The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish

Title: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish
Author: Douglas Adams
Publisher: Pan
Release Date: 1984
Genre: Sci-Fi, Classic, Humour

Summary:
Bleurgh.

Review:
Unfortunately, I brought the fourth instalment at the same time as the third (my dismal review of which can be found here). Like the previous instalments of the series, I did not like this book. I cannot put my finger on what exactly went wrong for this series for me personally. It might be down to the lack of intellectual stimulation this series possess, and everything is just too silly and far-fetched for me.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Life, The Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams

Title: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Life, The Universe and Everything
Author: Douglas Adams
Publisher: Pan
Release Date: 1982
Genre: Sci-Fi, Classic, Humour

Summary:
I am not quite sure what happens to be honest...

Review:
As you can probably tell from my very brief summary, I have absolutely no idea what happened in the book. It started with Arthur Dent alone in a prehistoric wasteland and then he is on a cricket pitch and then about one-hundred and fifty pages after he is reunited with all of his friends...

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams

Title: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Author: Douglas Adams
Publisher: Pan
Release Date: 23rd June 1997
Genre: Sci-Fi, Young Adult, Classics

Summary:
The journey into deep space continues for Arthur Dent, and the crew of the Heart of Gold. But first it is time for food! And where else would they go but Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?

Review:
I absolutely loved the first book in the series (which can be found here) so decided to continue reading to see what happens next. However, whilst the series seemed promising at first - I found the second instalment kind of boring.

My Madder Fatter Diary Vol. 2 by Rae Earl

I have found my favourite place to read. Only problem - it is approximately 5,000 miles away, on the other side of the world. Doh!

Last week I went to visit my boyfriend who is currently on a Study Abroad placement at California State University: Long Beach. So whilst he was busy in his Physics classes, I was busy reading in the 30 degree heat and sunbathing. Not too shabby if you ask me!

Despite being incredibly tired half the time, I had a really nice time and managed to actually read a book in the peace and quiet. Yay! I even went to Barnes & Noble for the first time - which was HUGE by the way. We ended up playing hide and seek in the aisles. It was my dream bookshop. Amazing.

Title: My Madder Fatter Diary Vol. 2
Author: Rae Earl
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publication Date: 1st January 2014
Genre: Autobiography, True Story, Humour

Summary:
It is 1990 and Rae Earl is back where she left off with the latest installat
ion of her hilarious diaries.

Review:
I was really excited to start reading this book as I loved, loved, loved the first publication of Earl's diary (my review of My Mad Fat Diary by Rae Earl can be found here).

The sequel was very much the same as the first book, with hilarious events and awkwardness bursting out of the pages. This makes it such an easy read and the perfect book to sit down and pass a couple of hours.

The Hogwarts Library by J. K. Rowling

Title: The Hogwarts Library

Author: J. K. Rowling

Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens

Release Date: 8th November 2012

Genre: Non-Fiction-Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy

Summary:

Ever wondered what it is like to study at Hogwarts? 

Well now here is your chance to read the mystical and weird text books that Hogwarts students have to read!

Review:

On one of my many visits to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour London, I bought the Hogwarts Library. This collection, which was written by J. K. Rowling (under the names of made up authors) for Comic Relief some years ago, contains three books; Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp, Fanstastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander and The Tales of Beedle and the Bard. As they are are essentially Non-Fiction books set in a Fictitious world, I think the genre classification, Non-Fiction-Fiction seems most appropriate?

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Cover for the Penguin Classics edition
(4th March 2010)

Title: The Catcher In The Rye
Author: J. D. Salinger
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton
Release Date: 1951 (first published)
Genre: Classics

Summary:
Holden Caulifield is seemingly misunderstood by everyone around him. Having been kicked out of numerous prestigious schools, Holden decides to spend the weekend in New York being an adult and dreaming of freedom.

Review:
The story of Holden Caulifield is short and sweet, as it spans over one weekend. However, even though it is short; it is complex mixing numerous themes and feelings throughout (hence why I struggled to actually summarise the plot in this post). Come to think of it, in my opinion, the story is more of an extract of memoirs rather than a piece of traditional fiction with different events and stages of equilibrium; for there are no dramatic events, just the inner monologue of the protagonist taking the reader through their feelings over a short period of time. 

When Mr Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan

Title: When Mr Dog Bites
Author: Brian Conaghan
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Release Date: 16th January 2014
Genre: Young Adult

Summary:
Dylan Mint has Tourette's. His life is a constant battle against Mr Dog - his inner beast that makes him tic, swear and growl. However, Mr Dog may win once and for all as, whilst at the hospital for a routine visit, he overhears a conversation between the doctor and his mum. Something is going to happen in March, and it is not good news as, apparently, he is going to die...

Determined to make the most of his last few months, he makes his own list of 'Things To Do Before I Die.'

Review:
Firstly, I would just like to say that I read this book in less than a day. Even if it was only like three hundred pages; it was such an easy and enjoyable read.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Title: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Author: Helen Fielding

Publisher: Jonathan Cape

Release Date: 10th October 2013

Genre: ChickLit

Summary:

Bridget is back and, unfortunately, single... again. (Where's Mark Darcy gone?!)

However, things are a bit different now as now she must navigate the world of dating whilst trying to juggle being a single mum, her newfound Twitter addiction and the uncharted territory of toy-boys. 

Review:

I was really looking forward to reading latest instalment front the diaries of Bridget Jones as I had grown bored of the repetitiveness of the previous two books in the series (my review of Bridget Jones's Diary can be found here, and my review of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason can be found here).

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding

Title: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
Author: Helen Fielding
Publisher: Picador
Release Date: 18th November 1999
Genre: ChickLit

Summary:
Bridget Jones is back and crazier than ever.

In the second installment of her singleton diary, Bridget finds herself dealing with drug lords, death threats and prison (oo-er..)

And, not forgetting, the gorgeous and dashing Mark Darcy.

Review:
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, is very much the same as its predecessor Bridget Jones's Diary (my review can be found here). It is funny, cheesy and unbelieving engrossing for women everywhere. Not to mention; it is not a patch on the film!

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

Title: Bridget Jones's Diary
Author: Helen Fielding
Publisher: Picador
Release Date: 25th October 1996
Genre: ChickLit

Summary:
Bridget Jones is the ultimate singleton. She's forever single, stuck in a dead-end job and slightly overweight.

In her diary she documents her struggles with; men (Mark Darcy or Daniel Cleaver?!!), her weight and her over-possessive and barmy mother.

Review:
I was really looking forward to reading Bridget Jones's Diary, as I absolutely love the film! (Here I am basing a book on the film... again!)

My Mad Fat Diary by Rae Earl

Title: My Mad Fat Diary

Author: Rae Earl
Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks
Release Date: 23rd August 2007
Genre: Autobiography

Summary:
In her youth Rae Earl was a fat, boy-obsessed (and slightly insane) 17-year-old from Lincolnshire. Now a writer, broadcaster and radio presenter; this book is the real-life diary she kept during 1989.

Review:
I am not going to lie but it took me ages to find this book. After searching in the 'Fiction' section of about four different Waterstones; I suddenly realised that it was not a work of fiction and was in fact non-fictional! So I go to the 'Autobiography' section and low and behold; there it is.

I felt extremely blonde, but I think my confusion was justified! I mean, the stuff that happens in this book; it is hard to believe that this all actually happened! It is just too funny!

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

After finally finishing all my assignments; I finally have some time to read! However, this review will be short and sweet as I now have exams to revise for! 

Title: The Rosie Project

Author: Graeme Simsion

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 2nd January 2014

Genre: Humour, Romance

Summary: 

Being the world's most socially awkward and weird man makes it extremely hard for you to find your perfect partner. Don Tillman, a successful geneticist and lecturer, however has a plan. Enter The Wife Project; a scientific experiment of find the perfect woman and lifelong partner. Don is determined that this method is guaranteed to produce the answer to all his dreams. However, when Rosie unsuspectingly walks into his life; she turns his world upside down.

Review: 

I am not going to lie, I brought this book because I thought the cover was interesting and I had heard a lot about it online.

Big mistake.

The Complete Nonsense of Edward Lear

Sorry for the lack of books reviews lately; I have been swamped (no exaggeration there!) with university work :-(

However, seeing as I haven't blogged in a couple of days, I thought I would do something a bit different and review a collection of poetry... This could either go very right, or very, very wrong.

Oh, and it is World Poetry Day today!!

Collection: Faber Children's Classics; The Complete Nonsense of Edward Lear
Works Included: A Book of Nonsense (1846) Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany and Alphabets (1871) More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc. (1872) Laughable Lyrics, A Fourth Book of Nonsense Poems, Songs, Botany, Music, etc. (1877) and Nonsense Songs and Stories (1895)
Author: Edward Lear
Editor: Holbrook Jackson

Review: 
Poetry is a something I am not entirely comfortable with. I mean, I struggle to appreciate it most of the time; let alone understand and enjoy it!

The Devil Wears Prada & Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger

Cover for Anchor file tie-in edition
(released 30th May 2006)

Title: The Devil Wears Prada
Author: Lauren Weisberger
Publisher: DoubleDay
Release Date: First published 15th April 2003
Genre: Romance, Young Adult, Fiction

Summary:
Fresh out of university; Andrea Sacks has high hopes for her future career in journalism. However, times are tough and jobs are scarce.

Although not her first choice; she lands a prestigious role at the famous Runway fashion magazine as the assistant to the demanding, successful and utterly devilish, Miranda Priestly.

One year she has to last. One year fetching coffee and running errands. One year of sheer hell.

It will be worth it.

Review:
When I read this book last summer, I was commuting daily to London on the train to do work experience at a publishing house. Whilst everyone around me was reading The Financial Times and profound works by Shakespeare; I was reading The Devil Wears Prada. This book is unashamedly a staple piece of the chick-lit (there is that word again!) genre. It is a guilty pleasure, that women everywhere should read. End of.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Title: Warm Bodies
Author: Isaac Marion
Publisher: Vintage Books
Release Date: 31st January 2013
Genre: Horror, Romance, Young Adult

Summary: 
R, or so he calls himself, is a zombie. He has no memories of his former life, just the fact that he thinks his name begins with the letter 'R.' However, unlike his fellow zombie comrades in his colony, R has dreams. He still eats humans though. However, when he saves the life of Julie, one of the few remaining humans, everything changes.

Breaking the rules of logic and zombie-kind, R shows that all is not lost when you start to decay and have no pulse or functioning brain.

Review:
If you think this is going to be some gory story about a zombie apocalypse; you will be bitterly disappointed. I was. I mean, I knew that it was going to involve a dysfunctional and impractical love story, but I was expecting there to be a bit more gore and action! Not the scariest zombies, in my opinion. However, I think the fact that the book goes against and, in places, mocks the genre, is what makes it so special and cute. Yes, it is cheesy. Yes, it is just a modern and gory take on Romeo and Juliet (hence the names of the characters). And yes, the zombies are more like cuddly creatures than killing machines. But it works.

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

Title: Broken Homes
Author: Ben Aaronovitch
Publisher: Gollancz, Orion Publishing Group
Release Date: 25th July 2013
Genre: Fantasy, Crime, Young Adult 

Summary:
Peter Grant is back in the fourth installment in the Rivers of London series, in which we find our heroic, magical Policeman venturing South of the River to Elephant and Castle.

With an already hectic caseload, the last thing Grant wants is trouble on a housing estate with the work of the Faceless Man all-over-it. It is then Grant's duty to make sure nothing explosive happens...

Review:
When I originally posted my review of the first installment of the series, Rivers of London, (you can find my review here) I had no intention of writing any for the subsequent books, as I felt it was such a good series. However, even though the series started with such optimism; I really struggled with this installment and felt it was necessary to write a follow-up.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Author: Stephen Chbosky
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: 2nd February 2009
Genre: Coming of age

Summary:
Charlie is a wallflower. He spends his life curiously watching people and asking himself "why?" However, when he starts high school he decides he does not want to watch people anymore. He wants to actually live his life, make friends and fall in love.

Review:
When reading this book I loved the way the story was told through a series of letters addressed to Charlies anonymous friend (he never even gets a reply!). Although, it took some time to get used to, I thought this was really effective as it highlighted how isolated and different Charlie is compared to all the other characters in the book.

I love the way Chbosky has characterised Charlie as a socially awkward pre-teen, who does not know how to act around other people, as I am sure it is relatable to everyone at some point in their life. It also highlights how his character changes throughout the plot and the progress (if can call it that) he makes as a person. He grows up A LOT.

Marley & Me by John Grogan

Title: Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
Author: John Grogan
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: 26th July 2007
Genre: True Story, Humour

Summary:
Marley & Me follows the life and loves of the Grogan family and their (extremely) badly behaved dog, Marley. From being a dry-wall-eating puppy, to a training class flunk; Marley is "the world's worst dog!" However, throughout his short life he teaches his owners, and family, what it really means to be alive. Marley & Me is a true account and tribute to a much loved family pet.

Review:
For those of you who do not know me, I LOVE dogs (especially Labradors) so it comes as no surprise that I love this book and every time I read it; I cry like a baby (especially at the ending!).

The book is beautifully written in a relaxed and casual tone and provides the perfect balance of humour and love that portrays how much Marley affected the lives of his family.