Which is kind of odd, because you can download them free from his website under a Creative Commons License. I suggest you start with this one, Little Brother (Amazon link, Little Brother, for if you prefer a real book). You may not be able to stop there though.

And if you’ve got or you know any teenagers, you might want to pass them a copy too, it is marketed as a young adult book, though like all the best stories, it transcends that kind of categorization.

So what’s it all about, and why am I recommending it? Well, I’m recommending it because I’ve just been glued to it for the afternoon, and given I was reading it on a netbook scrolling up and down to read both columns of the pdf, and it has to be pretty good to survive that experience!

It’s a vision of a future not very far removed from our present. It’s set in the US, but it could so easily happen here. A terrorist attack leads the Department of Homeland Security to clamp down in San Francisco, and some of the ppl they clamp down on are teenagers. Who decide they didn’t like being clamped down on, and find a way to fight back, with the technology that is being used to track and control them.

I’d be proud if my children grew up to be teenagers like the ones in this book (not least because it would mean they understand way more about technology than I do, and that is quite a lot really ). But in the world we’re living in right now, the only way my children will have that much freedom is if we, the adults, do the fighting back right about now. No to increased surveillance. No to more databases tracking our lives. No to snooping on our fellow citizens, and no to the dcsf.

Small wrote a story entitled “The story of Pregnancy” – it’s only a page long, but I loved the end “the baby cryed in his mind.” It was completely unprompted, and I love how his spelling, writing and punctuation is all developing completely of his own accord. He frequently corrects Big’s spelling (which goes down about as well as you’d expect ) and very rarely requires or requests any assistance.

They’ve both done more maths from their books – he’s now doing subtraction using a number line which he liked, while she avoided more of the timed tasks and did something else entirely, which was fine by me, I can do without the stress of her getting all wound up over whether she’s going to get them right or not!

Big watched Timewatch Young Victoria which Tim and I had prewatched and didn’t find desperately well put together, but she really enjoyed. Then again, it had that magic ingredient, Victoria She’s also watched some more Victorian Farm which she loves and we’ve discussed more about the architecture around her interest in dolls houses. I keep meaning to have another try at the miniature crochet – really wish I’d picked myself up the magnifying glass we saw at the range the other day, as it would make the attempt quite a bit easier.

Neither of them seems to be doing much reading atm – Big has finished all the Harry Potters now, and seems rather at a loss as to what to read next. Small has just ground to a halt, we have a fear that maybe he’s done reading now, and that was that

We’re looking into calligraphy sets for Big as we feel that may be a way to marry up her craft interests (she makes really beautiful cards now) with her and our desire to improve her handwriting in a relatively painless way. I feel a trip to the range coming on very soon

I’m loving sitting in the reclining chair in the living room, reading books, and watching the birds skitting about the garden. Even today in the wind and rain there have been quite a few out there – we’ve several woodpigeons, a family of blackbirds, a robin and Tim says he’s seen two wrens.

I’ve done loads of reading recently – having located the Fantasy section at the library I felt I really should make use of it. I’ve read Robin Hobb’s Soldier son trilogy

There was also Take a Thief by Mercedes Lackey – I don’t think of these as great literature, but they are good yarns, and I know I’ll get a good couple of hours enjoyment out of any of her books Oh, and A Song for Summer which I loved, even though, or maybe because, it made me cry. Not a suitable read aloud for younger children though I don’t think, as it goes into some quite adult themes – I found it in the teenage section of the library. Eva Ibbotson is rapidly becoming a must read author in my mind though, she really writes beautiful stories, very well told.

I started with The Family Trade, then there’s The Hidden Family and The Clan Corporate. They romp along quite nicely, although there’s absolutely no attempt to make each one a story on its own, nor any pretence that this is anything but a long running sequence, still under construction. If that sort of thing annoys you, I’d suggest avoiding them, otherwise, you could do like I’d do, and order them from your local library I expect that The Merchants’ War will be with me in a couple of days time, along with The Number Devil that I’ve ordered so that I can recommence reading aloud to the children.

Then there was The Magician’s Apprentice. This one is good. Very good. I’m not sure that it connects desperately well with the ones that it’s a prequel too, but there is supposed to be quite a gap between them so I daresay the inconsistencies can be forgiven. I like the strength of characterisation in these books, and the story is pretty good too.

Then there was Chalice. I’ve been waiting to read this for a very long time, but it’s not out in paperback yet, so I’d suggested it for the library, they ordered it and I requested it, but it hadn’t arrived. Then I stopped in to drop off the last library books we’d got and they’d got Chalice waiting for me. Well, I couldn’t resist, and as I know one of Big’s library books got packed, (not by me, I hasten to add) I’ll have to post that one back anyway…

I loved this book. I love pretty much anything by Robin McKinley, she is one of the few writers where it’s not just the story, it’s the language as well, and it reads so beautifully. It’s the kind of story you feel you’ve always known, and yet you can’t wait to read it again.

Chalice is lovely. If there are any flaws to it, it’s that it’s not a long book, which is obviously a drawback when you are wanting to savour something. Other than that, there’s nothing to complain about.

And finally, Victory of Eagles. I ordered this one from the local library just over a week ago, I got the email last weekend saying it was in, I walked in yesterday afternoon, picked it up from the reserve shelf and checked it out myself. Took about two minutes. I’m still a little undecided about whether self service in a library is a good idea – while I like not queueing and all the rest of it, I think the children were building up relationships with the librarians in Calderdale and they won’t get the chance to do that here.

Anyway, Temeraire 5. I quite enjoyed it, although it didn’t seem to go anywhere in terms of moving the story on really, and I was unimpressed but also unsurprised to discover there will be a Temeraire 6, this time set at the other side of the world. Wonder when that is due out. Really should know better than to start reading a series that hasn’t been finished yet.

I also picked up The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience but so far I’ve only scanned the first chapter, so no report on that yet. Except to say that the first chapter is mainly about explaining peak oil – why does that need explaining? Isn’t it self evident?

First there was The Ropemaker which I was reading to see if Big would like. I’m not sure she would, it doesn’t move fast enough with anything much happening, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I started reading Peter Dickinson because he’s Robin McKinley’s husband, but now he’s moved to my must read list just because of his writing. Always good to find a new name to add to the list

And then today, Comfort Food. It’s not the first of her’s I’ve read, I very much enjoyed The Friday Night Knitting Club when I read it last year (even if it made me cry). This one isn’t anywhere near as good, but it still flows through nicely – I started it while waiting for my doctor’s appt, and finished it while watching Azkaban with the children. The covers annoy me though, they are not relevant to the story at all, and rather cheapen it I think.

Anyway, I’ve got over that now. Mostly. So I thought I would give Mockingbird (S.F. Masterworks) a try, even though I’d never heard of the author. It’s taken me a while to read it, it’s not an unputdownable book by any stretch of the imagination, in fact, as it’s written in sections about different characters, it more or less lends itself to drawn out perusal.

It doesn’t suffer from a coming and going approach at all. There’s nothing difficult to remember from reading to reading, it’s more like having an undemanding friend who doesn’t really mind how long it is between your dropins for tea/ coffee. It’s a portrait of a dystopian future, where some ppl’s lives are so hopeless that they’d rather immolate themselves than go on living (usually in groups of three, and feeling no pain as drugs are free) with just a single lifelife in the person of a man who teaches himself to read. The hopelessness is hinted at rather than drawn in depth, although the breakdown of society is gone into in more detail.

I enjoyed it. It’s a gentle book, full of fleeting literary allusions, and narrated in a variety of voices, but unusually approachable despite the changes. I don’t know what makes a Masterwork, but this is the second book I’ve read recently flagged this way, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (Fantasy Masterworks) being the first, and with these experiences in mind, I think I may be seeking out Masterworks in the future.

I’m hoping this doesn’t do anything too horrid to the blog, please let me know if it does!

So I got a couple of children’s books out of the library and I’ve read them this weekend.

I really enjoyed Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson, I’ll be looking for more of her books for me, never mind Big! and that to me is the ultimate recommendation of a children’s book – that it should be accessible to children, but still worthwhile and enjoyable for adults too. This book was pure enjoyment, nothing particularly heavy or unexpected, but beautifully crafted and exquisitely put together both story and language wise. Heartily recommended

the other one I read this weekend was The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. This one didn’t really stand out to me at all – too much like so many other little girl lost stories. And the wolves don’t really feature at all, which disappointed me rather. Although I’ve discovered there is a sequel, and I will order that at the library. Still waiting for them to get Chalice in for me – no sign yet.

At the weekend I read Dragonhaven and The Lion Tamer’s Daughter as purchased from Amazon with my voucher. Lion tamer’s daughter is quite a short book, and more aimed at children/ teens I would guess, but still very nicely put together, and although in some ways it feels a little predictable, it’s not so predictable that you want to give up on reading – you want to know precisely how it pans out. I wouldn’t hand it to an easily scared youngster – Big won’t be getting her hands on it for a little while, but then again, I think she’s younger in more than years than the target audience I think.

Dragonhaven was just wonderful. As I have raved on many occasions, I relatively recently started to read Robin McKinley’s blog and Dragonhaven is written in some ways more in that style, it’s conversational, direct, right at you, as well as having almost footnotes as you go. The story itself is a good twist on dragons, not your average fire breathing sage beasts in a cave in this version, but then again, when has Ms McKinley ever done anything average. I adore her work, my only problem is that there’s not enough of it, but her blog is almost as worthwhile as a book (though not quite). I think this one rockets right up there with my original favourites The Blue Sword (Orbit Books) and The Hero and the Crown (oh dear, so glad I don’t put images in links on this blog, that cover art is terrible! They don’t seem to have a piccie of the one I’ve got). Oh, and the main character is homeschooled, as is mentioned a time or three – it’s set in America so we’ll forgive the terminology (won’t we ).

Tonight I’ve polished off a book I recommended to Big. She’s brought it downstairs on her go back to the library pile, I haven’t asked her if she’s read it. I suspect she may have started it and found it rather boring, as when I’ve read it, it doesn’t seem something that would appeal to her at all. It’s quite a slow story, though enjoyable and beautifully crafted, you wouldn’t expect any less of Ursula Le Guin really. It was Gifts and I am wondering if there are any sequels, as it did feel a little unfinished, shall we say, though not abruptly so.

And with that, I’m off. Humpday wednesday and downhill to the weekend, I’m sure I can make it, honest.

I also finally finished reading And the Skylark Sings with Me: Adventures in Homeschooling and Community-based Education which I found very interesting and enjoyable, if almost implausible in parts. Or perhaps it’s just the utter dedication of these parents that scares me – I’m not convinced I could ever be a tenth part as responsive, understanding and resourceful as this pair were. Interested to see that he has written other books, has anyone read any of those? None in our library area sadly, or within reach of my still unspent £11

In other news, the children have signed up to Nanowrimo, in that I’ve incorporated it into our school day It is going down incredibly well with Small, who has written two chapters of his epic so far, and has a listing of what each chapter is going to include.

So what do I buy? Decisions, decisions.

I have fancied The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections for a while, but I haven’t seen it. Has anyone out there?

The Children’s Year: Seasonal Crafts and Clothes (Festivals (Hawthorn Press)) appeals as well, I would like to try to make our live a little less detached from the changing seasons.

Or there’s Dragonhaven, a Robin McKinley I don’t have. I’ve got it on order at the library, but the library has it on order with whoever supplies books to them, and there’s no sign of it yet

Last time I had money to spend on books, I spent it on the children, suppose I could do that again. Doesn’t appeal though, I want books for me! I’ve got back into reading with having the library just down the road, and I want things that I can cherish.

If you had £11 to spend on Amazon, what would you spend it on? Show me your wishlists, inspire me!

Party today was not in a lovely warm play centre with a coffee bar, but instead upstairs (up rickety outside wet stairs with gaps between them *shudder* ) in a warehouse that has been converted into a dojo. It was not the warmest place I’ve ever been – the kids were alright as the party was being managed by one of the martial arts instructors and they were doing a lot of running around. We parents did get to join in once, throwing balls at the children, but other than that, we did a lot of standing around. By the time I got home I was cold through and through and both my left hip and left knee were aching. Tim gracefully retired for a nice hot bath so that I could go second, and I warmed up nicely then fell asleep and woke up in cold bath water with a stiff neck. Lovely. Still, my hip wasn’t aching any more.

Another chapter of our family read aloud, The Fat of the Land, which Big and I are listening to, while Small potters. Actually tonight he worked really hard, I mentioned NaNoWriMo to him, and he took off like he was on fire, and has written out his chapter list with ideas for every chapter. I was toying with doing it at school – think I’ll offer it up tomorrow and see who takes it on board, but looks like we’re doing it at home either way. Amazing to think that this child could neither read nor write a couple of months ago!

Urgh, I’ve completely lost my thread. Firefox crashed, which it is doing with increasing frequency atm, and while I seem to have most of my post intact (don’t ask me how that happened, it wasn’t draft at that point) I’ve lost track of where I was going with it. Hohum.

Ah, right, I’ve refreshed my mind by glancing at Brightkite. Right. So where were we? Oh yes, before the party, we went into town to get a present for the birthday boy. Wilcos let me down, there was nothing of interest there, but Woolies had toys on a 3 for 2, so for £12 we could have three bionicles. Good, but not ideal, as still more than I prefer to spend on these things, so we negotiated a trip to Tesco. When we got there it got loud, as apparently we were at the wrong one. I have no idea which one we were supposed to be going to, as we went to the only one within walking distance, but it was very definitely wrong. Small came within an iota of being taken home and left there – very loud tantrums are wearing on all concerned, and he’s exhibiting a very good line in them atm. All the more depressing as he didn’t do them when 2 or 3, as might be expected, and you can’t reason him out of them once he gets going. Anyway, we found a science kit which was an ideal present and grabbed that and dragged a still wailing Small out with us and home for a quick lunch before partying.

That pretty much covers today – last night I did some more reading and polished off my first Jodi Piccoult, Salem Falls. It’s extremely well crafted, and quite riveting but somehow not fulfilling nevertheless, which I suppose is down to the subject matter of false accusations of rape and sexual assault. I think I may try another one or two though, any recommendations?

Right, must clear off to finish my crochet slipper so that I can get on with Small’s. It’s getting cold in this house now

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book, though I doubt I would recommend it highly – it is the author’s first book and you can kind of tell. (I am reminded at this moment of many comments about critics, and mindful of those, I’ll stop now.)

She’s well worth reading, Trudi Canavan. And I enjoyed the surprise extra at the end of an interview with her as well as an excerpt from another author recommended as similar to her. If you like fantasy of the Raymond Feist or Janny Wurtz variety (not that I’ve ever enjoyed Janny Wurtz writing solo, but I think other ppl have) you would probably enjoy Canavan. This trilogy is slightly more satisfying than the first set, though if you struggle with multiple character points of view you should stay away, as it does leap around a little to say the least. Not first person though, so at least you don’t get that vertigo.

The second item was Quick Crochet: 35 Fast, Fun Projects to Make in a Weekend which has some lovely stuff in it as well as some absolute disasters that I really can’t imagine anyone wearing. But then that’s the case with most pattern books, and I’m finding that I’m increasingly looking for ideas and adapting them, as I did with the handwarmers I made last week. They aren’t quite mittens – they have holes instead of thumb pieces, mainly because I ran out of wool – but they are quite efficient and practical.

Today has been mainly quiet, with occasional screaming outburst, I’m trying to ignore how ludicrously tired I feel despite the fact I’ve done nothing, and I’m attempting to plough through a box of tat and get rid of some of it. Why do I feel so guilty throwing things away? I should feel guilty acquiring them which might cut down on the necessity of throwing them out. Hm, I shall attempt to move towards that point of view.

Last of the Wilds (Age of the Five) I ordered this one after picking up the first of the trilogy on my first visit – good yarns. I’ll be back with a proper review in a day or so.

Kitty Goes to Washington These ones are kind of chicklit meets horror – sexy werewolves. OK, it’s a bit embarrassing, but I picked one up after seeing it recommended on Ann Aguirre’s blog and actually quite enjoyed it, so when I saw a couple more today, I picked another one up.

Salem Falls I haven’t read any Jodi Piccoult yet – I bought three boxsets of books last christmas and split them between my three sisters, so I gave them all Jodi Piccoult but not me. I’d probably have borrowed one to read off one of them by now if this had been a normal year, but it hasn’t been, so I haven’t.

Talli’s Secret I saw this one recommended when I went on a training course to do with autism and relationships – I have no idea which special need it addresses, though I’m sure it does something, but it was the link with Haworth that intrigued me, so I picked it up to see whether it is something Big would like to read. We really must go to the Vicarage at Haworth, I don’t think they’ve been yet, but then again, they’re a bit young to have Bronte’s inflicted on them (and yes, I do consider reading Jane Eyre to be an inflicted punishment, it was completely murdered when I was at school).

Over on the couch behind me, Big and Small are having their first lesson in dtp – they had made certificates for their clubs that they wanted scanning and printing, but it didn’t work too well – they’d used felt tips on drawing paper and it didn’t come out clearly at all. Obviously they have an interest in the technology so right now is the best time for them to learn. This is how it should be. This is how it will be again

(I’m really looking forward to putting the blogring code back on the blog )

Oh, Small got books too, he got Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (BBC Audio) which we’d ordered after he picked it up last week (which seems like a lifetime ago, how weirdly time warps when things are going wrong) and it only had one of the two cds in it. Bizarrely, they’ve put the one cd version only back on the shelves? Oh, and Superheroes Down the Plughole (Super Stars) which is labelled with a 1, 2 or 3 I forget which which tells us it’s a beginning to read book. He likes to get a couple of these as well as a couple of graphic novels which are not labelled with age ranges

Big got a load of books too, but I’m trying to persuade her to put those on her own blog, so I won’t list them here. We did have a chat about the teen fiction shelves as I think she may enjoy some books that are rated above her age range in library terms, so we went and explored. She was amazed to discover books that are in series she already has, such as the The Princess Diaries, and I pointed out some stuff by Tamora Pierce including First Test (Protector of the Small) which I suspect she’ll really enjoy, with the central character being a girl who learns to become a knight. There were also non fiction which included knitting, crochet, writing, manga and stuff about puberty, so I suspect she will drift very quickly over to that section. Well, she is nearly 9

First there was AK. I picked this one up because Peter Dickinson is Robin McKinley‘s husband and I wanted to know more about his writing. I didn’t regret it, even though in some ways it’s a depressing novel – it’s about war and poverty and is bleak in some ways. But it’s not gory or scary (or I didn’t think it was anyway) and it is very well written – plausible to my way of thinking, though having never been a child soldier, I can’t really vouch for its authenticity. There’s an excerpt on his website, if you wish to partake.

And then, Woman on the Edge of Time. I’m sure someone has mentioned this one before – Helen, Alison? Jan maybe? Whoever it was, thanks for the mention, as that was what sprang to mind when I saw it in the library so I grabbed it and brought it home. I’m really glad I did, it’s an excellent read, and maybe I’m getting more optimistic in my old age , but I didn’t find it nearly as depressing as I’ve found similar books before. It reminds me of some Sheri S Tepper, though tbh, I thought the writing was far better – there’s no waffly bits, no wasted words. It also reminded me of Starhawk, particularly The Five Sacred Things, not sure whether I’ve reviewed that on here before, if not, I will have to. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Big got an Ursula Le Guin, Gifts, out of the library, looking forward to stealing that off her too

I have so many dreams that I’d like to realise, and I’m gradually coming to the conclusion that one of them is not to be, but I will regroup and we will think of another way forward. It’s been ever such a tough year, and I think it’s taken it out of all of us, and is still doing so in one way or another – I’m going to very gently try to redirect myself this week, although I know that more than anything, I just need to heal. I can’t believe how weak and wobbly I feel, and especially after sleeping for about 15 hours! Still, I must have needed it.

Big and I have managed, between us, to sew up the second side of lining for the second purse that needs lining. That means there is another one unlined, and another on her loom that needs to be finished. She also stopped wailing for a couple of minutes and listened long enough to realise that I do know how she feels and what she is going through, and hopefully understand that I do love her and I want to help. I have absolutely no doubt that I will have to say it all over again tomorrow, and the day after and the day after that, but I can hope that eventually it will go in, and the volume level of the house will drop. Hopefully before Small decides that screaming, wailing, stamping, stropping and slamming is the way you are supposed to talk to parents (especially the meanest ones in the world, we are told) and takes over :/

I’m also racking my brains trying to remember the title of a journal that I remember seeing on a blog somewhere. It was one of these inspire creativity workbook type things, and I’d like to find it, I feel that my personal creativity is lulling and could do with some inspiration. I’m going to make myself some small and simple things to try to recharge – I’ve already made some handwarmers (they can’t be called mittens as I ran out of wool before I made the bit for the thumb. I did of course then find the second ball this morning, but I don’t really want to break into it just to make thumb shapes, I was thinking of making a matching scarf, as I don’t think one ball is enough to make a hat, is it?) and I need to take pictures of them and add to ravelry, as at the moment, it looks like I’ve done nothing for over a year. There are the various mobile phone covers I made as well, although the crochet one appears to have run away, so I can’t photograph that one

Sigh. I don’t know how I got to here. I was trying my best, and I guess it just wasn’t quite the right thing to be doing. Hm. A week to recharge, and then pick myself up and start all over again.

Last night I read books. I read

Priestess of the White (Age of the Five) which is a jolly good yarn, reminds me of Raymond Feist this one, though there isn’t as much characterisation, or quite as much anything (his books do run to dense, don’t they?). Well worth a read, I’ve read her first trilogy too, think I’ve reviewed on here previously. Came downstairs when I was done and requested the next two – I do like free reservations on the library website

Then I found a pile of books next to the bed that I was planning on prereading before dropping off in children’s rooms. (And yes, I do consider myself to have two reading children now – Small can’t really be stopped, and it’s fab to watch him improving every day, or nearly every minute really ) There was Bearstone which I really rather enjoyed – a coming of age drama for a young Indian boy in America, absolutely no idea how plausible it is, but there you go.

Then Gulf. Not one for the easily scared (not that it’s desperately scary in a horror sort of way, but the central idea is one that could give you shivers down your spine), and I did find it quite depressing, but then again it isn’t meant to be cheering I don’t think. Well worth reading though, and will be finding its way on a children’s bookshelf very soon.

And tonight I got a promotional email from some mailing list or other and it was advertising Haiku Mind: 108 Poems to Cultivate Awareness and Open Your Heart which I really like the look of. And I followed a link on the website that it came from and found The Poetry of Zen (Shambhala Library) which looked rather excellent too. I’m wondering about some kind of meditation or calming techniques for Big – she is extremely quick to extremes of emotion atm, and I feel she could do with some help with control, but I don’t know whether meditation or poetry would work. Breathing doesn’t seem to Still, if it didn’t help her, maybe it would help me ignore the screaming?

So, speaking of bells, here’s the first page or so of The Bells of Mazahan because it’s much too late to come up with an entry from zero. This is the beginning of the draft after I realised it wasn’t going to stay a short story, but you’ll notice its antecedents as an Elementals Air story. As well as some creative input from my so-called real life. And I make no promises as to how much the first page or so will look like this in its final form either.* My stories are capable of death-defying leaps of (in)credibility pretty much up to the last minute.

Go and read it. And if you haven’t already read them, lay your hands on the previous Damar books, The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown and read them too. If you are even slightly partial to fantasy you will enjoy them. And if you aren’t generally a fantasy reader but like well put together stories, you’ll probably enjoy them too.

Anyway, this week, as I was saying, I’ve got to read stories. Only a few times, as they’ve been elsewhere or sat on by others two evenings, but that’s still three stories.

The first evening it was a Katie Morag story from More Katie Morag Island Stories. I think it was Jan who introduced us to Katie Morag, and she’s a firm read aloud favourite with both offspring. I rather like her too, which helps.

On Wednesday they chose a family favourite, Rattletrap Car. As always it was an interactive story read, with the children reading different parts, Big playing Junie and Small Jakie, then Big morphing to be the baby as she saves the day. I don’t actually need the book to read the story as it were, we’ve read it so many times, I can recite it from memory, and I still like it. Got to be the measure of a good book.

Tonight it was a rescued ex library book, The Crooked Apple Tree. It’s a lovely book, all about children playing through the year, and somehow it makes me think of the Beans, don’t know why (Though it could be the idea of parental picture taking and then presenting the children a book of their pictures, sounds a very Beany thing to do.) Small then proceeded to tell me how to spell ‘tree’ and ‘apple’ (which might be the first time he’s spelled out something longer than one syllable actually, coo another first).