If you ever see one of my 'most listened to' playlists, you'll be sure to find The Red Hot Chilli Peppers . They've enthrall...

If you ever see one of my 'most listened to' playlists, you'll be sure to find The Red Hot Chilli Peppers. They've enthralled me for years.

For Christmas, I received the autobiography of lead singer Anthony Kiedis. Due to my reading challenge, I couldn't touch the book until now. The moment I saw the criteria, 'Read a piece of non-fiction' I knew exactly what I was going to dive into. (I'm doing a reading challenge on Reddit where I need to read a book a week. The genre is a lottery.)

Scar Tissue graced the world in 2004. It shares its name with a song from their 6th album Californication. It does miss out the last 13 years, and I hope a revision is in the works. However, it catches the genesis of the band and the 90s, arguably the bands most successful and self destructive period.

WHAT I LIKED:

The honest depiction of an addict. Coming away from the book, I had a better understanding of addiction. Kiedis did some horrible and strange things in his pursuit of drugs. It's at these moments the book soars. The descriptions of his mindset and motivations made for intriguing reading. The continual relapses and repeated mistakes were heartbreaking. Each time they occurred I felt sympathy for Kiedis. It's amazing how he survived.

The insight into the thought process behind their work was incredible. New meanings attached themselves to songs i'd adored for many years. Finding out the depths of Kiedis's loneliness when writing "Under the Bridge" shocked me. It added a depth to a song that i've known word for word for over a decade. 

The band's ability to overcome adversity time and time again was inspirational. With writing, rejection and heartache is something I have/will need to accept. Seeing how the Chillis kept moving forward through everything gave me determination.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

The book focusses on the drugs, debauchery and relationships. I would have loved more insight into the artistry and hard work. The insight behind the lyrics are unique, but I didn't get a sense of the incredible dedication the band put in on the road to super stardom. 

It appeared that things just happened for the band, which I know wasn't the case. Flea and Frusciante are two of the best players to ever pick up their instruments. I would have loved deeper insight into the 16 hour days they devoted to their playing. 

WHAT IS IT MOST SIMILAR TO?:

The book teemed with humour. The language was easy and it was a rollercoaster of emotions. Kiedis's reflections were honest and I felt a connection to his plight. 

The insanity and honesty set this story apart from a lot of biographies. It's like Mike Tyson's autobiography, The Undisputed Truth. Both stories focus on the difficulties of fame and drug addiction. Using two individuals who reach great personal heights and wretched lows. 

WOULD I RECOMMEND:

This is quintessential reading for any Chilli Pepper fan. For everyone else, there's great insight into the mind of one of the greatest frontmen to grace popular music. The book also casts an eye on addiction and relationships, from the driving seat of superstardom. Give it a go!

"Start talking!" My neck burned from shouting. His face twisted, I wasn't sure if it was from my demand or that he was dang...

"Start talking!" My neck burned from shouting. His face twisted, I wasn't sure if it was from my demand or that he was dangling from a cliff and desperate.

"Please! Help me! Please!" Fear ran through his voice.

I reached down and grabbed his arm. Scar and Mufasa's final face off played on my mind. I could have let him drop, he deserved to drop, but not today. I pulled him clear.

He rolled onto the cliff edge and breathed deep. "Thank you, thank you!"

I shoved my gun in his face. "Start talking!" I couldn't afford to waste time.

He rolled onto his back and raised his hands, as you do when a gun is pointed at your head. The scene looked normal, then a smile brushed his lips.

It was an ugly smile but it shouldn't have been here,  not at this moment. "I swear I'll shoot!" Fear found a new host in me.

"Rule number one kid, never trust a survivor until you find out what they did to stay alive." His smile graduated into a cackle.

I took the safety off my gun to re-affirm my position, partly to him, mainly for me.

"I killed them all! Everyone of them! Do you trust me now?" The cackles would have made The Joker envious.

All of them? My face asked the question but the words never made it to my mouth.

"Do you want to know whose neck I cut first?"

The word 'neck' brought back memories that I'd tried to bury. I emptied the gun. It wasn't the first time I'd shot one, but it was the first time I'd hit a human target. The bullets piercing his flesh sounded like stones dropping into water. He convulsed and writhed as he dropped.

I'd never killed anyone before, the event washed over me and I felt cold.

Laboured laughed frothed from his mouth. "You're not a bad shot kid." He sat upright, "Death isn't on my schedule today." He stood and brushed himself off. The bullet's dislodged themselves and fell to the ground. "Yeah, your friends gave me that look too. It's kind of a cross between 'what the hell?' and 'lord forgive me for my sins."

When you love sci-fi and fantasy, there are authors and books that are staples of genre. Gaiman, Pratchett, and Tolkien are juggernauts ap...

When you love sci-fi and fantasy, there are authors and books that are staples of genre. Gaiman, Pratchett, and Tolkien are juggernauts appearing on every must read list you'll find. Over the years Orson Scott Card has positioned himself amongst the behemoths. It all began with his breakthrough novel 'Ender's Game.'

Coming out in 1985, after Luke defeated the Galactic Empire (with minor help from the rebels). The book received positive reviews and spawned numerous sequels.

The name of protagonist Ender Wiggin has become legendary across the sci-fi world. Regardless of Scott Card's personal beliefs he is respected with a pen in his hand.

Below are my thoughts.

WHAT I LIKED:

Ender Wiggin is a prepubescent genius. His mind is scarily wonderful and his ability to overcome and win is fun to read. When backed into a corner you see the best of Ender. I clapped when battle school made his team fight two other teams at once and he obliterated them. His mind reminded me of all the great sci-fi leaders Kirk, Picard, Yoda, Mcfly (Yes). His reluctance to be a killer was an endearing character quality. In a peacetime climate he could have been a warm and caring child. 

The world that Scott Card creates is tense and intriguing. The two child rule painted the desperate, dog eat dog world that Ender was born into. I got a sense that any story that was set in this world would be fascinating.

The politics was easy to swallow and not shoved down your throat. Reader's understood the importance of the political climate and this peaked Ender's situation. Through Earth's political endeavours, the reader had insight into the lives of Ender's brother and sister. The chapters on Earth, without Ender, felt purposeful and enjoyable.

The relationships of the character's felt genuine. As a reader, I liked Ender's friendships and enjoyed his envious enemies that wanted to see him fall. The dislike toward him was cruel but necessary. As a reader you always felt that Ender could not only endure but had to endure. 

Scott Card's writing style was concise and fun. He did't digress and go off on tangents unless it was beneficial to the narrative. Reading Ender's Game you got the sense that telling the story was the main aim. There weren't any character's designed for self-indulgent purposes.

The unexpected ending was intriguing. It was a slow burner, that initially left a bad taste in my mouth. After a few days, I felt satisfied with events and questions started to knock about in my mind. I didn't yearn a sequel as I did after Ready Player One or Neverwhere, but any story involving Ender Wiggin is worth a gander. 

WHAT I DISLIKED:

At times Ender bordered on the realms of a Mary Sue (perfect character that can overcome anything). However, Scott Card leaves his possible near perfection as an open topic. He toys with the idea and has readers wondering why Ender is so good. Still, at times, I felt the outcome of Ender's trials was a forgone conclusion.  

WOULD I RECOMMEND?: yes yes yes yes

This is a sci-fi must read. I can't say much more.