Puss in Books by Paul Magrs (Review #44)

Puss in Books: Our best-loved writers on their best-loved cats by Paul Magrs

Blurb

A charming collection of quotes about cats from our favourite authors, accompanied by artwork in the trademark style of Paul Magrs (author of The Panda, the Cat and the Dreadful Teddy ). ‘I love them, they are so nice and selfish’ – L.M. Montgomery This collection of quotes from the literary greats explores just why cats have fascinated, mesmerised and often infuriated writers for centuries. Celebrating the mystery of these daydreaming, snarky, selfish, watchful, contemplative and changeable creatures, Puss in Books helps cat and book lovers to understand these beings who have intrigued great thinkers and writers since the dawn of time. Quotes ‘Time spent with a cat is never wasted’ – Colette ‘Those who play with cats must expect to get scratched’ – Miguel de Cervantes ‘If cats could write history, their history would be mostly about cats’ – Eugen Weber

Review

I will be honest when I bought this book I thought it was going to be more about particular writers and their cats but instead it is just quotes from writers about cats. Each quote is accompanied by a lovely picture of a cat which has been drawn by Magrs.

This little book only took me 20 minutes to read because it is mainly cat pictures and not much to read but it is a book that I will happily go back to especially if I need a cat related quote.

The highlight for me with this book was the beautiful drawings of cats and I loved seeing how Magrs has captured each cat’s character. The quotes were also well chosen.

The thing that let the book down for me and this entirely down to my preferences was that I didn’t like the font that the quotes were written in. I know it is handwriting but I found it hard to read and the quote that was upside down really annoyed me. I suspect the upside down quote was to represent the nature of cats but when you are trying to read a book it is rather annoying to suddenly have to turn the book upside down.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and will happily read it again. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Paul Magrs (1969) is an English writer and lecturer who owns two cats called Fester and Bernard and lives in Manchester.

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A Stroke of the Pen by Terry Pratchett (Review #43)

A Stroke of the Pen by Terry Pratchett

Blurb

Twenty early short stories by one of the world’s best loved authors, each accompanied by exquisite original woodcut illustrations.

These are rediscovered tales that Pratchett wrote under a pseudonym for newspapers during the 1970s and 1980s. Whilst none are set in the Discworld, they hint towards the world he would go on to create, containing all of his trademark wit, satirical wisdom and fantastic imagination.

Meet Og the inventor, the first caveman to cultivate fire, as he discovers the highs and lows of progress; haunt the Ministry of Nuisances with the defiant evicted ghosts of Pilgarlic Towers; visit Blackbury, a small market town with weird weather and an otherworldly visitor; and go on a dangerous quest through time and space with hero Kron, which begins in the ancient city of Morpork…

Review

I was so excited to read this book and it went immediately to the top of my TBR pile when it arrived. I couldn’t wait to read the words of one of my all time favourite authors again and I was not disappointed.

In all honesty I could have happily read this book in one sitting but sadly these things called work and tiredness rather got in the way. However, it didn’t take me too long to fly through the book and it made a lovely distraction from work.

I know these stories are some of Pratchett’s early work which was written under a pseudonym but as soon as I started reading them I recognised Pratchett’s voice and excellent sense of humour. Each story was excellently written and had me laughing out loud.

The Christmas themed stories had me longing for snow and Christmassy scenes. In fact I might reread the Christmas stories closer to Christmas to get me into the spirit of Christmas. My particular favourites of the Christmas stories were ‘A Partridge in a Post Box’ and ‘How Good King Wenceslas Went Pop for the DJ’s Feast of Stephen’. I loved how Pratchett had used the popular Christmas Carol as part of the story. I found myself trying to sing the story to the words. ‘How Scrooge Saw the Spectral Light (Ho! Ho! Ho!) And Went Happily Back to Humbug’ I also found incredibly clever and a really interesting take on the traditional Christmas story from Dickens because what exactly did happen all those years later once the spirits had left Scrooge alone?

I enjoyed so many of the stories in this book and definitely didn’t find a story that I didn’t like. I loved seeing the beginnings of the Discworld series and Pratchett’s characters and writing style take shape. What I also found fascinating was the story of how this book came about. If it wasn’t for the patience and perseverance of Pat and Jan Harkin we might never have had this wonderful book of short stories.

This book was a joy to read and one I will happily dip into again and again. I give this book 5 out 5 Dragons and it has to be one of my favourite reads for 2023.

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Purchase Links

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About the author

Sir Terence David John Pratchett OBE (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English humorist, satirist, and author of fantasy novels, especially comical works. He is best known for his Discworld series of 41 novels.

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Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths (Review #42)

Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths

Blurb

Ruth’s old friend Dan Golding dies in a house fire. But before he died Dan wrote to Ruth telling her that he had made a ground-breaking archaeological discovery. Could this find be linked to his death and who are the sinister neo-Nazi group who were threatening Dan? Ruth makes the trip to Blackpool to investigate, wary of encroaching on DCI Harry Nelson’s home ground. Soon Ruth is embroiled in a mystery that involves the Pendle Witches, King Arthur and – scariest of all – Nelson’s mother.

There are forces at work in the town that that threaten all that Ruth holds dear. But, in the final showdown on Blackpool Pleasure Beach, it is Cathbad who faces the greatest danger of all.

Review

At the end of September I needed a comfort read and this usually means I pick up a Dr Ruth Galloway book. I still haven’t read all the books from the series but I am almost there.

I will be honest I did get a little bit annoyed with Ruth in this book. I thought her reaction to visiting Judy and the new born baby rather selfish and considering she was a mother and has been in Judy’s position she wasn’t very understanding. She is also constantly so down on herself which I think is sad because she is clearly a wonderful woman who has a lot to live for.

The thing I loved about this book was that we learn more about the characters we have come to love. We learn more about Nelson’s mom and sisters and the arguments they have and find fun. We learn more about Cathbad’s childhood in Ireland and his mother and grandmother. We also learn about Michelle’s mother and Nelson’s relationship with his mother-in-law. I honestly couldn’t get enough of the background information that was packed in this book. It really made me understand and appreciate the characters more.

Dan’s discovery that Ruth goes to investigate is fascinating and I found it really intriguing. As per usual the archaeological side and history and myth side were bang on and Griffiths had clearly done her research. I really wanted to know more about the discovery and I hope it might be mentioned more in the next book.

This book is packed full of events, we have arson, suicide, murder, kidnapping and more. The book is non stop and it was really interesting to have it mainly set in Blackpool rather than Norfolk. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Elly Griffiths was born in London and began her career in publishing, she then turned to writing full time. In 2016 she won the CWA Dagger in the Library for her work. Griffiths lives in Brighton with her family.

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The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse (Review #41)

The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse

Blurb

Carcassonne 1562: Nineteen-year-old Minou Joubert receives an anonymous letter at her father’s bookshop. Sealed with a distinctive family crest, it contains just five words: SHE KNOWS THAT YOU LIVE. But before Minou can decipher the mysterious message, a chance encounter with a young Huguenot convert, Piet Reydon, changes her destiny forever. For Piet has a dangerous mission of his own, and he will need Minou’s help if he is to get out of La Cité alive. Toulouse: As the religious divide deepens in the Midi, and old friends become enemies, Minou and Piet both find themselves trapped in Toulouse, facing new dangers as sectarian tensions ignite across the city, the battle-lines are drawn in blood and the conspiracy darkens further. Meanwhile, as a long-hidden document threatens to resurface, the mistress of Puivert is obsessed with uncovering its secret and strengthening her power.

Review

This book was a holiday read for me so the review is rather late. Hopefully, I am starting to catch up with them now though. I really like Kate Mosse’s work so I was very excited to start reading this series.

I was really excited to read this book and it did not disappoint. The only problem I had with the book was I found the narrative a little bitty and at times this made the book drag. It didn’t feel like Kate Mosse’s usual flow of narrative.

This historical fiction novel was packed with adventure, mystery, conflict and some romance. Mosse takes us back to France’s Wars on religion the fighting between the Catholic Church and the Huguenots. The story is set in Languedoc in 1562, in Carcassonne. Minou Joubert is the main character of this book and when she receives an anonymous letter saying ‘She knows that you live’ her life is about to be turned upside down.

When Minou meets a Huguenot convert called Piet Reydon who needs her help to leave La Cite they find themselves drawn to each other in the most dangerous of circumstances. The story then begins to pick up pace and we are shown how family secrets can be hard to bear and the consequences of secrets.

As well as Minou’s story we also have the battle between the Catholics and Huguenot’s going on. Neighbour turns on neighbour and lives of innocents are caught in the middle. The story is fast paced and sets the scene for the time and location beautifully. I really enjoyed this book and the only thing that let it down was the bitty narrative. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Kate Mosse is an international bestselling author with sales of more than five million copies in 42 languages. Her fiction includes the novels Labyrinth (2005), Sepulchre (2007), The Winter Ghosts (2009), and Citadel (2012), as well as an acclaimed collection of short stories, The Mistletoe Bride & Other Haunting Tales (2013). Kate’s new novel, The Taxidermist’s Daughter is out now.

Kate is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (previously the Orange Prize) and in June 2013, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to literature. She lives in Sussex.

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Kings and Queens by Tony Robinson (Review #40)

Kings and Queens by Tony Robinson

Blurb

The good, the bad and the mad – a lively text, accurate but full of fascinating detail and fun coupled with the outstanding innovative illustrations from some of the country’s most inventive illustrators. Kings and Queens have always provided their subjects with a great deal to talk about. But how much do we really know about them? For instance, who became king when he was only nine months old? Which king invented the handkerchief? Which king died on the toilet? And who is England’s longest reigning monarch?In this fascinating and witty look at kings and queens of England, Tony Robinson provides all the answers to these questions and many, many more.

Review

This book has been sat in a bag waiting to be read for quite a while and as I was having a particularly bad week I thought it looked like a book that would make me laugh and bring a smile to my face. Thankfully, it did not disappoint.

Robinson’s brief history of the monarchy starts right at the beginning and goes all the way through to Elizabeth II and it is accompanied by some fun illustrations as well. The other thing I really enjoyed is the little facts you also get of what else was happening in history during certain kings’ and queens’ reigns. For example, when the sandwich was invented and when afternoon tea became popular. There were also serious facts such as when America was discovered and when the slave trade was abolished. I really enjoyed the mix of serious and fun facts though.

This mix of serious and fun facts was also included in the history of the monarchs. We get the serious facts and the bizarre facts which I have never come across. I know this book is aimed more at older children/teenagers but I think it was a joy to read and a great little resource to dip into when trying to remember which one of the Henry’s did what. There were a lot of kings named Henry!

You all know I have an obsession with the Tudor period but by reading this book I have discovered several monarchs I would love to learn more about and so I think this book has fuelled some further reading. Due to the nature of the book giving brief and interesting biographies of each monarch it means it can fuel you a hunger to know more and so further your love of history.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book but I must be honest it did come across that perhaps Robinson is not a fan of the modern day monarchy. Although he has since stated that he is now a monarchist after seeing Elizabeth II’s dedicated service. I think this is a great little book for children and adults and give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones

About the author

Sir Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, amateur historian, TV presenter, author and political activist. He is known for playing “Baldrick” in the BBC television series Blackadder and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History.

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The Wolf-Girl, The Greeks and the Gods by Tom Holland (Review #39)

The Wolf-Girl, The Greeks and the Gods by Tom Holland

Blurb

“The Persians are coming…” Hearing these words, Gorgo of Sparta is plunged into a dangerous world of vengeful gods and invincible heroes. For a mighty empire threatens Athens, Sparta and all who stand in its path… Calling on the ancient power to transform into a wolf and the blood of Zeus that runs through her veins, Gorgo must lead her nation in one of history’s greatest wars. Multi-award-winning author Tom Holland and acclaimed illustrator Jason Cockcroft boldly weave myth and history in this dramatic tale of Greeks and Gods.

Gripping and powerful, this extraordinary illustrated novel will be treasured by readers young and old. Ideal for fans of Percy Jackson, Neil Gaiman and Kevin Crossley-Holland, and the mythical retellings of Madeline Miller, Pat Barker and Stephen Fry, this is a book to be read again and again.

Review

I love the children’s section at Topping and Company Booksellers in Bath and I always go for an explore when I visit. When I went in the Summer I saw this book and knew I had to have it. I was also over the moon to see it was a signed edition although it was a shame Holland used the pen he chose to use as it bled through on to the next page which marked things quite badly.

This was my first Tom Holland book but Holland’s books have been on my TBR for quite a while. I have always loved the character of Gorgo from Spartan history as she always seems to be a strong woman and most likely another woman from history who had the strength and the brain to be a woman of power and might but sadly restricted due to her sex. At least she made enough impact for Herodotus to mention her and he said she was a wise woman.

Holland does depict Gorgo as a strong child and woman with a fierce heart with a very wise head on her shoulders. Her mother warns her that the Persians are coming and she is the only Spartan to believe it to begin with but she does find a Greek who also believes the same as she does. I like the fact that Holland depicts Gorgo as a trusted young girl and adult who is so trusted that her father the king includes her in the ruling of Sparta. Then her husband who becomes King of Sparta also shows trust in her judgement and counsel.

To be honest the whole wolf thing drove me mad. Yes there is the semi-mythical lawgiver Lycurgus who instituted reforms into Sparta when Sparta was at its weakest but his existence is doubted because his name is strongly associated with Apollo and most people believe Lycurgus is just a personification of Apollo. So I’m not entirely sure why Holland took it as far as he did because I just didn’t think it added to the story. However, I did really like the added element of the Gods taking part in the story.

The most important thing about this book is that Gorgo tells us about the heroics of the 300 Spartans who held the pass against the thousands of Persians for so long. That is the most important tale to be told and it is told well. The illustrations in this book are beautiful and really add to the story. However, I’m afraid the wolf element really let this book down for me so I only give this book 3 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones

About the author

Tom Holland is an award-winning historian, author and broadcaster. He is the author of Rubicon: The Triumph and the Tragedy of the Roman Republic, which won the Hessell-Tiltman Prize for History and was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize; Persian Fire, his history of the Graeco-Persian wars, won the Anglo-Hellenic League’s Runciman Award in 2006. Tom Holland is the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s “Making History” and acclaimed podcast “The Rest is History”. He has written and presented a number of TV documentaries, for the BBC and Channel 4, on subjects ranging from ISIS to dinosaurs. He served two years as the Chair of the Society of Authors and is Chair of the British Library’s PLR Advisory Committee.

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Fireworks by Angela Carter (Review #38)

Fireworks by Angela Carter

Blurb

In the short fiction of Angela Carter, the landmarks of reality disappear and give way to a landscape of riotous and uncensored sensibility. The city of Tokyo turns into a mirrored chamber reflecting the impossible longings of an exiled Englishwoman abandoned by her Japanese lover. An itinerant puppet show becomes a theatre of murderous lust. A walk through the forest ends in a nightmarish encounter with a gun-toting nymph and her hermaphrodite ‘aunt’. Not simply a book of tales, Fireworks is a headlong plunge into an alternate universe, the unique creation of one of the most fertile, dark, irreverent, and baroquely beautiful imaginations in contemporary fiction.

Review

I love the work of Angela Carter and during my teenage years I read quite a few of her books but nothing recently so when I saw this book of short stories I thought it was high time I read some more books by Carter.

I was really surprised by this book because it felt quite different to the books I have read previously by Carter. All the books I have read before are based on legends and fairytales but this contained scenes from real life as well as the fantasy.

I loved the descriptions of Japan in the stories although the story of the exiled Englishwoman in Japan gradually losing the interest of her young Japanese lover was a bit harrowing.

I will be honest The Loves of Lady Purple and The Executioner’s Daughter were rather disturbing and not to my liking. No matter how beautifully written they are, I still didn’t enjoy these two stories.

This Carter book of short stories definitely contained some of Carter’s favourite themes. There was theme of sex, especially the forbidden kind, puppetry and even a magic mirror. However, there was also fireworks, scenes of beautiful Japan and heartbreak. It was really nice to get back into reading Carter again and I will definitely be reading more of her books soon. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones

About the author

Angela Olive Pearce (formerly Carter, nee Stalker) (1940-1992) published under the name Angela Carter. Carter was an English novelist , short story writer, poet and journalist, known for her feminist, magical realism and picaresque works.

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Tudor Children by Nicholas Orme (Review #37)

Tudor Children by Nicholas Orme

Blurb

The first history of childhood in Tudor England

What was it like to grow up in England under the Tudors? How were children cared for, what did they play with, and what dangers did they face?

In this beautifully illustrated and characteristically lively account, leading historian Nicholas Orme provides a rich survey of childhood in the period. Beginning with birth and infancy, he explores all aspects of children’s experiences, including the games they played, such as Blind Man’s Bluff and Mumble-the-Peg, and the songs they sang, such as “Three Blind Mice” and “Jack Boy, Ho Boy.” He shows how social status determined everything from the food children ate and the clothes they wore to the education they received and the work they undertook.

Although childhood and adolescence could be challenging and even hazardous, it was also, as Nicholas Orme shows, a treasured time of learning and development. By looking at the lives of Tudor children we can gain a richer understanding of the era as a whole.

Review

I am still going through my Tudor phase and I just can’t get enough of books about Tudor history. When I saw this book in the bookshop I knew I had to have it and read it. It did not disappoint.

Children are so often ignored in the history books especially poor children and this is no different in the Tudor period. Sadly, there are a lack of records for the poorer ranks of children but what information there is Orme has found it as well as the surviving information about the children of rich people. It is so refreshing to find a researcher who is concerned with children from history because even today researchers quite often go for the more glamorous subjects.

This book is such a good read and I could not put it down. The book is packed full of information but is not too academic or dry. I loved being able to see Orme’s character through his writing instead of just a list of events and dates. I also really enjoyed how the book is divided up into chapters that are important to the lives of children, such as play, school etc.

The other element of the book that I loved was the illustrations. Orme obviously put a lot of thought into what illustrations to use for his book and they all fitted perfectly and helped demonstrate his point. I also liked how they were in the text rather than in the middle of book. This meant I didn’t have to keep flicking backwards and forwards to see the relevant illustrations.

Overall, I loved this book and I enjoyed how Orme challenged the preconceptions that Tudor adults didn’t care very much for their children. I will definitely be reading more books by Orme in the future and I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones

About the author

A specialist in the Middle Ages and Tudor period, Nicholas Orme is an Emeritus Professor of History at Exeter University. He studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, and has worked as a visiting scholar at, among others, Merton College, Oxford, St John’s College, Oxford, and the University of Arizona.

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The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin (Review #36)

The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin

Blurb

From ancient times the ice dragon was a creature of legend and fear, for no man had ever tamed one. But Adara was not afraid. For Adara was a winter child, born during the worst freeze that anyone, even the Old Ones, could remember. The ice dragon had always been in her life, glimpsed from afar as she played in the snow long after the other children had fled the cold. In her fourth year she touched it, and in her fifth year she rode upon its broad, chilled back. Then, in her seventh year, on a calm summer day, fiery dragons from the North swooped down upon the peaceful farm that was Adara’s home. And only a winter child – and the ice dragon who loved her – could save her world from utter destruction.

Review

I bought this little book last week and I thought it would be a nice quick read before I start another longer book.

This little story really reminded me of the Grimm’s fairytales, it just had the feel of a fairytale about it. The illustrations also helped build the fairytale atmosphere. The story is based around the little girl Adara. Adara loves winter, she is a winter child born in the worst freeze ever remembered and because of this the Ice Dragon becomes a part of her childhood.

Adara is a child who nobody understands. She barely smiles and hardly ever shows emotion, she lives for winter where she builds her snow castles and sees her Ice Dragon. The other thing that she loves though is her family and she would do anything for them just as the Ice Dragon will do anything for her.

This is a children’s story with beautiful illustrations but I think it is perfect for adults to read as well. This is a lovely little story that I read in one sitting but I will be honest I didn’t like the ending but without that ending it would lose the fairytale element. I give this book 3 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones

About the author

George Raymond Richard Martin (1948) is an American novelist, screenwriter, television producer and short story writer.

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Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History by Tracy Borman (Review #35)

Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History by Tracy Borman

Blurb

Anne Boleyn is a subject of enduring fascination. By far the most famous of Henry VIII’s six wives, she has inspired books, documentaries and films, and is the subject of intense debate even today, almost 500 years after her violent death. For the most part, she is considered in the context of her relationship with Tudor England’s much-married monarch. Dramatic though this story is, of even greater interest – and significance – is the relationship between Anne and her daughter, the future Elizabeth I.

Elizabeth was less than three years old when her mother was executed. Given that she could have held precious few memories of Anne, it is often assumed that her mother exerted little influence over her.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Elizabeth knew that she had to be discreet about Anne, but there is compelling evidence that her mother had a profound impact on her character, beliefs and reign. Anne’s radical religious views shaped those of her daughter, and as a woman who wielded power over a male-dominated court, she provided an inspiring role model for Elizabeth’s queenship. Even during Henry’s lifetime, Elizabeth dared to express her sympathy for her late mother by secretly wearing Anne’s famous ‘A’ pendant when she sat for a painting with her father and siblings.

Piecing together evidence from original documents and artefacts, this book tells the fascinating, often surprising story of Anne Boleyn’s relationship with, and influence over her daughter Elizabeth. In so doing, it sheds new light on two of the most famous women in history and how they changed England forever.

Review

I have always loved Tudor history and Elizabeth I is my favourite monarch from history so when I saw this book I was intrigued to read it. It was also my first Tracy Borman book and it definitely won’t be my last.

The thing I loved about this was how Borman had such a fresh and different take on Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. Usually history books keep them quite separate but Borman has their two histories running together. Even though Anne Boleyn was executed when Elizabeth I was only 3 years old, Borman shows how Elizabeth I was influenced by her mother through all of her life and reign.

Borman pieces together historical evidence from surviving letters, documents, paintings, books and more showing the link between mother and daughter. Borman takes us right from Anne Boleyn’s birth to her death and the same for Elizabeth I.

The other thing I liked about Borman’s take on the evidence is that it felt so truthful and not sugar coated. So many history books either describe Anne Boleyn as an angel who was severally wronged or as an evil woman who deserved her fate. However, Borman shows Anne from all angles. She shows Anne’s faults, her character flaws, her lack of restraint and all her good points. We know that Anne Boleyn was wrongly accused and executed but Borman paints her as a real person and not a saint, which I liked.

The only reason this book didn’t receive the full 5 out of 5 dragons, but only 4, was because it just felt a bit dry at times. It felt like a big list of events and lost the feeling that other historians put into their books which I missed. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it very interesting.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones

About the author

Tracy Borman, PhD, FRHistS, FSA is a historian and author from Scothern, United Kingdom. She is most widely known as the author of Elizabeth’s Women.

Borman was born and brought up in the village of Scothern, England near Lincoln. She was educated at Scothern Primary School (now Ellison Boulters School), William Farr School, Welton, and Yarborough School, Lincoln. She taught history at the University of Hull, where she was awarded a Ph.D in 1997. Elizabeth’s Women was serialized and became a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week in September 2009. Tracy Borman appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, also in September 2009