Through the Letterbox (6)
Through the Letterbox explores the contents of my mailbox on a weekly basis. Of course I only mention the really cool things, like books! If you would like to participate and have your own “In My Mailbox” post, you can find more information here. (This post was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.) Thanks The Story Siren for this!
Firstly, I want to apologise for the lack of entry last week. I had a 12 hour shift at the Museum and by the time I came home, I was TIRED. So I went to bed. But I have had a good week and have loads of new books!
Nicholas Dane by Melvin Burgess
His most substantial book to date, this compelling story of a teenager caught in a corrupt 1980s Care Home is a powerful study of a particularly highly-charged and distressing subject. Handled with great sensitivity and engrossing narrative drive, it is an important addition to the understanding of how childcare can go so wrong. When Nick's mother dies suddenly and unexpectedly, the 14 year old is sent straight into a boys' home, where he finds institutional intimidation and violence keep order. After countless fights and punishments, Nick thinks life can't get any worse - but the professionally respected deputy head, Mr. Creal, who has been grooming him with sweets and solace, has something much more sinister in mind. Nick has no choice but to escape. Living on the run, he falls in with a modern Fagin, a cheerful Rasta who fences stolen credit cards and car stereos. The scarring, shaming experience he suffered at the hands of Mr. Creal can never quite be suppressed, and when the old hatred surfaces, bloody murder and revenge lead to an unforgettable climax.
[This book, I know will terrify me. Rape and torture and hatred do not make for light reading. When I met him and he signed my book, he told me that he hoped that I wouldn't enjoy this book. It isn't for enjoying.]
Killing God by Kevin Brooks
Dawn Bundy is fifteen. She doesn’t fit in and she couldn’t care less. Dawn has other things on her mind. Her dad disappeared two years ago and it’s all God’s fault. When Dawn’s dad found God, it was the worst time ever. He thought he’d found the answer to everything. But that wasn’t the end of it . . .
[And how great is this, for the talk the book was allowed to be sold almost a month before its release date! In the talk, an infamous line on page 21 of this book was mentioned. I read it and COULDN'T believe that he had written it. I asked him to write something on that page and he did, and I would post a picture of that but I do not want it to spoil it to all of you who want to read this book and I know it will offend.]
The Ant Colony by Jenny Valentine
Number 33 Georgiana Street houses many people and yet seems home to none. To runaway Sam it is a place to disappear. To Bohemia, it's just another blip between crises, as her mum ricochets off the latest boyfriend. Old Isobel acts like she owns the place, even though it actually belongs to Steve in the basement, who is always looking to squeeze in yet another tenant. Life there is a kind of ordered chaos. Like ants, they scurry about their business, crossing paths, following their own tracks, no questions asked. But it doesn't take much to upset the balance. Dig deep enough and you'll find that everyone has something to hide.
[This book really interests me. Jenny talked about how much she loves writing about strange relationships and friendships and I am looking forward to reading about this one. It also warmed my old heart when she talked about her work in the talk]
Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine
Morganville. Texas. Just south of normal. In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans coexist in (relatively) bloodless harmony. Then comes Bishop, a master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of the evil dead, and let chaos rule. But Bishop isn't the only threat. Violent black clouds promise a storm of devastating proportions. As student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against the elements - both natural and unnatural - the unexpected happens: Morganville's vampires begin to vanish one by one. Discovering why leads Claire to one last choice: swear allegiance to Bishop...or die.
[This is another book that was allowed to be sold ahead of its release date because Rachel Caine was doing a book tour in the UK. Sadly this time I couldn't see her because I was in the middle of my exams, but she did sign all her books for me! But she did spell my name wrong but I blame that on the woman who took down my details over the phone. Some people reallly find my name hard. Anyway, I am devouring this series and loving every minute of it. Can't wait untill I get to book five. And it glows in the dark! How cool is that?!?!]
And these are books I managed to get from the library.
Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind by Marilyn Kaye
Thirteen year old Queen-of-mean Amanda Beeson, wakes up one morning in the wrong body. She's become lonely, unfashionable Tracey Devon - one of Amanda's targets for bullying. Amanda discovers that Tracey, ignored at home and at school, has the ability to turn invisible. Amanda sets out to rescue her one-time victim from obscurity - as well as rescuing herself from Tracey's life.
[I read some of her old work a long time ago and back then I loved it. I hope this is just as enjoyable!]
The Queen of Everything by Deb Caletti
"Nothing like that happens to people like me, not to people like my dad, who changes the oil in his car and pays his bills on time... I mean, imagine it. Your father. Your father. I can tell you, though, it does happen. To people like me." Up until now, 17-year-old Jordan's biggest problem in life was dealing with her hippy-dippy mom, the kind of woman who "might suddenly flop out a boob" to nurse her little brother. She much preferred the company of her calm, measured father, "a Shredded Wheat and All-Bran guy," who never embarrassed her in front of her friends. That's why Jordan is stunned when her nice, divorced dad starts acting like a lovelorn teenager over one of their neighbors, Gayle D'Angelo. True, Gayle is pretty, but she's also married. Too proud to let anyone in their cloistered Pacific Northwest island community know, Jordan decides to handle the situation herself. She tries everything from directly confronting her dad, to dating local thug Kale Kramer in a misguided attempt to gain her father's attention. But nothing seems to work, and when Gayle's husband goes missing and the police name Jordan's dad as a suspect, Jordan's life rapidly spins out of control.
Maximum Ride: Max by James Patterson
Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy and Angel, six extraordinary kids who can fly, are back for another wild adventure as they try to save the world ...and themselves. Maximum Ride and the other members of the Flock have barely recovered from their last arctic adventure, when they are confronted by the most frightening catastrophe yet. Millions of fish are dying off the coast of Hawaii and someone - or something - is destroying hundreds of ships. Unable to discover the cause, the government enlists the Flock to help them get to the bottom of the disaster before it is too late. While Max and her team are exploring the depths of the ocean, their every move is being carefully tracked by Mr. Chu - a criminal mastermind with his own plans for the Flock. Can they protect themselves from Mr. Chu's army of mercenaries and save the ocean from utter destruction?
[Once upon a time I loved this series and I loved everything by James Patterson. Then he stopped writting and sub-contracted his ideas onto other people. Who cannot write. And have chapters about the size of a page and font the size of my hand. And his books are all abotu environmental issues. Well, use smaller font and probably billions of trees would be saved. But I do want to know what happns to Max and the rest of them. Though I am almost convinced that it will be nothing more than a filler for a subsequent sequel]
And that is it!!
What did you guys get? Anything good?
Live long and prosper!
xoxo
Firstly, I want to apologise for the lack of entry last week. I had a 12 hour shift at the Museum and by the time I came home, I was TIRED. So I went to bed. But I have had a good week and have loads of new books!
Nicholas Dane by Melvin Burgess
His most substantial book to date, this compelling story of a teenager caught in a corrupt 1980s Care Home is a powerful study of a particularly highly-charged and distressing subject. Handled with great sensitivity and engrossing narrative drive, it is an important addition to the understanding of how childcare can go so wrong. When Nick's mother dies suddenly and unexpectedly, the 14 year old is sent straight into a boys' home, where he finds institutional intimidation and violence keep order. After countless fights and punishments, Nick thinks life can't get any worse - but the professionally respected deputy head, Mr. Creal, who has been grooming him with sweets and solace, has something much more sinister in mind. Nick has no choice but to escape. Living on the run, he falls in with a modern Fagin, a cheerful Rasta who fences stolen credit cards and car stereos. The scarring, shaming experience he suffered at the hands of Mr. Creal can never quite be suppressed, and when the old hatred surfaces, bloody murder and revenge lead to an unforgettable climax.
[This book, I know will terrify me. Rape and torture and hatred do not make for light reading. When I met him and he signed my book, he told me that he hoped that I wouldn't enjoy this book. It isn't for enjoying.]
Killing God by Kevin Brooks
Dawn Bundy is fifteen. She doesn’t fit in and she couldn’t care less. Dawn has other things on her mind. Her dad disappeared two years ago and it’s all God’s fault. When Dawn’s dad found God, it was the worst time ever. He thought he’d found the answer to everything. But that wasn’t the end of it . . .
[And how great is this, for the talk the book was allowed to be sold almost a month before its release date! In the talk, an infamous line on page 21 of this book was mentioned. I read it and COULDN'T believe that he had written it. I asked him to write something on that page and he did, and I would post a picture of that but I do not want it to spoil it to all of you who want to read this book and I know it will offend.]
The Ant Colony by Jenny Valentine
Number 33 Georgiana Street houses many people and yet seems home to none. To runaway Sam it is a place to disappear. To Bohemia, it's just another blip between crises, as her mum ricochets off the latest boyfriend. Old Isobel acts like she owns the place, even though it actually belongs to Steve in the basement, who is always looking to squeeze in yet another tenant. Life there is a kind of ordered chaos. Like ants, they scurry about their business, crossing paths, following their own tracks, no questions asked. But it doesn't take much to upset the balance. Dig deep enough and you'll find that everyone has something to hide.
[This book really interests me. Jenny talked about how much she loves writing about strange relationships and friendships and I am looking forward to reading about this one. It also warmed my old heart when she talked about her work in the talk]
Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine
Morganville. Texas. Just south of normal. In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans coexist in (relatively) bloodless harmony. Then comes Bishop, a master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of the evil dead, and let chaos rule. But Bishop isn't the only threat. Violent black clouds promise a storm of devastating proportions. As student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against the elements - both natural and unnatural - the unexpected happens: Morganville's vampires begin to vanish one by one. Discovering why leads Claire to one last choice: swear allegiance to Bishop...or die.
[This is another book that was allowed to be sold ahead of its release date because Rachel Caine was doing a book tour in the UK. Sadly this time I couldn't see her because I was in the middle of my exams, but she did sign all her books for me! But she did spell my name wrong but I blame that on the woman who took down my details over the phone. Some people reallly find my name hard. Anyway, I am devouring this series and loving every minute of it. Can't wait untill I get to book five. And it glows in the dark! How cool is that?!?!]
And these are books I managed to get from the library.
Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind by Marilyn Kaye
Thirteen year old Queen-of-mean Amanda Beeson, wakes up one morning in the wrong body. She's become lonely, unfashionable Tracey Devon - one of Amanda's targets for bullying. Amanda discovers that Tracey, ignored at home and at school, has the ability to turn invisible. Amanda sets out to rescue her one-time victim from obscurity - as well as rescuing herself from Tracey's life.
[I read some of her old work a long time ago and back then I loved it. I hope this is just as enjoyable!]
The Queen of Everything by Deb Caletti
"Nothing like that happens to people like me, not to people like my dad, who changes the oil in his car and pays his bills on time... I mean, imagine it. Your father. Your father. I can tell you, though, it does happen. To people like me." Up until now, 17-year-old Jordan's biggest problem in life was dealing with her hippy-dippy mom, the kind of woman who "might suddenly flop out a boob" to nurse her little brother. She much preferred the company of her calm, measured father, "a Shredded Wheat and All-Bran guy," who never embarrassed her in front of her friends. That's why Jordan is stunned when her nice, divorced dad starts acting like a lovelorn teenager over one of their neighbors, Gayle D'Angelo. True, Gayle is pretty, but she's also married. Too proud to let anyone in their cloistered Pacific Northwest island community know, Jordan decides to handle the situation herself. She tries everything from directly confronting her dad, to dating local thug Kale Kramer in a misguided attempt to gain her father's attention. But nothing seems to work, and when Gayle's husband goes missing and the police name Jordan's dad as a suspect, Jordan's life rapidly spins out of control.
Maximum Ride: Max by James Patterson
Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy and Angel, six extraordinary kids who can fly, are back for another wild adventure as they try to save the world ...and themselves. Maximum Ride and the other members of the Flock have barely recovered from their last arctic adventure, when they are confronted by the most frightening catastrophe yet. Millions of fish are dying off the coast of Hawaii and someone - or something - is destroying hundreds of ships. Unable to discover the cause, the government enlists the Flock to help them get to the bottom of the disaster before it is too late. While Max and her team are exploring the depths of the ocean, their every move is being carefully tracked by Mr. Chu - a criminal mastermind with his own plans for the Flock. Can they protect themselves from Mr. Chu's army of mercenaries and save the ocean from utter destruction?
[Once upon a time I loved this series and I loved everything by James Patterson. Then he stopped writting and sub-contracted his ideas onto other people. Who cannot write. And have chapters about the size of a page and font the size of my hand. And his books are all abotu environmental issues. Well, use smaller font and probably billions of trees would be saved. But I do want to know what happns to Max and the rest of them. Though I am almost convinced that it will be nothing more than a filler for a subsequent sequel]
And that is it!!
What did you guys get? Anything good?
Live long and prosper!
xoxo