March Book Reviews

An intelligent debut that reflects the confusion children can go through after a family break up. Dan Hope is 11 and still trying to work out why his Dad left 4 years ago.. he is spurred on to reconnect with his father after seeing him in his new role as news reader on the local tv.

Along with the normal heartbreaks of childhood - falling out with friends, squabbling with siblings, Williamson manages to capture the confusion of huge emotions which younger children deal with in their pre-teen years when so much is still unclear.

Brilliant characters including Big Dave and Ninja Grace pull the story through to it's somewhat inevitable conclusion... looking forward to The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean on an Armchair. Would aim this at Year 6 (11yrs) and  pre-teens.



Part of my book group quota - this month we chose children/teen titles to share and discuss. This is one I've been meaning to read and finished it within a day - very easy premise of Tom being awesome (if not a little cheeky) and the fun things a boy can get up to. Like all boys he enjoys a bit of music, playing around with his mates and the girl he sits next to at school.

Illustrations help to embellish the writing and I can understand why this series is so popular - much like Diary of  Wimpy Kid, Tom Gates is an easily likeable character. Brilliant fun for Key Stage 2





Remember when you were a teenager and you obsessed over that guy/girl from that band? Well now imagine that you're front row at their concert and they are standing in front of you? What would you do? 

When Jody finds herself standing face to face with Jason Gatlin, lead singer of The Regulators chaos takes over and a week later he's still living in her mother's garage, wearing her grandfathers' clothes and trying to hide from his evil manager! Brilliant characters including the best friend Mac, adorable toddler Cree and crazy journalist make for an interesting 370 pages, if not a bit of a predictable ending.






Darling lives in Paradise, Africa... she spends her days playing the Country Game or Find Bin Laden, or stealing guavas from the security gated houses up town. This feels like a true depiction of an African childhood that you see glimpses of on the news, it's feels realistic. But Darling doesn't stay in Africa with her group of friends, she moves to destroymichegan... where everything is different.

This was a strange read - nothing happens and yet under the surface everything changes. Darling doesn't forget her friends but their lives are now so different there is no common ground. Back story is given through confusing flashbacks and I finished the book feeling slightly cheated for story.




River and Flynn have never been happier - Flynn has his anger issues under control with the help of group counselling, they've both moved to the commune with River's dad and even attend the same sixth form - what could go wrong? 

Teen angst and the confusion of first relationships ensues in this next instalment of McKenzie's teen drama

January and February Book Reviews

An apology for those crazy few who may look forward to these reviews - due to illness I haven't managed to read as much as I would normally this year - hopefully this will get better, just means I have a larger pile of books to get through than normal!



An easy festive read for the holidays follows the local, lovable police man Hamish Macbeth on his wanderings through Lockdubh and the Highlands beyond.

With characters from the village to provide some light hearted amusement and a sense of community that warms the soul... why not give it a go?







A series of books I have meant to read for a while and finally got round to!

The Diamond of Drury Lane invites you into theatreland following our heroine Catherine Royal, an orphan taken in my the owner of Drury Lane Theatre. Cat, a street wise urchin, knows how to play the gangs of Covent Garden and the surrounding area but when the new boy Pedro arrives at the theatre she is unsure she can trust him. And then there's the diamond... can she help Mr Sheridan protect from Billy Boil and his evil gang?

An easy, historical page turner suitable for 7 years+

A silly stocking filler present which has had me in stitches - who knew what went on in a dog's mind - now thanks to October Jones we can all find out!

Have been plugging away at this story for a while after hearing about the film last year. Monuments Men shines a light on the men of the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Division of the Allied Forces serving in World War II.

Very well written and easy to follow, Edsel takes us through the key players on both sides and re-counts the brave and courageous experiences of this small band of devoted men who saved some of the greatest pieces of art in history.

December Book Reviews

 The best in the Pittacus Lore series by far in my opinion. The Garde have found each other and are now ready to bring the fight to the Mogadorians.

As with all groups though some people play better with others and there are always secrets to uncover. As the gang all get to know each other whilst staying in Nine's Chicago penthouse full of gadgets, they learn more about their legacies. It's up to Four to lead them in the right direction but with Sarah and Sam to worry about as well is the pressure becoming too much?

I wasn't sure whether I'd enjoy this or not but I was hooked from the first chapter. Father and son share stories and opinions from their lives and you can feel the enjoyment and friendship through the stories. 

By far the best part is the annotations though as they bicker on the page about Jack's use of grammar and Michael's constant name dropping. That and Jack's cartoons give much light relief.

A definite for any fan!

Edward and Leonora spend the Summer with their Aunt Kestrel... having not met each other before they are thrust together as each other's only companion. Their relationship reminds me a lot of Pip and  Estella from Great Expectations. Leonora, spoilt rotten by her mother wants only one thing... a doll. But when Edward gets it for her things do not go according to plan.

I enjoyed this book although it as nothing like what I expected. At only 153 pages it is slow to start and is pleasant whilst not being overly scary... I would say I was slightly disappointed but enjoyed the story for what it was.

Having been sent down from his home planet to erase all proof of a mathematical theory that will ruin the world our alien narrator takes on a bit more than he bargained for.

As missions go infiltrating a family and finding out who knows what doesn't sound too difficult. But when he gets caught up in this human mess called emotion, sees "his son" contemplating suicide, "his wife" unhappy with the way her life has panned out, suddenly erasing a theory doesn't seem that important any more. 

Written as an account for higher up the order Haig strikes the balance of description and emotion well and shines a light on what intrinsically makes us human.

This sequel sees us catching up with Wilhelm, the lovable rogue of Just One Day in the hospital in Paris after being  beaten up on the Paris streets. Everything starts coming back to him; Lulu, his day around Paris with her, the chance encounters. But not knowing Lulu's real name makes it almost impossible to find her again.

Over the next year Wilhelm travels as he always does but never loses the feeling of missing someone, missing her and trying to find his place in the world. This is a book of soul searching, of opportunity and possibility, of life and love and their importance.





The latest in the journeys of the demigods finds Percy and Annabeth travelling through Tartarus to the doors of death whilst the crew of the Argo II venture to meet them on the other side. 

During their journeys we learn more about these demigods, their hopes and fears, their vulnerability and their determination whilst visiting countries of the world and characters well know from myth and legend. Rick Riordan, the myth master himself has done it again... next intsalment please!

A festive-ish choice - what's winter without a couple of ghost stories. Kate Mosse has been on the list for a while and when I found she'd produced a book of short stoires I thought the time was right. 

Based on local folklore and legends of the this isle Mosse takes you through a kaliedoscope of emotion and it is a testament to her writing that some of these stories have stuck with me through the month. My favourite though is the story the book is named for The Mistletoe Bride.

November Book Reviews

I've gone on a bit of an unscheduled sci-fi/fantasy bent lately so you'll have to forgive me.. needless to say I have been left thoroughly confused by it all!

By local Wiltshire author and mobile library driver Alan Richardson Dark Light is a kooky, humourous tale of humans controlled by higher powers with the thrill of a chase, multiple time periods and the mistaken switch of an electric kettle from Argos and Yahya, the head in a box all in the sleepy county town of Trowbridge!

Never fear though with the death goddess Jenny Grey, american Lillith Love and Jack Hobbes the undoubtedly best mobile library manager ever all will be explained or at least there might be a book on the mobile about it! 

The newest offering from the wonderful Patrick Ness tackles the idea of the after life, if such a thing exists.

Seth drowned in the ocean, cold and alone but when he wakes up in his childhood home on a different continent things start getting strange. As Seth explores this new land, he is plagued by memories of his short life, trying to make sense of past decisions. But this new land has it's own rules, it's own dangers and secrets. With the help of new friends Regine and Tomasz and a common enemy in The Driver things start to become clearer and truths rise to the surface. Tomasz provides much needed light relief in a very heavy and serious novel but fans of Ness will not be disappointed.

My first voyage in to Terry Pratchett has left me totally confused and yet with a smile on muy face. Now I submit that starting with the 37th episode in a long standing series is probably not the best way to introduce yourself to an author but the fact that I enjoyed this book without knowing all the history is a testament to Pratchett's style. 

The professors of Unseen University must compete in a football tournament, the only problem is no-one knows how to play. Enter Mister Nutt, a mysterious little fellow with knowledge of the game as well as anything else you might want to know. There is a lot more going on in this book including the stories of Glenda and Juliet from the Night Kitchen but this has definitely wetted the appetite for more.

David Mitchell has always been one of those comedians that I wasn't sure whether I liked or not but after reading his biography I find his story endearing. 

Recounting his youth with fondness, talking about his career from Edinburgh, radio and TV and sharing perspectives as we all know he can whilst taking us on his daily walk through London. His narrative is simple and fun whilst being honest and that makes it all the more believable. I read the whole book all the while with a smile on my face.

A startlingly debut from Koethi Zan negotiates the aftermath of everyone's worse nightmare. Caroline Morrow appears to be a normal human being, just your average New Yorker but she is a recluse and has been for ten years ever since she escaped from the cellar of Jack Derber. 

When news comes of Jack's parole hearing she digs into the past to find evidence to keep him behind bars. She wants justice for Jennifer, her friend who never made it out of Jack's cellar but the only way to find out the truth is to go back to where it all began and try to make sense of the past.

A fantastical tale full of illusion, magic and the wonders of childhood. I wouldn't expect anything different from Neil Gaiman. Friendships during childhood are looked back on with fondness and the storyteller's friendship with the Hempstock women at the end of the lane begins a rollercoaster of events. 

To tell more would take away the enjoyment and I would not want to deprive anyone of Gaiman's genius. 

October Book Reviews

Franky is 30, working in clothes retail where his boss is also his girlfriend. It's fair to say life is pretty easy and he's got few complaints but a weekend away camping with old friends changes all that. Holly's pregnant, Nevin's a kleptomaniac, Wayland has a major drinking problem and then there's Alek. Alek is Franky's best friend, but there's always more to the story than that.

When Franky makes friends with the gay couple on the site opposite it puts things in to perspective. Bombshells are dropped throughout the 250 pages and just when you think things are getting better someone confesses to something.

Never has a group of old friends had so many secrets nor such a deluded sense of loyalty and honour. As far as LGBT lit goes it's a solid offering with stereotypical support characters. Can't say I'm rushing to read more by Mel Bossa though.

A beautiful debut from Erin Morgenstern that I am still trying to wake from. I can't tell you too much of the plot without giving things away but suffice it to say that if you suspend belief for long enough you will be welcomed into the circus of dreams with open arms. 

Part fantasy, part love story, part mystery there is something for everyone in this story with a beautiful mix of eccentric characters. Be warned though that it isn't all happiness that befalls you at the Night Circus and sometimes it's hard to tell the light from the dark and the good from the evil.

Unfortunately there aren't plans for another book from this wonderful author yet.

The first of the Mortal Instruments trilogy introduces us to a world of shadow hunters, vampires and other (seemingly normal  for these days) other worldly characters as Clary explores a world that has been kept secret from her for the 15 years of her life. 

Unfortunately, this secret is revealed when her mother disappears one night and Clary battles her first demon. With the help of her best friend Simon and the new and handsome stranger Jace she learns of her heritage and the true identities of people she's known her whole life.

An easy teen read for those who enjoy the genre although I don't feel the need to rush out and read the next instalment straight away.

After seeing Burton and Taylor on BBC4 I felt the need to read Private Lives and I'm glad I did. A short three act play which follows the hapless activities of two newly-wed couples. Brilliant easy reading for an autumnal evening. Coward is fantastic in his wordplay and wit is present in abundance as Elyot and Amanda reminisce and rekindle their old flame whilst on honeymoon with the new partners.

As is expected chaos ensues and passion wins out but oh my do they have some fun in the mean time!

I've always been a fan of Bill Bryson and this is another of his wonderous gifts to the world. In One Summer Bryson picks out the key figures of the Summer of 1927 - names you'd recognise; Charles Lindbergh, Calvin Coolidge, Babe Ruth, Al Capone are intertwined with forgotten names of the age; Philo Farnsworth, Kenesaw Martin Landis and Jacob Ruppert. 

This was the Summer Mount Rushmore was commissioned, Babe Ruth had the season of his life, the first talking picture The Jazz Singer was shown in theatres and Charles Lindbergh navigated the Atlantic Ocean single-handed. 

Uplifting, inspirational and at times sensational Bryson's account of these four short months will keep you turning the pages and satisfying your appetite for discovery.

Rose and Joshua used to live together... their parents were in a relationship until they disappeared 5 years ago and Rose and Joshua were split up. 

Joshua was sent north but has recently moved back to London to start university... and to find his Dad and Rose's mum. 

Rose has recently returned from boarding school to start at the local college but when she witnesses two murders in the same number of weeks things start to get a little strange. Unable to let it go Rose is conducting her own investigations with the help of Joshua's room-mate Skeggsie.

All in all a simple read with underlying teenage angst.

Thank You Neil Gaiman

Earlier this month Neil Gaiman (@NeilHimself) gave the second annual Reading Agency Lecture. For his topic he chose the importance of reading for pleasure and as part of that the importance of libraries. I sat listening to the lecture with a notebook handy to jot any words of wisdom down and came away with a handful of notes from half an hour. Suffice it to say after listening to him he has probably earned a place on my wall of wisdom next to the wonder that is Michael Rosen.

Gaiman is in tune with the world of reading, rightly so you would think for an author who has been plying his trade for over thirty years. Again and again the words reading for pleasure were echoed around the lecture hall of The Barbican – as a Librarian in a public library I feel the most important part of my job, my duty if you like is to promote reading for pleasure to all and especially to those children who I interact with. Therefore I felt an affinity with “my friend Neil “as he continued to expostulate on the importance of reading for pleasure – the need to escape and empathise and the lessons reading for pleasure can teach us about basic humanity and help us to develop our own opinions.

He spoke of libraries as magical places... drawing out the words inter library loan, like a small miracle when he first heard it from his local Librarian. He spoke of the evolving nature of libraries with passion and a sense of excitement, promoting libraries not just as book repositories but a place that can help people to find out, sort and collate the masses of information that we are now buried under on a daily basis. An interesting statistic that I managed to note down was from Eric Schmidt of Google; Every two days the human race creates as much information as we did from the dawn of time to 2003! That totally had my mind blown... the information glut we are now living through needs these professionals to help navigate for those who are not computer literate, in a world where life is increasingly led online libraries are a free, legal and open resource for all and are as Gaiman believes the “gates to the future”.

He finished off by speaking of the obligations we have as human beings... the easy ones; to read, to use language and to daydream. But there were also subtle calls to arms; to tell MPs what we want, to use and embrace language, to use reading for pleasure as time to bond with children and show them that reading for pleasure, irrelevant of format should be embraced and celebrated.

The last sparkle of wisdom I’ll leave you with is this.... “If you don’t value libraries you don’t value culture, information or wisdom”. Now I may be biased due to my profession but reading and creating a literate society should be the top priority of a nation. A literate nation is in my opinion an informed nation with a chance to build upon the wonders of the past with the promises of the future and libraries are essential to this end. I would quite happily show this lecture in schools and universities up and down the country, along with both houses of parliament.

So thank you Neil for standing up for reading and libraries and let me know next time you’re in town. 

PS. If you want to watch the lecture just click the link at the top of the post and prepare to fall in love (only intellectually though.... don't get carried away!)

September Book Reviews

Following the fashion of gossip from below stairs Baker serves up a fresh perspective of the nation's favourite Austen created family. And as expected there's as much drama below stairs as above. The introduction of James the footman causes a stir in the comfortable household and forces Sarah to re-think her position in life and society. But much goes on that is not necessarily seen.

All the favourite characters appear Wickham, Lizzie and the insatiable Mrs Bennett but there are fresh secrets revealed in Baker's portrayal. Should Mary have married Mr Collins? Was the Hill's marriage all it seemed? Beautifully written and a good excuse to return to a world as well known as my own.

The sequel to Legend. Day and June are on the run but exactly who is the enemy? After the death of the elector it's hard to tell. One thing's for sure at least Day and June can rely on each other can't they??

Lu brings back brave and ruthless character s throwing them together and ramping up the pressure... the truth will out! An easy read for those who enjoy the dystopian genre of teen fiction.









This was recommended by a friend and reminds me a lot of Dan Brown with a bit more respect for the audience. The Sancti are clouded in mystery and never leave the security of the Citadel that is until Brother Samuel makes a rather public plea for help. The Sancti are not all they seem, they have a secret that must remain exactly that no matter who gets in their way.

A racing thriller that will have you gripped from the start with the next two instalments already published... it's going to be a good winter thanks to Mr Toyne!