Terry Pratchett had been talking about a book called Nation he'd really wanted to write for almost half a decade when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. According to rumour, he'd already begun working on the next Tiffany Aching Discworld novel, I Shall Wear Midnight, but upon hearing the news he dropped it immediately to make sure Nation was written first.
Nation is not a Discworld novel, but is instead set in an alternate history very similar to our own late 19th Century when the British Empire was at its height. A tidal wave sweeps across the Great Southern Pelargic Ocean (the South Pacific) and wipes out the tribal civilisation of the Mothering Sunday Islands. In particular, the island simply known as the Nation is ... Read More:
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This is a classic story for children, set in the 50's, it is about time, memory and friendship.
Tom, lonely and isolated as he is in quarantine, finds his way back in time, at night (when the hall clock strikes 13), to a wonderful old garden and a little girl called Hattie, who, to his curiosity, is dressed in old fashioned clothes. The two lonely children become friends and I don't want to give away the beautifully devoloped plot, but Tom slowly realises that Hattie is growing up, while he remains the same age.
The atmosphere of the story is both mysterious and engaging, as Tom slowly works out where he is and who Hattie really is.
The end of the story takes in the biblical idea of time coming to and end, or the modern notion of not existing ... Read More:
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Dont get me wrong its a great book, LOOK I gave it 5 stars. But I was expecting it tob be like Alex Rider of Jason Steed. After Ravens Gate I thought it would be better.
Its still a great novel and I recommend it although not for under 14.
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This is the best Harry Potter book by far. Once you have read all of them watched the films, if you come back to Philosphers Stone and you read about the beginging you will probably agree with me.
Its the first time at Hogwarts, when he meets Ron Weasley and gets a broom stick.
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I hate to give bad reviews, but my son and I were pretty disappointed with Superior Saturday. I've read all the series to him as bedtime reading, and we enjoyed them all so far. I don't know what happened with this one. The plot never really took off - are we supposed to get excited about tightening screws in a giant office building? Just when we thought something interesting might be about to happen, the book ended. I guess people who've come this far with the series will read it, and I will still read the final instalment to my son, but we do feel cheated by this obvious filler book.
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The story is well known and you would think that nothing compares to the magic of Harry Potter. Then you discover the wonder of Steven Fry. His unique voice is adapted for every charater perfectly, you always know who is speaking. Steven Fry and Harry Potter really is a magical combination!!!
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This prequel is the story of how Lee Scoresby met Iorek Byrnison (characters in the His Dark Materials trilogy, and if you haven't read that, better to start there than here). It might fairly be classed as a ripping yarn. It's a tale well told, charmingly illustrated with engravings by John Lawrence: inessential but fun.
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Rowling has proved herself yet again to be a master of fantasy fiction in the second installment of the Hary Potter series. The characterisations initially developed in the 'Philosopher's Stone' are considered in depth by the author, allowing presumptions to be overturned, and the impossible to be considered. From the start of this work, adventure and excitement become codewords, allowing readers of any age to engage with the well written literature. Much recommended.
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