The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver
Lois Lowry
1993, 2008, HarperCollins, London
9780007263516
224p.

Dystopian novel about a young boy coming of age in a community where life choices are prescribed, and no one feels bad pain or strong emotions. He is selected to be the 'Receiver', a role that promises much pain but is necessary for the community to continue.

This was a great book for children, or a novella for adults. It took me a while to decide whether or not it was dystopian or not, which I guess is one of the things that makes a good dystopian novel! If I had not been reading this on camp where I had no artificial light source, I would have read it in one sitting as it's a compelling read.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

0.4 by Mike Lancaster

0.4
Mike Lancaster
2011, Egmont, London
9781405253048
273p.

Young adult novel set in a future where there are many digital advancements but not a lot of knowledge of history.  History seems to have been lost in one, possibly cataclysmic, event.  This book is the transcript of some old recorded tapes which purport to explain what happened.

I sat down and read this in a couple of sittings, it it written really well.  I loved the story - post-apocalyptic is one of my favourite genres and this story had a dark yet understated foreboding which was maintained throughout the whole book.  I liked the characters, the setting, the premise, the style.  It's just very well crafted.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner

Freakonomics
Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
2005, 2006, Penguin, London
9780141019017
284p.

An economist and a journalist look at the economics of everyday life.  From asking questions about real estate agents incentives, to the effect of specific baby names on a child's future potential.

This was a very interesting, if sometimes uncomfortable (the parts on the abortion-crime link), read.  It is data analysis for the morbidly curious.  The only disappointment is that the book portion ends about two-thirds of the way in and the rest is bonus material.

Various Pets Alive and Dead by Marina Lewycka

Various Pets Alive and Dead
Marina Lewycka
2012, Kindle e-book
978-1905490912
384p.

Serge is working in stocks in London making lots of money but has to hide his occupation from his ex-commune hippy parents.  This story goes back to those commune days and the present day insanity of his life, and those of his sisters and parents.

The characters in this book are all delightfully insane.  I loved reading about the 1960s commune and how they live in the present day.

The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd

The Carbon Diaries 2015
Saci Lloyd
2008, Hodder, London
9780340970157
379p.

Global warming due to human behaviour has caused catastrophic changes to the Earth. In order to rectify the situation, the UK government introduces 'carbon points' which limit citizens' use of transport, electricity and general consumption.

If you can get past the whining self-indulgent teenage protagonist, this turns into a good story. It is a little preachy and a bit simple at times, but it is written for children. I enjoyed the book.

Link to journal entry at bookcrossing

Time Trap by Keith Laumer

Time Trap
Keith Laumer
1070, 1987, Baen Publishing, New York
0671653407
156p.

Strange things begin occurring around the world - a Portuguese galleon from the 16th Century is picked up by the Coast Guard, Abraham Lincoln walks into an Arabian town, and Roger Tyson meets an alien. Which then sets him off on an adventure through time and space.

This is a silly little science fiction story, but I enjoyed it. And the ending was quite satisfactory, which was a nice surprise.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

The Tale of Beatrix Potter by Margaret Lane

The Tale of Beatrix Potter
Margaret Lane
1946, 1978, William Clowes & Sons, London
no isbn
165p.

This is the biography of Peter Rabbit author Beatrix Potter.

Beatrix Potter lead an amazingly ordinary life. I really enjoyed reading about it, even though it was dull. Sometimes the dullest lives are the most interesting, especially when they are of a genius. I also enjoyed reading a little of British domestic history which was a part of this story.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Doctor Who: The Stealers of Dreams by Steve Lyons

Doctor Who: The Stealers of Dreams
Steve Lyons
2005, BBC Books, London
0563486384
254p.

The Doctor, Rose and Captain Jack Harkness land on a planet which has been colonised by humans. There they find that society has not advanced as much as it should have, and that fiction is outlawed.

I enjoyed this one. The explanation of the ending was a bit abrupt and we didn't see enough of the Doctor or Captain Jack, but the premise was interesting. Plus lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Fortress by Gabrielle Lord

Fortress
Gabrielle Lord
1982, 1988, Corgi, London
0947189157
170p.

Sally is the new teacher at a one-teacher school in a small New South Wales town. One day, three men in frightening masks kidnap all 12 students and their teacher and hide them in the bush.

Wow what a thrilling little page turner! I loved that this was set in the Australian outback because I could identify with the characters and the setting. It's a bit of an unlikely story, but the reader is along for the ride all the way. It never lets up. There are similarities to Lord of the Flies which is another book I loved.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Priceless Volume 1 by Lee Young-You

Priceless: Volume 1
Lee Young-You
2002, 2006, Tokyopop, Los Angeles
15698163094
184p.

Lang-bee has to work three jobs in order to pay off the debt her con-artist mother left her with. She gets her eyes on Dan-Won, the richest boy in school, with hopes that he will lift her from her poverty.

This is a cute little manga in an American style (ie - reads from front-to-back). I like the panels where everyone is a soft toy (one of Lang-Bee's jobs is making soft toys). It's very much for the teen market - it's so angsty!

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Home Truths by David Lodge

Home Truths
David Lodge
1999, 2000, Penguin, London
0140290133
135p.

Novella treatment of a screen-play written by David Lodge and set in 1997. Retired author Adrian Ludlow is convinced by his old friend screen-writer Sam Sharp to get back at a reporter who wrote a negative article about Sharp.

I knew the ending was coming from nearly the beginning of the story, and it made me not want to read it. I got very upset on page 5 when I saw what was coming, but I did continue on. This was very well written, I can see it as a play. It has a great depth of character, and the exploration of the themes of media and celebrity was brilliantly conceived. And knowing what was coming in the end just heightened this.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Breaking Ground: Adventures in Life and Architecture by Daniel Libeskind

Breaking Ground: Adventures in Life and Architecture
Daniel Libeskind
2004, John Murray, London
0719566541
288p.

Daniel Libeskind is the architect who has conceived the master plan for the World Trade Center reconstruction. This book is a memoir of his life and his thoughts on architecture and the meanings of buildings.

This book is written as if Libeskind has sat down before you and is retelling the story of his life. He recounts parts of his life with no real chronology, but this by no means makes the book disjointed. Rather, it draws the reader into his life, and into his way of thinking. A very enjoyable book.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Unlocking the Meaning of Lost: An Unauthorized Guide by Lynette Porter and David Lavery

Unlocking the Meaning of Lost: An Unauthorized Guide
Lynette Porter, David Lavery
2006, Sourcebooks, Naperville
1402207263
252p.

This book was written half-way through season two of the TV show Lost and takes an in-depth look at the show, its characters, hidden meanings, and fandom.

I thought this was a good guide to the show, even if it's now terribly out of date. But it was good to read about some of the stuff I'd forgotten especially now that we're currently looking at the history of the island in greater detail.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Merde: Excursions into Scientific, Cultural and Socio-Historical Coprology by Ralph A. Lewin

Merde: Excursions into Scientific, Cultural and Socio-Historical Coprology
Ralph. A Lewin
1999, 2000, Aurum, London
1854107321
147p.

This book deals with many wide-ranging aspects of defecation.

I think I now know everything worth knowing about shit. This is an incredible little book - so much detail, so many topics covered. Parts are very conversational, other parts are scientific. Overall, it's just a fascinating book. Makes me want to become a coprologist!

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Therapy by David Lodge

Therapy
David Lodge
1995, Penguin, London
0140249001
321p.

Laurence Passmore is a TV sitcom writer living in London. This book is his journal as he goes through therapy, divorce, sexual encounters and an obsession with Kierkegaaard.

Passmore is a bit of an annoying character, but you can't help but love him! I really enjoyed all his philosophical theories, they were so amusing. The reader becomes a part of Passmore's life as he goes through his highs and lows. I think that this author captures people really well - all the characters are believable.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin

The Dispossessed
Ursula K. LeGuin
1974, 1975, Avon Books, New York
0380003821
311p.

This is a story of two worlds - a capatalist planet with warring nations and natural beauty, and its moon, settled by anarchists in a created socialist utopia. A brilliant physicist from the moon world travels to the planet in an attempt to teach, learn and share.

This is such a beautiful book. The descriptions of the two disparate societies, and some hard-core physics make for an interesting combination. Even though 'the future of Earth' is only mentioned in a passing comment, I think this book is still important to reflect our own society and perils we may face.

The ending is so uplifting, I have to quote this from the second last page: "A night-blooming flower from some unimaginable world had opened among the dark leaves and was sending out its perfume with patient, unavailing sweetness to attract some unimaginable moth trillions of miles away, in a garden on a world circling another star."

Link to journal at bookcrossing

The Voyage of QV66 by Penelope Lively

The Voyage of QV66
Penelope Lively
1978, Mammoth, London
0749703601
173p.

A post-apocalyptic book about a group of animals who set off on a voyage in a little boat through the flooded remains of England. They are trying to find London Zoo and have many adventures along the way.

It's a cute book. I like how it was told from the point of view of the dog, and only gave hints as to what happened to the humans, without being a cautionary tale.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Dearly Devoted Dexter
Jeff Lindsay
2005, Vintage Books, New York
1400095921
292p.

Dexter is a forensic blood-spatter expert. But he is also a homicidal monster. Taught by his cop foster father to only kill the bad guys, Dexter shares his body with the 'Dark Passenger', the part of him that is not human. This is the second book in the series, the first was Darkly Dreaming Dexter.

Another delightful dally with Dexter. I really love this character - he's so cavalier. I thought this book got a little repetitive at times, but it didn't interfere too much with the story. And the story was great! Wonderfully devious again. I love the 'happy' ending.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Secret Histories: Finding George Orwell in a Burmese Teashop by Emma Larkin

Secret Histories: Finding George Orwell in a Burmese Teashop
Emma Larkin
2004, John Murray, London
0719556996
228p.

This book is about Burmese history and culture, past and present. It is loosely based around the places George Orwell lived when he was a policeman in Burma, which are visited by the author.

I liked how the author let the Burmese people tell their own stories. Some of the subjects written about are tough, and it's nice not to be dictated the information from some omnipresent narrator. The devise of following George Orwell was very clever, and the writing style is lyrical. I enjoyed this book even though I have had no experience of the topic before.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

An Accidental Terrorist by Steven Lang

An Accidental Terrorist
Steven Lang
2005, UQP, Brisbane
0702235202
329p.

Kelvin returns to his hometown of Eden and becomes involved with a group of hippie environmentalists. He falls in love with Jessica, an environmental lobbyist living in the commune, and befriends Carl, a mysterious American local farmer.

This is an intriguing story. It has some mystery/thriller genre aspects, plus a bit of lovin' and plenty of Aussie grit. Most of the story is set in the Eden area ... the southern forests of Australia, and some is set in inner-city Sydney. Both settings are explored well, and the atmospheres of the bush and the city are contrasted.

The characters are very interesting ... I especially like the suss book dealer! All of the character's motivations seemed natural and believable, which is important in a story which sets itself deeply in reality.


Link to journal at bookcrossing