Bite Size Book Reviews (1)

Title: Watching Willow Watts
Author: Talli Roland

This may sound weird, but the first thing I enjoyed about this story was the fact that it was written in British English (same as South African)! Silly, I know, but I read so much American English, that it was refreshing to read the British version of words :-)

What I remember most from reading THE STORY BOOK, by David Baboulene, is knowledge gaps - and Talli does this excellently. She jumps from one character's perspective to another, so that you, the reader, usually know what's going on, but the characters may not always have a clue. Which ramps up the tension!

WATCHING WILLOW WATTS (and I like the alliteration!) was a fun read :-)


Title: Open Minds
Author: Susan Kaye Quinn

Sometimes you can tell when a book is self-published. In this case, you can't.

OPEN MINDS is a unique story with wonderful world building. I love (really love!) that Susan made up new words and slang to go with this imaginary futuristic world. She also surprised me in a few places when the story took unexpected turns - gotta love a story that's not predictable!

I'll definitely be reading the sequel, CLOSED HEARTS, when it comes out in 2012.



Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins

Oh my freaking FREAKOUT!
There. Are. No. Words.
So I won't even try.
(And everyone who knows what's good for them has read this already anyway!)








Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Author: Laini Taylor

What incredible writing! And the story - the story! I could not have dreamed up something like this. No way. I have been completely captivated by Karou and the world(s) she inhabits.

It was like eating a fine handmade chocolate, dark and rich, after months of eating the cheap stuff. My literary appetite says, "Thank you, Laini, for an absolute delicacy of a novel!"

Definitely one of the best books I've read in 2011.

If I Could Be Anyone I'd Be...

At the end of the day (figuritively speaking, since it's the beginning of the day here...) I'm happy to say that I like being me :-) Sure, it sucks at times, but that's the case for everyone, right? This is who God made me and I'm happy with that :-)

BUT! In the spirit of Talli Roland's Watching Willow Watts launch day celebrations, I've looked at some of the book characters I love and admire and have picked one that stands out the most for me. So. If I could be any book character I'd be...

Lyra from The Golden Compass.
(the book version, not the movie version, since the book was aeons better than the movie)

I am still in awe of the incredible world(s) Philip Pullman created in His Dark Materials series. While I don't agree with every message he portrays, I will always admire his incredible imagination and storytelling ability.
If only those worlds truly existed and I could see the things Lyra saw... How fantastical!
There are many things about this character that I admire: she is open, trusting, brave, forgiving, loyal and loving.


This post is in celebration of the launch of Talli Roland's second novel, Watching Willow Watts!

For Willow Watts, life has settled into a predictably dull routine: days behind the counter at her father's antique shop and nights watching telly, as the pension-aged residents of Britain's Ugliest Village bed down for yet another early night. But everything changes when a YouTube video of Willow's epically embarrassing Marilyn Monroe impersonation gets millions of hits after a viewer spots Marilyn's ghostly image in a frame.

Instantly, Willow's town is overrun with fans flocking to see the 'new Marilyn'. Egged on by the villagers -- whose shops and businesses are cashing in -- Willow embraces her new identity, dying her hair platinum and ramming herself full of cakes to achieve Marilyn's legendary curves.

But when a former flame returns seeking the old Willow, Willow must decide: can she risk her stardom and her village's newfound fortune on love, or is being Marilyn her ticket to happiness?