Helly's Book Diary

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:58:00 +0000

(608 pages)

"I stuck my finger under the edge of the paper and jerked it under the tape. 'Shoot,' I muttered when the paper sliced my finger. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut. It all happened very quickly then. 'No!' Edward roared ...Dazed and disorientated, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm - and into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires."

For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is more dangerous than Bella ever could have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of an evil vampire but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realise their troubles may just be beginning ...

I thought that this was a wonderfully written book with the relationships jumping off the page. Although seemingly Bella couldn't cope without her relationship with Edward, I think that every teenage girl has felt this type of angst at some point or another.

The main attraction for me is the intensity of al the relationships whether it be between Edward & Bella, Bella & Jacob, Bella & Charlie or the complex Culens. Once this is combined with the emotional turmoils brought on be the emergence of Jacob's alter ego and the threat of the Volturi leaves us with an amazing almost cliffhanger and wanting more...

Eclipse here I come :)

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:08:00 +0000

(464 pages)
5 stars

When 17 year old Isabella Swan moves to Forks, Washington to live with her father she expects that her new life will be as dull as the town. But in spite of her awkward manner and low expectations, she finds that her new classmates are drawn to this pale, dark-haired new girl in town. But not, it seems, the Cullen family. These five adopted brothers and sisters obviously prefer their own company and will make no exception for Bella. Bella is convinced that Edward Cullen in particular hates her, but she feels a strange attraction to him, although his hostility makes her feel almost physically ill. He seems determined to push her away until, that is, he saves her life from an out of control car. Bella will soon discover that there is a very good reason for Edward's coldness. He, and his family, are vampires and he knows how dangerous it is for others to get too close.

I only started reading this because I had heard there was a movie being made of it, and I prefer reading a book before I see the movie. I was expecting soppy mush, but that is not what I got, meaning that I was pleasantly surprised.

Whilst there was a lot of romance, and a bit of soppiness, there was also a significant amount of teenage angs and vampireyness (the part i was looking forward to). A nice slow moving wenthralling novel, with an intriguing collection of characters, built up gradually to an explosive crescendo foloowing the arrival of James and his 'coven'. I convince myself I knew how it was going to end, but I was wring, which again made me happy.

I enjoyed it so much I went and bought the rest of the series and I am now reading part 2 - New Moon.

A must for all romantics with a taste for the vampiric :)

A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian by Marina Lewycka

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 17:26:00 +0000

(324 pages)

For years, Nadezhda and Vera, two Ukrainian sisters, raised in England by their refugee parents, have had as little as possible to do with each other - and they have their reasons. But now they find they'd better learn how to get along, because since their mother's death their aging father has been sliding into his second childhood, and an alarming new woman has just entered his life. Valentina, a bosomy young synthetic blonde from the Ukraine, seems to think their father is much richer than he is, and she is keen that he leave this world with as little money to his name as possible. If Nadazhda and Vera don't stop her, no one will. But separating their addled and annoyingly lecherous dad from his new love will prove to be no easy feat - Valentina is a ruthless pro and the two sisters swiftly realize that they are mere amateurs when it comes to ruthlessness. As Hurricane Valentina turns the family house upside down, old secrets come falling out, including the most deeply buried one of them all, from the War, the one that explains much about why Nadazhda and Vera are so different. In the meantime, oblivious to it all, their father carries on with the great work of his dotage, a grand history of the tractor.

This was definitely amusing, although not hilarious. The relationships between the characters were interesting, and the eastern european eccentricites were really entertaining. I really hated the wife (Valentina), but she was probably one of the funniest characters in the book. I felt really badly for the dad by the end, although alls well that ends well. One i would certainly recommend, but not an essential read.

Light on Snow by Anita Shreve

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 04:52:00 +0000

(272 pages)

'I watched my father run forward in his snowshoes the way one sometimes does in dreams, unable to make the legs move fast enough. I ran to the place where he knelt. I looked down into the sleeping bag. A tiny face gazed up at me, the eyes wide despite their many folds. The baby was wrapped in a bloody towel, and its lips were blue.'
The events of a December afternoon on which a father and his daughter find an abandoned infant in the snow will forever alter twelve-year-old Nicky Dillon's understanding of the world which she is about to enter and the adults who inhabit it: a father who has taken great pains to remove himself from society in order to put behind him an unthinkable tragedy; a young woman who must live with the consequences of the terrible choices she has made; and a detective whose cleverness is superseded only by his sense of justice. Written from the point of view of thirty-year-old Nicky as she recalls the vivid images of that fateful December, hers is a tale of love and courage, of tragedy and redemption, and of the ways in which the human heart always seeks to heal itself.

I've been wanting to read this book for quite some time, but I had been nervous about starting it as a couple of other books by Anita Shreve I had't enjoyed at all. I have to say that this was a really good and well told story.
It moved along at a very slow pace, and not very much happened, but this allowed for masses of character development which was fantastic. The story of the aftermath of finding the baby in the woods was built up along side the back story of the family tragedy.
It was really well done, and the development of the story led to an extremely believable conclusion.
It has certainly made me want to read other books by this author!

Lucy the Giant by Sherri L Smith

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 22:32:00 +0000

(224 pages)

Distraught over the death of a stray dog she's adopted, and worn out after a lost childhood spent deflecting jabs at her towering height and picking up after her alcoholic, unemployed father, 15-year-old Lucy ("the Giant") escapes from her Sitka, Alaska, home north to Kodiak, and temporarily reinvents herself as an adult. Lucy, now known as Barbara, winds up on a crabbing boat, with a motley crew that is destined to help her along the painful path to self-discovery.Fast-paced and poignant, Sherri L. Smith's first young adult novel will appeal to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider in her or his own world. Readers will root for Lucy, never doubting that she will come out ahead... eventually. Her struggles--both physical and emotional--are authentic and beautifully portrayed. Smith's descriptions of the grueling yet rewarding work on the Bering Sea are vivid, and reflect nicely the inner work of her protagonist. We hope this is only the first of many novels from this gifted new author.

I had to read this book as soon as I read the Blurb for it. Having been the subject of bullying at school I wanted to see how writers for young adults in the 21st century handled and I was certainly NOT disappointed!
Lucy is the kind of person that I wish I could have been. Yes she is picked on and thats really horrid, but she has an amazing sense of strength and chose the time to push herself to improve her life. She had had enough of being pitied and depended upon by an alcoholic parent and made a tough choice and lived a hard gruelling life, which eventually gave here a marvellous family and an amazing set of friends.
The tone of the book and the voice of Lucy are really strong and I really couldn't weait to find out what happened next. Whilst Iwish the ending had been different, I understand that not everything can end in perfection.
I recommend this to people who want to look inside the heart of an amazind character without all the frills of a perfect life, and I really cannot wait to read more stuff by this author. Fabulous :D

The Abortionist's Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:49:00 +0000

(285 pages)

'The problem was Megan had just taken the second half of her ecstasy when her father called with the news'. Nineteen-year-old university student Megan Thompson is beautiful, cool, clever and sexy - the kind of girl boys fall in love with. She's mostly steered clear of family life since the death of her younger brother. That is until the day she hears her mother, Diana, has been found floating face down in their swimming pool. Diana, as Director of the Center for Reproductive Choice, was a national figure who inspired passions and made enemies. Detective Huck Berlin is brought in to investigate the case when it becomes clear that Diana was murdered. Several people have quarrelled with Diana on that fateful day, not least Frank, her husband of twenty years, and her wayward child. Now, father and daughter are thrown together in an unexpected twist of family life. Set in a small town in Colorado, The Abortionist's Daughter is an utterly compelling novel of family secrets, dark passion and, ultimately, catharsis for those whose lives have become so strangely entwined.

I thought that this was a really well written book, and whilst it could simply have gone down the road of a bog-standard 'whodunnit' it took an entirely different direction. The identity of the murderer was not the central issue in the story, instead there were fabulous character developments with lots of family history and relationships being explored. The only thing that irritated me is that there were plenty of mentions of and a couple of arguments about Ben, but he simply wasn't explored enough. For 285 pages it was amazing how compact the story was without losing anything too serious. Great!!!
Overall I really did enjoy this and am so glad that I finally got around to reading it :) Recommended to all those who like Jodi Picoult style books, especially if you are after a faster read!!

Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:13:00 +0000

(323 pages)

HE IS ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTING CHARACTERS IN ALL OF LITERATURE.
AT LAST THE EVOLUTION OF HIS EVIL IS REVEALED
Hannibal Lecter emerges from the nightmare of the Eastern Front, a boy in the snow, mute, with a chain around his neck.
He seems utterly alone, but he has brought his demons with him.
Hannibal’s uncle, a noted painter, finds him in a Soviet orphanage and brings him to France, where Hannibal will live with his uncle and his uncle’s beautiful and exotic wife, Lady Murasaki.
Lady Murasaki helps Hannibal to heal. With her help he flourishes, becoming the youngest person ever admitted to medical school in France.
But Hannibal’s demons visit him and torment him. When he is old enough, he visits them in turn.
He discovers he has gifts beyond the academic, and in that epiphany, Hannibal Lecter becomes death’s prodigy.

I really cannot speak highly enough of this book. Admittedly it doesn't have all the sensationalism and extreme violence of the other Lecter books, but as the beginning to a series it is fabulous. When reading the other books about Hannibal, there are plenty of gaps in the backstory, leaving the reader with masses of questions, the most predominant being "why?".
Hannibal Rising attempts and succeeds in filling in these gaps by describing in sometimes horrific detail, the early life experiences if Hannibal Lecter. The reader is still left with a sense of shock and horror, even though the gaps are filled (not entirely however).
I absolutely loved how the story of what actually happeneng in the hunting lodge built up gradually and the consequences involved.
Way to go Mr. Harris!

Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 11:38:00 +0000

(242 pages)

This utterly charming second novel by Cook (Ready To Fall) is a fun read, perfect for whiling away an afternoon on the beach. Sarah Hurlihy is 40 years old, divorced, and happily teaching preschoolers a multicultural curriculum. But her interfering, overzealous Boston Irish family thinks that she should be dating, and with much love she is pushed into answering a personal ad from a gentleman seeking a lady "who enjoys elegant dining, dancing and the slow bloom of affection"; the clincher is that he's a man who "loves dogs." That man turns out to be the last man on earth any woman would want to date, but Sarah pushes on, slowly falling headlong into the dating game with decidedly mixed results. Meanwhile, Sarah's widowed father has his own dating troubles, brother Michael is deep in marital problems, and sister Carol is having difficulty at home with her temperamental teenage daughter, who turns to her favorite aunt for comfort and body-piercing support. Somehow, they all seem to end up on Sarah's doorstep at the most inopportune moments, keeping the laughs going all the way to the not-quite-storybook-perfect ending.

I found this really enjoyable and was chuckling along in many places. Boy am I glad my family isn't as insane as Sarah's!!!
A good soppy fun read, that doesnt turn out quite as expected.

The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:17:00 +0000

(275 pages)

Little Joshua Barker is sure that he saw Santa take a shovel to the head, and now the seven-year-old prays for Santa to come back from the dead. There's an angel waiting in the wings, but he's botched his sacred mission and sent the residents of Pine Cove headlong into Christmas chaos.

This has to be one of the most bizarre Christmas Books I have ever read!!
I did enjoy it, and the sick humour and the Christmas surprises at the church were hugely entertaining and more than a little bit warped, but it really wasnt what I expected...
It has made me want to read more of his stuff, but I am still undecided...
Certainly not a Christmas story for the faint hearted!!!

The Lost Slayer by Christopher Golden

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:28:00 +0000

(592 pages)

A single moment of bad judgement catapults Buffy into an alternate future dimension where vampires reign supreme. Imprisoned in the body of her 24-year-old-self-and confronting friends and foes the likes of which she'd never imagined-the Slayer must uncover her past misstep and correct it, or risk facing a terrifying monster that she herself has created..

This was a really good and engrossing read. The full collection of the Four Lost Slayer books in one volume it was a really fantastic read. All the characters that I love frome the series were there, with some gruesome ends for a few.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves Buffy the series as it give s view into a possible, if not rosy future for everyone. It is set near the beginning of series four (for those who are interested)!

The Black Echo by Michael Connelly

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 08:26:00 +0000

(384 pages)

LAPD detective Hieronymous (aka Harry) Bosch is a loner and a nighthawk. Called out on a routine drug overdose case, Bosch soon realises that the victim found lying in the Mullholland Dam drainpipe is no accident case. Billy Meadows was a fellow 'tunnel rat' in Vietnam and Harry swears to bring the killer to justice.

Yet another enjoyable Bosch story. They just keep you gripped from the outset and yet again I didn't figure out whodunnit!!!! I just love Harry!!

Crazy For You by Jennifer Crusie

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 12:52:00 +0000

(325 pages)

Quinn McKenzie has always lived what she calls a "beige" life. She's dating the world's nicest guy, she has a good job as a high school art teacher, she's surrounded by family and friends who rely on her, and she's bored to the point of insanity. But when Quinn decides to change her life by adopting a stray dog over everyone's objections, everything begins to spiral out of control. Now she's coping with dog-napping, breaking and entering, seduction, sabotage, stalking, more secrets than she really wants to know, and two men who are suddenly crazy...for her.

I did really enjoy this book. It was full of hunour, whilst also looking at what happens when your long term relationship gets boring. I wouldnt necessarily go as far as Quinn and Darla to shake things up, but in true chick lit style, things dd turn out well in the end. Katie was adorable and I hated Bill and BP with a vengencw. as for the Ziegler brothers.... well..... phew!!!! LoL.
This isnt the first Crusie book I have read, and I have decided it wont be the last. Any book that can shock you, make you laugh and have a warm fuzzy feeling inside is okay by me!!!

Woman Walks Into a Bar by Rowan Coleman

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 16:01:00 +0000

(115 pages)

A Friday night out with the girls changes Sam's life forever ...28-year-old single mother Sam spends her days working in the local supermarket and her Friday nights out with her friends, Joy and Marie, letting her hair down at the White Horse. Life has never been easy for Sam, but she's always hoped that one day she'll meet The One. After a series of terrible dates with men she's met through an internet dating agency she's starting to lose heart - until her friends tell her they've set her up on a blind date. Sam's horrified but finally she agrees to go - after all you never know when you might meet the man of your dreams ...

This was a really quick and really fun read :) I was especially fond of the flashbacks that filled in the gaps of Sam's life. Reading about the bullying I began to feel really attached to her and wanted there to be a happy ending as it was exactly what she deserved, and I wasn't disappointed :)
I enjoyed it so much I may go hunting for more books by this author.

The Wizard, The Witch & Two Girls From Jersey by Lisa Papademetriou

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 21:49:00 +0000

(273 pages)

When mortal enemies Veronica Lopez and Heather Simms get hit by a bar code scanner while fighting over the last copy of Queen of Twilight, it takes them a moment to realize that they aren’t in a New Jersey bookstore anymore. In fact, they’re in the novel. Too bad they don’t realize it until after they accidentally kill the book’s heroine, Princess Arabelle, aka "The One." Only The One can restore light and peace to the land of Galma, long held in thrall to the evil Twilight Queen. Now Veronica and Heather have no choice but to try to save Galma from the Twilight Queen. But can the two girls find their way to the end of the story and home again without destroying Galma - or killing each other?

I loved this soooo much :D I devoured it in a day, i simply couldn't put it down!! I loved te characters, although Heather drove me insane at first (I mean a health spa in a cave with assassin bugs :o for goodness sakes!!)!!! Lol!
The additional characters of Chattergee, Karn and especially Dogget, not forgetting all the monsters and creepy crawlies, made the story rattle along at a fine pace, with plenty of things going on to keep me hooked.
I couldn't wait to see how it ended, and just as woth the movie Shrek, I felt that there was a moral undercurrent running through that left me with a big smile on my face :)
What a great read!!!

The Siege by Helen Dunmore

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 12:04:00 +0000

(304 pages)

Leningrad, September 1941. German tanks surround the city, imprisoning those who live there. The besieged people of Leningrad face shells, starvation, and the Russian winter. Interweaving two love affairs in two generations, THE SIEGE draws us deep into the Levin's family struggle to stay alive during this terrible winter. What is it like to be so hungry you simmer your leather manicure case to make soup? So cold you burn first your furniture and then your books? THE SIEGE is a story about war and the wounds it inflicts on people's lives. It is also a lyrical and deeply moving celebration of love, life and survival.

This was a well written and moving book, however I did feel rather detached from the characters. It was very well written, with some great attention to detail, but it lackled a certain something to make it a great book.

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 01:39:00 +0000

( pages)

Stunned by his mother's recent death and appalled by the way his father sleepwalks through life, Jerry Renault, a New England high school student, ponders the poster in his locker-Do I dare disturb the universe?
Part of his universe is Archie Costello, leader of a secret school societ-the Virgils-and master of intimidation. Archie himself is intimidated by a cool, ambitious teacher into having the Virgils spearhead the annual fund-raising event-a chocolate sale. When Jerry refuses to be bullied into selling chocolates, he becomes a hero, but his defiance is a threat to Archie, the Virgils, and the school. In the inevitable showdown, Archie's skill at intimidation turns Jerry from hero to outcast, to victim, leaving him alone and terribly vulnerable.

This was a very intersting read, and about 40 or so pages in i remembered that i had read it before. The story is well written and the characters rounded, but I unfortunately felt as though i was reading as part of a school assignment (like the first time) rather than for fun :( Still worth the read though :D

The BFG by Roald Dahl

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 08:15:00 +0000

(208 pages)

The BFG is a big, friendly giant who spirits a child out of bed one dark night. Fortunately, this giant really is friendly, but his countrymen in the land of giants are inveterate child-eaters. Can the child enlist the aid of his kidnapper in stopping the nightly massacre?

I remember reading this as a child and loving it, so I really couldne wait to read it again :) I wasn't disappointed :D I sat down, started reading and simply couldn't stop! It is a wonderfully written, magical story and definitely one of my favourite Roald Dahl books, everyone should read it!

The Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 23:59:00 +0000

(58 pages)

Tuffy was in big trouble - on Monday he killed a bird, on Tuesday a mouse and on Wednesday he dragged a dead rabbit through the catflap. This caused pandemonium for Ellie and her parents as it was their neighbour's pet rabbit, Thumper.

This was really funny. I mean how often do we see the world throught he eyes of our beloved cats. It wasn't Tuffy's fault that the bird attacked him, or that the mouse was dead not to mention poor Thumper!!!!
A must for all cat loving kiddies out there :D

Quidditch Through The Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:11:00 +0000

(42 pages)

Did you know that there are 700 ways of committing a foul in Quidditch? Have you ever wondered how the Bludgers came into existence or why Wigtown Wanderers have pictures of meat cleavers on their robes? This copy of a volume in Hogwarts School Library contains everything you need to know.

A great way to get further inside the world of Harry Potter, and have some idea what Ron is wittering on about when he goes into his Quidditch spiel!!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:13:00 +0000

(42 pages)

As Albus Dumbledore says in his introduction, this set textbook by Newt Scamander has given the perfect grounding to many a Hogwarts student. It will be helpful to all Muggles out there too.

At last, I can understand Hagrid's love of all beasts mystical. These little books are a must read for all people who are Harry Potter fanatics and simply need to know more about the wizarding world.

Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 14:15:00 +0000

(389 pages)

(Amazon.co.uk Review)
From the first few words of her latest novel, Jodi Picoult grips her reader so firmly it would be madness to struggle. And from then on, it’s such a roller-coaster ride that it’s as much as you can do to put it down before you’ve reached the very last word.
After years of dealing with abused children and their families and working her damnedest to bring the perpetrators to justice, assistant district attorney Nina Frost takes a while to recognise the signs of abuse in her only child. When five-year-old Nathanial stops speaking and finally, through sign language, identifies his abuser, Nina takes the law into her own hands. And so begins a fast and furious tale of twists and turns--just when you think you’ve got it covered, you move at right-angles and a new reality emerges.
Perfect Match delivers what Picoult fans would expect--intelligent, polished writing that feels so real and natural you might forget it’s fiction. Once again, she covers the familiar themes of love--here specifically parent and partner relationships--and what happens to ordinary people when the extraordinary turns their world upside-down. Her research is as impeccable as ever--Nina is believable as a DA and the court-room scenes feel like the real thing. The everyday details of modern family life are set against the life-shattering events that ordinary people come to believe they are immune from as Picoult explores the boundaries of decency, bravery and betrayal and the consequences of believing, if only for a split second, that you and your family deserve more.

As an avid Picoult fan I am trying to work my way through all her books. This has to be one of the most gripping ones that I have read, as there are so many different types of characters. Whlst you are supposed to be rooting for Nina, she is an easily dislikeable person,l and my sympathey was transferred to different people throughout the story.
It has been written in such a rich way, that it was almost impossible to put down. Whilst the ending was extremely neat, I didn't see the customary twist happening in the way it actually did. I was very impressed with the sensitivity in which she managed to handle such disturbing subject matter. She certainly did a good job of making you think about what you would do in a similar situation, Yet again my love of Picoult has grown. Fantastic :)

Learning to Swim by Ann Turner

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 15:31:00 +0000

(113 pages)

Unfolding in a series of exquisite narrative poems, this is the haunting true story of a tragic summer in a young girl's life. Annie is supposed to be having a carefree summer -- but instead she must face the unwanted advances of an older boy in the neighborhood, who threatens her if she tells. It isn't until Annie's mother pries out the secret that Annie is released from her horror and isolation and can slowly begin to heal.

This was a beautifully written and extremely powerful book. Even if you don't like poetry, you would probably like this.

SilverFin by Charlie Higson

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 13:40:00 +0000

(384 pages)

FILE NOTE STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL - AUTHORISED PERSONNEL ONLY Subject: James Bond Age: 13 Description: dark hair that falls in a comma above his brow, despite efforts to control it; blue eyes; tall for age; surprisingly strong; fluent French, good German. Essential components: A villain so vile no white fluffy cat would go near him A girl - blond, green-eyed, named Wilder Lawless One fast car. Additional detail: Sinister experiments at a remote castle in the Scottish Highlands The disappearance of a young boy Britain building to war in the 1930s Summary: A must-read book for spring. A hot sequel follows in autumn.

This was a really enjoyable read, obviously designed for young teenage boys. I was particularly fond of the tournament at Eton and the driving lessons :)
I would like to read the rest of the series to see how this young Bond turned into Sean Connery and co.
Recommended to all spy wannabes ;)

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 22:14:00 +0000

(176 pages)

In The Magician's Nephew, the first of the seven Chronicles of Narnia, nothing is quite as it seems. Digory and Polly find themselves magically transported to a Wood between the Worlds, where several small ponds act as gateways to different worlds. They discover the dead world of Charn and together with Aslan the lion the pair fight against the evil Queen Jadis, restoring the land to its natural state and triumphing over the darkness that reigned before their arrival.
Rich in imagery and emotion, The Magician's Nephew has been relished by hoards of young readers since it was first published in the 1950s. This impressive new edition, published in celebration of the centenary of CS Lewis and featuring delicately crafted, hand-coloured, original illustrations by Pauline Baynes, will capture the hearts of a whole new generation, working its magic on young minds as they wallow in the sheer joy of the Chronicles of Narnia.

I enjoyed this so much more the second time around and cannot wait to get through the rest of my Narnia Box Set.

Very Strange Doll's House by Jennifer Dussling & Simon Cooper

noreply@blogger.com (Helly) — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 22:10:00 +0000

(64 pages)

Lucy's doll's house is very pretty, with green shutters and pink curtains, just like her own house. The dolls who live inside are like nothing you've ever seen before. They look just like Lucy's mum and dad, and one of them seems to be waving.

A really easy read that would've been pretty scary had I been 20 years younger :)