Category: B

starlight?

Posted on by Greig

The Shambling Guide To New York

Mur Lafferty

shambling guide to new yorkThis enjoyable slice of urban fantasy was a Christmas gift from my parents this year. I’m not usually so good at reading gifts promptly but this seemed like a quick, fun read and I was not wrong.
An ordinary human finds herself working for a supernatural publishing company editing a travel guide and subsequently smack in the middle of events as chaos hits New York.
As I said it’s a fun a read and an intriguing start to a series. Recommended if you like a bit of urban fantasy.

Rating: B

unity?

Posted on by Greig

Thief of Time

Terry Pratchett

thief of timeI came across the dust jacket for this book while hunting for something else in my flat. After reuniting the book with it’s jacket I found myself with a notion to read this book again. I’ve read it before on multiple occasions and I reviewed it in 2005 and 2009.
This is my favourite of the Susan Sto-Helit books for a few reasons but the main one is probably the presence of the Time Monks and in particular Lu Tze the Sweeper.
As with every Discworld book this is a fun read – it’s just not as good as the very best work in the series.
If you haven’t read any Pratchett before I recommend that you start as soon as possible. Now would be good…

Rating: B

safari?

Posted on by Greig

The Wedding Date

Liz Young

the wedding dateThis book was originally called Asking For Trouble but then it got turned into a film called The Wedding Date.
Aside from the fact that both the film and the book feature an older sister hiring an escort to go to her younger sister’s wedding the two are entirely different.
It’s a quick read, with some enjoyable characters but ultimately it’s kind of throwaway.
That isn’t a bad thing – I enjoyed the time spent reading it – it just means I doubt I’d ever read it again.
Recommended for fans of romantic comedies and contemporary romance novels.

Rating: B

match?

Posted on by Greig

I Am The Secret Footballer

The Secret Footballer

i-am-the-secret-footballer-lifting-the-lid-on-the-beautiful-gameI followed the Secret Footballer column on the Guardian website for a while so when this turned up in the 99p Kindle daily deal on the Amazon website I couldn’t resist getting it.
I read this in dribs and drabs over months when I needed to kill time and I only had my phone to hand to entertain me.
It’s an entertaining and decently written insight to the life of modern top level footballers with just enough self awareness to stop the author from seeming massively entitled. It’s still irritating in places when he talks about the obscene behaviours of his fellow professionals, especially with regard to women, but since this feels like honest reporting it’s not enough to put you off.
If you’re a football fan then it’s definitely worth splashing out 99p on this.

Rating: B

malerie?

Posted on by Greig

Struck By Lightning

Chris Colfer

Struck by lightningEntertainingly sarky high school novella by the Glee star.
I bought the book after being entertained by the film’s trailer.
It’s told in the form of the lead character’s diary as he blackmails his way through the school popular elite in order to publish a literary magazine to strengthen his college application.
The story is told for maximum dark humour and with absolutely no interest in making the central character sympathetic.
Not outstanding but certainly worth a read.

Rating: B

finding?

Posted on by Greig

The Language of Spells

Sarah Painter

the language of spellsThis was another Kindle daily deal that I was tempted by.
The plot is about a young woman who inherits her great-aunt’s house and the repercussions as the past is dredged up by her return to where she grew up.
This is a nice little romance novel that happens to have a lead character with real magical powers.
Weirdly it reminded me a bit of Diana Wynne Jones – though not in her league – with the small town English setting and the prosaic everyday magic.
I enjoyed it quite a lot and will definitely check out any new books by the author to see if she can get even better.

Rating: B

shades?

Posted on by Greig

Mr Darcy’s Diary

Amanda Grange

mr darcys diaryThis book retells the story of Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of Darcy.
Yes I only read this because I miss The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.
To be fair though this is a pretty enjoyable read. It helps that it’s an epistolary novel and that the language is less mannered than in the original novel.
I don’t really think the author consistently captured Darcy’s perspective and voice but it’s really good fun to see some of the famous sections of P&P told from his perspective.
I can only recommend this to people who love Pride & Prejudice or one of it’s adaptations. Otherwise you should read the original, or you know maybe watch The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

Rating: B

quarkbeast?

Posted on by Greig

The Last Dragonslayer

Jasper Fforde

This is a young adult comic fantasy by the author of the Thursday Next books.
Jennifer Strange, a 15 year old foundling, runs an employment agency for magical practitioners. It’s all going relatively smoothly until a premonition of the death of the last living dragon causes chaos.
The comic approach in this book is so distinctively Fforde that even if you hadn’t noticed the author’s name on the cover you could tell this who the author is within a couple of pages.
I enjoyed it a fair bit – enough that I’m going to read the sequel – but it is a very slight tale.
Give it a go if you’ve liked Fforde’s other stuff.

Rating: B

claviger?

Posted on by Greig

Soulless

Gail Carriger

Soulless is a steampunk alternate history urban fantasy romance with both comedic and horror elements.
In a world where vampires, werewolves and ghosts are part of Victorian society we are introduced to the Soulless of the title, someone who can nullify the gifts of the supernatural, a high society spinster by the name of Alexia.
Highly intelligent and forthright with a great line in witty banter she’s a great character to spend time with.
The book overall is an entertaining confection. The plot is pretty obvious but it whips along at an enjoyable pace and kept me entertained.
It’s not a top class example of any of the genres it plays with but I’d still recommend it to anyone looking for a diverting piece of escapism.

Rating: B

arisaig?

Posted on by Greig

Espedair Street

Iain Banks

Espedair StreetThe last review I wrote of this book is still a pretty accurate precis of the book and my feelings about it.
I get the impression that Banks was obsessed with rock music growing up. He must have been to have constructed this ur-myth of rock stardom. He takes elements from several real bands to make his perfect vision of musicial success, excess and hubris.
What struck me during this re-read was how influential this book must have been on my idea of what a band should be like and my understanding of the music industry. So many of the music crazy people I know have read Espedair Street and I can’t help but think that there has to be a generation informed and maybe even inspired by Banks’ charming but slight tale.
I’d still recommend this book to people but with the caveat that the 25 years since publication have rendered this a period piece and that it contains attitudes that seem wildly out of date now.

Rating: B