Entries Categorized as 'Fiction'

Anne of Ingleside

Our rating: ***½

Anne is now a mother of five, soon to be six. This book chronicles a few years of the Blythe family’s life, from Aunt Mary Maria’s visit that goes on, and on, and on, through the many escapades of the usually well-meaning children.

This book doesn’t really have a definite on-going plot. Each of the children have their own little “adventures” of various sorts, and Anne herself is not very predominant until the very end, which does happen rather abruptly. I didn’t find it to be a highlight in the series, but it is worth reading if you have enjoyed the other Anne books.

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

Our rating: ****

This is the story of how Tommy Stubbins, the son of Jacob Stubbins, the shoemaker, first met the Doctor and became his assistant. Soon after Tommy begins to learn some animal language, a purple bird of paradise named Miranda arrives to tell Doctor Dolittle that Long Arrow, a great Indian naturalist, is missing. Doctor Dolittle decides to take a voyage, even though he won’t be able to meet Long Arrow. To decide where to go, they play a game called Blind Travel. They end up choosing the very spot that Long Arrow was last seen in, Spider Monkey Island. They set off at once with Bumpo, Crown Prince of the Jolliginki; Jip the dog; Polynesia the parrot and Chee-Chee the monkey and encounter some wonderful adventures.

There’s something about the Doctor Dolittle stories that I really like. They are so much fun. I left half the book out of the review, as it would take a really long review, not to mention give some of it away, if I told you all of the wonderful details. Some of the animals are great, and the Wiff-Waff is so funny, not to mention fun to say. “Wiff-Waff.” Anyway, I enjoyed this book a lot.

Stowaway to the Mushroom Planet

Our rating: ****

With the disappearance of Tyco Bass, David and Chuck have started the society for young astronomers as Mr. Bass wished. They decide to have Dr. Frobisher as a speaker, but his secretary, Horatio Q. Peabody, is jealous and goes instead. Meanwhile, Mr. Theo Bass comes to visit David and Chuck, and he wants to go to Basidium. In the preparations, Horatio figures out their plans and stows away on the spaceship. David and Chuck’s nightmares come true, as a scientist is loose on the Mushroom Planet!

The second book is as good as the first. Lots of excitement, and it’s fun, too. Of course, everything comes out right in the end.

The Time Garden

Our rating: ***

Roger and Ann’s father writes a play and must go to England for the premier. So, once again, Roger and Ann get to stay with their cousins, Jack and Eliza. Only, Jack and Eliza’s parents are going to England too, so all the children go to stay in an old house in Connecticut. Magic awaits them in the garden of thyme, in the form of a Natterjack (a British toad-like creature), who tells them of the magical properties of the thyme. Of course, the magic is through time travel (har har).

Quite interesting, with funny adventures, but not nearly as fun as Half Magic. The ending is satisfying, although a bit predictable. The Time Garden is worth reading, but I found the puns to be a little much.

The Silver Hand

Our rating: **

The champion Llew has returned to Albion, and Tegid the bard has made him king. However, spurred on by the evil Siawn Hy, Prince Meldron plans to usurp the throne. Going by bardic law (no maimed man can be king), he separates Llew from his sword hand, and Tegid from his sight. Undaunted, Tegid and Llew begin building a new city, where refugees from Meldron’s destruction arrive every day. Someday, Tegid and Llew hope to engage Meldron in combat, but Llew is from another world, as is Siawn Hy, and the only true way to save Albion is for them to return to their own world.

The Song of Albion trilogy takes a dark turn and leaves you guessing. Lawhead’s knowledge of Celtic myths, rituals, and customs serves him well. The result is a page-turner, if only to see how Llew can be king without his hand. I have a feeling that this one was more of a transition to the last book, so there might be a bit of filler. Overall, not a bad story, though I wish Lawhead would be a bit less gory.