THE XMAS FILES (A PHILOSOPHY OF XMAS) AND THE WINTER SOLSTICE (THE SACRED TRADITIONS OF CHRISTMAS)

THE XMAS FILES (A PHILOSOPHY OF CHRISTMAS) by STEPHEN LAW - With contributions from several others.

Picture the scene: Aunt Gertrude has just given you the most appalling Christmas tie, complete with snow-flecked kittens in a bowler hat. Do you smile, nod, and confine it to the bottom drawer? Or do you tell the truth and spare yourself future ties from hell? Kant would say that we must, at all costs, tell the truth - whilst Mill would insist that we should think of the consequences.

The Xmas Files is a philosophical meander through the myths and rituals of Christmas today, asking such important questions as, does Santa exist? What's wrong with Christmas kitsch? Is it all just a commercial racket? What was Augustine's attitude to 'peace on earth'? And what would David Hume have to say about the virgin birth?

For underneath all the festive fun, the way we celebrate Christmas does raise serious questions about the beliefs that sustain us, and the ways  in which we still value ritual and tradition as a means of coming together.
..... Outer back cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (Introduction): Christmas is one of the last great traditions that is shared by believers and non-believers alike in the West.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 150): Christmas has an appeal that reaches far beyond the Christian. In an age when religion increasingly divides rather than unites us, perhaps there's a case to be made for thinking of our great winter festival, not as specifically a Christian event, but as one of the last great traditions in which we can all participate, whatever our beliefs.

KEEP IT OR NOT?: A library book, I have no desire to purchase a copy of this.

You'd think looking at the front cover that this was a fun read - alas if only I'd paid more attention to the blurb on the back cover I may have realised that it wasn't going to be quite the light, fun read I was expecting.

Too deep and philosophical for my liking, The Xmas Files poses a series of moral questions including, amongst others, the dilemma of Aunt Gertrude's awful Christmas tie and whether or not we should eat turkey.

Far from my ideal choice of armchair lounging, hot chocolate in hand, festive reading, this was nevertheless a thought provoking read.

And so onto my second offering ...........

THE WINTER SOLSTICE (THE SACRED TRADITIONS OF CHRISTMAS) by JOHN  MATTHEWS.

The Winter Solstice gives new meaning not just to Christmas, but to the whole winter season. Folklore expert John Matthews traces the history behind many of the sacred traditions of the holiday season and provides refreshing and practical suggestions for celebrating the Winter Solstice as a joyous, life-affirming, spiritual festival.

Delight in the surprising multicultural origins of Santa Claus, the Yule Log, caroling, mistletoe, and the Christmas evergreen.

Revive old traditions and discover new ones through the lively descriptions of the revels of Old Europe and the solstice ceremonies of traditional peoples of many lands.
....... Outer Back cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (Introduction): Welcome everything! Welcome all alike what has been, and what never was, and what we hope may be, to your shelter underneath the holly, to your place around the Christmas fire, where what is sits open hearted! - Charles Dickens, 1851.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 163): Jolly Old Hawk, a traditional song, listing the animals associated with the season.

KEEP IT OR NOT?: A library book, I'd love a copy of this.

In stark contrast to The Xmas Files, I loved this book - in fact if I could buy each and everyone of you a copy I would such is the amazing topics covered and the glorious illustrations by Caitlin Matthews.

Simply divine, encompassing the Christian as well as the older forms of worship of the winter festival, this book includes the beliefs and practises of lots of different peoples and cultures, includes examples of song and verse from around the world and, for those of you with an artistic streak, gives lots of practical things to do - the making of various different shrines, the making of a 'boar's head' etc. I could go on but instead will simply recommend this as a wonderfully alternative Christmas read.

The 97th and 98th book read in my 100+ Reading Challenge And the 1st and 2nd in the Christmas Spirit Challenge.

WORLDS FIRST URINE-CONTROLLED VIDEO GAME.

Surely it's normally a case of people trying to break out of a prison.

THIEVES BREAK INTO PRISON. Thieves broke into a prison to steal cigarettes worth £8,000, climbing a fence and evading officers to swipe the cases of tobacco from a workshop in the jail, near Preston.

'Normally the inmates can’t wait to get OUT of here... so having the opposite happen has caused much mirth,' a source said. - Joanne McCabe, The Metro (21/11/2011)

And staying with other rather foolish fuelish thieves .......

THIEVES FORGET TO FILL GETAWAY CAR. TWO women stole hundreds of pounds worth of booze from a supermarket — then realised their getaway car had no fuel.

Rose Devlin, 59, and Denise Egan, 52, stole so much alcohol at the Asda they struggled to shut the boot.

And when they jumped in to drive off they realised the motor was out of fuel — and Egan had to push it to the supermarket petrol station to fill up. - Jane Atkinson, The Sun (23/11/2011)

Being banned from all shops that sell chocolate has to be one of my worst nightmares.

SUSPECTED THIEF BANNED FROM SWEET SHOPS. A SUSPECTED sweet-toothed thief has been banned from all shops which sell chocolate.

Police took the unique step after arresting the teenager on suspicion of stealing chocolate from three separate shops in Southend in a week.

It is alleged he has a particular hankering for Galaxy. - Laura Smith, (Southend) Echo (21/11/2011)

Oh I like the idea of this ......

PUSH THE BUTTON FOR A HUG. Eagle-eyed pedestrians have spotted an artistic take on pedestrian crossing, with a hug or tea offered at the push of a button.

Carlton Jefferis spotted the tea crossing in Bristol and tweeted a picture to his followers, asking: "Is this the new BANKSY? - The Mirror (22/11/2011)

Now this is a raffle prize I wouldn't mind winning ...... then again, maybe not.

Using a mix of traditional ingredients  from recipes dating back to the 17th century, the worlds most expensive sweet mince pie is currently on show at a London shopping centre where it will be raffled in a draw to take place on the 19th of December.

Added ingredients include the highest-grade platinum leaf, holy water from Lourdes to bind the pastry and wash the ingredients, vanilla beans and cinnamon from eastern spice markets, highly prized ambergris sugar derived from sperm whale secretions and a solid platinum coin in keeping with the British tradition of placing a silver coin in a Christmas cake or pudding. - Maysa Rawi, The Mail (22/11/2011)

How's this for a wedding with a difference?

COUPLE MARRY IN COW-THEMED WEDDING. Lovestruck farmers Michael Hanson and Hayley Morgan said 'I moo' during a cow-themed wedding.

Dressed in a pair of white wellies, the bride arrived at the church, in her home town of Llandefalle, Powys, aboard a 2.8-tonne tractor. After the service, it transported the happy couple to a muddy field at Hayley’s parents’ farm where they had a wedding portrait taken with a herd of cattle.

And at the reception, guests, who were directed to tables named after different cows, enjoyed a four-course dinner of, you guessed it, roast beef (followed by a cake, pictured right, showing the bride and groom in cow form). - Aidan Radnedge, The Metro (25/11/2011)

And now for my favourite article of the week .....

Sounds like fun, if only I had a penis, err,  the necessary equipment.

THE LATEST IN WEE Wii TECHNOLOGY.  Going to the loo has never been more fun, after the world's first urine-controlled video game is installed in a London bar.

Visitors at the The Exhibit Bar in Balham can play one of three games every time they use a urinal.

The game was designed to create a valuable media opportunity from the 55 seconds the average male spends while he pees just staring at a blank wall. - The Telegraph (27/11/2011)

PLEASE NOTE : Wherever possible I will endeavour to bring you the links to articles I have used in my Media Monday posts but this is not always possible.

IT HELPS IF YOU SAY IT OUT LOUD ........

Hamlet couldn't decide what to call his dog, Toby or not Toby.



PS. If you haven't already done so then please be sure to enter our WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CAPTION COMPETITION which ends this Wednesday.

AN EDUCATION INTO ......... MERMAIDS.

I thought entering the word 'Mermaid' into a search engine would throw up all the usual sites about the mythical creature - little did I know that there was a site called Mermaids which offered support to children and teenagers with gender identity issues, for anyone who has stumbled onto this post in search of this wonderfully worthwhile site or is perhaps interested in the issues of gender identity you might like to try http://www.mermaidsuk.org.uk/ though you are of course more than welcome to join us here.

Not so much folklore as Seafaring Lore, tales of mermaids (known as ceasg, literally maid of the waves, according to Scottish mythology) have been around for centuries. Though forming a big part of legend around, amongst other places, the coastal areas of England, the first recorded stories are much earlier, appearing in Assyria (present day Northern Iraq)in around about 1000BC with, perhaps the most famous mermaid of all, Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid, not appearing until 1837.

Depending on the time period and source, merfolk's behaviour can vary drastically  but most people agree that they are able to attract humans with their singing - the reasons as to why they do this is what varies considerably.

Just like THE LITTLE MERMAID of Disney fame (pictured above left) mermaids are generally depicted as having the upper half of a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair hanging to the waist with the bottom half of a fish though interestingly enough the merfolk of early English folklore were actually tailless. Often seen sitting on rocks, traditionally mermaids were harbingers of bad luck who it is said predicted stormy, rough seas and, with their beautiful singing, lured men to their deaths. Not all bad though, some believe mermaids are a bit more kindly than this and have the power to grant the gift of magical powers ...... usually at a high price.

 Then, of course, there are the Chinese myths that have mermaids whose tears could turn into priceless pearls - needless to say, in this instance, it was the fisherman who tried to lure the mermaids, unfortunately though their song simply put the said fishermen into a coma.

And talking of Chinese mermaids, did you know

They were said to have purple tales that smelled, yes, smelled of happiness BUT if sadness or death occurred during their lifetime their tails turned red and smelled of sadness?

But what of mermen?

Said to be much less friendly and with little interest in humans, mermen were portrayed in Irish mythology as the polar-opposite to mermaids in that they were believed to be really, really ugly creatures with pointed green teeth, pig like eyes and a red bulbous nose. Much more attractive were their Finnish counterparts (the vetehinen) who, like mermaids, were said to be extremely attractive individuals.

Also seen as having magical powers some cultures believed mermen were able to cure illnesses, lift curses, and brew magic potions whilst the encantado (literally 'the enchanted one' in Portuguese), were believed to be able enchant human woman and, obviously more interested in humans than the average merman, impregnate them.......

And other merpeople, what of them?

Hmm, lets see.

• The Merrows. Typically the Scottish and Irish equivalent of the mermaid and mermen of many other cultures, the merrows (from the Gaelic murúch), like many other merfolk, are capable of attachment to humans, sometimes marrying them and living amongst them for many years before most generally return to their homes beneath the sea.
• The Sirens. Portrayed as fully aquatic mermaid type creatures in later folklore tales, in earlier Greek mythology the sirens were portrayed as bird-women hybrids who, like mermaids, lured sailors to their deaths with their enchanting songs.
• The Selkies. Though also believed by many to be a merperson the Selkie/silkie/selchie of Irish, Scottish and Icelandic folklore differs from your typical mermaid/man in that they are able to become human by taking off their seal skins, returning back to seal form when it is put back on.

Oh and how could I forget ........

• The merpeople of Hogwarts. In actuality selkies, the merpeople of Hogwarts have grey skin, green hair, yellow eyes and broken teeth. Oh and they are very tall - if I remember correctly the one Harry Potter met was well over 7 feet tall.

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my blogger buddies across the pond.

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST by KEN KESEY.

Tyrannical Nurse Ratched rules her ward in an Oregon State mental hospital with a strict, unbending routine. Her patients, cowered by mind-numbing numbing medication and the threat of electric shock therapy, dare not oppose her. But everything changes with the arrival of McMurphy - the swaggering, fun-loving trickster with a devilish grin, McMurphy battles Nurse Ratched and the ward regime, challenging every one's beliefs about madness ..... who, of them all, is really insane?

....... Outer back cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (Part 1): They're out there.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 69): He'll still get up from time to time and wag his head and let us know how tired he is, but it's not a complaint or excuse or warning anymore - he's finished with that; it's like an old clock that won't tell time but won't stop neither, with hands bent out of shape and the face bare of numbers and the alarm bell rusted silent, an old, worthless clock that just keeps ticking and cuckooing without meaning nothing.

A difficult book for me to review as I keep having to restrain myself from comparing it with the 1975 film version starring Jack Nicholson which incidentally is very true to the book but not nearly as harrowing.

Set in a mental hospital, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest follows the exploits of a ward full of patients and the staff who 'care' for them.

Narrated by'Chief' Bromden who is believed to be both deaf and dumb, the story largely concentrates on new patient Randle Patrick McMurphy, the effect his arrival has on the other patients and his battle with the tyrannical, brutal 'big nurse' Ratched.

Funny, riotous, and yet of ultimately shattering consequences,  this is a novel that deals with mental illness in a honest and truthful way, a novel that does not shy away from certain things and as such is sometimes a difficult read.

Really all about a power struggle, rules and regulations, this is an eye-opener of a read that strives to look at the powers that keep the patients (us?) imprisoned.

Full of wonderful, occasionally scary, characters, we got to know a lot more about 'The Chief' Bromden than we ever did in the film version, catching glimpses into his life prior to his incarceration in the hospital, we also got an insightful view of how he believed the hospital regime was a machine.Then of course there's Nurse Ratched, totally controlling and seemingly without compassion, I spent a lot of time pondering just what exactly her life story was, just what had made her the heartless individual she appeared. And as for McMurphy? Hmm, a lovable rogue who had certain traits to his character that I found less than appealing, he nevertheless always seemed to come good in the end.

As I said not always a comfortable read, the descriptions of Electric Shock Therapy are truly harrowing, but despite all of this a well worth while read that I highly recommend.

A free book from some magazine or other, I only paid packaging and postage, this was the 96th book read for my 100+ Reading Challenge.

THE BLUE FLOWER.

THE BLUE FLOWER by PENELOPE FITZGERALD.

It is the late eighteenth-century Germany and the passionate, idealistic and brilliant Fritz needs his father's permission to announce his engagement to twelve-year-old Sophie, his 'heart's heart', his 'true Philosophy'. It is a betrothal, which amuses, astounds and disturbs his family and friends. How can it be so?
..... Outer back cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (Chapter 1): Jacob Dietmahler was not such a fool that he could not see that they had arrived at his friend's home on the washday.

MEMORABLE MOMENT(S): The first sentence as above but because I had such high hopes that this would be a good read AND the last sentence as I had finally finished.

KEEP IT OR NOT?: A reading group copy, I have no intention of buying my own.

Though a fictionalised account, The Blue Flower is based on the life of German poet Friedrich von Hardenberg before he became famous under the name Novalis.

I'm going to be blunt, very blunt, here ........ without doubt The Blue Flower is the book I have least enjoyed reading this year, in fact I'm being very generous (overly generous?) by not remarking that it is fact the worst I've read this year, there I've said it - no mean feat when you consider it's the 95th book read in my 2011 100+ Reading Challenge.

At times reading like a recollection of events rather than a novel, The Blue Flower just didn't flow well. Combine this with the frequent use of German words and I found it difficult reading at times ..... and Husband dearest soon got tired of me asking what such and such a word translated as.

Also I found the characters unmemorable (not to mention unremarkable) - partly because, apart from Sophie's somewhat childish love of Fritz, I didn't connect with any of them, and partly because some were known by several different names. Sophie for example was also known as Sophgen as well as several 'pet' names such as Philosophy which, combined with the fact that many names were strange to my ears, I personally found confusing. Then, of course, there was the fact that some characters had their names prefixed by 'the'. Bernhard for example was more often than not referred to as 'the 'Bernhard'. Why? I just didn't understand why this should be and found myself become increasingly puzzled and, if I'm totally honest, irritated by its usage.

As for the love story between Sopie and Fritz ........ I couldn't help but feel that Sophie's love was immature, very much the love a young girl would feel for a older man whilst Fritz, a character I found rather selfish and didn't take to, I felt, was more in love with the thought of being in love than he was in love with Sophie.

A reading group read, given my love of historical fiction involving 'real' people I may well have picked this up myself though thankfully I didn't as as it turns out it wasn't my cup of tea. 

THE BURRY MAN'S DAY.

THE BURRY MAN'S DAY by CATRIONA McPHERSON.

Supernatural forces at play, or simply good old-fashioned murder?


August 1923, and as the village of Queenferry prepares for the annual Ferry Fair and the walk of the Burry Man, feelings are running high. Between the pagan greenery, his lucky pennies and the nips of whisky to which he is treated wherever he goes, the Burry Man has something to offend everyone, whether minister, priest or temperance pamphleteer. Then, on the eve of the fair, in full view of everyone - including Dandy Gliver, present at the festivities to hand out prizes - the Burry man drops down dead.


Has he been poisoned? If so, the list of suspects must include anyone with a bottle of whisky in the house and here in Queenferry, that means just about everyone.
..... inner front cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (Chapter 1): Far above us a train hurtled past and we raised our eyes to it in longing.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 42): "I've never seen a baby I thought was pretty," I said. "I won't have to touch them, will I?" but Daisy and Buttercup only laughed again.
"Pick a nice big chubby one and you'll be fine," said Buttercup. "Bonny is just a polite word for fat, I've always found."
"Well, alright," I said. "Bloated is possibly less revolting than wizened, I agree ......."

KEEP IT OR NOT?: Not, though I have a friend who I know will love this.

The 2nd novel in the Dandy Gliver series, this read perfectly well as a standalone read.

Set in the 1920's Dandy Gliver is a sleuth very much in the vein of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple who, along with her husband (Alec)are a kind of Sherlock Holmes and Watson (without the deerstalker hat)crime busting duo.

I admit that this took some time to capture my imagination but once it did I was hooked. An engaging whodunit with plenty of twists and turns, The Burry Man's Day had me guessing until the end.

But do you know what I found just as fascinating? With half of the estate seemingly heavy duty whisky drinkers and the rest tea-total I loved hearing the characters argue for and against the temperance movement. Then, of course, there was the supernatural element with the children swearing that there were all manner of ghoulies and ghosties living in 'them there woods'. 

Not too sure about the characters though, admittedly all were well written but I found myself unable to connect with many of them. Dandy in particular I didn't really like, a bit of a busybody, on the one hand very much a human being with many of the failings that go with this and, on the other, a terrible, terrible snob, I just couldn't bring myself to enjoy her as a main character. However, nicely balanced with Dandy were the 'estate folk', working class people, I did enjoy the exploits of the afore mentioned 'red haired tearaway' children who provided many clues as to just whodunit.

Ex library stock, this was the 94th book read for my 100+ Reading Challenge. An easy, light, read though I did find it a bit of slog when the author chose to use Scottish dialect - very authentic and realistic I know but its not something I personally like in a novel.

THAT WILL BE £20,005 PLEASE.

How did I miss this article?

 Bust-boosting padding in a bra – dubbed chicken fillets – saved a woman from death in a head-on car smash. 

Lisa Somerville was taken to hospital with a punctured lung, cracked ribs and a broken nose.

“As doctors peeled back my clothes to get a better look at the damage, they noticed the ­skewered ‘chicken fillets’ inside my bra. I was told that my ribs would have pierced my heart without them.

“They gave me the extra ­protection that actually saved my life.” said Lisa, 28,  who started wearing implants when she was jealous of her bustier pals as a teenager. - Paul Byrne, The Mirror (11/11/2011)

All the more funny if you are British and, like me, grew up watching the children's tv programme Rainbow which ran for 20 years from 1972 to 1992.

GEORGE APPEARS IN A TREE TRUNK. A tree bearing a striking resemblance to Rainbow character George has been uncovered by a man in Kent.

Some people may think we may be barking up the wrong tree here but it has to be said this arboreal doppelganger is the spitting image of the lovable pink hippo from the popular children's show. - Jimmy Nsubuga, The Metro (15/11/2011)

Whoops!!!!!! BARONESS MAKES RUDE HAND GESTURE. 

Video of an 89-year-old member of the House of Lords apparently giving a colleague a 'V-sign' in Parliament when he referred to her age has become an unlikely hit online

Thousands have flocked to watch the moment Conservative peer Baroness Trumpington appears to make the gesture at 78-year-old former defence secretary Lord King.

However, the baroness - who worked as a code-breaker at Bletchley Park during her 20s - denied making a rude hand signal.

"'I didn't mean to make the gesture. My hand must have flown up," - Sky News (15/11/2011)

A rather strange case of breaking and entering.

POLICE BREAK INTO HOME ON HEARING SCREAMS. When police heard screaming coming from a house they feared the worst – so imagine their surprise when they broke in to find the noise was actually coming from a bride on TV who had seen her dress for the first time.

Fearing for the welfare of the person inside, the pair knocked loudly on the door, but to their horror were greeted by another scream.

They shouted ‘police’ but there was no reply so, concerned for what they might find, the pair forced their way in, breaking the glass pane on the door to gain access to the home.

“After bursting in, shouting ‘police’, we searched the house and garden but nothing but a shocked teenage girl cuddling a dog with ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’ on the television,” she said.

“It turned out, the initial scream we heard was one of delight as the show finally revealed the bride’s wedding dress.

“The second was one of shock at the sound of us banging on the door – and the silence that followed was the girl dialling 999, scared stiff that someone was forcing their way into the house! - The Bucks Herald (16/11/2011) 

And sticking with the emergency services, I can just see this happening in a cartoon.

POLICE COMMANDEER GOLF BUGGIES. Police officers commandeered golf buggies in vain attempt to catch a burglar who fled onto a golf course.

An elderly woman was attacked by the man, who had forced his way into her house in Hightown, Merseyside.

The would-be thief fled empty-handed, and  fleeing down on to sand dunes and then the West Lancs golf club he made his escape as police officers to the surprise of golfers on the links course took command of electric golf buggies as they tried in vain to apprehend their suspect. - The Telegraph (18/11/2011)

Not something I would have found funny if I was on this flight, as I wasn't I admit I giggled at this somewhat bizarre article.

PLANE PASSENGERS HAVE WHIP ROUND TO PAY FOR FUEL. More than 180 passengers were left stranded on their Boeing 757 when cabin crew announced during a refuelling stop that the Austrian carrier Comtel Air had ‘run out of money.'

The plane from Amritsar, in India, was on a stopover at Vienna en route to Birmingham. Passengers were told that the flight would continue only if 23,400 euros (£20,005) was handed over. Otherwise they and their luggage would be removed from the aircraft. - Andy Dolan, The Mail (17/11/2011)

Not a funny article so please forgive me for not posting it. Both Husband dearest and I had a good chuckle at the headline though, both of us picturing the front end of a pantomime horse/cow beating up a fairy.

Real drama in panto as actor 'tries to kill the Wicked Fairy.' - Ausian Cramb, The Telegraph (18/11/2011)

And last but not least .......

My favourite story of the week.

LIMES, A DANGEROUS WEAPON? Catering chef Marisa Zoccolan was almost banned from buying two limes from a supermarket because they could be classed as a weapon.

The 31-year-old popped into the Asda supermarket to pick up a few groceries, including a couple of the offending fruits But when she tried to pay for them at the self-service checkout, the message “amount exceeded, authorisation required” flashed up, and an assistant told her more than one lime was deemed a weapon . . . because the citric acid could be squirted in someone’s eye! - Coreena Ford, The Sunday Sun (20/11/2011)

PLEASE NOTE : Wherever possible I will endeavour to bring you the links to articles I have used in my Media Monday posts but this is not always possible.

AS EASY AS A B C.

THE WORLD'S BELLYBUTTON.

THE WORLD'S BELLYBUTTON by TANYA LANDMAN.

William Popidopolis is in a race against time!

Has William got to Greece in time to help Zeus retie the knot that secures the world?

He may be a god, but the bossy swan urgently needs William's help.
.... Outer back cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (Chapter 1): When the fattish, greyish, balding swan waddled into his father's taverna, William Popidopolis thought it must be an usual pet.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 42): For a few moments there was nothing but a lot of splashing and squawking. Then the swan began to lift out of the water. He was running across the surface. He was airborne. He soared upwards ...... THUNK.
Zeus crashed into the harbour wall just below William.

KEEP IT OR NOT?: Yes, I'm sure I'll enjoy reading this to Little Plum when he gets older.

Who could resist such a wonderful cover and as for the title - intriguing isn't it?

Set in Greece, The World's Bellybutton tells the story of William, a modern day hero (though he doesn't at first know this) and a host of Greek mythological characters and creatures including Zeus (who isn't quite himself), Pegasus and the sisters of the Gorgon.

A great read designed for fluent readers aged 7 to 11 years, this novel is funny, very funny and quite inventive. And as for the illustrations by Ross Collins - simple and yet charming, I'm sure most adults will find them just as delightful as younger readers.

Ex-library stock, this was the 93rd book read for my 100+ Reading Challenge.

HOLLY.

HOLLY by ALBERT FRENCH.

Holly is the story of a poor, white girl in 1944 North Carolina, whose lonely world is transformed by a handsome, educated black soldier from the war - and of the town's savage response to their romance.
- Outer back cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (Chapter 1): There was a sign out on the blacktop highway that said WELCOME TO SUPPLY.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 309): I lost more than just my arm over there. I lost what I was and wanted to be.

My first thought? How was I going to read this given that most of the novel was written with vernacular spellings that did not include the letter g on the ends of words? - With the use of Um instead of I'm, Ya instead of You, Ta instead of To etc, I confess that I found Holly hard reading at first but then my mind compensated and, to be honest, I read the rest of the book without really taking too much notice of this.

My second thought? Was it really necessary to use the 'n' word to describe a black person quite as often? OK so it was realistically used and I suppose to use any other word might not have been as true to the characters and the period in which the book was set (the 1934s)but, as always, my twenty-first century self winced at its use.

These aside I really, really enjoyed this book. A wonderfully observed novel of family, friendship, love, loyalty and grief, I found myself totally engrossed in Holly's world - a world, though set in North Carolina, USA, in the 1940's, that could have been set in much more modern times.

Many stranded, one of the story lines looked at Holly's elder brother, Bobby, who has recently returned from war badly injured(he was shot in the head) and having flashbacks which I thought was wonderfully written and quite timeless in that how many other young men have returned from more recent wars suffering in such a way? And on a lighter note - I loved the fact that Holly (19) and her friend, Elsie, seemed to be typical teenagers, wanting to party of an evening, lying in bed until mid-afternoon, worrying over their image and, of course, boys, - as I say quite timeless.

The one other thing that I didn't like, no, it's not that I didn't like it, the one thing I didn't particularly understand was how little time was devoted to Holly and the 'handsome, educated black soldier', Elias. Introduced well over half way through the book I felt a bit more time could have been given to their budding romance and subsequent events.

A Book Exchange read, the 92nd read in my 100+ Reading Challenge. Highly recommended, I don't want to give too much away except to say you may want to have a tissue or two ready.

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT READING CHALLENGE AND WORLD BOOK NIGHT 2012.

I hold my hands up and admit that nowadays there aren't many things I enjoy about Christmas - overly commercial, too expensive and seemingly starting earlier and earlier every year - bah humbug, I could go on but will spare those of you who do enjoy the festive season or don't celebrate it.

 The one thing I do enjoy though is, is .............drum roll please

The Annual Reading Challenge which this year is being hosted by The True Book Addict - press HERE for details and to enrol OR see the link at the top of the page.

Running from the 21st of November 2011 until the 6th of January 2012 there are several different layers -  the first three being compulsory the last two optional extras.

--Candy Cane: read 1 book

--Mistletoe: read 2-4 books

--Christmas Tree: read 5 or 6 books.

 

--Fa La La La Films: watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies.

 

--Visions of Sugar Plums: read books with your children this season and share what you read.

 

My target?

 

Definitely Mistletoe and hopefully Christmas Tree ...... I already have my first 5 books picked out.

 

Anything else I've forgotten? Ah yes 'the rules'.

• Challenge will run from Monday, November 21st 2011 through to Friday January 6th 2012.
• Cross over with other challenges is totally permitted AND encouraged!
• These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore, a book of Christmas short stories or poems, books about Christmas crafts, and for the first time...a children's Christmas books level!

And one last thing .......


All participants will be entered into a giveaway draw.


So what are you waiting for? Go sign up and happy reading.

And now for ...............

World Book Night is a celebration designed to spread a love of reading and books. Celebrated on April 23, 2012 it will see tens of thousands of people gift books within their communities to spread the joy and love of reading. In 2012 World Book Night will be celebrated in the UK, Ireland and USA.

And the 25 books chosen as this years giveaways are .......

• Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
• The Player of Games - Iain M. Banks
• Sleepyhead  - Mark Billingham
• Notes from a Small Island - Bill Bryson
• The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
• The Take - Martina Cole
• Harlequin - Bernard Cornwell
• Someone Like You - Roald Dahl
• A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
• Room - Emma Donoghue
• Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
• The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
• Misery - Stephen King
• The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella
• Small Island - Andrea Levy
• Let the Right One In - John Ajvide Lindqvist
• The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
• The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell
• The Damned Utd - David Peace
• Good Omens - Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
• How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff
• Touching The Void - Joe Simpson
• I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith
• The Book Thief - Markus Zusak.

A good eclectic collection, don't you think? For more information or to sign up as one of this years givers click HERE OR see the button at the top of the page.

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS.

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS by H.G. WELLS
(with an introduction from BRIAN ALDISS).

The night after a shooting star is seen streaking through the sky from Mars, a cylinder is discovered on Horsell Common near London. At first, naive locals approach the cylinder armed with just a white flag - only to be quickly killed by an all-destroying heat-ray as terrifying tentacled invaders emerge. Soon the world of human civilization is under threat, as powerful Martians build gigantic killing machines, destroy all in their path with black gas and burning rays, and feast on the warm blood of trapped, still-living human prey. The forces of the Earth, however, may prove harder to beat than they at first appear.
....... Outer back cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (Chapter 1): No one would have believed, in the last years of the nineteenth century, that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 5): The air was full of sound, a deafening and confusing conflict of noises - the clangorous din of the Martians, the crash of falling houses, the thud of trees, fences, sheds flashing into flame, and the crackling and roaring of fire.

KEEP IT OR NOT?: Not.

Generally acknowledged as the original, most influential science-fiction works, this Penguin Classics edition of The War Of The Worlds included a full biography essay on Wells, a further reading list and detailed notes.

Now as I think I've told you before, I'm not a huge fan of science fiction novels, I leave this genre to Husband dearest, but every so often I feel inspired to read something a little bit different and on this occasion chose this.

A short read (180 pages if you don't include all the extras) I found The War Of The Worlds to be an interesting enough read if not a little bit tame and outdated, hardly surprising when you consider it was first published in 1898.

As I said, tame by today's standards it is nevertheless quite gripping, 'breath holding' stuff that must have been ground breaking at the time of its first publication given that the author did not have other such novels to compare and contrast it with.

A charity shop buy, the 91st book read for the 100+ Reading Challenge, the novel was better by far than any of the film adaptations though I have to confess I'd still rather listen to Jeff Wayne's audio version.