Bogormen

Title: Jane Eyre
Author: Charlotte Bronte
Genre: Classics
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 402
Date read: April 2007, August 2009

Summary: Jane, the heroine, is an orphan, being raised by her cruel Aunt Reed. Tired of her troublesome charge, Mrs. Reed sends Jane to board at Lowood Charity School, where she discovers a new way of life, sometimes as cruel as her time at Gateshead, sometimes full of friendship and laughter. Presently, she accepts the job of Governess to the precocious daughter of Mr. Rochester in Thornfield Hall, and falls in love. She discovers inner strength and self-worth through the redemptive power of that love.

Review: Jane Eyre is a true classic. It's not a quick read, but one that allows you to savour and enjoy the atmosphere and the characters described. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the way the plot twists and turns towards the ending.

A delightful book that dares to take things slow, without falling into the trap of being long-winded.

Book List

I've been on a "Famous Five" kick lately. However, the books are too short for me to do a seperate review of each one, so I'll do them in batches of ten instead. I really enjoy "Famous Five" books (though some more than others obviously), but always get so HUNGRY when reading them. They're constantly eating! ;-) Anyway, they're comfort books and always good for whiling away half an hour.

Author: Enid Blyton
Genre: YA, mystery

Review:
Five On A Treasure Island, 8/10
The very first Famous Five adventure featuring Julian, Dick, Anne, and tomboy George along with her beloved dog, Timmy. There's a shipwreck off Kirrin Island, but where's the treasure? The Five are on the trail, looking for clues... but they're not alone and time is running out.

Five Go Adventuring Again, 7/10
There's a thief at Kirrin Cottage! The Famous Five think they know who it is, but they need to prove it! Where can they find evidence? The discovery of an old map and very unusual hiding place is all they need to get to the bottom of this mystery and uncover the true culprit!

Five Run Away Together, 10/10
Who's been on George's island? What is locked inside the the mysterious trunk hidden on Kirrin Island? The Famous Five think they're on the trail of smugglers- until they hear a child scream... Probably my favourite Famous Five book.

Five Go To Smuggler's Top, 7/10
Can there still be smugglers at Smuggler's Top? The Famous Five go to stay at the large old house, and discover lots of brilliant hiding places, even underground tunnels! Then they catch people signalling out to sea - who are they?

Five Go Off In A Caravan, 9/10
On their caravan holiday, the gang are thrilled when they stumble across a circus troupe. Unfortunately some of the circus people have more sinister plans than just clowning around. Another of my favourites.

Five On Kirrin Island Again, 6/10
What is Uncle Quentin up to, all alone on Kirrin Island? He won't let anyone visit, not even George and the rest of the famous Five. But Uncle Quentin isn't really alone on the island - someone is watching his every move.

Five Go Off To Camp, 6/10
Spook trains in the middle of the night! And they seem to vanish into thin air - but where do they go? The Famous Five are on to it. But the discovery of an unusual underground tunnel system, and a train-service, has them puzzled. If they follow the tracks, will they solve the mystery? I'm not too fond of this one. Julian takes charge too much and leaves Anne and George out of things, despite repeatedly saying that George is "as good as a boy", he obviously doesn't mean it.

However, I love the fact that the Five actually AGE in these books. It's not like BSC where they're 13 forever. In the first book Julian was 13, now he's 16 which fits!

Five Get Into Trouble, 7/10
The Famous Five are distraught! Dick has been kidnapped - mistaken for somebody else! The gang finally track him down to a lonely, abandoned house but then they too are seized and held captive. How will the intrepid Five get themselves out of this mess?

Meh... Okay, but not much more.

Five On Adventure, 7/10
Julian, Dick and Anne are really worried - George and her devoted Timmy have just disappeared! Not only that, somebody has broken in to Kirrin Cottage. Could there be a connection? The Famous Five think so, but it's going to be tough getting to the bottom of this mystery.

Five On A Hike, 8/10
Famous Five are on a hike together, but Dick and Anne get seperated from the rest, when they get lost during a rainstorm. Dick is puzzled when he's woken by aman handing him a note and passing on a mysterious message? And when the Famous Five hear of an escaped convict in the area, they are on red alert. The police won't help, so the Five have no choice but to solve the mystery alone.

Book List

Title: Far Above Rubies
Author: Cynthia Polansky
Genre: World War II
Rating: 10/10
# pages: 256
Date read: April, 2007

Review: Far Above Rubies is based on the authentic story of Tante Soof, a Dutch Jew who at a late age marries into a family with six stepdaughters. When the occupation comes in 1941 and Hitler orders all Jewish teenagers to be sent to work camps, Soof (or Sofie) refuses to let her daughters be sent away on their own, and insists on accompanying them to the work camp they are sent to. Once there she does her best to keep up their spirits and health – often going without herself, in order to give them a bit more water or food. Unfortunately she can only do so much, and when they are sent to Auschwitz it is all she can do to keep herself alive.

I hope this book will eventually become as well-known as "The Hiding Place" and "The Diary of Anne Frank" when describing the lives of Dutch Jews during World War Two. It paints a vivid picture of their daily lives, and of the atrocities performed by the German soldiers, expressed very eloquently in the words of one of the guards at Auschwitz, "Nobody will help you. Even if you do survive [Auschwitz], who’s ever going to believe you?" Fortunately word got out, and we do believe her.

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." (Proverbs 31:10) When reading Far Above Rubies, it is obvious why the author decided to tie this verse together with the story of Tante Soof. A woman more compassionate and loving would indeed be very difficult to find – a woman willing to give up her life for that of her stepdaughters, leaving behind the love of her life, in order to take care of his daughters to give him the peace of mind that at least the 7 of them are together. (Written for Armchair Interviews)

Book List

Title: clearblueskye
Author: Katherine Rowland
Genre: Christian fiction
Rating: 8/10
# pages: 191
Date read: April, 2007

Summary: Skye Davis is in a rut, and she knows it. It had made sense to return home after college graduation - but she hadn't expected to spend more than a year running her parents' business. But a devastating event - and Skye's reactions to it - separated her from everything and everyone that had once mattered. In one stroke, Skye's outlook on life had been completely altered.

Feeling stranded in Santa Cruz, California, Skye allowed her best friend Scarlett to talk her into creating an online journal. Skye was skeptical, but the timing couldn't have been better. When her younger brother comes home for the summer and brings along his friend Greg Blevins, Skye finds herself with only her online friends to confide in.

As Skye is forced to cope with distracting emotions, meddling relatives, maddening friends, and a mysterious benefactor, the memories and pain of the past threaten to overwhelm her. Faced with the truth of what she has become, the wall that she had so carefully built around her heart starts to crumble. But when the wall falls to the ground, will it crush Skye for good - or set her free? (From http://www.rowlandweb.com/books)

Review: I had lots of fun reading this book. First of all because it's simply a good plot, and one I can easily relate to. Secondly because a lot of it is in blog form, which I always enjoy (blog, journal, letters etc.). Thirdly because I had a small part in writing this book! When krikketgirl was writing it, she called for volunteers who'd read Skye's blog and reply to it as if it were a real blog. Obviously I volunteered, and several of my comments were included - verbatim - in the book! You would not believe the thrill it gave me to see my name under "Acknowledgements" and to read words I'd written in an actual, published book!. Wow :-D I highly recommend this book to others. I found it very easy to relate to Skye and even learned some truths about myself along the way. Well done, Kat.

Book List

Title: Snake in the Grass
Author: Alan Ayckbourn
Genre: Play
Rating: 6/10
# pages: 48
Date read: April, 2007

Summary: Miriam has cared for her father in the family home during his vituperative last years with the help of a creepily polite nurse, Alice. On Father's death, Miriam's older sister, handsome, divorced Annabel, comes home after over thirty years in Tasmania to find Daddy has left the bulk of his fortune to her. Alice complains to Annabel that Miriam has sacked her and is intent upon blackmail, having evidence, she says, that Miriam did away with the old man. Scatty Miriam and tough Annabel join forces against Alice and the blackmailer's body is soon hurtling down the well, but all does not end there... (from the back of the book)

Review: I don't often read plays, but my best friend told me she's taking part in this one, and as she lives in NZ so I can't go see her perform, I thought I'd read the play so I'd at least know what she was talking about. It's almost a Dean Koontz type story. Pretty good for reading, but I'm not too sure how it'd work on a stage.

Book List