Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Good Omens
Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Date read: 16 - 25 February 2020
Length: 383 pages
Published: 1990


Crowley is a demon, Aziraphale is an angel. When the son of the Dark Lord is swapped at birth (one too many times), he grows up not realising what he is. Meanwhile, Anathema has a book which predicts the end of the world, written by a very distant relative called Agnes Nutter. Will the world really end?


I am a big fan of both Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, so I'm actually surprised at myself for taking so long to read Good Omens. But now I have, and I enjoyed it very much.

It is subtly amusing, with some points that actually made me laugh out loud. It is the sense of humour that I enjoy from these two authors.

I didn't really like Adam, and I guess that's probably intentional. He seems entitled, and especially within his gang. I suppose despite his upbringing his true self is shining through.

I like Anathema and Newt. They are so clumsy and adorable.


A good read. Now I need to watch the TV series to see how they compare!

Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

Good Wives (Little Women #1.5) by Louisa May Alcott

Good Wives
Little Women #1.5
Louisa May Alcott

Date read: 10 - 15 February 2020
Length: 220 pages
Published: 1869


3 years on from the events of Little Women, the girls are leading very different lives. Meg has twins, Amy gets married, Jo goes travelling and writes, and tragedy strikes Beth. But one thing remains the same, they love each other dearly.


So the first time I read Little Women I was unaware that it was originally two volumes. After reading the first volume and knowing about a certain event which didn't happen, I then realised there was a second part.

Poor Beth. I remember being very upset the first time I read this. Under the circumstances I suppose it happened in the best way, but it was still very sad.

In Good Wives I still like Jo, but I also grew fond of Amy. She doesn't seem like the little girl she once was, and has grown up considerably.

I feel like Meg is kind of ignored here. She has her own family now and her twins, but I still would have liked to know more about her life as well.

Mr March seems very fun and a good father. He's willing to get silly with the children, but also knows how to teach them proper life lessons.

The main thing I like about these stories is the simplicity and wholesomeness of them. They are stories that make you feel nice and content.


Very much enjoyed Little Women and Good Wives, and I'm looking forward to the next two in the series!




Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

The Fry Chronicles (Memoir #2) by Stephen Fry

The Fry Chronicles
Memoir #2
Stephen Fry

Front cover

Date read: 30 January - 9 February 2020
Length: 425 pages
Published: 2010


In The Fry Chronicles he tells of his early career life, those he made friends with, and how he spent some of his money. His life may be changing, but one thing remains the same; he still doesn't dance or sing.


I wasn't alive when Fry rose to fame, but my earliest memories of him are watching repeats of him with Hugh Laurie in various projects. It's kind of nice to read about how these things came about, and how he was feeling at the time.

From his younger days he seems to have mellowed out a bit. No more stealing, anyway! I guess he was making enough of his own money now. And as far as the book says, no more visits to prison!

Fry seems to be lucky in working, finding or creating one project after another. He's a hard worker and clearly willing to earn his money.


I'm looking forward to More Fool Me, the last in the memoir series.




Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #1) by Erika Johansen

The Queen of the Tearling
The Queen of the Tearling #1
Erika Johansen

Front cover

Date read: 18 - 29 January 2020
Length: 488 pages
Published: 2014


Kelsea is taken from her home on her 19th birthday to rule a kingdom she's never been a part of. Her uncle wants her dead and the Caden have been looking for her for a long time. Upon arrival in her new kingdom, she immediately makes changes. Will she be loved or hated?

HER THRONE AWAITS...

IF SHE CAN LIVE LONG ENOUGH

TO TAKE IT

So, I was given this book by a friend, many moons ago. It has been in one of my 'to-read' piles for a while, gradually working its way to the top. I have quite enjoyed the read, although it took me some time to get into it. I kind of feel this book was more an introduction to what's to come (as I suppose most first books in a series are), so I'm excited to read the rest.

I like Mace/Lazarus. I think he will be a trustworthy person, and Kelsea should keep him close. I also think the Fetch is interesting. To everyone else he wears a mask, but yet even the very first time Kelsea met him, there was no mask. Curious!

I think Kelsea will be a good queen, but I think she will have a hard time of it, at least initially. She is making some (much needed) changes, but I know some people will not be pleased with them. Hopefully she will keep her head, and deal with them properly.

I will be reading the rest, even if it's just to find out for certain who her father is!

Overall rating

Thanks,

The Wee Librocubicularist

Little Women (Little Women #1) by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women
Little Women #1
Louisa May Alcott

Front cover

Date read: 13 - 17 January 2020
Length: 200 pages
Published: 1868


Meg, Jo, Amy, and Beth live with their mother, Mrs March. Their father is at war. The girls are growing up, some faster than others. We follow the girls on their way to womanhood.


This is the first part of Little Women as the copy I have only contains the first volume. The second part, Good Wives, will come later. This is a re-read for me as I first read both volumes sometime in 2013. However, after acquiring another book in the series, I felt I should go back and read this again before reading the next books!

The first time I read Little Women I fell in love with the story and all the girls. The second time reading this has not changed anything. I loved the story just as much as I remember from the first time reading, and because it had been nearly 7 years, I was falling in love all over again.

My favourite girl is probably Jo. She doesn't care that girls are supposed to look prim and proper, and be good at sewing and household chores. She wants to do her own thing, and as a result is classed as the 'boy' of the siblings. I think this is very progressive and not something I would expect from a 19th century novel.

I also like Laurie and even Mr Laurence. I think Laurie's intentions are good, and he loves all the girls. Mr Laurence was hard to begin with, but the girls softened him.

All the characters are interesting in their own way, even Mr March who you don't see for most of the novel because he is at war. I'm glad he didn't die and look forward to seeing more of the family united.


Little Women is a perfect coming of age classic, and I'm very much looking forward to re-reading Good Wives and then reading the last two in the series!




Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

The Pact
Jodi Picoult

Front cover

Date read: 1 - 12 January 2020
Length: 480 pages
Published: 1998 (UK 2004)


Emily and Chris have known each other all their lives, living next door to each other for nearly 18 years. They agree on a suicide pact together, but something goes wrong. Emily dies, Chris lives. On his 18th birthday he is arrested, awaiting trial. Will he be found guilty of murder in the first degree?

Your son says

they both meant

to die.

But he lived.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

The Pact is very hard to put down, and I found myself wanting to read more and more, even thinking about it when I wasn't reading it! I really enjoyed the story. I liked the way it went between past and present. I wanted to know what was happening the the present more, but it was still nice to get stories from the past, and to know what Chris, Emily and their families were like before this tragedy.

As much as I enjoyed the story, I found it hard to relate to Chris and Emily. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a bit older than them, or maybe the fact that you never really get anything from Emily's perspective. You only know her through the flashbacks. I just struggled to be emotionally invested in these characters.

I liked Chris' lawyer, Jordan. I kind of wish we got to see more of him. He sounds like a reasonable, down to earth guy, and he puts everything into helping Chris win his case, even though Chris makes a silly move at the end!

It's a shame about Gus and Melanie. Over 18 years of friendship is over because of this major event. I get it, it's understandable, but a shame nonetheless.

Jodi Picoult

Overall rating

Thanks,

The Wee Librocubicularist

Moab is my Washpot (Memoir #1) by Stephen Fry

Moab is my Washpot
Memoir #1
Stephen Fry

Front cover

Date read: 21 - 31 December 2019
Length: 434 pages
Published: 1997


Stephen tells of his younger years in life; his schooling, his experiences of homosexuality, and his utter inability to dance. In Moab is my Washpot we learn about the first twenty years of his life as he comes to terms with the adult he's becoming.


I've always quite liked Mr Fry, from watching him with Hugh Laurie in Fry and Laurie, to his days presenting QI. He's always struck me as a very intelligent man, with a sense of humour. However, after reading the first in his Memoir series, I have realised I don't actually know a lot about the man inside.

I had no idea he had siblings. I always just kind of thought he was an only child. I have no idea why, it's just the impression I had. I didn't know he had been to prison! Although I'm not surprised I didn't know this. I don't imagine it's something that he flaunts regularly, if at all.

My favourite bit is probably when he goes to get his 'dancing problem' sorted. Fry can't dance, he's admitted it a few times in this book, and when he needs to get up and dance in front of many people, he seeks help. You can relate, it's funny and the outcome is satisfying.

It was a very interesting read and I'm looking forward to reading the rest in the series very soon!




Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist