The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde ★★★★☆

Delightfully Absurd and Absurdly Delightful!

Ficition – YA – Urban Fantasy

Reading level: Ages 12 and up

287 pages

US Publication Date:  October 2nd 2012

The Last Dragonslayer #1 (UK) or The Chronicles of Kazam Book 1 (US)

Magic has lost it strength and grandeur and has been downgraded to use for household repair and pizza delivery.  Jennifer Strange, the fifteen-year-old foundling in servitude to Kazam, still tries her best to remember the old days and take care of the magicians in Kazam’s employment, but business is drying up just as fast as magic.  But when a vision of the last dragon dying at the hands of a Dragonslayer is broadcasted, things in the Kingdom Hereford and the surrounding lands are thrown into chaos.  With a war at hand and change sharply in the air Jennifer must quickly reinterpret her destiny and hopefully spark the revival of Big Magic.

In an effort to have full disclosure and airing of my decidedly strong prejudices I just want to say Jasper Fforde is my favorite author.  Both our girls have book names and if we had had a boy - like we originally thought- Alexander Fforde was definitely in the running as a name (Sorry Jasper, I don’t know what it’s like on the other side of the Pond, but around here Jasper as a first name would be clearly asking for trouble and/or an ass kicking).

This book wasn’t my favorite by Fforde – that glorious honor goes to the Well of Lost Plots and the estimable character Miss Havisham.  While not quite the crown jewel of his body of work it is still better than 78.6% of the best other authors have to offer and thus quite good.  I have waited for the US debut of this book for a few years and I am so grateful to my library for stocking it(trust me when the bond measure in my state came up for putting more money into our public library systems I was all for it!  “MORE BOOKS FOR EVERYONE!” the masses cheer.)

I quickly fell under the spell of this book.  On the surface the story is fun and light and absurd, but as with all of Fforde’s writing there are layers.  He builds a very rich and detailed world in the Ununited Kingdoms, creating an interesting well-constructed mythology, along with the creation of a quirky mundane world.  Other reviewers have said this is one of his more accessible books and I have to agree.  While I adore his writing, I have to concede- though it makes me a little ill to do so- it isn’t for everyone, but The Lastdragon Slayer does have a more universal appeal, while not losing its Ffordeness.  So I say give it a try and let loose your own inner Ffordeness.

Side note:  Also for all of you aspiring authors if you ever get down about those pesky query letters, just read Thursday Next: The Eyre Affair and try to imagine what it took Fford to sell that work of genius!

ISBN  0547738471 (ISBN13: 9780547738475)

With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman's Right to Vote by Ann Bausum ★★★★☆

A part of American History not focused on nearly enough.

Non Fiction – History – Children’s

Reading level: Ages 10 and up

112 pages

Publication Date:  2004

National Geographic Children's Books

 “If Eve, the first woman God ever made, was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side again.  And now (that) they are asking to do it, the men better let them!”  Sojourner Truth – conclusion to the “Aint’t I a woman” speech, May 29, 1851, Woman’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio.

This National Geographic Book written by Ann Bausum is inspired by a childhood meeting Bausum had with famous (or infamous, depending on the time period) suffragist Alice Paul.  This book brings to life the difficulties and history behind the suffragist battle for women’s right to vote.  It helps the reader understand this was more than just something that happened, but an achievement produced by many supporters and sacrifices over a long period of time.

I became interested in this subject when I went to turn in my ballot for this last election.  I was making my way into our local elections office to drop off my ballot with my daughters and trying to explain to my five year old about civic duty and the need to make our voices heard when it struck me it hadn’t always been a duty for women, but a right that had to be fought for.  In school I don’t recall too much being said about the history of the Women’s right to vote and decided then and there it was time I started to educate myself. 

The format was a little unexpected for me, but I attribute that to my own lack of awareness when I was doing research into the subject.  Sometimes trying to find books available at my small library on subjects I’m interested in is a little difficult.  This, however, did prove to be a valuable overview on American women’s fight for the right to vote.  Heroes like Alice Paul need to be remembered.  They remind us we have the power to change our society with dedication, perseverance and hard work – ideas I would like to instill into my children.  They also remind us to not take lightly our rights and to jealously covet them from those who would try and lessen them.

This book is written for children, but I found it invaluable.  Written in easy to digest, but poignant bits of information, it provides snap shots of the main players and a sequence of event leading up to the final goal.  The pictures and quotes artfully featured throughout the book highlight attitudes and the era in which the last push took place. The Bibliography provides a great guide for further reading.  There is also a section giving information about some of the main women supporters, helping clarify who each one is ( when reading the story I found on occasion I got the people mixed up and this section helped straighten out everything beautifully).  This is a book I plan on adding to my children’s book shelf and is worthy to be added to all children’s libraries.

Fun Side Note:  My mother’s side of the family came from southern Oregon and there has been some reference to the Yoncalla, Oregon’s 1920 all-female city council in some history books I’ve read.  It was touted as a great victory for women, but from the writings of family members surrounding this “great victory for women’s rights” it seems what really happened was the women got tired of the men not getting anything done – as can occur – so they kicked them out and took over (which frankly I find hilarious).  I’m not sure exactly how much of it had to do with women’s right verses angry frustration, either way it seemed to work out.

ISBN  0792276477 (ISBN13: 9780792276470)

Hello Fellow Readers from the Netherlands,

I am so excited I have gotten over a hundred hits from your country.

I just wanted to say thank you so much for reading my blog.

Whymsy

A Slice of Murder by Chris Cavender ★★★☆☆

It’s a Gamble

Fiction – Mystery (Cozy)

304 pages

Publication Date:  August 1st 2009

Pizza Lovers #1

Eleanor Swift thinks she has all she can handle spending her time trying to keep A Slice of Delight pizza parlor in the black and getting over the death of her husband, but the little town of Timber Ridge is about to become a lot less sleepy, and Eleanor is smack dab in the middle of the excitement.  Making a last minute pizza delivery Eleanor finds the dead body of her customer plunging her into a mystery with far reaching consequences for some the town’s most prominent citizens.

Okay, so admittedly the name of this book sounds like a title for a Psych episode and whenever I read it the voice in my head is Shawn Spencer drawing out the word murder.  Which is probably 87% of the reason I read it, but of course I’ve read things for far less reasonable reasons and tend to take on the attitude of “what the hell”.  I apologize if you had higher expectations for my taste in books, but I also refuse to take any real ownership for your dashed hopes.  And while I love you my fellow readers and appreciate your willingness to hear my thoughts and opinions on subjects far beyond my understanding and education my advice would be get over it, because apparently none of my limitations will stop me from spouting off –occasionally unfounded – opinions (why else would I have a blog?).  That aside I want to preface my review with the idea that reading this book is a gamble.  For the first hundred pages I planned on making it a two starrer but in the second hundred pages it managed to squeak itself into the three star range.  So here are my findings.

The action starts from the very first sentence(a plus).  The pacing is a little hectic and definitely uncomfortable (big minus).  I liked the small town atmosphere, but didn’t need to be continually slapped in the face with it.  The humor was a bit forced, but eventually I did become mildly interested in the plot and felt some sympathy for Eleanor.  This book wasn’t taxing to read and that is on occasion very desirable when you just need a break.  On the other hand you could find other books like this of a higher caliber.

Overall I’ve came away from this book with kind of a “meh” feeling, meaning I could take it or leave it.  Rather unhelpful, I know, but unfortunately that’s all I’ve got.

ISBN  0758229488 (ISBN13: 9780758229489)