fairywhispers's "2009 Bookshelf"

This book started out well and the story has great potential. Unfortunately, the author failed to live up to the promise. This was a very boring book with loads of unnecessary digressions (did we really need a blow-blow account of the races?) from the main story. I wouldn’t read it again.

According to the cover, The Life of Riley is “A family story about the quest for happiness…and sex, greed, gluttony and revenge.” This is true, but this story is also about learning to know oneself. It is about knowing what you want from life and having the courage to reach for it.

In the beginning of this book, none of the Riley’s are truly happy. Why? Because they are shuffling along, leading the lives they’ve landed in without ever once stopping to take note of whether it is what they truly want. When Maude Acacia, the Matriarch of the family gives them a financial incentive to do so, most of them find the courage to follow their hearts.

This book is easy to read. It is amusing and the characters are people we can relate to because, despite their riches, they face the same everyday problems as us. As with most families there is jealousy, envy and rivalry, but in essence what this book is really about is happiness and the journey we take to get there.

Shadows is a good book to read at night, and the plot was interesting. The concept of true artificial intelligence is always scary, especially when that intelligence wakes up and realises the total power and control it can wield. I quite liked the ending of this book as well. Having said all that, however, I come to the book’s main handicap – it’s forgettable. It is just one day since I finished reading Shadows and I’ve already forgotten my feelings and impressions while reading it. In my opinion, an enjoyable read, but not worth a second look.

Stone Cold isn’t overly great in the thrills department. However, it is well-written with very realistic descriptions of what it is like to live on the streets. The plight of homeless young people and the callous, uncaring attitude shown them by many in society is highlighted by this story and, while it is set in London, it is relevant to us all. More should definitely be done to keep these kids safe, sheltered and fed. This is a good book for tweens and teens.

This was fairly average and predictable, even for a teen novel. The characters were shallow and textbook, the plot done to death, the twists weren’t the least bit surprising and the thrills were entirely absent. Definitely not on my recommended reading list.

Mummies: Unwrapping the Past is short, but it manages to cover a lot of ground. Punctuated throughout with pictures and photographs, this book explains what mummies are, various mummification processes (and the reasons behind it) and the scientific techniques used to study mummies. Written in language simple enough for the layman to understand, this is the perfect introduction for teaching children about the world of mummies.

The Way-Paver is a wonderful collection of short stories.
Passages: This is a riveting story with an interesting twist at the end.The House: A story of betrayal that delves into the mind of an abandoned wife.Sam: A story of choices and love gone wrong.First Bite: A little confusing, but still a good story.The Journey to Somewhere Else: A journey through memory lane and a ghost story all in one. Not thrilling, but enjoyable.Life Lines: Another story of betrayal, this time delving into the mind of the betrayer.Naming the Names: This was probably my second favourite story in the collection. It is the story of an act of betrayal by an Irish woman in the time of the Troubles.Five Notes After A Visit: This is my favourite story in the collection. It highlights the displacement felt by Irish ex-pats during the time of the Troubles. Not safe in Ireland, because the IRA saw them as traitors for living in England, yet not fully accepted in England due to the actions of the IRA. This is an engrossing story I highly recommend.The Way-Paver: A look at the trauma of giving birth and the way it can change our family relationships.
Overall, this is an engaging collection of stories told with the unique voice of Ireland and I highly recommend reading it.

Part of Kim Stanley Robinson’s Three Californias trilogy, The Gold Coast is an alternative view of life in the 21st century. The writing style is unique and was a little annoying and distracting at first. However, once I got used to it, I found myself totally engrossed in the story. Periodically dissected by poetry, the story is riveting and the book hard to put down. The themes of globalisation, corporatisation and conquest are explored thoroughly and well, and the sense that there is something missing from today’s fast-paced society is expressed well. This is definitely worth reading.

This is an interesting, basic summary of some of history’s biggest secrets. Some (such as Marilyn Monroe and Rock Hudson) are so famous even I had heard of them. Others are not so well-known. All are fascinating. A great starting point for launching into further research.

This is a great basic guide to Wicca. Perfect for the beginner witch, there are some sections that will be helpful to most Pagan paths. Nevertheless, this book is mainly about Wicca, so other Pagans may prefer to find something a little more relevant to their own path.