I know i have blogged about Janet Evanovich before, but i just wanted to write a little note about her first book One for the Money, which has been made into a movie and is coming out this friday. These books are definitely easy to read and are hilarious so if you are looking for something to clear your mind between all the classics (or in my case cultural theory text books) give Janet Evanovich a read, she’ll have you laughing in no time.

I often find myself buying books that have been recommended to me by many other people and then they just sit on my bookshelf for months collecting dust. One of these books was Game of Thrones by George R.R Martin. I had a visit from an old friend in September and she was thoroughly obsessed with the third book in the series , there are five in total. I tried to start reading the first book right after she left but i couldn’t get into it, probably because i am not a seasoned fantasy reader, and i am not used to the way fantasy is written. Lucky for me HBO made the first book into a tv show, after i watched the first episode i was hooked and read the rest of the 750 page book in 4 days!

The first book of the Song of Fire and Ice series, Game of Thrones, was written in 1996. The series is one of the best selling series in the fantasy genre but found a renewal after HBO decided to turn it into a tv series.

Game of Thrones is set in a mystical land of seven kingdoms where winter can last for years (and you thought our winters were long). The first book focuses on the Stark Family, led by Lord Eddard Stark, keeper of the North and Lord of Winterfell. Winterfell lies south of The Wall, a giant man-made ice wall which separates seven kingdoms from the horrors that lie in the forest behind the wall. The wall is guarded by a group of men called the Nights Watch, who have swore their service to protecting the seven kingdoms from whatever lies behind the wall.

Lord Stark is instructed to become Hand of the King (the right hand man) to king Robert. However, when Lord Stark travels to the south to take up his post he finds that the people surrounding the King are not who they seem, especially the Queen and her twin brother. Game of Thrones is a story of kingdoms, lords, ladies, powerful families, alliances, loyalty, bravery, war, lies and deceit. It reminds me of historical fiction, with scary monsters, dragons and even a rather funny dwarf.

The book is structured so that each chapter is written from the viewpoint of a different character, of which there are many but this structure keeps them all organized allowing each character to develop in complexity. I won’t go into details about the plot because this would be the longest blog post ever. I will say that i was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. Next on my list, Clash of Kings.

The BBC are well known for producing top-notch tv series ( Pride and Prejudice, Downton Abbey…and the list goes on) and you will not be disappointed with their latest addition. Gillian Anderson (X-files) is fantastic as Miss Havirsham, cold, disturbed and forever reliving her own personal tragedy in her wedding dress. The characters are so well-developed and the whole tv series is beautifully shot….im just in love with this dark Victorian story. I’ve attached the official trailer from the BBC, please ignore the Christmas music, it doesn’t quite do it justice!! and an extra clip just for fun. Enjoy!

Ok completely unrelated and off topic to books but i thought it’s Christmas and I would take a minute to post about my other little business.

EmmyLou Knits is a line of hand knit scarves, cowls, headbands and hats made with love by myself. I focus on the warm, chunky and cozy knits made mostly from 100 percent wool, with some items made from wool blends.

EmmyLou Knits are a beautiful last minute Christmas gift for your loved one, sure to keep them warm and cozy this winter…because we all know it will get colder eventually!

EmmyLou Knits are available at Bamboo Ballroom on Whyte Ave in Edmonton, the Enjoy Centre in St. Albert, Alberta, and Coal Miner’s Daughter in the Annex in Toronto. If you are not lucky enough to live in these areas i also have an Etsy site and i love doing custom orders so please ask for colours and styles!!

Merry Christmas and lets get back to books!!

Stephen Fry

Also similar to Stieg Larsson books are books by the author Henning Mankell. A personal favorite of Joan, Co-Owner of the Bookwormz, they are said to be very similar to Stieg Larsson, for those of you who have read all three and are gagging for more!

Also, here is the trailer for the movie, but make sure you read the book first!!

Flavia De Luce is an eleven year old girl living in a big old house in 1950′s England with her two evil sisters, Ophelia and Daphne, who constantly pick on her. But Flavia is not quite so innocent herself, she often comes up with some nasty revenge in her Uncle Tar’s Victorian Chemistry Laboratory in a far wing of Buckshaw, her home. But Flavia is also a detective of sorts, in book one when a dead body is found in Buckshaw’s cucumber patch, she takes it upon herself to find the culprit. Armed with wit, her chemistry laboratory and her trusty bicycle Gladys, Flavia is a brave and charming heroine whom you can’t help but fall in love with!

Currently there are three books available in the series:

1) The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

2) The Weed that strings the Hangman’s Bag

3) A Red Herring without Mustard

Also in the works is a Christmas Special: I am Half Sick of Shadows…..I can’t wait!!

For more information see Alan Bradleys website ! And come into the Bookwormz to pick up a copy  for Christmas ( if there is any left!!)

Comparable authors? well I’m not really sure as i don’t read paranormal fiction all to often but I have read Janet Evanovich and their light and funny pace are very similar. We have lots of Charlaine Harris in store so come in and give them a try, just a tip though, make sure you start with book number one, Dead Until Dark, otherwise it could be rather confusing! And trust me you wnat the whole story!

If you are an avid reader then taking book credit is the way to go. We do request that you spend your credit the day you bring the books in. When buying for cash we are much more selective plus you do not get the same value as you do for credit.

We look forward to seeing what you’ve got for us!

Louise

Other good reads in the Historical Fiction genre is anything by Sharon Kay Penman. Her era is mainly medieval England. She has a Henry II trilogy which starts with When Christ and His Saints Slept; Time and Chance and completing with Devil’s Brood.

Happy Reading!

Louise