(2) Catching Fire (Hunger Games Trilogy)

Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins

Rating: 9/10

Date Finished: 28/02/2012

Review:
I read the first hunger games books just after Christmas on my brand spanking new kindle and couldn't put it down. I think I finished it in one afternoon. I've been meaning to buy Catching Fire ever since but I had a lot of other books on the go. I'm so glad I finally bought it!!! I actually enjoyed it even more than the first one despite some of the bad reviews I've read from other people. This book is far more intelligent than The Hunger Games, with more complex thought processes and emotions and an ending that genuinely surprised me even though I thought I had it all figured out.This sort of book is obviously not going to change the world but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable! In short don't believe all the bad reviews, this is a must read for anyone who liked the first book in the trilogy

(1) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Stieg Larsson

Rating:
7/10

Date finished:
25/02/2012

Review:
I'm a bit conflicted about this one. The mystery kept me guessing right up until the end, the twists and turns are incredibly well crafted and really clever. The characters were totally believable; some of the traumas they each experience were gut wrenchingly real; a few times I felt uncomfortable reading about them. But this is surely the point....some chapters begin with some shocking statistics (assuming all copies have this) about the status of women in Sweden particularly in regard to rape. Larsson seems to be sending a message to the reader about how real these problems are to the vulnerable people being taken advantage of and this poingant message definitely comes across.  Yet, despite all of these things, I still found myself getting a bit bored towards the end, the tying up of loose ends seemed too long and all in all I was glad when I'd finished it.

I would recommend this book but with a warning to keep at it, there is a sense of achievement when finishing any book but that was even more true with this one. Give it a try!!!!

Wish me luck!

OK here I go! One hundred books in a year. I'm going to be writing a review for all of them and posting it here as I finish them.

 I have a lot of free time at the moment...time I've decided to put towards reading. Heaven!!!!
 I've just left Uni and until I can reapply I should be getting a job but nowhere seems to be hiring. So frustrating! So until I have more luck on that front I've set myself a mission. Can I do it? Has anyone got any recommendations for things to read?

I'm going to be reading things of all lengths, ages and genres; some may be reasonably short if I'm struggling to keep up, no War and Peace for me!

My first review is on its way =D