A Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin

Rating: 3

I am probably one of the last people to read this book, and am a little ashamed to say it is the first of Ursula Le Guin's work that I have read. But I got there eventually!

The first in Le Guin's Earthsea Quartet, A Wizard of Earthsea was written in the 1960's, and has had a major impact on fantasy writing in the decades since.

The Wizard of Earthsea is the story of Sparrowhawk, who we meet as a young boy on the island of Gont. Sparrowhawk discovers that he has a talent for magic but his only teacher is an old village witch, until he uses his gift to save village from attack by foreign invaders. He is physically drained and injured by the feat, and is only saved by a mage, Ogion the Silent, who hears of the boy's skills. Ogion takes the boy as his apprentice, giving him his true name, Ged, but the boy is frustrated by the pace of his training. Ogion gives Ged the choice of staying with him, or travelling to study in a school for wizards on the Island of Roke.

Ged leaves for Roke, where he learns the craft very quickly, but his arrogance causes him to attempt a spell that is beyond his skills to control, to conjure a dead spirit. The result is a terrifying creature being unleashed, and it is only the Archmage who saves him, but not before the creature escapes. Racked with guilt and fear, Ged must leave the school and enter the world with the threat of the creature hanging over him. Ged is now a powerful wizard, but his strength is tested against a family of dragons, a strange evil force and the creature that is still hunting him.

I enjoyed the story, the battles that Ged has to face in his struggle for survival, but I never felt truly involved. The writing was beautiful, but the characters felt a little distant to me, so that I was never drawn in as with other fantasy series I have read. Ogion was probably the only character I was ever really interested in learning more about. Other tales in the Quartet have been recommended to me, so I will probably read the others, but am not in quite so much of a hurry!

Big Fish - Daniel Wallace

Rating: 4

For the first time in a long time, I have read a book after seeing the film! I usually tend to avoid doing just this, as I find films place very set images in my mind, which make it difficult for me to imagine characters when reading the book.

Because of this, I perhaps did not enjoy this book as much as I would have, had I not already seen the film. I loved the film. Though I love anything Tim Burton creates, so that may not be saying much! Burton's use of colour and imagery are always stunning and imaginative.

Daniel Wallace's Big Fish is just as imaginative, but not quite what I expected. Our narrator is William Bloom, son of Edward Bloom, the titular "Big Fish". Edward is dying, and his son seeks a finally chance to truly know the man, who has spent his entire life telling fantastic stories rather than truths. Edward's life has been a colourful one, full of magnificent tales, but William has trouble separating the truths from the fiction. Throughout the tales, Edward's death is revealed in four different chapters, each bringing us a little closer to the old man's true self. Even at the end, Edward's stories are still fanciful and William's sense of frustration is palpable. However, I felt drawn to the old man and his stories, and the ending was very sad yet heart-warming.

Full of tall tales and extraordinary adventures, Big Fish is a beautiful, magical and charming read. Very much a fairy tale for adults. Highly recommended.

Here, There Be Dragons - James A. Owen

Rating: 3 1/2

The first story in the Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, this blending of real-life characters and fantasy fiction is a fun-filled journey through mythological and fantastical lands.

Set in 1917, following the death of his Professor, a young man and his companions are entrusted as guardians of the mysterious Imaginarium Geographica. Chased by the vicious Wendigo, creatures that are half-man, half-werewolf, the companions flee with a strange man onto an unusual ship that leads them into the lands described within the atlas that they are protecting, the Archipelago of Dreams. On their journey, the companions discover that the some of the lands in the Archipelago of Dreams are from our own world, such as Avalon. The ship they travel on it one of 7 dragon ships, able to cross between our world and the Archipelago.

They learn that the secrets within this book must be protected in order to bring peace not only to the Archipelago of Dreams, but also in our own world. The Winter King is destroying the Islands in the Archipelago and turning their residents into shadows, forced to fight on his side. To truly become King of the Archipelago however, he needs the Imaginarium Geographica.

Throughout their adventure, it becomes clear that the three companions are more familiar to fantasy readers than first thought. A rollicking ride through multiple fantasy lands, but with a darker tone to the latter part of the book. Richly detailed with intricate iullstrations, Here there be dragons is an excellent start to this series.

Snakehead - Anthony Horowitz

Rating: 3 1/2
Alex Rider Series

Snakehead is Alex Rider's 7th adventure, picking up where it left off in the last story, Ark Angel. For those who have not discovered this fabulous series aimed at younger readers of 12+, especially boys, Alex Rider is just your normal 14 year old boy. That is, until his guardian is killed in suspicious circumstances, and Alex discovers that he worked for MI6, and that he had been groomed throughout his childhood for the same future. Forcibly recruited by MI6, Alex carries out several missions for the UK government, to rid the world of evil supervillians.

This series is reminiscent of a young James Bond, with ridiculous but entertaining escapades and highly inventive gadgets! Each of Alex's adventures are unique, but with a pervading sense of the familiar. This is a fabulous series that I have seen capture the imaginations of countless young boys.

The following may contain spoilers for those who have not read the rest of the series..

The conclusion of Ark Angel left Alex in space, and this is where Snakehead begins, with the boy spy returning to Earth. He is picked up by the Australian authorities, and persuaded to go on a mission, to infiltrate the criminal underworld of South-East Asia, and himself go up against the ruthless Snakehead. Alex is also confronted with his own past, the truth behind the death of his parents.. Will he come out of this one alive?

As exciting and ridiculous as ever, Alex's adventures are always thrilling. This one however, was the first with a true emotional impact. The truth about his family has never been closer, but Alex may find that won't want to hear it.

An excellent installment for fans of the series, but not likely to win over any new readers.

Booking Through Thursday

Other Worlds

Suggested by Miko

Are there any particular worlds in books where you’d like to live?
Or where you certainly would NOT want to live?
What about authors? If you were a character, who would you trust to write your life?
(This came to me when reviewing a Jonathan Carroll book - I’m not sure I’d like to live in the worlds of his books.)

Well the first question is pretty easy for me! I would love to have gone to school at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter world! I would have enjoyed all the magical classes (especially transfiguration and potions!!) and playing Quidditch! I could also totally live in Middle Earth, especially in Rohan (!), or in Ileadh in Alison Croggon's world of Pellinor. I would also love to live in Jasper Fforde and Thursday Next's world, where I could move in and out of all my favourite books!

I would not like to live in Wonderland..I think it would make my head hurt! Very confusing... And I certainly would not want to live in a dystopian world like that of The Handmaid's Tale, I Am Legend or 1984!

As for who I would like to write my life story..I think Susanna Clarke for her beautiful way of writing, and her balanced view of all her characters. (Maybe thats the Libran in me...all about the balance!).

Where would you live?

Weekly Geeks #13

Welcome to Weekly Geeks #13. I haven't participated in a while, but couldn't resist this week’s theme, to post author photos. My photos are posted using my adaptation of Dewey's meme-like list, and as requested, no names are included. Feel free to guess away, and the first person to get all of them right, wins a book by one of the fabulous authors I have met!





1. Photos of some of my favorite authors.

























2. Photo of the author of the book I am currently reading.















3. Photos of some of the authors I have met in person.















4. A photo of the author of the book I most recently finished.

Lost and found?

I'd been having a lovely time on my holidays, walking, canoeing and exploring the history around my home until last weekend, when sadly my grandfather passed away. He's had two very difficult years of illness after losing my grandmother, and although I will miss him terribly, I am truly glad that he will not be suffering any more. I've spent the past few days blubbing on and off, partly due to losing him, and partly due to the book I've been reading that has really touched a nerve..The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman. Very much about loss and finding joy in life, this really hit a sore spot with me, but in a good way. Watch this space for a review.

So I've decided to sort myself out. I'm really going to get on top of this job situation, and make sure that I get to spend more time at home where I can actually have a life and do all the things that my grandfather has been inspiring me to do since childhood. I'm torn at the moment between disappearing off to Africa for a year or so, travelling round and working on conservation projects..or buying a house somewhere in the country and getting dogs and cats and chickens!!! Two very different things, but I want to do both! Any suggestions?!