War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy


My rating:
4 of 5 stars

Wow, what can I say? I read this in ebook format which contained 3423 pages!
I really did enjoy this book although I read it inbetween other books. I know it is considered as one of the greatest books ever written and I would have to agree with that. The book takes you through Napoleons invasion of Russia and the impact it has on five Russian Familys from the nobility. It is also a love story spreading throughout the Russian Invasion.
The ammount of characters is immense and I did struggle at first with the Russian names but got there in the end.
A lot of people I know knocked me for readig this book, calling it 'boring'. I asked them if they ever read it and most said 'no'. Maybe they should then their minds might be richer for it, because mine is.

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The Life in the Wood with Joni-Pip by Carrie King

The Life in the Wood with Joni-Pip, by Carrie King


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Although this book is aimed at young teens, (Although the Author defines that as Children aged 9 - 90!)I really did love this book. It took me back to my childhood when I invariably had my nose stuck in Enid Blyton books, in which I used to spend all my pocket money on. Carries writing is much stronger than Blytons and all the characters are very endearing. My 11 year old twin boys loved the book and we all can't wait for part two in the triology. We were lucky enough to meet Carrie at her book signing.

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Synopsis curtesy of Carries website

http://lifeinthewood.com/index.htm

The Story The Life in the Wood with Joni-Pip is targeted at Children aged 11-14. (Although the Author defines that as Children aged 9 - 90!) The story opens with the Bombing of Bath in England, in April 1942. After spending a night in the cellar, Philip Garador, an American, decides to move his family to Berry Bush, near Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire. Their country cottage, Knotty Knook sits at the foot of Windy Woods, nestled on the edge of Sherwood Forest. Joni-Philipa is the spoilt and brattish, oldest daughter of the family and objects most strongly to this upheaval of her privileged life in Bath. On their journey to Berry Bush, the family stop for a picnic by a river. The grumpy eleven-year-old stays in the car, even refusing to play Skimmers with her 16-year-old brother, Alex. While sitting alone with Ethelred-Ted, her beloved, German Teddy Bear, she receives a surprise visit from three strangers; a girl of 13, Flip, who she finds fascinatingly familiar, although they have never met before and two boys, Craig, 14 and Steve, 16. These three have strange glittery stuff in their hair. Flip urges Joni-Philipa to change and ‘be nice’ telling her that her Future depends on it! They disappear as quickly as they appear and Joni-Philipa forgets they ever met, although she keeps having momentary flashbacks of them. She has no friends in Berry Bush but Ethelred-Ted, Poppy-Plump-Pij, a scatty wood pigeon and Hetty the Wee, a wise Scottish hedgehog, become her constant companions. They receive another visit, only this time from 2007 and they are given an incredible formula. They then embark on an adventurous journey that takes them over the WOT (Wall of Time), where they try to change a Bad Past (BP) into a Better Future (BF). During their Quission (Quest + Mission), they unearth some secrets of Life, including: POOLS (personal orbits of life), Déjà vu, The Kaleidoscope of Life, Pastures (where the Past meets the Future) and the OOMU (Observatory of Memories Unknown.)

The Naqvigator by Clive Cussler

The Navigator by Clive Cussler


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was Cussler at his best. The book kept me riveted and I had trouble putting it down. Kurt Austin is one of my favourite characters of Cusslers.

Synopsis curtesy of Penguin Books.

Years ago, an ancient Phoenician statue known as the Navigator was stolen from the Baghdad museum, and there are men who would do anything to get their hands on it. Their first victim is a crooked antiquities dealer, murdered in cold blood. Their second, very nearly, is a UN investigator who, were it not for the timely assistance of Kurt Austin and Zavala, would now be at the bottom of a watery grave.

What's so special about this statue? Austin wonders. The search for answers will take the NUMA team on an astonishing odyssey through time and space, one that encompasses no less than the lost treasures of King Solomon, a mysterious packet of documents personally encoded by Thomas Jefferson, and a top-secret scientific project that could change the world forever.

And that's before the surprises really begin . . .

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A Funny Olde Worlde by Jonathon Pidduck

A Funny Olde Worlde by Jonathan Pidduck


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. It is well written, funny, witty and the characters are very endearing. I am really hoping he writes some follow up books. If you are a Pratchett fan, then I highly recommend this book!

Synopsis.

When the Hedral Watcher was in need of a warrior to defeat an all-powerful warlock, he knew that Thane -- an intergalactic mercenary -- was just the man for the job. Unfortunately, he ended up with a Ramsgate biker, an inept wizard with an attitude problem, and a blond Amazon in a squirrel-skin bikini. As the omniscient being on the planet, he had a funny feeling that -- barring a miracle -- it would all end in tears. But the make-shift company of warlock-hunters had other ideas...

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Key of Valour by Nora Roberts

Key of Valour by Nora Roberts


My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I did enjoy this triology in the end. It had all the usual Roberts ingredients.

Synopsis curtesy of Amazon.
'Do you believe in magic?' When Zoe Mc Court was sixteen she had been dazzled by the handsome and wealthy James Marshall. He had taken her innocence and left her to bring up their child alone. Now, after ten years of struggle, Zoe's life is finally coming together. Her son, Simon, is her pride and joy, and she is about to venture into business with her new-found friends Malory and Dana. There is even a hint of romance on the horizon, in the very sexy form of Bradley Charles Vane IV, a man whose wealth and good looks make Zoe a little wary but seriously tempted to throw caution to the wind. But before she can embrace her future she has a challenge to face. For Malory, Dana and Zoe have been chosen to undergo a quest to free the souls of three demi-goddesses trapped by an ancient evil. It is a challenge that promises great riches but also grave danger. And, of all of them, Zoe has the most to lose. Three women. Three keys to find. If one fails, they all lose. If they all succeed - money, power and a new destiny awaits. It will take more than intellect, more than determination. They will have to open their hearts, their minds, and believe that everything and anything is possible.

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Key of Knowledge by Nora Roberts

Key of Knowledge by Nora Roberts

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the storyline. Simple reading for me. Roberts at her best!


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The Sonnets by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Shakespeare

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed reading the sonnets. I read the book over a period of months simply so I could take in what each sonnet was about and enjoy them. This was my first Shakespeare book and I am looking forward to reading all the others.


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