Children Fiction - Anything Better Than Harry Potter?

Children Fiction is a very entertaining and imaginative form of relaxation for my mind. One would think that children are not very demanding readers, but they are. And so are adults with a bit of a kid's soul. Apart from Harry Potter there are a few other titles worthy of mentioning.

'Un Lun Dun' by China Mieville is one of the best fiction books I have read in a very long time. In my private opinion it is better than 'Harry Potter'. Captivating and mesmerizing, it introduces us to an alternative dimension, London's other side. Everything that is being thrown away in London, finds its' place in Un Lun Dun and forms into an incredible architectural landscape. And so houses are built with the use of old typewriters, vintage radios and broken washing machines. Sun is in the shape of a pretzel. Dustbins are living entities, just like umbrellas and buses. Even words which were a part of forgotten conversations continue their lives as little furry creatures. On a whole it is the British capital's reverse side and some form of a recycled universe.

The ancient holy book of Un Lun Dun predicts the arise of an enemy who will destroy the entire land. The only chance is the help from the Chosen citizen of the real London. And so it happens that the hero who will protect the magical world is a 13-year old Zanna. But as she is not up for the job, who will defend the doomed universe? Can it be someone who not mentioned in the prophecy? And what is a prophecy after all?

Beautiful illustrations make the reading experience even more exciting and move you into an alternative world full of monsters, surprising victories and of course ... magic!
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Text: Maya Persson
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Pixels' Secret Life

Laura Bifano's pixel watercolours have already appeared at Blog's Art, but I have spotted more of her amazing pictures recently. This young girl's style is truly impressive. The way the natural life interacts with the pixelated figures is just mesmerizing. Thank you, Laura, for inviting us into your beautiful fantasy.
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'The Lady And The Unicorn' - 13x19 print - £25

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88159774/animal-pixel-series-the-lady-and-the

 'Octopus' - 13x19 print - £25

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77912484/animal-pixel-series-octopus-13-x-19

'Badger' - 13x19 print - £25

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77791036/animal-pixel-series-badger-13-x-19-print?ref=v1_other_2

'Foxhunt' - 13x19 print - £25

 http://www.etsy.com/listing/78228619/animal-pixel-series-foxhunt-13-x-19?ref=pr_shop

Modern Culture Fantasies

Vintage science-fiction movie posters portray a very interesting tension between robots and women. It reminds me the most of a relation between the gigantic ape and a woman in "King-Kong". When I was a child I was very confused with the affection between the two characters. King-Kong was clearly in love with the woman. Though he was an animal, his love was pure and in a way "human". The beautiful girl was first horrified, but later also charmed with the monster. When I was very little I thought it was very beautiful, but I didn't understand how it would be possible for the sky-scraper-size ape and relatively tiny woman, who actually looked like a doll, to make love and... well.. have children? Little girls think of the world in a very simple way. I feel the same confusion in terms of robots vs women. I guess both of the fantasies - the animal and technology fantasy - represent a very similar psychological aspect of a humankind and our modern and popular culture.