Review: ‘The Writer’s Room’ – Charlotte Wood 2016
4.5 stars. A deep and insightful look into the craft of writing, its challenges and its bounties. A wealth of inspiration and reassurance for writers both new a...
Review: ‘Dark Places’ – Gillian Flynn 2009
3.5 stars. A twisted thriller that highlights the complicated nature of family, loyalty, greed, and regret. The novel is filled with irredeemably flawed charact...
Review: ‘Furthermore’ – Tahereh Mafi 2016
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 4 stars (adult enjoyment) 5 stars (Middle Grade rating). A sweet, colourful read, perfect for confident readers aged 9 and up, or teens ...
Review: ‘Oliver Twist’ – Charles Dickens 1838
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Set in the darkest corners of London Oliver Twist is a scathing critique of class divisions and the inhuman treatment of England’s poore...
Review: ‘The Girl who Saved the King of Sweden’ – Jonas Jonasson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars A bizarre blend of humour and historical fiction, Jonas Jonasson’s novel is laugh-out-loud funny. A girl, born in the slums of South Afr...
Review: ‘How to Talk to Girls at Parties’ – Neil Gaiman 2016
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Blurring the lines between the real and unreal, Gaiman offers up almost no advice on how to talk to girls at parties, but instead explor...
Review: ‘Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda’ – Becky Albertalli 2015
4.5 stars. A sweet story about teen issues, told in a voice that feels authentic, & that you can’t help but love. The story covers sexuality, identity...
Review: ‘#LiveFromSofia’ – Александър Шпатов
My rating: 3 of 5 stars Live From Sofia is a collection of short stories exploring the unique landscape, culture and atmosphere of Bulgaria’s capital city. The ...
Review: ‘The Pigeon’ – Patrick Süskind 1987
My rating: 3 of 5 stars The Pigeon is a truly strange and vividly intense novella. The narrative covers a single 24 hour period in the life of a Frenchman, with...
Review: ‘This Savage Song’ – Victoria Schwab 2016
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars A truly monstrous novel that reminds us that sometimes the real monsters are not really monsters at all. One of the best YA fantasy/sc...