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Azincourt

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Genre
by: Bernard Cornwell

October 01, 2008
It probably comes as no suprise to anyone who saw Bernard Cornwell's glowing comments on the front of Juliet Barker's excellent history book 'Agincourt', that Cornwell turned his attention Henry V's famous, almost miraculous, victory over the French. The problem is how to make such an extraordinarily well known story - thanks to Shakespeare and numerous histories - seem fresh and exciting. Thankfully, we are in the hands of a master at this sort of thing.

His story of Nick Hook, an English longbowman, does more than simply tick the expected boxes. It successfully puts the victory at Agincourt into perspective both politically and socially. It does so by bringing us firmly into the lives of the people. These people realised ... Read More:

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The Private Patient (Adam Dalgliesh Mystery)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Genre
by: P.D. James

August 28, 2008
I have been finding PD James's books more and more disappointing. They have never been simply detective novels, always more novels with a detective theme. James takes up pages and pages with description - a lot of it marvellous and atmospheric, but much of it going nowhere. A whole paragraph devoted to someone coming into a room and sitting down. I am beginning to tire of Dalgliesh and his team and their way of doing things that seems to be stuck in the 1930's with talk over glasses of wine. James re-hashes the same personalities in every book - the vulnerable damaged working class woman, the bullying intellectual woman, the over-riding professional man who uses his employee to have an affair that means nothing to him but much to her. I ... Read More:

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A Most Wanted Man

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Genre
by: John le Carré

September 23, 2008
I've long been among the first in line for the new John le Carre, so was pleased to find this book on sale for half price at Waterstones last week. Throughout a long writing career (this novel is his 21st), le Carre has continued to return to the themes of deception and betrayal and, although he's used an interesting variety of geographical locations for his settings, those of us who've spent a long time immersed in his world have started to identify common characteristics in his dramatis personae. Thus, in this story, the befuddled Englishman who tries to do the right thing has echoes of, amongst others, Harry Pendel in The Tailor Of Panama, Ted Mundy in Absolute Friends and Tim Cranmer in Our Game. And the attractive idealistic female lawyer is strongly ... Read More:

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The Shack

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Genre
by: William P. Young

July 17, 2008
People who read this book for a detailed theology of the Christian faith are misleading themselves much like those who want the Bible to be a text book of theoretical physics or similar. A work of fiction will never do this and, as this book reminds us, the Bible is in essence about a relationship between people and God. Sure there are bits that are a bit shmaltzy for us cynical Brits but it still moved me more than most books I have read.

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Bones of the Hills (Conqueror 3)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Genre
by: Conn Iggulden

September 01, 2008
Loved the first, was amazed by the second, and I had to take three days holiday to read the last! To say it's un-put-downable is, for once, no exaggeration.

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The Temporal Void (Void Trilogy)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Genre
by: Peter F. Hamilton

October 03, 2008
Hamilton continues his story of humanity in the 36th century, leading his cast of bio-engineered characters across vividly imagined worlds into impossible situations that even their advanced technology and knowledge cannot protect them from.

* Plot
The book begins with the Commonwealth facing dual external threats from an invading alien fleet and an expansion of the mysterious sun-eating "Void". Internally various factions are becoming increasingly brazen in their struggle to to advance their belief systems and gain control of people who can communicate with those living in the Void. However, the bulk of this book concentrates on recounting Inigo's dreams of life in the Void, a fantasy tale following the adventures of Edeard and his friends as they ... Read More:

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Revelation (Shardlake)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Genre
by: C.J. Sansom

October 02, 2008
Hamilton continues his story of humanity in the 36th century, leading his cast of bio-engineered characters across vividly imagined worlds into impossible situations that even their advanced technology and knowledge cannot protect them from.

* Plot
The book begins with the Commonwealth facing dual external threats from an invading alien fleet and an expansion of the mysterious sun-eating "Void". Internally various factions are becoming increasingly brazen in their struggle to to advance their belief systems and gain control of people who can communicate with those living in the Void. However, the bulk of this book concentrates on recounting Inigo's dreams of life in the Void, a fantasy tale following the adventures of Edeard and his friends as they ... Read More:

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Lords of the Bow (Conqueror 2)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Genre
by: Conn Iggulden

September 01, 2008
I have just finished reading the book yesterday and 2 be quite honest i couldnt put it down wherever i go i take the book with me as i have read the Wolf of the Plains i couldnt wait for another book on Genghis Khan its just awesome to read i have seen book 2 but am not sure if its the same lords of the bow part 2 or the same one.need to ask at a bookshop to see cuz i cant wait to read the continuation as i have just pre-ordered BRISINGR.of the Inheritance Triology Eragon.

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Silks

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Genre
by: Dick Francis, Felix Francis

September 04, 2008
Silks did not disapoint, well up to the standard of thriller we have come to expect from firstly Dick and now with his son Felix, lets hope there is another in the pipeline.

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No Time For Goodbye

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Genre
by: Linwood Barclay

June 12, 2008
I really enjoyed this novel. A fascinating concept - that a teenage girl wakes up one morning to find her entire family has gone. Just disappeared without a trace...And then she has to wait 25 years and to the making of a documentary about her life to find out the truth.
Fast paced, with excellent three-dimensional characters, I raced through this book in no time - it is truly unputdownable! I've heard a lot said that it's 'far-fetched' and has 'unecessary twists' and though this may be true, it is still great story-telling. I do feel that it's believable enough to hold your interest and the outcome, though given away a little easily, is worth the wait.
Highly recommended...