The Overflowing Library

A Beautiful Lie by Ifran Master Published by Bloomsbury Challenges: None (read in 2010) Source Review copy (UK paperback) An extraordinarily rich debut novel, set in India in 1947 at the time of Partition. Although the backdrop is this key event in Indian history, the novel is even more far-reaching, touching on the importance of tolerance, love and family. The main character is Bilal, a boy determined to protect his dying father from the news of Partition - news that he knows will break his father's heart. With great spirit and determination, and with the help of his good friends, Bilal persuades others to collude with him in this deception, even printing false pages of the local newspaper to hide the ravages of unrest from his father. All that Bilal wants is for his father to die in peace. But that means Bilal has a very complicated relationship with the truth... *** This was a lovely book and delightful read. I am a fan of books set in the back drop of a m...

Entice by Carrie Jones Published by Bloomsbury Challenges: None Source: Review Copy (Finished UK copy) Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out. For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla? And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't just turned. She's Astley's queen. *** those of you who read my review of the second book in the last series will now I was not imp...

Rosebush by Michele Jaffe Published by ATOM 3rd March 2011 I am loving everything ATOM has to offer at the moment. Looking forward to this one alot! See Jane run. See Jane die. Instead of celebrating Memorial Day weekend on the Jersey shore, Jane is in the hospital surrounded by teddy bears, trying to piece together what happened last night. One minute she was at a party, wearing fairy wings and cuddling with her boyfriend. The next, she was lying near-dead in a rosebush after a hit and run. Everyone thinks it was an accident, despite the phone threats Jane swears were real. But the truth is a thorny thing. As Jane's boyfriend, friends, and admirers come to visit, more memories surface--not just from the party, but from deeper in her past...including the night her best friend Bonnie died. With nearly everyone in her life a suspect now, Jane must unravel the mystery before her killer attacks again. Along the way, she is forced to examine the consequences of her...

Long Reach by Peter Cocks Published by Walker books Challenges: None read in 2010 Source: Review copy (UK proof) This book is fast paced, gritty and a crackingly good read. The thing that I love about this book is that it is so different from any other Young Adult book I have ever read. I've seen books with similiar concepts in the Adult section but nothing of its kind aimed at teenagers. The book follows the story of Eddie, a young man who, after the death of his brother, is drafted in to work for a private security firm. His assignment is to get close to a girl of his age who is the da ...more This book is fast paced, gritty and a crackingly good read. The thing that I love about this book is that it is so different from any other Young Adult book I have ever read. I've seen books with similar concepts in the Adult section but nothing of its kind aimed at teenagers. The book follows the story of Eddie, a y...

0.4 by Mike Lancaster published by Egmont Challenge: None (read in 2010) Source: Review Copy (UK paperback) It's a brave new world. 'My name is Kyle Straker. And I don't exist anymore.' So begins the story of Kyle Straker, recorded on to old audio tapes. You might think these tapes are a hoax. But perhaps they contain the history of a past world...If what the tapes say are true, it means that everything we think we know is a lie. And if everything we know is a lie does that mean that we are, too? *** This book was completely awesome. It is original in its ideas, was creepy and left you thinking. The story consists of transcripts of tapes recorded by Kyle describing events that he went through one summer. I loved this format and particularly loved that the end of tapes cut themselves short and you don;t always know what Kyle was about to stay. The story is supposed to have been published several years ...

In my Mailbox is hosted by Kristi of www.thestorysiren.com fame. She is fab! I got some truly awesome books this week. I don't even know where to begin with them all. Thank you to those lovely people who sent me some of them.  The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff published by Simon and Schuster (UK paperback) I can't even remember when I preordered this it was so long ago. I can;t wait to get started with it. It will count towards my Debut Authors Challenge attempt. I liked the US cover but also like this one. Can't wait to see which one is the best reflection of what the story is about. Inside Out by Maria Snyder published by Mira Ink (UK paperback) This book and the next one were sent to me by my lovely blogger friend Clover. I can't wait to start it as I love anything Dystopian and this sounds awesome. My Soul to take by Rachel Vincent published by Mira Inkk (UK paperback) I have read and really enjoyed Rachel's adult stuff. I am really excited to be r...

Do you post negative reviews? When I first started blogging I made up my mind that I was going to post reviews no matter what I thought about the book even if it was negative. I since started to change my mind and have decided to post a round up of a books I haven't got on with for a variety of reasons in one single post with links to more positive reviews. I have decided to do this for a variety of reasons. The most important reason why I don't want to post negative reviews is because I don't see the merit in ripping into someone's pride and joy for the sake of it. I am fickle in what I like - if I have to concentrate for a book I usually don't get on with it (especially after a long day at work). Authors put their heart and soul into a book who am I to tell them it is awful? Wasting time continuing to read a book that I am not getting on with takes away from time I could use to read books I enjoy. I can't believe that some people read the first book ...