read any good books lately?

I sure have -- and one of them is a sequel to a book I loved -- and both are actually kids books...

They've got about 630some pages each, mind you -- but the pages are smaller (not paperback size). They're originally written in German and then translated into English. I came across the first book when I was working at Cheshire County Council's libraries -- got to take a tour of the two places that the book selection folks choose the books for the libraries from -- talk about awesome... I could have spent all day there!! It was fantastic -- we went with Claire to this really nice warehouse-y room and we got to pick children's books out for our libraries (at the time I was working at Crewe Library).

I remember going up and down the aisles (many of the books are newer titles, but they did have some new editions of older titles too) ... and seeing all these wonderful books -- I had a big trolley cart behind me to load up with my choices -- whohooo for shopping on someone else's dime!!!

And then I saw the cover -- the size attracted me too -- it's more of a square shape... and about three inches thick... with a magnificent red cover... and all kinds of fairies and things illustrated on it... and it was called "Inkheart".

One of the bonuses of being able to go to this place is that you are allowed to make up to 3 personal purchases at their discounted prices!!

Guess which book walked out in my own bag?? Yep -- Inkheart -- by Cornelia Funke.

So I was walking through Barnes & Noble a couple weeks ago and had a bit of deja vu -- saw the same shaped cover .... and similar fairies/doodlings -- but this cover is a dark navy blue... almost a black really... sure enough -- the sequel -- Inkspell by Cornelia Funke...

Soon as I got home I reserved it from the library -- to see if it was as good as the first -- I am often disappointed when I run out and buy a sequel of a book I adored only to get 20 pages in and realize that it isn't anywhere near as good as the first...

But this one held me captive just as the first one did -- and so for three mornings of this week I've been plowing through page after page, devouring it really... and just got to the "end" (not really an ending as there is a third book coming!)...

Now I'm off to go reserve it from the library... and to put Inkspell on my wish list for purchase!!

Posted by kristen at January 5, 2007 1:55 PM