The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

The first volume in the bestselling Millennium Trilogy, now in B format. Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared off the secluded island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger family. Harriet's uncle, Henrik, is convinced that she was murdered by someone in her own family - the deeply dysfunctional Vanger clan. This is a violent and bloody thriller, a sinister family saga, a mystery of massive financial fraud and a haunting love story. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a genuinely complex and unique contribution to crime fiction (from the publisher).

This is an interesting read, it took me a while to get into it but once I did, I couldn't put it down. I was excited by the prospect of 2 more books in the series to follow!
Rating - I give this 4/5 Not bad!

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Reviewed by Michelle @ library admin

Q and A by Vikas Swarup (AKA, Slumdog Millionnaire)

Eighteen-year-old Ram Mohammad Thomas is in prison after answering twelve questions correctly on a TV quiz show to win one billion rupees. The producers have arrested him, convinced that he has cheated his way to victory. Twelve extraordinary events in street-kid Ram's life - how he was found in a dustbin by a priest; came to have three names; fooled a professional hitman; even fell in love - give him the crucial answers. In his warm-hearted tale lies all the comedy, tragedy, joy and pathos of modern India.


This fantastic book has also recently been made into a film, 'Slumdog Millionaire'. The film has been nominated for a number of Oscars including best picture, best director and best cinematography.
Why not read the book before you see the film!

Rating - I give this 4/5 GREAT!!

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Reviewed by Tara @ library admin

King of Kong - DVD

Billy Mitchell has held the world record for the popular Donkey Kong video game for over twenty years. When 35 year old family man Steve Wiebe suddenly loses his job, he finds solace in Donkey Kong. Stumbling upon Billy Mitchell’s record, Steve sets out to break it perfecting the game every night after his wife and kids went to bed. Not only surpassing Billy’s record but scoring a thought-to-be-impossible 1,000,000 points, Steve quickly becomes a celebrity in his hometown of Seattle. Meanwhile back in Hollywood, Billy Mitchell hatches a plan to reclaim his fallen Donkey Kong record…

This documentary film was FANTASTIC! I laughed, I cried and I celebrated with the Donkey Kong lovers who were attempting to break the world record. When the sounds of 'Eye of the Tiger' began playing I was holding my breath and crossing my fingers for Steve Wiebe who was training for the world record attempt.

I recommend this film for anyone who wants an insight into the cut throat world of arcade gaming, or anyone who wants the underdog to win, or anyone who just wants a good laugh!!

Rating - I give this 5/5 GREAT!!

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Reviewed by Tara @ library admin

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14: Debate Club. Her father's "bunny rabbit." A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school. Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15: A knockout figure. A sharp tongue. A chip on her shoulder. And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston. Frankie Landau-Banks. No longer the kind of girl to take "no" for an answer. Especially when "no" means she's excluded from her boyfriend's all-male secret society. Not when her ex-boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places. Not when she knows she's smarter than any of them. When she knows Matthew's lying to her. And when there are so many, many pranks to be done. Frankie Landau-Banks, at age 16: Possibly a criminal mastermind. This is the story of how she got that way. (Publisher)
I LOVED this book - I picked it up, expecting a story for 12 year olds....but I couldn't put it down and ended up finishing it in one day. It was funny, the main character, Frankie, is impressive and it made me want to go to boarding school...... In a word, I was 'gruntled'....(you will have to read the book to find out what this means!)


Rating - I give this 4/5 GREAT!!

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Reviewed by Tara @ library admin

Somebody's Crying by Maureen McCarthy

"'G'day mate!'"Tom half-recognises the voice but after a quick whirr his stagnant brain cells are unable to place it."'Yeah?' he says cautiously."'It's me!' The voice is way too friendly. 'Jonno?'"Tom's whole body goes rigid. He slumps against the wall and slowly slides to the floor, squatting with one arm curled around his head, just as though he were warding off a monster or a pack of thugs. You owe this guy ..., the words ring through his head as clear as church bells. Tom Mullaney, you owe this guy big time ... "Maureen McCarthy is an expert at depicting families and friends, and in this book she creates intensely real characters that draw the reader deeply into a world of suspicion, guilt, love and redemption. - From the Publisher

I really liked this book, it was set in Warnambool, the characters were all interesting and Maureen McCarthy does a great job and hooking the reader...I couldn't put the book down because I needed to find out what was going to happen!

Rating - I give this 4/5

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Reviewed by Tara @ Library Admin

Blood Sunset by Jarad Henry

In the grip of a blistering Melbourne heat wave, a teenager is found dead in a St Kilda loading bay with a syringe hanging from his arm - is it an overdose or something more sinister? Assigned to the case, Detective Rubens McCauley soon he finds himself up against a secret network of paedophiles, child abusers and underage prostitutes . . . brilliantly plotted, this is witty, gritty crime writing (from the publisher).
Blood Sunset is one the shortlisted books on The Summer read list and it was an excellent read. Being set in Melbourne was great because I was familiar with the locations being described in the book and the character were all believable. Hopefully Jarad Henry continues to write more books like this one.

Rating - I give this 4/5

GREAT!!

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Reviewed by Tara @ library administration