Posted in Art, tagged Art, books, Dante, Divine Comedy, Hell, Lego, Lego Hell, Literature, Mihai Marius Mihu, Nine Circles Of Hell, Sculpture, Toy on January 19, 2013 | 25 Comments »
It took seven months and approximately 40,000 Lego bricks for Romanian artist Mihai Marius Mihu to create The Nine Circles Of Hell from the Literary Classic Dante’s Divine Comedy.
Where will you end up?
~ Visit yesterday’s post for another unique interpretation of The Divine Comedy ~
Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged Comics, Dante, Dante Alighieri, Divine Comedy, English Literature, Graphic Novels, Literature, Poetry, Seymour Chwast, The Divine Comedy Graphic Novel on January 18, 2013 | 2 Comments »
Students of English Literature should be eternally grateful for this Graphic Novel adaptation of a core classic.
The simple black and white noir-style graphics contemporise the satirical content whilst aiding differentiation between the many realms and circles in Dante’s compelling trawl through a unique afterlife.
Chwast’s vision is a brief and entertaining read that may just inspire you to seek out – and perhaps better appreciate – Dante’s original.
More Graphic Novel interpretations of Literary Classics please!
~ Pop back tomorrow for another twist on Dante’s Divine Comedy! ~
Posted in Art, tagged Brian Froud, Christina Rossetti, Fairy, Fairy tale, Folklore, Goblin Market, Literature, Poetry, Pre-Raphaelite, Victorian on September 23, 2012 | 12 Comments »
We must not look at goblin men,
We must not buy their fruits:
Who knows upon what soil they fed
Their hungry thirsty roots?
“Come buy,” call the goblins
Hobbling down the glen.
“Oh,” cried Lizzie, “Laura, Laura,
You should not peep at goblin men.”
Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), Goblin Market.
Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged Fevre Dream, Game of Thrones, George R R Martin, Lily Wight, Literature, Mississippi, steamboat, Vampire on June 23, 2012 | 8 Comments »
It takes a brave writer to pen a Southern Gothic vampire novel just three years after the publication of Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire.
George R. R. Martin’s Fevre Dream includes similarities such as setting, era and two bickering immortal dandies, but Fevre Dream has less romance and more sweat and grime, it is as though two writers used the same remit to inspire very different tales.
Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged Bram Stoker, Dracula, Elizabeth Báthory, Fiction, Horror, Jack the Ripper, Literature, Vampire on June 8, 2012 | 17 Comments »
Despite obvious extensive research and the Stoker seal of approval belated Dracula sequel Dracula The Un-Dead is a wasted opportunity which panders to modern tastes instead of keeping faith with the original. *Beware of spoilers*.
Dacre Stoker and collaborator Ian Holt throw in everything from Elizabeth Bathory and Jack The Ripper to The Titanic creating a convoluted yarn which, although fast paced, struggles to find themes and focus.
This sort of Victorian Gothic Alternative History or Literary Re-imagining has been done far more successfully before (see Kim Newman’s Anno Dracula trilogy for effortlessly ingenious use of the same setting and characters).
The Un-Dead reads more like a sequel to Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula movie and when Dracula intones to Mina’s son “I am your father!!!” you may just die laughing.
Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged Anno Dracula, Art, Fiction, Jack the Ripper, Kim Newman, Literature, Twilight, Vampire on June 5, 2012 | 6 Comments »
“When bookshops are heaving with Twilight knock-offs it’s a travesty that this superb novel is out of print in the UK and had to be sourced, secondhand, from overseas.”
At least that is what I said when I last reviewed Kim Newman’s superlative Anno Dracula, the first book in a truly diverse, enlightening and remarkable series which is finally receiving a well deserved new edition and relaunch.
Posted in Quickies, tagged Art, books, Fiction, funny, humor, Literature, Piglet, video, Winnie-the-Pooh on June 2, 2012 | 5 Comments »
Posted in Art, tagged Culture, Design, Fairy, Fairytale, Inspiration, Literature, Pictures, Post, Thoughts on May 16, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Hello Blogsprites!
I promised you more Scary Fairy images for Book Month. Click the pics to view the album and why not send me a Facebook Friend request while you are there. xx
Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged Arts, Book review, books, Choke, Chuck Palahniuk, comedy, Fight Club, Lily Wight, Literature, reading, sex, sex addict on May 15, 2012 | 4 Comments »
Fight Club fans will recognise Chuck Palahniuk’s recurring themes and jet-black humour as sex addict Vincent explores the world of self-help groups, mental illness and random, petty criminality.
Posted in Books, Musings, Quickies, tagged Arts, Book review, books, Fantasy, Lily Wight, Literature, Malazan Empire, Reviews, Science Fiction, Steven Erikson on May 13, 2012 | 2 Comments »
I have read Steven Erikson’s first four Malazan novels and would like some advice as to whether or not to continue. You can read my reviews (published over the last two weeks) on my homepage.
Your thoughts folks …
Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged Arts, books, Fantasy, house of chains, Lily Wight, Literature, Malazan Book of the Fallen, Malazan Empire, reading, Steven Erikson on May 11, 2012 | 2 Comments »
Erikson is a writer at the top of his game with the fourth book of his Malazan series delivering more of the same and then some!
Fans will be familiar with the author’s distinct style and structure: unlikely pairings undertaking strange journeys which impact upon the martial and political landscape in unexpected ways.
Erikson’s tales mimic the evolution of real history so those who prefer traditional quest-driven yarns may feel frustrated by the lack of conclusions. There is however a realism and sense of immediacy seldom achieved by the Fantasy genre.
Posted in Books, tagged Fiction, Folklore, Horror, Legends, Literature on May 11, 2012 | 3 Comments »
The reason I bought a Kindle a couple of weeks ago is that I've decided to start publishing on it! I've launched an imprint called Apparition, tying in with my app development work.
This first book is chock-full of some of the finest, scariest, most bizarre and fascinating true ghost encounters you're ever likely to read. They all come from the works of George Frederick Lee, a pioneering paranornal researcher whose work is sadly neglected.
Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged Arts, Book review, books, Fantasy, Gardens of the Moon, Lily Wight, Literature, Malazan Empire, Memories of Ice, reading, Science Fiction, Steven Erikson on May 7, 2012 | 2 Comments »
The third novel in the Malazan Cycle suffers the same highs and lows as its predecessor. The first half is over-plotted and over-populated, more of an endurance test than an entertaining read.
Once various subplots unite, for a spectacular midway siege, Erikson shifts up a league and delivers martial action and emotional character beats with familiar aplomb.
Erikson’s enthusiasm for his secondary world is infectious, but his pacing and structure continue to irritate.
Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged Arts, Book review, books, Fantasy, Fiction, Lily Wight, Literature, Magic System, Malazan Empire, reading, Steven Erikson on May 6, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Too many new faces and places sap momentum in this now sprawling Fantasy series.
Erikson’s prose has a captivating quality which will win patience from his readership but many sub-plots seem circular and unnecessary. Characters are absent for several chapters so, by the time they return, you are likely to have forgotten who they are and what they are doing whilst the unceremonious dumping of a hugely important plot revelation is unforgivably clumsy.
Erikson’s Magic System seems over-complicated and only partially formed, suggesting a world and a plot which is dangerously close to escaping the clutches of its author.
Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged Arts, Book review, books, Fantasy, Literature, Malazan Empire, moon garden, Steven Erikson on May 5, 2012 | 12 Comments »
Forget polite introductions and sedate world-building because Erikson’s opener is a merciless drag through war, politics, questing and magic which may swamp and baffle less dedicated Fantasy fans.
Gardens of the Moon may be overpopulated and over-plotted but Erikson holds chaos at bay with genius page-turning prose and infectious enthusiasm.
With a little more focus and honing the Malazan Books could achieve brilliance.
Posted in Books, Links, Reviews, tagged Arts, Book review, books, fairy tales, Lily Wight, Literature, Margo Lanagan, Tender Morsels on May 4, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Hello Blogsprites!
It’s book month at The Arcade of Arts & Arcana so I’ll be featuring a favourite author, Margo Lanagan, in the Magickal Thing section of the sidebar throughout May.
Click the pic to discover Tender Morsels …
Posted in Books, Events, Quickies, tagged books, England, Leeds, Leeds Book Awards, literary festivals, Literature, reading, Yorkshire on May 3, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
There is still time for kids and teens to get reading for this year’s Leeds Book Awards.
Click on the pic to peruse the nominated titles then vote for your favourites!
Posted in Art, Books, Events, tagged Art, Arts, author, Beltane, Book Reviews, books, Carl Spitzveg, Fairy, Fairytale, Librarian, Library, literary festivals, Literature, May, Merry Meet, reading, The Bookworm, Versatile Blogger Award on May 1, 2012 | 3 Comments »
It’s Beltane, so Merry Meet Blogsprites!
April’s Scary Fairy theme proved to be a hit so I will continue to add to the album Faerie Lore & Fairy Tales this month. It’s still in-keeping as May will be all about books!
I will be Spring cleaning my personal mini-library and sharing my thoughts on what I find, directing you to some interesting literary festivals and dropping in a few book reviews too.
I would love to hear your opinions on literature and book awards as I have been tasked with presenting Versatile Blogger Awards to some of my favourite sites.
I value my peers’ opinions most of all so I will be choosing carefully and introducing you to some wonderful indie authors in the process.
Wishing you a fun and sunny May, Lily xx
Posted in Art, tagged Fiction, Literature, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien on April 20, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
One of my favourite passages from the Lord of the Rings is this sympathetic description of a slain Southron warrior flung from the ‘Oliphaunt’.
‘His scarlet robes were tattered, his corslet of overlapping brazen plates was rent and hewn, his black plaits of hair braided with gold were drenched with blood. His brown hand still clutched the hilt of a broken sword.
Posted in Movies, TV, tagged Arts, Brian Froud, Fairy tale, Fairytales, Fantasy, film, Folklore, Isabella Rosselini, Lily Wight, Literature, Little Red Riding Hood, Movies, Wolf on April 15, 2012 | 3 Comments »
Hello Blogsprites,
Many of you may remember the Cannon Fairy Tale films. Here is a little reminder for Dark Fairy Tale Month, the music accompanying the opening credits is enough to give you nightmares!
While you are here don’t forget to check out April’s Magickal Thing with a link to Brian Froud in the sidebar. x
Posted in Movies, Music, tagged Angela Carter, Angela Lansbury, Company of Wolves, David Warner, fairy tales, Fairytale, Films, Folklore, Gothic, Horror, Literature, Little Red Riding Hood, Movies, Neil Jordan, Stephen Rea, werewolf, Wolf on April 13, 2012 | 1 Comment »
Few Fairy Tales are as dark and multifaceted as Little Red’s.
Angela Carter wrote the screenplay for Neil Jordan’s lush and evocative adaptation of Carter’s own collected short writings and radio plays.
This wonderful fan trailer for The Company of Wolves is by the talented Hedge Labyrinth with music from the Requiem For A Dream soundtrack.
Thank heaven for little girls, they grow up in the most peculiar ways …
Mo
Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged Angela Carter, Book of Lost Things, Book review, Easter, Easter Egg, Fairy tale, John Connolly, Lily Wight, Literature on April 6, 2012 | 9 Comments »
It’s almost Easter, Blogsprites! I hope you are all getting a long-weekend off at the very least 
Here is an early Easter Egg for you, crack it open and you will find a golden and glowing review of John Connolly’s The Book of Lost Things, in keeping with my current explorations into The Realm of Faerie.
It is hard to beat Angela Carter’s potent re-imaginings of traditional Fairy Tales but John Connolly may boast a valiant and successful attempt.
The young hero’s struggle to adjust to his step-family under the shadow of The Blitz is realistic and heartfelt but unfortunately the tone alters and the pace flounders during a flabby middle section inspired by tired and predictable medieval quest romances.
Connolly’s work suffers a little under too many influences; Narnia, Oz, Wonderland, Labyrinth and even The Box of Delights are all thrown into the mix. Focus is restored most triumphantly however in a dramatic ending which is surprisingly horrific considering the overall “kidult” tone.
The Book of Lost Things, with its exquisite title, could have possessed more depth if freed from the influence of so many other contemporary retellings of old tales. Despite this, when Connolly finds his own voice the story soars and delivers a truly terrifying villain.
Posted in Animation, tagged Fairy, Fairytale, Folklore, Germany, Literature, Snow White, Tales, World Tales on March 30, 2012 | 1 Comment »
A cache of 500 folk tales were discovered in Germany recently, many of which have not been a part of our previously documented understanding of the folk tradition in Europe.
Posted in Books, tagged author, Fiction, Literature, Vampire, Writing on March 30, 2012 | 2 Comments »
Mine too. But not the sparkly teen variety. I'm more a Bram Stoker fan. My contribution to vampire literature is now available on Amazon and you can be one of the first to download, read and review. If you do offer a review, (good or bad) let me know and if you're a blog follower, I'll send you one of my favorite books to say thank you.
