I’ve always meant to read Anne Tyler, got several in the #TBR room waiting for me, but I got sent this as a gift and thought it was a nice thin volume to start with. From the start I was drawn into Micah’s life and his desire for simplicity in it. To this end he …
Review
Murder Most Unladylike
Just before Christmas (a couple of years back) we found out that Robin Stevens was coming to one of our local schools to talk to the pupils about her books and writing mysteries, have to say I jumped at the chance to organise something to support the schools librarian and the school (but also to …
Books v. cigarettes
Totally bought this because of the multiple essays on books, bookselling and book reviewing – some of my main pleasures in life. The title essay is still as apt now as it ever was, comparing the price of a book with another common leisure purchase which today we usually use a coffee as a comparison …
Battle of the Beetles
There was such a wait for Battle of the Beetles, the final book in the trilogy, it was sooooo long, really looooong. The wait was well worth it though as we follow, Darkus, Victoria and Bertolt in their quest to foil Lucretia’s plans for world domination using FrankenBeetles, genetically-enhanced and super-intelligent beetles, whilst completing her …
Ghost Boys
Ghost Boys is another book I read a while back and am just getting around to reviewing. Jerome is 12, Jerome is black, Jerome is shot dead by police whilst playing with a toy gun. The story then continues of what happened up to and including where Jerome is murdered, but it also goes past …
Pax
I will make this clear right from the start. Pax had me in tears at several points, the whole of the first chapter was so sad I had to put the book away for a week before I went back to it, but once I went back to it I couldn’t put it down. A …
What is Poetry?
Let’s just get it out of the way at the start – I love Michael Rosen. There I said it. ‘What is Poetry?’ is one of the funnest books on poetry I’ve ever read, it seems to be aimed at a young audience, probably middle-grade readers. This doesn’t stop me from saying that this book …
Beetle Queen
Continuing the adventures of Darkus, Victoria and Bertolt, ‘Beetle Queen’ is another wonderfully crafted book. Written by M.G. Leonard, illustrated by Elisabet Portabella and published by Chichen House Publishing, and as with ‘Beetle Boy’ the special edition has a decorated fore edge. Lucretia Cutter has got away at the end of ‘Beetle Boy’ to continue …