All Hallows' Read

All you have to do to take part in All Hallows' Read is simply give someone a scary book to read on Halloween. That's all, it is that simple.

Here are some suggestions:

For the reader who enjoys the Classics most of all I recommend Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu. Carmilla undoubtedly inspired Bram Stoker when he wrote the most famous vampire novel of all time but before Dracula there was Carmilla. It's a fairly quick read at only about 120 pages but it is a very worthwhile one. I am a big fan of Dracula but even I must admit Carmilla is the better of the two.

For the littlest monsters in the house I recommend Room On The Broom by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler. Not very scary I know but let's face it who wants to put a terrified toddler to bed after the madness of Halloween. We would much rather put our feet up and read our own All Hallows' Read.

For the older children I recommend The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I'm a big fan of this book and like to recommend this to everyone. It's a delightful tale about a boy whose parents are murdered by The Man Jack but the boy only a baby at the time manages to escape to the nearby graveyard where he is taken in and looked after by the ghosts and ghouls in the Graveyard.

For the wimps I recommend The Paupers Graveyard by Gemma Mawdley. It's not overly scary but a very enjoyable read nonetheless. Its about a housing estate built on a graveyard where famine victims are buried. 

Fans of historical fiction may enjoy The Mistletoe Bride & Other Haunting Tales by Kate Mosse. It's a really enjoyable collection of short stories some set in the familiar setting of Kate's own Languedoc series so for fans of that particular series it's a must. Also you can dip in and out reading a story here and there at your own leisure. I enjoyed it and plan to re-read it over the weekend.

If your looking for something a bit quirky I highly recommend Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. The story is told through a combination of narrative and creepy old photographs that the author and other collectors he became acquainted with while collecting collected. That's a mouthful I know but basically he collects creepy photos and met people with similar interests. He was going to publish a book with just the creepy photos inside but a publisher suggested it would be better if he created a story for the photos and so Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children was born.  It is also being turned into a Movie starring Eva Green (Penny Dreadful, Casino Royal, Dark Shadows) and Asa Butterfield (Hugo, Enders Game & The Boy In The Striped Pyjama's). The movie is to be directed by Tim Burton and the screenplay is to be written by Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass, X-Men:First Class) and the books author. It should hopefully be hitting our screens in early 2016.

If all else fails you can't go wrong with Stephen King. Most of his books are guaranteed to scare the bejesus out of you. I myself recommend Carrie as it always manages to scare the crap out of me no matter how many times I've read it or seen the movie version starring Sissy Spacek.

For more suggestion's why not head on over to 

www.allhallowsread.com

Whatever you choose to do this Halloween please give a scary book to someone as part of #AllHallowsRead and use the opportunity to support your local bookseller in the process because the world would be a very scary place indeed without bookshops.

Oiche Samhna Shona Duit!!!!!

The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

The Dead Men Stood Together by Chris Priestley (Bloomsbury)

The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner is a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and has inspired many a writer since it was published in 1798. Including Mary Shelly, M.R James, Edgar Allan Poe & Herman Melville.  The poem was so well known and so beloved that it morphed into a sort of myth or superstition. Sea faring folk are probably amount the most superstitious alive in my experience. Well them and the Irish Mammy.

For those unfamiliar with Coleridge's famous poem it is about a mariner who returns from sea after a long and arduous voyage. He stops a man on his way to a wedding and recounts his tale to him. At first the man is impatient, frustrated even wanting to get away but his feelings soon turn to fear and fascination as the story unfolds. It really is a beautifully written piece.

I don't want to give too much away but Chris Priestley's book contains all the details from the poem that make it so captivating and so beloved. This tale however is told from the point of view of the Mariners nephew which I felt was a lovely touch. Everything from the Albatross to the pilots son can be found within.

I like this book it did however drag on a little About midway through but was still interesting enough to make me want to continue on reading. Even if you have never read Coleridge's poem you will still enjoy The Dead Men Stood Together. Not overly creepy but then it is written with a younger audience in mind. That being said it would make a decent Halloween read. Maybe keep it in mind if your taking part in this years #AllHallowsRead.

All Hallows Read is basically a worldwide event where by you are encouraged to give a scary book to a friend to read. There will hopefully be a post up tomorrow with more on this.

Anyway until next time happy reading 😁


www.chrispriestleybooks.com

www.bloomsbury.com

Review of the Gift Of Charms & Short Interview with its Author Julia Suzuki

Yoshiko's first day at school doesn't exactly go well. I guess first days can be just as hard for Dragons as they can be for humans.

The Land Of Dragor is an adventure quest series about the challenges between Dragons, Humans and the evil Dragsaurs(half dragon, half dinosaurs). The Gift Of Charms is the first book in the series.

Yoshiko is born from a strange egg. Usually dragons from strange eggs are seen to be cursed and are taken away in black baskets before they can do any harm. Yoshiko's father manages to persuade the dragon who comes for him to leave him be.

When Yoskio goes to school he feels a bit useless. He is brave and on the first day tries to breath fire with the other Dragons but he fails and as a result earns a tormentor in Igorr and his clan mates. Life for Yoshiko becomes even more complicated when he finds himself changing colour. He tries desperately to keep this newly acquired ability a secret as he desperately tries to fit in.

Everything changes when Yoshiko meets Guya a reclusive elder that lives alone in the mountain. Guya is a well of knowledge and he is the only Dragon who can help Yoshiko with his Special ability. If Yoshikos can pass Guya's trials he will help him but the tasks are not at all easy and Yoshiko will need to work very hard and be very brave indeed if he wishes to pass.

Julia very kindly offered me a digital copy of The Gift Of Charms for review. I started reading and found myself unable to stop until I had finished and so the book was read in one sitting. My only complaint was that it ended as I would have gladly sat all day reading. Needless to say I can't praise this book highly enough. I loved it so much that it prompted me to ask Julia for a short interview she kindly accepted and you will find it below. I look forward to reading more from The Land Of Dragor Series.

Julia Suzuki is represented by literary agency Darley Anderson, her novel is available here and is published by John Blake Publishing, Dino Imprint.

You can follow her on Twitter @JuliaSuzuki_uk

 Interview with Julia Suzuki for http://booksareproofthatmagicexists.blogspot.ie

Hi, Julia. Firstly I want to say Thank You for the opportunity to Read & Review The Gift Of Charms. It was unputdownable and I enjoyed it so much I finished it in one sitting.

Thank you for the invite Jenny 

Where did you get your inspiration for The Land Of Dragor Series and did you do much research into Dragon Mythology?

I have travelled and widely and thus the inspiration for 'The Land of Dragor' came from the many places I have visited; particularly America where I spent a lot of time in my former career (when I worked in the resorts industry) . It was certain places and my own love for adventure that inspired me.

 I have not done much personal research into dragon mythology. It was my own imagination and beliefs that  created the characters...

How did you come up with your Dragon names?

There is a Polish saying that when translated means 'the first one for the book'. I think it actually applies to things generally -- like if a person makes a derogative comment and then tries to take it back -- but for me specifically it applies to my naming of characters. The first name that came to mind for my characters was the one I used and I found the character names came easily.

Your Dragon children read the same as a human child would it's very unique and I don't think I have ever read anything quiet like it before. What made you want to write them that way?

I just felt dragons would be clever creatures -- as clever as humans. I saw them that way in my mind and it felt right :)

What advice would you give any young writers out there on how they too can create a magical story like The City Of Charms?

My advice to any 'would be' author is to follow your genuine passion in the subject you write about, as your work will then show passion and appear genuine. Also it is important to read as broadly as possible to  learn from the different tones that authors use.

What book are you currently reading?

I am reading Martina Cole's latest thriller 'Revenge'. It is very hard hitting about an over  protective Father who is in the mafia.

When can we expect the next instalment in The Land Of Dragor Series?

The second book is complete and scheduled for release next year! Date to be announced.

Well thank you very much for the opportunity to interview you Julia. I love that your book is just as enjoyable to read as an adult as it is for a child. I feel that's the mark of a great book. I wish you all the best and I can't wait to read more. 

Thank you Jenny. All the very best with your blog and best wishes to your blog followers and associates. Julia

The Sleeper & The Spindle by Neil Gaiman Illustrated by Chris Ridell

This book has been on my wish list since I found out it was coming into existence. Not just because of the Author or the Illustrator but because it's a fairytale with a twist. I absolutely love fairy tales not the cleaned up censored versions we read to our children today, I'm talking about the original stories the ones where happy endings aren't necessarily par for the course. The ones with more sinister undertones. For instance Disney's The Little Mermaid as we all know was inspired by Hans Christian Anderson's story. Except had Walt's Studios followed the story to the letter it would have been almost an entirely different movie and maybe not one parents would have flocked to Cinema's to bring their little darlings to see. In the original story Marina The Little Mermaid drinks a potion in order to be with her prince she experiences excruciating pain with every step she takes. The Prince however chooses to marry another. Her sisters give up their long hair to the Sea Witch in exchange for a dagger. Marina must kill the prince and drip his blood on her feet if she wants to return to sea and live as a mermaid once more. She cannot bring herself to do it and throws herself into the sea dissolving into a foam. You can see why Disney changed it. I don't think that ending would have sold as many tickets. I also remember being very shocked when I bought my daughter Little Red Riding Hood to read about 6 years or so ago in the newer version at the end the wolf escapes and the granny wasn't eaten at all she was under the bed. When I was little the granny was eaten by the wolf and the huntsmen split the wolfs belly open with his axe and out she popped they then filled the creatures belly with stones and threw him in the river. Big difference from when I was a child. Getting back to the book.

The Sleeper & The Spindle is a beautiful book to behold. Chris Riddell's illustrations in Black, White & Gold are just mesmerising. The story itself is very well done. It's like a mash-up between Snow White & Sleeping Beauty with a dark twist thrown in for good measure and is a very enjoyable read. It is suitable for both Adults & Children so not overly scary (depending on the child of course). I was lucky enough to win a copy from Hooked On Books last week and my copy arrived yesterday. I wanted to take my time reading it as it is a very beautiful book and I wanted to drink in all the wonderful details. That being said I still had it read in a half an hour even while going at it at a snails pace. So it is quite short about 70 pages. I really enjoyed it and was left wanting more. The protagonist in this case is female which really appealed to me as I'm a little tired of the Prince always getting to have all the adventures. I would like to warn that this is not a love story the only princes present in this story are dead or simply not involved. If however you like reading of Dwarves, Wolves, Warrior Women and Strange Curses then this is the book for you. I certainly did and I hope to read much more similar tales in future. It's a thumbs up from me.

The Sleeper & The Spindle is out on the 23rd of October 2014 and is published by Bloomsbury.

How To Build A Girl by Caitlin Moran

I wanted so badly to love this book. To devour it whole and give a glowing review because I really like Caitlin Moran's personality, her style, attitude and ideals. Well, I didn't hate the book but if I'm completely honest I didn't love it and probably only just about liked it. Don't get me wrong the writing was good it was really witty and clever and truthful but the book just wasn't entertaining.

How to Build a Girl is to put it simply a coming of age story. It's a bit more raw than most and probably could be considered a cautionary tale about what not to do when your trying to build yourself.

Johanna Morgan is a sexually charged adolescent hormonal teen from middle working class Woverhamton. Her family are scraping by on benefits and she accidentally divulges information on it to an elderly nieghbour who isn't too impressed that her family are claiming assistance. Terrified that a brown envelope with a letter spelling out the families doom could drop through the letter box anyday. Johanna now sick with worry looks for a way to bring in some money to save her family from the poor house in the event a letter does arrive. She tries a mix of things but is sucessful when she enters a poetry contest and wins. The £250 doesn't go very far but she is to go on TV and read her poem. She's a bit chubby, very witty, creative, bookish and socially awkward. After a 'ground please swallow me up' type of embarrassing moment on local TV Johanna decides to re-invent herself as Dotty Wilde a nod to Oscar Wildes niece Dorothy who was a very witty conversationalist, infamous lesbian and talented writer/story teller who also had a heroine addiction.

So Johanna now Dotty manages to land herself a job as a journalist at a top London based music magazine and much to the chagrin of her mother leaves school to follow her dreams. This all takes place in the 90's when you could actually blag a job by lying about your age, references etc...before all our personal information was but a click away. Let's put it into context Johanna writes her first articles on a commador 64. Need I say anymore?

I could identify with Johanna and maybe that's why I found it so hard to read or maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace but really I think it was a little to close to home for me. I do however think that it's worth reading preferably when you are a teenage girl so you can avoid making the mistakes many of us do while we are trying to build ourselves. Reading it afterwards may make you want curl up into the fetal position rock back and forth and wish for a do-over. Ok maybe that's a little dramatic but it won't make you feel good.

The opening pages are great but the first half of the book drags on a bit and probably could have done with a bigger edit. The second half is much better but you may get a bit bored as I did on the way to it.

How To Build A Girl did make me want to read more about Dorothy Wilde so it wasn't all bad it just wasn't all that enjoyable but then maybe it's not the type of book that longs to bring you comfort but rather teach you a lesson. Anyway decide for yourself.

Ellen's Book Nook #2 The Pigeon Needs A Bath by Mo Willems

The pigeon has been a part of our lives for some time now. He is in fact my daughters favourite choice for bedtime. It all started when we picked up a strange book in our local Waterstone's with a funny title"Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus". When bedtime came that night Ellen cuddled up under her She-rah bedcovers with her faithful bunny Snuggles happily waiting for her daddy to read that night's bedtime story. I have never heard my daughter laugh and interact so much with a picture book or any book for that matter. Our usual book was The Gruffalo or the hungry caterpillar and while she clearly loved both of those books and would smile and laugh occasionally at a funny part or join in on the bits she knew, nothing has ever made her react or light up the way she does with the pigeon.

The Pigeon Books are written and illustrated by the marvellous Mo Willems. This Pigeon is hilarious, stubborn, he try's to convince you into letting him get his own way, he even try's to bribe you and  throws a tantrum occasionally. All while you tell him "NO".

There is a video on You Tube of Don't Let The Pigeon drive the bus. I have posted it at the bottom of this blog post. However, Ellen does not like it. She doesn't like his American accent. Don't be offended though Mo if you by some strange turn of events find yourself reading this. She doesn't like to hear it in my voice either. Only Daddy's voice will do. It's their thing. I think in Ellen's eyes Daddy is the Pigeon.

The books has become specail to them. So much so that my husband recently got a tattoo of the pigeon with Knuffle bunny tucked under his wing. Knuffle bunny is another of Mo's creations and looks an awful lot like our very own Snuggles which is a lovely coincidence. Ellen is convinced that Knuffle and Snuggles are somehow related.

Anyway here's over to you kid. This is what Ellen had to say about The Pigeon Needs A Bath by Mo Willems:

"The Pigeon Books are fun. You get to say No! to him. Which is so much fun. He's really funny. He's also very naughty and a bit cheeky and I love him. My Daddy is the best at reading The Pigeon books. He does the best voices. There is a video of Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus but I prefer the way Daddy does it. The Pigeon Needs A Bath is really funny too. He's being very stubborn and won't take a bath. He keeps trying to get out of it but you just keep telling him No!. In the end he gets in the Bath and loves it so much that he doesn't want it to end. He's so funny like that."- Ellen

Ellen is now 9 but still enjoys reading and picking up the latest 
pigeon book. I think that will give you some idea of how important these books are to her.

My Husband even tattooed The Pigeon and Knuffle bunny onto himself because it means so much to himself and Ellen and has become such a huge part of thier relationship.

There are lots of Pigeon Books to enjoy - Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus, Don't Let The Pigeon Stay Up Late, The Pigeon Finds A Hot Dog, The Pigeon Wants A Puppy, The Pigeon Has Feeling's To. There is even a Pigeon Activity Book and A Pigeon App.

Check out Mo Willems Website it's great http://www.mowillems.com

Here is a video of Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus 

We hope you enjoy these books as much as we have.

http://www.mowillems.com

Happy Hobbit Day!!!!!

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien is one of my all time favourite books I own at the moment 7 different copies of the book. This one was bought for me by my husband last year and is by far my favourite copy. It is filled with the beautiful illustrations of Jemma Catlin which just adds to the magic of the story.

I read The Hobbit at least once a year. It is my favourite of all Tolkien's works. The story just seems to flow from the page almost as if it were music. Every time I read this book I still feel excited even though I know the story like the back of my hand now. It just never gets old and if I'm honest I feel the older I get the more I enjoy it. As Tolkien's good friend and fellow inking C.S Lewis once said - "Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again", and I feel that now, especially I enjoy fairy tales more than I ever did as a child.

For me opening up The Hobbit is like opening the door into The Secret Garden or Falling Down The Rabbit Hole. I feel wonderful, warm and safe surrounded in my own little world. I think as we get older as adults the magic gets taken from the world and is replaced by the harsh realities of life. Don't get me wrong life isn't all bad but as adults it's harder and harder to escape from the harsher side of life as children we are usually shielded from such things by our innocence, our imagination and our parents. Books are a way of escape, especially fairy tales and fantasy novels. When I was younger I wanted grown up stories I wanted true life tales of tragic dramatic lives but now as I'm older I'm not as pushed on those things anymore. My reading time is precious and in a lot of ways it's my only escape from my own worries so I'm less inclined these days to pick up a book about somebody's true life experience of immense suffering and more inclined to reach out for something I can escape into and forget everything if only for a while. 

The Hobbit for me has everything I could want in a book. It has the unlikely hero, far off lands, a dragon, strange creatures and bucket loads of adventure. Don't get me wrong there is darkness in it and tragedy but I think the fact that it is so far away from reality is what makes it so appealing. 

As I'm writing this I'm at home in bed with the flu. I can smell chicken soup simmering away in the kitchen and I have The Hobbit sitting beside me awaiting to be read again. I know by the time I drift off to sleep tonight despite being ill I will be happy and content and really isn't that the mark of a wonderful book.

Graphic Novel #2 Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Emily Carroll is a 31 year old comic writer from Ontario. Up until now Emily's comics have mainly been published in anthologies. Through the Woods is her first book. She studied at and graduated from Sheridan Colleges Classical Animation Program. According to Emily,s website she lives with her wife Kelly Craig and their very large cat.

Through the Woods seemed to call out to me from it's display at my local Waterstones shop in Drogheda. The books cover made me think of Edward Gorey or Tim Burton.

They say never judge a book by it cover but I most definitely judged this one.  The book comprises of 5 beautifully haunting tales. The conclusion is absolutely brilliant. This is the first time I have ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on Carroll's work and I will most certainly be back for more.

I must admit however that I did not find it in the least bit scary but to be honest almost 30 years of devouring everything supernatural has undoubtedly de-sensitised me. I did find it very enjoyable to read and I love her style and use of colour. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys all things Burtonesque.  

You can find out more about Emily and her work on her wonderfully creative website.

http://www.emcarroll.com

Roald Dahl Day

Today September 13th is Roald Dahl Day. The Roald Dahl Foundation have been gearing up to also celebrate 50years of Charlie And The Choclate Factory this month which is probably without a doubt Dahl's most loved book. It has ignited the imagination of children and adults alike for five decades and I'm sure it will continue to do so for many years to come. Recently there has been some controversy about the new "Adult Cover" of this beloved classic and it seems that the majority of people much prefer the beautiful childrens version illustrated by Quentin Blake for obvious reasons.

This year The Roald Dahl foundation asked everyone who loves Charlie And The Choclate Factory to Have A Charlie Party. So myself and my 9 year old daughter got our paintbrushes out and this is what we came up with. Ellen baked choclate muffins and made some yummy marshmallow dipped choclate treats.

Ellen loves Roald Dahl. Having struggled with reading Ellen attends Learning Support at her school. This was very disheartening for all of us as reading is a big thing in our house both myself and my husband are bookish and our house is filled with books. We've always read to her from a very early age so we couldn't understand what it was we were doing wrong. The answer was that it wasn't anything we had done wrong or anything we failed to do. Some children just have difficulty and it takes longer for it to click. Last year halfway through the school year Ellen's wonderful learning support teacher gave her a Roald Dahl book to take home and as if by magic her attitude towards reading drastically changed. Before this she hated reading for homework because she struggled so much with it she seen it as a chore. The only reading she looked forward to was her bedtime stories. Roald Dahl books ignited the passion for reading in her we had for so long struggled to find ways to encourage. She is now obsessed with this amazing author and we are absolutely thrilled.

We would have read Charlie for this weeks blog post but we had read it very recently so we have read Matilda instead. We shared book time, I read it when she was at school and Ellen read it when she got home. We both love Matilda! It had been a very long time since I'd read it so I was thrilled when she asked me to buy it for her.





Matilda is the story of a very bright little girl born into a family who don't appreciate or even love her. Mr & Mrs Wormwood are not very good parents or to be honest very nice people. They think of Matilda as an inconvenience and do not see how very clever and wonderful she is. They are much more interested in themselves, slobbing out in front of the TV, Bingo and dodgy dealings. Matilda finds solace from her home life in books from a miraculously young age but her family especially her father don't treat her very well. She decides to punish them with hilarious consequences. Shortly after she discovers her Powers. Matilda can do things with her mind that others can't.  These powers come in very handy at school too. Matilda attends Crunchem Hall where herself and her classmates are terrorised by the nasty headmistress Miss Trunchbull.

Roald Dahl books usually follow the pattern of the bad guy getting what they deserve in a hilarious fashion. They are always witty and always magical to read. We look forward to celebrating Roald Dahl every year.

This is our Mini Charlie Party from earlier this evening with lots of Chocolate Goodness :) 

National Read A Book Day

Today unlike National Book Lovers Day is about getting everyone reading it's more about those that don't read on a regular basis than bookworms like myself. Unfortunately many people are still under the illusion that books are boring. My advice is that you haven't found the right book for you yet. Maybe in school the books read as part of the curriculum weren't your cup of tea. Read what you like. If your into celebrity gossip and fashion magazines try something in your area of interest. For example if CSI is your thing a crime novel might be just what the doctor ordered.

Why bother I hear you ask when you could just watch a tv program about fashion or a crime drama?
Reading actually has lots of benefits. Just 15 minutes a day reduces your stress levels. Studies have also shown that mental stimulation such as reading or completing puzzles actually slows down the progression and maybe even prevents Alzheimer's and Dementia. Your brain is like any other muscle in your body it requires exercise to stay in tip top shape. Reading improves your memory. It also improves focus and concentration. In today's society most of us are scurrying to get five things done at once this causes stress levels to rise and lowers productivity. When we read all of our attention is focused on one thing instead of five, the story playing out in our head as we read the book.

Reading improves your vocabulary and writing skills. The more you read the more words you are exposed to. Inevitably your vocabulary improves. Reading a well written book will in turn improve and influence your own writing.

Books unlike your TV are a free source of entertainment. I'm not saying throw out your TV I myself enjoy watching a variety of shows and movies. I just try to keep a healthy balance. Books can be expensive (although I value books so much I would spend vast sums of money on books and not care) your local library is a great source for books especially if you don't want to end up like I fear I one day may become on an episode of Hoarders drowning in a sea of books. I regret nothing btw. Or if you like classics a lot of classics are free to download to your tablet via the Kindle App. I myself own a kindle but still prefer to buy real books. For me I like the whole experience of reading. The smell and feel of a book is much more appealing to me than the coldness of technology.

Usually 99% of the time the book is better than the movie. If like me you love movies and TV shows this may be a good place to start your reading journey.

Try some of these books that have been adapted for the big screen over the years...

Or if you liked HBOs True Blood you may enjoy The Sookie Stackhouse Series it started out fairly close to the books in the first season and then deviated from there on out so lots of surprises and characters that didn't even make it onto your television set.

If your a fan of the worlds greatest detective Sherlock Holmes you may like ....

If your a fan of CSI, Broad-church, Castle and similar program's you may like...

Whatever you choose make sure it's something you have an interest in. It's great to try new things but when you want to get into reading I think it's best to go with what you like not what you think you should be reading.

Happy National Read A Book Day!!!!!!!!

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

I recently read Eleanor & Park and absolutely loved everything about it(you can find my review Here ). So I decided to check out more of her stuff, as you do. Landline was her most recently published book and unlike Eleanor & Park it isnt YA. So I thought I've read a lot of YA lately (I'm unapologetic about it, I'm no book snob) I'll give it a go. Also I thought it would be interesting to see the differences if any. You can tell this is written for adults from the get go but it's still very much just as enjoyable as Eleanor & Park.

Georgie McCool is a thirty something mother of two. She's the career mom she writes sitcoms with  her best friend Seth, loves her job and does it well. She's at the peak of her career. Her personal life  however isn't in such great shape her marriage is in trouble and has been for some time but they are still very much in love with each other. Her husband Neal stays home with the girls and does the cooking and cleaning and Georgie comes home late most nights exhausted from long hours of work. Work that she loves. Neal's not mad about the industry Georgie's in. It doesn't appeal to him, in fact he hates it but he's supportive of her. Georgie gets the opportunity to get herself and Seth's dream show up and running but it involves her putting in more hours and working Christmas. Which would be fine only the family is supposed to be flying out to Omaha to stay with Neal's mother for Christmas. The tickets have been bought and Santa has been informed. Neal isn't happy with this and decides to go to Omaha with the children without Georgie. Which means Georgie won't be with them for Christmas.

Georgie is in serious denial at first about what is actually happening when Neal and her two young daughters head off to Omaha. At first she's convinced everything is okay that her and Neal are fine and that he hasn't left her but later on she's not so sure. She becomes a mess without Neal not really sure what to do about their marriage or how to fix things. She calls him everyday but he doesn't answer. She speaks to the children and his mother but he is always off somewhere or with Dawn his neighbour and ex-fiancée. Georgie's mother is also convinced that the marriage is over and asks her to come have dinner. Georgie finding it hard to go back to her now empty house ends up staying at her mothers every night. She calls Neal from an old yellow rotary telephone she bought from a thrift shop when she was a teenager. But the Neal that answers isn't her Neal but a younger version the one that left and went to Omaha after they had a fight when they first started dating and then showed up on Christmas Day with a ring and proposal. Georgie feels like she's going insane at first but she just goes with it. Maybe she can fix all this by speaking to Neal in the Past.

Anyway I'll say no more and let you find out the rest for yourself. It's very witty and intelligent. You really get to know Rowell's characters they are so vivid. You become invested in them and want to know what's in store for them. Rainbow Rowell truly is a magical writer and I look forward to reading all her other books past and future.

https://www.facebook.com/Booksareproofmagicexists

The Queen Of The Tearling by Erika Johansen

Before this book was even on the shelves of our local bookstores it was already snapped up by the movie industry. Emma Watson is said to be set to play protagonist Kelsea Raleigh Glynn. Who if I'm honest is the most fascinating heroine I've come across since Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games.

Kelsea is not depicted in the usually way we are accustomed. She is no renowned beauty instead she is plain, round faced, intelligent and temperamental. She is in all honesty a breath of fresh air and far more identifiable in my opinion.

You would be forgiven for believing that the story is set in the past but in actual fact it seems to be set in the future. The reason you may be given this impression is that there seems to be very few modern conveniences and people wield swords , ride horses and dress in medieval attire. There are also very few books as when the people of the Tear made the crossing from America they were only allowed bring a four books each. Kelsea's foster mother Carlin Glynn had an extensive library which contained many classics such as The Hobbit and Lord Of The Rings as well as Rowling's seven works this if I had been in any doubt before made it clear that this book is actually set in the future.

The Queen Of The Tearling is Erika Johansen's debut novel and having finished reading it I am very glad that it is book one of a trilogy. I very much look forward to reading the rest of this tale. With characters like The Mace, The Fetch, the Red Queen and Kelsea I find it hard to believe that anyone would dislike this book but I have read a few negative reviews and the main issue seems to be based on the following line:

"And for all the anguish that Kelsea's own reflection had caused her lately, she saw now that there was something far worse than being ugly: being ugly and thinking you were beautiful."

I did not become enraged like many other readers have by this statement maybe I don't really see what is wrong with this particular viewpoint. The lady Kelsea is thinking about is an ugly person and by an ugly person I don't mean just aesthetically she is ugly on the inside. So maybe that is why I didn't find myself outraged by this particular thought. 

All that aside I liked the plot. It appealed to me. Kelsea is raised in a cottage from infancy by her foster parents Barty and Carlin. The best way I can think to describe Kelsea's foster parents is that Barty is good cop and Carlin is bad cop. Barty is soft and loving towards Kelsea and Carlin is stern and the enforcer of lessons and punishments. Throw the two together and they are a super parent designed to help Kelsea become a good person and a good ruler. Kelsea's mother was not a good Queen and her kingdom has suffered greatly for her mistakes as a result. Kelsea will have a great task ahead of her if she is to fix her kingdom and right all the wrongs of her mothers and her uncle The Regents rule. That is if she survives the trip to the Keep to be crowned and stays alive long enough to rule.

I will now have to patiently await book twos publication and I can hardly wait. I also really hope that the Movie does the book justice.

Graphic Novels #1 I never thought a mouse would make me cry

The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman

This is my first review of a graphic so bear with me as I'm not sure if I have the hang of this reviewing thing yet.  Maus is the story of Art's own father Vladek's experience and survival of Auschwitz and the Holocaust. It's hard to explain the feeling you get when you read about such horrors. It's for want of a better word gut wrenching. I thought the effect would be lessened by the fact that the Jews are depicted as mice and the Nazis as cats but it really wasn't and it somehow made it even more upsetting.
That awful feeling washes over you when you read something like this the one when everything feels strange and wrong and you can feel the cold crawling over your skin. Then the tears arrive try as you might to keep the watery substance from leaking out of your eye sockets it inevitably becomes too much. In all fairness you would have to be made of stone to not be upset by the Holocaust.

All the dialogue is written in the way his father spoke which was a lovely touch as it added to the reading experience you could almost hear Vladek's accent as you read. Art's relationship with his father isn't all sunshine and rainbows either his father is a hard person to deal with but it's apparent that they loved each other none the less. I like how he didn't make his father or their relationship look perfect he showed himself and his father flaws and all. That was very brave and truthful of him and if I'm honest makes it a more enjoyable read. He also doesn't depict his father as a victim although he undoubtedly was but instead he comes across as much more, as a survivor someone who did everything and anything he could to survive, someone who was resourceful and extremely lucky at times. He wasn't always a likable person but you still felt for him. I would have liked to have read his mothers Anja's point of view too but alas that was not meant to be.
Overall this is very personal book about how a man and his wife survived all odds despite horrific circumstances and found one another again. I really can't speak highly enough of this book. It is probably one of the most honest and personal accounts of the Holocaust I have ever read.

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Ellen's Book Nook #1

The Scarecrows Wedding by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

It's safe to say that Donaldson & Scheffler are the king and queen of picture books. I have been reading their books to my daughter since she was born. They are among her favourites and she has yet to grow out of any of them. This new book is just as great as the previous ones but I'll let the true expert my 9 year old daughter Ellen tell you what she thinks of it.

"This book is about two scarecrows who have fallen in love and want to get married. I think it's a really sweet story. I like the way that they made a of list everything they needed to get married. I also love the way the geese agree to give them thier feathers for the wedding dress and the spider offers his web to sew the feathers together. I like the way it rhymes and I loved the way the scarecrows looked. I would recommend it to ages 3-9 I think little children would like it read as a bedtime story and I think most older children would like it too. I would give it a 5/5". - Ellen 

So there you have it. It's safe to say that this book does not disappoint and will take a loving place beside my daughters bed along with Donaldson & Sheffler's other books The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child and Room On A Broom to name just a few.

I hate goodbyes

The Book Of Life by Deborah Harkness

Deborah Harkness is a weaver of words. I along with legions of fans have waited for this book for a very long time. This being the final book in the All Souls Trilogy is probably the most important as we all wanted to know just how it would end.

For those unaware of this wonderful series of books (A Discovery Of Witches, Shadows Of Night and The Book Of Life)they follow the story of historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew de Clairmont.

In this final book Diana & Matthew have returned from their time walk to 1591. Their return home is met with news of the loss of a member of the family who had been murdered in thier absence. All this time they had been worried about the Congregation but a new and far more meanicing evil persues them now. It is even more crucial that they find Ashmole 782 and it's missing pages in order to protect their now growing family.

This book was everything I could have hoped for I am in no way dissapionted with the end which can often be the case when you become so invested in a storey like this one and eagerly anticipate the next book for so long. The Book Of Life like it's predisesors is richly steeped in history, ancestors,magic, creatures and stunning locations not to mention great characters. Waiting for The Book Of Life has been torturous for fans of these books but I'm glad that Deborah did not rush herself to conclude it as it may not have been so good if she had. I for one will truly miss the whole Bishop - de Clairmont clan.

Classic Corner #1

 Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

My favourite Austen novel is DRUM ROLL.............................Sense & Sensibility!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope, its not Pride & Prejudice as much as I do like that book I much prefer Sense & Sensibility. The young Miss Dashwood's are just more appealing to me than the Bennett sisters as much as I love them all. I also and I warn you this may shock many an Austenite, PREFER Colonel Brandon over Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. I know, I am a strange one but that's how I feel. I do not dislike Darcy I just enjoy reading about Brandon more. In my eyes he is just a better character he appeals to me more. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't kick Darcy out of bed for eating crisps (especially if he is Colin Firth) but the sentimental soppy side of me is much more fond of good old Colonel Brandon. After reading sense and sensibility not that long ago I watched the Movie adaption starring Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman and that has cemented my love for them for all eternity.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Jane Austen. Sense & Sensibility was her first novel to be published back in 1811. The novel portrays the lives of Elinor & Marrianne Dashwood. When the girls father lays dying in his grand home of Norland. His house must by law pass to his son John, the child he had with his first wife. His second wife and his daughters Elinor, Marrianne and Margaret stand to inherit only a very small income. His wife and daughters are at the mercy of thier half-brother so he enacts a promise from John that upon his now imminent death that the girls be looked after. Johns wife Fanny an awful selfish greedy manipulative women persuades her husband to renege on his promise to his recently deceased father. They waste no time in arriving at Norland and the Dashwood women become unwanted guests in what was up untill very recently their home. They must look elsewhere for accommodation.

Shortly after the arrival of thier brother and his wife. Fanny,s brother Edward Ferrers who is the opposite of his sibling in that he is kind, unassuming, intelligent and a little reserved arrives at Norland to visit his sister. Edward quickly forms an attachment to Elinor but Fanny disapproves of the match and does what she can to quell it before it's began. Fanny implies to Mrs Dashwood that Elinor's out for money rather than love. Mrs Dashwood furious at the implication hurries her search for new living arrangements.

It's not long before the Dashwood women move to their new considerably less grand home of Barton Cottage in Devonshire. Mrs Dashwoods cousin Sir John Middleton welcomes the girls and they are introduced almost immediately into local society. It is through Sir John that we meet Colonel Brandon and it is not long before his feeling towards Marrianne are made apparent. Marrianne is horrified and considers Brandon to be far too old for her. He,s only 35years old but anyway.

While out on a walk Marianne meets John Willoughby after she gets caught in a downpour, slips and twists her ankle. Willoughby comes to her rescue and carries her home. As they become acquainted with each other it becomes apparent that they both enjoy poetry, music and art. Marrianne quickly becomes besotted with the handsome Willoughby. His attention he gives Marrianne becomes so overt that Elinor and her mother believe them to be secretly engaged. So it is a shock when Willoughby unexpectly announces that his Aunt is sending him to London on business indefinitely. Marrianne is heartbroken.

Edward Ferrars makes an appearance at Barton cottage but only stays briefly. He seems out of sorts and Elinor fears that he no longer feels the same way about her as she does him. She keeps her pain to herself not wanting to burden her family with it. She learns a short time later from Lady Middletons cousin Lucy Steele that Edward has been engaged to Lucy for the past four years. It becomes apparent that poor Edward has been forced into a loveless engagement by his family. Elinor is heartbroken but she cannot blame Edward for being honourable and she pity's him.

Marrianne and Elinor accompany Mrs Jennings (Sir Johns mother in law) to London for the winter. While in London Marrianne learns from a letter from Whilloby that he is engaged to be married enclosed with this letter are all her correspondence with him and a lock of hair she had given him as a token of love. Marrianne confesses to her sister that the two were not secretly engaged like Elinor and Mrs Dashwood had once thought but that she did love him and had believed that it was mutual. Brandon seeing how hurt Marrianne is confides in Elinor that Whilloby had in the past seduced Brandon's young ward impregnated and abondoned her. Miss Williams the girl in question had been the daughter of his Father's Ward whom he had fallen in love with but whom his father had refused to allow him to marry and arranged for her to be married to his older brother.

While in London the girls reluctantly have to visit Fanny. Fanny has invited Lucy and Ann Steele. Ann let's slip that Lucy is secretly engaged to Edward and Fanny furiously has them sent on thier way. Edward refuses to break the engagement and is disinherted. Colonel Brandon impressed by his offers Edward a living at his Delaford parsonage. Mrs Jennings then takes the two heartbroken Dashwood girls to the country to visit her daughter who has just given birth to her first child. Marrianne falls dangerously ill and Whilloby comes to visit her. He tells Elinor that he has been disinherited because of what he did to the young Miss Williams and that is why he had to marry for money rather than love. When Marriane is recovered she tells her of the visit and she resigns that while she loved Whilloby she would not have been happy with him.

Upon returning home to Barton cottage. Elinor des overs that Lucy and Mr Ferrars have married.
She is devastated untill Edward arrives and explains that after he was disinherted Lucy released him from their engagement in favour of his younger brother. He makes his feeling known and they are married soon after. Marrianne also over time falls in love with the lovely Colonol Brandon and they too are married. So it's happy ending all round really. I find it really hard to fathom why some people would prefer to see Marrianne with Whilloby I really feel that those who think that do not fully grasp the point Jane Austen is trying to make with book.

A Murder Most Fowl

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

The second detective novel in what I hope to be a very long series. Cormoran Strike is described in JK Rowling's latest crime novel as having pube like hair,being on the bulky side and not that attractive. He is ex SIB and a war veteran who had his leg blown off in Afganastain he is also the illegitimate son of a famous rock star a fact he does not wish to scream from the rooftops. After his success at solving the Lula Landry case (read Cuckoo,s Calling for more on that). Strike has almost managed to crawl out of the crippling debt he was in before the case. He now has steady influx of clients and his business is very sucessful. He has now taken on full-time the temp he hired in the previous novel the lovely Robin Ellacott.

The story starts with a visit from Lenora Quinne her husband has gone missing and she wants Strike to find him as she is under pressure financially. Her husband is the well known writer ,Owen Quinne and this is not the first time he has done a disappearing act on Lenora but with a mentally challenged daughter to care for Lenora is desperate for her husband to return home. She believes he has gone to a writers retreat and as she has been unsuccessful in her attempts to get any answers out of his publishers or agent she has called on Strike to get things done. 

What should be a simple open and shut case becomes complicated and Owen is nowhere to be found. Early on in his investigation Strike discovers that Owen has written a book Bombyx Mori that has depicted many people in his industry and in his personal life in a very unsavoury fashion. So when Strike eventually discovers Owen Quine brutally murdered in an extremely bizarre and grotesque manner the list of suspects is long.

Things take a turn for the worse when his client is arrested for her husbands murder and it becomes a race against time for Strike and Robin to prove Lenora's innocence.

I have to say I had the killer pegged from about a third of the way through but the author still managed to make me second guess a few times as the story went on which kept things interesting. It was an engaging, well drawn and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Cormoran has now become my second favourite detective coming second only to Serlock Holmes. I look forward to reading many more of his adventures in the years to come.

Rating:

***** 5/5