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When
Angels Die by Caroline de Chavigny
Rating 
9/10
This Novel possesses probably the best real
story that I had never heard before. Moreover, this
novel has depicted real tears, emotions, strength
of a single mother who became a sadistic rapist
victim. I was glad to read this book and waiting
for more to have such real inspirational stories.
Tandeep (31st January 2013) |
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Hush,
Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Rating
9/10
Nora's never been particularly attracted
to the boys at her school... not until Patch came
along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to
see inside her, she is drawn to him but after a
series of terrifying encounters Nora's not sure
who to trust for Nora is right in the middle of
a centuries-old battle between the immortal and
those that have fallen…
It was a very good book; it had its cute and its
frightening moments. I would recommend it to everyone.
Dallas Waldron (31st August 2011) |
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Stasis
None by Ian Rutter
Rating
9/10
The Stasis None is a power beyond comprehension.
A quantum intelligence capable of recreating time.
But when a tool devised to save mankind predicts
the end of humanity, a quest is launched to discover
and alter the sequence of events set to seal our
doom. But can altering our past really offer salvation?
Can manipulating consequence deliver a custom designed,
better future? This is a brilliant novel... Loved
it! Fast pace, great character development and what
a twist... mind boggling!.
Helen Johnson (9th January 2011) |
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Tourist
Season by Carl Hiaasen
Rating 
8/10
This was the debut of Carl Hiaasen, and as
a black humoured portrait of the natives of Florida,
it really is quite something. He tells us of the
destruction of the landscape, the corruption of
politics and the thousands of people arriving every
day in response to adverts for an idyllic life in
the sunshine. He also tells us how, by declaring
Open Season on the tourists, a plot is hatched to
restore Florida to a previously unspoiled land.
Incredibly sharp and well observed, clever and emotive,
you can really appreciate his point.
Chrissi (31st July 2010) |
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Skin
Tight by Carl Hiaasen
Rating
8/10
A retired investigator foils an attempt to
kill him using a swordfish, and he then has to figure
out who wants him dead and why. Here, Hiaasen takes
a sideswipe at plastic surgery clinics and corruption
in Florida. Razor sharp and wickedly funny.
Chrissi (31st July 2010) |
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Twelve
by Jasper Kent
Rating
8/10
Twelve is an historical novel telling
the story of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia and the
taking of Moscow from the point of view of a Captain
Aleksei Danilov, a member of a small band of saboteurs
tasked with harrying the French advance... with
the help of some Vampires; what more do you want?
Well written and historically accurate (apart from
the Vampires hopefully) the story had me hooked
from beginning to end. An excellent read.
Nigel (19th April 2010) |
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Aspirin:
The Story of a Wonder Drug by Diarmuid Jeffreys
Rating  10/10
I’ve been banging on about this for years
but it is brilliant, from the Great War and the
Spanish Flu pandemic to the Russian revolution and
IG Farben, this is incredible, mind-blowing.
Chrissi (19th April 2010) |
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Mauve:
How One Man Invented a Colour that Changed the World
by Simon Garfield
Rating 9/10
How a colour changed so very much; shows
how Queen Victoria’s taste and fashion drove an
industry along a new track which led to so many
greater developments.
Chrissi (19th April 2010) |
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Emperor:
The Gods of War by Conn Iggulden
Rating
8/10
The fourth and final volume in the acclaimed
Emperor series, in which Conn Iggulden brilliantly
weaves history and adventure to recreate the astonishing
life of Julius Caesar. Carrying on from the previous
books in this series, this fast paced story is only
let down by the predictable end (we all know about
Julius and Brutus and the Ides of March) not a lot
the author could do about that though. It is like
reading a ''good film''; all the characters come
to life and you can smell the scenes. Jolly good
read.
Kevin (9th January 2011) |
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Double
Whammy by Carl Hiaasen
Rating
8/10
Ever thought that fishing was a waste of
time? You have obviously not come across competitions
where they give away a car or a boat or something
equally expensive. Hiaasen tells us a tale of corruption
and big business in sport fishing, and he displays
some of his ironic punishment for wrong doers, incredibly
gross but apt. You’ll be hooked from the beginning
to the end.
Chrissi (31st July 2010) |
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Lamb:
The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood
Pal by Christopher Moore
Rating
9/10
Biff is Joshua’s best friend and Lamb
is the story of that friendship; Joshua also happens
to be the Messiah, one Jesus (Joshua) Christ (Messiah).
Having been dead for some 2000 years Biff has been
resurrected by the angel Raziel (under some duress)
to write a Gospel about Joshua’s missing years and
what a story it is. Clever, funny and hugely entertaining
this is an excellent piece of fiction that will
have you laughing out loud whatever your religious
denomination may, or may not, be.
Nigel (19th April 2010) |
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Unseen
Academicals by Terry Pratchett
Rating
9/10
In Unseen Academicals Terry Pratchett
gives football the Discworld treatment as we see
the ancient Ankh-Morpork game undergo a transformation
into a more modern version more suited to the enlightened
Century of the Anchovy… with rules and everything.
Even though this is the 37th Discworld novel it
is still fresh and full of observational humour
paralleling our own world. I really enjoyed it and
would say it is one of the better Discworld stories.
Nigel (19th April 2010) |
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Hell's
Cartel: IG Farben and the Making of Hitler's War
Machine by Diarmuid Jeffreys
Rating 8/10
Sequel to Aspirin, still great,
but more limited in scope. The links between industry
and war driving each other on are horrifying. Guaranteed
to make you feel outraged.
Chrissi (19th April 2010) |
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Under
the Dome by Stephen King
Rating 8/10
Stephen King is on fine form with his latest
novel Under the Dome. When an entire town
is cut off from the outside world by an impenetrable
force field nature starts to take its course and
the fragile bonds that hold society together start
to unravel. Even though the novel has a vast cast
of characters (and pages to match) you are never
overwhelmed as each is introduced and becomes integral
to the overall story which is told with just the
right pace and tension. I personally found the denouement
a little contrived but the journey more than made
up for it. One of Stephen King’s better books and
well worth a read.
Nigel (19th April 2010) |
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Before
the Fall-Out: From Marie Curie to Hiroshima by Diana
Preston
Rating
9/10
The story of people whose names are vaguely
familiar, some for good reasons, some not quite
so good. Everyone from Marie Curie to Robert Oppenheimer
is here, in beautiful personal detail, not just
sound bites. Amazing.
Chrissi (19th April 2010) |
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