Book Review: Witches of Eastwick

I'm so sorry I haven't been reviewing my books! I've just been reading them! But now that exams are over I have a moment to breathe, and to blog.

I read Witches of Eastwick while on holidays in Europe. I really enjoyed it!

My score: 4.5/5

My favourite thing about this book was that it was about witches, but in a modern time. I was real and relatable, despite the supernatural themes. My favourite bits were the acts of shocking violence and death: when they made the voodoo doll spell of the other woman, and she got cancer and died, and when the man killed his wife (the awful woman that she was) and the killed himself. Also, the horrendously large amount of sex was written in such a way that it wasn't distasteful.

I would definately recommend this one to anyone! Best book club book chosen so far, I think. Thanks Kelsey!

(PS the movie is bullshit and crap.)

Update Update

Oh my it has been a while since I updated this blog last!
My bookclub book totally pulled me under, but luckily the last bookclub book and this one are Penguins, so I can blog about them! Also, next book club month is choose your own book, so the will be a penguin too, but which one? hrmm.

Anyways, I have now read The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike and The Art of War by Sun Tsu. Currently I'm about halfway through And the Ass Saw the Angel by Nick Cave, which I have to finish reading by Tuesday night, eeep!

Since my last blog I have been buying Penguins every time I go into the ECU bookstore (only one more and then I get 20% off the next one!) I've bought Monkey Grip by Helen Garner and The Philosophies of Andy Warhol by Andy Warhol. I was reluctant to buy Monkey Grip because in high school we had to read a book by Helen Garner, Joe Cinque's Consolation and it was the most bat-shit boring book I have ever read, which was more about Ms Garner then any Cinque. However, on this particular day when I walked into the ECU bookshop it was the only one sitting there that I hadn't already bought, so I thought, why not.

Reviews on Witches of Eastwick and The Art of War soon, I promise!

Book Review: Dracula

Finally I've finshed it! Phew! Its been a long time since I've written a review (all those book club books taking up my reading time...) But finally Dracula is finished! So, here is what I think.

Lucy is weak and annoying, and I'm quite glad she died, but it took so long. I suppose it was nessisary for the whole vampire thing, but I really wished she had just, you know, died. Although, it did make me feel very sorry for Seward, Quincy and Godalming. I really liked Mina, she was very strong even in the face of tragidy, which is unusual for a victorian woman, but I liked it. Even though the book was very long, and some parts (chasing down Dracula) seemed to take forever, and a lot of the twists I could see coming, (which I put down to my modern brain being quite used to plot twists. In fact, I'm usually the first one in the cinema of a thriller to get it.) Overall Ifound the book quite enjoyable. However, I found that the ending was overall much too neat and succinct. Its like, 200 pages of chasing Dracula, then killed his wenches, kill him, all in about 10 pages. The End, with a feel good afternote about babies, lol.

Anyways, its a definate classic, and should be read by everyone, especially now when Vampires are so popular. I give Dracula by Bram Stoker 4/5.

I've also been watching the Dracula movies, starting with the 1931 version, and next weekend going to the 1958 version. Its quite fun to see their interpretation of Dracula. In other news, the next book is a nice short one: Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay. Hope to write again soon!

A Handful of Dust

So I bought A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh yesterday at the university bookshop. They have a new thing where if you buy 5 general books you get the 6th one 20% off. It's great because the Penguins are already $9.30, 70c cheaper. Just more insentive to buy them from there!

I'm really looking forward to this book. I feel like I haven't been reading enough recently. I'm off to Europe in 6 weeks, which will let me catch up on my reading a lot more! I'm only about 100 pages off finishing Dracula, so expect a review soon. The last book club book was really massive and it put me behind with the Penguins. Luckily, the next few are Penguins, so yay! My blogging should be picking up soon.

New Books.

Hey everyone!
Today I was feeling a bit down so I took my $20 and went down to the bookstore and bought two new Penguins. My shelf at home was so full I had to move stuf around! I'm so happy. I bought And the Ass Saw the Angel by Nick Cave and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
I worked out yesterday that Dracula is my ninth Popular Penguin! After this and the next one I would have read ten in less than a year! I am so proud of myself.
Just updating you on my latest "Top Five to Find"
1. Frankenstein
2. War of the Worlds
3. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
4. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (New Release)
5. Beowulf (New Release)

75 New Books!

The 75 new Penguin Books (to be released in June) have been announced! Here's the video on youtube so you can have a look too.



I'm particually excited about The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dangerous Liasons and From Russia with Love. ^_^ I'm so excited to read all these books! Which is your favourite from the new releases?

New book and progress update

So I went in to Borders to get one of my friends a gift voucher for her birthday, and they have a lovely rack of Penguins near the counter. So, I took a moment, waded through the three thousand books I already had and came across The Merry-Go-Round in the Sea by Randolph Stow. I'm looking forward to reading this because it is set in Geraldton in WA, which is my state. I've been there, so I'll be able to picture everything really clearly. I'm excited. I might even read it next.

Also, my friend from bookclub has picked The Witches of Eastwick for her bookclub book in June, which is a Penguin Book. I want to pick a Penguin too, because it will be easy to find, and cheap to buy, but the rule is that it has to be published in the 1980s. Research needs to be done, I think. My month is August.

I'm about a third of the way through Dracula. I'm hoping it goes back to Johnathon soon. If the whole book is about Mia and Lucy I'll be very dissappointed!
I'm trying to read a little each night before I go to sleep, but some nights I'm just too tired! Hopefully I'll have a review for you soon :)