Vintage

The Thames is a sequel to the book that the Peter Ackroyd wrote about London. He has an almost spritual and inspirational way with words. All aspects of the Thames are covered from its source at Tewsbury Mead to where the river meets the sea at Tilbury. Peter Ackrpoyd shows us how the Thames is celebrated in Art and Literature, and the part it played in Englands long and turblent history.

This is a novel about the history of psychiatry and centres around two 19th Century psychiatrists who are attempting to unravel the mystery of mental illness.

‘Human Traces' by Sebastian Faulkes is a historical novel about the origins of psychology and psychiatry, as distinct from their predecessors, philosophy. It is also a philosophical novel that contemplates what it is to be human and whether we are just the products of our brains and what evolutionary purpose can mental health possibly have. I found it a thought provoking book and it was gently gripping.

What a wonderful book to learn about the near past - history for the future generations in China. This is a country that is full of mysteries and violence juxtaposing with each other that make it so fascinating.

Basically this book is about the hunt evidence of how Charles Dickens intended to to finish his last book: The mystery of Edwin Drood.

Before Dickens died in 1870 he had written only six chapters. Mathew Pearl has written a very clever literary thriller. In fact, in parts it is difficult to tell fact from fiction. The book is based on most things that actually happened, and also people that Dickens met. A gripping story that races along at a tremendous pace. Well plotted and intelligently written. A must for people who enjoy Dicken's work. Brilliant.

A beautifully written evocative tale of a man hiding himself away on remote Swedish island.

The story unfolds slowly - the reasons for his repressed relatiohships with the people in his life gradually becoming clearer, and the descriptions of them and, particularly of the landscape and changing seasons, are absorbing.

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant published by Vintage Books in 1982 and since then never out of print was authored by Anny Tyler, voted ‘the greatest novelist writing in English' in 1994 by Roddy Doyle and Nick Hornby. If she has more in common with Roddy Doyle than Hornby then I'd go so far as to say she has more in common with Barbara Pym than either.

There's a controlled detachment in Ian McEwan's writing that allows the reader to be privy to the thoughts and feelings of the characters in minutiae without actually being involved in them - it's almost an impassionate read. The style, to me, is reminiscent of John Fowles, and can be utterly captivating.

For a story set in the midst of the cold war, this is not so much a spy story rather looking at the consequences of the unforeseen, and what happens when Leonard Manham strays too far away from his comfort zone.

Started quite well, even if a little stereotypical - small rural settlement on the edge of the sea, on this occasion in Tasmania, man returns as on outsider after spending formative years abroad following the tragic death of parents, decides to stay and marries local girl also returning from the city to help look after her dying father.

This is not just a history of London but a personal view by Peter Ackroyd. He explores every aspect of London life - from prehistoric times to the present day.

An entertaining and stimulating book, brimming with energy and enthusiasm - and a masterpiece of research. A book I found to be truly unique which I more than highly recommend.

Reading this was a breath of fresh air for me - especially as, at the time, I was writing my own versions of classic fairy tales (See "To Pick A Blossom" for my take on Little Red Riding Hood). For those of you who have seen the film "Company of Wolves" you're already familiar with Angela Carter's work as she wrote the screenplay with Neil Jordan. (in fact, Company of Wolves is included in this collection of short stories.)