Private Reviews

This is just so I can post my reviews. I want to practice my writing, so I thought I'd post some pieces that I'll do just to get some feedback. http://www.goodreads.com/jakeylast I'll also be taking requests. Just leave it in my ask!

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Oculus

Mirrors can be a scary thing for a lot of people, but imagine if the mirror had the power to possess your family and turn your parents against eachother?

Oculus is the story of a brother and sister duo, Kaylie and Tim Russell, played by Karen Gillan and Brenton Thwaites. The film has two timelines that are eleven years apart. The past timeline follows the move of the Russell family due to father, Allen Russell’s, growing software business.

The present timeline also follows the Russell siblings but obviously eleven years later. With brother Tim, finally out of a mental institute for killing his father, Kaylie is determined to keep their promise of proving that the mirror is the cause of their parent’s untimely demise.

Throughout the first third of the film, we are given contradicting views of what happened on the night of their death. Tim being in a mental institute has been lead to believe that he has killed his dad and all the supernatural occurrences were all a part of his damaged psyche. Whereas Kaylie is desperate to reunite with her brother and get down to the bottom of this supernatural mystery surrounding the mirror, and it appears she’s had the whole investigation planned out thoroughly with fail safes, cameras and a poor test dog…

For a modern horror film Oculus is a pretty decent film. The story is gripping, the characters are interesting and the conflict between them adds to the suspense of the film. One of the main features that stood out was the swift transitions between past and present throughout the last third of the film, comparing the reactions of the siblings to that of their previous selves.

If you’re a fan of horror/thriller films, family hauntings or entities with mirrored eyeballs, this is definitely a film to watch.

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Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

                                If there is one way to make history more interesting, it is to through in vampires into the mixture, right? Well that’s what Grahame-Smith has done with America’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, and created a whole secret life that no one knew existed.

The story has been written to bring the truth to light, as the introduction points out, but really it’s just a biography with some added fiction to spice things up. I feel like I’m being a bit negative towards the book but I actually found it quite clever. The way that Seth Grahame-Smith has researched Abraham Lincoln’s life in so much detail, that he also was able to write a completely new side to him was incredible. I also loved the journal entries which frequently popped up and made the story feel more authentic.

That leads to my next point. Although the story is obviously a piece of fiction, I couldn’t help but find myself believing that vampires were involved in the American Civil War and were participating in slave trading. That might be because vampires are meant to be the epitome of evil and create a great metaphor for the evil that took place during those times or it could be because Abraham Lincoln was obviously such a strong character that being a vampire hunter must have been the only reason he became that way.

This book isn’t just made up; there is also a lot to learn from reading it. It is technically a biography, but as I’ve said before it does contain a lot of fiction However, there are some real stories in there with Abe’s relationships and his family. Apart from most of the deaths being related to vampires, there are some real emotional moments in the book.

I found this book to be a joy to read and it was a book I’d had my eyes set on for quite a while. It’s not the greatest book I’ve ever read, but nor is it the worst. It’s just an enjoyable, fun and creative piece of literature which I’m sure most people would love to give a read.

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Different Seasons by Stephen King

                                      Stephen King is the epitome of horror novels and some might say he is a one trick pony, but this book proves otherwise. Different Seasons is four novellas Stephen King had previously written and decided to put them together in one book.

The first story is Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption and is a beautiful story about an innocent man who over several years finds himself building a beautiful friendship with one of the other inmates. Probably the best story within the book, it really proves that King can write a great story.

The second story is Apt Pupil which is about a teenage boy who decides to confront an elderly Nazi war criminal about his input in the war. The story is the most chilling out of the four and really got quite horrific.  The story starts off with a young man blackmailing a Nazi and then turns into the young man digging himself a horrific whole which he can’t seem to get out of.

Thirdly, there is The Body, which influenced the film Stand by Me. This story was a brilliant story of adventure and friendship and although it’s written in the perspective of one of the character’s future selves, you really feel like you are reading about four real boys with real personalities, not two dimensional typical kids.

Lastly, there is The Breathing Method which is about a doctor who becomes attached to a patient who is pregnant and unwedded. This became quite a gruesome tale and was the shortest of them all, so it did feel a bit rushed, but the horrific parts of the story weren’t the gruesome parts. The most horrific part, for me, was the club the story was told in. It felt awfully eerie and sinister and made me feel really uneasy and uncomfortable when reading about it.

This compilation was a brilliant read and I found myself unable to put it down because I was so drawn. Stephen King is able to produce a brilliant story, no matter the genre and knows how to keep a reader intrigued. Apt Pupil still haunts me and I find myself thinking about it. That is a clear sign that King did something right when writing that story.

This is a book I reckon everyone should read because it revolves around the art of story-telling and has a story for every set of eyes willing to read it. A brilliant, enjoyable read all round.

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A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow by George R. R. Martin

                                  I don’t think I can classify what you’re about to read as a review but more of an appraisal. A Storm of Swords is the third novel of Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire saga and follows up on where everything left off in A Clash of Kings.

I was a little bit worried about beginning this book because of the hype that it has produced. Everywhere I looked I was seeing this book getting 9+ out of 10. I’ve had previous problems in the past with well loved books turning out to be a load of drivel but this one deserves its jewel in the A Song of Ice and Fire crown.

As a fan of the previous two instalments I was eager to catch up with the much adored characters of Martin’s beautiful world. I have to admit though that in A Clash for Kings, the only thing that didn’t grab me was some of the character’s chapters that were becoming slightly dull, but that’s where things change in the book. The first two books in the series are merely the beginning and this book is one of the centrepieces of epic sage. I found myself entangled with every character. The beauty of the characters is they are real people in a fantasy world. I find myself connecting with the likes of Jaime, who is meant to be a real bad guy, but has been written so perfectly that he has a witty side that appeals to the readers.

That brings me to my next point. The characters are even more wide spread than the previous novel. It seems crazy that the first book contained four different settings for the characters and now we are found criss-crossing across westeros. I also loved the overlapping chapters with characters too. You have a great scene with Arya coming across an inn which is later visited by Jaime and Brienne, and later on you have Bran being within a stone throw of Jon Snow and not realising it. I find George Martin a literary genius just creating the world that we are reading, let alone making these stories overlap one another on occasion and able to get away with it without making it feel like it was put in the story for good measure.

Brienne and Jaime are one of the greatest duos I have ever read in my life. The chalk and cheese of the story, yet there is a lot that brings them together as they both have the some destination, although for different reasons. I feel like I’m reading a story about a brother and sister on some kind of adventure and although there is the tension between them, they have a soft spot for each other.

My only criticism is the fact that it was split in half, because now I am going mad and finding myself wanting to read the second half straight away.

This book is a complete joy to all fantasy fans and non fans as well.

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The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

                                                           Never before have I approached a book with such great expectations and been so let down. This story had so much promise and potential and it blew it. I know it’s quite a popular book and has influence movie adaptations, but I don’t understand how anyone could sit down and enjoy reading it.

Now, the story is about a man with a very specific skill set who is found half dead in the sea. The Bourne Identity is about this nearly dead man, and follows him trying to find out who he is because he wakes up with amnesia. Things start to become a bit strange when this unnamed man is starting to remember things and start piecing together that he may potentially be an assassin. Sounds like a great story line, right? Exactly. So much could have been done to make this story better but it felt like Mr. Ludlum wanted to piss off the reader at every turn and bring in some unimportant part of the story which no one really cares about.

Not only does it contain a load of drivel which I wasn’t interested in, but there was a huge lack of action. Bourne has been compared to the likes of Bond and all the great action heroes in modern literature and he’s nothing but a man who can dress in fancy dress to disguise himself.

The only similarity with Bond is that the writing is very similar to the likes of Ian Fleming. Other than that, Bourne has nothing on Bond.

This is probably the most informal review I have ever written but when I finished the book this morning I felt such a sense of disappointment that I had to let some rage out. The ending really infuriated me. It was careless and a massive middle finger to any person who sat through the whole book waiting for some kind of clarity.

I’m a man who believes that the book should be read before the film and for the first time in my life, I regret that decision. Thanks Robert Ludlum. 

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The Reversal by Michael Connelly

                                                            Michael Connelly is established today as one of the greatest living crime writers, and after the success of The Lincoln Lawyer, I was really excited to reunite with Mickey Haller again.

The story follows two of Connelly’s fictional characters, Haller and Bosch. Haller has been hired to work for “the other side of the aisle” in a case that has come to trial again after twenty four years and Harry Bosch is hired by Haller to become his investigator.

Now, like I mentioned earlier, I was really excited to be reunited with Mickey Haller after enjoying The Lincoln Lawyer so much, but I found myself rather disappointed with the outcome of this book. The story itself is quite an interesting story, but I picked it up expecting something more. The book changes back and forth between Harry and Mickey, telling the story from their perspective, and I think that’s where I became disappointed. Harry was the character that was getting all the action and even though he is a brilliant character, he didn’t make the action as enjoyable as I would have imagined it if Haller was involved. It really felt like Mickey was taking the back seat throughout the whole book.

Not only was that a disappointment, but I found myself getting bored from the very beginning. The story was one I would pick up, read a little of, and put it down again and not even thinking about the next opportunity I’d have to read it again. It didn’t excite me at all until half way through, and that was lucky because I was nearly on the verge of giving up, and probably would have if I wasn’t expecting some brilliant Mickey Haller action.

That all being said, the story is quite clever in a technical sense. When Connelly eventually arrives to the court case, you do find yourself getting quite interested in the flow of the proceedings.  Michael Connelly is obviously very knowledgeable when it comes to law and it shines through in this book. Although it might not seem very interesting at times, it does feel very real, which is something I can really respect Michael Connelly for.

I don’t think this is a book I could really pick up and read again, but I think it’s definitely a book that someone should read if law is something they may be studying or have a high interest in.

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Headhunters by Jo Nesbo

                                   Roger Brown is a corporate head hunter. It’s his job to match the perfect candidate with his ideal job. Roger isn’t just a head hunter though, he’s an art thief and after being introduced to a potential client, Clas Greve, Roger finds himself in deep trouble.

Jo Nesbo is often hailed as the new Larsson, but I also read that this story is a cross between a Tarantino and Coen brothers film which feels a whole lot more appropriate. At first I had my doubts, due to a lot of the hype I’d heard about Nesbo, but this book certainly lived up to his powerful reputation in the modern literature scene.

Let’s start with the Roger. Roger Brown is a content man, but it appears that he is trying to compensate for his height – or lack of in this case – with the likes of money, hair and various other materialistic things. Brown is a character with flaws which we can all relate to, and even though he’s meant to be a villain, you can’t help but like him. One of the most human things about Roger is his luck. No matter what happens, you feel that the poor guy can’t catch a break!

Now the story is really clever, and it would be absolutely perfect if it wasn’t for the last little twist at the end. It felt like Nesbo found it necessary to complicate things a bit to get some kind of reaction from the reader, when really it just felt out of place and unnecessary.

This book really is worth a read though, because it’s hard to find a book with a balance of humour and suspense (“Balance is everything.” As Nesbo reminds us at the end). Headhunters is my introduction to Jo Nesbo and as they say, “it’s all about first impressions”, this was a good first impression.

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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

                                   The boy in the striped pyjamas is about a nine year old boy who has been forced to move from his home due to his father’s career. Sounds like a common issue? Well Bruno’s dad is commandant for a concentration camp in Auschwitz in 1942.

This story is about Bruno’s adaption to his new surroundings. At first he doesn’t feel comfortable living in a new place with no one to play with and less places to explore, but one day he makes a friend when exploring a bit further than he should be, but the only problem is that his new friend, Shmuel, is stuck on the other side of the fence.

Now the story may not be perfectly realistic, but people tend to forget that it’s a story which has been created to entertain. Of course someone would have noticed a nine year old boy wondering off to a fence every day, and probably would have noticed that the fence was easy enough to crawl under, but that’s not the point. The story is about the innocence of a young boy and how friendships can be made with two people on either side of the spectrum.

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t exactly a challenge to read and didn’t cause me to use my brain too much, and that’s what made it enjoyable. We’re reading the story through the eyes of a nine year old boy who doesn’t get a lot of attention from his family and just wants to play and explore like many other boys his age. The relationship between Bruno and Shmuel is a beautiful one and the final chapters are truly emotional.

I recommend this book to anyone with an open mind, and anyone who wants a story about friendship. 

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Stand Up Put Downs by Rufus Hound

                Stand Up Put Downs is a collaboration of all the insults used when a comedian is faced with his worst nightmare, the heckler. Composed by the hilariously brilliant Rufus Hound, this book can help you insult complete strangers too! Whether it be their appearance, accent or faimly, you'll be able to choose something. This book is a very tiny book but it really is full of material which will have you change your underwear.

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A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

                                 A Clash of Kings is the second book in the A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. Game of Thrones had more of a political period drama feel to it, rather than a fantasy, but all that changes in this novel. In the first chapter we are introduced to the red priestess, Melisandre. Shortly after meeting Melisandre we come to learn that there isn’t something very right about her and she has quite the experience in some kind of dark sorcery.

Another point to mention with the prologue of this story is that we also meet a character that was frequently mentioned in the first book but we never had the pleasure of meeting, Robert Baratheon’s brother, Stannis. The choice of introducing the audience to Stannis straight away is a perfect way to set the overall mood for the book. Stannis is preparing to claim he believes is rightfully his, which is his late brother’s crown and throne.

Stannis isn’t alone in wanting to throw Robert’s illegitimate and incest born son, Joffrey, off the throne. Renly Baratheon is also hoping to take the thrown, believing that he deserves it more and will be best suited for the position.

We also have Daenery’s who is also trying to prepare for an attack to take back what she believes was stolen from her.

Last but not least, you also have Robb Stark who isn’t really interested in any part of sitting upon the throne but just wants to be recognised as the King of the North and to seek vengeance for his father and sisters.

As well as these massive characters battling it out for the throne, we are reunited with characters such as Arya, Sansa, Tyrion, Jon Snow, Catelyn and Bran. Not only are we back with theses amazing characters, we are introduced to two new view points in the book, with the likes of Theon Greyjoy and Davos Seaworth.

If you thought that the land of Westeros couldn’t be any crazier than the way it is left at the end of Game of Thrones, then you are in for a surprise. A Clash of Kings doubles the graphic violence, takes incest to a new level and there are even a few twists and turns thrown in.

I have gained a massive respect for George Martin and this world he has created. He hasn’t only created an amazing story, he’s created stories within the stories and using characters you either love, like Arya Stark, or you tend to really hate, Joffrey...

I loved this book, and I cannot wait to open up A Storm of Swords.

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The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

                                                     The Hobbit is a classic and a masterpiece. The story is the epitome of the adventure genre. Following the adventure that Bilbo Baggins and thirteen dwarves are set to recover treasure which had been lost to a dragon, we join them as they face goblins, spiders and several other obstacles.

Bilbo Baggins is a very introverted character to start with, and lives his life in the simplest way and following an everyday routine, until one day Gandalf arrives inviting him on an adventure; little does Bilbo know that this adventure will change his life and his personality forever.

The growth in personality that Bilbo has is such a beautiful experience. He starts the journey as a very anxious and quiet individual and blossoms into the perfect protagonist for the challenges he comes to face. As well as his courage, the relationships between him and the dwarves grow too, and it is truly heart-warming.  At first he was seen as a burden but as time progresses the dwarves soon realise how essential the hobbit is to their success.

I read this story for the first time since I was ten and it utterly blew my mind with all the memories I had when I first picked it up. The Hobbit is the perfect book to grow up with and teaches so many lessons to children as they grow up. The Hobbit is a timeless classic and will be for centuries to come.

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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

                                                       The Kite Runner is Khaled Hosseini’s debut novel, and it’s one of the most well received books ever written. The story could very well be compared to the musical "Blood Brothers", with two young friends growing up from two different walks of life. Hassan is Amir's servant but the two boys spend their time doing everything together, until one day something happens that changes their relationship forever. The book spans over about about 30 years and follows Amir growing up and persuing his dream of becoming a write, until one day an old family friend gets in touch with Amir about Hassan and asks for his help to find Hassan's son. I found this story to be such a beautiful read and touched on so many issues within Afghan society and upbringing. There is a real sense of conflict and contrast too between eastern and western society. As someone who isn't very knowledgable with eastern society I found this book to teach me so much about the way they are brought up. This story should be read by everyone because it really opens up your eyes and there are so many things that can be learnt from this book. Not only can people learn a thing or two from this book, but there is such a wide range of drama but also some beautiful heart warming moments too!

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Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

                            Steve Jobs is well known for his eccentricity and his eye for detail, so it was no surprise when he decided to hire the person he thought perfect to write his biography.

This biography covers both Jobs’s professional and personal lives. Beginning with the adoption and leading to the partnership with Steve Wozniak which then blossomed into a company that now produces some of the cutting edge technology of our generation.

As well as the progression of Apple, we are introduced to the methods that Jobs liked to use when running a company. A lot of people found him hard to approach and receive criticism from because he was too harsh, others stood up to him and those were the people he respected.

The best thing I learnt about Steve Jobs when reading this book was that he knew who he was and didn’t appear to have any regrets in the last few months of his life. He would probably say that he did what was needed to get the best out of his employees. Without him, Apple wouldn’t have gotten to where it is today and would have lost touch with the consumers which it targets its products at.

This biography is a great insight of a man who managed to change so much in the technological industry, from phones to personal computers and from tablet computing to personal music players. Steve Jobs changed the face of so many gadgets we use in our day to day life, and without him we wouldn’t have the simplicity that he worked so hard for in his products.

There’s a lot to learn when reading this book, whether it be about the history of computers or the way the company was organised. It’s said towards the end of the book that Jobs will be seen as the next Ford and Edison in years to come and that’s probably true. He made his mark on the world and what a huge mark that is!

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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

                               Unfortunately, I’ve never given Sir Arthur Conan Doyle a real chance before I began this book, apart from studying one or two of his works at school. I didn’t enjoy reading these stories at school for the pure reason that it was forced upon me and I didn’t read it through choice.

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that this book included “The Speckled Band”, seeing as it was one of the short stories I had studied at school, but completely forgot about. Not only was it surprising to see it included in this collection, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it the second time round. It may have something to do with the fact that I had an inkling of the result, and I appreciated the build up to it this time round.

So this being my first, real introduction to the literary genius that is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I can happily say that I was blown away. Considering how old these stories are, a lot of people could pick it up today and appreciate the way the stories have been written. I was really impressed by the skill in which these short stories were written, and it has definitely caused me to want to read more of his works.

Sherlock Holmes is obviously the most famous detective in the literary world, and rightly so. Sherlock Holmes is a perfect protagonist. He clearly has his flaws, but behind them is a mind that can deduce the minutest facts to create the strongest theory. His wit and dedication to figuring out the mysteries brought forward to him make him an enjoyable and noble character to read about. There is also a lovely relationship between Holmes and Watson which is not only professional but also personal. Watson is pretty much the soundboard for Holmes and tries his best to be of assistance whenever it is possible.

Everyone has heard of Sherlock Holmes and reading these stories, I have realised why he is as popular as he is. I wish a lot of the young adults in today’s society would read these short stories and realise what a great role model Sherlock Holmes is.

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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

                                           To Kill a Mockingbird is considered to be one of the major classics in the literary world, and rightly so! The story revolves around a sister and her brother, and discovering the reality of the world as the start to grow up.

The story is set in the 1930s in Alabama, and has a very innocent beginning. We are introduced to two characters that have grown up in a fairly decent household, without a mother but with a solicitor for a father.

My favourite quality of this story is the unravelling of the innocence of both characters. Scout and Jem are a few years apart in age, but we see them both start to realise what the real world is really like. Discovering that prejudice and racism is a major problem that didn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

The best part about it is how racism and prejudice is seen as naive in a young character, but when the young characters begin to realise how wrong it is to judge people for minor details in a society where adults are still being very prejudice, it really opens your eyes.

This story is a greatly well-written novel and I’m disappointed at myself for not reading it earlier, because there are a lot of lessons to be learnt from this book from people in all walks of life. It’s a very humble book with a brilliant story and cast of characters. It’s one of those books that all people should read before they die.

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I completely agree with your review of Cloud Atlas! I found it a really tough read, I just couldn't get into it. From the praise it received I was expecting to be blown away, yet the links between the stories were almost irrelevant and the stories themselves weren't strong enough to stand on their own. I think anyone who gets to the final page of this book deserves a pat on the back!

I actually managed to finish it aha, in some massive hope that things would eventually all come together and make sense, but I was totally let down! It's nice to know someone else out there agrees with me! Everyone has their tastes, and ours is just a bit odd!

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The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

                             The Woman in Black is pretty much your textbook ghost story. It has everything a ghost story needs: An old, creepy house; a young, lonesome man; ghost children and a faithful pet.

The story begins with an elderly gentleman being reminded how real ghost stories can actually be, and in this first chapter, albeit slow, entices the reader to really gain an interest into what has got this character so deeply shaken and disturbed.

The story is told through the eyes of a young Arthur Kipps and the journey he has been told to make to recover important documents from a recently deceased woman’s house. Arthur attends the funeral, being one of two, and realises that there is some kind of eerie story connected to this dead woman. Arthur keeps then notices a third visitor at the funeral who he doesn’t quite get a decent look at, but notices it’s a fragile woman who appears to be wasting away.

When Arthur reaches Eels Marsh, the woman from the funeral suddenly appears again and that is just the beginning of the strange occurrences at the home. Arthur realises that something is definitely not right with this house, and after being traumatised, makes it a duty to try and find out what the story is, but with no help from the local community it is rather difficult to discuss with anyone.

The only downfall with this book is the fact that it is only 160 pages long. I found myself genuinely shaking at times because I was beginning to feel a connection with Arthur, but it felt like that eeriness of the story was taken away from me too soon. I would really have enjoyed that the book had a few more spooky, yet significant, events.

That being said, the book was actually a great and enjoyable read. It pulls at your heartstrings at some moments, and has you shaking under the covers at others. The relationship between Arthur and Spider was beautifully portrayed, as well as the relationship with Arthur and Samuel Daily. Anyone who enjoys a classic and well written horror story would absolutely enjoy the book without a doubt.