Book Review - Doctor Who - The Last Dodo by Jacqueline Rayner

 

Books Read in 2024 - No. 2

Hello Book Nerds

Recently finished my second book of the year.  Another Doctor Who novel.  I usually read one or two at the beginning of each year as they are quick reads and hopefully get me into a reading mood for the rest of the year.  Obviously that failed last year as I was on the John Gwynne books so didn't get any momentum.  Though the Faithful and the Fallen are great books.

Anyway The Last Dodo by Jacqueline Rayner, takes David Tennant's 10th Doctor and Martha to a planet created as a living museum.  It houses the last living creatures in their species before they went extinct. An example of this is the last dodo, or the last sabre tooth tiger.

They land in the Earth section of the museum and quickly become involved in a mystery where the exhibits are going missing and being stolen.  There is more to this and the plot does take quite a few turns.

The author does a good job of capturing the 10th Doctor and Martha's characters from the show.  You don't really get to know some of the other characters well, except for the museum curator Eve and one of her staff, called Frank.

The book also switches from 3rd person POV to 1st person.  So we get to see how Martha feels and thinks.  Although something didn't click for me with this as some 1st person POV at the beginning felt off.  It also has 1st Dodo POV, which was interesting and something different.  

The book also features facts about the extinct species, which Martha is collecting to win a certificate.  Again this was something different.

Although the novel needed some edits as some paragraphs were repeated.  See below.

Overall -  A good novel where the author has taken it into different territory.  The facts about extinct species and switches in POV.  Although some 1st person POV didn't click for me.  The author also features some good twists.  An enjoyable and educational romp.

Score -   7/10

Goodreads -  3.5/5 Stars

Happy World Book Day 2024

Hi Readers 

Thought I would repost this book related insight to my love of books, for World Book Day 2024.  It does feature a few changes.

As today is World Book Day, I thought I would do a quick blog focusing on my favourite hobby - books! Book buying, book reading and book writing.

Here are some questions and answers regarding my relationship with books.

Earliest memories of books and reading?

My first memories go way back to primary school and learning to read in one to one sessions with the teachers. The Bangers and Mash books were a favourite and made me laugh.  

Plus the teacher, Mrs Yates I think, read out the Dark is Rising books which got me interested in fantasy.

As I got older and my reading improved, I branched out into comics, including Beano and Transformers. I also read the Ladybird books and Doctor Who novels. I read anything I could  with a magical setting, including Roald Dahl.

Favourite Authors?

Well David Gemmell is my favourite. His stories are full of action, with grey characters and life lessons. I was a late David Gemmell fan, but glad I managed to meet him and attend a David Gemmell Awards ceremony.

Other favourites include Terry Pratchett, Joe Abercrombie, John Gwynne, Raymond E Feist, David Eddings, Helen Cadbury and many more. There will be many more to discover too.

Favourite book shops?

Well the main one for me is Waterstones, as it has the most variety. Especially for my favourite genre's, fantasy, Sci-Fi and horror. It used to be Borders before they closed as they had even more selection.

I also love an independent book shop too, and if they have books I'm interested in I will buy from them too. Two book stores I visit are Brighouse Books and The Book Corner in Halifax.

In this day and age I also like to buy cheaper books from The Works, some supermarket's and of course Amazon.

What format do I read?

Quick answer is physical books. Mainly paperback, but some hardback too. Have read Ebooks but prefer the feel and smell of a physical book. Plus I look at screens too much as it is. Haven't tried audio books and let's be honest that's listening to books not actually reading. Have looked at Manga too but can't get used to reading backwards.

Book highlights?

Going to author and writer events, talks and signings.

As well as meeting David Gemmell, over the last 10 to 18 years I have seen and met so many authors. A lot of this is due to the regular events Waterstones have on. Plus writing events have helped too, including helping out with Cleckheaton Literature Festival.

Plus bigger events like Edge-lit have helped me come into contact with even more authors.

With Waterstones I have met Peter F Hamilton, Alastair Reynolds and even Joe Hill. Plus Stephen Baxter, Joe Abercrombie and Peter V Brett.

With Peter V Brett

With Joe Hill 

With Joe Abercrombie 

With Cleckheaton Literature Festival and Cleckheaton writing group, I have met Ian C Douglas, Helen Cadbury, Leigh Russell, Joanne Harris and Justina Robson. Plus many more besides including Jodi Picoult and Andy McNab.

With Leigh Russell 

With Justina Robson (3rd left)

Ian C Douglas 

The late, great,Helen Cadbury 

With Edge-lit I have met Stan Nicholls, Andy Remic, Christopher Golden, Conn Iggulden and Frances Hardinge and Anna Smith Sparkes plus many more.

I hope there will be many more author events and talks to come, including Edge-lit 2024.

Currently reading?

The Last Dodo by Jacqueline Rayner- which I hope to finish by the weekend.

Well hope you enjoyed an insight into my reading mind. 

What are you reading? What are your favourite authors? 

Happy reading.

Neil x

March 2024 Update

Welcome Geeks.

March 2024 already!  Where does the time go to, and we even had an extra day in February.

As you can see from the main photo, spring is in the air.  Although as I write this, outside is a wet, wintry, windy day.  Freezing too!

Another quick update as February for me was a waste of time.  I could have achieved so much but didn't.

Reading -

Currently reading The Last Dodo by Jacqueline Rayner.  My second book of 2024, which I started on 20th February, so I need to get this finished ASAP.  So far it's ok, although there is a POV which doesn't gel right with me.  After this read, I will be starting Guards Guards by Terry Pratchett.

Writing -

After a promising start to 2024 and writing all way through January, thanks to a Facebook Fire and Ice challenge, sadly I have dropped the ball in February.  I've had plenty of opportunity to write as I've been off work with stress.  Maybe that is why I haven't written.  My head has been all over the place.

In March I'm determined to get writing again.  I'm also looking at freelance writing.

Other -

As mentioned above I've been off work with stress.  Thinking I need a career change but freelance writing is hard to get into without experience. 

Been walking quite a bit but still not been to the gym.  I feel March is the time to go and try get healthier.  As they say -  healthy body means healthy mind.

So what are your plans for March?  What will you be reading or writing?  Put it in the comments.

Have a great month.

Neil x

Recent Book Hauls!

 

Good Evening Readers and Nerds.

Not much to report.  So thought I would share my 2024 book hauls so far.  I'm trying to cut down on buying books as I've about 200 books to read on my TBR shelves.

I purchased my Edge-lit drinking pals book - The View from Gallows Hill - by Nick Stead.  One day I will pick up his werewolf series too.  Plus I hope to see him in Derby again this year.

As I've been collecting the Alien and Aliens books, I thought I'd also try a Predator short story collection.  Also published by Titan Press.

 

I had bought Stephen Graham Jones other novel Don't Fear the Reaper, thinking it was a standalone.  Didn't realise it was the second book in a series so naturally needed the first book My Heart is a Chainsaw.  The final book in the trilogy is out this year. Titled The Angel of Indian Lake.  Out March 2024.  Apparently good solid books and homage to slasher films.

So far still reading The Last Dodo by Jacqueline Rayner and enjoying it.  Hopefully will post a review in a few days time.

What are you reading?  Leave a comment and let me know.

Happy reading!

Neil x

Book Review - Doctor Who - Forever Autumn by Mark Morris

Books Read in 2024  - No. 1

Hi Fellow Bookworms

At last I've finished my first book of 2024.  Still took longer than I wanted, as it's only a 244 page YA novel.  I started it on 22 January, so just under a Month.

This has to be my favourite of the Doctor Who novels I've read so far.  Not because I follow author Mark Morris on Facebook and seen him at a couple of Edge-lit events, but because his writing is fantastic.  It really brings out the Tenth Doctor's personality.  When I read the Doctor's lines, David Tennant's voice was in my head.  The same with Martha Jones.

All the characters were well rounded, and Mark gave good details to them in just 244 pages.  The aliens, the Hervoken, were excellent bad guys.  They were just trying to leave the planet, but their sinister agenda of using humans as fuel didn't go down with the Doctor well.

The way Mark described them reminded me of the Matt Smith aliens The Silence.  They had long fingers and arms and big heads.

The story also has some creepy scares, fitting for a Halloween themed novel.  These included killer clowns.

Mark also predicted a new Who meme which was in the 60th Anniversary specials, when Martha also says the below phrase.

Overall - so far my favourite Doctor Who novel.  Mark writes a satisfying conclusion to the story.   Some of the Doctor Who novel endings have been a bit vague and rushed.  I will definitely be picking up more Mark Morris novels in the future.

Score    10/10

Goodreads  5/5

February 2024 - Update

 

Greetings Nerds

Well, a dawn of a new month beckons!  Looks like 2024 will go as fast as last year.  February already.

Luckily I didn't procrastinate in January as I did in the whole of 2023.

Reading - At last I finished Wrath by John Gwynne!  An excellent action pack extravaganza.  Go read the Faithful and the Fallen Series.

I also started my first official book of 2024.  A smaller Doctor Who novel called Forever Autumn, by an author chum of mine called Mark Morris.  So far so good.  A review will follow soon.

Writing - And I've started writing again.  The first time properly since 2019.  The best thing is I'm really enjoying it.

As part of a Fire and Ice Challenge, set up by the Facebook writers group Write Magic, two groups of writers were challenged to write the most amount of words.  I was in the Fire team and we should find out the winner soon!

I didn't hit my target every week in January of 2000 words per week, yet it got me writing.  I would need to write a lot more to become a professional writer!

I even created by own Word Count sheet for 2024 which I'm going to continue to use throughout the year.

Other -  Well still in the same job, dreading going on incoming calls.  So much so I'm off with stress.  Not sure what I want to do other than be a writer.  Until that happens I fancy retail work.

I've still to get to the gym.  Although I have been walking more in the first month of 2024.

Well here's to a long February.

Neil x

Currently Reading - Forever Autumn by Mark Morris

Hi Readers

A quick post.  Thought I'd just share the first book I'm reading in 2024.  Forever Autumn by Mark Morris.  A tenth Doctor Who novel.

So far quite good.  It's the first book in my second Doctor Who book collection - see photos below.

What are you reading?

Neil