Great Expectations

In what maybe my favourite novel, great expectations tells the story of a humble orphan pip, an apprentice as a blacksmith, but dreams of becoming a gentlemen, & due to mysterious circumstances, obtains money from an unknown person of whom he has already encountered, without realising, pip becomes a rich, ambitious young man, with aspirations to marry a girl named Estella. But then quickly finds himself hiding from the law, with death and heartbreak surrounding him, he has to make significant choices in order to protect the people he holds most dear to him.

The book written in the C19 is complex and is challenging, but never have I read a book so memorable or enriching, my thoughts before reading where reluctant as it seemed old and tedious, generally people gather the idea old books are more difficult to read; even if they haven’t read it, but throughout the story the author, delineated through the immature yet amiable pip (my favourite character)  for his simple minded and kind characteristics make him relatable and a good narrator, we are presented with many challenges and numerous mysterious moments stand out, that combined with the passion and suspense gives an overall greatness to the book. Dickens’s language might seem antiquated, however, it is remarkably easy. The pace of the novel is normal, and the mystery’s that unfold are extremely gripping.

Neither was the book emotional nor funny, it was written as fiction, but written so brilliantly people would believe it was non-fiction, the plot at times difficult to follow, and a lot to take in, not the most mindless reader would enjoy this novel as again it’s a difficult read, I don’t read many dickens books myself, but I gather from this that his writing style is convincing and uplifting, for no book has made me feel more intrigued, more satisfied and less close minded.

George Pell

Alice In Wonderland

Alice's adventures in wonderland was first released in 1865 and was written by Lewis Carroll. At a first glance, it is a seemingly childish story, but in fact it is an interesting tale following the journey of a curious little girl called Alice. It begins with her in her garden when she spots a mysterious animal in clothes and decides to follow it, only ending up falling down a rabbit hole. While down there many strange things happen to her, she meets weird and wonderful characters and she loses the sense of reality.

When reading it, I didn't feel like I was onlooking her tale but infact there with her. This was because of Carroll's descriptive style of writing, transporting you into the story. Throughout the journey Alice it taken to many strange places, such as court, where she is meets new things she doesn't understand. This story shows Alice getting in some trouble because of her burnings curiosities, changing size, playing croquet with animals and having never ending tea parties. Although these experiences are hardly easy to relate to, that is what gives the story it's "can't put down" factor.

At the beginning of the book Alice likes to say what's on her mind all the time and in some ways that doesn't change. But as he story progresses, her ability to bite her tongue around certain people (those who like to say "cut of her head") grows too. This is not only a story of her adventure in a new and exciting place but the story of a little girl, from a wealthy family, growing up and being more considerate to others, a quality she lacked at the beginning. This helps for you to empathise with Alice throughout the tale because you can see her turn from a mouthy little girl to a more caring little girl who puts others first.

I was first intrigued by this tale because of the fact it is a classic story, one we all have probably experienced, whether in a book or film form and it did not fail to meet my expectations. I would definitely recommend this book to a range of audiences because of the fact it was easy to read but still had a compelling story line and characters which is why I really enjoyed it. The book easily plays out in your head, probably because of the fact it is a known tale to most of us and is quite easy to follow the adventures of little Alice.

 Eleanor Bennett

Wuthering Heights

 Set on the Yorkshire moors in the 19th century, Wuthering Heights is a gothic tale of love and jealousy that has inspired many film adaptations, TV series and even a song. It tells the story of two star-crossed lovers, Catherine (or Cathy) and Heathcliff, both of whom are unpleasant and difficult to like.

When a young gentlemen, Mr Lockwood, comes to live as a tenant at Thrushcross Grange in Yorkshire, he finds his new landlord and the master of Wuthering Heights, Mr Heathcliff, to be a cold, unfriendly and unwelcoming character and his companions to be perplexing, to say the least. Due to an unexpected storm, he is forced to stay the night, and ends up reading the diary of the girl who used to have the room he is in. After a being woken up by her ghost attempting to get in, Lockwood returns to his house. Confused and curious, he asks his housekeeper, Ellen Dean, to explain the story of the odd people that live at Wuthering Heights. Luckily, Mrs Dean knows Mr Heathcliff’s doleful tale all too well and informs her new master of how Heathcliff came to be living at the house with his daughter-in-law, his friend (or servant?) Hareton Earnshaw and his grumpy, pious servant Joseph, as well as who the girl in the diary was.

The wild, harsh moors of Yorkshire are the perfect setting for this novel, reflecting the wildness and harshness of the characters and creating a desolate feeling throughout the novel.
The novel was very daring in its day, as the two lovers are both disagreeable and complex characters, unlike many other books at the time where the two main characters were stereotypically the “good guys”. However, because the characters are so selfish and flawed, they are more like human beings rather than the typical perfectly selfless, brave and honest protagonists of other books.
The plot line is definitely gripping, although very sad in some places and bewildering in others. Personally, my favourite scene is Cathy and Heathcliff's moving reunion about half way through the novel. Bronte's language really helps us understand this love/hate relationship.
Of all the characters, I think that Cathy’s daughter, Catherine, is the one I admire the most due to her stubbornness, spirit and affection for those she loves.

As books go, this one didn't have much for me to criticise, other than the fact that the two narrators can be confusing as both Mr Lockwood and Mrs Dean narrate the novel at different times and the Yorkshire dialect is a little hard to understand at times.
I would recommend this to those who enjoy romance, or gothic fiction- though be warned- it is heavy going and may make you cry.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and hope you do too.

Lily Hayward

12 Years A Slave

I had not then learned the measure of “man’s inhumanity to man,” nor to what limitless extent of wickedness he will go for the love of gain, that was until I read this gripping heartfelt novel. A memoir of Solomon Northup, a father, a skilful violinist, a FREE man. I make emphasis on the word ‘free,’ for it was only ever men born fugitives that remained enslaved for the rest of their lives.

Northup was a respected high class man in society; he was wrongly lured by a job opportunity into the slave trade by two men who drugged him after he agreed to travel to Washington Dc with them. They then proceeded to steal his free papers; this resulted in Solomon being wrongly enslaved for 12 years without contact to any of his family members. As he was a slave he had to hide all his talents, the only thing they couldn't take away was his freedom to express his feelings on paper. That was his only freedom- he embraced it by writing a diary. A diary that bore witness to the white supremacy of America in the 1850's. A black woman beaten up because she cried after she was split up from her children. Being looked down upon and being set menial, laborious tasks just because you were born with the 'wrong colour skin.' Solomon witnessed the untimely deaths of his fellow slaves. The white men who actually cared actually tried to do something but their hands were tied because of the unjust law at the time. This story however is invaluable to historians in the modern ages as it is considered biased for it is one sided against the white dominance. 

This is not just a book, this is the story of a man’s journey to freedom. 12 years expressed in 250 pages. I recommend it to anyone especially people who are interested in the American apartheid- the racial divide. This is the diary that provided Solomon with his key to freedom, the regain of his life and position in society. 

By Lucy

Jayne Eyr

Jane Eyre is a Victorian gothic romance novel written by Charlotte Brontë, one of three famous Brontë sisters. The novel was influenced by Charlotte's own experiences and  the bleak Yorkshire  Moors where she spent the majority of her life.

On the surface, this could be seen as a typical gothic romance tale- gloomy atmosphere, an isolated house, a dark secret... However, instead of portraying a weak and feeble woman waiting  to be rescued by a rich and handsome hero, our author creates a multi-layered, strong minded heroine, Jane Eyre. It is she who drives most of the plot by her own actions and at the time this would have been unusual. More typical of the time was that she was a poor middle class woman who had to earn a living by becoming a governess (like the author herself).

The main appeal of this story is the intense relationship between Jane and the intimidating yet attractive( though not conventionally handsome) Mr Rochester. Although a lowly governess, Mr Rochester is drawn to jane's pure spirit and otherworldliness, especially compared to the woman he has already committed to. Even after receiving a good but strictly disciplined education at Lowood institution- lacking any nurturing apart from that of her good friend, Helen Burns, and a few kind teachers- Jane is able to speak her opinion and stand up for herself against her employer. The fact that she has never experienced true love (even at a young age she was cast away by her aunt) could account for why she felt such a strong connection to her lover. But will her heart overrule her strict morality?

Although the language is very formal (reflecting the more restricted relationships and the importance of religious beliefs in the Victorian era) and possibly challenging for modern day readers, the strength of Charlotte Brontë's writing allows us to immerse ourselves in the story.
Even today, almost 170 years later, young women can admire Jane because of her independent and feisty spirit.

Thea Perkins-green

Dan Dinkum's Circus

Dan Dinkum's Circus was a book written in the late 1800's to the early 1900's by Lester Bidston, and though it was originally supposed to be a storybook for children, it can be enjoyed by all ages. Though the plotline and language may be fairly simple, it is still clear to any reader that the story is only meant to be to be an innocent tale of a mischievous boy and his adventures, rather than a tough read. It is a book that is very easy to read and very simple, but the story seems to contain little anecdotes of the main character, Dan Dinkum, and his struggles in life and his friends - each chapter had something new happening, so it was an exciting text to read.

The book was quite short, only one hundred and fifty one pages, each chapter being very short too, since there are twenty six chapters overall. The cover shows a drawing of Dan Dinkum with his dog, Bruiser, and his cat, Ugly. The story is a general, fun feeling tale of adventure, with the cliché of  "running away to join the circus" being brought to life. The story holds feelings of friendship and hardship, loss and triumph, fear and excitement - overall, a full spectrum of moods and themes, which personally, I think is necessary in any good book.

Concluding my review, I think Dan Dinkum's Circus was as thrilling as a book for children of the early 1900's could be, and though it was simple, it was a nice thing to read. It may not be what you'd bring to the table of a sophisticated book club, but neither would you read it to primary school children; well, you could read it to primary school children but I doubt they would appreciate it for the language used, the plotline or the character development, they would probably just be interested in the fact that it was storytime in class. It was interesting to hear the historical terminology, or use of words, like the old coins (sovereigns, sixpences, etc...) and the way the world used to work back then. As an example, Dan Dinkum didn't pay for a meal in a Chinese restaurant and so he was caught and made to wash dishes as a way of paying for his misdeed. It was overall fairly good, a calm read and a good story to pass on to other people. It could take up a lazy afternoon or two well, its a story that isn't too tiresome to read more than once.
- Zoe Lewis.

Jane Eyre

One of the most famous books written by the Brontë sisters, Jane Eyre is definitely a book to remember with its truthful narrative and complex love.

Lonely and disliked, Jane Eyre is forced to endure the cold charity of her aunt while a child, and also at the Lowood school for orphans. Shunned as she is, Jane is kept faithful to God by the strong beliefs of her friend, Helen Burns, who helps Jane overcome her childish anger at all who mistreat her. The memory of this dear friend helps Jane throughout her life as she falls in love with her bitter employer, Mr Rochester, and when she uncovers his horrific secret. Should Jane forget Christianity in the name of love or leave everyone she loves in the name of God and righteousness?

This book, although about love and Christianity, is also about a young woman’s search for freedom on her own terms, as well as respect for herself.

Overall, Jane Eyre is a brilliant book to read, one you cannot stop thinking about until you have reached the end, but in a few parts the story can get a bit dreary as this book is a slow one which demands patience in the reader. Also, it is confusing to start off with as it jumps straight into the story without any introduction or explanation of what is happening but this is sorted out a few pages in as the narrative becomes clearer. Jane Eyre is a very truthful novel as it has lots of similarities with the actual life of the author, Charlotte Brontë. Both women were enrolled at schools and afterwards becoming teachers there. Charlotte is also writing about her own experiences when she talks about being a governess as she was with two different families as a governess before she gave up and left.

Full of strange surprises and truth, Jane Eyre is definitely a must-read and deserves all the recognition people give it.

Emilia Stonebanks

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austin

I thoroughly enjoyed Northanger Abbey and would recommend it to anyone.

The story is told through the the eyes of the naïve teenage Catherine Morland who has the  misguided view that the world is like one of her books: a romantic adventure with a little bit of gothic thrown into the mix.

Northanger abbey is written in such a way that it feels like two very different stories which eventually merge into one at the end: the story of Catherine Morland - a feisty, romance-novel-addict - and her adventures in Bath during the party season, falling in love, making new friends and escaping unpleasant suitors, giving the first part a "chick fic" type of feel. Where as the second half is the story of Catherine's life after her adventures in Bath in her best friend's country home: Northanger Abbey. Due to Catherine's obsession with bloodthirsty Gothic novels she has a clouded interpretation of the world which leads her to expect the abbey to be the home of a tyrannical gothic villain or to see a mystery in every room - leading her to suspect Eleanor's short-tempered dad of murdering his own wife, or of possibly, locking her up in a hidden dungeon inside the abbey.

The two stories are only brought together when a real mystery arrives on Charlotte's doorstep that takes the reader back into the world of Bath and she realises that her life is in fact not a book and the motivations of the people in it are not what she thought them to be, leading to the revelation of her foolishness dawning on her.

I loved the book so much because Catherine is awesome and kind of nuts, and the supporting characters have their own developed personalities that really add to the story, from really likeable  Eleanor and her brother Henry to the excruciatingly irritating John and Isabella. I loved Northanger Abbey because it drew me in with its descriptions of the scenery and the emotions of the characters.

Abi Guerin - Northanger Abbey

Four Meals For Fourpence

Four meals for fourpence are the memoirs of Grace Foakes, who lived in London's East End during the early 1900s. 

   The book covers various aspects of Grace's early life, such as the struggles she and her family faced in the over crowded, poverty stricken and polluted area of London in which they lived. As well as this, she tells us about her pass-times, members of her family, schooling, clothing and her general day to day life. 

   The book is largely centred around money, and we are told a lot about how the family had to scrape by and also how Grace and her siblings still were able to amuse themselves. We discover how this lack of income affected Grace as, being the eldest child, had to grow up quickly and help provide for the family.  

   Four meals for fourpence is a heartwarming and interesting insight into the tight-knit community of the old East End, a stark contrast to the many cities and towns of today. Also, it provides an array of information about how the lower class lived in the early 1900s, along with many other matters. 

   However, the book is at times difficult to follow, as the writer is frequently switching between subjects and often rambles. Another issue is that it is quite repetitive, with many things being mentioned over and over again at different times throughout the book, therefore making it quite tedious towards the end. 

   I would recommend this book to those who are interested in history and hearing about other people's experiences. Personally, I found it interesting to hear about how life differed in the past, but didn't find myself particularly gripped by the book. 

Jodie Bain

The Invention of Wings - Imogene Uwotu

The title 'The invention of wings' suggests many things, so when I first saw the title, I thought of a few of these things. Firstly, I thought of airplanes like we have today, then realised the book was set in the 1800s. I then thought of birds until I read the blurb and saw the subject of slavery. This interested me as I feel that slavery isn't talked about as much as I'd like it to be. So I finally came to the conclusion that the book was about metaphorical wings for freedom, but this book is so much more than that. Written by the multi-million-copy-selling author Sue Monk Kidd, The Invention of Wings is a moving and gripping insight into the life of a slave and her slaveowner. From the viewpoint of Handful - known as Hetty by her slaveowners - we listen to her tell her story and feel her emotions in our hearts; the brutality of slavery, the hunger for freedom, the security of her family. From the viewpoint of Sarah - a daughter of the respectable Judge John Grimké - we struggle through life; fighting with her speech impediment, fighting for approval and recognition in a family of ten children and her internal fight to find where she truly belongs.

When Handful is given to Sarah for her eleventh birthday, their lives intertwine and they find a much needed friend in each other. I began to love both characters and admire them for their boldness to stand up against slavery in anyway they can, but as the book progressed, my dislike for Sarah's character became apparent as she shrunk into the shell of society and became more focused on marriage, giving up her dream of becoming a lawyer after it was crushed by her beloved father. Maybe it was because Handful had also fallen out with her and I had gotten too close to the characters once again, but I became less enthralled by Sarah's story and more so by Handful's. After wallowing in her own self pity for a while longer, Sarah decided to become a Quaker after meeting a man, Israel, and his family who were heavily against slavery also. Whilst at home, Handful's mauma, Charlotte, had run off, leaving Handful to deal with the Grimké family on her own. As the story continued, Handful slowly forgave Sarah - as did I - as she and her sister Nina began a country-wide uproar, telling the people of America how wrong it was to enslave humans such as themselves.

As the book concluded, I once again was inspired by Sarah and Handful and I once again was amazed as to how talented Sue Monk Kidd must be to concoct such a remarkable story. I then read that this was a fictionalised recount of the history of two abolitionist, Sarah and Nina Grimké but let's pretend we didn't know that.

Coram Boy By Jamila Gavin

When first seeing the book I was reluctant to read it, due to its whole appearance. It didn’t look promising at all and seemed like it was going to be a big letdown. The title, blurb and colour scheme just made it look odd and unappealing, which makes you feel put off by it. Even when reading the blurb it seemed disappointing, there just wasn’t any particular wow factor about it, nothing that entice me or that caught my eye. However, once having read the book I felt that the blurb just doesn’t do the book justice. I know a blurb is a brief summary meant to grip the reader; also that it is difficult to really promote a book in such few words without giving the whole plot line and story away. Therefore, Jamila Gavin did a good job by writing a blurb that literally summed up the whole entire book in so few words, not giving too much detail or everything away, so fair play to Gavin. It just shows how first opinions and judgements aren’t always reliable and that some books, the Coram Boy being one of them, are so much better than they seem on the surface and are very much worth your time.

For me the story started off with a bit of a disappointing and rocky start, living up to my first impression of the book. The story started by introducing and following the lives of Meshak and his father Otis Gardiner, for the first three chapters. I couldn’t help in finding this a little dull and slow pace, but then in saying that all book are like this a bit at the start, due the characters and story begin introduced to you for the first time. Books just take a while sometimes to get going, which I found the Coram Boy to be one of them, but all stories have to start somewhere. This is probably why for about a quarter of the book I was unsure how I felt about it, for I didn’t dislike the book but I didn’t like it either.

After the first three chapters the story line suddenly switched from Meshak and Otis to being about two choir boys named Alexander and Thomas. As soon as the book did this I immediately thought “ow no”, for I really dislike books which change from one person or story line to the other, it just confuses me and gets on my nerves. However, as the book went on I found that the story carried on with Alexander and Thomas, not changing back to Meshak and Otis. I figured out that this was happened because both of their stories were connected, therefore, Meshak and Otis were introduced again later on in the book.  

Throughout the book I was never really bothered about Otis and Meshak and a few other characters along the way, there was no particular reason to this I just didn’t find them or their stories very interesting. However, I grew particularly fond of the characters Melissa and Alexander along with the whole Ashbrook family and friends, I just found their characters and all of the events that happened between them or to them really compelling and engaging. I found the last few chapters of part 1 with the Ashbrook`s especially moving and memorable, from what Mrs Milcote and Mrs Lynch did to Melissa without her knowing and without her say in the matter, I felt particularly annoying and outraged by this when I reading. It irritated and shocked me so much that they had just done that to her, I felt that it was morally wrong of them and that it was so unjustly to do and act as they did. Although, this event in the book made it more thrilling by having such a shocking turn of events and made it a key moment in my memory of the book.

The book is set in the 18^th century and has two parts to the book. Part 1 set in 1741 and is about the majority of what I have already said above: the introduction to characters and the story, the thrilling and shocking ending to part 1. Part 2 set in 1750 eight years in the future after the ending events of part 1. Part 2 is mostly based around two boys Aaron and Toby and their stories, which do gradually interlink with part 1, the stories of the Otis, Meshak, Alexander and the Ashbrook`s. At first the jump from part 1 to part 2 confused me a little for I was unsure if they were separate stories or not, but I eventually realised that they were connected. For me the blurb actually gave away a key part of part 2, by it mentioning Aarons name and the statement made about him. When reading part 2 I very quickly realised the connection and importance of Aaron in the book, because of the blurb. I don’t know whether Jamila Gavin intended on the reader make the connection or whether it was a mistake that I did.

Overall I found that the book had a bit of a disappointing ending, I would have liked everything to have been happily ever after and to have worked out. I feel that endings are always better that way, they make books more appealing and joyous from the fact that everything that the characters have been through and journeyed, wasn’t for nothing.

During and after reading the book I had a few observations. I found the way children and babies were treated and thought of really fascinating, in some aspects it surmised me. Also how the class divide influenced people’s actions and opinions, which lead to the some of the characters mostly women such as Mrs Milcote to make the decisions that they did. From this I feel as though the class divide and time the book was set shaped the events and outcome of the book, where as if certain aspects of the book were different such as there was no class divide like today, then that would affect and change the whole story and events that happened in the book.

If you do chose to read the Coram Boy then try not to let your first impression affect your decision to read it, because you will find that it was much better than you expected and that it let on. You will gradually grow to love it.

 

By Sophie Smithurst

The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer review

The adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain

A charming, amusing but gripping book exploring the life of the mischievous Tom Sawyer and his best friend Huck Finn. The reader is taken on a journey with these two boys and faces the challenges with them while witnessing them grow and learn.

Tom can never seem to stay out of trouble, he is always doing something out of line- this is reflected through his choice of best friend Huck Finn- the town outcast. This duo find themselves facing impossible challenges but somehow always overcoming them.

With every problem solved us, as readers, witness Tom and Huck grow and mature and really get to know and love the boys and their friends throughout this novel when we see them begin their journey into adulthood after they witness a terrible crime.

I did, however feel that the book was very slow to start with and the language at times was grueling and difficult to understand due to the difference between the time it was written and the time in which I read it.

The adventures of Tom Sawyer is charming, moving, and gripping but sometimes dark and a true joy to read. I would definitely recommend it as Tom and Huck are very relatable characters and can open the readers’ eyes the importance of friendship, community and family.

Maisie Thornton

A Review of The Ice Dragon:

The Ice Dragon a novel written by the famous George RR Martin. Yes the author of the 50 Shades of Lord of the Rings: Game of Thrones (an adult only book). So naturally he decided to turn his hand to creating a "tale for the young and old" (another way of calling it a children's book).

The Ice Dragon tells a story about Adara and her struggles, or at least, the struggles of people around her. Every winter, the ice dragon comes to the place she lives in. Lucky for her, winter is the time of her birthday. She looks forward to every visit that the ice dragon does, but everyone around her hates the dragon. It brings harsh winter effects and hinders the crops growth. In actuality, the dragon is a curse for everyone.

Martin's tale ends rather abruptly, as we do not get to explore the origins of the characters and what makes them who they are. Another gripe I have is Martin's incessant use of the line 'Adara was a winter child' which may seem minor but it can become very irritating.

This review may seem quite negative however the artwork by Luis Royo is very detailed and it sets an appropriate tone to the novel. Additionally I found the characters very interesting as they have conflicting personalities, I won't go further into this as it may spoil the story.

Martin presents an interesting and intriguing story and characters however it's held back by it's staggeringly basic language and at it's length at just under 120 pages.

Reviewed by Oliver Howes

My Swordhand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick

Review by Brad Jones

Set in the chilling forests of medieval eastern Europe, Marcus Sedgwick's My Swordhand is Singing is a thrilling gothic horror which explores the European myth of a creature which we are all very well acquainted with - the vampire (although no shimmering teenagers here - sorry folks).

When Peter and his drunkard of a father move to the isolated village of Chust in the shadow of the forest, they are clueless to the looming threat of the 'hostages': pale, bloodthirsty creatures who emerge from their graves to exact revenge on the living. However, Tomas (Peter's father) starts to act strangely when a group of gypsies come to town, and Peter begins to wonder whether his father is quite so oblivious to the strange sightings and murders happening around them.

Although the story is at first confusing and slow, you'll soon find yourself wrapped up in the inexplicable happenings of Chust, for the recently deceased should not be visiting relatives by moonlight. Sedgwick is able to utterly absorb the reader in the mystery of events by hinting at significance in things which were assumed to be a given, such as the father's drunkenness or his ability to answer Peter's questions. Is Tomas just a confused drunk? The possibility becomes less possible with each page.

Perhaps what makes the novel is how the seemingly mundane innocence of Chust and its residents is quickly turned on its head to become a living necropolis, creating a quick-paced and exhilarating dynamic. Of course, killing off dislikeable characters is also quite agreeable with most readers (like when Umbridge was dragged off by centaurs in The Order of the Phoenix).

And after all this, a precautionary tale about the most evidenced monster duplicated in cultures across the globe: who is there that believes in vampires?

The Ice Dragon by George R.R Martin

The Ice Dragon or Flaming Rubbish?

For a 120 page book, you can read it VERY quickly. Half the pages consist of pictures, usually of the same dragon over and over again (and you don’t start properly reading until page 14). The other half is a tedious plot with no weight, the idea is unique and intriguing but cramming it into 120 pages was a bad idea. For a writer who bought us Game of Thrones, writing this “book” seems to be a complete waste of talent. For instance the line ‘Adara was a winter child’ is repeated in practically every chapter, the ending is a bit abrupt and the description is kind of lacking somewhat. However the illustrations do save the ice dragon from going down in flames. The illustrator (Luis Royo) must have had a difficult time as it seems George forgot to include some detail, but the highly praised illustrator did an incredible job. This book is fantastic if you want to read something quickly, or if your 5 years old. But it certainly keeps to its genre of fantasy; a girl aged about six who never cries, loves the cold and can somehow control a magical dragon!?

Plot Summary: A girl called Adara is born; she never cries and is cold hence: ‘Adara was a winter child’. Her mom died giving birth to her and her father blames Adara for that! She lover the winter and annually builds a snow castle for some stray lizards (as you do). Then somehow controls an ice dragon and fights off 3 other dragons! The ending (without spoiling it) is basically opposite to the start.

It’s a combination of a condensed version of How to train your dragon and an Art Gallery.

Adam Dyer

The Hound Of The Baskervilles

Although I'm one of those people who prefers to savour the after-book feeling, by internally – and sometimes externally – sobbing about how great it was at enthralling you; for the purpose of this exercise I will try and put those feelings into words without reverting into ‘fan girl’ mode (even though I will always maintain the belief that it will forever be the way of conveying your true feelings towards your experience within that book’s world).

 ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’, was already a book sitting patiently on my to-be-read list at the time that this task surfaced, so it was an obvious choice for my selection; one that would prove both an enchanting and intriguing adventure.

As this is an infamous tale of the century’s turn, I'm working with the assumption that surely everyone will have seen one adaption of the tale, however recent or original (if you haven’t, then I am obliged to ask you what rock have you been residing under the entirety of your life? And, if I may join you?). I will therefore refrain from being directly cumbersome with the synopsis, I will let you be a free man, woman or person and delve directly into my review and honest opinion of the famous novel, so you need not fret.

To begin, we must first discuss the use of tone throughout the novel, a simple thing that Doyle manages to maintain throughout not just this novel, but through an entire series. From the opening lines recounting the dignified structure of an imminent meeting, to the revelation of horrors of fragrant abuse and infidelity the suspect is inevitably accused of by Holmes, the tone never lifts its harrowing fingers of despise. This is one aspect many authors fall flat on, even if it’s one of the ‘easier’ trials of writing, but never does the dark tone lift its cloud from the recount; obvious to say do not attempt to read this while in the throes of happiness – although that feeling is pretty hard to achieve under the callous new regime the government has decided to enforce – with the expectation to fully grasp the fear that constantly proves a threat to both the physical and emotional threat to characters.

Also, the narrative comes in the form of first person – from Watson.  A non-protagonist point of view is one rarely taken in literature, partly due to the difficulty undertaken in writing it; but Doyle pulls it perfectly. Although at times he has been known for mocking the character of Watson, especially when in the sight of his exceptional friend, Doyle uses this not to distance the reader, but involve them in the story to a greater extent. For this reason, there are times where Dr Watson can be portrayed as seemingly ignorant, however this is not the impression the device is intended to create. Watson is there primarily to stand in for the beliefs of the ‘common’ man, and provide a sense of morality in the distant mind of Holmes, allowing Watson to take us on an adventure with him, while still viewing the world through familiar eyes.

 Throughout this review I have no doubt expressed my distaste for both the reading and writing of book reviews, as for the fact that once you discuss the techniques the writer uses, you are admitting that it was in fact a book, and not a world you were entranced in. But in despite of this, I would without doubt recommend this if you identify as a fan of horror, murder mysteries or any other junior adaption. You would not want to be robbed of the experience of losing yourself in the original; it is not for no reason that Victorian Sherlockians staged a full blown protest over the notion that they would never again be able to read an update of their favourite characters' life, as the impact every adventure has is perpetually emotional; no exaggeration needed. I can say it is a world that you will forever remain sherlocked in, for better, and for worse.

by Cam Mackie

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a tale of a girl who cannot control her curiosity. Alice was born into a wealthy English family more suited to croquet on the lawn than croquet with flamingoes. Alice is sat reading when she sees a rather unfamiliar sight, a clothed rabbit claiming to be 'late for a very important date'. Within her nature, she follows the creature and takes a tumble down the rabbits hole where she falls into a room with many doors and a single glass table. The rest of the story tells of Alice's experience with potions, playing cards painting roses and a rather evil monarch.

Upon reading, I was transported into Wonderland along with Alice and for any reader, I would say this magical experience is not to be missed. Although with it's Disney connection it is thought to be a story specifically for children I would recommend this book to a much broader audience. Alice's approach to the situation although niäve, is refreshing and shows a quality that is sparse within today's generations.  I believe that ages right through to late life could be enlightened by the youthful curiosity entwined within the tale.

Being the Disney obsessive that I am, I would probably favour an adapted version of the story although I think to anybody new to the plot would find much joy in Carroll's Classic version. Moreover, I somehow wanted this book to give me the same feeling as I get from watching the Disney film but it didn't happen. For this reason I would only be able to give the book a 4/5 because from past experience I feel Walt gave Alice more life and quality within personality.

Amy Yeomans

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen's Classic Pride and prejudice is a joy and interest to read as we study the conflict over marriage in the late Georgian era. The outline reveals the story between Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennett developing a loving relationship with each other, while certain issues disallow them to do as such. Mr Darcy's wealth and social superiority are far above the standards of Elizabeth's and it would be considered a disgrace to marry such a person, especially in Miss Lady de Boroughs case. Furthermore Elizabeth's family are embarrassing and poorly mannered, while her prestigious mother Mrs Bennett believes that marrying her five daughters for no what reason is considered a success. Can Elizabeth fulfil her marriage through true love?

The novel reveals a very complex yet sustained plot. When Austen is describing the romance and relationships in the characters there is also often reliefs of humour in the bike with the likes of the stupid Mr Collins and Elizabeth's foolish sisters (apart from Jane). This amusment is especially referred to the ideas of money, status and understanding of love, ironic considering we still revisit these scenes in the modern day. Language is a big part of this story as it helps to depict and compare the roles of women with the roles of men. It is most educational to see the difference between Mr Darcy's freedom and Miss Bennetts restrain in society, which again we can relate the 21st century to.

Nevertheless this is a well known, enchanting book that we should all read, since we may revisit the storyline both in copied versions and scenes in our lives. Personally I felt the novel was targeted more at women due to its subject of marriage and context, but I wouldn't want to hamper any male interests in reading this classic lover story. I admit that I struggled to pick out some key features in the text as the unfamiliar style of writing was, in some cases, difficult to understand. Films and other copies have also been released and having also watched the excellent BBC series from the 90's, I thou roughly recommend it. Overall though it is a brilliant story, full of beautiful imagery, well placed characters and a fantastic plot! Perhaps I am now tempted to try another Jane Austen story for my next read...

By Fred Ross

The Pit and the Pendulum

The Pit and the Pendulum (Published in 1842) is one of Poe's most famous tales of horror. It is an incredibly descriptive short story depicting the tale of a man, who is faced with trial during the Spanish inquisition. The book relies on evoking fear in the reader because of its heavy emphasis on sensation, depicted by the emotive and heavily definitive narration of the book.

The book packs a punch, primarily due to the sense of reality incorporated within, rather than a supernatural element which simply isn't evident. The story takes place in the prisons, or torture chambers rather of Toledo. At the start of the story, however the man is placed in front of a what seems to be an already decided judge, at from this point onwards he knows that his fate has already been sealed.
From the very start we are thrust into the experience of the prisoner undergoing torture, but the methods are very unclear and somewhat uncertain. He has short snippets of flashbacks of a trial, with the judges who are described in a harsh narrative, somewhat grotesquely. Almost all throughout the tale the prisoner attempts to dissociate himself over time from the situation he is in, portraying a sense of immediacy to the reader. The confusion of the prisoner is portrayed through misunderstandings such as, at first he believes he is in a tomb, but later discovers he is in a cell. The confusion of the prisoner builds suspense in the tale, and its this element of suspense which somewhat involves the reader as the determination and courage of the character develops against all the odds.
The tension in the story is very thoughtfully restrained. The slow but inevitable swing of the pendulum blade within the cell mirrors the gradual progress of the prisoner's exploration of his location, before he discovers that at the centre of the cell, there is a gargantuan pit. At this point of the story the characters inventiveness unveils, as the prisoner uses his meagre supply of food to lure rats to chew at his bonds, only to be met by the next stage of his torture, where he finds himself being closed in on by red-hot metal walls.
The mortal ending, when the prisoner is personally liberated from the brink of peril by Napoleon's General Lasalle of the French army, is hard to fathom. The ending to this tale is unusual to one of Poe's books, due to the lack of brutality, and the ending comes after the increasing drips of suspense built up during the tale. Perhaps Poe had a change of heart, and welcomed a less brutal ending to his readers? Or perhaps he was simply giving into convention, as the prisoner was the narrator, so logically he had to survive, in which case irony is unveiled due to the narrators deep anxiety about death.
This book is perhaps one of the most powerful I have read, and had me at the edge of my seat throughout the entirety of the book. I would definitely recommend it, and many other of Edgar Allan Poe's books as they are often very contextual and explore deeper meanings to common things.

by Joe Ward

Frankenstein

Frankenstein is arguably one of the most famous horror novels of all time. Published in march 1818, the book was received with controversy because of the book's scientific themes, which challenged religion, and some didn't like the fact that Mary Shelley, the author, was female.

The book opens with a series of letters from an explorer called Robert Walton, addressed to his sister. Walton is on a ship travelling to the north pole on an expedition. In the last letter the ship crashes, and the Walton spots a distant figure with a sled. They then find the figure and look after him. Walton begins to talk to the man and learns his story.

The man is Victor Frankenstein, a scientist from Geneva in Switzerland. Frankenstein gradually becomes obsessed with finding the secret to life, and eventually succeeds, creating a hideously disfigured creature, which is brought to life with a lightning bolt. The Monster is abandoned by Victor, who sees it as a disgusting creation, and this obviously leaves a lasting impact on the Creature.

The reader is enthralled in a tale filled with misery, scientific discovery and murder, as the characters experience all manner of awful things, such as execution, isolation and loss.

The book toys with the reader's emotions, as you initially find the monster to be - well, a monster - but chapter by chapter, the book u-turns, ducks and weaves through the plot, as the Monster shows how he developed, learning to speak, read, write and empathise with others.

To me at least, it is unclear who is the monster. Is it Victor, or the Creature, as both of them seem like awful people, but they had clear motives for doing all the evil that they did, and that is what makes this book so great. It makes the reader sympathise with clearly evil people, as they had good reasons for doing what they did. The Monster is a murderer, but he only committed the murders due to his rejection from society, his desire to be loved, and his hideous appearance.

Overall, I think this book is great and deserves its place among the greatest literary pieces of all time.

By Lewis Lister