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patchworkbunny's Reviews (2.12k)
Jimm Juree is a crime reporter, working her way to the top with national Thai newspapers until the day her mother sells up the family shop and buys a holiday resort on the Gulf of Siam. There's not a lot of news in the small fishing village she now calls home and she's soon fed up of eating fish. When two skeletons are discovered buried underground, Jimm can smell a story and begins an investigation posing as a big city reporter helping the police. Then when a monk is found dead, all the connects the two cases is the presence of a hat.
It's a real entertaining read with a cast of unusual and interesting characters there are never taken too far into farce. It's a great slice of modern Thailand, a country where tradition meets technology in every day life. There's Jimm's brother who is now her sister,embroiled in a number of internet scams and dubious websites and her body builder brother who is eternally single. Her mother who lovse the stray dogs of the neighbourhood and trying to matchmake Jimm with the less than inspiring locals.
The title is taken from a George Bush quote where he got his metaphors mixed up. Each chapter starts with a quote from the ex-president which seems odd at first but it is explained.
The author, Colin Cotterill, is an Englishman who now lives in Thailand. I think his outsider perspective is the ideal way to observe some of the idiosyncrasies of the country's way of life. I will definitely be reading more of his books).
It's a real entertaining read with a cast of unusual and interesting characters there are never taken too far into farce. It's a great slice of modern Thailand, a country where tradition meets technology in every day life. There's Jimm's brother who is now her sister,embroiled in a number of internet scams and dubious websites and her body builder brother who is eternally single. Her mother who lovse the stray dogs of the neighbourhood and trying to matchmake Jimm with the less than inspiring locals.
The title is taken from a George Bush quote where he got his metaphors mixed up. Each chapter starts with a quote from the ex-president which seems odd at first but it is explained.
The author, Colin Cotterill, is an Englishman who now lives in Thailand. I think his outsider perspective is the ideal way to observe some of the idiosyncrasies of the country's way of life. I will definitely be reading more of his books).
This instalment of the Roy Grace series is told from the viewpoints of several possible culprits as well as Grace and bounces between the present day and 1997/1998. The Shoe Man has been referred to in previous books but now we get to read the whole story. I found this one a lot more gripping that the last couple of books. The character of Sandy seems really unlikeable which doesn't seem right that Grace had been missing her so much. I thought these glimpses of her could easily have been left out as I was expecting it to cover her disappearance but didn't.
Another instalment in the Roy Grace series and I wasn't disappointed. It all starts with a horrific traffic accident, in which a young man loses his life. There are three drivers involved but only one flees the scene and it falls to Grace's team to identify the missing driver. This series never follows the standard murder investigation plot and the police manage to not get personally embroiled, which are both bonus points for me. Dead Man's Grip contains a good balance of police work, insight into the victims' lives and a dash of action.
I have always found Peter James' books to be the most believable when it comes to the police procedural aspect. Whilst the actual crimes might be a bit fair fetched, I can imagine Brighton PD to be just as described in Grace's world. If any Brighton coppers would like to correct me, please do!
I would hope that after reading this book, people may think twice about driving to work after a night out. I have known many people that will stay out later drinking and get into their cars first thing in the morning when there is no way the alcohol has left their systems. I don't drive myself, but I can't imagine even a hungover state is conducive to good reactions.
I have always found Peter James' books to be the most believable when it comes to the police procedural aspect. Whilst the actual crimes might be a bit fair fetched, I can imagine Brighton PD to be just as described in Grace's world. If any Brighton coppers would like to correct me, please do!
I would hope that after reading this book, people may think twice about driving to work after a night out. I have known many people that will stay out later drinking and get into their cars first thing in the morning when there is no way the alcohol has left their systems. I don't drive myself, but I can't imagine even a hungover state is conducive to good reactions.
Paige's mother left her when she was five years old. Now she is a mother herself could she possibly be capable of doing the same thing? She didn't plan the pregnancy and she's having trouble coping which isn't helped by the fact her husband is a busy surgeon, working his way to the top.
I can usually sit down and read a Jodi P in a day, they are so absorbing, however I struggled with Harvesting the Heart. Although it was only published in the UK last year, it is an older work which may have something to do with it. The story starts near the end and then goes back in time which ruins any kind of suspense. We know that Nicholas won't let Paige see her son so we know they got together, they had a child and she ran away all from the get go. The initial relationship between Paige and Nicholas seems a bit cliched, poor teenager leaves home and meets rich, handsome trainee doctor. Hrm.
I liked the idea that when Paige draws she sees an extra side of a person but it sort of disappeared after it had been used as a plot device to get her talking to Nicholas. I understand that she felt like she lost herself in the marriage but felt more could have been made of it. There were lots of bits and pieces that didn't seem to fit and the book was overlong.
It did pick up nearer the end, possibly because it got back to the starting point and the plot was an unknown once more. I think she does the moving back in time better in more recent books.
I can usually sit down and read a Jodi P in a day, they are so absorbing, however I struggled with Harvesting the Heart. Although it was only published in the UK last year, it is an older work which may have something to do with it. The story starts near the end and then goes back in time which ruins any kind of suspense. We know that Nicholas won't let Paige see her son so we know they got together, they had a child and she ran away all from the get go. The initial relationship between Paige and Nicholas seems a bit cliched, poor teenager leaves home and meets rich, handsome trainee doctor. Hrm.
I liked the idea that when Paige draws she sees an extra side of a person but it sort of disappeared after it had been used as a plot device to get her talking to Nicholas. I understand that she felt like she lost herself in the marriage but felt more could have been made of it. There were lots of bits and pieces that didn't seem to fit and the book was overlong.
It did pick up nearer the end, possibly because it got back to the starting point and the plot was an unknown once more. I think she does the moving back in time better in more recent books.
I was after a bit of roadtrip inspiration and picked up Dave Gorman's America Unchained off the shelves. After doing a US tour, he came home thinking he didn't like America very much but his problem was that he had only seem the soulless corporate side. He sets himself a mission to cross the country without giving any money to The Man, avoiding hotels, gas stations, cafes and shops that are part of any chain.
The journey ends up a little bit like one of those Top Gear specials where they buy old cars and they start to fall apart, except that Dave doesn't really know anything about cars. He buys a 70s Ford Torino on the west coast and the car is as much a part of the book as the social side. I've never know a trip to the mechanic to be a gripping narrative before! One thing that does stand out is how friendly and helpful folks are in the west and midwest.
Of course, it's one opinion of America from a liberal and British point of view so it may not appeal to all readers. I certainly wouldn't recommend to a Mormon because after educating himself on the religion, Dave starts to find them a little bit scary. I blame the lack of tea... what kind of religion bans tea?
It strikes me that whilst relying on mom and pop businesses in America is still just about possible, you wouldn't be able to do the same trip in the UK. Yes we have plenty of fantastic independent hotels and B&Bs and places to eat and buy food...but when was the last time you saw an indie petrol station? The big supermarket chains pretty much rule the roost here and I'm not sure what would drive an individual to even attempt to compete.
The journey ends up a little bit like one of those Top Gear specials where they buy old cars and they start to fall apart, except that Dave doesn't really know anything about cars. He buys a 70s Ford Torino on the west coast and the car is as much a part of the book as the social side. I've never know a trip to the mechanic to be a gripping narrative before! One thing that does stand out is how friendly and helpful folks are in the west and midwest.
Of course, it's one opinion of America from a liberal and British point of view so it may not appeal to all readers. I certainly wouldn't recommend to a Mormon because after educating himself on the religion, Dave starts to find them a little bit scary. I blame the lack of tea... what kind of religion bans tea?
It strikes me that whilst relying on mom and pop businesses in America is still just about possible, you wouldn't be able to do the same trip in the UK. Yes we have plenty of fantastic independent hotels and B&Bs and places to eat and buy food...but when was the last time you saw an indie petrol station? The big supermarket chains pretty much rule the roost here and I'm not sure what would drive an individual to even attempt to compete.
In the late 18th Century, the learned pig became a popular circus attraction, with the pig spelling words with cards, they could answer questions, tell the time and even read minds! The first sapient pig was Toby and this is his story. Whilst the pig was a real historical figure, this is a fictionalised account told from Toby's point of view.
The prose is written in a mock 18th Century style and the font used is even reminiscent of the worn type used at the time. If you can suspend disbelief for the length of this fairly short novel, Toby will bring a smile to your face. Of course, the real pig would never have been quite so learned and he didn't meet so many important people but history suggests that a lot of them did talk about him. At the back of the book are notes about some of the characters that did actually exist and it's an interesting historical read in some aspects. Whilst many people have written about the life of prohibition era circuses, this is where they started out, with travelling showmen and their well-trained livestock.
In 1817, a biography of Toby, The Life and Adventures of Toby, the Sapient Pig; with his opinions on men and manners was released as a pamphlet and is commented on in Pyg as fraudulent. The British Library still hold a copy of the original in their collection.
The prose is written in a mock 18th Century style and the font used is even reminiscent of the worn type used at the time. If you can suspend disbelief for the length of this fairly short novel, Toby will bring a smile to your face. Of course, the real pig would never have been quite so learned and he didn't meet so many important people but history suggests that a lot of them did talk about him. At the back of the book are notes about some of the characters that did actually exist and it's an interesting historical read in some aspects. Whilst many people have written about the life of prohibition era circuses, this is where they started out, with travelling showmen and their well-trained livestock.
In 1817, a biography of Toby, The Life and Adventures of Toby, the Sapient Pig; with his opinions on men and manners was released as a pamphlet and is commented on in Pyg as fraudulent. The British Library still hold a copy of the original in their collection.
It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.
The waters around Thisby contain more than just fish. As winter approaches, cappaill uisce, the water horses, are drawn to the beaches where only the brave will attempt to catch them. For the cappaill uisce feeds on meat and will sooner kill a man than look at him. But every November, the men of Thisby ride these dangerous creatures in the Scorpio Races. This year a girl dares to ride...
The water horses originate from the Celtic myth of the kelpies, horses that lived in the sea and would lure children into the water in order to eat them. Although the location of the fictional island of Thisby is not revealed, it's obviously modelled on the Hebridean islands off the west coast of Scotland. Stiefvater does an excellent job of bringing the island alive, from its people and community to the land itself.
Now, I like horses. I grew up reading books about horses and it may play a big part in why I loved this book. I couldn't help but think of the Jinny stories, where a girl tames a chestnut Arab in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands. Fans of Jinny will probably love this too, even if the horses are a little different. Dove is just the kind of horse I dreamed about owning myself. If you don't see the point of horses, I don't think you'll get the central concept of this story. It's not about the action of the races but about the bond between humans and horses.
The plot of down-trodden orphan boy who naturally gifted with horses, who must battle against the cruel, privileged son of the stable owner, sort of reminded me of Jilly Cooper's Riders, but without the sex. I'm sure the target audience will not know what I'm on about though and will enjoy it all the same.
I have to add, the ending was one of the best I've read this year. I could be a YA convert yet!
The waters around Thisby contain more than just fish. As winter approaches, cappaill uisce, the water horses, are drawn to the beaches where only the brave will attempt to catch them. For the cappaill uisce feeds on meat and will sooner kill a man than look at him. But every November, the men of Thisby ride these dangerous creatures in the Scorpio Races. This year a girl dares to ride...
The water horses originate from the Celtic myth of the kelpies, horses that lived in the sea and would lure children into the water in order to eat them. Although the location of the fictional island of Thisby is not revealed, it's obviously modelled on the Hebridean islands off the west coast of Scotland. Stiefvater does an excellent job of bringing the island alive, from its people and community to the land itself.
Now, I like horses. I grew up reading books about horses and it may play a big part in why I loved this book. I couldn't help but think of the Jinny stories, where a girl tames a chestnut Arab in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands. Fans of Jinny will probably love this too, even if the horses are a little different. Dove is just the kind of horse I dreamed about owning myself. If you don't see the point of horses, I don't think you'll get the central concept of this story. It's not about the action of the races but about the bond between humans and horses.
The plot of down-trodden orphan boy who naturally gifted with horses, who must battle against the cruel, privileged son of the stable owner, sort of reminded me of Jilly Cooper's Riders, but without the sex. I'm sure the target audience will not know what I'm on about though and will enjoy it all the same.
I have to add, the ending was one of the best I've read this year. I could be a YA convert yet!
"The robbery was not without consequences. The consequences were the point of the robbery."
When a man in a purple hat walks into the bank with a loaded gun, it's not money he's after but an item of sentimental value from each victim. In the days following this odd robbery, weird things start happening. A tattoo comes alive, a woman discovers she's made of candy and our narrator's wife starts slowly shrinking.
The Tiny Wife is a tiny book, really more of a novella but it's a wonderful, surreal little fable. It manages to be both whimsical and macabre at the same time with an underlying message about taking your life for granted. Not only that, but it's illustrated too, in a shadow puppet style. I must admit that it was the cover design that drew me to the book in the first place.
When a man in a purple hat walks into the bank with a loaded gun, it's not money he's after but an item of sentimental value from each victim. In the days following this odd robbery, weird things start happening. A tattoo comes alive, a woman discovers she's made of candy and our narrator's wife starts slowly shrinking.
The Tiny Wife is a tiny book, really more of a novella but it's a wonderful, surreal little fable. It manages to be both whimsical and macabre at the same time with an underlying message about taking your life for granted. Not only that, but it's illustrated too, in a shadow puppet style. I must admit that it was the cover design that drew me to the book in the first place.
When Alex convinces his parents to leave him alone for a weekend, little does he know that the world is about to change. Something crashes through the roof of his house, setting it on fire and soon the whole neighbourhood sounds like it is under siege. This is the beginning of the eruption of the super-volcano under Yellowstone National Park.
Alex makes the decision to try and find his parents who are over 100 miles away through ash and snow. The plot wanders as much as he does, going from one post-apocalyptic scenario to the next and I felt it was at least 100 pages too long. I liked the world where ash dominates every thing they do but I felt the writing style was aimed at a younger reader. Yet the content was at times rather graphic (murder, rape, cannibalism). There was a tendency for chapters to end with a dramatic statement, which works once or twice but was over-used.
I know teenage boys eat a lot but it seriously got on my nerves when Alex was describing starving when he was getting a good three meals a day. OK they were uninspiring meals out of cans but I've eaten less some days and I think my mind would be more focussed on surviving the ash-filled world than my grumbling stomach. The importance of sourcing food seemed a central concept to the book and, whilst cruel to the characters, it would have made more of an impact if they didn't seem to always have something to eat.
I was already starting to tire a little of the story when a character announced that the rest of the world was starving because of the lack of American corn after something like 8 weeks. What? I would have been more inclined to accept that the super-volcano's eruption was so immense it created ashfall across the planet. I think the supermarkets of Britain could feed the country for a year with what's in their warehouses, and the contents of my cupboards would keep me going a month. Air travel would be disrupted (remember the volcanic ash cloud we had last year?) and we probably would have to live without bananas. Yes, an eruption of the kind featured in the book would have severe long term consequences to the global climate, but we're not all going to face the same problems as the vast open country of the midwest.
I suppose it's not a bad introduction for a younger reader on the implications of natural disasters but I wanted more science or more social commentary or more something! It just fell a little flat for me. I'd have probably given it an extra star if I'd not got annoyed near the end with the “the world can't cope without America” message.
Alex makes the decision to try and find his parents who are over 100 miles away through ash and snow. The plot wanders as much as he does, going from one post-apocalyptic scenario to the next and I felt it was at least 100 pages too long. I liked the world where ash dominates every thing they do but I felt the writing style was aimed at a younger reader. Yet the content was at times rather graphic (murder, rape, cannibalism). There was a tendency for chapters to end with a dramatic statement, which works once or twice but was over-used.
I know teenage boys eat a lot but it seriously got on my nerves when Alex was describing starving when he was getting a good three meals a day. OK they were uninspiring meals out of cans but I've eaten less some days and I think my mind would be more focussed on surviving the ash-filled world than my grumbling stomach. The importance of sourcing food seemed a central concept to the book and, whilst cruel to the characters, it would have made more of an impact if they didn't seem to always have something to eat.
I was already starting to tire a little of the story when a character announced that the rest of the world was starving because of the lack of American corn after something like 8 weeks. What? I would have been more inclined to accept that the super-volcano's eruption was so immense it created ashfall across the planet. I think the supermarkets of Britain could feed the country for a year with what's in their warehouses, and the contents of my cupboards would keep me going a month. Air travel would be disrupted (remember the volcanic ash cloud we had last year?) and we probably would have to live without bananas. Yes, an eruption of the kind featured in the book would have severe long term consequences to the global climate, but we're not all going to face the same problems as the vast open country of the midwest.
I suppose it's not a bad introduction for a younger reader on the implications of natural disasters but I wanted more science or more social commentary or more something! It just fell a little flat for me. I'd have probably given it an extra star if I'd not got annoyed near the end with the “the world can't cope without America” message.
Is the sleepy Lancashire village of Sticklepond ready for Gregory Warlock's paganism and Chloe's chocolate fortunes? Chloe runs a chocolate business from her family home with Grumps (aka Gregory Warklock), a well known pagan author who has been known to worship in the buff, and her teenage half-brother who she has raised since her mother abandoned them. When they move into the village, they must overcome the prejudices of the locals and also come face to face with the past.
This review is going to be a bit different from normal because this book has a content guide, much like those on films and games. So lets take a look to see how accurate it was...
Tear-jerker
I admit to being a big crier at books and films but I ended Chocolate Wishes with completely dry eyes. Chloe cries a few times though the overall tone is far too light-hearted to make the average reader weep.
Thrills
Unless they mean naked senior citizens or a pagan party gone wrong, I don't think there's too much to thrill you.
Drama
In the basic sense, this is a drama. Some of the characters have some dramas and a few can be overly dramatic. I'll give them this one.
Love
Yes there is love, though if I told you who that would be spoiling the plot.
Sex
If I see "contains sex" on a book I'm going to think it's a bit raunchy. This will either put people off reading it or end up with leaving fans of raunch a bit disappointed. Whilst some characters do have sex during the unfolding of the story, it's not descriptive, more of, they fell into bed...fade to morning.
Humour
Whilst not laugh out loud funny, it is one of those sweetly humourous reads. Life can certainly be a bit different in villages and I think some of the caricatures will ring true.
Friendship
Like all good chick-lit books, the central character has good close friends that share her trials and tribulations and sometimes make things worse.
Exclusive chocolate recipes
Not all that exciting, a chocolate spread which is a basic ganache and how to make your own easter eggs.
I'll add, I thought the cover blurb gave too much away, with what I call a mid-story spoiler. It's not the ending given away but something that happens at least half way through. I think I'd prefer a few mysterious sentences and a content guide over a spoiler any day, though they could work on being more accurate.
This review is going to be a bit different from normal because this book has a content guide, much like those on films and games. So lets take a look to see how accurate it was...
Tear-jerker
I admit to being a big crier at books and films but I ended Chocolate Wishes with completely dry eyes. Chloe cries a few times though the overall tone is far too light-hearted to make the average reader weep.
Thrills
Unless they mean naked senior citizens or a pagan party gone wrong, I don't think there's too much to thrill you.
Drama
In the basic sense, this is a drama. Some of the characters have some dramas and a few can be overly dramatic. I'll give them this one.
Love
Yes there is love, though if I told you who that would be spoiling the plot.
Sex
If I see "contains sex" on a book I'm going to think it's a bit raunchy. This will either put people off reading it or end up with leaving fans of raunch a bit disappointed. Whilst some characters do have sex during the unfolding of the story, it's not descriptive, more of, they fell into bed...fade to morning.
Humour
Whilst not laugh out loud funny, it is one of those sweetly humourous reads. Life can certainly be a bit different in villages and I think some of the caricatures will ring true.
Friendship
Like all good chick-lit books, the central character has good close friends that share her trials and tribulations and sometimes make things worse.
Exclusive chocolate recipes
Not all that exciting, a chocolate spread which is a basic ganache and how to make your own easter eggs.
I'll add, I thought the cover blurb gave too much away, with what I call a mid-story spoiler. It's not the ending given away but something that happens at least half way through. I think I'd prefer a few mysterious sentences and a content guide over a spoiler any day, though they could work on being more accurate.