Once again I don’t quite have time for proper review and such at the moment so I’ll do a quick summary of what I’ve read this week.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 
Status:
 Read
I found Collins’ writing still to be occasionally cringe-worthy but the fascinating plot is more than enough to make up for it. The story certainly follows a formula and, as such, is slightly predictable but thoroughly enjoyable all the same. Very easy to read and very difficult to put down.
★★★★  

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
Status: Read 
Funny as always but not Pratchett’s most interesting work.
★★  

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Status: Read
Catching Fires manages to be slightly less predictable than it’s predecessor, enough so that I was never entirely sure what was coming but, equally, was never surprised when I found out. I don’t know if Collins’ writing style has improved or if I’d just adjusted to it but either was I didn’t cringe nearly as much as I did while reading The Hunger Games. Once again a quick and enjoyable read.
★★★★ 

Million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.
- Granny Weatherwax (Equal Rites - Terry Pratchett)

(Source: mannequinhead)

A universe where things are less as they are and more as people imagine them to be
- Terry Pratchett, Equal Rites

I’m back!

Sorry for not updating in over a month. As I expected, uni has gotten in the way somewhat. Instead of doing my usual pre-read write ups and reviews I’m just going to do a quick summary of the last month to get the blog back on track (hopefully).

So Much To Tell You by John Marsden
Status: Read
A quick and easy read. Interesting enough but nothing particularly special. 
★★ 

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
Status: Currently Reading
Once again I was visiting the library and I couldn’t remember most of the books on my To Read list so I picked up the second Discworld novel. I forgot I was supposed to be reading it and had to return it before I finished. I’ll get back to it when I finish The Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Status: Currently Reading
I’ve been meaning to read this for over a year, mostly because everyone said Harry Potter fans would love it. It would help fill the void and such. Until a few days ago I haven’t been able to get my hands on a copy (not that I was trying terribly hard). I started reading it yesterday morning when the power went out and I couldn’t use my computer.

It’s a long way from the sleep to the dream. But I’m still in with a chance.
- John Marsden, So Much To Tell You
They lived in a strange foreign world of love, that I envied but could not understand
- John Marsden, So Much To Tell You

Pre-read Write Up: So Much To Tell You (9/50)

So Much to Tell You

Title: So Much To Tell You
Author: John Marsden
Synopsis: [From Goodreads]

Scarred, literally, by her past, Marina has withdrawn into silence. Then, at her new boarding school, she is set the task of writing a diary by her English teacher, and finds a way of expressing her thoughts and feelings and of exploring the traumatic events that have caused her distress. Through Marina’s diary we gain an insight into life on her dormitory, and her difficult relationship with her father, who injured her in an angry moment. Eventually, Marina makes tentative friendships and, in a moving denouement, is reconciled with her father.

Why I chose this book: I’ve been a fan of John Marsden since I started high school and am currently in the process of collecting my own copies of his  Tomorrow series. As such I like to keep an eye open for the name Marsden in op shops and used book stores. My friend spotted this one at a used book sale last weekend and suggested I give it a read.

I’d just like to apologise for my review of The Great Gatsby. It’s quite vague, I know. Nearly a week has passed since I finished the book and I couldn’t remember much of what I was going to write.

I will try to get my reviews done closer to the time of finishing each novel from now on.

Review: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I would describe my feelings towards The Great Gatsby as slightly more positive than indifferent. I liked the novel but not any more than anything else I’ve read. It’s the kind of story that I think would be great to analyse; I would have loved it had I studied it in school. One day, when I’m not undertaking the most difficult year of my degree, I think I’ll come back to Gatsby and give it the intellectual effort it deserves. Until then I will live with the sense that I have missed most of the important themes of the book. Still, I feel studying The Great Gatsby is something to look forward to and I hope to read some of Fitzgerald’s other novels in a similar fashion when I have the time.

Rating: ★★★
Recommendation: This book is a good one for English students and anyone else who enjoys a bit of literary analysis.  

Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther… .And one fine morning——
And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald (via eloiseseesall)

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