There Is No Dog * Meg Rosoff

There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

In the beginning there was Bob. And Bob created the heavens and the earth, and the beasts of the field, and the creatures of the sea, and twenty-five million other species, including lots and lots of gorgeous girls.
And all of this in six days. Six Days! Congratulations, Bob. No wonder Earth is such a mess.

Imagine that God is a typical teenage boy. He is lazy, careless, self-obsessed, sex-mad - and about to meet Lucy, the most beautiful girl on earth.

Unfortunately, whenever Bob falls in love, disaster follows.

Let us pray that Bob does not fall in love with Lucy.

Bob is you're typical teenage boy, being lazy and constantly thinking of sex. But when his mother Mona wins a poker game, that soon makes her goddess on the world, she decided she didn't want it and passed the job down towards her son, Bob.


At first Bob is thrilled, and begins to create all the wonders of the world. Such as the animals, humans, the land and seas. The buildings and even different countries! But as he grew older it became as a chore for him and he couldn't be bothered.

And that's when Mr B was hired! To help out with all the mess that Bob had left piling up over the years, to answer every ones prayers, help fix the natural disasters and so forth. But as the papers are piling up on the desk, Mr B can't take it anymore and tries to get Bob to help him. Fat chance of that one happening. 

Down on earth, Lucy is loving her new job at the local Zoo. She loves animals, and wants nothing more to do with anything else but them. Well apart from an attractive man to love and share some time with. But the only one in her life at the moment is her boss, Luke. And even he doesn't give her the time of day to even speak to him, let alone speak to her. 
Lucy just can't see why he acts so strange round her and normal with everyone else. 

As the water levels are rising (Literally) cars are soon washed up in the tide, as they slowly move past Lucy's front window of her flat. The world has gone chaotic, fish flying in the sky, constant downpour for so many months, floods in Africa and a desert in America. What is happening?

But then Bob meets Lucy and all hell breaks lose down on earth, though Lucy and Bob hit it off pretty well for a slight chance to find love. Well, they do for now.

Okay, so in all honesty, I thought the book was okay. When I first saw the book at Waterstones and read the Summary, I was like "Wow, this sound really good" But I was mistaken.

Although there were some really funny parts, and some clever thinking behind the plot (Such as God is a teenage boy and so forth) I still think it lacked in the character department, I thought each character could of had a bit more sparkle to themselves. As they we're a little boring.

I loved the way Meg Rossof thought up the idea of a teenage god, and I think she got it exactly right about how Bob feels with his "Sexual frustration" half the time, and also the character for Mr B was quite alright. I also loved the idea of the Eck, Bob's pet penguin creature.

But I also think that the story dragged on a little and as it got halfway through the book, I found it a chore for myself to read. I know I usually write a much longer book review, but I honestly couldn't think of anything else to write. And also to not give away most of the story line.

Some of the words that were used also were a bit hard, I don't know if that sounds strange, but for me I found myself struggling with some of them, so I don't think people younger than myself will be able to, or even know what they mean, because I didn't. (Or maybe you do, don't get me wrong!)

All in all, I think that the books has it's good and bad points. Possibly a little bit more bad ones. I didn't enjoy the book as I thought I would, and thought it really dragged on, the characters were a bit plain and the book was a bit repetitive about things and sometimes it made no sense.

I recommend this book a bit more older readers such as 16+ and older. But possibly not to anyone younger than this since they may not understand some of the words used. (I didn't!) :)

I'm sorry to say, but I will be giving this book a 3.5/10 :/

Emma
xx

Falling For You * Jill Mansell

Falling For You by Jill Mansell

Summary:

NHS specs, unfortunate hair and wonky teeth were the curse of Maddy Harvey's teenage years. Thankfully she's blossomed since then.

But when she meets Kerr McKinnon one starry summer's night...well, that's when the problems really start. Because everyone in Ashcombe knows what happened eleven years ago and her mother, Marcella, would rather tear that family to pieces with her bare hands than see Maddy with a McKinnon.

And, OK, maybe Marcella isn't the real mother, but Maddy owes her so much. How can she possibly go against Marcella's wishes?

It's Romeo and Juliet all over again. Quick, hide those sharp knives and that bottle of poison...

What would you do if you fell in love with someone, but you're mother despised them and the person you love is from the same family that caused you're little sisters death?

Well, that's what it's like for Maddy Harvey.
When Maddy goes to a party one night she found herself jumping over a wall into the next door neighbours garden for a wee, since the door was locked to the house. But after failing to get back over, a young gentleman helps her back over, even if it does cause Maddy to accidentally show him her bright orange knickers through her ripped trousers.

But since that fateful night, Maddy soon had a feeling towards this man, and she couldn't stop thinking about him. Even though it was pitch black when she saw him. Though when Maddy goes on a sandwich delivery from Peach Tree deli and into Bath to Callaghan and Fox. Maddy is soon in doubt when then man she met that fateful night, turns out to be Kerr McKinnon.

Marcella, Maddy's mum, wanting nothing to do with any of the McKinnon's since the death of her step daughter years ago. But when Maddy ends up having a secret relationship with Kerr, and Marcella finally finds out. All hell breaks lose.

With Maddy finding it hard to cope with love, her friend Nuala who lives in the Angel pub with snotty boyfriend Dexter, she won't hear such nonsense that Dexter treats her like rubbish and that she is the only one who can't see for herself.

Kate who was Maddy's rival at school soon turns back up in Ashcombe, following a horrible accident to her face, Kate encloses herself to the outside world and decides to stay in Dauncey House, with her mother Estelle and her father, Oliver.

But Oliver has a few secrets tucked up his own sleeve about a certain someone who lives in Ashcome.

Meanwhile Jake, Maddy's brother basically sleeps with everyone woman he can get his hands on, Juliet, Maddy's work partner plans to keep her son, Tiff's real father a secret. Estelle has problems with her husband, Oliver. And Sophie, Jake's daughter, just loves Spiderman, playing with Tiff and Marcella's dog, Bean.

Throughout the story we meet many characters; Maddy, Kerr, Marcella, Jake, Juliet, Sophie, Tiff, Kate, Estelle, Oliver, Den, Pauline and Nuala. And of course the two dogs Bean and Norris.

We see each of their individual stories, the way they live and each of their secrets.

So what will happen between Maddy and Kerr?

What happened to Marcella's daughter years ago and how does it relate to the McKinnon's?

And what secret is Oliver hiding towards his family?

Falling For You by Jill Mansell, is a lovely heartwarming book about a couple who just can't be together, and no matter how hard they try it just doesn't work. Following the love life of Maddy and Kerr was just wonderful to read.

I really enjoyed this book, as it is my second one that I have read by Jill Mansell and I must say that I will be getting some more this Christmas and hopefully in the future.

The way that she describes the characters is amazing, and I love the fact that there's about four different stories going on at the same time throughout the book, or even more. But somehow they always get tied together, which I find an amazing writing skill.

The way that there are many characters in one book, and so many images that get your mind flowing with creativity and imagination is wonderful.

The only thing that I think there could of been more of, would be Maddy and Kerr, I know that it was all secretive, but it could of been more like it. As in more secret meeting up and things like that. The ending was lovely, but maybe a kiss in there at the end would of been nice too!

But other than those two things, I thought it was amazing. Another thing I like about it, is the short chapters. Which make each one snappy and by the end of the week you're already finished! Love that!

Go out and buy Jill Mansell's books, because I assure you that you won't be disappointed with them at all! There lovely, well written and beautiful story lines and imagery is created!

Rated: 9.5 / 10 :D