Difference between revisions of "Book Reviews From The Bookbag"
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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> | <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> | <h1 id="mf-title">The Bookbag</h1> | ||
| − | Hello from The Bookbag, a 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 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 [[:Category:Interviews|author interviews]], and all sorts of [[:Category:Lists|top tens]] - all of which you can find on our [[features]] page. If you're stuck for something to read, check out the [[Book Recommendations|recommendations]] page. | + | Hello from The Bookbag, a 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 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 [[:Category:Interviews|author interviews]], and all sorts of [[:Category:Lists|top tens]] - all of which you can find on our [[features]] page. If you're stuck for something to read, check out the [[Book Recommendations|recommendations]] page. [https://ewritingservice.com/ Ewritingservice.com] is the custom writing service thousands of students trust all over the world. |
| − | [ | + | [https://myhomeworkdone.com/ My Homework Done] is your best choice among those websites that do homework for you. |
There are currently '''{{PAGESINCATEGORY:Reviews}}''' reviews at TheBookbag. | There are currently '''{{PAGESINCATEGORY:Reviews}}''' reviews at TheBookbag. | ||
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'''Read [[:Category:Features|the latest features]].'''<!-- Remove --> | '''Read [[:Category:Features|the latest features]].'''<!-- Remove --> | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | | | + | |author=DK |
| − | | | + | |title=My Encyclopedia of Very Important Animals |
|rating=4.5 | |rating=4.5 | ||
| − | |genre= | + | |genre=Children's Non-Fiction |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=The animal kingdom is a diverse one, full of creatures that do all sorts of things. The number of animals out there is so vast that even vets need to do a quick google when something strange appears in their practice. For budding vet-to-be animals are a constant source of fascination and they will absorb as much knowledge as you can give them. It is not practical to visit the zoo every day, but getting an educational and entertaining animal encylopedia is. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241276357</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | | | + | |author=DK |
| − | | | + | |title=DK Children's Encyclopedia |
|rating=4.5 | |rating=4.5 | ||
| − | |genre= | + | |genre=Children's Non-Fiction |
| − | |summary='' | + | |summary=More than sixty years ago my grandparents bought me an encylopedia: it was a major purchase for them as they didn't really ''do'' books, but it was a treasure trove for me and I still have it today. It didn't just teach me facts - it taught me how to find out information for myself and how to use an index. It opened my eyes to subjects I'd never considered and widened my knowledge on those I already loved. In format, in size and content it was very similar to ''DK Children's Encyclopedia'' and I can imagine a younger me hunched over it and begging just to be allowed to finish this bit before I went to bed. |
| − | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241283868</amazonuk> | |
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| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Kelly Barnhill |
| − | |title= | + | |title= The Girl Who Drank the Moon |
|rating= 4 | |rating= 4 | ||
| − | |genre= | + | |genre= Confident Readers |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= Every year the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest, in the hope that this sacrifice will keep their town safe. Little do they know that the witch, Xan, is a kind soul who rescues the children and finds them new homes with families on the other side of the forest. She feeds the babies on starlight to keep them nourished throughout their journey, but one year she accidently feeds a baby moonlight which fills the child with a powerful magic. Xan names the baby Luna and realises she must raise this magical child as her own, locking away her magical abilities until her thirteenth birthday. But as the day approaches where Luna's magic will emerge, she will have to learn to protect the safe and loving world she has always known. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848126476</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Robin Jarvis |
| − | |title= | + | |title= Time of Blood |
| − | |rating= 4 | + | |rating= 4 |
| − | |genre= | + | |genre=Teens |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= Travel back over a hundred years into Whitby's past to see two witches battle an ancient evil. Follow young Lil as she tries to avoid spoilers and find her best friend. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405280255</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author=J M Barrie and Robert Ingpen |
| − | |title= | + | |title=Peter Pan and Wendy |
| − | |rating= | + | |rating=4 |
| − | |genre= | + | |genre=For Sharing |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=It's a childhood staple - the story of Wendy, John and Michael Darling and their beloved nurse, Nana the Newfoundland dog who took them to school each day. It's George Darling, their father, who makes the mistake when he locks Nana in the yard and the children are whisked away to Neverland by Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. There's a wonderful mix of characters, from Peter Pan, the boy who never wants to grow up, Tinkerbell, the rather unpleasant fairy, Captain Hook, Tiger Lily, the lost boys and - of course - Wendy, but then it wouldn't have been a classic since the original stage production in 1904 and the novel of 1911 if it were otherwise. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1786750856</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Emily Winslow |
| − | |title= | + | |title= Look For Her |
| − | |rating= | + | |rating= 4 |
|genre= Crime | |genre= Crime | ||
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= In 1976, Annalise Wood disappeared on her journey home from school and instantly became a local celebrity. For decades the town of Lilling tried to solve the mystery of Annalise's disappearance until, almost twenty years later, her body was discovered. Annalise's body was badly decomposed and there was lack of DNA available, the only trace on the body was found in her skirt and does not match anyone on record. The chances of finding her killer were extremely low and the murder soon becomes a 'cold case' – but still the most famous Lilling has ever seen. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749022663</amazonuk> |
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{newreview | ||
| + | |author= Grady Hendrix | ||
| + | |title= Paperbacks from Hell: A History of Horror Fiction from the '70s and '80s | ||
| + | |rating= 4.5 | ||
| + | |genre= Horror | ||
| + | |summary= Demonic possession, murderous babies, man-eating moths… for these books, no plot was too ludicrous, no cover art too appalling, no evil too despicable. Now horror author Grady Hendrix risks his soul and his sanity (not to mention the reader's!) to relate the true, untold story of a fascinating and often forgotten era in publishing. | ||
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| + | Read the synapse-shattering story summaries!<br> | ||
| + | See the horrific hand-painted cover imagery!<br> | ||
| + | And learn the true-life tales of the writers, artists, and publishers who gleefully violated every literary law but one – never be boring. | ||
| + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594749817</amazonuk> | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Luke Dittrich |
| − | |title= | + | |title= Patient H.M.: A Story of Memory, Madness and Family Secrets |
| + | |rating= 4.5 | ||
| + | |genre= Popular Science | ||
| + | |summary= Luke Dittrich seeks to shed light on the man behind the initials, and in doing so, uncovered quite a bit more than he expected. | ||
| + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099571862</amazonuk> | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{newreview | ||
| + | |author=Sita Brahmachari and Jane Ray | ||
| + | |title=Worry Angels | ||
|rating=4 | |rating=4 | ||
| − | |genre= | + | |genre=Dyslexia Friendly |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=Amy-May was devastated when her parents split up: she and her mother left the delightful seaside cottage where the waves had sung her to sleep and moved into a 'garden flat'. That didn't mean that it had a garden, just that it was on the ground floor. They didn't have a lot of possessions as the bailiffs had taken most of them. Her father was living in another old cottage now and hopefully he'd be able to set up his kiln, but he wouldn't be able to home-school Amy-May. The alternative was Sandcastles Secondary School but the rather nervous Amy was considered to be too ''anxious'' to start at the school full time. As a gentle introduction to schooling she went to Grace's art school instead. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>178112695X</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Cassandra Parkin |
| − | |title= | + | |title= The Winter's Child |
|rating= 5 | |rating= 5 | ||
| − | |genre= | + | |genre= Paranormal |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=''A modern Gothic tale of twisted love, secrets and hauntings'' it says on the cover. I'll go along with that. Suzannah Harper doesn't believe in life after death or gypsies being able to tell the future, but that hasn't stopped her spending a fortune on psychics and fortune tellers in the desperate hunt for her son. Joel has been missing for five years. He skipped out of school one day after an argument at home and has not been seen since. |
| + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1785079034</amazonuk> | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | | | + | |author=Clare Foges and Al Murphy |
| − | | | + | |title=Bathroom Boogie |
| − | |rating=4 | + | |rating=4 |
| − | |genre= | + | |genre=For Sharing |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=Every day I leave the house with the feeling that I left it in a pretty tidy state, but on my return some things always seem out of place. This is especially true of my bathroom. Why is there toothpaste on the mirror, or a flannel on the floor? It would appear that I may not actually be to blame and that when I'm at work all the bathroom items come out for a boogie. Will I ever catch them in the act? |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571337317</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Mark Alder |
| − | |title= | + | |title= Son of the Night |
|rating= 4 | |rating= 4 | ||
| − | |genre= | + | |genre= Fantasy |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=In [[Son of the Morning by Mark Alder|Son of the Morning]], author Mark Alder plunges the reader into a chaotic, dangerous world, taking them back to the turbulent reign of Edward III and the dangers of the Hundred Years War. Adding elements of fantasy and theology to the mix, Alder created an intriguing read which is continued in ''Son of the Night''. With Lucifer, Satan, God, Devils and Angels interacting with a cast of real and well researched characters, Alder continues his exploration of the Hundred Years war whilst rather incredibly keeping his readers as educated as they are entertained. |
| − | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0575115203</amazonuk> | |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author=Kenneth Grahame and Robert Ingpen |
| − | |title=The | + | |title=The Wind in The Willows |
| − | |rating=4 | + | |rating=4 |
|genre=Confident Readers | |genre=Confident Readers | ||
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=Kenneth Grahame's ''The Wind in the Willows'' was one of the defining books of my childhood and more than sixty years after I first read the book I've just recently passed it onto another young reader. Since the book was first published in 1908 there have been some notable illustrators: Paul Bransom provided illustrations for the 1913 edition, Ernest H Shepard (perhaps better known for his illustrations of ''Winnie the Pooh'') in 1933, Arthur Rackham (possibly the leading illustrator from the golden age of book illustration) in 1940 and Robert Ingpen who illustrated the centenary edition of ''The Wind in the Willows''. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1786751062</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author=Simon Jenkins |
| − | |title= | + | |title=Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations |
|rating=5 | |rating=5 | ||
| − | |genre= | + | |genre=Reference |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=In the mid twentieth century the railway was something which harked back to the Victorian age with trains being supplanted by cars and planes, but steam was being replaced by oil, even then and in the twenty-first century oil is giving way to electricity. It's cleaner, more environmentally friendly and the stations which we'd all rushed through as quickly as possible, keen to escape their grime, were restored and became places to be admired, possibly even lingered in. Simon Jenkins has chosen his hundred best railway stations. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>024197898X</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author=Sarah Baker |
| − | |title= | + | |title=Eloise Undercover |
| − | |rating= 4 | + | |rating=4 |
| − | |genre= | + | |genre=Confident Readers |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= Eloise has a wonderful life with her two best friends, Albert and Maddie, until the German soldiers start to arrive and everything changes. Nazi-occupied France is not a place Eloise wants to be. Maddie and her family are taken away and Albert starts to act very strangely. Then her father disappears. Eloise is lost until she discovers her father has been working for the resistance and there might, if she is brave enough, be a way to rescue him before he's deported to Germany. She now has hope and a plan. But will the resistance let a twelve year old schoolgirl join them? |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910611131</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Nalini Singh |
| − | |title= | + | |title= Silver Silence A Psy-Changling Trinity Novel |
| − | |rating= | + | |rating= 4 |
| − | |genre= | + | |genre= Paranormal |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= Jump straight into a rich and diverse universe at this designated jumping on point. Visit a world of humans, changelings and Psy. The world the books have set in has faced a dramatic change and a new world-order of peace has been declared. The peace is painful and not universally loved. Into this world a bear falls in love with an emotionless Psy – how'd ya reckon it'll turn out? |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1473217571</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Colin Thubron |
| − | |title= | + | |title= Mirror to Damascus |
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|rating= 4.5 | |rating= 4.5 | ||
| − | |genre= | + | |genre= Travel |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= Damascus today is a monument to her past, to all the people and civilisations that helped shape her. In this enthusiastic piece of travel writing, Collin Thubron tells the tale of a city that has seen empires rise and fall, conquerors come and go and has lasted for over two thousand years. It's rich in impressive history and this book is rich in impressive detail. |
| − | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099532298</amazonuk> | |
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| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | ||
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{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Fearne Cotton and Sheena Dempsey |
| − | |title= | + | |title= Yoga Babies |
|rating= 4 | |rating= 4 | ||
| − | |genre= | + | |genre= For Sharing |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= Radio host, TV presenter, fashion designer, author – is there anything Fearne Cotton can't do? Based on the content of this book, we can undoubtedly add Yogi to the ongoing list of talents, because it's hard to imagine any other way in which this came into being. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783445645</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Claire Freedman and Jane Massey |
| − | |title= | + | |title= Florence Frizzball |
| − | |rating= 4 | + | |rating= 4.5 |
| − | |genre= | + | |genre= For Sharing |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= Florence Frizzball has the frizziest, curliest, most out of control mop of hair you've ever seen! And she longs for smooth, sleek, brushable locks like all her friends. As a kid, I remember being chased round the garden by my mother, brandishing a hair brush and trying to get me to sit still and have my frizz sorted out. To say I identified with Florence would be an understatement. As the tale goes on, though, we see another side to the story. Florence gets what she wants, but when her dream comes true she quickly learns that maybe she was wanting all the wrong things, and that actually her frizzball is part of her identity. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1471144542</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Stuart Maconie |
| − | |title= | + | |title= Long Road From Jarrow |
| − | |rating= | + | |rating= 5 |
| − | |genre= | + | |genre= Travel |
| − | |summary=I | + | |summary= I cancelled my ''Country Walking'' magazine subscription about a year ago and the only thing I miss is Stuart Maconie's column. His down-to-earth approach and sharp wit belie an equally sharp intellect and a soul more sensitive than he might be willing to admit. Let's be honest, though, I picked this one up because of someone else's review, in which I spotted names like Ferryhill and Newton Aycliffe. Places I grew up in. Like Maconie I have no connection (that I know of) to the Jarrow Crusade but when he talks about it being ''a whole matrix of events reducible to one word like Aberfan, Hillsborough, or Orgreave'' then somehow it does become part of my history too. Tangentially, at least. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1785030531</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Kieran Larwood |
| − | |title= | + | |title= The Gift of Dark Hollow |
| − | |rating=4.5 | + | |rating= 4.5 |
| − | |genre= | + | |genre= Confident Readers |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= This is the second marvellous book featuring the rabbits of Enderby, and the delightful young rabbit hero, Podkin One Ear. I love the format of a story within a story. The adventures of Podkin in ''The Gift of Dark Hollow'', are told by an old rabbit who has been a Bard all his life - a teller of stories and legends from the rabbit world. The Bard has an apprentice, Rue, desperately eager to learn his trade. He hangs on every word spoken by the Bard as they travel together to a festival. Rue is hungry to learn the art of story-telling, but also wants to know all about Podkin One Ear, and what better way to do this than to hear from the Master himself. The tale he tells Rue (and us) is a gripping and scary one, featuring Podkin and his friends in their ongoing battle to overturn the ruthless Gorm, and their cruel leader, Scramashank. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571328415</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Phil Allcock and Richard Watson |
| − | |title= | + | |title= Clumpety Bump |
|rating= 4 | |rating= 4 | ||
| − | |genre= | + | |genre= For Sharing |
| − | |summary='' | + | |summary= Clumpety Bump likes apples. Nothing wrong with that, after all: they're tasty and full of goodness. But you don't get delicious, juicy treats like that unless you deserve them, and naughty Clumpety is a bit too keen on saying ''I can't be bothered'' when his friend Wally asks for help. So, after several disasters, Wally decides he'd be better off leaving Clumpety at home and using his tractor instead. Unfortunately, things don't turn out too well, and our two heroes learn that if you want to be properly happy, other people need to be happy too. Selfishness just makes everyone sad. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848862458</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author=Roger Moore |
| − | |title= | + | |title=A Bientot... |
| − | |rating= 4 | + | |rating=4 |
| − | |genre= | + | |genre=Autobiography |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=The news of the death of Sir Roger Moore in May 2017 came as a great shock: he was one of those people you knew would go on for ever. There was just one small glimmer of light in the sadness - the news that a matter of days before his death he'd delivered the finished manuscript of his book, ''À bientôt…'', to his publishers. Just a few months later a copy landed on my desk and I didn't even bother to look as though I could resist reading it straight away. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782438610</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= Jonathan Stroud |
| − | |title= | + | |title= Lockwood and Co: The Empty Grave |
| − | |rating= | + | |rating= 5 |
| − | |genre= | + | |genre= Confident Readers |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= In a world that takes the best and worst of Victorian times (atmospheric fogs, candles, mudlarks who scavenge along the banks of the Thames for treasures) and the modern day (leggings, skinny jeans, cabs and concrete underpasses) absolutely anything can happen – and it does. For fifty years ghosts of all kinds have infested Britain, and as only children and young people can see them, theirs is the task of protecting the adults and ridding the country of the menaces, one by painful one. Lucy, George, Holly and Lockwood are the members of the smallest and most ramshackle independent agency, but their constant success (and survival despite forever lengthening odds) is a thorn in the flesh of the elite Fittes Agency, which has acquired almost total control over the whole ghost-bashing business. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0552575798</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author=Kenneth Steven |
| − | |title= | + | |title=Winter Tales |
|rating=4 | |rating=4 | ||
| − | |genre= | + | |genre=Short Stories |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= Upon opening this book you are presented with an eclectic collection of twelve short stories centred around a common theme of Winter. You are taken around the world as you read stories set in a variety of places from Helsinki to New York, Germany to Russia. Kenneth Steven cleverly utilises a key component of short stories - that you can read each story in one sitting - to his advantage as he gives each story an individual focal subject, such as bullying, ensuring that you are reading a distinct story every time you open the book. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910674508</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author= William Sutton |
| − | |title= | + | |title= Lawless and the House of Electricity |
| − | |rating= | + | |rating= 5 |
| − | |genre= | + | |genre= Crime (Historical) |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= Campbell Lawless is back, this time tasked with solving a series of terrorist attacks across the nation. Is it the work of the French, as police and public are being led to believe, or someone closer to home? Who can be trusted and what does Roxbury, an innovative inventor previously disgraced, have to do with the bombs used to cause chaos across the country? Employing the services of Molly, the effervescent ragamuffin from his previous adventures, he sets in motion a campaign of subterfuge which uncovers long held secrets, skulduggery and the desperate yearnings beneath Roxbury's constant invention. |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1785650130</amazonuk> |
}} | }} | ||
{{newreview | {{newreview | ||
| − | |author= | + | |author=K J Lawrence |
| − | |title= | + | |title= The Cossack |
|rating=5 | |rating=5 | ||
| − | |genre= | + | |genre=Thrillers |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= |
| − | |amazonuk=<amazonuk> | + | Daniel Brooking is not what you'd think of as hero material: he's a photographer of some merit and in his fifties he has a settled life. It was the disappearance of his assistant, Ivan Shevchenko, which disrupted everything. It wasn't unknown for him to disappear occasionally, but missing an exhibition was a first for him. He'd been distracted for a few days - and then there were the strange papers which arrived, to be kept safe. The authorities, in the form of a shadowy senior member of the security services, confirmed the view that Ivan was probably dead, because of some supposed connections with organised crime and drug dealing. |
| + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1999782704</amazonuk> | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{newreview | ||
| + | |author=James Goss and Russell T Davies | ||
| + | |title=Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) | ||
| + | |rating=4.5 | ||
| + | |genre=Children's Rhymes and Verse | ||
| + | |summary=Consider the Doctor. Just how many birthday and Christmas gifts must he have to hand out each year, were he to keep in touch with even half of his companions? He would certainly need a few novelty gifts for some of them, say, for example, whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the life of a Time Lord and that of some of his friends and enemies. As luck would have it, he has the space in his TARDIS to stock up in advance, so my advice to him – sorry, her – would be to pop along to his local Earth-based book emporium and get himself ready. And if you're working on a shorter timescale, with a shorter lifespan, and thinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, well my advice is pretty much the same. | ||
| + | |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1785942719</amazonuk> | ||
}} | }} | ||
Revision as of 16:15, 19 September 2017
The Bookbag
Hello from The Bookbag, a site featuring books from all the many walks of literary life - fiction, biography, crime, 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 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 interviews, and all sorts of top tens - all of which you can find on our features page. If you're stuck for something to read, check out the recommendations page. Ewritingservice.com is the custom writing service thousands of students trust all over the world. My Homework Done is your best choice among those websites that do homework for you.
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My Encyclopedia of Very Important Animals by DK
The animal kingdom is a diverse one, full of creatures that do all sorts of things. The number of animals out there is so vast that even vets need to do a quick google when something strange appears in their practice. For budding vet-to-be animals are a constant source of fascination and they will absorb as much knowledge as you can give them. It is not practical to visit the zoo every day, but getting an educational and entertaining animal encylopedia is. Full review...
DK Children's Encyclopedia by DK
More than sixty years ago my grandparents bought me an encylopedia: it was a major purchase for them as they didn't really do books, but it was a treasure trove for me and I still have it today. It didn't just teach me facts - it taught me how to find out information for myself and how to use an index. It opened my eyes to subjects I'd never considered and widened my knowledge on those I already loved. In format, in size and content it was very similar to DK Children's Encyclopedia and I can imagine a younger me hunched over it and begging just to be allowed to finish this bit before I went to bed. Full review...
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Every year the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest, in the hope that this sacrifice will keep their town safe. Little do they know that the witch, Xan, is a kind soul who rescues the children and finds them new homes with families on the other side of the forest. She feeds the babies on starlight to keep them nourished throughout their journey, but one year she accidently feeds a baby moonlight which fills the child with a powerful magic. Xan names the baby Luna and realises she must raise this magical child as her own, locking away her magical abilities until her thirteenth birthday. But as the day approaches where Luna's magic will emerge, she will have to learn to protect the safe and loving world she has always known. Full review...
Time of Blood by Robin Jarvis
Travel back over a hundred years into Whitby's past to see two witches battle an ancient evil. Follow young Lil as she tries to avoid spoilers and find her best friend. Full review...
Peter Pan and Wendy by J M Barrie and Robert Ingpen
It's a childhood staple - the story of Wendy, John and Michael Darling and their beloved nurse, Nana the Newfoundland dog who took them to school each day. It's George Darling, their father, who makes the mistake when he locks Nana in the yard and the children are whisked away to Neverland by Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. There's a wonderful mix of characters, from Peter Pan, the boy who never wants to grow up, Tinkerbell, the rather unpleasant fairy, Captain Hook, Tiger Lily, the lost boys and - of course - Wendy, but then it wouldn't have been a classic since the original stage production in 1904 and the novel of 1911 if it were otherwise. Full review...
Look For Her by Emily Winslow
In 1976, Annalise Wood disappeared on her journey home from school and instantly became a local celebrity. For decades the town of Lilling tried to solve the mystery of Annalise's disappearance until, almost twenty years later, her body was discovered. Annalise's body was badly decomposed and there was lack of DNA available, the only trace on the body was found in her skirt and does not match anyone on record. The chances of finding her killer were extremely low and the murder soon becomes a 'cold case' – but still the most famous Lilling has ever seen. Full review...
Paperbacks from Hell: A History of Horror Fiction from the '70s and '80s by Grady Hendrix
Demonic possession, murderous babies, man-eating moths… for these books, no plot was too ludicrous, no cover art too appalling, no evil too despicable. Now horror author Grady Hendrix risks his soul and his sanity (not to mention the reader's!) to relate the true, untold story of a fascinating and often forgotten era in publishing.
Read the synapse-shattering story summaries!
See the horrific hand-painted cover imagery!
And learn the true-life tales of the writers, artists, and publishers who gleefully violated every literary law but one – never be boring.
Full review...
Patient H.M.: A Story of Memory, Madness and Family Secrets by Luke Dittrich
Luke Dittrich seeks to shed light on the man behind the initials, and in doing so, uncovered quite a bit more than he expected. Full review...
Worry Angels by Sita Brahmachari and Jane Ray
Amy-May was devastated when her parents split up: she and her mother left the delightful seaside cottage where the waves had sung her to sleep and moved into a 'garden flat'. That didn't mean that it had a garden, just that it was on the ground floor. They didn't have a lot of possessions as the bailiffs had taken most of them. Her father was living in another old cottage now and hopefully he'd be able to set up his kiln, but he wouldn't be able to home-school Amy-May. The alternative was Sandcastles Secondary School but the rather nervous Amy was considered to be too anxious to start at the school full time. As a gentle introduction to schooling she went to Grace's art school instead. Full review...
The Winter's Child by Cassandra Parkin
A modern Gothic tale of twisted love, secrets and hauntings it says on the cover. I'll go along with that. Suzannah Harper doesn't believe in life after death or gypsies being able to tell the future, but that hasn't stopped her spending a fortune on psychics and fortune tellers in the desperate hunt for her son. Joel has been missing for five years. He skipped out of school one day after an argument at home and has not been seen since. Full review...
Bathroom Boogie by Clare Foges and Al Murphy
Every day I leave the house with the feeling that I left it in a pretty tidy state, but on my return some things always seem out of place. This is especially true of my bathroom. Why is there toothpaste on the mirror, or a flannel on the floor? It would appear that I may not actually be to blame and that when I'm at work all the bathroom items come out for a boogie. Will I ever catch them in the act? Full review...
Son of the Night by Mark Alder
In Son of the Morning, author Mark Alder plunges the reader into a chaotic, dangerous world, taking them back to the turbulent reign of Edward III and the dangers of the Hundred Years War. Adding elements of fantasy and theology to the mix, Alder created an intriguing read which is continued in Son of the Night. With Lucifer, Satan, God, Devils and Angels interacting with a cast of real and well researched characters, Alder continues his exploration of the Hundred Years war whilst rather incredibly keeping his readers as educated as they are entertained. Full review...
The Wind in The Willows by Kenneth Grahame and Robert Ingpen
Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows was one of the defining books of my childhood and more than sixty years after I first read the book I've just recently passed it onto another young reader. Since the book was first published in 1908 there have been some notable illustrators: Paul Bransom provided illustrations for the 1913 edition, Ernest H Shepard (perhaps better known for his illustrations of Winnie the Pooh) in 1933, Arthur Rackham (possibly the leading illustrator from the golden age of book illustration) in 1940 and Robert Ingpen who illustrated the centenary edition of The Wind in the Willows. Full review...
Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations by Simon Jenkins
In the mid twentieth century the railway was something which harked back to the Victorian age with trains being supplanted by cars and planes, but steam was being replaced by oil, even then and in the twenty-first century oil is giving way to electricity. It's cleaner, more environmentally friendly and the stations which we'd all rushed through as quickly as possible, keen to escape their grime, were restored and became places to be admired, possibly even lingered in. Simon Jenkins has chosen his hundred best railway stations. Full review...
Eloise Undercover by Sarah Baker
Eloise has a wonderful life with her two best friends, Albert and Maddie, until the German soldiers start to arrive and everything changes. Nazi-occupied France is not a place Eloise wants to be. Maddie and her family are taken away and Albert starts to act very strangely. Then her father disappears. Eloise is lost until she discovers her father has been working for the resistance and there might, if she is brave enough, be a way to rescue him before he's deported to Germany. She now has hope and a plan. But will the resistance let a twelve year old schoolgirl join them? Full review...
Silver Silence A Psy-Changling Trinity Novel by Nalini Singh
Jump straight into a rich and diverse universe at this designated jumping on point. Visit a world of humans, changelings and Psy. The world the books have set in has faced a dramatic change and a new world-order of peace has been declared. The peace is painful and not universally loved. Into this world a bear falls in love with an emotionless Psy – how'd ya reckon it'll turn out? Full review...
Mirror to Damascus by Colin Thubron
Damascus today is a monument to her past, to all the people and civilisations that helped shape her. In this enthusiastic piece of travel writing, Collin Thubron tells the tale of a city that has seen empires rise and fall, conquerors come and go and has lasted for over two thousand years. It's rich in impressive history and this book is rich in impressive detail. Full review...
Yoga Babies by Fearne Cotton and Sheena Dempsey
Radio host, TV presenter, fashion designer, author – is there anything Fearne Cotton can't do? Based on the content of this book, we can undoubtedly add Yogi to the ongoing list of talents, because it's hard to imagine any other way in which this came into being. Full review...
Florence Frizzball by Claire Freedman and Jane Massey
Florence Frizzball has the frizziest, curliest, most out of control mop of hair you've ever seen! And she longs for smooth, sleek, brushable locks like all her friends. As a kid, I remember being chased round the garden by my mother, brandishing a hair brush and trying to get me to sit still and have my frizz sorted out. To say I identified with Florence would be an understatement. As the tale goes on, though, we see another side to the story. Florence gets what she wants, but when her dream comes true she quickly learns that maybe she was wanting all the wrong things, and that actually her frizzball is part of her identity. Full review...
Long Road From Jarrow by Stuart Maconie
I cancelled my Country Walking magazine subscription about a year ago and the only thing I miss is Stuart Maconie's column. His down-to-earth approach and sharp wit belie an equally sharp intellect and a soul more sensitive than he might be willing to admit. Let's be honest, though, I picked this one up because of someone else's review, in which I spotted names like Ferryhill and Newton Aycliffe. Places I grew up in. Like Maconie I have no connection (that I know of) to the Jarrow Crusade but when he talks about it being a whole matrix of events reducible to one word like Aberfan, Hillsborough, or Orgreave then somehow it does become part of my history too. Tangentially, at least. Full review...
The Gift of Dark Hollow by Kieran Larwood
This is the second marvellous book featuring the rabbits of Enderby, and the delightful young rabbit hero, Podkin One Ear. I love the format of a story within a story. The adventures of Podkin in The Gift of Dark Hollow, are told by an old rabbit who has been a Bard all his life - a teller of stories and legends from the rabbit world. The Bard has an apprentice, Rue, desperately eager to learn his trade. He hangs on every word spoken by the Bard as they travel together to a festival. Rue is hungry to learn the art of story-telling, but also wants to know all about Podkin One Ear, and what better way to do this than to hear from the Master himself. The tale he tells Rue (and us) is a gripping and scary one, featuring Podkin and his friends in their ongoing battle to overturn the ruthless Gorm, and their cruel leader, Scramashank. Full review...
Clumpety Bump by Phil Allcock and Richard Watson
Clumpety Bump likes apples. Nothing wrong with that, after all: they're tasty and full of goodness. But you don't get delicious, juicy treats like that unless you deserve them, and naughty Clumpety is a bit too keen on saying I can't be bothered when his friend Wally asks for help. So, after several disasters, Wally decides he'd be better off leaving Clumpety at home and using his tractor instead. Unfortunately, things don't turn out too well, and our two heroes learn that if you want to be properly happy, other people need to be happy too. Selfishness just makes everyone sad. Full review...
A Bientot... by Roger Moore
The news of the death of Sir Roger Moore in May 2017 came as a great shock: he was one of those people you knew would go on for ever. There was just one small glimmer of light in the sadness - the news that a matter of days before his death he'd delivered the finished manuscript of his book, À bientôt…, to his publishers. Just a few months later a copy landed on my desk and I didn't even bother to look as though I could resist reading it straight away. Full review...
Lockwood and Co: The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud
In a world that takes the best and worst of Victorian times (atmospheric fogs, candles, mudlarks who scavenge along the banks of the Thames for treasures) and the modern day (leggings, skinny jeans, cabs and concrete underpasses) absolutely anything can happen – and it does. For fifty years ghosts of all kinds have infested Britain, and as only children and young people can see them, theirs is the task of protecting the adults and ridding the country of the menaces, one by painful one. Lucy, George, Holly and Lockwood are the members of the smallest and most ramshackle independent agency, but their constant success (and survival despite forever lengthening odds) is a thorn in the flesh of the elite Fittes Agency, which has acquired almost total control over the whole ghost-bashing business. Full review...
Winter Tales by Kenneth Steven
Upon opening this book you are presented with an eclectic collection of twelve short stories centred around a common theme of Winter. You are taken around the world as you read stories set in a variety of places from Helsinki to New York, Germany to Russia. Kenneth Steven cleverly utilises a key component of short stories - that you can read each story in one sitting - to his advantage as he gives each story an individual focal subject, such as bullying, ensuring that you are reading a distinct story every time you open the book. Full review...
Lawless and the House of Electricity by William Sutton
Campbell Lawless is back, this time tasked with solving a series of terrorist attacks across the nation. Is it the work of the French, as police and public are being led to believe, or someone closer to home? Who can be trusted and what does Roxbury, an innovative inventor previously disgraced, have to do with the bombs used to cause chaos across the country? Employing the services of Molly, the effervescent ragamuffin from his previous adventures, he sets in motion a campaign of subterfuge which uncovers long held secrets, skulduggery and the desperate yearnings beneath Roxbury's constant invention. Full review...
The Cossack by K J Lawrence
Daniel Brooking is not what you'd think of as hero material: he's a photographer of some merit and in his fifties he has a settled life. It was the disappearance of his assistant, Ivan Shevchenko, which disrupted everything. It wasn't unknown for him to disappear occasionally, but missing an exhibition was a first for him. He'd been distracted for a few days - and then there were the strange papers which arrived, to be kept safe. The authorities, in the form of a shadowy senior member of the security services, confirmed the view that Ivan was probably dead, because of some supposed connections with organised crime and drug dealing. Full review...
Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies
Consider the Doctor. Just how many birthday and Christmas gifts must he have to hand out each year, were he to keep in touch with even half of his companions? He would certainly need a few novelty gifts for some of them, say, for example, whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the life of a Time Lord and that of some of his friends and enemies. As luck would have it, he has the space in his TARDIS to stock up in advance, so my advice to him – sorry, her – would be to pop along to his local Earth-based book emporium and get himself ready. And if you're working on a shorter timescale, with a shorter lifespan, and thinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, well my advice is pretty much the same. Full review...
