Entertained News: 05/01/2012

Beam Me Up, Cumberbatch

It seems like ages since we've had any real news regarding the sequel to the 2009 Star Trek re-vamp, but apparently the latest casting is our very own Sherlock Holmes: Benedict Cumberbatch. There's no news yet to suggest what role Cumberbatch will be taking on, however the rumour mills have it that he'll be playing a Star Trek villain, and even further rumours hinting that he has snapped up the villainy role that Benecio Del Toro was touted to take. Whether this is true or not, I don't know, but with Cumberbatch's reputation as the bad guy (Starter For Ten, anyone?), I'm interested in how this role will go.

Cumberbatch isn't the only Brit actor to have snagged a role in one of the most-anticipated films, is Noel Clarke. Better known for his role in Doctor Who, as well as his writing and acting credits for Kidulthood and Adulthood,  Clarke's role also remains a mystery, however rumours suggest that he'll be playing a family man, which of course tells us absolutely na-da about the character as a whole.

Alongside Alice Eve, who has also been cast in the film, and Simon Pegg who reprises his role as Scottie, fromt he previous film, it's interesting and equally great to see so many English actors taking roles in what is a long-running classic series.

The Fifth of a...Trilogy...?

I was introduced to the Mortal Instruments books last year after completing the Hunger Games books, by a good friend who introduced them to me as a trilogy. So, imagine my surprise when I discovered that a fourth one had been released. Okay, fine. Authors change their minds, because let's face it we get into the heads of the characters, and it's hard to put them down. A fourth book I could handle. However, today saw the announcement of what the book cover will look like for the....fifth book in the trilogy...

This may just be the weirdest trilogy I've ever come across!!

Being only on the third book in the series, and in the knowledge that I also have to read the prequel series, I wish they'd slow down a bit, so I could catch up!! But then, at least I know that I have lots of books to look forward to.

Regarding the cover, I'm not really a fan of image-based covers, on books, with actors playing the characters, because they seem so cheesy. If they're photographs or very close to looking like photographs, I just don't really like them, as they're a bit like the tacky covers of ripped men "wooing" incredibly odd-looking women on the covers of Mills and Boon novels. I think I preferred the earlier books' covers where you couldn't see their heads. I don't know, I think that when it comes to reading books, I prefer to have my own image of the characters in my head, rather than have it placed there for me.

Book Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Title: Matched
Author: Ally Condie
Pages: 366
Cover: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-141-33478-3


Plot: Cassia lives in a world of analysis. Where everything you do is predicted for you, including your profession, who you will marry and even when you will die. When Cassia is “matched” with her best friend, she couldn’t be happier, who wouldn’t be happy to be matched with someone that you already know? But, then her entire world begins to unravel. What if she was meant to be with someone else?

Two reasons to read "Matched"

The Ideas: Stories of dystopia have been popular for a long time, ranging from 1984 to Blade Runner, and one of the predominant reasons behind their popularity is down to the raw ideas of the future that these novels and films are able to conjure up. And “Matched” is no different. The ideas are intriguing, because on the surface they sound so perfect: how nice is to know that you are destined to be with one person, without the fear of having to find them? But, then underneath that nice thought is the realisation of everything that comes with it, including the lack of free choice, and for most of us, that isn’t a nice thought.

One for the Girls: The problem with a vast majority of dystopian novels is that they tend to be very science fiction based, which is widely aimed at a more male audience. Similar to “The Time Travelers Wife”, however, being the girls version of a time-travel novel, “Matched” is the uncomplicated girls equivalent of the dystopian novel. This makes it a much easier subject to approach, because typically we’re not necessarily interested in the nitty gritty of how this all came about, we just want a good story damn it!

Two reasons not to read "Matched"

Plot: I read this book purely on the fact that the ideas were similar to the love triangle in Hunger Games, and so soon after finishing the Hunger Games books, I was keen to see how another author would tackle the idea, especially set in a vaguely similar dystopian world. Unfortunately, I wish I hadn't bothered, because plot-wise "Matched" didn't stand a chance. The funny thing is that I'm not just saying that because I love The Hunger Games book so much, because I think that even if I'd read this first, I'd still have disliked it. 

The plot is boring, to say the least. Despite events occurring, nothing ever really happens and it just plods along like Eeyore trying to battle against blustery winds. Ultimately, I just felt like it was a load of really good ideas, loosely linked together into minor plot-points that weren't focused on deeply enough for my liking.

Characters: For me, characters are practically as important as the plot. Without characters that are likable or at least a little bit relatable, then I'm just not interested. Development wise, Cassia makes Bella Swan a great deal more likable, and even (yes, I'm going to say this), Cassia makes Bella look like less of a drip!! 

And the problem with the other major character (Ky if you wanted to know!!) is that I never felt like I knew anything about him. I didn't know who the hell he was, or why Cassia became so obsessed with him. Okay, I know the reason that the story gave (which I won't reveal for anyone who wants to read the book!), but you don't just fall in love with a person for no reason. You have to find something appealing about them surely, but I just never got a sense of that out of Cassia. And as a result, I really couldn't sympathise with Ky's "situation".

Overall: I think that "Matched" is a great book for younger teenage girls, looking for something different. But, as a whole, I felt like Condie had missed out on a great opportunity for a brilliant piece of fiction. It's full of ideas, but no substance, which is unfortunately, far too common in novels aimed at this age-group. If J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, Phillip Pullman et al can manage to write incredible fantasy-based literature for the young adult audience, then I see no reason why others can't!

Regarding the books sequel "Crossed", I'm vaguely intrigued to see where Condie will take the story, but having read reviews, I think that I'll follow my initial gut instinct and not bother to torture myself.

The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

Title: The Winter Rose

Author: Jennifer Donnelly

Pages: 706

Cover: Hardback

ISBN: 0007191324

Series: Second book in the Tea Rose series.

Plot: India Selwyn Jones is a newly qualified Doctor living in 1900 London. A girl from well-to-do roots, and engaged to political high-flier Freddie Lytton, India's dream is to set-up a clinic for women and children for the city's poor. 

Sid Malone is involved in practically everything that India despises: crime, drugs, prostitution. But India can't help falling in love with him.

Two reasons to read "The Winter Rose"

Realism: Having read some of Jennifer Donnelly's other work, in the past, and having interviewed her for my University dissertation, I know very well how much hard work Donnelly puts into the research for her novels. Not because she has to, but because she enjoys it. And that research really does show through the sheer amount of detail that Donnelly goes into with setting, imagery and the overall feel of life in early 1900s London. Her writing is so realistic that it's hard not to feel like you are a part of that world.

Characterisation: Sometimes novels that require a large about of characters tend to get somewhat crowded and overwhelming, to the extent that some characters you just don't care about. But, Donnelly gets this completely right. All of her characters are believable, and most importantly human, as she allows you to delve into their individual psyche and figure out their motives and wants. 

Of course there are always characters that are favoured over others when reading, but it's hard not to.

Two reasons not to read "The Winters Rose"

Unrealistic: Everyone in the story is connected, that's nothing unusual for a novel, because there's no point if characters don't have a connection of some sort to each other. However, the meetings of characters that are connected without knowing they are connected, seem too coincidental for my liking. I know that the political world of London probably is a small place, but it's the non-politcal coincidental meetings that baffle a little. And how on earth everyone ends up in Africa, at the exact same time, seems too unbelievable for me.

Length: At 706 pages, this is definitely not a quick read, or for those with short attention spans. Not unsurprisingly, there are times when the book drags a bit, and it becomes easy to skip chapters, especially when they are short. Fortunately, it's not a particularly heavy book, but you do have to be interested in the characters and settings, otherwise you really have no hope of plodding through it.

Further Information

Do you need to have read the first book to enjoy this one? I hadn't read the first book, and I definitely don't think you need to, because I got the impression that a lot of the back story explained for certain characters was comprised from the first book.

Are any of the characters real? Donnelly has a reputation for basing her stories around real people, although the story tends to use them as "side" characters, rather than main ones, and "The Winter Rose" is no exception. Some of the politicians mentioned, and featured were real including Asquith, Gladstone, even Winston Churchill gets a brief mention. A couple of Queen Victoria's children get a mention, and the infamous suffragette Mrs Pankhurst also features.

Guest Book Review: Frost Moon by Anthony Francis

Hello Everyone,

I'm Lyuba from Funky Makeup Junkie, but fear not, although I love makeup I also love to read. Usually I read fantasy and/or romance novels with some women and cultural studies books thrown in for good measure. So today the book I have for you is not a romance per se, but more of a paranormal mystery which is a nice fresh breath in my otherwise romance overrun Kindle. I love me some good romance (and when it's paranormal or fantasy it is even better) but sometimes I get tired of women losing their minds in a proximity of a hot guy, and I want something different. Frost Moon by Anthony Francis is that something different.

Product Description

In an alternate Atlanta where magic is practiced openly, where witches sip coffee at local cafes, shapeshifters party at urban clubs, vampires rule the southern night like gangsters, and mysterious creatures command dark caverns beneath the city, Dakota Frost's talents are coveted by all. She's the best magical tattooist in the southeast, a Skindancer, able to bring her amazing tats to life. When a serial killer begins stalking Atlanta's tattooed elite, the police and the Feds seek Dakota's help. Can she find the killer on the dark fringe of the city's Edgeworld? Among its powerful outcasts and tortured loners, what kind of enemies and allies will she attract? Will they see her as an invader, as a seducer, as an unexpected champion ... or as delicious prey? FROST MOON is Book One of the SKINDANCER fantasy series by debut author Anthony Francis. Filled with unforgettable characters, spine-tingling action, kinky rebellion and edgy love, FROST MOON is classic storytelling at its best, and Dakota Frost is an irresistible new star of fantasy fiction. Anthony Francis is a computer scientist who works at the 'Search Engine That Starts With A G'. By day he studies human and other minds to design intelligent machines and emotional robots; by night he writes fiction and draws comic books. He received his Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from Georgia Tech. He lives in San Jose with his wife and cats but his heart will always belong in Atlanta.

~*~*~*~ 
The book follows the (mis) adventures of Dakota Frost, the best magic tattooist in the whole southeast. She lives in the world that is our own, except magic is real and all the paranormal creatures are real too and are out in the open. Except I got a feeling that some people in the world are in denial about that from all the surprised looks and reactions. The world was the first thing that drew me into this book, because it was so real! The characters are not bad-ass, they don't kick butt every time and they get their butt kicked plenty of times too. They seemed like someone I would meet in my local bookstore or Starbucks, and someone I will fit right in with too. 
Dakota Frost is openly bisexual and there is a heavy emphasis on talking about lesbians and her experiences with her ex. At first I thought it would turn me away, but it didn't seem imposing. Sure she is bisexual (who is strangely gets pretty shy around guys), and although I normally prefer my books to be completely heterosexual I can take a different view once in a while. Since she is a tattooist, there was plenty of technical terms and explanations but it felt more informative than boring, and I was glad for all the extra info. I personally don't want a tattoo but it's interesting to read about how tattoo process works without having to go out of my way to research. 

The characters are well developed and fun, the good guys (although not perfect) are likable and the bad guys need to be kicked in the nether regions. I kept getting annoyed at Dakota for all her bravado and tough talking without actually having anything to back her up, but after complaining to a friend I realized that this is exactly why she seems so real. She might seem tough, but she is not a stereotypical kick-ass female character and it was so refreshing to read. My favorite character was Cinnamon and I felt like her relationship with Dakota was resolved rather nicely and I'm looking forward to seeing more of her in the second book (whenever that comes out).

My only minor gripe is that Dakota never actually says how tall she is? We know she is tall, because she constantly talks about being taller than most men, but she never actually says how tall! It was driving me nuts a little, because I just wanted to know! At some point she mentions that she is taller than 6'1", but that's it. She spills the beans in the excerpt from the 2nd book (yup, just my luck it's a series and the 2nd book is not even out yet) and says she is 6'2". So for those of you who are like me, and will be dying to know here it is, her mysterious height! 

I recommend this book for anyone who likes paranormal stories but not necessarily likes romances (or got tired of paranormal fluff and is looking for something different). 

5 out of 5 

~ Lyuba