The Geography of You and Me
Written by Jennifer E. Smith
Published in Australia April 8th 2014
352 Pages
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Australia
Owen lives in the basement. Lucy lives on the 24th floor. But when the power goes out in the midst of a New York heatwave, they find themselves together for the first time: stuck in a lift between the 10th and 11th floors. As they await help, they start talking...
The brief time they spend together leaves a mark. And as their lives take them to Edinburgh and San Francisco, to Prague and to Portland they can't shake the memory of the time they shared. Postcards cross the globe when they themselves can't, as Owen and Lucy experience the joy, and pain, of first love. And as they make their separate journeys in search of home, they discover that sometimes it is a person rather than a place that anchors you most in the world.
The Geography of You and Me is a story for anyone who's ever longed to meet someone special, for anyone who's searched for home and found it where they least expected it.
Written by Christine Paice
Published June 1st 2014
368 Pages
Thank you to Allen and Unwin
Add to Goodreads
★★★☆
This is England 1973, and fifteen year old Rebecca Budde is in love with Dave. After one glorious summer, Rebecca is forced to move with her family to Brightley, a village with a puddle for a pond, and no excitement at all. If only Dave were there. Very weird things are going on inside their new house, and even stranger things are happening in the village at night. Someone appears to be living in Rebecca's wardrobe. Someone else is on the balcony, trying to get in. Things don't make sense anymore as Algernon Keats steps from the shadows, his sister not far behind him. There's no Dave, two ghosts, a pub, a dog and Alex March, a dark and brooding artist, living in the Manor House down the road, whose interest in Rebecca is both puzzling and thrilling.For almost sixteen year old Rebecca Abraham Budde, it's the year of flared jeans, Jane Eyre, the small town by the river and Dave. Dave with this long ginger locks at the bus stop, in which Rebecca rides past everyday. But being the local Vicar's daughter, as her budding relationship with Dave begins to bloom, her world is turned upside down. The family are moving to the sleepy town of Brightley, after her father is accepted as the new Vicar at Buckingshire Parish. Older sister Maggie will soon be of at college, while younger sister Emily couldn't care less where she lives, but Rebecca knows that this may just be the end of her romance with Dave, the boy that's no doubt The One.
What do Alex and Algernon want from Rebecca? What on earth does any of it mean? Is it possible to love a ghost? And what happens if he loves you back? The lights are out. Welcome to Brightley.
Rebecca thinks love is forever, but sometimes it's not. And nor, sometimes, is death. The Word Ghost is a funny, moving story about what it means to find love, lose love and discover who you are when you live in a village with no street lights and a decidedly dark side.
The new Vicarage is over a hundred and seventy years old and seemingly comes with a very welcoming neighbour, the elderly Flora Shillingham. At the small cottage, it's the tapping on the balcony window, the dreamlike figure that kneels beside the bed and the eerie fog that rolls in each night that make Brightley different from other small country towns. Rebecca is miserable, even studying her great love of literature does nothing to aide the heartache of missing Dave, but when she returns to Wye to see him, things don't go as well as she had expected.
But she still has Algernon Keats for company, the twenty four year old ghost that passed away and now inhabits her wardrobe. He's the cousin to the famous poet and see's the beauty in the world, including that of Rebecca. Algie recites poetry, he drops pebbles and leaves from his body and smells of fresh soil. He wants for nothing and speaks in riddles, but he's the closest person Rebecca now has to a friend in the strange town. But where Algernon is light, Augusta is dark, the ghost that taps on her balcony doors. If that wasn't enough to keep Rebecca occupied, she now has to fend off the local womaniser, the eccentric and wealthy artist Alex March. Alex is developing an obsession with the girl that is twenty years his junior, and before she knows it, Rebecca is swept up in his passion. This will be the year of finding love, losing love and giving yourself to another. To finding the truth in poetry and seeing the light beyond the shadows. Brightley is more than a town with a rich history, and Rebecca is about to find out why.
The Word Ghost was a storyline told in two parts, the first half was beautifully written, incredibly charming and instilled a dream like whimsy in readers. The second half sadly seemed to have lost it's way. Rebecca was a charming and quirky young lady, she's sassy, intelligent and has an incredible internal monologue that not only provides the reader with random observations, but she also converses with Jane Eyre. It was so refreshing just to read about Rebecca's day to day life without unnecessary drama, she's a brilliant character who has more than enough personality to keep your attention. I really enjoyed how at each new phase of her life, she lists what she's accepted and what she's rejecting. From David Bowie to biscuits, it was charming and I fell in love with her character even more so.Kelly's Thoughts
But as she moved into the new town, I felt her character begun to lose that magic. The reader is introduced to Algernon Keats, cousin of the famous poet who's father was also a Vicar in the same cottage more than a century ago. Algie, as he's affectionately known, is simply lovely. He recited poetry, and uses Rebecca's journal to create his own. Why he's taken to Rebecca isn't exactly known, but together they create a sweet and endearing friendship that I wish had of been delved into more. Meet Alex March, the thirty seven year old brooding artist that lives down the road. He first shows an interest in older sister Maggie, who is of legal age, but once Maggie moved to London for college, his interest shifts to the underage Rebecca. He was incredibly creepy and had a sinister presence within the storyline. But when Alex's creepy interest turns into something far more than appropriate or legal for that matter, Rebecca's initial magic has all but disappeared. I was disappointed and really not sure what his role was, apart from chasing an underage girl to seduce.
Personally, The Word Ghost would have been far more enchanting without the introduction of Augusta, who seemed to be seeking retribution for her life before she passed, and Alex, who's storylines both entwine. I'm not sure there was an underlying message to the storyline though, more so a coming of age story with the paranormal sprinkled throughout. Partly magical, somewhat disturbing and beautifully poetic, but definitely worth giving this one a read.The Final Verdict
Breaking Butterflies
Written by M. Anjelais
Published in Australia June 2014
257 Pages
Thank you to Scholastic Australia and Chicken House
Add to Goodreads
Published in Australia June 2014
257 Pages
Thank you to Scholastic Australia and Chicken House
Add to Goodreads
The closest he will ever come to happiness is when he's hurting her. Will she let him? A beautiful and twisted story of first love and innocence lost, written when the author was just eighteen.
Sphinxie and Cadence. Promised to each other in childhood. Drawn together again as teens. Sphinxie is sweet, compassionate, and plain. Cadence is brilliant, charismatic. Damaged. And diseased. When they were kids, he scarred her with a knife. Now, as his illness progresses, he becomes increasingly demanding. She wants to be loyal, but fears for her life. Only the ultimate sacrifice will give this love an ending.
Playlist for a Broken Heart
Written by Cathy Hopkins
Published May 2014
288 Pages
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia
When Paige finds an old mix CD in a local charity shop, she can't help but wonder about the boy who made it and the girl he was thinking of when he chose the songs. The tracks tell the story of a boy looking for his perfect girl, a girl to understand him, a story of being alone, being let down, misunderstood and not knowing where to turn.
Following the clues of the music, Paige sets out to find the mysterious boy, going from gig to gig and band to band, hoping to track him down. But will who she finds at the end of the trail, be the boy she's imagined?
Prisoner of Night and Fog
Written by Anne Blankman
Published in Australia June 10th 2014
352 Pages
Thank you to Hachette Australia
Gretchen Muller has, as best she can, dealt with the horrors of her family's past. Her father, a senior Nazi officer, died trying to save the life of their leader Adolf Hitler. And now Germany has the chance to be great once more. Swept up in the excitement and passion of life in Munich in 1931, seventeen year old Gretchen has embraced the life laid out for her by that leader, her Uncle Dolf.
But the secrets of the past cannot be silenced forever. When Gretchen receives a letter from an anonymous sender claiming to have more information about her father's death, she becomes swept up in a desperate and dangerous search for the truth. With the full might of the ever-powerful Nazi party on her tail, it is a race that will risk everything she has and change her life forever...
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online bookshops, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course eBooks. Hosted by Tyngas Reviews.
Publisher Paperbacks
The Protected by Claire Zorn. I absolutely loved The Sky So Heavy, so when I seen that Claire was bringing a new book out, let's just say that I was super excited. She's a born storyteller. Thank you to the University of Queensland Press, who publish though provoking young adult books.
Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan. I hadn't heard of this one before, but it sounds like an absolute tearjerker. It actually arrived wrapped in brown paper, with a warning on the label and a pack of pocket tissues. Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia, loved the unique marketing. You always know how to rock my shelves.
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski. I've actually already read, reviewed and loved this book, which you can find here. As I reviewed a digital copy, I purchased the paperback myself, so this one is on it's way to a new home where another blogger can enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you to the fabulous Bloomsbury Australia
Blueback by Tim Winton. This one is part of the Penguin Iconic Classic Children's range. I'm collecting this series, the hardcovers are so whimsical and features a whole range of classic Australian stories. You can find the entire collection by clicking here. Thank you to Penguin Australia.
Playlist for a Broken Heart by Cathy Hopkins. This one I've been eager to read, so was thrilled when a surprise copy turned up this week. It sounds similar to Dash and Lily, and I love quirky adventure type contemporaries. A huge thank you to the incredible Simon and Schuster.
Razorhurst by Justine Larbalestier. Sydney in the thirties, a supernatural twist and a gorgeous cover to boot! I'm lucky to be part of the promotional tour and can't wait to crack this one open. Thank you to my little cake addicts at Allen and Unwin.
Take Me On (Pushing The Limits: Book Four)
Written by Katie McGarry
Published June 1st 2014
464 Pages
Thank you to Harlequin Australia
Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.
West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her, fighting for her, is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.
Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.
Written by Michael Grant
Special Edition Published in Australia April 1st 2014
559 Pages
Thank you to Hardie Grant Egmont
Add to Goodreads
★★★★☆
In the blink of an eye, everyone disappears. Gone. Except for the young.There are teens, but not one single adult. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents, unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers, that grow stronger by the day. It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...
Sam temple was in history class when his teacher suddenly vanished. The same scenario played out in each classroom, and Perdido Beach was now adult free. Anyone aged fifteen and over has simply vanished, classrooms left empty, cars abandoned but still running, no internet or emergency phone services either. Deciding it'll be safer to travel together, Sam, best friend Quinn and Genius Astrid leave the confines of the now dangerous school, into the eerily quiet streets. Kids were wandering, scared or hysterical with no parents to go home to. Infants left inside their homes, the preschool children left without carers and little Pete, Astrid's autistic little brother, lost. But for Sam, the pending sense of annihilation had started weeks earlier, with a simple light inside his closet.
All over Perdido Beach, the streets tell the same story. Frightened children and teens stepping up and taking responsibility without question. From Albert who has taken over the abandoned McDonalds and Mary, who is caring for the infants at the day care center with her brother John. But the underage community now turns to Sam, who is known locally as a hero, making him an obviously leader. Until he kids from Coates Private Academy arrive.
Caine is the self imposed leader of the private academy, and is determined to take over the aptly named Fallout Alley Youth Zone. But with him, Caine brings a group of dangerous teens who aren't afraid to use a heavy hand, keeping the now small community in line with violence. But in Perdido Beach, these aren't any ordinary group of teens, and the power they wield may be their own demise.
Our Thoughts
Kelly
So we've both just finished our first Michael Grant novel together, and besides it being as thick as a doorstop, what did you think?
Gina
I really enjoyed it. It was definitely weird and unexpected, but in a really good way. I only had one major issue with the book, but other than that, it was addictive and definitely worth all the hype that it gets. What about you?
Kelly
I was a little hesitant to start, as all of the characters seemed far younger than what I was expecting. I knew what the book was about, but wondered how characters all under fifteen were going to keep my interest, it really surprised me though. But we both had the same issue with these teens and the roles their characters played. Did you find their ages believable?
Gina
I completely agree with the characters. I would have liked for the Gone age to be, at least 18 or 19. Most of the time, I would forget that they were all under 15, and think that they were older teens. Even though it's fiction, the ages are too unbelievable. I think the only character who suited their age was Quinn, I didn't like him at all, and he succumbed to peer pressure to stay out of trouble, which I would find believable for a kid that age, especially in the circumstances they were in. You didn't like Quinn either did you?
Kelly
I loathed Quinn. I understand that he was the token surfer, but who uses the word Brah? Is that slang for, I'm an idiot who can't talk properly? Maybe it's common with surfers, or morons. One person I did like was Caine, not his character as such, but he brought personality to a group of all too perfect teens and everyone needs a nemesis right? Apart from that, the storyline was pretty good, I admit that I couldn't put it down either. What did you think of Michael Grant's writing prowess?
Gina
Urgh! He was sooooo annoying. I think that might be why the characters are made to be older than 14, because if they were done as 14 year olds in that kind of situation, then they would all be Quinn's.
I really liked it. I loved how there was the short snappy sentences to emphasise points. Like 'She ate it. she ate it all', or however it goes. What about you?
Kelly
I really enjoyed them too. It sort of gave it a comedic feel in places, as it often came off as overly dramatic. Which is true for some teens even in the midst of everyone over fifteen vanishing, some can still create their own drama. What did you think of the public school kids verses the private school bullies?
Continue the conversation over at Behind The Pages.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)