Lady Cottington’s Pressed Fairy Book – Terry Jones
When you buy a book just because the premise sounds interesting, without reading up much about it, there are two possible outcomes you can get – either you end up happy with your purchase or you end up disappointed. In case of Lady Cottington’s Pressed Fairy Book, it was the latter for me.
The book is based on the incident of the Cottingley Fairies, something which fascinated me immensely, considering I was an ardent reader of tales involving fairies, pixies, gnomes and elves in childhood. The story in the book is fictional, told in the form of the journal of young Lady Angelica Cottington, who can see fairies, and – gasp! – presses them in her notebook like some people do butterflies and flowers. The story is indeed interesting, but I thought it is more than a little twisted.
The journal looks beautiful, with the print like actual handwriting, but Lady Cottington did not seem to be very likeable. The illustrations are brilliant and apt for the story, but are quite ghastly. Of course, that could be just me!
I am not sure I would give this book to a six-year-old to read, the age group for which it is intended.
Recipe For Life – Nicky Pellegrino
Nicky Pellegrino’s Recipe For Life is the story of Alice and Babetta, two very different women from very different backgrounds. Alice is a young woman trying to run away from one ugly night, which changed the course of her life forever. Italian nonna Babetta has lived a hard life, and is now beginning to worry if her husband Nunzio is losing interest in living altogether. Fate brings Alice and Babetta together in a ramshackle Italian villa, Villa Rosa, something that impacts both ladies in significant ways. Interesting premise, right? Sadly, the book disappointed thoroughly.
There is not much of a plot, and I was left wondering what I just read, when I had finished the book. The story seems to meander here and there, without any real substance in it. Alice wasn’t very likeable, though Babetta seemed very sweet and someone worth meeting with in real life.
This one was definitely not my cup of tea.
Have you read any/both of these books? What are your thoughts about it/them?
What are you reading at the moment?
The Girl Next Door 
One of the most hilarious books I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. I believe I did read it the first time around 6 years old and I loved it at the time. I also found it very thought provoking and uncliched at that age. And best of all the art is amazingly well done; edgy, cheeky (no pun intended) and a little riske.
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Ohh quite scary illustrations! I love illustrated books and that’s one reason why I keep reading children’s books.. But this, I don’t think I’ll pick up.
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@Greenboochi
Don’t let my review affect your decision about picking up the book. I would hate that. There are many people on Goodreads who have loved the book.
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