Hello everybody this is the last posts for this month which I am focusing on books who were written for younger teens or kids but still can be read by teens or adults and for the final one I'm bringing another of my favourite book by Diana Wynne Jones and it is Witch Week.Actually it is considered as one of the Chrestomanci series but it is more of a side book of the series but nonetheless still very enjoyable.
The good
.The newest edition of it has a really nice cover and of course nice illustration
.A great story filled with smart characters
The bad
.As it got nearer to the ending the story felt a little bit rushed
Quick summary
The story is set in a world quite like ours except where magic is very real but in the story witchcraft is illegal and punishable by death.Larwood School is a boarding school where kids with problems or kids whose parents were a withch that have been excuted will be sent there.One day during class the teacher found a note left by an anonymous student saying that 'SOMEONE IN THIS CLASS IS A WITCH'he quickly round up his student and ask them to confess because this is no joking matter but of course nobody said anything....................That's all I guess
The conclusion
Truthfully speaking Witch week isn't the best book I've read from Diana Wynne Jones and it isn't that adventurous but Witch Week is definitely one of the smartest book I've read from her from the weird but smart characters to the great mystery essenceof the story not to metion the ending(while the story became more rushed near the ending the ending still hbold the book quite tightly)Normally when Diana Wynne Jones write an epic or an adventure story she normally tries a little bit to hard and throws out some of the wittiness of the story so normmally most of her best story is where they don't do anything that grand(The Ogre Downstairs,Witch Week,Charmed Life"Charmed Life only has a subtle adventure feel to it")Witch Week is an amazing book to diana Wynne Jones fans and definitely a great book for any fantasy lover.
Rating:9 out of 10
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
Hello everybody let us contnue this month's special which is children books.This week I read Ottoline and the Yellow Cat.it is written and illustrated by Chris Riddell.the book was published in 2007 and received a Nestle Smarties Book Prize award.
The good
.The illustration is great
.The characters are fun and wacky
.The story is definitely creative
the bad
.Too short
.While it is creative to someolder reders it might feel a little too simple
Quick Summary
Ottoline Brown lives with her friend Mr Munroe at the Pepperpot Building in apartment 243.Her parents is always busy visiting other places but they always send Ottoline a postcard(sometimes presents)wherever they go.One they the heard about some burglary happening............................I guss that's it
The conclusion
Ottoline and the yellow Cat is definitelya great book to young readers.It is filled with great illustration and fun characters evn older readers will enjoy the story but sadly the story is preety short and simple i mean almost every page has an illustration so imagine how many spaces can the put the story.Then again this is for youmger readers.
Rating:8 out of 10
The good
.The illustration is great
.The characters are fun and wacky
.The story is definitely creative
the bad
.Too short
.While it is creative to someolder reders it might feel a little too simple
Quick Summary
Ottoline Brown lives with her friend Mr Munroe at the Pepperpot Building in apartment 243.Her parents is always busy visiting other places but they always send Ottoline a postcard(sometimes presents)wherever they go.One they the heard about some burglary happening............................I guss that's it
The conclusion
Ottoline and the yellow Cat is definitelya great book to young readers.It is filled with great illustration and fun characters evn older readers will enjoy the story but sadly the story is preety short and simple i mean almost every page has an illustration so imagine how many spaces can the put the story.Then again this is for youmger readers.
Rating:8 out of 10
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Beyond The Spiderwick Chronicles The Nixie's Song
I'm sorry you might have thought that I were going to review books that I really liked unfortunately I wil be seperated from my books for quite a while so I decided to make this month dedicated for a book aimed for younger reader since last week I did Charmed Life.I read Beyond The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 1 last week it is written by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black(yes the author of White Cat).Counting for the whole series it sold more than 6 million copies and it was published in 2007.
The good
.The illustrations are wonderful
.the story is fun and easy to understand you don't have to actually read the first series(I didn't) to enjoy it
The bad
.The characters feels a little one sided(but then again this is only the first book)
.Way to short
Quick summary
Nicholas Vargas's mom died when he was young,when she died evryone in the family stopped bothering each other.Until one day when his father marries a woman called Charlene who has a daughter named Laurie.She was about Nicholas' age and she had this obsession with faeries which of course made Nick to think that Laurie was a nerd who didn't have any friends.When she forced Nick to to go fairy hunting with her he found a four leaf clover.That night when he was looking outside the window he saw a body laying on the lawn.he called laurie to come with him to check it out but when they went out together Laurie couldn't see it.................................that's it I guess
The conclusion
Spiderwick is definitely written for kids but enen older readers can enjoy the wonderful illustartion and the simple storyline.While some characters does feel a little bit one sided(Jules,Laurie,Etc)the characters does have their own charm but the book is really short probably for more money.Anyway there's not much I can actually say about this a book except for i'f you want something a fantasy and an easy read or if you want to read a book to someone Spiderwick is definitely a good choice.
The good
.The illustrations are wonderful
.the story is fun and easy to understand you don't have to actually read the first series(I didn't) to enjoy it
The bad
.The characters feels a little one sided(but then again this is only the first book)
.Way to short
Quick summary
Nicholas Vargas's mom died when he was young,when she died evryone in the family stopped bothering each other.Until one day when his father marries a woman called Charlene who has a daughter named Laurie.She was about Nicholas' age and she had this obsession with faeries which of course made Nick to think that Laurie was a nerd who didn't have any friends.When she forced Nick to to go fairy hunting with her he found a four leaf clover.That night when he was looking outside the window he saw a body laying on the lawn.he called laurie to come with him to check it out but when they went out together Laurie couldn't see it.................................that's it I guess
The conclusion
Spiderwick is definitely written for kids but enen older readers can enjoy the wonderful illustartion and the simple storyline.While some characters does feel a little bit one sided(Jules,Laurie,Etc)the characters does have their own charm but the book is really short probably for more money.Anyway there's not much I can actually say about this a book except for i'f you want something a fantasy and an easy read or if you want to read a book to someone Spiderwick is definitely a good choice.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Charmed Life
Hello everybody as you all know this in May and this blog is almost two years old so like last year i'm going to review some of the best book I've read(Just saying sometimes a book can get a 10 from me but that doen'st meant it is perfect book for me sometimes I will look to the character,story,cover and ending so sometimes when I feel for example the ending was a bit dull but the characters in a book so exceptionally it can still get a 10 from me.Anyway this is a book I that had read about a couple years ago.It is written by none other than Diana Wynne Jones(one of the best fantasy author,Just saying)it is the first book of the Chrestomanci series.the book received positive reviews.
The good
.Excellent Cover(One of the best cover I have ever seen)
.The story is definitely one of Diana's best,filled with absolutely charming characters and with a memorable story.
.Nice illustration
The bad
.To short
.I really hoped the ending eloborated on what will happen more after the ending
. Quick summary Gwendolen is a gifted witch she always things done her way so her brother Cat(Eric) really admires her.One day when they were on a ship the ship sank luckily Gwendolen knew magic so she and Cat(who was holding her tightly)survived.Unfortunately their parents didn't,The mayor decided to let them stay with anyone who might take them in and where they wil feel the most comfortable.They picked a witch named Mrs Sharp they stayed there a while until gwendolen felt bored and sent a letter to Chrestomanci(A powerful Enchanter) after a while Chrestomanci arranged them to stay with him.chrestomanci arranged them to stay with him and have classes with his children but the downpoint is they cannot learn magic to much of Gwendolen complain..............I guess that's it.
The conclusion While most of Diana Wynne Jones' book were aimed for young readers but luckily enven adults will find them enjoyable to read.To me Charmed Life doesn't reach the epic of howl's Moving Castle but Charmed Lifesurely has more depth in the characters.While the story is short it is definitely humourous and memorable everything works except the ending which I felt a bit rushed.Charmed Life may not be a book you might read when you're looking for a great epic fantasy but you should certainly pick this book if you're just looking for a sweet great fantssy novel or perharps if you're trying to find something like Harry Potter.
Rating:10 out of 10
The good
.Excellent Cover(One of the best cover I have ever seen)
.The story is definitely one of Diana's best,filled with absolutely charming characters and with a memorable story.
.Nice illustration
The bad
.To short
.I really hoped the ending eloborated on what will happen more after the ending
. Quick summary Gwendolen is a gifted witch she always things done her way so her brother Cat(Eric) really admires her.One day when they were on a ship the ship sank luckily Gwendolen knew magic so she and Cat(who was holding her tightly)survived.Unfortunately their parents didn't,The mayor decided to let them stay with anyone who might take them in and where they wil feel the most comfortable.They picked a witch named Mrs Sharp they stayed there a while until gwendolen felt bored and sent a letter to Chrestomanci(A powerful Enchanter) after a while Chrestomanci arranged them to stay with him.chrestomanci arranged them to stay with him and have classes with his children but the downpoint is they cannot learn magic to much of Gwendolen complain..............I guess that's it.
The conclusion While most of Diana Wynne Jones' book were aimed for young readers but luckily enven adults will find them enjoyable to read.To me Charmed Life doesn't reach the epic of howl's Moving Castle but Charmed Lifesurely has more depth in the characters.While the story is short it is definitely humourous and memorable everything works except the ending which I felt a bit rushed.Charmed Life may not be a book you might read when you're looking for a great epic fantasy but you should certainly pick this book if you're just looking for a sweet great fantssy novel or perharps if you're trying to find something like Harry Potter.
Rating:10 out of 10
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