Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling

I'd read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone over a year ago, but for some reason I didn't continue reading the rest of the books in the series, even though I really did enjoy the first.

Well, I am back at them, finally, with Chamber of Secrets and I can't believe I have waited sooo long to read these extremely entertaining and creative books! I love magic and all that stuff, so the subject matter doesn't hurt much either. What can I say...I can't wait to continue!

I love the Hogwarts classes: herbology, potions, defense against the dark arts, and I LOVE the characters and the creativity within them, such as the ghost, Nearly Headless Nick, who holds a deathday party for himself, speaking in a funeral-like tone when guests arrive.

The first book to keep me up in a long time.

Eragon - Christopher Paolini

I enjoyed Eragon, but I honestly can't explain why. It didn't blow me away, but it kept me reading, and I will read the other books in this series....just not immediately.

I think I enjoyed the journey: a boy with nothing but everything, a found magical egg, a dragon, hope, magic, growth, tragedy, comrades and enemies - all symbols any reader can relate to - the fantasy delivery just makes it more creative.

I was surprised by the amount of violence...in parts. I think it gave the book more cred, though, and I loved the connection between Eragon and Saphira (the dragon) - the friendship and the actual mind to mind telepathy.

Now talking about it, I kinda miss this book.

Turtle Moon - Alice Hoffman

This was my second Alice Hoffman novel and I was impressed again by her storytelling, honesty, and her way of thinking.

My main complaint is that I could not (often) remember the characters and I kept mixing them up, and I found that there were some loose ends when I had finished the novel. This didn't really matter all that much - the insight is what matters most with Alice Hoffman.

Really paints a colourful picture of this little Florida town in the month of May, when things go haywire and everything is weird, and you can sense the static in the air. A baby goes missing, unsuited people fall in love, and the characters lives are intertwined.

Alice Hoffman's books are not exactly page turners, and they don't really flow, and they are not memorable, but if you appreciate them for what they are - bits of practical mysticism (yes, these go together with her) - you won't be disappointed.