savage_book_review's Reviews (328)

This has been on my TBR list since I heard about it on the 'Not Just The Tudors' podcast. But trying to find it has been a nightmare! Can't get it on Kindle, wasn't available in any format from the library, and any online orders seem to come from the US, making it quite expensive! But then I just happened to be looking at BorrowBox (my library's ebook service) for something else, and it popped up as now being avaialble in their audiobook selection!

Cross the story of Henry VIII and his wives with Mean Girls, or any other drama set in a US high school, and this is what results. Henry is the star quarterback, and his wing woman Anna, aka Cleves, stands by and watches as he works his way through the dating drama that is senior year. A budding journalist, she can't help but be intrigued by the story that one of Henry's exes died at prom the previous year... but was it an accident? Or murder?

Listening to the audio version of this really helped me get into the characters - the narrator has the perfect, almost stereotypical, US high school popular girl sounding voice, so I was immediately grounded in place; something that I don't think would have happened as fast if I'd just been reading. When I first heard it I thought it would get on my nerves after a short while, but actually the narration was very good overall; very easy to listen to and done exactly the way I like it - enough changes in pitch and tone to denote a different character speaking, but without giving all of them different voices.

The writing itself also matches the setting and characters - it sounds as if the writer was the same age as the characters, or at the very least she was basing speech patterns on teenagers she knows! There is quite a lot of swearing throughout, but it's just the vernacular; it probably is gratuitous, but because it's teenagers it doesn't feel like it!

The story is cleverly done; it takes all the familiar tropes of Henry and his wives and, for the most part, matches them up with relatable high school equivalents. The biggest change is probably the main character, Anna, who clearly wasn't Henry's best friend in reality! But she did hang around in England after their divorce, and actually survived him by quite some time, so putting her in this position is actually not as mad as it initially sounds. I particularly like that the writer has picked up on other, lesser known characters and events and utilised those for extra depth. And yet at the same time it feels like this could be any US high school senior year!

The only downside with the audio version is that it takes so long to get through it! While I was invested and could easily remember where I was in the story, I thought on several occasions it was coming to an end, only to realise that I actually had several hours left to listen to. Given that the physical book is somewhere between 400 and 500 pages, I could have read it far quicker.

However, I'm no longer worried about incurring the expense of a physical copy, as I now know it's a great book, and one I will definitely read again!

It's strange, the things that stick with you from your childhood. This book was published in 2000, so it must have been shortly after that I borrowed it from the library. Can't have been older than 12 when I read it. I never found it again after I returned it, but certain elements of the story have remained embedded in my mind. Just a shame the author and title weren't amongst them! Thankfully, the members of the Facebook group The Book Hangout Spot were able to point me in the right direction so I could see if my memories matched up to the reality.

Stepping into this book, you're very quickly aware of its place in time. It hasn't aged badly, but what would have been seen as up to date references when published, e.g. Tommy Girl perfume, Discmans, Blockbuster Video, now just make it feel like an 'old' book.

While I know I never admired the main character for her actions (way too much of a good geek girl for that!), I could at least sort of understand her mentality when I was of a similar age. Now however... wow does she come across as naive, petulant and immature! I found myself asking the 'adult' questions about where the money was coming from for all the things she dreams of; about what she was going to do with the baby while she and her boyfriend went out and lived it up; and about how she felt when she realises how isolated she becomes because all her friends are out having a 'normal' teenage experience.

At the same time, there is something about this that feels very relevant and reflective of modern society. By no means is it all, or even a majority, of young people, but I do see young people I've met reflected in Lana's attitude towards the wider world and how it works.

My opinion of Lana's mother has changed a bit, though not necessarily for the better. As a young reader, you just see the boring adult who couldn't possibly understand your life and who can'tsee you as anything but a little kid. But now it's far easier to recognise that Mrs Spiggs was not a very good parent or role model; a questionable relationship with her partner, a bit of a drinking problem, a constant barrage of criticism and a couple of cases of physical assault don't paint the healthiest of pictures. Adding on to that the descriptions of their flat, including broken and dangerous appliances... there's a lot more to unpack there!

Teen pregnancy isn't the headliner it was when this book was first released, but I feel like it does still paint a picture of how poor our Sex and Relationship Education classes in the UK are. Equally, it feels like this book could be a useful tool; delving into the fact that sex and love are not necessarily the same, and illustrating just how hard becoming a parent, especially at a young age and on your own, really is. I think it does a good job of balancing the idealised view of a teen with the stark reality.

I've never forgotten the name Shinola. And I don't care if it is a shoe polish (is it?), I've always liked it!

I should have read this book years ago, but for some reason never got around to it. In some respects, it is deemed to be the ultimate authority on what happened on the night of April 14th/15th, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg and foundered on her maiden voyage. Indeed, the book is also supposed to be the inspiration for the Oscar winning movie.

First published in the 1950s, this does have a distinct advantage in that the author was able to interview many of the survivors of the disaster at a time when they were fading from public view due to other world events. To me, this suggests that the participants who agreed were far enough removed from the disaster not to be traumatised when asked to relive it, and the events were long enough in the past that they would be less likely to 'sensationalise' them any more than they already are. Equally however, their memories of the event would still be true eyewitness accounts and there was a wide-ranging set of accounts available to collate in order to present the most accurate representation of the disaster.

The author has managed something remarkable in my opinion; he has constructed a clear chronological narrative of the sinking by weaving together the actions and whereabouts of many of the ship's passengers and crew. It almost reads like a novel, save for the seemingly objective reporting style; there is very little emotion that comes through the writing. There are also no conspiracy theories or playing of the blame game against Captain Lord of the Californian or Bruce Ismay, for example; it is as if he has taken each individual story as their own truth and simply reported it without judgement. 

What really surprises me is that, for the most part, it reads like it could have been written yesterday. With modern advances in technology and scientific understanding, it can now be explained why the crew didn't see the iceberg in time and the Californian could not identify the Titanic or communicate with her, even though they were only 10 miles apart. I was expecting to read a few theories that have since been disproven, but I don't think any of the modern findings are explicitly contradicted (except maybe the angle of the stern, but then I don't think anyone will ever truly know exactly what happened there!).

I also find it touching that the author took the time to include the list if survivors and victims; I don't recall ever seeing that in any if the myriad of other books I've read on the subject. It again stresses the fact that he sees this as a human tragedy; a fact which I think can get lost in the reporting and rereporting of the facts and figures.

You definitely can see the inspiration James Cameron took from this research; aside from the oft quoted famous lines, there are some moments and phrases in here that have a direct counterpart in the film. And apparently Walter Lord acted as a consultant on the movie too.

I have always been totally fascinated by the Titanic, and I think this is one of the best non-fiction books on the subject I've read.

I hadn't planned to borrow this one from the library, but it sounded right up my street so I had to bring it home. In basic terms, this is a retelling of the fairy tale 'Rumplestiltskin' for a Young Adult audience. I know I'm a bit older than a young adult, but inside I'll always be that awkward 16 year old, so I'll always have time for YA fiction!

In some ways, I went into this expecting to find the story heavily disguised or tangential to the fairy tale as it's quite a 'basic' one, but actually the writer has managed to stick to the main points of the script, while giving the story a nice twist with a ghost story and a mystery element, and the whole thing has a flavour of its own.

The main characters, Sirilda and Gild, are very well written and have clear chemistry. There is a moment when they first meet that gives a brief moment of worry that things are going to develop way too quickly, but then as the plot develops and you're given some backstory, you can understand certain reactions better and the whole thing just sits more comfortably. Likewise, the villain of the piece, the Erlking, really does come across as a nasty, slimy git. The only disappointment for me is that some of the supporting cast could do with a bit more description and story.

It's not particularly graphic, but it does get quite dark in places; there are brief but quite shocking descriptions of violent ends for minors in a couple of instances, and some of the creatures are not pleasant. It all adds to the atmosphere of the story and in some respects it is nice that she didn't go down the 'happily ever after' route, but equally I'm not 100% I wouldn't have preferred at least a little bit of levity towards the end!

On the upside, there is a sequel! So that shall be going on my library request list shortly in the hope that it all gets resolved to my satisfaction!

I have to be honest, I think Adam Silvera is becoming one of my favourite authors, in spite of his seeming fascination with death. This novel stands alone, exploring themes of love, loss and grief through the lens of a teenage boy who has lost his first love. Throughout, the main character, Griffin, 'talks' to his lost live, Theo, to try and cling on to his memory as much as possible.

I do not have the ability to cry at books or films; it's just not something I've ever had happen. But if you are that kind of person, make sure you have plenty of tissues handy as you will absolutely definitely need them during the course of this read. The author captures beautifully the raw power of grief, the pain of unexpected loss and the conflict that rages in the inevitable blame game of survivor's guilt. Add to that the main character's compulsive tendencies and the emotional toll of this book is off the scale. The writing is nothing short of stunning.

The book is written in alternating chapters; the present, charting Griffin's processing of his ex-boyfriend Theo's death, attending the funeral and meeting Theo's new boyfriend, Jackson; and the History, tracking the development of Theo and Griffin's relationship from friends to more and back again. I liked this style as you would see their relationship blossom, which in turn offers more understanding and insight into Griffin's reaction to his passing. Equally however, I do think it could have worked well in a predominantly linear format (save the 'taboos'; the reveals work too well).

The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars from me is that there are a couple of moments which feel quite contrived and predictable. At the same time, however, there are a couple of nice moments that you don't necessarily see coming, which add yet more layers to the tale.

Overall, another amazing read from the author!

This is the first in a planned series of books asking not only what happens after 'happily ever after', but what happens when the Disney Princesses takes her life into her own hands to become a Queen. In this case, we're following 'Beauty and the Beast' and my favourite Princess, Belle. The curse has been lifted, she and Prince Lio (aka the Beast - never knew that was his name!) are happily married, and yet Belle remains fiercely aware of her own identity and refuses to accept the title Princess of Aveyon. But on a trip to Paris, they are caught up in the start of seismic events that have the potential to threaten their position, their people and their lives. 

I came across this unplanned at the library, and was instantly in love with the various concepts described in the blurb. Fairy tale meets The Terror. A Disney Princess with some agency who takes charge of her own destiny (although to be fair, that's why I like Belle; she's always has a bit more about ther than your average Princess!). And seeing how the relationship between Belle and Lio is affected now he's not mad and hairy. I just had to check it out!

The result is a well thought out plot with a narrative that feels more like a historical fiction novel, with enough references to the source material and the appropriate level of description of not-so-nice events to ensure that it still feels like part of the Disney'verse. I'd say this is perfectly pitched for those kids who are just on the cusp of growing out of their Disney phase, but still indulge. 

The familiar characters are drawn and expanded upon nicely for the most part, and new characters slot in very well, although I do think they are slightly more two dimensional and in the main are simply plot devices. That's not to say they aren't readable or believable, but there's just something that didn't quite match in fir me in places. I was slightly disappointed we didn't get Belle meeting Marie Antoinette or other real people from the period, but that's probably just my history-loving side coming out. 

My only real bugbear was the redemption of one character. They go from introduction to redemption in two scenes, and one conversation with Belle. It just felt like there were pages missing from the story, the character does a 180 so fast. But then I guess that's the power of a Princess!

As a slightly older reader, I'd love to see the 'New Adult' version of this story; a visit to Madame Guillotine for one particular character, perhaps? And ACOTAR may be influencing me here, but I can imagine the simple scenes of husband and wife cuddling up in bed together could be, um,  expanded upon somewhat... Seriously, I felt like the author wanted to go further with some of these moments, but of course is restricted by the fact it's Disney!

Looking forward to the next in the series!

I have always been fascinated by Anne's story, and I have spied this book in my local library a few times, so decided to pick it up today. This is a memoir written by Anne's best friend, Jacqueline. Depending on which version of the diary you read, you may know her better by her pseudonym, Jopie. 

Generally speaking, I find I fall into the same trap when picking up this type of book; I expect that the narrative will be centred around the author's relationship with Anne, perhaps offering a more personal insight into her personality and her life before the Secret Annexe. Invariably, I am disappointed and find that Anne is only tangentially included, with the author telling their own story. I appreciate that Anne's is certainly not the only story or experience of that awful period in history and that as many people as possible should give voice to those experiences before they are lost in time, but when it is her name and image on the cover of such book I cannot help but feel that some people look to exploit their connection to her. 

That being said, in this case Anne does take more of a central role for much of the book. I don't believe it adds much to what we already know of her, but it is a very good opportunity to see Anne and her friend as a 'normal' pre-teen. The author doesn't appear to be looking back with rose-tinted glasses; it comes across as a simply stated, factual account of their friendship without the weight of Anne's fate or fame influencing her memories.

However, the book is predominantly about the author's wartime experience. As she was in a privileged position of being able to claim her mother was a Catholic, there was little danger of her being deported and so her experiences don't stray too far from 'normal' (for wartime, that is). I know these experiences are just as important as those who went into hiding, those on the front lines and those in the camps, but it does leave very little scope for writing something engaging. It's interesting, but there's nothing that screams 'this is a story that MUST be told'.

The style is a bit odd for a memoir too. The first section is written in the third person, and reads more like the introduction of a novel rather than a factual account. There's no explanation as to who the people mentioned are, and although it's not hard to guess, it's still quite jarring and unexpected, which in turn made it hard to settle in. Likewise, the last section written in the same way. You now know who is being talked about, but there's suddenly a time shift which again jolts you as it's not clearly marked. And I have to admit to not understanding the author's choice of ending at all.

There are definitely better accounts of Anne out there, but IMO every story about her is worth reading.

Returning to the series that reignited my interest in Greek mythology, I was looking forward to seeing what the second series of the Percy Jackson 'verse had to offer. I have had some vague descriptions given to me so I'm not going in totally blind, but there have been no major spoilers.

Straight away, I can say that it feels like the author has really hit his stride and found his writing voice with this book. While they are still aimed at a younger audience, the writing felt a lot more cohesive and mature than in the first series. I think the book being longer helped in this case; there was more time to develop the story. At the same time, the core structure of the story remains the same; three heroes off on a quest to save the Gods of Olympus. It's therefore very easy to settle into the storyline, as you can easily trace the major plot points. However, that's not to say it's completely predictable! 

Likewise, the characters appear more fleshed out; there's development of backstories for both the new characters, and a couple of the existing ones too. The new characters; Jason, Piper and Leo, slot in nicely, and I'm already drawn more to Jason and Piper and believe in them as a pairing more than I ever have Percy and Annabeth! 

That's not to say I didn't miss Percy in this book. Sadly, he doesn't make an appearance, and it does feel a little like the lynchpin of the series is missing. There is definitely a Percy-shaped hole in Camp Half-Blood, and the scenes that take place there feel a bit empty without him. Hopefully this will be resolved later in the series!

I also loved the expansion of the mythology, with Roman deities starting to make an appearance as well. From an academic perspective, having the relationships between the Greeks and Romans set out in this format is a great way of reinforcing the fact that all religions steal and borrow from one another to make the transition to a new belief system easier on the converts! And from a reader's perspective, my little brain is silently giggling that I'm about to discover an interest in Roman mythology, which only means more books to read!

Very much looking forward to the series, and found this a welcome return to Camp Half-Blood!