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Author:
Kate Atkinson
By
Doubleday
 My 'book of the year', 2008-10-24
This is the best book I've read for ages - the format is easy to get to grips with and lends itself to my style of reading (short chapters - easy to dip in and out of).
What I loved most were the surprises and twists - so often it's really easy to predict how things are going to pan out - not so with this book. The standrad of writing is fabulous - literary and intelligent plus a very juicy plot. I can't wait for the next installment!
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List Price: £17.99
Our Price: £7.69
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Author:
Terry Pratchett,
Jacqueline Simpson
By
Doubleday
Nineteen versions??, 2008-10-20
Folklore, ancient or modern, is one of the major foundation stones of the Discworld books. Human nature being another, one assumes. Discworld folklore is a trivia test among Discworld fans who will slyly ask one another [generally over a pint], if they can identify the origins of a certain figure or idea. With some slight discrepancies between UK and North American versions, such exchanges can become, well, spirited. "Elves or elfs?" is always good for starting an evening.
Pratchett and Simpson sort all this out - and much else besides - in this delightful work on matters folklorish. Typically, the prompt for the book was Pratchett chanting as he signed a previous release: "How many versions of the Magpie Song do you know?" A distinguished-looking lady gave the query a moment's thought and responded "about nineteen" Thus began the wonderful collaboration leading to FoD. It's typical also of the theme of the book. Discworld and Roundworld [Earth] are linked by the universal presence of narrativium, which Dimitri Mendeleev inexplicably omitted from the Periodic Table. Pratchett knows all about narrativium, carefully explaining how it drifts between universes, carrying ideas or stimulating new ones. Folklore on the Discworld compared to that of Earth may demonstrate strong similarities, or just vague likenesses that have been severely modified. The process is unhelpful, the authors note, in determining which world is the source of the story, which is sometimes a let-down.
The book's organisation is appropriate for what it must cover - it begins with the entire universe. From there it works its way through Dwarfs and Elves, giving us an interesting account of how the Elves, feared and despised on Discworld for their dark and evil ways, have somehow become transformed in modern times into charming little creatures who make toys for children. Drifting through space, narrativium must form some bizarre isotopes. The two witch types - those from Lancre and the Witches of the Chalk Downs are described. The Nac Mac Feegle are given a full chapter, which might be viewed as insufficient as you read it. Granny Aching truly deserves a book of her own. The chapter on Heroes is extensive, justifiably, when you discover the variety of Heroes Pratchett has introduced to us. Finally, almost as icing on a delicious cake, the authors provide a "Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading". Plan your book budget carefully.
For those in North America who think this book might be too limited in scope to be worth the investment, think carefully of your own family ancestry. While much of the material is limited to the British Isles, no small part is derived from the rest of Europe and elsewhere. Those tales and legends your ancestors took on board ship to cross the Atlantic didn't go over the rail with breakfast at the first roll of the vessels on the high seas. Those stories survived to take root here and sprout new versions of themselves in the new environment. Go through this book and see if you can't find a few you recognise. Besides the bloody elves and the obese bloke with the demented laugh. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
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List Price: £17.99
Our Price: £7.99
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Author:
Christopher Paolini
By
Doubleday
The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini -- of which Brisingr is the latest -- shows every sign of becoming one of the most exuberant and entertaining fiction sequences in modern writing, with a scope and ambition that genuinely takes the breath away. This is a fantasy world which is cleverly designed to appeal to the widest possible range of readership; the inevitable echoes of JRR Tolkien are transformed into something rich and strange here, and the events of the earlier books are being drawn together in the later developments with masterly assurance.After the massive, punishing battle against the Warriors of the Empire, Eragon and Saphira are licking their wounds, having barely survived. The Rider and his dragon have an oath to fulfil; they must aid Katrina in escaping the most terrible danger. What follows is an epic journey, quite as action-packed and vividly described as anything in fantasy fiction. As in all the best such literature, the odds are overwhelming, nothing can be taken at face value, and the evil forces ranged against the protagonists are as vile as one could wish. Christopher Paolini clearly now feels that he has readers securely in his pocket, and is prepared to take his time to achieve some of his best effects -- a tactic that pays dividends. So often with fantasy fiction, outlandish situations are relied upon to carry the action, and there is no shortage of them here. But Paolini is canny enough to realise that the characterisation of an endangered protagonist is crucial to maintain our involvement, and (as in previous books), he always takes care of business in this regard. Don't be put off by the daunting length of this book -- Paolini justifies every word in Brisingr. You'll find yourself reading it as quickly as many a shorter book. --Barry Forshaw
Brisingr, 2008-11-17
My 9 year old son and I have LOVED this series and can't wait for the fourth and final book. We both wish we could be dragon riders and are totally captivated by the relationship between Eragon and Saphira. The story can be a bit gruesome at times, but it is also touching and funny as well as exciting and totally un-put-downable! We recommend it!
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £5.48
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Author:
Malorie Blackman
By
Doubleday
AWESOME SEQUAL, 2008-11-06
Malorie has done it again. Double Cross has so many twists and turns in it's plot line, it's a superb read. One Note. Don't read this if you have work tomorrow, i was up til 4 am reading this...
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List Price: £12.99
Our Price: £7.17
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Author:
Jacqueline Wilson
By
Doubleday
I really liked it!, 2008-10-21
It was excellent!!! I couldn't put it down and I read it in 3 days! This is totally a Christmas must have for my age girls!!!!!!
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List Price: £12.99
Our Price: £6.15
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Author:
Terry Pratchett
By
Doubleday
His best book so far, 2008-11-05
Terry is one of those who understands the meaning of life - which can't be put into words, it can only be hinted at through story - it can't be grasped by the conscious mind, it can only be felt through the spirit. This book contains more of his wisdom than any previous book, while still being a thoroughly entertaining read. It makes you feel really alive. The prologue alone filled me with joy - it is the best creation story I have read for a long time - full of truth.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.99
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Author:
Sandi Toksvig
By
Doubleday
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List Price: £7.99
Our Price: £3.36
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Author:
Mitchell Symons
By
Doubleday
kept him quiet for hours! , 2008-11-12
I bought this book for my nephew who doesn't read (his mother said, grumpily).
Well, he read this. I gather he was heard chuckling out loud and was happy to let his sisters hog the computer, something that had never happened before. He was even apparently quoting from it in the car to and from school and boasted that he'd managed to impress his form teacher with some facts she wasn't aware of. From being the aunt who sometimes feels she buys the dullest presents, I gather I've rather gone up in the ratings... so I've ordered the other books in the series for my two nieces for Christmas. My sister says it wonderful to think there might even be a day when the computer is actually turned off in their house....
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List Price: £7.99
Our Price: £3.59
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Author:
Danny Danziger,
Mark McCrum
By
Doubleday
thingummys explained, 2008-10-30
This is such a fun book, wittily written with superb illustrations.
I'm just amazed that nobody has come up with this idea before.
In our house, we find ourselves more and more having to resort to using words such a 'doobery' to describe thingummys such as the TV or sky+ remote....and this book is full of simple things that we often don't know the proper name for.
It's a perfect Christmas present and I'm sure it will be a huge seller this year.The Thingummy
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List Price: £10.00
Our Price: £4.96
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Author:
Jacqueline Wilson
By
Doubleday
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List Price: £5.99
Our Price: £2.04
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