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.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
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
Friday, 17 December 2010
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
This is a book I've wanted to read for some time now but never managed to get my hands on it but, finally, I have and you could say I'm glad glad I managed to do so.
This is one of those "set in the future" books where the world has changed with weird laws and machines. A somewhat utopian world.
As mentioned, the story is based in a futuristic world in which books are banned and should a book be found a 'fireman' - in this case, a man who goes to the location of the book(s), sprays it/them with kerosene and proceeds to burn the books. We follow the life of Guy Montag, a fireman who, when working catches a glipse of a book and reads "Time has fallen asleep in the afternoon sunshine". Mesmerised by these words he decides to keep the book.
Wht follows is a story of a man whom disagrees with these laws and, due to having kept a pile of books is forced into secrecy. However, the day he decides to read out a poem to a group of his wife's friends he is sent into a downward spiral which turns into survival of the fittest.
Having been discovered in posession of a book Montag is forced to escape the city and get away as far he can and this book follows the journey just before the discovery to the day in which Montag manages to find somewhere to stay.
Written in the '30s this book is partly similar to 1984. However, despite there being mentions of robotic dogs, voice recognition and walls replaced with large TVs the concept of this story is far from similar to todays world other than that the horrible Kindle is sometimes thought to replace books.
If you're interested in utopia and fucked-up politics with a futuristic twist then this may be a book for you, if not, then still read it anyway. Along with being controversial it is also influntial enough to spawn a band of the same name.
I can't say I'd stand on a rofftop and praise this book like a Messiah but I also wouldn't throw it across the room. A mid-rate I'd say.
Rating: 2.8/5
This is one of those "set in the future" books where the world has changed with weird laws and machines. A somewhat utopian world.
As mentioned, the story is based in a futuristic world in which books are banned and should a book be found a 'fireman' - in this case, a man who goes to the location of the book(s), sprays it/them with kerosene and proceeds to burn the books. We follow the life of Guy Montag, a fireman who, when working catches a glipse of a book and reads "Time has fallen asleep in the afternoon sunshine". Mesmerised by these words he decides to keep the book.
Wht follows is a story of a man whom disagrees with these laws and, due to having kept a pile of books is forced into secrecy. However, the day he decides to read out a poem to a group of his wife's friends he is sent into a downward spiral which turns into survival of the fittest.
Having been discovered in posession of a book Montag is forced to escape the city and get away as far he can and this book follows the journey just before the discovery to the day in which Montag manages to find somewhere to stay.
Written in the '30s this book is partly similar to 1984. However, despite there being mentions of robotic dogs, voice recognition and walls replaced with large TVs the concept of this story is far from similar to todays world other than that the horrible Kindle is sometimes thought to replace books.
If you're interested in utopia and fucked-up politics with a futuristic twist then this may be a book for you, if not, then still read it anyway. Along with being controversial it is also influntial enough to spawn a band of the same name.
I can't say I'd stand on a rofftop and praise this book like a Messiah but I also wouldn't throw it across the room. A mid-rate I'd say.
Rating: 2.8/5
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Double book review
As the previous two books I read were done in one night nd were both relatively short, it seems logical to just put them in one blog. Let's begin.
The first book I read was Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" - a book I'd wanted to read for a long time and thanks to a 3-story library at uni, I managed to get my hands on it. And what better time when you have to write an essay on the representation of class in literature?
I'm not really sure about how I'd praise and dis-praise (is that a word?) this book but I can say it was enjoyable, although possibly not as enjoyable as it would have been, had I not been noting down the points of show and tell. Moving on...
It's easy to see why this book has become such a classic which pretty much everyone has heard of - the storyline is fresh with a new concept to the time, it managed to fit in with the current 'scene' of Victorian gothic and could be read by both adults and children alike due to it's simple language lack of vulgarness.
Most of us know the story of a certain scientist creating a mixture of long-named drugs which, when consumed, turned him into an ugly and angry man-thing. Simple enough concept and a good read.
Seeing as this is a critical writing I suppose I'll throw in what I disliked about the book. Now, call me boring etc but throughout the book I remained curious about the characters' backgrounds, although this may have caused the book to drag on. Who knows?
I can't really say this is a book I'll be taking out next month, nor can I be sure that I'll never read it again.
Rting: 3/5
**************
Moving on to book 2 of the night, we have "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. Although shortter than Jekyll and Hyde, this book was (in my opinion) better and although this was also for some research, it was also an excellent read and possibly as good as "To Kill a Mockingbird", previously reviewed.
I'm not aware of knowing anyone who has read this book and for that, I'm slightly surprised. Our protagonists here are George and Lennie, two men who constantly travel around wroking odd-jobs here and there.
We have George, a somewhat angry man who, from time to time, manages to show a soft side and we then have Lennie, a large man who seems to suffer from mild autism with his repeating of what George has to say and his obsession with soft fabric which often lands him in trouble.
As the book moves on, the reader may begin to feel more and more sorry for the misunderstood Lennie. Frequently called "dumb" and "crazy" he has no idea of what this all means and is forced to go along with George's orders. This therefore creates a depression for the reader also.
However, despite the characters being on and off towards Lennie, one can't help but keep reading. Steinbeck's writing is a constant movement which, although somwhat short and lacking some description at times, still makes a good read.
What can I say to conclude this review? Well, I can't say I'd recommend this book to someone who happens to be extremely emotionally unstable, however, anyone else, have a read. Alike Jekyll nd Hyde, this book could potentially be read by young adults rather than just adults. If you can get your hands on this book, do so.
Rating: 3.8/5
The first book I read was Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" - a book I'd wanted to read for a long time and thanks to a 3-story library at uni, I managed to get my hands on it. And what better time when you have to write an essay on the representation of class in literature?
I'm not really sure about how I'd praise and dis-praise (is that a word?) this book but I can say it was enjoyable, although possibly not as enjoyable as it would have been, had I not been noting down the points of show and tell. Moving on...
It's easy to see why this book has become such a classic which pretty much everyone has heard of - the storyline is fresh with a new concept to the time, it managed to fit in with the current 'scene' of Victorian gothic and could be read by both adults and children alike due to it's simple language lack of vulgarness.
Most of us know the story of a certain scientist creating a mixture of long-named drugs which, when consumed, turned him into an ugly and angry man-thing. Simple enough concept and a good read.
Seeing as this is a critical writing I suppose I'll throw in what I disliked about the book. Now, call me boring etc but throughout the book I remained curious about the characters' backgrounds, although this may have caused the book to drag on. Who knows?
I can't really say this is a book I'll be taking out next month, nor can I be sure that I'll never read it again.
Rting: 3/5
**************
Moving on to book 2 of the night, we have "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. Although shortter than Jekyll and Hyde, this book was (in my opinion) better and although this was also for some research, it was also an excellent read and possibly as good as "To Kill a Mockingbird", previously reviewed.
I'm not aware of knowing anyone who has read this book and for that, I'm slightly surprised. Our protagonists here are George and Lennie, two men who constantly travel around wroking odd-jobs here and there.
We have George, a somewhat angry man who, from time to time, manages to show a soft side and we then have Lennie, a large man who seems to suffer from mild autism with his repeating of what George has to say and his obsession with soft fabric which often lands him in trouble.
As the book moves on, the reader may begin to feel more and more sorry for the misunderstood Lennie. Frequently called "dumb" and "crazy" he has no idea of what this all means and is forced to go along with George's orders. This therefore creates a depression for the reader also.
However, despite the characters being on and off towards Lennie, one can't help but keep reading. Steinbeck's writing is a constant movement which, although somwhat short and lacking some description at times, still makes a good read.
What can I say to conclude this review? Well, I can't say I'd recommend this book to someone who happens to be extremely emotionally unstable, however, anyone else, have a read. Alike Jekyll nd Hyde, this book could potentially be read by young adults rather than just adults. If you can get your hands on this book, do so.
Rating: 3.8/5
Monday, 22 November 2010
Therese Raquin by Emile Zola
Zola is/was a I seem to recall briefly hearing of in the past but I'd not checked out any of his books. Until now. As a book put on a set reading list for uni I was expecting an amazing read. However, when I read the blurb which happened to mention "Adultery, murder and madness" I knew this would be my type of novel.
SPOILERS FOLLOW
We're introduced to a bored married woman who initially hates her husband's best friend until, one fateful day, he kisses her and a whirlwind romantic affair soon begins. As with all of these type of affairs we have the man sneaking up to his wife's bedroom for passionate love-making (something which today may be known as "hard, rough sex" - something which I seem to be able to hear from my roommate's room right now). As time goes on, the man and his lover conspire to murder her husband so the lovers can finally get married.
However, as one may or may not expect, things go wrong and they move their seperate ways until a year and a half later when the marriage is finally on the cards again. Cue a disappointing wedding and a chain of events to create an unhappy and abusive couple and you have Therese Raquin in a nutshell.
For a piece of 19th century literature this was a novel written in simple English with no 'classic' words often used in those days. For a book with such violence and anger it has a surprising lack of swearing, although this may just be due to class and time etc.
After reading the blurb I expected something good and something good is what I got.
I doubt I'll be picking this book up again any time soon but it will be one to remain sat on my bookshelf waiting in anticipation to be read again.
If you're a fan of literature with a dark side to it and easy-to-read language, Therese Raquin is certainly a book worth picking up sometime.
Rating: 3.7/5
SPOILERS FOLLOW
We're introduced to a bored married woman who initially hates her husband's best friend until, one fateful day, he kisses her and a whirlwind romantic affair soon begins. As with all of these type of affairs we have the man sneaking up to his wife's bedroom for passionate love-making (something which today may be known as "hard, rough sex" - something which I seem to be able to hear from my roommate's room right now). As time goes on, the man and his lover conspire to murder her husband so the lovers can finally get married.
However, as one may or may not expect, things go wrong and they move their seperate ways until a year and a half later when the marriage is finally on the cards again. Cue a disappointing wedding and a chain of events to create an unhappy and abusive couple and you have Therese Raquin in a nutshell.
For a piece of 19th century literature this was a novel written in simple English with no 'classic' words often used in those days. For a book with such violence and anger it has a surprising lack of swearing, although this may just be due to class and time etc.
After reading the blurb I expected something good and something good is what I got.
I doubt I'll be picking this book up again any time soon but it will be one to remain sat on my bookshelf waiting in anticipation to be read again.
If you're a fan of literature with a dark side to it and easy-to-read language, Therese Raquin is certainly a book worth picking up sometime.
Rating: 3.7/5
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