Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: forest

  • Deep in the Forest

    Deep in the Forest

    Charli is barricade behind emotional barriers of her own making, deeply mired in grief at the death of her beloved mother one year ago, barely managing to make it through the day and today was no different. Seen as a pariah in her small country town of Stone Lake, she has little to do with the people in the area, her one true friend is Amra, who gets her.

    Driving down the long driveway to her home, she feels at peace as the trees dip over the roadway; she makes a dash into the house, lights the fire to send off the chill of the room and just when she is settling to do some work, the cars come; revving their engines, the boys tumbling out determined to wreck, terrify and then leave.

    So begins Deep in the Forest from Erina Reddan who has based her second novel on life in a country town where prejudice rules, a local cult known as The Sanctuary and corruption. The protagonist Charli is a flawed character suffering from self-doubt, she is on the autism spectrum, an introvert struggling to accept the death of her mother who was the major point of stability in her life.

    She has a project to complete, creating a beautiful manuscript from the history and few pictures provided by the Sanctuary of their work in Stone Lake over more than 100 years. Once it is finished she is out of Stone Lake with no plans to hurry back again. She is lovingly running her fingers over the binding of a page when she finds a very tiny note which begins a trail of revenge, murder and hatred disguised within a framework of benevolence. Deep in the forest there is a secret hidden; how far will they go to protect the culprit?

    Erina Reddan has captured the angst of Charli as she doubts the very essence of who she is; over thinker, artist, talented creator, Jake, the man who although he is from the Sanctuary, she is fast developing a sort of relationship with and the corruption of the local police Sargent Balaskas, with care and an excellent understanding of the dark side of people.

    Deep in the Forest is written with a strong female cast of characters and although the storyline could almost be considered as an easy plot to work out, how the many layers are revealed keeps the story moving along at a brisk pace.

  • Have You Seen The New Forest Unicorn?

    Have You Seen The New Forest Unicorn?

    New Forest Tales

    Have you seen the New Forest Unicorn is a charming and absolutely delightful story about chasing the ever mystical, magical Unicorn; a Unicorn apparently seen in the New Forest of Hampshire in England and a place where the New Forest ponies live.

    Set in the spring when the new foals are born, Peewee, Willow, Juliette, Drummer and Merlin became great friends, mainly because they were all born around the same time and enjoyed playing with each other a lot.

    Willow, who had heard about a magical Unicorn being seen in the sky, wondered to her friends if anyone else knew about it and if they did, how did you go about seeing this amazing creature. Various opinions were offered but no one really knew.

    So they came up with a plan to find out more about this magical creature, by asking all the older Ponies and other animals that lived in the New Forest. The plan was a little bit naughty but they decided that it was worth doing.

    What a grand adventure they were to have as they asked one after the other senior animals, who all had very interesting answers, but really were not at all sure either. Along the way they were very brave when crossing a bridge where Trolls were supposed to live.

    When they met the Monarch, the most powerful and senior Stag who is the King of the New Forest Sanctuary, they all had to be very brave, even Merlin, who really was very worried. The Monarch, really did think that one night when the skies lit up with sparkles and an enormous noise was heard, that he had seen a Unicorn, so maybe it was possible. What do you think?

    Carole Smith has used the medium of the lovely little New Forest ponies to tell a time old story to children who enjoy a really good tale. She incorporates friendship, planning, asking and solving problems within the story. Lovely water colour illustrations from Alexandra Wilson are placed through the story and give the little ponies a real presence.

    Have you seen the New Forest Unicorn is the first in a new series for young readers and will become a firm favourite, particularly with children who are pony mad. Reading age range is 6-9 years or younger with a little help from Mum or Dad!

  • The Silence of Grace

    The Silence of Grace

    How many ways are there to describe perfection other than to say the music of Deborah Martin and Jill Haley come pretty close to the definition of ‘the state or quality of being perfect’ with their sublime The Silence of Grace.

    The small booklet that accompanies the work is an excellent lead into the music, as each song is accompanied by some beautiful words that in a single line or two shares the majesty of nature that inspired the composition. Deborah Martin is well known for her subliminal electronic compositions that drift and float on the ether.

    Jill Haley, Oboist, English horn player as well as a pianist and composer, blends the sounds of her instruments into the electronic soundscape in a manner that is as seamless as it is perfect. Both women have a deep bond with nature, a love of walking through nature, of sitting allowing nature to inspire their magnificent compositions.

    Initially the effect of the music was as if a bubble of light formed encapsulating the spirit, which then drifted timelessly through time and space on a journey only the listener could understand. Upon reading the words in the booklet the impression lasts as when walking through the majestic forests deep in the green world of peace and calm, a feeling of encapsulation forms to protect and nourish.

    Each individual piece gently drifts into one blissful journey which is exquisite and totally perfect for deep mediation or simply drifting and best described by these two lines:

    ‘Be still just for a moment .. do not want to loudly.. Instead, chase the mists quietly and gently..’-Deborah Martin.

    And from Jill Haley; ‘Grace is a gift bestowed on us..unasked for and gratefully received.’

  • Wolfboy

    Wolfboy

    As everyone knows when you get hungry, very, very hungry, you sometimes turn into a Monster who is ready to eat just about anything that comes along and Wolfboy was no exception; he was very hungry and as it was the full moon as well, going hungry was not nice, not nice at all.

    He stomped off through the woods calling out to the rabbits, who decided to hide, to stay out of his way, the fish in the muddy stream did the same and the soggy bog was not helpful at all.

    The further into the woods he stomped the more fuss he made, which for little ones learning language and reading skills, Wolfboy adds some very dramatic words, as he searches high and low for those pesky little rabbits.

    The drama builds until he finds those pesky little rabbits that had a wonderful surprise waiting for a very hungry, fussy, growly and lots more fantasticality dramatic words, Wolfboy. Oh, the drama, the fun and the laugh of relief as Wolfboy needs to add this long list of growly words, one simple little word, Happy.

    Black pages, stark, brightly coloured characters and good use of language make Wolfboy, from the imagination of Andy Harkness, into an all-time great read, full of fun and scary bits as well.

    You may well ask why the illustrations are a little different and that is because Andy Harness began them as pencil sketches, shaped the scenery and characters in clay, and then took them all outdoors, where he had so much fun setting the scene, before capturing them for all time in a photograph. He then created the images into the book with the vibrant blue Wolfboy as the lead, along with his also brightly coloured friends the Rabbits.

  • Tashi and the Stolen Forest

    Tashi and the Stolen Forest

    Once again, this mother/daughter writing combination has produced an imaginative and captivating tale. The Tashi story, Tashi and the Stolen Forest can be read as a standalone, but most of the characters will be familiar to followers of the little man. Much to Learn, Wise as an Owl, Lotus Blossom, and Uncle Tiki Pu are all featured in this story and as well as giving a wonderful sense of continuity, give that comfort of past recognition.

    Tashi and the Stolen Forest revolve around the theft of a great many trees from the Ancient Forest. Tashi makes it his mission to uncover the culprit and stop any further theft. This involves some dangerous escapades and help from friends in high places. The pirates who become involved add to the dangers.

    This is such a well written story, and makes a perfect early reading novel. Those followers of Tashi will be enthralled at his new adventure, and the familiar settings and surroundings. The print size and language are appealing. Kim Gamble has done a wonderful job with the illustrations and gives us sketches of Tashi, as well as the evil ones. The placement of these mini pictures breaks up the text and adds to the overall enjoyment of the story. It is great to see the values of looking after nature, reinforced.

  • Wild Nature: Walking Australia’s South East Forests

    Wild Nature: Walking Australia’s South East Forests

    Wild Nature, Walking Australia’s South East Forests is the third part of a trilogy by John Blay, who has been researching Australian forests and their history for many years. Blay begins the book by saying that he has been privileged to walk the great native forests in South Eastern Australia. These are outstanding on an international scale, and most within a day’s drive of capital cities; their history to be seen in the reminders of fires past and recent, and often reflect nature out of balance.

    After this introduction, we follow John’s journey with the retelling of the notes in his journal. It is an interesting way to tell his story and writing in the present tense makes the reader feel they are on the trail with him. The area John wants to walk has no known trails, his partner, Jacqueline, suggests the area may not matter, but enough people valued the trees to have them protected, reflects John.

    John Blay’s special interest lies with National Parks and the Great Escarpment where the tableland slopes down to the coastal valleys which include Tall trees and a secretive wildlife. Apart from the forest, he keenly notes the many small animals such as potoroos, bandicoots, and the rich birdlife. Jacqueline explores the wildflowers in their amazing colours, and soaks in the wonder of the forest.

    This journey is interspersed with comments from early explorers as well as modern day authorities, and the decisions they make regarding the protection of our precious forest eco systems. Reading this account of John and Jacqueline’s journey is like walking with an artist. You begin to see the contrasting colours, and the individual and collective beauty of your surrounds. The passionate message conveyed in this story is the need for continued protection of our magnificent forests, and the wildlife within them.

  • Woodlands

    Woodlands

    Etheric, deep and sublime are only three of many worlds which can be used to describe what is almost indescribable in Woodlands from Rudy Adrian. Electronica at its very best, the elements of pure energy tapped into and used to create this mesmeric soundscape, are those found deep in the darkest of woods, forests and hidden places sought out which are filled with an energy that inspires deep meditation.

    Created in voyage format beginning with Postcard from Karnak and ending with Three Views of a Japanese Garden the soundscape drifts effortlessly across the ether taking the traveller in search of peace and tranquillity to a place special to them; a deep, sacred and hidden space that allows pure energy to reach out, engulf and transform. Perhaps this is the place that mystics achieve to reach; a type of nirvana where anything is possible by simply by letting go, opening the mind and allowing the divine Mother Earth to speak and heal.

    Having listened to this collection over several weeks of intense change, the healing elements reach out without causing any disturbance, without asking to be addressed, noticed or to be heard, seeking deep to calm and sooth the distress and anxiety. At the final note, the gentle healing has been undertaken, the body relaxed and the mind once again ready to continue, all without conscious effort.

    When you are next in a woodland or forest, find a place where you can spend a little time simply absorbing the very atmosphere, the pure enchantment to be found and then look around without moving to see the life, the gift of Mother earth and the healing offered.

    Rudy Adrian, through his skills with the synthesiser, with a little help from vocals and a baroque Flute has captured the magic of the forests and woods, transforming it into Woodlands.

     

  • The Woodland Trust: Into The Forest

    The Woodland Trust: Into The Forest

    Beautifully constructed and presented this non-fiction book, The Woodland Trust: Into the Forest, has been created for a wide age range of readers, with an excellent use of language which is not to complex and yet describes the subject matter, that of the forests of the world, clearly and most importantly, with fun.

    Trees worldwide are under threat from so many different sources that is indeed the true and real value of forests to the world environment, children need to understand from a young age. Into The Forests presents a marvellous place to begin.

    Large pages set out the various aspects of all types of forests to be found throughout the world, along with all the different things to be discovered in each of the regions. Beginning with From Seed to Tree, the life of a tree from planting the seed, or in a dense natural forest the first shoots from a seed in the forest, to a fully grown tree is explained, as well as alerting the reader to the many hidden ‘helpers’ that are to be discovered throughout the journey.

    Rain forests, with their humidity and huge leaves are discovered, as are the bare, snow clad trees of winter, the bright lovely colours of the many trees that shed their leaves in the autumn; the delicate, green, gentle shoots of the spring when winter is drawing to a close and new life is beginning once again

    So many bugs, grubs and animals also live in the forests, all of whom rely on the many aspects of their world to survive, with logs and stumps providing homes for many of the woodland and creatures of the forests. The tall trees making wonderful homes for the birds who consider the tree tops their paradise.

    Touring the world as the pages turn, becomes an exciting adventure, as each page is filled with information carefully couched within the illustrations, allowing the inquisitive minds of children to search the pages for information on such things as night in the forest, tropical rainforest’s, and silent winter.

    The final pages provide instructions on how to plant a tree, show the many different animal that live in the forests of the world which can be found within the pages, as well as a great little Glossary to help out with various words that may be unfamiliar.