A quick note here: I was reading Anne Rice's 'Interview With the Vampire' for 3 days but just couldn't get into it so I gave up on that one and cracked the spine of this book on Saturday night.
This is, yet again, another book I picked up in Poundland and another good yet light read.
Nirvana Bites is a book which is hard to put into any one category as it involves humour, crime, trash, weirdness and drugs so it's a book for anyone really.
The story tells of a BBC Researcher who is at risk of being uncovered as a participant in the 'alternative' world of S&M. After the protagonist manages to stop the BBC worker from being kidnapped she goes to extreme lengths to protect him and find out who is guilty of the kidnapping attempt.
What follows is the activities of household which calls itself 'Nirvana'. There are deaths, attacks and crazy characters as the team go to lengths to uncover the whole scandal and as they dig deeper they find that it is all because of a secret fascist movement in London which will go to extreme lengths to remain a secret. We soon find out that all is not what it seems with 'Stapled Stan' the submissive BBC employee.
This is a book which moves nice and fast with page-turning chapters, quirky characters and anarchistic activities. If you're looking for a light read with a good storyline then this is a book to read if it can be found. Although not one which invokes loud screams of laughter, it is a book which produces a smile.
Although likely to be put onto my "For sale" pile this was an very enjoyable book and one which I'll give a rating of 4 out of 5.
Monday 24 January 2011
Thursday 20 January 2011
The Crime Trade by Simon Kernick
Another book from one of my very favourite writers and the one which marks my reading of all of his books (excluding one being released in February), 'The Crime Trade' is the story of a major drug deal/sting gone wrong. resulting in six deaths. From here on, the SOCA team have to uncover the source of a leak which caused the sting to go wrong.
What follows is another journey through the London criminal underworld with the reader being introduced to a number of slimy characters who would happily grass up a fellow criminal for a bit of money until the all-important final shootout resulting in deaths and the truth of who planned the leak being released.
Although not as lively and exciting as Kernick's other books, this was still a good read despite the aforementioned lack of action and mystery. However, with Mr. Kernick having connections to the criminal underworld and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency this book shows us what genuinely goes on under our noses (although there will obviously be the odd exaggeration here and there) without us knowing.
Those grotty pubs you grab an afternoon pint in in London could possibly be a criminal haven and the houses you mindlessly walk past could be drug dens. However, I'm not going to claim a novel as gospel.
As I've mentioned previously, this isn't one of simon Kernick's best novels but still a good read which can be completed in just a couple of sittings and also one which I really managed to get lost in with it's deep descriptions and back stories.
I'll have to give this one a rating of 3 out of 5
What follows is another journey through the London criminal underworld with the reader being introduced to a number of slimy characters who would happily grass up a fellow criminal for a bit of money until the all-important final shootout resulting in deaths and the truth of who planned the leak being released.
Although not as lively and exciting as Kernick's other books, this was still a good read despite the aforementioned lack of action and mystery. However, with Mr. Kernick having connections to the criminal underworld and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency this book shows us what genuinely goes on under our noses (although there will obviously be the odd exaggeration here and there) without us knowing.
Those grotty pubs you grab an afternoon pint in in London could possibly be a criminal haven and the houses you mindlessly walk past could be drug dens. However, I'm not going to claim a novel as gospel.
As I've mentioned previously, this isn't one of simon Kernick's best novels but still a good read which can be completed in just a couple of sittings and also one which I really managed to get lost in with it's deep descriptions and back stories.
I'll have to give this one a rating of 3 out of 5
Tuesday 18 January 2011
Hit by Tara Moss
Another little gem I picked up in Poundland, 'Hit' is the story of a businessman's son-cum-secret-criminal.
Beginning with our secret criminal having some naughty fun with an underage Asian girl and unknowingly being caught of camera, things soon start to go wrong. Ms. Underage Asian Chick is killed and the secret filmer is caught and also killed.
What follows is an undercover investigation into the killing of the filmer.
Unfortunately I can't really say more than that without giving pretty much the whole book away but what I can say is that despite Moss being Australia's number one crime writer, this book wasn't amazingly exciting for me. The story went a bit slow at times with very little happening and when something did happen, it was only in batches.
That's not to say I didn't like it. The characters were certainly interesting as were some of the events but they just didn't have that "Oomph!" to them. They just happened and that was that which was rather disappointing for a book written by a woman who has clearly done a lot of research in the events and how they happen (she's shot a gun, been set on fire, shadowed forensics and been to morgues).
I really don't know what else to say about this book other than that I very much doubt I'll be reading it again although I might look into the writer's other books at a (much) later date once I've cleared off my to-read list.
This one gets a small 2 out of 5 from me.
Tara Moss, you're hot n'all but the writing just didn't cut it, I'm afraid.
Beginning with our secret criminal having some naughty fun with an underage Asian girl and unknowingly being caught of camera, things soon start to go wrong. Ms. Underage Asian Chick is killed and the secret filmer is caught and also killed.
What follows is an undercover investigation into the killing of the filmer.
Unfortunately I can't really say more than that without giving pretty much the whole book away but what I can say is that despite Moss being Australia's number one crime writer, this book wasn't amazingly exciting for me. The story went a bit slow at times with very little happening and when something did happen, it was only in batches.
That's not to say I didn't like it. The characters were certainly interesting as were some of the events but they just didn't have that "Oomph!" to them. They just happened and that was that which was rather disappointing for a book written by a woman who has clearly done a lot of research in the events and how they happen (she's shot a gun, been set on fire, shadowed forensics and been to morgues).
I really don't know what else to say about this book other than that I very much doubt I'll be reading it again although I might look into the writer's other books at a (much) later date once I've cleared off my to-read list.
This one gets a small 2 out of 5 from me.
Tara Moss, you're hot n'all but the writing just didn't cut it, I'm afraid.
Wednesday 12 January 2011
Kraftwerk: I was a Robot (2nd ed.) by Wolfgang Flür
Kraftwerk: The inventors of electronic music and pioneers in their own right.
I Was a Robot is the honest autobiography of their drummer Wolfgang and his own account of his time in Kraftwerk, Yamo and his childhood. The book tells us everything we didn't know about this pioneering German band, from being the inventors of the drum machine to Ralf Hüttor and Florian Scheneider-Esleben threatening Flür with court action for mentioning certain insignificant actions in the first edition.
As we read through we are given the story of world tours and how they aren't as amazing as they sound to Wolfgang's departure and formation of his current project Yamo (formerly Jamo).
Having read a number of biographies, authorised and unauthorised, I knew that I was going to be reading stories of the band, certain events and how much the tour bus stank but I didn't think I was going to read about how Wolfgang "was masturbating to force some excitement from the grey day..." and that the founders of the band wanted the book taken off the market or edited due to some small events in his time with Kraftwerk.
Those who have lived will be well aware that the human race can be right pigs (and by 'pigs' I mean unmnetionable words) at times, however, they may not be aware at how pig-like some can be, especially by kicking members of the band out without even letting them know followed by claims that the kicked-outs were suppose to only be temporary members (an apparent lie) and had their names dropped from any albums that were re-released.
If you've been one to read an autobiography of any length, you may feel the need to claim that you know "everything about this person" after just reading about how they formed a band, played some live shows and released a groundbreaking album, even though you know this claim is false. However, when you've read this book you'll genuinely feel that you do really know Mr. Flür inside and out.
He is a man who has lived, experienced and tasted life as a musician dating right back to the early seventies when he began drumming in a German rock band (note: It wasn't the Scorpions or Rammstein).
This is a book which delves deep into the history of Kraftwerk and the beginnings of electronic music as we know it today albeit with many changes and variations and a definitive read for anyone interested in the electronic scene. This is a band which has inspired those who we listen to today: The Prodigy (quick fact: I went to the same school as Keith Flynt, something I'm rather proud to say), Chemical Bros, Faithless and Fatboy Slim. Pick it up if you can.
Definitely one of the best (and longest, I'll admit) books I've read in the past 6 months and one which I'll rate at a 5.
I Was a Robot is the honest autobiography of their drummer Wolfgang and his own account of his time in Kraftwerk, Yamo and his childhood. The book tells us everything we didn't know about this pioneering German band, from being the inventors of the drum machine to Ralf Hüttor and Florian Scheneider-Esleben threatening Flür with court action for mentioning certain insignificant actions in the first edition.
As we read through we are given the story of world tours and how they aren't as amazing as they sound to Wolfgang's departure and formation of his current project Yamo (formerly Jamo).
Having read a number of biographies, authorised and unauthorised, I knew that I was going to be reading stories of the band, certain events and how much the tour bus stank but I didn't think I was going to read about how Wolfgang "was masturbating to force some excitement from the grey day..." and that the founders of the band wanted the book taken off the market or edited due to some small events in his time with Kraftwerk.
Those who have lived will be well aware that the human race can be right pigs (and by 'pigs' I mean unmnetionable words) at times, however, they may not be aware at how pig-like some can be, especially by kicking members of the band out without even letting them know followed by claims that the kicked-outs were suppose to only be temporary members (an apparent lie) and had their names dropped from any albums that were re-released.
If you've been one to read an autobiography of any length, you may feel the need to claim that you know "everything about this person" after just reading about how they formed a band, played some live shows and released a groundbreaking album, even though you know this claim is false. However, when you've read this book you'll genuinely feel that you do really know Mr. Flür inside and out.
He is a man who has lived, experienced and tasted life as a musician dating right back to the early seventies when he began drumming in a German rock band (note: It wasn't the Scorpions or Rammstein).
This is a book which delves deep into the history of Kraftwerk and the beginnings of electronic music as we know it today albeit with many changes and variations and a definitive read for anyone interested in the electronic scene. This is a band which has inspired those who we listen to today: The Prodigy (quick fact: I went to the same school as Keith Flynt, something I'm rather proud to say), Chemical Bros, Faithless and Fatboy Slim. Pick it up if you can.
Definitely one of the best (and longest, I'll admit) books I've read in the past 6 months and one which I'll rate at a 5.
Sunday 2 January 2011
Challenges for 2011
So all that Christmas and New Years stuff is finished and 2011 is in our hands - happy new year to you all. A new year means new challenges and as a reader I feel much obliged to set myself some reading challenges to complete this year.
As you can see, recently my reading has slacked and was down to reading 1 or 2 books a months. Not too good for an English major, eh? So, the following challenges will be set in place and hopefully kept to:
- Read at least 4 books a month. That's one a week and 48 a year. Hopefully I can make that 50+
- Read some longer books. Recently I've been confined to reading books of just 300 pages. Not too impressive seeing as I used to get through 600-paged crime books in 3 days in 2008-9. It's time to find those big books again and get reading (Twilight doesn't count here)
- Expand my reading horizons. I currently unintentionally confine myself to reading books which are either comical, crime, biographical, about murderers, horror or comedy. I will now attempt to move out of these confort zones and pick up some books on philosophy (a new interest of mine), romance, adventure and full-on classic literature.
- Read all of my unread books currently gathering dust on my shelves. Charity shops and Poundland are dangerous when it comes to books. If I'm in Poundland I can't help but try and pick up every book on the shelf and in charity shops I usually walk in empty handed and come out with a bag of two or more books. This shall stop (unfortunately books with an RRP of £7.99 in £land are impossible not to buy so I won't hurt myself here) now.
- Read every book on my reading list and add no more until they are all read. Simple enough - I want to read them so I will.
That's about it for challenges. Looking back on them they don't seem too hard to stick to so hopefully I'll succeed. I'll let you know if I don't.
I'm about to read either the unauthorise biography of Mick Jagger or the official biography of Kraftwerk. This may change. We'll find out in the next review.
As you can see, recently my reading has slacked and was down to reading 1 or 2 books a months. Not too good for an English major, eh? So, the following challenges will be set in place and hopefully kept to:
- Read at least 4 books a month. That's one a week and 48 a year. Hopefully I can make that 50+
- Read some longer books. Recently I've been confined to reading books of just 300 pages. Not too impressive seeing as I used to get through 600-paged crime books in 3 days in 2008-9. It's time to find those big books again and get reading (Twilight doesn't count here)
- Expand my reading horizons. I currently unintentionally confine myself to reading books which are either comical, crime, biographical, about murderers, horror or comedy. I will now attempt to move out of these confort zones and pick up some books on philosophy (a new interest of mine), romance, adventure and full-on classic literature.
- Read all of my unread books currently gathering dust on my shelves. Charity shops and Poundland are dangerous when it comes to books. If I'm in Poundland I can't help but try and pick up every book on the shelf and in charity shops I usually walk in empty handed and come out with a bag of two or more books. This shall stop (unfortunately books with an RRP of £7.99 in £land are impossible not to buy so I won't hurt myself here) now.
- Read every book on my reading list and add no more until they are all read. Simple enough - I want to read them so I will.
That's about it for challenges. Looking back on them they don't seem too hard to stick to so hopefully I'll succeed. I'll let you know if I don't.
I'm about to read either the unauthorise biography of Mick Jagger or the official biography of Kraftwerk. This may change. We'll find out in the next review.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
After reading Orwells' utopian novel 1984, a comment appeared on this blog with the recommendation of Huxley's novel Brave New World. However, I'd completely forgotten about this book until I was browsing through the uni library and came across an old book almost in pieces. Curious, I picked it up and read the blurb which sound a lot like 1984 so naturally I took it out and have now reaa it (please note: This book only took so long to read as I was reading another book (still unfinished) and as of Boxing Day I've been ill/dying due to almost coughing my guts up. Not forgetting drunk and hungover at times, ahh Christmas.
Annnnnyhow, about the book. Brave New World is a novel which tells of a distant future, controlled by one government and consisting of around just 5 types of people whom are assigned different jobs, most of which involve the artificial creation and conditioning of children. To this world, sex and parentage are both considered disgusting and something which should not be/exist.
As the book goes on we are led through the said worldand given details of the process of how children are now brought into the world and, from the day they are born, conditioned to believe certain facts about the world and about who they are to work for. According to these facts the world is a shiny, perfect place where crime doesn't exist, drugs are freely handed out to adults and children, promiscuity is encouraged and each "type" of person is identical.
Travel is all by helicopter (cool) and everyone lives in London (Hmmm). However, when two characters go on a quick holiday, they manage to stumble across a tribe which still believes in God, engages in sexual activity and performs rituals - all of which is foreign to the book's characters, until, of course, two tribespeople are brought back to the city and shown to the workers. From then on we follow John, a boy who still believes in God and refuses to accept and adjust to this new life. Over time, John begins to adjust until he discusses religion which the world/country leader and feels forced to leave the civil life and live back in natural lands at which point the book is closing to a surprise ending.
Brave New World is another utopian novel which I found enjoyable and has inspired me to seek out others of similar concept (my current reading list has Yevgeny Zamyatin's We on it so look out for a review on that in the coming months).
The book has a number of fictional terms and people which adds to the interesting-ness of the book as Huxley is able to create new ideas and stories from these things. Short but well written it is a book with long words yet - when concentration is applied - easy to follow.
If you are a fan of 1984 then this is definitely a book you should pick up and have a read of.
Total rating: 4/5
Annnnnyhow, about the book. Brave New World is a novel which tells of a distant future, controlled by one government and consisting of around just 5 types of people whom are assigned different jobs, most of which involve the artificial creation and conditioning of children. To this world, sex and parentage are both considered disgusting and something which should not be/exist.
As the book goes on we are led through the said worldand given details of the process of how children are now brought into the world and, from the day they are born, conditioned to believe certain facts about the world and about who they are to work for. According to these facts the world is a shiny, perfect place where crime doesn't exist, drugs are freely handed out to adults and children, promiscuity is encouraged and each "type" of person is identical.
Travel is all by helicopter (cool) and everyone lives in London (Hmmm). However, when two characters go on a quick holiday, they manage to stumble across a tribe which still believes in God, engages in sexual activity and performs rituals - all of which is foreign to the book's characters, until, of course, two tribespeople are brought back to the city and shown to the workers. From then on we follow John, a boy who still believes in God and refuses to accept and adjust to this new life. Over time, John begins to adjust until he discusses religion which the world/country leader and feels forced to leave the civil life and live back in natural lands at which point the book is closing to a surprise ending.
Brave New World is another utopian novel which I found enjoyable and has inspired me to seek out others of similar concept (my current reading list has Yevgeny Zamyatin's We on it so look out for a review on that in the coming months).
The book has a number of fictional terms and people which adds to the interesting-ness of the book as Huxley is able to create new ideas and stories from these things. Short but well written it is a book with long words yet - when concentration is applied - easy to follow.
If you are a fan of 1984 then this is definitely a book you should pick up and have a read of.
Total rating: 4/5
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