Snog? Marry? Avoid? Magic...
To all who are reading this,
Once again, I invite you into the blog which takes a peek into my likes, dislikes and loves in the world of books. A world I'm heavily involved with. A world I always will be with.
Today, in the dock is... Magic.
Now there are a lot of books out there that feature magic and fantasy. Some of the books may be classed as high fantasy (which I'm hoping to talk about another time), and some are often amalgamated with other genres, such as urban fantasy.
Magic, as a topic, is a big business and has been for years. And there will be many more "magical" books to come. What appeals to me about magic, is that anything is possible. Nothing is what it seems. And yes readers, that was the tagline from Labyrinth (1986). Within the realms of magic, the world is your oyster. Or as I used to call it, your toaster.
Let's get this show on the road!1. The Enchanted Riddle by Charlotte Kandel.
"Thirteen years ago baby Daphne was found outside Londons all-girl Orphanage of St Jude. Insecure and emotionally guarded she has grown up longing to fulfil two dreams: to discover her family; and to become a star ballerina. When she receives from an anonymous sender a book containing a tantalising riddle and a magical pair of stockings her dreams of glory and fame are suddenly within her grasp. Bravely and ingeniously following each dangerous magical clue, Daphne soon realises that in the competitive world of ballet discipline and physical hardship are not the only challenges she must face. Daphne is poised to win an audition for the Ballet Splendide in Paris. But will the magic be enough to help her overcome the scheming of others, as well as her own childhood demons?"Published in 2012, I picked this up from my local library. Straight away from the blurb I thought Red Shoes and Black Swan. It was only until I was a few pages in that I realised it was not YA fiction, but Childrens. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a go.I found a few historical inaccuracies, and the plot was boring. the magical element of the entire book is eclipsed by the persistent description of dance. A riddle appears, Daphne recalls it numerous times and somehow the shoes are magic. It has minor psychological themes, which an adult may pick up upon. The description was simple, but could be expanded upon, as well as the characters (Daphne I felt was lacklustre) and their use of dialogue.
Children are smart. We should not dumb down their books. I give this: AVOID!
2. Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by J. K. Rowling.
"Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy - until he is rescued by a beetle-eyed giant of a man, enrols at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learns to play Quidditch and does battle in a deadly duel. The reason: HARRY POTTER IS A WIZARD!"
Published in 1997, this was not the first Harry Potter book I picked up. I bought the first three in a "3 for 2" offer in Ottakar's (before it became Waterstones). I had picked up The Prisoner of Azkaban and it wasn't until I was a few pages in, I realised my mistake.I have fond memories of this book. One of my favourites is sitting on the green outside my sisters old house and reading it aloud to older children, to prove I was as good as I said.The entire series grows with the characters. Yes, Rowling takes inspiration from many other sources, particuarly the Latin language, but they keep your attention. You wish the spells were real, and keep you entertained. Diagon Alley is a fantastic location, a place where Harry really understands the extent of the world he has entered, and where the reader is thrown into, exploring with wide eyes like Harry. Yes, the books are aimed at children, but as a teenager, and as an adult, I go back to them. I am still waiting for my Hogwarts letter - I have two cats, and a broomstick. Somewhere.Some may disagree, especially since some say that Rowling "dumbs down" her books and treats the audience as if they were idiots, but as a professional writer, you can see the progression, and the hard work she undertook in writing such a successful series.I give this: SNOG!
3. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.
"When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in the classic novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, we heard only one side of the story. But what of her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Long before Dorothy drops in, a girl is born in Oz with emerald-green skin. Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous witch, is a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived ideas about the nature of good and evil."
The book was published 1995, but I only came upon it in 2011. Now this find was my mum's who knew I liked the film, The Wizard of Oz. I read the library copy twice over, before getting my own. Later followed the Broadway soundtrack, a trip to the Apollo Theatre in London to see the show, and later, a replica Grimmerie.
What I love about Wicked is the powerful emotion the book can draw from you. I have laughed and cried over this book. I have felt my heart flutter like a bird in a cage, I have felt scorn. Elphaba is naturally talented, and is the heroine I wish I had written. As a teenager and as an adult, she is fierce, strong. Her magic is entirely powerful, as it the entire books. All the places in Oz, all the people we meet, are all magical in their own right. Everything is - from spells to potions to The Clock of the Time Dragon. This book has had a profound impact upon my life.
I give this: MARRIAGE!
---
Watch out for tomorrow's blog post about Shapeshifters!
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Once again, I invite you into the blog which takes a peek into my likes, dislikes and loves in the world of books. A world I'm heavily involved with. A world I always will be with.
Today, in the dock is... Magic.
Now there are a lot of books out there that feature magic and fantasy. Some of the books may be classed as high fantasy (which I'm hoping to talk about another time), and some are often amalgamated with other genres, such as urban fantasy.
Magic, as a topic, is a big business and has been for years. And there will be many more "magical" books to come. What appeals to me about magic, is that anything is possible. Nothing is what it seems. And yes readers, that was the tagline from Labyrinth (1986). Within the realms of magic, the world is your oyster. Or as I used to call it, your toaster.
Let's get this show on the road!1. The Enchanted Riddle by Charlotte Kandel.
"Thirteen years ago baby Daphne was found outside Londons all-girl Orphanage of St Jude. Insecure and emotionally guarded she has grown up longing to fulfil two dreams: to discover her family; and to become a star ballerina. When she receives from an anonymous sender a book containing a tantalising riddle and a magical pair of stockings her dreams of glory and fame are suddenly within her grasp. Bravely and ingeniously following each dangerous magical clue, Daphne soon realises that in the competitive world of ballet discipline and physical hardship are not the only challenges she must face. Daphne is poised to win an audition for the Ballet Splendide in Paris. But will the magic be enough to help her overcome the scheming of others, as well as her own childhood demons?"Published in 2012, I picked this up from my local library. Straight away from the blurb I thought Red Shoes and Black Swan. It was only until I was a few pages in that I realised it was not YA fiction, but Childrens. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a go.I found a few historical inaccuracies, and the plot was boring. the magical element of the entire book is eclipsed by the persistent description of dance. A riddle appears, Daphne recalls it numerous times and somehow the shoes are magic. It has minor psychological themes, which an adult may pick up upon. The description was simple, but could be expanded upon, as well as the characters (Daphne I felt was lacklustre) and their use of dialogue.Children are smart. We should not dumb down their books. I give this: AVOID!
2. Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by J. K. Rowling.
"Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy - until he is rescued by a beetle-eyed giant of a man, enrols at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learns to play Quidditch and does battle in a deadly duel. The reason: HARRY POTTER IS A WIZARD!"Published in 1997, this was not the first Harry Potter book I picked up. I bought the first three in a "3 for 2" offer in Ottakar's (before it became Waterstones). I had picked up The Prisoner of Azkaban and it wasn't until I was a few pages in, I realised my mistake.I have fond memories of this book. One of my favourites is sitting on the green outside my sisters old house and reading it aloud to older children, to prove I was as good as I said.The entire series grows with the characters. Yes, Rowling takes inspiration from many other sources, particuarly the Latin language, but they keep your attention. You wish the spells were real, and keep you entertained. Diagon Alley is a fantastic location, a place where Harry really understands the extent of the world he has entered, and where the reader is thrown into, exploring with wide eyes like Harry. Yes, the books are aimed at children, but as a teenager, and as an adult, I go back to them. I am still waiting for my Hogwarts letter - I have two cats, and a broomstick. Somewhere.Some may disagree, especially since some say that Rowling "dumbs down" her books and treats the audience as if they were idiots, but as a professional writer, you can see the progression, and the hard work she undertook in writing such a successful series.I give this: SNOG!
3. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.
"When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in the classic novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, we heard only one side of the story. But what of her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Long before Dorothy drops in, a girl is born in Oz with emerald-green skin. Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous witch, is a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived ideas about the nature of good and evil."The book was published 1995, but I only came upon it in 2011. Now this find was my mum's who knew I liked the film, The Wizard of Oz. I read the library copy twice over, before getting my own. Later followed the Broadway soundtrack, a trip to the Apollo Theatre in London to see the show, and later, a replica Grimmerie.
What I love about Wicked is the powerful emotion the book can draw from you. I have laughed and cried over this book. I have felt my heart flutter like a bird in a cage, I have felt scorn. Elphaba is naturally talented, and is the heroine I wish I had written. As a teenager and as an adult, she is fierce, strong. Her magic is entirely powerful, as it the entire books. All the places in Oz, all the people we meet, are all magical in their own right. Everything is - from spells to potions to The Clock of the Time Dragon. This book has had a profound impact upon my life.
I give this: MARRIAGE!
---
Watch out for tomorrow's blog post about Shapeshifters!
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
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