Sorry I didn’t post last week, I have been busy with exams. This is also why I am a bit behind on my reading, but I have next week off, so hopefully I can catch up.
Books I’ve Read
Predator’s Gold
Welcome to the astounding world of Predator Cities! Emerging from its hiding place in the hills, the great Traction City is chasing a terrified little town across the wastelands. Soon London will feed. In the attack, Tom Natsworthy is flung from the speeding city with a murderous scar-faced girl. They must run for their lives through the wreckage–and face a terrifying new weapon that threatens the future of the world.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and thought it was a brilliant sequel to the first book. I thought the time gap between the two novels was interesting and added a refreshing space in the novel. Normally series have everything back-to-back, but this delay adds some realism to the world.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter’s summer has included the worst birthday ever, doomy warnings from a house-elf called Dobby, and rescue from the Dursleys by his friend Ron Weasley in a magical flying car! Back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year, Harry hears strange whispers echo through empty corridors – and then the attacks start. Students are found as though turned to stone… Dobby’s sinister predictions seem to be coming true.
The Lady of the Rivers
Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of 19, she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her household for love, and then carved out a new life for herself.
I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was well written. The gaps of time in the story made me feel like there was more to the characters lives than what you see, but that it wasn’t important. Jacquetta was sweet and a nice person to have as a protagonist. I also thought that it was intriguing that it was never properly cleared up weather the magic was real or not.
The Murder of the Links
An urgent cry for help brings Poirot to France. But he arrives too late to save his client, whose brutally stabbed body now lies face downwards in a shallow grave on a golf course.
But why is the dead man wearing his son’s overcoat? And who was the impassioned love-letter in the pocket for? Before Poirot can answer these questions, the case is turned upside down by the discovery of a second, identically murdered corpse . . .
I really enjoyed this book, the mystery was nice to read, and was a fun puzzle that I wasn’t too familiar with. I did think that, like all of Christie’s work, the mystery was well thought out, but this one was a little hard to follow. I was also slightly confused why everyone was speaking English given that most people spoke French.
Infernal Devices
The mighty engines of Anchorage have been rusted and dead for years. The derelict city no longer roams the Ice Wastes, but has settled on the edge of the land that was once America. Tom Natsworthy and Hester Shaw are happy in the safety of a static settlement, but their daughter, Wren, is desperate for adventure. When a dangerously charming submarine pirate offers her a chance to escape, Wren doesn’t think twice about leaving her home and her parents behind. But the pirate wants something in return–Wren must steal the mysterious Tin Book. To do so will ignite a conflict that could tear the whole world apart.
I thought that it was cool that there was a sixteen year gap between the stories, but thought that Hester became a lot more unlikable. I thought that this was a shame as I quite liked her before.
Trash
In an unnamed Third World country, in the not-so-distant future, three “dumpsite boys” make a living picking through the mountains of garbage on the outskirts of a large city.
One unlucky-lucky day, Raphael finds something very special and very mysterious. So mysterious that he decides to keep it, even when the city police offer a handsome reward for its return. That decision brings with it terrifying consequences, and soon the dumpsite boys must use all of their cunning and courage to stay ahead of their pursuers. It’s up to Raphael, Gardo, and Rat–boys who have no education, no parents, no homes, and no money–to solve the mystery and right a terrible wrong.
I thought that this book was great and contained many thought-provoking ideas. The idea of presenting the reality of the world to children in such a way was surprising to me at first, mainly because it wasn’t what I thought the book was going to be about. However I do think that it is a good book for all ages, and as long as children can have a place to have a proper conversation about the themes and topics afterwards, as without that this book could be disturbing to some children.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
When the Knight Bus crashes through the darkness and screeches to a halt in front of him, it’s the start of another far from ordinary year at Hogwarts for Harry Potter. Sirius Black, escaped mass-murderer and follower of Lord Voldemort, is on the run – and they say he is coming after Harry. In his first ever Divination class, Professor Trelawney sees an omen of death in Harry’s tea leaves…. But perhaps most terrifying of all are the Dementors patrolling the school grounds, with their soul-sucking kiss….
Medieval-a-thon
As evidenced, by the section above, I now an empress! Go me, now to get some skills!
The books that I was unsure about, was Predator’s Gold, as I wasn’t particularly enthralled by the series, but I thought that it was good. The first book in a series was The Lady of the Rivers. I am now a weaver.
Books I’m Currently Reading
A Darkling Plain
The great Traction City of London now lies in ruins. Once, not so long ago, it hunted other cities across the vast wastes of a devastated land. Now it is a poisonous, lifeless wreck – until Tom Natsworthy and his daughter, Wren, uncover the secret hidden in its dark heart. It’s a secret that could bring an end to the war once and for all. But as Tom and Wren risk their lives, time is running out. Far away, a dangerous child with a deadly secret of his own is making a journey that may lead to the destruction of the entire human race.
The Trial
‘Somebody must have laid false information against Josef K., for he was arrested one morning without having done anything wrong.’ From this first sentence onwards, Josef K. is on trial for his right to exist in a novel which, more than any other, is infinitely perceptive about the nature of terror.
Noughts & Crosses
Two young people are forced to make a stand in this thought-provoking look at racism and prejudice in an alternate society.
Sephy is a Cross — a member of the dark-skinned ruling class. Callum is a Nought — a “colourless” member of the underclass who were once slaves to the Crosses. The two have been friends since early childhood, but that’s as far as it can go. In their world, Noughts and Crosses simply don’t mix. Against a background of prejudice and distrust, intensely highlighted by violent terrorist activity, a romance builds between Sephy and Callum — a romance that is to lead both of them into terrible danger. Can they possibly find a way to be together?
In this gripping, stimulating and totally absorbing novel, black and white are right and wrong.
A Full Time Nerd 
Leave a Reply