Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne

Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne

 

Noah Barleywater left home in the early morning, before the sun rose, before the dogs woke, before the dew stopped falling on the fields.

A nice, easy read. A book in which not a lot of action takes place. Simple, slightly boring at first, but it gets more interesting - not considerably more though... Is this a book addictive book? Defiantly not, but I'll tell any potential Noah Barleywater Runs Away readers what it is. An average story with gradually, slow building pace almost like an artery slowly closing up with gunk. It is a book that I could of put down and happily never picked up again, yet I did not do that and matter of factually I read it...I'm somewhat of a book craving adrenaline junkie, so I do not know why I continued to read this specific book...Though I did actually like it...just about.

Not very surprising, but Noah Barleywater runs away...He runs away from his parents and if I told the potential Noah Barleywater Runs Away readers why, well that would just ruin one of two worth reading twists in the story. Though Noah does claim that his reason for leaving home is simply because he wants to go on an adventure...

On his travels through villages strange occurrences take place such as hospitalized apples, a hungry donkey, an easily offended dachshund, spectacular trees - well just the one(hint*cough*book cover) and where many helpful wooden objects are present. Noah seems to take all of the unusual goings on quite well - he just excepts them without much consideration.

My Cat Catch Book Rating Scale above- I liked it...just about(3/5 cats)

Cat Cat Rating Scale- http://minstrelcrazy.blogspot.ie/p/reviews.html

 I must mention that I feel somewhat disappointed with Noah as a character - he appears to be almost identical in nature to John Boyne's other small boy character Barnaby Brocket from The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket. Although, one must eliminate Barnaby Brocket's ability to float, following this they may as well be twins except maybe a few minor details regarding brief physical appearances. Furthermore John Boyne has a knack for not clearly wanting to give much description on the physical appearance of his characters...We are told Noah is short for his age, has black hair and green eyes - that is completely acceptable, but not when John Boyne doesn't develop his characters personalities enough! His readers are left with scraps for a character instead of a nicely done, not at all burned around the edges type of character.

Dexter is Delicious by Jeff Lindsay

Dexter is Delicious by Jeff Lindsay

Dexter always lived by a single golden rule: only kill people who deserve it. But the Miami blood spatter analyst has recently become a daddy - to an eight-pound curiosity named Lily Anne - and strangely, Dex's dark urges seem to have left him. Is he ready to become an overprotective father? To pick up soft teddy bears instead of his trusty knife, duct tape and fishing wire? What's a serial killer to do?

Then Dexter is summoned to investigate the disappearance of an eighteen-year-old girl who appears to have been abducted by a bizarre group who just may be vampires... and, possibly, cannibals. There's nothing like the familiar hum of his day job to get Dexter's creative dark juices flowing again. Assisting his bull-in-a-china-shop detective sister, Deborah, Dex wades into an investigation that gets more disturbing by the moment.

To compound the complication of Dexter's ever-more-complicated life, a person from his past suddenly reappears... moving dangerously close to his home turf and threatening to destroy the one thing that has maintained Dexter's cover and kept him out of the electric chair: his new family.

  I've come to a certain problem with the Dexter series. Constant, near death situations that Dexter always gets out of unharmed to any extent at all - there just is not an tense build up anymore. I feel there is not enough interest in Dexter's somewhat unusual hobby...being a serial killer and all. He is not challenged enough, where as in the Dexter TV series, Laguerta is a prevailing force who would have been scrutinizing Dexter's activities with great interest.

The character of Rita(Dexter's wife) can be considered rather aggravating in relation to her stumble of speech. Her dialogue consists of half sentences, that are broken up by other mumbled, often pointless statements. Although, I am quite pleased with Dexter's brother Brian. He is serial killer with purpose, charm and for some untold reason he has a considerable amount of interest in Dexter's family. Brain is to some degree a Dark Daddy Dexter Defender.

Barely any to no mentoring is done by Dexter to try and stir Astor and Cody firmly and directly down the Harry path. Dexter finds himself intoxicated with family life prior to being intoxicated by a certain Dark Passenger... The constant need that pulls from the gleam of the moon to the dark, feathery wings that tickle his neck with a piercing insight into what it thinks he needs to do is gone. Will it stay gone? Will Dexter Morgan, blood spatter analyst ever return to his former guilty pleasure?

My Cat Catch Book Rating Scale above- I really liked it (4/5 cats)

Cat Cat Rating Scale- http://minstrelcrazy.blogspot.ie/p/reviews.html

 A big bubble of a surprise bursts triumphantly into the crevices of the this very book - a fascinating theme crops into view for the duration of the book - that is cannibalism. Not a particularly light theme, but has a respectable amount of blood and gore, like is expected from the combination of the blood spatter design that glows a proud red on the cover, and from the lengthy description. Several scenes honestly were simply too much for my mental gag reflex - various flesh chewed, cooked, violently torn, generally ripped to shreds and eaten...Furthermore the dysfunctional vampires with purposely sharpened canines that like to dance and sway to awful sounding music, while drinking masses of blood colored, red punch...

All of the Dexter book series always have good conclusions. There are no big wriggling worms of cliff hangers, but instead a nice, concise ending. It mightn't have the effect of wanting the reader to read more about Dexter experiences, but then again I don't think an exploding cliff hanger is needed to keep one's attention; Jeff Lindsay's clever writing style and general creative story telling is quite enough for readers to lock and load their minds' for another Dexter book.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

I had finally gotten a copy of The Fault in Our Stars and was ever so excited to get munching on John Green's extravagant usage of words. My build up of excitement was not only, because of  the endless prong of praising reviews for the book,or the Fault in Our Stars Tumblr plague of obsession, but because I am a subscriber to the vlogbrothers. I found it incredibly exhilarating that one part of the vlogbrothers was in fact an author. John Green an author, a person who spends his time writing fiction while finding time to make YouTube videos. Really? The same man that subscribers find themselves learning from every second video on the vlogbrothers channel. I could almost not believe it, so I was exceedingly eager to investigate this book called The Fault in Our Stars.

Life. Cancer. Struggle. Love. Death. I generally try to avoid cancer books due to the often depressing story lines, but my above stated excitement made me scramble to buy a shiny new copy of the renowned book. It was undoubtedly very important to me to get a copy of this book...It is the fourth book I have ever bought. The library staff just could not get a copy of the book transferred to them, as other libraries do not transfer relatively new books to other libraries.


Leonardo da Vinci wanted to be able to fly. If he had the determination of a terrier who wanted to escape a yard he would of not of been able to fly. So he drew up inventions for various flying contraptions. Unfortunately, sometimes no matter how strong willed a person may be s/he can not fight something and win; in Leonardo's case gravity and in Hazel Grace's own personal experience, she could not successfully fight cancer. 

Hazel Grace excepts her situation, but does not want to be a "grenade" by leaving people mentally ripped to pieces after her inevitable demise. She meets Augustus Waters and she likes him. Likes him to the extent of love. Loves him to the extent of letting herself  mean something to him without worrying about the "grenade" effect.



 

My Cat Catch Book Rating Scale above- It was absolutely amazing(5/5 cats)

Cat Cat Rating Scale- http://minstrelcrazy.blogspot.ie/p/reviews.html

Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters seem to live not to fight cancer anymore, but to live for the wonderful happiness of being within each others company. They laugh, cry, smile and live within the most desired moment of young love blossoming beautifully. A bitter-sweet love that will warm and squeeze your heart simultaneously.

In truth, there is a considerable amount of sadness throughout this book, but it is mixed with a very special thing...love. Love that runs through the veins of the book in union with the sadness to make a modern day, heart twisting masterpiece.






 

Lies of Silence by Brian Moore

Lies of Silence by Brian Moore

  

When Michael Dillon is ordered by the IRA to park his car in the car park of a Belfast hotel, he is faced with a moral choice which leaves him absolutely nowhere to turn. He knows that he is planting a bomb that would kill and maim dozens of people. But he also knows that if he doesn't, his wife will be killed.

It isn't a particularly a long read and I'm exceedingly glad that it isn't for it is far from breathtaking...

Micheal the central character is not a likeable or admirable character; he cheated on his wife with a woman half his age, he only married his wife as he found her exceedingly attractive and loved the envious stares that were directed at him by other men. 

He is for the most part quite cowardly, although he does ponder the idea of speaking up against the IRA. After all he happens to have a vital piece of evidence that could lock up one of their members.

The book puts the IRA in a bad light. It implies that they don't care whether they use protestants or Catholics to get what they want - in this case bombing a hotel. Also, violence is shown by the group and they portray a certain fierceness which many local people are sacred of - Catholics and Protestants alike. This is a book of fiction, but I do not know whether things of such nature happened. I do know that there was violence in Northern Ireland and there is still some violence there, but I do not know much of the goings on of the place. This is justified for in the 80's, my parents were offered to stay at someone's house in Northern Ireland, they refused the offer in fear of trouble - bombs going off etc.




 My Cat Catch Book Rating Scale above- It was okay(2/5 cats)

 Cat Cat Rating Scale- http://minstrelcrazy.blogspot.ie/p/reviews.html

I didn't enjoy this book. I did not like Michael as a character. I felt his courageous decision was made far too late and he suffered immensely for his mistake. I think the book could of been far better convicted, if Maria was the main character - she is a strong willed, rebellious, independent character and she is what every women should want to be.

I didn't have any particular problem with the story - it was fine, but as I have somewhat stated already- it could of been such a compelling story, if only Maria was made the main character.



 

  


 

 

 

 

The Bed by Travis Mcbee

The Bed by Travis Mcbee

  

Steve isn't much for antiques. In fact, he hates them. So when he finds himself in an old antique shop taking shelter from the rain, he isn't pleased. But he finds something in there. He finds a beautiful old bed that he falls in love with and must have. But the bed is not normal, and Steve learns the hard way that sometimes you fall into things that you simply can't get up from.

This is a short story - I don't usually read short stories, but I gave this one a chance and I'm glad in doing so.

I appreciated the third person narration throughout this short story - I liked the opportunity in being able to see behind the scenes so to speak - to be the presence behind everyone's eyes instead of just Steve's eyes.

The whole theme of a furnishing or just a non living thing to have certain powers is a very fascinating theme.

It made me look at my bed in a new light - I nearly was tempted to check my bed's head board to see if I could see any peculiar markings carved into it...luckily I found known. When I was a kid, a similar outcome happened after I watched the first Toy Story animation ; I started treating my toys with much better care and made sure they were securely in their toy box or just in another room than I happened to be sleeping in...

It is short as short stories tend to be, for this reason I'm not going to give away too much and in hope that someone will be incised to read The Bed by Travis Mcbee. 

 

My Cat Catch Book Rating Scale above- It was absolutely amazing(5/5 cats)

Cat Cat Rating Scale- http://minstrelcrazy.blogspot.ie/p/reviews.html

 I tend not to read short stories often and this is my first rating of one, so I mightn't have enough experience to rate it fairly, but I feel that short stories are largely based on enjoyment and I enjoyed reading it very much.

     

 

 

 

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right?

If your brother's accused of a terrible crime but says he didn't do it, you defend him, don't you?

When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her, his world begins to fall apart.

When Ellie's brother is charged with the offense, her world begins to unravel.

When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide.

I guilty relished in reading a book which has easy-read-big print. It was nice to read something, that wasn't hard to understand and once a paragraph was read the meaning was clear.

I read this book continuously until 7:30 am, by then I was somewhat fatigued so I slept for about seven hours.Once I awoke, I kept reading until I had every single word read and absorbed for my demanding mind to process...

The book is based around the theme of rape, but also love, which blossoms from the terrible situation - that is rape. Ellie Parker's brother Tom is accused of sexually assaulting Mikey McKenzie's sister. Throughout three quarters of the book the reader's mind is battling with the details of what actually happened that night? Did Tom sexually assault the girl with the short orange mini skirt, that wore purple lipstick or is she lying? These two questions make the book so addictive...

The love aspect to the story is sad, but sweet - there are a lot of obstacles for the the young couple of  Ellie and Mickey to deal with. It is truly challenging  for them; they try to be loyal to their families, but it's hard when both of them are potentially in love with someone from the opposing team, or in this case - a member of the family on the other side of the spectrum in court.


My Cat Catch Book Rating Scale above- It was absolutely amazing(5/5 cats)

Cat Cat Rating Scale- http://minstrelcrazy.blogspot.ie/p/reviews.html

I like the realistic characters that occupy this book - the kind that live life day to day, without big explosive circumstances punching them in the gut everyday. They are believable - I felt like I could personally know these people, that they could inhabit my community without raising an eyebrow.

Out of everything that this book obtains, there is only one small thing which I found partially bothersome: The repetition of the noun bloke. Almost every male that is described in You Against Me is described by the noun bloke. This can be a problem, if the reader decides to read large quantities of the book at one time. At some point that particular noun dwindles away and is not seen again for the remainder of the book. It is a minor detail, for it is only a noun and it does go away, so no cat will be taken off my rating for this book.

Conclusion: A genuine, book-addictive book.

Dexter By Design by Jeff Lindsay

Dexter By Design by Jeff Lindsay

 

After his surprisingly glorious honeymoon in Paris, life is almost normal for Dexter Morgan. Married life seems to agree with him: he’s devoted to his bride, his stomach is full, and his homicidal hobbies are nicely under control. 

But old habits die hard--and Dexter’s work as a blood spatter analyst never fails to offer new temptations that appeal to his offbeat sense of justice...and his Dark Passenger still waits to hunt with him in the moonlight.

The discovery of a corpse (artfully displayed as a sunbather relaxing on a Miami beach chair) naturally piques Dexter’s curiosity and Miami’s finest realize they've got a terrifying new serial killer on the loose. And Dexter, of course, is back in business.

It took me slightly longer than it should have done to read this book. Why? Roughly half of the first part of the book is uneventful, with the exception of two interesting occurrences, that take up about four pages out of about one hundred and forty pages... I think a book should be addictive and hook the reader from the start; Dexter by Design does not accomplish this, but I read on nonetheless, as I have a simple expectation for Jeff Lindsay to deliver and he did.

It is a long wait, but there are a few unexpected twists - twists that bring Dexter farther afield than he would normally feel comfortable going...People trust Dexter - some of these unsuspecting people even have the same morals and perspective in life as Dexter himself has!

Dexter continues to mentor Astor and Cody - his wife Rita's children. They become impatient and want to learn more in relation to Dexter's specialty... Dexter does teach them some basic rules, but is often preoccupied with a new Dexter-threatening monster - which happens to be terrorizing Miami.

My Cat Catch Book Rating Scale above- I really liked it (4/5 cats)

Cat Cat Rating Scale- http://minstrelcrazy.blogspot.ie/p/reviews.html

I should of mentioned this before, but at least I've finally got around to it now. Jeff Lindsay has taken full advantage of the many adjectives and nouns which coordinate with Dexter's name: Delightful Dexter, Daring Dexter, the list continues...Even the titles of the books are done this way: Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Dearly Devoted Dexter, Dexter in the Dark , Dexter by Design etc. I appreciate the various titles Dexter has, for they connect the reader to the story, not to mention that each Dexter-title is exciting, descriptive and well suited to every situation Dexter finds himself in. I adore this technique which Jeff Lindsay has successfully repeated throughout the series.

 The half-a-book-worth-of-boring is why I have taken a cat off my rating for this book. Generally a reader expects a slow beginning/ introduction - maybe a chapter or two - but following the introductory chapters a worthwhile story should unfold.

On a positive note; Lindsay delivered a big satisfying twist, that saved another cat or two from being knocked off my rating. The half-a-book-worth-of-boring is almost forgotten, but not to the extent of the book being classified as absolutely amazing.