Find me on Goodreads!

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5916147
Here is a link to my profile.


This site is quite similar to librarything, but more free, and for a little while, I was able to participate in an online book club through it. But alas the attempt at finishing War and Peace fell through. Well, I have read other books since my last post there, let me tell you about it!


The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
A gift from an internet friend with excellent taste. This was a riveting, psychological mystery/horror/drama written in pre-Victorian era, cataloging increasingly disturbing events through letters and diary entries, similar to Dracula (which I had also finished within the past year.) Of course it suffered slightly from overly Dickensian descriptions, but once I settled in that language, it was very unputdownable.


In the Night Garden by Catherynne Valente
A book I bought at a library sale, another serpendipitous purchase. This is set in the form of a Scheherazade like girl telling a series of almost interwoven fairytales to a captivated young prince. Gorgeous poetic language, enchanting characters and adventures, written with a sense of childlike wonder mixed with dark humor.


Dune by Frank Herbert
One of the sci-fi books on my to-read list. Incredible world-building, with a touch of grossness, quite everything I enjoy in a sci-fi novel. I found the ending rather anticlimactic though, but the environment and action more than made up for that. I will forgo reading the rest of the series though, I am told it gets much weirder.


The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
A charming children's novel, with adorable illustrations, sensible morals and charming descriptions.


Doctor Who: the Doctor Trap by Simon Messingham
The story was all right, but the execution was rather amateurish. I would have rather seen this as an episode with the 10th doctor.


Snuff by Terry Pratchett
It's a Discworld novel with Vimes, what more needs to be said?

Various intelligent young heroines

Swan Maiden by Heather Tomlinson
This imaginative novel explores the life of sweet Doucette, who lives in the shadow of her cruel and glamorous older sisters, wishing that she too could practice sorcery in the care of their aunt. The heroine then finds her own swan skin and soon discovers that her desire to become a sorceress would conflict with love. How she resolves this and becomes a stronger and wiser young woman is both harrowing and uplifting. A sweet story that does not flinch from the cruelty of the real world, but shows how one girl learned from this sad fact.

House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones
A sequel to Howl's Moving Castle, although I thought Castle in the Air was a sequel, too. Like those charming novels, this book is too clever by half, full of wacky hijinx, magical mayhem, and foolish yet still cerebrally enhanced characters. Howl had me cracking up so bad, even though he was a bit character, what a devil! Anyways, good times, just like Castle in the Air and what not.

Cassandra's Sister by Victoria Bennett

Cassandra's Sister by Victoria Bennett is a sweet and witty fictional account of Jane Austen's life as a young woman. Written in a style reminiscent of one of my favorite authors, but I found the prose light-hearted and manageable for the modern teen.

For those of you who are familiar with Austen's work, you would not be surprised at the description of dancing and fashion and eligible young gentlemen. Austen is as dramatic and intelligent and charming as any of her characters, so it tugs at your heart strings to see how she (probably) became a famously single female writer. I really like how the author subtly and cleverly postulates where Jane Austen might have gotten real life inspiration for her novels. A short and satisfying read, so intelligently and wistfully admiring of this author that I admire.

The Mistmantle Chronicles by M. I. McAllister

The Mistmantle Chronicles: Urchin of the Riding Stars by M. I. McAllister is a charming young adult novel about a brave young squirrel's meeting with destiny on an island kingdom. Obviously it is the first of many novels planned. You may find it quite similar to Brian Jacques' "Redwall" series, which I really liked up until the 9th or so book about pretty much the same thing.

Like Redwall, there are the typical British creatures such as hedgehogs, moles, squirrels and otters, who talk and wear clothes and do many human things. There is a lot of mythos very carefully described, although I don't believe the author intends any actual magic (other than animals talking). Unlike Redwall, the villains do happen to be squirrels, there being no vermin as of the first book. The characters are deceptively evil or cute and I adore the cute chapter illustrations. Nothing too amazing or unique, but still a wonderfully intense read.

The Snow-walker by Catherine Fisher

The Snow-Walker by Catherine Fisher is a teen novel in the form of a 3-part saga inspired by Norse mythology. In this novel, an evil sorceress from a frozen land has taken over a kingdom and sends 2 young cousins to deliver a message to her exiled and supposedly monstrous son. Basically, the cousins discover allies willing to help them fight the sorceress and there is much sorcery, mysterious events, soul-searching and travel to icy wastelands. The other two sagas deal with many of the same characters but bring the humble beginnings of the story to a glorious (yet still somewhat humble) end.

Overall, I enjoy the epic tone, interspersed with witty dialogue and charmingly realized characters who have a lot of spirit. Ancient Nordic culture is always fun to read about, even transposed to a fictitious setting. I had been meaning to check this book out and I am glad I did, there's really nothing I can say that's bad about this book.

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier is a gorgeous dreamlike fantasy for teens, remarkably realistic and lovingly researched. The cover is a beautiful, almost Baroque style painting with figures that almost match the characters describe. (You can't imagine how annoyed I am when the covers don't match the inside of a book!) The words are magical, spirited, sensitive.

This novel combines elements of fairytales, such as the Frog Prince and the 12 Dancing Princesses, with Russian mythology about vampires, faeries and of course, Baba Yaga. The story is told by the sensible one of the dancing daughters, as she tries to protect her sisters from the troubles that assail them during a long winter. These dangers include not only their domineering cousin, but also dark visitors from Fairyland, the vampire folk.

Overall, an enjoyable, intense and satisfying read, but for one disturbing fact that often shows up in historical fantasy novels. I won't mention it here for fear of spoiling a reader; not that it's terribly disgusting, but it's kinda predictable, perhaps? But my love for the story and characters overcomes this plot point, so I'm cool with it.

Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer by Laini Taylor

Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer, a teen fantasy novel by Laini Taylor, is an enjoyable and fresh-faced romp through a dangerous world in which miniature fairies live in isolation, forgetting the apex of their power. An adventurous fairy named Magpie, accompanied by her crow friends, discovers that she is the fated one capable of defeating a monstrous being that swallows up life and leaves no trace. Along the way, she revives the king of Djinn, the creator of the world. With her newfound allies, 2 other young fairies with unusual magical powers, and battling traitors and other demons, she shakes the world of the fairies to the core.

What I like best about this series is the unique language style used, based on Scottish brogue or Irish dialect, I suppose. The mythology of the Djinn and Ifrit, probably unfamiliar to anyone not versed in Middle Eastern folklore, is always interesting to me. And of course, Magpie, stubborn and eventually way too over-powered, still retains a sincere and down-to-earth personality, which really impresses me in my long and jaded career of reading about stubborn and eventually way too over-powered teen heroes and heroines. Overall, an exciting read that I would recommend to anyone who won't snicker at the idea of a Tinkerbell fighting tooth and nail to save the world.

music and magic - more teen novels

I haven't updated in many moons because I've been busy with school and just haven't had access to a good library. But now that it's summer, I'm making up for lost time with my good friend, the local public library. Here are some titles that I will review later - I just wanted to note them before I forgot the authors and all that.

The Naming by Alison Croggon, also The Riddle and The Crow
A series set in a fantasy land where bards are able to perform magic. A teenage girl discovers that she is the fated one who will defeat an evil wizard. With the help of trusted friends, including a mysterious older man as her mentor, she comes into her power, finds a long-lost brother and in a race against time, they try to solve the riddles of the tumultuous past. The first book describes a typically Tolkienesque medieval world, while the second book ventures into the wild wintry north, and the disappointing third novel takes place in a burning south tainted by evil. Now where do they go next?!!

The Singer of All Songs by Kate Constable, part of a trilogy
A series set in a fantasy land where chanters are able to perform magic. A teenage girl discovers she is the fated one who will defeat an evil wizard. With the help of trusted friends, including a mysterious older man as her mentor, she comes into her power... wait a minute!!! Hah hah, but seriously, both series are charming, with breathtaking adventures, adorably stupid characters and confident world building. They're just very similar to each other sometimes. This book was compared to a version of Earthsea, rich and complex with ancient mystery.

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
This is a remarkably interesting retelling of a fairy tale, set in the plains of Mongolia and told in the form of an illustrated diary. Two girls are trapped in a tower, with the princess courted by two different princes, one kind, the other evil. The clever servant-girl, who also has the ability to sing magically, struggles along with her mistress until they finally escape and end up rescuing a kingdom from a terrifying fate. I love how the author sensitively describes the thoughts of the servant girl, who narrates the story, and incorporates elements of a culture not many would know.

Standard Hero Behavior by John David Anderson
A cute, saucy parody of the average fantasy story. A young bard (hah hah, I have a theme going on) and his humorous sidekick unwittingly find themselves on a quest to save their hometown from an army of orcs and goblins. Little do they realize that they would help bring back the long-lost heroes of their father's time on their misadventures throughout the countryside. While definitely ironic, this author does not deal his sarcasm too heavily, and the moral was more sweet than cheesy. Recommended for a light-hearted read.

other fantasy novels

Okay, some mini-reviews of other books I randomly picked out from the library!

Flightless Falcon by Mickey Reichert
an epic fantasy novel about a impoverished father who, after being released from prison, takes on a corrupt secret brotherhood to rescue his family. He is accompanied by a fairly typical motley crew and adventures and soul-searching occurs. It was a good read for a boring afternoon, but nothing special or particularly memorable, except the fact that it leaves room for a sequel.

The Witch, the Wizard and Two Girls from Jersey by Lisa Papademetriou
I checked this out from the Bluebonnet Award winners, but it sadly wasn't that great. Another typical teen fantasy novel about two very different girls who get transported into a fantasy novel and end up changing how the story goes by their actions. The plot was supposed to be fairly typical, the characters annoying but occasionally hilarious. Overall, I could see how teen girls may enjoy this book, but for a more mature reader, you'll be rolling your eyes a lot. Especially at the cop-out ending.

the Bartimaus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud

The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud, including The Amulet of Samarkand and The Golem's Eye, is actually a very well-written and witty series about wizards, demons and a re-imagined London. (I sure love those British authors, hah hah.) Unfortunately, the young protagonist happens to be a douchebag, so I found it a very unpleasant read overall. While the changing perspectives and the cheeky footnotes by the demon were extremely entertaining, I have a hard time justifying my admiration of a series when the hero is actually a jerk. I am told he gets better by the end, so I will try to read the third book, Ptolemy's Gate, just to know what happens. I need justification for staying up so late.

Don't get me wrong, this series is worth your time. I have finally read the last book, and while it was a gripping and dramatic adventure, he is still a douchebag. But one that you can like.

(briefly) young adult series by various authors

You guessed it, more mini-reviews of young adult novels and series! Except for the last two reviews, I wasn't really impressed enough by any of these series to write a separate post.

Elske and Jackaroo by Cynthia Voigt: actually rather intriguing books on their own, but I would have to read a whole series about a fantastic medieval world to thoroughly understand the backstory, and well... I wasn't that interested. I remember the books being just barely on this side of boring and political.

Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick: a fairly interesting historical/macabre novel about an orphan and a London magician who makes a deal with the devil or something, but I wasn't tempted to read the rest of the series. It didn't really make any long-lasting impact in my mind.

Water Mirror by Kai Meyer: a captivating book about an orphan girl with a mirror who lives in a Venice-like world inhabited by stone lions and scary mermaids. A short novel that might require reading the rest of the series to find any real plot development.

Blue Girl by Charles de Lint: I didn't finish this book because man, it started off slow and I couldn't get past the second chapter. I like fantasy stories about high school kids, not high school stories about fantasy kids. This author is good, don't get me wrong, but his type of suburban fantasy isn't really my preference.

Levin Thumps and the Gateway to Foo by Obert Skye: It reads like a book written by a sophisticated young Swedish author who doesn't understand American humor but tries anyways. Parts of it are laugh-out-loud funny but most of it's just weird and you laugh because you don't really understand what's going on. The story is fairly typical - teen finds out about supernatural powers and saves the world from mystical evil with help of plucky gel and fantastic mascot sidekicks, but everything else is appreciably strange. Apparently there are more books involved.

Falconer's Knot by Mary Hoffman: This historical mystery novel is surprisingly witty, concise and dramatic, with cheesy teenage romance and artsy details. Because it takes place in Italy like her other books, it requires a love and knowledge of Italian culture and art to truly appreciate. The major complaint I have for this book is that it seems like an adult mystery hacked and censored for a pre-teen audience. Had it been developed for a more mature reader, it would have been quite entertaining, but I find it choppy and the mystery way too easily solved. I'm sure younger readers will still enjoy this book, though.

Cup of the World and the Widow and the King by John Dickinson: An epic fantasy novel and its sequel about a spirited girl who elopes with a mysterious man who communicates to her through magic. Turns out he wants to conquer the known kingdom and will stop at nothing to do so. Magic and mayhem ensue. The sequel deals with the widowed queen trying to save her young son from a malicious ghost and scheming, ensorceled lords. Lots of people die... I appreciated the sorrowful, legendary tone and its layers of meaning and allegory, but it's not a series I recommend for people who want to feel good after reading something.

(briefly) young adult trilogies by various authors

These trilogies are some of the newer series for young adults and children that I've discovered at my local library. I haven't actually completed a few of these trilogies on account of them not being written or not found or not being intriguing enough for me to finish. In the wake of Rowling's Harry Potter series, there is a surge of amazing stories written for children and teens that would definitely satisfy an older reader. I would recommend Lemony Snicket's dismal 12-volume chronicle of the Baudelaire orphans' tragic adventures, A Series of Unfortunate Events, it is intellectually stimulating while being perfectly depressing.

The Safe-Keeper's Secret by Sharon Shinn: Including Dream-maker's Magic and Truth-teller's Tale, a trilogy with mild fantasy elements. In this medieval world, there are humans born with the ability to keep secrets safe, to tell only the truth if asked, and one human with the ability to make dreams come true. A feel-good series, in my opinion. The romance is not overboard, an especially admirable accomplishment in a young adult book, plus the plot threads are strong, uplifting and rustically emotional. I usually hate rustic country novels, but I thought the humanity developed in such close relationships was really rather touching.

the Johnny Maxwell trilogy by Terry Pratchett: I've only read Johnny and the Dead and Only You Can Save Mankind, and have yet to read Johnny and the Bomb. This children's trilogy, one of his older works, is as hilarious and satirical as only Pratchett can be. It can get a bit painful at times, since the premise of the plot is that Johnny, a rather drab but conscientous British boy, must overcome the horrible-ness of the adult world to save lives that ought to be saved.

Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman? by Eleanor Updale: This first book of a Victorian thief who transforms himself into a gentleman is just... wow. Adventure and ingenuity and of course, morbid fascination with a criminal given a second chance at life. But I forbid you to read the rest of the trilogy! You may want to know more about Montmorency's adventures, but I found that the plot's interesting-ness declined rapidly with the addition of more characters, who weren't half as cool as the original hero. A terrible waste of a good character, in my opinion. *tears of disappointment*

Monster Blood Tattoo by DM Cornish: A macabre fantasy teen novel about an unfortunate boy who ends up journeying with a monster hunter and you know, develops character and learns about the world. Incredibly well-developed world with unique characters and monsters. It's apparently part of a trilogy, so I have to read more to see if I like the plot much, but it seems well worth the exploration. I also love the drawings the author included - as an "artist," I was genuinely impressed.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini: I am sorry, these are quite possibly the most boring teen fantasy novels I have ever read/heard. Maybe not terrible, just horrifically boring, which is almost terrible. I would say this fantasy trilogy about a boy and his dragon tries too hard to be like Tolkien. Granted, I am being forced to listen to someone narrate it at his own speed, so that may color my opinion. But even if I finished reading the books, I would still think this trilogy too dull and un-revolutionary and so not worth a movie.

(briefly) various anthologies by various authors

I review various anthologies by various authors! Some of these are collections of works by one author, others are collected from different authors for a particular theme or non-theme as it may be. While my main love is series, I enjoy short stories quite a bit. I feel that they often have more impact than many novels and most series, being so succint and avoiding the trilogy traps or the bane of many a good series that languishes in ennui. My favorite short stories are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mysteries, now that's good classic stuff right there.

The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight Realm edited by Windling and Datlow: an anthology of faery short stories, including stuff by Neil Gaiman and people of similar caliber. I like the unusual and edgy takes on typical fairy stories and I love how each one ends on a questioning or haunting note. Which is what I expect out of a good fairy story.

Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman: an excellent collection of some of his older short stories, mostly urban fantasy, some horror, some fantasy, some sci-fi. They are all written in that inexplicable Gaiman style - dark, humorous, creepy and sexy. Some are more understandable and uhh... less embarrassing than others, but overall I enjoyed this collection.

Looking for Jake by China Mieville: another collection of short stories in the urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic sci-fi realm. I decided to pick this up after reading Unlundun which I really enjoyed. Well, this was not as funny or sexy as Gaiman's anthology, it was mostly downright terrifying. A few stories refer to another book and were harder to follow. This anthology kept me up into the small hours of the night, trying to not imagine the monsters described and failing miserably.

New Magics edited by Patrick Nielsen Hayden: a collection of short stories gathered from various famous fantasy authors for young adult readers (so it said.) Includes one of Gaiman's stories in the other collection, as well as Ursula Leguin, Orson Scott Card, Jane Yolen, Emma Bull and other favorites. It has a more adolescent feel, very hip and urban sometimes and brooding at other times. I found it a fast and pleasant (for a given value of pleasance) read overall, esp. since I already read two of the stories.

Welcome to the Monkey House by Kurt Vonnegut: an anthology of his short stories. I decided to start small because I have ADD, hah hah. Some are sci-fi, others are satire of society, some are funny, others really really sad and disturbing - all well-written. I highly approve of this type of sci-fi, but then again, the first real sci-fi I read was Douglas Adams. Humor takes the edge off of the despair that sci-fi usually engenders in me. My favorite stories are about the computer that learns about love (almost made me cry) and the human chess match (frightening!).

The Birthday of the World and Orsinian Tales by Ursula K. Leguin: I was so affected by Left Hand of Darkness that I decided to branch out and read these short story collections as well. These anthologies draw from the science fiction universe that made her famous, as well as different alternative futures. Her prose is definitely beautiful, but the stories are usually so sad. I like how she can create a rich imagined world with so few words, but I think I'll hold off reading anymore of her works so I don't slit my wrists in despair.

the Haunting of Alaizabel Cray, Poison and Storm Thief by Christopher Wooding

I will be reviewing three of Christopher Wooding's books in this entry. They are all good young adult novels, but they are fairly short. As horror novels go, I find these much scarier than novels written for adults. Perhaps when you view things through a pre-teen or teen perspective, simple things can somehow seem a lot more terrifying.

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray is an example of fine horror literature for teens. Think of a Victorian era London, with Jack the Ripper allusions and stuff about like, the Illuminati or something. Extremely tense and dramatic, with unusual characters, terrifying monsters and a sufficiently complicated plot that does not patronize younger readers and would engage older readers. The ending was a teensy bit anti-climactic, but overall, a recommended book.

Poison is another horror story, but set in a fantasy world. It follows the adventures of a stubborn girl trying to save her sister from the elves, outwitting monsters both hideous and beautiful along the way. The plot is familiar, but the twists and turns are satisfyingly unusual and delightful (in a morbid sense.) This novel was very accurately described as a dark fairytale for teens. Pee-in-your-pants terrifying.

Storm Thief is Wooding's horror story set in a science fiction world. I feel this novel lacks the polish of the others regarding plot, since the ending is unusually vague and somewhat disappointing. The rest of the novel is chilling enough, deftly handling nightmarish monsters, a cruel government and a thoroughly realized post-apocalyptic future. (I just love sci-fi stories in which people are made into food. That's the best plot device ever. Trust me, you could see that one coming.)

The Goose Girl and the Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale is a charming retelling of Grimm's fairytales in novel form. This one deals with a grisly and rather arbitrary tale elegantly and sincerely. I like the little political twist thrown into the plot, which often end up as unnecessary moral lessons in other retellings I've come across. As a young adult novel, there's not much else to say about it, other than it's good.

The Princess Academy, also by Shannon Hale, is an original novel about girls from a village who are sent to be trained as potential brides for the prince. One small girl is able to rescue her town from bandits with her strength and kindness. Very simple and sweet. There may be a sequel, but I have yet to check it out.

There is a series of fairy-tale retellings in short novel format for teen girls, all romantic in nature and under the title "Once Upon a Time...". I've read a couple, both were very nice and neat, let me google the author's names... Okay here we go.

Sunlight and Shadow, by Cameron Dokey, is a retelling of Mozart's opera, the Magic Flute. A lot more forgiving than the original story, very otherworldly but entertainingly confusing and of course, romantic enough for any teenage girl. Or guy... I guess.

Scarlet Moon, by Debbie Viguie, is a very interesting retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. You wouldn't think that there was any romance in such a straightforward fairytale, but there is now! Kinda predictable, but still enjoyable and manages to totally negate the original moral of the story.

(briefly) young adult trilogies by various authors

Now for a brief review of various young adult trilogies that have been considered classics. I read some of these quite a while ago, but would recommend them to any pre-teen or teen with an affinity for fantasy and mystery. These don't have their own entries because I don't remember them very well, having read them so long ago, but I doubt anyone would mind.

The Riddle-master of Hed by Patricia Mckillip: a richly layered fantasy trilogy about a harpist and riddlemaster who is also a king. Details an epic quest to battle evil, discover the hidden past and make amends for the future. It is so full of allegory and allusion, I had no clue what was going on most of the time. The language used is incredibly beautiful if also very very vague. I would recommend all of her numerous fantasy novels if you are in the mood for concentrating on the meaning of symbols.

The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin: another fantasy trilogy by a famous author concerning wizards, dragons, demons and ghosts. The story of a proud young wizard who gains his power at great cost and learns of wisdom and happiness. I describe the tone as spare and solemn but lovely in a natural and unassumed way. I was not as fond of the later books, but I still enjoyed them very much. Continues in Tehanu and in an anthology of short stories called The Other Wind.

Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman: this is a historical fiction trilogy with some elements of fantasy and science fiction. Taking place in Victorian London, it describes the adventures of a brave and intelligent young woman with connections to a dangerous and supernatural past. The last book was incredibly bitter and unpleasant (at least for a teen novel), that seems to be his trend, but overall the drama and mystery of this series will not disappoint.

Stravaganza by Mary Hoffman

The Stravaganza series by Mary Hoffman is a fantasy young adult trilogy/series that unfortunately crashed and burned at the end. The first book, City of Masks, was a wonderful introduction to an alternate 16th century Italy, full of beauty and magic and culture. The characters were clever and adorable, the plot fascinating. I only read part of the third book, City of Flowers, but was disgusted enough by it to not even attempt the second book. As I remember, it was more of a contrived adolescent drama and the writing eventually overwhelmed the simple details that made the first book so amazing. I mean, who cares about teen romance when more awesome things could be happening?

Maybe I'm just prejudiced when things don't work out properly in the later books, but I feel absolutely betrayed when the author doesn't keep up the tone and the freshness of the first novel. City of Masks would have made an excellent stand-alone novel, is all I'm saying.

The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix

The Abhorsen Trilogy, also known as the Old Kingdom series, by Garth Nix is a fascinating and dramatic fantasy/horror series for young adults. I personally feels it falls into the "trilogy trap" later on because Lirael and Abhorsen didn't really keep up the same level of awesome that Sabriel started.
The series describes Sabriel's ongoing war against the forces of evil (mostly zombies and sorcerors), assisted by various brave individuals who are not all human. The world, one side normal and technological and the other side magical and dangerous, is especially well thought-out. I really liked Sabriel's ability as a necromancer, it seemed very unique.

I think the sudden lull in the second book and the jumbled-up storyline in the third book really did the series a disservice. While I find it anti-climactic overall, the eerily prosaic tone never lets up and makes this series suitably suspenseful. Across the Wall, containing short stories based in that world, makes for a good read, but I think I say that of most anthologies.

UnLunDun by China Mieville

UnLunDun by China Mieville was a happy discovery at the library. It is what one might call an urban fantasy novel for young adults, set in London. China Mieville looks like some sort of punk skinhead, but his book is charming, clever, funny as well as extremely scary. He also draws the illustrations for UnLunDun, various horrific ink illustrations of monsters that would definitely delight kids.

Neil Gaiman thinks Mieville's work is great and who am I to argue with Neil Gaiman? This book in particular puts me in mind of an evil and updated Alice in Wonderland, with that disturbing sense of the absurd and ironic. But like that classic, it is extremely difficult to read if you are a lazy reader. You have to concentrate on miniscule details, make sense of the puns, and keep track of the monsters and crazy characters as well as the twist and turns of the plot. Fortunately, there is a handy glossary of British slang in the back for us Americans. It sorta helps. Sorta...

My favorite part is how he turns the typical fantasy motif on its head, by doing away the idea of the prophesied one, quite a jab in the eye to J.K. Rowling. He does urban fantasy with such flair and creativity, I think this is going to be a recommended classic for kids and adults, if it isn't already.

the His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman

The His Dark Materials trilogy, including The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, is an intriguing fantasy-ish/sci-fi-ish series for young adults. Set in an alternate London, it follows the adventures a brave young girl and her daemon familiar, fighting to either save the world or maybe destroy it. The first book I consider a literary work of art, very imaginative and elegant and charming, a must-read for all children. The rest of the series... maybe not as appropriate for youngsters, as the subject and tone starts to befit a cynical pre-teen or teenager who needs yet another reason to hate the world and The Man.

What I like best about this series is its unique view on concepts of Christianity. It is unusual, thought-provoking, daring even. Again, if you are not versed in the Bible or Bible-related literature such as Milton's Paradise Lost, this trilogy's thinly veiled criticism may be totally over your head. But from a purely secular view, the action, mystery, philosophy and drama are worth checking out. Despite my misgivings about the later books, this series definitely ought to be listed as one of the classics of children's literature, and Lyra a role model young heroine, at least for smart and sophisticated children.

The movie looks like it won't live up to the book, that is as I expected. But Nicole Kidman is always worth watching, in my opinion.