The Rainmaker - John Grisham

73%
06.08.19

Who knew insurance law could be so fascinating? I loved this. At least, I loved the first 95% of it. Let's not talk about the ending.

La Belle Sauvage - Philip Pullman

73%
30.12.17

There's no better way to round off the year with master storyteller Pullman's new novel eclipsing all others, carrying readers away into his vivid world like the engulfing flood in the book. It's not really for children, I think - though kids would do well to absorb the obvious political and social commentary here. My only criticisms would be the surprising upholding of traditional gender roles (compared with Lyra's later heroism) and the open-ended, slightly unfocused nature of the story, setting it up for the two sequels.

The Enchanted April - Elizabeth von Arnim

73%
17.08.15

Enchanted, indeed, and witty and charming and delightful. Of its time (1923) but none the worse for that, and extraordinarily well written for what is at first glance a superficial story about the transformative powers of a holiday. I shall recommend this to anyone who needs a bit of cheering up.

The Establishment And How They Get Away With It - Owen Jones

73%
25.09.14

Very few non-fiction books are promoted to my To Be Read pile but I bought this on its day of publication because I admire the work of Owen Jones so much. True to form, he confirms what I already suspected, in this immaculately researched exposure of moral bankruptcy within the framework of the UK (and probably elsewhere). Whatever your political views, this is the sort of book that turns you into a ranting activist - it did me.

I hope the second edition gets a more thorough proofread, though - the typos are distracting.

The First Book of Calamity Leek - Paula Lichtarowicz

73%
17.10.13

This is an extraordinary book, in every sense, though many will lose patience with its initial world of confusion. But if you stick with this macabre, quirky, odd story, you're likely to find it oddly satisfying. I think a lot of its success revolves around the choice of Calamity as narrator, and in its twisted Britishness, which here seems far more representative of the dark, crazy heart of the UK than Rowling's stereotypes. That and its subversive ability to make musical theatre creepy (Bex, you'll love it!). Thanks to Leeswammes for the recommendation.

The Fellowship of the Ring - J R R Tolkien

73%

21.09.02

Believe the hype - it may be an obsessively created boy's adventure story but it's surprisingly clever and engaging - though not as profound as it pretends to be. The ultimate novel, perhaps, or certainly a masterpiece of imaginative realism, but lacking in emotional depth beyond boyish backslapping. And nearly as gay in places as 'A Picture of Dorian Grey'.

Holes - Louis Sachar

 73%
23.01.02




Simple, understated prose tells an intense, complex story. This is what Beryl Bainbridge was aiming for and failed to achieve in 'Every Man for Himself'. Ostensibly a children's story - in that the protagonist is a young boy - it couldn't be more different from Pullman / Rowling / Rennison except in its quality. A little weird, a little humorous and very thought-provoking. Masterful, as they say.