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The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Standard Edition

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Fiction
by: J. K. Rowling

December 04, 2008

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Azincourt

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Fiction
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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Nation

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Fiction
by: Terry Pratchett

September 11, 2008
More than 20 years ago now, a good friend pressed a copy of "The Colour of Magic" into my hands that launched a love affair with Terry's books that lasts to this day. Like most frustrated authors who lack the talent to deliver themselves, I read a lot, and I think I have read pretty much all that Terry has written since 198whatever, and yes some of it is quite a lot better than some other bits, but his work has never once been a disappointment.

So I was delighted to see Nation appear on the shelf last week and have just used a rainy Sunday morning to finish it.

A quick summation, of the important points; this is not a Disc World novel, it is a book aimed at anyone over about 9 who can read. It deals with the not inconsequential ... Read More:

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The Private Patient (Adam Dalgliesh Mystery)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Fiction
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 found myself saying ... Read More:

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A Thousand Splendid Suns

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Fiction
by: Khaled Hosseini

September 18, 2008
Read this book and you will not be sorry!

I have read both Hosseini's books and I will not pick a favourite.

They are equally VERY good.
Type of books you cant stop reading and will cherish in your bookshelf...

Both books relate to us what is to be a human!

Flaud, sacrifices and mistakes we all make and have to live with.

I cant wait for his 3rd book.

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A Most Wanted Man

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Fiction
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 reminiscent ... Read More:

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The Shack

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Fiction
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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The Kite Runner

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Fiction
by: Khaled Hosseini

June 07, 2004
This book is absolutely, amazingly superb. It was so captivating and moving. I picked it up as I wanted something to read on my train ride home from uni. This book is a great read, an excellent piece of work and i would read it over and over again. I recommend this book to everyone.

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Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Fiction
by: Stephenie Meyer

August 04, 2008
Admittedly I read New Moon before Twilight, but that wasn't my fault. I came to love the series of books, begging my mum (I'm only 13) to buy me each book practically as soon as it came out. Yet Breaking Dawn came as a disappointment.

The first two books in Breaking Dawn I enjoyed, yet when Bella opened her eyes to immortality I was a little disappointed. Where was the main excitement in it? Renesmee is fine and dandy, Jacob is staying with the Cullens for as long as he lives, and Bella has exceptional self-control, so she can still see Charlie. And as for the 'fight' with the Volturi, where was the grand battle? Where was the bloodshed? They just ran away with their tails in between their legs.

I found that everything was too fine and dandy, all happy and jolly. It was almost ... Read More:

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The Road Home

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Fiction
by: Rose Tremain

June 12, 2008
There are some writers who just create seamless prose that reads like it's always been there on the page and they just traced over the words. Well, for me, this was one of those books. I loved it from beginning to end. It tells the story of Lev, an "economic migrant" from the East, and his search for work, and life. It is probably a little too rose tinted to be real, and I doubt there are many migrants so lucky as Lev, but I so wanted him to succeed.