Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six...

These are the five best books that I've read in the last few weeks.... (in no particular order)

- Hit The Road, Jack by Mimi Thebo - This is the story of a young boy who sets out to find his father after discovering some letters in his mother's bedroom.

At first I was unsure of where it was headed but, already being a fan of Thebo, I trusted in her writing and enjoyed the gentle beginning, getting into Jack's world and meeting his varied and eccentric circle of friends. However, this gentle tone was shattered when Jack's father finally made an appearance and Thebo's true skill at producing tightly written prose was revealed in all it's glory. I won't spoil the surprise, but trust me, this short novel is most definitely worth a read...

- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dogs Days by Jeff Kinney - I've reviewed this series before and this, the latest instalment is just as brilliant as the others. Funny, witty and well observed.

- Desperate Measures by Laura Summers - Narrated by twin sisters who take one chapter each, this is a look at the fostering system and what happens when siblings are torn apart. Particularly interesting as each sister's voice is clearly defined from each other and completely believable in their own, specific way.

- Arch Enemy: The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor - This is a brilliant ending to a very imaginative and well written trilogy. In this, the final book, Beddor has once again managed to successfully blend fantasy and reality in a way that makes the reader forget to look for the line. Interwoven is love, hate, ambition and friendship as his characters struggle against each other as well as themselves. Just brilliant.

- Daughter of Fire and Ice by Marie-Louise Jensen - I've already reviewed this book here but I cannot praise it highly enough! I've read it three times now - a very rare occurrence for me!

Those are my top five of the last few weeks but I've read lots of other great books which I will be featuring over the next little while.

Stay happy,

WG x

P.S. If you have a recommendation for me, just leave a comment or send me a message!

Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer

Synopsis: Twelve-year-old villain, Artemis Fowl, is the most ingenious criminal mastermind in history. His bold and daring plan is to hold a leprechaun to ransom. But he's taking on more than he bargained for when he kidnaps Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance Unit).

For a start, leprechaun technology is more advanced than our own. Add to that the fact that Holly is a true heroine and that her senior officer Commander Root will stop at nothing to get her back and you've got the mother of all sieges brewing!

My Thoughts: I had mixed feelings about this novel.

On the one hand, I found it very readable and each character was quickly formed for the reader, making it easy to follow. The pace is also very swift and the blend of the 'real' world and the fairy world is artfully dealt with by Colfer.

However, I also had some problems with it.

The main issue that I had was with Artemis himself. Generally with a protagonist, the reader is supposed to like and sympathise with them and want them to succeed with whatever their quest is. With Artemis, this isn't the case as he is so self-centred, calculating and cold. Colfer has obviously tried to make him sympathetic with the fact that his mother is clearly mentally ill but this has failed because of the way that Artemis deals with her.

The other problem that I had was the constant repetition in parts of the text - particularly in the scenes between Foaly and Root and their 'banter'.

However, despite these problems, I still enjoyed this novel and read it very quickly. I'm just not sure that I would read any of the others...

***

Across The Nightingale Floor, Lian Hearn

Synopsis: In his palace at Inuyama, Lord lida Sadamu, warlord of the Tohan clan, surveys his famous nightingale floor. Its surface sings at the tread of every human foot, and no assassin can cross it.

But 16-year-old Otori Takeo, his family murdered by lida's warriors has the magical skills of the Tribe - preternatural hearing, invisibility, a second self - that enable him to enter the lair of the Tohan. He has love in his heart and death at his fingertips...

My Thoughts:This is a very tightly written novel that weaves the various strands of the story together to create a strong narrative that carries the story and the reader along.

Although Hearn claims that the novel is set in an imaginary land and time, it has a strong Japanese flavour which creates an atmosphere of honour and tradition.

The love story is developed well and very slowly so that by the end you completely believe in it and want them to succeed and be together.

My only complaint with this novel is that Hearn sometimes slips into telling us what is happening instead of showing us which is a bit distancing. I wanted to get closer up to Takeo at some points, particularly in the beginning and when he is learning to become one of the Tribe.

However, overall, this is a vibrant and compelling novel and a brilliant start to a trilogy that I will definitely be reading more of.

*****