Happy 35th & 50th Birthday to Harry Potter & JK Rowling

I doubt anyone needs to be told just how popular JK Rowling's Harry Potter Series is or the phenomenal following it has acquired over the years and that following seems to just grow and grow with no intention of ever stopping. I for one cannot imagine my world without them. Its appeal is far stretching. Its become such a phenomenon its sometimes hard to fathom that all this came from one persons imagination. And what a remarkable world she has created. JK Rowling is much more than a writer she is also an incredibly charitable person dedicating much of her time and money to helping others. Shes also known to shut down a few Trolls on Twitter from time to time which lets be honest makes us love her even more.

It is a known fact in my house that if I am feeling ill or particular glum Harry Potter & The Philosophers Stone is my go to Book and Movie combination in order to lift my spirits. Much like a dementor attack requires chocolate, I require Harry Potter.

My daughter Ellen has begun her journey into the world of the books. She has always loved the Movies but now that she is feeling confident enough she has begun reading Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone for the first time. Ellen will be 11 in November and is planning a Hogwarts themed Birthday celebration. We have lots of plans and have lots of work to do in order to achieve this magical party our Pinterest Board is growing by the Day.

I joined Pottermore back in 2011 I was lucky enough to be part of the BETA and while I wouldn't spend an awful lot of time on the sight brewing potions and dueling (I'm not very good at either one) I do enjoy reading the extra content.

Ellen asked to join Pottermore a few weeks ago and as the site is very secure I decided she could. We finally got around to registering her today. When you sign up to Pottermore you go through all the usual formalities of registration as with any other site. On Pottermore you do not get to choose your name for security reasons and instead you pick from a list of 4 computer generated ones. You then get a list of things you will need for first year and off to Gringotts you go to collect your Galleons. Once you have withdrawn your loot you then head to Diagon Alley and Buy your books, cauldron, wand and animal. Your animal becomes your avatar as much like your username you cannot choose to put up a picture of yourself for security reasons.

Your wand is also special you are asked a variety of questions about yourself and based on that you are given a wand. Mines Hawthorn 11 inches with a phoenix core and is slightly yielding in-case you were wondering.

When all of this is done its off to The Great Hall to be sorted. You are greeted by a short video from JK Rowling about the im Sorting and then you answer a variety of questions and voila you are Sorted!!!!!!

My daughter was at first not impressed with the Sorting Hat as she was placed in HUFFLEPUFF.
Probably the most overlooked house at Hogwarts. It wasn't until we read further into her introduction that changed. Hufflepuffs are actually great.The just aren't boastful about it. Their dormitory and common room reminded me of a warm, comfortable and earthy Hobbit hole. Newt Scamander of the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie is of Hufflepuff house. JK Rowling also has alot of love for Hufflepuff check out this video.

Hufflepuffs are very friendly and fiercely protective of their territory much like the Badger on their crest. Hufflepuff House values hard work, loyalty, patience and fair play so really when you think about it they have all the most admirable qualities of each house.

A Crack In Everything by Ruth Frances Long

A Crack In Everything is a paranormal romance about a young girl named Isabel Gregory better known throughout the book as Izzy.  Izzy discovers that a secret world in which the Fae live co-exists with her own. She becomes tangled up with that world as events are set in motion when she chases a thief down an alleyway in Dublin and disastrous consequences ensue. 

This book ticks all the boxes for me. It has memorable and intriguing characters, it incorporates Irish folklore, has a strong female character despite the romantic elements and is cleverly written. Not to give anything away but it also has no real major cliff hanger at the end despite a sequel being in the works which is refreshing.

I always feel that the mark of a good book is when despite whatever category it has been put into it is still enjoyable to a much wider audience. I feel that this book is for young and old despite being categorized as YA.

I have spoken to and read reviews from a number of different people ranging from young adults to the mature readers and have not yet come across anything negative . The only issue seems to be that they wish they could start it all over again for the first time and having finished it yesterday I am inclined to agree with them. I look forward to the sequel and reading more of Izzy's adventures in the years to come. 

Its a big thumbs up from me.

A Crack In Everything By Ruth Frances Long is published by O'Brien Press Limited 

Ruth,s Website

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, Sorry I haven't been putting much out lately I got well and truly caught up in the madness of Birthdays and Christmas. I also manage a support group for people who suffer with anxiety disorders and depression and the festive season can be quiet hard for a lot of people but more so if you are struggling with mental illness.




My first book for review this year actually took me by surprise. I'm not one for self help/change your life by doing a), b) and c) books or biography's. The Art Of Asking is all those things and none of those things and so much more than any of those things.




The Art Of Asking is about Amanda's life but it is more focused on the message its trying to convey as apposed to cramming in every little detail about her life. Unlike a bio it has a point its not just a chronicle of events as such its more about her conveying a point by giving examples of what she means by using her own experience.




Its not telling you to do a),b) and c) in order to cure all your woes in life but it will make you think and maybe want to change certain aspects of your thinking on certain things.




Amanda Palmer is a well know musician probably most known for The Dresden Dolls, a punk/cabaret band. You do not have to be familiar with Amanda or her music to enjoy this book. I wasn't, I have heard of the Dresden Dolls and Amanda Palmer but I have never heard any of their music. Amanda is also famous for running the most successful music kickstarter in order to put an album out. It hit well over a million dollars at the time (2012) and its significant as it was the first time it was ever successfully done showing that musicians didn't necessarily require or need a label in order to put their work out there.




The book explores exactly what the title says, The Art Of Asking. Amanda questions why so many of us are afraid to ask for help or to accept help when it is offered. She uses her experiences as a living statue and a musician to explore this. One of the most interesting things she writes about in the book is a little known fact about Henry David Thoreau famous author of Walden. Walden details Thoreau's experiences over the course of two years, two months, and two days in a cabin he built near Walden Pond. The book compresses the time into a single calendar year and uses passages of four seasons to symbolize human development. The book is in part about self reliance. So when I read the following extract I was blown away.

"Thoreau wrote in painstaking detail about how he chose to remove himself from society to live “by his own means” in a little 10-foot x 15-foot hand-hewn cabin on the side of a pond. What he left out of Walden, though, was the fact that the land he built on was borrowed from his wealthy neighbour, that his pal Ralph Waldo Emerson had him over for dinner all the time, and that every Sunday, Thoreau’s mother and sister brought over a basket of freshly-baked goods for him, including donuts.

The idea of Thoreau gazing thoughtfully over the expanse of transcendental Walden Pond, a bluebird alighting onto his threadbare shoe, all the while eating donuts that his mom brought him just doesn’t jibe with most people’s picture of him of a self-reliant, noble, marrow-sucking back-to-the-woods folk-hero."

I can safely say that if Walden wrote that book now and this fact was to be revealed today he would be seen as a fraud and his work would lose all credibility. Palmer goes on to write and excuse the language ...

"Taking the donuts is hard for a lot of people.

It’s not the act of taking that’s so difficult, it’s more the fear of what other people are going to think when they see us slaving away at our manuscript about the pure transcendence of nature and the importance of self-reliance and simplicity. While munching on someone else’s donut.

Maybe it comes back to that same old issue: we just can’t see what we do as important enough to merit the help, the love.

Try to picture getting angry at Einstein devouring a donut brought to him by his assistant, while he sat slaving on the theory of relativity. Try to picture getting angry at Florence Nightingale for snacking on a donut while taking a break from tirelessly helping the sick.

To the artists, creators, scientists, non-profit-runners, librarians, strange-thinkers, start-uppers and inventors, to all people everywhere who are afraid to accept the help, in whatever form it’s appearing,

Please, take the donuts.

To the guy in my opening band who was too ashamed to go out into the crowd and accept money for his band,

Take the donuts.

To the girl who spent her twenties as a street performer and stripper living on less than $700 a month who went on to marry a best-selling author who she loves, unquestioningly, but even that massive love can’t break her unwillingness to accept his financial help, please….

Everybody.

Please.

Just take the fucking donuts."


Why are so many of us afraid to ask for help? I come across this everyday people to afraid to ask their loved ones for help for fear of judgement or appearing weak. This is especially true with people and mental illness. Sufferer's are often afraid to come forward and say "I need help, I'm not okay". It's awful but society still views mental illness with stigma.

These people are just like you or me they have just become ill. Many famous figure's throughout history suffered with mental illness, Abraham Lincoln had Depression, Winston Churchill was bipolar, Edvard Munich suffered from debilitating Panic Attacks. These are successful individuals that despite their conditions achieved great things.

Most people aren't open about mental illness because they fear people will not understand. That they will be treated differently and unfortunately it is more often than not the case. Most people don't understand, most cant comprehend the difference between sadness and the difference between depression. The difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder. Everyone feels anxious or fearful at some point, right? The sensations you feel are usually raised heartbeat or palpitation's, profuse sweating, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, impending sense of doom. When the thing that scares you is removed you slowly start to feel normal again right? Well imagine your fear followed you around all day relentlessly chasing you with no end in sight.That is what it feels like for someone with an anxiety disorder.


The Art Of Asking will have you exploring the difference between begging and asking. When is it okay to ask and when is it okay to take. Amanda makes some very valid point's that are worth exploring. Her lifestyle may not be for everyone and you may not have any interest in her music but the book itself is worth reading. I think we all have issues with asking for help. With giving and receiving. My own grandmother wont accept money as a present for Christmas or Birthdays. She will shove it straight back into your pocket. She will only accept a gift so we have to resort to vouchers and flowers or come up with ideas on things she needs.The same women will hand us money for Birthdays and Christmas so we can buy something we need and will refuse to take it back when we protest.


I'm guilty of not accepting "The Donuts". I was very ill last year and I was struggling with medical costs. My Dad offered me money but I refused it because I didn't want to feel like I owed anybody anything. If my daughter was in the same position I would have, like my Dad offered her the money. So why could I not take it. The only thing I can come up with is Independence, I wanted to do it for myself. I would rather struggle than take the money. By struggling through I was more stressed and so it took longer to recover and cost more in the long run. It seems so stupid to me now. Next time, I will take "The Donuts" .

Anyway lots of rambling in this blog post but this book really got me thinking which is what a good book does. I hope you all have an amazing year and I hope 2015 is kind to you and yours. 

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.

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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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