Book Review - End Specialist - Drew Magary

The End Specialist by Drew Magary

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed by Tarran Jones

This book was interesting. 

It is the year 2019. The cure for ageing has been discovered. If you get the cure, you will never suffer from the ache and pains of the old, you will always retain your youthful looks and you will never leave your loved ones behind. Do you get the cure?

The book opens with a warning. Recordings have been found about the years when the cure for ageing was discovered. In this world, you can still die of disease, murder etc - just not old age. Unseen footage and notes from a man called John Farrell. You follow John's very long life as he takes the cure and watches all he loves turn to dust. A very moving and disturbing tale for you can actually see where the world would end up if there really was a cure for ageing. There are Peter Pan babies (babies who were given the cure and will be forever babies) Cycle marriages, Birth date tattoos. It opens up the question,is mankind really ready for long lives and what damage would be done to the planet if we were?

A thought provoking book that I enojyed. I wouldn't classify it as a fantasy or even paranormal novel. It is a well written fiction based on what if. This is due to come out 29/09/2011 in Australia. A great read for bookclubs.

View all my reviews

Book Review - Sailor V & Sailor Moon - Naoko Takeuchi

Codename: Sailor V, Volume 1 by Naoko Takeuchi

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first time Sailor V has been released into the West.

It tells the story of Minako Aino who was chosen to become a Pretty Guardian to protect the planet BEFORE Sailor Moon was chosen. She is Sailor Venus and is a crime fighting, idol chasing slacker who is similar to Usagi (Sailor Moon).

This is a great series and I can't wait for volume 2 to be released!! If you like Sailor Moon, then read Sailor V!

View all my reviews

美少女戦士セーラームーン 1 (新装版) (Bishōjo Senshi Sērāmūn) by Naoko Takeuchi

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have loved this series since I was 12 and I am now 28. In fact you could say I am obsessed hahaha. The manga of Sailor Moon has been out of print for years and isn't avaliable outside of Japan. When I heard they were FINALLY re releasing it, I was so excited - and I wasn't disapointed!! The Managa has all the story, beauty and magic of the very orginals and I really loved it. If you like Manga, then I suggest you run and get it.

Fantastic!

View all my reviews

What Books Make You Tick?

What books make you tick?

How do you find your genre? What is it that draws you to a particular author? Do you get adventurous and try different books?

When I was younger I would only read fantasy and history books (very limited). Working in a bookstore has opened my eyes to many books I would love to read as well as reading books that I can’t stand. Now I love to read my fantasy & history – but also Y/A, conspiracy thrillers and sometimes a bit of chick lit. 

One book that I read and loved was ‘Daughter of Smoke and Bone’ by Laini Taylor (which is due in October 2011) that had a wide sweeping story, colourful descriptions and wonderful characters. A fantastic book- one which I can’t wait to be released. Then there are other books like a Lora Leigh I read recently. I love Lora Leigh, but this one just didn’t do it for me. Sometimes it is a bit of hit and miss. My reps come in with a book they rave about and they desperately want you to like it, no they want you to love it. I hate disappointing them when I can’t get into it, but it is great to see their faces light up when you turn out to love it as well.  

 

One book which was a turning point in my life was ‘The Neverending Story’ by Michael Ende. This book changed my life. I got to thinking what if? What if there is a universe for each book that is written and its story is being played out somewhere. A bit farfetched, but it was these questions that opened my eyes for the magic of books. Imagination is the key to a healthy happy existence and books provide that. Sometimes you wonder about the authors who write certain books haha but each novel has its place in the world (even the bad ones)   

So my question to you is this.

What books make you tick? How did they change your life and was there a particular one that just did it for you?

Book Review - Dangerous Pleasure - Lora Leigh

Dangerous Pleasure by Lora Leigh

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I think I am over Lora Leigh for a while. Her books used to be so thrilling and different. This book didn't do it for me. I feel bad saying this as I have previously liked the majority of her books and feel I should like this one. The storyline was good, the characters flowed. Yet it still felt fragmented. There was one part where the characters are doing something then BAM they are suddenly on the run. Loud rock music was plaing in the story (to what end I don't know) and it just wasn't explained well enough.

This book is the story of Paige and Abram Mustafa - half brother to Khalid (Khalid is brother to Paige on her mother's side.) Abram Mustafa will face the most dangerous test of his life. And his heart. When his father kidnaps Khalid's beloved half sister by his mother, and brings her to his Saudi village as a hostage against his son's defection, Abram knows his plans for escape from the terrorist occupied home he's known since his childhood, have suddenly become more imperative than ever before.

Parts of it were okay but all in all, I didn't connect with the story.

View all my reviews

Kim Falconer and Castle Plaza Bookshop – A Virtual Signing this Thursday!

 

On Thursday, September 15, between 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm something new is happening.  We’re calling it a virtual signing, an innovation thanks to global technology, the internet and great minds thinking alike.

In one reality, this event will be held at 

Castle Plaza Bookshop
Shop T54 Castle Plaza, 992 South Rd Edwarstown
Adelaide, South Australia.

In another reality, it will be held wherever you are –  anywhere in the entire time space continuum that has a computer and a phone line.

The Virtual Signing is a way for readers to connect with their favourite authors, chat, ask questions, share revelations and get a signed copy of their latest book. Not so new an idea? It is when you take into account the author may be thousands of kilometres away from said reader.

Castle Plaza books, (and perhaps a book store nearer you), are bringing  authors and readers together who can’t physically make it into the store for signings. Instead, they will be having a Skype session at the store! You walk in, browse the bookshelf, select the next book in the series you’re after and sit down in front of the shop computer to chat, face to face in real time, with Kim. She will sign a bookplate (by cover artist Aaron Briggs) just for you that comes with your purchase while chatting about all things Earth and Gaela!

Not in the area to get your book? You can still SKYPE on the conference line and not miss out!

We say: The first Skype signing will be with the lovely Kim Falconer. All of Kim’s books will be available to purchase on the day and she will be sending out signed bookplates to be put into the books or you can pick up one pre-signed on the day!
Kim is the author of the Quantum  Enchantment and the Quantum Encryption series. Her new book ‘Journey by Night‘ is out September 1, 2011. Voyager Books, Imprint of Harper Collins is also hosting fantastic blog posts from various Voyager authors so go check them out.