Northern Lights - Philip Pullman

76%
16.02.07




This made a big impression on me when I first read it 6 or 7 years ago. I was afraid that, as this month's reading group choice, it would be disappointing. It wasn't - the details, the characters, and most of all the relentless, subversive storyline, are hard to criticise, although this time round the coincidences and sentimentality grated a little. But it beats almost any other adventure story out there - up with 'The Lord of The Rings' in the serious fantasy stakes.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

76%
12.05.03




I grabbed this as soon as it was publlished, its enticing premise - the story is narrated by a character with Asberger's Syndrome (no comparisons to my scoring system, please) - enough without the inevitable heavy marketing. Like its narrator, the story is clever and manipulative, its humour deadpan, its pathos soaking the pages. Entertaining and informative - and with an impressive amount of swearing for a book that's apparently supposed to be aimed at children.
[Editorial note: I'm surprised that I gave this book such a high mark when I read it because now I approach it rather warily. Perhaps that's due to its enormous success but I also feel rather uncomfortable about the narrative premise, and that the author claims not to have researched autism before writing the book, although I suppose that's not really relevant if the final result appears so accomplished. Still, I don't change grades once they are allocated so until I re-read it, this one will stay in the top rank.]

Spies - Michael Frayn

76%
17.04.03




A gripping, well-paced tale of the secrets of suburbia, elegantly told and psychologically complex. Rather brilliant.

The Two Towers - J R R Tolkien

76%
21.09.02

It's impossible not to get swept up in this great adventure, heavy with political metaphor but made light by the engaging heroes. The faults are many but ultimately the quality of the writing and the excitement of the story overcome them all.

English Passengers - Matthew Kneale

76%
06.11.01




This took me ages to read, for various reasons, but it was worth stretching it out. Impressively researched and even more impressively written, with strong characters and a complete sense of unpredictability. One for recommending.