After reading 'Anastasia Absolutely', I just had to re-read at least one more of the Anastasia books! This one I had read before.
Anastasia decides to renounce "chasing boys" at the same time as she decides to answer an advertisement from a personal column. Clearly Single White Male (SWM) doesn't know Anastasia is a 13 year old. Anastasia, being Anastasia, is of course very careful to not lie to SWM. But will true compatibility conquer the age gap? In amongst all that Anastasia has to deal with the every day events and life of being a teen aged girl. All done in a very funny way.
Once again, highly recommended and I think I will have to look on the shelves and see if there are any more there!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Lois Lowry 'Anastasia, Absolutely'
I have just put new bookshelves into the girls' playroom so we are reorganising all their books. During the process I came across this book which is one I haven't read before. I loved the 'Anastasia' books when I was younger and must have picked this one up for the girls and didn't read it at the time!
Funny and yet at the same time this book deals with serious issues in true Anastasia style! Anastasia has to deal with "Values" as a school topic at the same time that she is having to make some serious moral choices of her own thanks to her dog, an early morning walk and a serious mix up.
Highly recommend this book for any confident young reader.
Funny and yet at the same time this book deals with serious issues in true Anastasia style! Anastasia has to deal with "Values" as a school topic at the same time that she is having to make some serious moral choices of her own thanks to her dog, an early morning walk and a serious mix up.
Highly recommend this book for any confident young reader.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Matthew Reilly 'Seven Ancient Wonders'
I haven't read anything by Matthew Reilly before. I inherited this book from my cousin and co-incidentally, it is also on the 100 book list that I am attempting to read in 1001 days (see tab above!).
It took me a few chapters to get into the story. However once I got through the first few chapters I was hooked. It was unputdownable.
Style wise it is short, snappy and includes lots of diagrams as you go along with the team on a daring adventure. Headed by Captain Jack West Jnr, an Australian ex-SAS officer, there is a team of nine members made up from eight different nations of the world. On a daring mission to find all of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and taking with them a 10 year old girl named Lily. The story is full of twists and turns and villains and bravery and the intrigue and mystery which can only come when you are talking about the ancient world. When you combine this with an action story of warring nations and a battle for ultimate supremacy it is a intriguing combination!
I am looking forward to reading more of Matthew Reilly's books and I am very sorry I have waited so long to do so. Highly recommended for those people who like adventure stories and conspiracy theories.
It took me a few chapters to get into the story. However once I got through the first few chapters I was hooked. It was unputdownable.
Style wise it is short, snappy and includes lots of diagrams as you go along with the team on a daring adventure. Headed by Captain Jack West Jnr, an Australian ex-SAS officer, there is a team of nine members made up from eight different nations of the world. On a daring mission to find all of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and taking with them a 10 year old girl named Lily. The story is full of twists and turns and villains and bravery and the intrigue and mystery which can only come when you are talking about the ancient world. When you combine this with an action story of warring nations and a battle for ultimate supremacy it is a intriguing combination!
I am looking forward to reading more of Matthew Reilly's books and I am very sorry I have waited so long to do so. Highly recommended for those people who like adventure stories and conspiracy theories.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Tony Parsons "The Family Way"
One of my friends has recently started a bookclub and picked this as the first book.
I enjoyed it. It was an easy read. The themes of the book are ones found in many others. The baby dance. The struggles of those who want children and can't have them compared to those who do have them. What makes this book different is it is written by a man and I think that even though the main characters are women it shows. I am not sure how or why but there is a slightly different feel. That said, not in a bad way. The author deals with the subjects sensitively and he must have done a lot of listening and talking to women to be able to write so well about some of the topics covered.
Three sisters. One, Jessica, childless, married and desperately wanting a baby. One, Cat, who swears she never wants children. And one, Megan, who is at the beginning of her professional career and who accidentally gets pregnant after a one night stand. Their mother walked out on them when they were young and made no secret of her opinion that having children ruined her life. Each of the girls have to deal with the shadows of this past as well as having to face their own personal demons about decisions they have made in the past and decisions they have to make in their future.
Covering topics such as fertility, low socio-economic areas, trust, betrayal, abortion and most importantly of all family, this book was a good read. Warning. Lots of sexual references and the style of this writing was one of the times I was reminded I was reading a book written by a man! I am looking forward to discussions about this book at bookclub.
I enjoyed it. It was an easy read. The themes of the book are ones found in many others. The baby dance. The struggles of those who want children and can't have them compared to those who do have them. What makes this book different is it is written by a man and I think that even though the main characters are women it shows. I am not sure how or why but there is a slightly different feel. That said, not in a bad way. The author deals with the subjects sensitively and he must have done a lot of listening and talking to women to be able to write so well about some of the topics covered.
Three sisters. One, Jessica, childless, married and desperately wanting a baby. One, Cat, who swears she never wants children. And one, Megan, who is at the beginning of her professional career and who accidentally gets pregnant after a one night stand. Their mother walked out on them when they were young and made no secret of her opinion that having children ruined her life. Each of the girls have to deal with the shadows of this past as well as having to face their own personal demons about decisions they have made in the past and decisions they have to make in their future.
Covering topics such as fertility, low socio-economic areas, trust, betrayal, abortion and most importantly of all family, this book was a good read. Warning. Lots of sexual references and the style of this writing was one of the times I was reminded I was reading a book written by a man! I am looking forward to discussions about this book at bookclub.
Meg Cabot "The Princess Diaries. Take Two"
My eldest daughter's latest purchase! And of course I had to read it ;)
First and most importantly this is not a children's book in my humble opinion. Regardless of the lovely movie, this book is definitely for teenagers. There is lots of "sex" talk: french kissing, complaining of lack of "development in the chest" region, contraception, losing virginity etc. However, while there is lots of talk, it is about things not happening rather then things actually happening.
However, that aspect of it aside, the book is good. This is the second in the series and it follows on immediately from the first book. Mia is adjusting to life as a princess, being traumatised by her Royal grandmother, looking after her mother and coping with all the normal teenage angst of boys and bodies and school.
New dramas unfold as Mia obtains a secret admirer and has to deal with her mother dating her algebra teacher. Especially as algebra is the subject she does not like and needs tutoring in - by her best friend's "hot" older brother.
Written in a diary style, this book is a funny look at the dramas of being a teenage girl and goes to show being Royal doesn't solve everything, or anything really! Recommended for girls of 12+.
First and most importantly this is not a children's book in my humble opinion. Regardless of the lovely movie, this book is definitely for teenagers. There is lots of "sex" talk: french kissing, complaining of lack of "development in the chest" region, contraception, losing virginity etc. However, while there is lots of talk, it is about things not happening rather then things actually happening.
However, that aspect of it aside, the book is good. This is the second in the series and it follows on immediately from the first book. Mia is adjusting to life as a princess, being traumatised by her Royal grandmother, looking after her mother and coping with all the normal teenage angst of boys and bodies and school.
New dramas unfold as Mia obtains a secret admirer and has to deal with her mother dating her algebra teacher. Especially as algebra is the subject she does not like and needs tutoring in - by her best friend's "hot" older brother.
Written in a diary style, this book is a funny look at the dramas of being a teenage girl and goes to show being Royal doesn't solve everything, or anything really! Recommended for girls of 12+.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Ann M. Martin "Kristy's Big News"
One of the good things about having children is a having an excuse (a reminder?) to revisit books from my childhood. I loved the Baby-Sitters Club, but there are so many more books now then there was when I stopped reading them.
"Kristy's Big News" is part of the BSC: Friends Forever series, a separate series to the main BSC series. The four main character are there: Kristy, Mary-Anne, Claudia and Stacey. Dawn has gone to live with her dad in California. I am not exactly sure what happened to Jessi and Mal and I presume that chronologically it is before Abbey appears.
While it is a little hard to tell where this series fits in relation to the main series it doesn't change the fact that these are still great kids books. Ann M. Martin's style is the same, but what this series does is looks at the "other side" to the baby-sitters. The focus is on the baby-sitters and other areas of their lives not on baby-sitting. In "Kristy's Big News" there is no baby-sitting at all!
In this book, Kristy's father reappears and asks her to go to his wedding along with her two older brothers. It has been years since he walked out on them and the contact since then has been limited and not consistent by any stretch of the imagination. This book deals with the emotional experience that Kristy, Sam and Charlie go through in seeing their biological father again and where he now fits in relation to their "new", crazy, blended family.
The writing in some ways is a little more sophisticated then the original BSC books, but a great book for middle-primary school aged children and for lovers of the original series.
"Kristy's Big News" is part of the BSC: Friends Forever series, a separate series to the main BSC series. The four main character are there: Kristy, Mary-Anne, Claudia and Stacey. Dawn has gone to live with her dad in California. I am not exactly sure what happened to Jessi and Mal and I presume that chronologically it is before Abbey appears.
While it is a little hard to tell where this series fits in relation to the main series it doesn't change the fact that these are still great kids books. Ann M. Martin's style is the same, but what this series does is looks at the "other side" to the baby-sitters. The focus is on the baby-sitters and other areas of their lives not on baby-sitting. In "Kristy's Big News" there is no baby-sitting at all!
In this book, Kristy's father reappears and asks her to go to his wedding along with her two older brothers. It has been years since he walked out on them and the contact since then has been limited and not consistent by any stretch of the imagination. This book deals with the emotional experience that Kristy, Sam and Charlie go through in seeing their biological father again and where he now fits in relation to their "new", crazy, blended family.
The writing in some ways is a little more sophisticated then the original BSC books, but a great book for middle-primary school aged children and for lovers of the original series.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Monica McInerney 'Lola's Secret'
I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I got this book for Christmas. Not strictly accurate. I actually bought it for my mother-in-law and told her to tell me if she already had it. Someone else had given it to her the day before and it had been on her wish list! Great minds clearly think alike ;) Anyway I got her a different book and I kept this one. I would just like to say this was not the plan though.
If you have read 'The Alphabet Sisters' this is a sequel set five years after the first book finished. WARNING: If you have not read 'The Alphabet Sisters' read it first. In fact if you have not read 'The Alphabet Sisters', stop reading now and do not read any reviews of 'Lola's Secret' until after you have. Trust me. You will thank me.
Back to 'Lola's Secret'. It is a warm, funny book. Filled with family dramas as Lola, the undisputed matriarch, continues to dispense advice to her family, friends and the community in general. This book is about Lola. At 84 years young it is a reminder that you are only as old as you feel and that the 'matures years', a long string of grandchildren and great-grandchildren does not mean you are not a person in your own right too. Friends still annoy you. Family is still family. And sometimes you still have to face up to things that you do not want to face. Throw in some colourful clothes and a whole heap of scheming and you have 'Lola's Secret'.
A lovely read for anyone who has friends, family and frenemies. Who likes a bit of love, laughter and drama in their life. And for anyone who is hoping their second attempt at youth is even more fun the then first time round. A very fitting sequel to the wonderful 'The Alphabet Sisters'.
If you have read 'The Alphabet Sisters' this is a sequel set five years after the first book finished. WARNING: If you have not read 'The Alphabet Sisters' read it first. In fact if you have not read 'The Alphabet Sisters', stop reading now and do not read any reviews of 'Lola's Secret' until after you have. Trust me. You will thank me.
Back to 'Lola's Secret'. It is a warm, funny book. Filled with family dramas as Lola, the undisputed matriarch, continues to dispense advice to her family, friends and the community in general. This book is about Lola. At 84 years young it is a reminder that you are only as old as you feel and that the 'matures years', a long string of grandchildren and great-grandchildren does not mean you are not a person in your own right too. Friends still annoy you. Family is still family. And sometimes you still have to face up to things that you do not want to face. Throw in some colourful clothes and a whole heap of scheming and you have 'Lola's Secret'.
A lovely read for anyone who has friends, family and frenemies. Who likes a bit of love, laughter and drama in their life. And for anyone who is hoping their second attempt at youth is even more fun the then first time round. A very fitting sequel to the wonderful 'The Alphabet Sisters'.
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