| Reviews from August, 2001
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"Artemis
Fowl" Eoin Colfer.
Read Artemis Fowl
It
is about a 12 year old boy named Artemis Fowl who is very
unusual.He is a villain who will go to any lengths to get
hold of a copy of a fairy's secret book.He wants to know all the secrets of their magic,
spells and potions.He goes about this in a very dastardly way by kidnapping
Captain Holly Short, a member of the elite branch of the
Lower Elements Police.All fairies in this book live underground as they
have had to move there to get away from humans who they
call "mud people".Their technology is worlds in front of humans'.Artemis Fowl has definitely met his match!!!! This
book is like no other I've ever read. It's like a cross between "Indiana Jones", "Star
Wars" and "James Bond" with fairies and evil trolls thrown
in for good measure
I enjoyed this book and would probably recommend it for anybody who likes a bit of fantasy.
American author Gary Paulsen
Read books by American author Gary Paulsen? He writes true life 'man against nature' type books - simple and not too hard to read. He has written a series of 4 books called "The Hatchet" series. These are very good - about a 14 year old boy who is in a single engined plane over the Canadian forests when the pilot has a heart attack and dies. The plane crash lands on a lake and he survives with only a hatchet. The book is about his survival and eventual rescue
Janine Wyatt Junior School Librarian
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Books by Gary Paulsen in the library
Canyons
Harris and me
Hatchet
Hatchet : the call
Hatchet: winter
Mr. Tucket
Sarny
The Schernoff discoveries
Soldier's heart
The Transall saga
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Magician by Raymond Feist. (Science fantasy
genre) (in library F FEI)
This is the first of a series of stories which follow
a magician called Puck ,and two of his friends. For people
who don't venture into this genre I would recommend the
novel. It is adventurous and exciting from the beginning
to the end. It is one of those can't put it down books
that you read. Even for the reluctant reader this book
may open up a new world of reading for you .
I have recommended the book to a number of adult friends
who only ever used to read the sport in the newspaper.
Most of them then have read all of the Raymond Feist novels
and authors such as Jenny Werts, Robert Heinlein and others.
A top read.
(Also see below)
"Across the Nightingale Floor" By Lian Hearn (in library F HEA )
This book is set in the times of the feudal Japan with its Samurai and War Lords.
It is the first of a Trilogy. (The second of the series, 'Grass for his Pillow' is out now in hardcover edition and is also a good read.) It has a science fantasy element because the young protagonist called Takeo has very special powers.
The story begins in Takeo's village and from the first page to the last this book holds its audience's attention. Its an adventure, its has an element of romance and if you enjoy intrigue then I highly recommend this book and its sequel. It is one of the most exciting books I have read for a while in this genre.
If you do read it and want a book set in a similar period in Japanese history then 'Shogun' by James Clavell is a must.
[Third Brilliance of the moon in library now]
John Geekie (previous) Head of English
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"Snow falling
on Cedars" by David Guterson.
Snow falling
on Cedars
This is latest book I've read. I found it quite lyrical for a novel.
Although a little slow in its development, it was beautifully
written and an excellent insight into race relations in
America during and after the second world war. I'd recommend
it.
Tony Curtis (previous) Principal
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"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman.
At the moment I'm reading American Gods, by expat
British writer Neil Gaiman. Gaiman is best known for his
Sandman [see Sandman: Endless Nights in the library} series of graphic novels, and for collaborative
work with comic fantasy guru Terry Pratchett. I should
say from the outset that I have a mixed relationship with
Gaiman's work. As an early fan of Sandman, I became
enamoured of Gaiman's ability to transport his reader
to the dark and surreal worlds of the imagination with
an economy of language almost unrivalled in the fantasy
/ sci-fi world ( where economy of lauguage is not always
seen as a virtue.) His comic novel Good Omens,
co-written with Pratchett, remains one of my favourite
novels of its type, so effective is the collaboration
between Gaiman's darker view of the world, and Pratchett's
absurdist humor. Of Gaiman's solo novels, however, I have
been less than impressed - his fantasy / fairy tale Stardust,
published in 1999 left me cold - derivative enough to
persuade me against pursuing Gaiman too much further into
the world of the novel. With American Gods though,
it seems we have a new Nail Gaiman on our hands; a reinvention
of all that was good about Sandman; the same imaginative
use of the fantasy genre, the same simple yet effective
use of words, even the themes and ideas are not so much
new, as seen through new eyes, and yet the underlying
tone and feel of this book is somehow very different -
more "alive" for want of a better term.
The underlying idea behind American Gods is not
new ; it has been visited numerous times by other sci-fi
/ fantasy writers; the notion that the gods of old are
still alive and walking the earth, but weak now, sustained
only by the belief of a few fading mortals. Pratchett
visited the idea in Small Gods, and before him
Douglas Adams in The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul.
Gaiman, however, takes the idea a step further - where
are these gods most likely to be clinging to the last
traces of belief? Where else but America? Of course in
modern America, the old gods have little real power, Odin,
the ancient norse all father, is reduced to the status
of a lowly con-man, manipulating his way around through
sleight of hand. Thor is now a retired emigre slaughter
house worker. A host of other gods, from the Hindi to
the rastafarian, are all in their dying years, clinging
to the last vestiges of belief that they can muster in
an increasingly cynical society. Of course, such a society
has created its own new gods; gods of the internet and
the share market, with hosts of disciples, and the power
that comes with them. Thus the stage is set for the age
old battle; the old gods verses the new.
As I say, none of this is particularly new, however what
makes the novel work, and this is Gaiman's genius, is
the narrative character; Shadow. We join Shadow on the
day of his release from prison. The same day that his
wife is killed in a car crash with his best friend - who
was also going to give him his old job back. Suddenly
alone and without purpose, Shadow is enlisted by "Mr
Wednesday" - the current incarnation of Odin, as
a general bodyguard and dogsbody. Unwittingly, almost
inevitably, Shadow is drawn deeper and deeper into the
looming conflict between the American Gods. At the same
time, the novel assumes the character of a road trip,
with Shadow and Wednesday visiting the real sacred sites
of the U.S; the roadside tourist traps and diners where
people feel the urge to congregate...
As much a comment on the state of western society as
it is an exploration of genre, American Gods is
perhaps the first time that Gaiman has really managed
to hit his stride in the extended novel. The beautiful
characterisation, wonderfully evocative use of language,
and intelligent revisiting of old ideas are combined to
create a story which far exceeds anything Gaiman has produced
yet. He's certainly won me back as a disciple. Highly
Recommended.
Anthony Eaton, (previous) English Teacher, Year 10 Head of Year and
Author (see page about him as an author Anthony Eaton)
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"Autobiopsy" Bernice Rubens
Thisa is one very good book I have read recently. It is the story of a struggling writer who syphons ideas of the brain of a dead friend who was a famous and gifted writer. It is a great insight into writing and follows two peoples lives with insight into what people do and their motivations. At the end of the book you feel that you know the characters very well and miss them. The story has some amazing twists and is very funny but also sad. I am currently trying the brain syphon technique on Eato.
HP Lovecraft's "Omnibus 3".
This is a collection of some of the best horror/fantasy short stories I have read. They all have good twists and can be absorbed one a night before bed. The stories are always about uncovered ancient books or towns lost on the current maps, that someone stumbles upon and then finds the secret. The author hides the endings well and they are usually very rewarding. Blair Witch meets Salem's Lot.
[See At the mountains of madness and other novels of terror in library]
"Wild Minds"
This is a collection of short stories by varied authors and all of them are about free thinkers, some of these stories are way out there and all are thought provoking.
"The Shell Game"
This is a book about rowing in the USA and is pretty ordinary. It is written by someone that thinks they are pretty good , probably are at rowing but not writing, quite self absorbed. One of the best books
"Assault on Lake Casitas" Brad Allen Lewis (see in library Assault on Lake Casitas)
I have read this. It is the story off a guy who doesn't make the American rowing team and then says "I will beat the team You pick and then I will be the team." He listens to the Sex Pistols to motivate himself , sleeps in his car gets the girl and then gives a very exciting account of the Olympic race from a position somewhere near the front. Because this book was so good the Shell game really looked bad.
"The Perfect Storm" by Sebastian Junger
I have recently read this book. it was about a storm
in 1991 that hit the American East coast and wrecked the
Sword fish fleet. The book is very well written and is
like a detective story about the ships that were lost
and their engineering, tracing the last days of the crews
their omens and decisions.
"King of the World" by David Remnick
I also have read this book about Muhammad Ali. It was an excellent
book, the writer is very skilled and gives the characters
and the story real impact, it is full of America in the
60's, boxing and the Mafia. There is a lot of quirky character
stuff and not much action. It is very sad and very real.
It tells of lots of boxers who won heaps of fights and
ended up with no money just homeless on the street.
"Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R Tolkien
(see in Library Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers ; The return of the King F TOL)
I have had a re read of this book and was inspired by it before heading
of to the rowing in Sydney. This is one of my favourite
stories and it gets me revved up, the part about the King
coming back from illness (and Grima worm tongues influence)
to lead the army, makes me want to go to.
"Dogs of Winter" by Kem Nunn.
I read a book called It is about surfing and drugs in LA it was a bit
useless but with good surfing descriptions but the characters
were quite typical.
"Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard" by Kiran Desai
I read and it was really funny and made me think about
India heaps. It has lots of very real characters and the
monkeys in the story remind me of year Nines in period
5 or 6!!
I heard a song that said something about Kipling and
Captains Courageous so I am reading that to see
the connection at the moment.
"Oarsome" by Richard Yallop
I am also re-reading this,
the story of the awesome foursome and their trialling
for various National teams and fruit ads.
"Rotten The autobiography of Jonny Rotten"
I am also reading this book, one of my favourite inspirational
books.
I read a few books at once and swap back and forth depending
on marking and boredom.
My favourite authors are Donna Tarrt , HP Lovecraft and
F Scott Fitzgerald, I love reading.
Phil Jurjevich
SOSE Teacher, Rowing Coach
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"Magician" by Raymond E Feist.
I would have to agree with Mr Geekie's (see above) comments about
this book. I revisited this book last
week and was again amazed at the quality of Feist's writing.
My reading tends to be a bit biased towards the fantasy
genre (David Eddings, Tolkien and so on) but Magician
would be one of my favourite stories of all time. The
descriptions and character interactions are expertly crafted
by Feist and this is what makes it possible to get so
immersed in the story. I haven't yet read the other two
books in the series, but am looking forward to getting
my hands on them.
"The Last Continent" by Terry Pratchett
I have just finished reading this, a very funny Discworld novel set
in a country that is (according to Pratchett), "not
Australia but just happens to be a lot like...umm...Australia."
Like Mrs Horton (see review), I have to say that I always find Terry
Pratchett to be a good read - his sense of the absurd
is brilliant. Rincewind, the unlikely wizard, is one of
my heroes.
"Blood" by Michael Moorcock.
Currently I am in the middle of this book. It is set in a world that has
been turned upside down. Whites are marginalised. Powerful
rifts in the fabric of space-time are mined for energy
- but this becomes increasingly dangerous. An elite group
of gamblers called jugadors play mind games in simulated
realities for incredibly high stakes, while two rival
groups - the Singularity and the Chaos Engineers - travel
through the Second Ether in an attempt to discover Ko-O-Ko,
the Lost Universe. This a very DIFFERENT book! It has
a highly unusual structure for the genre and, as you can
see, a fairly bizarre plot. I think it is the sort of
book you might have to read a couple of times if you are
to fully appreciate the complexities that abound in the
story.
Brad Nugent, (previous) Counsellor
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