Title: Fantastic Mr Fox Author: Roald Dahl Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Children’s, Easy reading Dates read: 22nd January 2021 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: Puffin Books Year: 1970 5th sentence, 74th page: The feast was just beginning.
‘Did you hear that, Mr Fox! It’s not over yet! We’re not going home till we’ve strung you up dead as a dingbat!’
I completely forgot that this story existed. Which is actually kind of sad, it’s a brilliant, funny and cute story. I absolutely adored this and was giggling throughout.
Fantastic Mr Fox is a funny little story that reminds us that being good and clever sometimes gets us what we want. It also kind of encourages us to steal… but I’m not going to look too closely at that rationale.
This is a light, quick and funny read. You know that a children’s book is good when you can still enjoy it and laugh over it as an adult. And that’s certainly what happens here…
Title: Esio Trot Author: Roald Dahl Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Children’s, Easy reading Dates read: 21st January 2021 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Puffin Year: 1990 5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Mrs Silver caught the paper and held it up in front of her.
‘I do actually happen to know how to make tortoises grow faster, it that’s really what you want.’
This was funny, quirky and seriously quick to read. It doesn’t even really count as a novel, since it’s only 50 pages. And most of those are covered in pictures…
I must say, I really don’t condone the way that Mr. Hopper gets his way in this story. After all, he is literally stealing a pet to con the woman he loves. But, it is quite funny. And clever. And just all round ingenious. Pus, there is a happy ending for the tortoise that started the whole damn story anyway. So all is not lost…
I laughed out loud throughout this very short read. And, if anyone has a copy of this lying around… I most definitely suggest reading it. After all, there is nothing better than having a short read and laugh when life is getting a little too serious. No matter how old you are.
Title: Danny the Champion of the World Author: Roald Dahl Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Children’s, Easy reading Dates read: 21st January 2021 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Puffin Year: 1975 5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Yes,’ he said.
‘A stodgy parent is no fun at all. What a child wants and deserves is a parent who is sparky.
I love that this is a book, that, ultimately is all about poaching. Yet, it seems to be a positive. Mostly, when I read poaching stories, the poacher is the evil character. Instead, in this story, the poachers are the good guys. And poaching… is… well, fun. It certainly turned a lot of my thoughts on their head.
I read this novel since I needed a refresh of what it was about. I’m writing a little note for my friends’ child-to-be in the front of this. And the part that seriously struck me… I could totally see the father-to-be doing exactly this. Being that fun, quirky and sometimes not well thought out parent. The one that is enjoyable and loving, even if they do make some questionable decisions (poaching in this case).
The ingenuity that Danny shows in this story is seriously admirable and impressive. I know that I wouldn’t have been able to show the same myself when I was that age. It is also a great reminder that we can accomplish whatever we set our minds to… if we have a little bit of gumption to follow through.
Overall, this was a fun, funny and seriously cute novel. I’m definitely glad that I decided to pick up my Roald Dahl books again and enter his crazy, zany world.
Title: The BFG Author: Roald Dahl Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Children’s, Easy reading Dates read: 15th – 21st January 2021 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: Puffin Year: 1982 5th sentence, 74th page: It’s a phizzwizard!
‘Human beans is not really believing in giants, is they? Human beans is not thinking we exist.’
It’s been a long time since I enjoyed a good Dahl book. And I remember The BFG being one of my favourites. So, it was a nice way to detox and wind down from work and a seriously chaotic week. It’s simply, fun, and light-hearted. With just enough confusion and storyline to keep me enthralled.
This was the book that reminded me that you can never judge a book by its cover. Or at least, it was the one that first taught me that little tidbit. After all, the BFG is large, ugly, and seriously awkward. He’s also uneducated and very, very different to everyone else that Sophie knows. But he is also good. And kind. And sweet. It makes for a very beautiful story.
One of my favourite things about this book is the way that the BFG talks throughout. It is quirky and unique, and just seriously, delightfully funny. I also love how Dahl is able to poke fun at things that are considered “ordinary” and every day. It certainly stops and makes you think about what you find “normal”, and is, in fact, just a little bit different and unique.
There is nothing better than revisiting a well-loved childhood classic and finding that you still enjoy it. Most of the time, when I revisit a beloved childhood classic, I tend to find it wanting. But that most certainly wasn’t the case with The BFG. And it’s inspired me to pick up and read more Roald Dahl books.
Title: Sourcery Author: Terry Pratchett Series: Discworld #5, Rincewind #3 Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Comedy, Easy reading, Fantasy Dates read: 22nd July – 18th August 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Corgi Year: 1988 5th sentence, 74th page: He just steals things.
All this books and stuff, that isn’t what it should all be about. What we need is real wizardry.
There was an eighth son of an eighth son. He was, quite naturally, a wizard. And there it should have ended. However (for reasons we’d better not go into), he had seven sons. And then he had an eighth son… a wizard squared… a source of magic… a Sourcerer.
Unseen University has finally got what it wished for: the most powerful wizard on the disc. Which, unfortunately, could mean that the death of all wizardry is at hand. And that the world is going to end, depending on whom you listen to. Unless of course one inept wizard can take the University’s most precious artefact, the very embodiment of magic itself, and deliver it halfway across the disc to safety…
Whenever I pick up a book by Terry Pratchett, I know that I’m going to have a good time and be entertained. And Sourcerywas no exception. I had such a great, fun, amazing journey throughout this story. One that I absolutely adored and would love to read again.
So far in the Discworld series, none of the stories have really finished on a cliff hanger. Instead, the story almost works as a standalone and lets you journey onwards to the next story in the series without any extra baggage. This novel didn’t quite work out like that. It just felt like there was so much more that was likely to happen to Rincewind – and I would love to know what the outcome of his latest misadventure will be. It was kind of fun finishing a Discworld story on a cliff hanger. Just different enough to leave me happy and content.
One of my favourite things about Pratchett is his amazing ability to build worlds. The fact that he’s doing so consistently throughout the Discworld series always leaves me feeling happy. In this novel, his world building is building on the rules of wizardry and sourcery. I love all of the completely obscure and odd rules that come about in this and the way that the rules of magick are completely unexpected and not what I would have thought of as logical at all. It was quite brilliant.
Throughout all of this novel, I read a lot of the more humorous passages to my husband. There is just something great about the flow of his writing and the style that not only made me laugh… a lot. But can be shared with somebody who just doesn’t quite like reading and books as much as I do… there is just such a great sense of humour and wit that I wish I could impart into my own written word…
Title: Ella Enchanted Author: Gail Carson Levine Series: Ella Enchanted #1 Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Book-to-film, Fairy tales, Medieval fantasy, Retellings Dates read: 31st July 2020 Pace: Slow, Medium, Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Harper Year: 1997 5th sentence, 74th page: Her conversation was mostly worries that the earl would marry and have a child who would replace her as his heir.
At her birth, Ella of Frell received a foolish fairy’s gift – the “gift” of obedience. Ella must obey any order, whether it’s hopping on one foot for a day and a half or chopping off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not accept her fate. Against a bold backdrop of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella goes on a quest to break the curse forever.
This is one of those few books that I honestly don’t know if I prefer the movie or the book… honestly, they were just so damn different from one another that it was difficult to find a clear winner. For starters, the movie has Anne Hathaway. But, it is also a lot more grown up and set in a contemporary medieval world that overlays much more closely with ours. The book on the other hand is definitely a lot less mature and filled with characters that have a much simpler, more pleasant characterisation (there really weren’t many messy emotions in this novel). Or at least, that’s how it felt to me.
This is a great, sweet and funny little book. Throughout reading this I had multiple little giggles at the different circumstances in which the characters found themselves. There was just something that was enjoyably cute and sweet about Ella’s narrative voice. Something that made all the horrible, annoying things that happen to her throughout this story seem somehow slightly less. It made them a little less intense and difficult. Which was the perfect balance between serious and playful that a good book should have.
As much as I enjoyed this novel as an adult, I know that I would have absolutely adored this as a kid. There is something light and approachable and just downright fun about this that is seriously enjoyable. Plus, in Ella, there is a great lead character who is everything that I would have looked up to as a young girl. Someone who is smart and kind, funny and independent. And definitely sure of their own mind. It also helped that there was a great little rebellious streak running through her that I find a little too familiar…
Ultimately, this is a great take on Cinderella. And it also had a great sense of “just desserts” at the end of the story. A little bit more revenge-driven than most of the Disney versions of fairy tales that I read. But, also, a lot more fun, light and PG than the Grimms Brothers fairy tales that fill my shelves.
Title: The Will of the Empress Author: Tamora Pierce Series: Circle Reforged #1, Emelan #9 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Fantasy, Mages Dates read: 29th – 30th July 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Scholastic Year: 2005 5th sentence, 74th page: Tris made not a sound, her eyes on the hill as Chime behind her.
Long-awaited… Highly anticipated… The Circle Reforged
Four mages. One destiny. No turning back.
This sweeping saga is the final in the Circle series. The four young mages, Tris, Sandry, Briar and Daja, are now young adults ad are back together after their years of independence.
I forgot how damn good this novel is. It’s been a long time since I picked it up. And a while since I reread the first few Emelan books. Now I want to pick them all up and read them again and again… I seem to pick them up every few years anyway. There is just something amazing about Pierce’s writing and this is the first of her books that really branches towards a more adult view. After all, it is about four adults reconnecting with childhood friends.
For anyone else who has read the rest of the Emelan books (and you should), in the beginning of this, you just want to smack the four’s heads together. They’re kind of silly and irritating in so many ways. Mostly though, they are just stubborn and proud. A feeling that I can completely understand. Get past those first few chapters where you just want to smack them, and it begins to just get that much better.
I love that this story has the typical spunk of the four… they’re just a little bit more difficult and attitudinal, considering they’re now adults and on their own war path. I loved that this was a full circle story. It not only bought the four back together, it also showed that the people you grow up with can change and alter, but you can all grow together. It just takes a little work to find your way back together.
Reflecting back on this, this is the first book I ever read that introduced an LGBTQI+ character. Funnily enough, throughout the entire series there is a f-f couple who feature heavily in the children’s lives. But, like the children in this story, I really didn’t pay it much heed. It’s not until it is outright mentioned that I really noticed. But that was, you know, when I was a child. I do love how seamlessly Pierce does this though. It’s a great way to show inclusion without making much of a fuss. Now I just hope that there’s another story in the future that shows each of the four finding their happily ever after person…
Title: Biting Bad Author: Chloe Neill Series: Chicagoland Vampires #8 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Vampires Dates read: 29th June 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: New American Library Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: A giant soaking tub sat in one corner, and tonight, it bore a surprise.
Merit has been a vampire for only a short while, but she’s already seen a lifetime’s worth of trouble. She and her Master, centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, have risked their lives time and again to save the city they love. But not all of Chicago is loving them back.
Anti-vampire riots are erupting all over town, striking vampires where it hurts the most. A splinter group armed with Molotov cocktails and deep-seated hate is intent on clearing the fanged from the Windy City, come hell or high water.
Merit and her allies rush to figure out who’s behind the attacks, who will be targeted next, and whether there’s any way to stop the wanton destruction. The battle for Chicago is just beginning, and Merit is running out of time.
I remember being a bit “eh” about House Rules. It was a good book, but didn’t really grab my attention, and so I took a break from this series. I kind of expected to get the same feeling from Biting Bad, but figured I’d give it a shot anyway. And boy, am I glad that I did. This was almost a revamp of the energy that I found in the first few Chicagoland Vampires books. It had all of that paranormal fun that I was hoping for, plus a number of riots and a lot of sword-wielding. What more could a girl ask for?
Ethan and Merit have taken a long, long time to find their happy-place in their relationship. At first it was supremely frustrating… stubborn and stubborn just constantly clashing and butting heads. But, as this series has evolved, that stubbornness has had a truly endearing quality. And I love that in Biting Bad, they’ve finally found their sweet-spot with their different character quirks and managed to find their happily ever after. Or at least, the beginnings of it.
There is something a little more unique about Chicagoland Vampires in the genre of vampire stories. Probably because it deals a lot more with the inter-politics between humans and vampires – most stories they are not political stories which are discussed between the two races. In fact, they are largely separate. I love that there is a hugely political spin to not just all of the character interactions, but also huge aspects of the storyline. Right down to where the different branches of the police are called in.
I really wasn’t expecting the ending to this story. I thought that some aspects of this novel would carry on until the next and some would cease to exist in this story. I was pretty much 100% wrong on both aspects. Which just makes me want to read the next novel even more… I just have to dig it out of my shelves first…
Title: Sunchaser’s Quest Author: Mary Stanton Series: Unicorns of Balinor #2 Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Fantasy, Unicorns Dates read: 24th – 25th June 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: Scholastic Year: 1999 5th sentence, 74th page: She got on her knees and softly stroked the collie’s ears.
A DANGEROUS JOURNEY
Princess Arianna has returned to Balinor – a peaceful, magical world watched over by a herd of beautiful unicorns. But a dark presence has invaded the land. And Arianna has no memory of her past or how to tend to her wounded unicorn, Sunchaser.
The unicorn’s horn was broken in battle and he is very weak. The journey to get Suncahser’s horn restored will be long and very dangerous. But it is Sunchaser’s only hope. And – as Arianna and Sunchaser soon learn – the only hope for all of Balinor.
This is one of those very fun, quick and easy reads. One that you can sit down and spend half hour, hour on and enjoy it. Without having to think too deeply about what you are reading and just genuinely enjoy the journey. It’s a nice journey and one that I found was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon, between reading textbooks and trying to cram other information into my poor brain.
I like that the first story in this series starts with a bit of a mystery as to Ari’s past and what happened in her “accident”. In this novel, they begin to remember their horrible past and find ways to move onto the future. There are so many instances where things are nicely revealed, and you can begin to build upon the history of the story. And can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen next.
Probably one of the things that I really like about this novel is that it is got a world that is full of unicorns. And they’re integral to the connection between man and animal. It is such a sweet, innocent world. Something that is great in a children’s fantasy novel. The innocence that you associate with unicorns just flows off of the pages.
This is such a nice, pleasant read and I seriously wish that I was able to read it as a child. Its definitely one of those very childish, easy reading stories. But it was also cute and ridiculously innocent. Which is what all good young children books should be.
Title: 9 from the Nine Worlds Author: Rick Riordan Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Companion Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Norse mythology, Urban fantasy Dates read: 8th March 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Collection Publisher: Disney Hyperion Year: 2018 5th sentence, 74th page: I faced the inside of the V so I could keep an eye on the harp and the giant.
How well do you know the nine Norse Realms?
Do you get all those heims mixed up? Well, this collection of rollicking short stories – each set in a different world and told by a different character from the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series – will help straighten you out. And even if it doesn’t, you’ll enjoy reading about how Alex saves Amir’s pants, Samirah plucks a giant’s harp, Mallory teaches a dragon how to throw down insults, and much more. Just watch out for Thor, who is running through the whole thing and raising quite a stink.
This was such a nice way to round out the end of the Magnus Chase series. It’s not the ending perse, just a way to revisit all of the characters after Magnus and Loki’s final, epic battle. You get to go on a journey through each of the nine worlds with nine different, well loved characters. As I said, a nice, easy way to round out the series.
This story kind of reads like a bit of an epilogue. It tells you of the adventures that the secondary characters all have after they’ve postponed Ragnarök. I like that although the end of the world has been postponed, these characters are still constantly fighting little battles. Finding a way to carve out a better reality for themselves as they live out their (mostly) immortal lives.
I think that one of the reasons I’ve loved the Magnus Chase series so thoroughly is the fact that it has a hugely diverse set of characters. They’re part of the LGBTQI community, or the Muslim community… or… well, there are a number of minorities represented in this story. And they’re actually the ones that feature within this book. Not the lead, but all of those fantastic secondary characters that are a great way to bring acceptance and understanding into peoples’ lives.
Earth and Skye 