The 13th Horseman: Yup...the 13th

With my head firmly rooted back into kid's books I decided to start reading proofs like they were going out of fashion, I just love quick reads!  "The 13th Horseman" by Barry Hutchison is rushing to the shops in March 2012 and looks set to be a firm recommend for anyone who loves Terry Pratchett or Jonathan Stroud.  Why I chose to read this...no idea, but it does have a rather shiny pony on the front cover with a very large chap sat on the back wielding a pointy sword, it also has a child sat on it's back that looks close to soiling himself, this might have been the selling point for me...but who knows.

We are dropped into the world of the vastly misunderstood Drake, a teenager that stumbles upon a shed in his back garden with some rather peculiar occupants.  Those occupants inform him that he is to be a Horseman of the Apocalypse, and the most important one to boot, Death himself.  Obviously this comes as rather a shock to Drake and the visage of the other three horseman is rather off putting, War with his large stature and abundance of scars, Pestilence with his terrible skin conditions and last but certainly not least Famine, a very, very large fellow that will eat just about anything he can lay his chubby hands on.  A wonderfully funny tale of adventure ensues as Drake tries his hardest to not be Death, then he decides he should perhaps perform the role after all...shame he can't whistle for his horse (Drake is rather terrible at whistling).

I adored this, it was laugh out loud funny (and I don't say that lightly).  Each character had their own quirk that made them entertaining and the narrative runs at such a pace you might even have trouble keeping up with it!  By far the best bit is when Famine is used much like the pebble from the David and Goliath myth, as he is catapulted high into the air to smack a gigantic world destroying robot in the forehead...genius.  There is a large number of incidents that will make you giggle alongside the Famine chucking incident, such as the shed that wont leave Drake alone, Pestilence's constant scratching, and Famine's lack of horse...he trundles along on a very slow mobility scooter!  This is a work of creative madness and a rather fine one at that, perfectly marketed at a teen audience but never violent or graphic enough so that a younger person with a suitable reading age couldn't pick it up.

There is not really any new ground covered here, but it is a satisfying read that will please just about anyone that loves a rather funny fantasy.  This is your almost typical end of the world narrative as of course the hero saves the day (if you would call Death a hero, but each to their own), the quirk definitely lies in the Horsemen themselves, they are rather unforgettable characters.

Oh..and the cover is just brilliant, a good one for a face out on my shelves at work!

The Apothecary's Daughter: Watch out for Fleas!

I am rather Happy to admit I don't often plunge into a bodice ripping historical romance, however I read this as a favour for one of our lovely sales reps that quite often pops in and I loved every second of it.  Best guilty pleasure I have read in quite some time.  Don't be alarmed, there was really very little bodice ripping, well, there was a few instances of it. 

Bett's takes us into a London long ago, riddled with the bubonic plague.  Susannah is aiding her father in an Apothecary shop which is frequented by consumers looking for various treatments and salves, but particularly hunting for concoctions to ward off the Black Death.  Her life is thrown into turmoil by the arrival of a rather unpleasant woman whose gold digging habits have led her into the arms of Susannah's widowed father.  As the apothecary shop is invaded by Susannah's vile stepmother and her equally vile children, she realises that her life has to change and fast, there is just no room for her anymore in what was one a comfortable home.  Susannah faces the fear of marriage, and it is here that her story really begins to flourish. 

Set against the grimy and depressing background of London during the worst of the plague this novel's story is just fabulous.  You travel along with Susannah as times go from bad to worse for her, what with her having to face her fear of childbirth, deal with a dead husband that leaves her penniless, she also gets very mixed up over a blooming romance with her husband's cousin.  There is far more than that to her tale and I just have no idea how Bett's managed to fit all of this in.  The writing flows beautifully and you are never lacking for a cliffhanger or a big revelation. 

The inevitability of death from the plague is rather predictable and it does at one point become a case of 'who will die next' but I loved the predictability of this and was rather pleased with myself whenever I guessed correctly a particular plot twist or plague death.  It is actually the novel's predictability that made it fun, where in other novels this would be a dull mechanic in this novel it adds to the fast pace and enjoyability.

I found the description of Susannah following the dead cart to the plague pits, from start to finish, to be very harrowing.  Bett's has a real knack for atmosphere and impact, it conjured up images that I wont soon banish from my thoughts.

All in all, a good read and one I would imagine fans of Phillipa Gregory would devour.  Do not fret, it has a very satisfying ending that I am sure everyone would agree is perfectly fitting for a character that has had everything possible thrown at them throughout the course of the narrative. 

That is my guilty pleasure reading done for a while, no more chick lit for me for a good few months.  Don't think I could cope with an overload, it is quite likely I might end up feeling the need to visit a hair salon or get my nails done....brrrrrrrr.

Ruby Redfort: A Rather Super Code Breaker

I was rather overjoyed when a fluorescent green proof was plopped in my lap at work, a small white fly staring at me from an otherwise blank cover.  Lauren Child, of Charlie and Lola fame, has jumped into the world of 9 -12 Fiction with a bang...no wait...an EXPLOSION.  This book was great fun, after reading a few rather wordy, and lets face it...very thoughtful books, this novel was like a breath of fresh air, something light and fluffy with just the right amount of silliness.  The book itself is due out on the 29th of Sept 2011 so is something to look forward to if you are a fan of the author or have a little one that is just the right age for this kind of thing...I will say it was a rather girly book, but some lads might like it.

Where to begin?  Ruby Redfort is a rather bored kid, her super rich parents are obsessing over a new exhibition in the local museum and the house help is arguing over silly things.  Ruby, you see, is rather intelligent, she writes down everything that she observes and is obsessed with breaking codes and puzzles with her close friend Clancy.  This all changes with the arrival of the suspicious new 'butler' who is about to introduce Ruby to a world of spies and code breakers in order to solve a mystery and hopefully prevent a massive theft in Ruby's home town.  All Ruby needs to do is to solve a puzzle, and hopefully not get killed in the process.

A really charming read, light, funny and engaging.  Ruby has a habit of breaking her own rules (yes, she lives by a set of rules that she has written out) and it is this that helps us to remember she is just a kid and she is rather prone to getting carried away with her ideas.  She also seems to have a bit of a habit of picking things up and not putting them back, I rather thought of her as a cheeky little clepto in some places, and this made me giggle all the more.  She does try to put these spy gadgets back but this results in her stealing yet more of these priceless items.

I particularly liked the host of characters in the book and the way Child always has some sort of banter between them.  Every exchange is witty and even the super villains are funny in their own way (also of course rather stupid in some instances).

All in all, very, very cute and I would recommend it to anyone that wants a super light and silly read.  It is predictable of course, but in a fun way, it is Child's writing more than the story that had me hooked.  It looks long, but you will whip though it in no time, that is the glory of large font!

Big 'Ol Box of Proofs

What better than a box filled with kid's books, with earplugs, a cereal bar and a teabag to welcome me to the running of the Children's Department at work.  Perfect timing from Mr. Postie and the lovely girls at Harpercollins Children's Department.  I practically squeaked in public when I started rifling through the box that appeared on the main till this morning.  There is a very strong possibility the next few reviews will all be short Children's Book reviews, as I am anxious to get stuck into the pile of books staring at me from my desk...I could swear they are smiling.

My exciting box of books, staring at me.

I started my career as a Children's Bookseller so I am rather pleased to be back in the section , even on what I can only assume is a temporary basis.  It feels like home and the books are all so shiny.  Three years away from the department and I AM BACK BABY.  So many kid's books so little time.

I should share what was in the box of joy.  Harper have sent out their favourites from their Spring line up, and they will make for some fabulous winter reads, all snuggled up with my cup of tea, my cereal bar and...erm..the earplugs (I live in the countryside, noise is somewhat of a rare occurrence here).  The only thing the box was missing was a blanket, thankfully I have plenty of blankets to cosy up under with a book, namely Mr. Blanket (a blanket with a face, hence the requirement for a name, he is of course a dragon).  Anyway, I digress, pictured below is the contents of the box that will make up some of my cosy winter reads (when I should be out running but it's too cold).

Yummy books...yum.

As it is rather late I apologise for the rather shoddy photos, I was just excited and wanted to do a blog ramble.  The bottom one, which is called "Stormswept" is the one I am most excited about, I LOVED her previous novels set in Ingo (a world of merpeople) and really want to get stuck into a new set of characters in the same setting.

ANYWAY...sleep zzzzzzzz

PS. I forgot to mention the lovely bookmarks that were also in the box, one for each book, each with a handwritten review from a member of Harper's marketing team, very cute touch...I loved it.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

The Help: Best Book I have Read All Year!!!

I don't ever mention it lightly when I say a book is fantastic...I happen to read an awful lot of trash just because I enjoy reading in general.  "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett is an absolutely gorgeous novel that everyone should at least try to read.  I picked it up on a whim from a charity shop, I had been told it was good, but I honestly didn't expect such an original, heartwarming yet important piece of fiction.  I decided to move it to the top my reading pile due to the imminent film release, and am so glad I did.

The novel is told through the eyes of three very different, very distinctive voices.  We open with Aibileen, a maid that works for Mrs Leefolt, a woman with a sad back story and a warm heart.  We also meet the seemingly audacious Minny, a sass mouthed maid in need of new employment and Miss Skeeter, a white lady who strives to discover why her beloved maid has vanished from her life.  As the story progresses a dangerous yet warm friendship develops between these three women that shapes and distorts the world around them.  The novel is set in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960's, a time of radical change and a very dangerous place to live in if you were black.  It is rather difficult to explain the narrative without giving too much away, however, one of the main pivots of the story rests in the determination of one Miss Hilly (a white, rich, housewife and busybody) to create separate outside toilets for the black help in order to prevent cross contamination.  This triggers a silent outrage in Aibileen and allows Miss Skeeter to learn a lot about Jackson, a town plagued with racial discrimination.  Miss Skeeter decides she wants to write a book....a collection of life stories told by the Help, not the white women who employ them and of course, nothing is ever that easy, what maid in their right mind would want to speak with a white lady on a mission in such dangerous times?

In her own admittance Stockett has bent the facts in places to fit into her story, so don't expect the real world references to tie up perfectly, but that really is not an issue here.  This reads like reality, and it is that which makes this novel so endearing, shocking and completely addictive.  Compared to and said to be a contemporary competitor to "To Kill a Mockingbird" it is so easy to see why.  Miss Hilly becomes the embodiment of an opinion, and by the end of the novel even her popularity doesn't hide her for the monster she really is, Stockett hammers this home further as a sore appears at the side of Miss Hilly's mouth...the ugliness within finally makes it's way to the surface.  On the flip side of this, the plain and sweet Miss Skeeter sheds her stereotypical clothes and her frizzy mousy hair to become a confident and beautiful woman, a revelation of her true nature of course. 

By far my favourite character was Minny, a loud, cheeky and bold black maid.  Her story is fantastic and her friendship with Aibileen is timeless.  Both turn to each other in times of great need and violence in their community, the world around them is terrifying yet they find solace in each others company.  But what is so amazing about this multifaceted character is her weaknesses, that she manages to hide so well.  It is fantastic to see Minny overcome her fears and her beliefs as the narrative develops and I guarantee you will fall in love with her too.

A very daring book for a debut, I will be interested to see how well the film relates to the novel.  Check out the trailer above (after all it was the watching of this trailer that made me want to read this amazing book). 

I did try to read "Skippy Dies" by Paul Murray after I finished this novel, and failed miserably.  Expect a kid's book review next as I am devouring a reading copy of "Ruby Redfort", the soon to be released new novel by Lauren Child (of Charlie and Lola fame).