Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

“Howl’s Moving Castle,” by Dianna Wynne Jones is a magical tale that takes place in the town of Market Chipping; a land where all is possible. The story begins introducing us to our main character, Sophie. As her younger sisters prepare to leave home and seek the fortunes of life, sister Sophie, being the eldest, is assigned to stay behind and run the family hat shop. Unfortunately for her, running a hat shop is incredibly dull; that is, until the witch of the wastes drops by. After a brief confrontation, Sophie is left feeling a bit different – a bit stiff. She soon comes to realize that an awful spell has been cast upon her; one that has turned her into an old woman. This then ignites the fire of the story as Sophie sets off on her own journey; a journey that leads her straight to the eerie castle that looms above the town – Howl’s Moving Castle.

This is one fantasy novel that I’ve been meaning to read for ages. While I never truly forgot about it, I kept putting it off. Part of my reluctance came from the fact that it appeared to be a novel directed toward much younger readers. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with young adult/children’s literature, I wasn’t convinced that it would be something I could connect to. Nevertheless, the description intrigued me, and much of the reviews were quite positive. So despite my reluctance, I picked it up and jumped in. I’ll say right now that I’m pleased that I did. “Howl’s Moving Castle” was an incredibly entertaining and fun read. Here’s why:

To start, the characters were great; so great in-fact, that it was nearly impossible to single any out as favorites. I will say, however, that Sophie was one of the most enjoyable characters I’ve read in a long time. Not only was she strong-willed and brave – but hilarious, witty, and a bit mad. She had a big heart and it really showed. Aside from Sophie, we also had the all-powerful Wizard Howl. As I was introduced to his character, I have to admit that I was actually rather surprised. For whatever reason, I expected something reminiscent of king Haggard from “The Last Unicorn;” someone depressed, mopey, unlikeable. He was quite the opposite (though prone to leaking green slime when depressed). Oh and yes, we can’t forget Calcifer, an adorable puppy-dog-like fire demon; Michael, Howl’s young apprentice; a creepy scarecrow, and the witch of the wastes. To say the least, I was really impressed with Jones’s ability to create such diverse and interesting characters.

In addition, there was also the writing. Well, what can I say? It was equally as impressive. As stated above, when I decided to begin “Howl’s Moving Castle,” I was expecting something crafted for a much younger audience. My assumption however, was quickly destroyed. After reading just a few chapters, I soon found that it was much more; and while kids could definitely get a kick out of it, nothing was dumbed down. The overall language was impressive; the pacing was perfect; the tone was amusing. Diana Wynne Jones is clearly a witty and clever author, and her style in “Howl’s Moving Castle” was both comfortable and easy to follow; yet at the same time, well-written and carefully detailed. Her words were like art, flowing from page to page; her humor had me cracking a smile through-out. This wasn’t like reading, this was like taking a journey.

Lastly, the story itself was refreshing, creative, and fun. From Sophie’s odd predicament, to Calcifer the fire demon, to magic spells and shooting stars, “Howl’s Moving Castle” was jam packed with wonder and enchantment. While reading this lovely tale, I found myself never knowing what would happen next – and with Wizard Howl in the picture (who was a very skilled wizard, mind you), anything was possible. Aside from that, things progressed swiftly, and there was never a dull or boring moment; there was a huge amount of character development, leading all the way up to the final page, and there were even a few interesting plot twists. Overall, this story was spot on, and held my interest all the way up to the end. Oh, and speaking of the ending? I absolutely loved it. I can’t imagine it being any different.

With that said, “Howl’s Moving Castle” was really impressing, and after closing the final chapter and beginning this review, I quickly came to find that coming up any sort of critique was a real challenge. For me, this is one of those novels where nothing should be changed. From the intelligent writing, to the memorable and lovely characters, to the story, and to Howl himself, I found myself completely immersed within each page. While this is indeed considered a young adult novel, and I can certainly understand why, it’s clear to me that people of all ages could enjoy the magic of this novel. If you’re looking for a really fun, well written fantasy, this could be exactly what you’re seeking. Overall, I found “Howl’s Moving Castle” to be a truly a riveting and enchanting tale; one full of wit, heart, and a whole lot of magic.

Movie Review: Clash of the Titans (2010)

Set in the Greek city of Argos, “Clash of the Titans” follows the life of Perseus, a man who has suffered an inconceivable loss. After the tragic death of his family, he sets out alone; forced away from the life he once knew; betrayed by the very gods that made him. After a series of events, and to make a long story short, Perseus soon discovers that his real father is none other than Zeus (King of the Gods), which makes him a demigod. The plot then becomes clear, as Perseus unravels his true destiny — one that includes rescuing the city of Argos from Hades (ruler of the underworld), battling horrific creatures, and essentially saving all of mankind. This movie is as it states, the clash of the titans; a war between man and god.

After seeing a trailer for the 2010 remake of the classic “Clash of the Titans,” I immediately knew that it was a film I would have to see. While I generally stray away from remakes, as I prefer new material — this was a case where I hadn’t seen the original, and was compelled enough by the short preview to put that aside. After all, what could be better than action, mythological creatures, stunning visuals, and a good cast all rolled together in one big budget, 3D motion picture? Well, maybe some things, but it was interesting enough to have me dishing out the $11.00 to see it. With that said, I went in with a) very little knowledge of the original film, and b) rather high expectations. Were those high expectations met? In some regards yes, in others no.

To start, I’ll go over the good:

The visual aspects of this film were just stunning. From the eerie landscapes, to giant scorpions, to Pegasi, and to even Medusa herself, “Clash of the Titans” was jam packed with eye-candy. While much of this film was done in CGI, I was simply amazed at how well it worked. Not only did the monsters look great, but the battle scenes between them and men were top notch. My jaw dropped more than a few times. Aside from looks, I also really liked the fact that this story was so infused with mythology. While it certainly didn’t aim to teach vast amounts of mythical history, it did enough to hold ones interest, at least for me. I’ve never really seen a movie quite like this, but then again, I’ve never seen the original!

Now for the bad:

The plot. As far as the plot goes, it was rather lacking. At times I didn’t know what they were doing, why they were doing those things, etc. There also wasn’t enough back-story for our hero Perseus, and it was a bit hard to connect to him as a viewer. Sure, the death of his family was sad; the fact that he was a demigod was interesting, but it ended there. His character had very little depth, and he showed almost no emotion. Aside from Perseus, the other characters were basically dispensable, and I never cared if they lived or died. Oh, and the dialog. I don’t want to go on and on about it, but some of it was down-right horrible.

Aside from all of that, and perhaps more importantly, I found the ending to be <i>really</i> anticlimactic. It was very strange – the entire movie was this non-stop, monster slaying action-fest, but once it all arrived to where it had been heading for the past 110 or so minutes — the battle between Perseus and Kracken (A giant, horrifying creature) — it ended as soon as it began. I was expecting this epic, final battle scene – a battle that would essentially determine the survival of humanity, but it never happened. It was all too simple; too easy. I was left thinking, “That’s it?”

Despite the problems described above, I still had fun watching this film. While the characters fell a bit flat, and the story could have been better, there was a lot to enjoy. The creatures were amazing, the battle-scenes intense, and the entire film was visually stunning. Through-out the majority of the movie I was glued to the screen and never took my eyes away. I will say however, that if you’re going to see this, I’d suggest saving your hard earned cash and going to the 2D version instead. While the 3D glasses made things on the screen appear more vibrant; upfront, it added very little to the film. At one point I removed the annoying, bulky spectacles to see what it looked like without them, and there was almost no difference. I’m not sure what happened here — if they went cheap when converting it to 3D or what, but the effects were the weakest I’ve ever seen. Regardless, I enjoyed “Clash of the Titans” quite a bit, and if you let go and just watch it for what it is, you may enjoy it as well.


(3 and 1/2 out of 5)

Wonder Tales by Lord Dunsany

Wonder Tales: The Book of Wonder and Tales of Wonder, is a collection of short stories written by the highly influential Lord Dunsany, between 1912 and 1916. Thirty-three diverse tales lay within these pages; all set in a magical and unique world; a world poetically crafted by a true master of modern fantasy. From comedy, to action, to the macabre;  Dunsany lyrically tells the tales of several different characters, all of whom’ reside beyond the fields we know.

After numerous times of passing by this novel at our local bookstore, only to skim through a few pages on each visit, I finally had come to the conclusion that I might as well purchase it. Besides, after reading his beautiful and inspiring “King of Elfland’s Daughter,” I had always wanted to read more of his work, I just hadn’t the time. With a “to be read” list as large as mine, it’s hard to keep track of things. Nevertheless..Dunsany had made a huge impression on me after reading his novel, and his lyrical tone and lush descriptions had me in awe for days. So naturally I couldn’t wait to delve into his other writings; to explore more of his vast and creative worlds.

“Wonder Tales,” a book which contains both “The Book of Wonder” and “Tales of Wonder” was a unique collection to say the least. From humorous stories, to slightly disturbing ones,  to down right weird ones; I was bit surprised at how versatile Dunsany was as an artist. In truth, when I began reading this, I was expecting a lot of the same – magic, elves, princes – much of what was in “The King of Elfland’s Daughter.”  However after reading just a few of the stories, I was quite pleased to discover otherwise.  While the lyrical beauty of Dunsany’s writing was always there, gracing each unique page – every story had it’s own vibe. It’s own life.

As there are so many stories within this collection, I can’t exactly go over each one without creating a novel-sized review; so I will go over just a few of the stand outs. My personal favorites were:

The Quest of the Queen’s Tears – A tale of an unconventional queen who could feel no love; who failed to meet the fairytale standards of fable or myth. Rather than sending brave knights and princes out on epic quests to slay dragons or battle sea-serpents,  she would sing to them; tell them legends, entertain them. Needless to say, her people were not happy – as this was no way for a queen to behave. So,  to fulfill their desires she gave them a quest – a quest called (for histories and song), the “Quest of the Queen’s Tears.” To complete this quest, one must simply move her to tears. He that achieved this, she would wed – no matter who it be. Quite a fun tale; excellently written.

How Nuth Would Have Practiced His Art Upon the Gnoles – The tale of Mr. Nuth, a professional burglar of great skill who takes on an apprentice named Tonker. After a bit of training and preparation, he then decides to plan a daring mission – one that he unfolds to his new apprentice over a cup of tea. The mission you ask? Why, to burgle the house of the Gnoles of course! Gnoles, an incredibly dangerous creature that reside in the dark woods  are said possess large emeralds; emeralds of great value. This then leads to quite a unique story; one that was actually a bit creepy.

Lastly, as far as my favorites go..I will also say that I quite enjoyed “Chubu and Sheemish,” a tail of two jealous gods who just can’t get along; “The Wonderful Window,” A story of a magic window that reveals a brilliant and living medieval city;  “The Watchtower,” a beautifully written ghost story, “The Three Sailor’s Gambit,” A chess story (yes, chess), and it actually wasn’t boring!; “City of Mallington Moor,” A city that appears from the mist, only to disappear the next morning; and finally, “The Three Infernal Jokes,” A rather odd tale of a list of jokes that when read, can literally make one die of laughter.

With that said, this was a really fun collection. While I enjoyed most of the stories – and all of them we’re interesting in their own right, I will admit that a few went over my head, leaving me asking.. “what did I just read? ” I’m not sure if that was due to the fact that I often read in the middle of the night, or something entirely different, but I plan to review those again when I get a chance. Overall though, this was a great book full of rather diverse stories; each enchanted with the magic of Lord Dunsany.  I was truly amazed at how much he could do in just 3 or 4 pages — at how he created such unique and engaging tales with so few words. Many authors fail to do that in 400 pages, much less 4!

While I can’t guarantee that this collection would be right for the everyday, casual fantasy reader (think swords..dragons..lots of action..), I can say that if you’re a fan of Tolkien and/or William Morris, there’s a good chance that you will enjoy these. “Wonder Tales” is truly an excellent piece of literature; one that was not only beautifully written, but entertaining. If gone into with an idea of what to expect; these wonder tales can be enjoyed by anyone.



(4 out of 5)

A Leprechaun’s Gaze by Uncle Tree

Loose ends were tied, the message sent,

as I walked on in merriment.

With ruddy arms I build a cairn

that lies a ways past yonder barn.

.

One piece of gold I have in tow,

my back faced to the winds that blow.

This growing monumental mound

will hide my grief on sacred ground.

.

A daily prayer, a daily grind,

a rock a day to ease my mind.

“To reach the sky! To find my love!

To live the dream I’m dreaming of!”

.

The brook once reached beyond these hills,

her streams left banks for bigger thrills.

A few returned to pay their dues,

whose lovely stones I can’t refuse.

.

To my surprise, when I arrived,

this little man did sit beside

the running water, clear and sweet,

biding his time, soaking his feet.

.

His clothes were rent, his hair unkept,

his gaze locked in the days lament.

The solitary of the fool

’twas felt on my side of the pool.

.

He raised his head, and looked my way,

and nodded at me, as if to say,

“No need to fear, no need to hide.”

I crossed on over to his side.

.

He bade me, “Come! You need a rest!”

He drew his flask, “Please, be my guest!”

My guard withdrawn, my throat gone dry,

my pity for the man ran high.

.

The sun had yet begun to set,

so down I sat with no regret.

Refreshing wine he passed to me,

I gave a toast to harmony.

.

I asked him how he knew this place,

a smile flashed across his face.

Wrinkles deepened to disguise

the teary trails of Rainbow Eyes.

.

I waited long for his reply,

the hours slowly crept on by.

I could not let him get away,

though night be setting on the day.

.

“What are you thinking?”, I decried.

He seemed to take it all in stride.

I thought him dead, but then he rose,

and brushed the cobwebs off his nose.

.

Padding pockets, feeling around,

his fingers dug until they found

a quaint little book that looked quite old,

filled with stories never told.

.

As he began to tell his tale,

“Reflections On The Wishing Well”

the elderberries cast their spell,

into the deepest sleep I fell.

.

Though dreams do come, they always pass,

there are no curtain calls at last.

My soul must surely understand

why ends meet up in Wonderland.

.

I must have slept away the night,

my brain was throbbing in delight,

with recollections blur and dim,

and I don’t see the likes of him.

.

An Elder tree had sheltered me,

I thanked him very graciously.

Methinks he knows why men grow small,

why life grows short, whilst tales grow tall.

.

In retrospect, I do reflect,

it was a case of self neglect.

My daily prayer, my daily grind,

a rock a day, I’d had in mind.

.

Then slowly it came back to me,

I had to jog my memory.

The words he read, the things I said,

fell into place inside my head.

.

‘Twas then I thought to check and see

if I still had my piece with me,

the piece of gold I keep in tow,

that brings me luck where’er I go.

.

The pouch hung empty on my belt.

You can’t imagine how I felt!

The trickster played me, this I knew,

I had to hope that dreams come true.

.

Bewildered and a wee dismayed,

aghast at just how far I strayed,

but that’s what happens when you roam.

I scoffed it off and headed home.

.

The skies grew dark to cloud my pain,

I paused to scan the woods again.

I’d no good reason to remain

in the throes of a driving rain.

.

The winds picked up, as did my pace,

a branch swooped down to slap my face.

This forest seemed to have the gall,

I wished to hang it on a wall.

.

The leprechaun was now far-gone.

The early morning storm moved on.

My coat was drenched, I hungered still

for daily bread, fresh from the mill.

.

The sun came out to be my guest,

and drove the rain off to the west.

Gazing upon the looking glass,

this top performer showed his class.

.

The sky put on her Sunday best,

she wore the rainbow like a vest.

I fancied over those two ends,

one could land where my porch begins.

.

I had a hunch my luck had changed.

Priorities were rearranged.

Forget the cairn past yonder barn,

I’m going home to spin a yarn.

.

By then I had the barn in sight,

my legs obliged with all their might.

The little man came back to mind.

Had he been here? What might I find?

.

I passed the barn, rounded the bend,

this journey was about to end.

At last, I caught sight of my home,

and spied a gift left by the gnome.

.

All in all, if truth be told,

there was no promised pot of gold.

But I was in for a surprise,

the gift came from ol’ Rainbow Eyes!

.

I ran towards my door to see

this bag, and what’s in store for me.

The leather pouch, a little tote,

held just three things, one was a note.

.

There also was my lucky charm,

I knew right then he meant no harm.

That piece of gold I always tow,

sure brings me luck where’er I go!

.

Then one last look was all it took.

I gazed upon his little book,

a book that he bequeathed to me,

a gift that soon would set me free.

.

Then down I sat to read the note,

the very last words my father wrote.

*

THE END

*******

***

This lovely piece was sent to me by someone known as Uncle Tree. While I normally stick to reviews, as you all know, I liked..

Ship of Magic (Book one / Liveship Traders) by Robin Hobb

“Ship of Magic” by Robin Hobb is the first novel in the Liveship Traders –  a trilogy that follows the plight of the Vestrits, a family of Live Ship traders in the fictional city of Bingtown. The story begins slowly, progressively weaving a tale of the struggles a once solid family must face after the death of Captain Vestrit. After his passing upon the decks of his beloved Vivacia,  the ship has suddenly reached its completion and is “quickened” – or in other words, is brought to life. Here lays the real drama of the story, as upon hearing the Captains will, daughter Althea is stunned to discover that the Vivacia has not in fact been passed to her as once assumed – but to her arrogant and selfish brother-in-law, Kyle. Horrified for the Liveship and the fate of everyone on it, Althea sets out on a mission to regain what she had lost. Her Liveship. This then leads to an adventurous story of betrayal, death, politics, and a whole lot of drama.

Upon reading the description of “Ship of Magic,” I wasn’t exactly sold on the idea of a Liveship – a ship of which is indeed alive in almost all aspects.  This includes speaking, moving, thinking, etc. So in other words, it’s a talking ship. I’m not entirely sure why, but the idea itself was a bit of a turn off, as I assumed it would seem rather corny. Shortly after however, I began to ask myself, “why is that? I enjoy fairies and elves..and almost any other type of mythological creature, why not a talking ship? Surely if I can enjoy hobbits I can enjoy this? ”  After getting into the novel, and within just a few chapters, the idea of a Liveship became perfectly acceptable and the the ship itself became a fascinating character. That of course, I thought to myself after coming to this realization, is the magic of Robin Hobb. Not only does she have a true talent for creating characters, but she even has the power to turn a ship –  a boat made of wood into a relatable and interesting persona. That didn’t really surprise me.

As well as the Vivacia, each other character in this novel was unique and believable. From the determined Althea, daughter of captain Vestrit; to Wintrow son of Kyle who was sent away to live as a priest – all of their stories and situations drew me in and held my interest, at least for the most part. While I connected with each character by the end, and Hobb once again truly shined when it came to creating and developing real-life characters, I had a bit of trouble when it came to Captain Kennit – a pirate on a search for a live ship. For whatever reason, connecting with his character was difficult, and I often had  little desire to even read the chapters focused on him. His character and story simply didn’t interest me. Luckily however, once I hit the halfway mark his situation changed drastically, and I was able to fully grasp his role as a character. At this point, I began to enjoy him as much as the others. Out of all the characters however, I have to say that Wintrow was by far my favorite. Not only was his back-story interesting, but the conflict of being both a priest and a sailor was incredibly realistic, and I felt myself connected to his character on an emotional level.

Aside from the unique characters, I also enjoyed the story itself – but that isn’t to say it is without problems. The biggest issue for me was the pacing. For the first 300 or so pages, I was completely immersed within the story, and couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next. The family element alone had me – and the conflicts the characters were facing completely drew me in. However, over time it began to wear a bit thin, and I started to crave for more. In truth, I in no way expected a traditional slash em’ up type of fantasy from Hobb – I’m familiar enough with her work to know better – but at a certain point it all became a bit tiring. Though I will say, my experience was a bit strange. Nearly each time I had a chance to read more, I was excited to continue – but in many cases ended up feeling a sense of disappointment.  So in other words, this novel relied heavily on anticipation,  but it took a long time getting to where it was going. Once everything panned out it was well worth it, and as I reached the end I was completely glued to the pages, but there were definitely a handful of slow areas.

Overall, this was an interesting read. The plot was unique, the characters were incredibly realistic, and the story (while slow in areas) was well worth my time. Not only did I enjoy the route the story took, but the ending, much like her previous work, changed everything for the characters. After reaching the final page, I was completely impressed by how things turned out – and while it certainly didn’t end on a joyous note, I’m happy to report that it wasn’t nearly as depressing as her previous work in the Farseer Trilogy. I also found it quite interesting to look back at all the small decisions that the characters, and how they were affected by them. Everything in the end fit fit together, and every small detail that had happened created a sort of “perfect storm.”  All in all, “Ship of Magic” by Robin Hobb is a good start to a trilogy I’m looking forward to completing. While I can’t necessarily recommend this to just anyone – even fantasy fans in general, I can say that if you like personal drama along with great writing, or if you like ships,  you may enjoy this.  If you also enjoyed the Farseer Trilogy, then you’ll probably like this as well.  Just keep in mind however, that if you’re looking for something full of sword fighting action, you won’t find it here.


(3 and 1/2 out of 5)

A History of Irish Fairies by Carolyn White

After finishing the lovely “The Secret Lives Of Elves & Faeries” by John Mathews, I found myself with a rather severe dilemma. While I had just read a fun book..I really wanted to know more about these strange Faerie or Sidhe beings, but was all out of related material. So, like any other reading addict I abruptly decided to trek through the great Amazon.com on an epic quest to find more material! Book after book and link after link I searched and struggled, until one true gem made itself quite apparent. That was “A History of Irish Fairies” by Carolyn White. Coming in at just 82 pages, ”A History of Irish Fairies” is just that – a history of Irish fairies!

When receiving my copy of “A History of Irish Fairies,” I was a bit surprised by how thin it was. In truth, when I ordered the book from Amazon, I never took note of how many pages it had – so I suppose I was expecting a bit more. I will say however, that while it is only 82 pages – it is jam packed with information and lore – all of which was very interesting. From faerie food, to faerie beings, to how they interact with humans, to what to do if you see a faerie, to how to please a faerie (and avoid their wrath), and so on,  “A History of Irish Fairies” covered a great wealth of topics. After closing the final page, I was truly amazed at how much lore was fit into such a small book – and done in a way that was not lacking or incomplete.  Infact, White even covered other faerie related beings such as the leprechaun and screaming banshee!

For the most part, I found this to be a rather enjoyable read – one that presented a lot of new information to myself of the Sidhe race. Though I enjoyed nearly every aspect within this small guide, what really stood out for me were the unique folk stories told. Stories of human-beings taken and brought to the lands of faerie, only to return decades later with toes worn away from constant dancing – to tales of poets and writers, wandering into faerie lands, only to return with new-found inspiration and talent – to stories of changelings, love between mortals and faeries, and more. While reading these interesting little insights into how faeries are often perceived, I found myself deeply immersed within the vast quantity of lore.

Along with the interesting stories, there were also a number of unique theories concerning the “good people” (whom’ as the author states, are actually neither good nor’ bad). For example, Carolyn White states that many believe that fairies are in truth, fallen angels – beings cast down from heaven, yet too good for hell. There are those who believe that fairyland is even a sort of purgatory.  Another presented theory is that the Sidhe race is so huge,  it is actually larger than that of our own.  Of course, however, because faeries live on a different plane of existence, we only see them when they deem it so.  I also enjoyed the theory of changelings – a belief that neglected infants (always girls) are sometimes taken to live in the hills of fairyland – replaced in our world by a changeling — a similar being to the one taken, but unruly and chaotic. I also must note the interesting theory of Faerie glamorization. According to White, faeries like to glamorous. For instance, a beautiful faerie palace is actually a mound of dirt – faerie food may simply be rocks..so on and so fourth. In general, faeries give those who see them a glamorous version of what is true.

Finally, I’ll also note that I was impressed with the portrayal of Faeries. While some depict the Sidhe as innocent little beings with wings..and others depict them as evil little tricksters, this describes them as neither. According to White, faeries are neither good nor’ bad, evil nor’ pure. That isn’t to say they aren’t dangerous. If crossed or insulted, they WILL lash out and inflict punishment, such as a withering limb, the dying of crops, or even murder. I also found the portrayal of fairylands to be intriguing – and very reminiscent to how it was portrayed in my favorite novel, “Lud-In-The-Mist” by Hope Mirrlees. For instance, most who wander or are taken into the lands of Faerie return broken. Many lose their wits and cannot function. Many long to return, thinking only of the lands they left until the day they die. It also said that if one eats faerie food without certain precautions, they will go mad – which is similar to the idea of Fairyfruit in Lud. I found these similarities of interest – as the way faeries were described in this book closely resembled those portrayed in novels I have read and enjoyed.

All in all, this was a very informative little book, and I feel that Carolyne White did a great job in fitting so much into so few pages. My only real complaint was the writing. While it was certainly sufficient, there were a lot of areas that were oddly worded – and certain grammatical issues (and even a few typos) that stood out. Never-the-less, those are editing issues that failed to hinder my enjoyment. In the end, I came out with A LOT more knowledge of Faeries, and am very pleased to have made this purchase. I would have, however, liked to have seen more sources, as there were very few. So overall, this is just a great book on the history of Irish fairies; one that anyone could enjoy if having such an interest. I’d definitely suggest it, and can easily say that this was both an enjoyable and educational read. Now that I’ve read this, I’ll know that if I ever cross a faerie traveling in a dust cloud, all that must be said are the words “God Bless You”..as once this is uttered, one is completely protected from Faerie wrath!



(4 out of 5)

Life in a Medieval City by Joseph and Frances Gies

For as long as I can remember, I have been interested in both medieval life and culture – the way in which people of the era lived, survived and managed their day-to-day lives. As a kid I was fascinated with dragons (I still am), and knights..and swords..and castles, and yes magic. Some of these, of course, have little to do with the real life of the middle ages – at least that of battling fiery dragons and sea serpents, but the time in general has always struck something inside of myself – an interest that has grown stronger with time (which is partially due to my love of fantasy novels). For this reason, I have decided to take this fascination to the next level and actually do some real research! That is why I purchased the book “Life in a Medieval City” by Joseph and Francis Gies.

Life in a Medieval City by Joseph and Francis Gies covers a huge range of topics and issues – essentially anything you can think of when it comes to a Medieval City – at least the city of Troyes. The book focuses in on the city in the year of 1250 – a year in which, as described by the book, was a relatively safe and prosperous time. A time where society and civilization had truly begun to progress and advance, from medicine to architecture, to schools and to business.

While many history related books tend to bore me – not necessarily because of the content within, but because of the writing itself – I found that “Life in a Medieval City” did more than an adequate job of not only education and enlightening, but doing so without ever becoming dull or robotic. The writing didn’t drag on and on, the author was to the point, and the book in its entirety was written in a more down-to-earth tone. This format, along with the wealthy abundance of interesting content – truly made for a compelling and informative read. I found myself immersed within nearly each page, and came out knowing far more about the subject than I had when going in.

Oh, and did I mention that “Life in a Medieval City” is completely jam packed with information? Just looking at the index had had me salivating. From homes, to churches, to medieval housewives, to childbirth and children, to weddings, funerals, schools, businesses, doctors, natural disasters and more – nearly every aspect of Troyes was covered. Along with this, there were several great illustrations – artwork of the time, as well as actual photos of the city as it stands today. I personally found the chapter on doctors and medicine to be most fascinating – but was was intrigued by the chapters on home life. I’ve always had an interest in the people of that era; of how they spent their daily lives and simply lived. There was a great deal of material on this, and I found enjoyment in every bit. It was also quite interesting to compare and contrast life as it is today, with life as it was then – to note the things that have changed so much, as well as the things that really haven’t.

Overall this was a great and informative work. From the large array of topics, to the excellent writing – I have very few qualms when it comes to this. After finishing “Life in a Medieval City”, I can definitely say that I have learned so much – and would certainly suggest it to those who may be like myself; those who have an interest in medieval studies but have never actually put that interest into action. In other words, this is an excellent starting point when it comes to studies of the Medieval era – especially when it comes to the medieval city. I’ll also say that the two authors have several other published works on the subject, including “Life in a Medieval Village,” “Life in a Medieval Castle,” “Marriage and the Family in the Middle Ages,” “Technology and Invention in the Middle Ages“ and more – all of which have rather favorable reviews.

As you can probably tell, I was quite pleased with this read and will continue to delve further into the studies of medieval life. This book has a lot of re-readability, and is a great overview of what the city of Troyes was like in the year 1250. Not only was it informative – but it was full of life. While reading “Life in a Medieval City,” I felt as though the words brought out the true essence of the time – for it wasn’t simply a compiled list of already established information – but a nicely structured piece of work, with great detail and vivid description. Overall this was a fascinating read, and I again, would recommend it to anyone interested in the Middle Ages.