Doubleday

The Illustrated Wee Free Men

Why does it matter?, 2008-08-20
As a teacher of secondary English I read a lot of literature, from older children's and young adult, through to 'Literature' with a capital 'L'. All Pterry's books are entertaining and worth a read, and I absolutely adore the 'Wee Free Men' books, as much as I like Pterry's recent 'adult' discworld novels. There is so much good writing out there aimed at teenagers, that it would be a shame to miss out just because we were born a decade too early. (And yes I did read Harry Potter with the children's covers and I thank JK everytime I see a teenage boy engrossed in a book!)

Swing Like a Pro: The Breakthrough Scientific Method of Perfecting Your Golf Swing

Well worth a read, 2008-02-28
I am a 17 hc and was looking to get more consistency in my game. The first chapters on set up is worth buying the book for alone especially if you have not had lessons with a pro before. The advice is easy to take on board and a few sessions down the range ensure that you set up the same way to each shot. As the different aspects of the swing have been obtained from the swings of a large number of top golfers i found myself more willing to take on board what was being explained, as it was not just from one golfer. The drills contained within are also easy to take to the range and after reading the book once i have found myself dipping into it numerous times and practising different things on the range and course. This book seems to have a more scientific approach to the golf swing, but it was still put across in a way that was easy to understand and easy to take to the range. If you are looking to progress and understand the mechanics of what you should be doing with your swing, this book is for you.

Where's My Cow? (Discworld)

One hundred per cent pointless, but wonderful, 2007-12-02
If you resent spending that money on such as this, ask for it for Hogswatch. Like I did. But Please, Please, Please don't expect anything profound. You *know* what Discworld spinoffs are like now, surely?

The Heroes of the Valley

Stroud does it again!, 2008-12-24
As a fan of Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy, my feelings were a little mixed when I discovered that he was publishing a new book. Although there is the expected excitement, there is also a concern that anything new will fail to live up to expectations or maybe even be too similar to previous books.

In this case, however, I should not have worried. Stroud has stayed with fantasy, but with a very different setting. In this book, we are taken to a valley, somewhere that feels like Northern Europe. As with previous books, however, there's no specific time frame.

So onto the story - the residents of this valley are divided into `houses', with their own areas, and their own tales of heroes past. From a background of violence, when their heroes all came together to defeat the dreaded `Trows', they are now very peaceful people, with all their weapons melted down.. although jealousies still exist.

The children are brought up listening to tales of heroic deeds, and Halli finds himself longing for a return to these days. When an ancient feud is re-started, he may just get his wish - but in doing so, will he learn what it truly means to be a hero?

Halli's journey kept me hooked to the book, aided by Stroud's wonderful humour. It's a little more subtle than the wonderful one liners found in the Bartimaeus Trilogy, and yet it kept me smiling, and keeps a fun feel to the book.

However, there is a darker, slightly scary side to this book, and I would imagine it suiting slightly older teens.. as well as adults, of course!

Jonathan Stroud is certainly one of my favourite young adult fantasy writers, and this is a great addition to his books. I hope now we don't have to wait too long for the next one!

Vortex: Code Red

Twister: Code Red

Maximum Ride: The Final Warning (Maximum Ride Childrens Version)

wicked book, 2008-07-10
a really good carry on from the other stories i couldn t put the book down

"Eragon" and "Eldest" (Inheritance Cycle)

Now, what are you waiting for?, 2007-04-01
Has someone ever given you a book you just can't find time to read? That happened to me with "Eragon" and "Eldest". I liked the story, as summed up in the cover, but a lot of the reviews I had previously read about the series were awful, mostly criticizing the style of its author, Christopher Paolini, or saying that these book were just an imitation of others, for example the books in the "Lord of the Rings" series.

I must confess that I let those spiteful comments get to me, and I always found something else to read before tackling the books included in this box set. That is, until I watched the movie, loosely based on the book of the same name written by Paolini. It wasn't spectacular, but it had something special that made you care for Eragon, a young man like many others that ends up discovering a dragon's egg, and changing his destiny and that of Alagaesia.

"Eragon", the film, was a good introduction to Paolini's world, a world of magic and dragons, elves and strange creatures. All the same, I wanted more, so I went straight to the source. I picked up the book that had been waiting patiently for me and started reading. I read it in a day, without stopping, enjoying the fact that Paolini's story was much, much better than what the film had allowed me to glimpse, and that I was on holidays and could allow myself the luxury of reading the whole book without having to stop and go to work :)

Of course, reading "Eragon" was not enough, and immediately after finishing it I started reading "Eldest". Truth to be told, I liked it just as much or more. "Eldest" picks up where "Eragon" ended, and allows us to know what is happens with Eragon, Saphira and their friends, and what they need to do in order to survive the wrath of king Galbatorix.

All in all, I can say that I loved "Eragon" and "Eldest", and that I strongly recommend it to others, specially those that (disregarding their age) have lots of imagination. On the practical side, buying this box set is a good idea because it is cheaper, and will save you some time you could spend reading. Now, what are you waiting for?

Belen Alcat

PS: To Christopher Paulini --> Please hurry up with the last book in this triology, I really want to know what happens next :)

My Mum

Really Nice, 2005-04-01
This is a beautiful book that is destined to become a classic. It made my wife cry when given as Mother's day present by our baby daughter. It sums up everything a mother means to a child and is illustrated in a timeless way. If you really, really love your mum then show her this wonderful book.

The Way to Love

the way to love: the last meditations of anthony de mello, 2004-01-26
Tony engages our minds & hearts deeply in the process of explaining Love, Holiness etc. & show how shallow our views of Love, spirituality...which we get from others . He shows how to progress , mature in our spiritual live.