The Book of Lost Things

While this book is twisted, it's written so well you can't help but enjoy reading it.

It follows the story of young David who loses his mother too soon; his father soon remarries and another child is added to the family. David resents the intruder into his life and slowly becomes consumed by his hatred of them. This hatred calls "the Crooked Man" to his dreams, and eventually gives him enough strength to cross over into David's world. After a big fight with his father, David finds his way into the Crooked Man's world, which has been transformed by evil. The portal back home has closed and David has become the prey of a gang of Loups. Thankfully, David is saved by The Woodsman who plans on taking him to the king of land to try and get home. Along the way David encounters many of the fairy tales he loves, though they are twisted and more sinister than he remembers. Each tale serves a purpose on his journey to the king. In the end the Crooked Man is trying to use David's anger to take the life of his half-brother so he can extend his own years and prolong his evil hold on the world. What he doesn't realize is that David has grown on his journey to the castle and no longer harbors the hard feelings towards his new family. Finally, the Crooked Man dies and David is finally able to return to his home and his life.

This was an excellent story, told by a very gifted writer. The dwarves may be my favorite characters of the whole lot.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

What a simply marvelous book! Mr. Bradley has rapidly won a spot at the very top of my favorite authors list, and Flavia de Luce a spot right under the remarkable Thursday Next from Jasper Fforde. Flavia is exactly who I wish I was at 11, even unto today. She's a perfect genius, and can be an evil one at that. I love the interactions with her sisters. On top of all this is the fact that this in an excellent mystery novel, well deserving of all the awards it's brokered.

Through many twists and turns the plot thickens and you are drawn more and more into the story; even into the possibility of starting a stamp collection. You also become fascinated with poison, and it's study. Who would have thought that chemistry could be that relaxing. I love that Flavia, at 11, is fascinated with poisons and thinking up ways of using them.

This was an excellent start to an excellent series; I am thrilled that Mr. Bradley has been contracted for at least five more! I eagerly look forward to the next books.