Cecily's book reviews

In general I've written reviews of every book I've read since I joined GoodReads (RIP) in May 08, along with one or two I read prior to that. More recent reviews tend to be longer (sometimes a tad too long?). I always carry a book, though I don't get as much time as I'd like to get engrossed - life is busy, but in a good way. Too many of my favourite authors died without writing enough! Apart from reading, and writing about reading, I enjoy Scrabble, good restaurants, woodland, and attending the theatre.
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien A beautiful introduction to Middle Earth. It is much cosier than the Lord of the Rings, with a scattering of rhymes to jolly it along.

In some ways it's a simple quest narrative, but already you get a taste for the breadth and depth of Tolkien's imagining of Middle Earth.

Although LotR stands on its own, it makes far more sense to read this first, though a child who enjoys it is not necessarily ready to tackle LotR on their own - not just because this is shorter and simpler, but also because it is a simpler kinder world it is describing.

Currently reading

The Illustrated Gormenghast Trilogy
Sebastian Peake, China MiƩville, Mervyn Peake
Gormenghast
Mervyn Peake