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Portable Magic

Posted in Book Review

Portable Magic

17th September 2023

Photography - A Feminist History

Posted in Photography / Art

Art Library

7th August 2023

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A blackberry and coconut oat bake and some fresh b

A blackberry and coconut oat bake and some fresh bread #cooking #kitchen #lovelysmell #aroma

It is different from last night, honest A spicy b

It is different from last night, honest

A spicy bean stew, lots of olives and roasted red peppers with cannellini and red kidney beans #cooking #vegetarian #vegan #stew #beanstew

Sarah Ann Juckes. Penguin Random House. (288p) ISB

Sarah Ann Juckes. Penguin Random House. (288p) ISBN 9780241330753

Outside

Ele lives Inside with The Others and is visited by Him, but dreams of The Outside which she only knows from a few books that are in The Tower with them.

A tale of abuse, horror, fear, and redemption. Sarah Ann Juckes takes this tale into dark places that made it very difficult to read at times but Ele is such a strong character with a unique voice, I had to keep returning to it to find out what she did yet.

Ele sees The Outside through completely naive eyes and approaches everything with an innocent wonder that you begin to see our world through her eyes afresh.

Compelling story telling with a completely unexpected plot twist at the end.

Don’t miss out on this if you liked ‘Room’.

Thibaud Herem. Orion Publishing. (144p) ISBN 97817

Thibaud Herem. Orion Publishing. (144p) ISBN 9781786273222

The Maze

Whenever there is a Laurence King book available as a reading copy I jump at it, as their products are always beautiful and so readable, and The Maze was no exception.

I’ve always been fascinated by mazes and labyrinth from the moment I read the Theseus and the Minotaur story and would insist on visiting one whenever we had the opportunity (and still do).

This collection, beautifully illustrated by Thibaud Hérem and written and researched by Angus Hyland and Kendra Wilson, fascinated me from the moment I opened the book.

Each maze has a sketch of its outline and given its dimensions, then there are some other drawings throughout the book to support the text of structures in or near the maze.

The text hands out lovely bits of information about the maze and those who designed or commissioned it, plus the history of the types of maze there are and which one this is.

Another lovely book for my shelves and I’m looking forward to another great book from Laurence King soon.

Pretty but my lungs wouldn't thank me if I went ou

Pretty but my lungs wouldn't thank me if I went out in it...

Just about to tuck in #fishsoup #paprika #homecook

Just about to tuck in #fishsoup #paprika #homecooking #cooking

I am looking forward to the #fallout tv series, bu

I am looking forward to the #fallout tv series, but you know it won’t follow some of the more important mysteries that were never explained in game

In my happy place #cooking #soup #paprika #sumac

In my happy place #cooking #soup #paprika #sumac

Crushing the coriander seeds

Crushing the coriander seeds

Happy #caturday

Happy #caturday

Walking home last night #blackandwhite #snow #ghos

Walking home last night #blackandwhite #snow #ghost #editing

Laura Ellen Anderson. HarperCollins. (224p) ISBN 9

Laura Ellen Anderson. HarperCollins. (224p) ISBN 9781405287074

Amelia Fang and the Memory Thief

Amelia Fang and the Memory Thief is another adventure for Amelia and her fangtastic friends, this time we may get to the root of the problems between Nocturnia and the Kingdom of Light.

Just as we thought everything was going to be fine between the two kingdoms after Tangine found his mum and Amelia brought down the nefarious Unicorn Lords, things seem to be getting worse. Who (or what) is behind this latest escapade?

Everyone except Amelia and Tangine are losing their memories and all the old fears and enmities start to return.

So once more it is up to Amelia to solve the mystery and restore everyones memories.

Again, this was a wonderful romp through Laura Ellen Anderson’s fantasy world, with more facets being revealed in each story this promises to be a world that we can revisit again and again.

And can I just say that the collective sigh of relief from the young people waiting for this was actually audible in several when I told them it was there waiting for them.

Jorge Luis Borges. Vintage Publishing. (176p) ISBN

Jorge Luis Borges. Vintage Publishing. (176p) ISBN 9780099442639

The Book of Imaginary Beings

In 2018 (and still continuing now) I had set myself a challenge to read more books that were seen as classics (or by authors who are seen as authors to read) and more books that had been translated into English.

The Book of Imaginary Beings fits nicely into both categories.

Ostensibly a short survey of mythical and imaginary beings from around the world, collected by Borges and then revised, enlarged and translated by Norman Thomas di Giovanni in collaboration with Borges, this becomes much more when enlivened by Borges prose.

Beautifully descriptive and humorous, Borges weaves the tales into a cohesive whole in this modern bestiary.

Think I may have to pop to MIMA for my lunch, need

Think I may have to pop to MIMA for my lunch, need to get out of the shop now and again

Another day another bus

Another day another bus

Yoko Tawada. Granta Books. (144p) ISBN 97818462767

Yoko Tawada. Granta Books. (144p) ISBN 9781846276705

The Last Children of Tokyo

The Last Children of Tokyo another book that I saw on the trolley as I was shelving and was instantly fascinated by the cover.

It also fits in with my goal of reading more books which weren’t originally written in English.

Looking at a world in the near future, set in the Tokyo of this world, older people aren’t dying but the young aren’t thriving, though it is always unclear whether or not the children are evolving or just getting more and more fragile.

Yoko Tawada’s prose is beautifully sparse but explores the characters so vividly, it brings Yoshiro sharply to life with all his dreams, reminiscences and worries.

An exploration of family life in a future Japan set against an environmental disaster could have been sensational but we are treated to a warm and compassionate look at the intricacies of a shattered family and all their frailties.

Translated by Margaret Mitsutani, and it feels with a light and loving touch.

Katie and Kevin Tsang. HarperCollins. (224p) ISBN

Katie and Kevin Tsang. HarperCollins. (224p) ISBN 9781405287517

Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Ghosts

Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Ghosts is the first in the Sam Wu series, and I of course have read number two before reading this one, but it takes nothing away from it.

Sam feels that he has to prove he isn’t Scaredy-Cat Sam after an incident at the Space Museum and goes out of his way to do this, along the way he gets a new pet and decides to defeat the Ghost King to show people he isn’t scared of anything.

A wonderfully illustrated story of friendship, relationships, bullying, and perseverance in the face of what really does scare you.

This is a fast-paced adventure story that I didn’t want to put down and laughed out loud at a few of the scenes, but the biggest seal of approval is that my nephew loves Sam and Fang.

Looking forward to book three in the series.

Can you imagine how hazardous this is to a long wh

Can you imagine how hazardous this is to a long white (now pink) beard?

I’m the youngest person in this cafe, first time

I’m the youngest person in this cafe, first time after living in Darlington for 17 years…

Good view though, food was also good

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