Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathon Safran Foer.

I found this book quite a hard read as it kept changing tenses and also changing who wrote it. so at one point it would be a boy and the next it would be his father or grandfather. The story was based just after the terrorist attack on the twin towers in 9/11. It starts off explaining about this boy who lost his father who worked there. It then goes on to say how this young child finds a key and travels around the whole of NewYork to find out what it unlocks. This book is very mooving as it shows how the boy deals with his loss. It also deals with the quite tricky subject of the actual events that takes place, including at the back of the book, a few pages of flicker pitures of a man jumping off one of the towers (real picture). I am giving this book 6/10.

MB

This is a fascinatingly compelling book.  The story deals with a young boy with learning difficulties who has lost his father during the 9/11 attck on the twin towers in New York.  His grandmother lives across the road from him and she carries her own loss.  Her husband left her when she was pregnant with the boys father and returned to Germany.  This is a very complex story with a huge amount of layers.  It is an emotional book and deals well with the issue of loss and bereavement. The formation of new friendships and relationships is also a large part of the storyas the boys mother has developed a friendship through her bereavement counselling.  It is difficult to read in places however and the text does not flow in a conventional way.  It can at times be difficult to understand who has said what when the text moves to a conversation between two or even three people.  Though saying all of that it is worth reading.  I give this a 5 out of 10.
JB

Overall, 5.5 out of 10.

The Amber Spyglass

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Third book in His Dark Materials trilogy.

This final book in the trilogy was quite a hard book to get into. As this was one of the books that I read on my latest holiday in Germany, I managed to get through it in about a week which was quite good as it was 600 odd pages long. By this book there were so many characters  in different worlds with so many different problems to deal with all relating to one big element, Dust. It is then the mission of Lyra and Will to help prevent the church from winning the battle against the rebellion. This proves difficult as they have to deal with double agents and also many other species from different worlds. This final book was quite a sad ending to the three books as Lyra and Will were forced never to see each other. I enjoy the style of writing of Philip Pullman and he is in my top three favourite authors. I hope to read more books from him in the future. I am giving this 8/10.
MB

This is the third and final installment of Philip Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy.  The story by now is incredibly complex with characters able to move at will through the thousands of holes from one world into another.  The children Lyra and Will attempt the most difficult of tasks which is to go into the world of the dead.  They get there and manage to understand what happens when people die and what becomes of their spirit.  The book is very intense and moves from one cliff hanger to another.  Pullman does pull it off however by the end I was exhausted.  The ending does leave one with a feeling of unfinished business but I won't spoil it by giving it away.  I recommend this and suggest that it is an excellent series.  It is clear what Pullmans thoughts are on religion and the affect of the church on the population. I will leave it to you to make up your own mind.  I give this an 8 out of 10
JB

Overall, our score is 8 out of 10.

The Girl who Played with Fire

The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

This is the second book by the deceased author Stieg Larsson.  It is an excellent story in its own right and I read this one before the first novel in the trilogy.  The story does continue from the first book however it can be read on its own and is an excellent crime/thriller novel.  The main characters are the publisher and reporter for the Millenium Magazine Mikeal Blomquist and the dysphunctional girl who he worked with in the first book.  this is an interesting story which deals with aspects of wedish life and the types of crimes that occur across the world.  This one is associted more with Lizabeth Salander's hunt for knowledge and her past and the father she has never known.  This books hold the reader captive and I found it very hard to put down at times.  I highly recommend it.  It is translated from the Swedish and again you would not know from the quality of the writing.  I give this a 9 out of 10.  I look forward to the concluding novel "The girl who kicked a hornets nest".

JB

The Girl with the Dragon tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson

This is another cracking read.  This was the second of the two that I read so I unfortunately read them out of sync.  This story revolves around a number of threads.  The first is the story of the publisher who is disgraced and sent to prison for writting an article which libeled a rich indutrialist and financier.  Our hero does not fight the court case to protect his sources.  He is offered a job to look into the disappearance of a girl almost 40 years previously.  The other thread is the introduction to the girl with the tattoo.  She is a very interesting and complex character who is emotionally vulnerable however more than capable of looking after herself. She is a Computer hacker and works for a security company and is hired to review the journalist.  I read this straight after a Mankell book and again the translation from the Swedish is excellent.  There is no where that one can believe that you are reading a translation other than some of the references for example to Swedish publications which must be well known but I had never heard of.  The tale is excellent and moves along at a swift pace.  I recommend this book and the second one.  (see review)

I give this a 9 out of 10.

JB

The Road

The Road by Cormack McCarthy

This book is about a father and son who are alone on a road in the world where there is no civilisation. They have to make sure they don't get killed by other people, die of cold and hunger and get eaten by the human population. This book shows the relationship between the the two more that it tells the story. It shows how one young boy and man, even when everything is either dead or dying, they understand what is right and what is wrong and stick to their civilised ways. Even if it does mean stealing from other people to get food. During the book we find out that the apocalypse happened very quickly burning a lot of things as there is still ash falling from the sky even after one year after the catastrophe. The book follows the father and son for about a year, all the while it is snowing and ashes are falling. I thought that this novel was simply written but with a lot of facts in it. I am giving it 9/10.
MB

This book I found to be enthralling.  The dialogue is simple and the story is fairly simple also.  The tale of a post apocalyptic world where everything has died.  This is middle America and a father and son are travelling trying to survive in a world where all plants and animals have died.  There is no government there is no law and order there is just the animal instinct to survive.  And through it all there is the inherent need to maintain the difference between right and wrong against the need to survive.  This is a superb example of the post apocalyptic novel.  The death of grass which we have already read is very different however the over all message is the same.  How do the survivors maintain their humanity without reverting to their animal instinct.  The writing style is excellent in this story and I believe it will be a classic of its time.  After I had read it I noted that the film was due for release.  I admit I do not wish to see the movie, not because it is not any good, but predominantly because the mental pictures that reading the story have conjured up will never be matched by the film.  I give this book a 10 out of 10
JB

Overall we are giving it 9.5/10.

Dark Fire

Dark Fire by C. J. Sansom

Second book in the Shardlake series.

This book was even better than dissolution which was the first in the series. This time Matthew Shardlake has to contend with an even more gruesome set of assassins and attempt to keep Thomas Cromwell in power. Then he also has to find out whether a friends daughter which has been accused of murder is really guilty. This novel shows the details of every thing that it passes in London: the smells, the sights and also the atmosphere. Sansom has written this novel brilliantly and I hope that his next books will be just as good if not better. I am giving it 9/10.
MB

It is now three years since Matthew Shardlake the hunch back lawyer worked for Cromwell at Scarnsea Abbey.  He goes to the defence of a young woman accused of murdering her Cousin by pushing him down a well.  The call comes from his old master Cromwell who offers him assistance in the case if he will undertake an investigation for him.   Again you get a full flavour of the times and the way life was lead in the reign of Henry VIII.  I fully recommend this story and as the author writes more he understands the complexity and melancholy of the character he has created.  I give this a 9 out of 10.

JB

Overall it is 9/10.

The Subtle Knife

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

Second book in the His Dark Materials trilogy.

This book was continued from the first book Northern Lights. It began with Lyra meeting up with a boy in a completely different world. She had got there thanks to the discoverment of dust (dark matter) and was able to use it to find an entrance. The boy only found it by mistake under a tree after running away from home. They both joined forces to try and find Lyra's dad who was planning a rebellion against an empire in her world. This leads them to find the subtle knife which will open and close doorways to other worlds with the flick of your wrist. They then meet up with one of Lyra's old friends and they set forth on their mission to find her dad. Philip Pullman has written this very well and it is a brilliant fiction book. I am giving it 7/10.

MB

I had read the first book (see entry for the Northern Lights) which I had enjoyed and was looking forward to reading this book.  Philip Pullman has an interesting view on the world and his views on religion are becoming well known.  This story continues where the other left off however the main character in this story is Will a young man who is responsible for looking after his mother who is disturbed and mentally unstable.  He travels to Oxford and finds a window into another world.  He meets Lyra and an exciting adventure starts.  These novels are very dark at times and it is clear that the message that is being conveyed over religion and God are very different from the orthodox teaching of the church.  Mr Pullman is an able and exciting story teller and I look forward to reading some of his other books. I give this an 8 out of 10.
JB 

Overall, 7.5/10.

Faceless Killers

Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell

The first of the Wallander books.  This is of course a translation from the Swedish original however the quality of the translation ensures that it flows and reads like it was an English Language original text. As a lover of the dective genre this book did not disappoint.  It is excellently written and gives one a flavour of the Swedish way of life as well of course a gripping novel.  As a Wallander fan (bothe the Branagh and Swedish versions of the series) this book did not disappoint.  I had also seen this episode on the BBC version however it was still gripping until the end.  I do recomend this and suggest you try it. 8 out of 10

JB

Revelation C J Sansom

Revelation by C J Sansom

I went straight into this having read the four Shardlake books back to back.  This by far is the best of them.  Our Hero Matthew Shardlake the Crookback Lawyer and his assistant Jack Barak become involved in the hunt for a serial killer after one of Shardlakes friends is killed by an assassin and his body placed in a fountain in Lincolns Inn.  There is again a huge amount of historical fact in this novel especially around the struggles for political power and the desire of the king to marry for a sixth time.  It is not clear who the perpetrator of the crimes is and I have to admit it was not until we got near the end that I was able to work out who and why.  There are also some interesting facts and issues raised about mental illness and how it was percieved and dealt with in this time.  I was enthralled as usual with the writting and the stylr of the prose.  I give this one a 10 out of 10.  Brilliant and I can't wait until the fifth book comes out this year.

JB

Dissolution C J Sansom

Dissolution by C. J. Sansom
First book in the Shardlake series.

This book by Sansom is set in Tudor Britain during the dissolution of monastries during Henry VIII reign. Matthew Shardlake, hunchback lawyer, and his assistant Mark are sent by Thomas Cromwell to uncover the murder of a fellow lawyer who was killed at a monastry in Scarnsea. Whilst there, Shardlake finds new friends and new enemies, even in people who are very close to him. After a week or two in Scarnsea, he finally works out who the murderer is but it is too late, many things have gone wrong and there have been more and more murders every day. I enjoyed this book as it was fiction based on fact which is the kind of book I like. It also shows what life is like in Tudor Britain for a hard working hunchback. I am giving it 8/10.

MB

This is the first of the books in the Shardlake series.  Our Hero is Matthew Shardlake a Lawyer who is appointed to be one of Cromwell's Commisioners in the reign of Henry VIII. Matthew Shardlake is a passionate reformer and is sent to the South Coast to a monastery where the  murder of one of Cromwell's commissioners has been committed.  This is an excellent story weaving the historical facts of the times with the fiction of the murder.  There are many twists to the tale and it is excellently written.  It is a classical who dunnit however at the same time you get a mixture of real historical fact and a feel for the time in which it is set.  I highly recommend this and give it a 9 out of 10
JB

Overall, 8.5/10

The Private Patient

The Private Patient - P D James

This is an example of PD James at her very best.  The private patient is another of the Adam Dalgleish Mysteries. Dalgleish and his team get involved in a murder which occurs at a private clinic in Dorset.  A patient has been murdered and as usual there is a list of characters who we can choose from who is the culprit.  It is gentle and beautifully written as one would expect.  I read this on holiday which is the best time as you can give the novel your full attention.  I recommend PD James to anyone who likes murder mystery stories.  The characters are beautifully crafted however they are from another time.  They do appear to be slightly dated in their construction and could have walked out of an Agatha Christy story.

I give this an 8 out of 10

JB

The Enemy

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

First book in a new series by the bestselling author of Young Bond.
This book has been written for teenagers about my age. I did enjoy this book but I was a bit unsure about the plot. The book was mainly about every adult over fourteen turning into a zombie that feeds on the human population that’s left. This means that only children are left and they are fighting for survival. Many groups of kids have joined up in supermarkets and buildings that have defence mechanisms built in already. The group we read about is living in a Waitrose that has automatic gates at the front of the store. They then get news that Buckingham palace has lots of children that are safe and are eating good and home grown food. They then set off across London to get to Buckingham Palace. On this journey they encounter many adults and lose a lot of small kids. I am giving it 6/10 as I don't personally like zombie stories.

MB

I was not sure about this book when I first picked it up. However Charlie Higson as always is a masterful story teller and tells a tale of horror and a post apocalyptic world where all of the adults have been infected by a virus or infection which turns them into thoughtless zombies who roam the streets eating anything they encounter. Children on the other hand are not infected and spend their time avoiding the adult zombies. This is not a new concept and a number of books and films have dealt with this type of story in the past. However Charlie is able to direct this effectively at the audience he is aiming for making it relevant and interesting. I did enjoy this story and was impressed with the detail. I am not sure that there is a main character in this story however that does not detract from the quality of the writing. I give this a 7 out of 10 and will be reading the next one when it comes out.
JB
Overall 6.5/10

All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

This book came originally from school as I read it in class in my English lessons. It was a very good book as it explained what life was like in WWI. It told us how battles were won and lost, a lot about life in trenches and the kind of food a treatment they get from high ranking officers. I really enjoyed this book as it linked in with what I have been doing lately in my History lessons. The story was based on a German soldier called Paul Baumer who was on the Western front, fighting against British and French troops. It tells us about how he recruited along with his school mates at the age of seventeen and went straight to a training camp on the outskirts of his town. It then says how he goes up to the front line and sees terrible things: People being ripped to shredds by machine guns and mortars, gas bombs and people suffocating in them and horses being wounded in battle. Unfortunately he is wounded nearer the end and has to go to a hospital that is run by nuns. As soon as he gets out and back to the front line he finds out that most of his friends are dead. Suddenly his last friend dies and he is left alone to fight with other German soldiers he does not know. I really enjoyed this book as I thought that it spread light on what soldiers in the First World War had to put up with. I am giving it 9/10.

MB

I had never considered reading this book until Matthew told me about it. I was surprised at how easy it was to read, a reflection of the superb translation that was done. I was impressed by the graphic detail which did not hold back on the horror of the Great War and the impact that it had on a generation. At the time we were in Normandy and we visited a number of sites which had been attacked during the Second World War and it brought home to me the massive impact that war has not only physically but also psychologically on the troops and the local population where the battles took place. The style reminded me of the books by Sven Hassle which I had read as a teenager. This book is moving and though provoking and at this time of conflict (Afghanistan and Iraq) it is just as relevant today as it was then. No wonder the Third Reich banned it and revoked his citizenship. I give it a 10 out of 10.

JB

Overall 9.5/10

Brisingr

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini.

Third book in the Inheritance series.

This book by the Italien writer Christopher Paolini was a very amzing book. I liked the style, the story, and the way the characters behave and interacted with each other. I believe that the way the humans act towards the Kull is much like the way humans would in a real life situation. This was a very big book with over seven hundred pages and a few diiferent parts. They included Eragon rescuing his brother's beloved, going back to Farthern Dur to prompt the dwarves in making a decision on who should be their new king, the journey to Ellesmera where he gets more tuition and then an attack on a city controlled by The Empire. There is one more book in this series which I am really looking forward to reading and will sadly end the Inheritance series. I am giving this book 9/10.

MB

The story of the boy who found a dragons egg which hatched for him and turned him from a lowly farmboy to a famed Dragon Rider continues.  In this the third installment from this young writer who is able to weave three or four threads of the story together at the same time.  In this the story follows the Cousin of Eragon known as Stronghammer and his ascent as a leader of men.  As fanatasy stoires go this is a good example of the Genre with a well though out plot and a gripping story.  I am suprised that the story will now continue into a fourth book as I was under the impression that it ws going to be a trilogy.  I hope the author does not make the mistake of continuing into a fifth and sixth book as I feel that this would be a case of milking the success of this story.  I would like to see the author stretch his obvious talent in another direction. I give this an 8 out of 10

JB

Overall 8.5/10.

Bog Child

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd

I enjoyed this book just as much as I had enjoyed Siobhan's other book, The London Eye Mystery. It was about an Irish family during Margaret Thatcher's time in office when the IRA were bombing England and the hunger strikes were happening in prisons all over Ireland. The main character, Fergus, is half way through taking his exams for his dream job, his brother is in prison taking part in the hunger strikes and his mum, dad and two younger sisters are all living in a small house in a village called Drumleash. Suddenly, Fergus finds a body buried, whilst peat digging with his Uncle Tally. Almost immediatley it is found out by forensics to be ancient, dating back to around Jesus' time. Now Fergus is on a mission to get his brother to stop the strike and to find out who and why the body is there. I read this book quite quickly even though before I had started it, I was hesitant as I wasn't so sure about the front cover and the blurb but it turned out all right in the end. I am giving it 7/10.

MB

I was looking forward to this as I had enjoyed another of her books.  The London Eye Mystery.  I was intrigued by this story which is aimed at older teans.  It revolves around the main character who is good Catholic boy who has a brother in prison two younger sisters and his parents.  he is 18 and is doing his A levels looking for a way out of the small town that he lives in in Northern Ireland.  The book is set at the time of the hunger strikes and the death of Bobby Sands.  I remember this period of history clearly as I was about the same age as this character at the time.  It deals with a lot of adult issues in a way that clarifies it for the younger reader.  There is love, betrayal, conflict of loyalties and death dealt with as a number of main issues.  I give this a 9/10.

JB

Northern Lights

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman.


First book in a trilogy.

Northern Lights is a well written book that has been made into a film called The Golden Compass. After watching this film, I was worried that I wasn't going to like the book as I didn't get the plot of the film and it was very confusing. Northern Lights is about a young girl called Lyra who lives at a college in Oxford with the proffessers. Her best friend is a boy who's mother and father are kitchen staff for the college. In this book, every human has a daemon which is a spirit that is part of the human, they follow the human everywhere and without them the person would die. Suddenly news breaks out that children are going missing up and down the country and people have come up with a name for the group that is kidnapping them. They are called the Snatchers. There aim is to capture children and take them to the North Pole where there daemon is severed from them and caged up. They then take the dieing child to the Northern Lights where a rift is opening. They let the child go up into the rift and they are never seen again. One day, Lyra's best friend goes missing and she goes on a quest to find him. On the way she finds out who her real mother and father are. This book was much better than the film and I enjoyed every bit of it. I am giving it 8/10.
MB


I started reading this book with some trepidation. I has seen the film on DVD and had not enjoyed it much as I had found it to be complex and I was not sure I understood what the story was about. When I started the book I did struggle a little however once I got going I found it to be a fascinating and yes a complex story interwoven with a number of stories. The heroine of the story is a girl who does not fully know her parentage. She is brought up in a college university by a group of scholars. The story revolves around Dust and the impact this magical substance has on the world. I do recommend this story and suggest that it is worthier of your interest than the movie. Interestingly I now understand what the movie was trying to tell me through the power of the written word. I give this a 7 out of 10
JB

Overall 7.5/10

Snakehead

Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz

Seventh book in the Alex Rider series.

After Alex's most challenging mission yet, he is picked up again, this time by the ASIS (the Australian Secret Service). He is working next to his godfather - the last person to see his parents alive. He moved to the ASIS after giving up with MI6. They are to target and infiltrate the great ruthless company of Snakehead and find out how they are smuggling illeagal immigrants into Austrailia. He meets MI6 and finds another plot much bigger than the one hes supposed to be searching. This leads to danger beyond belief. I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the rest of the books by Anthony Horowitz. I managed to get through it three days. I am giving it 9/10.

MB

I did enjoy this story.  Again our young spy is caught in the middle of intrigue and double dealing.  The big issue in this story is how he is dealing with the loss of his parents and the story pulls a lot of the threads in other stories together.  Scorpia and the triads are heavily involved in this story.  Alex again is used and is manipulated into agreeing to participate in yet another dangerous mission.  It is interesting that again the child is manipulated by adults for their own ends with no consideration to the fact that Alex is a teenage boy.  The story follows the usual style of plot but the pace of the story is cracking and it moves along at a fair pace. It was an exciting read and I really enjoyed this story.  Is this the last Alex Rider story?  Not sure but it was nicely tidied up at the end.

I Give it an 8 out of 10

JB

Overall 8.5/10

There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom

There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar.

Bradley Chalkers is a troubled boy. He picks fights with girls and lies. One day a new councellor comes to his school. This is the start of a chain of events that changes Bradley into a nice, sweet boy rather than a boy that has serious behavoiur problems. By the end Bradley starts making friends rather than enemies and gets to go to a birthday party. This is all thanks to Carla, the councellor. Unfortunately Carla is moved to a nursery after other children's parents think she's a bad influence on their kids. I enjoyed this book even though it took me less than a day to read. The last book I read from Loius Saachar was Holes (has been blogged) which I read in class. Overall I give this book 8/10.

MB

I am very quickly becoming a fan of Louis Sacher.  The books that he writes are inspirational for kids and adults alike.  I know that this was written for a childrens audience however there is a lot you can learn from this as an adult.  The books strength lies in its ability to delve into the simplicity of childhood friendships and relationships.  How children make friends and why is the recurring theme through the book.  The relationship between the main character and the adults is very interesting and gives a clue into the child psychy.   I give this a 9/10

JB

I liked this book because it was about a normal school life and about how it can hurt you when people are mean to you. My favorite part of the story was when Jeff got a black eye. The bit I wasn't that keen on was Bradley's first meeting with Carla. I liked this book alot. I am giving it 8/10.

RB

Overall 8.5/10

Nemesis

Nemesis by Catherine MacPhail.

First book in the Nemesis series.

Ram wakes up in a council flat corridor with no memory of how he has got there or who he is. He moves down the corridor and to the lift. But when it opens there is a man lying there with blood all over him. He trys to say something to Ram but it is too late. The man is dead. Ram is now a murder suspect and he is on the run. He doesn't have anywhere to go and no-one to trust. He also needs to prove his innocence before the Police can arrest him but it will be hard. In the shadows, someone is watching. I read this book whilst I was on holiday in France. It took two days to read and I enjoyed every minute of it. I enjoyed the bit where he is hiding in the attic of a school and he scares three kids away that are around a year older than him by dressing up as a ghost. There are three more books in this series but I don't think I need to read them. I thought that this book was enough even if he does find out his identity in the next couple of books. Overall I am giving it 7/10.

MB

This was a very interesting read and a very interesting style of writting.  The narrative switches between the various characters.  The style also changes from first to second and even third person.  The story moves along at a cracking pace, with a lovely twist to the tail at the end.  Don't worry I wont spoil it for you.  I recomend this read as it is well scrpited and well thought out.  I agree that as a story it stands alone, however it has been developed into a series which continue the story of Ram and the discovery of who he is.  I give this an 8/10

JB

Overall 7.5/10

Ark Angel

Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz

Sixth book in the Alex Rider series.

Alex Rider wakes up in hospital after being shot by Scorpia in his last adventure. This isn't any old NHS hospital though, this is a private one where millionaires go to be treated. The staff are kept quiet and the place has guards. Except for one night. This night is the night that four armed killers break into the hospital and attempt to kidnap the son of Drevin, a billionaire who is launching the first space hotel in a few wekks time. Alex steps in and gets kidnapped. They then attempt to murder him but he escapes. Drevin is pleased with him, he takes him on holiday to his mansion in England, then to his flat in Miami and then to Flamingo Bay where the launch is taking place. This is when it all starts to go wrong. The Alex Rider Books are brilliantluy written each time and i enjoyed this all the same. I liked how it continues off from the last book. In the last book he was shot which made you want to read the next book. Overall I am giving this a 8/10.

MB

I as usual enjoyed this romp through the experiences of a teenage secret agent.  Even for Alex Rider however this story does go a little bit OTT.  The style is comfortable and easy to read and keeps the reader fully emersed in the story.  Alex Rider again is a child who is underestimated by the adults he meets and as usual comes out on top.  I must admit that this series goes from strength to strength.  I also feel that the author is becomming even more comfortable with this character.  I wonder what he thinks now about the first book in the Alex rider series now and if he would write it any differently?  I am looking forward to the next installment which MB has already read and is by the side of my bed for me to read.

I give this an 8/10

JB

Overall 8/10

The Death of Grass

The Death of Grass by John Christopher

When a virus hits China killing crops causing mass starvation and rebellions. Britain and other countries send out supplies but they are too high in demand and are quickly terminated. Britain prepares for the worse as it is inevitable that they are going to get it. A family of four find out from a friend and escape London to where their uncle lives in a valley in Yorkshire. They manage to escape London with two other friends just as they stop letting people out of the city. As they get further up the country they get news of bombs being dropped on major cities to kill off the population to a lower amount. The only crop that is not effected by this virus is potatoes but they are already in short supply. eventual mass rebellion break out all over Britain and the Royal family and the Prime minister have been flown out of England. Some turn to cannibalism whilst others turn to killing for food. I liked this book as it showed in depth what could happen in Britain if something went wrong with the food supply. It also shows human nature and how when things are right, we will go to odd lengths to make it right for ourselves, even if it means killing. I am giving this book 9/10.

MB

I had heard about this book when I read a review which mentioned it in the paper. The book is a modern classic and is in the style of Day of the triffids. It reminds us how much we rely on grass for the food chain and if you remove that you not only loose cereal crops but the livestock that rely on it for their own sustenance.
The story is not long however it doesn't have to be to relay the whole horror that is experienced by the people involved. I think this is an excellent read and suggest this to anyone as a reminder of what we are doing to our environment. It was forward thinking for its time.
It is interesting to read this when at the moment there seems to be a resurgance in interest in the post apocalytic state.  With books like 'The Road' coming out which we will be reviewing soon it is interesting to read and see where the styles have changed.  By comparison this book is quite cold in its description and attitude with some of the books, films and television series which have come out since.  This does not detract from the impact of the story however and it is well worth giving this book a go.

I give it a 9/10

JB


Overall 9/10

Triskellion

Triskellion by Will Peterson

First book in the Triskellion trilogy.

This book was about to children, Rachel and Adam, who live with their mum in New York. They are sent for a fortnight holiday in England with their grandma so their mum can sort out her affairs. When they get to Triskellion they are greeted by no-one. They have to find their grandma's house which is on the edge of town. When they try to leave after a few days of weirdness, the train is cancelled after rocks fell on the track and the roads are blocked. But things are going to get much worse. I enjoyed this book and can't wait for the second book after reading the taster. I enjoyed this style of writing as it is very descriptive. i thought at first glance that it would be a horror book but it was actually really entertaining, even if there were some gory parts. I am giving it an 8/10.

MB

This book was an enjoyable romp in Cornwall. It reminded me a bit of the famous five to start with however it does get quite dark and forbidding as the story evolves. The supernatural features heavily in this tale with bees and their control one of the many strange occurences. The two children who are the main characters in this story are from America. They find their destiny however in a small Cornish village. I found the plot a little bit predictable at times and the outcome of the story (don't worry I won't spoil it) disappointing. I give this a 6 out of 10. I may try the next one to see if it improves.


JB

Overall 7/10

Scorpia by Anthony Horowitz


Fifth book in the Alex Rider series.


After the last book, where MI6 was proved wrong and Alex proved right, things are starting to turn right. Alex is turning back into a normal school boy and, unusually, MI6 are leaving him alone. Alex goes on a school trip to Venice with his best friend and his tutor. But Alex isn't there just to see the dull museums. He is there to search for Scorpia, the organisation his dad had worked for. When he finds them, they make him become one of them, a contract killer and a dangerous person. When he is sent to kill Mrs Jones he is captured bu MI6 and taken into custody. I like this book, not a much as the last but it is again a twist to the plot which makes it more exciting. Overall I am giving it 8/10.



MB

This is the latst installment of the Alex Rider series. I went straight from the last one into this. In the last book our hero is in peril and it look bleak and one wonders wether he will survive. In this the darkness in the story continues and again we are presented with an excellent story of intrigue and double dealing. Who is Alex Rider? Who was John Rider, his father. There are a lot of questions thrown back and forward about Alex's parents and their loyalties. This is an excellent story and again it seems the author is really now getting into his character and providing more depth to the story. I look forward to the next installment. I give this an 8/10

Overall 8/10

JB

Eagle Strike

Eagle Strike by Anthony Horowitz


Fourth in the Alex Rider series.

Alex is getting his first holiday in peace. Every thing is going well. Until his dad's assassin walks right under Alex's nose and he wants to know why. Later that day, his apartment with his best friend's dad inside is bombed and Alex is suspicious. For the first time, Alex is going to be a spy without MI6's help or permission. I enjoyed this book just as enjoyed the last of Anthony Horowitz's books. I like this one especially because it has a twist that set the plot up a bit. All of the other books have MI6 wanting Alex whereas now Alex wants MI6. I especially like the end and how he only just survives. Whilst reading this book, I noticed that the setting on the plane was a lot like the one in the Skeleton Key book. Overall I am giving this 8/10

MB

Alex Rider delivers the goods again. I have to admit I am really enjoying his series of books. Anthony Horowitz has out James Bonded James Bond. If that makes any sense. The character continues to grow in depth and as one gets through the stories it is clear that Alex is a deeply troubled child. In this story as described by Matthew the plot gets thicker and darker. I recommend these stories as they are enjoyable romps through the world in search of danger and spies. I give this story an 8/10

Overall 8/10

JB

Black Rabbit Summer

Black Rabbit Summer by Kevin Brooks

This book was about a sixteen year old boy who is quite shy and doesn't go out with is mates much. When he is invited to go to the fair that is in town with a couple of old mates he decides to go but only if Raymond, who every one thinks is an idiot, when they get to the fair there are disastrous consequences including Raymond being lost, alcohol and drugs. I think this shows modern day Britain and many other countries as quite a lot of teenagers are illegally getting drugs and alcohol and are using it. I think it is quite lifelike as well and that is what I like about a book that's trying to make a novel set in the modern day. I am giving it 8/10.

MB

This book surprised me greatly. I was not sure I would enjoy it. However I must admit once I got into it I found it was hard to put down. The story revolves around a group of friends and a hot summer before they all move on to different schools following their GCSEs. They have grown apart already but get together when the fair is in town to have a last party in their old den. However the subject matter gets quite dark and moody and there are a number of disappearances. The story deals with a lot of issues regarding teenage sexuality, drinking and drugs. There is also a wistfulness about moving from childhood into the adult world. I highly recommend this story and give it an 8 out of 10

JB

Overall 8/10

Holes

Holes by Louis Sacher

I read this book with school last year in English so it took us about two to three months to get through it. It is about this overweight boy called Stanley who is arrested for stealing after a pair of expensive shoes falls off a bridge and onto his head. He is put to work in Camp Green Lake where there is now a desert. He has to dig one hole five feet deep, five feet wide every day. When one of the other 'prisoners' runs away Stanley decides to go after him. This book in the long term makes everything fit in place from scenes to family trees. I am giving it 6/10.

MB

I have to admit I enjoyed this book. The story is a simple one which tells the tale of a lad sent to a correction facility for a crime he did not admit. However there are a number of links which are all pulled together by the end of the story. It is cleverly written and I think that a great deal of thought went into making this as interesting and relevant to children, which market this book is aimed at. The story is clear and well written and even though it is set in the USA it is relevant to children in the UK. It is clever and weaves the story together almost to the point that you are expecting the twists and turns and can relish them. I did enjoy this book and give it an 8 out of 10

JB

Overall 7 /10

War Horse

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo



This book was about a horse that lived on a farm in England. Suddenly World War One breaks out and Joey (the horse) is forced to join the war. He is looked after by many people before is put on a charge near the trenches. This unfortunately leads to him and his friend being captured by the Germans and used to carry injured back to the hospital. He eventually escapes and makes it back to the British side where he is looked after and finds his old master and friend Albert. I found this book hard to put down. I like Michael Morpurgo's books and I have read others of his such as: Kensukes Kingdom and Alone on a Wide Wide Sea. I am giving it 9/10.

MB

This is a very short book and can be digested in a matter of a few hours. I found it moving and extremely intelligently written. As described it is the story of a horse told by the horse of his experiences and how he ended up going to war. Sometimes it is in a very matter of fact style which you would expect from a person (or animal) who does not understand the enormity of the experience. It finishes with a mixed happy and sad ending (don't worry I will not spoil it for you) It was poignant that I was reading this at the time Harry Patch the last survivor of Passiondale was being buried. Makes one think.......I give this an 8 out of 10

JB

Overall 8.5/10

Fillets of Plaice

Fillets of Plaice by Gerald Durrell

This book is split up so it is like many books in one. The first section was set in Greece where Durrell took his mother on a boating holiday which had disastrous effects. The second section was set in London where he gets a job and finds two new friends. One unfortunately dies at the end of the section. The third section is set in a jungle where he has to help a friend socialise with his boss to get a promotion. The fourth section is also set in England and he obtains and injury and is forced into a nursing home for three weeks with occasional trips to the hospital. The fifth and final section is about him getting a weird girlfriend who gets married to another man in the end. I like Gerald's books although it took me quite a while to get in to them. This is another book that i read on holiday. I am giving it 7/10.

MB

I was given this book by my mother when I was Matthew's age and I enjoyed it greatly. I suggested to Matthew that he might enjoy it and I am glad that he has. This is typical Gerald Durrell and is gentle and most amusing. He has the ability to pick out and observe behaviour in others in a clever way. He is no literary giant ( His brother Lawrence was the novelist of the family however I am sure Gerald sold more books) His books are wistful and reminiscent of another time when the Empire was setting and the colonial days . It is as described by Matt a collection of short stories relating to earlier times in Gerald's life. I did enjoy the descriptions and you get a feel for the environment that he is in. I do recomend his other works especially 'Rosie is my relative'. I give this an 8 out of 10.

JB


Overall 7.5 /10

Eldest

Eldest by Christopher Paolini

Inheritance Book 2

This book is just as good as the last. This time Eragon has to travel to the Elves where he is trained to be a Rider. He is tutored by an older Rider, Oromis, whilst Saphira is taught by the Dragon. Eragon learns much and falls in olove with an elf who is over one hundred years older than him. he is turned down though and makes himself look like a bit of a fool. Him and Saphira then have to travel to Surda where they joined the Varden army to fight against the Empire. During all of this, his cousin, Roran, has to defend Carvahall from the Empire as well. At they end they flee to Surda and help Eragon with the battle. I enjoyed this book and like the last book, Eragon, it made me want to read on even though I couldn't. I am giving it 9/10.

MB

I Agree with MB. Having just finished this one I am ready to dive straight into book three which I know has been published. However as MB only just got it for his birthday I had better wait. This book is astounding in its detail and in the style especially considering the age of the author. It is well written and well thought out. I enjoy the style which is easy to follow and the ability of the author to keep two or three stories going at the same time. If you enjoy "Lord of the Rings" or CS lewis then this is the book for you.I give this one a 9 out of 10.

JB

Overall it is a 9/10.

Eragon, Inheritance Trilogy, Book One, Christopher Paolini

Eragon

Inheritance Book 1

I really enjoyed this book. It is fairly classic in its style following in a way the same pattern as the Lord of the Rings trilogy. If you enjoy stories of dragons, elves, dwarfs and monsters of all shapes and sizes mixed in with magic and mysticism then this is the story for you. This is the tale of our hero Eragon a boy without a family a boy with a destiny that he doesn't yet know about who finds a dragons egg and experiences the world unravelling around him. The story has highs and lows and the death and destruction that seems to follow our young hero is vast and terrible.

The writing style is good but nothing special. There are times that the story jumps and our hero has moved over vast sections of the map in a few pages however this does not detract too much from the story. I recommend this tale, in fact so much I am about to dive into book two, Eldest. I give this book an 8 out of 10.

JB

This book was about a boy called Eragon who lived in a small village called Carvahall. Suddenly he finds a Dragon egg and becomes a legendary Rider. Unfortunately his father is killed and he tries to avenge his death by chasing after the murderers with the town story teller, Brom. This plunges Carvahall and his brother into danger of an unusual kind. I enjoyed this book as it had adventure, epic escapes and thrilling battles along with imaginary creatures fighting to protect their land. I am giving it an 8/10.

MB

Overall it is an 8/10.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling.

The seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series.

I came to this book straight from the 6th volume. While I had enjoyed the 6th book (The Half Blood Prince) I had come away with a certain unsatisfied feeling. The 7th book however carries the story on almost straight from where the last left off. This book is very different with the threads sown in all of the other stories pulled together. It moves at a fairly cracking pace to begin with and then seems to slow with some jolts and quickening of the pace at times one does not expect. Potter fans will not be disappointed (although true potter fans will have already read this volume). Having read three of the books so close to each other I have really got into the story. I won't spoil it for you but the ending is dramatic and leaves it open for further stories? I will let you decide, however JK has made it clear that this is her last outing for the boy wizard now that he is an adult. Who knows but I am sure that there will be further tales (not all from China) of Harry Potter in the adult world. Now that is a scary thought..... I am giving it a 7/10.

JB

The seventh book in the Harry Potter series is around the longest and deepest book of them all. After being transported from Privit Drive to The Burrow by The Order of the Phoenix, Harry does not go back to Hogwarts. During Bill and Fleurs wedding Voldemort takes over the Ministry making Harry Ron and Hermione flee and go into hiding. But they can't stay in hiding for long. Harry has a mission to destroy the Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort. But another story has stepped out in front of them. The Deathly Hallows. I found this book really enjoying and though there were 600 odd pages in the book, I finished it in three days which was quite an accomplishment. (This was during our holiday in France where I managed to finish six books.) This book will also be made into two separate films unlike all the rest of the books that were just one film. This just proves how deep it is. I am giving it 9/10.

MB

Overall 8/10

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

6th book in the Harry Potter series.

I have read this one before Matthew. The style as usual is comfortable and the story is a great yarn. For me the problem is that we expect more each time. I felt the story just went along with no excitement or surprises in it. This is a problem for authors who have to produce the goods with something more exciting and more enthralling each time. This is not to say this is a bad book as the style is good and the interest is maintained. It is not the best one that J K has written and in a way I feel that she was correct in deciding to limit the number of books that she writes about Harry Potter. The ending again was no surprise as again the publicity when the book first came out ensured that within days we all knew who died and when. This is good Harry Potter fair. We are witnessing the child becoming a man and the problems that adolescence brings with emotional pain and confusion. As an adult I remember the issues raised in the book and understand the confusion and the conflict within. I am sure kids of the same age as Harry will also understand and perhaps take comfort. I give this a 7 out of 10

JB

Harry Potter starts his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadary. This year many things happen including Snape finally getting the Defence Against the Dark Arts post at Hogwarts and Dumbledore taking a more active role in his education. Harry learns a lot more about Voldemort than he has in the last five years and also goes with Dumbledore on a secret mission that will help destory The Dark Lord. I like J.K Rowlings style of writing and how the characters and scenes are set. I give this book 8/10.

MB

Overall 7.5/10

Walking Blogg

We have added to our Blogging with the addition of a walking blog. Again let us know what you think and also please let us know if you have tried any of the walks.

http://mattnjohnswalkingdiary.blogspot.com/

Devil May Care - Sebastian Faulks

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks writing as Ian Fleming.

The first James Bond book written by Sebastian Faulks.

This is again one of my selections. I thought Matthew would enjoy this book as it follows a similar theme to the previous books. Secret agents seems to be a recurring theme in our reading. This was a much hyped return for James Bond with Sebastian Faulks writing in the style of Ian Flemming. I did get the sense of the era and the time it is set in. I did at times feel though as I imagined the pictures that I was watching a 1970's movie. The story was good and the plot also was believable (for a James Bond book) However it was nothing special and in some ways I felt disappointed. It was not the quality of the writing or the plot but somehow we had already been here before and there was nothing new, no new insight into this larger than life character. I give this a 7/10
JB

This book was quite interesting and it kept me wanting to read it even though I was unable to. It was about 007 who goes to a factory in Asia to find out if the British plane that was flying nearby is there and if they are the people who are stealing drugs into England and France. He has met this women called Scarlett and they set out to infiltrate the base but they are apprehended by a small army of men. They realise that it is the place of a secret plot is to plant drugs into England and France to make more money for themselves and throw the countries into mayhem. I enjoyed this book as i liked the style of writing but I would have much rather have read a Chronicles of Darkness book. I am giving it 7/10.
MB

Overall we give it 7/10.