What I'm Reading: The 10PM Question - Review

The 10pm Question

Kate de Goldi

Frankie Parsons is ‘twelve going on eighty’. Whilst growing up in New Zealand, his mind is overflowing with fears and worries about almost everything; are the smoke alarm batteries flat? Is the kidney shaped rash on his chest cancer? Does the cat have worms? Every night, at 10pm, he wanders into his mother’s room and hopes that she can calm his fears – but Frankie’s mother isn’t doing too well herself. Frankie doesn’t know why his mother hasn’t left the house in almost a decade, or why he lived away from home with ‘the aunties’ for the first part of his life, or why the only thing that reminds him of his mother is a caged bird. It isn’t until Sydney, the colourful, confident and creative new girl with dreads and handmade clothes comes along, that he begins to realise that his family isn’t as normal as he thought.

Along the four months that The 10pm Question is set, Frankie, with the help of his best friends Sydney and Gigs, also a free spirit, who doesn’t worry about  the threat of terrorism or McDonalds taking over the world, Frankie slowly becomes conscious of the rodent voice in his head which is driving him gradually insane. He is imprisoned in the set-in-stone routine of his life, and he can’t seem to let go of it.

The 10pm Question is written brilliantly, with subtle humour from a young boy who isn’t completely sure whether his best friend is actually his girlfriend. Kate de Goldi’s writing touches on the topics of OCD and mental illness through the mind of a child who doesn’t understand it himself. His innocence leaves the reader unable to put down the book, and wondering whether or not Frankie Parsons will be able to fight the ‘freak-out gene’.

What I'm Reading: Forgotten

FORGOTTEN

CAT PATRICK

“He’s not in my memory, which means he’s not in my future.”

London Lane remembers her future in the way that we remember our past – she could tell you what you will wear next week, but not what she was wearing last night. Every morning her mind wipes out the memories of the day she has just lived, forcing her to write notes to remind her future self of her own past. But when London meets the Luke Henry from Boston, she is confused as to why he isn’t appearing in her notes, and even as time goes on and their relationship grows, she still cannot remember him in her future. In the meantime, she is being plagued with 'memories' of a funeral – is it her father, who she hasn’t seen or heard from in years?

Or could it be Luke’s? Is that why he isn’t in her memory?

I think that Forgotten has a compelling and clever storyline, and it’s very well written, but I think that the plot would have been more believable if it leaned a little more towards the fantasy-science fiction genre than simple teen fiction. I simply couldn’t take the backwards memory ‘thing’ seriously when it was treated as a medical condition, maybe I was just too – I don’t know –closed minded while reading this book. I definitely think I would have taken the whole thing a little more seriously if London’s brain was strange because of a supernatural cause.

Now, I’m not the biggest fan of teen romance books, it all becomes too much about the couple having a perfect, rosy relationship and there isn’t enough emphasis on the actual storyline, or writers will put all their efforts into describing how in love their characters are instead of letting their actions speak for themselves. I felt that I had this problem while reading this book. However, I did put that behind me, and just ignored my general dislike of novels dripping with romance and not enough story-telling.

London is a very likable character, and any teenager who has had to stand up to a friend will relate to London’s relationship with her best friend Jamie, the only person except London’s mother who knows of her condition. Another intriguing plot of the storyline is London’s relationship with Luke, as every day for London is as though she has just met him. Every morning, she wakes up to read about her boyfriend, and every day, she falls in love with him – but is Luke keeping something from her

What sold the book to me was the way that London doesn’t let her backwards memory get in her way. When she sees how her best friend’s relationship will end in sorrow, she doesn’t allow her future to be decided for her, but instead sets out on a mission to put it to a stop. And when she learns about a hidden mystery from her past that tore her family apart, she takes it upon herself to use her ability to see to future to put right her wrongs.

What I'm Reading: I Heart New York - Review

I Heart New York

Lindsey Kelk

“It’s official. Angela Clark is in love – with the most fabulous city in the world.”

As is every other girl, that’s why this book is so enjoyable. Angela flees her uneventful London life after it is left in tatters when she finds her boyfriend in bed with another woman! She spontaneously boards a plane to New York City and begins to live the dream every girl wants. She gets a New York makeover from her new best friend, New York girl Jenny, and spends her ex’s cash on designer clothes, shoes and her new love, a wonderful Marc Jacobs bag. 

And of course, the romance. With a new look and great clothes, she is soon grabbing the attention of quite a few men. Her love interests are complete opposites, charming wealthy banker and a scruffy but gorgeous rockstar. What more could a girl want? Oh, of course; living in a top hotel with room service, and fantastic clothes.

Lindsey Kelk's writing style makes for a fun, relaxed read. You're following Angela as she deals with all the sudden changes in her life, and on top of it all, the decision of whether she wants to actually stay in the Big Apple. This decision gets even harder when she's offered the chance of a lifetime - to write a blog for The Look, about her life in New York, about all the best hang outs, about her love life, about her beloved clothes! Will she go back to her monotonous, dreary life in London, or will she take all the opportunities coming her way and stay? I know what I would do, what about you?

So, overall what makes this book great? Angela Clark is a heroine, who is living the dream all because of one risky choice to board a plane; New York is paradise filled with great clothes, restaurants and of course, the guys are dreamy, the stuff of movies. Think along the lines of The Devil Wears Prada, but with more humour and in my opinion, even better characters. I hope this book follows the example of The Devil Wears Prada and snags itself a movie deal. And soon! 

Also to read, the sequels: I Heart Hollywood and I Heart Paris.

Perfect for fans of: The Devil Wears Prada, Sex and the City, Sophie Kinsella books.

What I'm Reading: The Perks of Being a Wallflower -First Impressions

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky

So I just bought this book yesterday in Waterstones. Why did I buy it? Well, not that I mean to sound shallow, but this book's film adaptation is being released in 2012, and it stars Emma Watson (Harry Potter), Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson), Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries) and many more brilliant actors. Now, although I said this at the risk of sounding shallow, in an attempt to redeem myself, I will admit that I am the kind of person who always tries to read the book before watching the film. And so I have been searching for this book everywhere, and found a single copy in Waterstones.

The book is written by Stephen Chbosky and follows a teenage boy going by the alias 'Charlie' as he sets out as a freshman in high school. He is writing letters to an unknown person, who he calls 'friend' as he describes various scenes of his life. I've heard a lot of good things about this coming of age novel, and I'm super excited to finally have it!

So far I've read the Part 1 of 4 (just over 40 pages) and I am loving it! Charlie writes to us, the reader, in a form that is easy to read. The sentences flow easily and if you are anything like me and Charlie, and long, dull descriptions full of complex vocabulary sometimes baffles and bores you, this book is perfect for you. Chbosky skips over all the pages and pages of descriptive waffle that other authors include, and simply includes the plain truth; Charlie's experiences.

Charlie is one of the sweetest protagonists I have come across; he seems to be so innocent as he sets off into high school. He doesn't experience much, simply witnesses. He stays in the background and observes. Through his letters, we follow Charlie through school, his Advanced Level English, his family life including his sister's relationships, his brother's football scholarship, his friendship with brother and sister Patrick 'Nothing' and Sam, who is Charlie's first crush, and the star of his fantasies. Charlie's first 'real' party includes him getting high, albeit accidentally, and discovers the power of the perfect song at the perfect time.

So far, I'd say that this is definitely a book to read. Any teenagers out there would most likely adore this as much as I have so far; Charlie's honesty is great fun to read and is reminiscent of many teenager's experiences and thoughts. I specially love how Charlie just tells us everything that happens, and what he thinks, but without judging the people he's talking about. It definitely makes me think that the world would be a lot nicer if people were more like Charlie - understanding. 

I can't wait to read on to Part 2 and the rest of the book - I will keep you updated!!