30 August 2009

#12. Flat Earth News by Nick Davies

Title:

Flat Earth News

Author:

Nick Davies

Genre:

Non-Fiction/Exposé

Synopsis:

Examines the changes in modern media and how they have led to inaccurate, incomplete and dangerous reporting, misleading and misguiding us.

Verdict:

Illuminating but very depressing, especially its highlighting of how little information we somehow manage to share and/or distribute despite the fact we’re more connected than ever.

Pages:

397

Read:

August 2009 – January 2010

#11. Death Message by Mark Billingham

Title:

Death Message

Author:

Mark Billingham

Genre:

Crime/Thriller

Synopsis:

A serial killer sends photos of his victims and intended victims to the police as a challenge as he goes about his work.

Verdict:

Characters stay complex and lines are crossed which you always assume cops might but are rarely shown doing in fiction.

Pages:

376

Read:

August 2009

#10. Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

Title:

Ivanhoe

Author:

Sir Walter Scott

Genre:

Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

A disinherited knight returns to England from the crusades and is caught up in the conflict of the times.

Verdict:

The language made it slow going but gave it a certain beauty. The sociological issues explored are still relevant today and very bold for the times.

Pages:

477

Read:

August – September 2009

#9. Bonk: The Curious Coupling Of Sex And Science

Title:

Bonk: The Curious Coupling Of Sex And Science

Author:

Mary Roach

Genre:

Humorous Research/Non-Fiction

Synopsis:

A study of the scientific investigation into the nature, function and physiological effects of sex.

Verdict:

A return to form after the let down of ‘Spook’. Interesting, informative and amusing.

Pages:

306

Read:

August 2009.

#8. The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

Title:

The Night Watch

Author:

Sergei Lukyanenko

Genre:

Russian Supernatural/Horror/Thriller/Drama

Synopsis:

Supernatural law-keeping and intrigue in Russia. Conspiracy and power plays abound as different magical creatures and beings called The Others face each other and try to keep or destroy the balance of Light and Dark which holds the world in check.

Verdict:

Surprising, engaging and excellent. The foreignness of the Russian setting and mindset give the fantastic events a strange reality and grounding.

Pages:

489

Read:

August 2009

#7. Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Title:

Let The Right One In

Author:

John Ajvide Lindqvist

Genre:

Horror/Fiction/Drama

Synopsis:

A bullied young boy befriends an outcast girl during a time of personal drama whilst a murderer roams the streets.

Verdict:

Excellent. I can’t work out if I would have liked it more or less if I read it before ‘Undead’ but I wasn’t as shocked as I might have been since I had some experience of Lindqvist’s style.

Pages:

513

Read:

August 2009

#6. The Preacher by Camilla Läckberg

Title:

The Preacher

Author:

Camilla Läckberg

Genre:

Crime/Thriller

Synopsis:

The body of a tourist discovered near the remains of an older body lead the police to a family whose connection to an old travelling faith healer hides stranger secrets than anyone could anticipate.

Verdict:

Similar feel to ‘Ice Princess’, good characters, a bit less focused but still strong. Themes and long running stories continue to develop.

Pages:

419

Read:

July – August 2009

#5. Spook: Science Tackles The Afterlife

Title:

Spook: Science Tackles The Afterlife

Author:

Mary Roach

Genre:

Humorous Research/Non-Fiction

Synopsis:

An examination of the scientific studies done in an attempt to work out what happens to us after death, whether the soul can be measured and other such ideas.

Verdict:

I enjoyed it but not as much as ‘Stiff’. It felt a little vague and forced at times, no doubt because you can’t form proper scientific conclusions about something so philosophical which can’t be answered by the living and the dead have yet to comment.

Pages:

277

Read:

July – August 2009

#4. Handling The Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Title:

Handling The Undead

Author:

John Ajvide Lindqvist

Genre:

Horror/Fiction/Drama

Synopsis:

People in Stockholm begin to return from the dead and the living must deal with the ramifications.

Verdict:

Amazing. Well-drawn characters, interesting look at grief, mortality and human nature.

Pages:

364

Read:

July – August 2009