book-reviews

I am still here!

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 15:37:19 +0100

Realising I have not written on this blog for a long time, for various reasons, I thought I should just add a brief note to say I am still here!

I'm still here doing bits of work and am ready to receive any enquiries you may have, I've just not been very good at keeping up the blog. I do however, update my testimonials page each time one comes through, so please check there to get a sense of what I am like to work with. :o)

Book Review: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 15:58:42 +0100

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

Published 7th June 2012 by Corsair (previously an ebook)

Winner of the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy 2011.

Imaginative and witty, complex and memorable, this is a fantastical fairyland full of magical characters. In true fairy story style young September is whisked off by the Green Wind and the Leopard of Little Breezes to visit Fairyland. Along the way she meets a host of quirky friends including ‘A through L’ the book loving wyverary (a wyvern who’s father was a library), the half-a-whole twins Neither and Nor and the 112 year old orange lantern who speaks in golden looped writing.

Wondering from time to time if she is on a good adventure, or not, September encounters the villainous Marquess and is ordered on a mission to retrieve a special sword. Meanwhile a forgotten key is having it’s own adventure…

The ideas and imagination of the story are captivating and the characters linger in my mind long after reading, but there was something about this that didn’t quite gel for me. I felt it was perhaps trying too hard to be whimsical, which at times made it feel over fussy and detracted from its innate whimsy. However, it was an enjoyable read and I can imagine it being a great bedtime storybook for reading aloud with your child.

A delightful book reminiscent of old classics Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz, I would definitely recommend joining September as she circumnavigates fairyland in a ship of her own making.

The Carnegie and Greenaway award winners have been announced!

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 15:58:10 +0100

I was thrilled to discover that 'A Monster Calls' by Patrick Ness has been awarded both the CILIP Carnegie Medal and the Kate Greenaway medal! It's the second year running that Ness has won the Carnegie and I would say it is well deserved. His 'Chaos Walking Trilogy' and 'A Monster Calls' have been some of the best books of read in years.

It's the first time in history that the same book has won both awards, yet I'm not surprised that 'A Monster Calls' did so. The Kate Greenaway medal was awarded for Jim Kay's illustration, which most definitely added something special to the book.

My excitement for this win is amplified for me as the new paperback edition will have a review quote from me on the inside cover! I reviewed the book for the Ultimate Book Guide when it first came out and this will be the first time I've had a review quote published on an actual book cover. I don't think I could have chosen a better book to be quoted on! You can read my review here.

I am currently reading my way through the Carnegie short list and will post some brief reviews of the entries soon.

Read the Guardian article on the Carnegie win here
There is also an interview about the making of 'A Monster Calls' here.
Listen to Patrick Ness' and Jim Kay's acceptance speeches for the medals, they do a wonderful job singing the praises of libraries and teenagers.
You might also like to find out more about Patrick Ness and Jim Kay

Book launch (2) and future reviews

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:00:54 +0100

I had a wonderful time at the book launch for 'The Quiddity of Will Self' (see previous post). Thank you so much to Sam Mills for inviting me! I was thrilled to have the opportunity to chat to other authors, reviewers and publishers.

Before the event I spent a few hours wandering around trying not to get too lost in London. In this brief time I discovered - that it's a bad idea to stop and tie your shoelace while walking through the underground tunnels, that London is too busy to successfully write and walk at the same time and that I tend to walk in the opposite direction to everyone else... I did however find some refuge by tucking myself into a corner where I could happily scribble away accompanied by the music of a nearby busker.

At the launch I met some of Sam's publishing team from Constable & Robinson. Luckily they liked my review and have agreed to send me more books to review! Yay! I believe first on the list will be 'The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making' by Catherynne M. Valente, which is due for publication 7th June. Judging by the title and blurb it looks set to be a good read!

So, there will be be future reviews appearing here. In the meantime, my review of 'Paper Town' by John Green is currently on the Milton Keynes Library Website.

While I'm here - a quick reminder that it is World Book Night tomorrow! Enjoy!

Book launch!

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:27:24 +0100

Not exactly a review but I wanted to share my excitement! Today I will be attending a book launch for the very first time! Sam Mills has kindly invited me to the launch of her new adult book 'The Quiddity of Will Self'. I have little else to say as I have not yet attended but in the meantime why not watch the trailer for the book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAaGR8g2Uz8
or read my review in the previous blog post. :o)

Book Review: 'The Quiddity of Will Self' by Sam Mills

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:37:38 +0100

'The Quiddity of Will Self' by Sam Mills
Publication date 15th March 2012

Skilled, confident and brave; Sam Mills writes in worship of an existing cult author, exploring the extremities of worship, love of literature and the twisted trails within the mind left by the textual footsteps of every author one reads. Each book a glimpse within the psyche of another, the taunting desperation of wondering if you could have that mind, be that person, find those ideas, those words within yourself. ‘The Quiddity of Will Self’ pushes that notion to the extreme. Could one actually become Will Self? Recreate oneself in his image, inhabit him posthumously or digest his quiddity? Through the characters’ stories we see the consequences of such an obsession.

Identity, insanity, orgies, mystery, murder, loss, deception, ghosts, hermaphroditism it’s all in here and yet it doesn’t feel overcrowded as a novel. Its denseness works and the creative ideas drive the story well. This is literature of grand proportions and I’m not surprised it is the work of nine years!

The sense of reality interwoven with fiction adds an extra curiosity to the novel. Within the book the WSC (the cloaked, masked cult of writers who worship Self) is a blur of hedonistic orgies, drugs and dangerous games. Yet the WSC also exists as a real organisation off the page and is equally mysterious judging by its website (www.thewillselfclub.co.uk), though one hopes it to be less macabre than the book version. Art mirrors life, life mirrors art - but how true are the reflections? You may find you continue to try and unravel this mystery beyond the end of the novel. Certainly for me, investigative research beckons and once again life mirrors art as I’m reminded of the character Mia…

‘The Quiddity of Will Self’ isn’t a book to devour in one sitting (I fear it may explode your mind), it is a book to take your time with, to break from, ponder and digest its ideas.

I was not previously familiar with Will Self’s work (dare I admit this?) but I did not find that it interfered with my enjoyment of ‘The Quiddity of Will Self’. I am now tempted by the lure of his many novels and his sesquipedalianism* and perhaps may one day find myself a cloaked member of the WSC…

*Yes, I am impressed with myself for managing to use a Selfian word within this review and I’m equally hopeful that I’ve used it correctly!

Welcome to my new book reviewing page!

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:21:23 +0100

Here it is - a page dedicated to book reviewing! I will post book reviews as and when I encounter new publications or when the inspiration strikes to review old favourites. I've been lucky enough to receive two new very different publications through the post recently so I will be starting with those. I'll also post links to my previous reviews, written for the Ultimate Book Guide Blog.
If you would like me to consider reviewing your book please contact me.
Happy reading! :o)

Previous Reviews

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:31:28 +0100

Previous Reviews
Below you will find a list of titles I reviewed for the Ultimate Book Guide Blog along with links to the reviews. These are currently listed in date order, with the most recent first.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Wreckers by Julie Hearn
Ice Maiden by Sally Prue
School Blues by Daniel Pennac
Wasted by Nicola Morgan
Laghu the Clever Crow by Bhavit Mehta
Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness
Angelica Sprockets Pockets by Quentin Blake
No and Me by Delphine de Vigan
Blackout by Sam Mills