A Klash of Kings

A Klash of Kings

By: George R.R. Martin

Book two in the game of thrones series. As with the previous book I find myself more reading the book and waiting for events to occur than actually enjoying what has been written on the pages. I like it but am to distracted from the TV series. I hunt for differences and subtle changes in all the chapter find myself analysing how they did this or that. Everything just feels like a prolonged journey until I can open book three and actually get to enjoy each page as they should be enjoyed: With anticipation, dread and curiosity.

Beacause of this I will only give it a three.

Page count: 3 215 + 969 = 4 184

Elsas hemlighet

Elsas hemlighet

By: Sofi fahrman

I have finally gotten around to read the last book in the triology about Elsa the fashion blogger by Sofi Fahrman (here you can read my reviews from the first and second book). Yes I was not impressed by the first book, neither the second and surprise the third is the same.

Yes it is easy to read and you finish it quickly, but I just hate the moral in the book: You can basically screw up as many times possible with your boyfriend AND still get him back, You can make a severe fool of yourself in your job AND still keep it, you can make a fool of yourself in almost any possible living situation AND still have your dignity!

Yes I know its fiction, but this is soo wrong, it gives the stupid blond fashion loving girl that has no brain stamp. I know there are many smart blond fashion loving girls that has managed to make careers without sheer luck/ sleeping their way to the top. yes Elsa the main caracter apperently has a sharp eye for details and is good at what she does, but why is she still so stupidly naive in the third book, make so many rookie mistakes that I am honestly to be ashamed to be a woman that loves fashion, has a brain and now how to behave in many of the sutuations Elsa clearly does not, but she still manages to keep her cred in the fashion world?!

Oh well chicklit as it should be I guess. If you want to hide behind the pillow, be annoyed at blond stupid girls well read it and learn how NOT to behave!

I give it a 2.

page count: 3 215

Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist 

By: Charles Dickens

Another book completed on the top 100 books to read. I really really enjoyed reading  this book, although I managed to get hold of a copy with the tiniest font ever and written in old english. It took me quite a while to complete it.

Oliwer is raised in a orphanged and when he is around 7 years old moved to become an apprentice. Due to some unfortunate events he ends up running away and ending up with the wrong crowd in London. But he is rescued by a man that takes care of him when he gets sick and brings him back into health. Then he gets kidnapped by the thieves and scumbags that he ended up with ones before. Lets just say that Oliver is on quite a rough path and all of those that means him well either ends up dead or disapears from his life in unfortunate ways.
But thankfully this is a story that ends up in the best possible way giving him some sort of redemtion and the life he deserved from brith.

I give it a 3.

Page count:  4 702 + 265 = 4 967

Elsas Värld

Elsas Värld

By: Sofie Fharman

I don't now why. I don't like this series, but yet I have to read them. And yes I will most likely by the thrid and finaly book to just to see how it end.
So what is it that I don't like with these books then? I can't stop reading them I finish them in one go and almost longe to be able to sit down and read the last pages. So what is it then??

Its Elsa the main character, I'm sorry but how stupid can you be, how much can you get away with and still keep your job, partner, friends?? AS she behaves she would have nothing in real life that would be the case she would have nothing. And the sex there is so much awsome sex, for 21 years old she is really really experienced and brave (ok you can be brave at 21 don't get me wrong).

I give this book a 2.

Page count: 4 293 + 409 = 4 702

Summer and the City

Summer and the City

By: Candace Bushnell

This is the second part of the story of Carrie Bradshaw before she met Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte. IN this book she has just arrived in New York and will send the summer there. And oh boy is this a summer when everything happens. As with the first book I really enjoyed it and finished it within a 48 hr period.

I loved to read about how Carrie met Samantha and Miranda and really really hope that there will be more books in this series. It sort of ties together the story from the start. I would even enjoy a Tv-series made by these books. But I think  ihave to be realistic here and admit that they will NEVER be able to reach the high standard of Sex and the city and that I will most likely only be horribly disapointed.

I donät really like how naive Carrie is, but have realized that this seem to be a thing for chiclit heroines. And yet again you can make mistakes and still succed and get where you want in life.

I give this book a four.

page count: 3 884 + 409 = 4 293

One day

One day

By: David Nicholls

Right before I was going to Mexico a dear friend gave me her copy of  one day and told me I had to read it. It was a slow read I will admit that & the mo re reviews I read the more the book actually worried me. Was this a book I really wanted to read when I had just left my heart in Sweden and not nowing where we were standing.
As the trip in Mexico moved on so did the book and at one point I just couldn't stop reading it. I was reading it every single moment I had a spare time (ok I was reading any book as soon as I had a spare time at that point).

I found out by a comment on facebook that this is a book that will make you cry. I never cried, was sad, but there was no tears. From such a wonderful story how could I NOT cry!!!! What was wrong with me. OK lets just say that the trailer at the cinema made me cry (no not the movie, the trailer).

I feel this is a book that I Have to read again when my emotional side and I am mentally well again. I want to be able to enjoy this book in full, because it is such a beautiful story and I regonize myself in so many parts in the book.

I give this a five

page count: 3 570 + 314 = 3 884

I'll let you go

I'll let you go

By: Bruce Wagner

I went for the cover. After having gone trough all the books that I felt were readable at the two internet cafe's in Catemaco I had to opt for a new strategy when it came to finding books to read. It was that or reading stephen king for the rest of the summer. Let me tell you our house and a Stephen King novel is the perfect match for an unhealthy dose of imagination, as long as you don't count on sleeping or things like that.

So I opted for I'll let you go and oh boy did I like it or what. Its one of those stories where in the first few chapters you meet people from different worlds and you just now that their lives will merge and there is a lovely/ miserable story behind it all. Here your imagineation has to be vivid because there are some events that are just a little to surreal, but I think it was this quirkyness of the book that I really really loved.

With kids, money, psycological unhealth, death, architecture, bakery, homelessness, money, kids, social services, detectives, lost love, run aways, diabilities.

Yes t his book had it all. If you like quirky, unexpected out of the imaginatory stories. Well then this is for you. If not then I suggest you pick another book insetad.

I give it a 4.

Page count: 3 186 + 384 = 3 570

A walk in the woods

A walk in the woods

By: Bill Bryson

Bill Brysons travel journals how can you not love them? In this one we are hiking the longest hikinig trail in North America. As a hiker myself there were so many moments in this book where I could just sit and nod in agreement with experiences and feelings. 

This book brought back my urge to go hiking at the same time it reminded me why I am not a fully bonified hiker (the heavy backpack, the rain, the rustic living). In so many ways I was with him on the track and could feel what he felt & that is what I like with Bill Bryson. There is no glamorous light around what he writes, its reality and in so many ways you regonize yourself in so many situations.

I give this book a three


Pagecount: 2 967 + 219 = 3 186

Cause Celeb

Cause Celeb

 by: Helen Fielding 

Cause celeb is written by the same author that wrote Bridget Jones diary I & II. I have not read them (will one day). This is a love story about a broken heart & trying to win him back. But while trying to impress the guy she travels to Africa for her work. There she is affected by people living in refugees and shortly after coming back she decides to start working as an aid worker. Yes she runs away from her broken heart and this is the story about life in a refugee camp as an aid worker. 


I read this one while in Mexico living in a rural area and can easily say that because of my living situation I suspect that I was moved even more by the book, than if I would have read it back home. 
There are some obvious parts that you know from page one how it is going to tunr out, but I really liked the political side and the communication problems and felt that I could sort of relate to the main caracter in the book at the moment. 

I give this book a four.


pagecount: 2615 + 352 = 2 967

Next

Next 

By: Michael Crichton

Science fiction is not really my cup of tea, but when I found this one in the bookshelf at La casa de los Tersos where I trade my books I felt that it was something that a science geek like me should read.

It was good, but to be honest I would love to see this one made into a well made Hollywood motion picture. I think I would do even better.

What I really really like is that you don't really know what parts are true and what is fiction (except the genemodified animals). But when it came to all the lawsuits at one point I started getting bored.

Do you like genes, genemodification, hybrid species, multibillion dollar industries and law suits then this is the book for you. And yhea ofcourse high tech equipment. But you have to be somewhat of a science nerd I think to really really appreciate what it is the author writes about.

I give it a four.

Page count: 2097 + 528 = 2615

Last dance of the viper

Last dance of the viper

By: Brian Lysaght

Easy read, easy story. Maffia, serial killers, Innocent gets killed, stepbrothers, beautiful women, sex, money, drugs, weapon trade.

Yhea well I guess that sums it all up. Oh and of course alot of killing, trying to kill, guns fired, fists and lets not forget the LOVE!!


But do you know what I actually sort of liked the book. SO I will give it a four.


Page count: 1650 + 447 = 2097

Labyrinten

Labyrinten

By: Kate Mosse

I love these kind of books that remind me about "The Davinci code" where you are trying to solve an ancient mystery. Unfortunately I think I solved this one a little to early. As I guess most readers do as soon as all the main caracters have been introduced in the book (or its just me that is paying attention to the right things).

Other than that I like it that the books starts with a high intensity speed and then continues on the same level. But as always there is the slower part and I feel that this was in the end. I don't know why but the last few chapters the book just died for me. This in where I usually sit glued and uncontactable from the surroundings. Here I put the book down several times and felt no real rush to finish it of at all.

I give it a mere 3.

page count: 1030 + 620 = 1650

The Carrie diaries

The Carrie diaries
By: Candance Bushnell

Love, love, love. Carrie in senior year. Need I say more? I bought this one on the aiport and this was the best travelbook. When in Canada I almost bought the sequel "summer in the city", but decided to wait until its out in paperback.

So Carrie as a teenager is it anygood, yes I think so. You get a little of the background of how was she was as a teenager. What it was the made her move to New York and what her dreams where then. I can tell you that even in her early years she was struggeling with the boys.

Think that is why I like Carrie so much, all the bor problems. I can see myself in her in som many ways.

I give this book a five.

Pagecount: 602 + 428 = 1030

Förflutenhetns landskap

Oh my god where will I start. What a drag. A historical piece over where words and customs came from throughout history. It has taken med no joke over three years to finish this book.

But I gave it to mom afterwards because I think it is a book that she will enjoy. I didnot!

I gets a Zero.

page count: 567 + 35 (311) = 602

The pirates daughter

The pirate's daugther
By: Margaret Cezair-Thompson

Predictable, good, can't put the book down. Thats three phrases to describe this book with. And I also guess that from now on I'm a book thief!

I "burrowed" this one from the resort in Egypt. Just never mentioned when I would be handing it back (woops).

Yes it was a while since I read it, but for a beach/airplane book this was the perfect one. You have the drama, the love, the war, the rich and famous, the poor and suffering all taking place on Jamacia and a little in New York City. Not a masterpiece but well worth reading when relaxing on your holiday.

I give it a three due to the predictedness of the book.


page count: 168 + 399= 567

Dygnkåt och hur helig som helst

Dyngkåt och hur helig som helst
by: Mia Skäringer

This is one of the books that I recieved for christmas. I'm sad to say that i'm not to impressed by the book. Sure it was easy to read and I finished it within two days (a 5½hr flight included), but no this was not my cup of tea.

The book consists of individual columns and blogg posts and I don't like that. I want my stories the page turning, dreaming away into my own world that I create from the story in the pages written. Hence I only give this book a two.

page count: 168

Fjäril vingad

Fjäril vingad
By: Johanna Svensson

This book is written by a teenager for teenagers. It is actually one of my students that have written it and that is the sole reason why I got it in the first place. So how did I like it?

Yes its a teenage book with lots of emotions as you go through when you are 17 years old. In many ways I could regonise myself, but in others it was just a little to perfect and simple. No its not a girl who get everything she wants but after an argument with your mother being allowed to live with your grandmother I found hard to belive. Or maybe that is because my parents would never have let me do that after breaking a boys heart! If so I would have been banished from home by age 19 and never let back in the house...

I could not put the book down and afterwards I was left with so many feelings and thoughts that it surprised me.

I give this book a four.

page count: 7 152 + 183 = 7 335

Stranger on a train

Stranger on a train

By: Jenny Diski

This was one of the books that we were supposed to read this summer for the reading circle. I never had time to read it during the summer or fall. It wasn't really until I started commuting with the train to and from uni that I really got into it. The author is travelling around America by train. We get to follow her on two separate trips when she is traveling alone. It the people she met, the feeling she has and the evnts during the trip that makes me wanna take a similar trip. I love meeting new people and getting to know their story. Most often I tend to do this while sitting on a platform, airport, busstation, backpacker bar etc. My favorite qoute is from the end of the book and it spoke straight to my heart "Journeys come to an end before they end, just as they begin before they begin - with the arrival of anticipation. "

It almost made me pickup smoking again.

I give this book a 4.


Page count: 6 852 + 280 = 7 132

Swallowing darkness

Swallowing darkness
By: Laurel K. Hamilton

Oh my god, what is this? Fantasy Porn?? I finished the book a while ago, but still haven't gotten over the sex in this book.
The story, well I would have been happy if it said somewere in this book that its part 7 of a series. Yes you can read it independently as I clearly did and understood it fine. But when standing there on a ferry trying to decide what book to buy I think it is important that on the backside or someplace write out that this book is part of a series and especially what part it is. This I didn't find out until I got home and googled it.

Except it being book 7 and excluding the sex what did I think. For me this was a modern fantasy that has a good story, but for me it was to complex and to much going on at once. This might have something to do with there being 6 books previously. But I still can't get over all the group orgies and tentacls etc.

I need a new good fantasy series to fill my mind any tips out there?

I only give this a one and that is for the main story if it wasn't for that....

page count: 6 324 + 528 = 6 852

A short history of nearly everything

A short history of nearly everything By. Bill Bryson

I liked this book, but it took forever to finish. I'm sorry but some of those chapters are a drag. While other are awsome and you just can't stop reading. This is the type of book that you can pickup and read a couple of pages, put back down and leave for as long as you want and then start reading without having to go back. It is not the book that you need to finish within a week.

I feel like I have learned a little from this book, but being a biologist/zoologist alot is more a refresh, but its good when trying to explain for a non-biologist about natural history.

I give this book and four and think that everybody should read it.

Page count: 5 907 + 417 = 6 324