Almost Green by James Glave

Published by GreyStone Books - a division of Douglas & McIntyre

Global warming, carbon footprint, climate change, and sustainable living: these phrases and others like them have become popular the world over, and with good reason. Who can fail to notice the extreme weather, the deteriorating air quality, and other warning signs that show this planet to be in trouble? There is an endless supply of information on the subject, from DVDs such as 'An Inconvenient Truth', clips such as Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge and of course the countless websites and books.

James Glave's book - Almost Green, is unlike most other books on this subject. The author approaches the subject of Green Living with humour and frank honesty as he attempts to build a sustainably designed writing studio in the front yard of his home. While it starts off as a noble and wonderful idea, the reality is constantly clouded with unpleasant surprises and challenges. Challenges that the author and his family constantly rise above, seemingly with a new sense of determination that is both inspirational and admirable. Not only set on changing their own carbon footprint on the world by way of building this eco-friendly studio and downsizing their SUV for a more environmentally friendly vehicle, the author also tries to encourage his neighbourhood to take baby steps towards green living too.

I loved this book. Absolutely adored it. I have read books on the climate change and environmental issues before but I have to admit, many have been greatly informative yet dry, dull reads which insist on drowning the reader in facts and figures. Almost Green is completely different. From the very beginning the author draws the reader in and points the reader in the direction of the video clip that is linked above for your convenience. He briefly discusses his own thoughts on this clip and the impact it had on his thinking and way of life, and then shares his ideals and hopes regarding his own environmental impact.

This book is honest, personal, and deeply informative with the information shared in a way that is easy to digest and understand. One of my favourite sections was a chapter in which the author converses with Solitaire Townsend, co-founder of Futerra which is - to quote the author - "a leading authority on the tricky business of talking about global warming in a way that inspires action, not apathy". Helpful tips were given regarding how to discuss environmental issues with other people in a way that would inspire a community to join together and create positive solutions, rather than alienate. Also a number of resources were shared which are invaluable to anyone who is trying to implement change on a community level.

One of my favourite reasons for liking this book though, is the way it engages the reader. While the author shared his discoveries on this green journey, I found myself learning to look at things on a whole new level. For example, I have been guilty of only really thinking about my environmental impact when it comes to travel. I don't often think of the impact at home, other than the obvious switching off lights and recycling. The author brought up a valid point though in which he mentions that he would drive to the recycling centre to drop off his stuff, which seemed to negate his efforts somewhat. I realised that I myself am guilty of that one and will in future be making sure I plan my recycling trips around other activities. That is just one of the many ways this book has made me use my head a little more.

It has also inspired me to start thinking about other changes I can make to become greener. More baby steps, as the author likes to call them. The author has made this subject so much more approachable and in my own case at least, less daunting. It was a greatly inspirational read and one I would highly recommend to anyone.

On a fun note, the publisher (Douglas & McIntyre) has arranged a contest in which the winner can win a night's stay at the Eco-Shed.

Author's website: http://glave.com/

Thor's Wedding Day: By Thialfi, the Goat Boy as told to and translated by Bruce Coville. Illustrated by Matthew Cogswell

Published by Magic Carpet Books - a division of Harcourt Inc
Distributed by Raincoast Books

Thor is having a really bad day. His hammer has been stolen by the king of the giants, Thrym, and is being held for ransom. Thrym wants to marry Freya - The Goddess of Love, but the fiery tempered Freya will have nothing to do with him. Following a meeting with all of the Gods and Goddesses, it is decided that the only solution is for Thor to bury his pride and don a bridal gown. The mischevious Loki and the nervous Thialfi - the goat boy - need to dress for the occassion too. Thor just hopes he doesn't have to walk down the aisle!

This book was hilarious, original, and captivating. I love books about the Gods and Goddesses and it seems that we are starting to see more authors having fun with the subject. (Gods Behaving Badly is a book that came to mind). This was a quick and easy read which was expected since it is a book aimed towards children ages 8 to 12. I can imagine it would make delightful bedtime reading for children and parents alike and I could also see this book as a great way to get children introduced to Mythology in a fun way! I laughed out loud often while reading this one, it was a great adventure! I also enjoyed the sometimes dark, always wonderful illustrations of Matthew Cogswell. I especially liked his depiction of Thrym.

A great read.

Author's website: http://www.brucecoville.com/
Illustrator's website: http://www.matthewcogswell.com/

The Old Stories by Kevin Crossley-Holland. Illustrated by John Lawrence

Published by Dolphin Paperbacks - a division of Orion Books UK

A collection of traditional tales, folk lore, myths, rhymes and more, The Old Stories contains short pieces that are memorable and oftentimes quirky. Whether dealing with humour, fear, problem solving and many other topics, the theme often seems to turn to morals as is the way for many folk tales and myths from around the world. The rhymes are often in old dialects (though sometimes adjusted slightly to make them more understandable).

I liked this collection a great deal. I loved reading the local rhymes which, while not identical, were extremely similar to my own lancashire dialects. It made me smile and think of the region where I was raised. The writing style is beautifully descriptive and the tales are often filled with words that inspire the imagination, words such as bogles and woodwoses. I found that in the 'darker' pieces, the writing style was brilliantly chilling. As with any collection, there are always going to be favourites. Mine were the following:

• The Suffolk Miracle: In which a farmer's daughter and a ploughboy fall deeply in love much to the displeasure of her father who does everything to prevent the joining of the two. True love as always, will not be denied.
• The Dead Moon: In which the moon, who protects the local swamp from the bogles, dead things, and crawling horrors, decides to explore the swamp and see what the locals are so afraid of.
• Sea Tongue: The voices of so many objects in a town (church bell, church, houses, the cliff) come together and share moments in their history.
• Cape of Rushes: Folk tale which very much reminded me of Cinderella.
• Samuel's Ghost: Samuel tries his best to ensure his spirit can rest.
• A Coggeshall Calendar: Hilarious accounts of events during a year in Coggeshall and the steps the locals take to deal with these events. Pretty much a folk tale version of the Darwin Awards.

I was glad to see that the author includes sources and notes in the back of the book for those who wish to delve more into where these tales originated. The illustrations by John Lawrence which are of a simple style, were a tasteful and eye-catching addition. My only issue with those images was the fact that a few of them were repeated alongside different stories so I felt the illustrations in places were used more as 'fillers'. I liked that the stories are also paired with rhymes and sayings with the same theme. It's nice to see a layout so obviously well thought out.

Also, last but not least, I loved the book cover itself. In fact, I picked up this book just because of the cover. It was simply captivating. I am so glad it got my attention. While it was the cover that drew me to this author, it is his writing that has made me eager to find and read more of his books.

Author's website: http://www.kevincrossley-holland.com/
Illustrator's website: http://www.imagesofdelight.com/

Kandide and the Secret of the Mists by Diana S. Zimmerman. Illustrated by Maxine Gadd

Published by Noesis Publishing

The kingdom of Calabiyau is in turmoil. King Toeyad, ruler of the Fée kingdom, is dead. Next in line is his eldest daughter Kandide who has been prepared for her special role as Queen – and Keeper of the Gift - since birth. Unfortunately, being constantly reminded of how important she is has led to Kandide being spoiled, willful, and incredibly vain. To be fair, her vanity is valid as no finer, more perfect creature can be found anywhere.

While preparing for her upcoming crowning ceremony, Kandide suffers a tragic accident and suddenly her worst fears become a reality. Mercilessly cast aside by her mother, she is banished to a dark and dangerous land where all Imperfects are left to survive – or die, as they will. Kandide has always detested and feared Imperfects. Now she must face and co-exist with them, and harder still, she must accept her own future as one of them.

Back in Calabiyau, Kandide’s family has problems of their own. The high council is demanding to know the location of Kandide – and the Gift, on which life itself depends. Now Kandide’s siblings must go seek their banished sister and return within three days. The very life of their mother is dependant upon their success. With their mother’s enemy, the fiery Lady Aron, working against them, can the family survive?

Okay, I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this book. I was hooked and literally couldn’t put it down from start to finish and on reaching the last page, I was eager for the story to continue. Now I can’t wait for the second and third installments of this series. I have read many fantasy novels and of those, many have contained faeries and magic but none have ever moved me in the way this did. This is not simply a faery tale or a tale of magic. This is not even just a tale of good against evil. This is a story which is inspirational, teaches patience, tolerance, acceptance and perhaps most important of all, it teaches the important lesson of beauty being much more than skin deep. This is a tale that all children should read but I think for the adults it is a superb choice too. It certainly spoke to the inner child in me. The simply stunning artwork by Maxine Gadd made me love this book even more. My favourite illustrations in this book are Tara, and Lady Aron (both viewable here)

Fantastic read. I saw on the website that someone had said that after reading Harry Potter they had wondered if a series of books ever knock them off their feet again. The same person said they found that the Calabiyau Chronicles did just that and I find myself agreeing. I love Kandide’s world and I don’t think I could ever get tired of reading about it. I think what I loved too, was that after reading the book, I went to check out the site and it’s an online playground and wealth of information regarding the series and characters so you can learn even more. I loved the character biographies (which are also in the back of the book).

Author's website: http://www.kandide.com/
Illustrator's website: http://www.fataraworld.com/

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Published by The Dial Press - a division of Random House

Lexi Smart is a woman with problems. In addition to having a family she can't connect with, she has a husband who is deliciously handsome, drives a fast car, is a multimillionaire who showers her with diamonds AND a guy who knows how to drive a powerboat. She has an amazing apartment, a wardrobe to die for, a personal shopper and a highly successful career as the youngest Director the company has ever had. Okay, so it doesn't sound too problematic I grant you but what if you were to wake one morning in hospital, discover this amazing life you have and realise that you can't remember any of it. I imagine like Lexi, you would be terrified.

Now she finds herself here, in 2007, with the last three years having vanished from her memory entirely. Her old girlfriends want nothing to do with her, she doesn't know the first thing about doing her job, and as for her marriage... even reading the marriage manual that Eric considerately put together for her does little to ease her nervousness about this strange, new relationship. Things get even more confusing when one of her husband's business associates decides to try and help Lexi remember things. Will she ever remember? Can she get her life back on track?

This book was a fantastic read and I loved it even more than the Undomestic Goddess (also a great read by Sophie Kinsella). This book drew me in from the first page where I couldn't help but connect with this twenty five year old woman, Lexi, as she struggled to deal with the loss of her father, her unreliable boyfriend 'Loser Dave' standing her up again, and her job driving her crazy. The plot was well written and kept me constantly filled with suspense though at least one of the events is easy to anticipate. I enjoyed the sprinklings of humour, the camaraderie that is evident later in the book, and I especially loved the journey of self-discovery. It's a heart-warming and emotional feel-good story that makes this book a perfect choice when you need a pick-me-up. Heck, the bright cheery cover caused me to smile even just taking the book down from my shelf.

Author’s website: http://www.sophiekinsella.com/

The White Guy: A Field Guide by Stephen Hunt

Published by Douglas & McIntyre

When I first started reading this book, I really wanted to like it. Half way through the book, that goal changed to just wanting to be able to finish it in it's entirety. This is probably the shortest review I have ever done but I like to focus on the positive aspects of the books I read. With this title I could find no positives unless you count the fact that Moby Dick is no longer the worst book I have ever read.

I will simply say that the cover states that this book is 'funny as hell'. The hell part of the statement I will agree with, the humour must have slipped right by me. I found this book irritating, and offensive (note: I am almost impossible to offend).

I also found myself wondering about much of the content. It seems to have nothing to do with the subject of 'The White Guy: A Field Guide' and more to do with how the white guy is responsible for everything that has ever gone wrong with the world. I also noted certain facts that were thrown in without being checked out. Such as on TV for example, every CSI guy is white. Oh? Gary Dourdan, Adam Rodriguez, & Archie Kao must find that fact quite surprising. I find it amusing that the author throws in a comment about Michael Moore and how he 'fits facts to fit the story he is telling' and yet the author himself does exactly that. It was just yet another thing I hated about the whole experience.

I would suggest bypassing this book and reading something else but as always, everyone has different tastes and opinions. Take a look at his website and decide for yourself.

Author's website: >http://www.stephenbhunt.com/

Down to a Sunless Sea by Mathias B. Freese

Published by Wheatmark

A young man stands before a mirror, another is preparing to open a new business with a friend, a bear visits a local town, a young boy keeps an old woman company for a time, a woman visits a graveyard, and a child is taught to swim. These are everyday events that happen all over the world on a daily basis and hardly seem worth a second glance but when mingled with the imagination of Mathias B. Freese these same events become short stories containing something dark, morbid and at times just plain weird.

I found this collection of short stories to be an addictive read thanks to the author’s gift for piquing the reader’s curiosity and also because a few of the stories have a sprinkling of information that leads the reader to think and question. Sometimes more info will be given but most often not which could be frustrating to some – it was to me at first and then once I got used to the style it didn’t bother me so much (though I am still giving a lot of thought to the pit bull!)

I liked most of the stories. I have to admit that the story, which shares the title of the book ‘Down to a Sunless Sea’, was my least favourite – and sadly, if I had not been reviewing this title, I might have been hesitant to continue reading. Half way through the second story I was really glad I had though because the book really was a great read. Each character is well written and I loved that this book explores the more negative emotions and experiences in life. Some of the circumstances can feel very uncomfortable but again, I liked that. I tend to believe that without experiencing the discomfort and negativity, we can’t always appreciate the wonderful things in life.

I had four favourites in this collection.

The Chatham Bear - in which a bear ventures into town and the reader is treated to the various reactions of the inhabitants. This story had me constantly thinking – and even now I am still mulling it over.

Herbie – in which a young boy and his friend plan on opening a shoe-shining business, His father’s reaction begins a cycle in which the two feed from each other’s negative energies. For this story I loved the inclusion of raw, animalistic behaviour though the emotion that was in mind when I finished reading it was sheer hopelessness.

Unanswerable – in which a moment shared by Father and Son totally shatters a life. I felt a great deal of anger, resentment, and hatred. It’s probably one of the most powerful stories in the book and like many of the stories in this collection it touches on the subject of WWII and the holocaust.

My most favourite, Little Errands – in which an errand as simple as mailing a letter becomes a task filled with great stress. It really stuck a chord in me but then, like the character in this tale I am one of those people who finds it necessary to check my front door many times even after I know I just locked it. I could empathise with the character completely.

Try it, read it and if you do, please let me know which are your favourites!

Author's website: http://www.mathiasbfreese.com/