When a book changes how you think. I have read several books that I think are trying to make you change the way you think. Siddhartha springs to mind. And while that was a hugely influential book for me, I was already thinking and feeling the way it wanted me to. It was more life-affirming… Continue reading The Book that Changed a Life
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Good Omens: Book or Series?
Good Omens is great book with an even better TV series. I hate to say it, but it’s true. The series is better than the book. It might be because I watched the series first and it is a word-for-word, scene-for-scene adaptation. There are no extras to be gained from reading the book. It might… Continue reading Good Omens: Book or Series?
The Revolt – History From Another Perspective
This lyrically written historical fiction novel has been translated from the original French but without losing any of the gracefulness of the language. Richard and Eleanor Told from the point of view of Richard The Lionheart, The Revolt tells the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine, a fascinating woman of power and determination. We hear about… Continue reading The Revolt – History From Another Perspective
Frankenstein – not the story you think
Most people think they know about Frankenstein. Everyone’s seen multiple TV and movie representations and countless references to Frankenstein and his monster in all forms of media (including chocolate). However, if you haven’t read the novel you may be very surprised by the story you would read. Here’s some reasons why: Lightning “Victor Frankenstein stands… Continue reading Frankenstein – not the story you think
The Five
This is a very important book. It changes the lens of history and turns a story we all know well into one we have never heard. The Five Hallie Rubenhold’s meticulously researched tome tells the stories of the lives of the five canonical victims. Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane… Continue reading The Five
Psycho – Pulp Fiction, it’s complicated
I picked up a copy of Psycho because I was intrigued to find out what the original story was behind one of the greatest films of all time. The answer is complicated. Is it a great book? No. But it does have moments. If you are one of the eight people on the planet who… Continue reading Psycho – Pulp Fiction, it’s complicated
Jurassic Park – First Class Trash Fiction
A relentless romp through a Costa Rican island inhabited by unpredictable prehistoric creatures? Why not! Quite a few leaps of faith are required for the science and nature elements of this story but if you can leave what you know (or think you know) at the door then you’ll enjoy this, quite frankly, remarkable book.… Continue reading Jurassic Park – First Class Trash Fiction
Pride and Prejudice and …
… the complete lack of any character development. I recently listened to the audiobook of P&P (as my sister and mother affectionately call it). I had found an audiobook collection of Penguin Classics in a charity shop and decided to use it to make my commute more productive filling in the gaps in my classic… Continue reading Pride and Prejudice and …
The Vesuvius Club
Review – The Vesuvius Club, Mark Gatiss If you want a suavely written and slightly cheeky period crime novel then you might want to check this out. Set in Victorian England, Gatiss has created a world of secret agents operating under the radar. Our main character is Lucifer Box (every name is a treat in… Continue reading The Vesuvius Club
The Historical Surrealist Fiction of Aira
Browsing Slightly Foxed Books, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, UK. On a high shelf, right at the top corner, the first book in the historical fiction section is a small paperback with a landscape painting on the front. An Episode in the Life of a Landscape PainterCÉSAR AIRA“Astonishing – turns Don Quixote into Picasso”-Harper’s I’m interested. It is barely… Continue reading The Historical Surrealist Fiction of Aira