the miseries of mister sparrows
the miseries of mister sparrows
SPARKLING CREATIVITY OF J . K . ROWLING !
Matthew A . J . Timmins
The setting is not exactly London but the very similar city of Claudon , capital of Albion , on the banks of the River Plew . Our antihero , Mr . Robin Sparrows , is a lowly legal clerk
who is paid a pittance to do menial tasks for a disreputable law firm . He ’ s a timid , self-effacing fellow who falls prey to all sorts of dilemmas , most often due to the nefarious behavior of others . Still , his sense of duty propels him forward and keeps him going as he seeks to deliver a package to the Empire ’ s most notorious criminal , a man responsible for starting the Crocodile War with the nation of Crocodon . This is probably the most unusual work I ’ ve reviewed in a very long time . It reads like a historical novel set in Victorian London , with a strong
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sense of place and gritty , Dickensian characters with lots of quirks and warts . The writing is superb . I found myself chuckling at clever similes and plays on words as well as the outlandish situations in which the hapless Robin finds himself . The eccentric characters are entertaining , and the names of places and the people have the sparkling creativity of J . K . Rowling . Readers with an appreciation for the mildly absurd and those who enjoy clever narrative and strong writing skills will find this refreshing novel most entertaining . If Mr . Sparrows were to return with new adventures , I would be happy to meet up with him again .
~ Rosemary Fifield , TopShelf Reviews
the rules of magic
ALICE HOFFMAN DRAWS YOU IN AND MAKES YOU LOVE HER CHARACTERS !
The prequel to Alice Hoffman ’ s novel Practical Magic , made into a movie in 1998 , The Rules of Magic begins in the 1960s , when sisters Jet and Franny are children living in New York City with their parents and younger brother , Vincent . Vincent –– a rare wizard in a long line of witches –– has his own approach to dealing with the curse , and the example he sets
Alice Hoffman inspires his sisters to find their own
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courage . That ’ s not to say that all will go well , but what is living really about and when is fate just fate , and no one ’ s fault ? In true Alice Hoffman style , the characters are engaging individuals who draw you into their unique world , and quickly involve you in their lives . While one can tire of the tales of young people discovering their magical abilities , the Owens girls have always known they were different ; witchcraft has been in their bloodline for centuries . Whether or not you knew of Jet and Franny before , The Rules of Magic will make them people you care about as they navigate their way through the complexities of life . As one who had no knowledge of either the novel or the movie prior to reading this book , I can attest that The Rules of Magic is a standalone story that needs no previous awareness of the Owens family or their house on Magnolia Street to be enjoyed .
~ Rosemary Fifield , TopShelf Reviews
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