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The Forgotten Garden

by: Kate Morton

May 29, 2008
I bought this book after reading, and enjoying "The House At Riverton" - Morton's first novel. I was slightly apprehensive about "The Forgotten Garden" having read mixed reviews, but I found this book incredibly enthralling! I found it very easy to get into, and found i needed to read more and more - i had to find out what happened. This is a classic mystery, and one i whole heartedly recomend.

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The Road Home

by: Rose Tremain

June 12, 2008
Hey guys , I read the book but from my own experience in learning a foreign language i found it a bit too strange for Lev to learn english
so quickly as he learned . I mean , at first he couldnt even speak but after a short time he was fluent in the language already ?

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The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

by: Rebecca Miller

June 12, 2008
I enjoyed reading this book. It is well written, original and funny at times. I would not say it is unforgettable but a good holiday read. Contrary to some other readers I really warmed up to Pippa.

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The Resurrectionist

by: James Bradley

June 19, 2008
I started enthusiastically enough - after reading the back cover and normally loving historical novels I thought this would be a book to relish. The initial descriptions of London were powerful and enthralling but I might as well have stopped after the first dozen pages as it degenerated into a weak plotted, characterless but "nasty" little book. If I wanted to read about drug addicts and animal torturers but don't enjoy following a plot that is at least believable I would have been chuffed with my choice of book - but as that isn't my normal literary entertainment I completely wasted my money. My husband did only get about twenty pages in (without knowing my opinion)and chucked it in the bin.
My advice - don't bother, buy something else, it's ... Read More:

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The Book Thief

by: Markus Zusak

January 01, 2008
Due to the acclaims given to this novel, I expected something truly unique; especially due to the interesting narrative - death. However, I couldn't be more disappointed if I tried.

I have read my fair share of books and I am also currently studying Nazi Germany, so I have some insight into Germany around the time in the novel. Before I delved into this book, I thought it sounded incredibly interesting; the narrative was different, the setting and date was at a time of interest and the mystery seemed to be lurking from the synopsis on the back. However, instead of feeling like I was connecting with the characters and enjoying the story line, I felt like I was being taught a History lesson into Nazi Germany all over again.

Now ... Read More:

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The Memory Garden

by: Rachel Hore

August 06, 2007
I took one look at the cover of this book and knew I had to read it. It instantly said 'Cornwall' to me. I was not disappointed. When the book arrived it was packed in my suitcase ready to take to Cornwall. It took a lot of inner strength not to read it before our holiday.
Once started I really couldn't put it down. Infact, I'd get up an hour earlier every day just to have some quiet reading time.
We managed to get to Lamorna Cove and it really brought the book to life for me.
Friends of mine who have borrowed it loved it too.

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Notes from an Exhibition

by: Patrick Gale

January 07, 2008
A fantastic read! I've recommended it everyone I know, and have now starting reading the rest of Patrick Gale's books. Rough Music is also excellent.

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Random Acts of Heroic Love

by: Danny Scheinmann

January 01, 2008
I've read a lot of the other reviews posted and this book seems pretty divisive - not what I expected. I personally loved it - I sobbed through the final chapters. It delivered on everything I expected. I'd call it truly an epic, one I will go back to read again and again. The different strands of the story are very carefully and patiently woven together. The characters are very skillfully portrayed - I felt so much tenderness for Leo's father. In all, this story was so very moving and beautifully written. Those 1 star reviewers must have hearts of made of granite!

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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (Definitions)

by: John Boyne

September 11, 2008
This is an excellent book, written from a child's perspective so I can imagine that the reading of it as a child is completely different from that as an adult and a history student. Despite other reviewers comments you don't see the ending coming or imagine how you will feel about it. This book will stay with you. Read and enjoy. The tag-line reads "a tale of innocence in a time of ignorance" and so it is and so it still is and always will be. The lesson of history is that we never learn the lesson of history, lets hope books like this can help us.

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Engleby

by: Sebastian Faulks

March 27, 2008
Having read and enjoyed Birdsong I bought this to read on holiday. It is nothing like Birdsong!
The book is in the form of a diary and initially I found it difficult going as the language is almost "Vicki Pollard" in places but this is because Mike Engleby is young; as he gets older his vocabulary and literary skills improve but by then I found the book totally compelling.
You get drawn into the narrative, never quite sure exactly what is the truth and what emotion you should be feeling; it is that good.
One of the best books I've read this year.