Grandpa's Slippers by Joy Watson and Wendy Hodder

Grandpa's Slippers was one of the books I owned as a kid. I loved it. It was one that I practically new by heart.

I have just now re-read it, and I'm struck by how differently things seem to adult readers. I don't mean this in any sort of derogatory way, but really, Grandma is relentless in her quest to destroy the slippers that Grandpa loves so much. It made me chuckle is all.

But I still see the things I loved about it as a child, and I still quite enjoy them. The passing days, the many different ways Grandma tries to get rid of them, the cumulative complaints Grandma has about them and the smug satisfaction on her face when they finally fall to bits and he is forced wear his new ones which he quite likes.

I think another reason I like this story is that I often hold onto things long after their used-by date. Good thing this book doesn't have a used-by date. It's just as good now as it ever was.

 

3.5 Silver Stars

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Cinderella by Barbara McClintock

What is it?

Cinderella

Who wrote it?

 Barbara McClintock

Where can it be found?

 It's a Picture Book edition

Adaptation?

Retold from the Charles Perrault version and illustrated by...

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

The traditional story, just as insipid as usual, nicely illustrated.

Hansel And Gretel by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

What is it?

 Hansel and Gretel

Who wrote it?

 Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Where can it be found?

in 'The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales'
Edited by Maria Tatar

Adaptation?

It is one of the few revised versions the Grimms published.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Women are evil, men are weak. Children must stick together.

The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

What is it?

The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats

Who wrote it?

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Where can it be found?

in The Annotated Brothers Grimm
Edited by Maria Tatar

Adaptation?

Recorded by the Grimms

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

The Wolf slept as deep as general anaesthetic – I wish!

Rumpelstiltskin by Berlie Doherty and Jane Ray

What is it?

Rumpelstiltskin

Who wrote it?

Berlie Doherty

Illustrated by Jane Ray

Where can it be found?

Classic Fairy Tales (Walker Illustrated Classics)

Adaptation?

More a re-telling with a gentle ending.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Greedy, patriarchal colonialists take what they will, but beautifully written.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Leaving for a trip that will usually allow me around 8 hours of listening time in the car, I couldn’t decide on any of the audio books I have in my unit. Some were tempting but too long, others I just wasn’t in the mood for. So I decided I’d listen to music for this trip, for something different.

Knowing I had 3 hours of the first stretch ahead of me I wanted something upbeat. I don’t think I got to the end of the first song when I knew I’d made the wrong choice. I just kept thinking this is such a waste of perfectly good audio book time. I searched around in the car for something I could listen to. When I found American Gods I knew I was in the mood for some Neil Gaiman.

It was only later, that I discovered how long the book went for… around 20 hours. It would definitely spill over from the listening time I had on that trip. Oh well, on I soldiered.

I loved the idea behind this book: everyone who has ever come to America brought their gods with them, in some form, these deities immigrated with their believers. 

However many years on, there are so many gods that live on in the hearts and minds of someone, so these beings live on in the American landscape, noticed or not by those who they pass by. 

One thing I have to say about Neil Gaiman is he is a genius of epic proportions when it comes to intertextuality and blending/adapting mythology and classic texts. American Gods was not the first time I noticed this, Neverwhere is brilliant, and then there are touches of it in his other books too. It fills me with such awe and jealousy, and makes me want to have his brain-children. 

I think I need to say that I felt American Gods was a little unnecessarily long. But I strongly believe that it is worth it. It’s a staggering undertaking, and he certainly has accomplished great things with his concept, and I can understand why he kept it at its length, It might have just benefited from some trimming here and there. 

So, if you ever find you have the time to offer to this book, it’s worth it.

 

3.5 Gold Stars

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Hansel and Gretel by James Finn Garner

What is it?

Hansel and Gretel

Who wrote it?

James Finn Garner

Where can it be found?

in: Once Upon a More Enlightened Time: More politically Correct Bedtime Stories

Adaptation?

Another of the ‘PC’ kind.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Not a ‘witch’ but ‘Wiccan’ and defender of Mother Earth.

The Catwings Series by Ursula K Le Guin and S.D. Schindler

   

Ursula K Le Guin is one of the authors I consider one of my favourites. Her Earthsea series is absolutely amazing and I particularly love her lesser known series ‘The Annals from the Western Shore’. Something about those sweeping fantasies moves me incredibly.

But this review isn’t about those books. This is about a little series called Catwings that I discovered in my bookshop days. I bought them on the spot (well three of the four – all that was in available at the time) and sat them proudly next to her young adult books on my shelf. At that time, while I wanted to own these little chapter books, I didn’t read that sort of thing very much, so they have sat, untouched, for 6 or 7 years now. These days, I know the joy a well written chapter book can bring, so one night when I finished reading a more substantial sci-fi, I got out of bed and went and got them and read all three in a row.

What are they about? Cats with wings. Couldn’t you tell?

Why do they have wings?

“Mrs Jane Tabby could not explain why all four of her children had wings.” - The first sentence of the first book. But, it is unimportant. We grow with the kittens, learning to use their wings, trying to survive in the city. Then Jane sends her children away to find a safer place to live. That’s when the adventures begin.

These are gentle fantasy chapter books for imaginative children, especially if they like cats.

In each book we meet a new friend and come up against a new challenge.

I must admit I wasn’t as profoundly moved by them as I have been by her other writings, but I believe she achieved her goal with these books. They really are charming.

3.5 Silver Stars

Find them on Goodreads:

Catwings

Catwings Return

Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings

Jane On Her Own

 9, 10, 11/40

The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean

Neil Gaiman’s books are practically guaranteed to be slightly warped, slightly bizarre, slightly absurd. That’s why we love them isn’t it?

This picture book is fairly straight forward in premise, in some ways of looking at it, and is pretty much explained by the title: a boy swaps his dad for two goldfish. Cause that could happen, right?

Then, as predicted by his sister, he gets in trouble when his mother comes home (there’s a very funny sequence with the sister trying to tell the mum who doesn’t like her to talk with her mouth full) and they have to go and swap him back. Only, they discover that he has already been traded on. And so begins a journey here there and everywhere trying to un-swap all the items that have been traded for his dad.

So a little bit quirky, but that’s what makes it fun. Dave McKean’s illustrations take the quirk factor to another level, playing in to and off of each other sense of humour in a perfect way.

I've got a great edition of this that has the book read by Neil Gaimen himself, which is an added bonus.

3.5 Gold Stars

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Duck For A Day by Meg McKinlay and Leila Rudge

Did you ever have a class pet? Perhaps a guineapig or a fish? Or if you were lucky, you’d have a rabbit or a lizard. What if your teacher brought in a class duck? And what if there was a chance you could take home that Duck for a Day!

Abby has never been allowed pets, her mother thinks they are un-clean, and even a fish can drive you batty just swimming in circles all day. Therefore, the possibility of being able to take Max the duck home for a night is incredibly exciting! She’ll be able to pretend that she has a pet, even if it is only short lived.

But first, she must prepare her back yard to the strict specifications that Mrs Melvino has set down for anyone to take custody of her precious duck.

This sparks a bit of rivalry between Abby and her next door neighbour, Noah, and she is determined to win.

Meg McKinlay’s writing is light, fun and fresh and this adorable little chapter book is perfectly interspersed with Leila Rudge’s cute cartoon style drawings. I’ve already said how much I love these two when I reviewed their picture book ‘No Bears’. So if you’ve got an independent reader who’s after a little Australian Classroom pet drama, then look no further.

3.5 Gold Stars

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What’s In A Name
Hosted by Beth Fish Reads

Topographical Feature: Sea Hearts

Something You'd See In The Sky:

Creepy Crawly:

Type Of House:

Something You'd Carry In Your Pocket, Purse, or Backpack:

Something You'd Find On A Calendar: Duck For A Day

JudgeABook: Silvermay by James Moloney

This cover has been jumping out at me since it was released last June. Partly because it's by James Moloney and I really enjoyed The Book of Lies, but not entirely. Because for some reason, this cover doesn't make me think of that series at all, so for a long time, I was forcing myself to remember that they were by the same people.If you read my JudgeABook post on Shiver, you're probably starting to think that I must really like the whole silhouette-fading-into-the-background type thing. And I guess I do. In all honesty, this cover isn't making me feel like I-must-read-it-at-first-possible-opportunity. But I like how it looks and know that James Moloney is good, so it is on my to read list, but when I have time.

Part three of this post (where I make up a story based entirely on the cover) might be hard cause all we've got is girl, boy on horse and grass/trees/plants. and a single bird. But, I'll see what I can do.

She ran, was all he could think.

He was left sitting on his horse, holding the herb he knew she was looking for, thinking: she ran.

It was true they had never met, but that hardly mattered. Did it? She was ill, and she needed the wilting green thing in his hand, but she had found the strength to run.

He would have to think this through. Gently, he urged the horse forward.

Let me know what you think of these posts. :) 

3.5 Silver Stars

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JudgeABook: Midwinderblood by Marcus Sedgwick

So, for a JudgeABook post, you're supposed to pick a cover of a book you haven't read but that has caught your eye and discuss it. I was in a bookshop yesterday and this caught my eye. Specifically, the green 'heart on his sleeve' is what I was drawn to. I mean, the knife practically points at it, it's effectively the only thing that isn't re or black on the cover, and it's not exactly clear what it is, why it's there, or how it will affect the story. I like these puzzling aspects. 

When it comes down to it, all we've got to go on is (quite literally) 'cloak and dagger', and then a blood moon as well. These elements simply combined with the presence of the words 'blood' and 'sacrifice' suggest all sorts of dark goings on. 

The third part on this post will be interesting for me to attempt because of that. (For those who haven't read one of my JudgeABook posts before, this is where I try and write a paragraph from the book, or a synopsis simply from the cover image alone in 150 words or less.)

It was the full, ripe, harvest moon of the seventh cycle of seventy seven years. It was time. Head bent, he emerged from the fields of wheat that had hidden him as he approached the village. Careful to conceal the moonstone dagger, he drew near the third house from the left. Glancing through silent tears across at the house opposite that might have once been his, he had to trust what he was doing was right. Life was hard in this part of the world, he thought as he eased the door open, it might be said that his target wouldn’t make it through the approaching winter anyhow.

He knew what part of himself he would be killing tonight also.

3.5 Silver Stars

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Hansel and Gretel by Michael Morpurgo and Emma Chichester Clark

What is it?

Hansel and Gretel

Who wrote it?

Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark

Where can it be found?

Bookshops/Libraries (individual story)

Adaptation?

Yes – To a degree

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

All the misfortune is caused by one single wicked witch.

JudgeABook: The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

To pick this week's contestant for my JudgeABook post, I was browsing through an old catalogue only looking at the covers and seeing if any jumped out at me. This one did. I didn't stop to read the blurb next to the image, just chose it to be scrutinized. 

I really like the composition of this cover. The title, tied in with the glass stoppered-bottle, works well to suggest times long gone. On top of that birds clearly play a role and it's set in London. I think the buildings at the bottom are the only element I don't like about this cover. It detracts from the feeling of possibility in what the apothecary could be concocting. What? have they extracted essence-of-London-Bridge? I think it would have been slightly better to have those buildings behind the bottle as a skyline across the bottom. But that's just my thoughts. 

Now onto section three. (If you've not read one of these posts before, this is me, writing a paragraph/synopsis/blurb for the book based entirely on the cover image.)

He knew that the right combination of ingredients could issue any result under the sun. And he must find the right combination to save her. He’d tired feathers of pigeons, larks, sparrows; and still nothing. Slowly he stirred the solution in front of him: reduced from moss from The Tower and rain caught from The Bridge under a full moon. But what was missing?

Just then, a robin perched on his window sill. This was more than a sign. This was destiny. He knew what to do.

He would save Robyn before the night was over.

Well, let me know what you think. I'd like to know if you think these JudgeABook Posts are working, or if anything should change?

3.5 Silver Stars

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The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen

What is it?

The Emperor’s New Clothes

Who wrote it?

Hans Christian Andersen

Where can it be found?

The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen

Edited by Maria Tatar

Adaptation?

Yes. I learned that it is an adaptation of a fourteenth-century cautionary tale by Infante Don Juan Manuel.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Vanity’s a shortcoming that’ll end with your flaws on display.

JudgeABook: The Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynne Jones

I should start this JudgeABook post by pointing out a great flaw in my reading life: I have never read any Diana Wynne Jones. I Know! For someone like me, how could it be that I've got this far in life without having read any? I don't know... I own 4 or 5 of her books, I've just never gotten around to reading any.

So, that aside, I thought that one of hers would be perfect to judge purely on its cover, as I can't be influenced by any prior knowledge of her style or anything.

I've picked one that I've got sitting on my shelf: The Pinhoe Egg. I have to say, when Harper Collins started re-branding her books with similar jackets to this, I thought they were making a good move. This one (and quite a few of her others, I guess) are illustrated by Tim Stevens. 

For me, I find this cover eye catching, and full of promise. I don't know what the story is about at all, but there's frogs falling from the sky, goblin-y things that are in a tree that looks like he might play a role himself, a unicorn, a boy on a horse, and (my favourite element) a washing line full of undergarments loosed to the wind. All of these surround a giant egg balancing on a bush. 

Step 3 is going to be a bit harder this time round. Let's see how I go:

Impatiently prodding his lazy mare, the boy tried not to lose sight of the bizarre kite tail carried on the wind. This was not what his mother had meant when she told him to hang out the washing. He knew that if it reached the wood those strange blue tricksters would give him no end of grief trying to retrieve them. Not to mention the enigmatic whisperings of the trees themselves.

Suddenly, he heard a cracking noise, spun his head and found he was staring at a great speckled egg, with the tip of a colourful beak emerging from the top. Knowing it would change the course of his whole day (not knowing it would change the course of his whole life) he got off the feeding mare and stepped toward the hatchling. 

3.5 Gold Stars

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Kenny And The Dragon Tony DiTerlizzi

As part of the challenge for 2012 to read books that I've had for ages and never read (see below), I've been working through the shelf where I keep most of my hardbacks (good a place as any to start).

So, this cute little book was nestled in amongst them and was selected.

It was really nice. From time to time it's great to read a book in which nothing terrible happens. I guess I read a bit much dystopian fiction... but that's why books like this one are a welcome break from all the angst.

At the beginning we're introduced to Kenny, who loves books more than anything and always has his nose in a book despite his parents' attempts to get him to notice the real world from time to time. (I wonder who that sounds like?)

Then his father rushed in one evening, panicking, saying that they had to move immediately as there was a dragon living on the hill behind their house. Kenny's mother (very sensibly) says that they can't possibly move at that minute because dinner was nearly ready. Kenny gets very excited and asks if he can go and inspect the dragon. His parents allow it, knowing that thanks to all his reading, Kenny would know more about dragons than anyone else in these parts, but not until after he does the dishes and finishes his homework.

Now I don't know about you, but for me, this little family exchange was more than enough for me to love the book. The rest of it was gravy (as they say).

Tony DiTerlizzi has written this book in a delightfully old-fashioned tone, making reference to books like Wind In The Willows and The Reluctant Dragon, which I thought was well done. By evoking Wind In The Willows early on, the reader (well in my case anyway) is put into that mind-set. After all, these are all anthropomorphised animals who talk and live in a world that is just outside our reach, but within our imagination. Like it is only just on the other side of living memory. This only added to the charm of the whole situation.

I'd give you more of the story line, but I try very hard not to give spoilers on my blog, even spoilers of how the story establishes itself 4 chapters in. So you should just go and find it and read it for yourself. I should also mention that his illustrations are a perfect match for the story he's created. Fantastic detail and expression of character.

3.5 Gold Stars

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5/40

JudgeABook: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

This is my 2nd JudgeABook post! I'm enjoying them. Feel free to join in the game any time you like! Read about it HERE

Shiver by Maggie Stefvater

My first reaction to this jacket was that it caught my eye and made me think 'ooo look at that!' I'm partial to tree designs and the simple, layered graphic nature of this one is very striking. I quite like that the leaves are reminiscent of hearts too, and the drop of blood is a nice touch. This is another one that I acquired because I liked the look of it, but it has been sitting on my shelf for a long time, unread.

My interpretation of the cover:

It was hard to tell if the trees held the frost with their branches, or if the frost had the forest firmly in its grasp. No matter how tight the grip of either, the wolf slipped between their fingers, stalking his prey. The last remnants of summer dropped one at a time from the branches, falling with her memories of the love she had left behind. This was her future, she must submit to it. With the realisation that she would never leave the forest again, she shivered, and set her jaw against the years ahead. 

Cover rating:

3.5 Gold Stars

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The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

The latest selection for Bookclub was Ira Levin's The Stepford Wives. The way our bookclub works is we talk about the book, until discussion is exhausted, then, if one is available, we watch a film adaptation of the book we've just finished talking about. This usually opens up further discussion in what has been kept or changed from book to film.

In the case of The Stepford Wives, there were two film versions made nearly 30 years apart, so we watched them both. I thought for this post, I'd talk about the book and then the movies.

I quite liked the book, it was plain, straightforward and built a nice sense of mystery. Levin seems to very much like to leave a lot out, to keep you guess, so that things are never confirmed. It can be refreshing, with all the writing these days that feels like they have to spell everything out, because heaven forbid there be any un-answered questions! With out giving the ending away, I'll warn those who don't like that sort of thing, that the book ends abruptly on a fairly dramatic cliffhanger and the coda of sorts explains nothing. This way, the reader can apply their own interpretation.

I do think that part of the 'horror'/'thriller' aspect of the book would have been magnified back in the 70's when the book was written. At the height of the second wave feminist movement, the very idea that men could be doing something to their wives to make them hotter and enthusiastically subservient would have been more abhorrent back when women were struggling so hard just to be seen as equals. That said, while the initial shock might not be what it was, the more I find myself thinking about it the more I find the idea appalling.

Anyway, it's a good read for a bit of vintage thriller.

On to the movies!

The original film was made in 1975 only a few years after the book was first published. All in all, it's a fairly good adaptation of the book, being pretty spot on as long as you don't count the whole climax where they've taken liberties to fill in some of the blanks left by Levin or just make it simply more dramatic. It's not too bad, but not entirely the most enthralling movie ever.

The second movie came out in 2004 and is a (much) less accurate translation from book to film, BUT, it is by far more enjoyable! This movie had me laughing all the way through it's so well done! I don't even like Nicole Kidman, but this movie is good despite her. Bette Midler plays a fantastic Bobbie and her book titles are great fun. This movie is just plain fun. and has a much more satisfying resolution for those that need that sort of thing. Glen Close does a great job too, the Model Stepford Wife!

3.5 Silver Stars

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