Oh my, Willy Vlautin, why haven't I heard of you before?

This book, is the heart-breaking story of fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson and a quarter horse called Lean on Pete.

All Charley wants from life is stability, friends, to play football, and to stay at one school for a while. A place to call home, really.

Denied this, Charley finds solace in his early morning runs. One day he passes by Portland Meadows, a run-down horse racing track. There he meets Del, an ageing trainer, who gives him a job, and Charley spends most mornings there, along with a couple of overnight trips to other tracks. (Overnight trips his father barely notices.) Charley finds a bond with one of Del's horses, the titular Lean on Pete.

When something happens to his father, Charley steals Pete, and Del's truck and trailer and sets out across the country in the hope of finding his aunt, who he has not seen for years, but who is the only other family he knows.

I maybe painting a picture of a horribly bleak read, but really it's anything but, and that is down to Charley's voice. Vlautin has managed to capture a teenage voice just right. There's a simplicity in the story telling (think of the "What I did on Holiday" stories you had to write at school), and the only times we really get to see what Charley is thinking or feeling is when he is talking to Pete.

If they're as good as this, I'll be certainly searching out more of Vlautin's novels.

Read the full version of this review at: Bart's Bookshelf.

Unfortunately despite a couple of attempts now I've not really been able to get into this one. Whilst I've not read enough to really comment on the writing, I think it's more of a case of this one not really being the book for me.

This is not a book I would normally pick up off the shelves so I’m thankful to the publisher, Canongate and the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program for sending it to me.

Unfortunately I didn’t really enjoy it.

Whilst at times it is funny, but ultimately reading it is a fairly cold experience. Most of the characters are not particularly likeable or easy to care for and for someone like myself, who gets the best from a novel, when I love the characters I’m reading about, it’s always difficult connect with these ‘difficult’ characters.
Still, as I said earlier, there are moments, when the characters and the situations they get themselves in are quite funny, and the writing is sharp and easy to read.

There’s also a non-linear structure to the novel, which jumps about in time and storylines occasionally and I did think that this worked well and suited the story, using the two main plot-lines to contrast and reflect on each other, whilst never quite showing you the full picture.

For those that like to avoid such things, there’s a fair bit of sex going on in the book, but none of it particular titillating or sexy, for the most part there’s an comfortableness about it – for both the reader and the participants.

If you enjoy stylish explorations of obsession and dysfunctional relationships, and have less of a need to like your characters than I do, you’ll definitely get an awful lot more from this obviously cleverly written novel than I was able to.

Verdict: show more Decent – but not for me.

Bart's Bookshelf show less

I wasn't sure what I was going to make of this one, when Ellen emailed me to ask if I wanted to review it, I've not read a lot of what is classed as middle-grad fiction, even though I have read tonnes of young adult stuff, but the plot intrigued me, and I thought the cover was fantastic, so I agreed to give it a go.

I'm so glad I did. Owen, is a wonderful self-depreciating character, and I loved getting to know him and his sarcastic wit. :) while following his journey, as he finally starts to put the events of the last two years behind him, and regains the belief in himself to move forward...

Read and comment on my full review at:
Bart's Bookshelf

A relaxing, enveloping kind of read, and one I think most people would find hard not to enjoy.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/04/08/seventh-son-by-orson-scott-card/

After reading a few books by Tim Bowler now, I can say with some conviction, that he, like Marcus Sedgwick, is one of those authors that never talks down to his target audience, and in fact writes complex, intelligent books that challenge even the most sophisticated teenage reader and yet at the same time enthrall them with a gripping tale.

And, Storm Catchers, is certainly that, a taut tightly written thriller that grabs you from the off, and mixes in mystical elements, as two seemingly separate storylines begin to converge, Bowler then throws the reader for a loop, with an fantastic ending, that while, if you’ve been following events carefully, it doesn’t come as a complete surprise, the effects on the family are breathtaking.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/05/01/storm-catchers-by-tim-bowler/

It kept me gripped throughout, and I read it in a thoroughly entertaining two sittings.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/04/07/the-dead-girls’-dance-morganville-v...

While not perfect (for example, any reader, with at least some experience of reading fantasy novels will see most of the plot twists coming) but it is carried off with such charm, and so likable are the characters that any faults are totally forgivable.
Read and comment on my full review at Bart's Bookshelf

For the most part I did enjoy the novel, the characters were varied and interesting, and the story weaves in some nice interesting historical information, and it was most certainly an entertaining read. But, when the it was all over and done and the final page turned (at least of the novel itself). Something was missing. Looking back, nothing much seemed to happen in it, some of the plot threads promised more than they delivered.

This was made up for a little bit by the appendix at the end, which explains some of the facts around which the story is based, and these really did add something to the experience.

But, I was still left with the feeling, that whilst what was there was excellent, it could have been even better.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/03/25/bourbon-island-1730-by-appollo-lewis-...

We follow Zoë, as she makes new friends, settles in to the community and deals with the events as they start to unravel. Thankfully, Salzi chooses not to just rehash those events from a different point-of-view, but also flesh them out and give us new information.

As I mentioned earlier, Tavia Gilbert, narration is amazing, she perfectly caputures Zoë’s snarky sarcastic attituse with her friends, but also easily gets across the characater’s intellegence and compassion, her voice creaks with emotion at one point (if you’ve read either this book or The Lost Colony, you’ll know where) and as the reader/listener your emotions will be seriously shredded. :)

This is certainly going to be one of may favourite books of the year, and Zoë is one of my new favourite literary characters.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/03/27/zoes-tale-by-john-scalzi-narrated-by-...

It is everything a good young adult book should be, it is both intelligent and complex, and treats the reader as if they are too.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/03/29/apocalypse-by-tim-bowler/

All in all Marked (House of Night) is a fast, light, and enjoyable read (particularly for those who enjoy The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Cain).

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/03/15/marked-a-house-of-night-novel-by-pc-k...

Mixed feelings on this one. It’s often referred to as being “J.K. Rowling… Russian Style…” (There’s even a blurb on the front cover to that effect). I think that this is a completely unfair comparison to Rowling’s world just as it is to Lukyanenko’s. Yes both are, darkly epic tales, set in richly detailed, imaginative, worlds with a war waging between good and evil (and the duality of the grey areas in between), but where Rowling’s tale inspires a page turning frenzy, Lukyanenko’s is more one to settle into and wrap around you.

Partly because of the JK Rowling comparsion, It took a little while for me for me to adjust my pre-conceptions and truely settle into the book, and partly because I don’t think this was helped by some clunky phrasings in the writing, I don’t know if this is down to the original Russian or the translation, but there were times when I had to skip back a paragarph or two, just to truely get a fix on what was being said or done.I suspect that if I could read fluent Russian then the original version would score a 4.5 at least. And I can easily see why the books are as big a success as they have are.

As it is, I was just not as caught up in the, fantastic setting, plot and characters as I could have been. Still, now that I am settled into the world, I have high hopes for the next in the series: The Day Watch (Watch, Book 2).

Read and comment on my full review at:
show more target="_top">http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/03/21/the-night-watch-by-sergei-lukyanenko/ show less

A short book at just over 90 pages, and easily readable over a leisurely hour or two, but it is also manages to be utterly charming and amusing. Hanff’s very forward, friendly and wittily sarcastic style, quickly brings the professional and slightly conservative Frank Doel out of his shell and each and every letter is a delight to read.
A lovely book and you wont be disappointed if you invest the few hours of your time it asks of you.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/...

can’t say the plot blew me away, it feels like it is exactly what it is, a set up for the rest of the series (Hino, states as much at one point in the notes, explaining that the main purpose is to introduce the characters) and as such it felt a bit throw-away to me, instead of addiction forming. A shame because what I’ve read about the following books it does improve exponentially. But I’m not sure if I’m going to be picking up any future editions, too many other books calling out to me that are ahead of this series.

I may not have loved the storyline, but I do have to say the artwork is great, and obviously had a lot of time spent on it, with individual characters all looking unique, and the detailing on the Cross Academy uniforms is impressive.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/03/19/vampire-knight-v1-by-matsuri-hino/

It’s the kind of book I’d love to enjoy more than I ever do, that is not to say I disliked the book, I didn’t but in the end I didn’t love it either.

I did enjoy the writing style though, which switches the narration between the two sisters and plays with different styles of narration. But in the end it wasn’t quite as powerful or effecting as I initially thought it was going to be.

Read and comment on my full review at:
Bart's Bookshelf

This is a slightly different book to the first two in the trilogy, with the bang bang action of the first to giving way to political maneuvering and much more time is spent on the characters and the sometimes minute of their lives. This works well, because when it becomes obvious the Colonial Union are playing with there lives, you care even more new colonists.

And can I just say how great it is to have John Perry back! He has got to be one of my favourite characters of the last few years reading, and his sarcastic one-upmanship with his assistant Savitri Guntupalli, is a joy to read.

John and Jane are also joined by their daughter, Zoe, who does her best to both mock & love her 90-year-old adopted dad. I can’t tell you just how much I am looking forward to meeting Zoe properly in her own book, Zoe’s Tale, which follows the events in The Last Colony from her teenage point-of-view.

While, there is less action in this book, it is certainly not missed, Scalzi once again, excels at writing characters and their interactions and that is what makes his books so much fun to read. And this one is no different. Excellent, excellent read.

I’ll be honest, it’s not my favourite amongst the ten books that make up the two series, and there are signs that ideas and enthusiasm were reaching their natural stopping point, however there was a high standard to follow in the series, and just because it doesn’t quite reach those dizzy heights does not mean, it is not an excellent read in itself. And it is an entirely appropriate ending for the series.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/02/26/circle-of-flight-by-john-marsden/

All, in all an excellent read, your skin will crawl and your blood will race, and the next time your cat looks oddly at you, you may just shudder a little!

Most entertaining.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/02/25/parasite-positivepeeps-by-scott-weste...

A very well written and intelligent look at a teen recovering from a traumatic event, and I love the fact, that no blame is laid, and that there are no easy answers, or fluffy-bunny-hug instant cures, it’s all the more powerful (and realistic) a story, for the fact, Marina still has long journey ahead of her.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/02/22/so-much-to-tell-you-by-john-marsden/

Reading this book I was very much reminded of my experience in reading M.T Anderson’s, Thirsty, in that whist it is certainly an okay-ish if sometimes sluggish read, with a decent-ish plot, and I can appreciate that it is well written and does what the author intended it do, I just did not enjoy it, and in fact the whole experience left me a little empty. (the clue is in all the ish-s!)

The book tends to score a higher rating than I have given in, and fairly positive reviews, and as I said earlier, this is certainly not a badly written book, but while I am going to stick with my rating of 3 stars, I will admit that if I had been in a more conducive state of mind to the book’s mood, then it would have likely maybe a 3.5/4 depending. But such is the Russian roulette of reading. Mostly the timing is right, sometimes, it aint.

Hey ho…

On with the next one!

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/02/18/blood-and-chocolate-by-annette-curtis...

...if this book doesn’t make my top books of the year list, then I have some bloody good books to read between now and December, this is a powerful page-turning adventure story that will linger long after the last page is turned.

Read and comment on my full review at:
Bart's Bookshelf.

Yes, the book contains a little too much exposition at times, which then affects the pacing, but this is only a really minor niggle, Scalzi continues to ‘build’ an interesting and complex world, that hints at future storylines, some of which will be told and some of which won’t be, (this is a good thing as it’s good to know the world does exist outside of the 300 or so odd pages of the book.)

But the book’s real strong point once again, is the characters, and the narrative. All of the main characters (new and old) are all interesting to get to know further – as are many of the more minor characters, and much of the ever present humour in the series comes from their interactions and banter.

Which leads to the story’s central strength which is the journey of Jared Dirac from, ‘new born’, to a member of the Ghost Brigades, while also learning is also partly the traitor Charles Boutin, through the person he is at the end. (And no, I’m not going to say, who or what that is, you’ll have to read the book to find that out!)

Another fun and thoroughly entertaining read.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/02/09/the-ghost-brigades-by-john-scalzi/

I think it can be safely said, being thirtysomething and male, I am not in this books target demographic. But, then again, I was hardly in the Twilight Saga’s either, and I enjoyed that series. So, there I was a week off of work and looking for some light reading, I thought what the heck, I’d give it a go. And you know what? I enjoyed this one too!...

What can I say, I’m a sucker (oh, cut the groaning ;) ) for a fun characters and a good dynamic between friends in my reading and the residents of the Glass House, certainly are and have that. The plot while not overly complex, serves the story well, and lays down some decent groundwork for the rest of the series, and I shall certainly be picking up the next in the series (not least because the book ends on an unnecessary – but never-the-less very effective cliff-hanger.)

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/02/05/glass-houses-morganville-vampires-1-b...

It's a short book, but Bowler does a good job of making you like Jess and her family in the early part of the book, necessary for the emotional ending to work. And yes I enjoyed it, and the ending is great, but for me some of the magic of Starseeker just wasn’t there.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/02/03/river-boy-by-tim-bowler/

Just like Alsaka, John Green fills An Abundance of Katherines with fantastic characters, and you can’t help but love the three main characters of, Colin, Lindsay and Hassan. Colin and Lindsay, through there attempts to find themselves and Hassan, for being the best kind of friend for Colin, and being completely hilarious!

And this book is as funny as it it touching (the scenes in Lindsay’s secret hideout, are wonderful as much for as what is not said between her and Colin, as for what is) , with some real laugh out loud moments, especially with some of the footnotes, but mostly from the relationship and banter between Colin and Hassan.

Is it as good as Looking for Alaska? No, not quite, partly because I don’t think the flow is quite as good, but really, I think because, it doesn’t have the emotional gut-punch moment of Alaska. But it’s right that it doesn’t, it would spoil the book for the same trick to be attempted again.

Once again, just brilliant. Can’t wait to find myself a copy of Paper Towns.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/02/01/an-abundance-of-katherines-by-john-gr...

In Special Agents, it seems anything that would actually add depth to the series, is overlooked to jump straight into the action, and this is a real shame, because I enjoyed the concept, and the characters, and there was some nice dialogue, and a genuine warmth between the team.

I don’t mean to sound so down on them, because they were enjoyable reads, and Maddie is a nice character to hang the series around, they just could have been more.

I guess where the series succeeds is that it does exactly what it is designed to do, appeal to the reluctant younger teen, relatable characters, snappy plot, and little to distract you from it once you start reading (they are also very quick reads, I read them both in a little under three hours combined), but I do feel other series do that, and are still able to build in the depth which ultimately provides a more rewarding experience.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/01/29/special-agents-deep-end-and-final-sho...

In Special Agents, it seems anything that would actually add depth to the series, is overlooked to jump straight into the action, and this is a real shame, because I enjoyed the concept, and the characters, and there was some nice dialogue, and a genuine warmth between the team.

I don’t mean to sound so down on them, because they were enjoyable reads, and Maddie is a nice character to hang the series around, they just could have been more.

I guess where the series succeeds is that it does exactly what it is designed to do, appeal to the reluctant younger teen, relatable characters, snappy plot, and little to distract you from it once you start reading (they are also very quick reads, I read them both in a little under three hours combined), but I do feel other series do that, and are still able to build in the depth which ultimately provides a more rewarding experience.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/01/29/special-agents-deep-end-and-final-sho...

Told in semi-alternating chapters each one narrated by either Jarrod or Kate, we learn about their adventures and more about the two of them, this works really well and helps maintain a sprightly pace that keeps the pages turning (you want to learn what the other feels or thinks about what is happening.

Both of the main characters are mostly likeable, although Kate’s persistence in pushing Jarrod to accept the truth before he is ready, does want to make you want to knock some sense into her. ;)

Certainly worth the read if you come across a copy.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/01/28/old-magic-by-marianne-curley/