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| "Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet." "Great idea though, thanks, Mum." - Fred and George |
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Recommended Reading |
| These are books that I've read that might interest a Harry Potter fan. Links lead to Amazon.co.uk. If you want recommended fanfiction you need to go to the Hogwarts Library. I will update this section whenever I find new books that I enjoyed. |
| The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge: |
Synopsis: The beautiful valley of Moonacre is shadowed by the memory of the Moon Princess and the mysterious little white horse. When Maria Merryweather comes there she finds herself involved in an ancient feud. She is determined to restore peace and happiness to the whole of Moon Valley. Notes from me: J.K.'s favourite book as a girl, and probably the book that had the most influence on her writing. As you read it you'll find little things that the book has in common with Harry Potter. The ending is perhaps a little disappointing but all in all a good read. |
| Northern Lights by Philip Pullman: |
| Synopsis: When Lyra's friend Roger disappears, she and her daemon, Pantalaimon, determine to find him. The ensuring quest leads them to the bleak splendour of the North, where armoured bears rule the ice and the witch-queens fly through the frozen skies - and where a team of scientists is conducting experiments too horrible to be spoken about. Lyra overcomes these strange terrors, only to find something yet more perilous waiting for her - something with consequences which may even reach beyond the Northern Lights... Notes by me: This is a good book. A little hard to follow at times, and it has quite a lot of scientific jargon. But a gripping story, very realistic characters and he will leave you wanting to know more. |
| The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman: |
Synopsis: Will is twelve years old and he's just killed a man. Now he's on his own, on the run, determined to discover the truth about his father's disappearance. Then will steps through a window in the air into another world, and finds himself with a companion - a strange, savage little girl called Lyra. Like Will, she has a mission which she intends to carry out at all costs. But the deadly world of Cittágazze is a strange and unsettling place. Deadly soul-sucking Spectres stalk its streets, while high above, the wingbeats of distant angels sound against the sky. And in the mysterious Torre degli Angeli lurks Cittágazze's most important secret - an object which people from many worlds would kill to possess... |
| The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman: |
| Synopsis: Will is still the bearer of the knife. Now, accompanied by angels, his task is to deliver that powerful, dangerous weapon to Lord Asriel - by the command of his dying father. But how can he go looking for Lord Asriel, when Lyra is gone? Only with her help can he fathom the myraid plots and intrigues that beset him. The two great worlds are lining up, for war, and Will must find Lyra, for together they are on their way to battle, an inevitable journey that will even take them to the world of the dead... Notes from me: Haven't actually read it yet but I would assume the same as the first two. |
| The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein: |
| Synopsis: In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth still it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell, by chance, into the hands of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins. From his fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor, Sauron's power spread far and wide. He gathered all the Great Rings to him, but ever he searched for the One Ring that would complete his dominion. On his eleventy-first birthday, Bilbo disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin, Frodo,the Ruling Ring, and a perilous quest: to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord and destroy the ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom. Notes by me: Quite hard going because of it's elaborate language and long details, but this is one of those books that everyone should read or they have never really lived. Don't just settle for watching the movies, read the books too! |
| Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo: |
| Synopsis: Charlie doesn't want to believe it. He can hear people in photographs talking. What's happening to him? Why now? His horrible aunts are delighted with his new talent. They have plans for him... The way Charlie's life is about to change, he'll be lucky to live till Christmas. Notes by me: This book was written for children, but I'm sure the adults on this site don't mind reading a children's book. :) The ending of the book was a little anti-climatic in my opinion, but there are two more books to go in the trilogy "Children of the Red King", so I'm guessing that was because there's more to come. A really nicely-built story with lots of tension, though, and a mystery to solve. A really good book. |
| The Time Twister by Jenny Nimmo: |
| Synopsis: Charlie Bone hoped the new term at Bloor's Academy would hold no surprises. But then Henry Yewbeam appears, twisted through time from the icy winter of 1916 into the present day. With malicious Yewbeam aunts on the prowl, and the Bloors out to catch him, Henry will need Charlie's help just to stay alive. Bloor's Academy can be a very dangerous place... Notes by me: Follow up to the previous book.I enjoyed this book just as much as the first, and finished it in two days by reading continuously, something that I don't think I've ever done with a book other than Harry Potter before. I do think that this book is lacking in character emotions, especially considering the things that are happening to them, but it's probably one of the few flaws. I love the fact that she tells you things that the characters don't know, so you know when the characters are heading for trouble and have to watch as they do. Very clever and exciting. |
| The Blue Boa (a.k.a. The Invisible Boy) by Jenny Nimmo: |
| Synopsis: A boy was once lost in the attics and never seen again. Charlie Bone is intrigued but he has problems of his own. Uncle Paton has disappeared... Notes by me: The third in the Children of the Red King series. Once again this book kept me interested and made me want to keep reading more. I think this book develops the character of Charlie Bone a bit more. The story ends on a rather tense note of what might happen next. |
| The Castle of Mirrors by Jenny Nimmo: |
| Synopsis: Charlie and his friends are back in danger, and the balance of power between the Children of the Red King has never been more dangerous. Billy finally gets his longed-for parents, but he soon wishes he hadn't when the oaths he's forced to sign come flying through the air at him. Charlie is haunted by a ghostly horse, mad with rage over an ancient wrong that happened in the sparkling Castle of Mirrors. The castle was petrified from stone into glass by the sorcerer Yorath in a terrible fire. Charlie's good friend Olivia is haunted too - but no one knows her new secret. Even with the power of Tancred's storms and Lysander's ancestors, Charlie Bone is running short of allies - just when he needs them most. Notes by me: Once again, Jenny Nimmo has produced a brilliant book with all the same pros and cons as the previous ones. The only thing making me miserable now is that the fifth and final installment in the quintet has yet to be published! |
