March is storming onwards towards its conclusion in 3 days and still I have not posted my book reads and reviews from February. Better get on with it!!!
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12. The Never ending story- Michael Ende
I loved this film as a child but for some bizarre reason I didn't make the link between the word STORY to realise it was a book. When I saw it on the classroom shelf in year 4, I pounced eagerly.
The book is obviously much longer and the story differs from The Never Ending Story although a lot of details made it into the film.
The book begins where a little boy, Bastian, goes into a bookshop and steals a book called the Neverending Story. He is bullied at school and longs to escape. He hides in the attic of the school and reads all day and night about the land of Fantastica and how it is being gradually eaten up by the sinister Nothing. A hero, Atreyu, is selected by the serene and peaceful ruler of the land, the Childlike Empress, and he searches through Fantastica for the solution to the problem. Eventually, Bastian finds himself integral to the solution and finds himself in Fantastica. The book differs from the film in that the end of the first film is only midway through the book and the part of the book which follows Bastian's exploits in Fantastica is both interesting, imaginative and all a little bit scary!
The imagination of the book, the description and imagery is wonderful. I find Bastian an irritating protagonist though. I suspect he is written that way deliberately because of what happens in the story , but I did want to shake him thoroughly at times. The wonderful Luckdragon, Falkor, is a beguiling character and I loved it whenever he came back into the story. Atreyu, similarly, is wiser and more 3d in the book than in the film and I found myself incredibly fond of him. Characters that so scared me when I was young (the scary wolfish creature) and the lady with no face in the 2nd film, were much less worrisome in the book- I guess my imagination made them less scary than the film did. It was really fun to finally read this story!
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13. By the shores of silver lake - Laura Ingalls Wilder
The next installment of the 'Little house on the prairie' stories, the Ingalls family leave their home in Plum Creek once more and head out west to seek new lands that aren't so crowded. Pa Ingalls has a job to help build the Railroad out to the West so the family follow him. onto the Prairie again to claim a patch of new land in a Government scheme. Time is of the essence as they must get there and stake a claim and find their land before anyone else though. Many people seek the land and some will do anything to get their own way.
I found this book particularly exciting in comparison to the previous books in the series. Perhaps it is to do with the fact that Laura was older on Silver Lake but the hardships, difficulties and dangers seem more real and sometimes perhaps insurmountable here. The earlier books showed how easily game and food seemed easily to find. Here the difficulties are rife and we have so much more interaction with other people in these stories. I found it fascinating to read of how the town, De Smet grew, how rapidly houses and shops went up and the suchlike. I very much like Laura Ingalls as a character. One interesting and very sad development in the life of the family is the fact that her elder sister Mary became blind at the start of this book due to Scarlet Fever and suddenly becomes a more prevalent character. I adore Pa Ingalls- he is such a wonderful role model for his children. This book is full of heart.
14. The long winter- Laura Ingalls Wilder
I read the next installment in the Ingalls family's life. They are still in their Shanty on the prairie near the new town of De Smet. However, at the start of the story, a native American Indian comes to the village and warns of a coming Long-winter- every 7th Winter is particularly hard. Many of the town fail to believe him but it comes true. The worst winter imaginable reaches the town and seems relentless. As time continues, things become more desperate, supplies run low and it seems the whole town and settlers may starve to death as they have no established supplies being a new town and the railroad is frozen solid for months- supplies never seem to get through!
Like the previous book I reviewed, this book seems even more focused on the difficulties and hardships of the new life of the Ingalls family. I found the descriptions of the blizzards and the depth of snow and difficulties of travel extremely bleak and very evocative. As I read, I felt myself despair of their ever being warm and full of food again. Again, a gripping read, even though it is largely focused on one Winter!
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15. Dead Man's Cove - Lauren St.John
I found this book in a charity shop and at first, beginning with a girl in a children's home, I thought this was going to read like a Jacqueline Wilson book but it was so much more intriguing than that. Our main character Laura, goes to live with her uncle in St Ives, Cornwall, her life seems changed for ever. Yet, as she gets to know this mysterious uncle who has much to hide, a strange housekeeper and a young Asian relative, Tariq, of the Supermarket owners, she becomes confused as to who is a friend and enemy. The mystery reigns throughout this book and it moves at an interesting pace. To a certain extent, this reminded me in a way,of a sort of tame Alex Rider type of book without all the action- the same element of mystery and secret organisations and relatives dying, link the two. It addresses some very relevant modern themes too. Totally exciting! I already donated it to the year 4 bookcase!
16. Me before you- Jojo Moyles
I am absolutely not one to jump on a book bandwagon. I will positively sidestep the bandwagon and stubbornly walk instead. However, by accident, I ended up watching the film version of it on the plane home from South Africa and rather loved it. Then, when I saw it in a charity shop, somehow, I felt that now I should read it!
Louisa Clark is sacked from her job at the start of the book. She has worked rather happily, though rather ambitiously, as a cafe assistant for a few years. Times are hard and jobs are scarce so when she lands a job at the local National Trust castle, as a companion/carer to Will Traynor, a young man who is confined to a wheelchair and can only move his face and one hand. Will is definitely very resentful of what has happened to him. But, as the two spend more time together- their perspectives on life perhaps might change.
I loved the book as much as the film. There's obviously a lot more depth in the book but I do think they did a good interpretation of it. The characters are well-written and likeable. I cared about them deeply and spent a good proportion of the book howling!
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17. Coraline- Neil Gaiman.
Another charity shop book- this tells the story of a little girl who is rather bored with her life and her parents who seem to pay little attention to her. Somehow, she gains access through a strange doorway in her house, to an alternative version of her home but with an Other Mother and Other Father and Other Neighbours. They seem to love and appreciate her and want her to stay. BUT, all is strange and sinister and staying with them is not something she wants to do. The latter part of the book deals with Coraline trying to escape from the other family. It is rather chilling to read, despite being fairly innocent writing. I think the fear factor comes from something familiar and lovely being turned in this way- such as the Other family having Black buttons instead of eyes. I found the ending rather horrifying and clever- rather psychological. Not one I want to read again but gripping nonetheless.
18. Frozen in time- Ali Sparkes
Yet another book I found in the charity shop. I adore books with a time-travelling element to them and this is no exception! Ben and Rachel, who are staying in their family home with their uncle are dreadfully bored in the holidays, particularly since the TV blows up at the start of the story. It's because of this that they go out into the garden and when digging around, find something a bit strange. They dig into some strange huge capsule and inside they discover Freddie and Polly, 2 children who were frozen in chryonic suspension by their father back in 1956. It turns out that the four are relatives. But how will the children of the 50's adapt to present day- have their bodies been damaged by the suspension and will anyone find out about them and seek them. And what happened to their father all those years ago?
This definitely had a Famous Five in the modern day feel to it with adventure, baddies and mysteries. I loved seeing how the author treats the reactions of the children from the past towards modern day innovations and seeing how the modern day children are also affected.
19. Patrick - Quentin Blake
Patrick is a picture and text book about a ragged young man who has saved up some money to buy a violin. He goes to a market and buys his instrument. As he walks along, he meets different characters and the magic of his haunting violin melody does magical things to those he meets- trees growing ordinary fruit are suddenly covered in sweets and cakes, shoe-laces turn into bright ribbons, drab-coloured birds grow tropical feathers, a miserable tramp suddenly gains a new lease of life.
I found this a delightful book and I know I would have loved all the magical changes that happen to the characters in the book when I was a little girl. I read this to my Reception class on a Tuesday and played a haunting violin melody on Youtube in the background as they listened and it really did add a magical dimension to the retelling. The children seemed really caught up in the imagery of it! Plus, Quentin Blake's illustrations are as charming as ever.
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20. Emma - Alexander McCall Smith
I have heard mixed reviews about it. It is a modern-day retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, by one of my favourite authors. Would it be a typical enjoyable read of his? Well, to be honest with you- I tend to generally love most Jane Austen retellings because I love the originals and long to read them with fresh eyes again- like the first time I read it- I am, it must be said, rather easily amused/pleased so I wouldn't necessarily take me as the best critic. I confess that, despite its modern retelling, it still retained the quaintness of the past- it's something to do with his depiction of Mr Woodhouse. In some ways, it reminds me of a foreign translation of a book in a way I cannot put my finger on- rather like the translation of the next book I am to review below. It was pleasant to read but I didn't feel really in love with it in the way I do about most of AMcCS's books!
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21. Hitman Anders and the meaning of it all- Jonas Jonasson
It was rather a surprise to find another book by Jonas Jonasson in the charity shop. I'd not heard of this one. If you haven't read any of his other books- Jonasson's speciality is making totally extraordinary and crazy things happen to his main characters. In the 100 year old man who climbed out of the window- the old man ends up stealing lots of money and ends up managing to escape via a series of extremely convenient coincidences. Similarly, in his other book. This book is no exception to that formula. This time, our main characters are a rather disgruntled young man whose Dad had a difficult life and a former priest who never wanted to be one. They end up getting accidently involved with a Hitman and somehow end up exploiting him to earn lots of money. And then the priest finds Jesus. But, unfortunately, the young couple have rather got used to the money they were earning and decide to exploit the religious angle to comically disastrous and strangely successful consequences. As usual, our main characters have done something wrong and are being chased by someone who wants them dead- the formula remains the same but it is nonetheless, entertaining! I wonder if Jonasson is a one plotline pony or he can write in another way. That said, all three books I've read are highly original, funny and entertaining but I do find myself groaning a bit after reading three of them.
What books did you read in ahem- February or indeed- March!!!!
xx
12. The Never ending story- Michael Ende
I loved this film as a child but for some bizarre reason I didn't make the link between the word STORY to realise it was a book. When I saw it on the classroom shelf in year 4, I pounced eagerly.
The book is obviously much longer and the story differs from The Never Ending Story although a lot of details made it into the film.
The book begins where a little boy, Bastian, goes into a bookshop and steals a book called the Neverending Story. He is bullied at school and longs to escape. He hides in the attic of the school and reads all day and night about the land of Fantastica and how it is being gradually eaten up by the sinister Nothing. A hero, Atreyu, is selected by the serene and peaceful ruler of the land, the Childlike Empress, and he searches through Fantastica for the solution to the problem. Eventually, Bastian finds himself integral to the solution and finds himself in Fantastica. The book differs from the film in that the end of the first film is only midway through the book and the part of the book which follows Bastian's exploits in Fantastica is both interesting, imaginative and all a little bit scary!
The imagination of the book, the description and imagery is wonderful. I find Bastian an irritating protagonist though. I suspect he is written that way deliberately because of what happens in the story , but I did want to shake him thoroughly at times. The wonderful Luckdragon, Falkor, is a beguiling character and I loved it whenever he came back into the story. Atreyu, similarly, is wiser and more 3d in the book than in the film and I found myself incredibly fond of him. Characters that so scared me when I was young (the scary wolfish creature) and the lady with no face in the 2nd film, were much less worrisome in the book- I guess my imagination made them less scary than the film did. It was really fun to finally read this story!
13. By the shores of silver lake - Laura Ingalls Wilder
The next installment of the 'Little house on the prairie' stories, the Ingalls family leave their home in Plum Creek once more and head out west to seek new lands that aren't so crowded. Pa Ingalls has a job to help build the Railroad out to the West so the family follow him. onto the Prairie again to claim a patch of new land in a Government scheme. Time is of the essence as they must get there and stake a claim and find their land before anyone else though. Many people seek the land and some will do anything to get their own way.
I found this book particularly exciting in comparison to the previous books in the series. Perhaps it is to do with the fact that Laura was older on Silver Lake but the hardships, difficulties and dangers seem more real and sometimes perhaps insurmountable here. The earlier books showed how easily game and food seemed easily to find. Here the difficulties are rife and we have so much more interaction with other people in these stories. I found it fascinating to read of how the town, De Smet grew, how rapidly houses and shops went up and the suchlike. I very much like Laura Ingalls as a character. One interesting and very sad development in the life of the family is the fact that her elder sister Mary became blind at the start of this book due to Scarlet Fever and suddenly becomes a more prevalent character. I adore Pa Ingalls- he is such a wonderful role model for his children. This book is full of heart.
14. The long winter- Laura Ingalls Wilder
I read the next installment in the Ingalls family's life. They are still in their Shanty on the prairie near the new town of De Smet. However, at the start of the story, a native American Indian comes to the village and warns of a coming Long-winter- every 7th Winter is particularly hard. Many of the town fail to believe him but it comes true. The worst winter imaginable reaches the town and seems relentless. As time continues, things become more desperate, supplies run low and it seems the whole town and settlers may starve to death as they have no established supplies being a new town and the railroad is frozen solid for months- supplies never seem to get through!
Like the previous book I reviewed, this book seems even more focused on the difficulties and hardships of the new life of the Ingalls family. I found the descriptions of the blizzards and the depth of snow and difficulties of travel extremely bleak and very evocative. As I read, I felt myself despair of their ever being warm and full of food again. Again, a gripping read, even though it is largely focused on one Winter!
15. Dead Man's Cove - Lauren St.John
I found this book in a charity shop and at first, beginning with a girl in a children's home, I thought this was going to read like a Jacqueline Wilson book but it was so much more intriguing than that. Our main character Laura, goes to live with her uncle in St Ives, Cornwall, her life seems changed for ever. Yet, as she gets to know this mysterious uncle who has much to hide, a strange housekeeper and a young Asian relative, Tariq, of the Supermarket owners, she becomes confused as to who is a friend and enemy. The mystery reigns throughout this book and it moves at an interesting pace. To a certain extent, this reminded me in a way,of a sort of tame Alex Rider type of book without all the action- the same element of mystery and secret organisations and relatives dying, link the two. It addresses some very relevant modern themes too. Totally exciting! I already donated it to the year 4 bookcase!
16. Me before you- Jojo Moyles
I am absolutely not one to jump on a book bandwagon. I will positively sidestep the bandwagon and stubbornly walk instead. However, by accident, I ended up watching the film version of it on the plane home from South Africa and rather loved it. Then, when I saw it in a charity shop, somehow, I felt that now I should read it!
Louisa Clark is sacked from her job at the start of the book. She has worked rather happily, though rather ambitiously, as a cafe assistant for a few years. Times are hard and jobs are scarce so when she lands a job at the local National Trust castle, as a companion/carer to Will Traynor, a young man who is confined to a wheelchair and can only move his face and one hand. Will is definitely very resentful of what has happened to him. But, as the two spend more time together- their perspectives on life perhaps might change.
I loved the book as much as the film. There's obviously a lot more depth in the book but I do think they did a good interpretation of it. The characters are well-written and likeable. I cared about them deeply and spent a good proportion of the book howling!
17. Coraline- Neil Gaiman.
Another charity shop book- this tells the story of a little girl who is rather bored with her life and her parents who seem to pay little attention to her. Somehow, she gains access through a strange doorway in her house, to an alternative version of her home but with an Other Mother and Other Father and Other Neighbours. They seem to love and appreciate her and want her to stay. BUT, all is strange and sinister and staying with them is not something she wants to do. The latter part of the book deals with Coraline trying to escape from the other family. It is rather chilling to read, despite being fairly innocent writing. I think the fear factor comes from something familiar and lovely being turned in this way- such as the Other family having Black buttons instead of eyes. I found the ending rather horrifying and clever- rather psychological. Not one I want to read again but gripping nonetheless.
18. Frozen in time- Ali Sparkes
Yet another book I found in the charity shop. I adore books with a time-travelling element to them and this is no exception! Ben and Rachel, who are staying in their family home with their uncle are dreadfully bored in the holidays, particularly since the TV blows up at the start of the story. It's because of this that they go out into the garden and when digging around, find something a bit strange. They dig into some strange huge capsule and inside they discover Freddie and Polly, 2 children who were frozen in chryonic suspension by their father back in 1956. It turns out that the four are relatives. But how will the children of the 50's adapt to present day- have their bodies been damaged by the suspension and will anyone find out about them and seek them. And what happened to their father all those years ago?
This definitely had a Famous Five in the modern day feel to it with adventure, baddies and mysteries. I loved seeing how the author treats the reactions of the children from the past towards modern day innovations and seeing how the modern day children are also affected.
 |
| My copy is at school so here is an image from www.foyles.co.uk who stock this lovely book |
19. Patrick - Quentin Blake
Patrick is a picture and text book about a ragged young man who has saved up some money to buy a violin. He goes to a market and buys his instrument. As he walks along, he meets different characters and the magic of his haunting violin melody does magical things to those he meets- trees growing ordinary fruit are suddenly covered in sweets and cakes, shoe-laces turn into bright ribbons, drab-coloured birds grow tropical feathers, a miserable tramp suddenly gains a new lease of life.
I found this a delightful book and I know I would have loved all the magical changes that happen to the characters in the book when I was a little girl. I read this to my Reception class on a Tuesday and played a haunting violin melody on Youtube in the background as they listened and it really did add a magical dimension to the retelling. The children seemed really caught up in the imagery of it! Plus, Quentin Blake's illustrations are as charming as ever.
20. Emma - Alexander McCall Smith
I have heard mixed reviews about it. It is a modern-day retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, by one of my favourite authors. Would it be a typical enjoyable read of his? Well, to be honest with you- I tend to generally love most Jane Austen retellings because I love the originals and long to read them with fresh eyes again- like the first time I read it- I am, it must be said, rather easily amused/pleased so I wouldn't necessarily take me as the best critic. I confess that, despite its modern retelling, it still retained the quaintness of the past- it's something to do with his depiction of Mr Woodhouse. In some ways, it reminds me of a foreign translation of a book in a way I cannot put my finger on- rather like the translation of the next book I am to review below. It was pleasant to read but I didn't feel really in love with it in the way I do about most of AMcCS's books!
21. Hitman Anders and the meaning of it all- Jonas Jonasson
It was rather a surprise to find another book by Jonas Jonasson in the charity shop. I'd not heard of this one. If you haven't read any of his other books- Jonasson's speciality is making totally extraordinary and crazy things happen to his main characters. In the 100 year old man who climbed out of the window- the old man ends up stealing lots of money and ends up managing to escape via a series of extremely convenient coincidences. Similarly, in his other book. This book is no exception to that formula. This time, our main characters are a rather disgruntled young man whose Dad had a difficult life and a former priest who never wanted to be one. They end up getting accidently involved with a Hitman and somehow end up exploiting him to earn lots of money. And then the priest finds Jesus. But, unfortunately, the young couple have rather got used to the money they were earning and decide to exploit the religious angle to comically disastrous and strangely successful consequences. As usual, our main characters have done something wrong and are being chased by someone who wants them dead- the formula remains the same but it is nonetheless, entertaining! I wonder if Jonasson is a one plotline pony or he can write in another way. That said, all three books I've read are highly original, funny and entertaining but I do find myself groaning a bit after reading three of them.
What books did you read in ahem- February or indeed- March!!!!
xx