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.
Cautionary Tales for Children - Hilaire Belloc Very dated, but all the more charming because of it.

My father read them to me with great expression when I was a child, and to this day, I can only hear or read them with his intonation (fortunately his was very good).

As with and compendium, there are some duffers, but the best are sublime: Matilda (obviously), Sarah Byng, John and many others.

For a modern and darker twist on these, see Tim Burton's "Melancholy Death of the Oyster Boy" (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/638631854).

Currently reading

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