Oh So Lazily

Reviewed: Along for the Ride

May 042011

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How very trademark Dessen. Everytime I crack open one of her books I know it is going to be the same as all the rest and yet I still buy and borrow them and love them all the same. Along for the Ride was no different although I kind of wished someone would punch Auden’s Dad in the face. Or stab him in the eye with a fork at the very least.

Along For the Ride is the story of Auden’s summer with her Dad, Stepmum and new half-sister. Auden thinks she will regret going but ends up learning about herself and the life she has missed up until that point.

The strangest thought I get from this book is the cover. I don’t picture Eli or Auden looking like either of those headless people… Eli just doesn’t seem like the jeans wearing type.

That aside, I was kind of hoping for something a bit less formulaic with this book but I suppose, once you’re onto a good thing why not stick with it, right? Worked for Dan Brown.

Fortunately, Dessen’s Formula is a guilty pleasure for me so I continue to follow her works but don’t expect anything new. It is the standard girl has shake-up in her life, goes somewhere new and meets a new but ‘not her type’ boy and friends. Girl then learns that maybe they’re exactly her type.

And if that is a spoiler, than you’re not paying enough attention.

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A sign from above or conversion tactics?

Randomly Speaking 1 Response »

May 022011

This afternoon I was sitting at home watching some TV when I noticed someone knocking at the front door – it actually took a few knocks for me to register they were actually at my door.

J goes to see what they want and who they are and from the couch it sounds like a religious group. I had a Jehovah’s Witness come visit me on Boxing Day and try to give me a bible – not really my thing – and figured this was the same but then J turned around and had a bag of… groceries.

These girls were from Life City Church and I guess decided everyone in my building was poor and needed some cheering up. Given that the first item out of the bag was a pack of Tim Tams I was happy to oblige, but they didn’t stay for a chat. Just gave us a flyer and left us with our goodies.

It was the strangest thing. The bag was filled with delights that I’ve wanted over the last few weeks but decided not to buy and all in one neat bag. It feels a bit weird that there wasn’t one thing in that bag that we don’t like – which is really saying something because we can be super picky.

One example is the juice, yes there was a bottle of juice in there and if you were doing random drops what type of juice would you buy? A generic Orange Juice right? The standard. I would have been disappointed though because I don’t like Orange Juice… luckily they got us Apple Juice, one of my favourites!

Now, I’m not religious in the slightest but it was like someone was trying to change my mind by giving me all the things I happened to be desiring at that moment in time (well except maybe the dry pasta… that would have to cook first :)). While it may not have converted me to their church I did think about it enough to a) blog about it and b) check out their website.

Alas, sorry Life City Church but I don’t think I’m quite so easily bought… maybe another visit next week and my arm might be twisted?

Time for burning bras

Randomly Speaking 3 Responses »

Apr 262011

I went bra shopping last week (feel free to shudder). Why is it so hard? Why isn’t there a universal size for all brands? I think it is time to take them off and burn them girls!

Not only was I unable to find 2 bras in different brands that fit the same but bras of the same size in the same brand also had fitting issues. Eventually, I found one that fit and looked nice under my shirt so I bought it…

… I get it home and it doesn’t fit the same! How does the change room deceive me like this? I feel like I’m 15 again and trying to work out my size except that all my other bras are the same size and they fit.

I need to get fitted again maybe, have you been? How often do you go and when did you get your first fitting? I didn’t get my first one until I was 24!! and then I had the best bras I’d ever worn… it didn’t help that until that point I didn’t know what cup size came after D.

Now I’m off to shrug around until this bra feels like it fits.

Reviewed: Someone Knows my Name

Reviewed No Responses »

Apr 252011

Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an incredible read. This story is loosely based on facts about slavery in the 16th century and revolves around Aminata who is stolen from her village at the age of 11 and forced to travel months on foot to the ocean and taken over to America to work in an Indigo farm.

This reads like a biography, parts of it feel real and you want to save Aminata from the perils of her life. Although, she goes through many distressing situations she is strong and helps everyone around her and becomes an enigma of sorts, intriguing all the white folk around her (a smart black woman? never!).

I found this hard to get into initially, maybe because of the age of the character and the discussion of talk in her village but as I read more and more I wanted to know what happened to Aminata and how she had fared through her incredible journey.

Also, generally I don’t like male authors writing female characters, they never seem to do it justice but Hill definitely made me forget about him and just focus on the character. Brilliant work.

This makes you think about slavery in our history and how people justify stealing people from their homes to be sold on. It is just an ugly trade and sad to know it still goes on, if not highly publicised.

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Reviewed: Feeling Sorry for Celia

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Apr 162011

Feeling Sorry for Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t expect to love it this much but when I saw that it was written entirely through letters I had to give it a try.

Feeling Sorry for Celia is the story of Elizabeth, Celia’s best friend, who has to deal with Celia disappearing on occasion and not telling anyone. Celia is her best, and only, friend so when she leaves Elizabeth has to cope with her worry about Celia and her bizarre family by herself.

Enter in Christina, Elizabeth’s new penpal from a neighbouring school. Even though they don’t know each other they begin to confide in each other through their letters.

I really loved that this book was entirely written through letters between the character, with Elizabeth’s Mum’s being my favourite. The characters are interesting and caring (mostly) and make you want to really wish you were friends with them.

One of my favourites for the year I think.

… just realised this is #1 in a series of books! I’ll have to find out about the rest!
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