This Week’s Reads: A Neil Gaiman Marathon including Stardust #AmReading #Books #NeilGaiman

On By MischenkoIn Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Fiction, Reads

Reading slowed just a tad for me last week. I finished up Crying in H Mart the week prior and chose Spinning Silver for last week. The kids are finally closing out the school year, but we’re getting into our summer reading pile now, and let me tell you: we have some good stuff in store for summer reads. I have no doubt I’ll be reading more YA and middle-grade over the summer.

We took one of our first shopping sprees since the pandemic began on Friday. It was nice to hang out in the bookstore for over an hour. The kids found some good books and I grabbed some books to beef-up our Neil Gaiman collection. I’ll share the full haul later, but here’s what I grabbed for the shelf.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is the book my kids will be starting next. Right now we’re reading The Return of the Indian, which is the sequel to The Indian in the Cupboard. We are loving this book so far. A year has gone by since Omri sent Little Bear back to his time. Now he misses him and begins experimenting with the cupboard once more.

Blurb:

It’s been over a year since Omri discovered in The Indian in the Cupboard that, with the turn of a key, he could magically bring to life the three-inch-high Indian figure he placed inside his cupboard. Omri and his Indian, Little Bear, create a fantastic world together until one day, Omri realizes the terrible consequences if Little Bear ever got trapped in his “giant” world. Reluctantly, Omri sends the Indian back through the cupboard, giving his mother the magic key to wear around her neck so that he will never be tempted to bring Little Bear back to life.

But one year later, full of exciting news, Omri gives way to temptation when he finds that his mother has left the magic key lying on the bathroom sink.

A whole new series of adventures awaits Omri as he discovers that his Indian has been critically wounded during the French and Indian Wars and desperately needs Omri’s help.

Now, helplessly caught between his own life and his cupboard life of war and death, Omri must act decisively if he is to save Little Bear and his village from being completely destroyed. What began as a harmless game has tumed into a horrible nightmare, a nightmare in which Omri is irrevocably involved, and from which he may never escape.

They’re also reading Fever, 1793. This is a recommendation from my oldest daughter who read it last year.

Blurb:

It’s late summer 1793, and the streets of Philadelphia are abuzz with mosquitoes and rumors of fever. Down near the docks, many have taken ill, and the fatalities are mounting. Now they include Polly, the serving girl at the Cook Coffeehouse. But fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook doesn’t get a moment to mourn the passing of her childhood playmate. New customers have overrun her family’s coffee shop, located far from the mosquito-infested river, and Mattie’s concerns of fever are all but overshadowed by dreams of growing her family’s small business into a thriving enterprise. But when the fever begins to strike closer to home, Mattie’s struggle to build a new life must give way to a new fight—the fight to stay alive.

I’m reading Stardust. I grabbed this beautiful cover and oddly shaped edition which looks to have been published on my birthday. It screamed out to me! I love it. I’m on page 57–just getting into chapter 3. So far, so good. It took me some time to get into it, especially after a major time forward which niggled me.

Blurb:

Go and catch a falling star . . .

Tristran Thorn promises to bring back a fallen star for his beloved, the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester—and crosses the wall that divides his English country town from another, more dangerous world of lords and witches, all of them in search of the star. Rich with adventure and magic, Stardust is one of master storyteller Neil Gaiman’s most beloved tales.

Who knows if I’ll move on to another Neil Gaiman right after this one or not. He’s one of my favorite authors, but I normally need a break in between his books because of my love hate relationship with some of them. My plan is to move on to Smoke and Mirrors and to chug on with the others to continue the marathon. We’ll see what happens.

So, that’s what we have going on this week. What about you? What are you reading? Let’s chat in the comment section.

❤️ Mischenko

36 thoughts on “This Week’s Reads: A Neil Gaiman Marathon including Stardust #AmReading #Books #NeilGaiman”

  1. All three are really great sounding books, Mischenko. The only Gaimen book I’ve read is American Gods, but I’ve been tempted by others.

    I just finished an ARC of Riley Sager’s upcoming book “Survive the Night” (fantastic) and am currently reading his last least, “Home Before Dark.”

    BTW, an hour in a bookstore, sounds divine!

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    1. Did you enjoy American Gods? I promised myself I’d read the book first before watching the show.

      Glad you enjoyed Survive the Night. I’ll check out Home Before Dark too.

      Thanks, Mae. The visit to the bookstore was much needed! I’m so happy things are getting back to normal. Happy reading ❤️

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    1. Stardust has some graphic sex scenes… nothing too major but not for a nine-year-old, IMO. Even The Graveyard Book is like a 5th to 6th grade level, so I’m not sure about that one either not knowing what level he’s at. That’s really the only Gaiman book that’s listed for elementary, and the rest of these books are adult other than Fever 1793, which is more like YA. Hope that helps, Jo! ❤️

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        1. Wow, De Niro is in it? How did I not know about it. I’m totally intrigued now. I looked up the ratings and it seemed to do well. I’ll let you know my thoughts after. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

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  6. I’ve never been a huge Gaiman fan, but I am glad you are enjoying it. Fever 1793 sounds really good. I think I will see if my library has it. I love The Indian in the Cupboard series. Great choices all around.

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  8. I have only read one Neil Gaiman book, When a monster calls, it was so heartbreaking. I am yet to give another of his titles a try. I also have a copy of Fever. I look forward to your review.

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    1. That one’s actually written by Patrick Ness, and yes, it was so heartbreaking! I ended up reading it over again and just bawled my eyes out. The movie was good too.

      Hope you enjoy Fever 1793. The kids are loving it, but it has some rough parts. Hope all is well with you, Diana. ❤️

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    1. Yeah, it was really nice to finally get back into the bookstore. It’s such a huge difference from shopping online. Neil Gaiman has such a wild imagination. It’s crazy the stuff he comes up with. Happy reading, Tessa.

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  11. starjustin

    All sound sound wonderful! I know the kids must have loved getting out for a day.
    I’m looking forward to your review of the Return of the Indian.
    Thx for sharing!

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  12. Your shopping trip sounds heavenly 🥰

    I loooved the movie Stardust. So after a few years I discovered it was actually a book and thought I’d love it as well, but found it very disappointing 😕 Hopefully you’ll enjoy it more.

    I’m currently rereading the young adult Wicca / Sweep series by Cate Tiernan. For the,… 5 th time, maybe? 😅

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    1. It was fun for all of us. Ah, sorry you didn’t like the book! I ended up liking it but not loving it. Tristran took some getting used to, and I was happy when his character was somewhat redeemed.

      Hope you enjoy your reads! Five times is a lot. I’ll definitely check it out. 😉

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      1. I’m glad it was more enjoyable for you 😃 It’s been a few years since I read it. All I remember is my strong dislike. Not my exact reasons why, I’m afraid, haha.

        Haha yeah. I have Autism, so I don’t mind repeats 😅 I watch my favourite TV series and movies over and over (and over) 😜. And the same goes for books.
        I already re-read Harry Potter this year. Currently the Wicca/sweep series, and I think I’ll re-read the Caster Chronicles next. Kind of a Magical 2021 😅
        The Caster Chronicles are also YA, but feel a tat more grown up than the Wicca series. If the Wicca series might feel “too young”.
        Or too Wicca. Caster Chronicles is more about magic, like in HP.

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  13. All great picks! I loved the Indian in the Cupboard Series. Lynne Reid Banks was probably my favorite author when I was in fourth grade- she writes great fantasy: The Farthest-Away Mountain, The Adventures of King Midas, the Fairy Rebel, etc.

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  14. Pingback: June Wrap-up 2021: #BookReviews #Books #Music – ReadRantRock&Roll

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