Leave a comment: win a book.
Nov 5, 2009 General, Special Offers, Updates
If you leave a comment on a book here that you’ve read. Simply say so, leave a few words about it and each month we will award the best commenter with a book of their choice from our lists.
We will be running this for a few months and as soon as we start to see more reviews we’ll be upping what we give away. So WATCH THIS SPACE!
Jo
November 5th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Christmas 2008 I bought myself the gift of Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray.
I don’t usually go to see film adaptations, especially of classic novels. But the second adaptation released this year starring Ben Barnes makes me want to show people how much better the book is.
Wilde’s writing techniques is difficult to keep up with, but take your time, read it slowly, take in every sentence and soon you’ll be sucked into a darkly seductive storyline. Dorian Gray will have you hanging off his every word…
November 7th, 2009 at 11:39 am
I do recommend Robert Cialdini’s Influence: Science and Practice.
It’s a readable and surprising guide to how people influence each other, using examples from advertising campaigns and so on. It’s solidly rooted in psychological research, but well-written enough so it doesn’t feel like a textbook.
Graham
November 7th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
The last work of fiction I read was “Half Of A Yellow Sun” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. First time I had ever been blown away by and left not wanting to put a book down. This lady has a true knack for story-telling, and for once I actually felt as if I were emotionally connected to and involved with the character’s lives. The plot twists and turns and encompasses everything from love to belly-aching humour to tragedy, and at the end of it all, is a very human story about The Nigerian-Biafran War. I don’t think even Chinua Achebe could have told the story of this war as masterfully as Adichie has.
November 9th, 2009 at 8:37 am
I read Spook, by Mary Roach, a few months ago and I can’t believe it’s not more well-known. The author spends time with various researchers investigating the possibility of life after death, and in doing so encounters modern mediums, alleged reincarnation cases and defibrillator patients. It’s not particularly geared towards either debunkers or believers, and there are parts of the book that will probably annoy both.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I recently bought “At My Mother’s Knee and Other Low Joints” by Paul O Grady. This book is one of the best autobiographys I have ever read. It combined humour with heartache so well it moved me to tears. The descriptions of his gritty life being brought up in Liverpool help explain the television personality he is today.Paul describes his struggle with his sexuality and the many breif relationships he shared with both men and women. He also describes getting in trouble with the law and the fixes he got himself into are truly hilarious.
It is rare to find a autobiography from someone who really does have a life that is truly worth writing about.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I believe we read because it is not restricted by any solid walls .It is a privelidge that many generations before us did not have.I will never take for granted that I can self learn with books ,or escape inside my imagination with a book.
November 26th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Fantastic post, I did not thought this was going to be so cool when I looked at the title with link!
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Yup, couldn’t agree more. And I’d like to add that you’ve got a great colour scheme on your site, I suffer with colour blindness and many webmasters don’t give us a second thought!
December 24th, 2009 at 10:54 am
I think we read to take us away from the doom and gloom of the world affairs at the moment. Inside a book you can be who you want and be where you want. The pleasure at taking yourself off to another time and world is second to none you make no commitments in a book other than to keep reading and you can choose which character you want to be. I love books and although i love my family i sometimes relish the time spent in another world.
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:40 am
This is the first time I visit your site, although my English not so good, but I can feel your site is a good one, and this post too.
January 13th, 2010 at 12:16 am
I read to help me sleep, but if the books good I usually end up reading until the wee small hours.
I have recently read The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks unusual form of time travel exciting and I am just itching to read the follow on The Dark River. Best thing with reading is it’s like living these peoples lives and I often am transported into their world and have to stop myself form talk as if the characters are real… whoops
January 21st, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer.Not what i expected at all from this author but on the other hand a well deserved change as i was not dis appointed,it kept me intrigued.
January 31st, 2010 at 3:13 pm
A Thousand Splendid Suns. I found myself completely and absoultely immersed in this book. I would think about the characters whilst out and about, at work, with my kids. It just gets into your mind. And it was the first book to ever make me cry. Fab.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:46 am
I read to escape. Not from anything nasty but just to be in a totally different world for a while is so refreshing and relaxing. Mostly I read before i sleep, it taxes my brain enough to make me ready for sleep but not enough to make it buzz like the stresses of everyday life do.
Reading has seemed like magic since i was little, something which can hold and focus my attention and make time pass un noticed.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:24 pm
I believe we read to escape from the normal 4 walls and everyday life. When we read a book we can envision ourselves in that world be it romantic, funny ,classical or even horror. For a little while (or if you are like me a long time)you are free from your daily constraints. I love reading and read anything and every thing i can get my hands on.
February 13th, 2010 at 2:35 am
I love to sink into a good book when my baby son is asleep, even if its just for half an hour. It really helps me to escape. I don’t have a favourite book in particular, but I am a big fan of Patricia Cornwell and her Scarpetta Novels. I can picture myself right where she is when I read her work as she describes everything so well. Its described so well I can hear the stryker saws and the clattering of gurney’s in my head as I read. She’s a great writer.
March 14th, 2010 at 2:03 am
Noddy Goes to Toytown by Enid Blyton…..
For all you big thinkers out there this is an absolute must,it quite simply has everything. It reaches deep into the pit of your soul an drags out every human emotion possible. There will be times when you feel Noddy’s anger,sadness,frustration and sense of feeling completely alone. Other times you will find yourself laughing so hard it hurts as you saddle up ‘n’ ride Noddy’s contagious sense of elation & joy.
After finishing this book you’ll be left with a nice warm feeling in your tummy, like when you eat too many hobnobs with your brew…..
“This one gets both thumbs up” and maybe a leg
March 14th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Hey, some of used to be huge Enid Blyton fans, you know.
March 18th, 2010 at 7:28 am
I love to sink into a good book when my baby son is asleep, even if its just for half an hour. It really helps me to escape. I don’t have a favourite book in particular, but I am a big fan of Patricia Cornwell and her Scarpetta Novels. I can picture myself right where she is when I read her work as she describes everything so well. Its described so well I can hear the stryker saws and the clattering of gurney’s in my head as I read. She’s a great writer.