The
Haunting of Barney Thomson by Douglas Lindsay
Nigel has reviewed The
Haunting of Barney Thomson by Douglas Lindsay. As
Barney Thomson is closing up the barbershop for the
night, an old man enters looking for a Cary Grant cut
and a bit of a chat. The following day, Barney discovers
that his late night customer was the captain of a fishing
trawler which had been found mysteriously abandoned
on the Clyde over one hundred years previously. In a
sinister echo of that old legend, that morning a trawler
is found drifting in a flat calm just off the island.
Of the three trawlermen known to have been on board
the Bitter Wind, one is found dead on the vessel, two
are missing... more»»
Nigel
22nd December 2007 [9/10] |
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Nadine has sent in a review for Stardust
by Neil Gaiman. In the sleepy English countryside at
the dawn of the Victorian era, life moves at a leisurely
pace in the tiny town of Wall. Young Tristan Thorn has
lost his heart to the beautiful Victoria Forester, but
Victoria is cold and distant as the star she and Tristan
see fall from the sky one evening. For the prize of
Victoria's hand, Tristan vows to retrieve the star for
his beloved. It is an oath that sends the lovelorn swain
over the town's ancient wall and into a world that is
dangerous and strange beyond imagining... more»»
Nadine
22nd December 2007 [9/10] |
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Chrissi has reviewed Let
the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Oskar
is a 12 year old boy living with his mother on a dreary
housing estate at the city's edge. He dreams about his
absentee father, gets bullied at school, and wets himself
when he's frightened. Eli is the young girl who moves
in next door. She doesn't go to school and never leaves
the flat by day. She is a 200 year old vampire, forever
frozen in childhood, and condemned to live on a diet
of fresh blood... more»»
Chrissi
18th December 2007 [7/10] |
Who's
Watching You? by Mick Farren and John Gibb
Paul has sent in a review for Who's
Watching You? by John Gibb. In this present age
of sophisticated technology, governments and their agencies
have the capabilities to track citizens not only on
the street (CCTV surveillance equipment is everywhere)
but also in the 'privacy' of our homes (we leave a footprint
whenever we use the Internet). Governments maintain
this level of interference is for our own safety but
many worry that the menace of 'Big Brother' as depicted
by George Orwell is fast becoming reality. This book
analyses the fragmentation of civil liberties in the
'Free West'... more»»
Paul
Lappen 18th December 2007
[8/10] |
Who's
Watching You? by Mick Farren and John Gibb
Paul has also sent in a review for US Edition of Who's
Watching You? by John Gibb, co-written with Mick
Farren. The threat of terrorism and the corresponding
climate of fear encouraged by the government have together
eroded our freedom to live our lives in peace and quiet
away from the prying eyes of hidden cameras. The government
is tightening its grip on us by watching and recording
what we do. They are doing this because they know they
can and because knowledge is power. But exactly who
are "they" and why do they want to know so
much about us? This book includes chilling, accurate,
and up-to-date descriptions of the methods the government
use to watch us... more»»
Paul
Lappen 18th December 2007
[9/10] |
Into
a Dark Realm by Raymond E. Feist
Jessica has sent in a review for Into
a Dark Realm by Raymond E. Feist. Chaos threatens
to overwhelm two worlds as the most dangerous force
ever encountered threatens to invade Midkemia, while
the most treacherous magician in history -the madman
Leso Varen -begins to wreak havoc on the world of Kelewan.
Pug and the Conclave of Shadows are determined to find
Varen, only to discover that he has usurped the body
of one of the most powerful men in the Empire of Tsuranuani...
more»»
Win
a copy of this book here.
Jessica
16th December 2007 [7/10] |
The End of Mr Y by Scarlett Thomas
Chrissi has reviewed The
End of Mr Y by Scarlett Thomas. When Ariel Manto
uncovers a copy of The
End of Mr Y in a second-hand bookshop, she can't
believe her eyes. She's read about its author before,
the outlandish Victorian scientist Thomas Lumas, and
this is his most notorious, and rarest, book. It is
also believed to hold a curse. Anyone who's ever read
it, including Lumas, has disappeared without trace.
With Mr Y under her arm, Ariel is thrust into an adventure
of love, sex, death and time-travel... more»»
Chrissi
16th December 2007 [7/10] |
Bonfire
of the Brands by Neil Boorman
Jessica has also sent in a review for Bonfire
of the Brands by Neil Boorman. What do you do when
you wake up and realise that your life has been an empty
pursuit of the superficial and the trend-driven? That
your identity and value systems are based upon a brand
hierarchy of your own creation? You take a stand. You
burn them. Burn them all! On 17th September 2006, in
Finsbury Square, East London, Neil Boorman did just
that. The ones that wouldn't burn, or that he couldn't
burn, he destroyed with a sledgehammer. The event was
the culmination of a long process of self-examination,
and of the brand-dominated world in which we live...
more»»
Jessica
16th December 2007 [9/10] |
The
Softwire: Virus On Orbis 1 by P J Haarsma
Denise Gary has kindly sent in a review for The
Softwire: Virus On Orbis 1 by P J Haarsma. When
the children on the seed ship, Renaissance, are orphaned
in outer space, thirteen-year-old JT and his sister
Ketheria are forced to work as knudniks on the Rings
of Orbis. Instead of beginning the new and better life
he had hoped for, JT and his sister spend their days
sifting through trash for their new Guarantor. But JT
soon discovers that he is the first human Softwire -
he has a special gift that allows him to enter any computer
with his mind... more»»
Denise Gary
16th December 2007 [9/10]
|
Green
Eyes by Andrew O'Hare
Alex (2) has sent in his review for Green
Eyes by Andrew O'Hare. Set against the violence
and unrest of Northern Ireland in the 1980's this is
an adult story centring on the relationship between
Shaun and Harry. One is Catholic, the other Protestant.
Both have black sheep in their families who violently
oppose their having anything to do with each other.
As they struggle with growing up “different”
in an unforgiving culture, the tension mounts - and
tragedy ensues... more»»
Alex(2)
16th December 2007 [9/10]
|
Marley and Me by John Grogan
Chrissi has reviewed Marley
and Me by John Grogan. John and Jenny were just
beginning their life together. They were young and in
love, with a perfect little house and not a care in
the world. Then they bought home Marley, a wiggly yellow
fur ball of a puppy. Life would never be the same. Marley
quickly grew into a barrelling, ninety-seven pound steamroller
of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed
through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung
drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate
nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including
couches and fine jewellery... more»»
Chrissi
24th November 2007 [9/10] |
And
the Angel with Television Eyes by John Shirley
Paul has sent in a review for And
the Angel with Television Eyes by John Shirley.
This surreal journey of self-discovery and transformation
at once questions the nature of our world, and redefines
it in the context of 21st century pop culture and technology.
It takes a writer of John Shirley's talent and audacity
to bring together elements as disparate as Shakespeare,
Nietzsche, on-line role playing games, soap operas,
and classic mythology - binding them together, creating
a heady melange on, above, and below the streets of
Manhattan... more»»
Paul
Lappen 19th November 2007
[9/10] |
The
OOBE File by Harry Highstreet
Paul has also sent in a review for The
OOBE File by Harry Highstreet. Slightly above your
comfort zone, there exists a higher level of awareness.
It is often described as dreaming. Others prefer to
call it astral projection. And there are those who use
the phrase out-of-body experience. No matter which label
you choose, it will not alter the fact that you have
been there. And you will continue to go there every
time your physical body seeks renewal using what we
refer to as sleep. There is no need to be frightened.
There is no danger. Dream on, if you wish. Or join one
of those who chose the phrase out-of-body experience...
more»»
Paul
Lappen 19th November 2007
[8/10] |
Hunter's Run by George R. R. Martin, Gardner Dozois
and Daniel Abraham
Chrissi has reviewed Hunter's
Run by George R. R. Martin, Gardner Dozois and Daniel
Abraham. Ramon Espejo awoke floating in a sea of darkness.
For a moment, he was relaxed and mindless, drifting
peacefully, and then his identity returned to him lazily,
like an unwanted afterthought. He was Ramon Espejo.
He was working on a prospecting contract out of Nuevo
Janeiro. He was ... he was ... Ramon Espejo. From a
dream-team of writers comes a powerful tale of betrayal,
trickery and sheer human grit. Hunter's
Run is surely destined to join the great classics
of modern imaginative fiction... more»»
Win
a copy of this book here.
Chrissi
28th October 2007 [7/10] |
Spirit
and Fire by Sue Hampton
Jessica has sent in a review for Spirit
and Fire by Sue Hampton. It is AD 60 and a young
Celtic girl is caught in the crossfire of Roman Britain
at war. Aifa is a thinker whose quietness and fears
inspire her warrior father to call her Mouse. But when
she is captured and sold as a slave to a Roman household
in Londinium, she learns unexpected courage. Her new
life is alien, cruel and unjust, and the favour she
finds with her high-born mistress breeds resentment
among her fellow slaves. As she faces bullying, humiliation
and many dangers, her faith in the goddess Epona sustains
her. This is an action adventure with depth and heart...
more»»
Jessica
28th October 2007 [7/10] |
The
Last Fish Supper by Douglas Lindsay
Nigel has reviewed The
Last Fish Supper by Douglas Lindsay. Barney Thomson
is a restless soul in search of a quiet town in which
to settle. He thinks he might just have found it in
Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae and life can at last
bring him some peace. Or, at least, it might have done,
but for the dead body at the bottom of the stairs, the
ghost tormented for all time to go to the bathroom,
the evil Chinese businessman, the disturbing package
in the freezer, the mysterious cathedral, Barney's deaf,
mute, hunchbacked assistant, the ancient society protecting
a 2,000 year-old secret, the Vatican spies... more»»
Nigel
14th October 2007 [8/10] |
Atonement
by Ian McEwan
Jessica has sent in a review for Atonement
by Ian McEwan. On the hottest day of the summer of 1934,
thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis sees her sister Cecilia
strip off her clothes and plunge into the fountain in
the garden of their country house. Watching her is Robbie
Turner, her childhood friend who, like Cecilia, has
recently come down from Cambridge. By the end of that
day, the lives of all three will have been changed for
ever. Robbie and Cecilia will have crossed a boundary
they had not even imagined at its start, and will have
become victims of the younger girl's imagination...
more»»
Jessica
14th October 2007 [9/10] |
Restless
by William Boyd
Philip Spires has sent in a review for Restless
by William Boyd. It is 1939. Eva Delectorskaya is a
beautiful 28-year-old Russian emigree living in Paris.
As war breaks out she is recruited for the British Secret
Service by Lucas Romer, a mysterious Englishman, and
under his tutelage she learns to become the perfect
spy, to mask her emotions and trust no one, including
those she loves most. Since the war, Eva has carefully
rebuilt her life as a typically English wife and mother.
But once a spy, always a spy. Now she must complete
one final assignment, and this time Eva can't do it
alone: she needs her daughter's help... more»»
Philip
Spires 14th October 2007
[9/10] |
Half
of a Yellow Sun by Chimanada Ngozi Adichie
Philip Spires has also sent in a review for Half
of a Yellow Sun by Chimanada Ngozi Adichie. Set
in Nigeria during the 1960s, at the time of a vicious
civil war in which a million people died and thousands
were massacred in cold blood. The three main characters
in the novel are swept up in the violence during these
turbulent years. One is a young boy from a poor village
who is employed at a university lecturer's house. The
other is a young middle-class woman, Olanna, who has
to confront the reality of the massacre of her relatives.
And the third is a white man, a writer who lives in
Nigeria for no clear reason, and who falls in love with
Olanna's twin sister... more»»
Philip
Spires 14th October 2007
[7/10] |
Runemarks
by Joanne Harris
Chrissi has reviewed Runemarks
by Joanne Harris Seven o'clock, on a Monday morning,
five hundred years after the end of the world, and goblins
had been at the cellar again... Maddy Smith was born
with a rusty-coloured ruinmark on her hand - a symbol
of the old gods and definitely cause for suspicion.
For magic is dangerous. Or so everyone thinks. But Maddy
enjoys working magic. Even if it is just to control
some pesky goblins. And every time her friend, One-Eye
- a good-for-nowt Outlander - comes by, he teaches her
more and more about the gods and the runes.... more»»
Chrissi
30th September 2007 [8/10] |
A
Thief in the House of Memory by Tim Wynne-Jones
Jessica has sent in a review for A
Thief in the House of Memory by Tim Wynne-Jones.
Dec hasn't seen his mother for six years. Having moved
into a new home with his father, Dec rarely visits the
old family home, until one day he makes a horrific discovery
there - a man crushed to death in the hall. Was it an
accident or is it more than a coincidence that Dec recognizes
the would-be thief? Suddenly the house is alive with
memories, prompting Dec to investigate the past and
piece together the puzzle.... more»»
Jessica
30th September 2007 [8/10] |
Traveling
with the Saints in Italy by Lucinda Vardey
Julie Falkner has sent in a review for Traveling
with the Saints in Italy by Lucinda Vardey, a travel
guide with a difference. Pilgrimages have long been
a vital part of Italy's heritage. Yet visiting its sacred
sites seems an overwhelming challenge for the modern
traveller: what to see, where to go, how much time to
spend in each place? Lucinda Vardey provides solutions
and guidance. In recognizing the genius of many of Italy's
well-known - and some lesser-known - saints, she offers
ten pilgrimages (to all parts of the country), for one
or two days or a week, in a unique format of biography
of early masters... more»»
Julie
Falkner 30th September 2007
[8/10] |
Pink
Champagne and Apple Juice by Anne Brooke
Sue has sent in a review for Pink
Champagne and Apple Juice by Anne Brooke. The novel
is a comedy about Angie, a young woman who runs away
from her home in the Essex countryside to get to grips
with her dream of running a café in London. Before she
can achieve her ambition, she must overcome the problems
posed by criminal relatives, a sexy French waiter and
an obstinate German chef...
more»»
Sue 30th
September 2007 [9/10] |
The
Softwire: Virus On Orbis 1 by P J Haarsma
Susanne and Debbie have sent in separate reviews from
for the same book The
Softwire: Virus On Orbis 1 by P J Haarsma. When
the children on the seed ship, Renaissance, are orphaned
in outer space, thirteen-year-old JT and his sister
Ketheria are forced to work as knudniks on the Rings
of Orbis. Instead of beginning the new and better life
he had hoped for, JT and his sister spend their days
sifting through trash for their new Guarantor. But JT
soon discovers that he is the first human Softwire -
he has a special gift that allows him to enter any computer
with his mind... more»»
Susanne 30th
September 2007 [9/10]
Debbie
30th September 2007
[9/10]
|
The
Storms of Acias by Dominic Took
Richard has kindly sent in his review for The
Storms of Acias by Dominic Took. A violent Storm
hits the castle where Graciou lives with his father
and his extended family. After becoming separated from
his father because of The Storm, Graciou now finds himself
in his eighteenth year, wanting to answer so many questions
that have haunted him since that day. Meanwhile The
Storm works to unravel itself against him, as Graciou
is exiled from his place of safety and journeys to understand
what happened... more»»
Richard Swancott 30th
September 2007 [5/10] |
Silver
Squirrel by Daniel Ritchie
Jessica has sent in a review for Silver
Squirrel by Daniel Ritchie. Silver
Squirrel knows he's different. He is drawn to Sandy
Brown, a seemingly gentle, quirky young female, but
he's not comfortable in the squirrel colony where she
lives. Silver likes the birds too. Is that normal for
a prime and healthy young squirrel? Silver doubts it,
but that doesn't stop him from befriending two crows....
more»»
Jessica
26th August 2007 [8/10] |
Renegade's
Magic by Robin Hobb
Chrissi has reviewed the final book in The Soldier Sun
trilogy, Renegade's
Magic, by Robin Hobb. The people of Getty's town
remember the death of their cemetery soldier vividly.
They remember believing him guilty of unspeakable crimes,
condemning him, and then watching as other men of his
unit beat him until he no longer drew breath. But Nevare
Burvelle didn't die that day, though everyone believes
they saw it happen. He was cornered by a power far more
intractable than an angry mob... more»»
Win
a copy of this book here.
Chrissi
4th August 2007 [7/10] |
Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling
Chrissi has reviewed Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling, almost
before at least 120 other people on Amazon :). Harry
is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix
is coming to escort him safely away without Voldermort
and his supporters knowing – if they can. But what will
Harry do then? How can he fulfil the momentous and seemingly
impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him...
more»»
Chrissi
23rd July 2007 [9/10]
To try and catch up with the
169 reviews on Amazon.co.uk since release Nigel has
added his thoughts on Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows, having only just
been pipped to the post by Chrissi... more»»
Nigel
24th July 2007
[9/10] |
Skaters,
Trekkies and Cool Dudes by Derek Lawrence
Nigel has reviewed Skaters,
Trekkies and Cool Dudes by Derek Lawrence. When
God and Lucifer go missing and Heaven and Hell start
to descend into chaos, the Joint Darkness & Light
Emergency Committee decides that urgent action is needed.
They send a search party to Earth, comprising an Archangel
and a demon gargoyle accompanied by the outspoken head
of a Heavenly cherub and a three-headed hell-hound.
Their mission is to find their respective leaders and
bring them home... more»»
Nigel
17th July 2007 [8/10] |
Circle
of Assassins by Steven Rigolosi
Chrissi has reviewed Circle
of Assassins by Steven Rigolosi. Five desperate
strangers answer an ad that promises to help them eliminate
an unwanted person from their life. A criminal mastermind
named “A” makes each of them a provocative offer: Murder
a complete stranger chosen by a fellow assassin, and
in return have a stranger murder your chosen target.
How many will accept A's offer to join the circle of
assassins? Which of the killers will succeed in their
plot? Who is A, and will he or she end up dead or alive...
more»»
Chrissi
17th July 2007 [8/10] |
Operation:
Pleiades - Relics by Vijaya Schartz
First in a small author special Jessica has sent in
her review for Operation:
Pleiades - Relics by Vijaya Schartz. When archaeologist
Celene Dupres is called to an alien ship crash site
and witnesses her father's massacre, little does she
know that inside her DNA sleeps a trigger implanted
by aliens when she was abducted as a child. Determined
to avenge her father's murder and retrieve his alien
relics, Celene meets the dangerously handsome Kin Raidon
who offers to help, and leads her into a world of international
intrigue... more»»
Jessica
17th July 2007 [7/10] |
The
Garrison Lockdown by Vijaya Schartz
Secondly, Jessica has reviewed The
Garrison Lockdown by Vijaya Schartz. The year is
3033, the place Zurin Five, a moon-size mining planet
in the Andromeda Galaxy with an underground high security
prison run by a human corporation. An artist at heart,
Rhonda Alendresis never wanted this prison job. When
the civilian personnel vanish and an earthquake damages
the nuclear reactor, she must go down to affect the
repairs with Mr. Perfect himself, Captain Cole Riggeur,
who always plays by the rules and never trusted a woman
in his life... more»»
Jessica
17th July 2007 [6/10] |
White
Tiger by Vijaya Schartz
Lastly, we have White
Tiger by Vijaya Schartz. On a winter planet, where
civilization began again from the survivors of a crash
landing, the human race thrives in a medieval stage
of development, while an advanced galactic race, worshiped
as gods in the temple, dictates the rules. Tora, human
warrior, learned to fight with tigers in childhood.
That's how she earned her nickname, White Tiger. She
wields a valiant blade as an officer in the cavalry.
When her father is murdered, Tora vows to avenge the
old man's death... more»»
Jessica
17th July 2007 [7/10] |
Ender's
Game by Orson Scott Card
Tina has kindly sent in a review for the much debated
Science Fiction Classic Ender's
Game by Orson Scott Card. When humanity is under
threat from an alien race, Ender Wiggin, at the age
of six, leaves his family on Earth to journey to the
Belt. There he enters Battle School, where his life
is strictly disciplined by mind games and computer mock-battles
fought in deadly earnest. Instinct, compassion and genius
make Ender unequalled. But while he trains, the invasion
approaches fast... more»»
Tina 17th
July 2007 [10/10] |
A
Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
Jessica has sent in her review for A
Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon. George Hall doesn't
understand the modern obsession with talking about everything.
'The secret of contentment, George felt, lay in ignoring
many things completely.' Some things in life, however,
cannot be ignored. At fifty-seven, George is settling
down to a comfortable retirement, building a shed in
his garden, reading historical novels, listening to
a bit of light jazz. Then Katie, his tempestuous daughter,
announces that she is getting remarried... more»»
Jessica
12th July 2007 [7/10] |
Inside
the Space Race by Lawrence E. Lamb
Paul has sent in a review for Inside
the Space Race: A Space Surgeon's Diary by Lawrence
E. Lamb. A well documented personal account of one of
the most important periods in American history. Dr.
Lamb gives the reader an inside look at the events,
personalities and clashes among the individuals who
led and developed the program that enabled the United
States to beat the Soviets and send astronauts to the
moon... more»»
Paul
Lappen 24th June 2007
[9/10] |
Out of Patience by Brian Meehl
Molly has sent in a review for Out
of Patience by Brian Meehl. Some folks have skeletons
in their closets. The Waters have toilets. Jake's mortified
by his dad's dream to open the American Toilet Museum.
Toilets have caused enough turmoil in Patience, Kansas.
Patience has been cursed for 129 years, since Jeremiah
Waters installed the first flush toilet. The Dolphin
Deluge Wash-Down Water Closet caused a stink, and since
then Patience has been drying up like a cow pie in August.
Jake wants out of Patience, especially when his dad
gets a relic for his museum, triggering the curse's
last promise... more»»
Molly
Martin 24th June 2007
[9/10] |
Rogues
Gold by John Pilkington
Jessica has reviewed Rogues
Gold by John Pilkington. When boy actor Ben Button's
fellow players are accused of stealing the priceless
Lodovico plate, he sets out to save them from the shadow
of the hangman's noose. Who really stole the plate,
what secret does it hide and how can Ben reveal the
truth? An exciting adventure mystery set in the cut-throat
world of Elizabethan England... more»»
Jessica
24th June 2007 [7/10] |
The
Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
Jessica has added her review for The
Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen. In a rundown house
a woman has been dismembered in an act of carnage that
leaves veteran cops in shock. The last person called
from the dead girl's phone is Dr. Joyce O'Donnell, a
celebrity psychiatrist who's made her name defending
serial murderers. But there are other clues that make
the police wonder if this slaying was part of a Satanic
ritual. Drawn on the wall, in blood, are ancient symbols,
and a mirror-image word in Latin that, translated, says:
I have sinned... more»»
Jessica
1st June 2007 [9/10] |
Vanish
by Tess Gerritsen
Jessica has added her review for Vanish
by Tess Gerritsen. The beautiful woman appears to be
just another corpse in the morgue. But when medical
examiner Maura Isles looks down at the body, she gets
the fright of her life. The corpse opens its eyes. Now
very much alive, the woman is rushed to the hospital,
where she murders a security guard and seizes hostages,
one of whom is the heavily pregnant homicide detective
Jane Rizzoli... more»»
Jessica
12th May 2007 [8/10] |
Catalyst
by Bob Harvey
Paul has sent in a review for Catalyst
by Bob Harvey. A recent transplant to Texas steps from
charred ruins to become the reluctant hero in a place
about to change forever. Experience the joy of pet cohabitation
and the wonder of animal sense perception as a miraculous
stray cat named You Too and his human companions' battle
to develop the first, eco-Homestead, where no people
are allowed without pets... more»»
Paul
Lappen 12th May 2007
[8/10] |
Tato by Kathe Gogolewski
Molly has sent in a review for Tato
by Kathe Gogolewski. A fantasy/adventure for upper elementary
readers, captures children's imaginations by recognizing
their desire to earn the admiration of the adults closest
to them. The story casts Michael Tate, an inventive
and wilful boy, and his bossy older sister, Nicole,
into a strange world filled with mirrors and strange
creatures where they must rescue their parents from
the evil power that rules the realm... more»»
Molly
Martin 12th May 2007
[6/10] |
Your
First Novel by Ann Rittenberg and Laura Whitcomb
Carolyn Howard-Johnson has reviewed Your
First Novel by Ann Rittenberg and Laura Whitcomb.
An author agent team shares the keys to achieving your
dream. This work includes all the start to finish fundamentals
you need to produce and launch a first novel. It offers
readers balanced advice on both writing and publishing
their first novel, from the perspective of a published
author and seasoned agent... more»»
Carolyn
Howard-Johnson 12th May 2007
[9/10] |
Mirror
Mirror by Nancy Butcher
Jessica has reviewed Mirror,
Mirror by Nancy Butcher. This is a lyrical and timeless
story of beauty to die for. When Queen Veda sets up
the Queen's Academy for Girls, the pretty students happily
accept a wonder beauty pill, but Princess Ana is suspicious
and, as a sinister illness sweeps the school, she must
confront the truth to save her friends. Echoes of the
classic fairy tale 'Snow White' are skilfully entwined
with contemporary notions of beauty and acceptance...
more»»
Jessica
12th May 2007 [7/10] |
The
Children of Hurin by J. R. R. Tolkien
Chrissi has reviewed The
Children of Hurin by J. R. R. Tolkien. There are
tales of Middle-earth from times long before The
Lord of the Rings, and the story told in this book
is set in the great country that lay beyond the Grey
Havens in the West: lands where Treebeard once walked,
but which were drowned in the great cataclysm that ended
the First Age of the World.In that remote time Morgoth,
the first Dark Lord, dwelt in the vast fortress of Angband,
the Hells of Iron, in the North; and the tragedy of
Túrin and his sister Nienor unfolded within the shadow
of the fear of Angband and the war waged by Morgoth
against the lands and secret cities of the Elves...
more»»
Win
a copy of this book here.
Chrissi
1st May 2007 [6/10] |
The
Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
Chrissi has reviewed The
Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen. In a rundown house
a woman has been dismembered in an act of carnage that
leaves veteran cops in shock. The last person called
from the dead girl's phone is Dr. Joyce O'Donnell, a
celebrity psychiatrist who's made her name defending
serial murderers. But there are other clues that make
the police wonder if this slaying was part of a Satanic
ritual. Drawn on the wall, in blood, are ancient symbols,
and a mirror-image word in Latin that, translated, says:
I have sinned... more»»
Chrissi
19th April 2007 [8/10] |
Vanish
by Tess Gerritsen
Chrissi has also reviewed Vanish
by Tess Gerritsen. The beautiful woman appears to be
just another corpse in the morgue. But when medical
examiner Maura Isles looks down at the body, she gets
the fright of her life. The corpse opens its eyes. Now
very much alive, the woman is rushed to the hospital,
where she murders a security guard and seizes hostages,
one of whom is the heavily pregnant homicide detective
Jane Rizzoli... more»»
Chrissi
19th April 2007 [8/10] |
A
Dangerous Dress by Julia Holden
Jessica has reviewed A
Dangerous Dress by Julia Holden. There are dresses,
and then there are dangerous dresses… Everyone knows
dresses can be powerful things. For example, Cinderella's
fairy godmother gave her a beautiful dress, which empowered
her to go to the ball, etc. My grandmother's dress is
also powerful, and with all due respect to Cinderella,
it must have given my 19-year-old grandmother powers
that would make a fairy godmother blush... more»»
Jessica
15th April 2007 [8/10] |
The
Lurkers by Charles Butler
Chrissi has reviewed The
Lurkers by Charles Butler. When Verity sees a creepy
semi-visible figure in her house, her brother John tells
her it is a harmless Lurker. But Lurkers feed on human
imagination and this one is using John to become more
solid and independent. When Verity discovers the Lurkers'
secret plan, she must fight to save her brother's mind.
But can she stop them... more»»
Chrissi
9th April 2007 [8/10] |
Chronicles of Prydain: The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
Nadine has kindly sent in a review for The
Book of Three, the first book in the Chronicles
of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander. Taran is desperate
for adventure, something in short supply for a lowly
assistant pig-keeper. When the famous oracular pig Hen
Wen vanishes, Taran begins a perilous quest which demands
all his courage and strength. Accompanied by his larger-than-life
band of followers, including hot-headed Eilonwy and
the disgruntled dwarf Doli, Taran confronts the evil
forces of the Horned King, the witch Achren, and their
army of lifeless cauldron-born warriors... more»»
Nadine
9th April 2007 [8/10] |
You
Can't Cheat an Honest Man by James Walsh
Paul has sent in a review for You
Can't Cheat an Honest Man by James Walsh. This book
takes an investigative look at the reasons why Ponzi
schemes and pyramid frauds are thriving today. It closely
examines why over 100,000 Americans are suckered into
the schemes every year. Using dozens of memorable case
studies, from Charles Ponzi's original scam in the 1920s
to the elaborate New Era philanthropy fraud of the 1990s,
the book scrutinizes the mechanics behind these deceptive
plots... more»»
Paul
Lappen 9th April 2007
[9/10] |
Independence by Dana Fuller Ross
Molly has sent in a review for Independence
by Dana Fuller Ross. Uncivilized, untamed and largely
unknown, the american west was there for the taking
- if they had the determination and the courage to take
it... President Andrew Jackson has reasons for wanting
to push the American frontier further West: the domestic
population was expanding fast... and both Britain and
Russia had technical claims to large tracks of American
soil. His answer? To organize the first wagon train
crossing of the lawless, untamed West... more»»
Molly
Martin 9th April 2007
[9/10] |
Kiss
of Death by Malcolm Rose
Chrissi has also reviewed the Kiss
of Death by Malcolm Rose. Historical facts blend
with ghosts and ancient curses in the latest offering
from acclaimed thriller-writer Malcolm Rose. A school
trip turns into a nightmare when Kim and Wes leave the
plague-village of Eyam with more than they bargained
for, and a stolen artefact wreaks revenge... more»»
Chrissi
9th April 2007 [7/10] |
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Nadine has added her review for one of our Star Books
and all time favourites, Good
Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. According
to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter
- the world's only totally reliable guide to the future
- the world will end on Saturday. Next Saturday, in
fact. Just after tea. A true comedic classic that everyone
should read, especially the Pope... more»»
Nadine
30th March 2007 [9/10] |
The
Space Tourist's Handbook by Eric Anderson and Joshua
Piven
Julie Falkner has kindly sent in a review for The
Space Tourist's Handbook by Eric Anderson and Joshua
Piven. In May 2001, billionaire Dennis Tito made history
as the first "space tourist" he's the guy
who paid $20 million to travel to the International
Space Station. Since that landmark voyage, many others
have followed in his footsteps all courtesy of Space
Adventures, the first travel agency devoted exclusively
to outer space...
more»»
Julie
Falkner 30th March 2007
[8/10] |
Bareback by Kit Whitfield
Nigel has reviewed Kit Whitfield's debut novel Bareback.
Lola Galley is used to doing things she doesn't want.
She certainly doesn't want to be assigned the case of
Richard Ellaway, the man who, under a cold full moon,
mutilated a good friend of hers. But being a bareback,
what she wants and what she gets are seldom the same.
For those born feet-first, life is comfortable, and
one night a month they lock themselves in a secure room
to fur up in peace. Barebacks, trapped in their human
skin and drafted at eighteen into the Department for
the Ongoing Regulation of Lycanthropic Activity, don't
have it so easy. A full moon means patrolling the silent
night in search of transformed citizens breaking the
curfew... more»»
Win
a signed copy of this book here.
Nigel
16th March 2007 [8/10] |
Sebastian
Darke Prince of Fools by Philip Caveney
Chrissi has reviewed Sebastian
Darke Prince of Fools by Philip Caveney. Sebastian
Darke has the world on his narrow shoulders. The son
of a human father and an elvish mother, he is desperately
trying to become the family breadwinner and has taken
on his late father's job - celebrated jester, Prince
of Fools. Trouble is, Sebastian can't tell a joke to
save his life. A hilarious and swashbuckling adventure...
more»»
Chrissi
4th March 2007 [8/10] |
In
Search of Sacred Places by Daniel Taylor
Julie Falkner has kindly sent in a review for In
Search of Sacred Places by Daniel Taylor. Fourteen
hundred years after a handful of Celtic monks withdrew
to tiny islands in the sea, and almost a thousand years
after the last of them disappeared, a steady stream
of modern men and women make the difficult trek to these
isolated places. Why? Why do many
drive long hours and take two ferries to spend a few
hours on Iona? Why do others wait patiently each day
for the sea to retreat so they can cross over to Lindisfarne...
more»»
Julie
Falkner 28th February 2007
[9/10] |
His
Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Nadine has kindly reviewed His
Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. The trilogy astounded
the literary world, reaping high praise from adults
as well as children. The final book in the trilogy,
The Amber Spyglass, was published to great
literary acclaim, earning Pullman a place on the longlist
for the prestigious Booker Prize and pushing the trilogy
toward cult fiction status for both children and adults...
more»»
Nadine
18th February 2007
[9/10] |
Quest
for the Crown by Diana M. Johnson
Paul has sent in a review for Quest
for the Crown by Diana M. Johnson, the final part
of her historical fiction trilogy. Charlemagne's father,
Pepin the Short, yearns to become King of All Franks,
a title the Merovingians have claimed for hundreds of
years. But even should he succeed, how can Pepin fight
his beloved older brother, Carloman, for the crown?
No such scruples hold him from warring with his contentious
younger half-siblings... more»»
Paul
Lappen 18th February 2007
[9/10] |
Bob the Dragon Slayer by Harry E. Gilleland, Jr.
Molly has sent in a review for Bob
the Dragon Slayer by Harry E. Gilleland, Jr. Bob,
a mere peasant lad, sets off to see a dragon that is
terrorizing a village and soon falls in with a wizard
named Stephen. Thereafter, his life is filled with adventures
that involve dragons, knights, damsels in distress,
castles, a fair lady, friendship, true love, an evil
king, civil war, and lawyers. This rollicking tale belongs
not to history but to legend. Written with wit and humour,
this novella will delight readers from teenagers to
octogenarians... more»»
Molly
Martin 18th February 2007
[8/10] |
Pepin's
Bastard by Diana M. Johnson
Paul has sent in a review for Pepin's
Bastard by Diana M. Johnson, the second book in
her historical fiction trilogy. Charlemagne's grandfather,
Charles Martel, is the bastard son of Mayor of the Palace,
Pepin de Gros. Pepin's jealous wife, Plectruda, will
stop at nothing to see Charles dead, thus saving the
power behind the Merovingian throne for her own offspring....
more»»
Paul
Lappen 18th February 2007
[9/10] |
Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J K Rowling
Nadine has kindly reviewed Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J K Rowling. It
is the summer holidays, and one night Harry Potter wakes
up with his scar burning. He has had a strange dream,
one that he can't help worrying about...until a timely
invitation from Ron Weasley arrives: to nothing less
than the Quidditch World Cup... more»»
Nadine
7th February 2007
[9/10] |
Losing
You by Nicci French
Chrissi has reviewed the excellent new thriller, Losing
You, by Nicci French. Nina Landry
is supposed to be taking her two children on a Christmas
holiday today. But the road away from Sandling Island
seems littered with obstacles. Most pressing of all,
her 15-year-old daughter, Charlie, has yet to return
from a night out ...Minute by minute, Nina's unease
builds to worry and then panic. Has Charlie run away?
Or has something more sinister happened to her...
more»»
Chrissi
31st January 2007 [8/10] |
North
Child by Edith Pattou
Helen has kindly reviewed North
Child by Edith Pattou. Rose was born into the world
facing north, and as a north child, superstition says
that she will be a wanderer, travelling far from home.
This prophecy is fulfilled when she is taken on the
back of a white bear to a mysterious empty castle, where
a silent stranger appears to her night after night.
When her curiosity overcomes her, she loses her heart,
and must journey to a land east of the sun and west
of the moon to reclaim it... more»»
Helen
31st January 2007 [8/10] |
Joe
Sails: A Story in Progress by Dick Olenych
Paul has sent in a review for Joe
Sails: A Story in Progress by Dick Olenych. This
humorous Socratic style book helps individuals and organizations
change their core business behaviours through a fictitious
story. With its solid story line and smooth read the
book is an excellent catalyst for change. By being light
and engaging readers associate easily with the characters.
From truckers to teachers all have loved this natural
introspection. It's a wonderfully complete package...
more»»
Paul
Lappen 31st January 2007
[8/10] |
A Memory of Dragons by Annabel & Edgar Johnson
Molly has sent in a review for A
Memory of Dragons by Annabel & Edgar Johnson.
In a large corporation handling the research
and development of military hardware, a young man, suffering
from amnesia, finds himself caught between two groups
- one that wants the West to secede before all its raw
materials are exploited by the East, and another that
wants to preserve the union... more»»
Molly
Martin 31st January 2007
[9/10] |
Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly
Nigel has reviewed Seven
Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly. 4500 years ago,
a magnificent golden capstone sat at the peak of the
Great Pyramid of Giza. It was a source of immense power,
reputedly capable of bestowing upon its holder absolute
global power. But, then it was divided into seven pieces
and hidden, each piece separately, within the seven
greatest structures of the age. Now it's 2006, and the
coming of a rare solar event means it's time to locate
the seven pieces and rebuild the capstone. Everyone
wants it - from the most powerful countries on Earth
to gangs of terrorists ... more»»
Nigel
31st January 2007
[7/10] |
Out
of the Darkness by Ralph Morales, Jr., Ph.D
Denise has reviewed Out
of the Darkness by Ralph Morales, Jr., Ph.D. Do
you suspect that your male child, or a male child you
know, is the victim of the genetic disorder, Klinefelter
Syndrome? If so, do something about it now. Early diagnosis
and treatment can prevent a lifetime of suffering and
torture. Such is my story, where because of ignorance
and fear, my parents chose to hide its reality... more»»
Denise
M. Clark 31st January 2007
[7/10] |
Prince
of the Blood by Raymond E. Feist
Chrissi has reviewed Prince
of the Blood by Raymond E. Feist. Set twenty years
after the events in The Riftwar Saga, Prince
of the Blood follows the adventures that erupt when
a group of powerful nobles attempt to overthrow the
Empress of Kesh, bitterly dividing the court. In the
centre of the conflict are the two princes of Krondor,
Borric and Erland. When Borric escapes
and makes a desperate journey back to the court to warn
of the traitor's plans - which if they were to succeed,
would start a war that would tear the Empire apart...
more»»
Chrissi
31st January 2007 [7/10] |
Talking to Richard by Gary Sherbell
Paul has sent in a review for Talking
to Richard by Gary Sherbell. A conservative NYC
judge wakes up to discover that he's been cursed by
a voodoo priestess: his penis has metamorphosed into
the talking head of a famous radical lawyer who dies
during the night. The two members of this involuntary
odd coupling are poles apart on almost every issue,
but they have one thing in common... more»»
Paul
Lappen 31st January 2007
[8/10] |
A Call to Faith and Freedom by Shirley A Roe
Molly has sent in a review for A
Call to Faith and Freedom by Shirley A Roe. Scottish
clans fight for their land and their Celtic faith in
7th Century Scotland. A sharply executed picture of
feudal society in which the Lord and Lady provide shelter
and livelihood expecting total loyalty in return. A
story of love, faith and hope and also a story of the
brutal battle for what is theirs. Braveheart fans will
love this book... more»»
Molly
Martin 31st January 2007
[8/10] |
Jerome
and the Seraph by Robina Williams
Paul has sent in a review for Jerome
and the Seraph by Robina Williams. Brother Jerome
has a fatal accident in the cemetery of his friary and
has a few problems adjusting to his new existence. In
the afterworld he meets up with his pet cat, Quantum,
from the friary. With the cat at his side once more,
Jerome finds his afterlife exciting, exhilarating and
full of adventure... more»»
Paul
Lappen 7th January 2007
[8/10] |
|
BookLore Interview - Joanne Harris
BookLore has been lucky enough to interview Joanne
Harris, ostensibly to discuss her new Children's novel
Runemarks,
but in reality veering off on random tangents for no apparent
reason. However, all the more interesting for it, with
some surprisingly candid insights… in particular it looks
like we may actually have found someone who understands
LOST... enjoy.
Admin 18th December 2007 |
Raymond
E. Feist Competition Into
a Dark Realm
by Raymond E. Feist
We have a three paperback copies of Into
a Dark Realm by Raymond E. Feist to give away thanks
to the kind people at HarperVoyager.
To win a copy all you have to do is send in an email answering
a simple multiple choice question. See our Raymond
E. Feist Competition Quiz Page for more details. Competition
closes midnight 6th January 2008. Good luck...
Admin 16th December 2007 |
McGan's Meditations
Michael McGan, the author of Fleeting
Thoughts and The
Hamster Never Sleeps, delves into the dodgy world
of 'Inter-generational Communication', not to mention
the even more deadly 'Spousal Debate'…
Voices from Beyond...
They
say that one of the first things to go is your hearing.
Do you ever hear far off, vaguely familiar voices, barely
audible, but you know they're speaking to you? It's
almost like voices that are trying to communicate from
the great beyond.
I
hear them all the time, usually from the opposite end
of the house from where I am, often drowned out by blaring
punk rock music. "Dad? Can I -" here it trails
off.
"Dad?
Where are you?" I love that one. Why don't you
get up and find out? It's not like I'm hiding in the
linen closet. Sometimes
you want to pretend you don't hear the voices, because
they will make you uncomfortable by asking something
of you, probably something involving your car or a monetary
donation. Eventually they find you.
Voice
from beyond: "Dad? - - - - borrow - - - - dollars
for - - - - ?".
Me: "What?"
Voice from beyond: "What? Where are you?"
Me: "I can't hear you. Turn the music down."
Voice from beyond: "What?"
Me: "Come out here, would you?"
Voice from beyond: (Stomp stomp stomp, and more stomping
from the inconvenienced one until I am located and treated
as if I am old, deaf and/or mentally challenged) "I
said..."
My
wife is a different story. She likes to start telling
me something as she walks down the hall or up the staircase.
I can barely hear her voice as she goes into great detail
about some topic. She stays right with it and eventually
returns in full stride to where I am located, and looks
to me for a response. It isn't my fault that I have
no idea what she's been talking about. Maybe my hearing
isn't what it used to be, but why do people make it
nearly impossible to make out what they're saying? "I
don't know," I'll say, shaking my head as if I'm
trying to make sense of it all, "That's really
something." This usually works. With her next couple
of statements I can piece together what I missed and
figure it all out, while appearing to be very attentive.
There
is no shame in this, especially as you get older and
can act confused. It is totally unlike when someone
is talking to you and although they don't move, their
voice starts getting fainter as your mind drifts off,
wondering who was inside that Godzilla suit for all
those movies. It must have been extremely hot in there.
Was he mentioned in the credits, you wonder? "I
never noticed," you say to yourself.
If
you ever find yourself in this awkward situation, feeling
quite guilty, just respond "I don't know,"
shaking your head as if you're trying to make sense
of it all, "That's really something."
... and always remember the ever safe "Yes dear"
:)
Michael McGan 26th November
2007 |
Hunter's Run
Competition
We are pleased to announce that the three winners of the
Hunter's
Run Competition are:
Janet from Swansea
Jenny Price from Scunthorpe
Amanda from Camborne
Books are on the way. Once again thanks to everyone who
entered... more soon we hope. Admin
21st November 2007 |
Hunter's
Run Competition Hunter's
Run .
We have a three hardback copies of Hunter's
Run by George R. R. Martin, Gardner Dozois and Daniel
Abraham to give away thanks to the kind people at Voyager.
To win a copy all you have to do is send in an email answering
a simple multiple choice question. See our Hunter's
Run Competition Quiz Page for more details. Competition
closes midnight 18th November 2007. Good luck...
Admin 28th October 2007 |
This Little Britain
In order to find out how much the British knew about their
own country, a survey by 'YouGov'
was undertaken.
The findings strongly suggested that many Britons were
unaware of the past achievements of their country. The
survey findings revealed that less than a third of us
knew about Britain's major successes in areas of government,
law, industry, science, agriculture, warfare, and sport.
See the results here.
Admin 14th October 2007 |
The 'September' Update
Only just in time as we nearly missed September altogether;
where does the time go? So, to make up we have 7 new reviews
from no less than 7 different reviewers. As always we
have updated the forthcoming Publication
Dates page with new releases due out during November
and December… something for Christmas maybe? Also updated
is the latest Top
Ten Hardback and Top
Ten Paperback charts. And finally, in the very near
future, we are hoping to receive books for our next competition…
so keep checking back. Admin 30th
September 2007 |
Robin Hobb Competition
We are pleased to announce that the three winners of the
Robin
Hobb Competition are:
Julian from Launceston
H from Flint
Annita from Twickenham
Books are on the way. Once again thanks to everyone who
entered... more soon we hope. Admin
30th August 2007 |
Robin
Hobb Competition Renegade's
Magic by
Robin Hobb.
The Robin
Hobb Competition closed 25th August 2007 and
we are currently notifying the winners. Thanks to everyone
who entered. More
competitions soon...
Admin 26th August2007 |
Robin
Hobb Competition Win
a copy of Renegade's Magic
We have three hardback copies Renegade's
Magic to give away thanks to the kind people at Voyager.
To win a copy all you have to do is send in an email answering
a simple multiple choice question. See our Robin
Hobb Competition Quiz Page for more details. Competition
closes midnight 25th August 2007. Good luck...
Admin 4th August 2007 |
The 'About Time' Update
A few bits and bobs to keep you going... and about time
too. Firstly, we welcome new reviewer Jessica
who has been posting for a couple of months now and has
her own Reviewer
Page at last. Secondly, we have added six new reviews,
including a bit of an author special with three books
by Vijaya
Schartz. Thirdly, we have updated the Publication
Dates page for some interesting new releases in September
and October.
And finally, we have details of our next competition.
We are hopefully getting copies of Renegade's Magic
by Robin Hobb, the final book in the Soldier Son Trilogy,
to give away. When they arrive we will run a simple quiz
to find a winner... so check back often :). Admin
17th July 2007 |
Tolkien Competition
We are pleased to announce that the three winners of the
Tolkien Competition
are:
1st Prize - Zoe from Manchester
2nd Prize - David Eaton from Erith
3rd Prize - Fiona from Whitchurch
Books are on the way. Once again thanks to everyone who
entered... more soon we hope. Admin
4th June 2007 |
Tolkien Competition The
Children of Hurin by J. R. R. Tolkien.
The Tolkien
Competition closed 31st May 2007 and we are currently
notifying the winners. Thanks to everyone who entered.
More competitions soon...
Admin 1st June 2007 |
Kit Whitfield Competition
We are pleased to announce, in no particular order*, that
the three winners of the Kit
Whitfield Competition are:
Christina from Trowbridge
Diane from Derby
Lucy from Newtonbutler
Books are on the way. Once again thanks to everyone who
entered... and don't forget to have a go at the Tolkien
Competition this month. Admin
3rd May 2007
*If anyone points out that the list is in fact in alphabetical
order then they need to get out more... :) |
BookLore Competitions Win
a copy of The Children of Hurin by J. R. R. Tolkien.
We have three copies of The
Children of Hurin by J. R. R. Tolkien to give away,
plus other Tolkien books, thanks to the nice people at
HarperCollins.
To win a copy all you have to do is send in an email answering
a simple multiple choice question. See our Tolkien
Competition Quiz Page for more details. Competition
closes midnight 31st May 2007. Good luck. Bareback
by Kit Whitfield.
The Kit Whitfield
Competition closed 30th April 2007 and we are currently
notifying the winners. Thanks to everyone who entered.
Admin 1st May 2007 |
McGan's Meditations
Michael McGan, the author of Fleeting
Thoughts and The
Hamster Never Sleeps, ask the dangerous question "Should
Women being running the World?" ...answers on a postcard.
Wonder
Woman
When
I think about the ecology, it is at that time, more
than ever, that I feel as though women should probably
be running the world. First of all, they are much neater
than men, and also, they are more nurturing and concerned
about the quality of life that their descendants will
have. Men are pretty much short-sighted slobs, who care
very little about the debris they leave in their wake.
Rich men care even less. And mega-rich men don't care
at all. They are the most dangerous from an ecological
standpoint. Global warming, the rain forest and ozone
layer disappearing, oil spills, toxic waste... and the
men in power shrug it off.
Me, I fall into that first category, just your average
non-wealthy man-slob. Now, I'm guilty just like the
rest of my gender. I have a problem with the whole “recycling”
thing. Washing jars and plastic containers, separating
them and putting them out in a bin, along with newspaper
on trash day. All the while, that big fifty-five gallon
trash container is half full, crying out to me like
a siren who wants to seduce me to crash my boat of ecological
consciousness against a submerged trash heap of apathy.
Wow.
But it's all so very annoying. They want me to stand
in this line at the market with a basket full of empty
bottles and cans, waiting impatiently for my turn to
feed these things into machines and then wait again
until it spits out a receipt for one dollar and sixty
cents, while some men who own corporations are dumping
poison by the tons into the air, the ground, the rivers,
and the ocean. I sometimes leave the bottles in the
cart for someone who thinks it is making a difference,
or someone who could honestly use one dollar and sixty
cents.
So, as I said earlier, I think women should be in charge
of more major corporations, and better yet, more countries.
There would be much more constructive dialogue because
women will want to talk about their feelings, how the
actions of another country have hurt their people. Sure,
there might be some vengeful rhetoric at times if they
feel another country has betrayed their trust in some
way, statements that would imply that this country never
really measured up to other countries they've dealt
with in the past, or better yet, countries that they
are currently dealing with behind the scenes. Everybody
would be saying, “Did you hear that? Oooooooh, I can't
believe she said that. You go girl!” It would be kind
of refreshing.
Men don't want to talk about anybody's feelings, work
it all out, and maybe admit that they were wrong. It's
all about their ideas even if their ideas suck. It's
about power, testosterone and being more amazingly wealthy
than anybody else. They don't want painful, long dialogue
about trust and treating another country as an equal.
They'll just keep it all inside and let it fester, believing
that they must win at all costs, until it's too much
for them and they lash out in some way. “It's my way
or the high-way. I'll show them who has a bigger military
industrial complex. I'll show them how many countries
I can de-flower with my toxic waste! I'll show them...”
Blah blah blah.
And who pays for this swaggering foolishness? It's all
got to change somehow. Then maybe I'll feel better about
separating my stupid trash. And, I might just return
those empty bottles, cash that receipt, and buy a sensitive
greeting card. Maybe something with a picture of flowers
or a puppy, send it to one of my good buddies just to
say that I'm thinking of them. The world would be a
much better place.
Hmmm, could work... it sure can't be any worse :)
Michael
McGan 30th March 2007 |
Kit Whitfield Competition Win
a signed copy of Bareback.
We have a three signed paperback copies of Bareback
by Kit Whitfield to give away thanks to the kind people
at Vintage
Books. To win a copy all you have to do is send in
an email answering a simple multiple choice question.
See our Kit
Whitfield Competition Quiz Page for more details.
Competition closes midnight 30th April 2007. Good luck...
Admin 16th March 2007 |
The 'February' Update
Another hectic month, most of the time being spent correcting
errors in the new site code… thanks to all those who took
the time to report problems they encountered. Hopefully
everything is now working, although we know of a couple
of minor problems still to be addressed. As always, if
you spot anything please let us know. On top of all that
several new reviews have been posted, all of which will
now include ISBN-10 and ISBN-13 numbers. We have also
changed the Site Counter to Shiny
Stat since Microsoft stopped doing their free counter;
unfortunately this has meant the counter has been reset
as of this month so please remember the prior hits when
checking… if anyone actually does.
And finally, we have details of our next competition.
We have three signed paperback copies of Kit Whitfield's
Bareback to give away and will be running a simple
quiz in the next week or so… check back often :).
Admin 28th February 2007 |
BookLore
Bookshop
Grab a bargain… we have far too many books
at the moment so to clear some space on our shelves we
have opened the BookLore
Bookshop on Ebay. Books available are limited as we
start sorting titles (heartbreaking) but we will be adding
more as time goes by. Books will range from new to well
used, all being described accurately on the relevant Ebay
page. UK sales only. Admin 4th February
2007 |
The 'January' Update
As some of the more observant of you out there may have
noticed reviews have been thin on the ground for the last
few months… and now you can see why. After much grousing
by one or two of the contributors to the site, who shall
remain nameless,* we have been dragged kicking and screaming
into what we are reliable informed is the 21st Century.
As an intermediate step towards the super duper Dynamic
site we have updated with Cascading Style Sheets, or CSS
for the geeks, as well as using XHTML. A few tables are
still used as the site is very large and we didn't want
to completely redo all the template generated pages. However,
overall, the site should now be quicker and cleaner, as
well as having better compatibility across the various
web browsers out there. For a while they are going to
be a few broken links, and maybe one or two layout niggles,
but hopefully not too many… we have been testing quite
extensively believe it or not. If you do spot any please
let use know, we will be ever so grateful. Comments most
welcome to editors(at)booklore.co.uk.
And just to show we are still doing what the site is all
about we have posted several new reviews, as well as adding
Publication
Dates for March and April and the latest Top
Ten hardbacks and paperbacks… enjoy. (*In
fairness to Ray and Vex (woops:) the site was looking
a little dated and an overhaul was well overdue).
Admin 31st January 2007 |
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