Audio Review: On the Jellicoe Road

Taylor Markham is now a senior at the Jellicoe School, and has been made leader of the boarders. She is responsible for keeping the upper hand in the territory wars with the townies, and the cadets who camp on the edge of the school's property over summer. She has to keep her students safe and the territories enforced and to deal with Jonah Griggs – the leader of the cadets and someone she'd rather forget. But what she needs to do, more than anything, is unravel the mystery of her past and find her mother – who abandoned her on the Jellicoe Road six years before. The only connection to her past, Hannah, the woman who found her, has now disappeared, too, and the only clue Taylor has about Hannah and her mother's past is a partially written manuscript about a group of five kids from the Jellicoe School, twenty years ago. 

Audiobook, 8 pages
Published May 14th 2010 by Bolinda Audio (first published 2006)
YA fiction
From Sync (love you audiosync!)

My thoughts:

I am feeling meh today, not in a review writing mood.

The start was rocky. It started with this accident. Then we were with Taylor at her school and I kept wondering why it kept jumping back and forth? Then it was explained that she was reading something. Yeah...messy.

So a slow start and it took me some time to get through this audio. It was not that compelling. Kids warring with Cadets and Townies.

Oh and Taylor was messed up! This teen needed family and a hug. And those who could have given her that, grrrr, wtf was wrong with you? Nope Hannah, I would not forgive you! Sure we get explanations at the end but still! Taylor just wanted to know why she was all alone and where her mum was.

But close to the end it did get interesting. I did want to know why Hannah was writing about those kids and where she was and how it all was connected. And I wanted Taylor to find some truth in her life.

Conclusion:

I even started crying at one point. And it was a good book all the way through, it just made me angry at the adults and I think reading it would have made the messy start better

Narrator Rebecca Macauley

I did like her accent, since hey AU book gotta have it right. So nothing wrong with her narration

Cover

meh

Finnikin of the rock - Melina Marchetta

At the age of nine, Finnikin's world is shattered by the five days of the unspeakable: the royal family of Lumatere is brutally murdered, an imposter seizes the throne, and a curse binds all who remain inside the kingdom's walls. Those who escape are left to roam as exiles. 

Ten years later, Finnikin and his mentor, Sir Topher, are summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young novice with a startling claim: Balthazar, the heir to the throne of Lumatere and Finnikin's childhood friend, is alive, and she can lead Finnikin to him. Even as he suspects this arrogant young woman, Finnikin also begins to believe that Lumatere might one day be raised. 

My thoughts:

Hype. Yes hype. Everyone told me that this was the best book ever. So was it? Nope, it was good, I could enjoy it, but nowhere near best ever. Best fantasy ever, HA, no. Best YA fantasy? Not even that.

I also felt like it did not know where to stand. Shall I be YA, or try to be adult? SO SO much rape. But almost no violence, before you say anything, stop, I say almost no violence for a book with that much talk about rape.

And that last big fight scene, the book's war. Omg, pathetic. 2 pages where nothing was described. Give me a war, give me death, blood destruction, make me feel. Now it felt like they rode in and in a second everyone won.

And then there was more talk about rape.

Finnikin, well him I could like. He felt the hardship, he wanted more for their people. But what to do.

Evanjelin, omg, I did not like her. Arrogant and unlikable.

And then there was more talk about rape.

It was a journey book. They went on a journey, and then the book ended and everyone was happy for now.

A leader should be kind, and yes ruthless at times. But still nope, I can't see that person as a ruler. Not as a good ruler.

Conclusion:

It was good, simple, but omg so much rape talk. I get it, you all suffered! But give me some brutality against men too then.

Read more? Sure I could, but please not another 400 page rape book. And there are better fantasy books there, so book 2 can wait. Also, please no win a  war in 2 pages *eye roll*

Cover

Meh

Paperback, 401 pages
Published August 9th 2011 by Candlewick Press (first published September 29th 2008)
Lumatere Chronicles #1
Fantasy YA
Own

Review: Saving Francesca - Melina Marchetta + Emma and Elliott

Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastian's, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom.  Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an an impossibly dorky accordion player.  The boys are no better, from Thomas who specializes in musical burping to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about.

Then there's Francesca's mother, who always thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, alone, and without an inkling who she really is.  Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself.

My thoughts:

I liked this one. It was meaningful, had some real emotions going on and was like YA should be. No stupid love triangles, instalove or silly teen angst over nothing.

Marchetta has a great voice and from what I hear this is not even her best book, no the rest are even better. I would like to read those too.

The book is about Francesca who haws started a new school without her old friends. And her mum is not leaving the bedroom. It's a tough start. But slowly she finds her way, very slowly. But I liked that, the book had a light slow vibe too. And she gets saved and finds out who she really is. Oh and yes maybe there is some maybe romance in there too ;)

conclusion:

Not the best day to write a review for me. But I will just say, this is a good YA book to read.

Cover

I have the looking up at the sky one, could not find a decent image of it, also it is very meh

Would I read more?

yes

Paperback, 256 pages
Published May 6th 2004 by Puffin Books (first published March 31st 2003)
Contemporary YA
Own

Few heroines evoke such diverse emotions as Jane Austen's Emma Woodhouse, for whom readers profess everything from disdain to devotion. In "Emma & Elton", Alexa Adams explores what might have befallen the supercilious Miss Woodhouse if she were made aware of Mr. Elton's affection prior to his proposal. This short story was first published on Adams' blog in tribute to Halloween, and though you'll find no ghost or ghouls gracing its pages, tenderhearted Janeites be warned: here lies "something truly horrid".

My thoughts:

It was short so I do not have a lot to say.

The story stayed every true to Emma. With a few exceptions, Emma is a bit smarter and at the same time not. And something truly horrid happens.

I liked the horrid thing the most...cos it was horrid ;)

A nice twist to the story.

'

Published October 31st 2012
http://alexaadams.blogspot.com/
Short story / Jane Austen variation