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St Michael's Church School

18,027 pages read and 8,163 team points

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    Dezzie

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    Anne T

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    Jo Eason

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Anne T

4,931 pts
(4,355 pages read)

  • What Cancer Taught Me

    By Jake Bailey
    5 stars

    Admittedly, this was a re-read. My daughter bought it for me when it first came out. I read it and was blown away by this exceptional young (at the time) man and the frank depiction of his treatment, and the emotional roller coaster he was on. A few years later, I travelled my own road and often looked at his book thinking, I just can't face reading about anyone else's hardships when my life seemed so challenging. I recently got it back out again, intending to select chapters to reread in order to draw comparisons against my own journey and found myself being drawn back in to start at the beginning, even though I already knew the ending. I remain in awe of Jake Bailey and know that his book will always remain on my bookshelf.

  • The Last House Guest

    By Megan Miranda
    1 stars

    I must admit, I didn't enjoy this book, despite the good reviews it came with. It is touted on Goodreads as a thriller/mystery that is a "smart, twisty read that brilliantly explores the elusive nature of memory and the complexities of female friendships" and comes with a Reese Witherspoon recommendation. Personally, I found it slow and overly wordy, with a simple, underdeveloped plot and shallow characters. Just not for me. I even forgot I'd read it until checking my log!

  • The Fallen

    By David Baldacci
    4 stars

    A new author for me, but I will be searching out some others by him. More murder mystery than thriller, but another author who likes to inform the reader as well as entertain. From the differences between heroin and fentanyl to complicated life insurance fraud schemes, police corruption, weird (yet positive) side effects from brain trauma and how to spot a dodgy neighbour, this story has it all. A longer read, but not a drudge.

  • Straight Up

    By Ruby Tui
    3 stars

    An honest and frank biography by New Zealand Black Fern's Ruby Tui. I'm not a big sports fan, (or one of biographies to be honest), but discovered women's rugby 7's when it screened at the Tokyo Olympics and loved the speed of it and the grit demonstrated by the players. Reading her book gave a frank insight into her life, not just as a top New Zealand sportsperson, but of growing up in New Zealand and the challenges she faced right from childhood. A fierce mentor for mental health advocacy in children, adults and sport, be it recreational or professional, this is a 'warts and all' story that makes you acutely aware that the media only glosses over the surface of our sports 'stars', merely reporting on highs and lows as they apply to the win/loss scenario of sport. An enjoyable, educational and at times, sobering read.

  • Crimson Lake

    By Candice Fox
    3 stars

    I read this after watching the TV version (renamed Troppo). Often, screen versions of books fall short, however in this case, I felt that the characters were better depicted and developed in the television series. Candice Fox's books are refreshing, as they are set in rural Australia, and she does a good job of faithfully describing the setting and including its nuances within the plot. I felt that the ending of this 'thriller' fell short, although I am aware there has been a subsequent semi-sequel featuring the same characters. A good read if you are challenging yourself to read the work of unfamiliar authors.

  • The Midnight Lock

    By Jeffery Deaver
    5 stars

    A Lincoln Rhyme/Amelia Sachs thriller. "Your doors are locked. But he still gets in..." Written in true Deaver style with plot twists and red herrings galore all whilst including vast amounts of technical knowledge, this time about locks (and picking them!). Deaver has the ability to teach and enthral simultaneously, combining descriptive language with likeable characters, none of whom are perfect, and just the right amount of technical information to spark interest in both forensic science and a niche subject.

  • The Voice Inside

    By Brian Freeman
    5 stars

    This is the second of the Frost Easton psychological thrillers. Reading them out of order makes no difference. Brian Freeman writes in a style that makes you feel as if you are in the story alongside the main characters as you read. Not formulaic writing, with plenty of scope to keep you guessing until the end. A happy ending is never without some sacrifices along the way as well in many of Freeman's books.

  • Fatal Intrusion

    By Jeffery Deaver & Isabella Maldonado
    4 stars

    The start of a new series, melding modern day cyber crime and policing. It took a while to get into this book as the chapters jump around character perspectives and actions, but plenty of action, red herrings and plot twists that Jeffery Deaver does so well. Keen to hunt out the sequel to this one to see if it is an easier read now the main characters are established.

  • High Wire

    By Candice Fox
    4 stars

    A fictional, action/thriller set in the outback of Western Australia. Fast paced, with likeable characters. Gives a good insight to life in the outback and how justice/crime gets addressed when the locals are in charge. A pleasant change from American settings/legal systems.

  • Return of the Spider

    By James Patterson
    4 stars

    A flashback story to the early days of Gary Soneji. It was nice to have Alex Cross's life portrayed back when his first wife Maria was alive. In all other books, she is always referred to as his 'late wife'. I don't know why Gary Soneji has been resurrected, perhaps his adult daughter Roni will feature in a future book as a revenge plot?

  • ADHD is Awesome

    By Penn and Kim Holderness
    4 stars

    Insightful book about living with ADHD and how to understand its origins and impact on day to day life. Good strategies and perspectives offered by someone who has it and someone who doesn't, but lives with someone with it.

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