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30 must-read books – #11

I just love dragons, don’t you?

And Anne McCaffrey’s dragons most of all.

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So today, day 11 of #blogjune, where I’m ‘chronicling’ (lol) my 30 must-read books throughout the month, this blogpost is dedicated to that most intoxicating of beast: the dragon.

Powerful. Enormous. In McCaffrey’s novels, linked irrevocably at birth to their rider, in a relationship that transcends love and devotion. And ‘cousin’ to those itty-bitty fire-lizards which I wished I could also have as a ‘pet’ – if only to protect me from Thread, Pern’s indefatigable enemy.

My first copy of Dragonflight was read so much, it unfortunately didn’t survive the process. Then, about a decade ago, Hubby bought me an Angus and Robertson gift card for Christmas, so I treated myself to spine-matching copies of the entire Pern series. And now not only are they a fantastic read, they also look so purty on my bookshelf! (Note to self: suggest to Hubby that Christmas is coming and I really liked that gift…)

Anyway, suffice it to say: my bookshelf doesn’t lie. I like these books. A lot. Immensely. Tremendously and extraordinarily and abundantly.

Have you read any? What do *you* think of them?

And have a great day, dear reader!

–Kridwyn

 

 

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#blogjune Blogging challenges Reading

30 must-read books – #10

I only discovered Kristin Cashore earlier this year – and boy oh boy, I am ever so glad I did! Graceling is a novel that took me back to my love affair with all things fantasy.

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It’d been a chance discovery. The novel had been mentioned in Writing Irresistable KidLit by Mary Kole, it had sounded interesting enough to be worth a look, and it was available in my local library. I fell in love with Katsa from the get-go; and from there, reading Fire and Bitterblue was a no-brainer. And, just as I wrote about yesterday’s Obernewtyn series my Isobelle Carmody: this series is so totally worth it.

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Kristin Cashore: my newest favourite fantasy author. Who’s yours?

And have a great day, dear reader!

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#blogjune Blogging challenges Life Reading Review Writing

30 must-read books – #9

I can’t remember my first time reading Obernewtyn – I think I may have been twelve or thirteen at the time? I recall I’d recently read Robert C. O’Brien’s Z for Zachariah – and preferred the Carmody story immensely. The ones that followed, just as much.

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Fast forward to 2015. Carmody finished the series! And seriously, reading the final sentence of Book 7, decades later and what felt like hundreds of thousands of hours of time spent with these characters? It was TOTALLY worth it.

Because of ALL my reading, every single book I have ever read, THIS SERIES has the final sentence to end all final sentences.

You don’t see it coming.

But when it does, it’s PERFECT!

(And yes, I’m well aware I’ve used excessive capitalisation in this post. And you know what? I don’t regret it. Whenever I write a final sentence now, I think of hers. That sentence of hers is my penultimate example. Trust me – if you’ve read the series from beginning to end – you’ll agree with me!)

Have a great day, dear reader!

— KRidwyn

 

 

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#blogjune Blogging challenges Reading Review

30 must read books – #8

So today marks Day 8 of #blogjune, and the eighth book of thirty in this series of ’30 must read books’ which I’ve chosen as my theme. For the past 7 days, I picked ‘literary’ titles – from Dumas and Austen, to the 40+ Biblical authors and Shakespeare, Victor Hugo, Edith Pargeter, and Jane Yolen.

Jane Yolen’s work also marks a shift, in content, into the fantasy / sci fi realm, and it in this realm which I’d like to spend the next 7 days.

Beginning, of course, with Raymond E. Feist, and the ‘Riftwar’ cycle which started with Magician.

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Magician was my introduction to fantasy, as a 13 year old wide-eyed kid. A good friend of mine from a community orchestra we were in introduced us – and it was a match made in heaven. I devoured it, as well as the other two in the Riftwar saga, Silverthorn and A Darkness At Sethanon, faster than I had ever read anything ever before.

I then moved into the following three, set on the opposing world of Kelewan, and co-written by Jenny Wurts: Daughter of the Empire, Servant of the Empire, and Mistress of the Empire, and loved them just as wholeheartedly.

What a fantastic introduction to fantasy it was. And it’s a love that exists through to today.

What about you? What was your first fantasy novel?

And have a lovely day!
— KRidwyn

 

 

 

 

 

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#blogjune Blogging challenges momentous events More about me Reading Writing

30 must-read books – #7

Today’s my birthday. I’m 42. And I’m finishing these first seven ‘literary’ books with these two I discovered in the Garden City public library, three decades ago. I fell head over heels in love with the writing; with the story; with the characters. To me, the exquisite expression of the ideas in these novels, was perfection!

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Then they were returned, and life got busy. But the stories remained with me.

Fast forward a couple of decades. An older-me wants to read the stories again. But the passage of time has rendered me ignorant of the titles and author. And typing ‘dragon story’ into a google search would be fruitless. I give up.

Fast forward again, to mid-2015. Even-older-me has finished writing JUSTINE BROWNING #1 and is preparing to query agents, and reading similar novels to perhaps use as comparison titles. A PLAGUE OF UNICORNS by Jane Yolen strikes me as exquisite writing – so much so that when I see a copy of her novel A SENDING OF DRAGONS for sale, I purchase it to enjoy more of her writing.

I only make it through two and half pages before recognition hits.

This is Book Three in the series I read and fell in love with as a child! I hadn’t read it at the time, as it wasn’t published back then, but I’d found what I was seeking – the author, and the titles of the first two books!

And you know the best part of this story? My Miss11 has just bought me these two books as her birthday present to me. I’m so blessed!

Have a fantastic day, dear reader!

— KRidwyn

 

 

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#blogjune Blogging challenges Christianity Reading Review

30 must-read books – #6

#bj6I first encountered Ellis Peters as a teenager; with the highly entertaining character Brother Cadfael my introduction not only to the world of monks, but also to the historical crime genre.

Pictured is Book 6 in the series of 20, and my favourite as it introduces Cadfael’s son, who quickly became the most swoon-worthy of swoon-worthiness; the epitome of ‘tall, dark and handsome’ in my teenager mindset.

But as much as I love these stories, I cannot in good faith include them in this list of 30 must-reads. But that’s only because they are eclipsed by her Heaven Tree trilogy, written under her own name, Edith Pargeter.

Screen Shot 2016-06-04 at 2.27.16 pm Some would say that these three (The Heaven Tree, The Green Branch and The Scarlet Seed) are not as refined as the Cadfael series, being her earlier work, before her writing style matured. I utterly disagree.

I love, love, love this trilogy. And count myself blessed to have discovered such gorgeous, literary writing, at such a young age.

So – any Ellis Peters / Edith Pargeter fans out there? And which series do *you* prefer?

Have a fantastic day, dear reader!

— KRidwyn

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#blogjune Blogging challenges Random thoughts Reading Review

30 must-read books – #5

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From one French author, Dumas’ Count of Monte Cristo (my book #1) to Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables as book five… is there a pattern here?

Who knows. But what first intrigued me about this work was the style. I don’t know what anyone else thinks, but I describe it as ‘character based’ not ‘plot based’. As in, the entire first BOOK is taken up with in-depth descriptions of a family of characters who, in the grander scheme of things, end up being far more ‘minor’ than ‘major’.

Wow. That’s SUCH a mind-blowing idea in today’s fast-faster-fastest ‘get to the point’ ‘well there goes five seconds of my life that I’ll never get back’ culture.

And I love it!

Why not indulge in the language? In the formation and communication of thoughts, of ideas? Why not relish the slower pace, and luxuriate in the words, in the sentences, the vocabulary, the style?

You’ll need a spare few hours. But in my opinion, well worth them.

Would you agree, dear reader?

Have a lovely day!
–KRidwyn

 

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#blogjune Blogging challenges Reading Review

30 must-read books – #4

#bj3And again, another collection. Yes, I’m a bit of a cheat, aren’t I? Sorry!!!

As a high school English teacher for more years than I dare count, I’ve studied and taught my fair share of these. My hands-down favourite is A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Who could resist the fun of Puck?! I grin, thinking about Shakespeare smiling while first drafting the ‘head of a donkey’ section. What went through his head, I wonder?

So, how many have you read? And which is your favourite, dear reader?

Have a great day!

— KRidwyn

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#blogjune Blogging challenges Christianity Reading Review

30 must-read books – #3

 

IMG_1524And this is another one of those ‘compilation’ ones. There’s 66 books in this one though.

Like with yesterday’s gushing over Pride and Prejudice, there are sections in my Bible that I love so much, and have read so many times, that I could quote them verbatim. Admittedly, I don’t just read my Bible for the writing style – although there are sections in this, too, where the writing is exquisite.

But for me, I read this book for the ‘Life Application’ bit. The Bible pictured above is the one I bought for myself right at the end of 2015, when I planned to start reading January 1 and get through four chapters per day, so I’d have read it in its entirety by the end of the year. Now, I haven’t managed to read four chapters every single day, but I’m in Psalms at the moment, which is the 19th book. And before you say, ‘but that’s less than a third of the total number of books, and we’re almost halfway through the year’ – I should probably tell you that the books at the beginning of the Old Testament (at the beginning of the Bible) are far longer than those in the New Testament (at the end of the Bible). For example, the book of Exodus (OT) has 39 chapters, whereas 1st Corinthians (NT) has 16 chapters, and 1st Peter (also NT) has just 5.

So I *am* on track (I think!) to complete it by the end of the year. Which will be good, because it’s been far too long since I read it in its entirety.

And if you’re wondering which book is my favourite? I think it’s Jeremiah. But I’ll confirm that for you on December 31st 😀

Have a great day, dear reader!

–KRidwyn

PS. Yes, I probably should have listed this one as my #1 book – but there were issues with photos etc so it wasn’t ready in time. And then I thought, “So what?! I never said that the 30 were in any kind of order?!” 😛

PPS. Having said that though, there will be some kind of order, I’m thinking. These first few posts will be my favourite ‘literary works’, I suppose, followed by my YA titles, Christian, fantasy, etc as the mood takes me… I hope that’s okay with you 🙂

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#blogjune Blogging challenges Reading Review

30 must-read books – #2

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Yes, I know. I’m only on Day 2 of this #BlogJune thing and I’m already cheating on my ’30 books’ theme. Although technically, this *is* still ONE book… (Yeah, okay, it’s a compilation of seven. You got me.)

But there are two of Jane Austen’s works that I can’t choose between, for equally important but vastly different reasons. My two faves here are Pride and Prejudice and Lady Susan.

Lizzie Bennett revels in not conforming to society’s expectations, and the ‘stile’ in which her story is revealed is thoroughly exquisite. Thoroughly, incredibly, decadently, brilliant. Worthy of indulging to drowning point. I love love love this writing!

Lady Susan Vernon on the other hand, has far too much time on her hands, combined with beauty, wit, liberty – in the form of a recently deceased husband – and a tendency toward mischief. Her unscrupulous, manipulative nature reminds me of the resourceful Becky Sharp, from William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, however Austen’s novel is epistolary – written entirely as a series of letters between the characters. When I first read this novel, in my late teens. I was in awe. I think, perhaps, I still am.

Have you read either? Or both? What did you think of them?