The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

Well, I've finished it. In about four days I have completed the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, with the final book being read today. And I have enjoyed it. There were a number of strands of the story going on all the time, but I managed to just about follow them. Many people have spoken against this trilogy, because it seems to be against the Church, and the main enemy in the book is an organised religion that has many trappings of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church; however, writers have always used different ideas and institutions as inspiration, and the story of friendship and love triumphing (although over what is never entirely clear) and people from different races working together is a positive and encouraging one. Even if the ideas of the Almighty and the Metatron being overcome are slightly absurd and comical in the telling ... It's been a good journey, and journeying is what this book is all about.

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

I managed to read this book within the day ... and I have sought out the final book, The Amber Spyglass, from amongst the books on the bookshelf, this morning. Pullman introduces Will, from our own universe, who clambers through a window to another world, where he meets Lyra, also out of her world. In this world, spectres suck the concentration from adults leaving them listless, but they leave children alone. The two children are still interested in Dust, and Lyra meets with Dr Malone in WIll's world, who may be able to help them - in the final book. There are a few incidents which begin in this book but are not mentioned again - many threads to be tied up in the final book. Right, must go - I've a book to read!

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

I had not really fancied reading this first book in Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. I think perhaps because of the width of some of the books, which looked quite long, because of the controversy, the comments that it is anti-Christian, because of the fact that it is fantasy, with daemons, witches, and other such creatures.

However, facing a long tube journey, I decided that now was the opportunity. I would have nothing else to do for 20 minutes - perhaps I could make a start.

And start it I did - that was noon yesterday, and by around 10am this morning I had finished it.

I really enjoyed hearing about Lyra and Pan's travels and adventures, with her alethiometer, the gyptians, a bear clad in sky-metal, trying to rescue Roger and the other children that had been kidnapped by the Gobblers, who were facing the horrors of intercision, and trying to escape from her mother while trying to reach her father. A story of betrayals and heroic actions.

I have now started on "The Subtle Knife", in which Lyra is joined, a few days after "Northern Lights" finishes, by Will, from our universe. More later ...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

It has been done! In about ten hours, I have finished the 600+ page book. I know the fates of Harry, Ron, Hermione and the rest. I managed (mainly) without seeing spoilers (I vaguely saw one, a really bad one as it turned out, but fortunately I closed it down quickly so managed to not see all the words clearly and got some of the ideas muddled up, which was good).

The writing itself is not important - in places it is a pedestrian and overwrought, a but cliched, but overall it is gripping, because of the importance of this story. What will happen? Why did the things that have happened in the past happen that way? Towards the end there are some (almost deus ex machina like) revelations, which I enjoyed because I wanted to know them, but perhaps too simply shared! But we are talking about wizards, so these types of revelations are not that unusual - I mean the manner in which they are revealed, not necessarily the revelations themselves!

To be honest, there is not a lot of character development here - we do get to know more about many of the characters, and they do get to know more about themselves, but in the main the characters are by now developed.

(Sorry, this is quite hard to review without giving away any details!)

The best bit was obviously when Snape marries McGonagall. Nice touch, Dumbledore giving them away.

(Would I do that to you? Really?!)

Don't Tell Mummy by Toni Maguire

Why read this book? Well, if you want to read shocking and fairly graphic tales of incestuous rape, then I guess this is the book for you. Not for me, I have to say. Felt I ought to finish it, but I felt it was really lacking in any sort of hope or positive message. The reactions of people who learnt about the situation was appalling, and hopefully police, doctors, social services etc don't react in the same way now, but other than that, I wouldn't really recomment it. It's a strange, morbid fascination sort of book.

Knocked Out By My Nunga-Nungas by Louise Rennison

Another school library book. This time comedy. Very teenage comedy. Loads of snogging. Or thinking about snogging. Or writing in the diary about snogging. Or talking on the phone about snogging. Quite funny, but not as much as some of the others one I've read. More funny in a "was I ever like that? No, I don't think so ... but ..." type of way. Have to say, I wasn't as impressed as I'd hoped to be. Not my type of book perhaps ... maybe I've outgrown books about teenage comic snogging!

The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sacher

From the author of Holes comes another great book. This was quite a funny book, again from the school library, and was a story of friendship as well as curses. Nice twist in the tale, and a mysterious yet bizarre epilogue. I have to say I am enjoying charging through these books written for a younger audience - they are enjoyable, light and easily digestible in style if not in content.

Checkmate by Malorie Blackman

It's been a long wait. But well worth waiting for!

The Noughts and Crosses trilogy started a few years ago, and the first book - Noughts and Crosses - was one of the best books I've ever read. It was on the BBC's "Big Read" 100 best books list, and is also in the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die.

The story is vaguely Romeo and Juliet, partly based on apartheid, and is very contemporary, dealing with issues of terrorism as well as racism and immigration. The love story is poignant, and at times you want bad things to happen, because the only alternative is even worse. Noughts and Crosses has one of most heartbreaking endings I've read in a book. The second book, Knife Edge, and the final installment, which I read in almost one sitting and finished just before midnight yesterday, continue the stories of the main characters over the next 16 years.

If the first book is the the possibility of hope, and the second is the loss of hope, then the third is the hope of hope. Once again, as the characters develop, reality kicks in, and even though you want the ultimate happy ending, you realise that there probably won't be an entirely happy one - but there may be a hopeful one, which would be enough. You hope and feel for the characters, agonising over their misunderstandings and their fears, frustrated over their inability to be honest and open with each other - but understanding, having read the other books, why it came to be this way.

I highly recommend the whole Noughts and Crosses trilogy (and anything by Malorie Blackman.)

Just In Case by Meg Rosoff

Another book from the school library. What do you do if you think Fate's out to get you? If you're David Case, then you decide to outwit Fate by changing your personality. David becomes Justin, he changes his clothes, his hobbies, his outlook on life. His little brother tries to communicate with him using his building bricks - Jstn Case What? - and his friend gets on well with his imaginary dog. A slightly surreal book ... very interesting. Who or what is Fate? Are some people unlucky? Or, if they have survived a number of near misses, are they not, in fact, very lucky?

Dangerous Reality by Malorie Blackman

I am still waiting, and looking forward to, reading the final book in the Noughts and Crosses trilogy. However, in the meantime, I was happy to borrow another of Malorie Blackman's books for children from the school library.

Dangerous Reality tells the story of Dominic, whose Mum has designed a Virtual Interactive Mobile System - VIMS for short. There is action in this book, but it also shows Dominic finding out more about himself.

This book is definitely written for younger readers (and younger than those that Noughts and Crosses is aimed at), but it's still nice to have a quick read that still has elements of suspense - I guessed at some of the twists, but not the biggest one, so that was good.

Wild Swans by Jung Chang

I've finally finished it! Wild Swans was recently on a list of books that are started but not finished ... well, after about three months, I've finally finished it!

I think it's a case of "history being written by the victors", or at least history being retold by the literate. As she came towards the end of the book, with the descriptions of illiteracy being praised or prized, it seemed surprising that she was getting all the breaks, being able to go to school, to university, to get a job at the uni, to win the scholarship to the UK. But, of course, the reason she is able to write this book is precisely because it is her story.

I knew very little about Mao and Communist China before I read this book. I know a little more now ... it sounds a very harsh political climate, full of torture, thought police and lack of individuality. Chang is very descriptive, and many passages are very interesting.

But above all, it is a long book, that feels long.

Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter

What a treat! This has been one of those books that has been non-put-downable. I've followed H around DIY shops with my nose in a book, sat reading it in the car, been up late into the night, and lain in bed in the morning in order to finish it! With a touch of magic realism, a touch of humour, a touch of romance, a touch of travel ... it's been a great read, and I highly commend it!

It's a much longer book than Fear of Flying, but as you can see, it read it much more quickly ... and not even any tube journeys with it!

Fevvers is a woman with wings ... only a bird in a gilded cage ... Jack Walser is a journalist trying to find out if it's all a big con trick ... and when she goes off travelling with the circus, he goes too. Lots of interesting characters ... clowns, tiger tamers, a strong man, a prophetic pig, clever apes ... What's not to love?!