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“Two dreams and a cup of coffee later…..”
F.K. PrestonKopi Time
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savage by david almond, illustrated by dave mckean
The Once Upon a Time Challenge from Stainless Steel Droppings has pushed me into unchartered waters again. Thus I have read a young adult book titled Savage, by David Almond, illustrated by Dave McKean.
How I came about reading this particular book is a sad story. Harry Schwartz Bookshop has been a Milwaukee meeting place for readers since 1927. Alas, changes in the book industry and the reading habits of local folks have forced Schwartz to close their doors. This past week was the final, final week, with everything in the store on sale for 40% off. This, at least, was a book lovers dream come true! My son and I both had gift cards languishing in our wallets, so we teamed up and headed out on a rainy evening. He went straight to the travel section, and I made a beeline for the young adult fantasy section. There was still a fair amount to choose from, even though many of the shelves I passed on the way were completely empty.
I picked up a couple books, and put them back, and then I picked up the slim volume called Savage. When I saw the name of Dave McKean on the cover, the book was sold. McKean has done artwork for books by Neil Gaiman, and I particularly loved the cover he did for Alan Campbell’s Lye Street, which I reviewed last year.
I was not familiar with David Almond, but I have found that he is well known for his prize-winning book Skellig and is “widely regarded as one of the most exciting and innovative children’s authors writing today. “ After reading Savage, I believe it.
This book is a story within a story. Blue’s father has died, and he is living with his mom and little sister, Jess. Blue is having a hard time adjusting, and has been assigned time with the school counselor. She asks him to write about his feelings, which “seems stupid and made me feel worse.” But on the side, he finds an old note book and the story of the savage is scribbled and drawn. Eventually, reality and the story of the young wild boy merge, and Blue has a hard time telling reality from the fantasy of his story.There are no wizards or fairies in this fantasy. It is a fantasy about the deepest, darkest, soul of a boy working through his grief.
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spring….. it will arrive
This spring as it comes bursts up in bonfires green,
Wild puffing of emerald trees, and flame-filled bushes,
Thorn-blossom lifting in wreaths of smoke between
Where the wood fumes up and the watery, flickering rushes.
D. H. Lawrence
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as shadows fade – the gardella vampire chronicles by colleen gleason
Vampires? Romance? Bodices bursting on book covers? I don’t read those types of books. And then Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings introduced me to Colleen Gleason and the Gardella Vampire Chronicles. I read, enjoyed, and reviewed the first four books in the series last fall.
Unlike most vampire stories which are set in modern time, this series is set in the Regency era, where we get a peek at English high society at its most flamboyant. The Rest Falls Away was the introduction of the young Victoria Gardella, a descendant of a long line of vampire hunters – Venators – and she is the last in her bloodline. We followed as Victoria married, was widowed (by her own hand!) and ultimately matures into a strong, graceful, intelligent Venator. She makes mistakes, too. She has moments of passion that are maybe not exactly wise (in a carriage, for heaven’s sake!?)….. she seems like a real person.
A Shadows Fade begins two weeks after the last chronicle – When Twilight Burns – left off. And this is to be the last Gardella Chronicle, which makes me happy and sad. So many series become dull and forced, and Colleen Gleason was very wise and brave to end on a high note.
In this fifth chronicle, Victoria must fight against not only every day – or night – vampires, but also the Queen of all vampires, Lilith. And then enter the demons, enemies of humans and vampires. The portal – a crack in the earth of a cemetery – is spewing demons that have traveled all the way to England. Victoria’s job is to close the portal, with the assistance of all the characters we have come to know and love. Especially Max and Sebastian!
There are some nice twists and surprises at the end, but you will have to continue the story in your own imagination. Which is not a bad thing.
As I said, I am not a fan of paranormal anything. The attraction of this book, as in any good book, is that it takes me away to a different world. I don’t really care that it is not historically accurate. Vampires aren’t real anyway, so why would I worry about gas lamps or clothing? The Gardella Chronicles are great escape reading, and I recommend all of them.
I consider this my first read for the Once Upon a Time III challenge, too. How much more fantasy-like could a story be?
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once upon a time iii challenge
Photo by Polly Atkin
Spring has sprung; little green tufts are appearing through the brown in the garden, robins are chirping at dawn, there is a different quality to the sunlight in the late afternoon. And, the surest sign of spring: Carl has posted the Once Upon A Time III challenge at Stainless Steel Droppings. What a way to kick start the season. It may very well snow again, but I will have a stack of books next to my bed and I won’t even notice! Fantasy, fairy tale, folklore, mythology! Last year, the challenge introduced me to: Neil Gaiman, Alan, Campbell, Jo Walton, Ekaterina Sedia, and a revisit of T.H. White. I am going to the library this very afternoon to get started…..I am thinking about dipping into some new Ursula Le Guin.
To those unfamiliar, please check out Stainless Steel Droppings to find the definitions of fantasy, fairy tale, folklore, mythology, and participate in the challenge – it’s a treat, it’s easy, and you will meet lots of other fun folks.
I am planning on joining:
Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time III criteria. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.
I plan to visit the review/link site to check out what other people are reading as the challenge progressess.
This is a photograph I took in Savannah last spring, which inspired the young adult urban fantasy I have just finished writing. Who knows where the Once Upon A Time challenge will take you!
Look at all those doors –
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the luck of the irish!
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
What a lucky day! I have been bemoaning the fact that I lost all of the photos my daughter and I took on our trip to Ireland last summer. We still had the pictures my son took, but he is not as trigger happy as I am. I was searching through my dvds tonight, looking for a powerpoint I had created for my students about the history of Ireland. I thought I had found it when I stuck a disk titled “Ireland – 1” in the computer slot. Picture my surprise, and instant jubilation, when our photos of Ireland showed up! I don’t remember putting the photos on disc, but obviously someone did (son?). I am so grateful.
The three of us had a really good time on this adventure. We had an apartment in Dublin for three days, and we just tromped around, doing all the usual tourist things.
Guinness brewery:
Guinness in the pub:
Gawking at beautiful things:
Then we rented a car and hit the road. We drove across the country to County Galway and a hotel we reserved for a week.
Everyone knows this famous sight:
Kylemore Abbey – the Monastic home of the Benedictine Order of Nuns in Ireland. There is a boarding school there now, but that is going to close over the next few years. I am including a few pictures from the grounds, because usually one only gets that very famous glimpse.
The gardens were gorgeous, as was the surrounding countryside.
We also took drives around and about the area:
Near our hotel were the beautiful ruins of an old church and graveyard. We walked there every evening and took photos, imagined the past, explored, and dreamed.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
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The sky is not completely dark at night. Were the sky absolutely dark, one would not be able to see the silhouette of an object against the sky.
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...Kopi Time 