What I’m reading in December

Hi Friends

Next month I’ll be reading

The Never Ending Story by Michael Ende

Well known for the 1985 film it inspired, the book was first published in 1979.

From the Blurb: Unicorns, dragons, sprites, will-o’-the-wisps: the inhabitants of an enchanted world. And into this world – through the pages of an old book – ventures Bastian, a lonely boy of ten or twelve. But Fantastica is slowly decaying, its Childlike Empress dying. Only a real human being can set things right by giving the Empress a new name. Bastian takes up the challenge, and finds himself crossing the Swamps of Sadness and the Silver Mountains, meeting sorcerers and giants, bats and night-hobs, gnomes and racing snails, as he journeys bravely toward the Ivory Tower, Bastian’s quest is filled with all the wonders of myth and fairy tale. It is a fantasy adventure that will capture your heart – and recapture the magical dreams of childhood.

Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono

Kiki’s Delivery Service is well known for the Studio Ghibli animated film it inspired, but was actually first written in 1985, and until recently was out of print in English.

From the Blurb

Half-witch Kiki never runs from a challenge. So when her thirteenth birthday arrives, she’s eager to follow a witch’s tradition: choose a new town to call home for one year.

Brimming with confidence, Kiki flies to the seaside village of Koriko and expects that her powers will easily bring happiness to the townspeople. But gaining the trust of the locals is trickier than she expected. With her faithful, wise-cracking black cat, Jiji, by her side, Kiki forges new friendships and builds her inner strength, ultimately realizing that magic can be found in even the most ordinary places.

Blending fantasy with the charm of everyday life, this enchanting new translation will inspire both new readers and dedicated fans.

Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer

Wonderbook is described as: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction, and has been highly recommended to me by a number of authors from an Arvon Foundation course. One of the writers in my local writing group has also gotten the book to work through. I’ve actually had my copy two years now. and feel it’s time to stop feeling daunted and to see if it leaves me inspired.

It would be good to hear about books you’re reading this month.

More thoughts on my three on my YouTube Channel