This book is a real hoot. Easy and comfortable to read, the pages just whizz by. Charming, slightly askew young man, is convinced he's anA BIT OF A HOOT
This book is a real hoot. Easy and comfortable to read, the pages just whizz by. Charming, slightly askew young man, is convinced he's an alien, awaiting pickup from the skies, to return home.
It's interesting how he observes the human race from his viewpoint, and his dialogue is ultra basic, but hilarious at times, but there are moments of real pathos too. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and a little disappointed when it finished. Give it a go....more
I have read several 'many lives' books in my time, and most of them disappointed. Only Ken Grimwood's 'Replay' hit the j Book with a Split Personality
I have read several 'many lives' books in my time, and most of them disappointed. Only Ken Grimwood's 'Replay' hit the jackpot. This book falls midway in my chart, as it starts off fairly promisingly, with Thora and Santi meeting up in Cologne in many lives, trying to work out what the hell was going on. That covered roughly the first three quarters of the book. So far so good.
Then the last quarter begins to slightly confuse at times, and almost disappears up its own posterior, with incredulous happenings and nonsensical verbal, double meanings, and sorrowful debates about what could, maybe, or never will, leaving me to wonder - was this latter part of the book written by someone else? Or had the author suddenly hit a downturn and drugged herself up?
In the final pages I was not really attuned to what was happening, and the actual ending wasn't an ending - it was another awful left dangling scenario. Go get 'Replay' by Ken Grimwood....more
The unusual split cover is one thing; reading the book landscape style is quite another. But do you know what? - It A Quirky Brilliant Little Package
The unusual split cover is one thing; reading the book landscape style is quite another. But do you know what? - It damn well works sublimely.
A town built above an American airfield is absolutely outlandish, until you learn that such endeavours did take place during the war. The whole idea was to disguise these airfields from prying Japanese aircraft.
The story is tip-top outrageously hilarious Graham Rawle at his best, weaving characters across the pages, with their unintentionally humorous outlooks on life, with interactions between the characters leaving me in floods of chuckles and giggles.
Yes, I loved this quirky, brilliant little package, and it's another big tick on the Graham Rawle list from me. But my favourite book of his is still THE CARD, which made me laugh so much, it actually hurt....more
This book has had such rave reviews I feel that anything I say will melt immediately into insignificance. This book is hard to s Who Did What and When?
This book has had such rave reviews I feel that anything I say will melt immediately into insignificance. This book is hard to summarise because it's a rather strange conundrum of goings on; a girl goes missing, her sister goes searching, Ted's the suspect, a very strange man, who lives with his daughter, and a cat called Olivia.
Ted, the daughter, the searching sister, and even the cat, all have their say throughout the tale. There are many instances throughout the story when I found myself totally confused with who was what, and when was why, and I got myself tied up in a series of knots. At times the confusion was quite intolerable, but I hung on in there to find out who did what, and when. Not sure that the ending gave me the answer.
It is certainly atmospheric, with tiny hints of a Psycho feel about it, with Mommy popping up here and there, and being rather horrid. No wonder Ted is like he is.
By all means dive in and add to the plaudits. Me? I'm just glad to get out of those woods - Ted lives right next door.
BE PREPARED TO LOSE YOUR MIND> Now I'm all for a bit of sci-fi, and quite a keen follower of time travel stories, but this story should come with a heaBE PREPARED TO LOSE YOUR MIND> Now I'm all for a bit of sci-fi, and quite a keen follower of time travel stories, but this story should come with a health warning: "Be prepared to lose your mind!" It's quite a breathtaking concept - people rewriting time by virtue of returning to an earlier memory, then various other people doing the same, but with the mind-numbing result that time has been altered for everyone.
And when the author starts explaining it all in finer detail, feel free to scratch your head, and wonder if perhaps a paracetamol might equalise your situation. Don't get me wrong - this is an unbelievably clever novel from an extraordinary mind, believe you me.
The characters are vividly painted and you do care about the outcome - that's possibly the main reason that kept me going to the end. But be warned - there will be times when you'll suddenly stop reading, look around you, and wonder if you're still in YOUR normal timeline, or whether you're someone completely different, living a completely different life, and wondering who the hell those six kids belong to, who are running amuck around your armchair.
On second thoughts, close the book, and enjoy the simplicity of Brexit and the Covid-19 outbreak....more
Once again I was hooked in by the superb hardback cover. So many before it have had me forking out, only to leave me frustrated and disappointed by theOnce again I was hooked in by the superb hardback cover. So many before it have had me forking out, only to leave me frustrated and disappointed by the lacklustre innards of the written pages inside. But not this one!
At nigh on 800 pages it has to be good to keep you going. And it certainly is that! The story is a unique one alright: We are captivated as Shana follows her sister across America, at the head of many other sleepwalking wanderers - going where, one asks?
Worried family members follow in their wake and are labelled 'Shepherds'. So together they, and us, the readers, are marching onwards as society begins to crumble around them.
Before you begin this journey you must prepare to suspend disbelief at what awaits you, towards journeys end - it's all a bit sci-fi, a touch of the old 'Twilight Zone' about it.
The characters are well drawn, and you kinda duck and weave alongside the goodies and the pretty evil guy, with forthright language hardly spared at various steps along the way.
Yes, I enjoyed this unique journey. And that lovely cover, thank goodness, was done appropriate justice....more
Brother and sister go to scary house with even scarier cousins living there. Well, we all like a bit of scary, don't we? So I was drawn in.
With spiders Brother and sister go to scary house with even scarier cousins living there. Well, we all like a bit of scary, don't we? So I was drawn in.
With spiders being the link to travelling back in time through body inhabiting, and the resulting debates over who was inhabited and the deducing of what was going on, often left me puzzled.
The mixed reviews of this book seems to indicate the different tastes that we all have. Frequently I was debating whether to carry on reading or simply call it quits. Well, I did finish it, and quite frankly, I wouldn't recommend it, and in some ways I was quite relieved when I turned the final page....more
The trouble with short stories, I find, is that if they are good, then you wished they'd continued; and if they are poor, you wished you hadn't botherThe trouble with short stories, I find, is that if they are good, then you wished they'd continued; and if they are poor, you wished you hadn't bothered.
I must confess that of all my short story reading I've never found a collection that was truly satisfying.
But give Peter James his due, here is a collection that has little quirky endings which make you chuckle, some stories better than others.
So, if you want short, sharp pieces of fairly amusing fiction, this kind of ticks those boxes....more
Despite this book being more for young adults, around 10-16 year olds, I quite liked the idea behind the story, and as I was just out of that age rangDespite this book being more for young adults, around 10-16 year olds, I quite liked the idea behind the story, and as I was just out of that age range at 69 years old, I thought why not?
As it says on the tin there's talking birds, ghostly happenings, and family secrets and kidnapping. Yes, I quite enjoyed it, though at times the style did seem junior/high, but nonetheless a lovely story for the young 'uns....more
If you're a fan of Jonathan Carroll you'll know, like I do, that he not only comes at you from different angles, he comes at you from angles that haveIf you're a fan of Jonathan Carroll you'll know, like I do, that he not only comes at you from different angles, he comes at you from angles that have not even been invented!
Previous books like THE WOODEN SEA and LAND OF LAUGHS are so utterly bizarre, but so wonderfully brilliant, that you have to take a step back with this book, which having been written way back in 1983, has a little more normality to it.
But having said that there is a strangeness to this story which I can't quite put my finger on, as Joe Lennox, blaming himself for the death of his brother, whizzes off to Vienna and falls in love with a married woman.
OK you're two-thirds of the way through this book and so far.....normality? Then, suddenly, weird things begin to creep in to the scenery.......and you say to yourself "Jonathan Carroll is BACK!"
Yes, I enjoyed this book, despite the horrid little ending. But that's Jonathan Carroll for you!...more
What better start to a book than a naked guy stranded on a busy motorway, wondering how he got there, but even more importantly, who on earth he was? WWhat better start to a book than a naked guy stranded on a busy motorway, wondering how he got there, but even more importantly, who on earth he was? Well, he was Andrew Martin, college professor at Cambridge University, but now he's Andrew Martin infiltrated by an alien from outer space. You see, the professor has solved this mathematical equation that would change mankind forever, and the aliens reckon that Earth is simply not ready for such cosmic changes.
Seeing it like that it all sounds pretty naff and mundane, but in truth this is a wonderful keyhole navigation through the plusses and minuses of being human. Matt Haig treats this sensitive subject with great care and attention but leaves us with just enough humour to be able to learn but stil chuckle at what we are truly all about.
It would be a shame if you readers out there missed this cosmic experience....more
Like many others, I suspect, I was drawn to this book by the strange concept of a twisted London, and like the citizens themselves, constantly changinLike many others, I suspect, I was drawn to this book by the strange concept of a twisted London, and like the citizens themselves, constantly changing.
By the time I got to page 135 of this 347 page book, I decided to quit. Whilst some interesting characters turned up now and again, the story kind of gets lost in the constant small talk. The tale, promising so much, simply fails to progress, whereupon I found myself looking for something else to do, rather than struggle on with this disappointment.
It is a magical atmosphere that encompasses our little mermaid heroine, Coralie.
Living amongst the freak show's exhibits in Professor Sardie's museum,It is a magical atmosphere that encompasses our little mermaid heroine, Coralie.
Living amongst the freak show's exhibits in Professor Sardie's museum, Coralie is desperate to find a better, more natural life.
The second story running alongside Coralie's adventure is Eddie Cohen, an immigrant who becomes absorbed in photography. This too is a tragic tale.
With both our subjects struggling for real life, a real love, will they manage to find each other? As in the freak show, this book is well worth the entrance fee....more
To find the plot is always interesting. To lose the plot from page one is inexcusable - but that's what I did.
Alongside most reviewers of this book I fTo find the plot is always interesting. To lose the plot from page one is inexcusable - but that's what I did.
Alongside most reviewers of this book I found the opening chapters a master class in confusion. But having read the blurb on the back cover, OK...there's a Wall coming up and the big mystery of what's on the other side will unfold.
The characters, all female, are obviously trapped this side of the wall, and what with the dialogue and things they spoke about being so weird, I suddenly wondered whether this was all a clever ploy by the author......and these girls turned out in the end to be animals - especially as they were situated right on top of a pig sty. Nope! According to all the reviewers this was not the case and I got it so terribly wrong. So trudging through all the gobbledygook of this story, for me was a total waste of time.
A fun journey full of humour and pathos. Alex's friendship with Mr Peterson is funny and heartwarming, and ultimately full of incident, right to the biA fun journey full of humour and pathos. Alex's friendship with Mr Peterson is funny and heartwarming, and ultimately full of incident, right to the bitter sweet end. Alex's logic and explanations will keep you amused, and when you turn the final page, you will feel that you've viewed the world from a slightly different angle to normal. ...more
The Anubis Gates by this author is one of the best books that I've ever read. Sadly, this one is one of the worst! After struggling to get to the halfwaThe Anubis Gates by this author is one of the best books that I've ever read. Sadly, this one is one of the worst! After struggling to get to the halfway point I just couldn't handle the ever increasing weird bits, with monster in a box and astral planes, and cars splitting into three.
So, I terminated my attempt. To begin with it was promising with Father and daughter up against two factions, but,as the strange complications began to cram the plot, gradually I lost the heart to carry on....more
How truly incredible to believe that at one time the author, Paul Sussman, had given up on the manuscript for this book, and after he sadly died in MaHow truly incredible to believe that at one time the author, Paul Sussman, had given up on the manuscript for this book, and after he sadly died in May 2012 we, the reader, had the good fortune that his wife picked it up again and co-edited the final draft, which portrays the magical humour of the author.
Raphael Ignatius Phoenix (RIP) was born at the beginning of the 20th century and will be 100 years old as the millennium ends.
He is determined to write his fantastical life story on the castle walls where he lives, which includes 10 murders that he has committed, before popping in a suicide pill, a pill that he’s been carrying around for about 90 of those years!
I, personally, found this to be one of the most beautiful and satisfying of reads; the murders were inventive and humorous, the antics of our anti-hero were sublimely comical, and the writing was so wonderful in that the pages simply raced by.
I didn’t want this hilarious ride to finish, I really didn’t!
And the ending, especially the relationship with Emily, his childhood friend,leaves you gasping. Never expected that!
My goodness...I’m really sad that the experience has finished.
Ps. What a beautiful cover on the hardback, by the way.
The tinkle of a bell introduces another strange customer into the bookstore. Way back, where you can't see, are the strangest collection of books.
Mr PeThe tinkle of a bell introduces another strange customer into the bookstore. Way back, where you can't see, are the strangest collection of books.
Mr Penumbra wants everything recorded: who comes, who goes, what they're wearing, what mood they're in, and which book they take.
Clay Jannon records it all as requested, until he realises that something weird and wonderful is going on. Read it and find out. You won't be disappointed....more
Lovely looking book in smart case but sadly I gave up on page 54 of 456.
Wanted to read this because I liked the premise of a book in a library being uLovely looking book in smart case but sadly I gave up on page 54 of 456.
Wanted to read this because I liked the premise of a book in a library being used as a message by two people making margin notes, and returning the book, to and fro. Also the numerous inserts of postcards and letters kind of tickled my interest too.
In reality the main story itself, of a man being kidnapped and dumped on board a ship, with weird crewmen, was an exceedingly slow and excruciatingly boring process, and the amount of margin notes by our two characters was ultra excessive and flooded most of the pages to such an extent that it made you wince as you turned the pages.
What's more, the discussions and notes between them suggest at various notions and intrigue regarding the mysterious author and translator of the book - confusion was paramount and added to the annoyance of all the various loose inserts of letters and cards continually falling out of the book. And pray at which page do they go back to, for there is no page number on the inserts?
The whole concept is too damn clever for its own good, and frankly I'm glad that I've abandoned it,for the frustration of it all was simply too much for this reader.
It can count itself lucky that I had the patience to give it 1 star....more
Noted that all the reviews for this collection of short stories are wonderful, it therefore pains me to admit that I haven't got a clue about what is Noted that all the reviews for this collection of short stories are wonderful, it therefore pains me to admit that I haven't got a clue about what is good and what isn't.
I found the stories different, I agree, but no different to all the many other short story collections that I've read, in that I found them totally unfulfilling.
In most cases the short story is either horrible - you know those little beauties that leave you hanging in mid-air at the end, awaiting a decent finish - or they're good and when it finishes you're left begging for more.
This collection, I found, was somewhere in between - quirky, but in trying to turn to the next page you find the story has simply ended.
Sorry, still searching for that elusive "Holy Grail" collection of wholely satisfying short stories. This isn't it. ...more
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