Sister by Rosamund Lupton

Sister by Rosamund Lupton
First published by Piatkus in 2010 (this edition by Piatkus in 2011)


Description (from Goodreads)

Nothing can break the bond between sisters... 
When Beatrice gets a frantic call in the middle of Sunday lunch to say that her younger sister, Tess, is missing, she boards the first flight home to London. But as she learns about the circumstances surrounding her sister's disappearance, she is stunned to discover how little she actually knows of her sister's life - and unprepared for the terrifying truths she must now face. 
The police, Beatrice's fiance and even their mother accept they have lost Tess but Beatrice refuses to give up on her. So she embarks on a dangerous journey to discover the truth, no matter the cost.

My thoughts
Sister was not at all what I expected it to be. By that, I don't mean that I was expecting it to be a bright and light hearted read, but I definitely did not think it was going to be as it turned out to be (I am being purposely mysterious, because I don't know how else to phrase what I want to say and not spoil the book for you.)

The main character in Sister is Beatrice (or Bee). The whole book is actually a narration of the events that happened four months prior to the present time (of the book), with Beatrice telling the story from the beginning - when she gets a call from her Mother who tells her that her sister, Tess, has been missing for four days - as part of her testimony to Mr Wight, a lawyer who is keeping track of all the records and testimonials.

It is discovered quite early on that Tess is dead, something which was obvious from the first few pages of the novel. I found it rather weird that the author would choose to have the discovery of Tess' death so early on in the novel, but, since she did choose to, it became obvious that the book is not the story of Beatrice trying to find her sister alive, but rather of trying to find out exactly what happened to her, seeing as everyone else believes it to be a suicide.

The story is a very well written one, and though it kept me wanting to find out what happens in the end, it wasn't one that made me feel like I just had to read one more chapter; and then another; and then another. The characters were easy to relate to and down-to-earth, with a few cases of "worship" (you can't speak ill of the dead, can you?) and others of irritating/selfish/slap-worthy personalities. But what surprised me the most was the ending. Or maybe - to make myself more clear - the chapters leading up to the ending. Parts of them just seemed to come out of nowhere and they actually left me stunned (not the best word, but I couldn't find another one...)

All in all, Sister was a good book that is worth reading, even if you're not really into mystery/thriller/detective stories. It just wasn't one that I can say I absolutely loved. I really did like the author's writing style, so I will definitely be trying out her new book, Afterwards!

Rating: 6/10


Author:
Rosamund Lupton studied English Literature at Cambridge University. After she got her BA, she first worked as a freelance reviewer and copyeditor and then, went on to become a full-time screenwriter for BBC and independent film companies. Sister was her first novel and her second novel, Afterwards, just came out in the UK.

You can find more about Rosamund Lupton from her website.

Read for the: 100 Books In A Year Challenge 2011, British Books Challenge 2011

Sharp Objects

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
First published by Shaye Areheart Books in 2006 (this edition by Phoenix - an imprint of Orion - in 2010)







Description: (from Goodreads)

WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart 

Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. 

NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg 

Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory. 

HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle 

As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming. 

With its taut, crafted writing, Sharp Objects is addictive, haunting, and unforgettable.


My thoughts:
First of all, sorry for the huge blurb. But it was the one I liked best. The one on the back cover of the copy I own doesn't really say much about the story. This description was much, much better.


This book is Gillian Flynn's debut novel. She has also written another book, Dark Places (my review). She is more well known for Sharp Objects, but I had great difficulty in trying to find a copy of the book in Greece (I probably visited 6 different bookshops, in two different cities), so when I managed to find a copy of Dark Places, I just bought it. In the end, I managed to find this one too! You can't imagine the relief I felt when I found it in the bookshop! I'm going off topic here... But it was all for my brother. (Aren't I a lovely sister??)


Even though I do not limit myself to genres and try to keep my reading tastes quite varied, thrillers are not my favourite books to read. However, I really liked Ms Flynn's style of writing in Dark Places, and I was rather intrigued by that HUGE blurb (which I first read on her website).


Anyway... Camille is a journalist, who is sent to her hometown of Wind Gap to investigate the murder of a little girl that has come to the surface because of the recent abduction of another one. She is quite reluctant to go, as she has been estranged from her mother for many years. In the end, she goes and arrives on her family doorstep, where she faces a non-too-pleasant greeting. Honestly, she is a b---- right from the start.


The title of the book is very significant, but I am not going to tell you why. I'll let you figure it out or read it for yourselves. Camille was truly a lovely character. She was not faultless, but she had a pretty tough past and managed to survive. Her mum, Adorna, was pretty awful. She did not show any love for Camille. Later on in the book why find out exactly why, but I felt rather bad for Camille before and after the revelation. The character I hated the most was Camille's 13-year-old sister, Amma. She was what one might describe as a bitch-from-hell. I can't think of another way to describe her, as there is no polite way of saying it. She is a very manipulative girl, who had a rather weird effect on everyone in town. It was the way she treated everyone that made me loathe her.


Ms Flynn has done an excellent job of describing the characters. All of them seem real; cases that we can find in everyday life (maybe not all of them together, but they definitely exist). She came up with a rather interesting story, where every side plot only helps us understand what is happening in the main story and why. The end was completely and utterly unexpected! I did not see it coming. I actually thought I knew what was going to happen in the end and it didn't!


Sharp Objects is a book that I definitely recommend reading!


Rating: 8/10


Author:
You can find out more about Gillian Flynn at the end of my review of Dark Places, which you can find HERE.

Counts as Book #34 in the 100 Books In A Year Challenge.

Also counts towards the 2nds Challenge.

The Long Weekend

My first ever signed book!! Yay!!

The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan
First published by Andersen Press Limited in 2008 (this edition published by Andersen Press in 2009)






Description: (from Goodreads)
Sam knows that he and his friend Lloyd made a colossal mistake when they accepted the ride home. They have ended up in a dark mansion in the middle of nowhere with man who means to harm them. But Sam doesn't know how to get them out. They were trapped, then separated. Now they are alone. Will either of them get out alive? 
This gripping and hypnotic thriller will have you reading late into the night.


Opinions:
The main reason I decided to read this book at the time I did was because I wanted a quick book to read, after The Loop. I was planning to read this book sometime soon, but I decided to just read it, as it would probably only take a few hours to read. 


This is a really short book. But I can say it is truly disturbing. It tells the story of two young boys, Sam and Lloyd, who make a BIG mistake when they just hop into a limo that stops and tells them to get in. It obviously happens due to a great misunderstanding, but it happens nonetheless. The story focuses mainly on Sam and his efforts to try and save them both. But don't take that the wrong way: that Lloyd was useless or too much of a coward to help. If you read the book, you will understand what I am trying to say.


While reading the book, there were quite a few hints of what was happening, but I suppose I just didn't want to see it. When it finally dawned on me, I realised why this book is not suitable for younger readers. I think you could probably give it to a 13-14 year old and they wouldn't mind it, but younger children might be distressed. That's just my opinion, though. If you are a parent, you should probably read this book yourself, before giving it to your children. Just to be on the safe side.


The ending of the book was the one that caused me the most confusion. I came to a completely and utterly wrong conclusion! I think you'll understand what I mean, if and when you get round to reading it yourselves.


All in all, I found this a rather good book, especially regarding the fact that it is a debut novel. I look forward to reading some more of Ms. Kalhan's works in the future!


Rating: 7/10


Author:
Savita Kalhan was born in India but moved to England when she was very young. She holds a Joint Honours degree in Politics and Philosophy from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. She has travelled a lot over the years, but currently lives in the UK. She began writing when she went to live in the Middle East and got a job teaching English there. The Long Weekend is her first published novel.
For more information about Savita Kalhan, you can visit her website, SavitaKalhan.com.

Counts as Book #26 in my 100 Books In A Year Challenge and as Book #13 in my British Books Challenge 2011!

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the author for free, as part of a blog tour with giveaways. Everything stated above reflects my own views on the book. My review has not been influenced in any way.)

The Messenger Of Athens

This is also a book we have had lying around the house for quite a few years. I remember my brother reading it at the time and telling me that he did not really enjoy it, so I sort-of put off reading it. I decided to give it a try this year, though, so here is the review.

The Messenger of Athens by Anne Zouroudi
First published by Bloomsbury in 2007 (this edition by Bloomsbury in 2008)

Book #1 in The Mysteries of the Greek Detective series


Description: (from back cover)

Lies, love, tragedy - and a stranger with the key to every secret

When the battered body of a young woman is discovered on a remote Greek island, the local police are quick to dismiss her death as an accident. Then, a stranger arrives, uninvited, from Athens, announcing his intention to investigate further. His methods are unorthodox, and he brings his own mystery into the web of dark secrets and lies. Who has sent him, on whose authority is he acting, and how does he know of dramas played out decades ago?


Opinions:
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, The Messenger of Athens is a book we have had lying around the house for quite a few years and that my brother had read it and hadn't enjoyed it. I would like to clarify that I did not start reading this book expecting it to be bad, nor was I in any way influenced by my brother's opinions on it.

So, now that's clear, I have to day I did not enjoy this book. But it was not a bad book, per se. I remember that we bought this book because it sounded quite interesting and something we could relate to, in a way (as we live in Greece). The story does sound quite interesting, from the description on the back cover. There has been a death of a young woman on a Greek island which is dismissed as an accident. But obviously, someone suspects foul play, so a detective from Athens is sent over to investigate the case.

So, there's a death AND foul play suspected. You think that might make an interesting story. Well, it's not really. This book is so very slow in its narrative, that it made me want to read it just so that I could finish it. I really don't like leaving books unfinished (even though I have done it sometimes). Just to explain why I found it slow, by the time I reached page 150 (out of the approximately 250 pages of the whole book), the detective had only found out two things about the whole case. Which probably makes you wonder what was going on in those 150 pages.

The book was not bad in every aspect. The characters were quite well developed, but I think that's what made the book progress in such a slow way. There was also one thing I liked about the narrative. I think that the alternating chapters set in the present (when the detective was investigating) and the ones set in the past (before the death). Another thing I liked about the book is that the author actually gave Greek names to her characters. I remember reading other books, that weren't necessarily set in Greece, but they featured Greek characters, but with Anglicised versions of Greek names or even just plain English names. I'm sorry, but that's just not realistic.

This was the first book in the (quite successful) Mysteries of the Greek Detective (or Greek Detective, for short) Series, followed by The Taint of Midas, The Doctor of Thessaly and The Lady of Sorrows, all featuring the Greek detective Hermes Diaktoros. I am not sure I will be reading any of the follow-up books in the near future, but I have to admit, the covers are quite pretty. I like the fact that they are simple, consistent and look good as a full series.

Rating: 4/10

Author:
Anne Zouroudi was born on the 1st day of the year 1959, in Lincolnshire. After she finished school, she started working in the IT industry, which led her to America. There she started to take writing seriously and bought a typewriter, on which she wrote her first short stories. When she moved back to the UK, she went on holiday to a small Greek island (which serves as a backdrop in her first novel, The Messenger of Athens). She lived for many years in Greece, where she met her husband and had her son. Anne Zouroudi currently lives in Derbyshire with her son, where she is working on a new instalment for the Greek Detective series.

More information about the author can be found here:
Anne Zouroudi Official Website
Anne Zouroudi on Goodreads
Anne Zouroudi on Amazon.co.uk

Counts as Book #20 in my 100 Books In A Year Challenge and as Book #9 in my British Books Challenge 2011!

(All pictures are from Goodreads)

A Maiden's Grave

Next up, a thriller. I don't really read them as often, but I don't completely ignore them.

A Maiden's Grave by Jeffery Deaver
First published by Viking in 1995 (this edition from Hodder in 2008)






Description: (from back cover)

The countdown begins at noon.

A school bus stops at a car crash on an isolated road. The two teachers and their deaf students are immediately captured by three escaped convicts.
Stark against prairie stands an ancient slaughterhouse that still reeks of decades of spilled blood. It is here that the killers will bring their hostages.
It is here that they will kill one innocent girl an hour, on the hour, until their demands are met.

Opinions:
I honestly don't think I would have ever chosen this book if you'd left me in a bookshop. I'm not really into thrillers. This one was actually bought by my brother (when he was going through a ''Deaver phase'') and recommended it to me, because I wanted to try something like this for a change.

So, I started reading this book. It was quite good actually. It's about hostages and Stockholm Syndrome (the one where hostages start to feel an attachment with their takers and vice versa). I think there are quite a few novels out there which deal with Stockholm Syndrome, so you get to choose the story that goes with it. Here is a list I found on Goodreads with some books that are supposed to deal with Stockholm Syndrome (I don't know whether it's accurate or not, as I haven't read any of those books myself).

Anyway, I went a little off track there. Back to the book. I liked it, but I didn't really enjoy it. Killing and stuff is not my kind of thing. I have to admit that when I got into it (which I couldn't at the beginning), I wanted to finish it and find out what happens in the end. They book progressed in a way that was very different to the one I expected, which I thought was the book's best feature!

Never having read a novel by Jeffery Deaver before, I have to say that I quite liked his style of writing. I think that Deaver is a definite yes, especially for those out there who love thrillers and crime fiction!

Rating: 7/10 


Author:
Jeffery Deaver is an American author, who specialises in mystery and crime fiction. He originally worked as a journalist, but then went on to study law and later on, practice it, too.
He published his first book in 1992 and has gone on to write many books, including his famous series featuring the quadriplegic detective Lincoln Rhyme. He started writing a new series, featuring detective Kathryn Dance, in 2007, which he announced he would be alternately publishing with his Lincoln Rhyme series every year.
Three of his books have been made into films:

• The Bone Collector
• A Maiden's Grave (as Dead Silence)
• The Devil's Teardrop

He will also be the second American author to write a James Bond novel (Carte Blanche, out in 2011).
Some of his other books include:

The Sleeping Doll (Kathryn Dance #1) (source)

The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme #1) (source)

Hell's Kitchen (John Pellam series) (source)

Here are some links:

Jeffery Deaver on Wikipedia

JefferyDeaver.com

Plus, some info on Stockholm Syndrome:  Wikipedia, about.com.

Counts as Book #14 in my 100 Books In A Year Challenge!