The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman Illustrated by Chris Riddell

The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman Illustrated by Chris Riddell

One of the free books I received and a delight to read – although the first chapter was abit brutal.

Title – The Graveyard Book

Author – Neil Gaiman

Copyright – 2008

Type – Children’s Fiction

General Subject matter – Ghosts, Ghouls, Death & Murder, Fantasy, Comedy, Family

Special Features – Website noted – www.thegraveyardbook.co.uk, Individual illustrations per chapter

Price - £ 6.99 (but free to me)

ISBN 978-0-7475-9480-2

No purpose is given in the preface to this book but I suspect that is normal in children’s books – I mean who under the age of 16 reads a preface? He does sight that his inspiration for the book was seeing his son Michael when he was age two running around a graveyard on his tricycle (and the book took 20yrs to write so he must be oh 22 now). I wonder if Neil Gaiman has had any extrasensory powers or encountered friendly ghosts. He seems to write about the graveyard folk with a great affection, maybe he is trying to alter children’s perceptions of the dead by reminding us that there is good and bad in all and that guardians come in all shapes and sizes.

The book is written from a narrator’s perspective but draws on the thoughts and emotions of the characters, mainly focusing on Bod. Bod is short for Nobody the name her was given when he crawled into the yard as a baby. I think the author was trying to entice children to read about other mystical creatures as it briefly features mummies, ghosts, werewolves and vampires ;without giving too much detail about them.

I think the intended audience would be from 10-12 as younger children would find the murdering upsetting. Issues of bullying and family dynamics are dealt with in various ways. The style is that of an informal story teller that leads you by the hand through the story and the graveyard with snippets of history and descriptions of characters from various eras. It would suit children & I imagine readers of the Ruthless Romans and Terrible Tudors (horrible book series) would relish the book! What is that age when you are fascinated by witches being drowned and kings being beheaded – that age group is perfect – yr 6 maybe!

 I was intrigued to find out why Bod’s family were murdered and I must say I wasn’t that satisfied by the answer.  I think the book is good as it children in considering death and afterlife but in a positive manner. These types of books allow parents to talk to children about issues as part of day to day life – making them less scared of the unavoidable death of relatives. I must admit that I didn’t realise that the Sandman comics were by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I haven’t seen Coraline but if I get time I intend to flick through that one too.

The Girl on The Landing - Paul Torday

Part of my free books donated (thanks Sally J ) Now how to write this to give it a good review without getting my personal emotions clouding it… Ok so this thing I read on book reviews states I should focus on the `purpose, content, and authority` So here we go…( written while listening to Kerrang Radio which is apparently `For those who love music… and haven’t given up on life!`)

Title – The Girl on the Landing

Copyright date – 2009

Type – Fiction

General Subject Matter – Mental health, mystery, Fiction – anyone read help me out ppl!

Special features – Book group reading notes at the back (brief)

Price – Free from the library of Sally – anyone want me to post it to them I’m happy to do – books are here to be shared – just email me your address (Originally £7.99) 1 copy only.

ISBN – 978-0-7538-2340-8

Back cover reads:

 `You think you know someone – but you never really do…

Elizabeth has been married to Michael for ten years. She has adjusted to a fairly monotonous routing with her wealthy, decent but boring husband. Part of this routine involves occasional visits to Beinn Caorrum, the dank and gloomy house is a Scottish glen that Michael inherited from his parents. There are memories there that Michael will not share with her.

But then, on a holiday in Ireland, Michael begins to change. It starts when he thinks he sees, in a picture, the figure of a girl on a landing. As he changes, life becomes so much more fun and Elizabeth sees glimpses of a man she can fall in love with at last. But who-or what-is changing Michael? As Elizabeth finally gets to know her husband she realises that their fragile happiness is threatened by his past…a past that seems as unsettling as Beinn Caorrun itself…`

I think the author gave an authentic view of a life within the character of Michael and the struggle we have in life of doing what we are told is best for us, in our interest, and what we want to do. I think the books ending aims to dramatise Michael’s condition and I am disappointed at the turn that it takes. I strongly feel that battling stigma is not aided by literature such as this although I appreciate that it brings issues into the public domain. As this book continued I found myself being irritated with the portrayal of `Michael` or `Mikey` but I was still compelled to read on, which I think reflects the high quality of writing.

hmm.............

I like the informal style of the book, but I always feel as if I am being told the story by the characters; not standing inside their head.

The length of time it takes me to read a book is usually and indication of the how devourable it is – just like when you really enjoy a pudding (carrot cake for me please!), and I read this in less than a wk.

I like the confinement of narrators to that of Elizabeth and Michael as I personally find too many story tellers distracting. I think that `Lamia` dictating a chapter would have, been an interesting addition – although I’m not sure how that would work.

The book is not over dramatised, although suspense was lacking toward the end.

I think I simply found myself irritated at the interpretation of mental health (working in the field I think I’m abit touchy here).

To be honest I didn’t know what to expect from this book and merely read it due to reading `Salmon Fishing in the Yemen` which I found really amusing, (yes I would recommend it even if you have no knowledge of fishing at all). This book lacks the light hearted comedy of that book. Comedy would be tricky to link in with this books content.

Account of the veil of medication, bluntness and the robot like existence ate bought to life (ironic I know) in this book. I think that people who have taken medication, particularly antipsychotics would identify with the characters accounts of a lifeless existence. To be honest the book dwelled on a great sadness in the pit of my stomach that I cannot remove. Who wants to live a life of no emotion? What is the point of feeling nothing?

 I can understand why Michael wants to break free from `chemical restraint` of medication and it raises the thoughts in my mind, why is sexual suicide an acceptable in a life of medication? What life will people have forced to be `stable` all the time?

I would recommend that others read this book and I think it is well written and captivating. I think the lack of pictures is important to allow each reader to create there own Beinn Caorrun.

The book seems to be set in a very small world – which I wonder if this is a reflection of the author’s views on the parameters of the two core characters minds and worlds?

Elizabeth & Michael appear stoic. I cannot think of any of the cast that I would want to hug or take home. Modern day relationships are printed out in practicalities with no great romance featuring (shame!). Elizabeth and Michael seem very flat and two dimensional, but I believe this is purposeful and fits within the story.

The major theme appears to be the marriage; the relationship. The lack of emotion makes it clear that this is no love story. It is a marriage of practicality – like when two close friends make a pack to get married at 30yr so that they both die alone (ha ha Jon your not married so out pack stands) There is a distinct lack of sub plots or intrigue about the worlds that surround both characters, which I think is ashamed.

 The most endearing quality of the tail is a happy tail thumping black Labrador called `Rupert` (a dog will always win me over). No great detail is given to the scenery in Ireland or Scotland which is a shame because I have never been to these places and require more stimulation to engage with the novel.

On a final note- I am intrigued to look up the Keats poem `Lamia` and really liked the reading group pointers at the back of the book (having ran a reading group notes in the past this may have eased painful silences). I also love epilogues- a small insight into the future that we each individually imagined. (I think the most fun thing about meeting authors is asking them there thoughts about what would happen next! Yes this refers to Audrey N who I will post a picture of her book signing.)  Overall though, to be honest though I found the ending unsatisfying and unjustifiable of a sequel. 

Worth a read.

Related Book – Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce (I intend to read this – send me the book if you have it lying around!)

P.S  I’d appreciate comments on the review please and ways in which I can improve and develop the ways I translate my thoughts on the book I read – I still think there is a lot locked up there with the cobwebs still waiting to come out!

Three Billy Goats Gruff

I made this video for my friend Tilly but my friend Sally said she'd like to see it so here you go.....you may find it amusing!

Free books for me - woop!

Oh free book boooks boooks....this will keep me busy for a while. Courtesy of the Crossthwaites - Thank you :)

The Russian Concubine Kate Furnivall

The Russian Concubine – Kate Furnivall

I’ve read several books since starting this one which is never a good sign if you can put a book down. I won't review those books here though.

The book is set in China and focuses on Lydia Ivanova the daughter of Valentina from the previous book. She has grown up in a settlement in China where different nationalities are segregated by country of origin.A ghetto with many secrets and harsh realities. Hated by the locals and referred to as `fanqui` (foreign devil) Lydia struggles to make her way in the world. Being a second generation immigrate known as the Russian girl who doesn't speak Russian she has no idea where she sits. Schooled in English, desperate to travel to the shores but struggling to feed herself and control her mother there is little hope.

She dreams of living in England but stranded without a passport the only way for her and her mother to obtain one is to marry an English man - who all seem a bore. To be honest this book just doesn't hit any chords with me and I think it just doesn't have the romanticism of the first book set in Russia. I find myself waiting for the characters from the first book to appear (Countess & Son) which is a real shame. The mafia references to the snake gang and difficult situations Lydia gets herself into just do not excite me. Chang (love interest) just doesn't conquer up the heroic images of Jens Friis form the previous chapter of this series. 

I may read the third book to see if it fulfills any desires but I'm afraid that after about 4 weeks and 269 out of 577 i have decided to jack it in with this one. Maybe I was just too bowled over by the first book and am disappointed by the tragic story of a young carer with an alcoholic mother in this book. I hope people who read the entire book can correct my opinion. I think the tragedy of Valentina is just too much for me!

What I talk about when I talk about Running – Haruki Murakami

So I’ve read a few H.M books in the past and was truly blown away by Norwegian wood. I decided to sign up for this challenge (http://murakamichallenge.blogspot.com/)  as I realise there are actually quite a few of his books I’ve not read and well signing up might make me do it.

I read this book – in the bath, in costa coffee, in the hairdressers and in bed J

Being lazy I’ve chosen the shorter books to start with J I’m not keen on none fiction so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this. I use to run a fair bit but I stopped doing it due to laziness and my dog overheating. I have a jogging lead and everything but in summer it just gets too much for him. I have also signed up for a run a few times but never actually turned up on the race day – I will now hang my head in shame.

I like knowing more about the people who I read the works of. He has some interesting points on the quality of what you need to be a novelist and I’m encouraged to see that his writing didn’t take off until his 30’s – still hope for me yet J

I wonder if it is hard to write in a different language – it must be hard to know how you work truly comes across. H.M talks about the difficulties of being put across in his none native language which is interesting.

Dead animals feature along the runs – so many the rspca might have to start a new Champaign!

I was hoping to find out more personally about the author in this book. He doesn’t delve into his personal relationships or growing up. No description of his wife what so ever – as far as I know up till now she could be a buxom blonde with no teeth. An interesting perspective on the life of a writer who is not dysfunctional – which is surprising due to his amount of talent he truly has.

I can’t say this is a health advice book but it has some words of wisdom and a few bits made me chuckle out loud – including him catapulting into a post when doing cycle training for a triathlon. (Reminded me of when I walked head long into a bin at Blackpool because I wasn’t looking up).

This book is one of those that are very much a middle – without much beginning or an end. I like it but found it a little odd- in a good way.

I seem to have bought so many books over the last few days (2^nd hand of course) I don’t know where I will start next! I can’t wait till its summer when I can go on long walks with the dog, stop to have a picnic and read in the sunshine (maybe I’m thinking I live in France rather than Sheffield!!Maybe I’ll plan some walking picnic and see who comes along – any takers?)

Oh in the challenge I am now....Hajime which I think means to begin in japanese

It’s Vintage Darling: how to be a clothes connoisseur by Christa Weil

`Know, first who you are: and then adorn yourself accordingly` -Epictetus, Discourses, 2^nd century.

Bought for me by a dear friend for Xmas this book is not something I’d usually read. I love vintage and know how hard it can be to find authentic items which haven’t been badly reworked or relabelled so I thought this book might give me some tips. It is only over the last few years I’ve become more interested in fashion – and when I moved I realised I only owned dog walking & gardening clothes so I went on a mission to rework my wardrobe.

I soon learned this is probably the type of book bought by a fashion student as it went straight over my head. Most of the authentic vintage it refers to are designer clothes and WAY out of my price range.

Good points made along the way include the fact that a Lui Vuitton jackets will end up in a museum at the end of its life rather than a scrap heap (like many Primark numbers do) which illustrates its quality. It did make me think more about what I wear.

Unfortunately many of the websites listed in the back of the book had very out of date sites or were no longer available. I did learn lots of interesting things about types of material though and for about a month did visit a man’s suit shop to inspect the tailoring & feel the material as advised. (Yes I did get some odd looks but just explained I was doing research.)

I feel very sorry for silk worms and know far more about filaments in material than ever before – again fashion student you’d love this book. Dress agencies are a concept I’d not heard of before and it now occurs to me that I use to frequent one on Abbey dale road in Sheffield without knowing it. Many of the shops listed are in the south, so I think southerners would love this book to seek out unknown treasures.

The pictures that separate the chapters are cute but I must say after I started reading an in-depth chapter about labels I lost interest. I mean you’d be surprised what you can tell by a label….

Some cute little quotes along the way including:

`Why socks disappear in the laundry-The Bureau of missing socks offers some fascinating theories on this phenomenon:

·         The spin dryer opens up a space/time continuum through which the sock is transported to distant galaxies.

·         Socks don’t actually disappear, they reproduce-but only have one baby at a time

·         Socks in the hamper feel like they’re in jail and plan their escape during the laundry

·         Elvis has them`

I think the main points I will take from this book is to treat my clothes with respect and pay attention to tailoring – which may then stop me looking like and elephant!