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<metadesc>Book review site, with books from most walks of literary life; fiction, biography, crime, cookery and children's books plus author interviews and top tens.</metadesc><h1 id="mf-title">The Bookbag</h1>Hello from The Bookbag, a book review site, featuring books from all the many walks of literary life - [[:Category:Fiction|fiction]], [[:Category:Biography|biography]], [[:Category:Crime|crime]], [[:Category:Cookery|cookery]] and anything else that takes our fancy. At Bookbag Towers the bookbag sits at the side of the desk. It's the bag we take to the library , the charity shop and the bookshop. Sometimes it holds the latest releases, but at other times there'll be old favourites, books for the children, books for the home. They're sometimes our own books or books from the local library. They're often books sent to us by publishers and we promise to tell you exactly what we think about them. You might not want to read through a full review, so we'll give you a quick review which summarises what we felt about the book and tells you whether or not we think you should buy or borrow it. There are also lots of author [[:Category:Interviews|author interviews]], and all sorts of [[:Category:Lists|top tens]] - all of which you can find on our [[Featuresfeatures]] page. If you're stuck for something to read, check out the [[Book Recommendations|recommendations]] page.

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{{newreview|author=Bonnie Greer|title=Obama Music|rating=3|genre=History|summary=This is an interesting read, but unless I'm missing something, the focus of the book seems a little difficult to grasp. It's best if I start with 'Read [[:Category:Features|the author's intentions as set out in her Prologuelatest features]]. It is a mixture of tales of her own life growing up on the South Side, she writes, interspersed with stories and observations about Obama, linking it with the music, musicians and music scene, past and present, including hip hop, country, classical, and rock'n'roll. All of these, she notes, were heard on the President's Inauguration Day. To them she adds the blues, gospel, soul and jazz of the South Side, when the people began to build the great institutions and great solidarity that enabled him to become the most powerful man on the planet.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906558248</amazonuk!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->}} {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=P J Parrish1780724047|title=Dead A Dictionary of WinterInteresting and Important Dogs|author=Peter J Conradi

|genre=CrimePets|summary=Loon LakeI struggle to resist a book about dogs, Michigan is picturebut I did wonder why this one was so ''thin'': given that I've never encountered a dog who wasn't interesting or important -postcard pretty – an idyll that sits serenely and snugly in the midst of probably both, I was expecting a pine-peppered winter wonderlandmassive tome. Louis Kincaid needs But ''A Dictionary of Interesting and Important Dogs'' is actually ''a little serenity in his life rich compendium of the world's most significant and beloved dogs'' and on arrival in Loon Lake he feels almost as if he has come homeit's certainly a rich treasure trove. We begin with Peter J Conradi's four collies: Cloudy, Sky. Life has not been easy for KincaidBradley and Max. A troubledThey're consecutive rather than simultaneous dogs, unhappy child but what comes over is Conradi's love for each and every one of mixed race, passed around various institutions and foster homes, Louis figures them. I knew that if he is going to put some integrity back into the world, he will need to wear a badge to do itI was in safe hands.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847391346</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Russell Celyn Jones1785769294|title=The Ninth Wave Man at the Window (New Stories from the MabinogionDetective Cardilini) |author=Robert Jeffreys

|genre=Literary FictionCrime|summary=Pwyll rules It's when we read that a medieval-style fiefdom in young boy is creeping reluctantly to a post-climate change Walesteacher's bedroom one October night that we realise something is badly wrong. Life is different in many ways - there Nowadays you ''might''s a new-hope that something would be done about it fairly quickly but-old social order built this was 1965 and child abuse was generally regarded as malicious mischief on feudalism and horsepower is the main means part of transportthe child. But The boy would be safe that night though - albeit in many ways itthe most horrific fashion. When he reached Captain Edmund's much bedroom he found the same - people still fight one anotherman dead on the floor, towns still have sink estates, rich boys still have too much time on their hands the top of his skull missing. The school's initial reaction was that this was a dreadful accident: there had been a cull of kangaroos in some nearby fields and precious little meaning in their livesit was obviously a stray bullet which had killed the Captain. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1854115146</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Owen Sheers1786695227|title=White Ravens (New Stories from the Mabinogion)Invisible in a Bright Light|author=Sally Gardner

|genre=Literary FictionConfident Readers|summary=In The beginning of this excellent story will leave the reader more than a little confused: who is the old taleman in the green suit, Branwen what is the sister Reckoning, and why are rows of Bendigeidfran - people in a cave? But stick with it – Ms Gardner is very cleverly letting us experience the giant King of Britainsame disorientation as our heroine. She marries We watch in dismay as the King of Irelandstrange man, who doesn't treat seems to have no eyes, does his best to persuade her well. She manages to send Bendigeidfran a message via a tamed starling and war and killings ensueanswer his questions. In this new taleBut for some reason Celeste, a young girl has just walked away from despite her brothers whobewilderment, in the wake of the devastating foot remains wary and mouth outbreak, are despoiling their heritage by rustling and illegally slaughtering sheepgives nothing away. She meets an old man who tells her a story involving the superstitions about the ravens in the Tower of London, propaganda work during World War II, and an equally doomed love affair. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1854115030</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jennifer Bohnet1912374854|title=Follow Your StarViolet|author=S J I Holliday

|genre=Women's FictionThrillers|summary=ItI's three years since Nanette Weston left Monacove never been but understand that travelling is all about meeting new people and forming instantaneous bonds with people in often chance situations. SheWell that'd been engaged s exactly what happens when the two main/only characters meet in a travel agency in Beijing - Carrie is unsuccessfully trying to get a Formula 1 racing driver refund on an extra ticket for the Trans-Siberian train and had lived Violet is trying to unsuccessfully buy a ticket for the life of same sold-out journey. As the wealthy but a serious car accident had ended all that. The accident two team up, travelling through Mongolia, Serbia and into Russia, it could have killed her fiancé and she lost her driving licence because of the alcohol she'd consumed. Her slow recovery was hindered by ve been the end start of her engagement a beautiful friendship but she's found some contentment in being this a thriller after all so it quickly becomes a nanny to two young children. When her friend and employer, Vanessatale of obsession, remarries manipulation and takes an extended honeymoon in the Amazon Nanette is asked to take the children back to Monaco where their father livestoxic friendships.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089090</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=J R Stephenson1912374838|title=Crooked JusticeNothing Important Happened Today|author=Will Carver|rating=2.54

|summary=Meet Barry JohnsNothing Important Happened Today is a dark, twisted, difficult read. You'll see him coming - heStories about cults often are, but this is different; it's five hundred pounds if hewritten with a sense of style that is quite unlike anything I's an ounceve read before. Just donI can't remember ever lend him money - he won't pay it back. A businessman having read a novel with a share of a nightclub on Cyprussuch an odd, he goes there for distinctive narrative voice. While a customary breakslim and relatively small book, and finds his sort-of moll-type sortthe slow-moving nature of girlfriend has been installed as the bar dancer. He manages to tread both on the toes of his local colleague and some Greek rivals. And when a rival in London chases him up for thousands of pounds owed he decides to pack up and shut up. It's a big stone that hides him, but he leaves a very awkward trail for everyone wanting to upturn plot makes it and get their revengefeel far larger than its 276 pages.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0955855713</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stephen Bakerwilliamabbey|title=They've Got Your NumberThe Pursuit of William Abbey|author=Claire North|rating=43.5|genre=Popular ScienceParanormal|summary=If you are When William Abbey fails to prevent the lynching of a young boy in the slightest bit paranoid, worry that 1880''Big Brother'' is always watching or like to believe that you are not a numbers South Africa, but a free man (or woman)he finds himself cursed by the grieving mother. A naïve English Doctor, then this may not be he slowly learns the book for you, as it will do nothing to dispel any weight of those worries. If, on the other handcurse upon him, you think 'as the mathematical modelling of humanity' sounds like one shadow of the sexiest things everdead boy begins to follow him across the world. Never stopping, always growing – it crosses oceans and are chomping at mountains in pursuit of William. As he finds himself unable to resist speaking the bit to learn more about ittruths that he hears in others, then you might well be interested in what Business Week journalist Baker has he also learns that the dark shadow is deadly – and seeks to say.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099507021</amazonuk>kill the one he loves the most…

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Rebecca Tope1643785036|title=Fear in the CotswoldsThe Wondrous Apothecary|author=Mary E Martin

|summary=Toby OThose who have known Alexander Wainwright, the landscape artist famous for his Turner prize winning ''The Hay Wagon''Dare is an extremely efficient hit man with a passion for music, history and playing his beloved lute. HeRinaldo, renowned conceptual artist would say that they's also something of a lost soul having turned his back on God many years agore chalk and cheese, if not sworn enemies. One day while on a If you'job' he is visited by an Angel who offers him a chance at redemption. Toby agrees to become ve watched the Angelrelationship, as has our narrator, art dealer Jamie Helmsworth, you's human instrument d have said that they were magnets, drawing and help save lives rather than take them. He is sent on an assignment to help a Jewish couple accused of murder repulsing each other in 13th Century Englandequal measure.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701178140</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ian Mortimer|title=1415: Henry V's Year Wainwright was at the socially acceptable end of Glory|rating=5|genre=History|summary=The medievalthe artistic continuum, in fact but with Rinaldo it was all too obvious that there was but a fine dividing line between conceptual art and public nuisance. As time-honouredhas worn on, view of King Henry V as one of Englandhe's greatest heroes was propagated though not originated by Shakespeare, and again more recently frequently been brought to some extent by Olivier's portrayal in filmthe attention of the police. At least one historian has called On this latest occasion we see him charged with arson and theft of ''the greatest man that ever ruled EnglandThe Hay Wagon''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224079921</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Deborah Gregory|title=Dancing With The Dead|rating=3|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=I wanted to read ''Dancing with the Dead'', because I'm interested in family historyMary H. The blurb on the back of the book also mentioned Gill – our heroine of the piece – was moving from Bristol (my current home) to Lincolnshire (where I was born and brought up)K. I felt with all these links, the novel could not fail to interest me – but this was not the case.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904529305</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Miss ReadChoi|title=Christmas at Thrush GreenPermanent Record

|genre=Women's FictionTeens|summary=Set in the rural village of Thrush GreenPablo, a college drop-out, this book is the latest in working at a series surrounding familiar charactersNew York bodega. There is the feisty Ella Bembridge He's massively in debt, he's avoiding his mother, and he finds his joy in creating unusual snacks with random ingredients! Whilst working one evening, who is finally having he's surprised to admit discover that old age the girl he is chatting with as he serves is creeping up a super-famous pop star and, as her eyesight fails. Friends such unlikely as Dimity and Charles Henstock are concerned about herit may seem, but she refuses to accept any helpthey start a relationship. Albert Piggott has decided it's time With one character who is trying very hard not to retire now that his wife, Nellybe seen or noticed by anyone, and the other who is a successful cafe owner seen and can afford to take care of him! And relative newcomer Phil Hurst followed and her husband are arranging hounded by everyone all over the local nativity playworld, despite it's an interesting clash as they come together. This isn't just a number of setlove story though, and actually it's really just Pab's story, about the journey he takes in his life via his meet-backsup with Leanna Smart. Will everything be in place for Christmas? And will independent Ella make a decision about her future?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1409101592</amazonuk>0349003459

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Matt and Dave1609809319|title=Yuck's Robotic BottomLong-Haired Cat-Boy Cub|author=Etgar Keret, Aviel Basil and Sondra Silverston (translator)|rating=45

|summary=ItOne day a boy is in the zoo with his father, when the man gets called away on urgent business. The boy isn's concerned me for t hustled into a while that itcab and taken home first, though, no – he's relatively easy to pick up early readers for girls – princessesgiven hot dog money, magic soft toysand taxi money, mermaids and pets abound – but there's a much smaller choice for boystold to just stick around on his own and enjoy himself. ItWell, it's important too with early readers no surprise that the content is ''interesting'orphan-for-an-afternoon sensation the lad feels doesn' t make him happy, and reading becomes more than just something which you ''have'' to do at school so he thinks of a species name for himself, and moves curls himself up into being funan empty cage, as if he were a new exhibit. Matt and Dave have found And it's then the answer in Yuck.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847382991</amazonuk>drama begins…

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John E Smelcer1785785516|title=The Great DeathFucking Good Manners|author=Simon Griffin

|genre=General FictionLifestyle|summary='As Western Europeans settled AlaskaManners maketh man, they brought with them diseases against which the indigenous people had no natural immunitysay. At the beginning It certainly makes life easier if everybody abides by a set of the twentieth centuryconventions, fully two thirds some of all Alaska natives perished from a pandemic of measles, smallpox, which are ages old and influenzaother which have evolved over time. No community was spared Manners are not about how much to tip or how you should behave if you get an invitation to Buckingham Palace, they have nothing to do with class or financial status: they're about getting the basics right before we try to deal with more difficult matters. In most cases Of course we all have more relaxed manners when we're with family and friends, half of a villagebut it's population died within a weekbest if we learn to distinguish between our public and private lives and to act appropriately. In some cases, there were no survivors. It was ''Fucking Good Manners'' aims to help us on the end of an ancient way of life. Natives still refer to the dreadful period as the Great Death.'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842709194</amazonuk>

 {{newreview|author=Maxine Barry|title=River Deep|rating=3.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Two young women both have a love of the Thames. Melisande Ray's beloved hotel, the Ray of Sunshine is on the river bank. It's here that guests come who want to be pampered and looked after in the way that only the best hotels can do well, but when Wendell James checks in to the hotel it's not pampering he's looking for. He's buying a piece of land not far from the Ray of Sunshine and he's sussing out the competition. There's something personal in there too – if his new hotel means that the Ray of Sunshine goes under then that would be an added bonus. There's just a slight doubt in his mind when a red-haired maid catches his eye.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709088930</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Joe Gores0008324859|title=Spade and Archer|rating=4|genre=Crime|summary=Sam Spade decides, bravely, to set up his one-man detective agency. It's the 1920s in San Francisco so we have the prohibition era and all that that entails. Many locals, of course, choose to disobey the law, stick two fingers up, so to speak and as a result there's lots of bootleg liquor. Straight away, it's evident that Sam is a man of few words. He has the mannerisms of a cat - stealthy, quick on his feet. He's also a compulsive chain-smoker, but then again, most people were. In that era, holding a cigarette was an elegant, almost essential accessory. How times have changed.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140911323X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFowl Twins|author=Michael Morpurgo and Emma Chichester Clark|title=The Best of TimesEoin Colfer|rating=4.5

|summary=Most children enjoy a good traditional tale and this lovely book by Michael Morpurgo seems to Relax, everyone – our old friend Artemis may be off planet, but the baddies aren't getting away with skulduggery any time soon because they now have all not one but two members of the right ingredients – a handsome prince Fowl family to contend with. Those cute little twins are now eleven (and a beautiful princess who fall in love, get married frankly, cute no longer) and live happily ever after. Or do they? Sadlyin this, not long after Prince Frederico marries the lovely Princess Serafinatheir first independent adventure, she becomes very sad. Nobody knows what has caused such great sadness, but poor Prince Frederico is desperate to find they meet a cure for his wife's misery. He tries everything in his power troll and eventually decides to offer his kingdom without even trying manage to anyone who can make her happy again before she dies of two deadly enemies: a broken heart. Lots of people come to nobleman obsessed with immortality whatever the palace cost (to try other people), and an unusual interrogator-nun. The boys are chased, kidnapped, arrested and even killed (though not for long), all with the help but in the end the solution is a simple of one provided by some very kind travellerstrainee fairy.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405232552</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Shirley Jackson1472255798|title=We Have Always Lived In The CastleBad Fire (Bob Skinner)|author=Quintin Jardine

|genre=Literary FictionCrime|summary=Mary Katherine Blackwood, also known as Merricat, is eighteen, and lives with Nine years ago local councillor Marcia Brown took her older sister Constance in the family home where own life after being accused of shoplifting from a local supermarket. It'Blackwoods had s always livedbeen assumed that she couldn't live with the shame. Merricat quickly draws People were surprised that she committed suicide just before the reader into court case when she had been adamant that she would fight to clear her world by a series of matter name. She said that she'd been set up because she was hot on the trail of fact but bizarre statements – her likes include her sister and death cap mushrooms, and everyone else corruption in her family is deadthe council. The wealthy Blackwood family Her ex-husband has always kept the house 'steady against the worldcontacted Alex Skinner, Solicitor Advocate as well as retired Police Constable Bob Skinner', shutting out other peoples daughter, and they live near a village. Merricat believes asked that she look into clearing Brown'The people of the village have always hated uss name: it', and tells us s something which he feels that she hates them toohe has to do in memory of his son who was murdered recently.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141191457</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Simon WestonB07X6GLQ3Q|title=Nelson to the RescueSee Them Run|author=Marion Todd

|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=Nelson used D I Clare Mackay is still relatively new to pull Mike the MilkSt Andrew's milk float, but he has now retired: she was previously at Maryhill Rd station in Glasgow. He lives in the stable at the back of the dairy along with a couple of tricky rats, Rhodri and Rhys, a pigeon who has no sense of direction, a frog who thinks heShe's left quite a secret agent spy and an old racehorse who spends most of his time sleeping. Rhodri and Rhys find lot behind including a mysterious message on Mikerelationship that wasn's fridge and t going anywhere after Tom failed to support her when the animals believe that Mike has been invited to Buckingham Palace to receive an MBE. Somehow our hero, Nelson, finds himself travelling chips were down to London, pulling a ceremonial coach for Prince Charles as well as giving a TV interview about his experience.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848510454</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Elizabeth Baines|title=Too Many Magpies|rating=4|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Becoming She also left a mother brings a whole new world nasty situation, of fear into your life. Suddenly you see the danger in every situationher own making but not her fault, and fear and trepidation can be become your constant companions. In this novella, we meet a young mother who is married to a logical scientist. They attempt to control their childrenSt Andrew's futures on is a scientific basis, growing their own fruit and vegetables, giving their children nothing sugary, eating no eggs for a whole year until any adverse affects from them were disprovedfresh start. But after meeting with an enigmatic stranger our young mother begins to struggle as he introduces ideas of freedom Not long into her world. She begins an affair with him, begins to let things slip at home and with the children, yet finds job she is still continuously haunted by the sense of an ever-present danger.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1844717216</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Katherine May|title=Burning Out|rating=4|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Violet has it all – 's faced with a well-paid job, hit and a luxurious apartment all to herself. Everything is catered for; her meals, her clothes, run death and her health are all how she would like them to be. But the life she is leading is beginning to take its toll. On the verge of snapping, a drained and somewhat out-of-sorts Violet, withdraws back to her home town. There, she meets someone familiar, a ghost reminding her of how she used to be ten years earlier – a young carefree girl, full of life. Only this isnthere't a ghost, but a girl living the life Violet once lived – exactly the same. Haunted by the past Violet realizes history is repeating itself and is convinced events will happen again. Events s little doubt that will in turn haunt the girl.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906727392</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Amanda Downum|title=The Drowning City|rating=3.5|genre=Fantasy|summary=In a nutshell, youit wasn're reading this because you're wondering whether The Drowning City is good, bad or mediocre. You've probably glanced at t accidental - the rating and guessed card with the latternumber five suggests murder. I'm afraid it's not quite that simple. This is a debut that provokes decidedly mixed feelings. I started off convinced that I Andy Robb was going married to love this book. The cover art is effortlessly cool, the premise intriguing, the characters laden with potential for greatness and the backdrop is certainly evocative.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1841498149</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Tove Jansson|title=The True Deceiver|rating=5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Most people of my age will have come across Jansson's work unwittingly, via the televised renditions of the Moomin talesSandra. The readers amongst us would then have been entranced a few years ago to discover You could say that at last Thomas Teal they had set about an open marriage but there seemed to be a lot of the translation into English, first of The Summer Book 'open' and then very little of a collection of short stories which were published as the 'A Winter Bookmarriage'. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0954899571</amazonuk>left - on both sides, but would she want him dead?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Daniel Kehlmann 1786540991|title=Me and KaminskiThe Impossible Boy|author=Ben Brooks

|genre=Literary FictionConfident Readers|summary=After reviewing several long books, it's been refreshing to read such a fluent yet pared down story as 'Kaminski Oleg and Me'. In it, Sebastian Zollner, the obnoxious main character, shoves himself forward in a desperate attempt Emma entered their den to research find a best seller which will re-ignite his career as an art criticcardboard spaceship standing where they usually sat. KaminskiSlowly, the proposed subjectfront door opened. Smoke billowed out. And out stepped a boy, was dressed in a fashionable painter long agocoat with an even longer scarf, but now, ancient and chronically ill, has virtually slid into oblivionwound around his neck. So the second-rate writer is on a loser unless he can dig up some juicy details to hook the art world and general public.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847249892</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|author=Jim Helmore and Karen Wall|title=Oh No''"My name's Sebastian Cole, Monster Tomato!|rating=4|genre=For Sharing|summary=Marvin is entering " the Great Grislygust Grow-Offboy said, but just like him, his tomatoes aren"But you already know that."''t growing very big. He takes the only sensible course of action: he sings his tomatoes a song. The results are spectacular. Victory is surely within his grasp.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140524741X</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Joseph Delaney |title=The Spook's Stories: Witches|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary='Warning: Not to be read after darkAnd indeed they do. Ever since the summer,' are the only words on the back of ''The Spookwhen their friend Sarah's Stories''mother had moved her away, Oleg and on the inside flap, 'The Times' warns us that this book is 'seriously scary'...  The whole thing kicks-off relatively tamely, though, with Emma have been unable to find a story about a young Spook (a sort of monster-hunter) who falls in love with a witch and is forced new friend to bear the consequences when the witch's sister comes to stay and exhibits a taste for the neighbor-childrentake her place.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0370329961</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lisa Unger1447281357|title=Die For You|rating=3.5|genre=Crime|summary=Best-selling novelist Isabel Connelly is married to successful video game designer Marcus Raine. Or so she thinks. But when her husband fails to return from work, she realises something is wrong. Going to his office to try to find out what happens to him, she gets attacked and ends up in hospital, while his co-workers are killed. Things get worse for her, however, when investigating detective Grady Crowe reveals that Marcus Raine has been dead for several years, and the man she married was using a false identity. Infuriated by the betrayal, and the realisation that she's been living a lie for the past five years, Izzy takes matters into her own hands and sets out to find her husband and work out why he lied to her for so long. Ignoring police warnings, she delves deeper and deeper into a nasty underworld, and finds a tale which has its roots in Prague and rivals anything she could have plotted in one of her novels.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099522179</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewSalvation Lost|author=Lisa McMann|title=WakePeter F Hamilton

|genre=TeensScience Fiction|summary=Janie In the twenty-third century, humanity is seventeen and studying hard for collegeenjoying a comparative utopia. She's also working lots of hours at a local nursing home to earn money for college as it's unlikely her alcoholic mother Yet life on Earth is going about to provide much in the way of resourceschange, forever. College is JanieFeriton Kane's only chance at a life better than investigative team has discovered the one she's lived so far worst threat ever to face mankind – and so you canwe't blame her for being so single-minded in the pursuit of her goal. Only one thing stands in her way..ve almost no time to fight back.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847385036</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jaclyn Moriarty |title=The Spell Book of Listen Taylor|rating=3.5|genre=Teens|summary=Listen Taylor's father has just moved supposedly benign Olyix plan to harvest humanity, in with his girlfriend and they are adopted into order to carry us to their god at the Zing family, with all end of its delightful eccentricities and unusual behaviour – the Zings meet every Friday night for dinner and then disappear into the garden shed to work universe. And as their agents conclude schemes down on the 'Zing Family Secret'. Marbie Zing is terrified of doing something wrong and losing Nathaniel and Listen. Her sister Fancy is becoming increasingly disillusioned with her home lifeearth, and her daughter's year two teacher is coming vast warships converge above to terms with a break upgather this cargo. The stories of these people come together Some factions push for humanity to create a tale of lifeflee, love, and ultimately, what being part of to live in hiding amongst the stars – although only a family means.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330446363</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=F G Cottam|title=The Magdalena Curse|rating=2.5|genre=Horror|summary=Mark Hunter is the sort of father who chosen few would do anything for his son. After losing his wife and daughter make it out in a tragic accident, his surviving son Adam has become his whole worldtime. And Adam is an exceptional child – beautiful, incredibly smart and mature beyond his ten years – only recently he's been channelling the voices of But others refuse to break before the deadstorm. Plagued by horrific dreamsAs disaster looms, able animosities must be set aside to speak Russian in focus on just one goal: wiping this enemy from the hours after he wakes, drawing occult symbols when he doodles, Hunter believes Adam to be possessedface of creation. Doctor Elizabeth Bancroft is sceptical, until she meets Adam, and witnesses the horrors the poor boy endures Even if it means preparing for herselfa future this generation will never see.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340980982</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jon Berkeley1471186393|title=The Lightning Key (Circus Trilogy)Photographer of the Lost|author=Caroline Scott

|genre=Confident ReadersHistorical Fiction|summary=I shall start May 1921. Edie receives a photograph through the post. There is no letter or note with it. There is nothing written on the back of the photograph. It is a word picture of adviceher husband, Francis. Francis has been missing for four years. When you're being hounded by a circus masterTechnically, and a magicianhe has been "missing, for the soul of a tiger that's contained in a tiger's egg believed killed" but that's contained in the brain of your teddy bear, and your best friend - a fallen angel - is trying her best to make sure the other angels do not turn on you in a big way - then you're probably living the third book in something that a fantasy trilogyyoung widow can believe. Still - never mind, She hangs on the angelword 'missing's efforts will involve you entering a dream world of flight and cloud cities, disbelieving the chase after your enemies will take you across the world to desert oases and back, and friends new and old will be on board to helpword killed.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847384447</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sue Townsend1783784350|title=Adrian MoleThis Golden Fleece: The Prostrate YearsA Journey Through Britain's Knitted History|author=Esther Rutter

|genre=General FictionHistory|summary=Adrian Mole is now 39¼ It was December and living, quite literally, Esther Rutter was stuck in a pigstyher office job, sharing an all too thin party wall with his parents writing to people she'd never met and working in a bookshoppreparing spreadsheets. It's not quite how life was supposed to turn out. As he spends his days wrestling his strong willed 5 year old Gracie into The job frustrated her and even her school uniform, trying to reassure glamorous wife Daisy that life in the provinces is knitting did not as bad as she would like to believe, and desperately attempting to talk his mother out of soothe her quest to appear on the vile ''Jeremy Kyle'' show, worrying over his increasingly frequent visits to the toilet is really the last thing he needsmind. And yet, the worst is still to come. Think a crumbling economy, redundancy, affairs, death, a family member challenging him in the novel writing stakes and a query over the big C – it's January was going to be a tough year time for the Moles, making changes and there's little she decided that ol' Adrian can do except sit back she would travel the length and watch his life spin out breadth of control around him.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0718153707</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Lauren Kate|title=Fallen|rating=4.5|genre=Teens|summary=A 17 year old girl at a new school meets a mysterious the British Isles with occasional forays abroad, discovering and impossibly good-looking boy, who shetelling the story of wool's immediately drawn to. He seems determined to either ignore her or be outright rude to her, until he saves her life, history and how it had made and changed the two of them end up drawn togetherlandscape. This isn She't Stephenie Meyerd grown up on a sheep farm in Suffolk - 's ''Twilighta free range child on the farm''- and learned to spin, but it certainly has striking similarities.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0385738935</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Gareth Hinds|title=King Lear|rating=3|genre=Graphic Novels|summary=Hound me out of town in a most appropriate manner, but I do not like King Lear. For me, even as a trained actor, the language is too dense knit and weave from her mother and rich, the set-up too archly unfeasible to create the great tragedy ither mother's thought to befriend. To my mind the acclaim and esteem This was in which it's held is only mirrored by its own over-long, over-blown blusteringher blood.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0763643440</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Paul Theroux1401286208|title=A Dead HandBlack Canary: A Crime in CalcuttaIgnite|author=Meg Cabot and Cara McGee

|summary=As soon as heroine Polly turns Meet Dinah Lance. Frustrated that her policeman father will not allow her backto try and follow in his footsteps, and leaves the town of Lamonic Bibber for seemingly lumbered with being a day cheerleader at the seasideschool, Mr Gum falls out with his best friend, causing carnivorous carnage all over the placeshe is desperate to find her voice. Meat is getting thrown around like But it's going out actually more a case of fashionher voice finding her, and we have to doubt whether Polly and as when she gets frustrated or plain dissed at school her companions vocal outcry can ever utilise the shatter glass better than any opera singer. You could almost call it a weapon, or a power . But in order for her to call herself a superhero, there has to be a whole path of love and put things steps for her to rights. Especially as this book does not contain a magic unicorn called Elizabeth.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405248246</amazonuk>take – one of which will be into her past…

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Loose Women1789017977|title=Here Come the GirlsRonnie and Hilda's Romance: Towards a New Life after World War II|author=Wendy Williams

|genre=Home and FamilyHistory|summary=This is Ronnie Williams was the second volume by the panelists from that nice ITV series, ''Loose Women''. Just son of Thomas Henry Williams (known as promised on the cover, this book is an entertaining night with the girlsHarry) and Ethel Wall. It turns out that There's some doubt as to whether or not theywere ever married or even Harry're just like us. The faces are s birthdate: he claimed to have been born in 1863, but he was already familiar many years older than Ethel and even if you don't know them yet, with nine contributors, you'll soon find he might well have shaved a few years off his age. For a likewhile the family was quite well-minded woman behind one of to-do but disaster struck in the celebrity faces1929 Depression and five-year-old Ronnie had to adjust to a very different lifestyle. The women are universally warmOne thing he did inherit from his father was his need to be well-turned-hearted out and supportive: there will be many a lonely woman who reads this book and feels as if she sat down would stay with a group of friends for him throughout his life. He joined the eveningarmy at eighteen in 1942.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444700154</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jean Ure1542015421|title=Fortune CookieThe Royal Baths Murder|author=J R Ellis|rating=43.5|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=Fudge Cassidy and the Cupcake kid are best friendsWhen Damian Penrose was murdered there was no shortage of suspects: he was a deeply unpleasant man. If In fact the names remind you only surprising thing was that there wasn't more of a certain film then you'd be spot on as that's where Fudge's father got queue waiting to do the idea fromdirty deed. They're actually chalk and cheese – Fudge is loud mouthed and opinionated and Cupcake is quiet and thoughtful – but the combination works. They've just started at secondary school and Cupcake has rather What was a bit of a headline maker was that Penrose was a lot on her plate. Her brother Joey has muscular dystrophy crime writer and his problems are becoming more obvious. Add to this that her father couldnhe was strangled in the midst of Harrogate't cope with the problems and he now has another familys crime writing festival. It's just Cupcake, Joey and her mother – and not He went for a lot of money.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007224621</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jenifer Roberts|title=The Madness of Queen Maria: The Remarkable Life of Maria I of Portugal|rating=4.5|genre=Biography|summary=Born in 1734 in Lisbon, swim at that time the richest Royal Baths and most opulent city in Europenever returned, Maria was destined to become his body being found by the first female monarch in Portuguese historyreceptionist. Married to her uncle Infante Pedro, seventeen years her senior, she had six children (outliving all but one of them), and became Queen in 1777DCI Jim Oldroyd was the man tasked with investigating the crime. A conscientious woman, she had the misfortune to It would not be born in during the 'age of reason'only death, when church and state were vying for supremacy. Instinctively a supporter it was only because of the old religionquick actions of his sergeant, with a humanitarian approach to state affairsAndy Carter, she that Oldroyd's was no Queen Elizabeth, no Catherine the Great, and wore her crown rather reluctantlynot one of them.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>095455891X</amazonuk>

 {{newreview|author=David Hughes|title=Thomas Wogan is Dead|rating=4.5|genre=Graphic Novels|summary=Well, with a title like that, need I bother with a plot summary? A man has a day out in Morecambe, then the next thing he knows he's in the ultimate waiting room, with a strange array of animals (a bat, a toad, a sea urchin...), all waiting for... well, something. Yup, as you didn't need telling, he's dead.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>095580888X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Dave EggersDaniel Kraus|title=The Wild ThingsBlood Sugar

|summary=Meet MaxThis is a difficult read. When I say he sometimes gets And not because of the wrong end dark subject matter – that'll come later – but because of the stick about adults, or dislikes his motherway in which it's new boyfriendtold. This might put a lot of readers off, or gets and to be honest it'd be hard to blame them. Kraus tells the story in a bit feisty when he feels the need for revenge, distinctive voice unlike any other I am certainly understating the facts've read; an erratic dialect with heavy and frequent slang. He The immediate effect is disorientating and distracting, and it takes some time to feel natural. It's a bit of a rascal struggle to acclimatise to Jody's voice, to say get acquainted with his mannerisms, but the story wouldn't be the leastsame without it, and somehow it works. But all that might change when he finds himself travelling to a strange land of roisterous animalsIt shouldn't, and ends up installed as their kingbut it does.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0241144221</amazonuk>1789091934