Chrissy

47) The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde Carrying on with my Ffordian kick, I delved into the Nursery Crimes Division to read their first book starring Jack Spratt and Mary Mary, investigating the death of Humpty Dumpty. Inventive, witty and well paced with a clever plot and memorable characters. I will no doubt be picking up the second NCD book soon, but felt an urge to go visit Jasper Fforde's YA series The Last Dragonslayer first. 48) 49) & 50) The Last Dragonslayer, The Song Of The Quarkbeast, and The Eye Of Zoltar by Jasper Fforde The bit that Mr Fforde immediately gets completely right before all other textual considerations, is his central character, the one we are going to be following eagerly through his book/s. Thursday Next, Jack Spratt, and here, Jennifer Strange. Wonderful fully developed characters with wit, warmth, a honed moral compass, faults and foibles. They have the lot, and as a reader it makes you love them from the start and remain routing for them throughout. Jennifer Strange is only 15 at the start of the series, but her age should not make one hesitate to read this original and compelling series. She is a terrific heroine, living and working in a world of depleted magic, wars, social injustice on a massive scale and attempting to 'hold the fort' until her boss and mentor returns from his mysterious disappearance. The first book explores what happens when a rumour is abound that the last dragon in the kingdom is about to die. Just who are the main players in this event, and why is there all this morally repugnant behaviour abound? The second book gives us greater depth to the back story of Kazam and their greatest (and only) magical competitor, and additionally looks at the myths and legends behind the Quarkbeast. Peril, enslavement and being turned to stone fill the pages. The third book takes Jennifer on a long and perilous journey. New characters are introduced, and the plot develops significantly, the landscape of the Dragonslayer world becomes so much more vivid in this book, and I can only hope that JF writes a fourth to this series. Terrific books that I highly and heartedly recommend to any Fforde fans who haven't yet indulged themselves.

46) How The Marquis Got His Coat Back by Neil Gaiman A short from Mr Gaiman based around a central character from his wonderful Neverwhere. Macabre and dark this is a wonderful little story that increases our understanding of the Marquis de Carabas, but only enough to raise more questions about him. One thing for certain? I have no plans to visit Shepherds' Bush (Under) any time soon.

There's Art For Mindfulness: Landscapes that looks pretty good from Amazon. They also do a Sea, Fields, Rivers & Mountain set of four books. Was that the kind of book you were thinking of? ETA LOL, Great minds think alike eh?

Yowzer!

Yay, bookshelf photos! I lurve your shelves.

Every Day is a great book, and I enjoyed reading the 'companion' book that reads from Rhiannon's point of view. The Hunger Games trilogy is also eminently readable. I have An Abundance Of Katherines waiting for me on my kindle, and having enjoyed John Green's The Fault In Our Stars, Looking For Alaska, and Paper Towns I have high hopes for this one. In recent years some YA books I have really enjoyed include; Hitler's Canary by Sandy Toksvig My Sister Lives On The Mantlepiece by Annabel Pitcher We Were Liars by E Lockhart The Sky Is EVerywhere, and I'll Give You The Sun both by Jandy Nelson Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher In each case they are well written and thought provoking reads, and I found myself thinking of them long after I had finished reading them.

This is on my To Be Read shelf, so I am glad that you found it compelling. It was one of those I MUST read this book kind of purchase.

The Tiffany Aching books just get better and better with each book in my opinion, Athena and the Jasper Fforde books are a delight. If you like the premise of the first book you will be well and truly hooked. 44) One Of Our Thursdays Is Missing by Jasper Fforde 45) The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper Fforde I finished the last two books of the Thursday Next series and enjoyed them enormously. My first reading of OOOTIM a few years ago was a little bit frustrating, as I spent the entire read waiting for Thursday Next to turn up properly, but this time around I knew when she would appear, so was able to relax and enjoy this wonderfully inventive and colourful story. New characters are introduced seamlessly who enhance the narrative. I had managed to forget most of the plot The Woman Who Died A Lot, only retaining one or two bits of the story. This does not reflect AT ALL on the book, more my state of mind at the time. This is a fabulous read, as witty and original as the other six books of the series. Thursday is on fine form, battling Goliath and the consequences of Aornis' return, the demands of vengeful gods and the complicated requirements of her children. You know, a typical week for our Thursday.

Lit torches.......check. Sharpened pitchforks.......check. Text written to gather the angry villagers.....check. See you soon Raven.

I lurve Galaxy Quest.

Indeed.

That was the book I came in to recommend!

I really enjoyed the Sarah-Jane Adventures. Sarah Jane could be quite temperamental which I found refreshing, and she was not too old to learn new things, be they about the universe or about human relationships and emotions. My age really shows though when I also want to add how much I LOVED her house, including the attic!

39) The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde 40) Lost In A Good Book by Jasper Fforde 41) The Well Of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde 42) Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde 43) First Amongst Sequels by Jasper Fforde Thursday Next is another literary heroine of mine, a role model of sorts for these hurtling-toward-50 years of mine. She is hard working, passionate, logical, stubborn, and will always do what she believes to be the right thing no matter the cost to herself. This series is one that either grabs you from the outset or leaves you cold. I have recommended the series twice, and had one friend tell me I must be warped to enjoy them, and another who now regularly uses "Plock!" as an alternative swear word. Described as comic fantasy and alternative history, the series is a delightful and original romp through a universe that greatly values literature, time travel, croquet and the genetic re engineering of extinct animals, . We travel between Thursday's 'real' world and the Book World. Both worlds are wonderfully described, with genuinely enchanting characters. Great pacing, intriguing plots, and a new thing to notice at each reading, I will come back to this series again no doubt.

I have a helluva lot bit of catching up to do with regard to what I've been reading, but the two above were really good reads. I'll be very interested to read what you both think of the I'll Give You The Sun. 35) Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett 36) A Hat Full Of Sky by Terry Pratchett 37) Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett 38) I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett I am the biggest fan of Tiffany Aching and am looking forward to (and equally dreading) reading the last book The Shepherd's Crown when I finally get it. I have reviewed the books before, so all I will say is that my teen years would probably have been better had I 'met' Tiffany sooner. The progression of the characters over the series is delightful, and Tiffany's own development is both fascinating and enlightening. Great stories in magical wrapping, written with a keen eye for humour, folklore and whimsy.

I love Peter Capaldi as the Doctor, but am less inclined toward the character of Clara. The two part stories have been pretty good, and I do appreciate them not squeezing stories to fit a single episode. There are a few things I am not happy with, which is a shame. I hate the fourth wall being broken, which they have done too many times already. From the impossible girl story arc during Matt Smith's tenure (Run you clever boy etc) through Deep Breath, the bootstrap paradox nonsense in Before the Flood, and then again in the last episode with Clara looking directly into the camera. It agitates me, and I felt with the Before The Flood instance that if you need to go to such lengths to explain the central premise of your story then you cannot have enough faith in your ability to tell that story.

33) I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson I really enjoyed reading the author's earlier book The Sky Is Everywhere, so had high hopes that were more than met in this beautifully crafted story. It centres on twins Noah and Jude, and is told first from Noah's perspective and then later on from Jude's. Tragedy, misunderstandings, trauma, abandonment and art are thrown together in such a way the reader spends the book desperate to discover what is going on and why, and equally desperate for the book not to end. Great stuff. 34) Another Day by David Levithan Another YA author I enjoy. Another Day is a companion book to his Every Day, and tells the Story from Rhiannon's perspective. Well written, it defies the reader's expectations by giving the reader a great insight into Rhiannon's thoughts and actions, and not just in reaction to A. Glad to have read it.

Ditto (from the uk site!) It's so strange though, cos the story summary seems really familiar........

Just caught up with the first episode, and aside from a few occasions where we winced and ouch-ouch-bloody-ouch'ed at the more 'graphic' moments, thought it was pretty darned good. Looking forward to the rest of the series. Have to say that we also thought the young version of Uhtred was going to be annoying, but both the actor and his character quickly drew us in.

I have all the Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey books in tree book, but want to get them on kindle too, so this is great. Thanks Janet.

I have a real thing about maps, and always spent lots of time poring over them, especially those linked to the books I'm reading. This would be such a gorgeous thing to own, a copy of he map and notes in poster form would be fabulous.

Haroun And The Sea Of Stories is pretty good, and not quite so........how do I put this?.............all over the bleedin' place!

LOL, he's terrible isn't he? From my niece when I told her the funny fib her uncle (my husband) had wanted to tell her that I put a stop to.