More travels and Booking Through Thursday

Conditioning

Suggested by...me!

Are you a spine breaker? Or a dog-earer? Do you expect to keep your books in pristine condition even after you have read them? Does watching other readers bend the cover all the way round make you flinch or squeal in pain?

Oooh typical, this is my suggestion but I'm abroad so need to be quick about my reply! I am a spine breaker. I don't do it on purpose, but I definitely don't avoid it. I can't enjoy a book if I have to keep it half closed when I'm reading! However, I don't like dog-earing pages..in my opinion that's what bookmarks are for! And like Naida, I hate stains, unless its a really old book! I'm not fussed at all how people treat their own books..it is personal preference after all. But when people borrow my books, it does pain me somewhat if they come back much tattier! I lent some books recently to friends on a ship abroad and got an email from them saying they had been totally trashed, but they sent me an amazon voucher in return, to replace the books or by more, which I thought was really sweet! It does amuse me though, when people are even more anal than me, and can't break the spine. I really like how we are all so different, and I think how we treat things like books really tells a lot about our personalities..

So what are you like?!

And yes, I am offshore again, despite switching to a desk job. I have flown all the way from the UK to Australia for 36 hours work on the ship, starting tomorrow morning. Ironic considering I work as an environmental scientist and we are all about saving the environment..thats a lot of emissions! Back soon, so apologies if I don't read or comment much on your posts!

Oh and Happy Halloween!!

The Ladies of Grace Adieu - Susanna Clarke

Rating: 4 1/2
Read for: TBR Challenge 2008, Short Story Reading Challenge

"Magic, madam, is

like wine and,

if you are not used

to it, it will make

you drunk."

Those of you who have read my blog in the past may have realised that I have fallen head over heels in love with Susanna Clarke's writing. I did not cope well with Dickens at school and to this day have never finished any of his novels. Then I discover Ms Clarke, who writes like a modern day Dickens, and her fabulous book, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. A mysterious journey through the Napoleonic era, following the rivalry of two magicians, and their effect on the fate of English magic. Now one of my favourite novels, and reviewed here, it left me wanting more.

The Ladies of Grace Adieu is a collection of short stories set in the same world as magic and faery as Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. There are eight stories, each written in the same delectable style, and each delving into a different faery story.

The Ladies of Grace Adieu is perhaps the story most reminiscent of Clarke's first novel, introducing us to a trio of female magicians and their struggle to get accepted by their male counterparts. Jonathan Strange himself makes an appearance in this glorious tale of magic, superstition and vengeful owls.

On Lickerish Hill is the tale of a sly woman who sells her daughter to a nobleman, under the proviso that in the last month of the first year of their marriage, she must spin five skeins of flax every day. The young woman, as cunning as her mother, devises a way to fulfill her husbands demands, by making a deal with a fairy. All she has to do, is discover his name, or her life will be his.

Mrs Mabb is the sad tale of a young woman who loses her love to the mysterious Mrs Mabb. Only her determination can rescue her love.

The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse is an amusing story, set in Gaiman's fictional village of Wall. There in The Seventh Magpie Inn, the Duke of Wellington quarrels with a local villager over a pair of embroidery scissors and is later forced to cross the Wall to retrieve his stallion, released in spite by the angry man. There he discovers a small house where a young woman is embroidering some beautiful images of the Duke's past and possible future. When faced with his own death in gloriously coloured thread, the Duke must take matters into his own hand.

Mr Simonelli or The Fairy Widower, is a series of extracts from the diary of a young Italian man, who takes a position as cleric in a small town, where he has hopes over marrying well and creating a good home for himself. There he encounters a Fairy Widower, only to learn and discover more about his heritage and future destiny.

Tom Brightwind or How the Fairy Bridge Was Built at Thoresby is the tale of a young Jewish doctor and his fairy friend, travelling to visit a sick patient, when they come upon the poor begotten village of Thoresby. Tom is persuaded to build a fairy bridge across the river with unforeseen results.

Antickes and Frets is the tale of Mary, Queen of Scots, thrown into prison by her cousin, Elizabeth, and who ends up in the care of the Earl of Shrewsbury and his ambitious wife. She soon begins to suspect that the Countess had gotten where she was through dark means in her embroidery. Mary endeavours to use the same means to get rid of her cousin and thus usurp the throne of England.

The final story, John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner, is an amusing tale of a Charcoal Burner (and his pig Blakeman!), whose life is rudely interrupted by the Raven King himself, and who enlists Saints to have his revenge on Uskglass.

Clarke's style is perfect for me. She manages to write about a world so unusual and unfamiliar to us, yet makes it so evocative and believeable that I for one, got completely sucked in. Her writing is a sheer delight to read, and I found myself having to take breaks after each short story, just as I would with a great novel, in order to really digest and enjoy the experience. My fear was that the next story would never be as good, but each was as good as the last.

A fabulous collection by a wonderful author. I cannot recommend these stories enough, and dearly hope that Susanna Clarke writes more very soon.

Other blog reviews:

Rhinoa's Ramblings

Things Mean A Lot

Stainless Steel Droppings

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle - L.J.Smith

Rating: 3

I had actually never heard of this book, but was given a copy by a friend recently, and on my long train journey home, I found it a very easy read. The Vampire Diaries is a quartet of books about a high school girl named Elena, who falls for the mysterious new boy at school, who turns out to be something far from human. The Awakening and The Struggle are the first two volumes in this series, and it is good that they were combined, as separately, they would have felt far too short.

As you can probably imagine, The Vampire Diaries is very reminiscent of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. Superficially that is. L.J. Smith does not have the quality of writing or storytelling that Meyer does, and thus these books are not as gripping and are far more predictable. Instead of a family of vampires, we have two brothers, who have a desperate hatred for each other over the death of their beloved centuries ago. I did not find myself becoming very involoved in the story, and found it difficult to empathise with Elena or her friends, as I didn't really like them enough. Perhaps more interesting though is that even the "good" vampire feeds on humans when he is desperate, which added another depth to the story.

Although not as enjoyable as the Twilight series, this was still an entertaining read, though perhaps more for teenagers! I doubt I'll be buying the next one, but may pick it up at the library if I fancy a quick read.

Smoke and Mirrors - Neil Gaiman

Rating: 3 1/2
Read for: The RIP Challenge, TBR Challenge 2008 and read as an additional book for The Short Story Reading Challenge

First published ten years ago, Smoke and Mirrors is Neil Gaiman’s first full collection of short stories, spanning a good portion of his career. Overall, it is a very dark and compelling collection of stories, many adapted from old fairy tales and classic myths, including Beowulf and the Holy Grail. Gaiman’s writing style is unique, drawing on his experiences as a novelist, graphic novelist, poet and screenwriter. Some of his stories are magical, enticing and very thought-provoking, however, I will be honest, I did zone out for some of them! Smoke and Mirrors is a dark collection, and certainly for adults, as there are some very graphic moments of sex and violence, which may be unsuitable for some readers.

And now for some of my favourite stories:

Chivalry is the tale of an old woman who finds the Holy Grail in a charity shop, only to have a young knight come looking for it. A wonderful start to the collection with this unusual, imaginative but amusing story.

The Price is the story of an ordinary family adopted by a stray cat who is found each and every morning with the most terrible wounds and injuries. Is he fighting another cat, or a fox? Or perhaps his battles are against something far more terrifying..

The Case of the Departure of Miss Finch is an amusing tale of Gaiman and two friends entertaining one of their friends at the circus. There they discover it is important to be careful what you wish for. I loved the imagery at the end of this story, like being transported to another time.

The Daughter of Owls is a short story that reminded me beautifully of the writing of one of my favourite authors, Susanna Clarke and her world of Faerie. Wonderfully creepy.

Babycakes is a short, amusing tale, questioning what humans would do if all the animals one day disappeared. What would we find to eat, to farm, and to test our chemicals on?

Murder Mysteries is perhaps my favourite story. The angels are busy with the creation of the world, in order to complete His vision, when one of their own in found dead. Raguel, the Angel of Vengeance, is called upon to investigate the death and bring vengeance upon those responsible. But nothing is that simple. This is a heartbreaking tale of the angels' destiny, to create our world, but not to understand it or its purpose, and not to be part of it. He has a plan, and it is not for them to know or understand. I am not a religious person, nor do I believe in a God like this, but I was very moved by this tale.

And the final story, Snow, Glass, Apples, the dark and twisted tale of the classic fairy tale Snow White. Written from the point of view of the stepmother, Snow White is far from the innocent young girl I remember from my childhood. Instead she is an evil, sadistic murderess, responsible for the death of her own father. You'll never think of her the same ever again!

An entertaining collection of stories, though sometimes hit and miss, but well worth a read. A fabulous introduction to the writings of Neil Gaiman.

Other blog reviews:
Bold.Blue.Adventure

Have I missed yours?

24 hour readathon

Well the great October 2008 24 hour readathon has commenced! Unfortunately I won't be taking part exactly, although I will be doing some reading of a sort! I am off to the library to do several hours of studying! So to everyone who is taking part..enjoy! And if anyone else is curious..see Dewey's blog at The Hidden Side of a Leaf for more details. I look forward to all your reviews!

Tangled Webs - Anne Bishop

Rating: 4

Anne Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy was a bestselling hit over in the United States, but unfortunately did not have the same impact over the pond. Set in a fantasy world where the powerful Blood use their power and Craft to rule the Realms in a very dark tale, in which the discovery of one young girl will change the course of everyones lives. She is Witch.

Thankfully for fans of the trilogy, the story of Witch did not end there. Dreams Made Flesh followed the trilogy, a collection of novellas giving us insight into our favourite characters' pasts. This year gives us Tangled Webs, which follows the end of the trilogy, with a fun, albeit strange tale!

Tangled Webs is quite frankly ridiculous. Set years after the end of the war, Jaenelle is still recovering from her sacrifice, and decides to give everyone a fun gift, by creating a Spooky House. Basically, she fills an old house with spells and tricks designed to spook the landen children, who believe the Blood truly live that way. However, an author brought up believing he was landen, discovers that he is Blood, and angry that he is not accepted, turns against the Blood, creating his own Spooky House, filled with true nightmares and dangers, designed to trap and ultimately kill Daemon, Lucivar and Surreal, who represent all that he could never be. Clearly he has spent too little time with the Blood, and has no idea who he is up against.

Like I said, the story is ridiculous. But that makes it no less fun and entertaining! The first half of the story is slow, but allows us glimpses into the lives of Daemon and Jaenelle, Lucivar and Marian, and Saetan, the High Lord of Hell. It is these stories that interest me, especially when delving in to the history behind Saetan's past and relationship with his sons. Then the story focuses more on Surreal as she becomes trapped in the house with her escort, Rainier. Here the story takes a darker and more violent turn, and though the idea of the Spooky House is an unexpected and perhaps even mundane choice for an author of Bishop's quality, she writes the story and characters so well that the reader gripped throughout and leaves us guessing how it will end.

A bizarre addition to the Black Jewels Saga, but an entertaining read for fans of the series, giving more insight into the lives of some of our favourite characters. It certainly left me wanting to reread the trilogy!

Other blog reviews:
Rhinoa's Ramblings

6 months today!

Well, a couple of days ago, it was my blog's half birthday, as I first started blogging 6 months ago. I'll be the first to admit I'm not the most prolific reader, nor the most regular blogger, but I have really enjoyed blogging over the past half year, and have enjoyed reading all your blogs even more! So I wanted to say a big thank you to all you bloggers out there, and here's to the next 6 months!!

Weekly Geeks #20

Last week, us geeks made our list of favourite books published in 2008. This week, our task is to encourage our readers to help us come up with our combined list of the top books of 2008. The more bloggers contributing the better, so we have a true reflection of book bloggers' favourites.

So, consider yourselves encouraged! You can see my list from last week here, and see Weekly Geeks #19 on Dewey's WG website for other geeks favourites, and for details on the task in question. Dewey will be giving away a box of 11 books from Hachette to bloggers who have made a top books of 2008 list. Leave the URL linking to your list in Dewey's Mr Linky by October 11th. You'll also get a bonus entry to the draw if you leave a comment on the Weekly Geeks #19 post saying that you heard about the top books list from me! Enjoy your list making (ahh lists) and good luck in the draw!

Booking Through Thursday

I’ve seen this series of questions floating around the ‘net the last few days, and thought it looked like a good one for us!

What was the last book you bought?
The last book I personally bought was Brisingr by Christopher Paolini, but my mum bought me a lovely copy of Mrs Dalloway after seeing me in the corner of the shop drooloing on it!

Name a book you have read MORE than once
Just one book?! The Gift by Alison Croggon. I could read it again and again and again!

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?
I Dreamed of Africa by Kuki Gallmann, taught me that one can find hope even in the face of great adversary, even heartbreaking tragedy. And you are never to old to seize the life you want!

How do you choose a book? eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews .
When I worked in the shop, I would hear about upcoming books months in advance, which was nice! Now I rely on reviews and notices posted in shops, in the press and on websites such as Amazon. Lately though, recommendations are rapidly becoming the main way I hear about books..mostly due to the blogging world!

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?
I prefer fiction, probably because I spent so many years reading non-fiction at university. But I like to have both on the go at any one time.

What’s more important in a novel - beautiful writing or a gripping plot?
That's a tough one! I think both, neither are more important. I have enjoyed books with little plot because of the writing, but must admit I get a lot more sucked in to books that are really gripping. When you get both..perfection!

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)
So so many..but off the top of my head..Mr Rochester from Jane Eyre, Cadvan from Alison Croggon's Pellinor series and...Sirius Black...fraid I have a bit of a crush. ;) I also love Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next characters..all of them!

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Smoke and Mirrors are still on my nightstand! But so is The Master and the Margarita and Rebecca..hopefully my next books!

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini, finished two days ago and loved it!

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
Yes..The English Patient. I'd like to try again one day, but found it so utterly confusing that it gave me a headache!!

Brisingr - Christopher Paolini

Rating: 4

I doubt anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy missed the phenomenon that was Eragon, published back in 2003. For those of you that somehow managed to (!), Eragon is a fantasy adventure series about a young man who stumbles across a dragon egg, becomes a Dragon Rider and soon finds himself at the forefront of the battle against the Empire and its King, Galbatorix.

The novel was most famed for its young author, Christopher Paolini, who began writing it aged 15, and was a mere 19 when it was published, but also came up against substantial criticism. A young orphaned hero, who experiences further family tragedy and discovers his destiny, and is trained by an aging mentor with a past.. change the setting to the outer reaches of space and add a dark helmeted bad guy and what do you get...?! (On a side note, I would recommend avoiding the film for this exact same reason..as it enhances all the flaws of the story, without portraying the true heart of it).

But despite Eragon's faults, it was an entertaining novel, and improved further by the sequel, Eldest. Brisingr, published this autumn, is the third book in the series and takes Eragon one step closer to his inevitable showdown with Galbatorix. Somehow I had managed to convince myself this was the last in the series, and was a little disappointed that I had not reached the conclusion. However, this does mean that there will be one more book, even though it may be a 2-3 year wait.

On to my review of Brisingr itself..I will not include spoilers to this book, but be warned if you have not read the first two in the series.

After the shocking conclusion to Eldest, Eragon and Saphira have had a narrow escape during the battle on the Burning Plains. The pair find themselves bound to many allies, trying to fulfill many oaths, beginning with Eragon's pledge to help his cousin Roran rescue his beloved from imprisonment by Galbatorix and revenge against the Raz'ac. The rebel Varden continue to be in desperate need of Eragon and Saphira's strength in the coming battles, but the pair also need to complete their training with the Elves, and ensure the swift selection of a new Dwarf king, one loyal to the Varden's cause. Dissent is rife between the ranks of the Varden, with Human and Urgal struggling to fight alongside one another, and tribal upheaval aimed at the Varden's youthful leader, Nasuada. With such complex politics, Eragon and Saphira must tread carefully, while defending the Varden against attack, from outside, and within.

There is great character development in this installment, with Nasuada really coming into her strength as leader of the Varden, and with Roran continuing to show his character as a mighty warrior able to inspire the greatest loyalty. Of great intrigue is Elva, the young child upon whom Eragon bestowed a most unfortunate blessing, whose power becomes dangerous for all concerned. Sadly, as with the second book, my favourite character, Murtagh (ah yes, always the ones with a dark side!) gets little time on the page, though his story remains one of the most fascinating and tragic parts of the series. Eragon and Saphira continue to come up against both mortal peril and the frustrating intricacies of politics, and spend a good deal of the story apart from one another. Their bond is much better described in this book, one starts to see them as two halves of the same being, that Paolini has been attempting to describe since the first book.

On that note, Paolini's writing, though still not perfect, has vastly improved. His maturity has given him far better scope with his descriptions and emotions, and even conjured some darker scenarios as with the unfeeling enemy soldiers. Unfortunately my main gripe with the entire series still remains. The enemy, described as so powerful and terrifying is still no more than a figure described by those that have met him. Galbatorix is not enough of a presence in this series to really inspire any fear for the characters, other than the terrible battles they find themselves in, and of course the fear of separation or entrapment for Eragon and Saphira. Paolini also attempts to slip in a shock revelation in this book, but those who have been really following the series will probably guess it.

Far far better than its predecessors, but still not quite a timeless classic. One can only hope that Paolini pulls it out of the bag with his final instalment. Worth a read, if not only for the glorious cover art!

If you have reviewed this book, I'd love to know what you think. Email me or post the link in the comments and I will add it here. Thanks!

Memes and weekly geeks #19

The theme of Weekly Geeks #19 is to list your top books published in 2008, however few as you may have and in any order you like, but no more than 10 books. You can separate out your favourites into categories if you would prefer.

I have only read two books this year that were published in 2008 (well I'm still reading one of them and hope the end lives up to the rest of the book!), and they are both excellent books so I shall list them both here.

The Singing - Alison Croggon
Last Battle of the Icemark - Stuart Hill
Brisingr - Christopher Paolini

Also, I was tagged for this meme ages ago by Rhinoa, and apologise to her for only getting round to it now!

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
I don’t remember how my love of reading began, and have very few memories of being read to. I do however remember my treasured copies of Narnia, the complete works of Beatrix Potter, my Roald Dahl books etc (all of which are still boxed up in my parents attic!). My first strong memory of books is going to the library as a child and discovering that I was allowed to take 6 books out at a time...imagine my delight!

What are some books you read as a child?
The books I read as a child were heavily animal oriented! I loved The Animals of Farthing Wood, Brian Jacques’ Redwall series (obviously you may have already spotted this!) and Robin Jarvis' Deptford Mice series. I also became entirely addicted to Willard Price’s adventure series for boys, including African Adventure, Cannibal Adventure etc. I was delighted to see a couple of years ago that these books are now back in print, and highly recommend them, especially for young adventurous boys! As a young child, I loved Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter, Winnie the Pooh and the Gumdrop books!

What is your favorite genre?
My taste is somewhat varied, with no firm favourite genre, though recently I have found that I tend to lean towards reading Fantasy and Young Adult fiction.

Do you have a favorite novel?
I find it so hard to pick one favourite of anything! Some dearly loved novels are Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (Susanna Clarke), Peter Pan (JM Barrie), The Secret History (Donna Tartt), Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte), The Gift (Alison Croggon). And obviously the Harry Potter series and Lord of the Rings, which I can read again and again!

Where do you usually read?
I get most reading done in bed, or when on train journeys. I share a house at the moment, so its rare to get the living room to myself in order to read comfortably, which is a shame as I never feel quite right reading in bed! Travelling is great for reading and I dearly wish it were easier to get the train to work every day. I feel that my reading has been severely curtailed recently.

When do you usually read?
I try to read every chance I get, but it usually gets relegated to weekday evenings and weekend mornings. If someone else is driving to work, I try to read in the car both ways, but this often gives me a headache!

Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
I used to be able to read several books at once, but as I’ve gotten older and busier (!) I have found that I can only comfortably read one book at a time, unless they are very different. Right now I actually have a novel and two sets of short stories on the go, which seems to work quite well. Perhaps I shall remember this for future reading!

Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
I enjoy non-fiction but definitely have to be in the right mood for them, as they don’t offer quite the same escapism as fiction. I definitely don’t immerse myself in them anywhere near as much, but usually have something on the go.

Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
I buy the vast majority of my books, although now am home more I have tried to use the library a lot more. I also have several books borrowed from friends.

Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
I do confess to keeping most of my books. I adore being surrounded by them and being able to reread a book on the slightest whim. If I am certain that I will not read a book again, it goes to the charity shop. Or if I love a book enough, it will probably be lent/given to someone who will appreciate it, but then I’ll often buy another copy for myself if I enjoyed it that much!

If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
I don't have children, but if I do, I will definitely be reading to them and surrounding them with books and stories. I expect that I would want to share books I loved as a child, and books I have discovered since, as I found many while working as a children’s bookseller.

What are you reading now?
Brisingr – Christopher Paolini
The Ladies of Grace Adieu - Susanne Clarke
Smoke and Mirrors – Neil Gaiman

Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
I have a TBR book rather than list. It’s a lovely little notebook I bought years ago, in which I write everything I want to read and then tick books off as I read them. I also have another list of books to read that I already have, rather than ones that I want to buy/borrow. And I have followed Rhinoa by putting all the books I have up on Library Thing, one’s I have read and ones to be read. I then add reviews off my blog as I write them.

What’s next?
Trying to catch up on some of my TBR books, especially ones borrowed from friends and the library. I am hopelessly behind on all my challenges, so may choose to focus on one of them perhaps with Rebecca, Maus or The Master and the Margarita.

What books would you like to reread?
I would like to re-read The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop, perhaps before I read her new book, Tangled Webs. I also keep meaning to read all the Harry Potter books back to back, something I haven’t been able to do until now due to luggage space when I travel! I have so many other books to read for the first time, that I’m reluctant to re-read books just yet though!

Who are your favorite authors?
These have changed over the years, but currently: Susanna Clarke, Kuki Gallmann, Alison Croggon, Donna Tartt, Jasper Fforde, Stuart Hill, Alice Hoffman, JRR Tolkien and JK Rowling.

I tag anyone who hasn't already done this meme and would like to!

Go Ape..

Go Ape...the high wire forest adventure course, and highly highly recommended. Assuming that is, you are ok with heights. One of my friends discovered on the course that she wasn't..and then was a bit stuck! But for those that are..its an obstacle course in the trees, involving wires, tunnels, cargo nets and zip lines. After a short training intro you are solely responsible for your own harness, but it quickly becomes second nature, and its good to have friends watching your equipment too. All in all we had a fabulous time, although I can truly say that I definitely have trouble landing on my feet...and everything ached for about 3 days afterwards! It is quite eerie up in the trees, especially as we were the last group of the day, but it gave us a chance to go round parts of the course again while people at the back of the group caught up! Most 3 hours of fun I have had in a while!

high wire forest adventure!

negotiating the tunnel

a brief rest with the girls

entertaining baby "scruffy"