pickle

To cheer all cat and dog owners up

I started Dorothy - A darker side of Oz - Scot Stanford This morning so far so macabre I got this synopsis from the authors web page as its far better than anything I could write. As Dorothy awakes in Oz there's no sunshine in Munchkin country, just a twisted race enslaved by the Eastern witch, and a crooked path of yellow bricks she has to take to the mysterious Emerald City, a place ridden with sinister secrets. To get home the orphan girl treks the magical land, sometimes beautiful though often deadly, seeking help from the great wizard of Oz. The young girl struggles through a vast land of new sights, unfamiliar villages, and endures the dark forest, finding strange friends along her way. Cautiously trusting a peculiar scarecrow, he accompanies Dorothy through Oz, finding a tragic tin-man on their travels, and the cowardly lion; a victim to Mr Jack's infernal carnival. The animal's only hope is to be saved by Dorothy and her friends, but the ringleader and his obscure show have other plans for them. Dorothy's enchanting journey takes her through new, peculiar and amazing countries as Oz unveils itself. The strange friends must fight to overcome the rivers of mist, the deadly poppy fields, and beyond; whilst Kalidahs, Hammerheads and other macabre creatures stand in their way... and if they reach the Emerald City, they my find more than they bargained for. Wierd but I a good way To get back to Kansas the young girl must survive the dangers of Oz, find the mysterious great wizard, and most of all, avoid the dead-lands of the West, where the evil witch Outika breeds her carnivorous pets, and watches the strange friends' every move.

The Bloody Chamber is a good one for distorting or rewriting fairytales is it particularly Alice you are looking for or any type of fairy tale I have read Jasmyn - Alex Bell which is a reworking of the Swan Princess, The Book of Lost things - John Connolly which is not a reworking of a known fairytale but a fantasy adventure in the darker style. Sweetly - Jackson Pierce a grown up reworking of Hansel and Gretel and I have just started The Darker side of Oz - Scot Stanford which has so far proved to be very macabre retelling of the Wizrd of Oz

I have to agree with this especially when one of the characters did a Bobby Ewing from Dallas, as for the graphic slightly sickening content it was too much I just got fed up with and found myself disliking all the main characters. Give me Tess Gerritsen every time.

Great reviews Poppy I am always so impressed by the way you make them so funny I can never express whats in my head about half the books I read probably why I keep mine short and don't really say anything. I meant to come back earlier and comment on UnLunDun it is worth sticking to for China Mieville its almost clear not that I don't like his other work but they are much harder to grasp, this is if possible a slightly more twisted version of Neil Gaimans Neverwhere partly because its considered a YA novel. I hope you enjoy Ben Aaronovitches Rivers of London, I have read that and Whispers of Soho and can't wait to get stuck into the 3rd one out this year. Btw have you read Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere you might enjoy it if not. Happy Reading

Jane Eyre has long been one of my favourite novels I have never read Wide Sargasso Sea not sure I really want to either I can't quite get my head round it. I never felt Rochester was a silly character though a deeply flawed and troubled one yes his relationship and dialogue with Jane I have always loved though, of them all St John was the one I least understood and disliked the most.

what can I say March is a boring month

right March was obviously a month of pure escapism for me and as usual I have left it til the last minute to update my list so apologies as usual for the brief nature of the reviews, some because they were rubbish other because they are part of a series and I don't want to give too much away and some because there is not a lot to say about them really actually in part its also because I have done this list whilst at work and I should have been working . right hope this works 49 Scott Stanford & Stephen Trumble Dorothy: The Darker Side of OZ I have just started reading this one so far so twisted a weird and wonderful turn of the original Oz story creepy and fairly horrific not for the faint hearted 50 J D Tyler Savage Awakening: An Alpha Pack Novel 51 J D Tyler BLACK MAGIC: An Alpha Pack Novella I read the first one of this series some time ago and decided that it wasn't a top priority in my reading calendar but with nothing taking my fancy this week I decided to revisit. Humans turned to werewolves fairly standard stuff adult content but not gratuitous fighting evil great escapism 52 and 53 Jennifer Estep Touch of Frost: Mythos Academy Series, Book 1 Kiss of Frost: Mythos Academy Series, Book 2: I am a big fan of Jennifer Estep having read all of the elemental Assasins books to date (see below) this is a YA adult series she has written. Gwen is sent to Mythos Academy where all the other students are descendants of great warriors, she however has merely a gypsy gift for Psychoemetry (touching an object she sees its past) but its a greater gift than she is aware as a dark evil tries to rise again (I know I know they always do) Estep writes well, she is witty and funny and captures that teenage angst well. 54 H P Mallory Great Hexpectations,55 H P Mallory A Tale of Two Goblins 56 H P Mallory To Kill A Warlock 3 books in a row from the same author. Again it’s a paranormal series I was definitely in the mood to escape last month. As a fairy working for their equivalent to the Police its Dulcie's job to track illegal spells and possesions. Moments of funnny humour slightly marred by trying to hard to be like more popular authors of this genre still a good escapist read 57 Benedict Jacka Fated: An Alex Verus Novel Think of a British version of Jim Butchers Harry Dresden series the first one I am eagerly awaiting the second it should be good and hopefully not be too similar to Jim Butchers work. 58 Lara Adrian Darker After Midnight (Midnight Breed 10) Finally its over Lara Adrian has finished and reached the climax of the Midnight Breeds series, in a moment of weekness I wanted to see how it ended and of course it did with no deaths for the goodies and getting the girl. Still not a patch on others in this genre but not bad. 59 Karen Cantwell Foxy's Tale More funny humour from the author of the Barbara Marr series this one revolves around a southern belle here goth daughter and mysterious tennants in her house. Funny and lighthearted 60 P A Lupton Bound by Blood (The Garner Witch Series) Fairly forgetable book woan realises she has powers is in the FBI meets man who turns out to be fated one, she is descendant from long line of powerful witches and chased by the bad guys. Nothing very original in this at all. 61 Karen Cantwell It's a Dunder-Bull Wife Barbara Marr attempts to cook a christmas dinner with hilarious and disasterous results - short story 62 Maureen Johnson Shades of London (1) - The Name of the Star Thanks to Abby on FB for pointing me in this direction a YA novel of a girl who moves to the UK from Louisianna to a boarding school, after a near fatal accident she begins to experience odd things at the same time a Jack the Ripper wanna be (or is it) is terrorosing the neighbourhood (which happens to be the east End where the Boarding School is located) Great book though can't wait for the next in the series. 63 Stephanie Nelson Deceived (Book 2 in the Gwen Sparks Series) A bit silly paranormal book not much happens really vampires and witches this is the second in the series. It was relatively inexpensive hence my carrying on and the fact that the author leaves on cliff hangers which is a real pain. 64 Karen Cantwell The Chronicles of Marr-nia (Short Stories Starring Barbara Marr) Barbara Marr short stories. Funny! 65 Kay Hooper Illegal Possession I gave up on this shouldn't reall be on the list though I may go back and finish it. Supposedly a thriller but deadly dull to much unlikely romance shame really I liked the other book I read by Kay Hooper 66 Heather Hildenbrand DreamKiller, Book 1 and 2 (The Specials Series) Weird free short stories says book 1 and 2 but they can't have been more than 200 pages. Children in a orphanage with powers are they protected or are they being used. 67 Stephanie Nelson Craved (#1 in the Gwen Sparks Series) See above book 1 in the series. 68 Linda Winstead Jones Let Me Come In Oh yes a hostorical romance haven't had one of these in a long time, heaving bosoms and bodice ripping not as much as some I have read but still some there. Lighthearted and perfect escapism. 69 Linda Howard Prey Linda Howard has been a favourite of mine for some time Romantic Thrillers not the best but not bad either yes there is an inevitable happy ending but she doesn't shy away from the bloody stuff either not gratuitous but present. 70 Heather Hildenbrand Cold Blood (Book 2, Dirty Blood Series) 71 Heather Hildenbrand Dirty Blood I think these are probably YA novels young werewolves and hunters Tara is a mix of the two sworn enemies but will she be able to reconcile the two people as not all of either side are bad. The first book focusses on werewolves and her coming to terms with her hunter blood the second she is relocated to a private hunter school but trouble follows her and her 'dirty ' half breed blood brings more enemies than friends. 72 Kelley Armstrong Dead To Me, A Trio of Chilling Tales 73 Kelley Armstrong Hunting Kat Two short novellas from Kelley Armstrong - Hunting Kat an Otherworld novel and the Trio of chilling tales horror storeis. 74 Kim Harrison A Perfect Blood: The Hollows Series, Book 10 Book 10 in the series, Rachel has had her powers bound and no longer has status. I won't say too much about it as I know Chesil is working her way through the series but it is a good one, and I enjoy the books. 75 Jennifer Estep Thread of Death and 76 Jennifer Estep By a Thread (Elemental Assassin) More from the Elememental Assasins books love em hope they continue with far more Gin Blanco is a great character not soft and gooey she genuinely suffers doesn't cave at the sight of a man but kicks them normally 77 Thea Harrison Oracle's Moon (Elder Races Series) Not the best in this series but not terribe either in this recently appointed Oracle comes into her powers with the aid of the Djin 78 Patricia Briggs Fair Game: An Alpha and Omega novel The spin off series from the Mercy Thompson is just as good. Mercy's pack brother and his mate the Omega are drafted in the help investigate a series of brutal crimes. 79 Nalini Singh Archangel's Consort (GUILD HUNTER NOVEL) I am still not sure I like the Archangel series by Nalini Singh its not as good as the Psychangeling one. The Angels are just too remote and weird. 80 Jennifer Estep A Karma Girl Christmas (Bigtime superhero series, short story) Great Series of lighthearted super power stories from Jennifer Estep. 81 Karen Cantwell Silenced by the Yams (A Barbara Marr Murder Mystery #3) and 82 Karen Cantwell Citizen Insane (A Barbara Marr Murder Mystery #2) More funny humour in this series of the soccer mum who gets herself into all sorts of situations trying to investigate crimes. 83 Nicole Peeler Eye Of The Tempest: Jane True series: Book Four The latest instalment of the Jane True series great loved it.

Hilarious Poppy glad I didn't bother to see it at the cinema Kylie I was just so dissapointed as I say it would have been something I might have loved if I had been in my teenage years now though there are so many better films out there in the Scifi/Fantasy genre and films which deal with what was obviously a pet project for James Cameron oh well it was on tv so the only thing I lost was time

I have developed a cracking wiltshire accent and can sound like Phil Harding on a good day if you don't know who he is the one on Time Team who looks like what everyone thinks an archaeologist should look like (terrible grammar I know) although I was born in Essex and moved around loads as a child having a foreign mother does not help to blend in anywhere but it does make for hilarious interpretation of what she says. btw how you enjoying UnLun Dun I loved it

I think I have 2 maybe 3 books I own and haven't read....fropm the sounds of it I need to get shopping, thank goodness its payday at the end of the week. Saying that I need more support on updating my list I am woeful at keeping that up to date I must have read about 20 books since I last looked at it....ooops

Avatar not seen it before but it was on tv yesterday hmmmmm James Cameron what was he thinking usually in the past this might have been a film I loved but now that I have gone beyond my teenage years it was so unsubtle with its hidden context. If I want to watch a film about how we treat others in the form of an alien race I will watch District 9 or Monsters one for the sheer brutality and the other for a beautiful film with far fewer special effects, if I want to watch something on environmental issues I will watch a nature documentary with David Attenborough. I was really dissapointed I also think Cameron had watched far to much Lion King!

Inspector Montalbano,I love Luca Zingaretti

just been recommened a book by a colleague on Romania as he is going to dig in some gold mines this summer (I am jealous) and have always had a fascination with the place. Its by Patrick Leigh Fermor.....Amazon here I come!

love it, I got called Nora Batty all my childhood with a sirname like Batt its inevitable and open to so many jokes. doesn't this raise the age old question of how to kill a vampire, personally I am going down the beheading and fire, none of this stake through the heart (they don't breathe the don't pump blood how is this going to work????) as for the religious iconography how is an atheist vampire going to care?

I finished The name of the Star - Maureen Johnson after a Fb recommendation by Abby brilliant great YA book kept me engrossed for a couple of days.

Crikey all this makes my whinging about Wiltshire being crappy for bin moving and general stuff seem obsolete as compared to you all its great!!! now if only they would sort out the pot holes in the road they would be a truly great council.

Lots of reading being done by me, but nothing is really grabbing me, I seem to be reading purely to alleviate boredom, thank god for the free and cheap books on the kindle. I need a new series to sink my teeth into, just not sure what genre. I did download one that Abby recommended on Fb as it looked good. The name of the Star hope its good.

Oh I am sorry Charmer, that a pain, sounds like your council could do with sending you at least a rainproof box to put it in.

We have the normal Black wheelie bin which takes all general rubbish. A big blue topped wheelie bin where I can put cardboard and plastic and a black box which takes paper and tins etc..the normal wheelie bin is collected weekly or at least it will be til the end of the month and then its every two weeks, and the recycling bins are collected already every two weeks. the council also has a green topped wheelie bin which up until now you have had to pay for but as of March this year they are issuing them for free and its for garden rubbish to save us from having to go to the tip. So I am really pleased about it, the only problem is storing all 3 bins and the black box, I am lucky that although I live on a terrace we have a tiny front bit (not enough to call it a garden) where I should be able to store all of them. there should be a central location you can take them too if you can't save them or they are turning to mush we have them at the local supermarkets in town and some of the surrounding villages have them too in local community centres. But I know its a pain to have to drive to them.

you are all so lovely, thanks very much for your nice comments. I have finally finished the Cinderella one and started on anew one completely different in type, this one is from a load of photos I took on my recent holiday of buildings in both Leon and Valladolid, I am slighlty obsessed by buildings. Its still a long way from complete as you can see where I have sketched out the ones still to do.

Yep and army of trained umpa lumpas guaranteed work for the film