I can only reiterate: Ness is Genius!

Monsters of Men

DONE!! It was a gruelling read but oh my goodness it had me in its clutches that I just couldn't escape. The end was painful to read, I  had to keep stopping, steeling myself to be brave and hoping against what seemed like all hope that Ness was going to be gentle with me - which he wasn't - at one point I was enraged with him - how could he???? But then he redeemed himself spectacularly. I really don't like to give anything away, but all I kept thinking was I would never, ever in a million years picked up these books to read and do you know what, I would have missed out! Never have a set of books moved me so emotionally before - the style is simple but the themes are HUGE, a proper young adult book that some power driven adults would do good to read! I can not recommend these books enough - I was in awe from an artists point of view how exceptional Ness is at gripping the reader, making them question what they know and be utterly devastated by the events that happen essentially through words printed on a page! My heart still aches when I recall some things from these books - they will live with me forever! And strangely as hard as they were to read, it makes them all the more special! Thank-you Patrick Ness!

Another Book Update

My son and I have finished reading the first instalment of Harry Potter:

We both come to these books from different places - my son has seen all the films which I have never managed to stay awake for the entirety of any of the films (not sure what that says about me or the films) ~ anyhow I was constantly being interrupted by his interjections, 'that's not what happens' or 'I love this bit' etc which did make me chuckle but it also made me think about the differing pictures we must've had in our imaginations. His were of the actors and the settings from the films and mine although I haven't been able to escape the films entirely was a real mixture of what I have seen and what I had to make up for myself. I have to say I really like making those pictures up myself - I think the films have robbed my son to a certain extent of his creative imagination - it is a real shame! It is my fault of course - I should have read the books to him before the films obviously! That brings me on to my next point: I didn't get the Harry Potter hype and to a certain extent I still don't but I am not generally of a fanatic disposition. (Things I like - I like but wouldn't spend days camping to get the next book etc etc.) However after reading the first one I did enjoy the story, being taken to another world and lived the fantasy of being magical ( only a little bit - like I said not fanatical by nature!) I think thats where JK Rowling really did excel and for some reason critics have failed to notice is that she wrote FOR children. The simplicity is perfect for children with emerging literacy skills and the story line is exciting and full of a fantastical adventure that nearly any child anywhere can relate to whether it is the unhappy home life or the challenging school life or maybe it is the escapist element of their happy humdrum life but it is clear that Rowling knew a lot about children and what they like ~ CLEARLY, and yet she gets slated for it!

We are on Chapter 3 of the Chamber of Secrets and hopefully we will be able to get through the next 6 books before the year is out! My son is optimistic but when I saw the length of  the order of the phoenix I became a little worried! I hope I am as enthusiastic by December as I am now - we will see!

The Ask and the Answer {OMG}

OH MY GOSH!!! After my rather luke warm review of the first book - I feel a bit silly now as this book took my breath away! I hear the phrase, ' I couldn't put it down' so often, and have always wondered whether that is entirely true ~ I mean did you take it EVERYWHERE with you? Well this was a book that I literally couldn't put down - I went to work with it in my hand bag just in case I might get a chance to read a page or two, (highly unlikely! but nevertheless in it went) I took it shopping with me - who knows when I could've poked my nose in? As it came hurtling to the end of the book and definitely not the end of the story I read it while I walked from the car park to work and even drove with it on my lap, in case I hit a red light and would allow my self a few moments to read whilst I waited, (which I didn't!). It was a rollicking good, unexpected, brutal read! I don't like to give anything away because I like to read books without knowing what is going to happen but all I can say is Ness is genius! I picked up his final book with trepidation because I feel physically hurt by some of the stuff that happens and I am not sure if I am ready for the onslaught now - but I really want to know what is going to happen and more than anything I don't want to be disappointed!
The Ask is the best book I have read for a very very long time! I love the way it ends and then the next one picks up in the same time frame -  I hope Monsters of Men lives up to and even surpasses it!