30 June 2010

#74. The Devil In Amber by Mark Gatiss

Title:

The Devil In Amber

Author:

Mark Gatiss

Genre:

Spy Fiction/Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

Lucifer Box, now approaching middle-age, tests his skills again against a new and dangerous conspiracy.

Verdict:

I thought it odd that the second book is set so many years after the first but it allowed some specific character development and is a bold move by the author. Saucy.

Pages:

248

Read:

June 2010

#73. The Treehouse by Naomi Wolf

Title:

The Treehouse

Author:

Naomi Wolf

Genre:

Memoir/Writing advice/Non-Fiction

Synopsis:

Naomi muses on writing, teaching, the nature of art and her relationships with her father as she and he reconnect and build a treehouse for her kids.

Verdict:

Interesting people, advice and stories. A bit slow at times and lest ‘feminist’ than expected but good.

Pages:

308

Read:

June – July 2010

#72. The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Title:

The Dead Tossed Waves

Author:

Carrie Ryan

Genre:

Supernatural/Horror Fiction/Future Fiction/Post Apocalyptic/Zombies

Synopsis:

Mary’s daughter Gabrielle struggles with identity, fear of the undead, society and human relationships.

Verdict:

In the midst of an overrun Earth, Ryan shows humanity stripped bare, survival, hope and love.

Pages:

404

Read:

June 2010

#71. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Title:

Boneshaker

Author:

Cherie Priest

Genre:

Steampunk/Science Fiction

Synopsis:

The widow of an infamous scientist whose invention left a city tainted, must enter the sealed off ruins again to find her son in the dangerous society that remained.

Verdict:

Steampunk, zombies, action, near misses and pure awesome. So very good.

Pages:

416

Read:

June 2010

#70. Availabe Light by Warren Ellis

Title:

Available Light

Author:

Warren Ellis

Genre:

Short Stories/Fiction

Synopsis:

Little snapshots of possible histories, pasts and lives accompanied by grainy photographs.

Verdict:

Powerful for their size like all Ellis short stories. Dark but real and touching.

Pages:

63

Read:

June 2010

#69. The Geographer's Library

Title:

The Geographer’s Library

Author:

Jon Fasman

Genre:

Fiction/Thriller/Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

A small-town journalist is drawn into a conspiracy as he investigates the death of a mysterious professor.

Verdict:

A lot of potential but the end explanation is outlandish and not worth the wait.

Pages:

547

Read:

June 2010

#68. The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf

Title:

The Beauty Myth

Author:

Naomi Wolf

Genre:

Non-Fiction

Synopsis:

An analysis of how advertising and society shaped to obsess women with beauty.

Verdict:

Scary but an essential comparison to ‘The Feminine Mystique’. Sadly relevant and accurate 30 years on.

Pages:

291

Read:

June – July 2010

#67. Come In Alone by Warren Ellis

Title:

Come In Alone

Author:

Warren Ellis

Genre:

Serial/Collected Articles/Non-Fiction

Synopsis:

Warren Ellis’ thoughts on the comics industry (circa 2000), what’s wrong with it, what can be done to fix it, how it can improve.

Verdict:

Angry, in-depth, technical but not inaccessible. Made a lot of sense and seems just as relevant 10 years on.

Pages:

245

Read:

June 2010

#66. Atomic Sushi by Simon May

Title:

Atomic Sushi

Author:

Simon May

Genre:

Non-Fiction/Travel

Synopsis:

The experiences of an English Philosophy professor living and working in Japan.

Verdict:

Very interesting but it made me a bit nervous to visit (especially the hospitals).

Pages:

217

Read:

June 2010