The Cattle King by Ion L. Idriess

August 25, 2015July 14, 2019 / Absidity Art / Leave a comment

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The Cattle King by Ion L. Idriess. First published in 1936 (my edition re-published 2013).

At the age of 13 Sidney Kidman ran away from home with only five shillings in his pocket. He went on to become a horse dealer, drover, cattle buyer and bush jockey and he also ran a coach business. Above all, Kidman created a mighty cattle empire of more than a hundred stations, fighting droughts, bushfires, floods and plagues of vermin to do so. His enterprise and courage won him a huge fortune and made him a legend.

I purchased this paperback on the 4th July at the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame at Longreach.

When we entered the museum we watched a documentary and Sir Sid Kidman was mentioned. I thought “wow he sounds like an interesting fella”. So when we got to the gift/sourvenieer shop and there was a book about him, I just had to buy it.

Once we got back to our camp that afternoon I immediately started reading it. The first few pages gives us a brief history of Angus and Robertson, then a brief history on the author, followed by the author’s note. I was buzzing by this point as I’d already found these first pages fascinating and I hadn’t even started to really read about Sir. Sid Kidman yet.

Kidman’s life was truly amazing. I read this while we were travelling through some of the places mentioned in the book, so that added an extra special kick to my experience. The Silver City aka Broken Hill was mentioned quite a lot and it gave me the extreme urge to go there, but alas it didn’t work out with the rest of our camping trip.

Some times when I read a YA dystopian or fantasy novel I get a bit “Oh yeah right, as if a 16 year old could do that”. But the thought struck me while reading this book, that if thirteen year old Kidman could do the things he did, than they probably aren’t that far-fetched. Go back 100 years or more and you were a child, than an adult – None of this teenager crap. You had a job at thirteen and where out working with the men. At Thirteen Sid had saved up a years’ worth of earrings and ran away from home.

Sid, a thirteen year old, in unfamiliar bush saved himself and a fellow drover from dehydration and starvation. He had a kind heart and a brilliant mind. The man was a genius. His brain was a sponge. He traveled all over the place listening to and learning from anyone who would talk to him, from anyone who would show him. At a time when Whiteman feared and hared the Blackman, Sid was leaning all they were willing to teach him about the land. Thirteen year old Sid was able to do things that a thirteen year old today couldn’t even contemplate.

So yes, Kidman’s life was fascinating. The book was a bit dry at times, a bit like a high school history textbook and I felt like I was going to choke on all the statistics. But still Kidman shined.

Kidman grew to own more Australian land then the British Empire at one point. He was growing his empire while the Kelly boys were raising hell. He put an enormous amount of his own resources into Australia’s WW2 efforts. The man was a true blue Australian legend and sadly one I don’t remember ever hearing about in school. I think his story is inspiring – Someone today’s little spoilt teenagers should aspire to be like.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | Amazon AU | A&R (paperback)

Author’s Links

Tribute Website | Wikipedia | Goodreads

During his life time Idriess wrote a large number of Aussie themed books and I intend to somehow get my hands on a few of them.

Killing Time by Ingrid Nickelsen

August 13, 2015July 14, 2019 / Absidity Art / Leave a comment

Killing Time

(For Better or for Worse #2)

by Ingrid Nickelsen

Published 26^th April 2015 by Untold Press

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review. Thank you Ingrid!

Death is the ultimate heartbreak. Evangeline never expected it to break hers after she died. No one should have to choose between their husband and their first love, but it is that choice that shatters her spirit.

She makes her choice, choosing not to transition, and finds that death can be vengeful too.

The world of the dead is far more complex that she ever knew, and facing the consequences of her actions might be the hardest obstacle yet, Fighting to survive in a world she doesn’t understand, she seeks the help of the wanderers. Time is running out as winter grips the land and her companions help her search for Will. Perhaps, if she keeps her eyes open and believes in her love enough, she will make her way back to him before the Hunters find her first.

Unexpected reunions, impossible choices, and long-hidden secrets will fill her journey with joy and sadness. It is Hunting season and Evangeline will have to fight for those she loves while remembering that cheating death always has a price.

Told from a dual perspective, Killing Time brings the For Better or for Worse series to a heart-stopping continuation in every sense of the word.

I’m writing this review over a month after reading the book, as I’ve been on holidays, but I can remember exactly how I felt and what I said the moment I finished this book.

I felt super hyped up and I said “I can’t wait to read next one”.

Unlike the first book that was just told in Eve’s point of view, we get duel POV with the addition of Will. I really enjoyed being inside Will’s head.

We get a lot of drama early on with Eve forced to join a group of wanders after running off from her transition ceremony. Eve’s choice not to transition caused all sorts of trouble and we start to get a sense of how much when Brielle and Will are captured and thrown in prison by the Midnight Hunters.

There are a fair few twists and turns along the way with newly introduced characters and some previous ones popping back up. Some really big “Oh Snap” moments happen thanks to a certain big deal new character.

We get more magical visions, this time it seems that Eve and Will are transported to some sort of parallel world. While there some emotional bombs are dropped on us all for good measure.

Things get really interesting as we start learning about the Seekers and the Midnight Hunters; their powers and their plans for Will.

This book is definitely more in depth emotionally. We find out more about the characters back stories, making the whole story a more engaging and enjoyable read. I got goosebumps meeting the seekers and witnessing the twisted truth they tell Eve about her and Will’s connection.

The last 150 pages are an intense whirlwind. And that epilogue! Bring on the third and final book. I am expecting the final book to be an epic show down.

Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Ingrid Nickelsen Ingrid is a French girl, college student, and dreamer. She currently resides in Paris, where she spends most of her time going to museums and the movies.
Despite the romantic atmosphere in Montmartre, or even the fancy cafés in the Champs Elysées, she would easily trade it all for a nice walk in the woods with her schnauzer, Golden. She’s always craving adventures, and finds that books are the cheapest way to travel to far-away lands. She’s inwardly convinced that words have the power to heal the worst blisters on our hearts, or at least can make us forget about them for a little while. And sometimes, it’s just enough to face another crazy day.

One Chance Night by Eliza Boyd

June 24, 2015July 14, 2019 / Absidity Art / 4 Comments

I asked Eliza Boyd what inspired One Chance Night, In her words:

Music is a big source of inspiration for me. I can hear a song and feel a book or story. It can write itself in my head after one listen or it can unravel layers each time I hear the song again. For One Chance Night, that song was Brett Eldredge’s “Don’t Ya.”

I heard this song and saw this video and wanted to write a book about… Well, if you want to read the book, I probably shouldn’t tell you. 🙂 But if you have read it (or want to know later what part first came to me), think chapters 27-29. That’s the first image of Chelsea, Brett, Ian, and Jack I ever got. Of course, things evolved a little differently as I started writing the beginning, but that happens when you’re not a plotting author.

Since I’d seen the end already, I had to figure out what happened to Chelsea to get her there. That road was a little tough and sad, but knowing the ending made it quite a bit easier to stomach—and write.

And the song even inspired Brett’s name. I hadn’t settled on any names when I saw the first scene in my head, so I kept Brett’s as a tribute to what brought the story to me. As for the other names, I’m honestly not sure. It took me a while to name Chelsea though. She had countless names before Chelsea stuck, but she’ll always only be Chelsea to me now.

Thank you, Brett Eldredge, for singing that song, and thank you, Universe, for bringing it to me when you did. Otherwise, we might not have had Chelsea’s story, and I’m really glad we do. 🙂

Once Chance Night by Eliza Boyd

Series: Make a Change #1

Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Pages: 188

Published: May 15, 2015 by Patchwork Press

Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

On the surface, Chelsea Greer has it all:
A loving husband.
A nice house.
A good job.

In reality, she works hard to maintain the illusion that is her life. She’s also missing the most important thing:

Love.

One night could change her life. One night could give her the strength to rediscover what’s important. In one night, she could find love when she most needs it and least expects it.

All Chelsea has to do is follow her heart after One Chance Night.

ADVANCE PRAISE

“Featuring a strong main character, country music (!!), wonderful friendships, and lots of character growth, ONE CHANCE NIGHT is sure to leave you with a smile on your face.” Author Molli Moran.
“One Chance Night was filled with intense emotion and had me swooning, swearing, wishing I could reach through the pages of the book and strangle a certain character and become best friends with others.” Author Christie Cote.

“One Chance Night isn’t a story of love-it’s a story of discovery. Chelsea has spent too many years living for someone else. It’s her time to finally shine. Eliza Boyd tells an empowering story about what it truly means to take control of your life and that some chances are worth taking. This book is not to be missed!” Blogger Tiffany Williams.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple | Scribd

Amazon UK | Amazon Canada

About Eliza Boyd:
Eliza Boyd is a contemporary women’s fiction and romance author. Also an avid reader, she writes novels, short stories, poetry, and whatever else strikes her fancy. Born and raised in Northern Illinois, she now lives in sunny Arizona with her husband and her plethora of animals. When she’s not reading, writing, or working, she can be found walking around her neighborhood (for exercise, not for stalking), taking photos of her pets, or catching up on her favorite shows. Catching up really means binge-watching.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Instagram | Pinterest | Blog | Newsletter

“Losing myself and my own identity to become Mrs. Wesley Greer isn’t what I planned to do” Girl I’m feeling you! You hit me straight in the heart with that one!

Chelsea is only 23. She got married at 19 and has been miserable pretty much since. Wesley is a pig and a spoil brat! By the end of only the 1st chapter I wanted to jump in the between the pages and kick his arse, then drag Chelsea out by her hair and slap some sense into her.

Chelsea has let Wesley get away with his selfish and chauvinistic behaviour for too long. Now he expects things a certain way and chucks a tantrum if he doesn’t get what he wants. I think this is probably the most common mistake newlywed women make. Don’t take any crap, marriage is 50/50. Don’t take any crap from day one or it’ll be mission impossible to stop later. My intense dislike for Wesley made it really hard for me to get into the story at first – that pig made me furious.

On one chance night Chelsea sneaks out of the house for some much needed ‘me’ time and ends up striking a long lasting friendship, with as it turns out, four people that night.

Chelsea has an instant lustful connect to muso hottie Brett, but she’s a good little girl and remains faithful – calm down there no adultery in the book. I found Brett a bit too good to be true until we got some back story on him and his super caring and helpful nature made sense.

I really enjoyed chapter 20, when Chelsea finally sticks it to Wesley, stands up for herself and leaves him. It’s always nice to see a bully shut down.

I really liked the two girls, Stevie and Mayra, Chelsea ended up living with. While they were a bit sugary sweet and over the top at times, I liked them and want them as my friends.

Chapter 22 jumps us forward 8 months, but I won’t say anymore as it’d give away the ending. The Epilogue leads us straight into the next book and gives us the whole set up for the next book.

I think if I’d been able to sit down in and read it in one sitting I would be able to enjoy it more. I had a lot going and on and had to fit half an hour here and there to read it. I think I’m also a little jaded to the topic. There was a time when I felt I had lost myself completely and was miserable in my life and marriage because of it, but I made the opposite decision to Chelsea and I made it work. I fought and got myself back stronger than before.

It’s strange, I feel like I’ve failed Ms Boyd by not loving this book. I really wanted to love it, I did try. I think my biggest problem with the book is that I resented how easily everything came together for Chelsea! Actually I think that really was my only problem with the book and that is my fault, not the books.

ANYWAY, this is a story of hope and that shines through. Hope is never lost. You are responsible for your own happiness. If you’re miserable do something about it. The book was well worth the read and I am looking forward to reading more from Eliza Boyd.

I Liked It – Three Stars.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple | Scribd

Amazon UK | Amazon Canada

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes

June 21, 2015July 14, 2019 / Absidity Art / 2 Comments

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes

Published: 22nd June 2015 by Harper Collins

Thank you to the author and publisher for giving me an ARC and the opportunity to read and review this book.

With a harrowing poetic voice, this contemporary page-turner is perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, Julie Berry’s All The Truth That’s in Me, and the works of Ellen Hopkins.

The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, her ability to trust.

And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too.

Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it’s clear that Minnow knows something—but she’s not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe, adjusting to a life behind bars and recounting the events that led up to her incarceration. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of—if she’s willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.

The Sacred Lies of Minnow By is a hard-hitting and hopeful story about the dangers of blind faith—and the power of having faith in oneself.

This book has received so many raving reviews and so many “loved it” reviews from fellow book bloggers that I follow. I can understand how someone could be so WOW’d by this book. The writing is beautiful, easy to read /understand and flows at a perfect pace. The action arches and curves to keep you tearing through the pages till the end.

It’s hard to believe that this is Stephanie Oakes Debut! It is her debut people and in my eyes it is flawless. I’ve already added her next book to my TBR even though it won’t be out until next year.

Cults disgust me. Anyone who hides behind religion and lies degusts me. In fact any person who can hurt another living thing and enjoy it, degusts me. Even so I think this book is brilliant. It made me keep reading even though I hated the topic matter. I either wanted to slap sense into the characters or see them run them over with an army tank. Ok, I wanted the Prophet to be run over by an Army tank, the rest I wanted them to wake up to themselves, stupid sheep.

I liked Minnow from the start, but I loved her once she woke up and started to rebel.

My only complaint is that I wanted more closure at the end. I wanted to know that the innocent got a happy ending and the others got what they deserved – even if that is unrealistic.

I generally read books to escape the horrible world we live in. This book spotlights the horrible world we live it, but I am glad I read it. I think anyone 13+ could read this and get something out of it.

I’m going to share what I am sure is going to become one of my favorite book quotes. I’ll give you a little lead in so it makes sense. Warning the work fuck is used, but there is very little swearing in the book considering she ends up in juvenile hall.

* * * * * * *

“FUUUUUCK!” She screams.

“A MILLION TIMES FUCK!” I scream with her.

“What on God’s sacred green Earth is going on?” Benny calls from the skyway. She approaches the bars, her arms crossed.

“Nothing,” Angel and I sat in unison…

“Fuck,” I Whisper.

“Fuck,” she whispers back, a smile creeping onto her face. And, inside that smile is the knowledge that some things are just too sad, too screwed up. Sometimes there’s nothing for it but shouting “Fuck” with your best friend at the top of your lungs.

* * * * * * *

I think that sums up life; something’s are just too sad, too screwed up. I’ve been known to scream profanities at the sky, sometimes there is nothing else we can do to release the pain.

Stephanie Oakes is a teacher and YA author from Washington State.

THE ARSONIST, her second YA mystery is scheduled for publication in fall 2016.

Website – http://www.stephanieoakesbooks.com

Twitter – https://twitter.com/stephanieeoakes

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/543716.Stephanie_Oakes

Tumblr – http://stephanieoakes.tumblr.com/

Starfire #1 by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti

June 16, 2015July 14, 2019 / Absidity Art / Leave a comment

Starfire 2015 #1

By (Authors) Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti and (Illustrator) Emanuela Lupacchino.

27 full colour pages, Published June 2015 by DC Comics

SHE’S AN ALIEN WARRIOR TRYING TO FIND PEACE…

AND WILL FIGHT ANYONE OR ANYTHING TO GE IT!

ARE YOU READY?

The first though I had when I finished this was “That was adorable. I want more.”

So Starfire aka Kori was a princes on her own planet, but was outlawed when some nasties took it over and entrapped her sister – I’m sure this will all come back to haunt Kori later in the series. For now Kori is struggling to fit in on earth, cue taking a shower naked out in the open and misunderstanding men’s meanings about giving her a place to stay for the night, but luckily she has the help of a cop named Stella.

Starfire is funny, sexy and a treat for the eyes. The pages are in full colour and those colours are bright and beautiful.

This feels like it’s going to be a super quirky, full on girl power, bad guy busting series of awesomeness. It’s from the writers of HARLEY QUINN so all of the above is to be expected. I’m ready, bring on more Starfire. Five Stars.

What DC says about Starfire:

A princess who became a slave. A slave who became a warrior. A warrior who became one of the world’s greatest super heroes.

Betrayed by her own sister and forced into slavery, Princess Koriand’r of Tamaran experienced torture, exploitation and experimentation at the hands of others—but instead of it breaking her, it only made her stronger. Breaking free and fleeing to Earth, she discovered a world filled with heroes, people who fought for the oppressed, who used their powers and abilities to save those in need. And it was then that Koriand’r made a decision that changed her place in life forever. She decided to become the super hero known as Starfire.

Like all Tamaraneans, Starfire’s alien physiology allows her to absorb ultraviolet radiation and convert it to energy in order to fly. However, due to the experiments conducted on her during her imprisonment, she can also channel and project that same energy as destructive blasts.

Despite the hardships she experienced early in her life, Starfire remains a courageous and dedicated hero, who despises seeing anyone else experience the pain she went through herself. She is incredibly loyal and optimistic and lives to see and experience everything the universe has to offer.

Now I didn’t see it as Kori’s sister betraying her, I saw it as she didn’t have a choice. But as I said I’m sure that’ll all come up again later in the series and there is probably more to it then we got in this first issue.

Amanda Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/54926.Amanda_Conner

Jimmy Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/54927.Jimmy_Palmiotti

Jimmy Twitter – https://twitter.com/jpalmiotti

DC Starfire – http://www.dccomics.com/comics/starfire-2015

#1 available NOW. #2 available 8th July.

#3 available 12th August. #4 available 9th September.

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

June 13, 2015July 14, 2019 / Absidity Art / Leave a comment

Rot & Ruin, Vol. 1: Warrior Smart by Jonathan Maberry (author) & Tony Vargas (Illustrator)

Graphic Novel /Comic Book – Paperback, 120 pages

Published May 5th 2015 by IDW Publishing (I won a copy through Diamond Distributors)

Brand-new adventures set in the world of Rot & Ruin!

Written by New York Times best-selling author and multiple Bram Stoker award-winner, Jonathan Maberry, this all-new storyline continues events from the award-winning series of novels.

We meet Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Chong as they travel through the Sierra Nevada mountains just one faltering step ahead of zombie hordes and one giant leap behind the plane flying through the sky that set them on their journey of discovery.

I’ve never read any of the other Rot and Ruin books and to be honest I wouldn’t have read this book hadn’t I won it – but I’m glad I did as I mostly enjoyed it.

The first page sets up the universe, giving us sufficient background on the characters and their world. By the second page you’ve got a feeling for these likable kids and the story can take off at a fast pace, which it does really well. I didn’t feel I was missing anything by not reading the previous books.

We follow Benny Imura, his girlfriend Nix, his best mate Chong and Lilah the girl they found living out in the forest on her own, as they scrounge for supplies and dodge and slash their way through the hordes of zombies while trying to track down where the plane they saw came from.

The story is pretty standard until they stubble access the creepy farmer John and his baby farm. I’m not going to say anymore then “it” made me really psychotic thriller uncomfortable, but “it” made the story – if that makes sense.

I’m not a big Zombie fan. I love me some evil bad guys, demonic cults and mythological beasts – but I’ve never been on the Zombie band wagon.

I would say that over all I enjoyed this compendium more than the first eight Walking Dead’s combined – sorry that’s all I’ve got to compare it to – I made it through the first eight of The Walking Dead books by Robert Kirkman. I decided to give the Walking Dead a try as I really enjoyed what I’d read of Kirkman’s Outsiders (demonic possession) series.

I think zombie loving teens (and any zombie fans in general) would eat up this take on a YA Zombie Apocalypse Graphic Novel – Hey! Zombies just aren’t my thing and I’m still giving it a three stars, so that should say something.

Twitter – https://twitter.com/jonathanmaberry

Website – http://www.jonathanmaberry.com/

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/72451.Jonathan_Maberry

Live Life Sunny Side Up by Jeremyville

June 6, 2015July 14, 2019 / Absidity Art / Leave a comment

Published Date: 14^th July 2015 by Andrews McMeel Publishing

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Be Patient, Don’t Let the Haters In, Live in the Light, and Build Your Own Rainbow—these and many more inspiring reminders from Jeremy Ville fill the pages of Live Life Sunny Side Up.

To break out of a creative funk, artist and designer Jeremyville began pairing positive affirmations with simple, yet thought-provoking drawings and posting them online under his “Community Service Announcements” project. The response was overwhelming, and the result is a library of 800 images in just a few years. Live Life Sunny Side Up collects 100 of the most inspiring CSAs guaranteed to bring you out of a funk even on your worst days. This collection of simple and cheerful messages is perfect to give to a friend or keep on your nightstand for those days when you need a quick pick-me-up or a reminder to “Live Free Range Instead.”When I hear the term “Self-Help” I think of a repetitive preachy text book full of pages and pages of junk that while wonderful on paper is useless in the real world – not that I’ve read that many, so shame on me, I guess! If more of them are like this book I would happily give them a go.

SO this book is categorised as a “self-Help” book, but don’t let that put you off. This book collects Jeremyville’s all-time favourites of his “Community Service Announcements”. The illustrations are bright, colourful and cuter then a baby elephant. The messages are simple but powerful and relevant. It is watermelon flavoured bubble-gum sweet and it will make you smile. It might even make you think to call your mother once in a while.

I would love to have TRUST IN YOUR IDEAS AND JUMP and OWN YOUR STRANGENESS as big posters on my wall at home, however I don’t think my husband would be into it.

While I wasn’t blown away, I did enjoy reading It.

Jeremyville is a New York based artist, product designer and author. His art is about simple, thought provoking messages told in an instantly recognisable style.

Jeremyville grew up by the ocean at Bondi Beach in Sydney Australia, and started his art career drawing at the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, while completing his Architecture Degree from Sydney University, and editing the student newspaper Honi Soit. It was amidst this education in print at the age of 19, that he first discovered the power of simple writing, and the impact that an iconic image can have in helping to change the world.

Jeremyville draws daily in his sketchbook and shares his Community Service Announcements through his social media, with messages of environmental action, social change, inner growth and positive daily actions.

Website – http://www.jeremyville.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JeremyvilleDaily

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Jeremyville

Instagram – https://instagram.com/Jeremyville/

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/MrJeremyville/videos

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9873838.Jeremy_Ville

The Feral Child by Che Golden

June 4, 2015July 14, 2019 / Absidity Art / 1 Comment

The Feral Child (Feral Child Trilogy #1) by Che Golden

Published in 2012 by Quercus UK

266 Pages

“Gripping, mystical and adventurous, young readers will be as hooked as Maddy was the minute she set foot inside that creepy as hell old castle,” Irish World said of The Feral Child.

Maddy, an orphan, is sick of her Irish town, and sick of her cousin Danny, one of the nastiest people you could meet. Mad as hell one evening, she crawls inside the grounds of the castle, the one place she has always been forbidden to go. Once inside, she is chased by a strange feral boy, who she suspects is one of the faerie: cruel, fantastical people who live among humans and exchange local children for their own.

When the boy returns to steal her neighbor Stephen into his world, Maddy and her cousins set off on a terrifying journey into a magical wilderness, determined to bring him back home. To do so, they must face an evil as old as the earth itself.

Che Golden has created a gripping adventure that interweaves Maddy’s modern Irish experience with the vivid fantasy of the region’s ancient folklore. Readers will enjoy the frank and bold heroine of Maddy, and will be dazzled by The Feral Child‘s evocative rendering of Irish folklore and richly imagined alternate worlds.

Going off the synopsis I thought I was going to love this book, but sadly I wasn’t as enchanted as I expected to be – Never the less it was a sweet fast paced easy read. The fae in this story are not sparkly wish granting flower hugging sweetie pies and therefore probably more believable.

After losing both her parents Maddy, the 10 year old protagonist, ends up living in Ireland with her elderly grandparents. Maddy has two cousins that join her on her adventures; Roisin was lovely, but Danny wasn’t very realistic – little boys do not have changes of heart that quickly. And that malicious Aunt hell bent on taking Maddy away from her grandparents, owww I couldn’t stand her.

Maddy is angry at the world and everyone in it (understandably) and the fae target her because of the great anger and pain she harbours inside. The pain she holds inside her nearly gets her killed in the magical realm, twice! I think this story holds an important lesson to be learnt for the Middle Grade audience it was written for. And I doubt that any faults I found with the stories rushed character development would even be noticed by that target audience. Ten year old me would have eaten this up thinking it was the most fantastical thing ever!

The highlight of the book for me was Maddy’s adorable dog George, he added humour to the story and Maddy realising her deep love for her Grandparents.

While I found that some parts of the story were far too rushed, overall the book was enjoyable and there were some really wonderful parts in the story that made reading it worthwhile.

Classic Poems and Tales of Camelot

May 22, 2015July 14, 2019 / Absidity Art / Leave a comment

10940934

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Lady of Shallot, the Lady of the Fountain, and Other Classic Poems and Tales of Camelot by Alfred Tennyson and more.

Paperback, 94 pages.

Published March 14th 2011 by Limitless Press LLC.

Stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have been told and retold for centuries with each generation adding to the tale and adapting them to fit their times. The Arthurian tales of chivalry, romance, and tragedy have left a lasting impact on English literature. This collection contains Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (trans. 1898), The Lady of Shallot (1833), The Founding of the Round Table (trans. 1914), The Passing of Arthur (trans. 1914), The Morte D’arthur (1914), The Lady of the Fountain (trans. 1877), Arthurian Songs: 1. Avalon (1894), and Sir Galahad, a Christmas Mystery (1858).

I purchased this book because I wanted to read about Sir Gawain after falling in love with him on the BBC TV series Merlin (2008-2012). There are so many publications with Gawain in it I picked this one because it also had the Lady of Shallot in it and I could remember Anne reading it in Anne of Green Gables (a childhood favourite of mine) so that was me sold.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Even though the language was a little hard to understand in parts, the underlying story always came through. A Stranger, a seemingly evil Knight sets upon Camelot and challenges the knights. Arthur steps forward to take the challenge, but Gawain quickly takes his place. There is lots of descriptive text about the landscapes and changing seasons as Gawain rides out on his quest. Gawain is offered immense valuables from a beautiful queen but turns her down. Later his life is saved because he was so humble and honourable etc. It is a really lovely, descriptive, enjoyable piece of text. I can see myself coming back to read it time and time again. As I was reading it I realised that I had heard the story before, with a piece so old this is not surprising. Where I heard it I’m not sure, I think perhaps in a retelling in a children’s fable.

The Lady of Shallot: Anne Shirley recites;

“There she weaves by night and day

A magic web with colours gay.

She has heard a whisper say,

A curse is on her if she stay

To look down to Camelot.”

This is actually the start of Part Two (The poem has Four parts).

It’s quite a sad poem, beautifully woven and delightful to recite, yes, but essentially The Lady of Shallot was a cursed woman, be it with a beautiful body and beautiful signing voice.

She freezes to death while floating down the river to Camelot, singing to her final breath. I’ll come back and read it again, probably after every time I read Gawain and the Green Knight.

The Founding of the Round Table: A yule-tide ball that turns into an all-out brawl with people killing each other. I found it a little bizarre; they bury the dead, then pretty much everyone kisses and makes up because Arthur says so. I think the whole point of the poem was how Arthur brought everyone together and always fought for peace.

The Passing of Arthur: It starts with Arthur having a dream, which leads to an epic battle between Arthur and Modred. Of course Modred flees and Arthur chases. There is a section in which Wenhavere (I always thought it was Gwenhavere) goes into a convent to hide and never return – at least I think that’s what happened, it was a little confusing. The whole piece swaps between 1^st and 3^rd persons, it mucks up the flow a bit until you get used to it.

Modred is killed in the final battle on the banks of the Tamar River, but hundreds of thousands of others are killed also, leaving Arthur mortally wounded and only two of his knights standing. A boat carrying two beautiful fay women comes to take Arthur away to Avalon. Merlin was only mentioned three times and that was close to the end – he wasn’t even at the fight – this upset me somewhat.

“But the British folk, they say

That Arthur, he lives alway,

That held by a fairy spell,

In Avalon both he dwell;

And each Briton’s hope is strong

That he cometh again ere long!”

The Morte D’arthur: Seems to just be a short verse of Wilfrid reflecting on all the tales gone before.

The Lady of the Fountain: She’s Gwenhwyvar this time, so it must come down to artistic licence.

The story really kicks off when Owain sets off on a quest to battle the Knight who guards the fountain. He wins the duel and falls in love with the Countess of the Fountain at first sight “the wife of him whom thou didst slay yesterday”. She agrees to marry him so she’ll have someone to protect her dominions, yeah real romantic. It takes Arthur three years to decide to take his men looking for Owain. Owain then abandons the Countess and goes back with Arthur – this is considered a Welsh Romance? What!

Anyway, another three years pass and Owain starts to feel bad so he becomes somewhat of a drifter helping out people he meets along his way. Helping out a king here, saving a damsel there and picking up a pet Lion – yes a Lion.

In the end he does return to the Countess of the Fountain. He then takes her with him back to Arthur’s Court, and she stayed there with him for the rest of her life. Hmmm while I enjoyed reading this it wasn’t what I’d call romantic.

Arthurian Songs: 1. Avalon: Short and sweet, the lyrics flow easily with images of Arthur laying in wait in Avalon.

Sir Galahad, a Christmas Mystery: Galahad is weary and takes refuge in a church, he’s in a half daze and Santa Claus (possibly it was Jesus in a red and white suit) shows up. Two angels and four women materialise from nowhere bringing Galahad a bed to sleep in. He sleeps, then they help him dress and send him off to find his father? Launcelot on a boat? Then I have no idea, someone’s found dead or something. Very confusing! I re-read the last four stanzas twice trying to figure the ending out and I don’t care to read the whole poem again to try and figure it out – so for now the Christmas mystery will remain just that, a mystery.

All up I’m giving this book Four Stars and this mainly based on my enjoyment of the two largest tales, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Lady of the Fountain, which take the majority of the book.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

May 17, 2015July 14, 2019 / Absidity Art / 2 Comments

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Published April 14th 2011 by Dutton Adult

“Hi, I’m the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . “

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It’s company policy.) But they can’t quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O’Neill can’t believe this is his job now- reading other people’s e-mail. When he applied to be “internet security officer,” he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth’s and Jennifer’s messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can’t help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he’s falling for Beth, it’s way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ?

I am seriously fan girl-ing right now, I just went and followed all Rowell’s social medias so I could stalk her, umm I mean see what book she has coming out next.

I was in love with this book by the first few pages. I think this is the fastest I’ve ever devoured a book. I got the book that morning and read it all that day. That’s a new record for me. (i’m writing this review two days later). I came up for air, once, to put up a Goodreads update – Page 48: Loving this book and thinking “why have I not read any Rainbow Rowell until now”.

I finished the book late-ish Friday night – Page 322: Love Love Loved this book. I’m jumping up and down and smiling, LOVED IT – review to come 🙂. I only open it it intending to have a look and reading it later when I was on holidays. Just the first few pages had me hooked and I didn’t go to bed until I’d finished it. I loved Rowell’s writing, her humour, snappy dialogue and devour-able prose.

The Main Characters: Lincoln O’Neill, Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder; I love them all and they are now my imaginary best friends 😛 what I wouldn’t give to have a working friendship like Beth and Jennifer’s. The characters are all 28 (my age) and it’s nice to see other people not having there s**t together. It’s a funny, heart-warming story that feels real. My favorite books usually involve magic, mythological or paranormal creatures, but Rowell’s left me feeling happier than any book has in a long time. I was smiling like I’d just won the lotto when I finished the last page.

The story swaps between Lincoln “page shots” of Beth and Jennifer’s emails and Lincoln in the 3^rd person. The story is set back in 1999/2000, the whole point being that people didn’t have iPhones etc. back then so we see the two female leads converse using inter office email. Then there is the poor smuck Lincoln that has to monitor those inter office emails. At this time 1999/2000 I was in high school and they did monitor your computer use, I know this because I got in trouble off the librarian once for some “inappropriate” story I was writing.

The girls are immediately like-able. But for me Lincoln became the star of the show. He was lonely and stuck in a rut. He hated his dead end job that made him feel like a perverse nut job. Now I can see why some people mightn’t like this, they might write Lincoln off as a creepy loser. But I love how we get to watch him grow, watch him try to be a better person and succeed. He gets out of his rut, he gets his s**t together and he gets the girl, the right girl! Go Lincoln Go!

I love Lincoln, yeah so what if he fell for Beth while reading her emails –Ah hello, he gave Jennifer his MacDonald’s while he changed her flat tyre in a storm, super hero! – Beth did some Lincoln stalking as well, so meh, all’s fair in love and war. I did some house drive by stalking when I was younger LOL and he married me, my husband the silly man.

So Five Stars. I’m going to leave it at that because if I try to tell you anymore about the story I’ll give it all away.

Rainbow Rowell writes books.

Sometimes she writes about adults (Attachments and Landline).

Sometimes she writes about teenagers (Eleanor & Park, Fangirl and Carry On.).

But she always writes about people who talk a lot. And people who feel like they’re screwing up. And people who fall in love.

When she’s not writing, Rainbow is reading comic books, planning Disney World trips and arguing about things that don’t really matter in the big scheme of things.

She lives in Nebraska with her husband and two sons.

Website – http://www.rainbowrowell.com

Twitter – https://twitter.com/rainbowrowell

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/rainbow.rowell.author

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Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4208569.Rainbow_Rowell