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.

Quarantine by Greg Egan

Quarantine
Greg Egan
1992, HarperCollins, New York
0061054232
280p.

One night, all the stars in sky go out.  On investigation, it is discovered that a 'bubble' has been placed around the solar system, encasing the Earth with its sun and planetary neighbours.  I can't go into too much more without giving away the plot!

This was amazing - as Egan always is.  Quantum mechanics and neural biology are the main themes.  I LOVED his ideas on eigenstates and the interconnectedness of other worlds. :)  I read this book slowly because it was so good and I wanted to make it last.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
2008, Scholastic, London
9781407132082
454p.

Set in the near future, The Hunger Games is a sort of reality TV show devised as a punishment for the rebellion of 13 districts in the nation of Panem. One boy and one girl from each district are put into an arena from which there will be only one survivor.

I had seen the movie recently, so decided to pick up the book. I found the movie had a good premise but was mediocre - the book however, was excellent. It is written in first person, present tense, which normally I don't like, but the author has pulled it off really well.

Garden of the Purple Dragon by Carole Wilkinson

Garden of the Purple Dragon

Carole Wilkinson

2005, Black Dog Books, Fitzroy

187632656

350p.

This is the second book in the series. Ping is a young imperial dragon keeper who has charge of a baby dragon named Kai. They fight off evil and have adventures.

Aside from a couple of continuity errors, this was excellent! The characters are so well written and the scenery evocative. It was a little slow to start (recapping what had happened in the first book), however, once it got going, I found it hard to put down.

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A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

A Clockwork Orange
Anthony Burgess
1962, Penguin, Kindle Edition
9780141908328
154p.

Alex is a young delinquent in charge of a gang who beat people up, steal, rape and generally terrorise the populace. When he kills an old lady, he is caught and sent to jail where he is subject to cruel punishment.

This is a little hard to read because of the made-up slang language it is written in, however, it doesn't take long to get used to it and it definitely adds to the story. I thought the story itself was a little lacking in depth, but I can appreciate it for what it is trying to say.

The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson

The Star of Kazan
Eva Ibbotson
2004, MacMillan, London
0330418025
388p.

Annika was abandoned as a baby in a little church in Austria and taken home by servants of a great house in Vienna. Shortly after an old lady leaves Annika a trunk full of fake jewels in her will, Annika's mother - a noble woman - returns to take her home.

This is an interesting children's book. I don't think I've ever read a children's book so full of the history of pre-WWI Europe. It was fascinating to real of the old noble families and the social structures. The story was predictable, but it is only meant for children.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

The Children's Writer by Gary Crew

The Children's Writer
Gary Crew
2009, HarperCollins, Sydney
9780732285869
233p.

Charlie, aspiring writer and uni student is living with his partner Lootie, when a favourite childhood author comes into their lives and changes things between them.

I totally bought into the voice of the narrator from the start which often doesn't happen when you know the author, but Charlie is written really, really well. I've so enjoyed being with these people over the last few days, even though the story is not exactly a positive one. Also, I should have seen the end coming, but did not. lol