Going back in time..
Okay, because I’m nosey and constantly thinking random thoughts I thought I’d put a few here and see what other people’s answers might be. I read Life After Life a few days ago by Kate Atkinson – which I really enjoyed. Long story short Ursula gets to keep reliving different points in her life over and over. I enjoyed this. The writing was good, characterisation excellent and settings interesting. But, this isn’t a review. It just got me to thinking. If you could literally go back in time and choose any moment, anything at all, pivotal, sad, exciting, etc, would you do something different with hindsight or would you keep things just as they are.
This is a tricky one. It’s one of those ideas that sounds really great until you start to really think about it because as soon as you start thinking of something you might change you realise it would have an impact on everything else from thereon in – and things may go in a direction that you can no longer foresee the outcome! For example I was thinking I could go back and maybe choose something different to study in college. But then I probably would have chosen a different career and never met my husband and had a family. I could have tried a little harder to swot up before exams – probably ditto above (anyway I was hopeless at revision).
I suppose I could go back a few years and not succumb to the entreaties of my children to get a family dog – which then doubled to two – I would certainly have less chores now – but, they are lovely, they don’t judge you, they keep you company. So no.
Maybe I could start a stamp collection instead of reading!!! Well, at least it wouldn’t be quite as messy. But no.
It’s difficult to choose something. The only thing that I can come up with is a little bit sad – I’d go back to the day my gran passed away and get to the hospital earlier so I could speak to her one last time.
What about you, do you have something you would change, do you think it would be a good change or are you blissfully happy. I bet you’ll find this a lot harder than you originally think.
Shadow of the Sun by Barbara Friend ish, readalong week 2
8 April 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Barbara Friend Ish, Readalong week 2, Shadow of the Sun
Okay, I’m totally late as ever!!!! Me, late, with my reputation. Yes, always. So, straight to the point. This is the second week’s readalong of Shadow of the Sun being hosted over at Dab of Darkness. It’s not too late to join in everyone – come on, you know you want to. Plus, don’t read further because there will be spoilers! Questions and answers follow:
1) Ellion has quite a mystery on his hands with yet the third assassination attempt. The assassin is the same dude, and once ‘dead’, he proceeds to disappear once again. What do you make of this elusive, reappearing, dead guy assassin?
Well, I don’t understand it. Clearly a lot of magic is involved but I don’t know how he disappears. Does he get up and walk out when Ellion isn’t looking or does he disappear. It’s a bit of a mystery to be frank. Plus, he’s dead already so how can he bleed – you need to have a pumping heart. All very mysterious.
2) Throughout this section, Ellion and Amien have several exchanges of words. Did you have the urge to ask them politely, yet firmly, to step out back and settle the matter for the duration of the trip?
Well, they got on my nerves a little bit because partly they were acting like they don’t want people to know about their past history but then they’re acting so obvious that I want to shake them. Just have the discussion already. Also, Ellion annoyed me slightly. I get the whole thing with his past where he’s hurt people unintentionally but frankly by withholding his magic now he’s almost allowing people to die just by being in denial.
3) The Tanaan suffered a great loss in the past, calling it The Deluge, believing it to have been brought upon them by a wrathful goddess. Do you believe this Deluge was due to a goddess striking a disobedient people? What could the Tanaan have done to warrant such action?
I don’t believe the Deluge was an act of God. I think it’s something that people don’t understand, like tidal waves and volcanos – look at Pompeii for example, nobody knew what to expect and we all know that happened there.
4) The Tanaan are use to fighting in tourneys, one-on-one, and not in formations with team goals. How do you think they will take to Ellion’s attempts to school them in real combat tactics?
Fighting, working or acting as a team isn’t easy to people who are used to acting alone, particularly if they’re ambitious or used to trying to be the best. The Tanaan are used to tourneys where it’s all about oneupmanship however, I think that all of them have fairly quickly adapted to Ellion taking control of the situation. Clearly, even though he doesn’t want to be a leader it seems to be his natural way. That doesn’t mean to say they are going to be successful. Working in team situations can’t be learnt over night as we are quickly learning. Too many people are running off doing they own thing which we can see isn’t helping.
5) Letitia has been wearing her mother’s diamond on her torc, which turns out was a gift from Amien. He crafted it himself and says it is a tool. What kind of tool do you think it is?
Maybe it’s channelling tool – who knows, it could be whats leading the bad guys to their camp all the time. Alternatively, maybe she’s contacting someone?? What is all the meditating. Sometimes I don’t totally trust Letitia. Not because she’s not innocent but she does go off meditating quite a lot – no matter what’s going on??
6) What is up with the Tuaoh Stone having a strong reaction to Ellion?
I think it’s reacting to his own magical abilities, like maybe it’s attracted to him or drawn to him. Like the voices in his head maybe are related to the stone. Actually, I’m just making everything up because I don’t really know. So, don’t pay to much attention to me. Sometimes I get lucky and through pure dumb plucking at answers hit on something – so who knows!
Heros and Heroines…
7 April 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book characters, Favourite heros and heroines
This month the Classics Club came up with a really good question (link here):
“Who is hands-down the best literary hero, in your opinion? Likewise, who is the best heroine?”
I think this is a toughie – because I find it difficult to restrict myself to one answer for each and also it depends on how you’re making your decision. For example, your favourite literary hero, should I plump for someone who is a bit of mind candy or am I going to go for a hero in the true sense of the word? Plus do I just think of a book I love and pick that character – it’s not necessarily the case that just because you love a book the main character will be your favourite is it? I mean, I don’t particularly love the character Frodo and he’s fairly central to the whole Lord of the Rings story!
Hero: nominations – Jean Tannen from Scott Lynch’s Lies of Locke Lamorra/Red Seas Under Red Skies – because I have a crush on him, ditto Aragorn out of Lord of the Rings, Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files – because he can’t say no to a lady in distress, Mr Rochester from Jane Eyre, Sir Percy Blakeney from The Scarlet Pimpernell
Hero : Sir Percy Blakeney from Baroness Orczy’s the Scarlet Pimpernell. Reason – it’s a classic book so thought it was quite fitting, plus his character plays a tremendous fop (‘sink me the place is a mausoleum’, etc, etc) and yet underneath it all is planning dangerous and dramatic escapes of French Aristocrats who are about to meet Madame Guillotine.
Heroines: Nominations. Jane Eyre – because I love that book and think Jane is a great character, Lisbeth Salander from Stieg Larsson’s Girl With a Dragon Tattoo – because she’s so kickass! Scarlett O’Hara from Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind because she won’t conform to society’s expectations, Dany or Arya from Game of Thrones (would probably pick Arya in a pinch although Dany does have 3 dragons!)
Heroine: Lisbeth Salander – I really did enjoy all three books and think Lisbeth is a great character
So, although I’ve only chosen one of each I have written a few others down here as nominations (bit of a cheat really, but there you go!)
Come over and share your knights in shining armour and dashing damsels.
Life after Life by Kate Atkinson
6 April 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Kate Atkinson, Life After Life, Once Upon a Time
Just finished reading Life After Life by Kate Atkinson and absolutely loved it. It’s such an unusual story and set during a period of history that was very eventful. The story is based on a middle class family and starts in 1910 moving primarily through both World Wars. I’m not sure how you would describe the premise. Is it one of reincarnation. I’m not sure. For example Ursula is born on a snowy winter’s night and dies before her life begins. That would have been a very short novel. But, no, in the next chapter a different set of circumstances mean that the doctor arrives on time and the baby survives. In fact we have more than one birth and death set in 1910. It is an unusual concept and one that continues through the rest of the novel where we are given a scenario that then changes in the next chapter or next.
This may sound like a confusing way to read a story and I will admit it certainly isn’t a linear novel so if you don’t like jumping back and forth in time this may not be for you. Personally I thought it was brilliant. It was written in KA’s usual fluent style, her characterisation and world building is second to none and her depiction of family life is as usual excellent. I can perfectly picture all the key players and I think she does an amazing job of portraying the events that take place.
As mentioned, the main character is Ursula. Ursula grows up with a strange foreboding or an ability to see into the future – of course this is based on the fact that she has sometimes lived these moments already and usually leads to a very strong feeling within her of deja vu – or in some instances a very pressing need to be in a certain place at a certain time. Unfortunately this strange ability of Ursula leads others and her mother in particular to think of her as slightly odd and as a consequence in need of therapy! It’s difficult to quite pin down whether you love Sylvia or not because you do come to read a number of life stories for her (some quite a bit shorter than others!) and so at first it’s difficult to pin down what exactly is her true character. Having read this though there is a definite ‘true’ story for her – one which won’t become fully evident until the story concludes and one that I found ultimately satisfying.
The other key characters are Izzy, Ursula’s aunt and rather decadent member of the family who dances to her own tune and doesn’t fit in with anyone’s expectations. Sylvie – the rather disenchanted mother born into a family with greater expectations but whose circumstances changed dramatically upon the death of her own father. Hugh, Ursula’s father – who is a lovely warm character that you can’t help loving. Pamela – Sylvie’s sister and down to earth, honest to goodness salt of the earth type. Maurice, older brother, ambitious and brash. Teddy – Sylvie’s favourite and in fact family favourite and Jimmy – who only plays a small role. There are of course plenty of other characters ranging from neighbours to colleagues and not to mention two different husbands for Ursula depending on which life story you’ve read up to!
It certainly is an ambitious novel and includes so many poignant events that it’s something of a feat that the author manages to pull it all together. As I mentioned above we go through WWI and II, the blitz, VE day not to mention travelling through Europe with Ursuala – a tour that culminates with her mixing with the Third Reicht!
Now, even though I did really enjoy this I do have a number of criticisms. Firstly, I think the whole element where Ursula is involved in company with Eva Braun was probably a bit too much of a stretch and I didn’t particularly enjoy that aspect of the story. Also, the other thing that may be a turnoff is the fact that you are constantly becoming attached to a character who may suddenly be taken from you – which can become a bit depressing to say the least! But having said that you do then get to read the alternative storyline or lines which does redress the balance somewhat. The other thing was there were definitely a couple of unanswered strands. I don’t want to say too much about them other than ‘who was the mysterious man who Ursula saw with Sylvie’, and the murderer???? Can’t say more but I wanted answers. I’m sure I’ve just maybe overlooked some clue to both of these though as I raced to the end!
Criticisms over – a great read which I would recommend.
Not sure how to classify this – I’m putting it in to my Once Upon a Time reading event and perhaps somebody else will have a better idea than I have. Maybe falls into myth with the whole idea of rebirth, premonition.
A Hatful of Sky by Terry Pratchett, readalong final instalment
3 April 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Hatful of Sky, Readalong, Terry Pratchett
And so we reach the end of our readalong of Terry Pratchett’s A Hatful of Sky. This has been a great book for a readalong as it’s such good fun. If you didn’t join in with the readalong then I would still recommend you read this series. The Little Red Reviewer and Dab of Darkness have acted as hosts for this. Questions and answer to follow but read no further if you don’t wish to encounter spoilers and if you do – don’t say I didn’t tell you so!:
1) Mistress Weatherwax has a philosophy of her job is to make sure everyone today can get to tomorrow – such as letting people believe in water sprites and goblins if it lets them lead a better life. Do you see yourself somewhere in this philosophy?
I suppose this is similar to ‘live and let live’ which I would say I do believe in also. Absolutely let people believe in water sprites if they want – anyway, they’re real aren’t they????
2) Do you think Mr. Weavall will be successful with the Widow Tussy? Do you think Tiffany got off light concerning Mr. Weavall’s stash?
I think Mr Weavall and the Widow will be very happy and probably rack up another 100 years between them with this new lease of life! I’m not sure about Tiffany getting off lightly really – at the end of the day the Hiver was controlling her – but, she does also realise that the Hiver is just fulfilling your own wishes – so really she did covet the money?? Anyway, she did feel really bad about her actions during the possession and I loved the fact that the Feegles helped her out with this – after all they weren’t using the money, other than for serving plates and they obviously didn’t want her to feel bad for stealing from Mr Weavall.
3) What was your favorite part of Mistress Weatherwax’s and Tiffany’s bonding time in the mountains with the little picnic and the owls and such?
I loved the way that Mistress Weatherwax was always being grumpy but then kind of looking askance at Tiffany to see how she was really reacting. She tries to act like a real meanie but actually she’s not really. I enjoyed the part where she was trying to sleep and attract the owl and Tiffany woke her up and scared away the owl.
4) Petulia Gristle heard Tiffany was going to face something nasty and went out to see if she could use some help. Have you ever had an awkward situation like that?
I thought that was really good of Petulia. I knew she was a good character and I thought it was great when she finally plucked up enough courage to tell Annagramma off! I don’t know if I’ve had an awkward situation like that – don’t get me wrong I end up in plenty of situations, usually embarrassing and probably more than my full share, but not really like this one.
5) Tiffany has her first and last conversation with the Hiver/Arthur. Did you see Tiffany’s answer to the Hiver dilemma coming or were you taken by surprise?
I was taken by surprise. I never figured out the conclusion at all and I couldn’t piece together what all her talk about wishes was about. I thought the conclusion was more satisfactory than with the Fairy Queen. And, I liked that she helped Arthur instead of simply trying to destroy him.
6) The Witch Trials are almost like a county fair, a happy outing for the entire family, or so Granny Weatherwax was grumbling about. What about the affair caught your attention?
You wouldn’t think a bunch of witches at a trial would be a family occasion would you – you could be turned into a toad just for a bit of sport! I suppose the Mexican standoff with Tiffany and GW was the most stand out part of the trials for me. You could sort of cut the tension surrounding them as they shared that moment – I really liked that part and thought it was very wise of Tiffany to act as she did.
7) In the final chapter, we learn the meaning of the title of the book. Did you feel this was a good wrap up to the novel?
It was a very satisfying ending. I liked the fact that she returned to the chalk to help with the lambing and then created her own hat. I thought it was interesting to see her changed feelings for Roland and also that he seems to be growing up and basically as with the last book I felt it was quite touching – the way everything returns to Granny Aching and the fact that Tiffany now seems to be taking her place in everyone’s eyes.
Thank you ladies for hosting both these readalongs and taking the time out to come up with all the questions. It’s been very enjoyable and I’m looking forward to spending time with Tiffany again later in the year. 😀
