tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306447729327712702024-03-14T02:26:58.605+00:00The Story Factory Reading ZoneWhere dreams become realityAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comBlogger1110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-15710246970684421182016-07-22T18:41:00.001+01:002016-07-22T18:41:12.167+01:00No more reviews!<div><br></div><div>I'm afraid that I have made the difficult decision to suspend my reviewing activity indefinately. As many of you will know, my review rate has been slowing down more and more over the last few years. Life has been getting busier and I have realised that my commitments are getting in the way of reading for pleasure.</div><div><br></div><div>Please do not send me any more review requests! I will not be replying to these.</div><div>If you have already sent me a book to review then please let me know if, despite the substantial delay, you still want me to review it and I will (of course) make an exception.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-26704373499577912512016-04-24T15:25:00.001+01:002016-04-24T15:25:42.375+01:00Review: Hearing Thoughts by Anthony Diffley<br />
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<span id="freeText9268380444638900343">Daniel Burke is a young
New York City Assistant DA currently prosecuting a man for the murder of
his wife. Even though her body was never found, there is enough
circumstantial evidence to bring him to trial. Danny has his own doubts
about whether or not this man is guilty of the crime but he knows
because of the oath he took, he must follow through and perform his duty
as assistant prosecutor. <br /><br />When the trial is unexpectedly put on
hold for a week, he and two of his friends decide to take a short
getaway vacation to their cabins up in Lake George. All is going well
for him and his friends until he is suddenly and discreetly abducted by
an alien vessel from outer space. <br />The aliens are very friendly and
peaceful and have come here to test and observe humans. When they feel
that the time is right, they will make their presence known to all
mankind. While on board, they give Danny the ability to communicate with
them via thought transmission or through the ability of hearing their
thoughts. He becomes good friends with one of the aliens who in turn
gives Danny some good lessons on life. <br />Trouble hits their ship just
as they are returning him back to earth and while in the process of
removing the thought hearing capability. Danny is safely returned, but
he is unintentionally left with the talent to hear other people’s
thoughts. When he finally realizes he can hear other people’s thoughts,
he starts to question himself as to how he can put it to good use.
Should he use it on his job? For romance? To beat his friends at cards?
To know what the world thinks of him? Or more importantly, after having
lost his wife on 9/11, use it to help the government stop another
terrorist attack? These choices, plus many more, are all at his disposal
but will he choose wisely?</span></div>
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<span id="freeText9268380444638900343"></span><span id="freeText9268380444638900343"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1596045950">The
story starts slowly (the first 4 chapters could probably have been
covered in one) but by the middle of the book I was truly ingrigued. <br /><br />Daniel was an interesting character and I liked to see how he developed throughout the book. <br /><br />Individual
chapters were good reads in themselves and I liked the way in which the
author attempted to mix genres. However, the overall plot seemed
unoriginal and was too scattered with irrelevant religious overtones.<br /><br />I
think this author shows good promise, but is not quite there yet. My
reading was also hampered by frequent typos and grammar mistakes, which I
have tried to ignore whilst writing this review.</span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-90055451272926661662016-04-16T09:00:00.000+01:002016-04-16T09:00:11.099+01:00Review: The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zRRnO0BGcmA/VwY9dI29pyI/AAAAAAAABc8/c4sTgg2jSKEF3SOwyMQUeP4OrJY1Ea2Zw/s1600/The%2BLast%2BDragonslayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zRRnO0BGcmA/VwY9dI29pyI/AAAAAAAABc8/c4sTgg2jSKEF3SOwyMQUeP4OrJY1Ea2Zw/s320/The%2BLast%2BDragonslayer.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<b>Blurb</b><br />
<span id="freeTextContainer16895293732287379918">Foundling Jennifer
Strange 15 is an indentured manager for Kazam, a house of sorcerers. As
magic dwindles, so do their jobs. Drain cleaner is cheaper than a spell,
and magic carpets deliver pizzas. But the Last Dragon is set to die
this week, and Big Magic is coming.</span><br />
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<span id="freeTextContainer16895293732287379918"><b>My review</b></span><br />
<span id="freeTextContainer16895293732287379918">Whilst not as gripping as the Nursery Crimes or Thursday Next stories, I fonnd Ther Last Dragonslayer and enjoyable read.</span><br />
<span id="freeTextContainer16895293732287379918"> </span><span id="freeTextContainer16895293732287379918">Kazam was a very intriguing world. To some extent it reminded me of Terry Pratchett's world, only with less adult humour. I liked the comparisons and contrasts with our own world, and really felt like I was exploring new territory together with Jennifer Strange.</span><br />
<span id="freeTextContainer16895293732287379918">The idea of the founlings was also fascinating. I won't go into detail here, as I don't want to spoil it for readers, but their relationship with the world is something I would like to hear more about.</span><span id="freeTextContainer16895293732287379918"> </span><br />
<span id="freeTextContainer16895293732287379918">There was much I enjoyed about this book but, unfortunatly, I felt that it was slow in gaining the depth that I wanted. I think that maybe now I know the characters and setting better I might enjoy the next book more.</span><br />
<span id="freeTextContainer16895293732287379918">I super read for older children/young teenagers and an enjoyable quick read for adults who enjoy the Discworld sereis. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-88157758994692102112016-04-09T09:00:00.000+01:002016-04-09T09:00:00.152+01:00Review: Pretty Is by Maggie Mitchell<br />
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<b> </b><span id="freeText1871019353004918933"><em>Everyone thought we were dead.<br /><br />We were missing for nearly two months; we were twelve. What else could they think?<br /><br />They
were glad to have us back, of course. But nothing was the same. It was
as if we had returned from the dead, as if we were tainted somehow. We
were not the same.<br /><br />And it was true, though not in the way they thought.</em><br /><br />Lois and Carly-May are just twelve years old when they’re abducted and imprisoned for two months.<br /><br />That summer, under the watchful gaze of their kidnapper, they form a bond which will never be broken…<br /><br />Decades later, both Lois and Carly-May have built new lives and identities for themselves. <br /><br />Lois and Carly-May are drawn together again to face the truth of their beautiful, terrible story.</span>
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<b>My review</b> <br />
A pychological book that's not quite a thriller, this book was chosen for me by my local book club.<br />This book asks a lot of questions, framed in the mind of the two girls (now older) who were abducted. <br />After a slow start in Part One, I felt more connected with Part Two and really wanted to enjoy it. The characters in this section were rounded and it felt ike a story on its own. However, this failed to be carried through to Part Three. <br />In Part Three a lot of different plot ideas and lines of thought were raised. Possible solutions kept presenting themselves, only to disappear again. <br />I wanted to enjoy this book (and I did like parts of it), but it failed to live up to my expectations. Overall it seemed more like an exploration of traumatised minds and what life is really about than a full-fledged work of fiction.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-44957307204718678562016-04-07T12:20:00.003+01:002016-04-07T12:20:34.109+01:00I'm in Top 1% of Reviewers on Goodreads!<br />
Picked up an e-mail this morning with this in it:<br />
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Anyone else get one?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-12551267964155451322016-04-02T09:00:00.000+01:002016-04-02T09:00:17.870+01:00Review: MARTians by Blythe Woolston<br />
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<span id="freeText1783651795618075076">Last girl Zoë Zindleman,
numerical ID 009-99-9999, has just been graduated. Early. Her options:
wait for her home to be foreclosed and stripped of anything valuable now
that AnnaMom has moved away, or move to the Warren, an abandoned
strip-mall-turned-refuge for other left-behinds—a safe place, and close
to AllMART, Zoë’s new employer, where “your smile is AllMART’s welcome
mat.” Zoë may be the last girl, but her name means “life,” and Zoë isn’t
ready to disappear into the AllMART abyss. Zoë wants to live.</span><br />
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<span id="freeText1783651795618075076"></span><span id="freeText1783651795618075076"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1596033321">An easy to read science fiction, with a consumerist message.<br />I
felt quite sorry for Zoe and was intrigued by the way she coped with a
world almost as strange to her as it is to the reader. The world itself
is at times just a little too bizarre to be believeable, at others all
too familiar. This means that, overall, it creates a very atmospheric
sense of unease that reflects well the characters' emotions. <br />It only
too me one day to reade this book and that's a real shame because I
felt that there were many issues that deserved being tackled more
indepth. I would definatly read any sequels that came out.<br />One to read when you want something quick and easy between more seriousl reads.</span></span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-75967655550388927382016-02-19T15:36:00.001+00:002016-02-19T15:36:30.491+00:00Review: The Chosen by William Hatchett<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/s/?view=att&th=147623aa07dbce7d&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_hxycz7dh0_1476239ae3fa5f7f&zw&atsh=1" width="294" height="454" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; border: none;"><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>Information</b></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">One man. One planet. One destiny. Frederick Frater leads a hum-drum existence working in a Victorian bookshop. But one day an apparition walks into the shop – a beautiful young woman. Her father's extraordinary invention changes Frederick's life. The adventure that follows takes us back to Roman-occupied Britain and into the future, in which magic has become science. It is a future that Frederick can influence through his interventions – for he is one of the Chosen, a select and privileged group with the fate of the world in their hands.</span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Author</b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">:</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">William Hatchett </b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">was born in 1958. He is the editor of a professional magazine Environmental Health News. He lives in London and has a daughter and two delightful grandsons. He has been named housing journalist of the year, in 1998, and editor of the year, in 2012. His main hobbies are messing around with canoes and guitars. He is the author of</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">the Dragon Rising</i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">trilogy and has also published books of non-fiction and poetry. The Chosen is his fourth novel. He is available for interview.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br></b></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>My review</b></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">An intriguing and interesting start set the scene for this unusual story. The initial character of Frederick caught my attention, as did his early relationships. At times I was also memorised by the novel worlds and historical settings. </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">However, overall this long novel read more like a selection of shorter stories strung together than a coherent plot. I was left puzzled by the conclusion and feeling like I had missed something important.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">3 out of 5 stars</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review</i></span></font></p></div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-5634000216520212952016-02-19T12:10:00.001+00:002016-02-19T12:10:49.283+00:00Review: An African Diary by Bill Bryson<div><br></div><div>Was a quick and easy read. I enjoyed this book, although I would have liked more detail about what he saw.</div><div><br></div><div>4/5</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-75261627164919247122016-02-01T19:53:00.001+00:002016-02-01T19:53:44.203+00:00Review: The Long Mars by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KxttMhrImV0/Vq-3xr4MbkI/AAAAAAAABbs/ZdWgDrqRc_A/s640/blogger-image-1708716646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KxttMhrImV0/Vq-3xr4MbkI/AAAAAAAABbs/ZdWgDrqRc_A/s640/blogger-image-1708716646.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Long Mars is the third in a series of fantasies based around the idea that alternate dimensions rally do exist. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My favourite thing about this book was the exploration taken by the character Sally Linsey about what it means to be a daughter, juxtaposed with the continuing question of what it means to be human. These almost seemed to take a greater part in the book than the fantasy/ sci-if aspect.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Having said that, it was interesting to consider how very different ours (and other worlds) could be. I particularly enjoyed the humorous exploration of what range of lifeforms might exist out there somewhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A good standalone read, made even better if read as part of the series.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-34640828763909556072016-01-10T19:43:00.001+00:002016-01-10T19:43:16.648+00:00Review:The Long War by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A gripping journey into parallel worlds; some only subtly different, others full of seeming impossibilities. Enter one man, one woman, a few trolls and a corporation. Throw in a few unexpected events and you have 'The Long War'. <br>What I particularly like about this series is the characterisation of Joshua, shown as someone struggling to balance family, heroism and politics. I also appreciated the little quips about multi-nationals. <br>After finishing this book I jumped straight to the sequel to continue the story.</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">5/5 stars</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1A7DLzeoBs8/VpK0UguSbUI/AAAAAAAABbU/mXA5-LIFdhE/s640/blogger-image-1645745462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1A7DLzeoBs8/VpK0UguSbUI/AAAAAAAABbU/mXA5-LIFdhE/s640/blogger-image-1645745462.jpg"></a></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-52907151008602883352015-02-13T17:03:00.000+00:002015-02-13T17:03:00.043+00:00Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett (A Review)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WTogBdEp44g/UNx_8k_23iI/AAAAAAAAAiw/8GESJm1hbGU/s1600/Feet+of+Clay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WTogBdEp44g/UNx_8k_23iI/AAAAAAAAAiw/8GESJm1hbGU/s320/Feet+of+Clay.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a></div>
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<b>Goodreads Summary:</b><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeTextContainer13582010112238896392">There’s a werewolf with
pre-lunar tension in Ankh-Morpork. And a dwarf with attitude, and a
Golem who’s begun to think for itself. But Commander Vimes is more
concerned about the crime that’s happened. He’s got to find out not only
whodunit, but howdunit too. He’s not even sure what they dun. But as
soon as he knows what the questions are, he’s going to want some
answers.</span><b> </b></blockquote>
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The range of creatures on Discworld is much easier to appreciate after reading this book. The ways in which they interacte are fascinating as well. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Mixing fantasy with a touch of crime fiction, this is a great book for Pratchett fans and novices alike. </blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Action Reader's Action: </i>Consider how you treat others. Look for the similarities rather than the differences.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What's your favourte fictional race?</b> </div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b> </b> </blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-71255890007473806962015-02-09T09:00:00.000+00:002015-02-09T09:00:05.281+00:00Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey (A Review)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4DkI2BcY-g/UJgPqlo7z-I/AAAAAAAAAQU/-pGzb6xyglk/s1600/Dragonsinger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4DkI2BcY-g/UJgPqlo7z-I/AAAAAAAAAQU/-pGzb6xyglk/s320/Dragonsinger.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
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<b>Blurb:</b><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Menolly arrived in triumph at the Harper Hall, aboard a bronze dragon. She had run away from home and lived in a cave, outrun the dread Threadfall, impressed nine fire lizards and written songs that pleased the Masterharper of Pern. But what was her future at the hall to be? It seemed she was always late or her fire lizards underfoot, and why didn't any of the other girls like her? Now that there was nothing to keep her from her beloved music and fire lizards, could Menolly learn to live among others, realize her talent and find her rightful place in the future of Pern?</blockquote>
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<br />
<b>My review:</b> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The more I read Anne McCaffrey, the more I love her work. Its lovely to read this book after the Dragonrider books, as it takes place at the same time. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Menolly remains a well-rounded character whose easily likeable. Her situation, whilst fantastical, retains elements of everyday life and her problems will be familiar to many. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The main thing I like about this book though is the descriptions of her fire lizards and what they get up to. Their relationships with humans and dragons are fascinating and diverse.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Its not necessary to read the first book in this series (Dragonsong) first, as the plot so far is well set out. In fact I would say that this recap is the one thing that detracts from the story, as it delays the start for those who already know what has happened. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Overall, a great work of fantasy. I look forward to reading more in the series. </blockquote>
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<i>Action Reader's Action: </i>Do something nice for someone that you work with, or see every day.<br />
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<b>Have you ever felt like you didn't fit in? What did you do about it?</b><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-24824129765070201752014-12-01T16:14:00.000+00:002014-12-01T16:14:00.266+00:00Review: Mondays with Mephistopheles: 9am––Rhys by Dan O'Brien<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_PYUFZW8tkU/VFZXF-GipkI/AAAAAAAABVg/ahClz9YxJu4/s1600/book%2Bon%2Ba%2Bchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_PYUFZW8tkU/VFZXF-GipkI/AAAAAAAABVg/ahClz9YxJu4/s1600/book%2Bon%2Ba%2Bchair.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b>Summary:</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Garamond,serif;">Abraham Rogers has an unusual
psychotherapy practice: monsters. This first installment is a session <span class="il">with</span>
Rhys, the IT vampire who can’t quite connect <span class="il">with</span> the modern world the way he
would like.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Garamond,serif;"><b>My Review:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Garamond,serif;">A short story jam-packed with ironic humour. For a couple of sentences I wondered why I'd myself in for another stock-vampire story, then I realised this was something quite different.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Garamond,serif;"><b>If 'Abe' was an interesting character, Rhys was even more so. I actually ended up feeling a little sorry for him. I would have loved to know more about how his case turned out. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Garamond,serif;"><b>As a short-story this was a perfect read. Now I just need another book full of these 'appointments'.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Garamond,serif;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond,serif;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond,serif;"><b> </b> </span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-45633280501780050562014-11-22T15:33:00.000+00:002014-11-22T15:33:00.264+00:00Review: Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eiTke7zED5Y/VFZP0Xat5PI/AAAAAAAABU8/HKIf7T2kL5A/s1600/blind%2Bwillow%2Bsleeping%2Bwoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eiTke7zED5Y/VFZP0Xat5PI/AAAAAAAABU8/HKIf7T2kL5A/s1600/blind%2Bwillow%2Bsleeping%2Bwoman.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
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<b>Goodreads Blurb:</b><br />
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<span class="elementTwo" id="freeText6206608588828891061">Here
are animated crows, a criminal monkey, an ice man, as well as the dreams
that shape us and the things we wish for. Whether during a chance
reunion in Italy, a romantic exile in Greece, a holiday in Hawaii or in
the grip of everyday life, Murakami's characters confront loss, or
sexuality, or the glow of a firefly, or the impossible distance between
those who ought to be closest of all.</span>
<b></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>My Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I picked up this book, thinking how many good things I'd heard about Murakami's other books. What I got was a fantastical, and weird, series of short stories.<br />
<br />
Welcome to the unexpected! A few of the stories struck me as quite profound. but I'm afraid to admit that I found most of them quite baffling. None of them were rounded off in the style of western-sensibilities.<br />
<br />
The narratives were well-written and in several cases I became quite interested in the characters. Unfortunately there wasn't enough time to let these stories develop and I often found the endings unsatisfactory. <br />
<br />
I kept feeling that I should enjoy this book, but it just didn't do it for me. If you want something different then try this book, if not don't bother. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-70156069514266686032014-11-15T15:17:00.000+00:002014-11-15T15:17:00.106+00:00Review: The World of Poo by Terry Pratchett<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFh2QM0m13g/VFZLj88bDeI/AAAAAAAABUo/ZL7cND2ZrMQ/s1600/the%2Bworld%2Bof%2Bpoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFh2QM0m13g/VFZLj88bDeI/AAAAAAAABUo/ZL7cND2ZrMQ/s1600/the%2Bworld%2Bof%2Bpoo.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>Goodreads Blurb:</b><br />
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<span class="elementOne" id="freeTextContainer15500755259997659023">A Discworld picture book.<br />At
six o'clock every day, without fail, with no excuses, Sam Vimes must go
home to read 'The World of Poo', with all the appropriate noises, to
his little boy.<br />A picturebook that picks up a story from 'Snuff!'</span><br />
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<br />
<span class="elementOne" id="freeTextContainer15500755259997659023"><b>My Review:</b></span><br />
<br />
<span class="elementOne" id="freeTextContainer15500755259997659023"></span><span class="elementOne" id="freeTextContainer15500755259997659023"><span class="readable reviewText"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeTextreview1094496576">I was a little wary of this from the title, but it turned out to be a lovely child-like read. <br /><br />The
character of Geoffrey reminds me of many a young person, with his
grandma reminiscent of The Professor in The Lion, The Witch and The
Wardrobe. The use of real-world people here and there was particularly
humorous. <br /><br />I loved the fact that we got to know a world similar
to our own through the eyes of someone from a flat world riding the back
of a turtle. <br /><br />A good companion to Snuff. It's a charming read,
which I'd particularly recommend to fans of Terry Pratchett's Discworld
series.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="elementOne" id="freeTextContainer15500755259997659023"><span class="readable reviewText"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeTextreview1094496576"> </span></span><b><span class="readable reviewText">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-3888770046423470012014-11-08T15:12:00.000+00:002014-11-08T15:12:00.192+00:00Review: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vf6JA5UrIv4/VFZKQas4QWI/AAAAAAAABUY/_WOdYFnyC18/s1600/I%2Bam%2Bnumber%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vf6JA5UrIv4/VFZKQas4QWI/AAAAAAAABUY/_WOdYFnyC18/s1600/I%2Bam%2Bnumber%2B4.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
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<b>Goodreads blurb:</b><br />
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<span class="elementTwo" id="freeText11204911758859413222">In
the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home
planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine
aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary
teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal
skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now. The Nine had
to separate and go into hiding. <br /><br />The Mogadorian caught Number One
in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of
them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He
knows that he is next.</span><br />
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<span class="elementTwo" id="freeText11204911758859413222"><b>My review:</b></span><br />
<br />
<span class="elementTwo" id="freeText11204911758859413222"></span><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText11204911758859413222"><span class="readable reviewText"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeTextreview1094477405">I
love the fact that this author doesn't really exist. Well, obviously
he does, but not under his published name. This reflects the mystery in
this book, which is a classic stranded on earth sci-fi, but also a
coming of age fiction.<br /><br />Exploring growing up with 'John Smith'
makes light but interesting reading. His character is relatable to,
despite his unusual situation. Late entry characters are harder to
relate to, but still make good reading. <br /><br />Good teenage fiction, or an easy-read science fiction. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="elementTwo" id="freeText11204911758859413222"><span class="readable reviewText"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeTextreview1094477405"> </span></span> </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-86006875159554457672014-11-01T17:05:00.001+00:002014-11-01T17:05:26.293+00:00Review: A Vision Of Angels by Timothy Jay Smith<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_hYLCoofBwo/VFUS0M2tpLI/AAAAAAAABUI/lrHybtEZTGM/s640/blogger-image-20266073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_hYLCoofBwo/VFUS0M2tpLI/AAAAAAAABUI/lrHybtEZTGM/s640/blogger-image-20266073.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Synopsis</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A terrorist threat for Easter Sunday in Jerusalem sets off a chain of events that weave together the lives of an American journalist, Israeli war hero, Palestinian farmer, and Arab-Christian grocer." It is a character-driven piece that moves very quickly, and would be classified as literary fiction or literary thriller.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>My Review</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A Vision of Angels takes you to another place, familiar to us from the news yet remote from our daily lives. I felt that it was a particularly topical time for me to read this, and it certainly gave me an insight into what was going on in the Middle East at the moment of reading.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This book felt as if it was written by someone who truly understood what as going in. Despite this, it was mostly easy to follow what was going on. Only occasionally did I feel some more background information would have been useful. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The characters were realistic and well rounded. I found it easy to understand each person's viewpoint and what brought them to the situation they were now in. I didn't feel that any of the people were stereotyped or over-filled with meaning. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand more about the conflicts of Israel-Palestine. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4 out of 5 stars</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-5645622405004873522014-09-02T16:33:00.000+01:002014-09-02T16:33:00.490+01:00Guest Post: Plus Ça Change by Deborah Valentine<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I'm pleased to welcome Author Deborah Valentine to 'The Story Factory Reading Zone'</div>
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<b>About Deborah Valentine</b></div>
<span id="freeTextauthor6859658">Deborah Valentine's latest
book is The Knightmare and is available on Kindle. Her first series of
novels, Unothodox Methods, A Collector of Photographs and Fine
Distinctions, were published by Victor Gollancz in the UK and were also
published in the US. A Collector of Photographs was short-listed for an
Edgar Allen Poe, Macavity, Anthony Boucher and Shamus Award. Fine
Distinctions was also short-listed for an Edgar. They follow the
turbulent relationship of ex-policeman Kevin Bryce and his sculptress
partner, Katharine Craig, against a backdrop of mystery and mayhem. They
will be available in Autumn 2013 as part of Orion's digital imprint The
Murder Room.<br /><br />She edited a number of niche-market magazines and
has a special interest in history, particularly medieval history. She
has worked with a number of distinguished academics on historical
articles, some of which are now part of the catalogue of the Centre for
the Study of Ancient Documents, Oxford.<br /><br />With the publication of
The Knightmare, she is working on a new series of novels that are a
blend of fact and fantasy, history and the present with a bit of
thwarted romance on the side, combining all the ingredients she loves
best in a story.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5egv6pu1r0Q/U9d9rGwfpVI/AAAAAAAABOA/0UnHBvClA5k/s1600/The%2BKnightmare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5egv6pu1r0Q/U9d9rGwfpVI/AAAAAAAABOA/0UnHBvClA5k/s1600/The%2BKnightmare.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span id="freeTextauthor6859658"> </span><span id="freeTextauthor6859658"> </span><br />
<span id="freeTextauthor6859658"><a href="http://abigailannreading.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/blurb-when-scottish-formula-1-driver.html"><b>My review of The Knightmare</b></a> </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><b>Plus Ca Change from Deborah Valentine</b> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">The more things change, the more they
stay the same. It</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">s an old adage
and deceptively complex. Things do change, sometimes quite radically, while
others remain an underlying constant. This struck me as I recently attended the
Matisse, The Cut-Outs, exhibition at the Tate Modern.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times Roman";"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Matisse was an old man when he
started doing his </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">cut-outs</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">.
A new art form born out of a stroke, of being wheel-chair bound; his limited
mobility left him unable to paint as he once did. But he could still <i>see</i>,
he could wield a pair of scissors and, with the aid of a bevy of lovely young
assistants, was able to create beautifully flowing works of art. At first, the
work seemed child-like, almost primitive, but evolved into ever more
sophisticated compositions. Things had changed, changed radically, yet his feel
for expression, his artistic eye, remained a constant.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times Roman";"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">So what has this to do with writing?
With the notable exception of Neil Gaiman, who constantly urges writers to </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">make
good art</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">, few writers
are comfortable calling themselves artists and instead speak of </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">craft</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">.
But if Art is an expression of the inner life, of caring and purpose, then
however poncy it may sound writers are artists. And we all change.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times Roman";"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">When I first started writing, with
that child-like joy of play, I wrote a series of crime fiction, The Bryce Series.
In the happy ignorance of youth, I didn</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">t
even know I was writing crime fiction</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">it
took my agent to point it out to me (writers couldn</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">t
get by with that today</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">we</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">re
all expected to be so savvy, or at least know what we</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">re
writing!). <i>Unorthodox Methods</i>,<i> A Collector of Photographs</i> and <i>Fine
Distinctions</i> were well received and are bound up in my mind with that first
thrill of creation, that realisation of purpose in life: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">oh,
this is what I do</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I write</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">.
I love those books and the people within them. But</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">…</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";"> </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Plus
</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">ç</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">a
change</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times Roman";"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">With <i>The Knightmare</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">a
book with a touch of the supernatural, the historical epic and the romantic</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">make
no mistake I</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">ve changed
genres, despite reasonable plaudits in a life of crime (so to speak). So why
the change? Aren</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">t we supposed
to stick with a formula</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times Roman";">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">or at least a
genre</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times Roman";">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">so we don</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">t,
heaven forbid, disappoint or confuse our audiences? I don</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">t
think audiences are given enough credit.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times Roman";"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Life can throw a lot of things at you</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">death,
disability, poverty, something as simple as a change of path or as unexpected
as happiness. Certainly I had my fair share of rocks on the road. I spent a
number of years writing <i>The Knightmare</i>. Like Matisse (somewhat) I
started all over again, getting my scissors out from time to time. Yet it was
exciting following a new path, with new experiences both comfortable and
uncomfortable behind me. It took me somewhere fresh, allowed the imagination to
flow in other directions. As life goes on, you discover more things about
yourself and the world around you. Perspectives change. There is a shift in the
light, throwing up shadows or illuminating the dark.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times Roman";"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">But of course, some things remain the
same</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">as it is with
us all. There is still an emphasis on relationships of one sort or another</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">familial,
romantic or friendly. And however it has evolved through life, there is still a
point of view or use of language that is unique to every writer. And a sense of
humour (or lack thereof). When I, and when audiences, pick up this book, they
still know it</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">s me. And I
still love my characters.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times Roman";"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">ve
a new book in the offing, <i>Who is Huggermugger Jones?</i> It will mark a
change for the hero and heroine of <i>The Knightmare</i>, as well as for their
friends, introducing new characters who will instigate another era in their
adventures. If there is one thing that stays the same is that I like a series.
Because like the people around you</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times Roman";">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">family,
friends, workmates</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times Roman";">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">characters grow
too and have a life of their own. Not to mention a sense of humour uniquely
theirs.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times Roman";"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">The important thing is not to be
afraid of change</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">it gives a new
lease of life to everything. Matisse could have dried up and blown away after
his stroke. Instead he worked on his cut-outs for the last 17 years of his
life. As a result of working with them, Matisse took the work another step
forward, designing stained glass windows for the Dominican Chapel of the Rosary
in Vence on the French Riviera. Hugely satisfied with the work he pronounced it
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">the result of all my active life</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times Roman";"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times Roman","serif"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">So is every book.</span><span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-72254945144359120172014-09-01T16:31:00.001+01:002014-09-01T16:31:48.974+01:00ApologiesApologies for the lack of update posts on my challenges and readathon. I had planned to update after getting back from holiday on Friday, but my internet gave out on me. Normal service should return shortly.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-17803661235510018602014-08-26T09:00:00.000+01:002014-08-26T09:00:01.345+01:00Back To School Book Blogger Challange: Day Nine<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibJGX-ZER1s/U-C_Pm-_iRI/AAAAAAAABRg/vNAWGe1B9GE/s1600/BacktoSchool_bigbanner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibJGX-ZER1s/U-C_Pm-_iRI/AAAAAAAABRg/vNAWGe1B9GE/s1600/BacktoSchool_bigbanner.png" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=3211553357&group=0&frame_type=a&blog=1406768&frame=1&click=0&user=0"><b>My favourite teacher</b></a></div>
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For the sake of anonymity I won't mention her name. She was my classics teacher in sixth form (and if she's reading this I'm sure she'll know who she is). She made classes fun and made us feel like grown-ups.</div>
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We had quite a small classics group, which met in one of the upper rooms in the school. It was a lovely group that enjoyed sharing its learning with each other. Part of the reason for this was the way that our teacher made us all feel valued. I particularly enjoyed when she would set us individual or paired tasks to present a certain topic to the rest of the class. These sessions made us go into much greater detail than we would otherwise on a particular subject, and they often played on our own interests. </div>
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Her lessons felt much more like university seminars than other school lessons. We would sit together round a single table discussing whatever we were studying. Often she would bring us cups of tea and we would share biscuits. She used to tell us it was our little secret, as she shouldn't really be bringing us things out of the staffroom. </div>
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She inspired me to love classics, even the architecture bits which I've never enjoyed learning about with anyone else. As a result I went on to do Ancient History and Archaeology at University, and then did my dissertation about how Ancient History is taught in primary schools (focusing on the Romans mostly). I even began to enjoy using my limited Latin skills to translate tombstones, and inscriptions in churches. </div>
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So you can see that she really shaped my future, giving me increased confidence, as well as inspiring my ongoing learning. If you're reading this, thank-you. </div>
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<b>What do you think makes a good teacher?</b></div>
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<b> </b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-15861283954310620462014-08-25T09:00:00.000+01:002014-08-25T09:00:00.588+01:00Back To School Book Blogger Challenge: Day Eight<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibJGX-ZER1s/U-C_Pm-_iRI/AAAAAAAABRg/vNAWGe1B9GE/s1600/BacktoSchool_bigbanner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibJGX-ZER1s/U-C_Pm-_iRI/AAAAAAAABRg/vNAWGe1B9GE/s1600/BacktoSchool_bigbanner.png" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=3211553357&group=0&frame_type=a&blog=1406768&frame=1&click=0&user=0"><b>The Biggest Lesson I've Learnt As A Blogger</b></a></div>
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I think, for me, the most important thing I've learnt is not to be too preoccupied with visitor and follower statistics. </div>
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When I began blogging it all seemed to be about statistics. Every form seemed to ask how many followers you had, every author wanted to know how many visitors would see their review. To get bigger, you were told, you had to make sure you posted at least once a day. It was important to join all the memes you could, check facebook every hour, and join in as many challenges as possible. In short, it was impossible to be a successful blogger and have any sort of 'real world' life. Or at least, that's how it appeared.</div>
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Now don't get me wrong, its good to make sure you have lots of contents on your blog. But its more important to interact properly with your followers and readers, and to get a good blogging-life-work balance. That means that stats can't be everything!</div>
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And they don't need to be either! I no longer put stats first, but I still get plenty of book review requests. The authors that ask me seem to be attracted by my style of review, the likelihood of getting a positive review, and (more often than not) simply getting their presence onto as many blogs as possible. </div>
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I also enjoy replying to my comments in a way that wasn't possible when I had loads of people simply posting links to their own blogs, It feels like my readers and much more engaged with what I am posting, and not just jumping through hoops to get their own blogs recognised. </div>
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In short, I'm enjoying blogging much more than I used to!</div>
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<b>What would your top tip be for a new book blogger?</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-2951562291953836852014-08-24T09:00:00.000+01:002014-08-24T09:00:00.153+01:00Back To School Book Blogger Challenge: Day Seven<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibJGX-ZER1s/U-C_Pm-_iRI/AAAAAAAABRg/vNAWGe1B9GE/s1600/BacktoSchool_bigbanner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibJGX-ZER1s/U-C_Pm-_iRI/AAAAAAAABRg/vNAWGe1B9GE/s1600/BacktoSchool_bigbanner.png" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=3211553357&group=0&frame_type=a&blog=1406768&frame=1&click=0&user=0"><b>Inspiring Assigned Books</b></a></div>
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We studied quite a lot of books at school, but if I'm honest very few of them inspired me. My memories of school English Literature lessons are trying to understand Shakepeare and books that I generally found quite boring. </div>
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It was the school English visits and writing assignments that inspired me. I watched Romeo and Juliet (The Leonardo DiCaprio version) for my GCSE coursework and rather enjoyed it. We also went to see a rather shocking (for a niave teenage girl) version of the same play (think nudity). At another time we acted out A Midsummer Night's Dream.</div>
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I remember going to see authors. The most memorable of these was seeing Anthony Horowitz. Now before I tell this tale you need to know that I have a short left arm (it only grew to just past the elbow). </div>
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My school was lucky enough to go and listen to Anthony Horowitz talk about one of his latest books alongside several other local schools. I was really excited as I'd been reading some of his books at the time (actually one of these may have been assigned by the school, but I can't remember for sure). Being a young teenager this meant that me and my friends were in a rather silly mood. So, imagine the scene, several hundred young people packed together and listening with rapt attention to one of their favourite authors. At the end he starts to answer questions. "Would you ever give up writing?" one person asks. Mr Horowitz replies that he'd rather lose his left hand. </div>
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At which point my rather over-excited friend started nudging me, "put your hand up, go on". And so, a little embarrassed but over-excited myself, I raised my left arm. </div>
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Well, my memory is that Anthony Horowitz went puce. Poor man, I hadn't meant for him to be that embarrassed! At the signing of Groosham Grange he apologised profusely and I now have a very special signed copy.</div>
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What does this have to do with inspiring me you may ask. Well, having already made as much of a fool of myself as I could with Anthony Horowitz I didn't feel as nervous as I normal would writing to him. And so, a while later, I wrote to the author enclosing a story that I myself had written and asking if he had any tips. I may not have (yet) become the author I wished to be back then, but his reply did inspire me to never stop writing. So, without Anthony Horowitz I probably wouldn't be writing this here! </div>
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<b>Have you ever written to an author?</b></div>
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<b>Did you receive a reply? </b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-86775574561266172802014-08-23T09:00:00.000+01:002014-08-23T09:00:01.117+01:00Back To School Book Blogger Challenge: Day Six<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibJGX-ZER1s/U-C_Pm-_iRI/AAAAAAAABRg/vNAWGe1B9GE/s1600/BacktoSchool_bigbanner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibJGX-ZER1s/U-C_Pm-_iRI/AAAAAAAABRg/vNAWGe1B9GE/s1600/BacktoSchool_bigbanner.png" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=3211553357&group=0&frame_type=a&blog=1406768&frame=1&click=0&user=0"><b>Keep Blogging Smoothly or Mix Things Up?</b></a><br />
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Well, I hope my blog does a mixture of these two things already, but I must admit that its got harder now that I have a full time job.</div>
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<u>Flowing Smoothly</u></div>
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One of the things I'd like to do this academic year is try to schedule some more posts in advance. I'm aware that my blogging can currently get a little slow during term-time and then suddenly speed up in the holidays (especially the summer ones). To combat this I'd like to spend more time in the holidays blogging and then set posts to come up during term time. These could be review posts, topic posts, or guest posts. </div>
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<u>Mixing Things Up</u></div>
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I want to continue to do memes and challenges during the holiday periods. I want to be more active it finding out when challenges (particularly reading challenges) are taking place and join them when I can. </div>
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I also want to continue on doing more posts about England and indie author/ publishers. I need to try to keep up better with what's going on in the publishing world in order to do this. </div>
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<b>Please share about your blog and what makes it special</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-34318932884748956242014-08-22T09:00:00.000+01:002014-08-22T09:00:02.126+01:00Back To School Book Blogger Challenge: Day Five<br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=3211553357&group=0&frame_type=a&blog=1406768&frame=1&click=0&user=0"><b>Who, or What, fostered a love of reading in me?</b></a></div>
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I wrote quite a lot about this yesterday when answering the question how to foster a love of reading in kids. So today I'd like to focus specifically on bedtime reading.</div>
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For as long as I can remember my Mum and Dad have read. As a youngster I was aware of books surrounding me, and enjoyed both the school and public libraries. But my favourite time of the day was most certainly bedtime, because this was when I would get to share a book with my parents.</div>
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I can't really remember what books I read in those early days. I'm pretty sure 'The Hungry Caterpillar' was one of them though. The readers I got set by school were generally below my level (there was a prescribed order and you couldn't miss any one) so we enjoyed reading books that my Mum or Dad, Grandma or Auntie had bought for me. My Mum used to talk to me about the pictures and what was going on, encouraging me to sound out the letters as I went. This was our routine and I loved it.</div>
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As I got older I began to read at bedtime on my own. I remember hiding the book when my Mum came to kiss me goodnight. She'd tell me to go to sleep and not to read too much. At first she would switch off the light herself, then she began to let me do it to give me a little more reading time (if it didn't go off after a while she'd pop her head round the door and ask me to stop reading). Often the book was too good though and I took to hiding a torch it my bedding and then reading by torchlight until my eyelids started sagging. On a few occasions this was pretty late!</div>
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So, what made this love of reading? Well, I guess it was partly the routine. But it was also the memories of lovely times with my parents and that feeling of love that was associated with bedtime. And then there was the fact that I'd often dream about what I'd been reading, sending me off into night-time adventures.</div>
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And so reading became for me about love, sharing and adventures. And I guess it still is to some extent for me today. How can you not love that?</div>
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<b>What do you love about reading?</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630644772932771270.post-2364061219052992732014-08-21T09:00:00.000+01:002014-08-21T09:00:01.910+01:00Back To School Book Blogger Challenge: Day Four<br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=3211553357&group=0&frame_type=a&blog=1406768&frame=1&click=0&user=0"><b>Fostering a Love of Reading</b></a></div>
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First of all let me state that I am not a parent, so I can only speak from my own experiences.</div>
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My own love of reading began from an early age. I'm pretty sure that having lots of bookshelves around me and seeing my parents enjoying reading on holiday helped me to see books as something enjoyable and part of normal life. My Mum used to read with me a lot, at bedtime and using school reading books. She asked me questions about the books and got me not just interested in the words, but in what was happening in the pictures and the story as a whole.</div>
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As I grew up I began to become interested in writing. Again my Mum fostered this, encouraging me my drawing pictures to accompany my stories. This made words fun for me. I read a lot around this time, looking for inspiration for my own writing, and simply enjoying the stories themselves.</div>
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I loved reading at bedtime. As a well-behaved child, the slight risk of trying to read my torch-light after I should have been asleep was exhilarating. I loved a fantastical story (The Faraway Tree was one of my favourite books). These fantasy worlds used to go into my play at school as well.</div>
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I guess I was partly a natural reader, and I realise that for others it doesn't necessarily come naturally. However, I can see some common themes that seem to have fostered a love of reading in those kids I have babysat and worked with:</div>
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<li>Sharing reading as a family. This should start young, in my opinion. Start by reading to the child, then ask them questions about the pictures, and finally get them to read for themselves. A regular reading slot (ideally bedtime) should be a joy for all, especially in a busy household. Parents should let the children see them enjoying the story, and getting excited by the child's own enthusiasm. </li>
<li>Read fun books. School reading schemes are all well and good, but they do not generally foster a love of reading. It's important to let a child pick what they want to read where possible. Buy books with characters and themes that they enjoy. Take them to the library and let them chose a book. If they like non-fiction then that's OK as well! And don't just read out of book- let them see you making up your own stories or retelling well known ones. One of the things that's shocked me the most at my local Junior Church is that children no longer seem to know you're telling them a story unless it comes out of a book! How can they enjoy making up their own stories if they think they need to be written down?!</li>
<li>Set a good example! By this I mean letting the children see you reading. The best time to do this, in my opinion, is on holiday when you can really settle down and enjoy a good book. Now, I realise this may be easier said than done if you have young children running round your feet. But maybe you could occasionally let them go off to holiday club and return to discover you reading. You need to give the impression that this is more important to you than cleaning or cooking dinner! Then it may become important to them as well!</li>
<li>Encourage reading wherever possible! What are the ingredients on the cereal? Can you read the menu at the restaurant? What does that sign say? Make reading a part of everyday life! And if your children show any enthusiasm then go with the flow! If you want to foster a love of reading then you have to make time for it!</li>
<li>Encourage friends and family to give books as presents. To do this you will need to make sure you keep them up to date with reading ability and interests of your child. However, I think its worth it as then they see reading as something that society values and not just their immediate family. </li>
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To add to all this, I would also suggest making reading a game. Maybe you could join <a href="http://bookcrossing.com/">BookCrossing</a> and then they could help you register and wild release books. What could be more exciting than tracking a book's journey round the world? And for the computer lover, it also gives another route into reading by encouraging them to read a book before they can do they ICT part.<br />
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<b>What would your tips be for encouraging reading?</b> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366397181641886323noreply@blogger.com