Good-Bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton, 132 pages

"This well-loved novel has delighted millions of readers over several generations, just as schoolmaster Mr. Chips himself delighted generation after generation of students. From his auspicious first day of teaching at Brookfield to his two retirements, a tragic April Fools' Day, his famous and classic jokes, and then finall to his quiet farewell, Good-Bye, Mr. Chips is a beloved classic that will bring a tear to your eye and a lump to your throat. Above all, this masterful book shows you the life of this marvelous man, and makes you wish there were a Mr. Chips in your life." -Back Cover

This is a very quick read but three things stuck out to me.

1. The influence of a woman - I thought Katherine was like a burst of sunshine for Mr. Chips. She had such a vivacious personality leaving her mark on everything she touched. She came into his life unexpectedly and left it unexpectedly, but their love and influence lasted a lifetime.
2. The influence of a good teacher - My dad is a teacher and so I couldn't help but think about him as I read this. Let's face it, teachers are the greatest people on the earth. They are selfless individuals (their pay is crap!) who have a love of learning and a desire to share that with others. I think my daughter's third grade teacher is her Mr. Chips. He's taught her so much. Some teachers stay with you for the rest of your life and I can see how Mr. Chips would have been that kind of teacher. I love Mr. Chips' Latin lesson during the bombing and his witty sense of humor. I also loved how he enjoyed his own sense of humor.
3. Reminiscing - My husband runs a retirement community and whenever I stop in to visit I almost always talk with the residents. They are so quick to share their memories. For some of them that is where they live. Mr. Chips had so many wonderful memories and I got a little choked up at the end of the book when he talked about all of his children - all boys.

Inkspell by Cornelia Funke, 635 pages

"A year has passed, but not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of Inkheart, the book whose characters came to life. For the fire-eater Dustfinger, the need to return to the tale has become desperate. When he finds a crooked storyteller to read him back, he abandons his apprentice Farid and plunges into the pages. Before long, Farid and Meggie are caught inside the book, too. But the story is much changed - and threatening to end tragically." -Back Cover

I think Cornelia Funke is a fabulous storyteller and I love the imagery and language she uses in this trilogy. I also love the new dimensions to Fenoglio's character, the author of Inkheart. In this book he starts to see that the characters he created have taken on lives and actions of their own and he can't control them. He becomes desperate, and slightly crazy, in his attempt to rein in his story.

I also love the allure that the world of Inkheart holds for all the characters, both those who come from the story and those who are drawn to it. You can't help but wonder yourself what it would be like to go there. This second book leaves you right in the thick of things, with the fate of several characters yet to be decided.