Seriously, what was I thinking when I wrote this?

Just found a story I wrote in 2006. If this doesn't encourage me to start writing again then hopefully nothing will.
****
On a gray Tuesday morning a Milkman was making his usual rounds. Business had been falling ever since the local Tescos store had opened, and he was busy calculating how much profit he had lost that week.
Suddenly he slammed the brakes of his electric van as a small furry animal shot out across the road. There was a sickening bump as the wheels skidded over the unlucky rodent.
As he brought the van to a halt and began to climb out he prayed it was a rat. Just as he approached the body a small girl ran out of the nearest house, crying and screaming two words at the top of her lungs. 'MY GERBIL!'
She skidded to a stop and stared at the dead animal with tears pouring down her cheeks before turning on the Milkman.
'You killed Harry!' she cried with a violent look in her eye.
'Alright, calm down little girl - I'll buy you a new Gerbil I promise. Don't cry now. Harry's gone to gerbil heaven', he pleaded.
He'd have promised anything to keep her waking the whole neighbourhood, let alone her parents. He could tell right then that this was not going to be good for business.
Just then the girl's father stomped out of the house swinging a hefty rope in one hand and pointing threateningly at the milkman with the other. He was well built and wearing a greying vest.
'What have you done?' he demanded. 'Why's my daughter...' he broke off as he noticed the squashed gerbil in the road. 'Harry?' he asked.
'Daddy' the girl cried, 'he's gone and killed Harry. Daddy, make him come back!' The father slowly lowered his arm and the rope fell to his side.
'Bloody gerbil' he muttered. 'Come on darling, I'll go and organise those horse riding lessons you've been asking for yeah? Let's go in now with the nice Milkman for a cup of tea.'
As they turned towards the house the Milkman shook his head with disbelief and followed them up the garden path. Perhaps he would keep those customers after all.
Twenty minutes later the milkman emerged from the house with a cactus plant and a bemused smile on his face. The stocky father of the little girl was an exotic plant exporter and had presented the plant as a peace offering.
Soon the Milkman was safely home relaxing and had forgotten all about the strange cactus he'd left in his van. After dinner he went to bed early faced with another early start in the morning.
The next morning his alarm roused him brutally awake at 4.30am sharp. He turned in the empty bed and realised his wife had already risen. As he walked along the corridor he noticed his young son Jamie's room was empty.
Downstairs there was no sign of life. That's strange he thought with a rising sense of panic. They can't have already gone out so early. He opened the door to look for his wife's car, only to find an empty driveway. His milkfloat was gone.
As he ran out the house dressed only in his boxers he suddenly noticed something odd. On the floor, on the exact spot where he usually parked his milkfloat, was a dead gerbil.
****

Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perera

"Welcome to Guantanamo Bay Prison. You're now the property of the US Marine Corps. Heads down!"

"It's not often that Khalid can look at his life from a distance. But, instantly, he can see himself clearly for once. He's another meaningless bent orange shape dropped into some weird world game, the sun fixing him here on this lump of tarmac like a dart in his back. He's nothing but an orange heap for soldiers to toss around because they think he's a terrorist who wants to blow up cites. Think he hates the West, even though he lives there and doesn't know anything about weapons of mass destruction or bombs or buildings crashing to the ground in New York."

There’s nothing unusual about 15 year old Khalid. He’d much rather be playing a computer game than polishing his school shoes. He hasn’t got a clue how to flirt with girls, and there is no way he’s leaving England to visit his father’s boring family in Pakistan. Especially when his football team is so close to being promoted.

Unfortunately for him Khalid’s parents disagree, and they soon arrive in the bustling Pakistani city of Karachi. What Khalid finds there is far from boring. The streets are filled with whispers of U.S troops and terrorist informers, and Khalid’s worst fears are horribly realised when he’s kidnapped and detained for questioning by U.S troops.

Surely they’ll quickly realise he’s innocent and release him? They can’t possibly send a 15 year old to Guantanamo Bay. Can they?

This book combines that chilling mixture of everyday normality and unimaginable horror. It’s the kind of story that really haunts you because it depicts a horribe situation that could so easily be true. As the author notes, ‘although Guantanamo Boy is a work of fiction, it is inspired by real events. It remains a fact that children have been abducted and abused and held without charge in the name of justice in Guantanamo Bay and many other secret prisons around the world.’

I certainly couldn’t put this down. I can’t say it was always an enjoyable read, but it was definitely immersive and thought provoking. Whilst this book carries a strong and valuable political message, the overriding sentiments are that of love and the support of family and friends. Khalid is well drawn and Anna Perera does a brilliant job of persuading even the most indifferent of readers to truly care about his wellbeing. She does this subtly over the course of the story, and I found my affection for him building slowly whilst my full attention remained centred on his inhumane treatment.

Unlike many other novels dealing with similar stories of abuse, the narrative of Guantanamo Boy is lightened by lifelike humour and small acts of kindness. This contrast allows the darker moments to retain their sharpness, and it allowed me to keep reading for long periods of time without feeling emotionally drained.

Anna Perera has highlighted the importance of human kindness in a truly remarkable setting. This book needs to be in every school library.

The Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

In a brutal and archaic punishment a beautiful young Lady is locked away in a rat-infested tower for 7 years. Her father imprisons her after refusing a favoured Lord's hand in marriage. The only one brave, or perhaps foolish, enough to accompany her to this prison is her faithful maid Dashti.

Dashti and Lady Saren live in a mystical land overseen by distant pagan gods who rule through the privileged gentry. Stripped of her family, Dashti has never known luxury and has faced a daily battle to stay alive. In contrast, Saren is a pampered princess to whom the squalor of the tower is a brutal shock.

Despite their differences the girls slowly build a routine and begin to fashion a home for themselves. At times their readiness to accept their situation felt slightly offbeat. However, it soon becomes clear that for both girls the prison develops elements of a sanctuary from the outer world as Dashti begins to suspect that Saren's extreme fear of her rejected suitor is far from natural.

Dashti is a mucker, a peasant class known for singing songs of healing. Her talent and empathy for healing the pain of others renders her blind to her own feelings and she soon becomes unwillingly entangled in a web of deceit and mistaken identities. Think Twelfth night meets Emma with a touch of Brothers Grimm.

Dashti's stubborn respect for the gentry verges on irritating and her patience with the pathetic Lady Saren is beyond understanding. This does make for an interesting take on the corruptability of religious belief but it felt overdone at times.

That being said, Shannon Hale's engaging and humorous style kept me turning the pages and the book definitely lightens up in the second half. It's a sweet story with slightly gothic moments and a few twists and turns. Would recommend if you've got a weakness for fantasy teen romance.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Clay Jensen gets mail. Mail in the form of a series of audiotapes recorded by the enigmatic Hannah Baker. Hannah is Clay's long-time crush and fellow classmate, who commited suicide two weeks earlier. Clay spends one long sleepless night listening to the tapes, and what he hears changes his life forever.

I hope you're ready, because I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically; why my life ended. And if you're listening to these tapes, you're one of the reasons why.

Hannah's witty and sardonic voice is the life and soul of the book, and at times the character of Clay Jensen can seem wooden and under developed in comparison. Nevertheless, this is an easy read with emotional impact which tackles issues such as date rape and suicide in a frank and intelligent way.

Occasionally the switching between Clay and Hannah's dialogues was frustrating, mainly because Clay's voice sometimes lacked authenticity. Their story was genuinely touching however, without being overly sentimental. The premise was concise and convincing, and while the ending felt like it had perhaps stopped too suddenly, for me this just added to the tragic nature of Hannah's story.

One of the novel's best qualities is its ability to open up debate around suicide, as well as causing the reader to question how each of our actions can affect those around us. Definitely one which stayed with me long after I put it down. Worth a read.

Snowball anyone?

Waterstones update:
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/waterstones-close-11-stores-end-week.html


This just after a week in which ebooks outsold printed books on Amazon.

Times sure are changing, as much as I love actual books, I can't help being excited.

Here's a couple of reasons why:
http://www.shadowlocked.com/201102021394/lists/10-reasons-why-e-books-are-better-than-real-books.html

Swings and Roundabouts

I've taken some time off the day job for now and have come back to my university town to celebrate my last achievement to date-my degree! It's odd but lovely to be back. My favourite cafe closed in the red light district where I lived, but I have been swayed by a new Green cafe and their free biscuits. Somehow have found myself drinking herbal tea in a neon green chair and fending off free cupcakes while the cafe owner gives directions to a passer by in Punjabi. God love Leicester.

How the Hangman Lost his Heart by K.M Grant

'The wooden steps creaked as Dan sat down, his legs two solid logs in front of him. He found an apple in his pocket, inspected it and rubbed at the blood splatters. 'Bite?' he offered. Alice made a revolted face and he shrugged. 'I haven't had any breakfast yet,' he told her, basking in the feeling of a job well done. 'Never do, somehow, on execution mornings, although I make sure the wife gives me a good dinner after. Mutton pie tonight.'

Alice Granville's determination to recover the recently severed head of her beloved Uncle Frank wins her an unlikely accomplice in the shape of his executioner, Dan Skinslicer. Uncle Frank has been declared a traitor to the English throne and his head is morbidly displayed as a deterrent. 

Alice drags Dan on a fast-paced and slapstick quest to steal back the head and reunite it with Uncle Frank's body. As you can probably tell, this is a light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek read. Although my local library had it listed as a teen book the simplistic style, slapdash humour and blood n' guts gore would probably better suit the 10-14 range.

It's a fast read with likeable characters and K.M Grant's humour shines through in the ironic and ridiculous dialogue and narration. Grant saves the best lines for Alice's clownish and aristocratic relatives:

'Lady Widdrington, hearing the rumpus, ordered Ursula to throw open their windows. She was fond of riots and this sounded like a good one. As Alice and Dan galloped by a second time, the old lady recognized them and waved. 'That's my girl,' she cried, imagining that she was at the racecourse. 'Did we have a gamble, Ursula?''

The language and style is fresh and imaginative throughout, and the ridiculous plot becomes part of the story's charm. Parts of the narrative did become repetitive and the sub-plots were a little disjointed at times, especially that of Lady Warrington and her hideous wigs! The romantic storyline came across to me as inauthentic and out of place. Barring that though, this is a easy, charming and funny read for gruesome kids and the young at heart.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Still job hunting for that ever illusive first paid position in publishing. In between working two jobs to save money for an internship and eating tapas with my mad friends, I'm still feeding my obsession for young adult ficiton.

Have also invested in a blackberry which is making job hunting and blogging a hundred times easier than before :D

Here's another review I've just posted of one of my favourite ever YA titles. Warning: contains spoilers! do not read if you have not already read the incredible first novel in the series, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Not only are we in the districts forced to remember the iron grip of the Capital's power each year, we are forced to celebrate it. And this year I am one of the stars of the show.
Katniss Everdeen is once again fighting for her life in this nail biting sequel. Despite surviving the deadly Hunger Games against all odds Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta are far from home safe and dry. Their survival is a direct threat to the Capital which rules them, and the gamemakers are out for revenge.

Fearing for their families' lives, Peeta and Katniss are again forced to play their part as star crossed lovers in the Capital's games. Will this be enough to keep their loved ones safe? And will Katniss succeed in her plan to keep Peeta alive by sacrificing her own life?
The incredible Hunger Games is a hard act to follow but Suzanne Collins has maintained her distinctive adrenaline fuelled pace in Catching Fire. The sequel delves deeper into the relationships between characters, especially the twisted love triangle of Peeta, Katniss and her best friend Gale.

In any other situation Katniss would come across as a spoilt brat with the choice of all the cookies in the jar. Instead, her dilemma is a direct result of the controlling and manipulative Capital. Katniss's frustration at living a life restricted by others is one which I'm sure many teenagers can relate to.

The boundaries between friend and foe blur in Catching Fire, as Katniss struggles to hold on to her sense of who and what she is fighting for. Katniss's most endearing qualities are also her faults. She is stubborn, impatient, quick to judge and completely human. By placing this apocalyptic story in the hands of such a realistic character, Collins is able to question human morals without preaching. And more importantly, this is done without interrupting the fast paced action.

A must read if you loved The Hunger Games.