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MORE ON MONDAY: Who Can Save Us Now? Ed. by Owen King and John McNally

I wrote about Who Can Save Us Now? back in July when Jennifer Weiner mentioned it on her blog. It is an anthology of short stories about super heroes and Jennifer has a story of her own in there. I was drawn to this book as I have my own little super heroine story I'm working on, plus of course, I'm a massive fan of Jennifer's. However, I'm not a big fan of the short story, don't know why, so it was going to be interesting how I got on with it.

There are twenty two writers who have taken part and written some very up to date and modern stories. Now I'm not one of these comic book superhero fans who can talk about genre, statistics and stuff with any degree of authority. In fact make that no degree of authority. Basically I don't have a clue. All I know is, I like a good story.

And in the anthology you will find good stories. But you will also find some mediocre ones. Some of them I started and struggled with, quickly moving on to the next one. But others had me gripped. (Obviously) Jennifer Weiner's was one of them. Her unusual superhero story had me intrigued and, indeed, gave me a few goosebumps along the spine.

It is difficult to rate an anthology as there is always going to be variations in quality. However I'll give this a three out of five on average, but please remember there are some fours and fives in there too. (As well as some ones and twos but that's by the by).

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try In Bed With...

MORE ON MONDAY: The Hermux Tantamoq Adventures series by Michael Hoeye

I was planning to simply review the latest book in this delightful series - Time to Smell the Roses - but then I realised that most of you will probably not have heard of the books at all, so instead, I thought I'd introduce them!

I discovered Hermux Tantamoq a few years ago when I worked at Waterstone's. I met the author, Michael Hoeye, at an event and I'd loved the first book, Time Stops for No Mouse, so much that I made an absolute arse of myself. (Okay, the free drink probably didn't help.)

The Hermux Tantamoq series began as emails Michael Hoeye sent to his wife while she was travelling and features the rodent residents of Pinchester. The hero is watchmaker and part-time detective, Hermux Tantamoq who an Amazon reviewer describes - quite brilliantly, in my opinion - as "Niles Crane as a mouse".

In the first book, we're introduced to Hermux's pet ladybird, Terfle, and also meet the soon-to-become love of Hermux's life: adventurer and aviatrix, Linka Perflinger. In this and further books, we meet mysterious chipmunks, a mouse supremicist group, genetically modified bees and more.

The books have been described as Indiana Jones meets Beatrix Potter and that does sum them up neatly. But I'm not sure it conveys how charming, funny and romantic they are. They're also, at times, quite genuinely tense, even for me who is about 30 years older than the target audience!

The characters are incredibly well-developed. So much so that you often forget that you're reading about rodents.

They'd be ideal books to read aloud at bedtime - particularly since each chapter is only about three pages long - but I think I've read each of the books in one sitting. A hot chocolate and a doughnut (or ten) would be the perfect accompaniment. Or maybe a dried aphid, if you're a ladybug.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try ... er, nothing we've reviewed. But I guess it's kind of similar to The Rescuers or Stuart Little!

MORE ON MONDAY: Sense & Sensibility - The Diaries

With Lost in Austen still fresh in my mind, I was delighted when I found this little gem in the form of Emma Thompson's Sense & Sensibility diaries. Yes the diary was published in 1996 so I am a little behind here, but as Sense & Sensibility, along with Pride & Prejudice, is a timeless classic, then when it was written is irrelevant.

This isn't some huge celebrity tome however. Rather it is a slim one hundred or so pages full of Emma's warmth and honesty, giving you a fly on the wall account of how they put the film together.

It is written in diary form, i.e Little sleep. Left early to watch line up with Tom Wilkinson, which enhances the reading pleasure and Emma's humour is very apparent from the very first page. Lindsay goes around the table and introduces everyone - making it clear that I am present in the capacity of writer rather than actress, therefore no one has to be too nice to me.

I love this book. I found it fascinating and inspiring and if you are into the film or Emma Thompson then this is an absolute must.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Making of Pride & Prejudice by Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin

MORE ON MONDAY: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

I was afraid to read Elizabeth Scott's Living Dead Girl. I've loved her other books, but this was something completely different.

It's the story of “Alice” who was abducted, aged 10, by Ray. She's now 15 and constantly subjected to physical, mental and sexual abuse. Ray killed his previous “Alice” when she reached 15 so Alice is waiting until he kills her too. She's not afraid, she would welcom it. But Ray's got something different in mind – he wants her to help him kidnap his new "Alice".

This book is described on the back cover as “more than a novel... it is a visceral experience” and I would agree. I found it incredibly hard to read, in fact I had to scan it quickly because I wanted to find out what happened, but I wanted to avoid as much detail as possible.

Brilliantly written as it, it's the kind of book that could give you nightmares. Even if it doesn't, I guarantee you won't be able to stop thinking about it.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Dear Zoe by Philip Beard (or The Lovely Bones, which we haven't reviewed).

MORE ON MONDAY: The Crossing by James Cracknell and Ben Fogle

OK. Lets get this straight. I am not into rowing. I am also not a lover of Ben Fogle (though granted there is something about him) or endurance sports. I have no interest in sailing, in fact any water based activity (besides swimming, I love swimming). So why would I read a book about James Cracknell (Olympic Gold medal winner for rowing in 2000 and 2004) and Ben Fogle (from the BBC Castaway programme and now a TV presenter) who, rather madly, decided to row across the Atlantic Ocean in a Rowing Race?

Answer: I don't know.  But I'm very glad I did. This is a "celebrity" autobiography with a difference.

The two men (and don't be thinking that this is a men only event, women can, and do, do it too) come to the start of the race completely unprepared. They look like the amateurs they are, and the race officials only just allowed them to take part.

Once they are actually racing through, this amateurishness contrasts starkly with the intense competiveness of James and the dogged determination of Ben. The book is written by both of them and it is fascinating to see both of their personalities. Sometimes they both recount the same event, but in their own way, which serves to mark the differences between them even further.

The race is hard (understatement). It is dangerous. They capsized in the middle of the night for goodness sake. They row in shifts and have blisters in paces you wouldn't believe. They have low points, high points, times when they really don't like each other, Christmas Day in the middle of the ocean, but they pull together, united in their determination to get to the other side.

This dual autobiographical account isn't just about rowing. It is about human drama, endurance, strength (physical and mental), personalities and motivation. Two men's fight against the ocean.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, you will too if you've had your fill of fluffy celebrity memoirs and want something a bit more meaningful. I took a lot from the book but the main message I found was, anything, anything, can be achieved if you put your mind to it. I need to re-read on a regular basis.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try My Take by Gary Barlow. I know it is one of those celebrity memoirs and not an epic sea adventure, but it is a story of one young man determined to succeed.

MORE ON MONDAY: The Boy In The Dress by David Walliams

This book is not, typically, the sort of book we review on Trashionista. After all it is a children's book (age 9+ it informs me on the back) and it is about a boy, so could be seen as a "boy's book". However. This book is written by David Walliams. One half of the comedy duo that is Little Britain and Little Britain USA. We have mentioned so many children's books written by celebrities recently but this one has been the only one I have wanted to read. Why? Well, take a look at the front cover.

Yes, one of the main reasons why I found this book so attractive is because of the illustrations by Quentin Blake. I have always been a fan of his (I myself can't draw for toffee) and in this book he doesn't disappoint. Even when you take the dust jacket off there are pictures on the actual hardback bit and the spine of the book. It is definitely one to treasure for that alone.

So what about the story? Well, it is about a boy called Dennis. He likes his football, in fact he is really good at it, he likes girls, but he also likes to read copies of Vogue to look at the dresses. He meets a girl called Lisa in detention, who is ridiculously into fashion and she encourages him to try one of her creations on, then dares him to wear it at school.

This is definitely a children's book with a difference about difference, but as David says in an interview on Amazon, he wanted to examine this idea to demonstrate that difference is something to be celebrated and embraced. Many people have assumed this book is autobiographical, after all, if you watch Little Britain you will see David does like to dress up as a lay-dee. He doesn't deny it, but also says he can identify with many of the characters in the book, in addition to Dennis.

Maybe because David Walliams is a writer as well as a performer, I found this book well written with the additional quality of hearing David's voice in it throughout. The book is different, endearing, challenging and quite emotional as well (Dennis's Dad is going through a tough time). It has some good jokes - they actually made me laugh out loud, particularly those referring to David's other job. I loved it and think boys and girls will adore it.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try well, um, I'm not so sure. You could always take a look at the other children's book we've reviewed, Allie Finkle's Rules For Girls by Meg Cabot.

MORE ON MONDAY: Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls

I'd heard a lot of good things about Sally Nicholls' Ways to Live Forever, but I was put off by the fact that it's the story of an 11-year-old boy with leukaemia. I'd tried to read Jenny Downham's Before I Die, but found it too upsetting, but I convinced myself to try Ways to Live Forever and I'm so glad I did.

Since he's being homeschooled due to his illness, Sam decides to keep “a collection of lists stories, pictures, questions and facts” as a project. Sam's voice is charming, sweet and funny and, inevitably, it's this voice, combined with the issues Sam is having to deal with that makes this book so heartbreaking.

Sam's questions are things like, “Why does God make kids get ill?” and “Does it hurt to die?” and he tries to answer them with the assistance of his fellow leukaemia sufferer and friend, Felix. The book also illuminates how his illness affects his family's relationships both with him and with each other.

It's very easy to read (in the main - some of the more painful parts are harder) and it's done with a very light touch.

Because I knew the ending was inevitable, I worried about it all through the book and was almost afraid to read it, but it's dealt with beautifully. Although that's not to say I didn't cry - clutching my mercifully healthy son - for about ten minutes after finishing it. It's incredibly moving, but also sweet, charming and funny.

Sally Nicholls was just 23 when she wrote this book. I can only imagine what she's going to come up with next.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Dear Zoe by Philip Beard

The cover above is the new UK cover (the book has been described as "Jodi Picoult for teens" so I think that's what they're going for with that cover), but which cover do you like best?

The cover on the left is the originally UK cover. Bit generic, no? The cover on the right is the US cover and my favourite.

MORE ON MONDAY: Cherry Cake & Ginger Beer by Jane Brocket

Some of you may remember when I raved about this book in a book news post. I couldn't have been more excited about it. Now I've got it in my hands and have read it. And I'm still excited. It is a gorgeous book.

But a recipe book? On Trashionista? Well let me explain. It isn't just recipes, it's a sumptuous treat, bringing back memories of childhood reading, with food so tantalising. Who remembers Milly-Molly-Mandy when Little-Friend-Susan came over to stay? Sitting by the fire eating Muvver's Lid Potatoes wearing a red dressing gown whilst Little-Friend-Susan wore Grandma's red shawl.

I think many of us gained our love of reading from many of the books mentioned in Cherry Cake & Ginger Beer. We have The Famous Five, obviously, as they were constantly eating enormous amounts of food. Thick slices of ham, creamy milk, freshly baked bread. Aunt Fanny's Treacly Sticky Ginger Cake is a Famous Five recipe. Then we have food from Mary Poppins, Ballet Shoes, Swallows and Amazons, midnight feasts from St.Clares, Chalet School Apple Cake, rock buns from The Secret Seven...I could go on, but it is making me very hungry.

It isn't just a list of recipes though. Jane has divided them into sections such as Proper Elevenses, The Adventurous Life and Picnic Treats and then gives us a wonderful nostalgic description of the books and the characters before going on to describe the recipes.

The book describes food in a land before fast food, turkey twizzlers and microwaves. A land of innocence, when having a friend over to sleep wasn't the regular occurrence it is now, but a major event. It doesn't include fantasy food, but the sort of food you would want to eat whilst watching for smugglers or making a base in a cave.

This is a fabulous book, I just wish I had done the research and tested the food out myself!

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Cooking for Mr Latte by Amanda Hesser

BOOK REVIEW: Benedict's Brother by Tricia Walker

Reviewed by Sarah Hague

Despite having a boy's name, Benedict is a girl. She is left some money by her uncle - good! But with it comes a condition - bad! He asks her, in his will, to take his ashes and scatter them over the River Kwai, from the bridge. The bridge from the film. The bridge that cost hundreds of prisoners of war their lives.

It is with some trepidation then, that Benedict sets out. She knows that her uncle was a PoW, but he has never spoken of those times, and she is anxious at the thought of what she will meet when she gets there.

Like her brother, Anthony. He is out there having set off on a trip around the world some years previously, got as far as Thailand and became a monk, now known as Thanavaro.

Benedict's journey is one of discovery in more ways than one. Not only does she discover much about her uncle from his diary, but she is also forced to try and understand why her brother 'left her'.

Tricia Walker's debut is a beautifully written book, full of evocative descriptions not only of an exotic land, but of the allure of Buddhism. Although Benedict finds much of it incredibly frustrating, she recognises the peace it has brought to her brother, and learns to accept Thanavaro the monk.

Moving, heartfelt, and full of marvellous characters, this is a story that will not leave you indifferent.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

MORE ON MONDAY: Overcoming Underearning by Barbara Stanny

As I continue my apparently never-ending campaign to get to the bottom of my relationship with money, I read Barbara Stanny's Overcoming Underearning.

I must admit, I was a little apprehensive because a) it looked a bit too American in focus and b) I thought it was more suited for higher earners working in industry rather than a little freelancer like myself.

As is so often the case these days... I was wrong.

The book is subtitled both "A five-step plan to a richer life" and "Overcome your money fears and earn what you deserve". It can simply be read (obviously), used as a journal (there is space to write your own thoughts) and as a workbook, working through the five steps.

I kind of did a combination of the three and found it incredibly helpful, for organising my thoughts about money, discovering my "limiting beliefs" and making decisions about how much money I want and need. (And I'm not finished with it yet, there are a number of pages dogeared to remind me to come back and read again in the future.)

It's extremely readable and straightforward and illustrated with examples from Stanny herself as well as her clients.

If you have any issues around money - not simply that you're worried that you don't earn enough - I think this book would help you out.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Not Buying It by Judith Levine (It's nothing like it, but at least it's about money!)

MORE ON MONDAY: Restless by William Boyd

I've had my eye on this book since I saw the Richard & Judy programme where it was being reviewed  back in February 2007. I subsequently bought it thinking my husband would enjoy it and finally got around to reading it myself last week.

Sally Gilmartin, a slightly eccentric English woman, mother to Ruth and grandmother to Jochen is feeling restless. She has binoculars so she can peer out into the woods, she asks her daughter to ring, hang up, then ring again so she knows it's her and has written a manuscript about her life before and during the second world war. When she was known as Eva Delectorskaya.

Just before war broke out in Europe, Eva, a Russian émigré living in Paris, met Lucas Romer on the day of her brother's funeral. It turns out her brother was working for Lucas who, in turn, works for the British Government. Lucas now wants to hire Eva. Eva agrees and is soon on her way to Scotland to be trained as a spy. She is trained very well and Eva is a natural. She then goes on to work for Lucas in his secret part of the government. Releasing pretend news as real in order to deflect the Germans and then later to encourage the Americans to join.

I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book. The blurb doesn't give much away (and I'm not giving anything away either) but I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were twists and turns and Boyd kept me guessing throughout, as though I was a spy myself. Who can Eva trust? Who can I trust as a reader? I became caught up in the tense atmosphere and was constantly looking around me. As Eva questioned events I became almost paranoid myself.

My only criticism is the structure of the book. We are treated to a chapter of Eva's life, then we jump back to the present (which is 1970's Oxford) to the first person narrative of her daughter Ruth. To be honest, I didn't warm to Ruth, I had no interest in her and was relieved when the chapter went back to third person Eva.

Even so, this is a great book. My husband gave up a few pages in, no doubt put off because the first chapter is Ruth's. He was surprised at my rating but has promised me he'll give it another go.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Night Watch by Sarah Waters (they're both about the second world war after all)

MORE ON MONDAY: America Unchained by Dave Gorman

I started watching Dave Gorman's America Unchained documentary, but never actually finished it, so I was glad to get my hands on the book version. I've read Gorman's previous books and seen him live, and he's always very good value.

The premise of America Unchained is that Dave Gorman would drive (or attempt to drive) across America from coast to coast using only independent businesses, including hotels and gas stations. Avoiding Shell, Amoco, Best Western, Comfort Inns, etc., was always going to pose a problem, and so it proved. But that wasn't the only problem.

Because he was also making a film (this hadn't been the original plan, Gorman had just been going to do this by himself), he had a filmmaker with him, Stef. But holding the heavy camera at an awkward angle in an enclosed space (the car Gorman bought at the beginning of the journey), damaged Stef's back and so much of the early part of the journey was spent driving between chiropractors. And also garages. Gorman had bought at 1970s Ford Torino and it had a lot of problems.

For probably the first half of this book (much like the half of the documentary that I saw), I thought Gorman's plan was wrongheaded. Independents aren't necessarily good and corporations aren't necessarily evil, a fact proved by the scuzzy independent motels he stayed in and the corporate garage that rescued him from the motorway when he ran out of petrol, and didn't even charge a call-out fee (to be fair, I can't imagine that ever happening in the UK, but maybe I've been unlucky). As I continued to read though, I started to appreciate what Gorman was trying to do. No, it wasn't perfect, but who cares, it was still a noble goal.

Dave Gorman is such an interesting character. He often comes across as aggressive and combative, but there's a real sweetness and idealism underneath. It's the sweetness that is far more in evidence in this book than it was in, say, Dave Gorman's Googlewhack Adventure. The book also works as a travelogue, making me eager to take another US roadtrip (although I'll be avoiding Mississippi).

Oh and the ending made me well up. You can't ask for much more than that, can you?

Rating: 4/5 (Why not 5? Since I've just said you can't ask for more. Well, it didn't make me laugh out loud and Gorman is a comedian, after all.)

Like this? Try Not Buying It by Judith Levine

MORE ON MONDAY: First Lady by Michael Dobbs

Due to my obsession with The West Wing, I have become quite a fan of political fiction. Not your Jeffrey Archer or Edwina Curry but First Lady by Michael Dobbs did catch my eye - so I bought it for my husband. A year or two later I have finally got round to reading it for myself, and although I was unsure in case it was a little too political (there are limits to my obsession), these fears were banished once I got going. Before you think, politics *yawn* I don't want to read about that, First Lady is about much more including infidelity, family and revenge.

The story focuses on Ginny Edge, a woman who is quite happy looking after the two children, whilst her husband pursues a career in politics. This all changes when the current leader of the opposition has a stroke and cannot carry on, forcing a leadership contest. When Ginny overhears two of the wives discussing her husband and his inability to stand as he is too busy having an affair her life changes. Instead of leaving him or cutting all his clothes up, she decides the best thing she can do to keep her family together is to make him Prime Minister.

So she sets about doing it. Fortunately Ginny is extremely clever, cleverer than her husband and most of the party in fact and with the aid of Bobby she sets about getting exactly what she wants. Although she is ruthless and there were casualties behind her subterfuge, she is still the heroine because a) she has a conscience and b) because we all know the Government and the members of the opposition are doing the same, if not worse tricks to stay or get into power.

I am always intrigued by what goes on behind the scenes and this book offers the chance to see how the UK government and opposition might actually work. You think some of the plot lines in the book too outrageous? Just look at the last few years - issues with funding of the parties, the focus on Iraq, and the back biting and brutality of leadership elections - they are all there in real life.

By using Ginny and the Sudanese woman, Ajok, Michael Dobbs manages to put a human face onto politics. He actually writes from the woman's perspective quite convincingly too. The subplot with Ajok does get a little tiresome and I lose some of my sympathy for her at one point, but in all, I really enjoyed this book.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller

MORE ON MONDAY: Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Sue Trinder lives with a woman she thinks of as a mum, Mrs Sucksby, along with Mr Ibbs in nineteenth century London. Their house is always coming and going with thieves (and babies), with objects for Mr Ibbs to melt down or sell on. This is all pretty normal every day life for Sue until one day a man they all refer to as Gentleman comes around with an idea for a deception that could make them a lot of money. He wants to convince a girl called Maud, the same age as Sue but an heiress, to fall in love with him, marry him, then he can claim her fortune whilst he puts Maud into an asylum.

Gentleman needs Sue to become Maud's maid so he would be able to spend time with Maud in the company of her maid, with no suspicions being raised. Sue would also encourage Maud to marry Gentleman. In return Gentleman has promised Sue a large part of the fortune. Completely devious but straightforward.

This book has the most shocks and twists that I have ever come across in a novel. I didn't predict any of them so when the first one in particular happened my mouth was left gaping in awe. It was so cleverly done. The way Sarah Waters has written this you develop strong feelings for all the characters and even though Sue is setting out to deceive Maud, you still like her.

This is a period book in that it is set in the nineteenth century, but if you don't normally go for period novels then don't let that put you off. Sarah has managed to combine all the grottiness of that time (the awful asylums, the hangings, the damp beds) with a contemporary, fast paced plot and skilled use of language. As with The Night Watch her writing is brilliantly evocative and uncovers the layers of what life was actually like during this particular period.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

MORE ON MONDAY: Under Pressure by Carl Honore

I really enjoyed Carl Honore's first book, In Praise of Slow, so when I heard that he was taking on the culture of "hyper-parenting" I knew I had to read more.

In Under Pressure, Honore visits schools and preschools that are taking a "slow" approach (including a totally outdoor preschool, which sounds amazing), along with looking at current research on how children learn and at the damage that hyper-parenting can actually do.

I found this book fascinating and I've been quoting it to fellow parents frequently since finishing it. It did actually make me rethink how I play and interact with my own son (although I was certainly already closer to "slow" than "hyper", mainly due to inherent laziness).

One of the things I loved about it was how honest Honore is in admitting that he's still struggling with the concept himself. After reading Slow, I imagined he'd become utterly relaxed and chilled and was totally living the slow life. Under Pressure shows that this isn't the case, but he is trying because he knows it's better for both him and his family. Read it and you won't doubt it either.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Family Friendly Working by Antonia Chitty

MORE ON MONDAY: The Night Watch by Sarah Waters

Since writing about Sarah Waters in our Thursday Trailblazer, I've been wanting to write a review of one of her books. I'm currently making my way through Fingersmith after thoroughly enjoying Tipping the Velvet and, the first book I read of Sarah's, The Night Watch.

Drawn to The Night Watch because it was set in the second world war and after hearing great things I was initially suspicious, as the story goes backwards through time. It seemed odd to me to find out what happened in the end first, after all, why would I need to keep on reading?

Starting in 1947 and ending in 1941, the novel follows the lives of Kay, Vivien, Duncan and Helen. Kay, a wartime ambulance driver who dresses in men's clothes, sweet Helen who has a painful secret, Viv, loyal mistress to a soldier and mixed up Duncan who has many demons. Each of their lives connect in some way.

As someone who loves reading about this era, Waters did not disappoint. Her writing is evocative, and filled in a lot of gaps for me of what life would be like during that period. The sights of London, the feelings of the people as they go through nightly bombings is brought to life with brilliant writing. The four main characters, along with the periphery characters, jumped out the page at me, and the relationships between them were captivating.

So what made me want to read until the end? Well, as we go back in time we learn why their lives are the way they are.  So what the book lacks in suspense is replaced by our wanting to know the whole story. Why, for example, is Duncan tormented? Pieces come together, like a jigsaw, until we get the complete picture. The book was surprisingly good and original. Now I have high expectations of all Sarah's books. I'll let you know how I get on with Fingersmith.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Villa Serena by Domenica de Rosa

MORE ON MONDAY: Making Babies by Anne Enright

I don't particularly want to read Anne Enright's Booker winning The Gathering - sounds way too bleak for me - but I've had her pregnancy and parenting memoir, Making Babies on the shelf for a while now so I finally read it. And I loved it. (Oh and apologies that both reviews these days are motherhood-y - just a coincidence!)

Enright is brutally honest and very funny as she writes about how pushing a buggy makes you look (um, rough), how much breast-feeding hurts (plenty), how babies are born knowing everything, how she fitted her writing life into her parenting life, how lonely parenting is, basically everything you could want to know about the subtitle, Stumbling into Motherhood.

Enright is utterly aware of how universal these things are, but, at the same time, how specific and personal they are. I marked pages thinking "I thought I was the only one who felt like that!" I laughed, I sympathised, I empathised and I cried (I always, always cry reading parenting memoirs).

And - just as you'd expect from a Booker Prize winner - the writing is gorgeous:

Yesterday, it was warm, and I took off her socks and stood her on the grass. She loved this, but maybe not so much as I did - her first experience of grass. For her, this green stuff was just as different and as delicious as everything else - the 'first' was all mine. Sometimes, I feel as though I am introducing her to my own nostalgia for the world.

Highly recommended if you're considering motherhood or, indeed, stumbling into motherhood yourself (although bear in mind that it's not pretty!).

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Waiting for Birdy by Catherine Newman

MORE ON MONDAY: The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen

It was with great excitement that I went to a book signing of Tess Gerritsen for The Bone Garden some months ago. She didn't disappoint either. Instead of reading an extract from her book she gave us some background information into what gave her the idea for the book and being a writer myself I found it fascinating. I also found the subject matter fascinating, even if I felt a little squeamish at times.

Julia Hamill has been digging in the garden in her new house, when she managed to uncover bones. With the help of the elderly Henry Page, a relative of the women who used to live in Julia's house, they uncover the history of what happened in 1830's Boston including who the bones belong to and the story of the West End Reaper.

In the 1830's Rose Connolly's sister has just died from Child Bed Fever or Puerperal Fever (which is what Tess talked to us about, along with resurectionsists to demonstrate how she got the idea for the novel). It is an epidemic not just in Boston, but in hospitals the world over. Women would go into the hospital, give birth and whilst the baby would be fine, they would not. Incidentally if you are thinking this is not the best book to be reading whilst pregnant, like I am, you are probably right. But I carried on anyway. I couldn't help it, I was gripped.

Child Bed Fever is not the main part of the story, it is the back drop. Whilst her sister was dying, Rose came across a medical student called Norris Marshall and when the West End Reaper pays a visit, their lives become entwined. I am not going to say anymore as this is a murder mystery and I wouldn't like to give anything away.

It wasn't just the subject matter, which added layers and dimension to the story and bizarrely made this novel so much more enjoyable, it was the actual plot itself. There have been times - even with some of Tess's other books, where I have guessed the outcome but for this one I had absolutely no idea. There were twists and turns aplenty and because I was enjoying the book so much I didn't have time to work out who the killer was.

I thought this book was brilliant, her best yet and I have no hesitation at all in giving it five out of five.

A word of warning about Tess Gerritsen books though. Tess is a doctor. She knows human bodies. There are killers in her books and she has a very good knack at description. If you are of a sensitive disposition you may not want to read her books. If you aren't. Give them a try.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Reincarnationist by MJ Rose

MORE ON MONDAY: JORDAN Pushed to the limit by Katie Price

I have a secret. I am a big fan of Katie Price. I don't know why I have to keep it a secret, but it seems to be easier that way. Although...well, obviously I've just outed myself and it isn't a secret now. I really enjoy Katie and Peter's fly on the wall programme on ITV3 on a Thursday night, I've been following the pair of them (her more than him - I haven't read his autobiography) since they were in I'm a Celebrity.

So I have read the first two of her autobiographies and a few weeks ago, struggling with morning sickness and extreme exhaustion, I needed something light and easy to read. Pushed to the Limit was the perfect solution. I was actually quite excited when I opened the book.

Her first book was about her life up until she met Peter, the second her relationship with Peter in the early days and this one is more family orientated. It is all about the emotional challenges of post natal depression, her miscarriage, the safety of her family and the health of her children, particularly Harvey, her eldest. Plus of course some intimate details of her relationship with Peter.

Katie, I find, is refreshingly honest and doesn't actually make out she is the heroine all the time. In fact there are a few times when she doesn't come across that well. She makes mistakes like most of us. I could identify with many of her experiences and it was quite inspiring to know somebody else out there has gone though similar situations. I found her description of family situations to be, in fact, the most interesting bits along with her behind the scenes information on her career. (Not so much about her and Pete's bedroom antics). The chapter about Harvey's accident, again told in a frank and unflinching way, was heartbreaking and I really felt for her and Harvey.

I know that Katie probably didn't write the book herself and for some people that is scandalous. I don't care though. I am naturally a nosy curious person and want to know about other people's lives, particularly someone successful like her in the public eye. (I do draw the line at Kerry Katona and Jade Goody though).

I am now bracing myself for everyone to disagree with me!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Growing Pains by Billie Piper

MORE ON MONDAY: Did I Expect Angels? by Kathryn Maughan

I didn't know what to expect from Kathryn Maughan's Did I Expect Angels? I'm not a big fan of the title or the cover, they both seem a little pretentious to me. Of course, the fact that it's about grief wasn't a big draw either. You know what I'm going to say now, don't you? Yeah, I really liked it.

It begins with Jennifer Huffaker in the pharmacy trying to decide how many bottles of aspirin it will take for her to kill herself. Following the death of her husband, Jack, eighteen months earlier, Jennifer has sunk into a depression that no-one - not her family, friends, or her young daughter, Kaitlyn, can get her out of.

But in the store, she bumps an acquaintance, Henry, who senses her desperation and insists that she come with him and listen to his story. Henry moved from Costa Rica to the US and has suffered many trials and setbacks of his own.

Alternating with Henry's story is Jennifer's own story - the story of her relationship with Jack.

Did I Expect Angels? is not just an utterly compelling story, it's two utterly compelling stories. I found Jennifer's story hard to read since I knew, from the first page, that Jack was going to die and so it was hard to enjoy their happiness. Henry's story was difficult too, but I was desperate for him to succeed and find happiness in the US.

Above all, it's just beautifully written and I'm amazed that it's Maughan's first novel. I look forward to reading her next.

Ratng: 4/5

Like this? Try Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston

MORE ON MONDAY: The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club

I have an abundance of how to writing books hidden under my bed. If I'm honest though and I mean really honest, I haven't actually read any of them. The ones I started to read, I didn't get past the first few pages, they just seemed so dull. When Maeve's book plopped onto my doormat however, I was excited. You see, Maeve is somewhat of a heroine of mine. I first discovered her when I was a teenager and I picked a book up on holiday that someone else had left behind. Since then I've been hooked. I have all of her books. Most of them in hardback. This woman can really tell a story. So I was interested in what she would have to say about the process of writing.

The book is composed of twenty letters written by Maeve. These letters were inspired by a course which ran for twenty weeks at the national College of Ireland. Every week Maeve would write the students a letter which included tips and advice for the students on the theme of the week. They also had guest lecturers from other authors, publishers and editors and ten of these also have contributions within the book including one by Marian Keyes.

The chapters cover themes such as how to maintain your motivation to write and deal with procrastination (this chapter really spoke to me), the road to success (hint: one percent inspiration ninety nine percent perspiration) and the writers journey.

The advice is a little obvious if you aren't a beginner, but this book is not giving you a magic formula of how to write. Instead every page of this book seemed to be telling me not to give up. It was telling me that I can do this. Because Maeve also struggled in the beginning, she used to write at 5:30 every morning before work and she used to visualise her first launch party in order to keep herself going, you feel that someone really understands everything you are going through and is willing you to succeed.

Just like her fictional work, this book is reassuring and comforting. But most of all it is encouraging and inspiring, filling me with self belief and enthusiasm for my own work in progress.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try: Wannabe a Writer? by Jane Wenham-Jones

MORE ON MONDAY: Family Friendly Working by Antonia Chitty

Reviewed by Zoe Lea

As I work from home and have a boisterous four year old to deal with, I jumped at the chance to review this book hoping for lots of ideas and advice. I’m happy to say that I wasn’t let down.

The title and by-line ‘Inspiring Ideas for making money when you have kids’ is tackled from all angles in a practical and realistic manner.  The 10 Chapters cover a wide range of themes in the area of flexible working, from ‘Finding ways to work’ and ‘Growing your business’ to a very clear ‘How to guide.’

Unlike lots of other books in this field, Family Friendly Working draws on experiences from parents and carers at every opportunity, so the book is filled with real-life case studies of what people have done, more or less on every page.  I did find this inspiring, but as there were more than a hundred parents featured in the book, there was a  slight sense of over-kill to it.

That being said, the book is filled with good ideas, tips and advice.  It’s a good read and a great starting point for anyone wondering how to achieve that work/life balance.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Zoe's website, Flexible Working Life

MORE ON MONDAY: Notes From An Exhibition by Patrick Gale

Reviewed by Jennie Hughes

Right from the first sentence this book pulls you irresistibly into the exciting, crazy, frightening and exhilarating world of a gifted artist (Rachel Kelly) who suffers from bipolar disorder and who has been avoiding her medication in order to experience more fully the dreams and visions she has been having and capture them on canvas before they desert her. These are the final works she will create, as the book starts at the end of her life.

Each chapter is headed by a note from a retrospective exhibition celebrating the artist’s life and work and introduces another perspective on her history, gradually bringing in all the characters involved in the story.

This tale is not told linearly, but weaves and interweaves snippets of her and her family’s life so that it builds up layers of colour and meaning, just as her paintings are described to be. Different player’s viewpoints and experiences at different times in this history come in and out, forward and back in between Rachel’s own experiences of motherhood, creativity, depression and elation.

Gradually the tale unfolds and as it does you get a vivid sense of the Cornish landscape, you feel the quiet contemplation of the Quaker faith, you understand something of the precarious tightrope the family of a creative but unstable mother have to walk and the effect this tension has on them all.

Relationships of all kinds are beautifully evoked and all the people in this book are recognisable, real and inspire empathy. You also get a brief glimpse into the unkind ways in which bipolar disorder used to be treated in the days before it was understood – electric shock therapy and so on. Think, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and you’ll have it.

Finally, the events that have occurred to Rachel and to her family and friends are all laid bare, and the final tragedy which has been glimpsed and hinted at previously is told incredibly simply and without drama.

When I finished this book I wanted to rush down to Cornwall and re-visit the Tate St Ives, or find some good example of abstract art and see if the book had given me more ability to see layers of meaning in the blocks of colour. It certainly feels as if it might.

Rating - 5/5, and I’m going to seek out some more of his books.

Like this? Try: The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

MORE ON MONDAY: The Night Walker by Patricia Elliott

Reviewed by Colin Mulhern

Daniel's mother walked out, leaving his father, leaving him. Two years later, living with his dad's new partner and her two daughters, Daniel still won't forgive his mother. And Daniel has other problems: at his new school he has no friends and is chased by Todd and his gang; at home his imaginary childhood friend is giving him more trouble than he's worth; in the dark, he is haunted by footsteps, following him home, and to top it all, his older step sister - the one he�s developing a crush on - has found herself a strange, scary boyfriend.

The Night Walker starts off slowly but soon becomes genuinely dark and spooky. And then, without warning, it turns into some strange fantasy tale with giant metallic worms, sleepy children, and across a foggy causeway, a distant battlefield.

At this point, the pace of the novel almost grinds to a halt, and the characters - Frank in particular - are tedious, flat and come across as mindless. For some reason Daniel is the only trying to find answers.

Things pick up when Daniel decides he has to cross the causeway and face the battle. The scenes here are very visual - to a point where you believe it would make a great Terry Gilliam movie. Unfortunately, the story from here on is peppered with so many clichés and cringingly symbolic scenes that it starts to feel cluttered, confused, and worst of all - predictable.

Saying that, clichés are only really noticeable if you are already familiar with them. For a young teenage audience, this may not be the case, and there is something enjoyably disturbing about the book as a whole, so I can't give it too low a rating.

All in all, a fairly enjoyable, yet predictable, horror fantasy. Perhaps a YA stepping stone to Clive Barker or Neil Gaiman.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Uglies by Scott Westerfield

MORE ON MONDAY: The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

Reviewed by Jennie Hughes

This is a gorgeous book. Desai’s prose is so rich, evocative and quirky that you can feel, see and taste the worlds she describes. Here’s an example:
“In her bed later that evening, Sai lay under a tablecloth, for the last sheets had long worn out. She could sense the swollen presence of the forest, hear the hollow-knuckled knocking of the bamboo, the sound of the jhora that ran deep in the décolleté of the mountain. Batted down by household sounds during the day, it rose at dusk, to sing pure-voiced into the windows.”

Do you see what I mean? You could just eat this book.

I can’t tell you what the plot is because, like Anne Tyler’s books, there isn’t really one. What you get are wonderful characters whose histories are so beautifully told that you feel you know these people and care what happens to them. Their lives are muddled, funny and haphazard, just like our own. They are described with detail and humour which shows the essentially random nature of Life/Fate/Stuff That Happens.

Later in the book, as the chaos caused by the uprising in Kalimpong worsens, the casually callous and cruel nature of poverty, revolution and desperation is also made clear.

There is loss – of home, of savings, of parents, of loved ones – but there is also the return of a son and the possibility, not articulated but hinted at, of some happiness in the future for Gyan and Sai. Life goes on, the world turns, the rain washes roads away and people re-build them, while watching over it all are the eternal Himalayas.

Rating: Definitely 5/5

Like this? Try: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy 

MORE ON MONDAY: In Stitches: the Highs and Lows of Life as an A&E Doctor by Dr Nick Edwards

Reviewed by author and Corrieblog editor, Sue Haasler

I picked In Stitches up by chance - I love reading about other people's lives, and as I'm a huge fan of TV medical dramas I couldn't resist. However, any hope of buckets of blood and lashings of torrid linen-cupboard action are dispelled in the introduction: "It is a bit like what you see in TV programmes such as ER," the author says, "but with less sex and more paper work."

The book started out as a blog to vent his frustrations and Dr Edwards (not his real name) hopes the book becomes a campaigning tool against the privatisation and marketisation happening to the NHS. But it's also a damn good read.

The day-to-day realities of being on the front line of hospital services is passionately, often humorously and sometimes heartbreakingly conveyed. There are the funny stories of people with mobile phones stuck in places they really shouldn't have been, and the desperately sad ones like the 14 year old girl who took an overdose and left a note asking her parents to look after her guinea pig (she survived). And there's
top advice, too. I now know not to get ill on the first Wednesday in August or the last Friday of the month. Why? You'll have to read the book.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Heat by Bill Buford (an expose of the restaurant industry)

Being a full-time doctor, Nick's having trouble getting publicity for the book, particularly as he needs to hide behind his pseudonym.  He is hoping someone reading might be able to help him with marketing the book.

If you're interested in featuring the book or Nick on your site or blog - or are able to offer any other kind of marketing assistance - please email us and we'll put you in touch with him. Thanks.

MORE ON MONDAY: Lucky by Alice Sebold

Alice Sebold's memoir of the brutal rape and beating she suffered as an eighteen-year-old college student is something I have been meaning to read for a long time. Knowing it was going to be tough, I kept putting it off, but I am so glad I got round to it in the end...

Yes, it is very hard to read in places, but the majority of the book is about Sebold's (interesting - and a little crazy) family and her triumphant battle to convict the man who raped her.

Sebold writes with amazing honesty and insight. The account of her horrifying attack  is given with terrifying, startling candour and I can only imagine how hard it must have been for Sebold to write it.

She is amazingly brave, not just for the account of the attack, but for honestly recounting the reactions of people to her after the event and her slow recovery.

Lucky is also a book of hope. Sebold survives. She wins against the man in a rape trial and she wins against him by healing and by going on to help others with this important book. Having read and adored The Lovely Bones, I already thought Sebold was an amazing writer - now I believe she is an amazing person, too.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try: The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

MORE ON MONDAY: When You Eat At the Refrigerator, Pull Up A Chair by Geneen Roth

I know, I know, I'm always reviewing non-diet books, but they're such a revelation to me after years of reading actual diet books (okay, WeightWatchers magazine). Geneen Roth's When You Eat at the Refrigerator, Pull Up a Chair is a classic, given credibility in my eyes by having a foreword by Anne Lamott (who I love).

When You Eat... consists of 50 very short chapters (some are only a couple of pages in length) with titles like "Carry a chunk of chocolate everywhere" and "Remind yourself that it's already broken." Weirdly, the word that came to mind when I was typing that was "Californian" so I checked the About the Author page and discovered that Roth does indeed live in Northern California - what was my point? Oh yes, if you're not comfortable with self-development, if, like Beth Lisick, it's way outside your comfort zone and you're smirking now, I'd say read the book anyway.

I found it reassuring, funny, inspiring and frequently more down to earth than the chapter headings (and that "Californian" business) would have you believe. The subtitle is "50 ways to feel thin, gorgeous, and happy (when you feel anything but)" and that's not to be sniffed (or smirked) at, surely?

I kept it on my bedside table and read one short chapter each day. Now that I've finished it, I've turned back to the beginning to read it again until I get the chance to read another of Roth's books.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The 4-Day Win by Martha Beck

MORE ON MONDAY: Uglies by Scott Westerfield

Scott Westerfield has taken our modern-day obsession with physical beauty and followed it to the logical end. In his future world, an operation is carried out on every child on their sixteenth birthday, turning them from an 'Ugly' into a 'Pretty'.

As well as bestowing physical perfection, the operation seems to lead to a life of parties and fun.

Tally Youngblood is a typical teenager. She lives in a dormitory-style school, separated from her parents (Uglies and Pretties are not permitted to mix), and eagerly awaits her operation.

Then, Tally meets Shay. Shay is also fifteen, but she has a very different view of the operation. She opens Tally's eyes to a different path - a path that leads to a secret community of renegade Uglies, living in the Rusty Ruins.

Tally cannot make the leap of faith - to sacrifice everything she has dreamed of, in order to join an uncertain and less attractive future. She returns home, only to find that the State knows about her friendship with Shay and has a mission for her: infiltrate the community and then report back on its location.

However, once back with the Uglies, Tally discovers that there is a lot more to the 'turning' operation than becoming beautiful...

This book is a real thrill-ride and the world utterly convincing - and frightening. I raced through it book and couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequels (there are three: Pretties, Specials and Extras).

As well as an adventure story (with an active female protagonist - yay!), it also has lots to say about freedom of thought, individuality and the pursuit of physical ideals. Excellent reading matter, in other words, for any teenage girls you may know...

Rating: 4/5

Like this (identity issues handled in original way)? Try: Split By A Kiss by Luisa Plaja

MORE ON MONDAY: The Strawberry Picker by Monica Feth

Reviewed by Colin Mulhern

A killer seeking the perfect partner. All he wants is beauty and innocence. But when he gets close he notices imperfections, the image is shattered and the papers report another murder.

Caro is his latest victim, and at her funeral, Jemma - Caro's flatmate - swears revenge and decides to track down the killer, but in making her very public oath, she attracts the attention of a hansom, mysterious strawberry picker.

It all sounds pretty good - certainly the makings of a good thriller, but the point of thrillers is, by definition, to thrill - to involve the reader by invoking emotions, to convince them that the characters are so real that they believe and care. You can only really do that if you allow the reader to see what is happening as it is happening. The Strawberry Picker is way too passive in its delivery, telling the reader what people have said or done or doing rather than showing these things in real time. The only thing the characters do actively is make espresso - in so many scenes that you wonder if this is something the author has only just discovered.

The result of this passive, wishy-washy hold-my-hand style is that by the half way mark the characters are as lifeless as they were on page one, the scenes are painfully dull and any aspect of a mystery has withered and died before we even reach the moment where Jenna swears revenge. This, incidentally, is well past the halfway point, and to be honest, by the time I'd got there, I really couldn't care whether she fell in love with the killer, helped her mother edit another successful crime thriller (writers writing about writing - yawn) or make another bloody espresso.

There are too many other things you can spend £5.99 on. Don't buy this.

Rating: 1/5

Like this? Try Be Mine by Laura Kasischke (an adult book)

MORE ON MONDAY: The Ninth Life of Louis Drax by Liz Jensen

I am a big fan of Liz Jensen. I loved Egg Dancing, Ark Baby and My Dirty Little Book of Stolen Time. Always acerbically funny, some of Jensen's books have been more light-hearted than others: The Ninth Life of Louis Drax is not one of them.

It's a dark, twisted story, with chillingly real characters. But don't let that put you off!

Narrated by nine-year-old coma patient, Louis, and Dannachet, his doctor, the story is both a mystery and a gothic ghost tale.

Despite being attracted to Natalie Drax, Louis' mother, Dannachet begins to question her version of the events that led to Louis' near-fatal fall into a ravine.

Through Louis and his mother, we piece together Louis' personality and life before his fall - he is accident-prone, dysfunctional and sees a therapist - but is this the whole story?

Louis' voice is startlingly original and utterly compelling. This book stayed with me long after I closed it and I urge you to give it a whirl.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

MORE ON MONDAY: The Poison that Fascinates by Jennifer Clement

Reviewed by Sarah Hague

Some people have a morbid fascination with death, others with the means of death. Emily Neale, half British, half Mexican, collects facts about women who poisoned others. Abandoned as a baby by her mother, she's brought up in Mexico City by her father and Mother Agata, head of the orphanage that Emily's great-grandmother founded and where Emily now often helps out.

We hear that there are saints for almost everything in a devote Catholic Mexican society that is painted with bright, evocative words : the street sellers, the market sellers, the traffic, the smog.

Interspersed with Emily's story are the facts she collects about stories of women who have killed and why. Emily knows that some things are worth killing for.

Finally she meets her cousin Santiago from a remote farm in Chihuahua who has been watching her and disturbing her things.

Jennifer Clement has made a peculiar book sensuously palatable. Emily inhabits a small, restricted world of Mexican superstition, mythology and faith. Santiago changes that world forever bringing with him love and secrets.

It's a fascinating book written with masterful ease.

Rating: 4/5

MORE ON MONDAY: For One More Day by Mitch Albom

Mitch Albom wrote Tuesdays With Morrie and The Five People You Meet In Heaven. For One More Day is the story of Charley 'Chick' Benetto a baseball player who spent six-weeks at the World Series and the next twenty years trying to relive the glory days.

He ends up drinking too much, alienating his family, and eventually trying to kill himself. On this darkest of days, something miraculous happens to Charley - he gets one more day with his mother (who died eight years previously). It's the fantasy of anyone who has lost a loved one; Charley  gets to say the things he regretted not saying and just, well, spend one more day...

Like Alexander McCall Smith and Anne Tyler, Mitch Albom has the gift of keen observation coupled with beautiful storytelling. These writers know that the essential truths of human existence are too damn big; we need to view them through the small details of ordinary people and ordinary lives.

In the capable hands of Albom, Charley's story is told with a simplicity that borders on poetry and a kindness that can make you weep. I read it in one tearful sitting and I urge you to do the same.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try: Digging To America by Anne Tyler

MORE ON MONDAY: The Psychology of Joss Whedon: An Unauthorized Exploration of "Buffy', "Angel" and "Firefly"

Joss Whedon is the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it's spin-off series Angel, Firefly (another series, which sadly only ran for one season) and Serenity (a film inspired by Firefly).

There has been lots of study - both light-hearted and academic - of Whedon's worlds and the amazing characters that inhabit them.

This latest collection of critical essays delves into the psychology of Joss himself, as well taking an analytical look at his creations.

Written by a variety of authors - all of whom have strings of letters after their names -  and with frequent reference to psychological theories and methods, this book had the potential to be very hard-going indeed.

Luckily, it's very readable, and the essays are well-researched and cogent. They cover topics such as neuroscience in Firefly and Angel's relationship with his mother. My personal favourites are the essays that refer to feminism in both Buffy and Whedon's own personality (Joss often refers to himself as a 'radical feminist', just another reason he is one of my personal heroes).

A couple of words of warning, however; this book is definitely not at the 'light' end of the fan-essay-market. Although by no means impenetrable, you really do need to have an interest in psychology as well as in Whedon and his works.

Also, the essays refer widely to the episodes of Buffy, Angel and Firefly, so there are plenty of spoilers.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Serenity Found

MORE ON MONDAY: The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht

The first Worst-Case scenario handbook was published back in 1999. It had a print run of just 35,000 copies, but went on to become a best-seller and spawn an entire series.

Not only is this edition a lovely strokable square-ish hardback, but it's exceptionally good value, too. It collects more than 100 of the most popular scenarios from the previous handbooks. Plus, the entire contents of all 11 books are included on a fully searchable CD. Bargain!

The advice ranges from the truly useful (like how to drive when the road is icy) to the truly bizarre (how to escape from a sofa bed), while managing to be both funny and informative.

Plus, from a writer's point of view, it makes a handy reference volume.  I will now be able to have my character escape from a sinking car, jump from building to building, and land an aeroplane with accuracy.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Damage Control

MORE ON MONDAY: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

We loved Khaled Hosseini's debut, The Kite Runner, so I couldn't wait to read A Thousand Splendid Suns. It's another fabulous title and another story set in Afghanistan. However, it is a far darker book.

While The Kite Runner was by no means an easy read, A Thousand Splendid Suns, with portions set during the Taliban's rule and its focus, this time, on female characters, is harrowing.

There were parts that - despite Hosseini's evocative, musical prose - I almost skim read, as if watching a film from between my fingers. And, I must warn you, the second half of the book was mostly read through a veil of tears, tears that dripped off my chin as I raced through the narrative, desperate to find out if Laila, Mariam and Aziza would be all right.

With extreme domestic violence, persecution, war, and death, it would be so easy to fall into a 'everything is terrible' mind set, but Hosseini's storytelling and his vivid characters remind you of goodness in the midst of horror, the hope - and beauty - of the country,  and the indefinable, indefatigable, inspirational human spirit.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

MORE ON MONDAY: Seven for a Secret by

Following the untimely deaths of a number of family members, James Mackenzie Wright wrote Seven For A Secret to help children deal with bereavement. Specifically, he wanted to help children see grieving as a positive rather than a painful rite of passage.

The story centres on Holly and George who have lost their 20-year-old sister, Helen. The entire family is in mourning until Holly sees a smiley woman beckoning her up a tree. After climbing the tree, Holly and George are greeted by a group of magpies who take them to meet their sister.

Helen introduces the children to various big concepts, including the idea that you choose your own life and that the level of difficulty of the life you choose is related to how many times you've lived before and what you want to learn from your next incarnation.

The philosophical lessons are interwoven with Holly and George's more child-like adventures and they're both very sweet characters.

While I found Seven for A Secret thought-provoking, it's intended for children aged between 11 and 16 and I'm concerned that there isn't an exciting enough plot to hold their interest. It might be better investigated and discussed with an adult, rather than read as a story, but it's certainly a good introduction to some difficult concepts.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Dear Zoe by Philip Beard