Potter replacement

Well, having finished all the Harry Potter stories, I decided to try the Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman. I didn't really like The Northern Lights. It was so dark and I really didn't like Mrs Coulter, so much so that I didn't see the film. However, I thought there must be something to it, and I was curious to see what would happen to the characters. So, I went to buy the Subtle Knife and the lady in the shop said that I really should buy the Amber Spyglass because once I had finished the Subtle Knife I would just want to carry on. And, she was so right! I did, and it was superb. So after that, I needed another replacement, so I decided to try Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones, about two children who have been orphaned. One of them is a witch, but rather arrogant and spoilt. I haven't finished this one yet, but I am three-quarters of the way through and I am really enjoying it. One book I have just finished, which was fantastic, was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It is so wonderfully written, and completely unexpected. It is narrated by death and tells the story of a girl living in Germany during the Second World War. It is entertaining, but also incredibly moving. Not sure what I will read next. Recommendations gratefully received!

Summer spent reading

Yet again, time has flown past. Work and holidays has interfered with my reading, but I have managed to find some gems as well as some favourites. Obviously, I read the final instalment of Harry Potter - the Deathly Hallows, and JK Rowling really could not have created a better ending. It was perfect, and I shall enjoy re-reading it in due course.

I have just finished reading The Friday Night Knitting Club and it was wonderful, only the second book to make me cry (the first being Shadowlands - the true story of C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman). The whole book describes the lives of a group of women who attend a knitting club, which was set up quite spontaneously, and is not just focused on knitting, I might hasten to add. There are wonderful tips for people who are actually interested in knitting, but the majority of the book is about the differences between the women, but how they all complement each other. It is fun, serious, happy and sad, and completely brilliant. You can read more about it on their web-site. I cannot wait for Kate Jacob's next book.

At the moment, I am reading Jeffrey Archer's Cat O' Nine Tales, which are stories of some of the people he met while at Her Majesty's pleasure. I have read and enjoyed all his short stories, and from his novels, I have read Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less, A Matter Of Honour, and his most recent on A False Impression, and I have enjoyed the twists in all.

I also read over the Summer, Probable Future, by Alice Hoffman, and Digging to America by Anne Tyler. They definitely continue to be on my favourites list!

Finally, I read The Other Side of the Bridge, by Mary Lawson, which was about the turbulent relationship of two brothers in rural America. This was such a well-written story. I really felt all the conflicts and struggles, and I felt the love that was given throughout. It is a tremendous story with really strong characters. Crow Lake was written by the same author, and I found that story equally gripping. She is another wonderful storyteller to add to my collection.

So now you can see why I struggle to find time to blog. Until next time....

Pottermania!

Lots going on, and although time to read, no time to blog. I am currently re-reading old favourites, which includes the Harry Potter series. When they first came out, I just could not get into them, but about a year and a half ago, I started reading them, and couldn't stop. My least favourite is the Order of the Phoenix, not because it is a bad book, but because I find Professor Umbridge really disturbing, but then I am a bit of a scaredy cat! I really enjoyed the Half Blood Prince, but I think my favourite is the Goblet of Fire. JK Rowling has a great website, really well-designed.

On a sadder note, I read Alice Hoffman's book "At Risk" a story, written in the 1980's about an eleven year old girl who contracts AIDS after receiving a contaminated blood transfusion. It is so moving, and describes the stigma associated with AIDS.

So many books, so little time!

With all these bargains in the bookstore and all these new books coming out, it is a wonder I get anything done! So, where do I start? Well Brooklyn Follies is just brilliant, and I can't wait to read Paul Auster's other books. It is an inspirational book about an uncle and his nephew who have both reached a crossroads in their lives, for different reasons, and find their futures' defined when a little girl comes to live with them.

I have long been a fan of Adriana Trigiani, since here first book, Big Stone Gap and the whole series, that goes with it, to Queen of the Big Time, Lucia Lucia, and the wonderful Rococo! Her books follow the theme of Italian culture, often with strong female leads, and covering a span of generations. And, one of the best things about these books, is that the author provides delicious recipes to any of the dishes described in these stories.

Another book that enhances a beautiful story with tasty recipes is "Pomegranate Soup", a story about an Iranian family that sets up a restaurant in a small Irish town. It is a special tale about romance, friendship, and the meeting of different cultures.

The Mercy of Thin Air is an amazing book, which sensitively covers the subject of death, focusing on two main female characters, one living in the 1920s and one living in the 1990s, describing the role of women in both of these eras.

The Apothecary's House is a thriller set in the art world in Amsterdam. The story is set around the ownership of a painting, stolen by the Nazis. There is history, drama, and mystery, everything required for a gripping read!

So, that's it for now. I have another pile of books to get through, plus work to get to, so until next time....

The Shadow of the Wind

I spent my Christmas break engrossed in one of my presents. A work colleague bought me a copy of The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. What a fantastic book! It was so beautifully written, and I felt that I knew each character. The language was so descriptive, and the story completely gripping, that I didn't want it to end. It is a treasure that I enjoyed entirely.

Lovely Christmas book...and all year round!

Fannie Flagg writes brilliant stories. You may remember Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. The film is excellent, but the book is even better. She even has recipes at the back of the book, and on her website. Her books are absolute treasures, and you can really feel all that is going on, and long to be a part of it.

I have just read A Redbird Christmas, which was completely magical! It was so beautiful, telling the story of a man who is told he won't make it past Christmas unless he moves to a warmer climate. He does, and sees his whole life change and extend, and grow in value. Hope for everyone.

Another great storyteller

I have just bought this wonderful book, Pilgrims and other stories, by Elizabeth Gilbert, another great storyteller. Very similar to Annie Proulx, with sharp contrasts between the rougher side of life and the hidden gentleness that all people seem to possess. My favourite stories in this compilation are "The Many Things That Denny Brown Did Not Know (Age Fifteen)" and "The Famous Torn and Restored Lit Cigarette Trick." All the stories, in this book, made me feel so many emotions, and I could believe in every character.

No time to write....too many good books!

I have been too busy to write because there are so many good books to read! I started off with Alice Hoffman's "Ice Queen" and as per usual, she did not disappoint. It was such a beautiful story, really enjoyable. After that, came "The Geographer's Library". Well designed, with one chapter set in modern times, and the next chapter on history and antiquities, continuing in this manner throughout the book. Informative, entertaining and well-written. I have just finished "Prep", a very useful insight into the thought processes and behaviour of teenage girls in a mixed boarding school. Again, very well-written and informative. And now, I am reading "Between Georgia". I have already read "Gods in Alabama" by the same author, which was a really good story, and this is turning into another excellent story. The author's description of the experiences of a deaf and blind lady are so well described, you can feel the frustration she feels. I hope it continues to grip!

The Last Secret of the Temple

Written by journalist, Paul Sussman, The Last Secret of the Temple, was really enjoyable and very interesting. It is described by the Independent as 'the intelligent reader's answer to the Da Vinci Code.' I am not sure that does the book justice. I found it very educational. I have a tendency to avoid politics, because I feel confused by all the different views. In my opinion, this book clearly set out Arab-Jew-Muslim relations, identifying the issues, presenting clear arguments for all, and describing, very movingly, the pain that they are all going through. The language is quite strong, but not unnecessarily so, just expressing the frustration that they feel. There is a treasure that they are searching for, so it is still a thrilling adventure, but together with the history, and the characters, which were very plausible, I found it a really good book.

The Eight

I am currently reading a book called The Eight by Katherine Neville. It is kind of a Da Vinci Code type book, which refers heavily to chess and the French Revolution. It is good, but I became irritated because there were so many typos in the first section, to the extent that I thought there might actually be a secret code within the book. I haven't noticed a pattern, but who knows what will happen when I get to the end of it. Anyway, if you like chess, you might enjoy this because it links chess with music and maths, and refers to chess moves and magic squares. The descriptions of the French Revolution are quite gruesome, but it is a good read.

The Historian

Last month, I read The Historian written by Elizabeth Kostova. It was described as a story about Dracula coming after librarians. Being a librarian, I was naturally interested ;-) But the reviews didn't do the book justice. I thought that it was a really excellent book. It was very well written, with beautiful descriptions about Romania and Turkey. Although it is being marketed as a popular book, which for me usually means quick and easy to read, I found that it was full of really interesting historical information. The descriptions of Dracula's lair were wonderful, and it was a really enjoyable book.

Road to Avonlea

I am just reading The Story Girl by LM Montgomery and it is a flowing tale about a group of children living in Prince Edward Island, entertained by spellbinding stories told by one of their friends, known as the Story Girl, who tells them in an enchanting manner. The book is for youngsters, but the stories are lovely and descriptive and entirely captivating. The author, Lucy Maud Montgomery is possibly best famous for her book, Anne of Green Gables.

Labyrinth

I have just finished Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. I really enjoyed it, but I have a question for anyone else who has read it. What happened to Shelagh and who was she in the historic part of the book? Unless... was she Rixende? Please let me know. The web-site for the book is really great: http://www.mosselabyrinth.co.uk/, particularly for authors. It is well worth a look. Also for historians. I have been to Carcassonne once, and I really want to go again now, just to visit all these places. However, I imagine the book will generate a lot of extra tourism, because it is so exquisitely described. Now I have to find something else to read. The new Kazuo Ishiguro looks good, but I also have a book of short stories by LM Montgomery, who wrote Anne of Green Gables, and a children's book by Rumer Godden. Oxfam bookshops really are the best for finding these treasures!

Harry Potter

When Harry Potter first came out, I couldn't understand the fuss at all. I tried reading them, but I just couldn't get into them. I have seen the films and I loved them. During the last Christmas holidays, I decided to have another go at reading the books. I was completely hooked and have read all of them now, hence my neglect at updating this blog. I am now desperately looking for a book that will grip me as much as these have. The characters and the creatures are fantastic and I managed to escape into a lovely, magical world. I usually prefer the book to the film, but with Harry Potter, I like them both equally, and am looking forward to the next instalment. J K Rowling's website is also definitely worth looking at. It is absolutely superbly designed and great fun to explore. Another one of my favourite books is Neverending Story by Michael Ende. Again, the film is excellent, but so is the book, which is much deeper and darker. If anyone can recommend a good book, in this style, with goblins, magic, fairies and brownies, etc please let me know!

Asterix and Obelix...my heros!

I have adored Asterix and Obelix since I was a child. My mother is German, and I learnt German by speaking with her and also swapping Asterix and Obelix books with my Uncle in Germany. He used my ones to learn English and I used his to learn German. They are so amazing. The names are based on words in the language they are published. For example, Obelix stems from obelisk, Dogmatix from dogmatic and Vitalstatistix from vital statistics. This method is applied in other languages and dialects, for example Idefix is the French version of Dogmatix. Even the jokes suit the local population. They may seem like simple comic books, but they are actually very complex, clever little books, suitable for youngsters and grown-ups alike. I highly recommend them. The films are also very good, available in cartoon or with real people. Both make good use of the foreign accents. Their web-site is very good, particularly for practising language skills.

American Themes

I can't believe I have left it so long, but I have been distracted by some good books. I am currently reading "After The Rain", a story set around a restaurant in a small, rural town in Vermont. New England is another place I love to read about.

One of my favourite authors, Alice Hoffman, writes beautiful, complex stories about people and how their lives intertwine. One of her more recent books, Probable Future, developed the concept that people are not always what they seem, and her latest book, Blackbird House, focused on the lifetime of a house and the lives of the people that lived there. I really enjoy books about small town life in America, picturing their lives, comparing them to mine. Anne Tyler sets all her books in Baltimore and again tells the complex stories of people living there. The characters in all these books are so rich and alive, I get lost in them. Adriana Trigiani is another great author who writes about Italian immigrants in America, living in small towns. Again, the stories are so full of life, you can imagine everything that is happening to them, as if it was your own hometown.

Until next time....

Stories of India

Well, so much for writing everyday. Life is hectic, but I can always find time to read. When I hit 30, I started to become more interested in my roots. My background is European/Asian. I am not a great fan of factual books. I love fiction and stories, and if there is an element of fact, all the better.

At the moment I am reading Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard. It paints a really vivid picture of Indian people, and I am really enjoying it. I don't know how realistic it is, but one day I will visit India and find out for myself. I like reading books by Rumer Godden, and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, both of whom also paint beautiful and strong images of India.

Stories in the workplace

Stories are being used increasingly in the workplace, to share knowledge and learn from experience, whether good or bad. They are easy to understand, often quite short, and also can be very entertaining, which makes it easier to learn.

I am a keen follower of Ron Donaldson, who is the Senior Knowledge Ecologist for English Nature. He has written and presented on his experiences with storytelling and you can read one of his articles, "A Natural KM Narrative," published by Inside Knowledge, here.

Stories

I love reading and listening to stories and I have discovered some fine podcasts to enhance the experience.

Elizabeth Rose is a storyteller from America and tells engrossing stories via 'Story'cast. She has a great story-telling voice and her tales are enchanting and are a great way to escape and relax and experience another life.

Another podcast that I like is The Twain Reader, where the podcaster regularly reads sections of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

I found both of these podcasts via the iTunes Podcast Directory.

Addicted to books

It seems as though my life revolves around books. I have always loved reading, my first job was in a bookshop and then while at university I worked part-time in the library and eventually qualified as a librarian. I even met my husband over a pile of books, and fortunately, although we have different tastes in books, (he likes fact, I like fiction and complete escapism), we both share a love of reading.

But this isn't supposed to be a blog about librarians or me. I just wanted to discuss my favourite books and hopefully learn about new authors. So, what I will try to do on a regular basis is write a bit about my favourite authors and books, so watch this space.....