Amy’s Comments (group member since Dec 31, 2013)

Amy’s comments from the Challenge: 50 Books group.

✔ 12. Book of Everything


Completed 28 March

This is the perfect gift book - mildly informative, slightly random with lots of colourful diagrams and funny asides. I immediately liked the book as soon as I saw the map of the world upside down. It was the first time I had ever seen it drawn from that perspective and it made me realise how different the world can look if you want to see it from another point of view. Turn everything upside down and see just how interesting they look!

I also enjoyed the chapters on how to deliver a baby (where step 1 was to make sure you clean your hands - like that's the first thing you would do in such an emergency) and the chapter showing different animal paw prints and their size relative to each other (note to self: bears are really big). Despite the book obviously not covering absolutely everything, there was enough in there to keep me entertained for a week, which is why it deserves 2.5 stars.

Overall rating: ★★1/2

✔ 11. The Way We Were


Completed 14 March

I can't believe how long this book was...and seriously, all for nothing! This isn't your typical girl gets boy and lives happily ever after story (as the cover makes you believe), but neither is it a deep and insightful "oh look world, I've found myself" Bridget Jones type of novel either.

The book centres around Suzannah and the loves of her life - her best friend Amelia (who really should be the main character) and the boy across the common, Rob. Suzannah and Rob were high school sweet hearts until drunken stupidity breaks them up at 18 (very typical). Fast-forward 20-ish years and Suzannah is in a loveless, toxic relationship after a failed marriage. As everyone around her looks unbelievably happy, Suzannah feels like an epic failure of a human being (as we all do, depending on the day). She glimpses Rob at her brother's wedding, which provokes a million flashbacks - from her perspective as well as other random characters.
Rob and Suzannah evidently still have strong feelings for each other - albeit because they never consummated their 'love' while they were teens - but now that they are nearly 40, there are a lot more obstacles in the way.

This book is so tragic. I honestly don't know why anyone would read a book that goes on for 450 pages and doesn't actually reveal anything momentous or particularly emotional (but I guess nobody ever knows that until the end)...which is why I'm telling you not to waste your time. The one line I remember from the book is '...your time has passed Suzannah...' Geez, depressing much?

Overall rating: ★

✔ 10. Hana's Suitcase: A True Story


Completed 7 March

An amazing, simple story about the short life of a little girl called Hana - who sadly passed away in Auschwitz. Her suitcase makes it into a Japanese holocaust museum 60 years later, where a teacher receives multiple requests from curious young students to find out more about its owner. Guided by luck, with some unforgiving persistence and an internal desire to discover the truth, the quest to reveal the mystery of the suitcase slowly unfolds.

The sad truth is that Hana's story is just one of the many millions who suffered through the Nazi regime. The story is a wonderful tribute to Hana's memory and is a great book to introduce children to the real life effects of Hitler's reign on Jewish citizens and the terrible consequences of racial discrimination. The photos (taken from the documentary by the same name) were a great addition to the story.

Overall rating: ★★1/2

✔ 9. The Shadow Of A Smile



Completed 2 March

With this book, I thought I would move away from my usual book choices (which have ranged from classics to sappy romances so far), and try a book that would stretch my imagination a little bit more - without delving into the realm of fantasy. Unfortunately I felt that there was too much of a cultural gap in this book, with huge differences in customs of Nigeria compared to the rest of the Western world. The corruption, the conditions, and the legal systems were all too foreign and almost unbelievable.

I felt that the author gave no context as to when the story is set, or why the country was run the way that it was. There was almost no point to the novel, except to point out how important money is in such a corrupt country. If you don't ever want to be wrongly accused of a crime and be imprisoned for the rest of your life, you better have some rich friends. The lack of context and the fact that I couldn't relate to any of the characters is why I have rated this book so low.

Overall rating: ★1/2

✔ 8. The Lovely Bones



Completed 16 February

This was a beautifully written book about a horrible crime. It's disturbing to even consider that people like George Harvey exist in the world, but the reality is that pedophilic, serial killers are not as uncommon as we would all like.

The story is slightly fantastical, especially towards the end, but there was vivid, eerily beautiful imagery of heaven being everything you make it. I like thinking of heaven being a place where those we've lost can look over us. I finished the book in 3 days, refused to put it down and dealt with my sleep deprivation over the weekend.

The book is slightly gruesome, because of the way Susie dies, but the way in which the characters' lives are explored as they cope in their different ways with the murder was compelling.

A quick easy read, probably best over a weekend. The author's use of simple, matter-of-fact language and statements of blunt facts (the elbow detail comes to mind) meant that she didn't have to resort to exploiting the reader's emotions. I didn't cry once, but it definitely felt sad, scared, disgusted, relieved and finally satisfied.

Overall rating: ★★★★

✔ 7. Bittersweet


Completed 13 February

A tale of two sisters that really hit home for me - the way they knew exactly how to annoy each other, the arguments and their undying and enduring love for each other reminded me of the relationship I have with my own, dear, little sister.

Set around Sabrina's wedding to her seemingly perfect investment banker groom, this story is filled with enough twists and turns to keep it exciting, but also has some sappy, romantic, cliqued moments to keep it firmly in the "Great Beach/Summer Reads" section of the book store.

I would recommend it if you have a hidden (or not so hidden) love of elaborate, fairytale weddings (there are so many details, you can almost plan your own wedding from reading this), if you want a glimpse of the life of a soapy actress or if you just like reading lame, but slightly funny jokes... Set in Sydney, its a little taste of home to carry around the Greek Islands with you (assuming you're Australian, of course).

Overall rating: ★★ 1/2

✔ 6. The Memory Keeper's Daughter



Completed 8 February

A long story about the consequences of one mistake, one moment of weakness influenced by the stigma of society and personal heartache. I loved the first chapter but everything went downhill from there. The pain that these characters feel is overwhelmingly depressing and inescapable. Makes you really not want to make any rash decisions - ever again.

The story was told from the view of different characters in different chapters, with the notable exception of Phoebe - the child who was given away to be put in an institution because she wasn't expected to live very long, or live a very fulfilling life. I felt the author cheated a bit by not exploring Phoebe's inner mind, which could have added an extra layer to the story.

The exploration of different ways of dealing with grief, the question of who the 'bad guy' actually was and the best thing for a mentally disabled child is well expressed, albeit a little drawn out.

Overall rating: ★★ 1/2

✔ 5. Perfect Blend: A Novel



Completed 30 January 2014

It took me 300 pages to realise that the main characters of this book were named "Amy" and "Sam", which is of some significance for those who know me personally.

I thought this book would be more light hearted than it actually was. There were some serious issues covered, like moobs (man boobs), penis extensions and exotic poetresses (someone who reads porn out loud). Quite a good balance of romance, low level mystery and humour, but wasn't exactly groundbreaking or compelling to read.

Good for a frivolous read, where you don't want to use too much brainpower or risk the chance of crying.

Overall rating: ★★

Linda, I have heard the same sentiment from many people so will try to watch it soon! :)

✔ 4. The Princess Bride



Completed 25 January 2014

This book was like watching a really good movie and having your mother yell random things at you from the next room. Although I found the concept intriguing at first, and the idea of a book within a book quite novel, the author/abridger's random notes in italics soon got frustrating. Not only did the constant interruptions disrupt the flow of the narrative and was unnecessary a lot of the time, the voice itself was just plain annoying!

I loved the story of Buittercup and Westey, I loved Inigo's sad and brave tale, and Fezzik's sensitivity. That was all I needed. Indeed, a great love story and high adventure. Cannot wait to see how the movie turned out! (Lol as if Goldman had the guts to pre-empty that the movie would be a cult classic!)

Overall rating: ★★★

✔ 3. Don't Worry, It Gets Worse: One Twentysomething's (Mostly Failed) Attempts at Adulthood



Completed 20 January 2014

Based on her blog and Tumblr, I found this book somewhat disjointed and bland. The stories are mildly funny - if you were tipsy on some cheap wine. And the references to pop cultural and media (celebs, movies, reality tv shows) are prone to becoming outdated, and quickly. I couldn't relate to her. She seemed really passive, slightly stubborn and always contradictory.

Totally not worth the read, especially if you're not a 23 year old Arts major living in the USA.

It gets one star for the bad jokes, and another half star because the graduation speech made me pity the way she wasted those few years of her life after graduating...

Overall rating: ★1/2

✔ 2. The Book Thief



Completed 14 January 2014

The book that everyone loves to recommend... I have to admit it was slow going in the middle there, because this IS a holocaust story AND the damn narrator keeps going on about the end, especially Rudy's sad, sad end (which actually isn't as sad as we're made to believe)...so what is the point of the middle then, I ask? Answer: an amateur set up for the obvious tear jerker.

In the end, I shut out all the clamouring voices telling me how good the book was, took a good look at it for what it was, and found it wasn't half bad. The concept of having Death personified as narrator is unique, the characters are all essentially "good" (from papa to Death itself, obviously pointing the finger at Hitler as the baddie), and the story makes you feel...something. You know you're going to cry, and you do, not necessarily for these characters, but for the millions of real lives lost in horrible, horrible ways, which this book explores in a beautiful, sad, and powerful way - through the power of words.

Overall rating: ★★★1/2

✔ 1. The Wish List



Completed 8 January 2014

Classic chick lit with a funny, loveable main character.
The main male lead was ambiguously described but the chemistry and storyline did not suffer because of this.
I was a bit surprised about how short Emma's "wish list" actually was, and how corny...but it did inspire me to make my own "30 before 30 list" (find my comments to the book to read them).
The other secondary characters were not as well developed as I would have liked, although Giles and Perry (from her children's writing job) are a hoot. Rob the ex was puppy dog cute, Marianne had a really boring minor role as her sister and Aysha and Cally were a little uninspired.
Overall rating: ★★ 1/2

Haha point made (I'm actually hoping to revisit Anne of Green Gables some time this year...)

I actually meant children's picture books like "Spot the Dog" and "Possum Magic", but this teaches me not to post up things before afternoon siestas, because I don't check my posts properly! :)

I'm up for a challenge this year!
Someone kick me if I resort to reading children's books, please.