Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (film)

If you have seen the other films in the franchise and read the book then there will be very little surprises for you in this film.

It is darker in some ways than the others, teenage love and the difficulties of growing up are all apparent in the film, love and who is into who also take central stage (am I the only one who wanted Harry and Hermione to get together?)

The danger that Harry is in becomes more menacing and seems ever present. The tension is ratcheted up. There are some light hearted moments the twins new shop and the quidditch scenes are particularly well shot.

This film does however feel a little disjointed in a way the book doesn't, I almost felt as though some bits had been left out to get the novel down to a cinema friendly length but couldn't put my finger on what was missing. Perhaps part of that is down to the fact that the film is highlighting the unease shared by the characters, living in difficult times and danger.

Malfoy as well comes into his own, his character now not flanked by Crabbe and Goyle has been seen as a comment about fitting in, growing up and facing your demons. I enjoyed the film overall as a fan of the Potter series.
4 out of 5

Cut Short by Leigh Russell

This book comes with a money back guarantee, you won't need it. The book is well written, fast moving and I can easily imagine it becoming a franchise worthy of being converted into a television series.

The characters are well drawn and diverse. The action is fast moving and a lot of the tension is created by the reader being in the know. This is not a whodunnit in the Agatha Christie style, you know who the killer is and see things through their eyes, this is unusual and refreshing as you also get Geraldine Steel's point of view and thoughts allowing you to see the different events from all angles.

I found it difficult to put down as I wanted to find out who cam out on top, was anyone else going to die? There was plenty of sub-plot and character development to sustain interest as well so that the cops weren't just cops and the killer wasn't just a killer and the characters connections were revealed neatly by the end without any loose ends.

If you like Ruth Rendell and Prime Suspect or Trial and Retribution then you should read this book, I think we will be seeing Geraldine Steel again.

In the Kitchen by Monica Ali

The story starts with a dead body, something which I thought would be central to the story, maybe it would be a crime novel and the killer would be unmasked in the traditional whodunnit style, but in the end is not. The event is central to the main character and the point at which things begin to change for Gabriel. Indeed the novel follows Gabe through a horrible mid-life crisis and charts his turmoil. The characters are believable and well created. The events wide ranging and perhaps towards the end a little strained but on the whole I bought into it. As a study of the human psyche, how we make decisions and what drives us to act the book has a lot to offer. Indeed the characters themselves discuss this as Gabe struggles to find significance in an insignificant death.

I enjoyed the book, it made me concentrate on it and the momentum towards the end carries you along nicely, it did take me a little while to get into the book as after the initial excitement at the beginning it all slows down a bit but is well worth persevering.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

I am late coming to this book and I was wondering what all the fuss was about until I read it! Being a Buffy the Vampire and Angel fan piqued my interest.
The book is great, accessibly written like the Harry Potter series it can appeal to all ages from teen to adult!

The first person narrative gives the reader a close relationship with Bella and we share her emotions and concerns as she wonders about Edward and his family. I couldn't help rooting for her and was genuinely moved when they got together, the writing is so vivid that you can feel the tension and hurt when Bella and Edward are separated. The danger seems palpable when Bella is in hiding and at the conclusion every bit of you is screaming out to Bella not to go to James alone! Still there are unresolved issues, compelling enough to ensure that I will read the rest of the book. Essentially a teen love story but much more complicated than that and a book that once you have started is hard to put down.