Book Review: Doll Bones by Holly Black

 Creepy Doll action with a male protagonist (mostly).


Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for ever. They love playing with their action figure toys, imagining a magical world of adventure and heroism. But disaster strikes when, without warning, Zach’s father throws out all his toys, declaring he’s too old for them. Zach is furious, confused and embarrassed, deciding that the only way to cope is to stop playing . . . and stop being friends with Poppy and Alice. 

But one night the girls pay Zach a visit and tell him about a series of mysterious occurrences. Poppy swears that she is now being haunted by a china doll – which claims to be made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl. They must return the doll to where the girl lived, and bury it. Otherwise the three children will be cursed for eternity . . .

The main and important thing that is missing from the above summery is the Game. The trio (no, they never refer to that in the book) have this elaborate story going on which they act out with dolls which is the main reason Zach is so upset that about his father throwing out his toys. (From the honest point of view of twenty year old, I'd still be playing with dolls if I hadn't moved when I was 12 and they some how never made it into the house. Instead I write more and go through session of watching others play with dolls on Youtube). 

Zach instead of telling Poppy and Alice the real reason the Game is over, lies to them, saying he doesn't care about the game anymore. The Doll a.k.a. the Queen of their kingdom turns out to be haunted and leads them on to a quest.

The main theme is growing up and change, partly afterlife. Both are very depressing. The growing up theme includes drastic changes, growing apart and first romance which I ignored mostly as I'm actually still an eight year old that's not at all interested in that.

I'm a big fan of creepy dolls that are haunted and compared to all the other ones I've came across this doesn't really cut the mustard if solely basing it off that. I just don't think a real creep level is ever reached. Stuff happens but never constantly, though it is meant to be in question on whether or not the whole thing with the doll is actually true. You meant to wonder if Poppy has made the whole thing up with the purpose of leading Zach back into the game. I suppose its a better mystery than a horror (even twelve year old level).

There are few very unrealistic things that happen, which can be let to slide since this is a kid's book and makes the plot more interesting. I just say "Bus station" and "harbour" which will make sense once you read this book.

The three main characters are well defined. I personally think the strongest part of book is their friendship and the issues they work out through the book. Twelve is that awkward age where a lot of friendship from childhood can die or be severally weakened (Of course this tends to happen in Scotland more to do with this being the age to start Secondary school, but still). There hints of deepness to the characters, however this being a 250 page book, the hints were fine.

There are some lovely illustrations in this book by Eliza Wheeler. Petty and creepy. I do have a favorite illustration but it bit of a spoiler if I say which one. If actually interested its the one that features the label that been in my last four reviews (including this one).

Overall, I gave this books 4/5 stars. A few minor problems with it, but its still very good books. I probably eventually get my own copy, but not for a while as I'm broke and spent my pretty book fund on Sherlock Holmes (I regret nothing).

Disclaimer: I got this book off NetGallary. So for free for Review. Don't worry that doesn't effect my opinion at all. 

Book Review: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

When my mother saw me with this book, she said it sounded exactly like the sort of book I would like. Probably just because it had "book" and graveyard" in the title.

After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family . . .

This cover confused me after reading the book, I just don't understand why the boy is blonde because he described as having mousey coloured hair. My understanding is that mouse is light-brown. I confirmed this by the power of the internet. This was drawn especially for the book so is really confusing to me.

This book is basically about different stories from Nobody's childhood in Graveyard where he raised by ghosts. His step-parents are ghosts, he is taught by ghosts and so on. All the weird things that come from this.

There also this thing about the Jacks. They trying to kill him and they big "battle" in the end where only one can survive, sort of. Yes, it does go a bit Harry Potter, but I only realise that after I finished reading it.

I only gave Three out Five stars as while good read, I found it rather boring at times. I didn't feel that much for the characters, it was kinda like a soap you find yourself watching because you couldn't be arse to get off the couch to switch the channel.

See you next time losers.

Driving is no longer for the Youths

I have gave up my driving lessons. This is because I can't afford to drive. I can actually afford the lessons, but I'm no longer insured to drive because its frankly too expensive.  There also the cost of taking the theory and then the practical. I know I've already paid the fifty quid for my provisional. Well, I guess I have a ID for the sake of it.

I spend £80 every month for my lesson which actually quite cheap, but that 36.36% of all the money I get for my bursary. I've not give up completely on driving. I'm just disenchanted by it all.

Its annoys me so much that its Sexist to give women lower rates because in percentages woman are the safer driver, but it okay to be give young drive outrageous rates because theres a high percentage that says that Young people are worse drivers. If that sexism, then that must be ageism. Well, it doesn't take a genius to realise that Young Driver are always new driver and won't have the same experience as our non-young counterparts. Its not the fact that new driver that are getting (extremely) higher rates. Older new drivers are not given the same rates.

So basically, no one (unless your parents are loaded) will be able to afford to drive until they well into their twenties.

So thats what bugging me this week, we could take bets for next week.
Will it be rant, an odd piece of creative writing, book related or odd rambing because I couldn't think of a topic to write on.