Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer

Well, it was inevitable that I wouldn't be able to wait for the paperback - especially since I'd heard that they were holding off releasing it as the hardback was selling so well (greedy bastards!).

So the final part of the Twilight series became my Christmas reading, and it took me longer to read this one than the others - and not because of the length, more as it just wasn't as engaging as the others.

The relationship sparkle between Edward and Bella just didn't seem to be there, and there was very little action until near the end of the book, I'd even go so far as to say that it is overly long. I'll not give the plot away, but needless to say the relationship between the vampires and the werewolves certainly takes a different turn; and of course Bella is under threat again (although this time she's able to defend herself!).

In fact I'm finding it difficult to think what exactly to say about this book except that it finished things off and left an large chance of more sequels. I did enjoy it, and if there are more I'll look forward to them as much as the others, I just hope Meyer can keep the word count down!

24th - 31st December 2009
Bought on Green Metropolis

The Luck Factor - Richard Wiseman

This is the third Richard Wiseman book I've read this year, and I think I'm upto date with all his published work! But as popular psychology it's really enjoyable to read, and you feel like you are learning something as well.

The basic premise of the book is that everyone can be lucky - it's just a state of mind. Wiseman presents scientific studies to support his ideas about how we can be lucky.

He puts forward the idea that there are four principles to luck -

1. Maximise your chance opportunities
2. Listen to your lucky hunches
3. Expect good fortune
4. Turn your bad luck into good

Each one is explained with examples, and then in the next part of the book he gives practical ways of increasing your luck, in fact throughout the book you are encouraged to take part in tests and tasks.

I've always considered myself to be lucky, but I truly do think that some of the ideas in this book will help me increase my luck.

In fact it's already had an affect. Whilst sitting on a train to Manchester reading about 'maximising your chance opportunities' I looked up and noticed that the woman sat opposite me was familiar. More than familiar I realised that although I didn't know her personally I did know that she was an archaeology lecturer at a local university. Within minutes we were talking, and was telling her about my photography business, before we parted when I got off the train she asked me to email details of my website and she would forward them to all the staff in the department - result!!

The other main idea from the book that will stay with me is the notion of 'turning bad luck into good'. This is about perception, believing that what at first appears to be bad luck will probably turn out to be good luck. In my case this is things like being made redundant (both times have actually ended up being the best thing that ever happened!) and my parents dying so young and so close together (obviously terrible, but also had some very positive outcomes for me).

As with Richard Wiseman's other books I would certainly recommend this one - as you can see, I'm becoming a bit of a fan of his!

Bought on Green Metropolis
10th - 24th December 2009

Living dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris

I said I'd give Sookie Stackhouse and her friends one more try, and this is the second book in the ever expanding True Blood franchise - but it is the last one I plan to read.

As with the first, I enjoyed it - but in a guilty, slightly dirty way. Afterwards I was left with the feeling that my brain needed some kind of disinfectant.

Having been introduced to Sookie the waitress and her boyfriend, Bill the Vampire, in the first book; the second gets down to business. That business is Sookie using her telepathic skills to help vampires solve crimes.

Flown to Dallas (on an airline that caters for vampires travelling in their coffins, and staying in a hotel which guarantees security in the daylight hours), the couple embark on a search for a vampire who seems to have been kidnapped by a bunch of raving loony religious nutters.

This book is just as badly written as the first, in fact if I'm honest it's probably worse. Try;

"Vampires won't go around in any Geo. Isabel waited until I'd buckled my seat belt (she and Bill didn't bother to use them) before pulling away from the curb, which surprised me."

Would that be that she was surprised that they didn't use seat belts, or (as it reads) that the car pulled away from the curb!?!

Anyway, with everyone (well, a couple of people) raving about the television series from HBO I've bought the box set of the first serious - at least the terrible writing won't be a problem (and hopefully they will have got a good script writer in!).

I'm now off to find something suitably intellectual to read - my brain deserves it!

Bought on Green Metropolis
4th - 5th December 2009

Introducing Environmental Politics - Stephen Croall & William Rankin

I've had this book for years, and I know I've read it before - but I picked it up in between novels and sort of got reading.

Unfortunately it's rather dated, but the ideas and information it puts forward are sound.

Written in 'graphic' form the book introduces the history and ideas behind Environmental Politics, who the main thinkers are (although written before Al Gore, George Monbiot and the more recent political green thinkers), and what might be done about some of the issues.

There doesn't seem to be an updated version available, which is a shame as this is a big, fast moving topic, and certainly an 'Introduction' book for the subject is well worth reading for anyone who gets lost in all the politics, compeating ideas and bad science out there.

But, don't turn to this book - 2000 is too long ago for the information to be of real value now.

Bought in Blackwells March 2003 (the receipt was still inside!)
22-23rd November 2009

Dead until Dark - Charlaine Harris

I wasn't going to bother, I had a feeling that these books would not live up to the hype (or compare favourably with Twilight or the Anne Rice books) - and I was right!

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it - in a sort of sugar rush, silliness, non-brain taxing way. But I found it very difficult to get over the writing style. I'm not sure if it's just written very badly, or if it's not been edited properly, but some of the sentences were so 'clunky' and their meaning so difficult to understand, even with rereading a couple of times it was very distracting.

I know it's a bit rich to say this, but I found the whole thing so damn 'unbelieveable' - bearing in mind that you first have to get over the idea that the lead characters are a mind-reading waitress and a vampire!

Some of the things that the characters did (particularly Sookie, the main character) were just weird - why would a waitress go into a car park at night with a piece of chain to defend a vampire and expect to survive - if the vampire can be so easily overcome by the attackers what hope has she?

The main problem was that I just didn't care about the Sookie or Bill, or any of the other characters - the writer brings no dimension to them, there is nothing to make me want to know what they are going to do next or even if they survived to the end of the book - I just went on reading as there was nothing else to read at the time.

I'm going to give the series a second chance, I've ordered the second book - but to be honest I'm not holding out much hope. Maybe I've been spoilt by Twilight (which I'll be the first to admit is not a piece of great literature, but is well written and engaging nonetheless) and Anne Rice (again, not stunning literature), when it comes to my vampire reading choices?

Bought on Green Metropolis
20th -22nd November 2009

:59 Seconds, think a little change a lot - Richard Wiseman

Another book by Richard Wiseman, this time exposing modern day mind myths, debunking many of the things trotted out in 1000s of self-help books published each year.

Each chapter takes a different topic, such as 'happiness', 'motivation', 'relationships' and 'parenting', and looks at the myths that are often put forward for achieving a 'better life'.

Professor Wiseman reviews the scientific work that has been done over the years looking at ideas such as 'brainstorming', 'positive thinking', 'body language' and how to encourage your child to achieve - he looks at what has been proved to work, and what is complete rubbish - and I guarantee you'll be surprised at some of the findings.

Each chapter is rounded off with a short explanation of the relevant findings, hence the '59 seconds' - the idea is to distill the scientific data into a minute (or just under!) of easy to understand instruction or information.

Wiseman's writing style is easy to read and enjoyable, and some of the work he has done (not to mention other scientists) is truly fascinating.

Bought in Waterstones

8th - 19th November 2009

Blood, Sweat and Tea - Tom Reynolds

It's taken me a while to read this book, but since it's a collection of blog entries it's easy to 'dip in and out' without losing the plot.

Tom Reynolds is an Emergency Mediecal Technician (Ambulance crew to you and me!), who lives and blogs in London.

I've been reading his blog for sometime thanks to the recommendation of Liz, and he writes extremely well; often about difficult or sensitive situations that he's had to deal with.

Pulling no punches, Tom describes his working days (or nights); the frequent flyers (often alcoholics), the false alarms, calls for colds, headaches and other non-emergency patients - along side the descriptions of real emergencies, the frustrations of working for a 'failing' NHS, the politics and the crazy pedestrians who think nothing of trying to 'make a dash for it' in front of his speeding vehicle!

I've really enjoyed this book, but then I knew I would as I still follow his blog!

Visit the blog here - http://randomreality.blogware.com/

Bought on Green Metropolis
19th January - 6th November 2009