Notes of Life

To play along, all you have to do is answer the following 3 questions…

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Here are my answers…

What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading Blacklands by Belinda Bauer. I bought the book back in February this year. I was in Marylebone train station with an hour until my train departed, so after getting some food I made my way to WH Smiths and took some time looking at the books they’d got on offer (It’s not a big store by any means, in fact it’s titchy, but I really did spend quite some time in there!). I ended up buying 4 books (they were on offer – buy one, get one half price, or something like that) – 3 for me and 1 for Mum. ‘Blacklands’ was one of those books and I’ve finally got around to reading it.

It was the cover that first grabbed me. The back cover made me even more intrigued, with it’s short handwritten letter and the words “He was only twelve, he reasoned; he couldn’t be expected to get stuff like writing to serial killers right the first time.”.

The inside front cover sealed the deal for me, with it’s description of 12 year old Steven digging holes on Exmoor in the search for the body of his uncle that he never knew, who had disappeared aged 11 and was assumed to have fallen victim to serial killer Arnold Avery. Steven’s nan isn’t convinced her son is dead and she still waits for him to come home.  Steven is trying to heal the cracks in the family that appeared long before he was born and decides to secretly write a letter to Arnold Avery in prison, this starts a dangerous cat & mouse game between the child and the killer.

I’m currently a third of the way through the book and it’s an interesting read so far.

‘Blacklands’ is Belinda Bauer’s debut novel and it was featured as a ‘Best Read’ on the Channel 4 show The TV Book Club in January of this year.

What did you just finish reading?

Yesterday, I finished reading ‘Hunted by the Others‘ by Jess Haines.

It was a good read (I started it on Sunday evening and finished it within a couple of days (which is good going for me!). It’s the 1st in the series, with ‘Taken by the Others’ (the 2nd book in the series) being due for release in January 2011 (and I can’t wait!). If you like urban fantasy then give this one a go!

You can read my review of the ‘Hunted by the Others’ in my previous post.

Jess’ contest (PST) ends at midnight tonight!

What do you think you’ll read next?

I’m not sure, but I’ve got a whole pile of books to choose from! I’m thinking maybe The Tree of Seasons by Stephen Gately.

Readers outside of the UK/Ireland/Europe might not know who Stephen was. He was a member of the Irish boyband (or should that now be “manband) Boyzone, a Westend star and more, before his untimely death at the age of 33 in October last year.

Stephen had been near to completing his debut fantasy novel ‘The Tree of Seasons and so using the sufficient notes Stephen had left about the ending, his partner and friends were able to ensure the last few pages were completed and the book published. Stephen’s dream of becoming a published author came true on 13th May 2010, but sadly he was not alive to see it.

Read about the book on the publisher’s website.

So there’s what I’m reading, what I’ve finished reading and what I’ll most likely be reading next. What about you?

Why not join in with WWW Wednesdays at Should Be Reading?!
You might come across some books to add to your reading list.

From the back of the book…

They are the Others – the vampires, mages, and werewolves once thought to exist only on our imaginations. Now they’re stepping out of the shadows, and nothing in our world will ever be the same again…

IN A TOWN LIKE THIS, BEING A P.I. CAN BE MURDER

Shiarra Waynest’s detective work was dangerous enough when her client base was strictly mortal. But ailing finances have forced her to accept a lucrative case that could save her firm—if it doesn’t kill her first. Shiarra has signed on to work for a high-level mage to recover an ancient artifact owned by one of New York’s most powerful vampires.

————————

I came across ‘Hunted by the Others‘ by Jess Haines while reading a review of the book on a book blog (sorry, I can’t remember who’s) around the time the book was being published. I read a bit of urban fantasy, though I do find it’s got to take my fancy, but I liked the sound of this book and duly ordered a copy from The Book Depository. I finally got around to starting it on Sunday evening and I’ve already finished it just two days later… It’s rare that I finish anything that quickly, but I found the book compelling and just had to keep reading.

There’s rarely a dull moment in this book and the end of each chapter had me turning the page for the next. The book is written from Shiarra’s perspective, so we get to read her inner thoughts on the oh-so-charming vampire Royce, Chaz (her ex-boyfriend who happens to be a werewolf) and other people around her. I found it easy to sympathise and connect with Shiarra – she’s a human who’s desperate for money to pay off the ever-increasing bills (we’ve all been there, right?) and as much as she doesn’t want to take on this case, she doesn’t have much of a choice. She’s frightened of dealing with the ‘Others’ and I would be too! Shiarra finds herself getting deeper and deeper and can see no way out of it (that doesn’t end with her or her family/friends coming to harm).

I found myself pulled in and immersed in the story, compelled to turn the pages and read on. The story was fast paced, with action and tension, and even some humour. Over all, ‘Hunted by the Others’ was an enjoyable read and I’d definitely recommend it!

I’m looking forward to meeting Shiarra and co’ in the next book (Yes, ‘Hunted by the Others’ is just the first in the series). ‘Taken by the Others’ is due for release in January 2011 and I can’t wait, having already read the teaser at the end of ‘Hunted by the Others’!

I came across this book having already read and fallen in love with another book written by Markus Zusak – The Book Thief. I love the way Zusak writes and was looking forward to getting into ‘I am the Messenger‘, especially when a quote on the back of the book from Publishers Weekly says “Don’t start this compulsively readable book without enough time to read it straight through to the final page.”. (I have a different cover to the one featured here).

‘I am the Messenger’ is about Ed Kennedy, an underage cabdriver who doesn’t have much of a future. His mother doesn’t think much of him and he spends time playing cards, being in love with his best friend, Audrey, and hanging with his smelly, coffee-addicted dog, ‘the Doorman’. This peaceful routine without much of an impression on the world is all he has, that is until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. Shortly after, Ed gets a card in the mail, not a greetings card, a playing card – the Ace of Diamonds to be exact. This is when Ed becomes the messenger.

Ed has been given a mission and it seems to be one he can’t turn down. With clues from the cards, Ed does what he has to. However, one thing is bugging him… Who’s behind it all?

I loved reading this book. I love Zusak’s style of writing and the way he tells a story. The book is narrated by Ed himself. He introduces us to his friends and to the people he meets in a way that you feel you might know them. Even The Doorman (the dog) has it’s own unique personality!

This is one of those books that is thought-provoking, funny, heart-warming and dark, and it’s one that you won’t want to put down. I read it in 3 sittings and it was quite late at night when I finished it because I just had to find out the ending. When I had finished reading ‘I am the Messenger’, I’d gotten the message (this might sound a bit cryptic if you’ve not read the book, but a recent sad event in my life also gave me a similar message) and so I’m going to get on with it. Honestly, how many books can you say have really left an impression on you?

As I’ve mentioned before, I love the way Zusak writes his books and this book is no different. The book is split into parts and each part represents a playing card (always an Ace), and each chapter is numbered using the rest of the deck of cards as well as given a title which gives you a hint about that chapter. I love it when things like that are done imaginatively.

This book is actually aimed at teenagers, but don’t let that stop you from reading it if you’re an adult. It’s been a decade since I was a teenager and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to anyone from a teenager to those with kids and beyond.

I also recommend Markus Zusak as an author. If you’ve not read ‘The Book Thief’ then that’s definitely another book of his that I’d recommend.

Read an excerpt from ‘I am the Messenger’.

Confusing, eh? I always turn right, but one day I’ll have to turn left, just for a change!

The funny thing is you can also go to Llanidloes from the direction I’d just come from!

Posted for Thematic Photographic 103 – Sign of the times.

To play along, all you have to do is answer the following 3 questions…

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Here are my answers…

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently in the middle of I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. It’s about Ed, an underage cab driver who doesn’t have much of a future. His life pretty much consists of his job, playing cards, being in love with his best friend Audrey, a mother who swears at him and his coffee-drinking dog. That is until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. Not long after that, a card arrives in the mail. Not a greetings card, a playing card giving him a mission and this is when Ed becomes the messenger.

You can read an excerpt of I am the Messenger over at Zusak’s website (basically, it’s the first few pages of the book).

I came across this book having read and fallen in love with another of Markus Zusak’s books – The Book Thief – and so far, I’m enjoying this one too.

What did you recently finish reading?

The last book I read was Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper. It’s based around a true story and it’s another book I enjoyed reading and definitely recommend. You can read my review here.

I received an email from Mary Hooper yesterday thanking me for my “terrific review” of Newes from the Dead, she also sent me a trailer for her latest book – Fallen Grace. I’ve already read good things about Fallen Grace and can’t wait to read it (I’m waiting for my next Amazon voucher from Dooyoo before I buy it, though I really shouldn’t buying more books as I bought 2 at the weekend and was given 2 on Sunday for my birthday!). Anyway, you can find the Fallen Grace trailer on YouTube.

The book I read before Newes from the Dead was Angelology by Danielle Trussoni (which I got via GoodReads.com). Another good read and probably not one I’d have picked up myself, so I’m glad GoodReads.com selected me to receive it.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Once I’ve finished I am the Messenger, I’ll be digging into Hunted by the Others by Jess Haines. I’m looking forward to it.

Check out Jess Haines’ blog for more information. She’s currently running a competition and also links to other giveaways.

So there’s what I’m reading, what I’ve finished reading and what I’ll be reading next. What about you?

Why not join in with WWW Wednesdays at Should Be Reading?!
You might come across some books to add to your reading list.