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"

Back to reality..

Well, things have been far more chaotic than I thought over the last few weeks. I have changed jobs which has given me more free time, which I have filled with all the things that I have been meaning to do over the last two years! It also means that I have not done a great deal of reading recently, until the last few days during which I have been struck by a nasty cold!

Below are some pictures of the farm where the Thirteen Moons festival and women's gathering was held on Dartmoor. Nigel Shaw and Carolyn Hillyer have spent the last 12+ years creating a beautiful home for themselves in the centre of the stunning and wild high moor, including the contruction of an Iron Age roundhouse, stone circle and several shrines, which are scattered over their land. The gathering itself was one of the most wonderful experiences I have had, being surrounded by over 200 women (and 2 men!) all sharing in our femininity and the power of the land around us, through craft, music, community and shared experience. My first women's gathering and a very powerful thing indeed, especially our pilgrimage across the moor before dawn, to meditate in an ancient neolithic shrine and stone row, watching the mist rise over the heathland. It was a very emotional and creative time for me, as well as a chance to meet up with old friends and meet many new ones. I made my own deer toe rattle as well as taking part in the festivities as a member of the drum moon clan...a curious coincidence as I am most attached to the drum as an instrument.

Unfortunately, my journey back home after the gathering somewhat marred my time away. I witnessed a particularly horrible accident in which a motorcylist was hit by a car and trapped beneath it. We managed to free the man from under the vehicle and he was rushed to hospital where I understand he is recovering after being in a critical condition for several days. I have experienced several minor accidents in my life (and one which could have been very serious) but nothing like this, and it has truly shaken me to my core. At the time of the accident I remained very calm and my mind leapt into practical action, but I have since struggled while driving whenever I see motorcylists, feeling this inexplicable panic rising within me. I truly feel sorry for the poor girl who was driving the car, she must be suffering so terribly. I have friends who ride motorcycles, and I can't say that I do not fear far more for them now than I did before.

On a more positive note..I am now another year older, and celebrated in truly immature style on Sunday with several friends, with a picnic, followed by rounders and trip to Go Ape, an extremely fun high wire forest adventure course in the trees...I shall try and post some photos tomorrow. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone (unless you do not like heights!), although I still ache now, several days later! So now I am spending my restful evenings recovering from my non-stop few weeks with my new copy of Brisingr by Christopher Paolini..yet another book to distract me from my challenges!

stone circle

iron age roundhouse

inside the roundhouse

bone shrine

pond with buddha and old flute shrine

offerings to the goddess

Oscar Wilde

"Society, as we have constituted it, will have no place for me, has none to offer; but Nature, whose sweet rains fall on unjust and just alike, will have clefts in the rocks where I may hide, and secret valleys in whose silence I may weep undisturbed. She will hang the night with stars so that I may walk abroad in the darkness without stumbling, and send the wind over my footprints so that none may track me to my hurt: she will cleanse me in great waters, and with bitter herbs make me whole."
Oscar Wilde, De Profundis

J.K. Rowling

“I don’t go looking for trouble. Trouble usually finds me.”
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter