Relief Reads 9 - The princess diaries 10 out of 10

The Princess Diaries Ten out of Ten by Meg Cabot

Charity Shop: I've forgotten :'( I'm going to go with Red Cross, Newcastle

Charity: Red Cross are a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are.

Price: £1

Book Blurb: (It came in a sleeve so there are two) 1. Mia is about to turn eighteen and has decided to put down her princess pen for good. This is your one and only chance to find out how it all ends - including the answers to hotter than hot questions like: / Is the practically perfect JP the real love of Mia's life? / Has Michael Moscovitz fallen for a brainbox Japanese beauty? / And is Mia REALLY the last unicorn at Albert Einstein High? / There's only one way to find out... 2. (this is decorated with little pictures) First I was an ordinary New York teen. Then I discovered that I was, by some freak of fate, the heiress to a minor European principality / A princess! / There have been a whole lot of ups and downs along the way. Mainly involving Michael Moscovitz (sigh) and his sister, my ex-best friend, Lilly. / Now I'm totally in Love with the practically perfect J.P. And I never ever think about Michael Moscovitz. Ever. Oh, and thanks to Grandmere's princess lessons, I can get out of a limo without showing my underwear. / So this is my last EVER Princess Diary. I could tell you the ending, but my bodyguard  would have to shoot you.

Expectation: I'd read some of the earlier books, and I quite enjoyed them particularly the style of writing as it's happening. The blurb made it sound incredibly cringey, and as I'm considerably older than the intended audience, I wasn't expecting it to be my best read ever. Overall I was expecting easily readable trashiness.

Reality: It was predictably outrageous and unbelievable; teenage angst with the added complexity of being rich and famous. The style has extended from diary and IM to include magazine interviews and text messages. It's a feminist's worst nightmare, and I really hope teenagers don't actually think like that. The whole story is about Mia's love life, and despite the fact she achieved a lot in her life on the political scene, the worst thing possible that can happen to her is not finding the right guy. The more I think about it, the more this book annoys me. For example in the two lead couples, the girls are rich and famous due to their family connections, the boys are rich and famous due to their scientific and musical success respectively. In addition every single character is partnered (except for Grandmere) because obviously girls are incapable of self-made success and need a man to provide their self-worth. It's worrying that some girls are going to read this and think this is what they're supposed to be thinking. I just hope it's ridiculous enough that they can see the futility of that way of life.

Overall Rating

It was a struggle           2        3        4        5        6        7        8       9      Gripping page  

to make it                                                                                                        turner

Even though I disagree with the world-view that this book is spreading, it was readable and, when I wasn't feeling annoyed, was an enjoyable read.

Twist Scale:

Knew the beginning,                                                                                 As twisty as the 

middle and end         2       3        4         5       6        7        8        9      bendy wendy road

from the first line 

Whilst the ending was obvious how it was going to be reached was not obvious until near the end. I think had I read the preceeding few books it probably wouldn't have been a twist at all.

Tear-jerker Scale:

 As dry as a house       2        3       4         5         6         7       8        9     Cried an ocean

 throughout

Unless saddened for the state of society counts...

Moral of the Story: The whole purpose of life to to pursue a man (Oh look, it's the same as the last book)

***

Coming up: *watch this space* I didn't make it to a charity shop last week because...

Last weekend I went to a 'Staycation' with the 20s and 30s from Jesmond Parish Church. It was instead of a weekend away so even if people couldn't come to all, they could still come to some. It worked for me as I had my first taste of Newcastle town centre on Friday night for a work social. But I still got to go to the Saturday of the Staycation, which was far more my scene. There were talks on the theme Eternally Secure in the morning, a beach trip in the afternoon (loving the city-by-the-beach thing!) and, in true Northern and Christian style, a ceilidh in the evening!

In other news life goes on, I am still surviving being an adult, yay! Since moving up here I have intended to cycle to work. On Monday I finally had all the required components; a bike, inflated tyres and a lock, but then it got cold and started raining! So the bike remains in the coal shed, one day it will get a proper outing...

Relief Reads 8 - Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Charity Shop: Arthur Rank Hospice, Book stall in Michaelhouse Cafe, Cambridge

Charity: Arthur Rank hospice is dedicated to providing specialist palliative care and support to adult patients and their family, friends and carers in Cambridgeshire.

Price: £1 (I think)

Book Blurb: This story is a rare and utterly engaging experience. It tells an extraordinary tale of a geisha - summoning up a quarter century, from 1929 to the post-war years of Japan's dramatic history, and opening a window onto a half-hidden world of eroticism and enchatment, exploitation and degradation. / 'Sayuri tells a story of her life as a geisha with such gentle courtesy and determination that you are quickly brought under the spell of her character. She takes you by the hand and leads you into a world that is both formal and intimate, a world that I had only before glimpsed in the fleeting and beautiful images of traditional Japanese ink painting... Memoirs of a Geisha is a wonderful achievement' Julia Blackburn

Expectation: A story of a Geisha, a good book as it has achieved acclaimed.

Reality: It is indeed a story of the life of a Geisha, although it is quite shocking in that it begins with a young girl being essentially sold into slavery. It was interesting ethically, as it wasn't as clear cut as poor innocent victims and evil slave traders. In some ways her life was very restricted, but ultimately she had a fair bit of choice over her life's direction. Disappointingly, the storyline did boil down to a girl's pursuit of a man, but in that kind of world that is the whole purpose of living. At the end she ends up in New York (not giving anything away, this fact is revealed at the beginning) and the clash of cultures is fascinating. That's not a very eloquent review, but that is due to the complexity of the book. I would highly recommend it, it's the type of book you could write so many essays about.

Overall Rating

It was a struggle           2        3        4        5        6        7        8       9      Gripping page  

to make it                                                                                                        turner

A very good book. It lost a mark as I wasn't a fan of the ending.

Twist Scale:

Knew the beginning,                                                                                 As twisty as the 

middle and end         2       3        4         5       6        7        8        9      bendy wendy road

from the first line 

Spanning a quarter of a century a lot happened, so a fair few twists and turns. The biggest twists comes in the author's note at the end.

Tear-jerker Scale:

 As dry as a house       2        3       4         5         6         7       8        9     Cried an ocean

 throughout

I'm trying to think, but I don't think I shed any tears. Maybe the culture just was too alien..

Moral of the Story: The whole purpose of life to to pursue a man (As I said, not too impressed with the overriding storyline)

***

Coming up: The princess diaries, ten out of ten. From the sublime to the ridiculous

I would give you a life update, but I've run out of time. I've finished the Princess diaries already, so it might not be too long till my next post.

Relief Reads 7 - Tynedale

Tynedale by Jean Simpson

Charity Shop: Cancer Research UK, Newcastle

Charity: Cancer Research funds scientists, doctors and nurses to help beat cancer sooner.

Price: £1.50

Book Blurb: Jean Simpson is a graduate of Durham University. Her roots have been firmly in the North East and her study of family history in the Hexham area reaches back many generations. This is a story of a seventeenth century heroine, Elizabeth, as she leaves the rural life of the Devil's Water, braves the perils of old Newcastle, and picks her way through the many eccentricities she encounters as she attempts to find her destiny.

Expectation: I didn't really know what to expect. I just hoped it was a readable story.

Reality: Surpassed my expectations, actually a reallly good book. A story following Elizabeth through her life from birth to marriage. She has quite a remarkable life, starting off in a poor village being brought up by her father after her mother dies in childbirth, and ending up in a rich manor house, but retaining her connection with those who worked the land. With regards to morals, the characters are binary creatures. Most all are good (including Elizabeth) but there are a couple of bad who put her life in danger. It was odd reading about events happening in places that I've been to and streets I walk daily. There was even one character who came from St John's Cambridge (although he was sent home due to the plague). This was the story of one woman, how many more lives have been lived in these places. Mind blowing.

Overall Rating

It was a struggle           2        3        4        5        6        7        8       9      Gripping page  

to make it                                                                                                        turner

It was a good book, and a captivating story.

Twist Scale:

Knew the beginning,                                                                                 As twisty as the 

middle and end         2       3        4         5       6        7        8        9      bendy wendy road

from the first line 

I would never have guessed the story would pan out the way it did. At one point I reread a section because I was convinced I'd missed the bit about here being asleep, but no it was actually happening. A bit like when Sherlock got shot and I was convinced that it was all a dream, and then you come to the slow realisation that it's actually happening...

Tear-jerker Scale:

 As dry as a house       2        3       4         5         6         7       8        9     Cried an ocean

 throughout

I'm trying to think, but I don't feel a huge emotional connection with the characters.

Moral of the Story: Technology may have changed, people haven't. Be grateful for modern medicine and the fact that witch-hunts are no more.

***

Coming up: Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (would someone care to educate me, is it pronounced gay-sha or gai-sha, or even gee-sha?)

Feeling ever more settled, but still failing in my plan to join brownies and a music group. Had a little bus tour of Newcastle in a bid to find brownies, but was running late and ended up in an apparently empty building. Wasn't too keen on the idea of exploring an empty building alone so gave up, next time...
Last weekend I went to Cambridge, and it was the most beautiful weather. I did some paddling in a kayak and wasn't cold! It made me very nostalgic for Cambridge-ness and generally just being a student. On my return to Newcastle I went rock climbing and as a result of all the exercise spent the rest of the week feeling sorry for myself, but now pain-free movement has returned, I'm well up for more rock climbing again! Never learn.
In entirely unrelated news I wrote a moan letter to Student Finance to no real end and they actually replied! That's probably the most efficient I've seen them, and was very impressed despite their incredibly dismissive response.

Relief Reads 6 - The Hollow

The Hollow by Agatha Christie

Charity Shop: Marie Curie, Heaton/Byker Newcastle

Charity: Marie Curie is dedicated to the care of people with terminal illness in the UK. Their work includes providing nurses at home, hospice care, research and campaigning for patients. www.mariecurie.org.uk

Price: 99p

Book Blurb: A far from warm welcome greets Hercule Poirot as he arrives for lunch at Lucy Angkatell's country house. A man lies dying by the swimming pool, his blood dripping into the water and his wife stands over him, holding a revolver. // As Poirot investigates he begins to realize that beneath the respectable surface lies a tangle of family secrets and everyone becomes a suspect.

Expectation: A good old murder mystery

Reality: Classic Agatha Christie. A well-written gripping story, with, as always, a surprise conclusion that makes complete sense. I don't think I'd seen this on the TV, I thought it wouldn't be as gripping as TV's Poirot, but in fact I think I preferred it as a book.

Overall Rating

It was a struggle           2        3        4        5        6        7        8       9      Gripping page  

to make it                                                                                                        turner

I didn't have time to read it all in one sitting, but it was memorable enough that it didn't matter.

Twist Scale:

Knew the beginning,                                                                                 As twisty as the 

middle and end         2       3        4         5       6        7        8        9      bendy wendy road

from the first line 

It's an Agatha Christie, of course there's twists. The ending was a surprise too. I'd guessed one tiny bit of the solution which made me satisfy my detectiveness, but there was still the other 95% that was revealed at the end. About 5 pages before the end I couldn't work out how it was going to be concluded, then BAM crazy stuff happens, shocking events occur, all is explained and it's finished.

Tear-jerker Scale:

 As dry as a house       2        3       4         5         6         7       8        9     Cried an ocean

 throughout

It's an Agatha Christie, she's not known for her heart-breaking stories.

Moral of the Story: As with all Poirot stories; Don't live near Poirot, someone will die and he will find a way to pin the blame very convincingly on someone else you know.

***

Coming up: Tynedale by Jean Simpson, chosen for its obscurity.

I get to go to Bristol for a work thing next week, which means several long train journeys so might manage to finish the book for next weekend. Life in Newcastle is a bit boring at the moment. I went rock climbing which was quite exciting, but it's that stage where I've been here long enough for it not to all be new, but not long enough to know loads of people. However, with all my stuff having been brought up, I have been experimenting with new recipes, from my charity shop-sourced recipe book. This included Chicken Parmesan (for which I didn't have any parmesan.. but it was still very yummy) At some point I will turn my attention to handiwork; I'm currently seeing if wood glue is a suitable replacement for superglue (trial 1 failed, trial 2 is drying) and will attempt to rewire a plug, instructions a la You tube. If the fuse blows in the house, it's definitely nothing to do with me!