To Say Nothing of the Dog
by Connie Willis Bantam Books
Our Price: $7.99
Dive into Connie Willis’s award-winning masterpiece of mystery, manners, and mayhem. Time-traveling Oxford historian Ned Henry finds himself in the
Victorian era with three goals: 1) find the bishop’s bird stump, 2) recover from all the other time trips he’s made, and 3) hide from Oxford’s sponsor, the formidable Lady Schrapnell. But the Victorian era has other ideas. Will Ned be able to navigate the complex web of history without destroying the space-time continuum? What is the bishop’s bird stump, anyway? And will Ned ever get a good night’s sleep?
(The answer to that last one is No.)
This is one of the most delightful books I’ve ever read. It’s chock-full of shenanigans and culture-clash hilarity, while featuring a full cast of strongly individual characters. A wonderful read for science fiction and mystery fans, historians, and Victorian literature scholars alike.
This is a wonderfully dark fantasy about friendship, grief, and the price of magic. In a village where superstition abounds, Plain Kate fends for herself and her cat with her carving skills. But there are whispers of fear, famine, witchcraft. And Plain Kate, an orphaned outcast, is an easy target. Then the stranger Linay offers her a deal: in exchange for her shadow, he’ll grant the wish of her heart. She can leave the village, build a new life, a new family. But Linay has dark plans for Plain Kate’s shadow. And Plain Kate finds that she hasn’t left behind fear or witchcraft after all. That all decisions come with a price. And that deadly magic can test even the bonds of friendship.
From the fairy tale beginning to the bittersweet end, I was enthralled. The writing is beautiful, and Plain Kate’s world is superbly textured. Plain Kate herself, with “one eye the color of river mud and one eye the color of the river,” is brave, tender, and—when she must be—utterly ruthless. Her cat companion, Taggle, is a character to rival Garth Nix’s Mogget. Fans of Sabriel should not miss this book—and neither should anyone else.
This book (and its sequels) boasts a delicious blend of mystery, fantasy, and adventure. Dragged from the king's dungeon to steal a mythical treasure, Gen sets out on the adventure of his life, accompanied by the king's scholar, a guard, and two young trainees. Their mission is an absolute secret. But Gen has a few secrets of his own...
Fans of Percy Jackson will love the mythology of Gen's world, as well as Gen's unique combination of skills and attitude. I can't decide which makes him more of a criminal: his thievery or his personality. Featuring the cleverest plot twists I've ever seen, The Thief is a Newbery Honor book and one of my personal favorites--eclipsed only by the third in the series, The King of Attolia.
