I have tried to write this review multiple times now, yet the words just wont come... so let me start by saying I just loved Cinder, even with its downsides.  

Injured in, what she is told was, an accident which killed her parents, Cinder was adopted by a scientist, Garan, who soon after contracts the fatal plague, Letumosis. Cinder grows up in a world fraught with the plague and a prejudice towards cyborgs, humans with cybernetic implants.  Raised by a woman who despises, and even blames her, Cinder is sent to work as a mechanic to fund her Step-Mother's lifestyle.  

Cinder is a natural mechanic, with the added bonus of her implants which allow her to search and bring up the plans and schematics of everything she repairs.  Her skills are so good that her reputation precedes her and the young imperial prince, Kai, seeks her services to repair his robot. Thus beginning a series of events that turn Cinder's world upside down. 

I've seen other reviewers complain about Cinder's actions in regards to visiting her ill sister, or injecting the young boy with the cure... We need to remember that Cinder is a teen, rational thought doesn't always come so easily, especially when emotions are involved.  

Peony was the only person in the world to treat Cinder like a person, even an equal. This loss would have been incredibly hard for Cinder, the urge to visit her would have been far greater than any concern over how the disease can be spread.  Similarly when Cinder went gave the cure to the young boy, she was distraught, too late to save the person who mattered the most to her.  Seeing someone she knew, if only in passing when his mother wasn't looking, Cinder reacted to her emotions and gave a second chance at life to someone who otherwise would soon die.

I'm not sure if any of this was intentional, but I particularly liked the setting of New Beijing, given that the story of Cinderella originated in China around the 9th century.  Cinder's too small foot tying in with the Chinese tradition of foot binding, particularly within wealthy households, and the perceived beauty of small feet.  

I love that Cinder was an outcast, a misfit, who was often mistreated just for having implants she didn't ask to have. She worked in a male dominated occupation, Kai's reaction to her being the mechanic seems to suggest he expected someone older and male. 

My biggest issue is that it was just too predictable... part of which can be attributed to the fact that the story of Cinderella is so well known.  The rest, as someone who isn't an author, I can only imagine how hard it is to hide the significant plot points without leaving them out completely.  Adding it on at the end can seem like an after thought, yet adding it into the story, can lead to predictability, as happened here.  

Aside from that, I think Meyer did an exceptional job of re-imagining an old fairy tale. 

4.5 stars

When I first heard that Nimona was being released I was excited, even though I had not read it in its web-comic form.  I had previously read Stevenson's Lumberjanes series and enjoyed her style and humour.  Given my love of Lumberjanes, I had high expectations for this, I was not disappointed. I loved it!

I'm always for stories with a strong female protagonist, but this was even better! Nimona has no love interest, meaning she's not some love sick puppy. Nimona doesn't conform to the traditional conventions of beauty. She's not tall, nor slim, nor does she have an abundance of luscious locks. She's strong willed, intelligent, and doesn't let anyone tell her what to do. Even when Blackheart tries to get her to stick to the plan, she follows her own path.

I love that Blitzmeyer is so wrapped up in her work she doesn't have time for anything but tea and science. I love that the director of the institute is a woman who shows no mercy.

Goldenlion, the hero who wasn't pure, angelic and perfect. Blackheart, the villian who didn't want to kill anyone, whose intentions were ultimately good. I enjoyed the bromance between the two. Each never wanting to harm the other, never wanting to be rid of their nemesis.

The story line was well written and coherent, clever and clean. One I'm encouraging my girls to read, even if they're sick of me telling them they should read this or that.

I gave Nimona 5 stars.

Amanda Palmer isn't everyone's cup of tea. She's brash, she's creative and she's not ashamed to let the world know it.

Amanda takes us on her journey, as an artist, from her beginnings as a human statue, through her stripping career, through to her highly successful Kickstarter, and her woes of allowing her own hubby, one Neil Gaiman, to help her with her struggles.

As an artist, asking is something I too struggle with, I await the 'fraud police' to visit any time I think about showing some work.  Why would anyone want to buy my work, or support my art, when there are so many other, far more talented artists out there.

Amanda's approach isn't really about asking, it's about connecting.  Seeing and being seen.  How often do we really see those around us? How often do we connect?

I came across some very fitting videos from a group called The Liberators earlier today, before I finished reading this book.  But sitting, watching their videos, showed the connection Amanda was talking about.  The simple act of eye contact left so many people open and vulnerable, they were being seen by someone, not just looked at.  Tears were shed, hugs were had, and those people had a whole new level of understanding about themselves and the strangers they shared that minute with. 

This same group did another similar act, one member stripping to her underwear in London, blindfolded herself, and asked strangers to draw hearts on her in an effort to encourage self acceptance.  A powerful gesture of trust and understanding.

Amanda's struggles with making ends meet, her own battles with her own inner 'fraud police'.  I now have a completely new perspective on street performers, they're s much more than someone standing, singing, playing, they are art, they're asking you to see them, not just as someone who needs to 'get a job', but as an artist in their own right.  Recognise that they are working, they're offering a service, it's just not flipping burgers or filing papers.

So the next time you're wondering why that busker wont go and get a job, rewind and ask yourself if you're enjoying their performance, if you find that you are, toss them a few bucks, you never know, they may be the next Amanda Palmer.

As a long time fan, who enjoyed Amanda's book writing as much as her quirky song writing, I gave the Art of Asking 5 stars.

Hit up amandapalmer.net/theartofasking for more on the book and her music.

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I just wanted to add some thoughts on the topic of Anthony.  At the time of my reading this book, Anthony had sadly passed along, mere weeks before.  The pictures of Amanda by his bedside during his last days really show the depth of love and care the two shared.  It makes me sad that he wont be around to share the joy of baby Palmer/Gaiman's arrival, and worse that the joy will also be full of sadness for Amanda and Neil.  

When I initially picked this up, I found it hard to get used to the lingo used. Not one for audiobooks usually, I felt that I needed to hear Alice Walker retelling her story. This made it easier to read when I did pick up the ebook while I was out and about without access to the audio files.

There is something about this book that resonates deep within me. Something that I can't yet put into words. I'll try to articulate my review soon.

I seem to be having a very Ned Kelly year, starting off with my daughters First Fleet assignment, in which Red Kelly, Ned's father, was the first Irish convict to be transported to the new colony. That was followed up with the musical Ned, in the fitting setting of the old Bendigo Gaol, which has been converted into the new Ulumbarra Theatre.

~130 years since the man was hanged for his crimes, his legend still lives on. The original Aussie Battler, trying hard to survive the harsh Victorian countryside, when everything was against him, his heritage, his upbringing, even his name. I don't know what it is with us Aussies, but we love a good underdog story, someone sticking it to the man, when most would have long given up. Ned Kelly seems to be the epitome of this.

Carey created a wonderful, well researched, flowing narrative. It was easy to imagine Kelly sitting down, writing out these letters, reliving his life in paper, in an open letter to his daughter. It was not hard to picture the beautiful yet dangerous countryside that the Kelly's and their various cronies roamed around, this is my home after all.

I am in awe of the distances they traveled on horseback. These trips take hours in a car on a freeway, though we don't have the joy of following ridges and dry creek beds. As much as I romanticise about travelling on horseback around this beautiful state, I can't imagine the conditions they must have deal with spending days travelling from one hideout to another, let alone in the heat of our Summer, the chill of our winter, during a bushfire, or when there's torrential rain and flash flooding.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves history, to every Victorian and to anyone who loves a good underdog story.

5 stars.