up movie trailers. Although, I'd say these are used a little too much to the point where they started to seem like filler after a while. The novel was also a little long for what it was, if it was shortened by about a hundred pages, I may have rated it a little higher as certain bits turned into a chore to get through.
Overall, while this novel is funny in places, it's far too preachy, and that ruins the satirical effect that works well in the beginning. Not one I would recommend.
Her Mad Hatter by Marie Hall
2.0
Not something I would normally enjoy or read, but for what it was, it was actually pretty fun. Definitely brings new meaning to the term 'book boyfriend'.
Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain by Portia de Rossi
2.0
I like Portia De Rossi. She has been in some of my favourite TV shows growing up, and the amazing Arrested Development. I vaguely knew about her battles with anorexia, but didn't know to the extent of how much the disease had controlled her life.
Part of this memoir is brilliant, how she shows the extent of her daily battle, the calorie counting, the exercise regime, the mind set of seeing fat where there is none can be quite shocking, and she's also a pretty good writer so it feels more of a story and less of a simple rundown of what happened and how.
The first chapters however were a bit of a slog to get through, if this were fiction I'd say the protagonist was unlikeable, so I'll just have to say that she is. Her attitude comes across as quite whiny and 'trying to be cool', and I'm not talking about the bulimia/anorexia parts. There's a sense of a 'I got a part on Ally Mcbeal' followed by a 'I didn't even want it, I don't even like that show, i'm so much better than the rest of those actors'. She seemed very ungrateful for her success, pointing out she didn't want it, yet blaming all her problems over it.
Overall, this was a good read and glimpse inside the head of a battling anorexic within the pressures of Hollywood, but it's hard to recommend due to the shallowness and almost unlike-ability with which the author seems to portray herself. There was also not much focus on the actual recovery, and it's more or less glossed over within the last thirty pages to show a happy ending.
Part of this memoir is brilliant, how she shows the extent of her daily battle, the calorie counting, the exercise regime, the mind set of seeing fat where there is none can be quite shocking, and she's also a pretty good writer so it feels more of a story and less of a simple rundown of what happened and how.
The first chapters however were a bit of a slog to get through, if this were fiction I'd say the protagonist was unlikeable, so I'll just have to say that she is. Her attitude comes across as quite whiny and 'trying to be cool', and I'm not talking about the bulimia/anorexia parts. There's a sense of a 'I got a part on Ally Mcbeal' followed by a 'I didn't even want it, I don't even like that show, i'm so much better than the rest of those actors'. She seemed very ungrateful for her success, pointing out she didn't want it, yet blaming all her problems over it.
Overall, this was a good read and glimpse inside the head of a battling anorexic within the pressures of Hollywood, but it's hard to recommend due to the shallowness and almost unlike-ability with which the author seems to portray herself. There was also not much focus on the actual recovery, and it's more or less glossed over within the last thirty pages to show a happy ending.
Lies by Michael Grant
2.0
Definitely worse than the previous two in the series, even though they have all been a little cheesy so far, I felt this one also brought 'preachy' to the table and everything went into overload. It also feels like the author has some checklist in his head, so he know's he has included every race/minority group going, but the stories given to these characters are always highly stereotypical and so basic, that you can't connect with anything.
Also, THAT ending?
This has always been a guilty pleasure type series for me though, so I'll probably continue with the next one, it just won't be any time soon.
Also, THAT ending?
Spoiler
....about it all being in Little Pete's brain while he plays the game. What the? I don't know. I was confused as hell at that. I also didn't like the Britney/Drake thing...it feels like the author felt he killed of Drake too soon, and desperately clung to any old story to bring him back.This has always been a guilty pleasure type series for me though, so I'll probably continue with the next one, it just won't be any time soon.
I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
5.0
Barry Lyga's 'I Hunt Killers' is one of the more original young adult novels I have read recently, maybe even ever read. The story here feels very adult, and I find most young adult books struggle to find the balance between the two, this one however get's it right all the way through, always accepting that the very nature of it's plot needs to be written on a more adult level.
Our narrator here, Jasper Dent (or Jazz) is the son of America's most notorious serial killer Billy Dent. Throughout the novel he struggles to help the police solve a case that may be related to his dad's past spree, and struggle with his own secret…that for years his dear old dad was teaching him in how to carry on the family business, so to speak.
What I most appreciated about this novel in relation to others of it's genre (even in the adult market) was it's focus on character. The author spends a lot of time really making sure you get inside the head of his main character and understand the thought process that comes with being raised by a killer. It reminded me of Criminal Minds and the 'profiling' aspect of the show, with Jazz attempting to get into the head of the other killer hoping to see things as he did. The whole plot was also kind of eerily similar to that of the new TV show 'The Following' with the idea of an incarcerated murderer creating a semi-cult of killers on the outside.
Overall, I really loved this book and actually more or less read it in one whole sitting. I hope the sequel can keep up the quality, and the ending of this one certainly points towards some good things for the sequel.
Our narrator here, Jasper Dent (or Jazz) is the son of America's most notorious serial killer Billy Dent. Throughout the novel he struggles to help the police solve a case that may be related to his dad's past spree, and struggle with his own secret…that for years his dear old dad was teaching him in how to carry on the family business, so to speak.
What I most appreciated about this novel in relation to others of it's genre (even in the adult market) was it's focus on character. The author spends a lot of time really making sure you get inside the head of his main character and understand the thought process that comes with being raised by a killer. It reminded me of Criminal Minds and the 'profiling' aspect of the show, with Jazz attempting to get into the head of the other killer hoping to see things as he did. The whole plot was also kind of eerily similar to that of the new TV show 'The Following' with the idea of an incarcerated murderer creating a semi-cult of killers on the outside.
Overall, I really loved this book and actually more or less read it in one whole sitting. I hope the sequel can keep up the quality, and the ending of this one certainly points towards some good things for the sequel.