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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (Definitions)

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by: John Boyne

September 11, 2008
I have two major criticisms of this book, only one of which can really be leveled directly at John Boyne: his writing sucks, and needed another couple of drafts.

It's great that Boyne has written a book for children which is designed to make its audience engage with the world (a la His Dark Materials; in sharp contrast to Harry Potter), but (and here's the second criticism, not something that is directly Boyne's fault) the subject matter is really not as edgy as most people pretend it to be. Most of us think the Holocaust was a pretty dreadful thing, just like most of us think that a world without organised religion would be a better place; we don't need Boyne's book to tell us the former, just like we didn't need His Dark Materials ... Read More:

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Bad Science

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by: Ben Goldacre

September 01, 2008
This is one of those books that you read and then imemdiately want to purchase for virtually everybody you know - the ones who will already agree, and the ones who will argue (using bad science) until they are blue in the face.
This is an amusing, informative and very interesting read that addresses some highly disturbing stories, such as the MMR media hoax, MRSA testing, "studies" involving thousands of children, the qualifications of certain "doctors" and many more besides.
At the same time as drawing our attention to these issues we also learn about scientific testing, statistics, health related matters and more, but in a way that amazingly is not patronising, not overly simplified and highly entertaining.
This is a book where ... Read More:

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The Study Skills Handbook

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by: Cottrell, Stella, Dr

February 22, 2008
I am a mature student and was advised to buy this when I started my Access to HE course many years ago. I dutifully went and bought it alongside The Good Study Guide by Andrew Northedge and I have to say that this book is worth its weight in gold compared to the book by Northedge. This is not a comparison so I shall move on to say that every aspect of study - whether its organizing your time, planning backwards from deadlines, learning how you study best or even looking at personal development is covered in this excellent resource. It is designed in a user-friendly way which allows you to either read it all the way through or dip in and out of it depending on your needs.The book is designed in a clever way with charts, pictures, examples etc and it's glittered ... Read More:

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A Thousand Splendid Suns

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by: Khaled Hosseini

September 18, 2008
This is one of the best books I have ever read. The story of two women brought together in the most awful, despicable circumstances which are totally out of their control. The husband Rasheed is probably one of the most hateful, violent characters I have ever come across and Hosseini's writing is so powerful that you believe these people really exist and I hated Rasheed with a passsion. This book had my heart thumping at a failed escape and crying at one of the most poignant chapters set in the Ghaza Stadium. Like the Kite Runner this book does end with a sense of hope but again, getting to that end still fills you with sadness. This is one book I will remember for along time.

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The Kite Runner

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by: Khaled Hosseini

June 07, 2004
when i was given this book to read for my A-level english i was a little more than hesitant of it as it wasnt really a book i would read, the last being harry potter but strangely i found myself gripped. Not wanting to divulge information as many others have, in short this is a tale of betrayal, redemption and loyalty in a time none of us could imagine the afghan monarchy had fallen and the republic taken over leading to the devastating russian invasion, writen with such description and power you are thrown into a world of poverty and decay where things happen that make you cringe, make you smile and even at times make you want to cry. all in all i read this book in a few short days not wanting to put it down, the book can be slow at times but if you keep going it is a great ... Read More:

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The Forgotten Garden

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by: Kate Morton

May 29, 2008
I must admit that I was attracted to this book as it mentioned Richard and Judy's Bookclub. Not that I read all they recommend but they are usually worth a look. Then I found out that it was the author's previous book that was referred to "The House at Riverton" so I read that first.

It was good, but for me this one is better. It is set in Australia and Cornwall in the past and present. It starts with a puzzle and a rather heart rending one at that. A four year old girl is left on a steamer heading to Australia in 1912, apparently abandoned and unnoticed by the authorities. Who would do such a thing, and why?

There follows a well written multi layered story that untangles the complexities of the girls life. We see Edwardian society from the viewpoint ... Read More:

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Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything

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by: Elizabeth Gilbert

March 05, 2007
Fantastic and humourous writing - couldn't put it down. Immediately passed the "wealth" to one of my best girlfriends upon completion. Every woman must read this!

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Homicide:

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by: David Simon

September 04, 2008
How do you fill the void left after watching the final episode of one of the greatest tv shows of all time ? Go back to the source and that's what this is without this book there is no The Wire. It's a remarkable book and one that hasn't really dated unlike the TV series of the same name.
The premise is well described David Simon writes about a year in the life of the homicide department of Baltimore what suprised me was that it isn't written for the journalist point of view so instead we get informed what the detectives are thinking. It's hard to explain that for the veteran detectives we see that there is no personal crusade to solve the crimes it's a job and not a highly paid one so if it's not the money what compels these individuals to keep going especially when faced by some ... Read More:

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The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House: Or the Murder at Road Hill House

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by: Kate Summerscale

July 26, 2008
This is the worst book I've read for a long time. "Pacey" is not the word - in fact I have trouble staying awake. The Author frequently digresses from the main plot (which, all told would take up less than a quarter of the book) to examine in detail things like excerpts from 3 different newspaper articles saying more or less the same thing, quotes from Sigmund Freud, Whichers' previous cases (which although interesting rarely add anything to the progression of the story), and anything else which could possibly hinder the sloppy storytelling.

Then we have the fact that the story teller sees fit to remind us at every opportunity of previous stated clues - something she doubtless decided the story needed with all the frequent asides. The book honestly reads like an academic work ... Read More:

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Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

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by: John Boyne

February 01, 2007
What place does such a book have? John Boyne has written on one of the greatest tragedies of the last century without bothering to inform himself about the conditions in which children existed at Auschwitz. As such, this book does a grave disservice to those children who suffered and died. Its charm is a deceit that depends on an offensive suspense of reality and the known facts. No children were healthy at Auschwitz. They were dying; all of them - and it showed.
Don't spend money on this - spend it instead on Primo Levi and others like him who deliver the bolt to the heart and mind that is the reality of their suffering at Auschwitz and other similar camps.