The Clan of the Cave Bear - Jean M. Auel

Rating: 2 1/2
Read for: TBR Challenge 2008

The Clan of the Cave Bear is the first in the Earth's Children series, which Auel began back in 1980 and is still writing today. Read for my TBR Challenge.

With a prehistoric setting when Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon man shared the earth, the titular "Clan" are a group of Neanderthal who are searching for a new home after theirs was destroyed by a terrible earthquake. On their journey, the medicine woman, Iza, discovers an orphaned Cro-Magnon girl and cares for her until the girl inadvertantly leads them to a perfectly situated cave. The leader of the Clan is persuaded to let Iza adopt the girl, Ayla, and slowly she is accepted by most of the Clan members.

The story follows Ayla as she is raised by Iza and Creb, the Clan's powerful holy man, as she struggles to assimilate into the Ways of the Clan. However, Ayla is not Clan, and is drawn to many things most of the Clan shy away from, such as open water, and often behaves most unlike a Clan woman, such as learning to hunt. Although seem as good luck by most of the Clan, Ayla makes an enemy of their future leader, Broud, and her transition from child to woman, and woman to medicine woman is fraught with angst and pain.

Although I have been looking forward to reading this series for some time, I was somewhat disheartened that within the first 3 or 4 chapters, I was very ready to give up. I was simply finding it boring and struggled to keep interested in the characters. Auel has done a staggering amount of research and her descriptions of the Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon people and their way of life is genuinely astounding, which combined with her creative imagination has led to some really interesting storytelling. However, the drawback was that Auel's descriptive prose was overly long and far too detailed for my enjoyment, often with several pages describing a simple activity. I did persevere with all 587 pages, and found that by the end I had quite enjoyed the experience, after a while (half the book!) becoming quite absorbed in this prehistoric world. The end is left quite open, as usual with such an extended series (five books and counting) and though I do wonder where Auel will take some of her characters, I do not feel particularly inclined to read further. Reviews of the follow ups are varied, and although her work is generally praised, the titles seem to get longer and longer and I truly think my patience would be tried!

So I'm going to call it a day. I'm glad I've finally read this book (I now know what the hype is about!) and will no longer be drawn to this section in bookshops! It has been quite refreshing reading outside the usual realms of fantasy that I find myself in, but I am a little disappointed that the book has not triggered any interest in prehistoric man or the Ice Age, as I had hoped.

The Clan of the Cave Bear most definitely lives up to its "magnificent epic" acclaim, but is a bit too epic for me!

Other blog reviews:
Michelle at In the Louvre
Jeane at Dog Ear Diary

Struggles, pleasant surprises and giveaways...

Have you ever struggled desperately with a book that you were determined to love? Did you give up, or battle on? If you gave up, have you regretted it? Have you tried again, or do you intend to? Or did you carry on, and half way through discover that you really do like the book after all?!

I'm currently reading The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel. I've been meaning to read this book for a very long time, but my TBR pile is so disgustingly big, I've only just gotten around to it. I'll admit, that within the first 3 or 4 chapters, I was very ready to give up. It wasn't that I disliked the book or the characters. I was simply finding it boring. Auel has obviously done her research and her descriptions of the Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon people and their way of life is genuinely astounding. I just really didn't want or need a 3 page description of harvesting a plant, or curing leather into a sling. I felt that it detracted from my enjoyment of the story, and prevented me from becoming involved with the characters and their plight. (Or so I thought.)

I was disappointed. This book has been recommended to me by several people, and the editorial reviews were quite frankly gushing! I perserved, something I tend to do with books and which is perhaps sometimes my failing (as pointed out my Nick Hornby in his Polysyllabic Spree). Was there any real need for me to carry on? If I am not enjoying a book, would it not simply be better to put it down and pick up another, perhaps returning to the disagreeable book at a later time and/or place? In this case I carried on, and to my great pleasure found myself becoming more and more involved. I am now 400 pages in and really enjoying it. Perhaps not to the extend of reading the rest of the series (though that may depend on the ending of this book!), but certainly enough that I am very glad to have continued reading! I may not like the ending..I still have almost 200 pages left to go (!), but the journey has seemed worth it. Auel's detailed descriptions of prehistoric man, and the world (s)he live in, is fascinating and though not what I usually expect from my fictional reading...educational. I'll get back to you when I'm done!

Another pleasant surprise these past few days is that I am being relieved at our next port call in sunny Darwin. Yay, I get to go home! By the time I'm back, I will have probably missed the bluebells, and the fabulous Living Crafts Festival at Hatfield House (an annual tradition of mine and highly recommended), but at least I get to snuggle my cat, catch up with my best friend who I haven't seen in person for a disgusting amount of time (sorry hun!) and visit my favourite local bookshop where I can spend all the money I've earned these last 8 weeks on books that you wicked little bookpeople have recommended to me. I hope you all feel guilty. Yes, you.

Meanwhile...Melody is giving away three books at her Reading Corner: Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier, Little Face by Sophie Hannah and From Black Rooms by Stephen Woodworth. Pop a comment in if you are interested!

Weekly Geeks!

Welcome to the first Weekly Geeks! Dewey’s first theme is a nice way to introduce ourselves to each other…Discover New Blogs Week! The idea is to find five blogs among the WG participants, that you have not previously visited, and vist them, leaving a nice comment :), then mention them on your blog.

I’m very new to blogging, so the majority of these blogs were new to me! I visited all of them (yes all of them..its really way past time I should be in bed!), but have picked five blogs that really caught my eye, because I couldn’t possibly mention them all!

Everyday Reads: The wonderful orange background and fantastic goldfish banner first caught my attention! I was then pleased to see that we have similar tastes in books but that there are plenty of titles that I have not read, and some that I haven’t even heard of. I sense that I will be getting many recommendations from this site!

That’s the Book: I found the post on Listening to Books interesting as I grew up listening to books on tape and have recently rediscovered that pleasure with the Harry Potter audiobooks. Plis I like the review of Punch by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean.

Bookstack: I was first drawn to this blog by the gorgeous banner picture, a bridge, trees, autumn leaves and mist…perfect! Great reviews and that all important obsession with notebooks will keep me visiting this site!

Random Field Notes: The first thing that caught my attention on this blog was that Ashleigh is an Egyptologist…professionally! Something I have been an amateur at since my science teacher taught me hieroglyphs at age 8! This combined with a love of books and crafts sounds eerily similar to myself, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this page!

Not Enough Bookshelves: The name of this blog first caught my attention, swiftly followed by the quotes of the day, a nice touch! I also liked the review of The Secret History, one of my favourite books!

Booking Through Thursday

Springing
Well, here where I live, Spring is sprung–weeks early, even. Our lilac bush looks like it will have flowers by this time next week instead of in the middle of May as usual. The dogwood trees, the magnolia trees–all the flowering trees are flowering. The daffodils and crocuses are, if anything, starting to fade. It may only be April 24th but it is very definitely Spring and, allergies notwithstanding, I’m happy to welcome the change of season. What I want to know, is:

Do your reading habits change in the Spring? Do you read gardening books? Even if you don’t have a garden? More light fiction than during the Winter? Less? Travel books? Light paperbacks you can stick in a knapsack? Or do you pretty much read the same kinds of things in the Spring as you do the rest of the year?

Oooh my first BTT! I though my answer would be simple...that my reading is affected by my moods not the seasons. But then I really thought about it. Looking back over the last year, my winter reading tended to consist of larger tomes or more difficult reads, whereas my summer reading was a bit lighter (literally). This could be partially due to my moods in those seasons, but I find it more likely that I spend more time indoors during the winter and more time out and about during the summer, hence the need for "lighter" reading to carry around! Having said that, I do find that I like reading natural history books about trees (rather than gardening) in late winter/early spring..perhaps preparing myself for the new greenery?

However, I also work away from home for up to 8 weeks at a time, and usually have to plan ahead and take enough books with me for that time, as the ships I work on don't have the best variety of reading material...i.e mostly old FHMs and Clive Cussler novels. I prefer to take "easier" reads with me offshore, books that I find I can get absorbed in nicely without requiring too much thought if I'm tired after an 18 hour shift or trying to forget about any seasickness in really rough weather. This reading is usually light adult or young-adult fantasy, and I try to take the whole series, because I know I'll need the next instalment immediately!

Also, as I often work abroad, my seasons get all mixed up. The only way I can tell what season it might be is from the weather or migrating birds, both of which have confused me now that I am in the southern hemisphere and its heading into autumn! This is the second uk spring in a row that I am missing due to work...it will NOT happen next year, I've promised myself that! If I do find a bookshop in port while I'm away, I tend to buy whatever catches my eye or something I've wanted to read for a while, rather than anything related to the current season.

Interesting question though. I hadn't really given this any thought before now! Didn't really give a yes or no, rather a bit of both.


Some pics of our current stowaways...the booby on the right of the first picture is definitely curious..the look on its face just makes me laugh! The baby sooty tern in the last picture doesn't look happy, getting no food from mum!

Competitions galore!

So I'm bobbing around on the sea off the coast of Western Australia and we are sooo close to the end of this job...and another cyclone has popped up and headed this way. The bookshops of Australia are looking so very far away :( - so to cheer myself up, I've entered my name in two great little competitions...you should all do the same!

Kim at Bold.Blue.Adventure is celebrating her 100th post by giving away four books, with a $15 Amazon gift card for international readers. So pop your name into the draw here by Saturday 26th April to be in with a chance of winning The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, Space by James Michener and The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards.

Andi at Tripping Toward Lucidity: Estella's Revenge is giving away a copy of The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming! Pop your name into the draw here before Friday 25th April, and advertise the giveaway on your blog for your name to go into the draw twice!

p.s. i am actually working for the oil industry on this job...oh the irony..

Isolde: Queen of the Western Isle - Rosalind Miles

Rating: 4
Read for: Arthurian Challenge 2008

This is the first in a trilogy of books retelling the classic tale of Tristan and Isolde. The beautiful Isolde is Princess of the Western Isle, a follower of the Old Ways and the daughter of a passionate but misguided Queen. Isolde first encounters Tristan as a wounded pilgrim, but a bond quickly forms between the pair, and she is heartbroken when she discovers that he has been lying to her. On his return to Cornwall, Tristan’s uncle, King Mark charges him with returning to Ireland and bringing Isolde back to be Mark’s wife and the Queen of Cornwall. The bitter Isolde agrees to the marriage and journeys to Cornwall, while she and Tristan confront and consummate their true feelings for each other. Upon her coronation as Queen of Cornwall, events begin to spiral out of control, in a tale of betrayal, loss and true love.

Other figures from the Arthurian world appear in this novel, including Merlin, Queen Igraine, Arthur himself, his Knights of the Round Table and his beautiful wife Guenevere, a girlhood friend of Isolde.

Partially true to the original tale and partly a retelling, Miles’ Tristan and Isolde are believable characters, caught up in their own passion and naivety. I enjoyed the book more than I expected to, the most enjoyable parts being set in Ireland, with the always-intriguing Merlin, and with Isolde’s trials in Cornwall. I myself have a great passion for the water, and especially the sea, so the tale often resonated deeply with me. The novel does depart from the main story at one point, with the appearance of a potential illegitimate son for Arthur, a sidebar that I felt detracted from the main focus of Tristan and Isolde’s story, but may be relevant later in the trilogy. I was a little confused at the end, as the story is most definitely left wide open for a sequel, with no definitive conclusion.

However, it is the Lady of the Sea that caught my attention most. I am by no means well read in the Arthurian legend, and my only knowledge of such a woman is the Lady of the Lake. The Lady of the Sea was quite something else for me, enchanting, kind and yet somehow so very sad. I would gladly read an entire series of books on her! For that reason alone, I would read the next book in the series, but I am also curious to see what Miles’ makes of Tristan and Isolde’s fate.

The Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks

Rating: 3

These three instalments make up the first book of The Sword of Shannara, originally published as one book, but split into three for Young Adults, thus I have reviewed them together.

The story revolves around Shea Ohmsford and his brother Flick who are forced to leave their quiet home of Shady Vale, when they discover that Shea is being hunted by deadly Skull Bearers, sent by the ancient Warlock Lord, Brona. They learn from the mysterious Druid Allanon, that the half-elven Shea is the only living descendant of Jerle Shannara, the greatest of all the Elven kings, and that only a son of the House of Shannara can wield the Sword of Shannara against the Warlock Lord. Burdened with that destiny and armed only with the Elfstones given to him by Allanon, Shea and his brother journey to their friend, Menion Leah, and onwards to the land of the Dwarfs. From there they travel with Allanon; Durin and Dayel, two cousins of the Elven king Eventine; the strong and trustworthy Balinor, Prince of the Callahorn; and the gruff but hardy Dwarf Hendel, to rescue the Sword from the Druids’ Keep at Paranor. Their journey is perilous and not without sacrifice, and soon the company becomes separated, with Shea left alone to continue his pursuit of the Sword.

Terry Brooks’ Shannara series has been very successful, yet I had never been tempted to read them until, shortly before leaving for a job offshore, I discovered these three parts of the first book going very cheap in a bookshop, and they were nice and light, perfect for airplane luggage! Probably not the best reason I’ve ever come up with for reading a book, but this was probably a good thing, as I didn’t have very high expectations. Epic certainly, and enjoyable nonetheless, but inevitably I could not help but draw comparison with the Lord of the Rings. The idea of a company journeying in pursuit of a fabled object is not dissimilar from the trials undertaken by the Fellowship of the Ring. With Druids (wizards?), Elves, Dwarves, Trolls and Men, Brooks is obviously drawing from similar inspiration and the same mythological formula as Tolkien. His style is different of course, and the events in which his characters find themselves, but unfortunately Brooks’ is the inferior work.

The story did improve towards the end of the second part, The Druids’ Keep, as the company splits and go their separate ways. I found the battle for Tyrsis the most engaging part of the story and the struggle Balinor faces against his brother. His was the most interesting character for me, and I enjoyed his close friendship with Hendel. I would like to have read more about the Callahorn and Balinor’s history, along with more about Eventine and the Elves, which may inspire me to read further into Brooks’ world.

Recommended if you enjoy this type of fantasy series, but a very similar formula, with few surprises.

Short Story Challenge

Yes I am officially hooked on challenges. This is not good people! (I blame you entirely rhinoa..).

I do like short stories, but in all honesty have not really explored the surprisingly large number of authors out there. This challenge, hosted by Kate, could be the perfect opportunity! I am going to start with option 1, read ten different short stories, by ten different authors over the course of 2008. If I have time, I may tackle some collections, as I already have three or four at home and will be reading at least two collections for another challenge. Here's my list for now!

1. The Ladies of Grace Adieu - Susanna Clarke (collection)
2. Fragile Things - Neil Gaiman (collection)
3. Nocturnes - John Connelly (collection)
4. The Bloody Chamber - Angela Carter
5. The Snows of Kilimanjaro - Ernest Hemingway
6. Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka
7. A Perfect Day for Bananafish - J.D. Salinger
8. Snow - Tove Jansson
9. My Daughter, the Fox - Jackie Kay
10. The Ebony Hand - Rose Tremain

342,745 Ways to Herd Cats Challenge!

This challenge has to be done. Not only because of the fabulous name and picture, but also because sharing the books you love is what these blogs are all about! So, as designed by Renay, the challenge is this. Make a list of ten books that you love and post them on your blog, and email them to Renay. Then pick three books from the masterlist and read these between May 1st and November 30th. Of course you can all read more than three, and I’m sure most of us will!

Finding a list of ten books that I love was hard, because I had far too many. So I’ve chosen a list that says a lot about me as a person and a reader, and that has a least some variety, with a couple of non-fiction and a classic kids book thrown in! And if you haven’t read Peter Pan…why not!!?

• I Dreamed of Africa – Kuki Gallmann (building a life on a ranch in kenya, with poetry and humour, tragedy and hope...my favourite book ever)
• The Secret History – Donna Tartt (five eccentric students delve far too deep into ancient greek rites, resulting in blackmail and murder)
• The Goose Girl – Shannon Hale (a beautiful retelling of a classic fairytale)
• The Last Samurai – Helen Dewitt (the child prodigy, raised with the seven samurai as his role models, searches for his father out of seven acquaintences of his mother)
• Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke (the tale of two rival magicians in 19th century England, and their struggle for the future of English magic)
• Astonishing Splashes of Colour – Clare Morrall (the heartbreaking tale of one member of a dysfunctional family trying to make sense of her own unconventional life)
• Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte (the classic story of a poor but independant governess and her relationship with her gruff employer at the mysterious Thornfield Hall)
• The Battersea Park Road to Enlightenment – Isabel Losada (one woman's hilarious journey to find true happiness...new age style!)
• Peter Pan – JM Barrie (enough said)
• Into the Wild – Jon Krakauer (following the footsteps of Chris McCandless who left everything behind to journey into the Alaskan wilderness with tragic consequences)

And now the even harder bit, choosing three books to read myself! I've gone for three that I already have borrowed from friends/my mum and have been sitting on my TBR pile!

• Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer
• Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
• The Complete Maus - Art Spielgman

Though I'd also like to read Lolita and this Charles de Lint fella everyone keeps talking about!! Happy Reading!

Inspiration?!

Have you ever felt inspired by something completely random, to do something completely different? Does seeing an old gnarly tree make you want to take up yoga? Or hearing a piece of music make you want to paint a picasso? Or does seeing someone else creating or doing something make you want to try it?

I love to write. Always have. I'm making my way through my second children's novel at the moment (though I haven't finished the first one yet!) and have for some time been planning a collection of short stories. The trouble is, I work offshore on a large smelly noisy ship, and although I get lots of time to read (bad weather, broken equipment etc!), I find that I am rarely inspired to write, or come up with anything creative. I usually only get creative after tramping through some old mossy woodland, or exploring another part of the countryside. Yet for some reason, on a ship in the middle of nowhere, 250 miles from shore, I received a flash of inspiration last night. Now it may have come many sources....the amazing Australian sunset we had yesterday, or the glorious full moon, or the fire alarm waking me up at midnight so I had to run out on deck with my lifejacket while they checked we weren't sinking, or the guy in the next cabin to me waking up screaming at 5am, or maybe it was just the amount of ginger beer I had during my shift yesterday... Regardless of what it was, by mid morning today, I had a list of six short stories, complete with titles, plot outlines and character names! That will keep me busy for a while! So whatever/whoever it was...I thank you...

Here's a glimpse of that sunset!

Weekly Geeks!

Dewey over at The Hidden Side of a Leaf is hosting a slightly different bookblog challenge rather than a reading challenge. Every week there will be a challenge with a new theme, such as “catch up on your library books” week or “redecorate your blog week”. You do not have to enter every week, but by reading the details and signing up here, you are agreeing to at least check what the theme is. Ideas for themes are welcome, and I reckon there could be some interesting ones! And if you pop a post about it on your blog, there may even be a chocolate monkey in it for you!

Persuasion - Jane Austen

Rating: 5

Possibly the most pleasant surprise I have had in all year, if not years! I have to admit to having only read one Jane Austen novel in my life, Pride & Prejudice while at school, but I have seen film or television adaptations of all the books. After having seen Persuasion recently, I was determined to read it next as I was so intrigued by the heroine.

For those who do not know the story...the Elliot family are forced to leave their home of Kellynch Hall in Somerset, as Sir Walter Elliot and his oldest daughter Elizabeth have racked up a large amount of debts. The house is leased to Admiral Croft and his wife, while Sir Walter and Elizabeth move to the very fashionable Bath with Elizabeth's companion, the widowed Mrs Clay. The heroine of our story however, is Anne Elliot, the middle daughter, who has no wish to leave Somerset and remains happily for a time with her close friend and confidante Lady Russell, and Anne's younger sister Mary's family, the Musgroves at Uppercross. After moving into Kellynch, the Crofts are joined by Mrs Croft's brother, Captain Frederic Wentworth, whose attractiveness, manners and wealth causes quite the stir at Uppercross. Here we learn Anne's secret, a former engagement at 19 years of age to Captain Wentworth, broken off by Anne after persuasion from Lady Russell that her intended was not suitable, being of low station and, at the time, no wealth. Anne is heartbroken to see Wentworth's bitterness towards her, and the attention he gives the young and pretty Musgrove sisters, and has some decisions of her own to make after receiving the attentions of her cousin, William Elliot.

The novel, Austen's final completed novel before she died, is wonderfully written, with lively characters, and a wonderful theme of forgiveness and enduring affection. It is lighter than the others, and not as complex, but far more melancholy, perhaps reflecting Austen's own frame of mind at the time (she was very ill). The scenes on the Cobb at Lyme are vivid and add a dash of excitement in a rather slow tale. Austen did write a different ending originally, which is nowhere near as satisfying, but interesting to see in terms of her own capacity to critique her writing, and raise the strength to write the book she wanted. In typical Austen style, some characters are unmasked as particularly dastardly later in the novel, yet we are left with some loose ends. There are several enjoyable characters, including the genuine and loveable Crofts, the arrogant Mary and her adorably obtuse husband Charles, and of course the intriguingly hard to read Captain Wentworth. But this is Anne Elliot's story, and couldn't belong to a better character.

Anne has to be my favourite of all of Austen's heroines. At 27, she is older than any other heroine, and unlike Elizabeth Bennet or Fanny Price, Anne is by no means a perfect woman finding herself in unfortunate circumstances out of her control. She has loved and lost. She is intelligent and mature, yet reserved, and does not wish Wentworth to see her continuing affection, though she seems to want him to see better of her. The situation is of her own doing, having made a poor decision while still a young woman, being influenced by others against her own heart.

I unashamedly love this book and have been (re)converted to Jane Austen's fabulous world, complicated in its own way, yet so different from my own! But I am glad that I am only reading this now, and not when a lot younger. The melancholy tone and slow pace may have put me off Austen entirely ten years ago, but now I find it refreshing and as a writer, inspiring. A more mature novel, for perhaps a more mature reader. If only there had been more mature Austen..

p.s. the 2007 itv adaptation of persuasion is excellent, though quite different to the book..but with an excellent sally hawkins and a rather yummy captain wentworth!

Other blog reviews:
Eva at A Striped Armchair

The Innocent Mage and The Awakened Mage - Karen Miller

Rating: 4

The two books in the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series, I have reviewed these books together, as you could not possibly read one without the other! The Innocent Mage and The Awakened Mage are the first novels by the latest fantasy author to arise from Australia.

Set in the kingdom of Lur, the Innocent Mage is Asher, a young fisherman from Restharven who journeys to the capital city to make his fortune and escape the torment of his older brothers. Lur is protected by a magical wall, created by the Doranen, who fled their land centuries ago after a terrible magical war. The Doranen keep Lur safe, and the King maintains the wall using his weather magic, and in return, the non-magical Olken, the original inhabitants of Lur, allowed the Doranen refuge, and do not seek to learn or use Doranen magic. Asher is one of the non-magical Olken, but on his arrival in the capital, finds himself aiding Prince Gar, after a riding accident. Gar offers Asher a job, introducing him to the world of magic and politics between the Olken and Doranen peoples. Although a tense relationship at first, a friendship forms between Gar and Asher, who grows attached to his life in the city. But the Olken have a history of their own, the secrets of which are maintained by a group known as the Circle, who believe that great darkness is coming, from which they can only be saved by the prophesied Innocent Mage.

Asher is the hero of this story, the plucky young fisherman who is thrown into a world he does not understand, but there are many interesting characters in this intricate tale. One can emphasise with Gar, the magickless Doranen prince, who is more popular with the Olken than his own people, and resigned that he can never lead his kingdom as the weather-worker, a fate left to his arrogant but naive younger sister. Other fascinating characters include the sweet and gentle Matt, the cunning and secretive Dathne, and the bitter yet loyal Darran. But it is the relationship between Gar and Asher that is most at the heart of this story, exploring the lure of family and what one man really will do for another.

Although I tend to stick to Young Adult fantasy, rather than grown-up stuff (!), I was instantly drawn to these titles and was not disappointed. I enjoyed this excellent debut so much that, even though I was on holiday in Ireland, I had to rush out and buy the sequel immediately! Not your standard fantasy novels, this story really relies on the characters of Gar and Asher, with realistic dilemmas of family, loyalty and responsibility. Miller's descriptions of the weather magic are vivid and colourful and without spoiling what happens in the second book, things do get very interesting!

Highly recommended, but make sure you have The Awakened Mage handy, because you'll need it! Definitely an author to watch.

The Solitude of Thomas Cave - Georgina Harding

Rating: 4

Set in the 17th Century, Thomas Cave is a quiet whaler who agrees to a wager, overwintering alone in the harsh Arctic wilderness with only the basic shelter, food and provisions. His fellow seafarers have little hope for his survival, yet he is determined to remain behind. Relying on his own determination and skill to survive the bitter conditions, Cave finds himself in a physical and psychological struggle, not only against the environment, but also his reasons for accepting the ordeal.

With almost painfully beautiful prose and evocative imagery of the stark landscape of the Arctic, Harding has not only created a situation that feels utterly believable, but a powerful and engaging struggle that alludes to man's tremendous impact on the environment around us. A short read, this book is best digested slowly, allowing the true beauty of the prose to sweep over you. Don't rush it!

I have always been fascinated with man's desire for solitude, self-discovery and need to understand what it really means to experience the wild. Books that delve into this are great sources of contemplation for me, with other examples being the heartbreaking "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer and gorgeous "The Snow Leopard" by Peter Matthiesen. I will be the first to admit that the title and cover (of both hard-and paperback) caused me to pick up this title in the first place, but the book had a far greater impact on me that I would have expected. I was actually unable to read anything for several days afterwards, with my thoughts constantly being drawn back to Thomas Cave. A breath of fresh air.

Other blog reviews
Melanie at The Indextrious Reader

Many thanks!

I just wanted to say a big thank you for the wonderfully warm welcome I've received here, within mere hours of setting up this blog. I look forward to reading all your blogs and discussing all things bookish!

Thank you!

TBR Challenge

So, I've caved and signed myself up to a second challenge, this time in the hope that it will force me to clear some of the backlog of books in my library before I overload it with new goodies! This is the TBR (To Be Read) Challenge, for which 12 books should be selected - one for each month of 2008 - from your "To Be Read" list, preferably which have been there for 6 months or longer. There is also the option to create a list of 12 "Alternates" (books that could be substituted for your challenge books, if not particularly inspired by the original choices). You then have from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2008 to read all 12 books.

Obviously I'm joining this one a little late, so will have to get reading to catch up! Here's my list:

1. Fragile Things - Neil Gaiman

2. Nocturnes - John Connelly

3. An Instance of the Fingerpost - Ian Pears

4. The Children's Hospital - Chris Adrian

5. The Way of Wyrd - Brian Bates

6. Clan of the Cave Bear - Jean Auel

7. The Crimson Petal and the White - Michel Faber

8. Endymion Spring - Matthew Skelton

9. The Collector - John Fowles

10. Smoke and Mirrors - Neil Gaiman

11. The Ladies of Grace Adieu - Susanna Clarke

12. War for the Oaks - Emma Bull

My "alternates" list:

1. Harsh Cry of the Heron - Lian Hearn

2. The Pillars of the World - Anne Bishop

3. The House of Gaian - Anne Bishop

4. Shadows and Light - Anne Bishop

5. Perfume - Patrick Suskind

6. Gilead - Marilynne Robinson

7. The Gunslinger - Stephen King

8. My Family and Other Animals - Gerald Durrell

9. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer

10. High Fidelity - Nick Hornby

11. Saturday - Ian McEwan

12. Mrs Dalloway - Virginia Woolf

The Arthurian Challenge

So the first reading challenge I have chosen to join is Becky's Arthurian Challenge 2008-2009. Partly because I have until March of next year (!) and party because I have just finished reading Isolde by Rosalind Miles. The challenge is to read 6-12 books starring characters found in or inspired by Arthurian legends, between 1st April 2008 and 31st March 2009. My best friend Rhinoa is almost entirely responsible for getting me interested in the Arthurian legends (especially after our little visit to Tintagel!), so I've chosen this as my first challenge and added a few books that she will approve of onto my list.

1. Isolde: Queen of the Western Isle - Rosalind Miles

2. Isolde: The Maiden of White Hands - Rosalind Miles

3. Isolde: The Lady of the Sea - Rosalind Miles

4. The Once and Future King - T.H. White

5. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - tr. Simon Armitage

6. The Winter King - Bernard Cornwall

7. Enemy of God - Bernard Cornwall

8. Excalibur - Bernard Cornwall

9. Mists of Avalon - Marion Zimmer Bradley

10. Guenevere: Queen of the Summer Country - Rosalind Miles

11. Le Morte D'Arthur - Sir Thomas Malory

12. Idylls of the King - Alfred Tennyson

The Last Family in England - Matt Haig

Rating: 3

I must admit that I came across this book several times whilst stacking shelves in my old bookshop, but at a quick glance the cover always put me off. It wasn't until I was stuck on a ship in horrendous North Sea winter weather and had finished all the books I had brought with me, that I ventured over to the "bookshelf" and picked this title up. Having really looked at the front cover for the first time, and read the blurb on the back, I thought it looked better than the average Clive Cussler rubbish that we have on board, so I gave it a read.

I wasn't disappointed (probably because I didn't have high expectations!) as this was a charming read with some interesting ideas. You don't come across that many adult books written from a dog's point of view! It was amusing, with a sad and somewhat bittersweet ending, and I have recommended it to several dog lovers, but beyond that, its more of a book you stumble across while bored, rather than hunt down and look forward to. If you have a labrador or springer spaniel, you most definitely should give it a try, and it won't take you long at all! But if you are after a more intelligent, poignant and thoughtful canine read (though a little dark and melancholy), try Lorelai's Secret by Carolyn Parkhurst (US title: the Dogs of Babel).

The Crow - Alison Croggon

Rating: 4 1/2

The third in this impressive quartet shifts the focus from Maerad to her brother, Hem, who we last saw travelling to Turbansk with Cadvan's close friend, Saliman.

Hem is finding it hard adapting to life as a Bard in Turbansk, his only refuge being his work in the houses of healing, and his only friend, a white crow he names Irc. The pace shifts dramatically in this book, with the threat of all-out war as the Nameless One's army descends on Turbansk. When Hem comes across the wild orphaned girl Zelika, an unexpected friendship forms, and together with Saliman, they flee to join the resistance. Hem soon learns that he has a part to play in Maerad's quest for the Treesong, and discovers too that he may have an ally in the Elidhu. Hem volunteers to spy on the Nameless One's child armies, but when he is separated from Zelika, Hem finds himself in a struggle to survive.

Alison Croggon's story-telling continues to mature throughout the saga, with this being the darkest installment yet. Although not immediately drawn to Hem's character or the people of Turbansk, their struggle is engaging, and the child armies are quite frankly terrifying! The final few chapters are wonderfully written and gripping, leaving me very impatient for the final chapter in this wonderful series.

The Riddle - Alison Croggon

Rating: 4 1/2

The Riddle, the second in the Books of Pellinor quartet, picks up where The Gift ended, with Maerad and her mentor, Cadvan, searching for the Riddle of the Treesong, while on the run from both the Light and the Dark.

Separated from her brother Hem, Maerad's journey takes her across the sea to the rich isle of Thorold and into the far North, and the realm of Arkan, the mysterious Winterking. Maerad's gift is getting stronger, with painful consequences, deeply affecting both herself and her relationship with Cadvan. After a tragic set of circumstances, Maerad is left alone to face the Winterking, find the elusive Treesong, while battling for her own survival.

The Riddle was a pleasant surprise, as I haven't had a lot of luck with sequels lately, yet I devoured this book in two sittings! The Elidhu continue to fascinate me, and the Winterking's power over Maerad is obviously enticing. Although some readers have likened the Elidhu to Tolkien's Elves, I find them to be far more elemental and animalistic, with no true understanding of what it is to be human. Both Ardina and Arkan are described as having known love with mortals, and their characters seem to be embodied by the resulting loss and isolation. Quite the contrast to the exuberant and passionate people of Thorold. This series just gets better and better!

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The Gift - Alison Croggon

Rating: 5

Inspired by the same works that influenced Tolkien, this beautiful novel is the first in the Books of Pellinor quartet based in the lands of Edil-Amarandh.

Maerad is a young woman rescued from slavery who discovers that she is a Bard with a powerful yet dangerous gift. With the help of her rescuer and teacher, the mysterious Cadvan, a new world opens before Maerad's eyes, along with the truth of her heritage and clues to her extraordinary destiny. Tragedy and betrayal ensues, with an ending that will leave you reaching for the next in the series.

I was totally absorbed by this book and its characters, especially the intriguing Cadvan, with his mysterious past, and the enigmatic Elidhu. The world of the Annaren Bards is complex, full of the political intricacies, back-stabbing and personal agendas that are at the heart of any society. I particularly liked the descriptions of Bardic culture and the importance placed on passion for the arts and a desire for knowledge and wisdom. A fascinating group of characters keep this tale engaging and certainly had me hooked on one of the best fantasy series I have come across.

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Seeing Redd - Frank Beddor

Rating: 3 1/2

The next installment in the Looking Glass Wars trilogy is a very different type of novel, with a slower pace but with more intricate and perhaps more adult subplots. Alyss is rebuilding Wonderland after the battle against her aunt, the dastardly former Queen, Redd, who returns intent on revenge.

Introducing several new characters (the best being the assassins Blister and Ripkins) and another plot involving our "real" world, the story is a little disjointed, but enjoyable nonetheless. My favourite characters are still Hatter Madigan and the Cat, but the plot development is interesting enough, and it does leave the reader in anticipation of the final chapter in the series!

Not as good as the first in the series, but how many sequels are?!

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Rhinoa's Ramblings

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke

Rating: 5

Set in 19th Century Britain, during the Napoleonic Wars, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell are rival magicians, with very different ideas concerning the role magic should play in modern society. With a fantastic array of characters, notably Norrell's intriguing servant Childermass, and the delicious villain, the gentleman with the thistle-down hair. Clarke's desriptions of characters and the magical events they find themselves involved in are delightful...ships built of rain, darkness sweeping over cobbled streets, talking statues.. This novel is a truly original creation, with a foot firmly placed in historical fact, an interesting take on prominant figures such as the Duke of Wellington, and is a beautiful homage to Dickens. Within the first few pages, I knew this would rapidly become one of my favourite books! The size of the book had put me off reading it for some time, but it really is necessary for the sheer number of characters and the kind of character development the author wanted to achieve. Jonathan Strange is intelligent, witty, poignant and at times, bitterly sad. Oh, and Clarke uses the most fabulously long footnotes, which I always love! My only gripe is wanting to know more about the Raven King!

I am quite interested to see how the book is going to be adapted into a film (the talking statues and moving darkness could be quite eerie!).

Other blog reviews
Rhinoa's Ramblings
3M at One More Chapter
Dewey at The Hidden Side of a Leaf

new blog

Greetings! First-time blogger here and computer dunce, but after seeing the fun my best friend is having with her (fabulous!) book blog, I just couldn't resist. This blog is for me to warble on about one of my great passions in life..all things to do with books! Though I imagine that I will go off on several tangents (as usual) and start talking about random stuff and the weirdness that is currently my life!

To kick things off, I have posted a list of the books read so far this year, and shall review them over the next few days. A pitifully small number by my standards, but I have been ridiculously busy and sadly there are slim pickings on this ship at the moment!