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Review of "The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice" by Shon Faye
Kindle version:
If you've read any of my other relatively recent book reviews, you'll know how I start each of them by saying they all start off with the full five stars and that I hope the book finishes with them all in place too. This review is no different in that respect. It's on the Political Science & Ideology section of Amazon, so I'm wondering if it's gonna be shoving politics down my throat... I seriously hope not, but I'm already weary of it. Gonna still read with an open mind, but if the author concentrates more on politics than people who are transgender then I'll be knocking a star off straight away. Also, I'm wondering if there's a new trend to only publish as eBooks and Hardcovers as opposed to paperbacks now, 'cos this is the second book I've started reading in the last 24 hours that hasn't got a paperback available. That's all beside the point now though, just random thoughts is all lol The book *has* been semi-political so far, but it hasn't turned me off reading it - yet! The author has been very clever to get their opinions out there about politics without saying "this is the only opinion out there that's right... everything else is wrong" which is refreshing so far. *Now* it's getting more political, which is frustrating, so I'm knocking off the first star after only 6%. It's not saying that one party is right and the other is wrong, or anything like that, but it's focussing on political policies rather than people who are transgender which is frustrating. If it doesn't change pretty soon then I'll be skipping ahead and knocking off another star because of that... I hope I don't have to, but I'm really not enjoying this book right now. Yup, the author is now talking about Teresa May and comparing her to David Cameron and the author seems to be making it more about their political views than supporting people who are transgender and increasing the understanding of those who want to learn more about those who are transgender, so that's another star coming off and I'm skipping forward... I hope it's not a book that I feel the need to skip more than I read! OK, I've skipped forward to 15% and I hope that the rest of the book is less political! OK, so now it's talking about a documentary and the resultant bullying of children who identified as transgender, so I'm hoping that's the end of the political stuff now. it's a pity that I've already had to get rid of two stars and I'm not even a quarter of the way through the book yet... maybe I had my expectations set too high to start with? Basic grammar point that even a child knows - if someone is speaking and you're putting it into text, then you use speech marks "like this", right? I've lost track of if it's a person speaking or the author because there are so few speechmarks used and it's getting on my nerves now. That third star is looking very wobbly right now, unfortunately. There are inverted comma's signalling speech now, so maybe the earlier bits just slipped through accidentally and can be put down to human error? The third star is still wobbly, but it's clinging on by its finger tips right now, so still 3 stars. 19% of the way through and it's returned to being heavily political opinions again, so I'm skipping forward even further... I was really hoping that this wouldn't be like that, but the further I feel forced to skip forward, the more and more it's looking like it is. I've skipped forward to 25% and I'm really not feeling too positive about this book any more... I'm a quarter of the way through and I've skipped so much of it 'cos it's so political that I'm really not thinking I'll get to the end before I give up unfortunately... that third star is looking incredibly close to dropping off and the author isn't doing theirself any favours. I've skipped even further forward to 35% and that third star is finally coming off because I'm skipping more than I'm reading. If it had been considerably less political and quite frankly dull then I would have been happy to keep ploughing on, but this really isn't the book I'd been hoping for in those first pages. There's only one star left to lose and I'm not even half way through it yet, so things are looking pretty bleak unfortunately. That's more like it! I'm 36% of the way through and it's mentioned something political but focussed on the people who are transgender more... as long as the rest of the book carries on like this, it'll be a 2 star review instead of the five I was hoping for when I first started reading it. I'm at 39% now and there has been very little about politics and has got my attention fully instead of feeling that I have to skip so much of it. I've skipped forward again through sheer boredom, so that's the final star coming off at 43%. It was OK in parts, it's just not what I was expecting and the sheer politicalness of it has turned me right off unfortunately. It's been more like the author's political views than anything more than brief mentions of people who are transgender. This book is a single star review after less than half way unfortunately.
"Shifting to Freedom" by Marlene Cheng
If you've read any of my other recent book reviews, you will already know that every book I read starts out with the full 5 stars and that I'm always hopeful that I'll finish reading with 'em all firmly in place too. This book ain't no different to those. I have high hopes to start with 'cos, at the time of writing this review, this book has three 5 star reviews, so I shall remain hopeful that it meets my expectations to be awarded the full five too. Oh boy, the first 4% is reviews and praise and adverts for other books - I can understand the copyright and dedication being at the start, but surely the reviews should go at the end?? The first chapter was good and maybe it's 'cos my Kindle is so old, but the first letter of each chapter (and the introduction) is a lot farther down than it should be and is cutting off part of the third line of each chapter, which is annoying and is making the first star wobbly already. Other than those first letters making the first three lines of each chapter very confusing, so at 8% it's still the full 5 stars... just not as stable as they could have been so far. The first 5 chapters have been great and I'm really enjoying the book so far... I'm wondering how soon the multiple/ 'alter' personalities will start putting in an appearance though... I hope it's soon 'cos I don't want it to be rushed in the last half or less of the book. I'm remaining open-minded and hopeful for the time being though. Maybe it's just that I'm more into the book now, but chapters 6-9 have seemed to be considerably shorter than the first five... almost as if all three chapters could have almost fit into a chapter and a half of the first five. That could just be me though lol I think I prefer the shorter chapters too... straight to the point and no fillers that the first few chapters felt like they sometimes had. Bullseye! I just needed to be more patient lol I've just been introduced to her first "alter" and it sounds like this identity is already comforting her, which is awesome! Oh yes, the author is really into their stride with their book now. They've found the right length of chapter, describe everything just perfectly which makes me want to keep on reading. Such a good book now and I'm so glad I was pre- approved by the publisher to get it on Net Galley... a definite must-read now that we've got past all the back-story at the beginning. That fourth star is still wobbly, but purely because of the first letter in each chapter (and the introduction) now... if it carries on like this (which I'm really hoping it will) it'll be another 5 star review for this book. I'm loving this book now... just a touch worried that I'll either have nightmares tonight or won't be able to sleep at all, after those descriptions of the injury! I'm now at 25% so it seems as good a place as any to stop reading until tomorrow... I'm guessing that the characters "alters" will start appearing more and more now and I can't wait to meet them when I pick up my Kindle again tomorrow! I don't know where the last hour has gone, but I've somehow managed to read up to 34% now and I'm still really enjoying the book. The first letter thing is still annoying me, but that's the only thing so far today, so still at the full 5 stars, even though the fifth star is wobbly after the start of the book yesterday. Ooh! That was a bit weird... the text at the start of chapter 33 goes onto a second page with just a hint of a divider between the title and the start of the chapter! Wowsers! Chapter 38 sees me in floods of grief for the family... amazingly powerful and so well-written! Wowsers again! I wasn't expecting *that* to happen at all! I won't ruin it for you and tell you what "that" is, but it really is unexpected! Just finished reading it and I'm stunned at the sheer brilliance of it. It's a must-read by everyone and I wasn't expecting all the twists and turns in the last quarter or so of the book. It's a well-deserved 5 stars from me and if it hadn't been for that first letter in every chapter, it would have been a firm instead of wobbly five stars.
"Flora's Travelling Christmas Shop" by Rebecca Raisin
Like with all my recent book reviews, this one is starting with the full five stars and the hope that they are all still firmly in place at the end of the book too. Chapter 1 hasn't disappointed me at all, so I remain hopeful that the rest of the book will continue with the same quality. We shall see though. Chapter 2 has been awesome too. Time for my evening pills then another couple of chapters before I head to bed... will I be dreaming of Christmas already? After three chapters, the first star is starting to wobble slightly after mentioning two famous brands, so I hope the author has got written permission to use them or she could get into some serious hot water. That's four big brands mentioned in three pages, so I'm gonna have to very reluctantly take the first star off, just like I have with the other books I've read and reviewed. If the end of the book says that the author has permission to use them then I will gladly take the review back to the full five stars, but right now, it's down to four stars unfortunately. Just finished reading the third chapter and I'm not tired yet, so gonna read chapter 4 and see how I feel then. This is a great book so far and a definite must read for anyone who wants to ease into the Christmas spirit. Mornin'! I'm up to chapter 7 now and other than the use of the big brand names, it continues to be a wonderful book, so instead of giving you a run-down on each chapter, I'll leave it until something worth commenting on happens... it's still well worth buying and reading so far though! Where on earth has the day disappeared to?! I'm a smidgen over half way now and I'm still loving this book. The chapters seem to be longer, but that might just be me getting tired again. If you can overlook the semi-frequent use of those big brand names then it's definitely a 5-star must-read book IMO... it's just gonna take considerably longer than I thought last night to get it finished and this review put online lol I'm somehow up to 86% now and sooo much has happened in that 35% - I can forsee a late night coming on lol This book is sooo worth it though! Oh. My. Gosh. What a perfect ending to a pretty-much perfect book. Literally the only reason that I'm not awarding it the full five stars is 'cos of the use of those big brand names. If the author had said that she'd got written permission from them all at the end of the book then it would have been a very solid five stars, but it wouldn't be fair on other books I've read and reviewed in the recent past where I've knocked off a star for the exact same reason, so I feel like I need to do it with this one too. Awesome work by the author and thank you to the publisher for approving me to read and review the advance copy of it.
"The Twelve Wishes of Christmas" by Ruby Basu
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Paperback version:
If you've read any of my more recent book reviews, you will already know that every book I review starts off with the full five stars and that I'm always hopeful that the book will end with 'em too. You will also know that I knock a star off for using a big brand name seemingly without written permission. I hope this book has used fictitious brands rather than famous ones so that the author doesn't get herself into legal hot water. I've just started reading this on my Kindle which is the first generation/version that Amazon came out with all those years ago, so maybe it's that, but the first 3 pages have run on from each other instead of being separated into separate pages - the biography ran into the copyright which ran into chapter 1 with only a blank line separating them... not good, but forgiveable 'cos it might be down to the age of my Kindle. Unfortunately I've had to skip through the first 18% because it's so dull, which unfortunately means the first star comes off so we're already down to 4 stars, which I hope stay in place now. It hasn't improved, so I've skipped even further forward now, all the way to chapter 10 (34%) and another star is coming off, which takes us down to 3 stars after less than half way. I'm just glad the publisher approved me for the ARC of this so that I didn't waste money. I'm trying desperately to enjoy this book, but it's just sooo boring that I've felt the need to skip more than I've read so far. It's taken 36% of the entire book, but I've found a chapter that I enjoyed and don't feel the need to moan badly about ;-) I'm gonna stop reading until I've had my lunch now... give me an opportunity to forgive the disappointing morning. Back now and I've forgotten what happened in the book this morning, so I'm gonna start reading it again with an open mind and hoping it'll be better than it seems like it was this morning, judging by this review so far! Oh boy, I've had to skip forward to chapter 16 because it's waaaay too dull and what with there being such little dialogue between the characters makes it even worse so that's another star coming off which means there's just one more to lose before I give up on this book. Skipped to chapter 18 now and it hasn't got any better let alone more interesting, so the fourth and final star is coming off and I'm not reading any more of the book. What a total waste of my day and I'm glad I got it for free, in exchange for this review, from the publisher. If you've got money to burn and/or time to waste then by all means, get this book, just be prepared for a dull and boring story is all.
"The Perfect Christmas Gift" by Katie Ginger
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Paperback:
If you've read any of my other recent book reviews, you'll already know that I start every one just like this, explaining that every book starts off with the full five stars and I'm always hopeful that they will still be firmly stuck in place by the time I finish the book, right? Well, as you can see, this book review is no different so far. I'm gonna start reading with an open mind and I'll hopefully start feeling festive by the end of it. The first couple of pages have been great, but I've found a mistake that should have been picked up in one of the early edits... not enough to knock a star off or anything, but the behaviour chart started at red and orange for naughtiness then went up through silver and gold to green and red again which my eagle-eyed pickiness couldn't help mentioning lol Chapter 1 was great! Chapter 2 starts on the same page as chapter 1 finishes, so I'm thinking that's cos I've got such an ancient Kindle lol Chapter 2 has me in tears... it takes a truly incredible book to get me crying, but after only two chapters is pretty-much unheard of as far as I remember. Get those tissues and hot chocolate ready when you get this book, 'cos I'm really needing both of those things right now. That's twice in three chapters that I've been in tears. I don't think my glass of water will be a suitable beverage by the end of this incredible book... I might have to dig into the choccie biccies instead of a proper lunch too lol Oh dear. The author has just used a couple of big brand names that I hope she has written permission to use otherwise it's the first star coming off, which I'm desperate not to happen, but it's happened with other books I've read so it wouldn't be fair not to do it with this book too... I've got a huge sense of fairness in me lol I've just finished chapter 5 and it's a fantastic book, but my sense of fairness is taking centre stage right now, so the first (and hopefully only) star is very relutantly being removed after using another well-known brand name. As long as the story continues as fantastically as the first five, it'll be a thoroughly well-deserved four stars at the end of the book. OMGosh! Where has the afternoon disappeared to? I last added to this review at the end of chapter 5 and I'm now about to start chapter 13! It takes a truly incredible book for me to totally lose track of eight chapters, but that's obviously what's happened with this book this afternoon - I stand firmly by what I said at the start of this review about it being a must-read book for everyone! I've been totally engrossed in this book all day and I'm already at chapter 18 (aka 62%) and I honestly haven't got a clue where today has gone to so quickly! I can't recommend this book highly enough to everyone who wants an awesome read to while away a day without realising that they had been so engrossed in the authors words! I'm 71% of the way through now and it's past my bed time, but I'll be back bright and early in the morning to finish off this review and hope I don't shed too many tears on the last page. It's been a long time since I felt so good about a Christmas novel but I'm sooo glad I took a chance on it! Back again this morning and within 3 pages I'm drooling and wanting hot chocolate and all those high-sugar Christmas goodies lol I started the review in tears and now I'm drooling at the descriptions of the hot chocolate and food... I've just caught myself licking my lips too lol The last few pages have been unexpected to say the least, but I'm relieved that Nick has done the right thing so far. Paige had no right to do what she did and I'm glad that Nick can see that now. Oh. My. Gosh. What a perfect ending and I'm on the verge of tears again. Those four stars are solidly stuck in place and literally the only reason I'm not giving it the full five is 'cos of the use of those big brand names - if the author had used fictitious names or gained written permission from those brands before the book was published then it would have been a very solid 5 stars throughout, but that really is the only reason. This is a must-read by everyone who wants to feel cosy and snuggly and get ready for Christmas early.
"Captive: A Poetry Collection on OCD, Psychosis, and Brain Inflammation" by Madeline Dyer
Kindle edition:
Paperback edition:
Like with all books I read and review, this one is starting off with the full five stars and I'm hopeful that it'll end with 'em all in place too. I've read literally one or two memoirs before so to say I have little experience of reading them is the understatement of the decade lol I'm going to read with an open mind and hope that it'll give me more understanding of what the author went through when she wrote it. Wowsers. I already want to reach through the screen and take the author into a safe, gentle hug, if that's what she wants and needs right now. It's like she's clambered inside my head and she's stealing my thoughts and feelings 'cos that's how I've been feeling for more than the last two decades. I've got more control of my OCD and psychosis now, but those thoughts and feelings are still there... I know and understand what you're going through more than you may realise and I've only read 23% of the book. If you, the reader of this review and potentially the book, have psychiatric issues, especially OCD and/or psychosis, please make sure you're safe and have support in place in case you're triggered... this is a definite must-read by everyone so far though. I'm already half way through and it's an incredibly powerful read. It's a must-read for all doctors, but especially GPs so that they realise that just because you are seeing, hearing and feeling these things, you're not nuts but you do need help. I hope the author got the help she needed and is on the right treatment with the right support now. Just finished reading the book and I can sum it all up with one word: "wow" I know I said it up there ^^^ (or at least I *think* I did - I certainly intended to) it's like the author has got inside my head and told me that I'm not alone with those thoughts and feelings any more. Thank you for sharing your powerful poems, Madeline... I know that I'm not the only one who feels like that now. Please keep on keeping on and fighting your monster... the world needs you - *I* need you!
"The Post Box at the North Pole" by Jaimie Admans
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Paperback version:
If you've read any of my other recent reviews, you'll know that I start all of them by saying that every book that I read and review starts off with the full five stars and that I'm ever-hopeful that they will still be firmly in place by the time I close the book too... this one ain't no different. The first few chapters have been OK and the descriptions of all that freezing snow has got me shivering too. It's good, but I've already had to skip to 28% because it's the same words in a different order, so I'm having to knock the first star :-( Oh dear. There has just been a couple of mentions of big brand names, I'm guessing without permission, so that's the second star coming off now... the book had started off so well! Now the author is using famous people to rename reindeers! I'm not sure if that's legally allowed without permission either, so that's another star coming off, which means there's only one star to go before I can't remove any more stars and I officially give up on it. The book started off so well, but using those brand names and famous people are just not legal without prior written permisson! A social media brand now... I've already taken a star off for that reason, so the star is still safe - but only just! It's almost like the publisher has read 3 chapters and approved it for publication 'cos they were the best chapters so far! Oh boy, now the author has given a handle and used the three major social media names... that star is looking decidedly wobbly now, unfortunately. Now the author is using well-known films, so that star has wobbled off and after 37% I've given up unfortunately... another single star review from me :-(
"A Secret Gift" by Amanda James
Every book I read and review starts off with the full five stars and I'm always hopeful that they will still be firmly in place at the end of the book too. I found out about this book from the publisher, Harper Collins, after I got an email via One More Chapter and downloaded an ARC for free from Net Galley... I hope that means it's a good book! My Kindle is dead, so I'll charge it up a bit then start reading after our groceries have been delivered. Just read the first chapter, and I appear to have caught Hope's cough lol I enjoyed the second chapter too, and it's got me wondering what will happen with the stones - they must be central to the story to be brought into it so early, right? Oh dear. The author has used a brand name, I'm guessing without prior written permission, so the first star is starting to wobble after 7%. Second brand name at 8%... one more and unfortunately the first star is coming off - it had been going so well too! Chapter 4 was amazing! I was right a couple of paragraphs ago in that the stones will be central to the story and the first stone was handled amazingly well! At the start of chapter 6, the first star is reluctantly coming off 'cos of using a well-known book/TV character name, so at 15% we're now down to 4 stars. Up to chapter 7 now and it's very nearly time for bed so I'm gonna leave it there for tonight and keep on reading and reviewing tomorrow... haven't got any plans so hopefully a full day of reading ahead of me. Nite nite for now, all. Morning all. Time to carry on with the reading now... I wonder what today's reading session will give me? Wowsers! I really wasn't expecting it to happen twice in a chapter, but I'm glad it has.. WTG, Joy! Chapter 8 was good... yesterday's four stars are still very firmly solid and I hope Joy gets what she's hoping for - the tuna and her idea would have made her human instead of stuck-up in my eyes, if I was the interviewer! I'm gonna leave off a chapter-by-chapter commentry... I just think that you should definitely read this book though! OMG! Someone else calls it squirty cream! lol It's got me wanting a hot choccy with squirty cream and mini marshmallows now, which can't happen because of real life... doesn't stop me drooling at the thought though! lol I'm off to make one for me and my hubby right now, and hope that it doesn't get too cold before I've gulped it all down! I decided against the hot choccy, but I'll be dreaming of gorgeous choccy flavours tonight. I've stopped reading for the day 'cos it's almost time for my last pills of the day again, but if it hadn't been for those early brand name mentions then this would have been a very solid 5 stars from me, but my sense of fairness over-rode my enjoyment yesterday 'cos I've removed a star from other books for the exact same reason so I felt it was only right that I did it with this book too... if you can overlook that though, then this is a definite must-read book IMNSHO! Morning again. I'm rattling through this wonderful book at a rate of knots and things are looking hopeful for a positive/happy ending, which I'm always grateful for. I'm currently at 79% so I'm hopeful that it'll be finished by early this afternoon, depending on what we have for lunch and if I'm too full/sleepy to appreciate the last quarter lol OMG! I really wasn't expecting what happened in chapter 26 at all! Helen's lost the plot through alcohol! Oh. My. Gosh. What a perfect end to an almost perfect book. The one and only reason for my not giving it the full 5 stars has been the use of the brand names... if the author had either just used "supermarket" and "health food shop" or got written permission from the named brands or, even better, used a totally fictitious brand instead of the brand names at the start and end of the book, it would have been a very solid 5 stars, but my sense of fairness held firm 'cos I've done that with other books in the past, so I wanted to do that with this one too. If you can look beyond that though, it's a totally steadfast 5 stars that everyone should read.
"Meet Me Under the Northern Lights" by Emily Kerr
Kindle version:
If you've read any of my more recent book reviews, you'll know that I start them all by saying that each book starts with the full 5 stars and that I'm always hopeful that each star will still be firmly in place when I finish reading it too... this review ain't no different ;-) I got an ARC of this book directly from the publishers on 22nd October and it seems like it's another festive read which is fine by me 'cos I've already finished my Yule shopping and I'm planning on spending the next couple of months reading, relaxing and watching everyone else run around increasingly frantically 'cos they can't find the pressie for this person or there won't be any more stock in until after Christmas... it's why I try and get it all done and dusted before the middle of October each year lol That's beside the point though, this is supposed to be a book review after all lol Let's get my Kindle out and hope it's charged up enough for me to start reading and reviewing straight away. Yep, the battery is about half full and I'm liking how the first page got me straight into the action! I'm 4% of the way through and I'm drooling although thankfully not shivering from cold yet... it's making me want to pay a visit to my local independant grocer though, with that gorgeous description - independant shops aren't given anywhere near enough credit in books for my liking. I'm glad she's used a fictional name rather than a big brand at the earliest opportunity though... if the author carries on like that throughout then she'll gladly be holding onto a star that I've dropped from other great books for using brand names potentially without permission and potentially getting the author into hot water... fortunately this author has already skillfully side-stepped that though, which is a relief so far. Oooooh! I wasn't expecting the end of the first chapter... is the entire book gonna be like the first chapter? I seriously hope so 'cos I'm really enjoying it so far! Chapter 2 was good too... all five of them stars are still very firmly in place which is a relief. I'm cautiously hopeful that I've got a five star book in my hands and I haven't shivered from the cold yet either, which is reassuring. At 11% the author has used a big brand name instead of a fictional one, so unfortunately that fifth star is wobbling now... it's still in place, but only just - any more mentions and it'll have to come off, just like with the other books I've reviewed unfortunately. The author has used a famous name now, potentially without permission, so like with the majority of the books I've read recently, the fifth star has unfortunately teetered off and smashed into smithereens on the floor :-( Chapter 5 has made me grateful that I'm not a public figure, but it's given me an idea of what to do next time I'm in the bath! I'm gonna leave it there for tonight and check my email and stuff, before getting stuck in bright and early in the morning. Mornin' all. Time to carry on reading and reviewing this book now... I hope it continues to be as good as it was yesterday! I've read two chapters so far this morning and I've already started shivering at all those freezing descriptions! Even my coffee is barely tepid now so that won't warm me up either lol Time to go and make another one before I start on chapter 8 I reckon. Decaf this time I reckon. If my hubby logged me out of my social media accounts, like Lucy's friend has seemingly done to her, I'd never remember all the passwords to get back into them lol I'm enjoying Tommi's way of talking - straight to the point and no humour in anything he's said so far... there could be interesting scenes which involve him from now on lol I hope his no-nonsense voice continues for the rest of the book! Up to chapter 12 now and my coffee is stone cold as is my body after all that talk of snow and ice in chapter 11. Lucy seems to have found a way to help Tommi though... I just hope he can forgive the potential stain she's left for him! Chapter 12 finished, just in time for lunch... it sounds like Lucy thinks Gurta is a woman, but I'm guessing she's some kind of animal - reindeer maybe? I'll hopefully find out after I've scoffed down my pizza baguette slices lol Back now, and my heartrate was matching the speed of chapter 13... looks like this is gonna be a three day book instead of a two day book at the very least - I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far though! I've read 3 chapters since I had my lunch and this is still one of the better books that I've read recently. If not for those uses of big names (both of products and people) then it would still be a very solid five stars. There seems to be something possibly hotting up between Lucy and Tommi... and it's not just the sauna ;-) Just finished chapter 19 and it reads like maybe Lucy's chat with her boss has maybe cleared the air and maybe even shoved her into an interview in the Arctic Circle?? I'll hopefully find out when I've made another hot drink! There has been an enormous amount of tension in the last few chapters, so hopefully Lucy will take the conversation she's had with Tommi seriously and become a better woman in a totally different place in the world during the 38% of the book? I knew it! Sort of! lol Gurta is a... ...you'll have to get the book and read it to find out for yourself :-P lol I'm up to 75% of the way through now and it's almost my bed time again, but there's been another rise in tension, so I don't wanna get too tense to sleep tonight, so I'm gonna leave it there and finish the book and this review hopefully before lunchtime tomorrow. Back again for the third day... I can't wait to see how the book ends! Is it gonna be a tear-jerker or a happily ever after? I'm really feeling the disappointment for Lucy and to have it all come back without Jonno's interest in what she was trying to say is hurting my heart... I know that they are only fictional characters, but I've quickly grown to care about them in this book and I hope there will at least be a sequel if not a trilogy! OMG. Wow. What a team. WTG Lucy and Tommi. Oh. My. Goddess. What a perfect end to a perfect book. If it hadn't been for the use of those big names then it would have been a very solid five stars throughout. This book is a must-read if you like feeling loved and warm and cozy... just make sure you've got the heating on if you easily feel cold ;-)
"An Unusual Boy" by Fiona HigginsKindle: Paperback: out of 5
Every book I read starts off with the full 5 stars and I'm always hopeful that I'll close the book with all of 'em still firmly in place. There are a lot of incredible books out there that I would have happily given the full five stars to... except that they'd used brand names without permission. I've knocked a star of other books for that reason, so I've very reluctantly removed a star from even the best of books. Gotta be fair to all books, no matter their quality ;-) Same with this book - I want it to end with all five stars in place, but if the author uses brand names without permission, then I'll be taking a star off this book too. Let's get on with the reading and reviewing now :-D I'm on page 4 and I've just been told we're in Australia... I've never left the UK so this should be interesting to see what the similarities and differences are like. I wonder if the author is gonna deliberately use Australian words like "cobber" or if it'll all be in every day language that I don't have to think about too much? The first 13 pages are good, but there has just been mention of a social media brand on page 14, so the fifth star is looking wobbly already :-( Page 26 has got several big brand names, so the fifth star is sliding off and we're already down to four star after only 10% of the book :-( For some reason the POV has suddenly changed from the mum to the son and it's a bit weird now 'cos I was only just getting used to being in the mum's head and now, all of a sudden, I've got to get into a child's head! I'll give it a little while, but the fourth star is already looking wobbly, so soon after the fifth star had to go... it had so much potential in the initial chapters, but now it's just made me incredibly confused! I've already taken a star off for this, but there are now another three big music star's names being used, potentially without permission... the book started off really well, but that's suddenly changed now which ain't good at all! Up to chapter 5 now and I'm gonna leave it there for today 'cos I'm absolutely cream crackered, but I'll hopefully be back bright and early in the morning though. Back now and the POV has changed back to the mother again! That's three changes in five chapters! If it changes again before the middle of the book, the fourth star is joining the fifth on the floor unfortunately. The POV has changed yet again in chapter 6 so the star is sliding off and we are down to three star now :-( Up to chapter 11 now and the POVs seem to change every couple of chapters which is sooo confusing... especially as it's written in first person too! Oh dear! Poor Jackson doesn't realise or even understand the trouble he could be in now... poor boy! Oooh, that's screwing with my head a bit lol Apparently it's cold *until* September in Australia, even though that's when it *starts* cooling down over here in the UK lol What an inventive mum! When she said about "Kitchen Science" I thought that was gonna be like learning how to cook rather than disolving eggshells! Cor lummy! What a way to end chapter 21! I can take a wild guess at who was the one causing the problem and I reckon he should be arrested... am I getting too caught up in this book this evening? lol Chapter 22 was a huuuge relief... hopefully no permanent damage done?! What a great ending to a fantastic book! If it hadn't been for those couple of stars dropping off at the start, then I would have gladly awarded this book the full five... a definite must-read, as long as you can see past those couple of things that I can't.
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