Just wanted to let you know that your Ifflepinn CD is an absolute hit with our
gang of (3 - 4 year old) children who listen to it every night. By the time you
see them again they will know it by heart and will be ready for the next
installment!!!Frances Yates (Grandmother)
I like it because it was an easy bedtime story and was suitable for any age. My
favourite character was Grubbin Hawkweed. I like him because he was always
feeling like nobody liked him. I thought it was great!
Isolde Roche (age 9)
“I love this book! Muz’s unique style, perhaps slightly reminiscent of Tolkien,
but with a lighter touch, makes it a joy to read or listen to. To children, it
is just another lovely, if special, fairy story; but to the adult mind it is
full of meaning and mystery.
Each time I read it, I find something I missed or forgot before. This is a great
book to be read from early childhood to the depths of old age — unputdownable!”
Andrew Holland (age 13)
“This is a book of a type I wish we could find more often! The hero always falls
into trouble through his own doing, but nobody thinks any ill of him for it,
because what he does through his trouble is too interesting! It is truly a book
for all ages, a basic story for small children, and an enchanting glimpse of
higher things for those who are aware.
A magical and timeless book; surely one in a million.”
Joanna Coston (age 14)
“Ifflepinn Island is a joy; heart-warming, exciting, page turning, thought
provoking, believable and lovable. Muz’s descriptions make the characters and
their surroundings leap out of the pages into your imagination and take up
residence in your mind! You can’t wait to find out what the next chapter will
have in store, but at the same time you don’t want it to end—fabulous!
Karen Stewart (age 48) (Yoga teacher, Personal Fitness Trainer, mum and grandma)
“Anyone reading this book will be spellbound by the story of Iffleplum, and
all the diverse
characters that join him in this adventure story. Muz has a rare gift of
bringing them all to life with his detailed descriptions. He weaves both pathos
and humour into the story. I especially liked encountering the Froaks and
Eavesdroppers, Ifflepaw and Mumkin, Grubbin Hawkweed,
Fluffykins (the lisping wolf), and even the ghastly Gropes!
“Iffleplum tries desperately to regain his elusive elfin-heart, which he lost
through seeking
wild adventure. Each chapter ends with a real cliff-hanger, and we are left in a
state of suspense
wondering what can possibly happen to him next! But this book is more than just
a gripping
adventure story. Profound spiritual truths are cleverly revealed as the story
unfolds.
Will Iffleplum ever catch his elfin-heart, and will he return home safely to
Merryvale?”
Shirley Robson (Herbalist)
“I don’t normally care for fairy stories. At first I thought it rather twee, but
as I got into it, I read the whole thing in one sitting. It’s brilliant! The
poetry of the language, the wordplay, the humour! I enjoyed it immensely —
especially the philosophical bits. I really liked the concept that we all create
what comes to us. It’s very publishable!”
Colin Wilson (The Outsider Author and Philosopher, age 75)
“I have had the pleasure of hearing the author, Muz Murray reading some of the
chapters in character, which was gripping and delightful. It is an all embracing
story that covers time, space, age and taste. There are passages resembling
elements from C. S. Lewis chronicles, and Tolkien and Tolstoy epic masterpieces.
“It is a creation that becomes part of your life, which you want to hear more
of, but do not want to end. A fantasy book for all ages, with many pointers for
our daily perception on life. I look forward to hearing more and would recommend
it to children and adults alike. “I do sincerely hope that it is published so
that I can reread for myself and to others.”
Bobby Black (age 56 years, Freight forwarding / Transport Logistics)
“I greatly enjoyed Ifflepinn Island. It was very exciting, with lots of
cliffhangers. Kids or adults would love reading it. A story with depth and
meaning. I can’t recommend it enough.
Barbara Parkinson, Essex.
“Why I love Ifflepinn Island—the story grabbed me from the start with the very
engaging and questioning character of Iffleplum. The descriptions of all the
characters are very detailed and easily came to life in my mind. I could
instantly relate to Iffleplum’s need for adventure and knowledge. After the
sorrow of losing his elfin heart, the quest he then enters into feels (at my
age) like this is the real business of life: it is easy when we are young, bold
or downhearted, to get lost in the world only to spend the rest of our lives
seeking our happy hearts. I would have loved this as a child and, who knows, it
just may have made me think twice about some of the things I did. I love this
story, I love the way Muz tells it and shall never tire of hearing it. And of
course I would love to see a book with illustrations.”
Jayne Morrisey (Age 41 and a bit)(Yoga Teacher & Recording Artist)
“This is a truly magical book, written for readers of all ages. I am now 74
and I LOVE it and am constantly finding new concepts and lessons in it. One of
the things I most love is that it brings back all the wonder and delight of
childhood and, listening to or reading it, I find I am a child again and in that
wonderful world of magic and make-believe. But the real secret is that it holds
important teachings about Life and Love and each person's Soul Journey. Every
single reader will find many aspects which he or she can relate to and refer to
time and time again. It is written by a man with HEART - for Old and Young
alike, men, women and children with HEART!
“I would love to see it as an animated Film - but it would need someone
special to produce it!”
Lucille Bartholomew (74, Retired)
“What makes a good fairy story? Adventures, plenty of excitement,
cliff-hanger endings; some frightening situations that turn out all right in the
end; some scary baddies who are vanquished. It also needs a central character
who is engaging, energetic and not-too-perfect – someone we can identify with;
and (since fairy stories are for grown-ups too) an idyllic world where we can
eat six hearty meals a day without a trace of guilt!
“Ifflepinn Island has all of these, and more; and Muz Murray writes with an eye
for detail that makes you feel you are right there, in the thick of the action
as Iffleplum (our hero) gets into a fight over a cake, or is part of the
organised chaos as the crew of a very special boat haul in a teeming catch, not
of fish, but of elfin-hearts…
“As in all the best fairytales, there is a deeper message that is apparent but
not laboured, and gives the story a meaning and consistency which resonates in
the soul and makes you want to immerse yourself in the story again and again.
This is a story which works on many different levels, giving pleasure to
children of all ages (as the saying goes), and leaves a warmth in the heart.”
Richard Comley (Librarian)
“Reading Iffleplum Island by Muz Murray, I was entranced and transported to a
land that is not only magical, but mystical. The book is full of words of wisdom
that touched my heart and rang with truth: truth that is woven around an
ingenious and original story pregnant with humour and excitement. I would highly
recommend this book to spiritual seekers and children of all ages from 5 years
old to 105 years old.”
Tarananda Osborne, Isle of Wight (age 53) (Artist & Photographer)
“This is a tale with a likeable hero, tales of derring-do, told with humour. The
story leads you along through the many adventures of Iffleplum as he undertakes
his quest. You laugh with him, cry with him, gasp at what seem impossible tasks.
There are cliffhangers which make you wonder if he will manage to carry on, if
he will survive. Iffleplum surmounts them all—even when he doesn’t quite know
how. Each time I can’t wait to discover what happens next.
“As a fan of fantasy and someone who has read widely in the genre I have found
this tale to be up there with the best of them. What is more I have tried it
with my children and grandchildren who age from 6 yrs to 18 yrs and they all
loved it and found something in the tale for them. This is its strength – it is
well written and has messages for adults, while having appeal for children. It
is a tale you can revisit time and again and always find something new. I
recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read.”
Mary Kersey (Wales)
“Muz Murray’s story of Ifflepinn Island is a joy to the spirit. Each time I
listen to him retelling the story, the obvious love he has for all the
characters, and the esoteric meaning that oozes from paragraph to paragraph
cannot help but touch ones soul.
“This story is an enchanting, magical journey, leading to the core of ones
own BEING if one has the ears to hear and the eyes to see. Couched in humour and
with touching little extras like Iffleplum’s nose changing colour with his
emotions/feelings and Fluffruff—the frightened vegetarian wolf with a
lisp—brilliant!
“It touches the child within me. I’m 53 but when I listen to the story, I
feel like an awed 6-yr old again: it’s magical. How I wish I had been introduced
to Ifflepinn Island as child instead of ‘Five Go to Smugglers Cove’ (Enid
Blighton); still, better late than never.”
Mirabai Huntley (age 53)(Carer/Psychotherapist)
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