The Black Tattoo - Sam Enthoven

Read for: 2009 YA Challenge

Bought for me by Rhinoa, this is not a book that I had come across, nor do I think I would have picked it up. Billed as a book with good vs evil, kung fu and vomiting bats, I was intrigued though more than a little wary.

The Black Tattoo is a highly fantastical tale of friendship, family, epic battles and above all...hell. Jack's best friend Charlie is singled out by a mysterious man in the street and encouraged to take a special test, one that would change his life. After this Test, Charlie finds his body covered in a Black Tattoo, a determination to take up his destiny in the way he chooses with an increased and sometimes violent temper.

Perhaps the most interesting facet of this novel was Enthoven's vision of hell. Not what I expected at all, it managed to embody all the creepiness you would expect from hell, yet with a fair amount of humour. Enthoven's vision certainly is not a typical one, but he manages to maintain the suspense right throughout the book, so even at the end, I was not sure who would prevail.

A highly entertaining if a little odd read!

Other blog reviews:
Rhinoa's Ramblings

The Horse Whisperer - Nicholas Evans

A big fan of the film, it took a trip to Montana in order for me to pick this book up. Set in the stunning mountain state, the Horse Whisperer concerns exactly what it says on the tin.

The story begins with a wealthy, somewhat dyfunctional family in New York, who are struck suddenly by a terrible accident involving their daughter. This accident, filmed so wonderfully for the screen, is equally poignant on the page, if not more so. Written in a lot more detail than I expected, the accident is horrifying and suspenseful...all the more worse because you know what is coming. Its aftermath is all too familiar to many a family, but in this case, the mother, Annie, focuses her pain and anguish on the horse. His survival and recovery is the key to not losing her daughter, Grace, into a pit of depression from which she may never return.

Thus Annie contracts Tom Booker, a Montana horse whisperer with a past of his own, to help her daughter's maimed and traumatised horse, Pilgrim. Evans' writing beautifully captures this magnificent state, all the more poignant due to my being on a Montana ranch and working with horses at the time. Evans has obviously done his research, and for much of the book I felt the same ardour and enjoyment that I had for the film. However, the end ruined it for me. And I truly mean ruined. Not the subtle, classy and painfully touching ending that the film had (albeit unresolved for some), but a dramatic conclusion that I felt was entirely over the top and unwarranted. Some may disagree, and I definitely have the downside of having seen the film before reading the book. But I am saddened that I did not love the book as much by the end, and am no longer inspired to read more by Evans. It felt a bit like a cop out to me, cashing in on Hollywood drama, which ironically, Hollywood did not deliver.

What did you think?

A samhain to remember...

Hi, I am still here and I am still reading your blogs...honest! Not only have I moved into a friends house over the past week, but I have also had an offer accepted to buy a house, so its been a little chaotic here. Plus I still have the same nasty cough I had two months ago...not fun. BUT, last night I did get to see my first opera, Tosca, performed in the amazing Hatfield House. Drinking wine while touring the beautifully lit state rooms by night, before retiring to the Marble Hall for the performance (in Italian) on a purpose built stage under the famous Rainbow Portrait of Elizabeth I. Quite a night, I can tell you. But anyhoo, back to the reviews (albeit brief ones) and hopefully a bit of reading...

Samhain blessings to you all. xx

Mediaeval banquet part two

The evening's revelry continued...

Even a knight pays the price for losing the apple bobbing contest

Even the peasants joined in the fun

Wenches!

True ladies of the court

Warning...two of these will give you nightmares

Archery...health and safety style

Being seranaded with terrible mediaeval poetry!

Friar Tuck, Robin Hood and the wily jester!

Still able to pose for photographs at the end of the evening!

Mediaeval banquet part one

As many of you know, Rhinoa and I both reached a significant birthday this September, and we decided to celebrate in style, with something a little different...a mediaeval banquet. As you can probably tell, I am a big fan of all things mediaeval, and I was delighted when we were able to hire Norwich's famous Dragon Hall for the shindig (see my old advent post!). So together with another of my friends, we three and 60 of our good friends, descended from near and far on the City of Norwich for quite the party. Our evening (and aftenoon for many!) was complete with hog roast, ten homemade desserts (oh yes!), copious amounts of ale, wine and mead, stocks, and of course...compulsory costumes. I think a fabulous time was had by all, I only wish I had the time, energy and money to do it regularly! I thought I would share some pictures of the culmination of my mediaeval summer...

Preparing for battle or the banquet?

A mediaeval banquet is never complete without giant jenga!

The birthday trio

The birthday girls, Rhinoa and myself

More guests

We were never safe from peasants and stinking beggars

Desserts!

Savouring the ambience of the Great Hall before the feasting began

Feasting!

Devouring the hog roast!

Mediaeval Weekend - Joust III at Hedingham Castle

Hedingham Castle

Jousting!

One-eyed hawk (yes!)

The banqueting hall (if only we'd had our party here!)

Sadly, our red team lost...

Mediaeval Spectacular - Pensthorpe

In the build up to our birthday banquet, I spent a fantastic weekend with mediaeval market stalls, crafts, cookery, weapons, fire-eating, fighting at the Mediaeval Spectacular at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, followed by jousting and hawking at Hedingham Castle. I thought I would share a few photographs with you! Fun was had by all!

The Brothers of Conflagration

The story of the Ark

Lunch

The market

King Arthur and his court prepare for the tournament

The evil Mordred!

Battle commences

Arthur knocks Mordred to his knees

But the battle is not over...

Mordred resorts to dirty tactics, capturing Guinevere