keep track of every book i read this year

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE by J K Rowling

Strange book. A little bit different this one. The baddies get away, one of the goodies winds up dead and although I expected to find this death more shocking, it was actually very well handled. Not so horrifying that it would terrify the kids, nor yet of no consequence. Feels like Rowling is setting up the next few years in Potters life, though she might finish it all up next novel around.

Wonder what she will do when Potter is not school age any more

LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY by J R R Tolkein

This is…what is it…either my third or forth reading of these three books. I still like it though I can see some of the faults to by this stage. For anyone who has only seen the films, DO read the books, as there is SO much more…

The Fellowship of the Ring Book 1
The Two Towers Book 2
Return of the King Book 3

A LIFE STRIPPED BARE: TIPTOEING THROUGH THE ETHICAL MINEFIELD by Leo Hickman

This is a very interesting book about leading an environmentally ethical life. Leo Hickman, a relatively ordinary bloke, gets three environmental experts to ‘audit’ his life and then, following their advice, endeavours to live more ethically. Sometimes very funny, and interesting all the way through, especially if you are interested in the environment, like me.

ESSENTIAL BUSHCRAFT: A HANDBOOK OF SURVIVAL SKILLS FROM AROUND THE WORLD by Ray Mears

My favourite of the Ray Mears books as it has nice colour pictures and still is a reasonable size to stick in a rucksack. Just READING this book makes me want to buy kit and trek across the wilderness. Wonderful.

THE WAY OF LOVE by His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivendanta Narayana Maharaja

This booklet was handed to my brother with a packet of joss sticks. He passed it on to me, knowing that I am interested in ‘all that sort of stuff’. It turns out to be an interesting little booklet with a Hari Krsna slant which looks universal religion based on a loving god who is the father of all. Interesting Hindu perspective and snippets of information on Bahkti Yoga.

Well, that’s about it so far. Will fill in further books when I have read them

Read:

THE AGE OF MISRULE TRILOGY by Mark Chadbours

Was OK. Did not like the ending – but I won’t bother you with it in case you want to read it. It is all based on the Celtic end-of-time legends and starts with a modern technological world which slips into a magical one as technology fails to work (a nice novel concept). The story is from the human perspective, as the (flawed) humans find that even the good immortals are not really on their side.

The three books are called:

World’s End Book 1
Darkest Hour Book 2
Always Forever Book 3

THE DUNCTON CHRONICLES by William Horwood

Loved this. Second time of reading the whole set.

The stories are all about religious persecution. Though told from the moles’ perspective (small animal, burrows in the ground) reading between the lines, you can tell this is all about people.

Lovely ancient religion based on worship of standing stones and newer vicious religion based on penitance and sacrifice.

The three books are called:

Duncton Wood Book 1
Duncton Quest Book 2
Duncton Found Book 3

THE CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT THE UNBELIEVER by James R Donaldson

This set of books was slated for being a rip-off of “The Lord of the Rings” but though there are many similarities, the whole feel of the story is so different that I feel it stands up on its own merits.

This is about a leper whose family have deserted him and whose community reject him, being summoned to help another place – a wonderful place where nature is exactly the way I would like it to be here – vibrant!

The three books are:

Lord Foul’s Bane Book 1
The Illearth War Book 2
The Power that Preserves Book 3

...to be continued…