@George

As funny as the series, with many references to current affairs - including Labour losing the election. This book has filled a gap, but it makes me want the fourth series even more now.

I might be biased, but my story is only one of many. It's a very unique idea, with a wide range of voices and points of view that keep the stories fresh.

Excellent first novel by a talented author. I've been lucky enough to read the odd short before, but with this novel, Richard has out done himself in creating a mysterious world, populated by living, breathing characters.

Well worth a read - go buy it now!

An absolute masterpiece. Mattie has a very unique voice and it's hard not to enjoy looking at the world through her eyes.

I really enjoyed the first third of the book, then the writing style totally changed and I was actually bored. It's only because I'd been told this happened, and that it does pick up again that I kept reading. I'm glad I did, as the story does get back on track, but it was a slog.

I'd probably have given this 4 stars, but the translation was a little choppy in places. A nice story, but a little derivative of the Battle Royale idea, though I enjoyed the gamer theory touched at in it.

I have to admit, I'd not have picked this up by myself. The cover didn't appeal to me, nor did the back of the book blurb. It sounded like a gimmick, and not one I'd enjoy, despite it being shortlisted for awards.

But despite the strange stilted language of a 5 year old trapped his whole life in one room, I enjoyed it. His perspective on captivity, his mothers desperation and how that unfolds in the second half is what really made me enjoy it. There are things I'm not keen on, Jack's strange stilted language for one, but essentially, it works.

Joe reminded me of his father (Stephen King) with this book. But not in a good way. This is comparable to one of his fathers 'phone 'em in' novels, which is a shame, as there's some great moments in there, mixed in with some clichés and plain stupid ideas.

It's worth a read for the premise alone (the protagonist grows horns and can hear people thoughts), but it's certainly not one I'd recommend hurrying out to buy.

Despite many critics hating this, I quite liked it. It's not as good as some of his other writing, nor bursting with 100s of ideas like say, Rant, but I enjoyed the story and the characters and the many, many Hollywood references.

I am normally a big fan of Kazuo Ishiguro and I've had this one on the 'to read' for a while, but I was a little disappointed with it. I wasn't completely sold on the narrative style, but the biggest problem for me was the plot. Without giving any spoilers, I think there was meant to be a big reveal partway through, but it had been hinted so much, it wasn't a big reveal at all. Plus the premise was so unrealistic, it felt silly.

I like the idea - incorporating vintage photographs into the narrative. But it didn't work very well for me. Sometimes the photo and the prose felt very disconnected, at other times it felt like the story had veered off from adult to children's. I would say that it's worth a read just for the photographs alone.

I normally love Ian McEwan and Atonement and Enduring Love are still some of my favourite books. But for some reason, Solar didn't click for me. I'd put it down the first time I'd picked it up (which is rare for me) but this time I powered through.

And it did feel forced. I have no problem with unlikeable protagonists or them doing horrible things, but this time it just didn't click for me. There were fleeting glimpses at the beautiful writing Ian McEwan is capable of, but they were too far apart.