Book Review: Outside by Sarah Ann Juckes

Scottish music, it's a thing.

Here's the thing about being Inside. Ain't no one believes that they are.

Ele has never been Outside, but she knows it exists - she just has to prove it.

Her whole world is Inside. Trapped with her books and the Others and Him. 
She has never seen a tree or felt the rain but that's about to change. Ele's getting out. For good.

Another book about someone being raised in isolation, but this time it's for the YA market. I would say it's Young YA, it has very dark topic but the way it's handled is almost middle-grade. I guess if you're not a 12 year watching True Crime Docs but that was me.

Ele has not been properly socialised so she doesn't know the words for basic objects and only has access to four books to frame her world. She speaks in a confusing way and it took me a while to figure out whether the word she kept using was meant to positive or negative. I got used it to eventually but I don't think it helps that I started this book while in a waiting room and didn't read it for hours later. Probably better to read the first fifty pages in one go.

Another language choice that is uncomfortable is the way she describes the character, Willow, whose mixed raced with a dead Jamaican Mother and ginger Scottish father. Yeah, it's does get minus points for stereotypes. Having diverse characters is a plus but the some of the descriptions of Willow by Ele are oddly racist; not in the racist way in that she been locked in a room entire life so doesn't know the connotation of the things she says; more in what the hell does that mean? "His head hair ain't like no truths in no books. It's all together and bouncy." I think Juckes is trying to be poetic, but it's more what? This could just be a me thing.

This book tries to have twists, but if you know true crime then it obvious what they'll be and you won't be shocked.  It's also a very Juvenile Happy Ending way, I mean the characters literally say we don't why, it just is, which is realistic of life, but the way it's said doesn't help. I do say this Young Ya, and to clarify is not a bad thing. A young side to YA is needed, so this book might be good for Young teen wanting to step their toes into something darker but safe in that there will be Happy ending for the characters.

This book is set in Scotland, but where in Scotland? Fantasy Scotland probably. So I was born in Scotland, I was raised in Scotland. I went to school in Scotland. Okay, I'm probably overkilling this. There's just a lot of questionable things in this book that makes me think that Juckes has never been to Scotland or had her book proofread properly. She checked with someone's mum that the dialogue was correct. There's odd things referring to potatoes as Tatties and potatoes: " brown spotted balls called 'potatoes' - once Willow also called them 'Tatties'' and this not something someone would do unless they were questioned. Frankly, it should be the other way if you wanted to point out that Scottish people called them that. You either use that word or you don't. The Scots was, of course, wrote very touristy, but this book is obviously meant for a non-Scottish audience. The thing that made me really go what?, is this scene: When he’s done with the slow song, he starts playing something else. Something fast.  Something that has him dancing from left to right as his arm swoops from side to side and up and down. The music bounces off the walls and has me sitting up, smiling, my feet bouncing along like they’re running on music.‘Come on!’Willow shouts, spinning round in a circle and bouncing from foot to foot. I get up and copy him, though it’s difficult without a violin to play myself. I hop from one foot to the other. Spin round. [dance till collapsing] ‘Phew! Ah, that’s a fun one.’I pull my head to the side so I can see him. He’s smiling wide at the ceiling, pulling in breaths from his inhaler. ‘Irish,’he says, catching my eye. ‘They know how to dance."

So this is the thing called Ceilidh in Scotland, and if you had gone to a Scottish School you would know from the age of 8, we are all taught Scottish Group dancing and this continues until we were finally free of P.E. (in 6th year in my case) but still would make us do them at the Christmas Dance (at least my school did), we were made to do them at Christmas Dances during Primary. The Gay Gordons are drilled into my head. My point is there is a scene where a Scottish person plays a fiddle fast and does a dance that can't wrap my head around at being like anything that exists. Is he meant to be 'Riverdancing' with a violin? Maybe the targeted audience won't be old enough to immediately think of that Irish Scene in Titanic and all those dead Irish people. There are really fast Scottish dances and that type of music would be associated with Scottish dancing, if you were Scottish. There are other questionable things like Ele somehow never seeing trees on her way outside, or not being eaten alive by midges. This isn't really a big deal, just in the back of mind, where the hell in Scotland is this meant to be? I think Highlands but a lot of Scotland has middle of nowheres. Basically, all the questionable Scottish stuff just becomes really distracting and I don't get the choice.

I mean if you're not from Scotland, then I don't know why you would do it. The setting is never really described in detail, there's a lack of houses so I know it must be in the countryside but that's it. It could be anywhere.

Another big problem is the unquestioning nature of the characters, I guess spoils for after the 30% of the book. Ele gets outside and through a series of events ends up staying in this boy's, Willow, house and his dad doesn't question anything. Even with this going on for several days, with this girl who doesn't understand the basic things of the world and it's obvious that this is a case where the police should be called. She is also magically toilet trained and she learns everything really easily.

Overall, I give this book 3/5 stars for Dead Trees. This is a book with serious topics that is unrealistic in its execution. This is on the Younger side of YA (which they has been lack of in recent years and they should be more published), with the protagonist being thirteen and the push for a happy ending. Maybe I'm just to jaded to be really touched by this story especially there are several books with similar topics. This is okay but not story that will stick with me.

I received this book for review off NetGalley and the publisher Penguin. It was published on the 3rd January 2019. Do I have to say that this review was honest?

Book Review: Girlhood by Cat Clarke

Bordering School in Scotland and a Dead twin, what does that remind me of?

I lost myself

               when my sister died,

  and these girls rebuilt me,
     piece by piece.
I thought that nothing could 
  ever come between US.
I thought I knew who I was...
        Until
                  the new girl 
                        showed up.

This book came out on my Birthday and I went out and brought it on my Birthday which was an 2 hour journey for me. So course I've only read it now, despite also receiving a NetGalley of it as well. I don't even read the NetGalleys of my favourite authors on time (though I only got access to it, a day before it came out).

I've read most of Cat Clarke books (except one only published in America and the one that's not out yet). This was the most disappointing. It was the only one that didn't make me cry. It's not bad. It's not okay. It's is good. However, it was not Clarke ripping my heart out like she has with every other book. Even my least favourite book of her books made me cry. Though, I like this one better than A Kiss in the Dark.

It's similar to Cat Clarke books in I sat and read it in one sitting. Because you have to read Clarke in one sitting or you will spend all your time thinking about it, even if you're a sleep.

Okay, so what didn't work for me. The big conflict is a lot smaller than other Clarke books, it relays on subtly and relationships. The relationships and friendships are done well, but the issue is obvious from outsider point of view (even without another character saying exactly what's happening). Yes, I am not 17 like Harper is, but I think

Harper's relationship with her sister is a bit shallow for me. The idea of someone losing their identical twin sounds horrific, especially when they in their teens. This happens before the book and is one of Harper's defining issues. My problem is it all feels like plot to me. We have Harper talking about parts of their childhood and her death, not really flashbacks, more Harper talking to the reader about her sister like we were her friend/therapist. Anorexia is usually a slow death, so the time line feels a little muddled. Harper's guilt plays a role, but maybe a more hit and run death would have worked better. Clarke has done grief for a sister before and it worked then, so why didn't work now for me.

This also some girl on girl sexual tension which I always appreciate. We have a canon lesbian, Bi and someone at least willing to go there. It has almost nothing to do with the plot which is fun. There's some romance stuff, but it also like nothing. It's definitely a friendship book. I really should have loved this book.

Clarke as always, likes to tackle a harder subjects. We have grief, body image issues, depression and other stuff that's too much a spoiler to talk about in a review.

I thought the plot was going one way, it didn't which is probably for the best. The plot works for the most part. 

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for Stone Bars. The real problem is Cat Clarke is amazing and this didn't stab me in the heart, so I'm disappointed. Maybe I'm just getting more heartless as I get older. My actual guess, is that Clarke was juggling a lot more important characters than she normally does and my expectation was too high. I'm still going to shove Cat Clarke books at people, even they talk about books.

I got this book for Review off NetGalley and Quercus Children's Books. But I always going to read this anyway. It was published on 4th May 2018.

Currently £4 on Amazon (Affiliate Link):https://amzn.to/2HW1eLK

Book Review: Black Cairn Point by Claire McFall

Is Time Team still on TV?

Two Survivors, One Terrible Truth.

Heather agrees to a camping holiday with Dougie and his friends because she's desperate to get closer to him. But when they disturb a pagan burial site above the beach, Heather becomes certain that they have woken a malevolent sprit. Something is alive out there in the pitch-black dark, and it is planning deadly revenge. 

One year later Heather knows that she was very lucky to escape Black Cairn Point relatively unscathed, but she is still waiting for Dougie to wake from his coma. If he doesn't, how will she prove her sanity, and her innocence? 

Okay,  I'm not sure what this novel is trying to be. A horror thriller I guess.

This book is set in Scotland somewhere and it fun to guess where. They're leaving the city and going through Ayrshire countryside on the M77 and stop in Kilmarnock which is in East Ayrshire. The city has to be Glasgow because that's the only city on the West side of Scotland. Kilmarknock seems like a weird place to stop for booze if staying for the M77 a while longer so must be someone where before Ayr where the M77 stops and becomes the A77. Does anyone care? They going to Stranraer and if you got there in a hour from Kilmarnock you're probably be dead.

Random geography :Strangler isn't in Dumfrieshire.  It's in Wigtownshire. They not even next to each other. Also not a chance you could not successfully hitchkite to Glasgow, even to get to a town with decent public transport would take a while. He would have to find his way to Dumfries or get super lucky. There's are buses, but it's all nonsense.

Heather is bit too impressed by the ocean for someone who lives on an island. The ocean is an hour away and I haven't seen it for months either.

The boys became out being very dislikable, almost straight away...even the love interest. I didn't care much about the characters. I was mostly when do you all die and how?

The book is told in the POV of Heather, in Now and Then. This an affect to have an unreliable narrator in Heather. Except she not really. This is kinda spoilery so skipped if you don't want to be at all. It's just straight up lies and it's never clear what version of events we meant to be getting. It's not satisfying to be given account and then have the Twist on one page. There were meant to be hints, but not enough. It's just hur? I would want to have a proper recount of what actually went down, if this was what you're were going to do.

Overall, I give this book 3/5 stars for dumb fires. I own one of Claire McFalls's other books and still plan to t read it but I'm hoping it was better than this. This novel brings up a lot of questions, to give an obvious twist. It's just fine. 

Book Review: Between the Lies by Cathy MacPhail

When I run away, I'm staying away fro the Clyde.

"I heard Jude ran off to IBiza."
"Why yould Jude message no-mates-Abbie?!"
"Jude! Seriously. Where are you?"

The mean girls and the isfits alike are obsessed with Judith Tremayne's sudden disappearance.

Then Abbie Kerr, a school nobody, receives a message that changes everything.

"I want to come home."

Who can find the truth between the lies?

 Basically, everyone lies in this book until it explodes in their faces. For like no real reason either.

The main character Abbie seemed very unlikable from the start of the book. I don't really feel for anyone in the events of the novel. I took quite dislike to Abbie's dad and thought he quite failed the parenting test.

 The plot is a bit dull with its twists.

This book is set in Port Glasgow so somewhere in the central belt of Scotland. So there's this on the street reporter called Sara Flynn who has red hair.  Jackie Bird in wild? She meant to be the most famous reporter in Scotland, unless STV has one, it must be Jackie Bird. The person BBC Scotland should stop using for everything. I really hate Jackie Bird's presenting.

The format is somewhat interesting, the book is told in first person by Abbie, mixing in with texts and status/comments she reads online. Probably the best part of the book was the way this was executed.

Time for Rachel Verna points out something stupid: As someone who attempted to read "IT" by Stephen King at 13 years old and stopped at the 600 and something page mark, I don't buy for one minute that half a class of 3rd years (mostly 14 years olds) have read IT or have read many over a thousand page books. I really doubt MacPhail has either. Seen the the original 90s TV-movies, maybe and would have definitely seen reference to that. Apparently, they all loved it too and no mention of the 11 year old gangbang. I didn't get to that part back then. I read it last year in full.

The school has a unrealistic amount of working tech. Unless someone just brought them a TV studio for some reason. Yeah, it's never explain why they have that, unless it part of a Higher or something. I know a few school have recording studio set ups (there are often just cupboards with sound proofing), but TV studio with a relayable system to broadcast over the school is something that University with degrees in that technology stuff have issues with. I get it from the plot point but not realism.

Overall, I give this book 3/5 stars for school cameras. This book was fine, forgettable quick read. The only interesting thing that the book it's set in Scotland which is something that I don't often come across by accident. The summary sounds like such a cool book, so slightly disappointed. Oh well, I'll probably give MacPhail another chance.

Book Review: The Ghost of Helen Addison by Charles E. McGarry

I can't be arsed to do an opening comment.

LEO MORGAN - connoisseur, private investigator, seer of visions - sets out from the splendid isolation of his Glasgow apartment to solve the homicide of a young woman at Loch Dhonn in Argyll. He arrives at a brooding, wintry landscape where he encounters a host of colourful characters, including the spectral murder victim himself. 

FRUSTRATED BY THE FORCES OF EVIL summoned up by the killer, Leo fails to make headway, and his pomposity and intemperance tests the patience of the police. Close to despair, he must draw on all of his powers to unmask the murderer before he himself becomes the next victim.

 This is a book I got from the library upon reconsigning it, it was an Halloween recommendation from them and I swear I also watched a video saying it was good but can't find it or remember who it was by.Also set in Scotland, therefore fun. Homophobic comments in the first 50 pages, therefore go away and die. Yeah, there's few issues with this book.

Funfact: It continues the accidental trend of me reading books during the time they set and this book is set between Janurary and whenever Ash Wednesday was. It changes. 

The plot is fine if not typical and cliché. It's the usual Satanism affair that adds nothing. Leo Morgan is a pretentious, hypocrite, catholic. I said his religion because he's goes on about it a lot. There's a thing about good and evil, with usual display of Satanism. Morgan is a psychic with confusing visions of the past.

This book is unenjoyablely male. All the woman are fuckable, victims or lesbians. Homophobic as hell. The only women that Leo doesn't fancy is describes as being masculine, that makes her lesbian and is terrible to her husband. Yeah she has a husband. Morgan also makes a gay friend, I would like Moran better if he was gay but he still unlikable dick who is obsessed with his own dick. He mentions his "Benjamin Franklin" three times. I don't why male writers put this shit in their books. Also it written in third person so it's the narrator that is talking about Morgan's penis, not Morgan himself making these observation. Why do I, the reader need to know that Leo Morgan has morning wood?

Morgan is described as being a good man by the ghost of the 20-something and tells him she would have sex with him if she was alive and single. What dumb bullshit. 

Like I said that book in third person, often with weird side comments which makes confusing whether it's Morgan thoughts or facts a.k.a. the lesbian comment. 

Overall, I give this book 3/5 stars for Idiot Barons. This is meant to be a start of series but I have too many issues to continues reading it. It just usual thriller with psychic detective thing going, no near the best one I've read. It bring nothing new to the table. The way talks about women puts me off and don't really care for another drunk older middle age man whose probably going to die alone. I guess if you're a older middle age man then you would love this book but if you're not and you hate all that shit then probably skip this one.

Book Review: The Long Drop by Denise Mina

Murder and Glasgow go well together.

William Watt wants answers about his family's murder. Peter Manuel has them. But Peter Manuel is a liar. 

William Watt is an ordinary businessman, a fool, a social climber.

Peter Manuel is a famous Liar, a rapist, a criminal. He claims he can get hold of the gun used to murder Watt's Family. 

One December night in 1957, Watt meets Manuel in a Glasgow Bar to find out what he knows. 

I probably wouldn't be reviewing this book, if I wasn't doing the British Book Challenge which I see as reviewing every book by a British Author I read.

This book is weird fictionalised version of real event that happened. It weirdly formatted. I honestly don't how to review this or what to say about it.

This book is set in Glasgow, I listen to the Audiobook version, it was 7 hours long with a narrator with Scottish Accent, that did different types of Scottish Accents. That's the main reason I listened to it.

I looked up the real case when I read this book, but can no longer remember anything. I look up a lot a murder cases. It decent setting as well for a crime story as a lot shit was going down in Glasgow at this time.

Overall, I give this book 3/5 stars for police driving. If you're interested in Denise Mina, this is probably a bad place to start. It was written fine, but not much of a story really.

Book Review: Charlotte Says by Alex Bell

My Nana is out on that Isle somewhere...in pieces.

Following the death of her mother in a terrible fire, Jemima flees to the remote Isle of Skye, to take up a job at a school for girls. There she finds herself tormented by the mystery of what really happened that night.

Then Jemima receives a box of Frozen Charlotte dolls from a mystery sender and she begins to remember – a séance with the dolls, a violent argument with her step-father and the inferno that destroyed their home. And when it seems that the dolls are triggering a series of accidents at the school, Jemima realizes she must stop the demonic spirits possessing the dolls – whatever it takes. 

Another Red Eye book and the Prequel to Frozen Charlotte. The last book ends with a set up for a sequel, but I actually forgot that I said I would rather a prequel. Past me got what she wanted I guess. I would have to read Frozen Charlotte to see how much this book links up but there are nods to the first book in this.

Jemina is our leading lady and like most Edwardian girls without family, she needs to find work and she takes a job she barely qualified for as a teacher at Bordering School in the Isle of Sky. It's terrible, with abusive headmistress and her spooky past catches up to her.

We learn what's the deal with Frozen Charlotte books are and we get some fun Victorian ghost fun. The Victorians were obsessed with ghosts, it one of their many quirks. This book actually place ten years after Queen Victoria died, but who cares about any of the Edwards. I know I don't.

I don't care for Henry calling Jemina "Darling Girl", is he a middle-aged man? Did other young people really refer to people their own age as that? Weird thing: None of the main characters that ain't antagonists appeared to be from the Sky or Scotland. I mean this is for plot reason I guess, but why?

Overall, I give it 4/5 stars for Tiny Wigs. Alex Bell continues to be my favourite of the Red Eye writers I have read. This was decent addition to the Frozen Charlotte lore and I love them more now (but still would advise against listening to them, I'm hoping to finally read the other books in the Red Eye series before Halloween (I was an idiot who missed out on getting Fir by Sharon Gosling for review. Oh, well.) Strangely enough, it's the other female writers that I've not read yet. Though, I do own books by all of them (including the only Red Eye books I have physical copies of).

I got this for review off of NetGalley and it is being published by Stripes Publishing on 7th September 2017.

Book Review: His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet

I believe Burnet was born in a field. Okay, he was actually born in place that my SatNav says horribly wrong.

The year is 1869. A brutal triple murder in a remote community in the Scottish Highlands leads to the arrest of a young man by the name of Roderick Macrae. 

A memoir written by the accused makes its clear that he is guilty, but it falls to the country's finest legal and psychiatric minds to uncover what drove him to commit such merciles acts of violence. 

Was he mad? Only the persuasive powers of his advocate stand between Macrae and the gallows. 

Graeme Macrae Burnet tells an irresistible and original story about the provisional nature of truth, even when the facts seem clear. His Bloody Project is a mesmersing literary thriller set in an unforgiving landscape where the exercise of power is arbitrary.

I love the number of blurbs this book has without any reference to Scotland there is. Whitewashing strikes again.  Honestly, its odd because it is extremely Scottish in themes and location. 19th Century Highlands was a special place of sadness which comes up in the plot.

This is the found footage of books, but luckily shakey cam is not recreated in this. It's made up of "Historical" documents mostly made up of Roddy own account of what lead him to the murders as well as summary of newspapers and witness accounts. This in the style of other faked documents, except without the deception of by a know killer, like the several apparent diaries of Jack the Ripper that I have read and its done very well.

This is not a book answers, that way it actually like history. I have tons of questions, I know very little facts about the plot of this book. Its written really well as historical thing (in opinion of someone who reads that stuff sometimes). That does make it a very dry in places with words no longer in use.

Overall, I give this 4/5 stars for digging peat. I liked this book, and now I'm going to tell people its YA book to see if anyone will believe me with that title. It was an interesting look at this time period.

Old People continue to Suck.

We are almost half way through the year and it probably has to be the collective worst. The UK is officially out of the EU (in two years). If Donald Trump thinks its a good idea, then you know your country has made a critical mistake.

Scotland's votes once again don't matter, because England over rules. We voted to stay and they voted to leave. Its all rather unsatisfactory.

Scotland will have to leave. Both Referendums have been filled with major lies and old people fucking young people over. Of course, they were young people who voted No and Leave, but those people are giant fucking hypocrites. How can you say its good to leave EU but Scotland and England should stay in the same union despite having variously different politic views, such as whether or not to leave the EU. The fact that EU Referendum even happened was a fuck you to Scotland. One of the No campaign's biggest thing was the guarantee of the EU. Scotland gains very little from being in the UK, especially a UK that isn't in the EU.


My dad is sick of Referendums, but that's England's fault. David Cameron seemed to be adamant to see the UK to be in shambles and for him having to resign in shame. He almost lost Scotland, and then he agree (his government which he is the face of anyway) to a second referendum that went against one of the promises/arguments for Scotland to remain with the UK.

I don't want to leave the EU and I want the votes of Scotland to matter. They didn't this time and I have never voted in a general election where they did matter. Nor have my parents. Scotland basically voted in an entire party (One Tory voted in by old Farmers a.k.a old white rich people who fuck everyone else over (I know this from the roads I've seem them destroy).

I've been joking about the apocalypse but who knows with the current politics? It just very easy to visualise Dystopias. This whole Brexit has ruined being British for me. Even if anyone has the sense to ignore the vote result, considering how close it was and the amount of Leaver votes now saying they regret what they've done. A referendum is technically a suggest to the government. A government that neither side saw coming.

Whatever happens moving forward, my British identity is currently dead. Being on the same island bounds us all, but forcing out other people, I've had enough of you. Being angry at old people is the real millennials trend. For those who think they Won back their country. You've ready killed it. Any doubts I had about whether Scotland and England could still be comparable is dead. Great Britain is dead. The UK is dead. Long live the Recession.

Book Review: Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell

We get it Sophie, you have the hots for your cousins.

We're waiting for you to come and play.  
 
Dunvegan School for Girls has been closed for many years. Converted into a family home, the teachers and students are long gone. But they left something behind…

Sophie arrives at the old schoolhouse to spend the summer with her cousins. Brooding Cameron with his scarred hand, strange Lillias with a fear of bones and Piper, who seems just a bit too good to be true. And then there’s her other cousin.

The girl with a room full of antique dolls. The girl that shouldn’t be there.

The girl that died.

This is another book in the Red Eye series and so far it's my favourite. Not just because it mostly takes place in Scotland and an isle of heritage importance to me (heritage is meaningless). This involves odd Victorian dolls with a matching folk song if that doesn't scream creepy then you have never seen an a doll or know the horror of Folk singers.

The chapters are headed by lyrics of the song Frozen Charlotte. This was interesting tactic as the song isn't creepy or really at all related to the dolls. It does involves two idiots dying but that's all. Okay, maybe some people would find that creepy.

The Protagonist Sophie is a likable character, surrounded by sympathetic characters. Some of the characters are almost horror archetypes, but they didn't feel that way when I was reading it. The horror is built up well, with a extreme start but Sophie's fear gradually grows and there is an effect to create tension.

This is also involves an old house in an isolated cliff that was once a bordering School (see, it checking off a lot from the Spooky List of Horror). Also Ouija board and at least one ghost. There is one small modernisation but I think it really works and it is realistic thing someone would do.

The ending does play more like a horror film punchline than a novel conclusion(, Slight Spoiler:it really reminds me of the start of Jurassic Part II). Especially, if anything it's a prequel this novel deserves, more than a sequel.

Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for Sealed Windows. Whilst not being that scary, the horror elements are done well and I buy the story.  Also I loved anything with evil dolls that tell you to do bad things. Update: I have now reviewed the prequel, Charlotte Says.

I got this for review off NetGalley and it' is published by Stripes Publishing. (Though, I also actually owned a copy for ages, this was getting review no matter what, but I'm at uni and I couldn't take every book I own and ebooks are handy for times when feel awkward taking a book and reading it, say the student union). 

Book Review: When Mr Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan

Someday I’ll read a book set in Scotland and be thrilled by it.

I don't like this cover.

Dylan Mint has Tourette’s. For Dylan, life is a constant battle to keep the bad stuff in – the swearing, the tics, the howling dog that escapes whenever he gets stressed. And, as a sixteen-year-old virgin and pupil at Drumhill Special School, getting stressed is something of an occupational hazard.

But then a routine visit to the hospital changes everything. Overhearing a hushed conversation between the doctor and his mother, Dylan discovers that he's going to die next March.

So he grants himself three parting wishes: three ‘Cool Things To Do Before I Cack It’.

It isn’t a long list, but it is ambitious, and he doesn't have much time. But as Dylan sets out to make his wishes come true, he discovers that nothing – and no-one – is quite as he had previously supposed.

A story about life, death, love, sex and swearing, When Mr Dog Bites will take you on one *#@! of a journey . . .

I do like this one.

I really want to like this book, it set in Glasgow, it has swearing in it and kids with learning disability are the main characters. Actually the last part might be where my discomfort starts. To start off I don’t know anyone or have even met anyone with Tourette’s but I do know something about it. For instance, it doesn’t affect your intelligence. Dylan does not come across as having the normal mental level for a 16 year old. He comes off more as being 12, 14 at the max. 

I suppose you blamed the fact that he babied by his mother, other stuff, but the fact is there must be something else going on with Dylan that is never explained. I just feel that it is a poor representation of Tourette’s in that respect which is slightly disappointing. 

Plot wise every twist is foreseeable. Not their exact explanations, but barely into the book I basically knew the big plot points.  So you just waiting for Dylan to realise or for his mum to stop being such dick and tell him. Also the thing the main plot centres around is very unrealistic and I can’t say how because that would be a major spoiler but my sib agreed with me when I discussed it with her. 

The characters ain’t that likable, sure they have the sympathy vote but that doesn’t work on me. Most of the time they annoy me; Dylan’s mum especially. It was interesting to have a book that featured people with learning Disorders and that. Normally, people with any form of Disability don’t star in books or other media. I can actually count on one hand the books I’ve read that feature people with my own disorders (Dyslexic, Asperger’s/Selective Mutism if you’re wondering).  I did enjoy that about this book. 

The book is told in first person by Dylan. Dylan has odd way of talking as in he speaks in Cockney Rhyming slang. I think it takes a while to get into because of this, but you do eventually get use to it.

Overall, I gave this book 3.5 out of 5 stars for NEDs. It's not the best plot, but other things make up for it. It was sort of interesting to read.

6am Wake Up calls (getting up is hard)

Haló Loser, once we again I will soon find myself on a bus at 7 something on my way to college. This time I won't be trying to get a mislead HNC. It this meant to be like team sort of thing ran by the Prince's Trust. I actually lack a lot of inform of this thing, but it gets me out of the house. I think it be good as it has a work placement and in all my 20 years (er...), I haven't ever had proper work experience. Also 12 certificates and weird team building things. Also I might possibly lack real human contact, so newish people might be a good thing. Though, I could just start talking to my family more.

Friday the 13th was yesterday, so bad luck was had by none. Frankly, the number 13 is consider lucky if anything in my family. 13 June was the date that my sib received her transplant which is now of drinking age. I got a comic book, 2 books (I now own all of John Green books) and got Kobo mini. They were half price in Whsmith, I wanted the Touch, but they were sold out. I've been thinking of getting E-reader to get just read my free books (Netgallery and library bitches). I figure for 30 quid, it worth saving my phone battery and eye strains. I suppose it be good for those bus journeys.

I found Saturday the 14th to be bad luck if anything. When I woke this morning, my laptop was refusing to start. I got it to start eventually, however I'm scared to turn it off again. It reminded me that I really need to get a extenal harddrive to back up everything. I've been meaning to do it for years. Also I should probably catch up on editing all those waiting videos. Which reminds that I have to get my personal statement sorted. Then my sky box went weird and I had to unplug it to fix it. I sometimes wonder if I put too much stain on my sky box, but then tenner a month it should be able to handle it.

God, really not looking forward to getting up 6am again. I mean when I decided to do the course, I kinda forgot about the whole bus thing. I really hate that bus ride, it not just the length but also the windiness of it. It also not the quickest route but there no bus for that one that would get me to college on time.

Maybe I'll document the course week by week, so basically give myself a topic for the next 12 weeks. I'm not saying I'm guaranteeing that every post will be dedicate this alone. Just it something to write about. Oh yeah, for anyone who cares post from weeks ago will continue to appear randomly on this blog if you know what I mean.

I also started reading again, I even finished two books today and with long bus journeys I'll definintely be reading more or die of boredom; We're see.

See ya lot next week or accientally come across each other on the internet. Whatever happens first. 

America Taking Over: Book Edition

On Tuesday Night, I realise I had only read 12 fictional books written by British Authors. 

61.36% of the books I've read this year so far were by Americans which is slightly depressing. Only 31.81% were by British Writer. Though, the non-fictional I read this read so far were 100% by British writers, all two of them.

The reason I realise this was because I'm doing the British Book Challenge this year. I counted the book reviews I had done and realise it was rather low number considering I've read 44 books this year so far.

I guess kinda weird how dominant another culture can be in your reading habits and guess TV as well. I mean I know in a lot of ways I come from a culture that often undermined with the fault that as part of the UK a lot of people forget that Scotland is a country on its own. I mean I have never read YA books that showcase that proudly states the Scottish School system. The closest is literally Harry Potter since Hogwarts has same titles for the year groups. Once upon of time I read about Harry's third year while I, myself was in my Third year too. To be honest as writer myself, I think it might be a risk.

In many ways, we're writing for a English reading market which includes competition from Australia, Canada and America will always be shadow. So as Scot I know the American school system and the English one, but neither an American or English person is likely to have any clue about the Scottish one. I know the school systems don't play a major role, it just one of those minor detains.

I remember finding an YA novel by an English writer and feeling instant annoyed when I found out it wasn't set in Britain because at that time it was rare  for me to find any books that shared any parts of my culture. I found some good YA books where it is mum, and not mom and the "u" isn't missing from words since then. Though, its also difficult to find when you like a certain Genre, even when you arguably come from the home of that Genre. I mean Fantasy. I guess its called Urban fantasy, but I don't really like that term. I prefer Hardcore Fantasy where you got characters in complete Fantasy world or Fantastical l where your character stumbles across a witch in the street.

I'm Scottish, but I share a hell lot culturally with English person or I guess Welsh (though I don't think I've ever had a proper conversation with Welsh person), that's why I also think of myself of as being British. Still its so lovely when I find decent tv or film where I hear a Scottish accent. Especially since I moved down to the Borders. While still in Scotland, it feels rather English. I guess it probably all those English people who moved here. I mean honestly, I'm not even sure what the native accent is down here. Generally, I miss Central Scotland so much.

With sharing a langagure with America, it often forgot how different Britain is from them. I personally think they are probably the most different than all the other English speaking countries. Sometimes I feel like we get America's culture forced on us. It not the same bond we share with say our other Commonwealth countries (not just the shared version of English spelling). I mean for example, Australia and Britain swap TV or you find joint projects. Its actually British viewers that kept some of the Australian soaps going.

Maybe I'm getting off track, my real point is that I never actually notice how most of what I read was American. It kinda obvious in reflection. I guess kinda realised why the British Book Challenge is actually exists.

P.S. If thinking I forgot about Ireland, New Zealand and others, I didn't they just didn't fit in my arguments. In fact I read two books by an Irish Author, though they were set in Britain.

DAMN IT MOFFAT (I promise Last Doctor Who post till christmas but that only cause I can't think how it will come up again till then).

So I've just watch The Angels take Manhattan and I feel just a tiny bit broken. I know there are fangirls and boys that are completely broken at the moment. The thing is while I know how awesome and how skilled Steven Moffat is at making people break. I was still not expecting it at all to effect me. 

But damn it that man is talented. 

Seriously I was rather sick of the Ponds, never much of fan of them really, I was looking forward to them leaving/dying. Hell I've been annoying my best friend about their fate since the new season started. Always slightly disappointed when they suddenly appeared alive and well by the end of the episode. I cried though, not a lot, watching those last moments I had tears in my eye. They managed to sneak up on me just like a Weeping Angel.  I did indeed have  "Damn it, Moffat" (in the same way Brad Majors proclaims "Damn it Janet") on my lips after it was over. I think it probably has to be one of the best Farewells a companion/s has ever had. 

It's so finial, we  know they're happy with each other, and the Doctor was devastated. And they're not the Ponds are no more (in a lot of ways).

I suppose I should talk about the rest of the episode, I know a rather backwards review, well these just all my feels really.  I loved the whole book thing, a old ploy but still a favourite. Always being reminded about the rules of times through out the ep, just hamming it all in. Last page is always the best.

God, I can't write about this anymore. I feel sort of numb. I'll just say it was one of the best Doctor Whos, my favourite is still The Girl in the Fireplace (another example of Moffat ability to break hearts). I'm off to watch Companions last scenes off youtube. Don't worry, I'll be fixed by next week. 

We're back to magic and fantasy.

Exams and No Longer Young (Carer)

So I got my exam results and I failed everything.

Okay, that's not true, but I wanted the opportunity to lie about my exam results since I was not able to do the fake in real life. Because my parents knew my results before me.  Thanks MySQA, though it is sort of my vault since I should have change the phone number. Basically, my father and I swapped sim cards therefore phone numbers. Having signed up for MySQA  last year and never changing the number. My dad (who never uses his phone) got a text message that contend my exam results. He open it, then went on to tell my mother and after I told them I don't want to know, they told me.

So you're thinking this is where I'm going to tell you, but I'm not since I'm trying to build tension. Though, probably quite badly. So my results went like this.

Higher Biology- B
Higher English- B
Higher Maths- B

To see me opening the Result letter go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZglF2qQb3iI&feature=plcp

Not that impressive and my mother persistence that it is, is just rather annoying. I have five Highers at B grade, but that's over 3 years which works out as being average of 1.6667 per year. Not at all impressive. No matter how good the sob story most universities will look at my grades and straight up reject me. Even if I had got five Bs in one year, that not good enough either. They want As. My mother doesn't understand that. They basically nothing I can with my Highers when it comes to Uni.

Glad I got a B in English since it was some what in doubt if I would get it.

Other big news of the week is that I'm no longer a Young Carer apparently. I knew you were old once you hit 19, mum lied to me. What I really mean is that I'm no longer part of the YC group. I went on day trip with them on Tuesday which I like to refer as Three Bs, Three bike falls day, since I got my results and fell of a mountain bike three times. I like the Lazer tag, though painballs would have made it more extreme. Rest of was just bah and pain.

I basically fell off a mountain bike at speed three times. Hurting myself the worse the last time. Yay for bruises. It does actually hurt to walk and I also think I might have done something to my knee that only coming out to play today. I did scape my arms a bite and I bruised my palms.

I've got to say I'm loving the patterns. I feel crazy art brewing.

On Thursday, had my last one to one meeting thing with my (former) link...support...something worker... Yeah, no longer young carer, so I take that means I can go around saying I'm auld.

So this week has just me feeling old and sore. The future looks so bright right now.