I came across 'A Load Of old Bones: An Unfortunate Murder' by Suzette A.Hill randomly in footscray library and was immediately amused by the front cover (I mean it's a cat and dog looking at a leg sticking out of the ground for God's sake). There were a few positive comments on the cover so I decided to give the book a read. Fortunately I really enjoyed this book.

The story is told from the point of view of three characters; Maurice the cat, Bouncer the dog and Reverend Francis Oughterard (F.O). You'd probably find that odd especially since there are talking animals involved but hey that's what made the book even more delightful. The story is set in 1957 in a quiet, little village where F.O is in charge of the parish there. The peace is disrupted when an unexpected murder occurs which turns the lives of those three characters upside down especially F.O in more ways than you would have thought. The three characters come to live together at first to F.O's annoyance, however what he doesn't realise is that they are more clever then he thought and are the ones protecting his ass and theirs too. I tried to write that without revealing too much.

At first it was a bit difficult to understand since it's written in a kind of old fashioned style with lots of fancy words but I got used to it all after awhile. The book is full of wit that would keep you amused. There are a few twists here and there so it's not one of those predictable stories. It's really different to any book I have read which is a nice change. It is strange but in a good way.

I give this book 4.2/5 old bones. Apparently there is a sequel to this which I will try to get my hands on.Read more...

Dear readers, we haven't forgotten about vampires have we? I know Young Dracula may be too childish for you, the teen vampire genre too trashy and you'd rather stake yourself than get through Bram Stoker. The answer lies in Elizabeth Kostova's elegantly written The Historian. It is a very long book but the kind you want to continue for much longer. It is a very well researched book, seeped in vampire lore and history. It'll take you from modern day Oxford to the Ottoman Empire and Transylvania, all described vividly enough to make you want to go visit the places. The historical perspective on vampires is very interesting and fuses the novel with some real meat.

The scholarly overtones with many references to libraries, various librarians, ancient documents and classic languages such as sanskrit, latin and greek renders the vampire legend very real and very chilling. The presence of Dracula looms broodingly as the main character, a teenage girl, slowly uncovers the secrets.  The plot is too complicated to try and summarise but you'd rather discover it for yourself, wouldn't you?

Readers who enjoy vampires, mystery, historical, gothic, horror or something fantastic to lounge about reading for hours during holidays won't be disappointed. 

There are no repetitious descriptions of hot-guy-vampires. Indeed, this literary thriller may require some brain activity and garlic garlands against the undead.

(Feel free to borrow from me and pass on.) Read more...

The writing style of this novel is poor, as is this review! The Bride Stripped Bare conveys a story about a woman who believes that her husband is cheating on her, yet unable to leave because of her financial dependency on the cheating scum (I have no sympathy for people who cheat nor those who stay with cheaters). Through her struggles to accept what her husband has done, she seeks revenge by running around and sleeping with a bunch of people...yeah...i know...what a way to get revenge!

Some critics of The Bride Stripped Bare would say that this novel is about the liberation of sexuality for women, others (myself included) would say that this novel is borderline soft-core pornography for the chick-lit genre. Having said that i thoroughly enjoyed this novel, it was definitely a page turner. The scenes in the novel are rather explicit and graphical, so do not read if you feel uncomfortable about this kind of thing. The way the author describes the scenes are rather blunt yet descriptive, and you can definitely learn a few things from this novel!

I think this could be a novel for both genders, as there is a section in the novel called, "what we like, what we don't like and what we love". Yes, it's about what most women do and do not like in bed! So all males should definitely read it!

A lesson that I've taken from reading this novel is to never be financially dependent on anyone other than my parents! Even though that isn't the moral of the story (I'm not even sure if this novel intended a moral, it was marketed as a novel about the exploration of sexual desire). Another marketing gimmick that this novel had attached to itself, was that the author published the novel under anonymous. I suppose it was to create a mysterious bubble around this novel, and it worked! It gained a lot of publicity and eventually the author was ousted by media. It made it hard for me to find the book when it was recommended by a friend though!

I suggest listening to Not Fair by Lily Allen, not only is it an awesome song but reminds me of the character Cole (Cheating Husband).

(NOTE: It's been a few years since I've read this novel and this review is based on what I remember...which isn't much!) Read more...

I have it in my hand, sitting, as the Earth clings to me with fear. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, I glean from the jacket. His name is Dave Eggers, it's about him. My first few movements, callow trepid steps, the peek under book's cover, the eyes which widen at the sight; and it's coming. Nighttime, darkness and I'm flicking through it. While fireflies, they'd skip across the surface of each turning page; illuminate lines for me. Then a mighty gale, it comes to sweep us away, me and my hardbound friend. I watch on helplessly as pages whoosh by, turning vigorously, and I have to hold onto my hat and scarf so that they won't fly away. My eyes, my dazzling dancing eyes, dashing madly, back and forward, left to right then miraculously back at left again, trying to keep up. Until, as sudden as it had started, the wind dies, and all but a single page remains. All but an inky half filled page – evaporating! Line by line, letter by letter, going, going, oh it's gone!

...(Confess confess, to nonsense.)

I am not an avid reader. Last year I read one book. The year prior to that: none. This year, I am handed a hardcover by someone dear - a hefty, four hundred page tome - and I set about reading it with fears of half-finishing. Within a week fears vanish...

Awash with humor, poignancy, gimmickry, motley bindings of adjective effortlessness and ever growing self-referentiality: Eggers' memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, indeed, bears no misnomer. It is steeped in detail: the title could, alone, be kept afloat simply by weight of ideas. And for the most part, the experimentation is not only impressive, it is genius, genre-breaking prose.

Within the first few pages, Eggers has already modestly, or in some cases, honestly, outlined pages and chapters not worth reading, has told us that some of the events of the book have been fictionalized or chronologically rearranged (being his right as an American), and has shared disapproval over our abandonment of Pluto: "[the author] wishes, on the basis of his own casual research and faith, to reassert Pluto's planethood. Why did we do this to Pluto? We had it good with Pluto."

The story moves quickly. For all the tragic elements here: the sudden deaths of loved ones, the raising of a younger brother, and solipsistic struggle; the memoir is, more often than not, blithe, irreverent, and wonderfully truthful. What Eggers deems "The Painfully, Endlessly, Self-Conscious Book Aspect", that being, sections of the book in which he is all too aware it is being read, is all too conscious of what the reader is thinking, is not accustomed to any 'fourth wall', are simply sublime. Great artistic liberties are taken, characters, as it were, break character, igniting otherwise common exchanges. Eggers' device is gratuitous, often revelatory: at one instance, cheekily concluding that those who are not self-obsessed, that do not find themselves interesting enough to obsess over, mustn’t be very interesting people.

And as the book culminates through its final manic-depressive gasps, we see that for all Eggers' self-destructive magic, it is his relationship with younger brother Toph that provides grounding for his most compelling emotional clinches. It's an adventure through a majestic and surreal, sun-drenched, and utterly unadulterated youth. A place where time shrinks and stretches, where the Californian shoreline extends forever, where the worth of an apartment is dictated solely by its containing stretches of polished floorboard – area fit for sliding across whilst wearing woolen socks.

In shorts, there's a lot to like about this book. In pants (terrible!), I probably should have said that to begin with. That probably would have been a lot less painful for the both of us. In fact, you're probably very annoyed with me, especially if you had bothered to read this far. Will redemption be granted if I offer gifts? And what if said gifts aren't tangible?

I grant you (and this book) 4/5 ducks! Quack! (Don't eat them)... (Seriously, don't!!)Read more...

I adore Kermit the frog, I think he is simply fantabulous!!! So when I found out he had written a book I just had to read it. The title ‘Before You Leap: A Frog’s-Eye View of Life’s Greatest Lessons’ is pretty damn straight forward on what the book is about but it is more than just some book that gives advice. The book is divided into two parts. The first part is an autobiography of Kermit’s life from birth to where he is today with the Muppets. The second part which is the majority of the book is what we expected; Kermit’s advice on life from his experiences.

I would describe the book as humorous and very quirky but at the same time informative. I really enjoyed reading this book and not just because I’m a big fan of Kermit. His autobiography is really an interesting read and it’s encouraging to know that hard work and not giving up is how he became the world famous frog he is today. One thing I found amusing is that he usually makes little witty comments after writing something. Eg. Everyone knows that a swamp is an amazing ecosystem overflowing with all the flora and fauna you can shake a stick at – if that’s your idea of a good time. Hehehe.

When I said it is more than an advice book I really meant it. Some of the stuff written isn’t really advice but just random information to make you smile. So don’t rely on this book to solve all your problems or as a way out of your midlife crisis. However as it is located in the self help section at Borders it does contain useful information. Kermit gives simple advice that you can apply in your everyday life on issues such as love, money, friendship etc. He does this in his usual lovable, goofy way which is much better than being a serious stiff about it.

Something else I liked is that the whole book is not just about Kermit, it reveals the rest of the Muppets especially Miss Piggy. Through Kermit’s descriptions and actual dialogue, we get to see the other Muppets’ opinions and how crazy but likeable they are.

A plus of the book is that it isn’t an enormous, two thousand page, black and white book with microscopic font. The book is 224 pages filled with lots of lovely photos and the font isn’t all the same which makes it even better. So if you’re not a fan of reading then you can just be entertained by all the pretty pictures.

This book is for people who want some fun encouragement for their life or if like me simply enjoy humour with a bit of craziness on the side. Even if you’re not a fan of Kermit I recommend you read this book. As Kermit said, So let’s turn the page and get things started! YAAAAY!
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Cecilia's first ever novel P.S, I Love You (first published in 2004), became an international bestseller AND THEN was adapted into a film (released in 2007)! So it must be good right? Right?? I will discuss this, review both the novel and the movie and compare the two.

But firstly I'll give you a little run down of what P.S, I Love You is even about. We follow the story of Holly Kennedy and her perfect husband Gerry. Despite Holly's dislikes of every workplace she has been to and the quarrels with her husband, Holly's life is perfect because of her perfect Gerry. If the beginning starts out this happy, then you must expect impending horribles.
Yes, Gerry DIES.
So now Holly barley copes with her life and everything is a mess until she receives mysterious letters from her perfect and dead Gerry. This is a story about Holly's coping and about crazy families and friends.

This is for those who like to read/watch romance, love and the struggles of ordinary people going through life. If you like action or the supernatural, sorry there's none in here.

A nice heartfelt storyline so far. But how was this story depicted in the novel and the movie? Quite often people would say to movies that have been adapted from a novel would say "OMG this movie SUCKS!!!, the novel was SO MUCH BETTER". What people say is so VERY true in this case for P.S, I Love You.
"But whyyyyyyyyyyy???" You may whine... "I can't be eff-ed and bothered in reading the book, I'd rather torture myself through ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX minutes than read the book!" you may sulk. But I assure you the novel owns the movie 'FO SHO.

The movie cuts out a huge GUNK out of the novel. So much happens in the novel!! Though,I can understand why they must do so due to the associated limitations of being on screen. HOWEVER consequently, I felt that the characters DIED in personality. The potentials of seeing the characters grow and evolve is completly obliterated. The extra warm fuzzies/sentimental scenes are erased and IMPORTANT CHARACTERS WERE WIPED OFF COMPLETELY. By watching the movie, you miss out on Holly's large crazy family. I thought they had a HUGE influence on her character but no, the movie leaves them out. The movie depicts Holly as plain, boring and typical.

As you probably could have guessed, I was so disappointed in the movie. Holly played by Hilary Swank was even more so shameful. Sure she is pretty but she is NOT how Holly was suppose to be. I mean, Holly was meant to sing badly. And I mean REEEEALLY badly!! In the movie though, she sung pretty good! She sings better than me anyways and that's not how it is suppose to be. That's ANOTHER black mark on you P.S, I Love You the MOVIE! Though it isn't just Hilary that was a disgrace. Pretty much every other character is. The sister was not crazy enough, the friends were not pushy and witty enough and the mother was not wise nor motherly enough. Perhaps a character that stayed true to the novel was possibly Gerry. Their lack of building their chacracters made the entire movie and its charm suffer.

What I also disliked about the movie was their so-called "creative added scenes". Were they trying to make up for cutting out SO MUCH from the book? An added character played by that SUPERNATURAL daddy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, How Holly and Gerry met...and what the heck? A funeral in a pub! Was it suppose to be funny? I'm not even smiling. Added oomphs in its sentiments? More like extra CRAP... in the face!

All in all, if you want a heartfelt story, a story you could laugh, cry, and sigh...please PLEASE save yourself 126 minutes and just read the novel. I did cry reading it (but I do cry easily..). I assure you will FEEL MORE EMOTION than watching the movie. Read the book! It isn't even chunky!

The Chicken rates P.S, I Love You the novel:


The Chicken rates P.S, I Love You the movie:


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This novel would have to be one of my favourites and is probably the one that made me fall in love with the romance genre. It is definitely worth the time and would have you weeping for the love, joy and wretchedness of it all!

However, the main male character in this novel may seem like someone who stems from reality, do not be fooled! Or you'll be disappointed once reality has returned to your senses! This is the downfall of reading any of Sparks novels, the characters aren't perfect, which may make you feel hopeful in reality. As in the characters were "jerks" in the past but changed when they meet the main female character, let me just say that it definitely DOES NOT HAPPEN!

For message in a bottle, I give it 5/5 stars. Worth the read, worth having in your book collection. I've read the book about 3-4 times, every time I end up distraught and sobbing hysterically! I love this novel most ardently. The movie version isn't that bad either (I cried watching the movie too!).

-VeebleRead more...