Monsters of Men - Patrick Ness

Wow...third and final book in Patrick Ness's fabulous Chaos Walking series. I actually read this several months ago now, but it was so hard to write this review at the time and then life caught up with me.

I can't say too much without spoiling events that occur in this book. Todd and Viola are caught in the conflict between three warring armies, all converging on New Prentisstown, desperate for dominance, or freedom.

The narrative of this final book is what makes it stand out, with Todd, Viola and the Return each telling their own stories. Each character brings their own distinct voice, making the story a very personal one and giving it a powerful emotional impact.

Monsters of Men is devastating, showing the horrors of war, and the terrible choices of those caught up in it. Ness continues to shock and horrify me, at one point I found myself completely disbelieving the events he had written...how could he do that to the characters I had grown to care about! I can't believe this is the final book in the series, but look forward to reading more of Ness' work. Wonderful stuff.

1. The Knife of Never Letting Go
2. The Ask and the Answer
3. Monsters of Men

Other blog reviews:
Stuff as Dreams are Made on
Things mean a lot
Fluttering Butterflies
Stella Matutina
Medieval Bookworm
Gemini Moon

Autumn festivals, woodlands, cakes and birthdays

I love that my birthday is in autumn, my favourite season. Tis a season for long misty walks, harvesting veggies from the garden, foraging for fruits, roots and mushrooms, and baking delicious cakes. Tis also a season for music and celebrating the land, both of which were in abundance at this year's Rivenstone festival, held on the beautiful Dartmoor landscape.

Weaving looms with the land

An offering

Nigel Shaw and Carolyn Hillyer performing at Rivenstone

Early autumn walks in Foxley wood

Anticipation of autumn gathering

Autumn cakes made with Foxley blackberries!

An Italian Wedding

A few weeks ago I travelled to Italy to spend a week with friends and family for my sister's wedding. We spent the week in a gorgeous villa near the small town of San Gimignano in Tuscany, with lots of touristy events, wine tasting, horse riding and parties! My sister and her husband were married in the famous town hall in the ancient town of Volterra (by the mayor!). The weather was glorious most days, though sadly there was torrential rain on the wedding day. Luckily the sun came out just in time for my sister to arrive at the hall!

Volterra town hall

My sister arriving at the hall

After the wedding ceremony

The bridesmaids (I'm on the left)

My sister's lovely dress

Our villa near San Gimignano

View from the villa

RIP V Challenge

I'm a bit slow on joining this years Readers. Imbibing. Peril. Challenge, hosted as ever by the fabulous Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings. The challenge runs from 1st September to 31st October and involves reading books that fall into several categories:

Mystery
Suspense
Thriller
Dark Fantasy
Gothic
Horror
Supernatural

I will be participating in Peril the First, reading four books that fit into these categories.


My pool of potential reads include:
Dracula - Bram Stoker
The Hound of the Baskervilles - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Lonely Werewolf Girl - Martin Millar
The Invisible Ring - Anne Bishop
The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova
White Crow - Marcus Sedgewick
A Game of Thrones - George RR Martin

Also on my bookshelf:
An Instance of the Fingerpost - Ian Pears
The Girl Who Played With Fire - Stieg Larsson
The Collector - John Fowles
Fingersmith - Sarah Waters

For more information, take a look at Carl's challenge post, and above all enjoy reading!

Witch Hill - Marcus Sedgwick

Marcus Sedgwick seems to be one of the authors that I forget all about, and then I discover another of his books and fall for his writing all over again!

Jamie is haunted by the terrifying fire that broke out in his family home. Sent to stay with his aunt in Somerset, his respite is interrupted by the strange incidents that occur in the small village. First the evil old witch in his nightmares, and the ancient chalk carving uncovered on Crownhill, then a tale emerges of a seventeenth century witchhunt victim. The thing that connects them all...fire. Jamie is forced to face his worst fear and uncover the truth.

Witch Hill is a short but compelling tale. Sedgwick's skill is in the atmosphere and tension that he weaves and the emotions that he invokes. The description of Jamie's fears are heartbreakingly real, making his plight all the more moving. I particularly loved the references to the 'ancient' (depending on which history text you read!) chalk carvings and seventeeth century witch hunts.

Highly enjoyable.

Festival time

I've been away again...a lot! There's something about this year that has kept me ridiculously busy, but not that I haven't enjoyed it! Firstly, a fabulous weekend at Latitude festival, then a wonderful week in Tuscany, Italy for my little sister's wedding. Sadly in between I managed to gain a fractured finger during a karate session, which is still causing problems.

On to the festival fun though. What a great weekend! Latitude is such a chilled out festival in Suffolk, in some beautiful green fields surrounded by woodland and a lovely lake in the middle. The weather was glorious for the most past, and we had a great crowd of old and new friends. Musical highlights were Jonsi (yes he has indeed changed my life!), Angus and Julia Stone (with surprise guest, Damien Rice singing along to You're the one that i want from Grease) , Frank Turner, Rodrigo and Gabriela, James, Tankus the Henge (indescribable!) and Laura Marling. The most pleasant surprise (aside from Damien Rice of course!) was the delightful China Mieville, who read an extract from his new novel Kraken and was so excited to meet us marine biologists that we talked for quite some time about all things cephalopody...I may have fallen in love!

Who's coming with me next year? ;)

Latitude, complete with painted sheep

Julia Stone and surprise guest, Damien Rice

Rodrigo y Gabriela

The indescribable Jonsi

Enjoying the festivities

the fabulous China Mieville

Hilarious poet Joe Dunthorne

Phil Jupitus aka Porky the poet

Cherry on Top Award

Thank you so much to the lovely Cannwin and Jennifer of the Literary Soundtrack for giving me the Cherry on Top Award! That really made me smile :)

Here's how it works:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award.
2. Copy award and put it in your blog.
3. List three things that you love about yourself.

• My curly hair - its a nightmare sometimes, but I wouldn't change it!
• My home - it needs work and has created quite a headache over the 6 months since I bought it, but it's mine to make as I wish and I'm happy that I was brave (and lucky) enough to take the leap, and thankful for the help I have had.
• My experiences - although there are many things I still want to do and places I want to see, I am happy that I have done so much with my life already.

4. Post a photo that you love.
I took this picture of Dunottar Castle in Scotland back in 2006, and it has stayed with me as one of my favourite examples of what I love about Britain.

5. Tag 5 people you would like to pass this award on to.

• A Striped Armchair
• Fluttering Butterflies
• In Spring Is The Dawn
• Stuff As Dreams Are Made On
• Stella Matutina

Thanks you guys :)