Title: Can’t Catch Me Author: Michael Cadnum In: Black Thorn, White Rose (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Fantasy, Retellings Dates read: 6th April 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Prime Books Year: 1994 5th sentence, 74th page: It was a shock, I can tell you, and I think I might have been a little bit more prepared, but I know everyone says Mom and Dad should have done a better job, and I get tired of people blaming someone else for their problems.
Did you ever wonder why the gingerbread man ran? Or why they chased him? This story will answer all those questions…
I just finished reading this short story and I can’t get the rhyme “you can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!” out of my head. There is something very lyrical and stuck-in-the head about it all. And now I’m going to spend the rest of the night chanting that to my dogs and just generally freaking them out…
I’ve never really thought about how the gingerbread man felt in the story. Or even why so many people were chasing a cookie… but this short story definitely gave a new spin to an old classic. There is something in the way it’s written and the intensity of the story that made me go “duh” of course that’s the way that it was.
My favourite aspect of this story though was the very beginning. Something about those very first words completely drew me in and made me absolutely fascinated by the world in which “hot” is the beginner. And parents are just trying to do what’s best for you… even if it is keeping you in the oven.
Title: Little Women Author: Louisa May Alcott Series: Word Cloud Classics, Little Women #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Classics, Contemporary, Strong women Dates read: 2nd – 6th April 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Word Cloud Classics Year: 1868 5th sentence, 74th page: The knowledge that her mother had a fault like hers, and tried to m end it, made her own easier to bear and strengthened her resolution to cure it, though forty years seemed rather a long time to watch and pray to a girl of fifteen.
No home library is complete without the classics! Little Women is a keepsake to be read and treasured.
When Little Women was first published in 1868, it became an instant bestseller. The book’s gentle lessons and charming story of four adventurous sisters coming of age in Civil War-era New England was originally written as a children’s book, but quickly captured the hearts and attention of readers of all ages. Now part of the Word Cloud Classics series, Little Women is a must-have addition to the libraries of all classic literature lovers.
I have been told to read this again and again over the years. And, as it turns out… I did actually read this as a child… I just didn’t quite remember the reading of this story. But, as soon as I started to sink into this amazing classic, I began to remember bits and pieces. Just enough that I wasn’t floored by some of the more tragic moments, but not enough so that there were no surprises left to me.
At the point of reading this story, I’m an adult and technically older than the little women… yet, there is still a great message and reminder of what it’s like to grow up throughout. Meg’s plight as a wife and new-mother, the ways in which she has to balance everything is something that I’m still constantly working with. And, there are aspects (such as motherhood) that I still have to experience and figure out. Yet, instead of instilling fear in me (which is what normally happens), it instilled a sense of calm and zen about the future. And a great sense of looking forwards.
I know that this is an ensemble novel, but, for me, this story has always been about Jo. Maybe it’s because I relate to her more than any of the other characters. Or maybe it’s just because I can see the most change in her as the story unfolds. But, whichever way it works. It is Jo that completely steals the show for me. She sweeps me away and makes my heart soar and cry in equal turns. There is just something about her journey that works so beautifully and makes you feel completely emotionally invested in her future happiness. At least, that’s how her character is for me. I don’t know that I’ve ever truly been so connected to a literary character, especially one who is in a classic novel.
Little Womenis one of those books that just everyone needs to read. It is beautiful, uplifting and impossible to forget. There is a sense of ease to the writing that you don’t always find in novels written in the 1860s, which makes it a great starting classic for anyone who wants to start reading classics, but can’t quite find one to suit. But more than that, it is a story of family, love and finding your own happily ever after, whatever that may be. Something that I think we all need to learn to work towards.
Title: The Chill Clutch of the Unseen Author: Kim Newman In: The Monstrous (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Dark fantasy, Horror Dates read: 5th April 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Tachyon Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: It occurred to him that she might have inherited the job of station-master – station-mistress? – while he was paying attention to what might be coming into town as opposed to what was happening right here.
He’s been doing this job for years. Protecting his town from the things that go bump in the night. But, now, he’s found the last monster… and he’s getting old.
This short story starts right in the action. Or at least, right in the waiting for the action and the creepy imagery of an old man just waiting… waiting to kill something. It’s all written from his kind of intense point of view and you just sit there in awe throughout the entire story. Anything that you expect to happen… it quickly doesn’t quite happen the way that you expect it to.
My favourite part of this story is honestly the ending. It rounds out the old man’s life and finishes up his purpose in the world. But, it also hints that whilst his cycle is over, the overall cycle is still continuing. That there is more going on in the world than we would expect and you just sit there contemplating what could be hidden just beneath the surface…
The appearance of the incredibly insane Invisible Man in this story nicely rounded everything out for me. There is something fascinating and entertaining about the story of that man… so I seriously enjoyed reading about him. And his demise. After all, you can’t have a good monster book without the monsters dying at the end…
Title: Firewalker Author: Allyson James Series: Stormwalker #2 Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Dragons, Paranormal romance, Strong women, Urban fantasy Dates read: 12th April 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Berkley Sensation Year: 2010 5th sentence, 74th page: The bartender came back in.
Janet Begay’s Crossroads Hotel has attracted the supernatural from the day it opened. Witches, Changers, and a mouthy magic mirror have decided to make it their home. But a new, dark power is rising – this time inside Janet herself.
Her boyfriend, Mick, a sexy dragon shape-shifter the Navajo call a Firewalker, knows what terrifying magic is threatening to overwhelm Janet and her Stormwalker powers. He watches over her, ready to fight for her, to do anything to keep her safe.
But then a mysterious corpse is found near the Crossroads Hotel – and Janet becomes Sheriff Nash Jones’s main suspect. Trouble is, even she can’t be sure she didn’t do it. Now Janet and Mick must uncover what really happened, and their investigation leads to the most perilous decision of their lives: Mick must choose between protecting his own people or guarding Janet, the woman he loves, from the many forces amassing against her.
I read this whole book cover to cover in one night. I should have been sleeping, but I was completely hooked and couldn’t quite put it down. There was just something about Janet’s battle against herself and trying to figure out who she was that made it impossible to put down. Kind of heart wrenching in places and an amazing journey.
After the big reveal about Mick’s identity in Stormwalker, I didn’t think that there would be many more surprises from that quarter. I was wrong though. Although there were no large reveals, but so many small little secrets that leaked out throughout this story. Created characters which were so much more multi-faceted and intense than before. Which I wasn’t entirely sure was possible…
There are a lot of supernatural battles that go on throughout this story – but the part that I like best? The message that you need to find a way to accept yourself. More particularly, accepting all aspects of yourself. For Janet, this is a pretty big deal when everyone around her is telling her that there is something seriously wrong with her and that she needs to just completely shut down a part of herself. I love that even though all this pressure is on her, she find a way to still be true to herself and maintain a sense of dignity.
After an amazing start to a great new series, sometimes the second book can fall a little flat. That’s most definitely not the case with Firewalker, this was a brilliant, amazing and intense journey. One that I absolutely loved and just didn’t want to put down. Yet, now I have to wait “patiently” for the next books to arrive at my doorstep.
Title: Stormwalker Author: Allyson James Series: Stormwalker #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Dragons, Paranormal romance, Strong women, Urban fantasy Dates read: 29th March – 5th April 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Berkley Sensation Year: 2010 5th sentence, 74th page: I was too tired to answer, too tired to aruge, but I couldn’t deny that I’d missed him too.
Janet Begay is a Stormwalker, capable of wielding the raw elemental power of nature’s tempests – a power that threatens to overwhelm her. Only her lover, Mick, a dark-haired, blue-eyed biker, is able to siphon off her excess energy and calm the storm raging within her – even as their passion reaches unimaginable heights of ecstasy.
Janet and Mick have come to the desert town of Magellan to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the police chief’s daughter. The barren land around it is full of vortexes, the gateways that connect the human world with the mystical realm of Beneath, and after encountering skin-walkers and receiving hints from a shape-shifting coyote and a smart-ass magic mirror, Janet fears that her own powerful, scary-as-hell mother is involved.
She’s also uncertain about Mick. He can wield fire and never get burned, and Janet can’t seem to touch him with her storm powers. But Janet must trust him, since she and Mick find themselves venturing where no human can survive alone – and only together can they overcome the greatest danger they’ve ever faced.
I’ve been trying to get around to this book for a very long time. And now… wow. It is amazing and unforgettable. Completely unputdownable and just… awesome. I only read a few pages when I first started it, then got distracted. And then, when I picked it up again… I finished the rest of it in one day. Luckily, we’re at the start of quarantine, so I didn’t have to feel too bad about shoving my nose into a book for that long…
Janet is everything I didn’t know I needed in a lead female – she is of Native American descent (which I very rarely come across), has a mother from hell (literally) and some serious boy complications. Yet, in amongst all of that, she finds a way to be herself. She’s not as sassy as some of the other lead women that I’ve loved… but she has this sense of self that I just couldn’t get over. She’s determined to do what’s right and find a way to live her life, even if it’s the more difficult decision. There is something incredibly inspiring and heartfelt about her approach to life, and I think I need to take a few leaves out of her book – I don’t need to be sassy and tough, just find a way to be sure of myself.
Sadly, I had already read Double Hexed before I picked up this novel. Although, it is the reason why I bought Stormwalkerin the first place. Regardless, because I’d already read a novella further in the series, I already knew exactly what Mick was. It didn’t take away a bit of the wow factor when the final reveal occurred at the end. But, it did still work well. After all, a lot of the angst in Janet and Mick’s relationship throughout the story is based around the idea that Mick refuses to tell her the full truth. And, to be honest, there were still a few shockers in the big reveal anyway.
Stormwalker is a fantastic first book of a series! I only have Firewalkeron my shelves, but the moment I finish this review, I’m going to start on it… this is just such a great series and I absolutely adored every moment of it! I am really looking forward to finding out more about the relationships between Janet, Mick, and their annoying, sexual deviant companions the Magic Mirror and Coyote.
Title: The Help Author: Kathryn Stockett Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Book to Film, Historical fiction, Race, Strong women Dates read: 21st March – 2nd April 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Penguin Books Year: 2009 5th sentence, 74th page: Some dormant instinct tells me to smile, run my hand through my hair.
Enter a vanished world: Jackson, Mississippi, 1962. Where black maids raise white children, but aren’t trusted not to steal the silver…
There’s Aibileen, raising her seventeenth white child and nursing the heart caused by her own son’s tragic death; Minny, whose cooking is nearly as sassy as her tongue; and white Miss Skeeter, home from college, who wants to know why her beloved maid has disappeared.
Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. No one would believe they’d be friends; fewer still would tolerate it. But as each woman finds the courage to cross boundaries, they come to depend and rely upon one another. Each is in search of a truth. And together they have an extraordinary stroy to tell…
The Help is one of my absolute favourite movies. Not only does it star some of my favourite actors, it’s an amazing story. Filled with just the right amount of humour to top the sad parts from being too sad, but also a great message throughout. So I bought the book. And I really wasn’t sure whether it would be all that great – after all, sometimes if the movie is that good, the book isn’t, and vice versa. But, I am pleased to report. I was wrong!
Once I really got my teeth into this novel, I seriously couldn’t put it down. Not only is it phenomenally amazing, but, even though I know how it’s going to end… I STILL couldn’t put it down. Because what if I was wrong? What if it was something different to what I saw in the movie? There were all the key moments, but so many extras in the book… I couldn’t stop just wondering what would happen next!
One of the great improvements of this novel is the romance between Stuart and Skeeter. It’s a little more tragic when they have differences they can’t get over and eventually end their relationship. You feel a little sorry for Skeeter in the movie, but it’s more of a blip in the greater storyline. Yet, in the book… you actually think that there may be a chance for them. And you hope again and again. Which of course makes the come down and the break up all that much worse. Same with Skeeter’s relationships with Hilly and Elizabeth in the book – you actually feel incredibly sorry for her as all of her relationships dissolve and the consequences of her actions are so much more serious.
I absolutely adored this book. And it’s definitely going into my “reread me” pile. Yet, what I loved most about this whole story was how seriously racial relations are dealt with. How it’s not all about hate or love. Not simple. There is such an intense complexity to all of these relationships that makes you think about the relationships in your own life. Whatever shape or form they are in, the message I got from this book is that we are all people, and in particular, all women, and we don’t know each other’s stories. So maybe we should just give each other a break every once in a while?
Title: The Wizard of Ashes and Rain Author: David Sandner In: The Mammoth Book of Dark Magic (Mike Ashley) Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Contemporary, Dark fantasy Dates read: 2nd April 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2001 5th sentence, 74th page: Amanda had stood in the upstairs hallway looking at herself in the full-length mirror.
Sarah just wants to save her sister from the monster in her dreams. But she has an interfering mother and a whole set of complications as she hunts down the wizard who could help her solve it all.
This story was a little hard to follow at the very beginning. Not in a bad, what the hell is going on way. But there was just so much thrown at you from the very beginning, so it took a while for me to really get my head around what was going on. Yet, even taking that time was an incredibly fun adventure. It was something that swept me off my feet and completely enthralled me. And once I finally clicked as to what was happening? I was even happier.
As an older sister, I know the feeling of doing anything to protect my younger sister. So the fact that through this whole story, Sarah is just running around trying to find a way to keep her baby sister safe… I completely understand that drive. It’s probably why I enjoyed this story so much when it’s not really of the style of storyline that I normally throw myself into.
I enjoyed the short journey that this tale took me on. And the idea of everything coming full circle again and again works so damn well in a short story. There is just something about the sense of things repeating over time that makes me incredibly happy and only seriously works when it’s a short tale. It’s not a technique that I tend to enjoy in a longer length novel.
He gets six weeks with Lilith at a time. They’re the best six weeks of his life. And this time it’s ont exception.
Any story that features Lilith in one of her many incarnations tends to fascinate me. There is just something about her persona and character that I am kind of completely in love with. Something about her that makes me smile. She’s never “good”, but she’s never truly evil either… for me, the perfect mix of characterisation.
One of the parts of this story that I enjoyed the most was the feeling of mystery and history that is prevalent throughout this story. There is so much past that is constantly bought up throughout the tale that completely draws you in. Yet, there is a great looking forwards to the future in every moment. Add that to the fact that the man in this story is hunting for a missing person and an evil one at that… well, it makes an amazingly powerful and enthralling story.
This story was quite lustful. But what I liked the most about it? It was kind of bloody and violent too. Yes, the lust and the romance are great, but I’ve been reading a lot of that lately. It turns out that I’m now in the mood for a bit of blood and guts now…
Starts: May 1 Ends: May 31 Ten books each month is a lot, so there will be 5 different levels. So pick which level you want to do and that’s how many items you will need to check off.
Each month we will have a “check list” of 10 items. To check something off, all you have to do is read a book that applies to that item. So if the item is “read a book with vampires” – then once you’ve read a book with vampires, you can check it off.
