Typical Jackie Collins book. They all tend to merge in together (except the Santangelo books). If you like Jackie Collins then this lives up to the rest, but not very memorable.
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I moved toward the rubbish & filth of burroughs’ naked lunch because I knew I could never be so clean as Christian’s Crystallography … that book of ice that so ignited my poet’s jealousy … so I do dirty …
Eunoia. Many books of poetry have used five different vowels, but never so ruthlessly segregated and whipped into slavish servitude! This is tasty & perverse, even if its perversity is undermined by an overenthusiastic apartheid regime that extends from vowels and into the images themselves: he groups like-things neatly in their own categorical cages (backpacks, knapsacks and packsacks) rather than tossing them in a deep surrealist pit, stashing or cramming them up the auger of a common ... Read More:
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As always, really looking forward to the latest Tempe tome. Really wish I hadn't bothered. Characters didn't seem to care much about what was happening, and neither did I. Ryan turns up and......what happens? Well, nothing. Tempe attacked and hospitalised, does Katy turn up to see her? No. Unless you just want to collect a 'set' of Reichs novels, skip this one. Did I mention that it was also rather depressing/ Not in content, but in tone and style. Avoid.
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As always, really looking forward to the latest Tempe tome. Really wish I hadn't bothered. Characters didn't seem to care much about what was happening, and neither did I. Ryan turns up and......what happens? Well, nothing. Tempe attacked and hospitalised, does Katy turn up to see her? No. Unless you just want to collect a 'set' of Reichs novels, skip this one. Did I mention that it was also rather depressing/ Not in content, but in tone and style. Avoid.
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Thought this would make good present for hosts of weekend house party and so it proved - excellent icebreaker and other guests with age range of 10-88 all found something to interest them. Grandmother knew exactly what a chiffonier was, but hadn't a clue about dongles. The 10 year old was up to speed with his techie terminology but there were a host of other things he'd never even heard of - he was intrigued and so were older, cooler fellow guests. Well-written and amusing.
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If you need a reminder of why Kate Atkinson is one of the UK's best authors, particularly after her last couple of offerings, this novel ought to do it. 'When Will There Be Good News' is a stronger novel than its two 'Jackson Brodie' predecessors, coming up towards the standard of Atkinson's earlier standalone books.
A page turningly good read, the plot is tighter and cleaner than in 'One Good Turn' and, although there is still too much reliance on coincidence, it isn't as obvious. The character of Reggie, a spirited young nanny, is a breath of fresh air and she carries the story along, gluing together the various threads. Jackson Brodie and Louise Monroe, familiar from former novels, are also featured, but for me Reggie was definitely ... Read More:
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If you need a reminder of why Kate Atkinson is one of the UK's best authors, particularly after her last couple of offerings, this novel ought to do it. 'When Will There Be Good News' is a stronger novel than its two 'Jackson Brodie' predecessors, coming up towards the standard of Atkinson's earlier standalone books.
A page turningly good read, the plot is tighter and cleaner than in 'One Good Turn' and, although there is still too much reliance on coincidence, it isn't as obvious. The character of Reggie, a spirited young nanny, is a breath of fresh air and she carries the story along, gluing together the various threads. Jackson Brodie and Louise Monroe, familiar from former novels, are also featured, but for me Reggie was definitely ... Read More:
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A great little book is this and a must have for fans of the TV show. It's full of useful info that I'm sure would come in handy on an action packed Saturday night in town, and plenty of educational pictures as well. Not too demanding on the old brain cells to read and it's not overlong. An extremely funny book and after you have read it, its the sort that you can keep picking up and look at your favourite bits again. Don't lend it to anyone though, unless they give you a receipt or a returnable deposit, or you won't see it again. Very good overall, a good laff, highly recommended. Also have a look at Al Murray's 'Pub landlord' and 'The Post Box at the Crossroads' by Alan Bates.
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The Soldiers' War is genuinely exceptional. There are other Great War anthologies around, but this one stands out by a country mile. The book claims to contain primarily unpublished stories from 1914-1918 and whilst I do not know enough about the period to comment, I do not recognise any accounts that I have read before. Furthermore, the breadth and exquisite balance of the tales here makes this book so very gripping.
The book contains not just the familiar stories associated with the war, but others that I have never even thought about: There is a man pulling 18th Century pewter from a dugout, another finding a Roman Sword uncovered by a shell explosion. There are stories of the survival and the beauty of nature, and of men locating trout ponds behind ... Read More:
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In her latest novel Toni Morrison takes us back to the late 17th century America. The plot gives her an opportunity to present America in the making, there is no US yet, there are colonies, each somewhat different in their culture, religion or attitude to slavery. Morrison adroitly shapes the plot in such a way as to give the reader at least an impression of the variety that once was America, sending her characters on distant voyages. The differences are the most clearly visible in the opposition between Maryland and New York yet the choice of character also helps Morrison to stress the diversity of American roots.
And yet "A Mercy" is not just a historical novel. The setting is important but Morrison seems much more interested in her characters. This concentration ... Read More:
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