Recommended Good Reads
'The Algebraist' by Iain M. Banks
Once you get past the obligatory unpronounceable Sci-Fi names, this book turns out to be a wonderfully deep and compelling read. Even though I don't usually read Sci-Fi, I enjoyed this book immensely. A wonderful story with bizarre characters in a believable universe. Both funny and exciting, I didn't want it to end. Bob.
'All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses an Eye' by Christopher Brookmyre
The written equivalent of a blockbuster, this book has it all: fast paced action, characters with enough charm and ammunition to take out a small country and some great dialogue. When a woman whose life has somewhat passed her by gets thrown into a world of international agents, kidnappings and car chases, the action and the comedy go hand in hand. Don't go in looking for deep and meaningful, this is shoot 'em up fiction at it's best; a great, fun read that will leave you raring to go! Maddy.
'Grey Souls' by Phillipe Claudel
This is a novella translated from French, reminiscent of Flaubert and Maupassant. While it concerns a girl's murder, it's not really a 'whodunnit' - who perpetrated the murder is not made explicit (though the ending does have some surprise revelations). It is more about one man's obsession with the crime and in the process it peers into the darker side of human nature - or the 'grey souls' of the title. So it's not a book for those who want to read about sunshine and roses but those who like a well-crafted, well-written story with memorable characters should not be diappointed. Steve.
'Memoirs of a Geisha' by Arthur Golden
A story beautifully told, unravelling the character's life so artistically. Arthur Golden describes the story with creative detail capturing the audience's attention like the reader's telling the story! A book full of emotions, funny, captivating. Thamanna.
'Goodbye Ruby Tuesday' by Donna Hay
A book that doesn't end the way you think it will. Keeps you guessing until the end. Enjoyable to see a happy ending with a difference. Not all about love and romance, more tears and heartache for some of the characters. Liza.
'The Old Man and the Sea' by Ernest Hemmingway
The ultimate duel! Man versus...fish. A ridiculously large fish it must be said. Though quite a normal size man. One of them scaly. Slightly at any rate. The other a fish. One of them wise. The other a man. Together they joust on the water. Well, one under it. Is the rod mightier than the beast?...Nothing fishy about this book. Apart from the fish and fishing of course. Take the bait! Read it today! Martin.
'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini
An extraordinary novel of friendships and family, love and loyalty, loss and betrayal. Even the most brutal episodes are written with such tenderness that if you are not moved you should check for a heartbeat! Thought-provoking and beautifully written. A must-read. Joanne.
'The Nick of Time' by Francis King
Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2003. Insight into the life of an illegal immigrant holed up in post millenium Dalston, London. The story unfolds around his relationships which are told with a clear eye, the dilemmas all the characters face presented in the calmest prose as the tale darkens to its conclusion. Barbara.
'No Logo' by Naomi Klein
This book makes you look at the uncomfortable truths about the way in which major corporations make and sell their products and the creeping intrusion of their advertising into our lives. Although it's a few years old it still feels relevant, thought-provoking and incredibly easy to read. Chris.
'I Don't Know How She Does It' by Allison Pearson
Kate Reddy is a high flyer in a city financial house as well as a wife and mother. This is a pacey, funny and intelligent look at the pressures she and her family endure while she strives to be excellent on all fronts. She is forced to take stock of her life and re-evaluate her priorities by the near collapse of her marriage. Barbara.
'Here Lies Arthur' by Phillip Reeve
Winner of the 2008 Carnegie Medal, this intriguing version of the Arthurian legends makes a great read for people of all ages. The themes of myth-making, perception versus reality and the questioning of gender stereotypes makes this a fascinating spin on the well-known stories. Find out more about the Carnegie / Greenaway awards. Graham.
'We Need to Talk About Kevin' by Lionel Shriver
Written in the first person in the form of letters to her absent husband this is an account of the difficult relationship between a mother and the son she never feels able to love. Brillliantly written it is a psychological tour-de-force and terribly relevant to the times in which we live. Barbara.
'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck
Set in America during the depression, it centres around two characters moving from place to place. One who doesn't know his own strength and the other always having to bail him out. The descriptions of the surroundings are mesmerising as Steinbeck makes you feel as though you have been transported back in time. Jay.
'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde
A classic that truly deserves the title; before reading this I never knew a book could actually be scary. The chilling feel of this tale remains unbeatable and its insight into human vanity still so relevant today as to make you marvel that it was written over a century ago. Maddy.
'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak
Beautiful and haunting in equal parts this book has a transformative effect on the reader. Narrated by Death even the most heartbreaking moments still hold a glimmer of hope through a cast of characters so well written that they cannot be confined to the page, but will continue to inhabit your mind long after you finish reading. Maddy.
