Mini-Reviews: The Amazing Book is Not on Fire, The Well of Ascension and Orange is the New Black

The Amazing Book is Not on Fire, Dan Howell and Phil Lester

224|Ebury Press|8^th October 2015

Synopsis

Hello Reader!

In this book is a world. A world created by two awkward guys who share their lives on the internet!

We are Dan and Phil and we invite you on a journey inside our minds! From the stories of our actual births, to exploring Phil’s teenage diary and all the reasons why Dan’s a fail. Learn how to draw the perfect cat whiskers, get advice on how to make YouTube videos and discover which of our dining chair represents you emotionally. With everything from what we text each other, to the time we met One Direction and what really happened in Vegas…

This is The Amazing Book is Not on Fire!

Review

I love watching Dan and Phil’s videos so I bought this out of curiosity, and a love of their faces.

The Amazing Book is Not on Fire is a visual treat. Full colour photos, copies of images, illustrations, quizzes and exclusive stories. Weirdly, I actually couldn’t stop thinking about how much this must have cost to produce! And taking into consideration the video the guys made about the journey, the level of involvement they had with the production and all of the design details is insane. As much as I love Dan and Phil, and know how well this will sell, I couldn’t help but feel for many wonderful, talented authors who have to go down the traditional route. 

I sometimes felt a little old for this book, but I ended up really enjoying it. The same fun, banter, comedy levels and affection between Dan and Phil that you see in their videos is here in the book, in their interactions as well as in their own narrated stories. I’m really glad their personalities were retained. As well as the telling stories, dishing on their pre-YouTube lives, describing their rise to fame and delving behind some of the biggest fan moments in their careers. I was impressed by the level of original content: quizzes, their texts to each other, a Dan and Phil manga, fan fiction written by them and unseen photos.

The Amazing Book is Not on Fire is lots of fun and it’s going to be a serious hit with Dan and Phil fans – it’ll be a firm favourite on Christmas lists this year.   

Mistborn: The Well of Ascension, Brandon Sanderson

763|Gollancz|10^th December 2009

Synopsis

The impossible has happened. The Lord Ruler is dead. But so too is Kelsier, the man who masterminded the triumph. The awesome task of rebuilding the world has been left to his protégé Vin; a one-time street urchin, now the most powerful Mistborn in the land.

Worryingly for her, Vin has become the focus of a new religion, a development that leaves her intensely uneasy. More worryingly still, the mists have become unpredictable since the Lord Ruler did and a strange vaporous entity is stalking Vin.

As the siege of Luthadel intensifies, the ancient legend of the Well of Ascension offers the only glimmer of hope. Nut no-one knows where it is or what it can do…

Review

After falling in love with The Final Empire, I knew it wouldn’t be long until I found myself back in Luthadel with Vin and Elend to see the aftermath of taking the city from the Lord Ruler. I just had to work myself up to the task of the 29 hour audiobook!

I fell straight back into the Mistborn world with ease even though everything has changed drastically in the year since the ending of book one. Elend is King, Vin is his right-hand and bodyguard, Luthadel is governed by an Assembly and the city is surrounded by waiting armies. There is a LOT going on in this book but it was still easy to keep track of everything and everyone even as new and important characters were introduced. The only thing I couldn’t keep straight? Who to trust!

There’s a whole host of betrayal, switching sides and ambiguous loyalties in The Well of Ascension and it should make for a tense, suspenseful read, but I don’t think a 763 page book can really be those things! I found that this suffered a little from Second Book Syndrome and lagged for a large proportion of the middle chunk of the novel unfortunately. It didn’t affect my reading too badly, however, as I listened to the audiobook which helped me over the hump. But once the final battles kicked in and Vin and Elend make a dramatic decision, I was fully back on board and eager to discover the fate of Luthadel.

Though The Well of Ascension lagged a little in the middle, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m gearing up to dive into Hero of Ages.   

Orange is the New Black, Piper Kerman

352|Abacus|18^th July 2013

Synopsis

With her career, live-in boyfriend and loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the rebellious young woman who got mixed up with drug runners and delivered a suitcase of money to Europe over a decade ago. But when she least expects it, her reckless past catches up with her; convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at an infamous women’s prison in Connecticut, Piper becomes inmate #11187-424. From her first strip-search to her final release, she learns to navigate this strange world with its arbitrary rules and codes, its unpredictable, even dangerous relationships. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with tokens of generosity, hard truths and simple acts of acceptance. Now an original comedy-drama series from Netflix, Piper’s story is a fascinating, heartbreaking and often hilarious insight into life on the inside.

Review

I love, love, love Netflix’s Orange is the New Black so as soon as I saw the original memoir pop up as a daily deal on Audible I snapped it up. And I'm so glad I did!

I was really surprised by how loyal the show is to the book. Listening to this I recognised so many of the most beloved characters (with different names), some of biggest moments from the show (missing screwdriver, peeing outside the cubicle, Pennastucky’s new teeth, Sophia being denied her hormones) and the awareness of sexuality, gender, social class. The book also had the same comedy-drama tone which made it very difficult to stop listening too! Piper Kerman’s narrative is so intelligent and engaging.

It blew me away how much Piper ended up learning about prison and the legal system during her experience. She spent six years working with the courts and police before she received her sentence. Six. I actually found all of this info really interesting. Since the 80s, the US has had standard sentences for drugs and Piper really discussed this and the often ridiculous nature of locking away women for years for a non-violent drug crime when so many other forms of rehabilitation would have been productive, effective and much cheaper for the government. I'd be interested to see if there are such standards in the UK, actually.

Like with the show, my favourite element of Orange is the New Black is the women themselves. I loved hearing about the support system they became for each other: lending Piper necessities at the beginning of her stay while she couldn’t buy anything from the commissary, becoming friends, Piper helping the other women writing letters and assignments. Piper says a few times that the biggest piece of advice she was given was to keep her head down and keep to herself, but she couldn’t have survived her sentence without the women around her. I love that such a strong comradery, support system and friendships were built under such conditions and between women that would never meet in the real world.

I loved Orange is the New Black and I highly recommend picking this up during the agonising wait for season four – it’ll hit the spot perfectly.

Sophie 

A Boy Called Christmas, Matt Haig

Pages: 266

Publisher: Canongate

Release Date: 12^th November 2015

Edition: UK hardback, review copy

Other Titles by this Author: Shadow Forest, The Runaway Troll, How to Be a Cat, The Radleys, The Humans, Echo Boy, Reasons to Stay Alive

You are about to read the true story of Father Christmas.

It is a story that proves nothing is impossible.

If you are one of those people who believe that some things are impossible, you should put this book down right away. It is most certainly not for you. Because this book is full of impossible things.

Are you still reading?

Good.

Then let us begin…

A Boy Called Christmas is a tale of adventure, snow, kidnapping, elves, more snow, and an eleven-year-old boy called Nikolas, who isn’t afraid to believe in magic.

A Boy Called Christmas is a great book to read in the run up to Christmas whether you’re 8 or 108; it's full of magic, snow and Important Lessons.

I don’t know if I read this a little too early, but it didn’t quite put me in the magical, Christmassy spirit I was expecting. I actually felt like there were quite a few glaring morality lessons throughout Nikolas’s story that put me off a little and distracted me from the story itself. I'm all for learning and teaching in books, but for me, it works best when it's subtle and it didn’t feel all that subtle in A Boy Called Christmas.

I did love Elfhelm, though. After the betrayal of a human, joy and happiness has been banned, along with dancing and outsiders. It did make me chuckle. I loved the community among the elves and their intrinsic joy at everything. The bits of the novel based in Elfhelm were by far my favourite in the novel and I enjoyed watching Nikolas grow, change and find happiness in Elfhelm. This history of Father Christmas becoming who he is answers all those questions that try and knock your confidence in his existence when you’re little so hopefully it’ll keep the belief going for a little while longer…

Thanks to Canongate for the review copy.

Sophie 

Letterbox Love #114

Letterbox Love is a way to give all of the books I receive for review some exposure. Summaries are taken from the cover, or Amazon/NetGalley/Goodreads in the case of e-books, unless otherwise stated.

The Island, Olivia Levez (proof)

Frances is alone on a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. She has to find water and food. She has to survive. And when she is there she also thinks about the past. The things that she did before. The things that made her a monster. Nothing is easy. Survival is hard and so is being honest about the past. Frances is a survivor however and with the help of the only other crash survivor she sees that the future is worth fighting for.

A gripping and thoughtful story about a girl who didn’t ask to be the person she is but is also determined to make herself the person she wants to be.

So intriguing! Thanks One World!

How Not to Disappear, Claure Furniss (proof)

Our memories are what make us who we are. Some are real. Some are made up. But they are the stories that tell us who we are. Without them we are nobody.

Hattie’s summer isn’t going as planned. Her two best friends have abandoned her: Reuben has run off to Europe to “find himself” and Kat’s in Edinburgh with her new girlfriend. Meanwhile Hattie is stuck babysitting her twin siblings and dealing with endless drama around her mum’s wedding. Oh, and she's also just discovered she's pregnant with Reuben’s baby.

Then Gloria, Hattie’s great-aunt who no one previously knew even existed comes crashing into her life. Gloria’s fiercely independent, rather too fond of a gin sling and is in the early stages of dementia. Together the two of them set out on a road trip of self-discovery – Gloria to finally confront the secrets of her pasts before they are wiped from her memory forever and Hattie to face the hard choices that will determine her future…

Non Pratt’s Trouble meets Thelma and Louise with a touch of Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey, Clare Furniss’s remarkable How Not to Disappear is an emotional rollercoaster of a novel that will make you laugh and break your heart.

So ready to have my heart broken by this. Bring it on! Thanks S&S!

Night Study, Maria V Snyder (e-proof)

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana’s life has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia or Sitia is safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he’s been keeping secrets from Valek…secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. as they uncover the various layers of the Commander’s mysterious plans, they realise it's far more sinister than they could have imagined.

I’m so excited!! After the cliffhanger ending of Shadow Study I am more than ready to devour this. Thanks Harlequin Teen and NetGalley!

The Square Root of Summer, Harriet Reuter Hapgood (proof)

My heart is a kaleidoscope, and when we kiss it makes my world unravel…

Last summer, Gottie’s life fell apart. Her beloved grandfather Grey died and Jason – the boy to whom she lost her virginity (and her heart) – wouldn’t even hold her hand at the funeral. This summer, still reeling from twin heartbreaks, Gottie is lost and alone and burying herself in equations. Until, after five years’ absence, Thomas comes home: former boy next door. Former best friend. Forever everything. And as life turns upside-down again, she starts to experience strange blips in time – back to last summer, back to what she should have seen then…

During one long, hazy summer, Gottie navigates grief, world-stopping kisses and rips in the space-time continuum, as she tried to reconcile her first heartbreak with her last.

I can't even begin to articulate my excitement for this book!! Thanks Macmillan!

Waiting for Callback, Perdita and Honor Cargill (proof)

When Elektra is discovered by an acting agent, she imagines Oscar glory can’t be far away, but instead lurches from one cringe-worthy moment to the next! Just how many times can you be rejected for the part of ‘Dead Girl Number Three’ without losing hope? And who knew that actors were supposed to be multi-lingual, play seven instruments and be trained in a variety of circus skills?

Off-stage things aren’t going well either – she's fallen out with her best friend, remains firmly in the friend-zone with her crush and her parents are driving her crazy. One way or another, Elektra’s life is now spent waiting for the phone to ring – waiting for callback.

Can an average girl-next-door like Elektra really make it in the world of luvvies and starlets?

This sounds like so much fun! Thanks S&S!

Underwater, Marisa Reichardt (proof)

In order to move on after a traumatic experience, Morgan must learn to forgive – first someone who did something that might be unforgiveable, and then, herself.

But Morgan can't move on. She can't even move beyond the front door of the apartment she shares with her mother and little brother. Morgan feels like she's underwater, unable to surface. Unable to see her friends. Unable to go to school.

When it seems Morgan can't hold her breath any longer, a new boy moves in next door. Evan reminds her of the salty ocean air and the rush she used to get from swimming. He might be just what's he needs to help her reconnect with the world outside.

Underwater is a powerful, hopeful debut novel about redemption, recovery and finding the strength it takes to face your past and move on.

Another gorgeous proof from Macmillan – thank you!

Changers: Drew, T Cooper & Allison Glock-Cooper (e-proof)

Some teenagers worry who they’ll wake up next to. Others worry about who they’ll wake up as…

Ethan Miller is about to star high school in a brand-new town. He's finally sporting a haircut he doesn’t hate, has grown two inches since middle school, and can't wait to try out for the soccer team. At last, everything is looking up in life.

Until the next morning. When Ethan wakes up as a girl.

Welcome to the world of Changers.

This sounds interesting! But also like it could be too much like Every Day… Thanks NetGalley and Atom!

Sophie 

Blog Tour: A Wicked Old Woman

Today I’m welcoming Ravinder Randhawa to the blog for the tour for A Wicked Old Woman!

A Wicked Old Woman is full of passionate and bruised women, buffeted by life, are also intelligent, caring and powerful. Here are some poems that just seem to fit them.

KULWANT, the wicked old woman of the title, loves this poem from the anthology “A Few Figs From Thistles” by Edna St. Vincent Millay.

My candle burns at both ends;

It will not last the night;

But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends—

It gives a lovely light!

CAROLINE, Kulwant’s old school friend, receives carefully personalized sonnets, from the younger man who’s in love with her.

Had we world enough and time,

This coyness lady, were no crime

We would sit down and think which way

To walk and pass our long love’s day.

Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side

Shouldst rubies find: I by the tide

Of Humber would complain.

But at my back I always hear

Time’s winged chariot hurrying near.

And yonder all before us lie

Deserts of vast eternity.

The grave’s a fine and private place

But none, I think, do there embrace.

Had we world enough and time,

This coyness, my dear Caroline, were no crime.

 (Adapted from the sonnet To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell)

MAYA, who’s called the myopic, nursing a broken heart, carries these three verses with her:

You thought you’d make a fool of me

I was so blind but now I see

So now you’ve had your little joke

Guess I’m just warning other folk

You’d looked at me with those bedroom eyes

But your tender words I now despise

You broke my heart through and through

Well honey I’ve got news for you

Your designer clothes are now in rags

Packed up inside black plastic bags

Your car’s been scratched and it’s got a dent

Your name’s been taken off the rent

 (From “It’s Over” by Jan Allison)

RANI/ROSALIND, full of contradictory emotions and anger, as well as fierce independence, often recites this poem to herself, feeling guilty but not knowing what to do.

I was angry with my friend:

I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

I was angry with my foe:

I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears,

Night and morning with my tears;

And I sunned it with smiles,

And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,

Till it bore an apple bright.

And my foe beheld it shine.

And he knew that it was mine,

And into my garden stole

When the night had veiled the pole;

In the morning glad I see

My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

 (A Poison Tree by William Blake)

I love the magic of words, both in prose and poetry.

Ravinder Randhawa

www.ravinderrandhawa.com

@RealRavs

https://www.facebook.com/ravinderrandhawaauthor/

Sophie 

Wolf by Wolf, Ryan Graudin

Pages: 379

Publisher: Indigo

Release Date: 5^th November 2015

Edition: UK trade paperback, November Illumicrate book

Other Titles by this Author: The Walled City

Once upon a different time, there was a girl who lived in a kingdom of death. Wolves howled up her arm. A whole pack of them – made of tattoo ink and pain, memory and loss. It was the only thing about her that ever stayed the same.

Germany, 1956. Over ten years since the Nazis won the war.

Seventeen-year-old Yael is part of the resistance, and she has just one mission: to kill Hitler.

But first she’s got to get close enough to him to do it.

A captivating and unforgettable story from The Walled City author, Ryan Graudin.

Even though lots of my friends have said Wolf by Wolf is one of their favourite books of the year, I was a still a little hesitant to read it, but I'm glad I did.

I don’t like reading about wars, but particularly WWI and WWII – I think my brain has been oversaturated with them at school. I'm sure we studied WWII at least four times? So Wolf by Wolf being an alternate history set in 1956 where Hitler and Axis won the war and the Nazi regime is still going strong, I wasn’t sure if my curiosity would be enough to make me want to read it. Luckily for me, it was the November Illumicrate box so I had no excuse but to give it a go!

The whole premise behind this novel is fascinating. The ramifications of Hitler taking over Europe and spreading into Asia, while the US standing by and declaring no sides, is a terrifying idea, and one that doesn’t feel too impossible with the way of the world at the moment. All of the horrors we’ve learned about in classrooms for the last 70 are still going strong in Yael’s world and she's one of the persecuted. The cruel experiments carried out on prisoners are famed, and without the end of the war, they carried on and got more and more terrifying, and Yael’s has developed the ability to skin shift. It saved her life over and over again and helped the resistance beyond measure, and know she’ll be putting it to the ultimate test.

The motorbike race from Germania to Tokyo is a test of endurance, strength, skill and the ability to survive, and though Yael’s journey was fraught with danger from the sabotage of other contestants, the drama of someone doing everything in his power to protect her and the fear of not succeeding in her task to kill Hitler at the victory ball, I rarely felt the desire to pick up Wolf by Wolf. I was fascinated by the premise, I thought that Yael and her backstory were really well-drawn and interesting, Ryan Graudin has some really beautiful turns of phrase, and yet I didn’t feel anything. Until the final 100 pages.

I was blown away by the last quarter of Wolf by Wolf. Yael had come to the last section of the race and the tension was insane. Sabotage, danger, emotional manipulation and fear flooded the final pages and at 10 pages from the end, I legit had to put the book down for ten minutes to get my sh*t together before I carried on. It was almost painful tension and I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time a book had such a visceral effect on me. And in those last few pages, I was so shocked by what happened that I immediately looked to see if there was a release date for the sequel yet (sadly not). The ending completely turned this book around for me and left me wondering that maybe I was just in the wrong mood for the first 280 pages?

Wolf by Wolf is an alternate history that you won't forget: clever, unexpected and terrifying real.

Sophie