Book Lists Are You Doin It Right?

A bit of a fun post today, the BBC Top 100 book list is doing the rounds again and it got me thinking about book lists in general. What do they really mean to you? are you going to read a book because it is on the list or conversely not read a book because it isn't on a list? Do you feel guilty/happy reading those "have you read these?" lists?

There are lots of different lists out there, such as book prize lists, bestseller lists, and voted by the people lists to name a few. It seems every big brand book store has its own top something list. Book lists are every where, but does that really make it a good book? or a book you would enjoy?

I remember when Dan Brown was topping lists everywhere and he was on every ones lips when it came to books. I decided to give his book a go, The Da Vinci Code, and I have to say I really didn't care for it.*Gasp* I know I said it. I just did not like his book, it failed to grab me at all.

So for me a list is more of a general guide. If I see a book has made a list I know of, I tend to think "oh how nice". But it wont sway me either way to read a book or not. I am more likely to be swayed by my book blogging friends, especially those with similar tastes, then a list. Oh and a pretty front cover, what can I say, sometimes I am just that shallow!

As for those "have you read these" lists that do the rounds, I have given up on those and stopped feeling guilty. Mostly because I realised the books on the list I haven't read, I haven't read for a reason. That reason is I just don't want to, or have no interest in it. So I don't feel bad about it any more.

Having said that I have found a few lists that are pretty good. They seem to capture a really good cross section of genres. There is literally something for everyone. From Zombies to Geisha, Queens to Aliens, Detectives to Animals. So I have listed the few lists I do keep an eye on below, unfortunately they are Aussie centric for my overseas readers.

50 Books You Can't Put Down
Is Australia's largest annual celebration of books and reading. A wide range of genres is represented in the list: adult literary and popular fiction (including crime and fantasy), adult non-fiction (including biography, history, sport and humour), and young adult and children's fiction and picture books,

Angus & Robertson Top 100
Every year readers vote on their top 100. For the 2010 list a whopping 101,655 people voted for their favorite books. Has everything from classics to contemporary fiction.

Angus & Robertson Kids Top 50
15,000 kids between the ages of 5 and 17 were polled for their favorite books for 2010. A wide range of books including Stephanie Meyer, Roald Dahl, Mem Fox, and Philip Pullman.

Are there any lists you follow?

Mockingjay (Hunger Games Book 3) by Suzanne Collins

Rating 4 out of 5Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Scholastic; 1 edition (25 Aug 2010)
ISBN-10: 1407109375
ISBN-13: 978-1407109374

First Sentence: "I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash settles on the worn leather"

Book three picks up where book two left off. The rebellion is in full swing and war is now declared.

The action is ramped up even more in this book. Lots of violence as well. Again Collins seems to balance progressing the story, with action and drama. The whole story never feels bogged down at any point. I managed to finish this off in three days and that's only because I had to go to work grrr.

I think Collins captures peoples thinking during war really well. It was interesting to see the different characters reactions to it. For instance some thought they should fight the way President Snow fought, and others thought they should preserve life. You could say the war really brings out the best and worst of people, and this story illustrates it.

There were some twists in the story line which will surprise you. Also by the end of it I was wondering if poor Katniss would survive both physically and mentally. She just cant catch a break. I actually really enjoyed Joanna as a character. Even though she is a little broken and a touch horrible, something about her was just enjoyable.

The ending - a lot of book bloggers have commented they were disappointed with the ending. They felt it was made to happy, and neat. I felt the ending was good until I got to the epilogue. The epilogue its self was fine, but not necessary. I suspect this is where the ending criticisms have come in as I felt the epilogue did not add anything to the story.

On a superficial note I much prefer the American cover to the cover released in Australia.

Other Reviews:The Eclctic Reader

Books and Musings from Downunder

Musings of a Bookish Kitty

From my Bookshelf

An Adventure in Reading

Catching Fire (Hunger Games Book 2) by Suzanne Collins

Rating: 5 out of 5
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Scholastic; 1 edition (7 Sep 2009)
ISBN-10: 1407109367
ISBN-13: 978-1407109367

Opening Sentence: "I clasp the flask between my hands even though the warmth from the tea has long since leached into the frozen air"

In Catching Fire we return to the world of Panem and continue the story of Katniss. The Hunger Games they won is long over and they are safely ensconced in the Victors Village. The only problem is the Capitol is not happy with what Katniss did, they want revenge. Katniss has a decision to make, does she fold to the Capitol's demands or does she fight?

Wow what a great second book! I couldn't put it down. I find second books in trilogies tend to be long winded and spends to much time explaining and setting up book three. Not the case with Catching Fire. It manages to finely balance expanding the story with action and excitement. I will not discuss the book in too much detail as I do not want to give the book away.

I must confess though Katniss annoyed me for about half of this book. I got a bit tired of her "oh woe is me" mantra. She just grated on my nerves even though I concede she probably had every right to it after what happened in Hunger Games. But by the second half of the book came around, Katniss was back to her old kick ass self. We do get to learn more about our favorite characters as well as get introduced to some new ones. Collins is able to make all the characters just come alive. I cant really discuss the characters with out giving anything away.

Some powerful themes are explored here. Oppression, violence, rebellion, survival, friendship, starvation, and revenge to name a few. Collins manages to address these issues with out being preachy or condemning.

There is quite a bit of violence in this book. Most of it demonstrates the worst of society and oppression. But it is there, and it is reasonably graphic. If your child is under 15 and wants to read this, perhaps read it yourself first and see if it is suitable.

To be honest don't bother reading this unless you have book three Mockingjay on standby. The book is left on a cliff hanger so you will want book three straight away to continue on with the story!

Other Reviews:Books and Musings from Down under
Ticket To Anywhere
A Buckeye Girl Reads
Musings of a Bookish Kitty

From Dust and Ashes: A Story of Liberation by Tricia Goyer

Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 477 KB
Print Length: 480 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers (January 1, 2003)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B003100UKQ


First Sentence: "Helene breathed deeply and pretended to sleep as Friedrich staggered into the darkened bedroom."

This is the tale of three people whose lives are drawn together in the aftermath of war. There is Helene a former SS wife who is abandoned by her husband, Peter the American GI in charge of liberating a concentration camp, and Michaela a Gusen concentration camp survivor. The three form an unlikely friendship which help bring them through the turbulent times of liberated Austria and the end of World War II.

The most interesting thing about this story is it is set shortly after World War II. The narrative starts as the American troops are liberating Austria and the concentration camps, which is followed by the announcement of the cessation of War in Europe. That is how the three main characters meet when the Americans stumble on a small Austrian village called St Greorgen that hides a nasty secret.

It is about rebuilding lives, and moving forward with your life. Each characters journey is different, with their own unique demons and obstacles. The book does take a bit of a strong Christian turn about midway through when one of the characters "discovers" God. While I felt it fit in with the story and era, it seemed to bury the storyline a little.

There is a little romance, and a tiny bit of action but mostly the story is drama. The story seems very well researched and you feel like you are there in the little Austrian village. At the end of the novel the author talks about the research that went into this novel which is very interesting. Goyer actually set up a website that has all the historical facts that her novel is based on (see below in extras).

I did like that the author never really seemed to take sides. She was telling the characters story, not judging what happened. Helene in particular, I thought was an interesting character. She really struggles the most in the aftermath, feeling guilty for not doing more to stop her husband and his colleagues. She is such a conflicted character you cant help but feel sorry for her. I wont say to much more as that would ruin the story.

While the book is interesting it did not really move me. The end was a little predictable which was disappointing. I never felt like cheering or booing, or even crying. To me that was a missed opportunity with this story. But as previously stated it is still interesting. If you like historical fiction and stories set in WWII I would recommend this as a read.

Extras
From Dust and Ashes website.

Grug Goes To Hospital by Ted Prior

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
ISBN: 0731814371
EAN: 9780731814374
Dimensions: 23.0 x 15.0 centimeters

First Sentence: "Grug was showing Cara how he could swing on a rope....."

Grug is a fictional character who stars in his own educational series. He is a little bush creature who explores the world around him. Each book deals with an issue or task like swimming, going to the zoo, or dancing.

In this adventure Grug falls and has to go to hospital. There he gets to play games, do drawings, and walk on crutches.

It is a basic story which helps children understand going to hospital is not a scary thing. It shows that hospital can be a good place where you go to get better.

The story is simple and the words are in a large font, this would make a good early reader book for young children.

The Grug series is a popular and charming Australian children book series (celebrating 20 years!). My 8 month old enjoyed looking at the pictures which are also simple but colourful.

Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate Book 1) by Gail Carriger

Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 473 KB
Publisher: Little Brown (September 2, 2010)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B0043VDIK6

First Sentence: "Miss Alexia Tarabotti was not enjoying her evening."

It's the 1800's and Alexia Tarabotti is soulless. A rare being born with out a soul and the natural enemy of the supernatural. If this was not enough to make her an outcast, in a world where Vampires and Werewolves are accepted, then being 26 and single with a large nose is. Strange new vampires are appearing on the scene, and old vampires and werewolves are disappearing. Can Alexia solve the mystery and save her friends?

A mix of various genres. A drop of action, a sprinkle of steam punk, a dash of supernatural, a dollop of romance, and a spoonful of mystery. Mixed together to make an interesting historical fiction story.
Carriger has done a wonderful job building this alternate world where supernatural beings are openly part of society. I enjoyed how she tied some of world history into events that happen with the supernatural beings. Also her interpretation on souls is interesting.

The book is quite humorous. Most comedy moments stemming from the rigid formality of 1800's England. Alexia is also a product of her up bring on one hand she is very rigid, conforms to societies view of her and fashion conscious, on the other hand she is intelligent, sharp tongued and brave.

My main criticism is the use of really big words. Most of them I could guess the meaning of but some had me reaching for a dictionary. This tends to frustrate me as I have to stop reading to find out what the word means. Its a minor quibble but there it is.

I couldn't stand Alexia's family. However they were not written in a particularly nice light, and to be honest I think they were in character with Victorian high society. Lord Akeldama was a delightful and flamboyant.Lord Maccon had the whole dark, dangerous going on.

An enjoyable first book in the series. Will try and see how the next book goes in the series.

Other reviews
Polishing Mud Balls
From My Bookshelf
Truth Beauty Freedom and Books

The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland

Rating: 5 out of 5
Hardcover
Publisher: Scholastic (2008)
ISBN-10: 0545172241
ISBN-13: 978-0545172240
Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 9.2 x 0.2 inches

First Sentence: "In the Jingle Jangle Jungle on a cold and rainy day, four little friends found a perfect place to play."

Love, love, loved this book.

Four friends try to find a safe place out of the rain to play, and encounter a very cranky bear. They then set about trying to make the bear happy. The writing is clear and in verse. This makes it great to read a loud and there are a few well placed illustrative roars to throw in there.

The illustrations are just beautiful. Children will delight in the pictures (so will the parents) that are vibrant and extremely detailed. The Author is also the illustrator and he did an amazing job anthropomorphising the animals and capturing their expressions, personalities and moods.

On a deeper level this book simply deal with issues like problem solving, negotiation, thinking outside the box, and most importantly caring for others. Instead of pulling a prank on the bear or getting revenge the four friends try to work out why the bear is angry and how they can cheer him up. However this is not a serious book and the words along with the pictures make it quite humorous. When the bear comes out of the cave, he looks so silly you cant help but laugh.

My 8 month old loved looking at the pictures and enjoyed the roar noises. He absolutely loved this book but I think I liked it more :) I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with young children.

Extras
Here is a youtube video of a book reading of The Very Cranky Bear

Sail Away The Ballad of Skip & Nell by Mem Fox

Rating; 4.5 out of 5
ISBN 13: 9781865049519
ISBN 10: 1865049514
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 32
Dimensions: 270 x 230mm
Released: 01/12/2006

First Sentence:

One night, beside a low camp fire,
They heard the men talk loud
About a boat race way out west
That'd make all Aussies proud

Originally written in 1986 this is another Australia specific tale from Mem Fox. This is the story of Skip and Little Nell two Dingo's from the Northern Territory who go on an adventure around Australia as they sail to a boat race in Perth.

Another wonderful children's book for Australian children. The story takes the child to nearly every state and territory in Australia (unfortunately the characters do not go to ACT as you can't sail there), and the characters are all Australian animals.

The story is lyrical and rhymes. Which makes it easy and fun to read. Mem Fox does sometimes use old out dated language like t'was. This is not a problem but you might have to explain the words to your child. It is another book that is great for reading aloud.

The illustrations are by Pamela Loft. She is a renowned Australian illustrator and has collaborated with Mem Fox for a few books. The art work in the book are bright and simple. Each character is cute and funny.

We seem to be a Mem Fox household with quite a few of her books. To be honest I dont think that is a bad thing and I have a few more of her books on my list to buy!

The Accidental Demon Slayer (Book 1) by Angie Fox

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 396 KB
Print Length: 292 pages
Publisher: Love Spell (January 21, 2009)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B002FDLNT2

First Sentence: "When I opened the door to greet my grandmother for the very first time, I'm not sure what I was expecting."

Fun and light hearted, and snigger under your breath funny in some places. It is silly and probably not the best the genre has to offer, and pretty predictable. But if you want a brain candy book to read this is it. I enjoyed it and it came in handy while on holidays.

Downloaded this book for free from kindle but I had also previously purchased the book. I passed on the physical book on and kept my free ebook.

The characters are interesting. Loved Grandma Gertie who is a biker grandmother who swears like a trooper. Pirate is cute, and provides a share of comic relief as the talking animal side kick. If a Jack Russel could talk I imagine this is almost exactly how you would expect a Jack Russell to speak. There is also the hot, spunky, paranormal love interest guy and Gerties coven who are a mixed bag of crazy.

The only thing that did annoy me was all the people Lizzie came into contact with seemed to think she should know everything about the magical world (that she previously had no idea existed), and the was surprised when she did something stupid. I understand there was a bit of a time crunch happening but was it really that hard for someone to say "drink the potion even thought there are dead squirrels and skunks in it to protect your ass"?


Don't take this book seriously and you will enjoy it.