Review: Genesis

Genesis by Bernard Beckett

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I read other reviews before posting mine and I'm surprised by the love and amazement heaped on this book. Anax is participating in a 4 hour interview and the book feels like it's written in real-time as a description of occurrences. In fact, it's so close to real-time that I think it took me about 4 hours to finish.

I don't see any connection to 1984. At all. The only thing they share, in my opinion, is that neither book was entertaining or thought-provoking. I'm also curious about the reviewers' opinions about this not being YA because I am completely unable to see this as any level beyond teen.

GoodReads recommendations failed on this one - definitely not a great book for me.



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Review: The Other Side of the Island

The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



None of it worked for me. The wilds, the orderlies, the schools, the enclosures, the watchers. I was never pulled into the story and feel that I was reading an outline of a book because it lacked details and logic. I don't even see this as dystopia because there really isn't much to link it to current day except for a few lines about arctic animals. Just like 2 stars says, it was okay.



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Review: A Cold Day for Murder

A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I liked Kate and her home and routines and guard dog. Her friends and family were quirkier than usual but I accept that it's largely driven by their location, which separates them from most of the world. In most ways, this was an okay books - the location and lifestyles and odd details (flying out for alcohol, flying in for funerals, old trestle bridges, oil pipelines and their equipment) added to the interest. I read this on my iPod and it was perfect for reading while out and about because it was easy to keep track of the story. As an added perk, the end was a surprise.



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Review: Life As We Knew It

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



My daughter was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago and depends on insulin to live. With that diagnosis, I lost all ability to read any 'end of world' stories as the possibility was simply too overwhelming to consider. This book came up on the GoodReads Recommendations and I debated for awhile and then decided to read it, hoping that as a teen book it would be less intense and perhaps help me get over my fear of the genre.

It was less intense, definitely. The cruel gangs that rape, kill and loot were barely included. Schools continued to exist. People were able to get cash and find food in the beginning. Hospitals stayed open. Less fearsome, however, it was not.

Choosing a teen heroine was an interesting choice. At an age when I would expect a teen to grow up and help deal with the situation, she was selfish and prone to make bad decisions. There were moments, though, when her fears and confusion were clearly age-related and explained her behavior. I gradually realized that this is probably a very realistic response of a teen to such a serious situation. I give the author a lot of credit for finding that balance and doing such a good job of weaving a story around it.

I've already requested the second book in the story and I'm interested in seeing what happens in book 3 when this family comes back to the story again.

Oh, and I've rededicated myself to emergency food storage. I imagine that's a common response to any mom that reads this story and feels for the mother fighting for her children's lives!



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Review: Only Time Will Tell

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I was surprised by this book. I've always enjoyed Wilbur Smith's generational stories and this story is a similar, but less detailed, writing style. The book was somewhat difficult to read as the various voices confused the storyline. I can't think of another way to reveal the secrets and logic while maintaining the first person feel of the story but I would have enjoyed it more if a consistent narrator's voice told the tale.

This book could have been much more detailed and I would have loved it. So much had to be skipped to get the entire generation's story told in so few words.

I've already requested book 2 and I'm looking forward to learning more about Harry and Emma!



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Review: The Bungalow Mystery

The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Another classic detective story that my daughter and I read together. We both keep wondering when Bess and George are going to show up!

This book has more drama and excitement than the previous two and I wondered how my daughter would feel about. She loved it and now wants to be a detective!



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