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I didn’t enjoy this one at all, I’m afraid. I found it quite boring and the writing didn’t distinguish itself in any way. Too sentimental for me.
What We Think
The Night Circus
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September 2011
In the Sea There are Crocodiles
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July 2011
In the Sea there are Crocodiles
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June 2011
Started Early, Took My Dog
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April 2011
Savage Lands
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March 2011
You Are Next
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February 2011
The Devil's Star
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February 2011
The Accidental Billionaires: Sex, Money, Betrayal and the Founding of Faceb...
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January 2011
Beloved
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December 2010
The Last 10 Seconds
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November 2010
Blood Harvest
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September 2010
The Wonder
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August 2010
To Kill A Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary edition
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June 2010
Conspirator
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May 2010
The House of Special Purpose
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April 2010
The Mango Orchard: Travelling back to the secret heart of Mexico
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March 2010
The Day the Falls Stood Still
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February 2010
Blacklands
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January 2010
A Christmas Carol
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December 2009
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
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November 2009
Crime
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October 2009
Ma, I'm Gettin Meself a New Mammy
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September 2009
Paying For It
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July 2009
Hammer
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May 2009
Lottery: The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Perry L. Crandall
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March 2009
War and Peace
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February 2009
Something Might Happen
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January 2009
The Master Bedroom
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December 2008
The Scandal of the Season
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November 2008
The Road Home
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October 2008
The Devil Within: A Memoir of Depression
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September 2008
Mudbound
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August 2008
Birds Without Wings
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July 2008
Gods Behaving Badly
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June 2008
All This Is Mine
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May 2008
The Other Side of the Bridge
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April 2008
Ishq And Mushq
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March 2008
Before I Die
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March 2008
The Last Family In England
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February 2008
The Swimming Pool Season
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January 2008
Music & Silence
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January 2008
The Way I Found Her
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January 2008
The Colour
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January 2008
The Darkness Of Wallis Simpson
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January 2008
In A Good Light
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January 2008
Brave New World
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December 2007
The Man Who Smiled
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December 2007
The Invisible Wall
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December 2007
Jane Eyre
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November 2007
Death In Danzig
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November 2007
Honor And Evie
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November 2007
The Darkness Of Wallis Simpson
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October 2007
Going Under
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September 2007
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
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August 2007
Yoga School Dropout
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August 2007
Kafka On The Shore
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July 2007
Suite Francaise
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June 2007
The Naked Drinking Club
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June 2007
Fun Home
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June 2007
Fangland
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June 2007
Triptych
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June 2007
A Spot of Bother
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June 2007
My Life So Far
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June 2007
Gentlemen & Players
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May 2007
The Learning Curve
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May 2007
A Country Wife
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May 2007
Alentejo Blue
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April 2007
The Whole World Over
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March 2007
My Life So Far
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February 2007
Little Infamies
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January 2007
Patsy Of Paradise Place
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December 2006
The Pursuit Of Happiness
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November 2006
Diane Arbus
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October 2006
The Devil's Star
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September 2006
Down Daisy Street
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August 2006
Silence Of The Grave
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July 2006
The Horrific Sufferings Of The Mind-Reading: Monster Hercules Barefoot, his...
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June 2006
Autobiography Of A Geisha
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May 2006
The Private World of Georgette Heyer
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April 2006
Don't Move
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March 2006
Smashed: Growing Up A Drunk Girl
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February 2006
Just One More Day
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January 2006
Atomised
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December 2005
Death And The Penguin
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November 2005
Kafka On The Shore
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October 2005
Calling Out For You
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September 2005
Pompeii
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August 2005
Birds Without Wings
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July 2005
A Round-Heeled Woman
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June 2005
Love
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May 2005
Yellow Dog
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April 2005
The Hamilton Case
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March 2005
Trainspotting
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February 2005
I didn’t enjoy this one at all, I’m afraid. I found it quite boring and the writing didn’t distinguish itself in any way. Too sentimental for me.
Posted by Linda on 2012-02-09
I didn’t enjoy this one at all, I’m afraid. I found it quite boring and the writing didn’t distinguish itself in any way. Too sentimental for me.
Posted by Linda on 2012-02-09
I didn’t enjoy this one at all, I’m afraid. I found it quite boring and the writing didn’t distinguish itself in any way. Too sentimental for me.
Posted by Linda on 2012-02-09
I didn’t enjoy this one at all, I’m afraid. I found it quite boring and the writing didn’t distinguish itself in any way. Too sentimental for me.
Posted by Linda on 2012-02-09
Let me start by saying I did enjoy reading this book, more so at the start than nearing the end. The build up towards some of the revelations in Harold’s private life was well done and sometimes quite surprising.
What I didn’t like so much where the characters joining Harold in his walk, I just didn’t find them as interesting and it felt the story-line dragged a bit at that point.
It was a fairly quick and light read, despite the serious subject matter, possibly suited for people who like Mark Haddon.
Posted by Claudia on 2012-02-08
It took me a fair few pages to get into ‘The Orphan Master’s Son’, but I am glad I hung in there.
I don’t think this book is for everyone, but it offers interesting thoughts about living somewhere Orwellian. It felt a bit rough around the edges sometimes, but I would be interested to read more by this author and I would recommend this to any experienced reader who is in for a change.
Posted by Claudia on 2011-12-05
For such a fascinating country, with so much scope for human drama, there’s a surprising dearth of fiction about North Korea. Not much is known about what goes on beyond the DMZ, and that makes it all the more intriguing. The Orphan Master’s Son does a great job of satisfying people like me who have devoured everything they could get their hands on about the regime, and also those who know little about the stranger-than-fiction life under the Kims. He is particularly effective in showing just how an entire nation can believe the crazy lies promulgated by its leaders.
I do agree that this was a hard book to get into: the pacing, different voices, the narrative jumps, and some of the casual violence and horror were difficult, and I found that none of the characters really ‘stuck’ for me in a way that made me want to spend time with them. But I’m glad I carried on reading because there was so much to love: the simply brilliant prose, the wonderful juxtaposition of bleakness and beauty, and the elements that could have come straight from a bestselling thriller or romance.
This is definitely not a beach read. It’s hard reading at times. An obsession with the subject will certainly help – I think that’s why I liked it more than I would have done if it had been set in Russia for example. Certainly not for everyone, but a very rewarding read.
Posted by Hayley from The American Book Center, Amsterdam on 2011-11-25
The quotes of Jennifer Egan and David Mitchel, two of my favorite authors made me curious about The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson and I looked forward to reading it. What a disappointment… I couldn’t get into the book. The story is fragmented and it doesn’t take off. I also kept thinking Johnson didn’t get the historical facts correct. The characters didn’t feel ‘real’ and I ended up not caring what would happen to Jun Do. Never a good sign if you don’t care what happens to the main character…
I must admit, being a spoilt reader with piles of books waiting for me I couldn’t bring myself to finish and gave up after 100 pages. If somebody want to know more about North Korea I would happily recommend them ‘Nothing to envy’ by Barbara Demick.
Posted by Eva from Sterling Books, Brussels on 2011-11-25
I agree with Linda that it started out quite slow and I feel that you need to read this book almost in one go to not get confused with the different stories. The parts that captivated me were the ones where Johnson describes the horrific life in North Korea but for some reason I didn’t really feel any empathy with the characters. I also expected to read more about these tunnel fights because of what’s written on the back of the proof. Anyway at some point I did get into the story and wanted to know what happens at the end and I would recommend it to people who’re interested in knowing more about North Korea.
Posted by Julia on 2011-11-25
I find that writers who produce novels that are epic in scope often get compared to David Mitchell but Mitchell’s talent lies not just in his ability to produce complex sweeping plots, but also in his ability to write truly beautiful and startling prose. For me there is no comparison between Mitchell and Johnson. Johnson’s book is well-written but I didn’t find his style particularly arresting. I found it slow to start, it took me at least 100 pages to get into the book. I did enjoy it though, any glimpse into life in North Korea is obviously fascinating and he is certainly skilled at depicting horrific scenes in a very restrained and ungratuitous manner. Good, but I didn’t love it.
Posted by Linda on 2011-11-22
Mary Lawson, you are a beautiful writer. I am in high school and we read your book, The Other Side of the Bridge in English class. I loved it! It’s such a incredible read! Thank you!
Posted by Erin on 2011-10-27
This was a brilliant book. Really enjoyed reading the second part of the tudor books. Was a great insight to the life Katherine of Aragon led after Arthur died and before her marriage to Henry
Posted by Claire on 2011-08-25
I think it was a great book! Loved it!
Posted by Karolina on 2011-08-20
This novel is indeed a feast for all senses and drew me in right away from the very first sentence. Morgenstern’s imagination is unlimited and her magical descriptions are beautiful and very vivid. Of all the characters Poppet, Widget and Bailey are my favourites. Can’t wait to see this made into a movie. Highly recommended!
Posted by Jane, Waterstone’s Amsterdam on 2011-08-19
I liked the night circus from page one. as i read on it was like watching a movie, that is what i like about the style of the writing. i really don’t know what else to say than. i will totally reccomend it in my bookshop. and i hope there will be a german translation, so all my friends here in switzerland can read it too.
Posted by Kate; Thalia Bookshop St. Gallen on 2011-08-19