Books: A 5 Minute Summer Review

Back from Bulgaria, I actually may have developed eye-strain from squinting at my books in the insanely bright sunshine!

In an attempt to save time (but mainly because I'm feeling a bit lazy) I'm going to combine three book review here. It's a whistle-stop tour and I hope that I can do them justice! Here goes.

1. Alone on a Wide Wide Sea - Michael Morpurgo

I read this book with a view to read it with my Year 4s as part of our WW2 topic. I won't be doing that because it veers quickly away from the war as a topic. This aside, the book is interesting and engrossing (as I have come to expect from Morpurgo!). The story is split into two narratives, each with its own pace and style. The second half of the book mostlt taking the form of a series of emails sent back and forth from the narrator to her mum as she embarks on a round the world sailing journey. All of the characters are well developed and I found myself very satisfied with the ending. It seemed like the right way to end the story. My favourite part of the book was, however, in the first narrative section in which I felt much more attached to the characters and concerned about what would happen to them.

Though written for younger readers, the book does not shy away from sadness and injustice as was exeprienced by people who really lived the experiences written about. It is very realistic (no elephants to be found here!), witty and at times tragic. Morpurgo still has it. And I would like to know where he got it.

*** 3/5 stars

2. No and Me - Delphine De Vigan

This is a very sweet little book. Both profound and simple, it stayed with me long after reading. Through the narrative voice of the 12 year old Lou, who, distanced from her depressed mother and exhausted father, finds solitude in her 160pt IQ and the Gare Centrale in Paris. Here she meets No, a homeless 16 year old girl and they strike up an unlikely and, at times, unstable friendship. The two girls begin to share their stories with each other until Lou finally musters the courage to ask her parents if No can move in with them. Unbelievably, they agree. The story follows the two friends through the highs and lows of their relationship, and sheds light on a hugely relevant social problem that exists not only in Paris but in every large city in the western world. Lou has a unique view of the world and I spent a large portion of the story wishing I'd kept a pencil handy for underlining her little nuggets of wisdom.

On final thought, though, and I'm not going to lie. I hated the last page. I loved the ending of the story, but I hated the last page. It could easily be torn out...

**** 4/5 stars

3. The Princess Bride - William Goldman

The film adaptation of this book is one of my firm favourites, so I came to the novel expecting to enjoy it. Interestingly, Goldman also wrote the screenplay for the movie, which explains why much of the dialogue in the book reads exactly as in the film. I could imagine the actors saying their lines. Hilarious. However, to say this is 'just as good as the film' would be to sell it short. In its own right, this story (an abridged and translated version of the original by S. Morgenstern) is brilliantly satirical, full of adventure, romance and delightfully colourful characters.

As the 25th anniversary edition, this copy also afforded me an insight into the film making process, and Goldman also goes to great lengths to explain why this story was so important to him as a young boy suffering with pneumonia. There are little italic inserts throughout the text where Goldman steps in to justify why he has cut certain sections of the story (usually because he felt Morgenstern was babbling about trees or the monarchy!). From the hulking giant Fezzik, to the vengeful Spaniard, Inigo, and dashing Westley (aka Farm Boy aka Man in Black aka Dread Pirate Roberts) to the terrifying Prince Humperdink, there is not a single character that could be cut or watered down. This book offers something for everyone - off-the-wall humour, action, adventure, romance, swashbuckling, a miracle man, giants, princesses and evil six-fingered men. It should be a firm favourite on every bookshelf.

***** 5/5 stars

Done. Films coming soon. Click on the words in red to find out more about the books/films mentioned.

Books: The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear

The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear - Walter Moers

I don't even know where to begin with this book. It is like a humungous sardine tin rammed full of literary genres, crazy characters, emotions and wonderfully surreal illustrations.

Translated from the orginal German, this is a fantastical tale of Captain Bluebear, a furry blue bear (keep up!) with 27 lives in total. We are witness to just 13 1/2 of these lives in this book. The story takes place in the curious imagined world of Zamonia, where a blue bear can stow-away with a band of MiniPirates, strange creatures dwell in the Demerara Desert and wizened old men live in the eye of a tornado. It is sci-fi, fantasy, adventure, comedy, children's book, fairytale. It is simply brilliant!

Each of Bluebear's 'lives' could stand alone as an individual story but it is not until the final few chapters of the 704 page tome, that you realise the threads have all been leading towards the ending. Characters that you had forgotten 400 pages ago suddenly reappear to the aid, and occasionally chagrin, of the protagonist. The entire text is broken up at intervals by the Professor Nightingale's Encyclopedia of Zamonia which, at first, makes for slow reading. You get used to this, however, and soon find yourself waiting for the next information download from Bluebear's teacher. Moer's sensational writing is complemented and added to by his completely surreal illustrations throughout the text. If you are left with any doubt after his introductionof a new character or setting, the accompanying illustration will make it almost jump off the page.

Do not be put off by the size of this book. It is a world waiting to be delved into, and does not disappoint. There are some truly inspired characters and situations portrayed in the book, and some very definate laugh-out-loud moments.

My rating: ***** 5 stars
Recommendation: Try not to put this book down between reads. Get stuck in and refuse to come out!
Other books by the author: Rumo, The City of Dreaming Books, The Alchemaster's Apprentice, A Wild Ride Through the Night

Films: The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass (2007)

Dir. Chris Weitz
Cast: Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, Freddie Highmore, Ben Walker, Sir Ian McKellan...

Imagine a world where people walk around followed by their souls in the form of an animal, where The North is a land of struggle, violence and mystery, and where adults begrudge the tendency of all children to get themselves covered in dust. Hang on, isn't this meant to be fantasy?

Philip Pullman's weird and wonderful story is brought the screen in this huge, visually enchanting movie. I was blown away by the visual effects, the scenery, the voice talent of the non-human characters, and even the movie debut of Dakota Blue Richards who plays lead character Lyra.

Lyra escapes the drudgery of her 'Uncle's' college when she is whisked away to assist the seductive Mrs Coulter (Kidman). The trip turns sour, however, when Lyra realises that Coulter is up to not good, and in charge of a thuggish group known as the Gobblers. Lyra has been given the last existing Golden Compass and soon finds that people will stop at nothing to get hold of it. The compass tells the truth to the person who can read it. Lyra and her demon (soul), Pan, journey to The North, enlisting the help of the Gyptians, families of children who have been taken by the Gobblers, and a huge armoured polar bear (voiced marvellously by McKellan). It is an adventure of the most exciting kind, where, of course, the good guys always triumph. However, the film ends on a cliff hanger, enticing audiences to sign up for the subsequent two films that will make up the trilogy.

A handful of stunning perfomances and even more stunning visual effects all add to this enchanting film. If you can get past the jargon which is used from the outset, assuming that we have all read the books and completely understand terms such as 'The Magisterium', 'Demons' and 'the Dust'. The world which is created is completely fantastical but strangely believable as the relationships between characters and Lyra's journey to save her friends are genuine.

My rating *** 3/5 stars
Recommendation: If you fancy escaping to a complete fantasy, you will enjoy this film. Forgive the oversuse of bizarre vocabulary and get involved! Not enough Daniel Craig for me, but I'm looking forward to the 2nd film!