Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde

Literary detective Thursday Next is on a mission – and it’s not just a mission to save a planet. If only life were that simple.. Unemployed following an international cheese smuggling scandal, our favourite cultural crime fighter is faced with a world of problems: Hamlet’s not attending his conflict resolution classes, President George Formby is facing a coup led by dastardly Yorrick Kaine and, what’s more, the evil Goliath Corporation are refusing to un-erdadicate Thursday’s husband, Landen. Will she ever see Landen again? Is shopping the new religion? Can Thursday prevent Armageddon? And who will babysit her son while she does it?

This is such a good series. It is really well written and just a fab book. I mean how often do you hear about the need to police fiction? I would love to have this job. Well maybe not what Thursday does, but to be at least part of the world. This is smart, witty and Jasper Fforde is easily becoming one of my favourite authors. I just love this book. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it.

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_12?k=something+rotten+jasper+fforde&sprefix=something+ro&crid=QEPU1LZD4LL8

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=something%20rotten%20jasper%20fforde&search=Find+book

https://www.easons.com/something-rotten-jasper-fforde-9780340825952

https://www.waterstones.com/book/something-rotten/jasper-fforde/9780340825952

A Wicked Way to Win an Earl by Anna Bradley

Delia Somerset despises the ton, but her younger sister, Lily, is desperate to escape their family’s scandalous past and join high society. Unwilling to upset her sister, Delia reluctantly agrees to attend a party at the Sutherland estate- and avoid the gossip at all costs. Alec Sutherland is known as a hot headed scoundrel, but nothing gets a rise out of him as much as the news that his brother desires Delia’s hand in marriage. She is, after all, the daughter of the London belle who soiled their family name. He’s determined to ruin her reputation as well, in the most delicious way possible. It’s only a matter of time before he can woo her with his irresistible advances. As Delia devilishly plays along in Alec’s game, determined to prove the joke is on him, they inch ever closer to repeating history. And in this game of seductive glances, scandalous whispers, and old debts, the outcome might be much more than either of them anticipated….

I really enjoyed reading this. It was a very well written and thought out book. Even more so, knowing that this was Anna Bradley’s first book. It was a very enjoyable and easy read. Delia and Alec are great characters and I love the interaction between the two. The two are really interesting. This would be great for sitting in front of the fire or on a beach somewhere. I loved every second of it. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it.

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?k=a+wicked+way+to+win+an+earl

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=a%20wicked%20way%20to%20win%20an%20earl%20anna%20bradley&search=Find+book

https://www.easons.com/a-wicked-way-to-win-an-earl-anna-bradley-9780349410487

https://www.waterstones.com/book/a-wicked-way-to-win-an-earl/anna-bradley/9780349410487

The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde

Leaving Swindon behind her, to hide out in the Well of Lost Plots- the place where all fiction is created- Thursday Next, Literary Detective and soon to be one parent family, ponders her next move from inside an unpublished novel of dubious merit entitled Caversham Heights. Her husband, Landen, exists only in her memories and with Goliath and the Chronoguard on her tail in the real world, the safest place for her to be is inside the covers of the book. But changes are afoot within the world of fiction. The much awaited upgrade to the centuries old book system – in which grammasites will be exterminated, punctuation standardized and the number of possible plots w from 8 to 32- is only weeks away. But if this is the beginning of a golden age in fictional narrative, then why are Juisfiction agents mysteriously dying? Perkins is eaten by the minotaur, Snell succumbs to the Mispeling Vyrus and Godot is missing. As the date of the upgrade looms closer and the bookworld prepares for the 923rd Annual Fiction Awards, Thursday must unmask the villain responsible for the murders, establish just exactly the upgrade entails – and do battle with an old enemy intent on playing havoc with her memories.

This is another excellent book by Jasper Fforde. I don’t know how he does it, but this is such a good book. It is well written, thoughtful and it kinda makes me want to crawl into it and live there. I love the originality of it too. I mean a well of lost plots. This is pure genius. You also get to know Thursday Next more and I really enjoy reading more about her. It is one of those books that everyone should read. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it.

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_16?k=the+well+of+lost+plots&sprefix=the+well+of+lost&crid=1KCB000D0472X

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=the%20well%20of%20lost%20plots&search=Find+book

https://www.easons.com/Search?q=The%20well%20of%20lost%20plots

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-well-of-lost-plots/jasper-fforde/9780340825938

Reading Jar Challenge

So I came across this and I was a little intrigued.

So basically, you could one of two things with this. If you do a reading challenge, you could put them into the jar. Or if you get a new book you could put it in the jar.

I kinda like the idea.

This way if you wanted to, all you have to do put your hand in a jar and read the challenge/new book.

This might be a good idea for those who want to do the but don’t know to read next.

It is such an interesting idea. The only downside to this is what happens if you don’t want to read the book/genre that comes out of the jar.

Either way, it would be a good way to keep track of what you are reading.

I may decide to do it.

Let me know what you think of the idea.

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

NAME: Valentine Micheal Smith. ANCESTRY: Human. ORIGIN: Mars. Valentine Micheal Smith is a human being raised on Mars, newly returned to Earth. Among his people for the first time, he struggles to understand the social mores and prejudices of human nature that is so alien to him, while teaching them his own fundamental beliefs in grokking, water sharing and love.

So this is one of the few books this year that I did not finish. To be honest, I did like the idea but felt that there were a few things wrong with it. For starters, the main female character, Gillian. It kept going from Gill to Gillian right back to Gill. Then, it’s like he couldn’t make up his mind about whether or not she was a strong woman. For example, when we first meet her, she hears that Valentine isn’t allowed to have female visitors, nurses whatever because he has never seen a woman before and they don’t know how he will react. So she decides that she knows better and goes into see him. Seriously who does that? I mean .. why does she think she knows better? But what gets me is that later, when a friend goes missing, she has to rely on a man in order to find him. While there are some women who need men to do everything for them (there is nothing wrong with that), that wasn’t the impression that she gave us at the start of the book. She is either a really strong independent woman or she needs a man. It does not work that way. You can become strong, but strong women don’t become flighty the moment they don’t understand something. Does that make sense? Then Robert Heinlein spends an entire chapter where an employer has to talk to one of his employees about a different culture and how sometimes what is acceptable in one culture might not be acceptable in another. An entire CHAPTER. There was no need for it. Besides how often does an employer stop what he is doing and explain things to an employee? You would assume that they are intelligent enough to know what was happening around them. I just realized how long this was. This ended up being a massive rant. I think part of the problem is that the version I was given (I got it from the library) is the unedited version. Apparently there is a edited version of this somewhere that is shorter and a lot better. Also it was written in the 60s which would explain the sexism. Either way I didn’t finish it. I’m not sure I would want to recommend it. I don’t think I will to be honest. It’s a good idea that failed miserably. Which is unfortunate but there you have it. I am sorry for the long rant. Thank for listening.

The Glass Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

Three months after returning after returning Magician Emery Thane’s heart to his body, Ceony Twill is well on her way to becoming a Folder. Unfortunately, not all of Ceony’s thoughts have been focused on paper magic. Though she was promised romance by a fortuity box, Ceony still hasn’t broken the student student barrier with Emery, despite their growing closeness. When a magician with a penchant for revenge believes that Ceony possesses a secret, he vows to discovers it… even if it tears apart the very fabric of their magical world. After a series of attacks target Ceony and catch those she holds most dear in the crossfire, Ceony knows she must find the true limits of her power… and keep her knowledge from falling into wayward hands.

So I might have mixed feelings about it. It’s the second book in a series. (The first one is called The Paper Magician). It’s good but there was something kinda off about. I finally realized what it is. The main villains have no depth. There doesn’t seem to be real reason why they are doing the things that they are doing. They feel like they are there to further the story. And on top of that, the crush that Ceony has on Thane. At one point, someone else tries to move her to someone else, for her sake, and she refuses. There is also the fact that she throws a hissy fit because they won’t let her go into the council room for some meetings. She then concocts some stupid idea to get to the bad guy and it fails miserably. Having said that, this is one of those books that is easy to read and would good for some light reading in between more serious fantasy. Charlie Holmberg is a good writer, even if her characters aren’t as thought out as they should. I would recommend it and I hope you enjoy it.

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_13?k=the+glass+magician&sprefix=the+glass+mag&crid=YPGPI2A3PLD6

https://www.bookdepository.com/Glass-Magician-Charlie-N-Holmberg/9781477825945?ref=grid-view&qid=1542840874039&sr=1-1

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-glass-magician/charlie-n-holmberg/9781477825945

Knowledge is Power by John Henry

Francis Bacon – a leading figure in the history of science- never made a discovery, provided a lasting explanation of any physical phenomena or revealed any hidden laws of nature. How then can he rank as he does alongside Newton? Bacon was the first major thinker to describe how science should be done, and to explain why. Scientific knowledge should be gathered for its own sake but for practical benefit to mankind. And Bacon promoted experimentation, coming to outline and define the rigorous procedures of the ‘scientific method’ that today form the very bedrock of modern scientific progress. This gives an account of the backgrounds to Bacon’s innovations and the sometimes unconventional sources for his ideas. Why was he was so concerned to revolutionize the attitude to scientific knowledge – and why do his ideas for his reform still resonate today?

This is a really good book. Francis Bacon is not someone I’m really familiar with but now I kinda want to know more about him. One of the things that I like about this book is that it changed the way I see how the idea of magic has changed. For example, if I talked to Francis Bacon about the idea of say demons or something similar he would look at me like I was nuts or something. But the idea of magic and demons nowadays go hand in hand. I do have to admit that the language was a bit hard to read but it was worth it as it was so interesting. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it.

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?k=knowledge+is+power+john+henry

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=knowledge%20is%20power%20john%20henry&search=Find+book

https://www.easons.com/knowledge-is-power-john-henry-9781785782367

https://www.waterstones.com/christmas2018

Dublin Book Festival

So during the week I won a ticket to the Dublin Book Festival.

I went today and it was AMAZING.

I will admit I could only go to 2 events, but still they lasted for a few hours so I was happy.

Having said that, they were great. The first one I went to was a conversation with Dave Kenny. He spoke to Leasley Pearse, Mary Kennedy, Carmel Harrington, Sinéad Moriarty, John Boyne and David Park.

These were all amazing. I kinda wanted to pick up all their books after hearing them talk. A book seems so different after you hear the author talk about it.

For example, Leasley Pearse, one of the reasons she writes about rough childhoods in her books is because she had a rough childhood. Her mother died when she was three and those that had some power (ie the nuns) decided, that despite the fact that her father was still alive, her and her brother ended up in different orphanages. For 3 years. She also vividly recalled the first day she was there. She woke up during the night to go the bathroom when she saw a statue of Christ and was so sacred she peed herself. And without batting an eyelid the nun pushed her nose in it. You know like when you are training a dog not to pee in the house. It was shocking.

Despite that, she seemed like she like had moved on. Like it still affected her, but she wasn’t going to let it own her.

It also made me want to read one of her books. She has always been one I have been aware of but had never picked up.

I also enjoyed the other authors. They all seemed like engaging, down to earth people. It was so nice to see them and being able to hear what they had to say.

The other talk I went to was about Emerging Authors. There were two authors for that one and they were Arnold Fanning and Emilie Pine. They were more non fiction writers. Emilie Pine has written a book called Notes To Self and Arnold Fanning wrote Mind on Fire: A Memoir of Madness and Recovery. It was nice to see that non fiction was represented in the festival.

Either way it was an amazing day. I have been there before and I really enjoyed myself. I don’t know why I have never gone before.

My only real complaint of the day is that you have to book the talk in advance. It was held in Smock Alley, so I get that they may not have the space for everyone. But if you’ve never been before, it can be a little overwhelming. I had no idea where I was or where I wanted to go for some of the talks.

It is still on tomorrow if anyone is interested in going. It is worth going.

I will definitely be going back next year.

Sabriel by Garth Nix

Sabriel is the daughter of the Mage Abhorsen. Ever since she was a tiny child, she has lived outside the Wall of the Old Kingdom- far away from the uncontrolled power of Free Magic, and away from the Dead who won’t stay dead. But now her father is missing and Sabriel is called upon to cross back into that world to find him. Leaving the safety of the school she has known as home, Sabriel embarks upon a quest fraught with supernatural dangers, with companions she is unsure of – for nothing is as it seems within the boundary of the Old Kingdom. There she confronts an evil that threatens much more than her life, and comes face to face with her hidden destiny….

I love, love this book. It is an amazing well written book. Garth Nix is one of those writers that everyone should read. Nix has this amazing way of writing that makes you wanting more. The characters are amazing and Sabriel is one of my favourites. This is a classic book and I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it.

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?k=sabriel

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=sabriel%20garth%20nix&search=Find+book

https://www.easons.com/Search?q=Sabriel%20

https://www.waterstones.com/books/search/term/sabriel

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? By Philip K. Dick

War has left the earth devastated. Through it’s ruins, bounty hunter Rick Deckard stalks the runaway androids who are his prey. When he isn’t ‘retiring’ them, he dreams of owing the ultimate status symbol – a live animal. Then Rick gets his chance – a big assignment: to track down 6 Nexus-6 targets for a huge reward. But life is never that straightforward and Rick’s quickly turns into a kaleidoscopic nightmare of subterfuge and deceit, and the threat of death for the hunter rather the hunted…

I have a confession to make. I’ve never seen Bladerunner. This is what the movie is based on and I’m kinda curious now. This is an interesting book. I love the story, the characters are interesting and I enjoyed it. I also love the fact that the entire story is done in a day. I have to admit this is a very bleak book. It seems to have a very dim view of sentient beings. For example, androids don’t seem to care about anything. Having said that, I am glad I read it. It is one of those books that everyone should read at least once in their lives. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it.

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_5?k=do+androids+dream+of+electric+sheep&sprefix=do+an&crid=33V0OXKTADR5O

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=do%20androids%20dream%20of%20electric%20sheep&search=Find+book

https://www.easons.com/Search?q=do%20androids%20dream%20of%20electric%20sheep?,

https://www.waterstones.com/books/search/term/do+androids+dream+of+electric+sheep