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The Belgariad/The Mallorean - David Eddings
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Do you think these are suitable for a 10 year old?
I ask because I have read them and I am not sure.
He has the ability to read them but it's the subject matter that bothers me. Some of the violence is gory with someone being burnt to death (with sorcery) as he begs for mercy and the general themes seem a little adult I think they would be fine in a couple of years but just not yet am I being over sensitive?
I ask because I have read them and I am not sure.
He has the ability to read them but it's the subject matter that bothers me. Some of the violence is gory with someone being burnt to death (with sorcery) as he begs for mercy and the general themes seem a little adult I think they would be fine in a couple of years but just not yet am I being over sensitive?
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Let him try them ... he may not enjoy them anyway !
OK so some of the themes are a bit adult, then again some of the stuff in Harry Potter is as well, and I suspect you would let him read those. I was busy working my way through every Alan Garner book I could lay my hands on at his age, and they come complete with adult themes too.
All children are different, and if he isn't ready for what is in those books he'll stop reading them.
OK so some of the themes are a bit adult, then again some of the stuff in Harry Potter is as well, and I suspect you would let him read those. I was busy working my way through every Alan Garner book I could lay my hands on at his age, and they come complete with adult themes too.
All children are different, and if he isn't ready for what is in those books he'll stop reading them.
No, you aren't being over protective. The Eddings books are a bit more adult than Harry Potter. However I suspect, given the amount of pure descriptive text which doesn't move the story along very quickly, that he will get bored with them of his own accord.
If you want some books with a perky storyline and some magic, and which are closer to his age group, have a look at some of the Garth Nix books. There is one series which starts with Mister Monday and works it's way through the week (the Sunday book should be out later this year, and yes I have been reading them - I might just grow up one day).
Another author you might want to try him on is Diana Wynne Jones. Good stories with some magic and multiple universes ... her book, Howell's Moving Castle, was made into an animated film a few years ago and still gets watched here fairly regularly, partly because of the story, partly because the animation is great.
Another good one, which came out a few years ago (OK more than a few years ago), is Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea. Doesn't move along as fast as the Garth Nix series, but it is a good read.
Save the Alan Garner stuff for another couple of years ... my oldest lass enjoyed them when I read a couple of them as bedtime stories (she was 10 or 11 at the time, and yes I did get told off by the boss lady, who thought they were scary).
Other slightly scary books I enjoyed were Something Wicked This Way Comes and The Halloween Tree, both by Ray Bradbury. You are unlikely to find those two in the shops, but there seem to be some copies of both available through Amazon.
If you want something a bit more classic, try Tom's Midnight Garden, which has a slight twist on time travel.
If you want some books with a perky storyline and some magic, and which are closer to his age group, have a look at some of the Garth Nix books. There is one series which starts with Mister Monday and works it's way through the week (the Sunday book should be out later this year, and yes I have been reading them - I might just grow up one day).
Another author you might want to try him on is Diana Wynne Jones. Good stories with some magic and multiple universes ... her book, Howell's Moving Castle, was made into an animated film a few years ago and still gets watched here fairly regularly, partly because of the story, partly because the animation is great.
Another good one, which came out a few years ago (OK more than a few years ago), is Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea. Doesn't move along as fast as the Garth Nix series, but it is a good read.
Save the Alan Garner stuff for another couple of years ... my oldest lass enjoyed them when I read a couple of them as bedtime stories (she was 10 or 11 at the time, and yes I did get told off by the boss lady, who thought they were scary).
Other slightly scary books I enjoyed were Something Wicked This Way Comes and The Halloween Tree, both by Ray Bradbury. You are unlikely to find those two in the shops, but there seem to be some copies of both available through Amazon.
If you want something a bit more classic, try Tom's Midnight Garden, which has a slight twist on time travel.
Thank you Huderon such a great answer and gives me lots of new reading material ideas for him. It's great he loves reading so much so I'm grateful you have helped me find more I can feed him!
He has read one of the Belgariad now and seemed to like it, but I do think he may have skimmed some of the more descriptive parts as he finished it very quickly!
He has read one of the Belgariad now and seemed to like it, but I do think he may have skimmed some of the more descriptive parts as he finished it very quickly!
Unless your lad is doing what I used to do, and spending half the night reading by torclight in bed, I'd say he did a fair bit of skimming :-)
So, s few more authors you might want to have a look at.
Michael Morpurgo - very good stories, well written, and sometimes based on fact.
Terry Pratchett has written some books for younger readers - very quirky sense of humour, but again good stories, and to be honest, I'd say even the Discworld series would be suitable, though he's probably miss a lot of the humour.
Roald Dahl. hmmm ... To be honest I don't actually like his books, but my youngest lass really enjoyed a lot of them (the oldest one isn't much of a reader, more's the pity).
John Wyndham - specifically Chocky which would be suitable for his age, and is sci-fi. Others by him, Day of the Triffids, The Chrysalids, The Midwich Cuckoos aren't really suitable for his age.
If he enjoys a bit of fantasy and sci-fi, Ursula Le Guin has written some books aimed at younger readers. I can't comment on them as I've never read them myself.
Finally, and very classic now, how about the Narnia books ? Yes, there is a religious bias in them, and he may not like the writing style very much, but one never knows.
It may also be worth keeping an eye on the schedules for BBC Radio 7 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio7/). They have broadcast adaptations of several Terry Pratchett books (look at the sci-fi stuff which is broadcast at 6pm), some of Wyndham's books, Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, as well as a couple of John Masefield's books for children (The Box of Delights springs to mind). Also check out the weekend broadcasts, especially during the main school holidays where they sometimes have radio adaptations specifically aimed at children.
Now, that should keep yhim (and yo
So, s few more authors you might want to have a look at.
Michael Morpurgo - very good stories, well written, and sometimes based on fact.
Terry Pratchett has written some books for younger readers - very quirky sense of humour, but again good stories, and to be honest, I'd say even the Discworld series would be suitable, though he's probably miss a lot of the humour.
Roald Dahl. hmmm ... To be honest I don't actually like his books, but my youngest lass really enjoyed a lot of them (the oldest one isn't much of a reader, more's the pity).
John Wyndham - specifically Chocky which would be suitable for his age, and is sci-fi. Others by him, Day of the Triffids, The Chrysalids, The Midwich Cuckoos aren't really suitable for his age.
If he enjoys a bit of fantasy and sci-fi, Ursula Le Guin has written some books aimed at younger readers. I can't comment on them as I've never read them myself.
Finally, and very classic now, how about the Narnia books ? Yes, there is a religious bias in them, and he may not like the writing style very much, but one never knows.
It may also be worth keeping an eye on the schedules for BBC Radio 7 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio7/). They have broadcast adaptations of several Terry Pratchett books (look at the sci-fi stuff which is broadcast at 6pm), some of Wyndham's books, Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, as well as a couple of John Masefield's books for children (The Box of Delights springs to mind). Also check out the weekend broadcasts, especially during the main school holidays where they sometimes have radio adaptations specifically aimed at children.
Now, that should keep yhim (and yo
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