Asking for the Moon

by Reginald Hill

Grade: Good

My introduction to Dalziel and Pascoe. Good one to start with as this contains the very first meeting of Dalziel and Pascoe. I can see myself enjoying all the rest. I love the relationship between them, and the fact that Pascoe isn't stupid. I suppose they don't really do stupid sidekicks as much these days. No more Dr. Watsons for us, and actually--I don't mind. I liked Pascoe. And Dalziel was very amusing.
But Pascoe was better because he reminded me of Lewis, except not as nice. Wield's physical description of him was like him, anyhow:

"Nice mover, head held high, good shoulders, slim body, long legs."

And he's educated and well-spoken. Those are the only similarities, I guess.

I felt so sorry for poor Pascoe at the end of the last story. It's cool how he ended up, though.

Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue

by Marion Chesney

Grade: Unfinished
Read to: Page 3

Now even the parts with the Poor Relations are getting boring.

The Grand Tour

by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

Grade: Unfinished
Read to: Page 35

I suspect one of the main reasons why I liked the first one was because my friend CH liked it. Even though this one took them all through Europe, which is pretty cool, I couldn't really get around to reading it. Also, CH said it wasn't as good as the first, and if I didn't love the first...

INSERT: Into the Wild

by Sarah Beth Durst

Grade: Good
Inserted: After Charmed Life

Highly original view of fairytales. I loved the Wild.
However, the girl was too young. I thought she was around 14. I can't remember how old she actually was, but I think it's 10 or so.
And there ought to have been more of Puss in Boots. He's always a good character, and now he's her brother as well, and I always love brothers.

Rex Zero and the End of the World

by Tim Wynne Jones

Grade: All right

The time period wasn't my favourite. And I kept on expecting it would be fantasy, and it never was. All in all, it was kind of simple for my liking. An almost teenagers book, but not with the childishness that is sometimes quite appealing (think Winnie-the-Pooh). And in the wrong time period for me. I'm not interesting in the Cold War yet.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Vol. 1 The Pox Party

by M. T. Anderson

Grade: Good

Good. Black slave experimented on. I liked the experimentation and the torture and the blotted out pages. I liked when his mother died. In other words, I liked all the nasty horrible bits. I have a bit of a taste for the gruesome sometimes.

Conrad's Fate

by Diana Wynne Jones

Grade: Good

Excellent author. I liked the other ones better--maybe. But maybe not. She's really good.

I liked Hugo because I like that kind of person.
I like learning how to be a valet.
I like Christopher because he dresses richly.