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Louise (64 KP) rated Concentr8 in Books

Jul 2, 2018  
C
Concentr8
2
3.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is set in London in a society where Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is on the rise. Ritalin is a drug that is used to calm children/teens with ADHD, however there is a new wonder drug Concentr8 which has the same desired effects but better and cheaper

The concentr8 program has been abandoned! as a result London is in chaos with riots, looting, and fires.

The novel starts off with 5 teenagers Blaze, Troy, Femi, Lee and Karen, on a whim they to decide to kidnap an employee from the Mayors offices and tie him to a radiator, but they don't really know why. It just happens.

I hadn't heard much about this book or the author when I requested it and the synopsis intrigued me or maybe it was the blinding yellow of the book that drew me in (who knows).

I really didn't like the writing style of this book, every chapter was told by a different person and because they were so short, I had to go back to remind myself who the narrator was. I have never seen writing like this before either, the words are mashed together, eg <b>"It's like all your lifeyou knowwhat's fantasyand whats solid..."</b> It is
like this throughout the book and I had to make sure what i was reading as could be confusing at times.There are lack of comma's, full stops and pretty appalling grammar with thick London accents.

So I researched ADHD and some of the symptoms are impulsiveness, little or no sense of danger, excessive talking, unable to concentrate, short attention span and many more. Which does come across in the characters.

This is one of the mental health issues that hasn't really be discussed in books that much and I was looking forward to it being touched upon. There are also excerpts in every chapter that has been taken from real life twitter accounts, magazines and other sources regarding Ritalin.

The book is very thought-provoking about ADHD, medications that are used, their side effects and diagnosis.

If you are interested in Mental Health and diverse books then have a look.

I personally didn't enjoy this book but made myself finish it (DNF is a rarity)
  
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Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Hidden in Books

Jan 15, 2018  
H
Hidden
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book was a giveaway win with an interesting story... Amazon shipped the wrong book initially so I ended up with 2 books with the same title. Lola Fortunately the real book was worth the wait (even though the correction to the shipping issue didn't take too long.)
This book follows 2 separate families in 2 different towns both named Springfield. Tish & Jeff work for the same company but live in different Springfields. They have a chance encounter at a company retreat where their spouses are also with them. This leads to a blossoming friendship & eventually deeper feelings. They both have difficult marriages. Then 1 day tragedy strikes as Jeff is walking home. This tragedy leads to all kinds of soul searching & secrets coming to light.
Each chapter is told from the perspective of 1 of the characters involved in the real life drama. This puts a nice spin on the narrative as holes are gradually filled in through each characters stories. The end was not entirely unexpected, but it was fitting. It leaves the reading questioning whether or not you really know what's going on in your life.
  
The Crown Tower (The Riyria Chronicles, #1)
The Crown Tower (The Riyria Chronicles, #1)
Michael J. Sullivan | 2013 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I read the Riyria Revelations, then I thought I would wait a while before reading this book. I mean, it's reasonable to take a break after six volumes in a universe, right? But I did have a sample chapter, just sitting there in the Kindle app. Just. Sitting. It wouldn't really hurt to just take a peek, would it?

I think you know what happened next. In a few minutes, there was less money in my bank account, but I had the full novel in my greedy hands, so I could get on with learning how Royce and Hadrian met. I read far more slowly this time, taking more time to savor the story. I know all too well that there's only one more novel available at the moment, and I'm trying to make myself wait for that one. Trying is the operative word, here. I enjoy Sullivan's work far too much to be very disciplined about it.

I absolutely recommend ALL of the books, but I do think it might be best to read them in the order in which they were published.
  
TB
The Blooding (Matthew Hawkwood, #5)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The most recent book (at the time of writing) in [a:James McGee|223959|James McGee|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1389430491p2/223959.jpg] Matthew Hawkwood series, this is primarily set during the 'forgotten war' of 1812 between Great Britain and the fledgling USA, with Hawkwood newly arrived in the country while trying to get home to London from his escapades in France in the previous novel ([b:Rebellion|11254850|Seeds of Rebellion (Beyonders, #2)|Brandon Mull|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388247992s/11254850.jpg|16181497]).

I say mostly as, for approximately the first half, the novel actually flits back and forth - almost chapter about - between current events and those of Hawkwood's childhood (also in the States).

I also have to say that, as the series has progressed, it has seemingly moved further and further away from it's original Bow Street Runner in the Regency period: moving closer, perhaps, in mold (IMO) to the classic Sharpe stories of Bernard Cornwell, and - as a consequence - becoming in danger of losing it's own flavour that originally made it stand out.

Having said that, however, this - I felt - was an improvement on the previous book, which I personally struggled somewhat to connect with.
  
The Night Circus
The Night Circus
Erin Morgenstern | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.1 (106 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Night Circus is a book I have been intending to read for quite some time. I will start by saying the book is not quite what I expected. Actually I know don’t really know what I expected from this book. I will start by saying I found the first 30-40% of the book quite confusing, dull and at times I contemplated giving up on it completely. The time changes for each chapter whilst confusing at first did become easier to decipher as I learnt the time sequences I was switching between.

This book is worth persevering with as once the dull start is past what you’re left with is actually a beautifully enchanting story. Love and magic in its most subtle forms developing gradually. I fell in love with the elements of the circus and the way they were described, it is almost sad that the place does not exist, that there is no possibility of attending.

This is a book, I think you will come to love if you get past the rocky beginning. Would recommend to people who like me don’t give up on books and read them until they are finished.
  
Lord of Misrule (The Morganville Vampires, #5)
Lord of Misrule (The Morganville Vampires, #5)
Rachel Caine | 2009 | Horror
7
8.1 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans coexist in (relatively) bloodless harmony. Then comes Bishop, a master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of the evil undead, and let chaos rule. But Bishop isn’t the only threat.
Violent black clouds promise a storm of devastating proportions. As student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against the elements - both natural and unnatural- the unexpected happens; Morganville’s vampires start to vanish one by one. Discovering why leads Claire to one last choice: swear allegiance to Bishop... or die.

As the fifth book in the Morganville series by Rachel Caine, the main characters and their relationships are well and truly established. True to form Lord of Misrule is well written, the storyline flows from point to point and continues to surprise and encourage you to want more. I always find these books to be an easy and enjoyable read, not too taxing or time consuming, but still give the reader what they need. I did find there were perhaps too many things going on in this chapter of the series, but perhaps all will be revealed in book 6.