Our Favourites
Are you looking for something new to read this Autumn? Or possibly you're looking to try something different- for any reason, at any time, visit this page for regularly updated reviews. All titles included will be hand-selected and reviewed by our team of Booksellers- all lovely and well read individuals who will no doubt be hoping you keep their recommendations in mind when you make your choice.
Enduring Love by Ian McEwanReviewed by Simon Gallagher
An astonishingly intense novel, exploring the idea of love as a violent and terrifying prospect, McEwan's is a work of enormous impact. From the opening chapter, which surely ranks as one of the greatest, the story explodes into the reader's consciousness and refuses to relent its irresistible grasp on you....
The Watchmen by Alan MooreReviewed by Ryan Crampton
Soon to be a major cinematic adaptation, set for release in March 2009- finally answering the question posed by this fantastic, seminal graphic novel- "who watches the watchmen". That this is the only graphic novel to make the Time magazine Top 100 Novels of all time list is testament...
Ecstasy by Irvine WelshReviewed by Simon Gallagher
Three chemically enhanced romances for the trully jilted generation, Welsh's work is always full of the shocking imagery of his constructed Britain. The characterisation as always is beautiful, and the reader finds himself somewhat worryingly liking some of the most villainous characters in literary history, because of Welsh's ability to...
Tales of the City by Armistea MaupinReviewed by Susan Craig
Maupin's light, humorous prose and sympathetic characterisation make this unputdownable. Deservedly a classic....
The Master & Margarita by Mikhail BulgakovReviewed by Andrew Venus
This is a title that can be read and enjoyed on many different levels- most notably in two ways; firstly as a satire on Stalinist Moscow and secondly a bizarre carnivalesque romp, in which the devil comes to Moscow and wreaks havoc on the literary elite. Both hilarious and...
Swan Kingdom by Zoe MarriotReviewed by Marie Dawson
This fabulous book, an astounding debut novel from Marriott, the reader is transported to a kingdom that has fallen into darkness. The Queen has been killed by a terrifying beast in the forest, and the King seems spellbound by the mysterious new woman in his life. The princess Alexandra is...
Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi KaneharaReviewed by Calum Sherwood
A splendidly simple and chic novella, Kanehara's debut piece is amazing. Already securing her prestigious literary prizes in Japan, she is the voice of a new generation of Japanese writers. One to watch out for!...
Reign Over Me by Mike BinderReviewed by Simon Gallagher
A profoundly affecting film- the first of its kind exploring the emotional aftermath of 9/11 in a way that thankfully does not mirror the patriotic and sickly gloss of others (take a bow World Trade Centre). The performances of the lead characters- Sandler and Cheadle are measured and simply fanatastic,...
The Good Father by Marion HusbandReviewed by Simon Gallagher
From the author of the widely-acclaimed The Boy I Love comes this intense and often gritty tale. When Peter Wright's father dies he leaves his entire fortune to Peter's best friend Jack. Over a few weeks in the summer of 1959 the consequences of the old man's legacy seriously...
The Wackness by Dan C PhillipsReviewed by Simon Gallagher
It may seem strange in the current movie making climate- obsessed as it is with adaptations from books and comics- to find a novel that started life as a screenplay, but if the success of Phillip's The Wackness is anything to judge by, it will soon become a more prominent...
Friends Like These by Danny WallaceReviewed by Andrew Venus
Danny Wallace has a knack for writing engaging, humourous books that I would defy anyone to not instantly love. Such is the popularity of Mr Wallace's writing that Yes Man, his last book is now being adapted into a movie, set to hit cinemas later this year. So to Friends...
Born Standing Up by Steve MartinReviewed by Emma Hydleman
An honest insight into the much less talked about Stand Up career of comic actor Steve Martin. Written by the man himself, this book starts at the very beginning, with his summer job at the newly opened Disneyland, Florida, and finishing with his ultimate comedy stardom. It is a very...
Shakespeare My Butt!: Marsupial Elvis to No Place... Ramblings, Meanderings, Digressions... and a Dog by John DonoghueReviewed by Simon Gallagher
In today's context of publishers wanting quick financial returns on any new books entering the arena, it is rare to come across a book that so willingly bucks the formulaic trend of such an environment. Donoghue's style is wonderfully meandering and anecdotal- more stand-up comedy than literature really. And it...
Juno by Jason ReitmanReviewed by Simon Gallagher
There have been a number of important films this year, cinematically speaking: Cloverfield reinvigorated a film style that was thought long lost (though The Blair Witch Project had briefly resurrected the POV style admittedly) and Lust Caution sparked a controversy that only served to highlight the accomplishment of the film...
Fat Tuesday by Gary DavisonReviewed by Dan Powell
Gary Davison's personal story is uplifting for any prospective writer- he left school at seventeen, had a series of construction jobs, before becoming restless and giving into the travelling bug and backpacking through Asia and Australia. After another spell travelling, Gary took up writing and now works part-time as builder,...
The Life of Brian Honour by John RiddleReviewed by Simon Gallagher
Say it quietly, but life does exist in football outside of the Premiership, and Brian Honour AKA Mr Hartlepool is a fine example of this. Judged too small by Aston Villa as a youth, and then again by Cyril Knowles at Darlington, Brian dropped down to non-League football with Peterlee...
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