The General Prologue of The Canterbury Tales, by Chaucer.

Ok maybe not something you’d want to read for fun, but I thought it only appropriate for an English student to write up something I’d read in class.

So we read the prologue in Middle English, which is interesting but hard. You think you’ve got he hang of it and then a few lines later you haven’t got a clue what’s being said. There are plenty of translations out there but I have to do it the hard way.

The Canterbury tales is about a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral. 29 pilgrims travel together and along the way they tell each other stories to win a competition. While I haven’t got to the actual tales, I’ve been introduced to all the pilgrims, from the knight to the nun.

Not much to go on but those 30 pages took me 3 days so I felt the need to write about it. Next we have the Knight!

Burton and Swinburne in The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man, by Mark Hodder

So I’ve finally finished the second Burton and Swinburne novel! It took me a while seeing as I’ve just started back at Exeter. I’ve been stuck reading Middle English for the past few days (you can have a review about that tonight, along with a few other books, if our internet is working)!

I feel I should say thanks for all the likes and the follows- its really nice to know people are actually enjoying these. Anyway, on with the review.

I have to admit I was slightly disappointed with the sequel to the ingenious Spring Heeled Jack affair. The story starts out interesting enough, with a clockwork figure found in the middle of Trafalgar Square, a subsequent diamond robbery, and a murder. And then, it goes crazy. Which I know sounds bizarre considering the last novel, but here Hodder pushes the boundaries even further with some graphic cannibalism (lovely), insect vehicles, and Rasputin makes a guest appearance from the future. It’s just a little hard to accept, but I’m hoping the next book, “Expedition to the mountains of the moon” (Which I started this morning- the only positives of a 9am seminar) is better.

Its not a complete let down, as the characters are still beautifully crafted, and Hodder makes more use of Swinburne which I love as he is truly an amazing character. He also gets more depth in this book, which stops him from falling into the idiotic sidekick cliché. I always seem to have a problem with the main characters in this type of book, where they know everything and are always on hand to save the day. There are occasions when Burton falls close to this, but with Swinburne taking a more active role, and even saving burton on occasion, Hodder just about avoids that pitfall for me.

I love the death in the book, as it gives the reader a real fear that some books don’t. On a related note don’t get too attached to the secondary characters- Hodder has a real George R R Martin streak going.

The Spectacular Now, by Tim Tharp

Never have I read a book with such an awful ending. It was so bad I reread multiple times, and made my friend read it, just to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. But no, it just sucked.

Sutter Kelly is one of those popular high school seniors who live in the now, everyone knows he’ll be a nobody in his adult life, but for now he is flying high. Aimee is not, she is carrying her family, while desperately trying to get into a good college. Sutter decides to take her under his wing and show her a good time, or is he just dragging her down with him?

One of the problems I have with Sutter and Aimee is their relationship. Sutter, at the beginning, is purely having fun and trying to show her a good time, while Aimee believes they have an actual relationship. And while by the end this has changed, there is never a decisive point where we see his enlightenment. This makes it hard for me to find his supposed love sincere.

The story is good, and it is nice to see Sutter’s progress throughout the novel. And then Tharp ruins it in one page. If you read the book you’ll see there are many potential endings: some nice, some heart breaking. But instead Tharp just ends it.

Knowing a film had been made, my friend and I both agreed that it surely couldn’t end the way the book does without the cinema breaking out in riots. So we googled and sure enough they’ve changed it and made it a million times better.

Its worth a read, if just for the amount of shouting the end causes.

Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan

Oh dear, me and my housemate went shopping for essentials and I ended up buying 3 books- problem!

This next review is another Spain book, and may be one of my favourite books, it even came back to uni with me, for lots of rereading. Desperate for a job, Clay finds himself working the night shift at Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore. There is only one rule, he can’t read the books in the special section at the back of the store. The more Clay works there the more confusing it gets, the only people who enter go straight to the restricted section and use it like a library. How does it remain open? What is in the special section? And who are these people that come to the store? Finally he gives in and opens one of the books, and enters into a wild expedition centuries in the making.

It’s as crazy as it sounds, but incredibly enjoyable. I think of it like a light thriller which keeps you in suspense until the very end. Its hard to say to much without ruining the story, but its such an exciting journey- honestly unputdownable (is that a word).

All the character’s are great, well rounded, believable characters with just the right amount of eccentricity.

It was part of Waterstone’s book club, and it definitely gives the reader  a lot to think about.

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Wow! I really am on a roll now! Basically I’m trying to avoid finishing the General Prologue of the Canterbury Tales.

This book I read years ago, but I felt the need to review it because it was a really important book for me and my friends. I got it for my 15th/ 16th birthday (this is making me feel old) and it went round all my friends and we formed vehemently different opinions on it. I loved it, but many of my friends hated it and thought Hannah was selfish and unfair on those around her.

The book follows Clay as he receives a package from his friend and first love, Hannah, it contains a set of tapes, each labelled with a name. This is Hannah’s suicide note.

She wants each person who contributed to her death to know what they did. Part revenge, part future guidance, Clay has no choice but to listen and wonder what he did wrong.

The book is split between Hannah’s eerie voice on the tapes, and Clay’s reactions and reminiscings as he listens throughout the night. A nice mix, as we hear first hand Hannah’s experiences with the bittersweet knowledge that her fate is predetermined. It also puts the reader on edge as we wait to hear what Clay, who as the main protagonist we are almost predetermined to like, did to drive Hannah to suicide.

The problem some of my friend’s had with it was that some of the reason’s seemed stupid and it felt that she was blaming other people needlessly for her death, putting a life time of guilt on them when. in some cases, it was perhaps unnecessary. However, that is exactly the reason I loved it. I think this is an incredibly important book, because it shows people that what they might perceive as nothing, it may be as insignificant as a conversation, is actually the difference between life and death for someone. It certainly makes Clay, and hopefully the readers, aware of how their actions affect other people. With that in mind I would really recommend it, it is not an easy read, but it is an important one.

The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate

Another of my holiday reads was a gloriously twisted modern day Macbeth. It had been sat on my bookshelves for over a year but I’d never got round to reading it, so off it went in my suitcase to Spain, and I devoured it in a few hours while lying on a white sandy beach. Heaven!

Natalie Hargrove is a new made rich kid thanks to her Mother’s new husband. She’s the classic it girl with the perfect clothes, perfect friends, and perfect boyfriend, Mike. The only thing that would make it better would be to be crowned the Palmetto Princess with Mike as her Prince. The only thing standing in her way is her archenemy, Justin. However her plans to get him out the way go fatally wrong, and suddenly her life is tumbling out of control.

Its amazingly twisted, none of the character’s are particularly likable, but you cannot help but route for Natalie as she lurches from one disaster to the next.

The nod to Macbeth was another plus for an English geek like me, and the modern day “banquet scene” was beautifully crafted. Perhaps a slight problem is Natalie’s desire to become the Princess, even in an American High School I doubt people would become murderously obsessed with a dance. But really, you just have to go with it and enjoy Natalie’s downfall.

The end fitted perfectly, really there is no other way it could end, and the flash back to Natalie and Justin’s childhood ties the whole book together. Although it is annoying having to wait till the final few pages to understand the hatred between them.

This is definitely one to try, don’t wait for years like me!

How to Fall in Love by Cecilia Ahearn

So good thing about my house, its gorgeous (and we can have pets), the bad thing is the crummy wi-fi that means I have to write my review again!

I was slightly dubious about the latest Ahearn book I brought. I absolutely hated “A Place Called Here” and couldn’t even finish it (which was very unusual for me, I at least try to get to the end of a book before I pass complete judgement) and then I tried “One Hundred Names” on this year’s girls holiday and fell in love with it. So, I wasn’t sure which way this was going to go, but I actually enjoyed it.

Christine is a recruitment agent with a reliance on self help books and Adam is a troubled pilot, they meet at midnight on the Ha’Penny bridge in Dublin. So far, so cliched romance. However, Adam is on the other side of the bridge preparing to jump and Christine is the only one who can help. Desperate to save him she makes a deal, if he gives her till his birthday in 2 weeks she will fix his life.

It’s a scenario that would only work in a romance novel but its an intriguing premise. Its hard not to feel sympathy for Christine, who is stuck in an impossible situation. Her therapist friend warns her how dangerous her task is, but with Adam refusing to seek help she feels she has no choice but to persevere.

This may sound strange since its a book about suicide but I was surprised at how dark it was. I thought it would be more frothy romance, but instead we, the reader, find ourselves trapped with the manic depressive Adam. There is a dark humour running through it which keeps the book from becoming too heavy, but it was still quite different from her usual books.

I loved and loathed Adam in equal measures. While he is obviously in a dark place, he is incredibly selfish, putting everything on Christine and refusing to really help himself. He becomes more bearable as the book goes on but I do find him hard to see as a three dimensional character, his moods and motivations seem to change with the wind.

Having said that I loved Christine, her emotions and actions just fit with every situation she finds herself in and I felt a deep connection with her, as I tried to figure out what I would do in her situation.

It has the usual, predictable frothy ending which is never really in any doubt, however after the darker struggles of the book it actually feels like a true accomplishment, and (for once it seems according to my reviews so far) I relished the ending!

Burton and Swinburne in The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack, by Mark Hodder

While the title is a bit of a mouthful, this is a truly great read. This is the first in the Burton and Swinburne series, set in Victorian England it follows detectives Burton and Swinburne on their adventures. Its basically Sherlock Holmes meets Dr Who (all we need is an appearance from a Winchester to make superwholock).

Due to an incident in time Queen Victoria is assassinated and the Victorians have technology 300 years before they should. They have motorised cars, rotorships, and due to their research into eugenics, talking birds, intelligent dogs and huge swans that act as aeroplanes. Sounds strange? Yes, it is but if you go with it, it is an amazing read.

Going against the proverb “don’t judge a book by its cover” I picked up the second Burton and Swinburne book, “The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man” half because the cover was intriguing and half because it reminded me of a Dr Who book. So I brought it and the first one, and it was such a good decision.

Burton has been made the King’s agent, and it is his task to investigate the strange goings on in London. Along with his wayward semi-alcoholic sidekick Swinburne. Their first adventure involves the strange helmeted figure Spring-heeled Jack, and a group of werewolves terrorising London.

Hodder uses real Victorians for his characters, Burton was a Victorian explorer and Swinburne an alcoholic poet. Even Charles Darwin makes an appearance. This has pros and cons. It does emphasise the effect of changing time, and makes the book seem more realistic (if werewolves can be realistic), we can see the different trajectories that the characters’ take from what was expected. However, I found it quite depressing reading the real lives of the characters I’d grown attached to, most of which ended with tragedy.

Spring Heeled Jack was also a Victorian myth, there have even been supposed sightings of him into the 20th Century, so it is interesting to have Hodder’s take on the classic tale.

Swinburne is definitely my favourite character, and I hope Hodder makes more use of him in the next book as Burton often sends him off before anything exciting happens.

Rereading this I realise quite how bizarre it sounds, but honestly if you like sci-fi or even the Victorian era than you should give Burton and Swinburne a chance, if just for Swinburne’s one liners.

While I finish the next Burton book and start reading my course books, I’ll give you the best of my summer reads. Something to look forwards to.

Panic by Lauren Oliver

This was going to be published last night, however I got engrossed finishing Mark Hodder’s first “Burton and Swinburne” book (Guess what my next review will be about!). Anyway, on with the review.

So after racing through Delirium, I brought Oliver’s latest novel on Kindle (instant books are pretty dangerous for an addict like me- especially an addict on a student loan!), Panic. It’s very different to her other works and shows off how versatile a writer she is (I swear I’ll stop fangirling about her soon).

Panic is set in modern day American, in a small town in New York State. It follows recently graduated Heather and Dodge, as they prepare to compete in Panic. Panic is a game that any seniors can choose to play, the competitors have to compete in a range of dare devil tasks to win fifty thousand dollars. The scenario almost acts as a present day Hunger Games, as the adolescents make and break pacts, lie and cheat to win the life changing amount of money.

Heather wants to win to get her and her sister a better life, while Dodge is set on revenge, with both Heather and Dodge, as well as Heather’s friend Nat, desperate to win it creates a volatile pact, where the reader’s are never completely sure how trustworthy they are. Because of this the main protagonists are not as likeable as Delirium’s Lena. Dodge’s desire for revenge I found especially hard to stomach, especially as he becomes less and less rational as the book progresses. But I guess this is the nature of revenge, and Dodge certainly acts as a warning about the dangers of tunnel vision.

Once again I found Oliver’s ending less than satisfactory. The tension is increased to fever pitch by the end of the book, where I could barely read the words fast enough, and then, everything stops. The final chapter, while being a nice conclusion for all the characters, just feels contrived compared to the realistic darkness of the rest of the book. However, it is still definitely worth a read.

Delirium Series by Lauren Oliver.

My first post has to be about one of my favourite series, Delirium by Lauren Oliver. It consists of:

Delirium

Pandemonium

Requiem

As well as 3 novellas:

Hana

Annabel

Raven.

Delirium is a young adult dystopian series set in future America. Society has found a cure for love and at the age of eighteen everyone has the procedure and is given a marital match, their lives are mapped for them by the state. Our protagonist is Lena is a girl who believes whole heartedly in the regime because of her family’s past discretion, however, on the day of her graduation she meets Alex and she begins to question whether the cure is all it is claimed to be. While usually I hate the fact that 95% of the time in young adult books love is the reason the (mostly female) protagonist begins to change, in this scenario it makes sense. Oliver’s narration puts the reader in Lena’s shoes, we feel the conflicting dread and excitement that love causes, and we empathise with the decisions she makes throughout the series.

Oliver’s writing style is sheer perfection, and I don’t say that lightly, its very seldom that I shout out or cry while reading but I did with each of the trilogy. Delirium and Pandemonium end with such heartbreaking conclusions that I feel sorry for those who read the series before the third book was published.

Oliver varies the structure of each book in the trilogy; the first book is purely chronological, the second told with alternating ‘before’ and ‘after’ chapters , and the third varies between different characters’ perceptions. It’s a refreshing structure that marks the different themes in each book, and certainly something I’d like to see more of.

The only bug bear I have is the ending, and that’s something I’ve found with many dystopian novels, specifically “The Hunger Games.” I guess its hard to bring such a horrifying situation to a believable end. I won’t spoil the ending but for me it felt too abrupt, there was so much left unsolved. From an analytical point of view it does emphasise the theme of trust and love, however, the passionate side of me is desperate to know every single character’s end.

The three novellas really do add to the series. Having read them after the trilogy I really would recommend reading them between the books. Hana should be read after Delirium, Annabel and Raven after Pandemonium. While they are not important plot wise, they do give an insight into the other character’s in the book. Raven was by far my favourite, it creates such empathy for a character that is often quite cold during the trilogy. The writing style for each novella is unique, perfect for each character.

It is definitely one of the most underrated young adult works around, and I definitely recommend it for anyone looking for their next dystopian fix.

Having finished the series in under 3 days, I decided to make my way through all of Oliver’s work, starting with her latest novel, Panic. Look out for that review soon.

Chloe x