The Ables | Jeremy Scott | Rachel

Monday, 18 May 2015

The Ables | Jeremy Scott | Rachel

*Image and review copy c/o Netgalley

Synopsis:

It turns out, superheroes are real. They’re just really good at keeping their society a secret. It’s actually superhero policy to not tell kids born into superhero families about their powers until they begin to manifest around puberty. Our main character, Phillip, finds out he is a telekinetic. He can move any object with his mind. The problem? He’s blind. As a result, he can only move objects he is familiar with. When he starts as his new high school, he is in a class with other disabled superhero kids. Together they learn to use their abilities to their fullest.

Review:

I first found out about this book by watching Jeremy Scott’s channel, CinemaSins. I thought it would be interesting to read a book by a guy who critiques movies for their obvious plot fails and stereotypes. I’ll admit, it did affect my reading for the first several chapters because I couldn’t stop reading it in Scott’s voice. There were even a few sounds “sins” in his book. But after the first few chapters I really got into the reading and I started hearing Phillip’s voice and forgetting about plot stereotypes.

This was a rather intense read. I completed this book significantly faster than I had anticipated. Scott does a wonderful job of keeping his characters relatable and realistic, in spite of having superpowers. We follow a group of 12-13 year-old boys that act like 12-13 year-old boys. They like to eat pizza and play video games. Most importantly, they don’t respond well to being told what to do.

The Ables is a fast-paced, energetic read. It even made me emotional at times. I did see both big-plot-twist-reveals well before they happened, but there was enough else going on that I still enjoyed reading. The characters are well worth investing in. Really the only person you never feel sorry for is the main villain. Everyone else makes you feel how they feel and can really tug at your heartstrings.

I highly recommend this book for just about all readers. There is a lot of fun, action and adventure, but also a lot of heartache and loss. I happily give this book 4.5 out of 5!

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The Game | Terry Schott | Review

Sunday, 23 February 2014

The Game | Terry Schott | Review

I think I’ve said before that when you ‘purchase’ free books from Amazon for your Kindle, it’s often a hit or miss. Normally I find free books are pretty average, some are appalling and a few select few are actually good and enjoyable. The Game, by Terry Schott, was one that was actually really enjoyable, and I basically read it in a day (save for a few chapters the night before).

We first meet Zack when he wakes up in a white room, with white walls, ceiling, and lights. He vaguely  remembers the feeling of being an old man, but when he speaks and looks at himself, he is much much younger. Zack has been just been in the Game, a virtual reality that kids up to the age of 18 can participate in, as they unknowingly play an avatar, or virtual person inside a complex computer system. When you are put into the game, you are born into a family, and live your entire life, birth to death, and are watched by all the people at home on the planet Tygon. The virtual reality world is called Earth, and the better you do in the Game, the more credits you can earn, the more times you can buy in to play another Game when you come out.  Zack is ranked 2^nd in Tygon, and for his last play, he plans to get to number one.

With chapters that follow Zack’s life inside the Game, his Patron and his team on the outside following Zack’s every move and ensuring he is on track with his life, millions of adoring fans in Tygon watching his life on screen, an old flame, guardian figures inside the game, and someone out to get him, The Game is a great read for a free book. I really liked some characters, and disliked others, as it should be, I enjoyed that the book was spread over the course of Zack’s avatar life, and that the perspective was split between characters.

Having said that, I think that there were too many character-chapter splits, and it got a little confusing at times. It would have nicer to see just one or two perspectives inside the Game, and one on the outside of the Game. But as it was, there were a lot more than that. It, at times, made it a bit confusing. At the beginning of most of the chapters there was an excerpt from a Game related book that explained some aspects of how the Game worked, and also had some interview sections from previous players etc, so it was really handy to have the information without having a character just spit it all out. A big thing that annoyed me though, was the editing. There wasn't much of it. There were speech marks that were the wrong way round, commas in random places, and the indentations of paragraphs were too small, and it was little hard to read at points. But those things are nothing a good edit can’t fix.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice short dystopian read, at only 283 pages, and the story clipped along at a good rate. There are a few more books in this series, and though you have to purchase them, they aren’t expensive, so I think I might read the next one.

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Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore | Robin Sloan | Review

Wednesday, 1 May 2013

Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore | Robin Sloan | Review

"Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore, Robin Sloan, 2012 (288) “The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone—and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests.” Source

Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore follows Clay Jannon, a young unemployed web-designer living in San Francisco who stumbles upon a job working the night shift at a quirky 24-hour bookstore. Clay quickly discovers that there is something different about Mr Penumbra’s store, the customers are sparse and those who do visit never seem to buy any books. Instead they use the store like a library ‘checking-out’ all sorts of unusual books with their membership cards. With a little research Clay discovers that they are all part of a secret society with an intriguing code to crack and begins roping in his friends to help him figure out what is really going on.

As a narrator Clay told his story with humour and a likability that really made me invest in the mystery of the bookstore and the adventure, or rather quest, that followed. He is joined along the way by a host of likable secondary characters including Google employee Kat, prop creator Mat and of course Mr Penumbra himself. The interactions between Clay and Mr Penumbra were probably the most interesting as initially there was a great contrast between the modern and traditional ways of problem solving. It was nice to see as the book progressed how these ideas could come together and prove that there is a place for both technology and tradition in the modern world.

The book is set out in three parts, separated by the different locations, followed by a short epilogue. Within theses parts there are smaller chapters so although I would consider this book a quick read it is also easy to read at a slower pace if that is what you prefer. Sloan’s writing style flowed well with humour throughout and was very easy to follow.

Although for me it doesn’t quite hit the mark of Ready Player One geekiness I’m really glad that I decided to pick up this book. Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is a book for book lovers, but also a book for technology & typography lovers. If you are any of those things then this is the book for you! 4/5 

Photo © Erin Elise 

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Group Collaboration | Team Paper vs Team Plastic - The Great eBook Debate

Saturday, 16 March 2013

Group Collaboration | Team Paper vs Team Plastic - The Great eBook Debate

This month we're talking ebooks, a controversial subject in the book blogging world. Since the introduction of ebooks and ereaders opinion has been divided as both ways to read come with their own set of pros and cons. We asked you to get in touch and let us know how you like to read, here are the results!

Team Paper...
Reading physical books has always been the norm and our first team would all choose to keep things this way instead of converting to ebooks...

'I am on Team Paper - For me a book is not a book unless I'm physically turning the page and feeling the well read pages in my hand' – Laura

'As much as I do love the sheer convenience and ease of using reading e-books, I still stand firmly on Team Paper. For a me reading a physical book is an immersive experience, from the feel of turning that first page to cracking the spine of a new buy to oh so wonderful new book (and arguably old book) smell and that weight-y feel in your hand when you finish reading that final chapter. They hold memories, last a lifetime and the letters on the page will never glitch or break (unless you dunk it in a bath of water or something, even then it might survive)' – Ria

'I'm team paper ALL THE WAY! It doesn't feel like actual "reading" when I do it of a screen, I need the physical thing in my hands. I hope ebooks won't ever take over, that would make me really unhappy!' – Lulu

'I guess I have to be in team paper because I NEVER read ebooks. Not that I'm against them really but it's just the way it is. I've been thinking about getting a Kindle or something like that but I know one thing for sure: Even if i might start enjoying reading ebooks I'm never going to give up "real" books! I mean I could never feel at home in a house without books a home without books is a pretty scary thought and you can't quite feel that way about ebooks. They're not un-replaceable in the same way. That being said I do get the point with ebooks and I'm not against them but if I had to choose, I would choose paper without a doubt!' - Niina

Team Plastic...
Of the ten people who responded to our debate there was only one who chose to sit firmly on team plastic. Emily tells us why she has converted to ebooks...
 

'I love books, always have, always will - but now I am so team ebook. I still visit the library and purchase the odd book, but having a kindle connected to the amazon store makes picking up books easier. They are there, instant. This what I love if I want to read something I don't have to wait. Carrying a kindle makes life easier, I can pick up my book where ever when I have an unexpected wait. I always said I didn't want a kindle because nothing could replace books, it doesn't replace my books - but it makes me read more' – Emily

The Best Of Both Worlds...

As it turned out our most popular answer was that we don't want to choose between books and ebooks. So, our final team are going to share the benefits of having the option to use both... 
 

'I am team neutral. I love reading with physical books. They look lovely on my shelves, I love turning the pages and you can't ignore how wonderful the smell is. I also love going to the library and choosing from a wide variety of books there. However, I also love my Kindle Fire. I can have a whole library of books in just one device. They aren't very heavy and they're actually better for the environment because you aren't wasting any paper. I love having the option to read both types of book because if I read too many paper books, it's always nice to have a change and turn back to the Kindle and vice versa' – Lucy

'Up until about two weeks ago I would have been team paper for sure. But I took the plunge and bought a Kindle, knowing that this year I'll be doing a lot of travelling and will need to take books with me. This seemed to me like the sensible thing to do. And I'm glad I did. I love my new Kindle Fire (I've named him Kuzco), and am really excited to have it while I'm away during the year. Having said this, I love 'real' books. A lot. I love turning pages and folding the corners over (*gasp!* yup, I'm one of those people!). I love the smell of a new book, fresh pages, and a spine ready to be cracked. As much as I will love having the convenience and handy-ness of my Kindle, I will never ever stop reading 'real' books. Having piles of books on my floor to read and a Kindle just means that I can read two books at once!' – Anjali

'I got an eReader for my birthday at the end of last year, and I have to say that now I have one, I wouldn't be without it. I am a big library fan, I visit my local library at least once a week (though I've been slacking a bit recently), and when my friends bought me my eReader, they specifically chose a Kobo over a Kindle, because it allows me to borrow eBooks from the library, whereas a Kindle doesn't. They don't have a hugely wide selection at the moment, but I'm sure that will change in the future. I guess I'm probably a neutral, I think there is room for both eBooks and traditionally printed books. I would hate to see books die out, but I do think that the important thing is that future generations read, no matter what form the books come in!' – Jane

'I once thought I'd never use an ebook, but now that I have one, I'm hooked. Not that I'm willing to give up paper, but the back lighting at night makes it easier on the eyes and lets me read so much longer––and I can carry several books on vacation without adding any weight.
I just read an interesting comment by Maureen Dowd in Sunday's NY Times. She too was talking about the change from paper to electronics, and her final comment was, "It is not about HOW you're reading. It is about WHAT you're reading." An astute observation for a print journalist' - Nora

'After getting my Kindle last year I wouldn't want to have to choose between the two. I love the convinience of ebooks and the opportunities to read advanced copies that having a Kindle has given me. That being said I do still frequently pick up paperbacks and use the library on a regular basis as well but finding a place to store them all is tricky! When it comes to buying books I tend to look for the best price, sometimes that is a good bookshop deal, sometimes a charity shop bargain box and sometimes it is the Kindle version so I like having options' - Erin

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Next month we're celebrating April Fools Day with a post titled 'Laugh Out Loud Literature'.
We want to know all about your favourite funny books, laugh out loud quotes, comical characters and silly scenes. For more information on how you can get involved drop us a quick email to bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com

Photo © Erin Elise

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The Culling | Steven dos Santos | Review

Wednesday, 6 March 2013

The Culling | Steven dos Santos | Review

 

“Lucian "Lucky" Spark has been recruited for training by the totalitarian government known as the Establishment. According to Establishment rules, if a recruit fails any level of the violent training competitions, a family member is brutally killed . . . and the recruit has to choose which one. As the five recruits form uneasy alliances in the hellish wasteland that is the training ground, an undeniable attraction develops between Lucky and the rebellious Digory Tycho. But the rules of the training ensure that only one will survive--the strongest recruits receive accolades, wealth, and power while the weakest receive death. With Cole--Lucky's four-year-old brother--being held as "incentive," Lucky must marshal all his skills and use his wits to keep himself alive, no matter what the cost.” Source 

The Culling is the first book in a new YA dystopian series which takes place in a society where five teens are forced to compete against each other in a series of trials. In this particular world the stakes are high, each candidate also has two ‘incentives’ who are family members or friends that mean the most to them. 

You may be thinking to yourselves that this setup sounds a little familiar and whether intentional on the part of the author or not there are various similarities to one of the most popular books of the genre; The Hunger Games. Amongst other things Lucky’s reasons for his determination seem to revolve around his younger brother much like Katniss’ need to protect Prim, not to mention the potential romance between competitors in the trials just like in The Hunger Games arena. 

As is often the case when starting a new series the first time I picked up the book I was disappointed, the story didn’t captivate me right from the beginning and it wasn’t until a little later that I began to enjoy it more. The actual trials themselves kick in around two thirds of the way through and that’s when the story becomes much more engaging as the writing is fast-paced to match the action. The trials themselves were truly horrible and gripping with so much at stake for each candidate. The substance of each trial varied and the ideas were creative and interesting; something which is difficult to achieve in such an overcrowded genre. Of course with every task came the dreaded moment where the loser would have to select which of their incentives would be killed and the various methods of doing so could be fairly graphic. The book has its fair share of twists and turns throughout although none of them are particularly surprising. 

Aside from Lucky and Digory we also get to know the other three candidates as well as an important character from Lucky’s past. There was a lot of information to take in not just about each character but also the world itself within which I found the locations confusing at times. While I didn’t love any of the characters I did find it particularly interesting to find out a bit more about each of their backgrounds which was mainly achieved through the reveals of who their incentives were and their choices when faced with which one would be executed. 

I would recommend this book for fans of The Maze Runner series and of course The Hunger Games as you will most likely enjoy The Culling too, although in my personal opinion it isn’t as good as either of those. I will be picking up the second book in the series as I’m intrigued to find out where the plot was headed as part of a bigger picture rather than just the initial trials. 

There were a few things here and there that didn’t make sense to me and I did find the setting difficult to get used to but overall I’m glad I read The Culling. If the characters had been more developed and the first third of the book stronger then I would have enjoyed it a lot more but as it stands I think Steven dos Santos’ Young Adult debut deserves a 3/5 

*Review of an eARC c/o Netgalley: Although I received a copy of this book free of charge this has not influenced my opinion and my review, as always, is 100% honest.

This post was written by regular reviewer Erin, get to know her here.
Image via Goodreads

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The Vow | Kim Carpenter | Review

Friday, 1 March 2013

The Vow | Kim Carpenter | Review

Each one of us is the sum total of every moment that we’ve ever experienced with all the people we’ve ever known.' - Kim Carpenter.

When a tragic car accident leaves Krickitt Carpenter with a serious brain injury just two months after her wedding to the love of her life, her new husband, Kim, thinks she's in the clear when she makes a miraculous recovery. Unfortunately for the Carpenters, this was only the beginning of their problems; Krickitt has amnesia, and, as a result of the accident, can't remember meeting, or marrying, Kim, leaving her isolated and scared, and Kim living with a woman who doesn't remember loving him. A true story, The Vow, follows Kim and Krickitt as they attempt to recover both physically and mentally from the accident which they miraculously survived - the only question is, will their marriage be a fatality?

Generally, when a novel is turned into a movie, I point-blank refuse to watch the film before I read the book; I genuinely believe that, 99% of the time, the book is better, by miles (the 1% comprising of The Time Traveller's Wife, which was a serious let-down for me, in print...), but I was caught off guard by The Vow. It's not the kind of film I'd generally sit down to watch, and, whilst I was aware that a book existed, I didn't even know who it was by, much less considered reading it.

However, I found myself settling down to the Rachel McAdams/Channing Tatum flick a few weeks ago, and absolutely falling in love with the story; and then, as the credits rolled, all was revealed - The Vow was based on a true story - and was available in book form. A little digging soon revealed the author to be the husband from the story, whose wife had completely forgotten his existence. Of course, I had to order it, and had made it through the first three chapters on my Kindle that same evening.

I realise how promising the fact that I was 3 chapters in such a short space of time sounds, but, unfortunately, this wasn't the case; I got through the book in record time, just because I wanted it to be over and done with. I've mentioned before, on Bloggers' Bookshelf, that I'm not a particularly religious person, and The Vow is, for the most part, an evangelical book; both Kim and Krickitt Carpenter are very devout Christians, and attribute much of the outcome of their story to their faith, which I can obviously appreciate, but in book form, the result is that we get very little actual story - few details or anecdotes about their lives before or after the event, and more conjecture on what Kim feels kept him and Krickitt going through her recovery.

Don't get me wrong, both the Carpenters' love for one another, their faith in their vows, and their faith in general, is very inspiring, but The Vow doesn't feel like it does Kim and Krickitt's story much justice. The narrative is in-cohesive, and jumps forwards and backwards without much of an explanation, and the text feels stilted, forced, as though the author's having trouble expressing himself; understandable, considering the book is penned by Kim, but considering John Perry was also along to assist the writing, I can't help but feel slightly let down by the novel.

1/5 stars

This review was written by regular reviewer Francesca, get to know her here.
Photo © Francesca Sophia.

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