Week 47 – Book 47 – “Witch Week” by Diana Wynne Jones

I vaguely remember picking this book up in middle school or something, but didn’t pay it much thought. Halfway through the book, I realized I’ve read this book once before…surprise?

I think this was a cute and charming novel. It feels almost like “Howl’s Moving Castle” for a tar younger audience. I don’t know my initial thoughts of it,  but I think I found this book neat with an interesting story that develops page by page. It’s not too serious, while still the threat of being burned at the stake if found out, it creates a tension. I found it amusing to read as an adult, while it being meant for children and it makes me want to read more of this series.

However, I think the level of fear was different in an unlikely way. The law of the book’s world is so that everyone who possess witchcraft and/or use it in any way will be killed, preferably burned. This made society very wary of witches and wizard, and  no-one wants to be accused of being one as it is likely to be sentenced to death. Because of this, I find the main character’s, children that is, range of very odd. While some slept with the fear of being brought to the inquisitor, others just played around and practically announced that they were witches. They didn’t even try to be careful.
At times I found the tension curve a bit odd.  It spiked and dipped as it pleased. Nothing big though.

I really liked how the author tied everything together at the end, with the “Simon says” as a final conclusion. It was quite clever of her to turn the curse around and make it work to their advantage. Every event added together and crafted a red thread that lasted through the book. Also, I like how she linked the ending and opening sequences. It was a nice way of showing the change of character.

 

Week 43 – Book 43 – “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien

I’ve kinda read this book before. Kinda. I think –think– I got it as a Christmas present a long long time ago, when I was a kid, i.e. stupid and ignorant as your ordinary rock. So I don’t remember anything at all. Really. The only thing I remembered was something about dwarves and some trolls, which tells you almost nothing of the story.

(Though, I did read this after I watched the Hobbit (that I, by the way, enjoyed immensely).)

I remember vaguely from when I was little that I liked this book, which is somewhat of a feat considering that I was your typical bookworm. Though, I  reread another of my childhood favourites some time ago and was slightly disappointed.  I therefore braced myself for the worst possible outcome. To my great joy, this book proved me wrong. It’s still as good as I remember it. No, it’s better. It’s your typical medieval fairytale and succeeds in making itself original, exciting and thrilling. The plot, the characters, the setting – I can’t complain about it. This book will not bore you, I dare to promise.

I might shoot myself in my foot now since I haven’t read the rest of J.R.R. Tolkiens works, but I think I find this interesting because it’s a personal conflict. I think I’ve mentioned this before. Most books tend to make the consequences of a main character’s failure the fall or death of a society, which I’ve grown fairly tired of.  Yes, I agree that it probably involves dire consequences but I think that, for once, it would be nice with an entirely personal conflict. The Hobbit keeps it moderately personal, while still involving other people and elements. Their quest doesn’t only concern them, but they are the main reason the gears starts to turn. Also, that their quest doesn’t solely  involve the quest itself, but the way there and the dangers they encounter.

I clearly see why I liked this as a child. I think I’ll even go as far as to say that I loved it, and still do. This is a great story, for grown ups as well as children. I do not see a reason why you shouldn’t read it.

 

Small note: as for the changes in the movie adaption, I’m not yet entirely sure what to think of it. Maybe I’ll come back to that later.

 

Something that perplexes me: why do my edition, though being in pocket edition and still being crammed with text, only have 229 pages?

 

Week 40 – Book 40 – “Victory of Eagles” by Naomi Novik

I love how as soon as we get a snow coating in the streets, I catch a cold. I’m currently sitting here with a sore throat and a slightly feverish head, wondering if a cup of tea might slash my throat into pieces (because honey would be to much of a taboo to put in tea).

 

Continued my streak this week with the fifth book of Temeraire – “Victory of Eagles”. Now, I only have one dilemma. Unless I order (which I probably will sooner or later), I can’t get my hands on the last books??

For starters, Iskierka still annoy me. ‘Nuff said.

I forced myself to quit reading when I (accidentally *cough*) almost finished this Thursday evening. I really like that with these books, that they keep me reading even if I don’t want to and still isn’t as eventful as one could assume. They’re not stuffed with happenings and event, but has bursts of excitement from time to time, which makes them interesting to read. I kinda miss a final peripateia though, but I suspect I’ll have to wait for the last book for that.

It’s so…cute how Temeraire doesn’t understand human concepts and their consequences. I was surprised when the author chose to write some parts from his point of view when she has stuck with only Laurence’s up until now. It was really nice to see how he sees things, and interacts with dragons, especially when he went ‘renegade’ and disobeyed orders. I felt bad for him when he realized the extent of how their betrayal had affected Laurence – for a dragon, it’s a huge leap wanting to sell their own jewellery for another’s sake.

I think the thing about these books are that they keep the quality through the series. While some might be more interesting than other, every single one was worth a read. I do suspect however, that the sheer length of the series (8 and still counting) can discourage people from reading them. Personally, I don’t see why more people have read them.

 

 

 

 

 

Week 38 – Book 38 – “Black Powder War” by Naomi Novik

As a result of last week’s book’s ending, and my library’s newly acquired habit of actually having the books I want to read in stock (!), I actually did continue reading this series.

I still think the thrill of these books is that they keep me interested, even if it keeps the subject of freedom, authority, poverty, ownership and so on, present through the books. Do not fret though, it’s not some heavy book dealing with vague definitions created by humans – it’s rather the catch of it. While (if not apparent by now) at least one dragon and mostly more, is present through the book it creates some difficulties between humans and dragons of what these words mean. The concept of society and such is not something natural for a dragon to understand, and has since the beginning of this series been brought up occasionally, but with regular appearances. Especially for Temeraire, who seems to harbour a peculiar mind focused on individual freedom and rights races between.

And I love how I just wrote about this subject as any other social issue. I swear, school has destroyed my ability to write informal things.

I believe this book has more happening in it than the last though. Not that “Throne of Jade” was uneventful, but most of the time in that book was spent in China, marvelling over the Chinese’s grandness and seemingly endless wits. For those of you who didn’t major in geography, there’s quite some space between China and Britain. Thus, this book was thrown into its turns of events by their homecoming being disturbed by the arrival of some orders for the crew (for you unknowing, dragons and their corps serve the crown). These orders take them to places and situations your ordinary dragon crew wouldn’t encounter, and hence the story of the book. And while I still don’t even know the tiniest piece of information about the Napoleonic wars, I’m impressed by myself for keeping up with the story.

ANYHOO, while the book did bring Temeraire back to battle, I deem the latter book more exciting. I’m having a hard time justifying why though – maybe the absence of the rest of the British dragons & crews, aka their friends. Temeraire do require an entire crew, but I kinda miss the other captains and dragons in this book. Although, they did find a person with a vendetta against them – something I’ve mentioned a few times before, you know, a personal conflict. And, the author managed to mix that up with the war against France. I don’t know if I should applaud Miss Novik or not. However, the books is not in any way bad, even if the combo of one crushing defeat after the other do succeed in breaking your spirits a bit.

I do not like Iskierka the slightest though.

 

Sorry if this review became somewhat ranting. I enjoyed writing it though?? I’m tired as hell. End.
Perhaps I will assault “Empire of Ivory” for the upcoming week?