Book Review #700 - The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #7) by Jeff Kinney

Love is in the air - but what does that mean for Greg Heffley?

 

 

A Valentine's Day dance at Greg's middle school has turned his world upside down. As Greg scrambles to find a date, he's worried he'll be left out in the cold on the big night. His best friend, Rowley, doesn't have any prospects either, but that's a small consolation.

 

 

An unexpected twist gives Greg a partner for the dance and leaves Rowley the odd man out. But a lot can happen in one night, and in the end, you never know who's going to be lucky in love.

 

 

My Rating: 3/5

 

 

It had been a while since I last read a Wimpy Kid book when I decided to pick this one up. I find these books are perfect to read between dense fantasy books. I find it quick and easy to jump straight back into these books.

 

 

Even though this is the seventh book in the series, it still managed to contain the same amount of charm and humour as the previous six books did.

 

This book is centred around Valentine's Day and so even though the characters grew up a little, Greg was still at his immature best and managing to screw things up in ways only Greg could possibly manage.

 

 

I liked how this book centred not just heavily around Greg's school, but also his home life as the previous books seem to just focus on one or the other, or focus on one more than the other.

Book Review #630 - No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club: A Diary of a Sixtieth Year by

My Rating: 2/5




Source: Book Club




Goodreads

Marie Sharp is heading toward sixty and is just fine with it. She’s already had plenty of excitement in her life: sex and drugs in the freewheeling sixties, career and children, marriage and divorce. Now she’s ready to settle into a quiet, blissfully boring routine. No Italian classes or gym memberships or bicycle trips across Europe, thank you very much! Marie just wants to put her feet up and “start doing old things.”

She’s even sworn off men! But as it turns out, life still has some surprises in store, the biggest of which is a new grandson on the way. What’s more, Archie, her old childhood crush, suddenly reenters her life, and her closest friend falls seriously ill. Armed with a biting sense of humor, Marie wrestles with a life that refuses to follow her plans—and may still offer more possibilities than she realizes.

I read this book for the book club that I attend.

First of all, almost all the members of my book club are around the protagonist's age which from the title is obviously 60. I, on the other hand am young enough to be her grandchild. So obviously I am not the target audience for this book.

Books written in diary format have not gone down too well with me in the past (just read my review of Bridget Jones's Diary) and so I went into this book not expecting to like it.

Marie (the narrator) was so self-absorbed and the book just consists of her rambling for almost 250 pages.

The lack of plot and direction made this book seem slow and if I  wasn't 'required' to read this I would probably still be reading it now.

The first part of the book contains Marie looking forward to turning 60 because it means she won't have to try new things anymore. It's more like she can use her age as an excuse, when really she is just incredibly self-absorbed and lazy.

The second half of the book is about Marie going on and on and on (I think you get the point) about her first grandchild whilst also having to deal with the impending death of a lifelong friend.

Overall, this book was a boring, pointless, rambling mess and is the blueprint of what I don't want to be when I am 60 years old.

Book Review #305 - Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #6) by Jeff Kinney

 

Greg Heffley is in big trouble. School property has been damaged, and Greg is the prime suspect. But the crazy thing is, he’s innocent. Or at least sort of.

The authorities are closing in, but when a surprise blizzard hits, the Heffley family is trapped indoors. Greg knows that when the snow melts he’s going to have to face the music, but could any punishment be worse than being stuck inside with your family for the holidays?

 

 

My Rating: 3/5

 

 

This was probably my least favourite in the series so far. I just felt like had less depth to it than previous books.

 

 

For the first part of the book, there was no real storyline. I know that these books don't really have much structure, but I found myself waiting for something to happen.

 

 

This book didn't lack the humour from previous books, but I didn't think it was as funny as it could have been.

 

 

I liked how Manny became a more dominant character, and turned out to be as destructive as Rodrick.

 

 

 

Book Review #281 - The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #5) by Jeff Kinney

Greg Heffley has always been in a hurry to grow up. But is getting older really all it's cracked up to be?

Greg suddenly finds himself dealing with the pressures of boy-girl parties, increased responsibilities, and even the awkward changes that come with getting older-all without his best friend, Rowley, at his side. Can Greg make it through on his own? Or will he have to face the "ugly truth"?

 

 

My Rating: 3.5/5

 

 

Like all the previous books in the series, I read this book in under a hour and I loved every page of it.

 

 

Whilst I didn't think this book was as funny as the previous ones in the series it still had a lot of funny moments.

 

 

Greg's extended family are present in this book which gives fresh new characters.

Book Review #269 - Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #4) by Jeff Kinney

It's the summer holidays, the weather's great, and all the kids are having fun outside. So where's Greg Heffley? Inside his house, playing video games with the shades drawn.

Greg, a self-confessed 'indoor person,' is living out his ultimate summer fantasy: no responsibilities and no rules. But Greg's mom has a different vision for an ideal summer . . . one packed with outdoor activities and 'family togetherness.'

Whose vision will win out? Or will a new addition to the Heffley family change everything?

 

 

My Rating: 3.5/5

 

 

I liked this book more than the third one, but I still don't think it matched the first two.

 

 

When you look at Greg's characteristics he doesn't seem like a very nice character, but I find I can't help but like him whilst reading about him.

 

 

His relationship with Rowley is the best aspect of this series. I would have liked more of Rodrick involved.

 

 

The plot in this instalment is over a short period of time and the writing was as funny as always.

Book Review #264 - The Last Straw (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #3) by Jeff Kinney

 

Let’s face it: Greg Heffley will never change his wimpy ways. Somebody just needs to explain that to Greg’s father. You see, Frank Heffley actually thinks he can get his son to toughen up, and he enlists Greg in organized sports and other "manly” endeavors. Of course, Greg is able to easily sidestep his father’s efforts to change him. But when Greg’s dad threatens to send him to military academy, Greg realizes he has to shape up . . . or get shipped out.

My Rating: 4/5

I read this book as fast as I read the others in the series. Once I start reading these books I tend to finish them in one sitting. 

The main reason why I was unable to give this book five stars was because there was less stuff happening than in the previous two books. 

Another reason I didn't like this book as much as the previous two was because my two favourite characters Rodrick and Rowley were barely present. 

The humour was still at the same quality as the others and as long as that remains, I will continue to love this series.   

Book Review #245 - Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #2) by Jeff Kinney

Whatever you do, don't ask Greg Heffley how he spent his summer vacation, because he definitely doesn't want to talk about it.

As Greg enters the new school year, he's eager to put the past three months behind him ... and one even in particular.

Unfortunately for Greg, his older brother, Rodrick, knows all about the incident Greg wants to keep under wraps. But secrets have a way of getting out ... especially when a diary is involved.

 

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

After reading this book I have to say that Rodrick is by far my favourite character.

 

 

I found this book a lot funnier than the first one. I had seen the movie prior to reading but I found that didn't impact me at all whilst reading even though I knew the ending.

 

 

There were heaps of funny moments in the book that were not included in the movie which surprised me. Although I did enjoy the movie it didn't compare to the book.

 

 

 

I would have liked to have seen more of Rowley as he was my favourite character from the first book but enjoyed seeing the sibling rivalry between Greg and Rodrick.

Book Review #240 - The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank's remarkable diary has since become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the "Secret Annex" of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.

 

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

 

I have owned this book since June and was only recently inspired to pick it up after watching the film Freedom Writers.

 

 

There were times when this book felt more like fiction than non-fiction and this was probably due to the quality of Anne's writing.

 

 

Before reading this book, I thought this would be a very dull and depressing read whereas I found it really funny at times. Anne was a really good writer for her age.

 

 

I think what makes this book as much of a classic is that it reads as if it could have been written by a teenage girl of any era whilst it also sheds light on the brutal reality of the situation she had to live through.
 

 

This book was slow paced at times, but I was never bored. This is the first historical biography I have read and didn't really expect to love it as much as I did.

Book Review #100 - So Much to Tell You by John Marsden

Scarred, literally, by her past, Marina has withdrawn into silence. Then, at her new boarding school, she is set the task of writing a diary by her English teacher, and finds a way of expressing her thoughts and feelings and of exploring the traumatic events that have caused her distress. Through Marina's diary we gain an insight into life on her dormitory, and her difficult relationship with her father, who injured her in an angry moment. Eventually, Marina makes tentative friendships and, in a moving denouement, is reconciled with her father.

My Rating: 3/5

This is the second time I have read this book. The first time was when I was forced to read it for school, which is where I got my copy from.

This is a very character driven novel. Marina is the only fully developed character but this doesn't matter because she is so strongly portrayed.

The secondary characters were Marina's dormmates, I felt like there wasn't enough to distinguish them from one another.

Overall this is a very short, but memorable read. There is a sequel called Take my Word for It.

Book Review #24 - The Moth Diaries by Rachel Klein

Ernessa is a vampire. She wants me, and only me, to see it. Her hand is guiding mine as I write these words.

At a girl's boarding school, a sixteen-year old pupil records her most intimate thoughts in a diary. The object of her obsession is her roommate, Lucy Blake, and Lucy's friendship with their new and disturbing classmate.

Ernessa is a mysterious presence with pale skin and hypnotic eyes. Around her swirl dark secrets and a series of ominous disasters. As fear spreads through the school, fantasy and reality mingle in a waking nightmare of gothic menace, fuelled by the lusts and fears of adolescence.

And at the centre of the diary is the question that haunts all who read it: Is Ernessa really a vampire? Or is the narrator trapped in her own fevered imagination?

My Rating: 3/5

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book or not. It is set in diary format, and I had never read a book like that before.

After reading this book I can say that I liked everything about this book except the main character.

First of all you never find out her name, which made it harder to connect to her. Then she did nothing but act jealous the entire novel. She became obsessed with Lucy and that got annoying at times.

There were parts that just didn't make sense to me and there were parts in the story that I thought were really weird.

The plot was intriguing and had unexpected twists.

There is a movie adaptation coming out sometime this year.