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Wolves of Dynamo
Wolves of Dynamo
Gareth S. Young | 2016 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Unsatisfying conclusion (1 more)
Flat characters
Needs a lot of polish
This book arrived unexpectedly in the mail – I believe it was from a Goodreads Giveaway, but I was never notified I’d won one. It’s even signed by the author!

I am….a little puzzled on how I feel about this book. It has a bit of a confusing, dream-like quality to it, which fits the book, but left me a little less than satisfied. It always felt like I was forgetting details, or like the book assumed I knew things about the world that I didn’t. (Much like many dreams.) The plot was unique, the characters could have used more depth, the division between forest and city was indistinct, and the conclusion was unsatisfying. It could have been very good, but I think it needs a lot more polish.

The physical book itself felt like an ARC, even though it’s not. I think it’s the simplistic cover and the typesetting. It just doesn’t feel – finished. Like much of the book. I’d give this a pass, but I might be interested in future writings by the author, if his style matures and his editor improves.
  
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
J.K. Rowling | 1998 | Children
10
9.0 (208 Ratings)
Book Rating
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#1 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3217515684">Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone</a> - ★★★★★
#2 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2371215543">Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</a> - ★★★★★
#3 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3275165909">Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</a> - ★★★★

<img src="https://diaryofdifference.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Book-Review-Banner-42.png"/>;

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is probably my favorite book in the Harry Potter series. It's the second year in Hogwarts for Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione. The year we discover many new things in the Harry Potter world.

This is the book where we meet Dobby. Also the book where we find out about Voldemort's true identity. The book in which we find out what really happened to Moaning Myrtle.

I have truly forgotten how good the beginning of the book is. Firstly, I cannot understand why Harry has to go back and stay with that awful family during the summer. I know they are his legal guardians, but they don't want him staying with them either! Then, there is Dobby, who wants Harry to not go back to Hogwarts and creates a huge mess. The best moment though, is when Ron comes to the rescue with the flying car! Because Ron knows Harry might be in trouble. And Harry's owl secret endeavours are revealed too. And I cannot help but share this moment of Hermione worrying about Harry, as well as Ron's family owl. 

<b><i>"I've been really worried and if Harry is all right, will you please let me know at once, but perhaps it would be better if you used a different owl, because I think another delivery might finish your one off."</i></b>

There is something about the Harry Potter books that I have always loved. The feeling of acceptance they give you. The inclusivity. The ability to be part of the magical world too!

<b><i>"You will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."</i></b>

Harry's curiosity is something I loved since day one.

I love the powerful friendship he has with Hermione & Ron. His bravery and his eagerness to always make things right. I love that danger doesn't scare him. And I have to admit - I also love Harry's rivalry with Malfoy! Their encounters are always a treat!

<b><i>"Honestly, if you were any slower, you'd be going backwards."</i></b>

What I loved the most about this book were the conversations between Harry and You Know Who. The moment Harry acknowledged why he is alive and why he is better.

<b><i>"How is it that a baby with no extraordinary magical talent managed to defeat the greatest wizard of all time?"

"No one knows why you lost your powers when you attacked me. I don't know myself. But I know why you couldn't kill me. Because my mother died to save me."</i></b>

And on top o all this - the moment Harry finds out why he truly belongs to Gryffindor!

<b><i>"It is out choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities."</i></b>

Truly a favorite of mine and a series I will be forever recommending.<b><i>Always!</i></b>

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SC
Sage Courage
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I liked this book. The plot was good, and I loved the characters. I had a soft spot for Storm the most. The characters seem fleshed out enough to be enjoyable even if Leila is a little over the top emotionally.

The writing and dialogue was confusing sometimes, but it didn’t happen often or at critical times, so it didn’t really take away from the story. The editing could have been a bit better. There were question marks where periods should have been. Sometimes there were periods after only one word as if it was a mistake.

The ending does seem a little rushed in trying to tie up loose ends, but it does answer some questions although I still have one unanswered question about Maria which I won’t get into due to spoilers.

All in all, this is a good read. I enjoyed it. For the most part, it was a well written story. I would definitely recommend it.

(I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway).
  
Two Can Keep a Secret
Two Can Keep a Secret
Karen M. McManus | 2019 | Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult (YA)
9
8.6 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was partially right in my assumption as to who had done it, but I don't see that as a bad thing. I was a bit taken a back as to what happened and who was behind it, but I'm not counting that as a negative thing.

I talked about McManus' debut novel, but I never reviewed it. Those were back in my days before discovering reviewing books. I did read that book in a bookclub and it was fun, but I had mixed feelings about that book. I'll have to re-read the book to really get into it, so I won't do that right now.

I felt horrible for Malcolm to have to overcome the crap that he did with his older brother, Declan. I honestly do not like how much of a pushover and weak character Malcolm and Declan's mother is. I almot feel like she was put there to say that the boys did indeed have a mother. I understood WHY she was like that and the reasoning behind it, but I felt like she didn't have much of a true purpose in the story.

The twist was unexpected, but it was a twist that was not too terribly bad. The story kept me guessing and it ended well, even gave you a bit of a 'oh wow' kind of feeling.

Like I said, I liked the story better than McManus' first novel. They aren't connected, so this isn't a series that you have to start from the beginning.

As much as I found Ellery a bit of an annoyance with her questions and constant suspicions, it was hard not to like her. She paid attention and even if she is a bit obsessed with her true crime novels, they made her aware when nobody else was, or willing to be.

I did enjoy the mystery and the turn of events in this book. Each character had a role, no matter how minor or cliche, to play in the story. Nobody was tossed aside or mentioned but never seen again. It had me guessing and definitely had me not wanting to put it down even after finishing a chapter.
  
Phantoms on the Bookshelves
Phantoms on the Bookshelves
Jacques Bonnet | 2010 | Education
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Book About Books
I am conscious that I haven't put up a read harder challenge post for a while. Honestly, I was feeling a bit intimidated of going out of my comfort zone and trying something new.

So here I am, reading a book about books.

A book about Jacques Bonnet a French literary critic who owns roughly 40,000 volumes of books. Bonnet talks about his troubles with dealing with a library that big but also about things we don't think about like categorising books, finding a home for them among many other things

Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2017/05/read-harder-book-about-books.html
  
Rebecca&#039;s Children: A saga of love and betrayal in 19th century Wales
Rebecca's Children: A saga of love and betrayal in 19th century Wales
Kate Dunn | 2019 | History & Politics
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not at all what I had expected!
Honestly, I didn't think that I was going to like this book, mainly because of the subtitle: 'love and betrayal' sounded a bit Catherine Cookson, and whilst I liked Cookson as a teenager, not so much now. BUT this is NOTHING like her books! There is a bit of romance, but I didn't find that it overwhelmed the story, and I really the historical detail fascinating. I'd never heard of the Rebecca Riots before, and I found the descriptions really interesting (and the English reaction completely unsurprising). Dare I say that I completely empathised with them?
Mary and William's story alone was interesting, but I really enjoyed the other sides to the story: the other Rebecca-ites, the Law and Mary's rather unfortunate, and slightly toe-curling, employer Hugh. There's a large cast of characters, as we meet a fair few Rebecca-ites, soldiers, policemen and politicians, but it didn't put me off or confuse me. It was all a clear, well-told, touching story. And I learnt something. So all good!
Many thanks to Sapere Books for giving me a copy of this book to read and honestly review.
  
Globe of Frogs by Robyn Hitchcock / Robyn Hitchcock &amp; The Egyptians
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"Robyn Hitchcock is another one of my songwriting heroes. He gets a special fucking prize for following his songwriting impulses better than anyone on the planet. He's so wonderfully unapologetic in his songwriting style that I think he really influenced me to remove filters. His songs often follow a kind of inner logic unto themselves. I probably got Globe of Frogs when I was 15 or 16. I look back at the music I was listening to then when I was fermenting as a songwriter, and I was obviously really influenced by the things I was listening to. Robyn Hitchcock's songwriting sort of gave me blanket permission to write about anything I wanted to – because he did. While I had my sad, emotional, poetic music off to this side, with the Cure and Leonard Cohen, Robyn Hitchcock opened up a whole world, off to the left – 'You can write about anything!' And also, like a lot of these people, he's just a fantastic songcrafter with a hooky sense of melody. I could go on and on about Robyn Hitchcock, but as far as full albums go, Globe of Frogs holds up the most, with every song being genius."

Source
  
40x40

Jamie (0 KP) rated Everless in Books

Jan 28, 2018  
Everless
Everless
Sara Holland | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
7.8 (17 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was hesitant after reading the summary, but I decided to give it a go anyway... I am so glad I did. After the first chapter I was hooked. I read it from cover to cover in one night. I will be anxiously waiting for the next book in the series!
  
Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck, Susan Shillinglaw | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
6
7.2 (50 Ratings)
Book Rating
I think I would have to read this book again as I don't think i have given it a very fair response. I was made to read this in school for english class, because of this i never really appreciated it and so one day I will come back to it.