| HOME | BESTSELLERS | NEW RELEASES | PRICE WATCH | FICTION | BIOGRAPHIES | E-BOOKS |
Book Reviews
-
Philip27 May 2010
The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman is the definitive collection of a series of comic strips initially published in a magazine, later in two volumes of books and finally combined in the complete edition we see here. Okay, so this is a comic book, but don't let that put you off if you are not traditionally a huge fan of the medium. This is a comic book unlike any you have ever read. In 1992 it won the Pulitzer Prize. Yet somehow this prestigious award does not do it justice...
In Maus, the artist Art Spiegelman tells the story of his father's experience as a Polish Jew in Nazi occupied Europe. The story is based upon a series of taped interviews with his father and interestingly the artist presents the interaction between himself and his father and other friends and family as interludes to the main line of the story. Essentially it is a Holocaust survivor's tale but it is also a story about relationships and specifically the gulf that exists in the relationship between father and son (or subject and artist). The artist discusses his own sense of inadequacy and guilt for not ever having experienced firsthand the terrible things that have shaped his father's life, and therefore never understanding or being able to relate to him.
The artist's father and literary subject, physically survived persecution, pogroms, ghettos and ultimately Auschwitz. We are of course privy to all of these heartbreaking episodes of Vladek's past, which the artist manages to depict in both a biographical and wider historical perspective. However, although Vladek physically survived, the artist queries his father's mental survival and contemplates whether he really survived at all. Although the physical scars are almost all but healed (his camp identity number will always remain as a tattoo) the mental scars are still as vivid as ever. His survivor mentality alienates him from all around him. People see his aversion to wasting food and his thrifty methods of saving money as petit and miserly, but he is just living/surviving the only way he knows how.
Spiegelman metaphorically depicts people as animals. For example, the Jews appear as mice and the Nazis as cats. The analogy with the animal kingdom is clear - mice are the prey and cats are the predators and this works for the Jews and the Nazis too. The Poles are depicted as pigs (the metaphor here is a little harder to decipher) and Americans as dogs. Interestingly for a comic book that metaphorically depicts people as animals, the story is inherently human.
Amazingly, whilst heartbreaking in places, like a ray of sunshine breaking through black clouds, Maus shocks the reader with joy, laughter and love. Some of the interaction between father and son had me laughing out loud, when I had been crying only a minute before. Maus clearly shows us both the worst and the best of human nature. It would make a fascinating read for anyone of any age. I would however especially recommend it to the younger generations, who may find this piece of visual work an interesting and easier introduction to a sensitive, harrowing and incomprehensibly dark chapter of human history...one we should all remind ourselves of and never forget. -
Hadid, Complete Works 1979-2009: Complete Works, 1979-2009
Marco18 May 2010
If you are looking for a book where Art meets Architecture and vice versa, this is the best example in the new century. Avant-garde and technology, poetic visions for the cities of the future.
-
Annabel Karmel's New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner
Tracy Preece13 May 2010
As a tired mum I wanted to feed my child homemade food rather than readymade jars. I found this book invaluable as by using the planner I did not have to worry (especially on the extra tired days) about what I was going to give my child to eat as it was already planned out. I knew she was getting a good range of foods by following the meal planner and the recipes were easy to follow. As time went on I could adapt the recipes according to my child's likes and dislikes.
-
Foundation and Empire [ Panther 1355 ]
Mike Kenny10 May 2010
Foundation and Empire is the second volume in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. Originally published as two novellas, Foundation and Empire the novel is made up of "The General" and "The Mule".
In "The General", as the Galactic Empire crumbles, General Bel Riose launches an attack on the Foundation. Although the Foundation is theoretically stronger than the Empire, General Bel Riose has access to greater resources and personnel and so his attack does begin to threaten the Foundation. A Foundation citizen named Devers intercepts a communication that details the General's double dealings and attempts to escape to Trantor so that he can show the communication to the Emperor and hopefully stop the attack.
"The Mule" is set roughly one hundred years after "The General". The Empire has crumbled, Trantor has been sacked by invaders, and most of the galaxy has split into barbaric factions. Due to its extensive trading routes, the Foundation is now the major power in the galaxy. Until, that is, a new threat arises in the form of a growing army of barbarians led by a mysterious individual known as the Mule. Once it is discovered that Hari Seldon has failed to predict the existence of the Mule, Foundation citizens Toran and Bayta Darell, along with psychologist Ebling Mis and a refugee clown named Magnifico Giganticus, travel the galaxy attempting to locate the Second Foundation that had been established by Seldon.
Although a much darker and more intense book, Foundation and Empire is an excellent follow up to Foundation. Asimov's writing is excellent as ever, with his descriptions of the alien worlds and his characterisations being particularly strong. The whole Foundation series is fantastic and Foundation and Empire is further proof that Isaac Asimov is one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time. -
Mike Kenny06 May 2010
Foundation, a collection of five short stories, is the first book in Isaac Asimov's epic century-spanning science fiction masterwork known as the Foundation Series.
The first of the collected stories, "The Psychohistorians", takes place on Trantor, the capital planet of the 12000 year old Galactic Empire. Mathematician Hari Seldon has developed a new science known as psychohistory which equates are possibilities in large societies to mathematics, allowing him to predict long-term outcomes. Using his psychohistory, Seldon discovers that the Galactic Empire is decaying and that it will collapse within 500 years, the collapse being followed by a 300000 year period of barbarism in the galaxy. When his findings are declared to be high treason, Seldon and a group of hand-picked scientists agree to go into exile on the planet Terminus, where they intend to create a mammoth Encyclopaedia Galactica as the repository for all human learning. In this way they hope to limit the period of chaos that will inevitably follow the collapse of the Empire.
In "The Encyclopaedists", having progressed 50 years into the future, the planet Terminus is facing its first Seldon Crisis. The Foundation on Terminus is caught in the middle of a power struggle between four neighbouring planetary systems and the scientists are ill-equipped to deal with military matters. Luckily, Mayor Salvor Hardin is quick to realise the danger and attempts to work out a solution. Hardin receives guidance as to the way forward for the Foundation from an image of the now deceased Hari Seldon that appears in a specially created Time Vault and confirms that psychohistory has predicted a series of crises that will occur on Terminus.
"The Mayors" takes place 30 years later when the Foundation has used its scientific knowledge as the basis for a pseudo religion that keeps neighbouring planets in order. However, the Prince Regent of Anacreon seeks to overthrow the Foundation and so Salvor Hardin is once again called upon to avert a Seldon Crisis.
In "The Traders" another 55 years have passed and a trader by the name of Limmar Ponyets is sent to the planet Askone to retrieve a fellow trader who is facing execution. The leaders of Askone are determined to avoid contact with, and contamination by, Foundation technology so Ponyets must employ devious methods to secure the release of his colleague.
The final story is "The Merchant Princes". The Foundation has expanded and grown powerful through the use of its science religion and economics but three Foundation vessels have recently disappeared in the vicinity of Korell, a civilisation trying to develop their own variety of technical superiority. Trader Hober Mallow is sent to uncover information on their technology and hopefully find the missing ships.
Foundation is clearly an epic undertaking, especially since anyone who reads this first book is pretty much guaranteed to want to progress on to the further books in the series, but it is well worth the effort. The Foundation Series is perhaps more esoteric that Asimov's Robot Series but is still a rewarding read. The characters, planets and indeed empires that Asimov has created are truly immense and his storytelling ability is outstanding. Foundation is a fantastic book by one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time. -
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest
Joanne Leddington28 April 2010
Stieg Larsson is the only author whose books are so addictive that I seriously considered learning a new language (Swedish to be precise) so that I could finish the series without having to wait for an English translation! I am so pleased that The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest is finally out in paperback now, I feel like I've been waiting to discover the conclusion to Millennium Trilogy for years. Continuing on from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest opens with Lisbeth Salander having been hospitalised after the dramatic events that followed her meeting with her father. From her hospital bed Salander plots her revenge against the man who tried to kill her and the governmental organisations that tried to destroy her life. Revenge is going to far from simple though as Salander is under close guard in hospital and will face three charges of murder and one of attempted murder as soon as she is deemed to have recovered from her injuries. With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvilst and the staff at his Millennium magazine, Salander sets out to prove her innocence and to identify the corrupt politicians who conspired to allow vulnerable individuals to become victims of abuse and violence. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest provides a wonderful and downright thrilling ending to Larsson's excellent Millennium Trilogy. The story here is so tense and action packed that I almost had to read it in on sitting it was so difficult to tear myself away from Slander's quest for revenge. I wish that there would be further books from Stieg Larsson but that sadly will not happen. His writing is certainly gritty and he doesn't shy away from the truth of crime and abuse but the story is never gratuitous. The Millennium Trilogy is an amazing trilogy, probably the best crime thriller series that I have ever read, and I would recommend that any readers new to Larsson's work buy all three books at the same time because once you begin to read the series, you are going to want to follow it right through to the end!
-
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Chris Minton28 April 2010
Mikael Blomqvist is a renowned Swedish journalist and magazine publisher who made a name for himself as a young writer after stumbling upon a gang of armed robbers whilst on holiday. After informing the police he then reported on the inevitable armed stand off from his cabin conveniently situated next door to the robbers. In this instance he lucked out and his subsequent career shared similar fortunes until he published a scathing attack on the wealthy Swedish industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerstrom. A libel case was brought against Blomqvist and our protagonist protecting his anonymous source was unable to provide any evidence to support his seemingly unfounded accusations. Disgraced and with his reputation in tatters, Blomqvist is handed a three month prison sentence and is ordered to pay damages. Seemingly things could not get any worse...
Parrallel to the exploits of the middle aged Blomqvist we are introduced to a young female character called Lizbeth Salander. Tattooed, pierced, dressed all in black with dyed hair Salander is described as a social misfit. She hates uninvited human contact, is extremely introverted and therefore has few if any friends, choosing to spend most of her free time absorbed in the internet. It is suggested towards the end of the book that she may have some form of Asperger's. Salander is a private investigator for a Swedish security firm. In fact, she is the best in the business and it is in this capacity that she first hears mention of Blomqvist, putting her skills to the test investigating the man himself for a lawyer representing a certain Henrik Vanger...
Facing jail time and his career in tatters, Blomqvist is presented an opportunity he simply cannot ignore. Henrik Vanger, another wealthy Swedish industrialist, having read Salander's detailed report offers Blomqvist a very well paid job under the pretense of writing the colourful history of the Vanger family. But his real task is to investigate the disappearance of Henrik's niece, Harriet Vanger several decades earlier. To sweeten the deal Henrik Vanger offers to provide detailed information that will ruin Wennerstrom upon completion of the task. Blomqvist accepts the task but he cannot complete it alone...
Upon finding out that he himself was investigated, Blomqvist reads Salander's report. He is shocked at the intrusion into his private life but far from being angry at Salander he seeks to employ her assistance in the case of Harriet Vanger's disappearance. Queue one of the strangest and most unexpected partnerships in crime novel history...
And what a partnership it is...in both senses of the word. The pair prove to be an investigative whirlwind and their passion for the job soon spreads to the bedroom...The defensive and introverted Salander is slowly drawn out of her shell by the genuine and unobtrusive nature of the older journalist...
The last thing I was expecting from this novel was a love story. But strangely this dynamic developed along with the crime solving elements of the tale. Before every man reading this turns away and decides not to read the book, I should stress that the love story contained within these pages is unlike any other you may have heard about. The love is as brutal as the crime and neither of the characters are 'lovey-dovey'. The relationship mirrors the dark nature of the book and is primarily a crime novel...a 'who-dunnit?' if you will. But although the novel unravels the mystery of a crime on a par with a Jonathan Creek episode, the author's examination of the very nature of the human relationship forces the reader to question their own preconceptions regarding love and friendship. The unselfish and mutual love and understanding that the two characters afford each other are an excellent example of the pureness of human nature.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a crime novel interwoven with a love story which slowly gains a choke hold on you as the book develops and perhaps does not really become apparent until you've finished the last page and put the book down. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo truly is a modern classic. I know everyone is reading it, but if you haven't already jump on the bandwagon and enjoy the ride. -
Editor15 April 2010
This is perfect holiday reading. Emma and Dexter are both likeable young people, even though Dexter is a bit of a pratt at times! Written in an interesting format, from each of the characters perspectives, the story unfolds over a couple of decades following Dexter and Emma's apparently unconsummated one night stand on their last night at University. Each chapter starts at on the same date on each consecutive year, deliberately picking up the most interesting developments in their lives, such as Dexter's great job and how he manages to undermine himself, and Emma's increasing recognition of her personal and professional dissatisfaction. Despite both of their shortcomings and their totally different outlooks on life, there is a sexual tension that runs throughout the story, and a plausible feel good ending, following a tragic event. Generations of 'forty something's will recognise the historical markers that occur, which are actually glossed over quite lightly as passing references, and rather than creating nostalgia appear a tad too superficial. Despite this, it is easy to imagine this converted to the screen in the 'four weddings and a funeral' genre and will be lovely, as long as the producer doesn't change the end to be 'happy ever after'.
-
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (Myths)
Editor14 April 2010
It is really hard to decide how to rate this book. The initial few short chapters read as a version of the childrens bible, without the benefit of glossy pictures. I wasn't, and am still not sure if this is deliberate or just lazy on Pullmans part. However following the birth of Jesus and his twin Christ, the story starts to diverge from the original version in Luke's gospel that we are all so familiar with and becomes just a little more substantial. That said, it is an incredibly easy story to read and quite difficult to put down. Phillip Pullman's aim is to suggest that what was a simple and rather unremarkable story of Jesus' ministry became embellished by the establishment of the church, although the book only predicts, rather than describes this.
The book sets out to consider the possiblity that a manipulation of the story of Jesus occurred when it was chronicled, in order to create an established church. The concept of Jesus having a twin, Christ, was an interesting way to challenge the literal interpretations that many churches have used in order to control thier congregations. Unfortunately, the story has a conclusion that is utterly predictable from the point where 'the stranger' joins Christ, which is actually less half way through the book. This did not entirely spoil my enjoyment of the book as some of the sections, particularly the chapter on Jesus in the garden of Gethsemene was especially thought provoking, and elequently describes the state of mind that many people of spiritual faith encounter during times of trial and doubt. However, I couldn't help feeling a bit short changed by Pullman. He clearly understands the essential teachings of Christianity, and he makes some valid, but not previously undocumented, observations of its short-comings. I cant help feeling that if you are going to court deliberate controversy at a time when Christians are feeling marginalised, much greater depth is required to do it justice. Maybe the simplicity was deliberate, for wider appeal, or maybe he just wanted to make a fast buck and took the easy route! -
Tatiana10 April 2010
I thought the book was beyond good. The whole series is the best of the best. Tempted had suspense, sorrow, and a whole lot of action. My favorite part was when Zoey finally dumped Erik and got closer to Stark, which i think she should go with him. My least favorite part was when Health died. I cried when i read that Kalona cracked his neck like it was nothing. I would have done and felt the same way as Zoey if one of the people I loved just died in front of my eyes. Now all I can do is wait for the day that Burned finally comes out which i will use my vouchers to get. I'm anticapating to read what will happen next...
