Seven Book Reviews

 

Looking for something to read as the winter nights continue? These seven links are to reviews of mine might point you in the direction of something new to read.

 

La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust #1) by Philip Pullman

The long awaited first book in Philip Pullman’s sequel trilogy to His Dark Materials books, and it was worth the wait.

 

The AIDS Pandemic by James Chin

AIDS is a complicated condition, it is a shame that this book took such a simplistic view.

 

A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie

A simple premise develops into a sparkling plot in one of Agatha Christie’s finest novels.

 

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr

More than just an anti-war novel, this is Kurt Vonnegut’s best novel and a startling read.

 

Minority Report – Volume Four of the Collected Stories by Philip K Dick

The title story, of this collection, provides a much more, with a twisting plot and darker characters, than the bright and upbeat Tom Cruise film that bore the same name.

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

HRH the Queen develops a taste for reading in this charming novella by Alan Bennett.

 

Three Nick Nowak Mysteries (Boystown #1) by Marshall Thornton

An American PI story that does something interesting and different with the genre.

Happy reading

Drew

Eight Book Reviews

 

Looking for some holiday reading? Here are eight of my book reviews that may prick your interest.

 

Arkansas by David Leavitt

David Leavitt has always been an interesting short story and novella writer, here is a collection of three of his novellas that are more than worth a read.

 

London Urban Legends by Scott Wood

I have always been fascinated by urban legends and so it appears has Scott Wood. This was the perfect read on my journey to and from work, on the London Underground..

 

The House of Stairs by (Ruth Rendell writing as) Barbara Vine

For many years I lived in Notting Hill, London, where this novel is set, and it turns on the head the convention of the crime novel.

 

From Doon with Death by Ruth Rendell

During the summer, I realised I had not read Ruth Rendell’s first novel, so I did. All great writers must start somewhere.

 

The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham

I first read this novel as a young teenager, when I found it very frightening. I reread it as an adult and found it uncomfortably disturbing. It is still thought-provoking now.

 

Logical Family: A Memoir by Armistead Maupin

SPOILER: One of the best things Armistead Maupin has written.

 

Liverpool Murders - Kirkdale Hangings 1870–1891 by Steven Horton

So much true crime literature is sensationalist, moral-panic writing or just plain voyeuristic. This book isn’t and it is fascinating for being so.

 

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K Dick

SPOLIER: One of, if not the best novels Philip K Dick wrote.