Category Archives: Reviews
Geek Girl – Book Review
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I only went and devoured the book in a couple of sittings. Goodreads will give you the low down on the plot.
As a self confessed geek I think there would have been something wrong had I not liked a book with this title but I was a little anxious when I started. What if I didn’t, would that mean I wasn’t a geek? But I am, I’ve spent ages getting to the stage that I’m proud of this fact and for a book to take it all away!! BUt thankfully that didn’t happen.
Why I loved this book
It starts with a dictionary definition of geek.
The main character (Harriet Manners) has the OED by her bedside (I have a huge dictionary and thesaurus that I once bought myself with some birthday money – it is downstairs – too big for the bedside table).
It literally made me laugh out loud on a few occasions and giggle quietly to myself on many others.
It reminded me a little of The Princess Diaries which I also loved.
The chapters are short and punchy which makes it easy to keep reading just one more until the whole book has gone (if pesky work hadn’t got in the way I’m sure it would have only taken me one sitting to read).
The first person POV talking to the reader really worked in this case.
There’s a nod to the fact that this is a story at the start of chapter 2.
Wilbur in the wheelchair!
Toby and putting the pieces of “the puzzle” back together.
Lion Boy (Come on! he’s nice – we don’t all like the treat em mean, keep em keen type).
That Harriet’s interesting personal style makes me have the idea that someone somewhere might have thought my cycling shorts over black tights period of “fashion” was darling.
It made me cry twice (in my edition on pages 295 and 312 if you like detail – as Harriet does). If you’ve read my recent 2012 review (the first bullet point) post that gives you a clue why. To say that I empathised with Harriet a bit might be an understatement.
That Harriet isn’t perfect but we still like her because underneath it she is a jolly good sort.
The message – that it’s ok to be yourself.
There’s more to come!! But that’s enough from me so you can enjoy it for yourself.
Holly Smale, I bow down to you (this book was up in a five-way auction before HarperCollins obviously beat the others into submission).
And just so that you know I have never hidden under a table – never ;o)
I did however punch myself in the nose while turning a page of this book though!
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Geek Girl Blog Tour Announcement
As of now I am about halfway through Geek Girl by Holly Smale (thanks to HarperCollins for the ARC) and I am loving it and giggling out loud.
I’m happy to announce that as part of Holly’s blog tour for the release of Geek Girl on 28th February 2013 she will be here on Feb 20th (crikey that’s next Wednesday) answering some of my questions about her geekiest traits. I might even share a couple of mine too (as if you don’t know them already!).
On Sunday 24th Feb I have also been invited to a book blogger get-together with Holly and I can’t wait.
Do you think I should wear my badge and geek glasses that I was sent?
Anyway please do come back next Wednesday and Geek out with us.
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What’s Left of Me – Book Review
Contains some spoilers
Kat Zhang (@KatZhang) has written a superb novel. Like many books I seem to be reading What’s Left of Me
I simply devoured this – it was so easy to read and I just felt for the characters straight away.
The book starts with an intriguing premise, that everybody is born with two souls but somewhen in early childhood one of the souls just fades away – this is called settling. Those who don’t – hybrids – are feared and children are put in institutions with the intent of ‘therapying’ away the weaker soul.
Addie is 15 years old, she learnt through therapy not to talk about Eva, the other soul inside of her but Eva never went away. When a sister (Hally/Lissa) and brother (Devon/Ryan) from her school identify that she is a hybrid (because they both are too) Eva pleads with Addie to let them teach her how to take over their body for periods of time. It’s difficult, but a budding relationship with Ryan drives Eva to achieve this. I felt for both girls here, Eva for never having had a voice and Addie for giving up and losing her control, seeing another’s happiness build as yours is disappearing.
But, of course, they are all found out and sent to an institution, where they discover that kids have gone mad, or died. We really feel Eva and Addie’s sense of betrayal because their parents ‘let’ them go. Also they are missing their little brother Lyle. Finding out that they are performing trial soul extractions (think Daemon splicings from His Dark Materials) the trio need to find a way to escape and quick because Hally and Lissa are next on the list.
Whatever Zhang did it really just drew me into the world and the pace of the story carried me through it. It was clear who was speaking via the layout so I didn’t get confused. The souls each have such a different personality and even the secondary characters such as the other kids in the institution are unique. The main point of view character was Eva the recessive soul, this clever choice was what made us root for the hybrids. I really wanted to keep reading as the book finished and suspect I shall take another trip back to the beginning before much longer.
I can’t rate it highly enough and 5 stars is well deserved. If my review hasn’t convinced you check out the book trailer here.
Thanks to HarperCollins for the review copy – the opinions and adoration of this book are my own.
You can read What’s Left of Me on 27th September 2012 – pre-order it now and clear your schedule.
kirstyes 