poppyshake

The Crowfield Curse - Pat Walsh Waterstone's Synopsis: It's 1347 and fifteen-year-old Will, an orphan boy, lives at Crowfield Abbey. Sent into the forest to gather wood, he rescues instead, a creature from a trap - a hob, who shares with Will a terrible secret. Somewhere in the forest behind the abbey where he lives, is a grave. And buried deep in the snow is an angel. But how can an angel die? What has it to do with the monks of the Abbey? When two hooded strangers arrive at Crowfield asking questions about the angel's grave. Will is drawn into a world of dangerous Old Magic. "The Crowfield Feather" was short-listed for the "Times" Chidren's Fiction Competition in 2008. Review: I enjoyed reading this, it's definitely a book aimed at children or YA and that made it an exceptionally easy read which was just what I needed. Will is an orphan who has been taken in by the monks of Crowfield Abbey .. he's a great central character and very likeable. Will rescues a hob from a trap in the forest near the abbey, a hob is a magical creature .. not everyone has the 'sight' to be able to see him but Will has. The hob, who they nickname 'Brother Walter' is completely endearing and quite childlike .. he knows some secrets about what is hidden in a grave in the forest .. and he reveals this to Will. Things take a turn for the darker when two visitors come to stay at the abbey ... the mysterious Jacobus Bone and his servant Shadlock, they have a purpose in mind ... one that involves Will and the forest grave. The book is set in 1347 and it's steeped in history, folklore and religion. I loved all the wintery descriptions and the authentic feel of it. There is a glossary at the back to help decipher words that are unfamiliar to us now .. but most will be well known to adults already. This is book one of two apparently, I look forward to reading what happens in Will's life next. Recommended, especially for children aged nine or above, or those, like me, that still love to read well written children's stories. 8/10

I loved the subtlety of it ... that made it all the better for me. Again,

Hi Vinay , Liking your new books, 'Pinocchio' should be interesting as it's said to be quite different from the Disney version we all know and love ... much more dark and sinister.

Finished Rose Tremain's 'The Colour' and started David Benioff's 'City of Thieves' and already I'm enjoying it .. this was the book that they had in Waterstones with a slip around it saying you could choose another book if you didn't like it .. I lost the slip ages ago but thankfully so far so good.

I got this out from the library this week ... and so will definitely be reading it sometime in the next three weeks.

Hi Rose Good luck with your reading target this year. I love your blog, it would be lovely to think that men like Mr Darcy really did exist .. but I'd be always hanging around lakes if they did hoping for a glimpse of the wet shirt (not strictly in the novel I know but forever imprinted on my brain now )

Yes, Janet ... I'm sure you're right .. but it took me two reads of the last couple of pages to figure that out, I knew I had missed something but I wasn't sure what. As you say ... I loved it, very atmospheric and creepy.

As I said Chesil, I think I'll definitely want to read more of her books ... I like the sound of the synopsis of 'The Road Home' so I'll probably give it a try. 'The Colour' was the one picked out in the '1001 Books YMRBYD' .. which is why I tried it first. Thanks for the recommendation

It would seem that in most people's 'favourite reads' lists the classics feature strongly .. and rightly so. But what would be your top five favourite books published in the 2000's so far? Mine are .. in no order ... 1. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak 2. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke 3. Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman (I think I can just about get away with saying this is from the 2000's if I'm referring to the author's preferred text*) 4. God's Own Country - Ross Raisin 5. Arthur & George - Julian Barnes * If I can't .. I'll substitute it with 'American Gods' It's a difficult one, narrowing it down ... I wanted to also include 'The Kite Runner', 'The Five People You Meet in Heaven', 'Poppy Shakespeare , Joe Abercrombie's 'First Law' trilogy and 'The Eyre Affair' as well as loads of others but if I'm narrowing it down, those would be my top five. What's yours and what came close?

The Colour - Rose Tremain Waterstone's Synopsis: Joseph and Harriet Blackstone emigrate from Norfolk to New Zealand in search of new beginnings and prosperity. But the harsh land near Christchurch where they settle threatens to destroy them almost before they begin. When Joseph finds gold in the creek he is seized by a rapturous obsession with the voluptuous riches awaiting him deep in the earth. Abandoning his farm and family, he sets off alone for the new gold-fields over the Southern Alps, a moral wilderness where many others, under the seductive dreams of 'the colour', are violently rushing to their destinies. By turns both moving and terrifying, it is a story of the quest for the impossible, an attempt to mine the complexities of love and in the process discover the sacrifices to be made in the pursuit of happiness. Review: I don't know why I didn't like this more, Rose Tremain writes really well, creating strong storylines and characters, but I just couldn't warm to most of them and found the story bleak and depressing. The story starts with us learning about Joseph and why he is embarking on a journey half way around the world to set up home in New Zealand with his mother Lilian and his new wife Harriet (some of the reasons he left England are only darkly hinted at ... we have to learn them piece by piece as the story progresses but it's made clear pretty early on that he is running away from some sort of personal disgrace) .. despite starting off thinking I was going to like him, by the middle of the book I hated him. Easier to warm to was his wife Harriet ... I was always relieved when the narrative picked up with her again. After Joseph finds a small amount of gold in the creek near his recently built cob house, he becomes obssessed with finding more. He keeps his findings secret from his wife and mother but when he is unable to find more he decides to travel to the gold fields in the Southern Alps leaving Harriet and Lilian to cope alone. Although beautifully written, it was hard to care about the outcome of anyone .. save Harriet. It's unceasingly grim, and extremely slow paced, whenever you think there may be a ray of sunshine something happens to blot it out. I think the subject matter didn't suit me. If I liked the synopsis of another Rose Tremain book then I would definitely read it because I do like the way she writes. 7/10

Yes I've read 'A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian' and loved it.

I bought 'We Are All Made of Glue' yesterday ... so look forward to hearing your review Joe

I really enjoyed it too Tunn .. and despite saying I wouldn't buy any more books at the mo, yesterday I bought 'We Are All Made of Glue' .. hopefully it will be just as good .

I'd have to play safe and say Impressionism Tolstoy or Dostoevsky?

Ahh I'm sorry .. hope you are feeling better now. I read myself into a headache last week and then it annoyed me that I couldn't get on with my reading. Getting into Rose Tremain's 'The Colour' now ... I'm at that stage a couple of chapters in where I'm just beginning to know who's who and what's what.

No, I would always take it to the charity shop .. even if i hated it or disapproved of it ... someone else might feel differently.

Thank you so much guys ... yay!!!! It's such fun putting all your books on your bookshelves. I like the 'Goodreads' site because you can normally find the right covers too. It's taking me forever to sort them though.

No but I've heard good things about it .. I'm a bit of a wimp though, would probably scare me to death.

I cannot find any of you guys in order to 'add' you. The site is a complete anathema to me. Once I find someone I can see how you can click to ask them to add you .. but how do you find them in the first place? I've just been able to look at random people so far on the 'explore people' button. I would be delighted if you add me .. and I can add you .. and I would be liberated from my current friendless state. Actually I must be able to do a link to me .... http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2677368

You're right ... it wouldn't do for us all to like the same .. think of the rugby scrums there'd be in Waterstones Thanks Maureen, I will read it as I've already bought it (d*mn Waterstones and their 3 for 2) and I'm trying to make a dent in the list. I'm not sure how good my 'dullometer' is .. I might find it riveting!! I'm a big fan of Persephone and Barbara Pym books where sometimes the most exciting thing that happens is the vicar turning up five mins late for his sermon .

The Woman In Black - Susan Hill Waterstone's Synopsis: Proud and solitary, Eel Marsh House surveys the windswept reaches of the salt marshes beyond Nine Lives Causeway. Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor, is summoned to attend the funeral Mrs Alice Drablow, the house's sole inhabitant, unaware of the tragic secrets which lie hidden behind the shuttered windows. It is not until he glimpses a wasted young woman, dressed all in black, at the funeral, that a creeping sense of unease begins to take hold, a feeling deepened by the reluctance of the locals to talk of the woman in black - and her terrible purpose. Review: A beautifully told, atmospheric, ghost story. Arthur Kipps is a junior solicitor who's sent to deal with the affairs of the lately departed Alice Drablow of Eel Marsh House. At the funeral he sees a terribly ravaged young woman .. almost skeletonal ... dressed in black. What is she doing there and what is her purpose? .. and why do all the villagers shrink away whenever the house or it's owner are mentioned? I loved all the descriptions of the salt marshes, the creeping tides and mists and the old house bleak, remote and eerily quiet except for the ominous knocking coming from the locked upstairs room The story builds and builds, becoming more chilling and creepy as Arthur struggles to complete the task that will enable him to leave Eel Marsh House and it's environs for good. I thought it was pretty easy to work out, once we had a few basic facts, who the woman in black was and why she was there. And I wasn't surprised by the It didn't ruin my enjoyment though, it felt like an old fashioned horror story told around a fire on Christmas Eve .. as indeed Arthur's family had been doing at the beginning of this book (the whole tale is recounted by Arthur in a letter to be opened after his death for nothing could have persuaded him to tell this tale as entertainment for a Christmas fireside .. it having been only too real and harrowing). Spine chillingly good. 8/10

Oh dear .. these are two of my fave books ever. 'The Shipping News' I absolutely adored.

My local libraries are ok but a bit antiquated. I just joined one of the libraries in Swindon today and what a difference. I got five of the books I wanted and it's all fully automated, just swipe your books on the way out. I can access their online cataloge too and reserve books or find out if they have them on their shelves ..... bliss Bad news for my TBR pile, it just got longer.

I've just finished it and really, really liked it .. one of the best books I've read this year.

Hubby bought me this book for Easter ... It's in hardback which is a bother but it's very beautiful and I can't wait to delve in. With story titles such as 'Kate Crackernuts', 'Now I Should Laugh, If I Were Not Dead', 'Salt, Sauce and Spice, Onion Leaves, Pepper and Drippings' and 'Beauty and Pock Face' .. I can tell I'm in for a treat. Totally co-incidentally there is a tale called 'Baba Yaga' (see review of 'A Long, Long Time Ago & Essentially True). I also got one of these .... so I don't feel hard done by Happy Easter Everyone!