Trickster Tales: The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Russell Brand

Having long been a fan of Rusty Rockets aka Messiah Brand, in part due to his dexterous and adept command of the English language and also due to his contrary approach to the dissemination of meaning via humour and mischief, it is no surprise that I would be keen to devour his latest, more Literary offering! His first foray into the story... How would it fair?

As a mother of a precocious reader, aged 8 and well aware that the average reading age of a Sun reader is also 8 it is pleasing that the vocabulary is more in line with the average reading age of a Guardian reader: 14 (see here http://www.see-a-voice.org/marketing-ad/effective-communication/readability/ )! Our linguistic capabilities have diminished since Elizabethan times, something that continues with our codified and digitised lifestyles. How delicious, that our favourite Court Jester and Lord of Misrule has chosen to stretch the minds and capabilities of the young: both in form and content. Encouraging children to work for meaning, or their understanding of it is surely the way to go. 

The story itself, seems very reflective and open. Sam, our little outsider boy seems to resonate as Brand (see the Motherly love and encouragement, feeling different to a superficial society). The language is rich and lively, with just the right mix of puerile content to engage any ardent Walliams fans (bum custard anyone). The message is powerful: see through the superficiality of our society and embrace each other as equals. In summation, this is an enjoyable romp, full of mischief and subversion that helps our young understand an universal truth: Revolution for children!

An English Ghost Story by Kim Newman

Wonders never cease! I have just read my second tome of 2015. Perhaps this will be a more fruitful reading year after all....

As long as it doesn't involve apples, cider or any Somerset-based stories then I should still be able to sleep at night. After immersing myself in the world of the Naremore's and their time at the outwardly seeming new idyll, 'The Hollow' I'm not sure I am in a rush to return there!!

With such an obvious sounding title, I was expecting generic conformity. I find a cathartic rush in the process of exploring fear on the page (perhaps because you can close your book and feel smug in the relatively safe surroundings of your home). While I was expecting jumps and shocks from the outset, they did not materialise in a way I was expecting. Yet I remain genuinely unsettled at what has unfolded. This story definitely reminds you that the real dangers lie within your four walls- even within the confines of your own mind and indeed how you operate within the confines of your family unit.

Moving to the country is no longer the unifying salve that we can dream of as solution to our daily monotony. Cracking out the self-help CDs may be more productive!

 Who are you? 

If you don't know then you are easy pickings for any malevolent force that wishes to play with you. This was nicely disguised beneath a facade of twee, Blytonesque interplay. Initial thoughs were more Mockingbird Heights (calling the family the Naremore's was genius- cue ravenesque cuckoo-clock type interjection) than Hill House! Whether such malevolent forces are outside agents or the supernatural kind, is really down to interpretation. By the end of the story, influences clearly darken. More 'Tales of the Unexpected'. It is a toss up between an ominous tree, chest of drawers and the phantom hitchhiker mythos as to what delivered the most chills...

Kiss, kiss, kiss

The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero

Monday 29th December

I inherited a strange book.

This is not a chance encounter.

Perhaps I will need a guardian? Someone to watch me while I read it.....

Tuesday 30th December

Been to the local GP about my bloodshot eyes.

She suggests that I shouldn't read so late or watch quite so many X-Files boxsets. They are now playing on my nerves...

Weds 31st December

I have arranged to meet with other readers/enthusiasts of the 'Order of the Supernatural Enhancements'.

Perhaps they can decode its meaning? It's a bloody mystery to me!

Thurs 1st January

Woken up in a hospital bed. It got messy last night.

My thoughts are a labyrinth. 

All my best crystal got smashed. Might explain the blood loss...

I think I definitely need someone to watch over me! Who knew a book could cause this much carnage.

EDGAR CANTERO: making a comic-strip read like a novel, with verve!

I'm neving as I think about it.