Vintage

I’ve been using 43things for a while now, but I’ve always wanted there to be more structure to the way goals are completed; the option to create goals within goals.

I found ‘mySomeday’ the other night and it seems it’s just what I’m looking for – with a plan for each goal, created by me or someone else in the community, and a progress meter that increases as the steps are completed.

Maybe you could join me on there and help increase it’s community?

The summer is fast approaching, and hopefully I’m going to make the most of it and make it my best one yet!

It’s exam season at the moment, so my summer won’t officially start until I’ve finished my A Levels in the middle of June. But from then on, I’m going to have the time of my life, right up until I go off to Uni in the autumn!

There’s a few things I’d like to do this summer, one would be get a job, because I hope to earn and save a little money before flying the nest. The next would be to go away with my friends. I couldn’t afford the abroad holiday with friends so I’ll be missing out on that, be personally I’d much prefer a relatively non-planned road trip! Full of adventure and excitement! I’ve got ‘V Festival’ to look forward in August, that will be so totally awesome! And I’d like to finish the summer feeling like I’m a little more prepared for my Uni studies in October, so a little light reading around the Law wouldn’t go amiss.

• Getting a new job.
• Going to ‘Thorpe Park’ for the first time and checking out the new ‘Saw Ride’, I’m an avid ‘Saw’ fan!
• Checking out the nightlife in Birmingham for a friends 18.
• Going on a road trip.
• Getting my A Level results.
• Going to ‘V Festival’.
• Reading up on my course for Uni.
• Checking out the nightlife in Manchester for another friends 18.
• Going off to Uni.

I think the summer is looking eventful, and that’s just at the moment! I can’t wait to see what else I can get planned!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Patterson is a number one international bestselling thriller writer. Since starting his career back in 1976, Patterson has wowed audiences with clever thriller fiction, chilling readers to the core, and being known for his outstanding suspense and twist writing.

ABOUT THE SERIES

2005, brought his first teen fiction novel, ‘Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment’. The book spawned a series, focusing on the lives of Max and her flock of human-bird kids, known to readers as the flock. They returned in 2008 with their fourth adventure; ‘Maximum Ride: The Final Warning’. A fifth book was released in 2009, with a six potentially up for release in 2010.

SYNOPSIS

Having just saved the world from a group of mad scientists, Max and the flock, comprised of Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy and Angel, would do anything to sit back and relax and just be normal kids… but these are no normal kids, made up of 98% human and 2% bird DNA,, they’re a living scientific phenomenon. It’s not long before the flock are up to their old tricks, when Dr. Martinez (Max’s mother) learns of a scientific expedition that is in need of the kids help, only too soon are they preparing themselves to save the world… again. The flock are off to Antarctica, ready to learn of the current climate crisis and how they are to help save the world from a global disaster; Global Warming. However, in the land of the flock, not all is as it seems, and very rarely does it go smoothly; there’s a traitor amongst the pack, and it isn’t long before they are hunted down. Will the flock be able to save the world, or be captured by an evil scientist. With another adventure, their lives hang in the balance.

THOUGHTS IN GENERAL (FOR NEWCOMERS)

I’m an avid fan of the series, with such an exciting concept, how could I not be lured into their adventures. We’ve had flying people before, but James Patterson brings to life the characters of the flock through a well written and fast paced novel. If you’ve followed the series you’ll already be familiar with the gang, but what’s great about this series, if you’re a late comer you’re not left behind. Though the stories do link in a time series of events, neither relies on it’s predecessor. This book can be read alone, or part of the series, and the sense of excitement and enjoyment gained from the book is the same regardless.

The idea behind the books focal point is a theme close to my heart. I didn’t realise the depth at which Patterson would dive into the idea of Global Warming, he takes a series look at the effects and how the flock slowly, Max more slowly than the others, come to terms with what out world faces. As a reader, if you are unaware of the climate crisis, you are overloaded with facts and figures that would bore you until the end of the earth. Patterson’s writing is tested here, but he’s got the wit and intelligence to put forward an idea to his readers in a ‘reader-friendly’ manner. I have to praise him for this, not only for his writing, but for actually deciding that the fourth novel would tackle this subject. It helps to broaden children’s minds, those that will be most effected by our planets future.

This book is certainly an easier read, not only is it short at just 280 pages, but the events aren’t too complex. It seems Patterson is widening his target audience, hoping to capture the minds of the children as young as his son at just nine years old. This could divide his fan base, but for newcomers, younger children get to dive into exciting adventures with a flock of bird kids.

Not only is this a teen novel, but with the adult version (as with most alternate versions, this consists of a more mature cover) he’s allowing parents to enjoy the book with their children. Unfortunately I’m too old to have my mum or dad reading me a bedtime story, but if these were around when I was young, much like they are for those small children of today, I would have loved to learn of the adventures of the flock. I think if parents wish to engage their small children in reading, then this one is actually a good one to start at, it’s the youngest read of the series, and doesn’t contain any events that I think a five year old couldn’t handle.

THOUGHTS FROM A SERIAL POINT OF VIEW (FOR FANS)

If you’ve followed the flock on there previous adventures, like me you would be expecting a lot from the next installment. Though this is an outstanding book, as part of the series, it’s simpler, and less eventful. Since the original book, the number of pages has seen a dramatic drop, one would predict less excitement, and this thought sort of rings true with this installment. The first two books were up at 480 pages, this is a mediocre 280. Whereas before the plots exploded, just when you thought the end was in sight, you can see clearly where this book is going, and how soon it will be resolved. Little suspense is left, which I think is a key factor that makes Patterson’s books so good.

We saw in the third installment, what some might say, is an idea in keeping with today’s society and technological advances; Fang’s blog. Personally I disliked reading page upon page that was littered with unimaginative and uneventful blog posts. It was from this point that I realised the age of the series was beginning to lower. This installment is no different. Expect blog posts that act as page fillers, it’s as if Patterson couldn’t possibly release such a short book, and so lengthened it with a few boring pages – I was disappointed.

I’m yet to decide whether I enjoyed the part where the flock were constantly realising that they had a new skill; a new special ability. What is good, is that this is well synced with the other books in the series. We saw little mutation as the start, and it seems the flock are mutating more irregular and at an exponential rate. It added excitement and intrigue to the novel, which kept me turning those pages. Whether this part of the book might have been over done, I’m yet to decide, but I think it was well written, and each was delivered with excitement and the air of mystery.

IN SUMMARY

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find this book a fabulous read, and that was a delight to sit down for a few evenings and get right back into the adventures of my favourite fictional characters. James Patterson hasn’t lost his abilities to write a good novel, and nearing a typical retirement age of 65, it’s inspirational that he’s still got what it takes, showing up the younger writers in the business. Again his books is fast paced and keeps you on your toes, with an exciting story.

To newcomers, I’d rate this an outstanding five out of five, it’s got the workings of a great novel, and especially for the younger children, it’s a reasonable length that is in tune with their developing minds, if they can’t quite enjoy it yet, it won’t be long before they can.

Unfortunately die hard fans such as myself might have been a little disappointed, I certainly was, and for this reason, based on a book in a series I could only give it a three, hence the final four star rating. In comparison to the previous installment it’s lacked luster, I wanted to be taken on a whistle stop tour of adventure with my favourite bird kids. I didn’t want a quick trip to Antarctica and back. Looking back, I wish it had been longer. With regard to Fang’s blog, I just hope Patterson cuts this from the future books, unfortunately I have little faith, because I can see how it appeals to a younger audience.

There’s no doubt that I will continue to lap up the pages written about Max and the flock, it’s just a shame I don’t think I’ll ever be blown away like I was with the first book – that stands as one of my all time favourites.

Four stars.

(Review can be found on Dooyoo.co.uk – Topherbenn)