Penguins stopped play by Harry Thompson
Reviewed by Mark
The great author and TV creator writes about his other passion - cricket. Speaking as someone who has no interest in cricket at all, I loved this book. Quirky, and with a dry wit, Thompson tells the story of his attempts to play cricket on all the continents, following the

Albert Jack's Ten-minute Mysteries by Albert Jack
Reviewed by Mark
This is great addition to Albert Jack's range of titles. All the famous tales are in here. Stories of Kasper Hauser, The Marie Celeste, God's Banker et al will keep you enthralled, and it's bite-size format means you can 'dip in' as you please. A great holiday book

Marley & Me by John Grogan
Reviewed by Neil
A must for dog lovers everywhere – John tells the story of their family pet, a “lovable” Labrador, Marley. If you don’t laugh and cry whilst reading this book, get a cat!

We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver
Reviewed by Neil
A fantastic book about a mother and son relationship told through letters to her husband, the boy’s father – although don’t be fooled, this is not the story of average family life, there are twists in this book that M Night Shyamalan would be proud of. Can’t say much

Drastic Fantastic by KT Tunstall
Reviewed by Mark
This is a great collection of songs from a first rate singer/songwriter. Tunstall's vocal style is mesmerising, and she is equally at home with upbeat pop, or slower tracks with an almost melancholic charm. This is very different from her first album - not better or poorer, just

Magic by Bruce Springsteen
Reviewed by Mark
It's really quite extraordinary, and hard to describe. It's almost a return to the kind of music that made Springsteen a global household name - probably feeling that way with the rejoining of the E Street Band - but it's got an incredible maturity, that makes it somehow more than

May Contain Nuts by John O'Farrell
Reviewed by Neil
Another stonking satire from the much loved O’Farrell; telling the story of Alice who is trying to be the perfect mother under the constant pressure, of well, many other “perfect mothers”. Read this when you aren’t a parent and mock the attitudes and insecurities, just wait - read it as

Little Miss Sunshine
Reviewed by Neil
I wasn't sure I wanted to watch this movie at first. Looked a bit too 'girly' for me. However I'm so glad I did. A funny heartwarming tale of a family travelling across America to enter their daughter in a beauty pageant (the daughters idea). Some fantastic performances take you

Casablanca
Reviewed by Mark
Consistantly in the top 5 greatest films of all time compilations by the AFI and BFI, Casablanca is one of the most enduring films of our time. Made in 1943, it still contains themes we all love - drama, romance, humour, conflict, intrigue - which don't age. The fact

Das Boot
Reviewed by Mark
Wolfgang Petersen's masterpiece of the 1980's follows the fate of a German U-boat crew during World War 2. After the many post war British and American war films depicting the trials of the heroic destroyer crews hunting down the evil and sneaky German submarines, Das Boot is one of

The Men Who Stare at Goats by Jon Ronson
Reviewed by Mark
With a number of great books under his belt (Them: Adventures with Extremists, Out of the Ordinary) Investigative journalist Jon Ronson has demonstrated a thoughfulness and ready wit that is engaging, and abounds in The Men Who Stare at Goats. Ronson is never short on something to say that will

The girl with the dragon tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Reviewed by Marina
A financial journalist in dire straits. An unsolved disappearance on an isolated island. An odd lady PI. Three things that have appeared in crime novels time and time again, yet Stieg Larsson weaves them together in a thoroughly satisfying manner. Here a story that could easily have been an

Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile
Reviewed by Marina
Do not be put off by the size of this book, or you will miss out. The story of the CIA's involvement in the mujaheddin's attempt to repel the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan is one of the great historical tales of our time and (Rambo 3 notwithstanding) would be

36
Reviewed by Marina
There is a reason just about every French movie that's released in the UK features Gerard Depardieu: he is a phenomenal actor. And nowhere does his prove it better than in this tense, terse thriller which focuses on the rivalry between two senior police officers. This film can take

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Reviewed by Marina
Though this cracking science fiction series also features an orphaned wizard called Harry, that is where all the similarities end. Set in modern day Chicago, the adventures of Harry Dresden, wizard and PI take in vampires, werewolves, witches, warlocks, faeries, mobsters (it is Chicago after all) necromancers and in

Soon I will be Invincible by Austin Grossman
Reviewed by Steve
I love super-heroes and I loved this book. Grossman brings together all the classic cliches as well as a great story. Very funny and exciting. Told from a super-hero's and a super-villain's points of view, it will have you page-turning 'till the very end. A must for all super-hero

Ghost by Robert Harris
Reviewed by Steve
A tense political thriller written in true Robert Harris style. Based loosely on a recent political party leader, a ghost writer is chosen to write the memoirs of an ex-Prime Minister, only to find himself caught up in a web of intrigue in which he questions his own morals.