Valpot's Book Pledge - 76 - 80

Here is the latest reads from Valpot.



76: The People's Friend
A short story collection form The People's Friend magazine. The stories were in the romantic Woman's Weekly genre, and apart from one which was original, well-written, funny and sweet (co-incidentally with a strong Irish connection!), all the others were fairly standard below average stuff.
Rating: Almost Darren Shan


77. The Scandal of Fr. Brown by G.K. Chesterton
Another gem of a story collection featuring Fr. Brown. If only there were more!
Rating: Shines like The Lucky Diamond


78. Lottie the Half-Vampire by Valinora Troy
First of a (possible) new series. has potential, maybe. Needs a lot more work.
Rating: Half-way decent

79. Leaf: In search of Ramune by Mungo
As everyone knows, this is an absolutely FANTASTIC tale by Mungo. I've read and reviewed it before, and read it again prior to Mungo entering it to the Times/Chicken House competition - and it's still great!
Rating: Shines like The Lucky Diamond

80 (to 82). The Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
This is the third volume about the Night Watch, Day Watch, and now also Inquisition. However, it consists of three separate stories, although they share an overall theme and follow on from each other. It was interesting to catch up with the characters, and the twilight is much developed form the earlier books. The glimpse of post-Soviet Russia is also pretty interesting.
Rating: Not bad

Valpot Book Pledge 71 - 75

Here's the latest from Valpot:



71: The Wisdom of Fr. Brown by G.K.Chesterton
What can I say about this brilliant collection of short stories from the pen of a master? IT'S BRILLIANT!
Shines Like The Lucky Diamond



72. The Five Muses by Murphy, Murphy, Murphy, Murphy, Murphy, etc...
Excellent selection of short stories of various genres by an exciting mix of authors. Gems, every last one of them. Get your own copy (and the cover is fab!)
Shines Like The Lucky Diamond



73. The Kingdom of Animals by Various
I actually read this when it was published a few months ago but forgot to put it on the list. It's a collection of stories about the Kingdom of Animals NOT written by Mungo, though he provides sightful analysis of each tale. The winning entries of I Want To Be Like Mungo Competition are published in this wonderful collection.
Shines Like The Lucky Diamond



74. The Twelfth Card by Jeffrey Deaver
Deaver continues to entertain despite the increasingly contrived plots. The motive for this one is totally ridiculous, and it felt like there was a lot less of Lincoln and Amelia so it is not as good as earlier ones. Also I was not mad on the Happy Ending- it seemed awfully weak to me.
Curate's Egg



75. Priest (don't know the author)
Interviews/Biographies of ten holy priests who are making a difference in today's world. Different areas - from army chaplins to Siberia to American parishes. Very interesting and inspiring read.
10/10

LATEST ON BOOK PLEDGE FROM INKPOT

Here are Inkpot's 66-70 reads:


66. THE FOG by James Herbert
Apart from the name and the fact that this was written in the 1970’s, this book has nothing in common with the similarly titled John Carpenter horror movie. An earth quake in a sleepy town in the south east of England releases a strange microbiological parasitic fog that wanders towards London, sending everyone it comes in contact with into a murderous rage (not unlike the Rage in 28 days later). It is up to one man, who is immune, to destroy it and save England. An interesting, and perhaps original (for the time) idea, I found it disappointing.
– 4/10 Half way decent


67. THE FIVE MUSES by Various
This anthology is a collection of fantasy short stories written by a collection of authors. The stories feature (among other things) dragons, druids and a dog’s perfect day out. I would love to discuss each story in detail, but this is not the right forum. All I can say is, READ IT! IT IS BRILLIANT!
– 10/10 Shines like the Lucky Diamond.


68. LOTTIE THE HALF VAMPIRE by Valinora Troy
Lottie has always been different. Sunlight hurts her skin, garlic makes her sick and her lack of energy has been a concern for her family all her life. Now a mysterious and frightening man has turned up, telling her things that she finds hard to believe. Could it be true that her pale appearance and new found abilities are because she has vampire blood in her veins? This exciting story is the first in the Lottie series. I can’t wait to read the next instalment.
- 10/10 Shines like the Lucky Diamond


69. THE REVENGE OF QUEEN ROSE by Valinora Troy
It has only been a matter of days since Queen Rose was banished from Ferga, and the five children are enjoying the return of their uncle while Lucky, the diamond, makes plans for her wedding to Charlie. However, they are not allowed rest on their laurels for long. A new enemy imprisons the diamonds, kidnaps Susan and Vicky and sends Ferga and her surrounding countries into turmoil. What results is an amazing, exciting, scary, funny, magical adventure that spans three countries and ten characters. I laughed, I cried, I loved it. I might even go as far as to say it outshines its predecessor, the Lucky Diamond. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
– 10/10 Shines like the Lucky Diamond


70 - 72. The Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
This is the third instalment in the ‘Watch’ trilogy (nothing to do with time pieces) following on from Night Watch and Day Watch. I was very disappointed in Day Watch, so I wasn’t expecting much from this book, therefore I was pleasantly surprised. I would rank it as my favourite of the three, with an interesting story and more character development of Anton and the other Others.
– 7/10 Not Bad

Valpot's Book Pledge - 66 - 70

Here is the latest report from Valpot on the books she's read:

66. The Glories of St Joseph
Excellent compilation on what various saints have written about St Joseph, plus stories of miraculous answers to prayers addressed for his intercession, as well as a whole range of prayers and novenas for the reader to use. According to the author, St Joseph is a much under-utilised intercessor. Not any more if enough read this book!
Rating: 10/10

67. The Vanished Man by Jeffrey Deaver
Another enjoyable tale about the antics of Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs. I have to say that this is about the most contrived of his tales that I have read to date. The opening "vanishing" scene is so obvious that it was totally unworthy of him, and the motivation for the killer's actions beggars belief. I enjoyed reading it, especially the bits about magician's tricks, but the plot is just too ridiculous to give this book a high rating.
Rating: Not Bad

68. The House of Thunder by Dean Koontz
This is an early book by Dean (1982, I think) and originally written under a different pen name. Well, maybe that's where he should have left it. The writing has none of the polish that I expect from Dean, and the story is both Agatha Christie-ish AND unpleasant. You would not be inspired to read a second, if this was your first Dean Koontz. The book's only interest is to see how far this writer has come since he started
Rating: Half-way decent

69. One Door from Heaven by Dean Koontz
A much later story from this author - I think 2001 or thereabouts - and wow, what a difference! The language is beautifully crafted, and his theme is redemption or perhaps I should say salvation. Very interesting ideas and story lines, but I'm not sure how well it works as a book. It's an interesting read rather than a tense, excitement-never-ends type read, and I was a little disappointed in the end (though I often am with Dean's books).
Rating: Not Bad

70. The Incredulity of Fr. Brown by G.K. Chesterton
What can I say about this excellent collection of short stories about the crime-solving priest who understands the hearts and minds of people? The mysteries are clever (although occasionally implausible - Chesterton doesn't bother going into the absolute minutiae of how each crime was done - if nobody notices that the body is cold and therefore dead for hours, that's not relevant to his story), the language is beautiful, vividly descriptive, and his insight into human nature incredibly perceptive, and Chesterton's incredible faith and charity pervades the stories. Excellent stuff!
Rating: Shines like The Lucky Diamond

Please note that Valpot has included the author's names and used the correct ratings for non-fiction.

PLEDGES AND TARGETS

During August we asked Inkpot and Valpot for their targets for the next month.

This is what they said:

Inkpot:

My targets from now to November are:-

1. Send out query letters for the Mark of the Wolf
2. Have the first 50 pages of TMOTW completed in four weeks
3. Completely edit TMOTW by October
4. Finish TTMF
5. Submit up to 9 assignments for the writers bureau in October



Valpot:

1. Polish up Lottie The Half-Vampire Book 1 for Iseult's birthday
2. Finish and print up Revenge of Queen Rose in time for Iseult's birthday
3. Print up luxury final version of the Lucky Diamond
4. Submit article on the patron saints to St Martin's Magazine
5. Write a short story for Iseult's birthday & put together the collection
6. Concentrate on the WB for October
7. Think of a story to write in November
8. Continue to submit The Lucky Diamond to agents


Let's check next week to see how far they have got.

Inkpot's book pledge 61-65

Inkpot is surging ahead with her books and now has surpassed the 65 mark. Here is what she had to say about recent reads:


61. WATCHING THE MAGPIES by Les Charles
This is a one act play written by a Welsh playwright. It is about two women in their sixties, one who suffers from Alzheimer’s and her friend who is her carer, who are being thrown out of their house by the council. It is well written, understated and natural.
– 5/10 Readable

62. THE SOFTWIRE VIRUS ON ORBIS 1 by P J HAARSMA
This science fiction novel for children is the first book published by Mr Haarsma – and you can tell. He has a lot of first novel fluffs in this book – telling, not showing, clunky sentences, etc – but for all that his writing shows promise and his world is imaginative if not exactly original.
– 6/10 The Curate’s Egg.

63. THE FATHER CHRISTMAS LETTERS by JRR Tolkien
This book is the collected letters and illustrations that Tolkien wrote to his children every year under the guise of Father Christmas and his helper, The North Pole Bear. These letters are filled with love and it gives an added dimension to man who was the father of modern fantasy.
- 9/10 (incredibly sweet)

64. THE VANISHED MAN by Jeffery Deaver
A return to form for daring Deaver after the disappointing The Stone Monkey. The Vanished Man revolves around magic, illusion and circus, topics which are always bound to entertain. While I think some of Deaver’s plot devices are so contrived as to be hilarious, I enjoyed guessing every new curve ball he threw at the reader.
– 7/10 Not Bad

65. THE TWELTH CARD by Jeffery Deaver
More of the same from Dare to be Deaver, this time centring on a black school girl from Harlem. By this stage I find the Lincoln Rhyme books very formulaic, though still enjoyable. This is the most recent in the series and, while I didn’t find it the most exciting instalment, it is an entertaining read. Hard working school girl Geneva Settle has been targeted for murder – but why, and by whom? That’s for Lincoln and Amelia to find out, which they do with their indomitable skill.
– 7/10 Not Bad

Valpot's Book Pledge 61-65

Valpot's 61-65 books reviewed last month but not published until now.



61. The Wonders of The Mass
A fascinating booklet on the beauty, glory and wonders of the Mass.
Rating: Excellent


62. St Margaret Clitherow
Fascinating, though too short, biography of this saint martyred during Elizabethan times. Also good information and insught into the time - how the Faith in England was almost totally destroyed, to which the country tragically never returned.
Rating: Excellent


63. St Francis Assisi
Chesterton's biography. More facts and details about the saint's life can be found here than Chesterton put into his book on St Thomas Acquinas. GKC writes with all his usual brillaince and verve. Some might prefer the more traditional chronological biography but Chesterton always provides such enthusiasm, energy and love for his subject along with great insight into Man in general, and the saint in particular, that he is always worth reading.
Rating: Another gem from Chesterton


64. Biography of Pope Benedict XIV
Short but great insight into our wonderful Pope's life. A longer, more detailed one would be even better, but it's well worth reading.
Rating: Recommended


65. The Softwire
For a change, some fiction! Written by a friend of Nathan "Swoon" Fillion, this is a children's sci-fi story about a boy who can connect directly with and into computers without using any kind of interface (keyboard, mouse etc). In fact, he can push his mind inside computers. The children's parents all die on a journey from earth to a far distant planet, and the computer hatches the embryos the parents left behind. They make their new home on the planet of Orbis, and work to pay off their parents debts. Of course, there's trouble afoot and our hero (the softwire) has to find out who's behind it. It's not bad but not great. Interesting ideas, and even more interesting to see are the errors a first time writer makes (a lot of telling, not showing, and as for overuse of the word "just" - well, just what can I say!!). I thought the hero was very mature for a 13 year old (maybe they're all like that these days!), and I suspect it's only the first in a series...
Rating: Curate's Egg

Inkpot's Book Pledge 56 - 60

Recently Inkpot reached book 60 out of 150. Here's what she had to say about them:



56. THE LIFE OF BLESSED MIGUEL PRO by Ann Ball
Blessed Miguel Pro was a Mexican priest martyred in the 1920’s. This is a very good account of his life, portraying his human side as well as his sanctity. It is impossible not to love this cheerful, brave and heroic man, and not to be saddened by the manner of his death. An excellent, inspiring and informative – if brief – read.
– 10/10

57. CARRY ON JEEVES by P G Wodehouse
P G Wodehouse is undoubtedly a wonderful writer. His skill at weaving intricate, humorous plots is second to none and I love his Psmith books. However, his Jeeves and Wooster stories are not my favourite, made all the worse by association with the Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry adaptation in the 1980s. With that in mind, I found this collection of short stories only mildly diverting.
– 7/10 Not bad.

58. THE FOUR AGREEMENTS by Don Miguel Ruiz
The four agreements are 1. Be impeccable in your word, 2. Don’t take anything personally, 3. Don’t make assumptions and 4. Always do your best. It is common sense really, but this handy little book points it out to you clearly, just in case you had forgotten or perhaps never knew in the first place.
- 9/10

59. SOMEWHERE IN TIME by Richard Matheson
I loved I am Legend and The Shrinking Man, but the other works of Richard Matheson that I have read have left me cold. What Dreams May Come was supposed to be about love that transcends death and Somewhere in Time is a companion piece of sorts, about love that transcends time. Simply put, the hero of this book – Richard Collier – falls in love with the woman in a photograph taken seventy five years in his past and manages to travel back in time to meet her. Perhaps because romances are not my favourite reading material, I was left untouched by this book.
– 5/10 Readable

60. ST ANTHONY THE WONDER WORKER OF PADUA by Charles Warren Stoddard
This book was written in 1896 and was a little old fashioned in its delivery, but apart from that, it is a short yet excellent account of this amazing saint. All the famous miracles are in there – preaching to the fishes, the donkey adoring the Blessed Sacrament and St Anthony and the Christ Child – as well as ones that were less familiar to me, including bi-location. It is hard to read this book and be unmoved by such a wonderful saint who was on fire with love of God from the start.
– 10/10

Valpot Book Pledge 56-60

Here are Valpot reviews of her books 56-60 (Note both pledgers should have reached book 100 by end of August to be up-to-date with their pledge).

56. The Bone Collector
I love the film and enjoyed the book. It was difficult not to see Denzel and Angelina as the main characters, and personally I think the film's take on the suicide was much better than the book. The whole forensic stuff was interesting to read and the denouement was different from the film. I understand - and agree with - the changes the film made in general, but still enjoyed the book.
Rating: I like it

57. The Empty Chair
Also by Jeffrey Deaver (author of The Bone Collector), I enjoyed this book even more. Lots of good character development, an unusual situation, and lots of twists.
Rating: I like it

58. Stir of Echoes
I have read The Shrinking Man and Legend, and thought both books were brilliantly written and very imaginative. In contrast, Stir of echoes seems very tame, the plot is quite light, and it has none of the impact of the other novels of his that I've read. Still, it's well written, though you would like it developed a lot more.
Rating: Not Bad

59. St Gerard Majella
I picked up a biography of this great saint a while ago. Unfortunately the style of the book is very old-fashioned, which makes it difficult to read. I ended up leaving it aside, only to finish it a couple of months later.
Rating: Amazing saint but I'm sure there's a better biography out there.

60. Blessed Miguel Pro
A short biography of this holy man but a brilliant one! He actually reminds me of Fr William Doyle (Merry in God) because he seemed to unite a sense of fun and humour with courage and heroic sanctity. If, as is rumoured, they make a film of Mexico in the 1920's and featuring this saintly priest, I will queue up to see it!
Rating: An inspiring read

VALPOT'S BOOK PLEDGE 51 TO 55

51: For One day More
This book did really well - a bestseller I think - from a very successful writer (Mitch Albom). I have to ask: why? The protagonist's marriage has failed, he has turned to drink, his family disowning him (not even inviting him to his daughter's wedding), and he almost had a baseball career but quits his dull job, and is now considering killing himself. His childhood was spent trying to please his father (who deserted his mother for another woman) and taking his mother for granted, which he now regrets as she is dead. On the way to his old family home to kill himself, he is involved in an accident. A little dazed he staggers on towards his old own where he meets his mother,and gets to spend a day with her. The day is interspersed with flashbacks of his childhood plus a new appreciation for his mother, before he is returned to life by the medics, no longer suicidal but anxious to make amends with his daughter and estranged wife. Well, apart from the unoriginal story line, the uninteresting glimpses of childhood (dull and lacking in insight), and the cliched characters - it's probably wouldn't be bad if it had anything else. Which it doesn't (the writing is polished enough, though the language unexciting). So - don't bother.
Rating: Darren Shan wannabe

52. The Prestige
I enjoyed this book though I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't seen the film first. Well written, characters well drawn, and interesting idea. I did think the plot was a little thin for a full length novel - but if I hadn't known what was going on (more of less), I might have found it more intriguing.
Rating: Curate's Egg (Good in spots).

53. The Coffin Dancer
I enjoyed this a lot. I read it before I read The Bone Collector (first in the series, excellent film made) but not having read the first did not impair my enjoyment. Exciting thriller, interesting forensics, and good characters. Jeffrey Deaver does go in for a lot of twists at the end of his books, perhaps one too many but very well done here.
Rating: Not Bad

54. Left to Tell
True story of a Tutsi woman surviving the holocaust by hiding in a pastor's tiny bathroom with 18 other women and trusting in God. Her parents sounded wonderful saintly people, who were brutally murdered, as were two of her three brothers. An upsetting read, especially reading the accounts of her family's murders, but it shows how quickly people can descend into evil killing gangs. Imaculee, the author, now works for the UN trying to promote forgiveness and peace in Rwanda. It's remarkable how she can forgive the killers, who were once family friends, neighbours or locals whom her parents had helped.
Rating: Not for the faint hearted

55. Something Wicked This Way Comes
I enjoyed this atmospheric tale by Ray Bradbury of the evil circus that comes to town, although too much time is spent by the father agonising over his age without resolving it totally.
Rating: Not Bad

INKPOT'S BOOK PLEDGE 51-55

Here are the latest reviews from Inkpot - now over a third of the way to 150 books!

51. THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL by James Herbert.
Gabe, an engineer, moves his family (wife Eve and two girls, Loren and Cally) to Crickley Hall for a couple of months while he works in the nearby town. Gabe and Eve are mourning the loss of their son Cam, who was abducted from a park a year previously. Crickley Hall has its own tragic past, as 11 evacuated orphans and their guardian all perished on the night of the big storm during the Second World War. Now it seems that the house is haunted by the ghosts of the dead and Eve won’t leave because she hopes to find a link to her missing son through the dead children.
Ok, this book is long – over 600 hundred pages – and stories of haunted houses should be scary, right? Well, er, not in this case. I expected more from the author of The Fog. I think a good editor could have brought this book down to 200 pages and it would have improved immensely. This was not my cup of tea.
2/10 Darren Shan Wannabe

52. THE EMPTY CHAIR by Jeffery Deaver
Once more top criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and top cop Amelia Sachs are collecting evidence and walking the grid to fight crime, except this time they are fish out of water in the backwoods of Carolina. Yet again Jeffery Deaver has produced an interesting, well written thriller which breathes new life into the formula.
7/10 Not bad.

53. HURIN’S CHILDREN by J.R.R Tolkien
You can not fault the works of Tolkien that were published during his life, but I have questions about his posthumous works, published by his son Christopher. Always a perfectionist, Tolkien worked on several different versions of this story (and a short version is included in the Simerillion) but was never finished one to his satisfaction. While there are parts of this tale that are brilliant, a lot of it is stilted and I can’t imagine Tolkien ever allowing it to print if he were still alive. The plot reads like a Greek tragedy with elves.
6/10 Curate’s Egg


54. ST MARGARET CLITHEROW by Margaret T Monro
A concise biography of an amazing martyr under the reign of Elizabeth 1st. An inspiring tale of an admirable woman and her trials and eventual death, as well as providing a snap shot into life in England at the time and the systematic eradication of the Catholic faith.
9/10


55. THE STONE MONKEY by Jeffery Deaver
This is the fourth Jeffery Deaver in the Lincoln Rhyme series. I really enjoyed the other three and I was expecting another exciting thriller with my favourite characters, Rhyme and Sachs, in this book, but I was disappointed. I suppose every author throws a dud here and there. This book is about human smuggling from China to America and involves Rhyme trying to hunt down a ‘snakehead’ (a human trafficker) before he kills the surviving passengers of a ship he blew up. I caught Lethal Weapon 4 on telly the other night, and the plot is pretty much the same except Murtagh and Riggs are slightly more entertaining. Apparently Deaver considers this to be his best Lincoln Rhyme book. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned in this. The book that the author likes best is never his best book.
5/10 Readable.

VALPOT'S BOOK PLEDGE 46-50

Here are the latest reviews from Valpot in her efforts to read 150 books this year. (The end of June should have seen her hit the 75 mark.)

46. Mr Murder by Dean Koontz
An exciting read from this great writer about a chilling villain determined to take his place in some one else's family, and when the family prove unco-operative, he decides to eliminate them. It's got all the ingredients for a good thriller - pace, fear, apparently unstoppable baddie, likable family, interesting origin of the assassin, and Dean's polished prose to tell the tale.
Rating: Good piece of fiction

47. St Thomas Aquinas
If you want a chronological fact-based biography of this saint, don't go for Chesterton's life of St Thomas. However, if you'd like an insight into how St Thomas thought or viewed the world, there is probably no better place to go. "Experts" on St Thomas have declared Chesterton's book the greatest ever written about the saint, and it probably would take a man of Chesterton's intellect to understand the intellect of St Thomas - and certainly he seems to understand him. The book is of course pure Chesterton - and therefore always worth reading.
Rating: Read for Chesterton, not for St Thomas

48. Heart-shaped Box
A scary tale about revenge - or is it? Nasty ghosts and wonderful dogs, and characters whose first impressions are definitely wrong. Enjoyed it very much.
Rating: Good piece of fiction

49. Fly By Night
Garth Nix recommended this children's tale by Frances Hardinge so I reserved it in the library, waiting some months before I got it, and in future, I will be hesitant about his recommendations. The plot probably isn't overly complicated but the plethora of characters and names make it difficult to keep track - and frankly I didn't care enough. The heroine is unlikeable, and I was a little irritated both by the setting (a sort of 18/19th century London, with references but no explanations to things like link boys which must confuse the average child? I only heard of them in G. Heyer) and by the anti-religion bias. The people believe in, and have shrines to, a whole range of gods and goddesses, called things like Goodman Woodberry Who Preserves Jam from Flies, but a few decades earlier some priests came along and said there was one god, the heart, but for some reason went around murdering and torturing everyone...so eventually everyone went back to the many gods again. But the heroine's father (dead, but obviously representing the author's view) said the gods were all children's fairy tales. The only redeeming feature was that the right people were bad - but if they hadn't been, their actions made no sense.
Rating: Almost Darren Shan

50. The Good Guy
Dean is such a good writer, every sentence is so well crafted. Unfortunately, this book held nothing new - in fact, strongly reminiscent of several of his other thrillers - and overall I thought the plot very poor, and contrived, and the end stupid. Very disappointing.
Rating: Readable

INKPOT'S BOOK PLEDGE 46 to 50

Here are Inkpot's reviews on books she read recently:


46. WHAT DREAMS MAY COME by Richard Matheson.
This is the third of Matheson’s books that I have read. It tells the story of a man who dies and discovers there is an afterlife, but cannot entirely enjoy it without his wife. It is about love and life after death. It is well written and interesting, but I found the main character irritating.
5/10 Readable

47. THE COFFIN DANCER by Jeffrey Deaver
This is the second Lincoln Rhyme book by Jeffrey Deaver. There was some novelty in reading it as, unlike The Bone Collector, I hadn’t a clue what it was about. I generally don’t like straight forward thrillers, but Deaver’s blend of science, good characters, horror and fast paced action kept me hooked from the start. Definitely one I would recommend.
8/10 I like it.

48. WHO CENSORED ROGER RABBIT? by Gary Wolf
When the movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, came out in 1988 I loved it so much I saw it twice in the cinema. I have seen it loads more times since then, and it has remained a firm favourite. I even have a Roger Rabbit duvet cover. When I learned that it was based on a book, I was dying to read it. What a mistake. The book has toons, Roger, Eddie Valiant, Baby Herman and Jessica Rabbit, but that is where the similarities end. Toons are just the same as people, they grow old and die. Jessica is sleazy and Roger isn’t particularly lovable – and he gets killed. The book tries hard to be a hardboiled thriller but doesn’t quite make it. I find it hard to understand how this book got published, let alone turned into such a fantastic film.
2/10 Darren Shan wannabe


49. STIR OF ECHOES by Richard Matheson
I caught the movie of this book a few years ago on late night TV. It was enjoyable, if not memorable. When I started reading the book, I thought I knew the story, but it soon became apparent that they had changed the movie somewhat from the book, with quite obvious reason. The book is about Tom Wallace who, after being hypnotised, discovers latent paranormal abilities. Now, in the movie this is only a start, but most of the book is taken up by how this impacts Tom’s life. The book is a thoughtful and interesting look into what impact developing physic powers would have on your family life. While it didn’t reach the heights of I am Legend or The Shrinking Man, it was an enjoyable read.
7/10 Not Bad

50. SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray Bradbury
Best friends Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway are like night and day, but they both get more than they bargained for when a mysterious carnival comes to town. Can they avoid the freaks and learn important lessons about themselves and life at the same time? Ray Bradbury is something of a guru in science fiction and fantasy. His writing is deeply layered and often poetic. I found this book interesting but it lost me when it got too caught up in philosophical arguments. 7/10 Not Bad.

INKPOT'S BOOK PLEDGE - 41 - 45

Here are the latest reviews from Inkpot:

41. MARLEY AND ME by John Grogan.
I couldn’t take to this book, although it is short and succinctly written. It tells the story of a very average journalist and his very average uncontrollable, badly behaved dog. I got tense just reading about it.
4/10 Half way decent

42. HEART SHAPED BOX by Joe Hill
On the back of this book Neil Gaimen showers it with praise. Because of his glowing review, I bought it. After reading it, I have not regretted my decision. Everything he says about it is true. It is a genuinely scary book, with realistic likeable characters, a fast paced page turning rhythm and enough creepy moments to keep you from sleeping. Be warned, this is not a book to read before bedtime.
9/10 A good piece of fiction.

43. THE GOOD GUY by Dean Koontz
Reading The Good Guy, I had the feeling that I had read it all before. Solid, all round decent man Tim gets unwittingly embroiled in the assassination attempt of an unknown woman (alla Velocity, The Husband), he goes on the run to save her (not unlike TickTock) and battles a hitman who just lives to kill (similar to the hitman clone in Mr Murder). Having said that, the book is well written, fast paced and the characters are likeable. Not Dean’s best work, but a lot better than Life Expectancy.
5/10 Readable

44. THE PRESTIGE by Christopher Priest
After reading Christopher Priest’s collection of short stories, The Dream Archipelago, I was hesitant to try another of his works. However, the film of The Prestige intrigued me, and I was interested to see how the source material differed from the movie. I am glad to report that the book is a very clever and enjoyable read. It is told from the view point of rival magicians, Alfred Borden and Rupert Angier, and two of their great grandchildren. Each of the voices is distinct and the story is built up well from the different view points. Knowing the story of the film did not diminish my enjoyment of the book in the least. Highly recommended.
8/10 I like it

45. A REBEL FROM RICHES by Bede Reynolds
The blurb of this book is excellent although, unfortunately the content does not live up to it. Kenyon Reynolds was born in the U.S of A in the 19th century to well off Episcopalian parents. He had a good education, was devoted to God, married his soul mate, made millions in the petrol business, retired in his thirties and toured the world and converted to Catholicism. He had a good life. After years of happy marriage, his wife died. After her death, he became a priest. His story is undoubtedly interesting, it is just he spends little time on his conversion and becoming a priest – which interested me most – and dwells mostly on the less interesting minutiae of his early life.
4/10

JUNE TARGETS

I realise that we are a little behind (it's all the excitement over the Best Read awards), but let's take a look at the June targets of the DNS.

Blueberry: Any plans for this month that you care to tell us about?


Blueberry: Enjoy the June sunshine, if there is any.

Inkpot, life has been hectic for you recently. Are you going to aim high for June?

Inkpot: I have about 35 books to read this month - I hope to be able to read as many of them as possible. Also I would like to finish Til The Moon Fails.


Great news, Inkpot - I hope I'll get to read it.
Marvin, how about you?

Marvin: I have no specific targets this month. I will, of course, be doing my best to support the DNs in all their endeavours.

Including me, I hope - hee! Hee!

Mungo, I'm sure you'll be busy this month?

Mungo: I intend to start Rainbow and the Mountain of Life this month. My fans are clamouring for it.

I'm looking forward to it, as is all of the wider public.

November, what's happened to the mystery blog?

November: Nothing.

But that's the problem - nothing is happening!

October: Don't worry - June will see a couple of posts, all right.

That's good news, at least.

Parsley, how about you - any targets set?

Parsley: No targets this month.

Sparkie, what about you - have you any targets set for this month?

Sparkie: I have no targets this month either.

And finally, Valpot - what excuses do you have for this month, now that the exams are over?

Valpot: Ha, ha. Well, my exam was on Tuesday 12th - so that means half the month is already over. And naturally job hunting in earnest has to begin... However, I do hope to get TLD sent out to an agent before the end of the month. I have started working on a synopsis but am finding it extremely difficult to write - so any volunteers out there?

We'll put the word out for you - so any readers out there willing to help out poor Valpot?

Valpot: I also have 31 books to read this month, which might prove a little difficult!

Best of luck with your targets, Nodpots - we look forward to hearing how you get on!

BOOK UPDATE: VALPOT'S 36 - 40

Here's the latest from Valpot on the book pledge (yes, readers, both pledgers are lagging seriously behind - it is almost half-way through the year, they should be well in the 60's, if not the 70's by now! Maybe they are though, and are just drip feeding us?)



36. MANGO: THE UNLUCKY MONKEY by MUNGO
What can I say about this absolutely fantastic book? It's absolutely fantastic! Like Mungo's brilliant first novel, the writing is beautiful, colourful and polished, the action is fast and exciting, the characters are charming and endearing, and the story is packed full of humour, heavily laced with thrilling adventure. Not to be missed!!!

Rating: Shines like the Lucky Diamond!

37. MERRY IN GOD
I don't think the author of this biography of Fr William Doyle actually gives his name, which is a pity for he has done an excellent job. One of the great things about this life of this Irish Jesuit who dies in the trenches in 1917 is that the author quotes hugely from the holy priest's own letters and diaries. One of the many remarkable things about this man - apart form his love of God and man, his indefatigable work for salvation, his personal self-sacrifice and self-discipline and holiness - is that he was gifted with excellent writing ability and managed to find time to describe in detail what he saw. This is particularly moving during his time at the front. Reading this book will give you a great insight into the Fr Doyle - holy, humorous, courageous, totally unselfish and self-sacrificing - and a great liking for him. You are only left to wonder - why has he not been canonised?
Rating: 10/10 (Highly recommended)



38. Night without end by Alastair McLean
I read (and re-read) loads by this author when I was in school, and have to say I think he writes very well. I haven't read him for a while, though I must have read this story dozens of times. It still is very enjoyable, despite the hero getting absolutely everything wrong!
Rating: Good piece of fiction

39. Fear is the key by Alastair McLean
When I read this first (in school also) I thought it was brilliant, the plot so clever. This time it didn't work so well for me, and it was a bit grimmer (understandably in the context of the story). Still good, though but no longer one of my favourites.
Rating: I like it

40. the Dark Crusader by Alastair McLean
Classic McLean. Good story, action and character from the start. One of my favourites
Rating: Good piece of fiction

BOOK PLEDGE UPDATE - INKPOT

Here are the next five books from Inkpot:



36. MARRIED UNDER THE ITALIAN SUN by Lucy Gordon.
Mills and Boon is a multi million Euro industry with hundreds of books published each year and many women literally addicted to their literature. Recently the RTE guide ran a competition to find the next great romance writer and gave away this book free. In the interest of research, I read it. It had everything you could expect from a Mills and Boon romance – exotic location, hero and heroine hating each other before realising how much they loved each other, happy ending. After reading it, I realised I am not a romance writer and didn’t enter the competition. I just couldn’t write a story without a few zombies popping up somewhere or one of the protagonists getting killed. Because of this, I will not rate this book. I’m sure it is an excellent example of the genre, but it just isn’t my cup of tea.

37. THE SECRET by Rhonda Byrne
The secret is, whatever you think about you will get. So if you imagine yourself with wealth and status, and believe it is real, you will be the next Bill Gates. This doesn’t bode well for me, although I haven’t yet turned into a wolf or encountered any zombies in real life.

38. MR MURDER by Dean Koontz
Mr Koontz, I salute you. This is an excellent book with a spine chilling adversary and a very likeable family that you root for. It is fast paced, keeps your interest and is truly unputdownable. The end is a little disappointing, but he had painted himself into a corner and there was no other way he could realistically get out of it.
9/10 A good piece of fiction


39. THE BONE COLLECTOR by Jeffery Deaver
The movie of this book is one of my favourites, so I approached this book with some trepidation. Could it live up to my expectations? It did, and surpassed them. Excellently written, imaginative crime thriller with enough science to intrigue and enough humanity to keep you interested. It is quite different from the movie, which made it all the more interesting, and I could see Denzel and Angelina playing the different parts. I’m looking forward to reading the next Lincoln Rhyme in the series.
8/10 I like it


40. THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR by Jean M Auel
This book has taught me, among other things, that Neanderthals couldn’t cry, didn’t speak with words but used sign language instead and used an early form of the contraceptive pill. I wouldn’t have minded this fantasy so much if it hadn’t been passed off by the author as fact. Apparently this book was also made into a movie, staring Daryl Hannah. It is the first book in a hugely successful series, entitled Earth’s Children. I am going to pass on the sequels though.
1/10 Darren Shan-Tastic
.

BOOK UPDATE - Inkpot's 31 - 35

A recent update from Inkpot:

31. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA REBELLION by Richard Hatch and Alan Rodgers.
I enjoyed watching the original Battlestar Galactica series very much. Apollo, played by Richard Hatch, was the hero and married Serena, played by Jane Seymour. My favourite was wise cracking hot shot viper pilot, Starbuck, played by Dirk Benedict (aka Face from the A Team). A few years ago, Richard Hatch approached a TV studio to make a new series of BG, catching up with the same characters twenty years on. He even bankrupted himself making a trailer for the proposed series. The studio didn’t bite and a few years later went with a‘re-imagining’. Hatch, undaunted, turned his ideas into a series of books, of which Rebellion is one. Unfortunately, the book is almost unreadable. I don’t know who is responsible. Hatch is an actor and Alan Rodgers is a horror writer, or so the back of the book tells me, but whoever wrote this book comes across as nearly illiterate. It changes tense every couple of paragraphs, over abounds in eclipses, and tells the reader everything without showing a peep. It is almost worth reading as an example of how not to write – almost.
1/10 Darren Shan-tastic.

32. WOMEN WHO THINK TOO MUCH by Dr Susan Nolen-Hoesksema
This is an excellent, thoughtful and insightful book about identifying and eradicating over thinking (negative, obsessive, unrelenting thoughts about problems and situations). I would highly recommend it to anyone who feels they are prone to over thinking.
9/10

33. ICEBOUND by Dean Koontz
Icebound is the story of a group of scientists stuck on an iceberg and their efforts to get off. Koontz describes the cold and horror of the situation superbly, keeping the tension and the pace of the book at break neck speeds, while still fitting in his characteristic touches of human story to the characters, the strong bond between husband and wife and the hint of Catholicism. In the author’s note at the back of this book, Dean says he wrote Icebound as homage to the works of Alistair McLean. I have never read any of the famous scot’s work, so I can’t judge whether he pulled it off. Altogether, Icebound is a taut, enjoyable thriller.
7/10 Not bad


34. REDWALL by Brian Jacques
Imagine Kenneth Graham’s The Wind in the Willows, add in a touch of The Animals of Farthing Wood and a hint of the Crusades and you have Redwall. Simply written, one moment quaint, the next dark and brutal, I couldn’t help thinking as I read this that it wouldn’t get published today (it was first published in the 1980’s). Enjoyable in a very putdownable way. It was good to read, but I didn’t rush back to finish it.
5/10 Readable


35. DEMON SEED by Dean Koontz
I’ve been struggling recently to finish a couple of long boring books, and, as a result, my book count has slowed down significantly. What better way to revive my flagging reading, I thought, than turning to old reliable Dean Koontz. Demon Seed was originally written in the late seventies and made into a film around that time as well. I had seen the film, although I had no idea until I started reading the book that the two were related. The film was not great, but it was very creepy and left a strong impression on me – as well as a lot of modern movie makers, as it is often referenced in TV shows and movies (there is one Simpsons episode about it). The book is quite different from the film in that it is told from the antagonist’s point of view, but it is just as creepy and Deanie does a wonderful job of creating a very disturbed creature.
8/10 I like it
.

BOOK UPDATE - VALPOT'S 31 - 35

Latest recommendations (or not!) from Valpot:



31: City of Night

Book 2 in Dean Koontz Frankenstein trilogy. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first one, but it still is an exciting read, and I'm looking forward to reading the third one when it is published.

Rating: Not bad



32. The Poison Belt by A. Conan Doyle
From the author of Sherlock Holmes.. (hee, hee, I know you know that!). Part of The Lost World and Other Tales collection, all featuring Ed Malone, Professor Challenger and friends. Well written, as you'd expect, but quite an insubstantial story with an end that I considered a cheat really - but I won't ruin it, in case anyone reads it...

Rating: Good in Spots (good writing and thin plot combination!)



33. The Chingles from the East
Patricia Murphy's original prize winner. While there is plenty of magic and mythology in this story, and it's not badly written or anything, it's not really my style of story. I hadn't realised before that it was meant to be the first of a trilogy. Interestingly, I saw the third one has finally come out - and it's called something like The Chingles meet the Vampires. The kids go to the island off the West Coast as usual, but end up in Eastern Europe (where we all know the vampires come from) and have to battle with their mythological gods (or something like that).

Rating: Half way decent

34. Raven's Gate by Anthony Horrowitz
By the author of the Diamond brothers humorous detective stories, this is the first of a trilogy, and aimed at an older reader than the detective books. This is a fantasy story set in England - the author says in his forward that he wanted this alternative to traditional fantasy such as Narnia or The Shire. Unfortunately, this limits the development of his world, which makes the book a little less satisfying. It's well written, and the hero is stuck in a village from which he really can't escape from, and there seems to be nobody that he can trust (I like this as a story line) but the whole Raven's Gate thing didn't really work very well. It might well come into its own in the sequels. This book was recommended by a nine year old as his favourite book!
Rating: Readable

35. Williestop by Iserie Valult
The first co-authored story from these two fabulous writers. It's fast and exciting, with a whole plethora of characters that you care for, and a sci-fi world that convinces (me anyway!). It's also the first - and arguably best - Biff book to date. The end perhaps was a little rushed, but it's a long and very satisfying tale. I loved it!
Rating: Shines like the Lucky Diamond!

MAY TARGETS

Yes, we have passed May's mid-point. However, it's never too late to see what the DNs have in store for the month, so let's check them out!

Inkpot, what targets have you set yourself for May?

Inkpot:
Finish Til the Moon Fails
Enter Hughes and Hughes short story competition
Up date blogs

Sounds very worthy! Best of luck with all of them! Looking forward to reading Til the Moon Fails!

Mungo, how about you?

Mungo:
Start Rainbow and the Mountain of Life
Tour country with Mango

I'll certainly watch out for you on your tour! And best of luck with Rainbow and the Mountain of Life!

Marvin, hopefully May will be good for you. What have you planned?

Marvin:
Up date website and blog

Great! Parsley, any targets for May?

Parsley:
Get money from Iseult

That might prove difficult - judging by April - but you have the perseverance and charm (and dashing good looks!) to succeed!

Sparkie, I guess you don't have any targets, having successfully procured the gavel - or do you?

Sparkie:
Make sure all the Nodpot minutes are up to date

You certainly go for the tough ones, don't you! All the best with that target!

Blueberry, I know you like to laze in the sun - but will you attempt anything more ambitious this month?

Blueberry:
Enter Mungo’s writing competition

That's fantastic! I didn't realise you were into the writing side of being a Nodpot! Best of luck with it - I'm sure it will get the cream (so to speak)!!

October and November - any plans?

October: Just continue with our blog - a couple of posts during the month.

November: Maybe - and we mean MAYBE! - enter Mungo's competition - if we can fit it in amidst our busy schedule.

I hope you do! Good luck with the blog! Hope it reaches a happy ending (middle and beginning!) this year.

Valpot, what about you? Unrealistic as ever?

Valpot:
Sadly have to be realistic this month. With two teaching classes, two assignments, one project and - hopefully - a look at stuff for my final exam, I won't have much time for writing.
I might - MIGHT - enter the H&H contest, if I get a chance.
Otherwise, I'm all study!

Exciting stuff (not)! Good luck with the exams, and hopefully June will be more productive for you!

Well, readers, that's it - what do you think??

Post your comments and let us know!!!