 |
|
|
|
HarperPerennial | |
|
List Price: £7.99
Our Price: £2.67
Author:
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
By HarperPerennial
 Page after page, simply wonderful, 2008-07-30
In Nigeria, devastated by civil war in the 1960s, we see the birth of the state of Biafra and relearn quite a bit of history. It is through the eyes of three different characters, whose personal tales intertwine, that history blends with their difficult paths:
Ugwu, a houseboy for eccentric university lecturer Odenigbo. Olanna, whose parents raise her and twin sister Kainene in the most privileged of backgrounds in Lagos; she leaves everything behind to follow Odenigbo as they are very much in love. Richard, a timid British national charmed by the Igbo culture and enthralled by Kainene, whose personality is an enigma for everyone. Obviously many other characters rotate all around and as we become acquainted with each of them, their presence is always pertinent and complementary to the main story.
I would not add anything else as the tale would be spoiled but I cannot refrain from strongly recommending this book as it is informative in many ways, its narrative flows beautifully, heartbreakingly, even comically at times and your heart is captured within the lines. It does not dwell on the violence of war even though it (the violence) is perceived in subtle but incredibly effective ways.
Read this book, you will not regret it. Quoting from my review title, simply wonderful, indeed.
List Price: £6.99
Our Price: £1.95
Author:
Penny Smith
By HarperPerennial
 a great first novel: a funny read!, 2008-08-22
This book bounces along, and is a great beach read. The characters are all a bit useless, comical and some intensely unlikeable (apart from the gorgeous Bob) - its a quirky insight into the world of tv.
I loved it.
List Price: £7.99
Our Price: £3.32
Author:
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
By HarperPerennial
Intensely good., 2008-08-10
This book is simply written but full of intense feelings. It was difficult in that I could have cried throughout for Kambili, her brother and their mother. It is a story of finding true love in unexpected places and a story of the resilience of children. Highly recommended and it will stay with you for days afterwards.
List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £3.89
Author:
Doris May Lessing
By HarperPerennial
Many books, many levels., 2007-03-26
Not too much to add to the praise above, but for an interesting - and in my mind heighly accurate - take on the book's structure and form read N. Katherine Hayles superb "Chaos Bound". She looks at the manner in which chaos and order are portrayed in the Notebook within the context of post-structuralism, post-modernism and chaos theory. As for Lessing's work: magnificent
List Price: £7.99
Our Price: £2.50
Author:
Bill Bryson
By HarperPerennial
There's small choice in rotten apples, 2008-08-11
Bill Bryson is more or less superman in today's literary world. He transcends subjects in a single bound and the globe in another. He's a talented critic, writer and humourist. It's a good job, to use modern vernacular, that he's the daddy because, with this one, he's taken on the mother of all literary subjects.
He's done so wisely. He's not attempted to become an original researcher and posit new theories about the man's identity or his plays and other works. He has essentially evaluated and sumamrised the existing state of Shakepearian debate and study, providing his own critique of what is compelling and credible. Thankfully, Bryson was born without a 'boredom gene' and the book reaches any audience, reading so easily. The man does not do dull.
Typically, Bryson's prose is litered with diverting and revealing anecdoes, we get a potted physical history of the theatre alongside the exposition of the central figure. Bryson is expert at demonstrating the lack of hard information about Shakespeaare (I spelled that incorrectly, but then, so did the Bard...) and the vulnerability about the claims and surmises made about his life and character. That will no doubt ruffle feathers. I found it interesting to learn that Shakespeare had thieved so many of his stories from others. As also did I find the battle for written English over Latin. The fact there were lost plays is new to me too. So to non-Shakespeare scholars this offers a lot.
To those who are scholars I am not sure it will be depthy enough to satisfy but they are not the prime audience I'd suppose. Bryson's great economy of expression, wit and clarity mean he is less self-indulgent in this book than perhaps any other of his that I have read (which is all but one, that being the African diaries). Although always near the surface, his trademark wit is less in evidence, reserved for a full scale assault on those who feel Shakespeare was somebody else. That business is clearly a cottage industry and I know Bryson has trodden on somebody else's cucumbers here by reason of the ridicule he heaps on the alternate theories.
It is a short book. There could have been more. But how much more was truly needed? And at whatever point should he have stopped on an almost inexhaustible subject populated by many including purists and pedants? Nevertheless one gets the impression he made a judgement about the length that possibly excluded a little more hard work examining various omissions from the life of the Bard and those who knew or worked with him.
Bryson's book has one central curiosity. It is really the oppositite of a biography - more a book about what we don't know than what we do - and that is refreshing in itself. I think he's done a first rate job here given how well aired the subject is.
And for his next trick...?
Incidentally, the title I gave to this is a quote from one of the Bard's plays and seems to convey Bryson's attitude to much of the literature he discovered!
List Price: £7.99
Our Price: £1.85
Author:
Patrick Gale
By HarperPerennial
An absolute gem, 2008-07-17
This book is beautifully written. Its an absolute joy and is without doubt worth its 5 stars.
List Price: £7.99
Our Price: £2.83
Author:
Patrick Bishop
By HarperPerennial
A truly moving account instilling patriotism, 2008-07-18
I was doubtful about purchasing this book as I have never really been into war books, but I am so glad I did. This book is written in an excellent manner giving a direct and truthful account of the bravery, courage, discipline and honour of our British professional troops. At one point reading this on the train commute into London I had to put the book down because I was welling up and any book that can do that to me is a worth read. I was saddened but not surprised to see on TV last night that Colnel Tootal has retired from his command, but to be honest not surprised when you read how difficult it was for him in 3 Para. I can't rate this book highly enough and I would just like to say this is one British citizen who fully supports our lads in Afganistan.
List Price: £10.99
Our Price: £4.23
By HarperPerennial
Fascinating and very enjoyable read, 2008-08-06
I knew nothing about the Mitfords before borrowing this book from my mum. I found it highly compelling, especially all the references to the many influential and varied people of the 20th century. It is also very sad at times, especially the harsh realities of the passage of time. This collection of letters has been carefully chosen to tell the reader the Mitfords' story but in the words of the girls themselves.
List Price: £6.99
Our Price: £2.15
Author:
Jean-Dominique Bauby
By HarperPerennial
On December 8, 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby's life was forever altered when a part of his body he'd never heard of--his brain stem--was rendered inactive. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, his exquisitely painful memoir, is neither a triumphant account of recovery nor a journey into the abyss of self-pity. Instead, it is a tender testament to the power of language and love. At 43, Bauby was defined by success, wit and charisma. But in the course of a few bewildering minutes, the editor-in-chief of French Elle became a victim of the rare locked-in syndrome. The only way he could express his frustration, however, was by blinking his left eye. The rest of his body could no longer respond. Bauby was determined to escape the paralysis of his diving bell and free the butterflies of his imagination. And with the help of ESA, "a hit parade in which each letter is placed according to the frequency of its use in the French language," Bauby did so. Visitors, and eventually his editor, would read each letter aloud and he would blink at the right one. Slowly--painstakingly-- words, sentences, paragraphs and even this graceful book emerged. Bauby relays the horrors and s...
Fall in love with every day life again, 2008-08-26
This is possibly the worst situation anyone could ever be in yet, Bauby tried his hardest to remain positive and showed heroic humour throughout the entire book. Whilst an unbelievably sad situation, the book is not depressing.
You can read the whole book quite quickly. Even those who don't read often can enjoy this reasonably short story with a huge positive impact.
For me, this book has reunited myself with the life we are supposed to be living. Appreciating whatever little we might have, whether it be the ability of complete or limited physical movement, or material possessions, we are unable to enjoy them if we don't appreciate them.
We must stop and smell the flowers more, or watch a butterfly in action when we have the opportunity. For me, doing these kinds of things, honours Bauby more as it is my way of showing appreciation of his efforts to survive in a crushed state.
For now, Jean-Dominique Bauby can rest in peace. And in the day of resurrection, he shall walk, talk and enjoy the real life again.
John 5:21, 28 & 29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|