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.Wuthering Heights (Penguin Popular Classics)
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Emily Bronte

January 13, 1994
I thought it was time to expand my reading horizons with some classic literature without blowing my budget, so this Penguin Popular Classic at £2 seemed the ideal choice, particularly as, when I used the 'Search Inside' facility, it showed in the list of contents a preface, chronology, introduction and further reading.

When I received the book, these 42 pages were missing, and on closer inspection I see the 'Search Inside' facility shows a completely different, more expensive Penguin edition.

This seems highly misleading to me - it's disappointing that a publisher with the status of Penguin would mislead customers like this.

5 stars for the story, reduced to 3 for cheating!!
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.QI: The Book of General Ignorance
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: John Lloyd, John Mitchinson

October 05, 2006
As has been mentioned before, this loose tie-in to the BBC QI programme feels rather like shuffling through a box of randomly shuffled Trivial Pursuit cards and peeking at the (often surprising) answers.

There is a bit more to it than that though. The subjects are grouped together into some approximation of commonality - the animal world, war, inventors, science, colours etc. and each topic does go into some depth about its subject. Often, and most fascinatingly, this includes exploring how myths have grown around the subject.

Many of the facts will surprise you (one of my eye-openers was that the Celtic ethnicity as we understand it today has only existed since 21st June 1792), whereas many will already be widely known ... Read More:
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.The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Paulo Coelho

September 06, 1999
I read this because it appeared on the BBC 100 Best Reads list and had some good reviews. I was rather disappointed to say the least. The writing style is simple and lacking in depth, although it may just not translate well. The story is a parable with a message about 'following one's dream'. Although this message is repeated frequently the story line is a bit forced and ends as something of a shaggy dog story. It's a bit like a cross between an Aesop's fable and a self-help book, with a bit of half-baked philosophy in the mix. I think it would appeal to older children and those who like something cheerful and unchallenging.
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.Miracles of Life: Shanghai to Shepperton : an Autobiography
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: J.G. Ballard

September 01, 2008
I won't give a synopsis since this has already been done ably by other reviewers. Why this autobiography 'worked' for me is that Mr Ballard has reflected his past experiences to his present situation so movingly, and with characteristic modesty. As a young man he considered his unusual childhood to be of little interest to anyone; only late on in his life has it provided him with explicit material for fiction - and now, with this account - for fact - only latterly has he recognised that he had unconsciously used his childhood experiences as literary motifs.

Judging by his enthusiasm that came through in the middle part of the book, I suspect that Mr Ballard derived most satisfaction in his life from raising his three children on his own following ... Read More:
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.The Other Boleyn Girl
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Philippa Gregory

October 07, 2002
This book was recommened to me by friends, and I am so glad that I took their advice and read this. It is one of my favourite books of all time. I just loved it so much, I found it really interesting to see the story unfold from the perspective from Annes sister, and experience the life of the court through her eyes. Luckily I read this book before I saw the movie otherwise I never would have bothered with it. The history might not be 100% accurate but its so well written and enjoyable that I didn't care and just enjoyed the novel at face value. Highly recommended!!
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.Centurion (Roman Legion 8)
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Simon Scarrow

August 07, 2008
The sign of a good book is the inability to put it down. Unfortunately I spent more time putting it down than picking it up. The hardback took me an age to read - in fact I have just finished it and was sorely disappointed. The problem is it is distinctly average, nothing really surprising happens. Yes theres some exciting set pieces, but they are just that ... set pieces, set in motion by some cosmic deus ex machina. Scarrow is certainly the weakest of the popular historical writers, Iggulden and, especially, Cornwell both write far superior novels. If you have nothing else to read ... go for it. If you have some other books in a pile, then i'd leave it.
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.Angel Uncovered
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Katie Price

July 17, 2008
I got this book as soon as it came out! i'm such a fan of her fiction stories! I've also read angel and crystal but this was BY FAR the best so far! i nearly cried at the end of the bokk- because i had finished reading it! i just wanted it to go on forever! - I no waht your thinkin oh my god what a SADDO. - I think that this book is her best SO FAR....... ,

just give it a chance... you'll never no unless you read it!.


Hopes shes writes other fiction stories!

:)



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.The Return
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Victoria Hislop

June 26, 2008
The Island was a fab read, and actually inspired me to visit Crete(and Spinalonga),and The Return has done the same thing..Im off to Granada next week!!I just love the way Victoria Hislop transports you to where the story is set in a most realistic way and I was so engrossed in the whole story.It was interesting to find out about the attrocities that happened within the civil war and how it affected normal families. The Ramirez family story was touching, how they were all so different in their views and lifestyles,as would be in any family,but that these differences led to tragedies!Mercedez story showed how her love of dancing helped her through everything during her life,all the sadness and heartache,but she also had happiness.I enjoyed this book thoroughly and though ... Read More:
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.The Birthday Present
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: Barbara Vine

August 28, 2008
(I intended four stars but I can't change it back. Oh well.)

The Birthday Present has probably been the book I was most looking forward to in 2008, especially considering how good Rendell's last effort under the Vine name - The Minotaur - was. Sadly, this doesn't get within a long creeping tendril's distance of the quality.

It's early 1990. The Thatcher government it's nearing it's last days, and there's a love affair going on. Ivor Tesham, a thirty-year-old political rising star is secretly bedding beautiful London housewife Hebe Furnal. For her birthday Ivor decides to give her a special present that certain more open couples have begun to engage in: a practice known as `adventure sex'. Hebe is to be abducted, consenting but unknowing of when, at an ... Read More:
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.Of Mice and Men: with Notes: With Notes (Longman Literature Steinbeck)
City Travel Guides > Books > By Period
by: John Steinbeck, Jim Taylor

September 01, 2000
I read Of Mice and Men as part of a practice GCSE exercise with my class and found myself pleasantly surprised at the quality of writing. Steinbeck clearly deserved his Nobel Prize in literature and this classic piece of American literature is evidence. The author uses simple but appropriate language to portray the era of the Great Depression (1930s). The book is rather slow but enticing as the slow build up gives way for a truly original climax. Demonstrating a mastery of language, description and dialogue, 'Of Mice and Men' is truly emotional and deals with a lot of the problems faced in the 1930s and our outlook on society in general.
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