Quote: Identified as the next server at shrine in Arthen, fourteen old shepherd boy Jessex is traced to his father's farm and with some haste taken to the Woodland to join Kirith Kirin's men; who could know then that Jessex was to become the most powerful magician of his day. On his first meeting with the boy Kirith Kiern is smitten by his beauty, but is reluctant to act on his feelings although they are not unrequited.

Following a summons Kirith Kirin's task is to travel south with his armies and magician to the claim the crown from his sister the Queen; not as easy as it might sound for the Queen's magician has other ideas and will stop at nothing to prevent Kirith Kirin claiming his right.

The account is related by Jessex as he chronicles events for posterity. Grimsley gives Jessex a humble and empathetic voice as he details the history and explains much of the workings behind the magic (some of which I must admit I found difficult to comprehend). With a war to be fought there is understandably much killing but relatively little in the overall scheme, and that aspect is never overplayed, The dominant theme centres on Jessex, his increasing powers as a magician, and his relationship with Kirith Kirin.

The novel is filled with rich and detailed descriptions of both events and location, and to help the reader there is also a map and a glossary, of which the latter proves a great aid in the pronunciation of many of the strange names (that I found neither of these until I had finished reading is partly my on fault, but not helped by the way Kindle, to which I am relatively new, presents the book).

Kirith Kirin must rank as one of the best books of this genre I have read; the love shared between Kirith Kiren and Jessex, most touching and heart-warming, is woven naturally into the plot, and is refreshingly angst free.

   

Quote: Passionately defended by Jen Sookfong Lee (End of East), Fruit made it to the final two in CBC’s 2009 Canada Reads. If you missed this exciting week, and/or know little about Fruit by Brian Francis, I can say unequivocally that is is it a delightful read, and at no time inauthentic.

Written in the first person, this novel, set in the early 1980’s, makes us privy to Peter Paddington’s immediate thoughts, most especially the fantasy world he inhabits: his cherry-sized nipples, which pop out and talk to him, despite his attempts to shut them up with masking tape; the telepathic messages he sends to people; the bedtime “movies” he creates to lull himself to sleep.

An overweight 13 year-old Peter is ridiculed at school, especially by the “Bangers”. He spends his recess breaks as a library assistant, and eats lunch at home with his hormonal mother.

Peter would love to make his dad happy by participating in sports and making friends, but mild-mannered Dad is unwilling to accept Mom’s insistance that there isn’t anything wrong with their boy. Yet, it is Dad who signs the papers so that Peter can take Home Ec instead of Shop.

Then there is neighbour Daniela, an unattractive girl who wets the bed, swears an awful lot, and wants to be a beauty queen. Peter comes to realize that he isn’t any more socially acceptable than she is. And while Peter doesn’t appear to realize he is gay -- despite his dressing up to perform as Olivia Newton John, or pouring over the men’s underwear in the Sears catalogue -- the reader certainly does. He keeps thinking he needs to get a “boy friend” but somehow never concatenates to “boyfriend”.

This quick read is a book any adolescent (or adult who can recall those days) will be able to identify with in some way.