I’ve been on a bit of a fantasy roll lately.  Here’s two I’ve read in the last month:

Graceling:

I’ve had this on my list since Maureen recommended it quite some time ago.   From the cover:

“Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight — she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme, and in her case horrifying, skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.”

Graceling started off slow and I didn’t really like the main character, Katsa. By the middle of the book I had warmed up to Katsa and found the book to be a page-turner.   In the beginning, I think I just didn’t like that Katsa was a murderer and somehow that was okay since that was her Grace.  It took me some time to get comfortable with her, and really it was only after she became a bit more self-aware.  3.5/5 stars

Howl’s Moving Castle:

I picked up Howl’s Moving Castle after learning that it was actually a book from Everyday Reads via Semicolon’s Saturday Review of Books.   I had seen the movie a few years ago with my kids and hadn’t realized it was actually a book or that there was a whole series of books based on Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer.

It was a fun, enchanting book to read.  I really like Diana Wynne Jones’ writing style.  I also liked the theme that people have things about themselves (bad spells put on them) that they can’t tell anyone about.  It rather made me think about ourselves and that famous quote by Philo of Alexandria:

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle”.

As usual, the book is quite different than the anime movie.  Good thing I only remembered snippets from the movie or I might have found it distracting.  But, I enjoyed it enough that I can’t wait to dig into another Diana Wynne Jones story and I’ll probably steer clear of the movies for a while.  4/5 stars

While not quite as good as Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell I  still thoroughly enjoyed reading Susanna Clarke’s collection of short stories in The Ladies of Grace Adieu.  This was pure enjoyment and fluffiness.  Once again, I had fun with Ms. Clarke’s way of mixing historical people into the world of faeries.

Some of the stories were light and fun (Tom Brightwind and  The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse) and others had a more sinister feel (Mrs. Mabb and Mr. Simonelli and the Fairy Widow).   But none were so dark or hopeless as to be despressing.  I haven’t always enjoyed the short story form, but it worked with this collection.

Set in an unnamed Cathedral town, The Dean’s Watch by Elizabeth Goudge is a story about how love conquers all.

The Dean, Adam Ayscough , is a frightening, academic, unapproachable man who is deeply saddened by his inability to reach out to others.   He loves his town and fellow man but because of his station, gravely voice, and frightening looks no one sees through to the inner man.  That is except one crippled old lady, Miss Montague.   Long ago she had committed herself to prayer and love and as a result she has insight into many people in the town, including The Dean.

Enter the town’s clockmaker, Isaak Peabody, a man who has rejected the angry judgmental God of his stern and abusive father.  The Cathedral itself (where his own father had been Rector) represents everything he fears & rejects about his past.  He carefully organizes his visits to the Deanery to wind the clocks around The Dean’s weekly absences from the house.  Until one day when The Dean is home sick.

Through Miss Montague’s encouragement to meet people and to take an interest in them and also a mishap with a note The Dean is eager to meet the town’s clockmaker.  And so a friendship begins and spreads out to others like the spokes of a wheel.

The Dean’s Watch, is another fairytale type book asking the simple question: “What would happen if we went out of our comfort zone and loved those around us?”     Very realisitc because it’s never easy to love those who are fearful or angry.  But like a fairtale because rarely does everyone respond in kind in real life.  But, I liked that the book made me think about my own life and where I  have fallen down and where I can do better.  It’s nice to have examples, like the ones in the book, to look up to and try to imitate.