The Guilty One - Review

 The Guilty One- By Lisa Ballantyne

'Some things can never be forgiven' 

This book follows closely the past and present life of main character, Danny Hunter through alternating chapters. In the present Danny is working as a solicitor in London and is about to embark on case that really makes him question the juvenile criminal justice system. The defendant Danny is defending is eleven year old Sebastian Croll, who has been charged with the murder of an innocent eight year old boy.At the same time as this Danny is also dealing with the grief of the death of his foster mother, Minnie, who he has disregarded for fifteen years for something he once felt unforgivable.

In the past we follow Danny growing up from when he is first placed into Minnie's care. At first Danny hates the thought of being moved into a different home and is determined to get back to his mother and made any attempt to scare/upset Minnie. However Minnie's parenting/disciplinary methods are of something that he has never encounter before and he is shocked of her calm persona. During this element of the book you really see how the relationship changes between Minnie and Danny and how Danny grows up to be the person he is today. It also helps to explain why Danny emphasises with his client, Sebastian so well.

Overall I love the way the alternating chapters work together as they really make you understand how Daniel has become the person he is in the present. I also love how the book raises awareness of issues such as domestic abuse and parent/child relationships within these environments. As well as the issues of the juvenile criminal justice system and raises questions such as 'When is a child old enough to be responsible for their own actions?' and whether a custodial sentence really the best outcome for a child of that age.

Also on a personal level this book as also made me think about myself and my own relationships and whether somethings are just best to be forgiven and moved on from, rather than spending your life resenting that person.

I absolutely loved this book it hits your funny bone and at the same time pulls on your heart strings and also makes you look upon your own life. So over all I would rate this five stars.

 






 

The Fault in our stars - Review

The Fault in our stars- John Green

The fault in our starts in an heart felt story which follows the story of Hazel Lancaster, a sixteen year old girl suffering from thyroid cancer who also has a large colony of cells growing in her lungs which means she cannot breath without an oxygen tank.

At the start of this book, Hazel, likes to spend time at home in bed watching television. Her mom believes Hazel is depressed so she encourages Hazel to attend a teenage cancer support group. Hazel does not disagree that she is depressed but is happy to live the life she is as she feels as though there is no point. However she decides to join the support group as she feels as though it's worst for her parents having a child with cancer than having cancer her self.

Hazel doesn't think much of the support group but she soon makes friends with Issac, a boy who was about undergo surgery to have his eye taken out to cure him of cancer of the eyes, leaving him completely blind. A few weeks forward, Issac, brings along his friend Augustus Waters, who Hazel is instantly drawn too but is apprehensive at first as she sees her self as a grenade. 

Augustus is, as well drawn to Hazel and then invites her to watch a film at his house. Here the two finds a common interest in reading and literature and then swap book titles. One book in particular the two connects with is a book called the Imperial Affliction,  a book about a young girl with cancer. The book ends with an unfinished sentence and the pair are determined to find out what happens next. This leads onto a trip in Ansterdamn where they meet with the author of the book, Peter Van Houten. The meeting with Peter did not work out the way they intended to be but it didn't stop them enjoying their trip where they then built a relationship together. However when they return back home to Indianapolis, the story takes a heart breaking turn.

Over all I really enjoyed reading this book as it really makes you think about life and how you choose to live it. As well as this I really enjoyed the witty creativity of this book and the metaphoric phrases. I especially love the point that was made to Maslow's Hierarchy of needs as it really makes you think how much people can underestimate the possibilities in life and the amazing things could achieve.

Throughout this book I both laughed and cried and I really feel as though it is a story that you could keep close to your heart for the rest of your life. Furthermore I would recommend this book to anyone as I feel as though it is something that any human being will be touched by this.   

Over all a definite 5 stars.
 

  

Warm Bodies - Issac Marion

Warm Bodies by Issac Marion- Review 

Warm Bodies follows the story of, R, a 'zombie' who lives in plane in an abandoned airport. R has no memories of his living life and no identity. All he has from his past life is the clothes he died in and the first letter of his name. However R seems different to the other 'zombies',he seems to see and think things differently.

R then meets Julie, a girl who is on a mission with a group of others, whilst R and his friends are looking for food. R and his friends attack most the others but after eating the brains of a guy named Perry he feels a sudden urge to protect Julie.

R takes the panic struck and fearful Julie, to his plane where he tries to keep her safe for what is meant to be a couple of days.  Through out these days R and Julie get to know each other and find many common grounds and R soon falls in love.

Julie however doesn't belong at the airport and needs to get back to her home and to her father in a war destroyed part of America.  When Julie returns home, R feels lost without her company.
Whilst all this is going on back in the airport things are changing for the 'zombies' and war breaks out as the beyond rotted 'zombies' or Boneys are not happy with the changes happening.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I really enjoyed reading the unexpected love story between R and Julie. I also love the way Issac wrote about R's feelings about the way the he and those like him are described as zombies and none human. It really shows how he thought about human characteristics and how the society works. I also love the way how he jumped from what is physically going on to the thoughts and memories of Perry as it built a lot of tension and made me want to continue reading to find out what happens next.

Overall I would rate this book 4 stars as I really did enjoy this book and I would recommend this book to anyone who loves paranormal romances.  

Life of Pi

Life of Pi  by Yann Martel - Review

'One Boy, One Boat, One Tiger'
This book is an excellent written adventure novel, full of detail leaving a vivid image in your mind. The book is split into three different parts. The first is about Piscine Patel's 'Pi's' life growing up and about his religious journey of being a practicing Hindu, Christian and Muslim. As well as this it explains Pi's family life of living with his dad, a business man and zoo owner, who likes to think himself as a business man from New India, who doesn't have time for religion.

The second part is when Pi and his family immigrates to Canada, taking along with them most of the animals from the zoo so that they can sell them to zoos in America. However the ship they travel on to Canada sinks and Pi is left on a life boat with a hyena, zebra, orangutan, and a Bengal tiger. The first three animals dies one by one leaving Pi with the Bengal Tiger, named Richard Parker. In order to survive, Pi is tested day by day by facing various challenges, completing tasks you could never imagine another human being completing.

The third is an interview between Pi and a couple of Japanese officials who questions Pi about the shipwreck and how he survive. Pi then tells the gruesome story of how he and Richard Parker survives. Of course the officials are not impressed as they feel the story is implausible so Pi tells a slightly different story changing the animals to human beings with similar qualities.

Over all I didn't really enjoy this book. As I stated earlier on it is well written and full of detail but I personally feel that it takes a while to get to the point, especially the first part which seems to drag the most. I also felt really disappointed reading this as I watched the film first and the film was a lot different. To be honest I wish I read the book first as then it probably wouldn't have seemed to drag as much.  With all this in mind I will rate this book three stars as it is okay and brilliantly written but at the same time I feel slightly let down.
 
   

A street cat named Bob.

A street cat named Bob- James Bowen Review

This book tells the heart warming true story of recovering drug addict, James Bowen, and the intelligent ginger tom he finds injured in the hallway of his sheltered accommodation. James tells the story of how he took the ginger tom in and nursed him back to health and quickly christens him Bob. James wonders where this unique, intelligent tom comes from and tries to let him out on the back of streets of London. However Bob has other ideas and quickly Bob and James become a team when busking on streets of London.

This story will definitely make you smile but unfortunately doesn't really keep you that interested as the book seems quite repetitive and poorly written, I felt this book was slightly tedious.

Overall this is a lovely heart warming story but due to the lack of excitement and interest I am only going to rate this two out of five stars.

 
Related Youtube clips 
 Short Documentary about the book:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MePaWG7g5FA
 

Pandemonium- Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium Review


Did delirium leave you lost for words and begging for more? Well it sure did me. Pandemonium the 2nd book of the Delirium trilogy continues Lena's story with alternating chapters going from then and now.

The then chapters tell the story of Lena's new life and battle for survival in the wilds where there is a shortage of supplies and day by day the whether is getting colder and colder and her group has to battle their way up north. However this does not come as easily as there are more attacks from the other side and people are becoming ill.

In the now chapters it tells the story of Lena's first mission of being part of the resistance however she does not know the full plan and clueless when she finds her self as a prisoner with the leader of the DFA, Julian and has to find a way to escape.

I loved this book as every single page kept me reading. There is so much suspense and so much mystery through out this as there are so many questions to be answered. However what I don't like about this book is the way the chapters are laid out as some are only a few pages long and others are sixty pages long so at times it could be a bit tedious to read. Despite this I think this book is amazing and the way Oliver rights this and creates suspense I can guarantee that you wouldn't be able to put this book down.


4 star rating. Great book but not as good as Delirium. 

Please Don't Make Me Go Review

Please Don't Make Me Go- John Fenton

 
Abused by his father and torn away from his mother to live his life in an approved school for young offenders. This story tells the true story of John Fenton and his courage.

From an early age John and his family were abused by his coward of a father. This was up until the age of thirteen when his father went to far and John had to stand up for his grandma. From that day onwards John's life was turned upside down as he was sent St Vincents Approved School where him and many other teenage boys faced further physical and sexual abuse from the Catholic Brothers and other boys. Also during these hard times he built strong friendships with best friend Bernie who was another boy who had to face the abuse and the Father of the church, Father Denaney, who shared with him a passion of reading.

Throughout these years, John adapted to the school and learned to look out for himself and his friends within these conditions and because of his strong courage he manage to make a great difference.

A must read, this story will capture your emotions and I can guarantee you will wouldn't want to put this down. I would rate the 4 stars.  

Delirium- By Lauren Oliver 

Delirium is a incredible book which is first of the Delirium trilogy. It is told by eighteen year old Lena in the future. The story is based in the alternative future in Portland and the story is about the love being a disease called-Delirium.  A cure has been found but can only given to those over the age of eighteen. Lena can not wait but up coming events changes her way of opinion.
The book covers the themes of love and war and its beautifully written.
I am sure that you definitely fall in love with this book I was not able to put this book down.
Five star rating!!