Of Mice and Magic

by David Farland
Book #1 in the Ravenspell fantasy series.
Grade 5-8

Framed gave this book a hearty thumbs-up so I decided to read it for the Once Upon A Time Fantasy Challenge. I'm glad I did.

It starts out with a young, friendless boy who mistakenly thinks his parents have bought him a pet mouse. His disappointment turns to disgust as he is forced to feed the mouse to a lizard he is pet-sitting. The mouse instinctively turns Ben into a mouse simply wishing he could understand her terror. In this way, Amber, the mouse, finds out that she has special powers.

Amber promises to turn Ben back into a human if he will first help her free the mice at the pet store. What choice does he have?

When Amber turned Ben into a human the force of her magic sent a ripple that was felt by other creatures who hold magic powers. One of these creatures is evil. As Ben and Amber are working on establishing trust and friendship, the evil creature makes itself known and turns a dangerous task into a deadly one.

I think this tale will hold the interest of children from 8 and up. My sister and I are both considerably older and we enjoyed it. My 29 yo daughter liked it and my 18 yo daughter is planning on reading it. There's suspense mixed with a good dose of humor with themes of bravery, loyalty, good versus evil, and friendship.

The second book in the series will be released soon. Once again, Howard Lyon has done the interior and exterior illustrations. (Howard won an award from the world’s largest organization for artists, the World Society of Computer Graphics Illustrators, with his last cover for the series.) I really like the covers.

Ship Fever

by Andrea Barrett
I first read this book in June 2006. I suggested it to my f2f book club because we've never read a collection of short stories. So Tues. evening I will be presenting this book - telling a little about the author, mentioning other books she's written, and leading the discussion of this book. In preparing for this, I've reread all the stories. If anything, I enjoyed them even more the second time around. But I am afraid. If you may remember this is the same book group in which every person hated The History of Love and many hated The Poisonwood Bible - both books I'd recommended.

Science functions as both the subject matter and metaphor in these tales. That's the reason for my fears. With History of Love the group told me they didn't have time to ponder the symbolism; that they wanted to read for pure enjoyment. That's the main reason I read, too, but I think a book we are reading to discuss should have some substance to it, something to sink our teeth into.

Most of the stories are straightforward and enjoyable to read. The fact that they engage the mind is an added benefit. Publisher's Weekly reports, "The quantifiable truths of science intersect with the less easily measured precincts of the heart in these eight seductively stylish tales." Barrett's characters are usually fictional, but they have touched shoulders with people we recognize, such as Mendel, Linneaus, Alfred Wallace; and several we may not know, such as the Canadian doctor who directed the horrendous task of caring for Irish immigrants on Grosse Isle during the typhus epidemic of 1847.

Many of the characters try to prove themselves in both science and love, but are often thwarted by gender, social position, or prevailing order. The stories are engaging and interesting. Some of the best historical fiction I've read and even though one of the themes is science, it's not necessary to have a science background to enjoy them. I plan on reading this book again - it is that good.

Something Rotten

by Jasper Fforde
Book 4 in the Thursday Next series

I get the biggest kick out of this series. Fforde has a phenomenal imagination and he tells a great story. If you plan to read this series be prepared to suspend reality and enjoy a gripping, hilarious journey in an alternative 1980's England where there are chronoguards, bioengineered dodo birds and literature holds a prominent place. These books are mysteries, sci/fi, fantasy, drama, comedy with a bit of romance. Absolutely delightful.

In this episode Thursday Next returns to Swindon and her former job as a Literary Tech. She fights to prevent Goliath from from becoming a world dominating religion led by a fictional character. Her husband was eradicated from history in an earlier book and Thursday tries to get that eradication reversed. You can read a very nice review here.

The title of the book comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet - "There's something rotten in the state of Denmark." It describes a situation of corruption. Since the character Hamlet accompanies Thursday Next back from the world of fiction and Denmark is being blamed for all England's woes, the title is clever and appropriate. Also, the fictional character who is presently serving as Chancellor of England is embroiled in illegalities in order to rule the world. Something rotten, indeed.

This little description caught my attention: "Destiny's inelegant toe creaks the boards to your door."

A Pea Blossom

retold by Amy Lowry Poole
This is a children's book based on an Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. Poole takes the story of five peas in a pod and sets in China where she lived for several years.

The peas in the pod share with each other what they want to do when the pod pops opens and releases them. One wants to fly to the sun, another to the moon, two want to dine with the emperor. The littlest pea wanted to go wherever it is that he was meant to go.

The littlest pea ends up on a windowsill with some mold and dry leaf rot. This is where he spends the winter. (I'd be thinking -So this is what was meant to be with my life?! Actually, that thought sounds resounds in my heart at times.)

Of course, that is not the end. As you can guess the end is lovely and the pea did have a purpose. You'll need to check this out from your library or you can read the Hans Christian Anderson's version here. The ending is similar.

At Some Disputed Barricade

by Anne Perry
This is book 4 in Perry's excellent World War I historical fiction/mystery series. The year is 1917. Joseph Reavley, a chaplain, and his sister, Judith, an ambulance driver, are bone-weary as they approach the fourth year of the conflict. On the Western Front, the Battle of Passchendale has begun, and among the many fatalities from Joseph's regiment is the trusted commanding officer, who is replaced by a young major whose pompous incompetence virtually guarantees that many good soldiers will die needlessly. Soon he dies, too, but not from enemy fire, but by one of his own men. Joseph would like to turn a blind eye, but he cannot. In fact, he is charged with tracking his escaped comrades through Switzerland and return them to the front where they will have to stand trial.

Matthew Reavley is continuing his work in the Secret Intelligence Service and is in London trying to uncover the identity of the Peacemaker - an obsessed genius who has committed murder and treason in an attempt to stop Britain from winning the war.

One quote: If we have any right to claim that we fight for civilized values, a way of life acceptable to man and God, then we do not look away from the truth because it is not what we wish it to be or find comfortable to deal with.

So much of the tension in these novels comes from the clash between the atrocities of war and personal attempts at integrity and honor. These men were living in situations not even imagined in their worst nightmares. Joseph described the French trenches as a blood-soaked gateway to hell. Some of these men spent over 3 years in this hell, mindlessly killing the enemy who they knew were good, kind men with families of their own. They jumped up and over the sides those trenches day after day, watching their lifetime buddies falling around them and wondering if this was the day they would die.

With war as the backdrop, Perry's characters are challenged with decisions of honor, with questions of Gods existence, with the value of one life over another.

This book was released in March 2007. The last and final book comes out on Apr 10 - just one month later. I think that is very kind for those of us who are so anxious.

I actually read finished this book several days ago, but have been busy with family, so I'm a little slow in getting it posted.