Gentlemen of the Road - Michael Chabon

Read for: A Tournament of Reading

Described as a 'swashbuckling adventure', this was hands down unlike anything I have ever read. Bought on a whim in a second hand bookshop purely because I loved the film adaptation of Michael Chabon's Wonder Boys. And because the blurb on the back of this book was unusual enough to pique my curiosity.

Although a very short novel, it took me a while to read. Most likely because the plot was something so very different from what I am used to, and also because of the language.

The titular Gentlemen are Amran and Zelikman, a mismatched duo of comrades travelling the road, living day to day, seemingly lacking any greater plan. That is until they meet the young Filaq, a displaced Khazar prince, and they join the rebellion to return him to the throne.

The language was quite frankly luscious. To begin with I almost felt as if I needed a dictionary and history book in order to understand the plot. But letting this book simply wash over me became the best option, and it was a truly enjoyable romp, whilst managing to also be an intelligent book with interesting characters.

I have now managed to get my hands on a copy of Wonder Boys and am thoroughly looking forward to reading it.

Other reviews:
A Fraternity of Dreamers

Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater

Grace has a fascination with wolves. Not just any wolves, but those that live in the woods behind her house. And one wolf in particular, a wolf with yellow eyes, who watches her just as she watches him. There is more to these wolves than meets the eye. Sam, a young yellow-eyed man, is torn between his two lives, but cannot bear to be separated from the girl who watches him.

This is a supernatural love story, a la Twilight, the love between a girl and a supernatural creature. A forbidden love. Nothing new there then.

While not a particularly original story however, there was a certain charm to this book. Stiefvater's descriptions of the wolves, cold winter and the woodlands were beautiful rather than overly romantic, and her portrayal of a strong heroine was worlds away from the passive Bella of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight. The reasoning, or perhaps even science, behind the werewolves' change was also a nice touch, but overall I found it hard to become emotionally involved in this story.

Definitely a book for fans of supernatural romance, though perhaps not as thrilling as I had hoped. I probably won't be reading the sequel.

Other blog reviews:
Book Gazing
Becky's Book Reviews
Gemini Moon
Fluttering Butterflies
Melody's Reading Corner
Medieval Bookworm

The Foreshadowing - Marcus Sedgwick

Another Marcus Sedgwick novel, and another fantastic read. I swear the man can do no wrong. The Foreshadowing is something else. I tend to be drawn more to children's fantasy than historical fiction, but that has changed since I've started reading Marcus Sedgwick's work, as he so often combines the two, together with great characters and powerful storytelling.

The Foreshadowing is the tale of Alexandra "Sasha" Fox, a young girl living in London during World War I. Like her brothers, Sasha wants to help, and while Edgar enlists as a soldier and Tom trains as a doctor, Sasha persuades her father to let her begin training as a nurse in his hospital. But Sasha has a secret, a 'gift' that she cannot explain and that her family have never accepted - she can see the future. But the only future that Sasha sees is death, which soon takes its toll after seeing premonitions of the deaths of several patients in her care.

After the guilt of remaining away from active service drives her beloved brother Tom to the front line, Sasha is tormented by recurring visions of his death. Fear of losing what remains of her family, Sasha travels to France, disguised as a fully trained nurse, in an attempt to find and save her brother from the fate in her visions. Along her journey to the Somme, Sasha befriends the mysterious Hoodoo Jack, a man also cursed with visions of the future, and finds her life becoming linked to his in a way she could not possibly expect.

Although painfully naive, Sasha's bravery and single-minded determination end up teaching her a lot about herself, and her gift - or curse. Her journey is an emotional one, full with the horrors and reality of war. Sedgwick has clearly done his research into life in the trenches, making Sasha's experiences all the more real. There is also the connection between Sasha and Cassandra, the legendary character doomed with the knowledge of the fate of Troy, yet cursed to have noone believe her. What can Sasha really do about her own fate, or that of her brother?

This is a wonderful story of love, hope, fear and determination. It is also a tale of destiny, how one shapes it and make it one's own. Beautifully written and powerfully real, the supernatural aspects never seem out of place. And the ending...well you'll have to read that for yourself.

Other links:
Marcus Sedgwick's website and blog.

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!