Tag: fiction

On Characters

I just got my tenth follower on WordPress.com.  I know that doesn’t sound like a big deal to all you bigwigs with hundreds of followers, but I haven’t been doing this for long and I’m still coming to terms with it that there are people who actually enjoy reading what I write, so welcome to Kayleigh from A World of Words.  I hope you enjoy my ramblings.  Of course, this has made me realise that I haven’t posted anything in a while, so let’s remedy that, shall we?

I received Snuff by Sir Terry Pratchett in my stocking this Christmas.  I’m a big fan of the Discworld and of Sir Samuel Vimes in particular, and I thoroughly enjoyed the newest instalment.  When I finished that one, I decided to re-read Guards! Guards!  This was the first Discworld book I had ever read, way back in high school.  It has also remained one of my favourites (surpassed only by Thief of Time and Lords and Ladies).  It is also the first Discworld novel in which Sir Samuel appears, though there he is merely Captain Vimes of the run-down Ankh-Morpork city watch. Continue reading “On Characters” →

KokkieH Reviews The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

The Hundred Year Old Man - Jonas Jonasson
Cover design by Jonathan Pelham
Publisher: http://www.hesperuspress.com

If you liked Forrest Gump (the movie, not the book), chances are you’ll love The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared (the book – movie’s expected later this year).  This book, recommended by someone in my writer’s group, was an unexpected surprise that I can see myself reading several more times before I celebrate my centenary.

The story is simple:  Alan Karlsson, on his hundredth birthday, decides he’s fed up with the old age home, climbs through his bedroom window in his slippers and gets on a bus, picking up some luggage along the way.  He joins forces with a professional thief and a hot-dog seller/almost vet/almost doctor/almost architect/almost…well, rather you just read the book…and finds himself on the run, wanted by the police for a triple murder.  There’s something about an Elephant and a bunch of Bibles in there as well, but let me not give too much away right now. Continue reading “KokkieH Reviews The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson” →

The Watering Hole Liberation

Elephant topped the rise to see all the other animals gathered around the watering hole.  It seemed like there was some kind of commotion at the water’s edge, but elephants have dreadful eyesight, so he could not quite make out what was going on.  There certainly was a lot of noise – the wild dogs were yelping, the hyenas were giggling, the wildebeest were grunting, the buffaloes were snorting, the cheetahs were growling and every other animal was making whatever sound they made.  Elephant had to trumpet at the top of his voice to make himself heard over this ruckus.  ‘Hello, hello, hello.  What’s all this?  What’s all this?’ he said when they settled down.

The animals at the water’s edge drew back, allowing Elephant to see the Prickly Pear Boys, the savannah’s most notorious troop of baboons, lounging in the shallows.

Continue reading “The Watering Hole Liberation” →