My Friend the Octopus - Lindsay Galvin

 61%

07.04.23

I happened to be in Brighton and visited the very aquarium featured in this middle-grade novel, so thought I'd read it. The story was well researched and engaging, with, refreshingly, no attempt to soften the darker aspects. But the author tried to squeeze in rather too many unrelated strands, which made it feel a bit padded out. Much better than many adult novels, though!

Spirit Walker - Michelle Paver

 

61%

14.03.22

The second in the series is just as evocative and well-researched as the first, and a much lighter read than 'Clan of the Cave Bear', which I'm sporadically attempting. But the story itself was pretty forgettable. Great cover, though.

Wolf Brother - Michelle Paver

 

69%

11.02.22

A new acquaintance asked me what book I'm reading at the moment. I probably didn't make the best impression when I said it was a children's book about a Stone Age boy who can communicate with his wolf friend. But it was better than anything else I've read recently - exciting storytelling, impeccably researched and with excellent world-building. Since I got all six books in the series for a total of 99p, there will be more to come.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Joan Aiken

60%
18.09.18

I read this kids' classic to screen it for my daughter, who was nervous of the eponymous wolves. Turns out they're zombie prototypes, though sadly their significance becomes merely metaphorical as the story progresses into Jane Eyre/Lemony Snicket territory. Readable enough, if rather odd.

Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire - John August

53%
13.03.18

John August has produced one of the best structured podcasts I've heard (and I've heard a lot of podcasts) in 'Launch', about the process of writing and publishing this book. He also has a pleasantly engaging and genuine manner. He's so keen and proactive that he may actually read this (unlikely, I know!) which makes it harder than usual to say that this could have been so much better. More focus on the plot, less unnecessary dialogue, more character development, less nostalgic ropecraft. It was just kind of... vague, more like the first third of a longer novel than the self-contained Book 1 in a trilogy. OK, I'm not the target audience so I'll pass it to my daughter and see what she thinks.

When Did You See Her Last? - Lemony Snicket

57%
22.11.15

This was basically exactly the same as the first one, but not as good.

Who Could That Be at This Hour? - Lemony Snicket

65%
09.11.15

I picked this up in the library's children's section and the opening pages were so extraordinarily well written that I got it out and read the whole thing. It's really quarter of a book (the first of four, with no proper ending), which makes it feel unfinished, and it's certainly very weird, but the quality of the prose is certainly a notch above the usual kids' fare.

Howl's Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones

67%
23.02.14

If I reviewed all the books I share with my daughter at her bedtime, this blog would be four times as long. But this is (comparatively) fabulous for a children's book, with vibrant, flawed characters and a plot like a crazy puzzle that still doesn't really make sense at the end. I remember enjoying Jones' novels as a kid but now I appreciate the quality of her writing.