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.Without Fail (A Jack Reacher novel)
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Lee Child

April 01, 2003
Another classic reacher book in the series, I could read them one after the other one !! If you like serial characters try the Soft Target novels by Conrad Jones they are electric thrillers, similar genre. Excellent reading Mr Child
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.The Lollipop Shoes (US title is The Girl With No Shadow)
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Joanne Harris

April 21, 2008
.....just a bit disappointing. I got really excited about this and bought it hardback as soon as it came out, however I don't feel it matched up to Joanna Harris's other works. Don't get me wrong, its well written, the descriptions of the chocolate still make your mouth water, and the magic is ever present, there is just something missing. I loved Vianne's unique and quirky character in 'Chocolat' but in lollipop shoes there is something that doesn't quite follow. A must if you've read Chocolat, but probably very frustrating if you haven't.
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.First Among Sequels
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Jasper Fforde

July 24, 2008
There is a whole lot going on in this book, maybe too much. There are several episodes that are totally self contained and seem to be included as padding to make the book longer. I found it quite hard to figure out what this book was all about. There were so many plots, sub plots and sub sub plots that I lost the main thrust of the book. Fforde has so many clever ideas, its a pity he tried to cram too many into one book. It felt like the middle book in a trilogy - the one that sets the secen for the big climax in the last book.
On the plus side, I really enjoyed the scenes with Thursday and her family. The eccentric Nexts have always been a higlight of the series for me and it looks like te next generation of Nexts are going to be a kooky as ... Read More:
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.The Importance of Being Earnest (Penguin Popular Classics)
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Oscar Wilde

March 30, 1995
In my quest to read more work by Irish literary greats this year, I recently purchased a newly repackaged Penguin Popular Classic version of Oscar Wilde's 1895 play The Importance of Being Earnest. This edition, with its vibrant green cover and tracing-paper thin paper (all 100 per cent recycled), retails for a meagre £2 -- that's a very cheap price for a masterpiece, in my opinion.

I had seen a film version of this play a couple of years ago (the 2002 version starring Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Frances O'Connor, Reese Witherspoon and Judi Dench) and I remember laughing out loud at a lot of it. But seeing the words in black-and-white print makes them seem even funnier -- if that is possible.

For those who don't know the storyline, the ... Read More:
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.A Perfect Revenge
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Annabel Dilke

September 03, 2007
I had high expectations for this book - the other Amazon reviews are glittering - so I was more than a little dismayed to find it a big let down. Quite simply, I found the writer's style to be clumsy (i.e. awkward use of adverbs such as 'very brazenly') and the plot rambled on dreadfully until, in the final pages, it fizzled out in one of the biggest anti-climaxes I've experienced in fiction. I persevered with the story in the vain hope that it would suddenly improve and contain some startling revelation. However, one of the so-called twists was embarrassingly obvious and the other was so under-developed as to be meaningless. Give it a miss!
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.The Metamorphosis (Dover Thrift)
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Franz Kafka

August 26, 1996
I don't know all the metaphorical significance of this book, but I feel on the surface that the book is an intersting read, that you want to know what is going to happen to the family and especially the protagonist. You also feel for these people, which is, considering how short the story is, uncommon.
You have to read it to appreciate it, but it definately deserves a place as a classic.
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.Shopaholic Ties the Knot
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Sophie Kinsella

July 01, 2002
I've loved all the Shopaholic books, but this is probably the best so far, you'll be astounded at how Becky manages to arrange two seperate weddings, almost by accident. If you're planning your own wedding, this book could be the perfect distraction, you'll realise however stressful things get, they'll never be as bad as this. Very, very funny.
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.Die Trying
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Lee Child

April 01, 1999
This is the second Jack Reacher book I've read, chosen after I found One Shot quite un-put-downable. It was a bit silly but enjoyable in a satisfying-action-movie kind of way, but if 'One Shot' is a slick Hollywood production, 'Die Trying' turns out to be straight-to-video poor-man's-Chuck-Norris dross.

It starts well enough with the punchy narrative setting up an intriguing mystery, and maintains some good pace until about half-way through the book where the plot just turns to mush, becoming a sequence of characters being captured, escaping, re-captured, re-escaping, being on the verge of execution, escaping, and so on and so on. It is filled with repetition and cliche and it builds to a feeble climax.

Writing this sort of escapism clearly takes talent, ... Read More:
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.Nineteen Minutes
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Jodi Picoult

April 03, 2008
This novel tells a very powerful story and should be required reading for anyone who has dealings with growing children. Given the nature of the story - a teenager's killing rampage following years of bullying, it was never going to have a happy ending. Long after I'd finished reading, I found the horror of it wouldn't leave my mind - I can't remember when I was so affected by a novel. Jodi Picoult was brave to tackle this very controversial issue, but once again she's pulled-off a remarkable feat. Strongly recommended reading.
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.The Color Purple
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Alice Walker

August 05, 2004
This was actually the first 'adult' book I read as a child - much to the shock of my grandparents!! I loved it and reading it again as an adult (understanding it that much more)has assured it as a favourite. I would recommend anyone to read this. It covers issues of race, sexuality, family, friendships and gender fantastically. The film version is very good and the book is a must to read.
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