My Thoughts: Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire

This book is the second in the Wicked series and in my opionion far better than the first which I thought needed a serious editing.
The novel focuses on Liir, the son (maybe) of Elphaba the Wicked Witch. The story opens when he is discovered laying half dead on the side of the road. He is taken to a nunnery and where they try and fix all his broken bones and find a musical girl, presumed a mute to play him back to conciousness. The first half of the book moves from the present with her playing to him, her thoughts and his bodily reactions to his memories of his recent past which are cojured up through her music.
We discover where he has been and all that had happened since the death of the witches. When he finally awakens he then goes off try and fulfill some of the promises he had made.

Challenges:
999 (Fantasy)
What's in a name? (relative)
Once Upon a Time III

Once Upon a Time III : Short Story Weekend II

Silver or Gold by Emma Bull can be found here on the fantastic Endicott pages.

This story is part folktale part fairytale, just as I like them.
Moon Very Thin is at the end of her training as a witch when Alder Owl, her teacher, is drawn to going away in search of the missing prince. Moon is uncomfortable with staying alone, and has the task of banging on the journey drum each night at sunset to call Alder Owl on in her journey. It is this drum call that allows her to know the Alder Owl is safe, but when one night the drum fails to sound Moon has to set out on a journey of her own in search of her teacher.
This is a journey of growth and self knowledge.
You should go and check it out yourself, it is long but definately worth the time and effort. The last paragraph is worth it just for itself, I would have copied it here but it would just spoil the story. Go have a read!

Last weeks:
Short Story Weekend:
GodMother Death


Check out Short Story Sunday, held here

My Thoughts: Y the Last Man: Unmanned (Vol 1) by Brian K. Vaugn and Pia Guerra

This fantastic graphic novel is the first in the series, I'm hoping that the rest are just as good.

This volume introduces us to a fairly recognisable world, in some jobs and careers women and men are equal in other inequality still exists. Then a series pf events occur and the men instataneously drop dead. All except one: Yorrick (and his pet monkey).

As the women try to come to terms with the recent events and keep their lives moving they have a series of problems to contend with: A need to clear away the dead bodies, a lack of food and services, a lack of a stable experienced government and the Amazons. The Amazons are a bunch of hard headed feminists, set out to control through fear and violence, they celebrate the destruction of the male society and seek ways to exploit their position. Their trademark: One burnt off breast.

The next volume is on hold at the library, can't wait to pick it up.

Challenges:
A-Z (Titles)
Graphic Novel Challenge 5/12

Sunday Salon - A Quick Post

We lost an hour here in England tody, with the clocks moving forward - really not what I needed when I have such a massive stack of marking to do! I've got Son of a Witch to tackle at some point today and I shall find a short story to read for the Once Upon a Time Challenge, but the majority of my time will be stuck under ten tons of marking.

I also decided today that I will definatly take part in Dewey's Read-a-Thon on April 18th. 24 hours of reading - although at the moment I will be working for 6 hours of that in a pub, that may change nearer the time. Anyone else thinking of participting read the details here

Herding Cats II: A tiny challenge for me (April 1st - December 31st 2009)

Herding Cats is held here

I remember seeing this challenge last year and being intrigued, this year I have a massive amount of challenges to complete so I'm just going to dip my toe in and read 2-3 of the books.

The premise is that everyone lists their 5 fav books of the last 3 years, then people can chose to read a number of books from the recommendation lists, if they decide to. I'm looking forward to spanning through the lists and may struggle to find just a couple. Other people's recomendations can be found here

My Top 5:
1.The Children's War, J.N Stroyar This is a mamouth book but weel worth the effort. The alternative history of Europe, waning: contains some violent scenes.
2. Milkweed, Spinelli. Yes this is a kids book, but it is also great for adults too. The book tells the tale of a homeless Polish boy in 1939 and should be read by all.
3. Gone With the Wind, Mitchell. This is a recommendation for people like me who seemed to have missed some of the major classics. This is a fantastic gripping read, you'll love and hate the characters all at the same time.
4. Fragile Things, Neil Gaiman. Gaiman's book of short stories is a real treat, a year on and I can still remember many of them vividly.
5.Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See . A fantastic book about chinese women's lives and the secret literate world that they shared.

Books that are on the list (so far) that I may tackle
1. Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury
2.We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda by Philip Gourevitch
3.Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest
4. The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Miller

Short Story Monday: 'The Great Chain of Being' by Kim Edwards

This is being reviewed for John's Short Story Monday. This is the third short story I have read and reviewed this weekend and another great one.
'The Great Chain of Being' is the first story in Kim Edward's (author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter) collection The Secrets of a Fire King, if this is anything to go by I may be reviewing lots of stories from this collection.

Eshlaini is one of thirteen children in a house largely controlled by a domineering father. The mother is allowed the first 5 years with the child then he renames them after a past relative, claiming 'history repeated itself'. The children, all with the exception of Eshlaini are renamed after previous relative whose qualities or bad bits they resemble.

Eshlaini is the one child who is left to her mother, being there to hear the midwife warn that another childbirth will kill her mother. When her mother gives birth to twins after this and is clearly dieing Eshlaini, with her 9 year olds mind, thinks that if the babies die her mother will survive. She is caught lowering a pillow over their mouths, and quickly branded by her father Rohila - after his mad mother.

Her life then follows, one of seclusion and servitude to her father till his death and her cance to reclaim herself and her real name.

Short Story Sunday: 'Crocodile Tears' by A.S Byatt

Picture of Nimes where the story is set.

This is the first Short Story Sunday I've done in a while. I saw this book on Eva's pool for the Once Upon a Time Challenge and remembered that I had brought a copy of this a few months ago in the library sale, so I dug it out for this week Short Story Sunday.
'Crocodile Tears' is from A.S Byatt's collection Elementals: Stories of Fire and Ice. Patricia is out happily enjoying Sunday lunch in a village pub, she wanders off after having a few cross words with her husband only to return and find him dead in the middle of the pub. Without saying a word she quietly leaves the pub, returns home and packs leaving that very day for the South of France without a word to anyone.
She lives out a pretty anonymous life in the South of France, staying in a hotel and having only regular contact with one person. Nils Isakson, a Norwegian also apparently living in the hotel becomes a companion, they spend each day seperatly but meet each night for a drink after dinner. He is also on the run from his real life and his responsibilities and they form a companionship based on this shared escape.


Join me in reading at least one poem for National Poetry Month (April)