Book Review–you’re next–gregg hurwitz

Yet another book review!  Wow I’m storming through my reading list, although I think it might slow down soon!

You’re Next by Gregg Hurwitz was a fabulously exciting read.  I haven’t read any of his books before although it is a genre I’ve read a lot of previously Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Harlan Coben & Michael Connelly being authors I’ve previously enjoyed.

Without given too much away, the basis premise of the story is centred around Mike Wingate, abandoned as a young child to a foster home, without any knowledge or understanding of his history or the reasons for his abandonment.  After brushes with the law he reinvents himself through hard work and integrity working his way to becoming a successful property developer at the start of the book.  Suddenly his past comes back to haunt him and his family but without his understanding of why or who is after them.  We are then led on a roller coaster ride with baddies, corruption, assassins, violence and terror as Mike struggles to escape the threat but also neutralise and understand the origin.  His battle to understand his history and revisit his past is very well done. 

It very hard to talk about a thriller without giving the game away but all you need to know is if you like this genre then you will love this book.  When I get to the end of my current reading list I might search out some more of his novels.    I really didn’t want to put it down as I always wanted to know what happened next.  I could easily see this film being made into a movie, maybe with Colin Farrell as the lead! 

 

P.S. I promise I will do something crafty soon…….

Book report–Philipa Gregory–The White queen

So after reading lots of Philipa Gregory’s Tudor books it was time to move a little further back in history to the War of the Roses.

The White Queen refers to Elizabeth Woodville, a widow who’s family had been fighting on the side of the House of Lancaster, meets and fall in love with the rival King Edward IV of the House of York.  Such a change of heart and fortune for the whole family sets a train of consequences which echo down the generations of the English Royal Family.  The War of the Roses, or the Cousins War as it was known at the time, was an outright battle between two arms of the same family when King Henry VI was incapable of ruling.  There were arguments over which arm had the stronger claim to the throne and ultimately this led to warfare.  During the course of this book Edward became King, lost the throne, ran away in exile, returned and reclaimed his throne.   Many of the major players in the battles changed sides repeatedly depending on who was winning.   As ever with Ms Gregory’s books this is told from the point of view of the women involved, Elizabeth, her mother Jacquetta and latterly Elizabeth of York  (subsequently Queen Elizabeth I’s grandmother!).  Much is made of the charge made against Jacquetta of witchcraft, especially as her family had been linked with the legend of Melusine, a water sprite or mermaid in tales.  I found this aspect of the story a little tedious with much obviously fictionalised depictions of Elizabeth and Jacquetta casting spells to entrap King Edward, raise storms to defeat/delay opponents and to further the family’s position.  In my opinion there is enough intrigue, politics and betrayal in history without resorting to such fiction.  That aside, I enjoyed this novel, maybe not quite as much as the Tudor series.  I enjoy the fact of history through the eyes of women and as I read each of her novels I am eternally grateful not to have lived in such times.  Although we can look back at them now with academic eyes and for entertainment purposes these were not good times for women, property of the men in your family, you had no power other than your sexuality, fecundity and wits.  A women could be put aside for seemingly trivial matters by modern eyes with no defence or argument.  The ability to produce heirs, specifically male heirs is of the utmost importance to royal families especially in times of such upheaval and uncertainty.  Elizabeth and Edward actually produced 10 children, including male heirs to take the throne but due to Edward’s sudden death before the boys were old enough to take the throne, their uncle Richard III stole the throne from them and placed them in the Tower of London, declared his brother marriage as null and void and therefore made his nieces and nephews illegitimate and removed from the throne.  The fate of the Princes in the Tower has been a subject of much debate both at the time and since.  The White Queen has the younger prince Richard escaping to safety in Belgium and an imposter replacing him in the Tower.  He returned to England at the end of the book under the name Perkin Warbeck. 

The story of the Cousins War is not resolved in this books but moves onto The Red Queen which covers some of the same events but from the point of view of Lady Margaret Beaufort, a Lancastrian mother of Henry VII and grandmother of Henry VIII.  Elizabeth and Margaret are players in a dangerous game and they both conspire, form and break loyalties with each other in attempt to get their child on the throne.  I haven’t bought that book yet but I’m sure in later months I shall.  I think I’ll put it on my reading list but at the moment I’ve moved onto a more contemporary novel with a much more fast paced plot. 

Harry Potter Party Part Two

The previous post showed you wands, robes, sorting hat & horrible beans!  Next the lessons….

The first lesson we did was Divination, we bought some old tea cups from a charity shop and then painted some shapes on the bottom with glue and stuck tea leaves onto the glue.  We covered the patterns with more tea leaves which the kids had to cast a spell over Ostendo Sum Posterus (Latin for Reveal The Future!) and then tipped the tea leaves out.  We then used this manual for the kids to decode the images.  

This was a really calm activity to do as they were all sitting on the floor, looking up their shapes in the book and reading out loud.  It also took a lot less time than I planned so we said it was break-time and the kids could go play for a bit.  Off they ran upstairs and one bedroom was Ravenclaw dormitory and one was Gryffindor!

Next lesson was Potions which was probably my favourite activity. I made a Potions Handbook detailing a number of potions for them, all based on kitchen chemistry experiments like bicarb and vinegar.  We had set up a Potion cupboard with all the potions they needed and some bottles I’d made for Halloween.  I’ve been collecting glass bottles for ages!  They had to collect the potions required for each potion. 

The Volcano Potion – spell Erumpo

Wow!!!

How did you do that!?

The Potions lesson was finished with an exam where the kids had to make a Cultivatum Victus potion.  We had taken 2 plastic spoons and taped then together, putting food colouring paste in between, liquid didn’t work.  The food colouring was hidden from them and casting the spell Aqua Infectum they had to stir the spoon in a glass of water and if the colour changed they would pass!  Of course they all passed and I tried it with a spoon without food colouring and it didn’t work until they shouted the spell extra loud!

Next lesson was Charms aka Musical Statues, the kids had to cast spells (Petrificus Totalus or Immobilus) to freeze each other, they then counted to ten and were able to move again.  This got very noisy and chaotic but it gave us time to get the food sorted out. 

After a lot of debate about cakes in the shape of Hogwarts or Golden Snitch, Books, School Badge I got realistic about my cake making skills and reminded Miss M that in The Philosphers Stone Hagrid brught Harry a cake with misspelled icing. 

It doesn’t count as a Cake Wreck when its deliberately bad!

The last part of the party was the Exam with questions about the books such as which platform does the Hogwarts Express leave Kings Cross Station?  Of course they were all given help if they needed it especially as some of the girls didn’t know much about HP but Miss M stormed through her answers and was the first to finish will 100% which made her chuffed!

Their Party Bag to go home was full of Honeydukes Sweets.  I made up bags of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans (no nasty flavours in this lot though!), Sherbert Lemons and Chocolate Frogs. 

The best thing was the Chocolate Frogs, I managed to find frogs and I made the pentagram wizard collectable cards and laminated them!

I made ones with Severus Snape, Merlin, Helga Hufflepuff, Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Salazar Slytherin and of course Albus Dumbledore.  Snape is my favourite and the Chocolate Frogs were the best thing I did for the whole party.  I got most of the information on the cards from Harry Potter Wiki which was a huge source of information, pictures and ideas.  As well as the sweets the kids took home their wands, robes, slice of cake and a certificate printed on parchment.   

In way of a Thank You letter I mocked up a Daily Prophet newspaper and printed on parchment paper again. 

So that was our Harry Potter party, yes it was a lot of work but boy did we have fun.  I had fun creating all these elements and they really did add to the overall effect of the party.  Speaking to the kids and their mums since its clear it was a great party and they all loved every minute of it and that's what's important. 

Sorry these posts have been so long and picture heavy but if it helps you to throw a similar party then I’m glad.  Good luck!

Resources

http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/harry_potter.html
http://harrypotter-birthday.com/
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/party_hrrypttr.htm
http://www.mugglenet.com/misc/rosmertas/index.shtml
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/features/crafts/potterparties
http://www.best-birthday-party-ever.com/harry-potter-party.html
http://marthashmartha.blogspot.com/2010/04/welcome-to-hogwarts.html
http://myharrypotterparty.blogspot.com/
http://www.britta.com/hogwarts/recipes.html
http://dirtandsunshine.com/harry-potter-party.html
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/harry_potter_parties_3.html#
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/harry_potter_parties_8.html#
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/harry_potter_parties_15.html#
http://myharrypotterparty.blogspot.com/
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/harry_potter_parties_10.htm
http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.jkrowling.com/

I shall be linking up with all these lovely link parties this week

Harry Potter Party Part One

Miss M recently turned 8 and is currently Harry Potter mad (bordering on obsessive but then that’s her character and another conversation!)  so we threw her a Harry Potter themed party.  I put loads of time and energy into this party and it was so fantastic that I have to share it with you.  We had actually had to rearrange the party due to illness so it was month late.   Be warned, this might take a while….

The first thing you need for any party is the invitation.  This sets the tone of the party as well as giving the necessary information and this invite most defiantly set the tone.  It was constructed like a letter from Hogwarts itself!

November 2010

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf Warlock,,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)

Dear Miss
We are pleased to announce that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for pre-Christmas lessons. Classes will be held on Saturday 18th December 2010 from 3pm to 5.30pm and will be hosted by Hogwarts’ newly appointed Headgirl, Miss M. There will be a final examination at the end of the day.
Please take the Hogwarts Express train to Hogwarts Academy currently disguised as the Muggle home at home address. There you will find the magical door visible only to Hogwarts students’ friends and families. The password is flibbertigibbet. The surrounding area is well-protected by Memory Charms, so it will be safe to practice magic, however please come dressed in Muggle attire so as not to attract suspicion from passing Muggles.
You will be sorted into your House upon arrival and receive your House school robes and wands. Parents are reminded that first years are not allowed their own broomsticks.
We are looking forward to your arrival at Hogwarts. Please respond by owl to email address or Muggle telephone system with a yes or no response.
Sincerely

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

I picked up the text from a number of places and all the resources are at the bottom of the second post.  If I stole your ideas in what I’ve done, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

The invites were printed on thick parchment paper and the envelopes had the Hogwarts crest on them instead of a stamp.  There was great excitement in school when she handed them out and lots of squealing!    We actually asked all the kids to come in their school uniform which was a bit weird for a party on a Saturday but it added to the whole Hogwarts experience. 

When the kids arrived the first thing we made them do was to try Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, or rather Jelly Belly Bean Boozled Beans. 

In case you can’t read the text, there are identical beans in the box, one good, one bad!  The bad ones are Centipede, Toothpaste, Canned Dog Food (I managed to avoid that one!), Vomit (I didn’t manage to avoid! Blurgh!) Mouldy Cheese, Rotten Egg, Baby Wipes & Booger!  There were 7 girls at this party and they were so brave trying these flavours, and let me tell you, they were disgusting!  There was loads of screaming, squealing and disgusted faces, it was great!  To be kind I offered them some Smarties in between to take the taste away, one girl in particular seemed to get all the bad one and no good ones!!

Can you tell the difference?

Next stage was to sort the into houses.  Matt had made a Sorting Hat by covering a Halloween witches hat with brown paper. 

The Hat had a hidden pocket into which we hid a phone which was set on loudspeaker, I lowered the hat onto their head while Matt was upstairs in the bedroom and read out a little poem to sort the kids into either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.  The kids loved it, they couldn’t work out how that happened and Miss M still doesn’t know!  Once they knew which house they were in they were given their robes with the House badge on.  These were large black adult t-shirts which had been cut down the middle and I’d put on the house badge using iron-on transfer paper which you might remember I had little frenzy of activity recently!

Next on the list was wands.  For this we went to our local Chinese supermarket and found long wooden chopsticks which Matt then painted and decorated. 

Each wand was unique and had a label stating what wood it was made from (Holly, Elder, Willow etc) and its core (Phoenix Feather, Peacock Feather, Unicorn Tail etc). 

In the wizarding world there is a concept that the wand choses the wizard so we covered them with a fancy sheet and the kids had to move their hand over the label and select the one which ‘called’ to them.  I wish we’d managed to come up with some better interactive kind of way of doing this like flashing lights or sounds but it worked ok in the end. 

Here they all are with their robes and wands, doesn’t their school uniform make it perfect?

Scary!

More in the next post……………..

I shall be linking up with all these lovely link parties this week