Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Following a discussion with a friend a week ago I revealed I had read little to no books about Vampires and such like, and was subsequently presented with the complete Twilight series to read! Yikes...these on top of the bulging box of books...I'm obviously a book magnet to those who know me!!

Despite my towering pile of books I thought I owed it to my friend to read these first on a promise of an early return of them.

Slightly sceptical I delved into the first page and came out gasping at the final page only to grab the next in the series New Moon and carrying on.....which is to follow this review as i finished it just ten minutes ago!!

After moving to the rainy, dull town of Forks, Bella Swan begins a new school only to meet the alluring and mysterious Edward Cullen and his family. Intrigued from the off she entwines herself deeper and deeper into their life finally revealing their dangerous secret. They are a family of Vampires. One drop of her fragrant blood could send any one of them into a frenzy to kill her. Still the bold and fearless Bella doesn't seem to mind and falls hopelessly in love with Edward.

A twisted love story and a must for anyone who thinks of Count Dracula when they think of Vampires. Give it a chance, I was pleasantly surprised....bring on the next one!!

9/10

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

After being given an unbelievably large box bulging to the brim with books of all different kinds of genre's I did what I always tell people not to do, and made my choice based solely on the front cover! The pixelated picture of a green eyed girl intrigued me and remembering Margaret Atwood featured in the BBC top 100 list, for Handmaid's Tale, my choice was made.

The story is narrated by a character calling himself Snowman. He lives alone in a tree, wrapped in a sheet, starving to death. Slowly the story reveals a past of dangerous levels of genetic engineering, public lack of boundaries and a shocking ideology from his friend Crake, who it seems is behind Snowman's current situation.

Alone with a green eyed tribe created by Crake, with few human instincts left, Snowman, formally known as Jimmy embarks on a dangerous journey not only to find food but to find answers. The world has come to grief and Snowman thinks he is alone...but is he?

A breath-taking in-depth read. Scarily poignant in today's genetically modified environment. Has Atwood predicted the future? I certainly hope not!

8/10 as the ending didn't do the book as much justice as it deserved.

Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell

As an avid fan of Sex and the City, I was eager to get stuck into Lipstick Jungle. From the first page however I just wasn't feeling the characters or the storyline. I can't put this down to the quality of the writing of the imagination of the story both of which were classic Bushnell at her best. I think my lack of connection to the book as a whole was more than likely due to personal experience and having no common bonds with the experiences, lifestyles and antics of the characters.

I love fashion and all things related so Victory's character was my favourite, however I felt that the representation of men in this book was too chauvinistic and unrealistic. I know that strong successful women are what Candace Bushnell does best, but I don't think this necessarily has to be done at the expense of the quality of their male counterparts.

Many story lines meshed cleverly together. Although it wasn't top of my list of favourites it was an enjoyable and quick-paced read.

6/10

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry

I heard about this book after reading the BBC's top 100 books we should all read in our lifetime, and decided to give it a go. I embarked on it with no preconceptions or expectations not to mention prior knowledge of the story. I was pleasantly surprised upon reading it that it is so much more than a children's' book.



It was published in 1943 in French Le Petit Prince and has since been translated into 180 languages and has sold more than 80 million copies (+1 since I just bought it!!) making it one of the bestselling books ever. That alone was a good enough selling point for me to try it out! Although it is written with children in mind, the book also covers many ideologies that will perhaps be missed by a child. The main essence of the book comes from a conversation with a fox and the Prince whereby the fox tries to teach the boy what is most important in life; "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible with the eye." So simple yet so profound.





A Pilot forced to land his plane in the lonely Sahara comes across a little Prince from another planet who not only enchants the pilot but opens his eyes to the way modern man has lost their childhood perspective. It is quite humbling to read and all of us can see our reflection in one or more of the characters illustrated in the story.



Beautifully written with an innocence that is both alluring and raw. This story makes us all face the child within and see where we have got lost in the adult world.



9/10 - A book for everyone.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Dennis Lehane is most known for his private eye novels, and his particularly famous novel also turned into a film Mystic River however Shutter Island proves to be very different. Also made into a film very recently, soon to be released on DVD starring Leonardo Decaprio.

I actually picked this book up on Saturday morning at about 10am and had it finished by tea time. I know I read fast but this book was brilliant. Gripping, intense and truly harrowing.

It is a psychological thriller, and I can honestly say being a big coward that I usually am, this book isn't scary...as you can see by my reviews I'm not a great fan of scary books anyway!

US Marshal Teddy Daniels embarks on his investigation to Shutter Island, a remote hospital for the criminally insane, hoping to find a missing patient. After finding a number of cryptic clues Teddy begins to suspect all is not as it seems. Will he ever leave Shutter Island?

Chilling and intensely clever, this book is not at all what it seems. I need someone else to read it now so I can debate what they think about it too!! I will definitely be reading the book again to see if I can break it down even more!!

Truly fantastic.

10/10

Beach Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones and Anonymous

Imogen Edward-Jones has written yet another spectacular inside look into an industry we rarely see from behind the scenes. After reading Hotel Babylon and Fashion Babylon I am hooked on her great reveals into industries we all wish we had backstage passes to!

Her "Anonymous" contributor has given her a magnitude of shocking and revealing stories, all true, that she has been able to cleverly collaborate into a space of one week on a luxury tropical island.

Things most of us would only dream of and never experience in a lifetime are handed to these resort guests not just once a day but whenever their fancy takes them. Thousands of pounds on champagne, the finest foods and 6 star treatment, nothing is too much and the guests expect it all.

With a cast of millionaires, celebrities, and prostitutes what more can a person want on a sunny afternoon, sipping a cocktail and reading about how the other half live!!

8/10

The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

I rarely read a book after having seen the film, as knowing how it will end takes some of the allure away from the story for me, however knowing that film adaptations are often rather different (My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult being one that springs to mind) I decided to give the book a chance.

One day later and several laughs I closed the final page of a truly brilliant read. Maybe it is safe to say this book is not one for the boys, but fans of Kinsella rarely are!

Reading Rebecca Bloomwood's compulsive, crazy story gave me in plain black and white a scarily accurate description of how we feel entering shops, buying new things, the feeling we get, the buzz and then....the guilt. Can I afford it? Did I really need it? (Usually no and no!!)

Rebecca is in debt and to cheer herself up, rather than facing the situation she continues on her journey merrily filling her bags with shiny new things along the way. Her interaction with the other equally vivid and vibrant characters and her mishaps along the way are very funny, making the book hard to put down.

Although it is written in a fun a frivolous way there is a strong message for all us girls who like to shop. Moderation, and sensible spending!!

8/10