The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

[EyeoftheStorm]

Almost finished reading this with DS1 (10). One of my favourite childhood books and I hadn't revisited it for a long time.

Reading it aloud to him was like reading it for the first time. So beautifully written that it's more like poetry than prose. So dark and powerful and fascinating.

Every time DS asked a question to clarify what was happening or what something meant, his question was answered in the next couple of sentences. Like the writer was answering him.

I love reading books with him. We have similar tastes. Though he plotted Sparrowhawk's journey on the map of Earthsea, while I've never given it more than a quick glance.

What shall we read next? This book has been the pinnacle so far.

I was going to suggest the Snow Spider ones too, and maybe Griffin's Castle.

Inkheart is good, so's The Thief Lord (both Cornelia Funke).

Um, Skellig perhaps?

Oh, and one I absolutely love is The House on Falling Star Hill by Michael Molloy.

There's also a very funny series set in a forest with all fairytale characters woven in which I really enjoyed. I think the first one's called Goodknight, then there's Whizzard, Trollogy, maybe Knightmare?

Anyway, they're good fun for adults too - there's Luigi, an Italian restaurant owner with dreadlocks who's a 'pastafarian', Humphrey Boggart (a boggart who's a detective) and all other little jokes like that.

Oh, and have a look at Garth Nix too - maybe the tower series, or the days of the week one. His old kingdom ones are also really good, but might be a bit scary, not sure (quite a bit of necromancy etc.).

And as a stand alone (but very different - not fantasy), I'd suggest Airman by Eoin Colfer.

Eyeofthestorm Tales of Earthsea and The Other Wind are very much worth a read. Who could resist Tenar and Ged in their autumn years?

Another Green Knowe fan here too!

How about Leon Garfield?

These suggestions are so great - it's a walk down memory book lane. So many good books that have stayed with us for so long. I hope they stay close to our DCs' hearts too.

I have packed The Eagle of the Ninth and Skellig for half term in the north.

Every year Father Christmas buys DH a book to read to his sons. This year it was the Wizard of Earthsea series.

Last year's was an enormous hit. The Princess Bride. Never have we had such a hit in the house. DSs are nearly 10 and nearly 8. They still talk about the book regularly and the frequent squeals, cries of "No!" and bursts of laughter as we read were fantastic

The Letter for the King is one of DS1's favourite books. We all really enjoyed the Weirdstone of Brisingamen (although found the sequel more difficult to get into initially) and we have all just loved Philip Pullman's Northern Lights and can't wait to start the next in the series.

We do a lot of reading aloud and listening to audio books as a family.

Loved Wizard of Earthsea. Ursula Le Guin is a quality writer. I often think that you can tell wonderful writing much more easily when reading aloud; it's easy to read, the language flows.

Marianne Dreams is an eerie novel.

love Marianne Dreams. Its on DS1's bookcase and I'm desperate for him to read it. It haunted me.