4.5 Star Fiction

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I think that my ratings confuse people. I know they do. I continue to keep my ratings the same as they have always been because I want to be different, I can't be bothered to change them and I'm stubborn. So, instead of changing them I wrote a little description on the right-hand side bar about what the ratings mean and occasionally I decide to write a post where I waffle on about that for a bit. Today I want to explain the 4.5 star ratings in more detail and mention a few books that are worth the read (and maybe even the reread) even though they weren't favourites.

 

According to the little ratings glossary a 4.5 star book (out of five stars) is a book that gets this reaction:

"I really liked it, but something wasn't quite right."

 

To expand on that a little more I'm going to say that the majority of the 4.5/5 star books that I've read and rated are books that were really intriguing, really exciting, possibly a bit unusual and lacking on the story-telling part. Whether it be because the author changed between POV a little too often without any sort of indication of this, whether the story lacked in explanation or whether some of the story used a little bit too much detail. In some cases I think the book is just a little bit out-of-my-league and I don't enjoy it as much as I should because I'm not THAT smart.

 

So Why do I have 4.5 star books? Why do I have all these half-ratings with point-fives in them? I've done this because I originally started rating books on an out-of-five scale and decided after rating some books 4/5 and others 5/5 that some books were a bit in between and I didn't want to rate them incorrectly. I tend to rate books highly (according to my goodreads my average rating is 4.5), but I still want to be able to articulate which books are worth more than others.

 

 

FIVE 4.5 STAR BOOKS I'D RECOMMEND:

 

-'The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox' by Maggie O'Farrell

I haven't "favourited" a book by this author yet, but I do really like her work and can't wait to read more of her books. I love the detail and the way the author handles important social issues in her books, but find that I'm always hoping there was a little more to the story; just a little bit more explanation or conclusion when it comes to the big reveal.

 

-'Eve' by Anna Carey

A dystopian story that I really enjoyed. It kept me on the edge of my seat, but the ending wasn't what I hoped. Still quite enjoyable and I can't wait for the sequel.

 

-'Fallen Angels' by Tara Hyland

A very enjoyable piece of historical fiction. I think the reason I didn't enjoy it, is because I've read some fantastic historical fiction before this that set the bar really high. That and the ending wasn't very conclusive. I think I'd like to read a sequel so I could know for sure...

 

-'Imaginary Girls' by Nova Ren Suma

Amazing. Really Amazing stuff. Except, for this one part where the protagonist just skips over a few important parts of her life like they weren't even that important. However, doesn't totally kill the story and the whole underwater town thing is pretty rad.

 

-'Born Wicked' by Jessica Spotswood

Again with the ending! This one does have a sequel coming out next year though, so hopefully I get what I want and the right stuff happens!

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie



Recommending: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

'I Capture the Castle' by Dodie Smith is by far one of the best classics(If it really is a classic) that I have ever read. It was a romantic novel that was smartly and humorously written. After approximately two chapters I was really sucked in...

The reason I was a little unsure if this was a classic is because it was published by "Vintage" publishing who tend to call just about any best seller a "Vintage Classic". It was written in 1949 I think and set somewhere amongst towards the end or shortly after the Victorian era. Maybe the twenties? According to the foreword J.K Rowling really liked it so I guess that's got to count for something, right? I am marking it off on my classics challenge anyhow...

I think the title of this book can scare a lot of people away." 'I Capture The Castle" what on earth could that mean?" says he or she. My smart ass dad saw it and said "I tried to capture the castle but it ran away!" in his squeaky mocking voice. His behavior was both typical and hilarious. The main character of the story wants to be a writer. The novel is written in first person as a journal with chapters rather than dates and she is very persistent on trying to capture the essence of the castle in her descriptions. As she does attempt this she finds herself capturing not just the castle in her writing, but the story of her unconventional family... Sound Interesting now?

The ruinous castle becomes such a big factor in this novel. It is almost like it's own character in the way that it takes part in the other characters lives. It also accents the fact that we aren't really given any dates for the timeline(unless I missed them). We are told of things like wearing black in summer and listening to a wireless and a gramophone and of reading Jane Austen. Little hints. The castle also shows that the characters are living out of sync with normality perhaps their whereabouts is part of that? And, even though they have to scrimp and save and live realistically in that matter, the fascination with the castle and the taking part in rites/rituals implies that these characters are somewhat dreamers.

When the rightful heirs of the Castle return the characters are more social and romantic than they ever have been. It does seem a little Jane Austenish at first when the two brothers move into the neighboring estate Scoatney, however if this novel was a retelling of 'Pride and Prejudice', then it certainly ends very very differently. The romance in this book is much more passionate than Austen's- More kisses- and definitely takes different paths than what we would think at the beginning of the novel. This is not a raunchy novel either. It is the perfect balance I think of passion and innocence.

I did begin to predict what might happen about 2/3 of the way through, but kept reading anyway, because I wanted to see if I was right and Cassandra (the main character) was like an old friend to me by then. She was an extremely observant character, but also quite naive. She noticed things, but had not enough social experience to interpret them truly. I felt that I was a kindred spirit with her on this one. I think I like to see parts of myself in the main characters of books that I read.

This novel was also very dimensional as far as the storyline was concerned. I felt that the author had put a lot of thought into how everything would play out. It seemed that each person had their own obstacles and had some how found a way to overcome them by the end. It's the way that all good books shall be. The author also didn't go over the top with the romance. The stories about each character were not entirely romance related. This book also dealt with money issues, family issues and career issues.

Overall I absolutely- no doubt in my mind -loved it and would read it again straight away if I didn't have a goal to worry about. I recommend this novel to anyone who likes innocent romances or historical books. I especially recommend it to the Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte fans of the world. Oh and Sarah Addison Allen fans I think this could be the classic for you! I think I may have even interested dad after I explained the meaning of the title, but he'll probably just watch the film when I buy it. I can't wait to see how it compared to the book!

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie

Not a Review, but rather a recommendation : The Sisterhood series by Anne Brashares

The sisterhood of the traveling pants series was something that got me back into reading in highschool. After about grade 6 I had tired of the Pony club and Saddle club books and was more interested in watching movies. A few years later after hiring 'The sisterhood of the traveling pants' movie from the video store and falling in love with it Mum decided to buy me the first four books for my birthday that year. 

I didn't read them straight away. I actually fractured an eye socket and wasn't allowed to play sport before I started reading them. I think it was 6-8 weeks before they would make me go back to playing sport- not that I wanted to anyway- where I spent that lesson in the library catching up on homework and reading those books. I powered through them very quickly discovering that I much preferred the books to the movie (even though I still watch it time to time). It was these books that got me back into reading.

My mum also agrees that the series is great and read each book after I did. The fact that another book was coming out made us both excited and definitely did not disappoint. The books are not 100% happy, but a realistic figments of life where bad things do sometimes happen. Tibby, Lena, Carmen and Bridget are four friends you'll have for the rest of your life...

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie

Not a review, but a Rather a recommendation: 'Here Lies Bridget'

'Here lies Bridget' by Paige Harbison.
Published by Harlequin Teen.
PLOT:
Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough….

WHO AM I RECOMMENDING THIS BOOK TO AND WHY:
I recommend this book to anyone who has been bullied or has felt alienated by someone at school or in the workplace. Why am I not recommending this book to Mean girls and Bullies you say? It's because those types of people are so far gone that they don't even realize how mean they are. I felt that this book really helped me to understand how the mind of a Bully works and really, it's quite a sad place to be. I didn't feel the need to get all reviewy on you all because I think those who have read the blurb and other reviews will know pretty much what happens in the book from the word go. It's worth reading more for it's 'insight' rather than it's characters or storyline.

Also the book helped put the reader in a view point of how bullies are impacted by the torture they inflict on others. If you are a christian and believe in heaven and hell it is brought upon your attention that one day when the inevitable happens and a bad person dies, they will have to face up to all they have done before god and be judged and categorised. I don't believe in forgiving people unless they make an effort to change, but this book did make me feel sorry for a person like Bridget who didn't even realise what she was doing or what was happening around her.

So those who have been victims of some kind of verbal abuse, a few catty remarks or the like (which is face is, probably most of us) do yourself a favor and check it out. It may also encourage you  to do some good deeds and think more about what you say before you say it. I know I did.

Your favourite Cynical Blogger,
Natalie