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.The Outcast
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by: Sadie Jones

June 16, 2008
I am amazed that Richard & Judy chose this novel for their Summer Read collection. It is certainly not a book to read while relaxing by the pool. I enjoyed the reading of this as the style of writing is so pristine and fresh. It is also didactic and reveals the narrow minded prejudices of the not so distant past in a very powerful and clever way. It reminded me of Catcher in the Rye, one of my favourites. However, I just found the content so unedifying: self-harm, abuse, incestuous relationships, apathy, coldness etc, etc, etc. It was compulsive reading though as I had to find there was resolution and hope. If that hadn't come, I might just have put the book immediately in the bin. It has certainly made me think though and I am very ... Read More:
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.The Forgotten Garden
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by: Kate Morton

May 29, 2008
Fantastic book. This book was a pleasure to read. I took this book on holiday and enjoyed it from cover to cover. The plots that intermingle kept me wanting to read more and more, however the book was structured in a way that you could put it down if you needed to (without breaking the flow of what you were reading.) Which is something I always find good in a book, espcially one that is been taken on holiday.

The author gives real depth to each of the characters and there were times when my stomach actually flipped as I was so moved by the characters, I was reading at certain points in the book.

Cannot recommend this book enough. Although I enjoyed The House at Riverton I think this book is superior
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.No Time For Goodbye
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by: Linwood Barclay

June 12, 2008
The theme of the book was intriguing, and that's what compelled me to pick it up. The build up was not bad, but halfway through, it seems that the author had decided to throw in every cliche that had ever been screened on cheap thriller movies. The twists were predictable, and the red herrings were glaringly obvious. By the time the villain was revealed, I had already lost interest - particularly because the build up was painfully predictable. The villain was a laughable character - I agree with the sentiments of an earlier reviewer - one dimensional whose role seemed to just be for the sake of creating a villain. The final so called twist was also wrought with tiring predictability.

It's a shame, because the author had a really good idea ... Read More:
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.A History of Modern Britain
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by: Andrew Marr

May 02, 2008
Once I picked this book up I could not put it down.Memories came spinning back to this fifties boy.I came up through most of these times and so I could relate to this modern history.Andrew Marr has handled the political side very well in this book and has managed to keep his personal views from overspilling into factual happeninings.One thing it did for me was to show that our country is run by legalised liars with huge built in egos , no matter what party or Prime Minister has run Britain.How many times has Britain survived bankruptcy from the failings of all these politicians who treat their position as a career and right with greed being the reward? Why do we have to wait until something is history before we see the true failings and stories.Read this book and ... Read More:
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.Devil May Care (James Bond)
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by: Sebastian Faulks

May 28, 2008
this is the first bond book ive read, i really enjoyed the storyline it starts off slow but soon picks up. fast and pulsating its hard 2 put down, its more like the old bond films which i like the storyline is very good. the book concentrates on the story being in the middle east and france and on 1 villian j.gorner with a dodgy monkey hand and his sidekick chagrin, who bond and scarlett try 2 stop an evil plot 2 blame the british 4 a near disaster. bond must b pissed in this book he drinks more booze than an alcoholic, the only thing i didn't like is all the dodgy french words with bonds time in paris. any 1 who reads this book will find a good read not a bad debut by sebastian faluks.
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.The Book Thief
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by: Markus Zusak

January 01, 2008
This book is very hard to read. The writer tried so hard to tell us the story from the point of view of a ghost, and tried very hard to be inventive, as some reviewers said. But it is NOT. In recent years, we have got the American Beauty which is written exactly the same way. This is a bad copy at that.

From the pure literary point of view, this is a bad book, because of these factors: the narrator is too remote, and unbelievable, the story is weak for the readers. It is anything but engaging. There is no urge in me when I turned the pages. If it is not for the fact that I paid for it, I would not go beyond page 50. So it is definitely not a page-turner.

The writer also tried very hard to give the book a mood of depression. But he was not successful ... Read More:
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.East of the Sun
City Travel Guides > Books > Books
by: Julia Gregson

June 12, 2008
I was lying on the beach last week at Lyme Regis reading Julia Gregson's East of the Sun. Total bliss.
I strongly recomend it for a summer escape.
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.A Thousand Splendid Suns
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by: Khaled Hosseini

May 22, 2007
Never before have I cried over a book.

It had me captivated the whole time - thoroughly recommended!
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.Gordon Ramsay's Healthy Appetite
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by: Gordon Ramsay

May 02, 2008
GORDON RAMSAY'S HEALTHY APPETITE is a must have for those who want great tasting food without all the calories and fat. It seems some have been put off by the fact that this is not a diet book. No one ever said it was. Rather, it is a healthy approach to eating without blowing your entire way of living out of the water. What Ramsay wants to make clear (I believe) is that there are several factors involved in healthy eating: proportion, moderation, seasoning, and the right combination of foods, just to name a few.

Highlights for me include the "Four Cabbage Coleslaw," the "Penne Primavera," and the "Pot roast sirloin of beef." Other may warm to the "Glazed Gammon with pineapple Salsa," which I haven't tried yet but will soon.

While the recipes are the main ... Read More:
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.The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
City Travel Guides > Books > Books
by: Rebecca Miller

June 12, 2008
I started The Private Lives of Pippa Lee late one evening, expecting something fluffy and satisfying. Three hours later, in the small hours of the morning, I was smiling and crying and laughing and cringing . . . and totally satisfied. What an entrancing little book - sharp and sweet and wise. It reminded me that all of us women - friends, mothers, grandmothers, the woman next to you at the bus stop - have intense, imaginative, sensuous and private lives. A brilliant beach book, Mother's Day book, book to share with friends . . . and of course, I can't wait to see the movie . . .
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Used Price: £3.09