Tag Archives: humour

Henrietta’s War and Henrietta Sees It Through by Joyce Dennys

Posted on May 27, 2015 by jenny

Henrietta’s War by Joyce Dennys and its sequel, Henrietta Sees it Through, are a series of letters to a childhood friend during WWII. They document the small and amusing indignities and challenges of life in a “safe part of England” … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century Light Fiction, British, Comedy, Episodic Novel, Epistolary Novel, General adult audience, Light Fiction, Novel, Social Novel, War Story | Tagged 20th Century, British, epistolary, fiction, good out loud, home front, humour, illustrated, overcoming adversity, semi-autobiographical, war novel, wartime, WWII | Leave a comment

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Posted on March 21, 2015 by jenny

Wonder by R.J. Palacio is the story of ten-year-old August who likes Star Wars and Halloween and who just wants to be ordinary as he starts attending a regular school for the first time. But August isn’t ordinary and an … Continue reading →

Posted in 10 years and up, Coming of Age/Rites of Passage, Contemporary Children's, Family Drama, Novel, Young Adult | Tagged 10 and up, 21st Century, American, coming-of-age, disability, facial deformity, fiction, good out loud, high school, humour, overcoming adversity, siblings, the movie lives up to it, young adult | Leave a comment

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Posted on February 28, 2015 by jenny

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a book that my parents read to each other while I was in utero and which has been a regular feature of my life ever since. I have enjoyed it in primary … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century Children's, 7 years and up, Children's Classics, Fantasy | Tagged 20th Century, 7 and up, action, allegory, animals, better than the movie, British, C.S. Lewis, children's classic, Christianity, fantasy, fiction, food and fighting, good out loud, home front, humour, Narnia, The Inklings, wartime, WWII | Leave a comment

Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan

Posted on January 5, 2015 by jenny

Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan is a book about… well it took me a while to decide. The first time I read it I thought it was about the experience of a child living in a world of seemingly … Continue reading →

Posted in Australian, Contemporary Children's, Picture Books, Under 7 years | Tagged 21st Century, 7 and up, Australian, coming-of-age, fantasy, fiction, good out loud, humour, illustrated, rules, siblings, society, under 7s, whimsical | Leave a comment

Five Children and It by E. Nesbit

Posted on November 13, 2014 by jenny

Five Children and It, written by E. Nesbit and first published in 1902, is about a strange-looking Psammead (also known as a sand fairy) who grumpily grants one wish a day. But somehow the wishes always seem to go wrong … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century Children's, 7 years and up, British, Children's Classic, Children's Classics, Fantasy, Fiction, Novel | Tagged 20th Century, 7 and up, British, children's classic, fairies, fantasy, fiction, humour | Leave a comment

Hornblower by C. S. Forester

Posted on September 21, 2014 by jenny

The Hornblower novels by C.S. Forester are a terrific blend of plot and characterisation. Set during the Napoleonic wars, they are action packed and fast moving but this action also serves to develop the complex character of Horatio Hornblower. Even … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century Classics, British, Episodic Novel, Fiction, General adult audience, Historical Fiction, Novel, War Story, Young Adult | Tagged 20th Century, action, adventure, boats, British, classic, drama, fiction, historical, humour, Napoleonic Wars, navy, travel, war novel, wartime | Leave a comment

A Void by Georges Perec (trans. Gilbert Adair)

Posted on September 7, 2014 by jenny

What to say about this book? A lipogram writ by a Parisian of Oulipo’s school, using all but our fifth, most significant sign. Now (amazing!) put in words for a Briton or Australian too. A cast looks for a missing … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century Classics, Classic, Fiction, French, General adult audience, Mystery, Novel, Parody | Tagged 20th Century, classic, fiction, French, humour, Lipogram, Murder, noir, Wordplay | Leave a comment

The Warden by Anthony Trollope

Posted on July 15, 2014 by jenny

The Warden by Anthony Trollope is the first of the Barchester Novels and is Amusing, Character-Driven and Short. Characters have names like Septimus Harding and Sir Abraham Haphazard! Clergyman, Mr Harding is accused of being Paid Too Much for his … Continue reading →

Posted in 18th Century, Classic, Comedy, General adult audience, Novel, Novel of Manners, Pastoral novel, Serial Novel, Victorian | Tagged Anthony Trollope, authors with day jobs, Barchester Chronicles, British, classic, clergymen, drama, fiction, humour, society | Leave a comment

The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay

Posted on June 30, 2014 by jenny

The Magic Pudding is a delightful Australian Children’s Classic by Norman Lindsay about puddin’-owners, puddin’-thieves and, of course, a cantankerous puddin’ that answers to the name of Albert. It’s basically an excuse for food, fighting and nonsense poetry. Thanks to … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century Children's, 7 years and up, Australian, Children's Classic, Children's Classics, Comedy, Fantasy, Fiction, Novel | Tagged 20th Century, 7 and up, animals, Australian, children's classic, fiction, food and fighting, good out loud, humour, nonsense poetry, rhyming | Leave a comment

Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome

Posted on April 14, 2014 by jenny

Three Men in a Boat (to Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome is an amusing account of a boating trip up the Thames. Rich in hypochondria, satire and altercations with tents and pineapple tins, it is a … Continue reading →

Posted in British, Comedy, Fiction, General adult audience, Light Fiction, Novel, Travel Fiction, Victorian | Tagged animals, boats, British, classic, fiction, good out loud, humour, travel | Leave a comment