My Favourite Books - The Letter R

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale and illustrated by Nathan Hale - A funny twist on the original fairytale of Rapunzel, this was a very enjoyable read.  It is the first graphic novel I have ever truly liked.

The Railway Children by E. Nesbit - The moving story of  a family whose father was taken away from them and their struggles as they wait for his return.  This was a book that I read as a child, but did not fully appreciate until I had grown older.  Now it is unforgettable to me.

The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques - Some people called Brian Jacques an author, he called himself a jack of all trades, but I call him a genius.  I cannot tell you how many hours I spent in the wonderful world he created for us, making friends with all the dear Redwall creatures.  I just learned of his passing and was very saddened by the news.  Memory eternal, Mr. Jacques.  I hope you know how many worlds you brightened through your stories.

The Road to Yesterday by L. M. Montgomery - Another collection of short stories from my favourite author.  I remember these as being sadder than most of her others, but I still enjoyed them.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare - This one speaks for itself.

A Room With a View by E. M. Forster - I watched the movie before I read the book, and I'm glad to say, it didn't ruin it for me.  I found it entertaining, but my mum doesn't like it.  I don't know the reason for my liking it or my mum's for not!  We just do.

Roverandom by J. R. R. Tolkien - Not one of his more well known titles, I read the tale of Roverandom as a child and loved it.  It is still one of my favourites of his.

My Favourite Books - The Letter P

Thank you, Elise (from Ribbons of Light) for getting me back on track!  It's been a while.
I know, I know, I skipped the letter O.  I honestly couldn't find any!  I'm sure one will come along someday, but for now, I have no favourite books that begin with the letter O.  So now, I'm onto the letter P, which has always been one of my special letters (it stands for so many nice things!  Princess, Pretty, Perfect...you get the idea).

Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery - Someone told me once I was like Pat when I was raving about how I would never leave home unless I married.  And when I realized it was an L. M. Montgomery book I hadn't read, well, I read it!  It is now one of my all time favourites.  It's also very quotable!

Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie - This has got to be my favourite children's book of all time.  I remember asking my gran to read it to us when we were little (she always wanted to read Alice in Wonderland, which I found to strange it scared me).  I loved the idea of never growing up, the adventure, the pirates, the Indians, the fairies, Tinkerbell, and Peter Pan (of course!).  Recommended to everyone, everywhere!

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lingren - Such a laugh of a read!  I used to check this out of the library all the time.  Guaranteed to make you chuckle, guffaw, you name it!

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - What can I say about this that hasn't already been said?!  Please, do yourself a favour (if you haven't already) and read this  timeless classic.

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale - I read this just last year and had to get my own copy.  It's an exciting princess story that will leave you feeling warm when you close the cover.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman - Why is it that most of my favourites are books that make me laugh?  This book has a little bit of everything for everyone: adventure, mystery, romance, sword fights, revenge, friendship and greed.

The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald - The last time I read this was many years ago, and I am long overdue for a re-read.  It's a sweet story about the friendship between a little princess and a young peasant boy.  It is the sequel to the next book on this list.

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald - This is the story of a little princess who is kidnapped by goblins.  Her friend, Curdie, has to save her.  It is a very sweet tale, full of wisdom from C. S. Lewis' favourite author.

The Princess Tales by Gail Carson Levine - These are all very original twists on well known fairy tales.  They made me smile.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George - I must confess; I bought this book for its cover!  Although I had read one of her other books before, so I knew it was going to be good.  It was well written, sweet, and overall a really good read.

Fairytales Retold

Once Upon a Time; the best beginning for any book. How I love fairytales! What I don't understand is why there is no genre entitled 'Fairytales Retold'. There are countless books out there that could fit into that description. For those of us who loved fairytales when we were children, retold fairytales are probably right up our alley. I know they are certainly up mine! I have a great weakness for them, so I am on the never ending search. If you are like me, then you probably know just how hard it is to find them! It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. I mean, after you've read all the obvious ones. It's very challenging to find good new fairytales turned into novels.

So I've decided to list a few that I remember were good. I hope you find some that you haven't read yet!

• The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
• Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
• Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George
• Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
• The Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
• Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
• Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
• Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier (does contain vampires, although they are not necessarily the good guys)
• The Fairy's Return and Other Princess Tales by Gail Carson Levine (these are short, but really enjoyable)
• The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey
• Violet Eyes by Debbie Viguie (might have too much kissing)
  
• Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley
• Beauty by Robin McKinley
• Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey
• Winter's Child by Cameron Dokey
• The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry
• Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley (I'm not too keen on some of the plot twists toward the end, which I found a bit over the top, but over all it was good)
  

How many of you think there should be a genre entitled 'Fairytales Retold'? What are your favourite retold fairytales? Please comment!

My Favourite Books - The Letter G

A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter - Such a wonderful story. I remember finding it a bit slow in the beginning, but I really enjoyed it overall. It's too bad it's becoming so rare and hard to find.

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale - I don't think I have ever read such a breathtaking adaption of a fairy tale before. An absolute must have in my opinion!

Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales by the Grimm Brothers - Everybody knows these. Don't read The Maiden Without Hands to yourself at night...I did that once. Never again.

My Favourite Books - The Letter B

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond - It doesn't matter how old you are, even if you read a few of these chapters, you can't help but fall in love with the adorable little protagonist. The number of accidental scrapes he gets into is commendable; I still can't believe he survived them all!

Beatrix Potter Books - I didn't know quite how to list these, so I figured I'd put them under her name. They are absolutely wonderful children's books and I was delighted to find four in cardboard edition for my (hopefully) future children. I also am just finishing cross stitching a Beatrix Potter blanket which I will probably show you when I have completed the last character.

The Best of James Herriot by James Herriot - Whether you like animals or not, at least try these. I have read them countless times and still enjoy each one immensely.

The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery - If you have read any of her other books, this one will surprise you. It is definitely not a typical L. M. Montgomery book. But I still loved it just the same. I have already added it to my collection, which is steadily growing more and more expansive.

The Bobbsey Twins by Laura Lee Hope - These are really geared for children. If you are a child, you will probably like them. I find now that I am older, I can't get into them anymore.

The Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale - I've always liked the fairytale of Maid Maileen, although it's not very well known. Maybe especially because of that. This is an adaptation of the tale and all I can say is that Shannon Hale has done it again!

The Borrowed House by Hilda van Stockum - I am part Dutch, and stories from World War II fascinate me. The author is Dutch, and I stumbled across this book because I read and loved another of her novels (which I will put in when I get to the letter W). A very touching story, but not for children, I don't think. I recommend proofreading it just to make sure. I don't remember if it is based on a true story...all I remember is that it's really good.

The Borrowers Series by Mary Norton - Now these are a different matter. Even though they are written for children, they are definitely ageless. I laugh so hard every time I read them!

Boy & Going Solo by Roald Dahl - Another book that will make you laugh. These are autobiographies by the author of Charlie in the Chocolate Factory and I particularly enjoyed the chapter about the sweet shop he used to frequent.

The Boy Next Door by Enid Blyton - One of my many favourites of hers; I read this one over and over in the summers of my childhood.

Brambly Hedge books by Jill Barklem - So adorable! On par with Beatrix Potter and Cicely Mary Barker. Wonderful stories coupled with breathtaking illustrations. What more could one ask for?

I know most of these are children's, but don't worry; I've got a lot of different books coming!