Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris.

Author:

David Sedaris

Published:

2010

Blurb on The Back:

Featuring David Sedaris's unique blend of hilarity and heart, this new collection of keen-eyed animal-themed tales is an utter delight. Though the characters may not be human, the situations in these stories bear an uncanny resemblance to the insanity of everyday life. 

In "The Toad, the Turtle, and the Duck," three strangers commiserate about animal bureaucracy while waiting in a complaint line. In "Hello Kitty," a cynical feline struggles to sit through his prison-mandated AA meetings. In "The Squirrel and the Chipmunk," a pair of star-crossed lovers is separated by prejudiced family members.

With original illustrations by Ian Falconer, author of the bestselling Olivia series of children's books, these stories are David Sedaris at his most observant, poignant, and surprising.

Review:

This was part of my 2014 reading Challenge on Goodreads.com.

I first got to know David Sedaris through his Radio 4 series "Meet David Sedaris" and thoroughly enjoyed his monologues on his everyday life, so I had high expectations for this book which unfortunately did not come fully to fruition with Squirrel seeks Chipmunk. The premise is interesting however the execution is just slightly off and  means that the book frequently doesn't hit the heights we have come to expect from his essays.

It is a series of short stories about everyday life however instead of human interaction it is based around animals. From a studding dog philosophising on adultery, Lab animals discussing whether illness is psychosomatic and Storks trying to explain to their offspring where they came from, the humour is there but it is the setting that often lets it down.

I wish I could be more positive about the book as I liked is earlier works and his works since this has been published but it falls flat more often than not. I think in my humble opinion is that a lot of his material is funny because we can relate to them, however, because they stories have been superimposed onto unlikely pairings of animals I found them stilted and often fragmented.

A shame as it could have been so much more.

5.5 out of 10

Peace

Deejay.

Off to be the Wizard - Scott Meyer

Off to be the Wizard - Scott Meyer

Author:

Scott Meyer

Published:

2013

Blurb on the Back:

Martin Banks is just a normal guy who has made an abnormal discovery: he can manipulate reality, thanks to reality being nothing more than a computer program. With every use of this ability, though, Martin finds his little “tweaks” have not escaped notice. Rather than face prosecution, he decides instead to travel back in time to the Middle Ages and pose as a wizard.

What could possibly go wrong?

An American hacker in King Arthur’s court, Martin must now train to become a full-fledged master of his powers, discover the truth behind the ancient wizard Merlin…and not, y’know, die or anything.

Review:

This was read as part of my 2014 reading challenge on Goodreads.com

Pop-Culture meets the middle ages in an excellent comedic fashion. The story centres around Martin a geek in a dead end job who enjoys hacking. One day when fooling about within a website he comes across a file which seems to contain all his personal data in real-time. After messing about with his personal stats he finds that it in fact can control the world around him. 

Obviously he does what anyone else would do and starts by adding money to his bank account. This sets the US treasury on his trail for bank fraud and he uses the program to escape their grasp to medieval England.

This sets off a sequence of events which at time is hilarious and at times juvenile in its humour, As Martin struggles to become a wizard in the past all the while returning to the exact point he left the present to confuse both the Government Officials and his own parents. 

This was a highly charged, fast paced book and has left the world open so if he so desired it could easily form a sequel or even a whole series. Personally I'd like to learn about the Atlantis mentioned frequently throughout the plot.

8.5 out of 10.

Peace 

Deejay

Is It Just Me? - Miranda Hart

Is It Just Me?- Miranda Hart.

Author: 

Miranda Hart

Published:

June 2013

Blurb On the Back:

Well hello to you dear browser. Now I have your attention it would be rude if I didn't tell you a little about my literary feast. So, here is the thing: is it just me or does anyone else find that adulthood offers no refuge from the unexpected horrors, peculiar lack of physical coordination and sometimes unexplained nudity, that accompanied childhood and adolescence?

Does everybody struggle with the hazards that accompany, say, sitting elegantly on a bar stool; using chopsticks; pretending to understand the bank crisis; pedicures - surely it's plain wrong for a stranger to fondle your feet? Or is it just me?

I am proud to say I have a wealth of awkward experiences - from school days to life as an office temp - and here I offer my 18-year-old self (and I hope you too dear reader) some much needed caution and guidance on how to navigate life's rocky path.

Because frankly where is the manual? The much needed manual to life. Well, fret not, for this is my attempt at one and let's call it, because it's fun, a Miran-ual. I thank you.

Review:

This was read as part of my 2014 reading Challenge on Goodreads.com.

Now I have to admit I went into this book not knowing what to expect. The only thing I had seen Miranda in was Smack the Pony and one Episode of Call the Midwife. What I found was a likeable if not slightly neurotic book on a vast variety of subjects from smacking someone in the face with a prawn to her uncomfortable feelings towards beauticians and spa days.

Much of the dialogue is between her and her 18 year old self, exposing the differences between what she wanted to be and who she is now. She does refer to the reader on a number of occasions as "My dear reader chum" which gets shortened throughout the book to MDRC and after a while does tend to become irritating. 

The comedy elements however are pulled off with aplomb, she has a natural likeable style of writing and constantly relates to everyday situations in the funniest way possible (especially the office work bit.) By no means is this a challenging read but if you want a bit of light-hearted fun for a couple of hours you could do a lot worse. 

Plus if you read it while spinning on your Spinney chair it adds something.

For that I would give it 8 out of 10.

Peace 

Deejay.

Independent Study - Joelle Charbonneau

Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau

Author:

Joelle Charbonneau

Pubished:

January 2013

Blurb on the back:

In the series debut The Testing, sixteen-year-old Cia Vale was chosen by the United Commonwealth government as one of the best and brightest graduates of all the colonies . . . a promising leader in the effort to revitalize postwar civilization. In Independent Study, Cia is a freshman at the University in Tosu City with her home town sweetheart, Tomas—and though the government has tried to erase her memory of the brutal horrors of The Testing, Cia remembers. Her attempts to expose the ugly truth behind the government’s murderous programs put her—and her loved ones—in a world of danger. But the future of the Commonwealth depends on her.

Review:

This book is part of my 2014 reading challenge.

So as you probably gathered from my previous post regarding the first part of this trilogy, I liked The Testing a lot. Joelle Charbonneau managed to capture my imagination with an innovative and new spin on the young adult dystopia novel. Suffice to say I was dying to find out what was going to happen to Cia Vale, the now incumbent Graduate and new university student of Tosu City University faces more trials and tribulations as she discovers more about the seedy underworld of the university.

Independent Study continues in the same vein of The Testing. Cia is face with more tests to prove that she has what it takes to survive the cut-throat world of the university. Her career choice is ignored and she is forced into a situation that she feels has been intentionally set up to make her fail so she will be "redirected." It details her struggle to survive and find people that she can trust to bring about change.

Now as I mentioned The Testing made me want to read this genre again. Independent Study while not as frantic and explosive as the first part of the trilogy, still maintains the world and adds to the disparity between the United Commonwealth Government and the University officials. 

It successfully held the interest in the world and quite frankly I cannot wait for the final part of the trilogy.

While not as good as The Testing it is still up there, I would liken it to Mockingjay at the moment, while good it rambles a bit. I am hoping that this is the weak part in the series, the lull before all hell breaks loose.

I can't wait for Graduation Day.

9 Out of 10.

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Author: 

Joelle Charbonneau

Published:

June 2013

Blurb on the Back:

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies–trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

Review:

This is one of the books on my 2014 reading challenge.

I have to admit starting this book I was worried. Over the last year or so I have read an awful lot of young adult Dystopia that has sprung up since the success of the Hunger Games franchise. A lot of the books were formulaic, following the same young girl, same dangerous situation, a love interest and an evil government hell bent on subduing the masses all with not a lot of substance. At first glance this book seemed like it was going to follow suit, however, Joelle Charbonneau has successfully crafted a society and a government that has a creepy and distinct "Dystopia." 

It is more brutal than Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, and the main character has more depth than the protagonist in Divergent by Veronica Roth both of which are both stellar examples of this genre. This is the Dystopia that distinguishes itself from the others just by the sheer quality of the writing and the plot pacing. 

The plot follows Malencia "Cia" Vale who is graduating school and hoping to be selected for "The Testing" which would allow her to attend university and escape the possibility of spending the rest of her life fixing tractors. What follows is a sinister testing process in which the 108 applicants are whittled down to just over 20 successful applicants. Cia must try to survive with her friend Tomas. 

The United Commonwealth where Cia lives does not seem to be a bad place to live, it is picking up the pieces of a shattered world, and actually doing it quite well. However the state and the education system are separate and it is the Leader of the university that provides the villain.

The book is brutal, People die both by their own hand and by our heroines. The final test shows the true colours of many of the testing candidates and Cia is a hell of a lot more modest and introspective than a lot of the heroines from other books. 

All in all this is one of the best in the genre. In fact I'd probably say that it is the best since the original Hunger Games book and it has reawakened my interest in the genre.

10 out of 10 

Peace out

Deejay.

Orange is the New Black - Piper Kerman

Orange is the New Black - Piper Kerman 

Author: 

Piper Kerman

Published:

2010

Blurb on the Back:

With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years ago. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187-424—one of the millions of women who disappear "down the rabbit hole" of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behaviour and arbitrary rules, where the uneasy relationship between prisoner and jailer is constantly and unpredictably recalibrated. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Orange Is the New Black offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison, why it is we lock so many away, and what happens to them when they're there.

Review:

This is one of the books on my 2014 reading challenge. 

If you bought this book because you like the TV series, turn back now. The true life story of Piper Kerman is nothing like the hit netflix series. There is no prison lesbian love affair between Piper and her ex-lover and no sex between guards and inmates. don't get me wrong you can see where the things in the TV series come from however they are not as dramatic as the TV would like you to believe.

What you do get is a story about a girl, who made some bad choices in her youth and ultimately paid the price for them. Pipers year in prison while not uneventful is more about the camaraderie and the bonding between the inmates as well as the hopelessness of the American justice system. 

Piper comes across as a well educated and likeable person, however, at times the book becomes preachy on the uneducated within the prison. Her relationships with the inmates are fascinating especially with the Russian Chef Pop but they sometimes come over as stereotypical characters especially with the emphasis at times on racial groupings.

Pipers Boyfriend (come Fiancée) comes across exceptionally well being put in a very difficult situation and the support from him, Piper's family and friends is vital to her survival and the story.

The book is very well written and a very enjoyable way to spend a few hours, however remember it is nothing like the TV series.

8 out of 10.

An Introduction.

Hello my name is Dave

I know I have put up a number of posts already but I was moving stuff over from an old blog. I decided to concentrate my reviews in one place and Wordpress wasn't working for me. my old blog was review and remove and had reviews on CD's and apps as well but I wasn't enjoying writing about them, so I have decided to concentrate on my main passion (bar my loving son) Books.

A bit about myself.

I'm 30 love books and that's about all. I'm on goodreads.com please add me on there if you like my reviews. I'm attempting the 2014 reading challenge and have set myself a target of 75 books in 2014. As of today (02/04/14) I am on 23 out of 75, so that may be amended upwards as the year goes on. I will be posting reviews based on these books as I write them so If you want to find out what is upcoming then look at my reading challenge list. Once they are done I will hit the back catalogue of stuff I have already read and try and keep up with what I am reading.

This is a bit of a rambling post but I wanted to say Hi.

Please feel free to comment or add me on google + or follow me on twitter (@dwjjones1).

Peace out

Deejay.