Books I read and loved over the holidays
I’ve had a wonderfully productive holiday period both in writing and reading. Here’s a few of my highlights.
My Name is Mina – David Almond
One of those rare books which jumps straight into your catalogue of best loved books. This prequel to Almond’s best known and best loved work, Skellig, tells Mina’s story in Mina’s words. The voice is absolutely pitch perfect, faultless, as you expect from Almond’s writing. She is a beautifully eccentric child, with the most excitingly formed opinions who confides them all in this beautiful journal.
Slog’s Dad – David Almond, illustrated by Dave Mckean
Almond, again, this time joined by the artistic prowess of Dave Mckean, whose illustration does more than add to the story it takes it in breath taking new directions.
Ways to Live Forever – Sally Nicholls
Another, truly excellent, diary-novel, one that passed me by until I heard it reviewed by a young lady, I have the pleasure of working with. Sam has leukaemia and lives with the knowledge of his impending death. In this book he tells of his last wishes and great friendship that helps him fulfil them all, well sort of.
The Knife of Never Letting Go – Patrick Ness
Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. I have been touting this book to all who will stand still long enough to listen. It’s a book that I’ve been meaning to read for a very long time and it was well worth the wait. Get this book, read it, like me, as quickly as possible, and read on, in books two and three.
There’s a boy in the girl’s bathroom – Louis Sachar
This was a re-read and I enjoyed the tale of Bradley Chalkers as much as I did the first time.
