The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I started reading the book, I didn't know anything about it nor what to expect, I did though know that a lot of people enjoyed it and found it a marvellous book.
This was a book that I didn't want to put down. Each page of the book was like a magnet, keeping me there and making me curious to know how things would develop.
There is though quite an introduction to the serious "action" and that is a tiny bit too slow - but possibly, necessary to give a lot of background information about the three main characters and the people they are involved with.
The rythm changes when all the secrets, stories and the day-to-day life are finally getting unveiled and one is wondering what is going to be the big thing the three women will share together and what really is going to happen to everyone.
There is an attempt to connect the story with historical events - which gives a robust context to the plot, but could have possibly be presented in a better way. I love the way the 60s are told with the details of how everyone is living. One gets also to understand a bit how that generation has been growing up and influenced.
The final chapters of the book are the best: one does understand more and more of the situation, feels deeply connected to the "heroines" and wants of course an happy ending. It is a beautiful story where certain boundaries of the time are broken but it is also sad and enlightning because I would have not expected things to be in this way, in that period of time.
I found though that the final could have been better. There are some few open points and all the tension is resolved in a bit ridicolous way. Despite this, the narrative is great: the story is told sequentially connecting the three women's point of view while it goes hand in hand, almost in parallel with the story that the women will put together.
I am not curious to watch the movie and hope it has not destroyed the atmosphere of the book!

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The Measure of the Magic, by Terry Brooks

The Measure of the Magic by Terry Brooks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the necessary chapter that concludes the chapter of the "Legends of Shannara". It is interesting that the word Shannara is used to define the saga, when nothing explicit is said about it, so it is a bit unclear which is the connection with that - it is surely clear that this is a sequel to the last trilogy, where the worl is on the verge of being devastated by humanity and not only.
Finally, after a book of preparation, there is some action and some magic. Finally, some of the elements that constitute a red thread for the Shannara stories are appearing and marking the territory (Silver River King, for example).
The characters are now all of a sudden developing, forced by the circumstances to mature and take risks. But I do still find them weak and possibly forged based on similar characters of the same saga. I can't recall exactly who they are reminding me of, but they are not bringing any tone of originality in a story that is already lacking that characteristic.
It is then obvious that this part of the story has been written just as a link between the apocalypse and the Shannara fantasy starting setting and it is a pity, since it could have been used for bringing light into the genesis of that world.

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Bearers of the Black Staff, by Terry Brooks

Bearers of the Black Staff by Terry Brooks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If I wouldn't have been reading previous Terry Brooks' books, I would be very confused when reading this one. It would have been even worse if I would have skipped the trilogy that came just before this. The story takes place 500 years after that and it is mainly an introduction to the action, which hopefully will occur in the second book of the Legends of Shannara.
The plot is not that different from the one of any Shannara related book, so it lacks some original element that would make it more interesting.
I miss also strong and lively characters: these ones seem to be some shaded copy or mix of already known Shannara characters.
What I did mind the most, though, has been the lack of charm and atmosphere, which has made at least the first Shannara books a success.
Ok, this is supposed to be a story leading to that world, but so far it looks like it is a repetition with trivial and predictable elements.


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The Winter Ghosts, by Kate Mosse

The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a short story that can be relatively entertaining. The plot, once one knows it is a ghost story, is slightly trivial: one can figure out quite easily how things will turn out. There are no surprises, neither special effects and the story doesn't have any very scary touch. It has some sort of magic aura, mystical, surrounded by some general sadness. Possibly, it is what the author wanted to transmit and achieve with this story. But this was my first ghost story so I can't really put the finger whether or not the book has failed in its intent.
It is of course set in France, as all the books I have seen so far by this author and that results in a quite detailed description of the environment, dipped in an historical context where sometimes things are a bit unclear due to the usage of some sentences written in French. I always get lost when she starts to describe the towns or the roads, maybe also because she becomes too descriptive.
I have definitely read better books, but at least, it is not too long and it flows quite quickly to not become too heavy to be digested.


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The High Lord, by Trudi Canavan

The High Lord by Trudi Canavan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What a disappointment! I was counting that at least the last book of the trilogy would be fool of excitement and revelations, but even though some happened, the plot still continues to develop too slow for my taste and I didn't enjoy at all the character's evolution.
The heroine, Sonea, has changed very little from the beginning, except for embracing magic. But Akkarin, the High Lord, loses his shade of mistery and his actions justification doesn't get any better.
On top of that, there are, in my opinions, some flows in the context of the story, with a side story without big connection to the main one, with some unclearness in some way on how magic is used and with some unexplained items hanging as question marks there and then.
It is a pity though, because I think it had the bases for becoming an exciting story, but it lost its charm when the author spent too much time in passages that didn't give that much to the thrill the reader might expect.
Despite everything, though, I still wanted to know how it turned out for Sonea after all the troubles she went through!

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The Novice by Trudi Canavan

The Novice by Trudi Canavan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really do not understand why the author can't skip a lot of irrelevant parts of the story in order to make it more interesting. For how much I still want to read the trilogy and know how it is going to end, I find myself wondering if certain passages are really needed or not. Maybe everything will be clarified, finally, in the third book? Or maybe not... how many times have we seen Sonea harassed by the other novices?
It is also interesting to notice that there are very much similarities between this and Harry Potter. Sonea is not as the rest of the magicians and her antagonist bluntly resembles Malfoy.
And also, why can't her, being the protagonist and surely reserving a lot of surprises about her strenght, being a bit less of a wimp? Her development is slow and doesn't give in a lo of surprises.
Finally, when Akkarin appears on the scenes, the story gets a bit of bite into it, but it is still a very evasive presence.
Interesting is the fact that is presented the odd topic (for a fantasy book) of homosexuality, even though - no knowing what is coming next - I wonder if it will be really of use for the the general plot in the last book of the trilogy.
Generally, I think there are better fantasy books to read...

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The Magicians Guild by Trudi Canavan

The Magicians' Guild by Trudi Canavan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was quite disappointed by this book, although I managed to get engaged in the story at the very end. However, I suspect I would not be the only one to feel so since at least half the book is a waste, in my opinion. The story doesn't progress, nothing relevant happens, nothing interested is said by the characters. Said this, the first half of the book is definitely boring.
Finally, something happens and one manages to get interested in reading the book. This is not high fantasy and the world in which the story is set is not described in very high details and there is not so much information about the context, but it is also true it is not very necessary for the plot.
It is nice though to see that the end of the book is leaving an open question, which I suspect will be the red thread to follow in the coming two volumes and it ends with a positive note.
Maybe Trudi Canavan should not write trilogies but just single books, since the first volumes of her two trilogies that I have read so far as slow beyond redemption.

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Voice of the Gods, by Trudi Canavan

Voice of the Gods by Trudi Canavan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After a very slow start up set by the two previous books of the trilogy, this is the final chapter that finally resolve all the knots.
The book is impossible to leave, especially when the final notes of the story are being played.
The characters acquire more and more interesting faces, remaining though consistent with their personality. They grow so much on you that it is hard to think they will cease to exist once the book is over.
I must confess that I would have expected some more details on the epilogue: there are some question marks that remain unsolved (for me) and I would have expected a complete explanation on everything, after being thrown into a complex world without any background.
The way Trudi Canavan writes is always very catchy and trying to keep up the interest of the reader. There are not enormous descriptions of very unimportant details, but enough to paint the surroundings of the scene where the action will take place. It is a story rotating around characters and their actions/thoughts, not around the setting.
I hope that there will be some prequel or sequel that will complete the picture provided by the Age of Five trilogy and will give life, once again, to the great character that Auraya is.


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David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens

Dicken's David Copperfield by J.M. Lybyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I unfortunately read the book in Italian, so I have probably missed a lot of shades from the original masterpiece, but despite this I read the book and I was happy that my expectations in front of a gloomy story were not respected.
The level of details of the storytelling gave me the opportunity to imagine how things were in England, back then, and what kind of life one might have had, since also different people from different social classes are in the story.
David reaches maturity through many events in his life and, although happiness varies depending on his age, he finally comes to what he considers the ultimate joy of life.
It is interesting to see, though, how the ones that have evil intentions will be unmercifully end, giving the sensation that the main message that the author wants to promote is that if one works hard, is honest and tries his best to do good, will be rewarded. And that is very much applicable also today.

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Last of the Wilds

Last of the Wilds by Trudi Canavan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have started to read the book a long time ago, however I had to break it constantly (and in the meanwhile I also read other things).
I finally found time to focus on it, lately, and since then I enjoyed every single bit of it. I like the story. It is intelligent, interesting and I like the characters. I am starting to like more and more Auraya and realizing she could be one of my favourite characters, although I don't have a big recollection of the first book of the serie.
I am now looking forward to have the possibility to read the next book!


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The Sword of Avalon

Sword of Avalon by Diana L. Paxson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It is always an illusion to believe that the book is written by Marion Zimmer Bradley, but her name is just in the idea behind the book. It is obvious when reading it that the author can't be her: Diana Paxson, for how good is she and how honorable work she is doing is not able to catch the atmosphere that the Bradley was able to recreate.
This book presents the background story behind the "legendary sword of Avalon", that is, Excalibur.
It is interesting that the origin is connected to ancient Greece and it is a very interesting historical moment, between the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, that is taken as reference point for the sword's history.
The characters lack the depth, the interior development and the charm of the Bradley's characters, although they are the typical Avalon's inhabitants. The Priestess of Avalon with her powers, fighting between visions, duty and wishes, the rebel girl, the hero and the villain.
It is a pity that the book gets a bit trivial, but it is always nice to drown in the Avalon world, afterall.



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The name of the Rose

When the movie came out in the 80s, I remember that everyone was extremely interested in watching it. Of course, that was not a movie for me and I was sadly supposed to watch Labyrinth, which became a chain-view of 20 times in few days.

Nevertheless, it was just few years ago that I had the occasion to view the movie and I thought it was really beautiful. Plot, characters, a fantastic Sean Connery, the setting: it was just great and being an historical setting, it was plinging the right chords for me.

However, I haven't yet read the book. Strangely enough, since usually, if Mattias have been watching a movie, I have been reading the book of it. But here I was completely blank.
Thanks to a present, though, I finally got hands over it, in Italian of course (while Mattias had already read it in Swedish).

Must say that it was not the fastest reading I have ever done, and this can be of course due to several reason, but the book has a slow start (the author admits to have the first 100 pages to be quite deadly and decided to keep them as such although the editor recommended him to change them) and there and then, in the middle of the historical regressions, it was hard to keep track of all the facts.
Indeed, the book is incredibly complex, with the historical plot mixed with the novel itself mixed with the everything-but-trivial characters and the quite tough language.
I must confess I was losing myself in certain points, longing more for the detective part, which at the end can't be distinct that much from the setting/context.

One might come at the end and be very surprise of it. And I was. I was trying to remember the movie all the time and that helped for visualizing the scenario and give a more round taste to the setting, but there was really little in common between the two stories, in a certain sense.

A brilliant book, demanding a lot for the reader, but that will not let him down if he will manage to reach the end and understand at least some part of the several messages, stories and characters.

Twilight

I had seen many friends on Facebook posting all sort of items about Twilight, but I really couldn't understand what it was. I didn't know if it was a TV serie, a movie or what. I then got explained that it was a serie of books, for the teenager audience, a vampire story and that some movie had been made.
It got all quiet about it, on Facebook at least, but then some other friend of mine mentioned it when she came and visit and she said she could not take her eyes off the books. I was then all of a sudden curious and I made the interest clear, so much that one day, during the spring, I got all four books delivered at home (borrowed, that is :-D).

I started to read it, even though I had something I had just starting read, and I was not so enthusiast of the book. The emotions and the feelings of the characters were really nicely described, but the story was a bit too much "sweet and with happy ending" so much that it seemed dull.
I can say that also New Moon was leaving me with a bittersweet feeling since the evolution of the story seemed quite predictable and again, what I appreciated the most of the book was the way the feelings of Bella were described. It felt so real! I could easily say: "yes, in this and that occasion I have felt the same too!".
I got a bit bored with Eclipse, since once again the plot seemed not so realistic, but well, I was not expecting anything more.
At the same time I started to watch the movies and I was in disbelief over their popularity because, well, I don't know, I didn't get so especially amused by them. I think the actress that is Bella on the screen especially could have picked up with a better choice and the only thing I had appreciated of the movies were the special effects on the second one. I haven't yet watched Eclipse, even though the posters of the movie have been booming all around town for a while. I guess soon it is time to watch it on the small screen.
Finally, I started to read the fourth book, Breaking Dawn and, even though I found the story quite...weird and totally surrealistic, I got hooked on it and wanted to read more and more. It is just as absurd as it can get, however, I found it better written than the other three and surely more interesting, maybe because all the pieces of the puzzle finally fit together and there is some fancy idea from the writer that made the story not anymore so dull.
I was not so happy on the final though, a bit too much happy and joyful, of course, it was a nice ending and not too trivial (as in Harry Potter), but well, I guess happy ending are not really my thing!