Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Escapes

Hi everyone

The Wild Robot Escapes is the second book in The Wild Robot series by Peter Brown.
I got my book from Bol.com.

"Shipwrecked on a remote, wild island, Robot Roz learned from the unwelcoming animal inhabitants and adapted to her surroundings--but can she survive the challenges of the civilized world and find her way home to Brightbill and the island?"

This was a lovely book for children. The drawings are fun and the story is heartwarming. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Happy reading!
Helena 

Richard Matheson: A Stir of Echoes

Hi everyone

I finished A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson and I read this on my e-reader.

"Tom Wallace lived an ordinary life, until a chance event awakened psychic abilities he never knew he possessed. Now he's hearing the private thoughts of the people around him-and learning shocking secrets he never wanted to know. But as Tom's existence becomes a waking nightmare, even greater jolts are in store as he becomes the unwilling recipient of a compelling message from beyond the grave!"

This was utterly boring. The writing, the story, the characters. It was a struggle and I was relieved it was so short (228 pages). I don't think I would have been able to finish this one if it were longer.

Happy reading!
Helena

Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score

Hi everyone

The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel van der Kolk is the latest book I read about the topic of trauma and healing. It has been one of the things I've become quite interested in and this book was mentioned by other books on the topic so I wanted to read it too.
I read this on my e-reader.

"Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world's foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers' capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain's natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk's own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives."

I was really, really interested and impressed by 70% of the book. The first 70% mostly. It reads as if there's real science behind his words. I am a midwife by training and we obviously learned a lot about the human body. So the anatomy and neurology discussed were not new. I could follow his writing and his interpretations of the consequences. I found hisfirst therapies insightful and interesting.

But the last few chapters? That's where van der Kolk lost me. Those last forms of therapy really felt like they would be as effective and science-backed as chanting in the forest. Only for the real believers.

Happy reading!
Helena

Neil Gaiman: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Hi everyone

This is the review for my second time reading Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane. 
I have this gorgeous pocket that I reread.

"It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond this world are on the loose, and it will take everything our narrator has just to stay alive: there is primal horror here, and menace unleashed - within his family and from the forces that have gathered to destroy it.
His only defence is three women, on a farm at the end of the lane. The youngest of them claims that her duckpond is an ocean. The oldest can remember the Big Bang."

I really don't understand why this has earned an average of 4 stars of Goodreads.
The story starts out well enough. The writing is easy to follow, the story unfolds nicely, the setting is interesting, I liked the initial characters and the book has a good pace.
But. But. The characters are completely good or bad. The book is too scary for YA and too young for an adult story. The story itself is just stupid. What the hell is going on? As usual, Neil Gaiman has amazing ideas but he can't execute them, he can't work them into an interesting, coherent story.
That's my opinion naturally. 

What's your experience with Neil Gaiman's books and his writing?

Happy reading!
Helena

Stephen King: The Dark Half

Hi everyone

I felt like it was time to read another Stephen King book and he has a lot of books to choose from.
This time I read The Dark Half. 

"The sparrows are flying again. The idea haunts the edge of Thad Beaumont's mind. He should be happy; for years it is his secret persona 'George Stark', author of super-violent pulp thrillers, who has paid the family bills. But now he is writing seriously again under his own name, and his pseudonym is buried forever."

The Dark Half wasn't as good as I had hoped and expected.
It's way too long drawn out and thus it gets really boring. There are some great action scenes, chilling and frightening sequences but the parts in between drag the plot down, both in pace and in tension.
The ending is very underwhelming, I really expected more out of this book.
I did enjoy the writing, the horror aspects of the story, the cruel and vile George Stark parts were absolutely shocking and great and I liked the plot itself.
It was just way too slow.

That's the way it is for me with King's books. Some I love, some I find mediocre and some I can even DNF.

Happy reading.
Helena

Becky Chambers: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

Hi everyone

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is the second book in the Monk and Robot series by Becky Chambers.
I read this on my e-reader because I couldn't find the physical books in the series anywhere. I would love to own them as a paperback though. 

"After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home.
They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe.
Becky Chambers's new series continues to ask: in a world where people have what they want, does having more even matter?
They're going to need to ask it a lot."

This was really, really lovely. It's sweet, cozy, easy, optimistic and warm. Perfect for when you need something light that will make you feel all warm inside.
The only thing I didn't like is the length of the book. We skipped too much story, too many travels and interactions I would have loved to read about. But that's the only thing I can think off.

Happy reading!
Helena

Terry Pratchett: The Last Continent

 Hi everyone

Terry Pratchett's novel The Last Continent is his 22nd book in the Discworld series.
This is my third time reading it and I can't really remember where I got it, but you can surely buy the series here.

"IT'S THE DISCWORLD LAST CONTINENT AND IT'S GOING TO DIE IN A FEW DAYS, EXCEPT...

Who is this hero striding across the red desert? Sheep shearer, beer drinker, bush ranger, and someone who'll even eat a Meat Pie Floater when he's sober.

A man in a hat whose luggage follows him on little legs. Yes, it's Rincewind, the inept wizard who can't even spell wizard. He's the only hero left."

The Last Continent is not my favourite Discworld novel, but it is great nonetheless.
It's fun, full of references, it's a crazy story, fastpaced, lots happening and very enjoyable.

Not an ideal book to get to know the Discworld series though.
I'd recommend The Colour of Magic, Equal Rites or Mort.

Happy reading!
Helena

Dennis E. Taylor: Earthside

 Hi everyone

Earthside is the second book in Dennis E. Taylor's series Quantum Earth.
I read it on my e-reader.

"The Yellowstone super-eruption has put an end to modern civilization. As cities and countries continue to fall, the colony of Rivendell in the alternate Earth known as Outland looks more and more like the only real hope for humanity. But life in Rivendell isn’t getting any simpler, either. Bill and Kevin continue to discover new worlds; the population continues to rise; winter is approaching; and everyone has their own opinion about how things should be run.
Then, a garbled plea for help from Omaha sends most of the security forces back Earthside to investigate, leaving Outland’s police force understaffed just as a large group of refugees arrives with its own ideas and power structure. With threats from both inside and outside, will the colony even survive until spring?" 

This was a light read, very entertaining and enjoyable, lots of fun characters, predictable plot, people to get angry with and I love the setting.
Nothing really special and rather shallow plot and characters, but it truly is enjoyable.

Happy reading!
Helena

Wrap Up: March 2025

 Hi everyone

I read more than expected last month!
Here's the list of the books I read in March 2025.

- Tasha Suri: Empire of Sand

- Philippa Perry: The Book You Want Everyone You Love To Read

- David Dalglish: A Dance of Blades

- Darren Hardy: The Compound Effect

- Julie Leong: The Teller of Small Fortunes

- Joe Abercrombie: The Trouble With Peace

How was your month? Did you read anything good?

Happy reading!
Helena

Joe Abercrombie: The Trouble With Peace

 Hi everyone

The Trouble With Peace is Joe Abercrombie's second book in The Age of Madness series.
I got my copy from Bol.com.

"Conspiracy. Betrayal. Rebellion.
Peace is just another kind of battlefield...
Savine dan Glokta, once Adua’s most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way.
For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye . . . before it kills her.
The Breakers still lurk in the shadows, plotting to free the common man from his shackles, while noblemen bicker for their own advantage. Orso struggles to find a safe path through the maze of knives that is politics, only for his enemies, and his debts, to multiply.
The old ways are swept aside, and the old leaders with them, but those who would seize the reins of power will find no alliance, no friendship, and no peace, lasts forever."

No. 
This was utterly boring.
Orso, Savine, Leo, even Rikke; they are all in a constant state of 'woe is me'. It's as if they are totally different characters from the previous book.They were strong and confident and they are now reduced to people who are downtrodden and completely passive with no goals or even will to live, let alone prosper. I was hoping they'd die so we could focus on more interesting people, didn't happen though.
I like reading Abercrombie for his action, the humour, the battlescenes, the politics, the daily life, not for the whining of the characters.
The overall tone stays the same throughout the novel, there's never anything good happening, not much good in the characters either. His grimdark style would hit harder if his writing made us feel something for the characters. Now there's no glimmer of light or hope anywhere and that doesn't help to make us feel and care for the characters.
Nothing actually happens. The plot is very vague with seemingly a lot happening while there's actually nothing progressing. It's so slow it was a struggle to finish.

Happy reading!
Helena