Critics Corner - give us your reviews of your recent reading

[[deleted user]]

Laurel wrote: "I've just finished S. by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst which I really enjoyed. It's the novel Ship of Theseus by the fictitious author V.M. Straka plus coded footnotes by his translato..."

I like the sound of this - sounds a bit House of Leave- ish.

[[deleted user]]

Captain Blood - is a wonderful story of derring-do starring Peter Blood, an accidental pirate and extremely attractive anti hero. Although originally published in 1922 it's nail bitingly exciting and couldn't be more crammed with swash and buckle if it tried.
If you're after a bit of rip roaring entertainment give this book a try.

[Angela]

Sounds fab Lee - A good adventure to escape the busy mind :)

[[deleted user]]

The Mrs Tim Books - Mrs. Tim Christie, Mrs. Tim Carries On, Mrs. Tim Gets A Job, and Mrs. Tim Flies Home
I first met Mrs Tim when I was about 14 and withdrew Mrs. Tim Christie from the library - I don 't know how many more times I borrowed it again before the terrible day that I discovered that A) it had been "withdrawn from circulation" and B) it was out of print.
Some years later I pounced on it in one of those remaindered book stores - oh happy day - I don't think I've ever been so pleased to find a book, and then, on another red letter day, a few years later Mrs. Tim Flies Home turned up in a charity shop.
Recently I realised that I would never get my hands on the remaining books unless I bit the bullet and bought them for around £20 each (ouch) - and so I did and have just finished reading Mrs. Tim Carries On
So what's so amazing about these books I hear you cry. Well they are the fictional diaries of an army officer's wife in the early 30s through to (I think) the 50s and I just find them completely charming and generally amusing.
They are very much of their time - Mrs Tim considers herself to be struggling for money while employing 3 servants and sending her son to boarding school and the "lower orders" are always eager to please and happy to be patronised- but Mrs Tim always retains our sympathies. I guess for me they are the ultimate comfort books.
Don't just take my word for it though - the first Mrs Tim is available as an e- book - so download a free sample and join me in my ,slightly guilty, pleasure.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mrs-Tim-Regim...

[[deleted user]]

The Medusa Frequency, Hangsaman, Thornyhold

I loved the Medusa Frequency it's very funny, very odd and really makes you think. I couldn't explain what it's about though - you'll just have to read it yourself :0)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is one of my favourite books so I was looking forward to trying another Shirley Jackson novel. Hangsaman is a coming of age book about the shy, imaginative and slightly disturbed loner Natalie Waite and her first term at college. Natalie's world is a menacing and eerie one and the experience of being inside her head, as it were, is fascinating and hynoptic.

I've always steered away from Mary Stewart - I had the idea that she was rather wishy washy - but if Thornyhold is anything to judge by she was actually a lyrical and atmospheric writer.
A young recently orphaned woman inherits her Godmother's isolated cottage and slightly supernatural events ensue - I really enjoyed it.

[Joy]

Just finished Puck of Pook's Hill. This is a children's book, though I can't imagine modern children liking it. However I enjoyed it. It features two children who accidentally come into contact with Puck (fairy from Midsummer's Night's Dream) and he introduces them to characters from historical periods, who tell the children their stories. The characters aren't famous people but those on the edge of famous events; soldiers guarding Hadrian's Wall, nobles from around 1066 etc. Each episode is also preceded by a poem (of Kipling's own) some of which are very good. I was interested to find that a poem I knew from childhood (Smuggler's Song) originated here, and I really liked the poem 'Harp Song of the Dane Women'. I doubt that modern children would know enough history to make this book comprehensible - in fact I had to google for information a number of times, but enjoyed doing this. I also liked the idyllic short scenes of childhood - the children running out to play imaginative games, unrestricted by adults or health and safety concerns - it reminded me a bit of E. Nesbit's fictional children (and indeed my own delightful childhood a bit!)

[Laurel]

Yeah it's a bit scary that they did a survey of children that found for a lot of them their happiest memories were of days when they were outside but quite a few expressed concern that they would get dirty or that it wasn't safe! Very sad - I had to be dragged back in kicking and screaming lol!

[[deleted user]]

I loved Puck of Pooks hills too - wish I'd discovered it when I was smaller.

[Joy]

Lee wrote: "The Medusa Frequency, Hangsaman, Thornyhold

I loved the Medusa Frequency it's very funny, very odd and really makes you think. I couldn't explain what it'..."

My mum liked Mary Stewart and I read a few of hers back in my teens. The one that stays in mind is The Crystal Cave which is the story of the young Merlin, from the legend of King Arthur. I don't know if I'd still like it if I read it again.

[[deleted user]]

Got that one on my kindle :0)

[Laurel]

Just finished City of Thieves by David Benioff. Really good, some people have mentioned it in a 'if you liked The Book Thief, you'll like this...' kind of way but the only similarity is that the time period and the fact that the main character is a young Jewish person. This isn't a young adult book although it is a coming of age sort of story. There is some horrible bits in it but that's to be expected in a war story to be honest. Very well-written and seems like he has done his research, 4 stars.

[Joy]

Just readAustenland. Unfunny and badly written chic-lit. Can't hold a candle toBridget Jones's Diary.

[Laurel]

I've just finished The Rental Heart and Other Fairytales by Kirsty Logan. Interesting and a bit of a mixed bag, all were very well-written and some of the longer ones were really good. I particularly enjoyed the title story,'The Rental Heart', as well as 'Coin-operated Boys' which was a bit like Du Mauriers 'The Doll' but with a different twist; 'Una and Coll are not Friends' was really sweet; 'Feeding' which was kind of disturbing at the end; 'Matryoshka', a new take on the cinderella story told from the prince's sister's perspective and 'Tiger Palace' which was a beautiful story about stories and how we can change them and make our own happy endings. Some of the stories however were either too short so didn't really live up to their potential or didn't really seem to have a point to them - for example 'A Skulk of Saints' which had such a good name but never went anywhere so was a bit of a disappointment. All in all though it was an intriguing collection of modern fairytales and retellings and I will look out for more of Logan's stuff in the future.

[Dianne]

I've just read pippi longstocking by astrid longren today, it is a very light read and I was through it in just over an hour even though it is 150 pages. I got it in PDF form free of the web. The main character is so wonderfully drawn, there is a real appreciation of childhood in the book. Pippi lives a crazy existence which the kids next door love to enter into. On each visit she shows them the fun in the mundane, or another way of seeing the most obvious things. My favourite is her responses to the ladies coffee mornings complaining about their servants. Pippi always has the last word, but really the message is enjoy your childhood and don't grow up too quickly. I loved this as a child and appreciated this again today.

[Laurel]

Sounds really good Dee - you know I never read Pippi Longstocking when I was a kid so I might look up that free version on the web you mentioned.

[Dianne]

I found it here, it has a few spelling and layout mistakes, but it is free. http://english4success.ru/Upload/book...

[Laurel]

Thanks, will check it out when I get time :)