Robinson Crusoe (Robinson Crusoe #1) by Daniel Defoe

Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe #1
Daniel Defoe

Front cover

Date read: 4 - 9 May 2018
Length: 235 pages (265 including introduction and preface)


Robinson Crusoe was born in York in 1632. He travels to sea, determined it's where he belongs. After a few disasters at sea and a brief two year spell in Brasil, he ends up stranded on a desert island. How will he survive, and will he ever make it back home?


Robinson Crusoe is one of those books everyone has heard of, although most have not read it (in my experience). I had heard of it but knew nothing of the story. Some say it was the beginning of the novel, where works of fiction besides plays originate. As an avid reader with many, many books in my house and easy access to hundreds of thousands more, I find this a very hard concept to get my head around. A world without novels?! It's unthinkable.

So now I've read it. And it's not really what I was expecting. To be honest, I'm not really sure what I expected. I certainly didn't expect a man to be stranded on a desert island for 28 years! It's really amazing what he managed to accomplish with the bare minimum tools at his disposal. I'm not sure anyone of this century, (or maybe just western civilisation) would have lasted anywhere near as long.

I am not religious in any way, so I found all the references hard to take. Perhaps it was the copy I had, which had notes and told you which passages things were from. Maybe if I didn't have that, I would have been none the wiser.

It's really hard to judge this book, because I've never read anything like it. On one hand I thought Crusoe's character was a bit boring, but what could I expect of a man trapped alone on an island? Other times I thought "what is he going to do now?". I will need to read the further adventures.

I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either.




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The Wee Librocubicularist

Letters to a Love Rat by Niamh Greene

Letters to a Love Rat
Niamh Greene

Front cover

Date read: 26 April - 3 May 2018
Length: 325 pages

Eve, Molly, and Julie don't know each other, but they all have one man in common; Charlie. Molly and Charlie are just back from their honeymoon when he suddenly leaves her. Julie is blogging about her sexy boss who she's having an affair with. Eve has been tasked to write, but not send, letters to the man she couldn't move on from. How will things end for the Love Rat?


I really liked the different formats for each of the main characters. I know some readers struggle with this, or switching from different characters' perspective, but it's something I've always liked. You can get right into their head when it's not just told from one person, or a standard narrative. The different formats made it more fun to read. I especially liked the comments on Julie's blog!

Letters to a Love Rat is very easy to read. I would recommend it as a holiday book or if you just fancy a light read. It's great to take your mind off things for a while.

I know it's intentional, and of course he's meant to be the 'big bad' but I really don't like Charlie. He's arrogant and selfish, and of course commits adultery. Cheaters are despicable, and I just can't tolerate them. I think he got let off lightly!


Many, many years ago I read Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife which I really enjoyed. Personally I didn't think this was as good, but that could be because I am older now. Or maybe it's just not as good. Who knows.


A good light read for holidays.

Niamh Greene

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The Wee Librocubicularist

A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire #3 part 1) by George R. R. Martin

A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow
A Song of Ice and Fire #3 part 1
George R. R. Martin

Front cover

Date read: 10 - 25 April 2018
Length: 569 pages (632 with appendix)

The Seven Kingdoms are at war, never knowing who's friend or foe. Instead of one king to rule them all, they have split and each king claimed a piece for themselves. There's murder, marriage, kidnappings and hostages, and don't forget the dragons!


I can't get enough of ASOIAF!  I am very much enjoying the series and I can't believe I waited so long to read it! I think at first I was a bit daunted by the fact the books are rather large, but that doesn't bother me these days, certainly not as much as when I was younger.

One thing I will say is that there are so many characters that it can get a bit confusing at times. I always like to read the appendix at the end to try to refresh my mind of who's who and where they fit into the story. I think it has definitely helped that I have seen the TV show, and of course the main characters are pretty memorable.

One of my favourite characters has always been Dany, and rather like Arya too. They are both strong females who think for themselves and do what they think is right. I especially like following their stories and I really hope Dany gets back to Westeros and manages to become queen, although I know that will be quite a while yet, if ever!

Very much looking forward to part 2!




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The Wee Librocubicularist

Successor's Promise (Millennium's Rule #3) by Trudi Canavan

Successor's Promise
Millennium's Rule #3
Trudi Canavan

Front cover

Date read: 27 March - 9 April 2018
Length: 564 pages

It has been 5 cycles since the demise of the Raen, and the worlds are at war. Dahli is determined to bring the Raen back to power, which means Qall's life is at risk once again. Can Rielle and Tyen prevent the resurrection of the worlds' most powerful sorcerer?


Successor's Promise is slower than the previous two novels, but it's still good. The world is very immersive and you really do get stuck into it. I'm curious to find out what will be in the fourth novel, although I'm not sure when I'll get around to reading it!

I told myself from the very first novel that Rielle and Tyen would meet, and it finally happened! I didn't expect so much to happen between them, but I'm happy about it, and hope more will happen in the next book!

I'm now in two minds about what I want to happen to Vella. One the one hand I'm excited to see if Tyen can restore her into a body, but on the other hand I'm not sure it's the right thing to do. I am conflicted now, and I wonder what Tyen will choose to do. I also hope Tyen finds a way to stop his insectoids being used as war machines. I really like Beetle, and I don't want him to have to stop using it or making more like it. It just goes to show that it's a great thing, but when put in the wrong hands it can be dangerous.


Looking forward to book four sometime in the future!

Trudi Canavan

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The Wee Librocubicularist

The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller

The Bridges of Madison County
Robert James Waller

Front cover

Date read: 23 - 26 March 2018
Length: 171 pages

It's summer when Robert Kincaid travels to a farmhouse to ask for directions to Roseman Bridge, where he is taking photographs for National Geographic. There he meets Francesca and the pair immediately fall in love. They spend an intense four days together before parting ways forever.


This is a tale of forbidden love, as Francesca is married with two children. You can't help feeling sorry for her though, as she seems to be trapped in her life. As much as she wants to leave with Robert, she can't face abandoning her family and ultimately chooses to stay. The Bridges of Madison County does pull on the heartstrings a bit, especially at this point and at the end.

It's a very short novel, but it tells you all you need to know. The couple only spent 4 days together, and while to them it seems like a lot longer, the memories stay with them for the rest of their lives. There's a bit of What If? implied at the end. What if Francesca had left with Robert? What if they had spent their lives together? What if they had travelled the world? We will never know.


I was given this book by someone who knows I like reading, and they found it lying around their house. Although I read a bit of everything, it's not something I would normally pick up myself. I was pleasantly surprised, and have just found out there is a film, so I will need to watch that too!




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The Wee Librocubicularist

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2) by George R. R. Martin

A Clash of Kings
A Song of Ice and Fire #2
George R. R. Martin

Front cover

Date read: 28 February - 22 March 2018
Length: 873 pages (913 including appendix)


After the death of King Robert Baratheon, it seems everyone believes they are the rightful heir to the throne. While Joffrey sits the throne, the remaining Baratheon's, Stannis and Renly, are fighting each other. Jon goes beyond the wall in search of his uncle and the missing rangers. Robb is still at war while Theon Greyjoy takes over Winterfell. Bran and Rickon manage to escape. Who will stake their claim on the throne?


This book basically is what it says on the cover; A Clash of Kings. Everyone and their mothers are fighting to try to take over the Iron Throne. After the rumour of Robert Baratheon's children's legitimacy, any high born males are using this as fuel for their fire, and fighting to claim what they believe is theirs by right. Cue big battles and male bravado.

Here is where Tyrion Lannister really shines. You get to see how clever and cunning he is while he plans a great battle against Stannis' men. I remember watching this big scene from the TV show, and it was epic. He plans it all himself, and implements it with the help of a few others, but mostly it's all done in secret. Although he doesn't believe in what the Lannisters are doing most of the time, they are still his family and he takes it upon himself to protect them.

My sympathies go out to Sansa Stark in this novel. To be trapped with horrible people, knowing you are to marry someone you despise must be awful. With little she can do to protect herself from their abuse, I don't know how she coped for so long. The news she receives at the end surely gives her a little light in her dark times. I feel slight relief for her.

We don't really get much from Daenerys here, seeing as she's not involved in the battles. It's something I wish there was more of, but I guess that will come in time!


I am really enjoying the books, and can't wait to read the next one!




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The Wee Librocubicularist

Angel of Storms (Millennium's Rule #2) by Trudi Canavan

Angel of Storms
Millennium's Rule #2
Trudi Canavan

Front cover

Date read: 14 - 27 February 2018
Length: 568 pages

Tyen teaches students the ways of magic, but after a powerful sorcerer returns, long believed to be dead, magic schools are once again forbidden and teachers and students free to escape punishment. Meanwhile Rielle is approached by the Angel of Storms and asked to be an artist on his world. But a war breaks out and soon everything will change.


I'll admit, I wasn't as absorbed by The Angel of Storms as I was by Thief's Magic. I really like the idea of Vella and this instalment kind of veers away from that. The book is brought out from time to time, but not as much. Although Tyen does sort of make some progress in restoring Vella into a body, there is still much more to be done!

The Raen finds himself in the centre of a rebellion, after being away for some time, trapped in a world with little magic. I'm not usually much for war or conflict in novels, but I found myself intrigued by the preparations and strategy involved here. I think Tyen's involvement here helped make it more interesting, and I found myself wondering when/if he's be caught!


I hope the next in the series has more to do with Vella, and I'll find out soon!

Trudi Canavan

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The Wee Librocubicularist