fairywhispers's "2009 Bookshelf"

This is the Way the World Ends is a satire about the end of the world through nuclear war. We are not present at these events. Rather, we see them as they are being related to a young Jewish boy who has found his way into the study of Nostrodamus. This story has a surreal, dream-like quality that leaves the reader feeling slightly uneasy, without quite knowing why. However, there are some valid points made by the author and this is a book that truly makes one think. Is mutual assured destruction really a deterrent? Can accidents truly not happen? And to what extent are we, as passive citizens, responsible for world events? In my opinion, This is the Way the World Ends is one of the better post-apocalyptic novels I have read.

The Sittaford Mystery is the very first Agatha Christie novel I have ever read, and it certainly lived up to the author’s reputation. This book is very easy to read, the simple prose style belying the complexity of the plot. I formed a theory as to the culprit fairly early on, only to find myself second guessing my guess as the story progressed. I worked my way through several suspects before discovering that my original theory was correct. In today’s world of graphic serial killer thrillers, The Sittaford Mystery was a breath of fresh air. I shall definitely be reading more books by this author.

This a charming little book that will be loved by child and adult alike. Like all fairy-tales, these stories all have a moral to the story but the morals are aimed at the unique challenges faced by wizards as opposed to us Muggles. I especially like Dumbledore’s notes on each tale where we learn the history and other interesting titbits about the story or its author. My favourite story in this volume is The Wizard and the Hopping Pot. This tale about helping people and not being selfish will have your kids in fits of laughter. The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a definite must-read, even if you aren’t a Potter fan.

The blurb makes this book sound interesting and exciting, doesn’t it? Don’t be fooled! There are a few scattered accounts of encounters with the ghosts, and a thrilling dramatisation of the crash and its aftermath, but those are the only interesting bits. The vast majority of this book is an account of why Mr Fuller wrote the book and how he went about doing so. This has to be the most boring ghost story I’ve ever read!

Written like a docu-drama, The Odessa File is all the more frightening because it seems so plausible. Unfolding in the days and weeks following President Kennedy’s assassination, this book tells the story of freelance journalist Peter Miller as he follows up on the seemingly innocuous story of the suicide of a Jewish survivor, only to find himself up to his neck in doggy do when he pursues a personal vendetta against a NAZI war criminal. Filled with facts, dates and a heartrending account of the Concentration Camps, this is not a book for the squeamish. However, this is an interesting and engaging read which I would highly recommend.

The World Without Us gives a bleak look at the future of the planet, but I would not recommend it unless you are extremely interested in the minutiae of the topic. This book started out entertaining and unique, making the first half difficult to put down. Unfortunately, it quickly became very repetitive and boring, and I was unable to get much past halfway. There are some interesting facts in here that are not well publicised and need to be said, but this book could have been halved without deleting any of the relevant content. Good concept, but way too long.

Virus is frightening, creepy, and definitely not to be read at night. The characters and plot are very believable, as are the actions of many of the residents of Corpus Christi. The story itself is easy to read but difficult to put down. With a style reminiscent of early Stephen King, Virus delivers genuine tension and thrills as well as a desire to continue reading. This book is a scary read and highly recommended. Langlan is an author to watch in future. I genuinely believe we will see good things from her.

The Wish Kin is set in a future Australia, after a great ecological disaster. It is an interesting concept, and it is certainly well written. Unfortunately, the book lacks something I just can’t put my finger on. I feel it could have been done better. The ending implies that there will be sequels in the future, but I don’t think I’ll be bothering to look them up.

Gun Alley was a very interesting read, if a little back and forth in the telling. The way it jumped from this person to that and back again and from this time to that and back made it a little confusing. However, the inclusion of real court transcripts helped to clarify some matters.

It is always easy to criticise from hindsight, with modern knowledge and procedure behind us, but it seems to me that, even by contemporary standards, this case was ineptly handled. There are gaping holes in evidence, witnesses changing stories (or outright ignored) and sloppy police work. It’s almost as though the police had a suspect in mind and tailored the case to fit. I am a supporter of the death penalty, but this case highlights why it should never be used on a first offence. It is a shame that the first time forensic matching of hair was used to gain a conviction in Australia, it led to a grave miscarriage of justice.

Despite the sometimes confusing format, Gun Alley is definitely worth reading.

I just couldn’t get into this book. Perhaps it simply wasn’t the right time for me to read it. Others might enjoy it more.