Current Reading List - 3

I finished my last batch of reading at last and so here’s the next group of ‘To be reads’ that have made it to the top of my pile. Of the last batch it was difficult to pick a favourite, as I enjoyed them all for different reasons. Mary Hoffman’s City of Flowers was beautifully written, with lots of atmospheric description and a deviously complicated plot. She’s clearly a romantic at heart, which is something I can empathise with. Madeline Howard’s A Dark Sacrifice held a brooding menace that almost oozed from the pages. It touched the part of me that loves epic fantasy in the vein of Lord of the Rings - brilliantly written. Sam Enthoven’s The Black Tattoo was fast-paced and fun. There were a few holes in the plot, but it didn’t matter. The story raced along and took me along for the ride. Perhaps the surprise for me, though, was Darren Shan’s Cirque du Freak. I expected a blood fest, but instead I was treated to a wonderfully creepy story that left me with a clear understanding of why his books have become so popular. His writing is clean, easy to read and compelling. I surprised myself by liking it, as I rarely read from the horror genre.

My new batch of books will introduce me to three authors whose work I’ve not read before. Charlie Fletcher’s Stone Heart has been much talked about. (I couldn’t find his site, but the link takes you to a video clip of him talking about the book.) I’ve heard lots of good things about it, and I’m looking forwards to seeing what it is that has caused so many librarians and booksellers to recommend it to me. John Berkeley’s Palace of Laughter has been on my list of books to read for a very long time now and I’m feeling very guilty for not having got around to it. I believe it’s a circus story … and it has a talking tiger in it, which has definitely got my interest. Angie Sage’s Septimus Heap: Magic is another that has been sat on my shelf for a long time. I know nothing about this other than the fact that it has been undeniably popular with young people in the UK. Rather like investigating Darren Shan’s work, I look forwards to seeing what she’s been penning to draw such a big readership.

The final book of the four is Sam Enthoven’s Tim: Defender of the Earth. Having just done the signing event with him last week, I really can’t resist reading his new book. Just hearing him enthuse about it has given me an appetite for reading about huge monsters ripping up London! I shall report back about the books as I finish them.