I'm late with the promised mini reports on my weekend reading! The truth is I have just a little less than a million other things to do besides update this blog - no! really! Anyway, I read Lionboy: The Chase and most of The Artemis Fowl Files despite having to rush around getting things sorted for my family's move into our new home. (By the way, the bookcase I bought for my new bedroom arrived on Sunday and the first couple of rows are now filled with my out-of-print Girlsown-type books, by the likes of Dorita Fairlie Bruce, Elsie J. Oxenham and Antonia Forest. Will probably transfer my other rare, out-of-print, but non-Girlsown book, to this bookcase too.)
OK, now back to the book reports:
Lionboy: The Chase by Zizou Corder
This was easy and good fun to read, but I wasn't as hooked and drawn into the story as I was with the first book. I thought some of the developments (won't spoil the surprise) were a bit convenient, and the characters were quite sketchily done. It would have been nice if they were more fully-developed, especially Lionboy Charlie's parents and the seventh lion, Primo.
Authors are always struggling to write a second novel that will live up to the first though. This is by no means a poor sequel, but I believe there's going to be a third book, and the end of The Chase seems pretty conclusive to me so I wonder if a third installment won't rather overstretch the story.
I came across a very amusing article by Louisa Young, who is one-half of Zizou Corder (the other half being her daughter), about being the old New J. K. Rowling. Read it here!
The Artemis Fowl Files by Eoin Colfer
I couldn't be bothered with the fairy codes and how-to-spot-a-fairy sections. Read instead the Q&A-style interviews with the characters (amusing) and the short stories which I really enjoyed. The first, LEPrecon provides some background info on Holly Short, basically how she got into the Recon unit. The second, The Seventh Dwarf, is about Mulch Diggins, the dwarf who appears in The Eternity Code.
If you're a big Artemis Fowl fan, this is a good "extra" to get. Otherwise, it's not a must-have.
And that's that!
P.S. The picture shows you more or less what I look like: I am huge (only partly due to being pregnant) and I often have a stack of books that I need to read! My expression doesn't usually resemble the look of calm and happy serenity shown on the elephant's face though.
Yes, if I still have it, I will send it to you, Julianne. So please email me your address.
Cheers!
Posted by: Daphne | Wednesday, September 29, 2004 at 10:27
Have it? As in you're giving it to me or what?
Posted by: Julianne | Tuesday, September 28, 2004 at 18:59
Hey Julianne
Yeah, I've read The Supernatural. I didn't like it as much as the Artemis Fowl books, or Wish List. Found it rather too grim and depressing. Hmm ... I think I have a copy somewhere. If so, you can have it. Send me your address!
Posted by: Daphne | Monday, September 27, 2004 at 10:01
Speaking of Eoin Colfer, have you read 'the supernatural' by him? If you have, is it any good?
Posted by: Julianne | Friday, September 24, 2004 at 23:07
Michael, Only because you got your grubby hands on it first! ;-)
Posted by: Daphne Lee | Tuesday, September 14, 2004 at 17:40
Not fair! I reviewed Lionboy and YOU get the second book! :(
Louisa Young's article is darn funny though. :)
Posted by: eyeris | Tuesday, September 14, 2004 at 16:51