Books VIII

Here are some more books that I have recently read and HIGHLY recommend. Click on the links if you want to buy them. If you click on the link and purchase something a lovely charity called the Living by Giving Trust (see here) will earn some money to support its causes. :)

The Odyssey (Penguin Classics): This is the all-time classic mythology piece from Ancient Greece. This story (by the mysterious Homer) is about a great Greek hero of the Trojan war era: Odysseus. He is the King of Ithaca and in Homer's The Iliad (Penguin Classics), he is seen characterised as a very resourceful and clever man (who had the idea of the Trojan Horse). Unfortunately, unlike the other Achaean Kings, he does not get home straight away and a number of fascinating adventures ensue. Odysseus is also constantly at odds with the great sea-god, Poseidon and he requires the support of the goddess Athena to get him through it. I don't want to give too much more away, but Odysseus meets such fascinating creatures, such as a Cyclops; The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis; and so much more!

I love and still love this book - it really is a brilliant story AND one of the oldest ever in western civilisation. I highly recommend this book. 10/10.

Doctor Who: Shada: The lost adventure by Douglas Adams is lovingly novelised (and edited) by the great Who author, Gareth Roberts. I don't want to spoil this book, but it really is a beautiful masterpiece and I highly and utterly recommend any fan of Adams or the Tom Baker era of Doctor Who buy it and read it today! You will not regret it at all! 9/10. :)

Reading II

Dear readers,

I promised to let you know what I had managed to read over the last few weeks. If you remember, I have purposely said that I will try to avoid TV for one day of the week, so that I can read something. Otherwise, I'll never get round to it!

Here are some of the books that I've read (and I've even included a number out of ten to help with some recommendation!). Each book has a link to Amazon, so you can get one yourselves (if anyone reads this!!):

The Sword of Shannara: Shannara 1 (Shannara Series) : this is a really excellent book by Terry Brooks, and is the beginning of an AMAZING set of books. I've read this before, but I had to read it again, and I am so glad I did. 10/10. If you want to start these fantasy books, please start with the Sword of Shannara. Simply the best.

A Christmas Carol (Puffin Classics) : As I was reading lots over the Christmas period, I decided that I had to finally read this classic. And it really is a classic and a lot more detailed that those Disney or Muppet movies!! Well worth reading - whatever the time of year. 8/10.

QI The Book of the Dead : If you love QI and a bit of history, you'll love this book. I did. It was full of great well-known people; and the not so well-known people of times gone by. Well recommended. 9/10.

Whatshisname: The Life and Death of Charles Hawtrey : I really enjoy the Carry On films, and I am always curious about the stars long since dead. Here's one of the stars who had a very sad life, and one who is often forgotten by biographers. Charles Hawtrey was an enigma and this book shows there was more to Mr Hawtrey than getting drunk and liking young men - read it if you like the Carry On films. 8/10.

I think I did pretty well this month, I am now reading another Shannara book (The Elfstones of Shannara: Book Two of the Shannara Trilogy (Shannara Series)) , but I'll leave my thoughts till next month. I've also got another couple of books I want to read too. Until next time, enjoy these books!!

JJW Griffiths