Full of nostalgia: Books from our past

Not three hours ago I was talking with my lovely coworker about books that we read in our childhood, and then have gone back to as adults. Not all of them hold up to our rigorous, intelligent adult minds - those minds that have gone through various levels of education, that have been inflated from all of the reading we've been doing from our very earliest years - but a note of longing for the first read always enters a nostalgic reread for me. No matter the quality of writing nor the content of the book itself.

So today's post is dedicated to a book I read (and read and read and read) as a teenager: The China Garden by Liz Berry. First published in 1994, I came to it through a dear friend of mind who insisted I read it. At that point in our friendship (I was probably about 14) I was desperately trying to impress said friend and so I read this book in one sitting. I curled up in bed and turned on Loreena McKennitt, and blissed out completely. The Celtic tones of Mummer's Dance perfectly suited this delicious book filled with slow building magic.

When Clare Meredith is dragged to the country by her mother, she's distraught. Leaving behind friends and a fella, not to mention the possibility of working before attending university, Clare is furious at having to stay at Ravensmere, a country estate. Until the mystical English countryside starts to seep into her, along with a magic that has lain dormant for far too long. Clare finds a new freedom, and purpose, within Ravensmere and the handsome Mark who hangs around.

Full of romance and the powerful magic of being almost grown up - and all the future has to hold - The China Garden is bursting with lovely writing, beautiful scenery. I would say this is one of my top five coming of age stories. What better way to read about growing up than in a novel staged at a beautiful English country manor, full of the light touch of magic and nighttime wanderings. Not to mention a sweet little cat in the role of guide, taking Clare through the journey that awaits her at Ravensmere.  I read The China Garden just as I was starting to believe I was an adult, but I still possessed the feeling that fairies and magic are real (something I've never really grown out of, let's be real and honest here...). Even with all of the phenomenal young adult novels about growing up and the trials and tribulations, The China Garden remains at the top of my list for so very many reasons. Sadly, it's out of print now, but easily attainable from biblio.com here or from your local library.

The First Review: The Neverending Story

There cannot be any doubt in your mind, dear reader, that the inspiration for the name of this blog stems from the one and only Neverending Story by the incomparable Michael Ende. You are, of course, absolutely right. The Neverending Story is one of my all time favorite books and, I felt, the perfect book with which to kick off this here review blog.


Published in 1979 in Germany as Die unendliche Geschichte, The Neverending Story presents a classic premise of finding one's self engulfed in a story. A trope that is very popular in children's and young adult literature to this day. For who doesn't dream and wish to find themselves within a beloved book? Bastian Balthazar Bux is one such lost little boy whose mother has died and father has retreated despair and mourning for his dead wife. Bullied and doing poorly in school, Bastian, too, is completely miserable.

Enter the mysterious bookstore.

Or not so mysterious, as the name is posted right on the door that Bastian flings himself through in an attempt to hide from bullies on his way to school. The curmudgeonly owner, Carl Conrad Coreander (see what Ende did there? Clever author...), grumbles and grouses at Bastian, who is undeterred by this grumpy adult. Then Bastian does what many of us would never dream of: he steals a book. A very special book. One Coreander warns Bastian not to read because Bastian is just an child and far too young for such a book as The Neverending Story.

Ha. Just goes to show what some adult knows about children and their reading proclivities. *wink wink*

The ensuing adventure is told in alternating chapters between Bastian's story and the story of Atreyu, who must save the so-called imaginary world of Fantastica. In one of the original US editions the chapters are differentiated with two colors: red and green. Halfway through reading, Bastian finds himself literally drawn into the book and he also must save Fantastica. But of course, he does what we all would likely do when pulled into an amazing book and given tons of power - he loses his head completely.

The Neverending Story was made into three movies in the '80s and '90s, the first of which I remember vaguely watching as a very small girl. It was only as a teenager that I realized one of my favorite childhood movies actually started as a book. I skipped gleefully to the library soon after and have since reread The Neverending Story almost every year. I've heard many a rumor that a new theatrical interpretation of this lovely book is in the works. I can only hope it does justice to this amazing tome that Michael Ende drew out of his imagination.

To entice you further into the spell that is The Neverending Story, I leave you, dear reader, with this quote. Hopefully it inspires you to pick up a copy of this amazing children's novel reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland and the Inkheart trilogy.
  
 “Bastian looked at the book.
'I wonder,' he said to himself, 'what's in a book while it's closed. Oh, I know it's full of letters printed on paper, but all the same, something must be happening, because as soon as I open it, there's a whole story with people I don't know yet and all kinds of adventures, deeds and battles. And sometimes there are storms at sea, or it takes you to strange cities and countries. All those things are somehow shut in a book. Of course you have to read it to find out. But it's already there, that's the funny thing. I just wish I knew how it could be.'
Suddenly an almost festive mood came over him.
He settled himself down, picked up the book, opened it to the first page, and began to read...”  

Welcome to the ever renewing book recommendation blog!

Hello, my name is Annie and I will be your book reviewist for the week. ^_^ In fact, this is a brand new blog that I've decided to start wherein I review a new book every week! Fun, no?

Now, I know there are a million and one book review blogs in the world, but I feel my long experience in the bookselling world - and even longer experience in the bookreading world - creates a situation in which I am bursting at the seams with excellent books to read.

Plus, as you can read, my obviously plucky personality...

So, if you are so inclined, darling blog reader, and find yourself with the problem illustrated below, watch this space for updates as I will be posting some truly fabulous book reviews.