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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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==Reviews of the Best New Books== '''For Read [[:Category:New Reviews|new features reviews by category]]. '''<br> '''Read [[:Category:Features|click herethe latest features]].'''__NOTOC__<!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Rick YanceyMark Lingane|title=The Monstrumologist: The Terror BeneathDegrade (Tesla Expansion)

|genre=Confident ReadersTeens|summary=In late 19th century America''Degrade'' opens as it means to go on - with inyerface, banging action. Poor Arid, young Will Henry has been the apprentice of alone in the stern, forbidding Dr Warthrop desert since the death of his parentswere killed, who were also employed has a narrow escape as two mega-rigs fight it out and his is pretty much destroyed. He finds himself rescued by the doctormysterious-but-fascinating Ella and onboard the ''Moonlight'' under the suspicious eyes of its leader, Queen Bea. The twelve year old boy has seen many things in Bea's eyes flash with recognition when he tells her his service to the monstrumologist name - a specialist in monsters Arid Geiger - but nothing before he can prepare him for the fateful day when find out why that is, there's an elderly grave robber brings the doctor the twin corpses of a young girl assassination attempt and Arid is under suspicion and imprisoned. An escape facilitated by Ella - Queen Bea's daughter - sees Arid and her other daughter, Frey, stranded in the headless creature with fangs in his chest who had tried to feast on herdesert...|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184738546X</amazonuk>099461649X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stella WhitelawB07XLM3SM6|title=Midsummer MadnessMurder at the Dolphin Hotel|author=Helena Dixon

|genre=Women's FictionCrime (Historical)|summary=You'll like Sophie Gresham. She wanted to be an actress but suffers Elowed Underhay was just twenty-seven when she disappeared from paralysing stage fright and when Dartmouth in June 1916, leaving her daughter, Kitty, in the side effects became too much for care of her she worked behind the scenesgrandmother. She's a very good prompt despite the fact that you need A great deal of money had been spent to wrap up very warmly find out what happened to survive in the prompt corner she loves her job and most of the cast in the theatre companyconclusion was that she was dead, mainly because there was no evidence to suggest otherwise. It's a bit of a shock though when Kitty has come to terms with this and in 1933 she realises that was running the guest producer from New York is Joe Harrison, the man she helped out Dolphin Hotel in Dartmouth with her grandmother when he her grandmother had nothing to eat and nowhere leave to sleeplook after her sister who was ill. Sophie She was a little softer reluctant to leave Kitty in those days – charge - and Kitty could not understand why. She's always coped with the mix of holidaymakers, boating people and the naval college on the edge of town before - and she's done every job in the meantime hotel. And sheparticularly cannot understand why her grandmother's had friends have been roped in to keep an eye on things ''and'' why Captain Matthew Bryant has been hired to develop a protective shelltake charge of security at the hotel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089147</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|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 the author's intentions as set out in her Prologue. 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 Seishi Yokomizo and great solidarity that enabled him to become the most powerful man on the planet.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906558248</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=P J ParrishLouise Heal Kawai (translator)|title=Dead of WinterThe Honjin Murders

|summary=Loon LakeTo many readers, Michigan the phrase 'locked room murder mystery' is picture-postcard pretty enough to make the book one to read; preferably quantified by the words 'clever' or 'good'. For those who need more, here is the extra background – an idyll that sits serenely and snugly we're in rural Japan in the midst of a pine-peppered winter wonderland1930s. Louis Kincaid needs a little serenity in his life and on arrival in Loon Lake he feels almost The oldest son of an esteemed family is belatedly getting married, although the whole affair is really not as ostentatious as if he it might be – hardly anybody has come hometurned up, what with it being arranged at great haste. Life She only has not been easy an uncle representing her family, for Kincaidone thing. A troubledEither way, unhappy child the celebrations have gone ahead as planned, only for the wedded couple to be slashed to death in their private annex before the sun rises on their marriage. What with a man missing parts of mixed racehis fingers being in the neighbourhood, passed around various institutions and foster homes, Louis figures that if he is going to put some integrity back into mysterious use of a traditional musical instrument at the time of the worldcrime, he will need to wear this case has a badge to do lot of the peculiar about it.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847391346</amazonuk>1782275002

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Russell Celyn JonesCixin Liu|title=The Ninth Wave (New Stories from the Mabinogion) Death's End|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Science Fiction|summary=Pwyll rules If I'd been paying more attention when I picked this book up, I would have put it back on the shelf. Not because I didn't want to read it, but because I'd have figured out that it was the final part of a medieval-style fiefdom trilogy. Coming in partway through a post-climate change Wales. Life saga is different never the easiest thing to do and it's particularly true in many ways science fiction because without knowing the back- story thereare not just people whose names mean nothing to you (when it's a new-assumed they will) but-old social order built on feudalism and horsepower there are whole concepts that you won't understand. This latter is the main means particularly true of transport. But in many ways itCixin Liu's much the same work – his range is phenomenal. George R R Martin, who knows a thing or two about world- people still fight one anothercreation, towns still have sink estatesdescribed it as ''a unique blend of scientific and philosophical speculation, rich boys still have too much time on their hands conspiracy theory and cosmology''. All of that and precious little meaning in their livesmore. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1854115146</amazonuk>1784971650

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Owen Sheers1780894511|title=White Ravens (New Stories from the Mabinogion)Die Alone|author=Simon Kernick|rating=4.5|genre=Literary FictionThrillers|summary=In the old tale, Branwen Ray Mason is the sister of Bendigeidfran - the giant King of Britain. She marries the King of Ireland, who doesnin prison awaiting trial for murder and he't treat her well. She manages to send Bendigeidfran a message via a tamed starling and war and killings ensue. In this new tale, a young girl has just walked away from her brothers who, s in the wake of the devastating foot and mouth outbreak, are despoiling their heritage by rustling and illegally slaughtering sheep. She meets an old man who tells her vulnerable prisoner unit: as a story involving the superstitions about the ravens in the Tower of Londoncop, propaganda work during World War II, and an equally doomed love affair. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1854115030</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jennifer Bohnet|title=Follow Your Star|rating=3.5|genre=Womenhe's Fiction|summary=It's three years since Nanette Weston left Monaco. She'd been engaged to something of a Formula 1 racing driver and had lived target, but the life of unit is not as secure as the wealthy but inmates would have hoped and Mason is injured in a serious car accident had ended all thatriot. The accident could have killed her fiancé On his way to hospital he's broken free by armed men and she lost her driving licence because of the alcohol she'd consumedan offer is made to him. Her slow recovery was hindered by the end of her engagement but sheHe's found some contentment in being a nanny to two young children. When her friend and employer, Vanessa, remarries and takes an extended honeymoon in assassinate the Amazon Nanette man who is asked likely to take become the children back to Monaco where their father lives.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089090</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=J R Stephenson|title=Crooked Justice|rating=2.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Meet Barry Johns. Youcountry'll see him coming - s next prime minister and he's five hundred pounds if ll then be given a new identity so that he's an ouncecan start afresh abroad. Just donHis captors say that they't ever lend him money - he won't pay it back. A businessman with a share of a nightclub on Cyprusre MI6, he goes there for a customary break, and finds but Mason has his sort-of moll-type sort-of girlfriend has been installed as the bar dancerdoubts. He manages to tread both on the toes of his local colleague His choices are limited though and some Greek rivals. And when a rival in London chases him up for thousands of pounds owed he decides has personal reasons to pack up and shut up. It's a big stone believe that hides him, but he leaves a very awkward trail for everyone wanting to upturn it and get their revengewould be better if Alastair Sheridan was dead.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0955855713</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Stephen BakerAkwaeke Emezi|title=They've Got Your NumberPet

|genre=Popular ScienceTeens|summary=If you are in The people of the slightest bit paranoid, worry town Lucille believe that ''Big Brother'' is always watching or like all the monsters are gone. Their children are raised to believe understand that you they were saved by the angels, those who rid the town of evil, and there are not no monsters anymore. But one day, Jam accidentally cuts herself and bleeds a number, but little onto one of her mother's paintings. The blood awakens a free man (or woman)bizarre, then this may not be the book for youterrifying-looking creature named Pet, as who somehow comes to life and declares that it will do nothing is here to dispel any of those worrieshunt the monster. If, on Though Jam tries to convince it that all the other handmonsters are gone, you think 'the mathematical modelling of humanity' sounds like Pet is certain that there is one of the sexiest things ever, still, and are chomping at that the monster is hiding in the bit to learn more about ithome of her best friend, then you might well be interested in what Business Week journalist Baker has to sayRedemption.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099507021</amazonuk>0571355110

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Rebecca Tope1686751680|title=Fear in the CotswoldsMy Mummy does weird things / Maman fait des choses bizarres|author=Amelie Julien and Gustyawan

|genre=CrimeFor Sharing|summary=Thea Osborne Which child doesn't think that their mother is a house sitter by profession. , well, ''weird''? When people go away she moves into It might be that in the morning their homes and looks after their animals and the property. mother doesn't like speaking much when every self-respecting child knows that that is when you're at your brightest with lots to say? This time it's winter and she'Why'' then does Mummy stick her fingers in her ears? Then there's spending a month doing yoga in front of the Cotswold village of Hampnetttelevision, which could be worrying if it wasn't so funny. It wouldnWe won't be a job for all of us but Thea delights go into too much detail about what goes on in getting to know the local people bathroom and the area. In colour changes which have occurred when Mummy emerges and frankly, the past she's also been involved with less said the police in solving various cases but it looks as though that might have come better about her reactions to an end as your artistic efforts on the relationship she had with DS Phil Hollis has crumbledwall. For the first time Thea feels like an outsider – and a foolish one - when she finds footsteps in the snow which lead to a body in a nearby field. When the police finally arrive the body has disappeared and the police obviously wonder if she's imagined it all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749007478</amazonuk>I mean, what else would you use paint for?

{{newreview|author=Tad Tuleja|title=A Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases|rating=3|genre=Home and Family|summary=Take I hope you haven't forgotten how it feels to be much too excited for bed. If you're a look parent at the cover design of this bookleast, and you'd be mistaken ll know how it is to persuade an excited small person that yes, it is in fact time for thinking this was bed. ''What Wonders DoYou See...'' sets out to cater to these children. Instead of trying to persuade them that night time is a calm time, it takes a trivia compendium for all those foreign words slightly different tack. It tells them that have taken part sleep is actually an exciting time: a time of dreams in our English language since whenever they crossed which imagination takes over from their original homesand has no limit. But the title is definitely honest, for trick in accessing this wonderful and exciting world is a dictionary book to get calm and relaxed first, for reference, so that you can easily fall asleep and a browser for open the trivia buff seconddoor to it. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709089562</amazonuk>194812422X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Anne RiceMichael Harris|title=Angel TimeSolitude: In Pursuit of a Singular Life in a Crowded World|rating=2.5|genre=General FictionLifestyle|summary=Toby O'Dare This is an extremely efficient hit man with a passion for musicnot the book I was expecting it to be. For some reason I expected it to be another self-help manual on how to find calm, how to step outside the mainstream, history and playing his beloved lutebut it is not that at all. He Instead of telling us how it is more about the ''s also something of a lost soul having turned his back on God many years ago. One day while on a why'job' he is visited by an Angel who offers him a chance at redemption. Toby agrees Harries examines how we're eroding solitude, which used to become the Angel's be a natural part of our human instrument life, and help save lives rather than take themwhy that matters. He is sent on an assignment to help a Jewish couple accused Of course, he talks about how some people have found solitude and what has come of murder that, and eventually in 13th Century Englandthe final chapter he talks about his own experience of having deliberately sought it out, but mostly he wanders down the alleys and by-ways that his thinking about this lost art led him.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0701178140</amazonuk>1847947662

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ian MortimerAndy Briggs|title=1415: Henry V's Year of GloryCtrl+S

|genre=HistoryScience Fiction|summary=The medieval, Life in fact time-honoured, view of King Henry V as one of Englandthe near future's greatest heroes was propagated though not originated by Shakespeareall bad. We've reversed global warming and fixed the collapsing bee population. We even created SPACE, a virtual-sensory universe where average guys like Theo Wilson can do almost anything they desire. But almost anything isn't enough for some. Every day, normal people are being taken, their emotions harvested - and again more recently lives traded - to some extent by Olivier's portrayal in filmcreate death-defying thrills for the rich and twisted. At least one historian Now Theo’s mother has called him 'disappeared. And as he follows her breadcrumb trail of clues, he'll come up against the greatest man most dangerous SPACE has to offer: police, AI Bots and anarchists - as well as a criminal empire that ever ruled England''will kill to stop him finding her . . .|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0224079921</amazonuk>1409184641

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Deborah Gregory1609809378|title=Dancing With The Dead|rating=3|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=I wanted to read Rabbits''Dancing with the Dead'', because I'm interested in family history. 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). I felt with all these links, the novel could not fail to interest me – but this was not the case.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904529305</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewRebellion|author=Miss Read|title=Christmas at Thrush GreenAriel Dorfman and Chris Riddell|rating=4|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Set in the rural village of Thrush Green, this book is the latest in a series surrounding familiar characters. There is the feisty Ella Bembridge, who is finally having to admit that old age is creeping up as her eyesight fails. Friends such as Dimity and Charles Henstock are concerned about her, but she refuses to accept any help. Albert Piggott has decided it's time to retire now that his wife, Nelly, is a successful cafe owner and can afford to take care of him! And relative newcomer Phil Hurst and her husband are arranging the local nativity play, despite a number of set-backs. Will everything be in place for Christmas? And will independent Ella make a decision about her future?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1409101592</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Matt and Dave|title=Yuck's Robotic Bottom|rating=45

|summary=ItWe's concerned me for re in the realm of the rabbits, only the foxes and wolves have taken over. King Wolf, His Wolfiness, has declared the rabbits don't exist, but the pesky birds have spread rumours from awing that the bunnies are in fact still around. Demanding a while that it's relatively easy propaganda spree, King Wolf orders a humble monkey to pick up early readers for girls – princessesbe his official portrait photographer, magic soft toys, mermaids and pets abound – but whatever the poor innocent monkey prints out in his darkroom there's is a much smaller choice for boysdistinct leporine hint. It's important too with early readers that Can King Wolf succeed in proving himself victorious, can the content is ''interesting'' and reading becomes more than just something which you ''have'' rabbits show their continued existence to all who need to do at school and moves into being fun. Matt know of it – and Dave have found what can the answer poor monkey caught in Yuck.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847382991</amazonuk>between do?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=John E SmelcerInnosanto Nagara|title=The Great DeathM is for Movement

|genre=General FictionEmerging Readers|summary='As Western Europeans settled AlaskaSet in Indonesia, they brought with them diseases against which in the indigenous people had no natural immunity. At the beginning of the twentieth centurynot too distant past, fully two thirds of all Alaska natives perished from this is a pandemic of measles, smallpox, and influenzastory about social change. No community was spared. In most cases, half of a village's population died within a week. In Dealing with some casesdifficult issues, there were no survivors. It was the end of an ancient way of life. Natives still refer to the dreadful period such 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 hotelpolitical corruption and nepotism, the Ray of Sunshine book is on the river bankneither boring nor preachy. It's here that guests come educates gently, with vibrant, challenging illustrations, and it portrays how social movements need people who want to be pampered and looked after in the way that only the best hotels can do wellwill try, but even when Wendell James checks in to the hotel it's not pampering he's looking forseems that they will fail. He's buying The message is a piece of land not far from the Ray of Sunshine and he's sussing out the competition. There's something personal positive one; that in there too – if his new hotel means that an increasingly uncertain world, we do still have 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 eyepower to instigate change.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709088930</amazonuk>1609809351

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Joe Gores1780724047|title=Spade A Dictionary of Interesting and ArcherImportant Dogs|author=Peter J Conradi

|genre=CrimePets|summary=Sam Spade decidesI struggle to resist a book about dogs, bravely, to set up his but I did wonder why this onewas so ''thin'': given that I've never encountered a dog who wasn't interesting or important -man detective agencyand probably both, I was expecting a massive tome. ItBut 's the 1920s in San Francisco so we have the prohibition era 'A Dictionary of Interesting and all that that entails. Many locals, Important Dogs'' is actually ''a rich compendium of course, choose to disobey the law, stick two fingers up, so to speak world's most significant and as a result therebeloved dogs''s lots of bootleg liquor. Straight away, and it's evident that Sam is certainly a man of few wordsrich treasure trove. He has the mannerisms of a cat - stealthyWe begin with Peter J Conradi's four collies: Cloudy, quick on his feetSky. Bradley and Max. HeThey's also a compulsive chain-smokerre consecutive rather than simultaneous dogs, but then again, most people werewhat comes over is Conradi's love for each and every one of them. In I knew that era, holding a cigarette I was an elegant, almost essential accessory. How times have changedin safe hands.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140911323X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Michael Morpurgo and Emma Chichester Clark1785769294|title=The Best of TimesMan at the Window (Detective Cardellini)|author=Robert Jeffreys

|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=Most children enjoy It's when we read that a good traditional tale and this lovely book by Michael Morpurgo seems young boy is creeping reluctantly to have all the right ingredients – a handsome prince teacher's bedroom one October night that we realise something is badly wrong. Nowadays you ''might'' hope that something would be done about it fairly quickly but this was 1965 and a beautiful princess who fall child abuse was generally regarded as malicious mischief on the part of the child. The boy would be safe that night though - albeit in love, get married and live happily ever afterthe most horrific fashion. Or do they? Sadly When he reached Captain Edmund's bedroom he found the man dead on the floor, not long after Prince Frederico marries the lovely Princess Serafina, she becomes very sadtop of his skull missing. Nobody knows what has caused such great sadness, but poor Prince Frederico is desperate to find a cure for his wife The school's misery. He tries everything initial reaction was that this was a dreadful accident: there had been a cull of kangaroos in his power some nearby fields and eventually decides to offer his kingdom to anyone who can make her happy again before she dies of it was obviously a broken heart. Lots of people come to the palace to try and help but in the end stray bullet that had killed the solution is a simple one provided by some very kind travellersCaptain.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405232552</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Shirley Jackson1786695227|title=We Have Always Lived In The CastleInvisible in a Bright Light|author=Sally Gardner

|summary=Nelson used to pull Mike the Milk's milk float, but he has now retired. He lives in the stable at the back The beginning of this excellent story will leave the dairy along with a couple of tricky rats, Rhodri and Rhys, reader more than a pigeon little confused: who has no sense of direction, a frog who thinks he's a secret agent spy and an old racehorse who spends most of his time sleeping. Rhodri and Rhys find a mysterious message on Mike's fridge and is the animals believe that Mike has been invited to Buckingham Palace to receive an MBE. Somehow our hero, Nelson, finds himself travelling 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 a mother brings a whole new world of fear into your life. Suddenly you see man in the danger in every situation, and fear and trepidation can be become your constant companions. In this novellagreen suit, we meet a young mother who what is married to a logical scientist. They attempt to control their children's futures on a scientific basisthe Reckoning, growing their own fruit and vegetables, giving their children nothing sugary, eating no eggs for why are rows of people in a whole year until any adverse affects from them were disproved. cave? But after meeting stick with an enigmatic stranger our young mother begins to struggle as he introduces ideas of freedom into her world. She begins an affair with him, begins to let things slip at home and with the children, yet finds 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 – a well-paid job, and a luxurious apartment all to herselfMs. Everything Gardner is catered for; her meals, her clothes, and her health are all how she would like them to be. But very cleverly letting us experience the life she is leading is beginning to take its tollsame disorientation as our heroine. On We watch in dismay as the verge of snappingstrange man, a drained and somewhat out-of-sorts Violetwho seems to have no eyes, withdraws back does his best to persuade her home townto answer his questions. ThereBut for some reason, she meets someone familiarCeleste, a ghost reminding despite her of how she used to be ten years earlier – a young carefree girl, full of life. Only this isn't a ghostbewilderment, but a girl living the life Violet once lived – exactly the same. Haunted by the past Violet realizes history is repeating itself remains wary and is convinced events will happen again. Events that will in turn haunt the girlgives nothing away.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906727392</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Amanda Downum1912374854|title=The Drowning CityViolet|author=S J I Holliday

|genre=FantasyThrillers|summary=In a nutshell, youI're reading this because you're wondering whether The Drowning City ve never been but understand that travelling is good, bad or mediocre. You've probably glanced at the rating all about meeting new people and guessed the latterforming instantaneous bonds with people in often chance situations. I'm afraid itWell, that's not quite that simple. This exactly what happens when the two main/only characters meet in a travel agency in Beijing - Carrie is unsuccessfully trying to get a debut that provokes decidedly mixed feelings. I started off convinced that I was going to love this book. The cover art is effortlessly cool, refund on an extra ticket for the premise intriguing, the characters laden with potential for greatness Trans-Siberian train and the backdrop Violet 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 trying to unsuccessfully buy a ticket for the televised renditions of the Moomin talessame sold-out journey. The readers amongst us would then have been entranced a few years ago to discover that at last Thomas Teal had set about As the translation into Englishtwo team up, travelling through Mongolia, first of The Summer Book Serbia and then of a collection of short stories which were published as 'A Winter Book'. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0954899571</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Daniel Kehlmann |title=Me and Kaminski|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=After reviewing several long booksinto Russia, itcould's ve been refreshing to read such a fluent yet pared down story as 'Kaminski and Me'. In it, Sebastian Zollner, the obnoxious main character, shoves himself forward in start of a desperate attempt to research beautiful friendship but this a best seller which will re-ignite his career as an art critic. Kaminski, the proposed subject, was thriller after all so it quickly becomes a fashionable painter long agotale of obsession, but nowmanipulation, ancient and chronically ill, has virtually slid into obliviontoxic friendships. 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>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Louis Barfe1912374838|title=Turned Out Nice Again: The Story of British Light EntertainmentNothing Important Happened Today|author=Will Carver

|genre=EntertainmentGeneral Fiction|summary=Light entertainment Nothing Important Happened Today is often looked down upona dark, as if it's a bit nafftwisted, tepid and ignorabledifficult read. What's Stories about cults often forgotten are, but this is that different; it's hugely popular, enjoyable and much written with a sense of it style that is of the highest qualityquite unlike anything I've read before. Louis BarfeI can's Turned Out Nice Again tells t remember ever having read a novel with such an odd, distinctive narrative voice. While a slim and relatively small book, the complete story slow-moving nature of British light entertainmentthe plot makes it feel far larger than its 276 pages.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843543818</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jim Helmore and Karen Wallwilliamabbey|title=Oh No, Monster Tomato!The Pursuit of William Abbey|author=Claire North|rating=43.5|genre=For SharingParanormal|summary=Marvin is entering When William Abbey fails to prevent the lynching of a young boy in 1880's South Africa, he finds himself cursed by the grieving mother. A naïve English Doctor, he slowly learns the weight of the Great Grislygust Grow-Offcurse upon him, but just like as the shadow of the dead boy begins to follow himacross the world. Never stopping, his tomatoes aren't always growing very big– it crosses oceans and mountains in pursuit of William. He takes As he finds himself unable to resist speaking the only sensible course of action: truths that he hears in others, he sings his tomatoes a song. The results are spectacular. Victory also learns that the dark shadow is surely within his grasp.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140524741X</amazonuk>deadly – and seeks to kill the one he loves the most…

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Joseph Delaney 1643785036|title=The Spook's Stories: WitchesWondrous Apothecary|author=Mary E Martin

|genre=TeensGeneral Fiction|summary='Warning: Not to be read after darkThose who have known Alexander Wainwright,' are the only words on the back of landscape artist famous for his Turner prize-winning ''The Spook's StoriesHay Wagon'', and on Rinaldo, the inside flap, 'The Times' warns us renowned conceptual artist would say that this book is they'seriously scaryre chalk and cheese, if not sworn enemies. If you'...  The whole thing kicks-off relatively tamelyve watched the relationship, as has our narrator, thoughart dealer Jamie Helmsworth, with a story about a young Spook (a sort of monster-hunter) who falls in love with a witch and is forced to bear the consequences when the witchyou's sister comes to stay and exhibits a taste for the neighbor-children.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0370329961</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Lisa Unger|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 workd have said that they were magnets, she realises something is wrong. Going to his office to try to find out what happens to him, she gets attacked drawing and ends up repulsing each other in hospital, while his co-workers are killedequal measure. Things get worse for her Wainwright was at the socially acceptable end of the artistic continuum, howeverbut with Rinaldo, when investigating detective Grady Crowe reveals it was all too obvious that Marcus Raine has been dead for several years, and the man she married there was using but a false identityfine dividing line between conceptual art and public nuisance. Infuriated by the betrayal As time has worn on, and the realisation that shehe's frequently been living a lie for brought to the attention of 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 longpolice. Ignoring police warnings On this latest occasion, she delves deeper we see him charged with arson 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 theft of her novels''The Hay Wagon''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099522179</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lisa McMannMary H.K. Choi|title=WakePermanent Record

|summary=Janie Pablo, a college drop-out, is seventeen and studying hard for collegeworking at a New York bodega. She He's also massively in debt, he's avoiding his mother, and he finds his joy in creating unusual snacks with random ingredients! Whilst working lots of hours at one evening, he's surprised to discover that the girl he is chatting with as he serves is a local nursing home to earn money for college super-famous pop star and, as unlikely as it's unlikely her alcoholic mother may seem, they start a relationship. With one character who is going trying very hard not to provide much in be seen or noticed by anyone and the way of resources. College other who is Janieseen and followed and hounded by everyone all over the world, it's only chance at an interesting clash as they come together. This isn't just a life better than the one shelove story though, and actually it's lived so far and so you canreally just Pab't blame her for being so single-minded in s story, about the pursuit of her goal. Only one thing stands journey he takes in her way..his life via his meet-up with Leanna Smart.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847385036</amazonuk>0349003459

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jaclyn Moriarty 1609809319|title=The Spell Book of Listen Taylor|rating=3.5|genre=Teens|summary=Listen Taylor's father has just moved in with his girlfriend and they are adopted into the Zing family, with all of its delightful eccentricities and unusual behaviour – the Zings meet every Friday night for dinner and then disappear into the garden shed to work 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 life, and her daughter's year two teacher is coming to terms with a break up. The stories of these people come together to create a tale of life, love, and ultimately, what being part of a family means.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330446363</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewLong-Haired Cat-Boy Cub|author=F G Cottam|title=The Magdalena Curse|rating=2.5|genre=Horror|summary=Mark Hunter is the sort of father who would do anything for his son. After losing his wife and daughter in a tragic accidentEtgar Keret, his surviving son Adam has become his whole world. And Adam is an exceptional child – beautiful, incredibly smart Aviel Basil and mature beyond his ten years – only recently he's been channelling the voices of the dead. Plagued by horrific dreams, able to speak Russian in the hours after he wakes, drawing occult symbols when he doodles, Hunter believes Adam to be possessed. Doctor Elizabeth Bancroft is sceptical, until she meets Adam, and witnesses the horrors the poor boy endures for herself.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340980982</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jon Berkeley|title=The Lightning Key Sondra Silverston (Circus Trilogytranslator)|rating=4.5

|summary=I shall start One day a boy is in the zoo with a word of advicehis father when the man gets called away on urgent business. When youThe boy isn're being hounded by t hustled into a circus mastercab and taken home first, and a magicianthough, for the soul of a tiger thatno – he's contained in a tiger's egg that's contained in the brain of your teddy beargiven hot dog money, and taxi money, and your best friend - a fallen angel - is trying her best told to make sure the other angels do not turn just stick around on you in a big way - then you're probably living the third book in a fantasy trilogyhis own and enjoy himself. Still - never mindWell, the angelit's efforts will involve you entering a dream world of flight and cloud cities, no surprise that the chase after your enemies will take you across orphan-for-an-afternoon sensation the world to desert oases lad feels doesn't make him happy, and backso he thinks of a species name for himself, and friends curls himself up into an empty cage as if he were a new and old will be on board to helpexhibit.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847384447</amazonuk> And it's then the drama begins…

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sue Townsend1785785516|title=Adrian Mole: The Prostrate YearsFucking Good Manners|author=Simon Griffin|rating=54|genre=General FictionLifestyle|summary=Adrian Mole is now 39¼ and livingManners maketh man, quite literally, in they say. It certainly makes life easier if everybody abides by a pigstyset of conventions, sharing an all too thin party wall with his parents some of which are ages old and working in a bookshopothers which have evolved over time. It's Manners are not quite about how life was supposed much to turn out. As he spends his days wrestling his strong willed 5 year old Gracie into her school uniform, trying to reassure glamorous wife Daisy that life in the provinces is not as bad as she would like tip or how you should behave if you get an invitation to believeBuckingham Palace, and desperately attempting they have nothing to talk his mother out of her quest to appear on the vile do with class or financial status: they''Jeremy Kyle'' show, worrying over his increasingly frequent visits to the toilet is really re about getting the last thing he needs. And yet, the worst is still basics right before we try to comedeal with more difficult matters. Think a crumbling economy Of course, redundancy, affairs, death, a we all have more relaxed manners when we're with family member challenging him in the novel writing stakes and a query over the big C – friends, but it's going best if we learn to be a tough year for the Moles, distinguish between our public and there's little that ol' Adrian can do except sit back and watch his life spin out 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 private lives and impossibly good-looking boy, who she's immediately drawn toact appropriately. He seems determined to either ignore her or be outright rude to her, until he saves her life, and the two of them end up drawn together. This isn 't Stephenie Meyer's Fucking Good Manners''Twilight'', but it certainly has striking similaritiesaims to help us on the way.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0385738935</amazonuk>