Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp (J. K. Rowling)

Quidditch Through the Ages
Kennilworthy Whisp (J. K. Rowling)

Front cover

Date read: 27 - 29 September 2017

Length: 105 pages (123 with introduction)

Quidditch Through the Ages has everything you could possibly want to know about the notorious wizarding sport. From 'The Evolution of the Flying Broomstick' to 'Quidditch Today' there is really nothing left to be told. Discover all about how Quidditch came to be, and discover your favourite teams.


Quidditch is such a big thing in Harry Potter and you learn about it from the get go, particularly because Harry is the Gryffindor Seeker. It's no secret that just about everyone loves the sport, and with the exception of Hermione in the early days, goes crazy about it.

This is a good companion to the series, and you get to learn more about the famous teams which you don't really discover in the books. You hear of a few, yes, but not as many as are mentioned here. I also found the bit about the broomsticks quite interesting.


I can't wait to read The Tales of Beedle the Bard! I think that might be my favourite of the companions, but will have to read it to find out!




Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

Before They Are Hanged (The First Law #2) by Joe Abercrombie

Before They Are Hanged
The First Law #2
Joe Abercrombie

Front Cover

Date read: 13 - 26 September 2017
Length: 570 pages

The war is well underway, and everybody has someone or something to fear. Nobody likes the Gurkish but they loom ever closer. Inquisitor Glokta is sent to Dagoska to uncover the truth of his predecessor who mysteriously disappeared. The Northmen are helping Crown Prince Ladisla, despite the fact he has the worst armed, worst trained and worst led army in the world. Jezal is travelling with Bayaz and Ninefingers, and nobody seems to like their arrangements. Despite the war, can everyone make it in once piece? Can they survive the Shanka?


The Shanka! We finally learn more about the Shanka! Some call them Flatheads because of their particularly flat faces. They appear to be somewhat ape-like creatures that are proficient with spears. I certainly wouldn't want to be on the other end of them! They are fighting for Bethod, and are ruthless.

Here we get to see some development within the characters and also their love interests. Some pairings I didn't expect, and some were more obvious. It was nice to get to know the characters on a more intimate level and not just as soldiers in a war.

I'm looking forward to reading the last in the trilogy. I want to find out what happens to Jezal and Ardee, if anything!




Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

Enduring Love by Ian McEwan

Enduring Love
Ian McEwan

Front cover

Date read: 7 - 12 September 2017
Length: 245 pages

Joe and his wife Clarissa happen upon a hot air balloon in distress. Along with a few others, they try to help the situation. That is when Joe meets Jed; a man he will never forget. How can one event change his life so much?


I quite liked the story, but I couldn't bond to Joe. Although I was reading I felt like I didn't really mind what happened to him all that much, but obviously I didn't want anything drastic. I'm glad it didn't end in tragedy.

What a strange man Jed is. For a while I thought maybe it was all in Joe's head, and maybe he wasn't even real. I'm sure that's probably what we're meant to be thinking.

The information at the end about de Clérambault's syndrome makes me think it's based on a true story. I haven't don't any research into it, but it certainly seems that way!




Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander (J. K. Rowling)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Newt Scamander (J. K. Rowling)

Front cover

Date read: 4 - 6 September 2017
Length: 123 pages

Here we have Newt Scamander's book detailing what we need to know about all manner of Fantastic Beasts. This is an essential core text at Hogwarts, and every young witch and wizard must have a copy upon entering first year. We learn each Beasts M.O.M (Ministry of Magic) Classification, where they originate, what they look like, and some characteristics. This copy belonged to the one and only Harry Potter, so we also have some nice comments from himself, Ron, and Hermione.


This is a good companion to the Harry Potter series. Not a clue what Luna Lovegood is talking about? A quick glance in here might help.

I liked the comments made by Harry, Ron,  and Hermione. Although I wish there were more! It was good to think of them as just run-of-the-mill kids, and not the heroes they are.

The companion is quite short, if only it was longer! I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next two! (And them some.)




Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

The Blade Itself (The First Law #1) by Joe Abercrombie

The Blade Itself
The First Law #1
Joe Abercrombie

Front cover

Date read: 22 August - 3 September 2017
Length: 515 pages

Logen Ninefingers is a barbarian believed to be dead. Jezal has 'blood' and dreams of winning the fencing contest and serving his country. Inquisitor Glokta hates everyone, including himself. He is a power-hungry cripple who tortures people for information. But they are at war, and something big is coming.


I liked the set up here and the writing style. I like reading from more than one characters perspective. The characters seem interesting and varied, and I like most of them. My favourite is probably Ardee though. She's a badass!

One downside is that I kind of feel like I don't really know the characters very well yet. This is a trilogy so I'm hoping that will change soon!

The Shanka. I'm not really sure what they are yet, but I'm looking forward to finding out more!




Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

Nineteen Eighty-Four
George Orwell

Front cover

Date read: 14 - 21 August 2017
Length: 311 pages (347 including introductions and appendix)

Winston lives in Oceania and works for the Party in the Ministry of Truth, rewriting the past. But he doesn't like the world he lives in, with telescreens and microphones everywhere, recording his every move. He doesn't believe this world is better than before the revolution and seeks the truth. He has a secret love affair with Julia, and together they search for answers. What happens when they get caught by the Thought Police?


As a novel, I feel it's got great. There's not much character development and they seem a bit bland. You feel for them because of their circumstance, the horrible things they endure. The world they live in is not really set up, you're just sort of thrown in and have to figure things out for yourself, by following Winston about his day to day life.

That being said, it is a very political novel, and even though it was published in 1949, there are some points which are very valid in Britain today. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING. There is no privacy in Oceania, your every move, thought, breath, is recorded by a screen or a microphone. We have a reality television series called Big Brother, which is basically the same. There's always some kind of war or conflict between counties here, the same in the novel between Oceania and Eurasia or Eastasia. Technology is advancing very quickly. We all have cameras on our phones, ready to snap and record at a moments notice. Machines are taking over our jobs, we're already being served by them in supermarkets. For a novel written so long ago, it's crazy that this is still very relevant today.

One thing I'm glad doesn't really apply is Newspeak. Yes, we use abbreviations, and some people do 'text speak' but that's shortening words, not eradicating them altogether. Our dictionary is expanding, not diminishing. If something is very good, we can use words like fantastic, great, brilliant, not plusgood. And I hope that will never change!


A novel worth reading in this political climate, but don't be too disappointed by the story. The message behind it is powerful.

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.

Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter #7
J. K. Rowling

Front cover

Date read: 29 July - 13 August 2017
Length: 620 pages

It is no longer safe at Hogwarts and Harry, Ron, and Hermione have a mission to accomplish; they must find and destroy all of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. But it's not all plain sailing; Dumbledore hasn't left them much to go on and they begin to lose hope. Can they find them all, and is Harry really prepared to die at the hands of his mortal enemy?


It's been a while since I have been as invested as a series as this one. I just wish I had read it as a teen, as I think it would have made a big impression. Instead I read the first 2 as a child, then rediscovered them in my mid-twenties. Obviously pretty much everyone is aware of The Boy Who Lived, and I've seen the films. But to actually read them yourself is a different experience altogether.

Snape. Snape. Severus Snape. What a character! For Harry not to find out about the real Snape for so long, until pretty much the last moment, and for Snape to keep his intentions from Harry as well, it's quite astonishing. To think their relationship could have been completely different if it wasn't kept a secret. It's good to be able to finally understand Snape.

The deaths! Oh, the deaths! It was inevitable of course; you can't go to war without some fatalities, but it's still hard all the same. Now there's only one twin and a child without any parents. It's heartbreaking, really.


I want to read more! I will read more!

J. K. Rowling

Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist