Mister Monday - Garth Nix

Advantages: It Was free and Kids will like it
Disadvantages: For Adults it's Predictable

...free (yes a free) book. Mister Monday, written by (or so I'm told) the well respected Australian Children's author Garth Nix (www.garthnixon.co.uk - actually a really useful website, well worth a look). OK, I know I'm not a child (no sarcastic comments please) but I thought what the hell why not have a read. Four hours later job done. Obviously the book is written for children not forty something adults so most of the points I picked up would probably ...
...all a little predictable. Mister Monday is the first book of a series of seven:, Mr Monday, Grim Tuesday, Drowned Wednesday (yes you can detect a theme emerging), Sir Thursday, Lady Friday (which is the most recent in the series and is due to be published soon - the final two haven't yet been written). I have only read the first in the series so cannot comment on the others, although I suspect that they may be a little less contrtived, as the author ... Read review

Advantages: It was free. Enjoyable to read.
Disadvantages: None

...the week, hence the names, Mister Monday, Grim Tuesday etc and the story takes place over those seven days with each book covering one of those seven days. Mister Monday is all about what takes place on the Monday. I will not go into too much detail because I do not want to spoil it for those who choose to read the book. The piece of the will which was imprisoned by Mister Monday escapes. Arthur, an ordinary boy from the Secondary Realms, knows ...
...that contain great power. Mister Monday is talked into handing his key over to Arthur by Sneezer but then realises he was tricked and decides he wants it back. Throughout the books Arthur has many strange encounters with all kind of creatures and immortal beings. The book is full of all sorts of twists and turns that kept me reading it pretty much non - stop. The end of each book gives you a snippet or taster of the next. Each book costs £5.99 ... Read review

Advantages: Original book, throughly enjoyable. Start of a new series of books.
Disadvantages: Found it difficult to put down! Need to buy the second book now!

...is the strange appearance by Mister Monday and his servant Sneezer. Arthur thinks that he is hallucinating through lack of oxygen when two men appear as if from no-where! One of the men is none other than Mister Monday himself and the other his servant Sneezer. They are in search of somebody who is about to die, and, as luck would have it, they come across Arthur who is suffering from a severe asthma attack and struggling to breathe. Sneezer convinces ...
......And it doesn't take Mister Monday long to realise that he has been tricked into handing over the key....and he will stop at nothing to get it back!!! Nothing! I have only described the first few chapters as to write further would ultimately ruin all the clever twists and turns, and would spoil the very essence of the book. The next book in the series is titled Grim Tuesday, (and there's a taster of the first chapter at the end of this book). ... Read review

Advantages: Interesting storyline, some very original themes
Disadvantages: The series is still unfinished at this time (2007)

...Nix's other books i bought Mister Monday a few days after its release back in 2003. At this point i was 14 and in about the right age group. The fact that 4 years later i have just bought the 5th book in this series shows it it certainly worth a read! The story is rather hard to explain without giving you rather a long review to read so i'll stick to the very basics. The Architect created our world and 'the house' out of nothing. One day the architect ...
...each keep a piece. Mister Monday is the story of an ordinary schoolboy, Arthur Penhaligon. Arthur is not typical Hero material, he's an average schoolboy. Plus he has asthma! When the first part of the will escapes Arthur finds himself dragged into recovering it... There is much more to be explained but the book itself will do that better than me! Mister Monday is the first in a series of seven books collectively known as The Keys to the Kingdom ... Read review

Advantages: Good descriptive languege
Disadvantages: Not a very good cover

Like its sequal grim tuesday, mister monday is an exiting fast paced action book set in our worlds and others. I recommend it to able readers from the age of 10 to 13. The story is based in our world and a world known as the house which came from and stands on nothing. This book is avously fiction but good to read anyway. I also suggest you buy the second of the seven books (Grim tuesday) as it tells more of the tale and concludes the story in the ... Read review