Children’s Books
Yes, I know, I am not a child and I don’t have any running around in the house, but not all kid’s book are exclusively for children. Neil Gaiman has written a lot for the little ones and these books are still brilliant to read if you’re a grown-up. My flavour of the month Author China Mieville has written one of those children’s books that are for adults alike. These books are not written in that patronising language many adults adopt when talking to children, here they are treated just like you are, normal. Un Lun Dun is just wonderful. A brilliant introduction into the weird and wonderful with hints of steampunk. A tale of a girl that finds herself with her friend in a different London, UnLondon, where all the broken things of London end up and some people too. Half ghosts, broken umbrellas and binjas (Ninja Bins) - it’s a very colourful city. But UnLondon is under threat and awaits a hero to fight the good fight, to free the inhabitants from the sinister Smog. It is bizarre, grotesque, creepy but never too frightening, and of course is written in Mieville’s beautiful turn of phrase which he does not amend just because he has written this book for children. It’s not a story for the very small ones, I think maybe from the age of 11 or 12 but this book could start your kid on reading books instead of comics (not that comics in anyway bad – I love them). And if you are a grown-up it’ll give you lots of enjoyment as well.
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A “proper” children’s book now, but still so wonderfully clever that even adults will love it, is The Miraculous Journey Of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. Edward is a beautiful china rabbit, belonging to Abilene, who treats him with great care and love. Edward does what every china rabbit in this world does best: nothing. He is after all just made from china and fur and such. But inside he does rather a lot lot, is quite lively and has an opinion on everything. But with only a painted mouth he can’t speak. He has a rather good if slightly dull life with his mistress until one day he gets lost. And here the story begins of his – I can’t really say adventures, because he is just a toy and can’t have adventures as such, but they are nevertheless. From the deepest bottom of the sea to the loving care of tramps and dogs, from joy and song to loss and death, Edward has to experience it all before he finally knows what is the most important thing in life. And when he does, everything is fine again. It is a very emotional ride and touches everything that will and might happen in any one life, beautifully told and exquisitely illustrated ( by Bagram Ibatoulline) and I wish I had little kids to read it to them (no, not really). If you have one or more of them little creatures, get them this book. It might start them on the way to become an avid reader.
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The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness took my breath away. Children’s book? Really? How can something so very deeply dark and emotional, so fast and sad, so intense and cruel be meant for kids? It is an amazing book, but so very…. see – I don’t even have the words to describe it, but I will try. It touches you, burns you, takes the knife of the title, plunges it into your heart and twists it, again and again and again. It makes you want to kick and lash out, you want to scream at the author “How dare you?” but you cannot stop to read it. It is the story of Todd, the last boy in a womenless Prentisstown, where everybody can hear the thoughts of anybody else in a constant overwhelming noise. And that includes the animals. And then Todd stumbles upon a spot of silence which can’t be. And then he has to run….. And then the horror starts and does not even stop at the end of the book. And it just makes you angry, upset and leaves you feeling so helpless – and a book that can take my emotions and throws them around and kicks them and make me want to cry just has to be one of the best ever. This is not an easy story, there is no happy ending, but there is a second book which I will have to get immediately and read and I so much hope that Todd will find some happiness somewhere. Because happiness isn’t anywhere in this book. Only a fast ride of anger, hate, hope, fear and the constant noise of hearing the thoughts of every other being on this planet. Oh please read this only if you can take a bit of being thrown about.
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