L.H. Johnson's Blog, page 8

Enid (2009), a film review

Earlier this week I managed to watch Enid (2009). It’s a film which has been on my radar for a while because it tells the story of Enid Blyton and, if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ll know that I find her an incredibly fascinating character. Enid Blyton is messy. She’s brutal,Continue reading "Enid (2009), a film review"

Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson

Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson My rating: 5 of 5 stars When the sky is blue and the air is sharp, the world calls for Moominland Midwinter. I read it outside until the light began to fade andI was too cold to read. And as I walked home, I thought about all of the differentContinue reading "Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson"

Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAlnuty

Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty My rating: 5 of 5 stars I have just tried to start this review several times but I’ve never been quite able to figure it out. So let’s start with the facts: Diary of a Young Naturalist has had a lot of buzz about it. It’s writtenContinue reading "Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAlnuty"

The Brumby by Mary Elwyn Patchett

The Brumby by Mary Elwyn Patchett My rating: 4 of 5 stars When I began this, I had two problems. The first was that I kept confusing it with The Silver Brumby, a series I adore with a fierce and heartfelt passion, and it took a while for me to disentangle The Brumby from that.Continue reading "The Brumby by Mary Elwyn Patchett"

An introduction to Children’s Literature by Peter Hunt

An Introduction to Children’s Literature by Peter Hunt My rating: 4 of 5 stars I recently picked up a fair few of the older children’s literature theory books, the ones that I’ve always known as points of reference to be read in extracts and photocopied chapters whilst also taking them with a slight pinch ofContinue reading "An introduction to Children’s Literature by Peter Hunt"

Spare by Prince Harry

Spare by Prince Harry My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve been struggling to figure out how to review this but then, I think, that’s what reviews are for. Working out how you think about something. Teasing out that reaction in words. Figuring out what these tiny marks on the page made you feel andContinue reading "Spare by Prince Harry"

Point of Departure by James Cameron

Point of Departure: Experiment in Biography by James Cameron My rating: 4 of 5 stars There was a table in the bookshop, right at the back of the room, with several piles of books on it. The sign, recycled from a piece of packaging, said that these titles were all £1 and many of themContinue reading "Point of Departure by James Cameron"

Pollyanna & Pollyanna Grows Up by Eleanor H. Porter

Pollyanna / Pollyanna Grows Up by Eleanor H. Porter My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have been aware of Pollyanna for a long while, mainly because “Pollyanna” has been used as a kind of insult in some of the books I read. It’s normally attached to a Slightly Over-Dramatic Child who might have beenContinue reading "Pollyanna & Pollyanna Grows Up by Eleanor H. Porter"

The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm by Karen Foxlee

The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm by Karen Foxlee My rating: 5 of 5 stars (A few preliminary notes. It’s important for me to tell you that I share a publisher with Foxlee and received this from them as a free copy. This has not impacted upon my thoughts). I really liked Miss Mary-Kate Martin’sContinue reading "The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm by Karen Foxlee"

The Children Who Stayed Behind by Bruce Carter

Children Who Stayed Behind by Bruce Carter My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’m always interested in those moments when you pick up a book without knowing anything about it at all. For me, The Children Who Stayed Behind caught my eye because of the cover but also because it’s a post-war Puffin. These areContinue reading "The Children Who Stayed Behind by Bruce Carter"