Yesterday's poll ended up as a tie between J K Rowling and Terry Pratchett, with each winning 50% of the vote. Today we turn to two more colossi of fantasy literature, two veritable Titans - the chroniclers of Middle Earth and Westeros, of Dark Riders and White Walkers, of orcs and direwolves, of dragons and, er, dragons ... Yes, today J R R Tolkien and George R R Martin go head to head, withTom Williamson and Rufus Law as their advocates.
Tuesday, 28 February 2017
Monday, 27 February 2017
World Book Day Poll Number 1
This Thursday, March 2nd, is World Book Day: and to celebrate, the book blog is running a week of polls. Each day, we'll be pitching two giants in one genre against each other in a Clash of the Literary Titans, and inviting Pauline readers to decide who wins. Today, the bards (ok, they're not actually bards, but we're fervent fans of alliteration here at the book blog) battling it out are J K Rowling and Terry Pratchett. And here, pitching for your vote, are Dr Hudson on J K Rowling and Charlie de Waal on Terry Pratchett: details on how to vote are at the end of the post.
Friday, 24 February 2017
The Power of the Historical Novel
Ned Ashcroft
“Show my head to the people. It’s worth the trouble.”
Georges-Jacques Danton: the bully-boy. His words, upon his execution, shall forever remain eternal. Trampled on by an ox at an early age, his scarred face fitted in perfectly with the burly frame and overwhelming voice, making him the natural leader of the Parisian revolutionary mob, or Sans-culottes. Maximilien Robespierre: the mastermind. Upon his withered shoulders the weight of historical disapproval falls heavily, but his mind will forever burn freely of the political suspicion and idealism that drove five years of revolution. Camille Desmoulins: the devil. Words flowed through his pen like magic, only to be stumbled over and frustrated in speech. Desmoulins’ aptitude for seduction casts him with a dark shade: long black locks flowing over his sharp features he is a phantom menace, yet one who we love all the same.
A simplistic description at best, but the achievements of Hilary Mantel’s titanic historical novel, A Place of Greater Safety, are still fairly well surmised above. Through her perfect cohesion of historical fact with entertainment value, Mantel provides 872 pages of energy, 872 pages of information and 872 pages of passion.
“Show my head to the people. It’s worth the trouble.”
Georges-Jacques Danton: the bully-boy. His words, upon his execution, shall forever remain eternal. Trampled on by an ox at an early age, his scarred face fitted in perfectly with the burly frame and overwhelming voice, making him the natural leader of the Parisian revolutionary mob, or Sans-culottes. Maximilien Robespierre: the mastermind. Upon his withered shoulders the weight of historical disapproval falls heavily, but his mind will forever burn freely of the political suspicion and idealism that drove five years of revolution. Camille Desmoulins: the devil. Words flowed through his pen like magic, only to be stumbled over and frustrated in speech. Desmoulins’ aptitude for seduction casts him with a dark shade: long black locks flowing over his sharp features he is a phantom menace, yet one who we love all the same.
A simplistic description at best, but the achievements of Hilary Mantel’s titanic historical novel, A Place of Greater Safety, are still fairly well surmised above. Through her perfect cohesion of historical fact with entertainment value, Mantel provides 872 pages of energy, 872 pages of information and 872 pages of passion.
Tuesday, 21 February 2017
Book of the Week
Nation by Terry Pratchett
Recommended by Raphael Dembo-Shah
Nation, by Terry Pratchett, offers a unique glimpse into the mind of the isolated islanders living in the southern Pacific Ocean. It also shows the impact colonialism has on their thoughts because the protagonist is an islander, into whose mind we are able to peer. I would definitely recommend this book because I find this novel to be more philosophical, thought-provoking and intriguing than the other Terry Pratchett books, albeit slightly less humorous.
Friday, 10 February 2017
George Orwell's gift of dystopia
At a time when the Trump bump has sent sales of 1984 rocketing, and the White House labels lies 'alternative facts', Jasper Green reconsiders the political novels of George Orwell.
George Orwell attempted to present, through his novels, the dangers of a totalitarian government. The issue was contemporary for Orwell as many countries, including Germany, Russia, Italy and Spain, were under controlling governments. Orwell’s most well known novels include Animal Farm and 1984. These stories attempted to raise the dark views that Orwell held on the USSR’s ruling communist party.
George Orwell attempted to present, through his novels, the dangers of a totalitarian government. The issue was contemporary for Orwell as many countries, including Germany, Russia, Italy and Spain, were under controlling governments. Orwell’s most well known novels include Animal Farm and 1984. These stories attempted to raise the dark views that Orwell held on the USSR’s ruling communist party.
Tuesday, 7 February 2017
Book of the Week
Voss by Patrick White
Recommended by Joe Wyche
Available from a choice of books, I decided to read Voss to contribute towards my book selection for my Personal Investigation essay, as part of my Pre-U English course. Australian family members have read this book and recommended it greatly, so as I was visiting over Christmas, I thought it would be relevant. It did not disappoint.
Voss presents the surprising love story of two polar opposites, Laura and Voss: it becomes evident that opposites do attract, and the strength of their relationship is tested while Voss travels the expansive Australian countryside away from Laura, facing an array of physical challenges, and she experiences testing personal situations at home.
Recommended by Joe Wyche
Available from a choice of books, I decided to read Voss to contribute towards my book selection for my Personal Investigation essay, as part of my Pre-U English course. Australian family members have read this book and recommended it greatly, so as I was visiting over Christmas, I thought it would be relevant. It did not disappoint.
Voss presents the surprising love story of two polar opposites, Laura and Voss: it becomes evident that opposites do attract, and the strength of their relationship is tested while Voss travels the expansive Australian countryside away from Laura, facing an array of physical challenges, and she experiences testing personal situations at home.
Friday, 3 February 2017
Not now, Bernard ...
There are many books I don't get, but I was surprised last week to discover that I might have been misreading my all-time favourite for many years.
The book in question is David McKee’s Not Now, Bernard, and it's my favourite for several reasons:
1. It features my name in the title
2. I read it to both my children when they were babies
3. I, like Bernard, feel I am often being ignored
4. It features an enormous child-eating monster.
Those four reasons alone are enough to keep it at number one slot for some time. But this weekend I came across another reason why it should stay there.
5. It's not as simple as it seems.
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