Book Reviews
What better way is there to decide whether you want to read something, than by hearing from someone who's already read it. Whether you loved or hated a book we want to hear from you. Submit your review online and we'll post them in this section. You can also find children's and young people's reviews in our Children and Young People sections. Visit us regularly to find out what other readers recommend (or don't recommend)!
You can also post shorter comments about what you've read and enjoyed, or request recommendations from other readers, on our discussion pages.
Reviews: March - August 2008
This Charming Man - Marian Keyes
Reviewer: Suzanne
Dishy Irish politician Paddy de Courcy is getting married and it should be a time for rejoicing, but not everyone takes the news well...
Lola, who thought that she was the only woman in his life, is shocked by the announcement and heartbroken to discover that the bride-to-be isn't her. As she attempts to move on and forget the past she finds that it's not that easy to escape.
Grace, knows Paddy from her teenage years, and as a journalist is determined to do whatever it takes to get the inside track on the story and to put her own skeletons to rest. But is she really prepared for what she is putting at risk?
Despite her seemingly perfect life, Grace's sister Marnie is struggling with her own demons, will raking up her and Paddy's past tip her further over the edge?
Alicia, Mrs de Courcy to-be, wants to be the perfect wife to Paddy, but does she really know everything about her future husband, and does she want to know?
As the stories of the four women are gradually woven closer and closer together the disturbing truth that links all the women in Paddy's life is revealed. And whilst the announcement of the marriage initially looks as though it may bring lives crashing down, as long held secrets come to light it could turn out to be the best thing that has ever happened. With a cast of feisty female leads and plethora of well-written, believable, supporting characters you can't fail to be gripped from the first page. As she takes you from the verge of tears to the edge of laughter Marian Keyes combines the stories of these four women into a heart-warming tale that keeps you turning the pages and shouting messages of support to Lola, Grace et al, to the very last word.
The Accidental Time Traveller - Sharon Griffiths.
Reviewer: Suzanne
I had seen a review of this book in a magazine and it was billed as being "A sparkling, original romantic comedy for fans of Life on Mars, The Time Traveller's Wife and The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets" (a direct quote from the back cover). I loved the former two and found the latter perfectly readable, so on paper it appealed. However, in reality it was just a very standard rom-com book using the time-travel concept as a hook for the reader. The characters were quite flat and so I found it very difficult to empathise with the lead, and despite the main crux of the book being the 1950s setting, I was left with very little impression of what it was really like. For a book that showed so much promise in terms of the idea, the actual reality was disappointing and although I read it through to the end I haven't actually taken anything from it.
The Island - Victoria Hislop
Reviewer: Pamela
I enjoyed reading this "Richard & Judy Book Club" recommended novel.
It has a mixture of both happy and sad parts, and centres around Alexis Fielding, who investigates her mother's past life, (which she has never spoken about), when she holidays on the Mediterranean island of Crete.
Her mother, Sofia, has given her a letter to give to an old friend who still lives on the island and this old friend fills Alexis in on her mother's past life.
It gives the reader an understanding of how leprosy used to affect people and their families in the 1930's and 1940's, and also what life was like for the sufferers on the remote island of Spinalonga, just off the coast of Crete, to where the lepers were banished to live out the rest of their lives.
Homestead - Rosina Lippi
Reviewer: Helen
Rosenau is a remote village high in the Austrian Alps - a close-knit community with its own unique naming conventions. For the people of Rosenau life revolves around the seasons, farming and cheese making, and it seems that not much will ever change.
Through a series of simply drawn tales spanning several generations, the author tells the stories of the women of Rosenau, from the likes of Bent Elbow's Johanna to Grumpy Marie and Wainwright's Katharina - revealing their troubles, joys and passions and how the issues of the wider world come to impact on their lives over time.
I really enjoyed this book and it is certainly different from anything else I've read this year. It is well written in a rather measured way, evoking the Alpine landscapes and portraying a range of village characters. By the end I felt I had been offered a quiet glimpse into a vanished world, but one where the cares and concerns of its inhabitants still resonate today.
Age of the Five Trilogy: Priestess of the White/Last of the Wilds/Voice of the Gods - Trudi Canavan
Reviewer: Alix
This fantasy trilogy is inspired by the pantheon of Greek gods (or similar polytheistic era) and is an epic imagining of what a magical society might be like under the influence of multiple divine beings ("The Five".)
The story begins with the introduction of Auraya, a gifted young woman with unwavering faith in the gods but also an interest in the Dreamweavers, a cult of pacifist healers that are shunned by the leaders of her people for the types of magic that they practice. Auraya shows an instinct for diplomacy that brings her to the attention of the White, the immortal representatives of the Circlian gods, and given the opportunity to become a priestess as reward for her conflict averting advice.
The books tell the stories of many characters and their relationships with the gods but it is Auraya's tale that brings them all together.
The characters are believable, and likeable where necessary, while the landscapes are vivid without being distracting. The reader is introduced to many new words for familiar objects and beasts that are just a little different in this fantasy world without becoming whimsical.
There is a great deal of mystery, conflict, love and loss in this trilogy and the various threads have been expertly intertwined by the author, each chapter giving short glimpses of several character's toils and leaving you eager to read on and discover what would befall them next. There are, however, some very likeable characters who played significant parts in the earlier portions of the tale only to be strangely absent and forgotten the final stages.
Overall I found the trilogy very entertaining and I was guessing at the fates of the characters to the very end.
I would recommend these books to anyone who enjoys magical fantasy tales or is interested in discovering the genre, though I would say it was certainly unsuitable for younger readers due to some of its adult themes.
Love on the Dole - Walter Greenwood
Reviewer: Natalie
Read this book and 'thank your lucky stars' that life, society and the welfare system has moved on. I could not put this book down it was moving, harrowing and very powerful. I followed Harry and Sally Hardcastle through the 1930's, I began with their optimism, followed their dreams then sank into their reality; no money, no future, no hope. I cried for Larry Meath, I felt the hurt of Mr Hardcastle as he struggled to give his children the best he could and I laughed with Mrs Nattle and her clan.
A real eye-opener to life in the 1930's without lapsing into sentiment. Finally, you may or may not agree with Sally's final decision but, you'll know why she did it.
Trinny and Susannah: the survival guide - Trinny and Susannah
Reviewer: Rosie
I'm glad I did not pay for this book because it was a laugh - for all the wrong reasons. What a waste of paper. I thought it might actually have something useful to say but was bitterly disappointed. I should have realised when the 'helpful tip of the month' for February was 'book now for your Xmas holiday' . Hah ! Buy horrid cheap presents now so you are never caught out. When having a dinner party wear a floaty dress & light scented candles then no one will ever notice that you haven't done any cleaning.
Do these people live in the real world ? Why do they have to be so rude ? I think this was produced as a money spinner based on their TV notoriety rather than any genuine desire to help 'busy professional women' be organised & have more time for themselves. I'll stick with novels for my reading entertainment, thank you.
The Stone Testament - Celia Rees
Reviewer: Rosie
This really had me going. It is a weird mix of fantasy / horror/ historical with touches of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' & 'Jurassic Park'. I was hooked by the mysterious opening, & the characters are real enough to remind you of people you know. The setting shifts from murky streets to secret chambers, rat-run tower blocks to hospitals, and even between time zones. I felt it had flashes of uniqueness but I would probably have created a different ending if I had been writing it. I would be interested to know what anyone else thought about it. Often Celia Rees' books are dark & sombre but I found this one sparky enough to care about the outcome. 9/10 (until the last 4 pages !!)
Company of Liars - Karen Maitland
Reviewer: Daisy
It is set in medieval times, during the plague. A group of strangers travels together for safety, trying to move northwards, ahead of the spread of the pestilence. But it turns out that each person isn't what they seemed to be at first. They all have a secret and soon, a disturbing pattern of shocking events emerges. This book has a good sense of time and place, evoking fourteenth century England, with its odours, superstitions and mysticism. It's quite a big book but easy to read, and compelling. I liked the end as well. Sometimes endings are disappointing, but this one was just right -and I didn't even guess! Karen Maitland is a Lincolnshire author and has done a great job with this book. Apart from its obvious parallel with The Canterbury Tales, I found it original and refreshing.
The Point of Rescue - Sophie Hannah
Reviewer: Janet
It's classed as crime, though psychological thriller is closer to the mark. On the news one night, it is announced that Mark Bretherick's wife and daughter have been found dead in the bath. The bereaved husband and father is seen distraught on tv. Watching the news though, is Sally, who had a secret affair with Mark Bretherick and the man on the television, claiming to be Mark Bretherick, is not the same Mark B that she had an affair with...
Then all sorts of strange and unpleasant things start to happen to Sally, which is a difficulty because she doesn't her husband Nick to find out about the affair.
This book is a riveting good read, but it is really well written too. Not literary by any means, but not cliched either. It has quite a few twists and turns so it had me guessing right to the end. Sophie Hannah must have a very creative brain to work out so many threads and details .
I don't regard myself as a crime reader but I think nearly everyone would enjoy this book.
Since I Don't Have You - Louise Candlish
Reviewer: Helen
It's about 3 best friends who have young daughters the same age. They make a pact to look after each others daughters if anything were to happen to them. A tragic accident happens and one loses their daughter. Unable to cope with the constant reminder she seeks solace in her mother's hometown Oia, Santorini. The book takes her through her grieving process and how she starts to rebuild her life alone after leaving everyone in England. Unable to remain faithful to the pact, she hires a private investigator to help her keep tabs on the other girls as they grow up.
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU ARE FEELING SLIGHTLY DOWN or suffer with PMT!!
I sobbed buckets and even asked my sister (who lent me the book) if the daughter came back to life!
It did make me want to go and visit Santorini, the descriptions were amazing for what I would consider a more 'trashy' novel than a literary masterpiece and it was an interesting journey through the grieving process of a child. It did end more hopeful and I imagine more realistic. Would give it 6/10, more if you want a good cry!
