[Requirements:]
o uZ dnT tYp lyK d1Z LolZ!!1!!1~
o You update your journal regularly.
o Having some things in common helps.
If I know you in person, please take note that I probably won't add you unless I consider you a good friend.
o uZ dnT tYp lyK d1Z LolZ!!1!!1~
o You update your journal regularly.
o Having some things in common helps.
If I know you in person, please take note that I probably won't add you unless I consider you a good friend.
You can definitely tell that this is a 'middle' book. A lot of the book is setting the story up for the final book in the series. I read this straight from the Ambassador's Mission.
I wasn't very interested in Lilia's story, and a lot of what happens to her reminded me of Sonea in the original trilogy (not fitting in, being bullied, etc). It also felt like Trudi felt obliged to put lesbians in the story - the romance / infatuation of her character didn't feel realistic or believable to me, and quite forced.
I liked the Dannyl/Tayend story, too, it was interesting to see what would happen next with them. I found Lorkin less annoying in this book, too - he does sound a lot more mature and more of an adult by the end of the book. And, as much as I like Dorrien, he just felt like he was there to add excitement / intrigue to Sonea's storyline (she isn't really very central to these books) and I just felt a bit embarrassed for him really :/ I wonder if he will be back in the next one.
I will be interested to see what happens in the final book - I am expecting another war as everything hits the fan, but we'll see. I hate having to wait a year to find out what happens next! Though Trudi's writing style hasn't improved much since the first Black Magician book, and her character's remain a bit samey and characters often have similar storylines, she can make the books very readable and hard to put down. Though really I think this would have made a much better pair of books than a trilogy - I know publishers love fantasy trilogies but it always leaves a middle book that doesn't have much to it, and feels like mostly filler.
I wasn't very interested in Lilia's story, and a lot of what happens to her reminded me of Sonea in the original trilogy (not fitting in, being bullied, etc). It also felt like Trudi felt obliged to put lesbians in the story - the romance / infatuation of her character didn't feel realistic or believable to me, and quite forced.
I liked the Dannyl/Tayend story, too, it was interesting to see what would happen next with them. I found Lorkin less annoying in this book, too - he does sound a lot more mature and more of an adult by the end of the book. And, as much as I like Dorrien, he just felt like he was there to add excitement / intrigue to Sonea's storyline (she isn't really very central to these books) and I just felt a bit embarrassed for him really :/ I wonder if he will be back in the next one.
I will be interested to see what happens in the final book - I am expecting another war as everything hits the fan, but we'll see. I hate having to wait a year to find out what happens next! Though Trudi's writing style hasn't improved much since the first Black Magician book, and her character's remain a bit samey and characters often have similar storylines, she can make the books very readable and hard to put down. Though really I think this would have made a much better pair of books than a trilogy - I know publishers love fantasy trilogies but it always leaves a middle book that doesn't have much to it, and feels like mostly filler.
2009 | 2008 | 2007
66 / 50 books. 100% done!
Currently reading:
Stephen Fry - The Fry Chronicles (unabridged audiobook)
Trudi Canavan - The Ambassador's Mission
Julia Child - My life in France
Jasper Fforde - Shades of Grey
66. Ken Follett - Pillars of the Earth (4/5)
Finished 30/11
I recently watched the TV series of this, I quite enjoyed it so thought I'd read the book. It's a lot better (especially without the incest!) though there were still quite a few violent sex scenes that made me a bit uncomfortable when reading. Otherwise a very good story, excellent characters. Towards the end it does drag a bit, with drama after drama that gets a bit much - by about 800 pages I was getting a bit fed up! But all ends are tied up nicely, which is good.
Another downside - didn't like the ending very much, with Thomas Becket. I know this period of history quite well and Becket is very well documented so it bothers me when it is 'messed with', that shattered the story and the way it felt 'real' for me. But I think if you're not too familiar with what happened, you'd be able to ignore that and just enjoy it.
65. Alan Bennett - the Uncommon Reader (5/5)
Finished 23/11
This book is quite short (120 pages) but excellent fun. Definitely a great read for those who are fans of books and reading. There are lots of little injokes about various authors, and people's attitudes to reading, that only a bookworm could really appreciate, I think.
64. Anchee Min - The Last Empress (4/5)
Finished 21/11
The sequel to 'Empress Orchid'. I enjoyed this just as much as it's predecessor. As before it was often difficult to remember that it is a fictional account, and not fact. She became a very sympathetic character and I really felt for her - both for all the tragedies she had to overcome, and for the weight on her shoulders. The end note was very interesting as well - sad that she was really all that was holding China together.
I will definitely now read more on the history of China, these two books have really intrigued me and I'd love to read more about her life (of what is known) and previous emperors, and about the Opium Wars and later battles with Japan, Russia, England, France, et al.
63. George Orwell - Animal Farm (5/5)
Finished 17/11
This only took me about an hour to read - it's very short.
Orwell is one of those authors that I have always meant to read, but never have (he was never taught at my school) and I'm slowly trying to make my way through the 'classics'. This is the first of his books I've read.
I actually really enjoyed this, I felt it was a really clever, well-written story, an excellent commentary. I think the context of it being a 'fable' makes it really accessible but also makes it easier for people to relate and feel for the characters. I love his style of writing, and found it quite amusing at the beginning (and in places later, too). An interesting book that obviously has a lot more to it than I was able to get from it!
I like that in the introduction to my copy, the previous owner has highlighted (in red pen!) that it is a work of fictional political satire. No actually "Animal Farm" and Mr Jones really did exist, duh.
62. Susan Cooper - Silver on the Tree (3/5)
Finished 14/11
The last of the series. I must admit it was quite an anti-climax! But a good story, and I think younger readers would enjoy it more.
61. Susan Cooper - The Grey King (4/5)
Finished 8/11
A good story, focusing on Will Stanton and a visit to Wales. New character Bran. Enjoyed it though ending was a bit confusing, didn't always know quite what was going on, and the ending was wrapped up rather quickly (in 6 pages!) and maybe a bit rushed.
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Currently reading:
Stephen Fry - The Fry Chronicles (unabridged audiobook)
Trudi Canavan - The Ambassador's Mission
Julia Child - My life in France
Jasper Fforde - Shades of Grey
66. Ken Follett - Pillars of the Earth (4/5)
Finished 30/11
I recently watched the TV series of this, I quite enjoyed it so thought I'd read the book. It's a lot better (especially without the incest!) though there were still quite a few violent sex scenes that made me a bit uncomfortable when reading. Otherwise a very good story, excellent characters. Towards the end it does drag a bit, with drama after drama that gets a bit much - by about 800 pages I was getting a bit fed up! But all ends are tied up nicely, which is good.
Another downside - didn't like the ending very much, with Thomas Becket. I know this period of history quite well and Becket is very well documented so it bothers me when it is 'messed with', that shattered the story and the way it felt 'real' for me. But I think if you're not too familiar with what happened, you'd be able to ignore that and just enjoy it.
65. Alan Bennett - the Uncommon Reader (5/5)
Finished 23/11
This book is quite short (120 pages) but excellent fun. Definitely a great read for those who are fans of books and reading. There are lots of little injokes about various authors, and people's attitudes to reading, that only a bookworm could really appreciate, I think.
64. Anchee Min - The Last Empress (4/5)
Finished 21/11
The sequel to 'Empress Orchid'. I enjoyed this just as much as it's predecessor. As before it was often difficult to remember that it is a fictional account, and not fact. She became a very sympathetic character and I really felt for her - both for all the tragedies she had to overcome, and for the weight on her shoulders. The end note was very interesting as well - sad that she was really all that was holding China together.
I will definitely now read more on the history of China, these two books have really intrigued me and I'd love to read more about her life (of what is known) and previous emperors, and about the Opium Wars and later battles with Japan, Russia, England, France, et al.
63. George Orwell - Animal Farm (5/5)
Finished 17/11
This only took me about an hour to read - it's very short.
Orwell is one of those authors that I have always meant to read, but never have (he was never taught at my school) and I'm slowly trying to make my way through the 'classics'. This is the first of his books I've read.
I actually really enjoyed this, I felt it was a really clever, well-written story, an excellent commentary. I think the context of it being a 'fable' makes it really accessible but also makes it easier for people to relate and feel for the characters. I love his style of writing, and found it quite amusing at the beginning (and in places later, too). An interesting book that obviously has a lot more to it than I was able to get from it!
I like that in the introduction to my copy, the previous owner has highlighted (in red pen!) that it is a work of fictional political satire. No actually "Animal Farm" and Mr Jones really did exist, duh.
62. Susan Cooper - Silver on the Tree (3/5)
Finished 14/11
The last of the series. I must admit it was quite an anti-climax! But a good story, and I think younger readers would enjoy it more.
61. Susan Cooper - The Grey King (4/5)
Finished 8/11
A good story, focusing on Will Stanton and a visit to Wales. New character Bran. Enjoyed it though ending was a bit confusing, didn't always know quite what was going on, and the ending was wrapped up rather quickly (in 6 pages!) and maybe a bit rushed.
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I mostly didn't like this book. It didn't feel like a proper sequel, at all. I actually agree with other reviewers that this feels more like a film sequel because it is just SO BAD, and it does read like a film rather than a novel. It felt like several books squished into one - part Victorian detective, part Dracula/Bathory angst, part 'heroes'. Oh yes, and throw in Mina and Jonathan Harker's son, Quincey, and his aspirations to be an actor into the mix as well as a subplot.
(Cut for mild spoilers.)
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Personally, they should have left well alone. :/ I'd recommend reading "The Historian" instead, which, while not my favourite, did a pretty good job. Far better than this rubbish!
(Cut for mild spoilers.)
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Personally, they should have left well alone. :/ I'd recommend reading "The Historian" instead, which, while not my favourite, did a pretty good job. Far better than this rubbish!
The tall figure of Count Dracula, wearing a well-worn dinner jacket and a black cape lined with red, filled the dusty English drawing room menacingly. His dark eyes stared out from under a furrowed brow. This grim expression slowly gave place to an ominous smile as he asked with a thick continental accent, "Would you repeat what you just said, progressor?"
The older man sighed. "I said, 'Count, do you wish to know what I prescribed for our ailing Miss Westenra?"
"Anything you do concerning my dear Lucy is of the utmost interest to me, professor."
Professor Van Helsing produced a massive wooden cross and spun to face the Count. Dracula hissed and recoiled, snapping his cape. Stepping on a corner of it, he tripped into the furniture, knocking over a lamp table. An explosion of smoke startled both men.
The count coughed uncontrollably. "Now that you... you and that solicitor... Jonathan Harker... have learned what you think it is... you have learned, Professor Van... Helstock..."
Van Helsing rolled his eyes.
Count Dracula continued, "It is time for you to depart these shores for..." He was at a momentary loss for words. "... the land of your little wooden shoes."
"The name is Van Helsing!" the other man shouted. "And could you be referring to my home of HOLLAND, you idiot?"
"You insolent little fly speck!" Count Dracula screamed back, without any trace of an accent. "Do you have any idea of the awe-inspiring talent that stands before you?"
"All I see before me is a talentless drunkard who can't remember his bloody lines."
Outraged, Count Dracula turned toward the lights. "Stoker! Fire this arse immediately!"
Van Helsing grabbed Dracula's cape and pulled it over his head. Dracula, in turn, caught hold of Van Helsing's collar. The men struggled until the count was plagued by a second coughing fit.
"I've swallowed a goddam fang!" he bellowed. He tore himself away from the cape and struck Van Helsing with a right hook. Van Helsing's nose exploded in a spray of blood.
In a blind rage, Van Helsing lowered his head and charged at Count Dracula.
"Keep away, you fool! You're getting blood all over my jacket!"
Ok, I lol'd, but oh you did not just do that, Dacre Stoker.
"Who the devil are you?" Deane demanded. "This is a private rehearsal."
"I'm sorry I'm early, but I have an appointment with a Mr. Hamilton Deane," Quincey said.
"Oh, yes. You're the chap applying for the apprenticeship. What is your name?"
"Quincey Harker."
Stoker reacted as if he had swallowed a fly.
"Did I hear correctly?" Quincey continued. "Is one of the characters in your play a solicitor named Jonathan Harker?"
"Yes. What of it?" Stoker thundered.
"My father's name is Jonathan Harker... and he's a solicitor."
Oh yes, yes you did just do that.
WHAT.
The older man sighed. "I said, 'Count, do you wish to know what I prescribed for our ailing Miss Westenra?"
"Anything you do concerning my dear Lucy is of the utmost interest to me, professor."
Professor Van Helsing produced a massive wooden cross and spun to face the Count. Dracula hissed and recoiled, snapping his cape. Stepping on a corner of it, he tripped into the furniture, knocking over a lamp table. An explosion of smoke startled both men.
The count coughed uncontrollably. "Now that you... you and that solicitor... Jonathan Harker... have learned what you think it is... you have learned, Professor Van... Helstock..."
Van Helsing rolled his eyes.
Count Dracula continued, "It is time for you to depart these shores for..." He was at a momentary loss for words. "... the land of your little wooden shoes."
"The name is Van Helsing!" the other man shouted. "And could you be referring to my home of HOLLAND, you idiot?"
"You insolent little fly speck!" Count Dracula screamed back, without any trace of an accent. "Do you have any idea of the awe-inspiring talent that stands before you?"
"All I see before me is a talentless drunkard who can't remember his bloody lines."
Outraged, Count Dracula turned toward the lights. "Stoker! Fire this arse immediately!"
Van Helsing grabbed Dracula's cape and pulled it over his head. Dracula, in turn, caught hold of Van Helsing's collar. The men struggled until the count was plagued by a second coughing fit.
"I've swallowed a goddam fang!" he bellowed. He tore himself away from the cape and struck Van Helsing with a right hook. Van Helsing's nose exploded in a spray of blood.
In a blind rage, Van Helsing lowered his head and charged at Count Dracula.
"Keep away, you fool! You're getting blood all over my jacket!"
Ok, I lol'd, but oh you did not just do that, Dacre Stoker.
"Who the devil are you?" Deane demanded. "This is a private rehearsal."
"I'm sorry I'm early, but I have an appointment with a Mr. Hamilton Deane," Quincey said.
"Oh, yes. You're the chap applying for the apprenticeship. What is your name?"
"Quincey Harker."
Stoker reacted as if he had swallowed a fly.
"Did I hear correctly?" Quincey continued. "Is one of the characters in your play a solicitor named Jonathan Harker?"
"Yes. What of it?" Stoker thundered.
"My father's name is Jonathan Harker... and he's a solicitor."
Oh yes, yes you did just do that.
WHAT.
1. Audrey Niffenegger - The Time Traveler's Wife
2. Markus Zusak - The Book Thief
3 & 4. Rob Grant and Doug Naylor - Red Dwarf and Better than Life
5. Lisa Dalby - Geisha
6. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
7. Amanda Foreman - Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire
8. Mary Shelley - Frankenstein
9. Alexander McCall Smith - Morality for Beautiful Girls
10. Alexander McCall Smith - The Kalahari Typing School for Men
11. Virginia Woolf - To The Lighthouse
12. Virginia Woolf - A Room of One's Own
13. Thomas Hardy - Tess of the D'Urbervilles
14. Ian McEwan - On Chesil Beach
15. Bernhard Schlink - The Reader
16. Patricia Highsmith - The Talented Mr Ripley
17. Geraldine Brooks - Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague
18. Anne McCaffrey - The Ship Who Sang
19. Bruce Campbell - Make Love The Bruce Campbell Way
20. Kenneth Grahame - The Wind in the Willows
21. Philippa Gregory - The Wise Woman
22. Philippa Gregory - The Other Queen
23. Oscar Wilde - The Importance of Being Ernest
24. Oscar Wilde - A Woman of No Importance
25. Oscar Wilde - The Picture of Dorian Gray
26. Oscar Wilde - Lady Windermere's Fan
27. Graham Greene - The End of the Affair
28. Christie Dickason - The Firemaster's Mistress
29. Paullina Simons - The Road to Paradise
30. JK Rowling - the Tales of Beedle the Bard
31. William Horwood - The Willows in Winter
32. Karen Holmes - Advertising, Marketing and PR (Insider Career Guide)
33. Neil Gaiman - Fragile Things
34. Jane Austen - Mansfield Park
35. Agatha Christie - Elephants Can Remember
36. Adela Stanley - Careers in Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
37. Carolly Erickson - The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette: A Novel
38. Robert Harris - The Ghost
39. Frances Osborne - The Bolter
40. Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
41. JK Rowling - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
42. Laura Thompson - Agatha Christie
43. Karoline Leach - In the Shadow of the Dreamchild: The Myth and Reality of Lewis Carroll
44. Cornelia Funke - Inkheart
45. Cornelia Funke - Inkspell
46. Cornelia Funke - Inkdeath
47. Christopher Paolini - Eragon
48. Neil Gaiman - Neverwhere
49. Chris d'Lacey - The Fire Within
50! Cornelia Funke - the Dragon Rider
51! Betty G. Birney - The World According to Humphrey
52! Jim Dodge - Fup
53! Alan Moore - V for Vendetta
54! Neil Gaiman - Stardust
55! Neil Gaiman - The Sandman: Analogues and Prologues
56! George and Weedon Grossmith - The Diary of a Nobody
57! Neil Gaiman - Neverwhere (Graphic Novel)
58! Julie Powell - Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously
59! Jane Austen - Northanger Abbey
60! Budge Wilson - Before Green Gables
61! Neil Gaiman - The Sandman: The Doll's House
62! Frank Beddor - The Looking Glass Wars
63! Lemony Snicket - A Bad Beginning
64! Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (translated by Cressida Cowell) - How to Train your Dragon
65! Frank Beddor - Looking Glass Wars: Seeing Redd
66! William Goldman - The Princess Bride
67! Lemony Snicket - The Reptile Room
68! Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (translated by Cressida Cowell) - How to Be a Pirate
69! Sue Townsend - The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4
70! Dave Eggers - The Wild Things
71! Carrie Bebris - Pride and Prescience
72! Maria V. Snyder - Poison Study
73! Malorie Blackman - Noughts and Crosses
74! David Benedictus - Return to the Hundred Acre Wood
75! Alexander McCall Smith - In the Company of Beautiful Ladies
76! Marcus Sedgwick - Flood and Fang
77! Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (translated by Cressida Cowell) - How to Speak Dragonese
78! Christopher Paolini - Eldest
79! Marcus Sedgwick - Ghosts and Gadgets
80! Helen Stringer - The Last Ghost
81! Terry Pratchett - The Carpet People (2009 edition)
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Books read this year: (I am naughty, I don't think I listed them all on LJ, my first post in MAY. MAY!!) says 'I think this is book 3' but as far as I know, it is book 1.
1. L.M. Montgomery - 'Anne of Green Gables'
2. L.M. Montgomery - 'Anne of Avonlea'
3. L.M. Montgomery - 'Anne of the Island'
4. L.M. Montgomery - 'Anne of Windy Poplars'
5. L.M. Montgomery - 'Anne's House of Dreams'
6. L.M. Montgomery - 'Anne of Ingleside'
7. Alexis Hall - 'In the Red'
8. Stephen Fry - 'Moab is my Washpot'
9. C.S. Lewis - 'The Magician's Nephew'
10. C.S. Lewis - Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
11. C.S. Lewis - 'The Horse and His Boy'
12. C.S. Lewis - 'Prince Caspian'
13. Robert Harris - 'Enigma'
14. Ian McEwan - 'Atonement'
15. Jill Murphy - 'the Worst Witch'
16. Jane Austen - 'Persuasion'
17. Jane Austen - 'Emma'
18. Jane Austen - 'Pride and Prejudice'
19. Jane Austen - 'Sense and Sensibility'
20. Stephen Fry - 'Stephen Fry in America'
21. Thomas Hardy - 'Far From the Madding Crowd'
22. Neil Gaiman - 'The Graveyard Book'
23. Alison Weir - 'The Lady Elizabeth'
24. Stephanie Meyer - 'Twilight'
25. Erin Frances Schulz - 'The King and Mrs. Simpson'
26. Sally Gardner - 'The Red Necklace'
Currently reading: The Time Traveller's Wife, Terry Goodkind - Wizard's First Rule, Gulliver's Travels
I read half of Bryan Talbot's graphic novel 'Alice in Sunderland', but it was so bad I only got halfway before giving up.
Wow. :| That's um, worse than last year. Some of them aren't even very long! (C.S. Lewis and 'In the Red' in particular.) I'm sure there must have been others I read, I just didn't write it down, expecting I'd remember (and haven't). argh!
So, favourites are probably the 'Anne of Green Gables' series, 'Enigma', the Stephen Fry's, 'Far From the Madding Crowd' and 'The Graveyard Book'. Out of the AoGG I think I enjoyed the first and the one where she is at university most (Anne of the Island), as she has lots of lovely friends, a lovely house, and they are all top of their classes - everything that my university experience was not and I wished it had been, really. The later ones where she has a family are good too, but I just can't relate as well - I'm not married and don't have children, and don't wish to either, but I did like how each of her many children still had their own individual personality. The only main complaint was that when Anne became pregnant/was giving birth there was no mention of it. Suddenly Anne was "sick" and I wondered if I had perhaps missed a few pages out and had to go back to check - until the baby popped out and I realised what was going on. Maybe 100 years ago that would have been obvious to readers, though. Of the Austens I must say that 'Emma' was my favourite - it's different to the others, and it's not quite so obvious. 'Far From the Madding Crowd' I found really exciting, I loved his portrayal of characters and their passions, and the twist at the end, too. It took me a little while to get into, but I'm really glad I stuck with it - definitely one i shall read again.
1. L.M. Montgomery - 'Anne of Green Gables'
2. L.M. Montgomery - 'Anne of Avonlea'
3. L.M. Montgomery - 'Anne of the Island'
4. L.M. Montgomery - 'Anne of Windy Poplars'
5. L.M. Montgomery - 'Anne's House of Dreams'
6. L.M. Montgomery - 'Anne of Ingleside'
7. Alexis Hall - 'In the Red'
8. Stephen Fry - 'Moab is my Washpot'
9. C.S. Lewis - 'The Magician's Nephew'
10. C.S. Lewis - Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
11. C.S. Lewis - 'The Horse and His Boy'
12. C.S. Lewis - 'Prince Caspian'
13. Robert Harris - 'Enigma'
14. Ian McEwan - 'Atonement'
15. Jill Murphy - 'the Worst Witch'
16. Jane Austen - 'Persuasion'
17. Jane Austen - 'Emma'
18. Jane Austen - 'Pride and Prejudice'
19. Jane Austen - 'Sense and Sensibility'
20. Stephen Fry - 'Stephen Fry in America'
21. Thomas Hardy - 'Far From the Madding Crowd'
22. Neil Gaiman - 'The Graveyard Book'
23. Alison Weir - 'The Lady Elizabeth'
24. Stephanie Meyer - 'Twilight'
25. Erin Frances Schulz - 'The King and Mrs. Simpson'
26. Sally Gardner - 'The Red Necklace'
Currently reading: The Time Traveller's Wife, Terry Goodkind - Wizard's First Rule, Gulliver's Travels
I read half of Bryan Talbot's graphic novel 'Alice in Sunderland', but it was so bad I only got halfway before giving up.
Wow. :| That's um, worse than last year. Some of them aren't even very long! (C.S. Lewis and 'In the Red' in particular.) I'm sure there must have been others I read, I just didn't write it down, expecting I'd remember (and haven't). argh!
So, favourites are probably the 'Anne of Green Gables' series, 'Enigma', the Stephen Fry's, 'Far From the Madding Crowd' and 'The Graveyard Book'. Out of the AoGG I think I enjoyed the first and the one where she is at university most (Anne of the Island), as she has lots of lovely friends, a lovely house, and they are all top of their classes - everything that my university experience was not and I wished it had been, really. The later ones where she has a family are good too, but I just can't relate as well - I'm not married and don't have children, and don't wish to either, but I did like how each of her many children still had their own individual personality. The only main complaint was that when Anne became pregnant/was giving birth there was no mention of it. Suddenly Anne was "sick" and I wondered if I had perhaps missed a few pages out and had to go back to check - until the baby popped out and I realised what was going on. Maybe 100 years ago that would have been obvious to readers, though. Of the Austens I must say that 'Emma' was my favourite - it's different to the others, and it's not quite so obvious. 'Far From the Madding Crowd' I found really exciting, I loved his portrayal of characters and their passions, and the twist at the end, too. It took me a little while to get into, but I'm really glad I stuck with it - definitely one i shall read again.
Two more books.
Jill Murphy - the Worst Witch (4/5)
I forgot to put this on my list beforehand. I didn't realise how much older than me this book is, it was originally published in 1978. My Granddad gave me and my sister copies of these when we were younger, and I really enjoyed it, and recently got the first through Bookmooch. This is a kid's book, but it is a nice story and I love Mildred Hubble. A bit of a predecessor to Harry Potter (she goes to a school for witches) but for a younger audience. A nice read now, but these were favourites when I was younger (I also loved the TV series!).
Jane Austen - Persuasion (4/5)
I finished this today. The only Austen I've read has been Pride and Prejudice, I could never get into Sense and Sensibility, and I found this to have a few similar themes to P&P - finding out bad things about the guy she liked before, and finding out that the guy she loves but thinks hates her actually loves her. She always seems to write characters that are herself too XD although Anne is less witty. This novel is also a lot shorter than the others. But overall not a favourite, though one that's worth reading if only because it's an Austen novel. If you ignore those niggles then it's a good romantic read.
Jill Murphy - the Worst Witch (4/5)
I forgot to put this on my list beforehand. I didn't realise how much older than me this book is, it was originally published in 1978. My Granddad gave me and my sister copies of these when we were younger, and I really enjoyed it, and recently got the first through Bookmooch. This is a kid's book, but it is a nice story and I love Mildred Hubble. A bit of a predecessor to Harry Potter (she goes to a school for witches) but for a younger audience. A nice read now, but these were favourites when I was younger (I also loved the TV series!).
Jane Austen - Persuasion (4/5)
I finished this today. The only Austen I've read has been Pride and Prejudice, I could never get into Sense and Sensibility, and I found this to have a few similar themes to P&P - finding out bad things about the guy she liked before, and finding out that the guy she loves but thinks hates her actually loves her. She always seems to write characters that are herself too XD although Anne is less witty. This novel is also a lot shorter than the others. But overall not a favourite, though one that's worth reading if only because it's an Austen novel. If you ignore those niggles then it's a good romantic read.
not updated my reads for a while -
C.S. Lewis - Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Horse and His Boy, and Prince Caspian
I'm sure I don't need to say what this is about! All my favourites when I was younger - as the new film was coming out I couldn't help but re-read them! The film was definitely disappointing compared to the book, I don't think they needed to change so much of it.
Robert Harris - Enigma, 5/5
Robert Harris is one of my favourite authors; I have read quite a few of his books now and they are really well written and I was easily sucked into this! This follows Jericho, who helps to break the German's coded messages during WW2, and ends up being sucked into a thick plot through a girl he is seeing. This is really capitvating and while I don't know enough about the Enigma codes to say how historically accurate it is, Harris usually does his research, and while the love story plot is most certainly not true, I'd say the rest of the details (like about the machines and how they were decoded, and the layout of the huts) is probably true. But definitely worth reading, this is a very thrilling read and not knowing much about the subject didn't cause me any problems - just as good as all his others!
Ian McEwan - Atonement, 4/5
A young girl, Briony, sees her older sister, Cecila, and a man, Robbie, who is a family friend, together and makes an awful assumption about him, and because of this their lives are all changed forever. I mooched this after seeing the film. I'd say it's pretty close - they didn't really change very much (the ending is slightly different, but essentially the same). This is a very sad, romantic story, but if you didn't like the film you probably wouldn't like the book either. It's quite graphic in places (both sexual and violent) which may put some people off. Not a favourite, but it was a good, light read, and while I've not read any of Ian McEwan's book before he did seem to be a very good writer and have a good knowledge of how people think/feel, and quite perceptive, eg when Briony says she doesn't really keep a proper diary, she just likes flicking through it and seeing/feeling the pages covered in her writing - I do this too XD
L. M. Montgomery - Anne of Avonlea, 4/5
This follows Anne between 16 and 18 and her life as a teacher in the local school, following on from the first book. It's quite true to the first, with Anne getting herself into predicaments and helping others, and I felt it was just as good as the first. The very last page *almost* ruined the book for me, but not quite, so I will ignore that XD There are lots of romantic moments, and while parts are quite predictable, I enjoyed it all the same, and will most definitely read the next in the series, just to find out what happens next. You really do fall in love with the characters and want to hear all about them. I did find it strange that Anne was a head of the school at just 16, though, as to me that seems awfully young to be teaching - things were very different back then!
C.S. Lewis - Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Horse and His Boy, and Prince Caspian
I'm sure I don't need to say what this is about! All my favourites when I was younger - as the new film was coming out I couldn't help but re-read them! The film was definitely disappointing compared to the book, I don't think they needed to change so much of it.
Robert Harris - Enigma, 5/5
Robert Harris is one of my favourite authors; I have read quite a few of his books now and they are really well written and I was easily sucked into this! This follows Jericho, who helps to break the German's coded messages during WW2, and ends up being sucked into a thick plot through a girl he is seeing. This is really capitvating and while I don't know enough about the Enigma codes to say how historically accurate it is, Harris usually does his research, and while the love story plot is most certainly not true, I'd say the rest of the details (like about the machines and how they were decoded, and the layout of the huts) is probably true. But definitely worth reading, this is a very thrilling read and not knowing much about the subject didn't cause me any problems - just as good as all his others!
Ian McEwan - Atonement, 4/5
A young girl, Briony, sees her older sister, Cecila, and a man, Robbie, who is a family friend, together and makes an awful assumption about him, and because of this their lives are all changed forever. I mooched this after seeing the film. I'd say it's pretty close - they didn't really change very much (the ending is slightly different, but essentially the same). This is a very sad, romantic story, but if you didn't like the film you probably wouldn't like the book either. It's quite graphic in places (both sexual and violent) which may put some people off. Not a favourite, but it was a good, light read, and while I've not read any of Ian McEwan's book before he did seem to be a very good writer and have a good knowledge of how people think/feel, and quite perceptive, eg when Briony says she doesn't really keep a proper diary, she just likes flicking through it and seeing/feeling the pages covered in her writing - I do this too XD
L. M. Montgomery - Anne of Avonlea, 4/5
This follows Anne between 16 and 18 and her life as a teacher in the local school, following on from the first book. It's quite true to the first, with Anne getting herself into predicaments and helping others, and I felt it was just as good as the first. The very last page *almost* ruined the book for me, but not quite, so I will ignore that XD There are lots of romantic moments, and while parts are quite predictable, I enjoyed it all the same, and will most definitely read the next in the series, just to find out what happens next. You really do fall in love with the characters and want to hear all about them. I did find it strange that Anne was a head of the school at just 16, though, as to me that seems awfully young to be teaching - things were very different back then!
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